Neither of us talked for a while. We were both too wrapped up in the face that the other was there.
Truthfully, I never had an issue with Albus (commonly called 'Al' by his closer friends and relatives…I mean, who really wants to be called Albus all the time? It's almost as bad as Scorpius- but I definitely prefer that over 'Scorp' but enough about me.)
He seemed nice enough, quiet though. I don't think he ever made fun of anyone outright; he just kind of…looks at them.
He's a very reserved bloke.
"What are you doing here, Malfoy?" Albus asked me with disdain. He and I never saw eye to eye, even though he was in Slytherin and the blood war was over, he still felt that his family was better than the Malfoy's. His father never tortured people because of blood status,"They" did.
I merely shrugged in response. I felt no need to explain myself to this boy. He knows nothing about me or my family and he never took the time to find out, so I owe him nothing. Instead, I turned and sat in the arm chair again. I heard Potter shuffle slightly behind him and saw him from the corner of my eye as he stole a seat cautiously on the love seat next to the fire.
I watched as the Potter boy gave me a once over. I looked down and saw what he must have. My clothes were disheveled and I could only imagine that my eyes looked blood-shot and tired from the lack of sleep I had been getting. I only hunched my shoulders in defeat and exhaustion.
"Rough day?" Potter asked me quietly. I guess he figured that if we were going to share space, we might as well be civil. I watched Potter from the corner of my eye while he scoped my reaction. I could tell, just by his asking, that he was being genuine. Not many ask me if I'm alright and actually take the time to listen. This boy though… I could tell that he really wanted to know. I slouched my shoulders even further and sighed as I dragged my hand across my face. To me, this was a sign of being unguarded. This was me trying to express, without words, that I would let him in.
Just this once, at least.
Maybe Potter didn't mean me any harm. Maybe, here in this room, we had some sort of unspoken truce between us. Maybe we were-
No, I don't dare. Any thought past that leads only to madness.
So instead, I nodded my head. I took a deep breath before I actually looked at the other boy. His clothes were just as disheveled. His face was set in what looked like a permanent grimace, with creases in his forehead from years of worry, and obvious dents at the edge of his lips where a frown once lived. I saw no animosity in his face. Nothing but anxiety. I began to trust him, I wanted to tell him about the cruel things that the other students say to me. I wanted him to be my confidant. A million thoughts ran through my head but the only one that escaped loud enough to be heard was:
" I am not my father."
To me that statement held so much more than just those five words. I saw the understanding creep over Potter's face before he bowed his head. He understood the reputations that followed our fathers' names. The good and bad memories alike plague our lives with a dormant mold that always crops up at the worst times.
I saw his head nod in agreement. I never took the time to get to know this boy, always afraid my father's past to even try.
Granted, it didn't help knowing that he was the brother of the kid that caused the most hell in my life.
Suddenly we heard a shout come from beyond the door, followed by a few squeals and then silence.
We both looked at each other with wide eyes. I second later we were up and out of our respective seats and stumbled over each other clumsily to get to the door.
I furrowed my brow at Potter in question. He only shook his head and threw his thumb over his shoulder. My confusion only grew. What was he trying to tell me? Stand behind him? He did it again. I shook my head and crossed my arms at my unruly haired companion. Potter rolled his eyes at my disobedience and slapped his hand over his face.
The noises began again. Immediately we glued our ears to the door.
"I could have sworn he went this way!" we heard a girl whine obnoxiously. I raised my eyebrow and began to chuckle. Only the son of Harry Potter could cause girls to whine. He only glared back at me and hauled back to sock me in the shoulder. However another voice from outside and made him pause with his fist still hovering above my shoulder.
"Well, wherever he is, he can't hide for long…Merlin, he is so good-looking!" the voices faded away slowly.
A horrified expression spread over Potter's face as he slid down the length of the door. I looked on with amusement.
"So…Rough day?" I asked him with a grin.
"Don't even start. I already get crap from my family about it, I don't need you to add on."
I snickered and held out a hand. He looked at it suspiciously.
"I wouldn't dream of it. However, now I have some pretty fantastic blackmail. Now why don't we try to…brave the waters, ok?"
Potter looked up, astonished at first, and smile brightly.
"Let's hope you never have a chance to use that blackmail…it would ruin my reputation." He said, cheekily, as he grasped my hand.
I hoisted him up and made she he was steady before we opened the door together and peered outside.
Only to find the hallways wasn't empty.
Standing outside the door stood a little girl with spiky pink hair. Her eyes grew wide and her books clattered loudly to the floor when she saw us. Like an alarm, her voice rang out in the silence and beckoned the others to our former hiding place. I watched as Potter ran to her and tried to cover her mouth desperately. Each time she would pull away and continue.
"No- Please, I'll…I'll give you anything. An autograph, would that work? An autograph? What about tickets to one of my mom's games-Please!" He went to use more serious tactics. He bribed her, he threatened her, but nothing worked.
"Potter! Go on, I'll hold them off!" I cried as the rumble of footsteps neared faster and faster. Potter could only look at me in fear, his hands still poised over her mouth. I shoved him hard and smiled.
"I'll hold off the screaming fan-girls, just run!"
After a moment of shock he nodded at last and turned to run. He looked back once to see me shoot him two thumbs up before the crowd swallowed me.
I am not my father.
Albus Potter knows that now.