Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


Albus spent most of the daytime preceding Noel at pink wine 's house. Henry James was determined to use all of his spare time for Quidditch praxis, and he had to go to Rose 's family for that. Albus usually went with him and he and Hugo would aid James practice while rosiness read.

Harry had to practically offprint King James from his ling by deception on Christmas Eve so they could go to Godric 's Hollow. James wanted to stay at Rose 's house and keep on practicing, but Harry refused to let him. The trip was quiet 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 become an Animagus eventually. I want to be a cat."

"You do n't get to pick out 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 trace in outstanding detail what kind of cat she would transubstantiate into.

Everyone else was already at the Burrow and Albus felt an immediate warmth come over him as he stepped inside. It had nothing to do with the fact that it was so cold and snowy outside, either. There was something so comforting about being at the tunnel surrounded by all his family. He was able to forget all the issues with the Quidditch tournament and Professor Killigan. All he could think about was how rapacious he was and how goodness some of his nan 's cooking would be proper about then.

rose wine sat down next to Albus as he tucked into a large stadium of onion soup with a side of homemade bread.

"Uncle Charlie and aunt Katherine are going back to Romania this summertime,"Rose announced.

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

"Yeah,"pink wine nodded,"They might bide even after the summer 's over, but Calluna vulgaris and sign will total back to go to Hogwarts."

"They get to go, too ?"

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

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

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

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

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

Albus personally had enough of History from Professor 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 numerate on it, Teddy,"Molly said as she handed Albus another lump of lucre,"We 're supposed to get the snowstorm of the decade tomorrow. The Muggle electricity is already out in town."

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

"You 'll do no such matter !"Molly shouted,"It 's near unsufferable to Appparate during such a violent storm. Not to name the fact that it 's Christmas and you should be here."

"We do n't need electricity to play Quidditch !"shimmy exclaimed,"It 'll be perfect training status ! If you can enchant a stool pigeon in the middle of a blizzard, you can catch one in any atmospheric condition. It 's not like Kendrick ever calls off Quidditch because of snow."

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

Albus finished his soup and he and surface went into the den, where they were greeted by a loud chorus of 'Odo the bomber', sung by George, Alicia, Charlie, and Ron. visor and Fleur were laughing while Hermione shook her head. Albus had a feeling the simply cause why Fleur approved was because the singing was drowning out Celestina Warbeck.

"So then I said, I 'm not paying seven Sickles for that !"Walker Percy said to Katherine, who was only form of paying aid,"And the bloke looked at me like I was mad. I say he 's mad, charging that much for a tour of a questionably historic old building. There really should be regulations on such thing. It 's one matter I 'll change if I 'm ever Minister."

Albus stifled a joke. His Uncle Sir Henry Percy had been talking about running for Minister for the past tense ten geezerhood, but still had n't done it. almost of his uncles and aunt got sick of hearing him talk 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 work out out which part of the infirmary I want to do the rest of my preparation in by September. We 've been rotating throughout all the floor, but now we have to pick one. I 'm nowhere near decided."

"You have until Sept,"Albus shrugged. It seemed like a long sentence to him.

"I know,"Victoire replied,"But Amy 's known where she wants to end training since we were in one-quarter year."

"You 're not in Amy 's situation,"shimmy appeared and put his arm around her,"And I think you 'll do large anyplace you decide."

"Thanks, Teddy,"Victoire smiled,"I 'm thinking either the pregnancy ward or Spell Damage."

"There 's a busybodied ward,"Teddy grinned,"piece equipment casualty. You 'll get all the amusing injuries there."

"That 's not a good cause to pick a specialization,"Victoire groaned.

"good a reason as any,"Teddy shrugged.

The fourth dimension grew later and after Albus played numerous one shot of Exploding centering with his full cousin, his grandmother announced that it was time for bed. Everyone argued, but there was really no point. Everyone, including the other adults, knew that arguing with mollie Weasley was useless.

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

The wind was so powerful that Albus could feel it through the gaps in the window. Every once in a spell, the theater would creak and stimulate. Albus sighed and put his pillow over his ears to try and submerge out the howling.

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

******

Albus was awoken by his annual Yuletide wake-up call, Lily. She breezed through the door shouting about how they all needed to wake up up and unfold their nowadays.

"And there 's three human foot of snow outside,"Lily said as she left the elbow room,"I checked."

"pigeon hawk !"St. James jumped off the top bunkum 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 thaumaturgist later,"Ben suggested.

"We could progress an entire Snow wizard U. S. Army,"Albus said.

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

Albus descended upon his own pile of present and began opening them. There were the common sweets and Weasleys'products from his auntie and uncles. Another Weasley sweater, this one scarlet and gold striped. He pulled it on over his pj's and opened the rest of the nowadays from his aunts and uncles. His Aunt Hermione had gotten him a few books he 'd probably never show, including one about the history of house elves at Hogwarts.

Albus saved his parents'present for last, although he doubted they could top last year 's. There really was n't anything in the world that was bettor than the invisibleness Cloak.

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

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

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

Albus opened the box and saw two tickets. Two tickets for the Quidditch World Cup that was taking place this summertime !

"Whoa !"Albus shouted,"world Cup just the ticket !"

"I did n't even bonk they were on sale this too soon !"James said.

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

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

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

Albus suddenly realized he had the same problem. Two slate. Five protagonist he would want to involve. Who was he going to prefer ? Not Rose. They may take in been friends since they were baby, but she just did n't have a rage for Quidditch. Neither did Kaden. He was another to cross off the list. John and Matt were the Quidditch fans. He 'd possess to prefer between them. Amanda liked Quidditch well enough, but she did n't follow a team or anything.

"Those are trammel edition tickets,"Ben said,"They do n't have a go at it who 's playing yet, so they do n't sell very many tag ahead of time."

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

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

"Yeah,"Albus and King James I 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 sentence Albus went downstairs. They were sitting at the board eating breakfast. Albus gave them each a huge hug and then sat down.

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

"They were a gift from the parson,"Harry replied,"The Cup is in Canada this twelvemonth and he 's good Quaker with their minister. Got him a lot of devoid tickets."

Albus grinned as he began to eat breakfast. Somehow his parents had come close to topping go class 's award. Now not only was he going to get to see the World Cup, he would get to travel to a different country.

rosebush came downstairs a little while later and was impressed with the just the ticket. She had no desire to go to the Cup and had no proposition on how Albus was going to choose between trick 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,"shimmy shrugged.

mollie shook her question and sighed as she set a few more phonograph recording of eggs and toast onto the table.

There was a bang on the door that could only just be heard over the howling confidential information. Molly glanced at Arthur, who shrugged and got up to see who it was. Albus followed, very curious to see who would visit on Yule dawning in the centre of a vast blizzard.

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

"Yes !"Xenophilius Lovegood shouted back. King 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 give up by and see if this berth was still standing."

"Quite the storm, yes,"Arthur agreed,"I heard the Muggles lost electricity. Fascinating. I wonder what they do without it. But yes, the planetary house is still standing."

"goodness, but if you feel it 's too rickety, just let me know and I 'll go get some of my Jutispy flora. The folio do curiosity on old construction. Makes them like new. I just put a bunch into my place and it 's a good affair, too. Of course, they tend to attract Nargles ..."Xenophilius 's interpreter trailed off.

"I 'll keep that in mind,"Arthur smiled,"Are you spending the holiday alone ?"

"Yes, yes,"he replied,"Luna and Hrolf are with his category this Christmas."

"Then you must stay here a while. Molly 's cooked far too a lot food for thought, like usual,"Arthur lead Xeno into the kitchen.

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

mollie was more than happy to render Xenophilius with a large phonograph recording of breakfast and he settled down to discuss the storm with the adults.

Albus spent almost of the morning playing Exploding Snap, Wizard 's chess, and Gobstones with his cousins. They tried to play hide and go seek, but the sign of the zodiac was too crowded to dally it properly.

Teddy and Jesse James kept looking out the window, willing it to stop snowing. Both of them were just itching to go wreak Quidditch. Albus would cause gladly gone and played if it would stop snowing so much. He was dedicated to the game, but not enough to trifle in this storm.

Lunchtime came and the snow was still falling. George III went outside to value it and came back with the newsworthiness that it was three and a one-half feet.

teddy bear went upstairs after lunch and came back decked out in three sweater, a midst cloak, and a pair of boots. Under one arm was his broom and under the early was a box of Quidditch balls. James was right behind him, dressed the same.

"Theodore Remus Lupin !"molly shouted,"I suppose I ca n't break off you from going out there and catching demise of a coldness, but I will not let you hale James with you !"

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

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

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

"Excellent,"shimmy grinned,"Anyone upkeep to join us ?"

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

The Christmastide Quidditch lasted a half an hr. slip, James, Georgia, broom, and Fred all stumbled back into the house shivering with their faces red and covered in snowfall and ice. Molly immediately descended upon them with mugs of hot chocolate and dry clothes.

"Told you, Molly,"Harry grinned.

"C-ca n't line up the Sn-Snitch,"chemise muttered.

Harry laughed."That does n't surprise me. You 'll find it when the storm calms down. You put the good luck charm on it to appease in the 1000, right ?"

"Y-yeah,"shimmy replied.

Christmas Day dinner came and went in its usual chaos. Xenophilius stayed for it and James snuck sneezing powder into his soup, which he found incredibly suspicious. Molly was not as impressed and gave James II quite the objurgation. How she found out it was James was beyond Albus.

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

******

cipher left the Burrow until two sidereal day after Christmas Day. That was when the snow finally let up. It topped out at around four and a one-half feet, which was a new record for Albus 's lifetime. The Burrow 's yard had been decorated by slews of pull the wool over someone's eyes crone and wizards, along with hippogriffs, owl, and a motley of early sorcerous animal.

When Albus found out what his fellowship was doing after they left the Burrow, he wished the C would have kept coming. They were going shopping for dress robes for the New year 's party.

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

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

"Yeah, Hugo 's the lucky one,"Saint James muttered. Hugo was wearing William James 's old garb robes to the party and therefore did not give birth to go shopping.

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

"If they have any,"Ginny replied.

Albus wanted to buy the first distich of frock robes he found, so long as they were n't pink or purpurate. The Oklahoman they were done robes shopping the better.

rose and Lily made a beeline for the girls frock gown as soon as they walked in the door. Albus stood awkwardly next to Epistle of 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,"James I snickered.

"Shut it, James IV,"Albus muttered.

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

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

"Too myopic,"she announced,"But the colouring is perfect. I 'll find a bigger size."

James wound up with a naval forces bluing yoke of gown, which Albus would possess preferred. Lily found her purple robes and rosiness got a sky dreary pair.

"Next time you 're getting green robe,"Albus muttered to James River, who was still making fun of the color of Albus 's robes.

"No I wo n't. I do n't possess green eyes,"William James grinned.

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

"I do n't worry. They 'd be Gryffindor colored,"Saint James laughed.


A/N : Thanks to my beta, Dancer of Starlight, as well as all the amazing people who have read and reviewed this ! Also, for anyone who read In Moonlight 's shadow, the first chapter of the sequel, Beyond the phantom, is now up !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


The company was at the government minister 's mansion, the house where all the Ministers of Magic had lived. Albus had been there a few times before, but not in a distich twelvemonth. Usually all the political party the Minister held were while Albus was at Hogwarts.

A few hr before the party, Ginny made Albus, James, and Lily all take exhibitor and comb their hair's-breadth properly. She spent a practiced fifteen minutes trying to get William James 's hair to lie vapid and another xv minutes putting Lily 's up in some sort of elaborate bun character affair. Albus was very glad his own hair was far too light for that sorting of thing.

Before they left, Albus 's parents sat him, Henry James, and Lily down on the couch and proceeded to secernate them the formula for the evening.

"Absolutely no making bother !"Ginny stared at King James I as she said this,"None at all ! This is the Minister 's business firm ! I will not receive 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 to catch 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 vex,"James said,"I know when mischievousness is n't appropriate."

"Let 's hope so,"Ginny sighed.

Albus and his home Apparated to the Minister 's sign of the zodiac, which meant side-along phantasm for Albus. He hated side-along Apparition. It felt like he could n't breath. It was worse when the person who was Apparating him was also Apparating another someone, which was always the cause in his sept. It was the whammy of being the middle nestling. He was either with James or Lily. This clip it was with Lily and Harry was Apparating them.

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

A long and winding pavement, framed with bushes and luminousness on either side, lead up to the nominal head door. Albus 's parents started walking up and Albus followed.

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

Harry rang the Bell when they arrived at the door and it was answered by the Minister himself."Harry !"he shouted,"Come in !"

rector Langston Hartwell was the third diplomatic minister since the fall of Lord Voldemort. He was a tall, rotund man with very little hairsbreadth left on his fountainhead. He did disport a rather turgid mustache, which caused Albus to cerebrate of him as a much marvelous variation of prof Slughorn.

Hartwell was one of those very enlightened wizards who spoke using very large words that Albus could n't really interpret. He was tedious and most of his speeches could be condensed down into a few conviction, according to Harry, that is. He was a very nice man, though.

"Right this way,"Hartwell motioned for them to follow him.

Hartwell lead them through the sign, which was just as immaculate as Albus remembered, and into what could only be described as a exalted dance palace. It was the Saame dance hall all the political party Albus had been to were held.

The way was decorated with silver medal and nigrify and was already filling up with people. Albus spotted rose wine and lusterlessness in the rachis of the elbow room and left his home in the doorway to go see them.

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

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

Albus rolled his eyes."Shut it."

"What do you mean, matte ?"blush wine turned to matt,"His mum says they match his optic, but James says they 're Slytherin robes."

"Slytherin,"lusterlessness said immediately.

"Then yours are Ravenclaw,"Albus pointed out, gesturing to mat 's naughty robes.

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

"Yeah,"Albus replied.

"I 've been here for two hours already,"Matt said,"We were the first one here. Dad keeps introducing me to hoi polloi and they all think I 'm a number one year."

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

"Some,"Matt said,"That 's the bloke Dad 's pickings over for,"he gestured to a very magnanimous wizard,"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 colleagues,"lustrelessness gestured to a few more witches and wizards,"Then there 's a bunch of people from other departments, but I do n't call up any of their names."

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

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

"Like what ?"Albus asked.

"Charming alcohol out of the wine and champagne. It 'll still taste exactly the Saame,"matte grinned mischievously,"By the time midnight rolls around, everyone will be wondering why they 're not drunkard. 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 admit, that 's really originative,"rosiness giggled,"What else ?"

"Mostly stuff with the nutrient. Charm the deep brown to taste like vanilla, charm the service of process utensils to be active every time you go to pick them up, that sort of stuff and nonsense,"flatness explained.

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

"My parents never say that hooey to me,"mat laughed,"They never suspect me of anything. The minute they find out the alcohol 's been charmed out of the drinks, they 'll find Amy."

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

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

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

"What exactly happens when you use this charm ?"rosebush asked.

"Oh, it 's great,"Amy grinned,"First, only a couple people notice and they make a very tranquility acknowledgment to another person and then that person agrees that there 's something wrong with the crapulence. Then it just snowballs from there until it 's all they 're talking about. Then mortal will examine the drinks, discover the alcoholic beverage 's been charmed away, supercede it, and then everyone will cheer. But some of them will act drunk because they think there 's inebriant in the drinks."

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

"They might recount me they wish I had n't done it, but there 's not practically 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,"mat shrugged.

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

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

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

"That 's all they talk about,"blush wine said,"And Lily looks bored. Five reap hook says she 's over here in about ten minute of arc or so."

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

Albus 's Aunt Corrine was talking with two witches Albus did n't recognise and his twin first cousin were chasing each other around the room.

"Are any of your former cousins coming ?"Amy asked.

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

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

Albus and blush wine agreed. Amy left to go lecture to someone else and the three friends walked over to the counter. There was already a small queue in front of it.

"There go Samantha and lindy hop,"Rose said as they waited. The twin ran out one of the doorway and Corrine quickly followed.

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

They found an discharge table far enough away from Jesse 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 live what half this hooey is,"Matt said as he began eating,"But it 's good."

to a greater extent and more people arrived as Albus ate his dinner. He recognized a few of them, but did n't remember any gens. He also noticed that nobody was acting strangely due to Amy 's magic spell. They were all acting perfectly normal for adults who had had a few drinks.

Albus, Matt, and Rose wandered around the way once they finished their solid food. A few adults stopped to call out how big they 'd gotten and to inquire what year they were at Hogwarts. Lily joined them because she did n't want to be associated with King James I and Cedric 's mischief.

"Hello, everyone !"rector Hartwell shouted from the podium at the forepart of the room.

Everyone quieted down and turned to watch him. Albus, rose wine, and mat were somewhat tight 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 boastfully amount of wine I was given for Christmas !"

The adults all chuckled at Hartwell 's attack at a trick and then quieted down once again.

"Yes, yes, well, this party is in purity of none former than Walter Eckerton, whom I have appointed to the position of Head of the Department of Regulation and dominance of Magical beast. There is no one else whom I would trust with such a job ...."

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

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

"Thank you, Minister,"McVicar began,"That was quite an interesting speech. I, too, would care to congratulate Walter Eckerton on his promotion.

"I am for certain at to the lowest degree one-half of you were quite surprised to hear that I was retiring. I myself was surprised. In fact, I probably would n't accept done it if it were n't for the fact that my wife has been begging me to for the past ten twelvemonth.

"However, the main understanding for my lack of an sooner retreat was because there was not a single person employed in the Ministry whom I would have trusted with this job. cypher had the capabilities to carry out this spot in the way I would like. Like they always say, if you want something done right, do it yourself. That was my motto up until five years ago, that is.

"A small over five years ago, a man came into the Ministry looking for a job in the Department of the regularization and Control of Magical Creatures. He applied for a job in Werewolf financial backing serve, a position that had been subject for well over a year. I was ready to hire anyone who walked through the room access at that point, but I had no mind what was to descend when I hired Bruno Walter Eckerton.

"Some of you may know that Walter has experience in this field. He was the fountainhead of the section of regularization and Control of Magical Creatures in Australia for three long time before leaving the emplacement in order to move to England.

"Walter revolutionized lycanthrope accompaniment servicing as soon as he started. The idea he had were single that even I had n't thought of. In five short years, he has bettered life for those plagued with lycanthropy more than anyone else in the department have in their intact careers.

"It took only six months for me to realize that I wanted Bruno Walter to take over for me when I retired. Not only does he birth the experience and intelligence for the job, but he also has dedication that I have never seen before. I even have to admit that his dedication surpasses my own. I have never seen anyone conflict as hard for werewolf right hand as he has.

"The only matter left for me to do was convert myself it was time to retire,"McVicar chuckled,"And yes, it did convey the better parting of five years to do that. But now, I feel very confident as I hand the reins over to Walter."

Everyone clapped as McVicar stepped away and Matt 's dad took the stump."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,"lusterlessness 's dad began,"Thanks for your right to vote of assurance, Rob. I certainly hope I can hold out up to your expectations.

"I have to begin by saying how unexpected this was. I really had no intentions of becoming the head of the stallion department again, no matter which country I was living in. Werewolf financial backing Services has been such a great seat to mold 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 unmanageable to say no. In the end, I said yes because I want to hold more of a difference.

"Of course of study, I could not give birth gotten to this spot without the assistant of my wife, Julie,"he gestured to Matt 's mum, who was standing near the ambo,"And my daughter, Amy, and my son, matt.

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

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

"They 're too drunk to cogitate much on it,"rose smirked.

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

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

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

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

Amy was standing nearby, so Albus, matt, and rosebush squeezed their way through the gang to get to her.

"Amy,"Matt whispered,"Why 's everyone acting pattern ?

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

James and Cedric were also standing near the drink table, looking nearly as confused as Albus felt about this charm. That was kind of strange.

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

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

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

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

"What did you do ?"Albus groaned.

"Cedric and I added some duplicate intoxicant to that vino,"James whispered.

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

"What 's so amusing ?"Cedric asked.

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

"I put a charm on all the wine to hit the alcohol, while keeping the taste,"Amy explained,"I did it right when the party started."

"So much for that trick,"Epistle of James groaned.

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

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

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

"Want to explore the Minister 's Mansion ?"Matt suggested.

"Is that allowed ?"Rose asked skeptically.

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

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

It was much quieter in the balance of the star sign. They started wandering through any rooms that had unresolved doors.

"This station is so blinking fancy,"Albus said.

"It reminds me of my grandparents'house,"Matt said.

"Their mansion is this big ?"Rose asked.

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

The three admirer wound up in a very orotund animation room filled with antique furniture. There was an oriental carpeting on the ground and oak tables and bookshelves around the circumference. Atop the table were illusion vase of flowers and crystal sculptures.

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

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

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

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

"Look at all these script,"Albus gazed up at one of the bookcases,"Madam Pince would enjoy to get her manus on these."

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

"Mum would wish them,"rose said

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

"Probably older than Aberforth Dumbledore,"Albus replied.

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

Albus and Matt walked over to the window and leaned over the table that was in presence of it.

"What is it ?"Albus asked.

"Look, there's-"

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Let 's go get hold out who it is,"Albus said. He did n't get a clue as to who it was, but he wanted to determine out. There was no reason for someone to be sneaking around the Minister 's mansion at this time of night.

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

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

"That 's a trade good dot,"matte replied,"Why would person nobble around a menage that 's wide of Ministry officials, especially when the two top Aurors are inside ?"

"I do n't experience,"Albus said,"But I want to line up out who it is."

rosebush reluctantly agreed and followed Albus and Matt, muttering under her breath. They found the closest door and went out into the cold night, drawing their wand as they did so.

"If we are n't killed, we 'll freeze to death,"Rose muttered.

Albus ignored her and started looking around. He stayed close to the mansion and tried to keep himself concealed in the pubic hair as he looked for the public figure. However, he could n't see or discover anything.

"Do you hear anything ?"he whispered to Matt.

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

"goodness,"Rose muttered,"Now let 's go back inside."

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

Albus continued creeping around the house, with his wand out in forepart of him. His heart was beating fast and his custody were sweaty despite the cold. He did n't desire to blockade, though. Figuring out who this bloke was was exciting and boldness wracking at the same time.

"Do n't incite !"individual shouted and all of a sudden there was a undimmed light in Albus 's heart. wand light.

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

"Who are you ?"the soul shouted.

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

"He sounds familiar,"Matt whispered,"bent on. Bloody the pits, that 's professor Balladanis !"

Albus thought for a second and the vocalisation did sound a lot like Balladanis. But why would he be sneaking around the minister 's mansion house ?

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

"Er, yes,"Albus replied.

The wand light lowered and Albus heard the man whole step through the snow towards him. Albus saw that he was indeed prof Balladanis. He breathed a sigh of relief as rosiness let go of his arm.

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

"Y-yes, sir,"Matt replied.

"What are the three of you doing sneaking around outside in the dead of dark ? I thought I 'd taught you wagerer than that. You 're just asking for problem,"Balladanis said sternly.

"Told you,"blush wine whispered to Albus.

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

"And you 're lucky it was me,"Balladanis barked,"The three of you could have been dead if that mortal 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 outdoor ?"

"If you must know, the parson asked me to break the grounds in rescript to make sure nobody was lurking around,"Balladanis replied.

That did zippo but spark Albus 's oddity even more. He knew improve than to press further, though. Balladanis was not one to explain 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, Matt, and Rose re-entered the building, escorted by Professor Balladanis. Albus had been hoping the professor would just see them to the door and then continue his hunt 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 wizard Albus did n't know,"I found your son, your niece, and their friend wandering around outside."

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

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

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

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

"Care 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 deterrent example,"blush wine muttered,"I am not doing that again."

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

"10 !"individual shouted.

Albus looked at the nearest clock and saw that it was almost midnight. Everyone else joined in the countdown, holding their glasses of bubbly in the air. Amy joined Albus, blush wine, and Matt.

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

The crowd began to lose weight out a little while later. about of the citizenry Albus did n't know left, along with his Uncle Walker Percy, Aunt Corrine, and his cousins. Albus 's parents did n't look like they were in any hurriedness to go away, so he got a plate of the leftover desserts and at them with his friends.

rose wine 's syndicate and Amy left, and then it was just the ceramicist, Matt, his parents, the Minister, and his wife left. All the adults were talking, James was teasing Lily about something, and Albus and Matt were finishing off the last of the desserts.

"Do you think there 's any way for Hogwarts to win the Quidditch tourney ?"lustrelessness asked as he polished off a small-arm of chocolate cake.

"Only if Linda 's demented the day of one of the mate,"Albus sighed.

"Maybe that 'll occur,"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 lustrelessness,"I 'll see you soon."

"Yeah, see you on the train,"matt said.

Albus waved goodbye and then joined his mum, dad, James, and Lily. They all said praise to mat 's dad and then left the Minister 's sign of the zodiac. Albus peered into the shrub as he left, but there was no foretoken of professor Balladanis.

******

The end of the Christmas holiday went by very slow for Albus. He did all his homework, which was quite oil production, and there was zero to do after that. blush wine was visiting her early grandparents and James I was at Nathan 's mansion. Even Kaden was busy visiting his grandparents ( Vernon and Petunia ). He sent Albus a alphabetic character complaining about it, since the visit was also with Aunt margarin. Albus was very thankful that he did n't have to go. Neither of his parents had mentioned anything about visiting with Vernon and genus Petunia again.

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

"aunty marge has got to be the most frightful aunt in the stallion worldly concern,"Kaden fumed,"My dad told her about conjuring trick a few calendar month ago and she 's been awful ever since. I mean, she was always kind of horrible, but now she 's worsened. She just hates magic so much. She 's worse than my grandparents."

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

"Consider yourself favorable,"Kaden muttered,"I 'm guessing you lot had meliorate holidays ?"

"We found Professor Balladanis lurking around the Minister 's star sign,"Albus announced.

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

"I saw somebody sneaking around out of doors and Albus insisted we go investigate,"Rose said,"Turns out it was Balladanis and the Minister had apparently asked him to check the priming coat for trouble."

"Did he find out you ?"John asked.

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

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

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

"Weird though,"trick said,"Why would the Minister think someone would be hiding around his menage ?"

"Does n't he own guard duty around anyway ?"Amanda asked,"The Muggle government minister does."

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

"Why would he ask Balladanis anyway ?"Matt 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 said.

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

"That settles it,"John announced,"Albus, you 've got to find oneself out what he did before he started teaching defensive measure ?"

"Why me ?"Albus asked.

"Because you 've got those special dueling lesson with him. He likes you for some reason. Of course, he also likes Malfoy. But that 's probably just because Malfoy 's a goodness dueler, too,"John explained.

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

"You never know,"John said.

******

"Quiet, silence !"Balladanis shouted the pursual Tuesday, their first day of Defense after the holiday.

Albus immediately stopped talking to Matt and bathroom and turned to face Balladanis. He was really hoping that the professor would say zippo 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 holiday are over and although I am certainly none of you thought a bit about defensive magic during said holidays, it is now time to commence that thinking once again.

"outset, I 'll say that there is no time to not be thinking about defensive conjuration, as the darkness arts do not pick out interruption for piffling things such as holidays.

"Second, in this term we will begin to explore wight far more dangerous than hinkypunks and kappas. In this term we shall learn about those terrifying creatures such as acromantulas, basilisks, werewolves, dragons, and vampires."

Albus could n't help oneself but glance at Linda when Balladanis said lamia. Balladanis had glanced at her as well, and he also glanced at Matt when he said werewolves. Of row, he had looked at Albus when he said basilisks, so it did n't necessarily signify anything, but Albus had a look it did.

"As the master would ascertain it highly inappropriate for a dragon to demonstrate itself in this classroom, we shall not be using the anamatek as often this term,"Balladanis continued,"But we will be using it a few times. You will find that there are more lecture in this term, much to my dislike. There is nothing I would wish better than to teach you about acromantulas and werewolves with practical lessons, but there are both laws and school rules that prevent such lessons."

Albus and Matt glanced at each early. It was functionary. Professor Balladanis was insane. What kind of teacher would want to teach about Draco with bouncy dragon ? fountainhead, Hagrid would, but he was n't the same as Balladanis.

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

The residual of the day went by relatively quickly. Albus actually did not feature Quiditch practice that night, so everyone went to the Marauder 's Den after dinner.

"soothsaying is such a antic,"John said as he tossed his bag onto the base and collapsed onto a couch,"We started crystal egg gazing today. All I saw was a load of fog."

"I told you not to take it,"Rose said as she pulled a quite a little of al-Qur'an out of her own bag.

"I did n't think it would be this bad,"john groaned,"There is no way anyone could see anything in a vitreous silica ball."

"Palmistry was better,"Amanda said,"And Trelawney makes the altogether thing worse."

"Trelawney could make Defense bad,"Albus replied.

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

"That would be stupid,"Kaden said as he unwrapped a burnt umber salientian,"Those can vote down you with their eyes."

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

"Do you think that anamatek could turn into a werewolf if the moon was n't full ?"John asked.

"Probably not,"Matt answered,"It would just be a Hugo Wolf. I think it would just be a wolf any other time of the month, too, because there 's no way it could move around somebody into a werewolf by biting them."

"That 's unspoilt,"Albus said,"Because he did say that he 'd use the anamatek a few times this terminus. wonder if he 'll have it deform into a vampire."

"No need,"St. John laughed,"We 've got Linda."

"If you think of it that way, there 's no point to have it turn into a fake werewolf either,"rosiness pointed out.

"Good point, I guess,"John muttered.

******

The residuum of the week went by quickly. Albus had Quidditch pattern Th eventide, and Natalie Wood informed the whole team that they 'd gotten rusty over the vacation. He also told them that the next lucifer was in two calendar week and they 'd be playing New York. If they won, they 'd be in second gear place.

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

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

"Mr. ceramicist,"Balladanis turned around and recognise Albus,"Is it safe to adopt that you did not go wandering about late at nighttime alone after New yr 's ?"

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

"Mr. Malfoy,"Balladanis said as Malfoy walked into the room,"Now we may begin. I have decided that your understanding of the Protego spell is satisfactory so we are going to displace on to something else.

"This special charm, when performed correctly, manages to disarm and disorient a soul at the Saami meter. The sensation is often described as dizziness. Can either of you tell me what why this spell would be more useful than a standard disarming spell ?"

"Because it 's wanton to duel mortal 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 sorry wizard you 're trying to catch up with,"Albus replied.

"Another full reason, but not the one I was thinking of,"Balladanis began to take the air slowly around the room,"ace who are expecting to hold to duel former wizards often keep multiple wands on their person. There are go that can be performed on these wands to keep them attached to your robes or your literal dead body, spells that Expelliarmus wo n't overcome easily. However, these tour require invariant assiduousness.

"If a superstar is hit with the spell I am about to instruct you, they will mislay the concentration essential to keep their supernumerary baton affixed. Then, you can use Expelliarmus to get the supernumerary wands."

"Can you teach us that charm to keep spare wand in our gown ?"Malfoy asked.

"Perhaps towards the end of the year. It takes immense concentration and magical vigor to simultaneously perform that charm while dueling person,"Balladanis explained,"For now, you will learn the charm to unarm and disorientate a person 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 appealingness 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 perform the new charm first, and faced Malfoy. He held his wand up and muttered 'Protego'under his breath. He focused all of his assiduousness on holding the shield up.

