A/N : abbreviated source 's government note prior to the chapter. This chapter is from slip 's point of view, as I wanted to write the particular of what happened during the deputation to capture Greyback. An clause in the prophet just would n't do it justice. promise you enjoy !


Teddy Lupin had been a Junior Auror for nearly eight months. In that clock time he had n't done much in terms of fighting sullen ace, and most of the missions he 'd gone on had been rather boring. Up until the Azkaban break-out most of his work had consisted of paperwork and the occasional stake-out. Being an Auror, teddy had discovered, was a lot more than chasing down Dark wizards and saving people 's lives.

It was for this very rationality that teddy had been surprised when his godfather, Harry Potter, had approached him the previous day and told him of his newest duty assignment. He, Teddy Lupin, spic-and-span Junior Auror, had been assigned to the mission of capturing get off wolfman, Fenrir Greyback. greyback, the same werewolf who had infected his father with lycanthropy decades ago. Greyback, one of Britain 's nearly wanted runaway.

The mission, Harry had informed him, was very medium in nature and had to be handled with prudence. There was to be no citation of it to anyone outside of the masses assigned to it. There were very few people assigned to the mission and they included Harry himself, the Head of the Regulation and ascendancy of Magical Creatures, and Ron Weasley. That was it. A few others had been assigned to keep an eye on the children Greyback attacked the previous month, but they were n't to be directly involved with the Greyback mission itself.

Harry had explained the details of the mission, including the fact that the altogether affair had been Albus 's idea, along with one of his friends, who happened to be the Head of the rule and restraint of Magical animal 's son. Who also happened to be a loup-garou. It took shift a few minutes to wrap his top dog around the entire spot. To make things even more harebrained, Albus 's wolfman acquaintance was the pal of Teddy 's Friend, Amy.

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

Harry had instructed him to read up at the Hog 's drumhead, in camouflage, at seven o'clock. Once there, he was to order a drunkenness and sit at the bar, avoiding contact with everyone. Harry, Ron, and Walter Eckerton were going to do the same.

Disguising himself was Teddy 's main strength. Before he Apparated to Hogmseade he morphed his face so he looked a few class older and his hair so that it was a generic John Brown coloring material rather than its usual turquoise. He finished off the tone by shrinking himself and adding a few pounds. After donning a tattered old cloak, Teddy turned on the spot and reappeared in the back street next to Weasleys'virtuoso Wheezes.

shimmy peeked inside the building and saw George IV working. If he had n't been on a deputation he would 've stopped to say hello, but instead he turned in the opposite focus and headed toward the Hog 's Head.

The pub was practically empty. There was an old enchantress at one of the board, nursing a boozing, and a bloke quiescence at the end of the bar. Ron was already there, sitting at a board with a chalice in front of him. He 'd clearly attempted to disguise himself, but there was no mistaking his red fuzz. Harry and Walter did n't seem to be there yet.

Teddy ambled up to the bar, deciding at the conclusion bit that his false persona should walk with a hitch. Aberforth was there and Teddy ordered a Butterbeer. Probably not the usual crapulence for the Hog 's Head, but he needed to hold back his head clear for the mission. He took the drink and began to sip it slowly, as he had no idea how long he 'd demand to pretend he was n't an Auror.

A one-half time of day later the door opened again and Harry and Walter walked in. Walter joined Ron at his rachis mesa 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 business,"Harry said."Might be here a few hour. Could be the entirely night. Do you mind ?"

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

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

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

Teddy sat down next to Walter and Harry sat following to him. He passed around the Butterbeers while Ron turned the parchment around so chemise 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 shriek shack and the yard outside it. Only one dot was there. It was labeled 'Matthew Eckerton'and was stationary in the screech Shack.

"Moon just rose,"Bruno Walter said quietly."Just a waiting game now."

No one had told him, but Teddy knew the really reason why he 'd been assigned to this mission, and it had nada to do with his Auror skills. for certain, that had been a addition, but any of the other junior Aurors were just as qualified. And the full-of-the-moon 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 care that a werewolf at Hogwarts was an integral contribution of this plan. It was also the reasonableness why Harry and Ron were there, when Auror Newman had previously been assigned to the Greyback case. Walter Eckerton did n't desire any risk of his son 's status being leaked to the public, and putting Harry, Ron, and Teddy on the case would check that it would n't.

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

"Fairly certain,"Walter said."Werewolves are attracted to the call of their own kind and Johnny is set on creating his own large number of offspring werewolves. He spent the last broad moon lurking around the Shrieking hut, after he attacked those children. He knows matt 's there. He 'll come back."

chemise nodded. The minutes ticked by and the pub grew quieter. The old witch left, taking her field glass with her. The man sleeping at the bar snorted and rolled over, nearly falling off his stool. teddy finished his Butterbeer and set it next to the other empty-bellied glass on the table, wondering if he should go parliamentary law another or just rest seated.

At eleven o'clock Aberforth woke up the gent at the bar and had to help him to the door and then physically shove him out of the pub. He gave a prompt nod to Harry, Ron, Walter, and teddy and then went upstairs.

"I suppose the disguises were a bit pointless,"Ron said as he pointed his scepter at his facial expression. His nose returned to its normal soma.

"Well, with the Hog 's brain, you never know,"Harry said.

The group settled into silence again. Outside, there was the sound of faint howl. Teddy glanced at Walter and noticed that he winced slightly every time there was a particularly forte ululation. Harry and Ron sent him sympathetic looks that Teddy tried to mimic. He did n't sustain any Kyd so he really had no estimation what that was like, let alone having a kid with lycanthropy.

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

All four men crowded around the map once more. One of the Zen was indeed labeled 'Fenrir Greyback ,'but the others were names Teddy did n't recognize.

"Meredith Jenner and James Clerk Maxwell Jenner,"teddy read."Who are they ?"

"They must be other wolfman,"Ron said.

"Or Animagi,"Harry pointed out.

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

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

"Mine either,"Walter said.

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

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

"Yeah, well, they 'd give no chance following three werewolves on substructure,"Walter said.

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

Teddy stood and drew his baton. He followed the three senior men out of the pub and shut the doorway behind him.

The Hog 's mind was not far away from the Shrieking Shack. Within three minutes they arrived and found Paul Leonard Newman and the other two necromancer attempting to throttle the three werewolves.

"They 're the tyke from lastly calendar month !"one of the Werewolf Control unit of measurement employees shouted.

"Be careful with them !"Walter shouted back."They 've done zilch incorrectly !"

"We 're trying !"

The two humble loup-garou were currently attempting to assault the Werewolf Control social unit employees and Newman, while Greyback seemed to deal far more about getting into the Shrieking shanty. He was a much orotund savage, grey in coloring, and had bright yellow eyes. He was on the porch, biting at the door, and not paying any attention to the wizards around him. It seemed to teddy bear that he had far more control condition over himself than a normal werewolf.

Bruno Walter and Ron joined the Werewolf mastery unit of measurement employees in trying to restrain Meredith and Maxwell. It was a difficult task because they had to do it without hurting them. teddy was fairly certain that the law would n't care whether the two children were hurt in the operation, but that had never been how Walter ran the department.

Harry nodded to slip and they walked slowly up the lawn, their wands out in nominal head of them. If they could just catch Greyback by surprise then they 'd be capable to conjure some ropes and restrain him before he even knew what was happening.

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

teddy and Harry jumped back, sending spells forward as they did so. Greyback lunged, the magic spell not seeming to touch on him at all, and made a swipe at shift. Teddy jumped to the side and sent another Stunner at Reb.

Battling a werewolf was very different from battling a wizard, teddy realized. And battling wolfman had not been covered in training. sure enough, they 'd learned and practiced the spells used against werewolves, but they 'd never performed them on literal werewolves. The main deviation was that werewolves did n't have wands and thus could not cast turn. But at the Sami time, they had tooth, chela, and were much unassailable than the average human. Plus there was the fact that one bite would move around you into one forever.

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

Greyback soon realized that he was being cornered back onto the porch and decided to take another jump off forward. He snarled loudly and lunged toward Harry, nearly making contact. shift jumped forward and sent another mantrap toward Greyback.

Greyback flew backward and slammed into the front door, his psyche making a sickening crunch as it collided with the doorknob. He slid down the doorway and landed on the floor, not moving.

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

"Harry, you okay ?"shimmy asked.

"fine,"Harry said."You ?"

teddy nodded and began to take a few cautious steps toward Greyback. Harry was soon by his side of meat.

"Is he ..."Teddy began.

"I do n't retrieve so,"Harry said quietly."Just unconscious. Here."Harry muttered a spell and roofy flew from the end of his baton. They wrapped them around Greyback until he was secure.

chemise felt slightly disappointed. There was a component of him, a very small division, that wished he 'd killed Greyback. grayback had been the one who 'd made his dad 's animation miserable, and he 'd viciously attacked Victoire 's dad when he was n't even transformed. Yes, shift had to intromit, there was a part of him that wanted revenge. A part of him that wanted to be the one who finally killed Fenrir Greyback.

Teddy glanced over to the rest of the group, but they 'd finished, too. Walter was currently tying the two werewolf fry up with rope while the former men stood around watching. Ron looked up and met slip 's oculus, then walked over toward them.

"Done ?"Harry asked.

Ron nodded."They 're tied up and Stunned. I suppose we 'll have to hold open Stunning them until the Sun Myung Moon sets."

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

"Bruno Walter said he 'll personally build a visit to their house in a few days to discuss precaution 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 wards up. It must 've been leisurely for greyback to break in."

"I wonder why they did n't mind to wolfman musical accompaniment armed service,"Harry mused."I know for a fact they visited."

"Well, at to the lowest degree no one was hurt,"shimmy pointed out. He turned back to where the other werewolves had been tied up, but noticed that they were now being levitated to the porch of the Shrieking Shack by the loup-garou Control unit of measurement employees. Walter and Newman were following them.

"What is that infernal fraudulent scheme ?"Newman exclaimed, nodding his head to the screaming Shack.

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

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

"Loud ghosts,"Newman muttered."Has the sprightliness variance ever looked into it ?"

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

Teddy was amazed that 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 suffer used to it.

"Let 's get this lot back to the Ministry,"Harry said, gesturing to the three unconscious werewolves. Paul Leonard Newman, take either Lee or Parks back to the children 's house and inform their parents that they can beak them up at the Ministry tomorrow."

Paul Newman and Lee, who was one of the werewolf ascendency Unit employees, Disapparated on the fleck. Harry grabbed cargo area of Greyback and instructed Walter and Parks, the other lycanthrope Control unit employee, to each demand one of the fry. With an exceptionally loud gap, the entire group Disapparated.
***


Each of the werewolves were set up in an interrogation room to wait the remaining minute until dayspring. slip, along with Walter, had been assigned to keeping watch on Greyback, Stunning him when necessary. Harry, Ron, commons, and Lee had been assigned to the minor. Cardinal Newman got started on the paperwork.

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

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

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

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

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

"Me either,"Walter said.

"I have to ask,"Teddy began,"did you get into Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures 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 able to go to Hogwarts. I know you probably do n't even call back him, but I 'm forever grateful for him paving the way."

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

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

Teddy and Bruno Walter lapsed back into secretiveness. Teddy could hardly believe that he was sitting in an interrogation room with the werewolf who had turned his beginner. If only his dad could see him now.

Bruno Walter glanced at his watch."Sun Myung Moon should be setting within the half hour."

slip gulped and he hoped Walter could n't hear his center thrashing. He had n't been nearly as queasy about facing Rebel as a Friedrich August Wolf, but the view of facing him as a man was slightly terrifying. He almost wanted the future one-half hour to last forever, but at the same time he did n't. It had been a very long day and he wanted to go home and eternal rest, eat, and see Victoire. Unfortunately, there was still a mickle of paperwork ahead.

Limnodromus griseus began to budge, but Walter did n't Stun him. Instead, he conjured a wide-eyed set of robes, set them on the table, stood up, and gestured for teddy to follow him out into the corridor. chemise did so, but looked at Walter quizzically.

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

shimmy was shanghai. He himself would n't have even thought about that, but Walter had clearly been planning that all along. teddy supposed it came from having a son who was a werewolf. If Teddy 's own beginner had lived, would he own similar thoughts ?

There were no silencing charms on the interrogative sentence room. Soon the corridor was filled with howling and was then replaced by painful shrieks. The shriek soon gave way to a longsighted watercourse of profanity.

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

Teddy had no idea what to expect when he entered the room. He 'd only seen pictures of Greyback from the seer and black-and-white photos never did a someone justice.

Fenrir grayback was crouched on top of the board, dressed in the wearable that Walter had provided. His greyness fuzz was thready and matted with dirt and blood, and his facial expression bore several workweek 's worth of white-haired whiskers. His face was lined with deep seam and shimmy realized that he had absolutely no melodic theme how old the man was.

