"Wow." James breathed, very impressed at the shooting. "Mr. Malfoy, that's WICKED! You will teach me, really? Dad did you hear?!"

Harry raised his eyebrow a bit at the thought of James shooting any sort of weapon.

"Yeah, I heard. I'm sure Mr. Malfoy is an excellent teacher...if you would listen to him."

"I listen." James whined.

"Yeah, like your ears are fulla mud." Al said, hugging onto his elephant.

James ignored him, which proved Al's point anyway.

"Can we do that?" James pointed eagerly, dropping his pouting act as he watched families and children hand tickets to a man at the gate of a corn maze, and then disappear behind the rows of stalks.

Harry agreed, and the group walked towards the corn. Harry held out the tickets for the gatekeeper, as James chomped at the bit to get in.

"James, wait for the rest--"

Harry sighed, letting the rest of his sentence die, when the boy took off running, his shoes kicking up bits of mud.

"Hey Da, if James gets lost in the corn...can we jus' leave 'em?" Al asked, hopefully. Harry laughed.

"I'm afraid not, Al." He turned towards Lucius, looking around to make sure there were no Muggles within view. When Harry was satisfied that there weren't, he quickly cast a charm onto Lucius shoes and pant legs. "This way, they won't get muddy."

Al tugged on Harry's sleeve.

"Me too. I don't want to be dirty either."

Harry cast the charm onto Al, and himself as well. He doubted anyone else would really take much time to pay attention their shoes and pants when they exited the maze: no one would notice if they were muddy or not.

"I hope James at least stuck to the paths." Harry looked slightly worried, not putting it across his headstrong boy to think it brilliant to try a shortcut of his own through the cornstalks. "Let's go."

On his way to the corn maze, Lucius handed off the giant animal that he won to a little girl- not having any real use for such a big thing. Besides, if they were going through a maze, he wanted to have his hands free- just in case they had to chase after James.

"James! Come... back." He made a face and shook his head. "We'll find him eventually. This is a child friendly place. The maze can't be that large." Contrary to what he believed, the maze was three miles in size- sprawling out like an ancient labyrinth in the fall sun.

Lucius looked overjoyed at the thought of not getting dirty. He leaned over and quickly kissed Harry on the lips in thanks- without giving the simple gesture any more thought. He looked at the brochure the girl was handing out at the start of the maze- which had the rules and everything else important about the maze- save for a way out.

"It says here to not go through the corn." He squinted as he read the last line. "It also says here that in the maze are creatures known as 'corn cops'. And should anyone be going through the corn, they will be caught by said 'corn cops'. Huh." He tucked the brochure in his back pocket of his jeans, looking down to Al. "I'm sure your brother will be returned to us soon by these 'corn cops'." He took Al's hand without giving it much thought either. If he was here with his grandson, he'd do the same.

Harry was a bit taken aback by the brief kiss. He certainly hadn't expected it. He felt his cheeks warm up a bit, but he smiled. That was rather nice, really. He listened to Lucius explain about the maze and it's 'law enforcement'. That made Harry feel better about James, knowing that the boy couldn't lose himself.

When Lucius took Al's hand as if it were natural, Harry's chest warmed to match the glow of his face. Al was happy, too. The boy looked up to Lucius with a small pleased smile that Lucius was holding his hand.

The trio hadn't made it too far into the maze, when indeed two 'corn cops' came up to them, escorting James who was pouting and kicking his legs.

"Lemme go!" He thrashed a bit, and Harry frowned.

"James, that isn't nice. Don't kick the Mug---er, the nice people."

The two young men sat James down.

"He was trying to run off through the corn. You've got to stay on the paths, young man, or you'll get lost!" One of them said, and then the two were off, to catch more offenders. James moodily kicked at a fallen over corn stalk.

"I don't want to go the same ways everyone else goes!" James picked up a stick, and swished it around like a wand. "I want to go my OWN way."

