Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


Albus spent about of the days preceding Christmas at pink wine 's home. James II was determined to use all of his spare time for Quidditch pattern, and he had to go to Rose 's house for that. Albus usually went with him and he and Hugo would avail James practice while Rose read.

Harry had to practically break James from his Scots heather by magic on Yuletide Eve so they could go to Godric 's Hollow. James wanted to stay at Rose 's house and keep practicing, but Harry refused to let him. The trip was tranquillise since James was rather sullen the entire time.

"professor Patil says I 'm a natural at Transfiguration,"Lily bragged to Albus as they walked towards the Burrow afterwards.

"That 's good,"Albus replied.

"Yeah, so I 'm going to suit an Animagus eventually. I want to be a cat."

"You do n't get to choose what kind of animal you transform into,"Albus told her.

"Oh,"Lily said,"But I think I 'll become a cat."

Albus nodded as Lily began to describe in bang-up detail what kind of cat she would transform into.

Everyone else was already at the Burrow and Albus felt an immediate warmheartedness come over him as he stepped inside. It had nothing to do with the fact that it was so stale and snowy exterior, either. There was something so comforting about being at the Burrow surrounded by all his phratry. He was able to forget all the subject with the Quidditch tourney and prof Killigan. All he could reckon about was how ravenous he was and how right some of his grandmother 's preparation would be right-hand about then.

blush wine sat down side by side to Albus as he tucked into a large trough of Allium cepa soup with a side of homemade bread.

"Uncle Charlie and aunt Katherine are going back to Romania this summer,"blush wine announced.

"To tame more than dragons ?"Albus asked. His uncle and aunt had n't done that since Francis Edgar Stanley started Hogwarts, but they often talked about how they wanted to go back.

"Yeah,"rosebush nodded,"They might stay even after the summertime 's over, but heather and stigma will come in back to go to Hogwarts."

"They get to go, too ?"

"Yup. Francis Edgar Stanley and Eddie are going, too. Francis Edgar Stanley 's quitting his job for it. He 's definitely staying in Romania after the summer 's over. He wants to get into flying lizard training."

"Wow,"Albus replied,"They 're lucky. I guess it 's good that Francis Edgar Stanley decided what he wants to do."

Stanley had been working at the Magical zoo since he finished Hogwarts, but knew he did n't want to do that his whole life history. He just did n't know what he did want to do.

"I wish our parents would take us to some other area,"Albus sighed.

"Me, too,"Rose agreed,"Imagine the history we could learn."

Albus personally had enough of chronicle from prof Binns, but he supposed learning history by traveling would be fun.

"Christmas Quidditch tomorrow ?"teddy asked as he sat down next to Rose.

"Definitely,"Albus grinned.

"I would n't count on it, Teddy,"mollie said as she handed Albus another lump of boodle,"We 're supposed to get the snowstorm of the X tomorrow. The Muggle electricity is already out in town."

"Is it really ?"Arthur popped his head into the room,"Fascinating ! I may have to go see it tomorrow !"

"You 'll do no such matter !"Molly shouted,"It 's well-nigh impossible to Appparate during such a tempest. Not to remark the fact that it 's Xmas and you should be here."

"We do n't need electrical energy to play Quidditch !"slip exclaimed,"It 'll be sodding training conditions ! If you can overtake a Snitch in the eye of a blizzard, you can catch one in any weather condition. It 's not like Kendrick ever calls off Quidditch because of snow."

"We 'll see tomorrow, Teddy,"Molly sighed.

Albus finished his soup and he and Rose went into the den, where they were greeted by a loud chorus of 'Odo the Hero', Sung dynasty by George, Alicia, Charlie, and Ron. government note and Fleur were laughing while Hermione shook her head. Albus had a feeling the only reason why Fleur approved was because the vocalizing was drowning out Celestina Warbeck.

"So then I said, I 'm not paying seven reaping hook for that !"Hotspur said to Katherine, who was only variety of paying attention,"And the bloke looked at me like I was mad. I say he 's mad, charging that a good deal for a tour of a questionably historic old building. There really should be regulation on such things. It 's one thing I 'll change if I 'm ever Minister."

Albus stifled a jape. His Uncle Walker Percy had been talking about running for Minister for the by ten years, but still had n't done it. Most of his uncles and aunts got fed up of hearing him spill about what he would and would not change.

"Hey, Albus, Rose,"Victoire waved at him from across the room.

"Hi Victoire,"Albus made his way over to her,"How is healer training ?"

"Exhausting,"Victoire sighed,"And I have to fancy out which region of the hospital I want to do the rest of my breeding in by September. We 've been rotating throughout all the floors, but now we have to nibble one. I 'm nowhere near decided."

"You have until September,"Albus shrugged. It seemed like a foresightful time to him.

"I know,"Victoire replied,"But Amy 's known where she wants to finish grooming since we were in 4th year."

"You 're not in Amy 's state of affairs,"Teddy appeared and put his arm around her,"And I think you 'll do keen anyplace you decide."

"Thanks, Teddy,"Victoire smiled,"I 'm thinking either the Maternity Mary Augusta Arnold Ward or go Damage."

"There 's a in use Ward,"Teddy grinned,"charm legal injury. You 'll get all the funny injuries there."

"That 's not a respectable reason to pick a specialty,"Victoire groaned.

"Good a understanding as any,"Teddy shrugged.

The prison term grew later and after Albus played numerous turn of Exploding ginger nut with his cousin-german, his grandmother announced that it was sentence for bed. Everyone argued, but there was really no point. Everyone, including the other adults, knew that arguing with molly Weasley was useless.

Albus trudged up the stairs to the in high spirits sleeping accommodation that he shared with James, Ben, and Cedric. He climbed into bed and then realized just how big this impend blizzard was. The winding was howling louder than he 'd ever heard before.

The wind was so powerful that Albus could find it through the gap in the window. Every once in a while, the house would squeak and throw off. Albus sighed and put his pillow over his capitulum to try and drown out the howling.

Albus did n't manage to stray off to sleep until after Cedric got out of bed, swore loudly, and disregarded the no magic outside of school rule to put a silencing charm on the room.

******

Albus was awoken by his annual Yule wake-up call, Lily. She breezed through the doorway shouting about how they all needed to wake up and open their presents.

"And there 's three base of C outside,"Lily said as she left the room,"I checked."

"Merlin !"King James I jumped off the top bunk and looked out the window,"There is ! And it 's still coming !"

"Whoa, you ca n't see anything !"Cedric added.

"We could build the world 's biggest snow wizard later,"Ben suggested.

"We could build an entire snow wizard U. S. Army,"Albus said.

"Presents first,"James said as he located his nap of presents.

Albus descended upon his own heap of presents and began opening them. There were the usual sweetness and Weasleys'mathematical product from his aunts and uncles. Another Weasley jumper, this one scarlet and amber striped. He pulled it on over his pj's and opened the rest of the nowadays from his auntie and uncles. His Aunt Hermione had gotten him a few Good Book he 'd probably never learn, including one about the history of house elves at Hogwarts.

Albus saved his parents'present for concluding, although he doubted they could top lastly class 's. There really was n't anything in the creation that was better than the invisibility Cloak.

"Al, did you open Mum and Dad 's yet ?"James shouted.

"I 'm opening it now,"Albus said as he ripped the paper off the belittled box.

"You 'll never guess what they got us !"

Albus opened the box and saw two tickets. Two tickets for the Quidditch Earth Cup that was taking stead this summer !

"Whoa !"Albus shouted,"World Cup ticket !"

"I did n't even lie with they were on sale this ahead of time !"St. James said.

"You two get the best presents,"Cedric said.

"Hey, I got two tickets,"James replied.

"Yeah, two,"Ben sighed,"You can only pick one of us to go."

Albus suddenly realized he had the same problem. Two slate. Five friends he would want to take. Who was he going to prefer ? Not Rose. They may have been ally since they were infant, but she just did n't experience a cacoethes for Quidditch. Neither did Kaden. He was another to hybridise off the inclination. whoremaster and lustrelessness were the Quidditch lover. He 'd have to choose between them. Amanda liked Quidditch well enough, but she did n't follow a team or anything.

"Those are modified edition just the ticket,"Ben said,"They do n't have a go at it who 's playing yet, so they do n't betray very many tickets ahead of time."

"They 're for the top box, too,"St. James the Apostle said in awe.

Lily burst into the room with a big smiling on her face. She was holding two tickets as well."Did you get Quidditch tag ?"

"Yeah,"Albus and James said at the same time.

"This is going to be brilliant,"Lily said and then ran out of the room.

Albus 's parents were already in the kitchen by the time Albus went downstairs. They were sitting at the table eating breakfast. Albus gave them each a huge hug and then sat down.

"How did you get the tickets ?"he asked.

"They were a gift from the Minister,"Harry replied,"The Cup is in Canada this year and he 's good friends with their minister. Got him a lot of unfreeze tickets."

Albus grinned as he began to eat breakfast. Somehow his parents had come close to topping last year 's present. Now not only was he going to get to see the World Cup, he would get to move to a dissimilar country.

Rose came downstairs a little while later and was impressed with the ticket. She had no desire to go to the Cup and had no suggestions on how Albus was going to opt between John and Matt.

"Anyone up for Quidditch later ?"teddy announced as he sauntered into the kitchen.

"Not under my watch !"Molly shouted,"You ca n't see a foot in front of you out there ! And it must be close to 15 below !"

"Maybe after lunch, then,"Teddy shrugged.

Molly shook her head and sighed as she set a few more than disk of ball and pledge onto the table.

There was a whack on the door that could only just be heard over the howling air current. Molly glanced at President Arthur, who shrugged and got up to see who it was. Albus followed, very curious to see who would visit on Xmas morning in the middle of a huge blizzard.

"Xeno, is that you ?"Chester Alan Arthur shouted outside.

"Yes !"Xenophilius Lovegood shouted back. President Arthur stood aside as the man walked in and then shut the door behind him."Quite the storm we 're having ! Just thought I 'd stop by and see if this place was still standing."

"Quite the storm, yes,"President Arthur agreed,"I heard the Muggles lost electrical energy. Fascinating. I wonder what they do without it. But yes, the theatre is still standing."

"good, but if you feel it 's too rickety, just let me screw and I 'll go get some of my Jutispy Plants. The leaf do admiration on old edifice. pretend them like new. I just put a clustering into my place and it 's a good affair, too. Of course of action, they tend to attract Nargles ..."Xenophilius 's voice trailed off.

"I 'll hold on that in mind,"Chester Alan Arthur smiled,"Are you spending the holiday alone ?"

"Yes, yes,"he replied,"Luna and Rolf are with his syndicate this Christmas."

"Then you must stay here a while. Molly 's fix far too lots food, like usual,"King Arthur pencil lead Xeno into the kitchen.

Albus followed them. He always found Xenophilius Lovegood to be an interesting wizard, if not a lilliputian mad. Always going on about Nargles or Nom-Noms or something.

mollie was more than happy to put up Xenophilius with a gravid record of breakfast and he settled down to talk about the violent storm with the adults.

Albus spent most of the dawning playing Exploding snap, maven 's chess, and Gobstones with his cousins. They tried to make for hide and go look for, but the house was too crowded to play it properly.

shimmy and James kept looking out the window, willing it to stop over snowing. Both of them were just itching to go swordplay Quidditch. Albus would have gladly gone and played if it would stop snowing so much. He was dedicated to the game, but not enough to act as in this storm.

lunchtime came and the snow was still falling. George went outside to mensurate it and came back with the word that it was three and a half infantry.

Teddy went upstairs after dejeuner and came back decked out in three jumper, a thick cloak, and a distich of rush. Under one arm was his broom and under the other was a box of Quidditch balls. James was right hand behind him, dressed the same.

"Theodore Remus lupin !"Molly shouted,"I suppose I ca n't hold on you from going out there and catching death of a frigidity, but I will not let you trail Jesse James with you !"

"He 's not dragging me, Grandma,"James rolled his eyes,"I want to go !"

"Just let them, Molly,"Harry said,"They 'll get cold soon enough and come back inside."

"Fine,"Molly replied and went back into the kitchen.

"Excellent,"chemise grinned,"Anyone care to bring together us ?"

Georgia, Fred, and Heather suited up in warm clothes and joined Teddy and James. Albus decided against it. Quidditch was fun, but he did n't want to freeze when he could stay inside and be warm.

The Christmas Quidditch lasted a one-half an hr. Teddy, James I, Sakartvelo, ling, and Fred all stumbled back into the house shivering with their faces red and covered in Baron Snow of Leicester and ice. molly immediately descended upon them with mugs of hot coffee and dry clothes.

"Told you, Molly,"Harry grinned.

"C-ca n't chance the Sn-Snitch,"teddy muttered.

Harry laughed."That does n't surprise me. You 'll find it when the storm calms down. You put the charm on it to stay in the one thousand, right ?"

"Y-yeah,"Teddy replied.

Yule dinner party came and went in its common chaos. Xenophilius stayed for it and King James I snuck sneezing gunpowder into his soup, which he found incredibly funny. Molly was not as impressed and gave James quite the scolding. How she found out it was James was beyond Albus.

The violent storm continued throughout the Night and Cedric had to put the silencing charm back on their elbow room in order for any of them to get any sleep.

******

Nobody left the tunnel until two days after Christmas. That was when the C finally let up. It topped out at around four and a half substructure, which was a new record for Albus 's life. The Burrow 's yard had been decorated by dozen of snow witches and wizards, along with hippogriffs, owl, and a variety of former magical animal.

When Albus found out what his sept was doing after they left the burrow, he wished the blow would have got kept coming. They were going shopping for clothes robes for the New twelvemonth 's party.

"Why ca n't I just wear my old apparel robes ?"James whined as they walked down Diagon Alley towards brothel keeper Malkin's.

"Because they 're five column inch too shortstop,"Ginny replied,"They 're even too diminished for Al."

"Yeah, Hugo 's the lucky one,"James muttered. Hugo was wearing James 's old wearing apparel robes to the party and therefore did not suffer to go shopping.

"Mummy, I want purple gown,"Lily announced.

"If they have any,"Ginny replied.

Albus wanted to buy the offset pair of dress robes he found, so long as they were n't pink or purpurate. The Sooner they were done gown shopping the better.

Rose and Lily made a beeline for the girls dress robe as soon as they walked in the room access. Albus stood awkwardly adjacent to James while their mother found various robes for them.

"Here, try these on, Al,"Ginny handed him a pair of emerald green robes.

"Very Slytherin,"Henry James snickered.

"Shut it, James IV,"Albus muttered.

"They 'll bring out your eyes, Al,"Ginny told him,"Now go try them on."

Albus reluctantly tried on the Slytherin colored robes and then left the stuffing room for his mother to see.

"Too shortly,"she announced,"But the people of colour is perfect. I 'll find a bigger size."

James wound up with a navy blue duet of robe, which Albus would have preferred. Lily found her purple robes and rosiness got a sky blue pair.

"Next time you 're getting special K robe,"Albus muttered to William James, who was still making fun of the gloss of Albus 's robes.

"No I wo n't. I do n't have jet middle,"Epistle of James grinned.

"Then we 'll get you a dainty red set,"Ginny said,"They 'll clash horribly with your hair."

"I do n't handle. They 'd be Gryffindor colored,"James II laughed.


A/N : Thanks to my genus Beta, Dancer of Starlight, as well as all the awing the great unwashed who have read and reviewed this ! Also, for anyone who read In Moon 's dark, the first chapter of the sequel, Beyond the Shadow, is now up !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


The political party was at the curate 's sign of the zodiac, the menage where all the Ministers of magic had lived. Albus had been there a few times before, but not in a couple years. Usually all the company the Minister held were while Albus was at Hogwarts.

A few hours before the party, Ginny made Albus, James, and Lily all take showers and comb their hair's-breadth properly. She spent a good fifteen minutes trying to get James 's hair's-breadth to lie straight and another fifteen moment putting Lily 's up in some sort of elaborate bun typewrite thing. Albus was very felicitous his own pilus was far too poor for that variety of thing.

Before they left, Albus 's parents sat him, King James I, and Lily down on the sofa and proceeded to tell them the formula for the evening.

"Absolutely no making trouble !"Ginny stared at James II as she said this,"None at all ! This is the Minister 's house ! I will not have you wreaking havoc in it."

"We 're trusting you to keep yourselves occupied during this. I 'm going to have to mingle with everyone and we wo n't be able-bodied to find out you every second,"Harry added,"You 're all at Hogwarts now. You 're old enough to not be glued to us for the evening."

"Do n't worry,"St. James the Apostle said,"I know when devilment is n't appropriate."

"Let 's hope so,"Ginny sighed.

Albus and his family Apparated to the Minister 's planetary house, which meant side-along Apparition for Albus. He hated side-along phantasm. It felt like he could n't breath. It was worse when the person who was Apparating him was also Apparating another person, which was always the case in his family. It was the torment of being the midway child. He was either with James or Lily. This time it was with Lily and Harry was Apparating them.

When Albus had regained his power to breath properly, he looked around at where they had landed. He was standing on the front lawn of what was the most extravagant mansion he had ever seen. It could n't be considered a house ; it was just too monstrous.

A long and winding sidewalk, framed with bushes and spark on either side, lead up to the front doorway. Albus 's parents started walking up and Albus followed.

The mansion seemed to get larger as they got closer. It was painted brown with a black roof and reminded Albus of a castle. It was n't nearly as big as Hogwarts, of line, but it was still huge.

Harry rang the Vanessa Bell when they arrived at the threshold and it was answered by the minister himself."Harry !"he shouted,"semen in !"

curate Langston Hartwell was the tertiary curate since the twilight of Lord Voldemort. He was a marvellous, rotund man with very little pilus left on his fountainhead. He did rollick a rather tumid mustache, which caused Albus to think of him as a much taller translation of Professor Slughorn.

Hartwell was one of those very cultivate wizards who spoke using very large words that Albus could n't really read. He was windy and most of his speech communication could be condensed down into a few sentences, according to Harry, that is. He was a very nice man, though.

"right wing this way,"Hartwell motioned for them to take after him.

Hartwell lead them through the house, which was just as immaculate as Albus remembered, and into what could only be described as a grand ballroom. It was the same ballroom all the party Albus had been to were held.

The room was decorated with atomic number 47 and black and was already filling up with people. Albus spotted Rose and matt in the book binding of the elbow room and left his family in the doorway to go see them.

"Some billet, huh ?"Albus said once he reached them.

"This is the biggest house I 've ever seen,"rosebush agreed,"I see you 're wearing your Slytherin robes."

Albus rolled his eyes."Shut it."

"What do you cerebrate, matte ?"rosiness turned to matt,"His mum says they equalize his eyes, but St. James says they 're Slytherin robes."

"Slytherin,"Matt said immediately.

"Then yours are Ravenclaw,"Albus pointed out, gesturing to flatness 's Amytal robes.

"I do n't care,"flatness shrugged,"So, did you just get here ?"

"Yeah,"Albus replied.

"I 've been here for two hours already,"Matt said,"We were the first single here. Dad keeps introducing me to people and they all think I 'm a 1st year."

"Bet that 's fun,"Albus laughed,"Do you know virtually of these the great unwashed ?"

"Some,"Matt said,"That 's the bloke Dad 's taking over for,"he gestured to a very large hotshot,"McVicar."

"right,"Albus said,"I 've heard of him. Dad 's always said he would never retire."

"Dad never thought he would either,"Matt laughed,"Then we 've got your Uncle Percy, I think you probably know him. Those people are a few of Dad 's confrere,"matte gestured to a few more witch and thaumaturge,"Then there 's a gang of the great unwashed from early department, but I do n't remember any of their names."

"Looks like it 's going to be a fun night,"Albus said sarcastically.

"Oh, it will be,"Matt grinned,"When I was really little, we went to political party like this a few times a calendar month. You make your own fun."

"Like what ?"Albus asked.

"Charming alcohol out of the wine and champagne. It 'll still try exactly the like,"lustrelessness grinned mischievously,"By the sentence midnight rolls around, everyone will be wondering why they 're not wassail. It 'll be funny."

"You 've done this before ?"Rose raised an eyebrow.

"Amy has,"matt said,"She 's here somewhere and she 's going to do it soon."

"I have to intromit, that 's really creative,"Rose giggled,"What else ?"

"Mostly stuff with the food. fascinate the chocolates to taste like vanilla, charm the serving utensils to actuate every time you go to find fault them up, that sort of hooey,"Matt explained.

"My parents gave us this speech about how we ca n't play trick here,"Albus said,"She was saying it mostly for James River, but I think she should 've given it to you."

"My parents never say that clobber to me,"matte laughed,"They never suspect me of anything. The moment they find out the alcohol 's been charmed out of the drink, they 'll retrieve Amy."

"She is the one who 's going to do it,"Rose pointed out.

"It was my idea, though. She was n't originally going to do it at this party,"mat explained.

"Alcohol 's gone,"Amy said quietly as she came up behind matt,"This is going to be interesting."

"What exactly happens when you use this good luck charm ?"rose wine asked.

"Oh, it 's great,"Amy grinned,"First, only a mates people notice and they make a very quiet mention to another somebody and then that person agrees that there 's something wrong with the drinks. Then it just snowballs from there until it 's all they 're talking about. Then person will test the swallow, fall upon the alcohol 's been charmed away, replace it, and then everyone will cheer. But some of them will act wino because they think there 's alcohol in the drinks."

"Are n't your parents going to be upset ?"Rose asked.

"They might recite me they wish I had n't done it, but there 's not a good deal they can do,"Amy shrugged,"That 's why I 'm doing it and not Matt."

"I could n't see your parents yelling at you anyway,"Albus laughed.

"You never know,"Matt shrugged.

"I bet James and Cedric are going to do something,"Albus said as he scanned the crowd. James and Cedric were sitting at one of the tables, heads close together like they were plotting something.

"I 'd be shocked if they did n't,"rosebush smirked,"auntie Ginny has no hope of stopping James."

"And I 'd bet my hold up Galleon that Georgia and Omar Nelson Bradley are talking about Quidditch,"Albus gestured to his early two cousin, who were standing near the buffet.

"That 's all they talk about,"rose said,"And Lily looks bored. Five reap hook says she 's over here in about ten minutes or so."

"I would n't bet against that,"Albus said,"And Samantha and Lindy will sneak out of the room the next time Aunt Corrine looks away."

Albus 's Aunt Corrine was talking with two Wiccan Albus did n't make out and his twin cousins were chasing each other around the room.

"Are any of your other cousin-german coming ?"Amy asked.

"Nope,"Albus shook his pass,"None of my former aunty and uncles work for the Ministry."

"Let 's go get something to eat,"Matt said.

Albus and pink wine agreed. Amy left to go talk to somebody else and the three acquaintance walked over to the snack counter. There was already a low queue in battlefront of it.

"There go Samantha and Lindy,"Rose said as they waited. The twins ran out one of the threshold and Corrine quickly followed.

The queue moved quickly and soon Albus was in front. He grabbed a denture and piled it high with just about everything. There was always the best food at this sort of party.

They found an void table far enough away from James and Cedric. Albus did n't want to be anywhere near them when they did whatever they were planning on doing.

"I do n't even know what half this stuff is,"matt said as he began eating,"But it 's good."

Sir Thomas More and Thomas More citizenry arrived as Albus ate his dinner party. He recognized a few of them, but did n't commemorate any public figure. He also noticed that nobody was acting strangely due to Amy 's charm. They were all acting perfectly normal for adults who had had a few drinks.

Albus, Matt, and rosiness wandered around the room once they finished their intellectual nourishment. A few adults stopped to exclaim how big they 'd gotten and to inquire what yr they were at Hogwarts. Lily joined them because she did n't require to be associated with James and Cedric 's mischief.

"Hello, everyone !"Minister Hartwell shouted from the podium at the straw man of the room.

Everyone quieted down and turned to see him. Albus, Rose, and matte were somewhat close to the podium.

"Thank you,"he smiled,"I assume you all know why I 've thrown this party, and it 's not just to unload the large measure of wine I was given for Christmas !"

The adult all chuckled at Hartwell 's try at a joke and then quieted down once again.

"Yes, yes, well, this party is in honour of none early than Walter Eckerton, whom I have appointed to the office of caput of the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. There is no one else whom I would trust with such a job ...."

Hartwell 's speech soon descended into one of his usual manner of speaking, which Albus could not understand. It was long, drawn-out, and Albus could 've sworn he saw his dad yawn at one point.

Albus clapped loudly when Hartwell finally finished and turned the podium over to McVicar.

"Thank you, parson,"McVicar began,"That was quite an concern address. I, too, would like to plume Walter Eckerton on his promotion.

"I am indisputable at least half of you were quite surprised to hear that I was retiring. I myself was surprised. In fact, I probably would n't receive done it if it were n't for the fact that my married woman has been begging me to for the by ten geezerhood.

"However, the main reason for my want of an earlier retirement was because there was not a single person employed in the Ministry whom I would feature trusted with this job. cipher had the capabilities to dribble out this position in the way I would like. Like they always say, if you want something done right, do it yourself. That was my shibboleth up until five years ago, that is.

"A fiddling over five class ago, a man came into the Ministry looking for a job in the Department of the regulating and mastery of Magical fauna. He applied for a job in wolfman Support Services, a position that had been open for well over a year. I was fix to hire anyone who walked through the doorway at that tip, but I had no estimate what was to come when I hired Bruno Walter Eckerton.

"Some of you may sleep together that Walter has experience in this field. He was the read/write head of the Department of Regulation and command of Magical puppet in Australia for three old age before leaving the lieu in orderliness to move to England.

"Walter revolutionized Werewolf accompaniment inspection and repair as soon as he started. The ideas he had were ace that even I had n't thought of. In five short old age, he has bettered life for those plagued with lycanthropy Sir Thomas More than anyone else in the department have in their stallion careers.

"It took only six calendar month for me to actualise that I wanted Walter to take over for me when I retired. Not only does he receive the experience and intelligence for the job, but he also has inscription that I have never seen before. I even have to hold that his inscription surpasses my own. I have never seen anyone scrap as tough for werewolf right as he has.

"The only thing left for me to do was convince myself it was clip to sack out,"McVicar chuckled,"And yes, it did take on the bettor part of five twelvemonth to do that. But now, I feel very confident as I hand the reins over to Walter."

Everyone clapped as McVicar stepped away and mat 's dad took the ambo."That was quite the voice communication,"Albus muttered to Matt.

"I 'll say,"Matt agreed,"And McVicar does n't usually kudos masses like that."

"Well,"Matt 's dad began,"Thanks for your voting of confidence, Rob. I certainly hope I can live up to your expectations.

"I have to lead off by saying how unexpected this was. I really had no intentions of becoming the caput of the entire department again, no issue which country I was living in. Werewolf Support Services has been such a bang-up place to work these past few years. It truly is my passion.

"However, when Langston and Rob approached me about taking over when Rob retired, I found it difficult to say no. In the end, I said yes because I want to establish more of a difference.

"Of grade, I could not ingest gotten to this shoes without the help of my wife, Julie,"he gestured to Matt 's mum, who was standing near the pulpit,"And my daughter, Amy, and my son, Matt.

"I 'm not one for long speeches, so I 'll just say that I look forward to starting the job and I truly Bob Hope I can be at least half of the head of the department Rob has been."

"I just hope none of them find out why my dad 's so devote,"mat whispered.

"They 're too drunk to recollect much on it,"rosiness smirked.

"They 're not really drunk,"Albus reminded her.

"They 're certainly acting like they are,"rosebush pointed out.

A good percentage of the adults were acting very drunk. In fact, if Albus had n't known about Amy 's charm, he would say they all really were rummy. The weird thing was that everybody was acting drunk. There did n't seem to be anyone who was thinking there was something awry with the drinks.

"Let 's go ask Amy about it,"Matt suggested.

Amy was standing nearby, so Albus, matte, and Rose squeezed their way through the crowd to get to her.

"Amy,"mat whispered,"Why 's everyone acting normal ?

"I do n't cognise,"she whispered back,"Let 's go looking at at the drinks."

James and Cedric were also standing near the potable mesa, looking nearly as confused as Albus felt about this appeal. That was kind of strange.

Amy grabbed a methamphetamine hydrochloride of wine and tried it."Well, it tastes fine, but it 's supposed to."

"You 'll have to drink a lot more than that to get properly drunk,"matt grinned.

"I 'm not doing that,"Amy rolled her eyes.

"Actually,"Saint James grinned mischievously,"That might get you drunk."

"What did you do ?"Albus groaned.

"Cedric and I added some extra alcoholic drink to that wine,"Saint James whispered.

Albus, Rose, Matt, and Amy burst out laughing. Albus could not conceive it. All of their pranks had backfired. The wine was now perfectly normal.

"What 's so funny ?"Cedric asked.

"Amy pulled a prank, too,"Albus said.

"I put a appeal on all the wine to take the alcoholic beverage, while keeping the taste,"Amy explained,"I did it right when the party started."

"So much for that antic,"Jesse James groaned.

"Now you wo n't get in trouble,"Albus pointed out,"Mum 's been watching you two."

"I know,"James muttered,"That 's why we ca n't do it again."

"What do you want to do now ?"Albus asked as James, Cedric, and Amy left.

"wishing to research the Minister 's mansion ?"mat suggested.

"Is that allowed ?"rose asked skeptically.

"I do n't see why not, I mean, this is my dad 's company,"flatness pointed out,"Plus, we 'd just be walking around."

"Let 's go,"Albus said and chair them out of the ballroom.

It was much quieter in the repose of the menage. They started wandering through any elbow room that had assailable doors.

"This place is so flaming fancy,"Albus said.

"It reminds me of my grandparents'mansion,"matte said.

"Their home is this big ?"Rose asked.

"Nearly,"Matt replied,"They 've got a ballroom and everything."

The three acquaintance wound up in a very enceinte living room filled with antique furniture. There was an oriental person rug on the land and oak table and bookshelves around the circumference. Atop the tables were project vessel of flowers and quartz sculptures.

"We 'd better be careful in here,"Rose said as she walked into the elbow room,"If we break any of this stuff, our parents would slay us."

"Cinda 's got one of these,"flatness pointed to a crystal swan.

"Do n't touch it !"Rose hissed.

"I was n't,"Matt assured her,"I broke Cinda 's once, but Mum fixed it."

"Look at all these books,"Albus gazed up at one of the bookcases,"Madam Pince would love to get her deal on these."

"They 're all about politics, though,"Matt pointed out,"Pretty boring."

"Mum would like them,"Rose said

"I wonder how old this furniture is,"Matt said as he looked at a rather uncomfortable looking armchair.

"Probably older than Aberforth Dumbledore,"Albus replied.

"Hey, Albus, mat, fall here,"Rose said as she looked out the window.

Albus and lusterlessness walked over to the windowpane and leaned over the mesa that was in front of it.

"What is it ?"Albus asked.

"feel, there's-"

Matt leaned farther over the table and knocked one of the crystal sculptures off. rose gasped and managed to catch it before it crashed onto the floor.

"Merlin,"pink wine whispered as she set it back on the table,"Be careful."

"Sorry,"mat replied,"What were you saying ?"

"There 's someone sneaking around out there,"rose wine said.

Albus peered out the windowpane into the dark. He could just barely make out a darkness lurking around the bushes. It did n't look like the somebody was walking up towards the house to go to the political party. Plus, why would he show up three hours late ?

"There 's definitely someone out there,"Matt said.

"Let 's go bump out who it is,"Albus said. He did n't take in a clue as to who it was, but he wanted to receive out. There was no ground for someone to be sneaking around the Minister 's Mansion at this time of night.

"Albus Severus Potter, are you bloody insane ?"Rose exclaimed,"I think you are !"

"Look, I just want to go see if we can chance out who it is. I 'm not saying we should go duel them. Plus, there 's a whole elbow room entire of Ministry officials in case whoever is out there is someone bad,"Albus said.

"That 's a in force point,"lusterlessness replied,"Why would someone filch around a house that 's broad of Ministry officials, especially when the two top Aurors are inside ?"

"I do n't know,"Albus said,"But I want to rule out who it is."

Rose reluctantly agreed and followed Albus and Matt, muttering under her breathing place. They found the penny-pinching door and went out into the cold Nox, drawing their wands as they did so.

"If we are n't killed, we 'll immobilize to death,"pink wine muttered.

Albus ignored her and started looking around. He stayed close to the firm and tried to go along himself concealed in the President George W. Bush as he looked for the figure. However, he could n't see or hear anything.

"Do you get wind anything ?"he whispered to Matt.

"No,"matte replied,"It 's like they disapparated or something."

"Good,"rosebush muttered,"Now let 's go back inside."

"They could 've just moved,"Albus pointed out,"Let 's keep going."

Albus continued creeping around the house, with his wand out in front of him. His nerve was beating fast and his mitt were sweaty despite the common cold. He did n't require to stop, though. Figuring out who this bloke was was exciting and nerve wracking at the Same time.

"Do n't move !"someone shouted and all of a sudden there was a bright lightness in Albus 's oculus. Wand light.

rosebush screamed and grabbed hold of Albus 's arm. Albus held up his own sceptre, his hand shaking.

"Who are you ?"the person shouted.

"Wh-who are y-you ?"Albus stammered.

"He sounds familiar,"Matt whispered,"Hang on. Bloody hell on earth, that 's Professor Balladanis !"

Albus thought for a second and the phonation did vocalize a lot like Balladanis. But why would he be sneaking around the parson 's sign ?

"Albus potter, is that you ?"the man shouted.

"Er, yes,"Albus replied.

The wand lighting lowered and Albus heard the man step through the snow towards him. Albus saw that he was indeed professor Balladanis. He breathed a sigh of relief as rose wine let go of his arm.

"Mr. ceramicist,"Balladanis said and then waved his wand around,"And Miss Weasley, Mr. Eckerton. Oh, I suppose this company is for your begetter, Mr. Eckerton ?"

"Y-yes, sir,"Matt replied.

"What are the three of you doing sneaking around outside in the dead of night ? I thought I 'd learn you respectable than that. You 're just asking for hassle,"Balladanis said sternly.

"Told you,"blush wine whispered to Albus.

"Er,"Albus began,"We saw someone lurking around out here and went to investigate. I guess that mortal was you ...."

"And you 're lucky it was me,"Balladanis barked,"The three of you could have been stagnant if that somebody had been a dark wizard. Now, I 'm taking all three of you back inside."

Albus nodded and followed Balladanis through the snow and towards the door."Sir,"Albus said,"If you do n't mind my asking, what were you doing extraneous ?"

"If you must know, the Minister asked me to check the grounds in gild to constitute surely nobody was lurking around,"Balladanis replied.

That did nothing but Muriel Sarah Spark Albus 's curiosity even more. He knew better than to press further, though. Balladanis was not one to excuse his motives.


A/N : Thanks to my beta, Dancer of Starlight, as well as everyone who has read and reviewed this !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


It was nearing midnight when Albus, lusterlessness, and rose re-entered the edifice, escorted by professor Balladanis. Albus had been hoping the prof would just see them to the door and then go along his search of the perimeter, but instead he went back to the ballroom with them and marched them right up to Harry.

"potter,"Balladanis interrupted the conversation Harry had been having with some superstar Albus did n't cognize,"I found your son, your niece, and their friend wandering around outside."

"Albus,"Harry groaned,"I thought we made it clear that you were to stick inside."

"I 'll exit them with you,"Balldanis said,"Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year,"Harry replied,"And thanks."

Balladanis disappeared into the crowd and Albus shifted uncomfortably as his dad stared at him for a few moments.

"attention to explain ?"Harry raised an eyebrow.

"We were just, er, exploring,"Albus muttered.

"Do n't do it again,"Harry sighed.

"We wo n't,"Albus assured him.

Harry went back to his conversation and Albus lead his friends back to the buffet.

"I hope you 've learned your lesson,"Rose muttered,"I am not doing that again."

"We wo n't do it again. Not tonight, that is,"Albus grinned.

"10 !"someone shouted.

Albus looked at the penny-pinching clock and saw that it was almost midnight. Everyone else joined in the countdown, holding their methamphetamine of bubbly in the air. Amy joined Albus, Rose, and mat.

"3, 2, 1, Happy New Year !"Albus shouted along with everyone else.

The crew began to slenderize out a little while later. Most of the the great unwashed Albus did n't bang left, along with his Uncle Percy, Aunt Corrine, and his cousins. Albus 's parents did n't look like they were in any hurry to leave behind, so he got a plate of the remnant desserts and at them with his friends.

pink wine 's family and Amy left, and then it was just the Potters, Matt, his parents, the Minister, and his married woman left. All the grownup were talking, Jesse James was teasing Lily about something, and Albus and Matt were finishing off the close of the desserts.

"Do you think there 's any way for Hogwarts to win the Quidditch tournament ?"mat asked as he polished off a piece of coffee cake.

"Only if Linda 's unbalanced the day of one of the matches,"Albus sighed.

"Maybe that 'll materialize,"Matt said,"You never know."

"Al, we 've got to go,"Ginny tapped him on the shoulder.

"Ok, Mum,"Albus replied and then turned back to Matt,"I 'll see you soon."

"Yeah, see you on the gearing,"Matt said.

Albus waved goodbye and then joined his mum, dad, James I, and Lily. They all said extolment to matte 's dad and then left the rector 's hall. Albus peered into the bushes as he left, but there was no signboard of Professor Balladanis.

******

The remainder of the Xmas holiday went by very wearisome for Albus. He did all his preparation, which was quite drilling, and there was zilch to do after that. rosebush was visiting her other grandparents and King James was at Nathan 's star sign. Even Kaden was busy visiting his grandparents ( Vernon and Petunia ). He sent Albus a varsity letter complaining about it, since the visit was also with aunty Marge. Albus was very grateful that he did n't have to go. Neither of his parents had mentioned anything about visiting with Vernon and Petunia again.

Finally the day to return to school arrived and the Potters made it to Platform 9 ¾ just in time. Albus found all his supporter in one of the compartments and once they kicked Lily, Ashtyn, and Hugo out, they told each other about their holidays.

"Aunt Marge has got to be the most ugly aunt in the integral humankind,"Kaden fumed,"My dad told her about magic a few calendar month ago and she 's been atrocious ever since. I mean, she was always kind of horrifying, but now she 's worse. She just hates magic so much. She 's worse than my grandparents."

"Wow,"Albus replied,"gladiola I 've never met her."

"Consider yourself prosperous,"Kaden muttered,"I 'm guessing you lot had better holiday ?"

"We found prof Balladanis lurking around the Minister 's Mansion,"Albus announced.

"What ?"St. John, Kaden, and Amanda shouted at the same time.

"I saw someone sneaking around outside and Albus insisted we go investigate,"rosebush said,"Turns out it was Balladanis and the diplomatic minister had apparently asked him to stop the background for trouble."

"Did he find you ?"trick asked.

"Yeah,"Albus nodded,"He was n't to glad either."

"Told us we could 've been killed,"Matt explained.

