"Legerdemain"

"Chapter Twenty-One: The One Where Everyone Tattles"

Albus sighed as he looked up at the ceiling of his cell in solitary confinement. He had trembled when the guards had come for him at St. Mungo's and had never been so relieved that his dad and Uncle Ron made the trip to the prison with him. His dad had pressed a kiss to the cheek and hugged him before the bars of his cell had been closed. A grumpy guard sat down outside of his cell in a little rickety wooden chair.

It was the first of September when Albus went back to jail in some cruel sort of irony. He had always looked forward to the first in order to spend every day with Scorpius again. Now, he only saw three stone walls and a set of bars. He licked his bottom lip, the solitary section of the prison was so eerily quiet. He bet nobody would even hear him scream besides the guard outside of his cell reading a book.
A low bark drew Albus' attention. Albus turned his head to see the giant black dog back. He was sitting inside Albus' cell, his tongue lolling out of its mouth and tail wagging. It had been a while since Albus dreamed about Sirius Black. In all honesty, it had been a while since he had even thought of the man.

Sitting up, Albus swung his legs off the small camp bed. His fingers curled around the lumpy mattress as the dog became a man. Sirius crossed the room and took a seat next to Albus. Silence hung between them and Albus wondered when he'd start to talk. Albus was the one to break the silence.

"What are you doing here?"

"Checking in on you," Sirius replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I didn't like seeing you so upset when they transported you back to this hellhole."

"Yeah, well, I don't have the fondest memories of this place," Albus retorted in a bitter tone. "You know, because I nearly got beat to death and all."

Sirius squeezed his shoulder. "You'll be safer on a day-to-day basis in solitary at least."

"Yeah, unless I go completely mental from isolation," Albus snapped. "I'm already talking to a dead guy in my dreams. I'm in tip-top mental shape."

Sirius chuckled, a smile spreading across his lips. "You won't be alone, Albus. I promise I won't leave you."

Albus shook his head. "I'm going mad, aren't I? I know this place used to crawl with Dementors that drove you mad. Maybe it wasn't the Dementors. Maybe it's just this place in general."

"How can I prove to you that I'm really here? Would seeing your grandparents help? I can call them. Your grandfather has been with your dad ever since I've decided to stay with you. Bit of a role reversal after so long, but I think it was necessary given where you are these days. Your grandmother is with your sister right now. Dora is with Teddy, of course. Remus has been kind enough to look out for James right now. Fred's with your mum. It's been a while since we've all had to split apart to watch out for you lot."

Albus blinked. "That sounds mental, Sirius. I don't even know what that means."

Sirius smiled softly. "When things are good and you're not in danger, we normally just bounce around in watching over you lot. I've always stayed with your dad though. I haven't left him since I died… well, until you were arrested that is. We normally just enjoy your lives. Right now, though, so many of you are in danger that it's necessary that we split up."

"Who else is in danger besides me?" Albus asked, a frown forming on his face.

"You mustn't worry about it," Sirius said. "Hold on a moment."

Sirius went very still and closed his eyes. His fingers curled around the edge of the camp bed. Albus narrowed his eyes, wondering what the hell was even happening. Sirius' body suddenly relaxed and movement caught the corner of Albus' eye. His head whipped around and Albus swore he was looking at his dad… a lot younger version of his dad. They had the same messy hair, the same thin face, the same lopsided smile.

"Harry and Ginny are together," the man said. "Fred is staying with them both."

Sirius nodded. "Albus believes he's losing his mind and we're not real."

"Ahh, well, that's unfortunate. Although, I daresay that if I was in his position, I'd probably think the same thing," the man replied as he walked closer to them. "Do you know that I've always watched you when your family was going through a particularly hard time? We've always just stuck with our person until now. Sirius asked to switch which I didn't mind. But you were always my person. Do you know who I am?"

Albus swallowed. "My grandfather?"

James smiled and nodded, his hands in his trouser pockets. "You look so much like your father."

"Yeah, well, I'm not going to lie, if my dad was the same age as you are, I'm not sure I could tell you apart," Albus replied.

Sirius let out a bark-like laugh. "I swear, the only way I can tell you and your dad apart is the fact that you don't have glasses. The Potter genes are strong."

"James looks more like Uncle Ron," Albus said. "Guess they're not that strong."

"Close enough," James replied with a shrug. "Can't have two Jameses being identical. He has the messy hair and the bad eye sight. Those are genes that are strong."

"Uh, Lily?"

Sirius smirked. "Well, she does have red on both sides but she looks like Harry if Harry was a girl. The twins will both have black hair though. Could you imagine two little girls with crazy black curls?"

"Two girls?" Albus asked. "We don't know what she's having."

"Ah, well, we know more than you then," James said with a grin. "Being dead and all, we just naturally know more."

"What about James then?" Albus asked. "What's he having?"

"Definitely a boy," Sirius replied. "The Weasley reproductive genes are strong in him. He'd have to have seven kids to finally get a girl."

"Will he? Have seven kids?" Albus asked.

"We're not clairvoyant, Albus," James replied. "We just have some insider information."

Albus couldn't help but feel a little disappointed at the admission. He had hoped maybe they could tell him how everything would shake out, if he'd be convicted of murder and treason only to live his life out in prison. Or if maybe he'd be found not guilty and able to marry Scorpius. Maybe they could even start a family. It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to have a little baby looking like Scorpius running around. It hadn't been something they had discussed in depth, but he knew Scorpius wanted at least one child.

"Hey, I know this is hard, kid," Sirius whispered, his hand clasping on the back of Albus' neck. "We'll be here every night if you like. James and I. Or if you want to switch it up a bit, we can do that too. I know you need us right now."

Albus sucked in a breath. Even if they were just in his imagination, it was comforting having them there. Very slowly, he nodded his head and watched as they both smiled broadly at him. Maybe between visits from his family during the day and his dead ancestors in his dreams, solitary wouldn't be as bad as he thought it would.

