Disclaimer: This story is based upon the story and worlds belonging to and created by JK Rowling

2: A Higher Power

"Happy birthday dad!" Albus greeted his father as he entered the room.

"Happy birthday Mr Potter" Scorpius said from a couch opposite Albus.

"They're all in the kitchen" Albus added.

"Hi" Harry said. "Come on so, I don't even want to know what's going on in the kitchen." Albus rolled over the edge of the armchair, landing on his feet while Scorpius pulled himself out of the chair. The boys both followed Harry through the narrow hallway and into the kitchen. Harry's arrival was met with a large cheer from the crowd in the kitchen. Housed in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place were Ginny, Lily and James, Ron, Hermione, Rose and Hugo as well as George, Fred, Molly and Arthur Weasley. Albus and Scorpius entered behind him.

The festivities continued for the evening and it was near two in the morning when Ron and George finally left. Hermione had gone earlier, she was working early the following morning. Rose and Hugo were staying in Grimmauld Place that night. Fred had fallen asleep on the couch and George had unceremoniously woken his son on his way out. Ginny looked over the house once, sighed and murmured "I'll clean that in the morning". She made her way towards the stairs and called a "goodnight" through yawns as she climbed towards her bedroom. James, like Fred, had also fallen asleep on a chair and Albus suspected they had nabbed some fire whiskey and had drank far more of it than they were able for. Scorpius consumed firewhiskey (unintentionally, James and Fred slipped it into his drink) and Albus had brought him up the stairs and dropped him onto his bed. Albus decided that he would make room for himself when he eventually went to bed.

Lily and Rose had gone to bed and Hugo was trying, fairly unsuccessfully, to stay awake beside Albus on the couch. "Dad" Albus said as his father entered the room.

"I think it's time for bed" Harry laughed, looking at both Hugo and James asleep.

"I want to ask you something first" Albus responded. Harry, who was heading for the door, stopped and turned to face his son. Without waiting for a reply, Albus asked his question. "What was it that you didn't want to tell me in a letter?" Harry stared blankly at his son for a few moments before turning to face him completely and walking over to him, sitting beside Albus. The house was eerily quietly. The silence was broken only by the noise of James' snoring.

"I don't think now is the time, it's too late" Harry responded.

"No dad, I want to know now. If it was important then it can't really wait, can it?" Albus asked, knowing that he had just dug a hole that his father had jumped into. Harry smiled.

"Very well" he replied to his son, knowing that Albus wouldn't let it drop. "Michael Parker as you know is now dead. He spent the last year of his life doing various things. He was in Albania, why we're not sure yet. He hired a private eye, a jack of all trades. This goblin went by the name of Grogue. He used to work in Gringotts but retired. Since then, he's a free lancer, working off the books and undercover for the highest bidder. Parker hired him. We believe that Lucius Malfoy paid a large sum of what the goblin was owed"

"What did he hire him for?" Albus asked.

"Ultimately," Harry said, "his job was to get you and Scorpius and anyone who stood in the way was to be executed. To do this, Parker had the goblin place a certain professor under the Imperius curse"

"Fulton" Albus said quietly, realisation dawning on his face.

"Indeed. Professor Irene Fulton had been placed under the Imperius Curse. It was being done at a long distance though so Fulton began to fight it. She was under the curse at times, completely free of it and then half way between the two. She appeared to be moody and incompetent. As you told me, she appeared to have a vendetta against you. She was being ordered to find out everything she possibly could about you and get you alone if it was possible. Parker wanted you, he wanted to kill you."

"Because you arrested his father" Albus said.

"That is part of it. It has been cited as an excuse" Harry said. "Parker was a nutjob,there's no other word. He had a personal vengeance against me because I arrested his father but also against you because you figured out his plan and spoiled it in your first year. He was blinded by rage and his plan seemed fool proof, he wanted to become the leader of a revolution against the Ministry. He had supporters too but nobody wanted to kill and young boy because of Parker's blind rage." Harry explained.

"Is that it?" Albus asked.

"No" Harry replied quickly. "When the Enforcer bloke surfaced, he began to draw many of Parker's followers. He had a similar goal and he offered more protection and a much more direct approach. His plan changed a bit and it turned towards yourself and Scorpius. The followers were now unsure. They were stuck between the two. Both wanted the same thing, a revolution and a Potter. Parker wanted you dead, the Enforcer wanted your skills. Away from what you know," Harry said, "I grew skeptical about the Enforcer. I've done some research and in my opinion, I think that the Enforcer has a higher power backing him. I've no way to prove it but it's just my suspicion"

"What do you mean?" Albus asked.

"The Enforcer's plan is too well rounded. I don't think it could possibly be a lone nut acting alone. I think that he's just a puppet, being worked by much more skilled and much more intelligent people"

"Do you think he's under the Imperius curse too?" Albus asked.

"No," Harry replied, "I don't think he is. I think that he just doesn't realise that he's a puppet yet. He probably thinks he's important but if it's as I suspect, he will be disposed of once he achieves his goals."

Albus sat unsure what to say. He was merely trying to take everything in but even that he found difficult. Albus and Harry continued to sit in silence. The silence was broken once more by James snoring.

"Good night dad" Albus said.

"Good night Al" Harry replied as he watched his son get up and exit the room. "Let's just hope I'm wrong and it doesn't come true" Harry murmured to himself. Albus walked up to his bedroom, his head still drowning in thoughts about what his father had just revealed to him. Parker, Fulton under the Imperius curse, the Enforcer potentially having a higher power working behind him...

A/N: I'm well aware that the first two chapters are quite short but they will get longer as the story goes on. I hope you're enjoying the story so far. Let me know if you are, let me know if you aren't!