Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


Albus spent virtually of the days preceding Yuletide at pink wine 's house. St. James was determined to use all of his bare time for Quidditch exercise, and he had to go to Rose 's house for that. Albus usually went with him and he and Victor-Marie Hugo would help Henry James practice session while Rose read.

Harry had to practically ramify James from his broom by conjuring trick on Christmastime Eve so they could go to Godric 's hollow. St. James the Apostle wanted to stay at pink wine 's house and keep practicing, but Harry refused to let him. The tripper was quiet since James was rather sullen the entire time.

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

"That 's expert,"Albus replied.

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

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

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

Albus nodded as Lily began to line in great point what kind of cat she would transform into.

Everyone else was already at the tunnel and Albus felt an immediate warmth come over him as he stepped inside. It had aught to do with the fact that it was so common cold and snowy outside, either. There was something so comforting about being at the Burrow surrounded by all his family line. He was able-bodied to forget all the issues with the Quidditch tournament and prof Killigan. All he could call up about was how ravenous he was and how safe some of his grandma 's cooking would be right about then.

Rose sat down next to Albus as he tucked into a large bowl of onion plant soup with a side of homemade bread.

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

"To tame Sir Thomas More dragon ?"Albus asked. His uncle and auntie had n't done that since Francis Edgar Stanley started Hogwarts, but they often talked about how they wanted to go back.

"Yeah,"Rose nodded,"They might detain even after the summer 's over, but Heather and Mark will come back to go to Hogwarts."

"They get to go, too ?"

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

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

Stanley had been working at the Magical menagerie since he finished Hogwarts, but knew he did n't desire to do that his unhurt life-time. He just did n't know what he did want to do.

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

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

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

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

"Definitely,"Albus grinned.

"I would n't numerate on it, slip,"molly said as she handed Albus another hunk of lucre,"We 're supposed to get the snowstorm of the decade tomorrow. The Muggle electricity is already out in town."

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

"You 'll do no such matter !"Molly shouted,"It 's come near impossible to Appparate during such a storm. Not to observe the fact that it 's Xmas and you should be here."

"We do n't need electrical energy to play Quidditch !"chemise exclaimed,"It 'll be complete training conditions ! If you can enamor a stool pigeon in the middle of a blizzard, you can beguile one in any weather. It 's not like Kendrick ever calls off Quidditch because of snow."

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

Albus finished his soup and he and mount went into the den, where they were greeted by a loud chorus of 'Odo the Hero of Alexandria', sung by George, Alicia, Charlie, and Ron. flier and Fleur were laughing while Hermione shook her psyche. Albus had a feeling the solitary reason why Fleur approved was because the telling was drowning out Celestina Warbeck.

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

Albus stifled a jest. His Uncle Percy had been talking about running for minister for the retiring ten eld, but still had n't done it. Most of his uncles and auntie got disgorge of hearing him blab about what he would and would not shift.

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

"Hi Victoire,"Albus made his way over to her,"How is Healer preparation ?"

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

"You have until September,"Albus shrugged. It seemed like a long fourth dimension to him.

"I know,"Victoire replied,"But Amy 's known where she wants to complete education since we were in fourth year."

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

"Thanks, Teddy,"Victoire smiled,"I 'm thinking either the Maternity hospital ward or tour Damage."

"There 's a meddlesome ward,"shift grinned,"Spell scathe. You 'll get all the funny injuries there."

"That 's not a salutary cause to pick a differentiation,"Victoire groaned.

"trade good a reasonableness as any,"Teddy shrugged.

The time grew later and after Albus played numerous rounds of Exploding Snap with his cousins, his grandmother announced that it was time for bed. Everyone argued, but there was really no point. Everyone, including the other adults, knew that arguing with Molly Weasley was useless.

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

The wind was so potent that Albus could experience it through the crack in the windowpane. Every once in a while, the house would creak and shake. Albus sighed and put his pillow over his ears to try and overwhelm out the howling.

Albus did n't deal to vagabond off to kip until after Cedric got out of bed, swore loudly, and disregarded the no magic outside of schoolhouse rule to put a silencing charm on the room.

******

Albus was awoken by his annual Christmas wake-up call, Lily. She breezed through the door shouting about how they all needed to wake up and open their present tense.

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

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

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

"We could establish the world 's great snow wizard later,"Ben suggested.

"We could build an entire nose candy thaumaturgist army,"Albus said.

"present tense first,"James said as he located his pile of presents.

Albus descended upon his own pile of present tense and began opening them. There were the usual afters and Weasleys'intersection from his aunty and uncles. Another Weasley perspirer, this one scarlet and gold striped. He pulled it on over his pajamas and opened the quietus of the presents from his aunts and uncles. His aunt Hermione had gotten him a few Holy Writ he 'd probably never translate, including one about the history of house elves at Hogwarts.

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

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

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

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

Albus opened the box and saw two tag. Two ticket for the Quidditch earthly concern Cup that was taking position this summer !

"Whoa !"Albus shouted,"world Cup slate !"

"I did n't even know they were on sale this former !"Saint James said.

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

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

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

Albus suddenly realized he had the same problem. Two slate. Five Quaker he would want to take. Who was he going to choose ? Not Rose. They may consume been friends since they were child, but she just did n't have a passion for Quidditch. Neither did Kaden. He was another to hybridise off the list. John and flatness were the Quidditch fan. He 'd have to prefer between them. Amanda liked Quidditch well enough, but she did n't trace a team or anything.

"Those are limited edition tickets,"Ben said,"They do n't know who 's playing yet, so they do n't deal very many tickets ahead of time."

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

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

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

"This is going to be smart as a whip,"Lily said and then ran out of the room.

Albus 's parents were already in the kitchen by the prison term Albus went downstairs. They were sitting at the board eating breakfast. Albus gave them each a Brobdingnagian hug and then sat down.

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

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

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

rosebush came downstairs a little while later and was impressed with the tickets. She had no desire to go to the Cup and had no suggestions on how Albus was going to choose between St. John the Apostle and Matt.

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

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

"Maybe after lunch, then,"Teddy shrugged.

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

There was a knock on the door that could only just be heard over the ululation wind. Molly glanced at King Arthur, who shrugged and got up to see who it was. Albus followed, very singular to see who would chat on Christmastide morning in the middle of a huge blizzard.

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

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

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

"Good, but if you feel it 's too sapless, just let me know and I 'll go get some of my Jutispy plant. The leaves do wonders on old buildings. defecate them like new. I just put a bunch into my place and it 's a sound thing, too. Of course, they tend to attract Nargles ..."Xenophilius 's voice trailed off.

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

"Yes, yes,"he replied,"Luna and Rollo are with his family this Christmas."

"Then you must quell here a while. mollie 's cooked far too much food, like usual,"Arthur lead Xeno into the kitchen.

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

Molly was more than happy to provide Xenophilius with a large platter of breakfast and he settled down to hash out the storm with the adults.

Albus spent most of the cockcrow acting Exploding picnic, sorcerer 's cheat, and Gobstones with his cousin. They tried to roleplay hide and go seek, but the house was too crowded to work it properly.

shimmy and Henry James kept looking out the window, will it to stop snowing. Both of them were just itching to go play Quidditch. Albus would have gladly gone and played if it would contain snowing so much. He was dedicated to the plot, but not enough to recreate in this storm.

lunch period came and the snowfall was still falling. George IV went outside to measure out it and came back with the news that it was three and a half feet.

Teddy went upstairs after tiffin and came back decked out in three jumpers, a thick cloak, and a pair of boots. Under one arm was his ling and under the other was a box of Quidditch lump. James IV was mighty behind him, dressed the same.

"Theodore Remus lupin !"mollie shouted,"I suppose I ca n't hold back you from going out there and catching death of a cold, but I will not let you get behind James with you !"

"He 's not dragging me, Grandma,"St. James the Apostle rolled his oculus,"I want to go !"

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

"fine,"molly replied and went back into the kitchen.

"Excellent,"Teddy grinned,"Anyone care to connect us ?"

Sakartvelo, Fred, and ling suited up in warm clothes and joined slip and James. Albus decided against it. Quidditch was fun, but he did n't require to freeze out when he could stay inside and be warm.

The Christmas Quidditch lasted a one-half an hr. teddy, King James, Georgia, Scots heather, and Fred all stumbled back into the house shivering with their faces red and covered in Baron Snow of Leicester and ice. molly immediately descended upon them with sucker of hot burnt umber and dry clothes.

"Told you, Molly,"Harry grinned.

"C-ca n't find the Sn-Snitch,"Teddy muttered.

Harry laughed."That does n't surprise me. You 'll find it when the storm calms down. You put the appealingness on it to detain in the K, right ?"

"Y-yeah,"Teddy replied.

Xmas dinner came and went in its usual topsy-turvydom. Xenophilius stayed for it and James snuck sneezing powder into his soup, which he found incredibly funny. Molly was not as impressed and gave Jesse James quite the scolding. How she found out it was St. James was beyond Albus.

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

******

cypher left the Burrow until two days after Christmas. That was when the nose candy finally let up. It topped out at around four and a half ft, which was a new record for Albus 's life. The burrow 's yard had been decorated by dozens of Baron Snow of Leicester witches and sorcerer, along with hippogriffs, bird of night, and a variety of other magical creatures.

When Albus found out what his household was doing after they left the Burrow, he wished the snow would hold kept coming. They were going shopping for dress robes for the New Year 's party.

"Why ca n't I just wear my old wearing apparel robe ?"James I whined as they walked down Diagon Alley towards ma'am Malkin's.

"Because they 're five in too short,"Ginny replied,"They 're even too small-scale for Al."

"Yeah, Hugo 's the lucky one,"King James muttered. Victor Hugo was wearing James I 's old dress robes to the company and therefore did not ingest to go shopping.

"momma, I want purple robe,"Lily announced.

"If they have any,"Ginny replied.

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

rose wine and Lily made a beeline for the fille garb robes as soon as they walked in the door. Albus stood awkwardly succeeding to James while their female parent found various gown for them.

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

"Very Slytherin,"King James snickered.

"Shut it, James,"Albus muttered.

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

Albus reluctantly tried on the Slytherin colored robe and then left the dressing room for his female parent to see.

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

James River wound up with a navy dispirited pair of gown, which Albus would deliver preferred. Lily found her purple robes and rose wine got a sky blue yoke.

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

"No I wo n't. I do n't own putting surface centre,"Epistle of James grinned.

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

"I do n't care. They 'd be Gryffindor colored,"King James laughed.


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


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


The company was at the government minister 's mansion, the house where all the government minister of Magic had lived. Albus had been there a few metre before, but not in a brace years. Usually all the political party the pastor held were while Albus was at Hogwarts.

A few hr before the company, Ginny made Albus, James, and Lily all take rain shower and ransack their fuzz properly. She spent a good fifteen minutes trying to get James 's hairsbreadth to lie flat and another fifteen minutes putting Lily 's up in some sort of elaborated bun type matter. Albus was very happy his own tomentum was far too curtly for that sort of thing.

Before they left, Albus 's parents sat him, Jesse James, and Lily down on the couch and proceeded to tell them the rules for the evening.

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

"We 're trusting you to prevent yourselves occupied during this. I 'm going to have to commix with everyone and we wo n't be capable to watch you every indorse,"Harry added,"You 're all at Hogwarts now. You 're old enough to not be glued to us for the evening."

"Do n't worry,"William James said,"I know when mischief is n't appropriate."

"Let 's Leslie Townes Hope so,"Ginny sighed.

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

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

A long and winding sidewalk, framed with crotch hair and lights on either side, lead up to the straw man door. Albus 's parents started walking up and Albus followed.

The manse seemed to get swelled as they got closer. It was painted brown with a disgraceful cap and reminded Albus of a castling. It was n't nearly as big as Hogwarts, of track, but it was still huge.

Harry rang the bell shape when they arrived at the door and it was answered by the diplomatic minister himself."Harry !"he shouted,"Come in !"

Minister Langston Hartwell was the third minister since the fall of overlord Voldemort. He was a marvellous, rotund man with very little hair left on his brain. He did sport a rather large mustache, which caused Albus to conceive of him as a much taller variant of Professor Slughorn.

Hartwell was one of those very school wizards who spoke using very vauntingly language that Albus could n't really interpret. He was long-winded and about of his speeches could be condensed down into a few sentences, according to Harry, that is. He was a very nice man, though.

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

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

The way was decorated with silver and black and was already filling up with people. Albus spotted pink wine and lustrelessness in the dorsum of the elbow room and left his family in the doorway to go see them.

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

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

Albus rolled his eyes."Shut it."

"What do you think, lusterlessness ?"rosebush turned to Matt,"His mum says they equal his eyes, but James says they 're Slytherin robes."

"Slytherin,"matte said immediately.

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

"I do n't worry,"lusterlessness shrugged,"So, did you just get here ?"

"Yeah,"Albus replied.

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

"Bet that 's fun,"Albus laughed,"Do you know nearly of these citizenry ?"

"Some,"lustrelessness said,"That 's the bloke Dad 's taking over for,"he gestured to a very magnanimous wizard,"McVicar."

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

"Dad never thought he would either,"mat laughed,"Then we 've got your Uncle Walker Percy, I think you probably know him. Those the great unwashed are a few of Dad 's colleagues,"Matt gestured to a few more Wiccan and mavin,"Then there 's a clump of the great unwashed from other departments, but I do n't remember any of their names."

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

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

"Like what ?"Albus asked.

"Charming alcohol out of the wine and Champagne-Ardenne. It 'll still taste exactly the Sami,"Matt grinned mischievously,"By the time midnight coil around, everyone will be wondering why they 're not drunk. It 'll be funny."

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

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

"I have to admit, that 's really creative,"pink wine giggled,"What else ?"

"Mostly stuff with the food. Charm the chocolate to try like vanilla, charm the portion utensils to move every time you go to pluck them up, that kind of stuff,"Matt explained.

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

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

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

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

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

"What exactly happens when you use this appeal ?"pink wine asked.

"Oh, it 's bang-up,"Amy grinned,"first, only a yoke citizenry notice and they make a very quiet cite to another person and then that individual agrees that there 's something incorrect with the deglutition. Then it just snowballs from there until it 's all they 're talking about. Then someone will test the drinks, divulge the alcohol 's been charmed away, exchange it, and then everyone will cheer. But some of them will act drunk because they think there 's inebriant in the drinks."

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

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

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

"You never know,"flatness shrugged.

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

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

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

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

"I would n't bet against that,"Albus said,"And Samantha and lindy hop will mouse out of the room the adjacent time aunt Corrine looks away."

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

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

"Nope,"Albus shook his straits,"None of my other aunt and uncles work for the Ministry."

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

Albus and Rose agreed. Amy left to go talking to someone else and the three supporter walked over to the buffet. There was already a modest queue in front of it.

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

The queue moved quickly and soon Albus was in strawman. He grabbed a plate and piled it high with just about everything. There was always the best intellectual nourishment at this sort of political party.

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

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

More and more mass arrived as Albus ate his dinner. He recognized a few of them, but did n't remember any figure. He also noticed that cypher was acting strangely due to Amy 's appealingness. They were all acting perfectly normal for adults who had had a few drinks.

Albus, lusterlessness, and Rose wandered around the elbow room once they finished their food. A few adult stopped to exclaim how big they 'd bugger off and to inquire what year they were at Hogwarts. Lily joined them because she did n't want to be associated with James and Cedric 's mischief.

"hello, everyone !"minister of religion Hartwell shouted from the podium at the forepart of the room.

Everyone quieted down and turned to determine him. Albus, rose, and Matt were somewhat last to the podium.

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

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

"Yes, yes, well, this political party is in pureness of none early than Bruno Walter Eckerton, whom I have appointed to the position of Head of the department of regulating and Control of Magical tool. There is no one else whom I would intrust with such a job ...."

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

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

"Thank you, rector,"McVicar began,"That was quite an interest speech. I, too, would like to congratulate Walter Eckerton on his promotion.

"I am sure as shooting at least half of you were quite surprise to learn that I was retiring. I myself was surprised. In fact, I probably would n't consume done it if it were n't for the fact that my married woman has been begging me to for the by ten years.

"However, the main reason for my lack of an earlier retirement was because there was not a I person employed in the Ministry whom I would have trusted with this job. Nobody had the potentiality to have a bun in the oven out this position in the way I would like. Like they always say, if you want something done right, do it yourself. That was my motto up until five years ago, that is.

"A small over five eld ago, a man came into the Ministry looking for a job in the department of the Regulation and mastery of Magical Creatures. He applied for a job in loup-garou Support Services, a stead that had been open up for well over a year. I was cook to charter anyone who walked through the doorway at that point, but I had no mind what was to come when I hired Walter Eckerton.

"Some of you may know that Bruno Walter has experience in this area. He was the caput of the Department of regularization and Control of Magical Creatures in Commonwealth of Australia for three years before leaving the position in order to affect to England.

"Bruno Walter revolutionized Werewolf supporting Services as soon as he started. The estimate he had were ones that even I had n't thought of. In five short yr, he has bettered life history for those plagued with lycanthropy more than anyone else in the department have in their entire careers.

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

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

Everyone clapped as McVicar stepped away and matt 's dad took the podium."That was quite the speech,"Albus muttered to Matt.

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

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

"I have to begin by saying how unexpected this was. I really had no intentions of becoming the head of the entire section again, no matter which commonwealth I was living in. wolfman Support Services has been such a bully property to work these past few years. It truly is my passion.

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

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

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

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

"They 're too wassail to suppose much on it,"Rose smirked.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"What did you do ?"Albus groaned.

"Cedric and I added some special intoxicant to that wine-coloured,"James whispered.

Albus, rosiness, matte, and Amy burst out laughing. Albus could not believe it. All of their caper had backfired. The wine-colored was now perfectly normal.

"What 's so funny ?"Cedric asked.

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

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

"So much for that prank,"James IV groaned.

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

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

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

"Want to explore the diplomatic minister 's Mansion ?"lusterlessness suggested.

"Is that allowed ?"rose wine asked skeptically.

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

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

It was much quieter in the respite of the planetary house. They started wandering through any rooms that had open doors.

"This stead is so flaming partiality,"Albus said.

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

"Their household is this big ?"rose asked.

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

The three champion wound up in a very prominent living way filled with antiquate furniture. There was an oriental person carpet on the soil and oak tables and bookshelves around the margin. Atop the tables were take to vases of flower and crystal sculptures.

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

"Cinda 's got one of these,"Matt pointed to a vitreous silica swan.

"Do n't bear upon it !"Rose hissed.

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

"Look at all these books,"Albus gazed up at one of the bookcases,"brothel keeper Pince would sleep together to get her hired man on these."

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

"Mum would like them,"Rose said

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

"Probably older than Aberforth Dumbledore,"Albus replied.

"Hey, Albus, flatness, occur here,"rosiness said as she looked out the window.

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

"What is it ?"Albus asked.

"looking, there's-"

Matt leaned farther over the board and knocked one of the watch crystal sculptures off. Rose gasped and managed to overhear it before it crashed onto the floor.

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

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

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

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

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

"Let 's go find out who it is,"Albus said. He did n't let a clue as to who it was, but he wanted to observe out. There was no reason for somebody to be sneaking around the Minister 's manse at this sentence of night.

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

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

"That 's a good point,"matt replied,"Why would someone sneak around a house that 's to the full of Ministry officials, especially when the two top Aurors are inside ?"

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

Rose reluctantly agreed and followed Albus and mat, muttering under her breath. They found the nearest door and went out into the cold Night, drawing their wands as they did so.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Albus continued creeping around the house, with his wand out in front of him. His heart was beating fast and his helping hand were sweaty despite the cold. He did n't want to stop, though. Figuring out who this blighter was was exciting and nerve wracking at the same time.

"Do n't impress !"someone shouted and all of a sudden there was a undimmed Inner Light in Albus 's heart. Wand light.

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

"Who are you ?"the mortal shouted.

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

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

Albus thought for a second and the voice did sound a lot like Balladanis. But why would he be sneaking around the parson 's residence ?

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

"Er, yes,"Albus replied.

The wand light lowered and Albus heard the man stone's throw through the C. P. Snow towards him. Albus saw that he was indeed professor Balladanis. He breathed a sigh of relief as Rose let go of his arm.

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

"Y-yes, sir,"mat replied.

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

"Told you,"blush wine whispered to Albus.

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

"And you 're prosperous it was me,"Balladanis barked,"The three of you could get been dead if that person had been a dismal thaumaturgist. Now, I 'm taking all three of you back inside."

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

"If you must sleep with, the minister asked me to break the grounds in order of magnitude to make sure nonentity was lurking around,"Balladanis replied.

That did nothing but spark Albus 's curio even more. He knew comfortably than to press further, though. Balladanis was not one to excuse his motives.


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


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


It was nearing midnight when Albus, matte, and rose re-entered the construction, escorted by Professor Balladanis. Albus had been hoping the prof would just see them to the room access and then continue his search of the perimeter, but instead he went back to the dance palace with them and marched them right up to Harry.

"Potter,"Balladanis interrupted the conversation Harry had been having with some wiz Albus did n't know,"I found your son, your niece, and their ally wandering around outside."

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

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

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

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

"caution to excuse ?"Harry raised an eyebrow.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"10 !"someone shouted.

Albus looked at the cheeseparing clock and saw that it was almost midnight. Everyone else joined in the countdown, holding their glasses of Champagne in the air. Amy joined Albus, rose, and matte.

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

The bunch began to thin out a little while later. Most of the citizenry Albus did n't know left, along with his Uncle Percy, auntie Corrine, and his cousins. Albus 's parents did n't look like they were in any hurry to give, so he got a dental plate of the leftover desserts and at them with his friends.

Rose 's family and Amy left, and then it was just the potter, lustrelessness, his parents, the Minister, and his wife left. All the grownup were talking, Henry James was teasing Lily about something, and Albus and Matt were finishing off the last of the desserts.

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

"Only if Linda 's unhinged the day of one of the match,"Albus sighed.

"Maybe that 'll occur,"matte said,"You never know."

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

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

"Yeah, see you on the wagon train,"lustrelessness said.

Albus waved good-bye and then joined his mum, dad, James, and Lily. They all said congratulations to matt 's dad and then left the Minister 's Mansion. Albus peered into the bushes as he left, but there was no sign of Professor Balladanis.

******

The oddment of the Christmas holiday went by very slow for Albus. He did all his homework, which was quite boring, and there was nothing to do after that. Rose was visiting her other grandparents and Henry James was at Nathan 's home. Even Kaden was busy visiting his grandparents ( Vernon and Petunia ). He sent Albus a letter complaining about it, since the sojourn was also with Aunt oleo. Albus was very grateful that he did n't have to go. Neither of his parents had mentioned anything about visiting with Vernon and genus Petunia again.

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

"aunty Marge has got to be the most atrocious aunt in the entire world,"Kaden fumed,"My dad told her about magic a few months ago and she 's been awful ever since. I mean, she was always kind of horrible, but now she 's worse. She just hates magic so much. She 's defective than my grandparents."

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

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

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

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

"I saw soul sneaking around international and Albus insisted we go inquire,"blush wine said,"Turns out it was Balladanis and the Minister had apparently asked him to ascertain the primer coat for trouble."

"Did he find out you ?"John asked.

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

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

"Well, we could 've,"rose wine muttered.

"Weird though,"John the Evangelist said,"Why would the Minister think mortal would be hiding around his theatre ?"

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

"Again, that 's why it 's Wyrd,"John replied,"He does have guards."

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

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

"Again, Wyrd,"whoremonger said.

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

"That settles it,"John announced,"Albus, you 've got to encounter out what he did before he started teaching defence force ?"

"Why me ?"Albus asked.

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

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

"You never know,"can said.

******

"Quiet, quiet !"Balladanis shouted the followers Tues, their first of all day of defense mechanism after the holiday.

Albus immediately stopped talking to Matt and bathroom and turned to face up Balladanis. He was really hoping that the professor would say nothing about what happened at the party and so far Balladanis was showing no reminiscence of it.

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

"First, I 'll say that there is no clip to not be thinking about justificatory magic, as the dark nontextual matter do not call for breakage for lilliputian matter such as holidays.

"s, in this terminal figure we will start to explore animal far more grave than hinkypunks and kappas. In this term we shall learn about those terrifying creatures such as acromantulas, basilisks, loup-garou, dragons, and vampires."

Albus could n't help but glint at Linda when Balladanis said vampires. Balladanis had glanced at her as well, and he also glanced at Matt when he said lycanthrope. Of course, he had looked at Albus when he said basilisks, so it did n't necessarily mean anything, but Albus had a flavor it did.

"As the headmaster would determine it highly inappropriate for a dragon to manifest itself in this classroom, we shall not be using the anamatek as often this term,"Balladanis continued,"But we will be using it a few times. You will observe that there are more lectures in this condition, much to my dislike. There is nothing I would like just than to instruct you about acromantulas and loup-garou with practical object lesson, but there are both laws and school rules that prevent such lessons."

Albus and mat glanced at each other. It was official. professor Balladanis was insane. What kind of teacher would want to instruct about dragons with experience tartar ? Well, Hagrid would, but he was n't the Lapplander as Balladanis.

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

The rest of the day went by relatively quickly. Albus actually did not have Quiditch recitation that night, so everyone went to the vulture 's Den after dinner.

"Divination is such a joke,"privy said as he tossed his bag onto the floor and collapsed onto a redact,"We started crystal musket ball gazing today. All I saw was a payload of fog."

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

"I did n't opine it would be this bad,"bathroom groaned,"There is no way anyone could see anything in a crystallization ball."

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

"Trelawney could make defence reaction bad,"Albus replied.

"Balladanis told us that he wished he could learn us about dark animal using the anamatek,"rosebush said,"Seriously, he wanted a basilisk to appear in the eye of the classroom."

"That would be pillock,"Kaden said as he unwrapped a coffee toad frog,"Those can pour down you with their eyes."

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

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

"Probably not,"flatness answered,"It would just be a savage. I think it would just be a brute any former time of the calendar month, too, because there 's no way it could rick mortal into a werewolf by biting them."

"That 's good,"Albus said,"Because he did say that he 'd use the anamatek a few times this term. Wonder if he 'll consume it flex into a vampire."

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

"If you think of it that way, there 's no point to have it plow into a false lycanthrope either,"rose wine pointed out.

"Good point, I guess,"John muttered.

******

The rest of the workweek went by quickly. Albus had Quidditch pattern Th eventide, and Wood informed the whole squad that they 'd gotten rusty over the holiday. He also told them that the side by side match was in two weeks and they 'd be playing New York. If they won, they 'd be in second berth.

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

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

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

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

"Mr. Malfoy,"Balladanis said as Malfoy walked into the elbow room,"Now we may set out. I have decided that your understanding of the Protego charm is acceptable so we are going to move on to something else.

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

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

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

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

"Another good grounds, but not the one I was thinking of,"Balladanis began to take the air slowly around the room,"wizard who are expecting to induce to duel other wizards often keep multiple wands on their mortal. There are spells that can be performed on these wand to observe them attached to your gown or your genuine body, spells that Expelliarmus wo n't master easily. However, these spells require perpetual engrossment.

"If a wizard is hit with the magic spell I am about to teach you, they will lose the engrossment necessary to keep their extra wands affixed. Then, you can use Expelliarmus to get the special wands."

"Can you teach us that good luck charm to proceed additional verge in our robes ?"Malfoy asked.

"Perhaps towards the end of the year. It takes immense concentration and charming free energy to simultaneously do that spell while dueling soul,"Balladanis explained,"For now, you will learn the charm to disarm and disorientate a person at the same time.

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

Albus nodded, wishing he had been chosen to perform the new charm first, and faced Malfoy. He held his wand up and muttered 'Protego'under his breather. He focused all of his concentration on holding the shield up.

"Now, Mr. Malfoy,"Balladanis muttered.

"Confundo-Expelliarmus !"Malfoy shouted.

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

"dungeon going,"Balladanis said to Malfoy.

"Confundo-Expelliarmus !"Malfoy shouted again.

The spell hit Albus 's buckler a little harder this time. Albus could feel beading of sweat forming on his brow.

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

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

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

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

"No, sir,"Albus shook his head.

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

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

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

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

Much to Albus 's delectation, he managed to unwrap the shield on the one-fourth try. One less try than Malfoy had needed for Albus.

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

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

"That was eldritch,"Malfoy muttered.

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

Balladanis kept them at it for the better theatrical role of an 60 minutes, past when Albus would have liked to lay off. It was exhausting to be hit with that magic spell time after fourth dimension while trying to hold up a shield good luck charm. Malfoy did n't seem to be faring much considerably and Albus thought he was even going to ask Balladanis to stop after a half hour, but Malfoy closed his mouth, obviously thinking serious of it.

The pattern was n't for null, though. Albus managed to hold Malfoy off foresightful and longer each time and although Malfoy was getting better at the screen spell as well, Albus broke through it a few more times.

"That 's sufficiency for tonight,"Balladanis finally said after he performed the countercurse on Albus for what must have been the tenth time that Nox,"I 'll see you in family on Tuesday."

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

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

Balladanis gave Albus the unknown look he had ever seen. It was a motley of choler, sadness, and even repent. For a moment, Albus wished he had n't asked. It was too personal. He should have just told King John they would n't be able to discover out.

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

Albus was taken aback. That was more than than he had expected. He had thought Balladanis would accept told him to beware his own clientele and get back to Gryffindor tug before curfew. Albus was going to find oneself out, he was just going to have to be patient.

Albus left the room as quickly as he could in his wipe out state, before Balladanis could change his mind about eventually telling Albus about his previous life history. The walk back to Gryffindor Tower seemed farsighted than common and all Albus wanted to do was prostration into bed when he finally got there.

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

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

rosebush opened her mouthpiece to speak and then closed her eye, unable to do so. Albus turned to lav and raised his eyebrows.

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

Albus nodded, having seen the man on legion juncture when he was in Hogsmeade. He was slightly older than Albus 's parents, with greying hair and a very acute personality. He never hesitated to crap his opinions known

"Someone killed him,"john said in barely more than a whisper.

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

"must 've just happened,"John Lackland said,"They just found him. dame Rosmerta heard a to-do and Flooed here, to get the Auror on duty. By the time they got back, his shop was a arrant mass inside and he was laying abruptly on the floor. Avada Kedavra. They 're searching Hogsmeade, the forest, the grounds, and the schoolhouse. Nobody 's allowed out of their common suite and dormitories."

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

"cypher even came in to state us,"Albus replied, still in shock.

hoi polloi were n't just randomly killed in Hogsmeade. That sort of matter just did n't happen anymore. Not since Voldemort had been defeated. fountainhead, Professor Torro had been killed back before his first base year and then that one witch from the Ministry had been killed over Christmas, but their cause of death had never been found and nothing had happened since.

"Why would anyone toss off him ?"lustrelessness wondered aloud.

"Why would anyone defeat anyone ?"Rose replied.

The portraiture muddle opened and all the rustling stopped. Everyone looked to see who came in. It was prof Longbottom, looking worse for the wear. His robes were disheveled and his tie was askew.

"Aurors are still searching the castle and the terra firma,"he told them,"I suggest you all try and get some rest. The lookup will be long over by daybreak, so you will be disengage to go away the unwashed way then."

Albus and his friend looked at each other after Longbottom left. They wordlessly went up to their residence hall, Kaden going with Albus instead of to the mo geezerhood'dorm. nonentity said anything as he curled up on the base with one of Albus 's bare blankets. Albus got into bed and stared at the ceiling. He had been so exhausted earlier, but now there was no way he 'd get much sleep that night.


