The previous Quidditch Match was Hufflepuff VS Slytherin and Slytherin had won. Tyler didn’t become seeker, but another boy, Chris McLaggen did. He was a friend of Tyler, so he didn’t mind. Rose and Albus had kept quarrelling all the time, and were constantly ignoring each other.

“Hey Tyler, Quinn, when we go off for Christmas, would you like to visit me at the Burrow?” Albus asked the two, and they nodded.

“Think so. Should be fun!” Tyler said, and Albus said: “I do have to ask it first, you know."

Rose came walking into the common room, and when she saw Albus, she turned around again.

“Are you still fighting with Rose?” asked a soft voice, which Albus knew belonged to Victoire.

“She’s being pathetic! Hey Victoire, are you just as excited for the holidays as I am?” he asked, and Victoire nodded.

“Albus, Rose doesn’t have any friends. You have to be nice to her.”

“Victoire, I know but I have my own! I have Tyler and Quinn!” Victoire sighed.

“See you tomorrow in the train Al.”

***

As Albus sat in the train with Tyler and Quinn, Rose came in.

“Can I join you? Everywhere else is full.” She said, and Albus rolled his eyes.

“Whatever” he muttered, and Rose sat down.

“Excited Al? I am, I can’t wait to see mum, and dad, and grandma, and –”

“Don’t go and name everyone in the family!” Albus said, and Rose went silent. “I’m mostly excited to see dad. I have to tell him something.” He said, and he looked at Tyler and Quinn, who knew what it was.

“What is it?” Rose asked, and Albus said: “Oh, Nothing.” Rose sighed.

“Anything from the trolley?” asked the lady with the trolley, and Albus asked some of everything. He paid and laid it down on the table.

“Want some?” he offered Quinn and Tyler, before taking out his bottle of Taste-Changing water.

“Can I have some?” Rose asked, and Albus said: “Rose, we’ve been ignoring each other almost all term, and you want to talk to me now?”

Rose started to cry.

“Oh please! Have some then!” he yelled, and he looked out of the window.

***

On the platform Albus hugged Quinn and Tyler tightly before running to his parents, who were waiting for him on the platform, together with the other Weasleys.

“Don’t forget to write me, and I’ll tell you when you get to come, okay?” they nodded, and went to their own parents.

“Dad!” Albus yelled, before meeting his father in a hug.

“Hi there Albus, are you alright? How was your first term, tell me all about it.”

Rose, whose eyes were still a little red had hugged her parents, who were looking worried at her eyes.

“Albus, why don’t  you go to grandma for a moment, okay?” Albus ran towards his grandmother, who hugged him.

“Do you have a jumper for Winky and Micky?” he asked, and his grandma nodded.

“It didn’t take that long, seeing that they are elves. How was your first term?” Albus told Grandma Weasley about the classes, and how he loved Potions and Charms when his mother came running to him.

“Albus! I’ve missed you so much!” Albus hugged her.

“Oh mum I missed you too! My best friend is a Chaser for the Quidditch team and she and James had won the first match because of their skills! Then they got really angry at the seeker because he was just correcting people, and then he got kicked out of the team! Oh and I met Severus Snape and Dumbledore in a painting, they’re really nice. Severus has told me all about dad, and –” but his mother interrupted him.

“Severus? You met Snape? Oh wow! Now come, we’re going to the Burrow with Grandpa Weasley’s bus.”

Albus followed his mother, while explaining what Severus had told him excitedly.

“You must’ve had an amazing term Albus, but I want to tell you something.” His mother said seriously.

“I heard from Aunt Hermione about you and Rose, she had told her. I’m not proud of you Albus. Not at all.”

“I’m sorry mum.” He said, but Ginny said: “Don’t be sorry towards me Albus, be sorry towards Rose. You really hurt her feelings there. Aunt Hermione is a little disappointed in you too, Al. Why did you ignore her? Why did you get so angry at her all the time?” she asked, and Albus shrugged.

“I don’t know mum. She was complaining all the time about us getting into trouble and that we were making friends with house-elves.” He said, and Ginny looked at him.

“Why would Rose be upset about you helping house-elves?” she asked, and Albus shrugged.

“I don’t know, but can I ask you something?” he asked, and Ginny nodded.

“Could my friends come over after Christmas?” Ginny shook her head.

“No Albus, you have to become friends with Rose first.”

“But-”

“No buts, get in the bus.”

“Okay mum. Hi Rose.” He said annoyingly, after joining her in the bus.

