"There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in." - Graham Greene

Going

Albus Potter was asleep, his head lolling up and down with the movements of the train as he leaned against the window. He was dreaming about the place he'd left just that morning – Hogwarts. He smiled as he walked through the ancient corridors, hearing the sound of his footsteps as it echoed off the walls. He greeted several of the Hogwarts ghosts, made sure to duck when Peeves had flung a dungbomb at him, and beamed as the bricks in the wall rearranged to let him in.

He took in the majesty of the Slytherin common room, with its green-and-silver themed furniture, and its crackling fireplace that seemed to provide warmth to more than just the room. When he had first been sorted into Slytherin, he hated the eerie and sinister shivers he got when he spent too much time in the common room. As the years passed, and when he began to abandon the initial prejudices he held against the Slytherins, his love for the house had grown stupendously – save for certain pureblood fanaticisms and those few extremely hateable people, of course, and not to mention his constant annoyance at Professor Slughorn.

He sat down on the sofa facing the fire, letting the familiarity and comfort of the whole scene engulf him. During his Seventh Year, after being appointed as Head Boy, he was provided a private common room to share with the Head Girl, but he still often found himself lounging about in this common room more than his own. He liked to take naps in between classes, and despite the silence of his own common room, the solitude did not relax him. He found it was easier to sleep surrounded by the noise and havoc of all his fellow students.

He stared into the depths of the fire as he let his thoughts wander, the green-tinged flames lapping at the edges of his vision. Leaning back on the sofa, he felt his eyes begin to close. He forced them open, but as his eyelids drooped more frequently, he just let them. The common room smothered him with sounds only it could provide - the distant giggles of the students, the sound of the quills on parchment, the frantic flipping of book pages, and the occasional boom of an Exploding Snap game. Before he was even aware of it, Albus was falling asleep.

Upon waking up, he was surprised to find himself on the Hogwarts Express. Wasn't he just in the common room? And then the realization dawned on him. He sighed. It was all just a dream, he thought. He felt his heart drop as reality caught up to him. He had graduated Seventh Year, and was going back home, never to return to Hogwarts ever again. Albus stared at the distance, trying, however failing, to bring back the memories of the warmth, comfort, and security he felt just moments ago when he dreamed of the place he was so longing to be back in.

He listened to the clanging of the wheels on the tracks, his cheek squished on the glass, causing his entire face to vibrate from the train's movements. He remained there for a few more moments, as silent as a church mouse, and so immersed in the sea of his own thoughts he was practically drowning in it. His reverie was only broken when he heard the wheels of the food trolley squeaking by the compartment.

He whipped his head around, suddenly craving all the sweets he could devour in order to drown out his sadness and, Merlin forbid, 'school-sickness.'

"Oh, Al," Rose Weasley exclaimed from beside Albus, surprised by his sudden movements. Her flaming red hair whipped Scorpius Malfoy, who was seated beside her, as she turned to Albus. The Head Girl badge gleaming on her chest clanged with her movements. "I didn't know you were awake."

Albus did not seem to take any notice of her, however, and focused his attention on the trolley containing all the guilty pleasures a wizard could ever need to mend a broken heart, or be rid of all their woes and troubles.

"A bit of everything please," Albus called out to the familiar plump witch who manned the trolley. "As much as I can get for eleven sickles," he added. He stood up and handed the witch payment in exchange for the superfluous amount of desserts he just purchased.

He sat back down on his spot beside the window, contented with the giant bag of sweets now plumped on his lap. Able to differentiate the different varieties as he reached into the bag, he settled for a Chocolate Frog as his first confectionary expedition. As soon as he had opened the box, the chocolate frog leaped out in attempted freedom. He caught it and shoved it in his mouth. Chewing victoriously, he flipped over the card, hoping he would get the Babayaga or another rare one he's never gotten before, so he would be another card closer to completing his collection.

"Harry Potter," he sighed as he stared down at the smiling face of his father. Albus had gotten his father countless times, and he still couldn't get used to the fact that he had his own Chocolate Frog card. In fact, it took him years to absorb the gravity of his father's accomplishment for, not only the wizarding world, but the entire world as well – with all the Muggles in between. It was a lot to take in, after all.

