I finished this chapter yesterday to celebrate September 1st 2017, Albus, Rosie and Scorpius' official first day at Hogwarts. It's canon now folks! Albus and Scorpius have met! I doubt this particular fanfic is what JK had in mind for these boys, but it's exciting all the same.
Now, buckle up boys and girls. It's gonna be a bumpy ride.
The trip home from the train station was pleasant enough. Albus' mother and father asked them all about how their second term had gone, but there was a palpable tension in the air. It was as if everyone knew why they were there, why all the Potter children had come home for holiday, but no one wanted to bring it up yet. Albus was relieved when they finally reached the house, hoping he could go upstairs and hide in his room until dinner. Maybe his parents would put off "talking" until tomorrow, and he could get a good night's sleep to help him prepare. He walked into the house, immediately comforted by the familiar sight and smell. However, as he started to ascend the staircase to his bedroom his father stopped him.
"Put your things in your room, but then come back down to the living room." He said, eyeing him seriously. It was clear that this was not up for discussion. Albus trudged up the stairs, with all hopes of hiding from his parents dashed. Behind him he heard his mother tell James and Lily that they were to stay in their rooms until they were told otherwise. Albus' stomach flipped. Without James and Lily he would be outnumbered by his parents, all alone to face whatever it was they had coming for him. Then again, he reminded himself as he put down his bags on the foot of his bed, there was no guarantee that his siblings would be on his side, even if they were present. Neither of them had been too fond of his behavior lately anyways, but still, he thought it would be nice to buffer his parents with their other children, who they were presumably less angry at.
"Albus!" His mom called, and Albus flinched like someone had raised a hand to slap him. He left his room, passing Lily's door on the way downstairs. Her door was cracked and she was peering out at him. She stuck a hand out and gave him an encouraging thumbs-up. Albus descended the stairs and when he reached the main floor of the house he saw that both of his parents were sitting in the parlor, on the couch, with a single, empty arm chair across from them. The rearranging of furniture was very ominous and a little overkill in Albus' opinion, but he entered the room, and sat in front of them dutifully.
"Hello." He said weakly, trying to smile. It felt more like a grimace, so he dropped it quickly.
His parents didn't respond to his greeting. They both looked at him for a moment, and then his mother began.
"Do you know why we wanted you to come home for holidays Albus?" She said. Albus waited to see if the question was rhetorical, but after a few moments it was obvious that she expected a response. The sarcastic reply "because you missed me so much" was practically bubbling in the back of his throat, but he gulped it down and said, "I suppose it has to do with the Howler and all of that…" His voice came out quieter and shakier than he expected.
When he looked back up he noticed that his father's eyes looked softer, almost as if he was sorry that Albus was so nervous. His mother still looked stern.
"Well, I suppose that is part of it, but not all. We haven't heard from you much this term, but we have been hearing things about you. Neville said that you seem distracted. Rosie has told us that you are not doing well in classes. Lily says that she never sees you anymore, and even Teddy was very concerned after he visited you in Hogsmeade. He wouldn't tell us what happened, but he did say that he thought you probably wanted to talk to us and that we needed to listen to you. So, we're listening. Do you have anything you would like to say?"
Albus eye's widened. Professor Longbottom had contacted his parents? He couldn't imagine why. His herbology grades hadn't dropped that much had they? And Rosie? She had told on him! Lily and Teddy too. He felt betrayed. He felt angry. Why were the people he trusted most going behind his back?
The silence stretched out between them. Albus was glaring at his shoes, still fuming at the fact that he was here because the people in his life thought they knew what was best for him, more than he did.
He heard his father clear his throat loudly, "We're here to listen to you son. Your mother and I are worried, you haven't been acting like yourself since…" He trailed off, seeming unsure how to finish his sentence. But Ginny had no problem finishing it for him.
"Since you began spending time with those Slytherin students." She said bitterly. Albus looked back up, staring at his mother in shock. "They've all been in trouble more times than I can count Albus, and not just at Hogwarts, with the ministry too. Underage wizardry, interfering with muggles. And that Scorpius Malfoy is a real piece of work." Albus wanted to say something, but words weren't coming out, and his mother wasn't finished.