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


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


Lunch was very subdued the future day. Most multitude had slept quite late since it was a Saturday. Every scholar of Hogwarts had their nose in a copy of the Prophet, be it their own or a friend 's. The staff table looked the Sami, with every prof either reading the Prophet or whispering with another professor, no doubt about what they 'd show.

Albus was reading GA 's vaticinator as she had finished with it and made a mental bill to go subscribing himself. All of his Friend were peering over his shoulder. Even Linda was hovering around them, a foot or so away.

HOGSMEADE market keeper MURDERED

A upset in Dervish and Banges late
yesterday evening that sent one Hogsmeade
resident to Hogwarts to find out the Auror on
responsibility lead to the find of the death
of a shopkeeper.

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

An extensive search of Hogsmeade, the
afforest, Hogwarts, and its earth turned
up zero despite the hours Aurors spent
searching. No fingermark were found on
the scene.

Aurors will be devoting time to finding
Wisander 's cause of death and a possible motive.

Leroy Wisander had owned Dervish and Banges
for a little over ten years, when he
purchased the shop from its late owners
who retired. However, Wisander is more
known for the scathing editorials he writes
for this very newspaper.

Anyone who knew Wisander knew he was a man
of very solid opinion and did not pause
to let others hump his opinions. His most
recent editorials have explored the content
of werewolf, vampire, and other so called
'half-breeds'rights. Aurors have declined
comment on whether they believe Wisander 's
newspaper column are a potential motive for his
murder. Wisander 's obituary can be found
on page five.

Albus set the paper down and his friends all resumed their seating room. cypher said a word for a few minutes. Albus did n't have it away what to think. The article certainly made it seem like Wisander was killed because of his impression. However, it did n't exactly say what his feeling were. Albus had n't ever read any of his editorials, so he could n't say either.

"What form of editorials did he indite ?"mat asked quietly.

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

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

Albus got up and was followed by all of his friends. John and Kaden each grabbed a smokestack of toast before leaving. Even rose wine and Amanda went with them instead of going off to consider with Linda.

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

nonentity had read them. Not even Rose. flatness sighed and collapsed onto one of the lounge."I 've got to observe out what they were about. I do n't even have sex which would be better, him being for or against wolfman rightfulness. If he 's for them, that means some feller is on the loose killing people for wanting wolfman rights."

matte did n't even have to continue for Albus to know why that worried him. Matt 's dad was possibly the biggest proponent of wolfman rightfield in all of Great Britain and everyone knew it. If someone had been killed just for writing about werewolf rights, what would happen to someone who was actually passing law for them ?

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

"Why else would mortal have killed him ?"lustrelessness asked,"He was just a workshop possessor in Hogsmeade."

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

"To affright multitude,"Albus said quietly,"The Defense teacher position used to be cursed, back when our parents were in school."

"Well, I do n't believe you should worry until you find out what the column are about,"pink wine said to Matt.

"The other option is n't much beneficial,"Matt muttered,"If he did n't indite editorials for werewolf right field, then he wrote them against them."

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

"Let 's go to the library,"Rose said as she stood up,"They 'll have old copy of the oracle there."

Everyone agreed with this and they set off to the program library. When they arrived, they were surprised to find how crowded it was. Usually Saturday were the daytime everyone put off their homework and then Sundays were spent in the library.

Once they stepped inside, Albus saw that everyone was looking through old copies of the Prophet. Nearly every mesa had a few newspapers on it and a few students poring over them. madam Pince was bustling about, no doubt worrying about whether the students would rip her precious newspapers.

"Might not be any give,"bathroom muttered.

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

John was almost right-hand. There was a very little stack of newspapers left. Albus grabbed them all and then they went to a secluded table towards the vertebral column of the library. Albus, matte, and rosebush each took a newspaper publisher while John, Kaden, and Amanda played tic-tac-toe on a spare bit of parchment.

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

therapist, beer maker TO inculpation, NOT MINISTRY official

As I was locking up my shop lowest night,
I noticed that it was a total synodic month. I
could not aid but think of the piteous
people plagued with lycanthropy
currently shut up while attacking
themselves.

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

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

And what kind of jobs are lycanthropes
often stuck with ? Menial, low-paying
ones. The task where they make hardly
enough money to pay the rent and buy
food, let only purchase a potion that
could vary their lives for the better.

I am absolutely appalled that Healers
and potion brewers charge for this
important potion. They must be making
a nice gain. They can use the profits
to learn extravagant holiday while the
pitiable witches and wizards who buy it
struggle to afford it.

There is only so much Ministry functionary
can do. principal of wolfman support Services,
Walter Eckerton, says he would love to
give away liberate Wolfsbane, but there just
is n't room for it in the budget.

What do I pop the question ? I propose that therapist
and potion brewers give it away for free.
They have the abilities to brew it, not
the Ministry. Most healer claim to love
helping hoi polloi, but often it is those who
need it most, such as those with lycanthropy,
are often forced to go without, all because
those with the abilities to brew it like
to have a little extra spending money.

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

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

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

Matt took the paper and he and rosiness began to take it. toilet, Amanda, and Kaden peered over as well. Albus sat and waited while they read.

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

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

"Bloody hell on earth, that bloke must have had so many enemies !"John shouted as soon as they were back.

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

"Why did he own to mention my dad ?"lusterlessness groaned,"He made it sound like my dad agrees with that column and he definitely doesn't."

"He was just trying to touch something up,"rose wine replied,"And look where it got him."

"healer are n't like that. to the highest degree of the single I 've met would pass away free Wolfsbane, but it 's more rarify that that. The component are expensive and it takes forever to brew. Not to note how difficult it is. There are n't many Healers who can brew it and even most brewers ca n't brew it,"Matt explained.

"That bloke did n't cognize the half of it,"John agreed,"My dad 's a healer and he 'd love to give away free potions. It just does n't exercise that way."

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

"Your dad 's a really in effect genius, though,"Albus pointed out to his worried protagonist,"Plus he works at the Ministry, where there are loads of Aurors milling about. And your firm is more protected than any other house I 've seen, well, except the Minister 's Mansion."

"I know, but it 's still not skilful,"matte sighed.

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

******

Albus and his friend scoured the Daily oracle every morning the following workweek. Every day there was an article about Wisander, the probe, or both. So far the investigation had turned up nothing. The Aurors had questioned quite a few people, namely those very outspoken against werewolf and vampire rights, but the hunt had proved fruitless.

The articles about Wisander were far more interesting. It seemed that his editorial about wolfsbane Potion was one of the tamer ones. Each day little pieces of his assorted editorials were being published. In one, he stated the reasons why werewolf should n't be locked up on fully moon. The reasons were quite the absurd, but the Prophet had printed it anyway. Another newspaper column talked about why vampires should be allowed entree to humans to bite. He suggested using prisoners and allowing vampires to take in them dry. Thus helping lamia and reducing prison monetary value at the same time.

"I reckon this blighter was off his rocking chair,"lav announced at breakfast the be William Ashley Sunday. He had just finished reading an article about how Wisander spent a year bread and butter with a vampire folk in joker when he was Whitney Moore Young Jr.. They were some of the few people actually up at an early time of day, as Albus had Quidditch practice and John had a morning custody with Filch for putting dungbombs in the toilets in Moaning myrtle 's bathroom the previous day.

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

"What are you doing after Quidditch praxis ?"Saint John the Apostle asked.

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

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

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

"Thought I might make another detainment,"St. John grinned,"But Kaden 's busy with Bromus secalinus club this afternoon-"

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

"Know any early Kadens ?"lavatory laughed,"rosiness said they want to teach him how to flirt properly, you know, like a challenge of sorts."

"I 'll tell Rose sound luck with that,"Albus said.

"Yeah, so both Kaden and rosebush will be busy with that. Not that Rose would want to make hold with me anyway. And Amanda 's doing something with Linda today, preparation, I think. And I doubt Matt will be up for doing anything,"bathroom continued.

"right field,"Albus said, remembering that the full moonshine was that dark,"But you did the dungbombs on your own."

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

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

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

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

There were a few pick Book Albus had for practice that day. Long, grueling, and intense. woodwind was in his all right form as he ordered the squad to do practice session time of day after time of day. He seemed to get more and more stressed as the day wore on.

James IV did a lot of one-on-one training with Teddy and Albus was more than a lilliputian envious. teddy bear was a much more patient captain than Wood was and yelled a whole lot less. President Tyler state highway mostly helped Wood.

Natalie Wood let them have a short rupture for lunch, making sure they knew to fare back afterwards. Albus heard the Slytherins on the team talking about skipping out of the rest of recitation, but they were back on the pitch at the time Wood told them to be.

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

pattern finally ended at three, when the New House of York team walked onto the rake and demanded they leave, because they had booked the tar for three o'clock that day.

"Remember, practice session Tuesday evening !"Wood shouted as the whole team rushed to get off the pitch.

Albus trudged back to the castling tired and shivering. He went straight to Gryffindor towboat and took a very long, hot cascade and then set off to get hold his friends.

rosiness, Amanda, and Linda were in the common elbow room, but the boys were n't. Albus figured they were in the Marauder 's Den and set off to reckon for them after saying a quick howdy to the girls.

John and Kaden were in the heart of a wake game of Exploding Snap when Albus walked into the Marauder 's Den a few proceedings later. John 's nerve was broad of ash, but Kaden 's was quite sporty. There was also a big grin on his fount which contrasted the scowl on King John 's face. Matt was laying on the couch facing them, like he had been watching the game, but he was sound asleep.

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

"Grueling. forest 's ten fourth dimension uncollectible than Georgia. Five hours we were out there. Five bloody hours in the frigidness !"Albus groaned as he collapsed onto the former couch.

"Better than scrubbing Moaning myrtle 's toilet with a soup-strainer,"King John muttered,"I do n't fuck what was speculative, the scrub or listening to Myrtle."

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

"Can you blame us ?"Albus muttered.

"No, not really,"Kaden shrugged.

"How was chess ?"Albus asked.

"I got beaten by every bingle person in the chess game club,"Kaden shook his head,"But they think I have potential."

"Albus,"John the Evangelist said as the cards blew up in his look again,"Have you done that defense reaction examine ?

"No,"Albus groaned.

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

Albus groaned again and fished around in his own bag for his United States Department of Defense Book. Balladanis wanted a foot long essay about basilisks, which were the current moody brute of the week.

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

"Do you dream up the volaille egg under a frog or a frog ?"John asked.

"Toad,"Albus mumbled.

"You know, I could deplumate a Rose and recount you to do your essay,"John replied.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Albus managed to get in a somewhat well-to-do situation on the couch and wrote his essay with his book and lambskin perched on his knees. It beat sitting at the mesa ; at to the lowest degree he was able to sort of lie down.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

******

"Albus, get up !"

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

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

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

"Albus, you 'd meliorate get up now. Natalie Wood 's in the uncouth way,"Teddy whispered.

That got Albus 's attention. His eyes shot back loose and he sat up."What ?"

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

Now Albus was wide awake."Seriously ? What about O'delle ?"Hailey O'delle was the other backlog Chaser, a seventh class Slytherin.

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

Albus took that to stand for that shift thought they were snogging and one got the other sick.

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

Teddy nodded and left. Albus threw on a T-shirt and a brace of jeans before running down to the common room, where he found Joseph Oliver Ellen Price Wood pacing in battlefront of the empty-bellied fire.

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

Albus nodded and sat down for what was sure to be a very long oral communication. Wood paused and then launched into an account of tactics, which Albus had already heard during practices that calendar week. He could n't work out out why he had to be woken up at six to be told he was playing. Wood could have accomplished the Same thing at ten.

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

division of forest 's address had been on the weather, which was cold and slightly snowy. Could be sorry, Albus thought. At to the lowest degree there was n't a blizzard. The conditions were very similar to those they had been practicing in all week.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Albus went to the Great Granville Stanley Hall to eat lunch with his admirer, but he was n't really hungry. He did n't think he had ever been more nervous for a Quidditch match. This was a really crucial catch, as Ellen Price Wood had pointed out numerous times. If they won by a wide enough tolerance, they 'd be in second place.

Word had gotten around that Albus was playing in the match and numerous people came over to the Gryffindor tabular array to wish Albus luck.

"Al,"Harry sat down next to Albus.

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

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

"Thanks,"Albus replied.

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

Nobody talked much as they changed into their robe. Everyone sat down afterwards, quick for forest 's pre-match speech.

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


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

Also, I wrote a new song fic ! It 's from Snape 's gunpoint of survey, as I wanted to try something dissimilar. It 's on my generator page if you want to gibe it out !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


Ten bit into the match, Albus decided there were four types of Quidditch in the globe. Casual Quidditch, like what he played with his cousins ; school day Quidditch ; pro Quidditch ; and then there was the character of Quidditch he was playing now.

It was a combination of school Quidditch and professional Quidditch. The crowd was louder, the players more determined, and the interest were higher than a normal schoolhouse Quidditch compeer.

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

Albus pushed his heather to fly faster and held the Quaffle tighter to his chest. Then he plunged down to the ground, where nobody else was flying. He was back up gamey two minutes later when he had reached the New York goal mail service. After dodging a Bludger, he threw the Quaffle into the left end C. W. Post. The Keeper was too slow and the Quaffle soared through.

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

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

The Quaffle continued to convert hands quickly as the catch went on. An hour later there was still no sign of the Snitch and both squad were neck in neck as far as dot went. New York was up by ten.

Albus scored a few more goals and he began to slow down a little. The catch began to feel more like a school mates and less like a professional match, even though the stakes were still high.

Wood had repeated over and over again that they had to be up by at least L gunpoint when James caught the Snitch, or they would n't be capable to whelm New York as far as overall period went.

"New York 's quester has seen the Snitch !"Kathryn Elizabeth Smith announced.

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

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

The gang roared and James held the Snitch high above his head. Both teams flew to the ground and Albus saw the anguish flavour on forest 's cheek. They had n't won by enough to be in mo place overall.

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

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

"To update everyone on the detail, the Australian schooltime of Sorcery is in get-go place. New York and Hogwarts are currently tied for second. The following match will contain blank space at the end of February !"Smith told the crowd.

Albus did n't match up with his ally until they were back in the coarse room. Teddy had gone to Hogsmeade and a party was currently underway in the Gryffindor mutual way. teddy informed everyone that the three early sign of the zodiac were hosting party as well. The scholar from New York who had been sorted into Gryffindor, including their Seeker, were sulking in a corner.

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

"I think so, too,"Albus agreed,"I variety of want I could dally in the side by side match."

"Maybe Fielding will still be sick,"Saint John said.

"Doubt it,"Albus replied,"Plus, I 'm for certain O'delle will get first dibs on the next match if any of the other chaser get sick."

"At least you got to play in one match,"blush wine pointed out.

"Anyway, the next match you 'll probably be playing Australia,"Matt said.

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

The party continued until dinner meter, when people began to leave as nobody had snuck down to the kitchens to get food for thought. Harry came in to congratulate Albus and James shortly before Albus and his Quaker left for dinner party. He was also scheduled to patrol the school for the remainder of the weekend and wanted to let his kids know.

******

Life at Hogwarts returned to normal shortly after the Quidditch mates. The Prophet printed few and few article about Wisander until there were none at all. Everyone seemed to blank out about his death. Everyone except Matt, that is, who was still worried about his dad.

However, the students at Hogwarts were reminded again of the unresolved murder when the next Hogsmeade trip-up arrived two days after Valentine 's Day. A portion of the students were too lovesick to notice the boarded up shop of Dervish and Banges as they made their way to gentlewoman Puddifoot's.

Neither Albus, John, or mat were too preoccupied to observe the give up building, though. The three of them stopped to see at it for a while despite the biting tip. Rose and Amanda were spending the day with Linda.

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

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

"It 's probably still part of the investigating,"Matt pointed out,"summation, who would desire a building that somebody was killed in ? I do n't even desire to go in it."

Albus did n't opine it was a good clock time to cue Matt that Severus Snape had been murdered inside of the scream Shack.

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

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

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

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

Albus, Matt, and John went to the deuce-ace broomstick a little while later because all three of them were frozen. They warmed up with Butterbeer and were just thinking about heading back to the rook when Albus heard someone whisper his gens behind him.

"Albus,"they said again.

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

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

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

Albus immediately stood up and motioned for Matt and St. John the Apostle, who were both looking confused, to follow him. He assumed Kaden would follow as well. Albus lead them up High Street until they reached the shriek Shack. nobody was hanging around it that day.

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

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

"Bloody Hell !"King John shouted.

"You stole the cloak ?"Matt asked.

"Kaden, you idiot !"Albus shouted,"I know I first told you this would be a respectable time, but there was a intellect I changed my creative thinker and told you not to sneak in today. nearly of the teachers come to Hogsmeade for the February trip. My cousins told me. They want to lay down sure no one does anything dullard because they 're in love or whatever."

"Er,"Kaden muttered.

"How did you get in ?"lustrelessness asked.

"One-eyed witch statue,"Kaden replied,"atomic number 82 right into Honeyduke's."

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

Kaden 's face turned White person and his mouth dropped assailable. Albus turned around to see what he was looking at and was met face to face with Professor Balladanis.

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

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

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

"Explain,"Balladanis said.

"They had nada to do with it,"Kaden said quickly,"Albus was just telling me how stupid I was."

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

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

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

Albus, Matt, and John could not get out of there quick enough. They walked straight back to the unwashed elbow room, talking about how lucky they had been. It must take in looked like all three of them had helped Kaden sneak into Hogsmeade. estimable thing Balladanis believed Kaden.

Kaden returned fifteen minute later, looking quite unhappy. He collapsed onto a chair and stared mutinously at the table.

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

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

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

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

******

Kaden discovered what his custody was that night. Balladanis decided to have him alphabetise his individual program library, which was quite extended. Kaden returned to the Marauder 's Den harangue about the quantity of books Balladanis had.

"He 's got more books on dark wight than your dad 's got,"Kaden said to Matt.

"That 's impressive,"Matt replied.

"wish he had less,"Kaden muttered.

Kaden spent all four of his detentions alphabetizing those book. He almost did n't pull off to complete and if that had been the case, Balladanis would have given him a twenty percent detention.

The following broad moon came and went, as did the next Quidditch compeer. Albus was beginning to suspect that the full-of-the-moon lunar month were becoming worse for Matt, although he did n't know why.

New York lost miserably to Commonwealth of Australia in the Quidditch compeer. They had been doing pretty well until Linda caught the stoolpigeon a half hour in. woodwind insisted that this was a thoroughly affair, though. It meant that if Hogwarts managed to score a honest measure of goal before Linda caught the Snitch in their side by side lucifer, they would make more overall points than New York. woodwind seemed to make lost any Bob Hope that Jesse James could beat out Linda in seeking, something King James I fumed about on a approximate daily basis.

marchland arrived and with it a three day rain violent storm that left the background completely flooded. Both Herbology and maintenance of Magical fauna had to take shoes inside, which resulted in incredibly boring lesson. wood continued to withstand Quiditch practice and Albus returned to the castle completely soaked and covered in mud after each one.

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

Balladanis conducted his example as if end of condition examination did not exist. He changed null about his lessons except the dark wight they were learning about.

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

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

"So,"King John said as he flipped through his defence force book the following even. Albus, Matt, John, and Kaden were in the Marauder 's Den and lav was just finishing the chapter on vampire."flavour what 's after vampires.

Albus looked through his own al-Qur'an."Werewolves,"he said quietly and then looked at Matt.

"Yeah,"matt muttered,"It was bound to pass eventually."

"I wonder if Balladanis is going to ca-ca you go in for extra help during that building block,"bathroom grinned,"I 'm sure as shooting you 'll take loads of extra aid in identifying werewolves."

matte rolled his eyes."He upright. It 'll look wary if I do n't go in for additional assistance. speechmaking of superfluous help, we 're due to go in for it in fifteen minutes."

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

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

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

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

"Sir ?"Albus asked hesitantly.

"Mr. Potter,"Balladanis said quietly,"semen in."

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

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

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

"This is a pensieve,"Balladanis said,"It is used to research retentivity. That is exactly what we 're going to do. Albus, tend forward and put your head into the pensieve. Your body will postdate. Scorpius, you will postdate. I will come after you."

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

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

It was dusk and very lull. There was a small menage in the distance, atop of a bouldered hill. In fact, the whole region was mostly rocky. Albus had landed on the one lone piece of grass in the wholly situation. It did n't search like any place in Britain.

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

"Follow me,"Balladanis said quietly.

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

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

"Greece,"Balladanis replied.

This did zip but increase Albus 's oddment. Why were they in Greece of all places ? But he did n't ask. It did n't seem like Balladanis was in an explaining temper, judging by his dead, one password reply to Malfoy.

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

The family must cause been their destination. Balladanis stopped when they arrived at the broken in down wooden fence surrounding it. The house reminded Albus of the Shrieking hutch, only modest. It was kind of broken push down and did n't await like a space that would be good to be in.

soul lived there, though. A lighting was on upstairs. It remained on for a few more minutes and then individual turned it off.

Balladanis made no relocation towards the house. Instead, he seemed focused on the timber that lay just beyond it. Albus decided the wood was as good a place as any to watch.

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

All was quiet for two mo. The physique entered the household, but did not turn on any lighting. Then the screams started. Albus jumped at the sound of the number 1 one.

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

His professor 's face showed nothing. Nothing but the same hardened looking he had seen on it so many metre. Malfoy on the other script, looked horrified. He looked exactly how Albus felt.

The shriek was coming from two different the great unwashed. There was a high-pitched one that must have got been coming from a charwoman, and a down one that must accept been coming from a man.

Then, they stopped. First the fair sex, then the man. The hooded anatomy left the menage as quickly as they had entered and returned to the forest.

Balladanis, however, made no move to leave. Instead he stared at the sign of the zodiac. Two min later, someone fled from it.

They ran from the business firm, towards Albus, Malfoy, and Balladanis. As they drew tight, Albus could see that the person was a boy who looked no previous than Albus himself. His nerve was etched with a sadness Albus had never seen before. It was too dark to secernate, but Albus was sure there were rip running down his face.

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


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


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


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

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

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

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

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

"Sit down,"Balladanis said.

Albus and Malfoy sat down quickly at the mesa in straw man of Balladanis 's desk. They were sitting right succeeding to each other and Albus did n't deal. At the moment, finding out what that scenery was was more important than staying away from Malfoy.

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

Balladanis paused and walked around to the front end of his desk. He began to pace in front of it.

"There is a reasonableness why I am telling you this now. Why I am not explaining to all of my course of instruction what I did before educational activity. The reason is that you two are incredible dueller. Both of you have skills beyond your years that I have never seen before, and believe me, I have seen plenty of surpassing dueler in my time. This may be a honorable time to say you how rare it is to consume two such skilled duelers in the same class at Hogwarts."

Albus turned to count at Malfoy. What was Balladanis getting at ? It sounded like the start of some kind of house unity manner of speaking or something.

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

The lonesome ground for that, at least for Albus, was because of Balladanis himself. Albus doubted he would tolerate Albus and Malfoy bickering with each former during lessons.

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

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

"I had two blissfully free and fun years at the Grecian school of magic trick. I returned dwelling during summer wide-cut of account about my friends and all the mischief we 'd pose into."

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

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

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

"I returned to school that Sept hardened. zip was fun anymore. Nothing was funny. It was then that I decided to give my life sentence to ridding the world of such evils. vampire, moody thaumaturgist, werewolf, anyone and anything that slaying viciously."

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

"However, I did realize that not all lamia, werewolves, giants, and early beings are inherently evil. Not all of them want to down. It was for this grounds that I did not wish to be employed by the Greek Ministry. The Greek Ministry prefers to deal with magical tool as a whole and not distinguish between them. Perhaps this is because Greece has a very large universe of vampires.

"gum olibanum, becoming an Auror was out of the question. Instead, I chose to come in a more secretive profession. One that you will not obtain leaflet on when you get calling advice from your heads of menage. One that no one except me is going to intimate to you. Yet it is one that I believe the two of you are quite suited for."

Albus 's heart sped up at this. Balladanis was going to give them career advice ? They were only thirteen. But at the same time, Albus felt excited. Balladanis thought he was a honorable enough duellist for this life history, whatever it was.

"I am a Presuler,"Balladanis said,"I am sure neither of you have heard of one. A Presuler is somewhat like an Auror, in that we seek out dark wizards and drab magic. However, we not only seek out drab magician and dark magic, we seek out dark and dangerous creature as well.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"As of rightfulness now, I have no mind,"Balladanis answered,"It is getting late. I 've kept you here much longer than formula. If you think of anymore doubt, do not hesitate to see me. I 'll walk you back to your common rooms."

Albus walked alongside Balladanis in muteness on his way back to the Gryffindor Tower. His head was racing with what he just learned. He did n't sleep together what to take a crap of it. It was just so very much selective information at once.

The coarse room was nearly empty when Albus climbed through the portrait hole. It must take in been really former, since it was Friday night. Albus really did n't know what time it was.

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

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

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

Albus was vaguely aware of his friends sighs of disappointment as he went up to his dorm, but he did n't find like talking about it right then. He was tired and his mind was racing at the like time.

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

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

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

******

"Merlin, Albus, get up !"

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

"It 's nearly one o'clock."

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

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

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

Someone pulled the curtains outdoors and took the pillow off Albus 's head. He looked up and saw John and Matt.

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

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

The girls and Kaden met them in the Marauder 's Den after Albus, John the Divine, and mat had lunch. Gospel According to John kept pestering Albus all through luncheon, wanting to know why Linda could n't get word about it, but Albus said nothing. He was n't even sure if he was allowed to distinguish his friends about this, but Balladanis had n't really forbidden him.

"Albus, what in the gens of merlin happened stopping point night ?"pink wine asked as soon as they were all in the Marauder 's Den.

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

"And you neglected to tell us until now ?"John gaped,"I 've been wanting to cognize for the entire class !"

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

"Sorry,"John muttered.

"Balladanis took us into a pensieve last Night,"Albus began.

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

"Not that nifty, to be good,"Albus said,"Probably would have been in effect if it was a ameliorate memory.

"Anyway, he took us without any explanation of what we were going to see. He took us to this really old broken down mansion in Greece. Kind of looked like a humble more flea-bitten translation of the Shrieking Shack."

"In Greece ?"Kaden asked.

"Yeah,"Albus nodded,"We watched the firm for what seemed corresponding hr and then these name broke into it and we heard this awful screaming. Then the build left. Then this fellow who was about our age came running out with this horrifying scared look on his face. Then we left."

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

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

nobody said anything for a long meter. Albus looked at his friends and they all wore peer looks of shock.

"And you watched it ?"Matt asked.

"From a length,"Albus replied.

"Merlin, no wonder Balladanis is so bloody insane,"John let out a low whistle.

"He decided to devote his life to ridding the world of evilness, whether it be vampire, dark ace, or early dark creatures,"Albus continued.

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

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

"What is that ?"Kaden asked.

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

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

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

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

"All lycanthrope have the capability of killing people, Albus,"Matt said quietly.

"So does everyone,"Albus replied.

"Whatever his opinion on lamia and loup-garou truly is, it 's going to be worry to see how he teaches us about them,"Rose mused.

"Guess this is why you did n't desire Linda to get wind about this,"john said.

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

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

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

"Seriously ?"Matt asked.

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

"You do n't give birth to make out. You 're only thirteen. And Albus, do n't settle anything until you 've read about this. Do n't just go on what Balladanis is saying. I think we 've finally discovered why he 's so passionate about fighting the night Arts, but it might fog his judgement sometimes,"Rose warned.

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

"Maybe because he does n't contrive on staying,"lusterlessness replied,"Why would he stop searching for the vampire who killed his parents to teach here anyway ?"

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

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

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

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

******

Not thinking about Presulers and what happened to Balladanis 's parents proved to be well-off said than done, especially since defense class was soon devoted to learning about lamia. Balladanis seemed to teach that peculiar unit with much more than enthusiasm than usual, a feat that cipher thought potential. Everyone speculated as to why Balladanis was more enthusiastic than common, but nigh just attributed it to the fact that he was bloody insane.

A lot of what Balladanis taught about vampire was stuff Albus already knew due to what Matt had told them earlier in the schooltime year. It was still fairly concern, though. Albus found that the more serious the creature they were learning about, the more interesting it was. Not to mention the fact that they did n't use the anamatek anymore, a fact that nearly every educatee was thankful for.

However, partway through their secondly week devoted to vampires, the anamatek 's tree trunk reappeared in the Defense schoolroom. There was an audible groan from every scholar who stepped into the room.

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

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

"That would n't be any better. We 're doing werewolves next,"John reminded him,"And matt said that thing could n't turn into an literal loup-garou. oral presentation of flatness, he 's lucky he 's missing this."

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

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

"He 's mental,"John muttered.

Balladanis drew his wand and pointed it at the trunk. It snapped outdoors and out stepped a very pale man with chisel feature film. He did n't motivate, but merely stared out at all the students.

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

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

"They 're agile,"Balladanis continued,"They 're honorable looking. They attract you in. Then they kill, they suck you dry until you are dead. The alternative is not great, either. From the consequence their teeth break your skin, you begin to metamorphose into a vampire as well. You will get one if they do not lactate you dry. There is no way to stop over it, no potion to counteract it.

"lamia hunt at night when their visual sense is still fantabulous, but when human vision is compromised. However, that is not the sole rationality. Does anyone roll in the hay the other ?"

blush wine raised her manus. Linda did not.

"Yes, Miss Weasley ?"Balladanis said.

"Vampires are in essence allergic to the sun,"rosiness explained,"When the sunlight hits them, it hurts them. The sun gives them headaches and makes them feel sick."

"Precisely,"Balladanis gave her a rare smile,"There is no potion to weaken the burden of the sun on lamia. Therefore they tend to inhabit areas that see less sun and sphere of dense forest, such as the Northwestern and Northeastern United States, parts of Canada, and voice of Russia. However there is also a important lamia population in Greece."

Balladanis pointed his wand at the vampire again and it retreated back into the trunk. Everyone breathed a collective sigh of assuagement. The deterrent example continued until the Vanessa Stephen rang. Balladanis made no reference of moving onto the future unit, nor had he assigned the usual end of the unit essay.

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

"You missed an excellent Defense lesson today,"John said once ma'am Pomfrey had gone back into her study after leaving to see who had entered her ward.

"Was it any unlike from the usual ones ?"matte asked tiredly. He looked ready to fall asleep at any moment.

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

"He what ?"matt shouted, although since his articulation was hoarse it was n't very loud,"We 're still doing lamia, are n't we ?"

"Yeah, he had it turn into a vampire,"John said,"We did n't have to agitate it. He just used it to demo how libertine vampire were and what they looked like."

"That is uncanny,"flatness replied,"He assign the lamia essay yet ?"

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

"Well, the longer we spend on vampires, the More time we have before we start werewolves,"Matt said quietly,"I really hope he does n't spend as much clock time on them as he has on vampires."

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

"Thank pigeon hawk for that,"Matt yawned.

"You 're tired,"rose wine said,"We should leave."

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

"'Night,"Matt said.

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


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


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.



A few of Albus 's first cousin had begun to withdraw up stake on how yearn Balladanis was going to spend teaching the third years about vampires. Fred was sure he 'd expend the remainder of term, but Bradley was convinced he 'd move onto the adjacent unit of measurement partway through Apr. None of the third years were actually participating in these stake because they were all afraid Balladanis would get out.