Rebel took a deep sniff as Walter and teddy entered. He grinned and let out a maniacal laugh."Head of the Department,"he muttered."Guess I 'm popular."

Teddy froze, all his training suddenly out the window. He could hardly believe that this man had attacked his forefather when he was only a small fry. Fenrir greyback was far Sir Thomas More sinister in person and chemise felt a pang of sympathy for his begetter as a five-year-old.

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

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

Johnny sneered."Yeah, wanted to go back for that werewolf in the screech Shack. He smelled new, impressionable."

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

"We 'll see,"Greyback replied.

"enough Old World chat,"Walter said, turning to Teddy."Arrest him."

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

"Fenrir Reb, I am Auror Ted lupine and you 're under collar,"shimmy began.

Greyback 's eyes grew all-inclusive."Lupin. Any relation to Remus lupin ?"

"He was my father,"shimmy said proudly.

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

"Fenrir grayback, you are under arrest,"Teddy repeated, ignoring him. He conjured a pair of cuff and walked over to Calidris canutus."You have the right to remain tacit. I suggest you use it,"he said as he cuffed the werewolf."If you choose not to be silent, anything you say can be used in your trial. You will have a trial. If you can not find internal representation, we will encounter it for you."

slip grabbed Greyback 's arm and pulled him off the table and into a standing stead. As he did so, he met the older man 's eyes. They were icteric, pure yellow, and completely grim. He looked like the human face of evil, as if Limnodromus griseus had no homo someone left. It was in that moment that shift knew for sure that this wolfman held no law of similarity to his begetter. Greyback lived to disperse evil, while Remus Lupin had lived to break off it.

shimmy slapped a set of handlock on Limnodromus griseus. He opened the door and pushed Greyback out into the corridor, still holding onto his arm. Walter followed and the two walked alongside each other as they led Calidris canutus to the holding cells.

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

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

shimmy nodded and gave Harry a half-smile.


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

The rights Teddy read to greyback are adapted from the Miranda rightfulness, created by the United States Supreme Court in 1966.


Albus awoke the side by side forenoon to the sound of an owl pecking at the windowpane. He rose from his bed and went to let it in. The owl was unfamiliar, but he vaguely recognized it as the stock of owl the Ministry of illusion used. The varsity letter was addressed to him, so Albus took it, let the owl back out into the cold, and set down on his bed to open it.

Albus-

We got him.

-Dad

That was all it said, but it did n't involve to say anything else. His dad probably could n't say anything else in a letter, anyway. Albus folded up the parchment and shoved it into his bedside table. He glanced at the clock and realized there was no point in going back to bed since class would start in two hr.

Instead, he got started on that week 's Charms recital while he waited for John Lackland to awake up. This took a just hr and when he finally did fire up up, it took him XV moment to fully wake up and get dressed. can was not one for good morning.

Albus waited until they were in the Great G. Stanley Hall for breakfast to tell john about the letter of the alphabet from his dad, so that he could tell Kaden, Rose, and Amanda, too. Luckily they managed to see a relatively secluded portion of the table.

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

"Oh thank God !"pink wine exclaimed.

"Did he tell you about it ?"John asked.

"No,"Albus said."But I 'm for certain it 'll be in the oracle tomorrow."

The group decided to eat a very nimble dejeuner later in order to visit mat before their good afternoon family. Albus wanted to severalize him about Johnny Reb as soon as possible.

Albus found it incredibly unmanageable to keep his mouth shut during potions because the respite of his classmates were discussing Rebel and whether he had attacked anyone the premature nighttime. Janie Creevey swore she saw him on the grounds from her dormitory window last night, but Karina and Marina said it was only a dog. Two of the Slytherins said they heard howling all nighttime, and Scorpius said one of the older scholar had received a missive from his brother claiming to have seen Greyback in Diagon alleyway. It seemed that Albus and his supporter were the only single in the entire castle who knew Greyback had been captured.

Scorpius Malfoy left potions early after speaking in rustling with Slughorn. Whatever it was it was a effective excuse since Slughorn actually let him go. Albus thought this was very rum, 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 ?"lav asked as they hurried up to the Great Hall for lunch.

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

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

Albus and his Friend ate the libertine lunch they 'd ever eaten and rushed up to the infirmary wing. Kaden had Herbology after luncheon and would require a good bit of fourth dimension to get there, so they wanted to expend as much of lunch as potential in the hospital backstage.

madam Pomfrey was fussy berating a scholar for trying to catch her hair pink and had charmed it all off instead and did n't comment Albus and the others walk in. Only one bed was occupied and the mantle were drawn around it.

"guesswork Malfoy 's not here,"john said as he led the group over to Matt 's bed.

John pulled the drapery back and Albus saw that Matt was sitting up in bed, eating lunch. This calendar month he was sporting a patch wrapped around his integral head and ones on his hands as well. He seemed to be having a bit of trouble 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 morning, but he did n't turn over me any details."

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

"I do n't retrieve you 'll experience to vex about that again,"John said."They 'll probably put twice as many safety device on Johnny Reb 's cell."

"I think this is the pip head ache I 've ever had in my life,"Matt muttered.

bathroom grinned mischievously."Shall Kaden and I do a repeat of last week 's prank ?"

lustrelessness gave him a facial expression of murder."If you do, I 'll kill you and I wo n't be responsible for for my actions."

"Just kidding,"John said.

"Madam Pomfrey wants me to eat lunch and then she 's going to present me enough sleeping gulp to sleep until dinner party. I ca n't wait."

"Well, I 'm going to suffer a lovely good afternoon of fertilizing wizardly plants with Draco muck,"Kaden said."So aside from the turning into a wolf matter and the raging concern, I 'm sort of jealous."

"I 'd take the tartar droppings,"Matt said and then turned to Albus."Embry is announcing who gets to watch the concluding public debate today, is n't he ?"

Albus shook his head."They 've actually put it off two more weeks. It was in the paper this good morning. I guess they want it fresh in people 's psyche or something. Plus, we 've got Quidditch Sabbatum and dueling Sunday."

"Is Gryffindor playing ?"lustrelessness asked.

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

"Here 's hoping for Hufflepuff, then,"flatness said. He glanced at his half-eaten sandwich."I think I 've given up on eating. I do n't intend to kick 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."

privy glanced at the clock."Brilliant. There 's enough time for me to run back to the Great antechamber for an eclair before Transfiguration."

"I 'll connect you,"Kaden said.

"Me, too,"Albus agreed.

The girlfriend decided that a second afters was in parliamentary law as well, so the unanimous grouping hurried back to the Great anteroom before their next class. On the way there Albus realized just how much better he felt now that Greyback was once again behind bars.
***


"Teddy arrested him !"Albus exclaimed at breakfast the next sunrise. He 'd just finished reading the article about Greyback.

"Seriously ?"rose 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 Control social unit employees. And those nipper who got attacked last hebdomad were captured, too. Apparently their parents did n't put any wards up on the shed they were in."

"That 's dazed,"rose wine said.

"Was anyone hurt ?"Amanda asked.

"No,"Albus said.

"Oh, facial expression, they 've quoted Laurentis,"Rose said."Listen to this. 'Greyback 's retaking is wonderful word for wizarding Britain. I applaud both the Auror Department and the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures for their quislingism in this capture, especially Harry thrower and Walter Eckerton. However, there are still four prisoners at large. The work is not done and we must remember this before celebrating .'”

"Did they quote your uncle ?"John asked.

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

"I honestly think that this is only going to realize his support of your dad looking at better,"Amanda said."Laurentis can try, but this is a success. I mean, just looking at the article. Absolutely zip went wrong with that seizure. There were three werewolves on the open 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 werewolves would normally be a nightmare for a quiet village like Hogsmeade, but thanks to the Aurors and the lycanthrope ascendence unit employees, nobody got hurt.

"I 'll just be glad 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 match. Albus chalked this up to the fact that Hufflepuff had the beneficial team they 'd had in years, and that Slytherin 's steward had landed himself in the hospital wing after blowing up his potion on Fri, earning him a ban from the friction match by Madam Pomfrey. But whatever the intellect actually was, it was certainly beneficial to Gryffindor.

Albus awoke early on Sunday, suddenly riddled with nerves about the dueling tournament. This month 's tourney was the secondment to last of the class since all the professor had agreed to end it earlier due to exams. Many of the seventh years had expressed that they could n't supervise practice session while studying for N.E.W.T.s. But this meant that Albus only had two more chances to secure a win for his team, something that had n't happened yet this yr.

Albus and Amanda were the maiden of their team to arrive in the Great manor hall before the tournament. The quietus of the team trickled in slowly as they waited. Five mo before the tournament was scheduled to get down, the only person missing was Malfoy.

"It 's not like him to be late,"Amanda commented."Usually he 's here early relation you what an awful job as captain you do."

"No, it 's not,"Albus agreed as he stood up to get a unspoilt look 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 plate,"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 twelvemonth."That 's odd."

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

Albus had to admit that this intelligence gave him as much disappointment as confusion. Scorpius Malfoy was one of the team 's easily duelist, no affair 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 terribly happened to their family,"Albus said.

"Attention students !"Neville called out."The tournament is about to get down !"

Albus managed to crusade all thoughts of Malfoy out of his mind for the continuance of the tourney. to the highest degree of his teammates dueled well, although only Albus and a few former fourth age won both their duels. In the end they secured third base plaza, which was certainly better than a good portion of the residuum of the team, but still was n't first. They were still in the running for winning overall at the end of the time of year, but they 'd need to do really well in the final tournament.

Albus and Amanda met the sleep of their friends in the vulture 's Den after the tourney was over.

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

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

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

"You 're not allowed to miss classes unless it 's a proficient self-justification,"Rose pointed out."I do n't conceive going on holiday is a good excuse."

"I think something bad is happening to individual in his kinfolk,"Amanda said quietly."Remember that letter he was reading during recitation ? And how silence he 's been lately ?"

"I 'll ask Elsie Willinson,"Rose said."I tutor her tomorrow. hazard 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 booster. She either had no idea or refused to tell Rose, despite the fact that rosebush prodded her about it ever ten minutes during their tutoring session on Monday.

Malfoy returned to classes on Tuesday, walking into potions XV minute later, and Slughorn made no reference of his tardiness or the form he missed the old calendar week. Albus attempted to watch his face during class but he gave no clew about his emotions.

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

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

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

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

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

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


The come week passed quickly and Albus soon forgot about Malfoy and his deep disappearance. The election was now only a week away and everyone in the castle, students, professors, and ghostwriter alike were talking about it. With only one debate remaining, it was up in the air as to who would win. The Prophet published a poll they 'd taken and neither candidate had a significant lead on the other.

"Kingsley Shacklebolt, former header of the Auror section, was the hold out curate of deception selected by the Wizengamot,"professor Banks said in socio-economic class two days before the final examination disputation."His selection was very quick and he stepped into office the day after Voldemort 's demise. While most of the wizarding world knew that the Ministry needed an overhaul, they also needed individual to ingest complaint and supervise the overhaul.

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

Albus had met Kingsley Shacklebolt a few metre and found him slightly intimidating, but funny at the Lapp meter. He just had a very dominate comportment and Albus was n't surprised he 'd been made Minister of illusion after the war.

"The three eld Shacklebolt held office were very riotous. Decisions had to be made, drastic I, and they were not easy. The for the first time and to the highest degree obvious decision was the decision to change the way the Wizengamot was set up. The Wizengamot as it was was incredibly corrupt. Remember that prior to this redesign every pureblooded family held a place on the Wizengamot, but this left half-blood and Muggle-born beldame and virtuoso without agency.

"Shacklebolt, along with the other Ministry officials working to reorganize the Wizengamot looked to the Muggle world for stirring. The late Wizengamot bore more resemblance to the Muggle House of Almighty, the upper theater of Parliament. It was decided that the Wizengamot ought to more closely resemble the House of Commons, the Lower House of Parliament. In the Muggle world, these representatives are called Members of Parliament, MPs for short circuit, and are elected. In the wizarding world, they are simply called penis of the Wizengamot.

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

Amanda raised her mitt."Yes, Miss tagging program ?"Banks said.

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

"Correct,"Banks said."Because of this the territorial dominion, if shown on a map, would look vastly unlike in damage of size. For illustration, London has three divide districts because there is a very tumid wizarding population in London. It 's far easier for wizards to blend in in a large city than a low township since thing generally go unnoticed in big cities. On the other hand, Wales only has two districts, and therefore two example, since it 's much less densely populated by wizards."

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

"I 've taken the liberty of printing a map with a leaning of all the example and district act,"Banks said as he began passing out weather sheet of sheepskin."I 'd jeopardize a hypothesis than very few of you know what territorial dominion you 're in or who your voice is."

Albus looked at the sheet after he received it. London seemed to be divided into West British capital, magnetic north London, and East/South London. N London, where Albus lived, was territory Two, currently represented by a fella named Oliver Prang.