"I know you do, James." Harry said. "But it's important to stay to the paths. We'll let you choose which forks to take."

"I bet there are monsters in the corn." Al said, holding tighter to Lucius' hand. "If you go in there, they'll EAT you James."

"I'm not afraid of any monsters!" James went on, defiantly. "Gryffindors aren't afraid of ANYTHING!"

"James..." Harry took one of James' hands, and the four walked as Harry continued speaking to his oldest. "That isn't true. Gryffindors are known for their courage. Courage isn't not being afraid of anything. Courage is doing what we must do, despite being afraid--"

"You're not afraid of anything."

"I am." Harry corrected, looking down at James, who looked skeptically up at his father.

"What are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid you ask too many questions, love." Harry ruffled the boys hair, and they stopped at a fork. "Moment of truth, then. Which way do we take, James?"

James brandished his stick-wand immediately to the left, just acting on impulse.

"That way!"

Al was carefully looking over the soft ground, checking out the footprints left behind.

"That's the wrong way." He said casually.

"How would YOU know."

"We'll take James' way this time, and you can pick next." Harry suggested, diplomatically.

"It's the wrong way." Al muttered, but he shrugged his shoulders.

"Come on!" James tugged on Harry, and the two started off down the left, the way James had chosen.

"Mr. Malfoy, it's that way, see?" Al pointed to the footprints that were in the dirt going to the left. "The way James went, there are footprints that come back...people who took that way had to come back, 'cause it was wrong. That way..." Al pointed to the right. "...only has footprints going away."

Lucius caught the expression on Harry's face, and the one on Al's. He felt good- for the first time in a long time, he was having a good time- feeling like he actually belonged somewhere.

Soon enough, two muggles brought James back. He chuckled softly, slightly disappointed that they weren't literal versions of the term 'corn cop'. He then wondered what the wizarding world's version of corn police would be then quickly switched his mind to think of something more pleasant.

Lucius blinked, taking in the sight of the footprints. He knelt down to talk quietly to Al. "You are such an observant boy, Al. That's very good. He ruffled his hair gently, looking up to Harry. "Harry- I've got an idea. How about we split up? Al and I will go one way, you and James the other. We'll see who gets done quicker. A couple of Gryffindors versus Al and I- I'll treat for ice cream when we're done." He figured James would enjoy the competition and being with his father, and that Al would like trying to figure out the maze without his brother's impulsive behavior.

Looking around for muggles and seeing none, Lucius broke off two ears of corn. He transfigured them into two balls of twine, one green, one red. He handed Harry the red one. "Tie it to a stalk and use it through out the maze. If you get lost, follow it back. The muggles won't see it. It won't run out either- no matter how big the maze is." He took the green twine and tied the end of it to the right way.

"Good luck!" Lucius said to Harry and James.

"Great idea!" Harry tied the end of the red yarn, and handed the ball to James.

"We're gonna beat you, nah-nah!" James teased, and took off. Harry shook his head, and followed after him.

Al was more than pleased to be split up, and going with Lucius. He knew that they would finish the maze first, because they weren't just running in random directions, they would actually take time to try and figure out which was the correct way to go, before taking it.

The maze was long, but Al and Lucius were on track to finish first. James was still taking whichever way he felt like, and he and Harry often ended up walking in circles. Al was doing good at choosing the correct ways, and if he couldn't figure it out, he had no problems with asking Lucius what he thought.

Down one of the pathways, Al stopped suddenly, and peered through a small gap in the corn. He could see a ways off the sign marked the exit. If they cut through the corn here, it was just RIGHT THERE. But if they continued through the maze, they would still waste time going down twists and turns until their path led them out. Al took a moment, thinking. His feet were beginning to hurt from walking, and he was thirsty. The maze had been fun, but he was ready to be done with it. Besides, the exit was just there...but there were also a couple of 'corn cops' just up the path.

