I Can't Live Up To Expectations [Summer 2018]

[Albus Potter]

Albus was alone in Diagon Alley for once. He had separated from his siblings and parents, promising that he wouldn't get lost. It had taken a lot of courage for him to even tell his parents he wanted to wander on his own. Usually he was attached to their side and it was only James who went off on his own. With his first year of Hogwarts over, Al knew he was changing little by little. He didn't know if he liked the small changes or not. When it came to his relationship with his brother, Al was sure hoping that him and James would keep getting along better.

The middle Potter boy came to a stop outside the Quidditch supply shop. He just stood there, staring at the broom in the window. He had learned about his father playing Quidditch and so many times his classmates asked him if he was going to play Quidditch like his dad. Part of him wanted to. He wanted to ride a broom and play in a Quidditch game. However, he didn't want to be compared to his father. What if everyone held him on a pedestal and wanted to seem him be as good as his father or grandfather? He couldn't do that. He couldn't compare to his father.

Albus already felt like he wasn't living up to expectations in school with his average marks. He had always seen his father as amazing and figured he had amazing marks in school. It was probably why he tried to hide most of his marks from his parents while at school and wrote about anything but schoolwork. But just being in Diagon Alley and staring at the latest released broom in the Quidditch Shop brought back his worry about his upcoming year. He could have a broom at school and he was sure he'd get more people asking if he'd try out for the team. Like he would actually make it. He wanted to leave it to James to try and live up to their Father's reputation. However much he was looking more and more like his father, Al couldn't compare to his father when his father was his age.

Viktor had been in England dozens of times over the years, primarily for matches against the English International Quidditch Team, so he knew Diagon Alley rather well for someone who lived in a country hundreds of miles away. He was there today, as always, because the Bulgarian National Team was in London to play the English. But the difference was that this time, he wasn't one of the players. Quidditch was a sport meant for young players, and Viktor was approaching middle age. As much as it had pained him - which had been quite a bit - he had had to retire from his position as Seeker in the end. But Viktor could never give up Quidditch entirely. He might not have been a player anymore, but instead, he was the coach, which was almost as good.

The team had a bit of break today, after winning their match the day previously, and so were off somewhere eating or drinking or hanging out. It didn't matter much to Viktor what they did. He had let them go have their fun and had headed in the opposite direction, winding a familiar path down the main street of Diagon Alley. It was no surprise that the store he stopped outside of was Quality Quidditch Supplies, despite the fact that there was probably nothing the store possessed that he didn't own. It was just a familiar place, the only store he had ever really cared to visit. He didn't go inside, though, but stood in front of the shop, smiling slightly.

There were kids all around pulling their parents into the place, and some school-age kids staring in the windows with obvious longing, pointing out one broom or another. There were crowds of people all about, actually, and yet somehow there was one dark-haired child that caught Viktor's eyes. Something about the boy struck Viktor as strangely familiar, and it took him only a moment to remember why. Looking between the brooms and the child he was reminded of another Quidditch playing boy he had known - Harry Potter. The boy bore an uncanny resemblance to the man Viktor had competed with so many years back in the Triwizard Tournament, and that was probably the only possible reason why Viktor stepped up next to him and asked, "You go to Hogvarts, yes? Do you play Quidditch there?"

[Albus Potter]

Part of Al wanted to get the broom he was looking at. Maybe he could bring it to school and hide it from everyone. Then if people asked about him trying out for the house team, he could tell them he didn't own a broom and wasn't interested. That would be a bold face lie that would probably cause his parents to turn their heads if they heard him. It wasn't like Albus told any of his family that he secretly wanted to try out for the team. However, it was the fact that his father played for Gryffindor during his years at Hogwarts, and his grandfather, that had made Albus certain he was going to do anything BUT play Quidditch.

Albus literally jumped out of his skin when he heard a voice speak to him. His eyes darted right to Viktor, freezing in place. He probably looked like a deer caught in the headlights, torn between staying put and running. He knew who the elder male was, he secretly followed Quidditch. Well, not too secretly as his family had figured it out not too long ago. But he still kept it a secret from his friends.

"This fall will be my second year, so I could try out for the teams if I wanted to. But I'm not interested." Albus tried his best to lie, most likely failing at doing so. He wasn't as good as his brother James at lying. James could tell such bold face lies and fool the world if he wanted to. Al... He couldn't do anything of the sort.

