The next day was Christmas Eve and, as usual, they headed off to Hogsmeade for last minute shopping. Albus only had to get one thing but the his dad and James had lots to get apparently. Albus walked back to their room in The Three Broomsticks. The Potter's always got a room for one night so that when a person was done shopping they could wrap the presents unseen by their family members. They always rented the best room, unless it was taken, and Albus was beginning to realize that they rented the room for different reasons than he was told. If Albus had to guess, they rented the room to help out the inn's business. Albus wrapped his one present and then sat down with a book from Professor Alden by the fire. He'd already finished five of the books. He hadn't really enjoyed any of them. He was now reading "The Art of Herbology" and he was really bored. But, dutifully, he continued reading the book and writing notes on what he thought. He didn't know how long he worked on it but eventually the rest of his family trickled in. Ginny and Lily came in with a few bags and went to the bedroom giggling about something. Harry and James were next a few later. They staggered under the weight of their gifts into the bedroom that unoccupied and stayed in there, wrapping presents until Ginny called for dinner. Madam Rosmerta and a waitress came up with steaming plates of food. Albus' parents thanked them and Madam Rosmerta beamed. The Potter family dug in and for a few minutes all you could hear was the scraping of forks on plates. Harry started some small talk and for a while it seemed like nothing was wrong. At a closer look, James and Albus still weren't talking to each or even looking at each other. When everyone was done Harry sighed, "Ok, this needs to end tonight. James, Albus what is going on?" James glared at Albus and Albus looked down at his plate. Ginny collected the plates and Lily got up to help her.

"We're not leaving this room until you boys tell me why you're avoiding each other," Harry said in his most stern voice. Albus seemed to flinch at the threat but didn't say anything. James just sat back and glared at his brother.

"James, stop glaring at Albus!" Ginny scolded. James scoffed but did as he was told and looked at his father.

"Maybe Albus is the problem," James said with a sneer. Harry's mood grew darker by the look on James face and, knowing he might regret this later, said, "Why would that be?"

"Look at him! Thinking he's so high and mighty because he can read a big book," James said, "I mean, even his friends are sick of him because they're not returning his letters." Albus got up from the table and brought his dish over to his mother angrily. It hurt that his friends hadn't responded but what hurt more was that James was using it against him. Suddenly, Albus froze. How did James know he wasn't getting letters? He hadn't told anyone about not receiving letters from his friends, not even his parents. As the realization hit him, his anger exploded.

"You slimy git!" Albus shouted at James. Harry's head snapped up towards his son at his tone of voice. Albus looked furious. He had his hands clenched and nostrils flared. Harry had rarely seen his youngest son's temper but when he did see it, it was explosive.

"What?" James challenged, getting up from his chair.

"You stole my letters! How dare you!" Albus yelled. James' face paled slightly as he realized he'd given himself away.

"What are you talking ab-"

"I didn't tell anyone I wasn't receiving letters, you prat! How dare you!" Albus could feel himself getting angrier by the minute and he couldn't stop himself. James had the decency to look slightly ashamed and a little afraid, as he saw his brother's furious glare.

"I've had it, James! I've had it with your prejudiced thinking and whispered remarks! I am in Slytherin! Get that through your thick skull! The hat did not make a mistake, I am not going to change houses! I am proud of the house I'm in and proud to be a Slytherin! That doesn't give you the right to call me 'snake' or trip me in the halls or expose my greatest fear! You are a pompous prick and I'm glad I'm not in the same house as you! I was going to apologize for the Halloween incident but now, you deserved every bit of that humiliation, you arsehole!" Albus nearly screamed. Before anyone could stop him, he rushed out of the room, down the stairs, and outside. He was so angry, infuriated. James had gone too far this time. Albus wasn't really watching where he was going, but when he looked up he realized he'd run into the forest. He looked around at the tall, snow-covered trees. He stood there for awhile just catching his breath when he heard a sound to his right. He turned towards it and heard it again. Laughter. He slowly made his way to the sound and soon found himself in a clearing. In the middle of the clearing was Scorpious, Tevya, and Rhyleigh making snow angels.

