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.

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.