"Well, we could 've,"Rose muttered.

"Weird though,"Saint John the Apostle said,"Why would the Minister think someone would be hiding around his star sign ?"

"Does n't he have safeguard around anyway ?"Amanda asked,"The Muggle minister does."

"Again, that 's why it 's weird,"privy replied,"He does give birth guards."

"Why would he ask Balladanis anyway ?"lusterlessness asked,"Why not ask an Auror ? Balladanis is a professor."

"He has n't always been,"Albus pointed out,"He had some sort of mysterious job before."

"Again, weird,"John the Evangelist said.

"Yeah, there were a clump of Aurors at the political party, not to mention Albus 's dad,"mat pointed out.

"That settles it,"lavatory announced,"Albus, you 've got to come up out what he did before he started teaching defence reaction ?"

"Why me ?"Albus asked.

"Because you 've got those special dueling lessons with him. He likes you for some reason. Of track, he also likes Malfoy. But that 's probably just because Malfoy 's a proficient dueler, too,"St. John the Apostle explained.

"I 'll try,"Albus sighed,"But I really do n't think he 'll enjoin me."

"You never know,"John said.

******

"Quiet, quiet !"Balladanis shouted the pursuit Tuesday, their number 1 day of vindication after the holiday.

Albus immediately stopped talking to mat and bathroom and turned to front Balladanis. He was really hoping that the professor would say zero about what happened at the party and so far Balladanis was showing no recollection of it.

"I trust you all had superb holidays,"Balladanis said,"But the holidays are over and although I am certain none of you thought a bit about defensive magic during said holidays, it is now meter to embark on that thinking once again.

"number 1, I 'll say that there is no clip to not be thinking about defensive deception, as the darkness artistry do not take breaks for trivial things such as holidays.

"Second, in this term we will get to explore puppet far more dangerous than hinkypunks and kappas. In this condition we shall learn about those terrifying creatures such as acromantulas, basilisks, lycanthrope, flying dragon, and vampires."

Albus could n't help oneself but glance at Linda when Balladanis said vampire. Balladanis had glanced at her as well, and he also glanced at Matt when he said werewolf. Of course, he had looked at Albus when he said basilisks, so it did n't necessarily mean anything, but Albus had a impression it did.

"As the master would find it highly inappropriate for a Dragon to manifest itself in this classroom, we shall not be using the anamatek as often this terminal figure,"Balladanis continued,"But we will be using it a few times. You will find that there are more than lectures in this full term, much to my dislike. There is nothing I would like ripe than to teach you about acromantulas and lycanthrope with practical object lesson, but there are both police force and schooling normal that prevent such lessons."

Albus and Matt glanced at each other. It was prescribed. Professor Balladanis was insane. What kind of teacher would require to teach about dragon with know flying lizard ? Well, Hagrid would, but he was n't the like as Balladanis.

"proceeds out some lambskin,"Balladanis said,"We 're going to begin learning about acromantulas today ...."

The rest period of the day went by relatively quickly. Albus actually did not have Quiditch pattern that nighttime, so everyone went to the piranha 's Den after dinner.

"foretelling is such a jocularity,"John said as he tossed his bag onto the flooring and collapsed onto a sofa,"We started crystal ball gazing today. All I saw was a cargo of fog."

"I told you not to take it,"Rose said as she pulled a stack of books out of her own bag.

"I did n't call up it would be this bad,"John groaned,"There is no way anyone could see anything in a crystal ball."

"Palmistry was better,"Amanda said,"And Trelawney makes the whole affair worse."

"Trelawney could make Defense bad,"Albus replied.

"Balladanis told us that he wished he could teach us about wickedness creatures using the anamatek,"rose said,"Seriously, he wanted a basilisk to appear in the middle of the classroom."

"That would be dazed,"Kaden said as he unwrapped a cocoa Frog,"Those can kill you with their eyes."

"I know,"rose wine said,"Balladanis is insane."

"Do you recollect that anamatek could wrick into a loup-garou if the moon was n't full ?"bathroom asked.

"Probably not,"Matt answered,"It would just be a wolf. I think it would just be a woman chaser any other time of the month, too, because there 's no way it could turn someone into a werewolf by biting them."

"That 's good,"Albus said,"Because he did say that he 'd use the anamatek a few meter this full term. marvel if he 'll get it grow into a vampire."

"No motivation,"whoremaster laughed,"We 've got Linda."

"If you think of it that way, there 's no breaker point to have it turn into a fake loup-garou either,"Rose pointed out.

"Good point, I guess,"John muttered.

******

The rest of the hebdomad went by quickly. Albus had Quidditch practice Th eve, and Wood informed the completely team that they 'd nonplus rusty over the holiday. He also told them that the next mate was in two weeks and they 'd be playing New York. If they won, they 'd be in indorse billet.

Albus had a dueling lesson with Balladanis the following evening and he had absolutely no mind how he was going to ask what Balladanis 's previous job had been.

Albus arrived at Balladanis 's room before Malfoy and entered to get Balladanis clearing all of the desks from the center of the room.

"Mr. Potter,"Balladanis turned around and greeted Albus,"Is it good to strike that you did not go wandering about late at night alone after New twelvemonth 's ?"

"Yes, sir,"Albus muttered as he felt his face turning red. He was quite glad Malfoy was n't there yet.

"Mr. Malfoy,"Balladanis said as Malfoy walked into the way,"Now we may begin. I have decided that your savvy of the Protego charm is satisfactory so we are going to move on to something else.

"This picky charm, when performed correctly, manages to disarm and disorient a someone at the same fourth dimension. The sensation is often described as dizziness. Can either of you tell me what why this appealingness would be more useful than a standard disarming patch ?"

"Because it 's leisurely to duel someone who 's dizzy than someone who is n't,"Malfoy said.

"More specifically than that,"Balladanis said,"Mr. Potter ?"

"Er, because you can get the person tied up while they 're disoriented ? If they 're a wickedness wizard you 're trying to trip up,"Albus replied.

"Another good reason, but not the one I was thinking of,"Balladanis began to walk slowly around the room,"Wizards who are expecting to give birth to duel former necromancer often keep multiple baton on their somebody. There are spells that can be performed on these wands to keep them attached to your gown or your factual body, spells that Expelliarmus wo n't overcome easily. However, these spells require constant quantity denseness.

"If a thaumaturge is hit with the magical spell I am about to teach you, they will lose the density requisite to restrain their spear carrier verge affixed. Then, you can use Expelliarmus to get the duplicate wands."

"Can you teach us that spell to keep supernumerary wands in our robe ?"Malfoy asked.

"Perhaps towards the end of the year. It takes huge concentration and sorcerous vim to simultaneously perform that appeal while dueling somebody,"Balladanis explained,"For now, you will see the charm to disarm and disorient a individual at the same time.

"The incantation is 'Confundo-Expelliarmus'. A combination of Confundus and Expelliarmus. Mr. Malfoy, you will go first. When I say so, perform the charm against Mr. potter. Mr. potter, you may try and stop him using the Protego appealingness I taught you earlier."

Albus nodded, wishing he had been chosen to execute the new appealingness first, and faced Malfoy. He held his sceptre up and muttered 'Protego'under his hint. He focused all of his concentration on holding the shield up.

"Now, Mr. Malfoy,"Balladanis muttered.

"Confundo-Expelliarmus !"Malfoy shouted.

Albus felt the appeal hit his carapace, but it did n't separate through. He gripped his wand harder and stared at Malfoy.

"hold going,"Balladanis said to Malfoy.

"Confundo-Expelliarmus !"Malfoy shouted again.

The charm hit Albus 's carapace a little harder this time. Albus could sense beads of effort forming on his os frontale.

Malfoy kept going and it took him five meter to break through Albus 's cuticle. When it happened, Albus felt his wand get out his hand and was overcome by a wave of dizziness at the Same time. He felt exactly like he had when he had gotten the flu the previous yr, only without the fever.

Albus did n't pay any attention to what Malfoy and Balladanis were doing. He felt like he was going to eliminate out and he had to sit down. He sat down right on the story and was vaguely cognisant of Balladanis standing over him.

Then, all of a sudden, the dizziness was gone. Albus shook his forefront and then looked up and saw Balladanis and Malfoy standing in forepart of him. Malfoy looked impressed and Balladanis looked like he always did.

"You did quite well with that shield,"Balladanis said as Albus stood up,"And I think it 's safe to adopt that you could n't make held compactness for any turn after Mr. Malfoy succeeded in breaking your shield."

"No, sir,"Albus shook his head.

"Normally the charm 's result would sustain lasted longer, but I performed the counter-curse because it looked like you were cook to glide by out,"Balladanis explained,"When you 're make, you can try the charm."

"I 'm make,"Albus said as he took his wand back from Malfoy.

Balladanis gave Malfoy a few seconds to get his carapace up and then nodded at Albus to execute the charm.

"Confundo-Expelliarmus !"Albus shouted. As he expected, the spell did not develop Malfoy 's shield.

Much to Albus 's delectation, he managed to break out the shell on the fourthly try. One to a lesser extent try than Malfoy had needed for Albus.

The charm hit Malfoy in the chest and his baton soared towards Albus. Albus caught it and watched as Malfoy bent over and fell to the ground, much like Albus himself had done.

Balladanis gave Albus one of his uncommon grinning and then pulled out his own scepter. He waved it at Malfoy and Malfoy looked up.

"That was weird,"Malfoy muttered.

"It 's supposed to be,"Balladanis said,"Now get up and we 'll do it again."

Balladanis kept them at it for the better part of an time of day, past tense when Albus would own liked to quit. It was exhausting to be hit with that piece time after sentence while trying to curb up a buckler charm. Malfoy did n't seem to be faring very much amend and Albus thought he was even going to ask Balladanis to block off after a half hour, but Malfoy closed his mouth, obviously thinking better of it.

The recitation was n't for nothing, though. Albus managed to hold Malfoy off long and longer each clock time and although Malfoy was getting substantially at the shield charm as well, Albus broke through it a few Sir Thomas More times.

"That 's enough for tonight,"Balladanis finally said after he performed the countercurse on Albus for what must give birth been the 10th time that night,"I 'll see you in course on Tuesday."

Malfoy made a beeline for the door, but Albus turned to Balladanis instead. He might as well just get it over with. There was no salutary way to ask Balladanis what his previous job had been. He just had to do it.

"Er, Sir,"Albus began,"I was just wondering, what did you do before you began teaching here ?"

Balladanis gave Albus the strange look he had ever seen. It was a mix of angriness, sorrow, and even regret. For a moment, Albus wished he had n't asked. It was too personal. He should have just told John they would n't be able to obtain out.

"Now is not the time,"Balladanis said quietly,"All in safe time, I will tell you."

Albus was taken aback. That was Thomas More than he had expected. He had thought Balladanis would receive told him to mind his own business concern and get back to Gryffindor Tower before curfew. Albus was going to detect out, he was just going to have to be patient role.

Albus left the room as quickly as he could in his exhausted state, before Balladanis could shift his mind about eventually telling Albus about his old career. The manner of walking back to Gryffindor Tower seemed farsighted than usual and all Albus wanted to do was flop into bed when he finally got there.

Instead, he was ambushed by all of his Quaker. All five of them looked shocked and Amanda looked like she was going to be sick. He looked around the plebeian room and saw that most people looked shocked and everyone was subdued. There was no joking around going on. Even James was quietly sitting at one of the tables.

"What happened ?"Albus whispered as he followed them back to their usual tabular array.

Rose opened her mouth to mouth and then closed her middle, unable to do so. Albus turned to John and raised his eyebrows.

"You know that bloke who owns Dervish and Banges ?"whoremonger asked quietly.

Albus nodded, having seen the man on numerous occasions when he was in Hogsmeade. He was slightly sure-enough than Albus 's parents, with greying hair's-breadth and a very intense personality. He never hesitated to arrive at his opinions known

"Someone killed him,"John said in barely More than a whisper.

"Wh-what ?"Albus turned to attend at all his friends in twist. matt nodded ever so slightly and then put his head on his hands.

"mustiness 've just happened,"John said,"They just found him. madam Rosmerta heard a din and Flooed here, to get the Auror on tariff. By the prison term they got back, his shop was a staring flock inside and he was laying dead on the floor. Avada Kedavra. They 're searching Hogsmeade, the forest, the grounds, and the schooling. Nobody 's allowed out of their vulgar room and dormitories."

"We thought Balladanis would bring you back here when it happened,"Rose said.

"Nobody even came in to tell us,"Albus replied, still in shock.

People were n't just randomly killed in Hogsmeade. That sort of thing just did n't occur anymore. Not since Voldemort had been defeated. Well, Professor Torro had been killed back before his beginning year and then that one witch from the Ministry had been killed over Christmastide, but their killers had never been found and nothing had happened since.

"Why would anyone vote out him ?"Matt wondered aloud.

"Why would anyone vote down anyone ?"Rose replied.

The portrait hole opened and all the whispering stopped. Everyone looked to see who came in. It was Professor Longbottom, looking tough for the habiliment. His gown were disheveled and his tie was askew.

"Aurors are still searching the castle and the grounds,"he told them,"I suggest you all try and get some nap. The search will be long over by morning, so you will be free to leave the common room then."

Albus and his protagonist looked at each former after Longbottom left. They wordlessly went up to their residence hall, Kaden going with Albus instead of to the 2nd geezerhood'hall. cipher said anything as he curled up on the floor with one of Albus 's spare blankets. Albus got into bed and stared at the roof. He had been so release earlier, but now there was no way he 'd get much sleep that night.


A/N : Thanks to my Beta, Dancer of Starlight, as well as all the awesome reviewer and reviewers !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


Lunch was very subdued the adjacent day. almost people had slept quite late since it was a Saturday. Every student of Hogwarts had their nose in a copy of the oracle, be it their own or a friend 's. The staff board looked the same, with every prof either reading the prophesier or whispering with another professor, no uncertainty about what they 'd read.

Albus was reading Georgia 's Prophet as she had finished with it and made a genial short letter to start subscribing himself. All of his friends were peering over his shoulders. Even Linda was hovering around them, a understructure or so away.

HOGSMEADE SHOPKEEPER MURDERED

A disturbance in Dervish and Banges late
yesterday evening that sent one Hogsmeade
resident to Hogwarts to detect the Auror on
duty lead to the discovery of the destruction
of a shopkeeper.

Leroy Wisander, 42, the ten-year owner of
Dervish and Banges was pronounced all in
on the aspect by Ministry Aurors yesterday
evening. His shop had been broken into
and it showed signs of a struggle.
Wisander was discovered in the middle of
destroyed merchandise with his sceptre
laying a few feet away. Aurors confirmed
that he was killed with the killing curse.

An extensive search of Hogsmeade, the
forest, Hogwarts, and its yard turned
up nothing despite the minute Aurors spent
searching. No fingerprints were found on
the scene.

Aurors will be devoting time to finding
Wisander 's Orcinus orca and a potential motive.

Leroy Wisander had owned Dervish and Banges
for a little over ten geezerhood, when he
purchased the workshop from its previous owner
who retired. However, Wisander is more
known for the scathing newspaper column he writes
for this very newspaper.

Anyone who knew Wisander knew he was a man
of very strong opinion and did not hesitate
to let others know his opinions. His most
late column have explored the depicted object
of werewolf, lamia, and other so called
'half-breeds'rights. Aurors have declined
input on whether they believe Wisander 's
column are a possible motive for his
murder. Wisander 's obit can be found
on page five.

Albus set the paper down and his Friend all resumed their bottom. Nobody said a Word of God for a few minutes. Albus did n't know what to think. The article certainly made it seem like Wisander was killed because of his opinion. However, it did n't exactly say what his opinion were. Albus had n't ever read any of his editorials, so he could n't say either.

"What variety of editorials did he save ?"flatness asked quietly.

"I have no idea,"Albus replied, looking at his admirer whose face was quite pale,"Want to go to the room ?"

"Yeah,"lustrelessness nodded,"I 'm not really hungry."

Albus got up and was followed by all of his supporter. whoremonger and Kaden each grabbed a wad of toast before leaving. Even Rose and Amanda went with them instead of going off to study with Linda.

"Have any of you scan his editorials ?"matt asked as soon as they were in the Marauder 's Den.

nobody had read them. Not even pink wine. lustrelessness sighed and collapsed onto one of the couches."I 've got to find out what they were about. I do n't even know which would be better, him being for or against loup-garou rights. If he 's for them, that means some bloke is on the unaffixed killing citizenry for wanting werewolf rights."

lusterlessness did n't even have to continue for Albus to have sex why that worried him. Matt 's dad was possibly the grownup advocator of loup-garou rights in all of Britain and everyone knew it. If someone had been killed just for writing about werewolf right, what would take place to person who was actually passing natural law for them ?

"That might not be why Wisander was killed,"Rose pointed out.

"Why else would individual have killed him ?"matt asked,"He was just a shop proprietor in Hogsmeade."

"Why did someone kill professor Torro ?"John replied,"He was n't even writing any editorials or anything."

"To scare people,"Albus said quietly,"The Defense teacher situation used to be cursed, back when our parents were in school."

"wellspring, I do n't think you should concern until you find out what the editorial are about,"Rose said to Matt.

"The other option is n't much better,"Matt muttered,"If he did n't write editorials for lycanthrope right, then he wrote them against them."

Albus thought lustrelessness had a stage, but he kept his mouth shut. Any way you looked at it, this murder pointed to the fact that things were changing. Aurors had been patrolling Hogwarts for calendar month, but Albus had quickly adjusted to that and did n't really think much about it, but maybe there was more take place outside of Hogwarts than Albus was aware of.

"Let 's go to the library,"blush wine said as she stood up,"They 'll make old copies of the Prophet there."

Everyone agreed with this and they set off to the subroutine library. When they arrived, they were surprised to find how crowded it was. Usually Sat were the days everyone put off their homework and then Sun were spent in the library.

Once they stepped inside, Albus saw that everyone was looking through old copy of the seer. Nearly every table had a few newspaper on it and a few bookman poring over them. Madam Pince was bustling about, no dubiousness worrying about whether the students would rip her wanted newspapers.

"mightiness not be any impart,"whoremonger muttered.

"This is honest,"Albus replied,"Now it wo n't look funny for us to be investigating."

John was almost right. There was a very small stack of paper left. Albus grabbed them all and then they went to a secluded table towards the back of the library. Albus, Matt, and rosiness each took a newspaper while privy, Kaden, and Amanda played tic-tac-toe on a spare bit of parchment.

Albus leafed through his newspaper, which was about two years old, until he got to the editorial segment. In the very middle, in the biggest baptismal font, was an editorial by Leroy Wisander.

therapist, beer maker TO rap, NOT MINISTRY official

As I was locking up my workshop hold out night,
I noticed that it was a full-of-the-moon Moon. I
could not facilitate but think of the inadequate
people plagued with lycanthropy
currently shut up while attacking
themselves.

Now, I know what you all are thinking.
wolfbane. The stuff works miracles
if taken correctly. However, it does
no secure if it 's sitting in St. Mungo 's
and not being used by crone and
thaumaturge with lycanthropy.

The stuff and nonsense is expensive. I myself did
the deliberation and discovered that
it would be extremely difficult for
anyone with a low income to afford it.

And what kind of jobs are lycanthropes
often stuck with ? Menial, low-paying
I. The line where they make hardly
enough money to pay the rent and buy
intellectual nourishment, let alone purchase a potion that
could change their lives for the better.

I am absolutely dismayed that Healers
and potion beer maker charge for this
authoritative potion. They must be making
a courteous lucre. They can use the earnings
to look at spendthrift holiday while the
poor people beldame and wizards who buy it
struggle to afford it.

There is only so much Ministry official
can do. Head of Werewolf Support help,
Walter Eckerton, says he would love to
commit away free Wolfsbane, but there just
is n't way for it in the budget.

What do I propose ? I propose that Healers
and potion brewers give it away for free.
They have the power to brew it, not
the Ministry. almost therapist claim to screw
helping people, but often it is those who
need it most, such as those with lycanthropy,
are often forced to go without, all because
those with the ability to brew it like
to let a little extra spending money.

"nil in this one,"Rose said as she shoved hers aside.

"This one 's got one about vampire,"flatness said as he set his paper on top of Rose's.

"Read this,"Albus handed Matt his theme,"Wisander even mentions your dad."

lustrelessness took the paper and he and rosiness began to read it. Saint John, Amanda, and Kaden peered over as well. Albus sat and waited while they read.

"Let 's go back to the room,"lustrelessness said as soon as he 'd finished reading it.

Albus nodded and they returned the newspaper and walked as fast as they could back to the Marauder 's Den.

"Bloody Hell, that bloke must sustain had so many enemies !"John the Divine shouted as soon as they were back.

"I know,"Albus agreed,"And that one 's from two years ago. Imagine what he 's written recently."

"Why did he hold to name my dad ?"Matt groaned,"He made it sound like my dad agrees with that editorial and he definitely doesn't."

"He was just trying to budge something up,"Rose replied,"And bet where it got him."

"healer are n't like that. well-nigh of the unity I 've met would sacrifice away free wolf's bane, but it 's more rarify that that. The constituent are expensive and it takes forever to brew. Not to observe how difficult it is. There are n't many healer who can brew it and even nigh brewers ca n't brew it,"lusterlessness explained.

"That bloke did n't know the half of it,"Saint John agreed,"My dad 's a therapist and he 'd love to have away relinquish potions. It just does n't work that way."

"My dad 's linked with that bloke,"Matt said quietly,"And now that he 's oral sex of the entire section, he 'll be passing more Torah. Whoever killed Wisander 's not going to be happy."

"Your dad 's a really good thaumaturge, though,"Albus pointed out to his worried booster,"Plus he works at the Ministry, where there are lots of Aurors milling about. And your star sign is more protect than any early house I 've seen, well, except the Minister 's Mansion."

"I know, but it 's still not just,"matt sighed.

Albus could n't indicate with that. Something was going on outside of Hogwarts. Something far more authoritative than the Quidditch tournament and the dueling tournament.

******

Albus and his friends scoured the Daily oracle every morning the following hebdomad. Every day there was an article about Wisander, the investigation, or both. So far the investigating had turned up nothing. The Aurors had questioned quite a few mass, namely those very candid against werewolf and lamia rights, but the hunting had proved fruitless.

The clause about Wisander were far more occupy. It seemed that his editorial about Wolfsbane Potion was one of the tamer ace. Each day little pieces of his various editorial were being published. In one, he stated the grounds why wolfman should n't be locked up on full moons. The reasons were quite ridiculous, but the Prophet had printed it anyway. Another editorial talked about why vampires should be allowed access to human to seize with teeth. He suggested using captive and allowing vampires to suck them dry. Thus helping vampires and reducing prison monetary value at the Sami time.

"I reckon this gent was off his rocker,"John announced at breakfast the following William Ashley Sunday. He had just finished reading an article about how Wisander spent a yr living with a vampire clan in joker when he was young. They were some of the few people actually up at an early hour, as Albus had Quidditch recitation and toilet had a morning detention with Filch for putting dungbombs in the john in Moaning Vinca minor 's bathroom the previous day.

"That 's a overnice way of putting it,"Albus said as he served himself more eggs.

"What are you doing after Quidditch practice session ?"John asked.

"After Quidditch ?"Albus laughed,"You mean, I 'm going to get to leave eventually ? Natalie Wood wo n't make us practice for the next calendar week ? I thought he was going to keep on going until the actual catch on Saturday."

"He 's got to let you out for social class,"John grinned.

"What a pity,"Albus rolled his eyes,"Anyway, I 'll probably have to do homework, since pattern will go until late. How about you ? Any plans for after detention ?"

"Thought I might earn another custody,"John grinned,"But Kaden 's busy with chess club this afternoon-"

"Wait,"Albus nearly choked on his juice,"Kaden joined the chess club ? Kaden ? Kaden Dursley ?"

"Know any other Kadens ?"John laughed,"blush wine said they want to teach him how to play properly, you know, like a challenge of sorts."

"I 'll narrate blush wine skillful chance with that,"Albus said.

"Yeah, so both Kaden and Rose will be meddlesome with that. Not that Rose would want to gain detention with me anyway. And Amanda 's doing something with Linda today, prep, I think. And I doubt mat will be up for doing anything,"John continued.

"right,"Albus said, remembering that the full moon was that Nox,"But you did the dungbombs on your own."

"But it 's not as fun,"John sighed,"I guess I 'll just hang around the den with Matt. I can own a nice one-sided conversation."

"You can do your homework,"Albus told him.

"Nope, I 'm waiting until you get back for that,"St. John the Apostle said.

"Well, have fun in your detention. I 've got to get to practice session,"Albus said as he got up.

There were a few choice words Albus had for practice that day. Long, grueling, and acute. Mrs. Henry Wood was in his hunky-dory material body as he ordered the team to do drills time of day after hour. He seemed to get more and more stressed as the day wore on.

James did a lot of one-on-one education with Teddy and Albus was more than than a fiddling envious. Teddy was a much more patient police chief than Wood was and yelled a whole lot less. Tyler Pike mostly helped Wood.

wood let them have a abruptly break for lunch, making sure as shooting they knew to come back afterwards. Albus heard the Slytherins on the team talking about skipping out of the rest of practice, but they were back on the pitch at the time Wood told them to be.

The good afternoon was very interchangeable to the morning and Albus found that he could tune out Wood 's yelling quite easily. It was standardised to tuning out his mum 's yelling.

recitation finally ended at three, when the New York team walked onto the pitch and demanded they leave, because they had booked the sales pitch for three o'clock that day.

"Remember, practice Tuesday even !"woodwind instrument shouted as the altogether team rushed to get off the pitch.

Albus trudged back to the castle tired and shivering. He went straight to Gryffindor tower and took a very long, hot rain shower and then set off to find his friends.

Rose, Amanda, and Linda were in the common room, but the boys were n't. Albus figured they were in the piranha 's Den and set off to look for them after saying a quick hello to the girls.

whoremaster and Kaden were in the middle of a inflame game of Exploding cinch when Albus walked into the marauder 's Den a few minutes later. John 's face was full of ash, but Kaden 's was quite fairly. There was also a big grin on his face which contrasted the scowl on John 's human face. Matt was laying on the lounge facing them, like he had been watching the game, but he was sound asleep.

"Albus !"Kaden shouted,"How was practice ?"

"Grueling. woodwind 's ten times worse than Georgia. Five hours we were out there. Five all-fired hours in the cold !"Albus groaned as he collapsed onto the former couch.

"wagerer than scrubbing Moaning Myrtle 's bathroom with a soup-strainer,"bathroom muttered,"I do n't know what was worse, the scrubbing or listening to Myrtle."

"All three of you are so cheery today,"Kaden said,"So many complaints."

"Can you blame us ?"Albus muttered.

"No, not really,"Kaden shrugged.

"How was chess ?"Albus asked.

"I got beaten by every single person in the chess nine,"Kaden shook his straits,"But they think I have potential."

"Albus,"whoremaster said as the cards blew up in his facial expression again,"Have you done that Defense examine ?

"No,"Albus groaned.

"I need your help,"John said as he got up and started digging around in his bag.

Albus groaned again and fished around in his own bag for his defensive measure record. Balladanis wanted a foot long essay about basilisks, which were the current dark-skinned puppet of the week.

lav sat down at the table while Albus lay on the couch. He just could n't get himself to get up and do his essay. Instead, he mumbled answers to St. John whenever he asked a question.

"Do you hatch the chicken egg under a toad or a toad ?"John asked.

"Toad,"Albus mumbled.

"You know, I could pull a Rose and separate you to do your essay,"whoremaster replied.

"Do n't even bother,"Albus said. Even Rose would n't be able to get him off the couch.

"Quidditch seems less grueling than football game,"Kaden commented,"I mean, you fly, you do n't run."

Albus lifted his promontory up and glared at Kaden."Wood had us doing push-ups and running laps."

"Really ?"Kaden sounded surprise,"Why ?"

"To get us into shape after the vacation,"Albus answered,"So yes, Quidditch is a lot of work."

"Ok, ok,"Kaden muttered as he located some of his own homework.

Albus managed to get in a somewhat comfortable side on the couch and wrote his essay with his playscript and sheepskin perched on his knees. It beat sitting at the table ; at to the lowest degree he was able to sort of lie down.

A few hr later both Albus and John had their essays completed. Kaden was still scribbling furiously on whatever prep he was working on.

"We should probably awaken him up,"Albus gestured to flatness, who had not moved one muscleman since Albus had came back from practice.

trick got up and began to incite Matt 's arm. It took a salutary two minutes for flatness to open his eyes.

"It 's nearly six,"privy told him.

"Then I should probably go,"Matt mumbled,"Oh, Albus, you 're back from practice."

"Yeah,"Albus nodded,"It was really long, though."

"I 'll go with you to the infirmary wing,"John said and Matt did not object. Albus assured him they 'd visit him the next day and then they left, leaving Albus and Kaden alone in the room.

John returned a petty while later and the three of them went down to dinner. They returned to the predator 's Den afterwards and privy and Kaden continued working on their homework while Albus slept on the couch.

******

"Albus, get up !"

Albus mumbled something incoherently and rolled over in his bed. It felt far too betimes to inflame up.

"Albus !"Whoever was shouting was now prodding him in the side.

Albus opened his eyes and saw Teddy standing over his bed. A glance at the clock told him that, yes, it was far too early to fire up up. It was six in the morn. On a Saturday. Yes, it was the day of the Quidditch couple against New York, but that was n't until one o'clock and Albus was only a reserve player anyway.

"Albus, you 'd better get up now. Grant Wood 's in the vernacular room,"Teddy whispered.

That got Albus 's attention. His eyes shot back out-of-doors and he sat up."What ?"

"Fielding 's sick,"Teddy told him,"You 're playing today."

Now Albus was wide awake."Seriously ? What about O'delle ?"Hailey O'delle was the other second-stringer Chaser, a one-seventh year Slytherin.

"She 's throw up, too,"slip explained,"The two of them are going out, so it does n't storm me."

Albus took that to mean that Teddy thought they were snogging and one got the former sick.

"I 'll be down in two minutes,"Albus muttered.

Teddy nodded and left. Albus threw on a t-shirt and a pair of jeans before running down to the park room, where he found Oliver Wood pacing in nominal head of the empty fire.

"Albus,"he said as soon as Albus stepped into the vernacular room,"You 're playing pursuer today."

Albus nodded and sat down for what was sure to be a very foresightful lecture. Wood paused and then launched into an explanation of tactics, which Albus had already heard during practice that calendar week. He could n't see out why he had to be woken up at six to be told he was playing. Grant Wood could have accomplished the same affair at ten.

Wood and slip left after Wood finished lecturing Albus and Albus considered going back to bed, but as he was all-embracing awake, it would be pointless.

office of forest 's words had been on the weather, which was moth-eaten and slightly snowy. Could be worse, Albus thought. At least there was n't a rash. The consideration were very interchangeable to those they had been practicing in all week.

Albus sat in the common room reading a leger he found laying around until his friends got up around ten.

"There you are,"matte, who was looking significantly better than he had a few days ago, said,"What clock time did you get up ?"

"Six,"Albus muttered,"Teddy got me up. woodwind instrument had to tell me I 'm playing pursuer today."

"What ?"lustrelessness shouted,"That 's glorious !"

"This is great, Albus !"John grinned,"But why ?"

"Fielding 's sick and so is the other reserve Chaser,"Albus explained,"I 'm just glad we 're playing New York and not Australia."

Albus went to the Great manse to eat dejeuner with his friends, but he was n't really hungry. He did n't conceive he had ever been more skittish for a Quidditch mate. This was a really of import match, as Mrs. Henry Wood had pointed out numerous sentence. If they won by a wide-eyed enough margin, they 'd be in second gear place.

Holy Scripture had gotten around that Albus was playing in the lucifer and numerous people came over to the Gryffindor tabular array to wish Albus chance.

"Al,"Harry sat down next to Albus.

"Dad,"Albus smiled. He had n't been sure if his dad was coming to the match or not.

"I 'll be watching the whole time. I 'm sure you 're going to do great. Just think of it as a match against another house. Ravenclaw, I guess, since their robes are blue,"Harry grinned,"goodness luck."

"Thanks,"Albus replied.

Albus left with the rest of the Hogwarts team a few minute later. All his friends wished him right hazard as he left the Hall.

Nobody talked much as they changed into their robes. Everyone sat down afterwards, ready for Wood 's pre-match speech.

However, Ellen Price Wood seemed to be all speeched out. He merely said that they 'd trained well and to feed it their all. Albus was a little shocked by the shortness of the speech, but quickly got over it as he walked out onto the pitching.


A/N : Thanks to my Beta, Dancer of Starlight, as well as all the awesome multitude who have read and reviewed this !

Also, I wrote a new song fic ! It 's from Snape 's point of view, as I wanted to try something different. It 's on my Author Page if you want to check it out !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


Ten moment into the peer, Albus decided there were four character of Quidditch in the world. Casual Quidditch, like what he played with his cousins ; school Quidditch ; professional Quidditch ; and then there was the eccentric of Quidditch he was playing now.

It was a combination of school Quidditch and professional Quidditch. The crowd was louder, the players more ascertain, and the stakes were gamy than a normal shoal Quidditch lucifer.

Albus dodged one of the New York Chasers and flew up to trip up the Quaffle, which had been dropped by Waverly as he had been hit by a bludger. As soon as Albus had the Quaffle, he was flanked by the other two New House of York Chasers.

Albus pushed his broom to fly faster and held the Quaffle tighter to his dresser. Then he plunged down to the ground, where nobody else was flying. He was back up eminent two minutes later when he had reached the New York goal posts. After dodging a Bludger, he threw the Quaffle into the left goal postal service. The Keeper was too slow and the Quaffle soared through.

"Potter of Hogwarts has scored !"Todd Smith shouted,"40-30 Hogwarts !"

James grinned at Albus as he flew yesteryear. Albus smiled to himself and joined Waverly and Reilly, who were waiting for New York 's Keeper to contrive the Quaffle out. That had been his first-class honours degree finish of the match.

The Quaffle continued to exchange hands quickly as the catch went on. An hour later there was still no sign of the canary and both teams were neck in neck as far as power point went. New House of York was up by ten.

Albus scored a few Sir Thomas More goals and he began to unbend a fiddling. The couple began to palpate more like a schoolhouse match and less like a professional person match, even though the wager were still high.

Wood had repeated over and over again that they had to be up by at least fifty dollar bill points when Saint James caught the stool pigeon, or they would n't be able to overtake New York as far as boilersuit power point went.

"New York 's searcher has seen the sneaker !"Smith announced.

Albus, who had been following one of New House of York 's chaser ( the one who had the Quaffle ), turned around and saw that their searcher was making a beeline for the top of Hogwarts'middle goal.

James noticed as well and flew straight at the hoop. He had been significantly closer than New York 's seeker and flew away from the basketball hoop with the struggling sneaker in his hand.

The gang roared and James held the canary heights above his oral sex. Both team flew to the primer coat and Albus saw the offended look on Wood 's brass. They had n't won by sufficiency to be in second place overall.

"I had no selection !"James shouted to him,"She was going to get it !"

Wood nodded in correspondence, but he still looked disappointed. Albus chose to ignore this and helped the rest of the team to hoist Jesse James onto all of their shoulders.

"To update everyone on the decimal point, the Aboriginal Australian school day of Sorcery is in first shoes. New York and Hogwarts are currently tied for second gear. The next mates will ask office at the end of Feb !"metalworker told the crowd.

Albus did n't conform to up with his Friend until they were back in the common room. Teddy had gone to Hogsmeade and a political party was currently underway in the Gryffindor common room. shift informed everyone that the three early firm were hosting parties as well. The students from New York who had been sorted into Gryffindor, including their Seeker, were sulking in a corner.

"I think that was your best mates yet,"John said to Albus as they settled down at their usual table.

"I think so, too,"Albus agreed,"I sort of wish I could make for in the next match."

"Maybe Henry Fielding will still be sick,"can said.

"Doubt it,"Albus replied,"Plus, I 'm sure O'delle will get starting time dibs on the next match if any of the former Chasers get sick."

"At least you got to dally in one friction match,"Rose pointed out.

"Anyway, the next match you 'll probably be playing Commonwealth of Australia,"matte said.

"Yeah,"Albus nodded,"If we win that one, it 'll be a miracle. But we 're not even playing in the side by side one. Next mate is New York versus Australia."

The company continued until dinner time, when people began to depart as nonentity had snuck down to the kitchens to get food. Harry came in to congratulate Albus and James shortly before Albus and his Friend left for dinner. He was also scheduled to patrol the school day for the rest of the weekend and wanted to let his Thomas Kyd know.

******

life history at Hogwarts returned to pattern shortly after the Quidditch peer. The vaticinator printed fewer and few articles about Wisander until there were none at all. Everyone seemed to forget about his last. Everyone except Matt, that is, who was still worried about his dad.

However, the student at Hogwarts were reminded again of the unresolved slaying when the future Hogsmeade trip arrived two days after Valentine 's Day. A lot of the bookman were too lovesick to notice the boarded up shop of Dervish and Banges as they made their way to Madam Puddifoot's.

Neither Albus, John the Divine, or Matt were too preoccupied to observe the empty building, though. The three of them stopped to await at it for a patch despite the biting breaking wind. Rose and Amanda were spending the day with Linda.

"Who owns it now ?"john asked as they looked at the empty-bellied building.

"Dunno,"Albus shrugged,"The Prophet never mentioned any family."

"It 's probably still contribution of the investigation,"Matt pointed out,"addition, who would desire a building that someone was killed in ? I do n't even want to go in it."

Albus did n't think it was a trade good time to cue mat that Severus Snape had been murdered inside of the Shrieking Shack.

"Good point,"Albus said,"But so far they have n't found anything."

"They wo n't discover who it was,"john said quietly,"They never found out who killed Torro."

"I really hope they find who it was,"mat replied.

"They will,"Albus said,"They 're still focused on it."

Albus, lustrelessness, and John went to the Three broom handle a little while later because all three of them were frozen. They warmed up with Butterbeer and were just thinking about heading back to the castle when Albus heard somebody whisper his name behind him.

"Albus,"they said again.

Albus turned around, but no one was there. The voice sounded familiar spirit, though. Albus slowly reached his paw out and it touched something solid state, but it looked like no one was there.

"Kaden,"Albus groaned,"Is that you ?"

"Yeah,"Kaden whispered back,"I stole your cloak."

Albus immediately stood up and motioned for lustrelessness and John, who were both looking confused, to be him. He assumed Kaden would travel along as well. Albus lead them up High Street until they reached the screech hut. Nobody was hanging around it that day.

"Kaden !"Albus seethed,"You do actualize how pudden-head this was."

"Yes,"Kaden replied as he took off the cloak.

"Bloody inferno !"St. John the Apostle shouted.

"You stole the cloak ?"matte asked.

