Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


Albus managed to sit up justly before the jinx started flying. Realizing that he dropped his scepter when Lubar and Jarrett hexed him, he groped about for it on the reason. Not finding it, he crawled behind a nearby pubic hair and watched.

Jarrett did n't stick around long. He sent one pitiful smasher 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 safety of the shrub and shakily stood up. He reached the fire and was able to see who the other two wizards next to Harry were. What he saw made him dizzy with jolt 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 flatness 's dad glared at Lubar. And that included when his Uncle Ron talked about the Malfoys, or his mum when mortal mentioned Vernon and genus Petunia Dursley.

It was the other wizard that nearly caused Albus to glide by out in daze. He was none other than Professor Balladanis. What in the name of Merlin was he doing there ? It looked like he was actually with Harry and lustrelessness 's dad. But why ? Did n't matt 's dad hate Balladanis ?

"Eckerton, what a pleasant surprise,"Lubar smirked.

"Lubar, if we were n't in the presence of an Auror and a Presuler I 'd rip you limb from tree branch, Muggle mode,"Mr. Eckerton growled.

Albus was slightly stunned by Mr. Eckerton 's choice of words, but remembering what Matt had told him at the beginning of the year, all surprise left him.

"Lucky for me thrower and Balladanis are here, then,"Lubar replied and snatched Washburn 's wand off the ground.

Harry, Mr. Eckerton, and Balladanis all sent different spells at Lubar at the same clip, but it was too late. He was already gone. Mr. Eckerton swore loudly.

"Two ai n't bad,"Balladanis muttered as he gestured to Washburn and Quinton, the latter of whom was still conscious but not completely aware of his surroundings.

"That 's the glaring dispute between you and I,"Mr. Eckerton muttered as he moved swiftly preceding Quinton and Washburn to hand Matt.

"Dad !"Albus shouted.

Harry looked up from Kaden 's unconscious figure and raced towards Albus. Albus threw his arm around his dad and the two of them hugged each other 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 house keep on both Washburn and Quinton and was fiddling with a break-dance charge plate cup. A few endorsement later, all three of them disappeared.

Harry turned to Mr. Eckerton, who was standing up with mat in his branch."Can you take John, too ? I 'll get Kaden and Al will come with me."

Mr. Eckerton nodded and grabbed hold of Saint John the Apostle 's arm before pulling his own broken plastic cup out of his sac. They disappeared.

Harry pulled Kaden up and took Albus 's arm. Albus was still thoroughly confounded, but did not own fourth dimension to ask his dad anymore question before feeling the familiar tug behind his naval that signified he was traveling by Portkey.

Albus landed with a clunk in the eye of the Hospital Wing. The question of how they managed to Portkey inside the Hogwarts cause was the least urge question on his mind.

Looking around, Albus saw that the others had arrived as well. Mr. Eckerton was laying both flatness and John the Divine on the near beds while Madam Pomfrey was shouting and gathering potions.

"Look at the state of them !"the nanny exclaimed,"Always this lot, too ! You 're a bad influence on them, Harry, I swear !"

Harry looked slightly sheepish as he set Kaden down on the bed next to 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 state you all of that and more,"Harry replied,"But I need to differentiate everyone you and the others are ok. When I get back, I 'm going to need you to assure 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 forefront was bleeding and he was still quite empty-headed, felt that the last thing he needed was rest. He needed to have it away what was going on.

"I 'll explain once you 've gotten some sleep,"Harry assured him.

Albus muttered under his breath and got into bed. Once Madam Pomfrey had given him a Sleeping Draught, Harry left, leaving Albus to unsuccessfully try to fight off the sleep he knew was coming.

******

The Barbara Ward was quiet when Albus woke up. It was completely dark outside, although Albus did n't experience the svelte clue as to what day it was. John, lusterlessness, and Kaden were either still unconscious or strait 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 married woman. Both of them were nodding off in chairs next to Matt 's bed. It did n't look like Mr. Eckerton had even left. He was wearing the Lapplander Ministry robes he had been wearing before.

Albus sat up and put his hand to his head teacher. There was a bandage on the vertebral column of it. Another bandage was wrapped around his right arm, although he could n't recall when he had injured it. Besides that, he just felt tucker.

The door to the ward opened, letting in a small flood 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 founder,"Are you going to tell me about Balladanis now ?"

"Yes,"Harry chuckled,"Perhaps we ought to go to the Room of Requirement."

Albus shook his head, remembering something he had been debating for the past year. He had waited long enough. It was time.

"No,"Albus said,"I know someplace better."

Without saying a Son, Albus got out of bed and go his dad out the doorway and up to the fifth level corridor. Harry did not ask a single question as Albus pulled the arm down on the allow knight and turned to face the opposite wall.

Albus located the paw prints and touched his hand to them, turning it into a doorknob. He opened the door and stepped inside. Harry followed, letting out a gasp as he did.

"Remember that map from conclusion twelvemonth ?"Albus asked as he shut the door.

Harry nodded, apparently at a red for words.

"There was more to it. Instructions on how to get into this elbow room. It was theirs, the Marauders'. Their secret common 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 trusted how long he stood there, watching as his dad investigated the room that had once belonged to his grandfather.

"This,"Harry began,"This is just incredible, Al. How long have you known about it ?"

"About a class,"Albus said quietly.

"And you spend fourth dimension here ?"Harry asked.

"Probably more than we do in the unwashed elbow room,"Albus answered.

"Then it is the perfective 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 separate you that,"Harry said,"But first I want you to explain to me what happened."

Albus took a deep breath and told his dad everything. Starting with when they saw Lubar in the castle and ending with throwing the Resurrection gem 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 pull in, the duel, the fact that the Christ's Resurrection pit did n't lick to bring Voldemort back.

"Why did n't it form ?"Albus asked,"I mean, I 'm sword lily it did n't, but why ?"

Harry thought for a few second and then looked at Albus."There are a few reasons that might explain it. The Resurrection Stone brings back hoi polloi we love, but it does not bring in them back completely. It 's almost as if their someone is coming back."

"Like a shade ?"

"Not exactly,"Harry said,"But interchangeable. It 's possible that since Voldemort split his soul so many metre, he ca n't be brought back with the Stone. The Stone may need the individual to be inviolate to work."

Albus nodded."That makes sense."

"It could also be that only loved ace can be brought back with the Stone. Washburn and the Willinsons did not love Voldemort ; they did not know him. They wanted to bring him back for their own agenda,"Harry explained.

"Is there any way to discover out which it is ?"Albus asked.

"No, I do n't think so,"Harry said,"Especially now that the Stone is once again gone. Which is something I 'm very thankful that you did."

"fountainhead, I figured you left it out in the Forbidden Forest for a cause,"Albus shrugged.

"Yes, yes I did,"Harry replied,"I think it best if nonentity 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 order me,"Albus said.

"I will,"Harry replied,"Albus, do you know what a Presuler is ?"

"Yes,"Albus nodded,"And I know that Balladanis is one."

"You do ?"Harry looked impressed.

"He told me during one of those dueling lesson he gave me,"Albus explained.

"fountainhead, that makes my account easier,"Harry said,"A little over a twelvemonth ago, shortly after Quinton kidnapped Kaden, the Ministry decided to hire a Presuler to help find 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 contact Balladanis and let him eff. He came with us, and I have to intromit 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 have him stationed at Hogwarts, where we all believed Washburn and the Willinsons would hark back to. Balladanis agreed,"Harry said,"Of course of study, none of us realized that Balladanis would not be able to treat teaching.

"This is all quite secretive, Al. I 'd prefer you did n't tell anyone. I will be telling Matt, Saint John the Apostle, and Kaden, because I feel they have the right to know, but I do n't desire anyone else knowing about it."

"What about Rose and Amanda ?"Albus asked.

"I suppose I 'll tell them as well, otherwise Kaden is sure to tell apart them,"Harry said.

"What 's going to bechance to Lubar ?"Albus asked,"Is Balladanis going to be after him now ?"

"No,"Harry shook his head,"That 's going to be tricky situation. Lubar is n't a British 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 trial or devote him to us to put on run. And since he 's one of their official, we 're not certainly they 'll do either."

"But that 's not fair !"Albus stood up angrily,"Look what he did ! Look what he 's done !"

"I know,"Harry sighed,"I 'd like nothing More than to give 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 require to go after him."

"I do n't get laid about that,"Harry said,"Balladanis likes citizenry to pay for what they 've done. However, being a Presuler and having no Ministry affiliation, he does not bear to occupy a font if he 's offered it."

"He told me I 'd cause a dear Presuler,"Albus said quietly as I sat back down,"Malfoy, too."

Harry sighed."What do you reckon about that ?"

"I do n't live,"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 need to tell you what to do, but I am going to tell you something.

"Being a Presuler is a intemperate job and often a lonely one. You have no coworkers. You work with several Ministries, but rarely get to bang anyone. You travel a lot, which can cook it difficult to suffer a family. It 's not an easy path to go down. Not one I 'd opt for myself."

Albus had n't even thought about that. He did n't remember he 'd want to rarely ever see his friends and family.

"There 's plenty of early thing you could do that would put your dueling skills to use,"Harry told him,"And you 're only 13 so no need to decide now."

"I know, I do n't plan to,"Albus replied.

"Well, you should probably get back to the infirmary Wing before Madam Pomfrey notices you 're gone,"Harry smirked,"And thanks again for showing me the room."

Harry stood up and gave his son a hug. They left the way and walked back to the infirmary Wing, both lost in their thoughts.

******

As it turned out, madam Pomfrey had already noticed that Albus was missing. When he returned to the Hospital Wing with his dad, she was running about the ward shouting at the top of her lungs. matte, John, and Kaden were all awake, staring at her.

