A/N: Thank you to blumm, Kigen Dawn, shelielaff, AnnaKuznetsova01, fireangle and DarkAthene for reviewing this story so far. Very much appreciated.
Words are the building blocks of life – Chapter Four
The Christmas holidays were great; they always were for Al. But this time, he wasn't dedicated to Potter/Weasley Christmas as he normally was. His mind was else where, he was constantly thinking about his new friend. Or, to be specific worrying about his new friend. Logically he knew Scorpius had managed just fine these previous eleven years, but it didn't stop Al fretting about him.
Al kept to his word, in fact he went above and beyond his promise. He firecalled his friend on average three times a day. Morning, afternoon, and evening. Some of that time was spent reading out the homework, reading the required text to Scorpius, scribing what Scorpius replied for his answers to the homework, and then spelling the handwriting to look different to his own.
Because Al called Scorpius every day, three times a day, they had plenty of time to just talk and get to know one another better. His dad had let him use the fireplace in his study. His dad was at work for some of the time, or preoccupied dealing with Lily, James, or Al's mum.
Occasionally his dad would be in the office when Al was making the calls, but he was working and on those occasions Al never mentioned Scorpius' problem.
Halfway through the Christmas holidays Al had an idea, and went in search of his dad. He found him in his study.
His dad looked up and smiled, "Here to use the fireplace again? You really like Scorpius huh?" he asked fondly.
Al shrugged. His family had all grilled him on his obsession about calling Scorpius everyday. If they went out for the day, Al always made sure he had access to a fireplace, or that he would be back in time to call Scorpius.
Gaining no response other than a shrug, Harry sighed, "You have lots of things in common?" He asked, trying to get an insight into why Al latched on to Scorpius, but seemed to remain closed up around others.
"Yeah. I guess. I just like him, he's...different. I know you lot laugh at me when I say I can read people really well, but it's true, and Scorpius is a good person, a great person, he has a wonderful soul. Don't look at me like that, I'm just answering your question." Al bristled.
Harry held up his hands, "No. I'm not mocking you. It's just strange hearing you talk like that about someone."
Al shrugged again, "Scorpius is the first person I met that wasn't related to me, and that I was drawn to. Big deal. Most people want to be my friend simply because my surname is Potter. Scorpius was the first person to tell me to shove off, and I liked that."
Harry smiled sadly, he knew being a Potter was trying at times, he often forgot that Al didn't deal with it as well as James or Lily. They seemed to love having the added popularity, and attention. Al shied away from it. If Al really had found someone he felt comfortable with, Harry decided he wasn't going to get in the way of that.
"Go ahead, call him." Harry indicated the fireplace, remembering why Al was in here.
Al shook his head, "Will call after dinner. I wanted to ask you to help me get in the attic, I want to find some things out."
Harry's curiosity was piqued, but he knew from experience the more you questioned Al, the further he retreated in on himself.
"Sure. Let me finish this, I'll stop by your room in about ten." Harry answered instead.
Harry got the ladder, opened the attic hatch and called Al. He followed him up.
"What are you looking for?" He couldn't help ask, the mystery getting the better of him.
He added quickly, "As I sorted the attic, I know where most things are. I can point you in the right direction."
Al was thoughtful a moment, "Those comics Angie did for us."
Angelina, Uncle George's wife was an excellent artist and after hearing various tales from Harry, and others, she started drawing little comic strips, and sometime book of the adventures of Harry and his friends and family. She would read them to her children, and to the various cousins growing up.
Harry smiled, "Feeling nostalgic?"
Al shrugged, "Kinda."
Harry sighed, Al was hard work to talk to but he was probably the most like himself out of all his children.
"Right. The far right hand side is all your stuff from childhood. The boxes are labelled, some is all of James pictures etc, then yours, and Lily's. There should be some boxes for generic joint childhood stuff." He replied, heading for the right hand side.
Al smiled at his dads back, he may not tell his dad enough, but he really did appreciate everything he has done for him. They had a wonderful childhood, full of love. Al had many fond memories and he knew he was very lucky to have his family.
"Thanks, Dad." Was all he said, although he was thinking a lot more.
After looking through a few boxes, and then reminiscing over the contents with his dad, they eventually found a box full of the comics.
"Excellent!" Al exclaimed.
Harry picked one out of the box at random, and smiled. It was based on the triwizard tournament. Harry flicked through the comic and stopped to admire Angelina's drawing skills, she really had captured the dragon that Harry had to face off against.
Harry placed it back in the box, and shrunk the box. He wound take it out of the attic and re-size it for Al.
