Disclaimer: I own Nix, the Hierofaxes, and some dirty socks. Absolutely everything else belongs to JKR.

7. Family Ties

"So, who're you family, anyway?" asked Scorpius hurriedly, dashing out of Albus' reach. "Hierofax." muttered Nix, not laughing anymore.

"Ouch!" Scorpius winced in sympathy. "I can see why you didn't tell your parents about your… what you can do."

"What?" asked Albus stupidly.

"The Hierofax's are a prominent pure-blood family," explained Scorpius, as one might talk to a particularly dense two-year-old. "Thing is, as with all pure-blood families (Including your own, Malfoy? Albus wondered) they're rather prejudiced against muggles, mud-bloods and Prætorials. They're also famous for their bad temper."

"As well as their bad humour." added Nix "My cousin hid a spider in their bed once, and they locked him in the cellar for a week. Poor kid."

"Wow." said Albus, after a long pause, "And I thought my great aunt and uncle were harsh. They used to shut my dad in the cupboard when he did any magic. They were muggles, very anti-magic." He explained, in answer to Nix's quizzical glance. "Ha! The famous Harry Potter in a cupboard, that's something I'd like to see… er, I mean, that's sad!" Scorpius corrected himself hastily, then hid himself behind Nix in case Albus decided to curse him

"Dad!" Albus ran towards his parents, obviously delighted. "Mum, dad, this is Scorpius Malfoy and Nix Hierofax."

"A Malfoy, hmm?" said Harry, smiling. Scorpius looked slightly embarrassed. After all, his dad had not got on very well with the wizard standing in front of him. "But where's this Nix, though?" he asked.

"Err, Nix!" called Al. He spotted her standing near the edge of the forest. He looked at her questioningly, and she shook her head. She still did not want to come within hexing distance of an Auror. Then James swaggered up behind his parents, smirking. Albus saw a flash of anger in Nix's eyes, and knew what she was about to do.

James yelled as Nix came swooping down from the sky. She landed elegantly next to Scorpius, face cold and impassive. "Mr Potter. I don't believe we've met." She made no attempt to shake Harry's outstretched hand. "So you're the girl who supposedly attacked my son."

"Yes. I attacked your son."

"So you admit it?" Harry sounded incredulous.

"I attacked your son. After he used an illegal spell on me." Said Nix, flicking some stray hair out of her face. I love it when she does that thought Scorpius dreamily. Then: where the heck did that come from?!

"IS THIS TRUE?!" roared Harry. Albus had never seen his father truly angry before. It was terrifying. He was just glad he wasn't on the receiving end of that fury. "Erm, well…I might have used Legilimens…" Harry looked as if he was about to say something, but Ginny placed a restraining hand on his shoulder. "Calm down." she murmured. To James, she merely said, "This isn't over."

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