Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter.
Weasley Family Tree is in the Author's government note at the bottom.


molly Weasley didn't make bold serve dinner party until after the Quidditch match had been completed because even she didn't have the power to drag Weasleys away from Quidditch. shift secured a win for his team by practically stealing the canary out James's grasp and then everyone was off their brooms and sitting at the large crowd of tables in book time. After all, Quidditch was one of the just things one could do to originate a big appetite. Albus was certainly quite hungry and in a very good mood as he had been on Teddy's team.

Albus and rosebush sat next to each other in the heart of the group of tables and unfortunately Walker Percy sat directly across from them. Early experience had taught them never to sit near Percy due to his wont of talking political relation during dinner, something that even bored Rose. The two of them looked at each former as Percy sat down and Albus readied himself for political conversation rather than Quidditch talk.

“ I'm telling you, ” Percy said to no one in particular as he served himself some carrots, “ something's going to take place. I guarantee it. It's been too muted in the Ministry lately. Personally I thought things would get a bit riled up last year when Bruno Walter Eckerton took over for MacVicar, but I suppose the two of them had standardised views. to a greater extent exchangeable than I expected anyway... ”

farewell it to Percy to try and rule something wrong with the Ministry when all was fine, Albus thought. He reached over Rose to grab a steak and kidney pie and served a heaping portion onto his scale.

“ What do you call back, Harry ? ” Percy turned to Albus's dad, who happened to be sitting future to him. “ Any inspiration in the Auror department that I may not have heard about ? ”

“ Things are pretty sedate, Percy, ” Harry replied.

“ Of course they are. I would've heard if they weren't, ” Percy decided.

Albus wasn't exactly sure what his uncle Percy actually did at the Ministry. He knew it had something to do with the Minister, but his actual title was so long and complicated that Albus never bothered to remember it.

“ Well, it's an election year, ” Sir Henry Percy pointed out. “ matter never stay tranquillise during election long time. Party announcements come showtime week of Sep and after that things will be helter-skelter around the Ministry. Loads of body of work to do. Let me tell you, when I run for Minister- ”

“ Oh, here we go again ! ” Ron said loudly. “ When Percy runs for Minister. It's never gon na happen, Perce. Honestly. ”

“ I would vote for you, Percy, ” Molly assured him. “ You would make a wonderful pastor. But this dinner is supposed to be about the nestling. James ! And Ben and Cedric ! This is your O.W.L. twelvemonth ! You three are going to do so wonderfully but you must tranquillize down a bit and study. ”

“ Gran, really, ” James muttered. “ We're going to be hearing this from the instructor. Uncle Percy, why don't you tell us more about your running for diplomatic minister ? ”

“ fountainhead, as a matter of fact. ” Sir Henry Percy stood up. “ I have a rather arouse declaration to make and I feel I must tell my family first, before the rest of the Wizarding World. ” He paused, presumably for dramatic burden. “ I will be formally announcing on Mon, September second that I will be running for minister for April's election. ”

There was infrangible secrecy for about five seconds before a whole lot of things happened at once. Ron, George I, and Charlie burst out laughing. Hermione raised her eyebrows as far as they could go. Ginny, Bill, and Chester Alan Arthur all shouted loudly “ Seriously ? ! ”. mollie shook her point slightly and then jumped up from her professorship, running towards Hotspur and finally enveloping him in a with child hug and kissing him squarely on the forehead.

“ Oh, Percy ! ” she exclaimed. “ I'm so proud of you ! You've been talking about it for years and I think it's high up time you actually did it. I always wanted a son who was this successful ! ”

“ Mum ! ” Ron groaned. “ It's not like your other sons haven't done anything. I'm an Auror for Falco columbarius's sake ! ”

“ And you're a OK commodity one, Ronald, but I can't ever see you being rector. You just don't have the ambition Sir Henry Percy does, ” Molly said as she patted him on the shoulder.

gold was exchanging paw at the other end of the table. Cedric was grinning madly, so Albus assumed he had won some sorting of bet involving when Percy would run for minister. That bet must have been in the kit and boodle for years.

Albus was personally stunned. He of course had been on the receiving end of many a Percy rant about what he'd do when he ran for Minister, but he had always believed Walker Percy wouldn't ever do it. If Albus was honest with himself, he didn't really want Walker Percy running. His sept was famous enough without having an actual Minister in it.

“ Honestly, Mum, do you believe he's really going to win ? ” Ron exclaimed. “ I mean, don't get me wrong, Percy, I'll vote for you, but what about the rest of the wizarding cosmos ? ”

“ Sir Henry Percy, do you really think you're cut out for this ? ” Harry asked skeptically.

“ Why wouldn't I be ? I've been involved with the Ministry for decades ! ”

“ I think what Harry's trying to say is that you're all barque and no bite, ” Bill pointed out.

“ I am not ! ” Percy shouted. “ And I would've expected more financial backing from my own family. ”

“ We are supporting you, ” molly assured him.

“ son, ” Arthur warned. “ Percy's right. If he wants to run for Minister he can without any of us making it unmanageable for him. You don't have to vote for him, but I won't have you arguing during dinner. You'll upset your mum. ”

Everyone resumed their seats but Albus doubted they stopped talking about Percy running for Minister. They just continued to do so in glower vox. For once, Albus was felicitous he had chosen a seat near Percy.

“ Do you know who else is running ? ” Hermione asked.

“ Not sure, ” Percy replied. “ Hartwell's not running again, if that's what you're getting at. He's had sufficiency. But I've got his support. After all, I am the elder Undersecretary for the Drafting and Editing of Pentateuch to the Minister. ”

So that's what Hotspur's statute title was, Albus thought. He had no idea if that was a position that had a lot of king or not, but apparently it was enough to receive support for a pastor run.

“ Hey, Dad, ” Georgia shouted from a petty direction down the board. “ I figure this is as good a time as any to tell you that I'm moving out tomorrow. ”

Hotspur choked on whatever he was eating. “ You're what ? ”

“ Moving out. You know, leaving the draw close. I've got a flat with a friend closer to the sales pitch. It'll be More convenient, for work. ”

“ work, ” Percy muttered. “ If Quidditch can be considered work. ”

“ Look, I know how these elections work. You're going to require to pee yourself appear like a family line man, so you're not going to desire to consider me your sick daughter who only plays Quidditch and has no job. So you'd amend kickoff thinking of me as your girl who's the newest reserve custodian for the Kenmare Kestrals. It'll sound better to the press. ”

Harry Hotspur stared at her with his sassing agape. He shook his headway slightly and resumed eating, without another word to Georgia. Georgia looked smug, so Albus assumed she had won that little argument.

Albus turned to rose and grinned. Georgia certainly knew how to make Percy's running for Minister workplace to her reward.

“ rosiness, have you heard from Linda yet ? ” Albus asked, deciding not to join the rest of his fellowship in political conversation.

“ Not yet. ” Rose shook her question. “ Her mum might have wanted her to await a bit after they settled in Canada, though. Have you heard anything about what the Ministry's doing about Lubar ? ”

“ If anything's changed Dad's being really muted about it, ” Albus answered.

“ It's so wrong, though, that he can completely get away with what he did, ” Rose muttered. “ It's like I could go to French Republic, rob a savings bank, get back to England, and I'd get away with it. ”

“ You're robbing a bank ? ” James shouted.

“ Of course not, ” Rose replied. “ It's none of your business. ”

Albus and rose didn't danger talking about Lubar for the rest period of the evening. sure, the ease of their phratry acknowledge about what had happened but neither of them wanted to talk over their theories with any of them.

The repose of the eventide was rather out of character for common Weasley mob dinners. All the late class'dinner party had consisted of lecture of Hogwarts and the adult exclaiming how big everyone had gotten and how everyone was growing up. Usually whomever was starting Hogwarts for the first base prison term would get a fair bit of attention, but this year Angie, who was starting, seemed to be forgotten. Instead all of the attention was focused on Percy. The adult were talking political relation and Albus's older cousins were placing wager on whether he'd win or not.

Stanley was the low gear to exit as he had to go back to Roumania the following break of the day. Charlie and Katherine had finished their year in Roumania and had returned to England permanently the former month. Victoire and shimmy left shortly after that since they both had to work the succeeding day.

Sir Henry Percy was still discussing campaign maneuver with Corrine, who was smiling and nodding the way Albus did when his cousins were smaller and he had to act he was interested in what they were saying, when Albus's parents decided it was time to go forth. For the first time in his life, he was actually happy to leave and get back to Grimmauld Place. The before school dinner was supposed to be about everyone who was at Hogwarts, a time to have fun all together before school started, and this time it hadn't been that. It had been about Percy.
******


By some cam stroke of luck or miracle that had never descended upon the ceramicist before, James had packed his trunk the night before they left for school. Albus was sure that some variety of apocalypse was going to arrive soon because Percy running for Minister and the Potters arriving early for the Hogwarts express were two events that nobody ever thought would happen. Albus didn't question it, though. Instead he just used the opportunity to his advantage.

Kaden, who had met Albus at chopine 9 & frac34 ; prior to going through the barrier, was not early, so the Potters went through without him. rose and her sept were already there of course, so Albus said a quick goodbye to his parents before getting on the railroad train to detect Rose. With any fate his friends wouldn't be there yet and he could talk to ascend alone. Usually there was nothing he wouldn't talk of the town to his friends about, but the strange feeling he had had about his family was something he only wanted to talk to rose wine about.

blush wine was alone in a compartment about halfway down the train, reading one of her new textbooks. It was Arithmancy and Albus didn't have the little mind what any of the symbol in it meant. He chose the seat next to her and waited for her to be done reading whatever it was she was deciphering.

“ I'm witnessing a miracle, apparently, ” rose wine said after setting her book down.

“ James II packed last night, ” Albus answered.

“ Again, I'm witnessing a miracle. ” She laughed. “ Your mum is favourable if Saint James the Apostle packs other than five hour before you leave. ”

“ It's definitely odd, ” Albus agreed. “ Listen, do you get the feeling thing are changing ? ”

“ Changing ? Like what's happening with Willinson and Lubar and their lot ? Yeah, I think so. It's been over three years, Al, and they still haven't gotten all of them in Azkaban at the Same meter. I know they're really poor fish when it comes to dueling but I think they're smarter than anyone's giving them citation for. things are going to change, Al. The existence's getting scarier, ” rosiness said quietly.

Albus swallowed hard. That was in the cover of his mind of row, but he had never voiced it before. Nor was it what he had set out to talk to Rose about.

“ I guess, ” Albus replied. “ But I wasn't really getting at that. I was thinking about our family. ”

“ Oh, ” was all Rose said. Both cousin sat quietly for a minute before she continued. “ I know what you mean. What was up with that dinner at nanna and gramps's ? It was all Percy. O.W.L.s were mentioned once and no one said anything about Angie starting Hogwarts. ”

“ I know. It was odd. It just seems like everything's changing. There are lupus erythematosus of us at Hogwarts now so I guess that's what's going to happen- ”

“ There's still a lot of us here, ” pink wine interrupted. “ And Eddie and the Gemini the Twins haven't even started yet. Plus it's not like we even talked about teddy, Victoire, Stanley, and Georgia. We talked about Walker Percy for Merlin's sake ! ”

“ What do you intend will happen if he wins ? ” Albus asked.

“ I don't know. I don't think affair will alter political-wise but I think it's going to be really weird for Georgia and Tom Bradley and Cedric. Even the twins will probably be effected. I mean, having your dad be the most important somebody in the wizarding existence has got to be stressful. ”

“ Tell me about it, ” Albus muttered. “ Can you imagine if my dad ran for Minister ? ”

“ Percy wouldn't stand a chance. ”

“ Dad'll never run, though, ” Albus pointed out. “ I just think that things are already different from last year. Everyone's going to be focused on Uncle Hotspur's campaign. ”

“ Things never stay the Saame, Al, ” Rose said.

“ What's not staying the same ? ” John asked as he entered the compartment, followed by Kaden. “ I'm hoping you're talking about my Divination crisscross, blush wine, because my parents nearly murdered me this preceding summertime when they saw it. ”

“ I think we'll just have to cover with your murder, John, because that mark is not getting any gamey, ” Rose replied.

“ Seriously, what were you talking about ? ” Kaden asked as he sat down across from Rose.

“ Nothing, ” Rose said quickly.

“ I'll tell you once lusterlessness and Amanda get here, ” Albus said, figuring he'd separate them about Percy running for Minister.

“ This is going to be the honest yr ever ! ” Kaden said excitedly as he pulled a musical composition of parchment out of his bag. “ Look, it's my Hogsmeade permission slip ! ”

“ Excellent, ” John replied. “ Now I don't have to buy your dungbombs for you. ”

“ Do you really have to buy dungbombs this year ? ” matt asked as he entered the compartment. “ They're so nasty. ”

“ Just for the Slytherin common way, ” St. John assured him. “ Our goal is to figure out how to get a few in there. ”

“ Not going to work, ” Amanda said as she entered and sat down on the former slope of Rose. “ You can't get into soul else's vernacular room unnoticed. ”

“ That's what Albus's cloak is for, ” Kaden said.

“ Not if it's going to smell like dungbomb after, ” Albus said.

“ Told you we should get just asked for his cloak without telling him what we were doing with it, ” John told Kaden.

Kaden shrugged. “ All rightfield, everyone's here. evidence us what you and stand up were talking about before any of us got here. ”

“ Fine. ” Albus took a thick breathing place. “ Well, my Uncle Percy's running for Minister. ”

“ Seriously ? ” lav replied.

“ Cool ! ” Kaden exclaimed.

“ Why ? ” Matt asked.

“ Isn't he the one who's been talking about doing that for yr ? ” Amanda asked.

“ Yes, ” Albus answered. “ He's seriously running, it's not that cool, I'm honestly not for sure why, and yes he's been talking about it for years. ”

“ Why doesn't your dad run ? ” Kaden asked.

Albus and pink wine both burst out laughing. “ Because that's the in conclusion thing he'd ever want to do. He wouldn't want anymore world power than he's already got. Whereas Percy, all of my uncles have always said is kind of power hungry, ” Albus replied.

“ Do you know who he's running against ? ” Amanda asked.

“ harbour't a clue, ” Albus said. “ They're supposed to be announcing the candidates on the second. ”

“ What's that got to do with everything changing ? ” Kaden asked.

“ It's our mob, ” rose said quietly. “ Uncle Percy is so focussed on the election and it hasn't even really started yet. Georgia's got it all figured out. Percy's going to pretend he's completely happy with her Quidditch playing just to make himself seem like a fellowship man, which he's really not. He's always been focused on work. ”

“ That's pillock, ” John said. “ Georgia's not going to like that. ”

“ She's the one who brought it up, ” blush wine pointed out.

“ He's right, you know, ” Amanda said.

“ What do you mean, he's right ? ” Albus stared at her. She had a knowing smiling splayed across her face.

“ You, rosebush, and matt aren't the only ace of us who have family in politics, ” Amanda said.

“ But you're a Muggle, ” toilet replied.

“ I never said the Ministry of deception, John Lackland. I meant the Muggle Ministry. My uncle's the blossom minister. ”

Albus continued to stare at her. Amanda was always rather placidity and rarely talked about her mob. He always figured that was because she was so quiet and never guessed that it might be because her family was just as influential in the Muggle earth as his was in the wizarding world.

“ Michael Smythe, that's my uncle. He's my mum's brother, ” Amanda elaborated. “ Imagine my mum's surprise when she told him that I was a witch only to find out that he already knew about the wizarding world. ”

“ So if Sir Henry Percy winnings..., ” Albus began, his vox trailing off.

“ He'll adjoin my Uncle Mike, ” Amanda finished. “ But as I was saying, Empire State of the South does own it all figured out. If give-and-take gets out that Sir Henry Percy and her rowed about her Quidditch playing, it's going to come in off wrong in the crush and lose him votes. So, he'll go along it to himself and will be in the front row of every single one of her equal, pretending to be a huge Kenmare Kestrals fan. ”

“ Wow, that seems so awry, ” rose wine muttered.

“ It's politics from the other side. The public wants multitude in major power to have a certain image. ”

“ Still, it's like lying, ” rosebush went on. “ Just another ground I am not getting into politics. ”

“ My cousin Leanne went a small waste at university her first yr, our first year at Hogwarts, and the Ministry hushed it all up. She was out partying and the paparazzi got a exposure of her and put it on the cover of some rag, but that was the solely one. I know she partied more, but it was all hushed up. ”

“ But it's not like Georgia's partying. She's got Quidditch acquisition and is using them to spend a penny an honest living, ” Rose pointed out.

“ I'm not saying that's bad. I'm just saying your uncle won't want the world to know he's not happy with her life history choice so he's going to gain himself look like a devoted father. ”

“ See, everything's changing. ” Albus sighed. “ Sometimes I just like I had a normal family. ”

“ It's not all it's cracked up to be, ” John said. Kaden nodded.

“ It's true, Albus, ” Matt said. “ Amanda's completely right. It's the whole rationality why my dad got sacked. The public didn't like that I was a werewolf, which is component of why the Ministry hushed it up. When it got out, cipher wanted him in politics anymore. ”

Albus nodded, but didn't say anything. He never really thought about that before, but Matt was justly. Amanda was, too, but he never really put two and two together before lustrelessness mentioned that. And now the Saami thing was happening with his family. Harry Hotspur was going to make believe and while that didn't really directly effect him, how long would it film before the public didn't like the epitome he and the residue of his full cousin were presenting ?


A/N : From now on, updates for this will befall on the first base of every month and updates for Beyond the tail will materialise on the 15th. That way they'll be spread out. Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed this !

Here's the Weasley-Potter kinfolk Tree !

Bill-Fleur
Victoire- 20
Gabriella- 18
Ben- 5th year

Charlie-Katherine ( Wiccan )
Stanley- 19
Heather- 7th year
Mark- 6th year
Eddie- 8

Percy-Corrine ( Muggle )
Georgia- 18
Bradley- 6th year
Cedric- 5th year
Samantha & amp ; Lindy ( similitude ) - 9

George- Alicia Spinnet
Fred- 7th year
Angie- 1st year

Ron-Hermione
Rose- 4th year
Hugo- 2nd twelvemonth

Ginny-Harry
James- 5th year
Albus- 4th year
Lily- 2nd year

*All in Gryffindor*


Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter.


There was no mention of politics or parson throughout the remainder of the geartrain misstep. Amanda didn't say anything else about her uncle being the prime minister of religion and how it had affected her sept, but Albus was still really curious about it. How had she managed to keep that a mystery for three old age ? judgment by Rose's reaction, she didn't even know about it. Matt hadn't even managed to keep it a secret that he was a werewolf for a year. Granted, Albus and the others had figured it out, but still. Maybe Amanda was the Best secret steward in their group.

The talk of the town lightened considerably as they made their way to Hogwarts, soon turning to the associate subject of Quidditch and then to fantasizing about the new Defense teacher. John the Divine was hoping for somebody who let them do whatever they wanted whereas Rose wanted person who would actually instruct, and not learn like Balladanis had. Albus didn't really care, so long as the new teacher didn't wish to harm his students, physically or emotionally.

As the railroad train neared Hogsmeade post, Albus and his friends changed into their robes and prepared to croak the train for the jolting baby carriage tease up to the shoal. The journey was now so routine that they did so with picayune chatter and transferred to the carriages with none of the ostentation of the previous two days. They were quaternary years now and Hogwarts was associate territory. As fourth years, they were well on their way to being the erstwhile scholarly person of the school.

The Great Hall was filled with laughter and excitement as the bookman found their posterior at their firm tables. Albus and his friends quickly found stern together at the Gryffindor table and all five glanced up to the staff table to feel the new expression that would be their Defense teacher. However, instead of the one unfamiliar face they expected, there were two unfamiliar faces.

“ Which one's the defense teacher ? ” Kaden asked.

“ haven't the slightest, ” Albus replied.

There were two new wizards sitting at the mesa. One was late in conversation with professor Kendrick and the early was glancing around at the room, his eyes never resting on the same thing or person for more than a few seconds. The former was wearing what looked to be Ministry robes, which made Albus wonder if he was an Auror, but then he noticed one of the Aurors from final stage yr standing off to the English in his common spot. The second new genius was dressed in apparent black robes and had nearly no hair atop his pass, but instead had a turgid beard and moustache, as if he was trying to pay.

“ I think the one talking to Kendrick is from the Ministry, ” Albus said.

“ That's not a good sign, ” Saint John replied. “ What's the Ministry doing here on the outset day ? ”

“ It's not necessarily a bad thing, ” Rose pointed out. “ Maybe they just want to get to sure everything is back to normal after the competition finis year. ”

St. John the Apostle opened his backtalk to reply but was silenced by the door opening and Professor Patil entering with the new initiatory old age. They looked mark and petite, far diminished than the previous year's 1st years. It was Weird how they seemed to get smaller every year.

As with the previous class, Albus didn't pay any attention to anyone's sorting unless their cobbler's last name was Potter or Weasley. This year, of row, there was only Angie entering Hogwarts from Albus's prominent family. She ran up to the three-legged-stool with as much enthusiasm as the rest of the family had and jammed the hat onto her head.

It remained there for all of three seconds before shouting “ Gryffindor ! ” Angie ran from the dejection to the energize cry of the Gryffindors, her Brother Fred's whistling ringing over the balance. Everyone at Hogwarts would have bet money on Angie being a Gryffindor, but everyone still liked to cheer.

For once Albus wished that Kendrick would make promulgation before the feast was served just so he could get hold out why there were two new champion at the staff mesa, but like usual, Kendrick waited until after the feast. Thus, the duration of the feast was spent speculating.

“ The Ministry's sent someone to observe, ” Epistle of James said confidently. “ facial expression at the past tense three years. Every single one at least one of Al and his friends have gotten kidnapped by insane wizards. Clearly the Ministry doesn't think the teacher can protect us enough. ”

“ That's what the Aurors are for, ” Rose pointed out. “ What's some Ministry bloke going to do that an Auror can't do ? I really don't think that fellow is another Auror. ”

“ I bet he's here to enter people for the Ministry, ” Fred suggested. “ You know, spend a class with us one-seventh long time and try to convince us that we should take on boring Ministry caper. Bet Uncle Percy's the intellect for it. Probably doesn't want anymore of his kin to require up Quidditch professionally. ”

“ That's cockeyed, ” a seventh-year fille replied. “ He's probably just the new Defense teacher. ”

“ Then who's that other bloke ? ” flatness gestured to the bald man sitting next to Slughorn.

“ Slughorn's long lost Twin ? ” Kaden suggested. “ Seriously, shave his beard and he'll flavour just like Slughorn. ”

“ Maybe Kendrick just wanted to ask round someone to the Welcome Feast, ” Amanda pointed out. “ It could be as simple as that. ”

Albus doubted it. zip was ever mere when it came to life at Hogwarts. Finally, after what seemed the like long time, the puddings disappeared and Kendrick stood to give his usual start of term speech.

“ Welcome back to Hogwarts. I give a warm welcome to our new number one yr and hope you have enjoyed your get-go Hogwarts banquet. I'll prompt everyone that the wood is out of leap as well as the Whomping willow. Those wishing to try out for their household Quidditch team can apply their names to their head of business firm. Now, you may have noticed that there are two new faculty fellow member this year even though only one status is vacant. The first is wide-eyed to explicate and the secondly is a little more complicated.

“ First, I would like to receive professor Elliot Young to Hogwarts. Professor Young is going to be taking over the demurrer instructor position. ” Kendrick gestured to the man with the whiskers, while scattered applause was received from the students and former professors.

“ prof Ancient if you ask me, ” St. John the Apostle muttered.

“ Many of you may be aware and quite a lot of you I'm sure are not cognisant that this is an election year for the Ministry of trick. Tomorrow the candidates running for government minister of thaumaturgy will shit their speeches announcing their candidacy, which will begin a seven month cause period. At the beginning of April, anyone who is of age will vote and the success shall be announced. The fact that this is an election year is a grand educational opportunity and I wasn't about to let it decease us by. Therefore I have decided to add another grade to the curriculum. It will come across once a week and in it you will find out the ins and outs of our political system and its history.

“ This is Professor Richard Embry. ” Kendrick gestured to the bloke sitting next to him, who then stood up. “ He is from the Ministry and has agreed to teach this new class that we have designed. The form will appear on your schedules that you will receive tomorrow. Now, I suggest all of you turn in early as classes begin bright and early in the morning. Prefects, please see the first age to the common rooms. ”

Kendrick and the Ministry bloke both resumed their posterior while Albus and his friends rose. The joined the mob of students making their way out of the Great Hall and towards the main staircase. The Hufflepuffs and Slytherins broke away from the pack to condescend to their dormitory and then the Ravenclaws left for their tower. Soon, Albus and his admirer were only amongst gent Gryffindors.

The common room was abuzz with discussion about the new prof when they arrived. near of the untried pupil had gone to bed, but the older students were making no move to do so. Fred was posting a sign-up weather sheet for Quidditch try-outs on the notification card while Heather watched. Albus predicted that the two of them would act more like co-captains since there was no way Heather was going to let Fred take all of the team decision this twelvemonth.

“ So now we have another stratum, ” lavatory muttered as they sat down at a table near the firing. “ More homework. more than exams. ”

“ It's only once a week, ” rosiness pointed out.

“ But still, since when has anyone at Hogwarts had to take a course about politics ? ” lavatory asked.

“ Never, ” Albus replied.

“ Muggles take category on politics, ” Amanda pointed out. “ My sis took one finish year and my cousins have taken them. I really don't think it's going to be that difficult. ”

“ Yeah, it's not like there's going to be an O.W.L. for it, ” blush wine said. “ Can you believe that we'll be taking O.W.L.s adjacent year ? ”

john groaned. “ Do we really have to talk about them already ? ”

“ Seriously, ” lustrelessness agreed. “ They're a long way off. ”

“ Well, I think I'm going to turn in, ” Rose said as she stood up. “ grade start tomorrow. ”

“ You sound like Kendrick, ” Albus said, but he was feeling slightly tired himself.

pink wine and Amanda left for the young woman'dormitory a little while later. Albus and the former boys stayed up a spell longer, but soon realized they were quite tired. They said goodnight to Kaden when they reached the third base long time'dormitory and then continued on to their own. It had been a long day and Albus was set to go to sleep, just so he wouldn't have to opine about politics or the election anymore.
******


“ well, we've got one of the new instructor today, ” King John said at breakfast the following morning. “ We start off the day with Herbology and then have Defense right before lunch. ”

“ When do we have that government family ? ” Matt asked as he scooped a cumulus of burgoo onto his plate.

“ Tomorrow, right before dinner, ” bathroom replied. “ Merlin, that would've been liberate time if we didn't have that bloody class. ”

“ It could be fun, John, ” Rose said.

“ I haven't got it until Friday aurora, ” Kaden lamented. “ I think it will be fun. Muggle politics are boring but witching makes everything better. ”

“ Bad news is we have it with the Slytherins, ” Albus said.

“ Of class, ” lusterlessness muttered. “ Wouldn't expect anything different. And we've probably got potions with them again, right ? ”

Albus glanced at his schedule. “ Yes. ” They had had potions with the Slytherins every year now. Surely that couldn't be accidental. Albus would have preferred they have no social class with the Slytherins, especially after what had happened in Department of Defense the previous year. The live affair he and lustrelessness needed was more link with Scorpius Malfoy.

“ respectable news is that we've got Defense with the Hufflepuffs this class, ” Amanda pointed out.

“ Bet Kendrick did that on design after last class, ” John said. “ He'd have to be an moron to return us that class with the Slytherins again.

Everyone nodded in arrangement. After the scenery that had developed between Albus, John, and Scorpius Kendrick would probably never have the three of them in Department of Defense class together again. Albus was grateful. He'd spent the last few weeks of his third base year avoiding Malfoy and was fully prepared to avoid him for the remainder of his Hogwarts vocation. Unfortunately the Slytherin was on his dueling team.

The group hurriedly finished their breakfast and then parted ways with Kaden before heading down to the greenhouses for Herbology. Herbology was one of those predictable classes where they never had to worry about anything awful happening when it came to depicted object matter or teachers. Neville was a fair teacher who made classes interesting. Albus never had to interest about anything odd happening while in the greenhouses, unlike potions and Defense.

Everyone was slightly mistrustful of the new Department of Defense professor and thus the seats in the back of the room were in high demand. Unfortunately the Hufflepuffs had had metamorphosis beforehand and had a much brusque walk, so they claimed all of the far derriere. Albus, Matt, and Gospel According to John had the misfortune of having to sit at one of the breast table and all three boy were on edge.

The professor ambled into the way just as class was scheduled to get down. He had a very gravid stack of parchment, which he set on the desk before beginning to call peal.

“ I am Professor Young, ” he began after he finished with roll. “ And welcome to fourth year Defense Against the shadow graphics. This year we will focalise on Dark curses, jinx, and general piece, all of which are detailed out in your textbook. You can take your Christian Bible out now if you haven't already done so. ”

Albus rummaged in his bag and set his rule book on the table. prof Young picked up the stack of parchment and began passing it out to the student. Albus feared that it was a quiz, as he glanced down at its fill-in-the-blank interrogative and short solution questions.

“ Please read the first chapter of your books and complete the worksheet by the end of the class, ” Young said as he walked back to his desk. He said nothing more and began to read what appeared to be a novel while stroking his byssus.

Albus glanced at John and mat, unsure of whether Cy Young would yell at him if he spoke in susurration to his friends. Actually, Young might not even hear him. He did appear to be quite old. But it was just so odd that Young assigned them reading and a worksheet on the first day of stratum. Wouldn't a lecture make more sensory faculty ? Albus couldn't commemorate a meter when a professor hadn't lectured on the first day of class.

Everyone else seemed thoroughly confused as well. For the next five mo everyone sent each other fox flavor and coup d'oeil before finally cracking open their textbooks, having realized that Young wasn't going to do anything besides register his novel.

Albus began to read the first chapter, which was dreadfully boring. It was about the most routine of Dark hexes, if a iniquity hex could be considered mundane. The chapter didn't even mention inexcusable cuss, which while horrifying, were far more interesting than the BASIC rule of what made a condemnation Dark.

Albus finished his worksheet a few minutes before Thomas Young put down his novel. “ Leave your worksheets here on my desk. There isn't any homework. ”

“ That was the foreign form ever, ” Albus said once they had left the room. “ Who gives a worksheet on the offset day of class ? ”

“ Someone who just wants to read their book all day, ” John replied. “ whole shebang for me, since he didn't give any homework. ”

“ Still, it was horribly boring, ” Albus replied.

“ Honestly, I'm glad it's boring after dealing with Balladanis net year, ” lusterlessness said.

“ Somehow I don't think this bloke is going to be bringing any Anamateks to course of study, ” Albus said.

“ An Anamatek would probably cease him off, ” bathroom replied. “ I don't think he could handle one. ”

“ Not many people could, ” Albus pointed out.

When they arrived in the Great student residence, they were surprised to see Peach State hurrying Tom Bradley and Cedric out of the room.

“ What's wrong ? ” Albus asked, extremely confused as to why Georgia was at Hogwarts.

“ Dad wants us there when he makes his big announcement. ” She rolled her optic. “ We're supposed to be there supporting him or something. ”

“ What time is it happening ? ” Albus asked.

“ One, ” Georgia replied. “ Which means we're already going to be later than Dad wants. It'll be in the even Prophet. ”

“ There is no way Georgia's going to be capable to hazard everything is delicately between her and Uncle Percy for the unharmed election, ” rosebush said once Georgia and her brothers had left. “ She looked annoyed already and he hasn't even announced he's running yet. ”

“ She probably has to overlook drill for it, ” Albus replied. “ I just want to do it who he's running against. ”

“ indirect request we could go watch, ” pink wine said. “ I bet our parents are there. ”

“ Of course they are, ” Albus agreed. “ Matt's dad is probably there, too. ”

“ He is, ” mat said. “ Hasn't got a clue as to who's running game, though. ”

“ Guess we'll see out tonight, ” Albus said.
******


Albus didn't see Omar Bradley or Cedric until dinner. He had been hoping to trance one of them in between socio-economic class, but either their agenda didn't permit them to hybridise paths or the announcement had gone until dinner. The noise in the Great Hall wasn't any cheap than it usually was when Albus arrived, but then again he wasn't quite sure how much the rest of the bookman cared about the election. However at the Gryffindor table, all of Albus's cousin were clustered at one end of the mesa, their top dog leaned in to one another.

“ Looks like a family meeting or something, ” Albus said.

“ We'll see you in the common room after dinner, then, ” Amanda said as she pulled whoremaster and Kaden towards the early end of the table, flatness following.

Albus followed pink wine to the far end of the table, where everyone else had already gathered. Albus squeezed his way in between Hugo and James IV while Rose found a can succeeding to Lily.

“ Finally, you're here, ” James River said. “ Bradley and Cedric won't say a Holy Scripture until everyone's here. ”

“ Otherwise we'd just have to assure the tale over and over again, ” Bradley muttered.

“ fountainhead, go on, ” Fred encouraged.

“ It was basically a Brobdingnagian phantasy company with a bunch of boring speeches, ” Bradley began. “ A bunch of Ministry hoi polloi and their wives or husband and Dad was the center of attention, of course. Everyone knew he was running even though he hadn't made his official announcement yet. It didn't get interesting until Dad and the hag he's running against made their announcement- ”

“ Dad's was pretty drill, ” Cedric cut in. “ Talked about how he's seen the Ministry through so many changes and how we need strong leaders to go along the magical community together and loyal. Mentioned Uncle Harry and Voldemort, of course. Then everyone clapped politely and the opposition stood up. ”

“ The beldame who's actually running facial expression like she was a hawk in a onetime life. Her olfactory organ is as pointy as a nose can get and she's got this sleek black hair that was done up in a bun. She stood up there with a crowd of citizenry who she introduced as her cause team, ” Bradley said. “ But it was her manner of speaking that got the crowd riled up. She kept putting maw in everything Dad said. Dad mentioned about how the wizarding world was a stiff united front but she talked about how breach are forming and the Ministry is slipping and change is needed again. She made all these subtle mentions of how the Aurors aren't as on top of matter and how if we don't do something the magical world will fall down apart. ”

“ That's derisory ! ” Fred said. “ The magical humans is fine. ”

“ I thought they were just making their announcements that they were running, ” rosebush said. “ manner of speaking don't start yet. ”

“ Neither of them are going to waste an opportunity to get right to vote, ” Heather pointed out. “ So do you two have to realise anymore appearances ? ”

“ Yeah, ” Bradley answered. “ Dad wants us all there for his number 1 speech this weekend and he said there are going to be some disputation here, so we have to sit up forepart with Mum at those. ”

“ And the seer wants to do a Brobdingnagian article on our kinsfolk, ” Cedric added. “ They're doing one on the witch, too. ”

“ What's her epithet ? ” rosebush asked. “ And what does she do in the Ministry ? ”

“ Patricia Laurentis, ” Cedric replied. “ She's some sorting of adviser to the electric current Minister. Her championship's just as confusing and long as Dad's. ”

“ Wyrd that both the candidate were working under the current Minister, ” Rose said.

“ Well the parties chose them. ” Cedric shrugged. “ I should get going, though. Have to go see Slughorn about what I missed earlier. ”

“ Me too, ” Bradley said as he stood up. “ Patil probably won't be pleased that I missed the first lesson. ”

Cedric and Bradley left, leaving the rest of the full cousin to talk about what they had just been told. Albus mostly listened while pushing his food around his home plate. What he had learned about Patricia Laurentis unnerved him a lilliputian and it was mostly because persona of him thought she was right. Things weren't as hone as his Uncle Harry Hotspur thought. Willinson was still on the liberate and not to mention the takings with Lubar was still open.

But Albus's dad and the other Aurors were doing all they could, weren't they ? What could Patricia Laurentis do if she got elected ? There would still be the Sami Aurors working at the Ministry.

“ Maybe Uncle Sir Henry Percy is the right person to be parson, ” Heather said quietly. “ The Ministry has been working the same way since the final Battle, hasn't it ? And there haven't been anymore Voldemorts trying to gain power. ”

“ But things can't always stay the same, ” Rose pointed out.

“ Do you really think the Ministry needs to change that much ? ” Heather asked.

“ I don't know, ” Rose said quietly. “ I just don't think people are as united as Uncle Hotspur thinks. ”

“ I'm going to the mutual elbow room, ” Albus said as he pushed his plate away. He wasn't hungry anymore.

Footsteps behind him told him that Rose was following, just like he hoped she would. “ What were you getting at ? hoi polloi not being united ? ” he asked once they were in an abandon corridor.

“ Not everyone agrees on everything, Albus, ” Rose said. “ Far from it. I think Uncle Walker Percy's slightly delusional about that. And remember what you told me about that odd bloke who gave your dad a word of advice at the Quidditch man Cup ? ”

“ That bloke ? ” Albus laughed. “ He was insane ! ”

“ I'm not denying that, but he did have a point. In an election yr everything matters. Uncle Hotspur's aligned his beliefs with the current Minister's, which means if he's elected he's going to bear on doing things the Same way. The Ministry hasn't caught Willinson for good in the three age they've been searching and he's slipped out of their reach numerous time. It's not going to be unmanageable for that Laurentis lady to convince mass we need to change maneuver, even if her tactics aren't great either. ”

Albus said zippo for a few moments. “ How do you make love all of this ? ”

“ I've talked to Amanda More than you have, ” Rose replied. “ She knows how all of this body of work, and it's really not that different in the Muggle world. ”

“ So you think Laurentis is going to win ? ” Albus asked.

Rose laughed. “ I never said that and it's far too soon to say. They haven't even debated yet. All I'm saying is, Uncle Percy needs to open his oculus a bit. ”

Albus didn't answer. He knew that his Uncle Hotspur's political perspective were slightly different than the relief of his family's, but they were still quite similar. If what Rose was saying was reliable, that meant that his unanimous family needed to give their eyes and Albus wasn't indisputable how he felt about that.


A/N : Sorry about the belatedly update. There were some site payoff. See the forums for more details about that. Thanks to everyone who has been reading and reviewing !


Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter.


“ You know, this politics course of instruction is taking away from our free flow, ” John said the espouse break of day at breakfast. He shook his heading as he loaded his crustal plate high gear with scrambled eggs and bacon.

Albus nodded and waited for rose wine's reply about how they needed to take advantage of any acquisition opportunities, even if they meant less free time, but it didn't number. Albus turned to look at her, thinking she might be ill. She wasn't. Instead she was piling her own plate gamy with eggs and toast. Albus raised his eyebrows at her.

“ What ? ” she demanded. “ girl get athirst, too. ”

“ Not that, ” Albus replied. “ can just complained about having another class and you didn't groan and tell him off. ”

“ I form of agree with him. ” rosebush shrugged.

“ Are you ill ? ” Albus asked as he felt her forehead.

Rose pushed his mitt away. “ full point it, Al. I'm not saying I won't enjoy the social class. I'm just saying that we're fourth old age and O.W.L.s are closer than ever and we need all the time we can get to study. Not that John would use the time to hit the books, take care you. ”

“ There's the Rose we all know. ” can grinned as he stuffed his cheek with bacon.

“ I think it'll be a nice change, ” Matt put in. “ Something unlike. Notice they gave us story of Magic on two consecutive morn. Wonder who the idiot was who did that. ”

“ Same one who always gives us classes with the Slytherins, I'll bet, ” Saint John said. “ Double Potions this morn and I'd bet my aright arm and both my legs we'll be with the Slytherins. ”

“ Why not both your coat of arms and branch ? ” Amanda asked.

“ On the off-chance that I'm wrong, I'll need some sorting of tree branch to get around with, ” John answered.

“ I only had one social class with the Slytherins last year, ” Kaden said. “ You lot must feature horrendous luck. I'd better be off. Defense this morning. ”

“ commodity luck. That prof is weird, ” John said.

“ Can't be uncollectible than terminal class, ” Kaden replied as he got up and left.

Albus, Matt, pink wine, and Amanda waited for St. John to finish his pile of orchis before setting off for the donjon. When they arrived the door was already receptive and Albus saw that they were indeed wit the Slytherins again. Scorpius Malfoy was sitting at one of the front table, looking rather smug. Albus averted his eyes and continued to the back of the classroom, where he sat down in between Matt and John.

“ enquire what he's so glad about, ” Albus muttered as the relaxation of the students entered the room.

“ I don't know. But I don't like it, ” John said.

Slughorn chose that second to waddle into the elbow room so Albus and whoremaster could not continue their conversation. “ Welcome, welcome ! Ahh, my two ducky sign of the zodiac together again ! What luck. Well, well, welcome to fourth year Potions. This is the class that things get unmanageable since you'll be sitting your O.W.L.s next twelvemonth... ”

“ Why is it they're talking about O.W.L.s this yr ? ” Albus whispered. “ They're still over a class off. ”

“... Since today is a double division I thought we'd set about brewing the first potion in your text and see where your acquisition lie after a summertime of lounging about. Unless some of you happened to read your text books over the summertime ! ”

Albus glanced at Rose, who was sitting following to Amanda at one of the front board. She seemed to sit up higher in her seat.

“ Let's get started, then. You can turn in couple of your choosing. The twosome that produces the best potion will win a bar of Honeyduke's chocolate. ”

St. John set off to function with Janie Creevey who lacked a partner while Albus and lustrelessness set up a caldron at their table.

“ Remember your gloves, ” Slughorn announced. “ If you touch the finished intersection your handwriting will immediately freeze. ”

“ Does it seem odd to you that we have to concoct a Freeze root with fire ? ” lustrelessness asked as he stuck his baton under the cauldron to light the flame.

“ Very, ” Albus agreed. “ So now that we've had Slughorn for three eld, have you noticed that he always starts the year with a contest ? ”

“ Yeah. I bet he uses the same syllabus every twelvemonth, ” lustrelessness added. “ Can't conceive of that much changes in terminus of potion brewing. ”

“ I bet our parents brewed the Lapp potions, ” Albus said.

“ I wonder if it's possible for this potion to break loose, ” Matt mused as he tossed a few pieces of chopped beet into the cauldron. ”

“ Well, I suppose we'll find out, ” came a drawling representative from behind them. Albus turned around and saw Malfoy, carrying a few bottle he must cause gotten from the supply closet. “ I'm sure you two will manage it, if it's possible. ”

“ Shut it, Malfoy, ” Albus replied.

Malfoy glared at him and then stalked off towards his own mesa. Albus was slightly surprise that he had left so quickly. It was strange.

“ Weird of him to leave so soon, ” lusterlessness said, as if Reading Albus's mind.

“ Yeah, if you ask me, he's afraid of you now. ”

Matt let out a jape. “ Yeah, right. If anything he's finally realized you're a estimable duellist than he is and he's got to watch out. speechmaking of which, you think you're going to be police chief of your dueling squad this class ? ”

“ It's either going to be me or Malfoy, ” Albus said.

With everything else that was going on that year, the close affair Albus needed was to be captain of his dueling team, but he did not want Malfoy as captain either. He'd take the superfluous piece of work if just to keep back Malfoy from being in charge. Malfoy needed top executive like a blast-ended skrewt needed a fire thrower.

Albus and Matt did not blow up their potion by the end of the class. In fact, their potion had the same consistence that it was supposed to and while it was slightly off-color, it did oversee to freeze the quill Slughorn stuck in it. rosebush and Amanda won the coffee, which was no surprisal to anyone.

Rose and Amanda shared their chocolate with the boys as they walked up to the Great Marguerite Radclyffe Hall for luncheon. Albus and Matt told the missy and John about Malfoy's bizarre behavior and rosiness told them that they should just be felicitous he's backing down, rather than psychoanalyse his motives.

The Great Hall was buzzing with natural process when they entered it a few min later. Albus sat down at the Gryffindor mesa and no Sooner had he grabbed a roll did Heather throw out a copy of the seer onto his plate.

“ What's this ? ” Albus asked as he lifted up the paper.

“ This first light's vaticinator. The bird of night were late delivering it. Something about a storm in London, ” heather mixture explained.

Albus set down his roll and opened the paper. There on the front Thomas Nelson Page was a film of his Uncle Percy, smiling wide-eyed, in elaborated robes, shaking hands with a very marvelous woman, who was also smiling full and wearing elaborate robes. Above the picture was the form of address, “ nominee for Minister of magic Announced. ”

By this head Rose and Matt had crowded on either side of Albus, while Amanda and Gospel According to John hovered behind him, all trying to read the clause. Albus's eyes traveled down the page so he could do the same.

In front of the total Ministry of legerdemain,
Minister hopefuls Walker Percy Saint Ignatius Weasley and
Patricia Leigh Laurentis announced their
candidacy on Sep 3rd, 2029. Both
candidates work under Minister Hartwell, yet
are running against each other for opposite
political party.

Weasley, Senior Undersecretary for the
draftsmanship and Editing of police force, has been
elect to run for the Merlinus party,
which is the party that current parson
Hartwell represents. Laurentis, Senior
Advisor to Law Enforcement and Azkaban
official has been chosen to run for the
Theophrastus Philippus Aureolus Bombastus von Hohenheim Party.

A with child crowd turned out for the announcement,
which is only the first of many appearances
by both prospect. The first debate is
scheduled for Sep 8th, at the
Ministry of deception.

“ So that's who your uncle's running against, ” Matt said.

“ Guess so, ” Albus replied.

“ She looks a piddling like this maths teacher I had before I came to Hogwarts, ” Amanda said. “ She was a scary madam. I remember once I forgot to do my homework so I spent the total morning in the loo before somebody came looking for me. ”

“ You can severalize they both hate each other, ” mat said as he gestured to the picture. “ Sure they're shaking helping hand and acting nice but clearly they both want to hex each other. ”

“ It's just weird that she works for Hartwell if she's the opposite company he is, ” blush wine mused. “ Why would Hartwell own hired her ? ”

“ Maybe she switched company ? ” Amanda suggested. “ It happens in the Muggle world. ”

“ Maybe, ” Rose said. “ It just seems suspicious. Her switching parties and hinting at all these radical changes. It just seems like something big is going to happen. ”

Albus couldn't help but have the same feeling. But all he could do was hope that his uncle won the election and Laurentis would not have got the chance to convert everything.

“ Hey, Al, done with that composition ? ” James I called from down the table.

Albus nodded and passed the Prophet down, then settling in to eat tiffin. There was no peak worrying about the election now. It was months away. Plus, the political sympathies socio-economic class was later that day and Albus was incredibly curious about it.

Transfiguration seemed to drag by since it was the Lapp as it was every twelvemonth. Professor Patil explained about that yr's program and how they needed to startle thinking about O.W.L.s and the increased work load. It was all rather humdrum and all Albus wanted to do was get to government since it was something new.

Finally Transfiguration was over and Albus and his admirer hurried to the fifth part floor to the classroom where government was held. They slowed down when they reached the way as none of them wanted to be the first to enter.

“ We better not bear this with the Slytherins, ” John muttered as they neared the doorway.

Albus peeked in the door. “ Nope, Hufflepuffs. ”

John let out an audible sigh of relief and Albus pushed the door open as they entered. Only a few Hufflepuffs were there, seated towards the vertebral column, and the professor was nowhere in sight. Rose immediately claimed a desk in the straw man and Amanda chose one succeeding to her, while Albus and the other son headed to the group of Hufflepuffs in the back.

“ Do you think there will be homework in this form ? ” Saint John the Apostle asked as they sat down.

Albus raised his eyebrow. “ Is that a serious motion ? ”

John shrugged. “ Well it's not like there will be an O.W.L. We probably won't even have this category next year. So why would there be homework ? ”

“ Because it's a class and this is Hogwarts, ” Albus replied. “ I guarantee there will be homework. ”

The relaxation of the course of study filed in, filling in the prat that remained in the middle of the schoolroom. As the chime rang, Professor Embry entered, walking with an air that this form would be all employment and no period of play.

“ Good afternoon, ” Professor Embry began as he shuffled a few composition on his desk. “ Welcome to Basic Wizarding political science. I am Professor Embry and you will address me such. ”

Embry stepped out from behind his desk and began to yard the length of the classroom. “ I understand that most of you know absolutely nothing about politics and assume that the Minister of Magic is born the pastor and laws just magically come into existence. A choice few of you, ” his eyes rested on Albus, and then on Matt, and on two Hufflepuff missy, “ have parents in the Ministry and may hold slightly Thomas More noesis than the residue, but that would be rather generous of me to assume.

“ Hogwarts has not put much stake in political pedagogy before now, something that I feel is lacking in today's education and wish well to rectify this twelvemonth. The program will let in account of how our government came to be the way it is today as well as how the government is currently run. ”

The class let out a collective grown at the word story. Albus glanced at Rose, who was on the border of her seat.

“ But sir, ” a particularly fearless Hufflepufff boy announced, “ we've already learned the history. We take History of Magic. ”

Embry let out a short-circuit laugh. “ With prof Binns ? If I may be frank, that man died before most of the history happened. Along with that, he'll put a rock music to sleep. ” Embry chuckled. No one in the stratum dared to laugh. “ I'm going to give way you a proper history of our modern politics, starting with a brief overview of what the political science was like before the reign of Voldemort and a more comprehensive overview of what it is like today.

“ I will also pay a course of instruction period each to the way the government is run in France, the United state of matter, and Commonwealth of Australia. Now, since you were not aware that this class would take place, you have not acquired books. Therefore I have purchased them for you. You are to treat them as library books and take back them to me in exchangeable precondition at the end of the year. Lest your parents be billed. ”

Embry flicked his wand and wad of books flew out of a nearby cupboard. They landed softly in front of the bookman. Albus glanced down and read the title. Politics and politics in Modern Wizarding United Kingdom by Beatrice Holden. It looked about as dull as the closet it had come out of.

“ Very commodity. Now, get out parchment and quills. I'm not going to let the residue of this class period go to waste matter, ” Embry said as he tapped his baton on the board. banker's bill immediately appeared on it.

Embry lectured for the remainder of the class about how the first government was formed in UK. It was incredibly dry. The lonesome intellect Albus stayed awake was because he had to postulate billet. Literally had to. Embry caught a Saint John not taking government note and threatened him with detention this Sabbatum if he didn't start.

“ That's all for today, ” Embry said after the bell rang. “ next year we'll profligate forward in time and learn about the administration pre-Voldemort. study the first chapter for homework and come up with three heedful questions to perplex to the rest of the class. Dismissed. ”

“ How does Hogwarts attract the most bizarre teacher ? ” Albus asked once they were out of hearing of the classroom.

“ Kendrick must put it on the list of job necessity, ” John replied. “ moldiness be out of your freaking thinker to lead this position. ”

“ I think he's professional, ” rosebush piped in. “ It seems like we'll really learn stuff. ”

“ Why pain in the ass ? ” whoremaster asked. “ It's not like we're old enough to have a say in the government anyway. ”

“ But we will one day, ” Amanda pointed out. “ And to be true, I'd be a bit afraid if everyone our age felt like you do, Saint John the Apostle. Muggles get political science classes in school. It makes sense that we should, too. ”

“ She's got a stop, mate, ” matt said. “ Who has the office in your country topic. If you elect the wrong people, things can go horribly wrong. Not everyone gets to elect their drawing card, either. We don't even get to do that fully. The positions that Albus's dad has and my dad feature ? In the United state of matter, those are elected positions. Not here. ”

“ And before Voldemort, we didn't even elect our Minister, ” Rose said.

“ How do you lot even know this clobber ? ” John asked as they drew closer to the Gryffindor mutual room.

“ Parents. ” Amanda shrugged. “ It's amazing what you pick up when your parents think you're too unseasoned to handle to eavesdrop. ”

“ Wait. ” John stopped in the middle of the corridor and looked at his friends. “ Wait. Now that we know about your uncle, you lot all have family line involved with the Ministry, wether it's the magic ministry or the Muggle ministry. ”

Albus grinned sheepishly. “ Guess so. ”

John groaned. “ This is insane. Why couldn't I have picked normal friends ? ”

“ convention is highly overrated, ” flatness said as they reached the Fat Lady.

******


The rest of the workweek went by fairly quickly, in Albus's legal opinion. Everyone, students and teacher, fell back into their usual Hogwarts routines and by the time Friday arrived Albus had a stack of preparation as high-pitched as his bed and was more than than ready for a few Clarence Shepard Day Jr. off. But when he saw the notice board in the unwashed room when he got back from appealingness on Friday afternoon, he knew that would not be entirely possible.

Fred had scheduled Quidditch drill on Saturday at eight in the morning.

“ ogdoad ! ” Albus exclaimed. “ In the morning ? Is he thoroughly insane ? It's the first gear workweek back ! Even Georgia wasn't half-baked enough to do that. ”

“ Tough destiny, mate, ” St. John the Apostle said as he tossed his bag onto a nearby couch. “ Eight in the good morning. Let's see, I'll be snuggled up in bed. What about you, matt ? What will you be doing at eight in the first light ? Flying through the rainwater ? Trudging through the mud to the delivery ? ”

“ line not. ” Matt grinned. “ I'll be cozy in bed, having an pose ambition where I'm playing for the carom. In perfect atmospheric condition of course. ”

“ The Cannons are the solitary team you'd ever have hope of playing for, ” John the Divine replied.

Albus threw himself down on the couch. Fred was insane. That was all there was to it. Well, he could enforce for a professor position once he graduated. He'd meet the insanity requirement.

“ Speak of the demon, ” John said as Fred entered the common room.

“ You ! ” Albus shouted as he got up. “ Why in the public figure of everything pigeon hawk owns did you schedule practice at eight in the morn on a Sat ? Not everyone's a 7th twelvemonth taking four classes. We can't all rest in every bloody day. ”

Fred shrugged. “ Had to. Pitch is booked solid all weekend except for Saturday morning and eventide. All the other theatre are having try-outs. We can't even take hold our keeper try-outs until succeeding weekend because of it. ”

“ Why not the evening then ? ”

“ Bradley's got to crap an show at Uncle Percy's speech. ” Fred rolled his eyes.

“ Then why have practice at all ? We don't need to train anyone new until we get a new Keeper, ” Albus pointed out.

“ It's been a whole summertime. We're rusty. We've got to start training early. I want that Quidditch trophy. ”

“ We've been playing Quidditch all summer, ” Albus said flatly.

“ Look, Al, I'm not changing it. exactly deal with it, ” Fred said as he continued up to his dormitory.

Albus spent the rest of the eventide fuming about practice and cursing Fred under his breath, until Rose suggested they all go to the way after dinner party. Albus reluctantly agreed, knowing that if they went to the Room he'd be up half the Nox and would only get a few hours'sleep.

In the end he was gladiolus Rose suggested it. They spent the evening playacting Gobstones and Exploding breeze and listening to privy and Kaden think up new ways to prank the Slytherins, and more specifically, Scorpius Malfoy. Eventually, Albus decided to call it a night and headed back to his dormitory, leaving his friends to stay discussing whether it would be punter to turn Malfoy's hair's-breadth red or purple.

Only a few short hours later Albus found himself sneaking quietly out of his dorm at an hour of day that was only mean to be seen on weekdays. He grabbed his broom and went to meet his teammates in the unwashed room.

No one looked happy. James was nodding off on the lounge while Ryan attempted to tie his horseshoe without opening his eyes. broom's hair's-breadth was sticking up at odd angles while she tried to domesticize it into a ponytail. Bradley was sulking in an armchair. Even Fred looked a slight worse for wear. But they trudged through the rook, only seeing Peeves loosening a few doorway flexible joint and Filch's cat skulking behind a suit of armor.

The weather was at least nice and the four time of day they spent on the tar went by relatively fast. Albus and his teammates landed on the ground as the Slytherin Quidditch team made their way onto the pitch. Albus glared at them as they passed.

Without going up to his dormitory to change, Albus headed into the Great Hall hoping there would be something good for lunch. Having skipped breakfast, he was starving. He spotted his acquaintance halfway down the Gryffindor table and after stowing his broom underneath the terrace, he sat down and grabbed the nearest dish.

“ You could at to the lowest degree shower first, Al, ” Rose said. “ You stink. ”

“ Too starved, ” Albus replied.

“ Albus ! ” Lily called from down the table. She got up and headed over to him. “ Mum and Dad sent this earlier. ” She handed him a piece of lambskin. “ They want us to go to the debate tonight since it's the first one and all. We're expected to Floo from Kendrick's written report to the Ministry at five. ”

Albus groaned as he read the letter of the alphabet. “ That gives me about four hour to relax and possibly do homework. ”

“ Are you going to have to go to every disputation ? ” Rose asked.

“ Bob Hope not, ” Albus replied in between sharpness. “ You don't have to go ? ”

“ Haven't gotten anything about it. Dad probably doesn't even want to go himself so he won't make us. And Mum probably expects that it would just occupy away from my studies. ”

“ This says I have to wear dress robes, ” Albus muttered.

“ At least you can differentiate us if anything good happens, ” lustrelessness said.

“ And what about you ? Your dad's heights in the Ministry. Why aren't you going ? ” Albus asked, dire to detect someone else who could maintain him company.

“ He already told me over the summertime that I'll only have to go to ones at Hogwarts. And then whatever parties the nominee will throw for the official. Doesn't think an election should have a great deal effect on my liveliness, ” mat explained.

“ Lucky, ” Albus replied.

Albus made the most of the relaxation of the day. He and his booster took homework down to the lake, but it sat ignored under a beech tree Tree while they sat by the boundary of the lake and dangled their animal foot in. Kaden swore the Giant calamari tried to eat his foundation, but nobody believed him. rose wine and Amanda took a pass by themselves along the edge of the woodland, insisting that none of the boys follow.

Kaden pulled a Fanged Frisbee out of his bag once the female child left and the boys began tossing it around. This was great fun until the Frisbee decided it had had enough of being thrown and took out a segment of Kaden's tomentum, leaving his head bleeding rather profusely and Albus, John, and mat having to hasten him to the hospital wing. By the time Kaden's principal had been bandaged up and all four had received a talking to on the peril of Fanged Frisbees ( Madam Pomfrey somehow figured out that that was the cause ) it was time for Albus to point back to Gryffindor tugboat to get ready for the disputation.


A/N : Sorry for the deficiency of a May update. School was insane. But I only have a class left ! I'm now home for the summer and am having takings getting my cyberspace to cooperate with HPFF. Things take a long meter to charge and I can not answer to refresh. I will still read every review, but reception will rent a while since I have to be at the depository library to reply to them.

Since I shoemaker's last updated I've had some issues with people plagiarizing my stories. I really hate that I have to tell you guys this, but it is against the rule to necessitate anyone's stories from here and put them on other sites. It's also against the formula to take secret plan, characters, etc without permission. I do not commit my permission for anyone to exact my plot of ground or fiber. I'm really happy that you guys like my account, but please don't take them.


Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter.


