Frail ❃ Albus Potter

Twenty Eight

Guess who wrote chapter 27 twice in their plan and guess who'll now be writing one more chapter than they thought!

Hint; it's me.

A L B U S

Albus got his reply from his parents two weeks after he sent it. It was a surprising long time, since his parents usually got back to him within a few days, but Albus supposed that it had been a difficult letter to write, seeing as Albus had asked for advice and given almost no context.

He waited until he was alone to read it. He didn't want Scorpius to know he hadn't taken and wasn't planning to take his advice.

He settled on his old bed in his dormitory and unfurled the parchment slowly.

Dear Al, the letter read.

If you're fighting with Piper, you should definitely apologise first. As your mother always says, women never do anything wrong- or never think they do, anyway.

If Piper's taken it upon herself to apologise and you threw it in her face, then you need to apologise to her ASAP. She's not going to risk apologising again, and if you leave it too late, she's going to not accept your apology whatever you do.

Besides, from what you said, I think it all started with you anyway. If you both said some bad things to each other, you probably need to talk it out and sort it out.

People fight when they love each other, Albus. It's just life. And you and Piper do love each other- I can picture you scowling now, Albus!- and maybe not in that way, but you do love each other in some way, even if you don't quite know which way yet. (Yes, we do know you're dating Scorpius, Albus, but sometimes people grow apart. Just because you're with him now doesn't mean you're with him forever, whatever you may think.)

Take it from me (Dad), Al. You have to apologise, even if you don't think you have anything to apologise for. Friendships have been broken for nothing less than a misunderstanding. I know that when you're older, Piper will be one of your very best friends if you just make up now.

Do you know how long you've been friends?

Don't throw it all away because of some petty argument, Al.

xx Mum and Dad

Albus stared at the paper for a second, and then leapt from his bed in his dormitory and took off running down the stairs.

****

"Rose," Albus panted, flinging himself down beside a miserable-looking Rose in the common room. She edged away, looking uneasy. "Where's Piper?"

She scowled at him, her button nose crinkling. "There's no way in hell I'm telling you that without context, Albus. You've done enough-"

"I fucked up," Albus blurted. "Rose, I fucked up bad. But when Piper didn't turn up to that meeting, I just panicked-"

Rose frowned at him and Albus broke off abruptly. "What?"

The whole common room was quiet, and the silence was heavy. It was a summery weekend, and everyone was outside apart from Rose and Albus.

"What do you mean, the meeting?" Rose said, folding her arms. "You just told Piper you wanted nothing to do with her after the kiss. There was no meeting involved."

Albus stared. 'What?"

Someone's shouts drifted up to them through the open window. Rose didn't move.

"I think you need to explain everything," Rose said quietly. "From the very start."