"It's all right, Al," Lysander Scamander, who was seated across him, said. Albus guessed he hadn't been as successful capturing his own frog, seeing as there was a giant splat of chocolate smudged all around his side of the window. He had bits of chocolate chunks tangled in his mop of strawberry-blonde curls, and spots scattered all over his robes and Gryffindor tie.

Lysander flipped his card around, and Albus had spotted Lysander's great-grandfather, Newt Scamander, before he disappeared beyond the borders of the card. "This bloke haunts me wherever I go, too. And, mind you, I've seen his ghost a few times at Hogwarts as well." Lysander shivered at the memory. "Bloody ghost passed through me on purpose! S'pose he wasn't too happy with my performance during Care of Magical Creatures."

"Well, I reckon it's pretty ironic that he, having written that book all about magical creatures in the first place, has a grandson that can't tell the difference between a Griffin and a Hippogriff," Albus teased.

"You don't need to be able to tell which-is-which to know when you ought to run or not," Lysander reasoned. "When I see something that looks like it could swallow me whole, I'm fleeing for my life."

"You, mate, will die by the many tiny hands of a hoard of pixies." Albus clamped Lysander's shoulder, already imagining his friend being abducted by the mischievous little felons.

"Oh, sod off," Lysander shrugged Albus' hand away.

"You know you've hit the bull's-eye when he tells you to sod off," Zachary Goyle, who was seated beside Lysander, told Albus in a very loud voice, quirking his bristly eyebrows – one of the only things he had in common with his father - mischievously. His Ravenclaw tie was loose around his neck.

"Shut up, Goyle. I may not be in Ravenclaw, but I'm not stupid, or deaf." Lysander elbowed him in the ribs.

"I would appreciate it if you didn't exploit every opportunity to mention I was a Ravenclaw."

"Sorry, mate." Lysander slung an arm around Zachary's shoulders. "Four years of friendship and I still can't believe you were in Ravenclaw."

"Just because I've the name 'Goyle' does not mean I automatically have to be in Slytherin," Zachary rebuked. "Haven't you ever heard of anomalies?"

"No, I can't say that I have," Lysander deadpanned.

"An 'anomaly' refers to something that deviates from normality," Rose explained.

"Oh, then, you are an 'a-none-marly,' Zach." Lysander chuckled. "You're in Ravenclaw, you've got a mother from Beauxbatons, you're abnormally intelligent, and you've only gone to detention about three times in your entire life, for almost the same reason every time."

Apparently, both of Zachary's parents weren't very bright. Albus supposed Zachary was living proof that two negatives did indeed create a positive sometimes.

"Well I've never gotten a detention," Rose said.

Albus waved his hand dismissively towards Rose, ignoring her remark. "Codswallop. Zach was only trying to defend his family's honour. I'd've done the same thing, had it been me."

Zachary shrugged. "They're only jealous since my dad's got a wife like my mum. Reckon those beasts couldn't land a beauty if they Imperio'd her."

"That's the spirit, Zachy-boy!" Lysander slapped Zachary in what he thought was an affectionate manner.

"You know, I've gotten more bruises from you than anywhere else," Zach exclaimed.

Lysander shrugged. "I guess I'm just an 'a-none-marly' that way."

"Ly, you're definitely an anomaly," Albus lightly hit Lysander's shoulder. "Even if you don't know how to use the word correctly."

"Sod off, Potter!" Lysander stuck his tongue out at Albus.

"Bull's-eye!" Zachary and Albus shouted at the same time.

The whole compartment, sans Lysander, guffawed with laughter.

Albus was going to miss these nutters immensely.

"How long have we got till we reach King's Cross?" Albus asked.

"About an hour-and-a-half," Rose replied.

"Already? Bloody hell, I feel like we just left Hogsmeade!" Albus exclaimed.

"You were asleep for quite a while, mate," Scorpius said.

"I didn't realize I was asleep that long."

"Well, when you're asleep, you don't really notice how long you've been asleep," Zachary pointed out.

"Bloody Ravenclaw," Lysander teased.

"On the contrary, not only Ravenclaws can use their common sense," Zachary said matter-of-factly, and clearly annoyed that Lysander, despite him telling him otherwise, still persisted in pointing out he was in Ravenclaw.