***

“How was Hogwarts? Was it fun? What did you do?” asked Lily, and Albus told her about the house-elves, and Rose kept silent. After a while Albus swore he could hear some sniffs coming from the parents part, and he heard his mother: “Relax honey, it’s okay, don’t cry.”

Albus ignored it. “So you had detention during Hallowe’en?” Albus’ cousin Roxanne asked, and Albus nodded.

“Oh I can’t wait to go to Hogwarts” said his other cousin Dominique. The other young cousins agreed with her and started talking about houses, so Albus joined in with Fred and James about Quidditch.

“Honestly Fred, the Holyhead Harpies are way better than the Tutshill Tornadoes.” Said James.

“No, the Tutshill Tornadoes are better than the Holyhead Harpies. The Holyhead Harpies don’t even know what a Quaffle is.”

Albus interrupted him: “Fred, our mum was a Chaser for the Holyhead Harpies.”

Fred was silent.

“Still the Tutshill tornadoes are better.” He murmured.

***

“Everyone out!” yelled Grandpa Weasley, and Albus sped towards him as he stepped out.

“Grandpa! Grandpa!”

His Grandpa got out of the car and said: “What is it Albus?”

Albus was about to tell about Quinn when his father called him. “Hey there Albus, come.”

Albus hurried towards his father and said: “What?”

His father knelt down and said: “How was your first term?”

Albus said: “Guess what dad? I met Severus and Dumbledore!”

His father smiled. “What did they say?”

Albus opened his mouth to explain their first meeting when Rose came running towards Albus.

“Al, are you joining us in a game of Quidditch with all the cousins?” Albus nodded, and followed her, winking to his father. He winked back.

***

“Okay so, Teddy is the captain of team Blue, I’m the captain of team Red.” Said James, and then he said: “I want Fred, Rose, Hugo, Louis, Dominique and… Molly.” He said, and they went to get some brooms.

Teddy rolled his eyes and said: “Then I’ll have Victoire, Lucy, Albus, Roxanne, Lily, and… We don’t have enough. HARRY!”

He spun around and looked at him. “Want to be our Seeker?” he asked, and he nodded.

“Hey that’s unfair! We want Dad!” yelled James, but Harry said: “Next time, James.” He grabbed his Firebolt and said. “Who’s refereeing?”

Albus said: “How about Uncle George?” Harry nodded and hurried inside. After a minute or so he came back, followed by George.

“Okay, so I’m the referee?” James nodded.

***

“Okay, so on the count of three the box opens. One! Two! Three!” George yelled, and he opened the box.

He grabbed the Quaffle and threw it high up in the air. James caught it.

“And the Snitch too!” In the meantime all the parents came outside to watch the game.

Harry was speeding through the air in search for the Golden Snitch, while Albus was trying to keep out goals from the other team. Victoire and Teddy were beaters, while Roxanne, Lucy and Lily were chasers.

On the other team Fred was keeper, James, Rose and Louis the Chasers and Hugo and Dominique were the beaters, and Molly was the seeker. Albus wasn’t that good and was quite glad not to have Quinn on the other team. His father was the seeker on their team and hadn’t found the Snitch yet.

“And that’s another ten points for team Red! Team Red is currently ahead with 50 to 10!” Rose had caught the Quaffle and was flying towards the other side.

“It looks like Harry has spotted the gold!” Molly immediately followed her Uncle, but Harry was too quick.

“And team Blue wins because Harry has caught the Snitch!”

They all landed slowly. Ginny ran onto the field to hug Harry, and James was very grumpy and said: “If we had Quinn here we would’ve won.” Albus smiled.

Harry walked towards Albus and said: “Are you going to tell me about Snape and Dumbledore now?” Albus nodded, and walked inside.

***

“Dinner’s  at seven everyone!” yelled Grandma Weasley, and Albus said to his father: “Well, when I first met him it was because Dumbledore went to get him. He was really nice to me. Then Severus told him he didn’t want to meet me because he had met James and he didn’t like James because he had thrown things at his painting, and –”

“James did what?” interrupted his father, and Albus said: “He had thrown stuff at his painting. But as I was saying –”

“Sorry Al, but I have to tell off your brother for doing that.”

***

Albus walked towards the hall where he suddenly heard a loud coughing coming from the chimney.

“Hullo?” he said, and the fire in the fireplace turned green. “Hi there Albus!” It was Neville.

“Hey Neville! Or Hello Professor Longbottom!” Albus joked, and he bowed at him.

“Keep it at Neville, boy. Where is your father?” he asked, and Albus said: “He’s telling off my brother. Is Hannah coming?” he asked, looking at the fireplace, hoping Neville’s  wife, Hannah Abbott would come out.

