Disclaimer: I don't own it never will, unless Rowling decides she needs to adopt an American girl.

Chapter 21- Party Part 1

Everything changed the day of my fourteenth birthday and also the day the Wizarding Community decided to celebrate Dad's Fortieth by throwing him a huge formal party at the ministry. Let's just say nobody was left unaffected.

I scowled as I looked into the mirror, I really hated dress robes, they were annoying and not comfy like my shorts and t-shirt combo I liked to wear during the summer.

I straightened my bowtie with pursed lips; even though I hated these bloody robes I looked good.

My untidy black hair fell into my eyes and almost brushing my collar in the back. My robes were plain black and sharply tailored by Madam Malkin herself, they made me older than my fourteen years.

Oh, another thing that annoys me, it's my ruddy birthday and I have to celebrate it at a formal Ministry Birthday party for my dad (his birthday was Friday its now Sunday).

Don't get me wrong I did get a small party this morning and I received nice gifts from my family (I got some great gifts even though I didn't get that ferret I wanted), but I kinda wanted to just spend the night at home.

I sighed quietly when I heard a calm knock on my door, "Come in."

In walked my dad, his hair was untidy like mine but shorter and he was wearing emerald green robes.

"Hey, kiddo, looking sharp."

I turned towards him a small smile on my face, "Hey, thanks. You don't look to bad yourself."

My dad laughed lightly and came to stand in front of me, he grabbed my shoulders, "I'm sorry about tonight, I know you wanted to just stay home for your birthday but I really can't not go to this."

I looked down at my feet, "Its fine dad, you can't not go to your own birthday party."

I looked up in time to see him roll his eyes, "Please, Al, my party was at the Burrow on Friday, this is Ministry and press, that's all. And you know how I loathe the press."

I nodded a grin coming to my face, Dad really hates the press, always has always will, he says.

"Now come on, everyone is waiting for us down there," Dad said throwing a muscled arm around my shoulders leading me out of my room.

"Teddy here?"

Dad nodded, "Yes, I asked him to come with us since him and Vic broke things off."

I winced; things have been ridiculously tense between the supposed Fairytale couple, ever since they broke up. They could barely look at each other at Dads party (first they saw of each other in a good month), and it seems that it was Victoire who broke up with Teddy not the other way around.

It's so surprising because it was well known in our large family that Victoire had a huge crush on Teddy since she discovered boys, and had to wait until Teddy noticed her, it's actually a very Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter story.

Nobody though really knows what went down for her to do that, but everyone tried to steer clear from that kind of talk, even though everyone was dying to know especially because everybody thought they'd be seeing a ring soon.

The only person who seems to know is Dad which doesn't surprise me because Dad pretty much raised Teddy and they were super close, and dad would never betray Teddy by telling people what happened.

"Awkward much?" I mumbled low enough so Teddy and the others couldn't hear even though we were still far away they shouldn't be able to hear (note the shouldn't, you never know when James or Lily will have an extendable ear).

Dad squeezed my shoulder, "Yeah it is but they are both mature adults they will act responsible, and if they don't Uncle Harry is going to stick them both in a holding cell till they play nice with each other in front of you kids."

I laughed at his comically stern expression, "They'll be trembling with fear Dad."

"I didn't become the head of the Auror office by hugging criminals."

"No," A new voice cut in, "You scared them out of their wits hearing the great defeater of the Dark Lord is the one arresting them."

Dad grinned at mum sappily like a love sick puppy it was rather disturbing.

"You look beautiful, Love." Dad said as he removed his arm from my shoulders to kiss her on the cheek (they spared me the snog thank every deity there is) and spin her around.

She was wearing a sleeveless black dress that flowed to her knees, she looked really pretty.

"You look pretty mum," I said smiling at her, "Dad's a lucky man."

She blushed lightly and kissed me on the cheek as Dad gave me thumbs up from behind her.

"You're sweet, Al" She pulled back and threaded her arm through mine, "Now boys I was just coming to get you lets go."

So we made our way downstairs where they were waiting, everyone dressed up nicely.

Teddy stood up at our arrival with a smile his black hair was neatly combed back and his navy blue robes immaculate, "Wotcher Al, I was just about to come get you if you took any longer."

Mum smiled at him, "Sorry, I needed to grab a black robe to cover this it's rather chilly at the ministry."

"You look lovely; by the way, almost as gorgeous as our Lily here," Teddy turned and looked at my sister with a fond grin, "she's growing up fast."

Lily got up and I had to admit she did look older in her pretty brown dress that fell to her knees and matching purse, "Thanks Teddy, can I apparate with you?"

"Up to your Dad, Lily-pad."

"Its fine with me, I'll take Al, James you can head over with your mum." Dad said with smile on his face as he looked at Lily like he'd never seen her before, "And you do look wonderful, Lils."