"Zach's right. Rachel Pontner's in Ravenclaw, but I reckon she's no good with anything beyond her precious book collection," Scorpius remarked. "If somebody told her the best place to buy, let's say . . . essence of bowtruckle or something, was in Knockturn Alley, she'd floo right over there if her books didn't say anything against it."

"I heard she was a mug too," Albus added. "Would snog anyone who'd ask her, apparently."

"Al, please don't tell me you know this because you've had a go at her," Rose admonished.

"Rosie, please!" Albus exclaimed. "I've got values!"

"Besides, our little Albykins wouldn't waste his time on a cow like that," Scorpius wiggled his eyebrows roguishly. "He's got tons of better options."

"Watch it, Malfoy!" Rose smacked Scorpius' knee. Scorpius smiled apologetically and pulled her into a hug.

Albus was torn between disgust at their public display of affection, letting his familial protectiveness kick in and break them apart, and contentment since they both looked so happy. They got together somewhere near the end of Sixth Year, and yet Albus still couldn't believe it. It took him a year to say they were 'going-out,' and a few more months to begin acknowledging the fact. She was his cousin, and he was stubborn – even if Scorpius was the first Slytherin to befriend him.

"Oh, have any of you seen Eliora Smith?" Lysander asked, and Albus was grateful for the distraction. He could only bear looking at the couple for so long.

"The Hufflepuff with the blonde hair and extremely short skirt?" Albus asked.

"That's the one! You know, I heard from Lorcan that she's amazing at –" Lysander was practically salivating when Rose interrupted him.

"That's enough," she berated. "I refuse to let you talk about girls like that. It's extremely degrading! Not to mention very insulting in so many levels –" Rose ranted, but Lysander had interrupted her this time.

"Merlin Scorp, your girlfriend's no fun! No fun at all!" Lysander teased.

Scorpius shrugged.

Albus guffawed at Scorpius' reaction. "'Course Scorp won't say anything about it," Albus commented. "If he says one wrong thing, Rosie's gonna dump his sorry arse."

"She'd probably chuck him off the train, too," Zachary added.

"Or just hex him till he's inside-out," Lysander chuckled.

"You're all such great friends," Scorpius deadpanned.

The sound of laughter was broken by a sudden shout of "POTTER" and the compartment doors sliding open.

"Oh, Caitlyn! I thought I heard your lovely voice," Albus winked.

Caitlyn Wood, who used to be the neurotic Gryffindor Quidditch Captain before graduation, bounded into the room and took a seat in between Rose and Albus.

"Go ahead, sit there, because there's so much more space here than the other seat, which only has two people on it," Albus said, his voice oozing sarcasm.

She rolled her eyes and glared at him. Her messy brown hair – which, in Albus' opinion, was as out of control as its owner – was slipping out of its ponytail. She, like Rose and Albus, was still wearing her positional badge.

"So what brings you here to our compartment anyhow?" Albus asked.

"James," she breathed.

"No, I'm Albus," Albus deadpanned. "Merlin, Caitlyn, we've been friends for years and you still mistake me for my brother?" Albus said, mock-hurt.

"First of all, I have never mistaken you for James," Caitlyn shoved a finger at Albus' face. "Second, I was trying to tell you that James got in the team."

"Mental-cow-say-what?" Albus blurted.

Caitlyn smacked Albus upright the head before repeating herself. "Jacob Simmons left. Took one bludger too many and now he can't play."

"And you're happy about that why? That's awful!" Albus exclaimed.

Caitlyn smacked him again. "No, you wanker! Because Simmons is out-of-commission, that means the Lead Chaser of the reserve team got promoted."

"And? What's that got to do with me?"

Caitlyn rolled her eyes.

"Hey, Zach," Lysander turned to the boy beside him. "Isn't James Potter on the Appleby Arrows reserve team?"

"Bloody hell! I do believe you're right!" Zach feigned surprise. "Didn't they sign him a few months after he graduated from Hogwarts?"

"Right you are, mate. One of the best players in the reserve team apparently. I reckon he'd be a great new addition to the main team." Lysander spoke louder, as if Albus couldn't already hear him.

Albus was wide-eyed, and his jaw dropped open. "Merlin's beard! James is on the team! He's playing for the Appleby Arrows!" Albus jumped out of his seat in excitement. "Cate, how'd you find out?"

Caitlyn took out a copy of the Daily Prophet from her robes' pocket and handed it to Albus. "Just came out today. Headline of the sports section."

