(no subject)

[dumblyadore]

 A week. He had to keep reminding himself it had only been a week, despite it feeling as if he had been trapped in this house, in this town, forever.

He hadn't hated the town before. Home had been a little quaint, sure, but he had enjoyed returning for holidays, knowing that there was always Hogwarts to return to. A future that was growing brighter and brighter with each passing day, and an entire world just waiting to be explored at his finger tips --

Wrenched away.

The urge to slam his fist into the tree next to him was incredible, but he managed to hold it in, his face twisting with the effort. So close. He had been so very close -- 

And now nothing. 

He'd had another fight with Aberforth. It felt like they had one every day, but they got worse every time. Part of him kept wanting to tell his brother to just go then. Leave. But every time he stopped himself from doing it, the picture of his mother's face in his mind bringing such a deep guilt that he had to force himself away. This time, away had meant outside. Even though the weather was terrible, Albus didn't bother trying to keep the rain off him. He could just dry himself out in an instant once he was home, and for the moment, the rain suited his mood. Godric's Hollow was small enough that even outside felt like a prison - he wandered around the town lost in his own thoughts and self-pity - not even noticing that he had ended up in the graveyard.

He stopped, frowning, as his eyes fell on a young man, kneeling in front of a grave. Strange, he was sure he knew everyone in the town. It wasn't exactly a big population. Maybe a distant relative, come to pay their respects to someone...?

"Is there someone in particular you're looking for?" He asked, unable to help his curiosity as he stepped over.