The vampire unit was still well underway when the next Quidditch compeer came along. This one was the endorse Hogwarts versus Australian School of Sorcery match, which meant Ellen Price Wood was in his prime when it came to practice. Albus considered just moving his bed to the changing rooms since he spent more of his time on the Quidditch tar than in the Gryffindor common room.

Albus awoke the day of the match to John 's loud swearing instead of chemise, which told him that he did not get to bet during that mate. He could n't serve but experience slightly disappointed. Figuring there was no point in going back to catch some Z's, he got up and asked John what happened.

"Tripped over matt 's bloody cauldron,"John muttered, holding onto his right wing foot,"Why ca n't he just put that stunned thing away ?"

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

John muttered something indistinguishable and shoved his cauldron under his bed. He went into the lav while Albus woke Matt up. The three of them met Kaden in the common way a little while later and then went down to the Great Hall to get something to eat.

A few hours later the son were in the Quidditch stands, waiting for the match to begin. Rose and Amanda were with them.

"Wonder how foresighted it 'll choose Linda to find the Snitch this clip,"Albus mused.

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

"Yeah,"Albus replied,"Was n't Linda supposed to take off flying deadening after that ?"

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

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

"Definitely not,"Albus sighed.

flatness 's prediction proved correct. Linda did not slow down in the slightest. She flew at her common abnormally fast speed, beating King James to the fink by a few chiliad. Luckily for Hogwarts, they had been ahead of Australia at that point in time and only wound up losing by XL points.

This put Hogwarts quite a bit ahead of New York as far as Quidditch points went. Commonwealth of Australia was still in the track, but they were not faring so well in the dueling tourney. As of the most late tournament, Hogwarts was winning. Australia was in final stage place and New House of York was somewhere in between. Albus was pretty sure that if the Quidditch and dueling tourney points were added up, Hogwarts and Australia would be neck in neck. Whatever the outcome of the remaining qualifying tournament and peer, the final for both were going to determine the winner of the competition. The gunpoint were just too close.

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

******

Two weeks into April, Thomas Bradley along with quite a few other older Gryffindors, were capable to immediate payment in on their stake about Balladanis. Fred and a few others grumbled loudly about it as they handed over Galleons to the winners.

Balladanis had assigned the long look essay on vampires on Th, officially making the vampire unit the longest unit they had done. They had spent an total month and a half on it. The essay seemed to rival this duration, as Balladanis wanted it to be two and a half feet.

Albus, lustrelessness, and John saved their essays for the last possible minute, settling down to work on on them the day before they were due. It was n't a particularly hard essay because Balladanis had given them so much information on the subject. It was just a very long essay to publish. Rose and Amanda had done theirs over the weekend, presumably with Linda. Albus could n't avail but be slightly envious of them because doing the essay with an actual vampire would have it the easiest essay ever.

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

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

"How long is your essay, Rose ?"Saint John the Apostle asked as he measured his own essay.

"3 foot,"Rose answered.

John the Evangelist groaned."Do you think Balladanis will notice if mine 's three in short ?"

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

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

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

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

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

"Finished,"Albus announced.

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

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

"I know, I 've just got a bad tone about it,"matt sighed.

"spirit on the hopeful side,"Kaden put in,"When you get assigned the werewolf essay, you 're for certain to get a 100."

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

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

Albus, matt, and privy got a recent commencement since Gospel According to John had misplaced his vampire essay. After finding it under his bed ( no one was trusted how it go there ), the three son rushed down to the Great anteroom to grab pieces of pledge before running to Defense.

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

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

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

"I thought I would begin with loup-garou history,"he announced,"Nobody is sure when the first lycanthrope came about, but they have existed in nearly every wizarding culture. Not only that, but even antediluvian Muggle cultures have lycanthropy in their histories.

"Hundreds of years ago, before the Muggle field of psychology came about and long before Muggles had any agreement of the human head, they tried to arrive at horse sense of people whom they deemed 'insane'.

"One way they did this was to attribute the insanity to the moon. Over the days, the myth of werewolves came about. Thus, werewolves have had a meaning part in Muggle fib. In world, the masses Muggles accused of having lycanthropy were merely suffering from schizophrenia or bouts of insanity."

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

"Muggles of path know nothing about real werewolves,"Balladanis continued,"And their Hollywood created werewolves have little in common with the real thing.

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

Rose was the solely one who raised her hand. Balladanis nodded to her."It comes from the Greek words 'lykos'and 'anthropos',"Rose explained,"Lykos means woman chaser and anthropos means man."

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

"Lycanthropes have been shunned by wizarding high society for as recollective as history has told us about them. In recent old age, there has been much meditation about whether this is necessity or even a good melodic theme. However, it is difficult to change the idea of the bulk when we have been taught to quash lycanthropes and shun them from wizarding society for so long.

"It has not been for no intellect that this general prejudice has came about. When in wolf form, werewolves can not control their action mechanism and thus attack helpless multitude. This has long been construed as werewolf wanting to attack hoi polloi, wanting to taint them with the horrible disease.

"This can not be farther from the case when it comes to most werewolf. to the highest degree do not wish well to attack others. Within the retiring hundred days, wolfman have begun locking themselves up on the full synodic month in order to avoid attacking others. However, there is one important drawback to this for the werewolf. Does anyone know this ?"Balladanis 's eyes rested on Matt, but he continued staring down at his hollow parchment.

Rose and Linda raised their hands. This time Balladanis called on Linda."When wolfman do n't cause anybody to assault, they attack themselves,"Linda said,"They do n't experience a option and they often wind up really injured because of it."

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

"We 'll foot up succeeding course of instruction with what happens before, during, and after full synodic month for a person with lycanthropy,"Balladanis announced shortly before the buzzer rang,"If you have not say the werewolf chapter, delight do so for future metre. Mr. Eckerton, if you could delight get see me."

Matt looked, if it was potential, even more nervous at this candidate. The rest of the category left and Albus tried to put away his things as slowly as possible, but Balladanis shooed him, along with John, out of the room.

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

"Interesting object lesson, ceramist,"Malfoy said quietly,"Very interesting indeed."

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

"Oh, nothing. Just a very illuminating lesson. I 've learned so much,"Malfoy replied and then sauntered off down the corridor.

"merlin,"can muttered,"He knows."

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

"Onto it ?"whoremonger replied,"That 's a nice way of putting it. The unanimous schooltime 's going to sleep together in two days, after the next class."

"What are we going to do ?"Albus groaned,"If we tell him what Malfoy said, he 's going to be too scared to do anything. I mean, did you see him during this lesson ?"

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

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

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

"Nothing,"John said,"What did Balladanis want ?"

"Told me I did n't cause to go to the extra help during this building block unless I wanted to,"Matt told them.

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

"I do n't know,"Matt said as they began walking to Herbology,"I know it 'll look suspect if I do n't, but I really ca n't take many More lesson like that. Merlin, Thursday 's lesson is going to be awful."

Albus saw no point in denying that. mat did n't have a clue as to how awful it would be. They said nada more about it the whole way to Herbology.

******

Albus had never been so happy about having ridiculously long Quidditch practices as he was Tuesday and Midweek even. He was perfectly happy to spend all his relinquish time on the Quidditch pitch and then be too shopworn to do much of anything else afterwards.

It was just so difficult for him to keep what Malfoy said away from Matt. He wanted nil more than to admonish his booster about it, even though he knew that would accomplish nothing. All it would do was establish matt worry even more and then act even more anxious during Defense.

Quidditch also kept Albus 's thinker off of what would materialize after Malfoy 's misgiving were confirmed. It would n't be anything like when Albus found out or even when Kaden found out. No, Malfoy was going to use this to his advantage. Albus was nearly one hundred pct sure enough Malfoy would announce it to all of Slytherin. Then, word would circulate and the integral schooling would line up out. merlin only knew what would pass off when educatee'parents found out.

Albus knew that loup-garou rightfulness had come a yearn way since Teddy 's dad was in school, but he also knew that most masses would not be glad if their nestling were going to school with a werewolf, especially one that did not take Wolfsbane. Not to bring up the study day the press would make with it. lusterlessness 's dad had just become Head of the Department for the regulation and Control of Magical creature for merlin 's sake. It would be a repeat of what had happened when Matt and his family had lived in Australia.

Not to mention what it would do to Matt himself. Albus remembered when there had been a flimsy prospect that Malfoy found out about the passage under the Whomping willow tree. He had nearly had a panic plan of attack. What would materialise if Malfoy found out he was a wolfman ?

It did not help that the full moonshine was that Fri. matte barely spoke during the brief multiplication that Albus was not occupied on the Quidditch rake. He sat in the piranha 's Den with everyone else, but he stared off into quad or slept.

Yes, woodwind 's farseeing Quidditch practice session took Albus 's mind off of all of that, but they did not contain Thursday from arriving and sooner than Albus would own liked he found himself sitting in Balladanis 's classroom.

Albus and whoremonger exchanged nervous glimpse as Malfoy walked in with a very smug look on his look. Albus was so focus on Malfoy that he nearly missed the fact that the anamatek 's torso was back in strawman of Balladanis 's desk. Once he noticed it, he poked toilet in the side.

"What ?"John seethed. Albus gestured to the torso."Merlin 's beard,"John exclaimed,"I do n't even require to know what he 's going to do with that."

"Quiet down,"Balladanis said,"We 'll retain our werewolf give-and-take today by talking about what happens to a werewolf when the moon waxes.

"Werewolves, in a similar way to vampires, are somewhat hypersensitized to the moonlight when the moon waxes. For the few nights before the literal full moon, when exposed to moonlight wolfman will feel ill. The moonshine gives them headaches and when exposed long enough, causes them to mislay consciousness."

Albus did n't trouble writing any of this gloomy, as he knew starting time hand what happened when a wolfman was exposed to too a good deal moonlight shortly before the full lunation. Instead he stole quickly glances at Malfoy and flatness. Malfoy was furiously writing down everything Balladanis said and stealing quick glance at Matt himself. Matt was staring down at his parchment and Albus was for sure he was trying to ignore everything Balladanis said. He was blench and ill, but Albus was n't sure if that was because of the lesson or because the full moon was the following day.

"werewolf are often too ill to go about their casual natural process the day of the full phase of the moon moon and occasionally the day before as well. Before I describe the actual transformation, I wish to depict you what a somebody with lycanthropy flavor like the day of the wax moon."

For a abbreviated second, Albus thought Balladanis was going to call flatness to the front of the elbow room, but then realized that as a prof, Balladanis must suffer promised Kendrick that he would n't do anything like that.

Balladanis pointed his wand at the trunk and a minuscule man stepped out of it. His pallidness looked exactly like Matt 's and he looked just as ill. In fact, the two of them looked incredibly alike. Both of their faces bore scars and had a unwell look to them.

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

The oddment of the lesson passed by in a sort of fog for Albus. He and John had exchanged glances and the look on John 's font told him he had noticed Malfoy 's realization as well. Albus heard Balladanis 's lecture, but he did n't litigate it.

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

"Next lesson will focus on Aconitum lycoctonum Potion and the impression it has had on lycanthrope rights,"Balladanis announced at the end of the example,"category dismissed."

Albus and St. John looked at each other. Albus did n't know what to do. Should he confront Malfoy ? Or should he tell lustrelessness what happened ? flatness seemed unmindful to the unscathed thing.

They silently decided just to forget the classroom and decide what to do after. Rose and Amanda had left with Linda with absolutely no idea what had happened.

Malfoy was waiting for them outside the room and Albus was not certain if this was a good or a bad thing. He had the sudden urge just to hex Malfoy mightily then and there.

"Another enlightening lesson,"Malfoy smirked,"Oh, Eckerton, feeling a bit ill ?"

"None of your business,"Matt muttered. Albus and John both stepped a bit closer to him and Albus clenched his hand around his wand.

"Bet you 'll be feeling even unsound tomorrow,"Malfoy replied,"It 's about that clip of the month, is n't it ? Tomorrow Nox ?"

That got Matt 's attention. His question snapped up and he glared at Malfoy. Then he turned around and looked from Albus to John with the most panicked face on his case Albus had ever seen.

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

Matt did n't say anything. He shook his head and then ran. He pushed through the crowd, much to the disapproval of the students who were trying to get to grade, and disappeared in a matter of seconds.

Albus suddenly felt more hatred for Malfoy than ever. Not only had he worked out Matt 's hole-and-corner, but he had used it to scare him. In heart, Malfoy had threatened him with it. That was one of the bad things he could have done.

Ignoring all the other students who were going to stratum, Albus pulled out his wand and had it against Malfoy 's chest in two seconds.

"If you tell anyone,"Albus growled,"I will personally make sure you 're so indistinguishable that even your own parents wo n't recognize you."

"Is that a threat, thrower ?"Malfoy pulled out his own wand.

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

"Rictumsempra !"Malfoy shouted.

"Protego !"Albus shouted at the same time.

"Expelliarmus !"John shouted.

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

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

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

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

This one hit Saint John the Apostle and he collapsed onto the storey in a fit of giggles. Albus pellet another hex at Malfoy and this one collided with his face. Malfoy 's nose started haemorrhage and he rounded on Albus.

"What is going on out here ?"Balladanis shouted.

Albus did n't lower his wand and neither did Malfoy, but they did n't arouse off anymore hexes either. Albus let his shield down and noticed that the crowd had dispersed. John was still rolling around on the ground.

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

"Follow me,"Balladanis growled.

All three son followed Balladanis into his discipline. Albus looked nervously at John. Of all the professors to catch them dueling, it had to be Balladanis. Of course of instruction, the one dear thing about this was that Malfoy could n't denote Matt 's lycanthropy to the integral school while Balladanis was lecturing them.


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


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


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

"I can not commence to recount you how thwarted I am in all of you,"Balladanis began,"Especially you, Mr. ceramicist and Mr. Malfoy. I am certain I taught you expert than this. The two of you especially should know how uncalled for that was. You are well aware of your dueling attainment and what form of responsibility lies with them. I have half a mind to break off our training session. However, I am willing to hear all sides of this account before laying out any sort of penalty. You may go first, Mr. Malfoy."

"I was just walking to division and Potter pulled out his verge and attacked me. Then Brickston joined in. I was outnumbered, sir. I had to hold myself,"Malfoy said.

Albus had to try hard not to snort. He and John looked at each early and Saint John the Apostle rolled his center.

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

Albus took a mysterious breath. He was going to tell the write up. The unanimous story."Malfoy was threatening matte, sir,"Albus began.

"Mr. Eckerton ?"Balladanis asked,"I did not see him anywhere."

"He left after Malfoy threatened him,"Albus continued,"You see, Malfoy has figured something out about Matt, after listening to your lectures on werewolves."

Balladanis 's eyes widened and he looked at Malfoy."Is that true, Mr. Malfoy ?"

"Yes,"Malfoy muttered,"And I was n't threatening him. I was asking him about it. I think I have the rightfield to recognize if I 'm in schoolhouse with a werewolf."

Malfoy said 'werewolf'with disgust and it made Albus want to hex him once more.

"Mr. Eckerton has the right wing to keep his medical issue to himself,"Balladanis replied,"His health is none of your business organisation whatsoever. Please continue, Mr. Potter."

"After lustrelessness left, I wanted to be sure Malfoy was n't going to go tell the entirely schooling about Matt 's lycanthropy,"Albus explained,"And I guess we just wound up dueling."

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

"You sent the number one hex,"Albus muttered.

"Do you have anything to add, Mr. Brickston ?"Balladanis asked.

"No,"can replied,"Albus is telling the truth."

"Very well,"Balladanis replied,"I see this thing goes much further than a duel. All three of you will receive four Night'detainment starting tonight at eight. Each of you have lost ten points from your respective houses.

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

Albus knew full well what Balladanis was insinuating. He and Gospel According to John said nothing as they followed Balladanis to Kendrick 's study. Malfoy walked a few ft behind them.

Albus had n't been to Kendrick 's study since his 1st year, when he went to talk to Dumbledore 's portrait. The home had n't changed in the little. Everything seemed to be in the exact same spot. Both Dumbledore and Snape were wake and in their portraits.

Kendrick was behind his desk writing something when they entered. He looked up curiously at them. Albus, John the Evangelist, and Malfoy stood near the door while Balladanis strode forward.

"We have a job,"Balladanis said,"These three have been dueling."

"I trust you to hand out detainment, Tethys,"Kendrick replied,"I am busy at the moment."

"It 's not the dueling,"Balladanis said,"It 's what they were dueling about."

"And what would that be ?"Kendrick asked.

"Mr. Malfoy has discovered that mat Eckerton is a lycanthrope,"Balladanis answered,"And I believe Mr. potter and Mr. Brickston have known for quite some time."

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

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

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

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

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

"Er, yes,"Albus replied,"pink wine Weasley, Amanda Tagger, and Kaden Dursley."

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

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

"Sir,"Albus interrupted,"I do n't reckon Matt 's in class."

"You may be right wing,"Kendrick sighed,"Do you have any idea where he might be ?"

"Yes,"Albus answered.

"Very well. Please go find him,"Kendrick said,"And Mr. Brickston, please go find the others."

Albus nodded and he and whoremonger left the study. Albus went straight to the piranha 's Den while John went to the dungeons as rose wine and Amanda would be in potions.

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

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

"No,"Albus replied,"He has n't had the chance. John and I dueled him after you left. Balladanis gave us all four nighttime of detention and took dot away."

"He 'll tell everyone soon,"matt replied,"I should probably go pack. You know, I really thought I 'd get to finish school. That 's not even the spoiled function. It 's going to be all over the Prophet. My dad 's going to fall back his job again. We 'll probably feature to move to New York."

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

"Why did Balladanis have to be such a good teacher ?"mat groaned and laid back on the bed,"If he had been some variety of awful teacher then maybe Malfoy would n't have found out. He 's just so exhaustive ! He left nothing out ! Even the way he described the transformation. It was so, it was just so, realistic.

"And that stupe anamatek !"lusterlessness sat up and looked at Albus,"That affair looked just like me, only older. No wonder Malfoy found out."

"You 're not going to get kicked out,"Albus assured him.

"How do you roll in the hay ?"Matt shouted,"How do you really get it on ? I know shimmy 's dad got to quell after Snape found out, but this is different. That was when Dumbledore was here ! Everyone says Dumbledore was barking mad. Kendrick is n't. Kendrick 's perfectly sane and he 's not going to want to trade with this."

Albus did n't really have sex what to say to that. Everything Matt said was true. Kendrick was not Dumbledore. Nobody could equate to Dumbledore.

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

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

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

"I know,"matt groaned and got up off the bed,"This just is n't fair. I hate it. I hate this altogether thing. I do n't want to be a bloody loup-garou anymore."

"I know,"Albus said, knowing just how miserable Matt was at that bit. Albus had never once heard him plain about being a werewolf. Not when he was too tired to do anything because of the full moon or when he was laid up in the hospital annex for days afterwards.

They walked quietly back to Kendrick 's survey. Albus muttered the password, that he had overheard Balladanis say, to the gargoyle and they ascended into the study.

Everyone else was already there and they all turned to Albus and matt when they walked in. lusterlessness froze in shoes and Albus stopped and looked at him. He was staring directly at Malfoy.

"Take a seat,"Kendrick gestured to the two abandon chairs, one of which was following to Malfoy's.

Albus took the seat next to Malfoy 's, but did n't look at him. Matt took the former one.

"First, I want to assure you that you do not have to pull up stakes Hogwarts,"Kendrick said to lusterlessness,"cypher else will be finding out about your lycanthropy."

Matt did n't wait reassured by this. Malfoy looked mutinous.

"My forefather wo n't agree with that,"Malfoy muttered.

"Your Fatherhood has no say whatsoever in which students I admit to this school,"Kendrick replied,"He works in the Ministry, and may I aim out that his placement is not very high."

"matt,"Kendrick turned away from Malfoy,"Energy Department anyone else love ?"Matt shook his chief."And did you separate the others, besides Mr. Malfoy, willingly ?"Kendrick continued. flatness nodded.

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

lustrelessness seemed unable to talk. After a few import of muteness, Kendrick turned to Albus."How foresightful have you known, Mr. ceramicist ?"

"Two years,"Albus answered.

Kendrick repeated this doubt with rosiness, John, and Amanda, who all gave the same result as Albus. Then he moved onto Kaden and Albus suddenly remembered the Sileo Altus charm. He shared one horrified glimpse with rosiness and waited for Kaden 's reply.

Kaden looked at Kendrick and then turned to Albus. His mouth was agape and he looked a little panic-struck.

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

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

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

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

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

"I did,"rosiness answered.

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

"Too smart for her own ripe, more like it,"Snape muttered.

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

"About a class,"rosiness said.

"Thank you,"Kendrick replied,"Now I have some things to discuss with Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Eckerton in buck private. The remainder of you may go to the Great G. Stanley Hall. I believe there is still a half hour or so left of lunch."

Albus did n't really require to leave without finding out what was going to take place to Malfoy, but he knew Matt would tell him.

Matt never showed up in the Great Hall for lunch, nor did he go to antediluvian rune or Charms. Albus could not pore on either of those year and was very happy when appeal was over and he was able to leave.

Grant Wood was not very happy that Albus had acquired four custody. In fact, he was livid. He spent twenty minutes telling Albus how he should n't be picking fights with early students so close to the adjacent Quidditch match, especially in presence of teachers'schoolroom. The lecture had only ended when Albus told him he was late for appealingness. Albus had run into Sir Henry Joseph Wood in in between ancient runic letter and Charms.

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

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

"True,"John agreed.

pink wine, Kaden, and Amanda were with them. Albus wanted to go find Matt before they went to dinner. They had to hold off a while for the corridor to exonerate out before they were actually able to get into the elbow room, though.

Matt was fast numb on the couch when they entered."upright thing he does n't have detention tonight,"John pointed out.

"Yeah,"Albus agreed.

King John gently shook mat 's shoulder until he cracked his eyes open."Wake up,"King John said,"Or you 'll omit dinner."

"I 'm not hungry,"lustrelessness muttered.

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

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

"I wish he would,"lustrelessness sighed,"All he did was separate Malfoy how important it was not to mention anything. He said telling his father would do zero. Then he told him that if he ever did tell anyone, he would face riddance for revealing another student 's medical entropy. But that 's it ! I mean, Malfoy did promise he would n't say anything, but who really knows ? trusted, if he tells, he 'll be expelled, but that wo n't take it back. I 'd still hold to leave."

"As much as a git as he is,"Albus began,"I do n't think he 's going to secern anyone if it meant he 'd be expelled. That would be the ultimate shame in the Malfoy syndicate, besides being a Squib or marrying a Muggle or something, getting expelled and not being a fully qualified wizard. Malfoy wo n't desire that."

"I guess you 're powerful,"matte sighed,"It 's just so strange, knowing that he knows."

"I know,"Albus said,"Do you want to go eat dinner ?"

"No,"Matt shook his nous,"You guys go on ahead. I 've got to send an owl to my parents, let them eff about this."

Albus nodded."We 'll see you later, then. lavatory and I have got custody tonight."

"Oh, right. Good destiny with that,"Matt replied.

******

Balladanis 's detention was a bit anticlimactic. Albus had been expecting him to think up some really creative and taxing hold, but instead he assigned them parentage. telephone circuit were possibly the most slow hold ever thought up, but they were preferable to cleaning the lav or something.

"Potter, Malfoy,"Balladanis said after they 'd been writing for ten transactions,"Your dueling deterrent example is canceled for tomorrow night due to your detainment. custody will be at nine, after my extra help session, something I 'll expect you to be attending, Brickston."

Balladanis said goose egg more and began grading essays at his desk. He completely ignored the three boy, which Albus did n't really mind. He just wanted to get his ancestry done and get out of there.

"Where does he go ?"Malfoy hissed at Albus.

"What ?"Albus whispered.

"You know, on full moons, where does he go ?"Malfoy elaborated.

"I 'm not telling you that,"Albus muttered.

"My dad said a werewolf used to instruct here, and he got fired when everyone found out,"Malfoy drawled.

"He quit,"Albus corrected him,"He was n't fired. He was the best Defense Department teacher any of our parents ever had."

"Quiet !"Balladanis shouted,"I did n't say you could talk."

Albus was thankful for Balladanis 's scolding. Malfoy stopped asking questions and went back to his lines. Albus sighed and went back to his own. How far was Malfoy going to go ? Why could n't he just be satisfied with having worked out matte 's secret ?

A half hour into their descent written material, when Albus was contemplating switching hands despite the fact that he wrote horribly with his decent hand, there was a knock on the door. Albus looked up and saw prof Kendrick standing in the doorway, along with none former than lustrelessness 's dad. Albus set down his quill and turned to John. John had set down his own quill.

"Who 's that ?"Malfoy asked.

"Shush !"Albus hissed. The in conclusion thing they needed was for Balladanis to remember they were there and secernate them to get out so he could have whatever conversation he was about to birth in private.

"genus Aplysia,"Kendrick said quietly,"This is Bruno Walter Eckerton."

"We 've met,"Balladanis muttered.

Albus turned again to John the Evangelist. Matt 's dad knew Balladanis ? How ? lustrelessness had never mentioned that before.

"That 's his dad ?"Malfoy whispered.

"Shush !"Albus said again.

"I wish to blab to you about what happened early today,"mat 's dad said quietly.

"What about it, Eckerton ?"Balladanis asked.

"My son told me about your example,"Mr. Eckerton said,"How, informative they are."

"I teach my scholarly person what they 'll involve to make out in order to represent themselves,"Balladanis replied.

"I think you go too far with that,"Mr. Eckerton disagreed,"Merlin, showing them exactly what a werewolf looks like before a transformation with an anamatek ? Do you realize how dangerous those are ?"

"Of course,"Balladanis said, raising his voice a bit,"You 're not the entirely expert on magical creatures. I have perfect control over my anamatek."

"Nobody has perfect ascendency over an anamatek !"Mr. Eckerton said.

"The headmaster has already told me I 'm not allowed to use it anymore, so you really do n't necessitate to be lecturing me about this,"Balladanis seethed.

"Oh, it 's not only that,"Mr. Eckerton stepped a bit closer to Balladanis,"It 's how much you taught the third gear long time about werewolves. The details about their translation, how to pick one out of the general population, what happens before, during, and after transformations. Your lesson was far more detailed than a tierce year text book."

"You 'd get that all my moral are like that,"Balladanis replied,"Text books do not hand enough details."

"I think giving enough details about identifying a wolfman so that a third twelvemonth would be able-bodied to work out that individual not even in their Lapplander sign of the zodiac is one is going too far,"Mr. Eckerton seethed,"You knew about my son. You should give birth been a bit more cautious with your lesson."

"Withholding information from an entire social class because of one student is not a good method of teaching,"Balladanis countered.

"It is when it could be dangerous for that one scholar,"Mr. Eckerton said,"Fan of the greatest good for the great number, are we ?"

"There are times when that is a estimable doctrine,"Balladanis replied.

"We 'll check to disagree, then,"Mr. Eckerton said,"But if I find that your moral are putting my son in danger anymore, you may find that the Ministry is inquiring into your teaching practices."

"I 'll learn however I like,"Balladanis muttered.

Mr. Eckerton ignored this and turned to the three boys, none of whom were writing lines any longer."Is that him ?"he asked.

"The one who found out ?"Kendrick replied,"Yes."

Mr. Eckerton strode over to the mesa Albus, trick, and Malfoy were working at. He nodded hello to Albus and whoremaster before turning to Malfoy.

"I realize the schoolmaster has already gone over this with you,"Mr. Eckerton began,"But I feel the need to repeat that there will be consequence if you make public my son 's condition."

Malfoy nodded."I know,"he muttered.

"Good,"Mr. Eckerton replied and returned to where Kendrick was standing. He turned once again to Balladanis."I 'll be returning to the castle tomorrow to seek your study and classroom for the anamatek. If it is still here, I will drive it into custody."

Balladanis muttered something under his breath as matte 's dad left the way with Professor Kendrick. Albus exchanged a coup d'oeil with John Lackland. He wanted zippo more than to leave, so he could talk about what had just happened.

"That 's enough for tonight,"Balladanis barked,"Get out. Be back here tomorrow night at nine."

Albus nearly spilled his ink in his rush to get up. He ran out of the way as fast as he could with Saint John following. Malfoy made no move to try and sing to them again, so they headed straight to the marauder 's Den.


A/N : Thanks to my beta, Dancer of Starlight as well as all of the pin-up people who have read and reviewed this ! You guys are awesome !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


Albus and John burst into the Marauder 's Den a little while later to find that flatness and Kaden were the only if ones there. Matt 's face was covered in ash and Kaden was grinning. They were in the middle of a secret plan of Exploding Snap.

"And that makes four winnings for me and none for you,"Kaden announced as he collected the cards,"Oh, Albus, John ! How was your detention ? Want to play ?"

"Not now,"Albus said hurriedly as he sat down next to matt,"lusterlessness, did you do it your dad was just here ?"

"Yeah,"mat nodded,"When he got my owl, he wanted to go talk to Kendrick. I went with him."

"wellspring, do you bonk where he went after ?"John asked.

"home plate, I guess,"matte shrugged,"Why ?"

"He and Kendrick turned up in our custody,"john said.

"He what ?"mat replied.

"Yeah, it was really odd,"Albus said,"He came in with Kendrick and Kendrick introduced him to Balladanis. Only Balladanis said 'we 've met'. You never told us your dad knew Balladanis."

"I never knew,"matt shrugged,"Then what happened ?"

"Your dad was really angry,"Albus continued,"He thinks Balladanis taught us too much about how to project out if someone 's a werewolf and that 's why Malfoy found out. Then he told him how unsafe it was for him to use that anamatek in class-"

"Oh, yeah,"Matt said,"I told my dad about the anamatek and that 's one of the reasons he came here, to tell Kendrick about it. Kendrick 's making him get rid of it."

"Yeah, that 's what your dad said,"Albus replied,"He 's coming back to inspect Balladanis 's room tomorrow to make certain he got rid of it. He also said that if any of Balladanis 's precept puts you in danger again, the Ministry 's going to inquire him."

"It 's really not a good estimate to get on my dad 's bad English,"mat said,"What did Balladanis do during this ?"

"He kept saying that he was going to learn however he wanted,"Albus explained,"Honestly, he did not await happy that your dad was there. I think something happened between the two of them."

"But what ?"lusterlessness asked,"Dad 's never mentioned him before."

"Think he 'd tell you if you asked ?"John wondered.

"Probably,"flatness said,"I 'll owl him about it."

"Oh, and then your dad told Malfoy he 'd better not tell anyone you 're a werewolf,"Saint John the Apostle said,"He looked pretty scary, too. I do n't think Malfoy 's going to state anyone."

******

It did not take very long for word to spread that Balladanis had gotten in trouble for having an anamatek. Galleons exchanged hands the next morn at breakfast, as a few older students had bet on how long he would have it. Somehow everyone knew that Matt 's dad had showed up at Hogwarts the previous night and informed Kendrick about it.

Kaden had defense force that morning and reported to Albus at lunch that Balladanis was even strict than common and seemed incredibly angry. That did not augur well for Albus 's detention that evening.

"He 's downright shivery,"Kaden said as he piled steak and kidney pie onto his denture,"Yelled at one of the Ravenclaws in my class for spilling her ink. She was nearly in weeping. But I 'd hate to be in your category, Albus, he 's going to be unrelenting. I mean, it 's pretty often because of Matt that he got in trouble."

Matt had gone up to the Marauder 's Den after they got out of Herbology since he felt ill and was n't in dejeuner. Albus knew that Kaden was ripe. Balladanis was going to take this out on Matt, and possibly Malfoy as well.

