Brute.

Albus was sick of everything, he was tired. Tired of hiding, tired of keeping everything in. He was about to break, for goodness sake - his sister is dead, each member of his family was broken internally. Furthermore, he was sure he had a little something for his Knight.

Scorpius.

He found himself thinking for the past few days of Scorpius, why would he like Scorpius? He was boring, he had no personality and after all - he was just friends with Albus for a pay check. A good one at that! Albus felt like a mirror being stepped on, cracking little by little until suddenly he will just break into many little pieces. Then after being broken up into little pieces, he was being stepped on more, so he will break up into little shards.

But, he couldn't let it all out now. He was in front of a crowd. A big one, full of everybody in the Kingdom.

Lily's funeral, a day that Albus was not looking forward to. Yet, a day that couldn't be ignored. Everybody from the Kingdom was watching the families every move, and Albus hated that. Scorpius wasn't in sight, most likely waiting in the Cathedral for the coffin to come in and be placed on a stand. The Potter's were stood outside, watching as The King gave a speech to the Kingdom, who had lost a Princess.

"Today, we gather here to honour and remember Princess Lily Potter, a remarkable soul who graced our lives. Lily, our princess brought light and warmth with her everywhere she went. Her love for art and fashionable elegance were reflections of her inner beauty and grace. As we bid farewell to Lily, let us cherish the memories she gifted us and carry her spirit within our hearts. Lily's presence will be dearly missed, but her legacy of kindness and beauty will forever remain etched in our souls. May she rest in peace, surrounded by the love and admiration she inspired in all of us. Thank you." The King spoke to the crowd, who'm immediately started applauding the Kings words.

The King went on to say some other words, which Albus had zoned out on. It was taking him every bone in his body to not cry, to keep his posture well and to look like a true Prince. He was looking at the crowd, the Kingdom. All in black. Some stood silently, some were crying, some were nodding in agreement with The King and his wise words, some were children and some were grown adults. It made Albus think, a little too hard.

Albus had a big fear, one he had never spoken to anybody about and it was death. He knew one day it would happen, so to him there was no point in talking to somebody about it because there was nothing anybody could do. Albus was scared of staring at black forever, alone, with nobody. It often sent him into panic attacks when he would think too hard about it. To a state where he couldn't see straight, he couldn't breathe correctly. He had been to many funerals, though he never knew the people directly, it was royal protocol. This one was different, it was his sister - a person he grew up with, a girl he had raised. Then suddenly, in an instant - she was gone. One night they were chatting, hours before she had been brutally killed by her maid, the next morning. She was dead.

Albus had a target on Delphini, he felt the urge to kill her. The nerve to kill his sister, a Princess and get away with it as easy as she did. Every woman he saw, he made sure it wasn't her. Otherwise he would kill her on the spot, he'd pray that Tom would help him out. For once, he wanted Tom Riddle to be by his side - for that one thing.

"Albus." James patted his shoulder, taking Albus out of his trace, "Come on."

Albus followed his brother towards the Cathedral. Whilst he was walking, he saw many of the more important people. Not important enough to go inside and watch the ceremony, but to be close enough to get into a little of the royal families privacy.

The King waved at a few, and so did the Queen. Albus never waved, as generally - the way the public treated him was not nice. Albus was seen as the outcast of the family, he was seen as weird - and Albus never understood why. Not until recently, he bet that James doesn't see visions of Tom Riddle in a cave.

When they arrived inside of the Cathedral, music was playing from an organ. It was unsettling and Albus didn't like it, his eyes were scanning the room. He looked at the ceiling - engraved with beautiful twists and twirls forming a beautiful pattern on the polished stone. The royal family and some Knights were towards the front of the Cathedral - Harry and Ginny were on two thrones that faced to everybody else.

Albus sat down in his seat, adjusting his black cape that stood so diligently on his shoulders. There was a light chatter across the Cathedral. Albus thought it was shitty, neither him or James had their parents to comfort them. Apparently they were too important to be near their kids.

