Albus wasn't sure when he had fallen asleep, but he heard his father calling up the stairs saying it was time to head to the burrow.
He still had the tie in his hand, he probably should leave it behind but Albus just shoved it into his pockets and had headed down the stairs.
He saw his father putting on his coat at the bottom of the steps. Albus could tell his father wanted to do anything but go to the burrow, he could see that his father eyes were still bloodshot from crying.
He saw his father just wipe his face and take a breath, slowly Albus watched as all his emotions seem to leave his face.
"You ready Albus." He father said in a dry voice.
Albus shallowed thickly and gave a nod. Him and his father moved towards the foo. His dad grabbed some powder and threw it in the fireplace calling out the burrow
"Your mum and sister are already there, let's go." His dad said as they both step in.
They were spit out into the small receiving room of the burrow. He heard the sounds of his mum and sister talking in the kitchen with his grandmother and Aunt Hermione,he looked and saw his grandfather sitting in a chair, his uncle Ron in the other, they were talking quietly.
Uncle Ron eyes snapped to them and gave a smile.
"Hey Harry, Albus." He said as he stood and gave him and his father a hug.
"Hey, sorry Albus here took a nap. How have you been, Ron? Hey Arthur." His dad said as he moved towards his grandfather, he stood as well and hug him.
"Good, Albus I think Rose is out in the gardens. Seem to be working on some kind of book." Uncle Ron said.
Albus filled with dread, he looked at his father but he didn't seem interested or suspious, Albus gave a wave and headed out.
He walked quickly once outside, he saw Rose standing under a tree far away from the house. Waving her wand around the journal.
"Are you crazy?!? How could you bring that here? If my father sees that, I'll be in deep shit." Albus hissed out as he approached Rose.
She rolled her eyes.
"That's why I'm outside, you know how I am. Plus I had an a thought. You said that only your father could read it, right? Well then it means it's intetune with his magic, maybe if I can attach your magic too it, we could trick the book, since you are his son." Rose said as she waved her wand, Albus felt something wash over him and then a tug at his magically core.
His eyes widen as he saw the book flash brightly, he heard Rose let out a pained yelp and drop the journal. The journal flipped open quickly, they both looked down as writing started to appear on the book.
Albus picked it up quickly as the words began to form, then he frowned. As he read the words in his head. "Granger, if you want to know all the depraved things me and Potter get up too, you are welcomed to come to watch, anytime."
"What's it say?" Rose asked with excitement.
Albus bit his lip, he opened his mouth to answer when he heard a voice behind them.
"Oh no! How do you have that?!" He heard his Aunt Hermione asked.
Albus looked quickly looked towards her, he accessed her. She knew what this was, he could tell by the look on her face. The look of dread, of sadness.
Then he remember the words Draco Malfoy had said that day. He said he had heard Granger screaming. He hadn't thought much of it really, if the man had died the night of the battle sure he would have heard her, but now Albus thought it was more than that especially from the words he just read in the journal.
"You know what this is? You knew….. about them?" Albus asked.
He had already determined that Draco and his father must have had some type of relationship. It didn't make any sense, did that mean his dad cheated on his mum. He felt a sickness. No, his father wouldn't do that. He loved his mum, didn't he?
He remember Nott words, saying his father was living a fake life.
His aunt had a guilty look, she held out her hand.
"Just give me the journal Albus. You shouldn't have it, it's….. personal. I won't tell your father about this, but give it to me." She said sternly.
He clutched the journal tightly in his hands, he had been so close to the truth. Sure the book knew someone was trying to break in, but he knew Rose would have gotten pass it.
"I just want to know! I have a right to know! Who is he? What were they? Why has father never once mentioned his name!!" Albus yelled out.
He saw Rose widen her eyes at him and how he was speaking to her mum,but Albus carried on as he began pacing.
"Is he gay? Does he not love my mum?! Was he cheating on her with this Draco person? How did he die! Why wasn't his body found! What happened!" Albus screamed out
His aunt had tears forming and she shook her head quickly.
"No… no of course your father never cheated on your mum. They hadn't….. they weren't together when…. Albus it's really not my story to tell….just please. We have to put the journal back, ok? It's….. it's all your father has left of him." His aunt said as she came closer and stopped his pacing, she gently took the journal from him with a sad smile and put it in her pocket after shrinking it down.
"Please." Albus begged with tears. He just wanted to know. He wanted to understand his father. Did they love each other? Was his father planning on running away with the man before he had died? How did he die? He knew his father knew, he said as much to Nott.
His eyes widen, Nott….. yes tomorrow he would go back to that pub. Hopefully the man would be there or he could ask the barkeep if maybe he knew were he lived.
His aunt gave him a sad look.
"Come on, dinner almost ready. I'll tell your father that I need to come pick up something from the house tomorrow, I'll put the book back then. You are not to go looking for it again and Rose you are not to help him if asked, do you understand young lady?" His aunt said with a pointed look to Rose.
He saw Rose gulp and give a quick nod. Though he knew that if he did ask her again, she would do it, but he wouldn't put he in that position.
Him and Rose followed behind. Everyone sat around the table, dinner served. Rose and Albus sat down and dug in.
Everyone chatting quietly away, then he heard the name Malfoy and his eyes snapped towards his grandfather.
"Did you hear, they are releasing Narcissa Malfoy in a few days." His grandfather said.
