Unspoken Love

38: INTRUSIVE

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH

"Aren't you guys glad we started this little breakfast ritual?" Rose said that morning in the early hours of 8am. Ever since Rose and Lily had paid Albus a visit, breakfast by the lake had become an everyday thing. Surprisingly, the fresh morning air had the power to put Albus into an exceptionally good mood and waking up early was starting to feel refreshing rather than grueling. 

     Scorpius on the other hand was still trying to adjust to the early wake up calls that Rose and Lily would preform every morning by banging on their downstairs door until one of them would groggily get up and unlock it for them. 

     On this crisp, September morning, Albus had already finished his breakfast croissant and he was sipping a warm coffee as he waded through the freezing lake, his pajama pants rolled up to his ankles. Scorpius was laying on the shore sleepily, his head resting on Lily's legs as she and Rose watched Albus. He was looking healthier, happier, and for that they were so grateful. 

"He's strange sometimes, isn't he?" Lily said softly, watching her brother kicking around the water, then pausing to stretch out his limbs. His toes were completely numb and he should feel freezing, but the iciness of the air and water felt rejuvenating. 

"You have no idea." Scorpius mumbled, blinking his eyes open to watch Albus too. 

"I mean he goes through so much and he just bottles it up in his big Albus brain, and there he is. Just splashing around like he's still a little kid. He acts like he can't handle things, but he probably handles things better than any of us." Lily finished. Rose added in agreement. She beamed as Albus turned around to look at them all, cuddled on the beach. He gave a boyish smile and a little wave before turning back around. He seemed to be inspecting the little creatures in the water as he crouched down carefully, trying not to completely soil his pants. 

"I mean if I had gone through what he had with Dean, I'd probably still be a wreck." Lily said, frowning. 

"Maybe, but friends like us wouldn't let you go through it alone. That's why we're here for Albus." Rose said, throwing her arm around Lily's shoulders. 

"He's going back to work today, right?" 

"Yup," Scorpius answered, sitting up, "He's real excited too." he watched Albus fondly and wrapped his knees close to his chest, he didn't know how Albus could bear the cold. Well...he supposed Albus could bear a lot of things now. Albus decided it was time to get out of the water before his feet fell off and he splashed back onto shore. 

"Hi guys! I found a crab." he said with a grin, holding out his sand covered hands. A small, pink crab was in the center of his palm. He set it back down on the sand gently and the little creature scuttled back to where it had come from at once. Scorpius smirked, grabbing his fiancé's hand to pull him in for a kiss. Albus smiled as he pulled away and then glanced at his watch. 

"Mind if Scorp and I go back to our room? Our portkey's leave at 9:30 today and we've both got to shower." Albus said kindly, hoisting Scorpius up from the ground and to his feet. Rose and Lily nodded, bidding them warm goodbyes before the two boys trudged back up to the castle. 

"You're in a good mood." Scorpius said, wrapping an arm around Albus's shoulders as they strolled through the corridors. Albus's feet were slowly regaining feeling as the warmth in the castle thawed out his frozen toes. 

"Waking up early has done wonders for me." Albus said with a small laugh, "I wish I tried it sooner. Oh well." he shrugged as they approached the door to their room. Albus took the key out of his pocket, unlocking the padlock and stepped back to admit Scorpius first.