"Do you have any idea how many times his father has covered up for him. There was one incident, last summer I think it was, stole a magic carpet, him and one of his friends. Rode it around Liverpool for an afternoon, and then in hopes of not getting caught tossed it in a muggle trashcan, where any muggle could have gotten their hands on it. Good thing the ministry tracked them down and found it first."
Albus hadn't heard this particular story, but it sounded likely. In fact, it sounded like something he had heard his father doing when he was in Hogwarts.
"Hm, stole a flying vehicle and flew it around where muggles could see. Sounds a little familiar." He shot back at her, angrily. He saw his father's eyes go wide, and his mother actually gasped. Albus had never really talked back to his parent's before, but they were being so unfair, he couldn't contain himself.
"Albus Severus Potter don't you dare change the subject, this is about Malfoy, he's a delinquent." She shouted.
"I'm not changing the subject!" Albus shouted back. He hadn't tried to shout, but it had come out that way. He lowered his voice and continued. "I'm just pointing out that sometimes young wizards get into trouble, and that doesn't make them delinquents. Scorpius is not a bad person. He's not." He punctuated his last few words heavily, daring his mother to argue. And argue she did.
"How could you know? You only just met him." Ginny was not concerned about keeping her voice low, and her words became louder as she spoke. "And in the few months that you have met him you escaped the country and went to a party in France without telling us. You've been ignoring your friends and family and you have been more stressed out at school than ever."
"Scorpius isn't the problem mum." Albus said firmly.
"Then what is the problem Albus?" She sounded exhausted. When he didn't say anything she put her head in her hands and sighed.
I'm gay, I'm gay, I'm gay. Albus was screaming the words in his brain but they wouldn't come out.
"Albus, it's alright, you can tell us." His father said gently. "Rosie said you have been going to bed early, hiding in your room. If the Slytherins are bullying you, you need to tell your mother and I, we want to help you. Whatever they are doing, just tell us, we can make it stop."
"They aren't bullying me!" He objected loudly. Is that what his parents thought was going on?
"I know that Malfoy has done it before," His mother spat out angrily, pulling her head up and raising her voice again. "I heard it from your headmaster last time we spoke, in his third year, he ordered around a first-year boy. It got so bad that the boy transferred schools. Whatever he is making you do you have to tell us."
"He's not making me do anything. I mean it mum." He felt angry again. His parents only knew the gossip about Scorpius. They only knew the terrible stories that people told about him, they didn't know the real Scorpius. The one who loved his friends, and potions and his grandfather and who had the most beautiful smile that Albus had ever seen.
"Well then why are you acting this way?" His mother shouted at him.
"It's not his fault!" Albus shouted back.
Ginny glared at her youngest son. "Don't you shout at me Albus Severus Potter." She stood up angrily, "Would you like me to tell you about the things that are his fault. Would you like me to recount all of his run-ins with the law, all of the times when he had shown his blatant disregard for the rules and for the well-being of others."
"Stop it!" Albus shouted again, angrily. He felt tears prickling in the corner of his eyes, but he blinked them away angrily and kept shouting "Just shut up about him!"
"DO NOT TALK TO YOUR MOTHER LIKE THAT!" His father boomed, he also stood up, and then both of his parents were standing and glaring down at him. "What is going on Albus?" His father's eyes were no longer soft. He looked angrier than Albus had ever seen him. Albus felt his heart racing. He felt like he was going to vomit. There were words on the tip of his tongue, but he wasn't even sure what they were. His father continued "We are not going to leave this room until your mother and I have some ans-"
"I LOVE HIM. I AM IN LOVE WITH HIM."
The second the words escaped his lips Albus felt his heart stop. He had said that he was in love with Scorpius. In. Love. He didn't know what to say. His parents were silent and frozen, staring at him. It looked like someone had petrified them. Albus couldn't take it anymore. He put his head down and sobs came racking out of him. He was crying so hard that he was having to gasp in between sobs. It felt terrible, but at the same time it felt amazing. It felt like months of stress and doubt had just been released. He told his parents that he was gay. But what he had actually said was that he loved Scorpius. As soon as the words had come out Albus knew that they were true, but he had been afraid to admit it. But now it was all out there in the open. He was in love. With someone that both of his parents obviously hated. He started to cry harder.