Actually, the young boy wanted to ask what brought the former seeker to Diagon Alley. Actually, more pressing was why the man was talking to him. He was just little Albus Potter. He wasn't his father. A light bulb seemed to go off in his head as he remembered something. He faintly recalled his father saying he had met Viktor once when he was at school. Whatever else his father said about the circumstances, Al had completely forgotten. All that had mattered at the time was that his father had met Viktor Krum. Currently, the small boy had wished he had paid more attention as to remember what had happened when his father and the Quidditch star had met.

The young boy looked quite shocked when Viktor spoke to him, which made the former Quidditch player feel a little bad. He hadn't meant to scare the kid so much. He wasn't sure if the boy knew who he was or not, but if he did maybe that would explain a bit of the surprise. If not, Viktor wondered if he really looked that intimidating.

"Ah, you are not?" Now, that didn't seem true. The boy had clearly been staring at the broom displayed in the window with desire, which could only mean that he enjoyed playing Quidditch, or at least wanted to play Quidditch. And if he liked Quidditch, then why should he not want to play for his house team? "And vhy is that?

He was truly curious as to what the boy's response would be, but then it hit him that the poor kid probably didn't even want to talk to him, and was probably slightly bothered that a random stranger had spoken to him in the first place. "I am sorry, you do not have to talk to me. This is provably very odd, but you look like someone I used to know a very long time ago. I vas simply curious." He smiled, something he had gotten used to doing a lot more of in his years since Durmstrang, where he had worn a permanently sullen expression.

[Albus Potter]

When Viktor posed his first question, Albus nodded his head. That was correct. He wasn't going to. He wasn't going to go let people down. It was wrong of them for get their expectation up when it came to him in the first place. He didn't want to let them down in the least, because he knew he wasn't as good as his father.

But when Viktor asked him why he didn't want to play, Al's mouth dried up. How could he tell his fears to a stranger when he couldn't even tell his only family? James would probably be laughing at him right now, though he also knew his brother would laugh at him for his reasons why he didn't want to play. James was in a league of his own, in Albus' eyes. James could do anything while he struggled to do what he could. Sometimes, it wasn't fair.

Albus was a taken aback when Viktor spoke once more, commenting that he didn't need to talk to him. "I don't want to be compared to my father," Albus spoke the words softly. Even this person, though a stranger to him but a familiar face to his father, would compare him. He didn't want that, because the weight that had never been there growing up, was now slowly crushing him.

"My name is Albus..." It was after commenting about not wanting to be compared to his father that Al remembered he hadn't introduced himself, "Albus Potter." He looked up at Viktor as he gave his full name, wanting to see what type of reaction the Coach would have. Would he be shocked like the rest of the world? Or would he be calm about it like some of the staff and professors at Hogwarts? "But my family calls me Al." He gave the nickname to allow the elder male to call him it as well. Albus sometimes sounded too formal and he was, after all, just a kid.

The boy looked very nervous, and his silent head shake and quiet words were both rather endearing. He reminded Viktor a bit of his own son, who wasn't too much older than this boy, in that they were both very soft-spoken and almost shy. Although, maybe this kid wasn't like that at all. Perhaps he was just like that around intimidating strangers like Viktor. The Quidditch coach couldn't really judge.

His eyebrows pulled together in questioning when the boy said that the reason he didn't want to play Quidditch was because he didn't want to be compared to his father. His confusion was only momentary, however. He could put two and two together easily enough. Between that comment and the boy's familiar appearance, Viktor could guess that he was in fact Harry Potter's child. And his guess was confirmed a minute later when the boy introduced himself as none other than Albus Potter.

"It is nice to meet you, Al," he said with a faint smile, not surprised in the least. He had heard that Harry had had children, although it had been many years since he had seen the man. "My name is Viktor Krum, but you can call me Viktor. I knew your father back vhen ve vere in school." Merlin, it seemed so long ago now...

He thought for a moment, staring at the broom in the shop window before returning to their previous discussion, saying, "I saw your father fly vonce. He vas very good, but I do not see vhy that should stop you. You are not your father, and you do not have to be. If you like Quidditch, vhy not do vhat you enjoy?"

