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Scorpius' P.O.V

          I had always been a light sleeper, it's just the way I was. So when I heard a loud cry followed by some hushed voices, I sat up in bed.

            "It's okay Albus."  I heard. It was Ginny's voice. "You're okay." She told him. I crawled out of my bed and then to my desk to sit on top of it. I could see through the open window that Albus was cowering on his bed. Ginny, who I guess was sleeping in his bed with him, was trying to get him to uncurl himself. 

            "Psst." I whispered. Ginny looked up startled and looked around. "Over here." I told her and she looked through the window.

            "My goodness." She paled. "I didn't realize you were so close." She told me. "Did we wake you? I think he had a nightmare."

            "Yeah but its okay. I er... I just wanted to let you know to stroke his hair. It calms him." I told her and she blinked before nodding her head. She gently reached out her hand and touched him. I could tell he jerked but he whimpered and allowed her to do it. After a few short minutes she looked at me.

            "Thank you Scorpius, he's asleep again." She told me. "You can go back to sleep and thank you again for all your help."

            "It's nothing ma'am, goodnight." I told her and then crawled back into my bed. Silence filled the air and I slowly fell back asleep.

            I woke up the next morning and ate breakfast with my mum before planning on skateboarding to school. Yet when James walked out of his house he waved me over. So I smiled, put my board down and walked over to him.

            "Morning." He greeted.

            "Hey, going to school again?" I asked and he shrugged.

            "There's nothing I can really do at home, you know? Albus only is really attached to you." He frowned and I winced.

            "Yeah but he held your hand." I pointed out and he sighed.

            "True. Dad's still on leave so he is gonna try to get Albus to warm up to him as mum is gonna get him new clothes."

            "New clothes?"

            "Yeah all of his clothes are too big. He's tiny originally but he lost a lot of weight being kidnapped." He told me and I winced.

            "Sorry." I apologized and he gripped my shoulder.

            "Hey thanks to you, he's home." He told me and I gave him a small smile.

            "I guess so."

            "I know so." He grinned. "And he's getting better because of you." He told me and I smiled.

            "It's nothing really." I told him and then we walked into school. We got there kind of early so we hung out in the halls.  I was in a discussion with James about something when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned and it was Rose.

            "Hi Rose." I greeted and she grinned.

            "Hey." She swallowed. "I haven't been able to see you in the last few days but my aunt told my dad about what you did." She told me and I glanced over to James and then back to her.

            "Is this about Albus?" I asked and her eyes lit up.

            "Yeah it is." She told me. "I wanted to thank you, on behalf of my family, about it. Thank you so much."

            "Oh don't mention it." I waved a dismissive hand. "It's nothing." I told her. But next thing I knew, she was hugging me. I tensed but laughed. "You're a very hug oriented family." I joked. I patted her back gently and then she let go. She had been crying slightly and then she rushed off without a word. I turned to James who frowned slightly.

            "She and Albus were really close. She doesn't let it show but his disappearance really depressed her. She was visibly upset for days and then she like snapped back to her normal sense. Dad thinks she was put on medication." He told me and I gulped.

            "How close were they?"

            "Like best friends. Albus didn't have many other friends."

            "Did he come here?"

            "No he went to erm an alternative school. Wasn't really all the good in school so they were forced to send him there."

            "How far away was that?"

            "Twenty minutes." He told me.

            "And he had no friends?" I asked and he shook his head.

            "He hated school, kind of like you, so he didn't make friends with anyone. He'd be picked up and then Rose would walk home with me." He said.

            "Do you reckon she'd want to see him?" I asked.

            "Probably." He told me. "Do you think bringing her around is a good idea?"

            "Yeah I think it'll be good."

            "I'd have to ask my mum but I'll let you know at lunch, yeah?" He asked as the bell sounded.

