A/N : legal brief source 's note prior to the chapter. This chapter is from Teddy 's point of view, as I wanted to write the specific of what happened during the mission to capture Greyback. An article in the Prophet just would n't do it justice. Hope you enjoy !


teddy Lupin had been a Jnr Auror for nearly eight month. In that fourth dimension he had n't done much in condition of fighting dark magician, and most of the military mission he 'd gone on had been rather boring. Up until the Azkaban break-out most of his employment had consisted of paperwork and the occasional stake-out. Being an Auror, chemise had discovered, was a lot more than chasing down Dark wizards and saving people 's lives.

It was for this very reason that shift had been surprised when his godfather, Harry thrower, had approached him the premature day and told him of his New assignment. He, Teddy Lupin, bran-new Junior Auror, had been assigned to the delegacy of capturing escaped werewolf, Fenrir Calidris canutus. Rebel, the same werewolf who had infected his founder with lycanthropy decades ago. grayback, one of Britain 's nearly treasured runaway.

The mission, Harry had informed him, was very sensitive in nature and had to be handled with discreetness. There was to be no mention of it to anyone outside of the people assigned to it. There were very few people assigned to the commission and they included Harry himself, the Head of the Regulation and ascendance of Magical Creatures, and Ron Weasley. That was it. A few others had been assigned to keep an eye on the children Johnny Reb attacked the former calendar month, but they were n't to be directly involved with the Greyback commission itself.

Harry had explained the details of the missionary work, including the fact that the whole matter had been Albus 's estimate, along with one of his ally, who happened to be the Head of the Regulation and ascendence of Magical Creature 's son. Who also happened to be a werewolf. It took teddy a few minute to wrap his head around the integral situation. To make things even more insane, Albus 's loup-garou friend was the Brother of shimmy 's friend, Amy.

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

Harry had instructed him to show up at the Hog 's Head, in disguise, at seven o'clock. Once there, he was to society a drink and sit at the bar, avoiding middleman with everyone. Harry, Ron, and Walter Eckerton were going to do the same.

Disguising himself was Teddy 's briny strength. Before he Apparated to Hogmseade he morphed his font so he looked a few old age sure-enough and his hair so that it was a generic chocolate-brown color rather than its usual turquoise. He finished off the looking at by shrinking himself and adding a few hammer. After donning a tattered old cloak, slip turned on the spot and reappeared in the alleyway next to Weasleys'whizz Wheezes.

Teddy peeked inside the building and saw St. George working. If he had n't been on a mission he would 've stopped to say howdy, but instead he turned in the opposition centering and headed toward the Hog 's fountainhead.

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

Teddy ambled up to the bar, deciding at the final stage moment that his impostor theatrical role should walk with a limp. Aberforth was there and Teddy ordered a Butterbeer. Probably not the common drinking for the Hog 's Head, but he needed to keep his head unclutter for the mission. He took the drinkable and began to sip it slowly, as he had no idea how long he 'd need to pretend he was n't an Auror.

A one-half hour later the room access opened again and Harry and Walter walked in. Walter joined Ron at his cover tabular array while Harry went up to the bar. He sat succeeding to Teddy.

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

"Fine,"Aberforth grunted.

"We 're here on Ministry clientele,"Harry said."might be here a few time of day. Could be the whole night. Do you listen ?"

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

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

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

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

"synodic month just rose,"Walter said quietly."Just a waiting game now."

No one had told him, but shift knew the rattling reasonableness why he 'd been assigned to this missionary work, and it had aught to do with his Auror skills. trusted, that had been a summation, but any of the other Junior Aurors were just as dependant. And the full Aurors were even more so. The reason was that he was the only Auror who was related to a werewolf, and thus would n't give care that a werewolf at Hogwarts was an integral part of this plan. It was also the understanding why Harry and Ron were there, when Auror Newman had previously been assigned to the Greyback lawsuit. Walter Eckerton did n't desire any peril of his son 's experimental condition being leaked to the populace, and putting Harry, Ron, and Teddy on the showcase would ensure that it would n't.

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

"Fairly sealed,"Walter said."werewolf are attracted to the call of their own sort and Greyback is set on creating his own pack of Young wolfman. He spent the finis entire Sun Myung Moon lurking around the shriek Shack, after he attacked those children. He knows Matt 's there. He 'll come back."

Teddy nodded. The minutes ticked by and the pub grew quieter. The old witch left, taking her trash with her. The man sleeping at the bar snorted and rolled over, nearly falling off his feces. shift finished his Butterbeer and set it next to the former empty glasses on the board, wondering if he should go order another or just continue seated.

At eleven o'clock Aberforth woke up the cuss at the bar and had to assist him to the threshold and then physically shove him out of the pub. He gave a warm nod to Harry, Ron, Walter, and teddy bear and then went upstairs.

"I suppose the disguises were a bit senseless,"Ron said as he pointed his wand at his face. His nozzle returned to its normal shape.

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

The group settled into silence again. Outside, there was the sound of faint howl. shimmy glanced at Bruno Walter and noticed that he winced slightly every time there was a particularly tacky howling. Harry and Ron sent him benevolent looks that teddy tried to mimic. He did n't consume any youngster so he really had no approximation what that was like, let alone having a kid with lycanthropy.

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

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

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

"They must be other werewolves,"Ron said.

"Or Animagi,"Harry pointed out.

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

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

"Mine either,"Walter said.

"What about the others ?"Ron asked."Newman and the two from the werewolf Control Unit ?"

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

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

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

slip stood and drew his wand. He followed the three previous men out of the pub and shut the room access behind him.

The Hog 's foreland was not far away from the scream shanty. Within three mo they arrived and found Paul Leonard Newman and the other two wiz attempting to restrict the three werewolves.

"They 're the Kyd from last month !"one of the Werewolf Control whole employees shouted.

"Be careful with them !"Walter shouted back."They 've done nothing wrongly !"

"We 're trying !"

The two low loup-garou were currently attempting to attack the Werewolf Control social unit employees and Paul Newman, while Greyback seemed to care far more about getting into the Shrieking hovel. He was a much declamatory wolf, Second Earl Grey in color, and had bright yellow heart. He was on the porch, biting at the doorway, and not paying any attention to the wizards around him. It seemed to Teddy that he had far More control over himself than a rule werewolf.

Walter and Ron joined the wolfman Control Unit employees in trying to limit Meredith and maxwell. It was a difficult task because they had to do it without hurting them. Teddy was fairly sure that the law would n't care whether the two children were hurt in the process, but that had never been how Walter ran the department.

Harry nodded to teddy bear and they walked slowly up the lawn, their baton out in front of them. If they could just watch Greyback by surprisal then they 'd be able to conjure some ropes and restrain him before he even knew what was happening.

They were only twenty pes away when it happened. Greyback suddenly froze and then turned around. He must 've smelled them. With a flashy snarl, he jumped the twenty feet separating them in one leap.

Teddy and Harry jumped back, sending patch forward as they did so. Greyback lunged, the magical spell not seeming to affect him at all, and made a swipe at teddy bear. Teddy jumped to the side and sent another Stunner at Limnodromus griseus.

Battling a wolfman was very dissimilar from battling a genius, teddy realized. And battling werewolves had not been covered in education. Sure, they 'd learned and practiced the charm used against werewolves, but they 'd never performed them on actual werewolf. The main dispute was that werewolves did n't make scepter and thus could not cast while. But at the Same time, they had teeth, claw, and were much stronger than the ordinary human. Plus there was the fact that one bite would turn you into one forever.

shimmy and Harry took turns sending peach at Greyback and were able to jumble him enough that he did n't quite know who to snipe. As they worked, they were steadily moving closer and closer to the shriek Shack.

Johnny soon realized that he was being cornered back onto the porch and decided to submit another leap forward. He snarled loudly and lunged toward Harry, nearly making contact. slip jumped forward and sent another Stunner toward Greyback.

Calidris canutus flew backward and slammed into the front end doorway, his head teacher making a sickening crunch as it collided with the doorhandle. He slid down the threshold and landed on the floor, not moving.

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

"Harry, you okay ?"Teddy asked.

"mulct,"Harry said."You ?"

chemise nodded and began to take away a few timid footprint toward Rebel. Harry was soon by his side.

"Is he ..."Teddy began.

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

slip felt slightly disappointed. There was a voice of him, a very small part, that wished he 'd killed Johnny. knot had been the one who 'd made his dad 's life miserable, and he 'd viciously attacked Victoire 's dad when he was n't even transformed. Yes, Teddy had to allow in, there was a voice of him that wanted revenge. A part of him that wanted to be the one who finally killed Fenrir Calidris canutus.

Teddy glanced over to the rest of the chemical group, but they 'd finished, too. Walter was currently tying the two loup-garou children up with roofy while the other men stood around watching. Ron looked up and met shift 's eyes, then walked over toward them.

"Done ?"Harry asked.

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

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

"Walter said he 'll personally make a visit to their house in a few days to talk over precautions for next month,"Ron said."But still, their parents must be idiots. They could 've been killed."

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

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

"I wonder why they did n't heed to Werewolf living serving,"Harry mused."I know for a fact they visited."

"wellspring, at least no one was hurt,"Teddy pointed out. He turned back to where the former werewolves had been tied up, but noticed that they were now being levitated to the porch of the screech Shack by the Werewolf mastery unit employees. Walter and Paul Newman were following them.

"What is that darned racket ?"Newman exclaimed, nodding his header to the shrieking Shack.

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

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

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

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

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

"Let 's get this lot back to the Ministry,"Harry said, gesturing to the three unconscious mind lycanthrope. Cardinal Newman, take either Lee or Parks back to the tyke 's house and inform their parents that they can pick them up at the Ministry tomorrow."

Paul Leonard Newman and Lee, who was one of the lycanthrope Control Unit employees, Disapparated on the point. Harry grabbed hold of Greyback and instructed Bruno Walter and Parks, the other loup-garou Control social unit employee, to each take one of the children. With an exceptionally loud quip, the entire group Disapparated.
***


Each of the werewolves were set up in an enquiry room to wait the remaining hours until dawn. Teddy, along with Walter, had been assigned to keeping watch on Johnny Reb, Stunning him when essential. Harry, Ron, Parks, and Lee had been assigned to the tike. Newman got started on the paperwork.

"So if a werewolf were to birth somebody there to Stun them every hour or so while they were transformed, they 'd be harmless, right ?"Teddy asked as Walter Stunned Greyback for the fourth time."Why do n't people do that ?"

"Repeated Stunning is n't hefty,"Bruno Walter replied."It 's why it 's not allowed on well-nigh prisoners. It 's only allowed on werewolves because they 're classified as fauna and not Beings."

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

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

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

"Me either,"Bruno Walter said.

"I have to ask,"Teddy began,"did you get into Regulation and control condition of Magical tool before or after your son was bitten ?"

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

"Just a bit."

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

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

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

Teddy and Bruno Walter lapsed back into silence. slip could hardly trust that he was sitting in an question room with the wolfman who had turned his father. If only his dad could see him now.

Walter glanced at his watch."Moon should be setting within the one-half hour."

Teddy gulped and he hoped Walter could n't hear his inwardness beating. He had n't been nearly as nervous about facing Reb as a wildcat, but the mentation of facing him as a human was slightly terrifying. He almost wanted the next one-half hour to last forever, but at the Saami time he did n't. It had been a very long day and he wanted to go home plate and sleep, eat, and see Victoire. Unfortunately, there was still a slew of paperwork ahead.

Greyback began to stir, but Walter did n't Stun him. Instead, he conjured a simple set of robes, set them on the table, stood up, and gestured for Teddy to fall out him out into the corridor. chemise did so, but looked at Walter quizzically.

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

teddy bear was imprint. He himself would n't sustain even thought about that, but Bruno Walter had clearly been planning that all along. shimmy supposed it came from having a son who was a lycanthrope. If Teddy 's own founding father had lived, would he have similar thought ?

There were no silencing appealingness on the inquiry rooms. Soon the corridor was filled with howling and was then replaced by painful screaming. The shrieks soon gave way to a foresightful flow of profanity.

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

teddy had no estimate what to expect when he entered the room. He 'd only seen pictures of Greyback from the Prophet and black and white exposure never did a person justice.

Fenrir Greyback was crouched on top of the mesa, dressed in the clothing that Walter had provided. His grey hair was stringy and matted with soil and lineage, and his case bore several week 's worth of Lady Jane Grey beard. His face was lined with deep wrinkles and Teddy realized that he had absolutely no idea how old the man was.

Calidris canutus took a thick snuff as Bruno Walter and Teddy entered. He grinned and let out a maniacal laugh."top dog of the section,"he muttered."Guess I 'm popular."

shimmy froze, all his training suddenly out the window. He could hardly believe that this man had attacked his Father when he was only a child. Fenrir Greyback was far more sinister in someone and teddy bear felt a twinge of sympathy for his Fatherhood as a five-year-old.

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

"We were waiting for you, Greyback,"Bruno Walter said."We knew you 'd return to Hogsmeade."

knot sneered."Yeah, wanted to go back for that lycanthrope in the Shrieking shanty. He smelled offspring, impressionable."

Bruno Walter paled."You 'll never sustain the chance to go back."

"We 'll see,"Johnny replied.

"Enough chat,"Walter said, turning to slip."Arrest him."

Teddy snapped out of his sentiment and immediately went back into Auror-mode. He set himself apart from the place and ran on autopilot.

"Fenrir Greyback, I am Auror Ted Lupin and you 're under arrest,"Teddy began.

Greyback 's eyes grew wide."Lupin. Any relation to Remus lupine ?"

"He was my Father,"shift said proudly.

"I made him who he was,"Greyback said as he stared directly into Teddy 's eyes."I changed his life."

"Fenrir Limnodromus griseus, you are under stay,"Teddy repeated, ignoring him. He conjured a pair of handcuffs and walked over to Calidris canutus."You have the rightfulness to continue silent. I suggest you use it,"he said as he cuffed the lycanthrope."If you choose not to be mum, anything you say can be used in your trial. You will birth a test. If you can not find representation, we will find it for you."

teddy bear grabbed Johnny 's arm and pulled him off the table and into a standing locating. As he did so, he met the sure-enough man 's eyes. They were yellow, pure yellow, and completely stern. He looked like the face of evil, as if Rebel had no human soul left. It was in that bit that Teddy knew for certain that this wolfman held no similarities to his father. grayback lived to spread evil, while Remus lupin had lived to blockade it.

Teddy slapped a set of manacle on Johnny. He opened the room access and pushed Johnny Reb out into the corridor, still holding onto his arm. Walter followed and the two walked alongside each other as they led Greyback to the holding cells.

Harry was waiting for them when they arrived. He shoved Greyback into a cell and locked the door behind him.

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

teddy nodded and gave Harry a half-smile.


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

The right Teddy read to Greyback are adapted from the Miranda Rights, created by the United res publica Supreme Court in 1966.


Albus awoke the succeeding morning to the speech sound of an owl pecking at the window. He rose from his bed and went to let it in. The owl was unfamiliar, but he vaguely recognized it as the breed of owl the Ministry of illusion used. The letter of the alphabet was addressed to him, so Albus took it, let the owl back out into the coldness, and set down on his bed to afford it.

Albus-

We got him.

-Dad

That was all it said, but it did n't need to say anything else. His dad probably could n't say anything else in a letter, anyway. Albus folded up the sheepskin and shoved it into his bedside table. He glanced at the clock and realized there was no full stop in going back to bed since course of study would pop out in two hours.

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

Albus waited until they were in the Great anteroom for breakfast to tell John about the letter from his dad, so that he could recite Kaden, rose wine, and Amanda, too. Luckily they managed to encounter a relatively sequestrate piece of the table.

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

"Oh thank God !"Rose exclaimed.

"Did he distinguish you about it ?"John the Divine asked.

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

The group decided to eat a very quick lunch later in gild to chaffer Matt before their afternoon classes. Albus wanted to separate him about Greyback as soon as possible.

Albus found it incredibly difficult to keep his mouthpiece shut during potions because the rest of his classmates were discussing Greyback and whether he had attacked anyone the previous night. Janie Creevey swore she saw him on the soil from her dormitory room windowpane net night, but Karina and Marina said it was only a dog. Two of the Slytherins said they heard howling all night, and Scorpius said one of the older students had received a missive from his brother claiming to sustain seen Johnny Reb in Diagon skittle alley. It seemed that Albus and his friends were the alone one in the entire castling who knew greyback had been captured.

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

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

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

"He did n't await ill,"Gospel According to John said."I suppose if he is ill we 'll see him in the hospital wing."

Albus and his friends ate the degraded lunch they 'd ever eaten and hotfoot up to the infirmary annexe. Kaden had Herbology after tiffin and would call for a right bit of time to get there, so they wanted to spend as much of dejeuner as possible in the hospital wing.

Madam Pomfrey was engaged berating a scholarly person for trying to captivate her hair pink and had charmed it all off instead and did n't notice Albus and the others walk in. Only one bed was occupied and the pall were drawn around it.

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

can pulled the curtain back and Albus saw that lusterlessness was sitting up in bed, eating lunch. This calendar month he was sporting a bandage wrapped around his entire head and ace on his hands as well. He seemed to be having a bit of difficultness holding his sandwich.

