Chapter Text
At the top of Hogwarts west towers lies a cold, circular room filled with owls resting on their own perches. The air is chilly from its height, and the ceiling extends for 5 feet more. The windows are open, which allows owls to fly in and out at any time. This is the Hogwarts Owlery. The young boy Luna's been finding all day sits at the windowsill as owls fly in and out of the space above him. He stares at the letter he just wrote, neatly folded in his palms. Inscribed at the top are the words "To Mr. H. Potter." His name is written under that too. A strained smile crosses his face before hesitating as he tucks it into a pocket inside his robes. He wanted to send the letter to his father, but he didn't want to worry him so much. He knows Harry would reassure him, but that won't make him feel any better. Albus has been sitting here for about half a day now, and isn't even bothered by skipping his classes on the first day. He sighs heavily, running his hand over his tired eyes and staring up at the owls still flying overhead. Being sorted in Slytherin is a huge disappointment for Albus, he doesn't like the idea of being sorted in a house where most vile wizards are from. Though not everyone turns evil, the idea still scares him. He desires to be in Gryffindor, as he sees fearlessness in him, just like his father—he looks up to him more than any other person does.
The gushing wind runs through his skin as he makes his way down the Owlery. The steps are steep yet big enough for a person's feet. His feet carried him all the way from the training grounds to the castle. The ground is surrounded by a few students in groups, walking, playing, and talking amongst themselves. A familiar voice called him from behind. Back to his senses, he looks back and sees Luna walking side by side with Tyler, who's visibly taller than her as she's much older. The young girl hurriedly walked to him.
"Al! Where have you been??," she asks, her voice tinged with relief. Before he could reply Tyler interrupts "I should go ahead, Luna. I'll see you in the common room."
She waves goodbye at her, leaving the two alone. The two stand awkwardly in silence, the chatter of the students around them filling their ears. Al stares at his feet, unsure of how to break the ice. When he met Luna on the train, he was always the one who initiated conversations between them. Though it's been hard talking with the girl, he feels like he understands her well. He knew that there was something going on inside her mind, something beyond the surface, and he was eager to learn whatever it was.
"Did I worry you too much?" he asks.
Luna shrugs as she starts walking down the path with her hands in the pockets of her robes, Albus following her on the side. It had gotten cold even since it's the autumn season, and the clouds were threatening a storm. Her hair had started to stick out in all directions, with some strands falling on her face. She brushed them aside quickly, her face somewhat glowing.
"Not really," Luna answered with a slight smile playing on her lips. "Anyways, it's good that you're finally here. We only had Charms for class—but it was interesting. Too bad you missed it"
"Was it? Good thing I have my cousin to copy off for the homeworks... or you," he laughs. Luna rolls her eyes.
"Sure, that would be a great way to be sent for detention," Luna snickers. "It would get rid of us from the boring classes."
The two shared laughter as they strolled along the campus, enjoying each other's company. It felt as if Luna had somehow broken down the barrier that once walled herself. She halted, as it crossed her mind the book from Newburgh, "Do you want to head back to the common room now?" she asks "We should be getting ready for dinner,"
Albus' hand traveled to his pocket, contemplating her question. After a brief pause, he responded, "Actually, could you come with me? There's something I want to do."
Luna simply nodded, her curiosity piqued as she shrugged off the thoughts about the book, and followed Albus as he led the way back to the Owlery. They climbed the stairs, ascending to the highest tower. Luna leaned against the windowsill, gazing out over the sprawling Hogwarts grounds and marveling at the breathtaking view. She could see the grounds from here, packed with students in their own crowd of groups. Albus settled beside her, reaching into his robes and retrieving a letter.
"What's that for?" she asks.
"A letter to my father. I wrote it this morning," he explains. Her gaze locked into him, as if waiting for an explanation.
"Well...,' he hesitated, "I want to give it to him later today. I'm not sure though—I don't know if I'll feel better if I do, I feel like I'll just make him worry."
"Oh, Al," she sighs sympathetically, "You never need to worry about your dad. Just tell him everything. I'm sure he'll understand," she sighs inwardly, taking the courage to speak more of her thoughts, "He's a great person, y'know, Mr. Potter. I read an interview of him once, talking about how proud he'll always be of his kids."