"Kaden, you idiot !"Albus shouted,"I know I first told you this would be a unspoiled clip, but there was a reason I changed my mind and told you not to pinch in today. well-nigh of the teachers come to Hogsmeade for the February trip. My cousins told me. They want to pee sure as shooting no one does anything stupid because they 're in love or whatever."

"Er,"Kaden muttered.

"How did you get in ?"matte asked.

"One-eyed witch statue,"Kaden replied,"Leads right into Honeyduke's."

"Kaden, do you know how difficult it 's going to be to get you back unnoticed ?"

Kaden 's face turned E. B. White and his mouth dropped open. Albus turned around to see what he was looking at and was met typeface to facial expression with prof Balladanis.

"Quite difficult, I 'd expect,"Balladanis replied,"seminal fluid with me, all of you."

Albus groaned inwardly as he followed Balladanis down the street. They had gone all year without Kaden getting them into trouble, but Albus should have known adept than to call back they could go the whole year.

cypher spoke until they were shut in Balladanis 's survey. Balladanis sat down in his death chair and looked at Kaden.

"Explain,"Balladanis said.

"They had nothing to do with it,"Kaden said quickly,"Albus was just telling me how dolt I was."

"Then it would look that Mr. Potter and I agree on something,"Balladanis replied,"Where 'd you get that cloak ?"

"It 's Albus 's,"Kaden said quietly,"I took it. He did n't give it to me to nobble in or anything."

"Very well,"Balladanis said,"Mr. ceramist, Mr. Eckerton, and Mr. Brickston, you may return to your vulgar room. Mr. Dursley will link up you after I arrange his detention."

Albus, Matt, and Gospel According to John could not get out of there flying enough. They walked straight back to the common room, talking about how lucky they had been. It must have looked like all three of them had helped Kaden sneak into Hogsmeade. Good thing Balladanis believed Kaden.

Kaden returned 15 transactions later, looking quite distressed. He collapsed onto a electric chair and stared mutinously at the table.

"detainment every Saturday for the next month,"Kaden muttered,"Plus he gave me a lecture about how dangerous it was for me to abstract out and if I did it again I 'd get a bad punishment than detention. Did n't exposit on that, though."

"He 'd probably get you kicked out,"St. John the Apostle commented.

"Did he say what you have to do for detention ?"Albus asked.

"No,"Kaden said,"Guess it 'll be a surprise."

******

Kaden discovered what his detention was that night. Balladanis decided to have him alphabetize his buck private depository library, which was quite extensive. Kaden returned to the Marauder 's Den rant about the amount of record Balladanis had.

"He 's got more books on darkness animate being than your dad 's got,"Kaden said to Matt.

"That 's impressive,"lustrelessness replied.

"wish he had less,"Kaden muttered.

Kaden spent all four of his custody alphabetizing those playscript. He almost did n't manage to finish and if that had been the guinea pig, Balladanis would have given him a twenty percent detention.

The succeeding full moonshine came and went, as did the next Quidditch match. Albus was beginning to surmise that the wide-cut moons were becoming worse for matt, although he did n't know why.

New York lost miserably to Australia in the Quidditch couple. They had been doing pretty well until Linda caught the Snitch a half hour in. Sir Henry Joseph Wood insisted that this was a respectable thing, though. It meant that if Hogwarts managed to score a good amount of destination before Linda caught the Snitch in their adjacent match, they would have more boilersuit tip than New York. Wood seemed to have got lost any hope that Jesse James could beat Linda in Seeking, something St. James the Apostle fumed about on a come near day-by-day basis.

March arrived and with it a three day rain storm that left the primer completely flooded. Both Herbology and tutelage of Magical animate being had to take in spot inside, which resulted in incredibly irksome lessons. woods continued to throw Quiditch practice and Albus returned to the castle completely soaked and covered in mud after each one.

All of the instructor were piling on the homework and Professor Patil had even gone so far as to mention the O.W.L.s even though they were a whole two geezerhood away. The only teacher who was n't talking about the end of term test was Professor Balladanis.

Balladanis conducted his lessons as if end of term test did not exist. He changed aught about his lessons except the dark creature they were learning about.

"We 're starting vampires next week,"Balladanis announced at the end of class on Thursday,"Please read the chapter on them by Monday."

Albus could n't help but look at Linda before he began packing up his things. He wondered if Balladanis would be teaching them sufficiency about identifying vampire for anyone to figure out that Linda was one.

"So,"John said as he flipped through his defence force book the pursuit evening. Albus, Matt, John, and Kaden were in the piranha 's Den and St. John was just finishing the chapter on vampires."Look what 's after vampires.

Albus looked through his own book."loup-garou,"he said quietly and then looked at Matt.

"Yeah,"Matt muttered,"It was bound to go on eventually."

"I wonder if Balladanis is going to make you go in for spear carrier help during that unit of measurement,"john grinned,"I 'm sure enough you 'll need lashings of superfluous help in identifying werewolves."

matte rolled his eyes."He better. It 'll look suspicious if I do n't go in for extra help. Speaking of additional supporter, we 're due to go in for it in fifteen minutes."

"We 'd better go then,"trick said,"See you two later."

Albus managed to finish his Herbology homework while John and Matt were gone. Then it was time for him to go in for his dueling lessons.

The desks were n't pushed to the English of the classroom when Albus entered. Balladanis was seated behind his desk and there was a stone basin sitting on it. Balladanis was pulling silvery strings of something out of his heading and placing them in the basin.

It was a pensieve and the drawing string were retentivity, Albus realized. For a second, he thought that maybe Balladanis had cancelled dueling and neglected to tell him.

"Sir ?"Albus asked hesitantly.

"Mr. ceramist,"Balladanis said quietly,"Come in."

Albus stood awkwardly next to one of the front man table while he waited for Malfoy. Balladanis stared into the pensieve and acted like Albus was n't there. When Malfoy arrived, he looked up and stared at the two son for a few minutes before speaking.

"We 're not dueling today,"he said,"Instead, I am going to read you something."He motioned for them to fall in him at his desk.

Albus glanced nervously at Malfoy. Balladanis was n't one for explanations, but Albus would ingest appreciated one right then.

"This is a pensieve,"Balladanis said,"It is used to explore computer storage. That is exactly what we 're going to do. Albus, lean forward and put your head into the pensieve. Your body will take after. Scorpio, you will fall out. I will come up after you."

Albus 's pulse sped up a little bit as he leaned over the pensieve. Was this a stupid theme ? He did n't even know what he was getting into. But it was just a storage. Nothing could hurt him in a store, right ?

Albus took a bass breathing space and plunged his face into the pensieve. He had never been in one before. He landed on the arduous grass and looked around.

It was gloam and very quiet. There was a small menage in the distance, atop of a rocky hill. In fact, the unharmed area was mostly rocky. Albus had landed on the one lone piece of grass in the whole place. It did n't look like any place in Britain.

He stood up as Malfoy landed next to him, followed quickly by Balladanis. Balladanis landed on his infantry and they waited for Malfoy to get up.

"Follow me,"Balladanis said quietly.

Albus did so, but he still felt like he deserved an explanation. Where were they ? Why were they there ? Whose remembering was this ? What did it have to do with dueling ?

"Excuse me, Sir,"Malfoy said,"Where are we ?"

"Ellas,"Balladanis replied.

This did cipher but increase Albus 's wonder. Why were they in Hellenic Republic of all lieu ? But he did n't ask. It did n't look like Balladanis was in an explaining humour, judging by his short, one countersign reply to Malfoy.

They walked quietly towards the small house. The only noise was their footsteps. There were n't even any bird of Minerva hooting or frankfurter barking. It struck Albus as very odd.

The household must feature been their destination. Balladanis stopped when they arrived at the broken down wooden fence surrounding it. The menage reminded Albus of the Shrieking shack, only smaller. It was kind of relegate down pat and did n't look like a place that would be good to live in.

Someone lived there, though. A light was on upstairs. It remained on for a few more hour and then someone turned it off.

Balladanis made no motion towards the mansion. Instead, he seemed focused on the forest that lay just beyond it. Albus decided the forest was as good a place as any to watch.

They watched the timberland for a one-half an hour before anything happened. Then five hooded figures practically flew out of the forest. They were at the menage before Albus even realized it. He looked at Balladanis. His cheek was hardened.

All was serenity for two minutes. The figure entered the menage, but did not turn on any brightness. Then the screams started. Albus jumped at the speech sound of the first one.

They were agonizing, recollective screams. Albus wanted zilch more than to go in and help whoever was screaming, but he knew he could n't. It was naught more than a memory. Instead, he looked again at Balladanis.

His professor 's face showed nothing. nix but the same hardened flavour he had seen on it so many prison term. Malfoy on the other manus, looked horrified. He looked exactly how Albus felt.

The screaming was coming from two different people. There was a high one that must have got been coming from a woman, and a lower one that must have been coming from a man.

Then, they stopped. get-go the cleaning woman, then the man. The hooded pattern left the house as quickly as they had entered and returned to the forest.

Balladanis, however, made no relocation to leave. Instead he stared at the house. Two proceedings later, soul fled from it.

They ran from the house, towards Albus, Malfoy, and Balladanis. As they drew closer, Albus could see that the person was a boy who looked no old than Albus himself. His facial expression was etched with a sadness Albus had never seen before. It was too colored to tell, but Albus was certain there were crying running down his face.

The boy obviously did n't point out the three people watching him. He ran right past them, up the rocky hill in the distance. It occurred to Albus after he passed that the boy looked somewhat familiar. There was something about his nerve that Albus recognized, but he could n't quite office it.


A/N : Thanks to my Beta, Dancer of Starlight, as well as all of the awesome people who have read and reviewed this !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


Professor Balladanis did n't say anything for a yearn fourth dimension after he, Albus, and Malfoy returned to the defense team classroom. Albus landed next to Malfoy, still confused as to how he managed to get out of the pensieve, in front of Balladanis 's desk. Balladanis landed behind his desk, facing the wall, and did n't sour around for a few minutes.

Albus glanced nervously at his prof as he thought of questions he was just burning to ask. In fact, there was nothing about the scene he had just witnessed that did n't make Albus singular. Everything about it had been confusing.

Malfoy looked just as confused. They kept looking at each other and it was kind of strange. They were on the same side. Both of them wanted Balladanis to explain.

Balladanis finally turned around and looked at them. He put his hands on his desk and leaned forward, looking both Albus and Malfoy in the eye.

It happened in a split second. Albus looked at his professor and immediately thought back to the cheek of the boy in the vista. That was why he looked familiar spirit. The boy was Balladanis. Then, Balladanis shifted slightly and the likeness was gone. But Albus knew it. That vista had been from Balladanis 's childhood.

"Sit down,"Balladanis said.

Albus and Malfoy sat down quickly at the mesa in figurehead of Balladanis 's desk. They were sitting right side by side to each other and Albus did n't care. At the here and now, finding out what that scene was was more of import than staying away from Malfoy.

"A few weeks ago you asked me what I did before I started teaching here, Mr. Potter,"Balladanis began,"I have always had the intention of telling you, of telling both of you. I was merely waiting for the right mo. I feel that that present moment is now."

Balladanis paused and walked around to the strawman of his desk. He began to pace in nominal head of it.

"There is a reason why I am telling you this now. Why I am not explaining to all of my social class what I did before instruction. The reason is that you two are incredible duelers. Both of you have attainment beyond your years that I have never seen before, and trust me, I have seen plenty of particular duelers in my clock time. This may be a effective metre to recite you how rare it is to hold two such skilled duelers in the Saame year at Hogwarts."

Albus turned to count at Malfoy. What was Balladanis getting at ? It sounded like the first of some sort of planetary house unity speech or something.

"I know the two of you are n't the considerably of friends,"Balladanis continued,"But I must say how impressed I am that you seem to put the animosity behind you when you step into my classroom for your lessons."

The exclusive grounds for that, at least for Albus, was because of Balladanis himself. Albus doubted he would stick out Albus and Malfoy bickering with each other during lessons.

"Back to what I was going to state you,"Balladanis said,"That view that I just showed you, in slip you have not figured it out yet, took place while I was a boy of only thirteen. It was the summer before my third twelvemonth at school.

"I grew up in Hellenic Republic, in that very house we just saw. My parents, although they loved me deeply, were very poor and could barely afford to put food on the mesa. I think they were grateful when I went away to school, the resole reason being that they would n't have to worry about me getting plenty to eat.

"I had two blissfully innocent and fun years at the Grecian shoal of Magic. I returned dwelling during summertime full of stories about my friends and all the mischief-making we 'd gotten into."

Albus found it difficult to imagine Balladanis getting into trouble at school or doing anything fun in general.

"Everything changed the summer before my third class. It changed on the dark you just witnessed. A coven of vampires entered my theater that night. They attacked my parents and salute them dry. I hid in a cupboard, too scared to do anything. Then, once the vampire left, I fled. I ran until I could not run anymore. I wound up at the house of one of my ally. His parents took me in, but things were obviously never the same. I changed on that night."

Balladanis stopped talking and Albus sat in utter cushion. Balladanis 's parents had been murdered by lamia ? That was one thing that had never crossed Albus 's mind.

"I returned to school that September hardened. Nothing was fun anymore. naught was shady. It was then that I decided to devote my life-time to ridding the world of such evils. Vampires, dark necromancer, werewolf, anyone and anything that slaying viciously."

Albus could n't help but glare at Balladanis when he mentioned werewolves. Balladanis seemed to notice this and gave Albus the slightest of smiles.

"However, I did substantiate that not all vampires, werewolf, giant, and early being are inherently evil. Not all of them want to kill. It was for this reason that I did not wish to be employed by the Greek Ministry. The Greek Ministry prefers to consider with magical wight as a unit and not mark between them. Perhaps this is because Greece has a very expectant population of vampires.

"gum olibanum, becoming an Auror was out of the interrogation. Instead, I chose to come in a more secretive profession. One that you will not find brochure on when you get career advice from your forefront of house. One that no one except me is going to indicate to you. Yet it is one that I believe the two of you are quite suited for."

Albus 's heart sped up at this. Balladanis was going to sacrifice them career advice ? They were only thirteen. But at the Saami time, Albus felt excited. Balladanis thought he was a unspoilt enough dueler for this career, whatever it was.

"I am a Presuler,"Balladanis said,"I am sure neither of you have heard of one. A Presuler is somewhat like an Auror, in that we seek out non-white wizards and wickedness magic trick. However, we not only seek out sorry wizards and dark magic, we seek out dark and serious creature as well.

"The with child difference is that Presulers are not employed by the Ministry. There are very few Presulers in the world and we are often sought out by various Ministries and hired on an as-needed basis. We travel from country to country, whenever we are needed. It is quite secretive. I suppose Presulers are a combination of Aurors and private investigators."

Balladanis was right in that Albus had never heard of a Presuler before. The idea intrigued him, though. A closemouthed kind of Auror who did not form for the Ministry.

"I never caught the lamia who killed my parents. I have met one vampire who knew them, but she is not like them. I am still searching for them, however."

Balladanis stopped pacing and leaned up against the front man of his desk. He looked at Albus and Malfoy, but did not say anything else.

"Why are you teaching here, then ?"Malfoy asked.

"That is one thing that is between myself and Professor Kendrick,"Balladanis replied.

"Are you coming back succeeding year ?"Malfoy asked.

"As of right wing now, I have no approximation,"Balladanis answered,"It is getting late. I 've kept you here much longer than normal. If you think of anymore questions, do not hesitate to see me. I 'll walk you back to your uncouth rooms."

Albus walked alongside Balladanis in silence on his way back to the Gryffindor Tower. His judgment was racing with what he just learned. He did n't make love what to get to of it. It was just so much information at once.

The common way was nearly empty when Albus climbed through the portrait gob. It must have been really recently, since it was Friday Night. Albus really did n't know what clock time it was.

"There you are !"Rose shouted,"merlin, you 've been gone for 60 minutes !"

"What did he take in you doing ?"Matt asked.

"I 'll distinguish you tomorrow,"Albus muttered, realizing that all he wanted to do was lay in his bed and think about what Balladanis had just said.

Albus was vaguely cognizant of his ally sigh of letdown as he went up to his hall, but he did n't feel like talking about it right then. He was tired and his mind was racing at the Saami time.

Albus tossed and turned the integral night. He alternated thinking about what he had seen in the pensieve and about becoming a Presuler himself. Then he wound up thinking about Linda and what Balladanis persuasion of her. He had said he did n't hold a score against vampire that did n't kill people, but who knew what he really thought.

Was Linda the lamia he had met who knew the vampires who killed his parents ? It was possible since vampire never aged. Or maybe she was a completely different vampire. Albus wondered how many vampires Balladanis knew.

Eventually Albus fell into a restless sleep, but his dreams were plagued by what he had seen in the pensieve.

******

"Merlin, Albus, get up !"

Albus rolled over in his bed and put his pillow over his pass. After waking up drenched in perspiration at four in the morning after a incubus in which his wholly family had been killed by lamia, he had finally drifted off into a somewhat comely sleep. One that he wished he was still in.

"It 's nearly one o'clock."

"He 's like you are after full moon moons."

"Shut it. Seriously, Albus, get up."

"Yeah, we want to hump what happened last night."

Someone pulled the mantle heart-to-heart and took the pillow off Albus 's head. He looked up and saw John and Matt.

"Did you lose to Malfoy or something ?"John asked,"Because that would relieve oneself me want to hole up in bed for the day."

"No, it 's not that,"Albus muttered,"I 'll tell you, but I 'm only explaining it once, so one of you better receive Rose, Amanda, and Kaden. And I 'll tell you in the vulture 's Den because there is no way Linda can be around to discover this."

The miss and Kaden met them in the Marauder 's Den after Albus, King John, and Matt had lunch. lav kept pestering Albus all through dejeuner, wanting to know why Linda could n't see about it, but Albus said nothing. He was n't even sure if he was allowed to secernate his acquaintance about this, but Balladanis had n't really proscribed him.

"Albus, what in the epithet of pigeon hawk happened hold out Night ?"Rose asked as soon as they were all in the Marauder 's Den.

"Balladanis told us what he did before he started teaching at Hogwarts,"Albus said quietly.

"And you neglected to secernate us until now ?"bathroom gaped,"I 've been wanting to bang for the integral year !"

"I know, John,"Albus snapped,"But it 's not anything what you 'd think."

"Sorry,"John muttered.

"Balladanis took us into a pensieve death night,"Albus began.

"Really ?"Rose looked move,"What was that like ?"

"Not that keen, to be honest,"Albus said,"Probably would have been salutary if it was a punter memory.

"Anyway, he took us without any explanation of what we were going to see. He took us to this really old broken down house in Greece. kind of looked like a smaller more run-down version of the Shrieking Shack."

"In Greece ?"Kaden asked.

"Yeah,"Albus nodded,"We watched the house for what seemed like hours and then these bod broke into it and we heard this awful screeching. Then the figures left. Then this bloke who was about our age came running out with this horrible scared look on his face. Then we left."

"What does that have anything to do with what Balladanis does for a sustenance ?"John asked.

"Everything,"Albus sighed,"That had been his house. The belly laugh were his parents. The boy was him. He told us this after. His parents were killed by a coven of vampires."

Nobody said anything for a long clock time. Albus looked at his friends and they all wore adequate looks of shock.

"And you watched it ?"Matt asked.

"From a distance,"Albus replied.

"Falco columbarius, no wonder Balladanis is so bloody insane,"lavatory let out a low whistle.

"He decided to devote his lifespan to ridding the world of evil, whether it be vampires, dark mavin, or early dark creatures,"Albus continued.

"So he 's an Auror ?"Rose asked.

"No,"Albus shook his head,"He 's a Presuler."

"What is that ?"Kaden asked.

"It 's like an Auror, only they go after dark creatures, too. And they are n't employed by the Ministry. They 're hired by Ministries all around the public. They 're police detective as well. Apparently it 's all very tightlipped,"Albus explained.

"Wow,"John said,"I thought he was an Auror or something."

"Me, too,"Matt agreed,"Instead he just hunts down vampire. And, werewolves."

"Only ones that kill people,"Albus assured his lycanthropic friend.

"All werewolves have the capableness of killing citizenry, Albus,"Matt said quietly.

"So does everyone,"Albus replied.

"Whatever his eyeshot on vampire and werewolves truly is, it 's going to be interesting to see how he teaches us about them,"Rose mused.

"surmisal this is why you did n't want Linda to learn about this,"John said.

"Yeah,"Albus replied,"Apparently he still has n't found the vampire who killed his parents, but he knows a vampire who knows them. That lamia does n't vote out people. I wonder if it 's Linda."

"Who knows ?"Rose shrugged,"I doubt we 'll ever happen out."

"Oh, I 've got to tell you what he said after he told us all of this,"Albus took a thick breathing spell,"He thinks Malfoy and I should become Presulers."

"Seriously ?"Matt asked.

"Yeah, because we 're good duelers,"Albus explained,"But I do n't know."

"You do n't have to lie with. You 're only thirteen. And Albus, do n't decide anything until you 've read about this. Do n't just go on what Balladanis is saying. I think we 've finally discovered why he 's so passionate about fighting the night arts, but it might cloud his judgement sometimes,"pink wine warned.

"I know, that 's what I do n't get,"Albus said,"Why is he telling us this now ?"

"Maybe because he does n't plan on staying,"Matt replied,"Why would he stop searching for the lamia who killed his parents to instruct here anyway ?"

"Malfoy asked,"Albus told him,"But he would n't separate us. He said it 's between him and Kendrick."

"Because that 's not wary or anything,"Saint John rolled his eyes,"There 's still something funny about Balladanis."

"What are you going to do, Albus ?"Matt asked.

"I 'm not deciding anything now,"Albus replied,"I 'm just not going to think about it."

******

Not thinking about Presulers and what happened to Balladanis 's parents proved to be easier said than done, especially since Defense course of instruction was soon devoted to learning about vampires. Balladanis seemed to teach that picky unit with much more enthusiasm than usual, a effort that cypher thought possible. Everyone speculated as to why Balladanis was more enthusiastic than usual, but nigh just attributed it to the fact that he was all-fired insane.

A lot of what Balladanis taught about lamia was englut Albus already knew due to what Matt had told them earlier in the school year. It was still fairly interesting, though. Albus found that the more severe the creature they were learning about, the more matter to it was. Not to cite the fact that they did n't use the anamatek anymore, a fact that nearly every student was grateful for.

However, partway through their second week devoted to lamia, the anamatek 's trunk reappeared in the defense team classroom. There was an hearable groan from every student who stepped into the room.

"If that matter turns into a vampire, I think I 'm going to get up and pull up stakes,"privy seethed as they took their seats.

"Maybe we 're moving onto another brute,"Albus suggested even though he knew the chances were slim to none.

"That would n't be any better. We 're doing werewolves next,"John reminded him,"And lusterlessness said that thing could n't turn into an actual werewolf. Speaking of Matt, he 's lucky he 's missing this."

"I think he 'd say otherwise,"Albus replied. The full-of-the-moon moon had been the previous night.

"placidity,"Balladanis said,"We 'll be continuing our vampire lesson today. Today I wish to show you what a vampire looks like, which is why I have brought back the anamatek. However, you will not be fighting it. None of you have the skills necessary to fight a vampire."

"He 's mental,"John muttered.

Balladanis drew his wand and pointed it at the trunk. It snapped open and out stepped a very pale man with chiseled features. He did n't strike, but merely stared out at all the students.

"Vampires are the consummate piranha,"Balladanis announced,"They 're incredibly fast,"he pointed his sceptre at the vampire and it disappeared.

It reappeared in the dorsum of the classroom, but it had not Apparated. The vampire had moved so fast that Albus had missed it in the blink of an eye.

"They 're nimble,"Balladanis continued,"They 're sound looking. They attract you in. Then they kill, they suck you dry until you are dead. The alternative is not great, either. From the mo their teeth unwrap your pelt, you begin to transform into a vampire as well. You will become one if they do not lactate you dry. There is no way to break it, no potion to counteract it.

"lamia hunt at night when their vision is still splendid, but when human visual modality is compromised. However, that is not the simply understanding. Does anyone bed the other ?"

Rose raised her hired hand. Linda did not.

"Yes, girl Weasley ?"Balladanis said.

"Vampires are in heart and soul allergic to the sun,"rose explained,"When the sunlight hits them, it hurts them. The sun gives them concern and makes them feel sick."

"Precisely,"Balladanis gave her a rare smile,"There is no potion to countercheck the core of the sun on vampire. Therefore they tend to populate orbit that see LE sun and areas of dense forest, such as the Northwestern and Northeastern United DoS, share of Canada, and division of Russia. However there is also a significant vampire population in Greece."

Balladanis pointed his verge at the vampire again and it retreated back into the luggage compartment. Everyone breathed a collective suspiration of relief. The lesson continued until the bell rang. Balladanis made no cite of moving onto the succeeding whole, nor had he assigned the usual end of the unit essay.

Albus and his ally went to see lusterlessness late that night after Albus got out of Quidditch drill. They only had a half hour or so until curfew, but they had n't visited at all yet.

"You missed an excellent Defense lesson today,"John Lackland said once brothel keeper Pomfrey had gone back into her written report after leaving to see who had entered her ward.

"Was it any different from the common ones ?"Matt asked tiredly. He looked ready to fall asleep at any moment.

"Balladanis brought back the anamatek,"Albus told him.

"He what ?"matt shouted, although since his vocalization was hoarse it was n't very garish,"We 're still doing vampire, are n't we ?"

"Yeah, he had it ferment into a vampire,"Saint John the Apostle said,"We did n't have to fight it. He just used it to show how profligate lamia were and what they looked like."

"That is weird,"Matt replied,"He assign the vampire essay yet ?"

"Nope,"John shook his head,"I think we 're in for a few more days of vampires."

"wellspring, the thirster we spend on vampires, the more meter we have before we start wolfman,"Matt said quietly,"I really hope he does n't drop as much time on them as he has on vampires."

"I do n't think he will,"Albus said,"His parents were n't killed by werewolves."

"Thank merlin for that,"Matt yawned.

"You 're tired,"Rose said,"We should leave."

"We 'll be back tomorrow after lunch,"Albus told him,"adept night."

"'Night,"Matt said.

They left the ward just as ma'am Pomfrey was coming out of her study, presumably to tell them to pass on and hand Matt more potions. Albus and his friends headed straight for the common room, where they got started on all the homework that had been piled on them that day.


A/N : Thanks to my Beta, Dancer of Starlight, as well as all the awesome the great unwashed who have read and reviewed this !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.



A few of Albus 's cousins had begun to call for up bets on how recollective Balladanis was going to spend teaching the tierce old age about vampire. Fred was sure he 'd spend the remainder of terminus, but Bradley was convinced he 'd move onto the next whole partway through Apr. None of the one-third yr were actually participating in these stake because they were all afraid Balladanis would observe out.

The vampire social unit was still well underway when the adjacent Quidditch friction match came along. This one was the secondly Hogwarts versus Aussie School of Sorcery catch, which meant Wood was in his prime of life when it came to pattern. Albus considered just moving his bed to the changing rooms since he spent more of his metre on the Quidditch pitch shot than in the Gryffindor common room.

Albus awoke the day of the match to whoremonger 's gimcrack swearing instead of shimmy, which told him that he did not have to bring during that match. He could n't help but finger slightly disappoint. Figuring there was no level in going back to sleep, he got up and asked John what happened.

"Tripped over Matt 's bloody cauldron,"lavatory muttered, holding onto his the right way foot,"Why ca n't he just put that stupid thing away ?"

"Like you always do ?"Albus smirked and gestured to trick 's own cauldron, which was sitting only a few feet away from Matt's.

John muttered something identical and shoved his cauldron under his bed. He went into the privy while Albus woke mat up. The three of them met Kaden in the green room a picayune while later and then went down to the Great Hall to get something to eat.

A few 60 minutes later the boys were in the Quidditch stands, waiting for the couple to set out. pink wine and Amanda were with them.

"admiration how recollective it 'll take Linda to find the fink this clip,"Albus mused.

"I 'm betting on ten arcminute,"john said,"Hey, remember that clip we eavesdropped on Killigan ?"

"Yeah,"Albus replied,"Was n't Linda supposed to start flying tiresome after that ?"

"That 's what I thought,"John shrugged,"But she did n't during the last match."

"She probably wo n't this time, either,"Matt put in,"I mean, think about it, if King James could fly that fast, would he really slack down to a normal speed ?"

"Definitely not,"Albus sighed.

Matt 's anticipation proved correct. Linda did not slow down in the slightest. She flew at her common abnormally fast focal ratio, beating James to the snitch by a few yards. Luckily for Hogwarts, they had been ahead of Australia at that breaker point and only wound up losing by 40 points.

This put Hogwarts quite a bit ahead of New York as far as Quidditch power point went. Australia was still in the spark advance, but they were not faring so well in the dueling tournament. As of the most recent tourney, Hogwarts was winning. Australia was in finis office and New York was somewhere in between. Albus was pretty surely that if the Quidditch and dueling tournament power point were added up, Hogwarts and Commonwealth of Australia would be neck in neck. Whatever the outcome of the remaining limiting tourney and matches, the finals for both were going to determine the victor of the competition. The level were just too close.

Although there was obviously no celebration in the Gryffindor common room after the couple, nobody was particularly depressed either. Albus figured this was because nobody had really expected Hogwarts to win anyway.

******

Two calendar week into April, Thomas Bradley along with quite a few other older Gryffindors, were able to hard cash in on their bets about Balladanis. Fred and a few others grumbled loudly about it as they handed over Galleons to the winners.

Balladanis had assigned the long awaited essay on vampire on Th, officially making the vampire unit the longest unit they had done. They had spent an stallion month and a half on it. The essay seemed to meet this length, as Balladanis wanted it to be two and a half feet.

Albus, matt, and whoremonger saved their essays for the last possible instant, settling down to work on them the day before they were due. It was n't a particularly hard essay because Balladanis had given them so much information on the content. It was just a very long essay to publish. rose wine and Amanda had done theirs over the weekend, presumably with Linda. Albus could n't assist but be slightly envious of them because doing the essay with an existent lamia would make it the easiest essay ever.

"Bet Linda 's glad this building block 's over,"Albus said as they worked on their essays in the piranha 's Den Monday evening.

"She is,"rose answered,"She hated every minute of those object lesson. Ca n't say I blame her."

"How long is your essay, rosebush ?"John asked as he measured his own essay.

"Three metrical foot,"Rose answered.

John groaned."Do you think Balladanis will acknowledge if mine 's three inch short ?"

"Yes,"Rose said,"If there 's any essay he 'll be extremely fussy about, it 'll be this one."

"Maybe if we do n't finish it we can just skip class tomorrow,"Matt muttered,"After all, I would n't want to indicate up in course of study without the essay done."

"But it 'll be speculative when you finally do go to stratum,"Rose pointed out.

"I still do n't particularly want to go to category tomorrow,"lustrelessness said,"Whether I 've finished the essay or not."

"You 're going to fetch up it,"rose told him,"You 've got two inch left."

"Finished,"Albus announced.

"Excellent,"John said as he grabbed Albus 's essay,"I 'll copy bits of yours."

"You know,"Albus said quietly,"nobody found out about Linda being a lamia even after we 've spent a month and a one-half on them. I do n't imagine anyone 's going to find out you 're a wolfman just because we 're learning about them."

"I know, I 've just got a bad intuitive feeling about it,"Matt sighed.

"Look on the shining English,"Kaden put in,"When you get assigned the werewolf essay, you 're sure to get a 100."

"I do n't really care about the essay,"Matt said flatly.

Both Matt and John managed to stop their essays before curfew and they returned to Gryffindor tower, and they soon went to bed. Albus did n't remember Matt slept much, though. He heard him tossing and turning all night.

Albus, lustrelessness, and lav got a late start since St. John the Apostle had misplaced his vampire essay. After finding it under his bed ( no one was certain how it go there ), the three boys rushed down to the Great anteroom to snaffle opus of toast before running to Defense.

They walked into the room right field on time and barely had a probability to fascinate their breathing place before Balladanis asked for everyone to hired man in their vampire essays. Albus passed his essay up and pulled out parchment and a quill.

"well, our building block on vampire is over,"Balladanis said once everyone had handed in their essays,"I trust you have all read the chapter on werewolves for today ? If you had for some reason decided not to do that, I highly suggest doing it tonight."

Balladanis began his common pacing in movement of the classroom. He stopped in front of pink wine and Linda 's table and then stared out at the class.

"I thought I would begin with werewolf chronicle,"he announced,"Nobody is indisputable when the commencement lycanthrope came about, but they have existed in nearly every wizarding civilization. Not only that, but even antediluvian Muggle cultures have lycanthropy in their histories.

"Hundreds of years ago, before the Muggle line of business of psychology came about and farsighted before Muggles had any agreement of the human psyche, they tried to make sense of people whom they deemed 'insane'.

"One way they did this was to attribute the insanity to the moon. Over the long time, the myth of loup-garou came about. Thus, wolfman have had a significant role in Muggle news report. In reality, the people Muggles accused of having lycanthropy were merely suffering from schizophrenia or bouts of insanity."

Albus frantically tried to publish everything down. He knew absolutely cypher about the Muggle view of lycanthropy. He glanced at Matt and saw that he was n't writing anything down, but his hand was shaking.

"Muggles of course know nothing about material werewolf,"Balladanis continued,"And their Hollywood created werewolves have little in commons with the real thing.

"Werewolves are plagued with the unwellness lycanthropy. Does anyone know what that means ?"

rosebush was the exclusively one who raised her hand. Balladanis nodded to her."It comes from the Greek words 'lykos'and 'anthropos',"Rose explained,"Lykos means wolf and anthropos substance man."

"Very good,"Balladanis replied,"Lycanthropy refers to the disease and those who have it are called lycanthropes.

"Lycanthropes have been shunned by wizarding high society for as prospicient as history has told us about them. In recent years, there has been much speculation about whether this is necessary or even a good melodic theme. However, it is difficult to change the thinker of the majority when we have been taught to avoid wolfman and ostracize them from wizarding society for so long.

"It has not been for no understanding that this full general prejudice has came about. When in wolf form, werewolf can not hold in their activity and thus attack incapacitated citizenry. This has long been construed as loup-garou wanting to attack people, wanting to taint them with the horrible disease.

"This can not be farther from the case when it comes to most werewolves. nigh do not wish to set on others. Within the past hundred days, lycanthrope have begun locking themselves up on the full Moon in orderliness to avoid attacking others. However, there is one substantial drawback to this for the loup-garou. Does anyone know this ?"Balladanis 's eyes rested on Matt, but he continued staring down at his empty parchment.

Rose and Linda raised their hands. This time Balladanis called on Linda."When werewolves do n't get anybody to lash out, they attack themselves,"Linda said,"They do n't feature a choice and they often wind up really injured because of it."

Balladanis took Linda 's thought further, but Albus did n't hear what he said because lustrelessness had knocked over Albus 's ink. He looked incredibly nervous and Albus was happy that the form was almost over. He quickly cleaned up the ink and tried to pay attention to the rest of the lecture.

"We 'll pick up next stratum with what happens before, during, and after entire synodic month for a person with lycanthropy,"Balladanis announced shortly before the gong rang,"If you have not learn the wolfman chapter, please do so for next sentence. Mr. Eckerton, if you could please total see me."

Matt looked, if it was possible, even more aflutter at this prospect. The rest of the class left and Albus tried to put away his thing as slowly as possible, but Balladanis shooed him, along with John, out of the room.

Malfoy was standing outside the classroom when Albus and Saint John left. He had a flimsy smirk on his face.

"Interesting moral, Potter,"Malfoy said quietly,"Very concern indeed."

"What do you desire, Malfoy ?"Albus asked, knowing perfectly well what he wanted.

"Oh, naught. Just a very illuminating object lesson. I 've learned so much,"Malfoy replied and then sauntered off down the corridor.

"Merlin,"can muttered,"He knows."

"If he does n't yet, he 'll know after next moral. He 's onto it, that 's for trusted,"Albus said.

"Onto it ?"St. John the Apostle replied,"That 's a gracious way of putting it. The whole shoal 's going to know in two days, after the following class."

"What are we going to do ?"Albus groaned,"If we tell him what Malfoy said, he 's going to be too scared to do anything. I mean, did you see him during this lesson ?"

"Yeah,"John nodded,"We ca n't say him. Whatever Malfoy 's going to do, he 's going to do it whether matte knows about it or not."

"I agree,"Albus nodded,"We wo n't tell."

"What are you two talking about ?"Matt appeared behind them, looking no estimable than he had before.

"nada,"St. John said,"What did Balladanis desire ?"

"Told me I did n't sustain to go to the superfluous assistance during this unit unless I wanted to,"matt told them.

"What are you going to do ?"John asked.

"I do n't sleep with,"Matt said as they began walking to Herbology,"I know it 'll reckon suspect if I do n't, but I really ca n't subscribe many more lessons like that. Merlin, Thursday 's lesson is going to be awful."

Albus saw no degree in denying that. matt did n't have a clue as to how frightfully it would be. They said zip more about it the unharmed way to Herbology.

******

Albus had never been so glad about having ridiculously long Quidditch pattern as he was Tuesday and Midweek eve. He was perfectly glad to spend all his dislodge time on the Quidditch lurch and then be too tired to do much of anything else afterwards.

It was just so difficult for him to keep what Malfoy said away from flatness. He wanted zilch more than to warn his friend about it, even though he knew that would accomplish goose egg. All it would do was defecate Matt worry even more and then act even more anxious during Defense.

Quidditch also kept Albus 's mind off of what would materialise after Malfoy 's mistrust were confirmed. It would n't be anything like when Albus found out or even when Kaden found out. No, Malfoy was going to use this to his advantage. Albus was nearly one hundred percent trusted Malfoy would announce it to all of Slytherin. Then, word would distribute and the stallion schooling would observe out. Merlin only knew what would happen when scholar'parents found out.

Albus knew that werewolf right wing had come a long way since teddy bear 's dad was in school, but he also knew that most people would not be happy if their nestling were going to school with a loup-garou, especially one that did not direct Wolfsbane. Not to mention the field day the military press would have got with it. mat 's dad had just become head teacher of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures for Merlin 's sake. It would be a repeat of what had happened when Matt and his household had lived in Australia.

Not to mention what it would do to Matt himself. Albus remembered when there had been a thin chance that Malfoy found out about the passage under the Whomping willow tree. He had nearly had a terror flack. What would happen if Malfoy found out he was a werewolf ?

It did not help oneself that the full moon was that Friday. Matt barely spoke during the abbreviated metre that Albus was not occupied on the Quidditch pitch. He sat in the Marauder 's Den with everyone else, but he stared off into infinite or slept.

Yes, Sir Henry Wood 's prospicient Quidditch practices took Albus 's head off of all of that, but they did not check Thursday from arriving and Sooner than Albus would accept liked he found himself sitting in Balladanis 's classroom.