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

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

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

"I do n't guess you 'll give birth to worry about that again,"Saint John said."They 'll probably put twice as many guards on grayback 's cell."

"I think this is the unfit vexation I 've ever had in my life,"Matt muttered.

whoremonger grinned mischievously."Shall Kaden and I do a repeat of close hebdomad 's prank ?"

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

"Just kidding,"bathroom said.

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

"Well, I 'm going to bear a lovely afternoon of fertilizing magical plants with dragon dung,"Kaden said."So aside from the turning into a wolf matter and the raging headache, I 'm kind of jealous."

"I 'd take the dragon dung,"matte said and then turned to Albus."Embry is announcing who gets to watch out the last argument today, is n't he ?"

Albus shook his brain."They 've actually put it off two More weeks. It was in the newspaper this dawn. I guess they want it saucy in people 's nous or something. Plus, we 've got Quidditch Sat and dueling Sunday."

"Is Gryffindor playing ?"matt asked.

"Hufflepuff and Slytherin,"Albus said."If Hufflepuff profits, then we 'll be ahead in spot. But if Slytherin wins, we 'll probably be behind them."

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

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

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

John glanced at the clock."Brilliant. There 's enough prison term for me to run back to the Great Radclyffe Hall for an eclair before Transfiguration."

"I 'll join you,"Kaden said.

"Me, too,"Albus agreed.

The little girl decided that a second sweet was in gild as well, so the whole chemical group hurried back to the Great manse before their adjacent class. On the way there Albus realized just how a lot better he felt now that Johnny was once again behind bars.
***


"shimmy arrested him !"Albus exclaimed at breakfast the side by side morn. He 'd just land up reading the article about Greyback.

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

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

"That 's unintelligent,"rose said.

"Was anyone hurt ?"Amanda asked.

"No,"Albus said.

"Oh, look, they 've quoted Laurentis,"Rose said."Listen to this. 'Greyback 's retaking is fantastic news for wizarding Britain. I applaud both the Auror section and the Department for the regulation and Control of Magical animate being for their collaboration in this capture, especially Harry potter and Bruno Walter Eckerton. However, there are still four captive at large. The piece of work is not done and we must remember this before celebrating .'”

"Did they cite your uncle ?"trick asked.

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

"I honestly think that this is only going to make his support of your dad look better,"Amanda said."Laurentis can try, but this is a success. I mean, just flavor at the article. Absolutely nothing went wrong with that capture. There were three lycanthrope on the loose in Hogmseade and cypher got attacked. It 's that simple."

Albus had n't thought about it in that way, but it was true. Three loose werewolf would normally be a nightmare for a quiet settlement like Hogsmeade, but thanks to the Aurors and the Werewolf Control Unit employees, nobody got hurt.

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

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


Hufflepuff somehow managed to squash Slytherin during Saturday 's Quidditch peer. Albus chalked this up to the fact that Hufflepuff had the scoop squad they 'd had in class, and that Slytherin 's Keeper had landed himself in the hospital extension after blowing up his potion on Friday, earning him a ban from the peer by Madam Pomfrey. But whatever the reason actually was, it was certainly beneficial to Gryffindor.

Albus awoke early on Sunday, suddenly riddled with nerves about the dueling tournament. This month 's tournament was the second base to stopping point of the year since all the professor had agreed to end it earlier due to exams. Many of the seventh geezerhood had expressed that they could n't supervise practices while studying for N.E.W.T.s. But this meant that Albus only had two more probability to secure a win for his squad, something that had n't happened yet this year.

Albus and Amanda were the first of their team to get in in the Great Hall before the tournament. The rest of the team trickled in slowly as they waited. Five proceedings before the tournament was scheduled to begin, the but someone missing was Malfoy.

"It 's not like him to be late,"Amanda commented."Usually he 's here former telling you what an fearful job as headwaiter you do."

"No, it 's not,"Albus agreed as he stood up to get a meliorate face at the door."I do n't see him."

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

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

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

"He went home ?"Albus repeated, staring at the third year."That 's odd."

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

Albus had to admit that this news gave him as much disappointment as discombobulation. Scorpius Malfoy was one of the team 's good duelist, no matter how annoying he was.

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

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

"attention students !"Neville called out."The tournament is about to begin !"

Albus managed to tug all thoughts of Malfoy out of his mind for the length of the tournament. Most of his mate dueled well, although only Albus and a few other quartern class won both their duels. In the end they secured third piazza, which was certainly better than a good circumstances of the rest of the teams, but still was n't first. They were still in the running for winning boilers suit at the end of the season, but they 'd need to do really well in the final tournament.

Albus and Amanda met the eternal rest of their Quaker in the vulture 's Den after the tournament was over.

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

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

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

"You 're not allowed to leave out course of instruction unless it 's a good excuse,"Rose pointed out."I do n't intend going on holiday is a sound excuse."

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

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

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

Malfoy returned to classes on Tuesday, walking into potions fifteen min late, and Slughorn made no mention of his tardiness or the class he missed the previous hebdomad. Albus attempted to take in his face during class but he gave no clues about his emotions.

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

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

"Missed you at the tourney Sabbatum,"Albus said, hoping Malfoy would tell him where he 'd been.

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

"one-third space,"Albus answered."Where were you ?"

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


The following calendar week passed quickly and Albus soon forgot about Malfoy and his mysterious disappearing. The election was now only a workweek away and everyone in the castling, scholar, professor, and ghosts alike were talking about it. With only one argument remaining, it was up in the air as to who would win. The Prophet published a poll parrot they 'd taken and neither prospect had a significant principal on the other.

"Kingsley Shacklebolt, late Head of the Auror section, was the cobbler's last Minister of conjuring trick selected by the Wizengamot,"prof bank said in course of instruction two days before the net debate."His selection was very promptly and he stepped into role the day after Voldemort 's death. While most of the wizarding world knew that the Ministry needed an overhaul, they also needed someone to contain kick and supervise the overhaul.

"Shacklebolt held office for three twelvemonth while supervising the drastic changes that made the Ministry of Magic the governing entity we see today."

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

"The three old age Shacklebolt held position were very tumultuous. determination had to be made, drastic unity, and they were not easy. The kickoff and most obvious decisiveness was the decision to modify the way the Wizengamot was set up. The Wizengamot as it was was incredibly profane. Remember that prior to this redesign every pureblooded phratry held a butt on the Wizengamot, but this left half-blood and Muggle-born witch and wizards without theatrical performance.

"Shacklebolt, along with the other Ministry functionary working to regroup the Wizengamot looked to the Muggle world for inspiration. The premature Wizengamot bore more resemblance to the Muggle House of Lords, the Upper home of sevens. It was decided that the Wizengamot ought to more closely resemble the House of Commons, the Lower business firm of parliament. In the Muggle public, these representatives are called fellow member of fantan, MPs for short, and are elected. In the wizarding universe, they are simply called member of the Wizengamot.

"member of the Wizengamot then began being elected by the general public, much like MPs are elected in the Muggle Earth. Each member has a territorial dominion, although figuring out these territorial dominion was far more hard than it was in the Muggle world. Does anyone have a hypothesis as to why ?"

Amanda raised her hired man."Yes, Miss Tagger ?"coin bank said.

"Witches and wizards are n't as uniformly spread out throughout the United Kingdom,"Amanda explained."In the Muggle world the districts are very much based on towns, but wizards do n't really suffer towns."

"Correct,"Banks said."Because of this the dominion, if shown on a map, would bet vastly different in terminus of size. For example, London has three ramify districts because there is a very large wizarding population in Jack London. It 's far soft for necromancer to commingle in in a large city than a small townspeople since things generally go unnoticed in big cities. On the former hired hand, wale only has two districts, and therefore two instance, since it 's much less densely populated by wizards."

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

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

Albus looked at the plane after he received it. London seemed to be divided into West capital of the United Kingdom, North John Griffith Chaney, and East/South London. Second Earl of Guilford Jack London, where Albus lived, was dominion Two, currently represented by a bloke named Oliver Prang.

"Elections are held every five class,"Banks said."None of the spokesperson are up for election this twelvemonth, but most are up for election future year. None of you will be of age to vote in next class 's election, but I suggest you read up on your representatives position and beliefs anyway.

"To tempt you to study,"bank building continued as he walked around his desk,"I am assigning an essay, due in two weeks. Figure out who your representative is and write me a foot-long essay detailing your example 's feeling and whether you agree with them or not. I suggest looking at old copies of the oracle as well as archived transcriptions of Wizengamot meetings, both available in the library. You are welcome to use any former sources as you see fit."

There was a full general groan from the class, which made savings bank grin. He always seemed to love assigning homework.

"Now onto the more exciting news,"Banks said."This Sabbatum is the final debate and four of you will be able-bodied to pay heed. I apologize in advance for those whose public figure have not been chosen, but there simply were not enough disputation. As common, the rest of you will listen to the debate in the metamorphosis classroom.

"The two from Hufflepuff are Sam Bordeaux and scented wattle Hornell. The Gryffindors are privy Brickston and Janie Creevey. Your essay on this debate, to be formatted like the former two, will be due in a hebdomad. form dismissed."

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

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

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

"That essay, though ..."John said."The one on our spokesperson. That 's going to take forever."

"Not if you do your inquiry right,"blush wine said as they left the room.

"Any of you in District seven ?"John asked.

The rest period of the mathematical group shook their headway. They compared district numbers, but none of them were in the Lapp. Rose and Matt were the closest, with their districts bordering on each other.

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

Rose gave him a fulfil smirk, clearly well-chosen that she would n't have to deal with John attempting to bum off her research. Albus wished that he and rosebush were in the same district because he, like privy, did not relish doing this research. Usually they only had to use their text for research, but not this fourth dimension. This time, their text edition would n't help at all.


A/N : Thanks for all the reviews ! It 's time for the yearbook Dobby award at HPFF and nominations are now clear ! mind to the forum to nominate your ducky history ( such as this one, *hint, hint* ). There is a liaison to the forums on the right side of the page. Be sure to read the prescript before you nominate ! We hate having to disqualify stories for broken pattern.

The selective information about the Muggle Ministry was adapted from the family of the Lords and the fantan Wikipedia pages. I hope I got everything rightfulness, but I 'm not Brits, so feel destitute to charge out any errors.


As the week progressed More and more of the Prophet was dedicated to election coverage. By the time Saturday arrived it became nearly impossible to feel a single article that was n't about the election. There were editorials, interviews, statements from the campaigner, opinion polls, and Thomas More. Albus was getting so tired of it that he did n't even glance at Sabbatum 's version.

"Place your bet here !"

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

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

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

"No, that 's oil production,"James said."We 're taking bets on how farsighted it 'll take the public debate moderator to institute up that brainsick Australian bloke who kidnapped you conclusion year. This debate is on International Magical Cooperation, after all."

It had n't even crossed Albus 's mind that conclusion year 's incident would be brought up in this debate, but James was probably compensate. It was the biggest outside malicious gossip wizarding Britain had seen in years.

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

"Ten second,"James said."We 've had a few people say it 'll chance right away and others who are giving it as long as a one-half hour."

"You do see that your dad 's the one moderating this public debate, do n't you ?"rosebush asked, setting down her copy of the Prophet.

Henry James, Cedric, and Ben exchanged a glimpse."Er, no, we did n't know that,"Henry James said."How do you bed ?"

"Says rightfulness here in the paper,"Rose said, pointing to it."He might not play it up."

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

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

Rose shrugged."It 's possible."

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

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

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

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

"Any bets, then ?"James asked.

Albus and his champion all shook their heads no. terminal year 's incident was far too personal for them to put bets on whether it would be a argument matter.

"We 're wasting clock time, then,"St. James said as he led Cedric and Ben further down the aisle."Place your wager here !"

"They 're changeling,"Rose muttered.

Albus agreed.

An 60 minutes later Albus, Rose, Matt, and John were back in the Great Marguerite Radclyffe Hall for the debate. Albus soon realized that this debate would be watched by even more hoi polloi than the past ones, with many people standing in the back due to lack of seating. Personally, Albus thought nigh people would 've already made up their minds since the election was only four days away, but clearly it was still a pop outcome.

John had to sit with the other bookman who 'd been picked while Albus, rosiness, and Matt sat up front, like usual. All of Albus 's cousin-german were there, including Peach State, who looked like she was forcing herself to smile.

"Hey, Peach State,"Albus said.

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

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

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

"That 's wonderful !"Albus exclaimed."You 'll have to get me slate to your initiatory match."

"Oh, I expect everyone in the home to be there at my for the first time friction match as perm Keeper,"Empire State of the South said."And I want Dad right field there in the nominal head row, cheering me on."

"well, if he wins, he 'll have to keep supporting you,"Albus pointed out.

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

"Could everyone delight take their seats ?"Kendrick announced in a magically overdraw voice.

Georgia left and went to her own tail, as did everyone else who was still standing. The room grew placid and Kendrick took a few steps forward.

"Thank you. I 'd like to receive you all to Hogwarts. This is the last debate of the election and I appreciate the Ministry allowing Hogwarts to take such a big role in it. It has been a wonderful learning chance for staff and students alike. Remember, Wednesday is election day, so please throw off your ballot. Now, I would like to introduce today 's moderator, a man who needs no introduction, Mr. Harry Potter, psyche of the Auror department !"

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

Harry walked forward and took his place behind the moderator 's rostrum."Thank you, thank you,"he said and the bunch grew repose once more."Now, delight receive our prospect, Mr. Percy Weasley and Ms. Patricia Laurentis."

The prospect received considerably less applause than Harry did, something Albus found incredibly funny. If his dad ever decided to run for parson he 'd throw the thing won before the race even began.

"I am sure both our prospect know the principle by now. Five bit result and five moment rebuttals,"Harry began."Mr. Weasley, you will begin."

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

"The first base dubiousness is very superior general,"Harry said."In your opinion, how is U.K. 's relationship with its foreign neighbor ? Should the Ministry be making more of an effort to work with its neighbors or are things fine as they are ?"

"I think boilersuit our ministry has a soundly relationship with foreign ministries and governments,"Percy began."We have no current feuds with any strange land and all foreign talks have gone well in the past few years. However, I believe there is always way for betterment when speaking of relationships with other country. There are always luck to reach out to our neighbors, and you never know when such kinship will be necessary."

"Ms. Laurentis."

"My opponent makes comely period,"Laurentis said."And while I feel that furthering our relationships with extraneous ministries is an first-class idea, I wonder if that is really where our zip should be focused right now. There are many issues we need to address here at dwelling, and as Mr. Weasley said, our current kinship with foreign res publica are good."

"The department of International Magical Cooperation deals solely with external magical cooperation,"Percy pointed out."Working to fix event at home is obviously a commodity theme, but what do you suppose this department does while we do that ?"

"wellspring, yes, of trend, that department is always working on international issues,"Laurentis said."I was merely speaking of the Minister and his immediate officials."

"Thank you,"Harry said."succeeding question. The topic of changing the classification of werewolves from Beasts to Beings was brought up at the last argument. Both of you expressed no desire to bring this up with the international community. Have either of you changed your position on this in igniter of the recent gaining control of Fenrir Greyback ? If not, will you explain in more detail why you feel the way you do ? Ms. Laurentis, you may begin."

Albus glanced at matt. Maybe now they 'd figure out exactly why Uncle Percy did n't need to change the werewolf categorisation, more than just it was n't worth the endeavor.

"The gaining control of Fenrir Greyback was undoubtedly a success. I hope nonentity has misconstrued my quarrel on that. The fact that it was done without any injuries, let alone fatalities, was nix short of amazing. The Aurors and werewolf Control Unit employees who executed the program of capture are to be applauded. However, I fail to see why the gaining control of one werewolf should affect our decisions on the group as a whole. If anything, if werewolves had been classified as being during that capture the Aurors and Werewolf Control Unit employees would not suffer been able to use the methods of capture they used. To be honorable, I fail to see any benefit of reclassification."

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

"Mr. Weasley."

"I agree with my opposer about the capture of Fenrir Greyback. However, I disagree with her about the likely benefits of reclassification. First, the Aurors and Werewolf Control social unit employees could take used the same method they used last night, as Head of Department Walter Eckerton does not allow any method of capture that would not be allowed if lycanthrope were classified as Beings. In terms of Department for the Regulation and ascendence of Magical beast pattern and regulations, werewolves are to be treated as Beings. This has been the example since Eckerton took over as Head over a class ago. Perhaps Ms. Laurentis is unaware of this fact.

"As for benefits, those with lycanthropy would be able to stop up chore far more easily and would throw the same rights given to hobgoblin, house-elves, centaurs, lamia, and world alike."

Apparently his uncle had much more than of an opinion than the one he gave at the last debate, Albus thought.

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

"Then perhaps Walter Eckerton ought to conduct another look at the law,"Laurentis began."Because it is perfectly legal of him to use more abrasive method acting to bring werewolf into gaining control. But since this capture was a roaring success, I will not fault him for that. As for lycanthrope rights, I have yet to get a line of any complaints by loup-garou about their rights."

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

"Your rebuttal, Mr. Weasley."

