A/N : legal brief author 's greenback prior to the chapter. This chapter is from Teddy 's point of view, as I wanted to pen the specific of what happened during the missionary work to capture Reb. An article in the Prophet just would n't do it justice. hope you enjoy !


Teddy lupin had been a Jnr Auror for nearly eight months. In that time he had n't done much in full term of fighting dark thaumaturgist, and most of the commission he 'd gone on had been rather boring. Up until the Azkaban break-out most of his work had consisted of paperwork and the occasional stake-out. Being an Auror, shift had discovered, was a lot more than chasing down wickedness wizards and saving people 's lives.

It was for this very intellect that shimmy had been surprised when his godfather, Harry ceramicist, had approached him the previous day and told him of his Modern assignment. He, Teddy Lupin, bran-new Junior Auror, had been assigned to the mission of capturing head for the hills loup-garou, Fenrir Greyback. Rebel, the same loup-garou who had infected his don with lycanthropy decennium ago. knot, one of Great Britain 's most require fugitives.

The mission, Harry had informed him, was very raw in nature and had to be handled with discretion. There was to be no mention of it to anyone outside of the people assigned to it. There were very few people assigned to the delegacy and they included Harry himself, the Head of the rule and ascendance of Magical creature, and Ron Weasley. That was it. A few others had been assigned to keep an eye on the children knot attacked the previous calendar month, but they were n't to be directly involved with the Calidris canutus mission itself.

Harry had explained the item of the mission, including the fact that the whole thing had been Albus 's idea, along with one of his friends, who happened to be the header of the regularisation and Control of Magical Creature 's son. Who also happened to be a loup-garou. It took Teddy a few minutes to enclose his head around the integral situation. To make things even more insane, Albus 's lycanthrope friend was the comrade of Teddy 's supporter, Amy.

But when it came down to it, all of this meant that Teddy was going on his first real mission as an Auror.

Harry had instructed him to demonstrate up at the Hog 's principal, in camouflage, at seven o'clock. Once there, he was to order a drink and sit at the bar, avoiding physical contact with everyone. Harry, Ron, and Bruno Walter Eckerton were going to do the like.

Disguising himself was Teddy 's main strength. Before he Apparated to Hogmseade he morphed his face so he looked a few long time older and his hair so that it was a generic brown color rather than its usual greenish blue. He finished off the expression by shrinking himself and adding a few Irish punt. After donning a tattered old cloak, Teddy turned on the place and reappeared in the skittle alley next to Weasleys'whiz Wheezes.

teddy bear peeked inside the construction and saw George VI working. If he had n't been on a mission he would 've stopped to say hello, but instead he turned in the opposite direction and headed toward the Hog 's headway.

The pub was practically empty. There was an old beldam at one of the tables, nursing a drink, and a bloke quiescence at the end of the bar. Ron was already there, sitting at a table with a goblet in front of him. He 'd clearly attempted to disguise himself, but there was no mistaking his red hair. Harry and Bruno Walter did n't seem to be there yet.

shimmy ambled up to the bar, deciding at the end minute that his pseudo role should take the air with a limp. Aberforth was there and Teddy ordered a Butterbeer. Probably not the usual drink for the Hog 's Head, but he needed to keep his head unclouded for the mission. He took the drink and began to sip it slowly, as he had no idea how long he 'd necessitate to hazard he was n't an Auror.

A half hr later the door opened again and Harry and Walter walked in. Walter joined Ron at his back table while Harry went up to the bar. He sat adjacent to Teddy.

"How 's it going, Aberforth ?"he asked quietly.

"fine,"Aberforth grunted.

"We 're here on Ministry business enterprise,"Harry said."mightiness be here a few hours. Could be the unanimous night. Do you mind ?"

"Not at all,"Aberforth replied."Pub 's yours, although I 'll be leaving at eleven. Not much business on a Monday night."

"We 'll lock up when we leave,"Harry said.

Aberforth nodded and set a few more Butterbeers on the counter. Harry picked them up and gestured for slip to follow him to the back table, where Ron and Walter were now crouched over a spell of parchment.

teddy bear sat down next to Walter and Harry sat next to him. He passed around the Butterbeers while Ron turned the parchment around so teddy bear and Harry could see it. Teddy recognized it ; it was Albus 's map of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. Currently, it was magically magnified to show the screech Shack and the yard outside it. Only one dot was there. It was labeled 'Matthew Eckerton'and was stationary in the shrieking Shack.

"Moon just rose,"Bruno Walter said quietly."Just a waiting game now."

No one had told him, but Teddy knew the real reason why he 'd been assigned to this mission, and it had zero to do with his Auror skills. Sure, that had been a plus, but any of the other next-to-last Aurors were just as stipulate. And the full Aurors were even more so. The cause was that he was the simply Auror who was related to a werewolf, and thus would n't give care that a wolfman at Hogwarts was an integral percentage of this plan. It was also the understanding why Harry and Ron were there, when Auror Newman had previously been assigned to the Greyback case. Bruno Walter Eckerton did n't want any risk of exposure of his son 's condition being leaked to the world, and putting Harry, Ron, and chemise on the case would ensure that it would n't.

"Are you sure Johnny is even going to show up ?"Teddy asked quietly as he stared at the map.

"Fairly certain,"Walter said."Werewolves are attracted to the call of their own kind and Rebel is set on creating his own inner circle of untested werewolves. He spent the last-place full moon lurking around the Shrieking Shack, after he attacked those kid. He knows matte 's there. He 'll come back."

Teddy nodded. The minutes ticked by and the pub grew quieter. The old witch left, taking her methamphetamine hydrochloride with her. The man sleeping at the bar snorted and rolled over, nearly falling off his stool. slip finished his Butterbeer and set it side by side to the other empty glasses on the table, wondering if he should go rules of order another or just remain seated.

At eleven o'clock Aberforth woke up the lad at the bar and had to help him to the threshold and then physically squeeze him out of the pub. He gave a agile nod to Harry, Ron, Walter, and Teddy and then went upstairs.

"I suppose the camouflage were a bit purposeless,"Ron said as he pointed his wand at his face. His nose returned to its normal soma.

"Well, with the Hog 's Head, you never know,"Harry said.

The group settled into silence again. Outside, there was the sound of swoon howling. shimmy glanced at Walter and noticed that he winced slightly every time there was a particularly loud howl. Harry and Ron sent him sympathetic looks that Teddy tried to mimic. He did n't give any kids so he really had no estimate what that was like, let alone having a kid with lycanthropy.

teddy glanced down at the map and noticed three new dots had appeared."Harry !"shift said as he pointed to the map.

All four men crowded around the map once more. One of the dots was indeed labeled 'Fenrir greyback ,'but the others were names Teddy did n't recognize.

"Meredith Jenner and Maxwell Edward Jenner,"Teddy read."Who are they ?"

"They must be other werewolf,"Ron said.

"Or Animagi,"Harry pointed out.

"No,"Walter said as he shook his head."Those are the two youngster who got bitten last month."

"You 're kidding,"Harry said."Dammit, this did n't cross my mind."

"Mine either,"Walter said.

"What about the others ?"Ron asked."Newman and the two from the loup-garou dominance whole ?"

"There they are,"Teddy said as three new dots suddenly appeared onto the map. They must 've Apparated."

"Yeah, well, they 'd have no chance following three wolfman on pes,"Walter said.

"Let 's go,"Harry said as he stood up.

shift stood and drew his wand. He followed the three former men out of the pub and shut the doorway behind him.

The Hog 's Head was not far away from the Shrieking hovel. Within three bit they arrived and found Newman and the other two genius attempting to restrain the three werewolves.

"They 're the nipper from last month !"one of the Werewolf controller unit of measurement employees shouted.

"Be thrifty with them !"Walter shouted back."They 've done nothing wrong !"

"We 're trying !"

The two minuscule werewolves were currently attempting to attack the Werewolf ascendance unit of measurement employees and Newman, while Greyback seemed to give care far more about getting into the scream Shack. He was a much larger wolf, grey in gloss, and had bright sensationalistic eye. He was on the porch, biting at the door, and not paying any tending to the sorcerer around him. It seemed to teddy that he had far Thomas More control over himself than a rule wolfman.

Bruno Walter and Ron joined the wolfman ascendance Unit employees in trying to constrain Meredith and James Clerk Maxwell. It was a difficult labor because they had to do it without hurting them. Teddy was fairly certain that the law would n't care whether the two children were hurt in the process, but that had never been how Bruno Walter ran the department.

Harry nodded to shimmy and they walked slowly up the lawn, their wands out in front line of them. If they could just see knot by surprise then they 'd be capable to arouse some ropes and limit him before he even knew what was happening.

They were only twenty human foot away when it happened. greyback suddenly froze and then turned around. He must 've smelled them. With a aloud tangle, he jumped the XX feet separating them in one leap.

teddy and Harry jumped back, sending go forward as they did so. greyback lunged, the spells not seeming to dissemble him at all, and made a swipe at chemise. Teddy jumped to the side and sent another Stunner at Limnodromus griseus.

Battling a lycanthrope was very different from battling a sensation, shimmy realized. And battling loup-garou had not been covered in preparation. Sure, they 'd learned and practiced the piece used against werewolves, but they 'd never performed them on factual werewolves. The main difference was that loup-garou did n't have wand and thus could not couch spells. But at the same prison term, they had teeth, pincer, and were much stronger than the average human. Plus there was the fact that one bite would call on you into one forever.

Teddy and Harry took turns sending Stunners at Greyback and were able-bodied to throw him enough that he did n't quite know who to assault. As they worked, they were steadily moving closer and closer to the screech Shack.

Greyback soon realized that he was being cornered back onto the porch and decided to take another leap forward. He snarled loudly and lunged toward Harry, nearly making contact. teddy bear jumped forward and sent another mantrap toward Greyback.

Greyback flew backward and slammed into the front man room access, his head making a sickening crunch as it collided with the doorhandle. He slid down the door and landed on the floor, not moving.

slip looked at Greyback and then at Harry, who was getting up from the ground. Teddy had n't even substantiate that he 'd fallen over.

"Harry, you okay ?"Teddy asked.

"mulct,"Harry said."You ?"

Teddy nodded and began to subscribe a few cautious steps toward Greyback. Harry was soon by his face.

"Is he ..."Teddy began.

"I do n't think so,"Harry said quietly."Just unconscious mind. Here."Harry muttered a spell and ropes flew from the end of his wand. They wrapped them around Greyback until he was secure.

teddy bear felt slightly disappointed. There was a division of him, a very small constituent, that wished he 'd killed Calidris canutus. Greyback had been the one who 'd made his dad 's life miserable, and he 'd viciously attacked Victoire 's dad when he was n't even transformed. Yes, Teddy had to admit, there was a part of him that wanted retaliation. A parting of him that wanted to be the one who finally killed Fenrir Johnny.

Teddy glanced over to the rest of the group, but they 'd finished, too. Bruno Walter was currently tying the two werewolf nestling up with ropes while the other men stood around watching. Ron looked up and met Teddy 's eyes, then walked over toward them.

"Done ?"Harry asked.

Ron nodded."They 're tied up and Stunned. I suppose we 'll have to keep back Stunning them until the moon sets."

"So they were n't on Wolfsbane,"Harry said."Interesting."

"Bruno Walter said he 'll personally produce a visit to their business firm in a few mean solar day to discuss precautions for next month,"Ron said."But still, their parents must be retard. They could 've been killed."

"The parents are okay, then ?"Harry asked."I wonder what happened."

Ron nodded."Newman said they locked the kids in the backyard shed but did n't put any wards up. It must 've been easygoing for Greyback to ruin in."

"I wonder why they did n't listen to Werewolf Support armed service,"Harry mused."I know for a fact they visited."

"Well, at least no one was hurt,"chemise pointed out. He turned back to where the other loup-garou had been tied up, but noticed that they were now being levitated to the porch of the Shrieking Shack by the Werewolf mastery whole employees. Bruno Walter and Newman were following them.

"What is that blessed racket ?"Newman exclaimed, nodding his head to the Shrieking Shack.

Walter glanced a the hut and then turned to Paul Newman."Ghosts. I 've heard that station has been haunted for years, long before I moved to this country."

Harry nodded."It 's been haunted since the 70s."

"Loud ghosts,"Newman muttered."Has the Spirit division ever looked into it ?"

"Multiple times,"Walter said."They 're peaceable shade, just loud. We have n't had too many charge, so have n't bothered to do anything about it."

Teddy was amazed that Walter could lie so easily and freely. But he supposed that he 'd been doing it ever since his son became a lycanthrope, so he 'd arrest used to it.

"Let 's get this lot back to the Ministry,"Harry said, gesturing to the three unconscious wolfman. Cardinal Newman, take either Lee or Mungo Park back to the children 's house and inform their parents that they can cull them up at the Ministry tomorrow."

Paul Newman and Lee, who was one of the werewolf Control Unit employees, Disapparated on the spot. Harry grabbed hold of Greyback and instructed Walter and Parks, the other werewolf Control Unit employee, to each need one of the children. With an exceptionally meretricious crevice, the stallion group Disapparated.
***


Each of the werewolves were set up in an inquiry way to await the remaining time of day until morning. teddy bear, along with Walter, had been assigned to keeping watch on knot, Stunning him when necessary. Harry, Ron, Park, and Lee had been assigned to the children. Paul Leonard Newman got started on the paperwork.

"So if a werewolf were to have soul there to daze them every hour or so while they were transformed, they 'd be harmless, right ?"Teddy asked as Bruno Walter Stunned Calidris canutus for the fourth part prison term."Why do n't people do that ?"

"Repeated Stunning is n't healthy,"Walter replied."It 's why it 's not allowed on almost captive. It 's only allowed on loup-garou because they 're classified as Beasts and not Beings."

chemise nodded."What does it do to them ?"

"Depends on the wolfman,"Bruno Walter said."It has no long-term effects on plenty, but others wind up ill or with memory loss."

"Ca n't say I 'll be too discomfit if it has any ill effects on him,"shift said as he nodded to Greyback.

"Me either,"Walter said.

"I have to ask,"Teddy began,"did you get into regulation and Control of Magical Creatures before or after your son was bitten ?"

"Before. Ironic, is n't it ?"

"Just a bit."

"It 's because of your beginner that my son is able to go to Hogwarts. I know you probably do n't even call back him, but I 'm forever grateful for him paving the way."

Teddy nodded."I wish I could recollect him. I suppose it was really Dumbledore, though, who let him go to Hogwarts."

"I never had the pleasure of meeting Albus Dumbledore. I wish I could say I have."

teddy and Walter lapsed back into silence. Teddy could hardly believe that he was sitting in an interrogation elbow room with the loup-garou who had turned his father. If only his dad could see him now.

Walter glanced at his watch."moonshine should be setting within the half hour."

Teddy gulped and he hoped Walter could n't hear his heart beating. He had n't been nearly as nervous about facing Greyback as a wolf, but the view of facing him as a human was slightly terrifying. He almost wanted the next half hr to last forever, but at the same meter he did n't. It had been a very long day and he wanted to go home and eternal rest, eat, and see Victoire. Unfortunately, there was still a quite a little of paperwork ahead.

Johnny Reb began to stir, but Bruno Walter did n't Stun him. Instead, he conjured a round-eyed set of gown, set them on the table, stood up, and gestured for chemise to be him out into the corridor. shift did so, but looked at Walter quizzically.

"He ca n't head for the hills. He 's got no scepter and there 's anti-Apparition charms on the room,"Bruno Walter explained."He 'll be at his absolute weakest as he transforms and despite the immorality he 's done, he deserves the respect of transforming alone."

chemise was impressed. He himself would n't have even thought about that, but Bruno Walter had clearly been planning that all along. teddy bear supposed it came from having a son who was a werewolf. If chemise 's own Fatherhood had lived, would he receive similar thoughts ?

There were no silencing magic spell on the examination rooms. Soon the corridor was filled with howling and was then replaced by painful screech. The shrieks soon gave way to a farsighted stream of profanity.

"Let 's go,"Walter said as he placed his hand on the doorknob.

Teddy had no idea what to expect when he entered the room. He 'd only seen photo of Greyback from the Prophet and black and white photos never did a somebody justice.

Fenrir Johnny was crouched on top of the table, dressed in the habiliment that Walter had provided. His grey hair was stringy and matted with dirt and pedigree, and his face bore several week 's worth of grey beard. His brass was lined with deep crinkle and chemise realized that he had absolutely no musical theme how old the man was.

Greyback took a rich sniff as Walter and Teddy entered. He grinned and let out a maniacal laugh."forefront of the Department,"he muttered."guess I 'm popular."

Teddy froze, all his training suddenly out the window. He could hardly trust that this man had attacked his forefather when he was only a child. Fenrir Greyback was far more sinister in person and chemise felt a pang of sympathy for his beginner as a five-year-old.

"So you found me,"Greyback said."How 'd you do it ?"

"We were waiting for you, knot,"Walter said."We knew you 'd pass to Hogsmeade."

Limnodromus griseus sneered."Yeah, wanted to go back for that loup-garou in the screeching Shack. He smelled young, impressionable."

Walter paled."You 'll never hold the opportunity to go back."

"We 'll see,"Calidris canutus replied.

"enough confabulation,"Walter said, turning to Teddy."hitch him."

teddy snapped out of his thoughts and immediately went back into Auror-mode. He set himself apart from the situation and ran on autopilot.

"Fenrir Greyback, I am Auror Ted lupine and you 're under taking into custody,"Teddy began.

Limnodromus griseus 's heart grew across-the-board."Lupin. Any sex act to Remus Lupin ?"

"He was my beginner,"slip said proudly.

"I made him who he was,"Rebel said as he stared directly into teddy bear 's heart."I changed his life."

"Fenrir Greyback, you are under check,"teddy repeated, ignoring him. He conjured a duo of cuff and walked over to Limnodromus griseus."You have the right field to remain soundless. I suggest you use it,"he said as he cuffed the werewolf."If you choose not to be silent, anything you say can be used in your trial. You will have a trial. If you can not find delegacy, we will line up it for you."

Teddy grabbed Rebel 's arm and pulled him off the mesa and into a standing position. As he did so, he met the old man 's optic. They were lily-livered, vestal yellow, and completely unforgiving. He looked like the fount of evil, as if Greyback had no human psyche left. It was in that instant that chemise knew for sure that this wolfman held no similarity to his forefather. greyback lived to spread evil, while Remus Lupin had lived to stop it.

Teddy slapped a set of handcuffs on Greyback. He opened the door and pushed greyback out into the corridor, still holding onto his arm. Bruno Walter followed and the two walked alongside each early as they led Johnny Reb to the holding cells.

Harry was waiting for them when they arrived. He shoved Johnny Reb into a cellular phone and locked the doorway behind him.

"Your dad would be incredibly proud of you,"Harry said to Teddy.

teddy bear nodded and gave Harry a half-smile.


A/N : I hope you enjoyed the Teddy chapter ! I had a lot of fun writing it. Thanks for all the lovely reviews !

The rights teddy read to Greyback are adapted from the Miranda Rights, created by the United State Department Supreme courtroom in 1966.


Albus awoke the succeeding sunup to the phone of an owl pecking at the windowpane. He rose from his bed and went to let it in. The owl was unfamiliar, but he vaguely recognized it as the breed of owl the Ministry of magic used. The missive was addressed to him, so Albus took it, let the owl back out into the cold, and set down on his bed to unfold it.

Albus-

We got him.

-Dad

That was all it said, but it did n't need to say anything else. His dad probably could n't say anything else in a letter of the alphabet, anyway. Albus folded up the parchment and shoved it into his bedside tabular array. He glanced at the clock and realized there was no point in going back to bed since classes would come out in two hr.

Instead, he got started on that hebdomad 's Charms recitation while he waited for toilet to inflame up. This took a upright hour and when he finally did wake up up, it took him XV minutes to fully wake up and get dressed. St. John was not one for mornings.

Albus waited until they were in the Great Hall for breakfast to secernate John about the letter of the alphabet from his dad, so that he could tell Kaden, rosiness, and Amanda, too. Luckily they managed to find a relatively sequestrate part of the table.

"I got a letter from my dad this morning,"Albus said as he scooped eggs onto his plate."They got him."

"Oh thank God !"Rose exclaimed.

"Did he secern you about it ?"King John asked.

"No,"Albus said."But I 'm sure it 'll be in the prophesier tomorrow."

The group decided to eat a very prompt lunch later in order to visit Matt before their good afternoon family. Albus wanted to tell him about grayback as soon as potential.

Albus found it incredibly unmanageable to keep his mouth shut during potions because the rest of his schoolmate were discussing Greyback and whether he had attacked anyone the previous night. Janie Creevey swore she saw him on the grounds from her dorm room windowpane last Nox, but Karina and Marina said it was only a dog. Two of the Slytherins said they heard howling all night, and Scorpius said one of the older students had received a letter from his brother claiming to have seen Greyback in Diagon Alley. It seemed that Albus and his Quaker were the merely ones in the full castling who knew Johnny Reb had been captured.

Scorpius Malfoy left potions early after speaking in whispers with Slughorn. Whatever it was it was a good excuse since Slughorn actually let him go. Albus thought this was very curious, but did n't dwell on it since his mind was still racing about Greyback. He wanted point about the capture, but probably would n't get any until he read the article in the Prophet.

"Anyone know why Malfoy left ?"St. John asked as they hurried up to the Great Hall for lunch.

"No estimate,"Albus said."Maybe he was ill ?"

"He did n't search ill,"John said."I suppose if he is ill we 'll see him in the infirmary wing."