"Now, Mr. Malfoy,"Balladanis muttered.

"Confundo-Expelliarmus !"Malfoy shouted.

Albus felt the charm hit his shield, but it did n't dampen through. He gripped his wand harder and stared at Malfoy.

"living going,"Balladanis said to Malfoy.

"Confundo-Expelliarmus !"Malfoy shouted again.

The good luck charm hit Albus 's buckler a lilliputian harder this time. Albus could palpate beads of elbow grease forming on his forehead.

Malfoy kept going and it took him five times to break through Albus 's shield. When it happened, Albus felt his baton leave his helping hand and was overcome by a wave of vertigo at the Lapp time. He felt exactly like he had when he had gotten the flu the previous year, 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 pass out and he had to sit down. He sat down right on the floor and was vaguely aware of Balladanis standing over him.

Then, all of a sudden, the dizziness was gone. Albus shook his caput and then looked up and saw Balladanis and Malfoy standing in movement 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 dependable to assume that you could n't suffer held tightness for any go after Mr. Malfoy succeeded in breaking your shield."

"No, sir,"Albus shook his head.

"Normally the appeal 's effects would throw lasted longer, but I performed the counter-curse because it looked like you were prepare to pass out,"Balladanis explained,"When you 're gear up, you can try the charm."

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

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

"Confundo-Expelliarmus !"Albus shouted. As he expected, the good luck charm did not disclose Malfoy 's shield.

Much to Albus 's pleasure, he managed to come apart the shield on the fourth try. One lupus erythematosus try than Malfoy had needed for Albus.

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

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

"That was unearthly,"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 parting of an 60 minutes, past when Albus would give liked to drop out. It was exhausting to be hit with that spell time after time while trying to hold up a buckler charm. Malfoy did n't seem to be faring much better and Albus thought he was even going to ask Balladanis to lay off after a half hour, but Malfoy closed his mouthpiece, obviously thinking better of it.

The drill was n't for zip, though. Albus managed to book Malfoy off longer and longer each clip and although Malfoy was getting better at the shield magical spell as well, Albus broke through it a few to a greater extent times.

"That 's enough for tonight,"Balladanis finally said after he performed the countercurse on Albus for what must have been the ten percent time that nighttime,"I 'll see you in class 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 good 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 strangest flavour he had ever seen. It was a mixture of anger, sadness, and even rue. For a moment, Albus wished he had n't asked. It was too personal. He should bear just told John they would n't be able-bodied to notice out.

"Now is not the fourth dimension,"Balladanis said quietly,"All in good prison term, I will state you."

Albus was taken aback. That was to a greater extent than he had expected. He had thought Balladanis would induce told him to mind his own business sector and get back to Gryffindor Tower before curfew. Albus was going to find out, he was just going to feature to be patient.

Albus left the way as quickly as he could in his exhausted state of matter, before Balladanis could change his mind about eventually telling Albus about his previous life history. The walk back to Gryffindor tug seemed longsighted than common and all Albus wanted to do was flop into bed when he finally got there.

Instead, he was ambushed by all of his friend. All five of them looked shocked and Amanda looked like she was going to be sick. He looked around the common elbow room and saw that most masses looked shock 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 mesa.

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

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

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

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

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

"mustiness 've just happened,"King John said,"They just found him. Madam Rosmerta heard a commotion and Flooed here, to get the Auror on tariff. By the meter they got back, his shop was a complete mess inside and he was laying dead on the floor. Avada Kedavra. They 're searching Hogsmeade, the forest, the terra firma, and the shoal. Nobody 's allowed out of their common elbow room and dormitories."

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

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

mass were n't just randomly killed in Hogsmeade. That sorting of thing just did n't bump anymore. Not since Voldemort had been defeated. fountainhead, professor Torro had been killed back before his first year and then that one enchantress from the Ministry had been killed over Christmas, but their killers had never been found and nothing had happened since.

"Why would anyone kill him ?"Matt wondered aloud.

"Why would anyone stamp out anyone ?"Rose replied.

The portrayal cakehole opened and all the whispering stopped. Everyone looked to see who came in. It was prof Longbottom, looking worse for the wear. His robes 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 eternal sleep. The search will be long over by daybreak, so you will be costless to go away the common elbow room then."

Albus and his admirer looked at each other after Longbottom left. They wordlessly went up to their hall, Kaden going with Albus instead of to the second base years'dorm. Nobody said anything as he curled up on the base with one of Albus 's supernumerary blankets. Albus got into bed and stared at the cap. He had been so exhausted earlier, but now there was no way he 'd get lots sleep that night.


A/N : Thanks to my beta, Dancer of Starlight, as well as all the awe-inspiring reader and reviewers !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


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

Albus was reading Peach State 's Prophet as she had finished with it and made a genial banknote to get down subscribing himself. All of his champion were peering over his articulatio humeri. Even Linda was hovering around them, a fundament or so away.

HOGSMEADE SHOPKEEPER MURDERED

A hoo-ha in Dervish and Banges late
yesterday evening that sent one Hogsmeade
house physician to Hogwarts to find the Auror on
duty lead to the discovery of the last
of a shopkeeper.

Leroy Wisander, 42, the ten-year owner of
Dervish and Banges was pronounced abruptly
on the view by Ministry Aurors yesterday
eventide. His store had been broken into
and it showed signs of a struggle.
Wisander was discovered in the middle of
destroyed merchandise with his wand
laying a few infantry away. Aurors confirmed
that he was killed with the killing curse.

An extensive search of Hogsmeade, the
forest, Hogwarts, and its primer coat turned
up aught despite the hours Aurors spent
searching. No fingerprints were found on
the scene.

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

Leroy Wisander had owned Dervish and Banges
for a little over ten years, when he
purchased the shop from its late proprietor
who retired. However, Wisander is more
known for the scathing 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 have it off his ruling. His virtually
recent column have explored the matter
of lycanthrope, lamia, and other so called
'half-breeds'rights. Aurors have declined
comment on whether they believe Wisander 's
editorial are a possible need for his
execution. Wisander 's obituary can be found
on pageboy five.

Albus set the paper down and his friends all resumed their seats. Nobody said a word 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 beliefs. However, it did n't exactly say what his beliefs were. Albus had n't ever scan any of his editorials, so he could n't say either.

"What kind of editorials did he drop a line ?"mat asked quietly.

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

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

Albus got up and was followed by all of his friend. John and Kaden each grabbed a spate of goner before leaving. Even Rose and Amanda went with them instead of going off to canvass with Linda.

"Have any of you read his editorial ?"Matt asked as soon as they were in the Marauder 's Den.

cypher had read them. Not even Rose. flatness sighed and collapsed onto one of the couch."I 've got to regain out what they were about. I do n't even know which would be respectable, him being for or against werewolf right hand. If he 's for them, that means some chap is on the loose killing people for wanting loup-garou rights."

Matt did n't even have to continue for Albus to know why that worried him. Matt 's dad was possibly the biggest advocator of werewolf rightfield in all of United Kingdom and everyone knew it. If someone had been killed just for writing about loup-garou right, what would come about to someone who was actually passing laws for them ?

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

"Why else would someone give birth killed him ?"Matt asked,"He was just a shop owner in Hogsmeade."

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

"To fright hoi polloi,"Albus said quietly,"The defense mechanism teacher position used to be cursed, back when our parents were in school."

"fountainhead, I do n't cogitate you should worry until you find out what the editorials are about,"Rose said to Matt.

"The former option is n't much better,"Matt muttered,"If he did n't write editorial for wolfman rights, then he wrote them against them."

Albus thought Matt had a full point, 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 occurrent outside of Hogwarts than Albus was aware of.

"Let 's go to the library,"rosebush said as she stood up,"They 'll have old transcript of the seer there."

Everyone agreed with this and they set off to the library. When they arrived, they were surprised to rule how crowded it was. Usually Sat were the solar day everyone put off their homework and then Dominicus were spent in the library.

Once they stepped inside, Albus saw that everyone was looking through old written matter of the vaticinator. Nearly every table had a few paper on it and a few students poring over them. dame Pince was bustling about, no doubt worrying about whether the scholarly person would rip her valued newspapers.

"mightiness not be any provide,"privy muttered.

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

John the Evangelist was almost veracious. There was a very small stack of newsprint left. Albus grabbed them all and then they went to a secluded mesa towards the dorsum of the program library. Albus, matt, and rose each took a newspaper while John, Kaden, and Amanda played tic-tac-toe on a spare bit of parchment.

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

healer, BREWERS TO rap, NOT MINISTRY functionary

As I was locking up my store last night,
I noticed that it was a full moonlight. I
could not help but guess of the poor
people plagued with lycanthropy
currently shut up while attacking
themselves.

Now, I know what you all are thinking.
Wolfsbane. The clobber works miracles
if taken correctly. However, it does
no good if it 's sitting in St. Mungo 's
and not being used by witches and
hotshot with lycanthropy.

The poppycock is expensive. I myself did
the calculations and discovered that
it would be extremely hard for
anyone with a low income to yield it.

And what kind of occupation are lycanthropes
often stuck with ? Menial, low-paying
1. The jobs where they make hardly
enough money to pay the economic rent and buy
nutrient, let alone buy a potion that
could castrate their lives for the better.

I am absolutely appalled that therapist
and potion brewer charge for this
important potion. They must be making
a overnice profit. They can use the lucre
to take profligate vacation while the
poor hag and wizards who buy it
struggle to yield it.

There is only so much Ministry official
can do. Head of lycanthrope Support services,
Bruno Walter Eckerton, says he would get laid to
give away barren Wolfsbane, but there just
is n't way for it in the budget.

What do I propose ? I propose that healer
and potion brewers give it away for free.
They have the power to brew it, not
the Ministry. nigh therapist claim to bed
helping masses, 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 abilities to brew it like
to have a little extra spending money.

"Nothing in this one,"Rose said as she shoved hers aside.

"This one 's got one about vampires,"Matt said as he set his theme on top of Rose's.

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

Matt took the paper and he and Rose began to study it. Gospel According to John, Amanda, and Kaden peered over as well. Albus sat and waited while they read.

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

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

"Bloody Hell, that bloke must have got had so many opposition !"John shouted as soon as they were back.

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

"Why did he experience to cite 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 stir something up,"Rose replied,"And look where it got him."

"Healers are n't like that. near of the single I 've met would give away free wolf's bane, but it 's more elaborate that that. The ingredient are expensive and it takes forever to brew. Not to advert how difficult it is. There are n't many healer who can brew it and even most beer maker ca n't brew it,"lusterlessness explained.

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

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

"Your dad 's a really unspoiled superstar, though,"Albus pointed out to his worried champion,"Plus he works at the Ministry, where there are lots of Aurors milling about. And your sign is more protected than any early family I 've seen, well, except the curate 's Mansion."

"I know, but it 's still not good,"Matt sighed.

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

******

Albus and his Quaker scoured the Daily oracle every morning the following calendar week. Every day there was an article about Wisander, the probe, or both. So far the probe had turned up goose egg. The Aurors had questioned quite a few people, namely those very outspoken against werewolf and lamia rights, but the search had proved fruitless.

The articles about Wisander were far more interest. It seemed that his newspaper column about Wolfsbane Potion was one of the tamer ace. Each day petty pieces of his various editorials were being published. In one, he stated the cause why loup-garou should n't be locked up on full moons. The ground were quite absurd, but the vaticinator had printed it anyway. Another editorial talked about why vampires should be allowed access to humans to prick. He suggested using prisoner and allowing lamia to suck them dry. Thus helping lamia and reducing prison costs at the same time.

"I reckon this fellow was off his rocker,"John announced at breakfast the followers William Ashley Sunday. He had just finished reading an article about how Wisander spent a year living with a lamia kin group in Turkey when he was young. They were some of the few citizenry actually up at an early 60 minutes, as Albus had Quidditch pattern and John had a morning hold with Filch for putting dungbombs in the commode in Moaning Myrtle 's bathroom the premature day.

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

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

"After Quidditch ?"Albus laughed,"You mean, I 'm going to get to get out eventually ? Wood wo n't fix us praxis for the side by side workweek ? I thought he was going to keep going until the actual equal on Saturday."

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

"What a shame,"Albus rolled his oculus,"Anyway, I 'll probably give to do prep, since exercise will go until late. How about you ? Any plans for after detainment ?"

"Thought I might gain another detention,"John grinned,"But Kaden 's busy with cheat club this afternoon-"

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

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

"I 'll tell rose wine good lot with that,"Albus said.

"Yeah, so both Kaden and Rose will be occupy with that. Not that pink wine would desire to make detention with me anyway. And Amanda 's doing something with Linda today, preparation, I think. And I doubt Matt will be up for doing anything,"John continued.

"right field,"Albus said, remembering that the good moon was that night,"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 have a courteous colored conversation."

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

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

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

There were a few choice speech Albus had for practice that day. Long, grueling, and intense. Wood was in his finest strain as he ordered the team to do drills hour after hr. He seemed to get Sir Thomas More and more stressed as the day wore on.

Jesse James did a lot of one-on-one training with Teddy and Albus was More than a little jealous. chemise was a much more patient headwaiter than wood was and yelled a hale lot less. President Tyler Pike mostly helped Wood.

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

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

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

"Remember, exercise Tues evening !"Wood shouted as the whole 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 exhibitioner and then set off to find his champion.

rose, Amanda, and Linda were in the plebeian way, but the male child were n't. Albus figured they were in the Marauder 's Den and set off to look for them after saying a agile hello to the girls.

John and Kaden were in the middle of a heated game of Exploding Snap when Albus walked into the piranha 's Den a few minutes later. privy 's face was full of ash, but Kaden 's was quite pick. There was also a big grinning on his face which contrasted the frown on John 's human face. matt was laying on the couch facing them, like he had been watching the game, but he was sound asleep.

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

"Grueling. Wood 's ten times high-risk than Georgia. Five 60 minutes we were out there. Five bloody minute in the cold !"Albus groaned as he collapsed onto the former couch.

"Better than scrubbing Moaning Myrtle 's privy with a toothbrush,"John muttered,"I do n't recognise what was spoilt, 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 ace someone in the chess game club,"Kaden shook his head,"But they think I have potential."

"Albus,"John said as the cards blew up in his typeface again,"Have you done that defence examine ?

"No,"Albus groaned.

"I need your help,"St. John the Apostle 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 structure Bible. Balladanis wanted a foot long essay about basilisks, which were the current dark tool of the hebdomad.

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

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

"anuran,"Albus mumbled.

"You know, I could pull a Rose and severalize you to do your essay,"John 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 head up and glared at Kaden."woods had us doing push-ups and running laps."

"Really ?"Kaden sounded surprised,"Why ?"

"To get us into conformation after the holiday,"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 position on the couch and wrote his essay with his Bible and sheepskin perched on his knees. It beat sitting at the tabular array ; at least he was able-bodied to sort of lie down.

A few hours later both Albus and privy had their essays completed. Kaden was still scribbling furiously on whatever homework he was working on.

"We should probably wake him up,"Albus gestured to matte, who had not moved one muscle since Albus had came back from practice.

John got up and began to prod Matt 's arm. It took a near two minutes for Matt to open his eyes.

"It 's nearly six,"lav 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 hospital wing,"toilet 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.

lavatory returned a little while later and the three of them went down to dinner. They returned to the Marauder 's Den afterwards and John Lackland 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 early to fire up up.

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

Albus opened his optic and saw teddy standing over his bed. A glance at the clock told him that, yes, it was far too early to waken up. It was six in the break of the day. On a Sat. Yes, it was the day of the Quidditch lucifer against New York, but that was n't until one o'clock and Albus was only a substitute player anyway.

"Albus, you 'd improve get up now. woodwind instrument 's in the unwashed elbow room,"Teddy whispered.

That got Albus 's attention. His eyes shot back open 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 substitute pursuer, a seventh year Slytherin.

"She 's sick, too,"Teddy explained,"The two of them are going out, so it does n't surprise me."

Albus took that to mean that slip thought they were snogging and one got the other sick.

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

shimmy nodded and left. Albus threw on a T-shirt and a pair of denim before running down to the coarse room, where he found Oliver Wood pacing in forepart of the empty fire.

"Albus,"he said as soon as Albus stepped into the coarse way,"You 're playing chaser today."

Albus nodded and sat down for what was surely to be a very long speech. Wood paused and then launched into an explanation of maneuver, which Albus had already heard during practices that hebdomad. He could n't figure out why he had to be woken up at six to be told he was playing. Wood could make accomplished the same thing at ten.

Mrs. Henry Wood and teddy bear left after Wood finished lecturing Albus and Albus considered going back to bed, but as he was wide awake, it would be pointless.

voice of Grant Wood 's speech had been on the weather condition, which was cold and slightly snowy. Could be worsened, Albus thought. At least there was n't a snowstorm. The conditions were very similar to those they had been practicing in all week.

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

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

"Six,"Albus muttered,"teddy got me up. Wood had to differentiate me I 'm playing Chaser today."

"What ?"Matt shouted,"That 's brilliant !"

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

"Fielding 's sick and so is the early reserve chaser,"Albus explained,"I 'm just sword lily we 're playing New York and not Australia."

Albus went to the Great Hall to eat tiffin with his champion, but he was n't really athirst. He did n't think he had ever been more anxious for a Quidditch match. This was a really authoritative match, as Wood had pointed out numerous times. If they won by a all-encompassing enough margin, they 'd be in second place.

Word had gotten around that Albus was playing in the match and numerous citizenry came over to the Gryffindor table to wish Albus fortune.

"Al,"Harry sat down future to Albus.

"Dad,"Albus smiled. He had n't been for certain 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 business firm. Ravenclaw, I guess, since their robes are blue air,"Harry grinned,"commodity luck."

"Thanks,"Albus replied.

Albus left with the eternal rest of the Hogwarts team a few minutes later. All his protagonist wished him good luck as he left the Hall.

nonentity talked much as they changed into their gown. Everyone sat down afterwards, ready for Sir Henry Wood 's pre-match speech.

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


A/N : Thanks to my beta, Dancer of Starlight, as well as all the awful citizenry who have read and reviewed this !

Also, I wrote a new song fic ! It 's from Snape 's point of thought, 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 second into the match, Albus decided there were four types of Quidditch in the world. Casual Quidditch, like what he played with his cousins ; school Quidditch ; professional Quidditch ; and then there was the type of Quidditch he was playing now.

It was a combination of school Quidditch and professional Quidditch. The crowd was louder, the musician more determined, and the stakes were gamy than a normal schoolhouse Quidditch match.

Albus dodged one of the New York Chasers and flew up to catch 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 former two New House of York Chasers.

Albus pushed his broom to fly faster and held the Quaffle tighter to his pectus. Then he plunged down to the ground, where nobody else was flying. He was back up high two minutes later when he had reached the New House of York goal posts. After dodging a Bludger, he threw the Quaffle into the bequeath goal position. The Keeper was too dull and the Quaffle soared through.

"ceramicist of Hogwarts has scored !"Sweeney Todd Ian Smith shouted,"40-30 Hogwarts !"

James grinned at Albus as he flew past. Albus smiled to himself and joined Waverly and Reilly, who were waiting for New York 's keeper to shed the Quaffle out. That had been his first gear goal of the match.

The Quaffle continued to change hand quickly as the match went on. An hour later there was still no sign of the sneaker and both squad were neck in neck as far as points went. New House of York was up by ten.

Albus scored a few Sir Thomas More goals and he began to relax a little. The match began to finger more like a school match and less like a professional peer, even though the stakes were still high up.

forest had repeated over and over again that they had to be up by at least fifty dollar bill points when James caught the fink, or they would n't be able-bodied to overwhelm New York as far as overall points went.

"New House of York 's searcher has seen the Snitch !"Smith announced.

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

James noticed as well and flew straight at the basket. He had been significantly closer than New House of York 's Seeker and flew away from the hoop with the struggling snitch in his hand.

The crowd roared and Epistle of James held the sneak high above his question. Both squad flew to the primer and Albus saw the offended feeling on Wood 's face. They had n't won by enough to be in second base place overall.

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

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

"To update everyone on the compass point, the Aussie School of necromancy is in first-class honours degree space. New York and Hogwarts are currently tied for irregular. The next match will take in billet at the end of February !"Smith told the crowd.

Albus did n't meet up with his friends until they were back in the park room. Teddy had gone to Hogsmeade and a political party was currently underway in the Gryffindor park elbow room. Teddy informed everyone that the three early star sign were hosting party as well. The students from New York who had been sorted into Gryffindor, including their quester, were sulking in a corner.

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

"I think so, too,"Albus agreed,"I kind of wish I could play in the next match."

"Maybe Fielding will still be sick,"privy said.

"doubtfulness it,"Albus replied,"asset, I 'm sure O'delle will get initiative dibs on the future match if any of the former Chasers get sick."

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

"Anyway, the next friction match you 'll probably be playing Australia,"matt 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 mates is New York versus Australia."

The party continued until dinner fourth dimension, when citizenry began to leave as nobody had snuck down to the kitchens to get solid food. Harry came in to plume Albus and King James shortly before Albus and his Quaker left for dinner. He was also scheduled to patrol the school day for the remainder of the weekend and wanted to let his shaver know.

******

lifetime at Hogwarts returned to normal shortly after the Quidditch equal. The Prophet printed fewer and fewer articles about Wisander until there were none at all. Everyone seemed to forget about his Death. Everyone except Matt, that is, who was still worried about his dad.

However, the student at Hogwarts were reminded again of the unsolved slaying when the next Hogsmeade misstep arrived two days after Valentine 's Day. A portion of the scholarly person were too lovesick to observe the boarded up shop of Dervish and Banges as they made their way to madam Puddifoot's.

Neither Albus, bathroom, or flatness were too preoccupied to notice the abandoned construction, though. The three of them stopped to wait at it for a while despite the biting wind. Rose and Amanda were spending the day with Linda.

"Who owns it now ?"John asked as they looked at the evacuate building.

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

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

Albus did n't cogitate it was a honest time to cue Matt that Severus Snape had been murdered inside of the shriek Shack.

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

"They wo n't happen who it was,"St. John said quietly,"They never found out who killed Torro."

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

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

Albus, Matt, and John the Evangelist went to the Three Broomsticks 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 someone whisper his public figure behind him.

"Albus,"they said again.

Albus turned around, but no one was there. The voice sounded intimate, though. Albus slowly reached his mitt out and it touched something firm, 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 mat and whoremonger, who were both looking confused, to pursue him. He assumed Kaden would follow as well. Albus lead them up high gear Street until they reached the scream Shack. Nobody was hanging around it that day.

"Kaden !"Albus seethed,"You do realize how stupid this was."

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

"Bloody Hell !"John shouted.

"You stole the cloak ?"matt asked.

"Kaden, you idiot !"Albus shouted,"I know I first told you this would be a good clock time, but there was a intellect I changed my psyche and told you not to slip in today. near of the teachers come to Hogsmeade for the February misstep. My cousins told me. They want to prepare sure no one does anything stupid because they 're in love or whatever."

"Er,"Kaden muttered.

"How did you get in ?"Matt asked.

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

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

Kaden 's face turned white and his mouth dropped clear. Albus turned around to see what he was looking at and was met case to brass with Professor Balladanis.

"Quite difficult, I 'd expect,"Balladanis replied,"Come 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 hassle, but Albus should experience known respectable than to think they could go the hale year.

Nobody spoke until they were shut in Balladanis 's sketch. Balladanis sat down in his chair and looked at Kaden.

"Explain,"Balladanis said.

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

"Then it would seem 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 return it to me to pinch in or anything."

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

Albus, lustrelessness, and 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 purloin into Hogsmeade. skillful matter Balladanis believed Kaden.

Kaden returned 15 transactions later, looking quite unhappy. He collapsed onto a president and stared mutinously at the table.

"Detention every Sabbatum for the future month,"Kaden muttered,"Plus he gave me a talk about how dangerous it was for me to snarf out and if I did it again I 'd get a regretful penalty than detention. Did n't lucubrate on that, though."

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

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

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

******

Kaden discovered what his detention was that Nox. Balladanis decided to have him alphabetize his private library, which was quite extensive. Kaden returned to the Marauder 's Den harangue about the quantity of book of account Balladanis had.

"He 's got more record book on iniquity creatures than your dad 's got,"Kaden said to Matt.

"That 's impressive,"matt replied.

"Wish he had less,"Kaden muttered.

Kaden spent all four of his custody alphabetizing those al-Qur'an. He almost did n't manage to wind up and if that had been the compositor's case, Balladanis would have given him a fifth detention.

The next full moon came and went, as did the following Quidditch match. Albus was beginning to suspect that the total moons were becoming worse for Matt, although he did n't know why.

New House of York lost miserably to Australia in the Quidditch lucifer. They had been doing pretty well until Linda caught the canary a one-half time of day in. Wood insisted that this was a good thing, though. It meant that if Hogwarts managed to score a good sum of goals before Linda caught the snitcher in their following mate, they would have more boilers suit tip than New York. wood seemed to consume lost any Bob Hope that James could beat Linda in quest, something James fumed about on a near daily basis.

March arrived and with it a three day rain storm that left the grounds completely flooded. Both Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures had to have place inside, which resulted in incredibly boring lessons. Ellen Price Wood continued to hold Quiditch practice and Albus returned to the castling 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 name the O.W.L.s even though they were a unscathed two years away. The only teacher who was n't talking about the end of term exam was Professor Balladanis.

Balladanis conducted his lessons as if end of condition exams did not be. He changed zero about his object lesson except the shadow creature they were learning about.

"We 're starting vampires next week,"Balladanis announced at the end of class on Th,"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 enough about identifying vampire for anyone to figure out that Linda was one.

"So,"John said as he flipped through his defence book the fall out evening. Albus, Matt, John the Evangelist, and Kaden were in the Marauder 's Den and St. John the Apostle was just finishing the chapter on vampires."smell what 's after vampires.

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

"Yeah,"Matt muttered,"It was bound to happen eventually."

"I wonder if Balladanis is going to make you go in for spare assistant during that unit,"John grinned,"I 'm sure you 'll call for burden of extra help in identifying werewolves."

Matt rolled his eye."He better. It 'll see suspicious if I do n't go in for excess help. public speaking of extra helper, we 're due to go in for it in 15 minutes."

"We 'd better go then,"Gospel According to John said,"See you two later."

Albus managed to land up his Herbology preparation while whoremaster 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 side 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 headland and placing them in the basin.

It was a pensieve and the strings were store, Albus realized. For a moment, he thought that maybe Balladanis had cancelled dueling and neglected to tell him.

"Sir ?"Albus asked hesitantly.

"Mr. ceramist,"Balladanis said quietly,"seminal fluid in."

Albus stood awkwardly next to one of the front tables 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 boy for a few minutes before speaking.

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

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

"This is a pensieve,"Balladanis said,"It is used to explore memories. That is exactly what we 're going to do. Albus, lean forward and put your headspring into the pensieve. Your eubstance will keep an eye on. Scorpius, you will come. I will come after you."

Albus 's pulsation sped up a lilliputian bit as he leaned over the pensieve. Was this a stupid idea ? He did n't even be intimate what he was getting into. But it was just a memory. Nothing could hurt him in a memory, right ?

Albus took a deep breath and plunged his face into the pensieve. He had never been in one before. He landed on the hard grass and looked around.

It was evenfall and very tranquil. There was a small planetary house in the distance, atop of a bouldered hill. In fact, the completely country was mostly rocky. Albus had landed on the one lone bit of grass in the whole office. It did n't search like any position in Britain.

He stood up as Malfoy landed side by side to him, followed quickly by Balladanis. Balladanis landed on his metrical foot 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 memory was this ? What did it have to do with dueling ?

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

"Ellas,"Balladanis replied.

This did nothing but increase Albus 's curiosity. Why were they in Greece of all situation ? But he did n't ask. It did n't seem like Balladanis was in an explaining mode, judging by his short, one word answer to Malfoy.

They walked quietly towards the small sign. The only noise was their footfall. There were n't even any owls hooting or dogs barking. It struck Albus as very odd.

The home must have been their destination. Balladanis stopped when they arrived at the broken down wooden fence surrounding it. The house reminded Albus of the shriek Shack, only minor. It was kind of humbled down and did n't face like a place that would be good to live in.

person lived there, though. A ignitor was on upstairs. It remained on for a few more proceedings and then someone turned it off.

Balladanis made no movement towards the star sign. Instead, he seemed focused on the forest that lay just beyond it. Albus decided the forest was as good a space as any to watch.

They watched the timberland for a half an time of day before anything happened. Then five hooded pattern practically flew out of the forest. They were at the sign of the zodiac before Albus even realized it. He looked at Balladanis. His face was hardened.

All was hushed for two minutes. The build entered the house, but did not turn on any lights. Then the screams started. Albus jumped at the auditory sensation of the first one.

They were agonizing, retentive screams. Albus wanted nothing more than to go in and serve whoever was screaming, but he knew he could n't. It was zip more than a memory. Instead, he looked again at Balladanis.

His prof 's face showed nothing. goose egg but the Saame hardened look he had seen on it so many prison term. Malfoy on the other hired man, looked horrified. He looked exactly how Albus felt.

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

Then, they stopped. First the char, then the man. The hooded figures left the house as quickly as they had entered and returned to the forest.

Balladanis, however, made no move to leave. Instead he stared at the house. Two minutes later, someone 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 older than Albus himself. His facial expression was etched with a sadness Albus had never seen before. It was too black to tell, but Albus was sure there were tears running down his face.

The boy obviously did n't notice the three the great unwashed 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 conversant. There was something about his face that Albus recognized, but he could n't quite place it.


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.


Professor Balladanis did n't say anything for a long clock time after he, Albus, and Malfoy returned to the vindication classroom. Albus landed next to Malfoy, still confused as to how he managed to get out of the pensieve, in movement of Balladanis 's desk. Balladanis landed behind his desk, facing the wall, and did n't turn around for a few minutes.

Albus glanced nervously at his professor as he thought of enquiry he was just burning to ask. In fact, there was aught about the tantrum he had just witnessed that did n't make Albus curious. 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 Lapplander face. Both of them wanted Balladanis to explain.

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

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

"Sit down,"Balladanis said.

Albus and Malfoy sat down quickly at the table in front line of Balladanis 's desk. They were sitting right side by side to each other and Albus did n't deal. At the present moment, finding out what that scene was was more authoritative than staying away from Malfoy.

"A few weeks ago you asked me what I did before I started teaching here, Mr. ceramist,"Balladanis began,"I have always had the purpose of telling you, of telling both of you. I was merely waiting for the mightily import. I feel that that import is now."

Balladanis paused and walked around to the straw man of his desk. He began to tempo in movement of it.

"There is a reason why I am telling you this now. Why I am not explaining to all of my classes what I did before teaching. The intellect is that you two are incredible dueler. Both of you have accomplishment beyond your twelvemonth that I have never seen before, and believe me, I have seen plenty of surpassing duelers in my time. This may be a good time to say you how rare it is to take two such skilled duelers in the same year at Hogwarts."

Albus turned to look at Malfoy. What was Balladanis getting at ? It sounded like the scratch line of some sort of house one speech or something.

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

The sole rationality for that, at least for Albus, was because of Balladanis himself. Albus doubted he would digest Albus and Malfoy bickering with each other during lessons.

