Albus Potter's black fringe hung loosely over his forehead as the eleven-year-old boy sat, staring blankly across the table at his aunt.

'So you see, children,' Hermione Weasley continued, seemingly oblivious to her nephew's vague expression, 'it is essential that we support the education of muggle-born children to the fullest extent possible, and that means giving them our full support in integrating into the magical community.'

Albus' attention began to wander around the kitchen, drifting from his aunt's speech to the other children sitting around the table. On his left, one of his cousins, Rose Weasley was gazing back at her mother, absorbed in her words, whilst to his right, another cousin looked as disinterested as Albus felt. Louis Weasley, red-headed and freckled, was tracing aimless patterns around the whorls of wood on the oak table-top.

'Oh, that's a wonderful idea, mum!' Rose gushed. 'I'm sure that will be a great help for the new muggle-borns to settle in to Hogwarts.'

'I'm delighted that you think so, darling,' Hermione beamed. 'We will meet the new students on Tuesday,' she continued.

Louis looked up from the table. 'Um,' he began, uncertainly. 'Sorry, Aunt Hermione, but what's this got to do with us?'

Albus' ears pricked as he heard his cousin's question, echoing his own thoughts as it did. The woman took a deep breath, turning to face the redhead and speaking in a slow, clear tone.

'There are three muggle-born children this year, Louis,' she explained, 'two boys and one girl. These three children need buddies, children from magical families, to help them settle into the magical world.'

'But…'

'But nothing, Louis!' Hermione snapped. 'This is my initiative and if it is to succeed then I must have the support of the family, and that is final!'

Louis slumped back against the slats of his chair, letting his long fringe fall over his eyes, and Albus swallowed, suddenly realising that the mother and daughter's attention would soon be coming his way.

'What do you think, Albie?' Rose turned to face her cousin. 'You think it's a good idea, don't you?'

Albus shrugged. 'I guess,' he murmured, gathering himself to question his aunt. 'Hogwarts starts this weekend, though, doesn't it? When are we going to meet them?'

Hermione smiled. 'I will explain the plan at a Hogwarts staff meeting tomorrow morning, and you will be taken to meet the other children on Tuesday.'

Albus blinked. 'Who's taking us?'

'I shall be taking Rose,' Hermione continued, 'and Min… Professor McGonagall tells me that she has a new member of staff in mind who will be very well-suited to looking after the boys.'

'Do we have any choice in it?' Louis began to argue, but the woman's raised voice quickly quelled his protest.

'No, Louis,' she cocked her neck. 'To put it simply, you don't.'

The eleven-year-old boy stood up sharply, shoving the wooden chair backwards behind him and letting it fall with a clatter to the tiled floor as he stormed from the kitchen.

'Fine,' Albus accepted, with a short nod, before getting to his feet and meandering back to the clutches of an old, red leather armchair and a copy of Quidditch Quarterly. There was nothing he could do about his aunt's plan, he reasoned, so there was nothing to be gained from arguing back as his cousin had done.

He might as well just get on with it.