“No, no, where exactly is your father? I need to talk to him.” Albus pointed upstairs.

“James’ and Fred’s room probably. Upstairs, the red door on your right.”

Neville went upstairs and Albus followed him, but he went into his own room. He ruffled through his trunk and found his brother’s cloak which he threw around him. He then followed Neville into his brother’s room.

“Harry?” Neville asked, and Harry spun around.

“Neville! Would you like a cup of tea, where is Hannah?” he started, but Neville held up his hand.

“No thanks, I just want to tell you something. Mind if we talk alone?” he said, looking at James, who was sitting on his bed.

“Oh, of course, we’ll go into Ginny and my room.” Albus walked out of the room before letting Harry and Neville go first.

“Okay, it’s right here.” Harry said, opening the door.

“Pretty room!” exclaimed Neville, and Harry closed the door just after Albus walked into the room, curious for what Neville had to say.

“So Neville, what is it?”

Neville said: “Well, about Hannah, I want to tell you really good news.”

Harry looked at him.

“She’s pregnant.”

Harry gasped, and so did Albus, before throwing his hand over his mouth.

“How long do you know? How long has she been pregnant?” Harry asked, and Neville said: “We found out two months ago but I wanted to tell you this in person. She’s been pregnant for three months now.”

Harry smiled. “Is it a boy or a girl?”

“Girl.”

“Do you have a name yet?”

“Yes, we thought about Alice or Violet.” Harry still smiled.

“Is she coming for Christmas? Hannah?”

“Perhaps, perhaps not, because she’s very weak, and the Leaky Cauldron of course.” He answered, and Harry said: “Would you like to tell the whole Weasley family already?”

Neville shook his head, and Harry said: “Oh, alright. Well, I should get going again. I’m very happy for you and you have my full help if you need it Neville.”

Neville smiled, and Harry walked out of the door. When Albus left the room Harry closed the door again and led Neville to the Fireplace.

“Here’s the powder, See you Neville!”

Neville left again.

“Now Albus, like to eavesdrop?” Albus froze.

Harry pulled off the cloak and said: “I’m very disappointed in you Albus.”

Albus sighed. “About eavesdropping?”

“No, about Rose.” He said, and Albus let out a deep sigh again.

“She’s your cousin Al, don’t ignore her.”

“Dad? Could I invite my friends over?” Harry shook his head.

“No Albus, first you have to make it up with Rose."

“Okay dad.” Albus hurried back upstairs to stuff away the cloak.

When Albus walked past Victoire and Teddy’s room he heard weird noises. He wanted to open the door, but then he heard his mother.

“Albus? Are coming to play Gobstones with Rose, Aunt Hermione and me?” Albus left the door and went downstairs.

***

“DINNER!” yelled Grandma Weasley through the house, and from every part in the house came a Weasley.

Uncle Ron was there first, followed by Hugo, Fred and James. Albus entered the room to see the long table laid with a lot of food.

“Food!” he said happily, and sat down next to Fred.

“Your friend’s amazing Al, Quinn. Can you tell her for me?” he said, and Albus nodded.

Grandpa Weasley settled himself next to Albus and said: “You wanted to tell me something this afternoon, didn’t  you?”

Albus nodded, and said: “My friend Quinn is Muggleborn, so her parents have Muggle jobs. Her mum is a plane designer, and her father is a pilot. They know how you work the planes.”

Grandpa Weasley suddenly asked a lot of questions about planes Albus didn’t  know the answer for.

“Perhaps I can ask Quinn if she could ask her parents to tell you this?” he said, when Grandma Weasley said: “To the entire Weasley family. Cheers!”

Everyone held up their glass and said: “Cheers!” 

Albus immediately took some of his grandmother’s best stoves, and started to eat, listening to the conversations that were going on when he noticed that his oldest cousins were missing.

“Mum? Where are Victoire and Teddy?” he asked, and Ginny shrugged.

“Want me to go looking for them?” she nodded.

Albus jumped up and hurried up the stairs. He listened at their door. The noise was gone.

He knocked and heard his cousin Victoire: “Who is it?”

Albus cleared his throat and said: “It’s me, Albus!” He was opening the door when it slammed back closed.

“Don’t open the door! What do you want?” asked Teddy, and Albus said: “We’re having dinner.”

“Oh, we’ll be down in a minute.” Said Victoire, and Albus went back downstairs.

“Where were they?”

“In their room.”

“You didn’t open the door did you?”  his mother asked, anxiously

“They wouldn’t let me.”

