Chapter Text
Hogwarts, the magical place where his father met his mother and saved the Wizarding World. It has always been a place Albus dreamt of going since he heard from his older brother, James that it was a great place to study and learn spells.
Although, unlike James, he had been a spitting image of their father, a bright green eyes and black hair, with a quiet personality. He was so much different from his older brother's brave and confident nature, similar to their father.
He had been preparing for Hogwarts ever since his accidental outburst a year ago and he was still waiting for the letter, though it never came so he's looking for something to brush the thought away.
Just when he was about to forget, a brown owl came in through the window and dropped two letters onto the table, startling Albus and causing him to drop his book.
As he got closer to the items, a large smile appeared on the young boy's face. His bright green, almond-shaped eyes lit up to the letter addressed to him and casted the other that says it was for James aside.
He nervously grabbed the letter and turned it over to see the Hogwarts crest embedded on the wax that sealed the letter.
"This is...--"
As if she could read his mind, Lily bursted into the room and called out to him.
"Al, is that your letter? Is it finally arrived?"
Albus didn't turn his gaze away from the owner of the voice. His lips parted, trying to reply but his throat felt constricted not even the softest sound came out. He felt too excited that he can't utter an answer. The other didn't wait as she can't control herself and jumping around excitedly.
"That's so cool, Al. I can't wait to get my letter just like you and then be sorted in one of the House--"
"Woah, calm down, Lily." Albus couldn't contain his laughter to Lily's excitement and then suddenly there's a low rumble coming from above. It sounded like something cracking and caught the two off guard, a ceiling dropped above them with Albus realizing that it aimed towards his little sister, Lily.
"No!" He shouted. His arms trying to reach the girl across from him. It never quite reach upon the unmoving girl, although his eyes followed the debris slowly falling on top of Lily, almost hitting her.
That moment, his mind went blank and the letter went out of his grip, laying motionless on the floor. He watched in silence as the broken ceiling stopped in the air.
"Wha-?"
The two of them felt the strange energy flowing around the room and suddenly, the ceiling flew back and fixed themselves. It's all felt like a dream but instead it felt so real that his eyes devoid of emotion.
"What's going on here?"
Two pair of eyes turned to see their father entered the room without their noticing. They became unsettled as he joined them with an eyes that looking for any sign of trouble happening around the house.
Although no one said a word, Harry's suspicion grew as his two kids' eyes avoiding his gaze as they became suddenly interested in anything but him and then he saw Albus shifted awkwardly from the corner of his eyes, that further confirmed his suspicion.
"Anything you wanna say, Al? Lily?" Harry quirked his right brow as he looked at each sibling in an intimidating manner.
Albus, couldn't handle the pressure anymore stormed out of the room with a pained expression; but inside his stomach churned at the thought of what happened before.
Harry felt lost and looked at Lily, who's gone silent which was unusual for her since she always the cheerful one around the house. He needed to do something, soon Albus will be going to Hogwarts with James and he didn't want this silence as the last thing they had.
So, Harry made a move and lowered his knees. He took her hands into his own and said quietly in a pleading tone which melts her little heart.
"Please tell me, Lily." She took a long look at his eyes before nodding.
•
•
Harry Potter. The husband of Ginny Potter and the father of three children. He was currently arriving early at home from his auror mission in the Ministry and letting out a heavy sigh as he's still processing what happened when he wasn't home.
It had been ten years since he had defeated Voldemort in the war and twenty years since he had his first accidental magic. In the past, it just happened at the zoo where the glass pane gone during his family outing and such of harmless magic. But, he guessed that the accidental magic could happen in a harmful way and rather to anyone, including Lily.
He headed upstairs to see how Albus doing but stopped himself before Albus' room as he caught a glimpse of red blur figure. It showed James wearing a red pyjamas, who stood quietly in front of Albus' door, wavering whether to enter or not. Harry decided to watch his oldest son from afar, waiting to see what James might do to help his troubled little brother.
Harry concluded that James knew about the letter, even though Albus tried to hide it. Although, he was taken aback when his youngest son suddenly holed up in his room for a whole day because of what happened to Lily prior to the arrival of the letter. He understood what Albus went through and letting his oldest son did his job as a good brother, which something he didn't have back in the past.
James knocked the door softly. No response. He decided to enter quietly and find Albus squirmed around on his bed, fists curled and sweating profusely soaking the sheet.
"Lily..." Albus whimpered. James walked slowly towards his sleeping form and instantly wrapping his arms around him.
"Shh, Albus. It's alright, Lily's fine," James murmured, hoping to wake his brother from his slumber. He reached up steadily and laid his hand on the side of his brother's face. He didn't say anymore and his hazel eyes brimmed with more affection than he could express through words. The calloused fingers trailed along the dried tears on his brother's face, brushing them away.
The rough sensation born from the Quidditch Trials, rousing Albus out of his sleep as he blearily aware of what's happening.
"James?" Albus asked softly, still shaking from the dream he had. He blinked furiously, pushing the dream to the back of his mind, trying to forget about what could happen to Lily if she fell to the floor, a blood appeared from the wound on the side of her head as the large piece laid near her. His bright green eyes locked gazes to his older brother's brown eyes as though looking for comfort.
James did what he could do, smiling reassuringly with Albus only inches away from his face. The younger boy softened at his brother's reaction and asked again.
"Is Lily alright?" Albus felt a hand on his hair, letting himself relax to the touch. It reminded James when they were kids.
"She's fine."
"It's my fault. If I didn't receive my letter, it wouldn't even —"
The whole situation almost making James couldn't hold back his laughter. He knew that Albus was upset about what happen, he was reminded of his own incident in the dining room back then, where he sprayed Albus with a stream of cold water during their fight.
The younger boy noticed his older brother turned away, trying to resist the urge to laugh, pouted as he folded his arms across his chest.
"What's so funny?"
"I'm sorry, it's just reminded me of something. Do you remember when I got my letter for the first time?"
"Huh?" Albus tilted his head, confused.
"You already forgot? I doused a water around you when I got the letter. You caught a fever for two days."
The sound of the wind blowing low. The green eyes, with a slight mixture of laughter, started to appear and stretch his face. James felt relieved to know it's cheered him up a little.
"Yeah. I remember. You're suck, James."
"Haha... you're right."
James recited with a look of no regret. Strangely enough, the obnoxious voice calmed the fast-paced heart and brought back the smile to the two boys as they stayed there, comfortable in their awkward state.
Time seemed to be moving slowly and neither wanted to move. Although, the older of the two noticed Albus' sleepy eyes and gently laid him down on his pillow.
"It's gonna be okay, Al," James whispered quietly. Albus slowly relaxed in his sleep, his shaking lessening until he'd snuggled closer and fallen asleep. The older boy snickered and ruffled the messy hair softly.
"Good night, Al."
The two boys blissfully comfortable with each other through the night, unaware a pair of eyes watching them behind the door, smiling at the sight of them together.