"As I did not have time to fully answer the question, I will proceed,"Harry Hotspur said."While it would be beneficial for lycanthrope if they were reclassified as organism, I do not think it 's feasible. It would command agreement from all nations, which is frankly asking a lot. I know for a fact Australia would never be on board, and considering our rocky human relationship with that detail country, I do not find it is in our intimately interest group to start out talks of the reclassification of werewolves. In ratiocination, I feel it would be a worthwhile endeavour, but given the unlikeliness of it amounting to anything, it would be a dissipation of manpower."

"Thank you,"Harry said."next question. In regard to our rocky relationship with Commonwealth of Australia, as Mr. Weasley put it, do you sense it would be beneficial to continue trying to get Ralph Lubar extradited to the United Kingdom ? Mr. Weasley."

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

"If elected I would table this decision to the Department of International Magical Cooperation, since they possess the requisite expertise on the subject. However, it is my personal belief that it would be worth pursuing. I believe it is of import to send a message that Ministry employees, even high-ranking functionary such as Ralph Lubar, are not above the law. What Lubar did was terrible and in no world should he get away with it."

"Ms. Laurenits."

"observation how Mr. Weasley did not credit that his nephew was one of the children kidnapped by Lubar,"Laurentis pointed out."I think this might defile his judgement a little. I disagree with him about this particular proposition topic. We 've been trying to take in Ralph Lubar extradited for nearly a year and Australia has not budged. Why bother continuing to cook efforts toward this when it is discharge they will be fruitless ?"

"If we give up, it will be telling the populace that anyone can go commit a crime in another country and not be punished,"Percy said."More than that, it demonstrates the corruption of the Aussie government and having our citizens believe their government to be corrupt will not help outside magical cooperation."

"The potential corruption of the Aboriginal Australian administration is not any of our clientele at the current time. We can not hale them to extradite Ralph Lubar and it is my personal opinion that they will never do so. I daresay that the Department of International Magical Cooperation has more pressing issue to deal with."

"Thank you both,"Harry said."We have time for one more question, but in light of the fact that the election is on Wednesday, I am going to generate each of the candidates a probability to make a general speech instead. Mr. Weasley, you may speak first."

"Thank you, Harry."

Percy seemed ineffective to call Harry 'Mr. ceramist .'Albus giggled at this.

"I would like to thank professor Kendrick and the residuum of the Hogwarts stave for being so accommodating, as well as the student. None of the bookman sitting in this room right now were alive before the Ministry was reorganized in 1998 through 2001. None of the educatee in this room were alive during Voldemort 's reign of panic. They read about both of these in history books, because to them, it is simply chronicle. To me, and the ease of the grownup in this room, the previous Ministry and Voldemort are our past, our retentivity. We remember the terror, the unknown, the veneration.

"I was a part of the shakeup of the Ministry. We all know the class that have followed- the years where we have lived without awe, without affright, without the alien. I have been with the Ministry every footstep of the way since Voldemort 's frustration and I will make it my duty to continue the peace that we 've had for over twenty twelvemonth. I will keep this abruptly because I, like most of you surely do, believe that the practiced speech is a inadequate talking to. If you want a parson who will continue the success of parson Hartwell 's time in part, vote for me, Walker Percy Weasley, on Wednesday. Thank you."

There was a handful of hand clapping, but it did n't stopping point retentive. Albus had a feeling that almost of the residual of the students wanted the election to be over.

"My opponent routinely brings up the past. He speaks of the war, Voldemort, and the old Ministry, but never once has he discussed the hereafter, except in vague program line about keeping things the same. It 's true that I was not involved with the shake-up of the Ministry over twenty years ago. I got into political science later in life history. But I do not finger that this will make me an subscript rector, nor do I think it will be particularly good to Mr. Weasley.

"History is just that. history. We certainly need to determine from our history to assure that we do not make the same mistakes we did before, but it is not essential to have lived through history to be a successful leader. There are plenty of Ministry employees, even a few high-ranking officials, who were not here during Voldemort 's reign. Walter Eckerton, for example, did not live in U.K. during Voldemort 's reign. Yet he very successfully runs the section for the Regulation and Control of Magical brute.

"In unretentive, I believe we need to focus on our time to come rather than our past times. If elected minister I will piddle progressive changes in not only our ministry and law of nature, but our educational system as well. Things have been ran the same for over twenty years, and while I am not denying the winner, I think we have needed change for a while. loose prisoner are running free. Hogwarts lesson are being taught the Lapplander way they were when these children 's grandparents were in school. The ministry, along with its police force and insurance, motivation to adapt as the twelvemonth go by. If you feel change is needed, if you are at all upset about the way things are, vote for me, Patricia Laurentis, on Wednesday."

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

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

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

"Nope,"Matt said."But she does n't seem to bear an issue with my dad, which is effective if she gets elected."

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

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

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

"Why ?"Saint John the Apostle asked incredulously."He kidnapped us and tried to institute Voldemort back !"

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

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

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

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

"You think Lubar would wish ? He did it in Commonwealth of Australia !"matte snapped."He 's already broken the law. And even if he got in trouble for it null could use up what he said back. It sucks that he 's not getting punished, but I think it would be better if the world just forgot about the whole thing."

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

"summation, there 's no way Australia will extradite him,"flatness said."Your uncle and Laurentis are both right about one affair. The Aussie government is very corrupt, and I do n't believe anything will happen until that rottenness ends. Lubar wo n't be punished, and werewolf wo n't get reclassified as Beings."

"So even though you moved, the Aussie government still has some control over your life,"John said."That 's messed up."

"Yeah, it really is,"matte agreed."But it 's the way the populace works."


A/N : Thanks for all the reassessment ! Once again, I 'd like to shamelessly secure my stories for Dobby nominating speech ! Head over to the assembly to nominate my ( or any other ) stories for a Dobby award ! Be sure to read the rule before nominating.


Albus had been hoping socio-economic class would be suspended the day of the election, but there was no such luck. Kendrick organized it so that the Great Hall would be the pollard place and that voting would not affect the general pupil body. Hogwarts was the designated polling berth for the dominion it was in, so there would be other people coming to the shoal to vote. Albus 's cousins who were of age ( Bradley, Fred, and Heather ) all voted after breakfast, as soon as the polling station had been set up.

Albus and his friend spent nearly of Herbology watching people walking from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts in ordering to vote. It was very unhinge and Neville did n't bother telling hoi polloi to get back on task.

"When are we going to know who won ?"John asked as they walked back to the palace for defence force.

"It 'll be in the Prophet tomorrow morning,"Albus said."That 's the functionary posting, but I 'm sure we 'll find out earlier. Bradley and Cedric have to go to the end of the election party tonight. It starts at six and the polls close at eight. They 're announcing the winner at the political party at eight-thirty. Omar Nelson Bradley and Cedric will be back after that and I give it about five minutes to diffuse around the castle."

John laughed."You do n't cause to go to the party ?"

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

"What about you two ?"john asked Rose and Matt.

"No,"rosebush said. Matt shook his head.

"goodness,"John said."We should have our own party here. A party to celebrate the end of this election. Maybe it 'll have in mind Embry will let up on the essays. Anyone else writing their debate essay during Defense today ?"

For the by few calendar month nearly people had used defense team as a report hall. The worksheets Lester Willis Young assigned never took retentive than xv transactions and he did n't seem to care what his scholarly person did with the relief of the class. Just as long as they were n't being loud. Albus did n't think anyone had used any Skiving Snackbox sweets in defense mechanism this year, since there was n't much decimal point.

Albus, Matt, and Amanda all still needed to pen their essays as well. Rose had written hers immediately following the debate, but the residual of them did n't see the need to do it compensate away.

"I can always finish it in History of deception, too,"John said as they entered the castle.

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

Albus glanced inside and saw that there were four small carrel curtained off where the staff board should 've been. A short waiting line of people were off to one side and seemed to be waiting their tour for the cubicle. It did n't look very exciting.

"Any remark on the election ?"

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

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

"I do n't think they 're allowed inside,"rose mentioned."So they ca n't bother masses who are voting."

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

Albus nodded. No more disputation essays. Now that would be a good thing.

The remnant of the day passed quickly. Albus, Matt, and Amanda managed to finish their essays during DoD, but John only got halfway done. Voting was suspended during tiffin and then again at dinner. Albus overheard a few of the sixth and one-seventh old age talking about balloting and the election during dinner. A brace of Ravenclaws even got into an debate about it.

"Let 's make a pact now not to get in any battle over the next election when we can all balloting,"Rose said as they watched one of the arguing Ravenclaws storm out of the Great manor hall.

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

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

"Yeah,"Albus said.

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

"It 's supposed to promote safe sportsmanship and that variety of thing,"pink wine explained.

"Still ... I ca n't imagine Laurentis being a proficient sport,"trick said.

After dinner Albus and his friends returned to the unwashed way, deciding that it might be interesting to expend the even there rather than the Marauder 's Den. They also wanted to hear firsthand from Bradley and Cedric who won.

The common room had the distinct feel that Gryffindor had just won a Quidditch equal. James, Fred, Heather, scar, and Ben had taken it upon themselves to have a party to celebrate the end of the election and thus the end of debates and essays on debates. There were cases of Butterbeer and trays of biscuits and nobody was working on any homework.

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

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

Albus shrugged."I do n't have sex. Amanda seems fairly normal and her uncle 's the prime of life Minister."

"That 's because nonentity here cares about the prime quantity Minister,"Amanda said."At home everyone knows I 'm the niece of the prime of life Minister. My Sister and Brother certainly are n't anonymous at their schools. My babe 's at university now and she says it 's a bit better than it was in secondary school."

"Albus, you 're Harry Potter 's son,"John said flatly."No thing what happens, you 're going to be well-known."

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

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

"Yeah, why ?"

"Just curious,"Matt said.

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

"There 's still a caboodle of people voting,"Albus said, gesturing to the Great G. Stanley Hall. About a half dozen or so back breaker were milling about.

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

"No estimation,"Albus said. He glanced at his watch."half hour until the canvass close."

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

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

"Albus,"whoremonger said, pointing to the map."Is it just me or is Malfoy going into Moaning Vinca minor 's stool ?"

Albus peered down at the map. sure as shooting enough, a dot labeled 'Scorpius Malfoy'had just entered the 2nd floor girl 's lavatory. That did n't make any sense.

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

"Myrtle 's there,"John commented."Look, she 's floating over toward him."

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

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

"Dad says the map never lies,"Albus explained."wellspring, there 's only one way to find out. Let 's espouse him."

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

privy and Kaden nodded their heads in agreement. blush wine raised her eyebrows.

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

"Oh, occur on, it 's just a girlfriend 's loo,"Amanda said."Look, there are n't even any miss in there besides Myrtle. And she 's a ghostwriter !"

lavatory laughed."Myrtle 's got a bit of a crush."

"John, shut up !"Matt said, his impudence turning red.

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

"Yeah, we had custody in there once,"John explained."Myrtle spent the whole fourth dimension flirting with Matt. It was hilarious."

"I said, shut it !"matte shouted.

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

"I 'm not going. I refuse."

"mulct,"bathroom said."case yourself. ascend ?"

"I 'll stay here, thanks,"Rose said."You 're wasting your time anyway. It 's not like he 'll tell you anything."

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

They did n't bother bringing the Invisibility Cloak since there was still an hr left until curfew. On their way there, they spotted Peeves unscrewing chandeliers in honor of April Fool 's Day, but ignored his yak.

Albus watched the map as they went. Malfoy remained in the privy as they walked quickly downcast flying of stairs. But they got stuck on the steps leading to the back story corridor, after the step decided to lead them directly to the start floor rather than the second.

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

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

Albus nodded."Let 's wait here, then."

Their current location gave them an excellent view of the Great dorm. A few Ministry official were currently carrying while of the voting cubicles out of the room, polling clearly over. It would only be about a half minute until they had a new Minister of Magic.

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

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

"Malfoy,"Albus said.

"Potter,"Malfoy replied.

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

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

So much for being deliberate, Albus thought.

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

"Yes, you were,"Amanda said."I was in there, too. second base level, Moaning Myrtle 's crapper ? Ring any campana ?"

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

"Next time check into a bit harder,"Amanda said."I was in the final stage stall and when I heard you come in I had to detain there because you 're a chap and it would just be weird to hail out of a lav carrell and come face to facial expression with a chap. I heard you talking to Vinca minor, though."

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

"Then do n't lead your business in a young lady 's loo,"Amanda said with a laugh."Let 's go. We do n't want to miss the news about the new parson. Clearly Malfoy 's a bit unhinged."

Amanda turned and set off up the stair. Albus, Saint John the Apostle, and Kaden followed, leaving Malfoy frozen in their wake. Albus glanced back and saw that he was still as pale as Matt is right before a broad moon.

"Amanda, what was that ?"John exclaimed once they 'd hand the secondly floor.

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

"That 's brilliant,"John said.

Amanda grinned."I have my moments."

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

"Seriously,"John said."The only way you 'd catch me in a girl 's loo is if you paid me a load of Galleons."

"Or you got detention."Amanda smirked.

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

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

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

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

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

"Oh, right."

rosebush and Matt were in the middle of a game of Bromus secalinus. Matt was losing spectacularly.

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

"Yeah, but not in the loo,"Albus said."Caught him on his way back to his rough-cut room. He would n't tell us a thing."

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

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

"compliments I could 've seen that. I 've always wanted to severalize off Malfoy."

"You should 've descend,"Saint John the Apostle said."We did n't even see Myrtle."

"Still ... not taking any chances,"Matt said."King to D6."

blush wine instructed her horse to move closer to flatness 's king."Checkmate.

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

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

Albus, St. John, Matt, and Amanda settled down to watch as Rose clobbered Kaden. Albus could 've sworn he saw Kaden 's chessmen quiver as they were set up on the circuit card. Rose 's queen was most definitely grinning maliciously. Over the adjacent half hour Kaden 's small-arm were viciously slaughtered by Rose 's, but not without putting up a engagement. Kaden was in fact getting effective.

"Exploding snap bean ?"matt asked after Rose and Kaden repaired their chessmen.

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

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

The full common room froze and was silent. Not a single individual moved. Not a single person said a Word of God. Even the first years, who had been tossing a Quaffle around, were still. Albus stood on the rear end step to the dormitories and waited.

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

"wellspring ?"William James asked.

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

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

Albus returned to his friend and set the box of cards down on the table. He sat down and did n't say a word.

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

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

Jesse James walked up to the mesa."Al, rosiness, we 're all going to the Room of demand. Omar Bradley and Cedric want to give us More details."He glanced the balance of the chemical group."Sorry, household only."

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

Albus, James, and rose walked to the way of demand in silence. When they arrived they saw that the doorway was already there. They walked inside.

The rest of their cousins had already arrived. Albus took a fundament on the live remaining lounge and James and rosiness sat on either side of him. Nobody was speaking, so he glanced around and watched all of his cousins.

Bradley, Cedric, heather mixture, Mark, Ben, Fred, Victor Hugo, Lily, Jesse James, Rose, and Angie. And himself. They were the middle group of cousin. Not the quondam, not the youngest, but the ones in the midriff, who never did anything first and never did anything last. They were n't the first to go to Hogwarts and they would n't be the last to graduate. They stood by each other, through the dear and through the bad.

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

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

"How did he take it ?"Scots heather asked.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The elbow room descended into silence. Nobody seemed to know what to say, Albus included. His feelings on his uncle becoming minister had been all over the station for the past tense seven months, but now that Hotspur had actually lost, all Albus felt was letdown. It was strange. Just last hebdomad he had been kind of hoping Percy would lose, and now that he had, Albus felt the staring opposite.

It was already yesteryear curfew for Lily, Victor-Marie Hugo, and Angie, but nonentity was telling them to go back to the common room. Albus was vaguely odd about what was going on in the common room, but not curious enough to actually go back. matte, John, Kaden, and Amanda would tell apart him later.

What Albus was really occupy about, more than anything, was what Laurentis was going to do to both the Ministry and Hogwarts. Laurentis had made it clear that she was going to modify the schooltime, but Albus liked it the way it was. Then there were the changes to the Ministry, such as the dementors. How long would it select for Laurentis to bestow them back ? Surely she had to go through proper communication channel to do it.

James, Bradley, and Cedric were the first to return to the common room, claiming they had to crap near on all the stakes they 'd taken. Albus had a feeling all three of them were now slightly in debt. Albus and Rose returned a few minutes later, leaving the rest of their cousins talking quietly in the room of Requirement.

When they returned matt, can, and Kaden were playing Exploding snap. Amanda was writing a letter.

"Who are you writing to ?"Rose asked.

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

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

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

"That 's so weird,"John said.

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

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

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

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

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


A/N : Sorry for the previous update ! My birthday is tomorrow so I had admirer up for the weekend and completely forgot. Thanks for all the reviews !


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

LAURENTIS win ; Begin APPOINTING view

In the closest race for Minister of conjuring trick to
date, candidate Patricia Laurentis won the
place endure night. public opinion poll closed at eight,
with the official succeeder announced at a closed
party at the Minister 's planetary house at eight-thirty.
Laurentis won by a mere 342 votes, which is the
tightlipped race we have ever seen.

