Chapter Twelve

A/N: For last chapter: don't worry, Rose and Scorpius will have a happy ending. ;) And we will be seeing the angsty side of Albus Severus Potter (hee hee I LOVE saying that name) in this chapter. Oh, yeah one more thing: the man who Harry is interrogating is going to be important to the story! :D

Albus's PoV

I fixed my bow tie again and itched at my dress robes. Stupid tradition. I thought.

I was walking through the crowd, looking for any of my friends. There was an upbeat Muggle song playing; one I've heard before. I vaguely remembered walking in on my cousin while it was playing in her room as she was dancing around. I smiled to myself. Good times.

I was mostly searching for Thalia; I didn't care if she was in the middle of dancing with her date, I was going to pull her aside, dance with her, and then tell her how I felt. Even if she didn't have feelings for me, it was going to feel good to have her know how I felt. It was going to feel like a giant weight off of my shoulders.

I decided to search for Rose; as she would most likely know where her best girl friend was. I found Rose chatting to my cousins Roxanne, Molly and Lucy.

"Hey, Rose."

She smiled. "Hey, Al. What's up?"

"Have you seen Thalia?" I asked.

She shook her head. "Actually, she was looking for you."

I raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"She said she wanted to ask you to dance." My cousin answered.

I was totally shocked. "Why?"

Rose rolled her eyes. "Because she likes you, you git!"

I felt my jaw drop several feet. "B-but, doesn't she have a date?"

She looked at me like I was crazy. "Date? She turned down half of Hogwarts' male population! All because she was waiting for you to ask her!"

I felt my jaw touch the floor. "Oh."

She looked at me quizzically. "Have you seen Scorpius?"

I shook my head. "Nope. I haven't."

Rose was pointing to the large crowd gathering in the middle of the room. "What's up over there?"

I shrugged. "Let's go find out."

As we made our way to the middle of the Great Hall, Rose pushed aside any one in her way, with me in tow.

"What on earth is going on h - ?"She stopped when she saw what was happening.

It was something that was beyond my nightmares. I used to think that if I ever came across a Boggart, I would probably see Voldemort from my dad's memories. Or maybe that telltale flash of green light that always recurred in his saddest memories. I used to dream of Voldemort coming to get me, his pale, spidery hand reaching out for me, yelling, "I must kill the Boy Who Lived's son!" When I heard that the Death Eaters were after my family, I was beyond scared. The nightmares from my dad's memories came back to haunt me, and I became restless during night. That was the reason I was nervous for the first Quidditch match. I was worried my fears would get in the way of the victory for the team.

But this was something I hadn't, until now, realized that this was something that I had feared would happen. When I saw Thalia and Scorpius intertwined, I felt like I had thrown up, got turned upside down, got my heart ripped, and then got it stomped on.

When they pulled apart, all the nausea and heartbreak was swallowed up by rage. When Scorpius spotted us, his face fell.

Probably because they got caught, I thought bitterly.

When Thalia locked eyes with me, her eyes were filled with horror and guilt. I felt anger, anguish, jealousy, heartbreak, and...disappointment.

I tore my gaze away and looked at Scorpius. I was thinking in my head, how could you? He was my best mate, the one I told all of my secrets to, the one I had trusted with my feelings for Thalia. He had even convinced me and the whole school with this whole three-year long charade of fancying Rose Weasley. But it was over now. It turned out that he had liked Thalia instead, and was too chicken to tell me that we both had feelings for the same girl.

I guess that's his family's Slytherin cowardice at work, I thought spitefully.

And Thalia. We had played Quidditch, Exploding Snap, snowball fights, even played a prank or two. I was in love with her, and she had acknowledged my feelings and went to go snog Scorpius. She was also my best friend, but only she was the only person that made me feel like I was walking on air. I had fallen hard for her. And she had stomped on my heart harder. Now I understood the meaning of unrequited love.

Both were pleading with me with their eyes that this was all a misunderstanding. I refused to believe it. I heard Rose stifle a sob and run out of the room.

"Rose! Wait!" Thalia shouted, running after my cousin.

As the clattering of her heels grew quieter, the Hall grew silent, looking from me and Scorpius, as if they were watching a tennis match. I glared at my best mate of 6 years.

"So," I began, fingering my wand in the inside pocket of my dress robes.

Scorpius raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"

"What happened to sweeping Rose off of her feet? Because last time I checked, she was a redhead, not a brunette." My voice had turned a steely calm, and we started walking in a circle.

Scorpius ran a hand through his slicked hair, making it stick up. "We had to kiss, Al, we were stuck under the mistletoe!"