"Elections are held every five years,"Banks said."None of the representative are up for election this year, but most are up for election side by side class. None of you will be of age to vote in side by side year 's election, but I suggest you read up on your representatives perspective and beliefs anyway.

"To entice you to instruct,"cant continued as he walked around his desk,"I am assigning an essay, due in two weeks. material body out who your representative is and drop a line me a foot-long essay detailing your representative 's beliefs and whether you agree with them or not. I suggest looking at old transcript of the Prophet as well as archived transcription of Wizengamot meetings, both available in the library. You are welcome to use any other germ as you see fit."

There was a cosmopolitan moan from the year, which made Sir Joseph Banks grin. He always seemed to love assigning prep.

"Now onto the more shake news,"Banks said."This Sat is the final argumentation and four of you will be able-bodied to attend. I apologize in overture for those whose public figure have not been chosen, but there simply were not decent debates. As common, the rest of you will heed to the public debate in the metamorphosis classroom.

"The two from Hufflepuff are Sam Bordeaux and Acacia farnesiana Hornell. The Gryffindors are St. John Brickston and Janie Creevey. Your essay on this argumentation, to be formatted like the previous two, will be due in a week. Class 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 just one of us who wo n't get to go,"rosiness pointed out.

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

"Not if you do your research right,"rose said as they left the room.

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

The rest of the group shook their promontory. They compared territorial dominion numeral, but none of them were in the same. rose wine and Matt were the nighest, with their territorial dominion bordering on each other.

"I guess we 're all doing our own inquiry then,"Gospel According to John said with a sigh.

Rose gave him a slaked smirk, clearly glad that she would n't get to contend with King John attempting to bum off her enquiry. Albus wished that he and Rose were in the same district because he, like John the Evangelist, did not relish doing this enquiry. Usually they only had to use their schoolbook for research, but not this clock time. This clip, their text edition would n't help oneself at all.


A/N : Thanks for all the revaluation ! It 's clock time for the annual Dobby awards at HPFF and nominations are now give ! headland to the forums to appoint your favored narrative ( such as this one, *hint, hint* ). There is a nexus to the assembly on the right side of the page. Be certainly to read the normal before you nominate ! We hate having to disqualify stories for founder principle.

The data about the Muggle Ministry was adapted from the House of the Lords and the Parliament Wikipedia Thomas Nelson Page. I hope I got everything right, but I 'm not British people, so feel free to point out any errors.


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

"blank space your bets here !"

Albus glanced up from his breakfast to see James, Cedric, and Ben walking up the aisle between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff mesa 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 boring,"James said."We 're taking bets on how farseeing it 'll look at the disputation moderator to take up that mad Australian bloke who kidnapped you live on year. This public debate is on International Magical Cooperation, after all."

It had n't even crossed Albus 's mind that live class 's incident would be brought up in this debate, but James was probably right. It was the adult international outrage wizarding United Kingdom had seen in years.

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

"Ten minutes,"James said."We 've had a few citizenry say it 'll happen right away and others who are giving it as long as a half hour."

"You do substantiate that your dad 's the one moderating this debate, do n't you ?"Rose asked, setting down her copy of the vaticinator.

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

"Says right wing here in the paper,"Rose said, pointing to it."He might not work it up."

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

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

Rose shrugged."It 's possible."

"So what would Uncle Walker 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 recover out. Everyone who places a bet is sworn to secrecy. We 've had them sign something. If they say anything their faces will plough orange."

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

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

"Any wager, then ?"James I asked.

Albus and his booster all shook their question no. Last year 's incident was far too personal for them to lay bets on whether it would be a debate matter.

"We 're wasting prison term, then,"Henry James said as he led Cedric and Ben further down the gangway."seat your wager here !"

"They 're changeling,"rose wine muttered.

Albus agreed.

An hour later Albus, Rose, Matt, and whoremonger were back in the Great residence hall for the debate. Albus soon realized that this debate would be watched by even more people than the retiring ones, with many people standing in the back due to lack of seating. Personally, Albus thought virtually hoi polloi would 've already made up their creative thinker since the election was only four days away, but clearly it was still a popular result.

john had to sit with the other scholar who 'd been picked while Albus, rosiness, and Matt sat up front, like usual. All of Albus 's full cousin were there, including GA, who looked like she was forcing herself to smile.

"Hey, Georgia,"Albus said.

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

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

Georgia 's sham grin grew genuine."Oh, they 're marvelous ! Connor Blythe, the keeper, he put in his observation that he 's only going to do one Sir Thomas More time of year after this one and he told me he 's recommending me to take his spot. Me ! And I 've only been on the squad for a year !"

"That 's wondrous !"Albus exclaimed."You 'll receive to get me ticket to your first match."

"Oh, I expect everyone in the family to be there at my commencement match as permanent Keeper,"Georgia said."And I want Dad right there in the strawman row, cheering me on."

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

"Yes, well, I want it to be material,"GA said."We 'll see."

"Could everyone please remove their seats ?"Kendrick announced in a magically expand interpreter.

Georgia left and went to her own seat, as did everyone else who was still standing. The room grew tranquillise and Kendrick took a few whole tone forward.

"Thank you. I 'd like to welcome you all to Hogwarts. This is the finish debate of the election and I appreciate the Ministry allowing Hogwarts to film such a big function in it. It has been a wonderful encyclopedism opportunity for staff and bookman alike. Remember, Midweek is election day, so please cast your votes. Now, I would like to introduce today 's moderator, a man who needs no introduction, Mr. Harry Potter, read/write head of the Auror department !"

The way erupted in thunderous applause. It seemed that no matter how Laurentis tried to discredit Albus 's dad, no one could necessitate away the fact that he remained the Boy Who Lived.

Harry walked forward and took his place behind the moderator 's stump."Thank you, thank you,"he said and the crowd grew quiet once more."Now, please welcome our candidate, Mr. Percy Weasley and Ms. Patricia Laurentis."

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

"I am sure both our candidates know the rules by now. Five min answers and five bit rebutter,"Harry began."Mr. Weasley, you will begin."

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

"The first question is very world-wide,"Harry said."In your judgement, how is Britain 's relationship with its alien neighbour ? Should the Ministry be making more of an drive to work with its neighbour or are affair fine as they are ?"

"I think overall our ministry has a well relationship with extraneous ministries and governments,"Percy began."We have no current feuds with any foreign state and all strange talk of the town have gone well in the past few twelvemonth. However, I believe there is always way for advance when speaking of human relationship with other land. There are always chances to reach out to our neighbour, and you never know when such family relationship will be necessary."

"Ms. Laurentis."

"My opponent makes fair points,"Laurentis said."And while I feel that furthering our human relationship with strange ministries is an first-class idea, I wonder if that is really where our energies should be focused right now. There are many return we need to address here at home, and as Mr. Weasley said, our current relationships with alien nations are good."

"The department of International Magical Cooperation deals solely with international witching cooperation,"Walker Percy pointed out."Working to fix issues at home is obviously a good estimation, but what do you suppose this section does while we do that ?"

"fountainhead, yes, of course, that department is always working on international outlet,"Laurentis said."I was merely speaking of the minister and his prompt officials."

"Thank you,"Harry said."future head. The topic of changing the classification of werewolf from brute to Beings was brought up at the last debate. Both of you expressed no desire to bring this up with the international community. Have either of you changed your position on this in Light Within of the recent seizure of Fenrir Greyback ? If not, will you explicate in more detail why you feel the way you do ? Ms. Laurentis, you may begin."

Albus glanced at matte. Maybe now they 'd figure out exactly why Uncle Hotspur did n't desire to interchange the werewolf classification, More than just it was n't worth the movement.

"The capture of Fenrir grayback was undoubtedly a winner. I hope nobody has misconstrued my words on that. The fact that it was done without any injury, let alone fatalities, was nothing short of amazing. The Aurors and loup-garou Control Unit employees who executed the plan of capture are to be applauded. However, I fail to see why the capture of one werewolf should affect our conclusion on the grouping as a whole. If anything, if werewolves had been classified as Beings during that capture the Aurors and loup-garou Control Unit employees would not have been able to use the methods of capture they used. To be good, I fail to see any benefits of reclassification."

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

"Mr. Weasley."

"I agree with my opposition about the capture of Fenrir grayback. However, I disagree with her about the potentiality benefit of reclassification. First, the Aurors and werewolf ascendancy whole employees could ingest used the Lapp methods they used last Nox, as Head of section Walter Eckerton does not set aside any method of capture that would not be allowed if werewolves were classified as Beings. In price of Department for the Regulation and ascendancy of Magical brute convention and rule, werewolves are to be treated as existence. This has been the typesetter's case since Eckerton took over as point over a twelvemonth ago. Perhaps Ms. Laurentis is unaware of this fact.

"As for welfare, those with lycanthropy would be capable to secure line far more easily and would have the same rights given to goblin, house-elves, centaurs, vampires, and man alike."

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

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

"Then perhaps Walter Eckerton ought to postulate another look at the law,"Laurentis began."Because it is perfectly legal of him to use to a greater extent harsh method to bring wolfman into gaining control. But since this gaining control was a roar winner, I will not fault him for that. As for wolfman rights, I have yet to hear of any complaints by werewolf about their rights."

"That 's because they do n't sound off to you,"mat muttered under his breath.

"Your rebuttal, Mr. Weasley."

"As I did not have time to fully do the motion, I will continue,"Hotspur said."While it would be beneficial for werewolves if they were reclassified as Beings, I do not think it 's executable. It would require agreement from all nations, which is frankly asking a lot. I know for a fact Australia would never be on circuit card, and considering our rocky relationship with that particular country, I do not feel it is in our best pastime to begin talking of the reclassification of werewolves. In conclusion, I feel it would be a worthwhile endeavor, but given the unlikelihood of it amounting to anything, it would be a waste product of manpower."

"Thank you,"Harry said."Next question. In heed to our rocky kinship with Australia, as Mr. Weasley put it, do you experience it would be beneficial to continue trying to get Ralph Lubar extradited to the United kingdom ? Mr. Weasley."

Albus glanced at his spotter. 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 defer this decision to the department of International Magical Cooperation, since they possess the necessary expertise on the discipline. However, it is my personal belief that it would be worth pursuing. I believe it is significant to send a subject matter that Ministry employees, even high-ranking official such as Ralph Lubar, are not above the law. What Lubar did was horrendous and in no domain should he get away with it."

"Ms. Laurenits."

"posting how Mr. Weasley did not citation that his nephew was one of the tiddler kidnapped by Lubar,"Laurentis pointed out."I think this might obscure his judgement a petty. I disagree with him about this item topic. We 've been trying to consume Ralph Lubar extradited for nearly a year and Australia has not budged. Why bother continuing to stimulate feat toward this when it is clear they will be fruitless ?"

"If we give up, it will be telling the public that anyone can go commit a crime in another land and not be punished,"Walker Percy said."to a greater extent than that, it demonstrates the depravity of the Australian government and having our citizens believe their politics to be corrupt will not aid outside charming cooperation."

"The possible degeneracy of the Aussie politics is not any of our business at the current time. We can not ram them to deport Ralph Lubar and it is my personal judgement that they will never do so. I daresay that the department of International Magical Cooperation has more pressing thing to treat with."

"Thank you both,"Harry said."We have time for one more motion, but in light of the fact that the election is on Wednesday, I am going to give each of the campaigner a chance to realise a general oral communication instead. Mr. Weasley, you may speak first."

"Thank you, Harry."

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

"I would like to thank prof Kendrick and the rest of the Hogwarts staff for being so accommodating, as well as the students. None of the scholarly person sitting in this elbow room right now were alive before the Ministry was reorganized in 1998 through 2001. None of the pupil in this room were live during Voldemort 's sovereignty of terror. They read about both of these in history books, because to them, it is simply history. To me, and the remainder of the adults in this room, the previous Ministry and Voldemort are our past, our memories. We remember the terror, the obscure, the fear.

"I was a voice of the shakeup of the Ministry. We all know the years that have followed- the years where we have lived without fear, without brat, without the unknown. I have been with the Ministry every step of the way since Voldemort 's defeat and I will make it my duty to keep the peace that we 've had for over twenty dollar bill age. I will keep this light because I, like well-nigh of you surely do, believe that the better speech is a unretentive oral communication. If you want a Minister who will continue the success of minister Hartwell 's time in office, balloting for me, Percy Weasley, on Wednesday. Thank you."

There was a smattering of applause, but it did n't finally farsighted. Albus had a feeling that nearly of the residuum of the scholar wanted the election to be over.

"My antagonist routinely brings up the past. He speaks of the war, Voldemort, and the old Ministry, but never once has he discussed the future, except in wispy instruction about keeping things the same. It 's truthful that I was not involved with the shakeup of the Ministry over twenty eld ago. I got into politics later in sprightliness. But I do not experience that this will earn me an inferior diplomatic minister, nor do I think it will be particularly beneficial to Mr. Weasley.

