Albus Potter and the Will of Ignotus Perevell

Awkwardness

-CHAPTER ONE-

Awkwardness

'I hate this!'

Albus Severus Potter threw the towel down to the ground and flopped down onto his bed in his room at the Leaky Cauldron.

'What's going on?' his friend, Avery asked from the door. Albus sighed and wiped his glasses on his shirt. 'Things are so awkward between Jess and me. Every since I said I liked her...'

'I know what you mean,' Scorpius Malfoy interrupted. 'Rose is avoiding me. She's been doing it ever since I kissed her.'

'You think you guys have problems?' Dimitri scoffed. 'Puhlease. Do you have any idea how awkward it is at my house? My sister is scared stiff of me and my parents can't imagine why Joseph and I hate each other and keep arranging things for us to go to movies and stuff. I can't stand it!'

'Ouch,' Albus said sympathetically. Dimitri shrugged and sat down in an armchair. 'I can't believe we have to work during summer!'

'They're punishing us for nearly destroying the school last year,' Scorpius muttered.

'My dad went ballistic,' Avery said heavily. 'Said he might even pull me out of the Quidditch team.'

'You're trying out?' Albus yelped. 'I don't want to have to play against you!'

'Well sorry,' Avery snapped. 'But just because I'm in a different house shouldn't stop me from doing things that I want to.'

He turned sharply and marched out of the room.

'This whole Passageway thing is making us turn on each other,' Max grumbled. 'I'm out of here before I get caught in this bitch fight.'

'Hey!' Albus shouted in protest as he left the room.

'He's right, you know,' Scorpius said. 'Hey, Dimitri! Where are you going?'

'I have to try and get my mum to come into Diagon Alley. She's actually afraid of me.' He left, shaking his head. There was a silence between Albus and Scorpius.

'Are you mad at me?' Albus asked finally. Scorpius shook his head, then nodded, then shrugged. 'I dunno, Al. I mean, you're all grouchy. This summer you're being a real git.'

'Well, I'm sorry!' Albus said, his temper rising. 'I just haven't had the best summer in the world!'

'See what I mean?' Scorpius said. 'At every little thing, you lose it. You're going to have to sort it out before school starts again.'

Albus groaned and buried his face in his pillow.

'Dude, what is this? Why the hell are you studying the Rise and Fall of Lord Voldemort?'

Albus shrugged. 'I was just curious why Voldemort refused to return last year. That's all.'

Scorpius frowned. 'I'm onto you, man. I got to go. Tonight's a new moon. Got to get out of here.'

'Yeah, okay,' Albus said. 'Once I learn to be an animagus, you don't have to be alone no more.'

Scorpius grinned. 'Sure thing. Later.'

'Later.'

Albus closed his eyes and heard the bang of the door shutting. He looked to the side and saw his trunk half packed. He sighed, got up and started folding his clothes and packing them.

'Hey,' somebody said from the doorway. Albus turned and saw Jessica standing by the door. 'Hi,' he said, scratching his head and attempting to flatten his black hair. Damn, why did he have to have inherited that from his father?

'Nice streaks,' Jessica complimented, seeing the orange streaks in Albus's hair.

'They're natural,' Albus shrugged. 'What is it?'

Jessica shifted her weight nervously from one foot to the other. 'Al, I'm sorry I've been ignoring you.'

Albus turned back to his book on his desk. He turned the page to The First Battle. He saw his grandfather's name, his grandmother's and many of their friends' initials. He knew Jessica was still behind him. 'It's okay,' he said finally.

'I heard you've been, sort of, moody, lately.'

'Perhaps.'

Albus walked over to his window and looked out over the trains. 'I'll talk to you later.'