Suddenly he felt two arms pull him up and wrap him in the tightest hug. It was his mother. As she pulled him close he heard her crying as well. A moment later his father joined in the embrace and they both held him tightly. His mother smoothed the hair on the back of his head, and mumbled in his ear, "shhh".
Albus felt himself calm down, he leaned into his mother's arms, suddenly embarrassed by all of his yelling. He felt like a child again, a child who had worked himself into a frenzy and needed someone to calm him down.
"Albus." She said softly, breaking their embrace, she cupped his face in her hands. Both of their face's were wet with tears. "Albus, why didn't you tell us?"
Albus felt his jaw tremble. His mother sounded so upset. "I wanted to. I wanted to tell you, but I was so scared. I was afraid that you would be mad or disappointed. I was afraid that you would tell me that I was being stupid, or that he was using me, or that he would get tired of me. That's all I have been hearing for months, from everyone, but I can't help it, because I do, I love him, and I can't change it. And I just want someone to be happy for me." The words tumbled out of him quickly, and when he finished he felt himself tear up again.
"No, Albus, why didn't you tell us that you were gay?" His mother insisted. The tone of her voice made Albus' heart drop, she sounded so distressed. She didn't care about Scorpius anymore. All she cared about was him. Albus felt his heart surge with love for his parents, but also guilt. Everyone told him that this would happen, that when he finally did tell his parents that they would be hurt that he waited so long, and they were. Albus glanced at his father to see a similar expression on his face. Albus tried to say something to comfort them.
"I… I didn't know for very long." He admitted. "And I was going to tell you at Christmas," He lied, "But then Teddy announced that he was getting married, and I felt like I would have been stealing the spotlight or something." It was a poor excuse, but it was better than nothing.
His mother looked at him. Albus was trying to decide if she believed him or not. "You should have told us anyways." There were still tears in her eyes but her voice wasn't as shaky. She pulled her son into another large hug. Harry stood back this time, but put a hand on his son's back.
"We love you so much." His mother said quietly in his ear. "No matter what." She held the hug a few moments longer, before letting go and grabbing him by the shoulders. "But you have to communicate with us. We worry about you, and when you don't tell us what is happening we have to assume the worst."
Albus nodded, he felt tears coming back to his eyes again. After all of the waiting, and all of the stressing, he had done it. He told his parents about being gay and about Scorpius, and the only thing they cared about was him, being happy.
"I'm sorry I lied to you." Albus said softly, "I didn't want to make you worry. I was just so scared."
"There is nothing to be afraid of. You can always tell your father and I everything."
Albus nodded, feeling a twinge of guilt, knowing that he hadn't really told his parents everything. But, he reasoned, there was no reason for them to know all of the drama that had gotten him to this point. He had half a mind to tell them about being bullied by Jeremy when he first came out, just to get back at Rosie, but he decided against it. It would only create more problems, and he was happy right now, he didn't want to ruin it.
He heard a knock on the door frame, and saw Lily and James, standing peering into the room.
"Are you guys done screaming now?" She asked with a small smile.
"Yeah, and crying." James rolled his eyes.
"Lily, James, you are supposed to be upstairs!" Their mother scolded.
"We were listening at the door." Lily confessed, not seeming remorseful.
"Not that we needed to be." James shrugged, "They probably heard you across the street." He sat down on the couch, casually. He seemed to be enjoying the atmosphere, it made Albus uneasy.
Ginny glanced out the window, looking nervous at the idea that they had bothered the neighbors. But Harry just smiled, "I think it is better that we are all here. This wasn't exactly the talk that your mother and I had planned on having with Albus, but with the way things turned out there's no need to speak in private anymore."
"You two both knew then?" Ginny asked her two other children, although her face showed that she already knew the answer.
"Yeah, us and the entirety of Hogwarts." James replied.
Ginny looked surprised, "The whole school?" She looked back at Albus in confusion.
"Well yeah, it's hard to keep it a secret when you are snogging in the hallways." James said flippantly, grinning when he saw Albus glaring at him.
Lily punched James in the arm. "Well everything thinks that they make a very cute couple!" She added, trying to sound positive. Albus internally groaned, suddenly realizing that while he had confessed his feelings for Scorpius, he hadn't quite gotten around to explaining that the Slytherin returned the sentiments.
"Couple?" Harry exclaimed. "Who's a couple?"
