Running against time

Albus Potter shivered as he walked back to Gryffindor Tower through the chilly November night. Quidditch practice had just finished and it had been an extremely grueling one.

Olivia Spinnet, the daughter of Alicia Spinnet and captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, had pushed them like never before. The Slytherin match was just a weekend away and Olivia had requested the team practice almost everyday after classes.

It had been a week since Albus had really had a good nights sleep and it was starting to wear him down. His once bright green eyes had faded into more of a dull murky green with sinking bags.

Of course he couldn't really show how tired he was. His brother, James, would never stop taunting him. James had never thought that Albus was cut out for being a seeker. Albus was currently in his sixth year at Hogwarts and he had taken the spot as Gryffindor seeker when he was just in his second year.

Albus had almost had to quit the Quidditch team after mum had gotten back his report card. Year by year, mum and dad had muttered around the house about 'how much Albus was turning into a Fred'. Them kids had never really understood why they had described Albus as a 'Fred'.

Mum and dad wouldn't talk much about this Fred guy. Of course they knew Uncle George who was supposedly really close to Fred. He lived just right down the street. But never had they ever met a wizard named Fred. Suppose he could have been a muggle…When Albus had asked dad about this mysterious man Fred, his father had just sighed and told him that he didn't need to know.

Albus had been so curious he had even tried to ask the professors and wall paintings at Hogwarts! Unfortunately no one seemed to want to talk about him, not one bit. When he had asked Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione, they had just burst into tears. Albus had not wanted to try ever since.

He shivered and pulled his cloak closer to him as he walked. The wind howled in the distance. He couldn't wait until he was in the warm toasty Gryffindor common room. As he walked, his mind wandered to Tamara Bell, this girl in which he's been interested in ever since the fourth year!

Sadly Tamara had already had a boyfriend and even if she didn't have one he would never have the courage to ask her out anyways. Tamara was just way out of his league. He gave a loud sigh.

Life had been harsh recently. Himself and Rose had been fighting again. Also Albus's youngest sister, Lily, had just got a new boyfriend whom he detested. Lily deserved better than that git Scorpius.

When Albus had tried telling Lily what a downright ass he was, Lily had just shooed him away. She had said he was just jealous because he didn't have a girlfriend currently. Albus had blushed crimson at those words.

Of course what Lily said had been partially true. He was a tiny bit jealous. How could he not be when his older brother went about ruling the school and he was just looked on as a second option?

When Albus had explained all this to Lily he had just shrugged and told him to stop being such a wuss and man up. Albus, being the second oldest of the Weasley/Potter family currently at Hogwarts and also being the most responsible, had been entrusted with the role of making sure everyone was in line.

James had already been named prefect and just to be entrusted with this role… Albus felt proud, honored and slightly smug. For once James had not be selected. Plus Albus had always wanted to beat James in something. James had been effortlessly smart and witty and had been an amazing seeker, rumored to be par with the infamous Harry Potter. And James's girlfriends. Oh his girlfriends. They came in huge numbers. One by one they were swept away by his boyishly good looks and charming personality.

Albus however had had to work for his grades. Sometimes he , even if he didn't show it, was jealous of James. Everything had just been so easy. At first Albus had been a shy timid little boy. But when puberty struck, he had really grown. Well… He hadn't grown to be as charming and amazing as James, but he had certainly had his fair share of girls and the good life.

By this time, he had already reached the entrance to the Gryffindor common room. "Sugarshanks," he had muttered to the Fat Lady portrait which guarded the entrance.

"Oh Albus. You're back!," the Fat Lady giggled girlishly. The Fat Lady had seem to had gotten a crush on Albus over the years. Out of all the girls at Hogwarts, trust the Fat Lady to gain interest in him.

"Not now Fat Lady. I'm not in the mood. Also, I have a pile of Potions homework due tomorrow," he muttered before climbing in.

He could hear the sharp intake of breath from the Fat Lady. "How rude," she had muttered after he had left.

He couldn't care less. He was tired of trying to please everyone. He was tired of wanting to beat James. He was tired of being the son of the notorious Harry Potter. And most of all, he was tired of being outshined by everyone even when he tried his best.

He sat down in the corner of the room, far away from everyone else. Across he room, he could see his brother with literally the whole of Gryffindor surrounded around. James had just made a joke and everyone had burst out laughing.

Albus rolled his eyes and turned his attention towards the blank parchment in front of him. He had had 4 days and every time he sat down and tried to write something nothing would come to mind. And just like yesterday and the day before, nothing came to mind.

He hit the table in frustration causing a loud thump and everyone's gaze to land on him. He blushed crimson. Just then his eyes locked with Tamara and he flushed even more red. God, why did he always need to make a fool out of himself in front of her?

Just then, James burst out laughing causing everyone to giggle nervously too. Slowly James pushed past the throng of crowd and strutted towards Albus confidently.

"What are you doing little brother?" James ask in a mocking voice. Albus clenched his fist. He hated it when James tried to mock him in front of people. He couldn't take it anymore. He stood up and threw a punch in the direction of James's jaw.

James, surprised, staggered back clutching his now throbbing jaw. The nervous giggling died down and soon the room was filled with a deafening silence. James stood up. However this time, his face was contorted into a look of fury.

"Did you just hit me Albus?" James hissed. Albus recoiled. As much as Albus wanted to retort back with a witty reply, he was scared. James wasn't just his older mean brother, he was also a prefect and a boy loved by all.

"Sorry. I just… I cant. I need to go," Albus muttered before turning and sprinting out of the Gryffindor common room, leaving behind a seething James and a bunch of confused Gryffindors.