InsaneJournal

FIC: Proper Timing, Lily & Albus, Gen
Title: Proper Timing
Fandom: Harry Potter
Characters: Lily Luna Potter, Albus Severus Potter (mentions of AS/S)
Rating: PG
Word count: 634 words
Summary: Lily believed everything came down to timing in the end.
Warnings: Nosy!Lily, mentions of slash.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Challenges: Written for 25moments's prompt 'comfort' and 25prompts prompt 'dinner.'
Author's Notes: Thank you Beilul for the beta and helpful comments. You are always so awesome ♥
This fic takes place in the same verse as 'Hair Crisis' and 'Snow Angels.'



Proper Timing

Lily believed everything came down to timing in the end. You had to choose the right time to do the right things, or else they would explode on you.

Well, Albus never really knew anything about proper timing, so it was no wonder that he choose to broach that subject during dinner one day.

That evening, Dad had been awfully quiet, and throughout dinner, Mum had kept sending worried glances his way. Mum always tried to do these things subtly, not wanting them to worry, but Lily wasn’t a child anymore, and she understood things. Well, it was true that James and Albus were always oblivious to these subtle signals, but Lily supposed that was a guy thing.

Albus apparently had decided that it was as good time as any to tell them everything. He cleared his throat. Every eye in the kitchen had turned his way. He blushed.

“I need to tell you something,” he said quietly.

It took Lily less than a millisecond to interpret that look in his eyes. Oh, Merlin! she thought.

“Yes?” Dad asked. He sounded tired. That should have stopped Albus from continuing this madness, but Albus was Albus, so he didn’t notice Dad’s barely contained irritation. Mum looked concerned.

Albus opened his mouth, and Lily decided she needed to act quickly! She stabbed a big potato with her fork and shoved it into her mouth. Albus didn’t even complete the ‘I’ when Lily started coughing and shaking violently.

“Oh, Lily,” Mum said. She hurried to pour some water.

James patted her on the back. “Are you all right, Lils?” he asked. Lily smiled at him through her tears. Good thing she was such a good actor. Comes with being Slytherin, she supposed.

Her Mum handed her a glass of water, and she gulped it down like her life depended on it. In a way it did.

Only Albus had seen through her act, being Slytherin himself and all. He was scowling at her, as she slowly sipped her water.

They forgot about Albus and continued their meals in silence. If eyes could kill, Lily was quite sure she would have been dead and buried by now. She tried to send Albus subtle signals, to let him know that she had done this to save his skin, but her Mum caught her all the time. She was a woman too.

Lily finally got the chance to talk to Albus after dinner. Mum was doing the dishes, James was doing – whatever he did when he locked himself inside his bedroom – and Dad was in his study.

“Are you mad?” she whispered harshly, when the two of them were sitting in the living room, enjoying their tea. “Were you going to tell them, that you’re gay? And, oh hey, by the way! I’ve been shagging Scorpius Malfoy for almost a year!”

Albus glared. “Stop it! I’m not mad!” he said. “I wanted to just tell them. I’m tired of hiding.”

“I know, and you should tell them, but choose a better timing, for Merlin’s sake!”

“Timing?” He laughed mirthlessly. “You’re worried about the bloody timing? There’s no better timing,” Albus snapped. “No matter when I say it, they’ll take it the same way.” Albus’ eyes were wide. “They will accept it or they won’t.”

An uncomfortable silence followed. Lily felt ashamed. This was Albus’ decision to make, not hers. And she shouldn’t lecture him about timing, when he had more important, terrifying things to worry about.

She took his hand in hers, in comfort, giving it a gentle squeeze before letting go. “I’ll stand by your side, always. And I’m sure James would too.”

He smiled at her or tried to. The smile looked strained and horrible on him. “I’m going to tell them now,” he said. Lily bit her lips, but nodded.

“Let’s do it.”