"Um, well Scorpius and I have been dating for… a few months." Albus admitted. His parents exchanged glances that showed they were less than excited about this new development. Albus supposed that perhaps the way he had first described his situation had made it sound like some sort of pitiful unrequited love. Maybe his parents had only been okay with it because they assumed nothing would ever come of it.
"Ah." His father finally said, "I see." He seemed less supportive of this revelation than the last. There was an awkward silence in the room, which Ginny broke after a few moments.
"Albus, we can discuss this all later. No need to go into it all now, besides, you all had a long journey today," She gestured at her children. "Why don't you all go upstairs and relax while your father and I get dinner ready." Her body language had shifted, it was stiffer, and her smile seemed forced.
Her very transparent attempt to get them all upstairs so that Harry and she could talk about the recent developments fooled none of the Potter children, but they were all happy to leave the room, most of all Albus.
"Well, I think the important thing is that there are no more secrets." Said Lily encouragingly before they all left the room. Albus could tell she was trying to make up for telling their parents that Scorpius and Albus were dating. He smiled at her.
"Well said Lils." Their father said, planting a kiss on her cheek as she passed him. As Albus passed his father all he got was an uneasy glance.
"Yeah," James said, getting off of the couch and walking towards the stairs with his siblings. "No more secrets now Albus, except to tell them that you two are shagging."
Albus looked at his brother in horror and saw that James was grinning widely. I'll kill him, Albus decided. The room went silent after James' words, and Albus was trying to imagine the possibility that maybe their parents hadn't heard what James said. That possibility was destroyed however when Albus turned and looked at his mother.
Her eyes were impossibly wide and her mouth was hanging open.
"WHAT?!" She shrieked.
After Ginny's initial outburst, she still hurried them upstairs, telling them to not come down until they were called. James practically pranced up the stairs looking very pleased with himself, with Albus right behind him. Once they reached the second floor, Albus bypassed his own room and followed James down the hall, with Lily in hot pursuit. Once Albus had entered his older brother's room he closed the door quickly behind them and locked it. He could hear Lily cursing them quietly from behind the closed door, but she didn't dare shout at them and disturb their parents downstairs.
"What was that?" Albus demanded, turning on his brother. James didn't seem concerned that Albus had locked them both in the bedroom. He laid down on his bed and grabbed a magazine, lazily flipping through it.
"What was what?" He asked, uninterestedly. Then a moment later, "Oh, you mean the truth?" He smirked at Albus, as if daring his brother to deny it.
"So, what, you heard rumors around the castle and decided to turn them into fact and then tell mum and dad about it?" There was no way that James had any actual proof that he had been sleeping with Scorpius, no one had ever caught them, and it wasn't like James lurked around Slytherin students in hopes of picking up gossip.
"You aren't as smart as you think you are." James told him, still not looking up from the magazine. Albus froze, what was James talking about? Did he know about the apparating?
James rolled his eyes when he looked up and saw his brother's confused face. "The map." He said slowly, as if he was talking to someone very thick.
Shit. Albus' face must have looked terrified because James chuckled. "How could you possibly forget that I have a means of looking up your location in the castle at all times?" He asked, still laughing, enjoying seeing his younger brother squirm.
"So you're spying on me?" Albus asked, angrily.
"Oh, don't act so high and mighty." James sneered. "It's not like you made it difficult. You are in his bed almost every night." Albus could hear the disgust in his brother's tone. He felt his palms start to sweat, and his heart was pounding in his chest. If James knew all this, why hadn't he done anything? Albus wondered.
"Are- are you going to tell mum and dad?" Albus asked quietly. He hated being in this position, where James was in control, but he had no choice.
"No." James replied, and after regarding his brother for a moment he went back to ignoring him, and flipping lazily through pages that he obviously wasn't reading.
Albus' mind raced, "But- but why not?"
"Because Albus," He sighed, "this is all turning into more trouble than it's worth." He finally put down his magazine and sat up, facing his little brother. "I told you to stay away from Scorpius. I told you not to go down to the Slytherin common room anymore. And you didn't listen to me, did you? Now, I don't know how you are getting down there, and honestly, I don't care. I've waited in the common room too many nights to try and stop you from making this mistake over and over and over. I'm done trying to protect you."
