Bonus 10- The Finishing Touch (Preview)
"Can't you do something about it?", "You know I can't", Albus irately replied as Teddy poured the rest of the 'Sleekeazy's Hair Potion and Scalp Treatment' over his head. "My great grandfather invented it, maybe that's why Potters are resistant...", "But you look like a hooligan", he combed his hair with such force it felt like he tried to scalp him. "You look like a hooligan!", Albus shot back, offended.
"I am?", he immediately left him and turned to look at himself in the mirror. "No, no", Albus rolled his eyes, "You look like a librarian, a boring one". "Good, very good, boring is good", he kept muttering the word as he smoothed out (non-existent) crease from his plaided shirt, fixed one unruly strand (for the hundredth time) in his hair and checked once more his (perfectly clean shaven) face.
There was a knock on the door, "Calm down!", Teddy frantically ordered him, "And stand up straight!", he took a step towards the entrance, "And don't say anything stupide!", he remembered that the hairbrush was still in his hand and searched for a place to hide it, "And you sure you can't take that sash off?", he threw it into a nearby vase.
"No", Albus answered, annoyed, but his conversation partner didn't listen to him, "I'm coming", he called, his voice cracking as another knock was heard. He stumbled on his feet as he ran to open the door, revealing Albus' oldest uncle together with his wife, both in their forties, though she didn't look it.
"Come in, come in. I can assure you that even if it doesn't look like it the place is perfectly clean...", Albus' still painful back and knees could have confirmed this, "...I know a little light is missing here but...". "I hope there is a place for my wife to put her coat on", Bill looked around.
"Of course, of course. There's a rack upstairs, I'll go get it...", "You want my wife to stay with it in her hand?", "Of course not", Teddy snatched her fur coat and rushed with it upstairs, "Albus will show you to the kitchen", he awkwardly added. "Con", Fleur smacked the back of her husband head as soon as he was gone, "You know hiz a nize kid", she said in a heavy French accent.
"I'm just playing with him", he grinned, making the deep scars across his battered face to stand out even more, "How's it going?", he moved forward to shake Albus' hand, ignoring her as she continued to whisper spicy French curses under her breath. He was tall, thin, and completely bald, and, despite his scars, still had some finesse to him.
His wife entered after him. Being tall and willowy, with long waving silvery-blonde hair and large deep blue eyes, her beauty was so pronounced it seemed to light up the gloomy house with a pale grey glow. "Nize zash", she patted Albus' head like a dog, scanning the green ribbon around his shoulder.
Bill stopped and checked himself in the fancy mirror as well, "I miss my old...", he said "face" as his wife said "Hair". "Not that again", he signed as Fleur joined him to survey her perfect reflection, "Come on, let's go to the kitchen before you break the mirror". "Why?", she smiled, revealing very white and very straight teeth, "You think I'm ugly?". He shook his head and didn't even bother to answer as they followed Albus into the kitchen.
After more than three months, most of which he was bedridden, Teddy's request for help at his new house a week before the start of the schoolyear struck a chord with him. He needed some alone time after being looked after so much. There was a constant unending flow of family and friends, especially his grandmother, who visited so often it seemed she moved into their house.
One particularly awkward moment was when McGonagall arrived, and despite trying to hide her feelings still couldn't stop apologizing for what happened. "It's not her fault, everyone makes mistakes sometimes", Harry tiredly said after she left. "There are mistakes and there are mistakes!", Ginny angrily whispered back, forcefully pouring a steamy yellow potion down Albus' throat, "That doesn't mean she has no blame in it".
'If you hadn't gone and poked your nose in places you were told not to, none of this would have happened...', the little voice in his head started saying again as his parents left. "Shut up!", Albus erupted into the empty room and forcefully quelled it by opening the 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' book for the third time instead.
His mother took a break from her work, taking care of him and his brother on all hours of the day, Lily always like a miniature copy of her by her side. His father, on the other hand, often left the house before sunrise and returned after sunset, with a permanent stubble on his face when seen, making him appear older and harsher than he was.
Albus went against his natural inclinations and didn't probe too deeply into what was going on, and, for a lack of a better choice, spent his time reading whatever books or newspaper he managed to put his weak hands on, in addition to steady streams of neat letters from Scorpius; Violet now and then and even Rollo once (in writing so smudged and inelegant he couldn't understand a word of it).
He done it so much his eyes consistently stung, finding himself waking up with his head literally stuck in a book more times that he liked to admit. It was a great substitute over getting lost in his thoughts, however- since as long as he was kept occupied and exhausted no dark ones have appeared.
