Chapter Fourteen - The Hogwarts Express
Chapter Fourteen - The Hogwarts Express
Sep 1. 2018
Albus boarded the train alongside his siblings and cousins but soon slipped away, wandering through the corridors in search of that familiar silver-blonde hair. His breath caught when he spotted Scorpius sitting alone in an empty compartment, a book in hand. The usually bright expression on Scorpius’s face had been replaced by a somber look that felt so out of place. Concern flickered in Scorpius’s eyes as he noticed Albus, and a sudden rush of emotion surged through him—Without thinking, Albus yanked open the compartment door a bit too forcefully, startling Scorpius.
“Albus!” Scorpius exclaimed, his book slipping slightly from his grasp.
Albus dropped his trunk to the floor with a thud, almost throwing it aside, before lunging forward to pull Scorpius into a tight hug. For a moment, Scorpius froze, shock evident on his face, before melting into the embrace, wrapping his arms around Albus as if he had been waiting for it. The familiar scent of old books mixed with a faint hint of something floral and vanilla filled Albus's senses, grounding him in the warmth of their friendship.
“Whoa, Albus! You scared me!” Scorpius chuckled, pulling back slightly to look at him. The somberness that had clouded his expression earlier faded into a small smile, though a trace of concern lingered in his pale blue eyes. “You almost knocked me off my seat.”
Albus laughed, the weight of the summer's loneliness lifting. “Sorry. I just—I missed you.”
Scorpius's eyes softened, and Albus seized the moment to really study him. Scorpius had grown a bit over the summer; his features were sharper, and his voice had deepened slightly.
In that instant, Albus felt he could stay in his best friend's arms forever. All his dark thoughts seemed to melt away in the warmth of Scorpius's kind gaze.
“You've grown a bit, Albus,” Scorpius said warmly, lifting his hand to tuck some of Albus's wild dark locks behind his ear. “Especially your hair!” he added with a grin, making a flush creep up Albus's face.
Albus became slightly more aware of their proximity, and then the train suddenly lurched around a curve, sending them tumbling. Scorpius fell back into his seat, and Albus landed on top of him, both startled. Scorpius's hands instinctively found their way to Albus's waist, holding him protectively, steadily, while Albus placed his hands on the other's shoulders, one of his legs awkwardly resting on the compartment seat amidst Scorpius'.
Albus shyly met Scorpius's gaze, who seemed equally aware of their position and flashed a grin. Albus let out a nervous laugh as he steadied himself and plopped down in the opposite seat. “Did you like your birthday present?” he asked hesitantly, still feeling his heart race from their previous closeness as he turned his gaze out the window.
“I did, Albus! Of course I did!” Scorpius replied, his voice dropping to a near whisper by the end.
Albus turned back to study him closely. “Scorp?” he asked, concern creeping into his tone as he noted Scorpius’s conflicted expression.
Scorpius looked at him with such determination that it sent a shiver down Albus's spine, filling his stomach with butterflies. “Albus—”
Before Scorpius could say anything more, the compartment door slid open again, revealing Rose with James right behind her.
“There you are, mate!” James grinned, practically bounding into the room. Rose, however, shot an unimpressed look at Scorpius, who shifted in his seat, annoyance creeping in.
Rose flopped down beside Albus, leaving James to sit next to Scorpius, who exchanged an uneasy glance with Albus, clearly less than thrilled with the new company.
Albus sighed inwardly, giving Scorpius an apologetic glance.
“James, this is Scorpius,” Albus said, trying to sound casual, though his voice was tight with frustration. “Scorpius, this is my brother.” He hoped Scorpius wouldn’t be offended by the lack of a formal introduction.
Scorpius stretched out his hand toward James, who looked at it before shaking it. “Hey, Scorp! I’ve heard so much about you, y’know.” He grinned, oblivious to the appalled grimace Scorpius tried to suppress. “Our Al here really doesn’t stop talking about you, does he?”
He glanced at Rose, who responded with an amused huff, then looked to Albus, whose death glare could’ve melted stone. But James was relentless.
“You see, our little Albie has been heartbroken all summer 'cause he couldn’t see you—”
“Shut it, James!” Albus snapped, his face heating up instantly. “I was not heartbroken.”