If there was one matter Albus hated it was getting dressed up for Ministry issue. He had always been slightly uncomfortable with his dad's fame and Ministry emplacement because he hated the tending. James II had always been the type who would bask in the care, enjoying when all the Ministry officials proclaimed how big he was getting and how he was sure to be the genius of Gryffindor's Quidditch team. Lily was rather so-so towards it. She never really expressed emotion about the attention one way or another. She enjoyed getting dressed up but once they were at whatever party, she would go off and do her own matter. Albus just did not like it. He did not like getting his cheeks pinched by old madam and did not like random people telling him how tall he was getting. As he got elder, he did not like it any more.

But it was a fact of living and so Albus found himself once again forcing himself into a set of emerald immature wearing apparel robes. They were wrinkled, but he didn't know any sort of ironing charm so he let them be. It's not like anyone would be focused on him anyway. This was his Uncle Percy's night and it seemed like this entire year was going to be his Uncle Percy's year.

Albus tamed his hair with a bit of water and then met James, Lily, Bradley, and Cedric in the vernacular room. James looked suave and perfectly comfortable in his blue clothes robe, whereas Omar Bradley and Cedric looked like they were being effect fed lousy Fish in their matching Second Earl Grey gown. Lily was wearing a over-embellished dress and as usual, didn't seem to sustain an opinion about going to the debate.

“ So you three got roped into this, too ? ” Omar Nelson Bradley asked as they made their way to Kendrick's study.

“ Yeah, Mum sent us a letter this good morning, ” Lily explained. “ I guess Dad thinks we should be at the first one. ”

“ At to the lowest degree you don't have to go to all of them, ” Bradley muttered.

The respite of the trip to Kendrick's study was tacit. When they arrived they saw that Kendrick was in attire robe as well and was apparently escorting them to the Ministry and would stay to follow the debate. He handed them each a bit of Floo pulverisation and let them go first.

Albus stepped into the Floo after St. James and soon found himself in the Ministry of Magic's entrance hall. The place was far smooth than it was the cobbler's last clip he had been there, the following year, when he went with Matt to tell his dad about Lubar being at Hogwarts.

Kendrick led them to the cosmetic surgery and down to the lawcourt room. “ The simply place big enough to conciliate everyone witnessing the argument. Even still, it's an invitation only event. It's being broadcasted over the wireless, however. Kendrick stopped in front of royal court room ten and opened the door. The room was about half full. Albus spotted his mother's bright red hair in the first row of seating. He followed Kendrick down the stairs.

Albus's Aunt Corrine was sitting with his parents, along with a rather sullen looking Georgia and the twin, who were both reading Quran. Kendrick began to speak quietly to Harry as Albus and the others filed into the row. James, Bradley, and Cedric immediately began to speak of Quidditch and Albus listened in. They were speculating on who would exhibit up for Keeper try-outs the following weekend. Georgia immediately perked up and began giving the boy advice on who they should keep an eye out for.

It soon became obvious that the left side of the front row of the seating was reserved for Percy's family. They were joined by all of Albus's aunt and uncles, as well as Victoire, Teddy, and Stanley. In fact the only one of his older first cousin that was not there was Gabriella. Albus wanted to ask Victoire where she was but she was too far away.

Albus assumed that the first row on the right face was reserved for Laurentis's crime syndicate, although Albus didn't recognize a single one of the people in that row. He turned around and focused on the people filing in. He recognized a few of them including lusterlessness's parents and a few other Ministry officials he'd met before. mat's parents sat down behind Albus's parents, next to prof Kendrick. Albus briefly wished that Matt had been forced to go, but quickly erased that thought because what variety of friend would wish their C. H. Best protagonist had to see a political debate ?

The yack in the room immediately subsided when pastor Hartwell entered followed by a few of his closest adviser. Behind them were Harry Hotspur and Laurentis, both wearing Ministry robe. Hartwell and his adviser sat along a tabular array at the front of the way while Percy and Laurentis stood behind podium, also at the front end of the room. The Minister spoke with his advisers briefly while Percy and Laurentis smiled and waved at the bunch. Then one of the adviser rose from his seat.

He was a portly man, whose gown stretched very tightly across his middle. He was completely bald and had no beard, but a very widely mustache. Aiming his wand at his own throat, he muttered a spell and then set his wand down.

“ Welcome, ” his voice boomed over the hearing, “ to the first debate of the 2020 election for minister of religion of Magic. Our two campaigner, Hotspur St. Ignatius Weasley and Patricia Vivien Leigh Laurentis, unite us tonight for an introductory debate on a diversity of issues. My public figure is Wendell York and I am the head of the Department of Magical Transportation and will serve as moderator for tonight's argumentation. I will pose the theme and each nominee will get five transactions to respond, then two minutes for a rebuttal.

“ The first topic is how our world is concealed from Muggles. Do you think the current Ministry is doing an adequate job ? What changes would you evoke ? Mr. Weasley, you may go first. ”

Albus yawned. Why couldn't it be an exciting issue like catching Dark wizards ? Or at least something relevant to his lifetime, like the deficiency of good Defense professors at Hogwarts. Now that would be a public debate he'd be interested in. Albus turned towards Percy and realized he hadn't even been paying attention to often of his uncle's response.

“... current laws do a acceptable job of concealing our globe from Muggles. deception sightings by Muggles are low in number and when they do go on Obliviators do an first-class job of altering the memories of our Muggle neighbor... ” Percy droned on.

Albus turned to Saint James the Apostle who rolled his center. Could they have come up with a more bore subject ? Albus seriously doubted it. Except perhaps cauldron bottom thickness, which was a report Sir Henry Percy had done when he first started at the Ministry, according to Harry. Albus glanced at his dad. He was paying attention, but in that certain way of paying tending that meant he was really bored but was trying to talk through one's hat it. Even Corrine looked slightly bored.

“ Thank you, Mr. Weasley, ” Wendell York said. “ Ms. Laurentis, your turn. ”

“ I disagree with Mr. Weasley, ” Laurentis began. “ One sighting of our kind by Muggles is too many. Each time a Muggle catches vision of an act of magic puts our total universe at risk, and not only Britain's wizarding world. We have a responsibility to the world that we hold back our magic under wrap. According to last twelvemonth's statistics we were in the top five countries in terms of bit of sightings. That's not good... ”

Laurentis went on and on about assorted laws that could be enacted to ensure that Muggles did not see routine of deception until Wendell House of York cut her off. He then let Percy have his two minute rebutter, during which he went on about how it was an impossible destination to try, to attain no magic sightings by Muggles. Laurentis's rebuttal was basically just a re-statement of her previous line of reasoning.

Albus tuned much of the disputation out, focusing instead on what he wanted to do during the stream school day year. He was a fourth class, which meant he was no longer one of the untried kids. He'd been on the Quidditch team for two years and now he was hoping he'd be able-bodied to ingest some say in how recitation went and how compeer were played. Then there was the Dueling gild. Each of the eight squad had a captain and the captains were quartern days. Professors, mostly Neville, picked the captains. Albus knew it would be down to either him or Scorpius and as much as he did not really want the responsibility of being master, he did not want Scorpius to have mogul over him. He would use that to his advantage.

The debate wore on and Albus continued to not pay tending until he heard the tidings'education'and'Hogwarts'. That got his care. It was Laurentis's turn to go first.

“ I think educational reform is the honest way to go. Hogwarts has been ran the same way for coevals and while no one can abnegate that Headmaster Kendrick runs a wonderful school, we also can not neglect that changes could be made to benefit the bookman. The creation is a constantly changing place and education want to keep up in order for our students to be better fain.

“ The socio-economic class option for example. It is my reason that a new class has been added this year about politics, which I think is greatly good to scholarly person. But former than that the same division are offered now as have been offered for decades. New classes need to be phased in while old ones that either no thirster interest educatee need to be phased out. Obviously I am not talking about essence classes such as Potions and appeal, but elective course.

“ instructor also need to be kept up to date with recent findings in their fields. They should not be teaching the same information I or my opponent learned at Hogwarts. They should be teaching the newest valid information available- ”

“ Thank you, Ms. Laurentis, but your time is up. Mr. Weasley. ”

“ My opponent brings up an interesting point, but even she admits that Headmaster Kendrick is running an excellent school. I believe that some authorities regulation is essential, exercise being last year's incident with Professor Balladanis, but we as government officials do not ingest the education nor experience needed to properly run a school. I, as well as my adversary, would be kidding ourselves if we believed we could do a better job running Hogwarts than prof Kendrick.

“ Just as professors most likely believe it Charles Herbert Best to allow law making and the running of the body politic to those such as my antagonist and I, I believe it scoop to leave the running of Hogwarts to Professor Kendrick and the other professors. In conclusion, I believe that Hogwarts is fine as is and if the headmaster thought he needed government assistance bringing about change in curriculum he would ask. ”

“ Thank you, Mr. Weasley, ” the moderator said. “ Ms. Laurentis, your rebuttal. ”

“ I in no way stated that I am trying to run Hogwarts. Nor do I think I would do a better job of it than professor Kendrick. I am merely stating that the student would benefit from more regime intervention. If the Ministry had been more require with teacher selection, for lesson, we could experience possibly avoided hiring professor Balladanis last year. ”

“ Mr. Weasley. ”

“ My antagonist is speculating. There is no way for anyone to say whether government officials would have found prof Balladanis to be an inappropriate professor during his interview. In fact, I would run towards the opponent, considering that neither I or my opponent have ever hired a professor before. ”

Both Walker Percy and Laurentis were red in the expression. Albus was surprised a Ministry shop at debate could get so ignite. He craned his head and turned around in guild to see what Kendrick's chemical reaction to all this was, but found that Kendrick was hiding his emotions far adept than either Hotspur or Laurentis. It also seemed that everyone in the room was paying enraptured attending, including James and Lily. The only when two people who weren't were Samantha and lindy.

There was one final examination interrogative about law making that Albus didn't really understand, nor did he give care to understand. He was far more matter to in the Hogwarts question. Walker Percy's line of reasoning was far better, in his opinion. Hogwarts was fine the way it was. Why did Laurentis wishing to change everything ? What sort of change was she talking about, anyway ? He supposed the topic would be explored more specifically at the education themed debate which was scheduled to pack place at Hogwarts the following calendar month. But one view that Albus could not get out of his brain was that if Laurentis won, what would happen to Hogwarts ?
******


“ The exclusively change I want to see at Hogwarts is less prep and few exams, ” John said as he walked with Albus and the rest of their ally to the Great Hall.

A week had passed since the first argument and students were still talking about the possible change to Hogwarts. A very large replete Page bedcover had appeared in the Daily prophet the day after the debate, proclaiming that Laurentis wished to change Hogwarts. This had both students and professors up in arms and affair were only beginning to calm down. The professor had been on edge the previous workweek, snapping at bookman for null and assigning extra homework. This resulted in the educatee being very unhappy. Albus did not quite realize why everyone was letting it sham them so much. It's not like Laurentis had won. Yet.

It was early on Saturday morning and Albus and his friends were heading to the Great manse for the first of all Junior's Dueling Club meeting of the class. Albus's brass were on end. It was at this first meeting that the senior pilot would be announced.

“ If Scorpio gets captain I'm going to murder something, ” John muttered as they entered the Great Hall.

“ You're not even on his squad, ” Rose said.

“ I am and I couldn't stand it if he won, ” Amanda pointed out.

“ If he's headwaiter, tourney are going to be atrocious, ” toilet countered. “ Plus, I'm Al's friend. ”

The Great Hall was in mass bedlam, as it always was during the first get together of the year. Two team were congregated at each tabular array and much to Albus's patronage, his team was holding courtyard at the Slytherin table. He weaved his way through the fox second years who had yet to be assigned a team and stood next to his squad. Scorpius was seated across the table from him.

“ wellspring, thrower, ready to be under my captaincy ? ” Scorpius greeted him.

“ I could say the Saami to you, ” Albus replied. “ What makes you so sure you'll get it ? ”

“ I'm the intimately dueler, obviously. ” Scorpio smirked.

“ Quiet, quietly everyone ! ” Neville shouted.

Albus turned away from Scorpius and swallowed the desire to stool a come back and paid attention to Neville instead. prof Patil stood side by side to him. Albus supposed the new Defense Department prof had not had a desire to serve with the Dueling Club. Somehow, Albus was not surprised.

“ Thank you, ” Neville said. “ First I'd like to announce that professor Patil has graciously agreed to help me buy at this twelvemonth's Dueling Club. As a monitor, all squad must cause a prof present during practices and it is up to the team captain to organize practice times and locate a prof to sit in. The professor does not have to be myself or prof Patil. However, this year we are allowing seventh year Dueling Club members to monitor as well. So as an alternative, you may ask a 7th year to supervise.

“ First orderliness of business is this year's second years. I've already assigned you to teams and shall now read off the list. ”

Albus let his intellect wander while Neville read off the list. The lonesome second years he knew were his sister, and she was assigned to Matt's team, as well as Hugo, who was assigned to whoremonger and Kaden's team. A crop of shy looking second days had congregated at his own team's slur and he smiled at them, encouraging them to take seating area next to the elderly educatee. There were five of them. Two son and three girls. Three Ravenclaws, a Slytherin, and a Hufflepuff. No Gryffindors, but Albus could live with that.

“ And now, what I am sure all the one-fourth twelvemonth have been waiting for, captain announcements ! Let me prompt you that I, as well as the other professor who have been involved with this clubhouse have been watching you over the past two twelvemonth and have chosen not only prodigious duelers, but exceeding leaders. Without further adieu.

“ The captain of Team One is Marina Jordan-Bell. ”

Cheers erupted for Marina, mostly from the Hufflepuff tabular array, where her team was seated. Albus grinned. Marina was very nice and would realise an excellent captain.

“ The senior pilot of squad Two is Harvey Tucker. ”

bathroom and Kaden's team. Harvey was a Ravenclaw and all Albus knew about him was that he knew every answer in every one class.

“ The captain of Team terzetto is cock Smith. ”

A Hufflepuff. His father had attended school with Albus's parents and they hadn't liked him much.

“ The captain of squad Four is Lydia Thompson. ”

A rather snobby Slytherin whom was often seen with Scorpius. Scorpius grinned and clapped loudly for her.

“ The captain of team Five is Jace Johnson. ”

Rose's team. Jace was a Hufflepuff who didn't seem to ever be not well-chosen. It was kind of bizarre, actually.

“ The captain of squad Six is Raisha Sweeney. ”

A Hufflepuff that Albus didn't know well. He swallowed hard. Team Seven was next and that was his team.

“ The captain of team VII is Albus Potter. ”

Saint John's whistling could be heard above everyone's cheering. Albus grinned. His intact team ( pull through for Scorpius and his Quaker ) were clapping hard. He'd done it. He'd made chieftain ! All the incertitude he'd had over the summer about it had disappeared. He, Albus Potter, was the new captain of squad heptad.

“ The master of team octad is Dayton Coons. ”

Matt's team. Dayton was another Ravenclaw who had multiple encyclopedias in his brain.

“ That's all for today. headwaiter, please figure out a time for your first pattern, which should take place during the next two weeks. Once you have a date, delight see me to get a classroom. Then find a professor or 7th twelvemonth to supervise.

Scorpius did not say one word as Albus talked with the rest of his team and figured out a practice session meter that did not step in with four different Quidditch team, Gobstones Club, and chess nightclub. Eventually he settled on the following Thursday evening. Neville assigned them to an empty schoolroom on the sixth floor. Albus figured he'd ask a 7th year to superintend rather than a prof. It was less intimidating for his world-class practice.

Albus's champion joined him at the door to the Great Hall. Scorpius brushed past them, but did not say a news. He looked like he was prepare to murder soul. Albus thought he looked far too angry over a lost captaincy. It was just the Junior's Dueling nightclub anyway.

“ Did Malfoy say anything to you ? ” Gospel According to John asked on their way back to Gryffindor.

“ Not a Word of God, ” Albus replied.

“ Don't think about him, ” rosiness said. “ What's the detail ? You made police chief and that's all that matters. ”

Albus grinned. “ Most of the captains are pretty decent, too. I mean Lydia's kind of irritating, but the residue aren't bad. ”

“ It's going to be a in effect year for dueling, that's for for sure, ” lusterlessness agreed.

The six supporter discussed dueling all the way back to the common room. When they entered they saw a star sign that said'Congratulations Albus and Marina !'Unopened butterbeers cluttered one of the tables and all of Albus's cousin-german were cracking them open. Marina was surrounded by her friends and Albus was accosted by his full cousin as soon as he entered. someone thrust a butterbeer into his helping hand and patted him on the back. He smiled as he looked out at the uncouth room, at the party that his cousin had thrown together for himself and Marina. mat was not only right about the fact that it would be a good year for dueling. It was going to be a good yr in general.


A/N : So I bet you're all confused about the name change ! wellspring, I've been doing some intellection and a secret plan alteration was needed. The chapters that are already posted won't be affected. The variety only affects what I haven't written yet. But the old title wasn't going to exercise with the new plot, so I had to alter it. I like the new one well anyway. And don't worry, Percy will still run for Minister. Actually, the new plot focuses more on that.

To answer in overture, because I know this will come up, I won't state what the old game was going to be. I'd rather multitude not equate the old secret plan with the one that will actually be written.

If any of you are on the forums, you'll know about the tragedy we had last week. Liza Potter on the archives ( and lizzacc on the meeting place ) has died. She was a fan of my Albus serial publication and told me once that they were the first stories she ever read on HPFF. She will be missed. I am dedicating this story to you, Liza.


Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter.


The side by side day Albus found himself on the Quidditch sales talk staring at all of the new Gryffindor steward wannabe. There were a lot of them. Try-outs were scheduled to begin in fifteen hour, yet the auction pitch had been packed since before tiffin. Albus speculated that some wannabe, including Hugo, had not even taken a recess for lunch. Poor Victor-Marie Hugo needn't have bothered skipping his meal since even an superfluous half minute of praxis would not ingest helped him.

Students from endorsement through seventh year were hoping for a situation on the team, including Janie Creevey. Albus recognized most of them, but there were a few Old students whom he did not. Along with the Gryffindors, there were spokesperson from other team, surely there to check off out Gryffindor's new keeper.

Albus stood on the lurch a few time from the crew, with his squad. Fred was holding a clipboard and Heather was standing adjacent to him, gazing out at the pupil hoping for a spot. James, Bradley, and Ryan were laughing about something.

“ lull, please, everyone ! ” Fred shouted. The Gryffindors immediately settled down. A few flew back down to the solid ground and dismounted, some not very gracefully. “ Thank you. We only need a Keeper this year. And if you can't living, you're not going to get on the team. If you're hoping to get in as Keeper and then take on another's spot when they graduate, you might as well not waste your time. ”

Wow, Albus thought to himself, Fred was channeling both GA and Samantha Meyers. Usually he would joke around at try-outs, but Albus supposed since he was now in care, things had changed.

A few of the younger student walked slowly off the sales talk and into the standpoint, looking clearly disappointed.

“ All right then, I'm going to birth you fly around the delivery to assess your basic flying skills. If you're not up to par on that, you'll be eliminated. Then we'll motion on to guarding the goal posts. ”

Albus stood back while Fred had the hopefuls fly laps around the rake. Quite a few could not even do to fly straight or execute turns properly. About a quarter of them were eliminated during the first ten minutes. one-half of the remaining Gryffindors were eliminated within the first ten minutes of destination keeping, including Hugo. He hung his brain as he walked to the stall, Scots heather trailing behind him. Albus felt bad for him.

The balance of the of the students took longer to eliminate. After about an hr the measure had been narrowed down to ten and they all seemed to be similar in skill.

“ I think the simply fairish way to do this is to egest anyone who misses a save. Last one standing, er, flying, gets the billet, ” Fred announced.

It took another half hour to land up the try-outs. To Albus's surprise, the succeeder was Janie Creevey. Albus had had no estimation that she even played Quidditch until he saw her at the try-outs. She grinned as she dismounted from her broom and accepted the congratulations from the rest of the team.

“ Nice to have another female child, ” Calluna vulgaris said. “ I thought I'd be the only when one after Empire State of the South left. ”

“ I thought your full cousin Victor-Marie Hugo would get picked, ” Ryan replied. “ Who knew he was the only Weasley who can't play Quidditch ? ”

“ Have you seen blush wine on a ling ? ” Albus asked.

Janie grinned. “ I've played since I was little. So well-chosen to make won the spot. When's outset practice ? ”

“ Right now, ” Fred said. “ We've got the rake all afternoon. ”

Albus sighed. Fred was turning into Georgia. But Albus enjoyed Quidditch and it was a bright and gay day, so it wouldn't be bad.

exercise lasted a few 60 minutes and Albus was thoroughly exhausted by the clip it was over. He immediately went back to his dormitory to take a shower and then set off to locate his friends. dinner would be served shortly and Albus was starved.

Albus's friends were in the Marauder's Den, just where he had predicted when he didn't see them in the Gryffindor common elbow room when he had traipsed through after practice. bathroom and Kaden were playing chess and Kaden was trouncing John, like common. pink wine and Amanda were sitting on the lounge discussing an essay that Cedonia had assigned the previous week. mat was not there since the good Sun Myung Moon had been the old night.

“ Albus ! ” John exclaimed after Al had shut the door. “ So, who's the new Gryffindor Keeper ? ”

“ You're never gon na trust it, but Janie Creevey, ” Albus answered as he collapsed onto a nearby chair. “ Apparently she has been playing Quidditch for geezerhood and was just waiting for the steward position to open. ”

“ Seriously ? ” John asked. “ She never mentioned it all these years that we've been brewing potions together. ”

“ She's probably too busy making trusted you don't blow anything up, ” Rose replied.

“ Hey, I'm better than Al and Matt are, ” John muttered.

“ Speaking of Matt, have you lot been to see him today ? ” Albus asked.

“ Yeah, but he was asleep so Madam Pomfrey didn't let us stay. Figured we'd go after supper, ” King John answered.

“ Let's get going now, ” Albus said, standing up. “ Should be starting soon. ”

Everyone nodded in agreement and they set off towards the Great Hall. The corridors were filled with students who had spent the day outdoors and Albus felt very subject matter walking alongside his friends, despite how every undivided one of his muscles ached from practice session.

“ Shhhh, look ! ” lav seethed as he grabbed the back of Albus's shirt and pulled him into a doorway. Kaden, rose, and Amanda followed, all looking curiously at John.

“ What is it ? ” Rose asked.

“ Shush ! ” John whispered. “ It's Scorpius and Willinson's cousin-german. What was his name again ? ”

“ Felix, ” Kaden muttered. “ Slimy git. ”

“ Who's that with them ? ” Amanda asked.

Albus craned his head around the door frame. Scorpius and Felix were standing adjacent to a few courtship of armor, heads leaned in towards each other. There was a girl about a drumhead myopic than Scorpius with them. She and Felix had the Saami semblance fuzz, except hers was long and curly.

“ She's a maiden yr. I remember seeing her a the sorting but I don't remember her name, ” rose answered.

“ I have half a mind to deliver her from the two of them, ” John muttered. “ She'd be unspoilt off not getting mixed up with the like of them. ”

“ She's a Slytherin, ” Amanda pointed out. “ She could be just like them for all we know. ”

Scorpius began walking down the corridor and Felix and the girl followed. Albus and his champion watched them until they turned a corner, disappearing out of sight.

“ Weird, ” Albus said as they began walking to dinner once more. “ I've never seen Malfoy befriending initiative year, except for Willinson when he came here. ”

“ You're paranoid, ” blush wine said. “ They were just talking and they're in the same house. Maybe she had a inquiry or something. ”

“ He's Malfoy, ” Albus responded. “ He's up to something. ”

“ Oh Merlin. ” Rose let out an exasperated sigh. “ Two weeks into the term and you're already picking a row with him. ”

“ Remember last year ? ” Albus asked. “ I'm only trying to keep off something like that again. ”

“ Fine. But I'm not getting involved, ” Rose muttered.

Albus walked in silence the relief of the way to the Great Charles Francis Hall. rosiness may have been right. Albus may birth just been being paranoid, but deep down he had a flavour that Malfoy and Willinson weren't just talking about homework.
******


Matt returned from the hospital wing two years later and the month wore on in its usual way. The professor were assigning more than and more preparation and it took longer and longer to fill out.

Once October arrived excitement began to brew when the first gear Hogsmeade weekend was announced. The visit was scheduled for the Saturday before Hallowe'en and Kaden in particular was very energize. He never did manage to lay down it to Hogsmeade under the invisibility Cloak the old class.

Albus's first dueling recitation had gone particularly well. Albus had been pleasantly surprised. Even Scorpius had cooperated and done what Albus had told him to do, although that may give birth been solely because professor Cedonia had been present during the practice. His squad was shaping up well and he had high promise for them winning many tournaments. Quidditch had been going equally as well. Janie had fit seamlessly into their team.

Albus wished he could say things were going equally well for the election. Ever since the start debate respective magazines and radio receiver shows had been latching onto Walker Percy's assertion about education and his deficiency of willingness to change, as they had put it.

“ Dad's really stressed, ” Bradley said one night at dinner. The Weasleys and ceramicist were all eating together in social club to discuss the election. “ Doesn't write us as much and when he does it's always about the election. ”

“ Not to mention the five varlet spread that virtuoso magazine is doing about our folk, ” Cedric muttered as he gnawed on a Meleagris gallopavo leg. “ That's sure to fire the fire. ”

“ When is that ? ” Albus asked.

“ Tomorrow, ” Bradley answered. “ Only good part is we got permission to pretermit all of our classes. ”

“ Is it really going to be five Page ? ” James asked. “ What are they going to put in it ? ”

“ Dad's life story, ” Cedric answered. “ Plus a few paragraphs on each of us and Mum about our lifespan. Just a happy article about how we all love each early and Dad's a family man. That's what his campaign coach wants to portray him as seeing that Laurentis doesn't have any kids. ”

“ And Uncle Percy has a whole lot, ” James pointed out.

“ Hey, you lot just watch out. When Dad told us about this he mentioned that they're going to do another on the entire Weasley-Potter kin group, ” Cedric announced.

“ Did he say when ? ” Henry James asked.

“ Around Yule, I think. Adds to the glad family atmosphere, ” Cedric explained.

“ Then they ought to interview Uncle George when he's had a bit too often eggnog. ” King James I laughed.

“ When's the next disputation, anyway ? ” Albus asked. “ Must be coming up soon. ”

“ This weekend, actually, ” Thomas Bradley replied. “ At the Ministry again. I think this one's focusing on law institution and enforcement or something equally as boring. ”

“ Do we have got to go to it ? ” Lily asked.

“ I don't think so, ” King James answered. “ Dad said we just had to go to the ace at Hogwarts from now on. ”

“ Speaking of elections, what does everyone think of that politics class ? ” Albus asked.

“ Professor's very intense, ” James said in between bites. “ But it's not nearly as awful as the early division. There's no O.W.L. in it so it's my current favorite. ”

“ Yeah and I think we're at an reward, ” Cedric said. “ With our parents being in the Ministry and stuff. A few of my ally have absolutely no idea about anything to do with the Ministry so they're having a backbreaking time. ”

Professor Embry seemed to be teaching the course in chronological order and thus was currently lecturing on how the Ministry was organized prior to the crepuscle of Voldemort. Albus thought it was a little boring but he had a feeling it would get more occupy once Embry started on the spill of Voldemort.

“ And that's why the class is necessary, ” blush wine said. “ Think about it. No stratum like this has been taught before, so where did the current Ministry functionary learn the history of the Ministry ? Where did they larn about government ? They learned it as they went, but didn't know much when they started. That's a little shuddery. People should know how their country is run. ”

Albus thought about what rosiness had said as he chewed on his roll. She had a good distributor point. Where had they learned it ? Had his Uncle Percy really known nothing about the Ministry when he started ? No, he couldn't have. Percy's own founding father had been in the Ministry as well. Still, it was weird to call back about.

Albus mostly listened during the rest of dinner. He always felt slightly unsettled when the election was discussed and he wasn't sure why. Nor could he figure out whether he wanted Percy to win or not. Either way, life would be drastically different after Election Day, and Albus liked affair the way they were.
******


“ Now she wants to change Azkaban ? ” Albus asked at breakfast a few days later. The law enforcement argument had taken topographic point the night before and the integral front man page of the Prophet was devoted to it. “ Isn't changing Hogwarts enough ? ”

Ministry hopefuls Walker Percy Weasley and
Patricia Laurentis debated law creation
and enforcement last night at the Ministry
of deception. Like the former superior general debate,
sparks flew in this one, with each candidate
speaking passionately about the topic.

'I've worked in law introduction for age,'
Weasley began with.'Since the defeat
of Voldemort, I think we can all consort that
thing are running smoothly. I intend to
ensure that affair keep going the way they
are, with enforcement of police force that benefit
the entire wizarding community.'

Laurentis took a more radical stance, in
her reply to Weasley's opinions.

'Sure, the police we have now are sufficient.
I'm not denying that. But I think we need
to admit a good hard look at how they are
enforced, or rather, not enforced. The
statistics are clear. Far more criminals
are being acquitted and even more are
being released from Azkaban. In my body of work
at the prison, I see many outlaw being
released whom I do not reckon should be.
Not to mention the break-outs. There are
far too many. Law enforcement needs to change.'

Without a doubt, matter are only going to
passion up. The candidates seem to have
completely dissimilar opinions on everything
from instruction to laws. The next debate,
which will be on instruction, will take place
at Hogwarts on Saturday, November the 9th at
two in the afternoon.

“ Doesn't she run Azkaban ? ” mat asked, taking the paper from Albus. “ So why hasn't she changed it already ? ”

“ Probably doesn't have the world power, ” Rose answered. “ The minister of religion has to sign off on most thing, unless all representative and officials disagree with him or her. ”

“ So clearly there's masses who don't agree with her, ” matt replied.

“ Think they'll ever agree with each other ? ” Albus asked.

“ Doubt it, ” Amanda said. “ It's like this in the Muggle elections, too. They're usually complete reverse. What I don't understand is how she's working under Hartwell when he and your uncle agree on everything. ”

“ Me either, ” Rose agreed. “ dead reckoning we're watching the future debate. ”

“ Yeah, it'll be here, ” lusterlessness said. “ Embry will probably make us do an essay on it, too. ”

“ It won't be bad, ” rose said. “ That will be the debate that will directly impact us. The election's in April which means we're going to have over three years of Hogwarts under whichever campaigner is elected. If it's Laurentis, all those variety are going to feign us. ”

Tom Bradley sat down succeeding to Albus and threw a copy of Wizards magazine onto the table. “ article's out. ”

“ That was fast, ” Albus said.

“ They wanted it to be out right around the debate, ” Bradley muttered. “ You really ought to read it. It's awful. ”

“ Rita Skeeter didn't do it, did she ? ” Albus asked.

Omar Bradley shook his principal. “ This gentlewoman's almost worse. Trust me. ”

rosiness, Amanda, John, Matt, and Kaden crowded around Albus as he flipped through the magazine. The article was in the midsection, with the two Page being a wide-cut color photograph of Uncle Harry Hotspur, Aunt Corrine, and their kids. Hotspur and Corrine were sitting on their animation elbow room lounge, with Empire State of the South in between them. All three were smiling and waving. Bradley and Cedric were leaning on either side of meat of the couch and the similitude were sitting in front of it. Albus flipped the page and saw a very extended article, interspersed with versatile pictures of his family and corner about each of those five cousin-german. The article finished up on the espouse Thomas Nelson Page.

Upon entering the abode of Minister of Magic
candidate Percy Weasley's Southampton home
I am surprise to see that it does not front
like the menage of a Ministry candidate. It is
not filled with plenty and piles of papers and
Weasley's campaign manager is nowhere to be
found. Instead, the floor is cluttered with
toys belonging to the youngest Weasley children,
nine-year-old twins, Samantha and Lindy. A
shell of warm cookies sits upon the coffee
board and Weasley's married woman, Corrine, bustles
into the room carrying a tray of tea. Hotspur
enters as well, followed by the five Weasley
children.

'I prefer to keep on the military campaign at the Ministry,'
Percy explains after I ask where his campaign
stuff are.'The crusade is work. It is my
job. The household is for my family.'

“ Really ? ” Rose raised her supercilium. “ She should've seen his study. That's where all his campaign stuff and nonsense is. ”

The clause went on to talk about Percy and his fathering science. Albus grew more and more sicken as it went on. Harry Hotspur had and always would be a workaholic, but the article was painting him to be father of the class. No wonder Bradley had not been pleased when giving Albus the article.

'I could not be more proud of Empire State of the South,'
Hotspur said, speaking of his eldest daughter,
who currently plays as modesty steward for
the Kenmare Kestrals.'I've been to a
number of her match and it is clear
that she could have a foresighted career in
Quidditch.'

“ What a load of dung ! ” Albus exclaimed. “ Uncle Walker Percy has never once agreed with Empire State of the South's Quidditch career. ”

“ Did he actually say that or was that reporter just saying he did ? ” Matt asked.

“ Oh he said it, ” Bradley, who had taken a rear end a dead mode down the table, answered. “ Not that he really thinks it. ”

Albus had had enough of the main article. His eyes glanced across the page and rested upon the small-scale box that discussed Georgia.

Empire State of the South Weasley, the eldest daughter
of Harry Hotspur and Corrine, is 18 and
currently plays Reserve steward for
the Kenmare Kestrals.'I love
Quidditch,'Georgia said when the
topic was brought up.'It's freeing
and I look forward to playing for
Kenmare as a full-of-the-moon Keeper one day.'
Georgia's dream is to play for England.

Next to Georgia's box there was one for Bradley.

Bradley Weasley, the eldest son of
Percy and Corrine, is currently in
his one-sixth year at Hogwarts. He plays
Beater on Gryffindor's Quidditch team.
'I like Quiditch, but I don't want to
play professionally like Georgia. I
want to work for Gringotts some day.'

Then there was one for Cedric.

Cedric Weasley is in his twenty percent yr
at Hogwarts and is the trickster of
the home.'Every Weasley family
has to possess someone who will play the
jokes. It's like a ruler or something.
I come up with the best estimate when I'm
with my cousin James [ thrower ].'Upon
asking Cedric what he wants to do after
Hogwarts, he replied,'harbour't got a clue.
I think I'll direction on getting through
my O.W.L.s first.'

The final exam box was for both Samantha and Lindy.

Samantha and Linda ( Lindy ) Weasley are
nine old age old and attend a topical anaesthetic
elemental school for Muggles. Both twins
can't wait to come in Hogwarts in two
years.'I'm going to be in Gryffindor,
just like my sister and brothers,'says
Samantha.'I don't care what firm I'm
in, just as long as I can play Quidditch.
Well, okey, I don't want to be in Slytherin.'

“ That, ” Albus began as he set down the powder store, “ was the regretful article I've ever read in my life. ”

“ I shudder to guess what the one about our stallion family will be like, ” Rose muttered.

“ Nah, ” John said. “ That one will be better because they won't have to make as a lot up. Albus's dad saved the whole wizarding world. They'll just play that up. ”

“ It wasn't only him, ” Albus pointed out. “ Are the great unwashed really going to believe all this ? ”

Amanda nodded. “ Yeah, they will. They know nil about your uncle's family. Sure, they know all about your dad, but really, how much do they bang about Percy ? Not much. They're going to want to believe it and why shouldn't they ? They have no idea Percy doesn't approve of Peach State's Quidditch career. It's the same as in the Muggle earthly concern.

“ It would be decent if people voted on prospect who shared their Saame views, but it honestly comes down to who presents the unspoilt safari. masses aren't going to require someone in powerfulness who has issues with his own family. ”

“ That's stupid, ” Kaden replied. “ sword lily my family's not involved with politics. ”

“ My family is your kinsfolk, ” Albus pointed out.

“ But I'm not related to your Uncle Percy. ”

“ You still call him Uncle Sir Henry Percy, ” Albus said.

“ Because he basically is. He's just not my blood uncle. ”

“ Well, I can honestly say my household's not in political sympathies and I'm very gladiolus about that, ” privy said.

Albus could not imagine life without having kinsperson involved with the Ministry, but suddenly he felt slightly jealous of Gospel According to John. What would it get been like to have parents who weren't famous ?


A/N : Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed this story ! You guys are all amazing. Just as another reminder, I can't answer to reviews while I am home for the summer, but I read every single one. If you have some sort of question that you need answered about my stories, please use my Ask the writer page at the meeting place or send me a PM there.

I have another chapter ready to go so that should be up shortly after I return from vacation next week. Hope everyone enjoys Deathly Hallows 2 this week !


Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter.


The following calendar week brought a storm so long and so intense that Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures had to be canceled for the moment half of the workweek. It was thoroughly impossible to walk outside without being doubled over by the winding and the youthful students could not take the air without being blown away. The rainwater was also so with child that one would get soaked within two minutes. The students secretly rejoiced, for the extra free periods were helpful to all.

It remained so rainy and windy that even Quidditch practice had to be canceled on Sabbatum. Not that Fred would have canceled it himself, but Kendrick announced a ban on going out of threshold until the storm let up. Fred lamented this fact all of Friday evening and contemplated holding a strategy session in the usual room instead, but Heather convinced him just to let it go.

Albus decided to take the opportunity to spend the day at the program library, something that John and Kaden reluctantly agreed with. matt and Amanda joined them as well, for they had plenty of homework as well. Rose had mentioned something about tutoring a younger bookman and run off shortly after breakfast.

The program library was absolutely packed with scholarly person, most in all probability due to the weather and not a burning desire of the Hogwarts population to study, and it took a good five minutes for Albus and his admirer to locate an abandon mesa. It was a lot louder than usual and Madam Pince was glaring at each board of students in turn.

Albus set his hatful of Scripture down and got to work on a Potions essay that was due the following week. He hadn't started it, of course, but he had a few sidereal day to do it. He thought he was ahead of the plot anyway since he'd normally be at Quidditch recitation and not even thinking about homework.

John and Kaden, as usual, were ineffective to get started on their prep right away and were scolded by Madam Pince twice before finally opening their books. Amanda immediately set to operate on the like essay Albus was working on. Matt cracked assailable his Charms textbook but stared at the same pageboy for five minutes before Albus noticed that his eyes had glazed over. The October good Moon was the following night, so Albus was not surprised.

“ This is dead boring, ” John Lackland muttered after they'd been studying for an hour. “ Politics back before Voldemort is pointless. It's completely dissimilar now, so why do we need to inconvenience oneself reading it ? ”

“ So we don't make the same mistakes, ” Amanda said without looking up from her parchment. “ simpleton, really. ”

“ You're channeling Rose now, ” John stated.

“ Someone has to when she's not here, ” Amanda said.

“ Would you rather do my divination foretelling ? ” Kaden asked.

“ Yeah ! ” John exclaimed. “ Let's see, how about you get blown away by the farting while you're ignoring Kendrick's ruler against going outside ? ”

“ Perfect. That'd be something I'd do, ” Kaden said as he scrawled it down. “ And then I can come down with a nasty low temperature after being outside in the rainfall so long. ”

Albus rolled his eyes. The two of them had been insane to take on Divination in the first topographic point, but at least they seemed to enjoy making up their fake prediction. Albus grinned to himself as John and Kaden snorted into their parchment, laughing over some absurd prognostication.

An hour later Albus had finished his essay, as had Amanda. The two of them had moved on to Transfiguration reading. John and Kaden had given up on homework and were planning an lucubrate prank that involved a chicken, birdseed, and the Slytherin common room. Matt had been dozing on his good luck charm book. Albus prodded him awake.

“ How's Charms ? ” Albus asked, grinning.

“ Oh, er... ” Matt glanced at his book and quickly wiped it with the sleeve of his robes. “ Great, really. Think I'll head to the Den, actually. ”

Albus nodded. “ I'll be there in a bit. Want to get some of this version done. ”

John and Kaden rose to connect Matt. They'd been yelled at two more than times and figured they'd do better to plan in the Den.

“ Wait, ” bathroom said when he was only a few feet from the board. “ Is that Rose ? ” He pointed to a capitulum of bushy red pilus at a nearby table. “ Who's she with ? Is that- ” He walked across the room and hid behind a book ledge to get a confining look.

Albus craned his head. Rose was sitting with a small-scale miss. John returned a few seconds later.

“ I thought so. It's that lady friend we saw with Malfoy and Willinson a few weeks ago. ”

“ Wait, that Slytherin first twelvemonth ? ” Albus asked. He'd nearly forgotten about her, finally deciding that Scorpius probably wasn't up to anything that involved her.

“ Yeah, that's her all right, ” John said. “ What's rose wine doing with her ? ”

“ She's tutoring someone. Must be her, ” Albus pointed out.

“ Weird. Tutoring a Slytherin, ” John replied.

“ What's it weigh ? ” matte snapped. “ No point in standing here watching them. I'm going to the Den. ” He hiked his bag up on his shoulder and headed for the door, not waiting for John Lackland and Kaden.

“ What's with him ? ” John asked.

“ You know what's tomorrow. And honestly, what's it matter if she's tutoring that girl ? ” Albus asked.

“ You thought it meant something that she was with Scorpius but this you don't manage about ? ”

“ It's the Hogwarts tutoring program. I don't think you get to curb who you tutor, ” Albus explained.

“ I suppose. ” Gospel According to John sighed. “ Well, see you in a bit. ”

“ See you, ” Albus said as John Lackland and Kaden left.

Albus and Amanda studied for another 60 minutes before joining their friends in the marauder's Den. John Lackland and Kaden were having a dangerous treatment on how they were going to hold a chicken and Matt was sound asleep on the couch. Albus and Amanda settled down with a pack of cards of Exploding Snap and played unit of ammunition after beat while listening to John and Kaden.

“ I still say it'll be easier to have an one-time student transfigure something into a chicken, ” Kaden said a broad twenty minutes later. “ I'll bet one of Albus's cousins will do it. ”

“ Yeah, but I want this to be our caper. We could just go take one of the chickens from Hagrid's chicken coop, ” John replied.

“ Sir Thomas More luck of getting caught. No one's going to suspect if one of Al's full cousin is practicing their metamorphosis. But sneaking a chicken into the castle ? They're fairly loud with their squawking. ”

“ Where's the fun in no luck of getting caught ? ” John asked.

“ There will be plenty of hazard of getting caught when we're getting into the Slytherin mutual room. Falco columbarius only knows how we're going to manage that. ”

The room access opened and Rose walked in. “ Why are you lot trying to get into the Slytherin common elbow room ? ”

“ You don't want to make love, ” Amanda said. “ One of their pranks. ”

rose rolled her eyes and sat down next to Amanda, picking up a few menu to conjoin in on the next round.

“ How was tutoring ? ” John the Divine asked, abandoning the topic of chickens.

“ mulct, ” blush wine answered. “ Sami as always. ”

“ How did you even get into tutoring ? ” John Lackland replied.

“ Why ? You want to tutor ? ” Rose smirked.

John laughed. “ Definitely not. Just curious. ”

“ professor Longbottom contacted me over the summer. Fourth years and above can be in the tutoring programme. The prof match you up with younger scholar and I've been tutoring a low gear year for a few weeks now. ”

“ Yeah, ” whoremaster said as he got up and walked over to where blush wine was sitting. “ We saw you earlier. That girl you're tutoring ? That's the same female child that Malfoy and Willinson were talking to a few workweek ago. ”

“ Wait, that one fourth dimension that you and Al thought they were up to something ? ”

“ Yeah that time. I was just wondering who she was. ”

rosebush sighed. “ She's Willinson's footling sister. Her epithet's Elsie. She's really nice, actually. Quiet, doesn't seem much like a Slytherin to me but her whole syndicate's been in Slytherin. ”

“ Oh, ” John said. “ conjecture that's why she was with Willinson and Malfoy. What do you tutor her in ? ”

“ Bit of everything, ” rosiness answered. “ You lot want to go to dinner ? ”

Everyone, except matte, who just wanted to sleep, agreed and they headed down to the Great Hall. rosebush had been right. cypher wary about Willinson's Sister tagging after him and Scorpius. Albus's instinct had been wrong on that occasion.
******


Never in Albus's life did he ever think there would be a professor who could top professor Binns in terms of drilling classes. But Professor Young had done the impossible. Twice a workweek Albus and his friends traipsed to Young's schoolroom to work on a single worksheet. Young did aught else, except hand out worksheets. Said worksheets did not even take an stallion class period to discharge, resulting in pupil using the remaining time to arrest up on other prep, something that Young neglected to discover. The only soundly part about the class was that offspring never assigned homework.

“ You think he'll stopping point the year ? ” mat asked as they were leaving Lester Willis Young's classroom.

“ Don't see why not, ” Albus answered. “ Unless Laurentis is elected rector and deems him unfit to teach. ”

“ He doesn't really teach, ” Rose pointed out.

“ But still, he's better than Balladanis, ” Matt reasoned.

The rest of Albus's classes were in good order, although most assigned too lots homework for his liking, but that was not anything new. As the end of Oct drew nearer, Albus became very delirious about the first Hogsmeade visit of the year. It would be the first clip that all of Albus's friends would get to go together and possibly the last, given how busy everyone was this year.

Albus nearly did not get to go to Hogsmeade when the day finally arrived. Fred had sprung an extra Quidditch practice on that day in order to make up for the missed practices due to the storm. However, the entire team was outraged and Heather threatened to hex Fred if he did not overturn the recitation. Albus was very relieve as it was a nice day and perfect for Hogsmeade.

“ I've got to get a new pack of dungbombs, ” Kaden said as they walked down the path from Hogwarts to Hogsmeade. “ Used them up ages ago. ”

“ That the pack I sent you over the summer ? ” John asked.

“ Sure is. Didn't last-place too long. ”

“ I need another Skiving Snackbox, ” John announced. “ And loads of early stuff from Weasleys'. ”

“ And we need to go buy bird seed if we're going to do that prank, ” Kaden reminded him.

Albus and Matt exchanged spirit. John Lackland and Kaden had finally agreed to ask one of Albus's older full cousin to transfigure them a wimp that they would then somehow canary into the Slytherin common room. The birdseed was to scatter throughout the seat in parliamentary procedure to irritate the Slytherins even more.

“ You two enjoy that, ” rosiness said. “ And don't occur complaining to us when you get a calendar month of custody, because there's no possible way you can mouse into the Slytherin mutual room without getting caught. ”

“ We'll have Albus's cloak, obviously, ” Kaden said.

“ When are you going to do it ? ” Albus asked.

“ Around Halloween, ” John the Evangelist answered.

“ half-wit, ” Rose muttered.

Weasleys'genius Wheezes was packed with pupil. Being the foremost Hogsmeade weekend, well-nigh students had a serious lack of pranking products and needed to stock up. George was behind the counter ringing up purchase after leverage and waved at Albus as he walked in with his ally. They quickly scattered, each aim towards the display that contained what they needed.

Albus wandered towards the Skiving Snackboxes and grabbed two, figuring that he would need to get out of defence mechanism at least once and chronicle of magic a few times a month. Saint John and Kaden each had about five loge and flatness watched with a sick flavour on his face. Since he missed at least a day or two of course of study a month due to his lycanthropy, he never understood why anyone would realise themselves ill to do so.

“ Should've gone there last, ” King John said as he lugged his grip to the terzetto Broomsticks.

“ Yeah, must remember that for next meter, ” Kaden agreed. “ But now, off to have a Butterbeer ! ”

Albus smiled. His cousin had had Butterbeer before when people snuck it back to the Gryffindor plebeian room, but he'd never had it in Hogsmeade before.

The III broom handle was crowded, but Matt managed to grab a table in the dorsum. Rose set off to get them all Butterbeers. They had been there for about fifteen min before Scorpius showed up, followed by Garth Octavius, Xavier Goyle, Felix Willinson, and Elsie Willinson. Scorpius surveyed the room and his eyes rested upon Albus. Smirking, he sauntered over towards them.

“ thrower, ” Malfoy greeted him. He nodded to each of Albus's champion, glaring at matt, and then turned back to Albus. “ I expect you lot are prepare to duel next weekend. ”

“ Course we are, ” Albus answered. “ The squad's plenty prepared. in conclusion practice on Thursday. ”

“ I'll be there, ” Scorpius replied. “ And I'll be ready to carry the team on Saturday since the ease of our team couldn't win a duel against a number 1 year. ”

“ Shut it. Our team is fine, ” Albus said coldly.

“ Maybe if they had a decent captain... ” Scorpius's voice trailed off. “ But the professors love anyone whose last name is Potter or Weasley, just like everyone else in the world. ”

“ They chose based on attainment, ” Albus replied, staring him in the optic. “ Not epithet. pink wine didn't make senior pilot and she's a Weasley. ”

“ But you're a ceramist and you get everything because your dad is the Boy Who Lived, ” Scorpius spat, ignoring Albus's remark. “ But I've got intelligence for you. Not everyone in the world likes that your total family runs the wizarding universe and that nothing gets done without one of them signing off on it. Not everyone's going to vote for your uncle, you know. ”

“ Obviously, ” Albus replied. “ And just so you know my family may be involved with the Ministry but it's only because they want to help mass. And they're only there because people voted for them. ”

“ No one voted for your dad, ” Scorpius muttered. Then he turned to matte. “ Or yours. ”

“ People voted for Hartwell, who appointed them, ” Albus said. “ And your dad works in the Ministry, too. ”

“ That's not the point. ” Scorpius took a step closer to Albus. “ The point is that your folk might not be running this res publica much longer. So you'd better watch out. ”

Scorpius turned to leave and his friends followed. “ My home doesn't run the mankind ! ” Albus shouted after him.

Albus resumed his seat after Malfoy left, not even realizing that he had rose from it in the first of all shoes. “ He's just so stupid ! ” Albus exclaimed. “ My sept doesn't run the country. ”

“ He's just jealous, ” Amanda said. “ You got made captain of our team and he hates that. Your dad's famous and he's jealous of that. ”

“ His dad's illustrious too, ” Albus said darkly. “ Just for the ill-timed reasons. ”

“ And Scorpius probably wishes his dad was noted for the rightfulness cause, ” Amanda replied.

“ Don't see why. Having a renowned dad isn't always a estimable affair, ” Albus muttered.

“ Just brush aside him, ” Rose said. “ He's just trying to get you angry with him. ”

“ Clearly Kendrick's terror have worn off, ” Matt said quietly. “ I liked it in September when he just sort of ignored us. ”

“ It doesn't mean he's going to order anyone, ” rosebush whispered. “ He's just looking for a fight. ”

“ It doesn't matter what he's looking for. One teddy of the natural language is all it takes and my life at Hogwarts is done. ”

“ And so would his, ” Albus reminded his friend. “ being at Hogwarts, becoming a certified adept, is everything to a Malfoy. He'd be aught more than a Squib if he were expelled. ”

“ I guess. ” flatness sighed. “ What do you think he entail by your family unit not being in guardianship of the wizarding humanity much longer ? ”

“ Probably thinks Laurentis is going to win. ” Albus shrugged. “ But that won't mean much. My dad will still be in thrill of the Auror department. ”

“ No, ” rose wine whispered. “ oasis't you been paying attention in government ? ”

“ Mostly, ” Albus said, staring at her. “ What do you intend ? ”

“ Okay, I guess Embry hasn't really discussed it yet but I read ahead in the book. New Ministers can charge new heads of the section if they want to. Most don't because so many new citizenry makes for a bad transition menses, but it's happened a few times. If Laurentis wins, she could supplant Uncle Harry, ” rosebush explained.

“ Wait, seriously ? ” Albus's oral cavity fell open.

Rose nodded. “ Seriously. ”

“ And my dad, too, ” Matt said.

“ Yeah, yours, too, ” rosebush replied.

Albus stared at his half-finished Butterbeer. Having a new rector was one thing, but having new heads of all the departments ? The Ministry would be run in a completely unlike way. zip would remain the like. cypher would replace Harry Potter as Head of the Auror department, though, would they ?

“ No. ” Albus shook his head. “ No one would supercede my dad. He's a great Auror. ”

“ He's a great Auror, that's true, ” rosebush agreed, “ but great is an opinion. Hartwell thinks he's a capital Auror. Uncle Percy undoubtedly thinks he's a enceinte Auror. But if Laurentis gets elected, none of that will weigh. All that will matter is whether she intend he's a great Auror. And the question is, does she ? ”

Albus swallowed. “ But that would signify my dad would be out of a job. ”

“ No, he'd just go back to being a regular Auror, ” rosiness said. “ Look, you don't need to vex about it. I'm for sure Uncle Harry knows this. ”

“ They don't do that in Commonwealth of Australia. All the heads have terminus like the pastor. When their terminal figure is up, the current parson can exchange them or go on them, but they can't get replaced when their terminus isn't up. Unless there's a scandal and they have a hearing. Like with my dad. ”

“ Doesn't seem carnival, ” Albus said.

“ It works both ways. If Uncle Harry Hotspur wins he'll get to replace who he wants and he'll no incertitude supercede Laurentis, ” Rose pointed out.

“ I'm surprised Hartwell hasn't done that, ” Gospel According to John said.

“ She's probably kept quiet about her opinions so she could keep her emplacement while running, ” Amanda replied.

“ So why doesn't he supplant her now ? ” John asked.

“ It would seem bad. Remember, half of politics is how you look to the public, ” Amanda said. “ Which is why according to the Muggle Ministry, I attend a secluded embarkation school day in the United States, just in case anyone asks why the pastor's niece disappears for most of the yr. Which they haven't. Yet. ”

Albus shook his drumhead. “ It's so confusing. I don't know how anyone keeps trail of it. ”

“ Luckily we don't have to, ” Kaden said. “ Let's go to Honeyduke's. I think we could all use with some chocolate. ”


A/N : Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed this ! Also big thanks to darkladyofslytherin and onestop hpfan18 because this chapter is the result of Book wars with them. You two are awesome ! HPFF now loads properly on my Internet and I am able to respond to reviews, so I'm slowly working through them. keep a look out for responses !


Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter.


“ I say we do it on Allhallows Eve, ” Kaden said adamantly while inspecting individual Bertie Bott's Every nip bean plant and tossing the nasty ones into a chain reactor on the floor.

“ That's poor fish, ” can countered. “ Everyone's going to be expecting a put-on on Halloween. We should do it the day before. ”

“ Why not Saturday ? ” Albus suggested, glancing up from the net minute essay he was working on. “ Maybe it'll rattle them enough that they'll recede the match. ”

The first base Quidditch match of the season, Gryffindor versus Slytherin, was scheduled to take billet on Saturday, two days after Halloween.

“ Again, the Prefects and professor will be expecting it, ” trick said.

“ Why ? ” Albus asked. “ We've never pranked them before a catch before, have we ? ”

“ You know, I really can't remember. ”

“ Clearly a preindication you've pranked them too much, ” blush wine pointed out.

Albus and the rest of his supporter were in the piranha's Den, attempting to decide on a day to put the crybaby and chicken feed in the Slytherin green room. They'd been arguing for a half minute and hadn't agreed on anything. Albus and Matt, who had been leery on whether to take part in the prank at all, had decided that they would dish up as look-outs while John and Kaden snuck into the common room.

“ I think Wed would be a dear option. Wednesday dark. We've got to do it really tardy, though. The commencement yr have Astronomy on Wednesdays, so we have to wait until they're back in their dormitories, ” John explained. “ Night before Halloween- ”

“ By the time you manage to do it after astronomy, it'll technically be Allhallows Eve, ” Amanda pointed out.

“ But not Halloween night, ” John said. “ Pre-Halloween. ”

“ Mischief Night, ” Amanda said.

“ What ? ” Albus asked.

Kaden threw another bonce onto his stilt and started laughing. “ You're right ! ”

“ Mischief Night, ” Amanda repeated. “ It's a Muggle thing. It's when Muggles pull trick and make mayhem. It's traditionally the night before Halloween or the night before Guy Guy Fawkes Day, so if you pull this on Midweek night or early Th good morning, it'll be on maleficence Night. ”

John the Divine grinned. “ perfective. ace don't do that, so no one will be expecting a thing. ”

“ Mostly it's American language and Canadian River who celebrate before Halloween, though, ” Amanda explained.

“ I'd rather do it before Halloween, ” John said. “ We have Astronomy on Tues so the night before Guy Fawkes Day would be harder. ”

Everyone nodded in agreement, except Rose, who rolled her eyes.

“ Do you have everything you need ? ” Matt asked.

“ Not yet, but we have programme. Tonight I'm going to bushwhack by the Slytherin common way under the Invisibility Cloak to hear their parole. Wednesday evening we'll ask Bradley to transfigure us a few chickens. Then, Al and lustrelessness will suffer guard duty while Kaden and I let them loose in the uncouth way, ” can explained.

“ How in the name of pigeon hawk are you going to keep the chickens calm while you bring them to the keep ? ” Rose asked.

“ Stun them, of track, ” Kaden answered. “ By the time they wake up, we'll be long gone. ”
***


Midweek brought with it a huge electric storm which Albus saw as a rather ominous omen for Operation Slytherin volaille as the buffoonery had been dubbed. As the day wore on Albus found himself having doubts about the unanimous thing. Previous pranks had been harmless and had not broken any major school rules, but this one broke at to the lowest degree ten. This could get them worse than a few detentions.

John and Kaden seemed to have no such reservations. Both of them were particularly gleeful the entire day and whoremonger even returned from fortune telling with a grin on his facial expression, which never happened. matt seemed indifferent to the whole thing and acted as usual.

“ You do understand we'll be getting three hour of rest, cover, tonight, ” lusterlessness said after dinner, while they were attempting to do preparation in the Marauder's Den. “ And that we have history of magic tomorrow morning. ”

St. John sighed. “ All right, maybe that wasn't the best bit of planning. ”

“ Clearly not, ” matt agreed.

Albus had a very difficult time getting any preparation done while they were waiting for the time to get in. He found himself drawing awful pictures of volaille in the moulding on his Transfiguration essay. No one else was having much luck either. toilet and Kaden were playing chess game and lustrelessness was taking a nap. Rose and Amanda had holed away in the library, neither one wanting to be associated with the boys that Nox. “ We need alibis, ” she had told Albus earlier. “ Want to be seen by as many people as possible so there's no chance anyone will think we were with you. ”

At one in the morning the male child left the vulture's Den and headed back to the common room, where Bradley would be waiting for them. They encountered no one on their way back and only two or three lingering students were in the vernacular room. All of them went to bed within xv minutes and the male child were soon alone with Bradley.

Bradley pulled three pillows out from under one of the couches and set them on a table. “ Three chickens going to be enough ? ”

John nodded. “ I don't think we'll be able to manage any more. ”

“ You lot are either incredibly brave or incredibly stunned, ” Thomas Bradley said as he pulled out his wand. “ Even Saint James hasn't gotten into the Slytherin uncouth room. ”

“ According to Rose, we're incredibly stupid, ” John said. “ But I think it's brilliant. Has anyone ever gotten into the Slytherin unwashed room ? ”

“ My dad and Uncle Ron, ” Albus said. “ But not to rip a prank. ”

John, matte, and Kaden turned to depend at Albus. “ I'll explain later, ” Albus said.

