Hey everyone! Yeah, this story isn't exactly super popular yet, but hopefully people will see it, right? Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for those few people who actually went and took the time to read this. !Please review!

Chapter 10: A Christmas Visit from Ol' Barty

Over the months, Albus and Rose got to know Scorpius a bit more. Albus and Scorpius got to know Mack, Gary, and Brody a bit more. Rose got to know Kaitlyn, Marina, and Caroline Mayfield, (Another one of her dorm mates) a bit more. Albus, Scorpius, and Rose got to know Merope a bit more. People got to know other people a bit more. It was a time of getting to know people.

Albus' favorite class was Defense against the Dark Arts; he had a thing for it, just like his dad.

Flying Lessons were a close second though. Albus was perfect for a Chaser. It seemed that the Chaser skills James, Harry's dad had, had regenerated after a generation.

Rose wasn't too enthusiastic about Flying Lessons. Scorpius on the other hand, was a great seeker. "Just like my father," he said.

The threesome got to find out that Merope's family had no idea about their daughter's name. They were from Canada, and knew about Voldemort, but not all the nitty gritty details. Her family had moved to England not long ago. They were very ignorant on Merope and didn't exactly care for her. Merope said that deep inside though, they loved her. Merope also had no idea about her name. That day when she was going to the Headmaster's Office was because she wanted to find out about her name. Why people were shirking away from her and the more brave ones giving her dirty looks. She knew Dumbledore would be able to answer her questions. She still was upset though that a teacher had reacted the same way as the kids did.

The foursome, along with the Aurors, often visited Hagrid's cabin for some tea and rock cakes. They may not necessarily have liked the rock cakes, but what Hagrid didn't know, wouldn't hurt him.

The Aurors stayed at Hogwarts, doing research on Dementors. To find out more about their nature and abilities. They got further, only a little bit though. But that wasn't released to the Wizarding community yet. It would bring out suspicions, questions on why the Aurors were investigating something that barely had anything to do with what they should have been doing.

Time flew by and Christmas was upon Hogwarts. Unlike most of the time, most kids stayed at Hogwarts for Christmas break. The Dark Mark fiasco still hadn't died down and parents thought it was much safer for their kids to stay at Hogwarts where there were top Aurors staying.

Neville still hadn't changed his opinion about Scorpius. He was practically ignoring him. Albus and Rose kept on insisting to talk to Neville, but Scorpius preferred they didn't. He said it would just make matters worse.

Anyone who knew Neville would know that that wouldn't make matters worse. But Scorpius didn't know Neville.

Christmas morning was great! Albus received some muggle candy from Brody, who was half-blood. He got some Wizarding candy from Gary. And some Puking Pastilles from Mack.

That was a Weasley's Wizard Wheezes product. Mack seemed really into the business. Albus made a mental note to recommend him to his uncles George and Ron.

Scorpius gave him a little keychain to put on his schoolbag that said: We're da ones… Wizarding village, New York, New York, America. It had been charmed to look like New York City in America. Scorpius had gone there when he was younger and bought it in hopes that he could give it to a friend that was friends with him despite knowing how racist his family used to be. He had always known that his family used to be very prejudice and had wanted to be very different.

Rose had given Albus and Scorpius a History of Magic textbook. Except it was a magical textbook that she had gotten from Diagon Alley, the line of Wizarding markets in London. Instead of having a drawling voice like Professor Binns, it actually played scenes of what you should be learning about. It was kind of like muggle television, except magical. Scorpius found it interesting; Albus thought it wasn't much.

Merope had given Rose, Scorpius, and Albus each a star that she had made herself. It was charmed to shine whenever it could sense that it's holder wasn't exactly in a 'Yippee!' mood.

She had also given Albus (unbeknownst to the others) a box of chocolates that gave a surge of power for the next five minutes to the eater. They would be able to perform a spell that would need one-hundred times the magical power than what they really had.

The others that hadn't given everyone the same gift had exchanged various gifts.

"Scorpius! I am going to go talk to Neville today! Now! I don't care if you don't want me to! I know he doesn't mean to, but he totally humiliated you! Did you hear what the Stinkin' Slytherins said? 'Oh Professor Longbottom! We think you should know Malfoy told us that none of us hated the fact that the school admits muggle-borns as much as he does! Not that we have anything against them! He even used the word!' Come on, those stupid idiots said that! I know Neville didn't believe them, but still! I'm going up there now! Are you coming or not Rose?!" stormed Albus angrily.

Most of the school was at the Christmas feast. Merope, Scorpius, Rose, and Albus were sitting together, along with the rest of the cousins. They didn't need to go home. Some of their family at least was right here at Hogwarts.

"Uh, you can go Albus, I'm not feeling so well," said Rose nervously, clutching her stomach and running off to the bathroom pulling Merope with her.

Scorpius immediately gasped and ran off after Rose. Their friendship had really improved over the months after the big fight.

"Um, she looked like she was going to be sick," said Dominique worriedly.

Albus stood up. "I'll go get Aunt Hermione." He ran off to the staff table.

