MM Continuity: "So you've found Milliways, then?"

They don't run into each other very often - but this time, Albus was being sought after.

Upon leaving his Charms class, his older brother is waiting for him by the arch at the end of the hall. And he is alone.

As he approaches him, James raises a hand and waves in that easy, nonchalant way of his.

"Hullo Al," he says. "Good class?"

His first thought is that something might've happened to mum or dad back at home. Maybe James wanted to tell him first before they went to fetch Lily from her class. What did she have now? Transfiguration? It was something like that.

The words "Something wrong?" tumble from his mouth in more of a panic than he means them to.

James leans over and ruffles his brother's mop of dark hair with a laugh. "D'you have a minute?"

"... um. Yeah. I - I suppose." He is still worried, but James' relaxed demeanor lessens his own anxiety by a fraction. "Are you going to tell me ... what's going on?"

"I hear you've been to a certain ... Milliways recently?"

Albus stops dead in his tracks, his heart pounding. He wouldn't be in trouble for going because it isn't James' place (by which, he doesn't own it), but the accusation is arresting nevertheless.

Because despite all of his efforts to be a good, quiet student - he did end up finding the door when he should have gone to class. Even if he did end up going to class once he'd left. Hours passed in that strange universe - hours he, by rights, should have spent at school.

He swallows.

"Yes," he says, shakily.

James' face breaks into a grin. He pushes his brother forward - to keep walking. "Oy, Al. You don't have to look so out of sorts. It's good. So you've met Puppy Girl, then."

He nods. It takes him a moment before adding, "She's nice."

"That, she is." He pauses. "So did you have the tour, then? Explored the outside? It looks oddly like Hogwarts out there, doesn't it?"

This time, Albus' expression is a little less than pleased. "Yeah. And while I was outside the last time, I also met someone else who said she knew you. The girl who threw things at me."

"What?"

"She threw things at me," Albus says, his anxiety replaced by a mild irritation for the strange girl. "She was up in a tree and she assumed I was you - or ... or something like that. And she just chucked a wad of paper at my head. She called herself Tiwa."

A look of realization crosses James' face. "Ah."

They've crossed the threshold leading to the Great Hall when Albus turns to his brother. "What's that mean?"

"Tiwa's a bit odd. She's a bit of a prankster - like me. She probably didn't mean it."

"So." He takes a breath. "So speaking in odd riddles and throwing things at people. And. Being generally vague is all right? Does she usually throw things at you?"

James shrugs, readjusting his bag over his shoulder. "It's the way she is. I doubt she meant to offend you."

"I didn't quite like her," Albus admits. "Not everything's a joke, and I don't like people throwing things around. Especially - not at me."

"I know," James says seriously, his previous humour sobering. "I'll tell her about that next time I see her. And you - well, if you happen to find the door again and see her, try not to be too on the defense. She's a nice girl once you get to know her."

The bell rings, and Albus can hear his brother curse under his breath. He sighs.

"Class," he mutters darkly, and Albus nods in agreement. (Though, really, he isn't dreading class so much.)
"We'll talk more later, all right?"

Albus nods again.

"I hope you like Milliways," James says. "And don't feel bad about visiting it as much as you want. You might even see Lily there one day."

"Lily goes there too?"

James lets out a laugh - probably at the expression on Albus' face - and shakes his head.

"Mate, she and I have been going to Milliways for years." He starts off for the opposite hall and waves once. "If you see Puppy, tell her I said 'hi'."