Chapter 4

Late Night Snacks

Albus lost another round of exploding snap with Scorpius and James, as they sat in James' bedroom. Lily had been participating, but the slumped form on the floor, surrounded by James' blanket, marked her out for the count. Also signified by James wearing her glasses on top of his head along with his own. James had decided to play both he and Lily's hand, which just made a better chance of him losing. So far, it had mostly been Albus to loose, much to the laughter of the other two.

"We should probably keep it down," said James after a while, he looked at the alarm, "It's seriously two in the morning, I thought Mom would be in here to silence us by now."

"I don't think she's asleep," said Albus, leaning to look out the door, "Dad's still not home."

"Why would he get called in?" asked Scorpius as he dealt another hand, "It would have to be serious, right?"

"Sometimes," said James with a shrug, "It varies. He doesn't do much field work anymore, but I know he misses it sometimes, so he grabs a few here and there."

"Mom, get's paranoid when he does," said Albus, he shrugged, "But my Dad can handle himself. Good thing she was out before he left. Lily worries just as much as my Mom."

"Maybe there's something wrong with us, not worrying," said James, slowly picking up his cards, he yawned, "Last round guys."

"Lame," said Albus and Scorpius with a laugh, he tossed a pillow at them.

"Ow," said Lily, the pillow having been the one she was using, "What was that?"

"Sorry, Lil... I forgot you were on that," said James with a cringe, Lily groaned and stood, but said nothing as she left the room for hers, "I might pay for that later."

"If she remembers," said Albus, he shrugged, "It's late, who knows."

"Actually," yawned James, putting his cards away, "I'm out. May's kidnaping Fred and I to meet up with some of her girlfriends... I think I have a blind date tomorrow."

"Let's hope she's actually blind, for your sake," smirked Scorpius, Albus snorted loudly, James hit Scorpius with the blanket.

"Get out of my room," said James, his glare barely masking the laugh he was fighting, "Such rudeness, is not allowed in here."

"The sign on the door, says otherwise," said Albus, indicating to a rather rude Keep Out sign he had on said door.

"It stops at the threshold," said James as the two left, closing the door behind them.

"I'm not tired," said Albus, Scorpius nodded, "Want to get a snack and stay up talking?"

"I'm fine, Albus," said Scorpius, obviously seeing the angle Albus was trying.

"Maybe I want to talk about me, your not always the center of attention," said Albus, the serious face breaking as Scorpius chuckled.

They crept down the dark steps, trying to be quite as they made their way to the kitchen. Albus glanced at Scorpius, who had seemed in better spirits after dinner and the first round of exploding snap, but he was worried. Scorpius had seemed very upset in the tree and Albus wondered what had gotten to him, he'd seemed to be having fun before then. It was obvious that Scorpius didn't want to talk about it right now, but it didn't mean he wouldn't tell him later. They walked into the kitchen to see a small light from a candle on the counter. Ginny sat at the kitchen table looking at a clock. Albus rarely saw her look at that clock, it was one that Albus' Grandparents had given his parents. A simple gold clock with all their names etched in, surrounded by words like, 'School,' 'Work,' 'Traveling,' 'Mortal Peril,' and 'Dead' were just a few of them. All were 'Home' at the moment, except for his Dad's which was on 'Traveling.'

"Hey Mom," said Albus quietly, Scorpius smiled.

"Hey you two, finally done playing snap?" asked Ginny, Albus could tell she was trying to mask her worry.

"James and Lily went to sleep," said Scorpius, he watched as Albus got snacks from the fridge.

"Well, I'd say don't stay up too late, but it looks like Harry will be sleeping in tomorrow anyways," said Ginny, she looked back at the clock as the hand moved to 'Work.'

"You have work tomorrow?" asked Albus, grabbing a few apples.

"Unfortunately," sighed Ginny, "I have to go look at a new up and coming player for Baltimore. No real promise so far, but it's for the Prophet not the Quibbler this time. So I have to go."

"Well, we'll make sure to stay up very late then," said Albus, Ginny rolled her eyes, "Night Mom."