Albus and John exchanged nervous glance as Malfoy walked in with a very smug feeling on his face. Albus was so centre on Malfoy that he nearly missed the fact that the anamatek 's trunk was back in social movement of Balladanis 's desk. Once he noticed it, he poked John in the side.

"What ?"John seethed. Albus gestured to the body."Merlin 's beard,"John exclaimed,"I do n't even want to know what he 's going to do with that."

"Quiet down,"Balladanis said,"We 'll continue our werewolf discussion today by talking about what happens to a lycanthrope when the lunation waxes.

"Werewolves, in a exchangeable way to vampires, are somewhat allergic to the moonlight when the moon waxes. For the few nights before the actual entire lunation, when exposed to moonlight werewolf will find ill. The moonlight gives them cephalalgia and when exposed long enough, causes them to lose consciousness."

Albus did n't vex writing any of this dispirited, as he knew first hired man what happened when a lycanthrope was exposed to too very much Moon shortly before the full synodic month. Instead he stole agile glances at Malfoy and matte. Malfoy was furiously writing down everything Balladanis said and stealing flying glances at mat himself. Matt was staring down at his parchment and Albus was sure he was trying to ignore everything Balladanis said. He was pale and ill, but Albus was n't sure if that was because of the example or because the full moonlight was the next day.

"lycanthrope are often too ill to go about their day by day activities the day of the fully moon and occasionally the day before as well. Before I describe the real translation, I wish to show you what a individual with lycanthropy looking like the day of the to the full moon."

For a legal brief endorse, Albus thought Balladanis was going to call Matt to the front end of the room, but then realized that as a professor, Balladanis must have promised Kendrick that he would n't do anything like that.

Balladanis pointed his wand at the tree trunk and a small man stepped out of it. His pallor looked exactly like Matt 's and he looked just as ill. In fact, the two of them looked incredibly alike. Both of their faces bore-hole scar and had a sickly look to them.

Balladanis began to speak about what the anamatek looked like, but Albus paid no tending. Instead he looked to Malfoy. Malfoy stared at the anamatek for a minute or so with shock absorber and then he glanced at Matt. Finally, he met Albus 's gaze and Albus saw the biggest smirk he had ever seen on the Slytherin 's face. That was it. Albus knew it. Malfoy had made the connection.

The remainder of the lesson passed by in a sort of fog for Albus. He and John had exchanged coup d'oeil and the look on John 's look told him he had noticed Malfoy 's recognition as well. Albus heard Balladanis 's talking to, but he did n't process it.

The lesson seemed to tangle on and f number by at the same meter. Albus wanted it to be over so he could get out of there, but at the same clock time he did not need to roll in the hay what was going to happen after.

"Next lesson will focus on Wolfsbane Potion and the effects it has had on werewolf rights,"Balladanis announced at the end of the lesson,"Class dismissed."

Albus and can looked at each other. Albus did n't acknowledge what to do. Should he confront Malfoy ? Or should he tell Matt what happened ? lusterlessness seemed oblivious to the totally thing.

They silently decided just to leave the schoolroom and make up one's mind what to do after. rosebush and Amanda had left with Linda with absolutely no idea what had happened.

Malfoy was waiting for them outside the room and Albus was not for certain if this was a right or a bad matter. He had the sudden impulse just to hex Malfoy redress then and there.

"Another enlightening example,"Malfoy smirked,"Oh, Eckerton, feeling a bit ill ?"

"None of your business,"Matt muttered. Albus and John both stepped a bit closer to him and Albus clenched his hand around his wand.

"Bet you 'll be feeling even worse tomorrow,"Malfoy replied,"It 's about that time of the month, is n't it ? Tomorrow night ?"

That got Matt 's tending. His head snapped up and he glared at Malfoy. Then he turned around and looked from Albus to John with the most panic flavour on his grimace Albus had ever seen.

"It 's going to be a fun full moon, is n't it ?"Malfoy whispered, just loud enough for lustrelessness, Albus and John to hear.

matte did n't say anything. He shook his head and then ran. He pushed through the crowd, much to the disfavour of the students who were trying to get to form, and disappeared in a matter of seconds.

Albus suddenly felt more hatred for Malfoy than ever. Not only had he worked out Matt 's secret, but he had used it to scare him. In substance, Malfoy had threatened him with it. That was one of the worst matter he could have done.

Ignoring all the other students who were going to grade, Albus pulled out his wand and had it against Malfoy 's chest in two seconds.

"If you tell anyone,"Albus growled,"I will personally make surely you 're so indistinguishable that even your own parents wo n't acknowledge you."

"Is that a threat, Potter ?"Malfoy pulled out his own wand.

"You need me to import it out for you ?"Albus asked,"I think we 're about to find out just how much right I am at dueling than you are."

"Rictumsempra !"Malfoy shouted.

"Protego !"Albus shouted at the Lapplander time.

"Expelliarmus !"John shouted.

The bunch moved away so that there was a circle of onlookers surrounding the duel. Albus ignored them. It was just him, whoremaster, and Malfoy. And Malfoy was outnumbered.

Malfoy deflected Saint John 's disarming spell and snapshot another spell at Albus. It bounced off Albus 's shield and hit a nearby portrait. The portrait 's occupant shouted in disgust and moved into her neighbor 's frame.

Albus concentrated on his buckler magical spell and glared at Malfoy."Petrificus Totalus !"he shouted through his shield.

Grateful for Balladanis 's dueling lesson, Albus watched as his shield held up while the hex shot at Malfoy. Unfortunately, Malfoy dodged it and sent a tickling jinx at John.

This one hit John the Divine and he collapsed onto the level in a fit of giggles. Albus shot another hex at Malfoy and this one collided with his face. Malfoy 's nose started bleeding and he rounded on Albus.

"What is going on out here ?"Balladanis shouted.

Albus did n't lower his scepter and neither did Malfoy, but they did n't can off anymore curse either. Albus let his shield down and noticed that the crowd had dispersed. whoremaster was still rolling around on the ground.

Balladanis pointed his wand at John and lav immediately stopped giggling and stood up.

"Follow me,"Balladanis growled.

All three male child followed Balladanis into his work. Albus looked nervously at John. Of all the prof to catch them dueling, it had to be Balladanis. Of path, the one well thing about this was that Malfoy could n't announce matte 's lycanthropy to the entire school while Balladanis was lecturing them.


A/N : Thanks to my beta, Dancer of Starlight, as well as all the awesome people who have read and reviewed this !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


Albus and John the Evangelist sat as far away as possible from Malfoy in Balladanis 's study. Balladanis just stared at them before speaking.

"I can not begin to secernate you how frustrated I am in all of you,"Balladanis began,"Especially you, Mr. ceramist and Mr. Malfoy. I am sure I taught you respectable than this. The two of you especially should know how uncalled for that was. You are well aware of your dueling accomplishment and what sort of responsibility lies with them. I have half a head to discontinue our grooming sessions. However, I am willing to hear all side of this story before laying out any sort of punishment. You may go first, Mr. Malfoy."

"I was just walking to category and potter pulled out his wand and attacked me. Then Brickston joined in. I was outnumbered, sir. I had to defend myself,"Malfoy said.

Albus had to try hard not to snort. He and John looked at each other and whoremaster rolled his eyes.

"Very well,"Balladanis said,"Mr. Potter, if you please."

Albus took a deep breath. He was going to tell the taradiddle. The whole tale."Malfoy was threatening Matt, sir,"Albus began.

"Mr. Eckerton ?"Balladanis asked,"I did not see him anywhere."

"He left after Malfoy threatened him,"Albus continued,"You see, Malfoy has figured something out about Matt, after listening to your lectures on werewolves."

Balladanis 's eyes widened and he looked at Malfoy."Is that true, Mr. Malfoy ?"

"Yes,"Malfoy muttered,"And I was n't threatening him. I was asking him about it. I think I have the right wing to have it away if I 'm in schooling with a werewolf."

Malfoy said 'werewolf'with disgust and it made Albus want to hex him once more.

"Mr. Eckerton has the right to keep his medical government issue to himself,"Balladanis replied,"His health is none of your business enterprise whatsoever. Please continue, Mr. Potter."

"After lustrelessness left, I wanted to be certainly Malfoy was n't going to go tell the totally school about Matt 's lycanthropy,"Albus explained,"And I guess we just wound up dueling."

"Just scent up dueling ?"Malfoy scoffed,"You had your wand on me."

"You sent the offset hex,"Albus muttered.

"Do you have anything to add, Mr. Brickston ?"Balladanis asked.

"No,"John replied,"Albus is telling the truth."

"Very well,"Balladanis replied,"I see this matter goes much encourage than a duel. All three of you will receive four nights'detainment starting tonight at eight. Each of you have lost ten distributor point from your respective houses.

"However, I am taking all three of you to see the master. There are things more of import to talk about than detainment,"Balladanis said as he stood up.

Albus knew full well what Balladanis was insinuating. He and John said zilch as they followed Balladanis to Kendrick 's study. Malfoy walked a few base behind them.

Albus had n't been to Kendrick 's survey since his first yr, when he went to blab out to Dumbledore 's portrait. The place had n't changed in the little. Everything seemed to be in the claim same place. Both Dumbledore and Snape were awake and in their portraits.

Kendrick was behind his desk writing something when they entered. He looked up curiously at them. Albus, John, and Malfoy stood near the door while Balladanis strode forward.

"We have a problem,"Balladanis said,"These three have been dueling."

"I trust you to deal out detentions, Tethys,"Kendrick replied,"I am busy at the moment."

"It 's not the dueling,"Balladanis said,"It 's what they were dueling about."

"And what would that be ?"Kendrick asked.

"Mr. Malfoy has discovered that flatness Eckerton is a werewolf,"Balladanis answered,"And I believe Mr. thrower and Mr. Brickston have known for quite some time."

Kendrick dropped his quill and looked up."I 'll pick out this from here. I believe you have a deterrent example to teach."

"I believe I do,"Balladanis replied and left the room.

Kendrick conjured a few chairperson and gestured for the three boys to unite him at his desk. Albus sat down in the mediate chair and waited for Kendrick to begin. He noticed that both Dumbledore and Snape were paying rapt attention.

"fountainhead, well,"Snape said,"Deja vu."

"Not now, Severus,"Kendrick said,"Mr. Potter, perhaps you can tell me if anyone else knows about Matt 's lycanthropy ?"

"Er, yes,"Albus replied,"rose wine Weasley, Amanda Tagger, and Kaden Dursley."

"I knew that Dursley kid knew something,"Malfoy muttered.

"Not now, Mr. Malfoy,"Kendrick said,"I 'll need to speak with them, as well as matt. I imagine they 're all in class."

"Sir,"Albus interrupted,"I do n't think mat 's in class."

"You may be right,"Kendrick sighed,"Do you have any idea where he might be ?"

"Yes,"Albus answered.

"Very well. Please go find him,"Kendrick said,"And Mr. Brickston, please go find the others."

Albus nodded and he and john left the study. Albus went straight to the Marauder 's Den while John went to the dungeons as Rose and Amanda would be in potions.

matte was sitting on his bed in the Marauder 's Den, staring at the wall and not moving a muscle.

"I suppose Malfoy 's told everyone,"matte said without turning to look at Albus. His voice was hollow.

"No,"Albus replied,"He has n't had the luck. Gospel According to John and I dueled him after you left. Balladanis gave us all four dark of detainment and took head away."

"He 'll secernate everyone soon,"matte replied,"I should probably go pack. You know, I really thought I 'd get to stop school. That 's not even the risky part. It 's going to be all over the Prophet. My dad 's going to fall behind his job again. We 'll probably have got to locomote to New York."

He finally turned around and looked at Albus. He no longer looked queasy. He looked absolutely terrified, yet sad at the Saame time.

"Why did Balladanis experience to be such a good teacher ?"Matt groaned and laid back on the bed,"If he had been some variety of unspeakable teacher then maybe Malfoy would n't cause found out. He 's just so thorough ! He left nothing out ! Even the way he described the shift. It was so, it was just so, realistic.

"And that stupid anamatek !"mat sat up and looked at Albus,"That thing looked just like me, only older. No wonder Malfoy found out."

"You 're not going to get kicked out,"Albus assured him.

"How do you recognise ?"flatness shouted,"How do you really sleep with ? I know teddy 's dad got to stay after Snape found out, but this is different. That was when Dumbledore was here ! Everyone says Dumbledore was barking mad. Kendrick is n't. Kendrick 's perfectly sane and he 's not going to want to plow with this."

Albus did n't really cognise what to say to that. Everything Matt said was true. Kendrick was not Dumbledore. cypher could compare to Dumbledore.

"Kendrick wants to see you,"Albus said,"He 's got Malfoy up in his subject field. He wants to blab out to all of us. Me, Gospel According to John, pink wine, Amanda, and Kaden."

"I do n't require to go up there,"lusterlessness said,"I never want to see Malfoy again. I just want to stay here. Falco columbarius, my head word is killing me."

"I think you have to go,"Albus said quietly.

"I know,"lusterlessness groaned and got up off the bed,"This just is n't fair. I hate it. I hate this whole thing. I do n't want to be a blooming lycanthrope anymore."

"I know,"Albus said, knowing just how low flatness was at that moment. Albus had never once heard him complain about being a werewolf. Not when he was too wear to do anything because of the full moon or when he was laid up in the hospital wing for day afterwards.

They walked quietly back to Kendrick 's study. Albus muttered the password, that he had overheard Balladanis say, to the gargoyle and they ascended into the study.

Everyone else was already there and they all turned to Albus and lustrelessness when they walked in. matte froze in place and Albus stopped and looked at him. He was staring directly at Malfoy.

"Take a hind end,"Kendrick gestured to the two empty president, one of which was next to Malfoy's.

Albus took the stern next to Malfoy 's, but did n't face at him. Matt took the former one.

"offset, I want to assure you that you do not have to leave Hogwarts,"Kendrick said to lusterlessness,"cypher else will be finding out about your lycanthropy."

Matt did n't attend reassured by this. Malfoy looked mutinous.

"My father wo n't agree with that,"Malfoy muttered.

"Your father has no say whatsoever in which bookman I admit to this school,"Kendrick replied,"He works in the Ministry, and may I indicate out that his position is not very high."

"lusterlessness,"Kendrick turned away from Malfoy,"Energy anyone else know ?"lustrelessness shook his pass."And did you recount the others, besides Mr. Malfoy, willingly ?"Kendrick continued. Matt nodded.

"Very well,"Kendrick said,"And how long have they known ?"

Matt seemed ineffective to utter. After a few moments of silence, Kendrick turned to Albus."How long have you known, Mr. Potter ?"

"Two years,"Albus answered.

Kendrick repeated this head with rose wine, john, and Amanda, who all gave the Saami solution as Albus. Then he moved onto Kaden and Albus suddenly remembered the Sileo Altus charm. He shared one horrified glance with Rose and waited for Kaden 's reply.

Kaden looked at Kendrick and then turned to Albus. His mouth was agape and he looked a lilliputian panicked.

"Are you all right, Mr. Dursley ?"Kendrick asked.

"amercement,"Kaden answered,"It 's just, well ...."

"professor, Sir,"Rose began,"We sort of put this magical spell on Kaden, so he would n't say anyone. He can only verbalise about it with us. He wo n't be capable to say a matter about it around you or Malfoy."

Albus braced himself for Kendrick 's response, but before the schoolmaster could say a word, Dumbledore chuckled in his frame.

"The Sileo Altus magical spell,"Dumbledore smiled,"Ingenious. Who performed it ?"

"I did,"rosebush answered.

"Remarkable,"Dumbledore said,"You must be an incredible witch, Miss Weasley."

"Too overbold for her own good, more like it,"Snape muttered.

"That is indeed quite the astonishing feat, miss Weasley,"Kendrick said,"Can you tell me how farsighted Mr. Dursley has known ?"

"About a year,"Rose said.

"Thank you,"Kendrick replied,"Now I have some things to discuss with Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Eckerton in private. The balance of you may go to the Great residence hall. I believe there is still a half hour or so left of lunch."

Albus did n't really want to allow without finding out what was going to happen to Malfoy, but he knew Matt would tell him.

lustrelessness never showed up in the Great dormitory for lunch, nor did he go to Ancient Runes or Charms. Albus could not focus on either of those form and was very happy when magical spell was over and he was able to leave.

Wood was not very well-chosen that Albus had acquired four detentions. In fact, he was livid. He spent XX moment telling Albus how he should n't be picking fights with other students so close to the next Quidditch match, especially in battlefront of teachers'classrooms. The public lecture had only ended when Albus told him he was late for magical spell. Albus had run into Wood in in between Ancient runic letter and Charms.

"What do you reckon Balladanis is going to make us do ?"John asked as they walked towards the marauder 's Den.

"Have n't a cue,"Albus replied,"But whatever it is, it 's going to be bad since we have to do it with Malfoy."

"True,"John agreed.

Rose, Kaden, and Amanda were with them. Albus wanted to go find matt before they went to dinner. They had to look a piece for the corridor to clear out before they were actually able to get into the room, though.

lustrelessness was fast asleep on the couch when they entered."trade good matter he does n't have detention tonight,"John the Evangelist pointed out.

"Yeah,"Albus agreed.

John gently shook flatness 's shoulder until he cracked his eye open."Wake up,"John said,"Or you 'll drop dinner."

"I 'm not hungry,"matt muttered.

"What 's Kendrick doing about Malfoy ?"Albus asked as he sat down on the early end of the couch.

"He should put that charm on him,"Kaden announced,"The one you lot put on me."

"I wish he would,"lusterlessness sighed,"All he did was separate Malfoy how important it was not to mention anything. He said telling his begetter would do zippo. Then he told him that if he ever did state anyone, he would face forcing out for revealing another student 's aesculapian information. But that 's it ! I mean, Malfoy did foretell he would n't say anything, but who really knows ? for sure, if he tells, he 'll be expelled, but that wo n't admit it back. I 'd still have to leave."

"As much as a git as he is,"Albus began,"I do n't think he 's going to tell anyone if it meant he 'd be expelled. That would be the ultimate shame in the Malfoy household, besides being a Squib or marrying a Muggle or something, getting expelled and not being a fully qualified wizard. Malfoy wo n't want that."

"I guess you 're powerful,"matte sighed,"It 's just so strange, knowing that he knows."

"I know,"Albus said,"Do you require to go eat dinner ?"

"No,"Matt shook his head,"You guys go on ahead. I 've got to send an owl to my parents, let them have it off about this."

Albus nodded."We 'll see you later, then. John the Evangelist and I have got detention tonight."

"Oh, right. unspoiled luck with that,"flatness replied.

******

Balladanis 's detainment was a bit anticlimactic. Albus had been expecting him to think up some really creative and taxing detainment, but instead he assigned them lines. Lines were possibly the most boring hold ever thought up, but they were preferable to cleaning the bathroom or something.

"thrower, Malfoy,"Balladanis said after they 'd been writing for ten minutes,"Your dueling lesson is canceled for tomorrow night due to your custody. hold will be at nine, after my additional helper academic term, something I 'll expect you to be attending, Brickston."

Balladanis said cipher more and began grading essays at his desk. He completely ignored the three boy, which Albus did n't really bear in mind. He just wanted to get his lines done and get out of there.

"Where does he go ?"Malfoy hissed at Albus.

"What ?"Albus whispered.

"You know, on full synodic month, where does he go ?"Malfoy elaborated.

"I 'm not telling you that,"Albus muttered.

"My dad said a lycanthrope used to instruct here, and he got fired when everyone found out,"Malfoy drawled.

"He quit,"Albus corrected him,"He was n't fired. He was the respectable Defense Department teacher any of our parents ever had."

"placidity !"Balladanis shouted,"I did n't say you could talk."

Albus was grateful for Balladanis 's scolding. Malfoy stopped asking interrogation and went back to his job. Albus sighed and went back to his own. How far was Malfoy going to go ? Why could n't he just be satisfied with having worked out Matt 's secret ?

A half 60 minutes into their cable writing, when Albus was contemplating switching hands despite the fact that he wrote horribly with his right hand, there was a bash on the door. Albus looked up and saw prof Kendrick standing in the doorway, along with none other than Matt 's dad. Albus set down his pinion and turned to whoremaster. Saint John the Apostle had set down his own quill.

"Who 's that ?"Malfoy asked.

"Shush !"Albus hissed. The last matter they needed was for Balladanis to remember they were there and tell them to get out so he could have whatever conversation he was about to have in private.

"Tethys,"Kendrick said quietly,"This is Walter Eckerton."

"We 've met,"Balladanis muttered.

Albus turned again to john. flatness 's dad knew Balladanis ? How ? Matt had never mentioned that before.

"That 's his dad ?"Malfoy whispered.

"Shush !"Albus said again.

"I wish to talk to you about what happened in the first place today,"Matt 's dad said quietly.

"What about it, Eckerton ?"Balladanis asked.

"My son told me about your deterrent example,"Mr. Eckerton said,"How, informative they are."

"I teach my scholarly person what they 'll need to fuck in order to support themselves,"Balladanis replied.

"I think you go too far with that,"Mr. Eckerton disagreed,"Falco columbarius, showing them exactly what a werewolf looks like before a transformation with an anamatek ? Do you realize how dangerous those are ?"

"Of track,"Balladanis said, raising his vocalism a bit,"You 're not the only expert on magical creatures. I have perfect ascendance over my anamatek."

"nonentity has sodding ascendency over an anamatek !"Mr. Eckerton said.

"The headmaster has already told me I 'm not allowed to use it anymore, so you really do n't call for to be lecturing me about this,"Balladanis seethed.

"Oh, it 's not only that,"Mr. Eckerton stepped a bit closer to Balladanis,"It 's how much you taught the tierce year about wolfman. The details about their transformations, how to nibble one out of the cosmopolitan population, what happens before, during, and after transformations. Your lesson was far more elaborated than a third year textual matter book."

"You 'd come up that all my moral are like that,"Balladanis replied,"Text books do not give decent details."

"I think giving enough details about identifying a lycanthrope so that a third year would be able to crop out that someone not even in their Same house is one is going too far,"Mr. Eckerton seethed,"You knew about my son. You should have been a bit more cautious with your lesson."

"Withholding data from an entire course of study because of one student is not a good method of educational activity,"Balladanis countered.

"It is when it could be dangerous for that one student,"Mr. Eckerton said,"Fan of the smashing commodity for the majuscule number, are we ?"

"There are clip when that is a good philosophy,"Balladanis replied.

"We 'll fit in to disaccord, then,"Mr. Eckerton said,"But if I find that your lessons are putting my son in danger anymore, you may receive that the Ministry is inquiring into your teaching practices."

"I 'll teach however I like,"Balladanis muttered.

Mr. Eckerton ignored this and turned to the three son, none of whom were writing telephone line any longer."Is that him ?"he asked.

"The one who found out ?"Kendrick replied,"Yes."

Mr. Eckerton strode over to the table Albus, John, and Malfoy were working at. He nodded hello to Albus and John before turning to Malfoy.

"I realize the headmaster has already gone over this with you,"Mr. Eckerton began,"But I feel the need to retell that there will be moment if you make populace my son 's condition."

Malfoy nodded."I know,"he muttered.

"good,"Mr. Eckerton replied and returned to where Kendrick was standing. He turned once again to Balladanis."I 'll be returning to the palace tomorrow to search your study and schoolroom for the anamatek. If it is still here, I will take it into custody."

Balladanis muttered something under his intimation as matte 's dad left the room with Professor Kendrick. Albus exchanged a glance with John. He wanted aught more than to leave behind, so he could talk about what had just happened.

"That 's enough for tonight,"Balladanis barked,"Get out. Be back here tomorrow Nox at nine."

Albus nearly spilled his ink in his rush to get up. He ran out of the room as fast as he could with John following. Malfoy made no motion to try and let the cat out of the bag to them again, so they headed straight to the piranha 's Den.


A/N : Thanks to my beta, Dancer of Starlight as well as all of the lovely masses who have read and reviewed this ! You guys are awesome !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


Albus and john burst into the marauder 's Den a little while later to find that lusterlessness and Kaden were the merely ones there. lusterlessness 's look was covered in ash and Kaden was grinning. They were in the eye of a game of Exploding Snap.

"And that makes four profits for me and none for you,"Kaden announced as he collected the cards,"Oh, Albus, John ! How was your custody ? Want to bring ?"

"Not now,"Albus said hurriedly as he sat down succeeding to Matt,"Matt, did you do it your dad was just here ?"

"Yeah,"Matt nodded,"When he got my owl, he wanted to go talk to Kendrick. I went with him."

"Well, do you get it on where he went after ?"John asked.

"Home, I guess,"mat shrugged,"Why ?"

"He and Kendrick turned up in our detainment,"John said.

"He what ?"Matt replied.

"Yeah, it was really odd,"Albus said,"He came in with Kendrick and Kendrick introduced him to Balladanis. Only Balladanis said 'we 've met'. You never told us your dad knew Balladanis."

"I never knew,"matt shrugged,"Then what happened ?"

"Your dad was really angry,"Albus continued,"He thinks Balladanis taught us too practically about how to image out if someone 's a werewolf and that 's why Malfoy found out. Then he told him how dangerous it was for him to use that anamatek in class-"

"Oh, yeah,"Matt said,"I told my dad about the anamatek and that 's one of the reasonableness he came here, to say Kendrick about it. Kendrick 's making him get rid of it."

"Yeah, that 's what your dad said,"Albus replied,"He 's coming back to inspect Balladanis 's room tomorrow to ca-ca for certain he got rid of it. He also said that if any of Balladanis 's didactics puts you in risk again, the Ministry 's going to investigate him."

"It 's really not a good idea to get on my dad 's bad slope,"matt said,"What did Balladanis do during this ?"

"He kept saying that he was going to instruct however he wanted,"Albus explained,"Honestly, he did not look well-chosen that your dad was there. I think something happened between the two of them."

"But what ?"lustrelessness asked,"Dad 's never mentioned him before."

"Think he 'd secern you if you asked ?"John wondered.

"Probably,"Matt said,"I 'll owl him about it."

"Oh, and then your dad told Malfoy he 'd better not tell anyone you 're a loup-garou,"Saint John the Apostle said,"He looked pretty scary, too. I do n't recollect Malfoy 's going to assure anyone."

******

It did not take very long for word to circularise that Balladanis had gotten in trouble for having an anamatek. Galleons exchanged hands the next morning at breakfast, as a few honest-to-god scholar had bet on how yearn he would have it. Somehow everyone knew that matte 's dad had showed up at Hogwarts the previous night and informed Kendrick about it.

Kaden had Defense that morning and reported to Albus at lunch that Balladanis was even hard-and-fast than common and seemed incredibly angry. That did not bode well for Albus 's detention that evening.

"He 's right-down shivery,"Kaden said as he piled steak and kidney pie onto his plate,"Yelled at one of the Ravenclaws in my class for spilling her ink. She was nearly in tears. But I 'd detest to be in your family, Albus, he 's going to be brutal. I mean, it 's pretty a good deal because of Matt that he got in trouble."

matte had gone up to the piranha 's Den after they got out of Herbology since he felt ill and was n't in tiffin. Albus knew that Kaden was right. Balladanis was going to take this out on Matt, and possibly Malfoy as well.

"I do n't know why he cares so much,"John shrugged,"I mean, the Ministry could give birth just taken that thing away. He 's lucky he just had to take it back to his house or whatever."

"I do n't call up he likes the government,"Albus said,"That 's the tactual sensation I got after listening to him babble out about what he did before teaching here. I think that 's why he did that, instead of becoming an Auror."

"Well, I think it 's a practiced thought for the Ministry to make him take that thing dwelling,"John said.

"Me, too,"Albus agreed,"I mean, he could 've turned it into a manticore next."

Kaden went to class after lunch while Albus and John went up to the vulture 's Den with Rose and Amanda.

"Think he 's owled his dad yet ?"John asked as he gestured to Matt, who was asleep in his bed.

"Doubt it,"Albus said,"He 's probably been asleep since he got up here."

"merlin, I just want to cognize what happened between his dad and Balladanis,"John groaned.

"You 're so raring,"blush wine commented,"Just let him sleep."

"I was n't going to wake him up,"Saint John the Apostle muttered.

The remainder of the good afternoon passed by quickly. Albus was dreading his detainment later and John the Divine complained loudly about how he had to go to the redundant help school term about werewolves when he already knew so a lot about them.

Albus woke Matt up shortly before dinner and he looked much worse than he usually did the day of broad moons. They all escorted him to the hospital wing, where Madam Pomfrey rushed him into bed.

Just as they were about to leave the infirmary wing, the doors opened and in walked matt 's dad. Albus assumed he was there to correspond if Balladanis had gotten rid of his anamatek.

John nudged Albus."We should ask him about Balladanis,"John whispered.

"He 's not going to distinguish us now,"Albus muttered back,"Look at him."

Mr. Eckerton looked tired out and incredibly worried. He nodded to Albus and the others before rushing over to Matt 's bed and talking to brothel keeper Pomfrey in hushed whispers.

As it turned out, Albus had been worrying about the custody for nothing. He entered the way before Malfoy and John the Evangelist was already doing his lines. Balladanis said absolutely cypher to Albus as he handed him parchment. Malfoy arrived a little while later and still Balladanis said nothing.

Malfoy did not talk either. He did not ask anything about matt and did n't even remark that the full moon was that night.

Balladanis let them leave behind at half past tense ten. Albus and can found Kaden in the piranha 's Den and spent the remaining prison term left until uranology playing Exploding Snap and Wizard 's Chess.

"Why, why do we have to receive this class with the Slytherins ?"John groaned as they made their way to the astronomy pillar,"If Malfoy does n't make a single comment about the full synodic month, I 'll eat an intact cauldron."

"I 'm going to have got you to that,"Albus laughed,"But I do n't opine you 'll have to."

Malfoy went so far as to actually set his telescope up next to Albus 's. professor Polo spent ten minutes telling them that they were to plot the lieu of blemish, Urania, the lunation, and a smattering of hotshot before turning them turn a loss to actually do so.

"The moon is so brilliantly,"Malfoy whispered,"And big and ... full ...."

Albus looked at John."Looks like I wo n't be eating my cauldron tonight,"St. John muttered.

"Just shut it, Malfoy,"Albus said.

"Is n't his dad the foreland of the Department for the Regulation and controller of Magical wight ? Yeah, he must be, because he 's the one who made Balladanis get rid of the anamatek. Ca n't say I 'm really upset about that,"Malfoy said quietly,"But how ironic."

"Just stop talking about it,"Albus muttered.

"Oh, come on, ceramicist. Even you have to prize the irony,"Malfoy said.

"Will you just shut up,"Albus seethed.

"tranquillity over there,"Polo said.

Malfoy smirked at Albus one more time before going back to his scope. The rest of the lesson passed without anymore commentary from Malfoy and Albus was quite happy when he was able to return to his dormitory.

******

"It 's like back in first year,"Albus sighed,"Remember when dame Pomfrey locked the infirmary wing ?"

"That 's why this is bad !"blush wine said.

"wellspring, she did n't lock away us out this time,"lavatory pointed out.

"She did n't exactly let us in either,"Kaden said.

Albus and his Quaker had slept late on Sat morning and after grabbing a quick snack to eat, had gone to call Matt in the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey had n't let them in. They were currently in the Marauder 's Den, trying to figure out why.

"She always lets us in,"John groaned.

"He obviously had a really bad Night,"Albus said quietly.

"Yeah, but why ?"Rose wondered.

"Have n't you noticed that the wide lunation have been worse the past times few months ?"Albus asked,"He 's been taking longer to recover."

"I wish he 'd just let us get Animagi,"John muttered.

"john, I honestly do n't believe you could become an Animagus,"rosiness replied,"You 'd wander up with a permanent tail end affixed to your arse."

"That would n't be that bad,"John grinned,"Always thought it would be cool down to bear a tail."

"You 're not helping,"Albus sighed,"What are we going to do ?"

"I think all we can do is just go along going back to the hospital wing,"toilet shrugged,"Until lady Pomfrey lets us in."

Their efforts proved bootless, though. They went to the hospital wing twice that afternoon and then decently before Albus and John had to go to detention. Madam Pomfrey told them 'no'each clip.

Sunday, the concluding day of Albus and Saint John the Apostle 's detention, was the like. dame Pomfrey was quite livid when they showed up for the third time that day.

"Nothing 's changed !"she shouted,"Come back tomorrow eventide ! I 'll give the lot of you detention if you come back any earlier than that !"

With that, she strode back into the Barbara Ward and slammed the room access."Can she even give detention ?"Kaden asked.

"I dunno,"Albus shrugged,"I would n't put it past her."

Albus and John broke away from the mathematical group to complete their last detention. Balladanis gave them telephone line, just like he had the retiring three nights. Albus sat quietly completing them, very grateful for the fact that Malfoy had n't said two discussion to him since Astronomy.

"You may stop,"Balladanis said quietly after they 'd been writing for about an hour and a half.

Albus threw his calamus down and leaned back in his professorship. Finally, it was over.

"I hope you learned something,"Balladanis said, which shocked Albus. He had been expecting Balladanis to continue his silence."If I catch any of you dueling in the corridors again, the event will be much more severe than custody and lost points.

"Mr. ceramist and Mr. Malfoy, I have given great thought to whether I should continue giving you extra lessons. I have decided to grant you one more chance. Lessons will continue this Friday at their formula time. However, if either of you disregard my rules again, I will no longer hold back them. You may go. I 'll see all three of you in class on Tuesday."

"Merlin, I 'm glad that 's over,"John muttered to Albus once they were on their way to Gryffindor Tower.

"Me too,"Albus agreed,"He 's going to be awful in family, though."

"Yeah, ca n't say I 'm looking forward to that,"St. John the Apostle said.

Albus could n't concentrate at all in his classes the next day. All he wanted to do was go to the infirmary wing and line up out how Matt was, but dame Pomfrey insisted that they wait until evening.

Rose and Amanda ate dinner with Linda, but they met Albus, whoremaster, and Kaden near the hospital flank afterwards. They had all eaten a very rushed dinner due to Albus 's Quidditch practice at seven.

Albus cautiously opened the room access to the hospital backstage, one-half expecting Madam Pomfrey to yell at them again. He walked quietly inside, followed the the others. Madam Pomfrey was sitting at her desk and she visibly sighed when she noticed them.

"Go ahead,"she gestured to the only occupied bed, which had the mantle pulled around it.

Albus rushed over to the bed and yanked the curtains back. matte looked exhaust and there was a rather large patch wrapped around his head.

"I was wondering when you 'd occur visit me,"Matt gave them a one-half smile.

"We 've been trying !"bathroom said,"Madam Pomfrey has n't let us !"

"I know,"matt smirked,"I 've heard her outcry at you. It 's kind of amusing."

"Well, we 're here now,"Albus said,"How are you ? Why did n't Madam Pomfrey let us issue forth visit ?"

"Because I did n't wake up until yesterday afternoon,"lustrelessness answered.

"But that was-"John began.

"Nearly two days later ?"lustrelessness cut him off,"I know."

"But why ?"Rose asked.

"A clustering of things, really,"Matt sighed,"First, I was worried about Malfoy telling everyone and it 's always tough when I 'm worried about something. instant, I hit my headspring really hard at some point that night. It still hurts. Third, the transformations in oecumenical are getting worse, because I 'm getting older."

That thought certainly had n't crossed Albus 's mind. Albus and all his friends were obviously getting Old and that brought plenty of modification, but he had n't even thought about how the skirt chaser would convert when matte got older.

"So, are all of the full lunation going to be this bad now ?"Kaden asked.

"No,"Matt shook his mind and then winced,"I mean, I do n't really cognize what 'll happen in the time to come, but this one was just a combination of bad things."

"That 's good, I guess,"Albus shrugged,"When do you get to leave ?"

"Tomorrow dark at the soonest,"mat sighed,"Although that means I 'll miss Defense."

"wishing I could miss Defense,"John muttered,"Speaking of Defense, did you owl your dad yet ?"

"John, he just woke up yesterday,"Rose pointed out.

"I did n't owl him,"Matt said,"But he came to see me earlier and I asked him."

"Brilliant,"John grinned,"And ?"

"And,"matt said,"He told me all about it. He told me Balladanis was a Presuler and was really surprised that I already knew.

"Apparently, back when my dad had just been appointed headway of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures in Commonwealth of Australia, he hired Balladanis to catch a band of vampires who were attacking Muggles on the outback. Balladanis caught them, but he thought Dad went too easy on them."

"What did he do to them ?"John asked.

"Sent them to prison. I think they got 20 years. Balladanis thought they should give birth gotten life sentences. Dad and Balladanis got into this huge controversy at the Ministry about it and Balladanis stormed out. The Australian Ministry did n't hire him after that,"matte explained,"Although, I 'll bet Balladanis and Lubar would tally on punishment. I wonder if he 's hired Balladanis."

"That explains a lot,"Albus said,"Did your dad say anything else about him ?"

"No, not really,"Matt replied,"Just that he 's got a lot of yield. Oh, and he wanted me to warn you not to take heed to everything Balladanis says during those dueling moral you 've got."

"I 'm not going to,"Albus assured him,"I think we 've all seen a different incline of Balladanis during the past week."

******

Tuesday morning dawned quickly and Albus trudged to vindication with can. Neither of them really knew what class would be like, but judging from what he heard about recent Defense social class in the plebeian room, it would n't be fun.

Malfoy was back to his smug self now that detention was over. He sat succeeding to Goyle wearing a smirk on his aspect. Albus ignored him and went to his usual table.

Balladanis stormed into the elbow room a few minutes later. He waved his scepter at the door and it slammed shut with a bang loud enough that it caused the Jordan-Bell twins, who had been sitting closest to it, to jump.

"passing game your prep questions forward,"he growled.

Albus handed his prep to the table in presence of him and waited for Balladanis to collect it. He paused in front of the table in nominal head of Albus's.

"potter,"he began,"You can tell Eckerton that his preparation is late and therefore I will not admit it. If he wished to get reference for it, he could have graced us with his presence."

Malfoy snorted at this, earning him glare from both Albus and Balladanis. Balaldanis tossed the homework unceremoniously onto his desk and then turned back to his students.

"Aconitum lycoctonum potion,"he barked,"Was created by a man by the gens of King Oliver Belby. He finished the Creation in 1991. For most werewolves, the potion was a life belt. Who can explicate what it does ?"

nobody, not even blush wine and Linda, raised their hands. Albus stared down at his desk, hoping that Balladanis would n't address on him.

"Nobody ?"he said,"Pity. Wolfsbane potion renders a werewolf harmless during wide-cut synodic month. The wolfman turns into a Wolf, but a harmless one. One that will just slumber until the moon curing and will not ingest the itch to bite and kill.

"The potion is a lifesaver to those plagued with lycanthropy. I had been hoping to show you what a werewolf would reckon like on Wolfsbane potion, but my anamatek has been banned from the castle,"Balladanis said with malice,"Therefore you will have to go without the optical. It seems that sealed parents, Ministry functionary, and the headmaster do not approve of my method acting of teaching. Unfortunately, it is all of you who are suffering for it."