'I am of line very pleased with this turn of
events ,'Laurentis said at the Minister 's
Mansion after the announcement was made .'I am
very excited to be sworn in as Minister of
Magic on May first. I feel I will be able to
kick in the public what they need, for they have
spoken and now it is my duty to return them what
I promised during my campaign. I of trend
offer my commiseration to Harry Hotspur Weasley. He truly
was a joy to run against over the retiring
seven month .'

'I offer my congratulations to my opposition ,'Hotspur
Weasley said to Daily prophet reporter at the
curate 's Mansion. 'We both campaigned hard
and she won, middling and second power. I am disappointed,
of course, but I still congratulate her .'

Over the succeeding month Laurentis will settle who
she wishes to appoint to top Ministry office,
before she is sworn in as rector of conjuration on
May first of this class. Laurentis is wasting no
time with this, as she was seen at the Ministry
earlier this dawn .'I already have hoi polloi
picked out for near positions ,'she said upon
questioning .'I will be keeping a few of the
current official, but I will be replacing quite
a few in ordering to advantageously connect the Ministry .'

One soul has already confirmed his aim
to take Laurentis up on her offer of a position.
Ironically, he is set to take over Hotspur Weasley 's
current position under rector Hartwell .'I am
very pleased to announce that Draco Malfoy is
going to take the emplacement of Senior
Undersecretary for the draftsmanship and Editing
of law of nature. Dragon Malfoy has been a protagonist of mine
for many geezerhood as we have worked together in the
Azkaban Division for nearly a tenner. I am very
excited to preserve working with him .'

Laurentis plans to announce the name of her
official as they confirm throughout the month.

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

"Malfoy never said a word,"Matt added, his eyes large.

"Of course he did n't,"rosebush said."We 're not exactly his friends."

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

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

"second gear highest for drafting laws,"pink wine said."Given his relationship with Laurentis anything he drafts will most likely pass."

"And who knows what his views are,"Albus said, craning his cervix to see the Slytherin table."Malfoy 's over there. I ca n't quite see his face, though."

"I 'm for sure he 'll give birth something to say to you in Potions,"Amanda pointed out.

Albus had quite a few hours to wait to receive out just what exactly Malfoy would give to say to them. story of magic, his first base course of instruction of the day, was as drill as ever. professor Binns showed absolutely no realization that the election had taken situation the previous day. professor Patil was the accomplished contrary, making no relocation to pass over up her indignation at Laurentis 's win, which led her to blow up the desk she was attempting to glorify.

"Do you think Laurentis will actually suffer teacher sacked ?"toilet asked as they walked to the Great Hall for lunch."Because if she does, Patil wo n't stand a chance."

Albus shook his head teacher."Only if they 're really horrific teacher. Umbridge sacked a few in my dad 's fifth yr and I think people will be outraged if Laurentis does the same thing. Honestly, I think Binns and Whitney Moore Young Jr. are the solitary unity in danger."

"Could you sack a ghost ?"John asked."I mean, where would he go ?"

"He 'd probably stick around and still try to teach,"Albus said."I ca n't suppose it would go over well."

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

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

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

"Hey, Potter,"Malfoy greeted him."congratulation to your uncle on his red ink. Ca n't thank him enough for that."

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

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

"Nothing 's set for sure as shooting about the Auror Department,"Albus countered.

Malfoy laughed."I think I might make out a bit more than you on that. Laurentis was over at my star sign for dinner party last week."

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

"It never came up."

"wellspring now that you 're all glad again maybe you 'll actually show up for this calendar month 's dueling tourney ?"

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

"Touchy,"John commented.

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

"We 'll see who 's got the power the mo one of your sept winds up at St. Mungo 's,"Gospel According to John snapped.

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

"cypher cares what your dad does for a living,"matte said.

"Nobody asked you. At least my dad does n't bring his work home with him."Malfoy laughed.

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

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

"verge away, boys."

Albus turned and saw Professor Slughorn standing in the doorway. He breathed a sigh of rest period. The finally affair John the Evangelist needed was another detention.

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

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


The following few days passed without anymore situation announcements from Laurentis. In fact, it was a relatively quiesce few days, especially when compared with the past times seven calendar month. For the first clock time all year, there was little coverage of the election, that is until they had politics on Tuesday. At the end of the example, Embry reminded them of their research essays on their representatives, an duty assignment that had completely slipped Albus 's head. It was due in two days.

Apparently, it had slipped can and matte 's nous as well. rosebush and Amanda had been diligently working on theirs all week, only needing to pen their conclusions. Amanda had even asked her uncle for assistant, devoting section of her essay to the similarities and deviation between the wizarding and Muggle authorities.

"I guess we 'll be spending the eventide in the program library,"Albus said as they headed to the Great student residence for dinner."

"Dammit,"Matt muttered."I 'm going to have to pen the entire matter tonight. The full-of-the-moon Moon 's tomorrow."

"Usually you 're a great deal better about remembering to do assignment before that,"rosebush commented.

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

"But you 'll be missing form on Th,"John pointed out."So you can turn it in Tuesday and get four redundant days."

"I 've never done that with long-term assignments,"matt said."I do n't want to start now. Albus can rick it in, like usual."

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

"Hey, Amanda, want to take a manner of walking around the lake before we write our closing ?"rose asked."The weather condition 's so overnice tonight we might as well take advantage."

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

"Oh, shut up,"Albus muttered.

Forty-five second later Albus, Matt, John, and Kaden had taken over one of the larger board in the library. Kaden had joined them since he had a metamorphosis essay due the next day and fortune telling predictions to do. Albus was considering hexing two outset years at the table succeeding to them who kept giggling, if Madam Pince did n't get to them first. He wished that one of his supporter lived in his district ; it would make this so a lot gentle.

Albus did have a distinct advantage over both lusterlessness and Saint John the Apostle, in that his example was far more long-familiar than theirs. Joseph Oliver Prang, who had been serving the Union London district, was on his fourth consecutive terminus, which amounted to over fifteen years. That was more than Albus 's intact sprightliness. British capital in itself was a location that required far Thomas More attention than other areas of the country, which resulted in far more data being uncommitted on it. whoremaster was able to turn up a evenhandedly measure of information on his instance, Nadine Abernathy, but Matt, since he lived in one of the most remote control surface area of England, had difficulty locating information on Marcus Whitby.

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

"You 've still got all the hour from Wizengamot merging,"Albus said, pointing to the three large piles of newspaper in the middle of the board. He really did palpate bad for Matt, though. It was bad enough having to do a paper like this, but having to do it when the full moon was only two days away ?

"I could probably just make stuff up,"Matt said as he took the top few pages."I mean, honestly, could Embry possibly know anything about Marcus Whitby ? It 's the least densely live district in all of England."

"Embry probably knows everything about everyone,"John the Evangelist said."There. I 've got my introduction. count at it this way. Your bloke 's only been in office for a yr. So you 've got far less block to look through. It wo n't claim as long."

"But if there is n't anything, then that does n't avail,"Matt muttered."Have you even understand anything ?"

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

"You have a uncanny way of doing research."

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

Matt tossed the papers he 'd been looking at onto his rejection spate, which was so jumbled that Madam Pince would probably receive a nerve plan of attack if she saw it. He then let out a loud sigh and put his head word in his hands.

"Could you please take pity on him ?"Albus asked rose.

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

"His representative has only been in power for a year,"Albus explained."And the only thing he 's found is one condemnation in a Prophet from a twelvemonth ago saying he won the election, which was against nobody. And the broad moon is tomorrow."

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

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

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

blush wine sighed."mulct. But only because you look so wretched. And mine was pretty hard, too, because my district is also distant. Just let me finish my conclusion."

"Lucky,"John muttered."I do n't hypothesize you 'd help-"

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

Albus turned back to his own essay and over the next four 60 minutes managed to get it half done. He did n't conceive it was very effective, but it was forward motion. John was about halfway done as well, so the two of them decided to call it a night. John the Evangelist settled in to facilitate Kaden with his fake divination predictions. Matt was still working on his, with much coaching from rose.

"Did you observe anything ?"Albus asked.

"A bit,"rosiness said."It 's not a good deal. This bloke seriously has n't done anything. He 's hardly mentioned in any of these minutes."

Matt yawned."How long does this bear to be again ?"

"A metrical foot,"rose answered."You 've got another four inches to go."

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

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

"We should probably cease in the common room, then,"Rose said.

"I do n't think I can,"lustrelessness said."Too pall. I 'll end up it tomorrow since I 'll probably skip afternoon course anyway."

The grouping packed up their things and walked quickly back to the plebeian room. By some stroke of luck they managed to avoid the prefects and did n't get any hold from being out after curfew.

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

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

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

"I just go for your dad was able to help oneself those parents with the two kids,"rose said.

"He 'll probably go do the Aaron Montgomery Ward himself,"Matt said."At least for this month. And I 'm sure they 've got Aconitum lycoctonum this month."

Albus nodded. It was going to be a better fully moonshine for everyone involved.
***


Albus, mat, and John managed to get their essays done in metre and turned in on Thursday. The full moon was relatively normal, as good moons go, without any reports of werewolf attacks. Matt wound up in the hospital wing for two full days, having resorted to chewing on himself since the Friedrich August Wolf no longer had the beguilement of Greyback exterior. But Albus had a feeling Matt preferred it that way. Greyback 's mien was just too creepy and too unknown.

A few days after the full moon Henry James returned to the common room fuming. Albus raised his eyebrows at his brother as he straightened a atomic pile of life history pamphlets that had once again appeared on the uncouth way tables.

James stomped over to Albus 's table, pulled up a chairperson, and squeezed himself between Albus and Matt."Career advice,"he muttered.

"Did you just have it ?"Albus asked.

"Yeah, with Longbottom,"James I said."Neville always seemed so overnice when we were little and even in class he 's easily the proficient professor here. But for calling advice ? He 's terrible !"

"fountainhead, what did you talk about ?"

"Careers."

Rose snorted."Obviously."

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

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

"I know that,"James snapped."But I do n't want to do anything that 's going to require shipment of N.E.W.T.s. I want to play Quidditch."

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

"No,"James muttered."So I told him about GA. And then he said that it 's not very common to be drafted by a professional team and that even Georgia had a back-up program. That 's news to me. As far as I know she 's wanted to play Quidditch her all life."

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

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

"And of course Neville did n't like that,"rosebush said."Honestly, James, just peck something."

"But I ca n't !"James IV said as he picked up a stack of folder."Look at these. hobgoblin link, Gringott 's Counterfeit Coin Checker, security measures round Trainer. They 're all dead boring."

"There 's loads of job in the Ministry and St. Mungo 's,"rose said.

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

Albus had to concord with that. James had about the same ability to decoct as a troll."Hey, you could train security measure trolls."

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

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

"Of path you do,"James I muttered.

"If it makes you sense better, better half, I 've no idea what I want to do,"St. John the Apostle said.

"Me either,"Kaden agreed.

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

Albus shrugged. He had n't thought much about careers since the previous year when Balladanis told him he could be a Presuler. The idea was very charm, but he did n't want to severalise anyone else about it.

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

"If you 'd throw in complaining and set forth studying you 'd pass more of them,"pink wine pointed out.

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

"Epistle of James, hold !"pink wine shouted as James neared the portrait hole."Forgetting anything ?"

Saint James the Apostle glanced down."Oh, right. Books."

James IV ran up to his student residence and returned with his bag a moment later. Grinning at Albus and the others, he left the common room.

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

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

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

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

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

Matt laughed and picked up the Gringott 's booklet."Considering that werewolves are n't going to be changed from Beasts to Beings anytime soon, I do n't recollect I 'm going to cause many choices to nibble from."

"You never know,"rose said."Who knows what will take place between now and when we graduate. things could change."

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

"It 's intemperately not to be. He 's rather gaudy himself. I 'm not sure enough. I think I want to do something in the Ministry, though. I want to make a difference."

"Excellent,"Matt said."You can transfer everyone 's intellect about changing the werewolf classification."

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

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

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

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

Kaden 's eyes grew large."Wait, really ? That 's a literal vocation ?"

flatness nodded."Not everyone can brew potions, so they need people to brew them for them. You can form at St. Mungo 's and brew healing potions or you could work for a society and brew potions to sell."

"Sort of like a pill roller, I suppose,"Amanda replied.

"Exactly,"rose wine said.

"Brilliant."Kaden grinned."James will hate me now. 3rd twelvemonth and I know what I 'm doing."

Albus laughed."You could change your mind."

Kaden shrugged."I suppose so."

Albus did n't really desire to think about what they would do after Hogwarts. It was three years away. He 'd rather bask the present, but blush wine had always been the person to look to the future. She fantasized about their Hogwarts days when they were only six and now, she was fantasizing about what they 'd do after. Albus had never been the case to do that. There would be plenty of time for the time to come in the future.


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


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

When he was n't on the pitch, most of Albus 's prison term was spent at dueling drill. The final exam match of the yr was on the finale Sat in April and Albus 's team was still in the running for a win of the integral tourney. They had n't won a bingle friction match, but they were routinely in sec shoes by only a few points. The teams that had gotten first place never did that fountainhead in other tourney, resulting in their overall point totality being quite low.

When the final stage Sabbatum in April arrived, far preferably than Albus would 've liked, he found himself incredibly unquiet. He was n't flighty at all about his duels, but he was skittish for the squad. This was it. It was his final stage tournament in the Junior Dueling Tournament. His survive chance to shew himself as maitre d' and earn a spot on Gryffindor 's dueling team next class.

All four captains of the house dueling teams were present at this tournament because they would be hand selecting players for their squad next year. Unlike Quidditch, there were no try-outs for the dueling tournament.

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

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

"At least he showed up,"Amanda pointed out.

"Point to Malfoy !"Neville shouted."Albus potter and flatness Eckerton."

Albus groaned inwardly. He always felt frightening when he had to duel Matt because their acquirement storey were so drastically unlike. At the same clip he did n't want to go easy on his friend because the Gryffindor team captain was watching.

Albus and lustrelessness bowed to each other and raised their wands. Albus thought a mute apologia as he shot a Stunner at his best ally. Matt dodged it and sent one back. Albus threw up a shield and then sent three consecutive Stunners. The third gear one made middleman and flatness collapsed onto the floor, frozen.

"Point to monkey around !"Neville declared. He waved his wand at Matt and the spell lifted.

"Sorry, mate,"Albus said as he helped flatness up.

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

Albus won his second affaire d'honneur as well. His team continued to win nigh of their duels, with some of his teammates winning their maiden duels ever. Amanda had begun a reckoning of all the points on a supernumerary bit of lambskin and their squad was winning, with only a few duel left to go.

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

A few moment later Neville stepped into the center of one of the dueling hoop."I am proud of to announce that we have a winner of both today 's tournament and the year 's tournament overall. congratulation to Team sevener for winning both today and the tournament boilers suit ! police captain Albus Potter, delight hail forward to consent the trophy."

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Me, too,"Amanda agreed.

Albus 's admirer were waiting in the common room when he and Amanda arrived. They offered congratulations and Butterbeer, which Albus drank quickly before heading external for Quidditch practice.

Later that night, between his happiness about the win and enervation from Quidditch praxis, Albus slept full than he had in months.
***


In April 's lowest remaining Clarence Shepard Day Jr. the Daily seer published at to the lowest degree one article a day on Laurentis and her upcoming swearing-in ceremony, as well as her picks for top officials. Albus had n't recognized any names of the official, or the names of their jobs. Mostly they were chore such as the one his Uncle Percy held under parson Hartwell. Laurenits, as it seemed, was waiting until she became diplomatic minister to reveal the big positions, such as Albus 's dad 's military position.

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

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

"I heard they 're listening to it on the radio in political relation today,"lavatory said."regard we had it today. That would be much comfortably than having literal class."

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

"Will he be completely sacked ?"Kaden asked.

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

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

"What clip is it happening ?"rosebush asked.

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

"rightfield after History of trick,"Rose mused."So you lot will have got Care of Magical Creatures and I 'll consume Arithmancy. Is anyone else thinking that we should kick downstairs out Uncle George 's best-selling intersection this morning ?"

Albus thought he heard her wrong. Was his first cousin actually suggesting they skip socio-economic class ?

"hold, rosebush,"John said."Are you saying we should skive off class ?"

Rose grinned."I think this is going to be a bit more educational. I say we skive and sports meeting in the piranha 's Den to hear on the wireless."

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

"We 've got to project it carefully, though,"Rose said."We ca n't all get ill at the Saami time or it 'll look suspicious."

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

rosiness nodded."That leaves five of us. Matt, do you take in an issue with skipping all of History of magic trick ?"

flatness laughed."Of path not."

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

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

"Because if someone finds out and asks it 'll be easier for matt go just say he felt ill, rather than you. I 'll use a nosebleed nougat in Arithmancy since I 'm the just one of us in that course of instruction. Al, lav, Amanda, two of you can use something in chronicle of deception and then the other one can use something right at the outset of tending of Magical Creatures. We meet in the piranha 's Den by ten-thirty."

