Title: I Am Not My Father's Son
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Two boys who are trapped within the stereotypes their own fathers produced find solace in one another. Multi-chapter.
Pairings: Albus Severus X Scorpius
Author Notes: Harry Potter doesn't belong to me. And, eh, I hope you enjoy this story. Anyone who is reading this that is hesitant of reading slash; please, look beyond that and find a story about two boy's coming of age.
Chapter 1
Finding The Room
It all began with desire. Albus Severus was tired of those stares. Everyone constantly expected something special out of him; after all he was the Harry Potter's son. But, as the year continued to progress the public was nothing short of disappointed at his lack of talent. Albus was an average student in every meaning of the word. While some students excelled at their charms; Albus was content with his feather barely floating an inch. Though, regardless of this, there was a strange sense of insecurity that lingered. In letters to his mother the young boy carefully avoided the subject of his studies and preferred to talk about all the 'fun new things' at Hogwarts. A normal boy would bring up friends, but, in an almost strange act of shyness, Albus had only bothered to really talk to a few of his classmates.
This sad life was about to change.
"Albus Severus!" moaned the Charms teacher who gave a disgruntled sigh at a burnt feather that rested before the boy. Shrugging slightly and letting a smile cross her face, she added, with a light, playful laugh, "Show us some of your Father's spirit!"
This was a small, tic-tac sized comment that should have gone ignored. But, upon hearing it, Albus was infuriated. He spent the rest of class thinking over it; wondering why he had to be born under such a well known name. Why did he, such a normal, boring boy, have to be a Potter? Was it some sick fate the gods took amusement in placing him under? Shaking his head of such horrid thoughts, heavy and slow footsteps headed towards the Gryffindor common room.
That was one of the few things the boy could be joyful for. He was absolutely terrified of ending up in Slytherin and, to his relief; the hat had listened to him and put him in the house of the brave. Though, there was one distinct problem with the house placement and it was that the boy wasn't as brave as what would be expected of him. Albus felt that he could never defeat the Dark Lord like his father had. There was a feeling of disappointment that filled the boy when he thought of other's expectations.
Simply put, he was not what people desired. Albus had no choice but walk in the shadows of a pre-destined legacy. The only thing that the boy wanted, at the moment was someone to talk to. His siblings were out of the question; they would just laugh and tease him while his parents would just reassure him with half-hearted cheers to 'just be himself.' And, in all reality, Albus wanted to be himself…but the world's hope didn't seem aligned to that wish. That was when, on his way to the commons, he noticed a small, wooden door. A frown filled the brown-haired boy's features. This door…it was never noticed before. Almost hesitantly he opened it to be greeted with an almost empty room save for a small chair next to an opening in the wall. Besides that the room had an almost dreary feel. The walls were made of dark brick, aged with time.
Curiosity drove Albus forward. Taking small strides toward the opening in the wall, which was a small hole with barely a circumference of one inch, he saw it was a small mirror and only saw his own reflection. Such a thing was a shame. He mumbled to himself with childish ease, "I guess this is just a very silly room."
"What was that?"
The hole had answered him. Innocent eyes widened at the discovery. "Who are you?" He said almost accusingly at the hole in the wall.
The voice answered. It was then that Albus began to take notice of the sound of the voice. The way it spoke, it was filled with anxiety, but each word seemed to be carefully thought out, "Are you…on the other side of this wall?"
The question was simple enough, but it still confused Harry Potter's son. Albus frowned, "Well, I'd assume that much." His face was now formed into a childish frown; lips jutting out.
"I've read about this place," the boy on the other side spoke up with sudden confidence in his intelligence, "it's supposed to be a place where you can get whatever you want. I…don't want a brick wall."
An eyebrow was raised on Albus' part. He couldn't quite understand the situation, "I wanted someone to talk to…" Quickly hands shot up to cover his mouth. Boys didn't talk like that.
Instead of receiving scorn from the other side, the intelligent voice added, "You too, eh?"
Any defenses Albus had set up fell. He let himself question what he was curious about.
"What do you mean?"