Al took the box gratefully and emptied it onto his bed, he began sorting the comics in order. Starting with the very first one. Angelina would do small comic strips every time his dad, or someone told her something she found intresting. The first one was of his dad, living with muggles, and him getting his Hogwarts letter, and Hagrid's arrival.
It took some time to put them in order, there really was a lot of them. Eventually he managed it, and carried them to his dads study. His dad was once again at his desk working.
"Oh, sorry. I can wait." Al apologised, he felt bad for disturbing his dad when he was working.
His dad smiled at him, "Not at all. Come on in. I'm just updating some personal paperwork, accounts and stuff."
Al grimaced, "Boring."
"Sure is." Harry said amused.
He continued his work, but kept an eye on Al.
Al placed a few comic's in front of him. Harry knew that it was only a few, the entire collection was massive. Harry suspected if they were published, Ange would make a fortune.
Harry listened as Al firecalled Malfoy Manor. Surprisingly, Malfoy answered, usually Scorpius or the house elf would answer.
"Evening, Mr Malfoy. May I talk with Scorpius? Please." Al asked politely.
"Certainly. One moment, I'll get him for you." The cool reply came.
Harry would be able to pick out Malfoy's voice amongst a sea of people talking. It was distinctive, it was permanently etched into Harry's memory.
Scorpius appeared and grinned at Al.
"Hello." He greeted happily.
Harry smiled, Scorpius may have been reluctant to be Al's friend initially, but clearly he was very pleased he had Al as a friend. It was evident from the warm tome of his voice, Harry knew Scorpius would be smiling.
"Hello. I have a surprise for you." Al excitedly announced.
Harry rarely heard Al so animated, his voice full of emotion. Al wasn't cold towards others, of course not. But he was shy, would often go along with whatever the more boisterous members of the family wanted. Often being overlooked, as the other cousins, and even siblings took centre stage.
Harry couldn't help but overhear the conversation, but was confident in the fact that he knew Al wouldn't mind. Otherwise Al would have waited until later to call, when he knew he had the study to himself.
Harry listened as Al explained about Angelina's comics, and the theme of the comics.
"So I can read some to you if you like?" Al hesitated, unsure.
Harry thought it was odd, that Al offered to read them to Scorpius. Instead of just offering to lend them to Scorpius, for Scorpius to read himself. Maybe Al was protective of them, they were the only copy after all.
There was a moments silence, "Um, okay. Are you sure I'm allowed to hear what the comics entail?"
Al laughed, it was a nice sound to Harry.
"Of course. Most of it is public knowledge. Everyone knows dads a hero. Okay, some of it is private, or personal but..."
Al stopped and turned to his dad, "It's okay that I share these with, Scorpius?" He asked hopeful.
Harry couldn't say no, this was the first time in a long time that Al seemed happy.
"Of course it's okay. Go ahead." Harry gave his permission.
Al turned back to Scorpius, "Dad said it's fine. Unless, you don't want to hear about it?" Al asked unsure, losing his initial enthusiasm.
Scorpius shook his head, "No. I'd love to."
Al smiled, "I'll bring them back to Hogwarts with me. So you can see the excellent drawings that, Angelina has done."
Scorpius grinned too, "That would be nice. Thank you."
Al picked up the first comic, "This starts just before dads, eleven birthday. It's about him getting his Hogwarts letter and meeting Hagrid." Al explained, then proceeded to read the comic and show Scorpius, as best he could the comic strip.
Harry interrupted them, "Al?"
Al stopped and turned to his dad.
"This is ridiculous. Why don't you just invite, Scorpius over? Then he can see the comics properly, instead of squinting at them through the fire." Harry suggested.
Al thought for a moment, he turned back to Scorpius and Harry noted he seemed to be having a silent conversation with Scorpius.
"You don't have to. If your dad needs you..." Al said.
"No. It's fine. Um, father, is um...he is...it's fine." Scorpius answered.
Harry frowned but ignored the otherwise strange conversation.
Al smiled, "Great. Go tell your father where you are going, and I'll wait here for you."
Moments later Scorpios stepped into the study.
"Hey." He said to Al.
"Hi. Um, so this is my house. Well, um no not mine, my parents, but you know, I um live here." Al struggled to say.
Harry smiled, Al was so endearing.
Scorpius looked around the study, then waved at Harry, "Hello, Mr Potter. Thank you for having me."
Harry smiled, "A friend of Al's is always welcome."
"So, do you want to...um...you know.." Al indicated the door.
Scorpius frowned, "What?"