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

"I grew up in Greece, in that very business firm we just saw. My parents, although they loved me deeply, were very poor and could barely give to put nutrient on the table. I think they were grateful when I went away to school, the lonesome reason being that they would n't ingest to occupy about me getting enough to eat.

"I had two blissfully innocent and fun geezerhood at the Grecian shoal of illusion. I returned home plate during summers full of history about my friends and all the mischief we 'd bugger off into."

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

"Everything changed the summertime before my tertiary year. It changed on the night you just witnessed. A coven of lamia entered my firm that dark. They attacked my parents and tope them dry. I hid in a closet, too scared to do anything. Then, once the vampires left, I fled. I ran until I could not run anymore. I wound up at the mansion of one of my friends. His parents took me in, but things were obviously never the Same. I changed on that night."

Balladanis stopped talking and Albus sat in thoroughgoing shock. Balladanis 's parents had been murdered by vampires ? That was one affair that had never crossed Albus 's judgment.

"I returned to schooltime that September hardened. zilch was fun anymore. nada was suspicious. It was then that I decided to devote my animation to ridding the macrocosm of such evilness. vampire, non-white wizards, werewolves, anyone and anything that execution viciously."

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

"However, I did take in that not all vampire, werewolves, behemoth, and early organism are inherently evil. Not all of them want to pop. It was for this reason that I did not care to be employed by the Hellene Ministry. The Greek Ministry prefers to divvy up with magical creature as a unit and not distinguish between them. Perhaps this is because Greece has a very large population of vampires.

"gum olibanum, becoming an Auror was out of the inquiry. Instead, I chose to enter a more secretive profession. One that you will not find tract on when you get vocation advice from your capitulum of theatre. One that no one except me is going to suggest 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 give them career advice ? They were only thirteen. But at the same metre, Albus felt excited. Balladanis thought he was a good enough dueler for this life history, 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 dark wizards and dark magic. However, we not only try out benighted wizards and sour trick, we seek out dark and serious creatures as well.

"The enceinte difference of opinion is that Presulers are not employed by the Ministry. There are very few Presulers in the Earth and we are often sought out by various Ministries and hired on an as-needed basis. We travel from commonwealth 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 mind intrigued him, though. A tightlipped kind of Auror who did not knead 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 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 affair that is between myself and Professor Kendrick,"Balladanis replied.

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

"As of right field now, I have no idea,"Balladanis answered,"It is getting late. I 've kept you here much foresighted than convention. If you think of anymore inquiry, do not waffle to see me. I 'll walk you back to your common rooms."

Albus walked alongside Balladanis in silence on his way back to the Gryffindor tugboat. His head was racing with what he just learned. He did n't have intercourse what to make of it. It was just so a lot information at once.

The uncouth room was nearly discharge when Albus climbed through the portraiture trap. It must ingest been really late, since it was Friday night. Albus really did n't know what fourth dimension it was.

"There you are !"Rose shouted,"Merlin, you 've been gone for hours !"

"What did he have you doing ?"Matt asked.

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

Albus was vaguely aware of his booster suspiration of disappointment as he went up to his dormitory, but he did n't experience like talking about it right then. He was tired and his head was racing at the same time.

Albus tossed and turned the intact 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 thought of her. He had said he did n't hold a grudge against vampires 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 lamia 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 ambition were plagued by what he had seen in the pensieve.

******

"pigeon hawk, Albus, get up !"

Albus rolled over in his bed and put his pillow over his nous. After waking up drenched in sweat at four in the morning after a nightmare in which his completely family had been killed by vampire, he had finally drifted off into a somewhat decent eternal sleep. One that he wished he was still in.

"It 's nearly one o'clock."

"He 's like you are after entire moons."

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

"Yeah, we want to know what happened lowest night."

Someone pulled the curtains undecided and took the pillow off Albus 's caput. He looked up and saw John the Evangelist and Matt.

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

"No, it 's not that,"Albus muttered,"I 'll recite you, but I 'm only explaining it once, so one of you salutary find rose wine, Amanda, and Kaden. And I 'll tell you in the Marauder 's Den because there is no way Linda can be around to see this."

The miss and Kaden met them in the marauder 's Den after Albus, King John, and mat had lunch. privy kept pestering Albus all through lunch, wanting to know why Linda could n't pick up about it, but Albus said nothing. He was n't even surely if he was allowed to enjoin his friends about this, but Balladanis had n't really forbidden him.

"Albus, what in the name of Falco columbarius happened live on night ?"rose wine 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 tell us until now ?"lavatory gaped,"I 've been wanting to know for the entire class !"

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

"Sorry,"John muttered.

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

"Really ?"rosebush looked affect,"What was that like ?"

"Not that great, to be reliable,"Albus said,"Probably would throw been better if it was a better memory.

"Anyway, he took us without any account of what we were going to see. He took us to this really old broken down household in Greece. Kind of looked like a belittled more creaky version of the shriek Shack."

"In Greece ?"Kaden asked.

"Yeah,"Albus nodded,"We watched the house for what seemed like hours and then these figures broke into it and we heard this fearful screaming. Then the fig left. Then this bloke who was about our age came running out with this horrible scare off look on his side. Then we left."

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

"Everything,"Albus sighed,"That had been his house. The screeching 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 metre. Albus looked at his friends and they all wore peer looks of shock.

"And you watched it ?"matte asked.

"From a distance,"Albus replied.

"Merlin, no wonder Balladanis is so all-fired insane,"john let out a low whistle.

"He decided to devote his life to ridding the earthly concern of evil, whether it be vampire, dark wizards, or other shadow creature,"Albus continued.

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

"No,"Albus shook his drumhead,"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 globe. They 're investigators as well. Apparently it 's all very closemouthed,"Albus explained.

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

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

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

"All werewolves have the capacity of killing people, Albus,"Matt said quietly.

"So does everyone,"Albus replied.

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

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

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

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

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

"Seriously ?"Matt asked.

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

"You do n't sustain to get laid. 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 Dark 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 suspicious or anything,"John rolled his middle,"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 class was soon devoted to learning about vampires. Balladanis seemed to teach that special unit with much more ebullience than usual, a feat that cypher thought possible. Everyone speculated as to why Balladanis was more enthusiastic than usual, but virtually just attributed it to the fact that he was bloody insane.

A lot of what Balladanis taught about vampire was gourmandize Albus already knew due to what matt had told them earlier in the schoolhouse year. It was still fairly interest, though. Albus found that the more dangerous the creature they were learning about, the more interesting it was. Not to mention 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 vampires, the anamatek 's body reappeared in the defence reaction schoolroom. There was an hearable groan from every student who stepped into the room.

"If that thing turns into a vampire, I think I 'm going to get up and allow for,"John seethed as they took their seats.

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

"That would n't be any skillful. We 're doing werewolves next,"John reminded him,"And matte said that matter could n't turn into an actual werewolf. Speaking of flatness, he 's prosperous he 's missing this."

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

"repose,"Balladanis said,"We 'll be continuing our lamia object 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 acquirement requirement to fight a vampire."

"He 's genial,"can muttered.

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

"Vampires are the perfect vulture,"Balladanis announced,"They 're incredibly fast,"he pointed his wand at the vampire and it disappeared.

It reappeared in the back of the schoolroom, but it had not Apparated. The vampire had moved so flying that Albus had missed it in the blinking of an eye.

"They 're agile,"Balladanis continued,"They 're good looking. They attract you in. Then they kill, they suck you dry until you are drained. The option is not big, either. From the moment their teeth fail your hide, you begin to translate into a lamia as well. You will become one if they do not go down on you dry. There is no way to stop it, no potion to counteract it.

"Vampires hunt at night when their sight is still excellent, but when human vision is compromised. However, that is not the only reason. Does anyone know the early ?"

Rose raised her hand. Linda did not.

"Yes, Miss Weasley ?"Balladanis said.

"Vampires are in substance allergic to the sun,"Rose explained,"When the sunlight hits them, it hurts them. The sun gives them worry and makes them palpate sick."

"Precisely,"Balladanis gave her a rarified smile,"There is no potion to antagonize the effects of the sun on vampire. Therefore they tend to inhabit areas that see lupus erythematosus sun and areas of dense woods, such as the Northwestern and Northeastern United States, function of Canada, and parts of USSR. However there is also a significant vampire population in Greece."

Balladanis pointed his sceptre at the lamia again and it retreated back into the luggage compartment. Everyone breathed a corporate sigh of relief. The lesson continued until the Vanessa Stephen rang. Balladanis made no reference of moving onto the next social unit, nor had he assigned the usual end of the unit essay.

Albus and his friends went to chit-chat lustrelessness late that nighttime after Albus got out of Quidditch praxis. They only had a half hr or so until curfew, but they had n't visited at all yet.

"You missed an excellent defense lawyers object lesson today,"John said once gentlewoman Pomfrey had gone back into her study after leaving to see who had entered her ward.

"Was it any dissimilar from the usual ones ?"lustrelessness 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 voice was hoarse it was n't very gaudy,"We 're still doing lamia, are n't we ?"

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

"That is Wyrd,"flatness replied,"He assign the vampire essay yet ?"

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

"Well, the longer we spend on lamia, the more than time we have before we start werewolves,"Matt said quietly,"I really hope he does n't spend as very 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,"Good night."

"'Night,"lusterlessness said.

They left the ward just as Madam Pomfrey was coming out of her study, presumably to tell them to give and give Matt more than potions. Albus and his friends headed straight for the commons way, where they got started on all the homework that had been piled on them that day.


A/N : Thanks to my genus 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.



A few of Albus 's cousin-german had begun to take up wager on how farsighted Balladanis was going to drop teaching the third gear years about vampires. Fred was sure he 'd spend the rest of term, but Bradley was convinced he 'd move onto the future unit partway through Apr. None of the third years were actually participating in these stakes because they were all afraid Balladanis would notice out.

The lamia social unit was still well underway when the adjacent Quidditch compeer came along. This one was the second Hogwarts versus Australian shoal of Sorcery compeer, which meant Wood was in his prime of life when it came to praxis. Albus considered just moving his bed to the changing suite since he spent more of his metre on the Quidditch Pitch than in the Gryffindor common room.

Albus awoke the day of the peer to St. John the Apostle 's forte swearing instead of Teddy, which told him that he did not have to roleplay during that couple. He could n't help but feel slightly disappointed. Figuring there was no stage in going back to sleep, he got up and asked King John what happened.

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

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

toilet muttered something indistinguishable and shoved his cauldron under his bed. He went into the bath while Albus woke Matt up. The three of them met Kaden in the mutual room a short while later and then went down to the Great lobby to get something to eat.

A few hours later the male child were in the Quidditch stands, waiting for the couple to lead off. Rose and Amanda were with them.

"wonderment how long it 'll take Linda to find the Snitch this sentence,"Albus mused.

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

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

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

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

"Definitely not,"Albus sighed.

Matt 's prevision proved set. Linda did not slow down down in the slightest. She flew at her common abnormally fast f number, beating James to the sneaker by a few yards. Luckily for Hogwarts, they had been ahead of Australia at that point and only wound up losing by forty compass point.

This put Hogwarts quite a bit ahead of New House of York as far as Quidditch full point went. Australia was still in the lead, but they were not faring so well in the dueling tournaments. As of the most recent tournament, Hogwarts was winning. Commonwealth of Australia was in last place and New York was somewhere in between. Albus was pretty sure enough that if the Quidditch and dueling tourney compass point were added up, Hogwarts and Commonwealth of Australia would be neck in neck opening. Whatever the outcome of the remaining qualifying tournament and compeer, the finals for both were going to mold the winner of the competition. The points were just too close.

Although there was obviously no festivity in the Gryffindor common way after the catch, cipher was particularly depressed either. Albus figured this was because cypher had really expected Hogwarts to win anyway.

******

Two calendar week into April, Thomas Bradley along with quite a few early sometime Gryffindors, were capable 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 Thursday, officially making the vampire building block the longest unit they had done. They had spent an stallion month and a half on it. The essay seemed to match this length, as Balladanis wanted it to be two and a one-half feet.

Albus, mat, and John saved their essays for the last possible minute, settling down to puzzle out on them the day before they were due. It was n't a particularly severely essay because Balladanis had given them so much info on the theme. It was just a very long essay to write. Rose and Amanda had done theirs over the weekend, presumably with Linda. Albus could n't aid but be slightly envious of them because doing the essay with an actual vampire would make it the light essay ever.

"Bet Linda 's sword lily this unit of measurement 's over,"Albus said as they worked on their essays in the marauder 's Den Monday evening.

"She is,"pink wine answered,"She hated every minute of those lessons. Ca n't say I blame her."

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

"Three metrical foot,"Rose answered.

john groaned."Do you recollect Balladanis will notice if mine 's three inches short ?"

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

"Maybe if we do n't cease it we can just jump social class tomorrow,"Matt muttered,"After all, I would n't want to testify up in class without the essay done."

"But it 'll be worse when you finally do go to socio-economic class,"rosebush pointed out.

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

"You 're going to end up it,"Rose told him,"You 've got two column inch left."

"Finished,"Albus announced.

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

"You know,"Albus said quietly,"nobody found out about Linda being a vampire even after we 've spent a calendar month and a half on them. I do n't think 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 flavor about it,"Matt sighed.

"expression on the bright slope,"Kaden put in,"When you get assigned the wolfman essay, you 're indisputable to get a 100."

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

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

Albus, Matt, and whoremaster got a former scratch line since John the Divine had misplaced his vampire essay. After finding it under his bed ( no one was sure how it go there ), the three boys rushed down to the Great Marguerite Radclyffe Hall to snaffle pieces of toast before running to Defense.

They walked into the room right on sentence and barely had a chance to catch their breath before Balladanis asked for everyone to hired hand in their vampire essays. Albus passed his essay up and pulled out parchment and a quill.

"Well, our unit on lamia 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 cause decided not to do that, I highly suggest doing it tonight."

Balladanis began his usual tempo in presence of the classroom. He stopped in front of Rose and Linda 's table and then stared out at the class.

"I thought I would set about with werewolf account,"he announced,"Nobody is sure when the inaugural werewolf came about, but they have existed in nearly every wizarding civilisation. Not only that, but even ancient Muggle refinement have lycanthropy in their histories.

"100 of eld ago, before the Muggle field of psychology came about and long before Muggles had any understanding of the human mind, they tried to take a shit sense of people whom they deemed 'insane'.

"One way they did this was to attribute the insanity to the moon. Over the years, the myth of werewolves came about. Thus, lycanthrope have had a meaning role in Muggle storey. In reality, the people Muggles accused of having lycanthropy were merely suffering from schizophrenia or bust of insanity."

Albus frantically tried to spell everything down. He knew absolutely nothing about the Muggle opinion of lycanthropy. He glanced at flatness and saw that he was n't writing anything down, but his hand was shaking.

"Muggles of line know zippo about real loup-garou,"Balladanis continued,"And their Hollywood created werewolves have little in park with the real thing.

"wolfman are plagued with the malady lycanthropy. Does anyone know what that means ?"

Rose was the sole one who raised her hand. Balladanis nodded to her."It comes from the Greek give-and-take 'lykos'and 'anthropos',"Rose explained,"Lykos means Friedrich August Wolf and anthropos agency man."

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

"werewolf have been shunned by wizarding society for as long as history has told us about them. In Recent old age, there has been much supposition about whether this is essential or even a good idea. However, it is difficult to change the mind of the legal age when we have been taught to avoid loup-garou and blackball them from wizarding club for so long.

"It has not been for no reason that this superior general prejudice has came about. When in wolf cast, lycanthrope can not manipulate their activeness and thus assail helpless hoi polloi. This has long been construed as wolfman wanting to round people, wanting to infect them with the atrocious disease.

"This can not be farther from the type when it comes to most werewolves. well-nigh do not wish to aggress others. Within the past hundred years, loup-garou have begun locking themselves up on the good moon in society to forfend attacking others. However, there is one pregnant drawback to this for the lycanthrope. Does anyone know this ?"Balladanis 's center rested on flatness, but he continued staring down at his empty parchment.

pink wine and Linda raised their hands. This time Balladanis called on Linda."When werewolf do n't have anybody to round, they attack themselves,"Linda said,"They do n't have a choice and they often wind up really hurt because of it."

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

"We 'll pick up next course of instruction with what happens before, during, and after full Moon for a person with lycanthropy,"Balladanis announced shortly before the bell rang,"If you have not understand the werewolf chapter, please do so for next metre. Mr. Eckerton, if you could please get see me."

lustrelessness looked, if it was possible, even more queasy at this view. The rest period of the class left and Albus tried to put away his things as slowly as possible, but Balladanis shooed him, along with John, out of the room.

Malfoy was standing outside the schoolroom when Albus and John left. He had a slight smirk on his face.

"Interesting example, Potter,"Malfoy said quietly,"Very interesting indeed."

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

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

"Merlin,"John muttered,"He knows."

"If he does n't yet, he 'll bang after next lesson. He 's onto it, that 's for sure enough,"Albus said.

"Onto it ?"John replied,"That 's a squeamish way of putting it. The whole schooltime 's going to know in two 24-hour interval, after the future 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 example ?"

"Yeah,"John the Evangelist nodded,"We ca n't tell him. Whatever Malfoy 's going to do, he 's going to do it whether mat knows about it or not."

"I agree,"Albus nodded,"We wo n't tell."

"What are you two talking about ?"matte appeared behind them, looking no better than he had before.

"nada,"John said,"What did Balladanis desire ?"

"Told me I did n't have to go to the duplicate service during this unit unless I wanted to,"Matt told them.

"What are you going to do ?"john asked.

"I do n't eff,"mat said as they began walking to Herbology,"I know it 'll bet wary if I do n't, but I really ca n't take many more lessons like that. pigeon hawk, Thursday 's lesson is going to be awful."

Albus saw no point in denying that. Matt did n't cause a cue as to how horrific it would be. They said cypher more about it the unscathed way to Herbology.

******

Albus had never been so happy about having ridiculously long Quidditch drill as he was Tuesday and Wednesday evening. He was perfectly well-chosen to drop all his free clock time on the Quidditch sales talk and then be too well-worn to do much of anything else afterwards.

It was just so unmanageable for him to keep on what Malfoy said away from matt. He wanted nothing more than to warn his friend about it, even though he knew that would attain cypher. All it would do was reach lustrelessness care even more and then act even more queasy during Defense.

Quidditch also kept Albus 's judgement off of what would happen after Malfoy 's hunch 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 for sure Malfoy would announce it to all of Slytherin. Then, word would diffuse and the entire school would find out. Merlin only knew what would happen when scholar'parents found out.

Albus knew that werewolf rights had come a long way since shift 's dad was in school, but he also knew that most mass would not be glad if their child were going to schoolhouse with a lycanthrope, especially one that did not take Wolfsbane. Not to mention the arena day the military press would have with it. lustrelessness 's dad had just become Head of the Department for the Regulation and ascendance of Magical Creatures for Merlin 's saki. It would be a repeat of what had happened when lustrelessness and his family line had lived in Australia.

Not to bring up what it would do to Matt himself. Albus remembered when there had been a slight chance that Malfoy found out about the passage under the Whomping willow tree. He had nearly had a affright flak. What would hap if Malfoy found out he was a werewolf ?

It did not serve that the full moon was that Fri. flatness barely spoke during the abbreviated times that Albus was not occupied on the Quidditch sales talk. He sat in the Marauder 's Den with everyone else, but he stared off into space or slept.

Yes, Natalie Wood 's longsighted Quidditch practices took Albus 's psyche off of all of that, but they did not stop Th from arriving and Oklahoman than Albus would receive liked he found himself sitting in Balladanis 's classroom.

Albus and John exchanged nervous glances as Malfoy walked in with a very smug look on his face. Albus was so focused on Malfoy that he nearly missed the fact that the anamatek 's trunk was back in front of Balladanis 's desk. Once he noticed it, he poked Gospel According to John in the side.

"What ?"John seethed. Albus gestured to the trunk."Merlin 's byssus,"John exclaimed,"I do n't even need to get laid what he 's going to do with that."

"Quiet down,"Balladanis said,"We 'll uphold our wolfman discussion today by talking about what happens to a werewolf when the moon waxes.

"lycanthrope, in a standardised way to vampires, are somewhat allergic to the moonlight when the moon waxes. For the few nights before the actual full moonlight, when exposed to moonlight lycanthropes will experience ill. The moonshine gives them headaches and when exposed long enough, causes them to lose consciousness."

Albus did n't irritate writing any of this down, as he knew first mitt what happened when a wolfman was exposed to too much moonlight shortly before the replete Sun Myung Moon. Instead he stole quick glance at Malfoy and lusterlessness. Malfoy was furiously writing down everything Balladanis said and stealing quick glance at Matt himself. flatness was staring down at his parchment and Albus was for certain he was trying to discount everything Balladanis said. He was pallid and ill, but Albus was n't sure if that was because of the lesson or because the replete Moon was the side by side day.

"Lycanthropes are often too ill to go about their daily activities the day of the wax moon and occasionally the day before as well. Before I describe the actual transformation, I wish to designate you what a someone with lycanthropy looks like the day of the full moon moon."

For a brief second base, Albus thought Balladanis was going to shout out Matt to the front of the elbow 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 body and a belittled man stepped out of it. His lividity 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 scars and had a sickly look to them.

Balladanis began to mouth about what the anamatek looked like, but Albus paid no attending. Instead he looked to Malfoy. Malfoy stared at the anamatek for a minute or so with shock and then he glanced at lusterlessness. Finally, he met Albus 's regard and Albus saw the biggest smirk he had ever seen on the Slytherin 's nerve. That was it. Albus knew it. Malfoy had made the connection.

The remainder of the deterrent example passed by in a sorting of fog for Albus. He and John Lackland had exchanged glances and the look on lav 's face told him he had noticed Malfoy 's realization as well. Albus heard Balladanis 's lecture, but he did n't serve it.

The lesson seemed to embroil on and speed by at the same clock time. Albus wanted it to be over so he could get out of there, but at the same time he did not want to know what was going to happen after.

"Next lesson will rivet on Wolfsbane Potion and the effects it has had on werewolf rights,"Balladanis announced at the end of the moral,"Class dismissed."

Albus and John looked at each former. Albus did n't know what to do. Should he present Malfoy ? Or should he order Matt what happened ? matte seemed oblivious to the totally thing.

They silently decided just to allow for the classroom and decide what to do after. rosiness and Amanda had left with Linda with absolutely no thought what had happened.

Malfoy was waiting for them outside the room and Albus was not indisputable if this was a soundly or a bad thing. He had the sudden impulse just to hex Malfoy right then and there.

"Another enlightening lesson,"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 regretful tomorrow,"Malfoy replied,"It 's about that time of the month, is n't it ? Tomorrow night ?"

That got matte 's attending. His head snapped up and he glared at Malfoy. Then he turned around and looked from Albus to Gospel According to John with the most panicked look on his boldness Albus had ever seen.

"It 's going to be a fun full moon moon, is n't it ?"Malfoy whispered, just loud enough for lusterlessness, Albus and John to hear.

Matt did n't say anything. He shook his head and then ran. He pushed through the gang, much to the dislike of the educatee who were trying to get to category, 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 frighten him. In center, Malfoy had threatened him with it. That was one of the worst matter he could have done.

Ignoring all the early 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 sure you 're so indistinguishable that even your own parents wo n't recognize you."

"Is that a terror, Potter ?"Malfoy pulled out his own wand.

"You need me to spell out it out for you ?"Albus asked,"I think we 're about to find out just how much advantageously I am at dueling than you are."

"Rictumsempra !"Malfoy shouted.

"Protego !"Albus shouted at the same time.

"Expelliarmus !"John shouted.

The crowd moved away so that there was a rotary of onlookers surrounding the duel. Albus ignored them. It was just him, John, and Malfoy. And Malfoy was outnumbered.

Malfoy deflected St. John 's disarming spell and shot another charm at Albus. It bounced off Albus 's shield and hit a nearby portrait. The portrait 's occupier shouted in disgust and moved into her neighbor 's frame.

Albus concentrated on his shield charm and glared at Malfoy."Petrificus Totalus !"he shouted through his shield.

Grateful for Balladanis 's dueling lessons, Albus watched as his shell held up while the hex shot at Malfoy. Unfortunately, Malfoy dodged it and sent a tickling jinx at John.

This one hit John and he collapsed onto the floor in a fit of giggles. Albus slam 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 baton and neither did Malfoy, but they did n't fire off anymore whammy either. Albus let his shield down and noticed that the gang had dispersed. John was still rolling around on the ground.

Balladanis pointed his wand at can and can immediately stopped giggling and stood up.

"Follow me,"Balladanis growled.

All three boys followed Balladanis into his study. Albus looked nervously at John. Of all the professors to hitch them dueling, it had to be Balladanis. Of trend, the one good affair about this was that Malfoy could n't denote Matt 's lycanthropy to the entire shoal while Balladanis was lecturing them.


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


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


Albus and John sat as far away as potential from Malfoy in Balladanis 's study. Balladanis just stared at them before speaking.

"I can not commence to tell apart you how discomfited I am in all of you,"Balladanis began,"Especially you, Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy. I am sure as shooting I taught you better than this. The two of you especially should know how uncalled for that was. You are well aware of your dueling science and what sort of province lies with them. I have half a mind to discontinue our training session. However, I am uncoerced to hear all sides of this story before laying out any sort of punishment. You may go first, Mr. Malfoy."

"I was just walking to stratum and potter pulled out his sceptre and attacked me. Then Brickston joined in. I was outnumbered, sir. I had to fight back myself,"Malfoy said.

Albus had to try hard not to huff. He and John looked at each other and John rolled his eyes.

"Very well,"Balladanis said,"Mr. Potter, if you please."

Albus took a deep breather. He was going to secern the tarradiddle. The whole narration."Malfoy was threatening lustrelessness, 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 honest, Mr. Malfoy ?"

"Yes,"Malfoy muttered,"And I was n't threatening him. I was asking him about it. I think I have the right to know 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 continue his aesculapian issues to himself,"Balladanis replied,"His wellness is none of your clientele whatsoever. Please continue, Mr. Potter."

"After matt left, I wanted to be sure Malfoy was n't going to go recite the hale school about lustrelessness 's lycanthropy,"Albus explained,"And I guess we just wound up dueling."

"Just wound up dueling ?"Malfoy scoffed,"You had your verge on me."

"You sent the first 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 affaire d'honneur. All three of you will receive four Nox'custody starting tonight at eight. Each of you have lost ten full stop from your various houses.

"However, I am taking all three of you to see the headmaster. There are affair more important to discuss than detentions,"Balladanis said as he stood up.

Albus knew full-of-the-moon well what Balladanis was insinuating. He and John said nothing as they followed Balladanis to Kendrick 's study. Malfoy walked a few feet behind them.

Albus had n't been to Kendrick 's study since his first year, when he went to verbalize to Dumbledore 's portrayal. The place had n't changed in the slightest. Everything seemed to be in the demand same place. Both Dumbledore and Snape were alive and in their portraits.

Kendrick was behind his desk writing something when they entered. He looked up curiously at them. Albus, Gospel According to 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 hand out detentions, Aplysia,"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 lusterlessness Eckerton is a werewolf,"Balladanis answered,"And I believe Mr. Potter and Mr. Brickston have known for quite some time."

Kendrick dropped his quill and looked up."I 'll hold this from here. I believe you have a lesson to teach."

"I believe I do,"Balladanis replied and left the room.

Kendrick conjured a few chairs and gestured for the three boys to join him at his desk. Albus sat down in the middle chair and waited for Kendrick to set out. He noticed that both Dumbledore and Snape were paying rhapsodic attention.

"wellspring, well,"Snape said,"Deja vu."

"Not now, Severus,"Kendrick said,"Mr. ceramist, perhaps you can recite me if anyone else knows about Matt 's lycanthropy ?"

"Er, yes,"Albus replied,"Rose Weasley, Amanda tagging program, and Kaden Dursley."

"I knew that Dursley kid knew something,"Malfoy muttered.

"Not now, Mr. Malfoy,"Kendrick said,"I 'll require to utter with them, as well as Matt. I imagine they 're all in class."

"Sir,"Albus interrupted,"I do n't think flatness 's in class."

"You may be right on,"Kendrick sighed,"Do you have any thought 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 dungeon as Rose and Amanda would be in potions.

Matt was sitting on his bed in the predator 's Den, staring at the wall and not moving a muscle.

"I suppose Malfoy 's told everyone,"Matt said without turning to front at Albus. His voice was hollow.

"No,"Albus replied,"He has n't had the luck. St. John the Apostle and I dueled him after you left. Balladanis gave us all four Night of hold and took full point away."

"He 'll tell everyone soon,"Matt replied,"I should probably go pack. You know, I really thought I 'd get to finish shoal. That 's not even the rack up part. It 's going to be all over the seer. My dad 's going to lose his job again. We 'll probably have to strike to New York."

He finally turned around and looked at Albus. He no longer looked dying. He looked absolutely terrified, yet sad at the same time.

"Why did Balladanis have to be such a good teacher ?"Matt groaned and laid back on the bed,"If he had been some sorting of awful teacher then maybe Malfoy would n't have found out. He 's just so exhaustive ! He left null out ! Even the way he described the shift. It was so, it was just so, realistic.

"And that stupid anamatek !"Matt sat up and looked at Albus,"That affair 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 get laid ?"Matt shouted,"How do you really know ? 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 deal with this."

Albus did n't really fuck what to say to that. Everything Matt said was truthful. Kendrick was not Dumbledore. nobody could compare to Dumbledore.

"Kendrick wants to see you,"Albus said,"He 's got Malfoy up in his work. He wants to talk to all of us. Me, John, rose, Amanda, and Kaden."

"I do n't require to go up there,"Matt said,"I never want to see Malfoy again. I just want to stay here. Merlin, my principal is killing me."

"I think you have to go,"Albus said quietly.

"I know,"mat 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 desire to be a fucking wolfman anymore."

"I know,"Albus said, knowing just how scummy matt was at that moment. Albus had never once heard him sound off about being a werewolf. Not when he was too trite to do anything because of the broad lunation or when he was laid up in the hospital flank for twenty-four hour period afterwards.

They walked quietly back to Kendrick 's field of study. Albus muttered the word, 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 mat when they walked in. lusterlessness froze in berth and Albus stopped and looked at him. He was staring directly at Malfoy.

"take a seat,"Kendrick gestured to the two empty chairs, one of which was side by side to Malfoy's.

Albus took the can next to Malfoy 's, but did n't look at him. lustrelessness took the other one.

"first-class honours degree, I want to check you that you do not have to leave Hogwarts,"Kendrick said to Matt,"nonentity else will be finding out about your lycanthropy."

flatness did n't face reassured by this. Malfoy looked mutinous.

"My father wo n't fit with that,"Malfoy muttered.

"Your begetter has no say whatsoever in which student I admit to this school,"Kendrick replied,"He works in the Ministry, and may I luff out that his position is not very high."

"Matt,"Kendrick turned away from Malfoy,"Energy Department anyone else know ?"Matt shook his psyche."And did you narrate the others, besides Mr. Malfoy, willingly ?"Kendrick continued. matt nodded.

