Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling.

Chapter 8: Brothers' Fight

Harry set down the latest letter from the Belgian Ministry of Magic and rubbed his face in frustration. For reasons he could not understand, the Belgians continued to refuse to assist in his investigation. He briefly considered sending aurors to Brussels without proper authorization, but was fairly certain the Minister would never forgive him for such a transgression.

When Ron stopped by and offered to take him out to lunch, he went willingly, glad to escape his office for a while. Over a meal of fish and chips along the Thames, Ron asked, "Is it about Malfoy again?"

"Yeah. I haven't mentioned this to him, but his wife's disappearance just seems too convenient for me. I'm sure she's hiding Scorpius in Belgium. I just don't know how to prove it."

"Any help from the Belgians?"

"Of course not. They are of the opinion that government has no place in family disputes, even where missing children are concerned."

"So what about the other disappeared kids?"

Harry shrugged. "All I have to go on are Malfoy's letter and some threats from Pansy and Millicent, both of whom refuse to talk to me. What if there aren't really any other children?"

Ron shook his head. "No one would lie about that, mate, not even Slytherins."

"What makes you say that?"

"In the wizarding world, children are valued above all else. Especially in pureblood families, everything is done to protect one's child. The Malfoys are proof of that, whatever else they're worth, which isn't much."

"So it's best to assume there are missing children. Nearly all of those children have death certificates and half have grave sites. To the best of the Ministry's knowledge, they really are dead. I just don't understand what would motivate someone to kidnap a child and not demand a ransom."

"Sorry to say it, mate, but I agree with Cho on this one. They've probably been sold into slavery, most likely in some third world country somewhere."

"You don't think Lucius Malfoy's theory has any merit, then."

Ron barked out a laugh. "Lucius Malfoy is insane, Harry. Of course I find the idea of a death eater military camp ridiculous. Where would such a thing be kept? Why would no one have noticed it by now?"

"I agree it doesn't make much sense, but I want to follow every lead I have. It's been a month now and my son is driving me crazy. I got a message from Malfoy this morning asking me to visit Malfoy Manor sometime today. He wants me to bring Albus."

"You won't go, I assume."

Harry paused to eat a chip, then said, "Yes, I will. Albus has been asking to visit the place since Scorpius disappeared and I want to take a look around. Would you care to join me?"

"I'm not letting you go alone, am I? I'll be at my desk until late finishing that bloody embezzlement case. I will be so glad when that's over."

"I know the feeling."

The two finished their lunches and walked back to the Ministry entrance in companionable silence. At Ron's desk, Harry said, "I'll come find you about four o'clock, then we can go together to pick up Albus."

At four o'clock, Harry assigned the last new case to Terry, sent him a memo, and stood to leave. As he left his office, he told his secretary, "Take the rest of the day off. There's nothing else pressing to do today." She gave him a grateful smile.

Next, he stopped at Ron's desk and found him waving a spider about with his wand. "What on earth are you doing and how is it productive?" Harry asked.

"What? Er, Hermione's always saying I should confront my fears, you know?"

"Ah. And torturing a spider serves this purpose?"

"Yeah, you know how much those buggers terrify me."

"Right. Let's go. I'd hate to keep Malfoy waiting and all that." Ron reluctantly freed the spider, making a bitter comment as he did so that likened Malfoy to a bug. Harry ignored it.

At Harry's house, a haggard Teddy Lupin greeted them at the door. "James' camp was cancelled today due to rain and he and Albus have been at each other's throats all day. I have no idea what to do with them."

"Have Rose and Hugo behaved?" Ron asked.

"Hugo and Lily have been hiding in Lily's room. They even insisted on eating lunch there. Rose started out with them, but joined the fight about lunchtime."

"Thank you, Teddy." Harry entered the house and immediately shouted, "James! Albus! In here, now!"

The boys raced into the room and Albus immediately threw himself into his father's arms. "I hate James," he cried between sobs. Both boys were covered in bruises.

"What happened, Albus?" Harry asked gently.

"James won't shut up about Scorpius. He said I'm pathetic because my only friend is a death eater."

"So you hit him." Albus nodded. "James, what happened?"