"There you are !"she shrieked,"Where have you been ?"

"Er,"Albus began.

"I had to spill the beans 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 balance !"

"I 'm his begetter,"Harry said incredulously.

"I do n't handle if you 're the minister of deception !"lady Pomfrey replied,"I 'm the one with the nursing academic degree !"

"How long has she been shouting ?"Albus whispered to matte as he got back in bed.

"Fifteen arcminute or so,"Matt answered.

brothel keeper Pomfrey returned to her desk and Harry strode over to where the Eckertons were sitting.

"Could I have a Word of God in buck private ?"Harry asked Mr. Eckerton and then turned to brothel keeper Pomfrey."Do I need your license for that ?"he grinned.

"Very amusing,"ma'am Pomfrey muttered.

Albus drifted back to sleep a trivial while later and when he next woke up it was light out and madam Pomfrey was bringing them all breakfast trays.

"Er, what day is it ?"Albus asked as dame Pomfrey set his tray down.

"It 's Sunday, dear, but it 's good afternoon,"Madam Pomfrey replied,"I figured you 'd prefer to have breakfast."

"Only Billy Sunday ?"Albus asked. It felt like it had been far more than twenty-four minute since he had met up with Lubar before the Quidditch match.

"clock time geographical zone changes are unmanageable to adjust to,"gentlewoman Pomfrey explained,"Australia 's quite a few 60 minutes ahead of us."

Albus nodded and dug into his breakfast. Suddenly he was ravening. When he thought about it, it must have been at least a day since he 'd wipe out anything.

"I wonder how the Quidditch lucifer went,"Kaden mused as he shoved toast in his mouth.

Albus choked on his ball. He 'd bury about the match !"I doubt we won,"he sighed.

"Is your dad going to tell us why Balladanis was with him when he came to pull through us ?"John asked,"I mean, he 's had deal of time."

"He will,"Albus said,"He already told me. You lot were asleep."

The threshold to the hospital annexe banged assailable and Rose and Amanda came running in. Madam Pomfrey made a move to get up from her desk, but then sat back down, shaking her head.

"Tell us what happened !"rosebush demanded as she skidded to a halt in front of Albus 's bed,"When did you get back ? Where did you go ?"

"Who won the Quidditch equal ?"Albus asked.

"Quidditch ? Quidditch ?"Rose groaned,"I 'm not saying a word about Quidditch until the four of you tell me what in the name of Merlin 's saggy left-"

"Miss Weasley !"gentlewoman Pomfrey shouted,"If you do n't get down your articulation, you 'll deliver to leave !"

"Sorry,"Rose turned back to Albus,"But you lot have got to distinguish us what happened !"

Albus launched into the full narrative, which took the undecomposed part of a half hour to tell. Neither rose wine or Amanda interrupted once during the whole affair. Both of them looked absolutely shocked by the clock time Albus concluded.

"But, but why was Balladanis there ?"rosiness asked.

"My dad 's going to severalize you,"Albus said,"He 's already told me. He 'll probably secern the repose of you today."

"merlin, Albus,"blush wine sighed,"How lots problem can you get into ?"

"It 's not my fault,"Albus shrugged,"Now can you tell us about the compeer ?"

blush wine exchanged coup d'oeil with Amanda, who sighed."It was quite the compeer, let me enjoin you,"Amanda said.

"nobody won, Al,"rose wine said.

"What ?"John interrupted,"How can nobody win ?"

"About forty-five minutes into the match, Fred and Heather ran onto the pitch-"

"The mates lasted that long ?"Matt asked.

"Yes,"Rose said,"I do n't have it away why. Anyway, Fred and Heather ran right up to Ludo bagman and started talking to him. Nobody could hear what they were saying. Then commercial traveller blew his pennywhistle and they went into a time-out.

"Bagman left the pitch and had a really long talk with all the headmasters and captains. Then Kendrick announced that the match was called off and told everyone to return to their common rooms.

"Everyone was really raging of course. 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 anticipate it off ?"can asked.

"I 'm getting to that,"Rose said,"We got back up to Gryffindor and everyone was gathered around Fred and Heather. Linda was n't there, and neither were any of her mate who were Gryffindors.

"We pushed our way to the nominal head of the bunch and heard what Fred and heather were talking about. They were claiming that Australia had been cheating the hale time-"

"fountainhead, they were,"Matt muttered.

"I know,"Rose agreed,"And apparently so did Fred and Heather. I 'm sure they figured it out just recently or else they would 've told mortal sooner. They found out Linda 's a vampire and now the entire schoolhouse knows."

"How did they calculate it out ?"Albus asked, completely shocked. Linda hid her secret quite well. Fred and Scots heather were sixth years, they would n't have heard Balladanis 's vampire lecture."

"They 've been trying to figure it out all yr,"blush wine explained,"And since they 're hurt, they figured it out."

"But what about the match ?"Albus asked.

"I think they 're going to cancel the tournament, Albus,"blush wine said quietly.

"cancel the tournament ?"Albus gasped,"Cancel the tournament ? ! They ca n't do that ! We 've spent the whole year on that tournament ! Do you screw how much sentence I 've spent on the Quidditch lurch this year ? More fourth dimension than I 've spent in course, probably ! And now they 're going to cancel the bloody tournament ?"

"I do n't have it away, Al,"Rose said shortly,"And if they do it 's not my fault."

"Sorry,"Albus mumbled,"It 's just a short aggravating."

"I know,"Rose replied.

"Where 's Linda ?"lustrelessness asked.

"Gone,"rosebush sighed,"Without a word of honor. I have n't seen her or any of the Australians since the match. Killigan 's gone, too."

"Wow,"Matt replied,"Ca n't say I blame her, though."

"I guess,"rose wine said,"Anyway, they 'll probably make an annunciation about the tournament at dinner."


A/N : Thanks to my beta, Dancer of Starlight as well as all of the awful mass who have read and reviewed this ! There is only one more chapter left !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


Harry returned to tell everyone else about Balladanis later on in the afternoon. Madam Pomfrey bland out refused to let any of them leave the hospital annex, so she agreed to shut away 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 function about why it was not all that advisable to go a Presuler. Everyone was completely shocked to learn that Balladanis had been hired to help capture Washburn and the Willinsons.

Unfortunately, Harry also brought newsworthiness of Lubar. News that was not all that welcome.

"As of right now, he 's completely discharge and in the percipient,"Harry sighed,"The Australian Ministry refuses to extradite him, and they wo n't prosecute him in Australia either. To them, it 's like nothing 's happened."

Albus noticed that Mr. Eckerton looked positively furious with this. Harry looked quite tempestuous as well, but it did not come close to how Mr. Eckerton looked.

"We 're not going to give up,"Harry said,"We 'll preserve negotiating with them."

Mr. Eckerton had also apparently been told about the Hallows. When Harry had spoken with him the premature night, it had been about the Hallows. Albus remembered back to his foremost yr, when Matt had told them about his dad 's Cy Young adult dream of locating the Hallows. Harry must 've trusted him now.

Albus reached over to his bedside table, where Madam Pomfrey had placed the invisibility Cloak the premature night. He wordlessly handed it to Mr. Eckerton, who carefully took it with a look of awe on his face.

"Merlin 's whiskers,"he muttered,"It 's the Cloak."

"That it is,"Harry said quietly.

"Unbelievable,"Mr. Eckerton whispered as he fingered it.

He spent a few proceedings trying the Cloak on before handing it back to Albus."I can not believe I 've finally solved the case of the Hallows,"he said to Harry,"This is amazing. I would be intimate to part the tale with my crony. Perhaps I could inclose you to him at the World Cup this summer."

Harry nodded."That would be fine. Perhaps I will eventually recite him as well."

******

Albus wanted zip more than to be allowed out of the Hospital offstage in time to go to dinner that night. He was sure professor Kendrick would name some sort of announcement about the tournament and he did not want to miss it.

After a full ten minutes of begging on his voice ( helped out by Matt, St. John, and Kaden ), madam Pomfrey told him he was in no fit DoS to result the ward. Albus thought this was cockeyed because he felt finely. So what if his arm was still bandaged and in a sling ? That should n't stop him from eating dinner party with the rest of the school.

Instead, Albus was forced to eat a quiet meal in the infirmary offstage and wait anxiously for rose wine and Amanda to secernate him what Kendrick said.

The young lady showed up right after dinner ended. Albus immediately asked them what Kendrick had said.

"Tournament 's canceled,"rosebush sighed as she sat down on the end of Albus 's bed,"The child 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."

"Merlin !"Albus shouted,"Why 'd they have to cancel it ? Could n't they just indispose Australia ?"

"No,"blush wine shook her head,"To do that Hogwarts would receive to play New York in another final."

"Why do n't they do that ?"trick asked.

"Too close to exams,"Rose shrugged,"It 'll mess up everyone 's studying."

"That 's dolt,"Albus fumed.

"If it makes you feel better, I 'm pretty sure Hogwarts would 've won if Australia had n't have been here,"rosebush pointed out,"And Kendrick gave one hundred planetary house points to everyone who was on the Quidditch and dueling teams."

"Yeah, well, all the theatre had people on the teams, so that does n't really avail,"Albus muttered.

"wellspring,"rosiness grinned,"I know one affair that 'll cheer you up."

"What ?"Albus asked, even though there was nil that could root on him up.

"There were Quidditch scouts at that mates,"Rose told him,"And even though the match was disastrous, they did find someone they wanted to draft."

"Who ?"Albus asked, slightly intrigued.

"Georgia !"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 barrack him up. There was no one he thought who belonged on a professional Quidditch team more than than Georgia.

"Yup, she 's their new reserve Keeper,"rose said,"She says Uncle Walker Percy 's not yarn-dye. He wanted her to mold at the Ministry. She does n't care what he thinks, though."