"Go to my room?" Al answered blushing.
Harry wondered why inviting a friend to his room was cause to blush, but put it down to Al just being awkward around people.
"Sure." Scorpius replied.
Harry went to inform, Ginny, that Al had a friend over. She was always complaining that he didn't tell her things.
Al had no idea why he was nervous about, Scorpius seeing his room. He opened the door and gestured for Scorpius to enter first.
Scorpius stepped into a decent sized double bedroom. It was obviously lived in, every available surface had personal belongings, nicknack's, photos, and everything that was Al. Scorpius smiled, he felt relaxed and content being in this room, it was so very Al, and that was comforting.
Al rubbed the back of his neck, "So, er...it's not as grand as the manor...but..."
Scorpius turned to Al, "I love it."
Al stopped rubbing his neck, and grinned, "Oh, thanks."
they settled on Al's bed, Al opened the comic and let Scorpius look at the pictures, until he got to the part they reached earlier.
"I'll read now, we can look at it together." He suggested, moving closer to Scorpius.
Harry looked in on them some time later. They were both sat back against Al's pillows, knees up, a comic between them, propped up against their raised legs. Sat close, arms touching and heads bent forwards, taking in the comic.
Harry didn't want to disturb them, he left. He was out of sight, but still within hearing range. When he heard Scorpius, he stopped and listened.
"You know, I'm a lot like your dad." Scorpius observed.
"How so?" he heard Al question.
"We both had to miss out on simple childhood things. Your dad did a lot of the cooking and cleaning, so do I. Toshy isn't in the best of states, and father..." He trailed off.
"I wish I could have been your friend sooner." Al remarked, he would have helped.
Scorpius chuckled, "Me too.
Ginny, called out that dinner was ready and Harry quickly moved so he wouldn't be caught eavesdropping.
Al turned to Scorpius, "Oh, um...I forgot to tell mum you were here. I'm not sure if she's made you any dinner, although she always cooks too much, so I'm sure there will be enough."
Just then Ginny, yelled again, "Al, Scorpius, I said dinner is ready."
Al grinned, "Looks like you're staying after all."
Scorpius was only ever used to either eating alone, or with his father if he was feeling okay. It was strange, being sat around a large table, but for it to be full of happy chatting people.
Lily smiled at him, James grunted a hello, Mrs Potter ushered him into a chair and shoved a plate piled high with food in front of him.
Al sat next to him, "Mum, always cooks too much. You don't have to eat it all."
Scorpius appreciated what Al was doing, making him feel comfortable.
The occupants began talking amongst themselves, Scorpius ate in silence, observing them and listening to what they had to say.
"Muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuum, You know..." James began.
Ginny cut him off, "Whatever it is, the answer is no." She firmly stated.
James huffed, "Spoil sport."
moments later James said, "Daaaaaaaad..."
"Nope. Nice try but your mums word is final." Harry said amused.
James scowled, "You don't even know what I was asking. I could need a kidney and you've said no. What if I was dying."
Harry laughed, "It's clearly not that, James."
James shrugged and mumbled something that sounded like, "I'll ask Uncle George."
He looked to his parents, "Don't expect me to care for you when you're old." He said in a strop.
Ginny laughed this time, "James, that's a long time away. Besides, Lily or Al would be better suited to it."
"What is that supposed to mean? I can beat them when it comes to anything, I can be caring." He was annoyed.
"I'm sure you can." Ginny said smiling.
Lily announced, "I'll do it. Mum can live with me..."
"Hey, what about me?" Harry piped up, joking.
"You can live with Al. I can't do all the work/" She seriously said, like this was going to be happening soon, and not years and years away.
Al raised his eyebrows, "Just volunteer my services. I might be busy."
"Doing what?" Lily asked.
"Dunno, travelling the world." He replied.
"By yourself." James mocked.
"No. I'll go with Scorpius." He declared.
James rolled his eyes, "Of course. Anyway, I'm the oldest, both parents will stay with me."
"They will die within the week." Al stated.
"No they won't. Take that back." James demanded.
"Boys." Ginny warned.
Harry sighed, "Your mother and I will be fine by ourselves, thank you. Please, be quiet and eat your dinner."
Scorpius wasn't put off by the bickering, the noise, or the fact that James was sulking. In fact he rather liked it, it was nice – different, but nice.
Scorpius returned home, his happy mood remaining in place, upon seeing his father like his usual self. He was playing chess with Toshy.
"Enjoy your evening at the, Potters?" He enquired.
Scorpius sat on the chair opposite his father, "Yes. It was great."