Chapter Text
She sat on the ledge, her feet dangling hundreds of feet above the grounds. It was a beautiful night, perfect for stargazing or flying—or just thinking.
The Slytherin Common Room often felt a little suffocating: the gloominess of the lake, the echoes of the dungeon reverberating around the walls. The presence of aristocratic, try-hard hormonal wizards and witches as her roommates added to the crowded feeling. (Though, she mused to herself, it could’ve been worse. She could’ve been stuck with pompous Gryffindors or know-it-all Ravenclaws). Escaping to the Gryffindor tower was a welcome respite, though she didn't come here just to think.
The echo of footsteps grew louder, causing her to smile. Only a handful of people could ascent the Gryffindor tower stairs so loudly, and only one of them would come up here, in the middle of the night.
“Isn’t it a bit late to be out of bed, Al?” she teased, not turning around.
“You’re one to talk—you’re standing on enemy territory right now.” A soft, boyish voice laughed.
“Ooo, I’m scared.”
Albus laughed at her sarcastic tone. “Didn’t realize you thought so highly of us.”
She turned around to look at him, smirking. Her long, black hair blended in with the night, yet her brown eyes shone brightly. She jumped off the ledge gracefully and landed on the Gryffindor tower rooftop, next to her broom.
“Albus Severus Potter." She snickered. “Sneaking out of the dormitory to meet up with a Slytherin.”
Albus snorted. “I may not be a troublemaker like James, but I’m no wimp. What about you? Melanie Sullivan, the mysterious, aloof Slytherin, hanging out with a Potter on the Gryffindor tower.”
He was taller than Melanie, but still short for his age. Albus’s resemblance to his father was uncanny: his dark, unkempt hair, the green eyes. Yet his face bore no lightning scar or round glasses. And just by looking at his face, one could tell he was well cared for by his family. Melanie did not share the same trait.
“Mysterious and aloof. I like that.” Melanie smiled. “Better than the orphan Slytherin.”
Albus winced. “Why do you react every time I say that?” she asked, amused.
He looked away. “You’ll think it’s a stupid reason.”
“Well, now you have to tell me.”
“I can’t explain it. How much the thought of being without parents scares me.” Albus took a deep breath. “I don’t know how you handle it.”
Melanie softened at her friend’s empathy. Albus was one of the kindest, good-hearted people she had ever met. Anything that hurt his friends hurt him as well.
“You get used to it.” She said honestly. “It’s not so bad, not knowing.”
“But don’t you want to know who your parents are?”
She shrugged. “Not really. For all I know, they could’ve been bad people.”
“I don’t think so.” Albus said slowly. “Not if they’re like you.”
She sucked in a breath at the unexpected compliment. “Albus, I’m not a good person. Not like you.”
“Mel, just because you’re a Slytherin doesn’t inherently make you bad.”
Melanie blinked. “That’s the most un-Gryffindor statement I’ve ever heard you say.”
Albus gave a small smile. “Honestly, I feel the least Gryffindor out of everyone in my family.”
She considered his statement. He was quieter than most people, always trying to hide on the sidelines. Melanie had thought he was stuck up, but after talking to him during potions (when they were alphabetically seated next to each other), she discovered that he was a kind, soft spoken boy who chose his words with care. Their friendship was a secret; not by his request, but by hers. She didn’t want Albus’s reputation darkened by any association with a Slytherin, even though he didn’t care. They had fallen into a pattern of late-night hangouts in various places.
Melanie had always thought Albus was a good, happy person, quite unlike her. She was a bit crazy, with a rebellious spirit and a hard attitude. She fit well with the Slytherins, but not with anyone else, save Albus.
“Least Gryffindor?” She prompted.
Albus laughed without humor. “Everyone in my family is brave and famous. My parents, the heroes of the Wizarding world. James, the coolest troublemaker in school. Lily, the star Quidditch player. And then there’s me. I know everyone thinks I’m different.” He shifted his gaze away from Melanie. “But I don’t think they ever mean that as a compliment.”
Albus had never seemed to care about his fame, his image, never hinted at the social pressures he faced. Judging by his guarded expression, he hadn’t shared these thoughts with anyone else. Melanie felt a little lost, but also honored to be the recipient.
“I may not be the best person to consult.” she admitted, feeling like an awful friend. How many times had Albus calmed her down when she was in one of her impassioned rages? Now that the roles were switched, she didn’t know where to start.
Albus shrugged. “I don’t think other people would understand, if I told them.”