            "Sounds great, see you soon." I told him and nodded off as I trotted to my class.

~~~

            Rose, James and I walked into the Potter's after school. James asked his mum who, after much thought, approved of her coming over. But she made sure to tell Rose that Albus was not the same boy he was three months prior and to keep an open mind. I told my mum that I was going to see Albus right after school so she made me promise to be home before eight.

            "Mum we're home." James yelled and Ginny walked out from the kitchen.

            "Hey guys, I've made snacks, they're in the kitchen." She told us.

            "Where's Albus?" James asked.

            "He's in the kitchen." She told us and we nodded. We walked into the kitchen and Albus was under the table with food at his side. Ginny had made us some fruit salads and he was yet again eating with his hands. He was in new clothes that looked to be too big on him still. He was skinny, very skinny and the clothes showed that off by the way they bagged. His face was covered by the ball he was in and he was rocking. Rose paled and looked at James who nodded in assurance.

            "Let me." I told and then took off my bag. I then got on all fours so Albus could see me.  "Hey there Albus." I cooed and he looked at me. He blinked a few times and I smiled. "How ya doing today buddy?" I asked crawling closer. He beat me to it and crawled to me. I moved so I was sitting so he could sit on my lap. He buried his face into my chest and sighed. I looked at Rose who was shocked to see what was happening. "Hey Albus." I whispered so he could only hear. "I brought a friend." I told him and he tensed. "Shh she's a good friend. Do you remember what I told you about my friends?" I asked and he nodded once. "Good, so you know she won't hurt you, I won't allow it." He nodded again and then lifted his head from my chest. He blinked a few time at Rose before his eye widened in realization. He quickly hopped off my lap and then went to Rose. He grabbed her hand and hugged it closer. I could tell she wanted to pull away so I said, "Don't. It means he likes you. He recognizes you."

            "H-hi." She stuttered. "Hi Albus." She spoke and she slowly sat down. "I've missed you." She told him. Tears made their way into her eyes. She looked at me.

            "He doesn't speak, you probably know that, we don't know why though."  I explained and she nodded. Albus opened his mouth and pointed to it.  "Are you hungry?" I asked and he shook his head.  He pointed to Rose. "Oh, he's asking if you're hungry."

            "Oh." She gulped and then nodded. "Yes a bit." She told him and he crawled away. He went back under the table and grabbed his bowl of fruit. He went back to her and stuck it out to her.  "Thank you Albus." She told him and then picked up a grape. She popped it in her mouth and smiled. "Yummy."

            "Good Albus." I chirped and he, since he was in arms distance, grabbed me. I went closer to him and then he did the same with the fruit to me. I picked out an apple slice and bit into it. "Mmm." I hummed. James was standing and watching the encounter until he deiced to speak up.

            "Can I have one Albus?" He asked and Albus looked up. He blinked a few times before grabbing James hand and pulling him to the ground and offering him a piece of fruit. James took one and Albus almost, almost smiled. James caught it too because his eyes filled with tears. "Thank you Albus." He told him and then the green eyed boy curled up to me. His mouth moved as if he was trying to say something but nothing came out. I gently touched his hair and rubbed a hand through it. Harry came into the room and his widened at all of us.

            "Oh err sorry, I'll just get some fruit later." He told us but Albus scrambled off my lap. He grabbed his bowl and sat at Harry's feet. "What is it? Do you want more?" He asked. Albus shook his head and grabbed Harry's hand. Harry jumped at the sudden contact. Albus tugged him down so he was sitting on the floor. Hesitantly, Harry did and Albus pointed to his mouth then to Harry. He looked at me.

            "He wants you to take some." I told him and Harry looked back at Albus. Harry took a piece of an orange. He bit it and smiled.

            "Thank you Albus." He thanked. Albus nodded once before offering another. Harry took another and this time it was an apple. Albus took a grape and popped it in his mouth. Since he had shared all of his fruit, it was gone after that. He cried out but Harry was quick. "I'll get you some more. Do you want to sit here?" Harry got up. Albus pointed to me.

            "Come here, you can sit with me." I told him and he moved to sit on my lap. James and Rose got up to sit at the table as I remained on the floor. Harry handed the filled bowl back to Albus. He started to eat again and then he looked at me. He pointed to his mouth and then me.  "No I'm good, you eat." I told him with a smile. And for the first time his lips twitched upwards and he gave me a grin.

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