Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter: JKR does. No profit is being made from this. I only own the plot and the OCs.

Letters to My Brown Eyed Beauty

Chapter Thirteen

A month has passed and Albus' mind is plagued by one person and one person alone. It's only them who can make him smile goofy whenever he thinks of them. It's only them who can make him laugh the way he does. The only person who can get Albus lost in thought about them and forget all about reality. Only one person who can make his heart speed up at the smell of roses.

A small smile shot in the direction of the Black Lake, as Albus threw a rock and watched it skid across the lake three times before dropping into the water.

He was beginning to resign to a life of only knowing Lyra through letters. He knew it was almost impossible to meet her. The thought broke his heart, but he had to move on from the fantasy. She was his secret pen pal but that was all. Albus began to feel less sad at the reality that they would never cross paths once more. He had given up. He felt defeated. This puzzled him because he'd been wanting to meet her again for five years. He's beginning to embrace the truth, he will never see her again. He knows it is time to let her go but he wasn't quite ready for that yet. The time was approaching, though, but he was hoping to prolong it for just a little longer.

'Why can't I let you go, Lyra? You're a fantasy, a dream, I will never touch. My feelings for you aren't real. They're based on one memory, that didn't even last longer than five minutes. I have to let you go. Why can't I do it?'

The idea of losing Lyra, felt similar to the idea of losing Scorpius. They were both his best friends in a way. Losing them both meant losing a piece of himself and he wasn't ready yet to let go of that eleven year old boy in Diagon Alley.

He didn't want to though. He missed the boy he was before he went to Hogwarts. Everything was so simple back then. He wasn't the Slytherin in the family. He was just Albus.

He begs for that time to come again, but it never will.

'I'm only just Albus to Scorpius and Lyra. They get me in a way nobody else ever could.'

Albus had just picked a bunch of books up and could hardly see where he was going. He was trying to navigate himself back to a table to start studying.

He accidentally bumped into someone and fell over, all of his books falling to the ground. He groaned, rubbing his leg before sitting up. He noticed there a girl also on the ground, books surrounding her. He'd realised he'd banged into her by accident and quickly began spluttering out an apology.

The girl had had mousy-brown hair tied into a bun. She was wearing robes with the Ravenclaw crest on it and a Prefect badge. He began helping her book up her books. She laughed a little, "You don't have to do that."

"Yes, I do," he said as his green eyes connected with her brown ones. He stopped for a second, his cheeks going red. 'Of course, I'd bump into a pretty girl and embarrass myself.'

He continued helping her pick up the books, stacking them to a side. As he reached out for the last one, their hands touched.

He felt a weird sense of déjà vu.

He'd done the same thing with Lyra that day in Diagon Alley. He was lost in thought for a moment before her words cut through his train of thought.

"Can I have that book back, please?"

"Oh yeah, of course," he stuttered making her giggle. His cheeks flashed red once more. She smiled back at him, thanking him. He smiled back, feeling as if it was contagious. "I'm Albus," he said. She nodded with a laugh, "I know. I'm Vivian."

They kept smiling at each other for a moment before she walked off.

He watched as she walked away, feeling like an idiot.

It was about two weeks later before he finally gave into what he wanted. He needed to see her smile, hear her laugh one more time. He just needed to see her again. He remembered that she was in Ravenclaw and hoped that Hugo could help him find out where she was.

Albus walked into the Great Hall, ignoring his friends on the Slytherin Table and making a beeline for the Ravenclaw one.

Hugo waved at him, confused as to why he was standing near the Ravenclaw table. Albus quickly surveyed the table, unhappy when he couldn't find the girl.

"Do you know where I can find Vivian? She's a prefect I think."

"Vivian Carlsson? The Ravenclaw Prefect?"

Hugo's eyes were wide. "She helps the Head Girl a lot with her duties."

Albus thought for a moment, "She's friends with Cleo Bay?"

Hugo nodded, "The one James won't leave alone, yeah."

Albus nodded back, "She's a Keeper in Quidditch isn't she?"

"Yeah, I think that's why James likes her so much."

"Yeah probably. So where can I find Vivian?"

Hugo laughed, "She's with Cleo. They're working out stuff for the Halloween Ball."

"Sorry, the what Ball?"

"The Halloween Ball," Hugo replied, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Yeah, you said that. But why are we doing a Ball for it?"

"It was Cleo idea," Hugo said, shrugging. He didn't care much for it. Halloween was a touchy subject in the Potter household. Halloween was in three weeks and Albus had almost forgotten.