Instead, Hermione and Ron were sat behind them. Instead, Scorpius was beside Albus and Fred was beside James.

"It'll be ok." James whispered to Albus, smiling lightly at his brother.

Albus said nothing, only gave his brother half a smile. He couldn't smile, not like this - not when he could only look at the closed coffin with only his sister's head in. He couldn't even say any last words to his sister before the coffin closed.

There are times that sadness feels bruised, and the same way as with a physical bruise, they take time to come up and really show themselves. Albus felt numb, he didn't feel any sadness. He felt angry, like a teapot getting too hot and you have to take off the lid to let it cool down. He couldn't do that, he could never do that. There was times before the funeral where Al would find himself wondering if he'd find peace if he just ran away, left everything behind and left.

Then he fell in love.

Then he felt guilty.

Then he was here.

Naked, in the public eye. Everybody watching him.

Rita Skeeter was documenting everything, to everyone's expression - to the words the Preist was saying.

Bloody Rita, Albus hated her. He could only glare at her as he watched her stupid little pen write down stupid little things.

She's a nosey git.

"Pardon?" Scorpius whispered to Albus' ear.

"Huh?" Albus furrowed his eyebrows, scrunching up his face in confusion.

"Who's a nosey git?"

"I said that out loud?" Albus panicked in a hushed tone, looking to see if anybody else heard.

A low, a very low chuckle came from Scorpius, "Yes, Albus."

"Sorry, it was Rita Skeeter." Albus whispered up to Scorpius' ear, making sure nobody heard.

Scorpius widened his eyes, with a smile on his face.

"Just keep it calm, yeah? You'll get to go after this, and you can be in private." Scorpius patted his thigh.

A hymn came on, that everybody stood up to. Slowly singing a song majorly had never heard before.

"I'm going to drink." Albus said a little louder over all of the singing.

"Drink?" Scorpius laughed, looking down at the parchment which had the lyrics on it.

Scorpius was never much of a singer.

"I've felt too many emotions today to be sober, so I'm going to smuggle some drinks when the after party starts." Albus smiled, looking at Scorpius' paper.

He didn't sing, he just mouthed some words to make him look more respectable over the silly hymns that he knew his sister hated.

"What are you going to be like on your birthday?" Scorpius tried to lighten the mood, watching down as The King and Queen smiled whilst chatting to one another.

"Worse." Albus tightly smiled, to the point where his lips were basically a straight line, "To get me through all of them girls I have to meet."

Scorpius only chuckled before lightly singing to the lyrics - he wasn't in the same tune as everyone else. He was singing quite delayed to sort of get the rhythm of the hymn.

The funeral was over, and The Potters were walking out of the Cathedral.

"Dad!" Albus shouted ahead, walking away from Scorpius and towards Harry - who had turned to look at him.

"Can I say some words, about Lily?" He struggled to get them words out, but he did it, "I just thought the stand is there and James and Mother did it at the ceremony and-"

"Yes." Harry smiled, patting his son on the back, "I'll join you."

Then, the whole Potter family made their way towards the stand that Harry had given his own public speech to the people. Now, it was Albus standing at the front of the crowd. Everybody watching him, Rita Skeeter and her band of merry dickwads ready with the notepads.

"Erm.." Albus stuttered, making eye contact with Scorpius - who smiled encouragingly at him, "I just wanted to say a few words about my sister, Lily. I wanted to say thank you all, for your condolences and your support to our family during this hard time. Though we thought we could never understand what it would be like losing someone and not being able to afford a coffin, or not finding a body to bury. Today it has made me realise that we are all equal, as many of you know, this was a closed coffin ceremony. Many of you will know what that will mean. My sister was a bright girl, she loved to put a smile on the publics faces - she wanted to please you all. That, I believe she did. I am grateful for you all turning up, not only for us - but for my late sister. It means a lot and I will never be able to show you all how grateful I am for taking care of my sister today. She will be so, so proud of you all for repaying her for her duties. Thank you all, so much." Albus smiled, receiving a loud applaud as he left the stand with his Dad - who'm had look the happiest he had been in a long time.