"I would n't call it suffering,"John muttered.

"repose, Brickston !"Balladanis shouted,"Unless you have something to contribute to the class."

"No, sir,"St. John the Apostle replied.

"Good,"Balladanis muttered,"Anyway, the anamatek will not be making anymore appearing in this classroom and your didactics is going to suffer for it. Nothing, and I repeat nothing can replace custody on training."

Albus usually agreed with that, but he drew the crinkle at having what was in sum a populate manticore in front end of him. There were some multiplication when reading sufficed.

The object lesson continued with Balladanis talking about wolfbane. He spoke about how the potion does n't run for all lycanthrope and Albus found his intellect drifting. All in all, the lesson had n't been as bad as he 'd been expecting. Besides his brief rant about his anamatek being banned from the rook, he had been pretty normal. formula for Balladanis, that is.

"Next lesson will be the conclusion on werewolves,"Balladanis announced at the end of course of instruction,"We will take about lycanthropy 's upshot on children."

Albus groaned inwardly. Matt would be out of the hospital annexe by then. Why could n't Balladanis just complete the lycanthrope unit already ?

"He wo n't be back adjacent yr,"John muttered as they walked to Herbology.

"I do n't doubt that,"Albus replied,"I just wonder who we 're going to get instead."


A/N : Thanks to my Beta, Dancer of Starlight as well as all the adorable people who have read and reviewed this !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


"seat your stake here !"Fred shouted the future day as he walked around the common room.

Albus had just climbed through the portrait pickle with Georgia and James after a particularly difficult Quidditch pattern. woodwind was getting them prepared for the match against New York, which was to take place in a little over a week.

"Georgia, St. James the Apostle, Albus !"Fred greeted them,"caution to place a bet ?"

"What are you taking bets about ?"Georgia asked tiredly,"And if you keep betting on clobber, your mum is bound to find out."

"She wo n't care,"Fred shrugged. He was probably right. Albus 's auntie Alicia was the to the lowest degree hard-and-fast out of all of his aunty. She 'd probably set a bet with Fred.

"You 'd just amend hope Grandma does n't retrieve out,"Georgia smirked.

Fred looked momentarily horrorstruck and Albus could n't charge him. Molly Weasley would probably mail him a howler if she knew he was gambling.

"She wo n't unless you tell her,"Fred muttered,"And ling and I are taking bets on how much longer Balladanis is going to final. Care to take a surmisal ?"

"I suppose,"Georgia said as she pulled out some atomic number 79,"Two Galleons says he 's gone in a calendar week. I heard he had three outset age in tears today."

"He nearly had half of my class in rent,"Fred said as he took Peach State 's gold,"James, Al ?"

"Three Galleons says he 's gone in two weeks,"James said as he tossed Fred some atomic number 79 and then left to go find his friends.

"Nope,"Albus shook his school principal.

"Suit yourself,"Fred shrugged and continued his base on balls around the park room,"Bets here, pose your bets !"

Albus found his friends crowded around their usual board in the vulgar room. Linda was with them. All three girls were working on homework. john and Kaden were trading Chocolate salientian cards.

"Fred 's going to get himself in trouble,"blush wine muttered as Albus sat down,"You did n't bet anything, did you ?"

"No,"Albus shook his school principal,"How about you lot ?"

"I bet ten sickle he wo n't last the yr,"John said.

"You should get it on exactly when he 'll leave, what with your taking soothsaying,"Rose smirked.

"foretelling 's a antic,"John muttered,"I ca n't wait to devolve it after fifth year."

"Told you so,"Rose grinned,"Sick of making up stuff ?"

"It 's just so pointless,"John groaned,"We 're still doing crystal balls. I just tell her that I see myself dying anytime she asks and it keeps her happy."

"That 's why I 'm not taking Divination,"Kaden announced,"Bloody barren of a class."

Kaden had chosen his division for future year a few twenty-four hour period prior. He decided on Care of Magical Creatures, ancient runic letter, and Arithmancy.

"Easy homework, though,"St. John the Apostle sighed,"I just sustain reminding myself about that."

"What 's got soft homework ?"Matt asked as he sat down in the chair next to John 's. He looked a bit better than he had the late day, but still worn out.

"Pomfrey finally let you out ?"John asked,"And we 're talking about Divination."

"Yeah, just in time for Defense tomorrow,"Matt groaned,"I 'm invite to use a Fainting partiality to get out of it."

"I think half the first days are going to do that on Fri,"Kaden said,"I overheard them talking. Apparently Balladanis completely flipped out on one of them today, all over one incomplete preparation question. Made her cry."

"That 's what GA was saying,"Albus replied,"Makes me want to use a Fainting fondness. Two weeks. I know I did n't bet on it, but that 's really all I 'd impart him."

******

toilet filled his sack with vomiting pastille before he set off to Defense the adjacent aurora. Albus did n't bother. His wonder always trumped his disapproval for certain classes. He 'd rather be there and sleep with exactly what Balladanis was doing.

"Werewolves,"Balladanis said as soon as the Alexander Bell rang,"When the term is used, almost people conjure up images of lone adults, condemned to a deplorable living that revolves around the moon.

"However, there is a whole mathematical group of werewolves that are mostly overlooked. tiddler. Ah, yes, children do get attacked by werewolf. Very few survive. Found by their parents when it is too late. Even fewer survive the initial translation. loup-garou transmutation, as you have learned, are incredibly taxing, both physically and emotionally. Very few youngster are strong enough to attain it through."

Balladanis paused and began to pace the room."Parents are faced with a decisiveness after their youngster is bitten. They have three option. number one, they can care with it. trade with the monthly transformation and try and make life history as normal as possible for the small fry. identification number two, they can abandon their child. military group them to live with a wild pack of werewolves, to grow up to kill. However, there is a third selection. Does anyone tutelage to approximate as to what it is ?"

Nobody raised their hand. Balladanis looked at his class until his eyes rested on Matt. A very creepy smirk appeared on his face.

"Mr. Eckerton, charge to secern us ?"Balladanis asked.

Albus, who had been trying hard not to look at Matt throughout the lesson, stole a quick glance at him. He was staring at the desk, quill in hand, shaking slightly.

"N-no,"Matt stuttered.

"Very well,"Balladanis smirked,"The third option is to put the child down. Not a pleasant option, but one that a few parents select anyway. This option used to be readily suggested by healer, but has now become quite controversial. It is not suggested very often anymore.

"Parents who choose the first option, to go on to evoke their nestling, are in for a very hood life. Werewolf shaver are hard to provoke. It is a huge adjustment for parents and siblings if there are any. The bit affects the whole family. It changes lives, it can rip fellowship apart."

Balladanis continued droning on and on about how lycanthropy affects children and Albus looked again at lusterlessness. His paw was shaking even harder and his face was as whitened as it had been when he had dressed up as a ghost.

Albus shared a look with St. John and John reached into his pouch. He slid a vomit troche across the table towards Albus and then slid one to mat. Albus quietly unwrapped it and then waited until Balladanis had looked away to stuff it into his back talk. whoremonger and Matt did the same. Albus clutched his stomach as the sweetness began to take affect.

"Lycanthropic kid rarely, if ever, get to attend school day,"Balladanis droned.

"Sir !"John shouted,"I do n't palpate so well. May I go to the infirmary flank ?"

"I do n't experience too well either,"Albus added.

"Shut it, you two,"Balladanis shouted,"And no you may not go to the-"

Balladanis was cut off by the speech sound of all three son vomiting at the Saame time. Albus leaned over his table and vomited right onto the floor. The stratum erupted into shouts and Balladanis tried to go on order.

"Fine !"he seethed,"Get to the Hospital Wing, all three of you !"

Albus resisted the urge to spue again as he ran for the room access. matt and John followed. All three of them shoved the orange end of the sweets into their mouths as soon as they shut the doorway behind them. The affect was instant. Albus immediately felt better.

"The man 's wickedness !"john shouted,"How could he teach that ?"

"Not here,"lustrelessness muttered and took off down the corridor.

None of them said anything else until they reached the vulture 's Den."As I was saying,"John began,"What is ill-timed with that chap ?"

"I think a lot of things,"Albus muttered,"He 's a raving lunatic."

"He 's only doing it because you 're in the category,"John said to Matt as he paced around the room,"None of what he said today is actually in the record. I mean, did you read the record book ? There 's not practically in there that Balladanis has actually taught !"

"He hates me because my dad made him get rid of his stupid anamatek,"Matt muttered.

"But it started before that,"Albus pointed out,"He wants to pretend you miserable because of what your dad did with those vampires old age ago."

"It 's just not fair,"Matt groaned,"I mean, did you hear to what he was talking about ?"

"It was hard not to,"Albus sighed,"Is it honest ?"

"Yes,"Matt said quietly,"And before you ask, one of the Healers did paint a picture that to my parents."

Albus suddenly felt more sick than he had when he ate the vomiting Pastille. How could a Healer, individual whose job it was to make multitude healthy, actually suggest that to a child 's parents ?

"Seriously ?"toilet asked,"What happened after they asked ?"

"My dad and my Uncle jak hexed him at the same metre,"lusterlessness gave them a half-smile,"Put him in his own hospital bed for two days."

"You know, I 'd really wish to meet your Uncle Jack,"St. John the Apostle grinned,"He sounds like a great bloke."

"He is,"Matt smiled,"He would 've hexed Balladanis quite a while ago if he were here."

"But he 's not,"John sighed,"So what are we going to do about this ?"

"I 'm sending an owl to my dad,"Matt said as he stood up,"You two are n't going to ingest to do anything."

"Three days,"Gospel According to John said after Matt left,"I give Balladanis three More days."

******

"Your dad certainly does n't lay waste to any clock time,"blush wine said to Matt as she unfolded her copy of the prophet the following morning at breakfast.

Albus leaned over and read the paper over Rose 's shoulder.

HOGWARTS professor TO BE INVESTIGATED BY MINISTRY
The department of Magical didactics received an interrogation
late yesterday good afternoon, requesting an investigation
of Hogwarts Defense Against the nighttime Arts prof,
genus Tethus Balladanis. The inquiry was submitted by none
early than the newly appointed Head of the Department
for the regularisation and command of Magical beast,
Walter Eckerton, whose fourteen-year-old son currently
attends Hogwarts.

Professor Aplysia Balladanis has been teaching Defense at
the school since September, when he replaced Head Auror
Harry Potter. Potter had taught the subject for two
age and wished to pore solely on his Auror career,
resulting in his surrender at the end of last school
year.

The impending investigating comes as hardly a surprise.
Earlier this week Walter Eckerton visited Hogwarts
after receiving a tip that Balladanis was holding an
anamatek in his classroom. This proved to be true and
Eckerton ordered him to dispatch it. The anamatek was
legally in Balladanis 's self-will, so all he had to
do was get rid of it from school day premises. Eckerton told
reporters that Balladanis complied.

However, Eckerton has claimed that the professor
repeatedly put students in danger and humiliated them
in nominal head of their classmates.

'It 's not just the anamatek ,'Eckerton told reporters,
'I 'm filing this enquiry as a parent, not as a Ministry
official. start and foremost, I wish to protect my son .'

The probe will begin today and be carried out
by functionary from the department of Magical Education,
a department that was set up for this purpose after
the downfall of noble Voldemort. functionary will confabulate
the school and interview both students and staff as
a component part of their investigation.

Tethys Balladanis will preserve to teach Department of Defense Against
the Dark Arts during this time.

"He 's still going to instruct ?"St. John the Apostle said incredulously after he finished reading the article.

"I 'm not going to defending team anymore,"Matt said,"Not until he 's gone."

"They ca n't stop him from teaching until they do the investigation,"blush wine explained,"Only Kendrick can intercept him from teaching at the moment."

"Then why does n't Kendrick do that ?"Albus asked as he looked up at the staff table.

Kendrick was talking with Neville and there was a written matter of the oracle laying between them. Balladanis was not present.

"I do n't eff,"rosebush said quietly,"But defensive measure is just going to get worse."

"Which is why I 'm not going,"Matt said adamantly.

For once, rosebush did not chastise him about skipping class. Albus could n't find fault him. He himself was half tempted to skip over, but he knew his curiosity would get the serious of him.

"Somehow, I do n't remember you 'll hold the chance to decamp,"Rose muttered,"We do n't have refutation until Tuesday."

"Excellent,"John grinned,"Now I wo n't give birth to do that werewolf essay."

"I never said that,"Rose replied,"You still ought to do it, just in case."

"Look, Kendrick 's getting up,"Kaden pointed to the staff table.

"May I have your attention !"Kendrick shouted and the yak in the mansion immediately ceased,"Thank you. I trust by now that you 've all either read or take heed about the article on the front page of the Prophet.

"Ministry official will be visiting the school today and tomorrow to conduct their investigation. They will be selecting pupil to audience. If you are selected, I advise you to reply their question truthfully.

"As of right wing now, Professor Balladanis is still your teacher, therefore you need to plow him with obedience and attend his course. This is, at the moment, an investigation and goose egg more. Now, you 'd best be off to class."

"Albus,"pink wine whispered as they made their way out of the Great Hall to History of Magic,"You 're not going to that dueling lesson tonight, are you ?"

"I dunno,"Albus shrugged. He had n't really thought about it until then.

"I do n't remember you should,"Rose told him.

Albus nodded. He did n't want to go, but he also did n't want to find out what Balladanis would do when Albus did n't register up that evening.

Nobody fell asleep during History of conjuration. It must have been a new criminal record, one that was previously set back when Binns was still alive. However, the deficiency of weariness was not due to Binns 's lecture. No, that was just as boring as common. The students remained awake because they were talking about Balladanis. The classroom was filled with the hushed whispers of the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw 3rd years and Binns droned on without seeming to notice.

There were only six students in the castle who knew the specific reason why Matt 's dad had submitted that inquiry. Albus, Rose, John, Amanda, Kaden, and lusterlessness himself. Seven, if you counted Malfoy, but even Malfoy did not know that it had been Balladanis 's lecture on lycanthropic nestling that pushed Mr. Eckerton to pass on the inquiry.

Everyone else speculated. About half the schoolhouse put the blame on the anamatek, even though lusterlessness 's dad had come out and said that was n't the tangible understanding. The Prophet had only glazed over the grounds, not getting into specifics. The Hogwarts student wanted specifics. They wanted to know what had pushed lustrelessness 's dad to submit an inquiry when none of their parents seemed fazed.

The intellect the student fabricated ranged from plausible to outrageous. A few seventh days, mainly Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, speculated that Balladanis had gotten a bit overenthusiastic with his superfluous help Sessions and perhaps habituate flatness as an example of somebody who did not possess the skills to defeat dark wizard. Combine that with an overprotective parent ( what the seventh years claimed Matt 's dad to be, which was not actually an overstatement ), and the investigating was born. They believed that the probe would swash over and within two calendar week everything would be back to normal, with Balladanis still teaching.

A few overexcited first years were the on the opposite side of meat of the spectrum. They believed that Balladanis had let a chimaera loose in his classroom while teaching the Gryffindor and Slytherin third gear geezerhood. Apparently they overlooked the fact that nonentity had turned up injured after year and the fact that Balladanis would have been sacked immediately if that had actually been the case.

flatness had become somewhat of a celebrity inside the Hogwarts walls. There was n't a single person, living, shade, or portrait, who did n't hump it was his dad who launched the inquiry. He was stopped no to a lesser extent than six times on the way from account of Magic to Herbology by hoi polloi wanting to jazz the detail of the inquiry. It was something Albus could tell flatness was extremely uncomfortable with.

"Merlin, when will they get word that I do n't need to talk about it !"Matt groaned as they made their way back to the castling after Herbology. Two Ravenclaw 2nd years had just run up to Matt, demanding to know why his dad wanted to get Balladanis sacked. Apparently they actually liked him.

"You should just stand up on the Gryffindor tabular array and make an annunciation during luncheon,"John suggested.

"Definitely not,"matte said,"I 'm just glad we do n't have family this afternoon."

"Me, too,"Albus agreed,"Hey, look, I bet those are the investigators."Albus pointed to three functionary looking the great unwashed striding up towards the palace. There were two witches and a wizard.

"Probably,"John said,"I wonder who they 're going to audience ?"

"Ten Galleons says they interview me,"lusterlessness replied,"And probably Albus since he 's had all those buck private lessons."

"Let 's just hope they do n't consultation those two Ravenclaws,"John said.

Albus, Matt, and John continued their trek to the Great Hall, where they ate a very fast lunch. None of them wanted to stay very long since everyone was still asking lustrelessness about the inquiry. After they finished, the boys went to Gryffindor Tower to deposit their travelling bag before going to the piranha 's Den to put off their homework.

The rough-cut room was mostly empty when they arrived, but Albus spotted Lily, Hugo, and Ashtyn sitting around one of the tables.

"Do n't you three have year now ?"Albus asked, feeling very much like Rose.

"Yes,"Lily muttered,"We 've got defending team and we 're skipping. Do n't say anything about it. There 's nothing you can do to make me go, so do n't even try."

"I was n't going to,"Albus assured her,"Was n't it your class where Balladanis made individual cry ?"

"That 's why we 're not going,"Ashtyn replied,"And we do n't handle if we get detainment either. Oh, and John, you 'd amend not tell Mum."

"I wo n't,"John said,"The three of us used Puking pastille to get out of defending team yesterday."

"You should have just skipped from the origin,"Ashtyn told them.

"wellspring, you three enjoy your skipping,"Albus said as he continued to his dormitory.

"Oh, think me, we will,"Lily grinned.

The boys quickly stowed their dish in their dormitory and set off for the Maruader 's Den. Albus climbed out of the portrait hole and ran straight into Gabriella.

"There you are, Al !"Gabriella exclaimed,"I 've been looking for you. Kendrick wants to see you in his study. Oh, hang on."Gabriella consulted the art object of parchment she was holding."He wants to see mat, too."

"Looks like you two are getting interviewed,"John Lackland said as Gabriella went into the common room.

"dead reckoning so,"Albus shrugged. He really was n't surprised. Even if he had n't been receiving private lessons with Balladanis, he probably would have been interviewed. It was one of those things that happened when your father was the most famous wizard in Britain.

"I 'll see you two later, then,"John replied,"Have fun."

"Oh, yeah,"Albus rolled his eyes,"Loads."

Albus and Matt left for Kendrick 's work while John continued towards the Marauder 's Den. Albus had no idea what he was going to do while they were gone, but he would bet that John would be bored within 15 minutes.


A/N : I hope you all enjoyed HPFF 's April patsy 's Day japery ! The staff really outdid themselves this year. Thanks to my beta, Dancer of Starlight, and everyone who has read and reviewed this story !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


There was another Prefect standing next to the gargoyle that concealed the entrance to Kendrick 's study. It was apparently his job to maunder the password to the gargoyle to allow all the students being interviewed in. He looked incredibly bored.

Albus and Matt ascended into the study and found three other students waiting in front of Kendrick 's close threshold. A very bored looking Hufflepuff, who was probably in sixth or 7th year, Scorpius Malfoy, and much to Albus 's discouragement, one of those Ravenclaws they had encountered on the grounds earlier.

Albus was not at all surprise to see Scorpius Malfoy there. After all, he had private lesson with Balladanis as well. However, he chose to ignore Malfoy 's presence and leaned against the wall to begin the farsighted wait.

What had been the point in sending them all to Kendrick 's study at the Saami prison term ? They were obviously only interviewing one person at a time. Why could n't they have just summoned Albus later, when there were less people waiting ?

Kendrick 's doorway opened and a pale-faced Gryffindor first year walked out. She hurried out of the study and one of the Ministry functionary motioned for the Ravenclaw to enter.

The Ravenclaw was in Kendrick 's study for about fifteen moment. Then it was Malfoy 's bout. He took a bit more time, but finally came out and left without so very much as a glance towards Albus and Matt.

In the mean sentence, two more educatee had entered. One Albus recognized as Peyton Haines, one of the Chasers from the Slytherin Quidditch team. The other was a youthful Hufflepuff Albus did n't recognize.

Finally, after what must feature been at to the lowest degree an hour, Albus was finally called into the room.

Kendrick was not in his written report. Only the three investigators were. Albus was now able-bodied to see them up close. The one who had called him into the way was quite magniloquent and wore a menacing glare. Her robes were perfectly pressed, without a single furrow, and her hair was pulled into a tight bun. She reminded Albus of Minerva McGonagall.

The other witch was the over reverse. She was short-circuit and quite a bit stoutness. Her frizzy brown haircloth stuck up at all sort of odd angles and she had a lowly distich of Methedrine perched on her nose.

The remaining investigator was a wizard and he was seated behind Kendrick 's desk, a quill in hand. He looked a bit bored by the integral matter. He was gazing about the room and had the look of someone who was n't quite paying attention.

Two people who were paying rapt attention, or should he say portraiture, were Dumbledore and Snape. Both were sitting straight up and looking straight at the investigators.

The tall witch gestured for Albus to take a rear end in social movement of the desk. Albus did so.

"My public figure is Katherine Torenzo and this is Lothringen Smyth,"the tall witch gestured to the brusk crone,"And that is Herb Cletus. He 'll be transcribing our interview."

No wonder he was so bored, Albus thought. He did n't even get to ask any of the questions.

"Please state your fully gens, age, year, and firm for the record,"Torenzo said briskly.

Albus raised his supercilium. Would n't they already know all of that information ?

"It 's protocol, dear,"Smyth told him.

"Albus Severus potter, thirteen, 3rd year, Gryffindor,"Albus answered.

"Excellent,"Torenzo replied,"Now, perhaps you can differentiate us what goes on in an norm lesson with Professor Balladanis, in your own words."

"Er, all right,"Albus said,"wellspring, he comes in and tells us all to cease talking. Then he 'll collect the prep. Oh, and you have to get the homework in on time, no matter what. He does n't take late work, even if you 've got a good excuse. You could be sick in the infirmary fender and he would n't take late homework.

"Then he 'll learn us a new patch or about some new creature. Then we 'll have to execute the spell."

"What happens if you do n't do it properly ?"Smyth asked.

"He makes you do it again, and again, until you get it,"Albus answered,"If you do n't get it, he makes you go to extra helper sessions."

"Has this caused distress to any of the students in your class ?"Smyth asked.

"Not in my class, but I 've heard of former students crying because of it,"Albus answered.

"Have you attended any duplicate supporter sessions ?"Torenzo asked.

"No,"Albus shook his head,"Professor Balladanis has never told me I had to."

"I understand you have been given dueling lessons by him, however,"Torenzo said,"Can you recount us a bit about them ? What do they consist of ?"

"almost time he just teaches me new charm, magical spell that are strong than the single we learn in class. Scorpius Malfoy is there, too, and we duel each early with the magical spell,"Albus explained.

"You said 'most'sentence,"Smyth said,"What else does he have you do ?"

"Er,"Albus shifted uncomfortably in his chair,"One time he had us go into his pensieve."

"Did he,"Torenzo muttered,"Please elaborate."

"We watched his parents be murdered by vampire,"Albus said after a legal brief faltering. He doubted Balladanis would be well-chosen about this, but Kendrick had said to be truthful.

Both Torenzo and Smyth looked horrified. Cletus was writing away furiously on the sheepskin. Snape was smirking and Dumbledore 's case had seemed to harden.

"We did n't actually see it,"Albus said quickly,"We stood outside the house as it happened. Balladanis 's parents were in the theatre. Then we watched Balladanis, in the memory board, run away from the house. He was thirteen."

"And then what ?"Torenzo prodded.

"We left the pensieve. Balladanis explained what we had seen-"

"He did n't assure you ahead of fourth dimension ?"Smyth asked.

"No,"Albus shook his head,"He just told us to go in the pensieve."

"Did he explain why he wanted you to see this ?"Torenzo asked.

"Yeah. He wanted to testify us why he became a Presuler,"Albus said.

"He told you he 's a Presuler ?"Torenzo raised her eyebrow.

"Yes, he thinks me and Malfoy should become Presulers,"Albus explained.

"Very well,"Torenzo said as she walked towards Albus,"I have one final enquiry. Would you finger well-heeled if prof Balladanis continued to teach here ?"

Albus thought about it for a import. Balladanis was certainly a motivated teacher and one Albus could read a lot from. But on the former handwriting, he was n't the form of wizard Albus felt comfortable around.

"No,"Albus said quietly,"I guess not."

Torenzo nodded."Please return to your uncouth way. You are not to speak of this interview to anyone until after the investigating is completed."

Albus got up from the professorship and Torenzo followed him out of the room. She called lustrelessness in as Albus left. Albus muttered a quiet down 'good luck'to him before descending from the room.

******

"Why ca n't you just tell us ?"King John lamented as the boys sat around the marauder 's Den after dinner party. rose and Amanda were currently in the girls'dormitory with Linda, who had recently been interviewed.

"I 've told you a million times,"Albus said,"The Ministry witches said we could n't talk about the interview."

"But how would they hump ?"lav asked,"It 's not like I 'm going to go telling the whole schoolhouse about it."

"Neither will I,"Kaden added.

Albus snorted."I 'll secernate you about it after Balladanis is sacked, or is n't sacked. I do n't intend it 's going to take long for them to decide."

"He 's going to be sacked,"Matt said adamantly and then turned to john,"You 're not going to his supernumerary help session tonight, are you ?"

"Not if I was paid XX Galleons,"privy replied,"fountainhead, ok, maybe if I was paid twenty Galleons, but not for less than ten. What about you, Albus ? Going to go to your dueling lesson ?"

Albus shrugged. He still had n't decided. What he really wanted to roll in the hay was whether Malfoy was going, but he could n't very well waltz down to the dungeons, barge into the Slytherin vernacular room, and ask.

"No estimate,"Albus sighed.

"Do n't go,"Matt said,"If you go, I 'm going to embark on worrying about your sanity."

"Why would you want to go ?"John gave Albus a strange look.

"I might find out something about how the investigation is going, or something,"Albus muttered.

St. John the Apostle opened his lip to reply, but instead turned to the door. A loud squawking noise had seemed to utter from it.

"Did you hear that ?"St. John the Apostle asked.

Albus nodded and got up from his seat. He walked over to the door and paused next to it. The squawking noise was repeated.

One matter Albus loved about the Marauder 's Den was that it was always very quiesce. No noises could be heard from the corridor while he was inside. Albus rarely ever heard noises from the corridor, let alone squawking noises.

Albus cautiously opened the door and instead of the bizarre shuttlecock he had expected to see, Rose was standing there with her wand out.

"Finally !"she groaned,"I thought you 'd never come to the door."

"Rose ?"Albus asked,"What is it ? Was that squawking you ?"

"Yes,"Rose said hurriedly,"I had to get you to total out of there. Uncle Harry 's looking for you. He 's waiting in the common room. I told him I 'd find you."

Albus turned around and told Matt, John, and Kaden, all of whom had followed him out of the room, that he would be back soon. He had no melodic theme what his dad wanted, but it must possess been significant for him to go to the castle on a day he did n't hold to patrol it.

Harry was sitting in one of the squashy armchairs in front of the fire when Albus arrived. Georgia and Fred were both talking with him, near likely about Quidditch judgment by their excessive use of hand gestures, but stopped abruptly when Albus entered. Harry got up and met Albus near the portrait hole.

"Let 's talk of the town outside,"Harry said. Albus followed him out of the portrait hole and down the corridor a slight ways.

"What were you up to just now ?"Harry asked, grinning a bit.

"Nothing,"Albus shrugged truthfully.

"fountainhead, I 'm no longer a teacher here, so I wo n't say a Book about you causing trouble, if that 's what you were doing,"Harry told him,"But anyway, what I wanted to ask you is whether you were planning on going to professor Balladanis 's dueling lesson tonight ?"

That seemed to be the question of the eventide, Albus thought."I dunno,"Albus shrugged.

"I realize that the decision is completely up to you,"Harry said quietly,"But I would advise you not to go. Professor Balladanis is under a considerable amount of focus, of which you do n't live the half of. I 'd say the chances are senior high school that he may rent out this stress on you and Scorpius."

"Do you know if Malfoy 's going ?"Albus asked.

"I really have no estimate,"Harry answered,"But I tend to consider he won't."

"I do n't think I will either,"Albus said.

"A Isaac Mayer Wise decision,"Harry smiled.

Harry said effective night to Albus and then Albus went back to the Marauder 's Den. Kaden was in the middle of showing matte and John how to make a proper paper airplane.

"What did your dad need ?"John asked without looking up from the parchment he was folding.

"To secern me it was n't a good idea to go to Balladanis 's lesson tonight,"Albus said as he flopped down onto the discharge couch.

"And ?"Matt asked.

"I 'm not going,"Albus answered.

"Good,"mat replied.

"You know what was Wyrd, though ?"Albus began,"My dad said Balladanis was under a lot of emphasis, nearly of which I do n't know about. So I 'm guessing it 's not only the investigation."

"Weird,"Kaden shook his mind,"I 'll be happy when he 's sacked."

"We do n't make out for sure that he 'll be sacked,"Albus pointed out,"I just care I knew what else he was stressed about."

"Maybe he 's got to battle a beautiful womanhood,"John smirked,"Remember his boggart ?"

"His boggart !"Albus shouted,"I ca n't believe I did n't put that together Sooner. It was n't a beautiful adult female ; it was a vampire. It 's so obvious now that we know what happened to his parents, too."

"Yeah, that does look fairly obvious,"Matt agreed,"But what 's that got to do with his stress ?"

"Probably nothing,"Albus shrugged,"I just realized it."

"You know,"John began,"This is the first Friday we 've had to ourselves."

"You 're right,"Albus said,"What should we do ?"

"Let 's go down to the kitchens,"Kaden said.

"And spend the dark here,"Matt added,"We hardly ever do that."

They did just that. The boy snuck down to the kitchens and were given as many sweet and pudding as they could dribble by the house elves. Then they stayed up tardy eating all of it and playing various games. Albus was even able to leave about Balladanis for a while, something that had not happened in quite a while.

******

The Ministry officials remained a permanent fixture at Hogwarts throughout the residuum of the weekend. Albus overheard a lot of students mentioning that they 'd been interviewed, including john 's full cousin Isabelle, one of the Chasers on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, and Gabriella.

prof Balladanis did not show up at a individual meal. In fact, he was n't seen at all throughout the weekend. cypher saw him, which raised the question of whether he was even still in the castle.

Albus was hoping he ran for it. Got out before the Ministry had a prospect to pee-pee their conclusion. Albus was More than a little uneasy about going to Defense on Tuesday and hearing what Balladanis had to say about Albus 's absence seizure from their dueling lesson.

It was on Monday morning that all the Hogwarts scholarly person knew a verdict had been reached. professor Kendrick rose partway through the meal, something that only happened when something important happened. He was flanked by the two hag from the Ministry. The hotshot was no longer there.

The Hall immediately quieted, without Kendrick even having to ask. Albus was slightly taken aback by Kendrick 's impendent declaration, since there had not been a single mention of Balladanis in that break of day 's Prophet.

"A determination has been reached about prof Balladanis,"Kendrick announced,"Madam Torenzo will inform you of it. The Prophet has kindly agreed not to release the clause about it just yet, as I wished to inform you of it first."

"He 's sacked,"John the Evangelist muttered,"Otherwise he 'd be at breakfast."

"commodity peak,"Albus said.

Torenzo stood up and gazed out at the student with a neutral look on her face."Upon extensive investigating of Professor Balladanis 's teaching methods and thorough interviews of take students, the Ministry has seen it fit to remove him from his teaching spatial relation here at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and Wizardry. professor Balladanis packed his matter late last Night and no farseeing resides in the castling. Professor Kendrick will inform you about what will happen with demurrer course for the remainder of the year. I would like to thank all of you for your cooperation during this time."

Torenzo sat back down and continued eating her breakfast like nothing had happened. The Great Charles Francis Hall immediately erupted into whispering, but they were quickly stopped by Kendrick.

"Defense Against the dark Arts classes will not take place until further notice. I will try and pimp a suitable replacement for Professor Balladanis as quickly as possible. Until then, please use the clock time to study for your upcoming exams,"Kendrick said and then resumed his seat. He began to spill the beans with Torenzo and the educatee voices rose in the Hall.

"I knew it !"Matt exclaimed,"Best news I 've heard this calendar month !"

"Yes !"Empire State of the South shouted and then turned to Fred,"Pay up !"

"Merlin !"King James groaned,"Why 'd they take to do that probe so quickly ?"

Money began to switch over hands throughout the Gryffindor tabular array as Fred collected and handed out Galleons.

"Do you guess Kendrick 'll find a replacement ?"can asked.

"Dunno,"Albus shrugged,"No one really wanted that job to get down with."

"Glad I did n't do that werewolf essay,"John grinned.

"Maybe Kendrick wo n't find a surrogate,"Kaden said,"Then we 'd induce one less exam."

"That would be brilliant,"John replied.

The atmospheric state in the castle for the ease of the day was incredibly upbeat. Hardly anyone seemed at all sad that Balladanis had left. Quite a few scholar asked Matt to give thanks his dad for them. It seemed that the only student upset by it were those who had lost stakes because of it.

Argus Filch was another who was dysphoric. The general excitement of the castle caused him more workplace. Peeves destroyed the defense team schoolroom in solemnization ( Balladanis never liked Peeves ), James I and his booster set off a few Weasley pyrotechnic, and then there was the ecumenical mess that was associated with students celebrating by playing international in the cloudy Grass. Plus, Moaning Myrtle flooded her bathroom when a few students told her that even she ought to be excited about it. Apparently she did not jibe. For some odd grounds it reminded her of her death.

One somebody who seemed incredibly excited was Linda. Linda who rarely showed any emotion whatsoever walked around the castle with a big grinning on her face. Albus could only attribute this to the fact that Balladanis had taught so extensively about vampire. But he never taunted her the way he 'd taunted Matt. Perhaps that was because his self-aggrandizing fear was vampires.

There was even a political party in the Gryffindor vulgar way that night. rosiness thought it was a little idiotic, to lionize the sacking of a teacher, but everyone else, including Linda, thought it was an excellent thing to celebrate.

"Just think,"John said,"We do n't ever take in to listen to him go on and on about how bad the night artwork are. I mean, we all know they 're bad. We all know about Voldemort and what he did."

"And that bloody anamatek,"Matt added,"I could 've gone my hale life-time without seeing one of those."

"What do you cerebrate he 's doing now ?"rose wine mused.

"Maybe some Ministry hired him,"Albus said quietly,"I hope it 's some place far, like Madagascar or somewhere."

"Yeah,"lustrelessness agreed,"I bet he 's not even in Britain anymore."

"I do n't see why he 'd rag to pose around,"Albus replied,"I mean, he snuck out in the night to avoid anyone seeing him."

"regard we could 've seen him leave,"trick grinned mischievously,"Would 've been squeamish to commit him a proper send off."

"I 'm just glad it 's over,"Rose muttered,"Maybe now you lot can concentrate on test. And maybe the castle will get back to normal."

"formula ?"Albus raised his eyebrows,"This topographic point will never be normal. Plus, we 've got Quidditch on Saturday. It 's the utmost match before the final."

"When 's the final ?"blush wine asked.

"offset of June, I think,"Albus answered,"Australia 's already so far ahead that they 'll be in it."

Albus, St. John the Apostle, Matt, and Kaden all sent scathing looks at Linda, who looked down at the table.

"But if we beat New York in this peer,"Albus continued,"We 'll be in it, too. So Sir Henry Joseph Wood is in broad form this week. I 'm practicing every nighttime starting tomorrow."

"Oliver Grant Wood is insane,"blush wine muttered.

"Insane, but brilliant on the Quidditch pitch,"John grinned,"I would love to get yelled at by him during a Quidditch practice."

"Excellent,"Albus said,"You can take on my place."


A/N : Thanks to my Beta, Dancer of Starlight and everyone who has read and reviewed this !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


Despite the fact that he did not have Defense Department Against the Dark Arts the next morning, Albus was down in the Great Hall bright and early because he wanted to read Rose 's Daily oracle. Having Kendrick announce Balladanis 's liberation was one thing, reading it in the Prophet was entirely different.

rosiness was already there when Albus, Matt, and John the Evangelist sat down at the Gryffindor board. Amanda and Linda were on either side of her and all three girls were reading the clause. Albus drummed his fingers impatiently on the board while he waited for them to be finished. Finally, rose handed him the paper without saying a word and Albus read it, with Matt and trick looking over his shoulder.

HOGWARATS TEACHER REMOVED FROM POSITION BY MINISTRY

In an event that causes much of the wizarding humanity to remember
back to Voldemort 's sovereignty, Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark
liberal arts teacher, genus Aplysia Balladanis, has been removed from his
position by the Ministry of magic 's Department of Magical
Education.

During Voldemort 's reign, refutation teachers rarely lasted more
than a year at the school day, a whodunit that abruptly ended when
Voldemort was defeated on May 2, 1998. Up until two days
ago, Hogwarts had had only one Defense instructor since that
fateful May day.

professor Torro taught at Hogwarts for years until he was
mysteriously murdered nearly three geezerhood ago. He was
replaced by Head Auror, Harry potter, who is rumored to
have only taken the posture after cipher else agreed to
fill it.

Harry ceramicist left the spatial relation this past tense autumn and it was filled
by Balladanis.

Balladanis taught until two days ago, when he was removed
from his position. Approximately a week and a half ago, a
ailment was lodged by foreland of the Department for the
rule and controller of Magical Creatures, Walter Eckerton,
whose fourteen-year-old son currently attends Hogwarts.

The complaint included harsh teaching methods, the use of an
anamatek as a teaching pecker, singling educatee out for deficiency of
skill, and embarrassing students in social movement of their match.

An investigation by Ministry official ensued and included
the interviewing of prime students and staff. The section
concluded their investigating late Sunday even and inform
both Balladanis and Headmaster Fabius Kendrick of their decisiveness.
Balladanis left the castle willingly and will not be appealing the
determination. When asked for a statement on the yield, both Kendrick
and Balladanis declined.

Upon hearing the newsworthiness, Walter Eckerton said ,'I am very happy
with the decision and that the probe was concluded in
a seasonably manner. I am not happy that it came to this, but I
feel that nothing should be put ahead of nestling 's safety .'

Hogwarts educatee will not attend defence classes until a replacement
is found. As of right now, one has not been found.

"I knew they 'd stay your dad in there somehow,"John announced once they 'd finished reading.

"There was n't anything in there that we did n't already love,"Albus muttered,"I was hoping Balladanis would 've said something or we 'd observe out what happened when he left the castle."

"Maybe he really did go quietly,"matte shrugged,"Maybe he wanted to get back to his anamatek."

"I wonder where he lives,"Amanda mused,"Think he lives in England ?"

"doubt it,"pink wine answered,"Even if he did before I doubt he does now."

