A/N - Well, personally, I find this chapter really upsetting! But there is a point to this all, don't worry - enjoy!
A Decision For Albus
Its weird how so much can turn around in so short a time – how rain can turn to snow with one cold wind, how love can turn to hate with one sour word and how a boy who felt cut off can be the centre of attention because of one conversation.
Not that Albus is complaining. This is what he always wanted: his opinions respected and waited for, people who listened to what he had to say, who looked at him while he spoke.
People who cared.
And so he was dreading the holidays as other students dread exams, fearing the awful, cheery family gatherings where once again he would be pushed backwards against the walls, shut out, ignored. This hung over every day like the letter from his dad sat on his desk, unopened, waiting for an answer.
But the more Albus was respected by his other friends, the less he wanted to be with his family. He'd been avoiding them, not meeting their eyes in lessons, sitting apart at meals, not joining them in the little meetings in the library that they used to have. They didn't seem to have noticed, all busy discussing things in low voices and casting distressed glances at Dom. He had realised that, but he didn't know why. And strangely, he hardly cared.
Somewhere along the road he had grown bitter, angry, sour. Jealous of their unavoidable draw, like that of Veela, jealous of the way they all seemed like a family, jealous of how he didn't, couldn't, wouldn't fit in.
The holidays were still looming.
And then, Albus made a decision. He wasn't going to do it, wasn't going to make himself miserable, wasn't going to fade back and deal with it like every other year. He stopped pacing around his room, and flung himself into a chair and began to write in a frustrated scrawl.
After a few moments, he stopped writing, and when the ink had dried he rolled the parchment up and set off to the Owlery at once.
Dad won't be too angry – Mum will be but James will cheer her up. Now I need to find somewhere else to stay for Christmas, because at Hogwarts it will be almost as bad. I think some of the others are going to Tanya's for the holidays…I bet they'll let me come with if I mention it.
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