Chapter 19

Like Father, Like Son

Al felt as though he was floating. He had plunged into the ice-cold depths, his body felt numb from pressure and exertion, but finally he was floating calmly on the surface. His mind felt like it was wrapped in cotton wool. His hearing was muffled and his vision was blanketed with fog. He groaned as he felt a sharp pain in his chest.

"He's waking."

A voice. He knew that voice. That voice was the first voice he'd heard soon after he'd taken his first breath. That voice had taught him how to walk, to swim, to fly. That voice had guided him to the light when he was so close to death. That voice belonged to his dad. His dad was there.

"D…aaaad…." He croaked. His voice felt raw, as though he had just drunk a vile of poison.

"Albus." Harry's voice was clearer now. Although Albus' vision was still foggy, it was a relief to hear his dad's voice as clear as a bell on Christmas day.

"Dad." Albus groaned. "I can't see. I just see shapes. It's all fuzzy."

"I know. I know." Harry soothed. "Their mental attack has taken a toll on your mind, son. To see through another's eyes has made your own eyesight a lot…" Harry sighed as he tried to find the right words.

"A lot what?" Albus felt tears prick the corners of his eyes. "Will I be able to see again dad?"

"Yes you will Albus." Harry said firmly. "Poppy, any news?"

Albus saw a fuzzy outline of a witch at the foot of his bed. He assumed it was Madame Pomfrey. He squinted as she performed some last-minute check-ups.

"Well, Harry, it seems like Albus will be just fine." She smiled. Harry sighed with relief, but Albus didn't feel comforted. He knew grownups said things only to reassure their charges.

"But, Madam Pomfrey, when will my eyesight return to normal?" Albus asked, hoping against hope it wouldn't be the answer he thought it was going to be. He could see the outline of Madame Pomfrey's shoulders sag in defeat. Albus felt a lump in his throat. Harry put a gentle hand on his son's shoulder.

"I'm sorry Albus." She whispered, "But, no one comes away from a mental onslaught like that without any damage." Al felt a tear run down his cheek. He furiously wiped it away. "But before you come to any judgements young man." She said, more firmly this time. "You will be able to see normally again."

Al frowned. But then realisation dawned on him as she produced an object in her hand. He could only see a fuzzy shape in her hand, but he knew exactly what they were, and laughed. For the first time in a long time, he laughed a genuine laugh, despite the pain from the scar. Harry grinned.

"I'll be just like you dad." Al smiled as Madame Pomfrey handed Harry the glasses, who put them on his son.

Albus had never felt so relieved when the fog lifted like a curtain and he could see even the smallest of details. His father's face swam into view and Albus felt his heart sore, for pride was evident in every feature of his father's face, from his wide smile, to his shimmering green eyes.

"Except you are your own person, Albus Severus. Never forget that." Harry said. "The boy who discovered Nott, defeated Voldemort and Armon, and united all the houses, I couldn't be more proud of you."

Al offered a small smile as tears of joy threatened to cloud his eyesight once more. He shook them away and accepted his father's warm embrace, although it was more of a half embrace as Harry was careful not to cause his son any more discomfort due to the scar on his chest.

Once Albus was able to regain his composure, his eyes widened as he saw the huge pile of sweets and gifts at the foot of the bed. There were so many in fact, that huge piles covered almost an entire stretch of the hospital wing. Albus glanced at his dad and raised an eyebrow.

"Er… how?"

Harry chuckled. "As Professor Dumbledore said to me when I was in a similar predicament at the end of my first year, what happened to you in the Tomb was a secret, so naturally, the entire school knows."

Albus laughed softly.

"Now I think it's time to send the others in." Harry said, more to Pomfrey than to Albus, "They are dying to see you, especially your mother who had to physically drag James out of here to go to his classes. Even Lucius came by a couple times, you should have seen Ron's face…"

"James was here." Albus gasped, cutting his father off. Then Albus' eyes widened, "What about Rose and Scorp? Are they okay? Nott threatened them…!"

"They are fine Albus." Harry chuckled. "They are just worried about you. You have been unconscious for three days."