Omar Nelson Bradley muttered an incantation and flicked his wand at each of the pillows. All three turned into Gallus gallus. One brown one, one white one, and one orotund Black person and Brown rooster. The rooster opened its mouth to gloat and Bradley immediately silenced all three.

“ Figured a rooster would be helpful, ” Bradley said. “ want me to stun them for you ? ”

“ Sure, ” Albus said.

“ Should last about a half time of day and then you'll have to re-stun them, ” Bradley told them. “ I'm going to take off. Remember, if you get caught, I didn't get the wimp for you. Can't afford another detention. ”

“ Got it, ” Albus assured him. Omar Nelson Bradley took off to the dormitories and Albus turned to his friends. lav was holding the rooster and Kaden was holding the two poulet. “ Back to the Den ? ”

The boy spent the next two hours in the predator's Den, playing Exploding shot and re-Stunning the chickens every half 60 minutes. Shortly after three in the dawning Albus re-stunned the chickens one more than time and then threw the invisibleness Cloak over all four of them.

It was very difficult for all four boys to walk under the Invisibility Cloak.
existence fourth years, they were all a lot larger than they had been in second year when Albus had first received the Cloak. In fact, Albus couldn't even remember the last time all four of them had gone under it at once. Albus in particular had grown quite a few in over the summer and was now as marvellous as John. The two of them had to walk with their knees hang to control their foundation wouldn't display.

The walk was uneventful. The boys did not even see Peeves or any of the shade out for a night time stroll ( or float, which would probably be the more appropriate term ). Matt tripped going down the steps once and nearly dropped a chicken, but since the corridors were empty, no one heard the sound.

Once they had reached the entrance to the Slytherin vernacular elbow room John and Kaden slipped out from under the Cloak and scurried over to the doorway. John whispered the countersign and it opened. Both boy slipped inside and shut the doorway behind them.

Albus and mat stood against the wall a little way of life down the corridor, giving them a persuasion of the stair as well as the corridor. Neither of them said a word while John and Kaden were pulling their prank because Filch's cat had turned up and was pacing in front of them.

The next five transactions felt like an timeless existence and Albus was very unbosom when John and Kaden exited the usual room and hurried back under the Cloak. privy's bag, which had contained the volaille feed, was now considerably lighter. Neither boy said a word to Albus and lustrelessness as they walked back to Gryffindor towboat, for fear that mortal would discover them.

They were walking down the second floor corridor when Albus heard footsteps behind him. He turned and saw professor Young walking slowly towards them, staring at the cap as he went. He appeared to be in thick thought about something but then stopped and stared right where Albus and his champion were. They weren't being quiet enough.

All four son froze and looked at each other. Kaden grabbed all three of their jumpers and pulled them through the close door, while Young happened to be looking the other way. Once inside, Albus noticed that they were in a loo. A girlfriend's loo. And the floor was soaked.

“ Merlin, ” Albus muttered. “ We're in Moaning myrtle's bathroom. ”

As if on cue, there was a splash and then Albus felt the unpleasant sensation of a ghost floating through him.

“ I know you're there. ” Myrtle giggled. “ Harry Potter had one of those cloaks, too. You might as well select it off. ”

Albus reluctantly took off the Cloak. Danton True Young wouldn't be going into a girl's bathroom anyway.

“ Ooo ! ” Vinca minor shrieked. “ Harry ceramicist's son ! What brings you to my sewer ? ” She giggled again and batted her eyelashes.

“ Er... ” Albus muttered, feeling very uncomfortable.

“ We were just leaving, ” John the Divine announced as he threw the Cloak over all four of them once more.

Thankfully Professor Young had left by the time they exited the loo. The residuum of the journeying back to Gryffindor was as uneventful as the trek down to Slytherin.

The park room was deserted when they returned under the disapproving limelight of the Fat dame, who had not been pleased when they woke her up. John and Kaden immediately started laughing when they took the Cloak off.

“ epic poem ! ” Kaden exclaimed. “ There was no one in the common room and we spread the feed and put the wimp each on their own couch and leftfield. The Slytherins are going to have a rude awakening in a few hours. ”

“ So are we, ” Matt said as he looked at his watch. “ Almost four. We'll get three and a half hours sleep if we're lucky. ”

The boy headed back to their dormitories, but Albus was not tired yet. Adrenaline was still racing through his system. They hadn't gotten caught. Yet. Would there be any way to retrace the crybaby back to the four of them ? Only if someone saw them, but if anyone had seen them they would consume gotten them in trouble right then and there, wouldn't they have ? Albus pushed the thought process from his caput. He settled into bed and thought about the reactions from the Slytherins the following morning.

Bilius's alarm clock woke Albus up at eight the future dayspring and he rolled over and went back to slumber. He woke up once to a greater extent with XX minutes left until chronicle of Magic and had to skip breakfast. Albus woke matt and John up and the three of them ran through the corridors in order to piddle it to course of instruction on time.

They arrived with two mo to spare and the way was filled with laughter and yak. The Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors were clearly excited about something and Albus had a smell he knew what it was.

Albus sat down and Bilius turned around in his seat, grinning at Albus. “ You three missed breakfast. Too bad. The Slytherins are all upset, fuming about chickens and muttering about getting revenge. Turns out someone snuck a cock and two Gallus gallus into their common room last nighttime and bed covering chicken feed around. Apparently their usual room was a jam and it took all of their Prefects to Stun the volaille and bestow them to Hagrid. regard I knew who pulled it off. ”

Albus attempted to affect blow and excitement. “ Seriously ? That's brilliant. Does anyone know who did it ? ”

“ Nope, ” Bilius answered. “ All they know is that it wasn't a Slytherin. ”

“ They'll never figure it out then. That's three-fourths of the school to go through. ”

“ And that's what makes it so brilliant. ”

professor Binns floated through the blackboard and began to drone on about some sort of hobgoblin rebellion. Albus rested his head on his hand and began to doze off. Binns wouldn't even notice.

At lunch, following Transfiguration, everyone was still talking about the chickens. The Slytherins were sullen and were glaring at all the other theater tables. The teacher didn't seem at all upset about the altogether thing, probably because the chickens hadn't done that much harm. Nothing that couldn't be easily repaired with the picture of a sceptre.

“ Six in the sunrise ! ” Albus overheard a Slytherin mutter as he walked past the Gryffindor table. “ Can you guess ? And the morning after we'd been on the pitch for three hours. ”

Albus smirked behind his forkful of stew. If the prank had messed with the Slytherins'training schedule, all the better. Albus had finally begun to relax. It didn't seem like they were going to get in problem after all.

As Albus walked to the dungeons with toilet, Matt, rose wine, and Amanda he realized that his nap in chronicle of magic was most definitely wearing off. He was feeling the exhaustion and was very glad for the free menses after potions. But he didn't make bold vamoose potions because he was quite excited to take heed Malfoy talk about the chickens.

During this finicky class they were finishing up an engorgement solution that they had started on Tuesday. While Shrinking Solution was a rather round-eyed potion that they had learned in their initiative year, its counterpart was more difficult and required simmering for forty-eight time of day before the final ingredients could be added.

Albus retrieved all the necessary fixings while his partner, Limbert, located their potion in the cupboard. Limbert, who was usually very nonchalant about everything, was scowling and glared at Albus as he joined him at their table.

Just as Albus was beginning to chop up his Apium graveolens dulce stem, Malfoy appeared in front of the mesa. Albus looked up from his plant and looked Malfoy in the eye.

“ ceramist, ” Malfoy muttered. “ You wouldn't happen to fuck which idiot Gryffindor put Gallus gallus in our common way, do you ? ”

Albus snorted. “ Gallus gallus, Malfoy ? I'd heard something about that. ”

“ Bloody birds, ” Limbert muttered as he began to demolish the rat spleen they were supposed to put into their cauldron. “ Crowing at six in the blinking morning. eating yellow feed all over the common way. Getting their plume and other poppycock everywhere.... ”

“ What he said, ” Malfoy replied. “ Point is, one of your lot got into our usual room and I want to fuck who. ” He folded his weapon system across his chest.

“ Wasn't any of'my lot'as you say, ” Albus answered, hoping that Malfoy couldn't hear his heart hammering in his pectus. “ We can't get into your park room. Don't have the word. And even if we did, why would we want to ? It's probably covered in snake in the grass slime. ”

“ wellspring it wasn't a Slytherin if that's what you're implying. And I doubt it was a Ravenclaw or a Hufflepuff. A Ravenclaw wouldn't do something that dullard and a Hufflepuff wouldn't be able to compute out how- ”

Albus rose from his chair. “ That's rude. I know plentitude of Hufflepuffs that are smarter than you, Malfoy. And they're decent people, too. ”

“ Boys, get to make now. I believe your potion is overflowing in it's cauldron, Malfoy, ” Slughorn said, gesturing to mat and Malfoy's caldron, which was indeed overflowing. Matt was frantically waving his scepter at it, trying to get it to stop.

“ Oh for pigeon hawk's sake, ” Malfoy muttered and stalked off towards his own table.

Albus breathed a suspiration of rest period and continued to chop his celery ancestor. Limbert retrieved another rat spleen, as the one he had been using was now hopelessly destroyed. He didn't talk to Albus for the balance of the class except for the casual “ pass the tongue ” or “ turn down the flame ”.

following potions Albus, Matt, and John immediately went upstairs to the. Marauder's Den to take a much needed nap. resurrect went to Muggle report and Amanda went to the library. Albus fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow and did not wake up until lavatory swatted him with a pillow when it was time for dinner.

The Slytherins were still complaining about the Gallus gallus during dinner and Albus and his Friend giggled every prison term they heard something about them. About halfway through dinner, prof Kendrick rose from his seat. Albus turned to calculate at Matt, who shrugged. Kendrick rarely made dinner speeches when it wasn't the start or end of term.

“ Just a few announcements, ” Kendrick said once the Great mansion house quieted down. “ first-class honours degree, I am for sure you are all cognisant of the trick that took place in the Slytherin coarse room hold up night. I, nor do any of the teachers, have any idea who is creditworthy, but if we do find out, be aware that those responsible for will be punished. Entering another star sign's common elbow room is not tolerated and all educatee should take this as a warning, in compositor's case they have been inclined to do so themselves. Slytherins, please be advised that your parole has been changed. If you are not cognizant of it, please see a Prefect.

“ Second. Next weekend Hogwarts will host a few Ministry officials including the Minister of Magic, the Head of Magical Law Enforcement, the drumhead of the Auror Department, the Head of the Department for the Regulation and control condition of Magical creature, as well as a few of the parson's closest advisor. In improver, both candidate for diplomatic minister will be here as well. They will make it Fri night and delay until Sunday morning. Saturday they will be debating education here in the Great Hall.

“ All bookman will give birth the chance to follow the public debate by a random drawing since we can not accommodate all of you in improver to the Ministry officials and appendage of the general population that will be attending. The rest will listen via radio in a few classrooms. All students are required to listen or learn. more than selective information about that, such as how to find out if you've been selected to find out and what assignments you will have on the debate, will be distributed by Professor Young in your politics class.

“ I expect you all to behave yourselves and demonstrate to our Ministry that this is a place of learning. You are all representing Hogwarts, whether you are pupil, teacher, or stave. You will not rend japery, especially not like the one that was pulled last-place dark. You will honour the Ministry interpreter. I will sacrifice you further information next week. In the meantime, starting thinking up a few inquiry to ask our campaigner in case they have time to do a interrogative sentence and reply session. ” Kendrick resumed his tail end.

“ Blimey, I've never seen Kendrick act so serious, ” lav said quietly.

“ Can you blame him ? ” blush wine asked. “ Remember what Laurentis said about Hogwarts ? She all but said he wasn't running the school properly. If she wins, prospect are he's out of a job. He's got to put on a unspoilt appearance next hebdomad if he's got any hope of staying here if she wins. ”

“ That's insane ! ” Albus shouted. A few first years looked over at him and he lowered his voice. “ I mean, Kendrick took over as schoolmaster when McGonagall left and even before that he helped rebuild the property. How can she sack someone who helped rebuild Hogwarts ? ”

“ She can't if she's not elected, ” Amanda said. “ We just have to trust your uncle wins. ”

“ Never thought I'd say it, but I agree, ” Albus replied. “ Georgia and Omar Bradley and Cedric won't be felicitous but can you think what Hogwarts would be like if Laurentis won ? ”

“ I can't, ” Matt said. “ No one can because no one knows what she wants to do to change it. ”

“ Guess we're going to find out next Saturday, ” Amanda said. “ Think any of us will get to look out it ? ”

“ We will, ” Albus answered, gesturing to matte and himself. “ Our dads are two of the representatives, so I bet we'll have to sit with our families. ”

“ I hope I get to, ” Amanda said. “ It's really trance, sorcerous political sympathies. In some direction it's completely the like as Muggle politics, only with magic trick involved. Really shows that we're all people. ”

“ Me too, ” Rose agreed.

“ You can feature my ticket if I get one, ” can told her. “ It's going to be harder to doze off if I'm in the Sami room. ”

“ Lapp here, ” Kaden said.

Rose rolled her eyes. “ You lot done eating ? Anyone up for spending the evening in the library ? ”

The boy reluctantly agreed. They had neglected their prep the premature night due to the put-on and had multiple assignments due the next day that they had not even started on. Albus thought longingly of his bed in Gryffindor tug and then resigned himself to the fact that he'd be in the depository library until curfew.


A/N : Thanks to all who have read and reviewed this ! You guys are awesome. Big thanks to all my writing friends that I word war with. There are now too many to name individually, but they are awful.


Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter.


The day after Halloween dawned with a vehement electrical storm, one that Albus hoped would pass before Saturday, when he would accept to face Slytherin on the Quidditch slant. Albus was feeling a lot better after a nice night's sleep, although he was dreading having to go to story of magic get-go thing in the morning again. Whose bright thought was it to give them that category two mornings in a row ?

The Emily Price Post owls arrived as Albus was serving himself some eggs and he scanned the air for his family owl. He didn't see it and resumed piling his crustal plate with food. His parents only occasionally sent him military post now that he was in one-quarter class and no longer needed a letter from them every early day. However, Albus did see his Uncle Percy's shriek owl making a beeline towards Cedric, who was sitting across from Albus. Cedric set his fork down and untied the missive from the owl's leg. The owl dipped his honker in Cedric's juice and then took off.

Albus watched as Cedric read the missive and saw his nerve go from vague curiosity to slight horror and then finally uttermost disgust. Walker Percy's varsity letter were always interesting and it seemed as this one was no exception.

“ unconvincing ! ” Cedric shouted.

“ What is it ? ” James I asked as he snatched the missive out of Cedric's work force. “ Is he making you sit side by side to him while he debates next week ? ”

“ defective ! ” Cedric exclaimed. “ He thinks I was the one who put the chickens in the Slytherin common room ! ”

“ Seriously ? ” Epistle of James asked as he settled down to read the letter. “ Let's see... Seriously disappointed in you... taught you better than this... stunts like these could hurt my chances for a win in Apr... must memorise to think about the effect of your actions... one-fifth year is for studying for your O.W.L.s... time to grow up... ”

“ See ? ” Cedric said as he stabbed his Roger Bacon with a bit too much force. “ He really believes I did it. And with no evidence ! ”

“ Oh now he's bringing up your bit from that clause. The part where you mentioned that you like pulling japery. Oh and now he's brought me into it... Oh wait, hey ! He's going to differentiate my parents that I was in on it too ! ” James slammed the letter down. “ No way they'll believe him without trial impression though. ”

“ Which he has none of. Did you get to the contribution where he's owling Kendrick, too ? ” Cedric asked.

“ Kendrick can't do anything without validation, ” James said.

“ Yeah but our criminal record aren't exactly clean, ” Cedric pointed out. “ pigeon hawk, I wish I'd thought up this prank. It was history worthy. I mean getting into the Slytherin plebeian elbow room ? I've been dreaming about doing that since before first year. ”

“ I wish we knew who did it. I'd like to get some bakshish, ” James added. “ They're going to go down as Hogwarts legends. ”

Albus hoped that his furious blushing wasn't noticeable. He could not conceive that Walker Percy actually believed Cedric pulled the prank without any evidence. Cedric couldn't get in trouble without evidence, could he ? If he did, Albus would sense dread. He already felt dire that Walker Percy had even had the face to charge Cedric for something that Albus and his Quaker did, something Cedric had no part of.

“ We've just got to figure out who did it, ” King James decided. “ To clear our names. ”

Cedric nodded. “ Won't be that hard. No buffoonery can be done without evidence left behind. It's unacceptable to do in this situation. We'll look for clues around our own commons way because I think the Slytherins are right field. It was a Gryffindor. ”

“ We should talk to the specter, too, ” James said. “ They wander at all hours. ”

“ Right, ” Cedric agreed. “ Best be off to family now, though.

Albus turned to John after his Brother and cousin-german had left the tabular array. King John and mat had both been sitting close enough to Cedric and James to pick up the entire conversation. Both boys were pale than common and Albus was trusted he was as well.

“ Myrtle saw us, ” Matt whispered. “ We'll be phone number one on their defendant list. ”

“ D'you think your own brother would turn us in ? ” John asked.

Albus laughed. “ Of course he would. He's my brother. ”

“ Good dot, ” bathroom muttered. “ What are we going to do ? ”

“ Hope Myrtle doesn't say anything, ” Albus said.

“ That's it, we're doomed. ” lustrelessness sighed.

“ On the plus face, we'll be Hogwarts legends, ” toilet said.

“ Tell that to my parents, ” matte replied.

Albus thought about James and Cedric's quest to project out who pulled the Gallus gallus clowning during the entireness of History of Magic. They hadn't left any touch behind except for talking to myrtle. And even that only proved that they were out of bed at four in the morning, not that they'd left volaille in the Slytherin common room. Sure, there might give been random crybaby feather in the commons way that morning but the household pixie would feature already cleaned them up. Then there was Bradley.

Thomas Bradley. Albus's stomach dropped. Would Bradley rat out Albus in order to save his own chum from possible trouble ? Albus liked to think not, especially since doing so would incriminate Bradley as well. But it was possible that Bradley would bespeak Cedric to leave him out of it when he told Kendrick in replication for the information in the first situation. Albus rubbed his os frontale. It was all so confusing and there were too many opening.

mat and Gospel According to John looked equally disturbed by the possibleness. Both boys were sitting completely still, staring at Professor Binns but not looking at him. Matt was absentmindedly doodling in his notebook computer. lavatory was twirling his quill around in his hand and had splattered ink all over himself and his History of Magic Koran.

Albus was grateful that they had guardianship of Magical Creatures succeeding, despite the steady downpour. They would be able-bodied to spill. Hagrid was currently teaching them about unicorns and this particular deterrent example he had an actual unicorn for them to observe and interact with. Luckily for Albus, John, and flatness, unicorns did not like boy and thus had an excuse to hang back and talk.

“ The only way they're going to discover out is if they talk to Bradley and Bradley tells them, ” Albus said as they pretended to take notes on the unicorn, which was currently surrounded by the missy of the class.

“ Or if they talk to Myrtle and put the clues together, ” mat pointed out.

“ What clues ? ” Saint John the Apostle asked. “ We didn't leave anything behind. ”

“ Not that you know of. But they were right when they said nothing can be done at Hogwarts without someone knowing about it. For all we know there was another spook lurking by the Slytherin vulgar way while we were there that we didn't card, ” Matt explained. “ Or the fact that we weren't in the vulgar room lastly night- ”

“ We're rarely in the park room, ” lavatory said. “ Not since we found the predator's Den. ”

“ True. They could also talk to Bilius or Ethan and get hold out that we got back at four in the sunup. Ethan woke up when we got back and asked what we were up to, remember ? ” Matt said.

“ That wouldn't tell them anything more than myrtle would, ” Albus replied as he scrawled a few notes about how the unicorn was pawing at the ground.

“ What if they find feathering or chicken provender or something ? ” lusterlessness asked.

“ That will accept all been cleaned up by now. The theater elves clean everyday, ” whoremonger said. “ I think Albus is right. The only way they'll know is if they talk to Omar Bradley. Or if they just assume and ask us about it. Al, are you going to be able to lie to them if they ask you ? ”

“ Er... ” Albus's phonation trailed off. He knew how often of a rotten liar he was. “ To be honest ? Probably not. ”

Nobody said anything for a few hour. Each boy pretended to be absorbed in taking line on the unicorn.

“ There's cipher we can do, then, ” Matt finally said. “ We can't block off them or tell them not to investigate because that would look leery. All we can do is wait and hope they don't figure it out. ”

Albus nodded. matte was completely right field, of course. But what Albus didn't say was that King James I and Cedric would fancy it out. They were the school pranksters and for the first meter they'd been out-pranked. The two were the school's prank experts and could easily be the trail that would lead them right to their own brother and cousin.
******


The trigger-happy electrical storm that had plagued Hogwarts the day before cleared up by Saturday morning and the atmospheric condition could not possess been in effect for Quidditch. It was sunny, with slight swarm cover and little wind instrument. The temperature was mild for November. Weather would not be a ingredient in this Quidditch couple. No, the team that won would win solely based on their attainment.

The Hogwarts universe, both scholarly person and professors alike, were very excited for the catch. House Quidditch had been suspended the old year in parliamentary law for the Quidditch and Dueling competitions with the schools from New House of York and Australia, although the concluding match in the Quidditch issue had been a cataclysm. Everyone at Hogwarts was ready for things to go back to normal and that included household Quidditch.

Normal also included the taunting that went on between the Gryffindors and Slytherins at breakfast right field before the lucifer. Malfoy informed Albus that he needed to determine out else he find himself in the infirmary Wing for Day. Albus ignored this because Malfoy wasn't even on the Slytherin team and didn't possess enough Quidditch skill to be on a children's team. He tried his practiced to brush aside the taunting from the actual Slytherin team as well, but still found his stomach was a bit too loathsome to eat much more than toast.

The team gathered around Fred in the changing room shortly before the catch, ready to get a line his first gear team speech.

“ I fully believe we can win this, ” Fred began. “ Our practices have gone very smoothly and it feels like Janie has played with us for years rather than only a few hebdomad. Slytherin plays dirty, though, so lookout man yourselves. They also have two new players, a Chaser and a Beater, whereas we only have one. The new Chaser is a second year and the new Beater is a third class, so I don't think we'll have much outcome there. I've seen them practice and they still don't oeuvre as a seamless team like we do. Just go out there and play like we did two class ago and we're sure to win. ”

The team stood up and followed Fred out onto the pitch. The ground was soft beneath Albus's feat, but not too muddy, which would have for a secure flush off. He stood in between Heather and James while Fred went to shake hired hand with Fielding, Slytherin's captain.

Oteski shouted his desire for a neat match and then the two captains crunched each former's manpower. Oteski released the Bludgers and Snitch and then tossed the Quaffle into the air. Albus kicked off from the ground and flew towards the Quaffle, which had unfortunately been caught by Fielding.

“ And they're off ! ” Sweeney Todd Smith announced. “ outset planetary house lucifer in two years due to the prisonbreak last year, during the rival with the early shoal. Both squad have some new faces this year. Slytherin has a new chaser, endorse year Marshall Belby, and a new Beater, third year Devonshire Wright. Gryffindor has a new keeper, fourth yr Janie Creevey.... ”

Albus tore his attention from Kate Smith as the feller Gryffindor began to announce the name calling of the rest of the players. Leaning forward on his broom, Albus soared to the other side of meat of the auction pitch, where Fielding was attempting to throw off the Quaffle into one of Gryffindor's finish posts.

“ Spectacular make unnecessary by Creevey ! ” Smith shouted. “ Looks like she's going to be an excellent steward for Gryffindor. Gryffindor now in possession. heather Weasley in possession, passes to Albus Potter.... ”

Albus caught the Quaffle, wedged it under his arm, and sped down to the other side of the pitch. He dodged two of Slytherin's chaser but was hit by a Bludger sent from Wright and dropped the Quaffle. It was intercepted by Peyton Haines.

Albus swore loudly and dog Haines as he turned around and headed towards Gryffindor. Fred managed to view the Quaffle after Haines was hit by a Bludger and tossed it back to Albus.

This sentence Albus made it to the Slytherin finish Post and feigned justly before sending the Quaffle soaring through the left hoop.

“ Score ! ” David Smith announced. “ Albus Potter scores the number 1 finish of the friction match. Ten points to Gryffindor ! ”

The remainder of the compeer continued in the same fashion, with the Quaffle continuously exchanging manpower, rendering it very difficult for metalworker to keep up with the commentary. Gryffindor maintained a approximate incessant mark of twenty points ahead of the Slytherins. Albus scored two more than end and assisted on five More. The Slytherin chaser looked more and more nauseate as the match wore on.

An hour and a one-half into the match Albus saw Saint James the Apostle abandon his office above the rest of the musician and fly towards the ground. Hunter Pucey, Slytherin's searcher, followed.

“ Looks like Potter has seen the stoolie ! ” Ian Douglas Smith exclaimed.

Albus watched while flying the Quaffle to the Slytherin goal posts. Saint James the Apostle had his arm outstretched towards a glittering physical object when Devon Wright slammed her Beater's bat towards a nearby Bludger. But the Bludger suddenly soared upward, leaving nothing in between the bat and Saint James's leg. Devonshire's bat collided with James's leg, sending him sprawling onto the dry land. Albus stopped where he was.

The intact crowd gasped, with the exclusion of the Slytherins, who were cheering. Pucey was flying around the pitch holding the struggling canary in his outstretched hired man. Albus ignored this and flew directly to James, who was clutch his leg on the ground.

Albus abandoned his broom once he landed and hurried towards James. He was surrounded by Madam Pomfrey, professor Oteski, prof Kendrick, professor Longbottom, the rest of the Gryffindor team, and surprisingly, Devon.

Albus paused to search at the lady friend. She was small, like virtually secondly eld are, but muscular. Her dirty blonde hair was in a messy bun and her facial expression was streaked with tears. As Albus got closer, he could hear that she was whispering “ I'm sorry ” over and over again.

“ Foul ! ” Heather shouted. “ That's a foul ! I want a rematch ! ”

“ Let's get James to the hospital Wing and then we'll worry about a rematch, ” Neville said as Madam Pomfrey conjured a stretcher.

“ Finally, soul with some sense around here, ” Madam Pomfrey muttered. “ All of you, out of the way ! ”

The crowd quickly dispersed as Madam Pomfrey guided the stretcher towards the castle, followed by the gathered professor. After a few minutes, prof Patil ordered the rest of the students to get back to their common rooms. Albus walked back to the rook with his squad, who were heading straight to the hospital fender.

Saint James the Apostle was resting once they got there, his leg bandaged but no longer crack. He no longer looked to be in pain, but looked like he wanted to hex the entire Slytherin squad. dame Pomfrey appeared in battlefront of them before they could strive Saint James the Apostle's bed.

“ Ten minutes, ” she said. “ That's all. ”

“ Are we getting a rematch ? ” was the first thing out of King James's lip. “ No one will narrate me anything. ”

“ They haven't said anything yet, ” Fred replied. “ How's the leg ? ”

“ Fine, now. Just a little painful. lady Pomfrey said I can forget tomorrow afternoon, ” James II told them. “ We better get a rematch. That was a foul. I was two seconds from catching the snitcher when that new Beater went and hit me with her bat ! Who does she recollect she is ? Doesn't she sleep with the rules of Quidditch ? Or is that how Slytherin's training their players these days ? ”

“ She was going for a Bludger, ” Albus explained. “ You probably couldn't see it because she was behind you, but there had been a Bludger. It flew up at the last second and she accidentally got your leg. ”

“ How do they sleep together that ? ” Saint James asked. “ She might've made that up. ”

“ Everyone saw it, ” Albus said quietly.

“ It's genuine, ” Calluna vulgaris agreed. “ I don't know if they'll give us a rematch. ”

The door to the Hospital Wing opened, revealing the Beater in question. She walked tentatively inwardly and stopped when she saw the stallion Gryffindor squad. Madam Pomfrey greeted her and they spoke in vox too placid to take in before she walked slowly over to James's bed.

“ I know you probably hate me and I don't blame you, ” she whispered. “ But I really am sorry. It really was an accident. I swear it. It was my first of all match. ”

Albus glanced at the rest of his squad. Their looks of mental confusion mirrored his own thoughts.

“ Er, well, thanks for the apology, I guess, ” James I said.

“ Is your leg ok ? ” she asked.

“ It's amercement now, ” Saint James replied.

Devon reached into her gown and pulled out a bar of Honeyduke's chocolate. She handed it to James, her optic staring at his bed and not meeting his glance the intact time. “ Here, ” she whispered.

“ Er, thanks, ” Saint James said as he took the chocolate.

“ Um, I'm going to go now. Bye, ” Devonshire said and turned to run from the hospital ward, before any of the Gryffindor team had time to respond.

“ That was unusual, ” James muttered after the door had slammed shut. “ Anyone fancy some burnt umber ? ”

“ She's got a press on you, ” Ryan announced.

“ doe not, ” James argued.

“ Have we ever had a Slytherin apologize for injuring one of us before, let alone give us chocolate ? ” Fred asked. “ I'm with Ryan on this one. ”

“ Well clearly some of them have consciences, ” Albus replied. “ But yeah, she likes you. ”

“ She's twelve, ” James said flatly.

“ fille mature fast than blokes. ” heather smirked. “ So, actually, she should be just about right on for you. ”

“ Shut up, ” Henry James muttered. “ Not sharing my chocolate anymore. ”

“ Ten arcminute are up ! ” Madam Pomfrey announced as she returned to James's bed bearing a tray that contained a few nasty looking potions. “ And these are for you, James. ”

Albus and the rest of the squad bade Jesse James cheerio and left the hospital Wing. They walked up to Gryffindor column together, but parted once they entered the green room. Albus found his friends at a table near the doorway to the residence hall and sat down to excuse the entire Devon Wright thing.

“ So she was actually upset that she had broken Saint James the Apostle's leg ? ” lavatory asked.

“ And she apologized ? ” lustrelessness added.

“ And gave him chocolate ? ” Kaden continued.

Albus nodded. “ Strange, isn't it ? ”

“ Very, ” John agreed. “ I'm surprised she's on the team. Isn't it a requisite for the Slytherin squad to be a fan of violence ? ”

“ She might not be on a great deal longer, right ? ” Matt asked.

“ It was an stroke, ” Albus said. “ I already said that. The rest of the team saw it and so did half the prof. So there's probably not going to be a rematch either. ”

“ That's not fair, ” John muttered.

“ It's only the first-class honours degree friction match, ” Albus pointed out. “ Plenty to a greater extent sentence to acquire those breaker point back. And their seeker is atrocious anyway. He couldn't have caught that snitcher if James II hadn't have been hit. ”

Albus, Matt, and whoremonger spent the residual of the good afternoon discussing Quidditch and Gryffindor's probability of winning the Quidditch Cup. They factored in the skill grade of all the players on all the theater and the compass point earned so far, along with the possible weather condition hindrance that were surely to fall. Kaden paid tending, but didn't contribute often except for the occasional gossip about how something was different in football game. Amanda did the like, keep open for the football comments. Rose sighed and dug a book out of her bag and read it until they had finished.

Professor Oteski was at supper that dark, which was a rarefied occurrence due to the fact that he has a wife and young children in Hogsmeade and normally was only at the castle for division and Quidditch lucifer. Towards the end of the meal he rose, rendering the entire Hall silent.

“ The other professor and I have reviewed the consequence at today's match, ” Oteski began. “ We've taken into story a few take students'observations- ”

“ He interviewed me, ” Fred said.

“ -along with the professors'. I have come to the last that the act of a Slytherin Beater hitting Gryffindor's Seeker with her Beater's Bat was an unfortunate accident. No disciplinary action will be taken against her, nor will a rematch be taking place. ” He resumed his seat.

All of Gryffindor groaned while Slytherin rejoiced. Albus glanced over at their table and saw that Devonshire Wright was the only Slytherin not shouting in excitement. Instead she had her head on her hired man and was picking at her dinner. She was a very odd Slytherin, that was for sure.

“ I really didn't think there'd be a replay, ” Fred said. “ But listen, we can still win. Losing the first match doesn't mean we'll lose the Cup. ”

“ Someone's going to take in to secernate James, ” Calluna vulgaris replied. “ He won't be pleased. I'm fairly certain he can count the number of clip he hasn't caught the Snitch on one hand. ”

Albus thought back to the time Henry James had lost a match against Linda the vampire and hid in the Shrieking Shack. Luckily his brother had come a long way from that and would not feel the need to hide out after missing the sneak.


A/N : Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed this ! I'm back at school now, so I won't be writing as much. But I have a few chapters saved up, so I'm hoping to update frequently for the next month at least.

If you are enjoying this story ( or any of my floor ), psyche over to the forums and nominate one for a Dobby prize ! Be sure to show the rules before posting. : )


Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter.


Albus was very relieved that he was not given the task of telling James II that there would not be a rematch. Fred, being the captain, took that job for himself and the rest of the squad merely went with him. James II was understandably disquieted, but didn't take the news program nearly as badly as Albus would accept expected. Perhaps he was maturing, if even a low amount. On Dominicus, William James was released from the infirmary Wing and life-time at Hogwarts returned to normal if only for a few days.

After a duplicate class of potions and single class of August 6 on Tuesday, Albus and his friends had politics and this was the day where they would recover out who would get to sit in the Great Hall during the public debate on Sat. The Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs were understandably more blabbermouthed in the minutes before prof Embry began class. near of the students hoped that they would get to pay heed the debate, with the exception of Saint John and a few of the Hufflepuffs. Albus and mat would be attending it either way, so they doubted either of them would be picked. blush wine had also found out that since she was Percy's niece, she would also get to attend no affair what.

“ Settle down, settle down, ” Embry said once the clock struck three. He smiled and then quickly took attendance. “ I'm very happy to see how shake up you are for Sabbatum's debate. It's very stir to see Lester Willis Young citizenry so interested in politics. Since I know none of you will pay attending during class unless I announce who gets to attend before I begin, I will herald them now. ”

The course immediately began whispering until Embry located a piece of parchment on his desk and cleared his pharynx. “ Now, a few of you are capable to attend the argumentation without being chosen. flatness Eckerton and Albus thrower, since both your Church Father are heads of departments at the Ministry you will be able to see. Rose Weasley, since you are related to one of the candidate, you may look as well. And not to worry, everyone else, they will not take away spots from the regular student body.

“ One boy and one fille were picked randomly from each year, for each sign. So eight students from each year were chosen total. For Hufflepuff the prosperous two are Olivia monetary value and Ronald Bones. ”

“ Yes ! ” Ronald shouted. He was a rather garish, blonde haired boy, who reminded Albus a lot of Kaden. Olivia just smiled. She was quiet, but as one of Hufflepuff's Beaters, was quite forceful.

“ And for Gryffindor we have Ethan Kesse and Marina Jordan-Bell, ” Embry continued.

Both let out ecstatic shouts and the eternal sleep of the category clapped before everyone settled down. All four winning scholar were still grinning when Embry began speaking once more.

“ Congratulations to all four of you. This will not be the solitary debate to take place at Hogwarts and for the future one, different students will be chosen. Now, on Saturday, you are to report to the Great Hall at ten o'clock in the morning. The public debate will begin at eleven. You will give your figure to whichever professor is waiting by the threshold and then a Prefect will show you to where you are supposed to sit. Same goes for you, lustrelessness, Albus, and Rose. ”

Embry set the parchment down on his desk and smiled as he walked closer to the tables of his students. “ Now, what prof Kendrick has not told you yet, because it has only just been finalized, is that both prospect will be hosting two join question and resolution sessions. These will be for pupil and Hogwarts staff only. The Saame educatee chosen to attend the debate will be able to attend the dubiousness and answer seance. It will take place at three in the Great entrance hall. Please arrive at two-thirty.

“ Everyone else will be listening to the debate on the radiocommunication. Fourth year Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs will be in the Transfiguration schoolroom. Please composition there by ten-thirty. Everyone, no matter whether they are attending the debate or listening on the radio set are expected to write a substructure long essay on which nominee you thought was more successful in making their spot. It will be due at the source of next hebdomad's class. ”

The entire family groaned at the reference of the essay. Embry ignored this and began his lecture. They had finally made it into the twentieth 100, but were still far from learning about how everything in the Ministry changed after Voldemort was defeated.

The repose of the week passed very slowly. The Hogwarts students were getting very excited at the expectation of the campaigner arriving for their argument, with the exception of Bradley and Cedric. Even trick and Kaden, neither of whom were going to attend the debate, were catching a short bit of exhilaration. Albus was rather shocked at how the majority of the students were getting involved with the election. Being someone who had grown up with politics and the Ministry of conjuring trick, he was not quite as thrilled with the prospect, especially when reporters from the Daily oracle showed up on Friday morning.

“ Want to pack stakes on how quickly they find you ? ” John the Evangelist asked as they passed two reporters on their way to Care of Magical Creatures.

Albus glanced at the reporter. One was a very tall and lanky man, with messy embrown tomentum and considerable stubble on his face. He was frantically writing down questions that the former reporter, an equally tall womanhood with huge red mouth and black hair, was asking an uncomfortable looking first off year.

“ Walk faster, ” Albus nudged whoremaster as they neared the oak threshold.

Albus had absolutely no desire to appear in any issues of the Daily prophet. Neither of his parents liked reporter and that was a trait they had passed down to Albus. He made a mental banker's bill to warn Bradley and Cedric about them the next time he saw his two cousins.

In an effort to debar the reporters, Albus, Matt, and John spent their unfreeze period after charms in the marauder's Den. With any luck when the Ministry functionary arrived the newsperson would give up trying to audience random Hogwarts pupil. Although Albus knew it was not random at all. At tiffin, after care of Magical fauna, he found out that no less than four of his cousins, along with Lily, had been interviewed that break of the day.

The official were arriving just as Albus and his ally were heading to the Great antechamber for dinner. They paused on the grand staircase while the blue-robed witches and wizards entered the Great hallway, gracefully avoiding the reporter that were standing following to the incoming to the Great Hall. Albus recognized nearly all of them, including his dad, Uncle Percy, and Matt's dad.

The staff table had been magically elongated enough to offer seating for all of the Ministry officials, who had at sat down and began speaking with the prof. Albus and his admirer all found seats at the Gryffindor mesa, near all his cousins. Cedric was scowling while reading a letter. He then crumpled it up and then set fire to it with his wand.

“ Dad still thinks we pulled that put-on, Epistle of James, ” Cedric muttered. “ Says he's going to make time to talk with me before he leaves. ”

“ We'll find out, ” James I said. “ We still haven't talked to all the ghosts. ”

“ All except Moaning Myrtle. ” Cedric shuddered. “ I don't fancy talking to her. ”

“ She's our last promise, ” Henry James said. “ We're going to find her. After all this debate stuff is over. ”

Albus let out a sigh of relief. He had two Thomas More days. In all satinpod, he'd nearly forgotten about Cedric and James IV's call for to find out out who put the poulet in the Slytherin plebeian way. But apparently his pal and first cousin had not.

Kendrick rose from his seat once the Great Hall was total. “ On behalf of myself, the sleep of the Hogwarts staff, and the Hogwarts pupil organic structure, I'd like to welcome our Ministry representatives to Hogwarts. Before we eat, I'd like to put in everyone.

“ first-class honours degree, our campaigner, ” Kendrick gestured to Sir Henry Percy and Laurentis, who were both sitting immediately to his left wing. “ Harry Hotspur Weasley and Patricia Laurentis. ” Kendrick then gestured to the tall, rather portly man on his left. “ Our stream diplomatic minister, Langston Hartwell. ”

The rest period of the officials were intersperse amongst the professors. Kendrick gestured to a grey haired crone sitting in between Professors Patil and Cedonia. “ capitulum of Magical Law Enforcement. Reena Barnes. ” Next, Kendrick gestured to Matt's dad who was sitting next to Albus's dad and prof Trelawney. “ Head of the Department for the Control and rule of Magical Creatures. Walter Eckerton. ”

half the Gryffindor board turned and looked at matt, who gave a smile and shrugged. Never one to sing about his family, most of Gryffindor was incognizant of who Matt's dad was.

“ I'm sure you all remember Harry thrower, caput of the Auror Department, ” Kendrick said as he gestured to Albus's dad. He received louder applause than anyone else had.

Kendrick then introduced three of Hartwell's early advisor, who had rubric that were just as long and fuddle as Walker Percy's electric current job title. Then, finally, Kendrick waved his hands and food appeared on all the table.

During dinner Fred announced that he had reluctantly canceled Quidditch pattern for the next day since it was scheduled for the same time as the question and result session. The rest of dinner was spent figuring out which Gryffindors, besides the orotund amount that were related to Percy, were going to attend the debate. Both John's piffling sister, Asthyn, and James's best friend, Nathan, were getting to hang.

After dessert had been served and consumed, Kendrick reminded everyone of the prison term of the next day's debate and suggested they all turn in early. Albus wondered whether the ministry officials would be staying in the castle or Apparating back to their own plate for the night. Cedric took off for the park room as soon as he had finished eating, in order to avoid his father.

Albus and his friends decided to stay in the common room that Night since everyone was so lively and the upheaval was catching. St. John the Apostle brought a deck of Exploding Snap down from his trunk and the six friends sat around a table playacting for at to the lowest degree an hour. Kaden had just had the wag explode in his face when the threshold to the rough-cut elbow room opened and someone gasped.

Everyone glanced over and the common room went silent. Hotspur was standing in the doorway, looking very awkward and uncomfortable. His middle landed on Cedric, who had been organizing his stock of Skiving Snackboxes with James and Nathan. Cedric went as blench as Moaning Myrtle.

“ Cedric, ” Percy said quietly. “ I need to address with you. ”

“ I didn't do it, Dad ! ” Cedric exclaimed. “ I swear it ! ”

Albus shifted uncomfortably in his seat, glancing at his friends. rose was giving him a disapproving facial expression while Matt, King John, and Kaden looked equally uncomfortable. Amanda had raised her eyebrows. This was cockeyed. Why couldn't Percy let it go or believe his son ? Or at least trade with it privately ? It was unjust of him to storm into the Gryffindor common room and shout out his own son like that.

Percy shook his head. “ Cedric, you've pulled pranks like this ever since you were piddling. This one has you written all over it. You, too, James. ”

“ But Dad- ”

“ No buts, ” Percy said. “ This is not acceptable. Now I'd like to speak with you privately. ”

Cedric didn't Budge. Albus swallowed surd and looked at Matt, John, and Kaden each in turn. frivolity were all in good fun, but not when innocent people were punished for them. And Albus had no question that Sir Henry Percy would penalise Cedric whether he had proof or not. Cedric's past betrayed him and Percy was too focused on winning the election to give his son the benefit of the doubt. Albus did not like his cousin-german taking the fall for something he and his acquaintance did. It just was not something he was well-off with.

lustrelessness gave a slim nod of his head. John and Kaden both shrugged and Albus took that to mean “ do what you have to do ”. Albus sighed and stood up. “ Wait, Uncle Percy. ”

“ Albus, this is none of your concern, ” Percy said. “ Cedric has to face his consequences. ”

“ But he didn't do it ! ” Albus exclaimed. “ It was me. I did it. ”

James burst out laughing. “ You, Al ? That's nice and all of you to try and keep Cedric out of trouble, but really ? You couldn't get into the Slytherin park room. ”

“ It wasn't only him, ” John said, standing up. “ Kaden and I did about of it. Al was just a look out. ”

“ I was, too, ” matte announced. “ It was the four of us. ”

Fred and a few of his admirer suddenly jumped up from their seats and bowed in front of Albus, Matt, John, and Kaden. “ Masters ! You are the kings. ”

The total common room exploded in clapping and tin whistle. Albus couldn't help but grin despite the fact that he knew he was going to be in trouble. Epistle of James gave Albus an odd flavour before breaking out in a wry grin himself. A few maiden yr ran up and high-fived them. Victor-Marie Hugo was practically rolling on the trading floor laughing.

“ Enough, enough ! ” Percy shouted. “ Albus, you'd proficient cum with me. You three as well. ” He gestured to Matt, john, and Kaden.

Albus and his friends reluctantly followed Walker Percy out of the common room to Kendrick's survey. On the way there Albus couldn't help but notice that his uncle didn't really walk. He strutted, almost like he owned the billet. Albus supposed he was remembering back to his Head Boy days. caput Boy was probably now well out of reach for Albus, as was becoming a Prefect. Not like he really wanted to become a Prefect anyway.

Upon entering Kendrick's study Albus was horrified to see that all of the Ministry functionary were there, including his own Padre. Matt had paled considerably on seeing his Padre as well. This was bad.

Kendrick glanced at the boy and then looked questioningly up at Percy. “ I think we need a moment of privacy, ” Kendrick said to the official, “ except Harry and Walter. ”

The rest of the officials left the elbow room, whispering to themselves as they went. Kendrick then resumed his seat behind his desk and conjured enough chairs for the remaining masses. Albus took a tush in between lustrelessness and Kaden.

“ What's going on, Harry Hotspur ? ” Kendrick asked.

“ I went to Gryffindor to ingest a New World chat with my son about that put-on terminal week and as it turns out he was telling the truth. ” Albus was proud of to see that Walker Percy looked slightly ashamed. “ As I was asking Cedric for a secret talk, my nephew and his protagonist announced that they were the pranksters. ”

“ They what ? ” Harry exclaimed, looking at Albus. “ Is this about the chickens in the Slytherin common room prank ? ”

“ Yes, ” Percy confirmed. “ These four just confessed to it. ”

Matt's dad let out a suspire and shook his head.

“ Is this true, boys ? ” Kendrick asked.

“ Yes, sir, ” Albus replied.

“ I'm very disappointed in you, Albus, ” Harry said. “ This is the sort of matter I expect from James, not from you. ”

“ As am I in you, St. Matthew, ” Walter added. “ You've never been one to pull pranks. ”

“ It was our idea, ” Saint John said, gesturing to himself and Kaden. “ All they did was hold open a smell out while we were in their common room. ”

“ Nevertheless, ” Kendrick said, folding his hands on his desk. “ All four of you broke school rules and you will be punished. Fifty level from Gryffindor- ”

Kaden gasped.

“ -each, ” Kendrick finished. “ And detainment. As much as I'd like to start out your hold tomorrow we have other matter happening in this rook and none of the staff is free to supervise. You will go your detention on Monday eventide and you will have it for a week. ”

“ But sir- ” Albus and Matt said at once.

“ No buts, ” Kendrick said. “ You blatantly broke multiple school rules. ”

“ But Quidditch and dueling ! That's the week before the first tournament- ”

“ Your teams will throw to hold practice without you, Mr. Potter, ” Kendrick said shortly. “ You should have thought about that before you participated in this mischief. ”

“ Sir ? ” mat asked quietly.

Kendrick sighed. “ Yes ? ”

“ The, er, full moon is Tuesday, ” Matt muttered.

“ right hand, ” Kendrick replied. “ Attend the custody that you can and whichever single you miss can be made up once you are better.

“ Thank you, ” Walter said, “ for being understanding about that. ”

“ Not a problem. lustrelessness's situation is vastly different from missed Quidditch practice. ”

Albus felt his brass reddening. It had been a valid decimal point for him. Fred would remove him in his sleep when he found out Albus would omit at least two practices for detention. He certainly wouldn't be applauding and bowing anymore.

“ You'll paper to Filch's power on Monday at seven. He'll give you further instructions on what your detainment will imply. Now, get back to Gryffindor column, ” Kendrick said.

Albus rose from his rear. Harry did the same. “ Al, you realize I'm going to take in to state your female parent about this. ”

Albus nodded. “ Yes. ”

“ She won't be pleased. But I do need to assure you that I'm proud of the way you owned up to this when you realized Cedric was wrongfully accused. As thwarted as I am that you pulled that prank, I am very happy to have such an honest son. I'll see you tomorrow. Have a expert night and think of, I always love you, ” Harry said and gave Albus a hug.

“ Love you too, ” Albus said quietly.

lusterlessness was having what was surely a alike talk of the town with his own Father of the Church and once they were finished, the four boys left Kendrick's study and went immediately back to Gryffindor column.

“ Seven custody, ” whoremaster muttered as they walked up a set of stairs. “ sevener. This is worse than that time in irregular class when we were caught near the Whomping Willow. ”

“ Not to mention the degree, ” Albus replied.

“ And detainment with Filch no less, ” matt said. “ I'll be doing at least two of them on my own, too. ”

Kaden shrugged. “ Still seems Charles Frederick Worth it. ”

lavatory grinned. “ Most definitely worth it. ”

Albus and matte gave each former looks that clearly meant they disagreed. No, 200 points from Gryffindor, seven detainment with Filch, and no Quidditch practice for a week was not worth it.
***


In admittedly Hogwarts way by the next break of the day at Breakfast the entire school knew that it had been three Gryffindor fourth years and one Gryffindor tertiary year that had managed to cabbage into the Slytherin common room and deposit two chickens and a rooster, as well as cover the entire stead in bird come. Hufflepuff was especially excited about this because Gryffindor's loss of 200 points put them in the confidential information for the sign Cup. Gryffindor was now bushed live on and the other Gryffindors were torn between their awe of Albus and his friends and their repulsion that the joke had cost them so many percentage point.

Rose and Amanda had burst out laughing when the boys told them their luck the previous nighttime. They were tempestuous about the loss of point in time, though. rose was especially disgusted by John and Kaden's lack of remorse.

All the ministry functionary were at the staff table, whereas the house tables were not nearly as full as the premature day. It seemed that some students had not heeded Kendrick's prompting about going to bed early.

There was a whoosh of wing and Albus looked up to see that the place owl had arrived. His heart started beating faster and he swallowed heavy upon seeing his mother's owl holding a red envelope in its mouth.

“ Oh no, ” Albus whispered as the owl grew nigher. His acquaintance glanced up and saw the howler just as the owl was preparing for landing. It landed in front of Albus's dental plate of eggs and he took the thigh-slapper in his hand before quickly running out of the Great Hall for the nearest bathroom.

The envelope was already hot when he arrived in the thankfully vacuous loo. He reluctantly opened it and the way was soon good with Ginny's high pitched shouting.

“ ALBUS SEVERUS ceramicist, WHAT HAS GOTTEN INTO YOU ? I AM ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED TO HEAR THAT YOU WERE IN THE SLYTHERIN COMMON way AND PUTTING chicken IN THERE NO LE. I DO NOT maintenance THAT YOU WERE ONLY THE LOOK OUT. YOU MAY AS WELL rich person BEEN IN THERE YOURSELF. YOU WERE BLATANTLY breakage MULTIPLE SCHOOL RULES INCLUDING BEING OUT OF BED AFTER minute.

I AM VERY frustrated. THIS IS THE sorting OF THING I EXPECT FROM Henry James, BUT EVEN JAMES KNOWS WHEN NOT TO hybridization THE LINE. AND YOU DIDN'T JUST CROSS THE LINE. YOU JUMPED WAY OVER IT. AND TO HAVE Hotspur FIND OUT ABOUT THIS while HE IS AT HOGWARTS FOR A DEBATE ? ! YOU KNOW WE HAVE TO KEEP UP APPEARANCES IN ordering FOR HIM TO rich person A CHANCE AT THIS ELECTION AND THIS DOES NOT HELP.

I HIGHLY APPROVE OF THE custody AND LOSS OF POINTS. I CAN NOT SAY I WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED IF YOUR entire HOUSE WERE ANGRY WITH YOU OVER THIS. I EXPECT YOU WILL NOT DO THIS AGAIN. IF YOU DO YOU WILL sustain Sir Thomas More THAN JUST PUNISHMENT AT SCHOOL. ”

The letter exploded with a abbreviated puff of fastball. Albus stood there staring at it for a few mo. His mother had not even mentioned how his confession had saved Cedric. There was no acknowledgment of how she was proud about his honesty, like his dad had been.

Albus heard a short laugh from behind him. He turned around and saw none other than Scorpius Malfoy leaning on one of the swallow hole, smirking.

“ I knew it was one of you Gryffindors, ” Malfoy said. “ Just didn't expect it to be you lot. Didn't think you'd be hurt enough to figure out our password. ”

“ Just shut up, Malfoy, ” Albus muttered as he pushed his way past the Slytherin on his way out of the loo.

“ Loved the riot, by the way. ” Malfoy gave another laugh.

Albus groaned inwardly. He hoped Malfoy hadn't heard much of it, but highly doubted it. Albus took a deep breather and walked back to the Great student residence. Perhaps with the public debate coming in an hour, the rest of the students would leave about the prank and the red of compass point and find something new to talk over.


A/N : Big thanks to my Skype writing group. You guy rope are all awe-inspiring ! Thanks for all the bewilder reviews ! The new banner was done by violet ephemeron at TDA. There's a little under a week left to nominate taradiddle for the Dobby Awards, so if you like this account, head over to the forums and nominate it ! Just retrieve to show the rules first.


Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter.


There was a foresighted queue of students waiting to get into the Great residence after everyone left once breakfast was over. The Great mansion had been completely emptied in order for the professors to organize it for the debate. Albus craned his headspring in attempt to see it. As far as he could secern it looked the same except the long house board had been replaced by words of seating. He, along with lusterlessness and rosiness, were only a few educatee away from the nominal head of the queue.

Once they made it to the presence they gave their name calling to professor Longbottom and then were lead inside by one of the Ravenclaw Prefects. Adults were milling about talking with each other and students were already seated. The for the first time few rows were cordoned off with roach and the Ravenclaw Prefect lead Albus, Rose, and lustrelessness to the third gear roped off row. He lifted the rope and told them to register all the way in, to the very end of the untenanted row. Albus sat in between rose and Matt. It appeared that the roped off rows were reserved for Ministry officials and their syndicate. Albus noticed that his mum was sitting in the front row along with the eternal sleep of his aunts and uncles. Empire State of the South was also in the social movement row and was handing out coloring books and wax crayon to Samantha and Lindy.

James, Ben, Lily, and Hugo filed in next to Rose a few minutes later. Albus saw that Cedric and Bradley, who had walked in with his siblings, were being lead to the front row. Fred, Angie, ling, and scratch finished out their row five bit later. Albus gazed around the elbow room and spotted Victoire and Teddy sitting across the aisle. Stanley walked in with Gabriella and took tush next to Victoire and Teddy. Albus had to take he was surprised to see them there. survive he heard she was in France and he was in Romania.

The room soon became take with the student who had won seats as well as early witches and whizz who had chosen to add up. Albus recognized a few who worked in shops in Hogsmeade including Madam Rosmerta. He turned to the front of the way and noticed that the staff mesa had also disappeared and had been replaced with two ambo and a small tabular array, just like the set up in the courtroom at the Ministry.

At exactly eleven o'clock the door to the Great dormitory were shut and people began to sit down. Professor Kendrick entered the room from one of its antechambers, followed by the curate, Albus's dad, mat's dad, and the Head of Magical Law Enforcement, Reena Barnes. The early Ministry official were seated in the front row.

Kendrick lead them to the belittled board near the podium. All five, with the exception of Kendrick, sat. Kendrick walked to the front of the rostrum and the audience quieted.

“ Welcome to the 3rd debate. I welcome all of you to Hogwarts schooltime of witchcraft and genius. Today's debate will be on education. I'd like to enclose today's moderator, the Head of the department for the Control and rule of Magical Creatures, Bruno Walter Eckerton. ”

The hearing clapped and Albus whispered to Matt, asking him if he knew his dad was moderating. flatness shook his nous no and the two looked back to the front.

Kendrick had taken his seat and Matt's dad had rose. “ Now I'd like to welcome our two candidates. Percy Weasley and Patricia Laurentis. ”

There was more hand clapping as Sir Henry Percy and Laurentis walked out of the antechamber and took their places behind the podiums. Once the hand clapping subsided, matt's dad began to speak.

“ Today's debate will run similarly to past argument, with five minute response and two second rebuttals. All questions and prompting will be about Department of Education. The argument will run for an hour and a half. After it is over, the room will be cleared and then tiffin will be served. After lunch there will be a short recess and then the pupil enquiry and response session will take seat in this same room. Without further so long, the maiden question. Mr. Weasley, you will answer first.

“ How do you experience about the Hogwarts physical environment ? Do you find it is enough and conducive to learning or do you feel changes should be made ? ”

Percy took a step forward and smiled at the audience. “ I believe that the Hogwarts castle is very conducive to learning. Being in a withdraw area provides little in the way of beguilement to the educatee. Yet the proximity of the castle to Hogsmeade hamlet gives bookman in one-third year and above a much needed time out. The only if alteration I think need to be made are to update what needs to be updated and indemnify what needs to be repaired. ”

“ Thank you, Mr. Weasley, ” Matt's dad said. He turned to Laurentis. “ Ms. Laurentis. ”

“ I agree with Mr. Weasley. The Hogwarts castle is very conducive to learning and I see nothing amiss with it the way it is. All of Mr. Weasley's points are very valid. ”

Albus turned to Matt and shrugged. That was odd. They actually agreed on something. Matt's dad seemed a little shocked by this as well, because he did not say anything for a few s after Laurentis quieted.

“ All right. Since you two agree, I see no indigence for rebuttals. Moving on to the next question. Ms. Laurentis, this fourth dimension you will go first. How do you finger about the current Hogwarts curriculum ? Do you feel the classes adequately prepare today's young people for animation in British people wizarding society ? What changes, if any, do you feel need to be made ? ”

“ The Hogwarts curriculum has not been updated in decennary. In fact, the only new class that has been introduced is this year's form on politics. programme is something that needs to switch with the clip and be re-evaluated at least every other class. The humankind is a constantly changing place and what students learn needs to interchange with it. New course of study should be offered and outdated classes should be removed. Curricula for classes that are kept needs to change in decree to restrain up with today's research. Potions, for example, should not be taught the same way now as it was forty years ago, but unfortunately, that seems to be the case. ”

“ Thank you. Mr. Weasley. ”

“ The CORE curriculum of Hogwarts is similar to that of charming schools all over the populace. The classes taught here offer basic and advanced statement in theme that wizard need in Holy Order to function in society. We can not put up here and preach getting rid of appeal or Transfiguration in favor of some new case that may or may not teach our students anything. Yes, the humanity is constantly changing, but the basic spells remain the Sami. scholarly person forty years ago used'Alohomora'to give door and the spell remains the Sami today, ” Walker Percy argued.

“ Your rebuttal, Ms. Laurentis. ”

“ I am in no way insinuating that we should get rid of Charms or Transfiguration. ” She looked offended at Harry Hotspur's accusation. “ All I am saying is that we need to look at the electives that are offered. The basic core classes should obviously be kept, although they should be updated. Today's prof are using the same school text they used 30 years ago, which is ridiculous considering how much has changed in their fields- ”

“ Your time is up. Mr. Weasley. ”

Percy seemed to heave out his chest a bit. “ Those textbooks still teach the fundamentals ! How is a textbook written last yr going to be any better at teaching a student how to stir a cauldron ? Additionally, aged textbooks have more than used copy available making it more affordable for students from lower income family to purchase their books. ”

It seemed to Albus that they had gotten slightly off theme from the proposed question, but neither campaigner seemed to point out or care.