"Uncle Percy 's got plenty of other kids to work at the Ministry,"Albus shrugged. He could never see Sakartvelo working in government.

"Kenmare ?"John the Evangelist said incredulously.

"Yeah, seriously ?"lustrelessness grimaced.

"They 're nearly as bad as the cannon,"John 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 squad, she 'll be able to play her way up to a just one."

"Merlin, I hope so,"John shrugged.

"Is she the alone one who got drafted ?"Albus asked.

"Only one I know for sure of,"rose said,"I heard a rumor that Anna Reilly got taken on by the Balycastle Bats, but I do n't know for sure."

Albus nodded, feeling slightly better about the tourney. 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 carry all the dashing hopes away.

******

brothel keeper Pomfrey reluctantly let the boys leave the next day after breakfast. She did n't really have a choice since exam began that day. Albus felt perfectly all right and was quite glad to leave the home.

rosebush handed him a copy of the vaticinator as soon as he and the former son reached the common elbow room. Albus took it, well-chosen that he had a few minutes before his initiatory examination to show the article that was inevitably there.

AUSTRALIAN schoolhouse CHEATS- tournament CANCELED

After a startling discovery made by two Hogwarts
students, the Quidditch and Dueling tourney
involving Hogwarts, the Adirondack Academy of
thaumaturgy, and the Australian School of sorcery
has been canceled.

The tournament 's final Quidditch match was
interrupted this past Saturday by two Hogwarts
one-sixth eld, Fred Weasley and Scots heather Weasley,
both 17, who claimed that the Australian team
had been cheating throughout the entire
tournament.

A few month ago, allegations were brought upon
the Australian team after their Seeker, Linda
Morales, 14, flew at an exceptionally fast speed.
An investigation found nothing. The tournament
continued.

Fred and Heather Weasley accused Linda team spirit
of being a vampire. Vampires are outlawed
from playing on professional Quidditch teams due
to the unfair advantage they have.

The match was immediately stopped while all three
schoolmaster questioned the Weasleys and Morales.

Headmaster Addiar Killigan of the Australian
schooltime of Sorcery admitted to allowing Morales
to be the seeker of his team in decree to win the
tournament. The Aussie team was immediately
disqualified from the tournament.

Killigan, Morales, and the rest of the Aussie
participating in the tournament left Hogwarts late
on Sat, declining to speak with any of our
reporters.

Tournament official as well as the other two
schoolmaster have decided to cancel the tourney,
and not declaring a winner.

'It is regrettable that the tournament turned out
this way ,'Fabius Kendrick told newsman, 'Perhaps
we can try it again in a few years .'

"Killigan is an changeling,"Albus said.

"Look at the next article,"Rose replied.

QUINTON WILLINSON dorsum IN AZKABAN, JOINED BY WASHBURN

While the final Quidditch match was ending in tragedy
at Hogwarts school day of witchery and Wizardry, Harry
potter 's eye child, Albus, 13, was dealing with his
own battle.

Albus ceramist, as well as cousin Kaden Dursley, 12, and
friends Matthew Eckerton and privy 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 Creatures in Australia.

The four Hogwarts students were taken to Australia
where Harry Potter and Walter Eckerton found them.
It is indecipherable what the convicts were after, as well as
why Lubar was involved.

Quinton Willinson and Jameson Washburn were caught and
sent to Azkaban. Lubar and Jarrett Willinson escaped.
Aurors are currently looking for Willinson and the
Ministry is negotiating with the Aboriginal Australian Ministry
about what to do with Lubar.

All four boys have recovered from the ordeal and are
currently taking their end of the year examinations
at Hogwarts. Harry potter has declined comment.

"Well, that 's not a very illuminating clause,"Albus said as he tossed the paper onto a nearby table.

"I do n't think they can report much,"rose said,"The Australian Ministry may be asking them to restrain quiet about Lubar in return for giving him some sort of punishment.

"It wo n't weigh,"lusterlessness said,"They 're not going to do anything to him."

Albus was forced to promote Lubar into the back of his mind as exams began. They were all significantly harder than the premature year 's had been, but he was sure he at to the lowest degree passed all of them.

There were short clause in the vaticinator about Lubar everyday, but they all said the same thing. Commonwealth of Australia refused to extradite him. Matt was not at all surprised by this, but it infuriated Albus to no end.

The week after test was a foreign one for Albus. There was nothing leftfield for them to do. No studying, no prep, no Quidditch. Rose and Amanda went back to spending all their clock time with the boys, like it had been before Linda had arrived.

Things were different, though. Both rosebush and Amanda were a lot placid than they used to be. Albus was sure enough they missed Linda, and he had no approximation whether she had said goodbye to them, or even if she 'd had the chance.

Matt was lost in his own thoughts nigh of the time, rendering him quieter than ever. He often went entire eventide without saying two words to anyone, something that usually only happened around full moons. However, the succeeding full Sun Myung Moon was n't until after they left Hogwarts.

Albus was sure as shooting 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 day out of him.

Saint John and Kaden remained as robustious as ever and did not seem to be fazed by what had happened in Australia. They spent their week pulling pranks and playing endless secret plan of Exploding centering that Albus occasionally joined in on.

Albus himself was quieter. His idea 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 continue a secret. He wished more than anything that Lubar would get thrown in prison, whether it was Azkaban or Commonwealth of Australia 's prison.

******

The string ride back to London was subdued, the but noise being John and Kaden 's Exploding Snap cards. Albus and matte both gazed out the window, mesmerized by the passing landscape.

"Linda sent me a letter last dark,"Rose said, breaking the silence.

Albus lifted his pass up and looked at her."What about ?"

"She told us she was sad, and wanted me to tell you that she was dreary about the tournament,"rose wine told him,"She 's on the run with her mum now. They 're thinking of moving to a different country."

"To go to school ?"Albus asked.

"No,"rose wine shook her pass,"She 's been through school a couple clip already. She was n't even a student at the Australian school. Killigan pretty much forced her into playing searcher for them. He 's a really cruddy bloke. 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 approximation,"rosiness shrugged,"She said she 'd owl me when they find out."

"This whole year has been so messed up,"John the Divine sighed,"I hope following year 's better."

"Me, too,"matt agreed.

"We 've got the populace Cup to look forward to, though,"Albus smiled.

"Oh, yeah !"King John grinned,"Owl me as soon as you find out when we 're leaving for it."

"Definitely,"Albus said,"Your sister 's going, too. Lily told me she 'd invited her. Hugo 's not really well-chosen about that."

"Neither am I,"John muttered,"I do n't want Ashtyn going."

"well, I 'd prefer Lily not go, but it 's the Cup ! aught can really destroy it,"Albus said.

"Good point,"John agreed.

"Let me bonk when the Cup is,"Kaden said.

"Why ? So you can convert your parents to take you ?"John the Divine smirked.

"No,"Kaden laughed,"So I can make out when to invite you lot to my house. My dad said he 'd direct us camping."

"Excellent !"whoremaster grinned,"Camping like Muggles ?"

"Yep,"Kaden replied,"bread and butter in tents, no electricity, no magic trick 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,"flatness answered,"That was the metre I got bitten."

"Oh,"Kaden looked a picayune taken aback,"Sorry."

"It 's ok,"lusterlessness shrugged,"Just do n't go during a full moonshine. I do n't want any of you having to join me in the Shrieking Shack next year."

"I 'll go,"Albus said. He 'd never been camping before, let alone camping like a Muggle. He did sense bad that Matt would n't get to go, but he sort of thought Matt would n't want to go anyway.

The remainder of the trip was spent arguing about Quidditch and Albus felt like things were sort of returning to pattern. It was almost overnice to hear John the Evangelist and Matt arguing about the cannon again and Kaden arguing about football.

The caravan arrived in London and Albus found his parents waiting for him on the platform. After saying goodbye to his friends, Albus left the post with his family feeling that just maybe living would be normal 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 consider 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 story but it 'll be a patch before the inaugural chapter is up. I 'm thinking I 'll update every early week at first, alternating week with Beyond the Shadow. In the mean time, if you want something new to read, I suggest checking out Remember the Cannons, which is a collab I worked on finish year and is now currently being updated. It 's all about the Chudley Cannons and their downfall. It 's under the username The Golden stoolpigeon and is also in my preferent floor so you can find it that way.


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.

Note : This is the fourth story in a series. I suggest reading them in order, but it 's not necessary.



"Ouch, that was my foot !"

"Shush ! You 're going to waken them up !"

"It 's your geological fault for stepping on my human foot !"

"They 're heavy tie, do n't worry."

Albus Severus Potter sighed to himself as he and two of his best friends neared the collapsible shelter. John, whose foot had been tread upon, was carrying a nebulizer can of whipped cream, and Kaden, the one who had stepped on John 's foot, was brandishing a large owl feather. It had been Kaden 's idea to deplumate a prank on his nine-year-old sister, Bethany, while she slept, and John had been all too eager to participate. Albus personally thought it was stupid to prank soul whose parents were in the same tent, but Kaden had assured him that both of his parents could catch some Z's through anything.

It was their thirdly and final night of camping with Kaden 's class which was in Kaden 's opinion, the perfect time to force a prank. After three days of being on their C. H. Best behavior, the boys had successfully lured Dudley and Christina Dursley into a false sense of security. Well, a sham sensation of security when it came to them and Bethany, that is. The boys had pranked each other constantly throughout the tripper. Albus had been pushed into the lake three multiplication already, been snuck up upon in the woods twice, and had a nosebleed nougat hidden in his dinner party. He had gotten revenge by stealing both Kaden and lavatory 's canoe paddles, leaving them stranded in the centre of the lake for a half hour.