Rose shot Albus a smirk, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “Oh, no, of course not. You were just severely depressed that your lo—”
Albus immediately slapped his hand over her mouth, his face now beet red. Rose licked his hand in retaliation, causing him to jerk back in disgust. “Ugh, Rose! Gross! How old are you?”
“Says the one who’s too embarrassed to admit—” she began, a wicked grin spreading across her face.
“Please, Rose, stop! Or I’ll leave!”
Rose chuckled. “Really? You’d leave your darling little snake alone with us lions?” she gave a dangerous grin—
Scorpius glanced nervously between Albus and his family, trying to figure out where to jump in. “Well—”
“I’m Rose, by the way,” she interrupted sharply. “But I won’t be shaking your hand, even if our Al likes you. You’re still a Malfoy, so don’t expect us to be friends. I’m barely tolerating your presence as it is—you should be thanking Albus.”
James groaned dramatically, giving Rose an exasperated look. “Rose! Would it really hurt you to be a bit more kind for once?”
Albus shot her a look of disbelief, but considering Rose's usual sharpness, this was practically a win. “Are you two going to sit here the entire ride?” he asked, the hope that they’d leave clear in his voice.
James smirked, picking up on Albus’s discomfort. “What, Albie? Want to be alone with blondie over here?”
“Of course he does, Jamie,” Rose chimed in, her smirk wicked. “I’m sure they’ll get really chummy after a whole summer of not seeing each other–” she tossed her hair behind her shoulder.
James gasped dramatically, as if the thought had just struck him. “Rose! They’re way too young to be snogging! I won’t allow this! Not as your brother, Albus! I forbid you to be the first one to snog!”
Albus groaned, burying his face in his hands. “Please just shut up before I actually hex you.”
“We all know you won’t, Albie—not just because you suck—” James teased, rolling his eyes in an exaggerated mimicry of Albus's usual expression.
Beyond annoyed, Albus muttered the incantation for a Stinging Hex, and to his surprise, it actually hit James square in the shoulder.
“Ow! Hey, I was joking!” James exclaimed, though his grin never faded.
Scorpius jumped to his feet, beaming with excitement. “Albus! Was that the first time you actually succeeded with that spell?”
The genuine enthusiasm in Scorpius's voice deepened the flush on Albus’s face. His best friend’s innocence made him feel oddly self-conscious, especially under the silent gaze of both James and Rose, who were now watching the exchange with raised eyebrows.
“Well, blimey!” James interrupted, rubbing his shoulder where the hex had hit. “Guess I’m a great teacher!”
Albus groaned, glaring at James as he tried to ignore the embarrassed warmth creeping up his neck.
Then the door flung open again, revealing two more redheads. “There you are!” a voice called out, belonging to their little sister, Lily, who stood dramatically in the middle of the compartment, pointing at Scorpius. Scorpius nearly winced at the sudden attention.
“So that’s him?” piped up a smaller voice from behind her—Hugo, peeking in with wide eyes.
Lily grinned excitedly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Yes! That’s the boy who has my brother under compulsion! Clearly the use of a love potion!” she declared with such confidence that James and Rose burst out laughing.
Scorpius looked mortified, his pale complexion flushing crimson. Albus considered jumping out of the window to escape the embarrassment.
“I would never!” Scorpius stammered, nervously glancing from Lily to Albus, who was now staring longingly out the window, desperate to avoid the situation. “Not that I don’t like you, Albus! I mean, I wouldn’t use a— ”
Albus buried his face in his hands, groaning. “Merlin! Lily, please stop!”
Rose was still in stitches, tears forming in her eyes. “You’ve got to admit, Al, you are acting like you’re under some kind of spell.”
“Yeah, mate!” James chimed in between snickers. “Can’t keep your eyes off him, can you?”
Scorpius, now redder than any of the Weasley’ hair, mumbled incoherently, wishing the ground would swallow him whole. Albus groaned again, desperately trying to regain even a shred of dignity.
Rose crossed her arms, rolling her eyes in amusement. “Really, both of you are beet red.”
Hugo snickered from behind. “So you mean it's actually true then?”
Albus glared at his younger cousin. “No! Scorpius and I are just friends!” His gaze darted to Scorpius, stammering, “Scorp! I’m sorry, my family… they’re just joking—” His voice trailed off as he caught the amused stares of James and Rose.
Before he could say anything else, Lily piped up, her face scrunched in genuine confusion. “I wasn’t joking though?”
