Hi all. I know it's been long since my last update but I've been very busy the past few days. I'm going to uni in a week so I don't know when my next update will be but this is a long chapter to make up for it. Anyways, please please please review. I can't believe I already have over 2,000 views – but only 45 reviews in comparison. This is not diminishing the value of my reviewers in any way, I love you guys so much! – but if everyone who read this story reviewed then I would have a lot more! (obviously!) It really doesn't take very long, a minute tops, most take 20 seconds. Sorry if I'm complaining. As always thanks to my regular viewers, you guys are the best! Jk owns all, as usual. I'm not sure when I'll update, if I get plenty of reviews I'll think about updating sooner but my life is about to get pretty hectic. I promise to try and update soon though. Thanks guys! Enjoy.

Dinner with Draco Malfoy

Harry had never felt this awkward in his life. Never would he had ever expected to have offered Draco Malfoy, his school nemesis, and his son, to have dinner with his family. James was slightly uncomfortable, as was Lily, but Al seemed content. Harry was shifting in his seat. Ginny placed the roast beef on the table. Scorpius and Al smirked at each other, clearly amused by how uncomfortable their parents were.

After Harry cut the meat and food was piled high on everyone's plates, all you could hear was the scraping of cutlery, the occasional cough, or the slurp of water. After a while, even Al and Scorpius were going red, there was too much tension…

"So…" Harry began, the silence had gone on long enough; even Draco looked relieved, although in all honestly he looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there. "How are things in… er… your department at the Ministry, Malfoy?"

James almost choked on his water. Seriously, was that the best his dad could come up with? Draco looked as though he wanted to die. Instead, he forced a thin smile and nodded sharply.

"Erm…" Draco coughed. "Everything's going well, thank you."

Harry would laugh if Malfoy had said that to him at any other occasion, but right now, he really wanted to be anywhere but here. Ginny even kicked him slightly under the table to make sure he replied.

"Ugh. That's great." Harry said. He felt like mentally slapping himself, he sounded so stupid. Merlin, why did he invite the God-damned man to dinner anyway? Neither of them wanted to be there!

"So…" Harry began.

Draco sighed and put down his cutlery. He suddenly really didn't want to be here. What was he thinking? "Cut the crap Potter. This small talk is pointless."

Scorpius glared at his dad, but Harry sighed as well. "You're right."

Draco, actually smiled smugly. Harry raised his eyebrow. "What?" He said.

"That's the first time you've ever said I'm right, Potter." Draco said, as though he was back at school and had earned ten points for Slytherin. James sniggered into his cup as Harry looked as though he wanted to hex Draco right then and there.

"Believe me, it'll be the last time." Harry said, through gritted teeth. Ginny stepped on his foot. He groaned.

"So, boys." Ginny said, deciding to take charge of the conversation, she focused on Al, James and Scorpius. "I saw you, and Lily of course." She added, smiling at her daughter, who was practically a replica of her, "Playing Quidditch. I must say, you lot are very good, particularly you Scorpius, I see a lot of potential. Have you considered joining the team, I know first years can enter now?"

Scorpius went red, which was quite amusing considering he had such a pale complexion. He did not want to be the centre of attention in an event as awkward as this. "Ugh." Scorpius cleared his throat. "I would like to play, I just never imagined myself playing on the Gryffindor team, and well…" he stole a shy glance at his father, who looked concerned, rather than angry, Scorpius sighed with relief. "Well, half of them hate me."

Ginny glared at James, who shrank under her gaze, and then she turned back to Scorpius, smiling she said, "Don't worry. I'm sure James will talk them out of it."

Scorpius looked even more embarrassed, as did James, who also looked slightly panicked as Draco Malfoy turned to glare at him.

"Er… yeah yeah, you can count on me, mum." He said, smiling sheepishly.

Al wanted to laugh but he knew if he did, it would come out as an embarrassing high pitched cackle he was that nervous.

"So." Harry cut in, saving his son, "How are your patronuses coming along?" He smiled at the children. James scowled.

"I'm rubbish. Collin got it instantly." He said.

"Don't worry, James." Harry said. "It is a hard spell, it took me a long time to master."

