Harry Potter and the Legend of the Twelve

Lunch with Friends

A/N: Chapter 2 picks up at the exact moment the Epilogue from Deathly Hallows ends, continuing Harry and Ginny's conversation.

"Are you sure we did the right thing not to tell them?" asked Harry.

"I think so," Ginny reassured him. "No reason for them to have dwelled upon it all summer. I don't think James will be too happy when he finds out."

"I was more worried about, Al," said Harry. "If I know him, he's still worrying about being in Slytherin. He might have felt better if he had known."

As Harry and Ginny walked back toward Ron, Hermione, Lily, and Hugo, Harry hoped they were doing the right thing. The events of the past four years weighed heavily on Harry's mind, and although he had not been there to witness them, Ginny had given him all the details, and he couldn't shake the fear that they were his fault.

Since the age of seven, Albus had experienced a number of episodes of accidental magic, seven of them to be exact. This was not unusual in magical children. It was always expected by many that the children of Harry Potter would have exceptional magical ability, but no one would have thought a child of seven could have blown a hole in the side of a house.

It was the day after Albus's seventh birthday, a birthday he shared with Harry. Albus had been upset with his brother, some minor disagreement, not unusual between siblings. Albus had gone to his room to pout, and suddenly the wall of the house in his room exploded. Harry was away on a mission with Ron when this first incident occurred. Albus had fallen unconscious after the incident, but Ginny quickly revived him and he was unhurt, but had no memory of what had happened, only that he had been upset with James.

The second incident occurred about six months later. Ginny, James, Albus, and Lily were visiting her parents at the Burrow for two weeks during the summer. Harry was supposed to join them, but was called away on a mission. Albus had wanted to go swimming, but Ginny wouldn't let him. This time, Albus wasn't alone, Ginny was with him, and she cast a shield containing the explosion of magic, but the force of it knocked her unconscious. Albus was likewise again knocked out, and remembered nothing. Ginny said Albus just stopped arguing with her, got a blank look in his eyes, and then, she could feel the magic beginning to build. It had scared her.

Five similar events happened since then, but the last was nine months ago, the longest time without one since Albus turned seven years old. The only commonality was that Albus was upset and Harry was away on a mission each time.

This level of magic should not have been possible in one so young. James and Lily had also had their tantrums, as children do, and had performed some other magic, but nothing on this scale. Several healers and experts they consulted seemed to think he was just an extraordinarily powerful wizard. Harry had trouble accepting that nothing else was wrong. Albus seemed to take it in stride when they told him not to worry about it, and it didn't seem to bother him. Harry and Ginny were very thankful for that. They didn't want Albus to worry.

Harry, as he had done with so many things in his youth, blamed himself. He was away on missions quite often, and he felt that somehow, his being away was the cause, as these incidents always occurred while he was away. He always thought he had made time for all his children. Harry spent every moment he could with them. Somehow, it must not have been enough for Albus. That was the only conclusion Harry could draw.

Albus seemed otherwise happy, never acting badly, or getting into any more trouble than your average boy. Having the somewhat more mischievous James as his older brother had led him astray on a few occasions. There were a few incidents when Harry's Firebolt had found its way into their hands, but nothing serious.