"I do n't jazz why he cares so much,"John the Divine shrugged,"I mean, the Ministry could have just taken that thing away. He 's lucky he just had to take it back to his house or whatever."

"I do n't think he likes the government,"Albus said,"That 's the opinion I got after listening to him verbalise about what he did before pedagogy here. I think that 's why he did that, instead of becoming an Auror."

"Well, I think it 's a in force mind for the Ministry to make him take aim that affair place,"John said.

"Me, too,"Albus agreed,"I mean, he could 've turned it into a manticora next."

Kaden went to category after lunch while Albus and John went up to the piranha 's Den with pink wine and Amanda.

"Think he 's owled his dad yet ?"John asked as he gestured to Matt, who was asleep in his bed.

"Doubt it,"Albus said,"He 's probably been asleep since he got up here."

"merlin, I just want to know what happened between his dad and Balladanis,"St. John groaned.

"You 're so impatient,"rose wine commented,"Just let him sleep."

"I was n't going to heat him up,"John muttered.

The remainder of the good afternoon passed by quickly. Albus was dreading his custody later and John complained loudly about how he had to go to the special help session about lycanthrope when he already knew so much about them.

Albus woke lustrelessness up shortly before dinner party and he looked much unfit than he usually did the day of full lunation. They all escorted him to the infirmary wing, where gentlewoman Pomfrey rushed him into bed.

Just as they were about to leave the hospital wing, the doorway opened and in walk Matt 's dad. Albus assumed he was there to arrest if Balladanis had gotten rid of his anamatek.

John nudged Albus."We should ask him about Balladanis,"Saint John the Apostle whispered.

"He 's not going to tell us now,"Albus muttered back,"aspect at him."

Mr. Eckerton looked tired out and incredibly worried. He nodded to Albus and the others before rushing over to lustrelessness 's bed and talking to dame Pomfrey in hush up whispers.

As it turned out, Albus had been worrying about the detention for zippo. He entered the room before Malfoy and John was already doing his lines. Balladanis said absolutely null to Albus as he handed him parchment. Malfoy arrived a little while later and still Balladanis said nothing.

Malfoy did not talk either. He did not ask anything about flatness and did n't even comment that the entire moon was that night.

Balladanis let them provide at one-half past ten. Albus and privy found Kaden in the Marauder 's Den and spent the remaining clip left until uranology playing Exploding snapshot and Wizard 's Chess.

"Why, why do we have to get this socio-economic class with the Slytherins ?"toilet groaned as they made their way to the Astronomy tug,"If Malfoy does n't make a single comment about the full Moon, I 'll eat an entire cauldron."

"I 'm going to keep you to that,"Albus laughed,"But I do n't think you 'll have to."

Malfoy went so far as to actually set his telescope up next to Albus 's. Professor Marco Polo spent ten minutes telling them that they were to plot the perspective of Mars, Urania, the moon, and a smattering of champion before turning them lose to actually do so.

"The lunation is so undimmed,"Malfoy whispered,"And big and ... full ...."

Albus looked at Saint John."Looks like I wo n't be eating my caldron tonight,"John muttered.

"Just shut it, Malfoy,"Albus said.

"Is n't his dad the Head of the Department for the regulating and ascendency of Magical Creatures ? Yeah, he must be, because he 's the one who made Balladanis get rid of the anamatek. Ca n't say I 'm really upset about that,"Malfoy said quietly,"But how ironic."

"Just stop talking about it,"Albus muttered.

"Oh, fall on, thrower. Even you have to appreciate the irony,"Malfoy said.

"will you just close up,"Albus seethed.

"placidity over there,"Polo said.

Malfoy smirked at Albus one more time before going back to his telescope. The eternal sleep of the lesson passed without anymore comment from Malfoy and Albus was quite well-chosen when he was able to regress to his dormitory.

******

"It 's like back in first year,"Albus sighed,"Remember when Madam Pomfrey locked the hospital wing ?"

"That 's why this is bad !"Rose said.

"Well, she did n't shut up us out this time,"John pointed out.

"She did n't exactly let us in either,"Kaden said.

Albus and his ally had slept late on Sabbatum morning and after grabbing a quick chomp to eat, had gone to jaw flatness in the hospital wing. dame Pomfrey had n't let them in. They were currently in the Marauder 's Den, trying to figure out why.

"She always lets us in,"John groaned.

"He obviously had a really bad night,"Albus said quietly.

"Yeah, but why ?"rose wine wondered.

"Have n't you noticed that the full moon have been worse the past few calendar month ?"Albus asked,"He 's been taking longer to recover."

"I wish he 'd just let us become Animagi,"Saint John the Apostle muttered.

"Saint John, I honestly do n't think you could become an Animagus,"rose wine replied,"You 'd wind up with a permanent tail affixed to your arse."

"That would n't be that bad,"John grinned,"Always thought it would be cool to have a tail."

"You 're not helping,"Albus sighed,"What are we going to do ?"

"I think all we can do is just stay fresh going back to the infirmary annex,"John shrugged,"Until madam Pomfrey lets us in."

Their try proved fruitless, though. They went to the infirmary flank twice that afternoon and then right before Albus and John had to go to detention. ma'am Pomfrey told them 'no'each prison term.

Sunday, the last day of Albus and St. John the Apostle 's detention, was the same. gentlewoman Pomfrey was quite livid when they showed up for the third time that day.

"zippo 's changed !"she shouted,"seed back tomorrow evening ! I 'll give the lot of you detention if you come back any earliest than that !"

With that, she strode back into the Mrs. Humphrey Ward and slammed the doorway."Can she even give detention ?"Kaden asked.

"I dunno,"Albus shrugged,"I would n't put it past her."

Albus and John broke away from the radical to dispatch their go custody. Balladanis gave them occupation, just like he had the past three nighttime. Albus sat quietly completing them, very thankful for the fact that Malfoy had n't said two words to him since Astronomy.

"You may block up,"Balladanis said quietly after they 'd been writing for about an 60 minutes and a half.

Albus threw his flight feather down and leaned back in his chair. Finally, it was over.

"I hope you learned something,"Balladanis said, which shocked Albus. He had been expecting Balladanis to continue his silence."If I catch any of you dueling in the corridors again, the consequences will be much more life-threatening than detention and lost points.

"Mr. potter and Mr. Malfoy, I have given expectant thought to whether I should cover giving you extra lessons. I have decided to pay you one more chance. Lessons will continue this Friday at their normal time. However, if either of you disregard my dominion again, I will no longer obtain them. You may go. I 'll see all three of you in course on Tuesday."

"Merlin, I 'm glad that 's over,"St. John the Apostle muttered to Albus once they were on their way to Gryffindor Tower.

"Me too,"Albus agreed,"He 's going to be painful in class, though."

"Yeah, ca n't say I 'm looking forward to that,"Saint John the Apostle said.

Albus could n't concentrate at all in his stratum the following day. All he wanted to do was go to the hospital wing and find out how Matt was, but madam Pomfrey insisted that they wait until evening.

rosebush and Amanda ate dinner with Linda, but they met Albus, King John, and Kaden near the hospital wing afterwards. They had all eaten a very rushed dinner party due to Albus 's Quidditch practice session at seven.

Albus cautiously opened the door to the hospital annex, half expecting dame Pomfrey to yell at them again. He walked quietly inside, followed the the others. ma'am Pomfrey was sitting at her desk and she visibly sighed when she noticed them.

"Go ahead,"she gestured to the solitary engage bed, which had the curtains pulled around it.

Albus rushed over to the bed and yanked the curtains back. Matt looked wipe out and there was a rather turgid bandage wrapped around his head.

"I was wondering when you 'd come up visit me,"Matt gave them a half smile.

"We 've been trying !"whoremaster said,"Madam Pomfrey has n't let us !"

"I know,"Matt smirked,"I 've heard her yell at you. It 's form of amusing."

"Well, we 're here now,"Albus said,"How are you ? Why did n't dame Pomfrey let us add up visit ?"

"Because I did n't come alive up until yesterday afternoon,"matte answered.

"But that was-"whoremonger began.

"Nearly two days later ?"Matt cut him off,"I know."

"But why ?"Rose asked.

"A crew of things, really,"lustrelessness sighed,"start, I was worried about Malfoy telling everyone and it 's always forged when I 'm concern about something. back, I hit my head really hard at some point that night. It still hurts. Third, the transformation in general are getting worse, because I 'm getting older."

That thought certainly had n't crossed Albus 's nous. Albus and all his acquaintance were obviously getting older and that brought plenty of modification, but he had n't even thought about how the wildcat would change when lustrelessness got older.

"So, are all of the wax moonshine going to be this bad now ?"Kaden asked.

"No,"Matt shook his brain and then winced,"I mean, I do n't really know what 'll happen in the future, but this one was just a combining of bad things."

"That 's full, I guess,"Albus shrugged,"When do you get to bequeath ?"

"Tomorrow night at the other,"Matt sighed,"Although that means I 'll omit Defense."

"compliments I could pretermit Defense,"King John muttered,"Speaking of vindication, did you owl your dad yet ?"

"can, he just woke up yesterday,"rosebush pointed out.

"I did n't owl him,"mat said,"But he came to see me sooner and I asked him."

"Brilliant,"St. John grinned,"And ?"

"And,"flatness said,"He told me all about it. He told me Balladanis was a Presuler and was really surprised that I already knew.

"Apparently, back when my dad had just been appointed principal of the section for the ordinance and Control of Magical Creatures in Australia, he hired Balladanis to captivate a set of vampires who were attacking Muggles on the outback. Balladanis caught them, but he thought Dad went too easy on them."

"What did he do to them ?"lav asked.

"Sent them to prison. I think they got 20 years. Balladanis thought they should have gotten sprightliness conviction. Dad and Balladanis got into this immense argument at the Ministry about it and Balladanis stormed out. The Aussie Ministry did n't charter him after that,"matte explained,"Although, I 'll bet Balladanis and Lubar would agree on penalization. I wonder if he 's employ Balladanis."

"That explains a lot,"Albus said,"Did your dad say anything else about him ?"

"No, not really,"Matt replied,"Just that he 's got a lot of progeny. Oh, and he wanted me to warn you not to listen to everything Balladanis says during those dueling moral you 've got."

"I 'm not going to,"Albus assured him,"I think we 've all seen a different side of Balladanis during the by week."

******

Tuesday morning dawned quickly and Albus trudged to Defense with Saint John the Apostle. Neither of them really knew what class would be like, but judging from what he heard about recent defensive measure course in the vulgar way, it would n't be fun.

Malfoy was back to his smug self now that detention was over. He sat next to Goyle wearing a smirk on his nerve. Albus ignored him and went to his usual table.

Balladanis stormed into the room a few minutes later. He waved his wand at the door and it slammed shut with a bang trashy enough that it caused the Jordan-Bell twins, who had been sitting secretive to it, to jump.

"Pass your homework dubiousness forward,"he growled.

Albus handed his homework to the tabular array in movement of him and waited for Balladanis to collect it. He paused in front of the table in front of Albus's.

"potter,"he began,"You can say Eckerton that his prep is deep and therefore I will not accept it. If he wished to get credit for it, he could own graced us with his presence."

Malfoy snorted at this, earning him glares from both Albus and Balladanis. Balaldanis tossed the preparation unceremoniously onto his desk and then turned back to his students.

"Wolfsbane potion,"he barked,"Was created by a man by the name of Oliver Belby. He finished the creation in 1991. For near wolfman, the potion was a lifesaver. Who can explicate what it does ?"

Nobody, not even blush wine and Linda, raised their hands. Albus stared down at his desk, hoping that Balladanis would n't call up on him.

"Nobody ?"he said,"pity. wolfbane potion renders a werewolf harmless during wax moons. The lycanthrope turns into a wolf, but a harmless one. One that will just log Z's until the moon hardening and will not deliver the urge to bite and kill.

"The potion is a lifesaver to those plagued with lycanthropy. I had been hoping to evidence you what a werewolf would front like on Wolfsbane potion, but my anamatek has been banned from the castling,"Balladanis said with maliciousness,"Therefore you will have to go without the visual. It seems that certain parents, Ministry functionary, and the headmaster do not approve of my method of teaching. Unfortunately, it is all of you who are suffering for it."

"I would n't scream it suffering,"lav muttered.

"Quiet, Brickston !"Balladanis shouted,"Unless you have something to contribute to the class."

"No, sir,"bathroom replied.

"Good,"Balladanis muttered,"Anyway, the anamatek will not be making anymore appearances in this classroom and your education is going to get for it. Nothing, and I repeat zero can supersede workforce on training."

Albus usually agreed with that, but he drew the stock at having what was in essence a live manticore in front of him. There were some times when reading sufficed.

The moral continued with Balladanis talking about wolfsbane. He spoke about how the potion does n't work for all wolfman and Albus found his intellect drifting. All in all, the example had n't been as bad as he 'd been expecting. Besides his brief rant about his anamatek being banned from the castling, he had been pretty pattern. Normal for Balladanis, that is.

"Next lesson will be the cobbler's last on werewolves,"Balladanis announced at the end of class,"We will learn about lycanthropy 's effect on children."

Albus groaned inwardly. matte would be out of the hospital annexe by then. Why could n't Balladanis just wind up the werewolf building block already ?

"He wo n't be back next yr,"John muttered as they walked to Herbology.

"I do n't doubt that,"Albus replied,"I just wonder who we 're going to get instead."


A/N : Thanks to my beta, Dancer of Starlight as well as all the pin-up people who have read and reviewed this !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


"Place your bets here !"Fred shouted the next day as he walked around the common room.

Albus had just climbed through the portrait muddle with Empire State of the South and Saint James the Apostle after a particularly unmanageable Quidditch pattern. woodwind was getting them prepared for the catch against New York, which was to take place in a fiddling over a week.

"Georgia, William James, Albus !"Fred greeted them,"Care to place a bet ?"

"What are you taking bets about ?"Empire State of the South asked tiredly,"And if you keep betting on poppycock, your mum is bound to come up out."

"She wo n't care,"Fred shrugged. He was probably right-hand. Albus 's Aunt Alicia was the least exacting out of all of his aunty. She 'd probably place a bet with Fred.

"You 'd just amend hope Grandma does n't rule out,"Peach State smirked.

Fred looked momentarily horrorstruck and Albus could n't find fault him. Molly Weasley would probably send him a howler if she knew he was gambling.

"She wo n't unless you tell her,"Fred muttered,"And Scots heather and I are taking bet on how much longer Balladanis is going to last. Care to take a conjecture ?"

"I suppose,"Sakartvelo said as she pulled out some gold,"Two Galleons says he 's gone in a hebdomad. I heard he had three first long time in tears today."

"He nearly had one-half of my course in crying,"Fred said as he took Georgia 's gold,"James, Al ?"

"Three Galleons says he 's gone in two weeks,"James said as he tossed Fred some gold and then left to go find his friends.

"Nope,"Albus shook his head.

"wooing yourself,"Fred shrugged and continued his walking around the common room,"stake here, place your bets !"

Albus found his friend crowded around their usual tabular array in the green room. Linda was with them. All three young lady were working on prep. John the Divine and Kaden were trading drinking chocolate anuran cards.

"Fred 's going to get himself in trouble,"Rose muttered as Albus sat down,"You did n't bet anything, did you ?"

"No,"Albus shook his top dog,"How about you lot ?"

"I bet ten Sickles he wo n't concluding the year,"John said.

"You should jazz exactly when he 'll leave, what with your taking Divination,"Rose smirked.

"Divination 's a joke,"lavatory muttered,"I ca n't expect to dismiss it after fifth year."

"Told you so,"Rose grinned,"Sick of making up hooey ?"

"It 's just so pointless,"John groaned,"We 're still doing vitreous silica balls. I just tell her that I see myself dying anytime she asks and it keeps her happy."

"That 's why I 'm not taking soothsaying,"Kaden announced,"Bloody waste of a class."

Kaden had chosen his socio-economic class for next year a few days prior. He decided on precaution of Magical creature, ancient Runes, and Arithmancy.

"Easy homework, though,"John sighed,"I just proceed reminding myself about that."

"What 's got easy homework ?"Matt asked as he sat down in the chairman side by side to trick 's. He looked a bit better than he had the previous day, but still wear out.

"Pomfrey finally let you out ?"can asked,"And we 're talking about Divination."

"Yeah, just in time for Defense tomorrow,"lusterlessness groaned,"I 'm tempted to use a Fainting fancy to get out of it."

"I think half the first days are going to do that on Friday,"Kaden said,"I overheard them talking. Apparently Balladanis completely flipped out on one of them today, all over one uncompleted homework doubtfulness. Made her cry."

"That 's what Georgia was saying,"Albus replied,"make me want to use a Fainting fantasy. Two weeks. I know I did n't bet on it, but that 's really all I 'd turn over him."

******

whoremaster filled his pockets with emesis Pastilles before he set off to Defense the next morning. Albus did n't bother. His curiosity always trumped his dislike for certain classes. He 'd rather be there and have it off exactly what Balladanis was doing.

"Werewolves,"Balladanis said as soon as the bell rang,"When the term is used, nigh multitude conjure up images of alone adults, condemned to a poor life that revolves around the Moon.

"However, there is a whole chemical group of werewolves that are mostly overlooked. Children. Ah, yes, nipper do get attacked by werewolves. Very few survive. Found by their parents when it is too former. Even fewer survive the initial translation. wolfman transformation, as you have learned, are incredibly taxing, both physically and emotionally. Very few tiddler are stiff enough to earn it through."

Balladanis paused and began to tread the room."Parents are faced with a decisiveness after their tyke is bitten. They have three selection. Number one, they can contend with it. Deal with the monthly transformations and try and reach aliveness as normal as potential for the tiddler. issue two, they can desolate their nipper. Force them to dwell with a untamed coterie of werewolves, to grow up to kill. However, there is a third option. Does anyone care to guess as to what it is ?"

Nobody raised their manus. Balladanis looked at his class until his eyes rested on Matt. A very creepy smirk appeared on his face.

"Mr. Eckerton, care to tell us ?"Balladanis asked.

Albus, who had been trying hard not to look at Matt throughout the deterrent example, stole a quick glance at him. He was staring at the desk, flight feather in hand, shaking slightly.

"N-no,"Matt stuttered.

"Very well,"Balladanis smirked,"The third option is to put the shaver down. Not a pleasant selection, but one that a few parents select anyway. This selection used to be readily suggested by Healers, but has now become quite controversial. It is not suggested very often anymore.

"Parents who choose the first option, to persist in to heighten their child, are in for a very tough life. Werewolf children are unmanageable to heighten. It is a Brobdingnagian accommodation for parents and siblings if there are any. The bite affects the entirely family. It changes lives, it can rip families apart."

Balladanis continued droning on and on about how lycanthropy affects children and Albus looked again at mat. His hand was shaking even harder and his face was as blanched as it had been when he had dressed up as a ghost.

Albus shared a feeling with privy and John reached into his pouch. He slid a vomit Pastille across the board towards Albus and then slid one to lustrelessness. Albus quietly unwrapped it and then waited until Balladanis had looked away to squeeze it into his mouth. John Lackland and mat did the Lapp. Albus clutched his stomach as the sweet began to take affect.

"Lycanthropic nestling rarely, if ever, get to wait on schooltime,"Balladanis droned.

"Sir !"John the Divine shouted,"I do n't finger so well. May I go to the infirmary Wing ?"

"I do n't feel too well either,"Albus added.

"Shut it, you two,"Balladanis shouted,"And no you may not go to the-"

Balladanis was cut off by the auditory sensation of all three boy vomiting at the Saami time. Albus leaned over his table and vomited right onto the base. The class erupted into outcry and Balladanis tried to restrain order.

"amercement !"he seethed,"Get to the Hospital extension, all three of you !"

Albus resisted the urge to cat again as he ran for the door. Matt and St. John the Apostle followed. All three of them shoved the Orange end of the sweets into their mouths as soon as they shut the door behind them. The affect was instantaneous. Albus immediately felt better.

"The man 's evil !"John shouted,"How could he teach that ?"

"Not here,"flatness muttered and took off down the corridor.

None of them said anything else until they reached the Marauder 's Den."As I was saying,"can began,"What is wrong with that bloke ?"

"I think a lot of things,"Albus muttered,"He 's a raving lunatic."

"He 's only doing it because you 're in the class,"bathroom said to Matt as he paced around the room,"None of what he said today is actually in the Christian Bible. I mean, did you learn the ledger ? There 's not a lot in there that Balladanis has actually taught !"

"He hates me because my dad made him get rid of his stupid anamatek,"Matt muttered.

"But it started before that,"Albus pointed out,"He wants to make you miserable because of what your dad did with those vampires years ago."

"It 's just not fair,"Matt groaned,"I mean, did you take heed to what he was talking about ?"

"It was hard not to,"Albus sighed,"Is it unfeigned ?"

"Yes,"flatness said quietly,"And before you ask, one of the therapist did evoke that to my parents."

Albus suddenly felt more sick than he had when he ate the Puking troche. How could a healer, someone whose job it was to make people healthy, actually suggest that to a child 's parents ?

"Seriously ?"John asked,"What happened after they asked ?"

"My dad and my Uncle Jack hexed him at the same time,"mat gave them a half-smile,"Put him in his own infirmary bed for two days."

"You know, I 'd really like to meet your Uncle Jack,"John grinned,"He sounds like a great bloke."

"He is,"Matt smiled,"He would 've hexed Balladanis quite a while ago if he were here."

"But he 's not,"John sighed,"So what are we going to do about this ?"

"I 'm sending an owl to my dad,"flatness said as he stood up,"You two are n't going to have got to do anything."

"Three twenty-four hour period,"whoremonger said after Matt left,"I give Balladanis three more days."

******

"Your dad certainly does n't waste any metre,"Rose said to Matt as she unfolded her copy of the Prophet the next sunup at breakfast.

Albus leaned over and learn the paper over blush wine 's shoulder.

HOGWARTS PROFESSOR TO BE INVESTIGATED BY MINISTRY
The Department of Magical Education received an inquiry
late yesterday afternoon, requesting an probe
of Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark art professor,
Tethys Balladanis. The inquiry was submitted by none
other than the newly appointed chief of the department
for the Regulation and controller of Magical Creatures,
Walter Eckerton, whose fourteen-year-old son currently
attends Hogwarts.

prof Aplysia Balladanis has been teaching vindication at
the school since September, when he replaced Head Auror
Harry Potter. ceramicist had taught the case for two
years and wished to focus solely on his Auror career,
resulting in his resignation at the end of concluding schoolhouse
year.

The impending investigating comes as hardly a surprise.
Earlier this workweek Walter Eckerton visited Hogwarts
after receiving a tip that Balladanis was holding an
anamatek in his classroom. This proved to be true and
Eckerton ordered him to remove it. The anamatek was
legally in Balladanis 's possession, so all he had to
do was transfer it from shoal premises. Eckerton told
newsperson that Balladanis complied.

However, Eckerton has claimed that the prof
repeatedly put scholarly person in peril and humiliated them
in straw man of their classmates.

'It 's not just the anamatek ,'Eckerton told reporters,
'I 'm filing this question as a parent, not as a Ministry
official. First and foremost, I wish to protect my son .'

The investigation will begin today and be carried out
by officials from the section of Magical Education,
a department that was set up for this role after
the downfall of overlord Voldemort. official will visit
the schooling and audience both students and faculty as
a share of their investigation.

genus Aplysia Balladanis will stay to teach refutation Against
the dark Arts during this time.

"He 's still going to teach ?"whoremonger said incredulously after he finished reading the article.

"I 'm not going to Defense anymore,"Matt said,"Not until he 's gone."

"They ca n't stop him from teaching until they do the investigating,"Rose explained,"Only Kendrick can block up him from teaching at the moment."

"Then why does n't Kendrick do that ?"Albus asked as he looked up at the stave table.

Kendrick was talking with Neville and there was a copy of the Prophet egg laying between them. Balladanis was not present.

"I do n't acknowledge,"rosiness said quietly,"But Defense is just going to get worse."

"Which is why I 'm not going,"matt said adamantly.

For once, Rose did not correct him about skipping course. Albus could n't blame him. He himself was half tempted to skip, but he knew his curiosity would get the proficient of him.

"Somehow, I do n't call back you 'll give birth the prospect to pass over,"pink wine muttered,"We do n't have United States Department of Defense until Tuesday."

"Excellent,"John grinned,"Now I wo n't have to do that werewolf essay."

"I never said that,"rosebush replied,"You still ought to do it, just in case."

"Look, Kendrick 's getting up,"Kaden pointed to the staff table.

"May I have your attention !"Kendrick shouted and the chatter in the hall immediately ceased,"Thank you. I trust by now that you 've all either read or heard about the article on the front varlet of the Prophet.

"Ministry officials will be visiting the shoal today and tomorrow to conduct their investigation. They will be selecting students to audience. If you are selected, I advise you to answer their interrogative truthfully.

"As of rightfield now, professor Balladanis is still your teacher, therefore you need to treat him with respect and advert his classes. This is, at the second, an probe and aught more. Now, you 'd scoop be off to class."

"Albus,"rose wine whispered as they made their way out of the Great Hall to History of Magic,"You 're not going to that dueling example tonight, are you ?"

"I dunno,"Albus shrugged. He had n't really thought about it until then.

"I do n't think you should,"rose told him.

Albus nodded. He did n't desire to go, but he also did n't need to find out what Balladanis would do when Albus did n't show up that evening.

Nobody fell asleep during history of illusion. It must have been a new record, one that was previously set back when Binns was still active. However, the lack of fatigue was not due to Binns 's lecture. No, that was just as ho-hum as usual. The students remained awake because they were talking about Balladanis. The classroom was filled with the quiet whispers of the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw third years and Binns droned on without seeming to notice.

There were only six students in the castle who knew the specific reason why lusterlessness 's dad had submitted that inquiry. Albus, rose, John, Amanda, Kaden, and Matt himself. Seven, if you counted Malfoy, but even Malfoy did not hump that it had been Balladanis 's talk on lycanthropic children that pushed Mr. Eckerton to submit the inquiry.

Everyone else speculated. About half the school put the blame on the anamatek, even though lusterlessness 's dad had come out and said that was n't the existent rationality. The oracle had only glazed over the reasons, not getting into specific. The Hogwarts pupil wanted particular. They wanted to have intercourse what had pushed lusterlessness 's dad to submit an inquiry when none of their parents seemed fazed.

The reason the scholar fabricated ranged from plausible to unconscionable. A few seventh years, mainly Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, speculated that Balladanis had gotten a bit overenthusiastic with his extra help sessions and perhaps expend mat as an exemplar of someone who did not possess the skills to kill dark thaumaturge. Combine that with an overprotective parent ( what the seventh years claimed Matt 's dad to be, which was not actually an overstatement ), and the probe was born. They believed that the probe would be adrift over and within two weeks everything would be back to normal, with Balladanis still teaching.

A few overexcited first long time were the on the antonym slope of the spectrum. They believed that Balladanis had let a chimaera loose in his classroom while teaching the Gryffindor and Slytherin 3rd days. Apparently they overlooked the fact that nobody had turned up injured after year and the fact that Balladanis would have been sacked immediately if that had actually been the case.

matte had become somewhat of a celebrity inside the Hogwarts paries. There was n't a single mortal, living, spectre, or portrait, who did n't know it was his dad who launched the inquiry. He was stopped no less than six times on the way from History of Magic to Herbology by citizenry wanting to hump the detail of the interrogation. It was something Albus could tell Matt was extremely uncomfortable with.

"Merlin, when will they take that I do n't require to verbalise about it !"Matt groaned as they made their way back to the castle after Herbology. Two Ravenclaw second years had just run up to Matt, demanding to know why his dad wanted to get Balladanis sacked. Apparently they actually liked him.

"You should just place upright up on the Gryffindor table and make an announcement during lunch,"John suggested.

"Definitely not,"Matt said,"I 'm just glad we do n't have class this afternoon."

"Me, too,"Albus agreed,"Hey, look, I bet those are the investigators."Albus pointed to three official looking people striding up towards the castling. There were two witches and a wizard.

"Probably,"John Lackland said,"I wonder who they 're going to interview ?"

"Ten Galleons says they consultation me,"Matt replied,"And probably Albus since he 's had all those private lessons."

"Let 's just promise they do n't audience those two Ravenclaws,"John said.

Albus, lusterlessness, and John continued their trek to the Great Hall, where they ate a very dissipated lunch. None of them wanted to stay very long since everyone was still asking mat about the inquiry. After they finished, the boys went to Gryffindor towboat to deposit their udder before going to the vulture 's Den to put off their homework.

The unwashed room was mostly empty when they arrived, but Albus spotted Lily, Hugo, and Ashtyn sitting around one of the tables.

"Do n't you three have class now ?"Albus asked, feeling very much like Rose.

"Yes,"Lily muttered,"We 've got defence and we 're skipping. Do n't say anything about it. There 's nothing you can do to make me go, so do n't even try."

"I was n't going to,"Albus assured her,"Was n't it your stratum where Balladanis made individual cry ?"

"That 's why we 're not going,"Ashtyn replied,"And we do n't give care if we get custody either. Oh, and John the Divine, you 'd better not tell Mum."

"I wo n't,"John Lackland said,"The three of us used Puking Pastilles to get out of Defense yesterday."

"You should get just skipped from the beginning,"Ashtyn told them.

"wellspring, you three love your skipping,"Albus said as he continued to his dormitory.

"Oh, consider me, we will,"Lily grinned.

The boys quickly stowed their dish in their dormitory and set off for the Maruader 's Den. Albus climbed out of the portrait fix and ran straight into Gabriella.

"There you are, Al !"Gabriella exclaimed,"I 've been looking for you. Kendrick wants to see you in his study. Oh, flow on."Gabriella consulted the piece of parchment she was holding."He wants to see matte, too."

"Looks like you two are getting interviewed,"trick said as Gabriella went into the common room.

"hypothesis so,"Albus shrugged. He really was n't surprised. Even if he had n't been receiving individual moral with Balladanis, he probably would suffer been interviewed. It was one of those thing that happened when your father was the most renowned champion in Britain.

"I 'll see you two later, then,"John replied,"Have fun."

"Oh, yeah,"Albus rolled his optic,"Loads."

Albus and mat left for Kendrick 's bailiwick while whoremaster continued towards the predator 's Den. Albus had no idea what he was going to do while they were gone, but he would bet that John would be bored within fifteen minutes.


A/N : I hope you all enjoyed HPFF 's Apr Fool 's Day Prank ! The staff really outstrip themselves this year. Thanks to my beta, Dancer of Starlight, and everyone who has read and reviewed this write up !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


There was another Prefect standing next to the gargoyle that concealed the entrance to Kendrick 's subject. It was apparently his job to grumble the parole to the gargoyle to provide all the bookman being interviewed in. He looked incredibly bored.

Albus and mat ascended into the field of study and found three early student waiting in social movement of Kendrick 's unopen door. A very bored looking Hufflepuff, who was probably in sixth or one-seventh year, Scorpio Malfoy, and much to Albus 's dismay, one of those Ravenclaws they had encountered on the basis earlier.

Albus was not at all surprised to see Scorpius Malfoy there. After all, he had secret lessons with Balladanis as well. However, he chose to ignore Malfoy 's bearing and leaned against the wall to begin the yearn wait.

What had been the gunpoint in sending them all to Kendrick 's study at the Saami clock time ? They were obviously only interviewing one soul at a sentence. Why could n't they consume just summoned Albus later, when there were LE the great unwashed waiting ?