"Night Albus," smiled Ginny, she looked at Scorpius, "Scorpius, dear... mind if I have a word?"

"Ohm, sure, Mrs. Potter," said Scorpius, who'd grabbed the drinks, he looked at Albus who shrugged.

"Meet you upstairs," said Albus, slowly headed towards the stairs, keeping glanced back over his shoulder.

"Yes, Mrs. Potter," said Scorpius, slowly taking a seat next to her, she smiled at him.

"Scorpius, are you alright? Harry told me what happened," said Ginny, she had a sour look on her face.

"I'm fine, Mrs. Potter," said Scorpius, rubbing his arm, he wanted to avoid talking about this.

"Are you sure, because if you want to call them idiots... they are. I can validate that," said Ginny, she sighed, "I really wish they would grow up. Holding grudges is so petty... I mean if I did I would be fighting all the time with people... not that I haven't... but that reporter had it coming... He has no... Got a little off track. Sorry, Scorpius."

"..." Scorpius felt his face feel warm, and he opened his mouth and closed it, glaring, "I... I should go upstairs."

"If you want I can punch them," suggested Ginny, giving her best smile, she sighed, "I don't know what they said, but if it made you upset, then they shouldn't have said it. If they knew you were there or not."

"They said they think my Dad is up to something, that they think he staged the break in... that they find it convenient were all away... that Mr. Potter's naive... that they shouldn't trust me because I could be just like my Dad," said Scorpius, looking at his feet, he felt his emotions bubbled and he let his mind wonder.

It wasn't new, he heard it at school, if he went to Diagon Alley, saw it in papers, saw it in people's eyes even. Different situation, different day, same thing. Malfoy's are not to be trusted. He found himself wondering if the Potter's pitied him now, they were nice to him... maybe they felt sorry for him. He really wanted to go upstairs right now, because his mind was fixated on a thought he didn't like... one he'd had before... that he hated... hated his family. He knew he didn't, he loved them... He hated the fact that their past was still so present... present enough that how they had been seen, mirrored how others saw him and his sisters. His thoughts were cut short, as Ginny's voice came in.

"There one's to talk you know," Ginny glared at the counter, "I'm glade they didn't judge me for my mistakes so harshly, and there lucky enough no one does for them. I mean, Percy is one to talk, really. Naive... Untrusting... That's a riot."

"It's nothing new..." said Scorpius, he felt calm as he talked to Ginny, "I hear it all the time. I guess it just upset me because I wasn't expecting it today."

"Yes, well, people have a nasty habit of running their mouths when they have no room to speak," said Ginny, she glared at her hand, "You see it a lot, everywhere with many things. Everyone jumps to conclusions without facts. Example, why would your Dad stage a break in, where if he needed something, he could just take it. I mean, use your brains, boys. Scorpius, I wish people weren't such idiots. They see someone who looks like someone they knew and perceive them that way. I catch family and friends even doing it to Albus, comparing him to Harry... There's too much in this world for people to shove shadows on people."

"I don't want to feel bad for wanting to be like my Dad," said Scorpius, he let his walls down, and wiped his face fiercely, "Because my Dad is wonderful, sometimes we don't get along, but... when I hear other's talk about him or my family... it doesn't seem like it adds up... even when he tells me about his past... it's like the stories he tells aren't true... and then I get worried I'll say or do something that other's are reminded of that person he was and then... I get mad at myself for sometimes wondering if I'm wrong and other's are right..."

"It's alright, Scorpius," said Ginny, she pulled Scorpius into a hug, he'd never talked about this stuff before, and he'd opened a flood gate, "Rant away, break something... that cookie jar is a good option."

Scorpius wasn't sure how long he sat with Ginny, him ranting, then her telling him stories to make him laugh. She reminded him of his Mom... and Albus... at the same time. She also seemed adamant that they should destroy the cookie jar, for some unknown reason. Eventually it fell to her telling him a story about her brother's and the time they 'accidently' got locked in the chicken coop, shortly after making fun of her. It was a simple story, but it made Scorpius feel much better, actually... just talking to her made him feel better. A sound from the living room and a bark from Snuffles, alerted Harry was home.