Lily entered Malfoy Manor after work one evening to an empty house. She sighed heavily as she sat her bag on the table by the door and made her way upstairs. She knew it was Scorpius' late night at the hospital which upset her more than she was willing to admit. It just amplified the fact that she was alone again. She had only lived with Scorpius for a few weeks at this point and he was often gone at work, visiting his dad, or visiting Albus. Not that she blamed him, but she was beginning to wonder if moving out of her parents' house had been a bad idea.

She passed Scorpius' bedroom to see Alby laying on his bed, his head on his paws and a sour look on his face. She walked in and scowled at the kitten. Alby had not taken to her in the way she anticipated. He was not her companion, didn't cuddle with her at night, nor did he even sleep in her bed. No, Alby the grumpy cat loved Scorpius. The kitten was constantly sitting on his shoulder or trying to bury himself underneath Scorpius' shirt. The damn thing even slept with Scorpius. Her comfort cat had become Scorpius' little companion.

Lily walked into the bedroom and Alby hissed at her. Rolling her eyes, she opened Scorpius' wardrobe and pulled out one of his jumpers and pulled it on over her head. She then tiptoed over to the bed.

Bending down, she reached out a hand and tapped her sparkly purple nails in front of him. He meowed, his little paw batting at her fingers.

Victory!

She scooped the kitten up and cuddled him close to her chest. Alby purred as he rubbed his cheek against the fabric of Scorpius' jumper. She grinned in triumph, stopping by her bedroom to ditch her heels in favor of her slippers before heading downstairs.

Lily had started back at work about a week and a half ago. She had spent far too much time feeling sorry for herself. When she realized that she was visiting Albus every single day because she had nothing else to do, she thought going back to work would help occupy her time. She had tried not to think about Rayko Krum or the things he had done. She knew she needed to find herself again and work out everything in her head before she even considered talking to him. It had felt like an eternity that they had been apart and the breakup was still too raw to even sort it out in her mind.

Whether they got back together or not, Rayko was the father to her unborn twins. They would have to be civil to one another for the sake of their children. She also needed to work out her feelings for him. She couldn't deny that she still loved him, missed him, craved him. Except there was the little voice in the back of her head that told her that what he had done was unacceptable.

With a frustrated sigh, Lily laid down on the sofa with Alby on her chest. She tapped her wand to the wireless and the Puddlemere versus Harpies match sounded in the room. An hour into the match, the doorbell rang and Lily groaned, wondering what family member was checking up on her tonight. She plopped Alby on her shoulder and he hid under her hair and dug his claws into the jumper so he wouldn't fall off.

When she opened the door, Lily froze. Rayko stood there looking worse than she had ever seen him. His hair was a tussled mess on his head, a beard graced his cheeks, and his normally bright brown eyes looked like dull mud puddles.

"What are you doing here?" Lily demanded.

"I wanted to talk," he croaked.

Lily's heart hammered in her chest. "About what?"

"What happened. Us. I just… I miss you, Elle," Rayko whispered. "Just tell me what I have to do to make this right."

"Oh, I don't know, grab a Time-Turner and not attack Muggles?"

Rayko sighed heavily. "Please, I'm already ashamed of everything I've done. I'm off the potions. I haven't had a drop of potion in about eight months. Please, Elle, just give me another chance."

"What about the alcohol?" Lily pressed.

"I am sober. I spent two weeks at a treatment facility," Rayko said.

Lily pursed her lips. "I know. Nolan told me."

Rayko raised his eyebrows. "You talked to Nolan?"

"He stopped by my parents' place," Lily admitted. "When I still lived there."

"Have you talked to Teddy?" he asked, his hand wrapping around the doorframe.

"Teddy? You saw my brother?"

"I was treated at the facility he works at," Rayko told her, his tongue peeking out to lick his lips. "I guess the enchantments really are strong around that place if he couldn't tell you. It's how I knew you were here."

"Teddy told you that?" Lily asked, skeptical that her beloved big brother would ever betray her in such a way.

"He made a comment that you moved out of your parents' house. I assumed you'd be here."

Lily nodded, her arms hugging across her middle. She looked up at him, unsure of what to say or do. Seeing him again made her heart physically ache.

"I thought alcohol wasn't the issue," Lily settled on saying.

"I don't need it," he said. "I only went to prove to you that I'll do anything to make this right, Elle. I won't take another sip of another potion or alcohol, nothing that would alter my mind ever again. I want to make this work between us because I love you and I love our babies. I hate that I already missed your appointment and that I didn't get to hear their heartbeats again. I swear to Merlin, Elle, I will do anything you ask of me."

"Rayko," Lily said with a sigh.

"I know the gender appointment is in two weeks," Rayko continued. "I want to be there. I want to find out what we're having together."

Lily sucked in a breath. "I don't know if I'm ready for that."

"Elle, please," Rayko pleaded as he took a step forward.

Out of nowhere Alby popped his little head out from Lily's cave of hair and hissed wildly at Rayko. The kitten spat and even drooled a little bit as he batted a paw wildly in Rayko's direction

"Ow!" He exclaimed when the claws hit his knuckle. "What in Merlin's name is that?"

Lily smiled. "My cat, Alby."

She reached up and scratched him under the chin. He batted her hand away, nicking her finger with his claw and continued to hiss like a crazy little possessed thing at Rayko.

"That's not a cat," Rayko whispered.

"I don't want to talk, Ko. I'm still… Merlin, I don't know how to process the information you told me!" Lily said as she grabbed Alby around his belly and stuffed the cat down her jumper to try to calm him. His little head peeked out of the top and rested his chin on the collar. He hissed again but seemed settled against Lily's breast.