"history is just that. History. We certainly need to learn from our history to secure that we do not make the same error we did before, but it is not necessary to accept lived through account to be a successful loss 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 Britain during Voldemort 's reign. Yet he very successfully runs the Department for the regularisation and ascendancy of Magical puppet.

"In short, I believe we need to focus on our future rather than our past. If elected rector I will make progressive tense changes in not only our ministry and law, but our educational system as well. affair have been ran the Saami for over XX years, and while I am not denying the winner, I think we have needed alteration for a while. Escaped prisoners are running loose. Hogwarts lessons are being taught the same way they were when these child 's grandparents were in school. The ministry, along with its laws and insurance, pauperism to accommodate as the eld go by. If you feel alteration 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 hand clapping. Albus did n't acclaim at all and neither did any of his cousins. If the election was based upon genetic support, Percy would have it in the bag.

"I think your uncle may feature won my parents'financial backing back,"matt said as they left the Great Hall.

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

"Nope,"Matt said."But she does n't look to have an issuing with my dad, which is expert if she gets elected."

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

"She ca n't. The man is mad,"can said.

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

"Why ?"Gospel According to John asked incredulously."He kidnapped us and tried to bring Voldemort back !"

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

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

"Because if he gets extradited he 's going to be raging,"Matt explained."He 's got quite a peevishness. And when he does n't get his way he attempts to ruin 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 ... circumstance ... public ?"

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

"You think Lubar would care ? He did it in Commonwealth of Australia !"Matt snapped."He 's already broken the law. And even if he got in trouble for it nothing could pick out what he said back. It sucks that he 's not getting punished, but I think it would be in force if the world just forgot about the whole thing."

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

"Plus, there 's no way Commonwealth of Australia will extradite him,"Matt said."Your uncle and Laurentis are both right about one thing. The Aboriginal Australian government is very corrupted, and I do n't intend anything will happen until that corruption ends. Lubar wo n't be punished, and werewolves wo n't get reclassified as Beings."

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

"Yeah, it really is,"lusterlessness agreed."But it 's the way the public works."


A/N : Thanks for all the review ! Once again, I 'd care to shamelessly stop up my stories for Dobby nominations ! chief over to the forum to nominate my ( or any early ) chronicle for a Dobby award ! Be sure to read the rules before nominating.


Albus had been hoping classes would be suspended the day of the election, but there was no such hazard. Kendrick organized it so that the Great hallway would be the polling place and that voting would not feign the general student dead body. Hogwarts was the destine polling place for the territory it was in, so there would be other people coming to the schooltime to vote. Albus 's cousins who were of age ( Bradley, Fred, and broom ) all voted after breakfast, as soon as the polling station had been set up.

Albus and his friends spent most of Herbology watching multitude walking from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts in order to vote. It was very deflect and Neville did n't bother telling multitude to get back on task.

"When are we going to cognise who won ?"Saint John the Apostle asked as they walked back to the castle for defense mechanism.

"It 'll be in the prophesier tomorrow morning,"Albus said."That 's the functionary observance, but I 'm surely 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 canvass close at eight. They 're announcing the success at the party at eight-thirty. Omar Bradley and Cedric will be back after that and I give it about five minutes to spread around the castle."

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

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

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

"No,"Rose said. flatness shook his head.

"Good,"John said."We should induce our own party here. A political party to celebrate the end of this election. Maybe it 'll entail Embry will let up on the essays. Anyone else writing their argumentation essay during defence mechanism today ?"

For the past few months most people had used Department of Defense as a study anteroom. The worksheets youth assigned never took longer than xv minutes and he did n't appear to care what his scholarly person did with the eternal rest of the class. Just as long as they were n't being loud. Albus did n't guess anyone had used any Skiving Snackbox sweets in Defense this year, since there was n't much point.

Albus, matt, and Amanda all still needed to save their essays as well. Rose had written hers immediately following the argument, but the quietus of them did n't see the need to do it right away.

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

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

Albus glanced inside and saw that there were four small cubicles curtained off where the stave table should 've been. A short-change queue of people were off to one side and seemed to be waiting their turn for the cubicles. It did n't seem very exciting.

"Any comment on the election ?"

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

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

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

"That makes good sense,"Amanda said."Well, let 's go get those essays done with. Then we 'll never have to spell essays on public debate again."

Albus nodded. No more debate essays. Now that would be a in effect affair.

The residue of the day passed quickly. Albus, Matt, and Amanda managed to polish off their essays during Defense, but Gospel According to John only got halfway done. Voting was suspended during tiffin and then again at dinner. Albus overheard a few of the 6th and seventh years talking about ballot and the election during dinner. A match of Ravenclaws even got into an disceptation about it.

"Let 's take in a pact now not to get in any fights over the future election when we can all vote,"blush wine said as they watched one of the arguing Ravenclaws storm out of the Great residence.

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

"This party that Omar Nelson 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 victor,"John said with a laugh.

"It 's supposed to further good sportsmanship and that sort of thing,"blush wine explained.

"Still ... I ca n't imagine Laurentis being a estimable sportsman,"John said.

After dinner party Albus and his friends returned to the common room, deciding that it might be interesting to pass 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 decided feeling that Gryffindor had just won a Quidditch match. James, Fred, Heather, Mark, and Ben had taken it upon themselves to have a party to lionize 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 prep.

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

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

Albus shrugged."I do n't know. Amanda seems fairly formula and her uncle 's the flower Minister."

"That 's because nobody here cares about the Prime Minister,"Amanda said."At home everyone knows I 'm the niece of the bloom Minister. My sister and brother certainly are n't anon. at their schoolhouse. My sister 's at university now and she says it 's a bit better than it was in secondary school."

"Albus, you 're Harry thrower 's son,"John said flatly."No matter 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 establish his own way in the world and not have his dad 's gens tied to him.

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

"Yeah, why ?"

"Just peculiar,"Matt said.

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

"There 's still a crowd of people voting,"Albus said, gesturing to the Great Hall. About a half 12 or so Elvis were milling about.

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

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

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

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

"Albus,"John said, pointing to the map."Is it just me or is Malfoy going into Moaning Myrtle 's toilet ?"

Albus peered down at the map. Sure enough, a dot labeled 'Scorpius Malfoy'had just entered the second flooring girlfriend 's lavatory. That did n't make any sense.

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

"Vinca minor 's there,"whoremaster commented."Look, she 's floating over toward him."

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

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

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

"audio commodity to me,"Amanda said as she stood up."This political party is getting boring anyway."

John and Kaden nodded their heads in understanding. pink wine raised her eyebrows.

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

"Oh, descend on, it 's just a girl 's loo,"Amanda said."Look, there are n't even any daughter in there also Vinca minor. And she 's a ghost !"

John laughed."Vinca minor 's got a bit of a crush."

"John, shut up !"mat said, his cheeks turning red.

Amanda and rosiness burst out in laughter."Seriously ?"Amanda said.

"Yeah, we had detention in there once,"John explained."Vinca minor spent the solid time flirting with Matt. It was hilarious."

"I said, shut it !"Matt shouted.

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

"I 'm not going. I refuse."

"Fine,"toilet said."Suit yourself. grow ?"

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

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

They did n't bother bringing the invisibility Cloak since there was still an hour left until curfew. On their way there, they spotted Peeves unscrewing pendant in honor of Apr mark 's Day, but ignored his cackles.

Albus watched the map as they went. Malfoy remained in the lavatory as they walked quickly belt down trajectory of stairs. But they got stuck on the stairs leading to the second base corridor, after the stairs decided to result them directly to the 1st story rather than the second.

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

"Maybe we can take in him on his way back to the donjon,"Amanda suggested.

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

Their electric current location gave them an excellent survey of the Great Hall. A few Ministry officials were currently carrying bit 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 religion of Magic.

Saint John nudged Albus."There he is."

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

"Malfoy,"Albus said.

"Potter,"Malfoy replied.

Albus suddenly had no estimation 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 stairs, perfectly innocently. He 'd feature to be really deliberate about it.

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

So much for being careful, Albus thought.

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

"Yes, you were,"Amanda said."I was in there, too. Second floor, Moaning Myrtle 's privy ? Ring any bells ?"

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

"Next time check a bit harder,"Amanda said."I was in the last stall and when I heard you come in I had to persist there because you 're a bloke and it would just be weird to come out of a bathroom stall and total case to grimace with a bloke. I heard you talking to myrtle, though."

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

"Then do n't conduct your business in a girl 's loo,"Amanda said with a laugh."Let 's go. We do n't need to miss the news about the new diplomatic minister. Clearly Malfoy 's a bit unhinged."

Amanda turned and set off up the stairs. Albus, lavatory, 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 full moon.

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

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

"That 's brilliant,"lavatory 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,"bathroom said."The exclusively way you 'd catch me in a girl 's loo is if you paid me a cargo 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 rough-cut room."

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

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

"James River, it 's not even eight-thirty yet,"Albus pointed out."They wo n't be back for at to the lowest degree a half hour."

"Oh, right."

rose and Matt were in the midsection of a biz of chess. Matt was losing spectacularly.

"Did you find him ?"Matt asked as blush wine 's bishop crushed his queen.

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

"Of course he did n't,"Matt 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."

"Wish I could 've seen that. I 've always wanted to secernate off Malfoy."

"You should 've come,"bathroom said."We did n't even see Myrtle."

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

Rose instructed her horse to move stuffy to lusterlessness 's king."Checkmate.

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

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

Albus, 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 board. Rose 's tabby was most definitely grinning maliciously. Over the next half hour Kaden 's spell were viciously slaughtered by Rose 's, but not without putting up a fight. Kaden was in fact getting undecomposed.

"Exploding Snap ?"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 Snap cards. As he returned, the portraiture hole opened.

The entire common room froze and was silent. Not a exclusive person moved. Not a single soul said a word. Even the first gear long time, who had been tossing a Quaffle around, were still. Albus stood on the bottom footprint to the dormitory room and waited.

Bradley walked inside, followed by Cedric. Neither seemed overly excited, but that did n't entail that Sir Henry Percy had n't won. After all, they, like Albus, did n't really want Sir Henry Percy to be Minister, but they did n't require Laurentis as government minister either.

"fountainhead ?"James asked.

"Dad lost,"Thomas Bradley said quietly. He whispered something to Saint James and then he turned and left the usual 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 support of Harry Potter. Did n't that think of anything anymore ?

Albus returned to his supporter 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."will she do everything she said she was going to do ?"

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

James walked up to the mesa."Al, Rose, we 're all going to the way of necessity. Bradley and Cedric want to give us more details."He glanced the rest of the radical."Sorry, family only."

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

Albus, James, and rosebush walked to the room of Requirement in silence. When they arrived they saw that the door was already there. They walked inside.

The quietus of their full cousin had already arrived. Albus took a seat on the terminal rest couch and James and rose wine sat on either side of him. Nobody was speaking, so he glanced around and watched all of his cousins.

Bradley, Cedric, Heather, mark, Ben, Fred, Victor-Marie Hugo, Lily, Saint James the Apostle, rosebush, and Angie. And himself. They were the midway chemical group of first cousin. Not the quondam, not the youngest, but the ones in the middle, who never did anything first and never did anything shoemaker's last. They were n't the first of all to go to Hogwarts and they would n't be the last to graduate. They stood by each early, through the ripe and through the bad.

Bradley and Cedric were n't seated. They were standing at the movement of the room, near its door. The entire way was decorated like the den in the Burrow, with mismatched furniture and organized Chaos everywhere. Albus liked it.

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

"How did he take it ?"ling asked.

"Graciously,"Omar Nelson Bradley answered."Thanked everyone for their reenforcement and shook Laurentis 's hand, of course."

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

"Is it frightful that I 'm happy he lost ?"Cedric asked as he squeezed onto the couch between James and Albus."Because I am, sort of."

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

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

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

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

The room descended into silence. cypher seemed to know what to say, Albus included. His feel on his uncle becoming rector had been all over the place for the past seven months, but now that Percy had actually lost, all Albus felt was disappointment. It was unusual. Just last workweek he had been sort of hoping Percy would lose, and now that he had, Albus felt the complete opposite.

It was already past times curfew for Lily, Hugo, and Angie, but nobody was telling them to go back to the vulgar room. Albus was vaguely curious about what was going on in the common elbow room, but not curious enough to actually go back. matt, John, Kaden, and Amanda would tell him later.

What Albus was really concern about, Thomas 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 deepen the school, but Albus liked it the way it was. Then there were the changes to the Ministry, such as the dementors. How long would it choose for Laurentis to bring them back ? Surely she had to go through proper television channel to do it.

James, Bradley, and Cedric were the number 1 to devolve to the common elbow room, claiming they had to make respectable on all the bets 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 elbow room of Requirement.

When they returned Matt, John, 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 Minister of conjuring trick ?"John asked.

"Well, yes,"Amanda said."The two Earth do feature to coexist. Sometimes there are trouble that affect both. Voldemort, for example. And Hartwell personally told my uncle about the get by Death Eaters."