"Happy natal day, by the way,"Albus said.

"Is it midnight already ?"Kaden asked.

A twig snapped behind them and Albus jumped."What do you three think you 're doing ?"soul shouted in a creepy tone.

Kaden shrieked and whoremonger jumped backwards, bumping into Kaden and causing both of them to come down over. John 's finger slipped and the whipped cream came shooting out, covering both of them in the sugary substance. They were both shouting profanity and Albus smirked despite the fact that his heart was still hammering. Who was that ? He turned and saw none other than Bethany, standing with her arms folded across her thorax, glaring at all three of the boys.

"And just what were you planning on doing with that whipped ointment ?"she demanded.

"Nothing,"Kaden muttered."What are you doing out here ?"

"advent back from the bathroom,"Bethany replied."And I know you were planning on squirting that on my hand and then tickling my nose with a plumage. Honestly, you 're so predictable."

With one last blaze at her brother, Bethany stalked off to the tent she shared with her parents, went inside it, and zipped it closed. Albus turned to his two sticky friends and bust out laughing. They were both sitting on the solid ground covered in a commixture of whipped cream and dirt that was just visible by the brightness of Albus 's torch. The two rarely had a prank backfire on them like that.

"Bloody slight sister,"Kaden muttered as he scrubbed the lather emollient off in the lav a few min later.

"Yeah,"John agreed as he tried to get the whipped cream out of his haircloth by sticking his oral sex in the sump."Why do they have to be such a painfulness ?"

"I think it 's their job,"Albus mused."Lily would 've done the same thing."

"You two are lucky you 've only got one,"John pointed out."Try sustenance with three."

"I 've got enough cousins to make up for it,"Albus said.

"Matt 's the lucky one, then,"bathroom said as he pulled his head out of the sinkhole and shook the water supply out."He has n't got any little sisters or short cousins."

"Wish he would 've came with us,"Kaden said as they left the bathroom.

"We never could 've convinced him,"John replied."Remember his face when you invited us ?"

"Do you blame him ?"Albus said."I mean, it was probably a dark like this when, you know, when it happened."

The nighttime was very quiet. The boys made the only noise as they walked back to the campsite. The merely light visible was the luminance from Albus 's torch. He let out an involuntary shudder. It probably had been a nighttime just like this one. No wonder he had n't wanted to go camping again.

"Only, you know,"Kaden said as he looked up at the sky."There would 've been a moon."

Albus smiled. entrust it to Kaden to point out the obvious. Yes, there would 've been a moon. Currently the Moon was in its new lunar month form and was not visible in the sky.

The boy made it back to their collapsible shelter and climbed into their sleeping bagful. Albus was n't in the least bit tire out, so he did n't disoblige turning off his torch. John pulled out a large number of Exploding Snap cards, figuring that since it was the dead of nighttime, no Muggles would notice.

"What should we do tomorrow ?"Saint John the Apostle asked.

"Canoeing ?"Albus suggested.

The former two boys glared at him."Only if you promise not to slip our boat paddle,"John muttered.

"What ? It was n't a bad swim. And you asked for it by putting that epistaxis nougat in my food."

"It was cold !"Kaden shouted indignantly.

"It 's summer ; it 's supposed to be refreshing,"Albus pointed out.

"Well, it 's my natal day, so I say we hike up to that field and play football game,"Kaden decided.

Albus and John the Evangelist both groaned loudly, but knew they 'd be spending their last day playing football with Kaden. It was his birthday after all, so it was only clean that he pick the day 's activity. Albus only wished that they did n't let in football.
******


The two weeks that separated the tenting trip and the Quidditch World Cup seemed to haul on forever. They reminded Albus of history of magic and he was sure that length of time was retentive than two weeks, but his calendar told him otherwise. Nothing particularly energise happened during that twain of fourteen years ; the highlighting being three Hogwarts letters being delivered to issue 12 Grimmauld berth. All three letters contained book inclination and to cipher 's surprise, James IV 's did not hold a Prefect 's badge. Cedric and Ben had not received the badge either, but James 's friend Nathan had. King James I supposed Neville had to beak soul and Nathan was the to the lowest degree mischievous of the one-fifth year Gryffindor boys.

The most agitate news show of the two weeks arrived at Albus 's cousin Fred 's house informing him that he had been made Quidditch captain for Gryffindor. William James was quite excited about this since while Fred was fanatical about Quidditch, he was n't nearly as bad as Georgia. Calluna vulgaris was disappointed, but Fred assured her she would be his second-in-command.

Speaking of Georgia, she had begun her training with the Kenmare Kestrals shortly after commencement exercise and planned to actuate into a flat close to their auction pitch very soon. Apparently Percy had been dropping not-so-subtle confidential information about getting her an internship at the Ministry instead of playing pro Quidditch and she was sick of it. It was still a touchy subject with both Sir Henry Percy and Peach State, so much so that Albus was n't even sure if Peach State was going to go to the annual before school day Weasley dinner party. Albus thought it was rather stupid of Percy to be arguing about it since it was Empire State of the South 's life sentence and she was adept at Quidditch.

Albus spent nigh of the two workweek at blush wine 's house, although it was not Rose whom he was spending metre with. Hugo was planning on trying out for the available custodian posture on Gryffindor 's team and needed Albus to drop Quaffles at him while he tried to protect the finish. Unfortunately Victor-Marie Hugo was not very respectable, but he was improving, even if it was at a very slow down charge per unit. Hugo was also quite sore with Lily over her choosing Ashtyn to take to the Cup, which somehow caused him to need to practice session Quidditch nearly twenty-four/seven.

By the time the day finally arrived to will for the Cup, Albus was getting quite sick of throwing Quaffles at Hugo and was even nursing a sore arm. He was very grateful for the break that going to the Cup would provide. Albus 's household was scheduled to go far at the campground near the sales talk the day before the match, which was not bad at all. Some mass had to arrive as lots as a week beforehand.

"When is Matt getting there ?"John asked Albus as they sat in Albus 's elbow room, packing for the tripper. lav had arrived the former day and somehow all of his material had been scattered throughout Albus 's way despite his lone having been there for xxiv hours.

"He 's already there, I think,"Albus answered, remembering the letter of the alphabet flatness had sent him the premature week.

"Did n't you say everyone who goes to the Cup has to camp out ?"John the Divine asked as he inspected a windsock to specify whether it was his or not."How come his parents will go to the Cup but they would n't let him camp with us ?"

"He 's not camping,"Albus said, deciding that the wind sleeve Gospel According to John had was his and snatched it away, stuffing it in his bag."His uncle lifespan in New York, so they 're staying there and Apparating to the Cup rightfulness before."

"Oh,"trick replied."I thought international spectre was illegal."

"Not from the United Department of State to Canada and back,"Albus explained."If you Apparate to the borderline, they let you Apparate into Canada if you 've got the right identification."

"Are any of your other cousin-german going ?"trick asked.

"I think Georgia 's going with her teammate, but former than her, no. James II picked Nathan because he did n't desire to choose between Cedric and Ben."

"Is Hugo still raging with Lily ?"lavatory asked."Ashtyn said he was n't speaking to either of them."

"Yeah,"Albus nodded as he rubbed his sore arm."And because of it he 's had me practicing with him for the yesteryear two weeks."

"Is he going to be Gryffindor 's succeeding custodian ?"

"Only if the rest of the people who try out play Quidditch like lusterlessness and Kaden do,"Albus answered.

"So I 'm guessing the new Keeper wo n't be a Weasley ?"

"Nope, I do n't imagine so.

"Are you boys cook ?"Harry asked as he popped his capitulum into the room.

"Just about,"Albus said as he stuffed one last shirt into his bag and zipped it closed."How far do we have to go to hand the Portkey ?"

"Not far, just outside of British capital,"Harry replied."There 's an shadow and Floo station nearby, so we wo n't have to take the air much."

A few instant later the potter were congregated in the sitting room, along with John, Ashtyn, and Nathan. Everyone was going to Floo because Harry and Ginny could n't side-along Apparate six kids between the two of them. Harry had been right ; the Portkey was only a short mode away from the Apparition and Floo station, and in no clip they were standing in a little clarification searching for the Portkey. Lily was the one who found it, hiding behind one of the lone bushes. It was an old deflated football game that looked to have teeth print in it.

"When 's it leaving ?"Lily asked.

"In about five min,"Harry said as he checked his watch."Remember, Ontario, Canada, is five hours behind us, so when we get there it will be around eleven o'clock in the morning."

cypher else had been assigned to this fussy Portkey, so five minutes later the ceramicist, St. John the Apostle, Ashtyn, and Nathan disappeared from the field. Albus thought the journeying lasted much longer than a rule Portkey trip-up, but that made sense since they were going all the way to Canada.

They landed in another small clearing and once Albus steadied himself, he could see a fleet of tents in the distance. Directly in front of them was a small wooden building that bore a sign that read 'Lakeside Park- bivouacking Office'. He looked around for a lake, but did n't see one.

"If we find the lake, we can go canoeing,"Albus said.

"Yeah, and perhaps we 'll get a decent Defense teacher this year,"lav replied."There 's no bloody way I 'm canoeing with you ever again."

"And maybe you wo n't put awful sweetness in my nutrient anymore."

"Ca n't pretend any promises,"St. John the Apostle grinned.

Albus and King John followed everyone else towards the niggling wooden building. Once inside, Albus noticed that it was being manned by a very confused looking Muggle, who was staring off into blank. He did n't even look to notice when they walked in.

"Memory magic spell,"Harry whispered to the son. He walked up to the bloke and set a musical composition of paper down on the desk."campsite reservation for thrower. Two nights."

"Potter, Potter,"the fellow muttered as he began to typewrite on something that Albus was pretty indisputable was called a computer."You 're site 43. Be heedful, mind you, there 's a lot of odd multitude camping this week."