Despite it, after finally succeeding to finish all the books in his library (twice) he was left to wonder why the news of Herpo's return still haven't made the headlines, as well as other key details like the existence of the underground space in the Hogwarts' dungeons and two of their ghosts' disappearance. But this thought alone brought the lake full of corpses back to his memory, together with the familiar bent tree and for the next three nights he hadn't shut an eye.
He didn't need to delve into it, the news did it more than enough- pointing out the lapses in the school security not seen in the last twenty years, how a Professor injured another one along with three other students, two of them in critical condition, who happened to be the sons of Harry Potter, or as the press liked to contemplate, maybe not so coincidentally…
"Iz that Canelé?", Fleur's question brought him back to the present, "Yes, Teddy made it itself", Albus answered as planned, concealing how they wasted at least ten kilograms of ingredients just to make the small batch of pastry on the table. "Merveilleux", the beautiful woman said, "You zee, he even knowz how to cook", she told her husband, "Too sweet", he casually dismissed.
Albus thought he would have a relaxing week at '12, Grimmauld Place' with Teddy, who was usually calm and pleasant to those around, usually. Instead, he worked him like a house elf in anticipation for Victoire's parents' arrival, working alongside him to clean every nook and cranny in the dark house.
The big, extravagant and tall building, weirdly located dead set among a muggle neighborhood was given to Teddy by their father when he came to age at seventeen. Before that it belonged to their father's guardian's family, the Black family, whom now were all extinct.
Albus was the only one to like the old and mysterious place, agreeing to conceal its dark aura when his stepbrother promised to hand it to him when he himself will be of age. "Maybe even before", he said with a shudder as he looked at Kreacher severed head on the plaque in front, "It's not a place for kids".
"A place for kids?", Albus raised his own eyebrow, but Teddy didn't answer and left him to take it down on his own, together with the rest of the beheaded house-elves, in order to clean the near toilet, only to shout when a flock of Doxy (small fairy-like magical pests) swarmed him like bees.
Tasks too disgusting for Teddy's liking were often assigned to him- from taking down the decapitated house-elf heads (keeping his old house dreadful tradition was Kreacher only request before his demise) and getting rid of huge spiders under the snake shaped sink legs to cleaning the rat-infested attic and catching all the pale blood-sucking moths who fluttered next to the old-fashioned gas lamps...
Yet, there was something liberating provided by the work, by the ability to engage in physical exertion after so long, without reflections on anything else. It also returned him to his childhood somewhat as he remembered waddling around the place as an infant.
In fact, one of his first memories was when James managed to remove the wooden covering from the wall near the entrance, revealing a painting of a crazy woman underneath, who screamed deafening expletives at everyone for the whole night after (his mother was so angry with his father from the incident that two days later they had already moved to their new mansion).
James! Albus tried to push him out of his head along with the whole accident that happened towards the end of last year. He didn't know what angered him more, that his brother wasn't as brave as he pretended to be or that he really cared for him… 'You're wrong and you know it", said the small voice in his head, 'He's thousand times braver than you...'. "Shut up!", he said aloud, forcibly silencing it, and had to apologize to Teddy, who hummed next to him while fixing the peeling wallpaper.
Finally, the moment of truth came with the arrival of his uncle and his wife as the place was so clean and tidy, with new furniture along the renovated walls (the old ones were shoved in the basement) that the previous nature of the house was almost completely hidden.
"Pssst…", Teddy whispered him outside the kitchen, "Did they like what I baked?", he worriedly asked, "Bill said it was too sweet...", Albus sighed. "What are you two whispering over there?", his uncle asked aloud. "He's hoping you enjoy the appetite", Albus said as his adopted brother failed to open his mouth, "Isn't it right?".
"Yes, yes", Teddy placed him in front of him like a shield and led him into the large, cavernous, iron pots filled kitchen by force, as if he was ready for battle. "I just wanted to lead your daughter in...", "Lead my daughter? What exactly are you planning?", Bill cut him off just as another knock was heard.
Teddy's face lost all colour as Fleur smacked the back of her husband's head once more, adding a few more good curses to Albus' lexicon. "Hey", Victoire appeared as well, looking unfamiliar with her new blue floral dress that matched her eyes instead of her usual school uniform. She approached to hug Teddy, looking like a muse for a painting with her flowing reddish-blonde hair, exquisite face, and sculpted body.