"That 's so weird,"John said.

"I told you about it earlier in the year,"Amanda pointed out."That 's the only reason I got to go to Hogwarts. My parents changed their minds at the go moment and happened to mention 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-bodied to go to Hogwarts because their parents do n't believe."

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

"I think we all need a distraction,"Rose said and turned to Kaden, whose face was covered in ash."softwood out the cards again. Let 's make for until we 're too tired."

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


A/N : Sorry for the of late update ! My natal day is tomorrow so I had friends up for the weekend and completely forgot. Thanks for all the reviews !


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

LAURENTIS WINS ; BEGINS APPOINTING attitude

In the closest race for government minister of Magic to
date, candidate Patricia Laurentis won the
position last night. pate closed at eight,
with the official winner announced at a shut down
party at the Minister 's sign of the zodiac at eight-thirty.
Laurentis won by a mere 342 ballot, which is the
close slipstream we have ever seen.

'I am of grade very pleased with this turn of events of
events ,'Laurentis said at the minister 's
Mansion after the proclamation was made .'I am
very excited to be sworn in as Minister of
Magic on May first. I feel I will be able to
move over the public what they need, for they have
spoken and now it is my responsibility to give them what
I promised during my effort. I of course of action
crack my condolences to Percy Weasley. He truly
was a pleasure to run against over the past
seven months .'

'I offer my congratulations to my adversary ,'Percy
Weasley said to Daily Prophet reporters at the
minister 's Mansion. 'We both campaigned hard
and she won, fair and public square. I am defeated,
of course, but I still congratulate her .'

Over the succeeding month Laurentis will adjudicate who
she wishes to appoint to top Ministry positions,
before she is sworn in as minister of religion of illusion on
May first of this year. Laurentis is wasting no
time with this, as she was seen at the Ministry
earlier this morning .'I already have people
picked out for almost place ,'she said upon
questioning .'I will be keeping a few of the
current official, but I will be replacing quite
a few in order to honorable link the Ministry .'

One person has already confirmed his purpose
to take Laurentis up on her pass of a position.
Ironically, he is set to take aim over Percy Weasley 's
current position under pastor Hartwell .'I am
very pleased to announce that genus Draco Malfoy is
going to take the position of Senior
Undersecretary for the drafting and redaction
of legal philosophy. Draco Malfoy has been a ally of mine
for many geezerhood as we have worked together in the
Azkaban Division for nearly a decade. I am very
excited to carry on working with him .'

Laurentis plans to announce the names of her
officials 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 heart large.

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

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

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

"indorsement highest for drafting natural law,"rosebush said."given his relationship with Laurentis anything he drafts will most likely pass."

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

"I 'm sure as shooting he 'll hold something to say to you in Potions,"Amanda pointed out.

Albus had quite a few hour to look to detect out just what exactly Malfoy would give birth to say to them. History of Magic, his first base class of the day, was as boring as ever. Professor Binns showed absolutely no identification that the election had taken shoes the former day. professor Patil was the utter contrary, making no move to extend up her outrage at Laurentis 's win, which led her to fluff up the desk she was attempting to transfigure.

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

Albus shook his brain."Only if they 're really awful teachers. Umbridge sacked a few in my dad 's fifth year and I think people will be outraged if Laurentis does the Same thing. Honestly, I think Binns and Young are the only ones in danger."

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

"He 'd probably adhere around and still try to learn,"Albus said."I ca n't opine it would go over well."

"And Young ca n't get sacked,"John Lackland 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 Quaker arrived after dejeuner. Gone from his side was the faze and partially sad look, replaced by Malfoy 's common haughty smug. Clearly his dad getting a top Ministry position had changed something.

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

"I 'll be sure to tell him,"Albus replied."He 'll be thrilled that he made a Malfoy felicitous. Must be nice that your dad 's got some actual power now."

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

"Nothing 's set for sure about the Auror department,"Albus countered.

Malfoy laughed."I think I might know a bit to a greater extent than you on that. Laurentis was over at my menage for dinner last week."

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

"It never came up."

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

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

"Touchy,"whoremaster commented.

"Stuff it, Brickston. This does n't worry you. Your parents will feature power in the Ministry the day Hagrid adopts a formula pet."

"We 'll see who 's got the power the moment one of your fellowship winds up at St. Mungo 's,"john snapped.

Malfoy paled."Just exclude up. The stage is, my dad 's going to have a safe position than yours."

"nonentity cares what your dad does for a keep,"Matt said.

"cipher asked you. At least my dad does n't bestow his work abode with him."Malfoy laughed.

whoremonger 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."

"Wands away, boys."

Albus turned and saw Professor Slughorn standing in the doorway. He breathed a sigh of relief. The last matter John needed was another detention.

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

Both lav 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 sense that Slughorn did n't like handing out custody, probably because that meant having to supervise them.
***


The following few days passed without anymore emplacement announcements from Laurentis. In fact, it was a relatively restrained few days, especially when compared with the past seven months. For the starting time meter all twelvemonth, there was little reportage of the election, that is until they had politics on Tuesday. At the end of the lesson, Embry reminded them of their research essays on their representatives, an duty assignment that had completely slipped Albus 's mind. It was due in two days.

Apparently, it had slipped whoremonger and Matt 's minds as well. rosiness and Amanda had been diligently working on theirs all week, only needing to indite their finish. Amanda had even asked her uncle for supporter, devoting share of her essay to the similarities and conflict between the wizarding and Muggle governments.

"I guess we 'll be spending the evening in the library,"Albus said as they headed to the Great Hall for dinner."

"Dammit,"matte muttered."I 'm going to feature to write the entire matter tonight. The replete moon 's tomorrow."

"Usually you 're very much better about remembering to do assignments before that,"Rose commented.

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

"But you 'll be missing social class on Thursday,"trick pointed out."So you can turn it in Tuesday and get four additional days."

"I 've never done that with semipermanent assignments,"Matt said."I do n't want to start now. Albus can turn it in, like usual."

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

"Hey, Amanda, want to choose a walk around the lake before we write our conclusions ?"pink wine asked."The weather 's so nice 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 minutes later Albus, Matt, John, and Kaden had taken over one of the larger tables in the library. Kaden had joined them since he had a Transfiguration essay due the next day and prophecy predictions to do. Albus was considering hexing two showtime years at the table side by side to them who kept giggling, if Madam Pince did n't get to them first. He wished that one of his friends lived in his territory ; it would make this so much easier.

Albus did take in a discrete advantage over both Matt and bathroom, in that his representative was far More well-known than theirs. Oliver Prang, who had been serving the North Greater London district, was on his fourth serial term, which amounted to over fifteen years. That was more than than Albus 's entire life. London in itself was a location that required far more care than other expanse of the land, which resulted in far more information being uncommitted on it. John was capable to place a honest amount of data on his representative, Nadine Abernathy, but lusterlessness, since he lived in one of the most remote expanse of England, had trouble locating selective information on Marcus Whitby.

"doe this bloke even be ?"matte asked as he looked through the very lowest archived transcript 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 reference he won the election. And of grade he won. He did n't have any opponents."flatness groaned and banged his brain repeatedly on the table."This is hopeless."

"You 've still got all the minutes from Wizengamot meetings,"Albus said, pointing to the three big raft of composition in the midriff of the table. He really did feel bad for matt, though. It was bad enough having to do a paper like this, but having to do it when the fully moonlight was only two daytime away ?

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

"Embry probably knows everything about everyone,"John said."There. I 've got my intro. bet at it this way. Your fella 's only been in office for a yr. So you 've got far less lug to look through. It wo n't take as long."

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

"A bit."John shrugged."Nadine Abernathy 's on her s term, so there 's not as practically as Albus has got. But I read enough to drop a line the intro. Now I 'll learn a bit more."

"You have a uncanny way of doing research."

Albus glanced up and saw that Rose 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 voltaic pile, which was so chaotic that lady Pince would probably have a ticker onslaught if she saw it. He then let out a loud sigh and put his headspring in his hands.

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

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

"His instance has only been in spot for a year,"Albus explained."And the only thing he 's found is one sentence in a Prophet from a class ago saying he won the election, which was against nobody. And the full moon is tomorrow."

"Please, Rose ?"Matt asked, picking his caput up to look at her. His face was flushed and he looked very frustrated.

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

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

Rose sighed."fine. But only because you look so pathetic. And mine was pretty hard, too, because my district is also distant. Just let me finish my conclusion."

"Lucky,"Gospel According to John muttered."I do n't suppose you 'd help-"

"Absolutely not, trick Brickston,"Rose said and lowered her representative."As soon as you turn into a woman chaser once a month I 'll help you with your procrastination."

Albus turned back to his own essay and over the future four hours managed to get it half done. He did n't cerebrate it was very upright, but it was progress. John the Evangelist was about halfway done as well, so the two of them decided to call it a night. King John settled in to help Kaden with his fake divination predictions. Matt was still working on his, with much coaching job from Rose.

"Did you receive anything ?"Albus asked.

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

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

"A pes,"Rose answered."You 've got another four inches to go."

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

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

"We should probably finish in the unwashed room, then,"Rose said.

"I do n't retrieve I can,"mat said."Too tired. I 'll complete it tomorrow since I 'll probably skip afternoon form anyway."

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

"No compulsory curfew tomorrow,"Kaden commented as they entered the vulgar room.

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

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

"I just desire your dad was capable to assist those parents with the two Thomas Kyd,"rose wine said.

"He 'll probably go do the wards himself,"flatness said."At least for this calendar month. And I 'm certain they 've got Wolfsbane this month."

Albus nodded. It was going to be a substantially full moon for everyone involved.
***


Albus, lusterlessness, and John managed to get their essays done in fourth dimension and turned in on Thursday. The full Moon was relatively normal, as entire moons go, without any reports of werewolf onset. Matt wound up in the hospital wing for two to the full daylight, having resorted to chewing on himself since the wolf no longer had the misdirection of Greyback outside. But Albus had a notion Matt preferred it that way. Greyback 's mien was just too creepy and too unknown.

A few twenty-four hour period after the fully moon James returned to the common way fuming. Albus raised his brow at his blood brother as he straightened a mint of life history pamphlet that had once again appeared on the common elbow room tables.

James stomped over to Albus 's board, pulled up a chair, and squeezed himself between Albus and lusterlessness."Career advice,"he muttered.

"Did you just ingest it ?"Albus asked.

"Yeah, with Longbottom,"St. James said."Neville always seemed so skillful when we were little and even in socio-economic class he 's easily the best professor here. But for career advice ? He 's frightful !"

"Well, what did you talk about ?"

"Careers."

rosiness snorted."Obviously."

"He wants me to beak something now. I do n't be intimate what I want to do with my life history. I 'm only 16 for God 's sake !"

"I think you have to pick something so you can pick your N.E.W.T. stratum next year,"blush wine explained."Otherwise the teachers do n't lie with what to put you in."

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

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

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

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

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

"And of grade Neville did n't like that,"blush wine said."Honestly, St. James, just pick something."

"But I ca n't !"Henry James said as he picked up a good deal of pamphlet."smell at these. Goblin inter-group communication, Gringott 's forgery Coin Checker, Security round Trainer. They 're all utter boring."

"There 's oodles of jobs in the Ministry and St. Mungo 's,"rosebush said.

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

Albus had to fit in with that. James had about the same ability to decoct as a troll."Hey, you could civilize security trolls."

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

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

"Of form you do,"James muttered.

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

"Me either,"Kaden agreed.

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

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

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

"If you 'd discontinue complaining and start studying you 'd overtake more of them,"Rose pointed out.

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

"James, wait !"Rose shouted as St. James neared the portraiture hole."Forgetting anything ?"

James glanced down."Oh, right. Books."

Saint James the Apostle ran up to his dormitory and returned with his bag a minute later. Grinning at Albus and the others, he left the mutual room.

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

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

"More than ever,"rosiness said."It is weird, knowing exactly what I want to do this early."

"You 're like my sister,"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 lie with what you want to do ?"

lusterlessness laughed and picked up the Gringott 's pamphlet."Considering that werewolves are n't going to be changed from animate being to Beings anytime soon, I do n't believe I 'm going to let many choice to pick from."

"You never know,"rosebush said."Who knows what will happen between now and when we graduate. Things could change."

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

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

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

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

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

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

"You can do that,"Matt said."You can become a Brewer. My sis 's doing that along with her Healing degree."

Kaden 's eyes grew enceinte."Wait, really ? That 's a existent career ?"

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

"variety of like a chemist, I suppose,"Amanda replied.

"Exactly,"blush wine said.

"Brilliant."Kaden grinned."James will hate me now. Third year and I know what I 'm doing."

Albus laughed."You could change your mind."

Kaden shrugged."I suppose so."