"A-Albus?"

"Sorry, just spaced out mate," Albus said, "So where would Bay and Vivian be?"

Hugo rolled his eyes at me, "That's James' job to ask where Cleo is, not you."

"I don't care where Bay is! I just want to know where Vivian is!"

"Why?" Hugo asked, and Albus began to feel the heat radiate from his cheeks. The same way it was when James asked about Lyra back at the end of August.

Albus sighs, no point in lying to his cousin. Hugo smirked, "You have a crush on the Prefect. If you can get her to say yes, James won't leave you alone."

"Are they best friends?" Albus asked, to clarify. Hugo nods with a laugh.

Hugo rolled his eyes at Albus, "the Prefects have a meeting at eight tonight in the Transfiguration classroom. She will be there. I said the same thing to James – I'm not getting you into the Ravenclaw common room so don't even ask."

Albus scowled and Hugo only shrugged and went back to his food. Albus begrudgingly walked back to the Slytherin Table.

"Albus were you going to sit with your cousin, and leave us here?"

Albus raised an eyebrow at his friends, shaking his head. "Nah, I wouldn't sit with him and his geeky friends. Not my cup of tea." He shrugged, taking a seat.

The boys laughed, shaking their heads. Scorpius nodded hello and went back to his conversation with Amelia.

Albus was too distracted to think about dinner.

"Hey, can one of you guys do me a favour," Spencer asked.

All eyes on him.

"Can one of you guys go in my place for the Prefect meeting? Pretend it's an emergency."

Albus was the first one to shout 'yes' which made the boys feel weird.

Albus walked alongside Arian Castwell and Rochelle Anderson to the Transfiguration classroom. Rochelle was Amelia's room mate that infuriated her. Albus was happy he was the first to volunteer and that nobody else had an interest in it. Spencer was suspicious at first by the was Albus was acting. He caved and told him the truth.

Albus walked into the classroom taking the first seat. Castwell and Anderson sat near him. Marcela Jordan looked grumpy, as she always had when she didn't make it as Head Girl this year. No one knew how she even got into Slytherin. Joseph Harkens, commonly known as "Joey", was the Slytherin Prefect. The fifth year prefect for Slytherin was Lukus Fitzgerald.

There were a few familiar faces but not everybody Albus could work out. He knew Spencer would know everybody, he was good like that.

Lorcan Scamander was sitting down on the other end of the room. Everybody sat in their own houses. Alice Longbottom sat further away from him, beside Elena Wisberg.

"Is that everybody?"

Cleo Bay smiled, practically beaming at everybody. "We have lots to discuss," she began before being cut off by Vivian Carlsson, "Tell them the good news first, Clee!"

Albus' eyes were glued to her.

Bay opened her mouth to speak but Harkens cut her off, "You and Potter finally got together?"

Albus looked at her confused and then sniggered.

"What are you doing here, Potter?"

Everybody looked at Albus, half expecting James. Everybody was confused.

Albus shrugged, "Spencer had an emergency and asked me to come in his place. Might I ask, if you're dating James, it'd be nice if his own brother knew before the entire Prefects," he drawled out, smirking.

"No, no, don't be silly. Your brother and I can't stand each other-"

"Bullshit, he likes you, a lot," Albus cut in, "And you refuse to even give him a chance. He's not that bad, honestly."

Bay scowled, "Let's just start the meeting."

"Cleeeeooo," Vivian pleads with Bay, "Tell them."

Bay sighs but then smiles. "As you all know that I've been away for a little while. I have good news. My brother is all better and will be allowed to attend the Halloween Ball."

Jordan smiles at Bay as everybody starts clapping. Albus was confused. "I hope Hamish is feeling all better now."

Harkens nods, "That is better news than if you and Potter are going out."

Bay's cheeks turn a little pink.

"What's going on?" Albus was confused to the max.

"Oh," Bay stopped and turned to Albus. "Potter...or should I call you Albus?" She mutters the last thing to herself; he miles back despite the fact he didn't feel like it.

"Albus is fine. I'm already planning yours and Jay's wedding...Sis," he winked at her and she blushed a dee crimson. She stuttered and faltered a few times. Everybody begins laughing before she shushes them.

"No, Po – Albus," she starts. "Albus," he supplies before chuckling. "My brother Hamish was admitted to St Mungo's not far into his first year here at Hogwarts. The Healers would like to release him for Halloween."