"That prat never told me!" Albus said as his eyes skimmed through the article entitled, 'JAMES POTTER: ZOOMING PAST EXPECTATIONS.' Above the article, there was a picture of Albus' older brother, James, chucking a quaffle into the hoops.

"James Potter, eldest son of Auror Harry Potter and former Holyhead Harpy Ginny Weasley, makes his debut into the world of professional Quidditch as a hero. He had unexpectedly been put into the team's main line-up in the middle of the Arrows' game versus the Tutshill Tornadoes after Simmons was knocked out by a bludger and forced into early retirement. Despite the unexpected turn of events, he scored three goals, putting the Arrows in the lead 130-100. The Arrows had come out victorious, with a whopping 350-120, putting them in the top four to win in this year's Quidditch Finals.

When asked how he felt about all of this, Potter simply replied with, "I still can't believe it. I've always loved Quidditch. I was Captain of the Gryffindor team up till I graduated, but nothing could have fully prepared me for the thrill and vigour of playing professionally."

Needless to say, we've got great things to expect from this young Potter."

"Bloody hell." Albus plumped back down on the seat. He was holding on to the newspaper tightly, as if afraid it would just disappear. "Bloody hell," Albus repeated, at a loss for better words to say.

"It's so early in his career, but people have already been saying he'll be the next Captain after Alrick Chetwood," Caitlyn said, trying to coax words other than 'bloody hell' out of Albus' mouth.

"I thought Wallaby Gascoigne was next-in-line?" Albus breathed.

"Until James came into the picture," Caitlyn informed him.

"Gascoigne won't be too happy about that."

"But you're happy about it?"

"Bloody ecstatic," Albus broke into a grin a mile wide.

The wheels creaked in the distance as the train pulled to a stop, and before they all knew it, they were at King's Cross.

"Bugger, we're here," Albus cursed.

"It's time to get lives," Zachary sighed as he stood up.

"Merlin's beard," Lysander muttered. "Promise me you'll all go to my funeral. I don't think I've got long once we step out of this train."

"Honestly, you're all so melodramatic." Caitlyn rolled her eyes. "Once we step out of this train, we're officially full-fledged members of the wizarding community."

"If that's supposed to assure us in any way, it's not working," Scorpius said, looking anxious. He and his father were going to have a talk about his future when he got back home. Scorpius was under the impression the talk would be comprised of his father stating that he had already found people from the Ministry and whatnot who were more than willing to take him in, and he simply had to choose which one he preferred, something Scorpius wasn't too thrilled about.

"All I'm trying to say is," Caitlyn turned around, a step away from the doorway. "It's just another adventure," she grinned before marching off.

"There she goes," Albus said. "She, who's only self-assured because her bloody dad is Oliver Wood, and he just needs to say one word to get all the teams chasing after her."

"Well, if I remember correctly," Lysander patted Albus' shoulder. "Your dad's Harry Potter and he saved the world." He smirked before hoisting his trunk from the compartment and made his way out.

Zachary followed suit, making sure to simper at Albus on his way out.

"You make it sound like I have it easy," he muttered. He said his goodbyes to Rose and Scorpius as he grabbed his own trunk and wobbled through the narrow corridors that would be missed as soon as he left. This was the last time he'd ever be on the Hogwarts Express, and he was not looking forward to leaving it at all.

Evidently, he wasn't looking forward to leaving at all. Change was too big a feat; one he felt he could not manage.

Despite having done it for the past seven years, stepping out of the train felt different to Albus. He usually felt excited – both about going back home, and looking forward to going back to Hogwarts the following year. Now, Albus found himself walking out of the Hogwarts Express, only going home, and about embark on a journey he felt ill prepared for.

He plunked his trunk beside him a fair distance from the train, and turned to take one last look at the monorail that had taken him to both the beginning and end of his first wizarding journey.

"Albus!" he flipped around and saw Lysander making his way towards him. He smiled as his best friend broke into a sprint and tackled him into a hug.

"Promise me something, Al," Lysander said as they broke apart. "Slap me if I ever get a mindless Ministry job."

"I'll slap you so hard I'll knock your brain outta your noggin." Albus lightly hit Lysander's head. "I'll prolly see you in a few days."

Lysander guffawed. "I'll owl you." He waved his goodbyes.

