As the Hogwarts Express slowed to a halt at King's Cross station, Ablus felt an uncomfortable feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach. He had not written back to his parents all term. Part of it was because the rude remarks and unfair comparisons forced him into a kind of isolation where only Scorpius was allowed in. The other part was because deep down he knew he was out of line. He shouldn't have said that to his father, but he was too nervous to put any of that in writing. Every time he tried, a vision of the argument arose in his mind. His blood would start boiling so badly that he ended up crumpling the parchment and walking away.
Would he forgive me? Albus found himself thinking.
He got off the train, waved farewell to Scorpius and went to join his siblings at the other end. He saw his mother waiting with a smile.
"Hi, Mum!" Lily exclaimed, running into her mother's arms. "Professor Longbottom said I'm really good in Herbology! He said I reminded him of Aunt Hermione when he asked about Venomous Tantaculas!"
"That's wonderful, dear. James, have you been staying out of trouble?" she called, eyeing him suspiciously.
James grinned guiltily.
"Well," he started, "I may have gotten detention for-"
"-being out of bed after hours," Ginny finished knowingly. "Wandering the corridors after dark, is that right?"
James stared.
"Professor McGonagall owled us."
Albus walked up.
"Where's dad?" he asked nervously.
"He's at the house. We've been behind on preparing the house for your vacation, so he said he'd have it done by the time we get back, but first, we are going to Diagon Alley."
"Are we going to Weasley's Wizard Weezes?" James asked, excited.
"Yes," Ginny answered with a roll of her eyes and a smile. "We are going to visit your uncles and grab a few things on the way. It should only be a couple of hours, I think."
Albus was relieved to hear this. This would give him proper time to think of what he will say when he gets home to his father and even, if he was lucky, find a good Christmas gift for him.