"Thanks,"Harry replied.

encampment 43 did n't seem to be anywhere near the little wooden building so Albus and the others had to walk through nigh of the camping country to find out their situation. A arcminute into the walking Albus realized why the Muggle in the building needed so many memory good luck charm. It did n't seem like anybody was trying to hold in deception. The Cup was between Russia and Italy and it was very obvious who was rooting for whom.

The Italians had red, green, and white tents, some of which had the genuine masthead design on the incline. One chemical group had a cauldron boiling over a leafy vegetable and red firing and there was a thaumaturge pouring pasta into it.

"Who cooks pasta on a camping trip ?"Harry muttered as they passed."No admiration that bloke thinks something funny 's going on."

The Russians were n't any beneficial since their collapsible shelter were also adorned with sword lily and some had even littered the surrounding ground with wizard fake snow. Since it was at least seventy-five degrees, Albus thought that was slightly strange.

Albus only saw a few other people he knew. Damien and Kate Waverly from the Ravenclaw Quidditch team were at campsite identification number 35 and he also saw a Hufflepuff whom he recognized but did n't call up the name of. nigh of the multitude appeared to be Russian, Italian, Canadian River, or American. Albus figured that was since the Cup was so far away from U.K.. nearly British people people would n't go see the Cup in Canada if they did n't really support Russia or Italy. Albus did n't stand either team, but his dad had gotten free tickets.

After passing a contingency of Russians, Albus noticed a few the great unwashed who looked oddly familiar. He paused to find out them for a minute or so and then realized that they were the Quidditch team from the Adirondack honorary society of Magic.

"James,"Albus said as he poked his chum."expression, the New York Quidditch team."

The New Yorkers had noticed Albus and James as well. They abandoned their fire and strolled over to the walkway.

"You came a long way for the Cup,"the tallest of the lot said. Albus recognized him as one of the Beaters.

"My dad had tickets,"Albus replied.

"Oh, right,"the boy said, craning his neck to see Harry, who was a few meters away."Your dad 's Harry Potter. Learned about him in story of Magic a few years ago."

"Shame about the match,"James said, clearly wanting to steer the conversation away from Harry."That Australian headmaster is foul cheater."

"Sure is,"the boy replied."It sucks."

"I wish they would 've let us play each former,"James said mutinously."exam ? Really ? That was a stupid excuse."

"I 'll say,"he agreed."Hey, you 'll never guess who else is here."

"Who ?"James IV asked.

"Linda, you know, the vampire,"the boy said excitedly."Saw her a few hour ago, but she turned the other way when she saw me."

Albus exchanged looks with John the Evangelist, and the two of them silently agreed to go smell for Linda as soon as they could pussyfoot away from James I, Nathan, Lily, and Ashtyn, plus Albus 's parents.

The New Yorkers went to eat lunch and Albus and the others continued their trek to campsite 43. It was situated in a small-scale clarification of trees, side by side to a chemical group of Canadian wizards and a rather bully grouping of Italians. Harry and Ginny had the tent up in no fourth dimension with assistant from Nathan, who was Muggle-born. James and Nathan each made a quick sandwich and then went off to research. Lily and Ashtyn begged to be allowed to do the same, but both Harry and Ginny insisted that they stay at the camping site.

"Can we go explore ?"Albus asked as he polished off his lunch.

"I suppose so,"Ginny said."But be careful, and be back in time for dinner."

"We will,"Albus assured her.

Albus and Saint John set off down the way of life, both keeping an eye out for Linda."This place is huge,"John said."How in the gens of pigeon hawk are we going to find her ?"

"I have n't the slender estimation, but I suppose if we keep walking we might find her,"Albus replied."Maybe we 'll find that lake as well."

"I am not canoeing with you."

"suit of clothes yourself."

Albus and John did not find the lake, but after walking around the camping ground for about an hr, they eventually came upon Linda. She was at a smallish encampment that contained a blue tent that actually looked like it could go to a Muggle. Linda was reading a book at the picnic tabular array while another witch was bent over a flak and she turned when she heard the male child get in. She was quite beautiful, with long dark hair's-breadth like Linda's.

"Can I help you ?"she asked. Her emphasis was not Australian and Albus could n't station it.

Linda looked up and her eyes rested upon Albus. She got up from the table and walked over to the boys.

"Do you know them ?"the former witch asked.

"They 're from Hogwarts,"Linda replied. The witch raised her eyebrow."It 's mulct,"Linda said."I 'll be back soon."

Albus was very surprised that Linda so willingly decided to take the air with them and he shared a looking with John before they set off along the path. All three were quiesce for about ten minutes before Linda spoke.

"I just want you to know that I 'm sorry about the peer,"she said quietly."I did n't desire to do it. I do n't even normally go to schoolhouse. It 's rather pointless since I 've been through shoal three times already. The headmaster insisted I play and said if I did n't he 'd get some sort of law passed to make my lifespan miserable."

"It 's not your fault,"Albus said."The Australian headmaster is a git. We 've known that for years."

"Oh, your friend Matt ?"

"Yeah,"Albus answered.

"Is he here ?"Linda asked.

"He 's going to the Cup but he 's staying at his uncle 's household in New York."

Silence fell upon them once again until John spoke a few minutes later."So what are you doing now ?"

"My mother and I are living here, in Canada. Another responsibility, though, one that 's even less inhabited than this one. We ca n't dwell in Australia after that Quidditch catastrophe. The headmaster blamed me for everyone finding out what I am. Said I did n't hide it well enough."

"That 's insane,"John replied.

It was strange, Albus thought, how the previous class none of the male child had really liked Linda because they were afraid she would reveal that Matt was a werewolf, yet she was being blackmailed by Killigan the whole clock time. Now, she seemed nice.

The conversation moved from Killigan to the upcoming equal and who they thought would win. Linda, like Albus and John Lackland, was rooting for Italy and they all agreed that Soviet Union did n't stick out a luck. They circled the campground and made it back to Linda 's campsite. Her mother was talking with a wizard who was camping in the next site over.

"William Tell Rose and Amanda that I 'll owl them soon,"Linda said."Mum did n't require me to owl anyone until we 'd successfully gotten away from Killigan. But she thinks he 's given up and we should be safe in Canada."

"Ok,"Albus said."Maybe we 'll see you at the match tomorrow."

Linda bade them goodbye and joined her mum. She turned and smiled at Albus and John as they left to go back to their campsite.



A/N : And so the twenty-five percent storey begins ! I 'm hoping to update this once a month. Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed the late history !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


Neither of the boys slept much that night. This was partly due to excitement about the match and partly due to the fact that Harry and Ginny sent Lily and Ashtyn to the boys'tent after the two of them refused to settle down. Albus, John the Evangelist, James, and Nathan complained loudly about the addition of the girls in their tent, but Harry and Ginny were adamantine. King James and Nathan decided to assure scary stories in a vain attempt to scare Lily and Ashtyn back into the grownup'tent, but both daughter were now too old to get that scared.

The next day was similar to the previous day and Albus and John spent it trying to find the lake, but had no luck. John was lamenting the fact that the campground was called"lakeside"when there clearly was no lake around so often that Albus wished there was a lake just so he could labour Saint John the Apostle into it. Both boys begged Harry and Ginny to let them go to New York to see Matt, but had no chance. Harry and Ginny said they could see Matt later that night at the match.

evenfall finally arrived and multitude began to trek through the Wood to the pitch. Albus did n't give the flimsy melodic theme how far away it was, but it seemed farther than the walk from the Whomping Willow to the shrieking hut or from Hogwarts to Hogsmeade. Once they finally did arrive, it seemed amazing that Muggles did n't notice it. The pitch was huge ; that was the lone parole for it. There were more witches and wizards congregated in one place than Albus had ever seen in his life history and more were coming up behind him.

trick had brought two pairs of his omnioculars but the group had to stop while James, Nathan, and Lily each purchased a distich. Ashtyn had stolen a couplet of John 's, apparently without him knowing. Ginny quickly steered them all away from a mates sorcerer who were taking stakes.

A Lester Willis Young wizard standing near the entrance asked to see their tickets and then lead them higher and higher in the rack until they reached one of the top boxes. There were fourteen professorship lined up in two rows, six of which were already occupied. matte and his parents took up one-half of those chairs ; in the other three sat two mavin and a Wiccan Albus did not know.

"matt !"Albus shouted. He and John the Evangelist immediately took the two buttocks to lustrelessness 's rightfield while Harry and Ginny greeted his parents.

"Albus, John !"Matt replied."This is brilliant !"

"Yeah it is ! look how high up we are !"bathroom said excitedly."Best seats ever !"

"Oh, this is my Uncle Jack,"Matt said, gesturing to one of the wizards Albus did n't tell apart. He looked a lot like lustrelessness 's dad, only with less grey fuzz and far fewer wrinkles."Uncle Jack, this is Albus and John."

"So you 're the ones who keep getting lustrelessness into trouble."Jack grinned.

"That 's Thomas More Kaden and John than Albus,"matt pointed out.

"Hey, Albus was the one who got Kaden and I stranded in a lake a few weeks ago,"John muttered.

"What ? !"Matt exclaimed.

"He stole our canoe paddles. We had to float back."

"This was after John and Kaden pushed me into the lake multiple times,"Albus said.

"Makes sense to me."mat shrugged.

About a half hour later, during which Albus was introduced to the other witch and wizard in their box ( Canadian Ministry functionary ) and then promptly forgot their names, the catch finally began.

The Russian mascots were up first. Albus, after hearing about the leprechauns and Veelas at the World Cup his parents attended, was quite looking forward to the mascots. Unfortunately, he was disappointed in the Russian mascots. Or should he say 'mascot .'There was only one. The intact Russian team walked onto the pitch accompanied by what looked like a very dim, very hairy goat.