"Hey! Look who decided to show up!" Scorpious cried with a smile.

"Al!"

"Albus!" Albus couldn't help but smile as his friends surrounded him. He could feel his anger slowly ebbing away with the cold winter air.

"Hey so why didn't you return our letters?" Scorpious asked bluntly.

"James stole them so I thought you guys were ignoring me or something," Albus admitted.

"What? James needs to get a life," Tevya commented. Albus laughed and let go of the rest of his anger. The four friends walked through the forest chatting about their winter breaks and how different it felt to be home or working, in Rhyleigh's case. They laughed and wrestled, throwing snow at each other and just having fun.

"Hey, you guys want to go sledding?" Tevya asked excited. Scorpious, Albus, and Rhyleigh looked at him in confusion.

"What? You seriously don't know what sledding is?" Tevya questioned. They shook their heads and Tevya laughed.

"Alright, so this," motioning to a piece of plastic he'd been carrying, "is called a sled. You take it on a hill of snow and ride on it to the bottom. It's the most fun you will ever have, guaranteed!" Albus looked at the sled skeptically. You were supposed to ride down a hill covered in snow on a piece of plastic?

"Let's try it!" Scorpious cried, excited. Tevya showed them to a hill that overlooked one of the streets of Hogsmeade.

"I've been wanting to try this hill all day! This is going to be awesome!" Tevya set down the sled and sat in the front. He directed Scorpious to sit behind him, Albus behind Scopious, and Rhyleigh last.

"Everybody in?" Tevya asked. Albus could feel the sled wanting to move and felt his heartbeat quicken.

"Yes!" they all answered. Tevya lifted his feet and they were off. They flew down the snowbank and they all screamed in excitement. It was exhilarating to fly down the hill with the wind whipping you in the face. Rhyleigh was hugging Albus tightly while Albus held onto the sides for dear life. Suddenly, Albus saw a problem. The end of the hill was approaching but Albus didn't see how they'd stop, they were going really fast.

"Tevya!" Albus shouted, "How does it stop?"

"Easy! You just put your hands down, like brakes," Tevya demonstrated this but nothing happened, "Um…that usually works." Tevya tried it again and then Albus joined him. The sled slowed slightly but it wasn't stopping.

"Tevya, make it stop!" Scorpious shouted.

"I'm trying!" Tevya yelled back.

"You guys look!" Rhyleigh cried. They looked up and saw that they had passed the bottom of the hill and were heading straight towards the street. They all screamed in terror and held on for dear life. They rocketed past the first shops and started heading towards the shops on the other side of the street.

"LEAN TO THE RIGHT!" Tevya shouted. They all leaned and the sled swung the other way. However, they leaned too much and started spinning in circles. The four screamed as they lost control of the sled. Albus thought he heard adults shouting after them but he couldn't tell, he was spinning so fast. Albus saw a snowbank and before he could shout a warning they crashed into the snow, each of them flying in different directions. For a moment it was silent and then Scorpoius whooped, "Yeah! Let's do it again!" They all cracked up laughing and Albus realized, even though it was terrifying, it was the most fun he'd had in a long time. Albus got up and adjusted his glasses, watching Scorpious and Tevya have a snowball fight.

"Scoprious Hyperion Malfoy!" someone shouted. Scorpious froze then slowly turned towards the voice. Albus looked too and what he saw made him freeze, too. Draco and Astoria had their arms crossed whereas Azalea had her mouth covered, giggling. Harry and Ginny were looking at Albus in shock as were James and Lily. The only one missing was Tevya's mum.

"um, hi dad," Scopious waved slightly. Draco had his arms crossed tightly and was tapping his foot in annoyance.

"What do you think you're doing?" Draco demanded. Scorpious looked around and said, "Sledding." Albus tried to choke back the laugh that threatened to escape as he looked at his friend's father. Draco gave Scorpious the that's-not-the-answer-I-wanted stare. Scorpious looked pleadingly at his friends and then back to his father.

