Library
30 October 2017
Making peace with Rose had been good for him. He had even been able to send a letter to his family telling them a little about how it had gone, without delving too deeply into the growing anxiety he was feeling. The only thing he hadn't been able to do was talk to his brother. He felt that his brother would be very angry with him for being a Slytherin, although Rose tried to get him to talk about it, but he always avoided it.
During this month he had also started to become much closer to Craig, spending all his time with him. She even stayed with him in the common room sometimes. Which Albus didn't usually enjoy because it was always full of people. This had also led to Rose and Craig becoming something of ‘friends’. Rose had initially been reluctant to meet Craig but eventually had to accept it if she wanted to spend time with her cousin.
So the whole month had gone by like this between classes, afternoons in the common room playing Snap Explosive with Craig and studying in the library with Rose.
And 30 October had finally arrived. The corridors breathed a very lively air, as the following day was Halloween, which fortunately for the students was a day off from school, as well as November 1st.
Right now Albus was eating lunch with Craig and Rose, who had been encouraged to sit at the Slytherin table sometimes.
- What do you think about Albus? - Craig had spent the last half hour talking about trying to sneak Rose into the Slytherin common room the next night for the party.
- I am not convinced by the plan.
- But Albus there will be people from other houses. Do you think the prefects will miss it? The first party of the school year?
- But the other students are going to be from fourth year onwards. And I have already plans with Polly and Yann - Rose took a sip of her drink before continuing - James was also going to take advantage of the fact that the prefects won't be on duty to show me where the kitchen is - The last was said in a faint whisper as he kept his gaze fixed on his plate - Albus you know if you want you can come.
- I know.
- Albus it will be good if you try to talk with him. What if Christmas comes and you haven't spoken? You could come to the kitchen on Halloween and talk to him - Rose said this as she slowly looked up at Albus in a tone of doubt.
- I will think about it.
- Well… Study session in the library? - asked Craig, trying to break the tense atmosphere at the table.
- Oh no I can't. I have to help Polly and Lucy with Potions.
- I guess this evening it will be just you and me, my friend - Craig put his arm around Albus' shoulder, pulling him closer to his body.
- You, me and Professor Binns' work on the Gargoyle Strike of 1911.
- Sounds romantic. Are you asking me out on a date?
- If that's what you want it to be.
- You two are so cute. I have to leave, Polly is threatening me from the Gryffindor table, see you tomorrow? - Rose said this as she got up from the table and tucked her skirt into her skirt.
- For breakfast - Craig stated.
- For breakfast will be - And with that Rose waved goodbye and headed for the door where Polly was waiting.
—
They had been in the library for an hour trying to concentrate on their history work. A task they failed at every time they tried because Craig found it very funny to enchant some books so that every time they were opened they screamed and the librarian came in to scold the students every five minutes. So they were laughing all the way through.
When Madame Irma finally discovered what was causing the noise and removed the enchantment, Craig and Albus had nothing else to distract them, so they had no choice but to get on with the job. When he was about halfway through his work Albus got up at Craig's request to look for another book so he could find out more information. As he was looking for the book he was surprised to see a link that seemed to be hidden between shelves. The place was illuminated by the light from a window above a table. A table that was occupied by a pile of papers scattered on top and a quill on parchment. Albus was curious to see what the person who had left his things behind was doing, and was surprised to see that one of the books spoke of ‘magical diseases’. Noticing a presence behind him, he turned and saw how Scorpius was looking at him.
- Is this all yours ? And I'm sorry I didn't notice that you were
Clearly surprised by the interaction, Scorpius was startled, they hadn't spoken since the train incident, even though they were roommates. Scorpius seemed to actively avoid him.
- Humm… I'm sorry. Really really sorry for the train incident. Usually Rose isn't so…
- So prejudiced?
- I was going to say cruel but yeah.
- But she was - Scorpius replied, looking down at the ground.
- I don't know what happened to her... Well yes I do, I found out later. But you understand me, don't you? It's just that I didn't know anything and… - Albus was starting to get nervous.
- And if you had known you wouldn’t have spoken to me.
- NO! I do not regret talk to you
- Well it's been a month, it's ok. I know you didn't mean it.
An awkward silence fell between them as Albus continued to stand in front of the desk and Scorpius stared at the floor. Albus, reading the awkwardness of the situation, walked past him to leave but first turned away.
- If you are ill you should go and see Madame Pomfrey. Although I suppose you know that.
Albus arrived at the table with Craig again without the book he had been asked for but with his head going around what had happened. It was the first time they had spoken since the incident and although Albus wanted to apologise he wasn't sure he liked him.
- Do you think Scorpius is ill?
- I don't know, I feel it's the same as always. You know his perfectly folded bed, his desk with his homework, paying attention in class and responding... As always. Why do you ask?
- Oh nothing, I just found it and I was reading about magical illnesses.
- It could be because of his mother.
- His mother?
- Yep - Craig lifted his head from the paper to look at Albus - Before Hogwarts started, I heard a rumour that Astoria Malfoy was ill, but no one knows what's wrong with her - He said while whispering.
- There are lots of rumours about Scorpius…
- The truth is that if, but that's what happens when your family is so famous.
- It doesn't happen to me.
- Albus you are very out of touch with reality. Get out of your world and touch the grass, little man.
And after saying that Craig picked up his pen and continued with what he was writing. Leaving Albus to think about the last thing he had said and about the fact that there were probably rumours about him. Thinking about what they might be and how it had occurred to him to think that they were not.
That night Albus went to sleep thinking about this whole new world. How he never cared about anything but his family. All those unwritten rules that existed between people. Rules he didn't quite understand and now they were affecting his family. Nor did he understand why people had the need to talk without knowing things. Now Albus was beginning to be more aware of his situation. An environment that he didn't quite understand but that he was slowly beginning to understand.