Lily looked down and blushed, "Thanks, daddy."

"You do, Lil." James and I said in unison causing everyone besides us to laugh.

"Shut it, let's go." Lily mumbled embarrassed and moved over to Teddy and his outstretched arm.

James and I exchanged a grin, we looked a lot alike tonight, we looked almost identical if it weren't for me being slightly taller and less muscular and the fact I had darker hair and no glasses.

I walked over to dad and screwed my eyes shut and muttered, "I won't throw up, I won't."

Dad chuckled and grabbed my arm and before I knew it I was being squeezed through a tube and feeling like my insides may become known to the world.

"Alright, there son?" As I gagged lightly.

I rolled my shoulders and said, "Yeah, ugh that was rougher than usual."

Dad just smiled at me and walked over to mum, grabbing her hand.

"Alright troops, ready to head in?" we all nodded, I wrinkled my nose in between James and Lily, while standing behind our parents (Ted was on James' other side) I was not looking forward to this, "Everyone ready to be blinded?"

James and I snickered as mum slapped dad on the back of the head.

Dad winked at us and opened the doors to the room and we were blinded for the next thirty minutes.

HPHPHPHPHP

I plunked down in a chair exhausted, I swore if I saw another photographer wanting to take my photo or ask me questions I was going to unleash a wrath that would have Voldemort wetting his pants.

Rubbing a hand over my face, I took a look around the packed room wondering where Scorpius was, I needed some cheering up.

I looked towards the dance floor and saw Louis dancing with a pretty girl with long dark hair in a purple dress; he seemed to be lost in thought which is weird when there was girl in his arms. Near them Molly (her dress was a pretty white color and went below her knees, and a dark thingy was around her waist) was dancing with a guy that I have never seen before, he had glasses and light brown hair.

Not far away on the floor was Victoire (she had a dress on that matched her eyes to a tee making more than one guy stare at her), her arms were wrapped around a tall, muscular guy with a serious tan and hair that looked once to be brown but was blonde from maybe the sun (he might be a curse breaker in Egypt where Vic was stationed now) and I felt annoyed by extension for Teddy, they just broke up why not flaunt the fact a little more?

Clenching my teeth, I decided to do a very red faced Teddy a favor (I could see him from my seat glaring at them).

Getting up I made my way through the dancers waving to Fred and Ana Sky (her name is ironic, since she has Sky blue eyes and is the Gryffindor seeker) on my way to my twenty year old cousin.

As I got closer and saw the guys face and winced in sympathy for Teddy the guy was pretty good looking.

"Think I can step in?" I asked, well more like demanded tapping the guy on the shoulder, he was taller than me and wider (but alas it was muscle) and much bigger than Vic.

Imagine a mouse next to a rugby player.

Yup, I know.

The guy turned and looked at me with a patronizing smile (his teeth were really white, I could see the little sparkle), "Sorry, kid," his voice was deep and meant to be intimating (made me want to laugh), "She's a bit too old for you."

I rose an eyebrow as his pale green eyes laughed at me, "Buddy, I'd think twice about who you talk to like that. Who even invited you?"

The guy laughed outright, and Victoire tried to talk but he just waved a hand at her, dismissing whatever she was going to say, I wanted to punch him, "You shouldn't even be here, this is a party for Harry Potter, I was invited by his niece here, it's not for a bunch of kids. And I think you should go find some kids your own age."

Victoire groaned quietly in embarrassment for him as I laughed, "Oh, Vic you sure do pick 'em."

The guy looked confused and asked Victoire, "You know this kid?"

"Course she does." I grinned.

He threw me a glare that clearly said, "Shut it or die."

Please.

Victoire sighed and looked at me affectionately which had the guy glaring at me, "Al, I would like you to meet Collin Freeman, He's a curse breaker with me in Egypt," I was right, "we met a few months ago," before she broke up with Teddy, I thought grimly and she continued, "I asked him to come to Uncle Harry's party with me last week, since he was visiting home as well."

I could tell she was trying to stress that she'd asked this guy out after her and Teddy ended things not while they were still together.

Still pissed me off.

Collins smile softened I noticed when he looked at Vic it wasn't patronizing like he did with me, "Who's the kid, Victoire?"

Victoire licked her lips, her cheeks red from the smirk I plastered on my face while she'd been talking earlier, knowing I wasn't pleased.

Although I couldn't wait to see his reaction when he realized Harry Potter's my Dad.

"Col, this is my Cousin," the guy looked at me less patronizingly and more annoyed, "Albus-" his eyebrows scrunched together like he was trying to remember where he'd heard that name before, "Potter."

I grinned as the guy paled dramatically, and let go of Vic's hand, "Still think I shouldn't be at this party? I don't think dad would be pleased with how you're talking to one of his kids, he's rather protective of us."