The room fell silent for a moment, everyone staring at Lily in stunned disbelief. Then, like a dam breaking, Rose and James erupted into laughter, loud and uncontrollable. James was nearly doubled over, clutching his stomach, gasping between bouts of laughter. Rose wiped tears from her eyes while her body shook so hard it looked like she might fall from her seat.
Scorpius, still blushing, shifted uncomfortably in his seat, clearly wishing to disappear. He glanced at Albus, who threw his hands up in frustration.
"Honestly, will you lot just leave?" Albus snapped, his patience thinning with each passing second.
Rose, still chuckling, took a deep breath. "Not a chance. You’re our entertainment for the ride."
James leaned back with a playful shrug. "Yeah, Al. It’s not every day we get to watch you blush like a tomato over your little snake friend."
Hugo chimed in, his grin wide. “But Albie, we’re having so much fun! You’re really going to kick us out?”
Albus groaned, running a hand through his messy hair. “I’m serious! It’s not funny.”
Scorpius, trying to salvage some dignity, cleared his throat. “Honestly, it’s fine, Albus. They’re just… joking,” he said, though his voice wavered.
James smirked, leaning closer to Scorpius with mischief in his eyes. “You sure, Scorpy? You’ve got that ‘Deer-in-the-headlights’ look. It’s cute. I can see why Albie—”
Before he could finish, Albus lunged at him, fueled by embarrassment. “Shut up, James!” he groaned, tackling his older brother, who let out a playful scream as they crashed onto the floor, limbs tangling in a messy scuffle.
James, despite his teasing, didn’t put up much of a fight at first. He knew all too well how Albus could be when worked up. Albus, however, was unrelenting, landing punches harder than usual, fueled by pent-up frustration.
"Oi, Al! ease up! " James chuckled, dodging a swing aimed at his shoulder. "What’s the matter, Albie? Don’t like me complimenting your boyfriend?" James grinned.
That did it.
Albus’s face turned an even deeper shade of red, his fists tightening. He wanted to wipe that smirk off James’s face, but James was quicker, pinning Albus down with ease.
"Alright, alright, you win, mate!" James declared, holding Albus down effortlessly. "Feelin’ better now?" looking down at his brother with a grin.
Albus, panting, glared up at his brother, flushed with both exertion and embarrassment. “No,” he spat, wriggling to free himself, though it was useless.
Scorpius sat frozen, wide-eyed, shifting uncomfortably between concern and awkwardness.
Hugo, with a mischievous grin, broke the chaos. “Now, why don’t we channel all this energy into a game of Exploding Snap? Let’s make it interesting—how about some bets? ”
Rose rolled her eyes. “Hugo, how many times have I said—”
Hugo interrupted, undeterred. “No bets, I get it! But Rose! We're at Hogwarts now—”
Lily laughed, plopping down next to Scorpius and glancing at her two brothers still tangled on the floor. “Dummy, we’re not there yet! We’re on a train!”
Hugo rolled his eyes, unfazed. “I know that, Lils! I just meant we’re not at home anymore! It's the bigger picture!”
James, catching his breath, glanced at Albus with a teasing smirk. “Look at that! Your bad personality has even affected our dear younger cousin! He’s doing your eye roll!”
Albus shot back, “Shut it, James! We all know he takes after your childish pranks more!”
James feigned offense, placing a hand over his heart dramatically. “Childish? Me? Never! I prefer to think of them as… strategically creative!” He winked at Scorpius, who couldn’t help but smile at the absurdity.
Hugo nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly! I’m just following in the legendary footsteps of our family! Keeping the tradition alive.”
Rose rolled her eyes again, a grin tugging at her mouth. “Legendary? More like a family curse.”
"Oh, on the topic of pranks, I actually have something planned together with Louis—" Lily’s eyes lit up, a mischievous grin spreading across her face that almost bordered on maniacal as she rubbed her hands together.
Albus rolled his eyes at her excitement, which earned him an amused look from Rose. "Lils, please don’t. I don’t want to be an accomplice to any crimes," he replied, feigning exasperation.
James leaned in, eyes glinting with interest. "Oh, this I’ve got to hear! What’s the plan? Please tell me it involves something explosive!"
Lily gave a dramatic sigh, clearly relishing the attention. “Alright, fine! If you win a round, I’ll tell you all about the plan,” she declared, throwing a cheeky smile at James. then turned a conspiratical glance toward Hugo.