"I'll turn myself in," he blurted out. "Give me a few days to convince Nolan this is what we need to do, all right? I can't, I can't betray him. I won't. We were both fucked up on that potion, but I'll go to the Auror Department and I'll tell them everything I know. If I get arrested, then so be it. I just need a few days, Elle."

"Ko…" she trailed off.

Rayko forced a shaky smile on his lips. "You were right. It was wrong of me not to go to the authorities about Wes. I just… I was scared of going to jail and finding out what really happened. I was scared of Marcus. I was… I was bloody stupid. I thought I could walk around with my head in the clouds and make up for my mistakes by being the perfect person but that was just foolish. It haunts me to this day, Elle. I only remember the Memory Charms. I remember their bloody and bruised bodies. I remember their crying faces. I don't know what happened to them, I just know I made them forget. It's the one thing that's so fucking clear."

Lily cleared her throat. "Go to my dad. He's… he'll listen to you. Tell him that Marcus threatened both of us."

"I need you to lie low," Rayko whispered. "If I'm going to do this, I can't worry that Marcus will come after you. I can't worry that he'll hurt you or the babies."

"I can take care of myself."

"You don't know them, Elle. You don't understand just how brutal they can be," Rayko insisted, carding a hand through his dark hair. "It's not just Marcus. There's a criminal network. There's dealers and suppliers and potioneers. This isn't the first potion they've made."

Lily sucked in a breath. "My dad should be able to cut you a deal if you can name names."

"I don't care about any of that," Rayko whispered. "As long as Nolan can get a deal, I'm happy."

"You don't care if you rot away in Azkaban?" Lily questioned, her brow furrowed.

Rayko swallowed. "If I can't be with you and the babies… then I don't care, Elle, no, not anymore. If I have to live without my family, I don't care where I am. This is what I've always wanted. I watched my mum and dad be completely in love and raise three kids. I've always wanted that. I wanted a girl that I could share my life with and be in love with thirty years later like how they're still so in love. I've never felt the way I feel about you with anyone else before."

Lily blinked back tears, her chest constricting tightly at the information. He reached out a hand and cupped her face. Alby hissed and tried to break free of the jumper but Lily held him tightly against her chest. Rayko took a step forward, leaning down and pressing his lips on top of her head. When he pulled away, he placed a hand on her small baby bump.

"You can see them now," Rayko whispered. "They're right there."

"I've felt like I've shown for a while," Lily whispered. "It's really popped recently though."

"It's amazing, isn't it?" Rayko said in a thick voice. "How you can love someone so completely and they don't even really exist yet. They're just tiny little things that can't survive on their own and have no concept of who we are."

Lily felt a lump form in her throat. "I like to think they can hear us and know us already."

"You think? It's not too soon for that?" Rayko asked as he brushed his thumb along her belly.

Lily shrugged. "No, I don't."

Rayko cleared his throat.

"I won't bother you again," he whispered. "I wanted you to know how I feel and that I'm willing to do anything for you to give me a second chance. I will never keep anything from you ever again. I swear to it, Elle."

Rayko dropped his hand from her belly and took a step back. Their eyes locked for a brief moment before he turned and started to walk away. Lily felt panic rise in her throat. She darted out of the house after him.

"Ko!" she shouted.

He turned around, his eyes hopeful yet reserved. "Yeah?"

"Mirror call me before you see my dad," she said. "I'll stay home from work that day."

Rayko nodded, his face falling. "I will. I just need to get Nolan on board, all right? Don't be upset if it isn't tomorrow."

She offered him a tight smile. "I think you're doing the right thing, Ko."

"Me too. Goodbye, Elle."

He turned around without another word. He picked up his pace and he was gone before Lily could fully comprehend what had happened. She scratched a fuming Alby's ear only to hear him meow under his breath. She stood out in the cool September air for a few more moments before she turned and entered the house, shutting the door quietly behind her.

The silence was deafening as she placed her back against the front door. She slid down the wood, tears springing to her eyes. Alby stopped meowing and instead bumped his head against her chin. A sob escaped her lips, relief flooding her.

She wanted Rayko to make the right choice and go to her father on his own. She wanted him to come clean and have a chance to cut a deal so that he could still be involved in his children's lives. There was an even bigger part of her that needed to know what her dad thought about everything. She needed his advice and thoughts but had been too scared to go to him before. Now, everything would be out in the open.

Harry had been the last one to visit Albus the Friday after he had been transferred back to the prison. Albus seemed to have his spirits up as he joked with ease. Harry could tell he had been lonely though as he talked nonstop, chatting about everything and anything under the sun. Harry had been more than happy to just sit there and listen to him ramble. He had walked Albus back to his cell with the guard, pulling his son into a tight embrace before it was time to part. A lump formed in Harry's throat when the bars closed and Albus licked his lips.

There was no time to go home and change. He knew everyone would be sitting down for dinner at the Burrow. So after the boat ride and the small walk outside of the enchantments, Harry Apparated to Ottery St. Catchpole. He wrapped his coat around him tighter, the cool wind hitting his face as he walked towards the lopsided house in the distance.

When he entered the back garden, Harry saw the table was underneath a small tent that no doubt had Heating Charms on it. The family passed around dishes and had just begun to fill their plates when he stepped under the tent. Warmth flooded his skin immediately.

He greeted the family and he saw he was the last one to arrive. He paused briefly behind Lily, bending down and pressing a kiss to her cheek before he rounded the table to take his spot next to Ginny. He leaned in to kiss Ginny before he grabbed his napkin to place on his lap.

Chatter erupted around the table, the laughter so loud that Harry's heart clenched. He knew Albus had missed Friday night dinners. He had even made a comment about it when Harry had been with him earlier. He forced a smile on his face as he listened to Ron fill him in on what he missed for the second half of the day at work.