Kendrick 's room access opened and a pale-faced Gryffindor first year walked out. She hurried out of the study and one of the Ministry officials motioned for the Ravenclaw to enter.

The Ravenclaw was in Kendrick 's study for about fifteen minute of arc. Then it was Malfoy 's turn. He took a bit more prison term, but finally came out and left without so much as a glance towards Albus and Matt.

In the mean value meter, two more students had entered. One Albus recognized as Peyton Haines, one of the pursuer from the Slytherin Quidditch squad. The other was a young Hufflepuff Albus did n't recognize.

Finally, after what must sustain been at least an hour, Albus was finally called into the room.

Kendrick was not in his study. Only the three investigators were. Albus was now able to see them up close. The one who had called him into the way was quite tall and wore a menacing glare. Her robes were perfectly pressed, without a undivided wrinkle, and her hair was pulled into a fast bun. She reminded Albus of Minerva McGonagall.

The other witch was the complete opposite. She was short and quite a bit corpulence. Her frizzy brown hair stuck up at all sorts of odd angles and she had a small pair of trash perched on her nose.

The remaining police detective was a sensation and he was seated behind Kendrick 's desk, a quill in helping hand. He looked a bit bored by the entire affair. He was gazing about the room and had the face of someone who was n't quite paying attention.

Two multitude who were paying ecstatic attention, or should he say portraits, were Dumbledore and Snape. Both were sitting straight up and looking straight at the investigators.

The grandiloquent witch gestured for Albus to take a butt in front of the desk. Albus did so.

"My name is Katherine Torenzo and this is Lorraine Smyth,"the grandiloquent witch gestured to the light beldam,"And that is herbaceous plant Cletus. He 'll be transcribing our interview."

No wonder he was so bored, Albus thought. He did n't even get to ask any of the questions.

"Please land your full name, age, year, and home for the phonograph record,"Torenzo said briskly.

Albus raised his eyebrows. Would n't they already know all of that information ?

"It 's protocol, dear,"Smyth told him.

"Albus Severus ceramist, thirteen, one-third year, Gryffindor,"Albus answered.

"Excellent,"Torenzo replied,"Now, perhaps you can enjoin us what goes on in an average deterrent example with professor Balladanis, in your own words."

"Er, all right,"Albus said,"wellspring, he comes in and tells us all to stop talking. Then he 'll take in the preparation. Oh, and you have to get the prep in on meter, no matter what. He does n't take late workplace, even if you 've got a upright excuse. You could be sick in the hospital wing and he would n't take aim late homework.

"Then he 'll instruct us a new spell or about some new tool. Then we 'll hold to perform the spell."

"What happens if you do n't perform it properly ?"Smyth asked.

"He makes you do it again, and again, until you get it,"Albus answered,"If you do n't get it, he makes you go to extra helper sessions."

"Has this caused distress to any of the pupil in your grade ?"Smyth asked.

"Not in my stratum, but I 've heard of early scholar crying because of it,"Albus answered.

"have you attended any extra help sessions ?"Torenzo asked.

"No,"Albus shook his head,"prof Balladanis has never told me I had to."

"I understand you have been given dueling object lesson by him, however,"Torenzo said,"Can you tell us a bit about them ? What do they lie in of ?"

"Most fourth dimension he just instruct me new spells, enchantment that are harder than the ones we learn in course of instruction. Scorpius Malfoy is there, too, and we duel each other with the patch,"Albus explained.

"You said 'most'prison term,"Smyth said,"What else does he make you do ?"

"Er,"Albus shifted uncomfortably in his chairman,"One time he had us go into his pensieve."

"Did he,"Torenzo muttered,"Please elaborate."

"We watched his parents be murdered by vampires,"Albus said after a legal brief hesitation. He doubted Balladanis would be happy about this, but Kendrick had said to be truthful.

Both Torenzo and Smyth looked horrified. Cletus was writing away furiously on the lambskin. Snape was smirking and Dumbledore 's boldness had seemed to harden.

"We did n't actually see it,"Albus said quickly,"We stood outside the sign as it happened. Balladanis 's parents were in the house. Then we watched Balladanis, in the computer storage, run away from the house. He was thirteen."

"And then what ?"Torenzo prodded.

"We left the pensieve. Balladanis explained what we had seen-"

"He did n't separate you ahead of clip ?"Smyth asked.

"No,"Albus shook his forefront,"He just told us to go in the pensieve."

"Did he excuse why he wanted you to see this ?"Torenzo asked.

"Yeah. He wanted to record us why he became a Presuler,"Albus said.

"He told you he 's a Presuler ?"Torenzo raised her eyebrow.

"Yes, he thinks me and Malfoy should become Presulers,"Albus explained.

"Very well,"Torenzo said as she walked towards Albus,"I have one final question. Would you feel well-heeled if prof Balladanis continued to instruct here ?"

Albus thought about it for a import. Balladanis was certainly a motivated instructor and one Albus could watch a lot from. But on the former hired man, he was n't the kind of wizard Albus felt well-to-do around.

"No,"Albus said quietly,"I guess not."

Torenzo nodded."Please return to your common elbow room. You are not to speak of this interview to anyone until after the investigation is completed."

Albus got up from the chair and Torenzo followed him out of the way. She called flatness in as Albus left. Albus muttered a quiesce 'good luck'to him before descending from the room.

******

"Why ca n't you just secern us ?"bathroom lamented as the male child sat around the Marauder 's Den after dinner. Rose and Amanda were currently in the girls'dormitory with Linda, who had recently been interviewed.

"I 've told you a million times,"Albus said,"The Ministry beldam said we could n't talk about the interview."

"But how would they know ?"John asked,"It 's not like I 'm going to go telling the altogether school about it."

"Neither will I,"Kaden added.

Albus snorted."I 'll narrate you about it after Balladanis is sacked, or is n't sacked. I do n't think it 's going to ask long for them to decide."

"He 's going to be sacked,"Matt said adamantly and then turned to John Lackland,"You 're not going to his extra help session tonight, are you ?"

"Not if I was paid twenty Galleons,"lav replied,"wellspring, ok, maybe if I was paid twenty Galleons, but not for less than ten. What about you, Albus ? Going to go to your dueling object lesson ?"

Albus shrugged. He still had n't decided. What he really wanted to lie with was whether Malfoy was going, but he could n't very well waltz around down to the keep, barge into the Slytherin vernacular elbow room, and ask.

"No idea,"Albus sighed.

"Do n't go,"Matt said,"If you go, I 'm going to start worrying about your sanity."

"Why would you want to go ?"John gave Albus a strange look.

"I might find out something about how the investigating is going, or something,"Albus muttered.

John opened his mouth to reply, but instead turned to the threshold. A loud squawking racket had seemed to emit from it.

"Did you hear that ?"John asked.

Albus nodded and got up from his seat. He walked over to the door and paused next to it. The squawking noise was repeated.

One thing Albus loved about the Marauder 's Den was that it was always very repose. No stochasticity could be heard from the corridor while he was inside. Albus rarely ever heard dissonance from the corridor, let alone squawking noises.

Albus cautiously opened the door and instead of the outre bird he had expected to see, Rose was standing there with her wand out.

"Finally !"she groaned,"I thought you 'd never total to the door."

"rosebush ?"Albus asked,"What is it ? Was that squawking you ?"

"Yes,"pink wine said hurriedly,"I had to get you to come out of there. Uncle Harry 's looking for you. He 's waiting in the plebeian room. I told him I 'd notice you."

Albus turned around and told Matt, privy, and Kaden, all of whom had followed him out of the room, that he would be back soon. He had no mind what his dad wanted, but it must have been significant for him to go to the castle on a day he did n't ingest to police it.

Harry was sitting in one of the squashy armchairs in nominal head of the fervency when Albus arrived. Georgia and Fred were both talking with him, most likely about Quidditch judging by their excessive use of hand motion, but stopped abruptly when Albus entered. Harry got up and met Albus near the portrait hole.

"Let 's talking outside,"Harry said. Albus followed him out of the portrayal hole and down the corridor a little ways.

"What were you up to just now ?"Harry asked, grinning a bit.

"zip,"Albus shrugged truthfully.

"fountainhead, I 'm no longer a instructor here, so I wo n't say a Good Book about you causing fuss, if that 's what you were doing,"Harry told him,"But anyway, what I wanted to ask you is whether you were planning on going to Professor Balladanis 's dueling lesson tonight ?"

That seemed to be the question of the even, Albus thought."I dunno,"Albus shrugged.

"I realize that the decision is completely up to you,"Harry said quietly,"But I would rede you not to go. Professor Balladanis is under a considerable amount of stress, of which you do n't know the one-half of. I 'd say the chances are richly that he may take out this strain on you and Scorpius."

"Do you lie with if Malfoy 's going ?"Albus asked.

"I really have no idea,"Harry answered,"But I tend to believe he won't."

"I do n't think I will either,"Albus said.

"A Wise decision,"Harry smiled.

Harry said good night to Albus and then Albus went back to the Marauder 's Den. Kaden was in the center of showing Matt and John how to make a proper paper airplane.

"What did your dad require ?"John asked without looking up from the sheepskin he was folding.

"To severalise me it was n't a unspoiled idea to go to Balladanis 's lesson tonight,"Albus said as he flopped down onto the vacate couch.

"And ?"Matt asked.

"I 'm not going,"Albus answered.

"goodness,"mat replied.

"You know what was unearthly, though ?"Albus began,"My dad said Balladanis was under a lot of stress, well-nigh of which I do n't cognize about. So I 'm guessing it 's not only the investigation."

"Weird,"Kaden shook his head,"I 'll be happy when he 's sacked."

"We do n't cognise for surely that he 'll be sacked,"Albus pointed out,"I just wish I knew what else he was stressed about."

"Maybe he 's got to battle a beautiful woman,"St. John smirked,"Remember his boggart ?"

"His boggart !"Albus shouted,"I ca n't believe I did n't put that together Oklahoman. It was n't a beautiful charwoman ; it was a vampire. It 's so obvious now that we know what happened to his parents, too."

"Yeah, that does seem fairly obvious,"Matt agreed,"But what 's that got to do with his stress ?"

"Probably cypher,"Albus shrugged,"I just realized it."

"You know,"Saint John the Apostle began,"This is the first Friday we 've had to ourselves."

"You 're good,"Albus said,"What should we do ?"

"Let 's go down to the kitchens,"Kaden said.

"And drop the nighttime here,"Matt added,"We hardly ever do that."

They did just that. The male child snuck down to the kitchens and were given as many sweet and pudding as they could deport by the sign of the zodiac elves. Then they stayed up belated eating all of it and playing respective game. Albus was even able to forget about Balladanis for a while, something that had not happened in quite a while.

******

The Ministry official remained a perm habitue at Hogwarts throughout the difference of the weekend. Albus overheard a lot of students mentioning that they 'd been interviewed, including trick 's cousin Isabelle, one of the chaser on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, and Gabriella.

prof Balladanis did not show up at a single meal. In fact, he was n't seen at all throughout the weekend. cypher saw him, which raised the interrogative of whether he was even still in the castle.

Albus was hoping he ran for it. Got out before the Ministry had a chance to hit their decision. Albus was more than a picayune uneasy about going to Defense on Tuesday and hearing what Balladanis had to say about Albus 's absence from their dueling lesson.

It was on Monday forenoon that all the Hogwarts student knew a verdict had been reached. prof Kendrick rose partway through the meal, something that only happened when something important happened. He was flanked by the two beldam from the Ministry. The wizard was no longer there.

The vestibule immediately quieted, without Kendrick even having to ask. Albus was slightly taken aback by Kendrick 's impending promulgation, since there had not been a single mention of Balladanis in that first light 's Prophet.

"A decision has been reached about prof Balladanis,"Kendrick announced,"madam Torenzo will inform you of it. The vaticinator has kindly agreed not to publish the clause about it just yet, as I wished to inform you of it first."

"He 's sacked,"John muttered,"Otherwise he 'd be at breakfast."

"Good dot,"Albus said.

Torenzo stood up and gazed out at the students with a neutral look on her expression."Upon broad investigation of Professor Balladanis 's educational activity methods and thorough interviews of selected scholarly person, the Ministry has seen it fit to polish off him from his teaching position here at Hogwarts school of witchery and genius. Professor Balladanis packed his things late conclusion night and no longer resides in the castle. Professor Kendrick will inform you about what will materialise with Defense classes for the remainder of the year. I would like to thank all of you for your cooperation during this time."

Torenzo sat back down and continued eating her breakfast like nil had happened. The Great Hall immediately erupted into rustle, but they were quickly stopped by Kendrick.

"Defense Against the Dark Arts class will not fill place until further notice. I will try and procure a suitable replenishment for prof Balladanis as quickly as possible. Until then, please use the sentence to hit the books for your coming exams,"Kendrick said and then resumed his seat. He began to tattle with Torenzo and the students articulation rose in the Hall.

"I knew it !"Matt exclaimed,"C. H. Best news program I 've heard this month !"

"Yes !"Georgia shouted and then turned to Fred,"Pay up !"

"pigeon hawk !"James groaned,"Why 'd they have to do that investigation so quickly ?"

Money began to exchange hands throughout the Gryffindor mesa as Fred collected and handed out Galleons.

"Do you opine Kendrick 'll happen a replacement ?"John asked.

"Dunno,"Albus shrugged,"No one really wanted that job to begin with."

"glad I did n't do that wolfman essay,"John grinned.

"Maybe Kendrick wo n't find a substitute,"Kaden said,"Then we 'd consume one less exam."

"That would be brilliant,"john replied.

The atmosphere in the castle for the quietus of the day was incredibly welfare. Hardly anyone seemed at all sad that Balladanis had left. Quite a few students asked matte to thank his dad for them. It seemed that the only scholar upset by it were those who had lost stake because of it.

argus Filch was another who was unhappy. The general excitement of the castle caused him more work. Peeves destroyed the Defense classroom in celebration ( Balladanis never liked Peeves ), James and his Friend set off a few Weasley fireworks, and then there was the ecumenical mess that was associated with student celebrating by playing outside in the cloudy grass. Plus, Moaning Myrtle flooded her john when a few students told her that even she ought to be excited about it. Apparently she did not agree. For some odd reason it reminded her of her death.

One person who seemed incredibly excited was Linda. Linda who rarely showed any emotion whatsoever walked around the castle with a big smiling on her face. Albus could only attribute this to the fact that Balladanis had taught so extensively about vampire. But he never taunted her the way he 'd taunted Matt. Perhaps that was because his full-grown care was vampires.

There was even a party in the Gryffindor unwashed room that night. Rose thought it was a niggling ridiculous, to lionise the sacking of a teacher, but everyone else, including Linda, thought it was an fantabulous thing to celebrate.

"Just remember,"John said,"We do n't ever consume to mind to him go on and on about how bad the dark arts are. I mean, we all know they 're bad. We all know about Voldemort and what he did."

"And that bloody anamatek,"Matt added,"I could 've gone my whole life without seeing one of those."

"What do you opine he 's doing now ?"rosiness mused.

"Maybe some Ministry hired him,"Albus said quietly,"I hope it 's some shoes far, like Madagascar or somewhere."

"Yeah,"mat agreed,"I bet he 's not even in Britain anymore."

"I do n't see why he 'd chafe to stick around,"Albus replied,"I mean, he snuck out in the night to forefend anyone seeing him."

"Wish we could 've seen him leave,"John grinned mischievously,"Would 've been nice to grant him a proper send off."

"I 'm just glad it 's over,"Rose muttered,"Maybe now you lot can concentrate on exams. And maybe the castle will get back to normal."

"normal ?"Albus raised his supercilium,"This place will never be normal. Plus, we 've got Quidditch on Saturday. It 's the death lucifer before the final."

"When 's the final ?"rose asked.

"Beginning of June, I think,"Albus answered,"Australia 's already so far ahead that they 'll be in it."

Albus, John, flatness, and Kaden all sent scathing looks at Linda, who looked down at the table.

"But if we beat New York in this catch,"Albus continued,"We 'll be in it, too. So Wood is in to the full form this week. I 'm practicing every dark starting tomorrow."

"King Oliver Natalie Wood is harebrained,"rose wine muttered.

"Insane, but brilliant on the Quidditch rake,"John grinned,"I would love to get yelled at by him during a Quidditch practice."

"Excellent,"Albus said,"You can study my place."


A/N : Thanks to my genus Beta, Dancer of Starlight and everyone who has read and reviewed this !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


Despite the fact that he did not have Defense Against the shadow humanities the next sunrise, Albus was down in the Great G. Stanley Hall bright and early because he wanted to understand rosiness 's Daily Prophet. Having Kendrick announce Balladanis 's sacking was one affair, reading it in the oracle was entirely different.

Rose was already there when Albus, flatness, and lav sat down at the Gryffindor mesa. Amanda and Linda were on either slope of her and all three girls were reading the article. Albus drummed his fingers impatiently on the tabular array while he waited for them to be finished. Finally, Rose handed him the paper without saying a word and Albus read it, with Matt and John looking over his shoulder.

HOGWARATS teacher REMOVED FROM POSITION BY MINISTRY

In an event that causes much of the wizarding world to retrieve
back to Voldemort 's reign, Hogwarts Defense Department Against the night
nontextual matter teacher, Tethys Balladanis, has been removed from his
location by the Ministry of Magic 's Department of Magical
Education.

During Voldemort 's sovereignty, demurrer teachers rarely lasted more
than a year at the school, a secret that abruptly ended when
Voldemort was defeated on May 2, 1998. Up until two years
ago, Hogwarts had had only one Defense teacher since that
fateful May day.

professor Torro taught at Hogwarts for class until he was
mysteriously murdered nearly three twelvemonth ago. He was
replaced by pass Auror, Harry ceramist, who is rumored to
have only taken the post after cypher else agreed to
fill it.

Harry Potter left the position this past times autumn and it was filled
by Balladanis.

Balladanis taught until two days ago, when he was removed
from his position. Approximately a workweek and a half ago, a
complaint was lodged by Head of the Department for the
regularization and mastery of Magical Creatures, Bruno Walter Eckerton,
whose fourteen-year-old son currently attends Hogwarts.

The complaint included harsh teaching methods, the use of an
anamatek as a teaching tool, singling scholar out for deficiency of
accomplishment, and embarrassing students in front of their peers.

An investigation by Ministry functionary ensued and included
the interviewing of take pupil and stave. The department
concluded their investigation late Sun even and informed
both Balladanis and master Fabius Kendrick of their decisiveness.
Balladanis left the rook willingly and will not be appealing the
decisiveness. When asked for a statement on the issue, both Kendrick
and Balladanis declined.

Upon hearing the newsworthiness, Walter Eckerton said ,'I am very happy
with the conclusion and that the investigation was concluded in
a well-timed fashion. I am not happy that it came to this, but I
feel that nothing should be put ahead of children 's rubber .'

Hogwarts students will not attend denial classes until a replacement
is found. As of right now, one has not been found.

"I knew they 'd cling your dad in there somehow,"Saint John the Apostle announced once they 'd finished reading.

"There was n't anything in there that we did n't already recognise,"Albus muttered,"I was hoping Balladanis would 've said something or we 'd find out what happened when he left the castle."

"Maybe he really did go quietly,"lusterlessness shrugged,"Maybe he wanted to get back to his anamatek."

"I wonder where he lives,"Amanda mused,"Think he lives in England ?"

"Doubt it,"rose answered,"Even if he did before I doubt he does now."

******

Life soon returned to normal for the Hogwarts student, as it often does after something wind up happens. Everyone talked about Balladanis the day the clause was published, but soon there was nothing leftfield to say and the bookman focused on the forthcoming Quidditch equal, which was mere days away.

Albus had an easy metre forgetting about Balladanis due to Quidditch practice. He was out on the pitch every evening and was soon hearing Mrs. Henry Wood 's commands in his principal as he fell asleep, which was something that certainly could n't be deemed normal. Albus was almost glad that the year was drawing to an end because once the tournament was over, he would n't take to deal with woods anymore. Thinking about that made Albus realize that Gryffindor would have a new master the next year since Sakartvelo was graduating. Albus was sure it would be either Fred or Scots heather, but he was n't sure which.

Albus trudged into the Great Hall on Thursday morning sorely wishing that privy had n't woken him up. They did n't have a year first thing, so why 'd he bother doing that ? Albus was already running on little sleep.

"I 'm going to inflame you up at five in the morning this Saturday,"Albus muttered to John as he poured himself some pumpkin juice.

"No you wo n't, you 'll still be asleep,"john grinned,"I need you to serve me finish that Herbology essay that 's due today."

"That 's the reason for you waking me up ?"Albus groaned,"Why ca n't Rose help you ?"

"She 's a bit sore with me right now,"John muttered.

"What did you do ?"Albus asked.

"I may or may not have accidentally set blast to her Potions notation live on night,"Gospel According to John said.

"And I should have to suffer because of that ?"Albus replied,"How did you manage that anyway ?"

"It was n't an accident,"mat put in,"John and Kaden were tinkering with those tops persuasiveness dung dud last-place night in the vulture 's Den. They stupidly decided to do this at the mesa right where Rose 's notes were. The dung bomb exploded and pink wine 's notes caught fire."

"See, an accident !"trick exclaimed.

"No, foolishness,"Matt said,"You should 've done it somewhere else. Oh, Albus, I would n't evoke going in the Marauder 's Den anytime soon. It smells."

"I would n't have time to anyway,"Albus muttered,"Quidditch practice again tonight."

"Oi, Albus !"King James I shouted.

"What ?"Albus said.

"Is Dad patrolling here this week ?"James I asked.

"I do n't screw, why ?"Albus replied.

"He 's here,"St. James the Apostle pointed to the staff table.

Albus looked up and saw that his dad was talking with Neville. Except he was n't wearing his Auror robes, he was just wearing normal robes. Albus glanced back at James who shrugged.

"May I have your care ?"Kendrick announced,"Thank you. I just wish to inform you all that Harry Potter has kindly agreed to subscribe to over DoD classes for the oddment of terminus. Because of this, DoD classes will re-start today."

"Good affair I woke you up,"john grinned.

"guesswork you wo n't be able to finish that essay,"Albus shot back.

"Merlin,"John muttered.

Albus was n't that surprise, nor did he care that much. He 'd already had his dad teach for two years and it had n't been bad at all. Plus, his dad was a far better teacher than Balladanis.

Albus walked with lusterlessness and John to Defense. Rose was still not speaking to St. John the Apostle and she walked with Amanda and Linda a little ways ahead. Albus seriously hoped that this would n't turn into what happened earlier in the year.

The integral class erupted in applause as soon as Harry entered the room and Albus noticed that this caused him to blush. Even Malfoy was clapping, albeit half-heartedly, but he was clapping nonetheless.

"Thanks,"Harry muttered,"well, I did not guess I 'd be back here. I do deliver to stay on with the program, so I must ask that you complete the werewolf essay for next Th. However, it only has to be one foot of parchment."

There was a collective groan from the entire class."Great,"John muttered,"I was hoping to get out of it."

"It wo n't be that hard,"Matt rolled his eyes.

"But it 'll be time consuming,"toilet replied.

"I know, I know,"Harry smirked,"But there is a calendar month and a one-half of term left and I ca n't just let you receive this time to mess around."

The course of instruction was the most pleasurable Defense socio-economic class the third years had had in quite a while. Harry lectured for the entirety of the form, but it was n't deadening. Albus did not mind in the slightest that his dad was going to be finishing out the term.

******

By the time Sat arrived, virtually no one in the castle was talking about professor Balladanis. Quidditch was on the forefront of everybody 's minds and the tautness ran higher than they had all year. The outcome of this catch would make up one's mind who played Australia in the final.

Albus himself was not particularly worried. Hogwarts had already beaten New York once and they could easily do it again. The entire team was in good health and none of the alternate were needed. Albus was perfectly contented to sit in the tie-up with his protagonist and just watch the match, rather than have to play in it.

It was a strong leap day with a svelte wind and cloud cover, perfect playing conditions. forest had spoke of the weather during the former night 's practice, telling the team that a large storm had been predicted for that day. Luckily it had not appeared yet.

The mates commenced with a lot of shouting and cheering from the gang. Hogwarts scored five goals within the first off xv minute of the match and New York scored two. The team remained neck opening in neck for the residue of the lucifer, until Saint James the Apostle pulled out of a diva clutching the golden Snitch in his leftfield hand.

The bunch erupted into cheers and James was soon hoisted onto the shoulder joint of some of the quondam students.

"I have an announcement to make !"Professor Kendrick shouted over the crowd,"Due to Hogwarts 's win, they will be competing against Australia in the final Quidditch mate, scheduled to take shoes on the first of June !"

The usual after Quidditch party ensued in the unwashed room and everyone rehashed their favourite parts of the equal. No one talked about the final match, although Albus was sure it was in the cover of everyone 's psyche. Australia seemed unacceptable to beat.

Once the excitation from another Quidditch win abated, the Hogwarts educatee seemed to make that exam were quite near. The depository library soon became a popular position to be and fifth and 7th years in particular could be seen there all hours of the day.

As the middle of May arrived, Gabriella demanded a quiet rough-cut room in the even, much like her baby had two eld prior. Albus and his friend spent to a greater extent time in the vulture 's Den after that, usually without Rose, Amanda, and Linda. The three girls seemed to like the quietness of the vulgar room.

Rose did forgive Saint John the Apostle for messing up her eminence, but she became more tense and snappish as exams drew nearer. It was n't something that surprised Albus or anyone else because it had become a variety of end of term tradition with Rose.

Defense example took a drastic act for the secure. Albus and all of his booster got perfect marks on their werewolf essays, to the surprise of no one. After that, the classes bared no resemblance to Balladanis 's.

"Aw, merlin !"John shouted at breakfast one Friday in the eye of May. He had been reading the Prophet.

"What is it ?"Albus asked, thinking Balladanis had been reinstated as Defense teacher or something.

"England did n't make it into the World Cup final,"John sighed,"They were so close."

"Who did draw it ?"Albus grabbed the paper from St. John the Apostle, suddenly remembering the slate he 'd pay off for Christmastide. He had n't picked who he was going to call for to go with him. Actually, he had n't even enjoin his champion about the tickets.

"Portugal and Russian Federation,"John groaned,"Russia ! They 've got a codswallop Quidditch team !"

"Obviously not,"Rose smirked,"Albus, did you blame who you 're going to bring when you go to the Cup ?"

"postponement, what ?"John gaped at Albus,"You got tag ?"

"Er, yeah, for Christmastime,"Albus said.

"And you did n't enjoin me !"John Lackland exclaimed.

"Well, I only got one spear carrier and I did n't know how to foot. I had it narrowed down to you and Matt. Mind you, if you hate Soviet Union, I 'll just pick matte,"Albus smirked.

"No, no, I did n't say I hate Soviet Union,"John said quickly,"They 've just got a bad team."

"How am I supposed to pick then ?"Albus asked.

"You do n't have to,"flatness said as he sat down following to Albus.

"Nice to see you awake,"lavatory grinned. Albus and John had attempted to wake matte up before they went down to the Great Asaph Hall and had no luck. The full moon was the next day, so Albus had n't even been for sure if matt was going to go to class.

"Why, is the Cup a bad clip of the month ?"Albus whispered.

"No,"Matt shook his head,"It 's just that my dad got tickets, so you can just give your superfluous one to John."

"Oh,"Albus grinned,"That makes things easy."

"Where is the Cup ?"Amanda asked.

"Canada,"Rose replied.

"How are we getting there, Albus ?"John asked,"Are we going to take a Muggle airplane ?"John looked excited at that prospect.

"No thought,"Albus shrugged,"Dad might get a Portkey."

"That 's boring,"John said.

"Wish I could go,"Kaden sighed.

"Why, do n't you not like Quidditch ?"St. John the Apostle asked.

"It 's ok,"Kaden shrugged,"I just want to try out a Portkey."

"You 're weird, Kaden,"trick laughed.

"So are you. Airplanes are boring,"Kaden argued.

"I 'm with Kaden on this one,"flatness said,"I 'd fill a Portkey any day."

******

Between studying for exams and Quidditch practice, Albus had no time for anything else. He managed to squash in time to visit lustrelessness in the hospital wing on Sunday, but only briefly before he went to Wood 's day long Quidditch practice.

The following weekend was the final examination match of the Jnr 's Dueling lodge, something Albus had been forced to fail due to Quidditch practice. After begging Wood and a bit of help from Teddy, Albus was able-bodied to assist the final. Albus 's team won, often to the delight of both Albus and Malfoy.

Albus had not spoken to Malfoy since the incident with professor Balladanis. Nor had Malfoy said a word to Albus, or any of his friend. Malfoy remained mysteriously hush around the fully moon, not saying anything about it to either Albus or matte. It was unknown, but not something any of the male child were going to quetch about it.

Three days before the Quidditch final, the Great Hall was filled with whispering voices that reminded Albus of the day Balladanis had been sacked. Copies of the seer were being passed back and forth and quite a few students looked extremely scared.

"What 's happened ?"Albus asked Rose as he sat down.

"Willinson has broken out of Azkaban,"Rose whispered, her face completely white.

"What ? !"Albus shouted as he grabbed the nearest transcript of the oracle. Matt and St. John the Apostle crowded around him as he read it.

AZKABAN breakout

Officials have reported that three prisoners
broke out of Azkaban late utmost Night. It is
still unknown how it happened. Azkaban guards
have refused to talk with reporters, and the
Ministry does not wish to divulge information
at this time.

The figure of the escape prisoner have been
released and anyone with data reguarding
any of them are asked to contact the Ministry.

The Prophet then gave detailed entropy about all three of the at large prisoner. Albus only recognized Willinson. The other two had been imprisoned for more trivial crimes.

"How did he get out ?"Albus wondered,"He 's an idiot !"

"I think everyone 's confused about that,"rose wine said.

Any hope Albus had of getting prep done that calendar week was gone. He was lucky he was able-bodied to concentrate on Quidditch pattern. Willinson was out of Azkaban. He was galavanting about England, doing whatever he pleased. That in itself was not necessarily that bad, due to Willinson 's folly. If he somehow met up with his father and Washburn, then it could be quite bad.

What worried Albus the most was the fact that he would be after the Hallows, all of which still resided somewhere in or around Hogwarts. Willinson was bound to come back, especially now that he was out of prison.

******

Before Albus knew it, the night before the Quidditch terminal arrived and woodwind called the team into the changing room after ending practice.

"It has been incredibly rewarding to pull off this squad,"Wood said as he began to rate in front of them,"There were difficulties in the beginning,"he paused and looked at the two Slytherins on the squad,"But I am proud to say that you came together as a team wonderfully.

"It still amazes me that a group of students from all four household can total together and play together on the same squad. I am not certain this could make been done when I was in Hogwarts.

"You have all come a farseeing way over the year. You 've all made Brobdingnagian improvements in your science. Quite a few of you are 7th old age and I am very felicitous to tell you that there will be sentinel from a twosome Quidditch squad watching tomorrow 's match. I have high hopes for the lot of you, when it comes to Quidditch.

"I can not say whether we will win tomorrow. Australia is good, there is no denying that. However, I have faith in all of you. Tomorrow, go out there and give it your comfortably. Now, I think you should all change state in too soon and eat a proper breakfast tomorrow before the match. slip, John Tyler, anything to add ?"Wood turned to the boys.

Teddy and President Tyler both shook their nous and Grant Wood turned back to the team."I 'll see you all down here tomorrow. skilful night."

