Chapter 10

Un-Merry Holidays Part 2

Elsewhere, Albus was not having the greatest time at their families early Christmas dinner. The Weasley family got together the first night of break and had a huge bash before everyone else went off to other relatives houses. Mostly his family would still spend Christmas and New Years with his grandparents. The other members of the family would be off to Australia, Kent, France, US, and Whales. One would think that for one night everyone would keep their moods in check. At this moment however, hostility was flowing. Lily was no longer mad at James and Albus, but instead... Hugo and Roxanne. Albus was not sure why, but there glares, comments, and occasional roll toss made the agitation known. Otherwise the debate was thrown the most of the adults, it being, politics and naturally it involved the Malfoy's.

"He has been sliding up that latter the last few years, what on earth is he pulling," said George, Angelina rolled her eyes, "I'm just saying we know where he's headed."

"Does it have to be a dinner topic," said Angelina, "Thanks so much for the subject change Audrey."

"Ron brought up Malfoy, I was simply stating what's been going around the DM," said Audrey, taking a drink of wine, "Honestly, he's actually very good. If it wasn't essentially a huge popularity contest, he'd have no trouble."

"It should be your job, Audrey," said Ron, "Your always pulling extra hours."

"I don't want it," said Audrey, "I like my job the way it is, being head of the DM would just be too much. Besides. I think Hardwire will get it. He's not the most competent, but he's very likable."

"Good to know that plenty of dangerous items will be protected by someone friendly, rather then someone working," said Harry, Albus looked at his father, he noted his Aunt Hermione looked conflicted.

"Rather Malfoy," said Ron, a raised brow at Harry.

"Where on earth did all the rolls go?" asked Mrs. Weasley trying to change topic.

"I'll get more dear," said Mr. Weasley, grabbing the basket, "Actually, you know what, kids, why don't we clear the table from all the empty plates."

"Ron, as a point. Harry's right. I'd prefer someone competent. Hardwire has a list of issues, and the fact he's a contender for the head position is concerning," said Hermione, obviously trying to detour the conversation.

"If we're making lists," said George, Ron snorted.

"Kids?" asked Mrs. Weasley.

"Grand, it's getting interesting," said Dominique.

"I believe we should help clean the table," said Bill, "We can open some gifts before desert."

"Agreed; Victorie why don't you help with dishes. Louis, Dominique. Let's go get gifts sorted," said Fluer, stirring her youngest son and daughter towards the living room.

"Roxanne, let's go," said Angelina, giving a short look at George.

"Lily, Albus, James," said Ginny, indicating, towards two small twin girls, "Help your Aunt's and take the girls.

"I don't see why we are vacating the table," said Charlie, he sighed, "I got the twins."

"We can walk," said one of the girl's as their uncle picked them both up, "Hey!"

"I don't think we're leaving fast enough," said Charlie, he nudged Rose and Hugo, "Best clear out before the fight."

"It's not Christmas dinner without the fight tho," said Teddy though Albus noted he looked as miffed as Harry and Hermione.

"Instead of clearing the table, they could have just fought in the lawn," said Ginny in a low whisper, she looked at her children who hadn't moved, "Kids?"

"But mom," said James, she glared at him, "Fine, come on."

"Ron, I don't want to get into this again," said Harry, he looked angry, Albus and James slowed getting up, as did Lily, there dad was rarely angry at their uncle.

"Answer me Harry, would you honesty feel safer," said Ron, Albus could feel Rose next to him.

"Safer then someone with a track record of losing dangerous objects because they forgot to double check a venue," said Harry, "Malfoy also has an advantage of knowing the dangers and doing research before losing a finger... or a toe... or nearly costing some of my investigators their lives because Hardwire thought a doll was just a doll."

"Stuff that shouldn't be outside the office," said Hermione, she gave Harry a reprimanding look.

"The office, that seems like a good idea," said Ginny, she squeezed Harry's shoulder and looked towards Albus, James, Lily, and Rose.

"Shall we," said Harry as he stood up, giving a warm smile to the four standing there, "We'll be up in a bit."

"Well," said Ginny, "Are you going to open gifts or clean?"

It was late that night when Albus sat in his room with his new chess set and played against an invisible person. He was brooding really. The argument at dinner proved what his cousin's and brother had talked about. He maybe eleven, but he wasn't stupid. His uncle and many would rather someone who couldn't do their job got promoted then a competent person they had a beef with as kids. Albus let his chess set on the floor as he headed to go talk to his dad. It was late, but when his dad was upset, he would stay up either brooding or organizing. As Albus reached the kitchen, cleaning it had been. Because his dad sat at a very clean table, looking at a treacle tart that had not been touched yet. Albus walked into the kitchen and sat down across from Harry.

"Hungry?" asked Harry, offering him a second fork, "I thought you'd be down sooner."

"I know I'm always hungry, but this is concerning if I have a normal time," said Albus, Harry smiled as he took the fork.

"Albus, about what happened at dinner," said Harry after a quite moment and two bites, "I want you to know that I shouldn't have egged that on and..."

"Dad, you were only calling people out on their... well... you know," said Albus, putting his fork down, he felt his eyes well up a little, "But why are people so stupid."