I snorted. "Yeah, right. You just wished there was mistletoe there. Make it less obvious when you snog her." I sneered.

Scorpius sighed, exasperated. "Look, I'm sorry, Al! I don't have any feelings for Thalia, you know that!"

"I used to know that. Until I realized that it was just a charade for three years!" I roared, and I had brandished my wand, as we continued to walk in a circular motion.

"Stop it, Albus! You're not thinking straight! I don't have feelings for her, and she's the same! We're practically brother and sister!"

"Yeah, right. I see the way you look at each other when mine and Rose's backs are turned."

"For the last time, we don't have any feelings for each other!" He yelled, his wand out, too.

"Well, it sure didn't seem that way when you were EXCHANGING SALIVA!" I suddenly lost it, firing a Stunning Spell at him, which he cleverly blocked with a quick Protego. I clenched my teeth, remembering that he was a very important member in the Duelling Club.

"We don't like each other!" He said, frustrated, blocking another hex from me.

"What on earth is going on here?" Headmistress McGonagall suddenly burst in the room, robes billowing.

"It's nothing, Headmistress. I was just explaining something to Albus, here." I was grinded my teeth, angry that Scorpius could act so calm.

"I heard some duelling in here. Detention, both of you for the first month of term; polishing trophies."

"Whatever," I grumbled, suddenly feeling like giving up. Turning to walk out of the Great Hall, I looked over my shoulder, I said, "And, Scorpius? You should know how much I love Thalia. And, that you can have her. If it makes her happy, that's what she should get."

Walking out of the Great Hall, I trudged up the stairs, the bravado and anger leaving me. I realized that if I kept a grudge against him, it wouldn't make Thalia happy. I would just have to put my feelings aside.

When I came to the Fat Lady, I muttered the password and climbed up to the boys' dormitories. When I got there, I tore off the dress robes, stuffed them into my trunk, and pulled on a T-shirt and flannel pajama bottoms. Sighing, I got into my four-poster and closed my eyes. I sure was glad that tomorrow was when we boarded the Express and left for home. I had enough drama for tonight.

. . .

When I woke up, I checked my Muggle watch that I left on my bedside table. It told me that it was 7:00 am, which was an hour before departure. Scanning the dorm, I saw that everyone was still asleep, and figured that everyone would wake up soon. I quickly took a shower and dressed. I made my way to the Great Hall, where it was probably cleaned overnight. It looked as if the Yule Ball had never happened.

I sure wish it never did. I thought bitterly.

I ate my breakfast mechanically, not even caring if I was eating cereal or toast or oatmeal. It was all tasteless, anyway. More people filed in and I paid no attention to them. Rose sat down silently beside me and we ate together, acknowledging the other's presence in silence. I didn't bother to look where everyone else was sitting on the Gryffindor table; I didn't care anyway.

When I was done, I went to the boys' dormitories upstairs to pack my trunk. See, I was sort of a neat freak when it came to packing and organizing. I spent a good chunk of my time slowly packing; making sure everything was in order. School robes on the bottom (including the dreaded dress robes of last night), my Muggle clothes next, textbooks and other school stuff after, and my personal belongings on top. I didn't give the picture album – which held various school memories with my friends and family events – a second glance; placing it on top of the stack as fast as I could neatly place it. I stood up; I was done.

As I headed down to the Common Room, I passed some of my other dorm mates, who were also finishing up their packing. I ignored Scorpius; I was not going to relive what happened last night.

I spotted Rose again, sitting on a couch, her trunk on the floor at her feet, reading her mum's copy of the Muggle book Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare. Seriously, I think she read that book a million times. I almost expected to see Thalia beside her, tossing around her 'baseball' as she called it; an object American Muggles used in a sport (she said her mum got it for her tenth birthday). I waved that thought away. I wasn't going to break down in front of my cousin all because my heart got smashed by a certain brunette last night. Well, I guess for her, the situation wasn't any different.

"Hey, Rosie." I used the childhood nickname to try to cheer her up. It worked; slightly.

She smiled half-heartedly. "Hey, Allie." She countered me with my own childhood nickname (that I absolutely DESPISED!).

I rolled my eyes. "You excited for the holidays?"

She nodded. "Tomorrow or the day after, mum's going to take me to a Muggle book shop, which is brilliant, because I want to buy more books, especially ones like Jane Eyre..."

I let her chatter on and on, as she looked happy when she talked about her favourite things: books.

I wished that getting away from reality could be so easy for me.

. . .