She sighed relieved. His father muttered to his mother: “I’m afraid I know what they were doing..”

“They’re old enough, Harry!”

“I know, I know.”

“What are they old enough for?”  asked Albus, and his father started to laugh.

“We’ll tell you when you’re old enough to know, Al.” he said, through his laughs.

“Hey Dad,” said James, and his father turned to him. “There’s this new girl in the Quidditch team, a friend of Al, and she’s the best Chaser ever.”

Harry smiled: “Who is it?”

“Quinn.” Said Albus, and Harry said: “How good is she?”

“Well, we nearly lost from Ravenclaw, but we won with just goals. They caught the Snitch.” Harry smiled.

“That’s great.”

“Yeah. And we’ve got this other guy in our team, a new seeker, he’s really good too.”

***

“Goodnight everyone!” yelled Grandma Weasley after she had sent all the kids to bed. (That meant that Teddy and Victoire could stay downstairs, but they went up anyway).

“It’s tiring, so many grandchildren.” Albus heard Grandma Weasley say, and he followed Rose into the bedroom.

“Rose? I want to apologize. I’ve been really mean to you.”

“I’m sorry too, I’ve been just as mean.” They smiled, hugged each other and went into their beds. The next day would be the twenty-fourth of December, so it would be Christmas.

***

Albus woke up really early the next day and went downstairs to find his Aunt Hermione sitting on the sofa with a book.

When she saw him she said: “Well you’re up early. How come?” Albus shrugged and placed himself next to her.

“Have you made up with Rose?” he nodded.

“That’s great. How was your first term?”

Albus smiled and said: “I went to the kitchens very often with my friends Quinn and Tyler, and the house-elves are really sweet. Especially Winky and Micky.”

“Winky?” she repeated, and Albus said: “Yeah. I asked grandma for a Weasley jumper for them.”

“Winky. Dobby.”

“Who’s Dobby?” Albus asked, and Hermione said: “A friend of your father, Ron and me. He died in the Second Wizarding war.”

“Oh. Sad. I also met Severus and Dumbledore!” he said, trying to cheer her up, but she still looked a little sad.

“They’re really nice. I heard your story from him. I still don’t  know what happened exactly, but I know parts of what you did to defeat You-Know-Who.” She looked sad.

Want to play Wizard’s Chess?” she shook her head.

What are you reading?” he asked, and she said: “I’m rereading Hogwarts: A History.”

Albus looked at her, and saw a tear in her eye. “Want to go outside?” he said, but then he saw it was raining.

“I’ll go upstairs.” He said, and left her alone. When he passed Teddy and Victoire’s room it was still silent.

***

The next morning there would be presents under the tree. Albus woke up early, but this time he wasn’t the only one. All his cousins (Except Teddy and Victoire) were sitting around the tree, waiting for the adults. Then an owl flew in, towards Albus.

“Who would sent you a letter, Al?” asked his brother, and Albus opened the envelope.

Hey Albus,

Have you heard whether we get to meet up?

I’m aloud to go there, as long as I give your parents my dad’s love.

Also, I have called with Quinn, and she’s allowed to go as long as her parents don’t have to pay for it, as she isn’t very rich.

Tyler

“It’s from my friend –”

“Quinn?” chorused James and Fred excitedly.

“No, Tyler.” Said Albus, scared of the two.

“Good morning” said Uncle Ron as he came down.

“Wow, I’d better have the others hurry up I see?” the kids nodded.

***

After an hour or so all the parents were downstairs, and so were Teddy and Victoire.

“Okay, so I’ll get your presents, alright?” said Grandma Weasley

“First, Albus!” She handed Albus a large package Albus knew to be his Weasley jumper. It was green, with a large A on it. As she handed everyone their other Weasley jumpers Albus saw Aunt Hermione talking to Uncle Ron and he thought he heard his name, so he went up there and said: “What is it with me?”

Aunt Hermione looked at him and said: “Oh, nothing.”

Albus raised his eyebrow and said: “But I heard my name.”

Uncle Ron sighed and pointed at Grandma Weasley. “She’s got a present for you.”

Albus rolled his eyes and turned around to see Grandma Weasley holding a present for him. He took it, and inside was a book, called Hogwarts for Starters. Inside was a map, information about revealed secrets inside the castle, and more.

Albus took his next present from Grandma Weasley. It didn’t  have his name on it, but Grandma Weasley had given two small packages to him. Albus knew that these were the elves’ jumpers. He put them down on top of the book, when James grabbed them.