"Three whole days!" Albus exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want you to worry." Harry said softly, he then stood up slowly, stretching his legs as he had been sitting by his son's side the whole time. Albus could see the dark rims underneath his father's eyes. He must be still standing on sheer willpower alone.

"Dad, after you fetch mum and the others, you should sleep."

"My thoughts exactly Mister Potter." Madam Pomfrey said briskly. "Harry, you need to recover your strength. Once you get the others I want you back here in that bed next to your son and asleep."

Albus stifled a giggle as his dad bowed his head in submission, as if he were still a student here.

"'Course Poppy, I'll just get Ginny, I want her to tell Al is awake in person."

"Don't be too long young man!"

Harry quickly walked out of the door and out of the Hospital Wing to avoid any more of Madame Pomfrey's orders. Albus smirked as the old mediwitch of Hogwarts winked at him. She then picked up a couple of gifts and placed them on Albus' lap.

"Enjoy them lad." She smiled softly. "You've earned it."

Once Madame Pomfrey was out of sight in her office, Albus eagerly dived into the presents. He felt like the kid he was supposed to be. He picked up a cream coloured enveloped and he gasped at the intricate handwriting in silver ink. His eyes widened. This was from Bellatrix. Why would she bother sending him a card? His eyes darkened. His blood boiled with suppressed anger. She was the one who led him to Nott before the feast in the first place. But despite his better judgement, with curiosity churning in his gut, he ripped the envelope open and read the parchment, the lump in his throat growing bigger as he passed each line.

Dear Albus,

I don't even know where to begin. I know what you must think of me now. How will you even look at me when you eventually do get better? But I need you to know, I swear on my mother's life that I didn't know it was him. Please believe me Albus. I know now that I've been a complete prat to you this entire year. I guess taking my anger out on you helped me forget about my father and the fact that I am named after a monster who killed your uncle.

Albus breathed in sharply. She was apologising to him. He could see a few damp patches on the parchment which blotted some of the letters. He gasped. Those were tears. He felt strangely guilty for judging Bellatrix so harshly. They were both just kids trying to make their own legacies instead of being tethered to their fathers'. He continued reading:

I am sorry for a lot of things Albus. I am sorry for not recognising my father, even if he was using Polyjuice, I should have at least suspected something. I knew you suspected something was off, and I guess when you asked me if I had seen anything suspicious, I just wanted to deny everything you said about my father when it was all true. I am also sorry for what Goyle and Burns did to Scorpius. I talked them into it. I have no excuse for that except I was jealous. Jealous that your father was the hero and mine was not. Jealous that you, a first year were so talented and famous and we were the nobodys in the crowd. I will try to make things right, Albus. Although I still believe in pureblood supremacy, I will try and understand your views on society, I will try to see through blood.

I am not going to bore you any longer. I think I have apologised enough. I still have my pride. Instead, I hope you get better soon. I need you to be back in Potions class to win us some more points.

Albus laughed at that. This letter must have cost his housemate a lot of pride to write.

So instead of giving you sweets, which I am sure you probably have tons of from admirers around the school, I have decided to give you a charm. It has a picture of two animals, a snake and a lion. It has been in my family for years. Apparently, it was Gryffindor's gift to Salazar before they built the Tomb. It is a charm of friendship. I hope that one day soon, we could maybe be friends?

Get well soon Albus.

Bella.

Albus felt tears well in his eyes. He anxiously unwrapped the small box attached to the envelope he had cast aside. His eyes widened, for on a thin leather cord, was the silver charm. To say it was beautiful was an understatement. Albus placed the cord around his neck and it fit snugly under his robes. Al smiled. It felt right.

"Albus!" His musings were interrupted as his brother charged into the hospital wing and gave him a hug. Albus hissed as his scar burned from contact. James let go at once.

"Sorry little bro." he grinned as Albus scowled at him.

"James, what part of 'a cursed blade hurt Al so be careful' did you not understand." Their mother chided her eldest and James' cheeks burned the Weasley shade of red in embarrassment.

"Albie!" Ginny cried and she kissed her son on the forehead, minding his glasses as she did so. "My baby! I was so worried. I would have come to but I couldn't leave James and Lily in case something happened to both your father and I. I missed you so much! I'm so proud of you Albus!"

