Albus Severus Potter

It's a peaceful Sunday mid-morning and the dormitories are nearly empty, save for one Albus Potter sitting up in his bed, doing something so incredibly predictable for a Ravenclaw student, it's almost downright cliche.

He's reading a book.

Oh, yes.

Most of his clothing is strewn about on the floor, and his other belongings - books stacked in piles of two - are perched precariously on the edge of his night-table. Albus has never been known to be particularly neat with his belongings but it could be worse.

(At least all of said clothing is clean, for example.)

He's flipping through pages, occasionally jotting down a note in the parchment beside him.

Albus is in the Great Hall, helping himself to a plate scrambled eggs and toast (with jam).

Rose has just left to join her fellow Gryffindors.

(But before leaving Albus to his breakfast, told him, "I look forward to meeting Scorpius. Properly."

With one of those grins of hers that can only mean trouble.)


It's been two days since they first got back to Hogwarts, and Seventh Year has - thus far - been full of homework and reminders that they ought to study their very hardest if they wanted to pass all their NEWTs.

And that their career meetings with their Head of House would be coming up in a week.

There is a lot weighing on Albus' mind.

A lot of which has to do with Oxford, and Scorpius, and the future.

He takes a bite of his toast and ponders this, while more and more students start to trickle into the Great Hall for breakfast before classes.

Albus almost, very nearly, decides never to use the door to Milliways again.

If only because chances of running into Scorpius there always seem to be greater than they are when he's at school with him. (Which probably shouldn't make any sense when he thinks about it because they're in the same house and share most of the same classes.)

It's just -

It's been difficult to face just about anyone lately.

He thinks he must seem an awful friend to Rose and Andrew (and Honoria when she isn't hanging about her Quidditch-playing Hufflepuff Captain boyfriend). He's been avoiding them too, ashamed to have them notice how un-Albus he is, for reasons he can't quite get into because that'd require far too many explanations and unanswered questions.

Of course, it isn't that he wants to be alone; he'd welcome company if he thought they could sympathize. If he could avoid a long-winded narrative he simply doesn't think he can bring himself to explain without bursting into tears or something equally as mortifying.

Which is why he does end up going back to the Bar.

He finds an isolated enough area to hide, but keeps a constant watch on the door in case the girl whose eyes he inherited happens to walk through.