Work Text:
Albus was crying. Harry could hear it from outside of his bedroom door. He paused, leaning towards the door so he could hear him better. That was unmistakably the sound of his son crying. He exhaled, his hand resting on the doorknob. He didn't know if intruding would make things worse. He knew there was a chance he could upset Albus even more. Albus probably wouldn't even want him there.
But, he had to try.
He knocked on the door, placing his hand back on the doorknob and twisting the door open. Albus seemed to have been startled by the entrance, as he quickly sat up from his position in bed, wiping his tears with his blanket when he saw his father. Harry hesitantly entered, frowning upon seeing his son take shaky breaths.
“Hey,” Harry said awkwardly, knowing he was intruding. “Uhh, are you alright?”
“Yeah,” Albus said quietly, nodding and staring down. Harry nodded, thinning his lips and looking around the room. He'd noticed some new things about it. A few band posters, as well as some pictures scattered the walls. Mostly pictures Albus had taken with Scorpius. Harry exhaled, turning back to Albus.
“Do you want to talk?” Harry asked. He furrowed his eyebrows. “I'm sorry- I'm not… the greatest with this kind of thing, but, uhh- I'm here for you. You know that, right?”
“Yeah, dad,” Albus’ words cracked and faltered as they came out. Harry sat beside Albus in his bed, frowning as Albus shifted aside and tried to make himself smaller. He knew his son well enough to know that was his defense mechanism. Albus was scared. Harry hated seeing him like that. So closed off. So afraid. Albus was usually an open book. Now, he couldn't get a single word out. His face hardened, and he kept his head down, tears dangling off of his eyelashes.
“Talk to me, Albus,” Harry stared at his son, watching as his eyes shut and more tears fell down his cheeks. Albus shook his head, and Harry bit his tongue. “No matter what it is, I'll be here for you.” Albus shook his head again.
“I- I don't-” Albus cut himself off, wiping his tears with the sleeve of his sweater. “I don't want you to be mad.”
“I won't be. I promise.”
“But- it's-”
“Albus. Trust me.”
Albus sniffed, wiping his eyes again with his sweater-covered palms. “I'm- I don't know. I'm just- confused. And scared.”
“What about?”
“I think I-” Albus paused, taking a deep breath. His lip quivered and his eyes shimmered with new tears. He stayed quiet for a second, waiting. He breathed out, his eyes shutting and his shoulders raising anxiously. “I think I'm gay.”
There was silence. Albus started crying harder. “I'm sorry.”
Harry stared at his son and immediately wrapped his arms around him. Albus tensed up in the hug, but quickly relaxed, hugging his dad back and sobbing into his shoulder. Harry realized how small Albus was. He was so small and so young. He hated that he was in so much pain because of something like that. Something that seemed irrelevant in Harry’s mind. He held his son tighter, brushing his fingers through the boy’s dark hair.
“I’m... I'm so proud of you,” Harry spoke. He didn't know what words would be right in this situation, but he knew he needed to try. “I'm so proud. It was incredibly brave of you to tell me.”
He felt Albus nod into his embrace.
“I love you,” Harry continued, cupping the boy’s head. “I love you so much, Albus Severus.”
“You- you're not mad?” Albus asked while pulling away, although it sounded more like a realization than a genuine question.
“No,” Harry said softly, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Of course not. Honestly… I’m a bit jealous. It's amazing that you're able to say that at your age. Self discovery is… it's hard. It took me a while to truly understand who I was. It's a horrible process, but you're strong, Albus Potter. Much stronger than I am.”
Albus looked away, sniffling and letting out a small laugh. He exhaled as he wiped his face. “Really?”
“Of course,” Harry smiled, wrapping an arm around Albus’ shoulder. Expecting him to pull away, he hesitated, but Albus didn't move. After a second, he moved closer to Harry, snuggling up in his chest. Harry softened, rubbing the boy's arm gently as he held him close. “I love you, Al. Albus .”
“I love you, dad,” Albus said quietly, still sniffling. There was a beat of silence, and Albus moved away from the embrace. Harry exhaled, trying to think of the right words.
“You know, I thought I was gay when I was younger?” Harry spoke.
Albus snorted, biting his lip to hide his laughter. Harry couldn't help but laugh as well.
“What??” Albus giggled.
“What's so funny?” Harry chuckled.