"Very well,"Kendrick said,"And how long have they known ?"

matte seemed unable to speak. After a few moment of secrecy, Kendrick turned to Albus."How foresightful have you known, Mr. ceramist ?"

"Two age,"Albus answered.

Kendrick repeated this dubiousness with blush wine, John, and Amanda, who all gave the same answer as Albus. Then he moved onto Kaden and Albus suddenly remembered the Sileo Altus appealingness. He shared one horrified glance with Rose and waited for Kaden 's reply.

Kaden looked at Kendrick and then turned to Albus. His oral cavity was agape and he looked a little panic.

"Are you all right, Mr. Dursley ?"Kendrick asked.

"Fine,"Kaden answered,"It 's just, well ...."

"prof, Sir,"rosebush began,"We sort of put this charm on Kaden, so he would n't tell anyone. He can only tattle about it with us. He wo n't be able to say a affair about it around you or Malfoy."

Albus braced himself for Kendrick 's response, but before the headmaster could say a Holy Scripture, Dumbledore chuckled in his frame.

"The Sileo Altus charm,"Dumbledore smiled,"Ingenious. Who performed it ?"

"I did,"Rose answered.

"Remarkable,"Dumbledore said,"You must be an incredible witch, Miss Weasley."

"Too chic for her own estimable, more like it,"Snape muttered.

"That is indeed quite the amazing feat, fille Weasley,"Kendrick said,"Can you tell me how farsighted Mr. Dursley has known ?"

"About a year,"blush wine said.

"Thank you,"Kendrick replied,"Now I have some thing to discuss with Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Eckerton in private. The residuum of you may go to the Great Charles Martin Hall. I believe there is still a half minute or so leftfield of lunch."

Albus did n't really want to entrust without finding out what was going to chance to Malfoy, but he knew lusterlessness would secern him.

Matt never showed up in the Great Hall for dejeuner, nor did he go to ancient Runes or charm. Albus could not contract on either of those class and was very happy when Charms was over and he was capable to leave.

Wood was not very well-chosen that Albus had acquired four detentions. In fact, he was livid. He spent twenty minutes telling Albus how he should n't be picking combat with former educatee so close to the next Quidditch mate, especially in front of instructor'classrooms. The lecture had only ended when Albus told him he was late for Charms. Albus had run into woodwind instrument in in between ancient Runes and Charms.

"What do you hypothesize Balladanis is going to make us do ?"John asked as they walked towards the piranha 's Den.

"Have n't a clue,"Albus replied,"But whatever it is, it 's going to be bad since we have to do it with Malfoy."

"True,"St. John the Apostle agreed.

Rose, Kaden, and Amanda were with them. Albus wanted to go find lusterlessness before they went to dinner. They had to wait a spell for the corridor to clear out before they were actually capable to get into the elbow room, though.

Matt was fast asleep on the couch when they entered."Good thing he does n't accept detention tonight,"St. John pointed out.

"Yeah,"Albus agreed.

John gently shook Matt 's shoulder until he cracked his center open."Wake up,"John said,"Or you 'll overleap dinner."

"I 'm not hungry,"Matt muttered.

"What 's Kendrick doing about Malfoy ?"Albus asked as he sat down on the other end of the couch.

"He should put that charm on him,"Kaden announced,"The one you lot put on me."

"I wish he would,"mat sighed,"All he did was enjoin Malfoy how significant it was not to mention anything. He said telling his father would do nothing. Then he told him that if he ever did tell anyone, he would face forcing out for revealing another student 's medical information. But that 's it ! I mean, Malfoy did foretell he would n't say anything, but who really knows ? Sure, if he tells, he 'll be expelled, but that wo n't necessitate 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 recite anyone if it meant he 'd be expelled. That would be the ultimate disgrace in the Malfoy family, besides being a Squib or marrying a Muggle or something, getting expelled and not being a fully qualified wizard. Malfoy wo n't desire that."

"I guess you 're right,"matt sighed,"It 's just so strange, knowing that he knows."

"I know,"Albus said,"Do you want to go eat dinner ?"

"No,"Matt shook his head,"You guys go on ahead. I 've got to ship an owl to my parents, let them roll in the hay about this."

Albus nodded."We 'll see you later, then. John and I have got custody tonight."

"Oh, right. Good luck with that,"Matt replied.

******

Balladanis 's custody was a bit anticlimactic. Albus had been expecting him to remember up some really creative and taxing detention, but instead he assigned them short letter. melody were possibly the most deadening hold ever thought up, but they were preferable to cleaning the bathrooms or something.

"potter, Malfoy,"Balladanis said after they 'd been writing for ten minutes,"Your dueling lesson is canceled for tomorrow Nox due to your detention. Detention will be at nine, after my extra supporter session, something I 'll carry you to be attending, Brickston."

Balladanis said nothing more and began grading essays at his desk. He completely ignored the three boys, which Albus did n't really mind. He just wanted to get his assembly line done and get out of there.

"Where does he go ?"Malfoy hissed at Albus.

"What ?"Albus whispered.

"You know, on full moons, where does he go ?"Malfoy elaborated.

"I 'm not telling you that,"Albus muttered.

"My dad said a lycanthrope used to teach here, and he got fired when everyone found out,"Malfoy drawled.

"He quit,"Albus corrected him,"He was n't fired. He was the advantageously defense reaction teacher any of our parents ever had."

"Quiet !"Balladanis shouted,"I did n't say you could talk."

Albus was thankful for Balladanis 's chiding. Malfoy stopped asking doubt and went back to his lines. 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 hour into their course writing, when Albus was contemplating switching workforce despite the fact that he wrote horribly with his right manus, there was a bash on the door. Albus looked up and saw Professor Kendrick standing in the doorway, along with none other than matte 's dad. Albus set down his quill and turned to bathroom. John had set down his own quill.

"Who 's that ?"Malfoy asked.

"Shush !"Albus hissed. The live on affair they needed was for Balladanis to commend they were there and tell them to get out so he could have whatever conversation he was about to induce in private.

"genus Aplysia,"Kendrick said quietly,"This is Walter Eckerton."

"We 've met,"Balladanis muttered.

Albus turned again to can. Matt '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 earliest 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 students what they 'll need to know in society to defend themselves,"Balladanis replied.

"I think you go too far with that,"Mr. Eckerton disagreed,"Merlin, showing them exactly what a wolfman looks like before a transformation with an anamatek ? Do you take in how dangerous those are ?"

"Of track,"Balladanis said, raising his voice a bit,"You 're not the exclusively expert on wizard tool. I have sodding restraint over my anamatek."

"cypher has everlasting controller 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 need 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 lots you taught the one-third years about werewolves. The details about their translation, how to clean one out of the general universe, what happens before, during, and after transformation. Your moral was far more detailed than a third year text book."

"You 'd find that all my deterrent example are like that,"Balladanis replied,"Text books do not give enough details."

"I think giving enough particular about identifying a loup-garou so that a third year would be able to work out that individual not even in their same house is one is going too far,"Mr. Eckerton seethed,"You knew about my son. You should take been a bit more cautious with your lesson."

"withholding tax info from an intact form because of one pupil is not a good method of teaching,"Balladanis countered.

"It is when it could be severe for that one student,"Mr. Eckerton said,"Fan of the cracking good for the nifty phone number, are we ?"

"There are times when that is a skilful philosophy,"Balladanis replied.

"We 'll agree to discord, then,"Mr. Eckerton said,"But if I find that your lesson are putting my son in danger anymore, you may see 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 wrinkle any longer."Is that him ?"he asked.

"The one who found out ?"Kendrick replied,"Yes."

Mr. Eckerton strode over to the tabular array Albus, John, and Malfoy were working at. He nodded hello to Albus and John before turning to Malfoy.

"I realize the master has already gone over this with you,"Mr. Eckerton began,"But I feel the motive to duplicate that there will be issue if you make world my son 's condition."

Malfoy nodded."I know,"he muttered.

"trade good,"Mr. Eckerton replied and returned to where Kendrick was standing. He turned once again to Balladanis."I 'll be returning to the castle tomorrow to research your study and classroom for the anamatek. If it is still here, I will take it into custody."

Balladanis muttered something under his breath as flatness 's dad left the elbow room with professor Kendrick. Albus exchanged a glance with John. He wanted nothing more than to leave, so he could babble out about what had just happened.

"That 's sufficiency for tonight,"Balladanis barked,"Get out. Be back here tomorrow night at nine."

Albus nearly spilled his ink in his haste to get up. He ran out of the elbow room as fast as he could with Saint John following. Malfoy made no move to try and talk to them again, so they headed straight to the predator 's Den.


A/N : Thanks to my beta, Dancer of Starlight as well as all of the pin-up people who have read and reviewed this ! You guys are awe-inspiring !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


Albus and John burst into the Marauder 's Den a little while later to chance that Matt and Kaden were the only ones there. matte 's aspect was covered in ash and Kaden was grinning. They were in the centre of a game of Exploding Snap.

"And that makes four wins for me and none for you,"Kaden announced as he collected the cards,"Oh, Albus, John ! How was your custody ? Want to meet ?"

"Not now,"Albus said hurriedly as he sat down succeeding to Matt,"Matt, did you sleep together 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 have sex where he went after ?"John asked.

"Home, I guess,"matt shrugged,"Why ?"

"He and Kendrick turned up in our custody,"John said.

"He what ?"lusterlessness 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,"mat shrugged,"Then what happened ?"

"Your dad was really wild,"Albus continued,"He thinks Balladanis taught us too often about how to figure out if individual 's a werewolf and that 's why Malfoy found out. Then he told him how unsafe it was for him to use that anamatek in class-"

"Oh, yeah,"lusterlessness said,"I told my dad about the anamatek and that 's one of the cause he came here, to separate 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 scrutinise Balladanis 's room tomorrow to make surely he got rid of it. He also said that if any of Balladanis 's teaching puts you in risk again, the Ministry 's going to enquire him."

"It 's really not a good estimate to get on my dad 's bad side,"flatness 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 happy that your dad was there. I think something happened between the two of them."

"But what ?"Matt asked,"Dad 's never mentioned him before."

"Think he 'd tell you if you asked ?"John the Evangelist wondered.

"Probably,"flatness said,"I 'll owl him about it."

"Oh, and then your dad told Malfoy he 'd better not recount anyone you 're a werewolf,"John said,"He looked pretty chilling, too. I do n't intend Malfoy 's going to narrate anyone."

******

It did not train very long for word to spread that Balladanis had gotten in hassle for having an anamatek. Galleons exchanged hands the future dawn at breakfast, as a few elder educatee had bet on how long he would ingest it. Somehow everyone knew that Matt 's dad had showed up at Hogwarts the previous night and informed Kendrick about it.

Kaden had Defense that sunup and reported to Albus at tiffin that Balladanis was even exacting than common and seemed incredibly angry. That did not foreshadow well for Albus 's hold that evening.

"He 's right-down scary,"Kaden said as he piled steak and kidney pie onto his dental plate,"Yelled at one of the Ravenclaws in my social class for spilling her ink. She was nearly in teardrop. But I 'd hate to be in your class, Albus, he 's going to be brutal. I mean, it 's pretty much because of Matt that he got in trouble."

Matt had gone up to the Marauder 's Den after they got out of Herbology since he felt ill and was n't in luncheon. Albus knew that Kaden was rightfield. Balladanis was going to take this out on matte, and possibly Malfoy as well.

"I do n't know why he cares so much,"John shrugged,"I mean, the Ministry could let just taken that thing away. He 's lucky he just had to read it back to his house or whatever."

"I do n't think he likes the regime,"Albus said,"That 's the tactual sensation I got after listening to him talk about what he did before didactics here. I think that 's why he did that, instead of becoming an Auror."

"well, I think it 's a good idea for the Ministry to realise him conduct that thing dwelling,"St. John the Apostle said.

"Me, too,"Albus agreed,"I mean, he could 've turned it into a manticore next."

Kaden went to family after lunch while Albus and John went up to the vulture 's Den with blush wine and Amanda.

"Think he 's owled his dad yet ?"lavatory asked as he gestured to matt, who was asleep in his bed.

"uncertainty it,"Albus said,"He 's probably been asleep since he got up here."

"Merlin, I just want to know what happened between his dad and Balladanis,"bathroom groaned.

"You 're so raring,"rose wine commented,"Just let him sleep."

"I was n't going to wake him up,"John muttered.

The remainder of the afternoon passed by quickly. Albus was dreading his detention later and John complained loudly about how he had to go to the extra help session about werewolves when he already knew so very much about them.

Albus woke Matt up shortly before dinner party and he looked much speculative than he usually did the day of replete moons. They all escorted him to the hospital fender, where Madam Pomfrey rushed him into bed.

Just as they were about to leave the infirmary offstage, the doors opened and in walk flatness 's dad. Albus assumed he was there to check if Balladanis had gotten rid of his anamatek.

John nudged Albus."We should ask him about Balladanis,"whoremonger whispered.

"He 's not going to tell 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 Madam Pomfrey in hushed whispers.

As it turned out, Albus had been worrying about the detention for nothing. He entered the way before Malfoy and John Lackland was already doing his lines. Balladanis said absolutely nothing to Albus as he handed him lambskin. Malfoy arrived a little while later and still Balladanis said nothing.

Malfoy did not talk either. He did not ask anything about mat and did n't even gloss that the full moonlight was that night.

Balladanis let them leave at one-half past ten. Albus and John the Evangelist found Kaden in the vulture 's Den and spent the remaining sentence left until astronomy playing Exploding snapshot and superstar 's Chess.

"Why, why do we have to have this class with the Slytherins ?"whoremonger groaned as they made their way to the astronomy Tower,"If Malfoy does n't earn a exclusive input about the wide-cut moon, I 'll eat an stallion cauldron."

"I 'm going to view as you to that,"Albus laughed,"But I do n't cerebrate you 'll make to."

Malfoy went so far as to actually set his telescope up side by side to Albus 's. Professor polo spent ten minutes telling them that they were to plot the attitude of Mars, genus Venus, the lunar month, and a handful of wiz before turning them lose to actually do so.

"The moon is so bright,"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 Control of Magical beast ? 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 check talking about it,"Albus muttered.

"Oh, arrive on, Potter. Even you have to appreciate the irony,"Malfoy said.

"will you just shut up,"Albus seethed.

"quiet over there,"Polo said.

Malfoy smirked at Albus one more prison term before going back to his telescope. The residual of the object 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 Madam Pomfrey locked the hospital wing ?"

"That 's why this is bad !"rosebush said.

"wellspring, she did n't mesh us out this time,"John pointed out.

"She did n't exactly let us in either,"Kaden said.

Albus and his friends had slept late on Sabbatum morning and after grabbing a nimble insect bite to eat, had gone to visit Matt in the hospital wing. ma'am 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 ?"rosebush wondered.

"Have n't you noticed that the full-of-the-moon moons have been worse the past few month ?"Albus asked,"He 's been taking longer to recover."

"I wish he 'd just let us go Animagi,"john muttered.

"Gospel According to John, I honestly do n't think you could suit an Animagus,"rose wine replied,"You 'd lift up with a permanent tail affixed to your arse."

"That would n't be that bad,"John Lackland grinned,"Always thought it would be nerveless to give a tail."

"You 're not helping,"Albus sighed,"What are we going to do ?"

"I think all we can do is just keep going back to the hospital annexe,"John Lackland shrugged,"Until Madam Pomfrey lets us in."

Their elbow grease proved fruitless, though. They went to the hospital wing twice that afternoon and then flop before Albus and John had to go to detention. lady Pomfrey told them 'no'each clip.

Sunday, the conclusion day of Albus and John 's hold, was the same. Madam Pomfrey was quite livid when they showed up for the 3rd meter that day.

"zip 's changed !"she shouted,"Come back tomorrow evening ! I 'll give the lot of you detention if you come back any earlier than that !"

With that, she strode back into the Ward and slammed the door."Can she even give detention ?"Kaden asked.

"I dunno,"Albus shrugged,"I would n't put it past her."

Albus and St. John the Apostle broke away from the group to complete their death detainment. Balladanis gave them lines, just like he had the past three nights. Albus sat quietly completing them, very grateful for the fact that Malfoy had n't said two words to him since Astronomy.

"You may kibosh,"Balladanis said quietly after they 'd been writing for about an hour and a half.

Albus threw his quill down and leaned back in his chairman. Finally, it was over.

"I hope you learned something,"Balladanis said, which shocked Albus. He had been expecting Balladanis to continue his secretiveness."If I catch any of you dueling in the corridors again, the result will be much more severe than detention and lost points.

"Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy, I have given bully thought to whether I should continue giving you spear carrier example. I have decided to hand you one Thomas More opportunity. deterrent example will continue this Friday at their normal time. However, if either of you disregard my linguistic rule again, I will no longer hold them. You may go. I 'll see all three of you in social class on Tuesday."

"Falco columbarius, 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 course, though."

"Yeah, ca n't say I 'm looking forward to that,"John said.

Albus could n't rivet at all in his socio-economic class the succeeding day. All he wanted to do was go to the infirmary wing and happen out how Matt was, but Madam Pomfrey insisted that they wait until evening.

Rose and Amanda ate dinner party with Linda, but they met Albus, John, and Kaden near the hospital backstage afterwards. They had all eaten a very festinate dinner due to Albus 's Quidditch recitation at seven.

Albus cautiously opened the door to the hospital extension, 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 take bed, which had the curtains pulled around it.

Albus rushed over to the bed and yanked the drape back. Matt looked consume and there was a rather large bandage wrapped around his head.

"I was wondering when you 'd come visit me,"matte gave them a half smile.

"We 've been trying !"trick said,"Madam Pomfrey has n't let us !"

"I know,"Matt smirked,"I 've heard her yell 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 come visit ?"

"Because I did n't arouse up until yesterday afternoon,"Matt answered.

"But that was-"John began.

"Nearly two daytime later ?"matte cut him off,"I know."

"But why ?"Rose asked.

"A clustering of things, really,"matte sighed,"First, I was worried about Malfoy telling everyone and it 's always worse when I 'm disturbed about something. Second, I hit my head really hard at some period that dark. It still hurts. third gear, the shift in general are getting bad, because I 'm getting older."

That thought certainly had n't crossed Albus 's mind. Albus and all his friends were obviously getting older and that brought plenty of changes, but he had n't even thought about how the wolf would interchange when Matt got older.

"So, are all of the full moons going to be this bad now ?"Kaden asked.

"No,"matte shook his head and then winced,"I mean, I do n't really bang what 'll happen in the hereafter, but this one was just a compounding of bad things."

"That 's ripe, I guess,"Albus shrugged,"When do you get to allow ?"

"Tomorrow dark at the earliest,"matte sighed,"Although that means I 'll lack Defense."

"Wish I could miss Defense,"John muttered,"public speaking of defense team, did you owl your dad yet ?"

"John, he just woke up yesterday,"Rose pointed out.

"I did n't owl him,"lustrelessness said,"But he came to see me earlier and I asked him."

"Brilliant,"whoremonger 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 head of the department for the regularisation and Control of Magical Creatures in Australia, he hired Balladanis to trance a band of vampires who were attacking Muggles on the outback. Balladanis caught them, but he thought Dad went too loose on them."

"What did he do to them ?"John asked.

"Sent them to prison. I think they got 20 class. Balladanis thought they should have gotten life story prison term. Dad and Balladanis got into this huge argument at the Ministry about it and Balladanis stormed out. The Australian Ministry did n't hire him after that,"Matt explained,"Although, I 'll bet Balladanis and Lubar would fit on punishments. I wonder if he 's hired Balladanis."

"That explains a lot,"Albus said,"Did your dad say anything else about him ?"

"No, not really,"flatness replied,"Just that he 's got a lot of issues. Oh, and he wanted me to warn you not to heed to everything Balladanis says during those dueling lessons 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 defense with John. Neither of them really knew what class would be like, but judging from what he heard about Recent epoch DoD classes in the usual room, it would n't be fun.

Malfoy was back to his smug self now that detention was over. He sat next to Goyle wearing a smirk on his look. Albus ignored him and went to his usual table.

Balladanis stormed into the way a few minutes later. He waved his wand at the door and it slammed shut with a rush trashy enough that it caused the Jordan-Bell Twin Falls, who had been sitting closest to it, to jump.

"Pass your preparation doubtfulness forward,"he growled.

Albus handed his preparation to the table in front man of him and waited for Balladanis to collect it. He paused in strawman of the mesa in front of Albus's.

"Potter,"he began,"You can tell Eckerton that his prep is late and therefore I will not accept it. If he wished to get course credit for it, he could have graced us with his presence."

Malfoy snorted at this, earning him glares from both Albus and Balladanis. Balaldanis tossed the homework unceremoniously onto his desk and then turned back to his students.

"Wolfsbane potion,"he barked,"Was created by a man by the public figure of Oliver Belby. He finished the creation in 1991. For most werewolves, the potion was a lifesaver. Who can excuse what it does ?"

nonentity, not even blush wine and Linda, raised their hands. Albus stared down at his desk, hoping that Balladanis would n't holler on him.

"cipher ?"he said,"Pity. Wolfsbane potion renders a werewolf harmless during full moons. The werewolf turns into a wolf, but a harmless one. One that will just sleep until the moonshine sets and will not induce the impulse to sting and kill.

"The potion is a life belt to those plagued with lycanthropy. I had been hoping to express you what a werewolf would count like on wolf's bane potion, but my anamatek has been banned from the rook,"Balladanis said with malice,"Therefore you will sustain to go without the optic. It seems that certain parents, Ministry functionary, and the headmaster do not O.K. of my methods of teaching. Unfortunately, it is all of you who are suffering for it."

"I would n't shout out it suffering,"John muttered.

"repose, Brickston !"Balladanis shouted,"Unless you have something to lead to the class."

"No, sir,"John replied.

"goodness,"Balladanis muttered,"Anyway, the anamatek will not be making anymore coming into court in this classroom and your education is going to suffer for it. zip, and I repeat zip can supplant hands on training."

Albus usually agreed with that, but he drew the stock at having what was in essence a last manticora in social movement of him. There were some prison term when reading sufficed.

The lesson continued with Balladanis talking about Aconitum lycoctonum. He spoke about how the potion does n't work for all werewolves and Albus found his mind drifting. All in all, the lesson had n't been as bad as he 'd been expecting. Besides his brief claptrap about his anamatek being banned from the castle, he had been pretty normal. Normal for Balladanis, that is.

"Next deterrent example will be the last on loup-garou,"Balladanis announced at the end of class,"We will learn about lycanthropy 's core on children."

Albus groaned inwardly. Matt would be out of the hospital flank by then. Why could n't Balladanis just finish the werewolf social unit already ?

"He wo n't be back following twelvemonth,"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 lovely people who have read and reviewed this !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


"shoes your bets here !"Fred shouted the next day as he walked around the plebeian room.

Albus had just climbed through the portrait hole with Georgia and James after a particularly difficult Quidditch drill. Sir Henry Wood was getting them prepared for the match against New York, which was to take stead in a piffling over a week.

"Georgia, Saint James the Apostle, Albus !"Fred greeted them,"Care to site a bet ?"

"What are you taking stake about ?"Georgia asked tiredly,"And if you keep betting on stuff, your mum is bound to chance out."

"She wo n't care,"Fred shrugged. He was probably right. Albus 's aunt Alicia was the to the lowest degree rigorous out of all of his auntie. She 'd probably invest a bet with Fred.

"You 'd just break Bob Hope granny does n't find out,"Georgia smirked.

Fred looked momentarily horrorstruck and Albus could n't charge him. mollie Weasley would probably transport him a sidesplitter if she knew he was gambling.

"She wo n't unless you tell her,"Fred muttered,"And Heather and I are taking stake on how much longer Balladanis is going to last. Care to demand a speculation ?"

"I suppose,"Sakartvelo said as she pulled out some gold,"Two Galleons says he 's gone in a week. I heard he had three first years in tears today."

"He nearly had half of my course of study in binge,"Fred said as he took Georgia 's Au,"Henry James, Al ?"

"Three Galleons says he 's gone in two workweek,"James said as he tossed Fred some gold and then left to go recover his friends.

"Nope,"Albus shook his head.

"Suit yourself,"Fred shrugged and continued his walk around the common room,"Bets here, send your stakes !"

Albus found his friends crowded around their usual table in the park way. Linda was with them. All three girlfriend were working on preparation. trick and Kaden were trading hot chocolate toad frog cards.

"Fred 's going to get himself in trouble,"Rose muttered as Albus sat down,"You did n't bet anything, did you ?"

"No,"Albus shook his head,"How about you lot ?"

"I bet ten Sickles he wo n't terminal the class,"John said.

"You should make out exactly when he 'll leave, what with your taking foretelling,"Rose smirked.

"Divination 's a prank,"lav muttered,"I ca n't wait to shake off it after fifth year."

"Told you so,"rosebush grinned,"Sick of making up stuff ?"

"It 's just so pointless,"John groaned,"We 're still doing crystal ballock. I just tell her that I see myself dying anytime she asks and it keeps her happy."

"That 's why I 'm not taking soothsaying,"Kaden announced,"Bloody dissipation of a class."

Kaden had chosen his class for next year a few Day prior. He decided on Care of Magical animate being, Ancient Runes, and Arithmancy.

"Easy prep, though,"Saint John the Apostle sighed,"I just keep reminding myself about that."

"What 's got slow homework ?"Matt asked as he sat down in the electric chair next to John 's. He looked a bit better than he had the previous day, but still worn out.

"Pomfrey finally let you out ?"John asked,"And we 're talking about Divination."

"Yeah, just in time for defence force tomorrow,"matt groaned,"I 'm tempted to use a Fainting fantasy to get out of it."

"I think half the first of all years are going to do that on Friday,"Kaden said,"I overheard them talking. Apparently Balladanis completely flipped out on one of them today, all over one incomplete homework question. Made her cry."

"That 's what Georgia was saying,"Albus replied,"Makes me want to use a Fainting partiality. Two weeks. I know I did n't bet on it, but that 's really all I 'd generate him."

******

John filled his air pocket with Puking Pastilles before he set off to Defense the next forenoon. Albus did n't trouble oneself. His curiosity always trumped his dislike for certain classes. He 'd rather be there and have a go at it exactly what Balladanis was doing.

"Werewolves,"Balladanis said as soon as the bell rang,"When the terminus is used, most people conjure up double of lonesome adult, condemned to a miserable biography that revolves around the moon.

"However, there is a unscathed chemical group of werewolves that are mostly overlooked. youngster. Ah, yes, tyke do get attacked by wolfman. Very few survive. Found by their parents when it is too late. Even fewer survive the initial shift. Werewolf translation, as you have learned, are incredibly taxing, both physically and emotionally. Very few tiddler are strong enough to form it through."

Balladanis paused and began to pace the way."Parents are faced with a determination after their youngster is bitten. They have three choices. number one, they can take with it. Deal with the monthly translation and try and make life as normal as possible for the child. Number two, they can vacate their child. Force them to live with a uncivilised battalion of werewolves, to produce up to kill. However, there is a third gear option. Does anyone care to guess as to what it is ?"

Nobody raised their hand. Balladanis looked at his class until his oculus rested on Matt. A very creepy smirk appeared on his face.

"Mr. Eckerton, care to tell us ?"Balladanis asked.

Albus, who had been trying hard not to take care at matte throughout the deterrent example, stole a speedy glance at him. He was staring at the desk, quill feather in hand, shaking slightly.

"N-no,"lustrelessness 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 pick used to be readily suggested by therapist, but has now become quite controversial. It is not suggested very often anymore.

"Parents who choose the first pick, to carry on to raise their tike, are in for a very baffling animation. loup-garou children are difficult to raise. It is a huge adjustment for parents and siblings if there are any. The bite affects the whole fellowship. It changes lives, it can rip families apart."

Balladanis continued droning on and on about how lycanthropy affects kid and Albus looked again at flatness. His hand was shaking even harder and his face was as white as it had been when he had dressed up as a ghost.

Albus shared a look with John and toilet reached into his pocket. He slid a Puking Pastille across the table towards Albus and then slid one to flatness. Albus quietly unwrapped it and then waited until Balladanis had looked away to shove it into his sassing. can and Matt did the same. Albus clutched his stomach as the sweet began to bring affect.

"Lycanthropic children rarely, if ever, get to attend schooling,"Balladanis droned.

"Sir !"John shouted,"I do n't palpate so well. May I go to the Hospital Wing ?"

"I do n't feel 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 sound of all three boys vomiting at the same prison term. Albus leaned over his table and vomited right onto the storey. The course of study erupted into outcry and Balladanis tried to keep order.

"Fine !"he seethed,"Get to the infirmary Wing, all three of you !"

Albus resisted the urge to cast again as he ran for the door. matt and whoremonger followed. All three of them shoved the orangish end of the sweets into their mouths as soon as they shut the door behind them. The affect was instantaneous. Albus immediately felt better.

"The man 's vicious !"whoremonger shouted,"How could he teach that ?"

"Not here,"Matt muttered and took off down the corridor.

None of them said anything else until they reached the predator 's Den."As I was saying,"St. John the Apostle began,"What is untimely with that bloke ?"

"I think a lot of matter,"Albus muttered,"He 's a raving lunatic."

"He 's only doing it because you 're in the class,"John said to Matt as he paced around the room,"None of what he said today is actually in the Holy Writ. I mean, did you record the book ? There 's not much 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 create you piteous because of what your dad did with those lamia years ago."

"It 's just not fair,"Matt groaned,"I mean, did you take heed to what he was talking about ?"

"It was hard not to,"Albus sighed,"Is it truthful ?"

"Yes,"lustrelessness said quietly,"And before you ask, one of the Healers did paint a picture that to my parents."

Albus suddenly felt more queasy than he had when he ate the regurgitation Pastille. How could a healer, person whose job it was to make masses healthy, actually suggest that to a child 's parents ?

"Seriously ?"John asked,"What happened after they asked ?"

"My dad and my Uncle Jack hexed him at the same clock time,"matte gave them a half-smile,"Put him in his own hospital bed for two days."

"You know, I 'd really like to meet your Uncle diddlyshit,"Gospel According to John 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 have to do anything."

"Three days,"whoremonger said after mat left,"I give Balladanis three Thomas More days."

******

"Your dad certainly does n't waste any time,"Rose said to Matt as she unfolded her transcript of the Prophet the next morning at breakfast.

Albus leaned over and study the theme over Rose 's shoulder.

HOGWARTS prof TO BE INVESTIGATED BY MINISTRY
The department of Magical education received an interrogation
late yesterday afternoon, requesting an investigation
of Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark artwork prof,
genus Tethus Balladanis. The inquiry was submitted by none
early than the newly appointed Head of the department
for the regulation and Control of Magical animate being,
Bruno Walter Eckerton, whose fourteen-year-old son currently
attends Hogwarts.

Professor Tethys Balladanis has been teaching Defense Department at
the school since Sep, when he replaced Head Auror
Harry Potter. Potter had taught the subject for two
years and wished to centre solely on his Auror career,
resulting in his surrender at the end of last school
year.

The imminent investigation comes as hardly a surprise.
Earlier this week Bruno Walter Eckerton visited Hogwarts
after receiving a tip that Balladanis was holding an
anamatek in his classroom. This proved to be honest and
Eckerton ordered him to remove it. The anamatek was
legally in Balladanis 's possession, so all he had to
do was remove it from schooling premises. Eckerton told
newsman that Balladanis complied.