Albus took a big sigh of relief as he walked down the pathways, full of crowds of people on either side.

“Well done.” James waited for his brother to come down off the stand, patting his back, “Never knew you could say such nice words, last week you were hating on the people.”

“It is nice to see them here for our sister.” Albus walked straight ahead, his older brother keeping up with him.

“I feel too watched, don’t you guys?” A female voice approached the two, Rose.

She seemed more cheered up than when she was in the Cathedral, trying to hold her tears in and with a trembling lip. The whole ceremony was upsetting, even Albus managed to shed a tear - despite him doing everything he could to not. James, on the other hand, was very composed - much like his father.

“I always feel watched, part of being royalty.” James smiled down at the red head.

“How would you guys like to ride in our own carriage, just us four?” Rose suggested, looking between the two brothers.

“You’re inviting Hugo?” Albus scoffed, looking back at Hugo.

Hugo was with Hermione and Ron, holding his mother’s hand tightly.

“God no, Scorpius!”

“He’s on duty.” Albus said coldly, being next to him at the ceremony was enough for one day.

Scorpius didn’t even sleep in the same room as him anymore. Albus had suggested to put him in the closest room - he was one bedroom away from Albus. If there happened to be any problems, Scorpius could run down the hall and be in Albus’ room in seconds. He also had a key just in case. Albus didn’t like that.

“But where you go he goes, he’s watching you like a hawk. He’s waiting for you to say something, get him out of that heavy, heavy armour.”

“What!” James laughed, perking one eyebrow up, “You think Scorpius is waiting for Albus to undress him?”

“No! He’s invited to the ceremony as a guest, meaning he’s off duty.” Rose smiled, “He’s probably fed up of that disgusting iron.”

“Who invited him?” Albus crossed his arms, admiring the five golden carriages ahead of him.

“The Queen, she’s very grateful for him. Besides, he’s practically your best friend - I heard when you got cursed with crucio, he saved your life.”

Albus groaned, watching closely as his parents entered the first carriage, “He didn’t save my life, James and Scorpius were just panicking like they were being buried alive.”

“I’d like to say I saved your life, I had to run all the way back to grab the horses.” James cockily told Albus, almost declaring it.

“Scorpius did calm me down.”

“So now he did save your life?” Rose teased, letting out a little laugh.

It was a very girly laugh.

Almost like a squeal.

“No.” Albus rolled his eyes, “I’m going into the carriage with my beloved parents, thanks.”

“Very well.” Rose smiled, “They already know that you might be in another carriage.”

“Good for them.” Albus spoke as he made his way to the first carriage, watching as James and Rose make their way to one of the last ones.

Albus grabbed smiled at the coachman, hesitating to get into the carriage. He looked a Scorpius for a second, who seemed to be getting into this carriage.

Albus didn’t know if he was getting mixed signals, but Scorpius was obsessed with him.

A groan left his mouth as he awkwardly smiled at his parents, running towards the other carriage.

“Fine! I’ll come in!” Albus slumped down onto the red leather seats, next to James. He was praying that Scorpius wouldn’t come in.

“Welcome back, grumpy.” Rose teased, with a proud smirk plastered on her lips.

He felt himself glaring at Scorpius, who was chatting to the King and Queen. He was laughing, shaking Harry’s hand. Then, he bowed at the two - before walking over towards the other carriages. Albus let out a loud groan as he approached the carriage.

“Greetings earthlings.” Scorpius greeted himself, smiling widely at the words he had said.

“Hello, Scorpius.” James tightly smiled, like that awkward smile you would give to an old couple walking past.

“I heard you’re coming to the ball?” Rose beamed to Scorpius, watching as the blond took a seat next to the red head.

