Two days into winter break, Albus jumped out of bed when he realized how stupid he had been.
He would just take the journal to Rose, she was smart. She wasn't Hermione Granger daughter for nothing.
She would be able to figure out the charm work, he just knew it.
He made his way down the stairs towards the foo, he saw his father sitting in a chair twirling his wand in his fingers.
Albus quickly put the journal into the shirt and entered the room.
"Hey dad, I'm going to go visit with Rose for a bit, is that alright?" Albus asked.
"Yeah… that's fine… just hurry back we still need to finish up some Christmas shopping. We are going to head over to the burrow tonight for dinner." His father replied.
Albus gave a nod and told his father he would be right back and ready to go. He grabbed the foo powder from the mantle and called out his cousin house as he threw the powder into the fireplace.
As he stepped out he saw his aunt and Rose sitting on the couch, his aunt smile warmly at him.
"Hey Albus this is a nice surprise. What brings you by? Would you like some tea?" Aunt Hermione asked him as she stood up.
"Oh, well I'm not staying long.…. Just needed Rose help with something." Albus said.
Hermione gave a nod and left the room.
"What is it?" Rose asked.
He looked towards the way Hermione had left, making sure she was gone and wouldn't hear.
"It's…. Look it's a long story. I can't tell you everything, yet, but I have this journal I took from my dad…. It has some type of charm on it, like it can only be read by him, I need you to break it for me… but you can't read, ok?" Albus told her.
Rose eyes widen.
"You stole something from your dad! Are you trying to get us in trouble! I just got off groundment from your last scheme Albus." Rose hissed at him.
Albus rolled his eyes.
"Don't act like you don't live for breaking the rules Rose, come on…. I'll do your divination homework for the rest of the semester." Albus said.
"How do you even know I can help. I mean charms like that aren't easily broken." Rose said but by the sound of her voice he knew she liked a good challenge.
"Come on, you know you never back down from a good mystery and I promise this is a good one, I can just feel it." Albus said.
She bit her lip and looked towards the door, she stood quickly and held out her hand. Albus quickly gave her the journal. He watched as she waved her wand over the journal, running a diagnostic.
"Hmm… this will probably take awhile…. You trust to leave it with me. I'll give you an update when we head back to Hogwarts." Rose said with a big smile.
They heard Hermione coming back and Rose quickly shrunk the journal down, stowing it away in her pocket.
He saw Hermione carrying a tray of tea, she set it softly down on the table.
"Thanks Rose, I should really be getting back now." Albus said.
"Are you sure you don't want tea?" Hermione asked.
"No… my dad waiting on me. We got to go shopping, but we are having dinner tonight at the burrow. Will you guys be there?" Albus asked.
Hermione nodded.
"Alright well I'll see you guys then, tell Uncle Ron hello for me, bye." Albus said and left.
Once back home, he quickly got ready. Him and his father headed out.
Albus wasn't a fan of shopping, but he hadn't really gotten anything for his mum or sister yet. Him and his father walked down diagon alley. Going in and out of shops.
He could tell his father wasn't having much luck either, but they just looked around in silence.
"Come on, let's head to that new pub I heard had opened recently, maybe get a buttwrbeer and try again." His father said.
Albus followed behind as they came to the entrance of the pub.
It wasn't very busy, him and his father approached the bar. As they order their drinks and sat down at a table, he heard his father suck in a breath when his eyes landed on two gentlemen sitting a a few tables back.
One was lanky looking man with shaggy brown hair and the other a taller gentlemen with a hard jawline.
When the brown hair man eyes connected with his fathers, the man gave him a harsh look. He saw his father shallow thickly.
"Shit… we should go Albus." He father muttered out but it was too late the man had stood and was heading towards their table, the other man followed behind with a nervous look on his face.
"Well, if it isn't Saint Potter, fancy seeing you here." The man with the shaggy hair clipped out.
"Ummm… hey Nott. I didn't know you were back in town. Hey Zabini." His dad said with a nod toward the men.
"No. Of course not, why would you? We aren't friends, right Potter?" The man known as Nott snarked out.
"Come on Theo, let's just go back to our table." He heard the Zabini man plead.
"We were just leaving anyways, come on Albus." His dad said as he made to stand.
Nott turned his attention to Albus then.
"Ah yes, one of your little sprogs from the Weasley girl, right?" Nott clipped out.
His father didn't respond just stood and nodded for Albus to do the same. As they walked away he heard Nott.
"I just have a question for you Potter?" Nott said in harsh tone.
"Theo." Zabini warned.
He saw his father tense.
Nott ignored his friend.
"How do you live with yourself? Why do you get to live this fake life while my best friend is dead because of you!" Nott roared at him.
He saw his father clench his jaw and ball up his fists.
"Fuck you Nott, you weren't there that night. You don't know what the fuck happened!" His dad yelled out as he turned back around.
"Of course I don't fucking know because you refused to answers any one of my owls! The last I saw him he was fine! He was alive, then I have to hear from the prophet of all places that he died! His death listed right under all the other death eaters names! How could you let that happened?!" Nott yelled as he stepped towards his father but his friend grabbed him back.
His father face filled with guilt and he saw tears forming.
"I told him to stay away from you! I warned him being around you only led to death, but no you had him wrap around your little finger with promises you never intended to fucking keep!" Nott yelled.
His father didn't respond, just grabbed Albus quickly and apparted them away.
His saw his father began to pace, clenching his fists and tears falling fast.
"Dad." Albus whimpered out.
His father sucked in a breath and looked at Albus then, Albus only saw heartbreak and guilt in his eyes.
"Everything is fine Albus, just go to your room, ok? I need a minute alone." His dad mumbled out as he fell onto the couch putting his head in hands.
"What was that abo"
"Go to your room Albus." His dad spat out harshly and then he softened his voice.
"Please Albus, just go to your room. It was nothing, please." His dad said softly.
Albus felt his own tears at the dismissal and ran to his room, slamming the door shut. He went to his desk and yanked the drawer open, he grabbed the tie he had found from his father box and gripped it tightly in his hand.
"Who the fuck are you, Draco Malfoy?" Albus said as he sat heavily onto his bed.