Al nudged Lucius, and then took a couple of steps further, and pretended to trip over a stalk of corn which had fallen across the path. Al grabbed his ankle, and started to cry. Actual tears rolled down his cheeks. The two 'corn cops' were immediately knelt down next to him.

"Come on, we can cut through the maze here." A girl with black and purple hair said, and then blushed when she took site of Lucius. "This way. Pick him up, John." She said to the man who was with her, and he hoisted Al into his arms.

The four of them cut through the corn, and were out the exit. The man sat a sniffling Al down on top of a large pumpkin.

"Go get him some ice." The man said to the woman, and she took off to do so. "Are you alright?"

Al sniffed.

"It...h-hurts...but I'll be okay." He said, tilting his face up to meet the mans eyes, looking brave through his tears.

"Tough lad." The man said, patting Al's head. He looked up to Lucius. "Ma'am, I'm so sorry your boys 'urt 'imself...we'll get you some free ice cream coupons." The man lifted a hand held radio from his belt. "Lisa, get the 'urt kid some free ice cream notes."

Lisa returned, and handed a quieted Al a pack of ice, and handed the coupons to Lucius. The corn cops left the two, to go resume their post. Al laid the icepack aside once the two were out of sight, and smiled sheepishly at Lucius.

"My feet hurt. I didn't want to walk anymore."

Lucius was enjoying himself, taking the time to figure out the proper path with Al. Running around absently was not something he would have enjoyed doing. They seemed to be close to the exit- which was good. He had long since lost the leather coat he had on, magicing it away when it got too hot. He rolled up his sleeves to his elbows to get cooler before finally giving up to cast a cooling charm on himself.

He blinked at the nudge, watching Al take a tumble. His eyes widened a little, and then he paled at the tears spilling down his cheeks. They looked so real that he began to actually think Al was hurt. He didn't notice the girl looking at him as he fawned over Al. "It'll be alright, Al- These nice people are going to help us."

When the man called him a woman he looked indignant. "For your information, sir, I am a man." He snipped and took the coupons. "Thank you." He said to Lisa and gave a polite nod to her.

He let out a sigh of relief when Al said he was alright. "You are quite the actor, Al. You had me fooled when you began to cry- I could never cry on demand. I am so impressed with you, Albus Severus Potter- you do your middle namesake proud. That was very clever of you." He reached over and took Al off the pumpkin. "You don't have to walk anymore- that was a very long maze."

He stopped at a lemonade stand, buying them both a cup before heading over to the bench in front of the maze's exit. He sat down, putting Al in his lap. He gave him one of the lemonade cups. "Drink up, you earned it. Now we just have to wait for your father and brother." He smoothed some of Al's hair back idly to keep out of his eyes, like he would to Scorpius, or Draco when he was that age.

"I'm sorry if I scared you." Al apologized to Lucius, and then lay back comfortably against him, drinking his lemonade. He closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of Lucius' fingers in his hair.

A half an hour later, Harry and James emerged from the exit. James was still running around, as if he hadn't just spent so much energy flying up and down paths. Harry was trudging behind a bit slowly, his hair a sweaty mess and his glasses slid down his nose, shirt sleeves rolled up and buttons popped. Harry sat down next to Lucius, slouching, and shoved his glasses up his nose.

"How does he still have so much energy?" Harry wondered, as he watched James hop from pumpkin to pumpkin. Had they won, James would no doubt have been ready to gloat, but since they had not, James was seeming to pretend that it didn't matter.

Al offered Harry his cup of lemonade, and Harry took it graciously and drank some.

James toppled off one of the pumpkins, and picked himself up as though nothing had happened. He ran over to the others, and hopped up onto Harry's lap, his knee sinking into a delicate place.

"Ja---aaaagh...ff--ahh...." Harry's eyes watered up, and he quickly moved James, seating the boy on his knee, gasping.

"Dad, you alright?" James asked.

"Mm...ah-alright, James." Harry took a deep breath. "Be careful when you jump on people. In fact--don't jump on people. It's dangerous."