"Oh, Al," said Harry as he moved to sit next to Albus and put his arm around him, "I wish I knew."

"It's just not fair, any of it," said Albus, he whiped his face, "Why are names so important."

"There not..."

"Obviously they are, b-because... Like, our names. James could blow up the school and they'd be like, 'That's fine, he's a Potter.' O-Or, assume your good at things your not because of your family name... or that your bad because of something that happened before you were born... or that if your in certain houses, you can't be friends. Or like, 'We can't be friends because you're a Potter," Albus was ranting, he felt a wave of emotion fall, he hadn't cried this much since the incident.

Harry didn't say anything, but just held Albus in a hug, treacle tart forgotten. Albus was mulling things over in his mind now. Thinking of everything since the start of school, things he'd forgotten or ignored. Times people asked him about spells he should know, when certain basic spells slipped his mind and people snorted, that he barely talked to anyone he didn't already know before Hogwarts, Mrs. Harper's eye rolls and sneers. He hadn't noticed until Scorpius and he weren't talking. He hadn't realized how much of a soar thumb he really was, and even with his family... he'd felt lonely. He was used to Scorpius laughing and pretending to fail when he did, forcing him to study nicely, unlike Rose, them staying up late having whisper arguments in the dormitories about Quidditch. All this because of names and status, he hated it. Then his mind fell back to dinner, was the world at school just the same then. All names and who knows who.

"Albus, I wish I could just make everything work out, but something's I can't," said Harry, he seemed to be talking slowly, trying to say the right words, "I did think about busting into Malfoy's office and making a scene though. I did to Ron's, but that could be why George is a bit touchy now."

"I don't think that would make things any better," said Albus with a small chuckle.

"No, probably not," said Harry, he sighed, "You know, I had some reservations about you being friend's with Scorpius."

"Really?" asked Albus, he'd never got any indication from letters.

"Yeah, your mother and I were worried. Not because Scorpius doesn't seem like a nice kid... more something like this happening. People call it politics, your mom calls it choice words, I call it 'Not letting sleeping dogs lie.' I was worried that our past issues would come back. It did with James and Nanartemis," said Harry bitterly, "More than I thought it did."

"What do you mean?" asked Albus, "You mean Nancy, right? Is Nanartemis, her real name?"

"Nancy? Well I suppose it's easier to say," said Harry, he sighed, "Yes. Well, I knew they'd become rivals... or thought I did. I didn't know James was bullying her all this time. But they were friends, before they went to school. Not close mind you, but they'd spend time together during the week at the ministry when people bring their kids in. You went one year, remember."

"Yeah, I opened a filing cabinet and a bunch of papers flew out a window... then a team was dispatched for security purposes..." said Albus, he cringed, his first non-recorded offense to the Secrecy Act, age seven.

"Yes, well... Things happen," laughed Harry, "Yeah, well. Your brother and her used to run back and forth from the departments and make up reason's to share notes. Went on for ages, it didn't even dawn on me whose daughter she was. First two years before Hogwarts, they would do that. Only reason Malfoy and I found out was because they decided to sneak off and explore the DM. Not safe, not smart. Nanar.. Nancy said it was her idea. I knew it was James' idea, but there was a huge blow out. Mafloy and I agreed to leave it alone, and act civil. Obviously didn't work itself out at all. It's very disappointing."

"Dad... Dad?" asked Albus as Harry seemed to get an angry look on his face, "You okay?"

"Yeah, I was just trying to figure out what I could have done differently," said Harry, "I don't think Nancy telling how much your brother bullied her helped matters either."

"Like you said, can't fix everything," he began stabbing at the tart, "I-I went into the forest an Scorpius told his sister that he did so James wouldn't tell on me before I could tell you."

"You what?" asked Harry with wide eyes.

"I went into the forest," said Albus, gulping, "And I punched him and shoved Rose... But I don't remember, because I followed some ghost to a rock and I don't know why or how."

"..." Harry was silent, as if thinking about something, he sighed, "It's late Albus, we will discuss that part in the morning, okay. Get some sleep."

"Dad?" asked Albus, looking at his dad as he headed towards his office, "Aren't you going to bed."

"I have something to look into, a letter to write," Harry's concern melted into a smile, "You get some sleep, love you."

"Love you," said Albus as he got up and slowly headed upstairs.

He had expected more of a reaction then that, maybe his dad was just feeling bad for him right now. He thought about going to his dad's office and asking him to yell at him or something, but that felt stupid. As he walked up the stairs, he felt emotions mixing again. He didn't want to be rivals with Scorpius, he wanted to be friend's. He remembered how Scorpius had reacted to James when they first met. Then it dawned on him, perhaps that was the issue more than anything. Nancy only talked about James as a problem. If he could convince Mr. Malfoy he wasn't his brother, it would spare Nancy's secrets, and maybe get the ban on his friendship lifted. He smiled to himself, he was going to write a letter, too. He was pulled out of his thoughts as he heard James' door click as he reached the landing. He looked at it and wondered what James' had been doing up. He ignored it and went to his room to work on his letter to Mr. Malfoy.

To Be Continued