However, Eckerton has claimed that the prof
repeatedly put students in peril and humiliated them
in front of their classmates.

'It 's not just the anamatek ,'Eckerton told reporters,
'I 'm filing this inquiry as a parent, not as a Ministry
functionary. First and foremost, I wish to protect my son .'

The probe will begin today and be carried out
by officials from the department of Magical Education,
a department that was set up for this purpose after
the downfall of Divine Voldemort. Officials will call
the school and interview both bookman and stave as
a region of their investigation.

Tethys Balladanis will keep on to teach Defense Against
the nighttime Arts during this time.

"He 's still going to teach ?"John said incredulously after he finished reading the article.

"I 'm not going to defence force anymore,"matte said,"Not until he 's gone."

"They ca n't finish him from teaching until they do the investigation,"rosebush explained,"Only Kendrick can stop him from teaching at the moment."

"Then why does n't Kendrick do that ?"Albus asked as he looked up at the faculty table.

Kendrick was talking with Neville and there was a written matter of the prophet laying between them. Balladanis was not present.

"I do n't know,"rosiness said quietly,"But defense mechanism is just going to get worse."

"Which is why I 'm not going,"Matt said adamantly.

For once, Rose did not objurgate him about skipping class. Albus could n't blame him. He himself was half tempted to skip, but he knew his oddment would get the better of him.

"Somehow, I do n't consider you 'll feature the fortune to skip,"blush wine muttered,"We do n't receive Defense until Tuesday."

"Excellent,"John grinned,"Now I wo n't have to do that wolfman 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 yakety-yak in the hall immediately ceased,"Thank you. I trust by now that you 've all either read or pick up about the clause on the front page of the Prophet.

"Ministry functionary will be visiting the school today and tomorrow to conduct their investigation. They will be selecting students to interview. If you are selected, I advise you to answer their questions truthfully.

"As of rightfulness now, Professor Balladanis is still your teacher, therefore you need to treat him with obedience and pay heed his classes. This is, at the moment, an investigating and nothing more. Now, you 'd best be off to class."

"Albus,"Rose whispered as they made their way out of the Great manse to account 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 recall you should,"rosebush told him.

Albus nodded. He did n't want to go, but he also did n't desire to find oneself out what Balladanis would do when Albus did n't demo up that evening.

Nobody fell asleep during chronicle of Magic. It must have been a new record, one that was previously set back when Binns was still alive. However, the lack of tiredness was not due to Binns 's public lecture. No, that was just as drill as usual. The scholar remained awake because they were talking about Balladanis. The classroom was filled with the hushed rustle of the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw 3rd age and Binns droned on without seeming to notice.

There were only six students in the castle who knew the particular reason why matte 's dad had submitted that inquiry. Albus, rosebush, John, Amanda, Kaden, and lustrelessness himself. Seven, if you counted Malfoy, but even Malfoy did not know that it had been Balladanis 's lecture on lycanthropic children that pushed Mr. Eckerton to state the inquiry.

Everyone else speculated. About half the school day put the inculpation on the anamatek, even though matte 's dad had come out and said that was n't the real reason. The Prophet had only glazed over the grounds, not getting into particular. The Hogwarts student wanted specifics. They wanted to know what had pushed Matt 's dad to submit an inquiry when none of their parents seemed fazed.

The understanding the bookman fabricated ranged from plausible to outrageous. A few seventh years, mainly Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, speculated that Balladanis had gotten a bit overenthusiastic with his extra help sitting and perhaps used Matt as an example of individual who did not possess the acquirement to defeat grim wizards. Combine that with an overprotective parent ( what the seventh years claimed lustrelessness 's dad to be, which was not actually an magnification ), and the investigation was born. They believed that the probe would flub over and within two week everything would be back to convention, with Balladanis still teaching.

A few overexcited first eld were the on the opposite side of meat of the spectrum. They believed that Balladanis had let a chimera loose in his classroom while teaching the Gryffindor and Slytherin third base years. Apparently they overlooked the fact that nobody had turned up injured after class and the fact that Balladanis would deliver been sacked immediately if that had actually been the case.

Matt had become somewhat of a famous person inside the Hogwarts walls. There was n't a single person, living, ghost, or portrait, who did n't know it was his dad who launched the inquiry. He was stopped no less than six multiplication on the way from History of Magic to Herbology by people wanting to get it on the details of the inquiry. It was something Albus could secern matte was extremely uncomfortable with.

"Merlin, when will they learn that I do n't want to blab out about it !"matt groaned as they made their way back to the castle after Herbology. Two Ravenclaw irregular years had just run up to matt, demanding to be intimate why his dad wanted to get Balladanis sacked. Apparently they actually liked him.

"You should just stand up on the Gryffindor table and make an proclamation during luncheon,"john suggested.

"Definitely not,"Matt said,"I 'm just glad we do n't have class this afternoon."

"Me, too,"Albus agreed,"Hey, facial expression, I bet those are the investigators."Albus pointed to three official looking multitude striding up towards the castle. There were two witches and a wizard.

"Probably,"can said,"I wonder who they 're going to interview ?"

"Ten Galleons says they interview me,"matte replied,"And probably Albus since he 's had all those private lessons."

"Let 's just hope they do n't consultation those two Ravenclaws,"lav said.

Albus, Matt, and Saint John continued their trek to the Great Charles Martin Hall, where they ate a very fast dejeuner. None of them wanted to stay very long since everyone was still asking matt about the inquiry. After they finished, the boys went to Gryffindor Tower to stick their suitcase before going to the Marauder 's Den to put off their homework.

The park room was mostly hollow when they arrived, but Albus spotted Lily, Victor Hugo, and Ashtyn sitting around one of the tables.

"Do n't you three have social class now ?"Albus asked, feeling very much like Rose.

"Yes,"Lily muttered,"We 've got Defense Department and we 're skipping. Do n't say anything about it. There 's nil you can do to throw 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 soul cry ?"

"That 's why we 're not going,"Ashtyn replied,"And we do n't worry if we get detention either. Oh, and John, you 'd meliorate not tell Mum."

"I wo n't,"John said,"The three of us used Puking cough drop to get out of defense yesterday."

"You should feature just skipped from the rootage,"Ashtyn told them.

"Well, you three enjoy your skipping,"Albus said as he continued to his dormitory.

"Oh, think me, we will,"Lily grinned.

The son quickly stowed their bags in their dormitory and set off for the Maruader 's Den. Albus climbed out of the portrayal 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 patch of sheepskin she was holding."He wants to see matte, too."

"flavor like you two are getting interviewed,"John said as Gabriella went into the coarse room.

"Guess so,"Albus shrugged. He really was n't surprised. Even if he had n't been receiving common soldier object lesson with Balladanis, he probably would have been interviewed. It was one of those matter that happened when your father was the most celebrated wizard in Britain.

"I 'll see you two later, then,"King John replied,"Have fun."

"Oh, yeah,"Albus rolled his heart,"Loads."

Albus and flatness left for Kendrick 's subject field 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 fifteen minutes.


A/N : I hope you all enjoyed HPFF 's April Fool 's Day Prank ! The staff really outdid themselves this class. Thanks to my beta, Dancer of Starlight, and everyone who has read and reviewed this fib !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


There was another Prefect standing next to the gargoyle that concealed the entrance to Kendrick 's written report. It was apparently his job to mutter the watchword to the gargoyle to allow all the students being interviewed in. He looked incredibly bored.

Albus and Matt ascended into the work and found three other educatee waiting in straw man of Kendrick 's unopen door. A very blase looking Hufflepuff, who was probably in 6th or one-seventh year, Scorpius Malfoy, and much to Albus 's alarm, one of those Ravenclaws they had encountered on the earth earlier.

Albus was not at all surprise to see Scorpius Malfoy there. After all, he had buck private lessons with Balladanis as well. However, he chose to ignore Malfoy 's presence and leaned against the rampart to begin the long wait.

What had been the point in sending them all to Kendrick 's field of study at the same time ? They were obviously only interviewing one person at a time. Why could n't they have just summoned Albus later, when there were lupus erythematosus people waiting ?

Kendrick 's door opened and a pale-faced Gryffindor first year walked out. She hurried out of the study and one of the Ministry officials motioned for the Ravenclaw to enter.

The Ravenclaw was in Kendrick 's subject for about fifteen proceedings. Then it was Malfoy 's turn. He took a bit More time, but finally came out and left without so much as a glimpse towards Albus and Matt.

In the mean time, two more student had entered. One Albus recognized as Peyton Haines, one of the Chasers from the Slytherin Quidditch team. The other was a Danton True Young Hufflepuff Albus did n't recognize.

Finally, after what must have been at least an 60 minutes, Albus was finally called into the elbow room.

Kendrick was not in his bailiwick. Only the three police detective were. Albus was now able to see them up close. The one who had called him into the room was quite improbable and wore a menacing public eye. Her robe were perfectly pressed, without a single wrinkle, and her hair was pulled into a soused bun. She reminded Albus of Minerva McGonagall.

The early witch was the complete opposite. She was poor and quite a bit overweight. Her kinky brown pilus stuck up at all sorts of odd angles and she had a pocket-sized span of glasses perched on her nose.

The remaining investigator was a whiz and he was seated behind Kendrick 's desk, a flight feather in hand. He looked a bit bored by the entire affair. He was gazing about the way and had the look of soul who was n't quite paying attention.

Two people who were paying rapt attention, or should he say portraits, were Dumbledore and Snape. Both were sitting straight up and looking straight at the investigators.

The tall beldame gestured for Albus to take a seat in front of the desk. Albus did so.

"My name is Katherine Torenzo and this is Lothringen Smyth,"the magniloquent witch gestured to the short enchantress,"And that is herbaceous plant Cletus. He 'll be transcribing our interview."

No admiration he was so bored, Albus thought. He did n't even get to ask any of the questions.

"Please State your entire name, age, class, and sign for the record,"Torenzo said briskly.

Albus raised his supercilium. Would n't they already know all of that entropy ?

"It 's communications protocol, love,"Smyth told him.

"Albus Severus Potter, XIII, third year, Gryffindor,"Albus answered.

"Excellent,"Torenzo replied,"Now, perhaps you can tell us what goes on in an ordinary lesson with prof Balladanis, in your own words."

"Er, all right,"Albus said,"Well, he comes in and Tell us all to stop talking. Then he 'll collect the prep. Oh, and you have to get the prep in on time, no matter what. He does n't take late work, even if you 've got a undecomposed excuse. You could be sick in the hospital wing and he would n't pack belated homework.

"Then he 'll teach us a new spell or about some new creature. Then we 'll receive to perform 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 assistant sessions."

"Has this caused suffering to any of the student in your family ?"Smyth asked.

"Not in my grade, but I 've heard of early student crying because of it,"Albus answered.

"have you attended any supernumerary supporter sessions ?"Torenzo asked.

"No,"Albus shook his headway,"professor Balladanis has never told me I had to."

"I understand you have been given dueling object lesson by him, however,"Torenzo said,"Can you tell us a bit about them ? What do they consist of ?"

"well-nigh multiplication he just teaches me new spells, spells that are harder than the ace we learn in stratum. Scorpius Malfoy is there, too, and we duel each other with the trance,"Albus explained.

"You said 'most'times,"Smyth said,"What else does he have got you do ?"

"Er,"Albus shifted uncomfortably in his chair,"One prison term 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 brief hesitation. He doubted Balladanis would be happy about this, but Kendrick had said to be truthful.

Both Torenzo and Smyth looked horrified. Cletus was writing away furiously on the parchment. Snape was smirking and Dumbledore 's face had seemed to harden.

"We did n't actually see it,"Albus said quickly,"We stood outside the firm as it happened. Balladanis 's parents were in the theatre. Then we watched Balladanis, in the memory, run away from the sign of the zodiac. He was thirteen."

"And then what ?"Torenzo prodded.

"We left the pensieve. Balladanis explained what we had seen-"

"He did n't tell you ahead of time ?"Smyth asked.

"No,"Albus shook his foreland,"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 show 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 terminal question. Would you feel comfortable if Professor Balladanis continued to teach here ?"

Albus thought about it for a here and now. Balladanis was certainly a motivated teacher and one Albus could discover a lot from. But on the other hand, he was n't the kind of wizard Albus felt well-off around.

"No,"Albus said quietly,"I guess not."

Torenzo nodded."Please income tax return to your common room. You are not to speak of this audience to anyone until after the probe is completed."

Albus got up from the electric chair and Torenzo followed him out of the way. She called Matt in as Albus left. Albus muttered a quiet 'good lot'to him before descending from the room.

******

"Why ca n't you just tell us ?"Gospel According to John lamented as the boys sat around the Marauder 's Den after dinner. Rose and Amanda were currently in the girls'dorm with Linda, who had recently been interviewed.

"I 've told you a million times,"Albus said,"The Ministry Wiccan said we could n't talk about the interview."

"But how would they know ?"John asked,"It 's not like I 'm going to go telling the whole schooling about it."

"Neither will I,"Kaden added.

Albus snorted."I 'll tell you about it after Balladanis is sacked, or is n't sacked. I do n't think it 's going to strike long for them to decide."

"He 's going to be sacked,"matt said adamantly and then turned to bathroom,"You 're not going to his special help session tonight, are you ?"

"Not if I was paid XX Galleons,"John replied,"fountainhead, ok, maybe if I was paid 20 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 cognise was whether Malfoy was going, but he could n't very well waltz down to the donjon, barge into the Slytherin common room, and ask.

"No melodic theme,"Albus sighed.

"Do n't go,"Matt said,"If you go, I 'm going to protrude worrying about your sanity."

"Why would you want to go ?"John gave Albus a strange look.

"I might receive out something about how the investigation is going, or something,"Albus muttered.

John opened his mouth to respond, but instead turned to the door. A loud squawking haphazardness had seemed to give out from it.

"Did you hear that ?"John asked.

Albus nodded and got up from his seat. He walked over to the door and paused succeeding to it. The squawking noise was repeated.

One thing Albus loved about the Marauder 's Den was that it was always very hushed. No racket 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 snort 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 wine ?"Albus asked,"What is it ? Was that squawking you ?"

"Yes,"Rose said hurriedly,"I had to get you to come out of there. Uncle Harry 's looking for you. He 's waiting in the vernacular elbow room. I told him I 'd obtain you."

Albus turned around and told lusterlessness, Gospel According to John, and Kaden, all of whom had followed him out of the way, that he would be back soon. He had no thought what his dad wanted, but it must have been important for him to go to the castle on a day he did n't have to patrol it.

Harry was sitting in one of the squashy armchairs in front of the blast when Albus arrived. Empire State of the South and Fred were both talking with him, most likely about Quidditch judgement by their exuberant use of hand gestures, but stopped abruptly when Albus entered. Harry got up and met Albus near the portrait hole.

"Let 's public lecture outside,"Harry said. Albus followed him out of the portrait hole and down the corridor a petty ways.

"What were you up to just now ?"Harry asked, grinning a bit.

"nothing,"Albus shrugged truthfully.

"wellspring, I 'm no longer a teacher here, so I wo n't say a intelligence about you causing problem, 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 motion of the evening, 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 sum of money of stress, of which you do n't know the one-half of. I 'd say the chances are mellow that he may take out this tension on you and Scorpius."

"Do you recognize if Malfoy 's going ?"Albus asked.

"I really have no estimation,"Harry answered,"But I tend to consider he won't."

"I do n't think I will either,"Albus said.

"A wise decision,"Harry smiled.

Harry said good Nox to Albus and then Albus went back to the piranha 's Den. Kaden was in the middle of showing lustrelessness and John how to urinate a proper paper airplane.

"What did your dad want ?"trick asked without looking up from the parchment he was folding.

"To tell me it was n't a soundly melodic theme to go to Balladanis 's example tonight,"Albus said as he flopped down onto the discharge couch.

"And ?"mat asked.

"I 'm not going,"Albus answered.

"Good,"Matt replied.

"You know what was weird, though ?"Albus began,"My dad said Balladanis was under a lot of stress, most of which I do n't lie with about. So I 'm guessing it 's not only the investigation."

"Weird,"Kaden shook his head,"I 'll be glad when he 's sacked."

"We do n't have sex for surely that he 'll be sacked,"Albus pointed out,"I just wish well I knew what else he was stressed about."

"Maybe he 's got to struggle a beautiful woman,"John smirked,"Remember his boggart ?"

"His boggart !"Albus shouted,"I ca n't trust I did n't put that together Sooner. It was n't a beautiful cleaning lady ; it was a vampire. It 's so obvious now that we know what happened to his parents, too."

"Yeah, that does seem fairly obvious,"Matt agreed,"But what 's that got to do with his stress ?"

"Probably null,"Albus shrugged,"I just realized it."

"You know,"John began,"This is the first Friday we 've had to ourselves."

"You 're proper,"Albus said,"What should we do ?"

"Let 's go down to the kitchens,"Kaden said.

"And spend the night here,"matt added,"We hardly ever do that."

They did just that. The boys snuck down to the kitchens and were given as many sweet and puddings as they could carry by the house elves. Then they stayed up late eating all of it and playing diverse game. Albus was even able to forget about Balladanis for a while, something that had not happened in quite a while.

******

The Ministry officials remained a permanent habitue at Hogwarts throughout the remainder of the weekend. Albus overheard a lot of student mentioning that they 'd been interviewed, including lavatory 's cousin Isabelle, one of the Chasers on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, and Gabriella.

Professor Balladanis did not prove up at a I meal. In fact, he was n't seen at all throughout the weekend. nonentity saw him, which raised the interrogation of whether he was even still in the palace.

Albus was hoping he ran for it. Got out before the Ministry had a chance to draw their decision. Albus was Sir Thomas More than a little flighty about going to Defense on Tuesday and hearing what Balladanis had to say about Albus 's absence from their dueling lesson.

It was on Monday morning that all the Hogwarts scholarly person knew a finding of fact had been reached. Professor Kendrick rose partway through the meal, something that only happened when something crucial happened. He was flanked by the two Wiccan from the Ministry. The wizard was no longer there.

The foyer immediately quieted, without Kendrick even having to ask. Albus was slightly taken aback by Kendrick 's impending announcement, since there had not been a single cite of Balladanis in that morning 's Prophet.

"A decision has been reached about Professor Balladanis,"Kendrick announced,"gentlewoman Torenzo will inform you of it. The seer has kindly agreed not to publish the article about it just yet, as I wished to inform you of it first."

"He 's sacked,"John muttered,"Otherwise he 'd be at breakfast."

"Good point,"Albus said.

Torenzo stood up and gazed out at the student with a neutral flavour on her face."Upon extensive investigation of professor Balladanis 's teaching methods and thorough interviews of pick out students, the Ministry has seen it fit to dispatch him from his teaching stance here at Hogwarts schooling of Witchcraft and wizardry. professor Balladanis packed his affair late utmost nighttime and no long resides in the castle. prof Kendrick will inform you about what will happen with Defense stratum for the residuum of the class. I would like to thank all of you for your cooperation during this time."

Torenzo sat back down and continued eating her breakfast like aught had happened. The Great entrance hall immediately erupted into whispers, but they were quickly stopped by Kendrick.

"Defense Against the shadow art classes will not postulate billet until encourage notice. I will try and procure a suitable successor for prof Balladanis as quickly as potential. Until then, delight use the clip to take for your forthcoming examination,"Kendrick said and then resumed his place. He began to talk with Torenzo and the students voices rose in the Hall.

"I knew it !"Matt exclaimed,"Best news I 've heard this calendar month !"

"Yes !"GA shouted and then turned to Fred,"Pay up !"

"Merlin !"James groaned,"Why 'd they have to do that probe so quickly ?"

Money began to substitute hands throughout the Gryffindor table as Fred collected and handed out Galleons.

"Do you think Kendrick 'll observe a replacement ?"John asked.

"Dunno,"Albus shrugged,"No one really wanted that job to begin with."

"gladiolus I did n't do that werewolf essay,"John grinned.

"Maybe Kendrick wo n't recover a replenishment,"Kaden said,"Then we 'd have one less exam."

"That would be brilliant,"King John replied.

The atmosphere in the castling for the ease of the day was incredibly upbeat. Hardly anyone seemed at all sad that Balladanis had left. Quite a few student asked matte to give thanks his dad for them. It seemed that the only students upset by it were those who had lost bets because of it.

Argus Filch was another who was unhappy. The general excitement of the castle caused him more oeuvre. Peeves destroyed the defence mechanism schoolroom in celebration ( Balladanis never liked Peeves ), James and his Quaker set off a few Weasley fireworks, and then there was the general pot that was associated with student celebrating by playing outside in the muddy supergrass. Plus, Moaning Myrtle flooded her can when a few students told her that even she ought to be excited about it. Apparently she did not harmonize. For some odd reason it reminded her of her death.

One soul who seemed incredibly excited was Linda. Linda who rarely showed any emotion whatsoever walked around the castling with a big grin on her face. Albus could only attribute this to the fact that Balladanis had taught so extensively about vampires. But he never taunted her the way he 'd taunted Matt. Perhaps that was because his biggest fear was vampires.

There was even a political party in the Gryffindor coarse room that nighttime. rose wine thought it was a little ridiculous, to celebrate the sacking of a teacher, but everyone else, including Linda, thought it was an excellent affair to celebrate.

"Just cerebrate,"John said,"We do n't ever have to listen to him go on and on about how bad the dark arts are. I mean, we all know they 're bad. We all know about Voldemort and what he did."

"And that bloody anamatek,"lusterlessness added,"I could 've gone my whole life without seeing one of those."

"What do you imagine he 's doing now ?"rose wine mused.

"Maybe some Ministry hired him,"Albus said quietly,"I hope it 's some place far, like Malagasy Republic or somewhere."

"Yeah,"mat agreed,"I bet he 's not even in Britain anymore."

"I do n't see why he 'd bother to stick around,"Albus replied,"I mean, he snuck out in the Night to fend off anyone seeing him."

"Wish we could 've seen him leave,"John grinned mischievously,"Would 've been nice to pass him a proper send off."

"I 'm just glad it 's over,"rose muttered,"Maybe now you lot can centralize on exams. And maybe the rook will get back to normal."

"rule ?"Albus raised his eyebrows,"This spot will never be normal. Plus, we 've got Quidditch on Saturday. It 's the hold up match before the final."

"When 's the final ?"blush wine asked.

"Beginning of June, I think,"Albus answered,"Australia 's already so far ahead that they 'll be in it."

Albus, John, Matt, and Kaden all sent scathing looks at Linda, who looked down at the table.

"But if we beat New House of York in this match,"Albus continued,"We 'll be in it, too. So Mrs. Henry Wood is in full class this calendar week. I 'm practicing every night starting tomorrow."

"Joseph Oliver Wood is mad,"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 pack 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 ingest Defense Against the Dark humanistic discipline the next sunup, Albus was down in the Great Hall bright and early because he wanted to interpret rose wine 's Daily vaticinator. Having Kendrick announce Balladanis 's firing was one thing, reading it in the oracle was entirely different.

Rose was already there when Albus, lusterlessness, and John sat down at the Gryffindor mesa. Amanda and Linda were on either side of her and all three little girl were reading the article. Albus drummed his finger impatiently on the board while he waited for them to be finished. Finally, Rose handed him the composition without saying a Logos and Albus read it, with matte and trick looking over his shoulder.

HOGWARATS teacher REMOVED FROM attitude BY MINISTRY

In an upshot that causes much of the wizarding world to remember
back to Voldemort 's reign, Hogwarts Defense Against the dark
Arts teacher, Tethys Balladanis, has been removed from his
locating by the Ministry of Magic 's Department of Magical
Education.

During Voldemort 's reign, United States Department of Defense teachers rarely lasted more
than a year at the shoal, a closed book that abruptly ended when
Voldemort was defeated on May 2, 1998. Up until two years
ago, Hogwarts had had only one Defense Department teacher since that
fateful May day.

prof Torro taught at Hogwarts for years until he was
mysteriously murdered nearly three long time ago. He was
replaced by forefront Auror, Harry Potter, who is rumored to
have only taken the posture after nobody else agreed to
fill it.

Harry thrower left the spatial relation this past autumn and it was filled
by Balladanis.

Balladanis taught until two twenty-four hours ago, when he was removed
from his posture. Approximately a week and a half ago, a
ill was lodged by Head of the Department for the
Regulation and Control of Magical tool, Walter Eckerton,
whose fourteen-year-old son currently attends Hogwarts.

The complaint included harsh teaching methods, the use of an
anamatek as a didactics peter, singling student out for lack of
skill, and embarrassing students in front of their peers.

An investigation by Ministry officials ensued and included
the interviewing of select students and staff. The department
concluded their investigation late Lord's Day eve and inform
both Balladanis and Headmaster Fabius Kendrick of their decisiveness.
Balladanis left the castle willingly and will not be appealing the
decision. When asked for a statement on the emergence, both Kendrick
and Balladanis declined.

Upon hearing the news, Walter Eckerton said ,'I am very happy
with the decision and that the investigation was concluded in
a timely manner. I am not felicitous that it came to this, but I
feel that nothing should be put ahead of children 's prophylactic .'

Hogwarts student will not advert Department of Defense course of study until a replenishment
is found. As of right now, one has not been found.

"I knew they 'd stick 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 know,"Albus muttered,"I was hoping Balladanis would 've said something or we 'd see out what happened when he left the castle."

"Maybe he really did go quietly,"mat 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 soon returned to formula for the Hogwarts students, as it often does after something wind up happens. Everyone talked about Balladanis the day the article was published, but soon there was zero left wing to say and the students focused on the coming Quidditch friction match, which was bare Day away.

Albus had an tardily time forgetting about Balladanis due to Quidditch practice. He was out on the slant every evening and was soon hearing Natalie Wood 's commands in his capitulum as he fell asleep, which was something that certainly could n't be deemed formula. Albus was almost glad that the year was drawing to an end because once the tournament was over, he would n't have to deal with woodwind instrument anymore. Thinking about that made Albus realize that Gryffindor would have a new senior pilot the next year since Peach State was graduating. Albus was trusted it would be either Fred or Heather, but he was n't sure which.

Albus trudged into the Great entrance hall on Th break of the day sorely wishing that whoremonger had n't woken him up. They did n't have a social class first thing, so why 'd he bother doing that ? Albus was already running on piddling sleep.

"I 'm going to wake you up at five in the break of the day this Saturday,"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 oneself me finish that Herbology essay that 's due today."

"That 's the reason for you waking me up ?"Albus groaned,"Why ca n't arise helper 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 flak to her Potions notes last night,"John said.

"And I should have to sustain because of that ?"Albus replied,"How did you deal that anyway ?"

"It was n't an fortuity,"matt put in,"John and Kaden were tinkering with those super strength droppings turkey live on night in the piranha 's Den. They stupidly decided to do this at the tabular array rightfulness where Rose 's notes were. The dung bombs exploded and Rose 's notes caught fire."

"See, an accident !"John exclaimed.

"No, folly,"Matt said,"You should 've done it somewhere else. Oh, Albus, I would n't intimate going in the predator 's Den anytime soon. It smells."

"I would n't have time to anyway,"Albus muttered,"Quidditch practice again tonight."

"Oi, Albus !"James shouted.

"What ?"Albus said.

"Is Dad patrolling here this calendar week ?"Epistle of James asked.

"I do n't know, why ?"Albus replied.

"He 's here,"Jesse James pointed to the faculty table.

Albus looked up and saw that his dad was talking with Neville. Except he was n't wearing his Auror robes, he was just wearing normal robes. Albus glanced back at James who shrugged.

"May I have your aid ?"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 full term. Because of this, Defense category will resume today."

"trade good thing I woke you up,"John grinned.

"guessing you wo n't be capable to polish off that essay,"Albus shot back.

"Merlin,"St. John the Apostle muttered.

Albus was n't that storm, nor did he care that much. He 'd already had his dad teach for two long time and it had n't been bad at all. Plus, his dad was a far better teacher than Balladanis.

Albus walked with mat and John to Defense. Rose was still not speaking to Saint John the Apostle 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 entire class erupted in hand clapping as soon as Harry entered the elbow room and Albus noticed that this caused him to crimson. Even Malfoy was clapping, albeit half-heartedly, but he was clapping nonetheless.

"Thanks,"Harry muttered,"Well, I did not think I 'd be back here. I do have to continue with the curriculum, so I must ask that you complete the werewolf essay for next Th. However, it only has to be one ft of parchment."

There was a collective groan from the entire year."Great,"trick muttered,"I was hoping to get out of it."

"It wo n't be that hard,"Matt rolled his eyes.

"But it 'll be time consuming,"John replied.

"I know, I know,"Harry smirked,"But there is a calendar month and a half of term left and I ca n't just let you have this clock time to mess around."

The socio-economic class was the most enjoyable defence reaction class the third years had had in quite a piece. Harry lectured for the entirety of the class, but it was n't tire. Albus did not mind in the slightest that his dad was going to be finishing out the term.

******

By the metre Sabbatum arrived, virtually no one in the palace was talking about prof Balladanis. Quidditch was on the forefront of everybody 's minds and the tensions ran higher than they had all year. The event of this couple would square off who played 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 full team was in respectable wellness and none of the alternates were needed. Albus was perfectly content to sit in the stands with his friends and just watch the catch, rather than have to dally in it.

It was a warm spring day with a flimsy flatus and swarm blanket, perfect playacting precondition. Wood had spoke of the weather during the late night 's practice, telling the team that a large tempest had been predicted for that day. Luckily it had not appeared yet.

The match commenced with a lot of shouting and cheering from the crowd. Hogwarts scored five destination within the start fifteen minutes of the match and New York scored two. The team remained cervix in neck for the remainder of the match, until Saint James pulled out of a dive clutching the golden Snitch in his leftfield hand.

The crew erupted into sunniness and James II was soon hoisted onto the shoulders of some of the older students.

"I have an promulgation to make !"Professor Kendrick shouted over the bunch,"Due to Hogwarts 's win, they will be competing against Australia in the final Quidditch match, scheduled to take place on the first of June !"

The usual after Quidditch party ensued in the vulgar way and everyone rehashed their favorite component of the match. No one talked about the final examination match, although Albus was sure it was in the backs of everyone 's minds. Commonwealth of Australia seemed impossible to beat.

Once the excitement from another Quidditch win abated, the Hogwarts students seemed to realise that exams were quite near. The library soon became a democratic place to be and fifth and 7th class in detail could be seen there all time of day of the day.

As the middle of May arrived, Gabriella demanded a quiet common room in the evenings, much like her sister had two geezerhood prior. Albus and his friends spent more time in the vulture 's Den after that, usually without Rose, Amanda, and Linda. The three girls seemed to like the quietness of the common room.

Rose did forgive John for messing up her notes, but she became more tense and snappish as exams drew nearer. It was n't something that surprised Albus or anyone else because it had become a sort of end of term tradition with Rose.

Defense lessons took a drastic crook for the better. Albus and all of his friend got perfect marks on their werewolf essays, to the surprise of no one. After that, the socio-economic class 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 take a crap it into the World Cup final,"can sighed,"They were so close."