He saw his father freeze his fork near his mouth and shallowed thickly.
"Really? I didn't know that, well….. good for her…" his dad said but Albus could tell his father wasn't happy about the news, not that he sounded upset or angry…. No his dad sounded worried.
His saw his Aunt looking nervous and he was surprised to see his uncle Ron face filled with….. fear.
"Well I for one don't really care, hopefully she just goes to her manor and leaves the world alone. I've quite heard the Malfoy name enough these past few days." His mum clipped out.
His father clenched his jaw. The table just had an awkward silence, his grandfather cleared his throat and they all kept eating.
He saw his Aunt stealing glances towards his father, a look of sadness on her face.
Once dinner was over everyone headed to the small siting room. Everyone went off in their own conversations. He saw his aunt give a small nod towards his dad, he nodded back and they both discreetly left the room, headed towards the back, moving into the kitchen.
Albus followed, making sure to stay hidden away behind the door as he listened to his aunt and father on the other side.
"Are you going to go see her Harry?" His aunt asked his father.
"You know I can't Hermione. It will raise too many questions, I'll…. Well I can send her a letter maybe." His dad mumbled out.
"Harry… you can't just send a letter, it's his mum…. She has the right to know what happe"His aunt started.
"Hermione! I made a promise that night to him, as I held him in my arms as he took his last fucking breath and I'm not about to betray him now! Don't you think I have betrayed him enough?!"His father spat out harshly.
He heard his aunt began to cry, he heard movement and he ran back towards the sitting room, trying not to look suspicious.
He saw his aunt wiping her face and his father looking heartbroken but he quickly push the emotions away as they enter the room.
"It's getting late. I think we are going to head home, Albus , Lily tell everyone goodbye. Come on Ginny." He father said as he moved toward the foo.
Everyone said their goodbyes, he shallowed thickly when he saw his mum move away from his father as they approached the fireplace. She had an angry look on her face. No one said anything, his father called out their home and the family left together.
Once home he saw Lily running up the stairs, telling everyone goodnight. He looked at his parents, he saw his mum glaring at his father and she rolled her eyes and huffed.
"Go head up to bed Albus, we will see you tomorrow." His father said as he moved into the living room.
He bit his lip, he wanted to stay. Maybe if he stay his parents wouldn't fight, but he knew it was no use. Albus said his good nights and ran up the stairs.
As he closed his door, he heard his mum raising her voice but it was silence by a spell.
He sat on his bed, reaching into his pocket to pull out the tie. He rubbed it softly through his fingers, he felt a calmness washing over him.
"I will find out what happened to you Draco Malfoy….. I promise." Albus mumbled out as he stood and put the tie in his drawer.
Albus woken, he waved his wand and frowned. He had slept longer than he had intended too, it was almost one in the afternoon, but Albus was on a mission today. He would get answers, he was determined. He went to the closet and yank out his dad invisibility cloak and his wand.
He should probably tell his parents he was leaving, but he knew his father was most likely at work still and his mum and sister would be spending the day together.
He felt a tug at his navel and landed softly near the pub from yesterday. He looked around and put the cloak on.
He looked into the pub, his body sighed in relief when he saw Nott near the counter, he looked to be paying the bar keeper.
Nott came towards the front entrance and walked out, Albus followed behind.
He hoped he wouldn't just apparate away, but Nott seemed to just be walking, he kept looking back a few times but Albus knew there was no way he knew he was here, his father cloak was the best.
He saw Nott turned down an alleyway, Albus followed quickly behind. He frowned when he didn't see the man. He hadn't heard an apparition, so where had he gone. He looked around and then his eyes widen when he saw the man standing behind him, he didn't get a chance to move away before Nott grabbed at him and tore the cloak off, throwing Albus up against a wall.
"Ah, just like your father, aren't you? Why are you following me? Mad I yelled at your dear old dad." The man snapped in his face.
"No…. I mean I don't want any trouble. I just….. I just want answers, that's all. Please. No one is telling me anything, my father said he hardly knew Draco, but I know that's a lie." Albus said.
Nott sneered at him and let him go. He huffed.
"Look kid, sometimes it's best to let the past stay in the past. I don't even have all the answers. I just know…. Look just let it go." Nott said as he moved away.
"Come on! I won't tell him you told me. I just want to understand my father better! To understand how he could be with a death." Albus stopped as Nott glare at him.
"Don't you fucking call him that! He…. That is not who he was! Just because your dear old dad led the world to believe it, he is lucky I don't go to the fucking prophet with my memories of their relationship!" Nott growled out.
Albus shallowed, he had known his father and Draco had been together, but having it confirm more felt him with sadness. Why did his father never tell anyone about them? Was his father ashamed of it?
"Just please….. I just want to understand." Albus begged the man.
Nott took a breath and looked around.
"Come on….we can go back to my place and tell you what I know. I don't know everything, but you have to do something for me." Nott said.
Albus nodded quickly.
"Yeah…. Anything." Albus said.
"I need you to pass on a letter for me, I've tried to send it for years but it always gets returned, but I'm sure your father is still friends with….. her…. Right?" Nott said softly with a small smile on his face.
"Who?" Albus asked.
Nott smiled warmly.
"Hermione….. your father isn't the only one with secrets." Nott said
Albus eyes widen and Nott winked at him, he grabbed Albus blinking them out of existence.