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"HOW'D IT GO?"

Albany sighed as she left Snape's office, rubbing at her head. "About as well as expected," she groaned. "Grades slipping more than usual, was advised to pursue a different career. He's not exactly understanding."

"Don't let him get you down, hon," Alicia Spinnet said with a smile. Albany returned it timidly; she'd only just met the younger Gryffindor, but already she seemed decent company.

"Yeah, Snape's a greasy prick," Angelina agreed, face grim.

Fred clapped his hands together, summoning the group's attention. "Shall we return to the Great Hall?" he suggested, and was met with unanimous nodding.

Albany wasn't used to hanging out with a group so large, but oddly didn't feel too uncomfortable. She and Carly had joined up with the Weasley twins that day for another tutoring session; after the previous one had turned into a morning of pranking, Fred and George had offered to meet up with them for the next reschedule. However, as per usual, things never went as planned, and they were interrupted by Lee, Angelina and Alicia, who kept them busy until it was time for Albany's wonderful career guidance meeting with none other than Severus Snape himself. Surprisingly, she didn't mind their distraction, even if it meant that yet again, she would have to reschedule with Carly. There weren't many people who would wait in the dungeons for her as she endured the most unpleasant meeting of all time.

George laid a hand on Albany's shoulder in comfort as they walked, and she shot him an appreciative smile. "Hey, what career were you looking at, anyway? If you don't mind me asking."

"Auror," Albany admitted sheepishly. "I was really passionate about it last year.... Even managed an O in Potions." She smiled, and then sighed. "This year... I don't know. Haven't been able to focus on actual study because of the tournament, so I guess that's why I'm not feeling it so much anymore. Maybe I should look at something else...."

George appeared thoughtful. "It's up to you, obviously," he said, "but if you give it some time and it's really what you want, you'll probably come around to it again. You're under a lot of stress this year as it is; let worrying about your future take a back seat for a while."

Albany nodded thoughtfully; his insights on the situation made sense. A small grin crept up on her lips. "Wise words coming out of you, Weasley," she teased.

He quirked an eyebrow in amusement. "You say that like I never have valuable contributions to our conversations," he said with a smirk.

Albany grinned. "Not never," she said, "but not necessarily often."

"Oi!" the redhead said, jokingly prodding her with his elbow. "This is the thanks I get for offering you my wisdom?"

"Guess so," Albany laughed, and then smiled at him as she met his gaze. "But thank you."

George grinned in return. "No problem."

Just ahead of them, Carly was showing Angelina and Alicia her Game Boy; the screen was now flickering with colour, though it was difficult to make out any shapes, and the buzzing sound it gave off didn't quite sound like a noise it should have been making.

"I've seen one of these," Angelina remarked curiously. "My little cousin has one, I think. I thought it looked funny."

"They are very fun!" Carly enthused, beaming at the taller girl. "You can try it when I finish fixing it."

"Fixing it?"

"The technology does not work with all the magic," Carly explained, and began fidgeting with the blocky console. "I am trying to change that."

Alicia's eyebrows rose considerably on her forehead. "How d'you plan on doing that?"

Carly smiled. "It is difficult," she admitted, and her nose scrunched for a moment as she tried to find the right words to describe the process in English. "I am... combining magic with the technology so it all works together."

"Impressive work, hon," Alicia mused with intrigue, and Carly beamed at her. "Nothing I could do, anyway. Think I'll stick to Quidditch."

Carly nodded. "Everyone has their thing," she said.

Albany bit her cheek, zoning out of the girls' conversation. She wasn't exactly sure what her thing was, unless being haunted by the ghosts of the greatest sorcerer of all time and the former king of Camelot counted. She frowned. Even that wasn't a thing anymore.

Faith's words echoed in her head; had they really been a figment of her imagination? In a desperate bid for new friendships, had she created two people in her mind for just that purpose? They hadn't acted like other ghosts — but then Moody had nearly fallen over thanks to Arthur, and surely he hadn't just been stumbling over his own foot....

She shook her head. With the terms she was on with Faith at the moment, she wasn't about to let her words get to her. She hadn't confronted her yet about what she'd overheard in Hogsmeade; rather, she'd been ignoring the girl wherever possible, and was curt with her when they did have to exchange words.

If Merlin and Arthur were real, surely they'll come back, she assured herself firmly, though doubt remained rooted in the back of her mind. Surely they wouldn't leave me to the tournament when I need them most.... Even if they are cutting it a bit fine. There were only so many days left now until the first task, so if they were going to make a return, it would want to be hasty. If....

"You good?" George asked her quietly as they entered the chatter of the Great Hall.

She blinked, glancing to meet his warm gaze. "Yeah, sorry," she said. "Just zoned out."

He smiled. "That's okay. I thought it was... that."

Albany let her gaze drift to the Slytherin table as he subtly nodded his head in its direction; she was on the receiving end of numerous stares, some from younger students filled with awe and respect, but the majority of which wrinkled their noses in disgust. She rolled her shoulders as if to ease the tension, skin prickling.

"What's their problem?" she whispered, though figured she already knew as she sat down between George and Lee at the Gryffindor table.

"The fact that you're hanging out with us, I'd bet," George muttered. "Don't let them bother you, Albany."