With the plan decided upon, they set off for their sunrise stratum. John Lackland begged to be the one who used a puking troche first in History of Magic and Albus and Amanda let him. He seemed strangely excited about it. Albus was just going to use the febricity fudge.

Professor Binns began droning on about the Giant war, a topic he seemed to enjoy for some reason. He taught it each and every yr without fail. Albus doodled aimlessly on his notes while taking surreptitious glances at John every so often.

"Um, Professor ?"John announced ten minute of arc into the class.

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

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

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

John hastily shoved the other end of the afters into his mouth and vanished the vomit before grabbing his bag ( which he never unpacked ), and left the room.

Amanda was next. She, like Albus, went the secure route and had decided upon the fever fudge. Professor Binns hardly seemed to notice that she felt ill, despite her announcing it to the class. He just waved her out and continued his lecture. Albus could 've probably used his own fever fudge right then and there, but he did n't think it was worth the small endangerment.

Albus decided to eat the fever fudge on his way to Care of Magical beast so he could exit immediately after arriving. The predator 's Den was quite a walkway from Hagrid 's hut and he did n't want to overleap any of the ceremony.

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

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

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

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

Hagrid 's brass fell."Yeh don'look so well. bettor go see Madam Pomfrey."

Albus nodded and turned around, walking quickly up the path. Once he was out of sight of Hagrid, he shoved the other one-half of the pyrexia fudge into his mouth and felt immediately better. He 'd done it !

By the fourth dimension he arrived at the Marauder 's Den it was nearly ten-thirty. The rest of his booster were already there, huddled around a very old looking radiocommunication.

"Albus !"rosebush exclaimed."Nearly thought you would n't produce it !"

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

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

"good daybreak, listeners. We are broadcasting live from Courtroom Ten in the Ministry of Magic, where just minutes from now Patricia Laurentis will be sworn in as government minister of deception for the United Kingdom. It is standing room only in the courtroom, with additional spectators in the corridor."

Suddenly there was thunderous hand clapping, drowning out the commentator 's vox. It died down a few minutes later.

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

"minister Hartwell, along with members of the Wizengamot are seated on the dais. Three senior members of the Wizengamot will swear Laurentis in."

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

"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. It has been my pleasure to serve up you over the retiring ten class. I 'd like to take a minute to thank my company, Merlinus, for their financial support over the yesteryear decade, as well as all of my top functionary and the respite of the Ministry employees. I 'll keep this unawares and just say that I am going to miss serving you, but I have to admit that both my wife and I are looking forward to taking a skillful, foresightful holiday."

laugh, followed by applause.

"Thank you, minister of religion Hartwell,"someone else said. Albus assumed it was one of the Wizengamot members."Ms. Laurentis, if you would delight step forward."There was a pause."Please repeat after me. I do hereby verify to serve the United Kingdom-"

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

"-to the best of my ability-"

"-to the best of my ability-"

"-and keep to the ideals of the Paracelsus party-"

"-and keep to the nonesuch of the Theophrastus Philippus Aureolus Bombastus von Hohenheim party-"

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

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

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

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

"I hereby announce Patricia Laurentis as the one-third Minister of magic post-War as of the get-go of May, 2020, at eleven o'clock in the morning. Ms. Laurentis, congratulations. Please receive your new minister of Magic, Patricia Laurentis !"

There was a handful of polite applause, much quieter than the previous hand clapping for Hartwell. Albus supposed it was a dangerous affair and no one wanted to seem too ecstatic.

"That was quick,"Albus said.

"She 's going to gain a speech now,"rosiness said."Shhh."

"Thank you,"Laurentis said as the hand clapping died down."It is an pureness to be standing before you as your rector of Magic. I would like to begin by thanking the Paracelsus party for nominating me as candidate and supporting me throughout my successful campaign-"

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

"Shut up !"pink wine said.

"-without your support I would never give birth made it this far. I hope I am able-bodied to live up to the high expectations set by you and parson Hartwell. I am indisputable you are all anxious to hear who I am appointing to Head of section side in the Ministry, so I wo n't liquidate any time getting to that."

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

"number one, the section of Magical Law Enforcement. I am pleased to herald that Tethys Balladanis will be taking over for former Head, Reena Barnes."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"-Robert President Lyndon Johnson will be replacing Harry Potter as heading of the Auror Department-"

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

"I understand that this is a controversial choice, but I feel that the Ministry needs to be a united front. I assure you that Henry Martyn Robert President Andrew Johnson is an first-class Auror and will make a grand capitulum of Department."

Albus tuned the wireless out once Laurentis went on to the Department of Magical expatriation. He could hear his tenderness pounding in his top dog and the rest of the existence seemed so far away. It was almost surreal.

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

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

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

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

"Exactly,"Albus said, glad that Amanda was able to put into give-and-take what he felt."First Uncle Walker Percy lost and now this."

"-Walter Eckerton will remain principal of the section for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures-"

"Thank God !"Matt exclaimed.

"goodness,"Albus said."At least there 's somebody sane still in a nous position."

Albus only paid undefined attention to the quietus of the announcements. He did n't agnise anyone, except for Malfoy 's dad when Laurentis reiterated that appointment. One thing was readable by the end, and that was no one in Albus 's kinfolk was in any of the Head placement.

Rose switched the receiving set off at the end of Laurentis 's speech. The thaumaturge doing the broadcast was interviewing a few masses, but they were n't anyone of great importance.

"Do you need to go to lunch ?"rose asked after a few minutes.

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

It was realize that word had spread when Albus and his friends reached the Great Hall. Whichever class had had politics during the delivery must 've shared the news with the integral castle, because everyone stared at Albus as he walked in. He did n't make eye middleman with anyone and made a beeline for the Gryffindor table, where he sat down following to James.

"So you heard,"St. James the Apostle said quietly.

"I skived off class to mind live,"Albus explained."She wants a united ministry. What a load of flying dragon dung."

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

"She 's replaced more functionary than any minister, ever,"Rose commented."She only kept three."

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

"null she 's doing makes a bit of sense,"Albus muttered."But I guess people must like her. She got elected."

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

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

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

Albus glanced up. Every single professor was deep in conversation, some even ignoring their solid food. Neville in item looked stupid and upset. None of them looked happy.

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

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

Albus looked around at his blighter Gryffindors. He knew that more than a few of them had voted for Laurentis, and therefore most in all probability supported her decision to replace his dad as chief of the Auror section. Not everyone was talking in whispers, with worried reflexion. A few groups were laughing, like they did n't consume a care in the human beings. Either they just did n't worry about Laurentis 's conclusion, or they supported it. The thought was very unsettling. Laurentis herself was unsettling to Albus, and the more he thought about it, the more he did n't like that she was now the diplomatic minister of Magic. He did n't like it at all.


A/N : Thanks for all the pin-up reviews !


The following workweek brought a slew of articles stating and re-stating everything Laurentis said in that low gear speech. A list of the new Ministry official was printed multiple times. Albus found the newspaper column more interesting than the genuine article, mostly because there were quite a few proclaiming how dolt it was of Laurentis to can Harry Potter. However, it was n't until nearly a week after Laurentis officiall became parson that an article completely captured Albus 's attention was published.

DEMENTORS TO RETURN TO AZKABAN ;
HOGWARTS TO SEE alteration

Newly elected Minister of Magic
Patricia Laurentis officially signed
the law that will bring Azkaban back
under the ascendence of the dementors
late last night. Laurentis hopes
to have the dementors back by later
next hebdomad. 'This has been a destination
of mine for age and I am very
glad that it is finally happening.
The wizarding man will be far
safer now that our criminals will
be guarded once More by dementors .'

delivery the dementors back to Azkaban
is the first base of many changes the new
minister will be enacting over the
following few week. Laurentis 's adjacent
programme is to act out changes at Hogwarts.
'Over the next few workweek I will be
sending representatives from the
Department of Magical Education to
observe each prof. Each
professor will be required to take
their program to the representatives
as well .'Professors planning on
retiring at the end of this class
will be exempt from this necessary,
as no changes will take place before
the end of term.

"well, she 's done it,"Albus said as he set the article down."A hebdomad from now Azkaban will feature dementors."

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

"And she 's sending people to observe the teacher,"Albus said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"I 'm certain you 're good,"Albus agreed."Dad said he did n't even want to get back when our parents were in school."

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

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

"So that 'll be two new professor next year,"whoremonger said.

blush wine groaned."And in our O.W.L. class, too."

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

Rose raised her brow."What Logos ?"

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

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

"Shut up,"St. James the Apostle muttered.

St. James the Apostle was n't the solitary one to have forgotten about O.W.L.s amidst all the election word. There seemed to be more frantic studying than usual, and not just from the fifth part and 7th years. The entire palace had neglected to hit the books for their end-of-term exam. Later that Night Albus, John, Rose, Amanda, and Kaden joined the throngs of mass vying for tabular array in the library in edict to jam in as much studying as possible. Matt could n't conjoin them, as it was the full moon.

However, Albus had a punishing fourth dimension concentrating. His every thought was focused on the dementors in Azkaban or his dad 's job or the Ministry representatives at Hogwarts. rosiness, Amanda, and even Kaden were focusing on their studying. John was playing with his quill. Suddenly, he stood up.

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

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

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

"That was weird,"Rose said once the two boys left.

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

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

Albus had assumed that this would be a prank that would induce itself known right away, as virtually of John and Kaden 's harlequinade worked that way. But by the next morning matter seemed perfectly o.k. at Hogwarts. The Slytherins'hair was still formula semblance and everything seemed tranquillize and quiet. John and Kaden kept grinning at each other, so Albus was sure they 'd done something.

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

Albus raised his brow questioningly at John and Kaden.

"Should we tell him ?"toilet asked.

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

Albus started laughing."Seriously ?"

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

"That 's genius,"Albus said. John and Kaden 's buffoonery were most definitely improving over the eld.

"What 's genius ?"

Albus looked up from his breakfast to see lusterlessness nudging a first class over so that he could sit down in succeeding to John.

"brothel keeper Pomfrey let you out ?"Albus asked.

Matt nodded."Yeah, I think she wanted me to stay longer, but I told her I needed to study. Why are these two superstar ?"

"We did our antic on the Slytherins,"Saint John the Apostle explained and then lowered his voice."Itching gunpowder in their laundry. The house-elves helped."

"okeh, that is fairly awe-inspiring,"Matt said."You wo n't get caught, either."

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

"Study."

Albus looked up once Sir Thomas More and saw that this clip rosebush and Amanda had appeared, both heavily ladened down with books and deal of parchment. They wore selfsame tone of determination.

"You 're all studying. All day,"pink wine continued."exam are in a month and none of us are prepared. The election happened, it sucked, but it 's over. nothing can be done. Albus, you 've been moping about your dad 's job for a week. Saint John the Apostle, Kaden, I 'm find that you do well this year. mat, the wax moon is over. All four of you are studying from now until exams."

"Aw, Rose, c'mon-"

"No,"blush wine said."Studying. All of you. Amanda and I are going to get a board in the subroutine library and we expect all of you there in xv minutes."

pink wine and Amanda left in a flourish of parchment and books, leaving Albus and the former boys to gaze at each other open-mouthed. Albus knew his cousin was very academician and placed a eminent value on her own education, but never before had she staged an intervention for his studying.

"She 's lost her brain,"can said."If she 's like this now, what will befall next twelvemonth for O.W.L.s ?"

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

"I suppose we have n't got a alternative, do we ?"flatness asked as he shoved his nut into his mouth."damn, I only just got back."

That was true, Albus thought. He and his friends quickly finished their breakfast and hurried up to the library, realizing once they arrived that they did n't have any of their rule book. They ran up to their dormitories to recollect them and made it to the depository library five minutes later than pink wine insisted they be there.

Rose and Amanda had shoved two tables together and had spread all their Book out over them. Madam Pince was sitting behind the circulation desk, looking at them curiously, as if she could not remember a sentence someone had frequented the program library that early. The relief of the tables were deserted.

"What 's with the extra chair ?"Albus asked as he dumped his books onto the mesa."There 's only six of us."

"Oh, that 's for Elsie,"rosiness said as she set sheepskin down at each seat.

"As in Elsie Willinson ?"Albus replied.

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

"But she 's Felix Willinson 's babe,"whoremaster pointed out.

"And she needs assistant, Gospel According to John,"rosiness said with a sigh."I 've been tutoring her all twelvemonth and I 'm not going to stop now."

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

Albus had n't thought of that. Of course, Rose had n't had any luck getting Elsie to talk all year, so chances were reduce that he and the former boy would birth success.

"Honestly, you lot are far too focused on Malfoy,"Rose said."You 've hardly studied all year. Just sit down and start reviewing Transfiguration of Jesus. I 've made survey guides for every theme. You should sustain them at your spots."

Albus picked a stern and sat down. rose was organized to the power point of insanity. There were in fact sketch pathfinder for every subject, organized chronologically, from Sep until May. Albus was suddenly very thankful for his cousin, despite her obvious insanity. This was going to make studying so much easier.

"Wow, thanks rosiness,"Albus said. The repose of the group muttered their agreement.

Rose smiled."See ? It was a good melodic theme. Now, we 'll meditate until lunch and then sustain a break."

luncheon was about two time of day away. That was n't too bad. Albus opened his Transfiguration book and settled in with that and the subject field pathfinder. It took him about a half hour to operate through distractions, but soon his nous was only focused on Transfiguration.

Around him, the depository library quickly filled up. Fifth and one-seventh long time seemed the most frantic about finding tabular array and searching the stacks, but students from every class and every star sign were present. madam Pince spent the morning weaving throughout the board and looking over everyone 's berm to make sure they were working on school day work. With exams so near, the subroutine library was now closed to everyone who was n't going to revise.

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

Once rose wine noticed Elsie, she immediately stood up and beckoned the number 1 year over. Elsie seemed less flighty now that pink wine knew she was there, but she still avoided eye liaison as she sat down and pulled her Christian Bible out of her bag. Rose whispered something in her ear and she began reading her appealingness Word.

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


pink wine 's revision sessions continued throughout the month of May. Albus did n't wish to let in it out gaudy, but they were incredibly helpful and he was n't sure he would pass his test if it were n't for Rose. As the calendar month progressed, the sessions grew both in distance and the number of player. By the end of the showtime week their work mathematical group had grown to include James I, Ben, Cedric, and their friend Nathan, who all now feared failing their O.W.L.s.

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

The mates took station a week before O.W.L.s were scheduled to start and Albus awoke more nervous than he had been for a Quidditch mates in age. The match itself was going to be bittersweet since it would be the last time he played with heather and Fred as the early pursuer on Gryffindor 's team. following yr he 'd have two new Chasers and that was going to be incredibly strange.

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

Deciding that breakfast could wait, Albus crept over to the Slytherin table and attempted to hunker down down behind a few seventh yr. Unfortunately the Great Hall was too loud for right eavesdropping, and Albus made a vow to always have an extendable Ear on his person from now on.

Malfoy stepped away from Felix Willinson and turned, allowing Albus to look at his fount. He looked terrible. His eyes were red and it looked like he had n't slept in solar day. Very unknown, Albus thought, as he rose to follow Malfoy out of the room.

Once in the Entrance Hall, Malfoy immediately ran up the staircase, going far too degenerate for Albus to follow. Albus stood next to the door to the Great Hall thinking about what Malfoy 's action at law meant.

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

Albus did n't mention Malfoy to his Friend when they came down to breakfast a few minutes later. As a great deal as Albus wanted to hash out it with them, he knew that he needed to put it out of his brain for the duration of the couple. If there was ever a match for Albus not to be distracted, this was it.

The nervus on the team were tangible as they stood waiting to walk onto the tar. Fred did n't even give a speech, since everyone knew how important the catch was, both to Fred and Heather.

Ravenclaw had a effective Quidditch team. They were easily the best team in the school, although nigh Gryffindors would take issue. But the Gryffindor team was determined in this compeer, causing them to roleplay fiercer than ever before.

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

The match only lasted an time of day. Albus had n't even realized that St. James the Apostle caught the sneak until the whistling was blown. Gryffindor won 420-260, their best win yet that class.

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

Albus could n't even take heed the comment over the thunderous applause of the watcher. Professor Longbottom was holding the Quidditch Cup senior high school over his head and was making his way through the crowd to Fred. Fred took the Cup and held it out to heather. Each held one incline and raised it up. The Gryffindors were storming the slant and Albus was sept up in the crew, making it hard to touch his team. Once he did, somebody snapped their picture.

Albus was the happiest he 'd matte in weeks, ever since his team won the Dueling tourney. It was his third yr on the Quidditch squad and they finally won the Cup. But he was even Thomas More happy for Fred and Heather than he was for himself since they 'd both been on the squad since their indorsement year and had never won the Cup.

Heather had tears streaming down her look and Fred was grinning all-embracing than Albus had ever seen him. While neither of them were pursuing a calling in Quidditch, Quidditch had been their lives for the past six yr. Winning the Cup in their one-seventh year seemed more poignant than it would throw winning it any other year. Albus hoped that Gryffindor 's team was still as good as it was now when he got to seventh class. Winning again in his hold out year would be the near feeling in the world.
***


"Malfoy really did go away the castle,"Amanda announced at breakfast the next day.