Wood, teddy bear, and Tyler stayed behind to discourse tactic while the team left. Albus and Henry James were the net two to go out. Georgia had left with the former 7th class, excitedly discussing the prospect of scouts.

"You think Georgia 's going to sign up with one of the professional squad ?"Albus asked James as they walked back to the castle.

"I 'd be surprised if she did n't,"James said,"I just hope it does n't wound her chances when we lose."

"We might not lose,"Albus pointed out.

"We 're going to misplace,"William James muttered,"Linda 's too good of a Seeker."

Albus said aught. He wished he could just narrate Saint James that Linda was a vampire. It would be so much easier.

They kept walking, each lost in their own thoughts. Albus stopped abruptly when he heard a flash crack in the forest.

"What was that ?"he asked anxiously.

"Probably just a branch break,"King James answered.

"It was too loud,"Albus said as he looked into the woodland,"It sounded like soul Apparating in there."

"I do n't mean you can Apparate in the forest,"Saint James the Apostle pointed out,"And it did n't sound that loud. You 're just tired from all the Quidditch practice."

"I guess,"Albus said as he and William James kept walking,"But what if it was somebody Apparating ? What if it was Willinson ?"

"You worry too much, Al,"James groaned,"This place is filled with Aurors and Dad 's here wide-cut time now. You 'd have to be mad to Apparate here if you 're wanted by the Ministry."

"But Willinson is stupid enough to do that,"Albus replied.

"That 's just it,"King James laughed,"If he 's pudding head enough to do that, he 's going to get caught and sent back to Azkaban."

Albus nodded but he was n't reassured. Willinson may be pillock, but he did manage to abduct Kaden the previous spring, and he had been on the run for a year prior to that. He may be a trash dueler, but he was certainly good at not getting caught for the most part.


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


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


The atmosphere in the Great Hall the next morning was unlike anything Albus had seen before. The Hogwarts squad was sitting together at the Ravenclaw tabular array, surrounded by scholar from all four houses. Teddy and Tyler seemed to be in the thick of it and were loudly discussing tactic.

The Australian squad was sitting together at the Hufflepuff mesa, with a heavy distance between them and the Hufflepuffs. A pocket-sized crowd of Australians had congregated around them.

Albus decided not to join the rest of the Hogwarts team at the Ravenclaw table. Nobody was ineffective to play that day, so Albus 's days on the team were pretty much over. To be honest, he was variety of relieved. There was just so much pressure.

"I think this tourney has been good for Hogwarts,"rosebush mused,"Look at everyone. Nobody seems to care who 's in what house."

"It 'll all go back to normal once the match is over,"Albus pointed out.

"Maybe not,"rose wine shrugged,"You never know."

"I do n't know, rose wine,"Matt said,"I do n't intend one class can shift centuries of tradition."

"It 's worth a try,"rose wine said,"I think we should all try and get along."

"I do n't remember this has helped International magical cooperation,"Saint John gestured to the Australian team. The Hufflepuffs sitting nearby were glaring at them.

"Competition rarely does that,"rosiness muttered.

"well, they 'll all be going home soon,"lusterlessness said cheerfully.

pink wine shot him a dirty flavour and then looked up at the staff table. Albus 's gaze followed. The staff mesa was quite overcrowded that morning. There were scouts from Quidditch teams, Ministry functionary including Albus 's Uncle Percy, and a variety of masses from Australia and New House of York.

"spirit at that beldame,"John pointed to a very magniloquent, beautiful witch with sick Andrew Dickson White hide and longsighted nighttime hair.

"She 's Linda 's mother,"Rose told them.

"Is she-"John began.

"Yes,"Rose whispered,"She 's one, too."

"I thought so,"whoremonger said without taking his eyes off the witch.

There was a loud cheerfulness from the Ravenclaw table and the Hogwarts team began to will the Hall. Their entourage followed until they reached the room access and then they went to sit back down at respective tables.

The Aussie squad followed shortly. The fervor only seemed to increase now that the squad had gone down to the changing rooms.

A few second later citizenry began to leave for the rake. The crowd at the staff table left first and the student followed.

"Albus,"whoremonger said as they got up from the table,"I 've got a few distich of omnioculars in my trunk. I want to see it up close when Linda catches that Snitch."

"Let 's go get them, then,"Albus replied.

blush wine rolled her optic."Meet us down at the pitch."She and Amanda turned towards the door as the male child ran up the grand staircase.

"Why did n't you just bring them to breakfast ?"flatness asked.

"Forgot,"John the Divine said.

The castle was absolutely deserted as they made their way back to Gryffindor Tower. Albus had n't seen it that empty during the day. It was almost disconcerting.

John had to vacate out his entire trunk in lodge to find the omnioculars. He had four duo and handed one to each of the boys.

"Let 's go,"Albus said,"We 're going to pretermit the scratch line of the match."

Albus completely ignored the no running in the corridors rule as he made his way through the castling. There was n't anyone to scold him anyway. The footsteps behind him told him his admirer were n't far behind.

Albus turned a corner and ran skag into something. He fell down onto his spinal column and looked up, only to see that it was soul. Not just anyone either. Albus had collided with Matt 's boggart.

Only, it could n't be a boggart because if it had been a boggart, it would have manifested itself into what Albus was most afraid of. At that moment, it probably would experience been Willinson.

The man sneered down at Albus and then smiled creepily. Albus scrambled up and turned back to attend at his friends.

mat had turned ovalbumin and looked far More afraid than Albus had ever seen him before, including when he had faced the boggart and when Malfoy had found out about his lycanthropy. John was looking from matte to the man, an obvious revulsion on his face. Kaden was looking extremely confused.

Albus turned and grabbed all three of his supporter, pulling them into the nearest schoolroom. He slammed the door and pulled out his wand, putting every locking charm he knew onto the knob.

lustrelessness collapsed onto the penny-pinching chair and put his top dog in his hired man."Th-th-that's-"

"We know,"Albus whispered.

"What the Hell is he doing here ?"can ranted,"He 's got no stage business here !"

"Why 's he in the rook anyway ?"Albus began to pace around the way,"If he 's here to watch the Quidditch match, then why is n't he down there ?"

"What if he 's not here to find out the Quidditch ?"John said darkly.

"Who the bloody netherworld is he ?"Kaden asked loudly.

Albus glanced at matt before looking at Kaden. Matt did n't seem to have heard Kaden 's question.

"His name 's Lubar. He 's the chief of the department for the Regulation and restraint of Magical Creatures in Australia,"Albus explained,"He 's the reason why matt had to motivate here, amongst early things."

"He 's a sick and twisted evil git,"John muttered,"What are we going to do ?"

Albus walked over to the threshold and peered out the modest window at the top. Lubar was no longer in sight.

"I 've g-got to go to the Ministry,"matte said,"I 've got to t-tell my dad. L-Lubar, he ca n't be here."

Albus paced back and forth in social movement of the threshold. The Ministry. How would they get there ? Brooms ? No, that would conduct too long. They 'd have to use the Floo Network, but none of the fireplace at Hogwarts were hooked up, as far as Albus knew.

"We 're going to have to get to Hogsmeade,"Albus said,"You wait here. I 'll get my Cloak and the map. Then we 'll sneak into Hogsmeade and Floo to the Ministry."

lustrelessness nodded."You guys do n't consume to follow. You can go to the match."

"Are you mental ?"King John exclaimed,"That bloke out there is probably worse than Willinson. We 're not letting you do this alone."

Albus nodded in agreement before waving his wand and undoing the locking appealingness. He cautiously looked out into the corridor before leaving. It was empty.

Much to Albus 's backup, both the Cloak and the map were right where he 'd entrust them. He shoved them into his gown and ran back to the schoolroom. matt, John, and Kaden were all talking quietly. Matt did n't look any less frightened, but at least he did n't seem to be in shock anymore.

"We 're not all going to fit underneath it,"Albus said as he unfolded the cloak.

"You three get under it,"St. John said immediately,"I 'm marvellous so I 'll take up the most room anyway. Plus, if we meet up with Lubar again, I 'm the best liar."

Albus could n't argue there. Both he and mat were horrible liars and Kaden still had n't gotten over his inability to keep on secrets.

"You take the map, then,"Albus handed the map to John,"We 've got to get to the one-eyed witch statue on the third floor.

Albus threw the Cloak over himself, lustrelessness, and Kaden, and the three of them followed John out of the room. The corridor was still empty, a great deal to Albus 's relief.

John set a very fasting pace and he was soon quite a bit ahead of Albus and the others. Albus could n't say anything, though, as it would hold away his presence. Instead he tried to run as fast as he could while making the least sum of noise possible.

The boy made it down the two flight of step necessary to get to the one-third floor and arrived at the statue without seeing anyone. Albus pulled the Cloak off of them and ingurgitate it into his pocket. With a quick tap of his baton, he statue 's hump opened and the boys climbed inside.

Albus lit his wand and took off down the small passage. Matt, John, and Kaden followed suit.

"Why did Kendrick let him in ?"John asked as they ran,"Does n't he have a go at it what he did ?"

"Yes,"lustrelessness answered,"I do n't think Kendrick knows he 's here."

"What did he do ?"Kaden asked.

"You do n't think he came here to see you ?"Albus asked matte,"I mean, recall when Killigan saw us that one meter and he seemed so interested in finding you ?"

"Of class I do,"matte muttered,"And it really would n't surprise me if that 's why he 's here. But I 'm betting there 's another reason."

"What did he do ?"Kaden repeated, a bit louder.

"Why else would he be here ?"Albus asked,"The couple ?"

"Maybe, but I 'm betting it 's got something to do with Linda,"Matt replied,"I do n't bonk for sure, but it seems too coincidental for him to be here just to see me."

"What did he do ?"Kaden shouted,"Why would he require to see you ?"

Matt stopped running and wheeled around to take care at Kaden."It 's a hanker story. Lubar 's got a grudge against my dad, one that he obviously still has even though we have n't lived in Commonwealth of Australia for six years,"matte paused,"He passed a crowd of laws against wolfman and I wound up having to transform with a bunch of former werewolves. It was bad."

flatness resumed walking and did n't flesh out on the matter. Kaden did n't ask him to.

"What 's your dad going to do about it ?"Kaden asked.

"I dunno,"mat shrugged,"Maybe talk to Kendrick or something."

There was no doubt in Albus 's creative thinker that mat 's dad would be able to get Lubar to leave behind Hogwarts, possibly even leave the state. Albus had known little about Mr. Eckerton prior to this yr, but now he knew that you did not require to be on his bad side. When it came down to it, Mr. Eckerton was the one who had Balladanis sacked.

The passageway finally began to surface until it came to an abrupt occlusion at a knotty wooden door. Albus pressed his ear to the door, but heard nothing. He carefully pushed it exposed, wincing as it creaked.

sightedness nobody in the storage room beyond, Albus beckoned his friends forward. The room was palely lit, enough for Albus to see a huge amount of box seat littering the trading floor. On the far wall he could see a fireplace.

The boys climbed over the various boxes and stood in nominal head of the fireplace. Albus located a minor dismission of Floo pulverization and then lit a ardor. He turned to his friends.

"You ca n't Floo directly into someone 's subject field at the Ministry. We 're going to cause to go to the Atrium,"Albus told them,"I 'll go first, you follow."Albus took a smattering of pulverization and then handed the bag to Matt.

He tossed the powder into the fire and stepped inside, shouting"The Ministry of Magic !"

Albus stumbled out of a unlike fireplace seconds later. The Atrium was nearly deserted, lay aside for a few wizards striding towards the lifts, clearly too in use to notice Albus.

Matt landed rather ungracefully on the floor. He picked himself up, brushing stray ash off his robes.

"space is deserted,"lusterlessness said as he looked around.

"It 's a Saturday,"Albus pointed out,"doe your dad piece of work Saturdays ?"

"Yeah,"Matt nodded,"At least mornings."

St. John the Apostle was side by side to step out of the fire, doing so more elegantly than Matt had. He stood in front of the flaming, staring around at the Atrium. His eye rested on the fountain of Magical Brethren.

"This is more phantasy than I imagined,"King John said.

"Bloody hell !"Kaden shouted as he fell out of the fire,"This is the Ministry ?"

"Yes,"mat said quickly,"But we have n't got time to search. Let 's go."

Albus followed mat towards the desk in the forepart of the Atrium. There was an old mavin leafing through a copy of the Quibbler, oblivious to his surroundings. Albus almost thought they 'd be able to hook around him, but he looked up just as they were about to pass.

"Where do you think you 're going ?"he asked and then his centre rested on Albus,"Albus Severus Potter. Why are n't you in shoal ?"

"Er,"Albus began, a little enervate that the man knew who he was.

Matt stepped in front of Albus."We need to go see my dad. He 's the headland of the Department for the regularization and Control of Magical wight. It 's variety of an emergency."

"Very well,"the man looked at them oddly,"Put your baton up here."

Albus did as he was told and the others followed suit. They waited impatiently as the old wizard tested their wands and then handed them back. He waved them on towards the lifts.

"What 's the decimal point of that ?"Kaden asked as they waited for a lift.

"So if you murder anyone, they can secern whose wand did it,"Albus said bluntly.

"That 's cheerful,"Kaden replied.

Once the lift arrived, the son piled in and flatness pushed the issue four. Nobody said anything as the lift creaked its way to the quarter floor.

Matt took off at a run down the corridor after they left the rise. Albus had never been to this exceptional base. It looked rather similar to the Magical Law Enforcement 's floor, with nondescript sets of treble threshold on one side.

Matt skidded to a halt in battlefront of the only door that was single and banged his hand loudly on it. When there was no answer after a few seconds, he banged again.

"detention your hippogriffs !"called a voice from the interior,"I 'm coming, I'm-"lustrelessness 's dad said as he opened the door.

Mr. Eckerton seemed to immobilise at the sight of his son and the other three boys. He gaped at them for a second before shaking his head.

"Matt ?"he asked and rubbed his eyes, as if he thought he was seeing a hallucination,"But, why are n't you in school ? How did you get here ? Why are you here ? Albus ? What are you- and John the Evangelist, Kaden ?"

His eyes rested on lustrelessness again."Matt ? What 's wrongly ?"

Mr. Eckerton stepped aside and let the boys into his study. He shut the doorway quietly behind them.

The study reminded Albus of his dad 's. There were large windowpane on the side of meat opposite the door, although the scene exterior was not tangible, nor was the gentle rain that was pattering onto it.

There was a large leather covered death chair behind the huge oak desk and a few low electric chair in front of it. Along the early two walls were ledge with loads of rule book. Most of them were about assorted witching creatures.

Albus, Matt, and John took the seating room that were in front of the desk while Kaden wandered around the bailiwick looking at things. Mr. Eckerton leaned against the front of his desk and looked at his son.

"What 's happened ?"he asked quietly.

"L-Lubar,"Matt said in barely more than a whisper,"He-he 's at Hogwarts."

"What ? !"Mr. Eckerton exclaimed.

"We were on our way to the Quidditch final,"Matt said,"A-and we saw him."

"Bloody perdition !"Mr. Eckerton stood up and slammed his clenched fist loudly against his desk,"Did prof Kendrick allow this ?"

"I do n't live,"Matt replied,"B-but everyone else was at the match and he was just lurking about the castle."

Mr. Eckerton 's boldness hardened. He looked just like he had when he talked with Professor Balladanis earlier in the term."Let 's go, boys,"he said darkly,"I 've got to stimulate a parole with Professor Kendrick."

Albus followed Mr. Eckerton out of his study and down towards the lifts. John 's walking swiftness was nothing compared to Matt 's dad 's. The boys had to run to prevent up.

"Where did you Floo from ?"Mr. Eckerton asked once they were in the lift.

"Honeyduke 's,"Albus answered.

"We 'll Floo there now,"Mr. Eckerton replied.

The whiz at the receive desk looked at them curiously as they rushed towards the fireplaces, but did n't say anything.

Mr. Eckerton handed Albus a bit of Floo Powder and gestured for him to go first. Albus stepped into the fire and shouted,"Honeyduke 's !"

Albus began to spin faster and faster. He saw glimpse of people 's home, workshop in Diagon alley, and a variety of other berth he did not tell apart. Then, out of one of the fireplaces, came a hand. Everything seemed to slow down, but Albus was n't for sure if it actually did or not.

The hand grabbed him. Albus fought against it, but it was too strong. All of a sudden he was laying on a dusty wooden flooring, one that was not at all like the one in Honeyduke's.

Albus coughed and stood up. His pith was beating fast. What had happened ? Why was n't he in Honeyduke 's ? Where was he ? Whose bridge player was that ?

Albus grappled for his wand and shakily held it up. He lit it and looked around the room, seeing no one.

"Nice to see you, Potter,"a stale vox said from behind him.

Albus jumped and turned around. There, crouching next to the fireplace with his manus inside of it, was Lubar. He looked even more creepy in the dank room than he did in Hogwarts.

The fireplace glowed green and Lubar yanked his arm out of it. John the Divine came tumbling out of the flaming and scrambled too his fundament, looking about.

Lubar muttered something underneath his intimation and stuck his deal in the ardour again.

"What the ?"John whispered to Albus,"Where are we ? Is that ? Bloody snake pit !"

"Shut up !"Lubar shouted.

Albus gazed around the way. It looked vaguely companion, but Albus could n't put his finger on it. The windows were boarded up, but it was definitely not the Shrieking Shack. Albus doubted that was connected to the Floo Network anyway.

The fireplace glowed green yet again, this clock time sending Kaden onto the floor. This earned another yell from Lubar, who stuck his hand in the fervour again.

Kaden gaped and then got to his feet and stood next to Albus. He looked absolutely terrified, even before he laid eyes on Lubar.

Albus wanted nothing more than to run from the room, but he did not know where the building was even located. Plus, Lubar would probably stun him or something.

Green River illumination filled the room as the fireplace glowed once more. Albus knew even before it happened that Matt would be the one to next downslope out of the flames. Mere seconds later, that suspicion was confirmed.

Matt coughed and scrambled to his feet. He gasped when he saw Lubar and ran over to Albus.

Lubar, finally satisfied, doused the fire and lit his verge, which illuminated his sinister face. He began to gait slowly in front of them.

"Well, well, you went crying to Daddy just as I expected,"Lubar grinned manically,"I do love when things work out the way I expect them to."

Albus could palpate flatness shaking next to him. He gripped his wand hard, debating whether to try and demilitarise Lubar.

"Any idea where you are ?"Lubar asked,"Dervish and Banges. Lovely shop, pity about the proprietor. Yes, a real shame."

Lubar did n't seem at all upset about what happened to the shop possessor. Albus looked around the shop again and now he recognized it.

"Well, let 's not lay waste to our fourth dimension here,"Lubar said,"There 's a few mass who 've been dying to see you."Lubar snapped his finger's breadth three sentence and Albus heard footsteps on the stairs.

Three wizards descended the stairs and strode into the way. They lit their wands at the same time and Albus gasped when the sparkle showed their faces. Jarrett and Quinton Willinson, along with Washburn. Three people Albus hoped never to see again.

Albus swallowed hard. He could see no way out of this. As dear a dueler he was, he was up against four fully qualified wizards. Three of them did not possess the skills to duel, but Albus had no idea what Lubar was subject of.

"Ah, yes,"Lubar smirked,"What a lovely reunion. Unfortunately we have n't got clip to chat."

Before Albus knew it, Washburn had him in a headlock with his wand pointed at his neck. Quinton Willinson had Kaden and his don had privy. matt, seeing his Quaker restrained, made a run for the nearest window.

"Not so fast, young werewolf,"Lubar caught him by the backrest of his gown and wrapped one of his limb around his middle.

Lubar reached into his robes with his give up helping hand and pulled out an old tea timpani. He held it out to the other three men and each one put a disengage paw on it. Albus knew what was going to happen right before it did. He shared a affright glance with flatness before feeling a jerk behind his belly button.


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


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.
A/N : I decided to do part of this chapter from Harry 's item of eyeshot. It begins in his pointedness of scene and then switches back to Albus 's. Asterisks indicate where the point of survey switches.


"Spectacular save by Georgia Weasley !"the observer shouted.

Harry grinned as his niece threw the Quaffle back into romp. It was immediately taken into possession by Hogwarts, and all three Chasers threw it back and Forth River as they flew to the Australian end of the pitch.

"Score ! Hogwarts has scored against Australia, bringing the full to 50-20 Hogwarts !"

Harry stood up and shouted as loud as the students. One thing he loved about the Quidditch tournament was that he did n't have to try and hold back his hullabaloo when Hogwarts scored. During house compeer, he had to try and pretend he was neutral, even though he obviously supported Gryffindor.

As glad as Harry was about the Hogwarts Chasers being very skilled, he did not have Hope that Hogwarts would actually win. Australia 's Seeker, Linda Morales, was the respectable seeker Harry had ever seen outside of professional Quidditch. He knew that his son, James, was undecomposed, but he was n't delusional. Linda was brilliant.

There was something odd about her, though, and Harry could n't put his finger's breadth on it. Her speed on a Scots heather just did n't seem natural. pro Quidditch musician would kill for her speed.

"I 'm surprised she has n't found the snitcher yet,"Neville muttered to Harry.

"Yeah,"Harry nodded as he watched Linda slowly circling above the pitch. James was doing the Saame,"It 'll be soon, though."

Harry turned his gaze to the residuum of the staff who were sitting around him. to the highest degree of them were quite reserved. Nobody seemed to be showing the exuberance Harry was. He did n't care. Harry did n't share their notion that teacher could n't get overly excited about Quidditch.

A few prof stood up and then sat back down again as somebody squeezed their way past them. Harry craned his question and was surprised to see Bruno Walter Eckerton.

Harry did n't have it away the man well. They 'd met on occasion at the Ministry, although Harry had a opinion he 'd be seeing Sir Thomas More of him now that he was Head of the Department for the regularisation and Control of Magical Creatures.

What Harry mostly knew about Walter Eckerton was more on a personal than professional level. Harry had never met a Father-God who was more protective of his son than Walter Eckerton, although he did own dependable rationality. Never a more devoted father, either.

Walter continued his way past the early professors until he stopped in front of Harry. Harry was even more than scandalise to see the expression on his face. Worry was etched in every contribution of his case, bringing out the wrinkles, but there was wrath in his eyes.

"Walter,"Harry shook his hired man as he stood up,"What 's going on ?"

"Not here,"Walter muttered,"I need a parole in private."

Harry told Neville he 'd be right on back and he followed Bruno Walter out of the standpoint. They continued walking until they were a short distance away from the sales pitch and then Walter stopped.

"The boys have just been to see me at the Ministry,"Walter said as soon as he 'd stopped.

"Wait, what ?"Harry asked,"You mean Albus and Matt ?"

"Yes, and the other two as well,"Walter said quickly,"You 've heard of Ralph Lubar, the caput of the Department for the ordinance and ascendency of Magical Creatures in Australia ?"

Harry nodded, slightly confused at the modification of depicted object."Yes, not a very kind bloke, is he ?"

Walter 's face hardened."That 's a nice way of putting it. The bloke is sick and deform and he 's got a grudge against me. Very farseeing chronicle and I have n't got prison term to tell it. shortly variant is that when matte was eight, Lubar passed a law that required him to transmute in a building with other loup-garou, older werewolves. Nearly killed him. It was right before we moved. For whatever reason, Lubar decided to jaw Hogwarts today, possibly under the pretense of attending the Quidditch match.

"The boys saw him and Flooed to the Ministry from Honeyduke 's. matt 's absolutely terrified of him, which is why they came to me. I came back with them. They Flooed before I did, but when I arrived at Honeyduke 's they were n't there. I 've already spoken with the owners of the store as well as a few other Hogsmeade house physician. No one 's seen them. We 've got to find them."

Harry 's mettle sank."You do n't guess Lubar 's got them, do you ? He 's not serious, is he ?"

"To mat, yes, but I have n't the slightest idea as to why he 'd require the other male child,"Walter said.

"Even if he did only want matt, he 'd have to get Albus as well because I know Albus would n't let him lease matt sitting down,"Harry replied, and started walking briskly towards Hogsmeade,"Let 's go. I 'll get every available Auror on this."

******

Albus tried as hard as he could to dislodge himself from Washburn 's appreciation as he was Portkeying to who knows where. All Albus knew about the location was that it must be far away. Portkeying is usually mostly instantaneous, but this time there was a significant lag. Albus had meter to try and get away, not that it did anything.

The endorse clue that their destination was far away was the fact that it was very darkness when Albus finally landed on the ground. Not dark like an imminent storm either. nighttime as in night.

Washburn had let go of Albus as they landed and Albus hastened to get to his base. tatty thud around him told him that his admirer had landed as well.

The ground was muffle and intemperately and the foliage around them was dense. Albus assumed they were in some sort of wood. He gazed around and saw a lot of unfamiliar tree that seemed to stretch out towards the starry sky.

There was no moonlight to crystallise the forest. Lubar, the Willinsons, and Washburn had walked a few yards away from the son and were whispering to each other. All four had lit their baton, but it was n't enough wand light to give Albus a just perspective of his surroundings.

lusterlessness, John, and Kaden had all scrambled over to where Albus was and were standing quite close to him, their wands out. Albus pulled his own out as well, but did n't dare light it.

"Why is it night ?"Kaden whispered.

"Where the inferno are we ?"John asked.

"We 're in Australia,"lustrelessness said in awe, as if he was just coming to damage with that fact.

"We Portkeyed across an ocean ?"Kaden gasped.

When Albus thought about it, it made sense. Lubar was from Australia, so why should n't he subscribe them there ? It was quite far away from anyone who would be looking for them.

What did n't make common sense was why Lubar was with Washburn and the Willinsons. As far as he could severalize, the four star seemed to be working together, but why ? Lubar lived halfway across the human beings. How had he met the Willinsons ?

"Is this anywhere near your old planetary house ?"John asked.

"How should I know ?"lustrelessness snapped,"Australia 's a huge commonwealth !"

"I just thought if we were near it, we could hide there,"bathroom muttered.

"You would n't need to,"Matt said,"My stupid full cousin owns it now."

"You have a full cousin ?"Albus asked.

"Not authoritative,"lustrelessness said quickly.

Albus nodded."How are we going to get out of this ?"

"They 're not paying attention,"Saint John whispered, gesturing to where the four wizards stood huddled in a circle,"Maybe if we run for it."

"The Portkey 's right there,"Matt pointed to the tea tympanum, which was a few feet away,"If we can just get to it."

"All right,"Albus whispered,"On the count of three. One ... two ... three."

Albus ran as quietly as he could towards the Porkey. He was about to foot it up when it soared up into the air. Albus looked up and saw Lubar sneering at him, with the Portkey in his hand.

"That wo n't do,"Lubar said as he stowed the Porkey in his cloak. He turned to the former three men."They 're trying to get away."

"What do you expect ?"Jarrett said rudely,"There 's four of them ! Do you bring in how much more difficult this is going to be now ? We only needed Potter ! But no, you had to go and insist on bringing that werewolf kid as well."

"You would n't even have managed this if it were n't for me !"Lubar growled,"So do n't go telling me what I should and should n't let done."

"fountainhead, now we 've wound up with two extra ones as well,"Jarret muttered.

"They 're kid, how lots trouble can they be ?"Lubar smirked.

"You do n't have it off this lot,"Washburn replied,"They 're the cause we have n't had luck before."

"I thought that was because of your incredible imbecility,"Lubar said.

Albus was very intrigued. Lubar was arguing with them as if he knew them well. Had Lubar really been working with them all along ?

What did they need him for anyway ? What had Willinson meant when he said 'we only needed Potter'?

"Shut it, Lubar,"Jarrett said.

"I 'll say what I like,"Lubar replied,"This is my bush, not yours."

"You own the wood now ?"Jarrett asked.

"As a topic of fact, I do,"Lubar snapped.

"Ministry must be paying you well."

"Indeed they are,"Lubar said and turned to matt,"So many days have passed. recite me, what is it like pretending to be something you 're not ?"

To Albus 's surprise, it was can and not flatness who went flying at Lubar. Lubar disarmed King John with a slothful wave of his wand, leaving John stunned in front of him. It appeared that Lubar was a significantly better dueller than either of the Willinsons or Washburn.

Pocketing John 's wand, Lubar turned back to matte, who was shakily holding his wand up.

"It does n't matter what body politic you 're in,"Lubar seethed,"You 're the same thing no issue where you live. The laws do n't change what you are. guess as much as you like, but it wo n't change a thing."

Now Albus wanted to go after Lubar. The choler was boiling up inside of him and he did n't think he had ever felt more angry in his intact life, and that included every encounter he had had with Scorpio Malfoy. Malfoy was like a fluffy kitten compared to Lubar.

However, Albus held himself back. John was already wandless. It would do them no good if Albus got disarmed as well. Something told him to wait, to wait until he could catch them off guard.

"What about your father ? I hear he 's the head of the department in United Kingdom now,"Lubar smirked,"Guess it 's just a matter of sentence until the same thing happens. You 'll receive to flee again."

Matt was visibly trembling now. Albus wracked his encephalon, trying to figure out what to do. What could they do ?

"Oh, for pigeon hawk 's rice beer !"Jarrett strode forward,"How is this helping matter ? Did we really risk Portkeying a bunch of Thomas Kid to Australia just to waste time taunting one of them ?"

"quiet !"Lubar shouted,"I 'll do what I like !"

"alibi me !"Kaden said loudly, turning to Lubar,"But how in the epithet of Merlin do you experience them ?"He gestured to the Willinsons and Washburn.

Albus held his breath, waiting for Lubar to put some sort of jinx or curse on Kaden. Sometimes his cousin-german was quite dim. It seemed obvious to Albus that this was a time not to ask questions.

To Albus 's surprisal, Lubar smiled. It was a twisted sort of smile, but a smile nonetheless.

"I think that 's a carnival question,"Lubar said."My cousin married this idiot,"Lubar pointed at Jarrett.

"You 're married ?"Kaden gaped at Jarrett, causing Albus to groan. Why would n't Kaden just shut up ?

"Not for much longer,"Jarrett muttered,"Can we please just get on with this ?"

"patience, cousin,"Lubar said as he began to take the air slowly around the former three,"We mus n't do this hastily. haste is the ground you three have failed prior to tonight."

Fail at what ? What were they going to do ? The only thing Albus could think of was getting the Hallows, but all three Hallows were in England. If that was their plan, they would n't birth taken them to Australia.

Albus glanced nervously at Matt, who still looked scared out of his brain. Something was still telling Albus not to try and duel the men. Lubar seemed wise, much smarter than the other three, and that scared Albus more than than anything else. There was a big difference between dueling someone who was fresh and dueling soul who was an idiot.

******

The Ministry seemed deserted when Harry and Walter Flooed there a short while later. Harry had briefly questioned the possessor of Honeyduke 's, but they had not seen any of the boys.

Harry and Bruno Walter ran towards the lifts at top f number, not pausing to answering the questioning stare of the bloke at the welcome desk. The lifts could not go fast enough for the two men. Harry nearly pulled the doors open when they finally arrived at Magical Law Enforcement 's floor.

The Auror office was slightly more lively than the residuum of the Ministry, but not much. Three Aurors were inside, two of whom hastily shoved away a mountain of Exploding snatch card and stood up upon seeing Harry arrive. The early Auror, a rather short but stocky hag, shoved the al-Qur'an she was reading in the drawer, and joined the other two.

"Potter, sir !"the hag said,"We thought you were at Hogwarts today !"

"I was,"Harry said darkly and explained the situation.

The three Aurors looked dark as they waited for Harry to present them education.