[Albus Potter]

Viktor wasn't scary, Al decided. He was a family friend, he decided this because Viktor knew his father. So there wasn't any reason to want to run away. It was this thinking that caused him to stay still, not looking like he was about to run away anymore. However, he was still a little nervous. He wasn't good with strangers all that much, though he was getting better now that he really only had Rose at school. James didn't count one bit, though it was comforting to know his brother was there for him. Not that he would ever let James know that.

"He told me once about you. You two were competing in a Tournament." Albus wished he remembered more about the Tournament, but he hadn't cared too much at the time. "But I also already know about you, your career. Bulgarian National Seeker and now the coach. You were just playing against the English team." He really hadn't meant to say that much, so turned his attention to the broom. However, he seemed to not notice the broom and was looking at the glass and all that it reflected, mainly himself and Viktor. It was actually a little exciting to get to talk to a Quidditch hero like Viktor.

Al glanced up at Viktor. "Do you have a son?" He wondered if Viktor was like his father. A hero in the eyes of people, leaving his son to try to live up to their expectations. After Viktor answered, Albus glanced back at the broom. "If you talk to him, he'll probably understand. You, and my father... You're huge in the eyes of people. I don't see why my father is so important, he's just my father. But they expect me to be like him. Even though I like Quidditch, everyone will expect me to be an amazing Seeker like my dad and his dad before him." Al wasn't sure if Viktor even knew that Quidditch seemed to run in their family. Even his uncles played and his mother and even his brother is playing. How was he supposed to live up to anything with a family like that?

Viktor nodded, his eyes distant for a moment as he thought back to the last time he had seen Harry, the year of the Triwizard Tournament. It had been so many years since then that Viktor felt no bitterness over those memories of the Tournament, although there was still a lingering sadness over many of the events in his mind. "Yes, although your father beat me there," he replied with a small smile. Well, maybe Cedric had won too, that had always been a bit unclear to Viktor. But either way, Harry had ended up the Triwizard champion even being four years younger than Viktor. "Ah, so you do follow Quidditch?" He raised his eyebrows as he looked down at the boy as Albus told him how he knew all about Viktor's career, and how he had been there for a match against the English. Clearly this kid had an interest in the sport, no matter how he denied it.

"I do have a son. He is maybe two years older than you. You are, vhat, thirteen? My son Tase is fivteen." Like most fathers, Viktor was extremely proud of his son, and the teenager was one subject Viktor could talk freely about with almost anyone. He had a daughter as well, a bit younger than his son and maybe closer to Albus' age, who he was also very proud of, although Albus had specifically asked about a son so he could not elaborate on his beautiful little Petra. He listened intently to what Albus was saying, his eyebrows furrowing the more the child spoke.

He took a moment to form a response before speaking. "Mayve your father is important, but I do not think you should live believing you have to be like him. You should just do vhat you vant, and if you do that, who could be disappointed? Your father is important in his vay, and you can important it yours." He had never thought about his son having to live in his shadow, probably because his son had never seemed to have a problem with it. "My son plays Quidditch as a Chaser, because he enjoys it, and he is good. But I vould hope people do not think he has to be like me, because who vould vant that? You do not have to be your father, or your grandfather, or whoever else."

[Albus Potter]

Albus nodded at the information. His father never talked about how the Tournament ended. His father had just said it was dangerous and it was possible to die, so Al had figured that someone died in the Tournament and his father never wanted to talk about it. He knew that Viktor competed and then there had also been his Auntie Fleur, so he figured it had to be the other Hogwarts Champion or someone from the school accidently died. He never asked his father really, nor asked his mother. He didn't want to upset them with his curiosity.

"Yes." Albus nodded his head at Viktor's question. "I love Quidditch." Al knew they already established that fact. He loved watching it, loved playing it, but he still had his worries about playing at Hogwarts.

Albus blinked when Viktor tried to guess his age. "I'm twelve. I turn thirteen September 1st." His birthday wasn't too far away though. But Viktor had a son who would probably understand, even if just a little, about what he was going through. He wasn't anything like his brother, who had had no problem with trying out for the Quidditch team. He wasn't as outgoing as James. Heck, even his younger sister was more outgoing than him.