"What took you and Da so long in the maze, James?" Al asked, finishing off his lemonade.

"It was a stupid maze." James said. "Mr. Malfoy, didn't you say we could get ice cream?"

"It's alright Al. I'm just happy you're alright. You did so well in there." He said and continued to lavish attention on Al until Harry and James came out of the maze.

"Ah, here comes your father and brother now." He felt instantly sorry for Harry, he looked exhausted. He popped open the top of his lemonade, which was now just ice and took out a cube. He put it against Harry's forehead, letting the cool water drip down his hot skin before transferring it to his neck.

"He's like a little tornado of energy. But he'll crash hard. No one, not even a child, can make perpetual energy for very long." He watched Harry's face with some sympathy. "Oh Harry." He winced and wiped his wet hand off on a napkin.

He exchanged a knowing smile with Al, and then gave his shoulder a little squeeze when James remarked that the maze was stupid.

"And you're right- I did promise ice cream." He looked over to the stand a few feet away. "Let your father rest for a moment and then we'll go get some. I think you may have momentarily wore him out."

Harry dabbed the water and sweat away from his face and neck. The ice had felt nice, as had Lucius' hand against his skin.

"Yes, just give me a minute, James." Harry sat up a bit more, watching James take off to the ice cream stand, and secure them a spot in the line. After a few moments, Harry felt alright--the pain from James' unfortunate collision was nearly gone.

He took Lucius' hand briefly as they went to the stand, and waited in line. He gave Lucius hand a small squeeze, and then let it go when James wanted to wiggle in between them.

When Lucius used the free ice cream coupons, Harry raised an eyebrow, wondering how those had been acquired. He didn't ask, however.

After ice cream, Harry decided they should head home. Even if the boys didn't want a nap yet, Harry wouldn't mind having one. He made sure the boys were clean and free of anything muddy or sticky, before he placed them into the pristine car. Harry did not want Abraxas' portrait glaring at him for letting his children get melted ice cream or gunky mud all over his beautiful vehicle.

Harry stifled a yawn as he started the car. He reached over and gave Lucius knee a small squeeze.

"I've really enjoyed this."

Lucius got something called a milkshake as it intrigued him. It was good, and by time they were back at the car he was done with it. On their way out he grabbed a jug of apple cider, as the smell of it wafting constantly over the festival was driving him up the wall. He needed to have some. He grabbed up a pie too, intending on having it after dinner.

He put his hand on top of Harry's, squeezing it back. "So have I- I don't think I've ever done anything like this. You know my family, we aren't exactly..." He looked out the window at the festival. "...Festival people. I don't think Scorpius would have enjoyed this. He's a rather delicate boy."

He couldn't picture his grandson doing anything they just did, much less walk around in a large maze for quite awhile in the hot sun. Then again, maybe he would if he wasn't around his mother to be reminded that he was over mothered. He shook the thought from his mind as they returned to the manor.

"Harry, you look exhausted. Stay for the rest of the day, we'll have dinner- and this pie. I'm not eating this all by myself." He made a face at the idea. "Though, I'm certain we'll have ample help with that." He glanced back at the boys. He was exhausted too, not wanting to get out of the car. Hopefully Al and James were wanting a nap too, given they were outside for most of the day. The fresh country air should knock them out as well.

Once back at the manor, Harry took the boys to the same room Lucius had let them use the night after the circus. By then even James had slowed down, and wasn't jabbering away like he usually did. Al had fallen asleep in the car on the way home, so Harry carried him in, and laid him down on the bed. Harry kicked his shoes off and laid down next to Al, on top of the covers. James laid with his upper half on top of Harry's stomach and chest, and Harry stroked his hair a bit before Harry fell asleep.

After a half an hour, James was awake and ready to go again. He liked the idea of chasing the House Elf, and so he did that for awhile while his brother and father still slept. After another half an hour, Al was up too. Al asked the House Elf if he could help make supper--and didn't understand why the creature was so upset by that. The creature seemed to be further upset when Al told it that he helped his grandmother often, and that they didn't have a House Elf at home.

