Breaking Point (open)

Albus poked his head out from behind the trashcan situated in one of the side-alleys of Diagon. All clear.

He straightened, and brushed the lint off his shoulders vigorously. Sneezing once (this side-alley was filthy), Albus walked out of the Alley as casual as you please, pretending as if he hadn't just been hiding behind a trash-can from a woman half his size.

But she was a reporter from the Prophet, and that lime-green quill in her hands could make even the bravest and the most valiant wizards quake in their boots. James was gone Merlin knows where, Lily was probably cruising along at Hogwarts where media wasn't allowed....so the only one left was him, thrown to the mercy of those idiots who had nothing to print now that the war was over. And so Albus who had dared to venture out in public after a long time, was reduced to squatting behind trashcans.

Albus walked in the bright winter sunlight, shielding his eyes, yet drawing his cloak tighter around himself. People gave him looks, after all, he was the Potter who had 'deserted' in the wake of the War, unlike his heroic brother. But he couldn't care less about strangers. After all, he hadn't spoken to his own family, or anyone he knew, in months. He didn't know whether to be surprised at the fact that he missed them so little, or shocked to know that he missed them at all.

Jack had finally been able to get a chance to revisit Weasley's. In the past two months or so, she had completely entrusted her store to her co-manager Andy as she sorted through the chaos that used to be her domestic life. The nineteen year old had enough on her plate - what, with being a professional Beater, being a traitor to the Order, and having to erase herself from the memories of the only man she had ever loved... Jack really could not bring herself to be worrying about retail.

Andy had done well though. She was sure Kirsty had prevented him from selling the store for magic beans on more than one occasion, but there had been no robberies, fires, or murders - it was better than she had expected. She had come in to work with the intention of donning her work robes and plunging right back into her daily routine, but Gary had assured her he had everything covered and that she would be more of a nuisance with her shroud of gloom hanging over her.

She had to love him for his honesty.

So now... she had a free afternoon. She hated those. It gave her too much time to think, too much time to regret, too much time to feel. Shen hated that. She stood on the stoop of her shop, being bustled by impatient customers, and looked around, feeling at a total loss as to what to do. Firm, strong Jack was being tossed to and fro in an ocean of people. Decisive, one-step-ahead Jack was feeling uncertain about how to kill two hours. Normal Jack, was lost.

The only way to start something was to take a step so she did. And then another, and another. She blinked in the sunshine, dazzling white from the cold air, as though she could see but not observe. She blinked again, and among the strange faces, a familiar one intruded. She waited until she was closer and could not deny it. She stopped in front of him.

"Albus?"

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.

It took a second for the gears in his face to turn and force the lips upwards into a smile. Jack's expression remained the same, as it always did. Back in school, her go-to expression was a comfortable countenance, and to be seen without it seemed unnatural. Now, Jack had gone through too much in the public eye for it to feel right to smile. Jack was many things, but she was not fake. What you saw, was what you got with her. Jack was much too sick of trying to figure out she was to leave others guessing too.

Albus immediately transitioned into casual conversation, but Jack was stuck in concern mode. It could not be helped. She was concerned about everything lately - the government, the Order, the Death Eaters, her store, Quidditch, Nemo, her friends, Vito, her estranged family. There was not one thing in her life she could point to as an example of something to have no worry surrounding it. Perhaps her pets, her faithful companions. Even so, they were depressed ever since Nemo had left their home. The big house felt too big, too empty.

Most may have considered the fact that Albus was asking Jack about his own brother to be strange, but Jack knew strange seemed to fit in well with her life. The last time she had seen the Potter brothers interact, a very tough situation had arisen, and she had not heard anything about the younger Potter from the elder. Jack shrugged, saying, "Fine. He's working hard on the team, you know. He's there all day, every day. The usual. He may be a git, but he's a dedicated git." A small grin flickered and disappeared.

Jack blinked. The boys really hadn't been in contact, otherwise Albus would have known his follow up question was a) a dumb question and b) unwanted. She mechanically responded, "Fine. Peachy, really." Deflect! Deflect! her defense mechanisms began to turn, forcing a change of subject before any more investigation was done where it would only unearth bad feelings. "And you? I would ask the same question, but as I spotted you appear from behind a trashcan over there, I think I can guess that 'alright' is out of the question."

Even as he was talking to Jack, Albus wondered almost absently on what would his father have thought about the present events and circumstances. His three prized children, the Potter siblings, were supposed to be unbeatable, united inspite of all differences. The invincible Potters. But now......he and James hadn't exchanged a civil word in months, his conversations with Lily were limited to polite, almost formal inquiries about health and school....hell, he was asking the whereabouts of his brother from someone else, didn't that say enough? Where, where the hell had they gone wrong?

