AT BREAKFAST

"Um Scorpius; this stuff's great isn't it?" Albus asked.

"Err what?"

"The food, I mean."

"Well, the food is err…"

"Great?"

"Yeah! Kind of…"

Albus had been determined to cheer Scorpius up all morning. He understood his situation well, but couldn't find a solution. All he could do was follow him around and ensure him that he is not friendless.

Albus sighed.

Maybe Rose was right. His efforts were useless. He gave up his attempts to make Scorpius forget his sorrows and got along with his own breakfast.

"Any luck with Scorp?"Rose whispered as she sat herself beside Albus.

"Nope. Still gloomy. Lost in his own world, he is."

Rose rolled her eyes.

"Then just let him be Al! I wonder what he thinks of himself. What's the use of following him around when he just doesn't want your company?"

"It's not that he doesn't want our company Rose!" Albus whispered back rather loudly. "He's just shocked about his sorting. Listen Rose; I would have been just the same or even worst if I would have been sorted into Slytherin."

Rose gave him a thank-Merlin-you-are-not look.

"And moreover, he has more reasons to be sad he seems to has prejudiced parents who assumed he'll be in Slytherin and might disown him if he's not."Albus added.

"Much like mine."Rose deadpanned.

"Rose, Uncle Ron was just joking!" Albus cried out aloud, not catching the humor, making even Scorpius acknowledge the presence of the boy sitting beside him all along.

Rose gave him a pointed, over-exaggerated smile and asked," So, you plan to stick to Mr. Gloomy till he opens up…"

"Yeah…kind of…" Albus paused as he had shoved a large piece of bread in his mouth as I knew that Rose found it utterly ungentlemanly to speak with his mouth full. And then asked," Don't you like him?"

Rose gave a dramatic sigh and replied, "Well, he is pretty nice to talk to, or, should I say 'WAS' pretty nice to talk to? He is just not talking now!"

"We will follow him around today, Okay… Hey, the owls have arrived! So soon?"

"They are not from home, Mr. Potter," Rose chanted as if telling the obvious, as she buttered her bread, "They are the newspapers, and they will come every day."

"The thing Miss Lovegood works with?"

"Right; I have ordered two of them. The Quibbler; which is edited by Luna and another one called The Daily Prophet; this is one of the oldest wizardly newspaper known. There….." She said as a snowy owl descended and dropped the mail in her empty plate.

"We don't subscribe for them at home….." Rose chattered along, "Mum says that Dad hates them, specially this Prophet".

"Oh really?" Albus said unenthusiastically.

"Yeah…." Rose carried on," I wonder why Dad hates it though, they are anyway just…. Newspaper!"

Albus gave her a revolting look and snatched the Quibbler off Rose's grip.

"ALBUS SEVERUS POTTER IT IS POLITE TO ASK RATHER THAN SNATCH THINGS LIKE THAT…" Rose thundered as Albus buried his face behind the newspaper, paying no attention to his cousin.

Rose rolled her eyes and picked up the prophet. Their silence lasted only until Rose squeaked, "HAVE A LOOK AT THIS!" as she slammed the newspaper in front of Albus. "They have Uncle Harry's picture in it!"

Albus quitted his useless stare at a picture of a creature which he was certain did not exist, and directed his attention towards his father staring blankly towards him, blinking now and then.

"Must have caught some bad guy," he guessed, as his eyes started moving left to right, rapidly reading the article.

"No comments? All Dad said was no comments? And they have his picture up here?," Albus exclaimed.

"What's the matter?" Scorpius asked him in a bored tone annoyed by Albus's outburst.

Albus and Rose had completely forgotten his gloomy presence in their excitement of seeing Harry's picture in the news. They both turned to Scorpius and Rose answered Scorpius's question obliging to his demand willingly, happy that he gave them an opportunity for conversation." Oh, Al's Dad's picture's in the news, err, about some house elf kidnap and its written", reading from the text, "that on being asked about his views on this unfortunate matter, Harry Potter said 'no comments' ",then looking back at Scorpius expecting him to say something , then shook her head an exploded," He said no comments! All he said is no comments! A house elf has been kidnapped and _"

"But why do they want him to comment on it in the first place?" Scorpius interrupted, "is he high up of something?"

"Oh yes! Uncle Harry's the Head Auror and Dad's deputy, "she said with pride in her voice ,"yes, and the youngest head auror in wizardly history…"he added equally brightly and then got back to her original point, "He should have said something, he is answerable for the offenses in the community!"

"Hey! It's just a house el_" Albus started to speak and abruptly stopped as he realized his grievous mistake by saying the 'just' word.

"He meant to say that the head surely has more important things to worry about, rather than just one house-elf. You can't expect him to answer for small thing that happens around here."Scorpius clarified hurriedly sensing that Rose was about to thunder on Albus again."

Rose sighed and dropped her elbows. "You don't get it Scorp, house elves are vulnerable and need extra…"

"Vulnerable?"Albus exclaimed," Honestly Rose; house elves are soon going to rule the world, unless your mum don't miraculously abort her stupid campaigns!"Rose scowled.

Albus continued a bit more softly, "I am sorry, I didn't mean it. Aunt Hermione's not going to rest till she get them their deserved rights, but in your undying love for them, you actually missed out a more pressing issue…"

"Like?"Rose challenged.

"Like; why did they put dad's pic up here in the first place? When he has absolutely nothing to do with the case, other that say, 'no comments'?"

"Well he is the head…"

"So they'll just plaster his faces against every news on crimes in the wizardly world or what?"

"You do have a point there Al."Rose said pensively. "They should have put the picture of the auror in charge of the case or that of the poor elf. No reason to have Uncle here."

"Glad you're seeing sense at last…."

Albus's last comment went unheard as Rose was already deep in her thoughts ,why would the editor want to put Harry's Picture there?

The two cousins stared at each other. One with her brain working furiously; and the other respecting his cousin's thinking process.

"Maybe the editor finds Mr. Potter attractive and considers it a good way to get public attention."Scorpius joked and regretted it as the two directed their mutual stare towards him. After all, cracking a joke on the head auror, right in front of his son wasn't the wisest thing to do.

Fortunately, Rose and Albus burst out laughing; and Scorpius joined in forgetting all his worries. No one realized how close he was to the truth…