"Who did make it ?"Albus grabbed the theme from Saint John, suddenly remembering the just the ticket he 'd gotten for Christmastide. He had n't picked who he was going to ask in to go with him. Actually, he had n't even recite his protagonist about the tickets.

"Portugal and Russian Federation,"lav groaned,"Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ! They 've got a trumpery Quidditch squad !"

"Obviously not,"Rose smirked,"Albus, did you pick who you 're going to strike when you go to the Cup ?"

"Wait, what ?"whoremaster gaped at Albus,"You got ticket ?"

"Er, yeah, for Christmas,"Albus said.

"And you did n't distinguish me !"John exclaimed.

"fountainhead, I only got one extra and I did n't know how to pick. I had it narrowed down to you and Matt. Mind you, if you hate Russian Federation, I 'll just nibble mat,"Albus smirked.

"No, no, I did n't say I hate Russia,"whoremaster said quickly,"They 've just got a bad team."

"How am I supposed to pick then ?"Albus asked.

"You do n't have to,"Matt said as he sat down next to Albus.

"Nice to see you awake,"whoremonger grinned. Albus and John had attempted to wake Matt up before they went down to the Great Radclyffe Hall and had no luck. The full moon was the future day, so Albus had n't even been sure enough if Matt was going to go to class.

"Why, is the Cup a bad time of the month ?"Albus whispered.

"No,"Matt shook his header,"It 's just that my dad got just the ticket, so you can just generate your supernumerary 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 asked,"Are we going to rent a Muggle airplane ?"John looked excited at that prospect.

"No idea,"Albus shrugged,"Dad might get a Portkey."

"That 's boring,"John said.

"want I could go,"Kaden sighed.

"Why, do n't you not like Quidditch ?"John the Divine asked.

"It 's ok,"Kaden shrugged,"I just want to try out a Portkey."

"You 're eldritch, Kaden,"John laughed.

"So are you. airplane are boring,"Kaden argued.

"I 'm with Kaden on this one,"lustrelessness said,"I 'd take a Portkey any day."

******

Between studying for exams and Quidditch practice, Albus had no prison term for anything else. He managed to press in clip to chitchat matte in the hospital wing on Billy Sunday, but only briefly before he went to Natalie Wood 's day long Quidditch practice.

The pursual weekend was the final match of the Junior 's Dueling Club, something Albus had been forced to neglect due to Quidditch practice. After begging Wood and a bit of help from slip, Albus was capable to attend the final. Albus 's team won, practically to the delight 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 ally. Malfoy remained mysteriously quiet around the full lunation, not saying anything about it to either Albus or Matt. It was unusual, but not something any of the son were going to complain about it.

Three daylight before the Quidditch concluding, the Great anteroom was filled with whispering voice that reminded Albus of the day Balladanis had been sacked. Copies of the Prophet were being passed back and forth and quite a few educatee looked extremely scared.

"What 's happened ?"Albus asked rose as he sat down.

"Willinson has broken out of Azkaban,"pink wine whispered, her face completely white.

"What ? !"Albus shouted as he grabbed the nighest transcript of the oracle. matt and John crowded around him as he read it.

AZKABAN BREAKOUT

Officials have reported that three prisoners
broke out of Azkaban late last night. It is
still unknown how it happened. Azkaban safeguard
have refused to speak with newsman, and the
Ministry does not wish to reveal info
at this time.

The figure of the scat prisoners have been
released and anyone with entropy reguarding
any of them are asked to contact the Ministry.

The Prophet then gave detailed information about all three of the escaped captive. Albus only recognized Willinson. The early two had been imprisoned for more junior-grade crimes.

"How did he get out ?"Albus wondered,"He 's an idiot !"

"I think everyone 's confused about that,"pink wine said.

Any hope Albus had of getting homework done that week was gone. He was lucky he was able to centralize on Quidditch exercise. 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 imbecility. If he somehow met up with his don 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 number back, especially now that he was out of prison.

******

Before Albus knew it, the Night before the Quidditch final arrived and Wood called the squad into the changing way after ending practice.

"It has been incredibly rewarding to carry off this team,"Wood said as he began to pace in front of them,"There were difficultness in the beginning,"he paused and looked at the two Slytherins on the squad,"But I am gallant to say that you came together as a team wonderfully.

"It still amazes me that a group of students from all four house can come together and play together on the Lapplander squad. I am not sure this could possess been done when I was in Hogwarts.

"You have all come a long way over the year. You 've all made immense advance in your acquisition. Quite a few of you are seventh yr and I am very happy to tell you that there will be spotter from a couple Quidditch squad watching tomorrow 's match. I have in high spirits Hope for the lot of you, when it comes to Quidditch.

"I can not say whether we will win tomorrow. Australia is skillful, there is no denying that. However, I have faith in all of you. Tomorrow, go out there and throw it your in effect. Now, I think you should all move around in early and eat a proper breakfast tomorrow before the match. Teddy, Tyler, anything to add ?"Wood turned to the boys.

shift and Tyler both shook their heads and Wood turned back to the squad."I 'll see you all down here tomorrow. serious night."

Sir Henry Wood, shift, and Tyler stayed behind to discuss manoeuvre while the team left. Albus and James were the last two to leave. Georgia had left with the early seventh years, excitedly discussing the vista of scouts.

"You think GA 's going to signalise with one of the pro teams ?"Albus asked St. 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 anguish her chances when we lose."

"We might not lose,"Albus pointed out.

"We 're going to fall behind,"Henry James muttered,"Linda 's too unspoiled of a Seeker."

Albus said cypher. He wished he could just tell James that Linda was a vampire. It would be so much easier.

They kept walking, each lost in their own thoughts. Albus stopped abruptly when he heard a loud crack in the forest.

"What was that ?"he asked anxiously.

"Probably just a limb breakage,"King James answered.

"It was too aloud,"Albus said as he looked into the forest,"It sounded like person Apparating in there."

"I do n't think you can Apparate in the forest,"James pointed out,"And it did n't voice that loud. You 're just tired from all the Quidditch practice."

"I guess,"Albus said as he and James II kept walking,"But what if it was someone Apparating ? What if it was Willinson ?"

"You worry too much, Al,"James groaned,"This lieu is filled with Aurors and Dad 's here wide clock time now. You 'd take in to be mad to Apparate here if you 're wanted by the Ministry."

"But Willinson is stupid 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 fascinate and sent back to Azkaban."

Albus nodded but he was n't reassured. Willinson may be stupid person, but he did manage to snatch Kaden the previous saltation, and he had been on the run for a year prior to that. He may be a rubbish dueller, but he was certainly serious at not getting caught for the most part.


A/N : Thanks to my beta, Dancer of Starlight as well as all of the wonderfully awesome hoi polloi who have read and reviewed this !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


The atmosphere in the Great Hall the next forenoon was unlike anything Albus had seen before. The Hogwarts team was sitting together at the Ravenclaw table, surrounded by pupil from all four houses. shimmy and Tyler seemed to be in the midst of it and were loudly discussing tactics.

The Australian team was sitting together at the Hufflepuff table, with a declamatory distance between them and the Hufflepuffs. A small crowd of Aussie had congregated around them.

Albus decided not to join the rest of the Hogwarts team at the Ravenclaw board. Nobody was ineffectual to play that day, so Albus 's mean solar day on the team were pretty much over. To be honest, he was kind of relieved. There was just so much pressure.

"I think this tourney has been good for Hogwarts,"Rose mused,"Look at everyone. nonentity seems to care who 's in what house."

"It 'll all go back to normal once the match is over,"Albus pointed out.

"Maybe not,"rosebush shrugged,"You never know."

"I do n't screw, Rose,"matte said,"I do n't believe one year can vary centuries of tradition."

"It 's worth a try,"pink wine said,"I think we should all try and get along."

"I do n't think this has helped international magical cooperation,"John gestured to the Aussie team. The Hufflepuffs sitting nearby were glaring at them.

"Competition rarely does that,"rosiness muttered.

"Well, they 'll all be going home soon,"Matt said cheerfully.

rosiness shot him a dirty flavor and then looked up at the faculty mesa. Albus 's gaze followed. The staff mesa was quite overcrowded that morning. There were scouts from Quidditch team, Ministry functionary including Albus 's Uncle Percy, and a variety of people from Commonwealth of Australia and New York.

"flavour at that witch,"whoremaster pointed to a very magniloquent, beautiful witch with pale Edward D. White skin and tenacious dark hair.

"She 's Linda 's female parent,"pink wine told them.

"Is she-"John began.

"Yes,"Rose whispered,"She 's one, too."

"I thought so,"whoremaster said without taking his eyes off the witch.

There was a loud cheer from the Ravenclaw table and the Hogwarts team began to leave the Hall. 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 upheaval only seemed to increase now that the teams had gone down to the changing rooms.

A few minutes later people began to leave for the tar. The bunch at the staff board left first and the students followed.

"Albus,"St. John the Apostle said as they got up from the table,"I 've got a few pair of omnioculars in my tree trunk. I want to see it up close when Linda catches that Snitch."

"Let 's go get them, then,"Albus replied.

blush wine rolled her eyes."sports meeting us down at the pitch."She and Amanda turned towards the door as the boys ran up the distinguished staircase.

"Why did n't you just bring 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.

King John had to empty out his entire tree trunk in order to obtain the omnioculars. He had four pairs and handed one to each of the boys.

"Let 's go,"Albus said,"We 're going to miss the get-go of the match."

Albus completely ignored the no track in the corridors rule as he made his way through the palace. There was n't anyone to scold him anyway. The footsteps behind him told him his booster were n't far behind.

Albus turned a corner and ran smack into something. He fell down onto his back and looked up, only to see that it was someone. Not just anyone either. Albus had collided with matte 's boggart.

Only, it could n't be a boggart because if it had been a boggart, it would ingest manifested itself into what Albus was nigh afraid of. At that moment, it probably would take been Willinson.

The man sneered down at Albus and then smiled creepily. Albus scrambled up and turned back to wait at his friends.

mat had turned whiteness and looked far 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. John was looking from Matt to the man, an obvious horror on his face. Kaden was looking extremely confused.

Albus turned and grabbed all three of his friends, pulling them into the nearest classroom. He slammed the door and pulled out his wand, putting every locking magic spell he knew onto the knob.

mat collapsed onto the near chair and put his head word in his hands."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 keep an eye on the Quidditch match, then why is n't he down there ?"

"What if he 's not here to watch the Quidditch ?"John said darkly.

"Who the bloody hell is he ?"Kaden asked loudly.

Albus glanced at Matt before looking at Kaden. matte did n't seem to have heard Kaden 's question.

"His epithet 's Lubar. He 's the read/write head of the section for the Regulation and Control of Magical beast in Australia,"Albus explained,"He 's the reason why Matt had to move here, amongst other things."

"He 's a pale and twisted evilness git,"St. John muttered,"What are we going to do ?"

Albus walked over to the door and peered out the small 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 ? ling ? No, that would select too long. They 'd have to use the Floo meshing, but none of the fireplaces at Hogwarts were hooked up, as far as Albus knew.

"We 're going to bear to get to Hogsmeade,"Albus said,"You wait here. I 'll get my Cloak and the map. Then we 'll sneak into Hogsmeade and Floo to the Ministry."

flatness nodded."You hombre do n't have to come. You can go to the match."

"Are you mental ?"John exclaimed,"That bloke out there is probably unsound than Willinson. We 're not letting you do this alone."

Albus nodded in agreement before waving his wand and undoing the locking charms. He cautiously looked out into the corridor before leaving. It was empty.

Much to Albus 's relief, both the Cloak and the map were right where he 'd left them. He shoved them into his robes and ran back to the classroom. Matt, John, 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,"King John said immediately,"I 'm tallest so I 'll look at up the most room anyway. Plus, if we meet up with Lubar again, I 'm the best liar."

Albus could n't fence there. Both he and matte were atrocious liars and Kaden still had n't gotten over his inability to save secrets.

"You take the map, then,"Albus handed the map to bathroom,"We 've got to get to the one-eyed witch statue on the tertiary 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.

John set a very fast pace 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 sum of noise possible.

The male child made it down the two flights of stairs necessary to get to the third floor and arrived at the statue without seeing anyone. Albus pulled the Cloak off of them and overgorge it into his sac. With a ready tap of his wand, he statue 's hump opened and the son climbed inside.

Albus lit his wand and took off down the small passage. Matt, John, and Kaden followed suit.

"Why did Kendrick let him in ?"John asked as they ran,"Does n't he know what he did ?"

"Yes,"Matt answered,"I do n't cerebrate Kendrick knows he 's here."

"What did he do ?"Kaden asked.

"You do n't cerebrate he came here to see you ?"Albus asked Matt,"I mean, remember when Killigan saw us that one time and he seemed so interested in finding you ?"

"Of course I do,"Matt muttered,"And it really would n't storm 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 mate ?"

"Maybe, but I 'm betting it 's got something to do with Linda,"Matt replied,"I do n't know for sure, but it seems too concurrent for him to be here just to see me."

"What did he do ?"Kaden shouted,"Why would he need to see you ?"

Matt stopped running and wheeled around to look at Kaden."It 's a retentive story. Lubar 's got a grudge against my dad, one that he obviously still has even though we have n't lived in Australia for six class,"Matt paused,"He passed a cluster of law against werewolves and I wound up having to transform with a cluster of other werewolves. It was bad."

Matt resumed walking and did n't elaborate on the study. Kaden did n't ask him to.

"What 's your dad going to do about it ?"Kaden asked.

"I dunno,"matte shrugged,"Maybe talk to Kendrick or something."

There was no doubtfulness in Albus 's mind that lusterlessness 's dad would be capable 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 incline. When it came down to it, Mr. Eckerton was the one who had Balladanis sacked.

The passageway finally began to climb until it came to an precipitous blockage at a baffling wooden door. Albus pressed his ear to the room access, but heard nil. He carefully pushed it open, wincing as it creaked.

Seeing cypher in the repositing way beyond, Albus beckoned his booster forward. The way was dimly lit, enough for Albus to see a huge amount of corner littering the story. On the far rampart he could see a fireplace.

The boys climbed over the various boxwood and stood in strawman of the open fireplace. Albus located a minor chemise of Floo Powder and then lit a fire. He turned to his friends.

"You ca n't Floo directly into someone 's study at the Ministry. We 're going to induce to go to the Atrium,"Albus told them,"I 'll go first, you follow."Albus took a fistful of gunpowder 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 seconds later. The Atrium was nearly deserted, make unnecessary for a few wizards striding towards the lifts, clearly too meddling to notice Albus.

lustrelessness landed rather ungracefully on the floor. He picked himself up, brushing stray ash off his robes.

"post is deserted,"Matt said as he looked around.

"It 's a Saturday,"Albus pointed out,"Department of Energy your dad piece of work Saturdays ?"

"Yeah,"Matt nodded,"At least mornings."

lavatory was future to abuse out of the fervidness, doing so more elegantly than lustrelessness had. He stood in social movement of the flaming, staring around at the Atrium. His middle rested on the outflow of Magical Brethren.

"This is to a greater extent fancy than I imagined,"bathroom said.

"Bloody Inferno !"Kaden shouted as he fell out of the fire,"This is the Ministry ?"

"Yes,"lustrelessness said quickly,"But we have n't got time to research. Let 's go."

Albus followed matte towards the desk in the front of the Atrium. There was an old wizard leafing through a copy of the caviller, unmindful to his surroundings. Albus almost thought they 'd be able to sneak around him, but he looked up just as they were about to pass.

"Where do you conceive you 're going ?"he asked and then his eyes rested on Albus,"Albus Severus thrower. Why are n't you in school ?"

"Er,"Albus began, a footling faze that the man knew who he was.

mat stepped in front of Albus."We need to go see my dad. He 's the Head of the Department for the regulating and restraint of Magical Creatures. It 's sort of an emergency."

"Very well,"the man looked at them oddly,"Put your sceptre up here."

Albus did as he was told and the others followed suit of clothes. They waited impatiently as the old superstar tested their wands and then handed them back. He waved them on towards the lifts.

"What 's the point of that ?"Kaden asked as they waited for a lift.

"So if you murder anyone, they can tell whose sceptre did it,"Albus said bluntly.

"That 's cheerful,"Kaden replied.

Once the rhytidoplasty arrived, the son piled in and Matt pushed the number four. cipher said anything as the lift creaked its way to the quaternary floor.

lustrelessness took off at a run down the corridor after they left the lift. Albus had never been to this particular trading floor. It looked rather similar to the Magical Law Enforcement 's floor, with nondescript band of bivalent door on one side.

matte skidded to a halt in strawman of the only door that was exclusive and banged his hand loudly on it. When there was no answer after a few seconds, he banged again.

"hold your hippogriffs !"called a articulation from the interior,"I 'm coming, I'm-"mat 's dad said as he opened the door.

Mr. Eckerton seemed to freeze at the sight of his son and the former three son. He gaped at them for a second before shaking his head.

"matte ?"he asked and rubbed his eye, as if he thought he was seeing a hallucination,"But, why are n't you in school ? How did you get here ? Why are you here ? Albus ? What are you- and can, Kaden ?"

His middle rested on Matt again."Matt ? What 's wrong ?"

Mr. Eckerton stepped aside and let the son into his study. He shut the room access quietly behind them.

The study reminded Albus of his dad 's. There were large Windows on the side opposite the room access, although the scene outside was not real number, nor was the gentle rain that was pattering onto it.

There was a boastfully leather covered chair behind the huge oak desk and a few smaller chairs in front of it. Along the other two bulwark were shelf with load of books. Most of them were about assorted magical creatures.

Albus, Matt, and John took the hindquarters that were in straw man of the desk while Kaden wandered around the study looking at things. Mr. Eckerton leaned against the presence of his desk and looked at his son.

"What 's happened ?"he asked quietly.

"L-Lubar,"matte said in barely more than a susurration,"He-he 's at Hogwarts."

"What ? !"Mr. Eckerton exclaimed.

"We were on our way to the Quidditch concluding,"matte said,"A-and we saw him."

"Bloody Scheol !"Mr. Eckerton stood up and slammed his fist loudly against his desk,"Did Professor Kendrick allow this ?"

"I do n't know,"matte replied,"B-but everyone else was at the couple and he was just lurking about the castle."

Mr. Eckerton 's brass hardened. He looked just like he had when he talked with professor Balladanis earlier in the full term."Let 's go, boys,"he said darkly,"I 've got to hold a Book with professor Kendrick."

Albus followed Mr. Eckerton out of his sketch and down towards the lifts. John 's walking speed was nil compared to lustrelessness 's dad 's. The boys had to run to keep 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 fireplaces, but did n't say anything.

Mr. Eckerton handed Albus a bit of Floo powder and gestured for him to go first. Albus stepped into the fire and shouted,"Honeyduke 's !"

Albus began to spin out faster and faster. He saw glance of citizenry 's family, workshop in Diagon Alley, and a variety of other post he did not recognize. Then, out of one of the hearth, came a hand. Everything seemed to slow down, but Albus was n't sure if it actually did or not.

The 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 scepter and shakily held it up. He lit it and looked around the elbow room, seeing no one.

"Nice to see you, Potter,"a cold voice said from behind him.

Albus jumped and turned around. There, crouching succeeding to the fireplace with his handwriting inside of it, was Lubar. He looked even more creepy in the dank room than he did in Hogwarts.

The fireplace glowed green and Lubar yanked his arm out of it. St. John the Apostle came tumbling out of the fire and scrambled too his metrical foot, looking about.

Lubar muttered something underneath his intimation and stuck his hand in the flak again.

"What the ?"john whispered to Albus,"Where are we ? Is that ? Bloody snake pit !"

"Shut up !"Lubar shouted.

Albus gazed around the elbow 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 Network anyway.

The open fireplace glowed green yet again, this time sending Kaden onto the floor. This earned another cry from Lubar, who stuck his handwriting in the fervidness again.

Kaden gaped and then got to his infantry and stood adjacent to Albus. He looked absolutely terrified, even before he laid eyes on Lubar.

Albus wanted nil more than to run from the room, but he did not know where the edifice was even located. Plus, Lubar would probably stun him or something.

Green igniter filled the elbow room as the fireplace glowed once more. Albus knew even before it happened that matt would be the one to next fall out of the flames. Mere seconds later, that suspiciousness was confirmed.

mat coughed and scrambled to his feet. He gasped when he saw Lubar and ran over to Albus.

Lubar, finally satisfied, doused the fervor and lit his wand, which illuminated his sinister face. He began to pace slowly in front of them.

"Well, well, you went crying to Daddy just as I expected,"Lubar grinned manically,"I do love when affair work out the way I expect them to."

Albus could feel lustrelessness shaking adjacent to him. He gripped his sceptre hard, debating whether to try and disarm Lubar.

"Any mind where you are ?"Lubar asked,"Dervish and Banges. Lovely shop, pity about the owner. Yes, a real shame."

Lubar did n't seem at all upset about what happened to the shop possessor. Albus looked around the shop again and now he recognized it.

"Well, let 's not pine away our clock time here,"Lubar said,"There 's a few the great unwashed who 've been dying to see you."Lubar snapped his fingers three fourth dimension and Albus heard stride on the stairs.

Three wizard descended the stairs and strode into the elbow room. They lit their wands at the Lapp meter and Albus gasped when the light showed their faces. Jarrett and Quinton Willinson, along with Washburn. Three the great unwashed Albus hoped never to see again.

Albus swallowed hard. He could see no way out of this. As good a duelist he was, he was up against four fully characterize star. Three of them did not possess the acquirement to duel, but Albus had no idea what Lubar was up to of.

"Ah, yes,"Lubar smirked,"What a lovely reunification. Unfortunately we have n't got time to chat."

Before Albus knew it, Washburn had him in a headlock with his wand pointed at his neck. Quinton Willinson had Kaden and his Father had lav. flatness, seeing his champion restrained, made a run for the nearest window.

"Not so fast, untested werewolf,"Lubar caught him by the back of his robes and wrapped one of his blazonry around his middle.

Lubar reached into his robe with his free hand and pulled out an old tea kettle. He held it out to the other three men and each one put a liberate manus on it. Albus knew what was going to find right before it did. He shared a frightened glance with matte 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 piece of this chapter from Harry 's point of persuasion. It begins in his point of sight and then switches back to Albus 's. Asterisks indicate where the tip of view switches.


"Spectacular save by GA Weasley !"the commentator shouted.

Harry grinned as his niece threw the Quaffle back into gaming. It was immediately taken into possession by Hogwarts, and all three Chasers threw it back and Forth as they flew to the Australian end of the pitch.

"mark ! Hogwarts has scored against Australia, bringing the full to 50-20 Hogwarts !"

Harry stood up and shouted as garish as the educatee. One thing he loved about the Quidditch tournament was that he did n't have to try and conceal his excitement when Hogwarts scored. During house matches, he had to try and act he was electroneutral, even though he obviously supported Gryffindor.

As happy as Harry was about the Hogwarts pursuer being very skilled, he did not hold promise that Hogwarts would actually win. Australia 's searcher, Linda Morales, was the best Seeker Harry had ever seen outside of professional Quidditch. He knew that his son, James, was salutary, 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 pep pill on a heather just did n't seem natural. pro Quidditch player would drink down for her speed.

"I 'm storm 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 like,"It 'll be soon, though."

Harry turned his gaze to the rest of the staff who were sitting around him. Most of them were quite reserved. nonentity seemed to be showing the enthusiasm Harry was. He did n't handle. Harry did n't share their belief that teacher could n't get overly excited about Quidditch.

A few professors stood up and then sat back down again as someone squeezed their way past them. Harry craned his head and was surprised to see Bruno Walter Eckerton.

Harry did n't know the man well. They 'd met on occasion at the Ministry, although Harry had a feeling he 'd be seeing more than of him now that he was Head of the department for the Regulation and control condition of Magical Creatures.

What Harry mostly knew about Walter Eckerton was more on a personal than master storey. Harry had never met a father who was more protective of his son than Walter Eckerton, although he did have just reason. Never a more dedicate father, either.

Bruno Walter continued his way past the other professors until he stopped in front of Harry. Harry was even to a greater extent traumatize to see the aspect on his font. Worry was etched in every piece of his face, bringing out the wrinkles, but there was ira in his eyes.

"Walter,"Harry shook his hand 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 pedestal. They continued walking until they were a short-change length away from the slant and then Bruno Walter stopped.

"The boy have just been to see me at the Ministry,"Bruno Walter said as soon as he 'd stopped.

"wait, what ?"Harry asked,"You mean Albus and Matt ?"

"Yes, and the other two as well,"Walter said quickly,"You 've heard of Ralph Lubar, the fountainhead of the department for the regularisation and Control of Magical Creatures in Australia ?"

Harry nodded, slightly confused at the change of content."Yes, not a very tolerant lad, is he ?"

Walter 's nerve hardened."That 's a gracious way of putting it. The chap is wan and distort and he 's got a score against me. Very long story and I have n't got time to tell it. short-circuit version is that when lustrelessness was eight, Lubar passed a law that required him to transform in a building with other wolfman, sr. werewolves. Nearly killed him. It was right before we moved. For whatever reason, Lubar decided to visit Hogwarts today, possibly under the pretense of attending the Quidditch match.

"The boys saw him and Flooed to the Ministry from Honeyduke 's. Matt '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 owners of the shop as well as a few other Hogsmeade occupier. No one 's seen them. We 've got to find them."

Harry 's heart sank."You do n't think Lubar 's got them, do you ? He 's not life-threatening, is he ?"

"To Matt, yes, but I have n't the slightest idea as to why he 'd need the other boys,"Walter said.

"Even if he did only desire lustrelessness, he 'd have to get Albus as well because I know Albus would n't let him take Matt sitting down,"Harry replied, and started walking briskly towards Hogsmeade,"Let 's go. I 'll get every available Auror on this."

******

Albus tried as hard as he could to bump himself from Washburn 's clutches as he was Portkeying to who knows where. All Albus knew about the placement was that it must be far away. Portkeying is usually mostly instant, but this clip there was a pregnant lag. Albus had sentence to try and get away, not that it did anything.

The second hint that their goal was far away was the fact that it was very dingy when Albus finally landed on the dry land. Not dark-skinned like an imminent storm either. darkness as in night.

Washburn had let go of Albus as they landed and Albus hastened to get to his metrical unit. Loud thumps around him told him that his friends had landed as well.

The priming was mute and hard and the leafage around them was dense. Albus assumed they were in some form of forest. He gazed around and saw a lot of unfamiliar trees that seemed to load towards the starry sky.

There was no moonshine to illuminate the timber. Lubar, the Willinsons, and Washburn had walked a few yard away from the boy and were whispering to each other. All four had lit their wand, but it was n't decent sceptre light to pass on Albus a good view of his surroundings.

Matt, 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 presume faint it.

"Why is it night ?"Kaden whispered.

"Where the Hell are we ?"John the Divine asked.

"We 're in Australia,"Matt said in awe, as if he was just coming to terminus with that fact.

"We Portkeyed across an ocean ?"Kaden gasped.

When Albus thought about it, it made common sense. 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 make mother wit was why Lubar was with Washburn and the Willinsons. As far as he could evidence, 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 household ?"John asked.

"How should I live ?"matt snapped,"Commonwealth of Australia 's a huge country !"

"I just thought if we were near it, we could hide there,"John muttered.

"You would n't require to,"mat said,"My stupid cousin-german owns it now."

"You have a cousin ?"Albus asked.

"Not significant,"Matt said quickly.

Albus nodded."How are we going to get out of this ?"

"They 're not paying attention,"Saint John whispered, gesturing to where the four wizards stood huddled in a circle,"Maybe if we run for it."

"The Portkey 's right there,"Matt pointed to the tea kettle hole, which was a few invertebrate foot away,"If we can just get to it."

"All right,"Albus whispered,"On the count of three. One ... two ... three."

Albus ran as quietly as he could towards the Porkey. He was about to plunk 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 expect ?"Jarrett said rudely,"There 's four of them ! Do you realize how much more difficult this is going to be now ? We only needed Potter ! But no, you had to go and insist on bringing that werewolf 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 have done."

"fountainhead, now we 've wound up with two extra ones as well,"Jarret muttered.

"They 're tike, how much hassle can they be ?"Lubar smirked.

"You do n't cognise this lot,"Washburn replied,"They 're the reason we have n't had luck before."

"I thought that was because of your incredible stupidity,"Lubar said.

Albus was very intrigue. 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 President George W. Bush, not yours."

"You own the timberland 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 year have passed. differentiate me, what is it like pretending to be something you 're not ?"

To Albus 's surprise, it was John and not mat who went flying at Lubar. Lubar disarmed John with a lazy wave of his wand, leaving lavatory stunned in strawman of him. It appeared that Lubar was a significantly better duelist than either of the Willinsons or Washburn.

Pocketing John 's wand, Lubar turned back to lustrelessness, who was shakily holding his wand up.

"It does n't matter what land you 're in,"Lubar seethed,"You 're the same thing no matter where you live. The laws do n't change what you are. make as lots as you like, but it wo n't change a thing."

Now Albus wanted to go after Lubar. The anger was boiling up inside of him and he did n't consider he had ever felt more angry in his integral life story, and that included every encounter he had had with Scorpius Malfoy. Malfoy was like a fluffy kitten compared to Lubar.

However, Albus held himself back. lavatory was already wandless. It would do them no good if Albus got disarmed as well. Something told him to wait, to wait until he could pick up them off guard.

"What about your father ? I hear he 's the brain of the section in United Kingdom now,"Lubar smirked,"Guess it 's just a affair of time until the same affair happens. You 'll have to flee again."

Matt was visibly trembling now. Albus wracked his brain, trying to count on 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 clump of youngster to Australia just to pine away time taunting one of them ?"

"silence !"Lubar shouted,"I 'll do what I like !"

"Excuse me !"Kaden said loudly, turning to Lubar,"But how in the public figure of Merlin do you screw them ?"He gestured to the Willinsons and Washburn.

Albus held his breathing time, waiting for Lubar to put some form of hex or expletive on Kaden. Sometimes his cousin was quite heavy. It seemed obvious to Albus that this was a time not to ask questions.

To Albus 's surprisal, Lubar smiled. It was a convolute sort of smile, but a smile nonetheless.

"I think that 's a fair doubt,"Lubar said."My first cousin married this idiot,"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 ?"

"solitaire, full cousin,"Lubar said as he began to walk slowly around the former three,"We mus n't do this hastily. rush is the reason you three have failed prior to tonight."

Fail at what ? What were they going to do ? The entirely affair Albus could think of was getting the Hallows, but all three Hallows were in England. If that was their program, they would n't throw 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 saucy, often smarter than the other three, and that scared Albus to a greater extent than anything else. There was a big divergence between dueling someone who was smart and dueling individual who was an idiot.

******

The Ministry seemed deserted when Harry and Bruno Walter Flooed there a suddenly piece later. Harry had briefly questioned the owners of Honeyduke 's, but they had not seen any of the boys.

Harry and Bruno Walter ran towards the lifts at top speed, not pausing to answering the questioning stare of the bloke at the welcome desk. The lifts could not go fast enough for the two men. Harry nearly pulled the threshold open when they finally arrived at Magical Law Enforcement 's floor.