Albus threw that train of thought at the back of his mind, he had had enough of thinking of his family for a lifetime, and concentrated on the pale-faced woman in front of him. Jack had......changed. Albus didn't need to probe into her mind to understand that much. He had never had a proper, long conversation with her in his life, but Jack Dyllan wasnt a person who needed to be analyzed. He had pegged her personality down at first sight: brave, caring, probably impulsive, loyal, noble.....the ideal Gryffindor. Now as he looked at those dull, emotionless eyes and pallid face, he wondered on whether he had made a mistake in his assessment after all.

If Jack had responded to his question with her usual enthusiasm, or even a smiling 'I'm-fine', then after a few more inane comments Albus would have probably been on his way alone. What she did do was grow rigid, shut off her face even further and respond robotically. Albus responded to her question with his usual smile, but inside his head, the gears of curiosity were turning endlessly, "A reporter was after me. Quite the hag actually, wanted material for an article in the Prophet about the 'sordid love affairs' of Albus Potter." Then added with a self-deprecating grin. "If they had existed."

"I was walking round Diagon for some fresh air, been cooped up for ages." Then Albus halted slightly, his smile fading a bit. This was the perfect chance to say his goodbyes and get away. But he said something else instead, probably the only unexpected thing he had all year, "You don't look like you're very busy so..care to join me?"

Jack should have guessed it was the damned reporters. One of them had tricked her in for an interview and then claimed she was mentally unstable, magically handicapped as muggleborn, and in love with Nemo Omara, who was supposed to be a casual business contact. Now... one of those may have been right, but she had not admitted to it and he had had no right to publish such information. Jack was only now rebounding from the vicious circulation of rumors that had been prompted by the conniving reporter.

She still owed him a 'visit' for that.

Another smile flickered onto her face at his comment. Albus had always been to quiet to attract rumors, though, in an odd way, his disengaged behavior encouraged a quieter exchange of gossip. Whereas James' actions always attracted immediate recounting, there was so much mystery regarding Albus that, ever since Hogwarts, there had been people who delighted in discussion what was potentially occurring in the secret life of Albus Severus Potter.

He had been wandering then, like her. She nodded, a bit curious. What could be keeping his feet moving forward, or was it away? Running from reporters must not have been his priority - he could have just apparated away, home or some other safe hideaway. Something was keeping him moving.

Jack glanced up, pulled from her musings by an invitation to join him on his aimless meander through Diagon Alley. She was a bit surprised, so she could not immediately respond. People did not seek her company. But a distraction was only welcome, and Jack was invested in her Quidditch captain's life, and that included his brother.

"Sure thing. Lead the way."

Albus guided them towards one of the quieter lanes of Diagon. “I think its best if you and I stay out of any more vultures hovering about. I mean, just imagine tomorrow’s headlines,” Albus looked up and mimed staring into the distance, voice bordering on extreme wryness, “Breaking news. Jack Dyllan cheats on James Potter with younger brother. Both caught hanging out in a deserted alley. Oh no wait,” Albus’s voice turned even more sardonic, almost lilting towards a drawl, “That isn’t ‘spicy’ enough. Caught fraternizing in a deserted alley. Potter heartbroken.”

Of course, the whole James Potter-Jack Dyllan angle had been done to death years ago. Jack had had her fair share of scandalous news articles since, each more ridiculous than the next. And if aforesaid news articles were to be believed……

Even as Albus started walking, his eyes flitted momentarily to the woman next to him. He was isolated from the world yes, but not ignorant. The Prophet, and other far more believable sources, hinted towards the fact that Jack Dyllan’s life was not as smooth as it seemed. She seemed to be undergoing…..personal problems. And based on what Albus had heard from the Order members….about her loyalties…she wasn’t the same person. Apparently. Or perhaps, like him, hiding from the world all this time. Albus found that difficult to believe though.

So Albus continued speaking, more than he had done in months, now that he thought about it. His voice was deceptively casual, “Of course, that news has grown too old. I normally wouldn’t believe rumours, but on seeing you…” Since doing the unexpected seemed to be the order of the day, Albus’s voice lost that light, joking tone, and he spoke, unusually blunt, “You look like something really horrible crawled up your ass and died.”

Jack nodded, responding, "I could do without reporters right now. I don't think a homicide charge would be prudent at this junction in my career." Her voice was dry but it was clear she was joking - however weakly. He had a point there, and she rolled her eyes at the truth of it. She knew rumors had spread about herself and James, not quite as badly as they had with Nemo, but enough that would warrant an idiotic article from that O'Neil. 'Ms Dyllan betrays all by dating both Potter boys, Nemo Omara, and entire Quidditch Team at the same time.' She was expecting the article any day now. For a single woman, she apparently had a lot of dating drama.

"That's all I need now," she responded sarcastically. "I mean after my scandalous history, though, it wouldn't be a surprise, now would it?" She rolled her eyes, stepping through a puddle formed in a dip in the cobblestone ground. Her sneakers muddied further than usual, but this was all under control. Jack didn't mind.