Albus always wondered why adults were so wise. It was probably because they had went through things that made them wise or knew people that went through hardships and learned from them. But Albus knew that Viktor was right. He shouldn't let his father's reputation run his life. But he couldn't do that. Saying that he could do it and actually doing it were two different things. Al could say he would stop and try to live as himself and not let people's opinions and expectations run his life, but he knew he just couldn't do that.

All thoughts and words that the twelve-year-old wanted to say were silenced by Viktor talking about his son. His son played Quidditch as a Chaser? He knew Viktor had played Seeker. Did Viktor's son choose to play a different position so he wouldn't get compared to his father when it came to being a Seeker? Al knew he never wanted to touch Seeker position, never wanted to go near it. It was all because his father and grandfather had been Seekers.

"I want to be myself, but... I also don't want to let people down if I turn out to not be able to live up to what they expect from me. My brother, he's much better at Quidditch than I am. He just seemed to sign up for try-outs and made the team. It never seemed like he thought about it. But me... I have to think about it." Heck he had tried to get out of going to Hogwarts when he was eleven, even up until it was time to go on the train. If his cousin hadn't pulled him onto the train, he probably would have tried to get his parents to take him home.

Viktor nodded, a small smile on his face. "My daughter turns thirteen in September." It was useless information for the young boy, of course, but it was one of those natural sort of responses that Viktor had always disliked, but over the years had adjusted to. And anyway, even if Petra were closer to Albus in age, Viktor would have liked at that moment for Albus to meet Tase instead. His son would probably be better at encouragement and advice than Viktor was, and would probably understand Albus a bit better. For Viktor, it was a still a little hard to grasp why the young boy could not just do what he loved. He understood the worries and the pressure, yes, but those were mere obstacles to be overcome. If you loved something, obstacles didn't make a difference.

But he was now starting to wonder... did his own son feel like this? Was he worried about having to be like Viktor? That would be ridiculous, of course; Viktor wasn't someone to try and live up to, at least not in his own mind. Maybe he would ask Tase about it later. It was an interesting and also worrisome idea, and he could not help but feel a little apprehensive that it might be true. The fact that he felt so related to Albus' situation made him want to convince the boy even more that he didn't have to live up to anyone.

"You vill never know until you try, as the saying is, right?" If the kid didn't even tried out for the team, how would he know whether he could do it? He hadn't even seen the boy fly, but he had confidence in him. "Nobody that cares about you vill ever be let down. If you do not do vhat you like, or are scared too... Vould that not be more disappointing?" he pointed out. That was how he saw it, because that was how he was raised. His father had always told him to go for what he wanted with everything he had, because if he didn't, then he either didn't really care about it, or he was letting himself be held back by things that didn't matter. "You cannot count yourself out until you give it a shot anyvay."

Ginny had asked Harry to go find Albus, who had ventured off from the group to on his own. He couldn't believe how fast time had flown by. Albus venturing out on his own. That day had come pretty quickly and time wasn't going to slow down. Before he knew it, his middle child would be off and graduated from Hogwarts. But not just yet thankfully.

Harry immediately went off to the first place he knew either one of his boys would be at. Quality Quidditch Supplies. As much as his little Lily loved the Owl Emporium, his boys were always glued to the quidditch store. Harry Potter ventured to the shop and entered the building, finding it filled with plenty of adults and children as it always was. He had to look through nearly the entire store when he recognized the mop of black hair that was similar to his own.

He moved over to his son and clapped a hand over the young boy's shoulder with a smile. "Hey Al, I've been looking all over the whole shop for you. Your mother wanted me to come find you."

Harry glanced up at the man who had been chating his son. He was a little on the bulky side, with rugid features, and a pair of thickened eyebrows. He had barely changed, even after all these years. And bloody hell, it had been a long time. Harry's green eyes widened slightly as he spoke out in question, "Viktor Krum?"

[Albus Potter]

Albus blinked and nodded. So Viktor's daughter had a birthday close to his. It was kind of cool. "When her birthday comes around, tell her I say happy birthday." He didn't know the girl, but birthdays were fun and really exciting. He used his birthday to judge his year at school. He liked to make a game out of it sometimes, not that he would ever admit to anyone that he did.

