dinner parties | scorbus

CH20: cold weather

CH20: cold weather (3,558 WORDS)

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Albus wasn't very good at being kind to himself, but he did give himself time to feel all of his negative emotions, and he thought that came quite close.

As Albus had climbed into bed hours after discovering that Scorpius had decided to pursue a relationship with a beautiful, kind-hearted girl, he'd allowed himself to lay in the silence and contemplate how he could react to the situation. He'd spent a while attempting to find a solution that was beneficial, but he just couldn't seem to. Albus had cried, and sniffled, and thought for hours as he tried to sleep, wondering as to why he ever believed he could have earned Scorpius in the first place.

He'd decided (after blowing his nose with such force that he'd earned himself a headache), that he really just wanted to be sad about it for as long as it took him to feel better. That didn't mean that he slept away some of the tiredness he felt. Instead, he had read through all of Scorpius' letters with a tissue in hand, looking for any clues that he'd been correct about his assumptions from earlier. He'd not found anything other than playful banter between friends, and felt like a clown for believing the fictitious love story he'd created.

And, to top it all off, sun hadn't bothered to shine that morning — neither had Albus. He cocooned himself in his covers, hiding between the sheets and mattress to prevent reality crashing over his head. He had responsibilities, he had tasks, and schoolwork, so he couldn't lie in bed all of the day and mope, no matter how much he wanted to.

"Albus, honey! Are you awake?"

The boy heard the muffled voice from beneath his duvet and gave a shuffle. He wanted nothing more than for his mother to leave him alone. Tears began to prickle his eyes once more at the sound of her comforting voice; yet he didn't want any love and sympathy. He wanted to roll around in his unrequited love until it dissolved him like sugar.

Footsteps sounded upon the tiles before a weight pressed down the side of his bed. Albus continued to hide, only removing his covers when gentle hands began to pull them free of his face. He pressed the palms of his hands into his eyes and gave a dissatisfied groan.

"Aren't you feeling well, my love?"

Albus shook his head, cringing as hands pulled at his wrists. He freed his green eyes from their hold, gazing at his mother through red puffy skin; unhappy. Ginny pouted, but said nothing as she gazed at her son's face with an expression of remorse. After a moment, she reached out her arms and pulled him into a tight hug. Although Albus hadn't wanted her, he quickly melted into her grip. Actually, he permitted himself to act as a toddler whilst he scrambled into his mother's side, his crying beginning once more as hands carded through his hair.

"Did you tell him how you felt?" Ginny questioned, rocking Albus beneath her arm. "It didn't go well?"

Albus let out a sob. "He cut me off before I had the chance! He told me that he was going on a date with someone e-else."

Ginny began to coddle Albus, her hands pressing to his biceps as she held him close. The boy gripped onto her and sniffled through his irritated red nose. They sat for a moment, and Albus eventually gave a tiny hiccup.

"Would you like to talk about how you're feeling?" Ginny asked, ushering her baby beneath his bed sheets to keep him warm in the cold weather.

Albus shook his head; believing himself pathetic and idiotic for the tears he'd shed. Ginny dusted his fringe from his forehead and pulled his face close to hers. The woman held his cheeks and whispered softly, and Albus noticed her dignified demeanour begin to crack.