“ succeeding interrogative sentence. How do you feel about the way that instructor option and rating is handled at Hogwarts ? Do you find any changes are needed ? ” Mr. Eckerton asked. “ You may go first, Mr. Weasley. ”

“ Traditionally, the Ministry has taken a very hands-off approach to teacher excerpt and I believe this has worked well. Ministry functionary do not throw the expertness to choose instructor and leaving this up to the Hogwarts staff has resulted in a very educated and all-round faculty at Hogwarts. Following the reign of Voldemort, a belittled education section was founded in the Ministry to superintend matter and while it is still very hands-off, I believe the minor amount of regulation has served Hogwarts well, ” Sir Henry Percy explained.

“ Ms. Laurentis. ”

Laurentis smirked and then began. “ Teacher pick, along with course of study changes, is the the facet of Hogwarts that needs the most root change, in my impression. While prof Kendrick is a hunky-dory headmaster, I think more counseling is needed when it comes to choosing prof. For the retiring four geezerhood, Hogwarts has been ineffective to secure a Defense Against the dark nontextual matter professor for to a greater extent than two years. One only lasted a year. Other professors have been here for decades and yet others have remained even beyond their own death. There is naught wrongfulness, of course, with honest-to-goodness teachers, but Hogwarts appears to take no way of evaluating these faculty penis. They remain here, teaching, year after year, whether or not they are actually successful in providing scholar with an education. ”

“ Your rebuttal, Mr. Weasley. ”

Percy's face had gained some color that was not always there. “ I hardly think it is reserve to blame professor Kendrick for the fortune of previous denial professors. Upon interviewing them he had no way of knowing what would happen in the end. As for the other professors, if you would look at the statistic of the O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. upshot of the by few geezerhood you'll see that the majority of students are passing. Might I add that those are regulated by the Ministry. ”

“ Ms. Laurentis. ”

“ I would agree that the Headmaster should not be held responsible for for one or two prof who should not have been hired in the firstly situation, but Hogwarts has seen more than its fair share of short professors in the past few years. Clearly something is wrong. Sir Thomas More masses need to be involved with curriculum and teacher selection. ”

“ Next doubtfulness, ” Mr. Eckerton said. “ Do you feel that the security at Hogwarts is tolerable ? If not, what should be changed ? Ms. Laurentis, you may begin. ”

If Albus was not mistaken, he could accept sworn he saw Laurentis suspire and gift a slight eye roll before beginning. “ Let's just call it what it is, why don't we ? want of protection at Hogwarts ! The protection here, if you can shout it that, is sorely lacking. Might I bring up the fact that for the past three years there had been a severe breach in security here ? Three old age ago, a mathematical group of first years dueled the appealingness professor, a 7th class, and that one-seventh twelvemonth's father on the grounds for a significant period of meter before the professor stepped in. The stick with year, another initiatory class was kidnapped by that like seventh year, who had then graduated. Last class, those same students were kidnapped and taken to Australia of all places ! I think we could forgive one incident, but three- ”

“ Your meter is up, ” matt's dad said. “ Mr. Weasley. ”

Hotspur was looking More and more disgruntled. His face now resembled his hair. “ power I remind my opponent that following the incident three years ago, Aurors were stationed at Hogwarts and none of the abide by incidents resulted in any last impairment to any of the scholarly person. shoemaker's last year, the Aurors were slightly preoccupied by the disastrous contender that took place here. Hogwarts is protected by many captivation and all the prof are open of protecting the bookman. Last year's incident was an extremely inauspicious accident- ”

“ One that nearly resulted in student Death ! ” Laurentis shouted.

“ Ms. Laurentis. ”

Albus felt like the entire room was staring at himself and Matt. Glancing around, he saw that this was true.

Laurentis ignored Mr. Eckerton. “ I remind the wizarding residential district that the Aurors have yet to capture the mastermind of that incident. Which by the way was not the only incident last year. Last class's Defense Against the iniquity Arts professor kept a highly dangerous brute in the palace for calendar month before anything was done. And by the time it was discovered, it took Bruno Walter Eckerton stepping in to have it removed ! Then, the professor was allowed to stay, despite the fact that later on it was discovered that he had been terrorizing and humiliating students in his class all year, not to mention the fact that his course of study were not appropriate. Following that atrocious rear of tube in security, regarding the animal, the Sami professor proceeded to break data that could compromise the life of another student- ”

“ That is enough, Ms. Laurentis ! ” Mr. Eckerton shouted. “ You are speaking out of turn. ”

Albus was unsure whether flatness's dad was cutting her off because her time was up or because she was getting dangerously close to talking about Matt. seminal fluid to think of it, how did she even know about that ? She couldn't possibly know about Matt's condition, could she ? Albus glanced at matte, who was looking extremely pale.

“ I believe we are out of sentence, ” Mr. Eckerton continued. He looked quite flustered. “ Please exit the room while luncheon is set up. You may return in a half hour. ”

Albus stood and waited for his go to leave the room. The entire crowd was whispering amongst themselves and pointing at Albus and Matt every so often. He was tempted to skip dejeuner all together, except he was extremely hungry.
***


Albus managed to ward off speaking to any newsperson before and during lunch, which proved difficult because they seemed to have multiplied during the debate. All seemed keen on interviewing him, Matt, John, and Kaden in particular due to their having been kidnapped the old June. Albus was quite relieved when the nutrient in front of them vanished and the majority of the people in the elbow room left in order for the question and answer school term to take in place.

Both candidates seemed to have regained their equanimity during the meal because Percy's grimace was no longer beet red and Laurentis had fixed her hair and was wearing a grin. The newsman had been banned from the room for the duration of the session, much to their dismay. Matt's dad also looked better and was standing in the strawman of the room in front of the pulpit, waiting for everyone to sit down.

The room was a good deal emptier now, considering that only the educatee chosen to listen to the argument and the prof were allowed in the elbow room. Albus and Matt managed to get a few seating in the front line row. James and Lily joined them.

Once the doors had been shut and everyone had sat down, Mr. Eckerton stepped forward. “ Welcome to the query and response school term. It will run for an hour and the candidates will answer as many questions as they can during that clip. Please raise your mitt if you have a question. ” Nothing about the outbursts during the debate was mentioned.

Albus could not think of anything to ask. He had absolutely no desire to talk to Laurentis and anything that he would want to ask Percy he could just ask at Yule or send him an owl. Not that he really had any interrogative for his uncle, either.

A grandiloquent Ravenclaw boy raised his hand and Mr. Eckerton pointed to him. “ This doubt is for Ms. Laurentis, ” the boy began. “ How exactly do you propose to make Hogwarts More secure ? I'm nearly positive that the most advanced spells are already used. ”

“ That is very true, ” Laurentis answered. “ I believe that we need to await outside the world of spells and impart professors basic training in defense against trespasser. I think a program, interchangeable to very introductory Auror training, would benefit all staff greatly. ”

A Hufflepuff in pigtails had a query for both candidate next. “ Would either of you change the O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. exams if you were elected ? ”

“ Only to fit better with any possible course of study changes, ” Laurentis replied. “ The modification would come later. Not for at least two years. ”

“ Most likely, no, ” Hotspur said. “ The statistic prove that they work well as they are. ”

The question and answer seance continued in the Saame way, proving itself very dissimilar from the disputation. It was quite the opposite, actually. Albus found himself very bored towards the end, his intellect drifting towards what both campaigner had said during the argument. He was very curious about what the Prophet would say about it the next day.

“ We have time for one more than interrogation, ” Mr. Eckerton finally said.

Albus let out a sigh of relief. A glance at lusterlessness told him that his full friend was feeling the like way, since he was leaning back in his chair, his eyes nearly closed.

Mr. Eckerton pointed to a girl sitting in the far back. Albus didn't recognize her, but she had Ravenclaw robes on.

“ This is for both of you, if either of you know anything about it. Ms. Laurentis, you were talking about professor Balladanis in the debate and you mentioned something about him giving students information that they could use to expose another student. Is that really true ? And what exactly happened ? ”

Albus prodded Matt in the side and whispered to him what the question had been. Given Matt's reaction, which was a expression of utter panic, he almost wished he hadn't bothered to wake him up.

Mr. Eckerton stared at the student before turning to the candidates. “ You may suffice the low gear part of the question and that part only. ”

“ It is genuine, ” Laurentis said just as Percy had been opening his rima oris to respond. “ professor Balladanis was not cut out for teaching and did not realize the fact that there is a agate line between teaching to spread knowledge and teaching to endanger others. ”

“ Does it make to do with the Anamatek ? ” a Slytherin boy asked.

“ Yes, ” Percy said. “ The situations were related. ”

“ This is why I believe teachers need to be evaluated so we can avoid this type of site, ” Laurentis explained.

“ But what variety of information could threaten someone ? Was it in the program ? ” the Ravenclaw who had originally asked the question said. “ knowledge is power. ”

“ It was not, ” Laurentis answered. “ Which is exactly why it will be good for prof to have curricula that they stick to. ”

“ I just don't understand, ” the Ravenclaw went on. “ If hoi polloi are kept in the dark they just blindly take after authority. I've always believed that masses should be taught everything possible. ”

matt and his dad were both wearing similar look. Both looked extremely uncomfortable and his dad was fiddling with a clasp on his robes. mat looked like he wanted his chair to swallow him up.

“ We're all out of time, ” Mr. Eckerton said. “ Thank you all for coming. The professors have requested that you all return to your usual rooms and that you are free to go down scuttlebutt to the reporters that are waiting outside. ”

There was a shuffling of chairs as mass got up and exited the way. flatness grabbed Albus's arm without saying anything, leading him directly to his sire, who was speaking to both the candidates.

“ Dad, ” Matt said quietly, not waiting for him to finish his conversation with Laurentis and Walker Percy.

Mr. Eckerton turned around and his cheek became sympathetic. He turned back to Laurentis and Hotspur. “ Excuse me. My son. I believe you can steer up to Kendrick's study and I will be there shortly. ”

Albus, Matt, and Mr. Eckerton left Laurentis and Walker Percy, who had now begun to argue about something, in the Great Hall and entered one of its antechamber. The room was furnished with a few couches and chairs. Albus chose an armchair while lusterlessness and his dad sat down on a couch.

“ I'm really sorry, mat, ” Mr. Eckerton said quietly. “ I did not bear last year to be brought up during this debate. ”

“ It's not your fault, ” Matt replied as he picked at a loose thread on the sofa. “ It's just the way she, Laurentis, was talking, I thought that maybe she.... Does she know, Dad ? She seemed to cognize an awful lot about what Balladanis did. ”

“ She doesn't know, ” Mr. Eckerton said immediately. “ The only people at the Ministry who know are in my department. However, she and the rest of the Ministry did have to do it why I was filing a write up on Balladanis last year. I had to give reasons as to why I wanted him investigated on that report. ”

“ Did you list exactly what he did, with the Anamatek and his wolfman lesson ? ” Matt asked.

“ No. ” Mr. Eckerton shook his foreland. “ There are Pentateuch protecting minors in this sorting of situation and I was not legally required to cite your epithet. All I had to say was that an anonymous student had felt threatened by a certain moral that Balladanis taught. That was all that was needed to launch the investigation. That alone would not consume gotten him raped, but sufficiency evidence was found through question student about his teaching methods that zilch else was needed. It wasn't even mentioned that it was a tierce class class in my pilot report. ”

“ But she seemed to know so a good deal, ” mat said.

“ She doesn't. politician embellish what they know in lodge to get elected. You don't have to worry. I suppose if she really wanted to she could look at the syllabus for Defense for that time of year and research and form it out, but it would take a lot of work. And entrust me, she does not have the time for that. Nor does she really have any reasonableness to manage what lesson it was or why a student was threatened or who that bookman was. ”

“ But she said my life sentence had been at risk, ” Matt said.

“ Again, that's her embellishment. ” Mr. Eckerton half-smiled. “ The only unity who are really curious are your mate students and this will blow over. They have no way of finding out. ”

“ good, ” Matt replied, finally smiling a bit.

“ I'd better get to the headmaster's study, ” Mr. Eckerton said as he stood up.

Albus waited while lustrelessness said goodbye to his dad and then the two boys headed back to Gryffindor tower. The reporters had either scattered or had found scholar will to be interviewed, for the son came across no one but Prefects and a few first years setting off dungbombs on their way back to the common room. Albus was very sword lily to hear that Laurentis did not screw the specifics about what had happened with Balladanis the premature class, but he wished neither her or Hotspur would ever bring in it up again in a debate. Somehow, though, Albus doubted that it wouldn't be.


Sorry for the previous update ! Time has gotten away from me. Thanks to all who have read and reviewed. Big thanks to my Skype committal to writing group ; you guys are amazing !

I have a new meet the Author thread on the forums. There's a link to it on my Author page. Please check it out and ask me question !


Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter.


The clause in the vaticinator on Sunday proved to be just as outrageous as the actual argument had been. It took up the entire front Thomas Nelson Page and was ripe with quotes from both candidate and a few student, although none of Albus's first cousin had been quoted. The Ravenclaw who had asked the question about Balladanis at the doubtfulness and reply session had not only been interviewed, but she had received her own article located on the secondment page. Albus groaned when he opened the Page and saw it, complete with a picture of the Ravenclaw in inquiry. His friends quickly crowded around the paper to learn it over his shoulder.

security review AT HOGWARTS ?

Yesterday's newsworthy debate at Hogwarts
School of witchery and wizardry proved
not only to be a time to pick up about the
candidates'lawful legal opinion on magical
Education, but possibly uncovered an emergence
of censorship that had been looked over
final stage year.

Following the debate a question and answer
session was held for those lucky few
Hogwarts students who had gotten to sit
in the Great Hall during the public debate. The
last question was asked by sixth year
Ravenclaw Elizabeth House of York. During the debate
Patricia Laurentis brought up the matter
of the investigation of Professor Tethys
Balladanis, previous Defense Against
the dark graphics prof ( see article on
straw man Page ). York then questioned what
selective information had taught that according to
Laurentis “ endangered a scholarly person's life. ”

'I just inquire what data was being
taught because I'm a firm believer that
students should never be denied
information. If it was bad enough
to endanger person's liveliness, then trusted,
it should not be taught, but no one is
saying what the information was.'House of York
said in an interview following the
session.

After the question was asked, debate
moderator and Head of the section for
the Regulation and ascendancy of Magical
brute Walter Eckerton told the
candidates that they could not say
what the information was, just confirm
that the incident had happened. Eckerton
quickly wrapped up the academic term, stating
that they were out of time.

It is interesting to note that Eckerton
is the wizard who filed the complaint
thus launching the investigation of
Balladanis. When asked for a comment,
Eckerton said'I'm the promontory of the
section for the Regulation and Control
of Magical Creatures. He had an Anamatek.
I was informed of the position and had
to take action.'

The situation provided more interrogation
than answers and it will be occupy
to find out whether this incident plays
a foster role in April's election.

Albus set down the paper and pushed away his half-eaten breakfast. Why did the Prophet have to impress that ? It didn't seem relevant to the election. Balladanis had been sacked and was long gone. It was in the past times.

“ Your dad's right, ” Amanda said to matte later on when they were in the marauder's Den. “ She's just trying to micturate affair into a fully grown deal so she can win to a greater extent votes. Politicians turn the simplest things into vast deals. ”

“ I know, but still, ” Matt said as he picked through a lot of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor dome. “ It's like none of them realize that it's my life they're making a big deal of. ”

“ Honestly, I don't think it's actually the information that people want, ” Rose said, looking up from her Potions text. “ Think about it. If someone were to leak the selective information, and say that Balladanis was teaching so very much about identifying lycanthrope that citizenry could visualize out you were one, they'd have nothing else to sing about- ”

“ Yeah, because they'd be talking about how there's a werewolf at Hogwarts, ” Matt said.

“ No, that's not what I meant, ” Rose replied. “ They're concern in the bigger issue. The fact that there might be censorship at Hogwarts. They don't manage what the data is that's been censored. They just care that something's been censored. And I think that if they really knew what it was, they'd all agree that Balladanis had gone over the top. ”

“ I guess, ” flatness said. “ But that's the thing, no one's going to really know what it is. ”

“ It'll all blow over soon enough, ” Albus said. “ Next disputation's on law enforcement. Aurors, Azkaban, that form of matter, and Laurentis runs Azkaban. ”

Albus spent much of Lord's Day afternoon on the Quidditch tar, which was a receive respite from discussing the debate and the election and Percy and Laurentis. He loved his friends, but they all seemed to be able to discuss the election for years and he couldn't. Fred would sustain had them on the pitch longer, but Hufflepuff had reserved it for the evening.

The discussion of the censorship clause seemed to calm down the next day, if only because a good bulk of the professors had all scheduled examination that day and everyone was busy with live on minute studying. Albus had exams in both Herbology and Defense Against the Dark Arts, although the latter was really no different from the usual worksheets. Luckily there was no exam in guardianship of Magical Creatures and then Albus had a spare period.

Matt slept the entire free period and up until dinner in hopes that he would be capable to pay heed that night's detention. He had no desire to do detention on his own, so he was hoping that he'd be able-bodied to get away with just missing the adjacent Night's. He still looked absolutely exhausted even after the nap.

“ If we're doing anything outside I'll have to leave, ” Matt said as the four boys made their way to Filch's work. “ Merlin I hope it's not outside. ”

“ Me, too, ” whoremonger said. “ Ground's horribly muddy after last Night's storm. ”

“ Bet the squad will love that. ” Albus said They had practice that night and Albus was missing it.

The male child continued their way through the palace until they made it to Filch's cogitation. Albus knocked three times and then stood back, waiting for the antediluvian caretaker to open the door.

Filch was holding his cat, Josie, in his arms when he appeared in the room access. He was scowling, the line on his face showing more than ever, and looked thoroughly disgusted at having to supervise the son'detention. He let the cat down on the footing and she took a swat at Kaden's robe before darting behind a nearby suit of clothes of armor.

“ You lot again, ” Filch muttered as he shut the threshold behind him, despite the fact that the four boys hadn't had a joint hold with Filch since second twelvemonth. “ You're scrubbing the 2nd floor girl's bathroom. With soup-strainer, of course. ” Filch reached into his pocket and pulled out four grubby toothbrushes.

“ That's Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, ” Albus whispered to his friends as they distributed their cleaning implements and followed Filch down the corridor.

Filch shooed them into the bath and leaned against the door, his weaponry across his chest, and scowled at them as they began. Albus squatted down and began to scrub the floor, John and Kaden doing the same. The three had agreed to induce the hold as easy as possible for lustrelessness and thus left him the sinks.

Albus hadn't been scrubbing for more than two minutes when he heard a splashing behind him and a girlish giggle. He turned around and saw Vinca minor, smiling and winking at him. She floated over until she was hovering over the section of level that Albus was scrubbing.

“ Albus Potter. ” She giggled again. “ You're back to my toilette. Oh, but this time you've been in trouble, haven't you ? ”

“ Er, yes, ” Albus muttered.

“ This isn't for what you did to the Slytherin coarse room, is it ? ” Vinca minor asked. “ Your brother asked me about that. I told him that you'd been in here that Nox, hiding under your invisibleness Cloak. ”

Albus flinched when she said the Word “ invisibility cloak ” and hoped that Filch had had some audition passing in his old age. The last thing Albus needed was for the caretaker to know he had an Invisibility Cloak.

“ I didn't know you were pranking the Slytherins, though, ” myrtle continued. “ I like boys who pull pranks, you know. ” Myrtle giggled again and floated closer to Albus, so close that his hand was now inside her arm. He moved it away.

“ You know, some eld I hardly get any boy coming in here, ” Myrtle said as she floated towards John. “ And this year there's so many. I think you should come visit me more often. It gets lonely in here, you know. ”

“ Yeah, I imagine it's quite lonely, being abruptly, ” Kaden said.

myrtle let out an ear-piercing shriek and started wailing. She sped preceding Albus and into one of the carrel, where she plunged herself into the throne.

“ Sensitive character, isn't she ? ” Kaden said.

There was another loud splash and Myrtle was suddenly right in front end of Kaden. “ You would be too if you were dead ! ” she shouted.

“ But couldn't you leave the loo ? ” John the Divine asked. “ The other ghosts float about the palace all the time. ”

“ Leave the loo ? ” Vinca minor repeated. “ Leave the loo ? ” She said a bit louder. “ But this is where I died ! I find it's best to think about my destruction right wing here. Right where it happened. ”

“ Wouldn't it be less lonely with the other touch ? ” John the Evangelist asked as he began to scrub one of the stall doors.

“ The other ghosts don't understand, ” myrtle lamented. “ They're all gratify being deadened. Even the Grey Lady and she's always seemed slightly pathetic. But no, none of them are as woeful as me. ” myrtle seemed proud about that.

“ Weird, ” whoremonger muttered under his breath.

“ repose ! ” Filch shouted. “ You're in detention. No talking. ”

Myrtle resumed floating above the son, letting out a loud wail every so often. Kaden and Matt continued to scrub the floor while can scrubbed the stalls. Matt was still scrubbing the sinks, but was going very slowly and winced every so often.

“ You look suffering ! ” Myrtle exclaimed as Matt's hand slipped and he dropped his toothbrush. He bent down to clean it up and leaned on the sink, squeezing his eyes shut. Myrtle floated down to bulk large just above the sinkhole next to him and smiled.

matte said nothing and turned from Myrtle, to get started on the sink on the other side. Myrtle followed. “ You know, I'm miserable here all the time. I just sit here and contemplate my death... ” myrtle continued.

myrtle continued to stick with Matt around the bathroom while he was clearly trying to snub her and put as much distance between them as possible. He had no luck with this since he was exhausted and Myrtle was a ghost. Albus caught John's eye as Vinca minor giggled for the twentieth time and the two shared a soundless laugh.

After they'd been scrubbing for nearly two hour Filch finally told them they could contain. Albus's stifle and mitt were raw and he had a feeling he smelled strongly of cleaner. bathroom and Kaden looked equally miserable and Matt looked as bad as he did the forenoon after a full-of-the-moon synodic month, only without the cut and bites. myrtle looked delighted at their misery.

“ sojourn me again soon ! ” she shouted after them as they left. “ Especially you, ” she added to Matt with another giggle.

“ Someone has a crush on you, ” John said to lusterlessness as soon as they were out of earshot of Filch.

“ Shut up, ” Matt muttered.

“ mat and Vinca minor, what an adorable twain you'd make, ” John continued. “ You should go visit her. She seemed to be glad knowing that you were miserable. ”

“ I said shut up about it ! ” lustrelessness shouted.

“ Fine, was only making a joke, ” John replied.

The boys walked in silence the rest of the way to Gryffindor column. They did not come across anyone else, which Albus was grateful for since he was unsealed as to whether it was past curfew or not. Once back in Gryffindor, Matt immediately went to the dormitory room without saying another Scripture to Albus, John, or Kaden.

“ Hope it's not cleaning tomorrow, ” John muttered as he sat down on the nearest chair and pulled up his pant leg. “ facial expression at that. My human knee's all red. ”

“ Matches my fingers, ” Kaden added.

Albus would gladly suffer through another day of Muggle cleaning if it meant the rest of the detentions would be called off. He was missing two Quidditch practices and the last dueling recitation before the first duel. Some captain he was, missing the last practice before their first tournament. Their final practice was Thursday evening and Albus would be off in detention, doing who knows what. He was planning on having Amanda run the practice, although he hadn't talked to her about it yet.

The door to the plebeian room opened and the Gryffindor Quidditch team, minus Albus of course, trouped in. They all looked muddy, exhausted, and sweaty and Albus felt a pang of guilt as he watched them channelise up to the dormitory room to shower.

“ Missed you, Al, ” Fred said as he passed. “ You're missing on Wednesday, too, aren't you ? ”

“ Yeah, ” Albus muttered. “ Sorry. ”

Fred nodded. “ Just don't do it right before a match. ”

That was at least fortunate, Albus thought. They wouldn't be playing in another Quidditch match until after the holidays, seeing as the next compeer was Hufflepuff versus Ravenclaw. However, he couldn’t assist but finger that missing dueling exercise right before a tourney was unfit than missing Quidditch exercise right before a match.
***


Albus's week did not amend the conform to day, when he began it with reduplicate potions. matte, feeling too ill to brew potions all morning, stayed in the dormitory to log Z's, leaving Scorpio Malfoy without a married person to brew that day's verruca Removal Potion. Even worse, Albus's partner was also not in form. Slughorn saw this as the perfect chance to partner off Albus with Malfoy.

Albus set up his caldron while Malfoy stalked off to the potions cupboard to get the element. He returned a short while later and began to chop up a shrivelfig into perfectly sized pieces. Albus took the rat spleen, dumped it into the caldron, and began to stir it.

“ Word is you and your friends got a calendar week's detention for that antic, ” Malfoy said, not looking up from his shrivelfig.

“ Yes. Not that it's any of your line, ” Albus responded.

“ Oh, but it is. ” Malfoy smirked, finally looking up. “ You didn't by chance get Thursday off from detainment, did you ? ”

“ No, ” Albus muttered. He took a few deep breath, trying to still himself down. He was stirring the cauldron far too quickly.

“ That's dueling recitation, ” Malfoy said, as if it had slipped Albus's nous. “ Our own captain, missing recitation because of detention. I don't suppose you've found individual else to run practice, have you ? ”

“ If you're angling for the job you're out of luck, ” Albus said as he threw another rat spleen into the cauldron with more force than was requirement. “ Amanda already said she'd do it. ” That wasn't necessarily confessedly, as Albus had slept too late that morning to see Amanda at breakfast before they'd had to go down to the donjon.

“ tagger ? ” Malfoy scoffed. “ I think the captain ought to have at to the lowest degree some skill at dueling. ”

“ Why does it matter so much ? ” Albus asked. “ It's one practice ! It's not like one practice would make you captain. ”

“ When the professors see what a meliorate job of it I do- ”

“ One reason, Malfoy, ” Albus interrupted. “ founder me one reason why you should do it over Amanda. ”

Malfoy's face broke out in a malicious grin. “ One grounds ? The moonshine's going to be in an interesting stage tonight. ”

Albus lowered his interpreter. “ You wouldn't. You can't. Kendrick would expel you. ”

“ Only if he knew it was me who spilled the beans, ” Malfoy pointed out.

Albus felt the blood drain from his face. Why had he never thought of that ? Of course there were ways Malfoy could let it err without anyone knowing it was him. “ Fine, ” Albus muttered. “ mulct. You captain the team on Thursday. But just that day. I don't have hold on Saturday afternoon. ”

“ Fair enough, ” Malfoy said, clearly satisfied at how affair had turned out.

Albus took a parsnip and began to chop it with as much force out as he could muster, imagining Malfoy's smirking face upon the veggie's aerofoil. Luckily, Malfoy did not say another word to Albus throughout the entire course, which gave Albus the restraint not to hex him into next hundred after they left Slughorn's room.

The day continued in a downward helix when Patil had them body of work on transfiguring scab into teacups and Albus's teacupful ran across his table and crashed onto the flooring. Politics was no better because Professor Embry had the social class discuss the past Saturday's debate, something Albus just wanted to put behind him. He couldn't help but feel as if the integral course of study was staring at him for the completely minute since Embry brought up the subject of his kidnapping and the discharge of Professor Balladanis.

Kendrick sent Albus, Matt, King John, and Kaden an owl at dinner informing them that their detention would take place in Greenhouse Two, where Professor Longbottom needed help transferring his firedrake muck plant food from a vast atomic reactor outside to various spate inside.

“ Disgusting ! ” trick exclaimed upon reading the note. “ I get enough of that in Herbology. ”

“ At to the lowest degree we're with Longbottom and not Filch, ” Albus pointed out. “ matte will be missing this one, obviously. ”

John nodded. “ Where is he, by the way ? haven't seen him all day. ”

“ Probably still in the dorm room. He was sound asleep when I went up there to seize my Transfiguration leger at lunch, ” Albus said.

Kaden glanced at his lookout. “ We're not even going to give metre to go back there before custody. It's six-thirty. ”

Albus set his forking down. He had been picking at his beef lather, but not really eating it. He still hadn't told his supporter that Malfoy was going to be running his dueling practice later that week. Add that to the fact that now he wouldn't get to see lusterlessness before the full moon and it was just turning out to be an awful evening.

pink wine seemed to read Albus's head. “ We'll go check on him after dinner, ” she said. Amanda nodded.

Saint John the Apostle and Kaden polished off the rest of their repast and then the three boy set off for the greenhouses. The sun was just beginning to set as they walked across the ground and Albus knew that meant that matte would be heading to the Hospital annexe soon. He hoped Rose and Amanda would manage to see him before he did.

Neville was waiting for them when they arrived, bearing four shovels and four sets of baseball mitt.

“ Matt can't come tonight, ” Albus said once they reached Neville.

Neville glanced at the sky. “ Oh, right. I'd forgotten. ” He handed the boy the power shovel and gloves. “ All of this, ” he gestured to a large megabucks of manure, “ needs to be moved into the dope in Greenhouse Two. You can go away once you're finished. ”

Albus groaned inwardly as he looked at the piling. It must take been at least six feet high and as big around as the broom shed near the Quidditch pitch. It would convey them at least an 60 minutes. He sighed as he pulled on his gloves and began to shovel the manure.

With all three boy working steadily it took them an time of day and a half to affect all the manure. When they finally finished all Albus wanted to do was go up to Gryffindor tower and ask the human race's longest shower. He felt worse than he did after a Quidditch practice in the pouring rain.

“ Two down, five to go, ” John said after Neville parted ways with them on the bit floor. “ I'd never thought I'd say this, but I'd really like some lines. ”

“ I just wish they'd natural Thursday's, ” Albus muttered.

“ Oh, right, what are you doing about your dueling praxis ? ” John asked.

Albus felt anger boiling up in him again just thinking about it. “ Malfoy's taking over for the practice. ”

“ hold, seriously ? ” John exclaimed. “ But Amanda's on your team. She could have- ”

“ It's complicated, ” Albus muttered. For some ground he didn't want to get into why Malfoy was going to be sea captain for the night. “ And it's only for a night. ”

Gospel According to John gave Albus a unknown face. “ I guess, but still... Malfoy ? It's going to go to his head. ”

“ I know ! ” Albus exclaimed. “ I know, all right ? It's not like I wanted to have detention on Thursday and miss that practice. I'll remind you that this prank was yours and Kaden's idea. Not mine. ”

“ I know, ” John said. “ But Malfoy... ” his voice trailed off.

Albus spent a beneficial half hour in the exhibitioner once he returned to Gryffindor and then collapsed into bed, wishing that he could wake up and chance out that the day had been an unspeakable dream. Instead, he dreamed that Professor Kendrick decided to consider away Albus's captaincy and reach it to Malfoy.


A/N : Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed ! This will be the only update this month as I am currently working on NaNoWriMo.


Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter.


John got his want the following evening when the boy spent an 60 minutes doing lines with professor Young, which was slightly pointless since Young paid absolutely no attending to them. After they were released, Albus, privy, and Kaden immediately went to the Hospital Wing, as they had been unable to see matt earlier in the day.

gentlewoman Pomfrey was refilling potion bottles when they arrived a myopic while later. The curtains were drawn around Matt's usual bed while all the other beds remained empty.

“ Hello, boys, ” the nanny greeted them. “ I'll let you visit for ten minutes, but curfew's very soon. ”

Albus nodded and led John and Kaden to Matt's bed, where he pulled back the pall and entered the small region. Matt was laying in bed with a bandage around his left arm and another on his forehead.

“ How are you feeling ? ” Albus asked.

“ Awful, ” lustrelessness replied. “ But I don't want to talk about it. What's new with you lot ? ”

“ Just did an 60 minutes of argument, ” John said. “ And last night we had to shovel manure for Longbottom. You're lucky you missed that one. I swear I still smell like dragon dung. ”

“ But now I have to do two custody by myself. Possibly three, ” matt lamented.

“ Three ? You're not going to get out of here tomorrow ? ” Kaden asked. Usually Matt got out of the Hospital Wing two twenty-four hour period after the full moon.

“ I will, but it just depends on what the detention is. If it's lineage then I can go but if it's cleaning again then I'll have to skip it. Madam Pomfrey wants me to rest tomorrow. ”

“ Can't think of what else they'd have us do, ” John said. “ shot what else ? Albus is having Malfoy run his dueling team's exercise tomorrow since he'll be in detention. ”

“ You're what ? ! ” Matt exclaimed. “ That's mad, Albus. ”

Albus sighed. “ It's one day. One practice. It's not like I'm giving him my team. ”

“ Yeah, but there are other people on your team, ” mat pointed out. “ One of them could have captained it. ”

“ As I told lav and Kaden, it's complicated, ” Albus said. “ And it won't happen again. ”

flatness shrugged, but he didn't seem convinced. The last matter Albus wanted to do was distinguish him the real reason why Malfoy was going to run the pattern. Matt didn't need that on his plate.

“ clip's up ! ” Madam Pomfrey announced as she brought a tray of potions to Matt. “ Hurry back to Gryffindor. The live on thing the three of you need is another detention. ”

As it turned out, there were other affair that the professors thought of for the male child'detentions. Thursday evening they cleaned caldron without magic trick in prof Slughorn's classroom, something that lady Pomfrey forbade flatness from doing, insisting that he deform in early instead. Albus spent the stallion detention thinking about what Malfoy was doing with his dueling team and counting down the minutes until he would be able to ask Amanda about it.

“ He was really nasty, ” Amanda said once the boy were back in the unwashed elbow room after detention. Amanda had gotten out of dueling pattern before they'd finished detainment. “ A few of the second years were cursing him afterward. I heard them. Not that I blame them since he all out yelled at them for not being capable to perform a Jelly-Legs Jinx. ”

“ What does he require ? ” Albus replied. “ They're second years ! ”

“ I tried to tell him that, but he didn't care, ” Amanda said. “ He even yelled at a Slytherin. ”

“ Seriously ? ” Albus said. “ Wow. ”

“ I'm really beaming Longbottom made you captain and not him, ” Amanda continued. “ I think I'd quit otherwise. ”

“ I would've quit if he was on my team, flow, ” trick said.

“ He wouldn't last as senior pilot anyway, ” Amanda pointed out. “ prof Cedonia was supervising and she had to order him to intone it down about five clip and then once one of the second age was close to crying, she called an end to the practice. ”

Albus couldn't help but finger a bit of satisfaction that Malfoy made such a bad police captain, despite the fact that he did experience bad for his teammates. He doubted Malfoy would stop insisting that he should experience been made master, but Albus doubted anything would stop that.

Sabbatum brought with it a cheap thunderstorm that rendered it nearly impossible to get a line what anyone was saying in the Great Hall at breakfast. Albus was quite happy that Fred had not scheduled a Quidditch practice for that day, but hoped that the storm would calm down by the time the tournament began since his team would postulate to be able to get word each other speak.

Malfoy was already seated at squad septet's fleck at the Hufflepuff table when Albus arrived later that afternoon. He was pleased to see that the ease of the team was giving him a wide berth, including a few of the untried Slytherins.

“ Albus ! ” one of the second year Hufflepuffs, Alice Jake, shouted when she saw him coming. “ So glad you're back. ”

“ Me, too. ” Albus grinned as he sat down in between her and another Hufflepuff. “ You lot set ? ”

There was a chorus of “ yes's ” and a few nods of head from Albus's team. The finish few duelers ran into the room and snagged the final few bottom, which were unfortunately next to Malfoy.

Albus glanced at his spotter. Five minutes until the tournament began. He felt like he should make some form of speech, like all of his Quidditch captains did before peer. But what was he supposed to say ?

“ Er, well, here we are. The initiative tournament, ” Albus began. “ You are all splendid duelers, each and every one of you. We've all been practicing hard and you've all made heavy improvements. We're going to do keen, but remember, just consume fun. But if you remember what you've learned and affaire d'honneur like you do in practice, I think we can definitely win this. ”

The rest of his team ( sans Malfoy ) gave a hearty cheer and then turned to professor Longbottom, who had just called for attention. Albus's team immediately quieted down.

“ Welcome to the outset dueling tournament ! ” Neville announced. “ It will run as it has in the past, with two affaire d'honneur happening simultaneously. professor Cedonia is coming around with the tourney schedule, which will be given to each captain. Please pay attention and know when you are to duel. Everyone will duel twice. Professor Cedonia and I will each preside over a dueling circle and will announce the winners. The foremost person to disarm their opposer will be given a point. Remember, you are only allowed to use spells you have learned in your stratum. The first affaire d'honneur will protrude momentarily. ”

prof Cedonia handed Albus a musical composition of parchment and he set it down while his team crowded around him. “ I think it'll be easier for me to let you cognize when you're to duel. I'll enjoin you two affaire d'honneur before you're scheduled. Alice and Tucker, you're first. ”

Albus glanced down the lean and noticed that he was the tenth duel in Neville's doughnut and the seventeenth in Cedonia's. That would contribute him plenty of time to get used to organizing his squad. It was slightly overwhelming, having to constantly be paying attention to the list and figuring out when everyone should be dueling. After a few affaire d'honneur, he managed to get the hang of it.

“ Malfoy, ” Albus said. “ You're up in two duels, in Cedonia's ring. ”

Malfoy nodded, but didn't say anything. He had not said a intelligence the full tourney, which was very uncharacteristic, and the eternal sleep of the team seemed to be set on ignoring him.

Albus handed the list to Amanda and headed to Neville's dueling doughnut, where he was set to duel John. Two Hufflepuffs from other teams were currently battling it out and Albus was succeeding. The shorter of the two Hufflepuffs finally managed to unarm his opponent.

“ stop to team Four ! ” Neville shouted as the two Hufflepuffs left. “ Albus ceramist versus King John Brickston. ”

Albus and John gave each other excusatory grin before obeisance and raising their wands, waiting for Neville's okay.

“ Ready, duel ! ” Neville shouted.

Albus immediately sent a leg-locker curse at trick, who easily deflected it. John sent the same at Albus who also avoided it. Albus continued sending spells at Gospel According to John, who kept avoiding them, until he finally got hit with a Jelly-legs Curse and nearly lost his footing. In the time it took him to perform the counter-curse, Albus was able to hit him with Petrificus Totalus.

“ Expelliarmus ! ” Albus shouted as John fell over. He caught John's verge in his right script and then turned to Neville, who was smiling.

“ head to Team Seven ! ”

Neville performed the counter-curse on King John and the two boys left the closed chain. Albus headed back to his table, where Malfoy was just heading to Cedonia's dueling ring.

Malfoy dueled a indorse year and won within two minutes. He was smirking as he walked back to the Hufflepuff table, but he returned to mediocre clapping. It seemed that the rest of the team was still bitter about Thursday's practice session.

The residuum of the tourney went well. Both Albus and Malfoy won their second duels, although Malfoy had a lot more trouble since he dueled a fellow fourthly year.

“ aid, I'd like to foretell the winner ! ” Neville shouted a short patch after the final affaire d'honneur. The entire room immediately quieted and looked up at Neville. “ Thank you. In third place with 44 points is Team four ! ”

Cheers erupted from the Ravenclaw board, where squad Four was currently seated. Once they quieted down, Neville spoke. “ In indorse lieu with 52 points is team Seven ! ”

The residual of Albus's squad began to clapperclaw and exhort, but Albus was too stunned to do much of anything. He couldn't believe it ! His first ever tournament as chieftain and his squad had gotten endorse place ! A few hoi polloi slapped him on the spinal column and he broke out into a smiling.

“ And in commencement place, with 55 stage is team Six ! ” Neville announced.

There were sunniness from the other end of the Hufflepuff table, but Albus ignored them. He was still shocked that his own squad had done so well.

“ Great job, everyone ! ” he said once he regained his composure. “ I knew we could do it ! ”

The table was filled with agitation and yack and it continued even after they got up and began to go forth the elbow room. Albus was anxious to get back to Gryffindor tower where he could fete his near win with his friends.

“ Nice going, potter, ” Malfoy spat as soon as they left the Great Hall. “ I bet if I were the chieftain we would've won. ”

“ We got second, ” Albus replied. “ That's really good. ”

“ get-go would've been better, ” Malfoy muttered. “ I'm amazed we even got second considering how atrocious you are at practices. ”

“ Better than you, ” Albus said. “ No one liked your practice on Thursday. Did you mark how no one talked to you today ? They hated it. ”

“ They're just too used to you coddling them, ” Malfoy said, taking a step closer to Albus.

“ fountainhead it doesn't much matter because I'm the captain and you're not, ” Albus said as he toyed with his sceptre, which he was still brandishing in his left hand.

“ For now, ” Malfoy replied, eyeing Albus's wand. “ If you keep getting in trouble I bet they'll replace you. ”

“ C'mon, Albus. ” Matt had appeared following to Albus. “ Let's get back to the mutual room. ”

“ Better listen to him. ” Malfoy gave a short gag. “ You'd think it'd the former way around, though. Him attacking me rather than you. But I suppose that would only be in a sure time of- ” Malfoy glared knowingly at Matt.

“ Shut up ! And take that back, ” Albus seethed, raising his wand.

“ Seriously, Albus, let's go ! ” Matt grabbed the spinal column of Albus's robes and pulled him towards the staircase.

“ evilness git, ” Albus muttered, looking back at the crowd in the Entrance dorm. Malfoy was already gone. “ Why does he always have to bring it up like that ? ”

“ It doesn't issue, ” lusterlessness said.

“ Of course it matters ! ” Albus said indignantly. “ It's insulting ! ”

“ I'm used to it, ” flatness said quietly.

“ So what ? ” Albus exclaimed. “ That doesn't mean you should have to pass the balance of Hogwarts having him bring it up every day. ”

“ And you hexing him would have solved everything ? ” Matt asked. “ You just would've gotten another detention. ”

“ Would've been worth it, ” Albus muttered.

“ No, it wouldn't have, ” matte argued. “ You've just got to brush aside him. I ignore him. ”

“ I really hope that following year he's not on my dueling team, ” Albus said.

“ I don't think he will. Didn't they go back to House squad for dueling for fifth through seventh twelvemonth this class ? ” Matt asked.

“ Did they ? ” Albus asked.

“ That's what one of the 6th years said, ” mat answered.

“ good, ” Albus said. “ Then I just have to digest through this year. ”

Albus and Matt were the last of their friends to get back to Gryffindor, where it appeared that no one was doing homework. Henry James had set a few fireworks off out the window and everyone was watching them while eating platter upon record of biscuits.

“ What are you lot celebrating ? ” Albus asked William James as he took a biscuit.

James shrugged. “ Just the fact that we've got a Saturday with nothing to do. well, Cedric, Ben, Nathan, and I that is. ”

“ Where have you two been ? ” pink wine asked as she walked up to Albus and mat. John and Kaden were behind her, a biscuit in each hand.

“ Al nearly got into a duel with Malfoy in the entree Hall, ” lustrelessness explained.

“ Albus ! ” Amanda exclaimed. “ You can't get anymore detention ! ”

“ I know, but he said something really loathsome, ” Albus said and turned to Saint John. “ You would've hexed him. ”

“ What did he say ? ” Rose asked.

“ He said that he was surprised I wasn't attacking him, ” flatness said quietly.

“ You're right, ” John growled. “ I would've hexed him. ”

“ See ? ” Albus said.

“ And I told you that it wasn't deserving detention over, ” Matt repeated.

“ But if it continues, ” rose said, “ you've got to tell Kendrick. ”

“ I'm not telling Kendrick, ” matt insisted. “ I think he's got enough to worry about with the theory of the entire school getting changed if Laurentis wins this election. ”
***


“ Why in the name of Merlin are we doing detention in the forest ? ” Kaden asked at breakfast the following dayspring.

“ Seriously, ” whoremonger agreed. “ That's not really detention, is it ? The timberland is aplomb. I've always wanted to go in there. ”

“ Are you two insane ? ” Amanda asked. “ There's all variety of creatures in there. ”

“ My sister did hold in the wood once, ” Matt said. “ She had to harvest these plant life Slughorn needed and they could only be harvested the night of the full moon. ”

“ Well that's one detention you'll never have to do. ” john laughed.

“ Maybe we have to reap some early kind of industrial plant ? ” flatness suggested, ignoring John Lackland's scuttlebutt.

“ Dunno. ” Albus shrugged. The letter they'd received had not gone into specific. It just stated that they were to meet Hagrid near his hut at three that afternoon.

“ At least you're not going at night, ” rosebush pointed out.

The few hours Albus and his friends had until detention went by rather quickly. They spent the hours in the park elbow room alternating doing prep while participating in very large round of Exploding Snap with nearly all of Albus and rosebush's cousin. Everyone was covered in ash by the metre three o'clock rolled around and the boys had to run up to their dorm to wash out their faces before heading down to Hagrid's hut.

Albus liked Hagrid. He had known the half-giant since he was small and was slightly confused as to how detention with Hagrid could possibly be considered detainment. Perhaps professor Kendrick was unaware that Albus and his friends visited Hagrid every so often and enjoyed outlay clock time with him.

Hagrid was already out-of-door when Albus and the former three boys arrived, armed with his crossbow and Fang by his side. Albus swallowed hard upon seeing the crossbow. Did Hagrid really think they would need that ?

“'Ello, boys ! ” Hagrid greeted them. “ Fairly elementary detention today. We'll be collectin'unicorn tail hairs. ”

“ Like getting them from unicorns ? ” Kaden asked. “ I thought they didn't like boys. ”

Hagrid gave a booming laugh. “ No, no, Kaden. It'd be a crime to take'em right from the unicorn, wouldn'it. No, we'll be gettin'& # 039 ; em from crotch hair and tree. As the unicorns run past they get snagged. Let's get goin'. ”

Fang let out a loud bark as they made their way to the forest. Collecting unicorn hair. That wasn't bad at all. But still, it was the forest and that was where Washburn and Willinson had spent a lot of their meter the old year. They wouldn't be back there, would they ? Obviously Washburn and Quinton Willinson were in Azkaban, but what about Quinton's father ? Where was he ?

“ What do we need unicorn hairs for ? ” John asked as they entered the forest. “ No one here makes wands. ”

“ Used for a lot to a greater extent'n wands, aren'they, ” Hagrid answered. “ Potions, mostly. Tha's what we need'em for. seventh age are brewing somethin'that needs unicorn hair's-breadth so Professor Kendrick volunteered you four to collect'em. Slughorn's too old to do it himself. ”

“ That's for sure, ” John the Divine muttered to Albus.

It was very nighttime in the forest, despite the fact that it was day. All four male child lit their scepter and Hagrid's pink umbrella was providing more unhorse than two wands combined. Hagrid had told them that they wouldn't find any hair until they were at least XV minutes into the woodland since unicorns rarely ventured near the bound.

The timber was very dense and it was difficult for them to walk next to each former. Soon, they were forced to walk unmarried file cabinet through a very small path that was riddled with tree branches and John Rock. Albus stumbled every so often and Matt managed to fall over three meter before anyone found any unicorn can hair. Galloping hooves could be heard in the distance and Albus figured they were Centaur. His dad had told him that there was a herd of Centaur in the woodland, although Albus had never seen one before.

“ Here we are, ” Hagrid said after what had been at least a twenty minute walking. He gestured to a nearby bush. “ Jus'have a look around here and I'm sure we'll find plenty. This is a love region where unicorns live. Don'roll too far. ”

Hagrid had provided them all with buckets in which to collect the hair. Albus set off for the nearest crotch hair and found a few hairs snagged in the branches.

“ Last detainment, ” John said as he worked alongside Albus. “ Thank Merlin. ”

“ Speak for yourself, ” Matt called out from a tree a few meters away.

“ Do you lie with what you have to do for your following one ? ” Albus asked.

“ stock, all three nights, ” Matt said. “ Easier, I suppose, than coming up with anything else when it's just me. ”

“ skillful than cleaning bathrooms again. Or digging up firedrake dung, ” Kaden said. “ Whoa, I just found a whole clump of hair. ”

After they'd been working for a half time of day Hagrid decided that they'd collected enough. They set off re-tracing their stride through the woods. Albus found it a footling lupus erythematosus scary on the walk back and he wasn't sure whether it was because he had gotten used to the noises or because he could see the sunlight at the boundary. He was very salvage to find out that he did not see Jarrett Willinson anywhere in the timberland, although now that the detainment was passed he realized that Willinson wouldn't go back there now that the Resurrection Stone was no recollective there. No, Willinson was most probable still in Australia, where no one was looking for him. At least, Albus hoped he was.


Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed ! You guys are awesome ! Sorry for the lack of updates lately. NaNo gave way to a frantic finishing of all the paper I'd neglected during November. But I won NaNo and classes are over so I'm hoping to get a good bit of writing done within the next month.


The last few weeks of November provided the Hogwarts pupil and staff with a much needed time period of calm. The side by side election public debate would not assume space until December and the the censorship at Hogwarts theme seemed to have died out, with the Daily Prophet no longer publishing clause on it. Both Quidditch and dueling tournaments were over for the condition, leaving the students with a bit more metre to consecrate to their studies. The future Hogsmeade visit was scheduled for the endorsement Sat in Dec, a hebdomad before term ended.

Albus enjoyed the humdrum of those few week. His 24-hour interval were filled with homework, Quidditch praxis, and dueling exercise. Team Seven was very glad to have Albus back as their senior pilot and most continued to ignore Malfoy during practice. Malfoy still reserved a special glare of hatred for Albus and his protagonist, but he did not attempt to set out anymore affaire d'honneur in the corridor, like he had after the dueling tournament.

Dec arrived with a hoodwink storm that caused the Ravenclaw Quidditch team to offset two of their pattern. This gave Fred the opportunity to book the pitch for two extra practice session, something that earned him a hefty superman of U-No-Poo in his dawn pumpkin succus good manners of Jesse James and Omar Nelson Bradley. Albus was happy to see that the job of school practical joker had been rightfully returned to James and his champion. The week of detentions had certainly dissuaded Albus from planning anymore buffoonery. The like could not be said for King John and Kaden, who were plotting something, although Albus did not know what.

Albus, flatness, and Amanda spent the first Saturday of December ignoring their preparation in the predator's Den. The Slytherin team had the pitch for the entire day, which gave Albus a much needed break from Quidditch. privy and Kaden's location would probably only be found with the piranha's Map and rosiness was tutoring in the library.

There was a loud kick from outside the room, which was blush wine's sign that she was outdoors and wished to be let in. Albus got up from his game of Gobstones and let her in. She dropped her bag unceremoniously on the flooring and flopped down on the couch.

“ I'm worried about Elsie, ” rose wine said.

“ Elsie... ” Albus prompted.

“ Elsie Willinson ! ” she exclaimed. “ The first twelvemonth I've been tutoring all year. ”

“ Oh yeah, the one with the idiot for a buddy and a first cousin and uncle who want to bring back Voldemort. Yeah, I'd be worried, too, ” Albus said as he returned to his game.

“ No, I'm not distressed about her poor fish brother. I'm worried about her. ”

“ What, is she still failing all her subjects ? ” lusterlessness asked.

“ No, she's actually doing much undecomposed, ” rosebush said. “ She's just very subdued. She never public lecture about anything other than homework- ”

“ Sounds like you. ” Albus turned around and grinned at his first cousin. “ Although you're not quiet. ”

“ I'm severe, Albus, ” Rose said flatly. “ Her brother walks her to the depository library for our sessions and then picks her up when we're done. I never see her with anyone former than him and occasionally Malfoy. I've never seen her eat with anyone other than them, either. ”

“ That is kind of strange, ” Amanda said.

“ See ? ” Rose said. “ Amanda thinks it's weird. ”

“ So she's shy. ” Albus shrugged. “ I just don't see what it's got to do with you. ”

“ It doesn't really, ” Rose said quietly. “ But if she's having take. We all know about her family. If her brother's keeping an eye on her there must be a reason. ”

Albus hadn't thought about it that way. What if Felix Willinson was trying to keep an eye on his sister ? “ If she's doing something her family line doesn't like I bet she's going against something they want. ”

“ That's what I thought, ” Rose agreed. “ Which means she's trying to do something honest. Or he's trying to make sure she doesn't spill family secrets. ”

“ You think they have More family secret than just wanting Voldemort back ? ” flatness asked.

“ Of course they do, ” rosiness said. “ We only found out concluding year that they were related by man and wife to Lubar. I mean, you never would've guessed that in first or indorse year. ”

Matt shuddered. “ Probably a good thing that I didn't. I probably would have refused to come to Hogwarts. ”

“ Most pure-blooded house like them have dark mystery, ” Albus said as he fiddled with a Gobstone. It squirted him in the human face and he rubbed the liquidness on his robes. “ The ace that want the origin to remain saturated and overindulge. Like the Malfoys. ”

“ And I'd bet my last Galleon that Elsie Willinson found out one of those secrets and wants to enjoin mortal, ” Rose stated.

“ You think it's got to do with what they're trying to do ? ” Albus asked.

“ I'm sure it does. ”

“ The lonesome problem for them is that Jarrett's on his own now, ” Amanda said. “ With the other two in gaol, what's he going to do ? ”

“ You're forgetting about Lubar, ” Matt said darkly.

Rose got up and started walking around the room. “ To be true, I don't know how much he's going to be involved, especially if this going to take place in Great Britain. Think about it, last year he had the excuse of the tournament to be here. He's got no excuse this yr. He's a Ministry official. A outrageous one, but still a Ministry official. It's not in his best sake to be trying to impart back Voldemort. ”

“ That didn't even work, ” Albus cut in. “ They can't bring him back, even a ghost of him, with the Resurrection Stone. ”

“ Jarret Willinson was a Ministry official, ” lustrelessness pointed out.

“ He was a secretary for the Obliviator office. That's a slight unlike from a Head perspective, ” rose explained. “ Lubar has Sir Thomas More to lose. ”

“ I say we try and figure out what Elsie's keeping secret and I bet it'll have something to do with what Willinson is planning now. Because I guarantee he's planning something, ” Albus decided.

“ How are we going to do that ? ” Amanda asked. “ She's always with Felix. ”

“ Not when rose is tutoring her. ” Albus turned to Rose. “ You think you could try and get her to open up ? ”

“ Well she's not going to just amount out and tell me. I can try, but it'll take a while, ” rosiness said.
***


Albus told John and Kaden about the conversation about Elsie later that night. whoremaster proclaimed that he knew something had been weird about that fille from the moment they had seen her at the beginning of the twelvemonth. Both boys agreed that they needed to find out what it was she was keeping secret. Albus then asked them what prank they were planning, but John and Kaden mysteriously went smooth as soon as Albus brought the matter up.

Albus laid awake that dark for a prospicient clip thinking about Elsie Willinson. He could not shake the image of her with Felix and Malfoy in the rootage of the year from his judgment. She had looked so diffident and innocent, far too free and Thomas Young to be involved with anything like what her family was involved with. In fact, she reminded him a bit of Lily, although he wasn't sure why since Lily was anything but timid.

Morning arrived shortly after Albus had fallen asleep and despite the fact that he'd only pay off a few hours sleep, he got up around six and decided to get a bit of reading done in the commons elbow room. He knew he wouldn't be able to fall back asleep.

Upon arriving in the common room, Albus thought he was still dreaming. He rubbed his centre and pinched himself to try and wake up, but it was no use. He was in fact awake. The icon before his eyes was very, and it was abominable to calculate at.

The Gryffindor common room was no longer red and atomic number 79. It was now decked out in putting surface and ash gray. The comfy couch and chairs were gone and had been replaced instead with standard classroom professorship. Various banner were hung up in the room that depicted snakes. In fact, the Gryffindor plebeian room now looked exactly as Albus imagined the Slytherin common room to look, except for it not being under the lake.

However, the sheer Slytherin-ness of the vulgar elbow room was not the weirdest change, by a foresightful shot. The strangest new addition to the Gryffindor green room was a Grey and white goat. It was standing in the midriff of the room, its head down and buried in a account book. The thing about Goat, though, was that they did not enjoy books the way people did. Goats ate books. This caprine animal was currently munching on The criterion ledger of go : Grade Two. Albus's eyes drifted from the goat and around the elbow room again, where he now noticed remnants of other books, quills, homework, and even a cloak.

The goat looked up and stared at Albus. It let out a bleat and then went back to the Word of God. Albus crept a petty closer and noticed that a sign of the zodiac was affixed to the goat. It said'The Gryffindor Goat : Gryffindor's new mascot. Gifted by the Slytherins. Next time, think twice about putting chickens in our plebeian room.'

Albus stood in the center of the way, his stare alternating from the goat to the short letter and back again. A Goat ? That didn't even make any sense. Not only that, they were clearly trying to copy privy and Kaden's prank. And changing the room into a Slytherin room ? It was horrifying, absolutely horrifying.

Albus tore his eyes away from the goat and ran back up the helix staircase until he got to his own dormitory room. He flicked on the igniter and Ethan, the lightest sleeper of the clump, rolled over and groaned.

“ Everyone get up ! ” Albus shouted. “ Up, get up ! ”

“ What ? ” Ethan asked shortly. “ It's like six in the morning ! ”

“ I know it's six in the morning ! ” Albus replied. “ Get up and go down to the commons way. Now. ”

Ethan slowly got out of bed and went over to Bilius's bed to get him up. Albus woke John Lackland up and then the two of them woke Matt up while Bilius and Ethan went down to the park room. Their outcry of anger could be heard all the way in the dormitory.

“ What is it ? ” bathroom asked as he and matt followed Albus back down the stairs.

“ The Slytherins have had their revenge, ” Albus said, handing John the note.

Albus took a detour to the tierce twelvemonth's residence hall to get Kaden up. Kaden's roommate got up as well and soon there was a large crowd in the common room. By the time Albus entered the elbow room again, the first of all, second, and 6th eld were all there. The one-seventh and fifth part years were right behind him.

The common room was in pandemonium. James, Cedric, and Nathan were inspecting the butt. The prefects were all congregated in one spot, clearly trying to figure out what to do. A quarter of the students were standing frigid, with feeling of horror on their faces. Another quarter were laughing, despite the fact that the prank had happened in Gryffindor. Victor-Marie Hugo was wrestling the Goat for the copy of the Standard script of Spells : mark Two, which evidently was his.

The girls'dormitory room door opened and all the Gryffindor girl flooded out of it. pink wine and Amanda made their way over to Albus and the rest of the son, who were receiving numerous stares and blaze from their fella students. Clearly a few of them were blaming Albus and his friends for the Slytherins'need for revenge.

“ What in the name of Merlin happened ? ” Rose asked.

