Albus put his feet up on the bench across from him as the world outside sped past them. It was Christmas time now and everyone was heading home. Albus was sitting in a compartment with Scorpius, Rose, and Casey. Casey and he had been chatting for an hour now while their friends just sat there with their arms crossed glaring at each other. Albus had spent the entire past week trying to convince Rose to sit with Albus and Scorpius during the train ride. She wasn't going to do it either if he hadn't gone behind her back and talked to Casey. The two had formed a camaraderie over the past few months as the two both tried to keep their best friends from killing each other.
Christmas was a big event in the Weasley family. Every year Albus' grandparents invited all six of their kids plus spouses, and their twelve grandkids, thirteen if you count Teddy, over their house at the burrow. It would be chaos but it was fun. This year Lysander and Lorcan would be joining them along with their parents so that meant it was going to be even worse this year. James had thrown a prank every year since they were five at the Christmas party and this year it was probably going to be ten times worse being that there was going to be four second year Gryffindors running around rather than two.
"So Casey what are you doing for Christmas?" Albus asked as the two tried to start a nice friendly non-violent conversation.
Casey smiled warmly "Well my mum and dad and I are going to have a nice quite Christmas at home. Just the three of us with no magic."
Albus nodded, "That sounds nice."
"It will be," Casey agreed. She turned to Scorpius, "What are you doing."
Scorapius glanced over at Casey, "Same thing just me my mum and dad," he replied bluntly. It was better than nothing, but it was still kind of cold.
"You're parents are both wizards right? So your family will probably do something magical right?" Casey asked sweetly.
Scorpious glanced at Casey again. He sighed and started to respond. Casey was just too nice to ignore completely it made you feel bad when you ignored her.
"Of course they are Casey. He's a pure blood," Rose replied, holding out the word pure to make sure Scorpious got the insult. Casey turned towards Rose, her sweet expression turning annoyed.
Scorpious reached for his wand, "You want to say that again Weasley," he sneered.
In another second both he and Rose had their wands out ready to fight. Albus and Casey's wands were out in another second ready to break the two up.
"Are you deaf, Malfoy? I said you were a stuck up pure blood," Rose replied.
Scorpious made a noise that was somewhere in between a shriek and a growl and waved his wand, "Confundio"
Rose flicked her wand, "Protego," she said. Both where using spells that was beyond the level of the average first year.
Albus pointed his wand at his best friend, "Expeliarmus," He yelled. Scorpious' wand flew out of his hand. Rose put her hand on her hips and smiled at Scorpious as if to say yeah hes on my side now.
Albus turned and looked at the two. "We are leaving for Christmas break. We won't be seeing each other for a long time now and all you two can do is fight. Now you are going to sit down and play nice. Okay. If you can't do that than just shut up. The least you can do is stop attacking each other alright. I mean come on guys its practically Christmas," Albus yelled. Albus was in general a very laid back person so the surprise at his outburst was extreamly evident on Rose and Scorpious' faces as the y both sat down.
Casey put her wand back away and glanced at the three of them, "You're getting very good at that spell Albus," she said. Just like that the two resumed their friendly banter as the other two resumed their angry positions with their arms crossed.
The train arrived at platform 9 ¾ right on time and from the window Albus could see almost his whole family out there. It was like a giant field of red heads.
Albus said good bye to Scorpious and Casey as Rose dragged him excitedly towards their parents. Both kids were greeted by a giant hug from their mothers. James showed up slightly after Albus and soon they were a big Potter sandwich both being pressed together by their mother. Fred was greeting his parents, his Uncle George and Aunt Angelina. Victorie was giving Teddy a hello hug and kiss while Uncle Bill gritted his teeth at the two. Not that he didn't like Teddy because he did, he just thought that Victorie was too young to be in such a serious relationship. Dominique and Louis were both with Aunt Fleur giving hugs. Molly was with Aunt Audrey. Albus couldn't see his Uncle Percy in the Weasley mess, so he must have been backed up at the ministry. If he was there than all they would need was his grandparents and Uncle Charlie and the family reunion would have been complete.
"See you next year, " Albus heard Scorpious call from a distance.
Albus turned and grinned at his best friend from across the platform. They didn't have a chance to say good bye with Rose there and all, "Yeah see ya in January," Albus called back. Standing next to Scorpious was a tall blond man that could be no one other than his father. The man had his hand on his son's shoulder and didn't look happy. Draco Malfoy's gaze wasn't on Albus though. He was looking at his dad. His Dad was returning the gaze but he didn't look as menacing as Scorpious' dad did. Albus' father looked more curious than anything.
"We should head out Harry," Teddy said interrupting his father's gaze. His hair was it's normal blue today and Victorie was with him, his arm draped over her shoulder.
Albus' dad nodded," You brought enough brooms for everyone?" he asked.
Teddy nodded pulling out six brooms( they learned years ago that transporting the entire Weasley clan to the burrow together wasn't doable so now each family went separate). Albus felt panic rising in his chest, "I'm not riding one of those are you crazy."
James was cackling behind Albus,"Whats the matter Al I thought flying lessons went well."
Albus looked over at Teddy who was snickering to himself, "I never said that."
Albus' mother glared at her eldest son and her eldest almost son, "You two said he was over it."
"I said it wasn't a disaster," Teddy said holding up his free hand," I said nothing more. He almost hit the ground once then I let him sit out. I don't know what James told you though."
Albus' mother turned her glare only to James now, "Little white lie," James said.
Ginny Potter looked like she was ready to blow when her husband laughed, "It's fine Albus can ride with me. Then if someone else wants to come they can too."
"We've got a port key set up so we're good," Uncle Ron told Harry.
"We've got the car and Audrey is coming with us," Uncle George called over.
"We're just apparating," Uncle Bill said gruffly.
"I'll come," Victorie said quickly before her father could say anything else. Uncle Bill pursed his lips and glanced between Victorie and Teddy a couple of times.
"Don't worry I'll take good care of her Bill," Teddy replied with a warm smile that only mad Bill look even more unhappy.
Aunt Fleur hit Uncle Bill on the arm, "Ez only ze broom ride Bill." She said giving her husband a hard look. Albus smiled, it was nice to be with family again.
They walked through the wall and out to the parking lot. Soon his dad's arms were around Albus and they were in the air. It felt wrong to be in the air. He knew that he didn't belong there. Harry was good on the broom though and wouldn't let his son fall.
It took them about a half an hour to get to the burrow. Uncle Charlie, Grandpa and Grandma were there waiting for them and Uncle Ron and company, and Uncle Bill and company had already arrived.
"Hey what's up guys," Uncle Charlie said giving everyone a hug. When he got to Albus he knelt down. He was wearing a long dark cloak that resembled the cloak that Gandalf wore in the muggle movie. His left eyebrow was missing and was replaced by a burn mark that he got from a dragon a few years back. They said the eyebrow wouldn't grow back.
He knelt down and put his hand on Albus' head ruffling his hair up, "So I hear you're going to be sporting green this year kid."
Albus nodded and swallowed he had been pretty nervous about the reception he would get from his family this year.
Uncle Charlie put something into his hand," Hope you like it. Thought it might come in handy next time James was giving you a hard time," he whispered to Albus. Albus looked at the object. It was a small round marble that had a green liquid swishing around in it. Albus smiled, it was a paint popper. They usually came in brown or some other un appetizing color. Uncle George made them in his shop. When you threw them they would explode and cover everything around them in a sticky liquid. James actually used the stuff at the quidditch game on the Slytherin kids. He smiled up at his Uncle who winked at him. Maybe this Christmas wouldn't be that terrible after all.