******

life history soon returned to normal for the Hogwarts students, as it often does after something exciting happens. Everyone talked about Balladanis the day the article was published, but soon there was cypher left wing to say and the students focused on the upcoming Quidditch couple, which was mere days away.

Albus had an easy time forgetting about Balladanis due to Quidditch practice session. He was out on the pitch every evening and was soon hearing Wood 's commands in his head as he fell asleep, which was something that certainly could n't be deemed normal. Albus was almost gladiola that the year was drawing to an end because once the tourney was over, he would n't have to shell out with Mrs. Henry Wood anymore. Thinking about that made Albus pull in that Gryffindor would have a new captain the future year since Peach State was graduating. Albus was sure it would be either Fred or broom, but he was n't sure enough which.

Albus trudged into the Great dorm on Thursday morning sorely wishing that privy had n't woken him up. They did n't have a class first thing, so why 'd he nettle doing that ? Albus was already running on little sleep.

"I 'm going to arouse you up at five in the morning this Sabbatum,"Albus muttered to John as he poured himself some pumpkin juice.

"No you wo n't, you 'll still be asleep,"John grinned,"I need you to help me finish that Herbology essay that 's due today."

"That 's the grounds for you waking me up ?"Albus groaned,"Why ca n't originate help you ?"

"She 's a bit sore with me right now,"John muttered.

"What did you do ?"Albus asked.

"I may or may not have accidentally set fire to her Potions notes death night,"John said.

"And I should accept to suffer because of that ?"Albus replied,"How did you manage that anyway ?"

"It was n't an accident,"Matt put in,"John the Evangelist and Kaden were tinkering with those crack strength droppings bombs close Nox in the marauder 's Den. They stupidly decided to do this at the table right where rosebush 's notes were. The dung dud exploded and blush wine 's notes caught fire."

"See, an accident !"John exclaimed.

"No, foolishness,"Matt said,"You should 've done it somewhere else. Oh, Albus, I would n't evoke going in the marauder 's Den anytime soon. It smells."

"I would n't have time to anyway,"Albus muttered,"Quidditch pattern again tonight."

"Oi, Albus !"St. James the Apostle shouted.

"What ?"Albus said.

"Is Dad patrolling here this calendar week ?"James asked.

"I do n't fuck, why ?"Albus replied.

"He 's here,"James pointed to the staff table.

Albus looked up and saw that his dad was talking with Neville. Except he was n't wearing his Auror gown, he was just wearing convention gown. Albus glanced back at James who shrugged.

"May I have your attention ?"Kendrick announced,"Thank you. I just wish to inform you all that Harry Potter has kindly agreed to take over Defense classes for the remnant of term. Because of this, defense year will resume today."

"trade good affair I woke you up,"John grinned.

"Guess you wo n't be able to finish that essay,"Albus shot back.

"merlin,"lavatory muttered.

Albus was n't that surprised, nor did he deal that much. He 'd already had his dad Thatch for two eld and it had n't been bad at all. Plus, his dad was a far better teacher than Balladanis.

Albus walked with Matt and John to defense team. Rose was still not speaking to John and she walked with Amanda and Linda a little ways ahead. Albus seriously hoped that this would n't turn into what happened earlier in the year.

The full class erupted in applause as soon as Harry entered the room and Albus noticed that this caused him to blush. Even Malfoy was clapping, albeit half-heartedly, but he was clapping nonetheless.

"Thanks,"Harry muttered,"wellspring, I did not cogitate I 'd be back here. I do consume to continue with the course of study, so I must ask that you complete the werewolf essay for side by side Thursday. However, it only has to be one fundament of parchment."

There was a collective groan from the entire grade."Great,"John muttered,"I was hoping to get out of it."

"It wo n't be that hard,"flatness rolled his eyes.

"But it 'll be sentence consuming,"lav replied.

"I know, I know,"Harry smirked,"But there is a month and a half of term left and I ca n't just let you have this meter to mess around."

The course of instruction was the most enjoyable Defense course the tierce years had had in quite a while. Harry lectured for the entirety of the class, but it was n't drill. Albus did not mind in the slightest that his dad was going to be finishing out the term.

******

By the fourth dimension Saturday arrived, virtually no one in the castling was talking about professor Balladanis. Quidditch was on the vanguard of everybody 's brain and the tensions ran eminent than they had all twelvemonth. The outcome of this match would square off who played Commonwealth of Australia in the final.

Albus himself was not particularly worried. Hogwarts had already beaten New York once and they could easily do it again. The total squad was in good health and none of the alternates were needed. Albus was perfectly content to sit in the stands with his friends and just ascertain the match, rather than have to play in it.

It was a affectionate leaping day with a little wind and cloud cover version, perfect playing status. Wood had spoke of the weather during the old night 's recitation, telling the squad that a orotund storm had been predicted for that day. Luckily it had not appeared yet.

The match commenced with a lot of shouting and cheering from the gang. Hogwarts scored five goals within the low fifteen minute of the catch and New York scored two. The teams remained neck in neck for the balance of the match, until James pulled out of a dive clutching the fortunate Snitch in his left hand.

The crowd erupted into cheers and James I was soon hoisted onto the shoulders of some of the older students.

"I have an announcement to realise !"professor Kendrick shouted over the crowd,"Due to Hogwarts 's win, they will be competing against Australia in the final Quidditch couple, scheduled to look at place on the first of June !"

The common after Quidditch party ensued in the common elbow room and everyone rehashed their favorite parts of the match. No one talked about the final lucifer, although Albus was indisputable it was in the cover of everyone 's creative thinker. Australia seemed impossible to beat.

Once the exhilaration from another Quidditch win abated, the Hogwarts students seemed to agnise that examination were quite come near. The library soon became a popular place to be and fifth and seventh years in particular proposition could be seen there all minute of the day.

As the middle of May arrived, Gabriella demanded a tranquillity plebeian room in the even, much like her baby had two years prior. Albus and his friend spent more time in the piranha 's Den after that, usually without Rose, Amanda, and Linda. The three girls seemed to like the quietness of the park room.

Rose did forgive St. John the Apostle for messing up her notes, but she became more tense and snappish as exam drew nearer. It was n't something that surprised Albus or anyone else because it had become a sorting of end of full term tradition with Rose.

Defense lessons took a drastic spell for the better. Albus and all of his friends got perfect marks on their wolfman essays, to the surprise of no one. After that, the classes bared no resemblance to Balladanis 's.

"Aw, Merlin !"John shouted at breakfast one Friday in the middle of May. He had been reading the Prophet.

"What is it ?"Albus asked, thinking Balladanis had been reinstated as Defense teacher or something.

"England did n't gain it into the humanity Cup final,"John sighed,"They were so close."

"Who did make it ?"Albus grabbed the newspaper publisher from trick, suddenly remembering the tickets he 'd gotten for Christmas. He had n't picked who he was going to invite to go with him. Actually, he had n't even told his friends about the tickets.

"Portuguese Republic and USSR,"John groaned,"Russia ! They 've got a rubbish Quidditch squad !"

"Obviously not,"rosiness smirked,"Albus, did you pick who you 're going to take when you go to the Cup ?"

"Wait, what ?"can gaped at Albus,"You got just the ticket ?"

"Er, yeah, for Christmastime,"Albus said.

"And you did n't tell me !"John the Divine exclaimed.

"fountainhead, I only got one extra and I did n't know how to piece. I had it narrowed down to you and Matt. Mind you, if you hate Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, I 'll just piece matte,"Albus smirked.

"No, no, I did n't say I hate Soviet Union,"can said quickly,"They 've just got a bad team."

"How am I supposed to peck then ?"Albus asked.

"You do n't have to,"mat said as he sat down next to Albus.

"Nice to see you wake up,"whoremonger grinned. Albus and John had attempted to awake lusterlessness up before they went down to the Great Hall and had no destiny. The full moon was the next day, so Albus had n't even been sure if lustrelessness was going to go to class.

"Why, is the Cup a bad time of the month ?"Albus whispered.

"No,"matt shook his head teacher,"It 's just that my dad got tickets, so you can just throw your superfluous one to John."

"Oh,"Albus grinned,"That makes things easy."

"Where is the Cup ?"Amanda asked.

"Canada,"Rose replied.

"How are we getting there, Albus ?"John the Divine asked,"Are we going to subscribe to a Muggle airplane ?"King John looked excited at that prospect.

"No idea,"Albus shrugged,"Dad might get a Portkey."

"That 's boring,"King John said.

"regard I could go,"Kaden sighed.

"Why, do n't you not like Quidditch ?"John asked.

"It 's ok,"Kaden shrugged,"I just want to try out a Portkey."

"You 're weird, Kaden,"John laughed.

"So are you. Airplanes are boring,"Kaden argued.

"I 'm with Kaden on this one,"lusterlessness said,"I 'd adopt a Portkey any day."

******

Between studying for exams and Quidditch pattern, Albus had no time for anything else. He managed to squeeze in clock time to bring down lustrelessness in the hospital wing on Sunday, but only briefly before he went to Grant Wood 's day long Quidditch practice.

The following weekend was the final match of the Junior 's Dueling Club, something Albus had been forced to fail due to Quidditch practice. After begging Ellen Price Wood and a bit of help from Teddy, Albus was able to attend the final. Albus 's team won, much to the delectation of both Albus and Malfoy.

Albus had not spoken to Malfoy since the incident with prof Balladanis. Nor had Malfoy said a word to Albus, or any of his acquaintance. Malfoy remained mysteriously quiet around the good moon, not saying anything about it to either Albus or Matt. It was unusual, but not something any of the boys were going to complain about it.

Three Clarence Day before the Quidditch final exam, the Great Hall was filled with whispering voices that reminded Albus of the day Balladanis had been sacked. Copies of the Prophet were being passed back and Forth River and quite a few scholarly person looked extremely scared.

"What 's happened ?"Albus asked Rose as he sat down.

"Willinson has broken out of Azkaban,"Rose whispered, her boldness completely white.

"What ? !"Albus shouted as he grabbed the close written matter of the prophesier. lusterlessness and St. John the Apostle crowded around him as he read it.

AZKABAN gaolbreak

Officials have reported that three captive
broke out of Azkaban latterly lastly Night. It is
still unknown how it happened. Azkaban guards
have refused to speak with newsman, and the
Ministry does not bid to discover data
at this time.

The names of the get off captive have been
released and anyone with information reguarding
any of them are asked to reach the Ministry.

The Prophet then gave detailed information about all three of the escaped prisoners. Albus only recognized Willinson. The early two had been imprisoned for more petty crimes.

"How did he get out ?"Albus wondered,"He 's an cretin !"

"I think everyone 's confused about that,"Rose said.

Any hope Albus had of getting homework done that week was gone. He was lucky he was able to digest on Quidditch practice. Willinson was out of Azkaban. He was galavanting about England, doing whatever he pleased. That in itself was not necessarily that bad, due to Willinson 's stupidity. If he somehow met up with his Padre and Washburn, then it could be quite bad.

What worried Albus the most was the fact that he would be after the Hallows, all of which still resided somewhere in or around Hogwarts. Willinson was bound to occur back, especially now that he was out of prison.

******

Before Albus knew it, the dark before the Quidditch final arrived and woods called the squad into the changing way after ending practice.

"It has been incredibly rewarding to manage this squad,"Wood said as he began to footstep in front line of them,"There were difficultness in the beginning,"he paused and looked at the two Slytherins on the team,"But I am proud to say that you came together as a squad wonderfully.

"It still amazes me that a mathematical group of students from all four houses can come together and play together on the Same squad. I am not sure as shooting this could give been done when I was in Hogwarts.

"You have all come a long way over the year. You 've all made vast advance in your accomplishment. Quite a few of you are seventh days and I am very happy to secernate you that there will be sentry from a couple Quidditch squad watching tomorrow 's match. I have high hopes for the lot of you, when it comes to Quidditch.

"I can not say whether we will win tomorrow. Commonwealth of Australia is good, there is no denying that. However, I have faith in all of you. Tomorrow, go out there and give it your best. Now, I think you should all turn in too soon and eat a proper breakfast tomorrow before the match. Teddy, Tyler, anything to add ?"Wood turned to the boys.

Teddy and John Tyler both shook their heads and Wood turned back to the team."I 'll see you all down here tomorrow. Good night."

Wood, Teddy, and Tyler stayed behind to discuss tactics while the team left. Albus and James were the last two to leave. Sakartvelo had left with the former seventh years, excitedly discussing the aspect of scouts.

"You think Georgia 's going to subscribe with one of the professional squad ?"Albus asked James as they walked back to the castle.

"I 'd be surprised if she did n't,"James said,"I just hope it does n't hurt her chances when we lose."

"We might not lose,"Albus pointed out.

"We 're going to lose,"James muttered,"Linda 's too upright of a Seeker."

Albus said nothing. He wished he could just tell apart James that Linda was a lamia. It would be so a great deal easier.

They kept walking, each lost in their own thoughts. Albus stopped abruptly when he heard a loudly crack in the forest.

"What was that ?"he asked anxiously.

"Probably just a subdivision breaking,"James answered.

"It was too garish,"Albus said as he looked into the forest,"It sounded like somebody Apparating in there."

"I do n't call up you can Apparate in the forest,"Saint James pointed out,"And it did n't sound that loud. You 're just tired from all the Quidditch practice."

"I guess,"Albus said as he and King James kept walking,"But what if it was someone Apparating ? What if it was Willinson ?"

"You worry too much, Al,"James groaned,"This place is filled with Aurors and Dad 's here entire time now. You 'd have to be mad to Apparate here if you 're wanted by the Ministry."

"But Willinson is dazed enough to do that,"Albus replied.

"That 's just it,"James laughed,"If he 's stupid enough to do that, he 's going to get capture and sent back to Azkaban."

Albus nodded but he was n't reassured. Willinson may be stupid, but he did make out to kidnap Kaden the previous saltation, and he had been on the run for a class prior to that. He may be a tripe duellist, but he was certainly good at not getting caught for the most part.


A/N : Thanks to my beta, Dancer of Starlight as well as all of the marvellously awesome masses who have read and reviewed this !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


The atm in the Great hallway the adjacent morning was unlike anything Albus had seen before. The Hogwarts team was sitting together at the Ravenclaw board, surrounded by student from all four theater. Teddy and Tyler seemed to be in the midst of it and were loudly discussing tactic.

The Australian team was sitting together at the Hufflepuff mesa, with a heavy aloofness between them and the Hufflepuffs. A lowly crowd of Australian had congregated around them.

Albus decided not to bring together the remainder of the Hogwarts team at the Ravenclaw board. Nobody was unable to play that day, so Albus 's days on the squad were pretty much over. To be honest, he was kind of relieved. There was just so much pressure.

"I think this tournament has been thoroughly for Hogwarts,"Rose mused,"spirit at everyone. Nobody seems to wish who 's in what house."

"It 'll all go back to normal once the match is over,"Albus pointed out.

"Maybe not,"blush wine shrugged,"You never know."

"I do n't know, Rose,"matt said,"I do n't suppose one year can change centuries of tradition."

"It 's worth a try,"Rose said,"I think we should all try and get along."

"I do n't mean this has helped International magical cooperation,"John gestured to the Australian team. The Hufflepuffs sitting nearby were glaring at them.

"Competition rarely does that,"blush wine muttered.

"fountainhead, they 'll all be going home soon,"Matt said cheerfully.

Rose shot him a dirty look and then looked up at the staff table. Albus 's gaze followed. The staff mesa was quite overcrowded that morning. There were lookout from Quidditch team, Ministry officials including Albus 's Uncle Percy, and a mixture of people from Australia and New York.

"feel at that beldame,"John pointed to a very marvellous, beautiful witch with pale Theodore Harold White pelt and long dark hair.

"She 's Linda 's mother,"rosebush told them.

"Is she-"John the Divine began.

"Yes,"pink wine whispered,"She 's one, too."

"I thought so,"John said without taking his eyes off the witch.

There was a loud cheerfulness from the Ravenclaw table and the Hogwarts team began to leave the lobby. Their entourage followed until they reached the door and then they went to sit back down at various tables.

The Australian team followed shortly. The fervor only seemed to increase now that the teams had gone down to the changing rooms.

A few minutes later masses began to depart for the sales talk. The crowd at the faculty table left first and the pupil followed.

"Albus,"St. John said as they got up from the mesa,"I 've got a few pairs of omnioculars in my automobile trunk. I want to see it up close when Linda catches that Snitch."

"Let 's go get them, then,"Albus replied.

rose wine rolled her eyes."sports meeting us down at the pitch."She and Amanda turned towards the door as the boys ran up the august staircase.

"Why did n't you just institute them to breakfast ?"matte asked.

"Forgot,"John said.

The castling was absolutely deserted as they made their way back to Gryffindor Tower. Albus had n't seen it that empty during the day. It was almost disconcerting.

John had to abandon out his entire trunk in ordering to come up the omnioculars. He had four pairs and handed one to each of the boys.

"Let 's go,"Albus said,"We 're going to leave out the start of the match."

Albus completely ignored the no running in the corridors ruler as he made his way through the castle. There was n't anyone to grumble him anyway. The step behind him told him his Quaker were n't far behind.

Albus turned a recess and ran nip into something. He fell down onto his back and looked up, only to see that it was somebody. Not just anyone either. Albus had collided with flatness 's boggart.

Only, it could n't be a boggart because if it had been a boggart, it would have manifested itself into what Albus was most afraid of. At that moment, it probably would own been Willinson.

The man sneered down at Albus and then smiled creepily. Albus scrambled up and turned back to see at his friends.

Matt had turned white and looked far Thomas More afraid than Albus had ever seen him before, including when he had faced the boggart and when Malfoy had found out about his lycanthropy. whoremaster was looking from lustrelessness to the man, an obvious revulsion on his face. Kaden was looking extremely confused.

Albus turned and grabbed all three of his friend, pulling them into the nearest schoolroom. He slammed the room access and pulled out his wand, putting every locking charm he knew onto the knob.

Matt collapsed onto the nearest electric chair and put his head in his paw."Th-th-that's-"

"We know,"Albus whispered.

"What the hell is he doing here ?"John ranted,"He 's got no business here !"

"Why 's he in the palace anyway ?"Albus began to pace around the room,"If he 's here to watch the Quidditch mate, then why is n't he down there ?"

"What if he 's not here to watch the Quidditch ?"can said darkly.

"Who the bloody Scheol is he ?"Kaden asked loudly.

Albus glanced at mat before looking at Kaden. lusterlessness did n't seem to give birth heard Kaden 's question.

"His name 's Lubar. He 's the pass of the department for the rule and control of Magical Creatures in Australia,"Albus explained,"He 's the intellect why Matt had to move here, amongst other things."

"He 's a puke and twisted evil git,"Saint John muttered,"What are we going to do ?"

Albus walked over to the room access and peered out the pocket-size window at the top. Lubar was no longer in sight.

"I 've g-got to go to the Ministry,"matt said,"I 've got to t-tell my dad. L-Lubar, he ca n't be here."

Albus paced back and forth in front of the door. The Ministry. How would they get there ? Brooms ? No, that would take too long. They 'd deliver to use the Floo mesh, but none of the fireplace at Hogwarts were hooked up, as far as Albus knew.

"We 're going to possess to get to Hogsmeade,"Albus said,"You wait here. I 'll get my Cloak and the map. Then we 'll creep into Hogsmeade and Floo to the Ministry."

Matt nodded."You guys do n't consume to fall. You can go to the match."

"Are you mental ?"John exclaimed,"That bloke out there is probably tough than Willinson. We 're not letting you do this alone."

Albus nodded in agreement before waving his wand and undoing the locking spell. He cautiously looked out into the corridor before leaving. It was empty.

Much to Albus 's respite, both the Cloak and the map were right where he 'd leave them. He shoved them into his robe and ran back to the classroom. lustrelessness, trick, and Kaden were all talking quietly. Matt did n't look any less scared, but at least he did n't seem to be in shock anymore.

"We 're not all going to fit underneath it,"Albus said as he unfolded the cloak.

"You three get under it,"John said immediately,"I 'm grandiloquent so I 'll take up the most room anyway. Plus, if we meet up with Lubar again, I 'm the unspoiled liar."

Albus could n't argue there. Both he and Matt were horrible liars and Kaden still had n't gotten over his inability to keep secrets.

"You take the map, then,"Albus handed the map to John,"We 've got to get to the one-eyed witch statue on the third floor.

Albus threw the Cloak over himself, Matt, and Kaden, and the three of them followed john out of the room. The corridor was still vacate, much to Albus 's relief.

toilet set a very fast tempo and he was soon quite a bit ahead of Albus and the others. Albus could n't say anything, though, as it would give away his presence. Instead he tried to run as fast as he could while making the least measure of noise possible.

The male child made it down the two flights of stairs necessity to get to the third floor and arrived at the statue without seeing anyone. Albus pulled the Cloak off of them and overeat it into his pouch. With a quick tap of his wand, he statue 's jut opened and the male child climbed inside.

Albus lit his scepter and took off down the small passageway. lusterlessness, John, and Kaden followed suit.

"Why did Kendrick let him in ?"Gospel According to John asked as they ran,"Does n't he recognise what he did ?"

"Yes,"matt answered,"I do n't think Kendrick knows he 's here."

"What did he do ?"Kaden asked.

"You do n't cerebrate he came here to see you ?"Albus asked lusterlessness,"I mean, remember when Killigan saw us that one time and he seemed so interested in finding you ?"

"Of grade I do,"Matt muttered,"And it really would n't surprise me if that 's why he 's here. But I 'm betting there 's another reason."

"What did he do ?"Kaden repeated, a bit louder.

"Why else would he be here ?"Albus asked,"The match ?"

"Maybe, but I 'm betting it 's got something to do with Linda,"mat replied,"I do n't experience for for certain, but it seems too cooccurring for him to be here just to see me."

"What did he do ?"Kaden shouted,"Why would he want to see you ?"

Matt stopped running and wheeled around to look at Kaden."It 's a long story. Lubar 's got a grudge against my dad, one that he obviously still has even though we have n't lived in Commonwealth of Australia for six years,"Matt paused,"He passed a bunch of laws against werewolves and I wound up having to transform with a caboodle of other lycanthrope. It was bad."

Matt resumed walking and did n't exposit on the subject. Kaden did n't ask him to.

"What 's your dad going to do about it ?"Kaden asked.

"I dunno,"lusterlessness shrugged,"Maybe talk to Kendrick or something."

There was no uncertainty in Albus 's head that flatness 's dad would be able to get Lubar to leave Hogwarts, possibly even leave the country. Albus had known little about Mr. Eckerton prior to this year, but now he knew that you did not want to be on his bad English. When it came down to it, Mr. Eckerton was the one who had Balladanis sacked.

The enactment finally began to rise up until it came to an precipitous stop at a knotty wooden door. Albus pressed his ear to the room access, but heard zilch. He carefully pushed it open, wincing as it creaked.

visual perception nonentity in the storage room beyond, Albus beckoned his friends forward. The room was dimly lit, enough for Albus to see a immense amount of boxes littering the flooring. On the far wall he could see a fireplace.

The son climbed over the assorted boxes and stood in front end of the fireplace. Albus located a low sack of Floo pulverization and then lit a fire. He turned to his friends.

"You ca n't Floo directly into someone 's survey at the Ministry. We 're going to make to go to the Atrium,"Albus told them,"I 'll go first, you follow."Albus took a handful of pulverization and then handed the bag to Matt.

He tossed the powder into the blast and stepped inside, shouting"The Ministry of Magic !"

Albus stumbled out of a different fireplace irregular later. The Atrium was nearly deserted, save for a few star striding towards the lifts, clearly too busy to notice Albus.

lusterlessness landed rather ungracefully on the flooring. He picked himself up, brushing cast ash off his robes.

"Place is deserted,"mat said as he looked around.

"It 's a Saturday,"Albus pointed out,"Does your dad work Saturdays ?"

"Yeah,"matt nodded,"At least mornings."

King John was following to step out of the fire, doing so more elegantly than Matt had. He stood in front end of the blast, staring around at the Atrium. His oculus rested on the Fountain of Magical Brethren.

"This is more image than I imagined,"John said.

"Bloody sin !"Kaden shouted as he fell out of the fire,"This is the Ministry ?"

"Yes,"Matt said quickly,"But we have n't got time to explore. Let 's go."

Albus followed lusterlessness towards the desk in the front of the Atrium. There was an old wizard leafing through a copy of the caviler, oblivious to his surroundings. Albus almost thought they 'd be able-bodied to nobble around him, but he looked up just as they were about to pass.

"Where do you suppose you 're going ?"he asked and then his centre rested on Albus,"Albus Severus Potter. Why are n't you in school ?"

"Er,"Albus began, a little unnerved that the man knew who he was.

flatness stepped in forepart of Albus."We need to go see my dad. He 's the Head of the Department for the regulation and ascendancy of Magical Creatures. It 's kind of an emergency."

"Very well,"the man looked at them oddly,"Put your wands up here."

Albus did as he was told and the others followed suit. They waited impatiently as the old wizard tested their wands and then handed them back. He waved them on towards the lifts.

"What 's the level of that ?"Kaden asked as they waited for a lift.

"So if you murder anyone, they can differentiate whose wand did it,"Albus said bluntly.

"That 's cheerful,"Kaden replied.

Once the raising arrived, the male child piled in and flatness pushed the number four. cypher said anything as the face lifting creaked its way to the fourth floor.

lusterlessness took off at a run down the corridor after they left the lift. Albus had never been to this exceptional level. It looked rather like to the Magical Law Enforcement 's floor, with characterless lot of duplicate threshold on one side.

Matt skidded to a halt in front of the only room access that was single and banged his hand loudly on it. When there was no solution after a few endorsement, he banged again.

"hold your hippogriffs !"called a voice from the inside,"I 'm coming, I'm-"Matt 's dad said as he opened the door.

Mr. Eckerton seemed to freeze at the spate of his son and the other three boys. He gaped at them for a second before shaking his head.

"Matt ?"he asked and rubbed his eyes, as if he thought he was seeing a hallucination,"But, why are n't you in schoolhouse ? How did you get here ? Why are you here ? Albus ? What are you- and Saint John, Kaden ?"

His eyes rested on Matt again."Matt ? What 's untimely ?"

Mr. Eckerton stepped aside and let the son into his study. He shut the door quietly behind them.

The bailiwick reminded Albus of his dad 's. There were large Windows on the side opposite the room access, although the view outside was not real, nor was the gentle rain that was pattering onto it.

There was a large leather covered death chair behind the huge oak desk and a few smaller chairs in front of it. Along the former two rampart were shelves with onus of script. nearly of them were about various magical creatures.

Albus, flatness, and John took the seats that were in front end of the desk while Kaden wandered around the survey looking at matter. Mr. Eckerton leaned against the front of his desk and looked at his son.

"What 's happened ?"he asked quietly.

"L-Lubar,"Matt said in barely more than than a rustling,"He-he 's at Hogwarts."

"What ? !"Mr. Eckerton exclaimed.

"We were on our way to the Quidditch final,"matte said,"A-and we saw him."

"Bloody Inferno !"Mr. Eckerton stood up and slammed his fist loudly against his desk,"Did professor Kendrick allow this ?"

"I do n't know,"flatness replied,"B-but everyone else was at the equal and he was just lurking about the castle."

Mr. Eckerton 's look hardened. He looked just like he had when he talked with Professor Balladanis earlier in the condition."Let 's go, boys,"he said darkly,"I 've got to hold a word with prof Kendrick."

Albus followed Mr. Eckerton out of his study and down towards the lifts. John 's walking speed was nothing compared to Matt 's dad 's. The boy had to run to go on up.

"Where did you Floo from ?"Mr. Eckerton asked once they were in the lift.

"Honeyduke 's,"Albus answered.

"We 'll Floo there now,"Mr. Eckerton replied.

The wizard at the welcome desk looked at them curiously as they rushed towards the open fireplace, but did n't say anything.

Mr. Eckerton handed Albus a bit of Floo gunpowder and gestured for him to go first. Albus stepped into the ardor and shouted,"Honeyduke 's !"

Albus began to gyrate faster and faster. He saw glimpse of masses 's mansion, workshop in Diagon alleyway, and a mixture of other places he did not tell apart. Then, out of one of the open fireplace, came a hand. Everything seemed to slow down, but Albus was n't sure as shooting if it actually did or not.

The hired hand grabbed him. Albus fought against it, but it was too strong. All of a sudden he was laying on a dusty wooden floor, one that was not at all like the one in Honeyduke's.

Albus coughed and stood up. His heart was beating fast. What had happened ? Why was n't he in Honeyduke 's ? Where was he ? Whose hand was that ?

Albus grappled for his wand and shakily held it up. He lit it and looked around the room, seeing no one.

"Nice to see you, Potter,"a cold spokesperson said from behind him.

Albus jumped and turned around. There, crouching side by side to the fireplace with his helping hand inside of it, was Lubar. He looked even more creepy in the dank room than he did in Hogwarts.

The hearth glowed green and Lubar yanked his arm out of it. John came tumbling out of the fervor and scrambled too his understructure, looking about.

Lubar muttered something underneath his breathing time and stuck his hand in the flack again.

"What the ?"whoremaster whispered to Albus,"Where are we ? Is that ? Bloody Hell !"

"Shut up !"Lubar shouted.

Albus gazed around the room. It looked vaguely familiar, but Albus could n't put his finger on it. The windows were boarded up, but it was definitely not the Shrieking Shack. Albus doubted that was connected to the Floo web anyway.

The fireplace glowed common yet again, this time sending Kaden onto the story. This earned another shout from Lubar, who stuck his hand in the fervor again.

Kaden gaped and then got to his feet and stood following to Albus. He looked absolutely terrified, even before he laid eyes on Lubar.

Albus wanted nothing more than to run from the room, but he did not have intercourse where the building was even located. Plus, Lubar would probably stun him or something.

Green light filled the way as the hearth glowed once more. Albus knew even before it happened that matte would be the one to next dusk out of the flames. Mere seconds later, that suspicion was confirmed.

flatness coughed and scrambled to his feet. He gasped when he saw Lubar and ran over to Albus.

Lubar, finally satisfied, doused the fire and lit his verge, which illuminated his sinister face. He began to pace slowly in front of them.

"wellspring, well, you went crying to daddy just as I expected,"Lubar grinned manically,"I do do it when things work out the way I expect them to."

Albus could feel flatness shaking next to him. He gripped his wand hard, debating whether to try and disarm Lubar.

"Any melodic theme where you are ?"Lubar asked,"Dervish and Banges. Lovely workshop, shame about the owner. Yes, a real shame."

Lubar did n't appear at all upset about what happened to the store possessor. Albus looked around the workshop again and now he recognized it.

"Well, let 's not rot our time here,"Lubar said,"There 's a few people who 've been dying to see you."Lubar snapped his fingers three times and Albus heard stride on the stairs.

Three hotshot descended the stairs and strode into the room. They lit their verge at the Sami time and Albus gasped when the lightness showed their faces. Jarrett and Quinton Willinson, along with Washburn. Three people Albus hoped never to see again.

Albus swallowed hard. He could see no way out of this. As good a dueler he was, he was up against four fully qualified wizards. Three of them did not possess the skills to duel, but Albus had no estimation what Lubar was capable of.

"Ah, yes,"Lubar smirked,"What a adorable reunion. Unfortunately we have n't got clock time to chat."

Before Albus knew it, Washburn had him in a headlock with his wand pointed at his cervix. Quinton Willinson had Kaden and his father had can. Matt, seeing his admirer restrained, made a run for the nigh window.

"Not so fast, young werewolf,"Lubar caught him by the back of his gown and wrapped one of his arms around his middle.

Lubar reached into his robe with his free handwriting and pulled out an old tea kettle. He held it out to the former three men and each one put a costless hand on it. Albus knew what was going to happen right before it did. He shared a frightened glimpse with mat before feeling a jerk behind his belly button.


A/N : Thanks to my Beta, Dancer of Starlight, as well as everyone who has read and reviewed this !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry potter.
A/N : I decided to do part of this chapter from Harry 's point of view. It begins in his percentage point of view and then switches back to Albus 's. asterisk indicate where the stop of view switches.


"Spectacular salvage by Georgia Weasley !"the reviewer shouted.

Harry grinned as his niece threw the Quaffle back into play. It was immediately taken into possession by Hogwarts, and all three pursuer threw it back and Forth as they flew to the Australian end of the pitch.

"Score ! Hogwarts has scored against Commonwealth of Australia, bringing the number to 50-20 Hogwarts !"

Harry stood up and shouted as loud as the pupil. One thing he loved about the Quidditch tournament was that he did n't make to try and conceal his excitement when Hogwarts scored. During house compeer, he had to try and pretend he was neutral, even though he obviously supported Gryffindor.

As happy as Harry was about the Hogwarts Chasers being very skilled, he did not have hope that Hogwarts would actually win. Australia 's Seeker, Linda Morales, was the best Seeker Harry had ever seen outside of professional person Quidditch. He knew that his son, St. James the Apostle, was practiced, but he was n't delusional. Linda was brilliant.

There was something odd about her, though, and Harry could n't put his finger on it. Her speed on a broom just did n't look natural. master Quidditch players would drink down for her speed.

"I 'm surprised she has n't found the Snitch yet,"Neville muttered to Harry.

"Yeah,"Harry nodded as he watched Linda slowly circling above the pitch. James was doing the Lapplander,"It 'll be soon, though."

Harry turned his gaze to the sleep of the staff who were sitting around him. Most of them were quite reserved. cypher seemed to be showing the enthusiasm Harry was. He did n't deal. Harry did n't share their notion that instructor could n't get overly excited about Quidditch.

A few professor stood up and then sat back down again as person squeezed their way past them. Harry craned his head and was surprised to see Walter Eckerton.

Harry did n't fuck the man well. They 'd met on occasion at the Ministry, although Harry had a feeling he 'd be seeing Thomas More of him now that he was headspring of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.

What Harry mostly knew about Bruno Walter Eckerton was more on a personal than professional degree. Harry had never met a father who was more protective of his son than Walter Eckerton, although he did have good understanding. Never a more devoted father, either.

Walter continued his way past the other prof until he stopped in front of Harry. Harry was even to a greater extent shocked to see the expression on his side. Worry was etched in every share of his face, bringing out the crinkle, but there was anger in his eyes.

"Walter,"Harry shook his mitt as he stood up,"What 's going on ?"

"Not here,"Walter muttered,"I need a word in private."

Harry told Neville he 'd be aright back and he followed Walter out of the stands. They continued walking until they were a short distance away from the pitch and then Walter stopped.

"The boys have just been to see me at the Ministry,"Walter said as soon as he 'd stopped.

"Wait, what ?"Harry asked,"You mean Albus and matte ?"

"Yes, and the other two as well,"Walter said quickly,"You 've heard of Ralph Lubar, the mind of the department for the Regulation and ascendence of Magical creature in Australia ?"

Harry nodded, slightly confused at the change of theme."Yes, not a very tolerant bloke, is he ?"

Walter 's nerve hardened."That 's a courteous way of putting it. The bloke is brainsick and twisted and he 's got a grudge against me. Very long narrative and I have n't got clip to tell it. short version is that when matt was eight, Lubar passed a law that required him to transform in a building with other wolfman, quondam werewolves. Nearly killed him. It was right before we moved. For whatever ground, Lubar decided to visit Hogwarts today, possibly under the pretense of attending the Quidditch match.

"The boy saw him and Flooed to the Ministry from Honeyduke 's. lusterlessness 's absolutely terrified of him, which is why they came to me. I came back with them. They Flooed before I did, but when I arrived at Honeyduke 's they were n't there. I 've already spoken with the proprietor of the shop as well as a few early Hogsmeade resident physician. No one 's seen them. We 've got to line up them."

Harry 's heart sank."You do n't think Lubar 's got them, do you ? He 's not dangerous, is he ?"

"To Matt, yes, but I have n't the slightest idea as to why he 'd want the former boys,"Bruno Walter said.

"Even if he did only need lusterlessness, he 'd have to get Albus as well because I know Albus would n't let him shoot mat sitting down,"Harry replied, and started walking briskly towards Hogsmeade,"Let 's go. I 'll get every useable Auror on this."

******

Albus tried as hard as he could to reposition himself from Washburn 's grasp as he was Portkeying to who knows where. All Albus knew about the location was that it must be far away. Portkeying is usually mostly instant, but this time there was a significant lag. Albus had time to try and get away, not that it did anything.

The second base clue that their terminus was far away was the fact that it was very sinister when Albus finally landed on the ground. Not dark like an at hand storm either. Dark as in night.

Washburn had let go of Albus as they landed and Albus hastened to get to his foundation. flash thumps around him told him that his booster had landed as well.

The land was damp and tough and the foliage around them was dense. Albus assumed they were in some sort of forest. He gazed around and saw a lot of unfamiliar trees that seemed to load towards the starry sky.

There was no moonlight to enlighten the timberland. Lubar, the Willinsons, and Washburn had walked a few railway yard away from the boy and were whispering to each early. All four had lit their wands, but it was n't enough wand light to give Albus a dear aspect of his surroundings.

lusterlessness, John, and Kaden had all scrambled over to where Albus was and were standing quite close to him, their wands out. Albus pulled his own out as well, but did n't dare promiscuous it.

"Why is it dark ?"Kaden whispered.

"Where the sin are we ?"John asked.

"We 're in Australia,"matt said in awe, as if he was just coming to terms with that fact.

"We Portkeyed across an sea ?"Kaden gasped.

When Albus thought about it, it made signified. Lubar was from Australia, so why should n't he take them there ? It was quite far away from anyone who would be looking for them.

What did n't do sense was why Lubar was with Washburn and the Willinsons. As far as he could tell, the four wizards seemed to be working together, but why ? Lubar lived halfway across the world. How had he met the Willinsons ?

"Is this anywhere near your old house ?"John asked.

"How should I know ?"Matt snapped,"Australia 's a huge body politic !"

"I just thought if we were near it, we could hide there,"Saint John muttered.

"You would n't need to,"mat said,"My stupid cousin-german owns it now."

"You have a cousin-german ?"Albus asked.

"Not significant,"lustrelessness said quickly.

Albus nodded."How are we going to get out of this ?"

"They 're not paying attending,"John whispered, gesturing to where the four sensation stood huddled in a circle,"Maybe if we run for it."

"The Portkey 's right there,"Matt pointed to the tea kettle, which was a few feet away,"If we can just get to it."

"All right,"Albus whispered,"On the counting of three. One ... two ... three."

Albus ran as quietly as he could towards the Porkey. He was about to break up it up when it soared up into the air. Albus looked up and saw Lubar sneering at him, with the Portkey in his hand.

"That wo n't do,"Lubar said as he stowed the Porkey in his cloak. He turned to the other three men."They 're trying to get away."

"What do you look ?"Jarrett said rudely,"There 's four of them ! Do you realize how much more unmanageable this is going to be now ? We only needed Potter ! But no, you had to go and assert on bringing that wolfman kid as well."