“Apparently so, Her Majesty just confirmed it.” Scorpius smiled proudly, like he had earned a spot as number one on a podium, “Brilliant speech, by the way, Al. Very heartfelt.”

“Thank you, Scorpius.” Albus did the same smile his brother did moments ago, yet, it had a little more kindness to it.

“What are you going to wear?” Rose softly looked up at Scorpius.

“Probably something black, out of respect of the funeral.”

“Colour is recommended, mother doesn’t want it to be sad.” James jerked forward slightly as the carriage started making a move away from the densely crowded area.

“I packed for this in roughly ten minutes, my trunk consists of three clothes and many undergarments. I have one formal wear I can wear, and unfortunately due to the events - I chose black.”

“It’ll just make you stand out more.” Rose encouragingly spoke, “I’m wearing red, I heard that is a colour barely anybody is wearing.”

“That’s amazing, you clearly packed better than me.” Scorpius let out a laugh, watching Rose reply in the same way.

“Exactly that, Scorp. Many of the wear in my closet is dresses, I am a woman after all.”

“You’re a girl.” James watched at Rose glared right at him, dead in the eye, “Sorry, you’re a woman.”

“Good.”

The carriage lingered in silence for a few moments, the sound of gravel crushing underneath them the only sound audible. That and the sound of James tapping loudly on his thighs.

“I’m wearing black.” Albus spoke quietly, but he knew he was heard through the smile Rose gave.

“I thought you were wearing blue? I saw the tailor measuring your body out for the blue outfit?” Rose scrunched her eyebrows together, seeming confused.

“No.” Albus was looking out of the window, avoiding eye contact with Rose, “No, no, it was the black one.”

“There was only green and blue, though?”

“No, I picked the black one.”

“Are you sure? You seemed fond of the blue one.”

“No, the black one.”

“Albus, I think you’re being a little delusional. I’m sure you picked the blu-”

“Black one.” Albus nodded, his voice a higher pitch than his usual tone.

“I think the black one is nice.” Scorpius smiled, almost gratefully at Albus.

Albus gave the blond a small smile back.

“Scorpius, there was no black one.” Rose claimed, Albus knew it was true.

There was no black one.

He just didn’t want Scorpius to feel like he was being singled out.

“Well, I know what his tailor says to him. I assure you, there was a black option there and Albus did pick it.” Scorpius defended the younger prince, watching Albus trying to hide his growing smile.

“Just behind the scenes.” Albus added, leaving Scorpius sighing out a laugh.

“Behind the scene?” An unconvinced Rose scoffed.

“Yeah, since it’s not recommended to wear black. He could get into trouble.”

“I thought your tailor was a girl?” James added.

His tailor was a woman, The Queen found out that ‘Tatum’ was indeed a female and not a male like she had thought. She felt too bad to fire Tatum. She had lost her family. They didn’t die, they just left her. She was quite nuts.

So Albus was stuck with a woman tailor. Though, she was actually very good at designing male clothes.

“I said she.” Albus spoke with certainty to his brother, who didn’t seem to care all that much.

“You said he.” Rose confirmed.

“No, I’m pretty sure he said she.” Scorpius added, looking down with Rose - who was already looking up at Scorpius.

“I don’t know what game you two are playing, but this is absurd.” Rose sighed, adjusting her rather big dress.

“Corsets must hurt.” James looked at Rose, who was uncomfortably sat down - she looked like she couldn’t breathe.

“You get used to it, but it is ridiculous.” She laughed, “All of this to impress men that you will never wed, or even bat an eye to.”

“Is there any updates on that? Have you seen anyone you’re up to wed?” James questioned, seeming more intrigued in the conversation.

Albus thought that James must think that he is a cupid, since he found his love at such a young age.

“Let’s just say there are many more people I’m up for wedding in Geoginyth than back home.” She smiled, tucking her red curls behind her ears, “I’m grateful, though, my parents are much more lenient with my love life than you guys.”

“I don’t even want to marry.” Albus mumbled.

