Albus was, you could say for the lack of a better word, reminiscing. Except that word would probably be associated with recalling fonder, lighter memories compared to those which were currently flitting through his mind. Of course Albus wasn't in the mood of drowning himself in an ocean of self-pity....only idiots did that. He knew that his life was a hundred times better than loads of other people. Logic constantly told him, reprimanded him, telling him he was lucky to be living the life of Albus Severus Potter. The erring heart however, could not stop desiring for more.
As he drifted through the streets, he absently looked over the entire course of his life, and wondered what had he done that was worth remembering, or out of the ordinary. Eleven years before Hogwarts, played, laughed, cried, squabbled with siblings.....check. Seven years during Hogwarts, studied hard, made friends, played pranks, had a few casual girlfriends.....check. After Hogwarts, graduated well, bought a flat, had a few nights at bars and applied for job interviews....double check. The natural course of action now was to enter Auror training, marry a redhead, have more messy-haired,green-eyed children.....and live his life with peace and serenity. Albus pondered upon which screw exactly had been loosened in his brain when he realized that he, the quiet one, the responsible one, now found the word 'peace' the most odious word ever invented.
Of course, Albus really had no business blaming his friends and family for that, he was well aware of that fact. No one forced him to be ordinary and do the expected, he chose it out of his own will. He chose to stay out of the War. No wonder he wasn't Sorted in Gryffindor......he was a coward really. Always too scared to take a step forward, to grab what he wanted.......even if he did start studying the darker arts and mind magic..what was the bloody friggin' use? Did he ever utilize the knowledge? Did he ever stand up for anything...anything at all? Do anything worth doing?
Albus's reverie was snapped by a voice.....a familiar voice. He found a rather familiar face in front of him too..... "Jack." The all-too familiar, cordial, amiable smile/mask took its place on his lips. Right now, the last thing he wanted to do was talk to someone who reminded him of his brother, the great James Sirius Potter, warrior and Quidditch player extraordinaire......but of course he smiled. As expected. And said the expected words, "It feels good to see a familiar face after so long. How's James doing? Haven't talked to him in ages, too busy for his kid 'brother', the idiotic git." The expected good-natured insult followed, naturally. "And you look rather peaky....everything alright?" And the expected concern. Albus resisted the ironic smirk from leaking into his smile, here he was, complaining inside his head of the sheer 'expectedness' of his life.....and look at him now. He was hopeless, really.