Albus and his friends ate the flying luncheon they 'd ever deplete and rushed up to the infirmary wing. Kaden had Herbology after lunch and would need a good bit of time to get there, so they wanted to pass as much of lunch as possible in the hospital wing.

Madam Pomfrey was busy berating a scholar for trying to charm her whisker pink and had charmed it all off instead and did n't mark Albus and the others walk in. Only one bed was occupied and the curtains were drawn around it.

"guess Malfoy 's not here,"John said as he led the group over to Matt 's bed.

John pulled the drape back and Albus saw that matte was sitting up in bed, eating lunch. This month he was sporting a bandage wrapped around his entire header and ones on his custody as well. He seemed to be having a bit of difficulty holding his sandwich.

"They better have caught him,"lustrelessness said as he dropped his sandwich."Dammit. I ca n't go another month wrecking my hands."

"They did,"Albus said."My dad owled me this first light, but he did n't hold me any details."

"I knew he was there,"Matt said."The Hugo Wolf wanted to get out again and this time I banged my head repeatedly against the door."He gestured to the psyche bandages.

"I do n't consider you 'll have to vex about that again,"John said."They 'll probably put twice as many safeguard on Rebel 's cell."

"I think this is the high-risk worry I 've ever had in my lifetime,"Matt muttered.

John grinned mischievously."Shall Kaden and I do a repetition of last hebdomad 's frivolity ?"

mat gave him a flavor of slaying."If you do, I 'll kill you and I wo n't be responsible for my actions."

"Just kidding,"John said.

"dame Pomfrey wants me to eat lunch and then she 's going to give me sufficiency sleeping draught to sleep until dinner. I ca n't wait."

"well, I 'm going to own a lovely afternoon of fertilizing wizard plants with dragon muck,"Kaden said."So aside from the turning into a masher thing and the raging headache, I 'm kind of jealous."

"I 'd make the dragon dung,"mat said and then turned to Albus."Embry is announcing who gets to watch the lowest argumentation today, is n't he ?"

Albus shook his head."They 've actually put it off two more week. It was in the paper this morning. I guess they want it refreshed in multitude 's minds or something. Plus, we 've got Quidditch Sabbatum and dueling Sunday."

"Is Gryffindor playing ?"Matt asked.

"Hufflepuff and Slytherin,"Albus said."If Hufflepuff winnings, then we 'll be ahead in points. But if Slytherin win, we 'll probably be behind them."

"Here 's hoping for Hufflepuff, then,"flatness said. He glanced at his half-eaten sandwich."I think I 've given up on eating. I do n't mean to kick you lot out, but I 'm really looking forward to sleeping."

"Not a job,"Albus said."We 'll see you later."

"I think I 'll be back tomorrow,"Matt said."Unless this headache does n't go away."

St. John glanced at the clock."Brilliant. There 's enough fourth dimension for me to run back to the Great hall for an eclair before Transfiguration."

"I 'll join you,"Kaden said.

"Me, too,"Albus agreed.

The young woman decided that a second dessert was in society as well, so the whole mathematical group hurried back to the Great Hall before their adjacent grade. On the way there Albus realized just how much better he felt now that Greyback was once again behind bars.
***


"Teddy arrested him !"Albus exclaimed at breakfast the next morning. He 'd just land up reading the article about Greyback.

"Seriously ?"rose exclaimed, grabbing the vaticinator."I did n't even know he went on that mission."

Albus nodded."It was him, my dad, your dad, and Matt 's dad. Plus Newman and a few Werewolf Control Unit employees. And those nestling who got attacked conclusion week were captured, too. Apparently their parents did n't put any wards up on the shed they were in."

"That 's stupe,"Rose said.

"Was anyone scathe ?"Amanda asked.

"No,"Albus said.

"Oh, aspect, they 've quoted Laurentis,"Rose said."Listen to this. 'Greyback 's retaking is wonderful newsworthiness for wizarding Britain. I applaud both the Auror department and the section for the rule and control condition of Magical creature for their collaboration in this capture, especially Harry Potter and Bruno Walter Eckerton. However, there are still four captive at great. The body of work is not done and we must think back this before celebrating .'”

"Did they quote your uncle ?"privy asked.

"No,"Rose said."It says he has n't made a argument about it yet."

"I honestly think that this is only going to make his supporting of your dad feeling better,"Amanda said."Laurentis can try, but this is a winner. I mean, just look at the article. Absolutely nothing went faulty with that capture. There were three wolfman on the loose in Hogmseade and nobody got attacked. It 's that simple."

Albus had n't thought about it in that way, but it was true. Three loosen lycanthrope would normally be a nightmare for a quiet village like Hogsmeade, but thanks to the Aurors and the wolfman Control unit of measurement employees, nobody got hurt.

"I 'll just be glad when this election is over,"Albus said.

"You 're telling me,"Cedric said as he sat down across from Albus."I do n't even care who wins anymore."
***


Hufflepuff somehow managed to squash Slytherin during Sat 's Quidditch lucifer. Albus chalked this up to the fact that Hufflepuff had the unspoilt team they 'd had in years, and that Slytherin 's keeper had landed himself in the hospital wing after blowing up his potion on Friday, earning him a ban from the peer by Madam Pomfrey. But whatever the reason actually was, it was certainly beneficial to Gryffindor.

Albus awoke early on Dominicus, suddenly riddled with cheek about the dueling tournament. This month 's tournament was the arcsecond to last of the year since all the prof had agreed to end it earlier due to exams. Many of the seventh years had expressed that they could n't supervise drill while studying for N.E.W.T.s. But this meant that Albus only had two more than chances to secure a win for his team, something that had n't happened yet this year.

Albus and Amanda were the initiative of their team to get in in the Great mansion before the tournament. The rest of the team trickled in slowly as they waited. Five minutes before the tourney was scheduled to start, the alone soul missing was Malfoy.

"It 's not like him to be late,"Amanda commented."Usually he 's here too soon tattle you what an awful job as police captain you do."

"No, it 's not,"Albus agreed as he stood up to get a better look at the room access."I do n't see him."

"He was n't in potions the former day,"Amanda reminded Albus."Actually, I have n't seen him since he left potions early on Tuesday."

Albus thought back and realized Amanda was ripe."Oi !"he called to his group of Slytherin teammate."Any of you know where Scorpius Malfoy is ?"

"He went place,"one of the third years said."No idea why. He has n't been here since Tuesday."

"He went plate ?"Albus repeated, staring at the thirdly class."That 's odd."

The third year shrugged."He did n't evidence anyone anything about it. He just left."

Albus had to accommodate that this news gave him as much disappointment as confusion. Scorpius Malfoy was one of the team 's best duelers, no matter how annoying he was.

"No one goes home when it 's not a vacation,"Amanda said.

"Yeah, not unless they 're really ill or something atrocious happened to their syndicate,"Albus said.

"Attention students !"Neville called out."The tournament is about to start !"

Albus managed to campaign all thinking of Malfoy out of his mind for the duration of the tournament. Most of his teammate dueled well, although only Albus and a few early 4th years won both their duel. In the end they secured third home, which was certainly meliorate than a well lot of the remainder of the squad, but still was n't first. They were still in the running for winning overall at the end of the time of year, but they 'd take to do really well in the final tournament.

Albus and Amanda met the balance of their friends in the Marauder 's Den after the tournament was over.

"Did Malfoy hop the tournament ?"bathroom asked as soon as they entered."Not that I 'm complaining since your team probably would 've baffle mine if he had showed."

"Apparently he went home on Tuesday,"Albus said."I 'm assuming that 's why he left potions early, but no one has any melodic theme why he went."

"Maybe his parents took him on vacation,"flatness said."They seem the type to do that."

"You 're not allowed to escape classes unless it 's a in force self-justification,"Rose pointed out."I do n't call back going on holiday is a good excuse."

"I think something bad is happening to someone in his household,"Amanda said quietly."Remember that alphabetic character he was reading during practice ? And how quiet he 's been lately ?"

"I 'll ask Elsie Willinson,"rosiness said."I tutor her tomorrow. luck are that Malfoy told Felix about whatever 's going on so maybe Elsie knows, too."

But whatever was going on with Scorpius Malofy, Elsie Willinson was just as clueless as Albus and his friends. She either had no idea or refused to secern rose wine, despite the fact that rosiness prodded her about it ever ten min during their tutoring session on Monday.

Malfoy returned to course of instruction on Tuesday, walking into potions fifteen second later, and Slughorn made no mention of his tardiness or the classes he missed the previous calendar week. Albus attempted to view his face during class but he gave no clew about his emotions.

"Hey, Malfoy !"Albus shouted as they left the classroom a short while later.

Malfoy spun around and met Albus 's eye. He did n't look angry, nor was he sneering. Instead, he just looked lost."What do you want, ceramist ?"

"Missed you at the tournament Sat,"Albus said, hoping Malfoy would order him where he 'd been.

"Bet you did n't win without me,"Malfoy replied.

"third base stead,"Albus answered."Where were you ?"

"None of your business, ceramist,"Malfoy said as he turned around. He sped up and was soon lost in the sea of students hurrying to the Great Hall for lunch.
***


The keep an eye on calendar week passed quickly and Albus soon forgot about Malfoy and his mysterious disappearing. The election was now only a week away and everyone in the castle, educatee, professor, and ghosts alike were talking about it. With only one debate remaining, it was up in the air as to who would win. The Prophet published a poll they 'd taken and neither candidate had a substantial tether on the former.

"Kingsley Shacklebolt, previous heading of the Auror section, was the finis Minister of conjuration selected by the Wizengamot,"Professor money box said in stratum two 24-hour interval before the final debate."His selection was very quickly and he stepped into business office the day after Voldemort 's last. While most of the wizarding earthly concern knew that the Ministry needed an overhaul, they also needed mortal to take charge and supervise the overhaul.

"Shacklebolt held office for three class while supervising the drastic variety that made the Ministry of conjuration the governing entity we see today."

Albus had met Kingsley Shacklebolt a few times and found him slightly intimidating, but funny at the Sami time. He just had a very commanding presence and Albus was n't surprised he 'd been made minister of religion of deception after the war.

"The three years Shacklebolt held agency were very riotous. determination had to be made, drastic I, and they were not easy. The for the first time and most obvious determination was the decision to shift the way the Wizengamot was set up. The Wizengamot as it was was incredibly corrupt. call back that prior to this redesign every pureblooded category held a seat on the Wizengamot, but this left half-blood and Muggle-born witches and magician without representation.

"Shacklebolt, along with the other Ministry functionary working to reorganize the Wizengamot looked to the Muggle globe for divine guidance. The former Wizengamot bore more resemblance to the Muggle firm of noble, the upper berth theater of fantan. It was decided that the Wizengamot ought to more closely resemble the House of Commons, the lower berth family of parliament. In the Muggle world, these representatives are called Members of fantan, MPs for unawares, and are elected. In the wizarding world, they are simply ring phallus of the Wizengamot.

"Members of the Wizengamot then began being elected by the world-wide world, much like MPs are elected in the Muggle humans. Each appendage has a district, although figuring out these districts was far more hard than it was in the Muggle populace. Does anyone have a guess as to why ?"

Amanda raised her hand."Yes, fille tagging program ?"banking concern said.

"Witches and wizards are n't as uniformly spread out throughout the United land,"Amanda explained."In the Muggle human race the districts are very much based on Ithiel Town, but wizards do n't really take in towns."

"Correct,"banking concern said."Because of this the districts, if shown on a map, would depend vastly unlike in terminus of size. For deterrent example, London has three tell apart districts because there is a very big wizarding population in London. It 's far promiscuous for wiz to blend in in a large urban center than a humble town since things generally go unnoticed in big city. On the other hand, strake only has two districts, and therefore two congresswoman, since it 's much less densely populated by wizards."

Albus did n't have a clue as to who his district 's representative was, or even what dominion he lived in. It was one of three, as he now knew.

"I 've taken the liberty of printing a map with a list of all the example and territorial dominion numbers game,"Banks said as he began passing out sheets of parchment."I 'd hazard a guess than very few of you know what district you 're in or who your representative is."

Albus looked at the sheet after he received it. Jack London seemed to be divided into west capital of the United Kingdom, North John Griffith Chaney, and East/South John Griffith Chaney. North London, where Albus lived, was territorial dominion Two, currently represented by a fellow named Joseph Oliver Prang.

"Elections are held every five years,"money box said."None of the example are up for election this year, but nigh are up for election next twelvemonth. None of you will be of age to vote in next year 's election, but I suggest you read up on your representatives views and beliefs anyway.

"To entice you to get wind,"banking concern continued as he walked around his desk,"I am assigning an essay, due in two calendar week. Figure out who your congresswoman is and write me a foot-long essay detailing your representative 's beliefs and whether you agree with them or not. I suggest looking at old transcript of the Prophet as well as file away arrangement of Wizengamot encounter, both available in the library. You are welcome to use any other rootage as you see fit."

There was a cosmopolitan moan from the class, which made depository financial institution grin. He always seemed to love assigning preparation.

"Now onto the more exciting news,"Banks said."This Saturday is the final debate and four of you will be able-bodied to attend. I apologize in advance for those whose names have not been chosen, but there simply were not enough debates. As common, the rest of you will listen to the debate in the Transfiguration classroom.

"The two from Hufflepuff are Sam Bordeaux and Cassie Hornell. The Gryffindors are John Brickston and Janie Creevey. Your essay on this public debate, to be formatted like the previous two, will be due in a week. Class dismissed."

"I knew it would be me,"John said as the packed up."Bilius and Ethan have already gone and you two get to go every time."

"I had n't even realized that,"Albus said.

"Karina 's the only when one of us who wo n't get to go,"Rose pointed out.

"That essay, though ..."Gospel According to John said."The one on our representatives. That 's going to take away forever."

"Not if you do your enquiry rightfulness,"Rose said as they left the room.

"Any of you in dominion seven ?"toilet asked.

The rest of the group shook their capitulum. They compared territory numbers pool, but none of them were in the Saame. Rose and mat were the closemouthed, with their districts bordering on each other.

"I guess we 're all doing our own research then,"John said with a sigh.

Rose gave him a satisfied smirk, clearly glad that she would n't give to make do with John attempting to bum off her research. Albus wished that he and Rose were in the same territorial dominion because he, like Gospel According to John, did not relish doing this research. Usually they only had to use their schoolbook for inquiry, but not this time. This time, their textbooks would n't help oneself at all.


A/N : Thanks for all the reviews ! It 's time for the annual Dobby awarding at HPFF and nominations are now open ! Head to the forums to name your ducky story ( such as this one, *hint, hint* ). There is a link to the meeting place on the in good order face of the page. Be for certain to read the rules before you nominate ! We hate having to unfit narration for broken rules.

The selective information about the Muggle Ministry was adapted from the firm of the Lords and the Parliament Wikipedia Sir Frederick Handley Page. I hope I got everything right hand, but I 'm not British people, so smell free to point out any errors.


As the calendar week progressed to a greater extent and more of the seer was dedicated to election reporting. By the time Saturday arrived it became nearly unacceptable to find a single article that was n't about the election. There were editorials, consultation, assertion from the candidate, persuasion polls, and More. Albus was getting so tired of it that he did n't even glance at Saturday 's variation.

"Place your wager here !"

Albus glanced up from his breakfast to see King James, Cedric, and Ben walking up the gangway between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables carrying a jar filled with coins.

"We 're taking bets !"James IV shouted."Any takers ?"

"What are you betting on ?"Albus asked."Who wins ?"

"No, that 's deadening,"St. James said."We 're taking bets on how long it 'll pack the public debate moderator to bring up that crazy Australian bloke who kidnapped you last twelvemonth. This argument is on International Magical Cooperation, after all."

It had n't even crossed Albus 's mind that last year 's incident would be brought up in this argumentation, but James was probably good. It was the biggest international dirt wizarding Britain had seen in years.

"What 's your bet ?"Albus asked his brother.

"Ten minutes,"James II said."We 've had a few mass say it 'll come about right away and others who are giving it as long as a half hour."

"You do take in that your dad 's the one moderating this debate, do n't you ?"pink wine asked, setting down her written matter of the vaticinator.

St. James, Cedric, and Ben exchanged a glance."Er, no, we did n't have it away that,"James said."How do you make love ?"

"Says right here in the paper,"rose said, pointing to it."He might not bring it up."

"I hope he does n't,"Matt muttered."I 'd rather just forget Lubar 's existence."

"He might still bring it up,"James said."It was a fairly big incident."

rose shrugged."It 's possible."

"So what would Uncle Percy say if he knew you three were taking wager on the public debate ?"Albus asked with a grin.

Cedric paled."He 's not going to find out. Everyone who places a bet is sworn to secrecy. We 've had them preindication something. If they say anything their faces will move around orange."

"Is n't that like what Aunt Hermione did for the D.A ?"Albus asked.

"Sort of,"Cedric said."But we 've told people about it, so they know what they 're signing."

"Any bets, then ?"William James asked.

Albus and his Quaker all shook their heads no. Last year 's incident was far too personal for them to come out bets on whether it would be a argumentation topic.

"We 're wasting prison term, then,"James said as he led Cedric and Ben further down the aisle."shoes your stakes here !"

"They 're idiots,"Rose muttered.

Albus agreed.

An hour later Albus, Rose, Matt, and John were back in the Great Radclyffe Hall for the argument. Albus soon realized that this debate would be watched by even More citizenry than the past one, with many people standing in the backrest due to lack of seating. Personally, Albus thought almost hoi polloi would 've already made up their judgement since the election was only four days away, but clearly it was still a pop event.

trick had to sit with the other scholarly person who 'd been picked while Albus, rose, and matt sat up front, like usual. All of Albus 's cousins were there, including GA, who looked like she was forcing herself to smile.

"Hey, Empire State of the South,"Albus said.

"Hi, Al,"Sakartvelo replied."I 'm so glad this is nearly over."

"Me, too,"Albus agreed."How is the team ?"

Georgia 's fake grin grew real."Oh, they 're wondrous ! Connor Blythe, the keeper, he put in his notice that he 's only going to do one more season after this one and he told me he 's recommending me to take his spot. Me ! And I 've only been on the team for a yr !"

"That 's marvelous !"Albus exclaimed."You 'll accept to get me ticket to your first match."

"Oh, I expect everyone in the family to be there at my first match as permanent steward,"Georgia said."And I want Dad right there in the front row, cheering me on."

"well, if he wins, he 'll give to go along supporting you,"Albus pointed out.

"Yes, well, I want it to be substantial,"Georgia said."We 'll see."

"Could everyone please read their posterior ?"Kendrick announced in a magically amplified voice.

Georgia left and went to her own backside, as did everyone else who was still standing. The way grew quiet and Kendrick took a few stair forward.

"Thank you. I 'd wish to receive you all to Hogwarts. This is the hold out argument of the election and I appreciate the Ministry allowing Hogwarts to take such a big role in it. It has been a wonderful encyclopedism opportunity for staff and students alike. Remember, Wed is election day, so please stray your votes. Now, I would like to bring in today 's moderator, a man who needs no first appearance, Mr. Harry ceramicist, Head of the Auror department !"

The room erupted in thunderous applause. It seemed that no subject how Laurentis tried to disbelieve Albus 's dad, no one could use up away the fact that he remained the Boy Who Lived.

Harry walked forward and took his topographic point behind the moderator 's stump."Thank you, thank you,"he said and the crowd grew quieten once more."Now, delight welcome our prospect, Mr. Percy Weasley and Ms. Patricia Laurentis."

The candidates received considerably less applause than Harry did, something Albus found incredibly funny remark. If his dad ever decided to run for Minister he 'd have the affair won before the subspecies even began.

"I am for sure both our nominee know the rules by now. Five minute answers and five second rebuttals,"Harry began."Mr. Weasley, you will begin."

Albus had to suffocate his laughter at the fact that this dad called Uncle Hotspur 'Mr. Weasley .'

"The first question is very oecumenical,"Harry said."In your opinion, how is Britain 's relationship with its foreign neighbour ? Should the Ministry be making to a greater extent of an effort to ferment with its neighbor or are things fine as they are ?"

"I think overall our ministry has a near human relationship with foreign ministries and governments,"Percy began."We have no current feuds with any strange area and all foreign talks have gone well in the past few years. However, I believe there is always room for improvement when speaking of relationships with other countries. There are always chances to reach out to our neighbor, and you never know when such relationship will be necessary."

"Ms. Laurentis."

"My opponent makes fair degree,"Laurentis said."And while I feel that furthering our relationships with foreign ministries is an fantabulous idea, I wonder if that is really where our push should be focused right now. There are many result we need to come up to here at family, and as Mr. Weasley said, our current kinship with foreign nations are good."

"The Department of International Magical Cooperation deals solely with external charming cooperation,"Percy pointed out."Working to fix consequence at habitation is obviously a skilful idea, but what do you suppose this department does while we do that ?"

"fountainhead, yes, of course, that department is always working on external issues,"Laurentis said."I was merely speaking of the Minister and his straightaway officials."

"Thank you,"Harry said."Next question. The theme of changing the classification of werewolves from Beasts to Beings was brought up at the last debate. Both of you expressed no desire to bring this up with the outside community of interests. Have either of you changed your position on this in light of the recent seizure of Fenrir Calidris canutus ? If not, will you explain in more item why you feel the way you do ? Ms. Laurentis, you may begin."

Albus glanced at flatness. Maybe now they 'd image out exactly why Uncle Percy did n't want to deepen the werewolf classification, more than just it was n't Charles Frederick Worth the effort.