For a moment they walked in silence, but Jack could feel Albus' eyes straying towards her. She lifted her chin, allowing it to be perpendicular to the ground, and her eyes traced the horizon. She had been accustomed to stares ever since her seventh year of Hogwarts. She had earned the occasional stares before from her pranking ways, but it wasn't until she had been named the Hogwarts Triwizard Champion that she had to really get used to eyes. And from there, the stares never stopped. As the Head of a Department to owner of the most legendary prank shop of all time to professional Beater, Jack had never found herself in a place easy to hide from the public eye. And yet it felt weird from one she had considered a casual acquaintance, one who had seen her enough that they shouldn't have a need to further study her features. But she supposed the Potter boys must have really heard what happened in d'Eath Manor by now, so she should not be surprised. He was probably looking to see if 'evil' was something plainly visible.

She would have to become accustomed to this too.

He spoke again and Jack steeled herself. James had always been the blunter of the two boys, but Albus would not stay silent on a subject he was curious about for very long either. She was ready - what have you done? What did you do with Nemo? Why did you disobey Orders?

She much preferred his introduction to the topic.

She let out a short burst of her barking laughter, still faced forward. "Albus, you have away with words I truly appreciate. I've seen better days, I'm sure, so I'd bet your description is perfectly apt."

Still, Jack was not one to divulge what she did not wish to divulge unless it were necessary. He would have to work harder than that.

"Homicide. I think I like that idea." Albus sidestepped the puddle that came across his path, while Jack's sneakers sloshed and splashed and then emerged in all their muddy, dirt-caked glory. The barest hint of a genuine smile flitted across Albus's lips. Quiet, depressed and looking like shit or not, Jack would always be Jack. "I think that would make a much more fitting headline. 'Mass homicide of all Daily Prophet reporters. Motive of murderers Albus Potter and Jack Dyllan: pest control."

But it wasn't a great mystery why the Prophet always liked to target Jack. She, and people like her were ideal guinea pigs: always in the centre of attention, wore their heart on their sleeves and people watched their every step with manic eagerness. What was the greatest unsolved mystery of the age was why they targeted him. Sure, not really as much as Jack or James, but a lot nonetheless. He had always tried to keep out of the spotlight, but then again, he was born with a cursed last name in that respect.

Jack wasn't looking completely comfortable. She almost seemed to be bracing herself for Albus's words, as if expecting accusations. That comforted Albus, in a strange way. To see such a lively, on-fire woman so closed up, shut down, rather unnerved him. To see that there were chinks in her newly-cast armor was a soothing fact. It proved that everything in the world hadn't gone twisted, some things were still the same.

But her hoarse, out-of-tune, jarring laugh brought an abrupt halt to that train of thought. It tasted of good ol' Jack, but also scented towards the fact that the world hadn't heard that laugh for a long time. It hung uncertainly in the air, twisting and curving, even as Albus averted his eyes and looked straight ahead, gaze unwaveringly fixed on the pale winter sun. "Thanks." He wanted to say more, but somehow, the words were difficult. Normally one comment would have been sufficient to make Jack spill everything on her mind, you didn't even need words, it would be written all over her face. And here she was now, clearly holding something back.

Well, if one of them insisted on behaving unlike themselves, then two could play at that game. "I didn't hit the comment just to amuse, you know. If not to me then........" A second's pause. Then in a quieter, yet perfectly audible tone. "James would want to know." Albus had no doubt that Jack would perfectly understand what he was referring to.

((You're like, my new favorite! You're really capturing Jack. I would have thought you and I had been rping forever!))

Jack felt a smile unfurl upon her face at his comments. The Potter clan was a funny crew. Jack had only interacted with Lily a few occasions, but her snide humor had been rather evident. James had always been kind for short quips and planned pranks. And Albus was the master at dry humor. It was a good family for Jack to feel at home among - she had always allowed humor to be a major part of her life. It was nice to know there were people around her that fit into a different realm - a realm of laughter and normalcy, rather than one of murder, of suicide, of alcoholism, of betrayal, of lost hope, of all the things she had become so accustomed to. There were always the Potters to make her laugh.

He responded simply, and it seemed to achieve what she wanted, for his eyes dragged away from her own face and finally found their own place. She felt some peace, a bit of relief replaced the weight that had been pressing her shoulders down, pushing her into the crust of the earth, making her steps heavy and her movement difficult. She felt her legs strengthen, her step lighten, a breath expelled. She could breathe easier and she could relax.

But maybe not yet.

He continued on and she sighed. She stopped in her tracks, but did not move her eyes from the horizon. They remained there as her mind traveled father than she felt herself able. It traveled across time and space, over months and oceans, to a family she had to leave behind, a family she had to abandon when the fear had always been that she, herself, would have been the abandoned. Though she had done the leaving, she was the one that felt alone. But James could never know. He worried too much and with all of the issues surrounding his daughter, he simply could not be expected to take on more weight.

But here was someone willing to at least listen to her burdens. And though Jack had never liked to make public her issues, perhaps if one person knew what was gripping her, if it were ever revealed, there may be someone on her side. She took a deep breath and turned to him, saying, "You've never seen my house, have you? Care to check it out?" She held out an arm, offering to apparate him there.