It was the summer just before my second year…
We had all gone to Diagon Alley to gather school supplies. James had immediately ran off to join his friends over by Uncle George's shop. Mum and Lily had gone off to get something to eat at the leaky cauldron. Dad and I had decided to roam the alley together. He'd been rather busy lately with work and hadn't been home much. I always felt rather strange around my father, like I didn't quite know how to behave. I remember days when I would bombard him with questions about his job as an Auror or the Wizarding War and battle of Hogwarts. Mum always scolded me and would tell me not to bother him.
"It upsets him Albus" she said as she led me down the hallway away from my father's study. "I was just curious" "I know…but…he was never well after what happened and bringing it up… just please don't bother him again Alby, he doesn't need reminding."
And that had been that. I never out right asked him about what had happened or why he was famous again.
The sun was shining and Wizards and Witches milled about the alley. Chatter and laughter could be heard from all around. I looked up at my father he seemed to be in good spirits today. A trace of a smile on his face. He looked down and me and full out smiled.
"Shall we go to the broom shop Alb? See if there's anything you like?" He placed his hand on my shoulder and I nodded my head. We moved down the alley further away from the hustle of people to where it was much quieter and nearly empty. I noticed a sign that led to Knockturn Alley and was about to comment when I felt Dad tense. I looked up at him and his face was blank.
"Dad?" he didn't react. I pulled his hand off my shoulder and moved in front of him. I tried to see what he was looking at, but there wasn't anything that I could see.
"Dad, what's wro…" before I could finish he grabbed my arm and we disapparated out of the alley and into his study at home.