Albus couldn't believe what he was hearing. James was making it sound like Albus was on the one who had done something wrong.
"Then why did you tell mum and dad?" He demanded.
"Because" James spat back, "I'm tired of you lying to everyone and still trying to seem like the perfect little son. If you are going to run away every night to go shag your boyfriend at least own up to it."
Albus felt his face go hot. He had been outsmarted by James, and now his brother was lecturing him as if he was a child.
"Well… thanks. I guess, for not ratting me out." Albus said, feeling extremely embarrassed.
"Don't thank me." James sighed, turning away from him, "I don't want you to come crying to me when he breaks your heart and you're a miserable mess."
Albus turned and walked towards the door, realizing that he had nothing left to say to his brother. He unlocked the door and opened it, not surprised to see his sister still standing there, arms crossed, glaring at him.
"You and Scorpius- you- AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ME?!" She hissed at him.
"Come on." Albus led her into his room and closed the door behind him. He was beginning to wonder if he would ever get a moment to himself.
By Friday afternoon Albus was exhausted. He thought nothing could have been more awkward than dinner on his first night back home. His parents had done everything possible to make it very clear that they were completely fine with his sexuality, without trying to mention Scorpius at all. Every time his boyfriend did come up, mainly because James kept bringing him up by asking Albus incessant questions about how they met and their first date and their first kiss, the tension in the room was palpable. His parents, trying to be polite, would try to take interest in his answers, but Albus' responses sounded awkward because he was too mentally preoccupied, trying to censor out all of the drinking and lying and sneaking around.
He also didn't seem to be able to escape their lecturing. It seemed like every time he turned around either his mother or father wanted to have a 'little chat'. He got lectured about his grades, lectured about keeping secrets from the family, lectured about ignoring his cousin and sister at Hogwarts, lectured about New Year's (again) and the worst had been when his father had sat down with him and tried to have 'the talk'.
As the week went on however, things only got worse. Family members stopped by for visits and Albus was forced to come out over and over again. His family members were all supportive, some didn't even seem that surprised, but it was still tiring. Thankfully Albus' parents didn't make him tell all of his relatives about his new relationship status, but he had a feeling that those conversations were occurring when he was out of earshot. Rosie came over almost every day as well, and at first Albus didn't even want to speak with her. They would just sit at the kitchen table working on homework together. It was during these homework sessions that Albus realized just how far behind he had gotten in his classes. Rosie had all of her assignments completed within a few hours of starting, and Albus would struggle, flipping through his textbooks, and scribbling notes down that he should have taken in class. Eventually Albus reached something that he didn't understand, and after struggling with it for almost an hour, he swallowed his pride and asked his cousin. Rosie seemed eager to help, and she explained it very clearly and quickly, pointing out the place in the textbook where it was expanded upon. After that they fell back into silence, but it was more comfortable, as if some tension had been relieved. A few minutes after Albus heard her whisper, "I'm sorry."
"For what?" He replied, not looking up from his notes.
"For talking to your parents before talking to you." She said, again very softly.
"Why did you do that?" Albus asked her, putting down his quill.
"Because I was worried, and I never saw you, and you were acting strangely and I didn't think you would listen to me, or tell me if something was going on." She said quickly.
"Nothing is going on." He replied, "I just have a boyfriend now, so things are different."
"I don't want us to be different." Rosie muttered. "I want us to be like we were."
Albus almost laughed at the irony. He had felt that exact same way at the beginning of the school year about her and Jeremy, and now Rosie was in his shoes. But, knowing how she felt also made him feel more sympathetic.
"I miss when we used to talk about everything." She told him.
"We can still talk about everything." Albus responded. "But I just don't know if you are going to like what you hear." He added truthfully.
Rosie nodded seriously, "I know, but I want to be supportive."
Albus gave her a small smile. "Well in that case, I have a lot I can tell you."
It took most of the afternoon of the two of them laying in the garden and talking before Albus had caught Rosie up on his relationship with Scorpius. To her credit Rosie was as supportive as possible. He had still edited a lot of the details, to save himself the lecturing. She didn't know about the apparating or him spending nights in Scorpius' bed. But he did tell her that they were sleeping together, and that he had recently realized that he loved the Slytherin, and Rosie had seemed genuinely happy for him.