Albus spotted Zachary in the distance. He was sandwiched in between his stocky father and petite mother, who seemed to be either very deep in conversation, or having quite a heated argument. Could've been both. Zachary noticed Albus waving and managed to do the same before his parents dragged him out of the station.

As he turned, he was tackled into yet another hug, this time by Caitlyn. She whispered into his ear amidst their embrace. "You better score me some amazing tickets for the Cup this year."

"I can't make any promises." Albus teased as he hugged her back.

"Your brother's an Arrow!"

"Your father's in Puddlemere."

"Touché." Caitlyn laughed. "We're such users, aren't we?"

"Nope, just making good use of our resources."

"Al, I'm scared," Caitlyn whispred almost inaudibly.

"Don't be," he said, despite remembering the fears gnawing at him a while back. "You said so yourself – just treat it like an adventure."

"I've always had trouble following my own advice," she laughed as they broke apart.

"Your own plays too," Albus added.

"I dare you to say that again," Caitlyn threatened, however unsuccessfully as a smile was playing her lips.

"Say what again?" Albus stuck his tongue out. "See you at the Cup, Wood."

"It's Peru versus England next week," Caitlyn blurted, as if she just remembered. "I'll send you an owl!" she shouted before running off.

"She's a keeper." A familiar voice chortled as Albus felt a hand squeeze his shoulder.

"I sincerely hope you're talking about what position she plays." He turned his head and looked at his brother, James Potter, who was grinning knowingly at him. He was wearing a light-blue collared shirt with a giant white arrow containing 'THE APPLEBY ARROWS' in block letters streaked across. "You're a foul git, d'you know that?"

"It's nice to see you too, Al," James grinned.

"Why didn't you tell me you got on the team?" Albus shouted.

"How'd you find out?" James feigned surprise.

"News travels fast," Albus said. "You didn't even tell me the Arrows won yesterday's game! You promised you'd owl me for at least one of those reasons!"

"Relax, Albus," James lifted his hands in mock-surrender. "I wanted to tell you personally."

"Honestly," Albus whined. "Next you'll skip out on telling me you're playing for England."

"That's the plan." James winked.

"Why're you here anyway? And where're Mum and Dad?"

"Mum and Dad're home preparing something special for you and Rosie. Double graduation equals double celebration, after all," he mused. "I expect the whole family's going."

"Just when I thought I could mope in peace," Albus said sarcastically.

"Where's Lily?" James asked. "She owled me a few days back telling me, well, ordering me to be here, otherwise she'd hex me."

"And you were afraid? She's not even of-age yet." Albus chuckled.

James shrugged. "I would've come anyway. I would never pass on the chance to scare you about life choices and whatnot, Alby."

"I was totally wrong about you being a foul git, James," Albus deadpanned. "'Foul git' is an understatement."

James trapped Albus in a headlock and grinded his knuckles on Albus' head. They both froze, however, when they heard the distant shouts of several teenage girls and stampeding footsteps approaching them. Looking up, the reason for Lily's demand dawned on them.

"Bloody hell." James' jaw dropped as the crowd of girls surrounded him, asking him to sign their copy of Witch Weekly – which had James, with his signature knee-jerking smile on his face, gleaming on the cover, as well as several copies of James' Daily Prophet article, and other ridiculous miscellaneous items – one asked James to sign her forehead.

"Next time, I bet they'll have your face on shirts," Albus pointed out, clearly amused.

"Har-har," James scoffed. "I feel so used," he whispered to Albus as he finished signing the remaining girl's Appleby Arrows wristband.

"Speaking of which –"

"I got the tickets," James intercepted. "An award for making the team."

"Seats?"

"Fourth row." James smiled. "Congratulations on graduating, Al."

"Thank you!" Albus attacked James with a hug before he commenced his victory dance.

Once they had collected Lily, who was bombarded by James' neurotic fan-girls, they had Disapparated. By a miscalculation, they found themselves sloshing in the muddy waters of the tiny swamp a little ways from the Burrow.

"Nan's going to freak," Albus said, looking down at his robes, which were growing muddier and muddier with each step.

"This beats having to deal with those awful girls," Lily blustered. "They wouldn't stop nagging me about James the whole year!" She stomped angrily, splashing mud all over her and Albus, who was struggling behind her.