"But you were in third year when you mastered it!" James said heatedly, "I am in third year, I should have mastered it by now. Al got it first try!"

Al mimicked Scorpius' action from earlier and turned bright red. Harry sighed.

"Yes Al did, everyone's different though, and you will get it."

Even Draco looked a bit intrigued. "What is your patronus Albus?" He asked.

Al looked pale as he stared at the elder Malfoy's intense eyes.

"It's awesome." Scorpius beamed.

Al looked even worse. "It's… a d…dragon, Mister Malfoy."

Draco's eyes widened. That was power. Only the most powerful wizards had patronuses that were magical creatures. Harry smiled at Albus.

"That's nothing to be ashamed of, Al." Harry said. "Dragons are fantastic creatures."

"But you almost died by one!" Al cried.

Harry froze. Unwanted memories plaguing his mind. Ginny sent him a pained look. She remembered that year. Merlin did she remember.

"Albus, you should not let my past affect your judgements." Harry said.

"But dragons are cruel and vicious." Al said. "They are wild creatures, is that me, dad?"

"No… no." Harry knew he had to stop this, Albus was getting out of hand; even Draco began to feel sorry for Harry. "No Al, dragons are also proud, strong, brave and loyal. You are a fighter, you always have been, and your patronus shows it."

This did not appease Al's mood. He was angry. Seething his rage. His dad was still treating him like a child. Al stood up sharply, knocking the chair over. Ginny, James, Lily and Scorpius gasped, Draco raised his eyebrow. "No, dad." Al growled. "They are horrible! I'm horrible!"

"Albus Severus Potter." Harry said firmly. Draco's eyebrows were now both raised at this… Potter named his son after Snape? What on Earth…

"No! I'm done." Al marched out of the room.

"Albus Severus Potter get back here!" Ginny cried.

But he didn't listen. He left his family, and his friend. He went outside, he just wanted to be alone, he just wanted to be left alone.

"You're never alone."

No! No he was supposed to be safe here! He was supposed to be…

Al screamed. His scream was silent. Silent like the air outside. But filled with rage and power. He was cursed. He was doomed. He would admit it… he was… afraid.

The room was silent. Scorpius shuffled in his seat. He wanted to go out to Albus. Ginny and Harry looked pained. Grey clouds rolled over in the sky overhead. Rain began to lash against the windows. Lily jumped as a flash of lightning cut the sky in half. Harry sent a panicked look to Ginny.

"Stay here." He said.

"I'll go and find him." Scorpius said, as Harry stood up.

Harry shook his head firmly. "No Scorpius, he's my son."

"You've caused him enough grief." Scorpius replied, scowling at Harry, whose eyes narrowed at the young Malfoy.

"Scorpius." Draco said, glaring at his son. "Don't. They've looked after you."

"Please dad." Scorpius begged, "I know Al better than anyone."

Harry gaped at Scorpius in disbelief. Ginny sighed.

"Okay." Harry sighed. "Okay, but I'm coming out in five minutes if you boys don't come back."

"Yes. We'll be back." Scorpius said, and ran out of the room after his friend. Draco sighed. "I'm sorry, Potter, I don't know what my son-"

"Hey." Harry said, "It's okay.

Meanwhile, Scorpius was outside. The rain thrashed his face like ice cold bullets and the wind whipped his robes. Scorpius could see Al. He was standing, alone, in the middle of the field, completely soaking.

"Al!" Scorpius cried.

Al didn't seem to move. He looked as though he was talking to someone…okay…Scorpius shuddered… he needed answers now. Rose was definitely right, something was up with Al. He was not the same boy he met on the train.

"ALBUS!" Scorpius shouted.

Al looked up, he looked… scared, like a rabbit caught in headlights. He then pocketed something. Scorpius' eyes narrowed.

"Al, come on, mate, you're going to freeze out here!" Scorpius shouted.

Albus trudged over. The rain seemed to get lighter, as though the clouds above were thinning. It was only spitting now. Sunlight filtered through the grey atmosphere. Al approached him, his eyes full of dread.

"They hate me don't they?" He whispered.