But he stepped backwards as if burned, and instead sent his arm out for a respectful handshake. She looked at him, astonished, then frowned, and went to sit between her parents without saying another word, her hands folded. Teddy's brown hair (that was usually turquoise, yet he preferred not to look too flamboyant this time) literally withered in disappointment as he sat down with Albus on the other side, his face wooden as the board itself.
"I'm such a muppet", he smacked himself on the forehead an hour later as he escorted Albus through London's foggy streets, "Why do I have to act like that every time they're around?". He angrily kicked a nearby trash bin, causing it to fall and spill its contents all over the pavement.
"It's already suspicious enough to have someone who looks like you to walk the streets with a kid, you know. So at least try to behave properly", Albus, who was glad to finally leave the house, that had such an awkward atmosphere it felt as if the air had become liquid, cautiously said.
Teddy didn't listen to him, however, and just kept grumbling to himself. As he always did in times of stress, he created a new image for himself- this time of a tall man with spiky blue hair and red eyes, together with a pointed, tattoo covered, face (not to mention the long black trench coat around his shoulders).
"You know Bill is playing with you, right?", Albus asked, trying to make the situation to seem normal as an old woman in the near garden sent him a worried look, "I heard him say he would agree as soon as you ask him". "As soon as I ask him what? Exactly?", Teddy dejectedly asked.
"Vicky's hand of course", he rolled his eyes. Teddy stared at him with such intensity he didn't notice his step and fell on another trashcan. "A lot of bins today", Albus laughed for the first time in a while, "I heard him say that to my parents on James' birthday...".
"Is he the one who told you I was going to ask her that?", Teddy asked as he excitingly stood up, wiping his clothes off, "No, it must have been Lily! I knew she wouldn't be able to keep her mouth shut!". "It just obvious to anyone with an IQ above that of a mountain troll with a concussion…", Albus laughed again, "Wait! You already told James and Lily?", now it was him who almost fell on a protruding bin.
"Um...", Teddy was way too happy about the news to dwell on his embarrassment, "Yes, sorry. I didn't find the time to tell you. Are you sure he said that?". A whole week alone apparently wasn't enough, "You know what?", Albus angrily said, "I'm not so sure about it anymore". Luckily, he didn't have to continue the conversation as they arrived at their desired location- a lovely two-story villa in a calm neighborhood at the outskirts of London.
"Al!", Violet called him from the front door, "Down, Down!", she ordered the enthusiastic Jack Russell Terrier puppy at her feet, and he passed the apple trees filled trimmed garden without adding another word. Glancing back, he saw Teddy spiky blue hair disappear as he hurried back.
"Was that your brother? the one who could shapeshift?", Violet asked, struggling to keep her dog on his leash. "He's not my actual brother", Albus answered in a bad mood, "And it's called a Metamorphmagus". "Bruno, Sit! That's so cool!", she led him inside, stepping over a British Shorthair cat that lazily laid at the entrance and into the house, where another dog, an old fat Corgi welcomed him with a growl.
"Enough! Goldie!", Violet ordered, "Sorry, she's very protective", she apologized. "No problem", the house busy environment reminded him of his grandparents' home, 'The Burrow', as two little girls wearing pink tutus burst into the living room, screaming to each other in incredible high pitches, "Happy birthday by the way", he added.
"I'm so glad you could make it ", Violet's mother, who resembled her so much, now already nearly the same height as her daughter, appeared from the kitchen, one of her hands holding a large spoon covered in chocolate and the other a small child, covered in no less chocolate. "Hush! Amber, Bianca. Go play outside!", they barely noticed Albus as they rushed out, almost running over the grey cat (who didn't even bother to move the end of his whiskers) on their way.
It was a lot to take in after a whole week of almost complete solitude. The previous place was dark, fancy, and empty as the current one bright and homely, with toys and clothes scattered all over the floor. He certainly preferred Grimmauld Place, Albus thought as his head begun to rattle from all the yelling and barking…
"Hey", Scorpius showed up from the kitchen as well, wearing a white apron the same as Hope, though his was squeaky clean. Unlike Violet, he looked cautious, not directly looking his way. "Scor here is a real angel", Hope smiled at the pale kid, "Trust me", she bumped his shoulder, "Knowing how to cook will help you a lot with the ladies one day", his cheeks turned pink.
"He arrived earlier than anticipated", Violet whispered to Albus, the dog in her hands almost suffocating himself on the leash as it tried to get free, "I'm afraid she'll steal him away when she'll finds out he also likes to clean". "Well, I don't know how to cook, and I definitely had enough housework for years to come, so I guess I'm in the clear", he quietly responded, still in low morale.