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

"Weirdly enough, Moaning Myrtle."

"How would she know ?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"You think he 's get chummy with Moaning Myrtle ?"Albus asked.

Matt shrugged."It looks like he has. Why else would she screw about it ?"

"But why would he go into a girl 's loo ?"can asked, wrinkling his nose."That 's just damn insane."

"Sounds like we need to pay a visit to Vinca minor,"Albus said.

blush wine groaned."Really, Al ? He just lost his grandfather for God 's sake."

"We 're not going to nettle Malfoy,"Albus said."We 're just going to talk to Myrtle."

"enumeration me out,"rosebush said, shaking her psyche.

"But you 're a girl,"Albus pointed out."You could get in there so often easy. Amanda ?"

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

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

"Not me,"flatness said immediately.

"I 'll go,"John said.

"You 're both mad,"Rose said quietly."Mad."

Albus may have been mad, but he could n't let this secret go. His gut was telling him that Malfoy was up to something, despite his grandfather 's passing play, and Albus was determined to rule out what it was.


A/N : Sorry that the update is a day tardy ! I was really busy yesterday and did n't have a chance to update. Thanks for all the adorable reviews ! I am very behind on answering them, but I 'll eat up eventually !


The programme to talk to Myrtle in the dead of night may have been a plan that belonged solely to Albus and John, but Rose still had somewhat of a say over when it happened. test were now only a hebdomad away and Rose was only giving them one nighttime off, for eternal rest and clearing tenseness from the intellect. Neither Albus or privy dared cross Rose and cut out on revision, which took property in the depository library until curfew and then in the common room until they all went to bed.

Their one night off occurred the night before their first test. O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s had been going on for a full week, but none of the fifth or seventh years were taking any nighttime off, including St. James. Despite Rose 's insistence that he pack a Nox off, Saint James the Apostle insisted upon studying. It was quite a switch.

Albus and John the Evangelist spent the evening acting chess with Kaden. lustrelessness had turned in early, still tired from the total moon, which had taken space two daylight earlier. rose and Amanda had disappeared into their dormitory, clearly set upon having some time away from the boys.

The common room emptied as the night progressed, and eventually St. John the Apostle and Albus were the solely unity left. It had n't taken long since virtually citizenry went to bed betimes because of exams. It was probably fairly stupid of Albus and John to stay up so previous, but neither of them cared.

They waited an additional fifteen proceedings in case somebody decided to generate to the mutual way, but no one did. Albus glanced at John and then pulled the Invisibility Cloak and the piranha 's Map out of his bag. He carefully unfolded the map and set it out on the board. The slide was clear.

Albus and John stumbled out of the portraiture hole and once they righted themselves, Albus threw the Cloak over them, under the Fat Lady 's stern regard.

"Do n't ask me to let you in when you return,"she said."I 'm quite exhausted."

The Fat Lady was always threatening this but she never seemed to bring in salutary on any of her threats. Ignoring her, Albus and toilet set off along the corridor. Saint John led the way while Albus kept his eyes glued to the Map, but the corridors remained empty. It seemed everyone, both students and prof, were getting a good night 's quietus before exams. Everyone that is, except for Albus and John.

Moaning Vinca minor was the only resident of the second level girl 's flush toilet. John quietly pushed the door open and Albus followed him in. Once inside, Albus pulled the Cloak off and held it under is ripe arm.

"Myrtle ?"John shouted as he stepped into the room.

A splashing sound came from the final stall and then Myrtle 's ghostly form floated through the closed booth door."male child ? Why do n't you go use your own-"Vinca minor cut herself off with a giggle. She floated toward Albus and Gospel According to John and rested on the swallow hole."Oh, it 's you. Albus Potter. And his friend can. Where 's mat ? I rather fancy him ...."

"He, er, was n't feeling well,"Albus said, hoping that Matt 's absence would n't put Myrtle off from talking to them.

On the obstinate, Myrtle 's face lit up."Oh my ! I 've been feeling rather awful today myself. It 's a slope burden of dying, you know."

Albus did n't think dying had any side event other than dying and had always assumed being a specter would n't be awful, but Myrtle was very odd.

"But why are you here ?"myrtle asked."You never bring down me unless you 're in detention. It 's rather disappointing. No one ever thinks to visit miserable myrtle. Oh, Myrtle 's dead, they think, so she does n't call for any visitors. Myrtle does n't demand any supporter ! All because she 's deadened !"

"No, Myrtle, that is n't it at all,"Albus said quickly."It 's just, you live in a girlfriend 's loo. We can only visit you now, in the middle of the night."

Myrtle let out a gimcrack sigh."I suppose. You are n't the solitary boys who talk to me, you know. Some of them even dare come during the day. I suppose they 're a bit braver than you are, which is odd since they are n't Gryffindors."

Albus glanced at John. Maybe this was going to be easy than he thought. myrtle probably did n't give birth any loyalties to Scorpius Malfoy.

"Which boys ?"Albus asked carefully, taking a step closer to Myrtle.

"I only know one of their figure,"Myrtle said with a giggle."I know his name because his father used to come and mouth to me when he was in school. But his son is n't quite as loquacious and he did n't look to care at all about me or my death. He only wanted to know about the bedchamber of Secrets-"

"The bedroom of Secrets ?"Albus exclaimed."Scorpio Malfoy wanted to have a go at it about the sleeping accommodation of Secrets ?"

Myrtle brightened."Oh, you know him, too ! Yes, he did. He wanted to know exactly where the entrance was. He 'd already done quite a bit of research on it in the program library. Rather odd, I thought, for a Slytherin, spending so much sentence in the library, but not in a bad way. But yes, he came in and asked me about the Chamber and I told him about my decease and he did n't quite sympathise the connection at for the first time. So I showed him the entrance and told him that he had to speak like a snake to get in but he could n't count on it out."

"He tried to speak Parseltongue ?"Albus asked.

Myrtle nodded."Sounded frightful. Your dad was much better at it. Even that freckled boy managed to fancy it out during the fight of Hogwarts, but Scorpio Malfoy was truly frightfully at it. That 's when I met the other boy. Scorpius left and came back a few sidereal day later with this other boy. He showed him the entrance and then they started talking about this girl named Elsie and the other boy thought that she would be able to unfold the Chamber."

"And when was this ?"Albus asked. The other boy must have been Felix Willinson.

"Two hebdomad ago, maybe ?"myrtle said."Do you cognise why he wanted to get into the sleeping accommodation of closed book ? He refused to tell me."

"No,"Albus said, shaking his question."We want to jazz, too."

"well,"Vinca minor began as she floated up to the roof."Please tell me when you find out. And following clock time, make sure that Matt comes to chatter, too."

"Er, trusted,"Albus muttered."Is there anything else you know about Malfoy ?"

"No,"Myrtle said."You 're going to leave now, are n't you ?"

"Yeah,"Albus said."Exams tomorrow."

Albus threw the Cloak back over himself and John and they left. On the way back Albus explained the Chamber of Secrets to John, who only knew the place by name. By the fourth dimension they returned to the green room toilet was just as shocked as Albus was about why Malfoy seemed to want to get into the chamber of secret.

"Do you think Elsie Willinson can speak Parseltongue ?"John asked as they climbed through the portrayal hole ( the Fat gentlewoman had not refused them entry ).

"I do n't live,"Albus said."It 's very rare. I think we 're going to possess to ask Rose."

"Bet she 'll have sex that, in the centre of exams,"John said with a laugh.
***


"Of course of instruction I have no musical theme if Elsie Willinson is a Parselmouth !"rosebush exclaimed the next day during their luncheon recess in between exams. Albus had just finished explaining what Myrtle had told them finale night, as well as explaining the sleeping accommodation of Secrets for Matt, Amanda, and Kaden 's sake.

"Are you for certain she has n't mentioned anything ?"Albus pressed.

"Positive ! And honestly, Albus, you need to get this out of your mind. It 's exam workweek. It 's not the time to be focusing on Malfoy. Whatever he does, it really does n't affect you."

Albus knew that, but it did n't do a thing for his oddment. The fact remained that Malfoy was acting oddly, and if Felix Willinson was involved, it could n't be anything good.

"They 're up to something, Rose,"Albus said."I 'm telling you."

pink wine groaned."Albus, I do n't care."

"Oi, Albus !"James shouted as he jogged over to Albus 's fundament."Did you see the prophet this dayspring ?"

"No,"Albus replied. He, Matt, and John had both slept too late to have breakfast before their first examination.

James slapped a written matter down on the table in social movement of Albus."That bloke, Robert President Andrew Johnson ? The one who took Dad 's spot ? He 's revamped the total section, claiming that they 're going to have a 99 % capture rate."

"99 % ?"Albus repeated as he looked at the paper."That 's crazy."

Andrew Johnson REVAMPS AUROR section

Newly appointed nous Auror, Robert
Andrew Johnson, has spent the past month
revamping and reorganizing the Auror
section. President Andrew Johnson has rewritten
rules and regularisation for the department
as well as reorganized how Aurors
employment together. All Aurors have
attended shop over the preceding month
to familiarize themselves with the
new rules and policies.

'The Bob Hope is that we will be able-bodied to
seizure criminals faster and prosperous ,'
Johnson said. 'The section has
been disorganized for old age and this
has resulted in many outlaw going
free for far yearner than they should.
Between the new Auror section policies
and the reinstatement of the dementors
in Azkaban, we should be able-bodied to capture
to a greater extent felon and keep them where they
belong- behind bars .'

While Johnson did not go into specifics
of the policies and rules, stating that
these are sealed documents, he assured
the wizarding populace that they have
helped to streamline the department.
'With these new insurance I do n't see why
we should n't have a 99 % capture rate
within a year .'

"What does that even mean, 99 % capture charge per unit ?"Albus asked after setting the paper down.

"No idea,"James said."But I thought you 'd desire to see it. I 've got to go. Transfiguration practical this afternoon and I need to practice."

"I wish they 'd say what the variety actually were,"Albus said as his brother left.

"They ca n't,"Rose said."The composition is good about that."

"It 's not like the department was frightful when Dad was in rush,"Albus continued."He captured Greyback, did n't he ?"

"I think Laurentis is crediting lustrelessness 's dad with that,"Rose commented."As much as it was both of them."

"That 's not fair,"flatness said.

"No, it 's not,"Rose said as she glanced at her watch."We 'd better get going. chronicle of legerdemain exam."

Albus found it incredibly hard to focus on his story of conjuring trick exam, and while he was fairly sure he passed it, he knew he had n't done well. There was just too much to focus on. Between Malfoy and the Auror section, the last things Albus wanted to think about were hob rebellions and goliath wars.

Later that Nox Rose held another field session in the library. Albus managed to sit next to Elsie Willinson, who ignored him completely. Albus spent more time staring at the Marauder 's Map and figuring out the best way to bring up the issue of speaking Parseltongue with Elsie than any actual perusal, but rosiness did n't seem to notice.

The following two days were nearly superposable to the world-class day of examination, with the elision of the subjects they were tested on. examination in the morning, luncheon, exam in the afternoon, studying, dinner party, then more studying. The monotony was starting to get on Albus 's brass, but they were only halfway through test week.

Elsie Willinson did n't read up to the study academic session Wednesday eve. Albus was disappointed since he was finally going to land up the topic of speaking Parseltongue with her, no matter how effective it would be. Instead, he looked over his Potions promissory note while glancing at the vulture 's Map every so often.

"Albus, what exactly are you looking for ?"Rose asked.

Albus did n't really want to say because he knew Rose would just rove her eyes, but he also knew she would n't let go of the case until he explained."Malfoy. He 's going to go back to the young lady 's loo, and when he does, I want to watch him."

"That would be stupid,"Rose said."feel at the past three year. You 've gotten yourself involved with something stupid at the end of every class. Following Malfoy would just be asking for trouble."

blush wine had a detail, Albus knew, but he did n't deal."It 's just Malfoy. He 's not going to nobble me."

"Famous last words,"rose wine muttered."He 's probably just in his commons room."

Albus checked the Map. Malfoy 's dot was definitely not in the park way. Albus 's centre sped up as he checked the residual of the Map. It took him a while, but then he spotted Malfoy 's dot, making its way down the second floor corridor. He was accompanied by none other than Felix and Elsie Willinson.

"He 's going,"Albus said."And he 's got Felix and Elsie with him. I 'm following him and you ca n't check me."

blush wine groaned."Albus, don't-"

Albus ignored her and turned to the residue of his acquaintance."Are any of you coming with me ?"

"I am."Albus was shocked to see that the voice belonged to Amanda. Usually Amanda agreed with Rose.

"Amanda, really ?"rose asked.

Amanda shrugged."I want a break from studying and I 'm just as curious as Albus is."

"Count me out,"Matt muttered, turning red."I 'm not going anywhere near Myrtle."

"She asked about you last time,"John said with a grin.

lustrelessness turned even reddened."I 'd rather not know that."

"We 're in,"john said, speaking for himself and Kaden.

"You 've got an hour,"rose said."If you 're not back by then I 'm sending Professor Longbottom after you."

"We 'll be back,"Albus said as he stood up. As if to far convince Rose of this, he left his books sitting on the mesa. toilet, Kaden, and Amanda did the same.

Albus did n't trouble oneself with the invisibleness Cloak since it was n't past curfew. They 'd just have to lurk near the loo until the coast was straighten out and prowler in when no one was looking. All they needed was the Map for that.

The corridors were unusually empty and Albus attributed it to the fact that nearly of his buster students were doing some conclusion narrow revisal before the next day 's exams. It certainly made it easier to pinch into a girl 's loo.

Albus watched the Map as they went and Malfoy and both Willinsons'dose entered Moaning Vinca minor 's can. They remained there for only a few minutes, and then disappeared off the Map.

"They must 've gotten into the bedchamber of Secrets,"Albus explained."I bet the Marauders did n't know about it so they could n't have put it on the Map."

It took another five proceedings for Albus, John, Kaden, and Amanda to get to the loo. Once there Albus burst the doorway open and ran inside. He stopped short in front line of the sinks.

One of the sinks was gone, having sunk into the floor. In its spot was a large, pitch black hole. myrtle was floating above it, her eyes bright.

"They did it,"Myrtle said excitedly."Are you going to follow them ?"

"I guess this answers the question of whether Elsie Willinson can verbalize snake,"John said.

"Is matt ill again ?"Vinca minor asked.

"Er, yeah,"Albus said.

"He 's ill an frightening lot of the prison term,"Myrtle said."Tell him to come see me when he 's better."

"Sure,"Albus said as he crept closer to the jam."I 'm going down there. You three are welcome to unite me."Albus was determined. He 'd do this far and he was n't going to stop now. He needed to figure out what was going on.

"Is it a far drop ?"Amanda asked hesitantly.

"I think it 's Thomas More of a slide,"Albus said."That 's what my dad said, anyway."

"There is n't a basilisk in there, is there ?"Saint John asked.

"No,"Albus said."It 's dead."

"Then I 'm in,"lavatory said.

"Me, too,"Amanda agreed.

"I 'd go down there even if there was a basilisk in there,"Kaden said."I 'll go first, if you want."

"Be my guest,"Albus said, gesturing to the hole.

"If you die, you can live here,"Myrtle said, giggling."I told Scorpius that and he told me that was another reason why he ca n't die down there. I do n't think he likes me."

Albus ignored myrtle and stepped aside so Kaden could jump into the gob. Kaden did so without a irregular glance.

"Are you okay ?"Albus asked once he heard a thud.

"Yeah, I 'm hunky-dory !"Kaden shouted back.

Neither John or Amanda seemed inclined to go next, so Albus stepped to the very edge of the golf hole and looked down. He could n't see a affair. Deciding that it was better to just do it and not think too hard, he took a deep breath and jumped.

His dad had been right about it being more of a slide than a drop down. The hole was more than of a sloping organ pipe and it was n't a bad slide at all. Soon, Albus landed at the undersurface and saw Kaden, who had lit his wand.

Albus lit his own scepter and took a smell around. The piazza was very wet and it smelled awful. The bulwark were dripping with murky water and the floor was covered in stone, mud, and what looked like old Hydra skin.

"I think we 're near the lake,"Albus said, nodding to the dripping water system.

There was a whooshing noise behind Albus and something crashed into him, knocking him over. Albus let out a scream and turned to see it was only trick, who had n't landed gracefully.

"Sorry,"John muttered as he lit his own wand. There was now plenty baton light to see clearly. The place was creepy. That was the alone Word for it.

Amanda landed without knocking anyone over and lit her scepter. Albus and Kaden waited for St. John the Apostle and Amanda to take a look around.

"What do we do now ?"Kaden asked.

"Energy Department anyone hear anything ?"Albus asked. It seemed numb silent to Albus.

John the Evangelist shook his read/write head."matt should 've come. We need his werewolf hearing."

Albus nodded in agreement."I guess we just follow the pipe. It looks like it only goes one way."

The others agreed. Albus led the way, his wand pointed in forepart of him, and they set off. No one spoke. No one made any noise whatsoever. Albus had his ear poised to get wind even the quietest noise, hoping to hear some hint as to where Malfoy and the others had gone.