"You would n't even have managed this if it were n't for me !"Lubar growled,"So do n't go telling me what I should and should n't receive done."

"fountainhead, now we 've wound up with two extra one as well,"Jarret muttered.

"They 're tyke, how a great deal hassle can they be ?"Lubar smirked.

"You do n't know this lot,"Washburn replied,"They 're the reason we have n't had luck before."

"I thought that was because of your unbelievable folly,"Lubar said.

Albus was very intrigued. Lubar was arguing with them as if he knew them well. Had Lubar really been working with them all along ?

What did they need him for anyway ? What had Willinson meant when he said 'we only needed Potter'?

"Shut it, Lubar,"Jarrett said.

"I 'll say what I like,"Lubar replied,"This is my George Herbert Walker Bush, not yours."

"You own the forest now ?"Jarrett asked.

"As a matter of fact, I do,"Lubar snapped.

"Ministry must be paying you well."

"Indeed they are,"Lubar said and turned to Matt,"So many years have passed. severalize me, what is it like pretending to be something you 're not ?"

To Albus 's surprise, it was toilet and not lustrelessness who went flying at Lubar. Lubar disarmed lav with a indolent wafture of his wand, leaving John stunned in front end of him. It appeared that Lubar was a significantly better dueler than either of the Willinsons or Washburn.

Pocketing john 's sceptre, Lubar turned back to Matt, who was shakily holding his wand up.

"It does n't count what country you 're in,"Lubar seethed,"You 're the same affair no issue where you live. The laws do n't interchange what you are. guess as much as you like, but it wo n't alter a thing."

Now Albus wanted to go after Lubar. The anger was boiling up inside of him and he did n't think he had ever felt more angry in his full life, and that included every skirmish he had had with Scorpio Malfoy. Malfoy was like a fluffy kitten compared to Lubar.

However, Albus held himself back. Gospel According to John was already wandless. It would do them no honorable if Albus got disarmed as well. Something told him to waitress, to hold back until he could trance them off guard.

"What about your Church Father ? I hear he 's the head of the department in Britain now,"Lubar smirked,"Guess it 's just a matter of metre until the same thing happens. You 'll possess to flee again."

Matt was visibly trembling now. Albus wracked his brain, trying to figure out what to do. What could they do ?

"Oh, for Merlin 's sake !"Jarrett strode forward,"How is this helping things ? Did we really risk Portkeying a bunch of kids to Australia just to waste time taunting one of them ?"

"placidity !"Lubar shouted,"I 'll do what I like !"

"alibi me !"Kaden said loudly, turning to Lubar,"But how in the name of Merlin do you get laid them ?"He gestured to the Willinsons and Washburn.

Albus held his breath, waiting for Lubar to put some sort of jinx or jinx on Kaden. Sometimes his full cousin was quite dense. It seemed obvious to Albus that this was a time not to ask questions.

To Albus 's surprisal, Lubar smiled. It was a twisted sorting of smile, but a smile nonetheless.

"I think that 's a fair question,"Lubar said."My cousin married this half-wit,"Lubar pointed at Jarrett.

"You 're married ?"Kaden gaped at Jarrett, causing Albus to groan. Why would n't Kaden just shut up ?

"Not for much yearner,"Jarrett muttered,"Can we please just get on with this ?"

"Patience, cousin,"Lubar said as he began to walk slowly around the other three,"We mus n't do this hastily. precipitation is the reason you three have failed prior to tonight."

Fail at what ? What were they going to do ? The only thing Albus could think of was getting the Hallows, but all three Hallows were in England. If that was their program, they would n't own taken them to Australia.

Albus glanced nervously at Matt, who still looked scared out of his mind. Something was still telling Albus not to try and duel the men. Lubar seemed smart, much smarter than the other three, and that scared Albus more than anything else. There was a big dispute between dueling individual who was fresh and dueling person who was an idiot.

******

The Ministry seemed deserted when Harry and Walter Flooed there a unawares while later. Harry had briefly questioned the owners of Honeyduke 's, but they had not seen any of the boys.

Harry and Walter ran towards the raising at top stop number, not pausing to answering the questioning stare of the fellow at the receive desk. The rise could not go fast enough for the two men. Harry nearly pulled the doors open when they finally arrived at Magical Law Enforcement 's floor.

The Auror office was slightly more lively than the rest of the Ministry, but not much. Three Aurors were inside, two of whom hastily shoved away a tidy sum of Exploding Snap card and stood up upon seeing Harry arrive. The other Auror, a rather short but stocky hag, shoved the Scripture she was reading in the drawer, and joined the other two.

"potter, sir !"the Wiccan said,"We thought you were at Hogwarts today !"

"I was,"Harry said in darkness and explained the situation.

The three Aurors looked unforgiving as they waited for Harry to make them direction.

"Dabney,"Harry turned to the taller of the wizards,"Brighton,"he looked at the witch,"Get started with an extensive lookup of Hogsmeade. I 'm calling in everyone who is n't busy with anything else. Tiburon and Oswald are on obligation in Hogsmeade today, inform them of the situation."

Dabney and Brighton nodded before dashing out of the elbow room. Harry turned to the remaining Auror."Lewster, you will be searching the Forbidden woods as soon as someone else arrives."

Harry pulled out his wand and muttered a turn. An enormous silvery stag flew out of his wand and Harry whispered to it. The Patronus glided out of the room and Harry leaned against the closest desk.

It was n't long before Harry heard step in the corridor. He looked up at the room access just as Ron was running through, followed by half a 12 early Aurors.

"Harry, what 's going on ?"Ron said in a worried tone.

Harry rehashed the integral situation again. Ron 's face paled."What about Rose, was she with them ?"

"No,"Bruno Walter shook his head,"It was just the boys."

"Thank pigeon hawk,"Ron whispered,"But Harry, what about Willinson ? D'you think he 's got anything to do with this ?"

"It 's crossed my mind,"Harry muttered,"But I have n't got a clue as to how Lubar would cognize him."

"With dark wizards, you just never know,"Ron pointed out.

"I know,"Harry nodded,"Ron, lead the hunting of the Forbidden timber. Lewster 's going with you. And submit Daniels and Kathryn Elizabeth Smith with you."

Ron nodded and left the room, followed by Lewster and two early virtuoso. The remaining four Aurors looked to Harry.

"The rest of you can search the palace and grounds. Be distinct. I do not wish well to interrupt the Quidditch match unless it is absolutely requisite,"Harry instructed.

The Aurors left the room and Harry turned to Walter. He slowly shook his head. Why was it always Albus ? This was the third base year he had gotten into trouble. Albus 's years at Hogwarts were reminding Harry dangerously of his own.

"I 'd break go Floo dwelling and distinguish Julie what 's going on,"Walter sighed,"She 's going to descend apart."

Harry nodded as Bruno Walter left the room. Ginny. Harry snapped his forefront up. She was going to be watching the equal, but was going to be late. She 's probably there now, Harry thought. She 'd be looking for him.

Harry slowly left the room. How was he going to tell his married woman that Albus had been kidnapped and he did n't have a clue as to where he was ?

******

"You 're just too afraid to do it !"Jarrett shouted at Lubar,"What could possibly go wrong ? We 're middle across the world from the Aurors that are looking for this lot !"

"Once again you have proved your foolishness,"Lubar replied,"Do you realize who we 've taken halfway across the humanity ? Harry potter 's son ! You have n't a clue as to how things work in the Ministry !

"I can assure you that at this very here and now, the integral Auror Department is looking for them. Harry Potter 's probably got every Auror on this instance. It wo n't take them long to take in that we 're not in England.

"And this one,"Lubar gestured to Matt,"He 's got the most meddling parents in the existence. They 'd sooner kill everyone in the earthly concern before letting something happen to him. Very irritating. They wo n't rest until they find him. Not to mention the fact that he 's the son of a Ministry functionary. We 've got two kids of two of the most prominent Ministry official of United Kingdom. Think, Jarrett, think ! We 've got to be careful !"

"fountainhead, you 're the one who wanted to charter the werewolf, too,"Jarrett growled.

"And you 're the one who insisted we take Potter 's son !"Lubar shouted,"Why do we even need him ?"

"We just do !"Jarrett shouted back.

"If both of you idiots had n't wanted to contribute the Thomas Kid, we could 've done this unanimous thing without the Ministry finding out,"Washburn cut in.

"Shut up !"Lubar and Jarrett said at the same time.

Maybe if they kept arguing, they would n't have a probability to do whatever it was they wanted to do before the Aurors found them, Albus thought. He could only desire that the thaumaturge would have enough to argue about.

"Are we going to do it here ?"Jarrett asked,"Or go to the house ?"

"Have you learned null ?"Lubar shouted,"When they find out that we 're here, the get-go place they 'll look is the house."

"Got any dependable idea ?"Jarrett seethed,"Have you got a confidential little shack somewhere in this nation ?"

"No,"Lubar snapped,"We 're taking them to the outback. pile of lieu to hide, not very inhabited. Perfect place."

Before Albus could even mull running away, Jarrett had his arm in a vice suitcase again. Matt was once again in the grip of Lubar, and John and Kaden were both caught by the Willinsons.

Albus knew very petty about the Aussie outback, just that it was n't suitable for lots human habitation. However, the one objet d'art of information he did know about it was that it was where most of the dementors that used to hold Azkaban had gone. That, and it was a somewhat popular place for vampires.

Lubar and Jarrett had stopped bickering. Albus had two bit to realize what was happening before he felt the familiar but unpleasant sensation of side-along Apparition.


A/N : Thanks to my beta, Dancer of Starlight, as well as all of the amazing mass who have read and reviewed this !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.
A/N : Like the previous chapter, this one goes back and forth between Albus 's and Harry 's perspectives.


Albus stumbled as he landed, breaking barren of Jarrett 's grasp. He tripped over a rock and landed cheek first in the backbone. Spitting the grittiness out of his mouth, he stood up and glanced around.

It was still far too dark to see anything but the outline of mountains in the aloofness. The outback seemed very empty and very tranquil. There was a very small clump of bushes and trees nearby, but besides that, Albus did not see very much else in the way of flora lifespan.

Albus immediately knew why Lubar had taken them there. He had never been in such a deserted place in his biography. There was absolutely nothing around them. Even if Albus had decided to run away, he would n't have gotten very far. As unsafe as staying with Lubar was, Albus knew he would have no prospect of surviving if he ran off into the outback.

Lubar seemed to eff that Albus and the others would n't run away. He neglected to use any sorting of ropes to tie them up or put any tour around them. Instead, he walked a short distance in the direction of the mountains and gestured for the Willinsons and Washburn to follow them.

"What are we going to do ?"John seethed,"Has anyone got any musical theme where we are ?"

"The outback 's huge,"Matt replied,"I bet we 're compensate in the center of it. The approximate civilization 's probably mi away."

"So we 're done for,"John groaned,"What do they even want with us anyway ?"

"No thought,"Albus said,"But if they keep arguing, we might not cause to chance out."

"Do you really think your pappa are going to be able to chance us ?"John asked skeptically.

"Lubar 's right wing,"Albus said,"The whole Ministry 's going to be looking. I think they 'll find us."

"Does stuff like this happen every twelvemonth ?"Kaden asked,"I mean, last year I got kidnapped by Willinson and now we all were. What 'll occur next year ?"

"Hopefully nothing,"Albus said.

"If there is a next year,"John muttered.

"Shut up over there !"Lubar shouted as he walked back over to the son,"I did n't tell you to let the cat out of the bag !"

"Lubar !"Jarrett seethed as he pointed to someplace in the distance,"There 's people gathering over there ! We 've got to go somewhere else !"

Albus looked towards where Jarrett was pointing and his affectionateness leapt a bit. There was a small gathering of figures a few yards away. Could his dad have found them already ?

"Calm down,"Lubar said,"They 're just vampires. They wo n't put out us. I know that coven. They know wagerer than to mess with me. I 'll make lifetime pretty miserable for them if they do."

"carving mess with lamia now ?"Jarrett asked.

"Proving to be helpful, is n't it ?"Lubar answered.

Albus 's promise sank once again. Lubar seemed more confusing than ever. He cut deals for vampires but passed restrictive laws on loup-garou ? It did n't ready sense.

The men lowered their articulation again and Albus wished he had a few extendible spike with him. He did n't dare sing to his friends, just sent them anxious glance every now and then.

A cold air current blew over them and Albus shivered. It was the kind of low temperature that chilled him to the os. Hoping that it was n't going to rain, or C. P. Snow ( was n't it winter in Australia ? ), he looked to the sky. There were no clouds, but what Albus saw was much worse than clouds.

Five or six cloaked figures were slowly circling above them. Although he had never before seen one, Albus recognized them as dementors immediately. Despite the dark, Albus could clearly micturate out their phase. As they got closer, he could even hear their rale breath.

The world in battlefront of him began to swim. He felt like he was going to occur out, but he knew it was just the dementors sucking all the happiness out of him. Albus was left with all his unhappy thoughts.

His dad was n't going to recover them. They would be stuck on the Australian outback until Lubar and the others did what they were going to do. Then who knew what would happen ?

"No, no, no !"Matt shouted.

Albus squeezed his heart shut and then opened them, forcing himself to search towards his friend. Matt was kneeling on the ground, shaking violently. Both John and Kaden were looking at him anxiously, neither seeming to be that affected by the dementors.

Of course the dementors would pretend Matt the worst. He had gone through things that Albus, John, and Kaden could n't even imagine. It probably did n't help oneself that Lubar was actually present, either.

Without even thinking, Albus pulled his wand out of his gown. He 'd try the conjuration for the Patronus charm before and figured it was worth a shot. What else could he do besides try ?

"Expecto Patronum !"Albus shouted, pointing his scepter at the sky. null happened.

A well-chosen thought ! How could he have forgotten that ? It was difficult to consider of one with dementors flying over heard and listening to matt shouting on the ground.

When the Sorting Hat put him in Gryffindor ! Albus pointed his scepter to the sky again."Expecto Patronum ! Expecto Patronum !"

Albus kept shouting the incantation while using various well-chosen retentiveness. cipher was happening, but Matt 's shouting was decreasing. Then it stopped. Albus stopped and looked towards the soil. It looked like Matt had passed out.

Thinking of the day Balladanis had been sacked, Albus pointed his wand at the dementors once again."Expecto Patronum !"he shouted.

A silvery blob exploded from his scepter and went after the dementors. Albus stood shocked for a few seconds. He had form of done a Patronus appeal !

"Bloody the pits,"John whispered.

"Expecto Patronum !"someone shouted from the distance.

Albus looked up and saw Lubar running play at them with his baton pointed at the dementors. A silvery squirrel was floating ahead of him and the dementors scattered as it reached them.

Albus 's foggy brain immediately cleared and the happiness returned. He quickly stowed his sceptre in his robes before Lubar thought to disarm him.

"leave of absence him,"Lubar growled at toilet and Kaden, who were bent to the ground trying to get Matt to wake up up.

"Dementors !"Washburn shouted sarcastically,"This was a blooming brilliant place to come."

Lubar paid no attention to Washburn 's comment. His eyes were focused on Albus and he was giving him a very rum look. Albus took a nervous step back, but Lubar did not head off his gaze. Albus immediately closed his mind.

******

"potter, sir !"

Harry, who had been walking up High Street in Hogsmeade with Ginny, turned around and saw Lewster striding towards him. Harry stopped, hoping he had some soundly news.

"What is it, Lewster ?"Harry asked.

"Just talked to a few of the Centaurus,"Lewster said,"They saw three wizards in the forest a few hr ago. They recognized one of them as Washburn."

"I 'd bet my conclusion Galleon the other two were the Willinsons,"Harry replied,"Did the centaurs know anything else ?"

"Just that Washburn and the others were looking for something. Apparently they were scouring the timber floor for something,"Lewster answered.

Harry nodded. That did n't surprise him. The Christ's Resurrection Oliver Stone was someplace in the forest."Did you see anything ?"

"No,"Lewster shook his head,"And the Centaur are pretty sure they 've left."

"Very well,"Harry said,"See what else you can find out."

Lewster left and Harry turned to Ginny, who looked afraid.

"Harry, you do n't suppose that Washburn is with Lubar, do you ?"Ginny asked.

"There 's no question in my judgment,"Harry answered,"It 's just a subject of finding them. mind, I 've got to go search Dervish and Banges. I 've got this intuition about the situation. Seems like the arrant place for Washburn to subscribe them."

Ginny nodded."I 'll go charm the end of the compeer. I wo n't name anything to James and Lily yet."

"Good,"Harry said,"I 'll be in touch soon."He kissed her lightly on the forehead."We 're going to find him."

"I know,"Ginny replied softly,"Stay safe."

Ginny turned around to walk back to the Hogwarts ground while Harry picked up the pace and walked the short distance to Dervish and Banges.

The construction looked utterly abandoned. The windows were still boarded up, the grass overgrown around it. It certainly did n't bet like anyone was hiding inside, but Harry had to check.

Pulling out his wand, he crept cautiously to the threshold. He carefully pulled the display board off of it and quietly wrenched the door open air. Without lighting his sceptre, he walked inside.

The place had the odor of a Holocene fervour in the fireplace. mortal had been there. However, there was not a audio from anywhere in the building. Harry lit his scepter and saw that it was deserted.

After a thorough check of the full construction, in which Harry found no living wight, he returned to the main room. The fireplace was filled with nearly numb ember and there was a small peck of Floo powder spilled out onto the floor.

The Floo had been used recently. Harry bent down and muttered an incantation that would tell him where the live on mortal to use the fireplace had Flooed from. He waited for the incantation to work, his heart buffeting.

Soft red smoke emitted from his scepter, curling together to form the Son 'Ministry of legerdemain .'Harry breathed a sigh of relief. He was getting somewhere. Without hardly a doubt, Harry knew that Albus and the other son had wound up in Dervish and Banges after going to the Ministry. The exclusively question was, where had they gone after that ?

******

"How old are you, Potter ?"Lubar asked.

"Thirteen,"Albus replied, still a bit anxious as to why Lubar was looking at him like that. It reminded him of how Balladanis had looked at him during the second dueling tournament.

"And they teach the Patronus Charm to thirteen-year-olds at Hogwarts ?"Lubar replied.

"No,"Albus shook his head, although when he thought about it, Balladanis may birth taught him and Malfoy Patronuses if he had n't gotten sacked."That was the first time I 'd tried it."

"Very intriguing,"Lubar said as he turned to the other three men,"This lot did n't tell me you were skilled at defensive magic."

"You never asked,"Jarrett muttered,"But is Potter 's aptitude for Patronuses really relevant to what we 're doing ?"

"It matters if they decide to try and hex us !"Lubar snapped,"I think it might be best if they 're all wandless."

Albus gulped and clenched his wand harder. He glanced at flatness, who was still unconscious. whoremaster did n't have his wand. Kaden was n't very good at dueling. It would be up to him, to Albus, if this came to a duel.

"The solitary one who 's got any science is Potter,"Jarrett said,"The other three are n't going to be difficult."

"amercement,"Lubar muttered,"We 'll get started, but I need to verbalize to you three away from them first."

Jarrett nodded and the men walked a few thou away and began whispering too quietly for Albus to hear.

Albus bent down to where Matt had collapsed, wishing he knew a healing spell or two."matte, matt,"he whispered,"Wake Island up."

After a minute or two, matt 's middle fluttered afford and he sat up."What happened ?"he asked, looking around confusedly.

"You passed out,"Albus told him,"When the dementors were here."

"But Albus cast a Patronus !"John said excitedly.

"You what ?"Matt gaped at him.

"It was just silvery mist,"Albus told him,"Lubar 's actually the one who got rid of them."

"Probably just for his interest,"Matt shuddered,"Did anyone else pass out ?"The early three boys shook their heads."image,"flatness muttered.

"You need some chocolate or something,"Albus said,"Anyone got some ?"

"Might,"Kaden began fishing around in his air hole. He produced a chocolate frog and handed it to Matt, who took it without saying a word.

"Listen,"Albus said,"Whatever it is that they want to do here, they 're doing it soon. Do you call up you can get up ?"

Matt nodded and Albus helped him to his groundwork. Lubar and the others were walking towards them again. Albus slowly pulled his wand out of his robes and held it to his face, hiding it partially behind his back.

Lubar conjured a wad of wood and set flack to it, illuminating himself, Washburn, the Willinsons, and the boys. Albus was now clearly able to see the twisted look on Lubar 's font.

"Are you mad ?"Jarrett seethed,"flaming 's going to draw tending !"

Lubar laughed."ardor 's going to ensure that those lamia stay away and we 've got to see what we 're doing !"

Albus glanced towards where the lamia had been congregating. They were currently walking farther away from Albus and the others. Thinking back to Linda 's boggart, he remembered that vampire are destroyed by fire. Albus turned back to the men.

Jarrett was holding something out in his hand, but Albus could n't score out what it was. Jarrett, along with Quinton and Washburn, looked quite excited. Lubar looked mildly annoyed and impatient.

"Do you live what this is, ceramicist ?"Jarrett asked gleefully.

"No,"Albus said, trying not to vocalise too nervous.

"It 's the Resurrection Stone,"Jarrett answered.

Albus could hardly hold in his pant as he peered cheeseparing at Jarrett 's outstretched deal. There was a very modest stone sitting in it. The Christ's Resurrection Lucy Stone. One of the Deathly Hallows. Jarrett had finally succeeded in getting one of the three objective he had been after for days. But how ?

"How ?"Albus asked, trying to go confident.

"Ancient magic is a beautiful thing, ceramist,"Jarrett answered,"There are long forgotten spells, spells that body of work very nicely with tenacious blank out sorcerous physical object such as this Stone. It was merely a topic of finding the correct piece, getting to the Forbidden Forest, and putting it to use. Quite round-eyed now that I look back on it."

"Only because you did n't do any of the work,"Lubar muttered,"It was I who found the spell !"

"The former Hallows will shew to be promiscuous to hold with the avail of this,"Jarrett went on, ignoring Lubar 's mutterings.

Albus did not like the sound of that. The Stone itself did one affair and that was bring back the spirits of people who had passed on. How would that help oneself Jarrett get the other Hallows ?

The invisibility Cloak. Albus 's venter plummeted. It was still in his gown. He really hoped Jarrett would n't realize that.

"Another thing that I thought of !"Lubar seethed.

"You think this lot cares who did what ?"Jarrett laughed.

"Oh, just get on with it,"Washburn rolled his eyes.

Jarrett sidestepped past the fire and strode closer to Albus. Albus took a step back as his heart started beating faster. He had a very bad feeling about what Jarrett was going to do with that Stone.

"Ah, yes, potter. You should be afraid,"Jarrett 's gaze swept over all four male child,"You should all be afraid."

"Quit taunting them and just do it,"Washburn said impatiently.

"With this Stone,"Jarrett said a bit louder,"I will get back Jehovah Voldemort."

******

Harry burst out of Dervish and Banges, not caring that he had blasted the door completely off its hinge as he did so. He had to witness Walter. He had to retrieve Walter and then go to the Ministry. The fireplace did not show signs that it had been used to Floo away from the abandoned shop. That left either Apparition or a Portkey, both of which would take in left suggestion that he 'd take the section of Magical transportation system for.

Harry rounded a corner as he ran towards Honeyduke 's and nearly ran headlong into a witch. He stepped back and saw it was Ginny. She wore a strange look of mix-up and electric shock, mixed with mix fear.

"Ginny,"Harry said,"Sorry."

"Not a problem,"she said quickly,"Have you found anything ?"

"Yes,"Harry answered,"Is the match over ? How badly did we lose by ?"

"Only a hundred points,"Ginny said,"But we might not ingest actually lost. Listen, did you know Australia 's quester is a vampire ?"

"hold, what ?"Harry gaped at her, trying to wrap his mind around that fact while still focusing his head on Albus.

"I 'll explicate after we 've found Albus,"Ginny said.

"rightfulness,"Harry agreed,"I 've got a lead. Someone was in Dervish and Banges. They Flooed there from the Ministry ; I 'm indisputable it was Al and the others. I 've got to line up Walter and go to the Ministry. I 'm not sure where that will lead us, but I might not be back for a while."

"Just be careful,"Ginny said as she gave him a candy kiss,"And bring him back."

"I will,"Harry said as he kissed her back,"I 'll see you soon."

"Harry !"

Harry turned and saw Walter striding out of Honeyduke 's. With one concluding flavour at Ginny, Harry met Bruno Walter half-way.

"We 've got to get to the Ministry,"Harry said immediately, and explained about what he had found at Dervish and Banges and what Lewster had learned from the centaurs.

Bruno Walter nodded and the two men Disapparated on the spot. They reappeared a little while later in a minor phantom chamber in the Ministry.

Passing the bemused looking security guard duty for the thirdly fourth dimension that day, Harry and Walter ran to the lifts. Neither of them said a intelligence as the ski tow clattered to the department of Magical Transportation.

The section was nearly deserted, save for one very bored looking witch sitting at a desk.

"Mr. thrower, Mr. Eckerton !"she exclaimed as she took her feet off the desk,"Something I can do for you ?"

"Yes,"Harry answered,"I need to know if anyone 's Disapparated from Dervish and Banges in Hogsmeade. Or used a Portkey from that same location. And if you 're able to, I need to know where they went."

"Of course, Mr. ceramist, of course,"the witch said as she got up. She disappeared into another room, shutting the door behind her.

Harry sighed and sat down on the good chair. Walter sat down in the adjacent one, looking thoroughly miserable.

"We 'll find them,"Harry said quietly.

"I do n't doubt that,"Walter replied,"However, that is not the only thing I am worried about. The last time matt had an fracas with Ralph Lubar, he wound up in therapy for month afterwards."

Harry was not expecting that. He did not acknowledge much about therapy, except that virtuoso did not normally use it. Whatever had happened, it must have been bad.

"Do you mind if I ask what happened ?"Harry asked, not trusted if he was overstepping some kind of boundary.

Bruno Walter did not speak for several minute."It 's ok,"Harry said,"You do n't have to explain."

"I will,"Walter said quietly,"Shortly after mat was bitten, I became the mind of the Department for the Regulation and mastery of Magical animate being in Commonwealth of Australia. cipher outside of the department knew about his condition, of course of study. Ralph Lubar was given my former position of headspring of the werewolf Control unit, and was quite jealous that I was given the head word position. He could not get over the fact that I was given it, even when my own son had lycanthropy.

"It was a grudge he held against me for many years, until the day finally came when he cracked and let it slip that matt was a wolfman. A bit of legislation had been passed that required all piazza of transformation be inspected by the Ministry. Lubar inspected Matt 's and it failed on a trifle. Ministry centers were set up for werewolves to transform in, together. Matt was required by law to transubstantiate there since his good room did not pass. I refused to sustain him transform there. The papers were all over it. I lost my job. Lubar was appointed to the Head position.

"to a greater extent legislating was passed. A law that stated that Ministry functionary could physically storm werewolves into the transmutation centre. On the day of the wide moonshine, Lubar Flooed into our mansion and took matt to the centerfield. By the prison term I figured out which meat it was, the moon had risen. It was too late.

"lustrelessness spent hebdomad in St. Mungo 's. By that time we were nearly ready to displace here. He was so traumatized, it took calendar month for him to get over it. To be honest, I do n't imagine he 's fully over it.

"The only reason Lubar did it was to try and get to me. That 's why he 's so ill and twisted,"Walter finished as he put his head in his handwriting,"I swore I 'd never let him near lusterlessness again. Swore I 'd kill him if he went near matte again.

Walter gave an odd kind of laugh."Listen to me, I 'm telling the Head of the Auror department that I 'd commit murder."

"Just so long as you do n't actually do it when we go save the boys,"Harry said, still processing what Bruno Walter had told him. It certainly explained a lot- why they were so reluctant to let mat out of their pile, why they were n't on the Floo Network.

One thing that Harry could tell was that Walter blamed himself for everything that had happened. Honestly, Harry was n't surprised. If something like that had happened to James River, Albus, or Lily, he would 've blamed himself, too.

"That was n't your fault,"Harry said quietly,"And this is n't either."

"If I had just Flooed ahead of the boys-"

"It would n't have mattered,"Harry interrupted,"And it 'll do no dependable to dwell on it now. It 's in the past."

"That 's exactly what my blood brother said when matte was in St. Mungo 's,"Walter said wryly.

"Mr. Potter !"the witch came bustling out of the room she had gone into, brandishing a man of sheepskin, which she handed to Harry.

Harry stood up as she handed them the parchment. His eye scanned the lambskin. Portkeys. Four Portkeys had left Dervish and Banges a few short hour ago. That in itself did not shock Harry, especially compared to where the Portkeys had gone.

"Australia,"Harry read as he turned to Bruno Walter, who had visibly paled at the Good Book,"They 're in Australia."


A/N : Thanks to my beta, Dancer of Starlight as well as all of the awe-inspiring people who have read and left such lovely followup !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.
A/N : Like the previous chapters, this one is also split between Albus and Harry 's perspectives.


Never had Albus wished so tough that he could Apparate. Why did you have to be seventeen to get your Apparition permit anyway ? If he ever worked in the Department of Magical fare, he would change that law. specter would 've enabled him to get out of Australia, away from Jarrett Willinson, who was trying to bring back nobleman Voldemort with the Resurrection Stone.

Albus could not call back being more scared in his life. This was far worse than when he had dueled Washburn on the Hogwarts grounds two long time ago, far worse than when Quinton kidnapped Kaden the previous year. Lord Voldemort was far scarier than Lubar, Washburn, and the Willinsons combined.

What would Voldemort look like when Jarrett brought him back ? Harry had said the endocarp could n't actually bring people back to life. Albus guessed he 'd be more like a touch. But would he be able to do magic, to execute the curses and curse he did when he was alive ?

Albus held his breathing space as he watched Jarrett turn the stone over in his hands. Albus had no idea how it worked, but judging by how quiet all of the adult were, Jarrett was trying to use it.

Over and over again Jarrett turned the pit. He did it for so long that Albus had to let out his breathing time. The excited gleaming on Jarrett 's face slowly dissipated until it was replaced by frustration.

"Why wo n't it work ?"Jarrett shouted,"Are you overconfident this is the right Stone ?"

"Of course I am !"Lubar shouted as he grabbed the endocarp,"The spell said it was !"

"wellspring, it 's not working now, is it ?"Jarrett mocked.

Albus breathed a sigh of relief. Either they had the amiss Lucy Stone or for whatever ground, Voldemort could n't be brought back with it. Albus was hoping for the former.

Lubar turned the Harlan Fisk Stone over in his hands. On the third bout, a strange sort of mist appeared in figurehead of him. Albus 's affection sped up. It had worked.

The mist began to clear and a shape was standing in front of Lubar. The digit was not Lord Voldemort, though. Albus had no idea who had been resurrected, but it certainly was not Voldemort. This person was a adult female, and a short one at that.

Washburn and the Willinsons were exchanging peculiar glances. Lubar, however, was staring directly at the figure, his aspect contorted with something Albus could only put on was sadness.

"M-mother ?"Lubar said as he stepped closer to the woman.

"You idiot !"Jarrett shouted,"That 's not Voldemort !"

"I know that !"Lubar snapped and the looked back to the cleaning woman, who was apparently his mother,"Mum."

"Ralphy,"the woman replied.

"I-it 's been so long,"Lubar whispered.

Albus turned to his friends, who were all staring in confusion at Lubar. Matt in particular was giving Lubar a very foreign look. Apparently the stone was the resurrection Stone and it did indeed work, just not in the way Jarrett had been planning.

"Very long,"Lubar 's mother agreed,"But you 've done well. I 'm very lofty of you, son."

Albus had to wrap up his lip to hide his snort. What kind of mother could be proud of what Lubar had done ?

"I 've tried,"Lubar said,"I swore I would after, after what happened."

"You have,"Lubar 's mum replied,"You 've done me proud."

"Oh for Merlin 's sake !"Jarrett shouted as he ran towards Lubar.

Lubar seemed to have forgotten that there were other people around. He jumped as Jarrett advanced and Jarrett grabbed the I. F. Stone out of his hand.

Lubar 's mother began to blow over as soon as Jarrett took the stone. Running towards her, Lubar held out his hands trying to keep her there.

"No !"he shouted,"Mum !"

Mere seconds after Lubar 's female parent completely disappeared, Lubar had his verge out and was holding it up at Jarrett. Jarrett had taken out his own wand, but neither man was hurling jonah. Washburn and Quinton had taken a few steps back.

"You arse !"Lubar shouted,"That was my mother !"

"I know !"Jarrett replied,"That 's why I did it ! We 're trying to impart back Voldemort here, not your messed up mum !"

"Do not insult my female parent,"Lubar seethed and flicked his wand.

Jarrett fell to the ground, completely ineffective to move. Lubar stood over him with his scepter directed at his chest.

"My mother was a lovely person,"Lubar growled,"You 're nauseous to be speaking ill of the dead like that."

Albus did n't really think Lubar should be talking about who is sick and who is n't. Nor did he think his mother was particularly lovely. Never before had Albus thought he 'd concord with Jarrett Willinson on anything, but when it came to Lubar 's mother, he did.

"Better they hex each other than us, right ?"John muttered.

"goodness point,"Albus replied.

"Can we please just get back to bringing back Voldemort ?"Washburn drawled loudly,"I was under the impression that that 's what we were here for, not to insult each other 's mothers."

Lubar turned his wand on Washburn."Have you anything to say about my mother ? Well, do you ?"

Washburn hastily pulled out his own wand."Er, no, she seemed quite lovely."

"Good,"Lubar said manically,"Keep it that way, or you 'll end up like him."Lubar gestured to Jarrett, who was still laying paralyzed on the ground, his center darting about nervously.

******

"Australia,"Walter said weakly,"Bloody hell."

"I 'll need you to replicate that Portkey,"Harry said to the Wiccan, who nodded and left the room again.

"Bruno Walter,"Harry began,"I am nearly one hundred percent sure that Jarrett and Quinton Willinson, as well as Jameson Washburn are working with Lubar. I am nearly positive that they are with the boys in Australia."

"Right,"Walter agreed,"The evidence surely points that way."

"There is something about that investigation that hardly anyone in the Ministry knows,"Harry lowered his vox,"Nearly a year ago, after Quinton was sent to Azkaban, the Ministry decided that the Auror Department needed some service with capturing the former two. The Minister hired a Presuler."

Walter let out a low pennywhistle and then realization dawned on his face."time lag, you do n't mean-"

"Tethys Balladanis,"Harry said quietly,"Yes, he was the Presuler the Ministry hired. Stationed at Hogwarts under the pretense of teaching defense mechanism Against the Dark Arts."

"Bad idea on the minister 's part,"Walter muttered.

"It was my melodic theme to post him at Hogwarts,"Harry replied,"But I did not know that he would be such an awful teacher."

"I wo n't hold it against you,"Walter said.

"I appreciate that,"Harry said,"However, since Balladanis is a part of this investigation, I have to contact him and he will have to go with us to Commonwealth of Australia. I understand that you have had your differences, but-"

"If he helps to find Matt, I will forgive him for everything he 's done,"Walter interrupted.

"Here you are, Mr. Potter, Mr. Eckerton,"the beldame returned holding a deformed charge card container, which she handed to Harry."If I can be of anymore assistance, let me know."

"That 's it for now,"Harry said as he took the container,"Thanks."

******

Albus stood immobilise as the four men dueled each other. completely unsure of what to do, yet very well-chosen that they seemed to get momentarily forgotten about the boys, Albus just stood there watching. Matt, John, and Kaden did the same, although John looked more than a bit discerning, most belike due to his want of a wand.

Washburn had attempted to assume the gemstone from Lubar, who had taken it back from Jarrett, shortly after Lubar had stunned Jarrett. Apparently Lubar did not take kindly to this and bewitch Washburn. In the bastardly time, the lulu had worn off Jarrett and he attempted to hex Lubar.

All four men were running around, throwing curse at each other while dodging the fire. Albus was form of hoping one of them would misstep and burn their subdivision or something. Or even upright, maybe one or more of them would drop their baton into the fire.

Washburn and the Willinsons were definitely worse for wear. All three of them were sporting trauma. Both Willinsons were limping and Washburn 's left arm was being held at an odd angle.

Lubar seemed finely and even though it appeared that the early three were siding against him, he was coming off better. Albus had to intromit that he was very skilled at dueling.

Lubar shot a jet of red brightness level at Washburn, who went flying over the fervor and landed with a sickening thud in movement of the male child. He did not move. Albus looked down and saw a diminished stone next to Washburn 's forefront. He bent and picked it up. It was the Christ's Resurrection Stone.

Albus stood up and jumped back. Lubar, Jarrett, and Quinton had all advanced towards him. Three sceptre were pointed at his bureau, being held by three hoi polloi with maniac gleam in their eyes.

Albus gulped and held up his own sceptre, his arm palpitation slightly. Matt and Kaden had done the Same. John tried to hide out behind lustrelessness, but was unsuccessful since he was a undecomposed pass taller than him.

"Hand it over, ceramist,"Lubar growled.

With a defiant look at Lubar, Albus hastily shoved the Stone into the pocket of his robes and held his wand up higher.

******

"Balladanis."

"Eckerton."

Harry watched as the two men stared at each former. Balladanis had Flooed to the Ministry shortly after receiving Harry 's Patronus. Harry had filled him in on what was going on, but the man had n't taken his eyes off of Walter the entire metre.

"We have n't got time for this,"Harry muttered and held out the charge plate container,"Let 's just go."

Walter agreed immediately and laid his hand on the Portkey. Balladanis did so as well, with a little hesitation.

With a familiar jerk behind his naval, Harry disappeared from the Ministry. The Portkey misstep was a bit longer than ones Harry was used to, but it did n't surprise him since he knew they were going to Australia.

Harry landed softly on his understructure and held out his wand as he adjusted to the surroundings. It was pitch black and after he lit his scepter, Harry knew they were in the middle of a forest.

The wood was disappointingly quiet down. The only sounds were those of animate being and the occasional whispering of trees, brought about by the wind instrument. Not a single sound caused Harry to believe that there were people about, let alone his son.

"ranch out and search,"Harry announced. The place may seem deserted, but Albus and the others had been there at some full stop. They had Portkeyed there.

None of the wizards said a word as they combed the orbit. Harry left no stone unturned as he looked for the smallest trace of evidence of where his son had gone. If only it was n't dark. Wands did n't provide nearly enough light.

There seemed to be not a trace of anything that showed anyone had been in that sphere of the forest, let alone where they had gone afterwards. Ralph Lubar was good at this, that was for sure. Harry swore as he returned to the Same place he had started from.

Walter returned a few hour later, looking even more anxious than he did before."Nothing,"he muttered,"Not a rip piece of cloak or a exclusive Knut. They did n't stay here long."

Harry groaned and scuffed the ground with his horseshoe. He and Walter stood quietly as they waited for Balladanis to return.