Al let Viktor think for a minute, glancing back at the broom. But when the other male spoke again, he glanced back up. Viktor was right. It was a little more disappointing that he wouldn't even give it a try. At least if he tried, then he could say he gave it his best shot. He knew James would pick on him if he didn't make it. But did he honestly care if James had one more thing to pick on him about? In the end, he guessed not.

The boy was about to reply when a hand was clamped on his shoulder. He glanced up to see his father. He was a little surprised to see his father so soon, since it didn't feel like all that long ago that he left on his own. He glanced from his father to Viktor when his dad seemed shock at seeing the Bulgarian male. He wanted to smirk, but didn't. He felt a little excited to being around to see the reunion.

"I vill," he replied honestly. Viktor, unlike most, was the type of person who actually would remember something like that several weeks in the future, and he surely would tell Petra what the young boy he had met in Diagon Alley had said. Perhaps that was a bit outside of the normal, and his daughter in all likelihood would find it odd, but hearing an offhand comment like that from a second-year boy wishing his Petra well was one of those nice trivialities that Viktor liked to hold on and smile about later.

He was absorbed in his thoughts, and wondering what exactly there was left to say that could convince Albus that he should try out for the Quidditch team, when another somewhat familiar voice came between them. It appeared that today held numerous surprises for the Quidditch coach, because when he looked up his gaze met the bright, shocked green eyes of Harry Potter, who even after all these years he recognized instantly.

"Harry Potter," he replied, phrasing the name more as a statement than a question. "It has been a very, very long time." Perhaps Viktor should have foreseen this reunion coming after he began talking to Albus, because it was only logical that the boy's parents were somewhere nearby, but somehow his mind had not connected the two ideas. He was just as surprised at recognizing Harry's face as he had been at recognizing Albus'.

[Albus Potter]

Albus couldn't help but smile when Viktor said he would tell his daughter Al's words. It was little things like that that made him happy. Besides being able to talk to an amazing Quidditch star like Viktor. Al loved Quidditch enough to know a bit about Viktor, mostly his career, but the man was like a legend. He was the youngest Quidditch player in history.

Albus looked between Viktor and his father, extremely interested in how they would interact after all these years. Would they talk about old times? Something that would normally bore Al had it not been that they had met during their school years. He couldn't help but be curious.

[ Click for OOC Comment ]

Revived~

Harry found himself chuckling softly. Even though thought he found no real humor in this situation, just pleased with seeing the Quidditch Legend once again. "Far too long, my friend. I've only heard of you when passing through the Ministry's Quidditch Department. I'm sure Hermione will be glad to hear that I've bumped into you."

Harry smiled, but smirked deviously in his head. Even to this day, Viktor brief...encounter with Hermione always seem to get Ron's face red with annoyance. Harry couldn't blame him, but it was amusing every now and then when his best friend got riled over such nonsense.

His hand was still rested on his younger son's shoulder as he glanced down at him. Harry's hand squeezed Albus' shoulder softly as he raised an eyebrow. "I would introduce you, but it seems you two have already met."

Despite the years that had gone past, Viktor was glad to note that not much seemed to have changed about Harry. He was still as friendly and conversational as ever, much more so than Viktor himself, and even the mention of his job at the Ministry felt fitting with what the Bulgarian recalled of his personality. "Ah, yes, I have not talked to her in quite avhile either," he answered with a slight smile, referring to Hermione. There had been a time back at Hogwarts when his Arithmancy grades had slipped to problematically low levels, and Hermione had been the one asked to tutor him. Through all of the studying, they had ended up becoming good friends, although the last time he had seen her had probably been around the same time that he had last seen Harry.

Because he had always been a strict adherent to the idea of politeness, and proper manners, he went on to ask, "I hope she is vell, as I take it you are? You are vorking as an Auror, no?" He glanced down at Albus, who appeared to be looking back and forth between the two men as if their conversation were supremely interesting, which made Viktor want to laugh a bit, although he didn't.

"Ve have indeed," Viktor confirmed, nodding towards the young boy as he added, "You have a very bright son. I am glad to have gotten to speak to him."

[Albus Potter]

Albus was genuinely interested in the fact his father knew someone as cool as Viktor Krum. It honestly just made his dad ten times cooler in his eyes, not that his dad wasn't cool before. No. It was just that he was his dad and all dads were boring at times. Although his was cooler than the rest from the beginning. He thought it the coolest thing in the world that his dad talked so casually to Viktor and Viktor to his dad. It was like this whole world he never knew before opened up in front of him and it was mesmerizing.