It was nice for Albus to talk about, because the confession that he loved Scorpius had seemingly come out of nowhere. But the most he talked about it, the surer of his feelings he became. He had probably known for a while, but just been afraid to admit it, afraid that he would become too dependent on the Scorpius. But Albus wasn't afraid anymore. He wanted to depend on Scorpius. Especially now that his entire family knew that they were dating, Albus felt like he had to prove himself.
By the end of the week Albus and Rosie were back to normal, just the way they both liked it. Once they had finished their homework, they would just hang out in Albus' room, playing games of exploding snap or talking. On Friday, they were in the middle of discussing whether or not the house elves had been putting rejuvenating potions into the Hogwarts meals around exams times, when there was a knock on Albus' door.
"Yeah?" Albus called, and when the door opened Teddy was standing on the other side of it.
"Hey." He said with a small smile.
"Oh." Albus responded, not smiling back. Rosie looked between the two of them nervously.
"Well, I better get home." She said a moment later, and she dashed out of the room before Albus could tell her to wait.
"I just finished speaking to your parents." Teddy said, walking around Albus' room, picking up various things and putting them back down. "They seem to be taking it all quite well." Albus didn't respond, instead he stared out the window.
"I'm proud of you." Teddy said finally. "I know it wasn't easy for you to tell them. But it was the right thing to do."
"You didn't give me much of a choice." Albus retorted, "They brought me home and ambushed me."
"It was time Al." Teddy said softly, walking over and sitting next to Albus on the bed.
"I know." Albus sighed. "I know that. But I'm still mad at you." He knew it sounded childish, but he felt so betrayed by Teddy, the one person who he had always thought he could count on.
"I'm mad at myself too." Teddy responded. Albus looked up in surprise. "I wasn't fair to you, or to Scorpius. You were right when you said I was judging him and your relationship without knowing enough about it. And I told your parents something very similar downstairs just now."
"You did?" Albus looked at him in amazement.
"I did. They are worried about you, just the same as I was. But I reminded them why they have to trust you, why we all have to trust you."
"Thanks for saying that." Albus replied.
"It's the least I can do." Teddy smiled down at him, "Besides, I can't bear you giving me the silent treatment anymore. So, what do you say? Am I forgiven?"
"Yeah." Albus said, reaching over and giving Teddy a large hug. His brother returned it enthusiastically.
"Now come on, let's go eat." Teddy said, standing, "Your mom made apple crisp for desert."
After dinner, Albus said his goodbyes to Teddy, and watched his god-brother floo away. It had been so easy to tell Teddy that he was forgiven because Albus had already forgiven Teddy weeks ago. He was no good at holding grudges, and it didn't take long for Albus to miss his god-brother immensely. Seeing Teddy and talking to him over dinner had felt so normal and easy. Albus didn't want to be angry at Teddy anymore, and now that he wasn't he felt much better.
"I'm glad you two made up." Said a voice behind him. Albus turned and saw his father watching him from the doorway. Albus dusted a little soot that had flown out of the fireplace off of his trousers. "Yeah, me too."
"Take a walk with me," Harry said, gesturing him towards the front door. Albus couldn't imagine what his father had to talk to him about. But it couldn't be worse than his stumbling through a lecture on safe sex, so Albus followed.
When they had reached the edge of the front yard, Harry turned right and Albus followed him down the lane, enjoying the air and the sun slowly setting behind him.
After a few minutes his father finally spoke. "I know that I have told you about your namesake many times." Harry began. "Albus, I mean."
Albus Potter chuckled. That was an understatement if he ever heard one. For many years growing up he had despised his name and all of the pressure that came with living up to the greatest wizard of all time. Eventually he had accepted it, but Albus was pretty sure he had heard every story imaginable about Albus Dumbledore.
"But I never thought to tell you, well, that he was gay." Harry said it casually, but Albus stopped walking and gaped at his father's back.
"What?" He asked, how had he never known this? Never seen it written anywhere, in books or news. "Really?"
"Yes, really." Harry stopped walking as well, and smiled at his son. "I didn't even find out until after his death. A close friend of his told me. It never struck me as exceedingly important, but I realized that it might be important to you."
"Wow." Was all Albus could say.
