Counterblast: an unrestrained and vigorously powerful response to an attacking statement.

December 20, 2019

Albus didn't know exactly how it happened. One second he was sliding open the narrow door to the train loo, swaying with the motion of the locomotive carrying them home for the Christmas holidays, the next, something had slammed into him so hard, he was left gasping. His glasses were knocked askew as he was shoved back into the tiny cubicle, and the door slammed shut of its own accord. His eyes roved over empty air as he plunged a hand into his pocket for his wand, panic whining in his ears (this didn't happen anymore, this didn't happen thisdidn'thappen).

Something slammed him against the wall, a hand he couldn't see pinning him by the throat, and he quite forgot about his wand as he tried to pry the long, bony fingers away from his windpipe. He could hear heavy breathing, felt hot, rank breath on his face, and then a low, gravelly voice.

"I've got a message for your daddy and his new pureblood discrimination laws."

And then a fist was rammed into the side of Albus's face. He heard his glasses crunch, felt shards of glass bite into his cheek as light and dark popped like flashbulbs before him. Dimly, he heard the door open and close again, and slid down the wall, dizzy and trying to comprehend what had just happened.

XxX

"Albus!... what happened?"

Unwillingly, Albus raised his head. The bustle of the train station swelled around them. His father was hurrying toward him, alarm and concern all over his face. He practically felt James and Lily exchange looks behind his back as he mumbled, "It's nothing."

"Nothing?" Harry repeated incredulously, taking Al's shoulder in one hand and gently touching the purple bruise rising brilliantly around his left eye. Rose had mended his glasses and Lily had offered her handkerchief to clean up the cuts from the broken glass, but there wasn't anything they could do about the black eye.

"I just got into a fight, alright?" Albus said angrily, pulling away from his father's grip.

Harry looked skeptically toward James, Lily, and Rose for confirmation, but none of them said a word. "Since when do you get into fights?"

"Can we just go?" Albus asked, wheeling his trolley around.

He knew it wasn't over, even though his father took Lily's trolley and followed him with no further inquiry. Albus could feel the silent conversation he was having with Hermione behind his back. He shot Rose, who kept glancing anxiously at him as she pushed her own trunk next to his, a warning look, reminding her of the promise he'd extracted from her, Hugo, Scorpius, and his brother and sister. He wasn't going to give his assailant the satisfaction of having his message delivered.

A/N: A random little update for you all because the idea struck me. To be honest, this could stretch out into a one-shot… but for now we'll leave it at that. I know it's short, but I hope you enjoyed it anyway. Alohamora, you're up next with the Black sisters and then there'll be some Marauders because I think Louey06 is my last dedication for the breaking 1,000 reviews promise. I haven't forgotten about you!

Love you all!