*Author's note: for anyone who read the first story in this series welcome back, if you haven't read the first one go and read it, this one will make more sense. This story is supposed to take place 1 year after the first, starting at the quidditch world cup (which is England v.s Bulgaria this year) that's why it's 26 years later. Hope you like this one and please leave comments I would like any and all feedback and/or ideas. - Kay*
Chapter 1: Reunited at last
The crowd roared to life with cheers as Albus Severus Potter caught the golden snitch, winning the Quidditch World Cup for England. He thrust his fist high in the air as he did a victory lap around the pitch. As he landed his team hoisted him on to their shoulders and carried him over to the teams dressing room. After everything had calmed down Albus headed out of the arena to try and find his family. As he stepped out of the door he was approached by an elderly gentleman and none other than Viktor Krum.
"You are Albus Potter?" The man asked. He had a thick Bulgarian accent, it was rather hard for Albus to understand what he was saying.
"Uh yes, and who might you be?" Albus extended a hand to the man, who shook it lightly.
"I am Ivan Williams, the recruitment head for the national Bulgarian quidditch team. Are your parents around, I would like to speak to them and you."
"Uh, yes. They should be in their tent. Follow me." Albus lead the way to a tent just around the other side of the arena.
"Mum, Dad?!" He called as he walked into the tent.
"Oh Albus darling! We're so proud!" Ginny said as she pulled her son into a bone crushing hug.
"Mum, Dad. This is Mr. Williams he wants to talk to us."
"Oh yes. Have a seat Mr. Williams." Mr. Williams took a seat on the sofa across from Harry and Ginny who sat in arm chairs. Viktor Krum stood to the side of Mr. Williams, Albus did the same, standing beside his mother.
"Mr and Mrs. Potter, as I'm sure you are aware Mr. Krum here was the youngest seeker to ever play in the world cup, that was until your son Albus joined the English team. As you must be aware Mr. Krum announced that he would be retiring from quidditch after the world cup. Well he has decided that your son should replace him as seeker for the Bulgarian team."
"What?!" Albus said, a mingled look of shock and excitement spread across his face.
"Wait, you want our 17 year old son to go and play for the Bulgarian quidditch team? You want him to move to Bulgaria?" Ginny asked looking thoroughly confused.
"I would like Albus to take my spot as seeker on the Bulgarian team. He has a unique talent, he would be a great addition to the team." Viktor said, speaking for the first time.
"But he would have to move to Bulgaria?" Harry asked.
"Well, yes. He would have to live in Bulgaria, but he would have time off during the holidays and he would get an additional two months of vacation time." Mr. Williams said pulling a brown envelope out of his jacket pocket.
"He would also be welcomed to stay with my family and I until he can find his own permanent place to live." Viktor said looking at Ginny.
"Thank you Viktor, that's very kind of you." Ginny said giving him a small smile.
"This is the contract for the position, Viktor and I have already signed we just need Albus to sign it." Mr. Williams said passing the envelope over to Harry and Ginny so they could read through it.
After Ginny, Harry, and Albus had read through it fully Ginny looked up at her son,
"So, Albus. This is your choice, do you want to take the offer?" Ginny gave him a reassuring smile.
"Yes!" Albus just about shouted. He quickly signed it and passed it back to Mr. Williams.
"Thank you, thank you both for this great opportunity. I would love to stay but I really must go, I'm rather late." Albus quickly said goodbye to his parents before running off. He had received a letter that morning from Natalia. He hadn't heard from her in over a year as per their agreement. She had asked him to meet her two hours after the match in her tent. It was already an hour and a half after the match and he still need to go and see Lily, Scorpius, James, Maia, Hugo, Edwin, Sage, and Rose. They had gotten one giant tent that they all shared to get away from their parents. Albus walked into the tent to see complete chaos. Everyone was jumping around chanting "England", and waving english flags around.
"What in Merlin's name is going on here?" Everyone turned at the sound of Albus' voice.
"Al!" They all yelled. He nearly fell over from the force of Lily hugging him.
"Lils you're killing me." He said as Lily began to let go.
"Sorry." She said blushing.
"Congrats Al." James said hugging his little brother. Albus was overjoyed to see James and Maia. They had both moved to Romania to Join Albus' and James' uncle Charlie at the dragon reserve. James was working with the dragons and Maia had trained to be a healer, who now had to heal burns and dragon wounds.
"Thanks." He said letting go of James so he could hug Maia, his soon to be sister in law. Her and James had gotten engaged two months ago.
"Great job today Al." Hugo said walking over to hug his cousin.
"Yeah, great job." Edwin said shaking hands with Albus. Edwin and Hugo were still together and trying to figure out a way to make long distance work next year while Hugo's still in school.
"You know I didn't think you could do it." Sage said with a wink, before hugging Albus. Albus and Sage had gotten a lot closer this past year as their siblings had been ignoring them.
"Not like you could do any better." He shot back. He quickly regretted his comment, as Sage had swiftly punched him in the arm.