She nodded. "I won't. Got better company over here, anyway."

George grinned.

Just as she began browsing the lunch options before her, she was interrupted by a tawny owl flapping right down to the table in front of her. She recognised it almost immediately; it was the school owl she had been using to exchange letters with her parents for the school year. Well... up until she had been picked as a school champion, that was.

Oh shit.

There was a letter tied securely to its leg, and Albany counted her lucky stars that it wasn't the crimson red of a howler as she took it gingerly from the owl, who made a lunge to nip at her fingers until George distracted it with a treat.

"From home?" Fred asked from across the table.

Albany nodded, pressing her lips into a firm line. She had completely forgotten to tell her parents... well, everything. This was a big fuck-up.

"You still good?" George murmured, eyebrows knitting with concern.

She nodded again, debating what exactly to do with the letter. Burning it sounded tempting, and it wasn't like she could get into any more trouble.... Nice, Albany. Put yourself in harm's way and then ignore all their letters. Worked out great for Evander. "Yeah," she mumbled, and slowly stood up, letter in hand. "I'm just... I'll be back in a minute."

She retreated to the corridor before anyone could object, head down under the weight of her guilt. She sank down against a stone wall as she fumbled with the envelope, grounded somewhat by the solid surface and cool temperature on her back. Unable to neatly open the letter, she ripped the envelope and unfolded the parchment inside. Something heavy was weighing on her conscious ever before her eyes met the scrawled words of her mother's handwriting.

Albany, your father and I are immensely disappointed in you. You have not written to us in weeks, and then we find out through The Daily Prophet of all things that you not only entered this Triwizard Tournament against your word, but have been chosen as a champion of Hogwarts and will be competing in dangerous tasks.

We are extremely worried for you and your wellbeing in this time, dear. We understand if you have felt under pressure, but you will always have our love and support. We feel very overwhelmed by this information and we only wish you would confide in us more. We wish to help you in whatever ways we can, but you must please write to us more often and with more honesty.

What is most important now is that your life is now at risk as a result of the Triwizard Tournament. We have inquired and been informed that you cannot abandon the tournament. Your father and I fear greatly for your safety and urge you to please make as many preparations as you can to keep yourself alive and unhurt. You matter to us more than anything and we will support you as much as you will let us. We refuse to lose another child, and beg that you find clarity in your situation and make wiser decisions going forward. We do not agree with your entry into this competition, but given it cannot be revoked, all we ask is that you move forward with utmost caution.

Please respond as soon as you are able—

"Albany?"

Albany flinched in surprise, glancing up from the letter to meet George's concerned gaze. Of course he would come after her; his Gryffindor heart was too big and caring to leave anyone alone in distress. Not that she was in distress... but there was an uncomfortable nagging at her insides that came with reading the letter. An emotion she wasn't entirely familiar with.

"Hey," she murmured, suddenly glad they were alone in the corridor.

"Hey," he echoed in soft response. "Can I sit?"

She nodded, eyes returning to the letter without really focusing on the words. George fell into place at her side, and kept his eyes ahead so as not to intrude. She was grateful for this.

"You wanna talk about it?"

Albany took a while to answer the question, mostly because she wasn't sure what the answer was. She was still struggling to read her own emotions in response to the letter's contents; though maybe saying it aloud would set her thoughts straight.

"I haven't gotten on very well with my parents for some time," she began, slowly. "It's not really their fault; they've never done anything wrong."

George nodded, patiently waiting as she gathered her thoughts to phrase her next words in a way that made sense. His warmth where his side was pressed to hers felt like much more of a grounding support than the rough, cold wall had been.

"My brother died a few years ago and ever since then it's been worry, worry, worry," she explained, voice a little strained. "But this time they have good reason to worry, and they're asking me to confide in them more, and I think... I wish I did. I've spent so long pushing them away when all they've wanted is to support me. I've felt alone at home every summer when it's my own doing." She glanced to George, swallowing heavily. "I'm letting them down."

George shook his head gently. "I don't think you are," he murmured. "Everyone copes differently with loss. You wanted space and they wanted to keep you safe. It's nobody's fault that didn't work out."

Albany nodded, an appreciative warmth blossoming where the nagging guilt and regret had been prodding her. "Thank you."

George gave her a small smile. "And it's never too late to start confiding in them. Not if they're still reaching out."

"How do I start?" Albany asked quietly.

"Small steps," he suggested. "You don't have to tell them everything all at once. Just be honest in what you do say. Don't be afraid of feeling vulnerable."

Albany bit her cheek. "I hate feeling vulnerable," she whispered.

"That's only natural," George assured her. "But remember that vulnerability and weakness are not the same thing."

Albany drew in a long breath, nodding slowly. She exhaled and folded up the letter. "I need to write back," she said decisively, tucking the parchment into her robes and standing up from the floor. She brushed herself off before offering a hand to George, though wasn't sure she actually made a difference in helping him up. "Can you... come with me?"

George grinned. "As you wish."

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❃ a/n:

did anyone catch that princess bride reference? ;)

this chapter was definitely filler-y but you'll be glad to know it's the last of the filler chapters for a while and the main story continues next! stay tuned ♡

- A x