[list]Harry glanced down at Albus, his eyes clearly shining with pride as he nodded slowly. He looked back to Victor and smiled. "Extremely bright, much more than I was when I was his age. Thank you."

His hand still rested on Albus' shoulder, Harry saw the boy's head constantly whipping back and forth when either Viktor or himself spoke. Hopefully he wouldn't be bringing the boy home with whiplash, Ginny would not be happy with that.

But ah, Viktor asked about his job. Surprisingly, most people never questioned him about his career. Nearly everyone in England knew of Harry's profession. But Viktor wasn't from England by any means. "Got a spot as an Auror right after school. Been working there ever since. Granted its not as busy as it used to be, barely any Death Eaters running around now a days."

And he wasn't complaining. The job wasn't as hectic as it first was when Death Eaters still needed to get rounded up and sent off to Azkaban. But never the less, those days were long gone. Harry went back to one of Viktor's previous questions. "Hermione is quite well. She ended up marrying Ron, obviously. Their oldest daughter just started Hogwarts last year with Albus. But what about you? Ever end up settling down at some point, Viktor?"

"That does not surprise me, it seems very fitting for you," Viktor replied as Harry spoke of his job. "And that is a good thing, no? Avter so many years, vinally having the Death Eaters under control is a relief." He knew that it had been much worse in the United Kingdom during the Second War than it had been in Bulgaria, where Voldemort's presence hadn't been as immediate of a threat, but the events he had witnessed while at the World Cup and during the TriWizard Tournament were still vivid in his memory. He was glad that the wizarding world seemed to finally have reached a period of relative peace from the terrors of dark wizards, because he couldn't stand even the idea of having his children grow up in such insecure times.

Viktor could vaguely recall the man Harry spoke of as Hermione's husband, a flash of red hair and an enthusiastic interest in Quidditch coming to mind at the mention of his name. It was nice knowing that the people he had liked back in his years at school, and who he had always wished the best for, really had indeed ended up perfectly well and happy, just as he had.

"Indeed I did," Viktor answered, smiling as he thought of his family. "I have been married for nearly sixteen years now, and I have two children, a son and a daughter. My daughter, Petra, she is about Albus's age, and my Tase is a little older."

[Albus Potter]

Albus thought it was the coolest thing, getting to see his dad talk with Viktor. If he were more the bragging time, he'd surely brag about his dad and Viktor being friendly. But that wasn't Al. He was the type who tried to stay away from the spotlight, especially being a Potter. It constantly had people watching him, especially with a troublemaker for an older brother.

Al still thought it cool to hear Viktor talk about his kids. It was a reminder that people lived outside of the UK. And it was a reminder that there were schools other than Hogwarts. And that was the coolest thing.

"Yes, quite a relief that my job is pretty quiet now. Busy every now and then, but never what it used to be like when I had first started right out of Hogwarts." Harry shrugged. He'd much rather be a little bored at work than have to save the world from a group of mental wizards.

"Good for you though, mate. I'm glad to hear that." Harry then smiled, hearing about Viktor's family life. Sixteen years was a long time. He and Ginny hadn't even married for that long yet. Almost, but not quite. "Are they both attending Durmstrang or are girls still not allowed to attend there?"

All of Harry's children went to Hogwarts, so it wasn't as if he kept up to date with the other wizarding schools in the nearby countries. Though as head Auror of the Ministry, that may be a good idea for the future to at least know some things. Harry's eyes casted back down to Al, noting how quiet and observant his youngest son was right about now. Smirking, he patted Albus on the back. "Luckily James isn't here with us. He would have caused a scene and nearly wet himself over meeting an actual Quidditch player. Because you know, your mother doesn't count apparently."

[Albus Potter]

Albus wanted to groan at how embarrassing his dad could be. "Of course mum doesn't count," the young boy practically whined. "Not in front of Viktor Krum, dad." His ears were slightly red with embarrassment. "I must remove my dad before he has a " 'When I was you age' moment. I'll write you Viktor! Best of luck for your season and team! And don't forget to tell you daughter I say happy birthday." He cheerfully added the second before trying to push his dad out of the store before he could say something embarrassing about him.