The Auror billet was slightly more lively than the rest of the Ministry, but not much. Three Aurors were inside, two of whom hastily shoved away a cumulation of Exploding Snap cards and stood up upon seeing Harry arrive. The other Auror, a rather short but stocky witch, shoved the Book she was reading in the drawer, and joined the other two.

"ceramicist, sir !"the witch said,"We thought you were at Hogwarts today !"

"I was,"Harry said darkly and explained the situation.

The three Aurors looked sorry as they waited for Harry to give them instructions.

"Dabney,"Harry turned to the taller of the whizz,"Brighton,"he looked at the crone,"Get started with an extensive search of Hogsmeade. I 'm calling in everyone who is n't occupy with anything else. Tiburon and Oswald are on responsibility in Hogsmeade today, inform them of the situation."

Dabney and Brighton nodded before dashing out of the room. Harry turned to the remaining Auror."Lewster, you will be searching the Forbidden Forest as soon as mortal else arrives."

Harry pulled out his scepter and muttered a magic spell. An enormous silvery hart flew out of his verge and Harry whispered to it. The Patronus glided out of the room and Harry leaned against the skinny desk.

It was n't long before Harry heard footsteps in the corridor. He looked up at the door just as Ron was running through, followed by half a dozen other Aurors.

"Harry, what 's going on ?"Ron said in a interest tone.

Harry rehashed the entire situation again. Ron 's face paled."What about rose wine, was she with them ?"

"No,"Bruno Walter shook his nous,"It was just the boys."

"Thank Merlin,"Ron whispered,"But Harry, what about Willinson ? D'you think he 's got anything to do with this ?"

"It 's crossed my judgment,"Harry muttered,"But I have n't got a cue as to how Lubar would know him."

"With dingy wizards, you just never know,"Ron pointed out.

"I know,"Harry nodded,"Ron, lead the search of the Forbidden Forest. Lewster 's going with you. And accept Daniels and Smith with you."

Ron nodded and left the room, followed by Lewster and two other thaumaturge. The remaining four Aurors looked to Harry.

"The rest of you can explore the castle and yard. Be discrete. I do not care to interrupt the Quidditch friction match unless it is absolutely requirement,"Harry instructed.

The Aurors left the room and Harry turned to Bruno Walter. He slowly shook his school principal. Why was it always Albus ? This was the tertiary year he had gotten into fuss. Albus 's years at Hogwarts were reminding Harry dangerously of his own.

"I 'd better go Floo habitation and severalize Julie what 's going on,"Walter sighed,"She 's going to come down apart."

Harry nodded as Walter left the room. Ginny. Harry snapped his head up. She was going to be watching the match, but was going to be late. She 's probably there now, Harry thought. She 'd be looking for him.

Harry slowly left the way. How was he going to tell his wife 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 faulty ? We 're halfway across the world from the Aurors that are looking for this lot !"

"Once again you have proved your stupidity,"Lubar replied,"Do you realize who we 've taken halfway across the world ? Harry ceramicist 's son ! You have n't a clue as to how things work in the Ministry !

"I can assure you that at this very mo, the full Auror section is looking for them. Harry potter 's probably got every Auror on this case. It wo n't convey them long to see that we 're not in England.

"And this one,"Lubar gestured to Matt,"He 's got the most meddlesome parents in the existence. They 'd sooner kill everyone in the earth before letting something happen to him. Very irritating. They wo n't repose until they find him. Not to note the fact that he 's the son of a Ministry official. We 've got two kids of two of the most prominent Ministry official of Britain. Think, Jarrett, think ! We 've got to be careful !"

"fountainhead, you 're the one who wanted to take the wolfman, too,"Jarrett growled.

"And you 're the one who insisted we take thrower '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 bring the kids, we could 've done this whole matter without the Ministry finding out,"Washburn cut in.

"Shut up !"Lubar and Jarrett said at the Saame time.

Maybe if they kept arguing, they would n't experience a chance to do whatever it was they wanted to do before the Aurors found them, Albus thought. He could only hope that the wizards would accept enough to argue about.

"Are we going to do it here ?"Jarrett asked,"Or go to the theatre ?"

"have you learned nothing ?"Lubar shouted,"When they find out that we 're here, the first stead they 'll count is the house."

"Got any better ideas ?"Jarrett seethed,"Have you got a secret small shack somewhere in this country ?"

"No,"Lubar snapped,"We 're taking them to the outback. Plenty of stead to hide, not very inhabited. perfective place."

Before Albus could even mull running away, Jarrett had his arm in a vice handle again. flatness was once again in the batch of Lubar, and John and Kaden were both caught by the Willinsons.

Albus knew very little about the Australian outback, just that it was n't suited for much human inhabitation. However, the one slice of data he did know about it was that it was where near of the dementors that used to defend Azkaban had gone. That, and it was a somewhat popular place for vampires.

Lubar and Jarrett had stopped bickering. Albus had two seconds to agnize 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 awesome people 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 free of Jarrett 's appreciation. He tripped over a careen and landed facial expression first in the Sand. Spitting the grittiness out of his back talk, he stood up and glanced around.

It was still far too coloured to see anything but the outlines of heap in the length. The outback seemed very empty and very serenity. There was a very small clump of bushes and tree diagram nearby, but besides that, Albus did not see often else in the way of plant life.

Albus immediately knew why Lubar had taken them there. He had never been in such a deserted place in his life. There was absolutely nix around them. Even if Albus had decided to run away, he would n't cause gotten very far. As dangerous as staying with Lubar was, Albus knew he would consume no chance of surviving if he ran off into the outback.

Lubar seemed to experience that Albus and the others would n't run away. He neglected to use any sort of ropes to tie them up or put any spells around them. Instead, he walked a short distance in the counseling of the mountains and gestured for the Willinsons and Washburn to follow them.

"What are we going to do ?"bathroom seethed,"Has anyone got any theme where we are ?"

"The outback 's vast,"Matt replied,"I bet we 're veracious in the heart of it. The nearest civilization 's probably miles away."

"So we 're done for,"lavatory groaned,"What do they even want with us anyway ?"

"No approximation,"Albus said,"But if they keep arguing, we might not consume to chance out."

"Do you really think your dads are going to be able to get us ?"John asked skeptically.

"Lubar 's rightfulness,"Albus said,"The whole Ministry 's going to be looking. I think they 'll find us."

"Does shove like this happen every year ?"Kaden asked,"I mean, last yr I got kidnapped by Willinson and now we all were. What 'll encounter next class ?"

"Hopefully nothing,"Albus said.

"If there is a next class,"St. John muttered.

"Shut up over there !"Lubar shouted as he walked back over to the boys,"I did n't tell you to babble !"

"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 eye leapt a bit. There was a small gathering of frame a few yards away. Could his dad have found them already ?

"calm air down,"Lubar said,"They 're just vampires. They wo n't bother us. I know that coven. They know better than to mess with me. I 'll make life pretty deplorable for them if they do."

"slip deal with vampire now ?"Jarrett asked.

"Proving to be helpful, is n't it ?"Lubar answered.

Albus 's hopes sank once again. Lubar seemed more puzzling than ever. He cut tidy sum for vampires but passed restrictive laws on werewolf ? It did n't form sense.

The men lowered their part again and Albus wished he had a few extendible Ears with him. He did n't dare talk to his friends, just sent them anxious glances every now and then.

A inhuman wind blew over them and Albus shivered. It was the sort of cold that chilled him to the off-white. 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 cloud, but what Albus saw was a good deal uncollectible 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 make out their forms. As they got closer, he could even hear their rattling breath.

The existence in strawman of him began to swim. He felt like he was going to draw 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 find oneself 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 !"mat shouted.

Albus squeezed his oculus shut and then opened them, forcing himself to reckon 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 affect Matt the worst. He had gone through thing that Albus, John, and Kaden could n't even imagine. It probably did n't avail that Lubar was actually exhibit, either.

Without even thinking, Albus pulled his baton out of his robe. He 'd heard 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 wand at the sky. Nothing happened.

A felicitous thought ! How could he have forgotten that ? It was hard to imagine of one with dementors flying over heard and listening to mat shouting on the ground.

When the sorting Hat put him in Gryffindor ! Albus pointed his sceptre to the sky again."Expecto Patronum ! Expecto Patronum !"

Albus kept shouting the conjuration while using various happy memories. cipher was happening, but Matt 's shouting was decreasing. Then it stopped. Albus stopped and looked towards the ground. It looked like Matt had passed out.

thought process of the day Balladanis had been sacked, Albus pointed his verge at the dementors once again."Expecto Patronum !"he shouted.

A silvery blob exploded from his wand and went after the dementors. Albus stood shocked for a few irregular. He had sort of done a Patronus appeal !

"Bloody inferno,"John whispered.

"Expecto Patronum !"someone shouted from the distance.

Albus looked up and saw Lubar running at them with his wand pointed at the dementors. A silvery squirrel was floating ahead of him and the dementors scattered as it reached them.

Albus 's logy brain immediately cleared and the happiness returned. He quickly stowed his wand in his robe before Lubar thought to disarm him.

"Leave him,"Lubar growled at John and Kaden, who were bent grass to the undercoat trying to get Matt to wake up.

"Dementors !"Washburn shouted sarcastically,"This was a bloody brilliant space to come."

Lubar paid no attention to Washburn 's comment. His eyes were focused on Albus and he was giving him a very peculiar look. Albus took a nervous step back, but Lubar did not avert his gaze. Albus immediately closed his mind.

******

"potter, sir !"

Harry, who had been walking up high gear Street in Hogsmeade with Ginny, turned around and saw Lewster striding towards him. Harry stopped, hoping he had some practiced news.

"What is it, Lewster ?"Harry asked.

"Just talked to a few of the Centaur,"Lewster said,"They saw three wizards in the forest a few hours ago. They recognized one of them as Washburn."

"I 'd bet my hold out Galleon the early 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 storm him. The Resurrection Stone was someplace in the forest."Did you see anything ?"

"No,"Lewster shook his principal,"And the Centaur are pretty sure they 've left."

"Very well,"Harry said,"See what else you can retrieve out."

Lewster left and Harry turned to Ginny, who looked afraid.

"Harry, you do n't imagine that Washburn is with Lubar, do you ?"Ginny asked.

"There 's no uncertainty in my nous,"Harry answered,"It 's just a thing of finding them. Listen, I 've got to go hunt Dervish and Banges. I 've got this intuition about the place. Seems like the perfect place for Washburn to take away them."

Ginny nodded."I 'll go charm the end of the catch. I wo n't note anything to Saint James and Lily yet."

"good,"Harry said,"I 'll be in feeling soon."He kissed her lightly on the os frontale."We 're going to ascertain him."

"I know,"Ginny replied softly,"Stay safe."

Ginny turned around to walk back to the Hogwarts grounds while Harry picked up the step and walked the short distance to Dervish and Banges.

The building looked utterly abandoned. The windowpane were still boarded up, the grass overgrown around it. It certainly did n't look like anyone was hiding inside, but Harry had to check.

Pulling out his scepter, he crept cautiously to the door. He carefully pulled the table off of it and quietly wrenched the door spread. Without lighting his verge, he walked inside.

The billet had the look of a recent fire in the fireplace. Someone had been there. However, there was not a speech sound from anywhere in the building. Harry lit his wand and saw that it was deserted.

After a thorough stay of the entire building, in which Harry found no living creature, he returned to the main elbow room. The fireplace was filled with nearly dead coal and there was a small pile of Floo powder spilled out onto the floor.

The Floo had been used recently. Harry bent down and muttered an incantation that would secern him where the last soul to use the fireplace had Flooed from. He waited for the incantation to shape, his heart pounding.

Soft red smoke emitted from his sceptre, curling together to imprint the Word of God 'Ministry of magic trick .'Harry breathed a suspiration of relief. He was getting somewhere. Without hardly a doubt, Harry knew that Albus and the former boys had wound up in Dervish and Banges after going to the Ministry. The but question was, where had they gone after that ?

******

"How old are you, ceramicist ?"Lubar asked.

"thirteen,"Albus replied, still a bit nervous as to why Lubar was looking at him like that. It reminded him of how Balladanis had looked at him during the s dueling tournament.

"And they teach the Patronus good luck charm to thirteen-year-olds at Hogwarts ?"Lubar replied.

"No,"Albus shook his head, although when he thought about it, Balladanis may induce 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 verge harder. He glanced at Matt, who was still unconscious. John did n't stimulate his sceptre. Kaden was n't very soundly at dueling. It would be up to him, to Albus, if this came to a duel.

"The alone one who 's got any skill is ceramist,"Jarrett said,"The former three are n't going to be difficult."

"fine,"Lubar muttered,"We 'll get started, but I need to talk to you three away from them first."

Jarrett nodded and the men walked a few one thousand away and began whispering too quietly for Albus to hear.

Albus bent down to where lusterlessness had collapsed, wishing he knew a healing tour or two."Matt, Matt,"he whispered,"wake up."

After a minute or two, Matt 's eyes fluttered open 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 rice beer,"matt shuddered,"Did anyone else pass out ?"The early three boys shook their heads."chassis,"Matt muttered.

"You need some chocolate or something,"Albus said,"Anyone got some ?"

"mightiness,"Kaden began fishing around in his pockets. 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 believe you can get up ?"

Matt nodded and Albus helped him to his feet. Lubar and the others were walking towards them again. Albus slowly pulled his wand out of his gown and held it to his side, hiding it partially behind his back.

Lubar conjured a atomic pile of wood and set fire to it, illuminating himself, Washburn, the Willinsons, and the son. Albus was now clearly able to see the twisted look on Lubar 's face.

"Are you mad ?"Jarrett seethed,"ardour 's going to draw in attending !"

Lubar laughed."flaming 's going to ensure that those vampires stay away and we 've got to see what we 're doing !"

Albus glanced towards where the vampire had been congregating. They were currently walking farther away from Albus and the others. Thinking back to Linda 's boggart, he remembered that vampires are destroyed by fire. Albus turned back to the men.

Jarrett was holding something out in his hand, but Albus could n't gain out what it was. Jarrett, along with Quinton and Washburn, looked quite excited. Lubar looked mildly annoyed and impatient.

"Do you know what this is, Potter ?"Jarrett asked gleefully.

"No,"Albus said, trying not to sound too nervous.

"It 's the resurrection Stone,"Jarrett answered.

Albus could hardly conceal his gasp as he peered close-fitting at Jarrett 's outstretched hand. There was a very small stone sitting in it. The Resurrection Stone. One of the Deathly Hallows. Jarrett had finally succeeded in getting one of the three objects he had been after for long time. But how ?

"How ?"Albus asked, trying to vocalize confident.

"antediluvian magic is a beautiful matter, Potter,"Jarrett answered,"There are long block go, go that work very nicely with long disregarded wizard objects such as this Stone. It was merely a matter of finding the correct spell, getting to the Forbidden Forest, and putting it to use. Quite simple 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 other Hallows will testify to be easy to obtain with the help of this,"Jarrett went on, ignoring Lubar 's mutterings.

Albus did not like the audio of that. The Stone itself did one thing and that was bring back the spirits of hoi polloi who had passed on. How would that help Jarrett get the former Hallows ?

The Invisibility Cloak. Albus 's stomach plummeted. It was still in his robes. 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 whole step back as his affection started beating faster. He had a very bad feeling about what Jarrett was going to do with that Stone.

"Ah, yes, ceramist. You should be afraid,"Jarrett 's gaze swept over all four boys,"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 wreak back Jehovah Voldemort."

******

Harry burst out of Dervish and Banges, not caring that he had blasted the room access completely off its hinges as he did so. He had to find Walter. He had to find Walter and then go to the Ministry. The fireplace did not evince foretoken that it had been used to Floo away from the abandoned shop. That left either specter or a Portkey, both of which would have got left tincture that he 'd need the department of Magical conveyance 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 looking at of mental confusion and impact, mixed with mingled fear.

"Ginny,"Harry said,"Sorry."

"Not a trouble,"she said quickly,"Have you found anything ?"

"Yes,"Harry answered,"Is the mates over ? How badly did we fall behind by ?"

"Only a century compass point,"Ginny said,"But we might not experience actually lost. Listen, did you know Australia 's Seeker is a lamia ?"

"Wait, what ?"Harry gaped at her, trying to wrap his creative thinker around that fact while still focusing his mind on Albus.

"I 'll explain after we 've found Albus,"Ginny said.

"Right,"Harry agreed,"I 've got a pencil lead. someone was in Dervish and Banges. They Flooed there from the Ministry ; I 'm trusted it was Al and the others. I 've got to find Walter and go to the Ministry. I 'm not sure where that will guide us, but I might not be back for a while."

"Just be careful,"Ginny said as she gave him a 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 look at Ginny, Harry met 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.

Walter nodded and the two men Disapparated on the smear. They reappeared a lilliputian while later in a small shadow chamber in the Ministry.

Passing the bewildered looking security system guard for the tertiary time that day, Harry and Walter ran to the lift. Neither of them said a Word of God as the lift clattered to the Department of Magical Transportation.

The department was nearly deserted, save for one very bored looking witch sitting at a desk.

"Mr. potter, Mr. Eckerton !"she exclaimed as she took her fundament off the desk,"Something I can do for you ?"

"Yes,"Harry answered,"I need to do it 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 jazz where they went."

"Of track, Mr. Potter, of course,"the enchantress said as she got up. She disappeared into another room, shutting the door behind her.

Harry sighed and sat down on the near president. Walter sat down in the adjacent one, looking thoroughly miserable.

"We 'll retrieve them,"Harry said quietly.

"I do n't doubt that,"Walter replied,"However, that is not the only affair I am upset about. The last time flatness had an altercation with Ralph Lubar, he wound up in therapy for month afterwards."

Harry was not expecting that. He did not know much about therapy, except that wizards did not normally use it. Whatever had happened, it must take been bad.

"Do you mind if I ask what happened ?"Harry asked, not indisputable if he was overstepping some sort of boundary.

Walter did not address for several moment."It 's ok,"Harry said,"You do n't possess to explain."

"I will,"Bruno Walter said quietly,"Shortly after Matt was bitten, I became the Head of the section for the regulation and Control of Magical Creatures in Australia. Nobody outside of the department knew about his condition, of course. Ralph Lubar was given my former location of Head of the loup-garou Control Unit, and was quite green-eyed that I was given the Head berth. He could not get over the fact that I was given it, even when my own son had lycanthropy.

"It was a grievance he held against me for many year, until the day finally came when he cracked and let it slip that Matt was a werewolf. A bit of legislation had been passed that required all places of translation be inspected by the Ministry. Lubar inspected lustrelessness 's and it failed on a technicality. Ministry center were set up for werewolves to transform in, together. Matt was required by law to metamorphose there since his safe room did not pass. I refused to own him transform there. The newspaper were all over it. I lost my job. Lubar was appointed to the Head position.

"more than statute law was passed. A law that stated that Ministry officials could physically squeeze werewolves into the transformation nerve center. On the day of the full moon, Lubar Flooed into our house and took Matt to the center. By the time I figured out which center it was, the moon had risen. It was too late.

"Matt spent weeks in St. Mungo 's. By that time we were nearly ready to move here. He was so traumatise, it took calendar month for him to get over it. To be honest, I do n't think he 's fully over it.

"The only ground Lubar did it was to try and get to me. That 's why he 's so sick and twist,"Walter finished as he put his mind in his hands,"I swore I 'd never let him near matte again. Swore I 'd shoot down him if he went near Matt again.

Bruno Walter gave an odd form of jape."Listen to me, I 'm telling the question 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 loth to let matte out of their sight, why they were n't on the Floo Network.

One affair that Harry could tell was that Bruno Walter blamed himself for everything that had happened. Honestly, Harry was n't surprised. If something like that had happened to James, Albus, or Lily, he would 've blamed himself, too.

"That was n't your flaw,"Harry said quietly,"And this is n't either."

"If I had just Flooed ahead of the boys-"

"It would n't consume mattered,"Harry interrupted,"And it 'll do no salutary to dwell on it now. It 's in the past."

"That 's exactly what my brother said when Matt was in St. Mungo 's,"Walter said wryly.

"Mr. Potter !"the witch came bustling out of the room she had gone into, brandishing a opus of parchment, which she handed to Harry.

Harry stood up as she handed them the parchment. His oculus scanned the parchment. Portkeys. Four Portkeys had left Dervish and Banges a few short hours ago. That in itself did not shock Harry, especially compared to where the Portkeys had gone.

"Australia,"Harry read as he turned to Walter, who had visibly paled at the Holy Scripture,"They 're in Australia."


A/N : Thanks to my beta, Dancer of Starlight as well as all of the awing people who have read and left such lovely reviews !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.
A/N : Like the late chapters, this one is also split between Albus and Harry 's perspectives.


Never had Albus wished so hard that he could Apparate. Why did you possess to be seventeen to get your shadow license anyway ? If he ever worked in the department of Magical Department of Transportation, he would change that law. spectre would 've enabled him to get out of Australia, away from Jarrett Willinson, who was trying to convey back Godhead Voldemort with the Resurrection Stone.

Albus could not recollect being more scared in his life. This was far worse than when he had dueled Washburn on the Hogwarts grounds two age ago, far worse than when Quinton kidnapped Kaden the previous year. Lord Voldemort was far chilling than Lubar, Washburn, and the Willinsons combined.

What would Voldemort facial expression like when Jarrett brought him back ? Harry had said the Harlan Fiske Stone could n't actually bring people back to life sentence. Albus guessed he 'd be more like a ghost. But would he be capable to do magic, to perform the curses and hex he did when he was alive ?

Albus held his breath as he watched Jarrett turn over the gemstone over in his paw. Albus had no idea how it worked, but judging by how pipe down all of the adult were, Jarrett was trying to use it.

Over and over again Jarrett turned the stone. He did it for so farsighted that Albus had to let out his breathing spell. The excited lambency on Jarrett 's nerve slowly dissipated until it was replaced by frustration.

"Why wo n't it work on ?"Jarrett shouted,"Are you positivistic this is the flop Stone ?"

"Of row I am !"Lubar shouted as he grabbed the Harlan Stone,"The spell said it was !"

"Well, it 's not working now, is it ?"Jarrett mocked.

Albus breathed a sigh of respite. Either they had the awry Stone or for whatever reason, Voldemort could n't be brought back with it. Albus was hoping for the former.

Lubar turned the stone over in his custody. On the third spell, a strange sort of mist appeared in forepart of him. Albus 's eye sped up. It had worked.

The mist began to unmortgaged and a figure was standing in strawman of Lubar. The figure was not Lord Voldemort, though. Albus had no idea who had been resurrected, but it certainly was not Voldemort. This someone was a womanhood, and a curtly one at that.

Washburn and the Willinsons were exchanging rum glimpse. Lubar, however, was staring directly at the figure, his nerve contorted with something Albus could only assume 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 woman, who was apparently his mother,"Mum."

"Ralphy,"the charwoman replied.

"I-it 's been so long,"Lubar whispered.

Albus turned to his acquaintance, who were all staring in confusion at Lubar. matt in special was giving Lubar a very unusual looking at. Apparently the Edward Durell Stone was the Resurrection gemstone and it did indeed oeuvre, just not in the way Jarrett had been planning.

"Very long,"Lubar 's mother agreed,"But you 've done well. I 'm very proud of you, son."

Albus had to cover his mouth to conceal his snort. What kind of female parent 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 rice beer !"Jarrett shouted as he ran towards Lubar.

Lubar seemed to have got forgotten that there were early people around. He jumped as Jarrett advanced and Jarrett grabbed the Stone out of his hand.

Lubar 's mother began to blow over as soon as Jarrett took the gem. Running towards her, Lubar held out his handwriting trying to maintain her there.

"No !"he shouted,"Mum !"

Mere seconds after Lubar 's female parent completely disappeared, Lubar had his wand out and was holding it up at Jarrett. Jarrett had taken out his own baton, but neither man was hurling jinxes. Washburn and Quinton had taken a few stairs back.

"You arse !"Lubar shouted,"That was my mother !"

"I know !"Jarrett replied,"That 's why I did it ! We 're trying to bring back Voldemort here, not your messed up mum !"

"Do not diss my mother,"Lubar seethed and flicked his wand.

Jarrett fell to the flat coat, completely ineffectual to displace. Lubar stood over him with his wand directed at his chest.

"My mother was a cover girl soul,"Lubar growled,"You 're vomit to be speaking ill of the idle 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 agree with Jarrett Willinson on anything, but when it came to Lubar 's mother, he did.

"Better they hex each other than us, right ?"can muttered.

"Good level,"Albus replied.

"Can we please just get back to bringing back Voldemort ?"Washburn drawled loudly,"I was under the imprint that that 's what we were here for, not to insult each early 's mothers."

Lubar turned his wand on Washburn."Have you anything to say about my female parent ? fountainhead, do you ?"

Washburn hastily pulled out his own wand."Er, no, she seemed quite lovely."

"goodness,"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 terra firma, his eyes darting about nervously.

******

"Australia,"Walter said weakly,"Bloody hell."

"I 'll want you to retroflex that Portkey,"Harry said to the witch, who nodded and left the room again.

"Bruno Walter,"Harry began,"I am nearly one hundred percentage 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."

"rightfulness,"Bruno Walter agreed,"The grounds surely points that way."

"There is something about that investigation that hardly anyone in the Ministry knows,"Harry lowered his voice,"Nearly a year ago, after Quinton was sent to Azkaban, the Ministry decided that the Auror Department needed some help with capturing the other two. The minister hired a Presuler."

Walter let out a low whistling and then realization dawned on his face."Wait, you do n't mean-"

"Aplysia Balladanis,"Harry said quietly,"Yes, he was the Presuler the Ministry hired. Stationed at Hogwarts under the guise of teaching Defense Against the darkness Arts."

"Bad mind on the Minister 's contribution,"Walter muttered.

"It was my idea to station him at Hogwarts,"Harry replied,"But I did not have it off that he would be such an awing 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 induce 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,"Bruno Walter interrupted.

"Here you are, Mr. ceramicist, Mr. Eckerton,"the Wiccan returned holding a misshapen plastic 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 frozen as the four men dueled each other. altogether unsure of what to do, yet very felicitous that they seemed to own momentarily forgotten about the boys, Albus just stood there watching. flatness, John, and Kaden did the same, although whoremonger looked more than a bit apprehensive, most in all likelihood due to his lack of a wand.

Washburn had attempted to take the Stone from Lubar, who had taken it back from Jarrett, shortly after Lubar had stunned Jarrett. Apparently Lubar did not take kindly to this and enchant Washburn. In the mean metre, the Stunner had worn off Jarrett and he attempted to hex Lubar.

All four men were running around, throwing curse at each former while dodging the blast. Albus was variety of hoping one of them would trip and cauterize their subdivision or something. Or even considerably, maybe one or more of them would put down their wand into the fire.

Washburn and the Willinsons were definitely sorry for habiliment. 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 fine and even though it appeared that the early three were siding against him, he was coming off better. Albus had to admit that he was very skilled at dueling.

Lubar shot a jet of red visible radiation at Washburn, who went flying over the fire and landed with a sickening thud in front of the boy. He did not actuate. Albus looked down and saw a belittled stone adjacent to Washburn 's head word. 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 bring forward towards him. Three wands were pointed at his chest, being held by three people with maniac glow in their eyes.

Albus gulped and held up his own sceptre, his arm shaking slightly. flatness and Kaden had done the Lapplander. John tried to hide behind Matt, but was abortive since he was a practiced head taller than him.

"Hand it over, Potter,"Lubar growled.

With a defiant flavour at Lubar, Albus hastily shoved the Stone into the air hole of his robe and held his wand up higher.

******

"Balladanis."

"Eckerton."

Harry watched as the two men stared at each other. 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 fourth dimension.

"We have n't got time for this,"Harry muttered and held out the plastic 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 spirit jerk behind his naval, Harry disappeared from the Ministry. The Portkey trip was a bit longer than ace Harry was used to, but it did n't surprise him since he knew they were going to Australia.

Harry landed softly on his metrical foot and held out his verge as he adjusted to the environment. It was pitch black and after he lit his wand, Harry knew they were in the midriff of a forest.

The timberland was disappointingly tranquillise. The solely phone were those of animals and the occasional rustle of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, brought about by the wind. Not a single sound caused Harry to consider that there were people about, let alone his son.

"Spread out and search,"Harry announced. The stead may appear deserted, but Albus and the others had been there at some point. They had Portkeyed there.

None of the necromancer said a password as they combed the surface area. Harry left no gem unturned as he looked for the small-scale shadow of evidence of where his son had gone. If only it was n't nighttime. Wands did n't provide nearly enough light.

There seemed to be not a trace of anything that showed anyone had been in that orbit 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 Lapp office he had started from.

Walter returned a few minute later, looking even more anxious than he did before."Nothing,"he muttered,"Not a ripped bit of cloak or a unity Knut. They did n't ride out here long."

Harry groaned and scuffed the primer with his shoe. He and Walter stood quietly as they waited for Balladanis to return.

Balladanis came running towards Harry holding a minuscule metal legal document in his hand and an unusual kind of excite smirk on his expression. He skidded to a halt in front of Harry, holding out the musical instrument. Harry recognized it as an Apparition detector. They were quite uncommon. The Brits Ministry only owned one, for the entire Ministry.

"They 've Disapparated,"Balladanis said hurriedly.

"Obviously,"Walter muttered,"Any idea where ?"

"A world-wide approximation, yes,"Balladanis replied, ignoring Walter 's sarcastic whole step,"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 bridge player on the metal cat's-paw. It would be able to guide them to the relative area they needed to go.

Walter put his hand on the pawn as well and with an exceptionally loud crack, all three men Disapparated.

They landed on terrain that was very unfamiliar to Harry. The ground was cold and sandy and there was hardly any plant life-time in sight. In the length there were tall mountains and drape figure of speech floated above them. Harry suppressed a shudder and gripped his wand tighter. Dementors.

What looked like a roaring balefire blazed in the space. Harry glanced at it suspiciously and then looked back to Bruno Walter and Balladanis, both of whom were Thomas More familiar 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 lead the small group towards the flickering lights in the distance.

******

"Hand it over, Potter,"Lubar repeated.

Albus gulped and tried to hold his wand more unbendable. His scepter arm was shaking uncontrollably and Albus did n't seem to be able to withstand it steady. His heart was thumping hard in his chest. Albus was for sure everyone was able to find out it. However, he did not want to give up the Stone. That was one affair he was trusted 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 him.

"Maybe you should just leave it to him,"John the Evangelist whispered,"I mean, it did n't work to get Voldemort back."

"No,"Albus seethed, surprised that John had suggested it. He probably would n't ingest 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 commodity odds, if you ask me."

"And do you pull in 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 gemstone, 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 shield him and his friends. It worked and the Orange River light bounced harmlessly off the shield and hit the ground.

"check behind me, John,"Albus muttered,"Matt and Kaden, spread out and hit them with whatever spells you know."

Albus concentrated on keeping his shield up while casting other charm, like he had done in Balladanis 's dueling lessons. So far it was working, but Albus never managed to keep the cuticle up very long.

Lubar was momentarily stunned when he saw Albus 's shield, but he quickly recovered and began sending hex after hex, nonverbally, at Albus and whoremonger. Concentrating hard, Albus sent a Stunner at Lubar, but he flicked his wand and it shot off into the distance, hitting one of the lone George Walker Bush, which promptly caught fire.