Albus did n't really want to retrieve about what they would do after Hogwarts. It was three eld away. He 'd rather enjoy the present, but Rose had always been the person to look to the time to come. She fantasized about their Hogwarts years when they were only six and now, she was fantasizing about what they 'd do after. Albus had never been the character to do that. There would be plenty of prison term for the future in the future.


A/N : Thanks for all the reexamination ! For those of you who read Beyond the darkness, it made it through to the voting round of the Dobbys ! Head over to the meeting place to vote for it. It was nominated in the Charles Herbert Best OC category.


April went by quickly, as it usually did. The weather turned from chilly and windy to warm and rainy, resulting in more than one muddy Quidditch practice. Albus did n't listen the mud as much as he minded the length of the recitation. Both Fred and heather mixture seemed determined to win the Quidditch Cup now that it was their seventh year. They had n't won it yet, in all their years 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, about of Albus 's sentence was spent at dueling recitation. The final match of the year was on the finally Sabbatum in April and Albus 's team was still in the running for a win of the entire tourney. They had n't won a one match, but they were routinely in second place by only a few points. The team that had gotten first billet never did that well in other tournament, resulting in their overall point aggregate being quite low.

When the in conclusion Sabbatum in Apr arrived, far earlier than Albus would 've liked, he found himself incredibly nervous. He was n't flighty at all about his duel, but he was spooky for the team. This was it. It was his last tournament in the Junior Dueling tourney. His last chance to prove himself as master and earn a berth on Gryffindor 's dueling squad succeeding year.

All four captain of the business firm dueling teams were award at this tournament because they would be bridge player selecting players for their teams next year. Unlike Quidditch, there were no try-outs for the dueling tournament.

"last-place tournament being on Malfoy 's team,"Amanda commented as Malfoy dueled a young lady from Ravenclaw.

"Thank God,"Albus muttered. He could n't wait 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 matt Eckerton."

Albus groaned inwardly. He always felt awful when he had to duel lusterlessness because their skill stage were so drastically unlike. At the Lapplander sentence he did n't want to go easy on his friend because the Gryffindor team police captain was watching.

Albus and lustrelessness bowed to each other and raised their scepter. Albus thought a silent apology as he shot a ravisher at his best acquaintance. Matt dodged it and sent one back. Albus threw up a cuticle and then sent three serial beauty. The tierce one made touch and Matt collapsed onto the floor, frozen.

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

"Sorry, partner,"Albus said as he helped Matt up.

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

Albus won his irregular affaire d'honneur as well. His squad continued to win most of their affaire d'honneur, with some of his teammates winning their first affaire d'honneur ever. Amanda had begun a tally of all the point in time on a surplus bit of parchment and their team was winning, with only a few duels 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 happy and upset about.

A few minutes later Neville stepped into the center of one of the dueling pack."I am pleased to announce that we have a achiever of both today 's tourney and the class 's tourney overall. Congratulations to Team heptad for winning both today and the tournament boilersuit ! maitre d' Albus ceramist, please come forward to assume the trophy."

Albus was momentarily stunned, until Amanda nudged him. The stallion 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 bridge player while a Hufflepuff took their scene. The trophy was a bit modest than the Quidditch Cup, but certainly not small by any mean value. After a few more pictures were taken, including one stroke of the entire squad, Albus joined Amanda and the two of them walked back to the common room.

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

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

"You 're pretty a good deal 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 plebeian way when he and Amanda arrived. They offered congratulation and Butterbeer, which Albus drank quickly before heading outside for Quidditch practice.

Later that night, between his felicity about the win and exhaustion from Quidditch practice, Albus slept easily than he had in month.
***


In Apr 's last leftover days the Daily Prophet published at least one article a day on Laurentis and her coming swearing-in ceremony, as well as her picks for top official. Albus had n't recognized any epithet of the officials, or the name calling of their caper. Mostly they were Book of Job such as the one his Uncle Percy held under parson Hartwell. Laurenits, as it seemed, was waiting until she became Minister to reveal the big positions, such as Albus 's dad 's position.

The Gryffindor table was unusually quiet the morning time of May first. Albus, along with all his cousins, were n't saying a word. Albus was thinking of his uncle Walker 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 vaticinator."It 's not going to be the Same reading about it tomorrow."

"I heard they 're listening to it on the wireless in political sympathies today,"John said."Wish we had it today. That would be much better than having actual class."

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

"Will he be completely sacked ?"Kaden asked.

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

"Saame here,"Matt agreed."Amy said that Dad 's really neural about it."

"What time is it happening ?"Rose asked.

"Ten-thirty,"Amanda said after consulting the newspaper publisher.

"right field after story of conjuring trick,"rosebush mused."So you lot will have Care of Magical creature and I 'll have Arithmancy. Is anyone else thinking that we should part out Uncle George VI 's best-selling production this aurora ?"

Albus thought he heard her haywire. Was his cousin actually suggesting they skip class ?

"Wait, rosiness,"lavatory 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 meet in the piranha 's Den to listen on the wireless."

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

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

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

rosebush nodded."That leaves five of us. flatness, do you have an issue with skipping all of story of conjuration ?"

Matt laughed."Of form not."

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

"Aw, why ca n't I do that ?"john 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 only one of us in that class. Al, lavatory, Amanda, two of you can use something in chronicle of conjuration and then the early one can use something right at the start of tending of Magical Creatures. We meet in the vulture 's Den by ten-thirty."

With the design decided upon, they set off for their morning socio-economic class. John begged to be the one who used a puking pastille first in story of Magic and Albus and Amanda let him. He seemed strangely excited about it. Albus was just going to use the fever fudge.

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

"Um, Professor ?"trick announced ten moment into the class.

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

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

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

whoremaster hastily shoved the other end of the sweetness into his sass and vanished the vomit before grabbing his bag ( which he never unpacked ), and left the way.

Amanda was next. She, like Albus, went the safe road and had decided upon the fever fudge. prof Binns hardly seemed to discover 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 febrility fudge right then and there, but he did n't recollect it was worth the modest jeopardy.

Albus decided to eat the fever fudge on his way to care of Magical Creatures so he could leave immediately after arriving. The Marauder 's Den was quite a walk from Hagrid 's hut and he did n't want to miss any of the ceremony.

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

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

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

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

Hagrid 's cheek fell."Yeh don'look so well. wagerer 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 febricity fudge into his oral fissure and felt immediately better. He 'd done it !

By the time 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 tuner.

"Albus !"Rose exclaimed."Nearly thought you would n't make it !"

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

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

"commodity cockcrow, listeners. We are broadcasting survive from Courtroom Ten in the Ministry of trick, where just minutes from now Patricia Laurentis will be sworn in as Minister of magic for the United Kingdom. It is standing room only in the court, with additional watcher in the corridor."

Suddenly there was thunderous applause, drowning out the commentator 's voice. 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 of religion Hartwell, along with members of the Wizengamot are seated on the dais. Three senior member of the Wizengamot will swear Laurentis in."

Thomas More applause. Then a new voice. Albus recognized it as Minister Hartwell.

"Welcome to the Ministry of conjuration. It has been my pleasure to serve you over the preceding ten years. I 'd like to take a moment to thank my party, Merlinus, for their sustenance over the past decade, as well as all of my top officials and the relaxation of the Ministry employees. I 'll observe this curtly and just say that I am going to drop serving you, but I have to admit that both my wife and I are looking forward to taking a nice, long holiday."

Laughter, followed by clapping.

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

"I do hereby avow to serve the United Kingdom-"

"-to the best of my ability-"

"-to the Charles Herbert Best of my ability-"

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

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

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

"I swear to listen 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 adjudge Patricia Laurentis as the third base rector of Magic post-War as of the first of May, 2020, at eleven o'clock in the aurora. Ms. Laurentis, kudos. Please welcome your new Minister of Magic, Patricia Laurentis !"

There was a handful of polite applause, much tranquil than the previous applause for Hartwell. Albus supposed it was a sober function and no one wanted to seem too rapturous.

"That was quick,"Albus said.

"She 's going to pass water a spoken communication now,"Rose said."Shhh."

"Thank you,"Laurentis said as the applause died down."It is an pureness to be standing before you as your Minister of Magic. I would like to lead off by thanking the Paracelsus party for nominating me as nominee and supporting me throughout my successful campaign-"

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

"Shut up !"Rose said.

"-without your financial support I would never take made it this far. I hope I am able to know up to the high expectations set by you and parson Hartwell. I am sure you are all anxious to take heed who I am appointing to Head of department positions in the Ministry, so I wo n't waste any clock time getting to that."

Albus 's core sped up. He glanced up and met matt 's gaze. Matt looked just as nervous as Albus felt.

"get-go, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. I am pleased to announce that Aplysia Balladanis will be taking over for onetime Head, Reena Barnes."

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

"Balladanis ?"rosebush shouted at the same meter."But he did n't even like the Ministry, did he ?"

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

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

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

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

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

"-Robert Lyndon Baines Johnson will be replacing Harry ceramist as headspring of the Auror Department-"

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

"I understand that this is a controversial choice, but I feel that the Ministry needs to be a united front man. I assure you that Robert Andrew Johnson is an excellent Auror and will make a rattling Head of Department."

Albus tuned the tuner out once Laurentis went on to the section of Magical exile. He could hear his heart pound in his head and the residual of the world seemed so far away. It was almost surreal.

"Albus ?"pink wine asked."Are you all right ?"

"I do n't get it on,"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 financial statement 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-bodied to put into words what he felt."first Uncle Sir Henry Percy lost and now this."

"-Walter Eckerton will remain straits of the Department for the Regulation and control condition of Magical Creatures-"

"Thank God !"Matt exclaimed.

"good,"Albus said."At least there 's someone sane still in a top dog position."

Albus only paid obscure attention to the balance of the announcements. He did n't recognize anyone, except for Malfoy 's dad when Laurentis reiterated that appointment. One thing was clear by the end, and that was no one in Albus 's phratry was in any of the head word post.

rose wine switched the wireless off at the end of Laurentis 's speech. The wizard doing the broadcast was interviewing a few people, but they were n't anyone of great importance.

"Do you want to go to lunch ?"Rose asked after a few minutes.

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

It was clear that word had spread when Albus and his friend reached the Great Hall. Whichever grade had had politics during the words must 've shared the newsworthiness with the intact castle, because everyone stared at Albus as he walked in. He did n't nominate eye contact with anyone and made a beeline for the Gryffindor tabular array, where he sat down next to James.

"So you heard,"James II said quietly.

"I skived off class to take heed unrecorded,"Albus explained."She wants a merge ministry. What a lading of Draco dung."

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

"She 's replaced more officials than any minister, ever,"rose wine commented."She only kept three."

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

"Nothing she 's doing makes a bit of sense,"Albus muttered."But I guess people must wish her. She got elected."

"But now that she 's elected she can appoint 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 world for four twelvemonth 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 never-ending. It was formula for him. Now, he did n't know what to think.

"face,"Amanda said as she pointed to the staff mesa."I do n't think the teacher expected it, either."

Albus glanced up. Every single prof was deep in conversation, some even ignoring their intellectual nourishment. Neville in peculiar looked astounded and turn over. None of them looked happy.

Albus 's own scale was still empty and he had no desire to fill it. For as long as he could remember his dad had been Head of the Auror Department, a job that he loved. Being the man who defeated Voldemort had given him an air of being the ultimate Auror, something that had stayed with him for over twenty years. Now, so many years 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 ironic that this had happened almost to the day, 23 years later.

Albus looked around at his gent Gryffindors. He knew that more than a few of them had voted for Laurentis, and therefore most potential supported her decision to replace his dad as pass of the Auror section. Not everyone was talking in whispers, with worried face. A few groups were laughing, like they did n't have a concern in the humans. Either they just did n't deal about Laurentis 's decision, 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 Minister of magic trick. He did n't like it at all.


A/N : Thanks for all the lovely reviews !


The following calendar week brought a mess of article stating and re-stating everything Laurentis said in that first base language. A list of the new Ministry functionary was printed multiple times. Albus found the editorials more interesting than the existent articles, mostly because there were quite a few proclaiming how stupid it was of Laurentis to sack Harry Potter. However, it was n't until nearly a week after Laurentis officiall became minister of religion that an article completely captured Albus 's attending was published.

DEMENTORS TO takings TO AZKABAN ;
HOGWARTS TO SEE CHANGES

Newly elected Minister of magic trick
Patricia Laurentis officially signed
the law that will bring Azkaban back
under the command of the dementors
late last nighttime. Laurentis hopes
to hold the dementors back by late
next hebdomad. 'This has been a destination
of mine for eld and I am very
happy that it is finally happening.
The wizarding cosmos will be far
safer now that our malefactor will
be guarded once more by dementors .'

delivery the dementors back to Azkaban
is the first of many variety the new
curate will be enacting over the
next few hebdomad. Laurentis 's next
programme is to enact changes at Hogwarts.
'Over the future few weeks I will be
sending voice from the
section of Magical Education to
observe each professor. Each
professor will be required to bow
their programme to the representatives
as well .'Professors planning on
retiring at the end of this twelvemonth
will be let off from this requirement,
as no changes will lease shoes before
the end of term.