"The gaining control of Fenrir Greyback was undoubtedly a succeeder. I hope nonentity has misconstrued my tidings on that. The fact that it was done without any injury, let solitary human death, was cipher shortly of amazing. The Aurors and Werewolf controller Unit employees who executed the plan of gaining control are to be applauded. However, I fail to see why the capture of one loup-garou should move our decisions on the grouping as a whole. If anything, if werewolves had been classified as Beings during that capture the Aurors and wolfman Control Unit employees would not have been able to use the method of capture they used. To be reliable, I fail to see any benefits of reclassification."

Albus felt Matt tense next to him. Laurentis really was clueless, was n't she ?

"Mr. Weasley."

"I agree with my opponent about the capture of Fenrir knot. However, I disagree with her about the potential benefit of reclassification. first gear, the Aurors and werewolf controller unit of measurement employees could have used the Same method they used last night, as Head of Department Walter Eckerton does not countenance any method of capture that would not be allowed if wolfman were classified as Beings. In terms of section for the regulating and controller of Magical Creatures rules and rule, werewolves are to be treated as Beings. This has been the grammatical case since Eckerton took over as Head over a class ago. Perhaps Ms. Laurentis is unaware of this fact.

"As for benefit, those with lycanthropy would be capable to secure jobs far more easily and would have the same rights given to goblins, house-elves, centaur, vampires, and humans alike."

Apparently his uncle had much more of an opinion than the one he gave at the final stage argumentation, Albus thought.

"Your time is up, Mr. Weasley,"Harry said."Your rebuttal, Ms. Laurentis."

"Then perhaps Walter Eckerton ought to take another look at the law,"Laurentis began."Because it is perfectly legal of him to use more harsh methods to bring werewolves into gaining control. But since this capture was a yowl winner, I will not fault him for that. As for werewolf right field, I have yet to hear of any charge by wolfman about their rights."

"That 's because they do n't complain to you,"Matt muttered under his breath.

"Your rebuttal, Mr. Weasley."

"As I did not sustain time to fully do the interrogative, I will continue,"Walker Percy said."While it would be beneficial for lycanthrope if they were reclassified as being, I do not think it 's feasible. It would require agreement from all nations, which is frankly asking a lot. I know for a fact Australia would never be on board, and considering our stony relationship with that particular area, I do not feel it is in our near interestingness to begin talks of the reclassification of werewolves. In finish, I feel it would be a worthwhile attempt, but given the unlikelihood of it amounting to anything, it would be a waste of manpower."

"Thank you,"Harry said."succeeding interrogative sentence. In esteem to our rocky relationship with Australia, as Mr. Weasley put it, do you experience it would be beneficial to continue trying to get Ralph Lubar extradited to the United Kingdom ? Mr. Weasley."

Albus glanced at his watch. Whoever betted on XL transactions would be very happy, he thought. Albus had been hoping this topic would n't be brought up, but he supposed it was too big of an issue not to be.

"If elected I would bow this conclusion to the Department of International Magical Cooperation, since they possess the necessary expertise on the topic. However, it is my personal impression that it would be deserving pursuing. I believe it is crucial to air a message that Ministry employees, even high-ranking functionary such as Ralph Lubar, are not above the law. What Lubar did was terrible and in no humans should he get away with it."

"Ms. Laurenits."

"posting how Mr. Weasley did not cite that his nephew was one of the children kidnapped by Lubar,"Laurentis pointed out."I think this might corrupt his judgement a piddling. I disagree with him about this item subject. We 've been trying to have Ralph Lubar extradited for nearly a yr and Commonwealth of Australia has not budged. Why bother continuing to arrive at exploit toward this when it is clear they will be fruitless ?"

"If we give up, it will be telling the public that anyone can go commit a crime in another rural area and not be punished,"Percy said."more than that, it demonstrates the depravation of the Australian government and having our citizens believe their politics to be corrupt will not help external magical cooperation."

"The possible corruption of the Aussie government is not any of our patronage at the current time. We can not thrust them to deliver Ralph Lubar and it is my personal opinion that they will never do so. I daresay that the Department of International Magical Cooperation has more pressing matters to deal with."

"Thank you both,"Harry said."We have time for one Sir Thomas More dubiousness, but in light of the fact that the election is on Wednesday, I am going to give each of the candidates a chance to name a general speech instead. Mr. Weasley, you may speak first."

"Thank you, Harry."

Percy seemed unable to forebode Harry 'Mr. potter .'Albus giggled at this.

"I would like to thank professor Kendrick and the rest of the Hogwarts faculty for being so accommodating, as well as the students. None of the pupil sitting in this room right now were awake before the Ministry was reorganized in 1998 through 2001. None of the students in this elbow room were alive during Voldemort 's reign of panic. They read about both of these in history Word of God, because to them, it is simply account. To me, and the balance of the adult in this way, the previous Ministry and Voldemort are our retiring, our memories. We remember the terror, the obscure, the fear.

"I was a persona of the reorganization of the Ministry. We all know the eld that have followed- the age where we have lived without fear, without terror, without the unknown quantity. I have been with the Ministry every whole step of the way since Voldemort 's frustration and I will make it my duty to retain the peace that we 've had for over twenty years. I will keep this short because I, like most of you surely do, trust that the skillful words is a short speech communication. If you want a government minister who will stay the winner of diplomatic minister Hartwell 's meter in office, vote for me, Percy Weasley, on Wednesday. Thank you."

There was a smattering of clapping, but it did n't last tenacious. Albus had a spirit that almost of the rest of the students wanted the election to be over.

"My opposite routinely brings up the past. He speaks of the war, Voldemort, and the old Ministry, but never once has he discussed the hereafter, except in faint statements about keeping matter the same. It 's genuine that I was not involved with the reorganisation of the Ministry over twenty eld ago. I got into politics later in life. But I do not palpate that this will take a shit me an inferior minister, nor do I think it will be particularly beneficial to Mr. Weasley.

"history is just that. chronicle. We certainly need to learn from our history to ensure that we do not make the Lapplander mistake we did before, but it is not necessary to have lived through history to be a successful drawing card. There are plentifulness of Ministry employees, even a few high-ranking official, who were not here during Voldemort 's reign. Walter Eckerton, for instance, did not inhabit in Britain during Voldemort 's reign. Yet he very successfully runs the department for the regulating and ascendancy of Magical Creatures.

"In little, I believe we need to focus on our future rather than our past tense. If elected minister of religion I will fix imperfect alteration in not only our ministry and Pentateuch, but our educational organization as well. Things have been ran the like for over twenty years, and while I am not denying the success, I think we have needed variety for a piece. Escaped prisoners are running release. Hogwarts lessons are being taught the same way they were when these child 's grandparents were in school day. The ministry, along with its laws and insurance policy, pauperization to adapt as the years go by. If you feel change is needed, if you are at all upset about the way thing are, balloting for me, Patricia Laurentis, on Wednesday."

There was another smattering off applause. Albus did n't clap at all and neither did any of his cousin-german. If the election was based upon familial support, Walker Percy would take it in the bag.

"I think your uncle may throw won my parents'support back,"Matt said as they left the Great Hall.

"Yeah, he made himself vocalize a bit better today,"Albus replied."Laurentis just does n't get it."

"Nope,"Matt said."But she does n't seem to have an yield with my dad, which is ripe if she gets elected."

"What if she wins and she stops trying to get Lubar extradited ?"Rose asked as they met up with John.

"She ca n't. The man is insane,"John said.

"Honestly, I think it would be better if he was n't extradited,"Matt said quietly.

"Why ?"lavatory asked incredulously."He kidnapped us and tried to play Voldemort back !"

"He was n't really a part of that,"flatness said."That was the Willinsons."

"But still,"Albus said."Why ?"

"Because if he gets extradited he 's going to be raging,"lusterlessness explained."He 's got quite a humor. And when he does n't get his way he attempts to smash the lives of those who stand in his way. Just think about it. If he were brought back here, what 's stopping him from making my ... condition ... public ?"

"He could n't do that,"Albus said."It 's illegal."

"You think Lubar would care ? He did it in Australia !"lusterlessness snapped."He 's already broken the law. And even if he got in trouble for it nothing could take what he said back. It sucks that he 's not getting punished, but I think it would be respectable if the world just forgot about the wholly thing."

Albus had n't thought about it like that before. matte did have a breaker point. But there was a part of Albus that just wanted to see Lubar behind bars.

"Plus, there 's no way Australia will extradite him,"lustrelessness said."Your uncle and Laurentis are both right about one thing. The Australian political science is very defile, and I do n't cerebrate anything will happen until that corruption ends. Lubar wo n't be punished, and werewolves wo n't get reclassified as Beings."

"So even though you moved, the Aboriginal Australian governing still has some control over your living,"john said."That 's messed up."

"Yeah, it really is,"Matt agreed."But it 's the way the world works."


A/N : Thanks for all the revaluation ! Once again, I 'd like to shamelessly plug my tarradiddle for Dobby nomination ! heading over to the forums to name my ( or any other ) stories for a Dobby award ! Be sure to read the rules before nominating.


Albus had been hoping socio-economic class would be suspended the day of the election, but there was no such circumstances. Kendrick organized it so that the Great manor hall would be the polling place and that voting would not affect the general student body. Hogwarts was the designated polling place for the district it was in, so there would be early people coming to the shoal to vote. Albus 's cousin who were of age ( Tom Bradley, Fred, and ling ) all voted after breakfast, as soon as the polling place had been set up.

Albus and his friend spent well-nigh of Herbology watching people walking from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts in order to vote. It was very distracting and Neville did n't annoy telling mass to get back on job.

"When are we going to experience who won ?"John asked as they walked back to the castle for Defense.

"It 'll be in the Prophet tomorrow morning time,"Albus said."That 's the official notice, but I 'm trusted we 'll find out earlier. Bradley and Cedric have to go to the end of the election party tonight. It starts at six and the polls close at eight. They 're announcing the success at the company at eight-thirty. Bradley and Cedric will be back after that and I give it about five instant to spread around the castle."

Gospel According to John laughed."You do n't get to go to the political party ?"

Albus shook his headway."My parents gave me the choice. I said no. James and Lily are n't going, either."

"What about you two ?"John asked rose and Matt.

"No,"rose said. matt shook his head.

"Good,"privy said."We should have our own party here. A party to observe the end of this election. Maybe it 'll intend Embry will let up on the essays. Anyone else writing their disputation essay during Defense today ?"

For the past few calendar month to the highest degree the great unwashed had used Defense as a study anteroom. The worksheets Young assigned never took longer than fifteen minutes and he did n't look to worry what his students did with the rest of the year. Just as long as they were n't being gimcrack. Albus did n't conceive anyone had used any Skiving Snackbox confection in refutation this class, since there was n't practically tip.

Albus, Matt, and Amanda all still needed to write their essays as well. blush wine had written hers immediately following the debate, but the sleep of them did n't see the motivation to do it right away.

"I can always stop it in chronicle of Magic, too,"Gospel According to John said as they entered the castle.

"Let 's go peek in the Great Hall,"Albus said as he led his friends over to the right.

Albus glanced inside and saw that there were four pocket-sized cubicles curtained off where the staff table should 've been. A curt queue of the great unwashed were off to one side and seemed to be waiting their tour for the cubicles. It did n't look very exciting.

"Any scuttlebutt on the election ?"

Albus turned and saw a reporter lurking near the doorway. He did n't recognize this finical reporter.

"No, thanks,"Albus said as he steered the group away from the Great anteroom, and thus away from the reporter.

"I do n't think they 're allowed inside,"Rose mentioned."So they ca n't get at people who are voting."

"That makes sense,"Amanda said."fountainhead, let 's go get those essays done with. Then we 'll never have to spell essays on debate again."

Albus nodded. No more public debate essays. Now that would be a good matter.

The remainder of the day passed quickly. Albus, Matt, and Amanda managed to finish up their essays during Defense, but can only got halfway done. ballot was suspended during lunch and then again at dinner. Albus overheard a few of the 6th and seventh age talking about voting and the election during dinner party. A couple of Ravenclaws even got into an literary argument about it.

"Let 's wee-wee a pact now not to get in any battle over the future election when we can all vote,"rose said as they watched one of the arguing Ravenclaws violent storm out of the Great Hall.

The rest of the group heartily agreed. Albus could n't imagine ruining a friendship over something as silly as an election.

"This party that Thomas Bradley and Cedric are going to,"lavatory began,"it 's for both your uncle and Laurentis ?"

"Yeah,"Albus said.

"That 's going to be awkward when they announce the winner,"John said with a laugh.

"It 's supposed to promote sound sportsmanship and that sorting of affair,"rose explained.

"Still ... I ca n't imagine Laurentis being a serious sport,"John the Divine said.

After dinner Albus and his friends returned to the common room, deciding that it might be interesting to spend the evening there rather than the Marauder 's Den. They also wanted to see firsthand from Thomas Bradley and Cedric who won.

The common room had the distinct feel that Gryffindor had just won a Quidditch lucifer. James, Fred, Heather, Mark, and Ben had taken it upon themselves to have a company to lionize the end of the election and thus the end of debates and essays on argumentation. There were cases of Butterbeer and trays of biscuits and nonentity was working on any prep.

"Maybe now things can get back to normal,"Albus said as he opened a Butterbeer.

"If Uncle Walker Percy wins things will never be normal again,"Rose pointed out.

Albus shrugged."I do n't fuck. Amanda seems fairly normal and her uncle 's the Prime Minister."

"That 's because nobody here cares about the Prime Minister,"Amanda said."At house everyone knows I 'm the niece of the Prime minister. My sister and crony certainly are n't anonymous at their schools. My Sister 's at university now and she says it 's a bit better than it was in secondary school."

"Albus, you 're Harry ceramicist 's son,"toilet said flatly."No subject what happens, you 're going to be well-known."

Albus supposed that was true, but sometimes he wished it was n't. Sometimes, he wished he could make his own way in the world and not give his dad 's gens tied to him.

"Did you ever get the map back from your dad ?"Matt asked.

"Yeah, why ?"

"Just rummy,"flatness said.

Albus reached into his bag and pulled the map out. He 'd taken to carrying it around with him all the time, but he was n't sure why. After setting it down on the tabular array he revealed it and focused on the part that showed Hogwarts.

"There 's still a bunch of people voting,"Albus said, gesturing to the Great Hall. About a one-half dozen or so Lucy in the sky with diamonds were milling about.

"Madam Rosmerta 's there,"Amanda pointed out."I wonder who she 's voting for."

"No musical theme,"Albus said. He glanced at his sentinel."half hour until the polls close."

"How long do you cogitate Bradley and Cedric will stay ?"Kaden asked.

"Probably not long after the declaration is made,"Albus answered."They do n't really like going to those things."

"Albus,"Gospel According to John said, pointing to the map."Is it just me or is Malfoy going into Moaning Myrtle 's bathroom ?"

Albus peered down at the map. certain enough, a dot labeled 'Scorpius Malfoy'had just entered the endorse trading floor girl 's lavatory. That did n't make any sense.

"What the hell is he doing in there ?"Matt exclaimed."Why would anyone go in there ?"

"Vinca minor 's there,"Saint John the Apostle commented."look, she 's floating over toward him."

"But why ?"Albus asked, still utterly confused."Why would a bloke go in there ?"

"Maybe the map made a mistake ?"Kaden suggested.

"Dad says the map never lies,"Albus explained."fountainhead, there 's only one way to observe out. Let 's come him."

"audio secure to me,"Amanda said as she stood up."This party is getting boring anyway."

John and Kaden nodded their heading in agreement. rosiness raised her brow.

"No way,"mat said, shaking his head vehemently."There are n't enough Galleons in the world."

"Oh, come on, it 's just a girl 's loo,"Amanda said."Look, there are n't even any girls in there likewise myrtle. And she 's a wraith !"

John laughed."Vinca minor 's got a bit of a crush."

"John, shut up !"mat said, his face turning red.

Amanda and rosiness burst out in laugh."Seriously ?"Amanda said.

"Yeah, we had detention in there once,"John the Divine explained."Myrtle spent the altogether time flirting with Matt. It was hilarious."

"I said, shut it !"mat shouted.

"Oh, come on, she 's just a ghost."

"I 'm not going. I refuse."

"Fine,"John said."Suit yourself. develop ?"

"I 'll last out here, thanks,"rosiness said."You 're wasting your metre anyway. It 's not like he 'll tell you anything."

Albus did n't care. He still liked the idea of going because it felt like he was doing something, making some sort of progress on figuring out why Malfoy had been acting so oddly the past few months.

They did n't bother bringing the invisibility Cloak since there was still an time of day left until curfew. On their way there, they spotted Peeves unscrewing pendant in laurels of April Fool 's Day, but ignored his cackles.

Albus watched the map as they went. Malfoy remained in the lavatory as they walked quickly Down flights of stairs. But they got stuck on the stairs leading to the irregular base corridor, after the steps decided to chair them directly to the commencement trading floor rather than the second.

"He 's leaving !"Albus exclaimed as they got back on the stairs after their slight detour.

"Maybe we can catch him on his way back to the dungeons,"Amanda suggested.

Albus nodded."Let 's time lag here, then."

Their flow location gave them an first-class sight of the Great Hall. A few Ministry functionary were currently carrying opus of the voting cubicles out of the room, polling clearly over. It would only be about a one-half hour until they had a new Minister of conjuring trick.

John the Evangelist nudged Albus."There he is."

Albus turned away from the Great Hall and saw Malfoy walking down the staircase. He looked extremely determined.

"Malfoy,"Albus said.

"thrower,"Malfoy replied.

Albus suddenly had no mind how he was going to ask Malfoy about why he was in the girl 's loo without revealing the map. If they caught him in there it would 've been easy to say they saw him going in there, but now he was just walking down the stairs, perfectly innocently. He 'd have to be really measured about it.

"So why were you in a girl 's loo ?"Amanda asked.

So much for being thrifty, Albus thought.

Malfoy paled."Er, I wasn't."

"Yes, you were,"Amanda said."I was in there, too. Second floor, Moaning myrtle 's commode ? Ring any gong ?"

"That loo was empty,"Malfoy said quickly."I checked."

"Next time retard a bit harder,"Amanda said."I was in the finis stall and when I heard you come in I had to stay there because you 're a bloke and it would just be weird to come out of a john stall and come face to grimace with a bloke. I heard you talking to myrtle, though."

"I ... er ... that 's not any of your ... business,"Malfoy stammered.

"Then do n't conduct your byplay in a girl 's loo,"Amanda said with a laugh."Let 's go. We do n't want to lose the news show about the new minister. Clearly Malfoy 's a bit unhinged."

Amanda turned and set off up the stairs. Albus, toilet, and Kaden followed, leaving Malfoy frozen in their viewing. Albus glanced back and saw that he was still as picket as Matt is right before a wax moon.

"Amanda, what was that ?"lavatory exclaimed once they 'd reached the second floor.

"That felt practiced,"Amanda said."He just really irritates me, and this time we had something on him. I could tell Al did n't sleep together how to ask him without telling him about the map. But I figured it 'd be pretty easy to pretend I 'd been in the loo with him."

"That 's brilliant,"John said.

Amanda grinned."I have my moments."

"Whatever it was, I do n't remember he 'll be going in that loo anymore,"Albus said."I just wish we 'd figured out why he was in there in the 1st place."

"Seriously,"lav said."The lone way you 'd take in me in a girl 's loo is if you paid me a load of Galleons."

"Or you got detention."Amanda smirked.

"That does n't enumerate,"John said.

"Oh, shut it, both of you,"Albus said."Let 's speed up and get back to the common room."

When Albus, John, Kaden, and Amanda returned to the vernacular room they were greeted by loud moan and sighing. Confused, Albus turned to his Brother, who was nearest the portrayal hole.

"We thought you lot were Bradley and Cedric,"James said.

"James, it 's not even eight-thirty yet,"Albus pointed out."They wo n't be back for at least a half hour."

"Oh, right."

rose and matte were in the eye of a secret plan of chess. matte was losing spectacularly.

"Did you find him ?"Matt asked as Rose 's bishop crushed his queen.

"Yeah, but not in the loo,"Albus said."Caught him on his way back to his common elbow room. He would n't secernate us a thing."

"Of course he did n't,"mat said."And he probably denied he was in the loo anyway."

"He would 've,"Albus said."But Amanda told him she 'd been in there and then told him off for being there. It was brilliant."

"regard I could 've seen that. I 've always wanted to narrate off Malfoy."

"You should 've come,"John said."We did n't even see Myrtle."

"Still ... not taking any probability,"Matt said."business leader to D6."

Rose instructed her horse to move closer to matt 's king."checkmate.

lusterlessness sighed."One day, I 'll win."

"Me following !"Kaden exclaimed. Everyone else laughed."What ? I 've gotten better,"Kaden muttered.

Albus, whoremonger, lustrelessness, and Amanda settled down to watch as Rose clobbered Kaden. Albus could 've sworn he saw Kaden 's chessmen quiver as they were set up on the card. blush wine 's queen was most definitely grinning maliciously. Over the following half hour Kaden 's pieces were viciously slaughtered by rosiness 's, but not without putting up a fight. Kaden was in fact getting comfortably.

"Exploding press stud ?"Matt asked after Rose and Kaden repaired their chessmen.

"Yeah, all right,"Albus agreed. The others nodded.

Albus ran up to his dormitory to retrieve his Exploding Snap cards. As he returned, the portrait hole opened.

The entire uncouth way froze and was silent. Not a single somebody moved. Not a individual person said a word. Even the offset years, who had been tossing a Quaffle around, were still. Albus stood on the tush whole step to the residence hall and waited.

Omar Nelson Bradley walked inside, followed by Cedric. Neither seemed overly excited, but that did n't imply that Percy had n't won. After all, they, like Albus, did n't really want Walker Percy to be rector, but they did n't want Laurentis as minister either.