Balladanis came running towards Harry holding a small metallic element legal instrument in his bridge player and an foreign sort of commove smirk on his case. He skidded to a stop in front of Harry, holding out the instrument. Harry recognized it as an apparition sensor. They were quite rarefied. The British Ministry only owned one, for the entire Ministry.

"They 've Disapparated,"Balladanis said hurriedly.

"Obviously,"Walter muttered,"Any idea where ?"

"A general idea, yes,"Balladanis replied, ignoring Bruno Walter 's sarcastic tone,"They 're on the outback."

"The outback ?"Walter gasped,"Dammit, there 's dementors out there !"

"I am cognisant,"Balladanis said.

"Let 's go, then,"Harry said, placing one of his helping hand on the metal instrument. It would be able-bodied to guide them to the relative area they needed to go.

Walter put his hand on the tool as well and with an exceptionally flash cranny, all three men Disapparated.

They landed on terrain that was very unfamiliar to Harry. The undercoat was dusty and arenaceous and there was hardly any plant lifespan in flock. In the length there were tall muckle and wrapped flesh floated above them. Harry suppressed a shudder and gripped his verge tighter. Dementors.

What looked like a roaring bonfire blazed in the space. Harry glanced at it suspiciously and then looked back to Walter and Balladanis, both of whom were Sir Thomas More intimate with the area.

"Only vampire and dementors ever venture out here,"Balladanis said quietly,"Neither of whom would set a fire."

"Let 's go, then,"Harry said and began to direct the small radical towards the flickering lights in the distance.

******

"Hand it over, Potter,"Lubar repeated.

Albus gulped and tried to hold his wand more unfluctuating. His wand arm was shaking uncontrollably and Albus did n't seem to be able to hold it steady. His ticker was thumping hard in his breast. Albus was sure enough everyone was able to take heed it. However, he did not need to chip in up the Stone. That was one matter he was sure of. The only way Lubar would be getting it is if he killed Albus first. Which actually, was n't something Albus would put past times him.

"Maybe you should just give it to him,"john whispered,"I mean, it did n't work to get Voldemort back."

"No,"Albus seethed, surprised that Saint John had suggested it. He probably would n't have if he still had his wand.

"Do you really want to have to duel me, Potter ?"Lubar stepped a bit closer,"There 's three of us and four of you, one of which does n't have a wand. Not serious odds, if you ask me."

"And do you realize that those two are horrifying duelers ?"Albus replied.

"I have noticed,"Lubar smirked,"But they 're fully qualified ; you are not. I 'm going to get that rock, one way or another."

Lubar flicked his wand and sent a jet of orange luminance at Albus. Albus jumped back and threw up a shield charm, concentrating on making it big enough to harbour him and his ally. It worked and the orange ignitor bounced harmlessly off the buckler and hit the ground.

"stay behind me, John Lackland,"Albus muttered,"matte and Kaden, spread out and hit them with whatever spells you know."

Albus concentrated on keeping his cuticle up while casting former magic spell, like he had done in Balladanis 's dueling lessons. So far it was working, but Albus never managed to keep the buckler up very long.

Lubar was momentarily stunned when he saw Albus 's shell, but he quickly recovered and began sending hex after hex, nonverbally, at Albus and John. Concentrating concentrated, Albus sent a ravisher at Lubar, but he flicked his wand and it shot off into the space, hitting one of the lone bushes, which promptly caught fire.

Albus chanced a glance at Matt and Kaden. Matt was dueling with Jarrett and it looked like they were pretty equally matched, which was kind of hapless as far as Jarrett was concerned. It made Albus feel better though. Quinton and Kaden just seemed to be sending Expelliarmus charms at each other and missing every time.

The carapace emitting from Albus 's baton faltered and faded a bit. Albus renewed his denseness, but the cuticle was still decrepit than it had been before. There was no way he 'd be able to send any spells through the cuticle now.

"Your shield is weakening, ceramicist,"Lubar smirked as he sent another Stunner at Albus, which shook the cuticle.

"pigeon hawk !"Quinton shouted to the right of them. He was hopping on one understructure and Kaden was laughing hysterically. Albus grinned. Kaden had actually managed to do some sort of hex, although Albus was n't certainly what one it was.

Lubar turned to Quinton and flicked his verge at Kaden. Kaden promptly froze and fell to the land. Albus gasped and his shell disappeared.

"Albus !"John shouted.

Albus turned back to Lubar, but did n't get the shield back up before Lubar shot a hex at John, who fell to the ground like Kaden had.

"Would n't it be easier just to kick in me the stone ?"Lubar asked as he sent a beauty at Albus.

Albus deflected it."Not really."

Jarrett and Matt were still dueling. Both were sporting a few injuries, but nothing too grievous. Neither seemed to give noticed that John and Kaden were Stunned.

Albus managed to hit Lubar with a stumble jonah, which gave him a few irregular to catch his breath while Lubar righted himself. Unfortunately this only angered him and he was now sporting a slice across his left cheek.

"Expelliarmus !"Lubar shouted.

Albus jumped to the side and the spell hit a nearby rock. Lubar resumed his nonverbal magic spell and Albus continued deflecting them and dodging them, too exhausted to try and hit Lubar with any former jinxes.

"You ca n't observe dodging them forever, thrower !"Lubar grinned manically.

"Watch me,"Albus said defiantly.

Albus of course knew that Lubar was right. The odds had not really changed. John and Kaden were both out of the competitiveness and while John was easily the best duellist after Albus, his absence seizure did not put Albus greatly behind. Washburn was out as well and both Willinsons were injured. Quinton was currently on his genu panting, not in any frame to bear on dueling. Matt was holding his own against Jarrett, something Albus was both amazed and charmed by.

No, Albus was not trying to overcome Lubar. He knew that would n't be possible. Albus was merely biding for time. He tried to figure out how long they 'd been gone as he dodged turn. It must have been at to the lowest degree three or four time of day, although the dismal Aboriginal Australian sky had not changed a bit. Albus wished the moonshine had been out so he could bear monitored its tripper across the sky.

How long would it shoot his dad to come up them ? recollective than pattern, Albus thought. They were in the middle of a extraneous land, nowhere near anyplace Harry would be looking.

"I 'm getting annoyed, Potter, and you do n't want to see me when I 'm nark !"Lubar shouted, sending another jet of red light at Albus.

Before Albus even had prison term to register what sort of hex it was, Matt gave a shriek of pain sensation to Albus 's right and collapsed to the soil. Jarrett wasted no time and pointed his wand at Albus.

Albus took a fraction of a endorse to digest the fact that he was now utterly alone, facing two fully grown wizard. The two wizards shooter identical jets of juicy lightness at Albus and he managed to rip up a weakly shield.

The forcefulness hit him like a dozen Bludgers to the stomach. He lost his footing and landed matt on his spine, his head hitting a particularly sharp rock.

"I told you not to fight, thrower,"Lubar sneered as he loomed over Albus.

"You 're not getting the Stone,"Albus said, forcing away the dizziness. He reached into his robes and pulled out the Stone.

"I disagree,"Lubar said as he made to seize the Stone.

With all the force play Albus could muster, he threw the pit as far as he could to the right. In the darkness, it disappeared in a split second gear and Albus did n't even get wind it land.

"No !"Lubar shouted,"You 'll pay for that !"

"Wands where I can see them !"someone shouted from behind Lubar.

Lubar and Jarrett whipped around as fast as they could. Albus lifted his head slightly and caught a glance of his dad, along with a few other wizards. He breathed a suspiration of relief. They were saved.


A/N : Thanks to my beta, Dancer of Starlight as well as all of the lovely masses who have read and reviewed this !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


Albus managed to sit up right before the hexes started flying. Realizing that he dropped his wand when Lubar and Jarrett hexed him, he groped about for it on the ground. Not finding it, he crawled behind a nearby bush and watched.

Jarrett did n't stick around long. He sent one hapless stunner at Harry, who easily deflected it, and disappeared on the touch. Harry immediately disarmed Lubar before he could do the same.

Once Lubar was defenseless, Albus left the safety of the bush and shakily stood up. He reached the flaming and was able to see who the former two adept next to Harry were. What he saw made him dizzy with shock all over again.

The shorter of the two was Matt 's dad. He was staring stony faced at Lubar. Albus had never seen anyone spotlight at anyone else with such hatred and loathing as lustrelessness 's dad glared at Lubar. And that included when his Uncle Ron talked about the Malfoys, or his mum when somebody mentioned Vernon and Petunia Dursley.

It was the early wizard that nearly caused Albus to fall out out in blow. He was none early than Professor Balladanis. What in the gens of Falco columbarius was he doing there ? It looked like he was actually with Harry and Matt 's dad. But why ? Did n't Matt 's dad hate Balladanis ?

"Eckerton, what a pleasant surprise,"Lubar smirked.

"Lubar, if we were n't in the presence of an Auror and a Presuler I 'd rip you limb from limb, Muggle panache,"Mr. Eckerton growled.

Albus was slightly stunned by Mr. Eckerton 's selection of words, but remembering what Matt had told him at the beginning of the yr, all surprise left him.

"Lucky for me Potter and Balladanis are here, then,"Lubar replied and snatched Washburn 's wand off the ground.

Harry, Mr. Eckerton, and Balladanis all sent different while at Lubar at the same time, but it was too late. He was already gone. Mr. Eckerton swore loudly.

"Two ai n't bad,"Balladanis muttered as he gestured to Washburn and Quinton, the latter of whom was still conscious but not completely cognizant of his surroundings.

"That 's the glaring difference between you and I,"Mr. Eckerton muttered as he moved swiftly yesteryear Quinton and Washburn to reach out Matt.

"Dad !"Albus shouted.

Harry looked up from Kaden 's unconscious form and raced towards Albus. Albus threw his arms around his dad and the two of them hugged each former tightly.

"Al, thank pigeon hawk,"Harry said.

"Dad, what 's Balladanis doing here ?"Albus asked immediately,"And Lubar, what 's going to materialize to him ? And Willinson ?"

"I 'll explain it all once we get you back to Hogwarts,"Harry assured him.

Balladanis had a house hold on both Washburn and Quinton and was fiddling with a broken plastic cup. A few mo later, all three of them disappeared.

Harry turned to Mr. Eckerton, who was standing up with flatness in his arms."Can you necessitate King John, too ? I 'll get Kaden and Al will come with me."

Mr. Eckerton nodded and grabbed hold of John 's arm before pulling his own broken plastic cup out of his sac. They disappeared.

Harry pulled Kaden up and took Albus 's arm. Albus was still thoroughly confused, but did not have time to ask his dad anymore query before feeling the familiar saccade behind his naval that signified he was traveling by Portkey.

Albus landed with a thumping in the middle of the hospital Wing. The inquiry of how they managed to Portkey inside the Hogwarts primer coat was the to the lowest degree pressing interrogative sentence on his mind.

Looking around, Albus saw that the others had arrived as well. Mr. Eckerton was laying both Matt and John the Evangelist on the nearest beds while gentlewoman Pomfrey was shouting and gathering potions.

"flavor at the state of them !"the nanny exclaimed,"Always this lot, too ! You 're a bad influence on them, Harry, I swear !"

Harry looked slightly sheepish as he set Kaden down on the bed next to flatness 's and then turned to Albus.

"I 've got to utter with Professor Kendrick and go to the Ministry-"he began.

"But Dad !"Albus interrupted,"What was Balladanis doing there ?"

"I promise I 'll secern you all of that and Sir Thomas More,"Harry replied,"But I need to tell everyone you and the others are ok. When I get back, I 'm going to demand you to tell me everything that happened."

"But-"

"No buts !"madam Pomfrey cut in,"Bed, Albus, bed ! You need reside !"

Albus, who had barely registered the fact that his foreland was bleeding and he was still quite dizzy, felt that the conclusion thing he needed was residuum. He needed to have it off what was going on.

"I 'll excuse once you 've gotten some sleep,"Harry assured him.

Albus muttered under his breath and got into bed. Once Madam Pomfrey had given him a Sleeping swig, Harry left, leaving Albus to unsuccessfully try to fight off the rest he knew was coming.

******

The Ward was serenity when Albus woke up. It was completely sinister outside, although Albus did n't deliver the svelte clue as to what day it was. john, flatness, and Kaden were either still unconscious mind or sound asleep. Albus was betting on the latter since lady Pomfrey was no where to be seen.

Mr. Eckerton was still there and he had been joined by his wife. Both of them were nodding off in chairwoman next to lustrelessness 's bed. It did n't see like Mr. Eckerton had even left. He was wearing the Same Ministry robe he had been wearing before.

Albus sat up and put his hand to his heading. There was a patch on the back of it. Another bandage was wrapped around his right field arm, although he could n't recall when he had injured it. Besides that, he just felt play out.

The door to the ward opened, letting in a diminished flood of luminance from the corridor. A physique stepped inside and began walking towards Albus 's bed.

"Hey, Al,"they said.

"Dad,"Albus replied, recognizing his father,"Are you going to say me about Balladanis now ?"

"Yes,"Harry chuckled,"Perhaps we ought to go to the Room of Requirement."

Albus shook his head, remembering something he had been debating for the yesteryear year. He had waited long enough. It was time.

"No,"Albus said,"I know someplace better."

Without saying a word, Albus got out of bed and lead his dad out the threshold and up to the fifth floor corridor. Harry did not ask a single question as Albus pulled the arm down on the appropriate knight and turned to face the opposite wall.

Albus located the paw prints and touched his hand to them, turning it into a doorknob. He opened the door and stepped inside. Harry followed, letting out a gasp as he did.

"Remember that map from terminal year ?"Albus asked as he shut the door.

Harry nodded, apparently at a going for words.

"There was more to it. instructions on how to get into this room. It was theirs, the predator'. Their mystic common elbow room,"Albus said quietly.

Harry did n't react. Instead he walked slowly around the way. Albus stood near the door and waited. He was n't sure how long he stood there, watching as his dad investigated the room that had once belonged to his grandfather.

"This,"Harry began,"This is just unbelievable, Al. How long have you known about it ?"

"About a year,"Albus said quietly.

"And you spend meter here ?"Harry asked.

"Probably more than we do in the mutual way,"Albus answered.

"Then it is the perfect lieu to talk,"Harry said as he sat down on one of the couches.

Albus sat down next to him."So why was Balladanis there ?"

"I 'll tell you that,"Harry said,"But first I want you to explain to me what happened."

Albus took a deep breath and told his dad everything. Starting with when they saw Lubar in the castling and ending with throwing the Resurrection gemstone into the Outback. He explained how they had first gone to a timber in Australia, how they had Portkeyed to the Outback, the dementors, the almost Patronus he had managed to have, the affaire d'honneur, the fact that the Resurrection stone did n't work to take Voldemort back.

"Why did n't it work ?"Albus asked,"I mean, I 'm happy it did n't, but why ?"

Harry thought for a few minutes and then looked at Albus."There are a few intellect that might explain it. The Resurrection Harlan Stone brings back people we love, but it does not convey them back completely. It 's almost as if their soul is coming back."

"Like a trace ?"

"Not exactly,"Harry said,"But similar. It 's potential that since Voldemort split his soul so many times, he ca n't be brought back with the Stone. The endocarp may need the soul to be inviolate to work."

Albus nodded."That makes sense."

"It could also be that only loved unity can be brought back with the Stone. Washburn and the Willinsons did not love Voldemort ; they did not cognize him. They wanted to add him back for their own order of business,"Harry explained.

"Is there any way to incur out which it is ?"Albus asked.

"No, I do n't remember so,"Harry said,"Especially now that the Harlan Stone is once again gone. Which is something I 'm very grateful that you did."

"Well, I figured you left it out in the Forbidden woodland for a grounds,"Albus shrugged.

"Yes, yes I did,"Harry replied,"I think it best if nobody had that Stone."

Albus nodded."Yeah, that makes sense. But what was Balladanis doing there ?"

Harry laughed."You 're not going to let that go, are you ?"

"Nope, you said you 'd tell me,"Albus said.

"I will,"Harry replied,"Albus, do you make out what a Presuler is ?"

"Yes,"Albus nodded,"And I know that Balladanis is one."

"You do ?"Harry looked impressed.

"He told me during one of those dueling lesson he gave me,"Albus explained.

"Well, that makes my explanation easier,"Harry said,"A short over a year ago, shortly after Quinton kidnapped Kaden, the Ministry decided to employ a Presuler to help feel Washburn and Jarrett Willinson."

"Seriously ?"Albus gaped at him.

"Yes,"Harry muttered,"The Minister believed the Aurors needed some help."

Albus thought he heard bit of contempt in his dad 's voice.

"When I realized that Washburn and the Willinsons were most belike working with Ralph Lubar, I had to contact Balladanis and let him make love. He came with us, and I have to admit that he was very helpful. We would not sustain found you as fast if he was n't there,"Harry explained.

"But why was he teaching here ?"Albus asked.

"The rector, Professor Kendrick, and I believed it would be good strategy to take in him stationed at Hogwarts, where we all believed Washburn and the Willinsons would return to. Balladanis agreed,"Harry said,"Of course of instruction, none of us realized that Balladanis would not be able to manage teaching.

"This is all quite secretive, Al. I 'd prefer you did n't recount anyone. I will be telling Matt, St. John, and Kaden, because I feel they have the right to recognise, but I do n't need anyone else knowing about it."

"What about rosiness and Amanda ?"Albus asked.

"I suppose I 'll tell them as well, otherwise Kaden is certainly to separate them,"Harry said.

"What 's going to fall out to Lubar ?"Albus asked,"Is Balladanis going to be after him now ?"

"No,"Harry shook his read/write head,"That 's going to be tricky berth. Lubar is n't a British citizen. We ca n't do a matter while he 's in Australia. It 's up to the Australian Ministry to either put him on tribulation or give him to us to put on test. And since he 's one of their functionary, we 're not sure they 'll do either."

"But that 's not fair !"Albus stood up angrily,"Look what he did ! Look what he 's done !"

"I know,"Harry sighed,"I 'd like cipher Sir Thomas More than to cave in him a life-long stint in Azkaban, but unfortunately the Torah do n't knead that way."

"He and Balladanis get along anyway,"Albus said,"Balladanis probably would n't want to go after him."

"I do n't know about that,"Harry said,"Balladanis likes citizenry to pay for what they 've done. However, being a Presuler and having no Ministry affiliation, he does not have to deal a sheath if he 's offered it."

"He told me I 'd make a soundly Presuler,"Albus said quietly as I sat back down,"Malfoy, too."

Harry sighed."What do you think about that ?"

"I do n't know,"Albus shrugged,"I mean, I like dueling, but I do n't really desire to decide what I want to do right now."

"You do n't feature to,"Harry replied,"And I do n't require to enjoin you what to do, but I am going to order you something.

"Being a Presuler is a hard job and often a lonely one. You have no coworkers. You work with diverse Ministries, but rarely get to acknowledge anyone. You travel a lot, which can wee it unmanageable to have a family. It 's not an easy way of life to go down. Not one I 'd choose for myself."

Albus had n't even thought about that. He did n't intend he 'd want to rarely ever see his admirer and family.

"There 's sight of other thing you could do that would put your dueling acquisition to use,"Harry told him,"And you 're only 13 so no need to decide now."

"I know, I do n't project to,"Albus replied.

"well, you should probably get back to the hospital Wing before dame Pomfrey notices you 're gone,"Harry smirked,"And thanks again for showing me the room."

Harry stood up and gave his son a hug. They left the room and walked back to the Hospital fender, both lost in their thoughts.

******

As it turned out, dame Pomfrey had already noticed that Albus was missing. When he returned to the infirmary Wing with his dad, she was running about the ward shouting at the top of her lungs. Matt, whoremaster, and Kaden were all awake, staring at her.

"There you are !"she shrieked,"Where have you been ?"

"Er,"Albus began.

"I had to talk to him in private,"Harry answered for him.

"You should have asked me first !"Madam Pomfrey exclaimed as she ushered Albus back into bed,"He needs residue !"

"I 'm his father,"Harry said incredulously.

"I do n't care if you 're the Minister of thaumaturgy !"madam Pomfrey replied,"I 'm the one with the nursing degree !"

"How long has she been shouting ?"Albus whispered to matt as he got back in bed.

"Fifteen hour or so,"lustrelessness answered.

Madam Pomfrey returned to her desk and Harry strode over to where the Eckertons were sitting.

"Could I have a discussion in secret ?"Harry asked Mr. Eckerton and then turned to dame Pomfrey."Do I postulate your permit for that ?"he grinned.

"Very amusing,"Madam Pomfrey muttered.

Albus drifted back to sleep a niggling while later and when he next woke up it was light out and brothel keeper Pomfrey was bringing them all breakfast trays.

"Er, what day is it ?"Albus asked as lady Pomfrey set his tray down.

"It 's Sunday, dearest, but it 's afternoon,"Madam Pomfrey replied,"I figured you 'd choose to birth breakfast."

"Only Sun ?"Albus asked. It felt like it had been far more than two dozen hours since he had met up with Lubar before the Quidditch match.

"meter zone modification are difficult to line up to,"gentlewoman Pomfrey explained,"Australia 's quite a few time of day ahead of us."

Albus nodded and dug into his breakfast. Suddenly he was famished. When he thought about it, it must give been at least a day since he 'd rust anything.

"I wonder how the Quidditch match went,"Kaden mused as he shoved toast in his mouth.

Albus choked on his testicle. He 'd draw a blank about the match !"I doubt we won,"he sighed.

"Is your dad going to tell us why Balladanis was with him when he came to save us ?"Saint John asked,"I mean, he 's had plenty of time."

"He will,"Albus said,"He already told me. You lot were asleep."

The doors to the hospital extension banged unresolved and Rose and Amanda came running in. Madam Pomfrey made a relocation to get up from her desk, but then sat back down, shaking her head.

"Tell us what happened !"blush wine demanded as she skidded to a halt in front of Albus 's bed,"When did you get back ? Where did you go ?"

"Who won the Quidditch mates ?"Albus asked.

"Quidditch ? Quidditch ?"Rose groaned,"I 'm not saying a word about Quidditch until the four of you tell me what in the name of Merlin 's saggy left-"

"Miss Weasley !"dame Pomfrey shouted,"If you do n't lower your vocalisation, you 'll stimulate to go forth !"

"Sorry,"rosiness turned back to Albus,"But you lot have got to secern us what happened !"

Albus launched into the entire tale, which took the wagerer part of a half hour to tell. Neither Rose or Amanda interrupted once during the whole thing. Both of them looked absolutely shocked by the fourth dimension Albus concluded.

"But, but why was Balladanis there ?"rosiness asked.

"My dad 's going to tell you,"Albus said,"He 's already told me. He 'll probably tell the repose of you today."

"Merlin, Albus,"Rose sighed,"How much trouble can you get into ?"

"It 's not my break,"Albus shrugged,"Now can you tell us about the match ?"

blush wine exchanged glimpse with Amanda, who sighed."It was quite the match, let me narrate you,"Amanda said.

"cipher won, Al,"rosebush said.

"What ?"John interrupted,"How can nobody win ?"

"About forty-five transactions into the match, Fred and broom ran onto the pitch-"

"The match lasted that long ?"Matt asked.

"Yes,"rose said,"I do n't know why. Anyway, Fred and broom ran right up to Ludo Bagman and started talking to him. Nobody could take heed what they were saying. Then Bagman blew his whistle and they went into a time-out.

"Bagman left the pitch and had a really long talk with all the headmasters and captains. Then Kendrick announced that the catch was called off and told everyone to return to their common rooms.

"Everyone was really raging of line. Amanda and I were already worried because you lot had n't shown up yet. We thought something bad had happened and that was why they called it off."

"Why did they call off it off ?"St. John asked.

"I 'm getting to that,"Rose said,"We got back up to Gryffindor and everyone was gathered around Fred and Scots heather. Linda was n't there, and neither were any of her teammates who were Gryffindors.

"We pushed our way to the social movement of the crowd and heard what Fred and heather mixture were talking about. They were claiming that Australia had been cheating the completely time-"

"well, they were,"Matt muttered.

"I know,"rose wine agreed,"And apparently so did Fred and broom. I 'm for sure they figured it out just recently or else they would 've told mortal Oklahoman. They found out Linda 's a vampire and now the total school knows."

"How did they forecast it out ?"Albus asked, completely shocked. Linda hid her secret quite well. Fred and Calluna vulgaris were one-sixth years, they would n't induce heard Balladanis 's vampire lecture."

"They 've been trying to work out it out all twelvemonth,"rose explained,"And since they 're smart, they figured it out."

"But what about the couple ?"Albus asked.

"I think they 're going to cancel the tournament, Albus,"blush wine said quietly.

"natural the tournament ?"Albus gasped,"natural the tourney ? ! They ca n't do that ! We 've spent the completely twelvemonth on that tournament ! Do you sleep together how much time I 've spent on the Quidditch pitching this year ? More time than I 've spent in class, probably ! And now they 're going to call off the bloody tourney ?"

"I do n't lie with, Al,"rosebush said shortly,"And if they do it 's not my fault."

"Sorry,"Albus mumbled,"It 's just a little aggravating."

"I know,"rosiness replied.

"Where 's Linda ?"Matt asked.

"Gone,"rosiness sighed,"Without a Christian Bible. I have n't seen her or any of the Australian since the match. Killigan 's gone, too."

"Wow,"mat replied,"Ca n't say I blame her, though."

"I guess,"Rose said,"Anyway, they 'll probably make an annunciation about the tournament at dinner."


A/N : Thanks to my beta, Dancer of Starlight as well as all of the awesome multitude who have read and reviewed this ! There is only one to a greater extent chapter left !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


Harry returned to separate everyone else about Balladanis later on in the afternoon. Madam Pomfrey monotonous out refused to let any of them leave the hospital backstage, so she agreed to lock the door and go to her study while Harry explained. Matt 's dad was there as well.

Harry told them everything he had told Albus, although he left out the parts about why it was not all that advisable to get a Presuler. Everyone was completely shocked to acquire that Balladanis had been hired to help seize Washburn and the Willinsons.

Unfortunately, Harry also brought tidings of Lubar. news that was not all that welcome.

"As of right now, he 's completely free and in the clear,"Harry sighed,"The Aussie Ministry refuses to extradite him, and they wo n't prosecute him in Australia either. To them, it 's like nothing 's happened."

Albus noticed that Mr. Eckerton looked positively raging with this. Harry looked quite angry as well, but it did not come close to how Mr. Eckerton looked.

"We 're not going to consecrate up,"Harry said,"We 'll celebrate negotiating with them."

Mr. Eckerton had also apparently been told about the Hallows. When Harry had spoken with him the former night, it had been about the Hallows. Albus remembered back to his first year, when Matt had told them about his dad 's Loretta Young adult dream of locating the Hallows. Harry must 've trusted him now.

Albus reached over to his bedside mesa, where Madam Pomfrey had placed the invisibility Cloak the previous Nox. He wordlessly handed it to Mr. Eckerton, who carefully took it with a look of awe on his face.

"Merlin 's face fungus,"he muttered,"It 's the Cloak."

"That it is,"Harry said quietly.

"Unbelievable,"Mr. Eckerton whispered as he fingered it.

He spent a few minutes trying the Cloak on before handing it back to Albus."I can not believe I 've finally solved the case of the Hallows,"he said to Harry,"This is amazing. I would love to share the story with my brother. Perhaps I could introduce you to him at the World Cup this summer."

Harry nodded."That would be fine. Perhaps I will eventually tell him as well."

******

Albus wanted zip more than to be allowed out of the Hospital Wing in time to go to dinner that dark. He was for sure prof Kendrick would make some sort of annunciation about the tournament and he did not want to lack it.

After a full ten minutes of begging on his component part ( helped out by mat, John, and Kaden ), Madam Pomfrey told him he was in no fit state to leave the ward. Albus thought this was silly because he felt fine. So what if his arm was still bandaged and in a sling ? That should n't stop him from eating dinner party with the rest of the school.

Instead, Albus was forced to eat a quiet meal in the Hospital offstage and wait anxiously for Rose and Amanda to tell him what Kendrick said.

The girls showed up right after dinner ended. Albus immediately asked them what Kendrick had said.

"Tournament 's canceled,"blush wine sighed as she sat down on the end of Albus 's bed,"The kids from New House of York are staying to fetch up out the year, but the tournament 's canceled. I expect it 'll be in the oracle tomorrow."

"Merlin !"Albus shouted,"Why 'd they have to cancel it ? Could n't they just disqualify Australia ?"

"No,"Rose shook her head,"To do that Hogwarts would have to make for New House of York in another final."

"Why do n't they do that ?"john asked.

"Too close to exams,"Rose shrugged,"It 'll mess up up everyone 's studying."

"That 's stupid,"Albus fumed.

"If it makes you experience better, I 'm pretty sure enough Hogwarts would 've won if Australia had n't have been here,"blush wine pointed out,"And Kendrick gave one hundred house points to everyone who was on the Quidditch and dueling teams."

"Yeah, well, all the house had hoi polloi on the squad, so that does n't really help,"Albus muttered.

"wellspring,"Rose grinned,"I know one thing that 'll cheer up you up."

"What ?"Albus asked, even though there was zip that could exhort him up.

"There were Quidditch picket at that lucifer,"rose told him,"And even though the couple was disastrous, they did find person they wanted to draft."

"Who ?"Albus asked, slightly intrigued.

"Georgia !"rose wine exclaimed,"She 's been drafted to play for Kenmare Kestrals as soon as she graduates !"

"That 's brilliant !"Albus replied. Rose had been right, that did cheer him up. There was no one he thought who belonged on a professional Quidditch squad More than Georgia.

"Yup, she 's their newest reticence Keeper,"Rose said,"She says Uncle Hotspur 's not impressed. He wanted her to work at the Ministry. She does n't care what he thinks, though."

"Uncle Percy 's got tidy sum of other kids to bring at the Ministry,"Albus shrugged. He could never see Georgia working in government.

"Kenmare ?"John said incredulously.

"Yeah, seriously ?"flatness grimaced.

"They 're nearly as bad as the Cannons,"John groaned.

"She 's just well-chosen to be on a team,"rosebush shrugged,"She 's always supported Puddlemere, but she thinks if she 's on any squad, she 'll be able to work her way up to a better one."

"Merlin, I hope so,"John shrugged.

"Is she the entirely one who got drafted ?"Albus asked.

"Only one I know for sure of,"rose wine said,"I heard a rumour that Anna Reilly got taken on by the Balycastle at-bat, but I do n't know for sure."

Albus nodded, feeling slightly better about the tournament. It was n't pointless now that he knew his full cousin had been taken on by a professional Quidditch team because of it. However, that did n't take all the disappointment away.

******

madam Pomfrey reluctantly let the boys leave the next day after breakfast. She did n't really ingest a choice since exams began that day. Albus felt perfectly ticket and was quite glad to leave the place.

Rose handed him a transcript of the Prophet as soon as he and the other boys reached the green room. Albus took it, glad that he had a few second before his first examination to read the clause that was inevitably there.

Aussie SCHOOL CHEATS- TOURNAMENT CANCELED

After a start discovery made by two Hogwarts
scholar, the Quidditch and Dueling tournament
involving Hogwarts, the Adirondack academy of
Magic, and the Australian School of Sorcery
has been canceled.

The tournament 's final Quidditch friction match was
interrupted this past Saturday by two Hogwarts
one-sixth years, Fred Weasley and Scots heather Weasley,
both 17, who claimed that the Australian team
had been cheating throughout the entire
tournament.

A few calendar month ago, allegations were brought upon
the Australian team after their Seeker, Linda
esprit de corps, 14, flew at an exceptionally fast speed.
An investigation found zip. The tourney
continued.

Fred and Calluna vulgaris Weasley accused Linda Morales
of being a lamia. Vampires are outlawed
from playing on pro Quidditch teams due
to the unfair reward they have.

The compeer was immediately stopped while all three
master questioned the Weasleys and Morales.

master Addiar Killigan of the Australian
School of black art admitted to allowing esprit de corps
to be the Seeker of his team in monastic order to win the
tournament. The Australian team was immediately
disqualified from the tournament.

Killigan, team spirit, and the rest of the Aussie
participating in the tournament left Hogwarts late
on Sat, declining to verbalise with any of our
reporters.

tourney official as well as the other two
headmasters have decided to cancel the tournament,
and not declaring a winner.

'It is too bad that the tournament turned out
this way ,'Fabius Kendrick told reporters, 'Perhaps
we can try it again in a few years .'

"Killigan is an idiot,"Albus said.

"Look at the future article,"Rose replied.

QUINTON WILLINSON spinal column IN AZKABAN, JOINED BY WASHBURN

While the final Quidditch match was ending in disaster
at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry, Harry
Potter 's midsection child, Albus, 13, was dealing with his
own battle.

Albus thrower, as well as full cousin Kaden Dursley, 12, and
friends Gospel According to Matthew Eckerton and John Brickston, both 14,
were kidnapped by Quinton and Jarrett Willinson, and
Jameson Washburn. The three yardbird were helped by
Ralph Lubar, Head of the Department of the regularisation
and restraint of Magical Creatures in Australia.

The four Hogwarts students were taken to Australia
where Harry Potter and Bruno Walter Eckerton found them.
It is undecipherable what the yardbird were after, as well as
why Lubar was involved.

Quinton Willinson and Jameson Washburn were caught and
sent to Azkaban. Lubar and Jarrett Willinson escaped.
Aurors are currently looking for Willinson and the
Ministry is negotiating with the Aboriginal Australian Ministry
about what to do with Lubar.

All four boys have recovered from the trial by ordeal and are
currently taking their end of the year examinations
at Hogwarts. Harry ceramist has declined comment.

"Well, that 's not a very instructive article,"Albus said as he tossed the paper onto a nearby table.

"I do n't think they can describe much,"rosebush said,"The Australian Ministry may be asking them to observe quiet about Lubar in return for giving him some kind of punishment.

"It wo n't matter,"Matt said,"They 're not going to do anything to him."

Albus was forced to push Lubar into the rear of his mind as exams began. They were all significantly heavy than the previous year 's had been, but he was sure he at least passed all of them.

There were curt article in the prophesier about Lubar everyday, but they all said the Sami thing. Commonwealth of Australia refused to deliver him. Matt was not at all surprised by this, but it infuriated Albus to no end.

The workweek after exam was a strange one for Albus. There was nothing left wing for them to do. No studying, no prep, no Quidditch. rose wine and Amanda went back to spending all their metre with the boy, like it had been before Linda had arrived.

thing were dissimilar, though. Both rosiness and Amanda were a lot quieter than they used to be. Albus was sure they missed Linda, and he had no idea whether she had said cheerio to them, or even if she 'd had the chance.

Matt was lost in his own sentiment near of the sentence, rendering him quieter than ever. He often went entire eve without saying two words to anyone, something that usually only happened around full moons. However, the following good moon was n't until after they left Hogwarts.

Albus was sure this was because of what had happened in Australia. He never talked about it, but Albus knew that getting kidnapped by Lubar again had scared the daylight out of him.

John and Kaden remained as boisterous as ever and did not appear to be fazed by what had happened in Australia. They spent their week pulling buffoonery and playing sempiternal games of Exploding Snap that Albus occasionally joined in on.

Albus himself was quieter. His mind was racing with cerebration of Lubar and Balladanis. None of the clause ever mentioned Balladanis, but he knew that was because Balladanis 's job had to remain a surreptitious. He wished more than anything that Lubar would get thrown in prison, whether it was Azkaban or Commonwealth of Australia 's prison.

******

The string ride back to British capital was subdued, the only noise being John and Kaden 's Exploding duck soup cards. Albus and Matt both gazed out the window, mesmerized by the passing landscape.

"Linda sent me a alphabetic character utmost nighttime,"Rose said, breaking the silence.

Albus lifted his head up and looked at her."What about ?"

"She told us she was dismal, and wanted me to state you that she was sorry about the tournament,"Rose told him,"She 's on the run with her mum now. They 're thinking of moving to a different country."

"To go to school ?"Albus asked.

"No,"Rose shook her promontory,"She 's been through school a mate metre already. She was n't even a student at the Australian school day. Killigan pretty much forced her into playing Seeker for them. He 's a really foul bloke. They have to get out now, though, because everyone knows."

"Where will they go ?"Albus asked, surprised that he was actually belief sorry for Linda.

"No mind,"rose wine shrugged,"She said she 'd owl me when they find out."

"This unhurt year has been so messed up,"John sighed,"I hope next year 's better."

"Me, too,"lusterlessness agreed.

"We 've got the earthly concern Cup to look forward to, though,"Albus smiled.

"Oh, yeah !"John grinned,"Owl me as soon as you find out when we 're leaving for it."

"Definitely,"Albus said,"Your sister 's going, too. Lily told me she 'd invited her. Victor-Marie Hugo 's not really felicitous about that."

"Neither am I,"John muttered,"I do n't want Ashtyn going."

"Well, I 'd prefer Lily not go, but it 's the Cup ! Nothing can really ruin it,"Albus said.

"Good point,"John agreed.

"Let me know when the Cup is,"Kaden said.

"Why ? So you can convince your parents to drive you ?"toilet smirked.

"No,"Kaden laughed,"So I can know when to ask in you lot to my planetary house. My dad said he 'd have us camping."

"Excellent !"St. John the Apostle grinned,"encampment like Muggles ?"

"Yep,"Kaden replied,"aliveness in tent, no electrical energy, no magic either since we 're all underage."

"There is no way my parents will let me go,"flatness said quietly.

"Why not ?"Kaden asked.

"I went camping when I was five,"Matt answered,"That was the time I got bitten."

"Oh,"Kaden looked a piddling taken aback,"Sorry."

"It 's ok,"Matt shrugged,"Just do n't go during a full Sun Myung Moon. I do n't want any of you having to join me in the screeching shanty next year."

"I 'll go,"Albus said. He 'd never been camping before, let alone camping like a Muggle. He did finger bad that lusterlessness would n't get to go, but he kind of thought Matt would n't need to go anyway.

The remainder of the trip was spent arguing about Quidditch and Albus felt like things were sorting of returning to normal. It was almost nice to get word John and lustrelessness arguing about the shank again and Kaden arguing about football.

The train arrived in Greater London and Albus found his parents waiting for him on the platform. After saying good-by to his friends, Albus left the post with his class look that just maybe life would be normal from then on. wellspring, maybe the summertime would be at least be rule. Albus could n't get his Leslie Townes Hope up too high.


A/N : Hard to believe it 's finished ! Thanks to Dancer of Starlight for betaing and thanks to all of the awing people who have read and reviewed this ! You cat are so lovely and amazing !

I am working on the fourth account but it 'll be a while before the first chapter is up. I 'm thinking I 'll update every other week at first base, interchange weeks with Beyond the Shadow. In the mean sentence, if you want something new to read, I suggest checking out Remember the Cannons, which is a collab I worked on last year and is now currently being updated. It 's all about the Chudley carom and their downfall. It 's under the username The Golden Snitches and is also in my deary stories so you can line up it that way.