When the plates were empty, Hugo and Louis cleared the table and insisted Molly stay seated. Victoire and Dominique disappeared to grab dessert. It all seemed so normal and typical. Ginny grabbed his hand and pulled it into her lap. She gave him a little squeeze and rested her head against his shoulder.

After dessert had been served, Rose stood up. The table stilled as all eyes turned towards her. She gestured for Colin to stand up with her and he did so with a wide grin plastered across his face.

"I have an announcement," Rose said as she cast a look over at Ron. "Why don't you have a bite of dessert, Dad?"

"What? Why?" Ron asked, his fork midway to his mouth. "Hermione, what's going on?"

"Just listen to what she has to say, please, Ron," Hermione whispered.

"Do you know what this is about?" Ron asked.

"Yes, and please just keep an open mind. I beg of you for the sake of our family, keep your mouth shut," Hermione said back.

Harry leaned his head down. "Do you know what's going on?"

"Hmm, yes," Ginny replied. "We had lunch yesterday."

"What?" Harry asked. "Did her and Colin elope?"

"Shh, no, you'll find out in a second," Ginny replied.

Rose cleared her throat. "So, Colin and I are, er, pregnant."

Harry's eyebrows lifted as his attention snapped to Rose before it glided over to his best mate. Ron paled instantly, his eyes growing wide.

"Shut the fuck up!" Lily shouted. "How far along are you?"

"Ten weeks," she replied, her brow furrowed.

"You're further along than Riley!" James explained. "She's only nine weeks!"

"Wait, how far along are you, Lily?" Dominique asked.

"Eighteen," Lily replied. "Merlin, McGonagall is definitely going to retire before all three of our kids attend Hogwarts."

"How many of our family are going to get pregnant out of wedlock?" Percy muttered to Bill. "Shouldn't they be married first? I mean, Lily I get, but Rosie?"

"Shut up, Percy, I beg of you," Bill replied.

"Excuse me?" Ginny asked, her head lifting off Harry's shoulder. "Do you want to say that a little louder for everyone to hear you be a complete and utter pillock, Perce?"

George burst out laughing. "Merlin, this is great. Mum, do you have some crisps?"

"It's all fun and games until it's Roxanne who gets pregnant next!" Percy said.

"Fuck if I care," George said with a grin. "I'm not going to be some judgmental prick about it, Perce."

"You're pregnant?" Ron gasped.

"Way to join the conversation, Ron," Ginny said dryly as she grabbed her wine glass. "Your brain finally caught up to the conversation?"

Ron leaned across Harry to ensure that Ginny had full view of his rude gesture. Ginny laughed and hit his hand. Harry suppressed a groan as he shot them both a look to tell them to stop it because he was caught between them at the table.

"We're moving in together!" Rose blurted out before she slapped her hand against her mouth.

"What?" Ron asked. "You're moving in together?"

"Wait, the baby is Colin's and not Gastrell's, right?" James asked as Riley smacked him on the arm.

"Uh, I believe it is Colin's, yes," Rose replied.

Roxanne's eyebrow raised. "Wait, you don't know for sure?"

"It doesn't matter!" Colin said in a high-pitched voice. "The baby is mine either way. Blood is just a liquid!"

"Bloody fucking hell. This family," Fred replied as he leaned back in his chair and shook his head. "Are you getting the baby tested? I mean, I don't fancy seeing that prick again."

"No, no tests," Rose replied. "It's Colin's. I know it."

"Well, slap me on the arse," Louis said. "If you just know, you know. Intuition is everything, eh, Rose?"

"It could be Gastrell's?" Ron asked in a hushed whisper. "No, no, no we need to know for sure! I can't have a grandbaby that's half Gastrell!"

Hermione hit Ron in the arm. "It doesn't matter! She said it doesn't matter! It's Colin's!"

Lily leaned over and whispered something into Roxanne's ear. She shook her head. The two silently argued over something. Harry closed his eyes, his hand reaching up to push his glasses up to pinch the bridge of his nose. He wondered if anyone would notice him slip away from the table.

"Hugo!" Rose hissed.

Hugo stood up, his chair falling back into the grass. "Uh, uh, Louis was the one that broke Grandpa's computer three years ago!"

"Mate!" Louis hissed. "What the fuck?"

Rose's face melted as her lips whispered thank you to Hugo. Oh, no. Harry definitely wanted to bolt from the table. No good could come of this conversation. He knew his children, nieces, and nephews all too well.

"Why would you break my computer?" Arthur asked.

"I didn't mean to!" Louis replied, his eyes snapping around the table. "Dominique didn't go to France last summer to visit Aunt Gabrielle! She was actually following the band Vampire Fang Bang around Europe! She slept with everyone in the entire band! She even let the lead singer feed on her!"

"I will not be slut shamed!" Dominique huffed before she shot Roxanne an apologetic look. "Roxanne is fucking Hunter Lowe!"

"Wait, what?" James shouted as he stood up from his seat as Riley buried her face in her hand. "You're having sex with my partner? Riley was right?"

"We're technically dating," Roxanne replied, brushing her hair behind her shoulder. "Louis slept with Olivia Hanson!"

James snapped his attention to Louis. "You slept with my ex-girlfriend? The one who told the entire bloody school I was bad in bed and weird?"

"She has nice tits?" Louis said, his voice uncertain. "It just sort of happened, all right? I saw her at the pub and we were both drunk. If it makes you feel any better, I never saw her again."

"No, it most certainly does not make me feel any better! You're my cousin!" James shouted. "What the fuck is wrong with this family?"

"Roxanne slept with Finn Harris who was a complete git to Albus and Scorpius!" Louis pointed out.

Roxanne scoffed. "No, I didn't. That was Lily!"

"Guilty!" Lily exclaimed.

Harry closed his eyes, willing the conversation to just end. He sucked in a breath and tried to block out the words, to no avail. Ginny rubbed his back. There was something seriously wrong with the younger generation of Potters and Weasleys.