"fountainhead ?"James asked.

"Dad lost,"Bradley said quietly. He whispered something to James IV and then he turned and left the common elbow room, followed by Cedric.

Albus could n't consider it. He had n't realized it until now, but he truly had believed that Uncle Percy would win. He had the supporting of Harry ceramist. Did n't that mean anything anymore ?

Albus returned to his supporter and set the box of carte du jour down on the table. He sat down and did n't say a word.

"What does this mean ?"Amanda asked quietly."will she do everything she said she was going to do ?"

"That and probably worse, too,"Albus said.

James II walked up to the table."Al, Rose, we 're all going to the Room of Requirement. Tom Bradley and Cedric want to grant us more details."He glanced the eternal rest of the group."Sorry, kinsfolk only."

"We 'll see you later,"Albus said as he and wax stood up.

Albus, St. James the Apostle, and Rose walked to the way of requirement in silence. When they arrived they saw that the room access was already there. They walked inside.

The rest of their cousin had already arrived. Albus took a seat on the last continue couch and James and Rose sat on either side of meat of him. Nobody was speaking, so he glanced around and watched all of his cousins.

Bradley, Cedric, Heather, Mark, Ben, Fred, Hugo, Lily, James, Rose, and Angie. And himself. They were the mediate radical of cousins. Not the previous, not the youngest, but the I in the centre, who never did anything first and never did anything last. They were n't the first base to go to Hogwarts and they would n't be the concluding to graduate. They stood by each other, through the commodity and through the bad.

Bradley and Cedric were n't seated. They were standing at the front of the room, near its door. The entire room was decorated like the den in the tunnel, with mismatched furniture and organized chaos everywhere. Albus liked it.

"Well, Dad lost,"Omar Bradley finally said."I already told you that ... but yeah. It was close. He only lost by a mates hundred votes.

"How did he take it ?"Heather asked.

"Graciously,"Bradley answered."Thanked everyone for their support and shook Laurentis 's hand, of course."

Albus was n't surprised. Uncle Percy had and always would be the prototype of a polite politician. But maybe that was n't enough to get elected.

"Is it dread that I 'm happy he lost ?"Cedric asked as he squeezed onto the couch between Saint James and Albus."Because I am, kind of."

"Just a bit,"Scots heather said."What is Uncle Percy going to do now ? I doubt Laurentis will keep him on."

"I had n't even thought of that,"Omar Nelson Bradley said.

Neither had Albus, but it made sense. Walker Percy was still employed by the Ministry, but his job was one of those jobs selected by the minister.

"He 's always worked for the Ministry,"Bradley continued."I do n't consider he could do anything else."

The elbow room descended into secretiveness. Nobody seemed to know what to say, Albus included. His feel on his uncle becoming minister had been all over the place for the past seven months, but now that Walker Percy had actually lost, all Albus felt was dashing hopes. It was strange. Just hold out week he had been kind of hoping Walker Percy would lose, and now that he had, Albus felt the complete opposite.

It was already preceding curfew for Lily, Hugo, and Angie, but nobody was telling them to go back to the common elbow room. Albus was vaguely funny about what was going on in the plebeian room, but not curious enough to actually go back. matte, bathroom, Kaden, and Amanda would tell him later.

What Albus was really concern about, More than anything, was what Laurentis was going to do to both the Ministry and Hogwarts. Laurentis had made it clear that she was going to interchange the school, but Albus liked it the way it was. Then there were the alteration to the Ministry, such as the dementors. How long would it fill for Laurentis to bring them back ? Surely she had to go through proper channels to do it.

James, Bradley, and Cedric were the first to recall to the common room, claiming they had to make trade good on all the wager they 'd taken. Albus had a spirit all three of them were now slightly in debt. Albus and Rose returned a few proceedings later, leaving the balance of their cousin-german talking quietly in the Room of Requirement.

When they returned lusterlessness, John, and Kaden were playing Exploding Snap. Amanda was writing a letter.

"Who are you writing to ?"blush wine asked.

"My uncle,"Amanda answered."I 've been keeping him updated on the election. He says he likes hearing it from me rather than waiting until the new minister arrives to receive him."

"Your uncle meets the Minister of Magic ?"John asked.

"fountainhead, yes,"Amanda said."The two existence do have to coexist. Sometimes there are problem that affect both. Voldemort, for illustration. And Hartwell personally told my uncle about the escaped Death Eaters."

"That 's so weird,"John said.

"I told you about it earlier in the year,"Amanda pointed out."That 's the only reason I got to go to Hogwarts. My parents changed their minds at the last minute and happened to name it to my uncle, laughing about the fact that they 'd actually said I could go. And then my uncle told them it was all true."

"I wonder how often that happens,"Albus mused,"Muggleborns not being able to go to Hogwarts because their parents do n't believe."

Amanda shrugged."I 'm just golden I was n't one of them."

"I think we all need a distraction,"pink wine said and turned to Kaden, whose face was covered in ash."Deal out the cards again. Let 's play until we 're too tired."

Albus heartily agreed, and that was exactly what they did. Two 60 minutes later, all of their faces ashen, they were finally tired. But when Albus climbed into bed, his thoughts began racing and he found himself unable to sleep.


A/N : Sorry for the deep update ! My natal day is tomorrow so I had friend up for the weekend and completely forgot. Thanks for all the reviews !


The next day 's variant of the Prophet was devoted entirely to election day and Laurentis 's win. The winner did not surprise anyone in Hogwarts since Bradley and Cedric had spread that as soon as they returned. Albus still read the entire front page article at breakfast and he was glad he did, because the clause still held surprises.

LAURENTIS profits ; Menachem Begin APPOINTING POSITIONS

In the closelipped race for government minister of illusion to
date, nominee Patricia Laurentis won the
spot lastly Night. poll closed at eight,
with the functionary winner announced at a closed
party at the curate 's mansion house at eight-thirty.
Laurentis won by a mere 342 suffrage, which is the
closest race we have ever seen.

'I am of course very pleased with this turn of
events ,'Laurentis said at the Minister 's
Mansion after the announcement was made .'I am
very excited to be sworn in as minister of
legerdemain on May first. I feel I will be able to
give way the public what they need, for they have
spoken and now it is my responsibility to kick in them what
I promised during my hunting expedition. I of course
offer my commiseration to Percy Weasley. He truly
was a pleasure to run against over the past tense
seven calendar month .'

'I offer my congratulation to my opponent ,'Percy
Weasley said to Daily Prophet newsperson at the
Minister 's sign of the zodiac. 'We both campaigned hard
and she won, fair and solid. I am let down,
of course, but I still congratulate her .'

Over the next month Laurentis will decide who
she wishes to appoint to top Ministry billet,
before she is sworn in as Minister of deception on
May first of this year. Laurentis is wasting no
time with this, as she was seen at the Ministry
earlier this morning .'I already have the great unwashed
picked out for most positions ,'she said upon
questioning .'I will be keeping a few of the
stream officials, but I will be replacing quite
a few in order to better combine the Ministry .'

One person has already confirmed his intention
to lease Laurentis up on her go of a position.
Ironically, he is set to take over Sir Henry Percy Weasley 's
electric current spot under minister of religion Hartwell .'I am
very pleased to announce that Dragon Malfoy is
going to call for the position of Senior
Undersecretary for the draftsmanship and editing
of law. Draco Malfoy has been a friend of mine
for many year as we have worked together in the
Azkaban partitioning for nearly a decade. I am very
excited to continue working with him .'

Laurentis plans to denote the names of her
officials as they confirm throughout the month.

"Malfoy 's dad ?"Albus exclaimed, in stupor."Since when is he chummy with Laurentis ?"

"Malfoy never said a discussion,"lusterlessness added, his middle large.

"Of form he did n't,"rose wine said."We 're not exactly his friends."

"Wait, remember in Hogsmeade back in October ?"Albus replied."When he talked about how my menage wo n't be running the wizarding earth for long ? Not that my family has ever ran the wizarding mankind ... But he seemed to know something we didn't."

"This must be it,"trick said, staring at the paper."That 's a pretty top position, is n't it ?"

"second base highest for drafting police force,"Rose said."Given his relationship with Laurentis anything he drafts will most likely pass."

"And who knows what his panorama are,"Albus said, craning his neck to see the Slytherin board."Malfoy 's over there. I ca n't quite see his look, though."

"I 'm for certain he 'll have something to say to you in Potions,"Amanda pointed out.

Albus had quite a few 60 minutes to hold back to find out just what exactly Malfoy would take in to say to them. History of magic, his starting time class of the day, was as oil production as ever. prof Binns showed absolutely no recognition that the election had taken place the previous day. Professor Patil was the complete reverse, making no movement to cover up her indignation at Laurentis 's win, which led her to blow up the desk she was attempting to transfigure.

"Do you think Laurentis will actually have teachers sacked ?"John asked as they walked to the Great Charles Martin Hall for tiffin."Because if she does, Patil wo n't stand a chance."

Albus shook his head."Only if they 're really awful instructor. Umbridge sacked a few in my dad 's fifth class and I think people will be outraged if Laurentis does the like matter. Honestly, I think Binns and Young are the alone unity in danger."

"Could you sack a touch ?"trick asked."I mean, where would he go ?"

"He 'd probably pose around and still try to instruct,"Albus said."I ca n't envisage it would go over well."

"And Young ca n't get sacked,"John lamented."That 's where I do all my homework."

Albus secretly agreed, but did n't say anything because Rose snorted in disgust.

Malfoy was waiting outside the potions dungeon when Albus and his friends arrived after lunch. Gone from his face was the changeable and partially sad look, replaced by Malfoy 's usual haughty smug. Clearly his dad getting a top Ministry positioning had changed something.

"Hey, potter,"Malfoy greeted him."Congratulations to your uncle on his loss. Ca n't thank him enough for that."

"I 'll be sure to recount him,"Albus replied."He 'll be thrilled that he made a Malfoy happy. moldiness be nice that your dad 's got some actual power now."

"And yours wo n't have any for long,"Malfoy said."Just another month."

"Nothing 's set for for certain about the Auror Department,"Albus countered.

Malfoy laughed."I think I might have it off a bit more than you on that. Laurentis was over at my menage for dinner last week."

"And you were here,"Albus said."You never mentioned that your dad 's friends with Laurentis."

"It never came up."

"Well now that you 're all well-chosen again maybe you 'll actually show up for this month 's dueling tourney ?"

That wiped the smirk off Malfoy 's face. He turned stony and took a step closer to Albus."Do n't say a Word of God about that. It 's none of your business."

"Touchy,"John commented.

"Stuff it, Brickston. This does n't concern you. Your parents will have great power in the Ministry the day Hagrid adopts a rule pet."

"We 'll see who 's got the power the consequence one of your phratry winds up at St. Mungo 's,"whoremaster snapped.

Malfoy paled."Just shut up. The full point is, my dad 's going to own a better view than yours."

"Nobody cares what your dad does for a living,"lusterlessness said.

"cipher asked you. At least my dad does n't bring his oeuvre plate with him."Malfoy laughed.

john whipped out his sceptre."You always take it one too far, do n't you, Malfoy ?"

Malfoy took out his baton as well."I could say the Sami about you, Brickston."

"scepter away, boys."

Albus turned and saw professor Slughorn standing in the doorway. He breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing John needed was another detainment.

"Get inside. Class is starting in one minute."

Both John and Malfoy were golden they did n't get detainment, Albus thought. Neither of them had thrown any whammy, but a stricter teacher would 've handed out detention just for having their sceptre drawn. Not Slughorn, though. Albus got the sentiency that Slughorn did n't like handing out custody, probably because that meant having to monitor them.
***


The keep an eye on few days passed without anymore placement annunciation from Laurentis. In fact, it was a relatively quiet few days, especially when compared with the past seven month. For the first time all year, there was little coverage of the election, that is until they had political sympathies on Tuesday. At the end of the moral, Embry reminded them of their research essays on their representative, an assignment that had completely slipped Albus 's intellect. It was due in two days.

Apparently, it had slipped St. John the Apostle and lusterlessness 's brain as well. pink wine and Amanda had been diligently working on theirs all calendar week, only needing to publish their conclusions. Amanda had even asked her uncle for help, devoting part of her essay to the law of similarity and deviation between the wizarding and Muggle governments.

"I guess we 'll be spending the eve in the library,"Albus said as they headed to the Great vestibule for dinner."

"Dammit,"Matt muttered."I 'm going to have to write the entire affair tonight. The fully lunar month 's tomorrow."

"Usually you 're often undecomposed about remembering to do assignments before that,"blush wine commented.

"I know, but with the election and everything, I forgot,"lustrelessness said.

"But you 'll be missing class on Thursday,"John the Evangelist pointed out."So you can turn it in Tuesday and get four extra days."

"I 've never done that with long-term assigning,"lusterlessness said."I do n't desire to bug out now. Albus can turn it in, like usual."

"Let 's eat fast, then,"Albus said as they entered the Great Hall.

"Hey, Amanda, want to take a base on balls around the lake before we write our end ?"rose wine asked."The weather 's so nice tonight we might as well take advantage."

"Of course !"Amanda agreed."Ca n't let that go to waste."

"Oh, shut up,"Albus muttered.

Forty-five minutes later Albus, mat, bathroom, and Kaden had taken over one of the larger tabular array in the subroutine library. Kaden had joined them since he had a transfiguration essay due the next day and divination predictions to do. Albus was considering hexing two commencement years at the board next to them who kept giggling, if Madam Pince did n't get to them first. He wished that one of his friends lived in his territorial dominion ; it would crap this so a great deal easier.

Albus did let a distinct reward over both flatness and John, in that his representative was far more well-known than theirs. Oliver Prang, who had been serving the N London district, was on his fourth back-to-back terminus, which amounted to over 15 years. That was more than Albus 's entire life. John Griffith Chaney in itself was a localisation that required far more attention than other areas of the country, which resulted in far Sir Thomas More information being available on it. John was able to settle a fair measure of information on his congresswoman, Nadine Abernathy, but flatness, since he lived in one of the most remote control field of England, had difficulty locating information on Marcus Whitby.

"Energy this bloke even exist ?"Matt asked as he looked through the very last file away copy of the prophesier that was published during Whitby 's one term."Oh, here we go. Lovely. Now I know he exists. Here 's a sentence that mentions he won the election. And of course he won. He did n't have any opponents."mat groaned and banged his head repeatedly on the table."This is hopeless."

"You 've still got all the minute from Wizengamot meetings,"Albus said, pointing to the three boastfully stacks of paper in the midsection of the table. He really did find bad for lusterlessness, though. It was bad enough having to do a paper like this, but having to do it when the good lunation was only two daytime away ?

"I could probably just hit poppycock up,"Matt said as he took the top few Page."I mean, honestly, could Embry possibly sleep with anything about Marcus Whitby ? It 's the to the lowest degree densely populated district in all of England."

"Embry probably knows everything about everyone,"John said."There. I 've got my presentation. calculate at it this way. Your blighter 's only been in office for a twelvemonth. So you 've got far less clobber to look through. It wo n't admit as long."

"But if there is n't anything, then that does n't help,"lusterlessness muttered."Have you even read anything ?"

"A bit."lav shrugged."Nadine Abernathy 's on her second condition, so there 's not as much as Albus has got. But I read enough to write the intro. Now I 'll record a bit more."

"You have a weird way of doing research."

Albus glanced up and saw that Rose and Amanda had returned, bags in hand. They sat down and pulled out their own essays, which looked very long.

Matt tossed the paper he 'd been looking at onto his rejection mess, which was so topsy-turvy that Madam Pince would probably deliver a heart attack if she saw it. He then let out a loud sigh and put his head in his hands.

"Could you please take commiseration on him ?"Albus asked Rose.

rose wine looked up from her essay."I told you. You 're all doing this yourselves."

"His representative has only been in bureau for a year,"Albus explained."And the only thing he 's found is one sentence in a Prophet from a year ago saying he won the election, which was against nobody. And the total Sun Myung Moon is tomorrow."

"Please, rosebush ?"Matt asked, picking his head up to look at her. His brass was flushed and he looked very frustrated.

"Your parents should 've moved somewhere less remote,"Kaden commented.

"They wanted to be in the eye of nowhere,"Matt said flatly."They did n't want neighbors."

rosiness sighed."Fine. But only because you look so wretched. And mine was pretty hard, too, because my district is also remote. Just let me finish my conclusion."

"Lucky,"lav muttered."I do n't hypothecate you 'd help-"

"Absolutely not, John Brickston,"Rose said and lowered her voice."As soon as you turn into a masher once a month I 'll help you with your procrastination."

Albus turned back to his own essay and over the next four 60 minutes managed to get it half done. He did n't think it was very unspoilt, but it was progress. John was about halfway done as well, so the two of them decided to call it a Night. John settled in to help Kaden with his phony divination predictions. mat was still working on his, with much coaching from Rose.

"Did you notice anything ?"Albus asked.

"A bit,"pink wine said."It 's not much. This bloke seriously has n't done anything. He 's hardly mentioned in any of these minutes."

Matt yawned."How prospicient does this have to be again ?"

"A ft,"Rose answered."You 've got another four in to go."

"It 's nearly ten,"Albus mentioned."The program library is going to close and we 've already missed curfew."

The library was now only filled with fifth through one-seventh years. It was certainly quieter.

"We should probably end up in the common way, then,"Rose said.

"I do n't think I can,"Matt said."Too tired. I 'll complete it tomorrow since I 'll probably cut good afternoon socio-economic class anyway."

The group packed up their things and walked quickly back to the commons room. By some fortuity of luck they managed to head off the prefects and did n't get any custody from being out after curfew.

"No mandatory curfew tomorrow,"Kaden commented as they entered the common room.

"With grayback caught they do n't take to do it anymore,"Albus pointed out.

"Thank God,"Matt replied."He wo n't be lurking around tomorrow."

"I just hope your dad was able-bodied to help those parents with the two tiddler,"rose wine said.

"He 'll probably go do the cellblock himself,"lustrelessness said."At least for this month. And I 'm sure they 've got Wolfsbane this month."

Albus nodded. It was going to be a better full moon moon for everyone involved.
***


Albus, Matt, and John managed to get their essays done in prison term and turned in on Thursday. The wide moon was relatively normal, as full-of-the-moon moons go, without any composition of wolfman attacks. Matt wound up in the hospital wing for two full days, having resorted to chewing on himself since the masher no longer had the distraction of Calidris canutus outside. But Albus had a notion Matt preferred it that way. Greyback 's presence was just too creepy and too unknown.

A few Day after the wide moon James returned to the usual elbow room fuming. Albus raised his eyebrow at his brother as he straightened a pile of career pamphlets that had once again appeared on the common room tables.

Henry James stomped over to Albus 's tabular array, pulled up a professorship, and squeezed himself between Albus and Matt."calling advice,"he muttered.

"Did you just have it ?"Albus asked.

"Yeah, with Longbottom,"James said."Neville always seemed so nice when we were little and even in class he 's easily the best professor here. But for life history advice ? He 's fearsome !"

"fountainhead, what did you peach about ?"

"Careers."

blush wine snorted."Obviously."

"He wants me to pick something now. I do n't get laid what I want to do with my life. I 'm only sixteen for God 's sake !"

"I think you have to pick something so you can pick your N.E.W.T. classes next year,"rosebush explained."Otherwise the teachers do n't know what to put you in."

"I know that,"Jesse James snapped."But I do n't want to do anything that 's going to postulate loads of N.E.W.T.s. I want to make for Quidditch."

Rose laughed."He did n't like that ?"

"No,"James I muttered."So I told him about Peach State. And then he said that it 's not very common to be drafted by a master squad and that even Sakartvelo had a back-up architectural plan. That 's news show to me. As far as I know she 's wanted to play Quidditch her unit life."

"She was going to design brooms,"Rose said."Still might, after she 's done with Quidditch. Why do n't you do that ?"

"Neville suggested it. But it requires Arithmancy almost of the clock time and I have n't even done O.W.L. Arithmancy. I just want to lease the bare minimum of N.E.W.T.s and get done with it."

"And of course Neville did n't like that,"Rose said."Honestly, James I, just pick something."

"But I ca n't !"James said as he picked up a push-down list of leaflet."face at these. Goblin Liaison, Gringott 's Counterfeit Coin checker, security round Trainer. They 're all perfectly boring."

"There 's loads of occupation in the Ministry and St. Mungo 's,"Rose said.

King James I snorted."No one would want me as their Healer."

Albus had to agree with that. Saint James the Apostle had about the Sami ability to concentrate as a troll."Hey, you could aim security trolls."

"I said that 's boring. And I do n't want to play for the Ministry. Not now that Laurentis has won. Just you lot expect. You 'll consume to go through this next year."

"I already know what I want to do,"Rose said."I 'm going to be a Healer, specializing in psychiatry."

"Of course you do,"James muttered.

"If it makes you feel better, mate, I 've no estimation what I want to do,"John said.

"Me either,"Kaden agreed.

"You 're a third twelvemonth,"James said flatly."It does n't matter that you do n't know what you want to do. What about you, Al ?"

Albus shrugged. He had n't thought much about life history since the premature year when Balladanis told him he could be a Presuler. The idea was very allure, but he did n't want to tell anyone else about it.

"I suppose it does n't matter. The N.E.W.T.s I take are going to count on which O.W.L.s I actually pass."

"If you 'd foreswear complaining and start studying you 'd slip by more of them,"Rose pointed out.

"I suppose you 're right,"St. James the Apostle said as he stood up."guesswork I 'll go to the library."

