Harry Potter and the Legend of the Twelve

A Moment by the Lake

When morning classes were over, the whole school started to gather in the Great Hall for lunch. James, Jason, and Danny had just sat down, when Rose and Carly walked up behind them.

"Hey guys," said Rose. "Where's Al?"

"He was just here," answered James. "He said he wasn't hungry."

"He seemed kind of distracted in class this morning," said Carly. "He took off as soon as class was over."

"It's not like him to skip a meal," said Rose.

"I'm sure he's fine," said Danny. "Rose, there's a seat next to me."

Rose smiled and quickly sat down next to Danny.

"Did Al say where he was going?" asked Carly concernedly.

"I think I heard him say he was going for a walk down by the lake," said Jason.

Even though she had only known Al, Rose, James, Jason, and Danny for about a day, she really liked them all. Carly never really had a lot of friends before. She always kept to herself. Ever since her mother died, she had become even more withdrawn. She hadn't told anyone that her father took his own life a month later and that she would be living in a Muggle orphanage in London when the school year was over. Her father had arranged for her to attend Hogwarts before his death. Her father had hoped a new school in a new place might let her start over.

Carly kept thinking about what Albus had done for her, arranging for a carriage so she didn't have to take the boats, and being so kind. It was a really sweet thing to do, maybe the nicest thing anyone had ever done for her. When Albus hugged her after she saw the Thestrals and she told Albus and his cousin what had happened to her mother, it really did make her feel better than she had in a long time.

"I think I'm going to try and find Al and make sure he's all right," said Carly. "I'll see you in Defense Against the Dark Arts after lunch, Rose."

"All right, see you then," said Rose.

Carly walked out the main doors of the castle towards the lake. It took her a few minutes to find Albus. He was sitting against a large tree not far from the shore. As she got closer, she could see he was crying.

"What's wrong, Al?" asked Carly kneeling down beside him.

Albus quickly rubbed the backs of his hands on his face, trying to hide that he had been crying, but it was no use, and he gave up. "I'm fine," said Albus flatly, as he slumped against the tree.

"No you aren't," said Carly. "Last night, you were so happy after you were sorted, and you seemed fine this morning, but ever since breakfast with your family, you've seemed upset." She paused. "I know upset when I see it, I've spent a lot of time upset this past year and a half. Tell me what's wrong, I promise you'll feel better."

"I don't know," said Albus. On one hand, he knew talking about it might make him feel better, but he had never told anyone about his episodes before. The family knew, and even though Rose knew, he had never even talked about it with her.

"Would you be more comfortable talking to Rose or your brother? I could get them," Carly said, standing up.

"No," said Albus reaching out and taking her hand. "Sit, I'll tell you."

Carly sat down on his right and leaned against the tree, he was still holding her hand. He never really talked to any other girls other than Rose, but it was so easy to talk to Carly. It felt good to have Carly there.

"It started when I was seven," explained Albus. "I had an argument with my brother and I got upset. I sort of blew up the wall of the house in my bedroom."