Albus wasn't worried about Scorpius Malfoy in the slightest after he had gotten the official word that they were dating. By the time Scorpius sat down next to him at lunch without asking on Tuesday, Albus knew that whatever doubts either of them had should be gone.

"Afternoon Al, Bev," Scorpius nodded at the two of them, pulling food onto his plate.

"Scorpius, please tell your boyfriend that there is something wrong with us knowing next to nothing about the department of mysteries." Beverly said by way of acknowledgment, food still hanging of her fork as she gestured at Albus. The two of them were debating about the Department of Mysteries, a recent obsession with Beverly.

"No, please tell Bev here that there is a reason that the D.O.M. is secret and that the magic in there is highly dangerous and classified." Albus shot back. He shifted in his seat so his leg was pressed against Scorpius' leg to remind him of the loyalty he should have to him.

"Well, er," Scorpius looked between the two Slytherins and Albus could tell instantly that this wasn't something Scorpius would take his side on.

"No!" Albus yelled a bit dramatically at this realization, "You've got to be kidding me! Scor, you know how dangerous magic can be in the wrong hands! All the things that are in there are temperamental and dangerous!"

"Hold up!" Beverly raised her fork in the air emphasis, "Do you actually know of anything that happens in there? Or are you just falling on general knowledge?"

"Of course I know. I mean besides the basic developmental magic testing that everybody knows... my family told me of the horrible things they saw in there."

"Oh right" Bev rolled her eyes and went back to her salad, "I forgot I was in the presence of son of the chosen one, knower of all the secrets."

"So it's true then?" Scorpius interjected.

"Is what true?"

"Well there is very little information about the battle at the ministry," Scorpius shrugged, "I mean half the portrayals of it take place just outside the doors of the department. Others say the battle took place in there, but only give information of who was there and who died. Everything about the department itself and why they were there is never stated."

"That can't be true," Albus' eyebrows furrowed together. His father had gone there for the prophecy. All of his family went there, they all had vivid descriptions of the place and what happened. Was it possible that he knew everything from the words of his family and not from books? It couldn't be, Albus thought, his family hardly ever talked about the war.

"So what's in the department then?" Bev asked, "What's so secret that there is no written record of it?"

"There's um..." But Albus paused, having trouble recalling just what was in there besides prophecies, brains, an archway that killed Sirius Black. "Well there must be a reason they don't want all of it getting out. I mean it is really twisted things, and highly dangerous."

"Merlin you're so brainwashed Albus!"

"Are you going to let her call me that?" Albus turned to Scorpius, wanting to get off the topic now. If it was something that only his family knew about, maybe he should keep it that way. What good would it do for them to know anyway?

"I don't know if brainwashed is the proper term," Scorpius shrugged, "I mean, for all you know the whole thing was changed since the war. Also, how accurate would your family's portrayal of it be, as they were there for battle and not study. That, and we do know some things about the department. We know that all new spells and potions are tested there."

"You're not helping Malfoy."

"It doesn't matter anyway, we'll never know what's actually in there," Albus waved a hand at her.

"Of course it matters! We're supposed to trust the ministry, yet we never have any idea what is actually happening in there. I mean, even the brochure for the department is vague. They want O's in practically all the N.E.W.T.s and it says that they contact you. Tell me that isn't the slightest bit weird!"

"Fine, fine. It's weird." Albus said, "But there's got a be a reason why it's kept secret. I mean we've all seen magic, we all know the horrors of developmental magic. It's probably just the testing ground. I mean, do you really want to know what went into creating your procedure?" Albus pointed out.

"Yes I do!" Bev shouted. "God just thinking about it." She shuddered and ran her hands through her hair. Albus grimaced too at the thought as well. He remembered the year long process that got Bev to where she was today. He didn't think that he would be able to go through that transformation even if he wanted to.

"Procedure?" Scorpius asked, glancing between the two.

"Do you remember anything before fourth year Scorpius?" Bev asked him, poking at the remains of her salad.

"Lots of things, but uh, probably not what you're getting at."

Albus sighed and went back to eating. He really didn't need to hear Beverly's transgender spiel when he had lived through it with her. He had seen the pain that she went through as she took potion after potion to change her body. He had carried her bags from class to class when she started having cramps. He had helped her move all of her things from their dorm room to her new one with the rest of the Slytherin girls.

