A/N: I am so sorry. I know it took me forever to update this one, but I have been exploring the wonders of unhappy marriage. I have been distracted and pretty down. But! Never fear, I always pick myself up and dust off the dirt! I have been noticing that I am clearing the fog of my own problems. Ideas are coming to me once again. So, hopefully I can keep this steady stream of writing. It also doesn't help that I keep reading fan fiction to begin with. I read too much all the time. And I apologize. Sincerely. :D
I do hope you enjoy. And don't be shy about leaving reviews. They make me smile even if you can't see that. If I could video chat with everyone, I would so you could see me read your reviews. I get this stupid grin on my face and I get all giddy. My kids look at me like I am insane! :D
Henny, that lucky Penny!
Standing Up With Albus Potter
"Shut your filthy mouth, Zabini!" Albus hissed. The normally calm, auburn haired youth was lightly fingering his wand. Torran Zabini's raised eyebrow was his only show of surprise.
"Found something to needle Potter with." Torran's lips curved into a small smirk.
"Come on, Albus." Lucy's voice was cool and comforting. Her bright eyes, however, turned dark with rage. She didn't care to hear her favorite cousin being called a filthy squib and told she was useless and a waste of space, "He's not worth detention. Plus, Lily would be very angry if you did."
Torran Zabini is a pureblood third year. His family did not drop the prejudice like the Malfoys. His light coffee skin and dark chocolate locks set his dark blue eyes off. His aristocratic nature morphed his features into a mask of indifference when he was not smirking. That smirk was pissing Albus Potter off.
"Wipe that ridiculous look off your stupid face. It doesn't suit you." Albus calmed his temper, "Now, run along like a good Death Eater's son and do some dark magic."
Albus dismissed Torran by turning his back to him and facing the Common Room. He surveyed the faces around who had heard their disagreement.
"Alright you lot, listen and listen well. I will not repeat myself." Lucy stood next to Albus and slipped her small hand into his. He gave her a reassuring squeeze, "If any one of you has anything negative to say about anyone in my family, particularly my sister Lily, I will research hexes and I will find the nastiest most disfiguring one I can and use you for target practice."
A few younger students cowered away from him. Most of the older ones pretended he hadn't said anything. A few looked offended that they had been threatened.
"Come on, Albus, let's go find James." Lucy tugged his hand; "Please?" her voice was small. Albus never spoke out and never threatened. Unless his family, especially his sister, were involved. And that never happened.
"Shh, Luce." he comforted, "We are going."
Albus didn't like getting angry. It felt like a flood in his veins. He felt uncomfortable and powerful. When Torran said that Lily should have been dropped off at a squib orphanage to save the family embarrassment, Albus could feel his calm crumble. His strings were being pulled.
Torran Zabini was never one to be dismissed. He stepped right next to Albus.
"Be careful, Potter. Wouldn't want anything to happen to any of your cousins." his whisper was deadly. Albus kept his features cool, "Don't forget who you are threatening." and he left.
"Albus..." Lucy was worried. She had heard what Torran said.
"Not now." he replied.
Lily's lack of magic had been front page news the very next morning after saying good bye to her older brothers. The only disadvantage to being Harry Potter s children was they were watched constantly. Some reporter was always behind them. Most establishments had a strict no press policy. They covered it with the right to refuse service and the right to kick anyone out. The Potters and Weasleys were thankful.
But someone had observed Lily not boarding the train. That only meant one thing in the Wizarding World.
And now Albus was trying to hold onto some resemblance of control.
He hated being in his Common Room. Whispers and sniggers tended to follow him there. Damn purebloods couldn't let go of prejudices. Normally he could ignore them; most were directed at him for being the Savor's son. Since the article, most were now about his sister. That he could only ignore for so long.
With anger coursing in his blood, he led Lucy up to the Gryffindor Common Room. He knew the majority of his family would be there. While not every one of his cousins had been sorted in the Gryffindor, the majority had. He, Lucy, Molly and Hugo had not been placed in the red and gold. And that suited the whole family just fine.
"Kian!" Albus called out to the sandy haired third year, "Where is James?"
"'Ey, Potter!" Kian Finnegan waved, "Miss Weasley." he winked at Lucy. She smirked back at the Irish boy.
"How are you Finnegan?" Lucy inquired.
"Well." he gave her a nod, "I think your brother is upstairs. 'Im and Freddie are up to sommat." he turned back to Lucy, "'Ow are you?"
"Stay with Finnegan, Luce. Zabini is all wind, but even wind can become a storm." he pressed a soft kiss on her temple.
