Chapter Text
The first few days at the Potter house were hard. Teddy, convinced he was bothering someone anytime he spoke, kept quietly to himself inside the room he was staying in. James’ room. The room he has spent so many days in as a teenager. The only place he had felt safe during his secondary school years, when the bullying was at its peak. James’ room was the only place he was sure there wasn’t going to be slur hurled at him, angry hands bruising his skin. His angry hands bruising others' skin.
Teddy sat on the end of the twin size mattress on the floor next to James’ bed. He looked at the walls, almost the same as the last time he had seen them, except a few more posters of footballers Teddy vaguely recognized from the few games he had watched with James.
“Hey,” A familiar voice said from the doorway.
Teddy turned his head toward Albus, who was walking over to sit beside him. Teddy attempted a smile, Albus smiled back, his gapped teeth reminded Teddy of when he was a kid.
“Hey, bud,” Teddy greeted, “What’s up?”
“Just wanted to hang out, and I brought dinner,” He sat a plate down on the ground next to Teddy’s feet. “We haven’t really talked since you got here, or for a while really.”
A wave of guilt washed over Teddy, as he remembered how he had ignored Albus’ attempts to speak to him.
“I- uh- I’m sorry. I’ve just been feeling, you know, off, since I got back.”
“I don’t blame you at all. All that shit was a lot and now you’re just expected to return to normal interaction? Doesn't make sense.” Albus said, watching the older boys face.
Teddy sighed, “How is school?” He asked a moment later.
“Fine, yeah. I have to start thinking about uni, which is scary obviously, and-”
“Are you still with Scorpius? I always liked him.” Teddy interrupted.
Albus whipped his head to look at Teddy, alarmed, “Uhm. Well we aren't, uh, together. I’m not- uh- you know.” His face was pale.
“Gay?” Teddy asked, “It’s fine if you are. I am anyway, so it’s not like I could be upset. And I know you and that Malfoy boy have something going on, whether you know it or not, he definitely likes you.”
Teddy always had an issue with being too blunt, his thoughts coming out as words before they were onced over by his brain. For the second time that conversation, Teddy felt guilty. He watched as Albus’ deminor shifted and he became more guarded.
“Sorry. Sorry, I shouldn’t speak like I know.” He said quickly, “You guys aren’t together, okay, so, are you still friends?”
Albus, slowly collecting himself, replied, “We aren’t, uhm” He chose his words carefully, “We aren’t together, but we aren’t just friends either.” Albus spoke with his eyes closed.
Teddy resisted saying ‘Called it’ because he knew this was hard for Albus to say. He just put a firm hand on Albus’ shoulder and let the words simmer between them.
The next time Albus spoke he was more sure of himself, “Sorry I got so panicked there, kids at school are not as nice about it.” He was staring at the chipped navy blue nail polish on his thumb, his knuckles bruised, but only barely as if they are almost done healing. He reminded Teddy so much of himself when he was younger that he almost wanted to cry. Albus was quiet, he was kind. He let his anger take over too often. Teddy knew how it felt to have that silent fury build inside you until you break. Teddy got into fights over stupid stuff when he was in school, he would come home with a split lip and Andromeda would rush to him, never asking too many questions but still caring for him.
The memory of his late grandmother was overwhelming, so he pulled himself back to Albus and their conversation.
“That’s a tough situation to be in. Kids weren’t too nice to me at school either, called me loads of things. I know it doesn’t feel like it, and honestly I’m not the best person to be telling you this, but you aren’t trapped. It’ll get better, you’ll make friends and you’ll find people who appreciate you or who you are.”
“I don’t need other friends, I have Scorpius,” Albus said with a frown.
“And he loves you for who you are?”
“He’s the only one who does,” he whispered.