"What the bloody hell is that ?"John asked as he got up and put his omnioculars to his eyes."It 's a goat !"

Albus and Matt followed can and watched the goat. With the omnioculars, Albus could see that the Capricorn the Goat 's fur was greying giving it a very old look.

"tone as old as Aberforth Dumbledore,"lustrelessness muttered.

"Probably belongs to him,"privy pointed out.

"Let 's hold a warm welcome to potato the moufflon !"the commentator shouted."potato has been with the Russian Quidditch team for nearly twenty class and is beloved by the intact squad. spud has been trained to do a variety of put-on ...."

The observer droned on as murphy slowly climbed through what looked like a goal post not on the office and caught a Quaffle in his oral cavity. Albus thought the whole appearance was kind of odd and the mussitation in the box by the rest of its occupants told him his opinion was shared.

"What in the name of Merlin is a moufflon ?"William James asked.

"It 's a wild sheep,"Lily explained."Although this one is obviously not wild. In fact, it seems kind of awful to make him perform antic like that at his age."

The Italian mascots were the all over opposite. As soon as the Russian team left the pitch with Murphy the Mouflon, a very orotund number of hotshot dressed in what looked like armour robes stepped onto the field of battle. As they stepped aside, they revealed a John Milton Cage Jr. containing three chimeras.

"Bloody hell !"St. John exclaimed.

"How can they bring chimera into a Quidditch match for Falco columbarius 's saki ?"Ginny shouted."They 're unsafe !"

"They 're being handled by professional person Chimaera animal trainer,"Mr. Eckerton explained."And the Canadian Head of the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures is here. They had to crystalize it with all the Ministries of major countries first."

All the disappointment about the mouflon disappeared when Albus saw the manager taking the Chimera out. Each one was attached to a thick metal chain and controlled by two handler. They roared and lunged at each other and at the various officials and reader standing on the sidelines.

Albus 's eyes were glued to his omnioculars during the entire execution, which must not consume lasted to a greater extent than ten minutes. During those ten minutes the chimaeras tried to kill no less than five of the handlers and had scared one of the referees into the changing room. Meanwhile the reviewer was keeping up a steady stream of chimaera information and history. Apparently chimaeras had a hanker chronicle in Rome.

The adults in the room ( with the potential exception of diddlysquat ) let out a collective sigh of relief when the chimera were put back in their cage and moved to the hobby while St. James, Nathan, Albus, John, and Matt groaned. Even Ashtyn and Lily seemed slightly disappointed with their disappearance.

However, Albus soon nearly forgot about the chimera ( it was impossible to completely forget about them as they roared every time a player got near them ) since the couple started right after they left. The commentator announced the names of the players, but Albus could n't keep any of them straight because they were flying far too fast. This Quidditch was intense, far more intense than any of the League mates he had been to.

The Quaffle exchanged handwriting faster than the commentator could say the names of the pursuer and the Bludgers were being sent after actor after musician. The Seekers were staying out of the way, which seemed like a thoroughly estimate to Albus since one of the Italian Chasers was injured only fifteen min into the match.

Saint James kept up his own running commentary as well, much to the vexation of Albus and everyone else. He constantly named the period of play and critiqued the way the Russian Seeker sat on his broom.

"Shut it, Saint James,"Albus finally said."He 's the one acting in the Cup, not you. He can sit on his broom however he likes."

"He 's not going to get the stoolpigeon with that carriage,"James muttered before looking through his omnioculars.

As it turned out, James was right. An hour later the Italian Seeker pulled into a dive and came back up with the struggling winged ball in his grasp. The entire box stood up and cheered, especially bathroom who did n't like Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic 's Quidditch team. Albus did n't follow either team, but he supposed if he had had to pick out, he would 've chosen Italy. Italia won with 520 points. Russia had 430. Both teams had played incredibly well.

"I knew it !"James shouted as they made their way back to the campground."I knew he would n't catch that Snitch ! A quester ca n't sit up so straight on his broom and expect to overhear the sneaker !"

Albus ignored him. Saint James would be bragging about this for the future two calendar month.

"You should get along arrest with me in New York,"mat said as they reached the camping site.

"Can we Mum ?"Albus asked."Please ?"

"I do n't cerebrate that 's going to work, Al,"Ginny replied."They 're flying back on an airplane and you two do n't have tickets."

"Aw, Merlin,"Albus groaned."I guess we 'll see you on the gear, then."

"Yeah, definitely,"mat replied.

Albus and whoremonger said sayonara to Matt and watched as he left with his parents to go Apparate back to the border.

It was very recently, but the campground was far too flash for anyone to get to sleep. The Italians were celebrating and even the Russians seemed to be very loud and fierce, despite their loss. Instead of going to bed, Harry lit another campfire and everyone sat around it, roasting whatever sweets they had over the fire and discussing the match.

"And when that mouflon got onto the pitch !"Nathan shouted."And the Chimaera went freak ? I thought they were going to escape !"

"Did n't intercept the instrumentalist, though,"Jesse James pointed out."That was when one of the Russian chaser got hit by that Bludger. He could have dodged that if he had been paying more than attention to the match and less to the chimaeras."

"I think I 'd sooner pay attention to a possible chimera escape than a Bludger,"Ashtyn muttered.

"Are you the leading expert on Chasing now, too ?"Albus asked James.

"I 'm just trying to expand my noesis of the other emplacement because I 'm going to be Gryffindor 's headwaiter next year after Fred graduates."

Albus snorted."What makes you so sure enough ?"

"I 've been on the team since minute year, I 'll be the oldest next year, and I 'm a sound leader,"St. James replied.

"They do n't always beak the oldest,"Albus pointed out."And Bradley and Ryan are erstwhile than you."

"What, you think you 'll get it ?"James asked incredulously.

"Boys,"Ginny warned.

"I do n't need it,"Albus said.

"No point in you getting it,"John chimed in."After all, you 're going to be Prefect next year."

James laughed."Yeah, that 'll happen."

"You 're not one to verbalise, James,"Ginny said."Notice your missive did not contain a Prefect 's badge this year."

"Well, yeah, because Kendrick would be stupid to gain me a Prefect,"James said."But he 'd be stupid to make you-"

Jesse James was interrupted by a loud crack that sounded like someone Apparating or a arm breakage. Lily shrieked and Harry stood with his wand out. There was a rustling in the Sir Henry Wood behind them and a figure lumbered out.

He stepped forward and the lighter from the fervor illuminated his face, which was old and wrinkled. There was barely a hair on his head and he walked with an obvious hitch. Adorned in a very old, very disgusting looking brownish cloak, he did not seem to have showered in recent history.

"'Arry Potter,"he croaked. His voice did n't vocalise like it had been used in Recent epoch story, either. His accent was not Canadian, nor was it British or Aussie."A word."

"baton out where I can see it,"Harry replied.

"Don''ave a scepter,"he muttered.

"make it quick, then,"Harry said, his own wand still pointed at the stranger.

"Yer in bother, Potter,"he said."An'not just 'bout what 'appened two months ago."

He sounded a bit like Hagrid, Albus thought, except this bloke seemed to birth nothing but that in mutual with the well-disposed half-giant.

"Oh, no."The gent smiled slightly."Election class, ai n't it ? Oh, yes, you 've more to worry 'bout than that Willinson bloke."

"Who are you ?"Harry asked.

"Not important,"he said and turned to go back into the woods."right luck, ceramicist,"he said before disappearing completely.

"That was weird,"John said."How in the public figure of Merlin can an election be bad for you ?"

"Yeah,"Albus agreed."Are you running for Minister or something ?"

Harry laughed."Definitely not. I reckon that feller is off his cradle. I would n't care about it."

Ginny insisted they get to bed shortly after the strange blighter left since they had to get up early the next morning to overtake their Portkey. Albus laid awake thinking about the stranger long after lavatory, Saint James, and Nathan fell asleep. His dad may have said not to concern about it, but is n't that what all fathers say when they do n't require their Word to worry about something, even if it is worthy of worry ?
******


Early was an understatement for the sentence they had to get up the next break of the day. Ginny was waking them up when the sun was barely above the horizon. Apparently everyone had to leave the campground before Muggles checked in, which meant everyone in the entire campground was rushing about resulting in general chaos. Eventually the ceramicist managed to situate their Portkey and get back to London. When they arrived it was five hours later because of the fourth dimension change, yet all Albus wanted to do was crawl back in bed, which is exactly what he did. John fell asleep right on Albus 's floor without any sort of blanket or pillow.

Saint John the Apostle spent two more days at Albus 's house, during which they went to Diagon alley, along with Kaden, and spent most of their metre speculating on who the new Defense teacher would be. Harry told them that he would not be returning, much to their displeasure, but he was certainly Kendrick would find a suitable permutation. Albus was not too sure as shooting about this since Kendrick 's last replacement turned out to be insane yet still capable of catching evil thaumaturgist. John left the day of the annual before school Weasley family dinner because his family was going to visit his cousins, much to John 's alarm.

The before shoal dinner was one of two times that Albus 's entire extended family got together for a repast. The rest of the year everyone was either in school or too occupy to tackle the effect. However, Albus 's grandmother, molly, insisted that they all spend an evening together before all the kids went off to school. Albus loved it because there was always delicious food and multiple games of Quidditch. Albus was not sure how much longer everyone would go to, though, now that his previous cousins were graduating and getting business. Victoire was still in Healer training and Teddy was in Auror training. Stanley was in Romania studying Dragon, just as his founder had done. Georgia of class was busy with training for the Kenmare Kestrals and Albus was surely it would n't be long until she was playing for England. Gabriella, much to her parents'dismay, said she did not know what she wanted to do with her lifetime and was spending her Day painting motion picture of the sea in front of their cottage rather than working at the internship Bill had secured for her at Gringotts. The following class, Fred and Scots heather would graduate and it would n't be long after that Thomas More of the Weasley cousins were out of Hogwarts than were in Hogwarts. Angie, Fred 's little sis, was just starting Hogwarts that year.

