This is ending fuck I'm not ready

A L B U S

"I don't understand." The sunlight had faded a little, casting long shadows across the room. When Rose moved her head, her shadow looked like it was about to crush mine. "I just don't understand."

Albus didn't really either, but didn't want to say anything. He just shrugged instead.

"How could the letter have gone missing?" Rose frowned at Albus, her freckles dancing on her skin. A small gang of first years entered the common room, chattering loudly, but Rose glared and they scampered out again, casting glances back at them both. Potter, one hissed. Granger.

"I don't know." Albus ran a hand through his hair, growling. "Look, Rose, I don't know."

"Maybe someone took it." Rose leant forwards, her eyes alight. "Maybe someone read it. Maybe Scorpius took it."

Albus got to his feet without even realising he was doing so. "No, Rose. I know you don't like him, but that doesn't mean he would do something like that. I know him and I know that he would never ever even consider it."

Rose sat back on the sofa, her face softening. "Of course not, Al. I was just making suggestions."

She didn't look like she was just making suggestions, but Albus didn't say so. He sat back down again, albeit a little reluctantly, and shrugged. "Well, who could have taken it? The owl only had to go a little way. I don't think that it could have lost the letter or gotten lost in that short of a distance."

"A mystery!" Rose beamed, then saw the look on Albus' face and coughed. "Erm. I mean, how sad! But anyway. Did anyone know about the letter?"

Albus shook his head. "No. I didn't tell-"

A thought crossed his mind, and he banged a hand against his forehead furiously. "That's it! How could I have not seen? Lily."

"Lily?" Rose looked alarmed and sat forwards, but Albus was already out of the door.

****

"Scorpius?" Albus felt dizzy. He was sitting next to Lily as they dipped their feet in the lake. Lily was threading up a daisy chain idly as they talked, and Albus was slightly afraid she was going to make it into a crown and force him to wear it.

"Yup." Lily looked bored. "Scorpius told me about the meeting. He said you'd told him about it."

Albus felt slightly sick. He remembered what he'd said to Rose... I know him, and I know he would never ever even consider it.

Maybe it was all okay. Maybe Albus had said something and forgot about it...

But somehow, Albus didn't think so.

He sat back on the grass, and didn't even notice when Lily placed her daisy chain crown on his head.