"James, delay !"rosiness shouted as James neared the portraiture gob."Forgetting anything ?"

Jesse James glanced down."Oh, right. Books."

James ran up to his dormitory and returned with his bag a minute later. Grinning at Albus and the others, he left the common room.

"I swear, I 'm not sure enough how we 're related,"rose muttered.

"You 're telling me,"Albus replied."You 're still set on the healer thing ?"

"More than ever,"Rose said."It is eldritch, knowing exactly what I want to do this early."

"You 're like my sister,"Matt pointed out."You two really are alike. It 's kind of weird."

"I like your sister,"pink wine said."So I 'll take in that as a compliment. What about you ? Do you know what you want to do ?"

Matt laughed and picked up the Gringott 's brochure."Considering that lycanthrope are n't going to be changed from savage to Beings anytime soon, I do n't think I 'm going to have many selection to foot from."

"You never know,"pink wine said."Who knows what will happen between now and when we graduate. Things could change."

"Still, it 's doubtful,"matt said, turning to Amanda."Amanda ? You were awfully quiet when Saint James the Apostle was here."

"It 's severely not to be. He 's rather loudly himself. I 'm not indisputable. I think I want to do something in the Ministry, though. I want to ca-ca a difference."

"Excellent,"mat said."You can change everyone 's nous about changing the lycanthrope classification."

Amanda smiled."You never know. It 's crossed my brain a few times."

"I just want to brew potions for a living,"Kaden announced as he leafed through the brochure.

"You 're insane,"John said."You seem so convention, otherwise. But seriously, nobody enjoys potions."

"You can do that,"matt said."You can become a Brewer. My sister 's doing that along with her Healing degree."

Kaden 's eyes grew large."postponement, really ? That 's a existent career ?"

Matt nodded."Not everyone can brew potions, so they need hoi polloi to brew them for them. You can work out at St. Mungo 's and brew healing potions or you could wreak for a society and brewage potions to sell."

"Sort of like a chemist, I suppose,"Amanda replied.

"Exactly,"Rose said.

"Brilliant."Kaden grinned."James will detest me now. Third yr and I know what I 'm doing."

Albus laughed."You could change your mind."

Kaden shrugged."I suppose so."

Albus did n't really want to call back about what they would do after Hogwarts. It was three years away. He 'd rather enjoy the acquaint, but rosiness had always been the person to front to the future. She fantasized about their Hogwarts daylight when they were only six and now, she was fantasizing about what they 'd do after. Albus had never been the type to do that. There would be plenty of fourth dimension for the hereafter in the future.


A/N : Thanks for all the brushup ! For those of you who read Beyond the Shadow, it made it through to the voting round of the Dobbys ! Head over to the forums to vote for it. It was nominated in the Best OC category.


Apr went by quickly, as it usually did. The weather turned from chilly and windy to warm and rainy, resulting in more than one muddy Quidditch practice. Albus did n't take care the mud as much as he minded the duration of the practices. Both Fred and Heather seemed determined to win the Quidditch Cup now that it was their seventh year. They had n't won it yet, in all their years at Hogwarts. Albus wanted to win, too, but not enough that he enjoyed practicing for five hr straight.

When he was n't on the pitch, to the highest degree of Albus 's time was spent at dueling practice. The final match of the class was on the last Sabbatum in Apr and Albus 's team was still in the run for a win of the full tournament. They had n't won a single compeer, but they were routinely in second billet by only a few points. The teams that had gotten low place never did that fountainhead in other tournaments, resulting in their overall percentage point total being quite low.

When the last Saturday in Apr arrived, far sooner than Albus would 've liked, he found himself incredibly nervous. He was n't nervous at all about his duels, but he was queasy for the team. This was it. It was his last tourney in the Junior Dueling Tournament. His last fortune to turn out himself as captain and earn a bit on Gryffindor 's dueling team succeeding year.

All four captains of the home dueling team were present at this tournament because they would be manus selecting role player for their teams next twelvemonth. Unlike Quidditch, there were no try-outs for the dueling tournament.

"Last tournament being on Malfoy 's squad,"Amanda commented as Malfoy dueled a girl from Ravenclaw.

"Thank God,"Albus muttered. He could n't expect until he no longer had Malfoy on his team."At least he 's acting normally today."

"At to the lowest degree he showed up,"Amanda pointed out.

"point in time to Malfoy !"Neville shouted."Albus potter and matt Eckerton."

Albus groaned inwardly. He always felt abominable when he had to duel lusterlessness because their science levels were so drastically different. At the same time he did n't want to go slow on his Friend because the Gryffindor team captain was watching.

Albus and Matt bowed to each other and raised their baton. Albus thought a silent excuse as he shot a Stunner at his best friend. mat dodged it and sent one rachis. Albus threw up a shell and then sent three sequentially Stunners. The third one made contact and matt collapsed onto the floor, frozen.

"Point to potter around !"Neville declared. He waved his wand at mat and the trance lifted.

"Sorry, spouse,"Albus said as he helped Matt up.

"Do n't be,"lustrelessness replied."You 're definitely getting on the team next year."

Albus won his endorsement duel as well. His team continued to win most of their duels, with some of his teammate winning their first duels ever. Amanda had begun a tally of all the points on a give up bit of parchment and their squad was winning, with only a few affaire d'honneur left to go.

Kaden wound up dueling one of the Ravenclaws from Albus 's team during the concluding duel of the day. Kaden lost spectacularly, which Albus was both glad and upset about.

A few minutes later Neville stepped into the center of one of the dueling gang."I am pleased to denote that we have a winner of both today 's tournament and the year 's tourney overall. felicitation to Team Seven for winning both today and the tournament overall ! headwaiter Albus Potter, please come forward to live with the trophy."

Albus was momentarily stunned, until Amanda nudged him. The integral Great mansion was applauding as he stepped over to the dueling rings. They 'd done it ! After a class, they 'd finally done it !

Albus shook Neville 's hand while a Hufflepuff took their picture. The trophy was a bit smaller than the Quidditch Cup, but certainly not small by any means. After a few more word picture were taken, including one scene of the entire team, Albus joined Amanda and the two of them walked back to the common room.

"When will you find out if you got on Gryffindor 's dueling team ?"she asked as they walked.

"Not until the summer,"Albus said."They send out letters."

"You 're pretty much guaranteed a position, after that win,"Amanda said."Malfoy, too, probably. And then you 'll get to duel each other."

"I 'm looking forward to that,"Albus said."Just a bit."

"Me, too,"Amanda agreed.

Albus 's Quaker were waiting in the common room when he and Amanda arrived. They offered felicitation and Butterbeer, which Albus drank quickly before heading outside for Quidditch exercise.

Later that Nox, between his happiness about the win and enervation from Quidditch practice, Albus slept honest than he had in months.
***


In April 's last odd days the Daily seer published at to the lowest degree one article a day on Laurentis and her approaching swearing-in ceremony, as well as her picks for top officials. Albus had n't recognized any names of the officials, or the names of their business. Mostly they were job such as the one his Uncle Percy held under Minister Hartwell. Laurenits, as it seemed, was waiting until she became Minister to uncover the big stance, such as Albus 's dad 's side.

The Gryffindor board was unusually quiet the morning of May first. Albus, along with all his first cousin, were n't saying a word. Albus was thinking of his uncle Percy and how this should 've been his day, not Laurentis 's, and he was sure his cousin were thinking the same.

"I wish one of us could go to her ceremony,"Amanda said as she read the Prophet."It 's not going to be the same reading about it tomorrow."

"I heard they 're listening to it on the wireless in political science today,"toilet said."Wish we had it today. That would be much better than having actual class."

"I just want to know if my dad 's out of a job,"Albus said.

"Will he be completely sacked ?"Kaden asked.

"No. He just would n't be nous Auror anymore,"Albus answered."It 'd still be awful, though."

"Same here,"lustrelessness agreed."Amy said that Dad 's really queasy about it."

"What metre is it happening ?"rose wine asked.

"Ten-thirty,"Amanda said after consulting the paper.

"Right after account of Magic,"Rose mused."So you lot will have care of Magical wight and I 'll have Arithmancy. Is anyone else thinking that we should break out Uncle George 's best-selling product this sunup ?"

Albus thought he heard her ill-timed. Was his cousin actually suggesting they skip form ?

"Wait, Rose,"King John said."Are you saying we should skive off grade ?"

rosiness grinned."I think this is going to be a bit more educational. I say we skive and meet in the Marauder 's Den to listen on the wireless."

"I 'm in,"Albus said immediately. John, matte, Amanda, and Kaden agreed.

"We 've got to plan it carefully, though,"pink wine said."We ca n't all get ill at the same sentence or it 'll front suspicious."

"I 've got a free menses starting at ten-fifteen,"Kaden said."So I 'm all set."

Rose nodded."That leaves five of us. flatness, do you have an outlet with skipping all of account of deception ?"

Matt laughed."Of line not."

"Good. I think you ought to just skive off without using a Skiving Snackbox. No one will suspect anything."

"Aw, why ca n't I do that ?"John asked.

"Because if somebody finds out and asks it 'll be easier for Matt go just say he felt ill, rather than you. I 'll use a nosebleed nougat in Arithmancy since I 'm the only when one of us in that class. Al, John, Amanda, two of you can use something in story of Magic and then the other one can use something right at the beginning of tutelage of Magical Creatures. We meet in the vulture 's Den by ten-thirty."

With the architectural plan decided upon, they set off for their morning course of instruction. whoremonger begged to be the one who used a puking pastille first in story of Magic and Albus and Amanda let him. He seemed strangely excited about it. Albus was just going to use the fever fudge.

professor Binns began droning on about the monster Wars, a matter he seemed to delight for some reason. He taught it each and every year without fail. Albus doodled aimlessly on his notes while taking surreptitious glances at John every so often.

"Um, prof ?"John the Divine announced ten bit into the class.

Binns turned around, looking confused. It was rare that anyone ever interrupted him."Yes, Mr. Broggs ?"

"I do n't feel well-"John was cut off by his own vomiting. His mesa was now covered with a pile of puke.

"Yes, yes, off to the infirmary,"Binns said as he returned his attention to the blackboard.

whoremonger hastily shoved the early end of the Henry Sweet into his sass and vanished the vomit before grabbing his bag ( which he never unpacked ), and left the elbow room.

Amanda was adjacent. She, like Albus, went the condom route and had decided upon the pyrexia fudge. Professor Binns hardly seemed to notice that she felt ill, despite her announcing it to the course of instruction. He just waved her out and continued his talking to. Albus could 've probably used his own febricity fudge right then and there, but he did n't think it was worth the small risk.

Albus decided to eat the fever fudge on his way to care of Magical Creatures so he could forget immediately after arriving. The Marauder 's Den was quite a walk from Hagrid 's hut and he did n't want to pretermit any of the ceremony.

He felt the effects of the fudge before even reaching Hagrid 's Hut. He had n't had a febricity in class and had forgotten just how awful they were.

"Hagrid ?"Albus asked as soon as he arrived.

"Albus !"Hagrid exclaimed."How are yeh ?"

"Not skillful,"Albus answered."I feel ill."

Hagrid 's face fell."Yeh don'look so well. Better go see dame Pomfrey."

Albus nodded and turned around, walking quickly up the route. Once he was out of ken of Hagrid, he shoved the other half of the fever fudge into his back talk and felt immediately better. He 'd done it !

By the time he arrived at the marauder 's Den it was nearly ten-thirty. The ease of his friends were already there, huddled around a very old looking radio set.

"Albus !"Rose exclaimed."Nearly thought you would n't make it !"

"I practically ran here,"Albus said as he tossed his bag onto the level and took a behind next to his cousin.

"Shhh !"Amanda said."It 's starting !"

"trade good dawning, listeners. We are broadcasting live from courtroom Ten in the Ministry of magic trick, where just minutes from now Patricia Laurentis will be sworn in as Minister of thaumaturgy for the United Kingdom. It is standing room only in the courtroom, with additional looker in the corridor."

Suddenly there was deafening applause, drowning out the commentator 's voice. It died down a few mo later.

"Patricia Laurentis has entered the courtroom. She is making her way down the gangway, greeting people on her way.

"Minister Hartwell, along with members of the Wizengamot are seated on the dais. Three aged phallus of the Wizengamot will rely Laurentis in."

More clapping. Then a new voice. Albus recognized it as rector Hartwell.

"Welcome to the Ministry of legerdemain. It has been my pleasure to serve you over the past ten years. I 'd like to aim a moment to thank my political party, Merlinus, for their support over the past decade, as well as all of my top officials and the rest of the Ministry employees. I 'll keep this forgetful and just say that I am going to miss serving you, but I have to intromit that both my married woman and I are looking forward to taking a nice, yearn holiday."

laugh, followed by applause.

"Thank you, diplomatic minister Hartwell,"soul else said. Albus assumed it was one of the Wizengamot member."Ms. Laurentis, if you would please step forward."There was a intermission."Please repetition after me. I do hereby substantiate to assist the United Kingdom-"

"I do hereby affirm to serve the United Kingdom-"

"-to the best of my ability-"

"-to the well of my ability-"

"-and keep back to the apotheosis of the Paracelsus party-"

"-and hold back to the paragon of the Paracelsus party-"

"I swear to listen to the people and do what is best for them-"

"I swear to heed to the people and do what is best for them-"

"-regardless of whether it is best for myself or the Ministry."

"-regardless of whether it is best for myself or the Ministry."

"I hereby hold Patricia Laurentis as the one-third Minister of Magic post-War as of the first of May, 2020, at eleven o'clock in the morning. Ms. Laurentis, congratulations. Please welcome your new government minister of Magic, Patricia Laurentis !"

There was a smattering of polite hand clapping, much quiet than the late applause for Hartwell. Albus supposed it was a grievous social occasion and no one wanted to seem too rhapsodic.

"That was promptly,"Albus said.

"She 's going to make a speech now,"Rose said."Shhh."

"Thank you,"Laurentis said as the applause died down."It is an honor to be standing before you as your minister of religion of Magic. I would like to lead off by thanking the Theophrastus Philippus Aureolus Bombastus von Hohenheim party for nominating me as candidate and supporting me throughout my successful campaign-"

"Does she really need to say it was a successful campaign ?"John asked."I mean, it 's obvious that it was successful."

"Shut up !"Rose said.

"-without your support I would never have made it this far. I hope I am able to live up to the high first moment set by you and Minister Hartwell. I am sure enough you are all anxious to hear who I am appointing to Head of section positions in the Ministry, so I wo n't neutralize any time getting to that."

Albus 's heart sped up. He glanced up and met Matt 's gaze. Matt looked just as nervous as Albus felt.

"showtime, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. I am proud of to announce that Aplysia Balladanis will be taking over for former Head, Reena Barnes."

"What ? !"Albus exclaimed."Did I hear her rightfield ?"

"Balladanis ?"rose wine shouted at the Sami time."But he did n't even like the Ministry, did he ?"

"He said it was too restrictive,"Albus said."I guess he likes Laurentis."

mat groaned."That means he 's going to be around all the time. Not here, but this country."

"I definitely did n't see that one coming,"John said.

"Laurentis, Balladanis, Malfoy 's dad ..."Amanda mused.

"Shh !"Albus said."I heard her say Auror Department."

"-Robert Johnson will be replacing Harry Potter as Head of the Auror Department-"

There was an audible gasp from the hearing. Albus sat stunned, processing the info. Part of him had been expecting this, but now that it had actually happened, it was still a stupor. It was very similar to the election results.

"I understand that this is a controversial option, but I feel that the Ministry needs to be a united front. I assure you that Robert Johnson is an splendid Auror and will make a grand headway of Department."

Albus tuned the radio out once Laurentis went on to the section of Magical Transportation. He could learn his heart hammering in his head and the rest of the mankind seemed so far away. It was almost surreal.

"Albus ?"Rose asked."Are you all right ?"

"I do n't experience,"Albus said."She 's insane, right ?"

"Honestly, Albus, I 'm not surprised,"Rose said quietly."And your dad still has a job."

"But it 's the assertion she made by doing it,"Amanda pointed out."She 's implying that he 's bad at his job."

"Exactly,"Albus said, glad that Amanda was able to put into words what he felt."first-class honours degree Uncle Sir Henry Percy lost and now this."

"-Walter Eckerton will persist Head of the section for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures-"

"Thank God !"matt exclaimed.

"Good,"Albus said."At least there 's soul sane still in a head teacher position."

Albus only paid shadowy attention to the rest of the announcements. He did n't acknowledge anyone, except for Malfoy 's dad when Laurentis reiterated that appointment. One thing was clear by the end, and that was no one in Albus 's home was in any of the Head view.

Rose switched the wireless off at the end of Laurentis 's speech. The wizard doing the broadcast was interviewing a few people, but they were n't anyone of not bad grandness.

"Do you want to go to lunch ?"Rose asked after a few minutes.

"Yeah, I suppose so,"Albus said as he stood up.

It was exculpated that word had spread when Albus and his acquaintance reached the Great Hall. Whichever class had had political relation during the spoken communication must 've shared the news with the entire castle, because everyone stared at Albus as he walked in. He did n't progress to eye contact with anyone and made a beeline for the Gryffindor table, where he sat down adjacent to James.

"So you heard,"James said quietly.

"I skived off form to listen live,"Albus explained."She wants a united ministry. What a lode of dragon dung."

"This is bad,"James I said."This is really bad."

"She 's replaced to a greater extent officials than any minister, ever,"Rose commented."She only kept three."

"I still have no thought why she kept my dad,"lusterlessness replied."I mean, I 'm gladiola she did, but it does n't make any sense."

"Nothing she 's doing makes a bit of mother wit,"Albus muttered."But I guess the great unwashed must like her. She got elected."

"But now that she 's elected she can charge who she wants,"Amanda said."I do n't think anyone actually thought she 'd replace your dad. I 've only been in the wizarding universe for four age and even I know that everyone loves your dad."

That 's what Albus had always thought, too. He hated the fact that he was always in the spot because of it, but it was a constant. It was pattern for him. Now, he did n't acknowledge what to think.

"Look,"Amanda said as she pointed to the staff table."I do n't call back the teachers expected it, either."

Albus glanced up. Every single prof was recondite in conversation, some even ignoring their food for thought. Neville in specific looked stunned and disturb. None of them looked well-chosen.

Albus 's own dental plate was still evacuate and he had no desire to fill it. For as long as he could remember his dad had been Head of the Auror Department, a job that he loved. Being the man who defeated Voldemort had given him an aura of being the ultimate Auror, something that had stayed with him for over twenty years. Now, so many geezerhood later, it seemed to Albus that it was wearing off.

It was May first, 2020, almost exactly 23 yr after his dad had defeated Voldemort. Albus thought it was slightly wry that this had happened almost to the day, 23 years later.

Albus looked around at his fella Gryffindors. He knew that to a greater extent than a few of them had voted for Laurentis, and therefore most in all likelihood supported her decision to interchange his dad as forefront of the Auror Department. Not everyone was talking in susurration, with concern expressions. A few group were laughing, like they did n't have a concern in the world. Either they just did n't care about Laurentis 's decisiveness, or they supported it. The thought process was very unsettle. Laurentis herself was unsettling to Albus, and the more he thought about it, the more he did n't like that she was now the Minister of conjuring trick. He did n't wish it at all.


A/N : Thanks for all the lovely follow-up !


The following week brought a slew of articles stating and re-stating everything Laurentis said in that first speech. A list of the new Ministry official was printed multiple time. Albus found the editorial more interest than the actual clause, mostly because there were quite a few proclaiming how stupid it was of Laurentis to give the axe Harry Potter. However, it was n't until nearly a week after Laurentis officiall became Minister that an article completely captured Albus 's attention was published.

DEMENTORS TO RETURN TO AZKABAN ;
HOGWARTS TO SEE CHANGES

Newly elected minister of illusion
Patricia Laurentis officially signed
the law that will bring Azkaban back
under the control of the dementors
late in conclusion Night. Laurentis hopes
to have the dementors back by belatedly
adjacent workweek. 'This has been a goal
of mine for years and I am very
happy that it is finally happening.
The wizarding world will be far
safer now that our outlaw will
be guarded once more by dementors .'

delivery the dementors back to Azkaban
is the inaugural of many variety the new
diplomatic minister will be enacting over the
adjacent few weeks. Laurentis 's next
architectural plan is to act out changes at Hogwarts.
'Over the next few calendar week I will be
sending illustration from the
Department of Magical Education to
observe each professor. Each
professor will be required to bow
their curriculum to the representatives
as well .'professor planning on
retiring at the end of this class
will be exempt from this requirement,
as no changes will take lieu before
the end of term.

"wellspring, she 's done it,"Albus said as he set the article down."A week from now Azkaban will possess dementors."

"Mad,"Amanda muttered."She 's mad !"

"And she 's sending masses to celebrate the teachers,"Albus said.

Amanda grabbed the article from Albus and scanned it quickly."Are any of them retiring ?"

"I did n't call back so,"Albus said."But a few of them are quite old."

As if on cue, Professor Kendrick stood up."May I have your attention ? Thank you. about of you, I am sure, have read the vaticinator. Over the next few weeks every professor will be observed during one of his or her classes. I ask you all to ignore the example and go about class as if they were n't there. That is how the Ministry will outdo get an understanding of how things work at Hogwarts. Now, Professor Slughorn has an annunciation to make."

Professor Slughorn stood, although he was so short that it hardly made a difference. He looked a bit nervous and Albus got the spirit that he rarely ever addressed the entire student soundbox at once.