She sits beside Al and smiles at him warmly. Her arms wavered for a moment, unsure, but ultimately surrendered to the urge to embrace him. She rested her chin lightly on his shoulder. Her hair tickles him a bit, but he somehow felt so understood. And it wasn't until after she pulled away and stood that he realized what happened. He blushes furiously as he notices the corner of her lips curving and her face brightened amidst the cold. It was a rare sight, as Luna had been reserved when they first met. They share a look and burst into laughter.
"Sorry, Pippin always told me that hugging usually calms people down," she said, brushing non-existent dust off her robes. Surprisingly, she discovered that it was a remarkably effective way to feel safe and at ease.
Albus cleared his throat, avoiding direct eye contact with Luna. "Pippin?" he inquired, seeking clarification.
"Yeah, our house elf. I talk to her all the time. She's become like a friend, y'know?"
"I guess Pippin was right about hugging being calming," Albus responded, a shy smile gracing his lips.
"I bet your dad would be proud even though you're sorted in Slytherin, Al. There's nothing wrong with being different from the rest of your family. You'll fit in well enough wherever you end up," she reassures.
He felt a peculiar warmth welling up in his chest from everything Luna had said, yet he struggled to find the right words to respond. Instead, he settled for a small smile, which Luna returned.
He rose to his feet and made his way to his owl. Albus tied his letter to the feet of his snowy colored owl, Amica and it flew off. As he settled down beside her, their gazes fixed upon the castle grounds. The sky grew darker, signaling an impending downpour, and the students wandering around scurried inside the castle. The clouds loomed closer and merged, while distant thunder echoed through the heavens, building anticipation for the storm. Suddenly, the sky transformed into a darkness, and the atmosphere turned menacing. The wind howled, and heavy rain cascaded from above, causing the two students to exchange worried glances. Before they could utter a word, a loud rumble shook the ground, signaling the storm's arrival. Al instinctively grabbed Luna's hand, and together, they raced down the tower, but the rain had already started pouring relentlessly.
"We're doomed, I haven't got my wand!" Al groaned, turning his head to look at Luna who looked too worried, searching her robes.
"Me neither! I must've left it with Tyler!"
"What do you say we run?" he suggested, his face beaming, as if like a kid about to do some mischief.
"Absolutely not! It's too muddy outside!" she protested.
"It doesn't matter, it'll be fun!" he countered. "Come on! Live a little. It won't be that bad!"
Luna hesitated for a moment, worried about getting mud on her shoes and clothes. But with no other choice, she reluctantly followed the young boy, who was already drenched in the rain, waiting for her outside with his arm over his head to shield his view from the downpour. And so, with Albus' hands clutching Luna's they began to run, their laughter mingling with the sound of the rain, the mud splashing at every corner of their lower robes which was not that visibly as it was colored in dark after all.
After about minutes of running, they eventually found their way to the castle grounds and hurried inside to catch their breath. As their racing hearts began to settle, Luna turned to Al, her cheeks flushed pink from exertion and laughter. In that moment, they forgot about whatever problems had been weighing them down, and all they could feel was the pure happiness coursing through their veins. They made their way through the halls, water droplets cascading from their soaked robes, mingling with the dirt on their shoes, leaving damp marks on the floor. The cold did nothing to dampen their spirits. Luna felt weightless, her laughter flowing freely and uninhibited. It was a state of euphoria she hadn't experienced in a long time. The distant sound of other students' voices echoed through the halls, blending harmoniously with the pitter-patter of rain outside, creating a joyful chorus as they made their way to the Slytherin common room to change into dry clothes.
***
7:00pm | Great Hall
They reached the entrance of the Great Hall, packed with students sitting in groups. The tables were now filled with different cuisines, and the smell of roasted chicken filled the air. The ceiling mirroring the weather outside gave it a slightly eerie feel with the illusion of lightning and rain pouring down, but the hall was filled with laughter and chatters.