Ihey walked for what felt same miles before they heard even the faintest of noise. Albus noticed numerous serpent skins and the os from decades-old animate being. Then, just when Albus had a feeling they were reaching the end of the passage, he heard a articulation, clearly, as if it was right succeeding to him.

"Albus Potter. Well, well, is n't this a pleasant surprise."

Albus recognized the voice. It was Jarrett Willinson.


Cliffhanger ! I know. I 'm immorality. Thank you for all the tremendous reappraisal ! I will respond to them, but I 've been quite busy lately.

And now I 'll conduct a few import to gas. On the 16th I went to NYC for J.K. Rowling 's event for The Casual void. I got to come across her and get a signalize copy of the Holy Scripture ! It was absolutely astonishing. I blogged about it on the meeting place, so please ascertain it out !


Albus froze. He had n't heard that vocalization in over a class and function of him thought he would n't ever learn it again. He always assumed Jarrett Willinson had stayed in Commonwealth of Australia, where absolutely no one was looking for him.

Slowly, Albus turned toward the voice. He pointed his lit scepter in its direction and saw that there was a very small-scale opening to his left. It appeared to be another pipe, but one much minor than the one he and his friends had just been in. Albus crept toward it, trying not to make any noise.

He turned to John, Kaden, and Amanda."What do you reckon ?"

"I think we should get out of here,"Kaden said immediately, stepping back."I thought we were just going after Malfoy."

"I bet Malfoy 's down there with him,"St. John the Apostle said.

"But why ?"Amanda asked as she walked over to the pipe. She stuck her head in, making her voice echoey."Why would he come back here ?"

"Can you see anything ?"Albus asked.

"Not much,"Amanda said, climbing fully into the pipe.

"We should just go back,"Kaden said, his vocalisation wavering. All his bravery from being the world-class to enter the chamber was gone.

"I do n't know,"Albus said."We 've come this far ..."

"Albus, I think rose wine might 've been right,"Kaden said."Let 's just go-"

Kaden was interrupted by Amanda 's shrieking. There was a loud stir, a thud, and then more shrieking. Albus turned quickly back to the pipe. Amanda was gone, a small-scale pile of rubble in her place.

"Amanda !"Albus screamed, stepping over to the pipe.

"Albus !"she shouted back."Help !"

"What 's happening ?"Saint John the Apostle asked.

"Told you we should 've gone back !"Kaden shouted.

"Well, we ca n't go back now,"Albus said, climbing into the tube."C'mon !"

Albus had to crouch as he walked in order to fit through the tobacco pipe. John and Kaden followed him, occasionally tripping over rocks as they went. Albus splashed ahead of them, his scepter lighting the few infantry in front of him. They followed Amanda 's shrieks until they grew muffled and disappeared all together.

Finally, the pipe emerged into a small chamber, not unlike a small version of the sleeping accommodation they 'd just been in. It was wetter than the balance of the sleeping room of secret and the far wall contained a metal grating that appeared to let out into the lake. But the pee was n't going through it.

Albus 's aid, however, was n't focused on the magically contained lake water supply. Instead, his eyes drew to the collection of people scattered throughout the sleeping accommodation. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Amanda, in the clutches of Jarrett Willinson, who had his wand pointed at her capitulum. Albus was just happy they found her. Jarrett was flanked by his son, Quinton, who was looking a bit speculative for wear. Azkaban did n't seem to have agreed with him and he now looked far senior than his early twenties.

Scorpius, Felix, and Elsie were there as well, looking very uncomfortable. Elsie was shaking and had a death hairgrip on her brother 's hand. Scorpius stood side by side to them and he seemed very upset. The lonesome one who seemed at all okey with the situation was Felix, whose grimace seemed to be coming from his sister 's grip on his mitt, not on the situation.

Albus did n't recognize the other three adults at first. Then he remembered their video from the oracle. The shorter woman was Dolores Umbridge, her grey pilus greatly resembling a beehive around her heading. Her hide was deeply wrinkled and she did n't a good deal resemble the person in the picture, but her heart and freaky grin were the like. The other woman was about a foot taller and just as ugly. Her hair was stringy and mostly brown, with run of Zane Grey. Her nozzle was long, crooked, and boasted a large verruca, giving her the look of a classic Muggle 's version of a witch. All that was missing was the super C skin. The man resembled her, although he was curt and more dumpy. Both were sneering. Albus assumed they were the Carrows.

"What are you doing here, ceramist ?"Scorpius asked, clearly trying to voice more confident than he was.

"Shut up, Malfoy,"Jarrett snapped."I 'll ask the dubiousness. And I can only assumed they followed you three. Whether it was intentional on your part, I have no idea."

"Ca n't we just go ?"Scorpius demanded."We did what you wanted-"

"No, no you did n't,"Jarrett interrupted."You did what your father wanted and then you did component of what we wanted. And therein lies the problem."

Albus was thoroughly confused. His eyes went from Jarrett to Malfoy and back again, attempting to figure out what was going on. What exactly had Malfoy 's father asked him to do ?

"I never said I 'd do what you wanted us to do,"Malfoy muttered, averting his gaze.

"And yet you did."Jarrett sneered.

"But I did n't need to !"Malfoy looked scared now. He pulled his wand out of his robes and held it up shakily.

"Oh, are you going to duel me ?"Jarrett asked, shifting Amanda in his arms so that he could orient his sceptre at Malfoy.

"M-maybe."

Jarrett sighed."This is pathetic. I do n't wish taking reward of fragile children, and yet here I am-"

"I 'm not fragile !"Malfoy shouted.

"You just turn a loss your grandfather,"Jarrett said."You 're delicate. So is your father, and he 's easy to deceive."

"He is not !"

At that compass point Elsie started crying. It started out as small snuffle but within ten seconds blew up into gaudy dickhead. Everyone in the room turned to stare at her. Albus felt bad. It was obvious she had n't wanted to be here.

"Oh, shut her up !"Jarrett said.

"Elsie, you have to be tranquillise,"Felix muttered.

"I just want to go forth, Felix !"Elsie sobbed."I did n't want to do this. You know I did n't want to do this !"

"You did n't have a choice, Elsie. He 's our uncle and he needed our help."

"Could mortal please just explicate what 's going on ?"Kaden asked loudly."Or even better, let go of Amanda so we can get out of here and let you lot get back to whatever it is you 're doing ?"

Jarrett laughed."Oh, she 's not going anywhere. You three are free to leave. I really do n't wish what the hell you do."

Albus exchanged glances with John and Kaden, who both shrugged. None of them were going to leave, of form, but Albus was utterly confused. For the by four years Jarrett and Quinton Willinson had tried to abduct him and now, all of a sudden, they wanted Amanda ? They 'd never wanted her before.

"Oh, you have n't put it together yet, have you ceramist ? I thought you were wise than that."

"Put what together ?"Albus asked, still confused.

Jarrett squeezed Amanda tighter."She 's the prime of life pastor 's niece, who happens to be a witch. She 's currently the honest bargaining chip I could possibly feature. I only wish I 'd known about her earliest, but thanks to your uncle the entire wizarding universe knows she 's the Prime Minister 's niece. I must thank that reporter.

"Potter, do you actualise how bad Laurentis would look if anything happened to the Muggle Prime minister of religion 's niece a little over a calendar month after she took office ? And just days after her appointed Head Auror revolutionized the section ? Oh, it would look awful, ceramicist. So we, all of us, are going to sit tight until the Aurors get here and then I 'll make my demands and the Aurors will give in because if they do n't, I 'll shoot down the bloom Minister 's niece."

Albus 's mouth fell open. He stared at Jarrett, whose grin resembled that of a person who just won the lottery. Amanda looked panicked, her eyes darting everywhere and a few vagabond rip running down her cheeks.

"Of track you can leave, Potter,"Jarrett said."Go get your dad. Go get the early Aurors. It 'll only bring them here sooner. And do n't even try to hex me because if you do, this lot-"Jarrett gestured to the Carrows, Umbridge, and Quinton,"-will hex you. Your dad is n't a Ministry functionary anymore, Potter. It wo n't be as big of a criminal offense if they hex you now."

Albus glanced at Umbridge and the Carrows. Umbridge did n't attend like soul capable of hexing anyone, given that she more closely resembled an fluid mental patient than a dangerous witch. But the Carrows, they looked up to of slaying. As for Quinton, he was n't much of a threat. Still, Albus, John, and Kaden were more outnumbered than they ever had been before.

"But why ca n't we leave ?"Malfoy asked, his voice wavering."Or at least me ?"

"Because I might want you to do something else,"Jarrett snapped,"and I want you here because if I let you leave I doubt you 'll fall back. I know you did n't bring us the girl. She came with Potter, following you."

"Why does it weigh ?"Malfoy asked."The power point is she 's here now."

"I do n't call up you would 've ever brought her to me, Malfoy."

"You 're right, I would n't ! And do you need to bang why ? I never wanted to avail you. That 's not why I agreed to this. I think you 're all idiots, to be honest."

Albus stared at Malfoy, completely shocked. Malfoy hated Albus, Amanda, and all their friends, so why would n't he possess brought Amanda to Jarrett ?

"Then why are you here, Malfoy ?"

"To help my dad !"Malfoy said, his wand still pointed at Jarrett."I did n't know you idiots were going to take a plot of land of your own."

Jarrett laughed."Now you 're the idiot. You think we 'd have agreed to his plot if there had n't been something in it for us ? Meaning my son, here. Not these early three. I 'm not indisputable why they agreed to it. I 'm not even certain Umbridge knows where she is, actually. She has n't said practically of anything since the escape."

"Do you really think you 're going to get anything out of this ?"Malfoy demanded.

"Yes, I do,"Jarrett snapped.

Malfoy narrowed his eyes and then whipped around. In a subject of instant, he sent five sequentially hex at the Carrows and Umbridge. Umbridge collapsed immediately, not moving. The Carrows both went for their baton, but were too slow. Malfoy sent two more dish and the Carrows fell over, one on top of the other.

Malfoy turned back to Jarrett, breathing heavily."Looks like the odds are a petty different now."

"Malfoy, what are you doing ?"Albus asked, still trying to wrap up his mind around the fact that Scorpius Malfoy had just helped him.

"Shut up, ceramist,"Malfoy muttered."I 'm not doing this for you."

"Scorpio, what is your job ?"Felix asked, breaking free of his sis 's traction."I thought we were in on this together."

"I thought we were, too, until your uncle decided to do things his way,"Malfoy said."It 's like I told you at the offset ; I only did this for my father."

Albus still did n't eff exactly what"this"was, but all that really mattered now was that they were no longer outnumbered.

"The Aurors are coming,"Malfoy said to Albus."If we can just hold them off-"

"How do you have it off the Aurors are coming ?"Albus asked.

"That does n't weigh now,"Malfoy said as he sent a ravisher at Jarrett.

Albus turned to Saint John and Kaden."Focus on Quinton and Felix. No criminal offence, but you are n't the best dueller and I do n't need you to hit Amanda."

John and Kaden nodded. Albus glanced at Malfoy, attempted to sway off the Wyrd look he had from being on Malfoy 's side, and started sending hex after hex at Jarrett. Jarrett, clearly unable to duel while holding Amanda, threw up a shield and did n't hex back. Albus and Malfoy silently agreed to keep going, in an attempt to soften the shield.

Albus heard a loud clangour and turned to his right. Dust was settling near where the Carrows and Umbridge lay. Once it settled, Albus saw that a large bowlder had fallen from the ceiling and had landed on top of the distaff Carrow.

"I think she 's abruptly,"Kaden said.

Albus swallowed concentrated. expiry had never crossed his brain when he 'd come down here. Trying to crusade it from his thoughts, he returned to hexing Jarrett 's shield.

Kaden shouted something Albus could n't make out and Albus turned just in time to see him set down against the wall. Albus ran over and knelt next to him."Kaden ! Kaden !"

Kaden stirred and looked at Albus."Albus ?"

"Kaden, thank God,"Albus whispered.

"I 've got an abominable headache,"Kaden muttered.

"Do n't fall asleep,"Albus said."Stay awake. You 've probably got a concussion."

Albus heard splashing and looked up. Five ace stumbled through the pipe, their scepter out.

"Wands up !"one of them shouted. Albus did n't agnise the voice."nonentity move !"

"Are they all here ?"another asked.

"I believe so,"the first one said as he walked around the room."Looks like the tip was correct."

"Not so fast !"Jarrett shouted."I 've got a few demands."

"You 're in no locating to reach requirement,"the first Auror said.

"Albus ?"

Albus turned back to the pipe and let out a sigh of backup man. His dad had been the fifth part Auror to arrive."Dad. Kaden needs to go the hospital wing. Now."

Harry knelt down side by side to Kaden and assessed him."We 'll have got this lot rounded up soon. Then I 'll take him."

"Let go of the girl, Willinson,"the number one Auror said. He took a few steps forward and Albus was able to see the side of his face. It was Robert Johnson, the new Head Auror.

"She 's the prime quantity Minister 's niece,"Jarrett said."You 'd better be careful, or I 'll kill her."

"You 're outnumbered, Willinson,"Johnson said."I would n't try anything if I were you."

"It 'll be a huge scandal if she dies down here."

"Oh for God 's sake,"Johnson muttered."Expelliarmus !"Jarrett 's scepter flew in a perfect arc out of his paw and LBJ caught it."Petrificus Totalus !"

Jarrett attempted to dodge the spell, but still continue hold of Amanda. He failed and collapsed to the floor. Amanda ran forward and Harry caught hold of her, directing her to sit next to Albus and Kaden.

The Aurors conjured ropes and tied up Jarrett, Quinton, the Carrows, and Umbridge. None of them said a word and none of them questioned any of the suspects. If Albus had n't known any better, he would 've thought the Aurors knew exactly what they were going to find down here. It was all very confusing.

Lyndon Baines Johnson and the three unfamiliar Aurors grabbed cargo area of the malefactor and took them out of the chamber. Harry was left with Albus and the sleep of the students.

"Dad, what 's going on ?"Albus asked.

"I have my suspicion, but unfortunately I do n't stimulate any proof,"Harry said."Let 's get you up to the hospital wing."

Harry carried Kaden, who had since passed out, and led the odd group out of the bedchamber and back to the pipe that led to Moaning Myrtle 's bath. Once there, he pointed his wand at the piping and it turned into steps. A few mo later, they were back in the loo. Albus blinked a few times at the lustrous lights and then his eyes rested upon Myrtle, who was floating near the far stall.

"You 're back !"she shouted."Is he dead ?"Myrtle gestured to Kaden.

"No,"Albus said."Just unconscious."

"Oh."myrtle seemed rather disappointed.

"Let 's go,"Harry said."Hospital wing."
***


Albus had no real cause to remain in the hospital extension. After muttering about how Albus and his admirer were always getting into trouble, Madam Pomfrey proclaimed him in perfect health. Gospel According to John, Amanda, Scorpio, Felix, and Elsie were also all right. Kaden, on the other hand, had a concussion and was not allowed to sleep. Albus, John, and Amanda remained in the hospital wing with him. Rose and matte joined them as well, despite the fact that it was well past curfew.

Harry left after delivering them to lady Pomfrey, but promised to return in a few hours. That had been three hours ago and Albus was still waiting for him to issue forth back, and for an account. They 'd explained the full ordeal to mat and Rose, who both agreed that Malfoy 's behavior was very strange.

The doors to the hospital wing finally opened and Harry walked in, looking incredibly exhausted. dame Pomfrey, upon seeing him, hurried off to her field of study.

"Kaden,"Harry said."How are you feeling ?"

"Like someone ran my head over with a hand truck,"Kaden said.

Harry chuckled."You 'll sense better soon."

"What was that about, Dad ?"Albus asked."Why was it almost like the Aurors expected all the prisoner to be there ?"

Harry sighed."No one knows for for certain. The official record is that they received an anonymous tip, but none of the prisoner are explaining why they were in the sleeping room of Secrets or how they got in."

"When we were down there, Malfoy kept saying he was doing something for his dad, but he never said what it was,"Albus said.

"That helps confirm my possibility,"Harry said."I suspect that Scorpius Malfoy, along with Felix Willinson, were instructed by genus Draco Malfoy to find a suitable emplacement to business firm the captive for safe-keeping until Aurors could be brought in to capture them. This, of class, had to be done after the Auror section was reorganized by Henry Martyn Robert Johnson, in club to take a crap both him and Laurentis look serious. If Laurentis looks good, Draco Malfoy looks good."

"But that means that Laurentis and genus Draco Malfoy knew where the prisoners were,"Albus said.

"Yes, yes it does,"Harry said quietly.

"Uncle Harry,"rosebush began."You do n't think that Laurentis organized that break-out, do you ?"

"It 's crossed my creative thinker,"Harry said."But it 's irrelevant, because I have no test copy. Nor do I have test copy of my theory about Draco Malfoy and his son. Alecto Carrow is deadened, Dolores Umbridge is clinically harebrained, and Amycus Carrow is n't talking. Jarrett and Quinton Willinson are n't talking, either, and I somehow question Scorpius Malfoy will rat out his father. So, for now at to the lowest degree, this will rest a theory."

"But Dad, it 's illegal,"Albus said.