"Dabney,"Harry turned to the taller of the virtuoso,"Brighton,"he looked at the witch,"Get started with an all-encompassing search of Hogsmeade. I 'm calling in everyone who is n't busy with anything else. Tiburon and Oswald are on responsibility in Hogsmeade today, inform them of the situation."

Dabney and Brighton nodded before dashing out of the room. Harry turned to the remaining Auror."Lewster, you will be searching the Forbidden Forest as soon as soul else arrives."

Harry pulled out his wand and muttered a trance. An enormous silvery stag flew out of his wand and Harry whispered to it. The Patronus glided out of the room and Harry leaned against the nearest desk.

It was n't long before Harry heard footsteps in the corridor. He looked up at the door just as Ron was running through, followed by half a dozen early Aurors.

"Harry, what 's going on ?"Ron said in a worried tone.

Harry rehashed the entire billet again. Ron 's face paled."What about pink wine, was she with them ?"

"No,"Walter shook his head,"It was just the boys."

"Thank merlin,"Ron whispered,"But Harry, what about Willinson ? D'you think he 's got anything to do with this ?"

"It 's crossed my mind,"Harry muttered,"But I have n't got a clue as to how Lubar would know him."

"With dark wizards, you just never know,"Ron pointed out.

"I know,"Harry nodded,"Ron, lead the search of the Forbidden timber. Lewster 's going with you. And acquire Daniels and Bessie Smith with you."

Ron nodded and left the elbow room, followed by Lewster and two other wizards. The remaining four Aurors looked to Harry.

"The eternal rest of you can search the castle and grounds. Be discrete. I do not wish to interrupt the Quidditch mate unless it is absolutely essential,"Harry instructed.

The Aurors left the room and Harry turned to Bruno Walter. He slowly shook his pass. Why was it always Albus ? This was the third year he had gotten into bother. Albus 's old age at Hogwarts were reminding Harry dangerously of his own.

"I 'd better go Floo home and tell Julie what 's going on,"Walter sighed,"She 's going to fall apart."

Harry nodded as Walter left the elbow room. Ginny. Harry snapped his pass up. She was going to be watching the compeer, but was going to be late. She 's probably there now, Harry thought. She 'd be looking for him.

Harry slowly left the room. How was he going to secernate his wife that Albus had been kidnapped and he did n't stimulate a clew as to where he was ?

******

"You 're just too afraid to do it !"Jarrett shouted at Lubar,"What could possibly go wrong ? We 're halfway across the man from the Aurors that are looking for this lot !"

"Once again you have proved your stupidity,"Lubar replied,"Do you realize who we 've taken halfway across the world ? Harry thrower 's son ! You have n't a clue as to how affair work in the Ministry !

"I can ensure you that at this very instant, the entire Auror Department is looking for them. Harry Potter 's probably got every Auror on this case. It wo n't take them long to realize that we 're not in England.

"And this one,"Lubar gestured to matte,"He 's got the most meddlesome parents in the humans. They 'd sooner kill everyone in the world before letting something materialise to him. Very irritating. They wo n't pillow until they find him. Not to mention the fact that he 's the son of a Ministry functionary. We 've got two kids of two of the most salient Ministry officials of Britain. Think, Jarrett, think ! We 've got to be careful !"

"Well, you 're the one who wanted to charter the werewolf, too,"Jarrett growled.

"And you 're the one who insisted we take ceramicist 's son !"Lubar shouted,"Why do we even need him ?"

"We just do !"Jarrett shouted back.

"If both of you idiots had n't wanted to bring the kids, we could 've done this whole thing without the Ministry finding out,"Washburn cut in.

"Shut up !"Lubar and Jarrett said at the same time.

Maybe if they kept arguing, they would n't have a hazard to do whatever it was they wanted to do before the Aurors found them, Albus thought. He could only hope that the wizard would accept enough to argue about.

"Are we going to do it here ?"Jarrett asked,"Or go to the house ?"

"wealthy person you learned nothing ?"Lubar shouted,"When they find out that we 're here, the first place they 'll await is the house."

"Got any practiced melodic theme ?"Jarrett seethed,"Have you got a secret little shack somewhere in this commonwealth ?"

"No,"Lubar snapped,"We 're taking them to the outback. Plenty of places to veil, not very inhabited. perfective tense place."

Before Albus could even contemplate running away, Jarrett had his arm in a vice hairgrip again. Matt was once again in the clench of Lubar, and John and Kaden were both caught by the Willinsons.

Albus knew very little about the Australian outback, just that it was n't suitable for much homo inhabitation. However, the one piece of information he did acknowledge about it was that it was where most of the dementors that used to guard Azkaban had gone. That, and it was a somewhat pop place for vampires.

Lubar and Jarrett had stopped bickering. Albus had two seconds to realize what was happening before he felt the familiar but unpleasant sensation of side-along Apparition.


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


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.
A/N : Like the previous chapter, this one goes back and Forth between Albus 's and Harry 's perspectives.


Albus stumbled as he landed, breaking free of Jarrett 's hold. He tripped over a stone and landed face first in the Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin. Spitting the grittiness out of his mouth, he stood up and glanced around.

It was still far too black to see anything but the outlines of stack in the distance. The outback seemed very abandon and very quiet. There was a very small chunk of Vannevar Bush and trees nearby, but besides that, Albus did not see a great deal else in the way of plant living.

Albus immediately knew why Lubar had taken them there. He had never been in such a deserted lieu in his sprightliness. There was absolutely nil around them. Even if Albus had decided to run away, he would n't have gotten very far. As dangerous as staying with Lubar was, Albus knew he would have no chance of surviving if he ran off into the outback.

Lubar seemed to recognize that Albus and the others would n't run away. He neglected to use any kind of ropes to tie them up or put any spell around them. Instead, he walked a shortstop space in the charge of the mountain and gestured for the Willinsons and Washburn to succeed them.

"What are we going to do ?"can seethed,"Has anyone got any idea where we are ?"

"The outback 's Brobdingnagian,"Matt replied,"I bet we 're right in the middle of it. The nearest civilization 's probably Swedish mile away."

"So we 're done for,"John groaned,"What do they even want with us anyway ?"

"No idea,"Albus said,"But if they keep arguing, we might not have to encounter out."

"Do you really remember your dads are going to be able to feel us ?"John asked skeptically.

"Lubar 's right hand,"Albus said,"The altogether Ministry 's going to be looking. I think they 'll find us."

"Energy Department stuff like this happen every class ?"Kaden asked,"I mean, last year I got kidnapped by Willinson and now we all were. What 'll take place next year ?"

"Hopefully nothing,"Albus said.

"If there is a next year,"John muttered.

"Shut up over there !"Lubar shouted as he walked back over to the boy,"I did n't tell you to spill !"

"Lubar !"Jarrett seethed as he pointed to someplace in the space,"There 's people gathering over there ! We 've got to go somewhere else !"

Albus looked towards where Jarrett was pointing and his heart leapt a bit. There was a small gathering of figures a few yards away. Could his dad have found them already ?

"Calm down,"Lubar said,"They 're just vampires. They wo n't chafe us. I know that coven. They know better than to mess with me. I 'll do life pretty miserable for them if they do."

"press cutting mess with lamia now ?"Jarrett asked.

"Proving to be helpful, is n't it ?"Lubar answered.

Albus 's promise sank once again. Lubar seemed more fuddle than ever. He cut deals for vampires but passed restrictive laws on werewolves ? It did n't make sense.

The men lowered their voices again and Albus wished he had a few extendible spike with him. He did n't presume blab out to his booster, just sent them anxious coup d'oeil every now and then.

A cold wind blew over them and Albus shivered. It was the sort of cold that chilled him to the os. Hoping that it was n't going to rain, or snow ( was n't it winter in Australia ? ), he looked to the sky. There were no cloud, but what Albus saw was practically worse than clouds.

Five or six robe figure of speech were slowly circling above them. Although he had never before seen one, Albus recognized them as dementors immediately. Despite the shadow, Albus could clearly make out their chassis. As they got closer, he could even hear their rattling breath.

The world in front of him began to swim. He felt like he was going to top out, but he knew it was just the dementors sucking all the happiness out of him. Albus was left with all his unhappy thoughts.

His dad was n't going to encounter them. They would be stuck on the Australian outback until Lubar and the others did what they were going to do. Then who knew what would happen ?

"No, no, no !"Matt shouted.

Albus squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them, forcing himself to see towards his Quaker. Matt was kneeling on the ground, shaking violently. Both John and Kaden were looking at him anxiously, neither seeming to be that affected by the dementors.

Of course the dementors would feign mat the speculative. He had gone through things that Albus, Saint John, and Kaden could n't even conceive of. It probably did n't help that Lubar was actually portray, either.

Without even thinking, Albus pulled his wand out of his robe. He 'd get wind the incantation for the Patronus good luck charm before and figured it was worth a shot. What else could he do besides try ?

"Expecto Patronum !"Albus shouted, pointing his wand at the sky. naught happened.

A happy thought ! How could he have forgotten that ? It was hard to cogitate of one with dementors flying over heard and listening to Matt shouting on the ground.

When the Sorting Hat put him in Gryffindor ! Albus pointed his wand to the sky again."Expecto Patronum ! Expecto Patronum !"

Albus kept shouting the incantation while using assorted glad memories. nix was happening, but flatness 's shouting was decreasing. Then it stopped. Albus stopped and looked towards the flat coat. It looked like Matt had passed out.

thought process of the day Balladanis had been sacked, Albus pointed his scepter at the dementors once again."Expecto Patronum !"he shouted.

A silvery blob exploded from his baton and went after the dementors. Albus stood shocked for a few second gear. He had sort of done a Patronus spell !

"Bloody hell,"John whispered.

"Expecto Patronum !"someone shouted from the distance.

Albus looked up and saw Lubar running at them with his wand pointed at the dementors. A silvery squirrel was floating ahead of him and the dementors scattered as it reached them.

Albus 's foggy learning ability immediately cleared and the felicity returned. He quickly stowed his wand in his robe before Lubar thought to disarm him.

"Leave him,"Lubar growled at John the Divine and Kaden, who were bent to the ground trying to get lusterlessness to wake up.

"Dementors !"Washburn shouted sarcastically,"This was a bloody brilliant place to come."

Lubar paid no care to Washburn 's input. His eyes were focused on Albus and he was giving him a very queer looking. Albus took a spooky step back, but Lubar did not deflect his gaze. Albus immediately closed his mind.

******

"ceramist, sir !"

Harry, who had been walking up high Street in Hogsmeade with Ginny, turned around and saw Lewster striding towards him. Harry stopped, hoping he had some unspoiled news.

"What is it, Lewster ?"Harry asked.

"Just talked to a few of the centaurs,"Lewster said,"They saw three wizards in the timberland a few time of day ago. They recognized one of them as Washburn."

"I 'd bet my last Galleon the other two were the Willinsons,"Harry replied,"Did the Centaurus know anything else ?"

"Just that Washburn and the others were looking for something. Apparently they were scouring the wood level for something,"Lewster answered.

Harry nodded. That did n't storm him. The Resurrection I. F. Stone was someplace in the forest."Did you see anything ?"

"No,"Lewster shook his head,"And the centaur are passably sure they 've left."

"Very well,"Harry said,"See what else you can regain out."

Lewster left and Harry turned to Ginny, who looked afraid.

"Harry, you do n't think that Washburn is with Lubar, do you ?"Ginny asked.

"There 's no doubtfulness in my brain,"Harry answered,"It 's just a matter of finding them. Listen, I 've got to go search Dervish and Banges. I 've got this hunch about the place. Seems like the complete place for Washburn to take them."

Ginny nodded."I 'll go beguile the end of the catch. I wo n't note anything to James and Lily yet."

"Good,"Harry said,"I 'll be in match soon."He kissed her lightly on the frontal bone."We 're going to obtain him."

"I know,"Ginny replied softly,"Stay safe."

Ginny turned around to walk back to the Hogwarts earth while Harry picked up the tempo and walked the shortstop space to Dervish and Banges.

The building looked utterly abandoned. The windows were still boarded up, the Gunter Wilhelm Grass overgrown around it. It certainly did n't depend like anyone was hiding inside, but Harry had to check.

Pulling out his wand, he crept cautiously to the doorway. He carefully pulled the dining table off of it and quietly wrenched the door opened. Without lighting his wand, he walked inside.

The place had the olfactory perception of a recent firing in the open fireplace. Someone had been there. However, there was not a phone from anywhere in the building. Harry lit his wand and saw that it was deserted.

After a exhaustive bank check of the entire building, in which Harry found no living puppet, he returned to the master room. The fireplace was filled with nearly dead embers and there was a small stack of Floo gunpowder spilled out onto the floor.

The Floo had been used recently. Harry bent down and muttered an incantation that would secern him where the last somebody to use the fireplace had Flooed from. He waited for the incantation to lick, his center pounding.

Soft red smoke emitted from his verge, curling together to form the words 'Ministry of magic .'Harry breathed a sigh of easement. He was getting somewhere. Without hardly a doubt, Harry knew that Albus and the other boys had wound up in Dervish and Banges after going to the Ministry. The only enquiry was, where had they gone after that ?

******

"How old are you, Potter ?"Lubar asked.

"baker's dozen,"Albus replied, still a bit uneasy as to why Lubar was looking at him like that. It reminded him of how Balladanis had looked at him during the second dueling tournament.

"And they teach the Patronus magical spell to thirteen-year-olds at Hogwarts ?"Lubar replied.

"No,"Albus shook his mind, although when he thought about it, Balladanis may have taught him and Malfoy Patronuses if he had n't gotten sacked."That was the offset time I 'd tried it."

"Very intriguing,"Lubar said as he turned to the other three men,"This lot did n't tell apart me you were skilled at Defensive magic."

"You never asked,"Jarrett muttered,"But is ceramicist 's aptitude for Patronuses really relevant to what we 're doing ?"

"It matters if they decide to try and hex us !"Lubar snapped,"I think it might be best if they 're all wandless."

Albus gulped and clenched his sceptre harder. He glanced at Matt, who was still unconscious. John did n't have his wand. Kaden was n't very estimable at dueling. It would be up to him, to Albus, if this came to a duel.

"The only one who 's got any science is thrower,"Jarrett said,"The other three are n't going to be difficult."

"fine,"Lubar muttered,"We 'll get started, but I need to talk to you three away from them first."

Jarrett nodded and the men walked a few yards away and began whispering too quietly for Albus to hear.

Albus bent down to where Matt had collapsed, wishing he knew a healing spell or two."matte, lusterlessness,"he whispered,"Wake Island up."

After a minute of arc or two, Matt 's optic fluttered overt and he sat up."What happened ?"he asked, looking around confusedly.

"You passed out,"Albus told him,"When the dementors were here."

"But Albus cast a Patronus !"whoremaster said excitedly.

"You what ?"flatness gaped at him.

"It was just silvery mist,"Albus told him,"Lubar 's actually the one who got rid of them."

"Probably just for his sake,"Matt shuddered,"Did anyone else pass out ?"The other three male child shook their drumhead."image,"Matt muttered.

"You need some chocolate or something,"Albus said,"Anyone got some ?"

"power,"Kaden began fishing around in his pockets. He produced a chocolate salientian and handed it to Matt, who took it without saying a word.

"Listen,"Albus said,"Whatever it is that they want to do here, they 're doing it soon. Do you think you can get up ?"

Matt nodded and Albus helped him to his feet. Lubar and the others were walking towards them again. Albus slowly pulled his wand out of his robes and held it to his side, hiding it partially behind his back.

Lubar conjured a pile of wood and set blast to it, illuminating himself, Washburn, the Willinsons, and the boys. Albus was now clearly able-bodied to see the twisted smell on Lubar 's face.

"Are you mad ?"Jarrett seethed,"ardor 's going to attract attention !"

Lubar laughed."Fire 's going to control that those lamia stay away and we 've got to see what we 're doing !"

Albus glanced towards where the vampires had been congregating. They were currently walking farther away from Albus and the others. Thinking back to Linda 's boggart, he remembered that vampires are destroyed by fire. Albus turned back to the men.

Jarrett was holding something out in his mitt, but Albus could n't pee-pee out what it was. Jarrett, along with Quinton and Washburn, looked quite excited. Lubar looked mildly annoyed and impatient.

"Do you know what this is, Potter ?"Jarrett asked gleefully.

"No,"Albus said, trying not to voice too nervous.

"It 's the Resurrection of Christ gem,"Jarrett answered.

Albus could hardly conceal his pant as he peered nigh at Jarrett 's outstretched script. There was a very pocket-sized pit sitting in it. The Resurrection of Christ Stone. One of the Deathly Hallows. Jarrett had finally succeeded in getting one of the three objects he had been after for yr. But how ?

"How ?"Albus asked, trying to sound confident.

"Ancient magic is a beautiful matter, Potter,"Jarrett answered,"There are long forgotten spells, go that body of work very nicely with long forgotten magical objective such as this Stone. It was merely a affair of finding the correct spell, getting to the Forbidden Forest, and putting it to use. Quite simple now that I look back on it."

"Only because you did n't do any of the work,"Lubar muttered,"It was I who found the while !"

"The other Hallows will prove to be easy to obtain with the help of this,"Jarrett went on, ignoring Lubar 's mutterings.

Albus did not like the sound of that. The Stone itself did one thing and that was bring back the tone of people who had passed on. How would that help Jarrett get the other Hallows ?

The Invisibility Cloak. Albus 's tum plummeted. It was still in his gown. He really hoped Jarrett would n't understand that.

"Another thing that I thought of !"Lubar seethed.

"You think this lot cares who did what ?"Jarrett laughed.

"Oh, just get on with it,"Washburn rolled his eyes.

Jarrett sidestepped past the fire and strode closer to Albus. Albus took a step back as his philia started beating faster. He had a very bad feeling about what Jarrett was going to do with that Stone.

"Ah, yes, ceramicist. You should be afraid,"Jarrett 's gaze swept over all four male child,"You should all be afraid."

"Quit taunting them and just do it,"Washburn said impatiently.

"With this stone,"Jarrett said a bit louder,"I will bring back Lord Voldemort."

******

Harry burst out of Dervish and Banges, not caring that he had blasted the doorway completely off its hinges as he did so. He had to find Walter. He had to happen Walter and then go to the Ministry. The fireplace did not show signs that it had been used to Floo away from the abandoned shop. That left either phantom or a Portkey, both of which would have left traces that he 'd need the Department of Magical transport for.

Harry rounded a box as he ran towards Honeyduke 's and nearly ran headlong into a beldam. He stepped back and saw it was Ginny. She wore a strange look of discombobulation and stupor, mixed with mingled fear.

"Ginny,"Harry said,"Sorry."

"Not a problem,"she said quickly,"Have you found anything ?"

"Yes,"Harry answered,"Is the match over ? How badly did we lose by ?"

"Only a hundred dot,"Ginny said,"But we might not have actually lost. Listen, did you know Commonwealth of Australia 's Seeker is a vampire ?"

"delay, what ?"Harry gaped at her, trying to wind his mind around that fact while still focusing his mind on Albus.

"I 'll explain after we 've found Albus,"Ginny said.

"Right,"Harry agreed,"I 've got a lead. someone was in Dervish and Banges. They Flooed there from the Ministry ; I 'm for sure it was Al and the others. I 've got to regain Walter and go to the Ministry. I 'm not sure where that will lead us, but I might not be back for a while."

"Just be careful,"Ginny said as she gave him a kiss,"And institute him back."

"I will,"Harry said as he kissed her back,"I 'll see you soon."

"Harry !"

Harry turned and saw Walter striding out of Honeyduke 's. With one shoemaker's last look at Ginny, Harry met Walter half-way.

"We 've got to get to the Ministry,"Harry said immediately, and explained about what he had found at Dervish and Banges and what Lewster had learned from the centaurs.

Bruno Walter nodded and the two men Disapparated on the spot. They reappeared a little while later in a diminished Apparition chamber in the Ministry.

Passing the bewildered looking security sentry go for the tertiary fourth dimension that day, Harry and Bruno Walter ran to the lifts. Neither of them said a word as the nip and tuck clattered to the department of Magical Transportation.

The section was nearly deserted, carry through for one very bored looking beldame sitting at a desk.

"Mr. ceramist, Mr. Eckerton !"she exclaimed as she took her feet off the desk,"Something I can do for you ?"

"Yes,"Harry answered,"I need to know if anyone 's Disapparated from Dervish and Banges in Hogsmeade. Or used a Portkey from that Saami fix. And if you 're capable to, I need to do it where they went."

"Of course, Mr. thrower, of course,"the witch said as she got up. She disappeared into another room, shutting the room access behind her.

Harry sighed and sat down on the approximate chair. Walter sat down in the adjacent one, looking thoroughly miserable.

"We 'll incur them,"Harry said quietly.

"I do n't doubt that,"Walter replied,"However, that is not the only thing I am interest about. The concluding time Matt had an altercation with Ralph Lubar, he wound up in therapy for calendar month afterwards."

Harry was not expecting that. He did not know much about therapy, except that necromancer did not normally use it. Whatever had happened, it must consume been bad.

"Do you beware if I ask what happened ?"Harry asked, not sure enough if he was overstepping some form of boundary.

Walter did not verbalise for several seconds."It 's ok,"Harry said,"You do n't have to explain."

"I will,"Walter said quietly,"Shortly after flatness was bitten, I became the fountainhead of the section for the regularization and Control of Magical creature in Australia. Nobody outside of the department knew about his condition, of course. Ralph Lubar was given my late position of head word of the werewolf control condition Unit, and was quite covetous that I was given the Head spatial relation. He could not get over the fact that I was given it, even when my own son had lycanthropy.

"It was a grudge he held against me for many years, until the day finally came when he cracked and let it slip that Matt was a werewolf. A bit of legislation had been passed that required all places of shift be inspected by the Ministry. Lubar inspected Matt 's and it failed on a technicality. Ministry centers were set up for lycanthrope to transform in, together. mat was required by law to translate there since his safe room did not qualifying. I refused to have him transform there. The document were all over it. I lost my job. Lubar was appointed to the Head position.

"More legislation was passed. A law that stated that Ministry functionary could physically push werewolves into the translation centers. On the day of the full-of-the-moon Sun Myung Moon, Lubar Flooed into our house and took Matt to the center. By the time I figured out which center it was, the moon had risen. It was too late.

"lustrelessness spent workweek in St. Mungo 's. By that time we were nearly ready to move here. He was so traumatized, it took calendar month for him to get over it. To be dependable, I do n't think he 's fully over it.

"The only reason Lubar did it was to try and get to me. That 's why he 's so sick and twisted,"Walter finished as he put his question in his handwriting,"I swore I 'd never let him near Matt again. Swore I 'd kill him if he went near matte again.

Bruno Walter gave an odd variety of laughter."Listen to me, I 'm telling the Head of the Auror section that I 'd commit murder."

"Just so long as you do n't actually do it when we go economise the boys,"Harry said, still processing what Walter had told him. It certainly explained a lot- why they were so reluctant to let flatness out of their sight, why they were n't on the Floo Network.

One thing that Harry could tell was that Walter blamed himself for everything that had happened. Honestly, Harry was n't surprised. If something like that had happened to James, Albus, or Lily, he would 've blamed himself, too.

"That was n't your shift,"Harry said quietly,"And this is n't either."

"If I had just Flooed ahead of the boys-"

"It would n't cause mattered,"Harry interrupted,"And it 'll do no good to dwell on it now. It 's in the past."

"That 's exactly what my buddy said when Matt was in St. Mungo 's,"Bruno Walter said wryly.

"Mr. thrower !"the witch came bustling out of the way she had gone into, brandishing a piece of parchment, which she handed to Harry.

Harry stood up as she handed them the parchment. His eyes scanned the parchment. Portkeys. Four Portkeys had left Dervish and Banges a few short circuit hours ago. That in itself did not blow out of the water Harry, especially compared to where the Portkeys had gone.

"Commonwealth of Australia,"Harry read as he turned to Walter, who had visibly paled at the word,"They 're in Australia."


A/N : Thanks to my Beta, Dancer of Starlight as well as all of the amazing people who have read and left such lovely reviews !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.
A/N : Like the previous chapters, this one is also split between Albus and Harry 's perspectives.


Never had Albus wished so voiceless that he could Apparate. Why did you have to be seventeen to get your fantasm license anyway ? If he ever worked in the Department of Magical Transportation, he would alter that law. Apparition would 've enabled him to get out of Commonwealth of Australia, away from Jarrett Willinson, who was trying to bring back overlord Voldemort with the Resurrection Stone.

Albus could not remember being more scared in his sprightliness. This was far regretful than when he had dueled Washburn on the Hogwarts grounds two years ago, far worse than when Quinton kidnapped Kaden the previous year. Lord Voldemort was far scarier than Lubar, Washburn, and the Willinsons combined.

What would Voldemort look like when Jarrett brought him back ? Harry had said the Stone could n't actually get masses back to spirit. Albus guessed he 'd be more like a touch. But would he be capable to do magic, to perform the curses and curse he did when he was alert ?

Albus held his breath as he watched Jarrett turn the stone over in his paw. Albus had no estimation how it worked, but judging by how quiet all of the adults were, Jarrett was trying to use it.

Over and over again Jarrett turned the Stone. He did it for so farseeing that Albus had to let out his breath. The excited gleam on Jarrett 's expression slowly dissipated until it was replaced by frustration.

"Why wo n't it work ?"Jarrett shouted,"Are you overconfident this is the veracious Stone ?"

"Of row I am !"Lubar shouted as he grabbed the Stone,"The spell said it was !"

"Well, it 's not working now, is it ?"Jarrett mocked.

Albus breathed a sigh of succor. Either they had the wrong Harlan Fisk Stone or for whatever reason, Voldemort could n't be brought back with it. Albus was hoping for the former.

Lubar turned the Harlan Fiske Stone over in his hands. On the third turn, a foreign variety of mist appeared in front of him. Albus 's core sped up. It had worked.

The mist began to clear and a chassis was standing in figurehead of Lubar. The design was not nobleman Voldemort, though. Albus had no mind who had been resurrected, but it certainly was not Voldemort. This soul was a woman, and a short one at that.

Washburn and the Willinsons were exchanging curious glance. Lubar, however, was staring directly at the figure, his boldness contorted with something Albus could only assume was sadness.

"M-mother ?"Lubar said as he stepped closer to the woman.

"You idiot !"Jarrett shouted,"That 's not Voldemort !"

"I know that !"Lubar snapped and the looked back to the cleaning lady, who was apparently his female parent,"Mum."

"Ralphy,"the adult female replied.

"I-it 's been so long,"Lubar whispered.

Albus turned to his friends, who were all staring in confusion at Lubar. flatness in particular was giving Lubar a very strange flavor. Apparently the I. F. Stone was the resurrection gemstone and it did indeed body of work, just not in the way Jarrett had been planning.

"Very long,"Lubar 's mother agreed,"But you 've done well. I 'm very majestic of you, son."

Albus had to cover his mouth to conceal his snort. What variety of mother could be gallant of what Lubar had done ?

"I 've tried,"Lubar said,"I swore I would after, after what happened."

"You have,"Lubar 's mum replied,"You 've done me proud."

"Oh for Merlin 's rice beer !"Jarrett shouted as he ran towards Lubar.

Lubar seemed to deliver forgotten that there were early people around. He jumped as Jarrett advanced and Jarrett grabbed the Stone out of his hand.

Lubar 's female parent began to fade as soon as Jarrett took the stone. Running towards her, Lubar held out his hands trying to prevent her there.

"No !"he shouted,"Mum !"

Mere seconds after Lubar 's mother completely disappeared, Lubar had his wand out and was holding it up at Jarrett. Jarrett had taken out his own verge, but neither man was hurling curse. Washburn and Quinton had taken a few stair back.

"You arse !"Lubar shouted,"That was my mother !"

"I know !"Jarrett replied,"That 's why I did it ! We 're trying to bring back Voldemort here, not your messed up mum !"

"Do not insult my female parent,"Lubar seethed and flicked his wand.

Jarrett fell to the ground, completely unable to move. Lubar stood over him with his wand directed at his chest.

"My mother was a lovely person,"Lubar growled,"You 're sick to be speaking ill of the utterly like that."

Albus did n't really think Lubar should be talking about who is regurgitate and who is n't. Nor did he think his mother was particularly lovely. Never before had Albus thought he 'd harmonize with Jarrett Willinson on anything, but when it came to Lubar 's female parent, he did.

"Better they hex each other than us, right ?"John muttered.

"Good tip,"Albus replied.

"Can we please just get back to bringing back Voldemort ?"Washburn drawled loudly,"I was under the belief that that 's what we were here for, not to insult each other 's mothers."

Lubar turned his verge on Washburn."Have you anything to say about my mother ? Well, do you ?"

Washburn hastily pulled out his own wand."Er, no, she seemed quite lovely."

"goodness,"Lubar said manically,"Keep it that way, or you 'll end up like him."Lubar gestured to Jarrett, who was still laying paralyzed on the ground, his eye darting about nervously.

******

"Australia,"Walter said weakly,"Bloody hell."

"I 'll need you to replicate that Portkey,"Harry said to the beldam, who nodded and left the elbow room again.

"Walter,"Harry began,"I am nearly one hundred per centum sure that Jarrett and Quinton Willinson, as well as Jameson Washburn are working with Lubar. I am nearly positive that they are with the boys in Australia."

"Right,"Walter agreed,"The evidence surely points that way."

"There is something about that investigation that hardly anyone in the Ministry knows,"Harry lowered his vocalization,"Nearly a yr ago, after Quinton was sent to Azkaban, the Ministry decided that the Auror section needed some help with capturing the early two. The pastor hired a Presuler."

Bruno Walter let out a low whistle and then realization dawned on his face."Wait, you do n't mean-"

"Tethys Balladanis,"Harry said quietly,"Yes, he was the Presuler the Ministry hired. Stationed at Hogwarts under the pretense of teaching Defense Against the darkness Arts."

"Bad idea on the parson 's theatrical role,"Walter muttered.

"It was my idea to send him at Hogwarts,"Harry replied,"But I did not know that he would be such an awful teacher."

"I wo n't hold it against you,"Walter said.

"I appreciate that,"Harry said,"However, since Balladanis is a percentage of this investigating, I have to contact him and he will consume to go with us to Australia. I understand that you have had your differences, but-"

"If he helps to find oneself lusterlessness, I will forgive him for everything he 's done,"Walter interrupted.

"Here you are, Mr. Potter, Mr. Eckerton,"the beldame returned holding a ill-shapen charge card container, which she handed to Harry."If I can be of anymore assistance, let me know."

"That 's it for now,"Harry said as he took the container,"Thanks."

******

Albus stood stock-still as the four men dueled each former. Completely unsure of what to do, yet very happy that they seemed to have momentarily forgotten about the boy, Albus just stood there watching. Matt, Saint John, and Kaden did the same, although John Lackland looked Thomas More than a bit apprehensive, most in all probability due to his deficiency of a wand.

Washburn had attempted to lease the Stone from Lubar, who had taken it back from Jarrett, shortly after Lubar had stunned Jarrett. Apparently Lubar did not take kindly to this and hexed Washburn. In the mean time, the Stunner had worn off Jarrett and he attempted to hex Lubar.

All four men were running around, throwing curse at each other while dodging the firing. Albus was kind of hoping one of them would trip and burn their arms or something. Or even better, maybe one or more of them would drop their scepter into the fire.

Washburn and the Willinsons were definitely worse for wear. All three of them were sporting injuries. Both Willinsons were limping and Washburn 's pass on arm was being held at an odd angle.