Hugo waved the cards in the air, chiming eagerly, “Also, a minimum bet of at least one Galleon! What do you say? ”
Rose raised an eyebrow. “That’s too high! Lower it to a few Sickles.”
Hugo rolled his eyes dramatically. “Why? We’re all rich, aren’t we?”
Just then, the compartment door swung open again. “There you are, Potter,” came a poised, posh voice that silenced the rowdy compartment. Fawley stood at the entrance, looking impeccably polished as always.
Albus glanced up from beneath his brother, still on the floor—clearly taken aback by her sudden appearance and embarrassed for his current position. He quickly threw James off, who also looked surprised–Albus composed himself and flashed an appropriate smile. “Fawley! To what do I owe this pleasure?” he said with practiced grace.
Fawley looked down upon him amusingly, and let a small grin be glimpsed on her face. Albus felt his cheeks heat up even more.
Scorpius and Albus’ cousins exchanged glances, the latter half looking suspiciously between Albus and Fawley.
Ignoring the rest of the siblings entirely, Fawley offered a quick, elegant nod to Scorpius. “Malfoy,” she greeted.
“Fawley,” Scorpius replied, his tone measured, trying to gauge her intentions.
“Potter,” she said, her gaze now fixed on Albus, causing all three siblings to turn in unison. “Let’s have a private chat, shall we?”
Albus gave his cousins and siblings an assuring look, trying to quell the curiosity brewing among them, before reluctantly following Fawley out of the compartment.
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As they stepped into an empty one, Fawley elegantly kicked out the two first-years who had been seated there, sending them scurrying away with wide eyes.
“Honestly, what is it with first-years and their astonishing sense of entitlement?” she remarked with a wry smile as the door closed behind them, her voice dripping with a refined amusement.
Albus watched warily as Fawley waved her wand, casting an anti-eavesdropping charm and locking the door with a swift flick. With an effortless motion with her wand, she drew the curtains across the compartment, shrouding them in privacy.
He regarded her with suspicion. “I thought you weren’t going to talk to me this term?”
Fawley settled herself onto the plush seat with an air of grace, her expression one of playful amusement. “The situation has changed, and I find myself questioning whether you will manage on your own after all.”
Albus rolled his eyes. “Really, Fawley? You think I believe that?” Yet despite his words, a warmth spread through him at the notion that the older girl actually cared.
“Of course you should believe it,” she replied, her tone teasing yet sincere. “After all, you are my favorite first-year. Don’t you want to know who will become the new king?”
Albus raised an eyebrow. “So the choice is already made?” he asked, trying to mask his curiosity. The words slipped out before he could stop himself, revealing just how invested he was in the conversation.
Fawley leaned back, a smirk playing on her lips as she regarded him with a mix of amusement and intrigue. “Oh, it’s not as simple as that, Potter. The game is far more complex than merely declaring a king.” She paused, letting the weight of her words hang in the air. “There are alliances to be formed, reputations to uphold, and, of course, a delicate balance of power to maintain.”
Her expression shifted, her eyes glinting with a mischievous spark. “But yes, it is already decided: The new king is Burke.”
Albus felt a rush of relief wash over him, and he realized he must have let that slip through his mask.
“Don’t be so relieved, Potter,” Fawley said sternly, her voice cutting through his moment of triumph. “I know that Burke acted as your mentor last term, but that was only because Nott held him in check. You see, that was actually a punishment for Burke.”
Albus looked shocked at this new information. “I thought—”
Fawley stopped him with a raised hand. “I’m well aware of your assumptions. But, Potter, you need to know that Burke will make you wish for Dementor.”
Albus let his confusion show, and Fawley rolled her eyes dramatically. “Really, Potter? I had anticipated a far superior response from you. Pray tell, what on earth have you been doing all summer? How can you possibly act so utterly surprised? Morgana, what would you be without my guidance?”
Albus let out a frustrated groan and sat down opposite her. “I—”
Fawley’s expression softened slightly, revealing a hint of compassion. “Do refrain, Potter.” At that, Albus felt his gaze drawn to hers, and before he could react, he sensed an intrusion into his mind—one he couldn’t repel.
“As I suspected, your defenses have crumbled. Your mindscape is in complete disarray. You ought to have sought the counsel of a mind healer as soon as you became aware of your situation.”
