Hello! I AM SO SORRY FOR SLOW UPDATE PLEASE FORGIVE ME! this is like a long chapter so I compensated, I've had a case of writers block and my mental health has been slowing me down but I'm okay. My exams are over and I'm so relieved! Also I'm so excited for the cursed child and I thought elements of it sounded similar to this fanfic which is cool, but no spoilers if you've seen it! Hope you enjoy and any suggestions are very welcome for upcoming chapters, love Sylvie x ps your comments keep me going thank you so much honestly
Finally, at the end of the first week, Albus had managed to have a conversation with Scorpius about the events of the Christmas holidays. He'd only managed to have light conversation with him in the fear he was being watched by Rowell, but he'd felt more secure in the back of potions where he couldn't over hear, or so he hoped.
Scorpius immediately saw the uneasy look on Albus' face, and furrowed his brows in concern. Those grey eyes locked with Albus' own, and Albus had to calm the giddy feeling he felt in his stomach every time he saw how beautiful Scorpius was. Albus didn't hesitate, "I need to tell you something. It's about something that happened in the Christmas holidays, and I couldn't write to you about it. You'll see why." And Albus told Scorpius everything about the letter, the drawing, and the potential danger if Rowell found out that Albus had confided in Scorpius about the bullying. Scorpius listened intently, he was always good at that, before resting his chin on his hand and staring in thought. After a few minutes Scorpius spoke up, "You won't like this, but I think you really need to tell someone. You're being watched, and you're clearly frightened by this, I can tell you've been walking on egg shells ever since term started." Albus had feared this answer, and he unfortunately started to believe it was his only option. If he wanted to find out how he was being watched and stop it, he had to get people involved. Albus sighed and put his head in his hands, "I think you might be right Scorpius, I'm not sure if I can do this anymore." Scorpius smiled, not out of smugness, but relief that Albus was finally starting to see that talking was a good thing to do.
Albus however was scared, and he pressed his palms into his eyelids in an attempt to shut out the images of the faces of his friends and family, all looking so disappointed at his weakness. He took a deep breath, but feeling Scorpius' gentle hand on his back somehow took the wind out of him. "I'll help you through it if you need me too." He said to Albus, and Albus had never felt safer. After a few minutes of deep breaths, Albus remembered, "Oh I forgot to tell you, I told my parents about us being friends, they took it really well". Scorpius smiled, and the butterflies returned once again. "That's great Al, I told my Dad too," And Scorpius' smile dropped slightly, oh no. "He was really surprised and seemed a bit annoyed that I wasn't getting on with the Slytherins, which he will never make me do. But he didn't say anything bad against you and your family, and my mum was a lot more welcome to the idea." Albus released the breath he didn't realise he'd been holding, and felt a surge of hope inside him. "Don't worry though, mum will make him be more understanding." Scorpius finished, and squeezed Albus' shoulder reassuringly which sent a warmth down his spine. That was the best potions lesson he'd ever had.
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It was the day of Albus' first therapy session at St Mungo's, and nervous was an understatement in comparison to how he was really feeling. He had decided he'd tell her about the bullying as a practice ready to tell his family, and he was pretty sure Rowell wouldn't be able to watch him from there. His anxiety had been sky high this past week, and without Scorpius there he would have had several more panic attacks than without him. McGonagall hadn't been helping this, as she had been watching him with her cat like stare from the staff table in the Great Hall every meal time, probably to make sure he was looking after himself. Albus had been eating his meals extra fast, so that he could leave the table early to take deep breaths before going to the common room. James had been there though, giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze but also space to breathe, checking up on him when Albus was staring nervously over to the Slytherin table. James had wished Albus a good luck for his first appointment, and it had had some of the effect of a calming draft, knowing he would be able to confide in James about it.
Albus was going by fireplace to the part of the hospital where he would have his appointment, and would be going via Professor McGonagall's office. On the way to her office, Albus' stomach had turned over when he saw Rowell walking in the opposite direction towards him. Rowell gave that sickening and sinister smile to Albus, winking, before walking by without touching him. Albus unclenched his hands and felt the breath he had been holding leave him, dropping his stance that was ready for an assault. Somehow, this did not bring comfort to Albus, as he compared Rowell to a snake that was starving itself for a huge meal, ready to indulge all at once (he was a Slytherin after all).
Albus knocked on the door and boarded the spiral staircase that lifted him up to McGonagall's office. She was waiting at her desk for Albus and smiled a gentle smile when he entered. "Good Evening Albus, are you ready to go?" She asked politely. Albus nodded, feeling the nerves set in again, he hated travelling alone to a new place. "Good, well the floo powder is in the pot," she said as she lazily waved her wand conjuring a roaring fire, "The place you are going is called 'St Mungo's, Mind Healing ward'. Don't forget to speak that clearly otherwise you may end up in the wrong ward. When you arrive, give your name to the person at the desk and they will direct you to your appointment, they usually last around an hour." Albus felt like the Professor had been speaking at around a hundred miles an hour, and already began imagining the worst case scenarios of him getting lost and never getting back to Hogwarts. He steadied his hands as he went to grab the floo powder before Professor McGonagall spoke again, "Albus, are you up to this today?" she had obviously noticed his anxious demeanour. Albus swallowed, he wasn't feeling great, but he didn't want to miss this chance of getting help. "I'm fine Professor, don't worry" he replied with a small smile. Albus threw the powder into the flames and they turned the usual brilliant green, and Albus stepped into the fire. "St Mungo's, Mind Healing Ward." He spoke with clear diction, and Albus felt the tug which would take him to the hospital.