"Yes, thank you, professor Kendrick,"Slughorn said."I just wanted to tell you all at once that I am going to retire at the end of term. I 've enjoyed my time at Hogwarts, but it 's high time I retire for good."

"Ten Galleons says he decided to retire after finding out he had to resign his curricula to the Ministry,"Rose whispered after Slughorn sat back down.

"I 'm sure as shooting you 're right,"Albus agreed."Dad said he did n't even want to come back when our parents were in school."

"What about youth ?"Kaden asked."He doesn't even have a curriculum."

Albus burst out laughing."I had n't even thought of that. Bet he gets sacked."

"So that 'll be two new prof next year,"John said.

Rose groaned."And in our O.W.L. year, too."

"Do n't say that Christian Bible !"James River, who was sitting about five seats down from Rose, shouted.

blush wine raised her supercilium."What word ?"

"O.W.L,"James said with a shiver."They 're only a month away."

"Guess you should 've started studying earlier,"Rose said.

"Shut up,"James II muttered.

James was n't the only one to have forgotten about O.W.L.s amidst all the election news. There seemed to be more delirious studying than usual, and not just from the twenty percent and 7th long time. The entire rook had neglected to study for their end-of-term exams. Later that night Albus, John, Rose, Amanda, and Kaden joined the concourse of people vying for table in the subroutine library in order to cram in as much perusal as possible. mat could n't link them, as it was the full synodic month.

However, Albus had a laborious clock time concentrating. His every thought was focused on the dementors in Azkaban or his dad 's job or the Ministry congresswoman at Hogwarts. Rose, Amanda, and even Kaden were focusing on their studying. John was playing with his flight feather. Suddenly, he stood up.

"Kaden ?"he asked."Think now would be a good fourth dimension ?"

Kaden grinned, setting down his book."Yeah, I think so."

"We 'll see you lot later,"John said as Kaden got up."Do n't ask."

"That was weird,"rose said once the two boy left.

"It 's probably their prank,"Albus pointed out.

blush wine groaned."They 're right. I do n't want to know."

Albus had assumed that this would be a prank that would clear itself known right away, as near of John and Kaden 's japery worked that way. But by the next morning things seemed perfectly very well at Hogwarts. The Slytherins'whisker was still normal colours and everything seemed calm and quiet. lav and Kaden kept grinning at each former, so Albus was surely they 'd done something.

It took another full day for things to pick up. Albus first noticed it at breakfast, when some of the Slytherins seemed a bit unsettled. They were squirming in their seats and did n't seem able-bodied to sit still. But it was only a few of them.

Albus raised his supercilium questioningly at john and Kaden.

"Should we tell him ?"whoremonger asked.

"Oh, I suppose now we could,"Kaden said as he leaned over to Albus."Itching powder in their washing. The house-elves are very helpful with pranks."

Albus started laughing."Seriously ?"

Kaden nodded."Completely untraceable and the effects wo n't all come at once. It all depends on when they send their laundry out."

"That 's whiz,"Albus said. can and Kaden 's clowning were most definitely improving over the eld.

"What 's genius ?"

Albus looked up from his breakfast to see Matt nudging a number one year over so that he could sit down in following to John.

"ma'am Pomfrey let you out ?"Albus asked.

Matt nodded."Yeah, I think she wanted me to appease longer, but I told her I needed to analyze. Why are these two genius ?"

"We did our prank on the Slytherins,"John explained and then lowered his vocalisation."Itching powder in their washables. The house-elves helped."

"Okay, that is pretty awesome,"Matt said."You wo n't get caught, either."

"Nope, it 's not in all likelihood,"John said."So, what should we do today ?"

"Study."

Albus looked up once more and saw that this time blush wine and Amanda had appeared, both heavily ladened down with books and stacks of parchment. They wore identical looks of determination.

"You 're all studying. All day,"rosiness continued."examination are in a month and none of us are fain. The election happened, it sucked, but it 's over. cipher can be done. Albus, you 've been moping about your dad 's job for a hebdomad. John, Kaden, I 'm watch that you do well this year. lustrelessness, the full moonshine is over. All four of you are studying from now until exams."

"Aw, Rose, c'mon-"

"No,"rose wine said."Studying. All of you. Amanda and I are going to get a table in the depository library and we expect all of you there in fifteen minutes."

Rose and Amanda left in a flourish of parchment and Holy Writ, leaving Albus and the early boys to gaze at each other open-mouthed. Albus knew his cousin was very donnish and placed a senior high school value on her own instruction, but never before had she staged an interposition for his studying.

"She 's lost her psyche,"John said."If she 's like this now, what will happen side by side year for O.W.L.s ?"

"Do n't say that tidings !"James shouted from down the table.

"I suppose we have n't got a choice, do we ?"Matt asked as he shoved his testicle into his mouth."Damn, I only just got back."

That was true, Albus thought. He and his friends quickly finished their breakfast and hurried up to the depository library, realizing once they arrived that they did n't make any of their record. They ran up to their dormitory room to retrieve them and made it to the library five minute later than Rose insisted they be there.

rose and Amanda had shoved two table together and had spread all their playscript out over them. brothel keeper Pince was sitting behind the circulation desk, looking at them curiously, as if she could not retrieve a clip someone had frequented the library that early. The rest of the tabular array were deserted.

"What 's with the supererogatory chairman ?"Albus asked as he dumped his book of account onto the table."There 's only six of us."

"Oh, that 's for Elsie,"Rose said as she set lambskin down at each derriere.

"As in Elsie Willinson ?"Albus replied.

"Yes, that 's the only Elsie we know,"blush wine said."She needs help studying and I 'm her tutor."

"But she 's Felix Willinson 's baby,"St. John the Apostle pointed out.

"And she needs help, King John,"Rose said with a suspiration."I 've been tutoring her all class and I 'm not going to lay off now."

lustrelessness nudged John."It 's not a bad thing. Maybe she 'll differentiate us what her comrade and Malfoy have been up to all year."

Albus had n't thought of that. Of course, Rose had n't had any luck getting Elsie to talk all year, so probability were slim that he and the other boys would have success.

"Honestly, you lot are far too focused on Malfoy,"Rose said."You 've hardly studied all year. Just sit down and depart reviewing Transfiguration. I 've made field of study guide for every subject. You should have them at your spots."

Albus picked a seat and sat down. pink wine was organized to the pointedness of insanity. There were in fact study guides for every national, organized chronologically, from September until May. Albus was suddenly very grateful for his cousin, despite her obvious insanity. This was going to make studying so much easier.

"Wow, thanks blush wine,"Albus said. The rest of the group muttered their agreement.

rosebush smiled."See ? It was a unspoiled melodic theme. Now, we 'll study until lunch and then have a break."

dejeuner was about two hours away. That was n't too bad. Albus opened his August 6 volume and settled in with that and the study templet. It took him about a half hour to work through misdirection, but soon his thinker was only focused on Transfiguration.

Around him, the library quickly filled up. Fifth and seventh years seemed the most phrenetic about finding tables and searching the plenty, but students from every yr and every house were acquaint. dame Pince spent the morning weaving throughout the tabular array and looking over everyone 's shoulders to clear for sure they were working on school day work. With exams so near, the program library was now closed to everyone who was n't going to revise.

Elsie Willinson showed up a little after eleven. Albus watched as she tentatively made her way over to the tabular array, clearly unsure of studying with so many masses. Albus was struck again by how similar she looked to Felix. It always variety of amused Albus when siblings looked so alike, since he did n't really resemble either of his sibling. But Felix and Elsie Willinson were incredibly similar in looks.

Once blush wine noticed Elsie, she immediately stood up and beckoned the first class over. Elsie seemed less nervous now that Rose knew she was there, but she still avoided eye contact as she sat down and pulled her record book out of her bag. blush wine whispered something in her ear and she began reading her spell Word of God.

Albus sighed and returned to his own work. Getting Elsie Willinson to babble out was going to be much more difficult than he thought.
***


Rose 's revision academic term continued throughout the month of May. Albus did n't like to accept it out aloud, but they were incredibly helpful and he was n't certain he would elapse his exams if it were n't for rose. As the calendar month progressed, the sessions grew both in distance and the number of participants. By the end of the first hebdomad their study radical had grown to admit James, Ben, Cedric, and their friend Nathan, who all now feared failing their O.W.L.s.

Albus and James missed a few session for Quidditch practice, but as the Quidditch final John Drew finisher, both of them agreed that Quidditch was just as important as studying. Bradley and heather mixture were becoming more and more anxious about the final, since it would determine whether Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup. They were currently only a few points behind Ravenclaw and if they pulled off a win in the final, they would most likely win the cup as well.

The equal took spot a hebdomad before O.W.L.s were scheduled to begin and Albus awoke more nervous than he had been for a Quidditch match in ages. The match itself was going to be bittersweet since it would be the hold up time he played with ling and Fred as the other chaser on Gryffindor 's team. Next yr he 'd own two new pursuer and that was going to be incredibly strange.

Albus headed down to breakfast before his admirer and encountered a few particularly itchy Slytherins on his way. Giggling to himself and enjoying the fact that John and Kaden 's prank was still going on, weeks later, he entered the Great Hall. On his way to the Gryffindor table, he was distracted by the sight of Malfoy, speaking with Felix Willinson, while carrying an overnight bag.

Deciding that breakfast could wait, Albus crept over to the Slytherin board and attempted to squat down behind a few 7th years. Unfortunately the Great Hall was too flashy for right eavesdropping, and Albus made a vow to always let an extendable Ear on his person from now on.

Malfoy stepped away from Felix Willinson and turned, allowing Albus to count at his typeface. He looked atrocious. His eyes were red and it looked like he had n't slept in days. Very strange, Albus thought, as he rose to follow Malfoy out of the room.

Once in the Entrance foyer, Malfoy immediately ran up the staircase, going far too fast for Albus to follow. Albus stood adjacent to the room access to the Great Hall thinking about what Malfoy 's actions meant.

He was clearly upset about something, but what was it ? The nightlong bag implied that he was going to be leaving the castle, but why ? Albus thought back to the dueling tournament that Malfoy missed. The two incidents must be connected, and it was quite potential that the letter Albus and Amanda saw Malfoy reading calendar month ago was connected as well.

Albus did n't name Malfoy to his friend when they came down to breakfast a few minutes later. As much as Albus wanted to discuss it with them, he knew that he needed to put it out of his mind for the continuance of the match. If there was ever a equal for Albus not to be distracted, this was it.

The nerves on the team were palpable as they stood waiting to walk onto the pitching. Fred did n't even have a spoken language, since everyone knew how important the couple was, both to Fred and Heather.

Ravenclaw had a good Quidditch team. They were easily the best team in the school, although most Gryffindors would disagree. But the Gryffindor team was determined in this lucifer, causing them to play fiercer than ever before.

Albus flew faster than he ever had before. He, Fred, and Heather had always worked very well together, but during this match it almost seemed like they were one entity, sharing one learning ability. Albus 's entire judgment was focused on Quidditch and Quidditch only. Gone were the persuasion of his dad 's job, Laurentis, and Malfoy.

The match only lasted an 60 minutes. Albus had n't even realized that James caught the sneak until the whistling was blown. Gryffindor won 420-260, their skilful win yet that year.

"We did it !"Fred shouted as he landed."We 've won the Cup !"

Albus could n't even take heed the commentary over the earsplitting applause of the spectators. prof Longbottom was holding the Quidditch Cup high gear over his headway and was making his way through the crowd to Fred. Fred took the Cup and held it out to Heather. Each held one slope and raised it up. The Gryffindors were storming the pitch and Albus was sept up in the bunch, making it unmanageable to reach his team. Once he did, soul snapped their picture.

Albus was the happiest he 'd felt in calendar week, ever since his team won the Dueling tourney. It was his third base yr on the Quidditch team and they finally won the Cup. But he was even more felicitous for Fred and Calluna vulgaris than he was for himself since they 'd both been on the team since their second year and had never won the Cup.

ling had tears streaming down her cheek and Fred was grinning panoptic than Albus had ever seen him. While neither of them were pursuing a career in Quidditch, Quidditch had been their lives for the by six years. Winning the Cup in their seventh year seemed more affecting than it would consume winning it any other class. Albus hoped that Gryffindor 's squad was still as full as it was now when he got to seventh twelvemonth. Winning again in his last year would be the best feeling in the world.
***


"Malfoy really did give the palace,"Amanda announced at breakfast the future day.

"How did you find that out ?"Albus asked.

"Weirdly enough, Moaning Myrtle."

"How would she cognize ?"

"I 've no approximation,"Amanda said as she grabbed a few slices of toast."I did n't ask."

"Well, I just found out why he left,"Rose said as she set down the oracle."His grandfather passed away."

"As in Lucius Malfoy ?"Albus said, taking the theme."The ex-Death feeder ?"

"One in the same,"rosiness said."His obituary is in there."

"Why were you reading the obituaries ?"Matt asked.

"I was n't trying to. I was flipping through and happened to see it. It says he 's been ill for a while,"pink wine explained.

"That explains why he 's been acting so odd all year,"Amanda said.

"And that howler he got months ago,"Kaden added.

Albus glanced at the obituary but did n't read it. As much as he disliked Malfoy, he could n't aid but feel sorry for him. Albus could n't imagine what it would be like to mislay his grandfather, and despite Lucius Malfoy 's obvious faults, he was still Scorpius 's grandfather.

"I feel sort of bad for yelling at him about skipping that dueling tournament,"Albus muttered.

"You did n't know,"John said."And it 's not like he explained."

"Is n't anyone else a bit preoccupied with the fact that Moaning Myrtle knew about him leaving the castle ?"Matt asked."She never leaves her loo. We saw Malfoy going into her loo a few weeks ago. Does n't that seem a bit too co-occurrent ?"

"You think he 's fuck off chummy with Moaning Vinca minor ?"Albus asked.

mat shrugged."It looks like he has. Why else would she sleep together about it ?"

"But why would he go into a missy 's loo ?"John asked, wrinkling his nose."That 's just flaming insane."

"audio like we need to pay a visit to myrtle,"Albus said.

Rose groaned."Really, Al ? He just lost his gramps for God 's sake."

"We 're not going to bother Malfoy,"Albus said."We 're just going to lecture to Myrtle."

"counting me out,"blush wine said, shaking her head.

"But you 're a girl,"Albus pointed out."You could get in there so much well-to-do. Amanda ?"

"Sorry, Albus, but I 've really got to study,"Amanda said.

"We 'll go at nighttime, then,"Albus decided."John the Evangelist, Kaden, Matt ? Which of you is going with me ?"

"Not me,"Matt said immediately.

"I 'll go,"John said.

"You 're both mad,"pink wine said quietly."Mad."

Albus may take in been mad, but he could n't let this enigma go. His gut was telling him that Malfoy was up to something, despite his grandpa 's passing, and Albus was determined to find out what it was.


A/N : Sorry that the update is a day late ! I was really interfering yesterday and did n't bear a chance to update. Thanks for all the lovely reviews ! I am very behind on answering them, but I 'll stop eventually !


The plan to let the cat out of the bag to myrtle in the dead of night may have been a plan that belonged solely to Albus and John, but rose still had somewhat of a say over when it happened. Exams were now only a hebdomad away and rose wine was only giving them one Nox off, for rest and clearing tension from the mind. Neither Albus or John dared hybridizing rose and skip out on revision, which took place in the subroutine library until curfew and then in the uncouth way until they all went to bed.

Their one night off occurred the night before their first exam. O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s had been going on for a full week, but none of the fifth or seventh class were taking any nights off, including James. Despite blush wine 's insistence that he take a dark off, James insisted upon studying. It was quite a switch.

Albus and John spent the evening acting chess with Kaden. mat had turned in early, still tired from the wide moon, which had taken place two Clarence Day earlier. rosebush and Amanda had disappeared into their dorm room, clearly set upon having some time away from the boys.

The common elbow room emptied as the night progressed, and eventually John and Albus were the lone ones left. It had n't taken long since most multitude went to bed other because of exams. It was probably fairly stupid of Albus and John to stay up so late, but neither of them cared.

They waited an additional fifteen minutes in pillowcase somebody decided to bring back to the common room, but no one did. Albus glanced at John and then pulled the Invisibility Cloak and the predator 's Map out of his bag. He carefully unfolded the map and set it out on the mesa. The seacoast was clear.

Albus and John stumbled out of the portrait hole and once they righted themselves, Albus threw the Cloak over them, under the Fat dame 's buns regard.

"Do n't have a bun in the oven me to let you in when you return,"she said."I 'm quite a exhausted."

The Fat Lady was always threatening this but she never seemed to name good on any of her threats. Ignoring her, Albus and John set off along the corridor. John led the way while Albus kept his oculus glued to the Map, but the corridors remained empty. It seemed everyone, both scholar and professors, were getting a good dark 's rest before exams. Everyone that is, except for Albus and John.

Moaning Myrtle was the but occupant of the second floor girl 's lavatory. John quietly pushed the door spread out and Albus followed him in. Once inside, Albus pulled the Cloak off and held it under is in good order arm.

"Myrtle ?"John shouted as he stepped into the room.

A splashing audio came from the last stall and then Myrtle 's ghostly form floated through the unopen stall door."Boys ? Why do n't you go use your own-"Myrtle cut herself off with a giggle. She floated toward Albus and John and rested on the sump."Oh, it 's you. Albus Potter. And his Quaker whoremaster. Where 's Matt ? I rather fancy him ...."

"He, er, was n't feeling well,"Albus said, hoping that Matt 's absence would n't put myrtle off from talking to them.

On the reverse, Vinca minor 's face lit up."Oh my ! I 've been feeling rather abominable today myself. It 's a side effect of dying, you know."

Albus did n't believe dying had any side burden other than dying and had always assumed being a trace would n't be unspeakable, but myrtle was very odd.

"But why are you here ?"Myrtle asked."You never chaffer me unless you 're in detention. It 's rather unsatisfying. No one ever thinks to impose miserable Myrtle. Oh, myrtle 's dead, they think, so she does n't want any visitors. Myrtle does n't involve any friends ! All because she 's dead !"

"No, myrtle, that is n't it at all,"Albus said quickly."It 's just, you live in a girl 's loo. We can only visit you now, in the middle of the night."

Myrtle let out a gaudy suspiration."I suppose. You are n't the only boys who talk to me, you know. Some of them even dare come during the day. I suppose they 're a bit braver than you are, which is odd since they are n't Gryffindors."

Albus glanced at can. Maybe this was going to be easier than he thought. myrtle probably did n't have any loyalties to Scorpius Malfoy.

"Which boys ?"Albus asked carefully, taking a measure closer to Vinca minor.

"I only know one of their name,"Vinca minor said with a giggle."I know his name because his father used to come and talk to me when he was in school day. But his son is n't quite as talkative and he did n't seem to care at all about me or my last. He only wanted to sleep together about the Chamber of Secrets-"

"The chamber of Secrets ?"Albus exclaimed."Scorpius Malfoy wanted to know about the bedchamber of Secrets ?"

Vinca minor brightened."Oh, you know him, too ! Yes, he did. He wanted to fuck exactly where the ingress was. He 'd already done quite a bit of enquiry on it in the program library. Rather odd, I thought, for a Slytherin, spending so much clip in the library, but not in a bad way. But yes, he came in and asked me about the chamber and I told him about my Death and he did n't quite understand the connection at first. So I showed him the entrance and told him that he had to speak like a ophidian to get in but he could n't envision it out."

"He tried to mouth Parseltongue ?"Albus asked.

myrtle nodded."Sounded awful. Your dad was much better at it. Even that freckled boy managed to figure it out during the battle of Hogwarts, but Scorpio Malfoy was truly awfully at it. That 's when I met the former boy. Scorpio left and came back a few sidereal day later with this other boy. He showed him the entranceway and then they started talking about this little girl named Elsie and the former boy thought that she would be able-bodied to unfold the Chamber."

"And when was this ?"Albus asked. The former boy must have been Felix Willinson.

"Two weeks ago, maybe ?"myrtle said."Do you experience why he wanted to get into the sleeping accommodation of Secrets ? He refused to severalize me."

"No,"Albus said, shaking his head."We want to know, too."

"wellspring,"Vinca minor began as she floated up to the roof."Please evidence me when you find out. And next time, arrive at sure that matte comes to inflict, too."

"Er, certainly,"Albus muttered."Is there anything else you know about Malfoy ?"

"No,"myrtle said."You 're going to leave now, are n't you ?"

"Yeah,"Albus said."exam tomorrow."

Albus threw the Cloak back over himself and Saint John and they left. On the way back Albus explained the bedroom of Secrets to St. John, who only knew the place by name. By the meter they returned to the common room St. John the Apostle was just as shocked as Albus was about why Malfoy seemed to want to get into the Chamber of arcanum.

"Do you think Elsie Willinson can speak Parseltongue ?"can asked as they climbed through the portrait hole ( the Fat dame had not refused them entry ).

"I do n't make out,"Albus said."It 's very rare. I think we 're going to have to ask Rose."

"Bet she 'll love that, in the midriff of examination,"Gospel According to John said with a laugh.
***


"Of course I have no idea if Elsie Willinson is a Parselmouth !"Rose exclaimed the next day during their luncheon disruption in between exams. Albus had just finished explaining what Myrtle had told them final stage Nox, as well as explaining the sleeping room of secret for Matt, Amanda, and Kaden 's sake.

"Are you sure she has n't mentioned anything ?"Albus pressed.

"Positive ! And honestly, Albus, you need to get this out of your judgment. It 's exam workweek. It 's not the sentence to be focusing on Malfoy. Whatever he does, it really does n't sham you."

Albus knew that, but it did n't do a thing for his peculiarity. The fact remained that Malfoy was acting oddly, and if Felix Willinson was involved, it could n't be anything good.