"Thanks mum." Al smiled, ignoring James' sniggers when their mother called him by his old nickname.

Lily, meanwhile, had jumped on his bed, startling the Potter clan, and she crawled next to her brother, being careful not to touch his chest though.

"Hey Lils." Albus grinned as his sister smiled her toothy grin up at him.

"You know Al." She said slyly, "I want to be in Slytherin just like you when I come to Hogwarts."

James blanched and made a sound as though he was choking, Harry and Ginny shared a bemused look. Albus merely smirked.

"It is the better house after all." Albus said.

"It is not." James said. "Mum, dad, back me up here."

Harry chuckled. "I'm not saying anything son."

"Well, I personally agree with the younger Potters, Slytherin will always be superior."

Harry whirled around and Al and James shared a startled look as none other than Lucius Malfoy strode pompously into the room. Draco and Astoria followed behind, as well as, to Albus' delight Scorpius and Rose Weasley.

"Malfoy." Harry nodded towards the eldest Malfoy who returned the gesture.

"Mister Malfoy, sir." Albus said.

Lucius nodded towards the youngest Potter boy and then signalled to his grandson, who then, along with Rose, rushed to Al's bedside.

"Holy mother of all mothers Al!" Rose exclaimed, forgetting all decorum. Scorpius nudged Rose who glanced towards Lucius who gazed coolly at Ron Weasley's daughter. She smiled sheepishly at the elderly gentleman and then turned her gaze back to her cousin.

"You defeated a demon." Scorpius grinned, "And not just any demon. The demon the Founders had to lock away because they couldn't defeat it."

"Yeah well, it wasn't just me." Albus shared a look with Scorpius' father whose lip curled into a smile.

"Thank you, Mister Malfoy for saving me and opening the Tomb for the others." Albus whispered. Lucius gasped and glanced towards his son, as though seeing him in a different light for the very first time. Lucius frowned.

"Is that true Draco?" he said, as though he couldn't quite believe what he had heard.

Draco nodded. "It's true, father."

"Merlin's beard!" James grinned. Harry shot a glare at his son for interrupting the moment between the two Malfoy's, but brushing his father aside, James went to stand straight in front of Draco who raised his eyebrow at the eldest Potter boy. "Dude you must've taken on like six Death Eaters at once, hey, hey Dad, why don't you make him an Auror?"

Rose, Scorpius and Albus giggled as Harry and Draco shared looks of utmost horror. Harry recovered the quickest as he coughed, which sounded more like he was choking, but he didn't exactly cover his shock that well. Lucius glared at James for even saying such a thing, the boy was completely unfazed by the Malfoy glare that gave Scorpius nightmares as a child.

"Well, er, Jamie, I think Malfoy has had enough adventure to last him a life time." Harry said at last.

"Quite." Malfoy replied cryptically, "But Potter, in all seriousness, if you do need a Slytherin to do the job again, I'd be happy to oblige." Draco uncharacteristically winked at Albus and Lily who sniggered as Harry's cheeks turned a ghastly shade of scarlet.

Rose and Scorpius then, possibly in an attempt to diffuse the awkwardness that had crept into the room, but most likely not due to Scorpius' lack of tact, decided to help themselves to some of Al's sweets.

"Ugh, I think I got a poop flavour." Scorpius croaked, as he swallowed the Bertie Bots every bean with a croak, "Water. I need water."

"Um, Scorp, how do you know what er…" Rose glanced at Lucius, who had his eyebrows raised so high they almost touched his receding, grey hairline. She grinned sheepishly, "…faeces, tastes like."

Scorpius' cheeks turned a light shade of pink as Al laughed. "You guys take that packet, as you can see…" Albus grinned as he pointed to the mountains of sweets which currently occupied the hospital wing. "I've got plenty."

"Hey, Albie, can I have some?" Lily's eyes seemed to have doubled in size. Al grinned as he reached for a couple of chocolate frogs.

Harry and Ginny shook their heads. Harry let out a chuckle.