Anger surged within him, mingled with a sense of vulnerability as Fawley glimpsed the turmoil of his summer—the darker thoughts he had buried deep. “You know I couldn’t!” he exclaimed, his voice rising in a desperate yelp. No one, not even Scorpius, knew how fully withdrawn he had become over the summer.
“Don’t place the blame on me, Potter,” Fawley replied, her tone sharp yet measured. “Do not play the victim here. You were well aware of the gravity of allowing your defenses to crumble, and you knew how to prevent it, yet you surrendered to your own doubts and weaknesses.”
All Albus could muster was a mean glare directed at Fawley.
“This is far worse than I imagined. Your mind is in no condition to confront Burke—your magic… it will consume you before he even has the chance to strike.”
“Then what am I to do?” Albus asked, his voice barely above a whisper, vulnerable and raw.
“Fear not, Potter. I shall assist you. Now, look into my eyes once more. Together, we shall make sense of this disarray.”
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Albus felt mentally exhausted standing in the corridor—He wasn't aware that someone could help restore his mindscape like that; it was unnerving and eerie, an invasion that left him feeling both vulnerable and oddly grateful, and with a mind-numbingly headache, but he knew—Without Fawley’s intervention, he would be worse off. This summer had been awful, and he had let his mental walls fall apart. It was embarrassing, but now he could see things more clearly; he didn’t feel like he would lose it every second anymore. Still, his magic churned painfully beneath his skin, clearly upset at his lack of offerings.
He knew he shouldn’t trust her too much—but at the same time, he felt grateful to her. He couldn’t, however, share that with Scorpius.
He wouldnt understand.
++++
When Albus finally made it back to the compartment, he found Scorpius looking uncomfortable and beet-red, clearly having endured a round of questioning from his family. The way Scorpius fidgeted with the hem of his robes told Albus all he needed to know about the interrogation he’d just faced.
“Did they grill you about me?” Albus asked, a teasing smile creeping onto his face, hoping to lighten the mood.
Scorpius rolled his eyes, but the blush remained. “You have no idea,” he muttered, avoiding Albus's gaze. “They wanted to know everything—what you were up to, who you were spending time with...”
James, who had been sitting nearby, looked almost betrayed. “Scorpy! You can’t just tell him that!? Have you no loyalty?”
Scorpius glanced at him, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. “Really, James?”
Albus chuckled, feeling the tension ease slightly. “So what did you say? Did you tell them about our brilliant plans for world domination?”
“Of course not,” Scorpius shot back, a smirk finally breaking through his embarrassment. “I didn’t want them thinking we were plotting anything.”
Albus playfully rolled his eyes, trying to hide his exhaustion. He sat down in the free seat between James and Scorpius, as Lily had moved over to his old place and was now sleeping.
James flung his arm over Albus’s shoulder and pulled him closer. “So? What did you and Fawley chat about?” He raised an eyebrow, clearly looking to tease. “I didn’t think you two were that chummy—Fawley’s proper fit isnt she?” He said dreamlike before continuing, “what did you two get up to alone?”
Albus felt his cheeks heat up and turned to face Scorpius, hoping for an escape from James’s banter. “We were just talking about the upcoming term,” he replied, trying to sound casual. “Nothing major.”
“Hmm, really? You were gone a for a while—” Albus could see the gears shifting in his brother's head, jumping to conclusions he did not like. “Merlin! Albus, please don’t tell me you were snogging—”
“I can’t have my little brother beat me to it! Especially not with a sixth year!” James looked dramatically horrified for a moment before shifting into a mock-concerned expression. Then he flashed a cheeky grin. “Blimey, Al, you proper heartbreaker, huh? First blondie over here” he pointed at Scorpius, ”—Then Fawley—Wait, are blondes your type?”
At that, Albus sent another stinging hex at his brother, feeling a mix of embarrassment and annoyance. His cheeks flushed crimson as he shot a quick glance at Scorpius, who actually looked almost sad—and was that anger flickering in his eyes?
Albus turned back to James, who was now rubbing the spot Albus had hit with the hex. “Really, stop it. Like Fawley would even look at me in that way! I’m only in my second year!”
James shrugged, unfazed by the protest. “Fawley jumped a year, right? So she’s only fifteen. Sure, it’s a bit of an age difference, but—”
“Stop it, James! I don’t want to imagine that!” Rose interjected, grimacing at the thought.