Albus and Luna made their way to the Slytherin table, where they found Tyler sitting together with Scorpius and his gang, talking. Tyler had her arms crossed over her chest, she was tapping her foot impatiently waiting for Luna to arrive. Scorpius sat across from her, eating some sort of dish that looked like it was covered with mushrooms and bits of vegetables.
"There you are! I thought you lost your way in this huge hall," she scoffed as soon as they arrived at the front bit of the table where Tyler and Scorp's gang was seated.
"Oh, I hope I did," she rolled her eyes at the sight of Trent beaming widely at her, with his mouth full of salad. They took an empty space next to Tyler, adjacent to Scorp and his gang.
"You got company?" asked Scorpius without making eye contact, still busy eating his dinner.
Before she could answer, Daniel whispers to him "It's Potter's brother, mate."
Trent and Daniel exchanged glances, their attention drawn to a young boy who took his seat beside Luna. Scorpius shrugged at the sight of the boy who looks nothing like Sirius Potter. Daniel nudged Trent, a mischievous grin spreading across their face. Both of them turned their gaze towards Scorpius, who somewhat seems unsettled but playing it cool by the encounter with his former friend's brother. They continued eating, trying to ignore the growing awkward tension between Albus and Scorpius.
"Speak of the devil," Trent murmured under his breath, his head shifted on the entrance of the hall. They redirected their gaze towards the entrance where Sirius Potter had just arrived. Daniel laughed approvingly at the statement.
Without hesitation, Sirius redirected his steps towards the Slytherin table as soon as he saw his brother eating with the Slytherins, his hands tucked deep into his pockets and his chin held high, his gaze fixed upon the group. Sirius approached the table without uttering a single word or acknowledging anyone around him until he stood beside Albus.
"Howdy, Al,"' he greeted, tapping his brother's shoulder with a smirk etched across his face. "Scorp," he added, lifting his eyebrow, as his eyes shifted towards Scorpius and the surrounding boys before returning to Albus. His eyes were cold and harsh, his expression hard. His tone wasn't friendly or polite either, but more threatening. Scorpius acknowledged the greeting with a nod. The tension at the Slytherin table becomes much worse, one waiting to draw out his wand, and one waiting for the other to strike up. Everyone but the first years are all tensed up, the three exchanged glances, trying to comprehend the situation.
Karisla, who just happened to arrive at the hall, saw the commotion at the front table. She made their way towards them and cleared her throat loudly enough for Sirius to hear. "I'm sorry Sirius, but would you mind leaving us alone for a while? We'd like to eat peacefully," her voice held a slight growl in it which instantly shut him up.
"Do see me after dinner, Al." Sirius tapped his shoulder before turning away from their table and making his way towards the Gryffindor's. Rose Weasley, seated among her brother and other Gryffindor classmates, couldn't help but react strongly to Sirius' arrival. Without hesitation, she slapped his arm, her voice a sharp whisper filled with reproach.
"What on earth are you doing? You're being incredibly rude!" Rose admonished, her glare piercing him like daggers. "You're only going to make the Slytherins despise Albus with your behavior, James."
Sirius began to defend himself, but Rose swiftly silenced him with a stern gesture before returning her attention to her meal. "Alright, alright, no need to get so worked up," he muttered under his breath, taking a seat beside her.
Sirius had always been known for his hot-headedness, often finding himself engaged in heated arguments with the Slytherin third-years, having bad blood with Scorpius and his friends and all. His rebellious nature had earned him the disapproval of many teachers, particularly the headmistress, Professor McGonagall, who couldn't help but see in him shades of two of her once-troublemaker students, Sirius Black and James Potter, whom he also shared the same name with.
After about a long hour of eating, the students headed their way out of the hall, some staying behind, chatting with their peers. Hugo Weasley, who just finished his last plate of pudding, saw his cousin Albus walking out of the hall with his housemates. He grabbed a grub, three jam doughnuts to be exact, his favorite dessert, and immediately ran to him, hoping he could catch up because he hadn't seen him since this morning.
"Al! Wait up–!"
Luna, who was also catching up to Al who was walking too fast, collided with the red haired boy. The doughnuts stick up unto Luna's uniform, leaving the jam as she stands up fast from the floor.