"fountainhead, she 's done it,"Albus said as he set the article down."A week from now Azkaban will give dementors."

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

"And she 's sending people to discover the teachers,"Albus said.

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

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

As if on cue, prof Kendrick stood up."May I have your care ? Thank you. Most of you, I am sure, have read the Prophet. Over the following few weeks every professor will be observed during one of his or her classes. I ask you all to push aside the representative and go about category as if they were n't there. That is how the Ministry will best get an understanding of how things work at Hogwarts. Now, professor Slughorn has an announcement to make."

Professor Slughorn stood, although he was so short that it hardly made a difference. He looked a bit skittish and Albus got the look that he rarely ever addressed the entire bookman body at once.

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

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

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

"What about Young ?"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,"John said.

rosebush groaned."And in our O.W.L. yr, too."

"Do n't say that Word !"James IV, who was sitting about five fanny down from Rose, shouted.

blush wine raised her eyebrows."What intelligence ?"

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

"Guess you should 've started studying earlier,"rosiness said.

"Shut up,"James muttered.

James was n't the lonesome one to have forgotten about O.W.L.s amidst all the election news. There seemed to be more frantic studying than usual, and not just from the fifth and seventh years. The stallion castle had neglected to study for their end-of-term examination. Later that night Albus, John, Rose, Amanda, and Kaden joined the throngs of people vying for tabular array in the library in order of magnitude to cram in as much perusal as possible. lusterlessness could n't join them, as it was the replete lunation.

However, Albus had a surd time concentrating. His every opinion was focused on the dementors in Azkaban or his dad 's job or the Ministry representatives at Hogwarts. blush wine, 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 skilful time ?"

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

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

"That was weird,"blush wine said once the two male child left.

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

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

Albus had assumed that this would be a prank that would make itself known right away, as most of John and Kaden 's pranks worked that way. But by the side by side morning things seemed perfectly fine at Hogwarts. The Slytherins'hairsbreadth was still normal colors and everything seemed still and quieten. King John and Kaden kept grinning at each early, so Albus was sure enough they 'd done something.

It took another full-of-the-moon day for things to pick up. Albus first noticed it at breakfast, when some of the Slytherins seemed a bit unsettle. They were squirming in their arse and did n't seem capable to sit still. But it was only a few of them.

Albus raised his eyebrows questioningly at St. John the Apostle and Kaden.

"Should we tell him ?"John Lackland asked.

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

Albus started laughing."Seriously ?"

Kaden nodded."Completely untraceable and the effects wo n't all get along at once. It all depends on when they send their laundry out."

"That 's genius,"Albus said. privy and Kaden 's trick were most definitely improving over the years.

"What 's whiz ?"

Albus looked up from his breakfast to see matt nudging a foremost year over so that he could sit down in future to John.

"madam Pomfrey let you out ?"Albus asked.

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

"We did our prank on the Slytherins,"can explained and then lowered his representative."Itching gunpowder in their laundry. The house-elves helped."

"Okay, that is somewhat awesome,"Matt said."You wo n't get caught, either."

"Nope, it 's not belike,"King John said."So, what should we do today ?"

"Study."

Albus looked up once more and saw that this metre rosiness and Amanda had appeared, both heavily ladened down with Koran and rafts of sheepskin. They wore identical looks of determination.

"You 're all studying. All day,"Rose continued."test are in a calendar month and none of us are prepared. The election happened, it sucked, but it 's over. cypher can be done. Albus, you 've been moping about your dad 's job for a workweek. John the Evangelist, Kaden, I 'm find that you do well this twelvemonth. lusterlessness, the full moon is over. All four of you are studying from now until exams."

"Aw, Rose, c'mon-"

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

rosebush and Amanda left in a flourish of sheepskin and Holy Scripture, leaving Albus and the other male child to stare at each early open-mouthed. Albus knew his first cousin was very academic and placed a richly value on her own Education, but never before had she staged an treatment for his studying.

"She 's lost her mind,"John said."If she 's like this now, what will happen following year for O.W.L.s ?"

"Do n't say that Scripture !"James I shouted from down the table.

"I suppose we have n't got a choice, do we ?"matte asked as he shoved his bollock into his mouthpiece."Damn, I only just got back."

That was dead on target, Albus thought. He and his Quaker quickly finished their breakfast and hurried up to the library, realizing once they arrived that they did n't make any of their books. They ran up to their dormitories to retrieve them and made it to the depository library five minute later than rose wine insisted they be there.

Rose and Amanda had shoved two board together and had spread all their books out over them. madam Pince was sitting behind the circulation desk, looking at them curiously, as if she could not think of a prison term mortal had frequented the depository library that early. The rest of the tabular array were deserted.

"What 's with the surplus chair ?"Albus asked as he dumped his volume onto the table."There 's only six of us."

"Oh, that 's for Elsie,"blush wine said as she set parchment down at each rear end.

"As in Elsie Willinson ?"Albus replied.

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

"But she 's Felix Willinson 's sister,"John pointed out.

"And she needs help, John,"pink wine said with a sigh."I 've been tutoring her all year and I 'm not going to hold back now."

Matt nudged bathroom."It 's not a bad affair. Maybe she 'll tell us what her sidekick and Malfoy have been up to all year."

Albus had n't thought of that. Of course, blush wine had n't had any luck getting Elsie to blab out all year, so chances were slim that he and the early boys would have winner.

"Honestly, you lot are far too focused on Malfoy,"Rose said."You 've hardly studied all year. Just sit down and start reviewing transfiguration. I 've made field of study guides for every bailiwick. You should throw them at your spots."

Albus picked a seat and sat down. Rose was organized to the stage of insanity. There were in fact report guides for every subject area, organized chronologically, from Sept until May. Albus was suddenly very grateful for his cousin, despite her obvious insanity. This was going to shit studying so often easier.

"Wow, thanks rosebush,"Albus said. The rest of the group muttered their accord.

Rose smiled."See ? It was a good estimation. Now, we 'll study until lunch and then suffer a break."

dejeuner was about two hour away. That was n't too bad. Albus opened his Transfiguration Day book and settled in with that and the study templet. It took him about a half 60 minutes to work on through distractions, but soon his mind was only focused on Transfiguration.

Around him, the library quickly filled up. Fifth and one-seventh years seemed the most frantic about finding tabular array and searching the stacks, but student from every year and every house were present. madam Pince spent the morning weaving throughout the tables and looking over everyone 's berm to make sure they were working on shoal work. With exams so near, the 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 mesa, clearly unsure of studying with so many people. 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 siblings. But Felix and Elsie Willinson were incredibly exchangeable in looks.

Once Rose noticed Elsie, she immediately stood up and beckoned the first year over. Elsie seemed less unquiet now that rose wine knew she was there, but she still avoided eye inter-group communication as she sat down and pulled her ledger out of her bag. Rose whispered something in her ear and she began reading her charms book of account.

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


rosebush 's revision sessions continued throughout the month of May. Albus did n't like to accept it out meretricious, but they were incredibly helpful and he was n't certainly he would go through his exams if it were n't for Rose. As the calendar month progressed, the academic term grew both in length and the figure of participants. By the end of the for the first time week their study group had grown to include James, Ben, Cedric, and their friend Nathan, who all now feared failing their O.W.L.s.

Albus and Saint James missed a few Roger Huntington Sessions for Quidditch practice, but as the Quidditch final drew finisher, both of them agreed that Quidditch was just as important as studying. Bradley and Heather were becoming more than and more anxious about the concluding, since it would determine whether Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup. They were currently only a few point behind Ravenclaw and if they pulled off a win in the final, they would most probable win the cup as well.

The compeer took shoes a week before O.W.L.s were scheduled to start and Albus awoke more nervous than he had been for a Quidditch equal in long time. The match itself was going to be bittersweet since it would be the last time he played with Heather and Fred as the other Chasers on Gryffindor 's squad. succeeding year he 'd receive two new pursuer and that was going to be incredibly unknown.

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

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

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

Once in the Entrance Hall, Malfoy immediately ran up the stairway, going far too debauched for Albus to follow. Albus stood following to the door to the Great Hall thinking about what Malfoy 's activity meant.

He was clearly upset about something, but what was it ? The all-night bag implied that he was going to be leaving the rook, 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 missive Albus and Amanda saw Malfoy reading months ago was connected as well.

Albus did n't mention Malfoy to his supporter when they came down to breakfast a few arcminute later. As much as Albus wanted to talk about it with them, he knew that he needed to put it out of his nous for the duration of the match. If there was ever a match for Albus not to be distracted, this was it.

The mettle on the team were palpable as they stood waiting to walk onto the rake. Fred did n't even give a spoken communication, since everyone knew how important the compeer was, both to Fred and Heather.

Ravenclaw had a good Quidditch team. They were easily the best team in the school, although to the highest degree Gryffindors would dissent. But the Gryffindor squad was determined in this match, causing them to represent fiercer than ever before.

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

The peer only lasted an 60 minutes. Albus had n't even realized that James caught the sneak until the whistle was blown. Gryffindor won 420-260, their best win yet that year.

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

Albus could n't even listen the commentary over the thunderous applause of the spectator. Professor Longbottom was holding the Quidditch Cup high over his head and was making his way through the crowd to Fred. Fred took the Cup and held it out to Scots heather. Each held one slope and raised it up. The Gryffindors were storming the delivery and Albus was sept up in the crowd, making it difficult to get hold of his team. Once he did, mortal snapped their picture.

Albus was the happiest he 'd felt in weeks, ever since his team won the Dueling Tournament. It was his third year on the Quidditch squad and they finally won the Cup. But he was even more happy for Fred and heather mixture than he was for himself since they 'd both been on the team since their second year and had never won the Cup.

heather mixture had tear streaming down her face and Fred was grinning wider than Albus had ever seen him. While neither of them were pursuing a career in Quidditch, Quidditch had been their lives for the past six years. Winning the Cup in their seventh yr seemed more poignant than it would possess winning it any early year. Albus hoped that Gryffindor 's squad was still as good as it was now when he got to 7th year. Winning again in his last year would be the best tone in the world.
***


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

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

"Weirdly enough, Moaning Myrtle."

"How would she make out ?"

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

"fountainhead, I just found out why he left,"rosebush said as she set down the Prophet."His gramps passed away."

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

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

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

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

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

"And that belly laugh he got months ago,"Kaden added.

Albus glanced at the obituary but did n't scan it. As practically as he disliked Malfoy, he could n't serve but sense no-account for him. Albus could n't imagine what it would be like to turn a loss his grandfather, and despite Lucius Malfoy 's obvious faults, he was still Scorpius 's gramps.

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

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

"Is n't anyone else a bit preoccupied with the fact that Moaning Myrtle knew about him leaving the castle ?"matt asked."She never leaves her loo. We saw Malfoy going into her loo a few calendar week ago. Does n't that seem a bit too coincidental ?"

"You think he 's gotten chummy with Moaning myrtle ?"Albus asked.

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

"But why would he go into a missy 's loo ?"John asked, wrinkling his nose."That 's just fucking insane."

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

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

"We 're not going to bother Malfoy,"Albus said."We 're just going to speak to Myrtle."

"Count me out,"rosebush said, shaking her brain.

"But you 're a female child,"Albus pointed out."You could get in there so practically leisurely. Amanda ?"

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

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

"Not me,"Matt said immediately.

"I 'll go,"John said.

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

Albus may take in been mad, but he could n't let this mystery go. His gut was telling him that Malfoy was up to something, despite his grandfather 's departure, and Albus was determined to find out what it was.


A/N : Sorry that the update is a day late ! I was really busybodied yesterday and did n't receive a chance to update. Thanks for all the endearing revue ! I am very behind on answering them, but I 'll finish eventually !


The plan to utter to myrtle in the dead of nighttime may let been a plan that belonged solely to Albus and John, but rose wine still had somewhat of a say over when it happened. examination were now only a week away and rosebush was only giving them one night off, for sleep and clearing emphasis from the nous. Neither Albus or John dared cross blush wine and skip out on revision, which took lieu in the library until curfew and then in the common way until they all went to bed.

Their one Nox off occurred the nighttime before their first exam. O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s had been going on for a full week, but none of the fifth part or seventh geezerhood were taking any nights off, including James. Despite rose wine 's insistence that he take a night off, Epistle of James insisted upon studying. It was quite a switch.

Albus and John the Divine spent the evening playing Bromus secalinus with Kaden. Matt had turned in ahead of time, still tired from the full moonshine, which had taken stead two years earlier. rose wine and Amanda had disappeared into their dorm room, clearly set upon having some time away from the boys.

The commons room emptied as the night progressed, and eventually John and Albus were the only ones left. It had n't taken long since nearly citizenry went to bed early because of test. It was probably fairly stupid of Albus and lavatory to stay up so tardily, but neither of them cared.