“Why don’t you open them, Al? Scared it’s embarrassing?” he said, and Albus tried to grab them back.

“What is it Al, want to have them?” Albus jumped up and down to reach his brother’s  arm.

“Give them back, James!” he said, but James said: “I’ll open them for you!”

“No!” yelled Albus, but James had ripped open the presents.

He laughed at the size of the jumpers, and said: “Is this for your teddy bears?”

Albus grabbed the jumpers from the floor and ran upstairs, crying. Why did he always have to taunt him? He sat on his bed, and placed the jumpers in his trunk. He suddenly heard a soft knock.

“Who is it?” asked Albus, his voice trembling.

“It’s your father!” said Harry, and he opened the door to sit next to him.

“Why aren’t you downstairs?” he asked, and Albus said: “James.”

Harry nodded, and noticed the jumpers. “Who are they for?”

“Two friends of Tyler, Quinn and me, Winky and Micky, the house-elves.” Harry smiled.

“I had a house-elf friend too, Dobby.”

“Aunt Hermione told me yesterday.” Said Albus, still sniffing.

“Hey Albus, don’t feel sad, okay? Your brother is a mean boy, I know, but you should ignore it. I took the liberty of bringing up you other presents for Christmas up here.”

He handed him a pile of presents. One of them was a package full of sweets, another included some items from Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, some items from Zonko’s, and another fair few presents. Albus smiled.

“Thanks dad.” He said, and hugged his father.

“Are you coming downstairs again?” he asked, and Albus nodded.

***

As the break came to an end Albus approached his father again.

“Dad? Could Tyler and Quinn come over for the last three days? Please?” His father looked at him and said: “Ask your mother.”

Albus went to Ginny and she said: “Ask your father.”

So Albus said “But he told me to ask you!"

She said: “And I tell you to ask him.”

So Albus went to his father again. “Alright.” He said, and Albus hurried towards the Muggle phone and dialled Quinn’s phone number.

“Hello? Hello?” he called through the phone, and then he heard Quinn’s  voice. “Hey Albus! How was your break?” she asked, when Albus said: “Want to come over?” she said she did, so Albus went to his Grandfather.

“Grandpa? Can you help me pick up my friend Quinn?” His Grandfather did something complicated with the Floo Network and then said to Albus: “We’ll get her by the Floo.”

***

When Quinn arrived (Tyler would come the day after) Fred and James were very excited and asked Harry if she could try his Firebolt. Harry agreed, but Albus complained.

“She’s my friend and they’re just using her for the Quidditch team!”

Harry laughed. “Well Albus, she’s probably really good!”

Albus went outside to follow them to the pitch and saw Quinn fly the Firebolt really well. She had scored twenty goals in half an hour.

“Wow Quinn, is it really impossible for you to get a Firebolt?” asked James eagerly, and Quinn shook her head.

“I can’t. They’re too expensive. I’d love to have one though.” She said, and then Albus heard a voice.

“I’m here!” yelled Tyler, and Albus ran towards him, followed by Quinn.

“Hey Tyler!” she said, and Albus said: “I’m so glad you guys are here, it’s so much more fun with you.”

They went to Rose and his room and then Albus rummaged in the bottom of his trunk, to which Rose said: “What are you doing Albus?”

Albus said: “looking for this” while holding up a pouch. “I hope it’s enough.” He looked at Quinn. “If I’m correct you should be able to buy a Firebolt from it.” He said, handing her the pouch.

“What?” she said, and stepped backwards.

“Come on, you need to have a Firebolt, it would be perfect.” She smiled at him.

“I’d love to, but –” Albus ignored her, and pushed it in her hands.

“Have it.” She held the pouch and hugged him.

“Thanks Al. You’re the best.”

***

On the last day before they would have to leave a small group of Weasleys went to Diagon Alley, including Tyler, Albus and Quinn.

“We should go to the Quidditch store Quinn” said Albus, pulling her that way.

“Wait for me!” said his mother, who was coming with them because they were too young to go alone.

Inside the store was a fit-looking woman, and when they entered she said: “Ah! Want to buy Quidditch supplies?” they nodded, and Quinn walked towards the Firebolt Supreme.

“Wow.” She whispered, and the woman said: “How much do you want to bid for it?”

Quinn opened the pouch, and said: “Err.. I have five hundred Galleons, but I want to buy a Quidditch outfit for Gryffindor too, so erm..” the woman nodded.

“You give me the five hundred and we’ll get you the outfit too.” Quinn’s eyes glimmered.

“Really?” the woman nodded and went to the back to get a Gryffindor Quidditch outfit.