"I'm sorry, I can't help it!" James shouted from behind Albus.

They had finally reached the front steps of the old rickety house where they spent countless days as children and less but slightly frequent visits during their adolescence, noticeably muddying up the polished wood their grandmother obsessively tried to keep clean. Albus watched as the mud bubbled beneath his steps, already imaging his Nan having a fit at the filthy state of them, and her house.

Lily banged her hand on the door, the mud splattering from her hands, to the door, and on her face. Luckily, it was Roxanne who had answered the door, and not Grandma Molly.

"What –" Roxanne sputtered, but Lily pushed through her.

"Mis-Apparated, I guess you could say," Albus told her with a shrug as he followed Lily inside.

James looked down at his Arrows shirt, crestfallen. It was probably new, and now it was newly flecked with mud, twigs, and other disgusting things only a swamp could easily provide.

"Welcome back –" Ginny stopped midsentence as she spotted the state of her children, as well as the pieces of furniture they had destroyed. "Did you Apparate into the swamp?" she asked, knowingly. Her children didn't even have to answer. It happened much too often. "I've told you all, countless times," she reprimanded her children as she flicked her wand and cleaned the mud right off them, as well as everywhere else. "When you Apparate, don't think 'don't land in the swamp' because, I promise you, that's where you'll end up."

"Sorry, Mum," the three muttered.

Ginny smiled. "Now, come on, you three. Dinner's been ready ages ago."

All Albus could think of when he entered the sitting room was, Wow, James was right. The whole family is here. The old house looked the same as ever – barely holding on, yet not giving in any time soon. The furniture had been pushed aside, and the kitchen table – magically enlarged – was set in the middle. All Albus' cousins were scattered all over the table, their mouths already stuffed with the different assortments of food prepared especially for tonight. Albus took a seat in front of the giant roasted duck – his favourite. James sat next to him, looking much jollier now that their Mum had fixed them up and his shirt was squeaky-clean.

Harry and Ginny, along with all the other adults, were absorbed in retelling the tales of their own days at Hogwarts. They occasionally glanced at Albus, and he supposed it was whenever the subject of his future came up. They also made sure to look at James, probably discussing his new prospects as a budding professional Quidditch player.

Harry stood up, bearing a glass of Butterbeer and raising it up. "I would like to make a toast," he said. "To Albus and Rose for graduating, to James for becoming the newest addition to the Appleby Arrows – sorry, Ron, he's not a Cannon – and to the bright future you all have ahead of you!"

"Cheers!" everyone shouted before gulping down their own glasses of Butterbeer. Albus tried to drown himself in his glass. Bright future my arse, he thought. He had no idea what he wanted to do in life, how did that make his future bright?

Rose was decided on becoming an Arithmancer. She was enraptured by the magical properties centred on numbers, and was hell-bent on unravelling the many mysteries around them, especially the unlucky curses surrounding the number thirteen.

After his graduation, James had a wide variety of choices – he could've become a Healer, and he was invited to attend to join the Auror Academy as well. Evidently, he had chosen to continue playing Quidditch, signing with the Appleby Arrows reserve team almost immediately after finishing school. Ginny was ecstatic about it, having gone to play Quidditch after school as well. Harry, however, was a bit sceptic; he was not convinced that Quidditch was a viable career choice, especially in the long run. But look at where James was now. He had accomplished so much in a little less than a year.

And that left Albus, who was stuck in a rut. Sure, he had been made Head Boy, but that didn't help him decide on his future career. This one choice would determine his entire life, and he didn't have a single clue what he wanted to do.

After dinner, Albus managed to escape his family and their persistent career-related questions and made his way to the garden. He sat down on the unevenly trimmed grass, staring at the orchard he and his family used in order to play recreational games of Quidditch when they were younger. His father always used to tell him he'd make a fair Seeker, but he never found himself quite as dedicated as his brother, so he was never one to pursue the sport.

He was so lost in his own thoughts he didn't even notice when someone had taken a seat next to him. He had jumped in surprise when they had spoken, completely interrupting his train-of-thought.

"Wotcher," James said.

"Oh, James, didn't see you there," Albus croaked.

"A penny for your thoughts?" James asked.

"What's a penny?" Albus asked.