Lubar seemed very well and even though it appeared that the other three were siding against him, he was coming off better. Albus had to accommodate that he was very skilled at dueling.

Lubar shot a jet of red lighter at Washburn, who went flying over the fire and landed with a sickening thud in social movement of the boys. He did not incite. Albus looked down and saw a small stone following to Washburn 's head teacher. He bent and picked it up. It was the Resurrection Stone.

Albus stood up and jumped back. Lubar, Jarrett, and Quinton had all advanced towards him. Three wands were pointed at his chest, being held by three people with maniac gleams in their eyes.

Albus gulped and held up his own wand, his arm shaking slightly. Matt and Kaden had done the Saame. John the Divine tried to obscure behind matt, but was unsuccessful since he was a undecomposed head taller than him.

"mitt it over, ceramicist,"Lubar growled.

With a defiant look at Lubar, Albus hastily shoved the Stone into the air hole of his robes and held his wand up higher.

******

"Balladanis."

"Eckerton."

Harry watched as the two men stared at each former. Balladanis had Flooed to the Ministry shortly after receiving Harry 's Patronus. Harry had filled him in on what was going on, but the man had n't taken his centre off of Walter the integral time.

"We have n't got time for this,"Harry muttered and held out the plastic container,"Let 's just go."

Walter agreed immediately and laid his hand on the Portkey. Balladanis did so as well, with a little hesitation.

With a familiar tug behind his naval, Harry disappeared from the Ministry. The Portkey trip was a bit longer than ones Harry was used to, but it did n't surprise him since he knew they were going to Australia.

Harry landed softly on his feet and held out his wand as he adjusted to the surroundings. It was pitch black and after he lit his wand, Harry knew they were in the middle of a forest.

The forest was disappointingly tranquilize. The simply audio were those of animals and the episodic rustling of tree, brought about by the lead. Not a unmarried sound caused Harry to believe that there were the great unwashed about, let alone his son.

"feast out and search,"Harry announced. The situation may seem deserted, but Albus and the others had been there at some decimal point. They had Portkeyed there.

None of the wizards said a intelligence as they combed the expanse. Harry left no stone unturned as he looked for the small-scale trace of evidence of where his son had gone. If only it was n't night. verge did n't provide nearly enough light.

There seemed to be not a trace of anything that showed anyone had been in that area of the wood, let alone where they had gone afterwards. Ralph Lubar was good at this, that was for sure. Harry swore as he returned to the Sami spot he had started from.

Bruno Walter returned a few minutes later, looking even more anxious than he did before."Nothing,"he muttered,"Not a ripped piece of cloak or a I Knut. They did n't stay put here long."

Harry groaned and scuffed the priming with his shoe. He and Walter stood quietly as they waited for Balladanis to return.

Balladanis came running towards Harry holding a diminished alloy tool in his manus and an unknown kind of excite smirk on his face. He skidded to a halt in nominal head of Harry, holding out the instrument. Harry recognized it as an Apparition demodulator. They were quite rare. The British Ministry only owned one, for the entire Ministry.

"They 've Disapparated,"Balladanis said hurriedly.

"Obviously,"Walter muttered,"Any idea where ?"

"A general idea, yes,"Balladanis replied, ignoring Bruno Walter 's sarcastic tone,"They 're on the outback."

"The outback ?"Bruno Walter gasped,"Dammit, there 's dementors out there !"

"I am aware,"Balladanis said.

"Let 's go, then,"Harry said, placing one of his hands on the alloy instrument. It would be able to guide on them to the relative area they needed to go.

Walter put his hand on the cat's-paw as well and with an exceptionally loud snap, all three men Disapparated.

They landed on terrain that was very unfamiliar to Harry. The ground was dusty and sandy and there was hardly any flora aliveness in sight. In the distance there were tall mountains and cloaked name floated above them. Harry suppressed a shudder and gripped his wand tighter. Dementors.

What looked like a roar bonfire blazed in the space. Harry glanced at it suspiciously and then looked back to Walter and Balladanis, both of whom were more than familiar with the area.

"Only vampire and dementors ever venture out here,"Balladanis said quietly,"Neither of whom would set a fire."

"Let 's go, then,"Harry said and began to lead the small group towards the flickering lights in the distance.

******

"Hand it over, ceramist,"Lubar repeated.

Albus gulped and tried to hold his wand more steady. His verge arm was shaking uncontrollably and Albus did n't seem to be able-bodied to hold it regular. His heart was thumping hard in his chest of drawers. Albus was sure everyone was able to hear it. However, he did not want to dedicate up the endocarp. That was one affair he was for sure of. The only way Lubar would be getting it is if he killed Albus first. Which actually, was n't something Albus would put past times him.

"Maybe you should just give it to him,"John whispered,"I mean, it did n't work out to get Voldemort back."

"No,"Albus seethed, surprised that John had suggested it. He probably would n't have if he still had his wand.

"Do you really want to have to duel me, potter ?"Lubar stepped a bit closer,"There 's three of us and four of you, one of which does n't make a wand. Not good odds, if you ask me."

"And do you realize that those two are horrible duelers ?"Albus replied.

"I have noticed,"Lubar smirked,"But they 're fully qualified ; you are not. I 'm going to get that gemstone, one way or another."

Lubar flicked his verge and sent a jet of orange Inner Light at Albus. Albus jumped back and threw up a shield spell, concentrating on making it big enough to shield him and his booster. It worked and the orange light bounced harmlessly off the shell and hit the ground.

"halt behind me, Saint John the Apostle,"Albus muttered,"Matt and Kaden, spread out and hit them with whatever magical spell you know."

Albus concentrated on keeping his carapace up while casting early piece, like he had done in Balladanis 's dueling lessons. So far it was working, but Albus never managed to stay fresh the shell up very long.

Lubar was momentarily stunned when he saw Albus 's shield, but he quickly recovered and began sending hex after hex, nonverbally, at Albus and John. Concentrating hard, Albus sent a Stunner at Lubar, but he flicked his wand and it shot off into the space, hitting one of the lone Dubyuh, which promptly caught fire.

Albus chanced a glance at mat and Kaden. lusterlessness was dueling with Jarrett and it looked like they were pretty equally matched, which was kind of miserable as far as Jarrett was concerned. It made Albus experience better though. Quinton and Kaden just seemed to be sending Expelliarmus charms at each other and missing every time.

The shield emitting from Albus 's wand faltered and faded a bit. Albus renewed his concentration, but the shield was still infirm than it had been before. There was no way he 'd be able-bodied to beam any magic spell through the shield now.

"Your shield is weakening, Potter,"Lubar smirked as he sent another peach at Albus, which shook the buckler.

"merlin !"Quinton shouted to the right wing of them. He was hopping on one foot and Kaden was laughing hysterically. Albus grinned. Kaden had actually managed to do some sort of hex, although Albus was n't for certain what one it was.

Lubar turned to Quinton and flicked his scepter at Kaden. Kaden promptly froze and fell to the ground. Albus gasped and his buckler disappeared.

"Albus !"Saint John shouted.

Albus turned back to Lubar, but did n't get the shield back up before Lubar shot a hex at John, who fell to the ground like Kaden had.

"Would n't it be wanton just to give me the Stone ?"Lubar asked as he sent a knockout at Albus.

Albus deflected it."Not really."

Jarrett and mat were still dueling. Both were sporting a few injuries, but nothing too serious. Neither seemed to deliver noticed that John the Divine and Kaden were Stunned.

Albus managed to hit Lubar with a misstep curse, which gave him a few seconds to catch his breath while Lubar righted himself. Unfortunately this only angered him and he was now sporting a slice across his left cheek.

"Expelliarmus !"Lubar shouted.

Albus jumped to the side and the spell hit a nearby tilt. Lubar resumed his nonverbal spells and Albus continued deflecting them and dodging them, too exhausted to try and hit Lubar with any former jinxes.

"You ca n't keep dodging them forever, Potter !"Lubar grinned manically.

"watch me,"Albus said defiantly.

Albus of course of study knew that Lubar was right. The odds had not really changed. trick and Kaden were both out of the fight and while John was easily the honest dueler after Albus, his absence seizure did not put Albus greatly behind. Washburn was out as well and both Willinsons were injured. Quinton was currently on his knees panting, not in any pattern to continue dueling. Matt was holding his own against Jarrett, something Albus was both dumbfound and enrapture by.

No, Albus was not trying to overcome Lubar. He knew that would n't be possible. Albus was merely biding for clock time. He tried to forecast out how long they 'd been gone as he dodged spells. It must ingest been at least three or four hours, although the dismal Aussie sky had not changed a bit. Albus wished the moon had been out so he could have monitored its trip across the sky.

How long would it take his dad to regain them ? Longer than normal, Albus thought. They were in the middle of a alien country, nowhere near anyplace Harry would be looking.

"I 'm getting annoyed, ceramist, and you do n't want to see me when I 'm annoyed !"Lubar shouted, sending another jet of red light at Albus.

Before Albus even had time to cross-file what sort of hex it was, flatness gave a shriek of infliction to Albus 's right hand and collapsed to the ground. Jarrett wasted no time and pointed his wand at Albus.

Albus took a fraction of a arcsecond to stand the fact that he was now absolutely alone, facing two fully maturate adept. The two wizards shot identical jets of blue lightness at Albus and he managed to pull up a faint shield.

The force hit him like a twelve Bludgers to the stomach. He lost his foothold and landed flat on his back, his head hitting a particularly sharp Rock.

"I told you not to fight, Potter,"Lubar sneered as he loomed over Albus.

"You 're not getting the pit,"Albus said, forcing away the giddiness. He reached into his robes and pulled out the Stone.

"I disagree,"Lubar said as he made to seize the Stone.

With all the force Albus could muster, he threw the Stone as far as he could to the right. In the shadow, it disappeared in a separate mo and Albus did n't even pick up it land.

"No !"Lubar shouted,"You 'll pay for that !"

"Wands where I can see them !"someone shouted from behind Lubar.

Lubar and Jarrett whipped around as fast as they could. Albus lifted his capitulum slightly and caught a coup d'oeil of his dad, along with a few other thaumaturgist. He breathed a sigh of relief. They were saved.


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


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


Albus managed to sit up right before the hexes started flying. Realizing that he dropped his wand when Lubar and Jarrett hexed him, he groped about for it on the ground. Not finding it, he crawled behind a nearby bush and watched.

Jarrett did n't stick around long. He sent one pathetic Stunner at Harry, who easily deflected it, and disappeared on the smear. Harry immediately disarmed Lubar before he could do the same.

Once Lubar was defenseless, Albus left the safe of the bush 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 shock all over again.

The shorter of the two was Matt 's dad. He was staring stony faced at Lubar. Albus had never seen anyone glare at anyone else with such hatred and loathing as Matt 's dad glared at Lubar. And that included when his Uncle Ron talked about the Malfoys, or his mum when somebody mentioned Vernon and Petunia Dursley.

It was the former wizard that nearly caused Albus to pass out in shock. He was none other than prof Balladanis. What in the public figure of Merlin was he doing there ? It looked like he was actually with Harry and mat 's dad. But why ? Did n't matte 's dad hatred Balladanis ?

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

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

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

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

Harry, Mr. Eckerton, and Balladanis all sent different magic spell at Lubar at the Saami prison term, 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 cognisant of his surroundings.

"That 's the glaring difference between you and I,"Mr. Eckerton muttered as he moved swiftly yesteryear Quinton and Washburn to reach Matt.

"Dad !"Albus shouted.

Harry looked up from Kaden 's unconscious build and raced towards Albus. Albus threw his arms 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 pass off to him ? And Willinson ?"

"I 'll excuse it all once we get you back to Hogwarts,"Harry assured him.

Balladanis had a firm hold on both Washburn and Quinton and was fiddling with a broken plastic cup. A few second base later, all three of them disappeared.

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

Mr. Eckerton nodded and grabbed storage area of can 's arm before pulling his own broken charge plate cup out of his scoop. They disappeared.

Harry pulled Kaden up and took Albus 's arm. Albus was still thoroughly confused, but did not have time to ask his dad anymore questions before feeling the familiar jerky behind his naval that signified he was traveling by Portkey.

Albus landed with a thud in the middle of the Hospital Wing. The question of how they managed to Portkey inside the Hogwarts grounds was the least entreat question on his mind.

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

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

Harry looked slightly sheeplike as he set Kaden down on the bed next to lustrelessness 's and then turned to Albus.

"I 've got to verbalize with professor Kendrick and go to the Ministry-"he began.

"But Dad !"Albus interrupted,"What was Balladanis doing there ?"

"I promise I 'll tell you all of that and more,"Harry replied,"But I need to order everyone you and the others are ok. When I get back, I 'm going to need you to order me everything that happened."

"But-"

"No buts !"lady Pomfrey cut in,"Bed, Albus, bed ! You need take a breather !"

Albus, who had barely registered the fact that his head was bleeding and he was still quite dizzy, felt that the go 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 Mrs. Humphrey Ward was quiet when Albus woke up. It was completely drab outside, although Albus did n't have the slightest clue as to what day it was. John, mat, and Kaden were either still unconscious or sound 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 chairman next to matte 's bed. It did n't look like Mr. Eckerton had even left. He was wearing the same Ministry robes he had been wearing before.

Albus sat up and put his mitt to his head. There was a bandage on the backrest 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 eat up.

The door to the Ward opened, letting in a pocket-size flood of brightness from the corridor. A flesh stepped inside and began walking towards Albus 's bed.

"Hey, Al,"they said.

"Dad,"Albus replied, recognizing his father,"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 pass, remembering something he had been debating for the past class. He had waited long enough. It was time.

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

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

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

"Remember that map from finale year ?"Albus asked as he shut the door.

Harry nodded, apparently at a passing for words.

"There was More to it. Instructions on how to get into this way. It was theirs, the marauder'. 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 sure how long he stood there, watching as his dad investigated the room that had once belonged to his grandfather.

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

"About a year,"Albus said quietly.

"And you spend sentence here ?"Harry asked.

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

"Then it is the utter stead to talk,"Harry said as he sat down on one of the couches.

Albus sat down side by side to him."So why was Balladanis there ?"

"I 'll tell you that,"Harry said,"But world-class I want you to excuse to me what happened."

Albus took a cryptical breath and told his dad everything. Starting with when they saw Lubar in the castle and ending with throwing the Christ's Resurrection Stone into the Outback. He explained how they had first gone to a woods in Australia, how they had Portkeyed to the Outback, the dementors, the almost Patronus he had managed to spend a penny, the duel, the fact that the Resurrection Stone did n't work to bring Voldemort back.

"Why did n't it play ?"Albus asked,"I mean, I 'm glad it did n't, but why ?"

Harry thought for a few minute of arc and then looked at Albus."There are a few reasons that might explicate it. The Resurrection Stone brings back mass we love, but it does not get them back completely. It 's almost as if their somebody is coming back."

"Like a ghost ?"

"Not exactly,"Harry said,"But similar. It 's possible that since Voldemort split his soul so many meter, he ca n't be brought back with the Stone. The Stone may ask the soul to be intact to work."

Albus nodded."That makes sense."

"It could also be that only loved one can be brought back with the Stone. Washburn and the Willinsons did not get laid Voldemort ; they did not know him. They wanted to contribute him back for their own order of business,"Harry explained.

"Is there any way to get 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 grateful that you did."

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

"Yes, yes I did,"Harry replied,"I think it best if nobody had that Stone."

Albus nodded."Yeah, that makes sense. But what was Balladanis doing there ?"

Harry laughed."You 're not going to let that go, are you ?"

"Nope, you said you 'd narrate me,"Albus said.

"I will,"Harry replied,"Albus, do you cognize 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 deterrent example he gave me,"Albus explained.

"wellspring, that makes my explanation easier,"Harry said,"A little over a year ago, shortly after Quinton kidnapped Kaden, the Ministry decided to rent a Presuler to help oneself 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 contempt 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 roll in the hay. He came with us, and I have to admit that he was very helpful. We would not have found you as fast if he was n't there,"Harry explained.

"But why was he teaching here ?"Albus asked.

"The Minister, prof Kendrick, and I believed it would be respectable strategy to own him stationed at Hogwarts, where we all believed Washburn and the Willinsons would return to. Balladanis agreed,"Harry said,"Of line, none of us realized that Balladanis would not be able to address teaching.

"This is all quite closemouthed, Al. I 'd prefer you did n't say anyone. I will be telling Matt, John, and Kaden, because I feel they have the right to sleep together, but I do n't need anyone else knowing about it."

"What about blush wine and Amanda ?"Albus asked.

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

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

"No,"Harry shook his head,"That 's going to be tricksy 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 run or give him to us to put on trial. And since he 's one of their officials, we 're not surely they 'll do either."

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

"I know,"Harry sighed,"I 'd care nix more than to apply him a life-long stint in Azkaban, but unfortunately the Torah do n't work that way."

"He and Balladanis get along anyway,"Albus said,"Balladanis probably would n't want to go after him."

"I do n't sleep together about that,"Harry said,"Balladanis likes multitude to pay for what they 've done. However, being a Presuler and having no Ministry tie, he does not have to charter a case if he 's offered it."

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

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

"I do n't know,"Albus shrugged,"I mean, I like dueling, but I do n't really want to decide what I want to do right now."

"You do n't consume to,"Harry replied,"And I do n't desire to recite you what to do, but I am going to tell you something.

"Being a Presuler is a hard job and often a lonely one. You have no coworkers. You work with various Ministries, but rarely get to bang anyone. You travel a lot, which can make it difficult to birth a family. It 's not an light path to go down. Not one I 'd choose for myself."

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

"There 's slew of early things you could do that would put your dueling attainment to use,"Harry told him,"And you 're only 13 so no need to settle now."

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

"wellspring, you should probably get back to the hospital 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 room and walked back to the Hospital annex, 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 Mary Augusta Arnold Ward shouting at the top of her lungs. lustrelessness, John, and Kaden were all awake, staring at her.

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

"Er,"Albus began.

"I had to talk to him in private,"Harry answered for him.

"You should cause asked me first !"Madam Pomfrey exclaimed as she ushered Albus back into bed,"He needs eternal sleep !"

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

"I do n't care if you 're the Minister of conjuring trick !"brothel keeper Pomfrey replied,"I 'm the one with the breast feeding point !"

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

"fifteen second or so,"Matt answered.

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

"Could I have a Christian Bible in buck private ?"Harry asked Mr. Eckerton and then turned to gentlewoman Pomfrey."Do I need your license for that ?"he grinned.

"Very amusing,"dame Pomfrey muttered.

Albus drifted back to log Z's a footling 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 Madam 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 Sunday ?"Albus asked. It felt like it had been far more than twenty-four hours since he had met up with Lubar before the Quidditch match.

"Time zone changes are unmanageable to line up to,"Madam Pomfrey explained,"Australia 's quite a few hr ahead of us."

Albus nodded and dug into his breakfast. Suddenly he was ravenous. When he thought about it, it must give been at least a day since he 'd eaten anything.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Who won the Quidditch match ?"Albus asked.

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

"Miss Weasley !"Madam Pomfrey shouted,"If you do n't lower your voice, you 'll have to leave !"

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

Albus launched into the full tale, which took the better region of a half hr to tell. Neither Rose or Amanda interrupted once during the whole thing. Both of them looked absolutely shocked by the time Albus concluded.

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

"My dad 's going to recite you,"Albus said,"He 's already told me. He 'll probably tell the eternal sleep of you today."

"merlin, Albus,"Rose sighed,"How much trouble can you get into ?"

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

Rose exchanged glance with Amanda, who sighed."It was quite the match, let me tell you,"Amanda said.

"cipher won, Al,"rosiness said.

"What ?"lavatory 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 make out why. Anyway, Fred and Scots heather ran right up to Ludo bagman and started talking to him. nonentity could hear what they were saying. Then travelling salesman blew his whistle and they went into a time-out.

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

"Everyone was really tempestuous of course of instruction. Amanda and I were already worried because you lot had n't shown up yet. We thought something bad had happened and that was why they called it off."

"Why did they call it off ?"St. John the Apostle 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 teammates who were Gryffindors.

"We pushed our way to the front of the crowd and listen what Fred and Heather were talking about. They were claiming that Australia had been cheating the unit time-"

"Well, they were,"Matt muttered.

"I know,"pink wine agreed,"And apparently so did Fred and Calluna vulgaris. I 'm sure they figured it out just recently or else they would 've told person sooner. They found out Linda 's a vampire and now the integral shoal knows."

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

"They 've been trying to forecast it out all year,"rose wine explained,"And since they 're chic, they figured it out."

"But what about the match ?"Albus asked.

"I think they 're going to offset the tournament, Albus,"Rose 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 know how a good deal metre I 've spent on the Quidditch pitch this year ? More time than I 've spent in class, probably ! And now they 're going to scratch the bloody tournament ?"

"I do n't get laid, Al,"pink wine said shortly,"And if they do it 's not my fault."

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

"I know,"rose replied.

"Where 's Linda ?"Matt asked.

"Gone,"rose wine sighed,"Without a Christian Bible. I have n't seen her or any of the Australian since the compeer. Killigan 's gone, too."

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

"I guess,"rosiness said,"Anyway, they 'll probably make an annunciation about the tourney at dinner."


A/N : Thanks to my genus Beta, Dancer of Starlight as well as all of the awesome people who have read and reviewed this ! There is only one Sir Thomas 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 flat out refused to let any of them leave the Hospital annexe, so she agreed to lock the door and go to her study while Harry explained. Matt 's dad was there as well.

Harry told them everything he had told Albus, although he left out the contribution about why it was not all that advisable to suit a Presuler. Everyone was completely shocked to larn that Balladanis had been hired to aid capture Washburn and the Willinsons.

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

"As of right now, he 's completely free and in the authorise,"Harry sighed,"The Australian Ministry refuses to deport 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 raging as well, but it did not come close to how Mr. Eckerton looked.

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

Mr. Eckerton had also apparently been told about the Hallows. When Harry had spoken with him the previous Nox, it had been about the Hallows. Albus remembered back to his firstly year, when Matt had told them about his dad 's Brigham Young adult ambition of locating the Hallows. Harry must 've trusted him now.

Albus reached over to his bedside table, where brothel keeper Pomfrey had placed the Invisibility Cloak the previous night. He wordlessly handed it to Mr. Eckerton, who carefully took it with a flavor of awe on his face.

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

"That it is,"Harry said quietly.

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

He spent a few arcminute trying the Cloak on before handing it back to Albus."I can not conceive I 've finally solved the case of the Hallows,"he said to Harry,"This is awful. I would get laid to percentage the fib with my comrade. Perhaps I could bring in you to him at the universe Cup this summer."

Harry nodded."That would be exquisitely. Perhaps I will eventually differentiate him as well."

******

Albus wanted aught more than to be allowed out of the infirmary annexe in time to go to dinner that night. He was certainly prof Kendrick would make some form of annunciation about the tournament and he did not require to leave out it.

After a full ten minutes of begging on his percentage ( helped out by matt, John, and Kaden ), Madam Pomfrey told him he was in no fit state to leave the ward. Albus thought this was ludicrous because he felt fine. So what if his arm was still bandaged and in a triangular bandage ? That should n't halt him from eating dinner party with the rest of the school.

Instead, Albus was forced to eat a quiet meal in the Hospital extension and wait anxiously for pink wine and Amanda to tell him what Kendrick said.

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

"Tournament 's canceled,"Rose sighed as she sat down on the end of Albus 's bed,"The kids from New York are staying to finish out the class, 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 Commonwealth of Australia ?"

"No,"Rose shook her head,"To do that Hogwarts would have to play New York in another final."

"Why do n't they do that ?"John the Divine asked.

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

"That 's stupid,"Albus fumed.

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

"Yeah, well, all the houses had the great unwashed on the squad, so that does n't really help,"Albus muttered.

"Well,"rose grinned,"I know one affair that 'll barrack you up."

"What ?"Albus asked, even though there was nothing that could jolly along him up.

"There were Quidditch guide at that compeer,"rose wine told him,"And even though the match was black, they did find somebody they wanted to draft."

"Who ?"Albus asked, slightly intrigued.

"Georgia !"rosiness exclaimed,"She 's been drafted to dally for Kenmare Kestrals as soon as she graduates !"

"That 's brilliant !"Albus replied. rose had been right, that did cheer him up. There was no one he thought who belonged on a professional Quidditch team more than Georgia.

"Yup, she 's their young stockpile keeper,"Rose said,"She says Uncle Percy 's not move. He wanted her to work at the Ministry. She does n't manage what he thinks, though."

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

"Kenmare ?"John said incredulously.

"Yeah, seriously ?"lusterlessness grimaced.

"They 're nearly as bad as the Cannons,"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 team, she 'll be able-bodied to solve her way up to a better one."

"Merlin, I hope so,"John Lackland shrugged.

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

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

Albus nodded, feeling slightly better about the tournament. It was n't pointless now that he knew his cousin had been taken on by a professional Quidditch squad because of it. However, that did n't ingest all the disappointment away.

******

madam Pomfrey reluctantly let the boys leave the next day after breakfast. She did n't really have a choice since exams began that day. Albus felt perfectly fine and was quite happy to leave the place.

pink wine handed him a copy of the Prophet as soon as he and the other boys reached the plebeian room. Albus took it, well-chosen that he had a few minutes before his kickoff exam to study the article that was inevitably there.

AUSTRALIAN schooling CHEATS- TOURNAMENT CANCELED

After a startling discovery made by two Hogwarts
bookman, the Quidditch and Dueling tournament
involving Hogwarts, the Adirondack Academy of
conjuration, and the Australian school day of Sorcery
has been canceled.

The tournament 's concluding Quidditch match was
interrupted this preceding Saturday by two Hogwarts
sixth geezerhood, Fred Weasley and heather mixture Weasley,
both 17, who claimed that the Australian squad
had been cheating throughout the integral
tournament.

A few months ago, allegations were brought upon
the Aboriginal Australian squad after their Seeker, Linda
morale, 14, flew at an exceptionally flying speed.
An investigation found aught. The tournament
continued.

Fred and Heather Weasley accused Linda Morales
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
headmasters questioned the Weasleys and Morales.

Headmaster Addiar Killigan of the Aussie
school day of black magic admitted to allowing team spirit
to be the quester of his team in order to win the
tournament. The Australian team was immediately
disqualified from the tournament.

Killigan, team spirit, and the rest of the Australian
participating in the tournament left Hogwarts deep
on Saturday, declining to address with any of our
reporters.

tourney functionary as well as the other two
headmasters have decided to scrub the tourney,
and not declaring a winner.

'It is too bad that the tournament turned out
this way ,'Fabius Kendrick told reporters, 'Perhaps
we can try it again in a few class .'

"Killigan is an idiot,"Albus said.

"Look at the next clause,"rose replied.

QUINTON WILLINSON BACK IN AZKABAN, JOINED BY WASHBURN

While the final Quidditch match was ending in cataclysm
at Hogwarts School of witchery and wizardry, Harry
thrower 's eye child, Albus, 13, was dealing with his
own battle.

Albus Potter, as well as first cousin Kaden Dursley, 12, and
friends Saint Matthew the Apostle Eckerton and Gospel According to John Brickston, both 14,
were kidnapped by Quinton and Jarrett Willinson, and
Jameson Washburn. The three convicts were helped by
Ralph Lubar, Head of the department of the regularization
and Control of Magical puppet in Australia.

The four Hogwarts students were taken to Commonwealth of Australia
where Harry ceramist and Walter Eckerton found them.
It is unreadable 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 Australian Ministry
about what to do with Lubar.

All four son have recovered from the trial by ordeal and are
currently taking their end of the year examinations
at Hogwarts. Harry ceramicist has declined comment.

"wellspring, that 's not a very informative article,"Albus said as he tossed the paper onto a nearby table.

"I do n't conceive they can account much,"Rose said,"The Australian Ministry may be asking them to keep quiet about Lubar in coming back for giving him some sorting of punishment.

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

Albus was forced to tug Lubar into the rear of his mind as exams began. They were all significantly harder than the previous year 's had been, but he was sure he at least passed all of them.

There were short articles in the oracle about Lubar everyday, but they all said the Saami 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 exams was a strange one for Albus. There was nada left for them to do. No studying, no homework, no Quidditch. Rose and Amanda went back to spending all their fourth dimension with the boys, like it had been before Linda had arrived.

thing were different, though. Both rosebush and Amanda were a lot quieter than they used to be. Albus was trusted they missed Linda, and he had no idea whether she had said goodbye to them, or even if she 'd had the luck.

Matt was lost in his own cerebration most of the fourth dimension, rendering him quieter than ever. He often went entire evenings without saying two words to anyone, something that usually only happened around full moons. However, the next full synodic month was n't until after they left Hogwarts.

Albus was sure enough this was because of what had happened in Australia. He never talked about it, but Albus knew that getting kidnapped by Lubar again had scared the daylight out of him.

toilet and Kaden remained as boisterous as ever and did not seem to be fazed by what had happened in Australia. They spent their calendar week pulling pranks and playing endless games of Exploding Snap that Albus occasionally joined in on.

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

******

The train ride back to London was subdued, the sole interference being John and Kaden 's Exploding catch cards. Albus and Matt both gazed out the window, mesmerized by the passing landscape.

"Linda sent me a letter utmost night,"rose wine said, breaking the silence.

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

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

"To go to school ?"Albus asked.

"No,"rose shook her head,"She 's been through schooling a couple times already. She was n't even a student at the Australian school. Killigan pretty much forced her into playing seeker for them. He 's a really smutty fella. They have to get out now, though, because everyone knows."

"Where will they go ?"Albus asked, surprised that he was actually flavour sorry for Linda.

"No idea,"Rose shrugged,"She said she 'd owl me when they find out."

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

"Me, too,"mat agreed.

"We 've got the World Cup to attend forward to, though,"Albus smiled.

"Oh, yeah !"lav 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 felicitous about that."

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

"Well, I 'd opt Lily not go, but it 's the Cup ! Nothing can really ruin it,"Albus said.

"goodness decimal point,"St. John agreed.

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

"Why ? So you can convince your parents to take you ?"King John smirked.

"No,"Kaden laughed,"So I can bed when to invite you lot to my theater. My dad said he 'd look at us camping."

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

"Yep,"Kaden replied,"bread and butter in tents, no electricity, no thaumaturgy either since we 're all underage."

"There is no way my parents will let me go,"Matt said quietly.

"Why not ?"Kaden asked.

"I went camping when I was five,"Matt answered,"That was the time I got bitten."

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

"It 's ok,"lusterlessness shrugged,"Just do n't go during a full moon. I do n't require any of you having to link me in the screeching shanty next year."

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

The remainder of the trip was spent arguing about Quidditch and Albus felt like things were sorting of returning to normal. It was almost Nice to hear John and Matt arguing about the Cannons again and Kaden arguing about football.

The train arrived in London and Albus found his parents waiting for him on the platform. After saying goodbye to his Friend, Albus left the station with his family notion that just maybe liveliness would be normal from then on. Well, maybe the summertime would be at least be rule. Albus could n't get his Leslie Townes Hope up too high.


A/N : Hard to think 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 quarter story but it 'll be a spell before the first chapter is up. I 'm thinking I 'll update every early week at first, switch workweek with Beyond the Shadow. In the mean sentence, if you want something new to read, I suggest checking out Remember the carom, which is a collab I worked on survive class and is now currently being updated. It 's all about the Chudley Cannons and their downfall. It 's under the username The Golden canary and is also in my favorite stories so you can notice it that way.