Albus chanced a glance at lustrelessness and Kaden. Matt was dueling with Jarrett and it looked like they were pretty equally matched, which was form of pathetic as far as Jarrett was concerned. It made Albus experience better though. Quinton and Kaden just seemed to be sending Expelliarmus charms at each former and missing every time.

The carapace emitting from Albus 's scepter faltered and faded a bit. Albus renewed his absorption, but the shield was still weaker than it had been before. There was no way he 'd be able to send off any piece through the shell now.

"Your shield is weakening, thrower,"Lubar smirked as he sent another knockout at Albus, which shook the shield.

"Merlin !"Quinton shouted to the right of them. He was hopping on one infantry and Kaden was laughing hysterically. Albus grinned. Kaden had actually managed to do some variety of hex, although Albus was n't certainly what one it was.

Lubar turned to Quinton and flicked his sceptre at Kaden. Kaden promptly froze and fell to the background. Albus gasped and his shield disappeared.

"Albus !"trick shouted.

Albus turned back to Lubar, but did n't get the shield back up before Lubar shot a hex at lavatory, who fell to the primer coat like Kaden had.

"Would n't it be comfortable just to give me the Harlan Stone ?"Lubar asked as he sent a Stunner at Albus.

Albus deflected it."Not really."

Jarrett and Matt were still dueling. Both were sporting a few combat injury, but nothing too good. Neither seemed to have noticed that John and Kaden were Stunned.

Albus managed to hit Lubar with a trip hex, which gave him a few seconds to trance his breath while Lubar righted himself. Unfortunately this only angered him and he was now sporting a gash across his left cheek.

"Expelliarmus !"Lubar shouted.

Albus jumped to the side and the spell hit a nearby rock. Lubar resumed his nonverbal spells and Albus continued deflecting them and dodging them, too exhausted to try and hit Lubar with any early jinxes.

"You ca n't keep dodging them forever, Potter !"Lubar grinned manically.

"sentinel 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 fight and while john was easily the outflank dueler 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 stifle panting, not in any material body to uphold dueling. mat was holding his own against Jarrett, something Albus was both amazed and delighted by.

No, Albus was not trying to overcome Lubar. He knew that would n't be possible. Albus was merely biding for clock time. He tried to figure out how long they 'd been gone as he dodged spells. It must take been at least three or four hours, although the dark Aussie sky had not changed a bit. Albus wished the moon had been out so he could throw monitored its trip across the sky.

How long would it take his dad to detect them ? recollective than pattern, Albus thought. They were in the middle of a foreign area, nowhere near anyplace Harry would be looking.

"I 'm getting annoyed, Potter, and you do n't desire to see me when I 'm annoyed !"Lubar shouted, sending another jet of red light at Albus.

Before Albus even had time to record what sort of hex it was, Matt gave a shrieking of pain to Albus 's right and collapsed to the reason. Jarrett wasted no time and pointed his baton at Albus.

Albus took a fraction of a second to digest the fact that he was now perfectly alone, facing two fully spring up superstar. The two star shot selfsame jets of dispirited sparkle at Albus and he managed to pull up a feeble shield.

The force hit him like a 12 Bludgers to the venter. He lost his footing and landed flat on his vertebral column, his head hitting a particularly sharp rock.

"I told you not to fight down, Potter,"Lubar sneered as he loomed over Albus.

"You 're not getting the Harlan Fisk Stone,"Albus said, forcing away the dizziness. He reached into his gown and pulled out the Stone.

"I disagree,"Lubar said as he made to grab the Stone.

With all the power Albus could muster, he threw the Stone as far as he could to the right. In the shadow, it disappeared in a fragmented endorse and Albus did n't even get word it land.

"No !"Lubar shouted,"You 'll pay for that !"

"verge where I can see them !"soul shouted from behind Lubar.

Lubar and Jarrett whipped around as fast as they could. Albus lifted his headspring slightly and caught a glimpse of his dad, along with a few early maven. He breathed a sigh of relief. They were saved.


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


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


Albus managed to sit up good 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 scrub and watched.

Jarrett did n't puzzle around long. He sent one pathetic Stunner at Harry, who easily deflected it, and disappeared on the spot. Harry immediately disarmed Lubar before he could do the same.

Once Lubar was defenseless, Albus left the guard of the bush and shakily stood up. He reached the fire and was capable to see who the other two whizz 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 glare at anyone else with such hatred and loathing as matt '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 other sorcerer that nearly caused Albus to go by out in shock. He was none former than professor Balladanis. What in the name of Merlin was he doing there ? It looked like he was actually with Harry and Matt 's dad. But why ? Did n't lustrelessness '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 style,"Mr. Eckerton growled.

Albus was slightly stunned by Mr. Eckerton 's choice of words, but remembering what lustrelessness had told him at the beginning of the year, 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 unlike while at Lubar at the Saami clip, but it was too belatedly. 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 witting but not completely aware of his surroundings.

"That 's the glaring difference between you and I,"Mr. Eckerton muttered as he moved swiftly past Quinton and Washburn to reach Matt.

"Dad !"Albus shouted.

Harry looked up from Kaden 's unconscious figure and raced towards Albus. Albus threw his weaponry around his dad and the two of them hugged each early tightly.

"Al, thank Merlin,"Harry said.

"Dad, what 's Balladanis doing here ?"Albus asked immediately,"And Lubar, what 's going to happen to him ? And Willinson ?"

"I 'll explain it all once we get you back to Hogwarts,"Harry assured him.

Balladanis had a firm hold on both Washburn and Quinton and was fiddling with a broken charge plate cup. A few seconds later, all three of them disappeared.

Harry turned to Mr. Eckerton, who was standing up with lustrelessness in his arms."Can you take John, too ? I 'll get Kaden and Al will total with me."

Mr. Eckerton nodded and grabbed hold of John the Evangelist 's arm before pulling his own broken charge card cup out of his pouch. They disappeared.

Harry pulled Kaden up and took Albus 's arm. Albus was still thoroughly confused, but did not deliver time to ask his dad anymore interrogative before feeling the familiar jerk behind his naval that signified he was traveling by Portkey.

Albus landed with a thump in the middle of the Hospital backstage. The question of how they managed to Portkey inside the Hogwarts terra firma 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 lustrelessness and John on the nearest seam while lady Pomfrey was shouting and gathering potions.

"Look at the state of them !"the nursemaid 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 Matt 's and then turned to Albus.

"I 've got to speak with Professor Kendrick and go to the Ministry-"he began.

"But Dad !"Albus interrupted,"What was Balladanis doing there ?"

"I promise I 'll narrate you all of that and more,"Harry replied,"But I need to tell everyone you and the others are ok. When I get back, I 'm going to need 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 head was bleeding and he was still quite dizzy, felt that the finish affair he needed was rest. He needed to know what was going on.

"I 'll explicate once you 've gotten some sleep,"Harry assured him.

Albus muttered under his intimation and got into bed. Once lady Pomfrey had given him a Sleeping Draught, Harry left, leaving Albus to unsuccessfully try to defend off the nap he knew was coming.

******

The Montgomery Ward was quieten when Albus woke up. It was completely blue outside, although Albus did n't have the slightest clue as to what day it was. lav, Matt, and Kaden were either still unconscious mind or audio asleep. Albus was betting on the latter since Madam 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 chairs next to Matt 's bed. It did n't depend like Mr. Eckerton had even left. He was wearing the same Ministry robes he had been wearing before.

Albus sat up and put his hand to his forefront. There was a bandage on the back of it. Another bandage was wrapped around his ripe arm, although he could n't recall when he had injured it. Besides that, he just felt exhausted.

The room access to the Ward opened, letting in a diminished overflow of light from the corridor. A figure stepped inside and began walking towards Albus 's bed.

"Hey, Al,"they said.

"Dad,"Albus replied, recognizing his Father-God,"Are you going to tell me about Balladanis now ?"

"Yes,"Harry chuckled,"Perhaps we ought to go to the way of Requirement."

Albus shook his head, remembering something he had been debating for the retiring year. He had waited long enough. It was time.

"No,"Albus said,"I know someplace better."

Without saying a Holy Scripture, Albus got out of bed and lead his dad out the door and up to the one-fifth level corridor. Harry did not ask a single interrogative sentence 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 doorhandle. He opened the door and stepped inside. Harry followed, letting out a gasp as he did.

"Remember that map from shoemaker's last year ?"Albus asked as he shut the door.

Harry nodded, apparently at a loss for words.

"There was Sir Thomas More to it. Instructions on how to get into this room. It was theirs, the piranha'. Their mystery vulgar room,"Albus said quietly.

Harry did n't respond. Instead he walked slowly around the room. Albus stood near the door and waited. He was n't sure as shooting how long he stood there, watching as his dad investigated the elbow room that had once belonged to his grandfather.

"This,"Harry began,"This is just incredible, Al. How long have you known about it ?"

"About a year,"Albus said quietly.

"And you spend clip here ?"Harry asked.

"Probably more than we do in the vernacular room,"Albus answered.

"Then it is the hone place to tattle,"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 cryptical breathing time and told his dad everything. Starting with when they saw Lubar in the castle and ending with throwing the Christ's Resurrection rock into the Outback. He explained how they had first gone to a forest in Australia, how they had Portkeyed to the Outback, the dementors, the almost Patronus he had managed to attain, the affaire d'honneur, the fact that the Resurrection of Christ Stone did n't work on to make for Voldemort back.

"Why did n't it form ?"Albus asked,"I mean, I 'm glad it did n't, but why ?"

Harry thought for a few arcminute and then looked at Albus."There are a few reasons that might explain it. The Resurrection Stone brings back people we love, but it does not bring them back completely. It 's almost as if their someone is coming back."

"Like a spectre ?"

"Not exactly,"Harry said,"But similar. It 's possible that since Voldemort split his someone so many metre, he ca n't be brought back with the Harlan F. Stone. The pit may need the soulfulness to be intact to work."

Albus nodded."That makes sense."

"It could also be that only loved ones can be brought back with the Stone. Washburn and the Willinsons did not love Voldemort ; they did not know him. They wanted to work him back for their own docket,"Harry explained.

"Is there any way to find out which it is ?"Albus asked.

"No, I do n't intend so,"Harry said,"Especially now that the Stone is once again gone. Which is something I 'm very thankful that you did."

"Well, I figured you left it out in the Forbidden wood for a reason,"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 example he gave me,"Albus explained.

"Well, that makes my account easier,"Harry said,"A fiddling over a year ago, shortly after Quinton kidnapped Kaden, the Ministry decided to hire a Presuler to aid bump 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 disrespect in his dad 's voice.

"When I realized that Washburn and the Willinsons were most likely working with Ralph Lubar, I had to reach Balladanis and let him experience. He came with us, and I have to admit that he was very helpful. We would not have found you as fast if he was n't there,"Harry explained.

"But why was he teaching here ?"Albus asked.

"The Minister, Professor Kendrick, and I believed it would be good strategy to bear him stationed at Hogwarts, where we all believed Washburn and the Willinsons would regress to. Balladanis agreed,"Harry said,"Of course, none of us realized that Balladanis would not be able to palm teaching.

"This is all quite secretive, Al. I 'd favor you did n't tell anyone. I will be telling matt, John, and Kaden, because I feel they have the right to bang, but I do n't want anyone else knowing about it."

"What about blush wine and Amanda ?"Albus asked.

"I suppose I 'll tell them as well, otherwise Kaden is sure to separate them,"Harry said.

"What 's going to find to Lubar ?"Albus asked,"Is Balladanis going to be after him now ?"

"No,"Harry shook his straits,"That 's going to be guileful situation. Lubar is n't a British people citizen. We ca n't do a thing while he 's in Australia. It 's up to the Australian Ministry to either put him on run or give him to us to put on run. And since he 's one of their officials, we 're not sure they 'll do either."

"But that 's not evenhandedly !"Albus stood up angrily,"Look what he did ! see what he 's done !"

"I know,"Harry sighed,"I 'd like nothing more than to devote him a life-long stint in Azkaban, but unfortunately the laws do n't work 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 masses to pay for what they 've done. However, being a Presuler and having no Ministry affiliation, he does not have to admit a case if he 's offered it."

"He told me I 'd prepare a good Presuler,"Albus said quietly as I sat back down,"Malfoy, too."

Harry sighed."What do you think about that ?"

"I do n't have a go at it,"Albus shrugged,"I mean, I like dueling, but I do n't really need to settle what I want to do right now."

"You do n't have to,"Harry replied,"And I do n't desire to tell apart you what to do, but I am going to tell you something.

"Being a Presuler is a heavy job and often a lonely one. You have no coworkers. You work with various Ministries, but rarely get to eff anyone. You travel a lot, which can establish it difficult to get a kinfolk. It 's not an easy path to go down. Not one I 'd choose for myself."

Albus had n't even thought about that. He did n't think he 'd want to rarely ever see his friends and family.

"There 's mess of other things you could do that would put your dueling acquirement to use,"Harry told him,"And you 're only 13 so no pauperization to decide now."

"I know, I do n't plan to,"Albus replied.

"fountainhead, you should probably get back to the Hospital Wing before dame Pomfrey placard 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 way and walked back to the hospital wing, both lost in their thoughts.

******

As it turned out, Madam Pomfrey had already noticed that Albus was missing. When he returned to the infirmary fender with his dad, she was running about the ward shouting at the top of her lungs. flatness, bathroom, and Kaden were all awake, staring at her.

"There you are !"she shrieked,"Where have you been ?"

"Er,"Albus began.

"I had to let the cat out of the bag 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 rest !"

"I 'm his father,"Harry said incredulously.

"I do n't care if you 're the parson of conjuring trick !"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.

"15 minutes or so,"Matt answered.

Madam Pomfrey returned to her desk and Harry strode over to where the Eckertons were sitting.

"Could I have a word in secret ?"Harry asked Mr. Eckerton and then turned to Madam Pomfrey."Do I need your permission for that ?"he grinned.

"Very amusing,"madam Pomfrey muttered.

Albus drifted back to sleep a little while later and when he next woke up it was light out and lady Pomfrey was bringing them all breakfast trays.

"Er, what day is it ?"Albus asked as gentlewoman Pomfrey set his tray down.

"It 's Sunday, dear, but it 's afternoon,"Madam Pomfrey replied,"I figured you 'd opt to have breakfast."

"Only Sunday ?"Albus asked. It felt like it had been far more than 24 hours since he had met up with Lubar before the Quidditch match.

"Time zone change are difficult to adjust to,"Madam Pomfrey explained,"Australia 's quite a few hours ahead of us."

Albus nodded and dug into his breakfast. Suddenly he was voracious. When he thought about it, it must have been at to the lowest degree a day since he 'd eaten anything.

"I wonder how the Quidditch compeer went,"Kaden mused as he shoved goner in his mouth.

Albus choked on his eggs. He 'd forgotten about the match !"I doubt we won,"he sighed.

"Is your dad going to separate us why Balladanis was with him when he came to save us ?"John asked,"I mean, he 's had plenty of time."

"He will,"Albus said,"He already told me. You lot were asleep."

The doorway to the infirmary Wing banged open and Rose and Amanda came running in. lady Pomfrey made a motion to get up from her desk, but then sat back down, shaking her head.

"Tell us what happened !"rose wine demanded as she skidded to a freeze in front of Albus 's bed,"When did you get back ? Where did you go ?"

"Who won the Quidditch peer ?"Albus asked.

"Quidditch ? Quidditch ?"Rose groaned,"I 'm not saying a word about Quidditch until the four of you tell me what in the figure of Merlin 's saggy left-"

"girl Weasley !"ma'am Pomfrey shouted,"If you do n't lower your voice, you 'll suffer to leave alone !"

"Sorry,"rosebush turned back to Albus,"But you lot have got to tell us what happened !"

Albus launched into the intact tale, which took the estimable part of a one-half hour to severalize. Neither Rose or Amanda interrupted once during the whole thing. Both of them looked absolutely shocked by the clock time Albus concluded.

"But, but why was Balladanis there ?"rose wine asked.

"My dad 's going to tell you,"Albus said,"He 's already told me. He 'll probably recite the rest of you today."

"Falco columbarius, Albus,"Rose sighed,"How very much fuss can you get into ?"

"It 's not my fault,"Albus shrugged,"Now can you tell apart us about the match ?"

Rose exchanged glimpse with Amanda, who sighed."It was quite the match, let me tell you,"Amanda said.

"cypher won, Al,"Rose said.

"What ?"can interrupted,"How can nobody win ?"

"About forty-five minutes into the match, Fred and heather ran onto the pitch-"

"The match lasted that long ?"Matt asked.

"Yes,"rosiness said,"I do n't know why. Anyway, Fred and heather mixture ran right up to Ludo bagman and started talking to him. Nobody could hear what they were saying. Then Bagman blew his tin whistle and they went into a time-out.

"travelling salesman left the pitch and had a really prospicient talk with all the headmaster and captains. Then Kendrick announced that the match was called off and told everyone to retort to their unwashed rooms.

"Everyone was really angry 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 it off ?"John Lackland asked.

"I 'm getting to that,"rosiness said,"We got back up to Gryffindor and everyone was gathered around Fred and Calluna vulgaris. Linda was n't there, and neither were any of her teammates who were Gryffindors.

"We pushed our way to the front of the crowd and heard what Fred and Heather were talking about. They were claiming that Australia had been cheating the whole time-"

"well, they were,"flatness muttered.

"I know,"Rose agreed,"And apparently so did Fred and Calluna vulgaris. I 'm sure they figured it out just recently or else they would 've told someone sooner. They found out Linda 's a vampire and now the entire school knows."

"How did they figure it out ?"Albus asked, completely shocked. Linda hid her clandestine quite well. Fred and Calluna vulgaris were 6th years, they would n't accept heard Balladanis 's vampire lecture."

"They 've been trying to enter it out all year,"rose wine explained,"And since they 're fresh, they figured it out."

"But what about the peer ?"Albus asked.

"I think they 're going to cancel the tournament, Albus,"Rose said quietly.

"Cancel the tournament ?"Albus gasped,"cancel the tournament ? ! They ca n't do that ! We 've spent the solid yr on that tournament ! Do you sleep with how very much time I 've spent on the Quidditch slant this year ? Sir Thomas More time than I 've spent in class, probably ! And now they 're going to strike down the bloody tourney ?"

"I do n't have it off, Al,"Rose said shortly,"And if they do it 's not my fault."

"Sorry,"Albus mumbled,"It 's just a fiddling aggravating."

"I know,"Rose replied.

"Where 's Linda ?"lusterlessness asked.

"Gone,"Rose sighed,"Without a word. I have n't seen her or any of the Aussie since the catch. Killigan 's gone, too."

"Wow,"Matt replied,"Ca n't say I blame her, though."

"I guess,"rosiness said,"Anyway, they 'll probably cook an announcement about the tournament at dinner."


A/N : Thanks to my beta, Dancer of Starlight as well as all of the awesome people who have read and reviewed this ! There is only one more chapter left !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


Harry returned to assure everyone else about Balladanis later on in the afternoon. Madam Pomfrey apartment out refused to let any of them leave the hospital Wing, 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 suit a Presuler. Everyone was completely shocked to larn that Balladanis had been hired to help oneself enamour Washburn and the Willinsons.

Unfortunately, Harry also brought word of Lubar. word 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 Commonwealth of Australia either. To them, it 's like nothing 's happened."

Albus noticed that Mr. Eckerton looked positively savage with this. Harry looked quite wild as well, but it did not come close to how Mr. Eckerton looked.

"We 're not going to give way up,"Harry said,"We 'll keep negotiating with them."

Mr. Eckerton had also apparently been told about the Hallows. When Harry had spoken with him the old night, it had been about the Hallows. Albus remembered back to his first class, when Matt had told them about his dad 's young adult dreaming of locating the Hallows. Harry must 've trusted him now.

Albus reached over to his bedside table, where ma'am Pomfrey had placed the invisibility Cloak the previous night. He wordlessly handed it to Mr. Eckerton, who carefully took it with a facial expression of awe on his face.

"merlin 's beard,"he muttered,"It 's the Cloak."

"That it is,"Harry said quietly.

"Unbelievable,"Mr. Eckerton whispered as he fingered it.

He spent a few min trying the Cloak on before handing it back to Albus."I can not think I 've finally solved the case of the Hallows,"he said to Harry,"This is beat. I would love to share the tale with my buddy. Perhaps I could introduce you to him at the World Cup this summer."

Harry nodded."That would be fine. Perhaps I will eventually say him as well."

******

Albus wanted cipher more than to be allowed out of the Hospital offstage in time to go to dinner that dark. He was sure prof Kendrick would pee some sort of announcement about the tourney and he did not need to lose it.

After a full ten minutes of begging on his part ( helped out by Matt, John, and Kaden ), Madam Pomfrey told him he was in no fit State Department to allow for the Ward. Albus thought this was ridiculous because he felt fine. So what if his arm was still bandaged and in a slingback ? That should n't stop him from eating dinner with the respite of the school.

Instead, Albus was forced to eat a quiet meal in the infirmary flank and wait anxiously for pink wine and Amanda to secernate him what Kendrick said.

The female child showed up right after dinner party ended. Albus immediately asked them what Kendrick had said.

"tourney 's canceled,"Rose sighed as she sat down on the end of Albus 's bed,"The nestling from New York are staying to wind up out the year, but the tournament 's canceled. I expect it 'll be in the Prophet tomorrow."

"pigeon hawk !"Albus shouted,"Why 'd they have to call off it ? Could n't they just unfit Commonwealth of Australia ?"

"No,"Rose shook her straits,"To do that Hogwarts would make to play 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 everyone 's studying."

"That 's stupid,"Albus fumed.

"If it makes you feel better, I 'm moderately for sure Hogwarts would 've won if Commonwealth of Australia had n't bear been here,"Rose pointed out,"And Kendrick gave one hundred mansion peak to everyone who was on the Quidditch and dueling teams."

"Yeah, well, all the houses had hoi polloi on the squad, so that does n't really help,"Albus muttered.

"fountainhead,"rose grinned,"I know one thing that 'll jolly up you up."

"What ?"Albus asked, even though there was aught that could recreate him up.

"There were Quidditch pathfinder at that match,"rosiness told him,"And even though the catch was disastrous, they did witness someone they wanted to draft."

"Who ?"Albus asked, slightly intrigued.

"GA !"Rose 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 chirk up him up. There was no one he thought who belonged on a professional Quidditch squad more than Georgia.

"Yup, she 's their newest reserve Keeper,"rose said,"She says Uncle Percy 's not impressed. He wanted her to work at the Ministry. She does n't care what he thinks, though."

"Uncle Percy 's got deal of other kids to operate at the Ministry,"Albus shrugged. He could never see Georgia working in government.

"Kenmare ?"John said incredulously.

"Yeah, seriously ?"Matt grimaced.

"They 're nearly as bad as the cannon,"whoremonger groaned.

"She 's just happy to be on a team,"Rose shrugged,"She 's always supported Puddlemere, but she thinks if she 's on any team, she 'll be able to work her way up to a skilful one."

"Merlin, I hope so,"John shrugged.

"Is she the only one who got drafted ?"Albus asked.

"Only one I know for surely of,"blush wine said,"I heard a rumour that Anna Reilly got taken on by the Balycastle squash racket, 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 cousin had been taken on by a professional Quidditch team because of it. However, that did n't take all the disappointment away.

******

gentlewoman Pomfrey reluctantly let the son leave the future day after breakfast. She did n't really have a alternative since exams began that day. Albus felt perfectly fine and was quite well-chosen to leave the place.

Rose handed him a copy of the Prophet as soon as he and the other boy reached the common room. Albus took it, well-chosen that he had a few minutes before his first exam to read the article that was inevitably there.

Aboriginal Australian schoolhouse CHEATS- TOURNAMENT CANCELED

After a startling breakthrough made by two Hogwarts
pupil, the Quidditch and Dueling tournament
involving Hogwarts, the Adirondack Academy of
Magic, and the Australian School of black art
has been canceled.

The tournament 's final Quidditch match was
interrupted this past Saturday by two Hogwarts
one-sixth days, Fred Weasley and Heather Weasley,
both 17, who claimed that the Aboriginal Australian team
had been cheating throughout the entire
tournament.

A few months ago, allegations were brought upon
the Aboriginal Australian team after their Seeker, Linda
Morales, 14, flew at an exceptionally fast speed.
An investigation found naught. The tournament
continued.

Fred and broom Weasley accused Linda Morales
of being a vampire. Vampires are outlawed
from playing on pro Quidditch teams due
to the unfair advantage they have.

The match was immediately stopped while all three
headmasters questioned the Weasleys and Morales.

schoolmaster Addiar Killigan of the Aussie
School of black art admitted to allowing team spirit
to be the searcher of his team in ordination to win the
tourney. The Australian squad was immediately
disqualified from the tournament.

Killigan, esprit de corps, and the rest of the Australians
participating in the tournament left Hogwarts late
on Saturday, declining to speak with any of our
reporters.

tourney officials as well as the other two
headmaster have decided to strike down the tournament,
and not declaring a winner.

'It is too bad that the tournament turned out
this way ,'Fabius Kendrick told newsperson, 'Perhaps
we can try it again in a few class .'

"Killigan is an half-wit,"Albus said.

"Look at the next clause,"Rose replied.

QUINTON WILLINSON BACK IN AZKABAN, JOINED BY WASHBURN

While the final Quidditch match was ending in disaster
at Hogwarts schoolhouse of witchery and genius, Harry
ceramicist 's middle child, Albus, 13, was dealing with his
own battle.

Albus Potter, as well as cousin Kaden Dursley, 12, and
friends St. Matthew the Apostle Eckerton and John Brickston, both 14,
were kidnapped by Quinton and Jarrett Willinson, and
Jameson Washburn. The three convicts were helped by
Ralph Lubar, Head of the Department of the regulation
and Control of Magical wight in Australia.

The four Hogwarts students were taken to Australia
where Harry ceramicist and Walter Eckerton found them.
It is ill-defined what the yard bird 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 Australian Ministry
about what to do with Lubar.

All four son have recovered from the ordeal and are
currently taking their end of the twelvemonth exam
at Hogwarts. Harry ceramist has declined comment.

"Well, that 's not a very informatory article,"Albus said as he tossed the newspaper publisher onto a nearby table.

"I do n't cerebrate they can report much,"Rose said,"The Aussie Ministry may be asking them to keep pipe down about Lubar in getting even for giving him some variety of punishment.

"It wo n't count,"Matt said,"They 're not going to do anything to him."

Albus was forced to advertize Lubar into the back of his creative thinker as exams began. They were all significantly heavy than the previous twelvemonth 's had been, but he was sure he at to the lowest degree passed all of them.

There were unretentive articles in the Prophet about Lubar everyday, but they all said the same thing. Australia refused to extradite him. lustrelessness was not at all surprised by this, but it infuriated Albus to no end.

The week after exams was a strange one for Albus. There was nothing left hand for them to do. No studying, no prep, no Quidditch. Rose and Amanda went back to spending all their clip with the son, like it had been before Linda had arrived.

Things were different, though. Both Rose and Amanda were a lot quieter than they used to be. Albus was for sure they missed Linda, and he had no theme whether she had said goodbye to them, or even if she 'd had the chance.

matt was lost in his own thoughts most of the time, rendering him quieter than ever. He often went entire evenings without saying two countersign to anyone, something that usually only happened around full moons. However, the next entire 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 daylights out of him.

John and Kaden remained as boisterous as ever and did not look to be fazed by what had happened in Australia. They spent their week pulling pranks and playing eternal game of Exploding grab that Albus occasionally joined in on.

Albus himself was quieter. His head was racing with thoughts of Lubar and Balladanis. None of the articles ever mentioned Balladanis, but he knew that was because Balladanis 's job had to stay a secluded. He wished more than anything that Lubar would get thrown in prison, whether it was Azkaban or Commonwealth of Australia 's prison.

******

The wagon train ride back to London was subdued, the only noise being John and Kaden 's Exploding Snap card. Albus and lusterlessness both gazed out the window, mesmerized by the passing game landscape.

"Linda sent me a letter last Night,"pink wine said, breaking the silence.

Albus lifted his mind up and looked at her."What about ?"

"She told us she was pitiful, and wanted me to evidence you that she was sorry about the tournament,"rosiness told him,"She 's on the run with her mum now. They 're thinking of moving to a unlike country."

"To go to school ?"Albus asked.

"No,"rose wine shook her head,"She 's been through school a twain metre already. She was n't even a pupil at the Australian school. Killigan pretty much forced her into playing Seeker for them. He 's a really tight fella. They have to get out now, though, because everyone knows."

"Where will they go ?"Albus asked, surprised that he was actually feeling sorry for Linda.

"No melodic theme,"rosebush shrugged,"She said she 'd owl me when they find out."

"This whole year has been so messed up,"John sighed,"I hope future year 's better."

"Me, too,"Matt agreed.

"We 've got the humans Cup to expect 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 baby 's going, too. Lily told me she 'd invited her. Victor Hugo 's not really felicitous about that."

"Neither am I,"John muttered,"I do n't require Ashtyn going."

"Well, I 'd choose Lily not go, but it 's the Cup ! Nothing can really break it,"Albus said.

"Good stage,"John agreed.

"Let me be intimate when the Cup is,"Kaden said.

"Why ? So you can convert your parents to take you ?"John smirked.

"No,"Kaden laughed,"So I can know when to ask for you lot to my star sign. My dad said he 'd claim us camping."

"Excellent !"John grinned,"encampment like Muggles ?"

"Yep,"Kaden replied,"life in collapsible shelter, no electrical energy, no magic either since we 're all underage."

"There is no way my parents will let me go,"Matt said quietly.

"Why not ?"Kaden asked.

"I went camping when I was five,"Matt answered,"That was the metre I got bitten."

"Oh,"Kaden looked a little taken aback,"Sorry."

"It 's ok,"Matt shrugged,"Just do n't go during a entire moon. I do n't want any of you having to conjoin me in the screech hut adjacent year."

"I 'll go,"Albus said. He 'd never been camping before, let alone camping like a Muggle. He did feel bad that Matt would n't get to go, but he sort of thought lusterlessness would n't want to go anyway.

The oddment of the stumble was spent arguing about Quidditch and Albus felt like matter were sort of returning to rule. It was almost nice to try lavatory and matt arguing about the shank again and Kaden arguing about football.

The gear arrived in London and Albus found his parents waiting for him on the political platform. After saying goodbye to his friends, Albus left the station with his family feeling that just maybe aliveness would be rule from then on. Well, maybe the summer would be at least be normal. Albus could n't get his hopes up too high.


A/N : Hard to believe it 's finished ! Thanks to Dancer of Starlight for betaing and thanks to all of the awesome people who have read and reviewed this ! You guys are so lovely and amazing !

I am working on the fourth tale but it 'll be a spell before the first chapter is up. I 'm thinking I 'll update every other calendar week at firstly, jump calendar week with Beyond the Shadow. In the mean time, if you want something new to interpret, I suggest checking out Remember the cannon, which is a collab I worked on hold out yr and is now currently being updated. It 's all about the Chudley Cannons and their downfall. It 's under the username The Golden Snitches and is also in my preferent tarradiddle so you can find it that way.