"Sledding…in the snow?" Scorpious ventured. Albus couldn't contain it any longer and burst out laughing. Apparently he wasn't the only one. Tevya and Rhleigh were shaking with laughter and Astoria was covering her mouth, trying to suppress her laugh. Draco sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Tevya Robert Longhorn! What did I tell you about sledding at night?" Tevya's mum came striding down the street with her hands on her hips. Albus got a vague recollection of his grandmother by looking at Tevya's mum.

"Mum-I-" Tevya stammered, paling.

"Did you crash? How did you end up on the street?" she looked around, saw the big hill and growled, "Did you go down the hill I specifically told you not to go down?" Tevya seemed to shrink under his mother's gaze and just nodded. His mother's eyes blazed and she was about to drill into him when Rhyleigh piped up, "Mrs. Longhorn, it wasn't all Tevya's fault." Tevya's mum looked at Rhyleigh then at everyone around her son, realizing for the first time that they weren't alone.

"We've never gone sledding and he wanted to show us what it was like. No one got hurt and we had a lot of fun! Right?" Rhyleigh asked. Scorpious whooped "Yes!" and Albus laughed, "Best fun I've had in a long time!" Tevya smiled gratefully at his friends and his mother's gaze softened.

"Well, I'm glad you had a good time with your friends but that doesn't mean you get out of punishment," she scolded. Tevya nodded and accepted his fate without argument. There was a bit of uncomfortable silence in which the parents didn't know if they should scold their kids or introduce each other.

"I'm sorry. My name is Gloria Longhorn, Tevya's mother," Gloria said turning to the parents.

"It's very nice to meet you, Gloria. My name's Ginny Potter and this is my husband Harry Potter. We are the parents of Albus Potter," Ginny introduced her family. Gloria shook both Ginny's and Harry's hands and then asked, "And these are siblings?"

"Hello Mrs. Longhorn. I'm Lily and this is James. I'm the youngest," Lily announced, sticking out her hand. James mumbled a hello and looked at the ground.

"Well it is very nice to meet you," Gloria replied, shaking Lily's hand. Lily shoved James but before he could offer his hand Astoria Malfoy stepped forward.

"Gloria, my name is Astoria Malfoy and this is my husband Draco, you already know Scorpious, and my daughter Azalea," she introduced, shaking Gloria's hand. Draco stepped forward and shook hands, as did Azalea.

"Tevya, which one is the friend I didn't meet at the train station?" Gloria asked Tevya.

"Oh that would be Rhyleigh," Tevya said, pointing to Rhyleigh. Rhyleigh stepped forward and said, "It's very nice to meet you Mrs. Longhorn. I'm Rhyleigh." They shook hands and Gloria looked around.

"My parents are working right now," Rhyleigh piped up, avoiding the question that was on Gloria's lips. Gloria nodded understanding.

"Well, it's been a pleasure meeting everyone, but Tevya and I really should be going home. Scorpious, Albus, and Rhyleigh you are welcome to come and, what was the phrase you said, hang out, that's it! You are welcome to as long as your parents give you permission," Gloria said, much to the embarrassment of Tevya. The two waved and walked away. More silence, Albus fidgeted, not quite sure what to do.

"Well, Scorpious and Rhyleigh, it is very nice to meet you for the first time," Ginny began, "Now, I understand this may be awkward but I need you to tell me how my sons have been acting and I need the truth." James looked at his mother horrified. He opened his mouth to protest but Ginny held up her hand and gave him a glare. James shut his mouth and looked at the ground, wishing it would swallow him whole. Scorpious, Rhyleigh, and Albus shared a look. Albus sighed and shrugged.