Saint John the Apostle handed her the note. “ The Slytherins have had their revenge. ”

“ Malfoy ? ” Amanda asked.

“ No way to love, is there ? ” Albus replied.

“ It's got to be, though, ” John said. “ No one else hates us like he does. ”

“ I bet a lot of Slytherins wanted revenge, ” blush wine said.

“ All rightfield, quiet everyone ! ” Albus's first cousin, Mark, shouted over the crew. He was one of the 6th year Prefects. “ You're all to get back up to your dormitories. I'm going to fetch Professor Longbottom. Who's the one who first saw this ? ”

“ I did, ” Albus announced.

Mark sighed, as if cerebration he should take known. “ Al, bide down here. The eternal sleep of you, back upstairs.

rosebush handed Albus the note back and she and the rest of Albus's Quaker turned to go back to their dormitories. There was a ecumenical grumbling and susurration as everyone left. Soon, the unwashed elbow room was empty except for Albus, the goat, and the six Prefects. Mark left in order to go get Professor Longbottom.

The Prefects whispered amongst themselves while Mark was gone. Albus stood off to the side, as he did not fuck the Prefects very well. He recognized a few as Friend of his cousins.

Mark returned ten minutes later with Professor Longbottom in tow. The herbology professor froze in mid-step when he entered the room. His regard shifted from the new furniture to the stooge to the standard and back to the goat.

“ Albus discovered it, ” stigma said.

Longbottom turned to Albus. “ And it looked like this when you found it ? ”

“ Mostly, ” Albus answered. “ The laughingstock had been chewing on one of Victor-Marie Hugo's Quran so he took that. And someone's cloak had been here, but it was a Gryffindor cloak. ”

Longbottom sighed. “ All right, Albus, you can go back up to your dormitory. ” He turned to the Prefects. “ Let's go through all this and see if we can find any clew to work out out who it was. ”

Albus reluctantly went back up to his dormitory, where he found not only all of his roommates but Kaden as well, discussing the joke. They all turned to Albus when he entered.

“ uncovering anything out ? ” bathroom asked.

“ Nope, ” Albus answered. “ The Prefects are helping Professor Longbottom go through everything for clues. ”

The boys whiled away the prison term until breakfast by trading Chocolate salientian cards, playing round of Exploding Snap, and discussing the Quidditch season. lustrelessness fell back asleep after defending the Cannons to everyone else, but no one else was able to go back to bed.

Mark knocked on their room access a few hours later and told them they were free to get up and go to breakfast. Albus woke Matt up and the son went back down to the common way. It looked normal once Thomas More. All remnants of the Slytherins were gone and the stooge was nowhere in sight. The classroom chairs had disappeared and the habitue comfy couches were back. Albus was relieved to see their common room back to its usual United States Department of State, although that did nothing to satisfy his rarity about who had done it.

“ question what they did with the Goat, ” Kaden said as they walked down tot he Great Hall.

“ Probably gave it to Aberforth, ” Matt said.

“ Aberforth ? ” Kaden asked.

“ Dumbledore's comrade. He owns the Hog's headspring in Hogsmeade. Keeps goats in his pub. Weird bloke, ” flatness answered.

“ He keeps goats ? In his pub ? ” Kaden repeated. “ Do they just wander around ? ”

“ Yeah, ” Matt said.

The Great mansion was populated only by Gryffindor bookman, which did not surprise Albus in the flimsy given the other time of day and the fact that it was Sunday. The professors were all up having breakfast and were whispering amongst themselves. No uncertainty that Longbottom had told them about the antic. Slughorn in especial looked unnerved.

rose wine convinced the rest of the group that it would be a good idea to head to the depository library after breakfast to ask advantage of the fact that it would be hollow. Albus had a few essays that he'd neglected and John and Kaden needed to make up some new predictions for Trelawney.

After a few hr of studying Albus felt his aid start to weave. The library had filled up since they had arrived and gentlewoman Pince was watching over the place like a hawk. The room access opened and Albus was surprised to see Elsie Willinson walk in, followed by her pal and Scorpius. Scorpius's eye met Albus's and he veered from his little chemical group in order to waltz over to Albus.

“ How's your plebeian elbow room ? ” he asked with a smirk.

“ Is that a confession ? ” Albus replied as he stood up.

“ Of course not. It's all over the school. Everyone knows that your common elbow room looked like an extension of mine this sunrise. And that goat, I heard it ate a few books. Serves you right after what you lot did to ours, ” Malfoy said.

“ We know you did it, Malfoy, ” John said. “ Just waiting for the prof to prove it. ”

“ If I did do it, and I'm not saying I did, I wouldn't have left any evidence like you idiots obviously did. ”

“ We didn't, ” John said flatly. “ Albus confessed to salvage his first cousin and brother who had been wrongly accused. ”

“ How noble. ” Malfoy laughed.

“ Just severalise me one thing, ” Albus said. “ How did you get into the common room ? ” That was what had been bothering Albus the most. He and his champion had used the invisibility Cloak to figure out the Slytherin parole, but how had Malfoy done it ? As far as he knew he did not experience an invisibility Cloak.

“ I didn't, ” Malfoy said. “ And if I did I wouldn't Tell you how I did it. ” With one more than glare at Albus, the Slytherin walked away towards the board that Felix and Elsie had found.

“ How did he get into our plebeian elbow room ? ” Albus asked as he sat back down.

“ No mind, ” matte said.

“ I'm betting he threatened a first yr into telling him what it was, ” John said. “ Wouldn't put it past him. ”

“ You don't know it was him, ” Amanda pointed out.

“ They're never going to recover out who it was, either, ” Rose said. “ Not unless they confess like you did. Otherwise no one would've found out it was you. ”

“ Guess it doesn't really matter at this point. ” Albus sighed. “ They've had their revenge. ”

“ Which means it's time for ours, ” Kaden said as he grinned at John.

Rose groaned. “ Really ? It's just going to change by reversal into a huge prank war if you have revenge. ”

“ That's the point, ” lav replied.

If Saint John the Apostle and Kaden were trying to start a joke war Albus didn't want any part of it. He had had enough detention for a lifetime and did not desire spending anymore of his Hogwarts career scrubbing bathrooms or doing lines. Albus sighed and returned to his reading. St. John the Apostle and Kaden got up and left the depository library, presumably to play on their next prank.

Later that day at dinner Professor Kendrick gave a very bum lecturing to the entire school about breaking regulation, especially the rules about not entering common rooms that were not yours. It was very standardised to the talking to he gave after the chicken buffoonery, except this time Albus could state that the headmaster was even to a greater extent angry. Albus kept glancing at Malfoy during the speech but the Slytherin boy did not search shamed at all. In fact he seemed disinterested in Kendrick's speech.

The talk of Gryffindor's Goat ( as the prank had now been dubbed ) died down by the heart of the calendar week. Most of the rook was excited about the forthcoming Hogsmeade misstep and then the wintertime vacation. Professor Longbottom sent around a sign-up sheet for those students who wished to stay home plate during the holiday, although none of Albus's acquaintance signed it.

“ I've always wondered what it would be like to stay, ” John said as Professor Longbottom passed by.

“ Me too, ” Albus agreed. “ But my parents already said I can't this year since there's some big Ministry Christmastime party we've got to go to. For the election and all. ”

“ Lapplander here, ” Matt said. “ We're not even going to Australia because of it. ”

“ Wow, that's the second class in a row, ” Albus replied.

Matt nodded. “ My grandparents are coming here and then we're visiting them over the summer. ”

“ I think we should all stay next year, ” Kaden said. “ Then I can go a unharmed schooling year without seeing my grandparents. Or Aunt Marge. ”

Albus agreed that that was a good reason to stay at Hogwarts over the holiday. “ Yeah, that would be fun. My dad says the castle's great at Christmas. ”

“ It would be interesting to see what Yuletide is like, ” Amanda said. Amanda's kin was Jewish and celebrated Channukkah.

“ You're welcome to amount to our grandparents'house for Yule this twelvemonth, ” Rose suggested.

Amanda grinned. “ I'll ask my parents. I'm sure they'll say yes since Hanukkah was early this twelvemonth and I've already missed it anyway. ”

“ Rose, you've got Charles William Post, ” Albus said, gesturing to pink wine's family's owl, which had just landed on the table.

“ Oh, good ! ” pink wine said as she ripped spread the letter. She scanned it for a moment before smiling widely. “ I won't be going to Hogsmeade with you. ”

“ You won't be ? ” Albus gave her a quizzical look.

“ No. Mum and Dad are taking me to the debate that's that day. I owled them a few Clarence Shepard Day Jr. ago to see if I could go and they said yes ! ”

“ You want to go to another one ? ” John asked.

“ I'd go to all of them if I could. They're just so fascinating. ” She scanned the letter again. “ I'm supposed to to to Kendrick's work at ten on Saturday to floo home. ”

“ What's this one on ? ” Albus asked.

“ Law enforcement. The Auror department. How it's run and and how trials are run. I think it's going to be the most interesting one since both Uncle Sir Henry Percy and Laurentis have already hinted at their views on that topic. ”

That was for sure. This debate would probably be even more explosive than the one on education. “ You'll have to let us know all the point, ” Albus said.

“ Oh I will, ” Rose replied. “ It's why I wanted to go. I'd rather not learn everything second hand from the Prophet. ”

She had a point there, Albus thought. Although he was glad that rosiness was the one going and not him. As much as he thought the election was interesting, he'd rather be in Hogsmeade with his ally than sitting in a court listening to pol all day.


A/N : Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed this so far ! I'm almost done with shoal ( forever ! ) so I'm hoping to update more often.


The week leading up to the Hogsmeade trip dragged by very slowly. Albus was certain that Wednesday in particular was at to the lowest degree twice as long as a normal day and by the meter Friday finally decided to make an appearance Albus was surely he would go insane from all the homework he had to complete. Tuesday had been the full lunation, but luckily Matt left the infirmary wing Th good afternoon and had been cleared by Madam Pomfrey to go to Hogsmeade.

When Sat arrived there was a welcomed break in the blizzard that had blanketed the Hogwarts primer in two feet of snowfall. Albus and his Quaker slept late and by the time they woke up Rose had already left to go to that day's debate. Albus, Matt, and John quickly dressed and met Kaden and Amanda in the green room.

Fred accosted Albus as he was about to leave. “ Albus ! Glad I found you. I booked the rake for today at three since there's a recess in the storm. ”

“ But Fred, it's Hogsmeade today, ” Albus pointed out. As much as he loved Quidditch, Hogsmeade trips were rarefied social function and he had Christmas shopping to do.

“ Exactly ! ” Fred exclaimed. “ So none of the other squad have booked the lurch. It's booked self-colored the rest of the workweek and we need another drill in before break starts. ”

Albus sighed. Fred was right, of course of action. He glanced at his watch. It was noon, so if they hurried through tiffin he would still receive a good two hours in the hamlet. “ All right. I'll see you at three. ”

“ Excellent, ” Fred said. “ Just have to feel Saint James the Apostle.... ”

Amanda snorted and started laughing. Fred, who had turned to leave, stopped and looked back at her. “ What ? ”

Albus, King John, matte, and Kaden also looked questioningly at Amanda.

“ Oh, I guess I forgot to tell you, ” Amanda began. “ rosebush and I were in the library net week and overheard James River asking some Hufflepuff fifth year out. They're going to Hogsmeade together today. ”

Fred burst out laughing. “ hold, James has a escort ? ”

“ James asked a miss out in the library ? ” Albus joined Fred in his laughter.

“ Don't tell him that Rose and I overheard him, ” Amanda said. “ He'd murder us if he knew it was us who told. ”

“ Bet he's already in Hogsmeade, then, ” Fred said, still laughing. “ They better not be in dame Puddifoot's because I don't fancy going in there to distinguish him about practice. ”

Albus was still laughing about the idea of James asking a girl out in the library of all places. He wondered who the Hufflepuff was. Maybe he'd manage to entrance a glance of them in Hogsmeade together.

“ He's not actually going to leave her to go to Quidditch practice, ” Amanda shouted after Fred as he left the common room.

“ He will if the appointment's going poorly, ” Fred shouted back and disappeared into the corridor.

“ Well let's hurry up and get to Hogsmeade, ” Albus said. “ I want to see if I can forecast out who this lady friend is. ”

Albus hurried out of the common room followed by his admirer. They ate a very rushed lunch in the Great entrance hall and then ran outside and down the itinerary to Hogsmeade. As they neared the village Albus kept his center peeled for his pal.

“ Where to first ? ” matt asked.

“ Weasleys & # 039 ;, ” King John and Kaden said together.

Albus and Matt shared a coup d'oeil. They should possess known. They followed bathroom and Kaden as the two prankish son led the way to Weasleys'star Wheezes.

The shop was packed to capacity as it always was on Hogsmeade weekends. Albus waved to his Uncle George who was behind the counter ringing people up as fast as the till would let him. Teddy was working that weekend and was restocking a ledge of Skiving Snackboxes. can and Kaden each grabbed two as the boys passed.

Albus grabbed a few Extendable spike as his seemed to have disappeared and a box of Deluxe whizbang for King James for Christmas. He joined the long queue at the cashbox and was joined by John and Kaden who each had blazonry overflowing with ware. Matt and Amanda weren't buying anything and were playing with a few pygmy Puffs that were in a John Cage in the front of the stock.

“ Neither of you have seen James II, have you ? ” Albus asked.

“ Nope, ” John said. “ Bet they're at the deuce-ace Broomsticks. ”

“ Or that billet that Fred mentioned. Madam whatever ? ” Kaden put in.

“ brothel keeper Puddifoot's, ” Albus said. “ Horrifying situation. Covered in frilly thing, and ping stuff. ”

“ Let's not go there, ” Kaden said.

Albus and John the Divine both agreed. They would bet for James, just not at Madam Puddifoot's. The queue moved relatively quickly and soon Albus, trick, and Kaden had their supplies.

The next stop was Honeyduke's where everyone stocked up on confect and Albus bought a Yuletide present tense for Lily. Then they made their way to the Quaffle Shop and then the terzetto broom handle. Albus had yet to see James, but his time was quickly running out. He had a half hr before he had to head up back to the rook for Quidditch practice.

whoremaster went to the bar to get five Butterbeers while the residual of the group found a table. Luckily Scorpius Malfoy was nowhere in deal. Albus gazed around the bar until he spotted his brother's familiar red whisker. Unfortunately the daughter he was with was facing away from Albus's table so all he knew was that she had very long, very direct brown hair.

“ There they are, ” Albus whispered to Matt, Kaden, and Amanda. “ Any of you know who the girl is ? ”

“ That's Gabby Ellis, ” John said as he returned with the Butterbeers. “ My cousin knows her. She's one of the fifth yr prefects. ”

“ wait, so James not only asked her out in the library, but she's also a prefect ? ” Albus exclaimed.

“ Guess so. ” lav shrugged. “ I'll never ask out a prefect. Now he's going to feature to find out his step. ”

“ You realize that there's a commodity opportunity one of us might be a prefect next class, ” Amanda pointed out.

“ Nah, they'll pick Bilius or Ethan, ” bathroom said. “ They'd never beak me, Al, or flatness after that prank. ”

“ well rose is obviously going to be a prefect, ” Amanda said.

“ We'll just consume to sneak around more adjacent year, ” John said. “ Can't have a prefect knowing about our pranks. ”

“ Dervish and Banges is still unoccupied, ” Matt said, changing the subject. “ Don't you think that's kind of odd ? ”

Albus hadn't really thought about it. “ Yeah, but no one's going to want to buy a shop where someone was murdered. ”

“ Still, it's just strange, ” Matt said as he sipped his Butterbeer.

“ Someone might still own it, ” Amanda pointed out. “ They might not require to do anything with it or sell it. ”

“ Guess that's a unspoiled point, ” flatness said.

“ Look, James and the daughter are getting up, ” Kaden said.

Albus turned and saw that Henry James was indeed rising from his chair. Gabby did as well and the two of them walked side of meat by incline out of the pub. Gabby was pretty, Albus had to admit. Her eyes were hopeful and her buttock were pink. James II was grinning. Neither of them noticed Albus or the others on their way out the door.

“ Think he'll exhibit to Quidditch practice ? ” John asked.

“ If he values his life sentence, ” Albus replied. “ speech production of that, I should probably get going. ”

Albus said goodby to his supporter and headed back out into the frigidity. The sun was out and there was no wind, but it was still bitingly cold. He trudged his way through the snow and back up to the castle, where he ran up to Gryffindor towboat to drop off his purchase and change into his Quidditch robes.

The rest of the team was already on the pitching when Albus arrived. Fred was arguing with James about something while the sleep of the team stood off to the side.

“ She's not even on their team ! ” James shouted. “ She's not going to steal any of our plays. ”

“ But she's still a Hufflepuff and this is a closed drill ! ” Fred argued.

Albus glanced over to the stands and saw Gabby sitting there, wrapped in a very large Hufflepuff mantle. She smiled and waved at Albus, who gave a slight wafture back.

“ I couldn't just leave her. I promised we'd spend the day together. ”

“ And she wants to watch you spiel Quidditch ? ” Fred asked. “ Fine, fine. She can stay. Let's just get going. We're wasting time. ”

Fred and James joined the rest of the mathematical group. “ All right wing ! ” Fred shouted. “ Let's fly around the pitch a few multiplication to get warmed up. ”

Albus mounted his broom and soared into the air. He joined the rest of the team in their flight of stairs around the tar and lost himself in flying. It was nice to just fly and blank out about everything else that was on his psyche.

The practice went incredibly well. It was their effective praxis in weeks since the weather was cooperating. The Gryffindor team did not have any emergence with playing, but the weather was usually awful whenever they practiced. Fred insisted this was a good thing since it would help them get a line how to take on in matches with bad consideration but no one else agreed. Albus was very happy to give birth a practice where the status were nonpareil. It made Quidditch so much Thomas More enjoyable.

James and Gabby hurried off as soon as practice ended and the rest of the team walked back to the castle together. They were nearly back to Gryffindor tower when Rose, Matt, John, Kaden, and Amanda came running towards Albus, all five looking slightly terrified.

“ What's wrong ? ” Fred asked.

“ It's nothing, ” blush wine said. “ We just involve to utter to Albus. ”

“ Meet us in the elbow room after you stash your Calluna vulgaris, ” Matt whispered and the five of them hurried off.

Albus hurried into the unwashed room and up to his dormitory. He had absolutely no idea what was going on, but it must give birth just had to do with his friends because everyone else in the usual way was acting normally. Albus quickly put his ling away and ran back out to the corridor.

It didn't take him long to reach the Marauder's Den. All his admirer were sitting quietly and looked up at him when he entered.

“ What in the public figure of Merlin is going on ? ” Albus asked.

“ Two things, ” Rose began. “ One, the debate. It was... well... insane is the solely word to describe it, really. And two, I'll let everyone else explain that first. ”

“ Malfoy was lurking near the shrieking Shack, ” lusterlessness said. “ After you went to Quidditch practice we walked around the small town and noticed him. It looked like he was trying to get in. ”

“ Did he ? ” Albus asked.

“ No, he can't, ” Matt said. “ There's wards. It's just odd. He was alone. ”

“ Does he bed that that's where you go ? ” Albus replied as he sat down next to Rose.

Matt shook his head. “ I'm not really worried about it, either. It's just very weird. ”

“ Malfoy is champion with Felix Willinson so anything weird that he does need to be remembered, ” Albus said darkly.

“ That's what I said, ” John replied.

“ He's not the first off one to be curious about the Shrieking Shack, ” matt pointed out.

This was different, Albus thought. He would own expected matt to be the one worried about this, not John.

“ But he's Malfoy ! It's not dependable that he's trying to get in, ” John said.

“ fountainhead he can't get in. And he already knows what I am, ” Matt countered. “ Let's just bury about it for now. What rose has to say is far worse. ”

Albus turned to look at Rose, who looked upset and slightly scared. That was strange in itself since Albus could hardly remember a clip when rose was scared.

“ The debate was on law enforcement, ” rosiness said quietly. “ She wants to completely change the section of Magical Law Enforcement. She wants to investigate every undivided Auror and reorganize the department because she doesn't think matter are working as they are. She... well... she basically called your dad incompetent. ”

Albus stared at his cousin. He could not think what he was hearing. Albus's dad had been in charge of the Auror department for years and there had never been any complaints. How could Laurentis just insult him like that ?

“ Which means she's going to misplace, ” John said confidently. “ No one's going to vote for someone who insults Harry Potter. ”

“ No, ” Rose whispered. “ They will. There's been newspaper column in the prophesier for weeks about how the current Ministry isn't working. She has support. ”

“ That's insane, ” Albus said. “ What did Uncle Percy do ? ”

“ Argued with her, ” Rose said. “ Talked about all the right your dad has done, but she argued right back. ”

“ What about everyone there ? Did they clap for her ? ” Albus asked.

“ Everyone clapped for everyone. They were all genteel about it and there was no way to narrate who supported who, ” rosiness said. “ If you ask me, I think she's going to supercede all the Heads of department who don't agree with her. She's going to desire mass in index who are on her side. ”

“ Which means my dad will be gone, ” Albus said. “ Everyone knows he supports Uncle Percy. It's obvious. ”

“ So that leaves what, Matt's dad's job, heading of Magical Law Enforcement, head word of Magical shipping, and what else ? ” John asked as he counted on his fingers. “ There's got to be more. ”

“ There are, ” rose said as she stood up and began pacing around the way. “ International Magical Cooperation, Magical stroke and disaster, Magical Games and Sports, and then the Department of Mysteries. ”

“ Do you have intercourse anything about the chief of those section ? ” Gospel According to John asked.

“ The lady who's mind of Magical Law Enforcement was here during the argument. She's really old and Dad says Mum is a shoe-in for her job when she retires, ” Rose said. “ But I don't know much about the others. The bloke in charge of witching Transportation moderated the first debate. ”

“ That's eight view, ” lusterlessness said quietly, “ and she could supervene upon all of them. That would wrap up being an entirely new Ministry. ”

“ Essentially, yes, ” rose said as she sank into an armchair. “ That's why it's so bad. There's a reasonableness most newly elected minister don't substitute everyone. It's too lots upheaval. But if she wants prompt change, it would be the easiest way to get it done. ”

“ What's the next debate on ? ” Amanda asked.

“ Azkaban, ” blush wine said. “ Originally they were going to debate Azkaban with law enforcement, but Laurnetis requested a single out Azkaban disputation. She's in heraldic bearing of it, so I'm not surprised. ”

“ And when is it ? ” Amanda replied.

“ Just after the new year, ” Rose answered. “ Once we're all back in schooltime. Then February's debate is on magical creatures- ”

“ Oh that's going to be good, ” lustrelessness said. “ speculation that's when we'll feel out if my dad keeps his job after the election if she wins. ”

“ And then in border district they debate International Magical Cooperation. Then it's the election at the beginning of Apr, ” Rose continued. “ That one is going to take aim billet here. So is the Azkaban one. ”

“ I still don't think anyone's going to vote for her, ” trick muttered. “ Anyone who sacks Harry ceramist wouldn't get plenty votes. ”

“ You'd be surprised, whoremonger, ” Amanda said. “ It sounds like she's playing to everyone's fears. I mean, I haven't been in the magical world long, but it seems like everyone fears another Voldemort. If she makes it seem like the current Ministry and Auror department are too lenient and jot at the possibleness of another war, and then claims that she could squelch it before it became a war, she would easily get the ballot. People are easily persuaded. ”

“ That's exactly it, ” Rose agreed.

The room descended into uncomfortable silence. At the beginning of the school year, none of them had a lot interest in the election or the Ministry in general, but now, just a few months later, Albus and his friends were learning just how a good deal the outcome of the election would affect them. The possibility of drastic change to both Hogwarts and the wizarding world did not sit well with Albus, especially if it meant both his and mat's dad were out of a job.
***


The remaining week of schooltime went by quickly. With the looming holidays and break from school day, hardly anyone in the palace was focusing on homework or the election. Instead, the chatter that filled the Great Hall during meals was about Christmastide and snowball scrap and disbursement fourth dimension with family. Albus was sucked into the Yuletide sunniness as well, but the election was still on the backrest of his mind.

For Albus, rose wine, and the relaxation of the Weasley/Potter clan, the Dec 25 holiday would be wrapped up in the election. A New class's party at the curate's Mansion was scheduled for New Year's Eve, for all of the high-level functionary and their families, as well as Hotspur, Laurentis, and their families. All of Albus's extended family line would be attending. But perhaps the most bizarre prospect of the vacation was the fact that Uncle Walker Percy was going to allow for a reporter from Wizards mag to stick to him for not only the Ministry party, but Christmas at the Burrow as well.

“ This is just weird ! ” Cedric exclaimed at breakfast the last day of condition. “ A reporter ? At the burrow ? And it says she's going to be staying with us. ”

Cedric handed the letter back to Bradley, whom it had been addressed to. Bradley pulled out his wand and burned it, which seemed to be his new way of dealing with Charles William Post from his father.

“ Did grandma match to this ? ” James asked as he loaded his photographic plate with bacon.

“ She must've, ” Thomas Bradley said. “ Anything to get Dad elected, probably. ”

“ I kind of agree with her, ” Albus said. “ I don't want that Laurentis woman to win. ”

“ Neither do I, but I don't want some reporter staying with us at the Burrow, ” Cedric said adamantly.

“ Guess you won't be getting the real Weasley Yule experience, ” Albus said to Amanda, whose parents had given permission to stay with rose for Christmas.

Amanda shrugged. “ Not a big deal. With your sept, it's bound to be interesting. ”

“ You have no musical theme, ” Albus said. “ We'd better get to History of Magic. ”

Albus got up and his ally followed. Despite the fact that it was the death day of term, professor Binns still gave a lecture. nonentity paid him an oz. of attention. The eternal sleep of the professors didn't bother teaching any new cloth as they figured the students would just forget it over the break. Professor Cedonia set them a practical lesson, but didn't scold them when they stopped charming their teacups to dance and instead talked about Christmas. Hagrid had a large balefire going to sustain them warm up, but didn't Thatch anything. Instead, he told the report of Norberta and bawled about how a good deal he missed her. In antediluvian Runes, there was an test.

The following morning Albus and his friends climbed aboard the Hogwarts Express for the trip back to British capital. On the Hogwarts limited, Albus felt weirdly immune to everything that was happening in the wizarding world. He felt secure from Jarrett Willinson and somehow the election didn't seem as big a deal. The gearing was like its own little universe with only students and sweets from the trolley ; on the train, cipher bad could happen.


Long hiatus ! I apologize for that. I am now working on this for the secondly one-half of June's coterie NaNoWriMo, so I'm hoping to get a bunch of chapters written so I can go back to weekly updates. Thanks so much for all the reviews !


“ Remember, don't say anything in figurehead of her you don't want printed in the article, ” Harry said as they walked toward the Burrow.

“ volition she really impress anything ? ” Lily asked.

“ Yes, ” Harry said.

It was Christmas Eve and Albus and the rest of the Potters had just Apparated to the theatre behind the Burrow. Albus was a bit nervous about being in the presence of a newsman from Wizards cartridge holder and was not at all acute about being in an article. He was relieved they were late, as usual, because by now the newsperson would probably be involved in listening to somebody else's conversation and might not even notice Albus.

“ And James, don't even think about slipping something into her soup, ” Ginny said sternly.

Harry, who had just put his bridge player on the doorknob, turned around and stared at James. “ Seriously, James, absolutely not. ”

“ I wasn't going to ! ” James said. “ I swear ! ”

Harry sighed. “ Empty your pockets. ”

“ But I wasn't going to- ”

“ Jesse James Sirius ceramicist, listen to your Father-God, ” Ginny said.

Albus put his hand over his mouth to hide his laughter while his brother pulled a handful of Ton-Tongue toffy and a vial of Weasleys'Itchiest itch powder out of his pocket. Ginny took them and incinerated them with her verge. She brushed the ash onto the ground and St. James stared at it longingly.

“ Shut up, Albus, ” James I muttered as Harry opened the door.

That just made Albus laugh even harder, earning him a punch in the shoulder from Saint James. Albus returned the punch while Lily rolled her eyes.

“ Boys, cut it out, ” Ginny scolded.

“ Ginny ! Harry ! ” mollie exclaimed as they stepped inside. “ Happy Christmastide ! ”

“ Happy Christmas, Mum, ” Ginny said as the two hugged.

Albus slipped past after giving his granny a fast hug, grabbing a handful of biscuits on his way to the den. The first matter he noticed was that the reporter was sitting on a pot in the street corner. She stuck out like a Weasley at a Malfoy gathering, in her black skirt, flowery top, high-heeled shoes. Who wore heels to the Burrow ? Weird, Albus thought. Her coal-black haircloth was done up in some kind of bun and her lip were smeared with bright red lip rouge.

The bit thing Albus noticed was just how clean the Burrow was. He hadn't noticed it in the kitchen, what with the many toilet and cup of tea wide-cut of warm, steaming solid food, but out in the den, it was very obtrusive. The Burrow was never contaminating, exactly, but it wasn't immaculately neat like Matt and Kaden's houses were. Instead it merely looked lived in, Albus always thought. It was cluttered with hemorrhoid of ledger and stacks of circuit card secret plan and various Muggle and magical devices. Blankets and pillows were thrown haphazardly onto couches and chairs, never being folded or stacked neatly. But today, everything was refined. The sight of Holy Writ had been shelved and the blanket folded. The sheer sum of money of stuff seemed to have been moved or vanished because Albus didn't see a single Muggle electronic gimmick half-taken apart on the story or table. It was eccentric. The burrow didn't look like the Burrow without its welter. You never knew what you'd find at the burrow and Albus liked that.

Shaking his head slightly, Albus carefully stepped around a few of his cousins and walked over to where rose wine and Amanda were sitting on the base. They had a large platter of food in front of them, making Albus realize how thirsty he was.

“ So, what have I missed ? ” he asked in between bites of bankroll. “ I see someone cleaned. ”

“ grandma did. Said she wanted to stool a sound belief. Uncle Percy's been bragging loudly to the reporter about all the Torah he's helped pass, ” Rose said. “ But all the reporter wants to do is consultation the residue of us. I guess her article is all about where Uncle Percy came from and what his house is like. ”

“ Who's she talked to so far ? ” Albus asked.

“ aunty Corrine, Gran, Gramps, Uncle Bill, Uncle Fred, both of my parents, Victoire, Samantha, and lindy hop, ” Rose said.

“ Wow. Already ? ”

“ She hasn't wasted any time, ” Amanda said.

“ There's a photographer around here somewhere, ” rosebush said as she glanced around the room. “ Oh there he is. ”

rosiness indicated to the stairs, where Harry Hotspur was leading a scrawny bloke back into the den.

“ Is he wearing- ”

“ Dress robes ? ” rose wine said. “ Yeah, he's been wearing them all night. ”

“ Let's get a few stab of you playing a game with the Twins, ” the photographer said as he and Percy walked preceding Albus, Rose, and Amanda.

“ Wonderful theme ! ” the reporter exclaimed as she hopped off her stool.

“ How did she hear that ? ” Albus whispered to Rose.

“ Harry ceramicist's son ! ” the reporter said as she grabbed Albus's arm, causing him to drop the cookie he was holding. “ Let's get him in the guessing, too. Hmm... ” she glanced around the room, her eyes finally coming to rest on Amanda. “ We'll need a shot with you and Walker Percy as well. Candidate plays Exploding snap bean with the peak minister of religion's niece ! perfect ! I could not hold planned this better. ”

“ How did she know that I'm the Prime Minister's niece ? ” Amanda asked.

“ She knows everything, ” pink wine said darkly. “ Creepy, really. ”

Albus soon found himself playing a snoop game of Exploding ginger snap with Uncle Walker Percy, Samantha, and Lindy. The whole affair was very laughable since none of them were photographed with ash on their faces. Then it was Amanda's bout, but she was posed with a set of Wizard's Bromus secalinus, “ for variety. ”

“ Now that's something Laurentis won't have, ” Harry Hotspur said jovially after the photographer finished. “ picture with the efflorescence diplomatic minister's niece. ”

“ But nobody knows I'm the prime Minister's niece, ” Amanda said once she, blush wine, and Albus escaped into the kitchen. “ It's supposed to be a secret. ”

“ Maybe it won't get printed, ” Albus said.

“ God, I hope not, ” Amanda muttered. “ So is this what Christmastime Eve is usually like ? ”

“ Mostly, ” Albus said as he walked over to the doorway. He peered into the den and took blood line of what his sept was up to.

His uncles Fred, Ron, Bill, and Charlie, were nighest to the kitchen and were singing'Odo the Hero.'All four had mugs of eggnog in hand. granny was listening to Celestina Warbeck while Aunt Fleur glared at the wireless. It seemed to be distracting her from the conversation she was having with aunty Katherine and Aunt Hermione. Most of his cousin-german were eating or laughing about one affair or another. Samantha and Lindy were playing Exploding Snap for real now, along with Eddie and Angie.

In fact, the lone one who seemed to be acting any differently was Uncle Percy, who was talking with the newsman and the photographer. aunty Corrine was as well, but none of their elder baby were anywhere in heap.

“ rich person you seen Omar Nelson Bradley, Cedric, or Georgia anywhere ? ” Albus asked Rose.

“ Actually, no, ” Rose said. “ Let's go notice them. ”

Albus and Amanda followed Rose out of the kitchen and up the stairs. As they peered into each bedroom, Albus found out just where his gran had stored all the stuff that used to be in the den. Every I room had a pile of random stuff in it. They eventually found their three cousin-german hiding out in Uncle Ron's old bedroom at the top of the house. They were sitting on one of the bottom and were deep in conversation.

“ What's going on in here ? ” Albus asked as they shut the door.

All three startled, but then seemed relieved to feel it was only Albus, rose wine, and Amanda.

“ We're avoiding the reporter, ” Georgia said, “ and talking about how much it will draw if Dad gets elected. ”

“ But Laurentis is bloody insane, ” Albus said as he stepped over a typewriter and sat down on the opposite bed. “ Uncle Hotspur has to win. ”

“ wellspring, I don't want him to, ” Bradley said. “ Do you realize how often life will change if he does ? ”

“ I've got a bit of an approximation, ” Amanda said, sitting down next to Albus. Rose sat on his other side of meat.

“ Before his drive started no one really knew what Dad did, ” Omar Nelson Bradley said. “ Or even who he was. I mean, if they heard his epithet they would know him, but he was just Percy Weasley. Do you know what I mean ? ”

“ He'll be Hotspur Weasley, government minister of Magic. Not just Percy Weasley, your dad, ” Amanda said. “ government minister isn't a just a job. It's not something he'll leave at the office at five. It's more a lifestyle. ”

“ Exactly ! ” Bradley agreed.

“ And you'll always be the parson's son, ” Amanda said.

“ How do you eff all this ? ” Cedric looked at Amanda strangely.

“ My Uncle's the prime of life Minister, ” Amanda said casually.

“ Of U.K. ? ” Omar Bradley exclaimed. “ And you've kept this cloak-and-dagger for four years ? ”

“ Yeah. It won't be for much tenacious since that lensman just took a picture of me with your dad, ” Amanda said. “ Anyway, you're veracious that your animation won't be the same if he gets elected. And even after his term is up you'll still always be the Minister's son. ”

“ And we'd have to move into the Minister's Mansion, ” Bradley said.

“ You wouldn't. You're going to graduate in June, ” Cedric pointed out. “ And Georgia already moved out. ”

“ You'll be in Hogwarts most of the yr, ” Georgia pointed out.

There was a bang on the door and then it swung wide opened. Percy stood in the doorway flanked by the reporter and photographer. Percy had changed out of his gown and was now wearing a green Weasley pinny with a red'P'on the front end. In his arms was a stack of what appeared to be more Weasley jumpers.

“ There you lot are, ” Walker Percy said. “ We're doing a image of the completely family in our jumpers. ” He tossed one to each of his children and then one each to Albus and blush wine. “ Get changed and get downstairs. ”

“ Are they all initial jumpers this year ? ” Georgia asked as she held hers up. It was grey with a purple'G.'

“ Must be, ” Albus said as he yanked off the pinny he was wearing and pulled on his new one. It was sorry with a gold'A.'

“ Bet it's to take a crap us look like a cheesy family, ” Bradley muttered as he changed.

Once they'd all changed Albus and Rose followed their full cousin back down to the den. Amanda followed as well, but she lingered on the stairs, clearly not wanting to be dragged into anymore photographs.

Albus's entire family line was posed in half the den. The photographer was running around making small modification, which Albus thought was unpointed. There was no way he was going to get thirty-two hoi polloi to all aspect at the camera and smile nicely at the Sami time.

The photographer noticed Albus, rose, Georgia, Omar Nelson Bradley, and Cedric and shoved Albus in between William James and Lily, who were sitting right in the heart, on the base.

“ Lovely ! ” the lensman exclaimed a few minutes later. He ran to the other English of the way and stuck his point behind the television camera. “ Everyone smiling ! Beautiful ! ” He took dozens of film and Albus soon grew tired of sitting still and smiling.

“ Wonderful ! ” the reporter shouted once the photographer finally finished. “ I think we've got what we need. I wish you all a felicitous Christmas. The article should be out just after New yr's. ”

“ I thought she was staying for tomorrow, too, ” Albus whispered to Rose.

pink wine shrugged. “ Maybe she got enough from just one nighttime. Either that or she got overwhelmed. ”

Percy walked the reporter and photographer out of the tunnel, thanking them profusely as he did so.

“ Bedtime, everyone ! ” mollie shouted.

No one objected. It had certainly been the foreign Christmas Eve gathering the Weasley mob had ever had and Albus was very much looking forward to tomorrow, when things would get back to some colour of rule. Albus walked up to bed with rose wine and Amanda, wishing them both right night when they reached Uncle Charlie's old bedroom, where the two would be staying. James, Ben, Cedric, and Bradley were already in Uncle Ron's old room when Albus arrived.

“ Quidditch tomorrow ? ” James asked as all four boy climbed into their beds.

“ You're going down, Potter, ” Omar Bradley replied.

“ Is that a challenge, Weasley ? ”

“ Sure is, ” Bradley said.

Yes, tomorrow would be a lot more convention, Albus thought. Quidditch was a Christmas tradition for his family and naught, even his uncle running for minister of religion, was going to prevent it.
***


“ And that's how we do it in Kenmare ! ” Georgia exclaimed, having just saved a destination by spinning in midair and hitting the Quaffle back into play by the end of her Scots heather. “ Kenmare Krazy Keeper move ! ”

“ You're still going to miss ! ” Bradley shouted as he hit one of the Bludgers toward Albus, who dodged it and caught the Quaffle. “ We've got shift ! ”

“ If Teddy were a veridical quester he'd be playing for a league team and not studying to be an Auror ! ” Georgia shouted back.

“ He's still not as good as James I, ” Bradley said.

“ Yeah, I taught James I everything he knows ! ” teddy bear said as he flew past, heading toward Empire State of the South's left destination post. “ And that's plot ! ” he shouted, returning with the canary clutched in his deal. “ Aurors have to have constant wakefulness, just like Seekers. ”

Albus flew to the basis, still holding the Quaffle. It had been a good game, even though his team had lost, but the temperature was dropping and the swarm were rolling in. It was a good time to head back inside for Christmas dinner, especially since the scent of roast turkey and potatoes had been drifting out of doors for the preceding one-half hour.

Tables, already covered in numerous ravisher of food, had been set up in the kitchen extending into the den while they played. Albus hurried up the stairs to switch and when he returned, everyone was drifting toward the tabular array. Albus hurried to the seat rosiness and Amanda had saved him, which thankfully was nowhere good Percy.

“ How was Quidditch ? ” rosebush asked.

“ Good, ” Albus said. “ We lost, but Teddy's pretty a lot unvanquishable, so I wasn't surprised. ”

“ I'm surprised he didn't romp professionally, ” Amanda said.

“ He thought about it, ” Albus explained. “ And he had offers, but he deferred them for a class because he wasn't sure. Then he just decided to fall in the Auror Academy, because of his parents, you know. ”

“ Makes sense, ” Amanda said.

“ I'd like to take in a toast, ” Walker Percy announced after everyone was seated. He held up his glass of pumpkin juice. “ I just want to say thank you, to all of you, for putting up with the reporter yesterday, and for everything you've done for the campaign. We only have three month to go, so let's make the virtually of it. sustain up all the great body of work. Here's to a win in April ! ”

Albus clinked glassful with pink wine and Amanda and then served himself a boastfully helping of turkey. This was what he enjoyed the most about Christmas Day at the burrow. As he he ate, he listened in on the conversations his cousins, aunt, and uncles were having.

To Albus's left, his aunt Hermione was giving James IV, Cedric, and Ben study baksheesh for their O.W.L.s. The male child were nodding as if they were listening, but Albus knew they weren't. Victoire and shift were holding hands under the table, which was kind of funny because Victoire was having to eat with her left handwriting, a accomplishment she clearly did not own. James, Bradley, and Peach State were discussing Quidditch with Uncles George and Ron. Eddie was showing the twins, Lily, and Hugo just how many peas he could fit into his oral cavity at once. Percy was, of form, discussing the mettlesome details of his campaign with his wife and parents. Fred and scar were telling Angie about the closed book passage that lead into the basement of Honeyduke's. The rest of his family was too far away for Albus to try what exactly they were saying, but everyone seemed happy.

“ This is what it's really like, ” Albus told Amanda. “ Usually there are a few pranks. ”

“ You missed one before, ” Rose said while Amanda laughed. “ Henry James put one of those wind-up pygmy puff of air in Gran's biggest pot, so while she was chopping vegetables it jumped out and started screeching. Aunt Ginny knew it was James IV, too. He got chewed out while you were upstairs changing. ”

“ She had no cogent evidence ! ” James IV cut in. “ It could have been Cedric. ”

“ But it wasn't, ” rose said. “ It was you. ”

“ King James I, did you learn me ? ” Hermione asked. “ I was just saying how you need to set about with your frail guinea pig starting time. Honestly, you should've started preparing last year. Albus, rosebush, Amanda, are you listening ? You should start revision now. ”

“ I started hebdomad ago, Mum, ” Rose said.

Hermione smiled. “ That's my girl. ”

“ She'll be favorable if James starts revising a month before, ” Albus whispered to Amanda.

“ That would be poor fish, ” rosebush said. “ What does he want to do after Hogwarts ? He'll need sure O.W.L.s to get into the right hand N.E.W.T. classes. ”

“ He's got no approximation, ” Albus said, “ except he wants to play Quidditch. ”

“ He'd full get going, ” Rose said.

“ Oh, and I suppose you've got it all figured out, rosiness ? ” James IV asked.

“ As a matter of fact, I'm thought of getting into psychopathology, ” Rose said. “ Get my healing stage, specializing in psychiatry. ”

“ Fine, then, ” James muttered.

“ Really ? ” Albus asked.

Rose nodded. “ I've been thinking about it since summertime and it's really want I want to do. ”

“ Don't you think you're a bit young to have decided that ? ” Albus asked.

“ matte's sister had it all figured out in fourth year and spirit where she is now, ” rose pointed out.

She did have a point there, Albus thought. mat's sister was well on her way to getting both her healing and brewing degrees, with only two and a half Thomas More years to go. Albus didn't even want to think about what he would do after he graduated from Hogwarts. It was too far away.

“ I have an announcement to puddle ! ” Gabriella said as she stood up.

The elbow room quieted and everyone turned to appear at Gabriella. She wasn't usually one to urinate spoken language or announcements during family dinner party. In fact, she was one of the quieter of Albus's full cousin, certainly not coming near to the level of boisterousness of Bradley, James II, or Empire State of the South.

“ Thanks, ” she said. “ None of you know this yet, since I figured I'd just secern you all at once today. I've decided to make a motion to France. ”

The room was silent, a great deal like it was after Percy announced his intent to run for Minister at the before school dinner party. Then, as happened after Percy's announcement, everyone began to verbalise at once.

“ You're what ? ” Bill exclaimed.

“ Gabriella, honey ! ” Fleur shouted, dropping her glass of wine-colored. “ What prompted this ? ”

“ The political climate in Jacques Anatole Francois Thibault is very unfirm, ” Walker Percy said. “ I wouldn't recommend moving there. ”

“ What are you going to do there ? ” Calluna vulgaris asked.

Albus wasn't at all surprised. Gabriella had spent a few weeks in Anatole France that dip and seemed to enjoy it. He wasn't sure why her parents seemed so surprised.

“ If everyone could just let me babble out ! ” Gabriella shouted. The room quieted one Thomas More. “ I've already cleared it with Grandmere and Grandpere. They're going to let me delay with them until I get on my feet. When I painted there this fall it just felt so right. My picture there were so much honorable than the ones I've painted here- ”

“ But what will you do for money ? ” Bill asked. “ You know I could still get you that internship. This is crazy. ”

“ Dad, it's what I want to do. I don't want to spend everyday in an office and miss out on life. No crime. house painting is what I love. I want to try this. ”

“ But Gabriella, it's not practical- ” Bill began.

“ Bill, ” Molly said quietly. “ She's just rebelling a bit. You did the same when you were her age. Remember the earring ? The hair ? ”

Bill's grimace reddened. “ It's not the Sami, Mum. I had a job. I wasn't learning the finer full point of being a starving artist ! ”

“ Dad ! I'm a undecomposed artist ! I'm not going to starve ! ”

“ You know my parents would never let her hunger, ” Fleur said.

“ That's not the distributor point. The point is that she should be doing something productive. When Victoire was her age- ”

“ I'm not Victoire ! ” Gabriella exclaimed. She turned and left the room, running up the stair. A few import later a door slammed.

Bill made to get up, but Victoire put her hand on his berm, forcing him back into his seat. “ Dad, I'll go. ”

The room lapsed into uncomfortable silence after Victoire took off after her baby. Albus was slightly shocked at his uncle's dislike of Gabriella's plan. Albus had always thought of Bill as his aplomb uncle, the uncle who would be supportive of whatever his Kyd wanted to do. But now he was acting just like Harry Hotspur had about Georgia's desire to be a Quidditch player.

“ I support you, Bill, ” Sir Henry Percy said pompously. “ creative person is not a vocation. You've got to fight this. Went through the Lapp thing with Georgia- ”

“ Really, Dad ? ” Empire State of the South asked. “ After the retiring few calendar month of going to my game and making the insistency think you're supportive of my dreams, you still don't think I should play Quidditch ? ”

“ Quidditch, like painting, is a hobby, ” Walker Percy said. “ It's not a career. ”

“ You're unbelievable ! ” GA exclaimed. “ The livelihood, the cheering, it's all fraud, isn't it ? ”

“ Georgia- ”

“ You know what, Dad ? Don't even bother. ” Sakartvelo stood up and left the board in a similar manner to Gabriella.

“ This, ” Albus whispered to Amanda, “ is not normal. ”

“ I thought Gabriella liked Uncle Percy's fake sustenance, ” James River muttered.

“ well, she did at first base but she probably thought there was no way he could fake it for so long and not begin to come around. She surely thought it was real by now, ” Rose said.

“ You're going to make believe a dear head-shrinker, ” Albus said.

“ Yeah, you can start with Uncle Percy, ” St. James the Apostle said.

“ Does anyone want pud ? ” nanna asked.


A/N : Thanks for all the critique !


Never before had Albus experienced such an uneasy Christmas dinner, and that included the prison term his Aunt Katherine went into labor with Eddie at the board. After Gabriella and Sakartvelo stormed out, Gran served pudding to the remaining family member, but everyone ate in silence. Albus, Rose, and Amanda ate as fast as they could and then escaped to the one stead they didn't think anyone else would go- the noggin.

The attic of the Burrow was similar to an archaeological web site. It contained layers of Weasley household history and if you dug deep enough you could even find pictures of Uncle greenback when he was a baby. It used to house a ghoul, but the body snatcher died years before Albus was born. Albus didn't go up in the attic much anymore, but when he was piddling it had made an excellent concealing slur.

“ I never realized how like Gabriella and Georgia were, ” Albus said once they'd shut the Classical Greek door.

“ I never realized how alike Uncle Percy and Uncle Federal Reserve note were, ” rosiness replied. “ I never thought Uncle Bill would react like that. ”

“ Me either, ” Albus agreed. “ Let's not verbalize about it. I just want to do something fun. ”

“ Let's swordplay monopoly, ” Amanda said. “ It's a Muggle game. I brought it from my house. ”

Albus and rosiness readily agreed and soon the three were playing Monopoly in the attic. It took Albus and Rose a little patch to get the hang of the money, which was based on Muggle money, but once they did, it was very fun. Albus's favorite matter about it was how tenacious it took. They spent hours on one secret plan and by the time Amanda beat him and pink wine, almost all of his house was asleep.

By breakfast the following break of day nearly everything had blown over. Half of his aunts and uncles had left because they had to go to go and the other half were in the appendage of getting gear up to entrust. Some of his cousins were still there, but quite a few had left. When Albus went downstairs he noticed his uncle pecker and aunt Fleur having a talk with Gabriella over disk of sausages. Albus paused in the doorway, waiting for them to finish.

“ We don't want you to think we aren't supportive of your art, ” Federal Reserve note said. “ We are. Both of us. I just want to know you're going to be okay. ”

“ I am, Dad, ” Gabriella said. “ I'll be staying with Grandmere and Grandpere. ”

“ That's reassuring, ” visor said. “ And I did overreact terminal night. ”

Fleur snorted. “ Yes, I'd say you did. ”

“ I certainly don't want you to call back I'm anything like your uncle Percy, ” Bill whispered. “ I'd never try and hold back you from pursuing your dream. ”

“ fountainhead, painting in France is my pipe dream for now, ” Gabriella said adamantly.

“ Then we'll backup you, ” measure said. Fleur nodded in agreement. “ I'm sorry for overreacting last night. I think we were all on edge from the reporter. ”

“ Thanks, Dad, ” Gabriella said.

“ When were you planning on leaving ? ” Fleur asked.

“ After that Ministry party. Can't lose that or Uncle Percy would go insane. ”

“ The weekend after that, then, ” Bill said. “ We want to help you move. ”

Gabriella nodded. “ Thanks. ”

Bill stood up and gave his daughter a hug. “ I've got to get to form, but I'll see you at home later. I love you, Gabby. ”

“ sexual love you, too, Dad, ” Gabriella said as she hugged him back.

Albus walked into the kitchen as his uncle left, grabbing a few sausage balloon and a cinnamon bun on his way to the table. He was relieved that Uncle government note and Gabriella came to an arrangement, especially one that involved Gabriella still moving to France. He wanted his cousin to be happy and he still wanted to think of Bill as his cool uncle.

Albus returned to Grimmauld Place later that day and it only took him a few hours of tedium to come out his vacation reading. Rose and Amanda had returned to Rose's house, so without them, he was forced to be productive. In fact, Albus was actually looking forward to the Ministry party for the sole cause that he'd get to see Rose and Matt.

The few days in between pugilism Day and New Year's Eve were fairly uneventful, especially compared with Christmastide day. Empire State of the South and Uncle Percy still hadn't made up and Peach State came over for a open with Albus's mum the day before the party. Albus often forgot that his mum used to flirt master Quidditch and would be the perfect somebody for Georgia to assay advice from.

Albus attempted to listen in on their conversation via extendable Ear, but his mum must've put an interperbabble charm on the kitchen door because he couldn't hear a matter. Dejected, he put away his Extendable Ear and returned to reading his Transfiguration book of account.

Shortly after Georgia left St. James the Apostle walked in the gage doorway with a grin on his face.

“ What are you so happy about ? ” Albus asked.

“ Mum forgot to put the magical spell on the windowpane, ” St. James the Apostle said. “ I heard everything. ”

“ Well, evidence me what you heard ! ” Albus said as he closed his book.

“ I don't know.... ”

“ Come on, James, ” Albus said. “ If you do I won't tell Mum and Dad what you're provision on doing to the punch at the party tomorrow. ”

“ Fine, ” James muttered as he sat down. “ Basically, Georgia's still mad at Uncle Percy and doesn't want to go to the party tomorrow. Mum convinced her that she needs to learn the high route and be supportive of Uncle Percy even though he isn't being supportive of her. And she said there's no hush-hush to getting him to recognize Quidditch as a valid career. He just has to realize it on his own and all Empire State of the South can do is be the upright participant she can and stick out herself and not ask him for money. But then she reminded Georgia that Gramps was very supportive of her Quidditch career. ”

“ nada too commove, then, ” Albus said.

“ Nope, not really, ” James agreed. “ Going to make for an interesting political party, though. ”

“ That's for sure, ” Albus said.
***


“ Is the Minister's Mansion glowing Amytal ? ” Albus asked as he followed his parents up the winding way of life to the mansion.

It was New Year's Eve and the Potters were slightly recent for the company, as usual. This sentence James had not been the reason ; they were late because Ginny had had to lengthen Albus's robes last minute.

“ It looks that way, ” Harry answered. “ Wait until you see the inside. The election New twelvemonth's Eve party at the Minister's star sign is one of the lofty occasions the Ministry puts on, only beaten out by the party that will charter berth for the winner of the election. It's going to be far fancier than the party for Mr. Eckerton last year. ”

Albus nodded. As they drew closer to the mansion Albus noticed that the grim light seemed to stem from the ground, illuminating the planetary house as it went upward, but he could not see where the illumination came from. It looked to just appear out of the land. The path itself was lined with silver wax light.

The door was already unresolved when they reached the end of the route. A man dressed in a broad tux with full dress stood in the doorway and he took Ginny and Lily's wraps while another man led the thrower into the grand ballroom.

The dance hall was already filled to capacity and Albus noticed that nearly one-half of the hoi polloi in attendance were his aunty, uncles, and full cousin. The ballroom itself was lit by silver grey standard candle interchangeable to the ones that lined the way of life outside. The windows were draped in heavy navy curtains tied with silver gray Mexican valium and matching linens dressed the mesa and chairs scattered throughout the room. Larger tables containing phonograph recording of intellectual nourishment stood in the center of the room, each one holding an ice sculpture. The sculptures were of respective historical buildings in wizarding Britain, including one of Hogwarts.

Waiters dressed in the same tuxedos as the wizards by the door walked throughout the room carrying plates of food and swallow. After taking a look at some of the food for thought they carried, Albus wondered if there was anything normal or if it was just picture hors d'body of work.

“ Before you all take off to find your full cousin, ” Harry began, staring more at his son than at Lily. “ James II, absolutely no pranks. Albus, no sneaking off to other parts of the mansion house or going outside this twelvemonth. anticipate me, both of you. ”

“ I promise, ” Albus and Epistle of James each mumbled.

“ All right, you may go, ” Harry said. “ And sustain an eye out for your younger cousins. Make sure they're not getting into trouble. ”

Albus nodded and then slipped into the crowd in search of Matt, rosiness, and something to eat that did not resemble something his aunt Fleur's mother would make. He finally wound up at the dessert mesa where he found both a large piece of deep brown patty and his friends.

“ Albus, there you are ! ” Rose said. “ We've been here for an hour already. ”

“ Mum had to lengthen my robes, ” Albus said in between pungency of patty.

“ I'm not surprised. You grew a metrical foot in the past year, ” rosebush commented.

“ Seriously, you've got to stop, ” lusterlessness said. “ You make me face like a minute year. ”

“ Is everyone else here ? ” Albus asked as they walked over to a mostly void mesa. Its only occupant was a very old man who seemed to be taking a nap.

rosebush nodded. “ Even Georgia showed up. But I did regain out that the only understanding we were all invited was to make believe Uncle Hotspur look like more of a family man. ”

“ Really ? ” Albus asked. “ I thought it was just because crime syndicate of the campaigner were always invited. ”

“ No. Usually it's only immediate category members, plus all the Heads of departments and top Ministry officials and their families. So not all of us were going to be invited at first. It's to make us look like a very close knit family. ”

“ You are a unaired knitwork family, ” Matt said. “ It's like you're all blood brother and sisters rather than cousins. ”

“ But Uncle Percy never really involved any of us in his Ministry career before, ” Albus pointed out. “ Anyway, lustrelessness, how was your Noel ? ”

“ Good, ” mat said. “ Rose already told me about yours. Sounded much more interesting than mine. My grandparents came to visit and they went base yesterday. Mum and Cinda argued over the fact that we don't visit them enough anymore and then Mum and Amy argued over the fact that Amy never comes house except for holidays. Dad, Richard, and I just stayed out of it. I swear, those three could argue over nothing. ”

“ Sounds like yours was interesting then, ” Albus said.

Matt shrugged. “ Honestly, it's been rather boring at home. ”

“ I'm ready to get back to Hogwarts, ” Albus said. “ Is Amy here ? ”

“ Yeah, she's off with Victoire and Teddy, ” Matt said.

“ Oh, by the way, don't drink the punch, ” Albus warned them. “ James is planning to put something in it. ”

“ What ? ” Rose asked.

“ I don't know, but it'll probably be stark, ” Albus said.

“ If your uncle wins your full cousin will get to live here, ” lustrelessness said as he gazed around the room. “ Wyrd to call back about. This topographic point looks bigger than my old house. ”

“ It probably is, ” pink wine said. “ And you're right, that is Weird to reckon about. ”

The old man let out a snort and woke up. His middle darted around until they rested on Albus, Rose, and Matt. “ Who are you three ? ” he demanded.

“ Er, I'm Albus ceramicist and that's rose Weasley and matte Eckerton, ” Albus said.

His face softened. “ Oh, overnice to meet you ! I'm Angelo Correr Laurentis. My daughter's running for Minister. Could not be prouder, but I suppose she's running against your uncle. Albus potter, Merlin's beard ! I told Patty, I told her she was nuts to run against Walker Percy Weasley what with him being related to Harry thrower himself, but her party picked her to run so I suppose there was nothing I could do about it. And she couldn't turn down that opportunity.... ”

Albus glanced at Rose and lustrelessness while Laurnetis's dad continued to rattle on about how lofty he was of his girl, yet wonder at her stupidity for running against individual related to Harry thrower. He was rather funny, Albus thought.

“ This place is too damn illusion, ” Saint Gregory I Laurnetis muttered as he fingered the tablecloth. “ And the food, my God, what I wouldn't give for some bangers and mash.... ”

Albus stifled a laugh, but he did match with the old man. “ I think I hear one of my first cousin calling me, ” Albus said. “ We'd right go. ”

“ Oh, right, right, ” Gregory the Great Laurentis said. “ I don't hear anything, but then again my hearing's so bad these days. Well, good portion to your uncle, then. Not that he'll need it ! ”

“ good luck to your daughter, too, ” Albus said as he stood up.

All three burst out laughing as soon as they were out of earshot of Saint Gregory I Laurentis. A few Ministry functionary looked at them strangely as they did so, but Albus didn't fear.

“ Albus ! ” flatness suddenly whispered. “ Is that Balladanis over there ? ” matt pointed to the far back corner, where a man in plain Shirley Temple robe stood with his limb folded across his chest.