"Oh I heard about that!" Scorpius leaned forward, "Not you exactly, but the procedure. It's still highly controversial and in trial phase. You must have been one of the first hundred to test it!"

"Number 73!" Beverly grind proudly.

"Is that why you're interested in the department of mysteries then? Because they're the ones who regulate and test all of that."

"Indeed. It was absolutely horrible, worth it, but horrible."

"There's been little headway in it from what I've heard, though I think the success rate is now at a 95%" Scorpius went on.

"Which is much better. I remember my mother telling me to wait until it was completely tested and approved, but I just couldn't. I mean, you try living with Albus for four years!" Beverly laughed.

"Please," Said a new voice behind him, "I've lived with him my whole life."

"Yes, yes," Albus rolled his eyes, "Let's all tell my boyfriend that I'm a complete dread to live with. Not like it matters much anyway."

"I'm sure you're not that bad," Scorpius said with a grin, patting him on the shoulder.

Lily laughed and wrapped her arms around Albus' neck, "Mal-Scorpius, don't give my brother false hope. Now both of you get up, we've got pumpkins to carve!"

As Scorpius started standing, Lily still hadn't let go of his neck. Albus held back a sigh, already knowing what was coming. "I can't get up with you clinging to me like this sister dear."

"But brother darling," Lily sighed dramatically and put more weight on him, "I've done so many stairs today! and Divination! I can't possibly move!"

"Leach," Albus rolled his eyes and made a show of how complicated it was to get out of the bench with Lil hanging on him. Then, with a wink at Scorpius, picked up his sister's legs and stood as fast as he could. "By Bev!"

"See you Beverly!" Lily blew a kiss her way.

They made their way out, but as soon as they stepped out of the castle, Scorpius spoke up.

"So why wasn't Bev invited?"

"She's allergic to pumpkins," Albus explained. Lily's weight was starting to affect him and he jumped slightly to readjust her. "And possibly spider monkeys' too."

Lily laughed in his ear, "No, everybody loves spider monkeys!" She started to unhook her legs from around him but Albus tightened his grip. He was going to carry her as far as he could and show off his strength.

"So M-Scorpius," Lily continued, "How's Ravenclaw?"

"It's good, how's Gryffindor?"

"Oh no," Albus muttered the same time Lily said that it was great and then started to ramble on about whatever it was her friends had done that morning. If there was one thing about Lily that Albus knew, it was that she never shut up.

Lily was still talking by the time they all reached Hagrid's, Scorpius entertaining her the entire time. "Alright off you leach," Albus said, dropping his hold on her. She kissed him on the cheek and then dropped gracefully to the ground.

"Don't I just have the best brother in the world?" Lily laughed before making her way to the door and walking right into the hut.

"Yer late," Hagrid said as Lily pulled him out, "'bout to get started without yer. Oh, hello Scorpius." Hagrid smiled kindly at him, "Still doing well in Care of Magical Creatures are yah?" He had taught only their third year before retiring and letting their new professor take over. Occasionally he would co teach a class if he was interested in the creature or had special connections with them. From what Hermione had told Albus it was a good thing that they had a more competent teacher, even if Hagrid meant well enough."

"Yes Professor Hagrid."

"Oh I ain't no professor anymore. Too old for that. Though it was nice meeting you yer third year. Not like yer father at all."

"Hagrid," Albus warned, raising his eyebrows at the half giant.

"No, no, it's okay," Scorpius reassured, "My father admits to being somewhat... dramatic in his younger years. I doubt he'll ever apologize, but" Scorpius shrugged, "I'm used to the comparison."

"It's not alright Scor," Albus said, "You shouldn't-"

"So where are the pumpkins then?" Scorpius interrupted him, "How big have you gotten them this year professor?"

Albus followed as they were led to the back, wondering just what was going through Scorpius' head. All he had tried to do was defend him. He knew what it was like to be compared to a father that you were nothing like. He knew what it was like to have expectations like that thrown on you simply because of predisposed ideas.

"Wow! These are the biggest I've ever seen! How do you do it?" Scorpius asked, running an hand over one of the pumpkins.