"Aunt Hermione says you should be free, and get paid to do work like everyone else does!" Al had gone on to explain, but he just succeeded in upsetting the elf.

Al remembered his first visit to Malfoy Manor, when he had wanted to take his sock off and give it to the Elf--but Harry explained it couldn't work that way. Al sat quietly on an ornate couch, thinking about how he could get Mr. Malfoy to give the Elf a piece of clothing without realizing it. While Al was busy concocting plots, James had found the portrait of Abraxas, and was making silly faces at it. James thought this was the most serious person he had ever seen, and he had decided he would try and make the picture laugh. The more he tried, the more he thought this was likely impossible--but being the Potter he was, he would not give up.

Harry was still asleep soundly, dead the world.

Snaggy looked visibly upset. "Young master Potter has upset Snaggy! Taking money from master is an insult! Snaggy is doing a bad job! Bad Snaggy! BAD SNAGGY!" He shouted and repeatedly began to slam his hand in the kitchen drawer. "Oh, master will disown and free Snaggy- Snaggy will have no master and be shunned forever by all other house elves!" He weeped openly in to his hands and ran out of the kitchen to seek out Lucius. Lucius who was sleeping rather peacefully in his bed. "MASTER MASTER!"

"Snaggy... something had best be on fire." Lucius groaned.

"Snaggy can make something on fire if it pleases Master!"

"NO. No, I was just... no. No... No fire, Snaggy." Lucius slowly sat up, looking down at the elf. "What's the matter?"

"Master is displeased with Snaggy! Master wants to PAY Snaggy! SNAGGY BAD!" He went over and began to shut his head over and over again in Lucius's chest.

He blinked long and slow, sighing hard. "Have you been speaking to a woman with bushy brown hair? A friend of Harry Potter's?"

"No! The younger master Potter says Snaggy should be paid for work! Snaggy MUST have done SOMETHING WRONG!"

"No no no- Snaggy- everything is fine. You do a good job, a very good job." He said slowly. "Are you done making dinner?"

"Almost done." Snaggy simpered. "Master means it? Master thinks Snaggy is a good elf?"

"Yes." Lucius said firmly. "Keep dinner warm and ready when the rest of the Potters wake up." He climbed out of the bed, heading off toward the lower levels of the manor. He found Al sitting on a couch and went to go sit beside him. "Al... Snaggy seems to be under the impression that I want to pay him. He was very upset about it, and began to slam his head in the chest. Do you happen to know of anyone who would have said something to Snaggy to upset him so?"

-

Abraxas looked down his nose at the boy who was doing his damndest to try and get him to laugh. He sighed.

"You must be Charlus Potter's great-grandson. He would do the same thing you're doing to try to get me to laugh. But unfortunately, great-grandson of Charlus Potter, I don't laugh. You are simply wasting your time."

Al bit his lip, looking sheepishly up at Lucius.

"I was, but I didn't want to upset him. Aunt Hermione says it's wrong that House Elves should serve people like slaves. Aunt Hermione says they should be free and paid like everyone else. She even has these really cool buttons...she gave me a whole bunch. She said I should give some to my friends. They say SPEW...James says it sounds like something you do when you eat too much."

-

Meanwhile, James continued to try and crack Abraxas into a smile, at least.

"Yup, I'm a Potter. I'm JAMES SIRIUS POTTER." James proclaimed, proudly. "I'm going to be a famous handsome Quidditch player when I grow up, AND I'm gonna hunt down dark wizards...and be famous for that too. I'm gonna also have lots of girlfriends." James peered up at Abraxas.

"So, how come you're a picture? What do you do? Why dont' you ever smile, are you sad? How'd you know I was a Potter? Can you come out of the picture? What happens if someone puts the picture upside down? Do you want to see this face I can make?" James made a silly face, crossing his eyes and stretching his lips. "Da says my face will stay that way one day. I said that I'll just use magic to make it normal again! Do you think my face will stick this way?"