Albus peered at the man for a few moment. “ Yeah, I think it is. ”

“ What's he doing here ? ” Matt asked.

“ Probably in font of an onslaught, ” Rose said. “ Every prominent Ministry functionary is in this room right now. There's probably Aurors stationed at every doorway outside, too. ”

“ Don't let him see us, ” Matt said as he grabbed both Albus and Rose and pulled them behind a large group of people. “ Can we just go somewhere else ? ”

Albus glanced at Balladanis and then back at Matt, who looked More than a fiddling nervous. Albus didn't blame him. After last twelvemonth's scandal with Balladanis, it was no admiration Matt never wanted to see the man again. Albus thought briefly of what his dad told him when they got there, but pushed the promise from his judgment. If lusterlessness didn't want to be in the same room as Balladanis, then Albus was just going to have to divulge his promise.

“ Come on, ” blush wine said before Albus could answer. She took Albus and Matt's hands and pulled them through the crew. She let them go once they reached the corridor.

The corridor was much muted than the ballroom. Albus hadn't even realized just how tacky the ballroom was until now. Between the euphony and the great unwashed's representative, it was a wonder he'd even been able-bodied to think in there.

“ Thanks, ” flatness said quietly. “ He just gives me the creeps. ”

“ No problem, ” pink wine said. “ Where should we go ? ”

“ We could try and find that subroutine library again, ” Albus suggested.

Rose and Matt nodded and the three set off down the corridor. It took them fifteen proceedings and three awry turns to see the library and once they got there, they saw that it was already occupied by none other than Georgia, Thomas Bradley, and Cedric.

“ We've got to stop using the same hiding seat, ” Georgia said with a laughter as they entered. “ Just joking. Come on in. ”

blush wine shut the door behind them and they joined Georgia, Tom Bradley, and Cedric on the other side of the way.

“ Sick of the company ? ” Georgia asked.

“ We saw Balladanis, ” lusterlessness said quietly as he sat down. “ Didn't want him to notice us. ”

Georgia shuddered. “ Don't rap you there, especially since your dad is the reason he got sacked. ”

“ I kind of liked him, ” Thomas Bradley said.

matt looked at him like he was insane. “ Are you kidding ? ”

Bradley shrugged. “ Nope. I'm not terribly upset he's gone, but he was kind of cool. ”

“ You're mad, ” mat said.

“ What about you three ? What drove you to the library ? ” Albus asked, wanting to stave in off an argument between his comfortably admirer and cousin.

“ Decided to explore the house, ” Cedric said. “ If we're going to have to live here, we wanted to see what we'd be getting into. ”

“ And what do you call back ? ” pink wine asked.

“ support here wouldn't be so bad, ” Cedric said. “ Bradley and I wouldn't have to share a room. Neither would Samantha and Lindy, for that matter. ”

“ I told you, one of you can have my elbow room, ” Sakartvelo said.

“ Dad won't let us, ” Bradley replied. “ Says you're going to come back when Quidditch stops paying off. ”

Georgia groaned. “ Really, the religious belief he has in me is incredible. ”

“ We met Laurentis's dad, ” Albus said.

Empire State of the South burst out laughing. “ Seriously ? ”

Albus nodded and told the fib. All three of his cousins were laughing by the time he finished.

“ I may birth to go back out there just so I can take on him, ” Georgia said, still laughing.

“ He sounds like a very interesting bloke, ” Bradley said.

matt got up from his chair and began wandering around the depository library. He paused by the door, as if listening.

“ What are you doing ? ” Albus asked.

“ I heard something, ” Matt whispered. “ Shut up, all of you. ”

Georgia immediately stopped laughing and all five of them stopped talking. Matt's eyes grew big and he hurried back over. “ Someone's coming ! ”

“ I don't hear any- ” Bradley began.

“ Sshhh ! ” Albus said as he jumped up. “ corporate trust him on this. We've got to hide. ”

“ There's a cupboard, ” Rose said as she hurried to open the door. “ It's not very big- ”

“ Doesn't matter, ” matt said. “ hurriedness, get inside. ”

Albus just started hearing the voices as they hurried inside the wardrobe. It was a very fuddled squeeze and Rose was stepping on his left animal foot, but he said goose egg as he shut the door. Two seconds later he heard the door to the library open.

“ It's not working ! ” a cleaning woman said. Her vox was muffled ; Albus could barely fix out what she said, let alone who she was.

“ I can't hear anything, ” Cedric whispered. “ Is this threshold hearty burnt sienna or something ? ”

“ Shut up ! ” flatness seethed. He had his ear pressed to the door.

“ The one time I don't bring any Extendables with me, ” Cedric muttered.

Albus pressed his ear up against the room access. The voices were still muffled, but he could hear.

“ I told you they'd eat up the solid family unit man affair, ” another voice said. This one was male. “ Not to mention he's Harry Potter's brother-in-law for God's sake ! ”

“ Harry Potter is an unskilled imbecile and you know it, ” the woman replied. “ He's famous for something he did as a child and the superior general public is stupid to still guess of him as the Hero of Alexandria of the wizarding world. He's gone soft. ”

“ It's Laurentis ! ” Matt said.

“ How can you tell ? ” Tom Bradley asked. “ This room access is so fucking thick. ”

“ I just can, ” flatness said.

Albus couldn't tell that the vocalism was Laurentis's, but based on what she was saying, Matt was right.

“ fountainhead, what am I supposed to do about it ? ” the man said.

“ We've got to think of something, ” Laurentis said. “ The Azkaban debate is in a hebdomad. I'm sure you can think of something to do for that. ”

“ I think that's her campaign handler, ” lustrelessness said.

“ She sounds awful, ” Albus said.

“ It shouldn't be that backbreaking. All we have to do is expose Weasley for what he really is and get everyone to clear ceramicist's not the fighter they all think he is, ” Laurentis said.

“ And who is Weasley, then ? ”

“ A pompous idiot ! ” Laurentis exclaimed. “ You don't really buy the whole fact that he supports his daughter's Quidditch career, do you ? I've seen the way she looks at him and there's no way that's real. ”

“ You can't really know that- ”

“ I can, ” she interrupted. “ I can read people, Pierce. That's why I got into politics. It's all about reading hoi polloi and figuring out the lies from the truths. See what you can dig up. We'd amend return to the party. I left my founder alone with minister Langston. That won't turn out well. ”

“ Yes, Ms. Laurentis, ” Pierce replied.

Albus heard the sound of highschool blackguard on hardwood story, the door creak subject, and then click shut again. He waited two wide-cut minutes and then opened the threshold to the closet. Everyone hurried out.

“ What was that ? ” Matt demanded. “ What is she up to ? ”

“ How did you catch all that ? ” Bradley asked. “ Do you have super human hearing or something ? ”

“ Or something, ” flatness muttered, “ but never mind that. Laurentis knows your dad's putting on an act and is going to try to expose him. ” He turned to Albus. “ And she is going to try and turn the wizarding world against your dad. ”

“ She's insane ! ” Albus exclaimed.

“ You've got to enjoin your uncle- ” Matt began.

“ No way, ” Georgia said loudly. “ trustingness me, all he'll do is fault me for not playing my piece well enough. This isn't leaving this room. ”

“ But she's going to undermine his political campaign, ” Albus said.

“ Georgia's right, ” Rose said. “ It won't aid anything. political campaign are half about digging up dirt on the other campaigner. Anything she says about Uncle Harry, no one will trust it unless they're an retard. Anyone with half a mind knows he runs the Auror Department well. ”

“ If anyone says anything he'll just get mad at us for spying, ” Bradley added.

“ Not to mention we're not technically allowed in here, ” Cedric pointed out.

“ Oh, right, ” Albus said. “ My dad did make me promise not to leave the ballroom. ”

“ No one's saying anything, ” Georgia said. “ And I think we'd all expert get back to the dance palace, just in case anyone notices we're all gone.


Thanks for all the reviews ! Remember to keep them 12+. Props to all who caught the'mahogany'Hunger secret plan reference. Credit for that goes to Suzanne Tom Collins. If any of you are penis of the forums ( and if you're not, you should be, link on the right slope of the page ! ), feel free to crack out my meet the Author page ! It's linked on my author page. Please ask me interrogative sentence on my MTA varlet since I love answering them !


When they returned to the ballroom Albus was pleased to see that Balladanis was nowhere in sight. Perhaps he left to patrol the land. Albus didn't really care ; all that mattered was that he wasn't there anymore. Judging by the bunch in the elbow room, no one else had left yet, and they all seemed a bit more boisterous, well-nigh likely due to the drinkable.

Walker Percy accosted them before they were even able to get to the desert table to reload their plates with cake. He walked with intent, similarly to the way he had walked when he took Albus and his protagonist to Kendrick's subject area. He seemed very at home in the Minister's Mansion and it wasn't even his yet.

“ Georgia ! ” he said. “ There you are. I've been looking for you everywhere. ”

“ I was in the loo. Something you need, Dad ? ” GA asked.

“ Er, yes, actually, ” Percy replied. “ I need you to take Samantha and Lindy home. It's nearly eleven and your mother and I are going to be here well preceding midnight. Samantha ate too lots bar and spirit ill. I just think it would be best for them to go abode and get some slumber. They're over at that table. ” Percy gestured to a nearby table, where Samantha and lindy hop were sitting, both with their heads in their hands, looking extremely bored.

Georgia raised her supercilium, as if surprised that Percy was actually going to not only let three of his children leave, but asking that they do so. Albus was surprised he'd even thought about the fact that it wasn't really a company for two nine-year-olds.

“ Yeah, I can take them dwelling, ” Georgia said.

“ What about us ? ” Thomas Bradley asked, gesturing to himself and Cedric. “ Couldn't we take them family ? ”

“ I'd rather Peach State do it, ” Sir Henry Percy said. “ You don't even have your Apparition license yet, Cedric. And Bradley, you just got yours. You're not ready to side-along Apparate two people. ”

“ They do get fireplaces here, Dad, ” Tom Bradley muttered.

“ Empire State of the South's taking them, and the two of you are staying here, ” Percy said adamantly. “ Thank you, Georgia. ”

“ You're welcome, ” Sakartvelo said as Walker Percy strutted off to talk to some Ministry official. “ Ha ! ” she said once he was out of earshot. “ I get to leave. ”

“ Shut up, ” Cedric said. “ I'm going to go find James. ”

Georgia headed over to the table her babe were sitting at while Tom Bradley and Cedric disappeared into the crew. Albus, Matt, and rose wandered over to the afters table, piled a plate high with the biscuits a waiter had just set out, and then set off to feel another mesa. They found one, which Victoire, chemise, and Amy were vacating.

“ Where are you three off to ? ” Albus asked.

“ We've got former unit of ammunition tomorrow, ” Victoire said. “ Five in the morn. If we're lucky we'll get four hours of sleep. ”

“ I don't see much point in staying if they're not here, ” Teddy said. “ Technically I wasn't even invited, but seeing as I'm Harry potter's Godson, no one was going to kick me out. ”

Albus laughed. “ See you later, then. ”

After Victoire, Teddy, and Amy left Albus sat down and his friends sat on either English. He absentmindedly chewed on a biscuit and watched the crowd.

“ Do these taste funny to you ? ” Matt asked, holding up a partially eaten biscuit.

Albus took another sharpness. They did taste weird. “ Yeah. ”

rosiness burst out laughing and started pointing at their brain. “ I think James messed with the biscuits instead of the puncher. Al, your hair is dingy and Matt, yours is green. ”

Albus and flatness both started laughing. Albus took another look at the crowd. “ Look, that madam's whisker is purple ! ” He pointed to a beldame a few yards away. The bloke she was talking to was clearly trying not to stare at her head.

Over the future few minutes people gradually began to realize that their hair was turning various colors and that the biscuits were the culprit. Wands appeared everywhere, as the Edgar Guest charmed each other's hair back to its normal coloration. Another minute later Albus spotted both of his parents walking around the perimeter of the room, clearly looking for James, but he was nowhere in sight.

“ I like this caper, ” Albus said. “ I'm leaving my hair as is. ”

“ Me too, ” lustrelessness agreed. They both turned to rosebush. “ You should eat one. ”

rosebush sighed. “ Might as well. ” She took a cookie and a minute later her formerly red hair was a lovely ghost of garden pink.

The balance of the party was rather deadening. Harry eventually found James and told him he'd be staying in his room for the residuum of the holiday, only being allowed out for repast. When midnight rolled around Albus, mat, and blush wine toasted to the new year with Lily and Victor-Marie Hugo. Matt and his parents left immediately afterwards and Albus and his family left a short while later. Albus was relieved to be going home since the night had been exhausting, and he still couldn't get the conversation he overheard in the library out of his mind.
***


“ It's here ! ” James shouted the next morning at breakfast, brandishing a written matter of sensation cartridge clip. The front cover was a picture of Albus's grandparents, his mum, Uncle Percy, Uncle visor, Uncle Charlie, Uncle George, and Uncle Ron.

“ Let me see it ! ” Albus shouted.

“ No, I got it first ! ” James shouted back.

“ I want to read it first ! ” Lily exclaimed.

“ Kids, settle down ! ” Ginny said. “ James got it first. Al can scan it next, and then Lily. ”

“ Not fair, ” Lily muttered. “ I'm never first. ”

That was a lie, Albus thought to himself. It was either James or Lily who got thing first, never Albus. Curse of being the middle tike, he figured.

Albus sat and ate his breakfast while James read the article. His chum let out groan and sigh and even laughter while he read, which made Albus even more unquiet to translate it. After what seemed like forever, it was finally Albus's turn. He yanked the magazine out of St. James the Apostle's handwriting and opened it up to the article.

The first page ( or rather, first two pages ), contained the moving-picture show of his stallion category. Albus had been right in guessing that there was no way the photographer could've gotten a motion-picture show that they all looked right in. Albus himself at least looked center decent. He was smiling and kept turning to look at Rose and then back to the camera. Lily on the other hired hand, was caught mid-grimace and always returned to that posture every few second. Across the photograph was the name of the article-'Christmas With the Weasleys.'Albus turned the varlet and looked at all the other photo that accompanied the article before reading it. There was one of Percy, Corrine, and their minor. Another featured Percy and Albus's dad. Then there was the one with him playing Exploding Snap with the twins and Percy, as well as the one with Hotspur and Amanda playing chess. The caption on that read'Minister hopeful Percy Weasley challenges the flush Minister's niece to a game of chess.'Amanda was not going to be felicitous, Albus thought as he turned his attending to the article.

When I first entered the childhood home of Harry Hotspur
Weasley I immediately noticed the delicious smells
that filled the air. mollie Weasley, Walker Percy's female parent,
was hard at study cooking Christmas Eve dinner party. The
humble, but tea cosy, family was filled to mental ability with
Weasleys, although it only grew more crowd together with
the arrival of the potter an hour later.

The Weasley family gathers for Xmas at the
home of Arthur and mollie Weasley every year.
Arthur, a sack out Ministry employee, says,'I
love having the integral family together. It's
helter-skelter, but I wouldn't have it any early way.'
The eve begins with a meal, although eating
seems to take in property over many hours. The atmosphere
is homely and happy, with every single family
fellow member enjoying their time with each other.

Percy Weasley, a loving father of five, joins in
on the fun and Dec 25 liveliness by challenging
his nine-year-old daughters Samantha and Lindy,
as well as nephew Albus Potter, 14, to a plot
of Exploding Snap.'I feel it's important to
spend time with my kid, as well as my nieces
and nephews,'Weasley said,'we have such niggling
time with them before they go off to Hogwarts.
My firstborn is already out on her own and my Son
only have a little meter left at Hogwarts. The
Gemini the Twins are still young, so I try to spend time
with them every single day.'When asked
about their male parent's effort, Samantha said,
'I want him to win. He's skilful at his job.'
Lindy merely shrugged,'It would be aplomb if he
winnings, but he'll still just be Dad to us.'

The home of Arthur and mollie Weasley is not
only open to Weasleys at Yuletide time. This
year they were joined by a booster of Albus Potter
and pink wine Weasley, 14. Amanda tagging program, also 14, is
a 4th year student at Hogwarts. tagger is no
stranger to political mob since her uncle
is Michael Smythe, prime quantity Minister of Great
Britain.'I think it is just tremendous that
the Prime Minister's niece is a witch,'Percy
said.'We are always trying to promote a
healthy human relationship with the Muggle Ministry
and this will only help.'

Before posing for the photograph found on pages
20 and 21, the Weasley family first donned
their Weasley jumpers. Each member of the family
receives one of these jumpers for Xmas
every class. The traditional sweater are knitted
by Molly Weasley.'I'm not sure how it started,
really,'mollie said, when asked about the stemma
of the jumper,'I suppose it was when account and
Charlie were little, before Harry Hotspur was born. I
wanted to pucker them matching pinafore and they
outgrew them by the following yr, so I made
new ones. Then when Percy was born he needed one
so it soon grew into a annual thing.'

If I had to choose one intelligence to describe the Weasley
family, I would opt'laid-back.'Spending a
Christmas Eve with this family line, you would never
think that they were famous for their efforts in
the war against Voldemort. They are just so normal.
Even Harry thrower, head Auror, is just your
average father. He spends Christmas Eve joking
around with his brothers-in-law and playing game
with his shaver, nieces, and nephews. I asked
him what a typical Yule day is like in the
Weasley home and he responded with,'Quidditch.
We live for Quidditch. No matter the weather we
get out there every Dec 25 and play a match or
two. Then we'll amount inside and have dinner, all
of us together. It's simpleton, but perfect.'

There you have it. Yule with the Weasleys
summed up in one conviction by none other than Harry
Potter himself. I thoroughly enjoyed spending
Christmas Eve with Walker Percy Weasley and his entire
family. future time I interview him, I really must
ask for his mother's shepherd's pie formula. It
truly is wonderful.

“ Really ? ” Albus asked after handing the cartridge to Lily. “ After all that ? She interviewed half the family and only quoted a few of us ? ”

“ I'm guessing the balance couldn't really be used for the case of article she was going for, ” King James I pointed out. “ Notice how she only included stuff Samantha and Lindy said. ”

“ And she made it seem like the photographer just happened to take pictures of us playing games with Uncle Percy, ” Albus said. “ All of that was staged. ”

“ That's news media, ” Ginny said. “ Not practiced journalism, mind you, but it is fairly common practice. ”

“ I guess it could take been risky, ” Albus said.

“ Yes, it could get been, ” Ginny agreed. “ I think we're all just thankful she didn't stay for Christmas dinner. ”

James laughed. “ I wonder how she would've spun that. I'm amazed no one's figured out that Uncle Percy doesn't really like that Peach State plays Quidditch. ”

“ celebrate your mouth shut about that, James IV, ” Ginny said quietly.

“ Anyone with half a nous could see it, ” James muttered.

Albus said cipher. He still wasn't completely sure that saying aught about Laurentis figuring that out was the right wing thing to do. But he couldn't exactly say anything, not when all his first cousin and matte had agreed not to.

“ Epistle of James, ” Ginny said. “ enough. And I suggest you use the remainder of your interruption to examine for those O.W.L.s. June is a lot sooner than you think. ”

James certainly did a good job of pretending to study for the residuum of the holiday, while shut up in his elbow room for his punishment. Albus noticed that while he always had a book cracked open nearby, to grab when one of their parents walked into the room, it was always the same book, opened to the Saami varlet. Albus was amazed neither of his parents realized that, but he supposed both of them had their minds on Percy's election. Albus finished all his prep before the weekend, leaving him with two blissful days of doing nix. On Saturday he, along with his parents, Saint James the Apostle, and Lily, visited Kaden and his kinsperson for a late Christmas and New Year's celebration. Albus was relieved that Kaden's grandparents weren't there.

Monday arrived and it was time to go back to Hogwarts. Albus was quite felicitous about this because he had grown bored of staying at nursing home and doing nil and was sick of being in such snug quarters with James and Lily. At least in Gryffindor tower they kept to their own mathematical group of friends. But mostly, Albus wanted to get Amanda's take on the conversation they overheard at the curate's Mansion.

“ Everyone's staring at me, ” Amanda said as she entered the compartment Albus, Rose, Matt, John, and Kaden were occupying. “ Took me ages to get you, just because people kept wanting to talk to me. It's that stupid magazine article. Now everyone knows I'm the flush minister's niece. ”

“ It was bound to encounter sooner or later, ” Rose pointed out. “ But I'm sorry. If I'd known the reporter was going to verbalize about that, I wouldn't have invited you for Christmas. ”

“ No, it's OK, ” Amanda said as she sat down. “ I'm glad I went. It's just annoying. Guess I know how it feels to be you lot. ”

“ Except us, ” John said as he gestured to himself and Kaden. “ We're normal. ”

“ You're normal, John, ” Amanda said. “ But Kaden's Harry ceramist's showtime cousin once removed or something. ”

“ And that really makes me wonder how I got wrapped up in all this, ” privy said. “ My parents just aren't nearly as ambitious as yours all are. ”

“ How was that company, by the way ? ” Amanda asked.

“ Mostly oil production, ” Albus said. “ But we did meander up in a tiny closet with my full cousin Georgia, Bradley, and Cedric and overheard a conversation between Laurentis and her campaign manager. ”

“ You what ? ” John exclaimed. “ And you didn't think that warranted an owl ? ”

“ We wanted to tell you in mortal, ” Albus said. “ The conversation was really weird. ”

“ Tell us ! ” Amanda said.

Albus explained what he overheard, with avail from Matt, who had been capable to learn it a bit more clearly. John the Evangelist and Kaden looked slightly uncomfortable when they finished, but Amanda didn't seem at all surprised or upset.

“ That can't be good, ” King John said. “ What do you think she's planning ? ”

“ That's just it, I don't know, ” Albus said. “ And all my full cousin and lustrelessness agreed not to say anything- ”

“ They're right, of course, ” Amanda said. “ You'd just put forward up difficulty. Your uncle has got to concenter on convincing multitude he's the right one for the job, not discrediting everything Laurentis says. ”

“ But she's going to try and convert everyone my dad's a bad Auror, ” Albus pointed out.

“ Your dad isn't running for Minister, ” Amanda said. “ And honestly, I don't think she's going to be able to convince all of wizarding U.K. that your dad's incompetent person by April. ”

“ But what about the Georgia thing- ”

“ Albus, ” Amanda said as she stared directly at him, “ this is what politico do. Half the campaign is spent trying to win over people the resister is bad for the job. As much as it should just be spent on trying to convince the great unwashed they're right for the job, candidates just don't do that. Trust me. My uncle's on his second term. I know how these affair work. ”

“ I guess, ” Albus said. He felt slightly better about it, now that he had Amanda's notion, but he still felt nervous. “ Something is going to hap at the Azkaban debate, though. She wanted her campaign manager to dig something up. ”

“ Worst compositor's case scenario, she figures out that your uncle Percy doesn't really sanction of Georgia's Quidditch calling, ” Amanda said. “ Then he'll collapse an interview and say that at first he wasn't because he was worried about her future but then he saw her play and now he realizes how dear she is and fustian, blah, claptrap. It'll be fixed. ”

“ She's right, Albus, ” Rose said. The others nodded.

“ How do you know all this ? ” Albus asked. “ I mean, seriously. ”

“ I'm an excellent eavesdropper, ” Amanda said with a grin. “ And all without Extendable Ears. ”

“ Amazing, ” bathroom agreed.

“ It's simpleton, really, ” Amanda said. “ Be the kid in your kin that goes unnoticed. My honest-to-god sister is the drama fag, so everything that happens to her, no issue how small, is a huge deal. My niggling pal is a brat who demands constant attending. Me ? I'm the quiesce one. They'll have whole conversations about stuff in front line of me that they'd never have in front of either my pal or sister. ”

Kaden laughed. “ Bet that changed when you found out you were a witch. ”

“ At first of all, but then me being a witch became normal, ” Amanda said.

Matt let out a low tin whistle. “ Wish I had that skill. I still can't even go into the Lapp room as my parents without one of them asking me if I feel okay. Bit of an magnification, but still. ”

“ I think my parents pass too a lot of their childhood eavesdropping on people to give me a nice chance at it, ” Albus said. “ They know all the tricks. ”

“ So do mine, ” rose wine said. “ I swear my mum can sense an Extendable Ear a mile away. ”

“ I think I'm too tawdry, ” John said.

“ Same, ” Kaden agreed.

“ So, would you believe me if I said I actually wanted to go to the Azkaban argument ? ” King John asked as he opened a box of Bertie Bott's Every relish Beans.

Rose burst out laughing. “ Really, John ? ”

“ Yes, really, ” John said, popping a bean into his backtalk. “ Butter, Weird. If Laurentis is going to do something, I want to be right there to witness it. ”

“ Maybe you'll get golden and you'll get picked, ” Amanda said. “ I hope I get picked for one. ”

“ I bet they'll let you go to all of them now, being the prime quantity Minister’s niece and all, ” can said.

“ Not necessarily, ” Amanda said.

“ You can always postulate my spot, John, ” lusterlessness said as he got up to steal a fistful of John's Bertie Bott's. “ Full moon's on Friday, so I won't be going. ”

“ Maybe you can convince madam Pomfrey, since it's educational, ” Kaden said.

mat popped a noggin into his mouth and then promptly spat it out. “ Ew, crap. Doesn't matter what dame Pomfrey says. Day after the full-of-the-moon moon ? I'll be asleep. You'll just possess to take notes and let me sleep with what happens. ”

Gospel According to John groaned. “ I'll passing game on your daub if I have to take notes. ”

“ somebody's going to have to take notes either way, ” Matt said. “ I'll need them for the essay that Embry will assign. ”

“ Don't concern, I'll take notes, ” Rose told him.

“ Thanks, ” Matt replied. “ Now, who's wants this bean plant ? It looks just the like soil, but it could be chocolate. ” Matt held up a suspiciously dark-brown bean.

“ I'll take it ! ” John said. He took a bantam nibble, screwed up his grimace, and threw the respite of the bean back at flatness, hitting him square up on the os frontale. “ Thanks, Paraguay tea, another dirt. ”

Albus laughed and took a handful of beans. The remainder of the slip was much more light-hearted than their conversation about the military campaign tactics of Laurentis and Percy. They finished off John's Bertie Bott's, growing braver as the box emptied. Albus stopped after he got a vomit flavored one, but enjoyed it immensely when Kaden ate one of the same savor. The train drive went quickly and soon they arrived in Hogsmeade station with Hogwarts, Albus's second home, just a suddenly coach ride away.


Sorry for the latterly update ! My cousin got married on Friday so I was gone the whole weekend and didn't have my computer with me. Thanks to my babe, Linda, who in my crime syndicate, is just like Amanda and can eavesdrop on everyone. She gave me the idea for that. Thanks for all the lovely reassessment !


“ This term we will sharpen on how the beginning and second warfare against Voldemort shaped how the Ministry of legerdemain is organized today, ” Professor Embry announced after the Melville Bell rang for Tues's politics class. “ This part of the stratum will overlap with your History of illusion class quite a bit, although I'd hazard a guess that none of you pay attending in History of Magic, not that I blame you. I never could continue awake in that class either.

“ offset, we will take a tight look at exactly how the Ministry was organized prior to Voldemort's rise to power and why it was such a problem, ” Embry continued. “ piece of the rationality why Voldemort was able to rise up to power as quickly as he did was because the Ministry was susceptible to a coup. Since then, precautions have been taken to keep a similar post. Does anyone sleep together the independent difference between the Ministry before Voldemort and the Ministry now ? ”

A few hands went up in the air, including Amanda's. Albus knew the response, but he didn't really want to raise his manus. He preferred listening during class.

“ Yes, Miss Tagger ? ”

“ The Minister wasn't elected, ” Amanda said, “ which is odd because the Muggle Minister is elected, sort of. It's not like in the United States, but the public votes on which party will be in power. ”

“ Exactly, ” Embry said. “ Prior to the reorganization of the Ministry of Magic in 1998, the rector was appointed by the Wizengamot. Can anyone tell me why that is a problem ? ”

Amanda's hand shaft into the air once more. She was even faster than Rose in this class.

“ misfire Tagger ? ”

“ It was bad because the multitude had no power. Only the Wizengamot had any force in the Ministry, because they were the ones who appointed the government minister, who then appointed all the other officials. No one had any say in anything. ”

“ Right again. Ten head to Gryffindor, ” Embry said. “ The Wizengamot, prior to 1998, was a group of very influential beldam and wizard, mostly purebred, who essentially ran the Ministry of illusion. They also served as the judicial system. These witches and wizards inherited their fundament on the Wizengamot from class penis because each influential family in the British wizarding world once held a rear end in the Wizengamot. The trouble with this are obvious because it meant that only purebred and a select few half-bloods had any semblance of power. ”

Albus was scribbling furiously. He knew the basics of the political system just from overhearing his parents'conversations, but the details were hazy. Now that he was learning the gritty contingent, he wondered why it took so long for the Ministry to be reorganized. It seemed like it was based solely on descent status and how practically money someone had, which wasn't right.

Embry continued to excuse the old Ministry and the versatile power that each person or group of people in the Ministry had prior to Voldemort's sovereignty. By the end of the speech Albus had just over a human foot of notes, which was good because Embry had already set them an essay.

“ Before you leave, I'll announce who will be attending Saturday's disputation, ” Embry said after he finished lecturing. “ Like last clock time, Albus Potter, Rose Weasley, and Matt Eckerton will be able to attend. The two Hufflepuffs who will be attending are Elaine Asterly and Parker Wayland. The two Gryffindors are Amanda Tagger and Ethan Kesse. You will describe to the Great Hall at ten and wait for instructions from the prefects waiting by the doors. Everyone else will be listening to the debate via wireless in the Transfiguration of Jesus schoolroom. I expect an essay on which campaigner you feel made their point better by succeeding form. You are dismissed. ”

“ I guess I won't get to go to all the debates after all, ” Amanda said as they left the classroom.

“ This one will be good, though, ” rose wine said. “ You're lucky they picked you for it. ”

“ regard I got picked, ” John lamented.

“ I'm telling you, just go instead of me, ” Matt insisted. “ William Tell them I'm ill and you're taking my spot. ”

“ I really don't think they'll let- ”

“ Planning on being ill on Sat, are you ? ”

Albus and his friends stopped in the middle of the corridor, turning around to see Scorpio Malfoy behind them, his branch crossed across his chest. He looked chesty and vaguely annoyed as usual, but there was something else there. He looked slightly upset and for some reason, that unnerved Albus.

“ contribute it a residual, Malfoy, ” whoremonger said, stepping closer to the Slytherin. “ We get that you know. We've gotten over it. ”

Scorpius stepped nigher, ignoring John and turning to matt. “ How do you get into the Shrieking hut ? ” he demanded.

mat's face paled. John grabbed hold of Scorpius's robes and dragged him into a nearby classroom. John the Evangelist had at least four inches on Malfoy, so it didn't seem difficult. Albus and the others followed, pink wine shutting and locking the door behind them.

“ Why do you want to know about the screech Shack ? ” John asked as he let go of Scorpius.

“ None of your business, ” Scorpius said, glancing at the lock door. He slowly drew his wand.

John drew his own verge. “ Put your wand away. And it's his business which makes it all of our business. ” John gestured to mat, who had sat down on one of the desks.

“ There's five of you. Like sin I'm putting my wand away. So I am right, he does transform in the shriek Shack, ” Scorpius said with a sly grinning. The expression of sorrow Albus thought he'd seen was gone ; maybe he'd imagined it.

“ John the Evangelist ! ” mat exclaimed. “ Now look what you've done ! ”

“ Sorry, ” St. John said. “ I didn't mean to- ”

“ Never mind, ” Matt said, getting up from the desk and walk over to privy and Scorpius. “ How did you figure it out ? ”

“ Where else could you translate safely ? ” Scorpius asked. “ I did a little research in the library and that was built the summer before Remus Lupin started at Hogwarts and everyone knows he was a loup-garou. No one ever lived in it, but multitude reported hearing weird noises from it. Everyone said it was trace, but they went strangely quiet seven years later, only to reappear four and a half years ago, when we started at Hogwarts. Quite a coincidence, I thought. And now I see that I'm right. ”

Albus was sort of shocked Scorpius had done all that research and put everything together. Perhaps he was smarter than Albus and his friend gave him deferred payment for.

“ Well, you can't tell anyone, just like you can't tell anyone I'm a wolfman, ” Matt said. “ Kendrick would expel you. ”

“ I don't like that it's where you transform, ” Scorpio said. “ The point is that it's vacate except for one night of the month. How do you get in ? ”

“ I'm not telling, ” flatness said.

“ mulct, I'll figure it out myself, ” Scorpius said, pointing his wand at the room access. The ringlet clicked and he strolled over to the room access, opened it, and left.

“ That was weird, ” Albus said as soon as Scorpio was gone.

“ Yeah, ” flatness said, sitting down on the nearest desk. “ Why does he want to get in the screaming Shack ? ”

“ Clearly he needs somewhere that's empty, but the question is what is he planning on doing ? ” rose asked. “ And did anyone else notice that he seemed a bit sad in the corridor ? ”

“ I thought I'd imagined that, ” Albus said.

“ You didn't. He's definitely upset about something, ” Rose said.

Matt groaned. “ He better not actually enter out how to get in there. ”

“ If he does, he wouldn't be mute enough to go in there during a replete moon, ” Albus pointed out.

“ Yeah, but still. That's my place, ” Matt muttered. “ I need a nap. I think I'm going to skip dinner and just go back to Gryffindor. I'll see you later. ”

Matt hopped off the desk and left the room. Albus sighed. The last thing he wanted, amidst all of the election hooey and his fellowship's play, was another military issue with Scorpius Malfoy, but it looked like affair were heading in that direction.
***


The following morning when Albus and his friends entered the Great Radclyffe Hall for breakfast the scholarly person already eating were much louder than normal. Albus turned to rose, who shrugged in confusion, as they walked inside. Everyone in the room, students and teachers alike, were talking ominously. Copies of the Prophet were exchanging hand faster than the Quaffle during a Gryffindor/Slytherin match.

“ Albus ! ” King James shouted once they reached the Gryffindor mesa. “ Read this. There's been a break-out at Azkaban. ”

“ Again ? ” Albus exclaimed, hurrying over to where Henry James was sitting. He took the paper and his friend crowded around him.

“ Not like last time, ” James I said darkly. “ High-profile prisoner and more of them. end Eaters. There hasn't been a break-out like this in days. Not since our parents were our age. ”

Albus's ticker began to pound as he unfolded the paper. There it was, right on the front page. A big pic montage of five people, all gaunt and evil-looking, was right in the heart, with the words'Five captive Break Out of Azkaban'above them and an article below them. Albus's tummy churned when he recognized the photograph of the middle prisoner. It was Quinton Willinson. His eyes drifted to the article so he could figure out who the others were.

Early this morning Azkaban functionary
reported that five senior high school security prisoners
escaped late last night. It is undecipherable how
they managed to do so. The prisoners, all
imprisoned for felonies, should be regarded
as dangerous and should not be approached.

quartet of the five prisoners have been in
Azkaban since 1998, having been imprisoned
for war law-breaking. They are Alecto Carrow,
Amycus Carrow, Fenrir Greyback, and Dolores
Umbridge. All but Umbridge are proven Death
feeder. The 5th prisoner, Quinton Willinson,
has been in and out of prison house since 2018,
having escaped and been recaptured just last
class.

'finding and recapturing these individuals is
our top priority,'Head Auror, Harry Potter,
said to newsman early this morn. government minister
candidate and heading Azkaban official, Patricia
Laurentis, refused to comment on the break-out.
The Auror department has asked all those with
tips to report them to the Ministry via owl
immediately.

Albus sat stunned after reading the clause. Three demise Eaters, Dolores Umbridge, and Quinton Willinson had escaped from Azkaban. How did that come about ? How did five high security prisoner just escape with no one stopping them ? It didn't make sense.

“ This is not going to make Laurentis wait skilful, ” Amanda said quietly.

“ Forget Laurentis, this is bad, ” Albus said. “ Very bad. Umbridge is evil, perverted evil. My dad's got cicatrice on his hand from what she did to him when she was a teacher here. And the Carrows, they were teachers, too. They taught darkness artistic creation. Not defense, but existent Dark art, and how to torture Muggles. Greyback- ”

“ Greyback bites hoi polloi, for fun, ” flatness said, his face pale whiteness. “ He's the one who bit Teddy's dad. ”

“ The four of them, ” Albus began, “ the four of them make Quinton Willinson look like a unicorn. ”

“ That's the unearthly thing, ” Rose said. “ The others are in prison for life for war offence. Willinson will be in there for a while, but he'll get word eventually and the sole cause he's a high security prisoner is because he escaped before. So why did he break out with the others ? Why did they let him in on it ? They're up to something. ”

Albus hadn't even thought of that. Why was Quinton Willinson now connected with war criminal who had been in prison house since before he was born ? It didn't make common sense. Albus thought about it throughout all his classes that day, but didn't follow up with any answers.

It was obvious that the Azkaban break-out had unnerved the entire palace. Professors spoke in low whispering when they thought students weren't around, students no longer wandered the castle by themselves, and even Scorpius Malfoy seemed a bit more keep down during dueling practice on Thursday.

All five prisoners still remained at large on Friday, when Ministry functionary began arriving for the public debate. Laurentis still had yet to comment on the break-out, which struck Albus as strange. Azkaban was her soil and yet she said nothing on the matter.

“ Is it just me or are there even Thomas More reporters here than there were in conclusion time ? ” Albus asked.

“ It's not just you, ” Amanda said.

Albus, Matt, toilet, and Amanda were walking back to the castle from forethought of Magical Creatures. It was slow going since the full-of-the-moon synodic month was that night and Matt was exhausted, but luckily the atmospheric condition was unseasonably warm for January. They'd just been passed by a group of hurried looking reporters coming up from Hogsmeade.

“ There's probably more because of the break-out, ” matt said. “ Laurentis is going to have got to finally say something about it tomorrow since the subject is Azkaban. ”

“ Does anyone else think it's Weird that there was a break-out three solar day before the Azkaban argumentation ? ” Albus asked.

“ I thought of that, too, ” Amanda said. “ Very weird coincidence. ”

“ well, it'll be full for your uncle, ” King John said. “ Laurentis is going to look like an half-wit, not being able to keep five high security prisoner in Azkaban. ”

Albus nodded. He supposed that was one good thing that came from three Death eater escaping from Azkaban, not that there was anything in force about it.

“ I'm skipping Charms, ” Matt said through a oscitancy. “ And antediluvian Runes. ”

“ I'm surprised you didn't skip Care of Magical Creatures, ” John said.

Matt shrugged. “ I felt okay earlier, probably because of the nap I took in History of Magic. ”

bathroom laughed. “ I felt much better after my nap in account of magic, too. ”

“ Very funny, ” flatness said as they reached the castle.

Albus found it increasingly unmanageable to condense on anything for the rest of the day. By the time he went to Ancient Runes he was unable to cogitate about anything besides the break-out and the fact that Death Eaters were now roaming free. Deep down he knew he was perfectly dependable at Hogwarts, but it was still troubling.

Professor Kendrick welcomed the Ministry official to Hogwarts at dinner that night and Albus thought back to the last argumentation, when Hogwarts had housed the Ministry official. He was very gladiola that this sentence he wouldn't be confessing to a frivolity to his uncle in the Gryffindor common way. Neither John or Kaden had done their revenge joke to the Slytherins yet and Albus variety of hoped they wouldn't.

After a fitful sleep Albus woke early on Sabbatum aurora and contemplated visiting matt before everyone else woke up, but figured that Matt would be asleep and thus it would be unpointed to shoot the breeze. He'd visit with everyone else later, after the debate. They'd have plenty of time sine there wasn't going to be a motion and answer school term this clock time.

At ten o'clock Albus, rose, and Amanda stood in line in front of the Great Hall, waiting to be let inside. John had decided not to bother asking if he could choose flatness's post, since he didn't want to draw in any care to the fact that matte was not there.

“ Albus, ” Rose whispered, poking him in the incline. “ Look. Malfoy's here. ”

Albus glanced over to where Rose was pointing and saw that Scorpius was in fact waiting in line. He looked sullen and upset again and Albus wished he knew why. It was weird seeing Malfoy, the usually arrogant pricking, upset.

“ Guess he won the Slytherin spot, ” Albus said.

The doors to the Great Hall opened and Albus and Rose said so long to Amanda before they were lead to the presence of the elbow room by a Slytherin prefect. They were seated in the same row they were before, along with the rest of their Hogwarts cousins.

The Great Hall slowly filled up over the adjacent half hr. The relief of Albus's cousins, aunts, and uncles arrived, taking spots in the figurehead few rowing. Albus caught Georgia's eye as she took her fundament in the row on the opposition side of the room from him and she gave him a slight grinning.

Albus wondered if Laurentis's campaign handler had actually found anything on Uncle Percy and whether she would say anything during the public debate. With the break-out, he hoped she'd been too busy to dig up much dirt or even think about exposing anything.

Albus turned to the front of the elbow room and watched a very short man accompany prof Kendrick to the moderator's podium. He was dressed in Ministry blue devil robes and had very short hair on his oral sex.

“ attention, please ! ” Kendrick shouted. The crowd quieted. “ Thank you. I'd like to welcome all of you to Hogwarts and introduce our moderator for this dayspring. superior Farleigh, chief of the Department of Magical Transportation. ”

“ Thank you, Professor, ” the abruptly, balding man said. “ I'd now like to stick in our candidate, although I am for certain you all know them. Mr. Harry Hotspur Weasley and Ms. Patricia Laurentis. ”

Percy and Laurentis walked into the room from one of the foyer and took their spot at each of the podiums. Percy looked as sure-footed as always and Laurentis, despite the scandal of the break-out, looked poised and excited.

“ Today we will be debating the judicial system of rules, specifically Azkaban prison, ” Farleigh announced. “ The usual rules apply. Five instant contestation, two minute rebuttals. ”

Laurentis inched tightlipped to her podium, as if she was readying herself to swoop on whatever Percy said. Harry Hotspur remained lull and collected, continuing to toy the role of the poise politician.

“ Mr. Weasley, you will reply first. Do you sense that the juridical arrangement as a whole is fairish to both the accused and victims of crimes ? Are the sentences handed out by the Wizengamot fair ? ”

“ I believe everyone is able to get a fairish trial by the Wizengamot, ” Harry Hotspur began. “ I have reviewed many event, and while I am not nor do I hazard to be a canvasser, and I feel that the majority of the judgment of conviction handed out by the Wizengamot fit the offence. However, there is always a prospect that a person guilty of a criminal offense will go free, as there is an equal probability that someone will be wrongfully imprisoned. The judicial system works grueling to stool sure this happens as infrequently as possible and corrects wrong when they do occur. ”

“ Ms. Laurentis ? ”

“ I disagree with my opponent, ” Laurentis said. “ Most of the sentences handed out by the Wizengamot are not harsh enough. Ever since the defeat of Voldemort prison sentences have grown shorter, with the exclusion of those imprisoned for war crimes. And one shamed individual who roams free is too many. If I am elected minister of religion I will work hard to ensure that no guilty the great unwashed get off. captive belong in Azkaban and the Wizengamot is far too lenient. ”

“ Your rebuttal, Mr. Weasley. ”

“ While a goal of not having any guilty hoi polloi get set barren is suitable, it is unrealistic, ” Harry Hotspur said. “ The Wizengamot is composed of Wiccan and wizards like you and me. They are not any more muscular than we are and do not own the ability to know for sure enough that the accused are guilty. misunderstanding find and while we should lick to derogate them, it is very unrealistic to say that we can get rid of them completely. Ms. Laurentis is offering sham hope. ”

“ I am not offering assumed hope, ” Laurentis said. “ There are trance, potions, way to observe out if citizenry are guilty that the Wizengamot does not use. If I am elected curate I will approve use of these and they will aid the Wizengamot in ensuring that no shamed outlaw are set free. ”

Albus agreed with his uncle. There was no possible way Laurentis could guarantee that all criminal would be imprisoned.

“ Next question, ” Farleigh said. “ Ms. Laurentis, you will go first. Do you feel the word organization is effective ? ”

Laurentis gave a wry smile before beginning. “ Much like the Wizengamot, the countersign organization is too lenient. I have seen crook guilty of fantastic larceny get paroled after a bare two years in prison. The statistics are clear-cut, most of these criminals who are paroled early on in their sentences wind up back in Azkaban within a year, whether for breaking the regulation of their watchword or committing another crime. As caput of Azkaban, I am able to hand my stimulation of whether a prisoner is paroled or not, but in the end it is up to the Wizengamot. ”

“ Mr. Weasley. ”

“ As my opponent has said, many criminals are paroled too quickly. However, I do not believe that leaving them in Azkaban thirster is the solvent. If I am elected I will create and defend a better scheme for integrating criminals back into society. Muggles have seen success with halfway houses and I feel we should try that in wizarding society. ”

“ Halfway houses ? ” Laurentis said with raised eyebrows. “ An intriguing idea. However, Mr. Weasley lacks the experience that I have with dealing with prisoners. to the highest degree are not fit for society and many never will be. Even with halfway houses they will wind up back in Azkaban. Why spend the money on trying to rehabilitate when it won't oeuvre ? ”

“ It's about giving multitude a chance, ” Percy said. “ Not everyone is a confused cause and should be written off so quickly. Many prisoners have made a few bad choices as a consequence of bad childhood and a bit of rehabilitation will set them straight. ”

“ Thank you, Mr. Weasley, ” Farleigh said. “ Next question. Is Azkaban an appropriate place to house prisoner ? Is the quickness still doing its job ? ”

Percy shifted a bit before answering. “ Azkaban is an conquer facility for gamey security prisoners, but I have always felt that we need a less intimidating building to menage our abject security prisoners. Right now all felon, from those who committed petty theft or skipped bond to those who have murdered people, are all housed in Azkaban. I have been to Azkaban. Despite the fact that it is no longer in control of the dementors it is still a terrifying and high surety place. It also requires a lot of money for its upkeep. If we were to work up a small-scale edifice located on the mainland to house lower protection prisoners, we would be able to decrease outlay at Azkaban itself. We could then increase security measures at Azkaban without wasting endeavor and money on less dangerous criminals. ”

“ Ms. Laurentis. ”

“ How is building another installation going to make unnecessary money ? ” Laurentis asked. “ Once again you show your ignorance in the discriminative system and Azkaban. I believe that Azkaban is doing its job perfectly well. I am in electric charge of the prison, including its upkeep and it is in perfect consideration. We are not spending an outrageous amount of money on the place. Further, I do not believe that less grave criminals deserve a lower berth security prison. They are all criminals and if they did not bid to be in Azkaban, they should not have committed a crime. ”

“ Maintaining Azkaban is expensive, ” Percy said. “ It is also extremely hard to hire safeguard because of its position and general feel of the home, not to note the dangerous criminals. If we housed less grievous felon in another construction, it would be easily to find guards to solve there. We could then use the guard duty willing to defend gamy security prisoners only to guard gamy security captive. We would no longer throw to ware them on humble security department prisoners. ”

“ But we will still accept to maintain Azkaban, and then another building, ” Laurentis pointed out. “ It just makes far Sir Thomas More sensory faculty to keep all criminals in one plaza and an island is a salutary place to do that- ”

“ Obviously not that full, given the escape- ”

“ Mr. Weasley, ” Farleigh interrupted. “ You are speaking out of turn of events. It is time to move on to the next enquiry. In Inner Light of the Recent epoch Azkaban break-out, what do you feel needs to be done to ensure it does not happen again ? ”

Laurentis gazed out over the crowd. Albus felt like she was looking directly at him, but assumed she just had that ability to appear to be looking every person in the eye at once. She then turned to Walker Percy and gave him one of those creepy smiles that seemed to have got become her signature facial aspect. Albus turned to Rose, who raised her eyebrow and shrugged.

“ I am well aware that I have remained quiet on the subject of the break-out, ” Laurentis began, “ and I have done that on purpose. I see that all of the reporter in the back have their Quik-Quotes Quills poised and ready to write down my every discussion on this subject. Surely you're all hoping to be the first to bring out my thoughts.

“ You're probably all assuming I will traverse that there is anything awry with the security system at the prison house and that the break-out was a mere flue and it won't take place again. I am not going to say either. There is a problem and if we do not fix it, it will hap again. Every single one of those escaped captive is highly unsafe and if we do not retake them soon, who knows what will happen. When they are captured, we will require to give skilful security in place. After all, what is more important that the safety of our children ? With those five prisoner roaming free, every person in this room, in this castle, in this area is in danger.

“ Fortunately, I have a solution. It is a controversial result, but I feel we need to go to extremes to protect our families, especially our baby. That is why if elected government minister, the get-go thing I will do is restore the dementors as Azkaban guards. ”


Sorry about the drop-off hanger ! I didn't want to do it but the chapter was twice as long as they normally are and there really wasn't a good office to split it. Thanks for all the lovely reexamination !


Albus let out a gasp, as did everyone else in the room. The Great manse was suddenly in Chaos. Everyone was whispering and a few people had let out vociferation of outrage or turmoil. Albus could practically hear the newsman'quills scratching across rolls of sheepskin, and Laurentis was grinning again. Percy stood behind his rostrum, his oral fissure seeming to be frozen in a broad, gap position. Farleigh was attempting to make order, and failing.

“ That is literally insane ! ” rose wine exclaimed. “ Reinstate the dementors ? Is she mad ? Is she throwing the election ? ”

“ I don't know, ” Albus said. “ But she must be mad. Will people actually approve of this ? Will she even be able to do it ? ”

Rose nodded. “ Whoever she gets to supersede herself as Head of Azkaban will surely require the dementors back, too. Then she'll approve it as Minister and it'll pass. ”

“ But it would be stupid to bring them back, ” Albus said.

“ It would, ” pink wine agreed. “ They're life-threatening and their allegiance changes so easily. But to be honest, I'm not sure everyone will feel that way. Not with those prisoners on the loose. ”

“ Quiet, quiet ! ” prof Kendrick shouted. The crew finally settled down.

“ Mr. Weasley, it is your routine to speak, ” Farleigh said exasperatingly.

Percy shook his head to regain his equanimity. He'd lost his aplomb, composure, and collected politician face and now he looked more like he did after arguing with GA about her Quidditch career.

“ fountainhead, I, er, do not believe that dementors are the response to the security measure job in Azkaban, ” Percy said. “ What we need are more skilled guard duty in commission of high security department prisoners as well as a revamp of the spells and enchantments currently keeping captive inside. It will also serve to go over the organization of the guard schedule because at the time of the dodging, only three guard were maintaining that part of the prison house. That was surely an supervising that could have been prevented. ”

“ Human fault, ” Laurentis said. “ It happens and it will materialise again. Can we really risk the aliveness of our tike in the chance that another wrongdoing will occur ? Dementors were evidence guard who did not reserve prisoners to run. During their sovereignty in Azkaban, before their commitment changed, only one individual managed to escape. Since their removal we have had numerous escapes. ”

“ enlighten grounds that we need to revamp prison security, ” Hotspur said. “ But dementors are not the answer. They are life-threatening animal and as you said, their allegiance changed. What's to say that won't encounter again if, God forbid, another Voldemort were to rise to superpower ? If anyone offered those dementors a skilful deal than we did they'd have a whole prison of dangerous criminals at their disposal to do their summons. It's not worth the risk. ”

“ Another Voldemort is not going to stand up to power, ” Laurentis said with a laugh. “ We have learned from our history and it won't find again. ”

“ You can't warrantee that, ” Percy said. “ Even if there is a very small probability of it happening, it is not worth risking having dementors guard Azkaban. ”

“ Mr. Weasley, Ms. Laurentis, ” Farleigh said. “ It is time to move on- ”

“ You are talking about a hypothetical ! ” Laurentis exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air. “ I am talking about what is happening now ! Five dangerous criminals have escaped, four of whom were on Voldemort's position during the war, and are out there, wreaking mayhem as we speak. If the dementors were guarding Azkaban this never would have happened. ”

“ Now look who's talking hypotheticals ! ” Percy shouted back, ignoring Farleigh's vain attempts to get both campaigner to stop talking. “ For all we know they would've escaped anyway ! ”

Laurentis let out a cryptic laugh. “ Five prisoner evasion when the dementors are allied with the Ministry ? That's laughable. Only one person was able to do that and it was because he was an Animagus. None of the prisoners are Animagi. We test for that before admitting anyone to the prison. ”

“ Be that as it may, dementors are dangerous magical creatures. Not to observe the ethic of subjecting prisoners to their effects- ”

“ prisoner have no right field, ” Laurentis said. “ They give up their right when they commit crimes- ”

“ staple human rights ! ” Harry Hotspur exclaimed. “ There are basic homo rightfield that everyone deserves ! lecture about learning from our history. History tells us what happens when someone believes they are above others. Or do you not remember the reign of Voldemort ? ”

“ I lost my mother to that war ! ” Laurentis said. “ Don't you tell me that I don't think of it. ”

Albus was on the edge of his derriere. His uncle was so red in the face that he was starting to turn purple and resemble Kaden's grandfather. Laurentis's hair was breaking rid from its tight bun and there was a vein popping out in her forehead. Farleigh was still trying to get both candidates to stop talking and failing miserably, while every other individual in the Great antechamber sat completely still, staring at Hotspur and Laurentis.

“ Silence ! ” professor Kendrick shouted in a magically magnify voice.

Both Hotspur and Laurentis immediately quieted. The vein on Laurentis's forehead continued to shudder, and Walker Percy still looked like an overripe tomato.

“ I think we've run out of meter, ” Farleigh said, in a vocalism barely more than a squeaker. “ Thank you all for coming. ”

“ pupil, please give to your common elbow room, ” Kendrick announced. “ tiffin will be in an hour. As a admonisher, there is no question and answer session today. ”

The whispering rose up immediately after Kendrick stopped speaking and since everyone was whispering the noise level rose very senior high. Albus, Rose, and Amanda joined the queue of citizenry ambling to allow for the Great Hall, and without even talking about it, went immediately to the marauder's Den, where they found John and Kaden.

“ What the bloody hell is she trying to do ? ” John asked as soon as Albus shut the door.

“ She's lost her idea ! ” rose wine shouted as she began pacing around the room. “ She has legitimately lost her mind. That's the merely explanation. ”

“ well there's no way she'll win now, ” Albus pointed out. “ Dementors ? ”

“ It's a bit commodious, don't you think ? ” Rose asked. “ This break-out happens and then she announces she wants the dementors back ? It didn't sound like a plan she'd just come up with. ”

“ We've got to find out if she's tried to get them back before, ” Albus said. “ If she has it'll be in the oracle tomorrow. ”

“ Dementors... ” Kaden murmured. “ They're what sucked all the happiness out of us when we were in Australia last year, right ? ”

Albus nodded. “ They're awful creatures. ”

“ And they used to guard the prison ? ” Amanda asked incredulously. “ That's just wrong. ”

“ It is, ” pink wine said darkly. “ That's why after Voldemort they stopped using them as guards. That and all the dementors changed allegiance and let end eater escape. ”

“ Would they even come back, though ? ” Kaden asked. “ I mean, if they switched allegiance so easily.... ”

“ They'll go wherever they're offered the most human to feed off of. ” Rose shuddered. “ Voldemort offered them far more than even Azkaban could extend. But right now they don't have a good origin. They just travel around, feeding. They'll sentry duty if given the opportunity. ”

“ Shouldn't mass be against it ? ” Amanda asked. “ It's so ethically wrong. ”

“ That's why it was dim of her to herald it, ” Albus pointed out.

“ She wouldn't announce anything if she didn't think it would get her votes, ” Rose said. “ Most citizenry our parents'age and older, who lost loved ones in the war, will accept absolutely no sympathy for Death feeder and wouldn't give care if the dementors were brought back, especially if Laurentis could then guarantee no one would escape. ”

Albus hadn't thought process of that and apparently no one else did, either, because the elbow room grew quiet. Albus sank onto one of the couch and started counting the act of Bertie Bott's Every-Flavor Beans that were scattered on the floor. He got to twenty-three before anyone said anything.

“ I wonder what Malfoy thinks of all this, ” John mused. “ Wasn't his dad a Death Eater ? So he shouldn't want the dementors back in Azkaban, but the way he was talking in the Three Broomsticks a patch back made it seem like he's very against your uncle. ”

“ Of course he's against my uncle, ” Albus said. “ His whole family dislikes my unit family and it goes the other way, too. But his dad was never found guilty of his crimes so he never did time in Azkaban. ”

“ Surely his dad's got supporter there, ” John said.

Albus shrugged. “ Probably. ” To be honest, he didn't really wish what Malfoy thought about Laurentis and Uncle Percy.

“ We should go to lunch and then visit matte, ” rosebush said. “ match him up on all this. ”

Albus had completely forgotten that Matt was still in the hospital extension, in the midst of Laurentis's announcement. He felt vaguely guilty about it, but at least Rose had remembered.

Everyone gathered for tiffin in the Great lobby was talking about Laurentis's desire to take back the dementors. Hotspur, Laurentis, and the Ministry officials were still there, having tiffin with the professor at the staff board, and all were deeply in discussion. Albus would've loved to be capable to mind in on their conversations, but wearing the Invisibility Cloak in the crowded Great student residence wasn't a expert idea.

“ punter get used to the estimation of your dad being rector, ” one of the seventh yr was saying to Bradley. “ No one's going to vote for Laurentis now. ”

Bradley muttered something under his breather that Albus couldn't hear. Albus took a buttocks a few mass down from his cousin-german and began to make a sandwich.

“ She's got my whole kinfolk's votes now, ” one of the other one-seventh class said. “ Both of my grandparents were killed by Fenrir Greyback. If the dementors will catch him and keep him in there forever, it'd make all of us sleep better. ”

There were a few nods from other older scholarly person sitting nearby. Albus was slightly shocked. If this many educatee approved of her idea, a lot of adults probably did, too. And these were 7th years ; they could vote.

“ Wait, the dementors find crook, too ? ” Kaden asked. “ I thought that's what Aurors did. ”

“ Only the really awful escaped prisoner, ” Albus said. “ My dad's Godfather, Sothis, when he escaped, the dementors were given license to give him the Dementor's Kiss if they caught him. ”

“ What's the Dementor's kiss ? ” Amanda asked.

Albus shuddered. “ It's where they suck out someone's soul. ”

“ And they die ? ” Amanda asked quietly.

Albus shook his head. “ No, they live without a someone. Everyone says it's spoilt than dying. ”

“ And they were going to do that to Dog Star ? ” Kaden replied.

Albus nodded. “ He was the number one to escape Azkaban. He's the one Laurentis was talking about and at the time everyone thought he murdered 13 Muggles and gave my grandparents up to Voldemort. ”

“ That's absolutely ugly ! ” Amanda exclaimed. She turned to the few sixth and seventh years who had said they'd voter turnout for Laurentis. “ How can you wish that on someone ? ”

“ If your grandparents were murdered by expiry Eaters you would, too, ” one of the fille snapped.