As Rose, Hugo, Lily, and my other various cousins got off of the train, I spotted our family. As my other cousins ran to their parents, Lily and I walked calmly to our messy-haired father and our red-headed mother.

"Hi, Lily, Albus! How was term?" She asked, hugging my little sister and then me.

"Good, mum. Hey, did you know that Lysander asked me to the Ball?"

"Really?" Our mother cocked an eyebrow, interested. "I thought that you were dating that Samuel boy."

Lily smiled. "I'll explain in the car."

As my sister and mother talked about Quidditch matches, school, etcetera, etcetera, my dad smiled and hugged me.

"Hey, Al."

"Hey, dad." I couldn't help but smile back at him; we had a special connection.

"You know how you said that you wanted to be an Auror when you left Hogwarts? Well, after we drop your mother and Lily home, we're going to floo over to the Ministry and you're going to experience a real, live, Auror interrogation. Since I'm not allowed to take you on a manhunt, I thought, well, why not take Albus to an interrogation instead? Don't worry," He added, "This guy's not a Death Eater."

I was surprised. "Really? An interrogation?"

He nodded. "So, are you up for it?"

"Yes! I'd love to!"

He smiled. "Hey, why don't you ask your friend Thalia if she would like to come? I hear she wants to be one, too."

I was once again sprung back into the events of last night. Trying to keep a poker face, I lied smoothly, "Well, she said she was busy on the train, so I don't think so." I felt bad lying to my own father, but what could I do? Tell the truth?

"Oh. Oh, well, that's fine. I'm sure she won't really miss anything for Auror Training. This is sort of a head start on the interrogation part, you know?" He shrugged.

I nodded. "Yeah. Let's get going then."

. . .

As I stumbled forward out of the fireplace, my dad popping in from the next one, I stared in awe at the Ministry's Atrium. It was insanely huge. There was a monument with golden statues of a witch, a wizard, a House Elf, a Goblin, and a centaur. On another one (which was rather large), were names of those who died fighting in the Second Wizard War to defeat Voldemort (shudder). I didn't get a chance to read it because my dad was already pulling me along to something that looked like a cross between a golden cage and a Muggle elevator. We stepped in and some greeted my father, others making light conversation.

When the disembodied voice said, Auror Department, my dad and I stepped out. As we walked down the hall to a room that said, Interrogation, some people greeted my father, once again. When we entered, there sat a man who looked my father's age. He was wearing Muggle clothes; a casual hoodie, shirt, and dark jeans. His pale gold hair was messy and dishevelled. It looked as if he hadn't had a good sleep in a long time.

"Hello, my name is Auror Harry Potter, and this is my son Albus, who's going to be in training to become an Auror in two and a half years. I'm going to ask you some questions and I trust you to respond honestly." My dad said in a business-like voice. "Okay, first off, full name, birth date, and location of birth?"

"Thomas Ray Hollister, June 5 1980, and unknown. I was raised in an American wizard nursery for Muggleborns who were left on the street by their parents, and, I don't know who my parents are and what my blood-status is." He kept his voice calm, but his grey eyes were full of anxiety.

My dad nodded. "What exactly happened that day you flooed here?"

What? Huh? I'm confused, so I'm just going to sit here and listen. I thought, suddenly interested.

Thomas ran a hand through his hair, making it even more dishevelled. "I had a day off, you see, and I was at home, relaxing at my flat, just chilling, as us Americans call it," He had an American accent, which sounded foreign to Britain. "When these Death Eaters come barging in – I was one of the Aurors who rounded up Death Eaters in America, since quite a few came, trying to claim the land for the Dark Lord – and shooting Unforgiveables everywhere!"

Death Eaters in America? Why? I thought their focus was on the Weasley/Potter clan in BRITAIN? I thought quizzically.

"And so, I grabbed my wand and started firing back. I managed to knock them out, so I then tried to floo to the Ministry in America; but I coughed and apparently said 'Ministry of Britain', so I ended up here." The man finished his story.

My father was nodding, a calculating and intrigued look on his face. "Thank you, Mr. Hollister. I'll bring this information to the office, thank you."

Thomas Hollister smiled. "You're welcome, Mr. Potter."

As we exited, I asked my father, "Dad, do you have any idea what this man has to do with the Death Eaters?"

He had a mischievous grin on his face, one that I had seen from a photograph of James Potter the first.

"We'll see."

A/N: Have any ideas why this dude was attacked by Death Eaters? I will try my best NOT to tell you! Hinty-hint: it's because of blood relation and something that is in a little tiny crystal ball in the Hall of Mysteries! :O

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