In honour of Severus Snape

What's in a name?

‘What’s in a Name?’

    “We have to do it soon, Ginny.”

“I know, but I think we should talk to Ron and Hermione about it first; I am sure their children are getting suspicious too.”

“Yeah I think you might be right, because Ron was saying the other day that Rose keeps asking him why people always stare at me; I don’t think she believed Ron’s exclamation that he is ‘extremely famous’. And seeing as she is Hermione’s daughter, I would bet that she reading a lot to try and discover the truth about me.”

“Well, if she does find out she’s sure to tell her brother and eventually the news will get to our children-”

“They’re going to be so mad if we aren’t the ones who tell them about us.”

“Well I think we should talk to Hermione and Ron tonight, just to see what they think; we really can’t wait much longer; it’s too risky; they’ll find out and if they hear something false or misleading it’s going to be very hard to convince them otherwise.”

     Harry and Ginny paused. They could hear footsteps above them; someone was coming down the stairs and into the kitchen, where they were talking quietly. Albus Potter opened the door holding a newspaper article in his hands, a look of terror on his face. Harry had seen this face before, normally one that showed itself whenever James would tease Albus about the ‘horrors’ at Hogwarts.

“What’s James said now, Al?” Harry asked looking into his son’s face.

Albus didn’t reply.

“What’s the matter, Sweetie?” Ginny questioned her son.

Still, Albus was silent. Harry and Ginny glanced at each other, confused.

“Come on, Al. Talk to us.” Harry realised that his son’s face was still in the same expression it was when he walked in. It became obvious that whatever was bothering Albus, it wasn’t his brother.

“What have you got in your hand?” Harry asked; trying to make what he hoped would be an interesting conversation.

Albus slowly walked towards his parents, holding the article tight in his hands as if it were a float saving him from drowning. Harry noticed this and became eager to see what his son was hiding from him. Harry held out his hand, waiting to receive the article, but Albus didn’t give it to him.

“You’re being awfully silent, Albus. Aren’t you feeling well?” Ginny asked looking concerned.

Albus shook his head.

“Well you better get an early night’s sleep. Do you want a hot drink before you go to bed?” Albus shook his head again. But Harry wasn’t giving up that easily, something else was bothering Al.

“What have you got in your hand, Albus?” He asked his son again. He was hoping his wife would help him press the matter with their youngest son, but Ginny had begun to make a hot drink for Albus and forgot about the article her son was mysteriously hiding.

      Ginny had now taken Albus’ hand and was leading him out of the kitchen and upstairs to his bedroom. Harry was about to ask her stop so that he could question his son further when suddenly Albus, pulled his hand out of his mother’s grip and stormed back into the kitchen, his face no longer horrified, but upset as if he were about to cry. Harry stood up, ready to give him a comforting hug, but Albus pushed past Harry’s arms and slammed the newspaper article on the kitchen table and ran after his mother, leaving Harry staring after his son, confused and worried. But after seeing the article that his son left for him, Harry’s stomach sank. Glaring back at him was a large black and white moving picture of Albus Dumbledore with the heading ‘Debate continues after twenty years: is Dumbledore dumb or delusional?’ Harry gulped as he looked at the bottom right hand corner: ‘article by Rita Skeeter’.