"This is too much!" Percy exclaimed, rising from his chair. "People in this family need to learn how to keep things private!"

George snorted. "Like how you and Audrey kept it private when you broke the towel bar in the Burrow bathroom having sex?"

Percy flushed. "It was an accident!"

"Who told you?" Audrey gasped.

"It was beyond magical repair if I remember correctly," Bill added. "Dad had to patch the bloody wall!"

"See kids, even stuck-up Uncle Percy has problems," George said. "He's not as perfect as he likes to make himself out to be."

"At least we know how to lock a door, unlike Ginny and Harry!" Percy snapped. "I heard all about how Mum saw Harry fully naked!"

Harry groaned, dropping his head into his hand. Was he never going to live that moment down? It had been years, decades even.

"That was a heat of the moment mistake!" Ginny hissed.

"Was it a heat of the moment mistake when the two of you paraded naked around on stage and sold yourselves in a date auction?" Percy challenged.

"We had on knickers!" Ginny protested. "We were hardly starkers!"

"Well, I saw more of Harry than I thought I ever would! Those pictures were all over every paper and magazine!"

"Wait, what?" Teddy interrupted. "There are pictures of the two of you half-naked floating around? That's so wrong."

"Why? Why would you do that?" James asked in disgust.

"Is it weird that I want to see the pictures?" Lily asked.

"Oh, I have copies," George told her with a grin. "I've been waiting for the day I could share them. I think we need some life-sized enlargements of them."

"It's not wrong, Lily," Angelina interjected. "Your uncle George is just jealous no one asked him to parade around half-naked."

"Oi! I would have made tons of Galleons for the hospital! I'm a catch!"

"Ew, Dad," Roxanne said, wrinkling her nose.

"If you think you would have brought in more money than me, you are dead wrong!" Ron shouted. "I brought in so much money that they made sure to ask me back every single year!"

"Dad!" Hugo exclaimed with wide eyes. "You too?"

"I was fucking irresistible!" Ron shouted.

"Please don't get your father started on his arse," Hermione said, placing an embarrassed hand over her eyes.

"No, let him talk about it!" George exclaimed. "He has a right to be proud, just like Potter over there should be proud of what he's packing. You want to see something scandalous, take a look at your dad in boxer briefs."

"George, could you not?" Harry asked, his eyes flickering over to him.

"Riiiiiiley!" James whined. "I think I'm going to puke. Right now. Do you have a puke bag? Will you Vanish the puke mid-air?"

"George, stop it," Ginny exclaimed. "You are never going to see my husband naked. Get over it."

"Oh, I will," George vowed.

Angelina rolled her eyes. "It's been over twenty years, George. You do need to let it go."

"Ugh, Merlin, yep. I feel the vomit rising in my throat," James continued. "Riley, wand at the ready!"

"Jamie, you look like your dad," George said. "So really, I'm complimenting you as well. It's called genetics."

"STOP!" James shouted.

"Ugh, Jamie, please," Lily interrupted. "It's not like you haven't walked in on Mum and Dad before."

James' eyes grew wide. "I didn't look, Lily! Do you honestly think I just stood there and looked at Dad? I ran out of the fucking room as fast as I could! I fell down the stairs!"

Harry winced. That was definitely not one of his and Ginny's finer moments. Maybe Percy had a point about remembering to lock a door once and in a while.

"Everyone needs to calm down," Arthur said as he stood up. "Enough is enough!"

Harry let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and glanced over at Ginny who only seemed mildly annoyed. He squeezed her hand.

Colin cleared his throat. "Well, anyway, so Rose and I are looking for a place."

Ron stared at him, his eyes crazed. "Where's the ring, Creevey? You deflower my baby girl and you don't even have a ring for her?"

Hugo snorted. "Dad, since Rose isn't even sure it's Colin's, I think that broom has flown a long time ago."

"Hugo!" Rose hissed.

"Merlin, this family is embarrassing," Percy muttered.

George grabbed his wine and leaned back in his chair. "Really, Perce? Because I'm more than entertained right now. I love this bloody family. Never a dull fucking moment. These kids? Merlin, fuck, you all continue to do you. Bloody brilliant. Never change!"

"I think I need to lie down," Molly said, her face pale. "This was a lot of information to process."

"I need some air," Harry announced, tossing his napkin on the table and standing up.

"Harry," Ginny whispered, grabbing his wrist.

"I just need some air," he reassured before starting to walk away from the table.

"I'll go," Ron said.

Harry suppressed a groan. Of course, Ron and Ginny would be following him to make sure he was all right. He was all right. He just didn't care to hear about his children's, nieces', and nephews' sex lives. Nor did he need his own sex life scrutinized. He sucked in a breath as he made his way down to the pond. He shoved his hands into his trouser pockets and watched as a gnome bathed in the dirty water.

"You all right?" Ron asked.

"I'm fine," Harry responded.

Ron sighed. "Our kids. They're bloody mental. I mean, what did we do to deserve this?"

Harry glanced over at Ron. "Rose and Colin seem good together. We know Dennis. I'm sure he raised Colin right."

Ron shook his head. "Yeah, well, you know Viktor too and look at how his son turned out. What happened between them anyway?"

Harry shrugged. "I don't know. Lily's being vague about it."

"How are you managing with that?" Ron asked. "Lily being unwed and pregnant, because I sort of want to puke. I nearly did. I mean, Jamie wasn't alone back there in his desire to puke."

"It's a baby, Ron. It's a blessing. The best we can do is be there for our girls," Harry replied.

"What's it like?" Ron pressed. "Being a grandfather?"

Harry licked his lips, his lips curving. How could he explain how wonderful it was to have a small child's face light up whenever they saw him? How familiar it was to have sticky hands touching his face and little lips pressing wet kisses onto his cheek again? How amazing it felt to see your own child be a parent? It was honestly better than anything he could have ever imagined.

