Working Through the Rest

Standstill

The journey home is awkwardly quiet. Mum attempts to strike up conversation a few times, but it doesn't do much. I'm not in the mood to talk, and Lily and James both claim to be tired. And dad probably doesn't have much interest in talking to me. He came to hug me when he saw me on the platform. I ducked out the way.

And I don't care if it pissed him off.

When we get home, I get my trunk out the boot and go upstairs immediately. I dump my stuff by the door and collapse onto the bed, sighing. They're going to want me down for dinner and the idea of being around people right now is mildly terrifying. It's not necessarily who it is, at this point. It's just lots of people.

I lie there for a long time, until I hear a knock at the door. I ignore it at first, because I'm really not in the mood, but then the door opens anyway. I pick up my pillow, about to throw it at whoever has entered, but then I see Lily at the door, and I stop.
"Can I come in?" she asks quietly.
"Yeah," I nod, sitting up and moving so that there's a little more space beside me.
"There's a bit of food left if you wanted it," she says, perching on the end of the bed. "Mum pointed out that you probably didn't want to see anyone."
"Not really," I mutter. "Just – just him. But thanks for leaving something."
"He was angry at dinner," Lily murmurs. "He said you should try and make more of an effort to talk to him."

My first instinct is to snap back, but I stop myself. She's trying to help. She's not the person I'm angry with. And it's probably a good thing she's telling me.
"I'll talk to him," I say. "I just want him to be okay with me. I don't want to hide part of myself to make him happy."
"You shouldn't have to," Lily nods. "But we're here for you."
"Just two weeks," I nod.

I glance at the door, and then I stand up, walking over to the record player in the corner. I pull out Scorpius' favourite record (he gifted a copy to me) and set it playing. I'll get comments about loud music in the morning, but I don't care. I want to talk to Lily without being afraid of being overheard.
"Nice music," she smiles when I sit down again.
"Scorpius likes it and he has quite a major influence on me."
"Albus," Lily looks at me, her eyes filling with concern. "Albus, love. We – I'm sorry – we know."
"Damnit," I grin. "I thought I was subtle."
"You?" Lily raises her eyebrows. "I don't believe there is a subtle bone within a mile of your body."
"I have that sort of power?"
"No," Lily shakes her head. "We live in the middle of nowhere and none of us are subtle."
"Good point," I smile.

I am blessed to have my sister. She is kind and understanding and caring. And unafraid to fight back. If it comes to any fights, for any reason over this holiday, she won't fall back. She will break bones for the people she cares about. If Delphi had, Merlin forbid, come after her, the Augurey would have ended up in McGonagall's office with a bloody nose.

Not to suggest that Lily isn't also the most caring, protective soul on this planet. She's in league with Scorpius in that. The two would make formidable, possibly terrifying, friends.
"Listen," I say quietly. "I should say this now."
"Yeah?"
"If you wake up one morning and I'm gone, I'm safe. Draco said that I was welcome to turn up if I needed to."
"Will you?"
"If something happens, I probably will. I can't be around him when he's angry."
"You'll try your best," Lily nods. "No one can blame you for leaving if something happens. We all know you're trying your best."
"Thank you," I smile.
"You're welcome," she smiles back. "Now, go grab your dinner and then get some sleep. You look like you really need it."
I nod. "I will. Thank you, again."
"I love you," she puts an arm around. "Big bear."
"Little lion."