“I don’t blame you. Girls nowadays are awful.”

“Tell me about it, Rose.”

“Gladly.”

The rest of that carriage ride was Rose telling Albus about her girl problems. How a girls menstrual cycle made them awful, how they are sly, how they critique how they all dress.

Albus could never put up with all of that he felt.

When they had returned back to the castle, everyone parted almost immediately. The ball was in just a couple of hours and Albus had no clue what he was going to wear. Of course, Scorpius was following him as he paced up the many stairs to his sleeping quarters.

Which room the blond was going to, Albus didn’t know.

“Al!” Scorpius called out to him, moments before Albus was going to enter his room.

“Yeah?” Albus turned to the blond, looking at the Knight approaching him.

“You don’t have to wear black, I’ll be fine.” Scorpius smiled softly, his dimples showing slightly.

“There was a black one, you know.” Albus added, his hand lingering on his door handle - which was half way open.

“Really, now?” Scorpius perked a brow, grinning.

“Yes, Scorpius.” Albus couldn’t help but grin, entering his room before giving a little wave, “Bye.”

“Goodbye, Al.” Scorpius waved back, his eyes lingering on Albus’ for too long.

Long enough that even when the door was closed, he found himself staring at the oak.

Albus didn’t know how to sew, but he did have a needle and a thread. He had a gold fabric, rolled up - he had been attempting to figure out how on earth the fabric actually gets onto the clothes.

The young Prince did find himself stressing, you see - the blue and green outfits did have something special. He had requested it, and so it was added onto the outfits. On the capes, there were the initials ‘L.P” embroiled into the soft fabric. The capes were beautiful, a fur lining the rim of it. They made Albus feel like he was royalty, and not just a little Prince in a big world.

So, he found the closest cape he could. It was black, yet the fur wasn’t ermine fur - like the other capes. This one was black, full black - for the winter. Of course, this was his winter cape, he had never really worn it, though. The fur was from a black bear that James had hunted years ago with Harry. He remembered that James was crying for hours and agreed to never go hunting again afterwards, of course, he never did go hunting again. The most he ever did after that was going fishing and putting the fish back into the river with delicacy.

A knock chimed at the door, a soft knock that Albus wouldn’t have been able to hear if he was on the other side of the room.

“Enter.” Albus called out, watching as the handle moved - the door opening gently.

It was Scorpius, there with usual clothes on. Which was weird. Albus didn’t like it.

“You’re wearing that?” Albus criticised, not harshly, but honestly.

“No, I just didn’t want to wear my attire until the ball is going to start.” Scorpius replied, closing the door behind him.

Albus hummed a reply, looking back down at the needle and fabric.

“What you doing?” Scorpius questioned, making his way over to Albus’ wooden desk.

“Nothing.” Albus replied coldly, clearly concentrated.

“I don’t care if there wasn’t a black one, Al.” Scorpius smiled, “I can help you get anything last minute done if you’d like.”

“Yeah?” Albus looked up at the Knight, “Like you’d know how to sew.”

“My mother taught me.” Scorpius grabbed a chair, “May I?”

Albus nodded.

Scorpius guided the seat over to Albus’ chair - sitting down next to him.

“What do you want sewing into it?”

“Just some initials.” He watched as Scorpius made a face, entailing he wanted more information, “L.P, for Lily. The other outfits had it, I thought it was a nice addition.”

“That’s simple enough, do you trust me?”

“Yes.” Albus smiled, handing over the cape, then all of the materials.

“Around here?” Scorpius pointed to the left side of the cape, around the chest area of the cape.

“Yes.”

“Ok.” Scorpius smiled, “It’ll only take a few minutes.”

Scorpius took one last look at Albus, who smiled softly. Scorpius noticed he had tears welling up into his green eyes, forcing them to stay in.

“Thank you.” Albus’ raspy voice hit the air, meeting Scorpius’ ears - who just took another look at Albus.

The blonds smile broke into a toothy smile, showing his pearl teeth