Albus didn't listen to Hagrid as he told Scorpius the entire process. He just pulled off his outer robes to keep them clean and pulled out his wand. He could hear the other three talking as he lined up five of the pumpkins in front of him and started to clean them out.

He didn't understand Scorpius sometimes. If Albus was being honest with himself, he hardly ever understood the boy. He would have been angry if someone had compared him to his father like that. He would have fought back and was about to defend Scorpius as well, but Scorpius had stopped him.

Albus continued to therapeutically clean the guts out of the pumpkins, a pile of seeds growing into a small hill next to him while the excess wall lining was put in a barrels that would eventually make it to the kitchens to be the pumpkin supply for the rest of the year. Albus wasn't much of an artist, so he focused on getting the pumpkins ready for Lily to carve the different faces in. Vaguely he was aware of Lily and Scorpius talking while they both carved in faces with their wands. Hagrid was sorting through the seeds for ones to save for planting next year and ones to give to the elves to roast.

"I know I shouldn't have said it Al, but it's true," Hagrid said eventually. "Everyone thinks it, and he seems to be okay with it."

"Hagrid."

"I'm just saying I'm glad you brought 'em. It was too slow last year without James around to help. Don't even know what ter do next year when it'll just be Lily."

"Maybe she'll have a boyfriend." Albus shrugged, "Or you can ask a couple students to help."

"Wouldn't be the same."

They heard a sharp squeal of laughter and looked up to see Lily doubled over, her red hair almost touching the ground. Scorpius was grinning right at him, wand pointed in the air.

Albus looked up to see a whole pumpkin floating above him.

"I think you missed this one!" Scorpius called out and flicked his wand. The pumpkin turned over and all Albus could do was raise up his hands to cover himself from the seeds and pumpkin pulp that rained down on top of him. The pumpkin guts clung to him, making a net of seed and pulp in front of his face. He could hear three different laughs around him.

"I thought you were smarter that that Scor!" Albus called, thrusting his wand towards the pile of useless pulp he had been collecting since the beginning.

"Scorpius RUN!" Lily laughed, already starting to weave around the small pumpkin patch for hiding places.

The pulp pile rose and formed a monstrous mass. With another flick of Albus' wand, it split into two and started to chase his sister and boyfriend. "Why would you attack me when I've got all the pulp?!" Albus laughed as the pulp darted after the two.

"It was Lily's idea!" Scorpius yelled.

"It was your wand!" she shot back, still weaving through the pumpkins.

Slowly the pulp was gaining on Scorpius. Albus could see bit of it already hanging from his hair and clinging to his clothes. He was focusing so much on getting Scorpius that he didn't realize what his sister was doing until it was too late.

She had been running up and down the patch, slowly making her way towards him. As soon as she saw the opening she flung herself at Albus, tackling him into the mound of seeds. As they fell to the ground the pumpkin pulp that had been chasing her attacked, covering the both of them from head to toe in pulp. The same time all this happened, Albus hear Scorpius yell out as that pulp monster caught up with him as well.

"Oi! Watch it!" Hagrid half yelled half laughed at them as the pulp splashed up at him.

Albus clawed his way out of the pulp, gasping for breath to take in the scene around him. Pulp and seeds were sprawled everywhere, Jack-o-lanterns were scattered around the garden, all manically facing him. Lily and Scorpius were still trying to fight their way out of the pulp, laughing loudly as they did so.

Finally they all managed to crawl their way out of the pulp. Scorpius was pulling strings of it off his glasses. Lily was shaking her hair furiously, sending seeds and string everywhere as she did so.

"Do it again Albie!" She grinned at him, dancing from foot to foot.

"Do not!" Scorpius laughed, shaking his head, "I almost died in there!"

"But you didn't!" Lily pointed out.

Albus just rolled his eyes and fell back down on the bed of pulp. There wasn't any use in trying to get clean anyway. Not even seconds later he saw his sister run and plop herself next to him. Scorpius made his way over as well, but with much less fanfare, and sat down next to him.

"You know," Albus stated, "I was going to be nice and not cover the both of you in guts."

"No you weren't" Scorpius shot back.

"Well now you'll never know. You brought this on yourself."

Scorpius rolled his eyes at him. Albus grinned and winked at him, already looking forward to the bath they would take to get rid of all the pumpkin.