"Are you sure you ll be okay, dear?" Albus merely sighed, shedding a grin for his worrying mother. Her words echoed where they stood outside the Great Hall.

"I'll be fine, Mum. You and Dad enjoy visiting Uncle Charlie," Ginny twisted her lips in concern before kissing Albus' forehead. She would calm down once her and Harry were on their way to Romania.

"I had better see Arianrhod at my window at least once. Make sure your brother does the same," Albus nodded, taking in each of his mom's demands, "and Albus?"

"Yes, Mum?"

"Try to keep James out of trouble. If I get one more letter about exploding toilets and jinxed doorknobs I will personally come down here and he will wish I had let McGonagall take care of him."

"I'll do what I can. I love you. I'll see you again before you know it," Albus comforted his mom as she enveloped him in a hug. Ginny released him and smiled one last time at her baby boy before apparating.

Albus stared a few more seconds at the empty air where his mom had once stood and then stepped into the Great Hall. His eyes scanned the long tables until they landed upon a red-headed girl leaning intently over a book. Albus made his way down the rows of tables and took a seat beside her.

"Has Aunt Ginny left?" spoke the voice of the fiery hair.

"She just did. I assume Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione are gone also?" Albus inquired as Rose looked up from her book, half shutting it with one hand.

"They did. I wish we could have all spent Christmas together this year," Rose lamented.

"I know. I feel so sorry for Uncle Charlie being in such bad shape, but I suppose that's the dangers of working with dragons," Albus stared at the wood grains of the table, sympathizing for his uncle. He shrugged, attempting to shake off a bit of the gloom, and rose from the table. "I think I'm going to go back to the Common Room for a bit. I'll see you at dinner?"

The book had reopened and only a curtain of red hair spoke to Albus again, "Of course! Scorpius wanted to say goodbye to both of us tonight before he left for break too."

Albus merely nodded in acknowledgement and turned away from his cousin. He made his way out of the Great Hall and up the changing staircases to the portrait of the Fat Lady. She had on a sequined, red dress in celebration of the holiday season, gracefully poised underneath a clump of mistletoe. Her chubby hand held a glass of champagne while the other had an appetizer from a nearby painting.

Just as Albus opened his mouth to speak the password, the painting swung towards him, causing him to stumble backwards in surprise. James exited the hole behind the portrait and cocked an eyebrow at his brother on the ground. A chuckle slipped between James' lips as he extended a hand to his brother.

"Do you often sit in front of the Fat Lady? Have nice chats?" James teased as Albus dusted himself off.

"No. I was about to go in when you came out. I was just caught a bit off-guard and I tripped is all," James leaned against the stair railing, amused. Albus wasn't fooled for a second. He could already see the mischievous gears turning in James' head. "Mum told me to make sure you stay out of trouble."

"Did she now? Well, I will certainly do my best to be out of trouble around you, Al," A devilish smirk crept across James' lips before he descended the staircase.

Albus looked after his brother, wondering what plan he had managed to cook up this time. His mother was not going to be happy to receive another letter, but he also doubted she would be surprised. Breathing a sigh of surrender, Albus entered the portrait hole and collapsed on the couch. The Common Room held an unusual silence, locked in tight from the rest of the castle. Clearing his mind, Albus allowed the crackle of the fireplace to fill his ears as sleep overwhelmed him.