"I asked Albus, very politely, to play a game with me, but all he wanted to do was write in his stupid diary. Did you know everything he writes in it he addresses to the bloody Malfoy prat?"

"Language, James. How do you know what Albus writes in his journal?"

"I can see when he's writing in it. The weird thing is when I open it, all the pages are blank. So I told him about Mum and how a Malfoy was responsible for that."

"I never look in your journal," Albus cried.

"I'm not stupid enough to keep one."

Albus pushed abruptly away from Harry and launched himself onto James. Between punches, he cried, "I'm not stupid, and neither is Scorpius!"

Harry raised his wand and shouted, "Boys!" They both froze. Teddy grabbed Albus, Ron grabbed James, and Harry erected a shield between the two groups.

From the door, Rose said quietly, "It's James' fault. He started the fight. Albus tried to ignore him, but then he stole Albus' journal and kept taunting him. Albus just finally fought back. Please don't punish him."

Harry glared at both boys. "James, you will clean the entire kitchen by tonight. If it is not done, including the oven, then you will miss your camp for a week. Understood?"

"What about Albus?"

"Understood?"

"Yes, Dad." James turned from his father to Albus and spat, "Bloody daddy's boy."

"James!" Harry snapped. "The bathroom as well." James glared at the wall. "Albus, come with me. We're going for a walk."

The moment they cleared the wards, Harry took Albus' hand, nodded to Ron, and apparated both of them to a massive iron gate in Wiltshire. Albus gripped Harry's hand more tightly and looked around, frowning. "Dad? Where are we?"

"Malfoy Manor." Harry turned to the gates. "We are here to see Draco Malfoy."

"Bad idea, mate," Ron mumbled quietly.

The vines on the gate moved aside and the gate swung inward. Harry led the group inside. "It's beautiful," Albus whispered as he took in the gardens and mansion.

Ron said in annoyance, "They still have the bloody white peacocks, I see."

Albus answered insistently, "I think they're pretty. Scorpius drew a picture of them in the Christmas card he gave me."

Harry ignored their bickering and sighed in relief when they reached the front door. A nondescript house elf wearing a pillowcase emblazoned with the Malfoy crest greeted them. "Mister Harry Potter, sir," it squealed. "Master told us Harry Potter would be coming. Master said Mitzy should give Harry Potter this letter and offer Harry Potter some tea."

Harry took the proffered letter and opened it.

Potter,
I've gone to visit Pansy. She said it's a family emergency, but that what she has to tell me may interest you as well. Bring your boy at this time tomorrow and I will speak with you. Ask him to bring any gifts that Scorpius has given him and assure him that I have no intention of taking them away from him. Please accept my regrets for missing what was sure to be a pleasant evening.
Draco Malfoy

Ron snorted the moment Harry finished reading. "Pleasant? Nothing about either Malfoy's company or his home is even remotely pleasant."

"Ron, please," Harry started, but Albus cut him off.

"Scorpius just gave me my journal for Christmas and the card I told you about. That's all."

Harry looked down at him. "He didn't give you a birthday gift?"

"Candy, but we ate it all. He said he'd find me something better over the summer. Why does Mr Malfoy want to see my journal?"

"I don't know, Albus. I guess we will find out tomorrow."

Harry thanked the house elf and the trio left quietly. They arrived at Harry's house to find James busily scrubbing the kitchen counter and Ron's children playing quietly with Lily. Dinner was subdued that night, for which Harry felt relieved.

~O~

18 July 2018

I don't understand, Scorpius. I think your dad knows you gave me the journal and I know he will ask me about it tomorrow. What do you want me to say? James got in trouble for once for taunting me, but only because Rose stood up for me. I hate him, Scorpius. I hate my own brother. This summer has made him even worse than before, and Uncle Ron is angrier too. I'm scared, I don't want my family fighting like this, but I don't know what to do.

I keep the coin with me always, just waiting, but you never answer. James has not discovered it yet, but my worst fear is that he will steal it from me. Please contact me somehow, even by muggle telephone. Dad's in the muggle directory. Please, I need to know you're okay.

Love, Albus

Author's Note: For those of you wondering about the title, it will be explained in the next chapter.