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.

Hogwarts is both a big and small enough place to be to suit one's needs.

Big enough to hide away when you want to, when you're trying to avoid someone and stay out of someone's way.

Small enough because no matter how much you hide or avoid someone, they're always within sight of you - during mealtimes, during night hours, during after-class study hours.

It's worse when you're in the same House.

Albus has been avoiding Scorpius for a little more than a week now, though the letter he'd received from the other boy in Milliways has been on his person at all times, usually tucked into the pockets of his robes, or hidden between the pages of whatever textbook he happened to be reading at the time.

He didn't have to worry about anyone coming over and nicking his book off him.

No one but Scorpius, himself, really did that. And, well ...


He's read the letter now more times than he can count, and he can practically recite it word for word if he wanted to.

It wasn't that Albus never wanted to speak to Scorpius again; far from it, in fact.

It's just ... it's waiting for the right moment to have a conversation.

And it's Albus giving Scorpius' letter a great deal of thought. And giving Scorpius a great deal of thought.

Albus still has no bloody clue what to think about him.

But there's one thing he has missed, and it's his friend.

So, gathering what little courage he has that allows him to remain a Potter at all, Albus decides to find Scorpius.

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'."