"They 're up to something, blush wine,"Albus said."I 'm telling you."

rose wine groaned."Albus, I do n't care."

"Oi, Albus !"James shouted as he jogged over to Albus 's seat."Did you see the Prophet this morning ?"

"No,"Albus replied. He, Matt, and St. John the Apostle had both slept too late to have breakfast before their first exam.

James slapped a written matter down on the table in front of Albus."That bloke, Robert Johnson ? The one who took Dad 's topographic point ? He 's revamped the entire department, claiming that they 're going to have a 99 % seizure rate."

"99 % ?"Albus repeated as he looked at the paper."That 's crazy."

President Johnson REVAMPS AUROR department

Newly appointed heading Auror, Robert
President Andrew Johnson, has spent the past times month
revamping and reorganizing the Auror
Department. Andrew Johnson has rewritten
rules and regulation for the department
as well as reorganized how Aurors
work together. All Aurors have
attended workshops over the preceding month
to familiarize themselves with the
new prescript and policies.

'The hope is that we will be able to
capture criminals faster and easier ,'
Johnson said. 'The department has
been disorganized for class and this
has resulted in many criminal going
free for far farsighted than they should.
Between the new Auror Department policy
and the reinstatement of the dementors
in Azkaban, we should be able to fascinate
more than criminals and proceed them where they
belong- behind bars .'

While President Johnson did not go into specifics
of the insurance policy and convention, stating that
these are sealed papers, he assured
the wizarding world that they have
helped to streamline the department.
'With these new insurance policy I do n't see why
we should n't have a 99 % gaining control rate
within a class .'

"What does that even mean, 99 % capture rate ?"Albus asked after setting the paper down.

"No idea,"James said."But I thought you 'd want to see it. I 've got to go. Transfiguration practical this good afternoon and I need to practice."

"I wish they 'd say what the changes actually were,"Albus said as his brother left.

"They ca n't,"Rose said."The paper is right about that."

"It 's not like the department was awful when Dad was in charge,"Albus continued."He captured Johnny, did n't he ?"

"I think Laurentis is crediting lustrelessness 's dad with that,"rosiness commented."As much as it was both of them."

"That 's not fair,"Matt said.

"No, it 's not,"Rose said as she glanced at her watch."We 'd better get going. History of Magic exam."

Albus found it incredibly difficult to sharpen on his History of conjuration exam, and while he was fairly sure he passed it, he knew he had n't done well. There was just too much to focalise on. Between Malfoy and the Auror Department, the last things Albus wanted to think about were goblin rebellions and titan wars.

Later that night Rose held another cogitation session in the library. Albus managed to sit next to Elsie Willinson, who ignored him completely. Albus spent more than prison term staring at the Marauder 's Map and figuring out the best way to bring up the topic of speaking Parseltongue with Elsie than any literal poring over, but rose wine did n't seem to notice.

The chase two days were nearly identical to the number 1 day of exams, with the exception of the bailiwick they were tested on. examination in the morn, dejeuner, test in the afternoon, studying, dinner, then more studying. The monotony was starting to get on Albus 's nervousness, but they were only halfway through exam week.

Elsie Willinson did n't show up to the study academic term Wednesday eve. Albus was disappointed since he was finally going to bring up the topic of speaking Parseltongue with her, no subject how efficient it would be. Instead, he looked over his Potions note of hand while glancing at the piranha 's Map every so often.

"Albus, what exactly are you looking for ?"Rose asked.

Albus did n't really want to say because he knew blush wine would just pluck her eyes, but he also knew she would n't let go of the field until he explained."Malfoy. He 's going to go back to the missy 's loo, and when he does, I want to keep abreast him."

"That would be stupefied,"blush wine said."Look at the past three class. You 've gotten yourself involved with something poor fish at the end of every class. Following Malfoy would just be asking for trouble."

pink wine had a point, Albus knew, but he did n't manage."It 's just Malfoy. He 's not going to snatch me."

"Famous last words,"Rose muttered."He 's probably just in his coarse room."

Albus checked the Map. Malfoy 's dot was definitely not in the vernacular elbow room. Albus 's heart sped up as he checked the remainder of the Map. It took him a while, but then he spotted Malfoy 's dot, making its way down the 2d floor corridor. He was accompanied by none former than Felix and Elsie Willinson.

"He 's going,"Albus said."And he 's got Felix and Elsie with him. I 'm following him and you ca n't give up me."

Rose groaned."Albus, don't-"

Albus ignored her and turned to the rest of his friends."Are any of you coming with me ?"

"I am."Albus was shocked to see that the vocalism belonged to Amanda. Usually Amanda agreed with blush wine.

"Amanda, really ?"pink wine asked.

Amanda shrugged."I want a interruption from studying and I 'm just as curious as Albus is."

"count me out,"Matt muttered, turning red."I 'm not going anywhere near Myrtle."

"She asked about you stopping point clip,"John the Divine said with a grin.

Matt turned even redder."I 'd rather not love that."

"We 're in,"bathroom said, speaking for himself and Kaden.

"You 've got an hour,"Rose said."If you 're not back by then I 'm sending professor Longbottom after you."

"We 'll be back,"Albus said as he stood up. As if to promote convince rosebush of this, he left his books sitting on the table. King John, Kaden, and Amanda did the Lapp.

Albus did n't bother with the invisibility Cloak since it was n't past curfew. They 'd just experience to scupper near the loo until the slide was unclutter and sneak in when no one was looking. All they needed was the Map for that.

The corridors were unusually void and Albus attributed it to the fact that most of his fellow student were doing some terminal moment revision before the next day 's exams. It certainly made it easier to sneak into a girl 's loo.

Albus watched the Map as they went and Malfoy and both Willinsons'battery-acid entered Moaning Myrtle 's bathroom. They remained there for only a few min, and then disappeared off the Map.

"They must 've gotten into the Chamber of closed book,"Albus explained."I bet the piranha did n't recognize about it so they could n't receive put it on the Map."

It took another five moment for Albus, John, Kaden, and Amanda to get to the loo. Once there Albus burst the threshold spread out and ran inside. He stopped short in front of the sinks.

One of the sump was gone, having sunk into the floor. In its place was a large, cant black hole. Myrtle was floating above it, her eyes bright.

"They did it,"Vinca minor said excitedly."Are you going to follow them ?"

"I guess this answers the question of whether Elsie Willinson can speak snake,"toilet said.

"Is matt ill again ?"Vinca minor asked.

"Er, yeah,"Albus said.

"He 's ill an awful lot of the time,"Vinca minor said."Tell him to fall see me when he 's better."

"Sure,"Albus said as he crept closer to the hole."I 'm going down there. You three are welcome to join me."Albus was determined. He 'd get this far and he was n't going to halt now. He needed to figure out what was going on.

"Is it a far drop curtain ?"Amanda asked hesitantly.

"I think it 's Sir Thomas More of a slideway,"Albus said."That 's what my dad said, anyway."

"There is n't a basilisk in there, is there ?"John asked.

"No,"Albus said."It 's dead."

"Then I 'm in,"John said.

"Me, too,"Amanda agreed.

"I 'd go down there even if there was a basilisk in there,"Kaden said."I 'll go first, if you want."

"Be my Edgar Guest,"Albus said, gesturing to the hole.

"If you die, you can live here,"Myrtle said, giggling."I told Scorpius that and he told me that was another reason why he ca n't die down there. I do n't think he likes me."

Albus ignored Myrtle and stepped aside so Kaden could jump into the golf hole. Kaden did so without a second glance.

"Are you okay ?"Albus asked once he heard a thud.

"Yeah, I 'm okay !"Kaden shouted back.

Neither John or Amanda seemed tend to go next, so Albus stepped to the very boundary of the hole and looked down. He could n't see a thing. Deciding that it was better to just do it and not guess too hard, he took a deep breath and jumped.

His dad had been right about it being more of a slideway than a drop down. The jam was more of a sloping pipework and it was n't a bad slide at all. Soon, Albus landed at the bottom and saw Kaden, who had lit his wand.

Albus lit his own scepter and took a looking around. The place was very wet and it smelled frightful. The rampart were dripping with murky water and the floor was covered in rock, mud, and what looked corresponding old snake skin.

"I think we 're near the lake,"Albus said, nodding to the dripping water.

There was a whooshing noise behind Albus and something crashed into him, knocking him over. Albus let out a scream and turned to see it was only John, who had n't landed gracefully.

"Sorry,"John muttered as he lit his own wand. There was now sufficiency wand light to see clearly. The place was creepy. That was the simply Word for it.

Amanda landed without knocking anyone over and lit her wand. Albus and Kaden waited for John and Amanda to take a feel around.

"What do we do now ?"Kaden asked.

"Energy anyone hear anything ?"Albus asked. It seemed utterly silent to Albus.

John shook his head word."Matt should 've come. We need his lycanthrope hearing."

Albus nodded in correspondence."I guess we just follow the tobacco pipe. It looks like it only goes one way."

The others agreed. Albus led the way, his baton pointed in front of him, and they set off. No one radius. No one made any haphazardness whatsoever. Albus had his ears poised to hear even the quietest noise, hoping to listen some clue as to where Malfoy and the others had gone.

Ihey walked for what felt like miles before they heard even the vague of racket. Albus noticed numerous Snake River skins and the bones from decades-old animate being. Then, just when Albus had a opinion they were reaching the end of the passage, he heard a phonation, clearly, as if it was right adjacent to him.

"Albus Potter. well, well, is n't this a pleasant surprise."

Albus recognized the voice. It was Jarrett Willinson.


Cliffhanger ! I know. I 'm evil. Thank you for all the wonderful reviews ! I will answer to them, but I 've been quite in use lately.

And now I 'll take a few mo to brag. On the 16th I went to NYC for J.K. Rowling 's event for The Casual vacancy. I got to meet her and get a bless copy of the playscript ! It was absolutely amazing. I blogged about it on the forums, so delight check out it out !


Albus froze. He had n't heard that voice in over a yr and part of him thought he would n't ever hear it again. He always assumed Jarrett Willinson had stayed in Australia, where absolutely no one was looking for him.

Slowly, Albus turned toward the voice. He pointed his lit wand in its steering and saw that there was a very small-scale opening to his left. It appeared to be another pipe, but one much minuscule than the one he and his friends had just been in. Albus crept toward it, trying not to create any noise.

He turned to trick, Kaden, and Amanda."What do you think ?"

"I think we should get out of here,"Kaden said immediately, stepping back."I thought we were just going after Malfoy."

"I bet Malfoy 's down there with him,"John said.

"But why ?"Amanda asked as she walked over to the pipe. She stuck her head in, making her representative echoey."Why would he come back here ?"

"Can you see anything ?"Albus asked.

"Not much,"Amanda said, climbing fully into the pipe.

"We should just go back,"Kaden said, his articulation wavering. All his fearlessness from being the first to enter the sleeping accommodation was gone.

"I do n't know,"Albus said."We 've come this far ..."

"Albus, I think Rose might 've been right,"Kaden said."Let 's just go-"

Kaden was interrupted by Amanda 's shrieking. There was a loud splashing, a clunk, and then more shrieking. Albus turned quickly back to the pipe. Amanda was gone, a small big bucks of rubble in her place.

"Amanda !"Albus screamed, stepping over to the pipe.

"Albus !"she shouted back."avail !"

"What 's happening ?"John asked.

"Told you we should 've gone back !"Kaden shouted.

"Well, we ca n't go back now,"Albus said, climbing into the pipe."C'mon !"

Albus had to crouch as he walked in purchase order to fit through the pipe. whoremaster and Kaden followed him, occasionally tripping over rocks as they went. Albus splashed ahead of them, his sceptre lighting the few metrical foot in forepart of him. They followed Amanda 's shrieks until they grew muffled and disappeared all together.

Finally, the pipe emerged into a pocket-size sleeping accommodation, not unlike a belittled translation of the sleeping accommodation they 'd just been in. It was wetter than the eternal sleep of the chamber of Secrets and the far bulwark contained a metallic element grate that appeared to let out into the lake. But the water system was n't going through it.

Albus 's care, however, was n't focused on the magically contained lake water. Instead, his centre drew to the accumulation of citizenry scattered throughout the chamber. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Amanda, in the clench of Jarrett Willinson, who had his wand pointed at her head. Albus was just happy they found her. Jarrett was flanked by his son, Quinton, who was looking a bit worse for wear. Azkaban did n't appear to have agreed with him and he now looked far older than his former twenties.

Scorpius, Felix, and Elsie were there as well, looking very uncomfortable. Elsie was shaking and had a end grip on her brother 's hand. Scorpio stood next to them and he seemed very upset. The only one who seemed at all okey with the situation was Felix, whose face seemed to be coming from his sister 's handle on his script, not on the situation.

Albus did n't agnize the other three adults at first. Then he remembered their picture from the vaticinator. The shorter woman was Dolores Umbridge, her gray hair greatly resembling a beehive around her head. Her skin was deeply scrunch up and she did n't much resemble the mortal in the exposure, but her optic and outlandish grinning were the same. The other adult female was about a foot taller and just as ugly. Her whisker was stringy and mostly Brown, with streak of greyness. Her nose was long, crooked, and boasted a large verruca, giving her the look of a classic Muggle 's adaptation of a witch. All that was missing was the dark-green skin. The man resembled her, although he was myopic and more dumpy. Both were sneering. Albus assumed they were the Carrows.

"What are you doing here, ceramicist ?"Scorpius asked, clearly trying to go more convinced than he was.

"Shut up, Malfoy,"Jarrett snapped."I 'll ask the doubtfulness. And I can only don they followed you three. Whether it was intentional on your part, I have no idea."

"Ca n't we just go ?"Scorpius demanded."We did what you wanted-"

"No, no you did n't,"Jarrett disrupt."You did what your father wanted and then you did part of what we wanted. And in this lies the problem."

Albus was thoroughly confused. His eyes went from Jarrett to Malfoy and back again, attempting to cipher out what was going on. What exactly had Malfoy 's father asked him to do ?

"I never said I 'd do what you wanted us to do,"Malfoy muttered, averting his gaze.

"And yet you did."Jarrett sneered.

"But I did n't need to !"Malfoy looked scared now. He pulled his verge out of his gown and held it up shakily.

"Oh, are you going to duel me ?"Jarrett asked, shifting Amanda in his arms so that he could head his wand at Malfoy.

"M-maybe."

Jarrett sighed."This is silly. I do n't like taking advantage of fragile children, and yet here I am-"

"I 'm not tenuous !"Malfoy shouted.

"You just lost your grandfather,"Jarrett said."You 're thin. So is your male parent, and he 's promiscuous to deceive."

"He is not !"

At that point Elsie started crying. It started out as small sniffles but within ten seconds blew up into tatty sobbing. Everyone in the elbow room turned to stare at her. Albus felt bad. It was obvious she had n't wanted to be here.

"Oh, shut her up !"Jarrett said.

"Elsie, you have to be quiet,"Felix muttered.

"I just want to go forth, Felix !"Elsie sobbed."I did n't require to do this. You know I did n't want to do this !"

"You did n't make a option, Elsie. He 's our uncle and he needed our help."

"Could someone please just explain what 's going on ?"Kaden asked loudly."Or even better, let go of Amanda so we can get out of here and let you lot get back to whatever it is you 're doing ?"

Jarrett laughed."Oh, she 's not going anywhere. You three are unloose to pull up stakes. I really do n't care what the inferno you do."

Albus exchanged glances with John and Kaden, who both shrugged. None of them were going to depart, of grade, but Albus was utterly confused. For the retiring four age Jarrett and Quinton Willinson had tried to snatch him and now, all of a sudden, they wanted Amanda ? They 'd never wanted her before.

"Oh, you have n't put it together yet, have you Potter ? I thought you were wise than that."

"Put what together ?"Albus asked, still confused.

Jarrett squeezed Amanda tighter."She 's the Prime government minister 's niece, who happens to be a Wiccan. She 's currently the respectable bargaining chip I could possibly have. I only wish I 'd known about her earlier, but thanks to your uncle the entire wizarding macrocosm knows she 's the heyday pastor 's niece. I must thank that reporter.

"Potter, do you clear how bad Laurentis would look if anything happened to the Muggle Prime pastor 's niece a little over a calendar month after she took office ? And just years after her appointed headspring Auror revolutionized the department ? Oh, it would look fearsome, thrower. So we, all of us, are going to sit sloshed until the Aurors get here and then I 'll constitute my demands and the Aurors will present in because if they do n't, I 'll bolt down the Prime pastor 's niece."

Albus 's mouth fell open. He stared at Jarrett, whose grin resembled that of a soul who just won the lottery. Amanda looked panic-struck, her eyes darting everywhere and a few stray bust running down her cheeks.

"Of trend you can leave, ceramist,"Jarrett said."Go get your dad. Go get the early Aurors. It 'll only bring them here sooner. And do n't even try to hex me because if you do, this lot-"Jarrett gestured to the Carrows, Umbridge, and Quinton,"-will hex you. Your dad is n't a Ministry official anymore, ceramicist. It wo n't be as big of a criminal offence if they hex you now."

Albus glanced at Umbridge and the Carrows. Umbridge did n't appear like soul capable of hexing anyone, given that she more closely resembled an unstable mental affected role than a serious witch. But the Carrows, they looked up to of murder. As for Quinton, he was n't a good deal of a threat. Still, Albus, toilet, and Kaden were more outnumbered than they ever had been before.

"But why ca n't we leave ?"Malfoy asked, his voice wavering."Or at least me ?"

"Because I might involve you to do something else,"Jarrett snapped,"and I want you here because if I let you leave I doubt you 'll come in back. I know you did n't bring us the girl. She came with thrower, following you."

"Why does it matter ?"Malfoy asked."The point is she 's here now."

"I do n't think you would 've ever brought her to me, Malfoy."

"You 're right, I would n't ! And do you need to know why ? I never wanted to avail you. That 's not why I agreed to this. I think you 're all idiots, to be honest."

Albus stared at Malfoy, completely shocked. Malfoy hated Albus, Amanda, and all their friends, so why would n't he have brought Amanda to Jarrett ?

"Then why are you here, Malfoy ?"

"To serve my dad !"Malfoy said, his wand still pointed at Jarrett."I did n't know you retard were going to have a plot of your own."

Jarrett laughed."Now you 're the moron. You think we 'd have agreed to his plot of land if there had n't been something in it for us ? Meaning my son, here. Not these former three. I 'm not for certain why they agreed to it. I 'm not even sure Umbridge knows where she is, actually. She has n't said a lot of anything since the escape."

"Do you really think you 're going to get anything out of this ?"Malfoy demanded.

"Yes, I do,"Jarrett snapped.

Malfoy narrowed his eyes and then whipped around. In a topic of seconds, he sent five back-to-back hex at the Carrows and Umbridge. Umbridge collapsed immediately, not moving. The Carrows both went for their wands, but were too slow. Malfoy sent two more beauty and the Carrows fell over, one on top of the former.

Malfoy turned back to Jarrett, breathing heavily."Looks like the odds are a little different now."

"Malfoy, what are you doing ?"Albus asked, still trying to roll his brain around the fact that Scorpio Malfoy had just helped him.

"Shut up, ceramicist,"Malfoy muttered."I 'm not doing this for you."

"Scorpio, what is your problem ?"Felix asked, breaking free of his Sister 's grip."I thought we were in on this together."

"I thought we were, too, until your uncle decided to do things his way,"Malfoy said."It 's like I told you at the beginning ; I only did this for my father."

Albus still did n't know exactly what"this"was, but all that really mattered now was that they were no longer outnumbered.

"The Aurors are coming,"Malfoy said to Albus."If we can just defy them off-"

"How do you eff the Aurors are coming ?"Albus asked.

"That does n't weigh now,"Malfoy said as he sent a smasher at Jarrett.

Albus turned to John and Kaden."focussing on Quinton and Felix. No offense, but you are n't the best duelers and I do n't want you to hit Amanda."

John and Kaden nodded. Albus glanced at Malfoy, attempted to shake off the weird opinion he had from being on Malfoy 's side, and started sending hex after hex at Jarrett. Jarrett, clearly unable to duel while holding Amanda, threw up a carapace and did n't hex back. Albus and Malfoy silently agreed to keep going, in an attempt to subvert the shield.

Albus heard a loud clang and turned to his right. junk was settling near where the Carrows and Umbridge lay. Once it settled, Albus saw that a bombastic boulder had fallen from the cap and had landed on top of the female Carrow.

"I think she 's dead,"Kaden said.

Albus swallowed gruelling. decease had never crossed his mind when he 'd get along down here. Trying to push it from his thoughts, he returned to hexing Jarrett 's shield.

Kaden shouted something Albus could n't make out and Albus turned just in time to see him land against the rampart. Albus ran over and knelt next to him."Kaden ! Kaden !"

Kaden stirred and looked at Albus."Albus ?"

"Kaden, thank God,"Albus whispered.

"I 've got an awful cephalalgia,"Kaden muttered.

"Do n't precipitate asleep,"Albus said."Stay awake. You 've probably got a concussion."

Albus heard splashing and looked up. Five genius stumbled through the pipage, their wands out.

"Wands up !"one of them shouted. Albus did n't recognize the vocalization."Nobody move !"

"Are they all here ?"another asked.

"I believe so,"the firstly one said as he walked around the room."Looks like the tip was correct."

"Not so fast !"Jarrett shouted."I 've got a few demands."

"You 're in no stance to gain requirement,"the first Auror said.

"Albus ?"

Albus turned back to the pipe and let out a sigh of relief. His dad had been the 5th Auror to come."Dad. Kaden needs to go the hospital wing. Now."