The guy stuttered and handed Vic's hand to me before rushing off, terrified that I'd stick Harry Potter on him.

From the corner of my eye I saw Teddy snickering, I winked at him, this seemed to make him laugh as he walked over to Rose (she looked really pretty in green) and a girl with red hair that I wasn't related to but looked familiar.

I laughed, as Vic rolled her eyes at me, "You done scaring my date, Albus Severus?"

I winced at the use of my full name, it was only ever used when I was in trouble or someone was hurt.

"Sorry," I said as we danced to a soft song about why some guy loved his toad, "he was the one who ran his mouth off first."

Vic sighed, "I know he's not usually like that, I swear," I must have looked unconvinced because she looked at me pleadingly, "really Al, he isn't. He's usually sweet and quiet." She sighed again I dreamy look in her eyes that she used to get when she talked about Teddy.

She shook her head, her long blonde hair with the light red highlights that came out under the lights fluttered around her making me want to get her one of those hair tie thingies, Victoria always used.

"I like him Al; I'm going to introduce him to mum and dad tonight."

We were about the same height, her just a bit taller than me, so she saw my glare right away.

"What?" She asked defensively, not used to me looking at her like that.

"What about, Teddy?" I spat out.

Now don't go off thinking I hate Victoire because I don't I love my cousin but Teddy was my brother and I'm protective of my siblings. And I'm protective of my cousins but when you pit one up against the other I will always pick my siblings always.

And right now Victoire was hurting Teddy, she may not want but she was and that wasn't the person who used to read stories to me when I was little or play with me when nobody else would. This person who did all that for me wouldn't just go to the next guy who opened his arms.

Victoire glared at me looking like the one eighth Veela she was and said, "Teddy has nothing to do with who I date."

"Ah, yeah he does."

"No, he doesn't Albus."

"Why did you break up with him?" I asked, barely noticing Louis look at us worriedly from where he was dancing with a different girl (blonde this time, surprise, surprise).

Victoire's teeth clenched, "It's none of your business."

"Yeah, it kind of is, Ted's sad, I can tell, he may not be all emo anymore but he is still sad." Victoire looked at me alarmed.

"Is he really still upset?"

"Afraid so."

She bit her lip, "You can't tell anyone, I don't want Gran or mum to find out, promise?"

"Yeah, I wouldn't tell Gran, she's so old fashioned did you see her scolding Dominique over her dress?"

Victoire giggled lightly as the music changed to this song about a cauldron falling in love with an apothecary owner, "Oh I know poor, Dom looked mortified."

I smiled as I thought back to when we were still taking photos and out of the corner of my eyes I could see Gran chiding Dominique on her short, black, sleeveless muggle dress that went only to her mid thigh. Dominique's face was bright red making her face match her strawberry blonde hair, perfectly.

Victoire's face turned serious, "Ted and I had been fighting for months Al, and it was terrible. I love Teddy, you know that, Al, but I couldn't take it anymore. The whole long distance thing. We both were getting jealous and frustrated from not seeing each other, and I had been getting to know and like Collin more and more." She shrugged daintily, "I called it off, I couldn't hear about his new training partner anymore because when he talked about her I got jealous and I know when I spoke of Collin he got Jealous as well. Its not healthy to be in a relationship like that, Al."

I looked at my feet, trying to not get angry at her nonchalant tone; it took me a little while to realize that she needed to talk like that so she wouldn't get sad.

"I'm sorry." I said quietly as we swayed to some old Weird Sisters ballad.

Victoire just smiled sadly, "Its life, Al. Not everything can be a fairytale like Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione or Your parents. I want you to remember that, don't go looking for that happily ever after story that people crave, it just doesn't work that way."

I flinched at her bitter tone, and for the first time I realized she was really cut up over this as well.

"I won't, I'm going to let the chips fall where they may and go on from there."

Victoire looked at me impressed, "Mature words from a mature fourteen year old. By the way Happy Birthday, mister!" She poked my chest with a tongue in cheek grin, "You are growing up way too fast! I remember when you were in diapers-"

Before she could say anymore I cut her off, "And that is my cue to go, I'll go find the Hulk and tell 'im you're free as a bird."

She laughed as I walked over to a still pale faced Collin.

I crossed my arms over my chest and gave the guy my best You-touch-her-I'll-make-my-dad-look-like-a-marshmallow-peep glare, "Alright you can have my cousin back but if I hear one bad word, remember I'm part Weasley and we have tempers."

I gave him a smirk and moved on wondering where Scorpius had gone off to when Rose jumped on me.

Literally on me, if I she wasn't so skinny I'd be on the floor.

"Merlin, Rose, give a guy some space." It came out ruffled because her hair which was thankfully straightening out as we got older got in my mouth.

She stepped back her maniac grin frightening me, "Hello, cousin."

Ok, she is officially insane.