"Some sort of Muggle money, I suppose." James chuckled. "Heard it somewhere, just thought I'd use it. I'd've asked 'what's on your mind?' but it didn't sound as poetic." James shrugged.

"I didn't know you cared about poetics," Albus remarked.

"I admit it - I'm a frustrated writer," James quipped. "But I'm not who we're talking about here. What's troubling you, Al?"

"Everything." Albus laughed. "I never wanted to leave Hogwarts."

"Nor I," James said. "But it's inevitable, we all just need to accept it."

"Easy for you to say," Albus rebuked. "You already knew what you were going to do after school. I've no bloody clue!"

"Ah, but did I?" James said. "Al, I became a Quidditch player precisely because I had no idea. My marks weren't abysmal, but they weren't brilliant, either. All I knew how to do was play Quidditch, and in an attempt to dodge more responsibility, I chose to continue playing Quidditch. I figured it was the easiest option, more than anything else."

"And was it?"

"Not at all. About two-hundred-percent harder than I'd expected it would be, and with much more responsibility than I thought as well. To be perfectly honest, if I didn't love Quidditch so much, I'd've quit ages ago." James chuckled. "You see what happened to Simmons? Could've happened to anyone who wasn't careful. I'm always at risk."

"You better watch out then," Albus warned. "I've already begun to gloat that you'll be playing for England next. Don't you fail me now!"

James guffawed.

Albus tried to laugh along with him, but he could only manage a few 'ha-has' before he gave up completely. His earlier worries were catching up to him, all the doubts and fears pin-balling in his head. An image of his elderly self entered his mind – a nightmarish looking hermit with ragged hair and tattered clothing, hiding in shame behind the Hog's Head counter.

James ruffled Albus' hair in the comforting big brother manner he always used to do when they were children.

"Rose knows she'll be an Arithmancer," Albus told him.

"Bloody boring job if you ask me," James commented. "Perfect for Rosie, but don't tell her I said that," he whispered his last sentence.

"Scorp's already got Ministry jobs lined-up for him. Caitlyn's future career's already a given."

James nodded, urging him to continue.

"Zachary's going to be a Healer," Albus said. "Lysander's as lost as me for now, but I know he's going to be a Herbologist. He may not know monsters like his Great-Granddad, but he knows plants like the back of his hand."

"And so, where does that leave you?" James asked.

I shrugged. "Already told you. I'm as lost as Errol during a delivery."

"It's a miracle that ruddy owl's still alive." James sighed. Albus chuckled.

"Al," James said, his tone serious. His chocolate-brown eyes stared right into Albus' emerald-coloured ones. Albus was the only one who got their father's eyes. "You were Head Boy, weren't you?"

Albus nodded.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't you were named after two Hogwarts Headmasters?" James pointed out.

"Are you telling me to be a Headmaster?" Albus said. "I've never really seen myself as a very good teacher. I can get impatient."

James shrugged. "Be whatever you want to be. All I'm saying is that you're capable of great things – your name's a dead giveaway."

Albus smiled slightly.

James rubbed his knuckles brotherly on Albus' head. "Just keep your pecker up, lil' bro. And don't worry, growing up's hard on all of us."

"Feel free to owl me too. I'd very much enjoy getting letters that aren't from those swooning fan-girls," James scoffed.

"You crave their attention."

"In moderation," he retorted.

James stood up and started making his way back inside.

"Hey, James!"

He spun on his heels and looked at Albus, his eyebrows arched.

"Thanks."

James shrugged. "Just don't forget me when you're Minister for Magic," James winked before marching back into the house.

"Albus Severus Potter, Minister for Magic," Albus muttered, and nodded his head in approval. "I could get used to that."

Hi everyone :) Well it's been a while. Would you believe it, back to writing after a year!

This story is going to be three chapters, all focusing on Albus and James going through the trials of growing up. I actually wrote this a while back and had written 2/3 chapters but got extremely busy... hence, I never got to finish nor upload it. But here it is! :) I will upload the other two chapters slowly, also because I'm still writing the final chapter.

Also, thank you to HorcruxFinder (www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/u/1318241/HorcruxFinder) for letting me use her character, Caitlyn Wood from her wonderful story "For Entertainment Purposes Only" (www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/s/6108763/1/For_Entertainment_Purposes_Only) which I highly recommend!

McLovin',

Schoe B.