"Aunt Hermione! Rose and Merope just went off to the bathroom! Rose looked like she was about to throw up!"

Hermione grabbed her beaded bag and jumped up to go help Rose.

Albus watched her leave. She walked out of the Great Hall and into the girls' bathroom.

Hermione gasped. Most of the Great Hall had taken to watching what was going on now. Albus watched as she fell back after a muffled voice was heard. What was going on? Hermione fell down. "Crouch!" was all she managed to say before she started screaming in pain.

Everything suddenly became in slow motion. The Aurors running over to Hermione. The staff jumping up and getting the students away. Rose and Scorpius were in there. Not to mention Merope. Why did he leave her? Why did he leave his friends in there? Why couldn't it have been him instead?

Everything was blank. Albus closed his eyes, and when he opened them, he was in the bathroom. With Merope, and Scorpius, and Rose. They were against the wall. Scorpius had his arm around Rose who was holding Merope's hand. Albus saw it all. It took about a second for them to notice Albus. Merope ran over to him and hugged him. He squeezed her hand tightly and at the same moment, saw Bartemius Crouch Junior.

"Why I remember your parents! Turned yours into a ferret once Malfoy. To make sure he didn't do anything to your big guy, Potter. Had to make sure he was squeaky clean and good as new for my Lord to kill. Your old grandpa Malfoy, oh was he a coward!" cackled Crouch crazily. "And you! Never would've thought that since my master couldn't get your father, I could get you! I will avenge my master!"

"Get away from them NOW!" growled Ron, Harry, and Dean almost at the same moment.

" Oh Merlin. This is quite the reunion. Thomas, is that you? Dunbar? Remember me, your teacher, Mad-Eye Moody. Heard he died straight from the hands of my Lord!" chuckled Crouch, his voice getting more maniacal by every word.

All this time, the kids were there, against the wall as before, watching the scene unfold in front of them.

Suddenly, Neville burst in along with some other staff.

"Oh, wow! Longbottom? My, remember the good old days? I still think of the delight I had of meeting your parents Longbottom! Every time I see you! Ah, how are they?"

Neville was about to charge when Fay stopped him, "He's got the kids!"

Albus suddenly remembered something! Neville's parents were tortured into insanity by a few Death Eaters, Crouch included.

It hit him. Why didn't he think of it earlier? The Knockback Jinx! He had learnt it in Defense against the Dark Arts! Albus carefully pulled out his wand.

Merope, who was squeezing his hand tightly, gave Albus a knowing and scared look. Scorpius and Rose did the same. They nodded as Albus cast the spell.

"Flipendo!" said Albus quickly and confidently. Crouch's wand flew out of his hand as he was thrown into the air about six feet back. It took him about almost a second to figure out that he was just outsmarted by an eleven year old.

That second was more than enough for the Aurors and some staff who immediately shot several hexes and curses at Crouch.

The kids watched Crouch immediately become unconscious from the spells. And again, everything was in slow motion. The world was blank, and Albus closed his eyes. When he opened them, he was back at the staff table in the Great Hall.

He saw his father run out to him and hug him, then pull him to the scene of the small battle that had just occurred.

Albus took in the place that he wasn't exactly sure whether he was just there or not. Ron was carrying Hermione out as fast as he could, probably to the hospital wing. Dean and Fay were tying Crouch up. The staff was scrambling out to send Patronuses to the Ministry. And Merope, Scorpius, and Rose were being led out by some Ministry employees that had already gotten there. It was chaos, kind of.

Harry was holding Albus' hand and taking him back out. "Albus, how did you do it?" asked Harry plainly.

"Do what?" replied Albus, irritated that the first question hadn't been, 'Are you okay?'

"Get to the bathroom and back to the Great Hall in the exact same place. I'm sorry my first question wasn't 'Are you okay?', but this is magic never done before. It's never been heard of. It's not Apparition. It's something far more complicated than that. Albus, you may have just done a new type of magic," Harry said very seriously.

"Well, I-I don't know. I was thinking, regretting that it wasn't me in there instead of Merope, and Rose and Scorpius. Or me with them. I was worried about them. And then, everything was blank, and I closed my eyes. When I opened them, I was in the bathroom. And after it was over, the same thing happened and I was transported back to the exact same spot I was standing before. I don't know what happened!" exclaimed Albus, his voice getting more frantic by every word.

Harry nodded, listening to every word his son said. He wouldn't worry him though, Albus knew his dad. Now wasn't the time. He had just done something hugely heroic, and now was not the time to question him about all this.

"Okay, well Albus you don't have to talk about it now. I know exactly how you feel. I've experienced something like this at such a young age. You know, the facing a Dark Wizard who wanted to kill you with your friends. I know. I've faced Voldemort in the back of some guy's head in my first year. It's okay."

Harry chuckled and went on, "And soon we can forget about this and go on, your birthday is next month, so is Rose's, let's focus on planning that now. I will explain to you as much as I can later on, okay?"

Albus nodded and let Harry take him to the hospital wing along with the other three who tentatively followed.

Long enough? :)