The screams outside grew louder as a huge truck appeared through the many large windows, and, soon after, a broad stomached balding red-haired man with bags in his hands struggled to enter, his two daughters at his feet like howling pink weights. "Hello, nice to finally meet you", he shook Albus' hand while the Corgi also joined to greet him.
"And you too", he extended his hand to Scorpius as well, who was frozen, "You moved it", he muttered in astonishment. The man narrowed his eyes, "You mean the truck?", Scorpius' lips continued to move with no sound, "You've seen one before? Right?", he suspiciously asked.
"Of course he did", his wife answered, "Come on sweetie, we have to take out the cake", she steered the pale boy, still frozen, back into the kitchen. All this time the man continued to suspiciously eye him, stroking his orange beard in wonder. "Hey Vi", he suddenly remembered, "I found a present for you". "You know I don't need anything", she said, but still followed with interest as he rummaged through his bags.
"Here", he handed her two barbie dolls with pink dresses, "Enjoy!". "I want too", the two girls resumed screaming and tried to reach the figurines with their short hands. "Umm…", Violet surveyed her gift with a downcast expression, "Thanks...". The dog in her hand broke free and ran straight into the kitchen, from where shouts were immediately heard as something fell and broke.
"Ha!", the man burst out laughing, "You should have seen your face!", he wiped a tear out of his eye and took the dolls away, handing them to the girls instead, who squealed with joy. "Here", he gave her a large silver pocketknife instead, "I hope it will be useful. And don't tell your mum", he suddenly became serious. "Thank you", Violet smiled as the puppy reappeared, covered in chocolate mixing.
For lack of a better option, Albus joined in to help in the kitchen (at least now whoever gave him instructions knew what to do) as Violet took the dogs out for a walk (hosing the puppy before and after). The hectic atmosphere helped to pass the time, and, as if in a blink of an eye, the sun had already set.
Not before long he found himself seated around a square table, full to the brim with a variety of foods and pastries, a particularly small chocolate cake in the middle (made from the remains of the saved mixing). There were two in each corner, and he was uncomfortably pressed next to Violet.
"Well, everybody's welcome to eat...", she began saying but her mother stopped her, clearing her throat aloud, "Oh, right, blessing first". Albus exchanged questioning look with Scorpius as everybody had to hold hands. On his left he felt the suspiciously sticky one of the younger son, yet on his right he felt a tingling sensation, familiar and estrange at the same time.
"So...", the red-haired man asked Albus as soon as they all begun eating, "Excited for the new school year?". "Honestly, even I don't know", he shrugged as Violet gave the toddler next to him the tiny cake and he tried to eat it with such enthusiasm that he completely missed his mouth, smudging his face with chocolate coating instead. "And what about you Scorpius?", the man turned to the pale boy, "A strange name, like Hogwarts. What exactly do you study there again?".
"Russell!", Hope, sitting on the other side of the boy, called while cleaning his face, "They're excited anyway, let them enjoy the last day of the vacation". Albus looked at the man, who no doubt had suspicions about them, recognizing Scorpius as the weak link for his investigation.
A short silence was held as she finished scrubbing her son's face, only for him to instantly smear it again with the apple pie. Russell gave it up, albeit reluctantly, "Tell him more about your job, he's interested in that", Violet's mother said, "Right?". All Scorpius managed to do was nod his head.
"Well, I come from a family of drivers. My father and his brothers were all tank operators. My older brother is a pilot, my younger one is a taxi driver. We also have a little sister, a lawyer. I have no idea what went wrong with her...", he observed Scorpius' pointed face, which expressed utter bewilderment. "Have you ever been on an airplane before?", he asked with a raised eyebrow. "Airplan?", the pale kid stammered, "Russell!", "Sorry, honey. Enjoy your meal, kid…".
"You know", Scorpius whispered as Violet tiptoed away to get them some sweets, "I don't understand what she's fussing about. I don't think I've ever seen a more perfect family in my life". Albus laid next to him inside of his sleeping bag, staring at the living room' ceiling in silence.
A small yellow sock was somehow stuck in the swaying lamp above, illuminated by the streetlight outside. Scorpius may have not noticed it, but he surely did. It bothered him, especially now after all the months in which he was taken care of so much, how Violet's mother didn't touch her. How, at no point at all, did she even went near her...