Albus arrived with a slight bend of the knees, and made his way to the front desk with caution. Albus had never been here before, and found the wide open rooms with the white and pale blue walls incredibly daunting. He gave his name to the man at the desk, and was told to go to room 20 which was down the right corridor, and that he would be seeing someone called Gwen Summers. Albus' legs felt like jelly as he walked down the corridor that stretched in front of him, and he could hear his own shallow breathing echoing slightly off the walls. He knocked gently on the door after a deep breath, and noticed a picture of Gwen Summers on the door. She was smiling with big white teeth, and had short, wildly curly brown hair, and her dark skin and eyes were glowing from the flash of the camera.
The Gwen Summers that opened the door and greeted Albus looked older, around 35, but still had the same aura of brightness to her face. "You must be Albus, my name is Gwen Summers but you just call me Gwen." She said with a warm smile and shook Albus' hand (considering they were so sweaty she didn't comment which relieved him). Her office was much more colourful than the ward, with deep purple walls, a cream carpet, and many colourful pictures and post cards of landscapes and other people, laughing and waving down at them both. Albus was seated in a comfy red arm chair opposite an identical one, and Gwen sat down gracefully with a content sigh. "So, I'm a mind healer at St Mungo's, and most what I do doesn't actually involve magic. These sessions are something that muggles call 'counselling', and they are designed to help you get to the bottom of the problems you're having in your mind, and rule out other things that could be causing your problems like spells or potions." Her voice was silken, and she was very gentle with her words which made Albus relax into his chair. "So, tell me about why you've been referred here. I already know some back ground knowledge, but I like to hear it from the patient." She had a quill and parchment in her hand ready to record Albus' thoughts, and Albus felt a pressure to get across exactly how he was feeling, he didn't want anything to get over or under stated. So Albus explained, as best he could, about the panic attacks and the anxious feelings he'd been having since starting school, and about the bullying from Rowell. This was hard, especially saying Rowell's name, as a lurch of the stomach followed due to his instinct to not talk about it in fear of him being watched. Gwen sensed this, as she said whilst Albus paused to think "It's confidential here, I'll only inform someone if it puts you in danger, and we're not being listened to." When Albus had told Gwen about the assault, the threats, and the stalking, she frowned at her parchment and said "Albus, it sounds like you may be in danger, and I think I should inform the school about these pupils." Albus knew this was coming, and felt his temperature rise with the thought of the exposure of him being bullied. "I understand," he replied as calm as he could manage, "but I was intending to do it myself, or at least tell my family first before the school. I think that it is time I stop keeping it from them." Gwen smiled,
"I'm glad you have this frame of mind Albus, and I think it will be good for you to tell your family, but by law I will have to inform your head teacher immediately after you have left our session. However, I can inform Professor McGonagall that you are telling your parents and she can call them in to your school for you to tell them and have a talk." Albus thought this was a fair compromise, but he was fearful for the safety of the people around him, he didn't want Rowell to find his parents, his family, or his home.
Gwen asked Albus about the good things he had that kept him calm, grounded, feeling safe. James was his rock through panic attacks, and Gwen seemed pleased that he had such a strong bond with his brother. Then Scorpius came to mind, and Albus told her about the new friendship. "We thought our parents would be mad because they were enemies at school, but so far they're ok with it. I suppose there is a part I missed out though…" Albus swallowed the impending butterflies again. Gwen smiled, she was reading Albus like a book. "Do you want it to be more than a friendship?" she asked. Albus nodded with a slight smile, oh how I do. "Well I'm sure you could bring up the subject, if he's understanding then you won't lose the friendship you have with him if he doesn't feel the same way." It was amazing how much Gwen believed in him, she was like Albus' personal cheerleader, encouraging him to do all the things he never could.
A small chime sounded from a golden, ornamental cat perched on her desk, which had used its paw to ding its bell on its collar. "Our session is up, that went so quickly! I'll see you same time next week, look after yourself. The school will keep you protected." Gwen said gently. She showed Albus to the door, "Thank you so much" said Albus, he couldn't express his gratitude enough, she'd made him feel safe and calm which was a rarity in Albus' world. "My pleasure." She replied, and Albus went back to the fireplace feeling a lot better than before.
Albus returned to Professor McGonagall's office, but she wasn't there. He supposed she was dealing with some students or in a meeting, and began to leave the office. He noticed the paintings of the old head teachers were watching him through sleepy eyes, and one with a particularly long white beard and half-moon spectacles was smiling warmly at him. Albus smiled awkwardly back, before turning around and leaving the office. The corridors were dim in the winter evening, and Albus walked steadily to the Gryffindor tower.
He didn't see the dark shadows behind the flames of the torches, or hear their footsteps beneath his own. He did however, feel the large, muscly arm lock around his neck, and his head being pulled upwards. Albus was forced to look into the eyes of Rowell, who was smiling maliciously. Albus' windpipe was being crushed and he tried desperately to choke out a few breaths, which caused Rowell to chuckle. "No need to struggle Albus, we'll look after you." Albus' eyes widened with panic, and he squirmed to try and allow air into his lungs so he could call for help. A jinx cast lazily from Rowell hit Albus square in the face, and Albus slumped into unconsciousness.