"Brilliant," Harry whispered. "It's bloody brilliant, Ron."

"Does this mean I'm going to start to go gray?" Ron said, a grin tugging on his lips.

Harry shot him a dirty look and shoved him in the arm. Ron stumbled, laughter erupting from his lips.

"Piss off, Ron," Harry replied.

"You have to admit, you're pretty much all gray now, Harry. I didn't know if it was an automatic thing that happened once you became a grandpa," Ron continued, making sure he was out of Harry's reach. "You got that salt and pepper look going on. I'll just be straight up white like my dad."

"I hope you wake up tomorrow with gray hair," Harry said. "You're such a git."

"Got to look the part, mate."

Harry shook his head and shoved his hands into his trouser pockets. His lips twitched as Ron continued to rib him gently. Harry took it, just happy to be away from the commotion still going on at the dinner table. He could hear the younger generation talking over each other, their voices echoing in the distance.

Harry knew that it would be a race between James and Lily to spill the latest gossip to Albus at Azkaban in the morning. Maybe he'd have to make a pit stop just to see Albus smile. Their family needed a little break for once.

Ginny hated seeing her son in his prison uniform. She hated seeing the bags under his eyes from not sleeping, his skin so pale from not seeing the sun, and the way his shoulders slumped forward. She reached out, grabbing his hand in hers. Her thumb brushed across his knuckles and she smiled at him. He lips twitched up for a millisecond before they dropped back down into his scowl.

"Do you need us to up our visitations?" Ginny asked. "I can come more often if you need me to. I was thinking about putting in a leave of absence from work."

"Mum, you don't need to do that," Albus replied. "I'm fine. I'm managing. Dad put some very cheerful guards outside of my cell and nobody has missed a day to visit me. I'm not bothered by the prisoners anymore. I'm fine."

"You look upset, darling."

"I'm just… I know you all are visiting every day. I appreciate that. I love that everyone cares so much that they're taking time away from their lives to be here for me but… it's lonely, Mum. It's cold and lonely."

Ginny sucked in a breath. "I'll ask your dad if I can get you some enchanted blankets and jumpers to keep you warm. We'll definitely up our visitations."

"It's not… I'm stuck in this hellhole, Mum. I'm lonely because I'm stuck here," Albus explained. "I want to go home to Wiltshire and be able to cuddle next to Scorpius. I want to go to Lily's baby appointments. I want to tease James. I want to have a chat over tea with Teddy. I want Dad to come by my office at work and beg me to go to lunch. I want to eat dinner with you. I want my life to go back to normal."

Ginny's heart felt like it was shattering into a million pieces. She felt useless and like a horrible mother who couldn't protect her son. She sucked in a breath, not knowing how to make the situation any better or easier for Albus.

"Hey, Mum, don't," Albus whispered. "You've done so much for me. This is my own fault. I got here all by myself because I was stupid and arrogant and… I should have gone to Dad as soon as I started to suspect things."

"Why didn't you, Albus?"

Albus licked his bottom lip. "Because, because Dad's so great. He's a legend. He's respected even if people don't like him. He defeated a Dark wizard at the age of seventeen. People look at us like they expect us to be solving the world's problems and they expect equally great things. I wanted to… I wanted to be like Dad. I wanted to be able to solve this problem on my own and make him proud."

"Oh, Albus, your dad is so proud of you," Ginny said, her grip tightening around his hand. "He never wanted this life for you or any of your siblings. He wanted you to live normal, happy lives. He never wanted you to have to deal with solving the world's problems like he had to. A prophecy forced your dad into the position he was in. It killed his parents, killed his godfather, killed so many of his friends. He never wanted any of you to go through that heartbreak."

Albus nodded. "Mum, can I ask you a question?"

"Anything."

"I think… I think I'm going mad," Albus whispered, his eyes casting down to the table.

"Why do you say that?" Ginny asked, concern lacing her words.

"I, uh, I've been seeing dead people lately," Albus continued, his body trembling. "Sirius Black visits me in my dreams. Grandpa James has been there a lot too."

Ginny's grip loosened on Albus' hand. She blinked at him, her heart racing. She remembered so long ago being pregnant and scared only to have Lily Potter visit her in her dreams. It was why she had been so insistent on naming her baby girl after her grandmother. It felt right after how her deceased mother-in-law would visit her in her time of need.

"Do you know the circumstances of how Lily was born?" Ginny started slowly.

Albus looked up. "Yeah, Dad and Uncle Ron helped you give birth to her in some field. You were taken by some whack jobs who wanted to hurt Dad for killing their kid but he never actually even touched their kid."

Ginny cleared her throat. "I was gone for a few days. I was kept in a house, chained up. I would go to sleep and your Grandmother Lily would visit me in my dreams. She would tell me she was watching over me and your sister."

"Wait, you were chained up for days?" Albus asked. "That was always left out of the retelling."

Ginny sighed. "It's not something I like to think about. It was… hard for a while afterwards. I, it… it's difficult to talk even now about what happened. It worked out in the end where I gave birth to a very beautiful baby girl. That's all that matters."

"I just never knew that," Albus replied.

"We didn't tell any of you the circumstances of what exactly happened besides I was taken and your dad found me in a field where I gave birth," Ginny said, forcing a smile on her lips. "I'm only telling you more because it's relevant to answering your question. I don't think you're going mad. I think you are actually seeing Sirius and your grandfather. I like to think I was really seeing your grandmother all those years ago. I like to believe the dead aren't truly gone."

"So… I'm sorry, are you telling me this is a thing?" Albus asked.

"When your dad was hit with that curse that caused him to abuse Felix, he said he saw Sirius as he was dying on that wharf. There have been times, over the years, that your dad and I have seen loved ones visit us in a time of need," Ginny explained. "I like to think they really are watching over us."