This was not the yr that the great unwashed began to not be able to show up, though. Each and every phallus of the Weasley and ceramicist menage were going to be there, else face the wrath of Molly Weasley. Albus almost felt sorry for the first of his cousins to birth to work on the day the dinner was scheduled. It certainly would n't be him because he still had more than half his Hogwarts vocation left.

dinner party, of course, was a relative term. People started showing up at the burrow shortly after dejeuner time and did not allow until ten or eleven at night. Albus 's parents chose to record up around two, so that Ginny could aid mollie with the cooking. When they arrived they found that Bill, Fleur, Charlie, Katherine, and their tyke were already there. Fleur and Katherine were helping in the kitchen while visor and Charlie set up tabular array in the backyard. Arthur was tinkering with some sort of Muggle gimmick in the den.

James immediately hailed Ben and the two of them disappeared up to one of the bedroom, no doubtfulness to plan some kind of trick. Heather was in the backyard, already on a Scots heather, with Eddie trailing after her on an old broom that was lagging. Gabriella and Mark were sitting in the den pretending to listen to Arthur 's comment on whatever he was taking apart. Albus, who really had nothing to do until Rose arrived, wandered around the menage and yard with Lily, until his mother hailed him to chop Daucus carota sativa, the Muggle way of course.

Everyone else arrived while he was chopping, except for Victoire who did n't get off study until five. With what must bear been at least five Syrian pound of carrot finally chopped, Albus escaped outside, where most everyone else was congregating.

Harry Hotspur was donned in very fantasy midnight blue robes which struck Albus as very odd since everyone else was wearing fooling robe or Muggle clothes. But Percy was always slightly odd.

"Why 's Uncle Sir Henry Percy dressed up ?"Albus asked Rose, who had just appeared by his side.

"No idea,"Rose said."But he 's quite excited about something and he wo n't tell anyone else what it is."

"He probably came up with some new type of cauldron bottom,"Peach State muttered.

Albus turned around to see Georgia, still in practice Kestral gown, with her branch crossed glaring at her forefather."He 's still not keen on the Quidditch thing, is he ?"Albus asked.

"Nope,"Georgia replied."Nothing he says is going to change my mind, though. I 've even gotten a flat with one of the former histrion. I 'm moving out tomorrow, but he does n't recognize it yet. I do n't get it. He 's more than angry about this than Uncle government note and Aunt Fleur are about Gabriella not interning at Gringotts."

"I do n't see what 's damage with a Quidditch career,"Albus agreed."I mean, so long as you 're skilful. And you are."

"Thanks, Albus. He just does n't get Quidditch, and in two years he 's going to have to conduct with it all again when Omar Bradley graduates."

"You think Bradley 's going to get into Quidditch, too ?"Rose asked.

"No theme, but I know he does n't want to get into the Ministry. He hates politics,"Georgia explained."And Merlin knows Cedric would never work in the Ministry. He causes far too a lot trouble."

"I suppose he can hope Samantha or lindy hop will try for a Ministry career,"Rose joked, pointing to the two identical red-haired girls playing tag with Eddie, who had abandoned his broom.

"He better not,"Georgia muttered."They 're too young to suffer his dreaming forced upon them. They 're not even in Hogwarts yet."

"How is training ?"Albus asked, changing the subject.

Georgia 's centre lit up."Oh it 's marvellous ! I mean, I have n't gotten to play in a real match yet but it 's really something to be capable to play Quidditch every day of your life story and get paid for it. One of the Beaters, the young woman I 'm getting a flatcar with, says I 'm a shoe-in for a permanent steward position once their keeper gets drafted for England. There 's been talk that he will be and I would n't be surprised since he 's the skillful player on the team."

"Oi, GA !"William James shouted as he crossed the chiliad, followed by Ben and Cedric."Want to get a catch going ?"

"Definitely !"Georgia replied."Interested, Al ?"

"Sure,"Albus answered.

Albus set off towards the firm to site his ling, which he had brought, the hale time thinking how lucky he was that Harry would sustain whatever career he chose to get into. He liked his Uncle Percy well enough, but he could n't imagine being told he should n't do what he most wanted to do with his sprightliness.


A/N : Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed this ! I will be responding to all of your lovely critique soon.


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.
Weasley family unit Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is in the Author 's notation at the bottom.


Molly Weasley did n't presume answer dinner party until after the Quidditch catch had been completed because even she did n't get the ability to drag Weasleys away from Quidditch. teddy bear secured a win for his team by practically stealing the snitcher out James 's grasp and then everyone was off their brooms and sitting at the declamatory crowd of board in phonograph recording time. After all, Quidditch was one of the sound things one could do to explicate a big appetite. Albus was certainly quite hungry and in a very good mood as he had been on shimmy 's team.

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

"I 'm telling you,"Percy said to no one in particular as he served himself some carrots,"something 's going to bump. I guarantee it. It 's been too unruffled in the Ministry lately. Personally I thought things would get a bit riled up net year when Bruno Walter Eckerton took over for MacVicar, but I suppose the two of them had similar prospect. Thomas More similar than I expected anyway ..."

Leave it to Percy to try and notice something wrong with the Ministry when all was hunky-dory, Albus thought. He reached over rose to snaffle a steak and kidney pie and served a heaping fate onto his plate.

"What do you conceive, Harry ?"Percy turned to Albus 's dad, who happened to be sitting next to him."Any stirrings in the Auror department that I may not ingest heard about ?"

"matter are jolly equanimity, Sir Henry Percy,"Harry replied.

"Of course of action they are. I would 've heard if they were n't,"Percy decided.

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

"fountainhead, it 's an election year,"Percy pointed out."Things never stay calm during election geezerhood. party declaration come start hebdomad of September and after that things will be disorderly around the Ministry. lots of work to do. Let me tell you, when I run for Minister-"

"Oh, here we go again !"Ron said loudly."When Percy runs for pastor. It 's never gon na go on, Perce. Honestly."

"I would vote for you, Hotspur,"Molly assured him."You would make a wonderful rector. But this dinner is supposed to be about the kids. Henry James ! And Ben and Cedric ! This is your O.W.L. twelvemonth ! You three are going to do so wonderfully but you must calm down a bit and study."

"nanna, really,"James muttered."We 're going to be hearing this from the teachers. Uncle Walker Percy, why do n't you state us more about your running for government minister ?"

"wellspring, as a affair of fact."Percy stood up."I have a rather agitate annunciation to build and I feel I must say my category first, before the relaxation of the Wizarding World."He paused, presumably for dramatic essence."I will be formally announcing on Monday, Sep second that I will be running for Minister for April 's election."

There was absolute silence for about five indorsement before a whole lot of things happened at once. Ron, George, and Charlie burst out laughing. Hermione raised her supercilium as far as they could go. Ginny, Bill, and King Arthur all shouted loudly"Seriously ? ! ”. Molly shook her header slightly and then jumped up from her president, running towards Hotspur and finally enveloping him in a large hug and kissing him squarely on the forehead.

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

"Mum !"Ron groaned."It 's not like your former sons have n't done anything. I 'm an Auror for Merlin 's sake !"

"And you 're a hunky-dory respectable one, Ronald, but I ca n't ever see you being Minister. You just do n't make the ambition Percy does,"Molly said as she patted him on the shoulder.

gold was exchanging hands at the other end of the table. Cedric was grinning madly, so Albus assumed he had won some sort of bet involving when Sir Henry Percy would run for government minister. That bet must bear been in the works for years.

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

"Honestly, Mum, do you think he 's really going to win ?"Ron exclaimed."I mean, do n't get me unseasonable, Hotspur, I 'll vote for you, but what about the rest of the wizarding public ?"

"Percy, do you really think you 're cut out for this ?"Harry asked skeptically.

"Why would n't I be ? I 've been involved with the Ministry for decades !"

"I think what Harry 's trying to say is that you 're all bark and no pungency,"Bill pointed out.

"I am not !"Harry Hotspur shouted."And I would 've expected more bread and butter from my own family."

"We are supporting you,"Molly assured him.

"son,"Arthur warned."Percy 's rightfulness. If he wants to run for diplomatic minister he can without any of us making it difficult for him. You do n't birth to vote for him, but I wo n't have you arguing during dinner. You 'll trouble your mum."

Everyone resumed their seating area but Albus doubted they stopped talking about Percy running for diplomatic minister. They just continued to do so in lower voices. For once, Albus was happy he had chosen a seat near Percy.

"Do you know who else is running ?"Hermione asked.

"Not sure,"Percy replied."Hartwell 's not running again, if that 's what you 're getting at. He 's had decent. But I 've got his support. After all, I am the elder Undersecretary for the drawing and redaction of Laws to the Minister."

So that 's what Percy 's deed of conveyance was, Albus thought. He had no approximation if that was a position that had a lot of power or not, but apparently it was enough to receive documentation for a Minister run.

"Hey, Dad,"Georgia shouted from a piddling ways down the table."I figure this is as good a time as any to tell you that I 'm moving out tomorrow."

Sir Henry Percy choked on whatever he was eating."You 're what ?"

"Moving out. You know, leaving the snuggle. I 've got a flatbed with a friend closer to the pitching. It 'll be more convenient, for work."

"Work,"Percy muttered."If Quidditch can be considered work."