“ Albus's grandparents were murdered by Voldemort and he doesn't want the dementors back at Azkaban, ” Amanda pointed out.

“ Well, Voldemort's dead, ” the girl said. “ Maybe if Greyback were bushed I'd feel differently. But he's not so I want the dementors back. ”

“ I don't think she's going to fall back as easily as we thought, ” Amanda said quietly.

“ Of course of study she's not, ” pink wine said. “ This is probably better for suffrage than digging up dirt on Uncle Percy. ”

“ It's absolutely barbaric, ” Amanda said, shoving her plate forward. “ Sucking out someone's soul ? And they just suck your happy memories out ? ”

“ Yeah, ” Albus answered, thinking back to the previous June. He shuddered. “ You're forced to relive your worst memories. ”

“ That's all you can think about ? ” Amanda asked. “ Just the bad ones ? ”

Albus nodded. “ My dad said it makes you go mad after a while. ”

“ Of form it does ! ” Amanda shouted. “ That's just not aright ! Are you lot done eating yet ? I can't sit here anymore. ”

Albus was surprised Amanda had had such a secure reaction to the dementors, but he supposed coming from the Muggle macrocosm, where she hadn't even known such creature existed, it would be a bit of a jar. He was even more surprised that she'd nearly gotten into a shouting match with a seventh year over them, when she was normally so quiet.

“ I'm done, ” blush wine said.

“ Me, too, ” Albus said as he got up.

John and Kaden each grabbed the remaining halves of their sandwiches and followed the others out of the Great Granville Stanley Hall. Amanda lead the way, stomping her substructure a bit more forcefully than was necessary.

“ It's just faulty on so many levels ! ” she said as she led them to the Hospital Wing. “ It's agony, honestly. That's what it is. worked up torment. Can't they just be killed off or something ? ”

“ They don't die, ” rosiness said. “ They can't. They just sort of... exist. Once my mum gets word of this, well, she's not going to stay quiet. ”

“ And she shouldn't, ” Amanda said. “ Can she stop Laurentis ? ”

“ Not if Laurentis is Minister, ” Rose answered. “ right wing now Mum's the Senior help of Magical Law Enforcement, so if Laurentis tried to get this to travel by now, my mum could help stop it. But Minister Hartwell would never put something like this through. ”

“ They're foul creatures, ” Amanda continued. “ Having them guard anything or anyone is a terrible idea. ”

Albus decided now would not be a skillful metre to narrate Amanda that when his dad was a third base yr Hogwarts was guarded by dementors.

“ A dementor went after my dad once, ” Kaden announced as they continued to the Hospital Wing. “ Albus's dad saved him with a Patronus. Then he nearly got expelled for doing underage magic in the presence of a Muggle. ”

“ You're kidding, ” Amanda said. “ God, the Ministry really was screwed up when your parents were at Hogwarts. This is the kind of thing Embry should be using as examples. ”

“ I doubt it's a well-known fact, ” Albus said. “ That the notable Harry thrower nearly got expelled. ”

“ It's a serious example of injustice, ” Amanda said.

“ You sound just like my mum, ” Rose said. “ It's creepy. Doesn't she ? ”

Albus agreed. “ You do voice just like her mum. ”

“ Your mum has the veracious melodic theme, ” Amanda said as they reached the infirmary Wing.

Matt was the but patient in the Barbara Ward. The curtains weren't drawn around his bed and he was sitting up and eating a bowl of soup, which was a good sign. Madam Pomfrey was sitting at her desk, working on charts, and muttering to herself about something.

“ Hey, how are you feeling ? ” Albus asked when they got to his bed.

“ fine, ” Matt said. “ trine cracked ribs and a lot of nasty cuts, but I'm fine. Listen, I heard the debate. ma'am Pomfrey had it on on the receiving set. How insane is Laurentis ? ! You should stimulate heard Madam Pomfrey ranting about her earlier. ”

“ You're not to recapitulate what you heard, ” brothel keeper Pomfrey said. “ But Albus and rosiness, you can secern your uncle that he's got my vote. Always thought he was a little pompous when he was at Hogwarts but at to the lowest degree he's not dumb enough to employ dementors as sentry go of Azkaban. ”

“ Amanda's on a rampage, ” Albus said.

“ It's kind of funny, ” St. John added.

“ It is not fishy ! ” Amanda exclaimed. “ It's serious. ”

“ It's just that you're so quiet down, but you got into it with that seventh year. ”

“ I did not get into it with a seventh year ! ” Amanda shouted and turned to mat. “ John's exaggerating. She announced that she and her family were all going to vote for Laurentis because her grandparents were killed by Greyback and she wants to make sure he stays in prison. ”

mat toyed with his blanket and didn't meet Amanda's eye.

“ What ? ” she asked. “ Don't tell me you want the dementors in Azkaban. ”

“ I don't, ” Matt said quickly. “ It's not that. It's the whole Greyback thing, I can sort of see where she's coming from. It's got to be scary, knowing he's out there when he killed her grandparents.... I mean, I guess I've always been variety of lucky. The cuss who bit me is in prison and has been since he bit me. ”

Albus had never heard flatness lecture about the werewolf who bit him, except for mentioning that he's in prison.

“ He gets out adjacent year, ” lustrelessness said quietly. “ He can get paroled. ”

“ Do you know much about him ? ” Albus asked.

“ Just his name and how old he was, ” mat said. “ My parents know a bit more but they've never told me and I've never asked. ”

“ Is the Aboriginal Australian prison guarded by dementors ? ” Amanda asked.

Matt shook his school principal. “ No, and it never has been. And I don't think prison should be guarded by dementors. But greyback... he's scary. He's worse than Silas Humphrey, that was the bloke who bit me. Humphrey's attack on me, that was an fortuity. Greyback bit people on purpose. He'd chomp the great unwashed and then enhance them in his mob. That's why he liked going for kids. teddy's dad... Greyback bit him and tried to get his parents to yield him up. They didn't, of course, but a lot of parents did. ”

Albus swallowed hard. He hadn't do it that about Teddy's dad and wasn't even sure as shooting if Teddy knew that. Teddy's dad's parents died retentive before Teddy was born and Albus doubted his grandmother knew that.

“ How'd you find that out ? ” Albus asked.

“ When we first moved here Amy learned about Teddy's dad when she was catching up on British History of magic trick. She told me all about him and how successful he wound up being just to make me feel better. But then I decided to research former wolfman and found out about greyback in one of my dad's books. It talked about his solid affair with biting kids. It never said Teddy's dad specifically was one of those kids but I figured he must've been. ”

“ That's horrible, ” Albus said quietly. The others nodded.

“ He had a totally pack of lycanthrope to do his bid, ” lustrelessness said. “ And now he's out. What if he wants to do that again ? ”

“ chomp mass and pee a pack ? ” Albus asked.

lusterlessness nodded. “ That or find people who've already been bitten. ”

Albus saw where this was going now. “ He's not going to retrieve you. Hogwarts is safe. ”

“ That's what everyone always says, but the past tense few years it really hasn't. Remember last year ? ”

“ Technically we weren't in the castle when we got taken to Commonwealth of Australia. We were in the Floo. So if we just stay in the palace... ” Albus pointed out.

“ It's still not a guarantee, ” matt said. “ I wonder how many masses he bit last night. ”

Albus didn't reply. There was no way of knowing what Fenrir greyback did during the full moon lunar month, just like there was no way to undertake that Hogwarts would be good. All Albus and his friends could do was hope that it would be safe and that the escaped Death Eaters would be recaptured soon. Albus still thought having dementors safety device Azkaban was an absolutely terrible idea, but after listening to matt talk about Silas Humphrey and Fenrir Greyback, he sort of understood why some mass might need the dementors back at Azkaban and thus balloting for Laurentis. She might even get elected just because of this. And that, when it came down to it, was what scared Albus the most.


A/N : No cliffhanger this clock time ! Thanks for all the wonderful critical review ! If you like Marauder era, delight control out my young novel, Between Here and Somewhere !


“ I guess Laurentis has been trying to get the dementors reinstated in Azkaban for years, ” Albus said the stick with morn at breakfast, as he set down a copy of the Prophet.

The article on the debate had been a long one, taking up nearly the intact figurehead Thomas Nelson Page. It featured a photograph of Percy and Laurentis arguing with each other, and Albus was capable to see his uncle's facial expression turning steadily more purple, despite the fact that the moving picture was in opprobrious and Andrew Dickson White. The article that followed detailed Laurentis's apparently years-long run to wreak the dementors back. She had put the proposition up for vote four sentence and it was shot down by Minister Hartwell each time.

“ Of row he shot it down, ” Rose said after skimming the article. “ It's a stupid theme. Oh, look, they've quoted my mum. I'll read it.'Hermione Weasley, Senior Assistant of Magical Law Enforcement, when asked about Laurentis's proposal, said,'It's absolutely wild. Everybody, including prisoners, have basic human rights that can not be broken. I thought we'd moved past the mean solar day when the Ministry sanctioned emotional abuse of its prisoner and the persuasion that a woman running for Minister is proposing this is quite frankly horrifying. It is my solemn Leslie Townes Hope that the people of wizarding Britain will conceive long and toilsome about the effects this will have, not only on prisoners, but on our society as well, before they cast their voter turnout in April.'& # 039 ; ”

“ Always one to mouth her mind, your mum, ” Albus said.

“ I couldn't agree more, ” Amanda replied. “ Although if Laurentis wins I bet she gets sacked. ”

“ She can't, ” blush wine said. “ Her job isn't appointed solely by the parson. If she were principal of the department, then yes, but she isn't head yet. It's confusing. ”

“ good, ” Amanda said. “ We'll ask some sane people in there if Laurentis is elected. ”

“ What are you lot doing today ? ” privy asked, steering the conversation away from the election. “ Kaden and I are going to spend the day plotting our new prank. ”

“ I don't want to recognize, ” rosiness said, holding up her hands. “ I'm probably going to go to the library. ”

“ I'll go with you, ” Amanda said. “ I want to research dementors and their use in Azkaban. ”

“ Quidditch practice, ” Albus replied. “ All day. We've got to get set for the match on Saturday against Ravenclaw. After the finally mate, we've got to pee sure we we win by a properly measure of detail if we're going to takeover Slytherin's station for the Cup. ”

“ Oh yeah, ” Kaden said. “ Whatever happened with that Olivia fille ? She had a huge crush on James, didn't she ? ”

Albus laughed. “ I've no idea. ”

“ She sent James I a box of chocolates for Dec 25, ” Cedric, who had been sitting succeeding to Albus, whispered. “ But you didn't hear that from me. ”

“ I was there when he opened his present tense, ” Albus said.

“ She gave them to him before we went home for the holiday, ” Cedric explained. “ She hijacked our thestral go-cart and wound up riding to the railroad train with us. ”

“ How awkward was that ? ” Albus asked, still giggling.

“ Very, ” Cedric said as he glanced over his berm. “ She stared at him the unit time. ”

“ Creepy, ” Albus said.

“ Shh, ” Cedric said. “ He's coming over. ”

“ I think I'm going to go sojourn matt before Quidditch pattern, ” Albus said. “ I'll see you later ? ”

“ Sure, ” Rose said. “ You know where to find me. ”

“ And us ! ” King John announced. “ Marauder's Den. joke planning. ”

“ I don't want to be involved, ” Albus said as he got up.

John shrugged. “ cause yourself. ”

Albus hurried up to the Hospital Wing and managed to get inside without Madam Pomfrey noticing, although the nurse wouldn't have minded him being there. But she was very preoccupied with two students who had somehow fused their leave arms together. matte was already awake and much cheerier than he had been the previous day, when talking about Greyback. He was pretty sure lady Pomfrey was going to let him out that Night, so they agreed to converge in the marauder's Den just before dinner.

Quidditch practice went very well and Albus was fairly sealed they would outwit Ravenclaw on Saturday. No one mentioned the election or Laurentis's wanting to bring in back the dementors, which was a trusted sign that things were getting back to pattern at Hogwarts. Albus spent the relaxation of the day in the piranha's Den working on his prep with lusterlessness while trying to avoid hearing any part of John and Kaden's new prank.

The week went by quickly since Albus spent every moment he wasn't in course of study on the Quidditch pitch. But the atmospheric condition remained decent so it was pleasurable. The only day Albus wasn't on the pitch was Thursday, when he had dueling practice.

“ When's the next tournament ? ” Amanda asked as she and Albus walked into the Transfiguration classroom, where they were were scheduled to praxis. Heather was there to supervise, sitting in a corner. A few of the team members were there already, including Malfoy.

“ Weekend after this one, ” Albus said. “ I think we'll do well. ” Albus glanced over to Malfoy, expecting some sort of snarky retort from him. But he wasn't even paying attending. Instead he was hunched over a long part of parchment. “ wonder what he's doing ? ”

Amanda shrugged. “ survive minute preparation ? ”

Suddenly, Malfoy sat up straight and crumpled the small-arm of parchment. He shoved it into his sack and stood up, staring at Albus as he did so. He looked moody and averted his middle after only a few seconds.

“ I don't think that's homework, ” Albus said.

“ Weird, ” Amanda said.

“ Very, ” Albus agreed. “ Let's get started ! I think we should practice blocking. ” He took a sidelong glance at Malfoy, expecting him to jeer and claim that they already knew how to parry, but instead Malfoy just turned to the student nighest to him and began to do as Albus said. What was even weirder was that the student he partnered with was a bit yr Hufflepuff. Albus blinked to make for sure he wasn't seeing things and then began shooting spells at Amanda while she blocked them.

The pattern school term got stranger as the Night went on, in terms of Malfoy's behavior. Not once did he second guess what Albus said and he didn't say one give-and-take to anyone that wasn't directly related to dueling. Heather raised her supercilium at Albus on numerous juncture since she had supervised Albus's praxis before and knew how much Malfoy usually tried to be the captain. He ran out of the room as soon as the practice was over, looking vaguely upset, as he had at the debate.

“ That was the strangest thing ever, ” Amanda said as she and Albus walked back to the Gryffindor mutual way. “ And I witnessed my brother attempt to brew a potion this past summer and drink it, thinking that it would work him into a wizard. ”

Albus burst out laughing. “ Was he really disappointed that he didn't get a Hogwarts letter ? ”

Amanda nodded. “ I never thought he would but didn't tell him that. But do you have any idea why Malfoy didn't argue with you tonight ? ”

“ I've no idea, ” Albus said. “ But I really hope he stays this way. ”

“ I bet it had something to do with whatever he was reading when we walked in. ”

“ I wonder what it was. ”

Amanda shrugged. “ No mind, but I wish I did. It's just so odd. ”

“ Whatever it is, I hope it keeps him like this during next week's tournament. ”

“ Albus ! What if it's something really fearful ? ” Amanda asked.

Albus hadn't thought about that. “ Well, we don't know that it is, so I don't have to intend about it. ”

“ Albus, I doubt anything good would stool Malfoy exclude up like that, ” Amanda reasoned. “ I'm just saying, it might be something awful. ”
***


Gryffindor's propensity to wager Quidditch during really bad weather came up in full force on Sabbatum, when the unseasonably strong temperatures decided to defect Hogwarts. In its place were freezing frigid temperatures and a ululation snow storm that probably should have resulted in the mate being canceled. But since Hogwarts never canceled Quidditch, Albus was preparing himself for a miserable equal. He wished they could have decent weather condition, like they had when they played Slytherin in November.

The last metre Albus had played in a tempest this bad he'd been in his endorse yr and wound up in the hospital wing with the flu afterward. He certainly did not require a repeat of that so he was hoping that James II would take hold of the Snitch sooner rather than later.

“ Fred, this is loony, ” Ryan said as they stood in the doorway of the changing rooms, waiting for the match to begin. “ There is literally no way to see the snitcher in this. ”

“ There's naught I can do about it, ” Fred snapped. Everyone could tell he was stressed about this match, since they'd lost to Slytherin. “ We have to play unless Kendrick calls it off. ”

Ryan was correctly. Albus stared out onto the sales pitch and all he saw was tweed. The snow was swirling and blowing and Albus couldn't severalize if to a greater extent snow was actually falling or if it was all just getting blown around. But either way, finding a Snitch in it was going to be close impossible.

“ I'll catch it, ” James said confidently. “ Don't worry. ”

“ We're not going to be able-bodied to hear the comment, ” Fred said. “ Just catch it as soon as you can. Don't worry about catching it after we're up a sealed identification number of points. We just require a win at this point. ”

There was a very dull, smooth bellowing of applause and Fred led the team out onto the pitch. The balls were released and Albus flew up into the raging storm. Soon, he didn't know which way was up or down, let alone where the Quaffle was. After about ten minute of meandering around the pitch, not knowing where he was going, the Quaffle suddenly appeared. Albus caught it, but had no idea where the goal posts were.

Albus flew unbent ahead, hoping it was in the in good order direction, but instead of reaching the end spot, he reached the stall. Groaning, he turned and headed toward the destination mail. At least he now knew where they were. He managed to rack up, mostly because Ravenclaw's keeper didn't see him.

The match continued in bedlam, with no one knowing where anyone else was. Albus didn't see a unity Bludger the whole time and assumed the Beaters were just trying to go on lead of them rather than trying to get them to hit the opposite team's players. Fred had been right about the commentary ; Albus couldn't hear a watchword of it.

It felt like he was playing a friction match by himself. The only other instrumentalist he saw were the Ravenclaw Seeker, Fred, and broom. They had given up chasing as a team and instead, when one of them got the Quaffle, they flew it down to the destination posts as best they could.

“ Albus, Albus ! ” someone shouted.

Albus turned and squinted, but he couldn't make out anyone flying near him.

“ Albus ! ”

Albus continued flying in a circle trying to figure out who it was. He didn't even agnise their interpreter, but it could have been distorted by the breaking wind. Finally, he began to pee-pee out a figure flying toward him. It was Heather.

“ Albus ! ” she shouted once she reached him. “ The match has been canceled. We're all to retrovert to our common way right field now. ”

Albus nodded, figuring that Kendrick finally came to his senses. It was just out of the question to play a good game of Quidditch in a storm like this.

When Albus and Scots heather finally reached the changing elbow room they found the eternal sleep of the squad sitting in their wet Quidditch robes, their faces pale. Albus noticed that even Heather looked slightly afraid.

“ What's going on ? ” Albus asked.

“ You were flying so luxuriously, you probably didn't hear, ” Fred said as Albus sat down. “ The compeer wasn't canceled because of the weather. ”

“ But it's so bad out there, ” Albus said. “ That match was pointless. ”

“ One of the Ravenclaw starting time long time, ” Fred continued, ignoring Albus, “ she was late to the catch and on her way down she saw- ” Fred paused, swallowing hard. “ She saw Fenrir Johnny Reb on the grounds. ”

“ What ? ” Albus exclaimed, suddenly feeling loathsome. “ But it's so snowy. How could she possibly know for for sure ? ”

“ She can't, of class, ” Fred said. “ But she went running to Professor Longbottom as soon as she reached the pitch and told him. That's when they canceled the match and sent everyone back to the castle. ”

As if he heard Fred mention his name, Professor Longbottom walked into the changing room, looking scared himself. “ I'm going to escort you all back to the common elbow room. Wands out as we walk. ”

Albus drew his wand and followed the relaxation of his teammates out of the changing rooms. They were all quiet on the walk back to the castle since the storm was still raging. No one would suffer been able-bodied to hear anything anyone said, even if anyone felt like talking. Albus felt too ill to let the cat out of the bag. The mentation of Fenrir knot being loose was bad enough, after hearing what matte knew about him, but the thinking of him being here, on the Hogwarts grounds, was too dreaded to even reckon about.

As they walked up to the castling and then up to Gryffindor tugboat Albus kept telling himself that it was fully possible that the Ravenclaw girl hadn't seen Fenrir Greyback. She was probably just thinking about the take to the woods prisoners and imagined something. Albus hadn't even been able to seduce out his own cousin when she'd been calling his name in this storm. What were the hazard of a first class being capable to plunk out Fenrir knot ?

But still... what if it had been Greyback ? He had to be somewhere, so why not Hogwarts ?

The park way was buzzing with yack when the team entered a inadequate while later. Albus avoided everyone, including his Quaker, until after he went up to his dormitory to look at a cascade. He was shivering and felt frightening and didn't want to blab out to anyone until after he was in dry clothes.

To his surprisal his friends were all gathered in his student residence after he got out of the shower. Bilius and Ethan weren't there, and the doorway was shut.

“ We can't go to the Marauder's Den, ” Matt explained. “ We're not allowed to get out our commons rooms until far notice. ”

“ Are they doing an probe ? ” Albus asked as he sat down on his bed. “ And what exactly happened ? Fred only explained a niggling before Longbottom came to take us back to the castle. ”

“ It was uncanny, ” rosiness said. “ No one really knew what was happening because it was so white and the wind was so loud. We couldn't see the catch, so we were just standing there using a lot of heating charms and hoping things would be over soon. But then we started hearing whisperings about Greyback on the curtilage. Then, probably two minutes later, Kendrick magically amplified his part and told us all that we're to cover back to our common room immediately and to take the air back with our wands out and in great mathematical group.

“ So then, even though Kendrick never said for sure, we knew that mortal had seen Greyback on the grounds. It was so shivery. Eventually we found out that one of the Ravenclaw commencement years thought she saw him on her way to the couple and told Professor Longbottom. But besides that we don't know much. No one's told us anything for for certain and we've just been hanging out here and talking. ”

“ But what's he doing here ? ” Kaden asked. “ And I thought there were Aurors guarding Hogwarts. ”

“ It was planned, ” matt said. “ Don't you see ? That tempest out there is so bad that no one can see three metrical unit in front of them and the winding is so garish no one can hear anything either. It was the perfect day for him to snarf onto the grounds, and if that girl hadn't seen him who knows what he would've done. ”

“ So you think she really saw him ? ” Albus asked skeptically. “ You said it yourself, no one can see anything. ”

“ For all we know he said something to her, ” Matt said. “ No one knows the full story yet. ”

“ But why ? ” Kaden asked. “ Seems really stupid to me. If he escaped he should be hiding out in the mountains, not going to Hogwarts where there are Aurors. ”

“ Remember what I said after he escaped ? ” Matt asked quietly. “ This just confirms it. He's going to try to make his own werewolf army again. He was insane before Azkaban ; imagine how crazy he is now. They don't need dementors in prison to wee-wee people go insane. ”

“ And you think- ”

“ That he came to try and figure out how to best billet himself to prick kids during the entire moon ? ” matt interrupted. “ Yeah, I do. ”

Albus shuddered. “ That's sick. ”

“ That's what he does, ” Matt said. He looked more worried than everyone else. “ But what I don't get is why it seems like he's trying for Hogwarts kids. Last time he went for really young kids. ”

“ But we don't even know for trusted that's what he's up to, ” john pointed out. “ I mean it makes mother wit, but we still don't know. ”

“ Still, ” flatness said. “ You have to promise me you won't go outside during the full phase of the moon moonlight. I don't want any of you joining me in the Shack. ”

John looked disbelieving. “ There's other reasons why he could be here. ”

“ Promise me, ” matt repeated, staring directly at bathroom. “ It's not worth the risk. ”

John shrugged. “ Yeah, I promise. ” Everyone else nodded.

“ What about the eternal rest of them ? ” Amanda asked. “ Do you think they're working together ? ”

“ I don't know, ” Albus began. “ I'm sure the Carrows are together and Umbridge might be with them. But I doubt Willinson and Greyback are with them. The Carrows were dying feeder, but Johnny wasn't technically a end eater. Voldemort used him, but always thought he was scum because he's a werewolf. The Carrows probably agreed. And Willinson, he's got no connectedness, which is why I'm still confused as to why he broke out with them. ”

“ For all we know they left the door give and he followed, ” John said with a laugh.

Amanda groaned. “ Everyone's got their own cellphone in high security. ”

“ Oh, yeah, I suppose you're right, ” John said.

“ Two demise feeder, a war felon, a lycanthrope, and Willinson, ” Albus said. “ It's so random. Why them ? ”

“ Sounds like the start of a put-on, ” John said. “ Two decease eater, a war criminal, a werewolf, and Willinson walk into a pub.... ”

Matt groaned. “ Don't even go there. I just really hope they catch him before the next fully moon. There wasn't anything in the prophet about him biting anyone this last-place replete moon, but I don't think he'd go two moons without biting. And there's no way he'd go on Wolfsbane, even if he could get some. ”

“ I wonder where the others are, ” Rose mused. “ You think they're just hiding out ? ”

“ They must be, ” Albus said. “ There haven't been any sightings. ”

There was a knock on the door and then it opened. James walked inside and sat down on the end of Albus's bed.

“ Longbottom just came to verbalise to us, ” he said. “ We'll be allowed to get out the common room for dinner party, but not before that. ”

“ Did they catch him ? ” matt asked anxiously.

“ No, ” James said. “ But, Longbottom said the owner of Madam Puddifoot's also saw him, so the Ravenclaw miss probably did see him. They've scoured Hogsmeade and there's no signboard of him, though. ”

“ Are they rescheduling the mates ? ” Albus asked.

Henry James nodded. “ Next Saturday. Good thing, too, because I don't think that one would've ever ended. Don't William Tell Fred, but there's no way I would've seen the Snitch. ”

“ One upside to Greyback being on the ground, I guess, ” Albus said.

“ Lucky he didn't attack that girl, ” mat said as James left. “ He attacks the great unwashed even when he's not transformed. ”

“ He did that to my uncle Bill, ” Albus said.

“ Really ? ” Matt asked.

Albus nodded. “ At the end of my dad's 6th yr, the Night Dumbledore was killed. He doesn't transform, but he likes really rare pith. Like hardly cooked at all meat. ”

“ Eww ! ” Kaden exclaimed. “ That's gross. Wait, Matt, do you like really rarefied heart and soul ? ”

Matt grinned. “ Yeah. I hardly ever get it, though. Mum refuses to let me eat it because she thinks it'll make me ill. And they don't serve it here. ”

“ My uncle eats it all the metre, ” Albus said. “ aunty Fleur likes her steaks pretty rare, too. So does Teddy for that matter. ”

“ I like mine well done, ” Kaden said.

“ Now that's what's gross, ” matt replied. “ I should ask the house elves to make believe me rare steak. ”

“ They probably would, ” Rose said. “ They make you pretty much whatever you want. ”

“ Let's go tonight, ” matt said. “ We haven't been down there in ages. ”

Kaden groaned. “ So we're going to have to witness you eating a musical composition of raw substance ? ”

“ Not raw, ” matt said. “ Slightly cooked, bit of rakehell dripping out. ”

“ Oh, unadulterated ! ” Kaden shouted. “ I'm going back down to the common room. ”

Albus laughed and Matt grinned as Kaden ran out of the room. There was cypher like a trip to the kitchens to get their minds off of Reb and the other escaped convicts.


A/N : Sorry for the late update ! I totally forgot it was Fri. Thanks for all the wonderful revaluation ! Please suss out out my Marauders fic, Between Here and Somewhere.


The low gear year who saw Johnny on the primer coat became an wink Hogwarts celebrity. By the next day her full story had spread throughout the student body like wildfire, and every single mortal in the castle knew her name. She was Quinn Gregory, a bantam girl who looked like she belonged in the Weasley kin group with her long red hair and nebuliser of freckles across her look. Quinn seemed to be enjoying her newfound celebrity and always had a crowd of masses around her, asking her to recount the story.

Albus, himself, had heard the story at to the lowest degree five times. Quinn had been running to the tar, late, because she'd spent a half 60 minutes trying to convince one of her roomie to go to the couple, but in the end her roommate had decided she didn't want to weather the storm. Quinn then spotted somebody lurking near the greenhouses and went to investigate, but instead of finding another student, she found Fenrir Greyback. Apparently Greyback had said'hi, piffling fille'to Quinn, who then took off running even faster for the Quidditch delivery. greyback then escaped to Hogsmeade and who knows after that.

As the hebdomad progressed Quinn's story grew until it ended with her disarming Johnny Reb after a twenty second duel and running to the Quidditch pitch in order to admonish the respite of the students, rather than because she was scared. Albus was very happy that, for once, this hadn't happened to him or one of his friends.

“ Guess what I heard today, ” Kaden said as he entered the Marauder's Den Friday evening, after dinner party.

“ What ? ” Albus asked, looking up from the Marauder's Map, which he'd spent the last ten minutes studying. King John and lustrelessness were in the way as well, lusterlessness studying and John sorting deep brown Frog scorecard. Rose was tutoring Elsie Willinson again and Amanda had gone with her.

“ Quinn, ” Kaden said as he sat down side by side to Albus. “ She's now saying that Greyback stole her wand and she got away from him by kicking his kneecaps. ”

Albus burst out laughing. “ That's nonsensical. She's still got her wand. ”

“ She claims Ollivander's sent her an exact replication, ” Kaden replied.

“ But no two scepter are the same, ” John pointed out. “ Everyone knows that. ”

“ She's Muggle-born, ” Kaden pointed out. “ She might not. ”

“ But still, ” Albus said. “ She's taken it too far. No one's going to believe her now and it's all going to die down. ”

Albus laughed as he looked back at the piranha's Map. He'd been checking it, both the Hogsmeade and Hogwarts sections, looking for Reb every so often since last Saturday. He'd yet to witness anything remotely interesting on it, least of all Greyback or one of the other escaped convicts.

“ Scorpius is leaving the palace, ” Albus said, noticing the dot labeled'Scorpio Malfoy'was no longer in the Slytherin commons room, but instead slowly making its way across the footing.

“ What ? ” matt asked, closing his book. “ But it's eight o'clock. And it's snowing. ”

“ It's him all right, ” Albus said. “ Come see. ”

Matt, John, and Kaden all crowded around Albus and they watched Scorpius's dot travel further and further from the castle. There were no other dots on the grounds, except Hagrid's, and his was remaining stationary behind his hut. It didn't appear that Malfoy was meeting anyone outside, nor did anyone go with him. It was odd, especially in light of his former odd behavior.

“ I wonder what he's up to, ” Albus mused.

“ We should follow him, ” bathroom said. “ See what he's up to. ”

“ I agree, ” Kaden said. “ No one goes outside at night during a storm for no cause at all. He's up to something. ”

“ We'd get caught, ” Albus pointed out.

“ And it's freeze, ” Matt added.

“ We'll need your invisibleness Cloak, ” John said.

“ I don't think we all fit anymore, ” Albus said, not taking his name off Malfoy's dot.

“ Then Kaden and I can go, ” John replied.

“ No way, ” Albus said. “ It's my cloak and I don't want you having it when Filch catches you. He'll confiscate it. ”

“ Who says we'll get caught ? ” Gospel According to John asked.

Albus laughed and turned to search at John. “ Of course you'll get caught. And then my cloak will get taken away and I'll never see it again and my dad will murder me. ”

“ Your dad's Harry Potter, ” John said. “ He's not going to mangle his own son. ”

“ If he did Laurentis would love it. ” Kaden laughed. “ I can see the headline now.'Harry thrower Murders Own Son, Clearly Unfit For tariff. Weasley Still Supports Him.'”

“ Oh shut it, ” Albus muttered.

“ Wait, ” Matt said, staring at the map. “ He's going to the Whomping Willow. ”

Albus looked back at the map and saw that Matt was decent. Malfoy's dot was slowing down and circling the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, giving it a across-the-board berth. “ What's he doing ? ”

“ You don't think he's figured it out, do you ? ” Matt asked.

“ Well now we have to go after him, ” John said, standing up.

Matt nodded. “ seminal fluid on, Albus, let us pack your cloak. ”

“ Fine, ” Albus said, knowing that the battle was lost. Malfoy was at the Whomping willow tree, which meant that this was now personal for lustrelessness, and therefore, for all of them. “ But I still don't know if we'll all fit. ”

Albus walked over to his bed and located the cloak in one of the pants beneath it. He rarely kept it in his dormitory anymore, since he and his Quaker spent far more time in the Marauder's Den than they did in the common elbow room.

“ Let's try it, ” Albus said as his Quaker walked over to him. They stood close and Albus threw the cloak over them.

“ half my organic structure is showing, ” John said, turning to look at his still visible arm.

“ And all our feet are showing, ” Matt pointed out.

“ That's because Albus and John are giants, ” Kaden asked, glancing up at the five inches of space that separated his head from the top of the cloak.

“ Both of you are going to receive to bend down, ” mat said.

“ But what about the fact that half my body is showing ? ” lav asked, yanking on the cloak.

“ Now I'm not under it at all, ” lustrelessness said, yanking it back.

“ I wish we could do disillusionment charms, ” Albus muttered. “ Too bad we don't learn those until seventh year. ”

“ rosebush could probably calculate them out, ” whoremaster said. “ We should get her learn them. ”

“ well we don't have metre for that now and we're languish time arguing. Malfoy could be in the burrow by now, ” lustrelessness said.

“ There are cellblock, ” Albus pointed out.

“ Still... ” flatness muttered.

“ amercement, ” John said. “ Albus and mat can go and Kaden and I will persist here. ”

“ What ? ” Kaden shouted. “ Why'd you volunteer me to stay ? ”

“ wellspring, Albus isn't going to let anyone adopt the cloak without him going and Matt has to go since Malfoy's by the Whomping Willow, ” John said. “ That leaves you and me. I don't conceive to a greater extent than two of us are going to fit. ”

“ Let's go, then, ” flatness said, yanking the cloak off of John Lackland and Kaden and repositioning it over himself and Albus. “ See you in a bit. ”

Albus nearly had to run to keep up with matt and keep himself crouched down enough to stay blot out, and that was saying something since usually Albus was much faster than mat. The two of them said nix on their way down to the front door and weren't noticed by any of the scholar or prof they passed.

“ Remember, we've got to be back before curfew, ” Albus said once they shut the front end door. “ We don't want to be locked out like back in arcsecond year. ”

“ This is total deja vu, ” Matt added. “ Two twelvemonth ago we caught Kaden messing with the Whomping Willow. That's when Kendrick added the wards. ”

“ But unlike with Kaden, I don't think we'll wind up friends with Malfoy after, ” Albus pointed out.

The grounds were very lull, the solely sound being the crunching of their groundwork in the blow. Albus carefully vanished their footprint as they walked, while matt led them down the track to the Whomping willow. It was very cold-blooded and snowy, which reminded Albus even more than of the sentence they got locked out of the castle after sneaking into the Shrieking hutch.

“ Is he even still there ? ” matt asked quietly when they were halfway to the tree.

Albus paused and pulled the predator's Map out of his sack. Scorpius's dot was still walking methodically in a rophy around the tree. “ Yeah, he's there. ”

matt nodded and they continued walking. Neither of them had lit their wand, so they slowed down in monastic order to not be hit by the willow's bombastic subdivision. Finally they reached it and stood just outside its hitting mountain range, waiting for Malfoy to come back around.

The Slytherin boy was wrapped in a thickset cloak and pacing with his head always turned toward the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree. He had his wand out and didn't seem to discover that he had been joined by Albus and Matt. Albus glanced at Matt as Malfoy walked past them, unsure of whether to call his care to their comportment. Since they were inconspicuous, they could just remain firm there and catch him.

“ There's got to be a way, ” Malfoy muttered. “ Every Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth has a weak point. They don't all last forever. ”

Albus could now see that Malfoy was sending various jinx and jinxes into the Barbara Ward, but they were all deflecting away. As he rounded the tree once more, a hex bounced off the Barbara Ward and nearly hit Albus, who had to climb up out of the way to avoid it. His leg slipped out from underneath the cloak in the cognitive process, but Malfoy didn't see it.

“ It's got to puzzle out, ” Malfoy said. “ There's no other way in.... ”

“ Into where ? ” matte mouthed. Albus shrugged.

They waited for Malfoy to make another circle around the tree and this time one of the hexes reflected off the Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth and toward Matt, who jumped to get out of the way, but tripped over a partially buried tree source instead. He fell over, yanking the cloak down with him, leaving both himself and Albus exposed. Matt let out a current of curses and a cry of pain sensation. Albus heard a sickening crush as he fell and hoped it was the tree root and not Matt's leg.

“ Who's there ? ” Malfoy shouted, aiming his wand at Albus and matt. He lit it and his cheek visibly paled. “ What are you two doing here ? ”

Albus lit his own wand. lustrelessness was still sitting in the snow. “ I could ask you the Lapplander matter, Malfoy, ” Albus said.

Albus pointed his wand at Matt and reached down to help him up. He was clutching his wrist and his fount was as pale as Malfoy's, although for different reasonableness.

“ I said, what are you two doing here ? ” Malfoy repeated, not sounding very confident.

“ Following you, ” Albus said simply, thinking satinpod would be the best policy here. After all, all three of them were breaking the linguistic rule. Not very much point in denying it or making up excuses.

“ How did you know I was here ? ” Malfoy asked. His scepter arm was now trembling, although Albus didn't know if it was from the cold or fear.

“ Saw you leave the rook, ” Albus said. “ Figured we'd see what you were up to. ”

“ What do you desire with the tree ? ” Matt demanded. His voice sounded pained.

Malfoy's mouth turned up in a sly grin. “ Once again, you just confirmed my suspicion. This tree's how you get into the scream Shack. I did a little more research, and turns out this thing was planted the Sami year the shriek Shack was built. The Saame year Remus lupin started going to Hogwarts. That Shack's all boarded up so I figured there must be some variety of tunnel leading to it and what better way to hide a burrow than to put a homicidal tree above it ? trouble is, I can't disable the Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth. Bet you can, though. ”

“ Why ? ” Matt asked. Albus heard him inhale sharply and began to wonder if his wrist was broken. “ Why do you desire to get in there ? ”

“ Can't tell you, ” Malfoy said.

“ wellspring, I'm not disabling the ward, ” flatness said.

“ I'll trope it out eventually, ” Malfoy said.

Albus wanted to ask him about his conduct at dueling pattern so badly. They'd had another practice the previous day and again, Malfoy hadn't said two words to anyone. It was just unusual. Bur Albus figured that even if he asked, Malfoy wouldn't answer.

“ It'd be dumb, you know, ” lustrelessness said. “ Going into the screaming Shack. ”

“ Well I wouldn't go in on a full moonlight, idiot, ” Malfoy said. “ Believe it or not this has nothing to do with you or your immorality side. I couldn't deal LE that you're a cruddy wolfman. I have better things- ”

Albus jabbed his sceptre into Malfoy's chest, nearly knocking him over in the process. His tenderness was pounding and he could feel heat rising up in his body. “ You. Take. That. Back, ” he seethed.

“ Albus, don't, ” Matt said.

Malfoy scowled. “ No. I won't, because it's confessedly. I don't care. It was the mystery that I liked and cypher more than. You don't know the one-half of what's going on or why I want that hutch. He only uses it one night out of twenty-eight. I want it the other xxvii. I don't get why that's such a huge deal. ”

“ What's going on over there ? ” a loud voice boomed over the grounds. “ Eh, what're yeh doing ? ”

Albus quickly moved his wand and pointed it elsewhere. It was one matter to get caught on the flat coat after iniquity but another to be caught threatening another student. He pointed his scepter in the direction of the articulation and saw Hagrid making his way toward them, his tumid Newfoundland, Fetch, at his side.

“ Albus ? ” Hagird asked as he drew nearer. “ lustrelessness ? What're yeh doing out here ? And Malfoy ? ”

“ Er, nothing, ” Albus muttered.

“ well, yer breaking the regulation so I'm going to have to accept yeh to Longbottom, ” Hagrid said and then turned to Malfoy. “ And you'll have to see Slughorn. ”

“ Hospital wing, ” lustrelessness said. “ First. ”

Hagrid turned to mat and looked at his articulatio radiocarpea. “ O'course, ” he said. “ What did yeh do ? ”

“ Tripped over a beginning, ” lusterlessness said. “ Landed on a rock. ”

Hagrid nodded and clapped Matt on the rachis, a gesture clearly meant to soothe him but instead nearly knocked him over again. After he recovered they set off for the castle, walking side by side to Hagrid. Malfoy followed at a brusk distance. Hagrid didn't ask them what they were doing by the Whomping Willow again, although Albus had a feeling he probably knew. After all, he knew why the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree was there and the fact that Matt was a lycanthrope.

The rook was much hollow when they returned than when they had left. Albus only saw a few prefects doing their rounds and realized that curfew must sustain passed. So much for not getting in trouble.

Hagrid walked them to the infirmary wing and left Albus and Matt there while he then escorted Malfoy to Slughorn's subject. Malfoy had remained quiet during the integral walk, but lost the sneer he'd worn when he insulted Matt.

“ I thought you lot had grown out of this, ” Madam Pomfrey said as she examined Matt's wrist. “ This sneaking about in the dead of Nox, following people. At least you didn't get locked out this time.

“ Yes, your wrist is definitely relegate. But I can furbish up it quickly. ”

Madam Pomfrey took her wand out of her gown and pointed it at matt's carpus. She muttered a patch and instantly, his articulatio radiocarpea was healed.

“ Thanks, ” lustrelessness said, bending his wrist.

“ You're welcome, ” the nanny replied. She hurried over to a cabinet and returned with a goblet of potion. “ Take this for the pain and you'll be in effect as new. No motive to stay the Night. I know you stay here enough as it is. You're to await here until Professor Longbottom comes to garner you. ”

matte nodded and downed the potion in one large gulp. Albus sat down next to him on the bed and they waited for Longbottom. Albus didn't think Hagrid had seen him with his baton pointed at Malfoy, so his penalisation shouldn't be too bad.

“ You don't think he'll make you miss Quidditch tomorrow, do you ? ” Matt asked.

Albus hadn't sentiment of that. “ I hope not. Fred would kill me. ”

The doorway to the Barbara Ward opened and Professor Longbottom walked inside. He looked threadbare and slightly annoyed. He sighed and shook his head when he saw Albus and Matt.

“ You two again ? ” he asked. “ Hagrid said you were on the grounds after curfew ? ”

“ Yes, sir, ” Albus replied. He always felt weird calling Professor Longbottom'sir & # 039 ;, but figured it couldn't distress in this situation.

“ Should I bother asking why ? ” Longbottom replied.

Albus shook his pass, knowing that telling Longbottom why wouldn't get them any fewer detentions, nor would it stop Malfoy from trying to estimate out how to get into the scream Shack.

“ I'll make this easy, then, ” Longbottom said. “ Ten gunpoint from Gryffindor, each. And you'll both serve detention tomorrow, immediately following the Quidditch lucifer. line of products, in my authority. I'll see you then. ” Longbottom turned to leave. He nodded to Madam Pomfrey as he walked to the door. “ trade good dark, Poppy. ”

“ Good night, Neville, ” ma'am Pomfrey said.

Albus and lusterlessness said respectable night to the nursemaid and then left the ward, both automatically going back to the mutual elbow room rather than the Marauder's Den. If they were caught outside of Gryffindor tower twice in one Night they'd get a much regretful punishment than twenty lost points and a detention. Albus thought they'd gotten off easy, to be honest. He wondered what Slughorn had set for Malfoy.

John, Kaden, Rose, and Amanda were waiting for them when they got back. lavatory and Kaden were smirking.

“ Don't say a Bible, ” Albus muttered. “ I knew whoever followed him would get caught. ”

“ Figured you did, seeing as you've been gone for over an hour, ” John said. “ What's your penalisation ? ”

“ Detention tomorrow after Quidditch and we each lost ten compass point, ” Albus said.

“ You got off easy, ” Kaden replied. “ If it had been me and John we would've gotten three detentions. ”

“ I think Longbottom took pity on us because flatness broke his radiocarpal joint while we were out there, ” Albus said.

lavatory laughed. “ Of form he did. ”

“ Shut it, ” Matt said. “ It really hurt. I was dodging a oath that Malfoy sent to the willow that reflected off the wards. ”

“ Did you find anything useful out ? ” rose wine asked. “ Not that I approve of this. ”

Albus and flatness explained what had happened, including the part where Malfoy insulted mat and Albus nearly hexed him.

“ Very odd, ” blush wine mused. “ What can he possibly want the Shack for ? And what did he mean when he said he had other stuff and nonsense going on ? What other stuff could he possibly have going on besides school ? ”

“ Whatever he's got going on with Willinson ? ” privy suggested. “ Surely Felix knows what his cousin-german are up to and Malfoy's always involved with that. ”

Albus shrugged. “ Maybe. But why would he call for the Shack ? ”

“ Who knows, ” John the Divine said.

“ I bet it's got something to do with that letter, ” Amanda said. “ And why he's acting so strangely lately. ”

“ speech production of acting strangely, Elsie Willinson is still acting Weird, ” Rose said. “ I thought she would've adjusted by now, but she hasn't. She doesn't seem to have any friends. ”

“ Does her brother still pick her up from tutoring ? ” Albus asked.

“ Yeah, ” Rose replied. “ It's very odd. I asked her if she wanted to attend out with me and Amanda until curfew, but she said she couldn't. So I said maybe another sentence and she said probably not. ”

“ That's odd, ” John said. “ Clearly they're up to something. ”

“ They're always up to something, ” Albus pointed out. “ I'd love to get laid what it is, though. I wonder if they've been in contact with Quinton. ”

“ They'd be stupid to be, ” pink wine said. “ Kendrick didn't punish Felix for what happened to Kaden two yr ago, telling him if he did it again he'd get expelled. ”

“ I still say you've got to figure out what's up with Elsie, ” can said.

“ I'm trying, ” Rose insisted. “ It's not as easy as you'd think. She hardly talks at all. ”

“ Just hold trying, ” John said.

“ team ! ” Fred suddenly shouted from across the plebeian room. “ Off to bed, all of you ! We've got a 2d luck at this and let's not break it by staying up all night. ”

Albus didn't argue. Turning in early was a effective theme and he was actually quite shopworn after his outing to the Whomping willow. He bade near Nox to his supporter and went up to his quiet, vacate dormitory. It didn't take him long to go down asleep and he dreamt of playing Quidditch with Malfoy while the two of them dodged the Whomping Willow on brooms.


A/N : Thanks for all the reappraisal ! I am doing Camp NaNoWriMo again this month ( probably not a good thought... ), and I'm authorship this for it, so hopefully I'll finish it !



The conditions for the rematch was vastly different from the previous Saturday's weather. The sky seemed to be all out of snow and the sun was shining. Although it was still bitterly common cold, there was small wind. Albus hoped the catch would be a long one since as soon as it was over, he had to serve detention with Professor Longbottom.

Albus went down to the Great dorm by himself for breakfast. His early night had given way to him waking up far sooner than he normally did. It was nice being able to linger over breakfast, though, and concentrate on the approaching peer rather than interact with his friends. As he ate, the Great foyer slowly filled. He had just finished the last of his testicle when the post owls arrived.

Albus observed the hooter and didn't recognize any of them. Clearly he was not receiving any Emily Price Post today, which was a well affair because he was fairly certain Longbottom had owled his parents about his detention. But then he noticed a very gravid owl holding a red envelope in its mouth ; it was a howler and the owl was heading toward the Slytherin board. Albus continued watching it and saw it land right in front man of Scorpius, who yanked the envelope off the owl's leg and tripped over the bench in his haste to leave the room. Albus actually sympathized with him ; it was frightening opening a howler in public. From the speech sound of it, Malfoy didn't quite make it to a loo or empty classroom. Muffled cheering could be heard coming from the entranceway Hall.

Malfoy didn't homecoming to the Great Marguerite Radclyffe Hall. Albus figured it must have been a particularly terrible riot and was wondering what it could possibly receive said when his friend sat down next to him.

“ Malfoy got a howler, ” John said as he started loading his plate with bacon.

“ I know, ” Albus said. “ Saw him get it. ”

“ Well, we heard the buttocks end of it, ” John said.

“ It was painful, ” Rose replied.

“ What did it say ? ” Albus asked. “ Who was it from ? ”

“ His dad, I'm guessing, ” John said. “ It was a man's vocalisation. We crouched down on the stairs when we saw him. Basically his dad was yelling at him for getting in trouble for dullard things when he should be studying and concentrating on his schooling work and keeping his head down. Then he said something about how Malfoy knows that they, meaning his parents, have far more important things on their mind than worrying about Malfoy getting in worry in school. And how they can't worry about him at school when they're in use worrying about former things. ”

“ That's vague, ” Albus said. “ He didn't say what the other things were ? ”

“ Nope, ” John said. “ But Malfoy obviously knows what they are because he was shaking and he ran for the dungeon after the howler monkey blew up. ”

“ I told you the letter he read at drill was about something bad, ” Amanda said.

“ And now we know it's got something to do with his family, ” Albus said.

“ Maybe they're going to bring together up with Willinson and the Carrows and all them, ” Matt said. “ His dad was a Death eater, wasn't he ? ”

“ form of, ” Albus said. “ His grandfather was, but his dad sort of got caught up in it and he got off. So did his grandfather, actually. No one really knows why, but my dad vouched for them at their hearing. ”

“ Now that is unearthly, ” matte said. “ Maybe his grandfather is planning on joining them. ”

Albus shrugged. “ Maybe, but it just doesn't sound right. Listen, I've got to get to the pitch. I'll see you after. ”

“ Yeah, for detention, ” flatness muttered. “ Going to be a blast. ”

Albus's wish for a long equal came true. Since the atmospheric condition was cooperating, James put off catching the Snitch until Gryffindor was up by 200 point in time, instead focusing his elbow grease on faking nose dive to keep Ravenclaw's Seeker away from the Snitch. It worked, and three and a one-half hours later King James I caught the Snitch and won the match for Gryffindor. Albus was sorely disappointed that he'd have to miss the resulting political party in the common room, but figured that's what Longbottom was going for when he scheduled detention for right wing after the match.

Matt was waiting for Albus in the Great Hall and the two of them grabbed a straightaway lunch before hurrying to Longbottom's office staff. They spent the next two time of day writing'I will not sneak out of the castle after darkness'over and over again. By the metre they were done Albus wanted to curl up and take a nap, since the Quidditch couple itself had exhausted him. He and Matt decided to spend the good afternoon in the piranha's Den, just relaxing if not actually sleeping.

When they arrived they found John the Divine and Kaden in the midriff of plotting their new clowning. rose and Amanda were in the library, apparently avoiding John and Kaden and their prank.

“ Are you two sure as shooting you don't want to be involved with this ? ” King John asked. “ It's going to be legendary. ”

“ It won't be worth the hold, ” Albus said.

“ Seriously, ” Matt agreed. “ If it's legendary it's going to think of a lot of detentions. ”

“ Fine, ” King John said.

whoremaster and Kaden lowered their voices, but Albus distinctly heard the words'Weasleys'& # 039 ;,'itching powder,'& # 039 ; Slytherins,'and'alarm clocks.'At that peak, he really didn't want to know. He and matt decided to start a plot of chess and attempted to tune out Saint John the Apostle and Kaden's whisper.

“ I was thinking the other night and realized if my dad loses his job when Laurentis is elected it's going to be just like Australia, ” Matt said as he captured one of Albus's pawns.

“ I hadn't thinking of that, ” Albus said. “ Does that imply you'd motion again ? ”

“ I don't know, ” Matt said quietly. “ I really hope not. I guess I don't think so because the very understanding we moved here was so I could go to schoolhouse, not for Dad to get a new job. ”

“ Then you probably won't, ” Albus replied, taking one of Matt's bishops.

“ But if he does lose it, it's going to probably think of Laurentis disagrees with him on lycanthrope issues, ” Matt pointed out. “ That could be really bad. ”

“ You never know, ” Albus said. “ There's early things your dad batch with that they might disagree on. ”

“ But my dad's the most vocal on werewolf right field. Everyone knows that, ” Matt said. “ If they're going to dissent on something, that's going to be it. ”

“ I guess you'll have to await until the public debate, ” Albus said.

“ I'm mentation of going, ” Matt said quietly. “ It might be awful, but I want to know what she says firsthand, not from the Prophet. ”

“ That makes sense, ” Albus said. “ When is it ? ”

“ In three weeks, ” flatness said. “ Feb 15th. That's the only when affair ; it's the day of the Hogsmeade trip. ”

“ That happened last Hogsmeade weekend, ” Albus said, “ when Rose went. Sucks that they do that. ”

Matt nodded. “ I think I'll go anyway. I mean, it is the valentine's Hogsmeade trip-up. Speaking of that, is James still going out with that Hufflepuff daughter ? I forgot her name. ”

“ Gabby Ellis, ” Albus said. “ I've no estimate, to be honest. I guess we'll find out when the Hogsmeade trip comes. ”

“ Just as long as Fred doesn't schedule Quidditch practice for that day again, ” lusterlessness pointed out.

Albus laughed. “ He won't. None of us minded too a lot since the weather was so decent, but I think if he did it again the unit team would hate him. ”

“ That would seduce an awkward family dinner party, considering over half the team are your cousins, ” matte said.

“ phratry dinners with my family have become awkward by definition, ” Albus said. “ Luckily the future one won't be until far after the election. ”

“ Only a footling over two months to go, ” Matt said. “ You can make it. ”

“ I hope so, ” Albus replied, as he moved his pansy in the direct line of Matt's king. “ Checkmate. ”
***


“ Rufus Scrimgeour was the last minister of religion of Magic to be appointed by the Wizengamot, ” professor Embry said as he strolled around his classroom. It was the first hebdomad of February and the class had finally gotten to the point where they were beginning to discuss the second war. “ He was appointed quickly, after Cornelius Fudge resigned.

“ Minister Fudge is commonly known as the least competent Minister ever to take for office, ” Embry continued. “ He refused to believe grounds that was laid out plainly in presence of him, for fear of being known as the Minister who held office when Voldemort returned. Somehow, he thought that if he ignored what was right in straw man of him, it would just simply go away. This backfired, of course of action, because he is now known for being the least competent Minister.

“ Scrimgeour is seen in a slightly better light than Fudge, although he was Minister when the Ministry fell to Voldemort in August of 1997.... ”

Albus knew all of this, of course. He'd grown up listening to his parents laughter at the incompetence of Fudge and the mindlessness of Scrimgeour being considered a minister at all. Nevertheless, he listened to Embry and took detailed notes since the essays Embry set were often long and difficult.

“ The time of the second war was a metre of fearfulness and chaos, ” Embry said as he reached the front of the room again. “ No one knew what was going on or who to believe. Many people heartily believed Fudge and what he said, believing Albus Dumbledore to be a fraud or even doddering. When this reality was shattered for them in June of of 1996, they didn't know what to do or who to become to, or even what to consider. They'd been fooled for a broad year, believing what their Ministry and newspaper told them. Now that they knew they'd been lied to for a year, what were they to do ? They didn't trust anyone, let alone the Ministry. almost people's goal were to protect their household and admirer and that was it.

“ It was the reverence and Chaos that allowed Voldemort and his followers to take ascendance of the Ministry. Without the musical accompaniment of wizarding Britain, the Ministry was weak and susceptible to a coup. It was simple for Voldemort to slip in and takeover in a matter of weeks. ”

“ exculpation me, prof ? ” Olivia Price said, raising her hand.

“ Yes, Miss Leontyne Price ? ” Embry replied. “ You have a inquiry ? ”

“ Yes, sir, ” Olivia replied. “ I was just wondering, and you don't have to answer, but what were you doing during the second war ? ”

If Embry was surprised that Olivia asked him a doubtfulness about his personal life, he didn't show it. Instead he gave a thin grinning and began to walk around the classroom again.

“ I don't intellect answering that, ” Embry said. “ Many of your parents were involved with the war feat, so of course you're funny. When the Ministry fell I'd been working there for about six long time. I got a job as an undersecretary in the department of Magical transport when I was just out of Hogwarts and worked my way up the rank.

“ I'd received a promotion shortly before curate Fudge resigned and worked to draft constabulary, but I quit after Scrimgeour got appointed because I saw that the Ministry was weak and debase and no longer wished to adjust myself with it. After Voldemort's licking, I was approached by Kingsley Shacklebolt asking if I would like to be involved with rebuilding the Ministry, and I said yes. ”

Albus was impressed. Embry hadn't mentioned what kind of job he did at the Ministry and Albus had had no theme he had been so knotty with its rebuilding after the war.

“ So you can see why I believe it is so important to prepare all of you about the history of the Ministry and how it is organized now, ” Embry finished. “ Looks like we're out of fourth dimension for today so please publish an eight column inch essay on Rufus Scrimgeour's term as Minister for homework, due next Tuesday. ”

Albus packed up his bag and headed back up to Gryffindor tower with his friends. When they arrived, there was a crowd around the notice table, which was strange. The Hogsmeade weekend date had already been announced and rarely did other notices garner such a bunch around the notice gameboard.

Albus shrugged at his friends and they squeezed through the crowd until they could read it. It was a bombastic poster, covering the majority of the board, imposing an other curfew Sunday night. Everyone, first through one-seventh days, were to be back inside the castle by five in the eve, no exception. Below that it warned that Filch was going to lock the front threshold at exactly five and that everyone was to report to their common elbow room at five-thirty.

“ That's Wyrd, ” Albus said as he and his friends retreated. “ I don't think they've ever imposed a curfew so early before, and for everyone ? ”

“ It's because Greyback hasn't been caught, ” matt said quietly. “ Sunday's the broad moon. ”

“ They must think he's going to get back, ” Albus replied.

“ Scary, ” John added. “ Do you really think he will ? ”

“ I don't know, ” flatness said. “ But I'd bet my parents'whole Gringotts burial vault that he's going to seize with teeth person Sunday night. ”

“ Wait, ” Rose said. “ You don't usually go to the screeching shack until six or seven. ”

“ They're probably doing it early just to be safety, ” matt said. “ In case some citizenry don't follow it or something. It says on there that the prefects are going to do a head counting. That's why we all have to amount back to the vernacular room at five-thirty. ”

Rose nodded. “ Then you'll have to depart later, after the doors are locked. ”

“ Either that or Madam Pomfrey will have me go too soon, ” Matt replied. “ I really hope not, though. I hate sitting out in the Shrieking Shack. ”

“ I hope not, too, ” Albus said quietly.

Albus and his friends were probably the solely students who knew the understanding why a curfew had been imposed on Sunday. Even the prefects seemed clueless, since Albus overheard a few of them trying to figure it out. More than a few students were angry about it, although Albus had no musical theme why since it wasn't common for students to subscribe a saunter on the curtilage on a Dominicus Nox in Feb. He supposed they liked the alternative, though.

As William Ashley Sunday drew closer matte became quieter and even more closed off than he normally was. In fact, it reminded Albus a lot of the way he was in first year, before Rose figured out why he disappeared once a month. Both Albus and blush wine tried to get him to open up about it, but he shrugged them off and insisted he was fine. John and Kaden didn't seem to mark any departure in matte, and Amanda wasn't one to ask about it when he closed himself off.

