I do not own Harry Potter or the Characters created by Rowling

So...when I first wrote this...I don't even know how long ago, it was low *cough* highkey crappily written and the chapters were much shorter. This was originally 1,895 words. Now it is 2,253 words. That means I made this 358 words longer.

Also! Now in my bio there is a link to a playlist for both my OC Anneliese and the playlist for the story! Warning, I do have some things pre-planned so there may be spoilers if you think on it for a moment!

Anyways, this is also posted onto my Tumblr account imnotobsessedwfictionalchracters and my Wattpad somekindofmagic1 so you can check it out on there too!

But anywho, hope you enjoy!

Love Z 3

Chapter 8. At Least I'm Trying

March and April went by quickly. Soon they were nearing the end of May and the end of their first year. Albus only told Anne what happened with James after she convinced him that he would probably feel better afterwards. And even though he refused to admit it, mostly because he didn't want to admit that she was right as usual, he did feel better. They both agreed to not tell Scorpius as they both knew what he could, or would, do if given the chance.

But as they neared the end of the year, Albus began to have an increase of worry. After he had heard what his Uncle had said, and what James had told him, anything to do with Ron became a tense affair. Of course that was only when he saw him, but the downside was that his parents and his Aunt Hermione and Uncle Ron were very close. His Aunt and Uncle were his dad's best friends in school. They all joke that his Aunt was the only reason he survived school. And even if it wasn't for his dad and them, his mum and Aunt were close. And his Uncle was his mums brother (while not her favorite, he was the closest to her age and lived the closest).

He knew that his parents would invite them over all of the time. And he didn't wish to see how bad it would be to be around Rose. She was annoying and difficult enough while they were at school, he didn't want to see how bad she could get outside. He didn't mind his younger cousin, Hugo. He never made an effort to be an ass. But even Albus knows that the poor kid is easily influenced and sees his father as the best thing in the world. That he would do anything he asked and believe anything he says. Plus, Albus also knew that if Hugo gets sorted into Gryffindor, James and Rose would take advantage of that fact. Make up lies and make him their perfect little toy.

And knowing how his mother was, he knew he wouldn't be able to hide up in his room. And the more he thought of it, the more he realized that he could just hangout with his little sister. Downside to that was that she had friends of her own that she could hangout with. He could go to Shell Cottage, assuming that Dom would be there. Or he could stay at Weasleys Wizards Wheezes, he knew his Uncle George wouldn't mind. But then again, James and Fred were there a bunch, so he wouldn't be able to get away from them. He never understood Fred. He seemed okay with his sorting, but as the year went on, he became more and more of an ass to Albus.

And then again, he did remember Scorpius mentioning how he was usually bored being an only child and that his parents were okay with him staying over. And if he wanted to go over, they said it was perfectly fine. And there was even Annie. She always talks about how her siblings are annoying and would do anything to get away from them. So he could always steal her away from them if he wanted to. They both could just go and annoy Scorpius even if they wished.

In the end, he decided that he would just figure it all out when it happened.

Scorpius pulled his tie loose and shed himself of his black robe. "Why the bloody hell is it so hot?"

Albus, who had his tie undone completely and the top two buttons of his top undone, his robe in his arm as well, ran a hand through his hair, something that wasn't helping with this heat. "Because, mother nature knew we were getting too pale and needed more light." Anne rolled her eyes, she brushed her bangs out of her face for what, at least to Albus, seemed like it was the 100th time. "Y'know, there's this thing called a headband that you could use. I'm pretty sure I bought you one for Christmas."

She scoffed and casually retorted, "Well there's another thing called a hairbrush, maybe you've heard of it? It helps keep your hair neat. Or how about hair gel? Another thing that helps your hair in one place."

He shrugged, "I like it messy, not messing with it gives me more time to sleep in the morning."

Scorpius shook his head, "No, you just hate that brushes tend to break whenever you use them."

Albus shrugged at Scorpius's comment, "So what?"

"It wouldn't do that if you brushed it more than just once a month."

"Twice a month, actually." Albus quipped quickly.

Anne rolled her eyes again, "As if that is any better?"

"It is, I used to do it once a week, but I figured, you know what? My hair is impossible to tame, why not just embrace it."

"You're lazy Albus."

"Of course I am, my dear, someone in this group has to be."

She sighed, "Whatever." And now, finally taking off her own robes, "You guys aren't wrong, it is hot."

"Ha! Took ya long enough." She rolled her eyes and rolled up her sleeves. The boys quickly joined her in doing that.

"At least we only have a few weeks after we go back home and can wear whatever we want everyday."

"I just can't wait to ditch these robes. They only work during the cold months when we're freezing our asses off."

Scorpius and Anne laughed at Albus's comment. But still agreed with him. They all couldn't wait until they could wear lighter clothes than their school robes.

"Hey Annie?" She hummed in response, "Do you have anyone starting Hogwarts next year?"

Not even looking up from her History of Magic textbook and paper, she replied, "My sisters Liana and Alexa. They turned 11 last November." She glanced up at Albus through her glasses, "You?"

He nodded, "Yeah, 3 of my cousins."

"Yeah? What're their names?"

"Well, there's Louis, he's Vic's little brother, come August, he'll turn 11. Then there's Lucy, Molly's little sis." He laughed, "Trust me when I say that she's not as uptight as Molly. And uh, she turned 11 last...I wanna say September but I honestly have no clue. Then finally, there's Roxanne. She Fred's younger sister, and I know she turned 11 in January." He rolled his eyes, "Some people kept bringing it up over Christmas."