"Hello," I said slowly, nervous she was about to use her wand or something, "you look nice, not like yourself at all."

I noticed her eye twitch, "Thank you, Albus."

Like I said before my thirteen year old cousin (her birthday was on the 19th) did look nice her dress was a pale green that didn't make her look like a leprechaun and wrapped around her prettily.

I have been spending way too much time with Lily.

"Beth and I want to dance but all of the boys our age not including you are too nervous to ask us to dance, so we came to ask you and your sidekick to do us the honor."

Until Rose actually mentioned another person I hadn't even realized there was someone else even with her.

And there to her left was Elizabeth Caruso her red hair was lightly curled framing her slightly red face, she looked nervous and uncomfortable.

Beth was always with Rose, I never really talked to her before, and she always was so quiet and seemed to be even more so in my presence, I don't think she really liked me personally.

"Scorp is not my sidekick!" I said indignantly on behalf of my MIA friend.

"Damn right he's not!" A new, familiar voice said from behind me.

I whirled around smiling, there was Scorpius smirking at me.

"Oh thank Merlin!" I grabbed his arm, "Where the hell have you been I've been searching for you everywhere?"

Scorpius shook his arm out of my death grip and muttered, "Can you do anything without me?" then in a louder tone he said, "Hello, Rosie darling and Beth- I believe it is? Yes, you ladies look lovely tonight might I say the green makes you like a spring leprechaun, Rosie! And the white on you Beth is rather fetching, if I do say so myself."

I rolled my eyes as Beth laughed and Rose looked ready to punch Scorpius.

They never got along to well.

"Come on, Malfoy, I want to dance and not with my cousin." Rose said with glare.

Scorpius grinned when I said, "He's like our fourth cousin once removed or something like that Rose."

Rose huffed and grabbed Scorpius' arm leading him to the dance floor.

I shook my head, "She's quite scary."

Beth laughed and I smiled at her awkwardly, "Want to dance with me?"

Beth blushed but nodded, "Sure, Albus."

"Call me Al, people all night have been calling me Albus and then get all teary and say how sweet my dad was to name me after Dumbledore. Its rather annoying since they don't even know Dumbledore like my dad does-did whatever."

Beth nodded, "Alright, Al."

I led her to the dance floor trying to ignore James catcall from nearby, even if I did have the urge to shout to him asking where his dancing partner was.

I hesitantly put my hands on her waist not comfortable at all but luckily she seemed just as uncomfortable.

I tried smiling at her but it came out a bit of grimace.

"This is a bit weird, isn't it?" She ventured after a bit of awkward swaying.

I breathed a sigh of relief, "It really is I mean no offense but I barely know you."

She giggled, "None taken, at least we aren't like those two."

Beth nodded her head towards a swearing Scorpius and demanding Rose was dancing.

I snorted, "The two of them make a right pair, don't know why they even speak they would make a nightmare of a couple."

"Don't let Rose hear you saying that."

I looked down at her curiously my green eyes meeting her light blue, "What'd ya mean?"

Beth bit her lip and looked down, "I shouldn't say, Rose would kill me."

"I won't say anything."

She considered this, "I know you won't but…"

She looked so conflicted I said, "Its fine, you don't need to tell me."

Breathing a sigh of relief she nodded, "Thanks, I need to learn to not open my mouth."

I chuckled, "You barely talk as is, I like it better than you staying silent as those two prats bicker."

Beth smiled at me and I smiled back. And for a minute I forgot about everything including my girlfriend who was around here somewhere, and just relaxed with this girl I knew but really didn't know.

And then it was over as fast as it started.

Rose and Scorpius had moved next to us in the midst over there fight for leadership and were swaying slowly to the music.

It was then at that moment I realized that Rose liked Scorpius, I mean liked liked him.

I could tell by the way she was staring at him like he was all she thought about and it broke my heart to know he didn't see her that way.

You may ask how I know this; well he didn't look at her once.

Scorpius was staring past her making faces at…Oh, Salazar did that Beater from the Cannons have to stand in my way!

I had no clue at all who, Scorpius seemed to be giving his full undivided attention but it as sure as hell wasn't Rose.

If only that guy would move…wait a second.

He's moving!

Who's that guy dancing with…..

TO BE CONTINUED

Authors Note: MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA I am evil and so is my beta (she is the one who came up with that).

So yes there is a cliffie which will be continued on Thursday if and only if you all wish me a Happy Birthday in the reviews because today is my Birthday *throws confetti*

This is going to be split in to a few parts, btw.

And thanks to all reviewers, alerters, favoriters and ashtonangel13 who has to see all of my stupid mistakes before you guys get to see smart but a tad oblivious Al.

See-ya,

Britt

PS I have a new story called Envy Lasts Longer, it's like a five times and one time story but this is seven times and one time. It centers on Ron's jealousy! PLEASE check it out!