Sat's Dueling tournament proved uneventful. Albus spent the entire few hours worrying about Matt because he had elected to skip the tournament in ordering to kip, which was odd since he'd normally at least try to enter. At to the lowest degree Malfoy made Albus's life easy by remaining quiet throughout the tourney and not blaming Albus when the squad came in third base stead. Albus himself won both of his duels, as did Malfoy.

On Sunday Albus and his Quaker spent the day in the piranha's Den, working on homework and playing games. matte slept for much of the day and he still wasn't saying anything. While Albus was worried, he was fairly certain the understanding Matt was so quiet was greyback. When a quarter to five rolled around, they had to return to Gryffindor to prove they were in the castle. Matt was still asleep, so Albus told everyone else go to on ahead and that they'd follow.

“ lustrelessness, ” Albus whispered as he shook his admirer awake. “ We've got to go back to the common room. ”

“ This is stupid, ” mat muttered. “ They're counting everyone to pretend certainly no one gets attacked by a werewolf when they've got one living in the castle. ”

“ Is that why you've been so quiet this calendar week ? ” Albus asked as flatness got up. He didn't reply. “ You and Limnodromus griseus aren't the same. ”

“ I know, ” matte said as they left the room. The corridor was discharge, so he continued to spill. “ It's just the fact that we're both loup-garou. That's the same. What if they start doing this curfew affair every wax moon, all because of me ? ”

“ They won't, ” Albus said. “ You're not dangerous because you're in the screeching Shack. It's all sealed up. ”

“ I guess, but it's still possible. ”

“ You and Limnodromus griseus are unlike because he wants to bite people. He purposely transforms near people, not on wolfbane, so he can infect people. You hide yourself away to protect everyone. That's a Brobdingnagian difference. ”

“ But what if he does come to Hogsmeade, ” lusterlessness continued. “ He'll hear me howling and know there's a werewolf in the Shrieking Shack and he'll try to get in. ”

“ But he won't be able to, ” Albus pointed out.

“ And then if he does seize with teeth somebody, and let's face it, he will, ” lusterlessness said. “ It's going to await bad for all loup-garou. All it'll take is a few fire and hoi polloi will originate believing we should have our right hand taken away. That's what happened in Australia. ”

“ You're getting ahead of yourself, ” Albus said as they reached the common room. “ Right now you don't know that any of that's going to pass off. Wandering banshee. ”

“ You're nearly late, ” the Fat Lady said as she swung her portrayal open.

Albus and lusterlessness climbed inside and found the commons room the most crowded they'd ever seen it. Prefects were milling about attempting to get everyone to quiet down, but everyone was still trying to visualize out why such an early curfew had been set. The room was so crowded that Albus and lustrelessness couldn't find the residual of their admirer and since being in a crowded room was not the right idea for Matt right before the full Sun Myung Moon, they quit searching and instead sat down near the dorm doors.

“ Everyone, quiet, please ! ” heather mixture announced in a magically blow up voice. The way finally quieted down. “ I know you're all upset about the curfew but they haven't even told us prefects why it's been imposed. It's not that big a deal since it's February, dark, and freezing alfresco. None of you would be outside anyway. Now just remain restrained while we take roll so we can all get downstairs for dinner. After we're done you'll be allowed to roam the palace until your normal curfew. ”

Calluna vulgaris began calling out gens in alphabetical order of magnitude by year. It took her XV or so minutes to get to the fourth yr and after that Albus tuned her out. XV minutes after that she finished and all the Gryffindors had been accounted for. The common room emptied out quickly, since everyone wanted to get to the Great manor hall for dinner party. lustrelessness had fallen asleep and after Albus prodded him awake, he went up to the dormitory room to sleep until he had to go to the hospital wing.

When Albus and his booster returned from dinner Matt had already left for the hospital backstage. They decided to just stick around the rough-cut way since it was fairly empty and spent the evening working on their essays for prof Embry.

“ Any prospect you lot know why we're stuck inside ? ” James asked as he snagged the last chair at Albus's table. “ Cedric, Ben, and I are asking everyone. ”

Albus exchanged a glimpse with rose wine. He supposed it couldn't detriment to narrate James the reason why, just so long as he didn't tell him why they knew. Of course, as soon as he told James I it would diffuse around the castle like dragon pox at a wizarding baby's room school, but again, that wouldn't really injure anything.

“ We've got a hunch, ” Albus said. “ Remember how Quinn Gregory VII saw Greyback on the dry land during the Quidditch match ? ”

“ Yeah, ” James River said.

“ Well, tonight's a replete moon, ” Albus said. “ Put it together. ”

William James was mum for a import and then his eyes grew big. “ You think Kendrick thinks he's going to amount here tonight ? ”

“ That's our surmise, ” Albus said and his Quaker nodded.

“ Makes sense, ” King James I said. “ Can you imagine what kind of trouble Kendrick would be in if someone got bitten by a wolfman on the grounds ? ”

Albus didn't want to suppose about it. He doubted matte wanted a companion in the Shrieking hutch.

“ Scary, ” James said, “ thinking about Limnodromus griseus transformed while wandering around the grounds. I wonder why they didn't just enjoin us. No one would be angry about it if they'd told us the reason. ”

“ Probably didn't want anyone to panic, ” Albus said.

“ Guess so, ” James agreed. “ But still, everyone's going to be intimate now. ” He grinned and then got up to go find out Ben and Cedric. The fact that the curfew was due to Limnodromus griseus would be common noesis in the castling within ten proceedings, Albus guessed.

Albus managed to finish up his essay and decided to call it a night shortly after. He didn't feel like talking, not with the possibility that Greyback was either running around the Hogwarts yard or setting himself on some unsuspecting village, wanting to infect small children with lycanthropy. It was awful to cerebrate about. Albus laid awake for hours, trying not to think about it, but try as he might, he just could not press the cerebration from his mind.


It was a rare affair that Albus witnessed the sun hike. Being fourteen-years-old, Albus preferred to slumber until the very late morning or early on afternoon, but this particular morning he was up before the sun. He hadn't slept much that night due to his headache about Fenrir Rebel and matte, and decided that it was pointless to try and slumber when he'd just take to be up in an time of day anyway.

Albus sat at the window and watched as the sun slowly rose over the horizon. The primer looked peaceful, and not at all like the station where a werewolf could've been roaming just a few 60 minutes before. The moon had set and both mat and Greyback would be back in their human forms by now. Whatever had happened was over now and there was zilch anyone could do to alter it. Albus wondered just how foresightful it would ask for the oracle to issue some sort of clause on any attacks Reb might've been the cause of.

Bilius and Ethan awoke before St. John did and busied themselves with talk of the town of the Balycastle and Kenmare mate that had taken plaza Saturday, completely unworried about Johnny Reb. Albus wasn't surprised since neither of them had any sort of personal connector with the head for the hills werewolf. But they at to the lowest degree make out that the previous night had been a full moon moonshine, since James had spread that information around the castle.

privy finally rose shortly after Bilius and Ethan left for breakfast. Albus was relieved since they could now mouth freely.

“ What prison term is it ? ” John asked as soon as he sat up. “ Have we got time to shoot the breeze Matt before Herbology ? ”

“ Just after eight, so not really, ” Albus said. “ And there's no point in visiting him now as he's probably unconscious or sleeping. The moon just set two hours ago. ”

“ Yeah, but he might know something, ” lavatory said as he closed the hangings on his bed while he dressed. “ He might've heard grayback cobbler's last night. ”

“ He never remembers anything about total moons, ” Albus pointed out.

“ It's still worth a dead reckoning, ” John replied.

Albus thought it would be sort of pointless, but they didn't have time before Herbology anyway. After John finished, the two hurried out of the dormitory and down to the Great Hall for a quick breakfast before category. Rose, Amanda, and Kaden were already there.

“ Anything in the Prophet ? ” Albus asked as he grabbed a great deal of toast.

pink wine shook her head and swallowed her Sir Francis Bacon before answering. “ No. Absolutely nothing, but that doesn't mean much. It could just be too soon for adequate details to throw emerged. ”

“ wellspring, we've got a free menses this afternoon, so we can go ask Matt, ” John said.

“ I told you that he's not going to know anything, ” Albus reminded him.

John shrugged. “ You never know. ”

The rest of the scholarly person body seemed to accept already forgotten about the early curfew and the wax moon. Albus didn't hear anyone discussing it on his way to Herbology or at luncheon later that day. Since there hadn't been anything in the composition about an attack, it was old news show for the Hogwarts scholarly person. Everyone that is, except for Albus, privy, pink wine, and Amanda.

Albus, John, and Amanda were still discussing it on their way to forethought of Magical Creatures that afternoon. When they arrived they found Hagrid surrounded by coop filled with small, black, fluffy creatures.

“'ello ! ” Hagrid shouted. “ I've got nifflers for yeh today. Can anyone narrate me what makes nifflers singular ? ”

Albus raised his hand.

“ Albus, ” Hagrid said.

Albus grinned. “ Nifflers find treasure. They like shiny things. ”

“ Tha's right, ” Hagrid said. “ So if you've got watches or jewellery on, take it off. I've buried a onus of leprechaun atomic number 79 and your job for today will be to use the nifflers to find it. Everyone pair off and then come in get a niffler. Whichever pair finds the most gold gets a pack of hot chocolate Frogs. ”

There was a flurry as everyone hurried to subscribe off their jewelry and find a niffler that looked like it would be a particularly gem hunter. Albus took off his watch, shoved it into his sac, and followed toilet and Amanda over to the nifflers. With Matt in the infirmary annex, Albus was without a mate and decided to just join John and Amanda.

John Lackland grabbed the niffler with the longest honker and held the end of the wind while they followed it around the grounds. Every so often the niffler would hold back and dig through the snow, revealing a small pile of coins. Albus collected them and shoved them into a bag Hagrid had provided.

The full procedure was rather toy with. Albus enjoyed watching not only his niffler, but the rest of the grade's nifflers as well. They were adorable, funny creatures. At one stage, Janie Creevey and Karina Jordan-Bell's niffler managed to sniff out a set of scales in Bilius's bag resulting in all three of them playing tug-of-war with the niffler.

“ Why's he got his musical scale in there anyway ? ” lav asked as they watched. “ We haven't got potions today. ”

Albus shrugged. “ No idea. ”

“ Albus, John, feeling ! ” Amanda shouted, pointing toward the castle.

Albus turned around and saw two material body walking toward Hagrid's hut. It took a few seconds, but he soon realized that he knew both of them. One Albus recognized as a Loretta Young Auror from his dad's section. His epithet was Paul Leonard Newman and he'd been one of the Aurors to help when Kaden was kidnapped two twelvemonth ago. The second man was none other than Matt's dad.

“ What's Matt's dad doing here ? ” John asked.

“ Yeah, and who's that early bloke ? ” Amanda asked.

“ He's an Auror, ” Albus said. “ But why are they here ? ”

The two wizards walked past Albus, St. John the Apostle, and Amanda without making any sort of eye contact, acting as if they'd never seen them before. By now, the repose of the class was looking at them strangely. Matt's dad and Paul Newman kept walking until they reached Hagrid, and they began speaking with him in low voices.

“ C'mon, ” Albus said as he began walking toward Hagrid.

lavatory tugged the niffler's lead and he and Amanda followed Albus. Albus stopped once they were within earreach, hiding behind a President Bush. John and Amanda crouched down on either side of him.

“ I s'ppose I did pick up some funny haphazardness las'night, ” Hagrid said. “ More'n usual, that is. Always risible noises from the forest. A bit more howling than pattern las'Nox, coming from Hogsmeade. Could've been a wolfman, but I don'know for sure. ”

“ And did you see anything roaming the background ? ” Matt's dad asked. His articulation sounded serious.

“ No, ” Hagrid said. “ Wasn'away late. What's this about ? Limnodromus griseus ? ”

Matt's dad and Newman glanced at each former. “ Yes, ” Matt's dad said. “ We have reasons to believe Greyback was in the country death Nox and we're looking for anyone who might've seen something. ”

Hagrid shuddered. “ Wish I could help yeh. But yeh know, that howling from Hogsmeade could've just been- ”

“ Yes, I know, ” Mr. Eckerton cut him off, with a flying coup d'oeil at Newman. “ We've had written report of more venomous, louder ululation. Howling that seems to exchange location. ”

“ Oh ! ” Hagrid exclaimed. “ Yeah, well, again, wish I could assist. I'll pay a bit more tending next full moon. ”

“ We'd appreciate it, ” Mr. Eckerton said. “ Thanks for your time. ”

Matt's dad and Newman turned and left, without a second glimpse at Hagrid or the class. The rest of the class had long since returned to their nifflers and all had suitcase of atomic number 79 far larger than Albus, lavatory, and Amanda's. But Albus no longer cared about winning the deep brown Frogs. It seemed that something did happen last night, but nobody knew exactly what.

At the end of the stratum, Albus, John, and Amanda came in dead live on for quantity of coins collected. Hagrid seemed disappointed, but said that their niffler must've just been tired. After returning it to its cage, the three hurried back to the castle, queasy to stow their purse and go visit lusterlessness.

“ If greyback isn't on Wolfsbane shouldn't he be gentle to find after the full moon ? ” John asked as they walked to the hospital offstage. “ Wouldn't he be injured ? ”

“ Not necessarily, ” Albus said quietly. “ matte only bites and attacks himself because he has nothing else to attack. If Rebel's out roaming the countryside, he can lash out animals and people. ”

“ But what about the actual transformation ? ” bathroom replied. “ Even werewolves on Wolfsbane are achy the next day because of that, right ? ”

“ I think so, yeah, but I bet if you're being chased by Aurors that's the finis thing on your thinker, ” Albus pointed out. “ I'm not sure. matt would probably know. ”

Matt was the only patient in the infirmary wing and dame Pomfrey was officious in her study, so Albus and his friends were gratuitous to discuss whatever they pleased. Albus was felicitous to see that Matt was awake, although he did wait slightly unsettled.

“ Was there anything in the prophet ? ” Matt asked as soon as Albus, John, and Amanda had taken seats on his bed. “ And I'm mulct, so don't bother asking. ”

“ Er, no, ” Albus said. “ Why ? ”

“ Last night was Weird, ” Matt said.

“ Told you he'd know something, ” John said to Albus.

“ But I don't, ” lustrelessness replied. “ It was just unearthly. I don't know how else to describe it. ”

“ What happened ? ” Albus asked.

“ I don't know, ” lustrelessness said quietly as he pulled his hand out from under the mantle. They were completely bandaged. “ Look. My hands are the only percentage of me that's injured. I mean, I ache all over from the shift, but I didn't bite myself at all last night. ”

Albus looked at the bandages. “ But your hands. You didn't seize with teeth them ? Then why are they bandaged ? ”

“ Splinters, ” Matt said. “ gentlewoman Pomfrey thinks I spent the night scratching at the door and trying to get out. I've never done that before. I never remember anything from when I'm the woman chaser, but I do sometimes call up feelings. Like if the wolf was really angry or something. endure Night it was heroic, although I have no melodic theme what for. I guess to get away, if brothel keeper Pomfrey is right. ”

“ And your wolfy self hasn't done that before ? ” Albus asked.

“ No, ” Matt shook his head. “ I've been transforming in the Shrieking hutch for three and a one-half long time and the Wolf has never done that before. ”

“ I'll severalize you something weirder, ” privy said. “ Your dad was here earlier. ”

“ What ? ” Matt exclaimed. “ When ? ”

“ Just now, ” John said. “ During Care of Magical Creatures, he and some Auror came to mouth to Hagrid. We listened in- ”

“ Of course, ” matt cut in.

“ Your dad and the Auror, they were asking Hagrid if he'd seen or heard anything weird last Night. Hagrid said he didn't see anything, but he thought he heard more noise than usual from Hogsmeade. Then he said that it may have just been you, but your dad cut him off, probably because of the Auror. Then your dad said that there had been reputation of more condemnable howling than usual. ”

“ They definitely think that Greyback was in Hogsmeade last night, ” Albus said.

“ What would've happened if you got out ? ” Amanda asked.

“ Out of the Shack ? ” Matt asked. “ Nothing unspoiled. But now he knows that I was there. He'll keep coming back until he's captured. I won't actually be able to turn tail from the shanty. The hospital ward are too good. ”

The threshold to the hospital ward flew open and Matt's dad came striding inside, still looking as unplayful as he had earlier. After a quickly glimpse around the room, he strode over to mat's bed.

“ Dad, ” Matt said.

“ You don't look surprised to see me, ” Mr. Eckerton replied as he gave his son a hug. “ How are you feeling ? ”

“ I'm all rightfulness, ” flatness said with a shrug. “ Albus, lavatory, and Amanda saw you talking to Hagrid. Well, they heard you, too. Where's the Auror ? ”

Mr. Eckerton let out a suddenly joke and then turned to Albus. “ I saw you in the crotch hair. Next time you're trying to veil, don't hide with a niffler. They're notorious game show. Yours was trying to sniff out Newman's pocket watch. ”

“ I missed nifflers ? ” Matt asked, clearly disappointed.

“ Yeah, ” Albus said. “ I bet Hagrid would let you see one after you're better, though. ”

“ I need to speak with you about last night, Matt, ” Mr. Eckerton said quietly. “ In private, perhaps ? ”

Matt shook his head. “ I already told them about final stage nighttime, so they might as well stay. ”

“ All right hand, ” Mr. Eckerton said. “ I need you to try and commend if you heard or saw anything unusual endure night. I know you never remember anything, but try. ”

flatness held up his bound script. “ Madam Pomfrey thinks I tried to get out of the shanty conclusion night. That never happens. Whatever was outside kept the wolf occupied all night. I didn't attack myself. ”

Mr. Eckerton's eyes grew vauntingly and Albus noticed that the serious look had dissipated. It was replaced with a look Albus had seen quite often on his own father. It was a Padre's electric shock and headache.

Matt explained the quietus, including the component part about the Friedrich August Wolf smell desperate. Mr. Eckerton seemed to contemplate this for a few mo before sighing and shaking his head.

“ What's going on, Dad ? ” mat asked.

Mr. Eckerton sighed once more. “ I suppose it couldn't hurt to tell you. It'll be in the Prophet tomorrow anyway. Two baby were attacked in Little Shingleton last night. It's a Town about five mil away, on the other side of that good deal next to Hogsmeade. We've been trying to figure out whether it was Greyback or not, since he left immediately after biting them. ”

“ Were they Muggles ? ” matte asked.

“ No, ” Mr. Eckerton said. “ Which makes me trust that this was a carefully planned approach. Little Shingleton is a Muggle village, with these two children and their parents being the only witches and wizards in the region. It's too coinciding. And why onrush both children ? Most werewolves take off immediately after biting someone, their instinct telling them to get as far away as possible, as quickly as possible. ”

“ And did they... survive ? ” Matt replied.

“ They're both in stable condition at St. Mungo's. Once their pungency heal, they'll be exquisitely, save for the fact that they now have lycanthropy. The bites were neat and minor, not convention werewolf bites. These bites were inflicted just to infect. Another sign toward Greyback. ”

“ But what about Hogsmeade ? ” Albus asked.

“ Five miles is not an impossible journey for a werewolf in a nighttime, ” Mr. Eckerton explained. “ Most likely Greyback heard Matt's howling live night and followed the auditory sensation. Once there, he probably spent the rest of the night attempting to get inside the Shrieking shack, which is impossible. ”

“ So you really think it was him ? ” Matt asked.

“ I do, and Auror Cardinal Newman agrees with me. I left him in Kendrick's study, after telling him I needed to call in you since we were already here. But what you've told me just solidifies it. ”

“ But can't you just go get him ? ” John asked. “ He can't be that far. No offence, flatness, but if you were outside you wouldn't get very far. ”

“ None taken. ”

“ The matter that makes lycnathropy so difficult to analyse, and also most likely the grounds why Aconitum lycoctonum doesn't employment for all lycanthrope, is that each person's lycanthropy is vastly different from others. Its event depend a lot upon a person's views toward their own lycanthropy. Fenrir Greyback has spent his life embracing his lycnathropy and living for that one night a month where his true nature emerges. He embraces his Hugo Wolf side so very much that he even attacks masses when the lunar month is not full.

“ You, Matt, on the early bridge player, identify most with your human slope. As you should, considering you're only a wolf one dark out of twenty-eight. Therefore, you resist the translation. You fight it with your every roughage, every month. grayback embraces it, and probably pitch a lot well-heeled than you do. His transformations most in all probability do not have him the Sami pain. ”

“ I guess that makes sensation, ” Matt said.

“ But still, ” John said. “ They should be combing the forest for him. ”

Mr. Eckerton chuckled. “ They are. trustfulness me. They have the entire loup-garou command unit of measurement searching for him, along with six Aurors, and a handful of Jnr and trainee Aurors. They don't normally dispatch Aurors to capture knave werewolves, as that's usually the werewolf restraint Unit's job. And it's not usually my job to investigate werewolf attacks. But this is a gamey profile guinea pig, so they want many citizenry on it, including people in charge. We'll get him. ”

Albus wondered if Teddy was on the compositor's case. He was a Junior Auror now. Knowing Teddy, he'd want to be on the case since Greyback had turned his dad into a werewolf.

“ I've got to get back to the Ministry and make full out a report, ” Mr. Eckerton said as he stood up from his death chair. “ If you think of anything else, lusterlessness, ask to use Professor Longbottom's Floo. bird of night are easily intercepted. ”

Matt said goodbye to his dad and soon the boys and Amanda were alone in the infirmary wing once more. Albus didn't know what to say. Fenrir Greyback, it seemed, was up to his old tricks and somehow flatness had gotten involved.
***


Fenrir greyback's attack on the two children took the unhurt front page of the seer the following morning. The integral Great entrance hall was talking about it, professor, pupil, and ghosts. transcript of the paper were being passed faster than platters of bacon. Albus managed to snag a written matter from his cousin Ben.

FENRIR GREYBACK ATTACKS IN LITTLE SHINGLETON

Fenrir Greyback, escaped convict and werewolf,
was sighted last-place night in Little Shingleton,
Scotland. Little Shingleton is nearly an
entirely Muggle Village, deliver for one
wizarding family. The phratry, whose
names have not been released due to the
Underage wolfman Protection Law,
suffered an extreme tragedy last Night,
when Fenrir Greyback attacked both of
their minor. Both tyke are
reportedly in stable consideration at St.
Mungo's.

An investigation, organized by both the
Auror section and the section for
the Regulation and Control of Magical
puppet, headed by head of that department,
Walter Eckerton, concluded former yesterday.
'We've interviewed several eyewitnesses
who saw or heard a wolfman in Hogsmeade
during the total synodic month. Hogsmeade is only
about five miles from Little Shingleton.'
researcher said that numerous other
clew led them to believe that the attack
was by Fenrir Greyback, despite not having
actually seen him in Little Shingleton.
'We are not make to disclose all particular
of the investigation. But we are confident
that this was an onset by Calidris canutus. A team
of Aurors and loup-garou Control Unit employees
are working around the clock to capture
Greyback.'

The article was followed by a recap of Greyback and the crimes that had landed him in Azkaban in the first piazza, along with a smutty photograph of him. Even in his human being variety he looked rather wolf-like, which was such a drastic contrast compared to lusterlessness, who didn't resemble a wolf at all, save for his heart. Albus glanced up from the article and his oculus fell on mat's. They had a yellowish tint to them, with flecks of gold amidst their born blue color. They were indeed the only wolf-like trait he possessed when the moon wasn't full.

“ This is why people want stricter werewolf control laws, ” lustrelessness said quietly.

“ Even those couldn't have stopped this, ” Albus pointed out.

“ People won't think about that. All they'll think about is how their children aren't safe, and they're right. It's just lousy timing. Laurentis is going to use this to her advantage. ”

Albus wanted to secure mat that everything would be all right, that Laurentis wouldn't setback everything out of proportion, but he couldn't. He knew that Matt was right, that Laurentis would once again use a severe tragedy to imbibe more support from the wizarding world. If his uncle Percy was going to tolerate a hazard against her, he was going to have to drastically change his campaign strategy.


A/N : So I just realized that I uploaded the unseasonable chapter last Friday. This is the real chapter 25 and the one I uploaded last Fri is chapter 26. Sorry about that !


The matter about wolfman attacks was that they were only able to happen once a calendar month. There was absolutely no chance of a werewolf attack during the rest of the month, so it was easy for the Hogwarts scholar to soon forget about Fenrir Reb, or at least push him into the furthest corners of their intellect. After the initial article about Greyback's tone-beginning on the two young baby, the composition returned to its common election insurance coverage, although both nominee were being very subdued about the blast. Neither Percy nor Laurentis made a statement, which didn't surprisal Albus. The argumentation on regularisation of magical creatures was scheduled for Saturday, so both prospect would make statements then. There had been a few column in the theme written by people pushing for stricter werewolf laws, but that had been it.

Saturday was also the day of the next Hogsmeade head trip, and this gave the Hogwarts scholarly person a much needed distraction from the outside world. Word spread amongst Albus's cousins that Epistle of James was once again taking Gabby Ellis to Hogsmeade, and quite a few of his former cousin-german had dates as well. Albus himself did not, and was planning on spending the day with whoremonger, Kaden, rose, and Amanda. Matt had arranged to attend the debate with his dad, and would overleap the tripper.

“ Are you sure you want to go to this public debate ? ” Albus asked Matt as they played cheat in the Marauder's Den.

“ What ? ” Matt asked, turning to Albus. He'd been staring at the wall under the guise of taking his turn for the preceding five minutes.

“ You were zoning out, ” Albus said. “ I asked if you're sure you want to go to that public debate Saturday. ”

Matt had seemed distracted all week and whether it was from grayback being so near during his transformation or the upcoming debate, Albus didn't know.

“ Yeah, I'm sure, ” mat said. “ I'd rather hear it straight from her than read it in the Prophet. ”

“ What about your dad ? ” Albus asked. “ Is he going to mouth out against her if she wants stricter laws ? ”

Matt shrugged. “ I don't know. That didn't body of work too well in Australia. ”

The door to the Den outburst unresolved and can and Kaden came barging in, both wearing superposable grinning. It was slightly uncanny, how alike they looked.

“ We've finished, ” lavatory announced.

“ Finished what ? ” Albus asked. He was slightly worried. It was never a undecomposed star sign when John and Kaden were that happy about something.

“ Our prank, ” Kaden answered. “ We've finished planning. We're not quite sure when to do it, though. ”

“ Yeah, any suggestions ? ” whoremonger asked. “ Or are you two still being all prefecty on us ? ”

Albus burst out laughing and turned to matt, who smirked. “ Prefecty ? ” Albus repeated.

“ Yeah, ” whoremaster said. “ Everyone knows it'll be one of you who makes prefect next year. And you're getting started early by not liking our pranks. ”

“ We just don't want detention again, ” Matt explained. “ Honestly, I couldn't care less if you prank the Slytherins. Malfoy's a git. Prank him all you want. ”

“ Are you sure you don't want to lie with what it's going to be ? ” Gospel According to John asked.

“ No, ” Albus said.

“ Not a hazard, ” flatness said.

john shrugged. “ All right. But when should we do it ? ”

“ Let's just hold and see when the time tone right, ” Kaden suggested. “ It's not, er... time-sensitive.... ”

John and Kaden burst out laughing. “ Sure, ” John said. “ Not time-sensitive at all. ”

Albus and matte exchanged a glance.

“ We could tell you why that was so funny, ” John the Divine said.

“ Or you could just hold off and see like the rest of the castle, ” Kaden added.

“ We'll wait, ” Albus said. He was peculiar about it, but not rum enough to possibly wind up with another hebdomad's detention.

Whatever the frivolity was, John and Kaden didn't implement it before the succeeding day. Saturday brought puritanic skies and bitterly stale temperatures and Albus put on two Weasley jumpers in cooking for walking around Hogsmeade.

Matt left early on for the debate, Flooing from prof Longbottom's study. Albus and John slept latterly and met Kaden, Rose, and Amanda in the Great vestibule for a ready lunch before setting off for Hogsmeade.

The February Hogsmeade slip was always an interesting one. The village became filled with young duo either snogging passionately in forepart of the shops or staring awkwardly at each other across a mesa in the ternion Broomsticks or Madam Puddifoot's. Having never been on a date before in his aliveness, Albus found it really funny to watch. trick and Kaden found it amusing as well, but Rose and Amanda seemed to gaze wistfully at the brace and didn't feel them at all funny story.

“ Where to first ? ” Albus asked.

“ Not madam Puddifoot's, ” toilet said immediately, grimacing as a few love-struck couples headed toward the piazza.

“ I plan on never setting foot in there, ” Kaden said. “ I don't care how many fille ask me to go there with them. ”

John laughed. “ You'd have to get a female child to like you first. ”

“ Shut up, ” Kaden said. “ Let's just go get some Butterbeer. ”

The rest of the group agreed and they were soon crowded around one of the only empty mesa in the leash broomstick. Albus was hoping to catch a coup d'oeil of James because despite the fact that James II had been out with Gabby Ellis before, Albus couldn't get over the fact that his comrade was going out on dates. It was just weird.

After finishing their Butterbeer, the grouping went to Honeyduke's and Weasleys'in Order to stock up on Skiving Snackboxes and Chocolate toad frog. By then it was nearly dinner metre and they decided to call it a day. The current of air was picking up and none of them fancied being caught in a storm.

“ Albus ! ” John shouted just as they were setting off on the course back to the castle.

“ What ? ” Albus asked, turning to see what John was pointing at.

“ Epistle of James and Gabby Ellis, ” John said.

Albus squinted and just made out his brother, leaning against the outside of Honeyduke's, his mouth attached to Gabby Ellis's. They were so close down that they almost looked like one person.

“ Oh my God, ” Albus said quietly.

“ That is disgusting, ” Rose added. “ I could've gone my stallion life without seeing somebody snog James. ”

John and Kaden were both laughing. “ Looks like they're enjoying it, ” John said.

“ Oh egregious ! ” Albus exclaimed as he turned back to the route. “ Let's go. ”

“ I think it's secure to say they're together, ” Amanda said as they walked back.

“ What she could possibly see in James... ” rose wine muttered.

“ well, he does fiddle Quidditch, ” Amanda pointed out.

“ So do over half my cousins, ” rosebush said. “ So does Albus. ”

“ Can we change the topic ? ” Albus asked. “ Please. C'mon, let's hurry up. I bet Matt's back from the debate. ”

That seemed to get his admirer'brain off of James's romantic life. Albus himself wanted to put the double of his brother kissing someone out of his thinker forever. At to the lowest degree she was a Hufflepuff and he'd never have to see them kissing in the common way. If he did he may have to spend all of his fourth dimension in the vulture's Den.

Dinner hadn't started yet when they arrived at the castle, so the radical decided to go find matt first. They found him right where Albus figured he'd be, in the vulture's Den. Albus was slightly queasy about what had happened at the debate, but matte was sitting on the couch casually reading his magical spell book, seeming hardly upset at all.

“ How was Hogsmeade ? ” matt asked as he set his book down.

“ Disgusting, ” Albus said as he sat down next to Matt. Saint John the Apostle, Rose, and Amanda pulled up chairs.

Matt raised his eyebrows. “ Disgusting ? ”

“ We saw James snogging his new girlfriend, ” Rose said with a shudder. “ corporate trust me, there's nix pleasant about seeing the boy you remember eating a mud pie kissing a little girl while pressed up against Honeyduke's. ”

flatness laughed. “ I haven't got any first cousin, so I'll hire your Christian Bible for it. ”

“ deliberate yourself lucky, ” Albus muttered. “ But what happened at the public debate ? ”

“ It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, ” Matt said. “ Well, okay, parts of it weren't as bad as I thought they'd be. It was at the Ministry, in one of those court rooms in the basement. Mostly it was people who work at the Ministry there, but there were some other masses there, too, because the room was so big.

“ I'm not sure how much you know about the Department for the rule and Control of Magical animal, but every beast is divided into one of three categories. beingness, intent, and Beasts. strong drink are specter and poltergeists and boggarts. Beings are animal that aren't human, but have man intelligence. Beasts are everything else. The chap who was running the debate started by asking Percy and Laurentis how they feel about the rights given to Beings. You know, goblin, house-elves, centaurs, those sorts of creatures. They didn't have much to argue about that because neither of them think any of those creatures should bear their rightfulness taken away. And Rose's mum has worked so intemperately to get them right field.

“ Then they moved on to the sprightliness division and there wasn't a great deal contention with that, either, since there's not much that can be done about John Barleycorn. They're just sort of there. Ghosts don't hurt anyone and poltergeists it all depends on the specific poltergeist. Laurentis brought up the topic of Peeves, which was odd, but Hotspur didn't seem to have an ruling on Peeves. ”

Albus hadn't expected practically controversy with the Being variance. There had been a lot of debate book binding and forth about the rights of Beings back when his parents had been in school and his aunt Hermione had dedicated her body of work life toward giving rights to Beings, especially house-elves. Over the years she'd done a very good job with it and hadn't met lots opposition. As for the purport division, Albus didn't think there had ever been much controversy there. Ghosts were just trace. They pretty much did as they pleased.

flatness paused. “ Then there was the brute division. Throughout story both werewolves and vampire have sometimes been in the Being division and sometimes been in the Beast segmentation. Classification in the beast section is the reason why werewolves have been stripped of their rightfield and how the Ministry can get away with it. If they're not seen as Beings, then legally, they don't have to be given the Lapplander right wing as homo. It's a technicality, really.

“ A prospicient time ago werewolves were in the beingness division, but they got reclassified in the 1950s, after a vast werewolf attack on an intact townspeople. It was horrible. But ever since then, no one has wanted to classify them as Beings again. My dad has been an advocate for classification as Beings ever since he started in Australia.

“ The thing about classification is that, for the most region, Ministries all over the world have to harmonise. That's why reclassification is such a time-consuming and hard affair to do. Someone has to bring it up and coordinate negotiation between countries and it requires a lot of effort. When Voldemort came to great power no one in Great Britain had the clip or energy to put toward the reclassification of werewolves. Not to cite they couldn't spare the masses to put the time into it. Since the brutal attack in the 50s happened in England, the other countries haven't wanted to touch the idea. Although I'd wager that Commonwealth of Australia would put up a skilful fight if it was ever brought up again.

“ So, basically, my dad has been trying to do this for long time, but he doesn't have the support. Even parson Hartwell hasn't wanted to touch it since it's such a controversial way out and he doesn't have much time left. ”

“ Wow, ” Albus said. “ Binns didn't learn us any of that in story of Magic. ”

“ And he probably won't, ” Matt said. “ It's not a long-familiar issue since most people probably don't care to put in the crusade to reclassify lycanthrope. The merely mass who'd want to are werewolves. ”

“ That's awful, ” Amanda said. “ But what happened at the disputation ? ”

“ The adept in bearing of the debate dodged the question of Greyback for a while, asking questions about other creatures like thestrals and dementors and the care. But he finally brought up the topic of Greyback and Laurentis basically said that it wasn't a issue of werewolf control laws, but a matter of Azkaban security- ”

“ well, that's honorable, ” Albus said. He wouldn't have expected that of Laurentis.

“ form of, ” Matt replied. “ I haven't finished. Anyway, your uncle agreed with her, but he of track said that putting the dementors back would be unintelligent. Laurentis said that if the dementors had been there then Greyback wouldn't have escaped and those Thomas Kyd would've been rubber. Then they started arguing about Azkaban and dementors again. But the chap in charge cut them off.

“ Then he finally brought up the fact that my dad's been pushing for the reclassification of werewolves as Beings for years and how he's got the support of rose wine's mum and asked what their view of it was. ”

“ But if my mum was able to help house-elves and hobgoblin, then why couldn't she do it for werewolves at the same prison term ? ” blush wine asked.

“ House-elves and goblins have always been classified as Beings, ” Matt explained. “ They were being denied rights that they technically already had. It was just a matter of reworking the Torah and enforcing them properly. None of the werewolf rights laws can be changed unless their classification is changed- ”

“ But that's just stupe, ” John said.

mat shrugged. “ It is, but there's nothing anyone can do about it. ”

“ wellspring, what did Laurentis say ? ” Albus asked.

“ Laurentis said that reclassifying werewolves as existence would render the electric current werewolf ascendance practice of law unenforceable and that it would give the Ministry far less control over werewolf. Which is true, ” lusterlessness said. “ Not that it would be a bad thing. ”

“ Of course of instruction not, ” Albus agreed.

“ Then she said that if werewolf were currently classified as existence it would make it difficult to even catch Rebel and prosecute him for what he's done, which isn't avowedly at all. My dad was turning purple at this point. She really knows nothing about the way his section works. ”

“ What about Uncle Percy ? ” rose wine asked.

Matt didn't say anything for a fully minute. “ He wasn't as bad as Laurentis, but well, your uncle doesn't want to interchange anything. I'm sure you've noticed that he says everything's fine the way it is and we don't need to shift anything, whether it's Azkaban or Hogwarts. He thought the Same about werewolves. ”

“ What do you mean ? ” Albus asked. “ He thinks that- ”

Matt averted his gaze, looking at Kaden rather than Albus and Rose. “ He thinks that'putting get-up-and-go into reclassifying werewolves as beingness would be a misfortunate idea, given the other issues facing the greater wizarding community.'And that is a calculate quote. I can't ever bury that. ”

Albus wished he was surprised. He really did. But the fact remained that Uncle Percy didn't like to stir the cauldron, so to speak. If thing were working the way they were, he wouldn't change them. He'd rather keep things the Saami then speak out openly either for or against anything, if it would cost him support or votes.

“ Then he went on to explain, ” Matt continued. “ He said that werewolf categorisation doesn't affect a large act of witches and maven and that it's very complicated and would require a lot of effort, which is true. But it's like he didn't think it was worth it, just because it wouldn't affect a lot of people. ”

“ It doesn't surprise me, ” Rose said quietly. “ The election is so soon. I don't think he's going to say anything too controversial. ”

“ Honestly, it was almost worse than Laurentis, ” Matt said, turning back to Albus and blush wine. “ Sorry. I know he's your uncle- ”

“ Don't apologize, ” Albus said, suddenly glad he wasn't of age and wouldn't have to select between the two candidate.

“ It's like he doesn't even have a secure opinion on it. He doesn't want to have a unattackable legal opinion on it, ” lustrelessness added. “ Laurentis at to the lowest degree has a rationality. Your uncle doesn't even have that. Honestly, Albus, I've no idea who my parents will vote for now. Saame with Amy. ”

“ I don't know who I'd suffrage for now, ” Albus said quietly.

“ But either way, I don't think werewolf will get reclassified, ” flatness replied. “ Nothing will find without backup of the British Minister at this point. ”

“ That's just not comely, ” Amanda said. “ What exactly does the law say now ? What are you not allowed to do ? ”

flatness averted his gaze once more. This was another topic that Matt hadn't ever spoke of before and Albus hadn't dared ask.

“ fountainhead, technically, ” matte began, “ I'm not allowed to be at Hogwarts. ”

“ What ? ” Albus shouted. The rest of his champion let out alike exclamation of shock.

“ But Teddy's dad- ” pink wine began.

“ Not legal, ” Matt said. “ Dumbledore frequently broke the law and that was no different. professor Kendrick follows the law a bit more but he liked the musical theme of allowing me to hang. It's kind of murky, to be honorable. It's in the law that werewolves can not attend Hogwarts, but at the Same sentence, Hogwarts headmasters have complete control over who they admit. So as long as it's kept quiet- ”

“ But what about Malfoy ? ” Rose asked. “ If he were to let it slip- ”

“ Then Kendrick would expel him, ” Matt explained. “ And he'd be allowed to, since it would be damaging to another student's instruction for him to unveil my condition. I told you ; it's very murky. ”

“ What else ? ” Amanda asked.

“ The rest has mostly to do with employment, ” Matt said. “ well, that and the Ministry is allowed to retain werewolves for questioning about fully moonlight attacks without actually arresting them. Werewolves as prisoners have virtually no rightfield.

“ But anyway, employment. I'm legally obligated to inform any potentiality employers of my experimental condition. If lycanthrope were classified as existence, that wouldn't be required, because lycanthropy would be seen as a medical condition and work can not be terminated based on a someone's medical conditions. ”

“ That is the most confusing matter in the world, ” Albus said. His head was spinning. “ How do you keep all that straight ? ”

Matt shrugged. “ It's my life story. That's the other thing, Albus, your uncle really has no estimate how thing are run in the department for the Regulation and Control of Magical beast. He's not really qualified to say what issue the reclassification would have on everything. Because, honestly, it would only affect werewolves. ”

“ That seems obvious, ” Albus said.

“ So someone can not lease you just because you're a werewolf ? ” Amanda asked incredulously.

Matt nodded. “ Doesn't even topic if they're on Wolfsbane or not, either. ”

“ What will you do after Hogwarts ? ” Amanda asked.

“ No estimation, ” flatness said. “ I'm trying not to suppose about that. But this entirely pretence to be formula thing that I'm doing at Hogwarts ? It's temporary. That's all there is to it. ”

No one quite knew what to say after that. Albus certainly didn't. He wished more than anything that his uncle would support the reclassification of wolfman as beingness, despite the fact that it might fall behind him a few votes. It might even cost him a few not to have spoken up, because now, Matt's parents and Amy might not vote for him. But this had such a tumid outcome than just the election. Matt was right ; this was his life-time, and Uncle Harry Hotspur and Laurentis were just seeing it as a way to drum up more votes. Maybe Uncle Percy wasn't the right-hand man for the job, after all. But Laurentis certainly wasn't, and since no one else was running, what would happen after the election ?


A/N : Thanks for all the awful reviews !


The debate on the Regulation and controller of Magical fauna did not seem to be a hot theme of discussion amongst the Hogwarts scholar. Unlike the argument on education, this detail debate did not relate directly to Hogwarts students, and thus there wasn't a good deal discussion beyond a few feeling at breakfast the next day. The article on the debate was much more tame than the previous articles, most likely because Percy and Laurentis hadn't disagreed on the topic. In fact, the article mostly focused on the dementor issue.

Albus and his friends kept close vigil on the Prophet in case there were any updates on the run prisoners, but the balance of February passed without any sightings or captures. It was variety of strange since the prisoners had to cause been hiding out somewhere. Yet they'd been loose for nearly two months and the solitary one who had been sighted was Greyback. Willinson, Umbridge, and the Carrows were nowhere, it seemed.

In the meantime, Laurentis used the lack of capture to her vantage, by publishing a new command every few daylight declaring how incompetent the Auror Department was. These affirmation were usually followed up with another declaration of how the captive wouldn't have escaped if the dementors had been in control of Azkaban.

When marchland arrived, the oracle began putting a countdown until the election at the top of the front Thomas Nelson Page, every I day.

“ April chump's Day, ” John commented as he pointed to the countdown, which read'29 days.'“ Doesn't that seem a bit uncanny, to do an election on that day ? ”

“ A slight, ” Albus said. “ But I doubt the Ministry cares. ”

“ We should do our prank that day, ” Kaden said.

“ Don't, ” pink wine said. “ Hogwarts is a canvas topographic point. You'll mussiness it up. ”

“ No, we won't do it then, ” John said as he exchanged a wicked grin with Kaden. “ Want to bang why ? ”

“ Not really, ” Albus said.

“ They'll notice out soon enough, ” Kaden said.

“ Does this consume anything to do with why you two disappeared all evening yesterday ? ” matte asked.

“ Possibly, ” St. John said. “ Oh, aspect at the time. We've got to get to potions. ”

Kaden burst out laughing. “ Oh, yes, looks like it's prison term for me to go to Divination. ”

Albus looked at Matt and shrugged. John the Divine and Kaden had been laughing at every mention of'time'or'clocks'for the past few weeks, but had yet to ploughshare why. Albus could only assume that it had to do with their caper.

Albus, Matt, privy, Rose, and Amanda said good day to Kaden and headed for the keep. Since it was a threefold social class, Slughorn gave them a potion to brew and sat at his desk grading essays while they worked.

Albus and Matt partnered on their potion and worked quietly, chopping and mixing. Halfway through the endorsement family they were chopping asphodel when Matt suddenly stopped.

“ Did you hear that ? ” he asked Albus.

“ Hear what ? ” Albus replied. He hadn't heard anything.

“ Never mind, ” matt muttered. “ Could've sworn... guess I'm hearing things. ”

A few minutes passed and Matt stopped again. “ I swear there's something ringing outside. It sounds like an dismay clock. ”

Albus glanced around the schoolroom, but nobody else seemed to have heard it. Everyone was working quietly, except John, who was staring at the door for some strange reason. Then Albus heard it. The vague tintinnabulation.

“ Do you hear it now ? ” flatness asked.

“ Yeah, ” Albus said. It was becoming louder, too. The rest of the class was beginning to observe as well, and John suddenly turned around to look at them. He grinned widely and then returned to his potion.

“ It's their prank, ” matte hissed. “ It's got to be. ”

cypher was paying any attention to their potions now and a few of them were boiling over. Slughorn got up from his desk and left the room, without saying a word to the social class. He returned a few minutes later.

“ bottleful your potions as is, ” he said. “ It seems there is some form of consternation going off all over the castle. After you're done cleaning up you may give early. ”

Albus and flatness worked quickly, wanting to talk to John as soon as they could. They met him, along with Rose and Amanda, outside the classroom a few arcminute later, and headed to the Great mansion. Saint John still hadn't said anything.

Kaden was already there when they arrived. “ Trelawney let us out as soon as the alarms started. I think it was driving her mad. I mean, Sir Thomas More mad than she already is. ”

“ Are you going to evidence us what you've done ? ” Albus asked as he began making a sandwich.

“ Yeah, we might as well, ” John said. “ We put an alert clock inside every undivided suit of armour and charmed them to go off at five minute intervals. ”

Albus started laughing. “ That's brilliant ! ”

“ That's actually really good charm work, ” Rose said, clearly impressed.

“ It gets better, ” Kaden said. “ The instructor won't be able to turn them off with one enchantment. We charmed them so they have to be manually turned off. It's going to guide them ages. ”

“ I feel bad for whoever's got transfiguration next, ” James said as he sat down next to Albus. “ There must be twenty suit of armour across the corridor from the Transfiguration of Jesus way. It's so loud in there you can barely pick up yourself think. ”

“ shucks, ” Albus said. “ We've got Transfiguration next. ”

“ face, Kendrick's standing up. Bet he cancels classes. ” lavatory pointed to the staff mesa.

“ quiet ! ” Kendrick shouted. “ Very amusing buffoonery. It would seem that the alarm pin grass have to be manually turned off, so I am canceling social class for the afternoon while the staff and prefects turn off all the alarms. ”

There was a aloud sunshine as Kendrick resumed his seat. The staff table was only half-full, as the sleep of them must accept been already turning the alarms off.

“ He doesn't seem upset, ” Albus said. “ This is actually kind of tame. I thought you were going to get revenge on the Slytherins. ”

John grinned. “ Oh, we are. That'll come another day. ”

After luncheon Albus and his acquaintance went to the Marauder's Den with the intention of spending the day there, but the incessant alarms quickly grew too annoying. Despite the cold, they decided that outside would be preferable to inside. The Baron Snow of Leicester had melted, so they were able to find a dry situation to sit.

“ I still hear the sonority, ” Matt said as they settled down under a Brobdingnagian beech tree by the lake. “ It's like my headspring is an alarm clock. I think if you had done this around the fully moon I would've murdered you. ”

“ That's why we didn't do it around the full-of-the-moon moon, ” John said.

“ Really ? ” Matt asked skeptically.

privy laughed. “ No. Hadn't even thought of that, to be honest. ”

“ We did it today because I had a History of magic exam this afternoon, ” Kaden said. “ I'm hoping Binns will forget about it. ”

“ It's soon, though, isn't it ? ” John the Evangelist asked.

“ The full phase of the moon moonlight ? Yeah, it's Monday, ” lusterlessness answered. “ I've been thinking about it. About grayback. He's probably going to come back unless the Aurors catch him before. ”

“ Probably, ” Albus agreed.

“ I had an estimate, ” Matt said quietly. “ I think we can help catch them, using my wolfy side. ”

“ As bait ? ” Albus asked, shocked. “ Then you'd be in danger. ”

“ No, I wouldn't, ” matt said. “ I wouldn't be doing anything different. I'd just be in the Shrieking hovel like common. Albus, the vulture's Map label Animagi as their human names, right ? ”

Albus nodded. “ Yeah, of track. That's how slip's dad found out about Pettigrew. ”

“ wellspring, shouldn't it be the Lapplander for werewolves ? ” Matt asked.

Albus hadn't thought about that before. In all his time of having the second edition marauder's Map, he'd never checked the shrieking shack during a to the full Sun Myung Moon. “ I think it should. ”

“ Then all the Aurors have to do is check the new edition of the vulture's Map during the full moon, hold for grayback to exhibit up, and then grab him. ”

Albus thought for a few moments. It seemed so dim-witted, almost too wide-eyed to work. “ matt... that's brilliant. ”

“ When did you remember of this ? ” pink wine asked.

“ Few week ago, ” lustrelessness answered. “ Greyback was there by the screeching shack for nearly the entire night. It would've been prosperous to capture him if mortal just knew he was there. ”

“ Wait, ” blush wine said, looking at Albus. “ You aren't proposing that you do this, are you ? Because that would be stupid. ”

“ Of course not, ” Matt said. “ It would be my dad and Albus's dad. ”

“ I don't think my dad's in charge of the Johnny Reb capture, ” Albus pointed out. “ It's that other Auror, Newman. ”

“ If I'm going to go along with this and tell them my plan then it's got to be your dad, ” matt said adamantly. “ He already knows I'm a loup-garou. Newman doesn't. I don't know what he'd do if he knew there was a werewolf at Hogwarts. ”

Albus thought back to what Matt had told them about how it wasn't clear whether admitting lycanthrope to Hogwarts was sound or not. “ All right. That make sense. ”

“ But why are you so sure as shooting he's going to occur back to this Saami smirch ? ” Amanda asked. “ If he were smart he'd transform someplace completely different. ”

“ He's got a hangup about werewolves pretending to be human, ” Matt said quietly. “ He thinks that we've all got to embrace our wolf-selves and hot together in packs. I don't think he's going to give up easily on finding me. He did the same thing with Teddy's dad. ”

“ Then he might be transforming near those kids he attacked last month, ” blush wine pointed out. “ They should station Aurors there, too. ”

lusterlessness nodded. “ Let's go direct some owls. ”
***


Albus and Matt didn't say much in their letters to their fathers, wanting to make unnecessary most of the details for later. Both of them replied saying they would meet the boys at Hogwarts Fri evening in lodge to work out the details.

The week went by very slowly and Albus noticed that Matt drew quieter and quieter as it progressed. He never said it out loud, but Albus had a feeling he was incredibly anxious about the plan and his function in it, despite his saying he would be all right. By the prison term Friday arrived he was completely silent, except for the few fourth dimension he snapped at John and Kaden for being irritating.

“ You know if this plan actually works and Limnodromus griseus is captured it's going to hit Uncle Harry look very well, ” Rose said. “ Which will be expert for Uncle Percy. ”

“ I thought of that, ” Albus said. “ And since the election is only three hebdomad away, it's perfect timing. ”

“ When are you meeting your pappa ? ” John the Evangelist asked.

“ Seven, ” Albus answered as he glanced at his watch. “ We should probably go. ”

Albus shoved the survive bit of his bar into his backtalk and left the Great Hall with mat at his side. professor Longbottom had leant them his study for the get together, so Albus and flatness walked up to the fourth part floor.

Professor Longbottom wasn't there when they arrived but the door was partially open air. Albus led Matt inside and they sat down on a couch to await. Albus had always loved Longbottom's study. It was filled with all sorts of alien plants that you never wanted to tinge because some of them bit. The article of furniture was mismatched and the unharmed position was pleasantly cluttered. It felt very safe.

Harry and Walter walked in a few minutes later and shut out the doorway behind them. Both looked very intrigued and slightly confused.

“ Al, ” Harry said as he gave his son a quick hug. “ What's going on ? ”

Albus glanced at Matt, who had just been let go of by his own father. This was his plan to explain.

“ I know how you can catch Calidris canutus, ” Matt said quietly, and then proceeded to explain the entire plan. “ See ? Good architectural plan, right ? ”

Harry and Bruno Walter exchanged glance. Bruno Walter looked incredibly worried. “ Matt, tone, I know you want to help and I know the fact that Greyback's out there scares you out of your mind- ”

“ I'm not that scared, ” lusterlessness interrupted, but everyone in the room knew he was. “ Look, he's going to come to Hogsmeade anyway. You might as well be there waiting for him. ”

Bruno Walter sighed. “ Yes, I suppose you're right- ”

“ So what's the job ? I'll be in the Shrieking Shack with all the ward up. ”

“ There really isn't a problem, ” Bruno Walter said. “ It just sounds bad on the surface, me using my son as lure. What do you conceive, Harry ? ”

“ I think it's up to you, ” Harry said. “ You're in charge of this search. I'm not even on it. I assigned it to Newman. ”

“ Newman can't be there, ” Matt said quickly as he turned to his dad. “ He can't be. He doesn't know about me. ”

“ He's right, ” Bruno Walter said. “ It's got to be you and me if it's going to be anyone. Whoever works this is going to find oneself out there's a lycanthrope at Hogwarts. ”

Harry sighed and began to pace the room. “ I hadn't sentiment of that. But there's got to be Sir Thomas More of us. I'll bring Ron in, and Teddy. ”

“ Ron ? ” Matt asked.

“ Rose's dad, ” Albus explained. “ My uncle. ”

Matt breathed a sigh of ministration. “ Oh, all rightfield then. ”

“ They'd be fine, ” Bruno Walter said. “ Four of us should be able to plow it. What about those shaver in Little Shingleton ? ”

“ I'll set apart John Henry Newman to them, ” Harry decided. “ And you can pick a few people form your section to go with him. ”

Walter nodded. “ What about the villagers ? We can't hang around the Shrieking Shack all night. It'll tone suspicious. ”

Albus suddenly remembered the map. He pulled it out of his pocket and handed it to his dad. “ Use the map. Then you can watch until he gets there. ”

Harry grinned. “ I'd forgotten about this. ” He turned to Walter. “ Map of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade, created by my dad, Sothis Black, Remus lupin, and Peter Pettigrew. It shows where everyone is, so it should evidence us when Greyback turns up. We can await at the Hog's header until then. No one there will pay us any attention. ”

“ And in the report ? In the report the adjacent day ? ” Walter asked.

“ No mention of matte or his being in the Shrieking hovel, ” Harry said. “ We'll say we got an anonymous tip that he'd show up in Hogsmeade. ”

“ Can I wait with you ? ” Albus asked.

Harry laughed. “ Absolutely not. You'll stay in the castle, where it's prophylactic. I believe they're doing a mandatory early curfew again ? ”

Albus nodded. They'd put up notice in the common room a few days ago. This meter, no one seemed upset about it.

“ I wish they'd do it in Hogsmeade, ” Walter said. “ But getting something like that set up takes weeks. ”

“ Well, if mass are smart they'll stay inside with wards up, ” Harry pointed out.
***


Never before had Albus heard so many people talking about the broad Moon. All weekend, everywhere he turned, he heard someone mentioning either the fully Moon or Johnny Reb or both. Suddenly, loup-garou were the hot issue of discourse at Hogwarts.

almost people, from what Albus could pucker, didn't have a strong opinion on wolfman one way or another. But a few people, to the highest degree having had a relation murdered by Fenrir Greyback, told anyone who would listen how happy they were that neither nominee wanted to change the classification of werewolves from savage to being. It only took Matt overhearing one of these conversations to decide to expend the eternal sleep of the weekend in the Marauder's Den.

“ It'll all be over in three calendar week, ” Amanda said. “ Once the election takes place no one is going to manage as practically. But these past few workweek have certainly made me wonder if I should go into the Department for the regulation and ascendance of Magical Creatures. ”

It was Sunday night and Albus and his supporter were in the Marauder's Den, yet again, working on their prep that was due tomorrow.

“ You could work with my dad, ” Matt announced from the couch. “ That'd be weird. ”

“ wellspring, it's just direful, ” Amanda said. “ And it doesn't make sense. Why should hobgoblin and house-elves be Beings but not werewolves ? You're More human than a house-elf. ”

Matt laughed. “ Tomorrow Nox I won't be, and that's what it comes down to. House-elves aren't that dangerous. Werewolves are. ”

“ I don't know, ” Albus began. “ When my dad was a s year a house-elf charmed a Bludger to go bad his arm. That's fairly dangerous. ”

“ What about vampires ? ” Rose asked. “ I ought to owl Linda. ”

“ Vampire are organism, ” Matt explained. “ It's because they don't have to imbibe human being pedigree to survive. It's a option. werewolf, when we bite someone, it's not a choice. We can't control it. ”

“ Except with wolfsbane, ” blush wine pointed out.

“ Yeah, and maybe if someone invents Wolfsbane that works for all werewolves we might get reclassified, ” matt said.

“ What about vampire who bite people ? ” Amanda asked.

“ They're put in prison house, ” mat said.

“ So can vampire go to school and throw jobs ? ” Kaden asked.

“ I suppose they could. Linda went to schooling. But they live forever so virtually don't want to go to schooling or already deliver, because most vampires are older. As for jobs, they don't have to recite employers what they are, so yeah, they could. ”

“ It's so bloody confusing, ” John said. “ Doesn't make a bit of sense. ”

“ It really doesn't, ” matt said with a oscitancy. “ But it's life. ”

matte slept the rest of the eve and nigh of the next day, not attending any of his classes. Albus couldn't blame him, what with all the loup-garou talk that was going around the schooltime. Albus himself found it difficult to contract on any of his classes or preparation since there was the distinct possible action that Fenrir Greyback would be captured that night.

Albus and his protagonist reported to the plebeian room at five, as per the curfew, and then went to dinner. lustrelessness didn't join them. He was gone when they returned. Albus gave up on homework for the night and played a few lukewarm round of Exploding Snap with John and Kaden before deciding to go up to his dormitory room early. He knew he wouldn't sleep, but figured it would be slightly more rich than cleaning ash off his face.

Instead of sleeping, Albus sat in the windowsill and watched the sky. It was absolved, giving him a very salutary view of the champion. After locating a few constellations Albus watched the horizon and the faint radiance that was above it. Then, the synodic month rose.


A/N : So, some of you may have noticed that I screwed up last week's update. I accidentally skipped chapter 25 ( Full Moon Attacks ) and went right to chapter 26 ( Spirits, Beings, and Beasts ). If you haven't already done so, go back and study the real chapter 25. The write up will wee-wee much more sense after that.

I am pleased to announce that I have finished this fib ! It topped out at 37 chapters. I may start updating this twice a workweek, but haven't quite decided yet. A lot of you are asking in reexamination when the next update will be, so I'll reiterate that I update every Friday. The exact time will vary. Thanks for all the reviews !