Glory |A. Potter|

Thirty-Eight

Jane was discharged from the Hospital Wing a few days later. Albus, Scorpius and Ramona along with Roxanne and Antonio strived to keep her company, to make sure her life was the way it had been before her fall, but despite their best efforts, the results weren't showing any progress.

Jane sat with them in the Great Hall, sat beside them in classes, didn't seem to mind having them join her in the library and stayed around in the common room after classes, but everything was different. There was no change in her appearance, the light scars on her body covered up, but her presence was one of a stranger's. She spoke less, the smiles she didn't usually offer were even less, the times one didn't see her with a textbook at hand were hardly any. Despite her friends' attempts, she buried herself in her studies and whenever there was talk about anything related to her fall, she was quick to change the subject.

A week later, when the Easter break approached, she told Ramona she wouldn't be joining her as had been the initial plan but she would be staying at Hogwarts. All of them attempted to persuade her otherwise, not wishing to leave her alone with her thoughts at a time as crucial as this one, but Jane refused to listen to them. In the end, the day came to leave Hogwarts and return to their homes for the holidays, and they boarded the train without her inside.

The ride seemed lonelier without her there and Albus desperately wished he could turn back time and convince her to come with him, or even better yet, ensure she never fell during that fateful Quidditch match. But time abided to no rules. It changed for no one.

Soon, Albus was leaving the train and was walking through the crowd of people to find his parents, his friends left behind. As per usual, he caught sight of his mother near the edge of the platform, talking to his Uncle Ron and his Uncle George. Lily was already standing by his mother's side, as was Rose on his Uncle Ron's side. With a barely audible sigh, he moved closer.

"Albus," Ginny smiled as soon as she saw him, and without a moment to waste, reached forward to pull him in for a hug Albus loosely returned. "I missed you."

"Hi, mum."

At the time it took him to pull back, Roxanne had arrived as well. She sent him a small smile before she faced her family with a nod and turned to her father. Albus, in an attempt to not be rude—more to make sure there would be no complains from his family members for not greeting them than to be polite—nodded as well before he turned his attention on his mother.

"We should go," she muttered as she outstretched her arm towards Lily. His little sister took it at once. Ginny faced her son with yet another smile. "Do you think you can apparate home on your own?"

Albus's eyes widened subtly at her suggestion, but he was quick to nod. His mother was giving him a chance to be more independent, he wasn't about to let it get away. He took out his wand, held his bag with his few belongings he had packed for the holidays tightly and with a last look at his mother, he closed his eyes and imagined the backyard of his house. He twisted on the spot as quickly as he could. The next moment he opened his eyes, he was facing the back of his house.

A crack was heard from behind him as Ginny with Lily arrived a few seconds later, and at the sight of him, Ginny instantly smiled wide. "Well done, Albus." He returned her smile with a lot weaker smile of his own. "Let's get inside, dinner must be ready by now."

Lily and Albus exchanged a look as their mother moved forward, silently appearing to be checking up on the other before they followed her inside the house. Albus could hear James talking to someone, presumably on his phone, while there was no sound that could betray his father's presence, but at this hour, he was almost certain he was somewhere in the house.

"Dinner's ready!" his mother called out. Albus hurried to head to his room so he could leave his bag there, and then he moved back to the kitchen, where the rest of the family had gathered. His father was sitting at the head of the table, the seat on his right occupied by James, as was usually the case. The two of them were talking, and as he entered, they paused for a moment to meet his gaze before they continued.