Albus' eyes grew wide. "Sirius said Uncle Fred was watching out for you. That they were all scattered because we were all in danger."

"Fr-Fred?" Ginny said, a sob crawling up her throat.

Albus nodded. "Grandpa James is with Dad most of the time. Teddy's mum is with him. Teddy's dad is with James. Grandma Lily is with Lily. Sirius… Sirius said he wanted to stay with me."

Ginny quickly brushed her fingers under her eyes, her heart twisting. "That's… that's amazing. It's a gift, Albus. I know you don't know any of them, but they would have loved you so very much."

"Has…" Albus trailed off, a frown forming on his face. "Has Teddy or James or Lily ever seen them?"

Ginny shook her head. "Not that I know of. But… when Remus had his initial procedure done to drain the fluid from that Inferi bite, he woke up and said he saw someone who looked like Lily and your dad… and he described Tonks and Remus perfectly. That little boy doesn't even know any of them. I don't know if he's even really seen photos or comprehends any of it."

"I've seen pictures, you know, but Grandpa James really looks like Dad in person," Albus said. "I mean, a younger Dad, obviously, with no gray hair or wrinkles. It was eerie. I felt like I had time traveled and was looking at Dad from when I was a kid."

"That's amazing, Albus."

"Would you tell Dad?" Albus asked in a small voice. "I don't want to upset him."

Ginny smiled, so glad that all of her children were constantly thinking about their dad's feelings. "I think your dad would love to hear it."

Albus sucked in a breath. "I haven't told anyone but, the day of the explosion, Sirius came out of the Veil of Death as an Inferius. He saved my life. And… when I first got to Azkaban, that was the first time I dreamed of Sirius. He told me that James killed him."

Ginny stilled, her hands gripping the arms of the chair tightly. She could remember James' tearstained face when he told her that he had killed the Inferius Sirius. She could remember Teddy's pale face. She even remembered how she had trembled at the information.

"James told me," Ginny whispered. "We agreed not to tell your father. Teddy was there. He knows as well. Lily does not."

"Is nobody going to tell Lily?" Albus asked.

"No, we are not," Ginny pressed. "Lily will not be able to keep that secret. Despite how well Lily is at hiding her own life, I don't think she could keep that secret."

"And you trust James to keep that secret? James? My brother? James Sirius Potter, the biggest gossip this family has ever seen?"

"He was upset. He was very distraught. He was worried your father would hate him," Ginny explained. "I think he's kept it for this long, he will continue to keep it."

Albus nodded. "He was happy that James killed him. He said he wasn't himself, that he wanted to hurt and kill."

Ginny's heart sped up. "I think you and James need to have a conversation. His day is tomorrow to come see you."

"I'll talk to him," Albus promised.

Ginny smiled. "Now, no more sad talk."

A smile spread across Albus' lips. Ginny told stories that she thought would make Albus laugh. She started with telling him Harry's empty nester attachment to Jackalope, about Lily's new feisty kitten named after him, and anything else she could think of. It was music to her ears to hear Albus laugh. For a moment, just a moment, she could ignore the stripes on his clothes as his laughter filled the tiny room.

James ran as fast as his legs would take him, his trainers pounding against the pavement. He turned down a path that led to the towards the University Parks at Oxford. He looked over his shoulder to see his dad not far behind him. James grinned as he slowed his pace and tugged his t-shirt off over his head without missing a beat. He wiped the sweat off his face as his father stopped running beside him. The two of them walked in silence. James could hear his father huffing slightly, his shirt drenched in sweat.

"Getting old, huh?" James asked as he tossed his shirt over his shoulder.

"I haven't gotten a proper run in for months," Harry replied. "Been a little busy."

James reached out and tapped his father's stomach. "I've noticed. Merlin, I'm not even winded."

Harry slapped his hand away. "Yeah, well, I have twenty years on you. When I was your age, I wouldn't get winded either."

James carded a hand through his sweaty locks and placed his hands on his hips as he walked. He looked around the park, trying to find the duck pond. He had never been to Oxford before but James could see how it would be the perfect meeting spot.

His dad had stopped by his home at six in the morning and asked him to go to Oxford with him for a run and a meeting with Gawain Robards. Apparently, his father had received a message the night before to meet him there at eight sharp. No context, no hint of what needed to be discussed, nothing. James only hoped that Robards had somehow caught wind of Reed's firing and had information for them.

"This way," Harry said, gesturing his head.

James followed. When Harry started a slow-paced jog, James easily kept pace. They looped around the pond and James spotted Robards immediately. He had met the man several times over the years and Robards had even attended a few Ministry parties even in his retirement. His father had always spoken very highly of him.

Robards had a foot up on the railing around the pond and stretched. He too was in running attire and James wondered if this wasn't the first time Robards and Harry had secretly met like this. Without a word, his dad situated himself next to Robards and placed a foot on the railing. James followed suit, having not been instructed on how the super-secret meeting was supposed to go.

"Nice day for a run, yeah?" Robards asked loudly, his head nodding to Harry, as a couple of young girls ran by them.

"Bit cool, but not bad," Harry replied.

Robards dropped his voice once no one was around. "Heard about Reed. I'm assuming it has to do with the payments from Greengrass."

Harry's face darkened. "You knew?"

"Your son Albus came to me with documentation before the explosion to try to help him," Robards explained. "Are you visiting Oxford?"

"Yeah, my son just started here," Harry said, gesturing towards James. "Studying law."

James noticed a few people passing them, not even paying attention to the three of them.

"You knew about an Inferi army being sold?" Harry asked.

"I've been catching wind of some very interesting things," Robards replied.

"What have you heard?" James asked.

"It's not just a departmental head issue we're dealing with," Robards said. "I've got it on high authority that there's members in the Wizengamot who want Albus convicted and silenced. They're afraid their names will come up."

"Who?" Harry hissed.