"Sage we've been over this." Rose said in her "mother" voice. She had become the mother of the friend group since Maia now lived in Romania. She acted as a mother figure to Sage as her's and Scorpius' mother had died a few years back. Sage really looked up to Rose.
"I'd love to stay and party but I'm going to be late if I don't leave now." Albus said slowly backing towards the door.
"Where are you going?" James said looking confused.
"He's going to meet Nat obviously." Lily said. Albus had turned beet red at her words.
"What? I thought you guys weren't talking." Sage said, looking confused.
"We weren't, but I got a letter from her this morning asking me to meet her. Last year we agreed not to talk or meet till the world cup." Albus had the biggest grin on his face, he looked like a little kid who just found out his crush likes him.
"Go then! Stop standing here talking to us. We can wait." Lily said starting to push Albus towards the door.
"See you guys later." He called back behind him as he left. He made his way through the maze of tents, looking for just one. He knew he had found the right tent, as it had bright red tulips, Natalia's favorite flower, growing outside. It also had a little sign hanging on the front that read,
"Natalia Krum" With two little hearts on either side of her name. As it was a tent and therefore had no door, Albus knocked on the wooden post holding it up to make his presence known. The tent flap was pushed back to reveal Miss. Natalia Krum. She looked just as Albus remembered her. Her golden eyes met his, fleeting to a rose gold.
"Albus!" She swung her arms around his neck, pulling him into a hug. Albus remembered how much he missed this, how much he missed her.
"Come in, please." She said letting go of him and moving back to let him into her tent. As he stepped in he took a look around the quaint little tent, which was clearly meant for only one or two people. There was a small kitchen and dining table pushed to one side, and couch and armchair on the other side. There was a small room at the back closed off, Albus assumed it was her bedroom.
"Take a seat." Natalia said gesturing to the couch. Albus took a seat, Natalia sat beside him.
"So congrats on winning tonight."
"Oh thanks. Your dad played really well, I almost thought we were going to lose." Albus and Natalia laughed.
"So how has your past year been?" He asked, wanting to know so badly.
"Oh, well it was interesting. I've never really liked Durmstrang, it just gives me an odd vibe. It wasn't too bad though. So how have you been?"
"Good, really good. I wasn't really there for my last year at Hogwarts, I was constantly pulled away to practice with the rest of the English team. It's been kind of hard though with James and Maia living in Romania now. Mum is constantly worried about them, and Dad is dead set against Lily becoming an Aura. it's also been really hard on them because I'm constantly away playing quidditch. It's just really hectic."
"Yeah, Lily was telling me about the whole Aura thing. I'm really happy for James and Maia though, now that they're engaged." Albus had forgotten that everyone else had been writing to Natalia and visiting her.
"I've missed this." Natalia said with a sigh.
"Missed what?"
"Talking to you. It's been really hard for me not to write to you, to distract myself from school or just to tell you about things going on in my life."
"Yeah I know what you mean." It was silent for a few minutes. They just sat there together, happy they were finally talking again.
"Al?"
"Yeah Nat?"
"I… I want to try again. Try being together, in a relationship again."
"Nat." Albus looked at her, he could see the hope in her eyes.
"Nat, I… I can't. I have a girlfriend, I'm sorry." Albus could see her eyes turning lilac.
"Oh, okay. It's fine, she's a lucky girl. Who is she?" Natalia's eyes changed back to gold.
"Sage. We haven't really told anyone that we're together."
"Sage, really? I didn't know you guys were into each other."
"Yeah. We started spending more time together last summer and during the school year, because Lily and Scorp are together and Rose was way to into her studies. We never really realized how much we have in common, because we never really spent time together just the two of us. Nat please don't tell anyone about me and Sage, we don't want anyone to know yet just in case it doesn't work out. I also don't feel like being murdered by Rose and Scorp." Natalia knew she couldn't be sad or angry that Albus had moved on because she was the one who dumped him. She smiled at Albus, she knew he'd feel guilty if he knew how she really felt.
"I promise I won't tell anyone. So how long have you two been together?"
"Umm, well I guess it'd be a year in September." A sharp pain hit Natalia in the chest. How could he have moved on so quickly, when she couldn't even think about being with someone else a year after they broke up?
"Wow, good for you guys." Natalia quickly tried to think of something to get rid of Albus, she couldn't hold back the tears for much longer.
"Oh, look at the time. You must be exhausted. Why don't you head back to your tent for the night and maybe we could meet up sometime tomorrow?" Albus looked over at the clock on the wall. Realizing it was past midnight he got up.
"Yeah that sounds good. Just owl me if you want to hangout. Goodnight Nat." He lent over and kissed her on the cheek. It had been so long since Natalia had felt that, but it felt so right. She watched as Albus left, the flap of the tent swaying as he walked out. When she was sure he couldn't hear her anymore, she broke down in tears, the pain of losing him was too much for her.