Separating the boys was an altogether ridiculous idea. Scorpius and Albus were best friends. When Draco came to me, I could see what Harry must be doing but why? Scorpius was the kindest person you could ever hope to meet it was cruel for him to keep tabs on them, to rearrange classes and frankly he was bullying all the professors. I went to see him in his office.

“Louisa!” still here I see.

“Yes, thanks to various paperwork not having been filed by the Head of Law Enforcement”. I retaliated. His filing skills were as good as his homework skills.

“Ah, yes well, ummm…” He shuffled a few things around on his desk.

“The boys Harry. You can’t keep them separated. You know it Draco knows it Ginny knows it.”

“Is that why you’re here? Because of the Malfoys? Did they make you come to me?”

“No. Funnily enough I can make my own decisions thank you or haven’t you noticed? They didn’t ask me but they are concerned. Who wouldn’t be it’s a damn good reason if you ask me.”

“Didn’t realise I was asking former Death Eaters for advice.”

“I’m NOT having this argument with you Harry. Not again. When you have something decent to say, when you don’t name your children after my family, then we can talk. But I have a job to protect Scorpius. And you are not helping him.” This argument always went the same way. We just couldn’t see eye to eye. I understood how Albus must be feeling.

“And I have a job to protect Albus!” My temper rose and I could see my hair go bright red out of the corner of my eye. I resisted retaliating anymore. I knew that calming myself was the only option left. One part wanted to make a snide remark about him doing a great job of that at the moment and the other part told me to stay low, keep calm and “think Hufflepuff”.

“Why do we do it Harry?” I was by now sitting across from him over the mountain of papers. “we’re family, we work together, we both want the best for them”.

“I don’t know” he was looking more tired than I had seen him in a while. “I don’t know if we blame ourselves or each other. Whichever way it is affecting us as parents.” I raised my eyebrows “Ok it’s affecting me as a father. You, Ginny, Hermione all do well, got it worked out, but I’ve lost it.”

“You haven’t lost it, and you haven’t lost Albus you just need to understand him. Charlie is great with Sevie but have you seen him with Bertie? Especially since Sevie went to Hogwarts. It’s tough sometimes but you’ll find your path. I know it. Just be patient.” He was looking at me and yet I could see that none of the information was going in. It was the same face my uncle had spoken about. Gormless, arrogant and yet completely defiant.