AN: Hello, I'm back. Sorry I haven't been able to update much

Considering how good Halloween festivities were, it wasn't a surprise that Hogwarts celebrated Christmas in an equally extravagant but beautiful way. There was a huge Christmas tree at the front of the Dining Hall as well as decorations throughout the castle.

However not everyone was looking forward to Christmas or appreciated the decorations. The other day, Alex watched in dismay as Peeves the poltergeist spent a lot of his time mischievously smashing and breaking ornaments and teasing students as they passed by. Alex was also a little shocked that his friends were not particularly looking forward to the holiday break. He knew Hermione would also be going home and was quite glad to be seeing her parents again; however he could not say much about the others. He was surprised when Ron, Harry and Lisa added their names to the list of people who would not be going home for the break.

Tracey Davis was not particularly excited, as she told them during one of the library sessions:

"Well, I hope it will be better than last year's Christmas. I spent Christmas last year squabbling with my sisters. Xylia hogged all the turkey meat. Mary ended up crying all afternoon because her jerk of an ex-boyfriend decided to dump her on Christmas Eve. Amethyst was at work. My little brothers Hugo and Rex were fighting most of the time. My parents couldn't afford many gifts for us, so all I got last year was some cheap make up and a hair tie. Everyone at school laughed at me."

"That's still better than I got," Harry frowned, "Last year the Dursleys gave me a pair of Dudley's old knickerbockers. I also had to help Aunt Petunia cook everything."

"That's awful," Tracey exclaimed, "I don't understand why they wouldn't appreciate having a kid like you around. You are family after all."

"My family has an extreme dislike of magic in all forms. They're close-minded and intolerant of me being different. They spoil Dudley with everything."

"Don't worry Harry, I'm also staying." Lisa told him, "My mother has to go on a trip to Australia for her work. She won't be able to see me."

"Don't forget that I am too, Harry." Ron exclaimed, "Mum, Dad and Ginny are going to see Charlie in Romania. So I'm going to be here with my brothers."

Harry smiled a little. It would be awful to be spending Christmas alone, especially when you're only eleven.

Alex had noticed that Theodore had been acting off-sorts for days – he was far more quiet and sullen than usual. He never smiled and seemed more intent on being alone. Alex began to suspect that something was very wrong. He originally thought that Theodore was being harassed by Malfoy and his 'friends', but Theodore said he got along just fine with them. Also, he said that they didn't realise that Theodore had anything to do with 'Potter's Gang' aka Harry, Ron, Hermione and Alex.

"Theodore," Lisa asked, "Are you going home?"

Theodore's face almost drained itself completely of colour.

"Yes, I am." He replied in a timid voice.

"You don't seem happy at all about it." Hermione commented.

"Dad and I don't get along very well. It's been hard since Mum died."

Theodore looked like he wanted to cry but didn't, instead he got up and ran out of the library.

There was obviously more to their subtle and cunning Slytherin friend than they originally thought.

Listening to his friends made Alex realise one thing, there was a surprising amount of people who didn't have a 'perfect' family but also plenty that had a truly unhappy family. Harry and Theodore were two of them. Alex might have just Uncle Ian as family but at least he got along well with them. He was blessed in that aspect.

Both Uncle Ian and Jack came to meet him at the King Cross Station Platform 9 and 3/4. They seemed really pleased to see them. He was glad too; he had been missing them both miserably. They might have been able to exchange letters but that wasn't enough, he needed to see them face to face – in person.

Jack greeted him with the biggest hug. She looked great, not that she usually didn't, but he noticed that she had started to wear make-up and wear more mature clothes than her usual pants and t-shirt. Uncle Ian gave him a big pat on the back and their usual knuckle punch. His Uncle had not physically changed one bit, except perhaps for a slight scar on his left cheek which Alex assumed was probably from mountain climbing again. However, his Uncle seemed to be happier. It seemed that a fair bit of change had occurred since he had left.

When they arrived home, he was relieved find that at least their house had no changed that much. Jack admitted that she hadn't had much time to redecorate this year with the new course she was doing at university. She definitely liked it more than law, which was a good thing. His room was exactly how he left it, which he was glad about.

At dinner time, Alex helped Jack by setting up the table. Jack had decided to cook a nice dinner, something a bit nicer than the packet mixes that Jack would usually take five minutes to put together.

"Alex, how is the food at Hogwarts?" Uncle Ian asked as they sat down.

"Really good. They usually have something I like every night."

"How do they cater for so many kids?" Jack asked curiously.

"House elves, lots of them. They do pretty much everything, besides cooking they also clean."

"Hmm…" Jack said curiously, "That's quite interesting."

"How is the Bank?" Alex asked his Uncle.

"There have been a lot more problems lately. We've been having big issues with security."

"Alex…" Jack paused, it seemed like it was something she really wanted to say, "Ian and I have been… dating."

Alex was surprised. He had no idea about this at all. He had never imagined such a thing happening.

"I knew it was a wrong time to tell him…" Uncle Ian frowned.

"Well, he would have figured it out sooner or later…"

"I'm cool with it," he said with a smile, he really was glad for them, "Whatever makes you both happy."

They both looked relieved.

Alex spent the next two days living life as if he was not magic. He had to admit that life was not the same. He was surprised to see that he had gotten a fair few emails from his primary school friends and about what they were doing. He would have to apologise over not being able to respond to them. He wouldn't be able to tell them about Hogwarts or anything but at least he would have some sort of reminder of life outside the magical world. However, he knew that maybe it was better that he dropped all contact with them. Sadly, he still remembered how Angus Simpson reacted to him as a child – he feared a similar reaction now. He only responded out of politeness. He assumed they would have forgotten about him and made new friends at their respective middle schools by now.

He was startled the other day when Uncle Ian invited him to his office upstairs. He had never been allowed into his uncle's office and it was usually locked, so Alex had no idea what was in there. It was like a totally different world.

"Uncle, you wanted to see me?"

"Yes Alex. I promise this won't take long."

His uncle's office looked totally unspectacular; it contained just a desk with a laptop and some filing cabinets. The office was almost abnormally neat and tidy, but his uncle was always one for order. There was only one poster on the wall, it was of a sunny beach but even that was nothing particularly interesting.

"Alex, there have been problems at my work partially because it has been discovered that you are a wizard. I thought it necessary just to tell you. I know that you can keep it a secret as I have tried to keep yours as much as I could."

Alex was confused. Why would a bank be interested in him or the fact that he was a wizard? Banks were supposed to be all about money after all.

"Alex, I'm not an overseas finance manager for the Royal & General Bank. I really work for MI6. I'm a secret agent."

With so many surprises and changes, Alex felt like his world was starting to flip upside-down. What else had happened in his absence? Alex was a bit afraid.

"What problems have occurred in regards to it?"

"Well, my top bosses have talked to me and seem to be very interested in you, me and our trip to Diagon Alley. Apparently MI6 has been interested in wizards for ages. It doesn't surprise me."

"Does it mean that they are spying on us?"

"A bit more than they usually do but it's not anything to worry about. This is the only room in the house I know is one hundred percent safe. At least I know that they aren't interested in taking your blood or anything. I wouldn't allow it anyway. I just thought I would let you know Alex but I don't think that there isn't anything to be concerned over."

"Ok."