"Well, Mrs. Potter, to be honest, he hasn't been the best brother," Scorpious said nervously. Draco and Astoria inhaled sharply but Scorpious continued, "He's been calling Albus a snake for most of the year. It got worse after Halloween. He started putting snakes in Albus' school bag or enchanting is quill to become a snake. He also got other Gryffindors to do it. He keeps telling Albus the hat made a mistake and that he should be in Gryffindor. But the thing is he isn't a Gryffindor, he's a Slytherin. And that's not a bad thing. We talked to Severus Snape about what it took to be a Slytherin and he said the attributes were ambition, cunning, and resourcefulness. Well I'd say Albus is pretty ambitious because he's read our school books I don't know how many times. He's the top in every class even though he falls asleep. And the only reason he falls asleep is because he's bored. So I don't know what James' problem is but I think Albus is a good guy, a great friend." Scorpious smiled and Albus grinned back. There was a moment of stunned silence. Harry and Ginny turned to their eldest son who was blushing from embarrassment.

"Look, so maybe I was over the top a little bit but Albus needed to learn not to be a snob. Just because he's top of the class, doesn't mean he's better than anyone else and that's what he portrayed," James defended himself. Albus sighed and wished James would just accept he might've done something wrong.

"Careful James, that pride could land you in Slytherin," Rhyleigh said coolly. James paled and stepped back. Albus turned to Rhyleigh in shock and was surprised by what he saw. Instead of the shy girl he'd become accustomed to, standing before him was a confident girl with her arms crossed fixing James with an icy stare. Rhyleigh took a deep breath and said, "It was nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Potter, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy, James, Lily, Azalea. I apologize for leaving so abruptly but I hadn't realized the time and should get going. Scorpious, Albus, it was good to see you again. Merry Christmas!" She passed by gracefully and waved goodbye.

"Merry Christmas!" Albus and Scorpious chorused. Scorpious was trying really hard not to smile and Albus found he was having similar trouble. Rhyleigh turned back, out of site of the parents, and gave Albus a look. Albus then truly smiled and accepted what he had to do. James and him were stubborn but at some point someone had to give in.

"James, I'm sorry I told everyone your fear. It was wrong and I shouldn't have done that. I'm also sorry for the early words I used to describe you. They weren't true," Albus apologized. James looked at him in surprise as did the rest of the family. Before James could respond, Albus turned towards the Malfoys and said, "It's nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs Malfoy. You too, Azalea. Scor's been a great friend and I'm glad I met him on the train that day." Astoria smiled and the sweet boy in front of her and said, "Scor is lucky to have a friend like you too."

"Well, it really is late and we should also be going," Astoria announced turning to Harry and Ginny, "It was lovely to see you tonight. You have such beautiful children."

"Thank you Astoria. You have very attractive children yourself," Ginny replied shaking Astoria's outstretched hand, "Goodnight." Astoria smiled and started walking away with Azalea trailing behind. Draco nodded towards Harry and Ginny and followed his wife.

"See ya at school Al!" Scorpious said, slapping him on the back.

"See ya," Albus smiled, waving. The Malfoy family disappeared into the dark and Albus turned back to his family.

"Well, I think we've had enough apologies, confessions, and introductions for one night. Let's go home," Harry sighed. Lily nodded and Ginny smiled up at her husband. It had been an eventful night and there was a lot to discuss in the morning, but it could wait. Ginny wrapped Albus into a hug, kissing him on the forehead.

"Dad, can we still have ice cream when we get home," Lily asked.

"Yes, Lils, we can still have ice cream," Harry chuckled. Harry led his family back to their room and checked them out. They apparated home and after ice cream, went to bed. Albus and James still hadn't said anything to each other, but it wasn't them ignoring each other. Albus knew his brother needed space and he gave it to him willingly. As Harry was falling asleep with Ginny in his arms, he couldn't help but admire how much Albus had grown up.

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed! :D I really appreciate it! I will try to take each Hogwarts year slowly and build up the friends relationship and the darkness that threatens their happiness (foreshadowing! lol) I hope you enjoyed this chapter, i've been thinking about it for a while! Tell me what you think and how i'm writing! Thank you again so much for reading this story! Thank you for the reviews! :D