"You are your father's children." Ginny smirked, as Harry suddenly looked like he had spent too long in the sun as a shade of Weasley red suddenly coated his cheeks.

"Did you know…" Ginny leant in towards the children, who craned their necks upwards to hear the story, "Your Uncle Ron and your father bought all the sweets from the trolley in their first year." Ginny giggled as Harry's slapped his forehead with his hand and groaned. Meanwhile, every Rose, Scorpius, Albus and Lily looked at Harry incredulously, and began to giggle with Ginny. James just rolled his eyes. Then, Draco crossed his arms and said in his infamous drawl, "So, that was why all the sweets had run out from the trolley in first year. I'd always wondered."

Harry rubbed the back of his head, chuckling quietly as Madam Pomfrey bustled her way into the room.

"Shoo. Shoo. All of you. Mister and Master Potter need their rest!"

Lily hugged Albus tightly again, though this time she was more careful, and hugged his neck gently before slithering out of his bed and into the arms of her mum. Ginny, meanwhile, clasped Al's hand in hers and gave him a kiss on the forehead. Usually, Al would be embarrassed. But, at that very minute, there was nothing he needed more than his mother's loving gesture.

"I love you so much, Albie." Ginny's eyes shone with unshed tears as clutched her youngest daughter tightly. "I'm so proud of you."

Al beamed. His chest stung as he sat up, but ignoring the sharp pain, he hugged his mum once more.

"Love you mum." He whispered.

Ginny dabbed at her eyes with her sleeve to stop tears from falling onto her cheeks. Her husband was then standing beside her, putting his arm lovingly around her waist, and beaming brightly at his son through his spectacles. The two parents leant in to hug their youngest son, Lily giggled as she clasped his arm gently.

"Wait for me!"

James almost gave Al another heart attack as he tried to give him a bear hug, but was stopped from doing so by a terrifying glare from his mother. So, he made do by hugging Al's other arm.

"I'd best be off, come along Draco."

Draco almost rolled his eyes, but didn't as his father flicked his walking stick indignantly towards him and sent him an impatient glare. How his father still made him feel like that small child he will never know.

Once Lucius was out of earshot, out of the hospital wing, Draco turned to the Potters and declared, "He doesn't tell me what to do."

Harry and Ginny shared a knowing look.

"Draco!"

"Scorpius." Draco held out his hand to his son, who reluctantly, turned to Al and gave his best friend a smile.

"See you at the feast, Al." He said, grinning as Al gave him a thumbs up, suddenly feeling too tired to talk as his eyelids began to flutter, as though impatiently ordering his body to sleep.

"I'll take the kids back to the common room." Ginny whispered to Harry, kissing him gently on the lips. Lily and James both made gagging noises, particularly James, who covered Lily's eyes with his hand. Ginny shook her head at her children's antics, guided the two Potter children away from the room.

As Harry made his way to his own hospital bed, he saw Rose gently squeezing Al's hand. Rose smiled at Al, and although Al's eyes had closed, his hand squeezed hers in response. They didn't need words. There was nothing left to say. They knew that it did not matter that they were in different houses, it did not matter if they were to go through more hardship, and it definitely would not matter if they are picked on by others, because they would always be cousins, always be best friends, and will always look out for one another.

Harry smiled at his niece, who rewarded him with a huge smile in return. She was so like Hermione. He thought. So wise beyond her years. Rose nodded to Madam Pomfrey as she was the last visitor to leave the hospital wing.

Albus was now sleeping peacefully. Harry lay on top of a spare bed, which admittedly, was far too small for him. He looked around the familiar hospital wing, imagining Dobby's kind but terrified voice:

"Terrible things are about to happen at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

His heart ached for his lost friend and for those he lost in the war. But, as Harry turned his head to keep watch over his sleeping son, he smiled. His heart had found that love again, and so much more. He noticed Madam Pomfrey had dimmed the lights in the room. He felt his eyes closing. Hogwarts would always be safe now the houses had united. His son was the hero who'd united them. He smiled and then, with the reassurance that Madam Pomfrey was keeping his son safe and well, he closed his eyes, thinking: Now. All would now be well.