Dinner at the Malfoys
Despite the fact that the tension in the air was so thick that a muggle chainsaw wouldn't even be able to cut it Albus Potter found himself letting out the breath he had unconsciously been holding. He felt a huge sense of relief was Winky the house-elf began serving coffees. It meant that this evening was finally coming to a close.
Albus had always considered Malfoy manor to be a cold and imposing place and any time he had spent there as a child had always been a hushed affair. There was no childish laughter and running around like there was in the burrow. But off all the nights he had spent here this was certainly the worst.
It had started in Hogwarts, for some reason he had thought that it would be a good idea to make friends with Scorpius Malfoy in their first year, build old bridges and all that rubbish, but it had led to Scorpius and Rose being best friends which naturally led to something more. Now they were engaged and due to be married in three months and he was forced to sit through the most awkward 'family' dinner in the history of the world.
His uncle Ron had spent the entire night glaring at the elder Malfoy and his aunt Hermione had been as white as a sheet since the second course was served. Astoria Malfoy seemed to be quiet a cold woman but as an asset to her she had played the hostess excellently and managed to keep up a stilted conversation. Draco had maintained a stony silence.
Albus carefully picked up his delicate coffee cup and began to sip at the steaming liquid, paying polite attention to his cousin Rose as she descried some detail or other of the wedding to her soon to be mother-in-law. The pretty red head was interrupted suddenly by a screeching wail from another part of the house. In his shock Albus dropped his coffee cup soaking his front with the hot beverage. But that was the least of his worries as the young house elf Winky apparated into the room, wailing his little heart out and covered in blood.
"It M-Mr Malfoy!" he wailed throwing himself at the feet of his master, "h-he's dead! In the study! Oh Mr Malfoy I am sorry please don't punish Winky!"
Everyone sat frozen for a second, mouths hanging and faces white with shock, staring at the shaking form of the little house elf in front of Draco Malfoy. They all seemed to regain sense in the same second and, with a hurried scrape of chairs, all 7 dinner guests hurried towards the Malfoy study on the ground floor, and the possible body of its former master.
Astoria got there first and let out a burst of emotion that was uncommon for the icy woman, she turned into the waiting arms of her husband and began to sob. Draco, seemingly emotionless, observed the corpse of his father over the head of his weeping wife.
Albus pushed past the Weasley family who were hanging back from the scene, either shocked or secretly pleased it wasn't to know. He was only a trainee auror, he and Scorpius were busy undergoing training, but because Scorpius had such a personal connection to the victim Albus took charge of the situation.