Robards shrugged. "Not sure yet. My informant just heard whispers."

"Who's your informant?" James asked. "Can we offer them protection or something?"

"Who are you talking to, Gawain?" Harry pressed.

Robards cleared his throat. "You know who I'm talking about."

"I don't fucking trust him!" Harry snapped.

James' eyes widened at his father's language. From experience, James knew it took a lot for his dad to utter a curse word.

"Why do you think we cut deals with all those Death Eater kids?" Robards snapped. "It wasn't because we were being generous. We wanted informants, needed pure-bloods who were pissing themselves at the thought of going to jail and would turn on all their moronic family members."

"Malfoy's been trying to help but he hasn't heard squat," Harry challenged.

Robards laughed bitterly. "Yeah, because Malfoy's a little prick that nobody even likes. Nobody is going to stick their neck out for him."

"We're talking about Goyle," Harry snapped. "Malfoy's gone to Goyle and he had nothing to say. Why would he talk to you?"

"I was the one who cut him the deal, Harry," Robards replied. "I kept him out of Azkaban, kept that pretty little wife of his out of Azkaban. Look where they are now. Living the high life with their mummies and daddies dead after Azkaban burned down to the ground all those years ago."

Harry sucked in a breath. "What did Goyle know?"

"Wasn't him who heard about it. It was his wife. She owns that shop in Apricity Lane. Lots of pure-bloods shop there. Heard whispers about dirty Wizengamot members and how they were trying to spin the Albus story," Robards explained. "Greengrass wasn't the only one funding the smear campaign against your son."

"You don't know what members?" Harry asked, annoyance obvious in his tone.

"No specific names," Robards replied. "Pure-bloods no doubt."

"That's half the Wizengamot," Harry argued.

Robards stood up to his full height and remained silent for a few as more people passed by them. He placed his hands on his hips and looked down at his shoes.

"It was after the first war that Richard Macmillan was brought in for questioning about funneling money," Robards whispered. "He had some overseas bank accounts that were receiving large sums of money from his Gringotts accounts. He claimed they were to purchase holiday homes. Scrimgeour found no hard evidence, believed his story. After the second war, King and I looked into Macmillan's accounts again. The foreign accounts apparently had been closed and there was no evidence against him. We never brought him in for questioning."

"Richard Macmillan? He's the lead Wizengamot member presiding over Albus' case," James whispered, his brows furrowed.

"You're saying Macmillan was a suspected Death Eater?" Harry pressed.

"No, we never thought that," Robards replied. "There were plenty of pure-bloods who willingly gave money to Voldemort during the wars to buy safe houses, buy potions, whatever else was needed. There were pure-bloods who thought he had the right idea but didn't want to get their hands dirty. It's why we were so quick to assume Sirius Black was a Death Eater. His brother and cousins were Death Eaters. Walburga and Orion Black were suspected of giving a quarter of their wealth away to Voldemort and his allies."

"A quarter of their wealth?" James asked in confusion, knowing full well that the Black family fortune funded his and his sibling's trust funds.

"They were that filthy rich," Robards replied. "They didn't even feel a dent in their finances."

"So Richard Macmillan was accused of the same thing? Funding Voldemort's reign of terror?" Harry asked, a frown etching deep into his forehead.

"I would just be curious if there was a way that you could peek into his finances and see if there are some foreign accounts back in his name that are funneling large sums of money again," Robards said. "I'd be interested in the Shafiq, Fawley, and Bulstrode families as well."

"I don't even know how I would have enough to justify warrants," Harry admitted.

Robards sucked in a breath. "I know you don't want to hear this, but it may just be in your benefit to gain access now and ask for forgiveness later. Maybe embrace your youth when you didn't give a fuck about breaking into banks."

Harry frowned.

"Wait, what?" James asked, his attention snapping to his dad. "You broke into a bank?"

"I'm the Head of the DMLE," Harry said slowly, ignoring James. "How would that look? How would that help Albus' case? What if there's nothing there?"

Robards shrugged. "Try to find a legal way to do it then. My bet is on Macmillan or Fawley, if I had to wager a guess. Hettie Fawley is also on Albus' criminal panel right now."

Harry swore under his breath. James could already see his father thinking of a way to bypass the legal ramifications of what he wanted to do. James couldn't see a way that it would work out in their favor.

"I want a meeting with the Goyles," Harry said.

"And offer them what?" Robards asked. "If you're going to ask them to dig deeper and ask questions, questions that could potentially land them in hot water, you're going to have to have something to offer them. Something big. They've been clean since the war ended, Harry. Not even a smidge on their records. Everything is done by the books. We have nothing on them to force cooperation."

Harry's jaw clenched. "Just get me the meeting, Gawain. Ron and I will figure out a way to get the financial records."

"Yeah, maybe bring Ron to the meeting to do the talking, yeah?" Robards replied. "I know you. You will get nothing from them with your aggressiveness."

"Fine," Harry said with clenched teeth. "James, let's go. I need you and Hunter to do some research."

James didn't say anything. He nodded at Robards and followed his father out of the park and towards the Apparition point. His heart hammered in his chest at the thought of his father going as far as illegally obtaining information to try to help Albus. James didn't know if he liked that approach. Would it even be permissible in court? There was no doubt in his mind he needed to have a rational conversation with his uncle Ron and potentially talk his dad out of doing something that could land him in Azkaban as well.

I hope you enjoyed the latest chapter! I do want to warn you guys that next week's chapter is going to have a trigger warning on it. It's some pretty heavy and dark stuff that occurs. I'll remind you guys next week at the top of the chapter. Don't forget to take a minute and drop a review. They motivate me to keep writing, they inspire new ideas, and they just make my weekend.

Special thanks to Bell for editing. Special thanks to Brie for bouncing around ideas and allowing me to use Gransy! I love me to good Greg and Pansy!