Absence - Scorbus

The Start Up

Another day... another chapter!!
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Love you,
-I

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"He's in here."

A small Gryffindor boy entered the restroom. He walked in searching for his recent discovery. Behind him, was Mrs. McGonagall who was caught off guard by the fierce boy. As he found his target, he lead his professor towards the sinks, where a sobbing boy sat weeping.

They made there way over and until they were leaning over the boy, and watched as he still sat upon the floor weeping. "He wouldn't say anything when I asked what happened," the boy impatiently stated, "He just...wouldn't stop crying.."

Mrs. McGonagall tighten her lips as she watched the teary eyed boy sitting on the ground. She watched as he grasped for air multiple times. Albus heard the two enter and knew they were staring at him but he was to embarrassed to look up and make eye contact.

He regretted not darting out the doors as soon as the boy stated he would get a professor. Now he sat in shame.

The Gryffindor boy was getting even more impatient as the professor wasn't even trying to comfort Albus. "I asked, and he wouldn't say why he was crying. I asked very nicely, so I hoped you could-"

The professor put her finger up to her mouth to attempt to shush the boy. As his expression saddened Mrs. McGonagall attempted to cheer him up so she wouldn't have two upset boys in her presence.

"Hey, how about you go run me an errand. Tell the Slytherin Prefect that Albus Potter will be a little late, and to hold the train to Hogsmeade for a few minutes," she whispered into the boys ear, to not catch Albus off guard, "Can you do that for me?"

The Gryffindors expression brightened at the offer. He nodded towards his professor as he made his way to the Slytherin common room.

The door slammed loudly causing Albus to jump a bit. He knew now, it was only Mrs. McGonagall looking down upon him.

"I know you're aware I'm still here, Potter."

Albus nodded as he began attempting the wipe away his dried tears from his cheeks. He looked up at his professor hoping she'd finally cut the deal she made with his father about separating Scorpius and him. He knew it wouldn't happen but he really hoped.

Mrs. McGonagall watched as the boy looked upon her and offered a reassuring smile to him.

"I think I know why you're upset," she began. Trying to get the boy to talk to her.

He ignored the comment. Albus hiccuped, his eyes wore swollen, and his voice was still uneasy from all the crying. He didn't want to make any more of a fool of himself. He looked around the bathroom unaware of how long he was there for as his crying made the world turn blurry. He noticed, though, that the lighting had changed from when he first came in, as if the sun must've finally risen.

He felt embarrassed and stupid for crying for so long about something so silly. He was unsure of why he missed his friend so dearly, obviously it was his greatest friend of all time. But he lost many friends in the past, this one just hit differently.

"I bet you do," Albus finally answered as he fully gained conscience again.

Mrs. McGonagall tighten her lips once again. She didn't know what to say to comfort the boy, she wasn't good with things like that.

Her thoughts lingered for answers, as she finally settled on a reassuring pat on his back, "I'm not sure of what we can do about the situation, Albus. You'll just have to live with it for a little."