James made the face again, and then shoved his hands over his mouth as he giggled.

Lucius let out a long sigh as he began to try to explain this to a small child. "Your aunt Hermione comes from a different culture than most wizards and witches do. She, as a result, doesn't know many of our customs, or chooses to not listen to all of them. Which... I suppose is fine. Except for this. House elves are creatures that are made to serve wizards, as they were created to do so long ago. They don't have a concept of money like we do. To them... praise from their masters is money. The more praise they receive from their masters, the more rights they have to brag about it to the other elves."

He smoothed a wrinkle out of his robes, having changed from his muggle clothing to more respectable wizarding robes. "For a house elf to receive money it would imply that they didn't wish to serve their masters with all of their heart, and that they were doing a bad job. That is why Snaggy was so upset. Your aunt has only met one house elf that enjoyed freedom. DOBBY." He scowled at the name. "...He was an exception to the rule. But as you can see, Snaggy doesn't want money, he doesn't want to be free. Do you understand?"

"...Snaggy hopes young master Potter understands. Snaggy loves master. Snaggy doesn't want to leave master." Came the voice from behind the couch. "Master will be so lonely again, with no one. Poor poor master."

"Snaggy needs to not eavesdrop." Lucius made a face and peered over the couch at him.

"Snaggy will go get master and young master Potter some cookies!"

"We haven't had dinner yet!" Lucius looked perturbed as the house elf ran off. "Your brother is quite right, it does sound like the noise someone makes while... retching."

-

Abraxas sighed for a good minute, looking down at the small child. "I, James Sirius Potter, am unfortunately dead. This portrait was commissioned by my son Lucius to hang in a place of honor on the walls. I can not step out of it, but I can go and visit other portraits. ...Don't ask how, I'm not even sure. As for being turned upside down, that would be very unpleasant. This portrait is stuck to the wall via a charm, I don't think it's possible to remove it to do such a terrible act."

He pressed his lips together, trying to figure out how to answer some of the other questions. "When I was around your age my father died. He was ill. He always tried to make me laugh, but I never found any of his jokes funny. If I couldn't laugh while he was alive, I could not while he was dead. Now I am dead too, and still- nothing is... funny."

He shook his head. "Your great-grandfather made ridiculous faces all the time. They never stuck, unless he purposely made them stick. I wouldn't worry about it. As for quidditch, I wouldn't doubt that James Sirius Potter. Your great-grandfather was one of the best seekers for Gryffindor. I would know- I faced off against him all the time for Slytherin."

"I'm sorry Mr. Malfoy." Al said, and then apologized to the elf too.

James continued to pester and make faces at Abraxas, and then finally asked if the portrait would tell him a story about Quidditch. The boy tried to listen as well as he could, but he was extremely fidgety and kept interrupting with questions. He finally just couldn't sit still anymore, and took off running through the house, leaving in the middle of the story. He hopped up onto the couch where Lucius and Al were sitting, and interrupted their conversation.

"Why do we turn into pictures when we die?" James asked.

"Dead people don't turn into pictures, that's silly." Al stated, looking at his brother as if the older boy were just stupid.

"How would you know, you're not dead." James said, giving his brother a hard shove. Al rubbed at his arm, and glared slightly at James.

"Well, have you ever heard of a picture haunting someone? Ghost haunt, James. Ghost are dead people, right?"

James ignored this statement, and swung his legs back and forth as he sat.

"Mr. Malfoy, what does comet-missioned mean? The painting said you comet-missioned him."

-x-

Harry woke up hours later, and was aware that he had slept far too long. He hurried out of bed, flinging the covers aside, and went downstairs to find Lucius and the boys, rubbing at his eyes as he went.

"Lucius?" Harry found Lucius, and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry I slept so long--I didn't mean to. Did James behave while I was out?"