Albus shot her a look, feeling a surge of irritation mixed with embarrassment, but she continued unabated. “Also , do you really think Fawley, one of the most popular girls , would fancy our gloomy Albie?” Her disbelief was evident, and he could sense the hint of jealousy lurking beneath her words.
“I’m not gloomy!" Albus protested, his voice rising slightly. He shifted his gaze downward, unwilling to confront the truth that hung in the air. “She just… she cares, alright? It’s not like that!” He made a conscious decision to avoid looking at Scorpius’s expression, afraid of what he might see.
James raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Sure, mate. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”
Scorpius cleared his throat, eager to redirect the conversation. “Can we talk about something else? Like the Sorting, maybe?” His gaze shifted to Hugo, who was engrossed in counting his winnings from the game they had probably played while Albus was gone. “Hugo, which house do you think you’ll end up in?” Scorpius asked with a hint of excitement.
Hugo looked up from his pile of galleons, a wide grin stretching across his face. “Definitely Gryffindor! I mean, look at my family—can’t let them down, can I?” He puffed out his chest, as if already sporting the iconic red and gold colours.
Albus laughed along with the others, desperately trying to mask how much that comment actually stung. He felt a knot tightening in his stomach, but he focused on the banter, determined to ignore Scorpius's concerned gaze and hoping that the train would reach the station soon, bringing with it a chance to escape the weight of his own thoughts.
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Hugo' name was the first one to be called that Albus cared for, despite his cousin's quiet nature—at least compared to the rest of the boisterous family—he, too like all had before except Albus, was placed in the golden-red house. Albus forced himself to cheer, his palms stinging slightly from the effort, to his side stood Scorpius and cheered just as loudly, earring both a few looks from their own house. Albus ignored Scorpius' slightly concerned gaze as their eyes looked into another, quickly Albus turned his eyes back towards the Gryffindor table and found the faces of his cheering family, the longer he watched the more his resentment seemed to rise.
“Sam Marshall!”
Albus turned his head toward the Sorting Hat, and sure enough, there was Sam, the Muggleborn he had helped in Diagon Alley a few weeks ago. The boy had grown since then, exhibiting the traits of an early bloomer—something that sparked a twinge of jealousy in Albus. Sam was probably taller than him now. He looked nervous, hands fidgeting as he scanned the room, and when their eyes collided, Albus felt a surprising push against his mental shields.
It wasn’t strong, but if he hadn’t practiced his defenses with Fawley, he might have been caught off guard. Instinctively, he pushed back against the probing, noting that Sam didn’t seem aware of what he was doing. Albus managed a polite smile before breaking eye contact, a mix of intrigue and confusion swirling within him. How could this Muggleborn possess such an ability? He had read that some witches and wizards could be born with a knack for Legilimency, but he had never heard of it in someone without magical ancestry.
“RAVENCLAW!” The hat finally called, and Sam nervously made his way to his new house, a tentative smile breaking through his nerves. Albus glanced over at Scorpius, who seemed lost in thought, staring down at the table. It was unusual; Scorpius had been so animated on the train, discussing the Sorting with palpable excitement. Now, however, his mind seemed elsewhere, and Albus felt a sinking dread.
His focus was only once more drawn towards the center of heads standing before the hat, as his own sister's name was called. He watched how Lily beamed with excitement as she marched towards the sorting hat, without even a trace of nervousness.
“GRYFFINDOR!”
The Great Hall erupted with cheers as Lily made her way over to the lion table joining Hugo, and the rest of their family. Albus clapped for his sister, yet each clap sting more and more, as resentment overtook any happy emotions for his sister, afterall he knew it-–Lily was just like James—a mirror reflecting their parents' hopes and expectations. He doubted they would ever want two or any for that matter of their children in Slytherin; after all, the Weasleys and Potters were born roaring, except for him, of course.
He shook his head inwardly, feeling his mental defenses strain against the storm that seemed to rise within, as if his magic was somehow feeding off the ugly growing resentment he felt for those he loved.
As cheers filled the hall, Albus turned to clap, forcing his mind to stop, as he joined the The Slytherins in their cheer and polite acknowledgment of another snake joining their table. He chose to ignore the eyes on him—gazes dripping with ill will.