“What’s so different about me?”
He finally met Melanie’s gaze. “You know me better than anyone else.”
Melanie staggered back, her mind spinning. She knew he was close with everyone in his family, especially with his parents. The love he had for them was astonishing, and he was unafraid to admit it. Yet, he thought that she knew him best.
“That reminds me.” Albus switched topics, in a tone too casual to be unmediated. “My entire family knows. That we’re friends.”
Melanie’s eyes widened. He’d previously mentioned revealing their friendship to his family, but she hadn’t expected him to go through with it. “You told them? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because it was only a few days ago?”
Melanie rolled her eyes. “How did they take it?”
A twinkle glimmered in Albus’s eyes. “Take a guess.”
“Let’s see—threats of disownment?”
He shook his head, grinning. “Worse. They were pleased.”
“What!”
Albus laughed at her horrified reaction. “Well, mum wasn’t at first, but dad helped turn her around. They’re just glad I’m talking to other people besides my family.”
Melanie shook her head. “What about James? And Lily?”
“Also pretty good. I told James that you were the mastermind of the chocolate incident. You’ve earned his respect.”
She smirked. The chocolate incident was a memorable prank, involving flooding the Great Hall in chocolate syrup. But the best part was that James and his buddies were blamed for the crime. No one had any idea that it was actually the work of Albus and her.
“As for Lily, she thinks I’m crazy, but she has nothing against you, especially after she found out you were a foster kid.” Albus finished.
Melanie snorted. “Great. I have the sympathy of a twelve-year-old.”
“Thirteen. Her birthday was last week.”
“Oh, Merlin. Gryffindors with hormones are bloody scary.”
Albus bit his lip, trying to contain his laughter, but his eyes gave him away. Melanie remembered how he used to abhor cuss words. It was comforting to know he was getting used to them.
“Well, I’m glad your family didn’t throw you out of the window, or something.” Part of her was a bit disappointed at their reactions. Was she losing her edge?
Albus seemed to read her mind. “You would be upset about not being scary enough.”
Melanie glared at him. “I’ve got a reputation to uphold. How else will I keep other people away? That’s the trademark Slytherin quality.”
Albus stared at her for a moment. Then he burst out laughing, clutching his stomach.
“Why are you laughing?” Melanie asked, feeling slightly offended.
He smiled, wiping his eyes. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re the least scary Slytherin I’ve ever met.”
Melanie blinked. “You take that back.”
“I mean, you have all of the good qualities of a Slytherin, but none of the bad.” Albus explained, smiling at Melanie’s reaction. “You’re cunning and fierce, but you have the biggest heart. A lot of your classmates always come across as uncaring.”
Melanie couldn’t disagree with him. It was hard being a former foster kid in a house with a history of elitism, even though the current generation of Slytherins were challenging that notion. Yet she still often felt left out, particularly among the small number Slytherins with strong family ties. They were always preoccupied with their own ambition, at the cost of caring about others.
“Unfortunately, those Slytherins give our house a bad rep.” Melanie sighed.
“But it doesn’t matter.” Albus countered, “because there’s Slytherin’s like you. You showed me that people aren’t defined by their House’s history.” His face softened. “And I thought, maybe… maybe people aren’t determined by their family, either.”
A teasing remark died in Melanie’s mouth. “I don’t like you because you’re a Potter.” She said honestly. “I like you because you’re Albus.”
He didn’t respond. Melanie, feeling awkward, turned around to face the edge of the tower.
“Mel?”
She turned around, startled at his intense expression. His eyes were wide, full of a flood of emotion that Melanie was unsure how to react to.
“Yeah?”
“You’re my best friend, you know.”
She stared at him, and he stared back. There was no embarrassment on Albus’s face—she would’ve been disappointed if there had been. But Melanie had never seen Albus look at her with so much force.
For the first time in her life, Melanie found herself speechless.
The night fell into an uncomfortable silence. Albus startled to redden and turned away.
“Wait.” Melanie reached out and grabbed his hand.
Suddenly, the night felt rather hot and crowded.
“You’re my best friend, too.” she whispered, squeezing Albus’s hand. Her face grew warm. “Wow. I can’t believe I just admitted that to a Potter.”
Albus laughed and squeezed her hand back. ‘Gee, thanks for the amazing compliment.”
Melanie smiled, and he smiled back. They both looked out at the grounds of Hogwarts, feeling a peacefulness neither of them had felt before.