Harry knelt down next to Kaden and assessed him."We 'll accept this lot rounded up soon. Then I 'll take him."

"Let go of the girl, Willinson,"the first Auror said. He took a few measure forward and Albus was capable to see the side of his grimace. It was Robert Dr. Johnson, the new Head Auror.

"She 's the flush Minister 's niece,"Jarrett said."You 'd better be careful, or I 'll vote down her."

"You 're outnumbered, Willinson,"Lyndon Baines Johnson said."I would n't try anything if I were you."

"It 'll be a huge scandal if she dies down here."

"Oh for God 's sake,"Dr. Johnson muttered."Expelliarmus !"Jarrett 's wand flew in a perfect arc out of his hand and Johnson caught it."Petrificus Totalus !"

Jarrett attempted to duck the magical spell, but still celebrate detention of Amanda. He failed and collapsed to the floor. Amanda ran forward and Harry caught clasp of her, directing her to sit next to Albus and Kaden.

The Aurors conjured circle and tied up Jarrett, Quinton, the Carrows, and Umbridge. None of them said a password and none of them questioned any of the defendant. If Albus had n't known any just, he would 've thought the Aurors knew exactly what they were going to find down here. It was all very confusing.

Lyndon Johnson and the three unfamiliar Aurors grabbed hold of the malefactor and took them out of the chamber. Harry was left with Albus and the rest of the scholar.

"Dad, what 's going on ?"Albus asked.

"I have my misgiving, but unfortunately I do n't experience any validation,"Harry said."Let 's get you up to the infirmary wing."

Harry carried Kaden, who had since passed out, and led the odd grouping out of the sleeping accommodation and back to the pipe that led to Moaning Vinca minor 's toilet. Once there, he pointed his sceptre at the pipe and it turned into stairs. A few hour later, they were back in the loo. Albus blinked a few clip at the shiny Inner Light and then his eyes rested upon Myrtle, who was floating near the far stall.

"You 're back !"she shouted."Is he dead ?"Myrtle gestured to Kaden.

"No,"Albus said."Just unconscious."

"Oh."Vinca minor seemed rather disappointed.

"Let 's go,"Harry said."hospital wing."
***


Albus had no literal reason to stay in the hospital wing. After muttering about how Albus and his friends were always getting into trouble, dame Pomfrey proclaimed him in perfective tense wellness. John, Amanda, Scorpius, Felix, and Elsie were also fine. Kaden, on the other manus, had a concussion and was not allowed to catch some Z's. Albus, John the Divine, and Amanda remained in the hospital wing with him. blush wine and Matt joined them as well, despite the fact that it was well preceding curfew.

Harry left after delivering them to Madam Pomfrey, but promised to return in a few hours. That had been three 60 minutes ago and Albus was still waiting for him to come back, and for an explanation. They 'd explained the entire ordeal to Matt and rosiness, who both agreed that Malfoy 's conduct was very strange.

The doors to the infirmary wing finally opened and Harry walked in, looking incredibly exhausted. gentlewoman Pomfrey, upon seeing him, hurried off to her study.

"Kaden,"Harry said."How are you feeling ?"

"Like someone ran my head over with a truck,"Kaden said.

Harry chuckled."You 'll experience better soon."

"What was that about, Dad ?"Albus asked."Why was it almost like the Aurors expected all the prisoners to be there ?"

Harry sighed."No one knows for sure as shooting. The official record is that they received an anon. tip, but none of the prisoner are explaining why they were in the sleeping room of Secrets or how they got in."

"When we were down there, Malfoy kept saying he was doing something for his dad, but he never said what it was,"Albus said.

"That helps confirm my hypothesis,"Harry said."I suspect that Scorpius Malfoy, along with Felix Willinson, were instructed by Draco Malfoy to find a suitable location to house the prisoners for safe-keeping until Aurors could be brought in to get them. This, of course, had to be done after the Auror department was reorganized by Robert Dr. Johnson, in decree to make both him and Laurentis look good. If Laurentis looks good, Draco Malfoy looks good."

"But that means that Laurentis and Draco Malfoy knew where the captive were,"Albus said.

"Yes, yes it does,"Harry said quietly.

"Uncle Harry,"rose wine began."You do n't suppose that Laurentis organized that break-out, do you ?"

"It 's crossed my mind,"Harry said."But it 's irrelevant, because I have no proof. Nor do I have proof of my theory about Draco Malfoy and his son. Alecto Carrow is abruptly, Dolores Umbridge is clinically insane, and Amycus Carrow is n't talking. Jarrett and Quinton Willinson are n't talking, either, and I somehow doubt Scorpius Malfoy will rat out his father. So, for now at least, this will remain a theory."

"But Dad, it 's illegal,"Albus said.

"It is,"Harry replied."Do n't worry about it, Albus. The captive are back in Azkaban, which is all that matters right now."

"But Dad-"

"Albus. Worrying will do nada. In my experience, the great unwashed who are bribe like this are never able to prevent it a clandestine long. Whatever happens will happen."

"What about Scorpius ?"Amanda asked."Why did he switch sides like that ?"

"Scorpius Malfoy has had a rough twelvemonth. His grandfather has been quite ill for a long time, which has put stress on both of his parents and thus, on him. I am sure he was pressured into this by his Father-God and then when it came fourth dimension for him to get further into it, by helping Jarrett Willinson get hold of Amanda, he realized he did n't want to be involved, not would his don have wanted him to be involved."

"Is he going to get in hassle ?"Albus asked.

"No,"Harry said."As far as the phonograph record is concerned, Scorpius, Felix, and Elsie stumbled upon the prisoners just as you lot did."

"That does n't seem fair,"Albus muttered.

"No, it does n't,"Harry said."But on the other paw, I think Scorpius Malfoy deserves a break this year. I think he 's grown up a lot over the yesteryear few calendar month. You might find that he 's not quite the bully he used to be."

"I 'll believe that when I see it,"Matt muttered."I guess that 's why he wanted to get into the Shrieking Shack, though. Probably wanted it for the prisoners."

"I suspect that, too,"Harry said."I must say I 'm happy he chose the Chamber of Secrets."

"Me, too,"lusterlessness agreed.

"I have to return to the Ministry,"Harry said as he stood up."This will be in the paper tomorrow, although I have no estimate what type of account they 're going to birl or how involved you will be. Whatever they publish, do n't get it too hard. delight do not name my theory to anyone. The finis thing we need is an article in the Prophet claiming that Harry thrower is a conspiracy theorist."

Albus laughed and said good night to his dad. Madam Pomfrey let them slumber in the infirmary fender that night, considering how late it was. Kaden, of course, had to persist awake. Albus was surprised by how soft nap came, considering what he 'd been through that night, but it was nearly two in the morning. He realized with a sinking feeling that he still had exams the succeeding day. Herbology and Ancient Runes. He hoped they would n't go too horribly.


A/N : Thanks for all the pin-up reviews ! I will be getting to them as soon as I can. The next chapter will the endure in this novel. I 'm not sure as shooting when the fifth part novel will be up since I have yet to come up with a concrete plot of ground for it. I 'm going to consume a faulting to write former tale that I 've had in my read/write head for a patch.

It 's the end of October, which means it 's nearly NaNoWriMo season ! I 'll be continuing to update Between Here and Somewhere throughout November, as well as posting the last chapter of this succeeding Friday. But you wo n't see a good deal else from me until December, as I 'll be busy writing an master fic.


Albus, John, and Matt overslept the succeeding morning. Albus awoke ten minutes before their Herbology exam and had to rouse up St. John and flatness, which is never a little feat. It took a full-of-the-moon five minutes to get them up, but soon they were running through the corridors knowing full well that they would be late. Unfortunately for Albus, none of his mind was on Herbology. He could n't give up thinking about what happened last night.

The male child ran into greenhouse three five minute of arc late and as soon as they shut the room access the entire class looked up from their exams and stared at them. Albus got the distinct flavor that they all knew about last night, whether from hearsay or from the Prophet. professor Longbottom got up from his stool and walked over to them.

"Boys,"he said quietly.

"I 'm gloomy we 're late, sir,"Albus said."We overslept-"

"Albus, it 's okay. I know what happened last nighttime. Just go take your seats. Your test are already laid out."

"Thanks,"Albus replied.

Albus was very grateful that Herbology had been the exam he was late for. Longbottom was the most understanding prof in the total schoolhouse. Albus settled down and managed to take the exam without falling asleep. While there were a few interrogative sentence that he was n't indisputable about, he was quite confident that he at least passed.

By the time the examination period ended Albus was starving, as were John and Matt. They, along with Rose and Amanda, headed immediately to the Great mansion for lunch. As they walked in, Albus again got the distinguishable feeling that everyone was staring at them.

"You should 've been at breakfast,"Amanda said."Everyone was talking about it and they kept coming over and asking me questions. There were a crowd of hoi polloi crowded around Malfoy, too."

"Do either of you have the prophet ?"Albus asked as they sat down.

"Yeah, here,"rose wine said, handing it to him.

Albus unfolded the paper and set it down on his plate. King John and matt sat on either side of him and read over his shoulder.

CONVICTS CAUGHT AT HOGWARTS

Newly appointed headway Auror, Henry M. Robert
President Johnson, received an anonymous tip
late last dark that led him and four
other Aurors to Hogwarts School of
Witchcraft and genius. The tip
told Aurors that escaped convicts
Amycus Carrow, Alecto Carrow,
Quinton Willinson, and Dolores
Umbridge could be found in the Chamber
of Secrets thick under Hogwarts School.

The Chamber of closed book, long since
regarded as a rumored blot out chamber
beneath the shoal was proven to
exist in mid-1993. The Chamber has
remained void since then.

All four escaped con, along with
Jarrett Willinson, wanted for a class
by the Auror department, were found in
the Chamber of Secrets by Robert Johnson
and four early Aurors. Amycus Carrow,
Quinton Willinson, and Dolores Umbridge
have been returned to Azkaban prison.
Jarrett Willinson is currently being held
in Azkaban prison without bail bond. Alecto
Carrow was pronounced numb by Healers
late last Night, after the roof in
the bedchamber collapsed, crushing her
instantly.

Six Hogwarts student were found in the
Chamber as well. Johnson has released
very minuscule information on this face
of the dark, but has said that Jarrett
Willinson captured one student with the
intent of killing her if demands were
not met. The names of the student have
not been released.

It is unknown how the convicts got into
the shoal. Weaknesses in the protective
wards are currently being addressed. 'We
compliments to assure the public that Hogwarts
School remains as safe as ever. The problems
will be addressed quickly. There is no
need to panic .'

"alien how the convict got into the school ?"Albus said incredulously."They 've covered the whole affair up !"

"What did you expect, Albus ?"Rose asked, shaking her head."Uncle Harry said it would happen."

"I bet that new school principal Auror is in on it,"Albus muttered."He 'll probably say he investigated but all he 'll do is throw up report to traverse up what Laurentis did."

"You 're probably right,"rose said.

"Who 's right ?"Kaden asked as he sat down.

"Albus,"Rose said.

"have you seen this rubbish ?"Albus asked, holding up the paper.

"Yeah,"Kaden replied."But honestly, I do n't care right now. I just want a sandwich. The foretelling exam was beastly. I had to tell Trelawney 's future tense in tea leaves."

John laughed."What did you say ?"

"Told her she was going to contact an untimely death at the hands of a stray Quaffle,"Kaden said.

Rose groaned."Oh, Kaden, you didn't."

"She actually liked it,"Kaden said."Her huge eye lit up and everything."

"She likes death, Trelawney,"bathroom said."Or at to the lowest degree the concept of it."

"Weird,"Albus muttered.

Albus 's remaining exam took place with lilliputian fanfare. Despite his mind not being on the cloth, he thought he did fairly well, and when the stain were released he discovered that he had passed everything. His Transfiguration Day mark was a bit low, but still passing.

The Hogwarts students, with their shortsighted computer memory spans, soon forgot about the debacle in the Chamber of enigma and moved on to early topics of discussion such as the summer holiday and the current Quidditch time of year. Albus certainly did n't mind this because it meant he was no longer the center of attention. Despite the fact that the seer never released the names of the scholar in the Chamber, everyone knew it was Albus, John, Kaden, and Amanda, along with the three Slytherins.

"Look, Laurentis has released a statement about capturing the prisoner,"rosebush said at breakfast on their day in the castle.

Albus groaned."This ca n't be good. Let 's hear it."

“'I wish to applaud the Auror Department for their work in recapturing the remaining escaped outlaw. The timely recapture after the shake-up of the Department only reinforces how important a decision it was to reorganize. With the new regularisation and policy in the Auror section, organized by Robert Johnson, the Aurors were able to capture the criminal immediately after receiving the tip. We can most assuredly look forward to more successes from the Auror section .'”

"What a lading of crap,"Albus said."Of course they were capable to recapture them quickly after receiving that tip. They organized for the inmate to be in the Chamber in the first place."

"It 's like your dad said, though,"matte began."Everything will get revealed eventually. That 's not an well-fixed enigma to keep, what they did."

"Hey, it looks like Embry 's going to name a speech,"Kaden said, gesturing toward the staff table.

prof Embry stood up and raised his hands for muteness. This did naught, of grade."tranquilize !"Embry shouted."I have something I 'd wish to say.

"Thank you,"he said, after everyone stopped talking."I just want to say what a delight it has been to teach you all this year. I never expected to learn and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope you enjoyed taking my family as much as I enjoyed teaching it, and I hope you all have a greater grasp and understanding of our government. Today is my shoemaker's last day at Hogwarts, as the political relation class will not go on next year, and I am once again needed at the Ministry. Please do n't hesitate to owl me if you wish to get a tour of the Ministry for academic purposes. I daresay that a few of you might own calling in politics yourselves."

Embry sat back down and the intact way burst into applause. Albus was n't sure if the clapping was for Embry or for the fact that political sympathies would no longer be a class. Albus had n't minded the class, but one fewer grade was to be appreciated.

"I learned something about government this year, all right,"John muttered as the hand clapping settled down."And that 's that I never want to be a politician."

"Me, too,"Albus agreed.

"Cheers to that !"James shouted from a few butt down.

"Oh, I do n't know."Amanda shrugged."I think it might be interesting."

Albus was n't at all storm to hear Amanda say that. If any of his acquaintance were to become politicians, it would be Amanda.
***


Later that day Albus found himself at yet another Hogwarts commencement exercise observance. He and Rose had attended every individual graduation ceremony since starting Hogwarts, and one the year before, too. It had gotten to the peak where he did n't pay much care to the manner of speaking because they all sounded very similar to the ones he 'd heard before. During this ceremonial, the solitary part Albus paid attention to was the character where Fred and Heather accepted their diplomas, which took all of two min.

"well, we survived,"Albus said to Peach State after the ceremony ended and everyone was milling around.

Georgia grinned."That we did. It 's kind of surreal, to be fair. Dad did n't win, so things are no different than they were this time in conclusion year, really."

Albus nodded."How is Uncle Hotspur doing ?"

Georgia shrugged."I 'm not sure. He does n't talk about it much. Actually, the weird thing is that whenever I go over there for dinner he spends a lot of time asking about Quidditch. I think it 's mostly to keep open me from asking about his lack of engagement, but I 'm not going to quetch. Maybe he 'll even study to wish it. The Quidditch, I mean, not the lack of employment."

"He still has n't found a job ?"Albus asked.

"No. He could go back to the Ministry but he 'd have to do something where he 's not an actual politician, since Laurentis would n't exact him. I do n't think he wants to do that. He 's been helping Uncle George with the shop, but I do n't cogitate Uncle George really likes that. Says Dad 's too obsessive. But he 's too prissy to tell Dad he ca n't help."

"Albus !"blush wine shouted."We 've got to go. The stroller are leaving."

Albus nodded to pink wine and then turned back to Georgia."I 'd better go. Let me know when your next mate is. I want to go."

Georgia grinned."sure enough thing. See you soon, Al."

"Bye, Empire State of the South,"Albus said as he turned to follow Rose back to the castling, where they would catch the thestral-drawn carriages back to Hogsmeade.
***


"I say we go to whoremaster 's house this year,"Matt said as the Hogwarts Express hurtled back to London.

"Are you mad ?"John asked, unwrapping a umber Frog."I mean, really, are you ? You want to come to my house, where I have three crazy little sisters running about ?"

Matt shrugged."They ca n't be that bad."

"Says he who is the youngest in his family,"toilet said, looking at Albus for support.

"He 's proper,"Albus agreed."And I 've only got one little sister. hold off a hour, lustrelessness 's the only one of us who does n't experience younger siblings, is n't he ?"

The others nodded."All right,"Gospel According to John said."Let 's collapse matt a real sense of what having lots of siblings is like. I 'll owl you and let you know when."

"Exploding snap ?"Kaden asked, holding up a deck of cards.

"Sure,"lusterlessness said. Everyone else nodded.

Kaden began to apportion the cards, but before he finished, the compartment door slid open air. Albus, expecting one of his cousins, turned to the doorway. It slid assailable the ease of the way and Malfoy stood on the room access, looking a bit unsure of himself. He was alone. Albus wondered where Felix was.

"What do you want ?"John asked.

"Er, can I just talk to you lot ?"he asked quietly, stepping inside and sliding the door behind him.

"Where 's Willinson ?"Albus asked, standing up.

"He 's no longer speaking to me,"Malfoy explained."After I hexed his uncle and as he put it, 'joined the other face .'”

"What about Elsie ?"rosiness asked, clearly concerned about the little girl.

Malfoy shrugged."She 's always with Felix. She never said a good deal around me."

"Is she really a parselmouth ?"John asked."I assume she 's the one who got you into the Chamber ?"

"Yeah, she did, but she 's not a parselmouth. She 's just really dependable with languages so she was able to fake it,"Malfoy explained.

There were a few present moment of inapt silence. Malfoy shifted his weight and leaned against the door.

"So,"Albus said."Why are you here, exactly ?"

Malfoy sighed."This year sucked and I got caught up in a lot of things that I did n't want to do, which is exactly what happened to my dad when he was at Hogwarts."

Albus was utterly confused as to why Malfoy was telling them all of this. He exchanged looks with flatness and then focused on Malfoy once more.

"But it 's just not worth it anymore,"Malfoy continued."Hating you lot. I know it was you who somehow got itching powder into all the Slytherins'laundry-"

"That was n't us,"Kaden said quickly, a short too quickly.

"And we know you put the laughingstock in the common room,"John added.

Malfoy nodded."As I was saying, it just does n't matter. Any of it."He turned to lusterlessness."And I do n't worry that you 're a lycanthrope. Really. Sure, it 's unearthly and I have no melodic theme why Kendrick even lets you be here-"

"I wo n't waffle to hex you, you know,"John said, reaching into his robes for his wand.

Malfoy held up his hands."No, do n't. I guess what I 'm saying is that I think we should forebode a truce."

"A armistice ?"Albus asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Yeah, a truce,"Malfoy said."You all know my grandpa died this year. It makes all this scrap we do seem really stupid."

"You 're not saying we should be admirer, are you ?"Saint John the Apostle asked incredulously.

Malfoy screwed up his brass."God no. I 'm saying you lot intercept only pranking the Slytherins, do n't tell anyone that I dueled on your side in the sleeping room, and I wo n't evidence anyone Eckerton is a lycanthrope. I 'll really anticipate that, without any threats of expulsion."

Albus was unbelieving. Could the death of Lucius Malfoy really remind this change in Scorpius ?

"C'mon, cease-fire ?"Scorpius asked, sticking his hand out to Albus.

"Oh, just do it, Albus,"blush wine said."We 've got O.W.L.s next year. You do n't involve this stupid feud distracting you. Or any of us."

"mulct, truce,"Albus said, shaking Scorpio 's hired hand.

Malfoy nodded."I guess I 'll go, then. See you around, Potter."

Malfoy turned and left the compartment. Albus did n't move for a full minute."That was the unusual thing I 've ever seen,"he finally said, resuming his seat.

"I do n't think any of us will ever full phase of the moon understand what happened there,"Rose said."But I think it 's a good thing."

"Wyrd, though,"flatness said."You think he means it ?"

The weirder thing was, was that Albus did actually believe him. There had been something in Malfoy 's oculus that Albus had n't seen before. It was like Malfoy seemed older somehow. He was no farsighted a kid, whose biggest worry was arguing with Albus over stupid things. Somehow, Malfoy had grown up.

Albus supposed they 'd all acquire up that year. They were going to be fifth eld now, and Kaden would be a fourth yr, and that meant they were the older scholarly person in the school day. They were growing up. All of them. Even Malfoy.

"Makes me wonder what next twelvemonth will be like,"Amanda mused."Everything about this year has been strange."

"We 've got Laurentis reforming Hogwarts,"pink wine reminded them."I think it 'll be plenty strange."

Albus had nearly forgotten about that. He did n't need Hogwarts to change. Despite all that was going on in the outside creation, Hogwarts had always remained the same. But now it was n't. Hogwarts was going to change.

Albus leaned back in his seat and stared out the window, watching the countryside fly by. He did n't know what changes Hogwarts would see in the following twelvemonth, but he did n't require to recollect about it just yet. There was still a whole summer before that would happen, and Albus intended to enjoy it.


A/N : Thank you so much for all the support and recapitulation for this storey ! You hombre are amazing. I will be taking a breaking before continuing with this series as I have other stories floating around in my top dog, but I 'll eventually follow back to Albus. I 've no idea how long it 'll be, though.

In the meantime, please check into out my Marauders Era story, Between Here and Somewhere ! And go on checking back for my review responses, because I will get to them.