"NO– My doughnuts—" he cried, but his face instantly beamed with joy as soon as he recognized Luna, "Oh, Luna–! How r'ya?"
"Watch it, Weaslenot! Some greedy gut you are," Tyler blurted out, but Luna silenced, assuring her it was alright. It was indeed not alright; her clothes were sticky and the donut's filling was all over it. It's disgusting, she thinks. The students walking past them overheard and giggled.
Albus who was walking ahead of them heard the commotion and immediately went back. He sees the three at the entrance of the hall, the other students walking past them. He sees Luna trying to get the stains off, with her usual straight face. His attention shifted to Hugo salvaging his doughnuts, his eyes lit up at the sight of his cousin. He went up to him and gave each other an embrace like they haven't seen each other for years.
"How you doing, Al? You alright at Slytherin?" Hugo inquired, completely forgetting about what just happened.
Albus hummed in response, "Don't worry, they're not as they seemed to. Most of them–"
They laughed, their voices blending in with the others.
"I see, you already met Luna, 'eh? She's a friend—" He turned around but the two girls were already gone.
"Oh, don't bother, Al. I reckon the other girl's pissed," He sighs in relief, taking a bite of his doughnut.
"Tyler?"
"Yeah— Her eyes looked daggers at me when I bumped into Luna this morning. Felt like she could jump at me at that moment,—and! and, just now, she called me greedy! "
He chuckled at Hugo's response. He also wasn't that close with Tyler since he just met her, and it seemed like she didn't like him either. Tyler is a very blunt person therefore one could tell if she isn't fond of them as she would look at them differently than Luna. It was an obvious reason she only hangs around Luna.
As they made their way out of the Great Hall, Hugo noticed a piece of parchment paper that had been torn. "What's this rubbish?" He says picking it up.
Albus leans, trying to take a closer look as he reads the letters that looked too hard to even read with its scripted letters that were too small, "-ere lesm–?"
Albus had not finished reading when a tall, imposing figure, his robes an indicator of being a Ravenclaw, snatched the paper from his grasp.
"I believe this is mine, Potter." the stranger stated, his voice cold and piercing as he eyed the paper cautiously, then met their eyes.
"Oh– sorry... It was on the floor." Albus stumbled over his words, flustered. The stranger's expression remained unreadable, his gaze piercing through Albus as if he had committed a grave offense.
"Let's go, Al," Hugo whispered, intervening between the growing tension. Al nodded in agreement, allowing Hugo to lead him out of the hall. "Bloody hell. That guy's giving me the creeps–Do you know him?"
Albus shakes his head. He didn't know who that was, in fact he hadn't talked to a single student except Luna and his cousin when he arrived yesterday. He doesn't even remember if he had ever seen him before. "What?" he asks, clearly having just caught Hugo staring at the back of his head.
"Your hair has gotten longer, hasn't it?" Hugo asks, pointing over his shoulder. His eyes drift over just above his shoulder where Hugo was pointing at. It is indeed longer but it was the normal length for him, and he just hadn't noticed it before. He nods anyway because it looks like an easy question to answer, or perhaps just a dumb question.
"It used to be longer too, right?" A voice says, a girl's, from behind them. They both turn to look at her, though not in unison. His eyes lit up, his lips curled into a smile as he recognized who it was; Rose. His arms surrendered for a quick hug. Rose laughed, pleased by her favorite cousin's gesture. She ruffles his hair after they parted. "You look nice Al," she complimented. "—are you doing okay? I'm sorry about what happened during the sorting, y'know it's quite–"
"I'm all good, Rose. Trust me." He reassured with a smile. Rose sighed deeply, though her face still bears the expression of worries. "I'll be fine, Slytherins aren't that cruel y'know. In fact, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine. Hugo's met her, right Hue?"
Hugo forced a laugh, as he led the way to the staircase where they waited for it to empty before finally getting up the steps. As it moved slowly Albus was still persistently reassuring his cousin who worries too much about his well being; and he never complains. Rose had always been the older sister Albus wanted. Though he had Sirius, it was far more different having a bud he could talk about his interests and mischiefs compared to an older sister which he could always depend on.