PoV: Teddy Lupin

I sit on my bed watching James throw things into his trunk half hazardly. Already packed I wish for a book but know I can't leave James alone long enough to get one. Why does he have to bully Albus so much? What fun does he get out of cursing his own brother? How does someone change from the loving, overprotective, slightly overbearing older brother James had been to Albus before this year's sorting to the monster he is now?

Not that James had ever truly been there for Albus, no one ever had really. He didn't need it. Quiet, meek, always there but never noticed, head buried in a book more often than the twins', Rosie's and my own put together, Albus Severus Potter. With attention- demanding siblings like James and Lily he was always sort of lost in our overly huge family. As the oldest of the children I may not know my parents but I do know love…

…Does Albus know even that? Can he truly look someone in the eyes and say the same (minus the oldest child and unknown parent parts of course)? Or is love to him just something that exists only in those books he is always reading?

The self-updating list of those staying at Hogwarts for Christmas this year is posted on our door by a house elf as it is every time there is a break where children have chosen to stay at the school. My eyes narrow in on the perfect penmanship amidst the scrawled names already accumulated on the list.

Albus Severus Potter

I stop myself right before I point it out to James. Not wanting to know his reaction to the news. When will he notice his younger brother isn't going home for the holidays? The immediate answer should be within a day. No, he should have already talked to Albus about it before the name was signed on the list. But for some reason I am unsure about the answer. A day, a week, on the train, in the car, at home, when opening his presents, coming back to Hogwarts, at the welcome back feast, EVER?

A pair of boxers is thrown at my face and I snatch them from the air glaring at James. "You OK Teddy?" He asks and I nod, throwing his underwear back at him. Pulled into a conversation again I forget about Albus Severus Potter and if his absence will be noticed over the holidays. After all…

… He is simply so easy to forget about…

- Line -

PoV: Harry Potter

I watch as Ginny and Lily run up to James, Teddy, and the others and hug them each breathless. Looking around for Albus turns up fruitless and I start to think something has happened to him but Rosie is giving me a hug and proudly showing off her Ravenclaw robes though Ron's face clearly shows disappointment which Hermione is ignoring at the moment. The look in her eyes though tells a different story for when the children aren't around. Ron is satisfied when James "discretely" reminds him that at least she wasn't in Slytherin like Albus and I go to defend my youngest son but we are all together now sans Albus and being herded into the cars outside. Under the tree that year there is one Slytherin green and silver wrapped gift amongst the many Gryffindor red and gold, Ravenclaw blue and bronze, and Hufflepuff yellow and black…..

….It takes me until the kids are all back on the train to realize who it was even for…

-Line-

PoV: Abigail Greengrass

I watch as yet again Aspus has his head in a book. It was OK for his grades, Nott and him battle for top student in Hogwarts and can connect to each other better than I can with Julian sometimes and he is my twin; my other half.

From the glance even Longbottom could tell he was neglected. No surprise came from us when a Potter was put into Slytherin at this year's sorting. Our house has become the dumping ground for those few to broken to pretend to be "normal" anymore. The ones who have lived to long on the sidelines to feel anything for other people anymore. The hat mistaking the fact we live to survive another day for strength and ambition, our tactics we use to do so wrongly labeled as cunning.

Going up to Aspus I see the back of his right hand has words etched into it and wince. Coming from a world where he was almost always forgotten and going into one where everyone is looking to hurt him has brought out his Gryffindor blood so to speak. Grabbing a potion from the always well stocked closet supply I return and grab his hand, gently inspecting it as he looks down at the book abandoned in his lap ashamed but knowing not to pull away from me.

"Blood quills are illegal, you should report this." I say though I know he won't. None of us ever do anymore. Sighing as I kneel down in front of him and hold his chin, allowing him to hide his hand though he knows I'll demand it back from him soon.

"You have nothing to be ashamed of Snakelet. It's Professor Redd who should be ashamed of using such methods." The dull nearly hopeless look in his eyes both tell me he isn't convinced and breaks my already shattered soul further. I know it sounds heartless of me but I'm happy I'm a 7th year. If I have to see another child break under all of this hate I will hang by my tie from the ceiling.

Forcing a smile we both know is fake I remove the glove I keep on my left hand to hide the proof to a truth no outsider would believe happens in Hogwarts now a days and all insiders turn a blind eye to. He gasps, some life returning to those beautiful emerald eyes of his telling me I made the right decision as usual when it comes to dealing with the younger children in the Slytherin family. Left reaches out for right and our hands bare to the world the lies sketched into us by others.

On the left:

I will respect my elders.

On the right:

I will remember my place.

But…

… Is it false when the whole world believes it to true?

…. Are facts fact because they are right or because no one is willing to disprove them?

… Do we deserve to die because that is what everyone here says so….

… Or have we simply never been given the chance to live?

All of us could do so much for the world if only it would let us. And looking at the boy in front of me I don't see the next Dark Lord or an evil unhuman being without the right to live…

… I see a broken eleven year old boy with a voice that can make angels cry and a purpose that has yet to be fulfilled.

Why God? Why can't the world see what I see? Why can't we be loved?

Hey everyone!

No journal entries in this chapter sorry. If you want I can add one on the Slytherin's Christmas. Though I was just about to move on to Albus' second year at Hogwarts unless I get a review asking me to complete his first by the time I go to update this story again. I know that thoughts aren't usually witnessed in a pensive however I decided to use my creative license (If I'm even to have one for a fan fiction anymore) to put them in there anyway.

Also, I wanted to ask you all three things:

How do you like the story?

Do you have any suggestions for the future of this story? Really, your input helps my writer's block/to many ideas at once problems.

Can someone explain to me just what a Beta is? I find myself lacking in knowledge of that subject and one of my friends made a passing comment about how I should probably get one.

Thanks for your support and I hope you liked this chapter. Until next time….

…..Bye!