"I will." she flashed Albus a bright smile.
He sprinted upstairs to avoid hearing the endless flirting between his cousin and the Gryffindor. Locating the fourth year boy s dormitory, he knocked on the door.
"Yeah?" his cousin called through the wood.
"It's Albus." he called back.
"Go away!" Albus glared at the offending door.
"I need my brother!" he yelled back.
Albus heard three different voices grumble to one another. He waited patiently for the boys to open the door. Although, it was waning.
"JAMES!" Albus roared, his volume was near earsplitting. The unusual show of anger had the door quickly opening and Albus being pulled in by his shirt by his cousin Fred.
Albus examined the room. Fred had retreated to the bed he was using as a seat. James was sprawled out on his mattress, lounging without a care. Scorpius was propped up against his headboard. His ankles crossed and he was examining his nails. Albus decided to cuddle up on his brother's side. James wrapped his arm around his shoulders.
"Al, what's the matter?" James could feel the tension.
"I may or may not have threatened all of Slytherin." Albus sighed. James stiffened.
"Zabini?" Fred ground out.
"Yeah. He said terrible things about Lily. And then everyone was looking at us. Lucy tried to stop me, but I told them I would research the nastiest and most disfiguring hex I could find and use them as target practice." Albus laid an arm a crossed his midsection. He sighed in frustration.
"Well, there is your Weasley temper coming out. Aunt Ginny would be proud." Fred chuckled.
"I thought Lily had a mouth and that it could talk for her." Scorpius, who had been quiet, piped up. Albus sat up slowly, shrugging off his brother's arm.
"I thought she were my sister. You know nothing about her." Albus, his movements so controlled, stood up from the four poster bed. His face was set in a look of indifference, "I just need James to watch out for the younger ones. Lucy will be under my watchful eye. Hugo has no one in his house, plus he is so meek and scared. He is an easy target."
"Aunt Ginny taught all the girls her bat boogey curse. Roxy has already demonstrated it on a third year in the Common Room. Molly can hold her own. Lucy isn't much of a target also." Fred tried to reassure his grumpy cousin.
"I have Lucy; do what you want for the others. Come and see me if you need help." Albus started for the door, but hesitated, "Lucy is with Kian. Someone else go get her. They are probably snogging by now."
"Bloody hell!" James jumped up from his bed and dashed down the stairs. Fred was hot on his heels. Scorpius just smirked from his perch.
Albus left the room without another word. He slowly descended the stairs. He could hear yelling, screeching and curses. He relaxed slightly as the familiarity of it all was comforting. The noise reminded him of Sunday nights at his grandparents house.
The scene he intruded upon in the Gryffindor Common Room brought an amused glint to Albus' eyes. James had his wand pressed into Kian's throat and Fred was yelling at Lucy, who at turn screeched back. Gryffindors at all ages were standing, ready to attack whoever threw the first hex.
"Luce, come on! Stay away from that git." Fred's chocolate eyes were flashing with anger.
"Who do you think you are?! Who the hell do you think you are?!" Lucy's ice blue eyes were cold and angry, "I decide who I wish to be kissing. Not James. Not Albus. Not Molly. And most certainly not you!" she crossed her arms in defiance. Albus rolled his eyes.
"Like hell you do. Why do you think you were blessed with all these older male cousins, Hellcat?" Fred's nickname only used when they argued, making clear that she wouldn't be talking her way out of this, "Exactly! Now run along to your Common Room."
"Potter, do you mind taking your wand out of my neck?" Kia Finnegan's voice was strangled. James' wand was cutting off air.
"Keep your grubby hands off my baby cousin and I will consider not hexing you." James' anger was palpable.
"Fine." Kian squeaked, "I'll not touch her again."
"James!" Lucy exclaimed, her teeth clenched.
"Good enough for me. You, Fred?" James never took his eyes from Kian's.
"Yeah. That'll do." Fred replied while pulling a reluctant Lucy in for a hug, "All better, Hellcat?"
"No." she grumbled into his chest.
"Excellent!" James and Fred exclaimed loudly.
"Al, be a dear and take Lucy home." James stepped away from Finnegan's shaking form.
"Come on Luce, you sealed the poor boy's fate." Albus slipped his hand into hers, "Nothing more you can do."
And he left her from the Gryffindor Tower. His lips curved into a small smile, letting his younger cousin vent about male egos and chauvinistic pigs. He felt sorry for the poor girl.
But he certainly loved his family.
