The house was quiet when he got home. It wasn't a secret where Albus was going that morning when he left with Da; he'd expected them all to be there waiting to bombard him with a million questions.
"Mum took Lily over to Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione's, she was sitting by the fireplace shaking with anticipation." James was in the doorway leading off the living room. "Mum didn't think you'd want her jumping all over you soon as you got home. I'm suppose to suggest that we go over there and be social, if you're feeling up to it. I figure with you fighting with Rose, something you are going to explain to me eventually, and everything else going on you'd just want to enjoy a quiet house." He pushed himself off the wall and walked toward Albus. "How did it go?"
Albus closed his eyes and crossed to the couch. He fell heavily onto the cushions. "I don't know. The doctor is really nice and easy to talk to. We mostly talked about everything except my nightmares. I think she's saving that, wants me to trust her before we get into it, you know."
The couch sunk next to him and James slung his arm over Albus' shoulders. "She's a Muggle, her husband is a wizard." James nodded.
"She suggested that I try to face whatever is chasing me in the woods." James knew almost everything about Albus' dreams; his older brother had been the first person he'd gone to when he was little. There were a lot of nights where Albus climbed into James bed after a bad one. "I don't know if I can do that James. Dr. Whitley kept insisting that they're dreams and they can't hurt me but... I'm scared, James. So scared and for long as I can remember I've felt like the thing chasing me will hurt, as soon as it gets me."
James hm'd. Albus sighed, his tactic worked but it was annoying. James waited and waited, until Albus couldn't take it anymore. Then he'd start spilling things he was keeping really close, and that wouldn't do. Not on a day like today. "What should I do James?"
Albus opened one eye to observe his brother. James' brow furrowed and he frowned, "I can't tell you what to do, Allie." Albus huffed. "Really, you've got to decide that one on your own."
He groaned, James was right, no one could help him decide where to go from here. "C'mon," Albus pushed himself up quickly, "let's go on over. I need to get out, maybe we can play quidditch." He stood and turned to James, he was frowning. "I've gotten plenty of sleep lately," He defended himself.
"And what about you and Rose?" James' lips twitch, he never questioned Albus' rest.
He crossed his arms over his chest. "I'll talk to her." Albus was angry at Rose, and still very hurt. But she was his best friend, truly, and he didn't want to be mad at her. He would hear her out, whatever she had to say. Which was probably a lot by now; knowing Rose this had been eating at her since their awkward farewell at Kingscross.
James stood, "Okay, let's go then." He ruffled Albus' hair, "Knew you couldn't stay mad at her for long." Albus hm'd noncommittally, it was debatable how long he would be mad at Rose.
Albus loved Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione's house. It was like the Burrow, away from other folks. It was peaceful, except on days like the one James and himself stumbled upon.
"Hello dears," Aunt Hermione greeted them as she rushed after a tiny blur with wispy blond hair. "You're on your own," She called over her shoulder.
"Looks like the twins are over," James chuckled. "I'm going to find Mum, go talk to Rose." Albus waited until James' back was to him before sticking out his tongue. That was his plan all along.
"Lorcan, no!" Albus heard Mum shout off to the left so he turned right and headed outdoors.
He knew his cousin and Rose would be studying under the White Willow near the field they played Quidditch in.
He saw Hugo and Lily hunched over an old cauldron muttering to each other. "No, Hugo, we can't put that in there yet." Lily's voice floated over to him.
"Why not?" Hugo moaned. "You're making it harder than it has to be, Lil."
Lily pulled herself up and Albus chuckled, she looked just like Mum. "I am older than you Hugo Weasley, therefor I know better."
Hugo muttered, "only by four months."
Albus was pass them then and couldn't hear anything else. He knew that was for the better, knowing the soon-to-be third years whatever they were concocting in the cauldron would more than likely get them yelled at. He slowed his pace when the willow came into view, he was eager to see Rose, but still unsure what to say. Finally he couldn't draw it out any longer, he was at the willow, pushing back the soft leaves he stepped into the shade.
Rose furrowed her brow, "I told you, Hugo, I don-" She looked up, her mouth snapped shut. "A-Albus..." she finally sputtered.
"Rose..."