“Nothing!” Albus covered his mouth, stifling his laughs. He took a deep breath to calm himself, looking up at his dad. “I don't know, it's just- did you really?”
“Yeah, that's not abnormal!” Harry argued lightheartedly. “I mean, I've had crushes on witches and wizards. Of course, I fell in love with your mum, and- well, you know how that turned out.”
Harry noticed his face was red.
“All I'm saying is, it's okay that you're gay.”
Albus wasn't laughing anymore. He was staring intently at his father. Harry looked back at him, his eyebrows furrowed.
“Dad, are you bisexual?” Albus asked.
“Am I what?” Harry awkwardly laughed.
“Bisexual? You know, like, when you like- like, everyone. Witches and wizards. And everyone else.”
Harry paused, his eyes shifting away from Albus. He let out a small laugh. “No. No. Definitely not.”
The two were quiet. Harry took his glasses off, cleaning them on his shirt. He put them back on, staring down. He opened his mouth and then closed it, incapable of finding any words which seemed appropriate in the moment.
“Dad?” Albus broke the silence. He grabbed his father’s hand, holding it tightly. “You know it's okay. If you are.”
Harry held his son’s hand back, staring down at it. “Yeah,” Harry said quietly. “I know.” His tone wasn't very convincing. He wasn't the greatest liar.
“It is okay, dad,” Albus frowned, looking up at Harry. Harry nodded, his eyebrows tilted.
“I've just never… thought about it before,” Harry said quietly. He let out a small, awkward laugh, looking over to Albus. “How- how did you know?”
“How did I know?”
“That you're- you know.”
Harry’s face reddened, and he let out an awkward laugh which caused Albus to laugh as well. He was getting advice from his fourteen year old son. He was pretty sure this was one of the most embarrassing things he'd ever done.
“I don't know, honestly,” Albus said after a few seconds of thinking. “I never really liked girls. I thought I did, but I think I just looked up to them. But I felt different about boys. When I realized, I thought about everyone I've had a crush on or thought I had a crush on, and I realized I'd only ever liked boys. Or, one boy. After that, everything kind of just… made sense. Does being bi make sense to you?”
Harry’s expression softened slightly with his newfound knowledge, and he breathed out, staring at his hands as he fidgeted with them. It took him a second for the words to come out, but he said them.
“Yeah,” He said quietly. “It does make sense.”
Albus smiled, letting out a small laugh. “Yeah?”
Harry looked to his son, feeling tears sting his eyes. “Yeah.” He smiled.
“That's a great thing, dad,” Albus laughed softly.
Harry smiled brightly, laughing as well upon realizing that he was crying. “I'm sorry, this is embarrassing,” He sniffled, taking off his glasses to wipe his eyes.
“Yeah, I know how you feel,” Albus said lightheartedly, looking up at Harry. Hesitantly, he hugged him from the side, tense as he embraced his father. Harry’s eyes widened slightly. Albus was never one to initiate affection, especially hugs. He couldn't help but smile despite his tears. He cried harder, hugging his son back, running his fingers through the boy’s hair. He couldn't explain why he was crying. He didn't know if he was scared or confused or… happy? Perhaps he was relieved to finally be beginning to understand himself. Grateful to have the family he always wanted but never got. Happy to hug his son and know that he has a perfect family that would accept him even when he found it hard to accept himself. Harry breathed out shakily, holding his son tighter.
“You're- crushing me-” Albus squeaked out, and Harry let go quickly, seeing a red-faced Albus laughing and wiping his eyes. Harry laughed too, kissing the boy’s forehead.
“Thank you for this,” Harry exhaled, patting Albus’ back.
“For what?” Albus’ eyebrows furrowed.
“For… you know, helping me understand myself, I suppose,” Harry looked away, smiling still. “I'm not quite sure what I'm supposed to say right now.”
“Thank you for accepting me,” Albus said after a brief moment of hesitation. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Albus Severus Potter,” Harry turned back to Albus, noticing his head was down. He brushed the boy’s hair out of his face, causing Albus to look up and smile. Harry cleared his throat, moving out of bed and brushing his clothes off. “Alright,” He held his hands over his chest, letting out an anxious exhale. “I guess I have something I need to tell your mum.”
Albus laughed, sniffling. “Good luck.”
Harry smiled, taking a deep breath as he walked out of Albus’ room with his head held high.