"About time you get home," said Ginny, as Harry came in the kitchen, looking very tired and a little bloody, "Why do you always find ways to get covered in blood."

"It's not mine, if it makes you feel better?" suggested Harry with a smile, he nodded at Scorpius, "How's it going there, Scorpius."

"Hi Mr. Potter," Scorpius smiled, and got off the stool, "I think Albus is still waiting for me."

"He's sleeping on the couch it seems," said Harry, looking in the living room, there was a bark and a groan, "He's up."

"What's going on?" asked Albus, leaning passed his Dad, he looked at him, "You look like Hagrid... with a shorter beard and glasses."

"Thanks?" asked Harry in concern as he touched his unshaven face.

"My god. I never noticed. The coat. The blood. The week long unshaved face... I married Hagrid," sighed Ginny with a head shake.

"Well, we got a dog, now we need a Hippogriff," smirked Harry as Scorpius snuck passed him to follow Albus upstairs.

Albus snickered as they made their way into his room, the food left on the floor was probably a little shady at the moment, but they were still going to eat it. They were halfway through a muggle board game and the last of the string cheese when Albus had began wondering what exactly had been talked about. He'd gone down in the middle of his Mom talking about a chicken coop and had fallen asleep waiting for Scorpius, now he was a little more alert from his fifteen minute nap on the couch.

"Scorpius, you know you can tell me stuff, right," said Albus, as he moved his piece forward three spaces.

"I know," said Scorpius, he rolled his die, "You can tell me anything, too."

"Good," smiled Albus, he looked at Scorpius' piece being moved, "So..."

"I was upset about something I heard, I'm fine now. Your Mom might be crazy, though, but I like her... she really hates that Cookie Jar in the kitchen," said Scorpius, thinking about it.

"It was a gift from my Great Aunt Petunia," said Albus with a shrug, "I'm not sure if it's the jar or the person. But Dad keeps tea in there for their monthly... how does my Mom put it... Gossip Gathering."

"Your Aunt and Mom?" asked Scorpius.

"My Dad and Aunt," said Albus, he smirked, "Though I'm not sure it's just tea they drink."

"My Dad sneaks stuff in his tea when my Grandpa visits," said Scorpius with a small chuckle.

"His Dad?"

"No, my Mom's... they don't get along. It's a long story that my Mom says she'll tell me someday," said Scorpius, he stared at the ceiling, "I'm not holding my breath."

"I don't really know much about your Mom's family, what are they like?" asked Albus, moving passed whatever issues Scorpius had already gotten resolved.

"I don't see them often. They pretty distant, actually. They mostly call or write here and there, but it could do with my Mom's family living all over the world. My Grandparents on my Dad's side are either at our house or at their Villa in France. My Mom's parents live in Spain or Brazil, depends on their moods. My Aunt and Uncle live in the states with my cousin. As for the rest of them, various places I'm not sure of."

"You have a cousin," said Albus, remembering Scorpius talking about him, "Is he nice?"

"Don't really know, I've only seen him a handful of times, his name is Druid... he goes by Dru. He attends Illvermony in America," said Scorpius with a shrug, "He's got to be about Fred's age I suppose, maybe younger."

"That's sad," said Albus, he sighed, "Wish I only saw some of my cousin's a few times in my life."

"Well, I wish I saw mine more then four times in my life," scoffed Scorpius, "Until Hogwarts it was my sister's and I... all the time... nearly everyday. I love them, really... but one can only take a fight over glitter and a sweater so many times before they snap and the sweater and glitter vanish."

"You stolen a sweater AND their glitter," Albus shook his head in mock disapproval, "Tragic. Reminds me of the Great Fight of 2012... James broke his play broom so he took mine... Lily got annoyed and it just... vanished."

"Bet you it's hidden in her room," said Scorpius with confidence, "There's was under my bed for ages... now it's in my closet."

"... Well, I will look into that," said Albus confidently, he looked at the board, "New game? You beat me three rounds ago."

"Did I?" asked Scorpius, he shrugged, "Who knew."

"You're a terrible liar," smirked Albus.

TO BE CONTINUED