Frail ❃ Albus Potter

Thirty Seven

R O S E

Rose wandered around the train, avoiding the carriage she'd previously sat in, because hey, Merlin knew what Albus and Piper were doing in there.

Good for them and all, but Rose did not want to be a witness to their- well, to whatever they were doing.

She passed by a carriage full of Slytherin students and paused for a second, catching sight of a miserable-looking Scorpius sitting in the corner of the compartment.

Scorpius.

Over the past few weeks, Rose had started to think that maybe- just maybe- she'd been a little too harsh on him.

Maybe.

Especially considering now (hopefully) Albus and Piper were together and better than ever.

She understood why he would do something like that, or at least was trying to. He loved Albus, and he was sick of Albus not seeing him at all.

It was just one letter, after all. One mistake.

Rose sighed and passed the Slytherin compartment without going in. Scorpius probably wouldn't want to talk to her anyway.

****

A L B U S

Albus' heart dropped as the train squealed into the platform.

Piper, who was still sitting beside him, squeezed his hand reassuringly. "We've still got a full year left," she said soothingly. "It's not like this is the end."

"It's the start of the end," Albus mumbled, and Piper smiled at him, her deep brown eyes sparkling with happiness.

Because of course she was happy- Albus was happy, too. She loved him, he loved her. There was nothing between them now, no obstacles or misunderstandings that could pull them apart. And boy, did it feel good.

They stood up and started to walk down the train, spotting various families standing on the platform looking hopeful. "Can you see your parents?" Albus asked Piper, scanning the platform for his own as they stepped off the train.

"Over there." Piper shielded her eyes and looked at him, her smile dimming a little. "I'll write you letters over the summer," she promised. "And you can come stay with me, if my dad lets you now we're dating-"

Albus winced. Dean Thomas was slightly terrifying.

"Or I can come and stay at yours," Piper finished, grinning. "I'll miss you."

Albus smiled at her, his heart feeling so full he thought it might burst, and leant forwards to kiss her quickly, mindful of Dean's watchful eyes from across the platform. "I'll miss you too. Be prepared for long lovesick letters."

"I can't wait." Piper's smile was bright again as Rose appeared next to her, grimacing.

"God," Rose said, tossing her scarlet hair over her shoulder. "You two are so sickly sweet it's killing me. If I'd have known what this was going to be like, I would never have tried to get you two together in the first place."

"Rose!" Piper swung an arm around her best friend's shoulder, laughing. "You'll write, won't you?"

Rose looked disgruntled and moved away. "Of course. I can see my parents, I better go."

She walked away, seemingly noticing that Albus and Piper wanted a moment alone to say goodbye properly.

"Bye," Albus said, looking hard at her, trying to memorise the shape of her face and the curve of her lips... "I love you."

Her grin lit up her face. "I love you too, Albus."

They hugged, briefly, and then she was walking away, her hair swinging as she did so.

Albus turned, and almost managed not to look back.

Almost.

What the hell was this?

Anyway, we have an epilogue and then boom. Finite.