"I know I have told you this many times." Harry said, walking towards his son and putting a hand on his shoulder. "But Albus Dumbledore was the greatest wizard I have ever known. And you honor his name everyday son. He would have been proud to know you."
Albus couldn't think of anything to say back, so he just stared up at his father.
"So, if anyone ever tries to make you feel lesser because of who you are, just remember that they are all idiots. It is our choices that show what we truly are Albus. And who you love has nothing to do with being a great wizard, or being a great man."
"Thanks dad." Albus' throat felt dry. He was suddenly extremely aware of the button in his pocket. The button that had been in his pocket all week because he had been too nervous to let it out of his sight. It felt five pounds heavier all of a sudden.
"Teddy also talked to your mother and me for a long while this afternoon." Harry continued walking and Albus followed him. "Your mother and I agree that we have probably been too judgmental about the Malfoy boy without ever having met him."
"Really?" Albus asked, excitedly.
"Really," Harry smiled, "And if you really do love him, then he must be a very special boy. Your mother and I trust you and your judgement Albus. You are almost 17 and you'll be an adult soon, you are perfectly capable to decide your own future, and your mother and I want to be supportive of you."
Again, Albus felt the weight of the button that Scorpius had given him. The weight he felt was guilt, of lying to his parents when they trusted him so much.
"Thanks dad." Albus said again.
They walked back to the house in a comfortable silence, where Albus tried to focus on all of the things his father had told him, instead of the party. But as he lay awake in bed that night he couldn't think of anything else. It was amazing that he could have disclosed so much to his parents and his family over the last week and yet still have so many secrets. He thought he had escaped the need to please his parents after the howler, but now that he was home, seeing how supportive and loving they were, he felt a terrible guilt for all of the things that he had done.
Albus tossed and turned all night and then next morning he felt ragged.
"Did you sleep alright dear?" Albus' mother asked him at the breakfast table.
"Fine." Albus yawned, unconvincingly.
The whole day seemed like a blur. The hours ticked by and the party loomed closer and closer. Albus kept imagining Scorpius' face in his head. Every time he did, he realized how much he missed seeing the blond. Albus knew logically that he would see his boyfriend in just a few days, back at the castle. But at the castle there were teachers and curfews and classes and exams. Albus desperately wanted to see Scorpius outside of all that. He wanted to spend time with his boyfriend, to talk to him and tell him all that had happened in the last week. As the hours ticked by Albus felt the reasons not to go to the party growing weaker and weaker in his head. The guilt was still weighing on him, but he remembered something his father had said the night before, "You are perfectly capable to decide your own future". It was true. Albus was able to make the decision between Scorpius and his family, but he wished that he didn't have to. He wished that there was a way to make everyone happy.
When Albus told his parents that he was going to bed early, no one questioned him. He had been walking around like a zombie all day. Albus told himself that this did not mean that he had decided to go to the party. When Albus got into his bedroom, he began looking for clothes that he would wear, just in case he decided to go to the party. He lay them out on his bed, and then a few minutes later he put them on. Albus told himself that this still did not mean that he had decided to go to the party.
It was only when Albus had the button clutched in his hand tightly with his eyes were on the clock on his wall, that he knew he had to make a decision. He had five minutes to decide, probably less, since his clock ran slow. After all of the secrets that had come out in the last week, there was still one more, and he had the choice of throwing the button on the floor and going to sleep. Scorpius would understand, Albus told himself. Then Albus remembered that the only reason Scorpius was throwing this party, the only reason that Scorpius had gone home at all over Easter break was for the chance to see Albus, just once. His heart did a strange flip and suddenly his desire to see Scorpius became more important than anything else. More important than being honest with his parents, more important than breaking wizarding law with an illegal portkey.
While he was thinking about Scorpius, he felt a sharp pull behind his navel. Albus realized that his portkey was taking effect, the decision had been made for him. But that wasn't exactly true. As much as he had tried to deny it, Albus had always known that he would go, the chance to see Scorpius was just too strong. In that moment the decision felt right. Albus relaxed his body as he was hurled forward. He was unable to keep his eyes open, until a few seconds later when he felt his feet hit the ground, hard. He staggered, but kept his balance. When he opened his eyes, he was in Malfoy Manor.
What did you guys think? Let me know! I'm excited to get the next chapter out, it's going to be a good one 😊