Scorpius sighed. "They don't hate you, your parents are just worried about you. I mean…" Scorpius wasn't good at this deep stuff, Scorpius sighed, inwardly cringing, "I am worried about you…" he was worried about him. Al was his best friend, but Scorpius was also a Malfoy, he rarely admitted any of this…

Al smiled sadly. "Thanks Scorp."

Scorpius whispered. "You know… a few nights ago, you were going to tell me something, something important." Scorpius took a deep breath as Al stared at him intensely, slightly too intensely. "If there was anything bothering you, now's the time to tell it."

Scorpius waiting. He figured about a minute passed before Al spoke. During this time Al's expression rarely changed, his eyes seemed fixed, like a statue. Al let out a small breathe.

"I'm fine." He said.

Scorpius' eyes narrowed. He said that a bit too quickly.

"I'm fine honest." Al insisted.

"Just, apologise to your parents." Scorpius sighed.

Al reddened. His eyes downcast. He really didn't want to go back in there. Mustering up his remaining courage, Al followed Scorpius back into the house, slowly…and then he crept behind his friend as they re-entered the kitchen. The plates were all cleared up and Draco, Lily and James were not there. Instead, his dad sat on the table, hands in his head, and his mum was preparing desert to have in the lounge. Harry glanced up as Scorpius entered, followed by Albus, who looked like he wanted to be swallowed up by the ground beneath him. Harry smiled grimly.

"Scorpius, your dad is in the lounge, can we have a moment with Albus, please?" Harry asked. Scorpius nodded robotically and left, closing the door behind him. Harry then glanced at Albus, who was looking down at his feet.

"Al, what's wrong?" Harry asked, "We received a very strange letter from Professor Delanor yesterday saying that you were not behaving well in class."

Al's shoulders sagged even more.

Ginny folded her arms and looked sternly at her son. All of the Potter kids always preferred it when their dad told them off, Harry couldn't stay mad at them for more than five minutes, Ginny on the other hand… well, she was a Weasley.

"It's not my fault!" Al said.

"Watch your tone young man, or you will be grounded for the rest of the holidays." Ginny snapped. Harry stood up and put a warm hand on his wife's shoulder, trying to calm her down.

"Al, we are just concerned about you? You stopped writing to us half-way through the term, I know it's been hard on you but we'll never treat you any differently because…"

"You all have!" Al cried. "Even though you won't admit it, you hate having a son in Slytherin, you can't say it because you're Harry Potter!"

"ALBUS!" Ginny raised her voice, but then quietened, "Look, I don't know what's got into you, young man, but your father and I do not tolerate this behaviour, whether you are in Gryffindor or Slytherin." Ginny's gaze softened as Al's eyes watered. He wanted to tell them… he really did… but he couldn't…

"Please." Ginny said, "You can tell us what's bothering you, Al. We love you, and we only want what's best for you."

This made Al feel even more guilty.

"I'm sorry." He whispered. Harry's face softened. "I'm sorry dad, I shouldn't have said what I said."

"It's okay son." Harry said softly, and accepted Albus' hug. The two Potters embraced for a few minutes, then broke apart.

"I know mum." Albus said, wiping a tear from his eye.

Ginny nodded. "We still have to ground you."

Al nodded.

"But we'll do it after the Christmas party." Harry added. Al smiled thankfully, Ginny nodded.

"Thank you." Al said, he then started to walk out of the kitchen when Harry said,

"Al, you would tell us, right?"

Al bit his lip, he then turned to face his parents. "Course." He smiled, then opened the door and joined the others in the lounge. Meanwhile, Ginny and Harry looked at each other, thinking the same thing.

"Harry, will Al…" Ginny choked.

Harry nodded, holding his wife close, Ginny leant into his chest, hiding her face as a few tears streaked down her cheeks. "He'll be okay, Gin." Harry muttered, "He'll be ok."

Thanks guys. A bit of family drama then, don't worry it gets better. Al, Rose and Scorpius, plus the Potters and Weasleys will be having a massive Christmas party at the burrow. And a certain Malfoy may visit at the end. Thanks guys and please read and review! :)