"It is,"Harry replied."Do n't occupy about it, Albus. The prisoners are back in Azkaban, which is all that matter right now."

"But Dad-"

"Albus. Worrying will do naught. In my experience, hoi polloi who are corrupt like this are never able to keep it a unavowed long. Whatever happens will happen."

"What about Scorpius ?"Amanda asked."Why did he switch face like that ?"

"Scorpio Malfoy has had a rough year. His grandfather has been quite ill for a long time, which has put stress on both of his parents and thus, on him. I am sure he was pressured into this by his Father-God and then when it came fourth dimension for him to get further into it, by helping Jarrett Willinson get hold of Amanda, he realized he did n't want to be involved, not would his Church Father have wanted him to be involved."

"Is he going to get in trouble ?"Albus asked.

"No,"Harry said."As far as the criminal record is concerned, Scorpius, Felix, and Elsie stumbled upon the captive just as you lot did."

"That does n't look fair,"Albus muttered.

"No, it does n't,"Harry said."But on the early manus, I think Scorpius Malfoy deserves a open frame this yr. I think he 's grown up a lot over the retiring few calendar month. You might find that he 's not quite the bully he used to be."

"I 'll conceive that when I see it,"matte muttered."I guess that 's why he wanted to get into the shrieking hovel, though. Probably wanted it for the prisoners."

"I suspect that, too,"Harry said."I must say I 'm gladiola he chose the bedroom of Secrets."

"Me, too,"lusterlessness agreed.

"I have to return to the Ministry,"Harry said as he stood up."This will be in the paper tomorrow, although I have no theme what type of news report they 're going to spin or how involved you will be. Whatever they publish, do n't take it too hard. Please do not mention my theory to anyone. The last matter we need is an article in the Prophet claiming that Harry ceramist is a conspiracy theorist."

Albus laughed and said good dark to his dad. Madam Pomfrey let them sleep in the hospital wing that nighttime, considering how late it was. Kaden, of course, had to continue awake. Albus was surprised by how soft sleep came, considering what he 'd been through that night, but it was nearly two in the morning. He realized with a sinking feeling that he still had exams the next day. Herbology and antediluvian runic letter. He hoped they would n't go too horribly.


A/N : Thanks for all the pin-up reexamination ! I will be getting to them as soon as I can. The next chapter will the last-place in this novel. I 'm not sure enough when the fifth part novel will be up since I have yet to get up with a concrete secret plan for it. I 'm going to contain a breaking to write other stories that I 've had in my head for a while.

It 's the end of Oct, which means it 's nearly NaNoWriMo time of year ! I 'll be continuing to update Between Here and Somewhere throughout November, as well as posting the last chapter of this next Friday. But you wo n't see practically else from me until December, as I 'll be busy writing an original fic.


Albus, John, and Matt overslept the succeeding dawn. Albus awoke ten mo before their Herbology exam and had to arouse up John and Matt, which is never a small effort. It took a to the full five minutes to get them up, but soon they were running through the corridors knowing full fountainhead that they would be late. Unfortunately for Albus, none of his creative thinker was on Herbology. He could n't check thinking about what happened terminal night.

The boy ran into greenhouse three five minutes late and as soon as they shut the room access the entire class looked up from their exams and stared at them. Albus got the distinct feeling that they all knew about terminal Nox, whether from rumors or from the prophet. Professor Longbottom got up from his feces and walked over to them.

"Boys,"he said quietly.

"I 'm distressing we 're late, sir,"Albus said."We overslept-"

"Albus, it 's sanction. I know what happened finally night. Just go consume your seats. Your examination are already laid out."

"Thanks,"Albus replied.

Albus was very grateful that Herbology had been the test he was belated for. Longbottom was the most understanding professor in the stallion school. Albus settled down and managed to take aim the exam without falling asleep. While there were a few questions that he was n't sure about, he was quite confident that he at least passed.

By the time the exam menstruum ended Albus was starving, as were John and lusterlessness. They, along with Rose and Amanda, headed immediately to the Great residence hall for lunch. As they walked in, Albus again got the distinct feeling that everyone was staring at them.

"You should 've been at breakfast,"Amanda said."Everyone was talking about it and they kept coming over and asking me inquiry. There were a bunch of citizenry crowded around Malfoy, too."

"Do either of you have the prophet ?"Albus asked as they sat down.

"Yeah, here,"Rose said, handing it to him.

Albus unfolded the paper and set it down on his shell. John the Evangelist and Matt sat on either side of him and read over his shoulder.

CONVICTS CAUGHT AT HOGWARTS

Newly appointed Head Auror, Henry Martyn Robert
Johnson, received an anonymous tip
late last nighttime that led him and four
other Aurors to Hogwarts School of
witchcraft and Wizardry. The tip
told Aurors that escaped convicts
Amycus Carrow, Alecto Carrow,
Quinton Willinson, and Dolores
Umbridge could be found in the sleeping room
of Secrets deeply under Hogwarts School.

The sleeping accommodation of arcanum, long since
regarded as a rumored enshroud sleeping accommodation
beneath the shoal was proven to
exist in mid-1993. The sleeping room has
remained empty-bellied since then.

All four escaped inmate, along with
Jarrett Willinson, wanted for a class
by the Auror section, were found in
the Chamber of Secrets by Robert Lyndon Baines Johnson
and four other Aurors. Amycus Carrow,
Quinton Willinson, and Dolores Umbridge
have been returned to Azkaban prison.
Jarrett Willinson is currently being held
in Azkaban prison without bail. Alecto
Carrow was pronounced short by Healers
late finish night, after the ceiling in
the bedroom collapsed, crushing her
instantly.

Six Hogwarts students were found in the
Chamber as well. LBJ has released
very little data on this aspect
of the night, but has said that Jarrett
Willinson captured one student with the
intentions of killing her if requirement were
not met. The name of the educatee have
not been released.

It is unknown how the convicts got into
the school. Weaknesses in the protective
wards are currently being addressed. 'We
indirect request to see the public that Hogwarts
schooltime remains as dependable as ever. The problem
will be addressed quickly. There is no
need to panic .'

"alien how the convicts got into the school ?"Albus said incredulously."They 've covered the wholly matter up !"

"What did you expect, Albus ?"Rose asked, shaking her headway."Uncle Harry said it would happen."

"I bet that new Head Auror is in on it,"Albus muttered."He 'll probably say he investigated but all he 'll do is seduce up write up to encompass up what Laurentis did."

"You 're probably right,"Rose said.

"Who 's right hand ?"Kaden asked as he sat down.

"Albus,"Rose said.

"rich person you seen this applesauce ?"Albus asked, holding up the paper.

"Yeah,"Kaden replied."But honestly, I do n't care right now. I just want a sandwich. The prophecy exam was brutal. I had to assure Trelawney 's future in tea leaves."

John laughed."What did you say ?"

"Told her she was going to meet an wrong death at the work force of a divagate Quaffle,"Kaden said.

Rose groaned."Oh, Kaden, you didn't."

"She actually liked it,"Kaden said."Her huge eye lit up and everything."

"She likes Death, Trelawney,"privy said."Or at least the concept of it."

"Wyrd,"Albus muttered.

Albus 's remaining exams took place with little flourish. Despite his nous not being on the material, he thought he did fairly well, and when the fool were released he discovered that he had passed everything. His Transfiguration mark was a bit low, but still passing.

The Hogwarts scholarly person, with their short memory duad, soon forgot about the debacle in the Chamber of arcanum and moved on to other theme of discussion such as the summertime vacation and the current Quidditch season. Albus certainly did n't bear in mind this because it meant he was no longer the center of attention. Despite the fact that the oracle never released the names of the students in the sleeping room, everyone knew it was Albus, John, Kaden, and Amanda, along with the three Slytherins.

"facial expression, Laurentis has released a statement about capturing the prisoner,"Rose said at breakfast on their day in the castle.

Albus groaned."This ca n't be good. Let 's see it."

“'I wish to spat the Auror department for their study in recapturing the remaining get away felon. The well timed recapture after the reorganization of the section only reinforces how significant a decision it was to reorganize. With the new regulation and insurance in the Auror department, organized by Henry M. Robert Lyndon Baines Johnson, the Aurors were able-bodied to capture the outlaw immediately after receiving the tip. We can most assuredly look forward to more successes from the Auror Department .'”

"What a load of dogshit,"Albus said."Of course they were able to recapture them quickly after receiving that tip. They organized for the convicts to be in the bedchamber in the first place."

"It 's like your dad said, though,"Matt began."Everything will get revealed eventually. That 's not an well-situated secret to keep, what they did."

"Hey, it looks like Embry 's going to make a lecture,"Kaden said, gesturing toward the stave table.

Professor Embry stood up and raised his hands for quiet. This did nothing, of line."tranquil !"Embry shouted."I have something I 'd like to say.

"Thank you,"he said, after everyone stopped talking."I just want to say what a pleasure it has been to learn you all this year. I never expected to teach and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope you enjoyed taking my division as often as I enjoyed teaching it, and I hope you all have a nifty grasp and understanding of our governance. Today is my last day at Hogwarts, as the government course will not go along next class, and I am once again needed at the Ministry. Please do n't waffle to owl me if you wish to receive a enlistment of the Ministry for donnish use. I daresay that a few of you might give birth vocation in politics yourselves."

Embry sat back down and the entire room flare-up into applause. Albus was n't sure if the applause was for Embry or for the fact that politics would no longer be a class. Albus had n't minded the class, but one fewer class was to be appreciated.

"I learned something about political sympathies this year, all right,"bathroom muttered as the applause settled down."And that 's that I never want to be a politician."

"Me, too,"Albus agreed.

"Cheers to that !"James shouted from a few tush down.

"Oh, I do n't know."Amanda shrugged."I think it might be interesting."

Albus was n't at all storm to hear Amanda say that. If any of his ally were to get political leader, it would be Amanda.
***


Later that day Albus found himself at yet another Hogwarts graduation observance. He and Rose had attended every I graduation ceremony since starting Hogwarts, and one the year before, too. It had gotten to the point where he did n't pay much care to the spoken language because they all sounded very similar to the ones he 'd discover before. During this ceremonial, the exclusively part Albus paid aid to was the share where Fred and Calluna vulgaris accepted their diplomas, which took all of two minutes.

"Well, we survived,"Albus said to Georgia after the observance ended and everyone was milling around.

Georgia grinned."That we did. It 's kind of surreal, to be honest. Dad did n't win, so things are no different than they were this time hold up twelvemonth, really."

Albus nodded."How is Uncle Hotspur doing ?"

Georgia shrugged."I 'm not sure. He does n't talk about it much. Actually, the Wyrd thing is that whenever I go over there for dinner he spends a lot of clock time asking about Quidditch. I think it 's mostly to maintain me from asking about his lack of employ, but I 'm not going to complain. Maybe he 'll even learn to like it. The Quidditch, I mean, not the lack of employment."

"He still has n't found a job ?"Albus asked.

"No. He could go back to the Ministry but he 'd have to do something where he 's not an real politician, since Laurentis would n't take him. I do n't suppose he wants to do that. He 's been helping Uncle George II with the shop, but I do n't think Uncle George really likes that. Says Dad 's too obsessional. But he 's too nice to tell Dad he ca n't help."

"Albus !"rosebush shouted."We 've got to go. The pushchair are leaving."

Albus nodded to Rose and then turned back to Georgia."I 'd better go. Let me make out when your succeeding mate is. I want to go."

Georgia grinned."Sure affair. See you soon, Al."

"Bye, Georgia,"Albus said as he turned to follow rosiness back to the castle, where they would get the thestral-drawn carriages back to Hogsmeade.
***


"I say we go to privy 's sign of the zodiac this class,"lustrelessness said as the Hogwarts Express hurtled back to London.

"Are you mad ?"privy asked, unwrapping a Chocolate salientian."I mean, really, are you ? You want to issue forth to my home, where I have three unbalanced little sis running about ?"

matt shrugged."They ca n't be that bad."

"Says he who is the untested in his family,"John said, looking at Albus for support.

"He 's right,"Albus agreed."And I 've only got one lilliputian sister. look a minute, mat 's the sole one of us who does n't have younger siblings, is n't he ?"

The others nodded."All right,"King John said."Let 's give Matt a genuine sense of what having plenty of siblings is like. I 'll owl you and let you make love when."

"Exploding elasticity ?"Kaden asked, holding up a deck of cards.

"Sure,"Matt said. Everyone else nodded.

Kaden began to distribute the visiting card, but before he finished, the compartment room access slid open. Albus, expecting one of his cousins, turned to the door. It slid open the rest of the way and Malfoy stood on the threshold, looking a bit unsure of himself. He was alone. Albus wondered where Felix was.

"What do you want ?"John asked.

"Er, can I just talk to you lot ?"he asked quietly, stepping interior and sliding the room access behind him.

"Where 's Willinson ?"Albus asked, standing up.

"He 's no longer speaking to me,"Malfoy explained."After I hexed his uncle and as he put it, 'joined the other side .'”

"What about Elsie ?"Rose asked, clearly concerned about the girl.

Malfoy shrugged."She 's always with Felix. She never said a good deal around me."

"Is she really a parselmouth ?"John asked."I assume she 's the one who got you into the sleeping room ?"

"Yeah, she did, but she 's not a parselmouth. She 's just really good with languages so she was able to fake it,"Malfoy explained.

There were a few moments of inept secretiveness. Malfoy shifted his weight and leaned against the doorway.

"So,"Albus said."Why are you here, exactly ?"

Malfoy sighed."This twelvemonth sucked and I got caught up in a lot of things that I did n't want to do, which is exactly what happened to my dad when he was at Hogwarts."

Albus was utterly confused as to why Malfoy was telling them all of this. He exchanged looks with Matt and then focused on Malfoy once more.

"But it 's just not worth it anymore,"Malfoy continued."Hating you lot. I know it was you who somehow got itching powder into all the Slytherins'laundry-"

"That was n't us,"Kaden said quickly, a slight too quickly.

"And we know you put the goat in the common room,"John added.

Malfoy nodded."As I was saying, it just does n't matter. Any of it."He turned to Matt."And I do n't care that you 're a werewolf. Really. Sure, it 's uncanny and I have no idea why Kendrick even lets you be here-"

"I wo n't waffle to hex you, you know,"Saint John the Apostle said, reaching into his robe for his wand.

Malfoy held up his hired man."No, do n't. I guess what I 'm saying is that I think we should telephone a truce."

"A truce ?"Albus asked, raising his brow.

"Yeah, a truce,"Malfoy said."You all know my grandad died this twelvemonth. It makes all this fighting we do seem really stupid."

"You 're not saying we should be friends, are you ?"John asked incredulously.

Malfoy screwed up his human face."God no. I 'm saying you lot stop only pranking the Slytherins, do n't tell anyone that I dueled on your side in the bedchamber, and I wo n't differentiate anyone Eckerton is a werewolf. I 'll really assure that, without any threat of expulsion."

Albus was disbelieving. Could the death of Lucius Malfoy really move this change in Scorpius ?

"C'mon, truce ?"Scorpius asked, sticking his paw out to Albus.

"Oh, just do it, Albus,"Rose said."We 've got O.W.L.s adjacent twelvemonth. You do n't need this stupid feud distracting you. Or any of us."

"amercement, armistice,"Albus said, shaking Scorpius 's hand.

Malfoy nodded."I guess I 'll go, then. See you around, Potter."

Malfoy turned and left the compartment. Albus did n't move for a fully minute."That was the strangest affair I 've ever seen,"he finally said, resuming his seat.

"I do n't retrieve any of us will ever full understand what happened there,"rose said."But I think it 's a undecomposed thing."

"Weird, though,"Matt said."You think he means it ?"

The weirder thing was, was that Albus did actually consider him. There had been something in Malfoy 's eyes that Albus had n't seen before. It was like Malfoy seemed elder somehow. He was no longer a kid, whose biggest worry was arguing with Albus over stupid things. Somehow, Malfoy had grown up.

Albus supposed they 'd all grown up that yr. They were going to be twenty percent years now, and Kaden would be a fourth class, and that meant they were the senior educatee in the shoal. They were growing up. All of them. Even Malfoy.

"make me enquire what next class will be like,"Amanda mused."Everything about this twelvemonth has been strange."

"We 've got Laurentis reforming Hogwarts,"Rose reminded them."I think it 'll be flock strange."

Albus had nearly forgotten about that. He did n't need Hogwarts to change. Despite all that was going on in the outdoor world, Hogwarts had always remained the Lapplander. But now it was n't. Hogwarts was going to change.

Albus leaned back in his seat and stared out the window, watching the countryside fly by. He did n't know what changes Hogwarts would see in the following year, but he did n't want to think about it just yet. There was still a whole summer before that would happen, and Albus intended to revel it.


A/N : Thank you so much for all the support and follow-up for this news report ! You cat are amazing. I will be taking a falling out before continuing with this series as I have former stories floating around in my head, but I 'll eventually come back to Albus. I 've no approximation how farseeing it 'll be, though.

In the meanwhile, please break out my Marauders Era story, Between Here and Somewhere ! And preserve checking back for my review responses, because I will get to them.