"What...I mean... How are you?" Rose winced, but held her ground.
"I'm fine."
"Oh." Rose looked around, her eyes landing every where but on Albus. "Have a seat?" she finally choked out. He sat down next to her and leaned against the trunk. She cleared her throat, "I heard my parents talking last night." Albus made a noise of acknowledgment. "You went to see someone today?"
Albus sighed, nothing was a secret in this family, at least not between their families. "Yeah. Dr. Bethany Whitley, Muggle Head shrink."
"Oh..." Rose looked at him, "How did it go?" Albus shrugged his shoulders. "C'mon, Al, talk to me-" The silence stretched to an uncomfortable length of time. "I'm so sorry, Albus! It was terrible thing for me to do. I wish I could take it back."
Albus looked at her; the anger built around his heart melted away at the pleading look in her eyes, and the big, silver tear starting it's way down her cheek. "Why did you do it, Rosie?"
"Oh," she growled in frustration, "I don't know! I just...it's so stupid now. I didn't want Malfoy taking advantage of you, and I thought...I don't know what I thought, but it was bad. And I said so many mean things to him, Albus. I keep seeing it my mind and..." She groaned and threw her head back. Albus winced at the way it thumped off the tree trunk but Rose didn't even blink.
Albus swallowed thickly, "what exactly did you tell him?"
"Albus," her lip trembled, "I figured he knew." He wasn't mad, honestly. He'd expected as much. "I mean you were sleeping with the git, I just...assumed." Rose's face flared bright red. She hated assuming things.
"I wasn't sleeping with him. Not like that." Albus crossed his arms over his chest. "And what else did you tell him? Did you tell him I was using him to get sleep?"
"Not...exactly like that."
"How exactly then?"
Rose balled her hands into fist, "I don't know, okay! I was so mad and just kept saying one thing after another."
Albus snorted, "you're a piece of work, cousin."
She groaned, "I'm really, really sorry Albus. I never should have said anything. And the way Malfoy was looking...I'm a terrible person, I know." Rose leaned against the trunk, but didn't slam her head back this time. "I'm a right bugger, aren't I?"
Albus sighed, "no, you're not, Rosie. You were looking out for family. Ill-willed and mean-spirited, but still just looking out." He was still angry at Rose, but it was a dull anger.
"You're too good, Albus. That's why I was worried about you, you'll forgive and forget anything." Rose leaned against his shoulder. "So...how did it go?" Albus sighed, after James Albus trusted Rose more than anything in the world. And even though she'd broken that trust with what she did to Scorpius, Albus knew he could tell her anything still.
He opened up and spilled to her everything he had to James and when he was done he didn't feel any better than the first time. "It's so ridiculous Rose, how can she expect me to face a nightmare that has been haunting me for nine years, and that's only the time I can remember." He looked at his cousin, she had that look on her face she got when studying a subject that gave her more trouble than the others.
"I think you should do it, Al," She said finally, surprising Albus.
"What? Really?"
"Yes, you should. Maybe facing what is chasing you will help you move pass it. Maybe it'll change the dream and you'll stop having it. You don't know. You wont know till you try." Rose was excited, and Albus groaned, to her it was a project. Something that could potentially teach something. He loved that Rose was so easily enthralled by knowledge, he just didn't want to be the center of that focus.
"No, it's crazy. That...whatever it is...when it catches me it's going to hurt me, Rose!" Albus started out with his voice high but had forced it down, he didn't want to draw attention to their hide-a-way.
Rose waved her hands, "It's a dream, Albus, it can't hurt you." He sputtered, readying an argument to rival hers. She beat him to it though, "You know what will happen if you don't face the thing chasing you? Nothing. The nightmare will continue and you will still be in the same predicament. And you wont have even tried."
Albus growled and muttered to himself for a minute. She was completely right, and he knew it. He could continue to be terrified of sleeping or he could try to face his fears. "I wont do it alone."
"Did you think I'd let you?" She was giving him a tentative smile, not sure if it was time yet to be back to their old joking selves.
He smiled, teeth showing and all, it probably reached his eyes, "Not even for a second."
So I've decided to never ever ever promise you anything ever again. Updates will happen...just no more promises.
