If the mirror reflects
If the eyes lie
If the son regrets
Does the love die?
Albus Severus had spent the night looking fearfully out the window. He had spent many nights this way since he had started school. He had made the rule his second year that owls can only be received at night so that his parents would not ask questions. Questions would only lead to problems. Tonight was a problem for Albus, who had expected a letter two nights ago, but it never arrived. The longing in him for those words was worse then anything Albus had to live with at home. Everyday for him over the summer was just another X on the calendar till the first day of school. His sixth year was approaching and he couldn't wait to learn how to apparate. He wouldn't need to write all of these letters if he could just leave the house.
The air was crisp and cool, surprising for summer in Godric's Hollow. A strong breeze traveled through the open window and blew the mess of Albus' hair into his eyes. He hated having his father's hair. He hated having his father's face even more. He would force his eyes to the floor as people passed him in the halls or along the streets of Diagon alley. All the eyes passing by looked at his forehead for his father's scar, which he was so glad he didn't inherit. He convinced his mother when he was twelve for contacts. Although his bad eyesight required the same prescription as his Harry, Albus refused to wear glasses like his father. Albus sighed, his fingers lingering on his face, the mask that Albus couldn't remove.
They both had the same face, hair, eyes, but their minds were opposites. What could be more opposite from a Gryffindor than a Slytherin? Albus always felt like the failed child just because he wore a green tie while his father had worn a red one. He was the child that his dad thought would embody him. He wore the face of a hero, but it seemed like no more then a mask to Albus. He was no hero to his family.
The sky was still empty, but beautiful nonetheless. It would be even more beautiful if there were an owl in sight, but there was none and Albus felt his stomach tighten with worry. This was not the first time his owl didn't come on time.
The day he told his parents he was a Slytherin was the day the fights started. His relatives said it couldn't be his fault; all parents fought, but not like Harry and Ginny. Uncle Ron was the first person to tell him he was the cause of all his parents' problems and he wasn't the last. It seemed no one could find another source of the blame.
Albus remembered his father's words when he left for his first year of school. He said one of the bravest men he knew was a Slytherin, but what did that matter now. Those words have never stopped the snickering or the names. He would always be the failed abortion, the black sheep.
Most of the other Slytherins hated him as much as the Gryffindors. They were all raised on their parent's words, that all came from their grandparent's beliefs. It was a never-ending chain of purebloods and dark wizards that Albus could never be accepted in. His fellow classmates snickered at his name, saying that he was a walking contradiction. Even Albus himself couldn't understand why his parents would combine the names of the muggle lover and the dark wizard together. It was just as bad as being a Slytherin Potter. His life was a contradiction, but he managed.
He had a friend, a friend whose letter was arriving now. Albus smiled at the sight of a large brown owl in the distance. His stress and worry was relieved immediately with its arrival. His friend, or was it more then a friend now. Albus didn't care for names anymore, whether called a friend or lover didn't matter.
The large owl swooped down silently into the tree standing tall next to Albus' window, as its owner had instructed it to do. The owl now shuffled his feet sideways, cautiously and quietly, till it could stick its foot just inside the windowsill. Albus' fingers grabbed the letter attached to the scaly foot and his heart pounded with anticipation. It had been five days of wanting, of needing these words and now the wait was over. His question would be answered. He tore the letter as quietly as he could from the envelope, listening closely to the heavy breathing of Teddy in the bed next to his own. The letter was written on expensive paper and the cursive script was elegant and distinct. Albus' eyes floated dreamily on the script for a while, feeling happiness and love swell in his chest. It was here, the letter like all the others, and like all the others this one was magnificent. Albus refocused his eyes to the words and read,
Albus Severus,You are a fool to think that I will abandon you. I've stayed with you this long and through everything we are still together, though sadly we are not physically together now. It seems to me that we will have to go through this every summer. You will question my love for you, and I will have to convince you again that I am completely and utterly dedicated to you. I am willing, when you are, to abandon my family tree and run with you. How many fights must your parents have? How many punches must you take from your brother? How many people must judge you and despise you before you will run with me? I understand that you want to finish school, but Albus that end is too far from now. I need you as much as you need me.
I understand if you made your offer to me under stress. I'll allow you to take it back without any repercussions. I will still love you the same if you take it back. But if you were sure Severus, sure that you wanted to marry me, I would say yes to you. I'm saying yes now! No one else can understand and care for you like me though, so I really recommend that you don't take back that offer. Well, for your sake and for mine because Severus you are the only man for me. I would die alone if I didn't have you.
With all the love in the world,
Scorpius
Albus read the letter over again and his tears spilled onto the paper. Albus couldn't remember another time of such joy. His heart beat against his ribs and he felt like it was going to burst out of his chest onto the paper to join his tears. It was painful, this joy he was feeling. His physical body hurt from the swelling of his emotion. But when did Albus' physical body ever portray the truth? Albus put the paper to his lips, on the spot underneath Scorpius' signature. His lips touched softly the paper and he knew, just knew, that Scorpius had placed his lips here too.
Albus lay down on his small bed, ignoring the sounds of Teddy, and continued to kiss the letter. It did not feel ridiculous as one might imagine, but it was so overly fulfilling that Albus could not stop. He could not let Scorpius' letter grow cold. He could smell the scent of him in the signature, the smell of wood and cloves that always seemed to cover his hands. Albus was high off the scent, the feeling. He felt weightless, as if he could float right now to Scorpius' room. His urges to feel those silk lips and to hold those hands again were driving him crazy. But this was all he had for now, just the letter and all of his thoughts. Albus feel asleep in minutes, his hands still clutching the letter, now that all his fears had been released.