She nodded, turning the page of the textbook and copying something down onto her parchment. "That sounds nice. Are you close with them?"

He shrugged and tried to see what she was copying, "I guess. I'm kinda closer to Louis and Vic's sister Dom. She's our age, but decided to go to Beauxbatons instead though. She 'likes that family more'. Which is totally understandable." He sighed, "What about you? Are you close to those two sisters?"

"Meh, we get along, but we're sisters so we fight a bunch."

He nodded, "Ah, makes sense, I guess."

She laughed softly, "You really don't, do you?" She sighed as he shook his head, "Well, basically, we're girls. Genevieve, Alexa, Liana, and I fight all the time over stupid things like hair brushes or how long the other has been in the bathroom. Of course I have my even younger sisters, but they're too young for me to need to argue with them about those things yet." She finally looked at him fully, "I do feel sorry for my brothers on occasion. They have to deal with us all the time." She snorted, "I think they sneak into a guest bathroom when we're arguing."

He looked at her confused, "Wait...if you have a guest bathroom, then why do you fight over the bathroom?"

"We actually have multiple bathrooms. But there's only one in our hallway."

He was about to make another comment when they heard Holly Avery's voice break out, "Albus, if you were a girl and Lily's sister instead of brother, you would understand what she's talking about."

They looked back at Holly. Her short hair that had been growing out since the beginning of the school year was now reaching below her shoulders. Her own History of Magic textbook in her lap. "Seriously, sisters fight over the dumbest things. Olive and I fight over the dumbest things. For example, over break, she got mad at me cause she claimed that I stole her shirt. I didn't by the way. It was mine originally. Not my fault she can fit into a kids shirt."

And it was as if Olivia heard Holly talking about her as they soon heard her voice coming to argue with her sister. Albus and Anne turned back around. For a few minutes, they sat there in silence, finishing their work. "Sometimes I wish my parents didn't have so many kids." Albus looked at Anne with confusion. He had never heard her say anything like that before. "And...I don't know, maybe it's selfish, but I wish I was an only child. I think Scor is lucky with that."

He tilted his head to the side, "Why?"

She sighed and sat her quill down, "Because, then I would have my parents undivided attention and maybe wouldn't feel like a disappointment to them." She said the last part so softly that he barely heard it. But he felt a pang in his chest when he heard her. He understood what she meant. He hated that he did. Especially since he didn't a year ago. But he just nodded silently in agreement. I didn't want to be one until recently.

Albus stared at the top of the curtains above his bed. Why did Annie say that to him? They hadn't been friends for nearly as long as Scorpius and her had been. Unless he knew? No, he knows her better than that. So why? She never seemed like she wanted that, never did she complain about how she didn't get attention at home. Maybe something had happened over Easter break. She did seem upset afterwards.

He rolled over to his side. Thinking about what she had said. Partially that she would have their undivided attention. But mostly how she said she wouldn't feel like she would like she was a disappointment. He wondered if that was what this pain he always felt after he dealt with his family. Disappointment. That he was one.

He remembered back to when he would always listen to what James thought. That ended before he had even started Hogwarts. He thought and began to realize that it was when James himself started Hogwarts. Albus remembered how James was before Hogwarts. The older brother who genuinely cared about both of his siblings. Even if he was being a dick. He still cared. Even if he was terrorizing them, he cared.

James chased Albus in the backyard with a stick. The younger brother was crying because the older had been chasing him for what felt like hours. He could hardly breathe and his small legs were killing him. He was so focused on running away from his brother that he didn't notice the hole in the ground that their dog had dug. His foot got caught in it and he fell onto the ground.

Once he felt his body collide with the hard ground, he started to cry more. He heard James telling him to calm down. That he was okay. But Albus didn't listen. He kept crying until he screamed for his mum. James was still trying to get him to be quiet and stop crying. Soon after they both heard their mum's voice yelling at them.

"James, Albus, what is happening?"

They looked over and saw their mum running over to them with their younger sister, Lily, on her hip.

"I didn't push him, mummy! I promise!"

She handed Lily to James and kneeled down to Albus's level. "What happened, sweetheart?"

"J-Jamie ch-chased me!" He hiccuped, "And I-I fall."

"Did he push you?" Albus shook his head. "Did you trip over one of the holes that Sirius dug?" He nodded his head. "Where does it hurt?"

"An-kle."

"Your Ankle?" He nodded, "Alright then." She carefully grabbed his ankle and looked at it. After a moment she kissed his ankle softly, "I think you just twisted it sweetheart." She stood and picked Albus up and started to walk towards the house. "James?"

"Yeah?"

"You know you need to be careful with Albus and Lily. I know Al is only 2 years younger, but at your age that's big. Okay?"

James nodded, "I understand mummy. Won't happen again! I promise!"

"Good."

"Are you disappointed in me?"

"I could never be disappointed in any of you." Their mum said as she ran her hand through Albus's hair as he began to doze off.

Albus missed when James would be a dick and then apologize. When he was a normal fucking brother. When he still called Albus a brother. When James didn't make Albus feel like no one cared about him. He didn't understand why it was like this. 12 year old Albus S. Potter had no idea why James S. Potter treated him the way that he did.

All because he was a Slytherin.

All because he was a disappointment to his family.

The tears started to fall as he curled into a ball.

How long had it been since he started disappointing them?