"tone, I know how these elections work. You 're going to want to make yourself appear like a mob man, so you 're not going to desire to consider me your crazy daughter who only plays Quidditch and has no job. So you 'd improve bug out intellection of me as your daughter who 's the newest stockpile custodian for the Kenmare Kestrals. It 'll sound better to the press."

Percy stared at her with his mouth agape. He shook his caput slightly and resumed eating, without another news to Empire State of the South. Georgia looked smug, so Albus assumed she had won that petty argument.

Albus turned to rose wine and grinned. Sakartvelo certainly knew how to fix Percy 's track for minister work to her advantage.

"Rose, have you heard from Linda yet ?"Albus asked, deciding not to connect the rest of his family in political conversation.

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

"If anything 's changed Dad 's being really quiet about it,"Albus answered.

"It 's so amiss, though, that he can completely get away with what he did,"Rose muttered."It 's like I could go to Jacques Anatole Francois Thibault, rob a bank, get back to England, and I 'd get away with it."

"You 're robbing a bank ?"James shouted.

"Of course not,"rose wine replied."It 's none of your business."

Albus and Rose did n't risk talking about Lubar for the sleep of the evening. Sure, the rest of their family knew about what had happened but neither of them wanted to discourse their theory with any of them.

The rest of the even was rather out of fictitious character for usual Weasley phratry dinner. All the previous years'dinner party had consisted of public lecture of Hogwarts and the grownup exclaiming how big everyone had gotten and how everyone was growing up. Usually whomever was starting Hogwarts for the first gear time would get a comely bit of attention, but this year Angie, who was starting, seemed to be forgotten. Instead all of the attending was focused on Sir Henry Percy. The grownup were talking political science and Albus 's aged cousin were placing stake on whether he 'd win or not.

Stanley was the first to get out as he had to go back to Roumania the following aurora. Charlie and Katherine had finished their twelvemonth in Roumania and had returned to England permanently the previous calendar month. Victoire and Teddy left shortly after that since they both had to act the following day.

Hotspur was still discussing campaign tactics with Corrine, who was smiling and nodding the way Albus did when his cousins were smaller and he had to pretend he was interested in what they were saying, when Albus 's parents decided it was sentence to allow for. For the showtime time in his life, he was actually happy to pull up stakes and get back to Grimmauld Place. The before school dinner was supposed to be about everyone who was at Hogwarts, a time to have fun all together before schooltime started, and this prison term it had n't been that. It had been about Percy.
******


By some stroke of luck or miracle that had never descended upon the Potters before, William James had packed his torso the night before they left for school. Albus was sure that some sort of apocalypse was going to make it soon because Percy running for minister and the ceramicist arriving early for the Hogwarts express mail were two upshot that nobody ever thought would happen. Albus did n't query it, though. Instead he just used the opportunity to his advantage.

Kaden, who had met Albus at chopine 9 ¾ prior to going through the barrier, was not early, so the Potters went through without him. Rose and her menage were already there of row, so Albus said a quick goodbye to his parents before getting on the train to find Rose. With any fate his friends would n't be there yet and he could peach to Rose alone. Usually there was goose egg he would n't talk to his friends about, but the unknown feeling he had had about his family was something he only wanted to talk to Rose about.

rosiness was alone in a compartment about halfway down the train, reading one of her new textbook. It was Arithmancy and Albus did n't have the slightest idea what any of the symbols in it meant. He chose the hind end next to her and waited for her to be done reading whatever it was she was deciphering.

"I 'm witnessing a miracle, apparently,"rosiness said after setting her book down.

"William James packed conclusion night,"Albus answered.

"Again, I 'm witnessing a miracle."She laughed."Your mum is lucky if James II packs earlier than five moment before you leave."

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

"Changing ? Like what 's happening with Willinson and Lubar and their lot ? Yeah, I think so. It 's been over three years, Al, and they still have n't gotten all of them in Azkaban at the same time. I know they 're really stupid when it comes to dueling but I think they 're smarter than anyone 's giving them citation for. Things are going to alter, Al. The world 's getting scarier,"Rose said quietly.

Albus swallowed firmly. That was in the back of his mind of course of study, but he had never voiced it before. Nor was it what he had set out to talk to Rose about.

"I guess,"Albus replied."But I was n't really getting at that. I was thinking about our family."

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

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

"There 's still a lot of us here,"Rose interrupted."And Eddie and the twins have n't even started yet. Plus it 's not like we even talked about Teddy, Victoire, Stanley, and Georgia. We talked about Percy for Merlin 's sake !"

"What do you remember will chance if he wins ?"Albus asked.

"I do n't fuck. I do n't think things will modify political-wise but I think it 's going to be really weird for Sakartvelo and Bradley and Cedric. Even the Twin will probably be effected. I mean, having your dad be the most authoritative someone in the wizarding world has got to be stressful."

"William Tell me about it,"Albus muttered."Can you imagine if my dad ran for diplomatic minister ?"

"Harry Hotspur would n't endure a chance."

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

"Things never stay the same, Al,"Rose said.

"What 's not staying the same ?"lavatory asked as he entered the compartment, followed by Kaden."I 'm hoping you 're talking about my foretelling chump, Rose, because my parents nearly murdered me this past summertime when they saw it."

"I think we 'll just have to administer with your execution, privy, because that German mark is not getting any gamy,"rose wine replied.

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

"Nothing,"Rose said quickly.

"I 'll enjoin you once lusterlessness and Amanda get here,"Albus said, figuring he 'd tell them about Harry Hotspur running for Minister.

"This is going to be the safe year ever !"Kaden said excitedly as he pulled a piece of parchment out of his bag."Look, it 's my Hogsmeade permit pillowcase !"

"Excellent,"toilet replied."Now I do n't get to buy your dungbombs for you."

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

"Just for the Slytherin common room,"John assured him."Our goal is to figure out how to get a few in there."

"Not going to bring,"Amanda said as she entered and sat down on the other English of Rose."You ca n't get into somebody else 's common room unnoticed."

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

"Not if it 's going to reek like dungbomb after,"Albus said.

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

Kaden shrugged."All right hand, everyone 's here. Tell us what you and arise were talking about before any of us got here."

"Fine."Albus took a inscrutable breath."wellspring, my Uncle Percy 's running play for Minister."

"Seriously ?"John replied.

"cool !"Kaden exclaimed.

"Why ?"Matt asked.

"Is n't he the one who 's been talking about doing that for years ?"Amanda asked.

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

"Why does n't your dad run ?"Kaden asked.

Albus and Rose both burst out laughing."Because that 's the live on thing he 'd ever want to do. He would n't require anymore world power than he 's already got. Whereas Hotspur, all of my uncles have always said is sort of major power hungry,"Albus replied.

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

"Have n't a hint,"Albus said."They 're supposed to be announcing the candidates on the second."

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

"It 's our kinsperson,"rosebush said quietly."Uncle Percy is so focused on the election and it has n't even really started yet. Georgia 's got it all figured out. Harry Hotspur 's going to pretend he 's completely happy with her Quidditch playing just to make himself seem like a phratry man, which he 's really not. He 's always been focused on work."

"That 's stupid person,"can said."Georgia 's not going to care that."

"She 's the one who brought it up,"Rose pointed out.

"He 's justly, you know,"Amanda said.

"What do you signify, he 's veracious ?"Albus stared at her. She had a knowing smile splayed across her face.

"You, Rose, and lusterlessness are n't the only one of us who have family in politics,"Amanda said.

"But you 're a Muggle,"bathroom replied.

"I never said the Ministry of illusion, John. I meant the Muggle Ministry. My uncle 's the peak minister."

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

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

"So if Sir Henry Percy win ...,"Albus began, his voice trailing off.

"He 'll meet my Uncle Mike,"Amanda finished."But as I was saying, Georgia does bear it all figured out. If parole gets out that Sir Henry Percy and her rowed about her Quidditch playing, it 's going to come off haywire in the pressure and lose him vote. So, he 'll stay fresh it to himself and will be in the front row of every single one of her matches, pretending to be a huge Kenmare Kestrals fan."

"Wow, that seems so wrong,"Rose muttered.

"It 's political science from the other English. The public wants multitude in power to let a sure image."

"Still, it 's like lying,"rose wine went on."Just another intellect I am not getting into politics."

"My cousin Leanne went a niggling crazy at university her first base year, our first twelvemonth at Hogwarts, and the Ministry hushed it all up. She was out partying and the paparazzi got a pic of her and put it on the cover of some tabloid, but that was the lonesome one. I know she partied more, but it was all hushed up."

"But it 's not like Sakartvelo 's partying. She 's got Quidditch skill and is using them to make an honest bread and butter,"Rose pointed out.

"I 'm not saying that 's bad. I 'm just saying your uncle wo n't want the world to know he 's not well-chosen with her career choice so he 's going to make himself appear like a consecrate father."

"See, everything 's changing."Albus sighed."Sometimes I just wish I had a convention family."

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

"It 's rightful, Albus,"Matt said."Amanda 's completely correctly. It 's the whole reasonableness why my dad got sacked. The public did n't like that I was a loup-garou, which is contribution of why the Ministry hushed it up. When it got out, nobody wanted him in politics anymore."

Albus nodded, but did n't say anything. He never really thought about that before, but flatness was right. Amanda was, too, but he never really put two and two together before Matt mentioned that. And now the same thing was happening with his class. Walker Percy was going to pretend and while that did n't really directly force him, how long would it take before the public did n't like the image he and the eternal sleep of his cousins were presenting ?


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

Here 's the Weasley-Potter crime syndicate Tree !

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

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

Percy-Corrine ( Muggle )
Georgia- 18
Bradley- 6th yr
Cedric- 5th class
Samantha & Lindy ( twins ) - 9

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

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

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

*All in Gryffindor*