"He is thirteen now. He was only young at the time. He's kept up on all his room, so he could come back one day. If, he'd ever be able to. I really hope he can."

After that, the meeting went exactly how it should. The rest of the Prefects where informed of what their duties for the Halloween Ball would be. Most girls were doing decorations and stuff.

As everybody was beginning to leave, Albus walked up to Bay and Vivian.

He flashed them a grin and Cleo looked up, "Yes, Albus?"

Vivian smiled, almost beaming at him. He blushed a little.

"Tell Waymire what he has to do, okay?"

Albus nodded, "I will. He's just with his family at the moment." He didn't actually know where Spencer was but figured it sounded like a plausible lie.

Cleo smiles again, "Family is most important. I hope you realise this Albus. You can't replace your family no matter how hard you try," she chuckled. Albus nodded, "I wish James was less of a git." They both laughed at that.

"Remember when your cousin Victoire was Head Girl?" Bay asked and Albus nodded for her to continue, "My brother was Head Boy that year."

"Really?"

She hummed with a nod and a smile. "So, what did you really want to talk about?"

"I uh – wanted...to talk...with Vivian."

Cleo nodded, understanding, sending him a wink before picking up her stuff and leaving the room.

And then there were two.

"Yes?" Vivian looked up, her deep blue eyes shining. She smiled a small smile as she waited for Albus to talk. "Would you...uh...like to go to Hogsmeade this weekend with me?" Albus asked quickly as he was really nervous. She giggled a bit. He blushed. He'd never gone on a date with a girl before. This would be his first.

"I already have a date, you are too late Potter," she said as she picked up her books and walked towards the door.

Albus shrugged, "Worth a try."

Vivian laughed, coming close to him and whispering in his ear, "I was only kidding, I'd love to go with you. Meet you at 12?"

She pulled back, pulling her hair from her eyes, "Bye, Albus."

It was the day before Hogsmeade and Albus had caught Cleo struggling to carry her books. He chuckled, deciding to go help her. She was cursing the books and mumbling to herself. Trayton looked disappointedly and Bryson was trying to call Albus over.

"Would you like some help, Bay?"

Cleo nodded, "Please," she wheezed. Albus helped her pick up her books and then passed them to her. "Thanks," she smiled. She began walking off so he turned back around to join his friends.

"Actually Potter – I wanted to ask you something. Does your sister have a date for the Halloween Ball?"

Albus looked back, furrowing his eyebrows. He shrugged, "I don't know…Do you want a date with my sister? If I'd known you were interested in girls, I'd have just turned James into one!" He joked.

Bay scowled back, "No, I meant for my brother, Hamish. I'm probably not even going anyway so don't worry about that."

"First things first," Albus said, shaking his head, "Lily enjoys the attention the guys older than her. Does Hamish like her?"

Bay smiled sheepishly, "he has ever since he first met her when the sorting hat placed him in Hufflepuff. She smiled at him. He thought she was an angel."

"Remind you of someone," Albus said, winking. This earned a sigh from the girl, "That's just it…I don't know what to do about that…I don't want to go to the ball because of James."

Albus frowned, "Do you really hate James that much, that you wouldn't even go to the ball you organised?"

"You see, the thing is," she sat down, biting her lip nervously. Albus dropped his bag and sat beside her. He laid his head on the wall as she continued. "I don't want to go because he'll want me to be his date. I'll say no, that's a given. But what if I see him take someone else as his date then? I don't want to go if all I'm going to see is that. I don't want to go with anyone else, either, but I can't go with him."

Albus shoots her a weird look, "What you're saying to me is that you'll be jealous if he asks someone else, but you won't say yes to him? You can't go with him, but you can't go with anyone else. He can't go with you, but he isn't allowed to go with someone else? Are you for real, Bay?"

Cleo bit her lip, "You can call me Cleo, but do you see my predicament?"

"Yes."

"So?"

"So," Albus trails off, unsure what she's asking. She sighs, "What do I do about James?"

"Say yes you bloody stubborn woman."

Cleo shakes he head, "I can't do that!"

Albus makes a funny look, "That's the advice I've got for you. It's your choice in the end. But if I were you, I'd say yes. A love like that only comes around once in your lifetime. Stop kidding yourself."

Cleo shrugged and then smiled. Albus shot her one back, "You won't regret it. James is actually fun to be around if you give him a chance."

Cleo just sits there looking at Albus, fear evident in her eyes.

"I'll ask Lily for your brother, Cleo."

"Thank you."