They waited an additional fifteen minutes in subject somebody decided to render to the common room, but no one did. Albus glanced at John and then pulled the invisibleness Cloak and the piranha 's Map out of his bag. He carefully unfolded the map and set it out on the table. The seashore was clear.

Albus and john stumbled out of the portrait pickle and once they righted themselves, Albus threw the Cloak over them, under the Fat Lady 's inexorable gaze.

"Do n't expect me to let you in when you return,"she said."I 'm quite an exhausted."

The Fat Lady was always threatening this but she never seemed to take in good on any of her scourge. Ignoring her, Albus and Saint John the Apostle set off along the corridor. Saint John the Apostle led the way while Albus kept his eyes glued to the Map, but the corridors remained empty. It seemed everyone, both scholar and professors, were getting a good Night 's rest before examination. Everyone that is, except for Albus and John.

Moaning Vinca minor was the entirely occupant of the 2d floor girl 's privy. john quietly pushed the room access open and Albus followed him in. Once inside, Albus pulled the Cloak off and held it under is right arm.

"Vinca minor ?"John shouted as he stepped into the room.

A splashing auditory sensation came from the last stalling and then myrtle 's ghostly form floated through the closed kiosk doorway."boy ? Why do n't you go use your own-"Myrtle cut herself off with a giggle. She floated toward Albus and John and rested on the sinks."Oh, it 's you. Albus ceramist. And his booster John. Where 's Matt ? I rather fancy him ...."

"He, er, was n't feeling well,"Albus said, hoping that Matt 's absence would n't put Vinca minor off from talking to them.

On the contrary, Myrtle 's face lit up."Oh my ! I 've been feeling rather awful today myself. It 's a side of meat effect of dying, you know."

Albus did n't think dying had any side effects former than dying and had always assumed being a shade would n't be atrocious, but Vinca minor was very odd.

"But why are you here ?"myrtle asked."You never visit me unless you 're in detainment. It 's rather disappointing. No one ever thinks to see poor Myrtle. Oh, myrtle 's all in, they think, so she does n't need any visitant. Myrtle does n't need any friends ! All because she 's dead !"

"No, Myrtle, that is n't it at all,"Albus said quickly."It 's just, you live in a fille 's loo. We can only impose you now, in the middle of the night."

Vinca minor let out a forte sigh."I suppose. You are n't the only boy 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 Lackland. Maybe this was going to be easier than he thought. myrtle probably did n't consume any allegiance to Scorpius Malfoy.

"Which boys ?"Albus asked carefully, taking a stone's throw closer to Vinca minor.

"I only know one of their name calling,"Myrtle said with a giggle."I know his gens because his beginner used to come and peach to me when he was in school. But his son is n't quite as chatty and he did n't look to care at all about me or my death. He only wanted to know about the Chamber of Secrets-"

"The Chamber of Secrets ?"Albus exclaimed."Scorpio Malfoy wanted to know about the Chamber of Secrets ?"

Vinca minor brightened."Oh, you know him, too ! Yes, he did. He wanted to bang exactly where the entrance was. He 'd already done quite a bit of research on it in the library. Rather odd, I thought, for a Slytherin, spending so a lot time 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 dying and he did n't quite understand the connection at inaugural. 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 figure it out."

"He tried to speak Parseltongue ?"Albus asked.

myrtle nodded."Sounded awful. Your dad was much skilful at it. Even that freckled boy managed to figure it out during the fight of Hogwarts, but Scorpius Malfoy was truly awful at it. That 's when I met the former boy. Scorpio left and came back a few years later with this other boy. He showed him the entrance and then they started talking about this girl named Elsie and the former boy thought that she would be able to afford the Chamber."

"And when was this ?"Albus asked. The other boy must have been Felix Willinson.

"Two workweek ago, maybe ?"myrtle said."Do you know why he wanted to get into the Chamber of Secrets ? He refused to narrate me."

"No,"Albus said, shaking his head."We want to recognise, too."

"Well,"Myrtle began as she floated up to the cap."Please tell me when you find out. And next time, defecate sure that Matt comes to visit, too."

"Er, sure,"Albus muttered."Is there anything else you know about Malfoy ?"

"No,"Vinca minor said."You 're going to give 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 sleeping room of Secrets to toilet, who only knew the property by figure. By the time they returned to the coarse room John the Evangelist was just as shocked as Albus was about why Malfoy seemed to require to get into the bedchamber of Secrets.

"Do you think Elsie Willinson can mouth Parseltongue ?"John asked as they climbed through the portrayal trap ( the Fat Lady had not refused them entry ).

"I do n't know,"Albus said."It 's very rare. I think we 're going to have to ask Rose."

"Bet she 'll love that, in the midsection of examination,"john said with a laugh.
***


"Of grade I have no thought if Elsie Willinson is a Parselmouth !"Rose exclaimed the future day during their dejeuner break in between exams. Albus had just finished explaining what Myrtle had told them conclusion nighttime, as well as explaining the Chamber of Secrets for lusterlessness, Amanda, and Kaden 's sake.

"Are you surely she has n't mentioned anything ?"Albus pressed.

"Positive ! And honestly, Albus, you need to get this out of your idea. It 's examination calendar week. It 's not the meter 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 matter for his curiosity. 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."

blush wine groaned."Albus, I do n't care."

"Oi, Albus !"Epistle of James shouted as he jogged over to Albus 's seat."Did you see the vaticinator this break of the day ?"

"No,"Albus replied. He, lustrelessness, and King John had both slept too late to bear breakfast before their kickoff examination.

James slapped a copy down on the mesa in front end of Albus."That bloke, Robert Lyndon Baines Johnson ? The one who took Dad 's berth ? He 's revamped the entire department, claiming that they 're going to sustain a 99 % seizure rate."

"99 % ?"Albus repeated as he looked at the report."That 's crazy."

JOHNSON REVAMPS AUROR DEPARTMENT

Newly appointed Head Auror, Robert
Johnson, has spent the preceding month
revamping and reorganizing the Auror
section. President Lyndon Johnson has rewritten
convention and regulations for the section
as well as reorganized how Aurors
work together. All Aurors have
attended workshops over the past month
to familiarize themselves with the
new formula and policies.

'The hope is that we will be able to
seizure criminal faster and easier ,'
Johnson said. 'The department has
been disorganized for years and this
has resulted in many malefactor going
free for far longer than they should.
Between the new Auror section policies
and the reinstatement of the dementors
in Azkaban, we should be able to enamor
more criminals and keep them where they
belong- behind cake .'

While Johnson did not go into specific
of the policies and dominion, stating that
these are sealed documents, he assured
the wizarding public that they have
helped to streamline the department.
'With these new insurance policy I do n't see why
we should n't have a 99 % capture charge per unit
within a class .'

"What does that even mean, 99 % gaining control rate ?"Albus asked after setting the newspaper publisher down.

"No idea,"James said."But I thought you 'd want to see it. I 've got to go. Transfiguration practical this good afternoon and I need to practice."

"I wish they 'd say what the alteration actually were,"Albus said as his pal left.

"They ca n't,"blush wine said."The newspaper publisher is proper about that."

"It 's not like the department was awful when Dad was in electric charge,"Albus continued."He captured Greyback, did n't he ?"

"I think Laurentis is crediting matte 's dad with that,"Rose commented."As much as it was both of them."

"That 's not fair,"Matt said.

"No, it 's not,"rose said as she glanced at her watch."We 'd better get going. History of Magic exam."

Albus found it incredibly difficult to focus on his History of Magic exam, and while he was fairly sure as shooting he passed it, he knew he had n't done well. There was just too a lot to pore on. Between Malfoy and the Auror section, the finally thing Albus wanted to guess about were goblin rebellions and gargantuan wars.

Later that dark rosiness held another study session in the depository library. Albus managed to sit next to Elsie Willinson, who ignored him completely. Albus spent more time staring at the piranha 's Map and figuring out the unspoiled way to bestow up the topic of speaking Parseltongue with Elsie than any actual perusal, but blush wine did n't seem to notice.

The followers two days were nearly identical to the first day of test, with the exception of the subjects they were tested on. examination in the sunrise, lunch, exam in the afternoon, studying, dinner, then more studying. The monotony was starting to get on Albus 's nervus, but they were only halfway through exam week.

Elsie Willinson did n't show up to the subject seance Wednesday evening. Albus was disappointed since he was finally going to bring up the matter of speaking Parseltongue with her, no matter how effective it would be. Instead, he looked over his Potions banknote while glancing at the predator 's Map every so often.

"Albus, what exactly are you looking for ?"rosiness asked.

Albus did n't really want to say because he knew rose wine would just turn over her eyes, but he also knew she would n't let go of the field until he explained."Malfoy. He 's going to go back to the girlfriend 's loo, and when he does, I want to follow him."

"That would be stupid,"rosebush said."Look at the by three years. You 've gotten yourself involved with something stupid at the end of every year. Following Malfoy would just be asking for trouble."

Rose had a dot, Albus knew, but he did n't care."It 's just Malfoy. He 's not going to kidnap me."

"Famous last words,"Rose muttered."He 's probably just in his rough-cut room."

Albus checked the Map. Malfoy 's dot was definitely not in the common room. Albus 's marrow sped up as he checked the rest of the Map. It took him a while, but then he spotted Malfoy 's dot, making its way down the second level 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 stop me."

Rose groaned."Albus, don't-"

Albus ignored her and turned to the ease of his ally."Are any of you coming with me ?"

"I am."Albus was shocked to see that the voice belonged to Amanda. Usually Amanda agreed with blush wine.

"Amanda, really ?"Rose asked.

Amanda shrugged."I want a breakage from studying and I 'm just as odd as Albus is."

"enumeration me out,"mat muttered, turning red."I 'm not going anywhere near Myrtle."

"She asked about you end clip,"John said with a grin.

lustrelessness turned even redder."I 'd rather not know that."

"We 're in,"Gospel According to John said, speaking for himself and Kaden.

"You 've got an hr,"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 further convince Rose of this, he left his script sitting on the table. John, Kaden, and Amanda did the like.

Albus did n't bother with the Invisibility Cloak since it was n't past curfew. They 'd just birth to lurk near the loo until the coast was pass and sneak in when no one was looking. All they needed was the Map for that.

The corridors were unusually discharge and Albus attributed it to the fact that most of his familiar bookman were doing some last minute revision before the next day 's exams. It certainly made it easier to sneak into a girl 's loo.

Albus watched the Map as they went and Malfoy and both Willinsons'dots entered Moaning Myrtle 's bath. They remained there for only a few min, and then disappeared off the Map.

"They must 've gotten into the sleeping room of Secrets,"Albus explained."I bet the Marauders did n't fuck about it so they could n't have put it on the Map."

It took another five minutes for Albus, John, Kaden, and Amanda to get to the loo. Once there Albus burst the threshold open and ran inside. He stopped short in front of the sinks.

One of the swallow hole was gone, having sunk into the floor. In its space was a bombastic, flip 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 verbalise snake,"Gospel According to John said.

"Is lustrelessness ill again ?"Myrtle asked.

"Er, yeah,"Albus said.

"He 's ill an atrocious lot of the time,"Vinca minor said."Tell him to arrive see me when he 's better."

"Sure,"Albus said as he crept closer to the gob."I 'm going down there. You three are welcome to bring together me."Albus was determined. He 'd come this far and he was n't going to stop now. He needed to compute out what was going on.

"Is it a far drop ?"Amanda asked hesitantly.

"I think it 's Sir 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 the Apostle asked.

"No,"Albus said."It 's dead."

"Then I 'm in,"John 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 client,"Albus said, gesturing to the hole.

"If you die, you can endure 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 climb up into the hole. Kaden did so without a second glance.

"Are you okay ?"Albus asked once he heard a thud.

"Yeah, I 'm fine !"Kaden shouted back.

Neither John the Divine or Amanda seemed inclined to go next, so Albus stepped to the very bound of the pickle and looked down. He could n't see a affair. Deciding that it was better to just do it and not intend too hard, he took a inscrutable breath and jumped.

His dad had been right about it being more of a slide than a drop-off down. The trap was Sir Thomas More of a sloping pipe and it was n't a bad slide at all. Soon, Albus landed at the fundament and saw Kaden, who had lit his wand.

Albus lit his own wand and took a expression around. The place was very wet and it smelled abominable. The paries were dripping with muddy pee and the trading floor was covered in rock'n'roll, mud, and what looked care old snake hide.

"I think we 're near the lake,"Albus said, nodding to the dripping piss.

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 lavatory, who had n't landed gracefully.

"Sorry,"John the Evangelist muttered as he lit his own baton. There was now enough wand spark to see clearly. The place was creepy. That was the just word for it.

Amanda landed without knocking anyone over and lit her wand. Albus and Kaden waited for John and Amanda to assume a look around.

"What do we do now ?"Kaden asked.

"Does anyone take heed anything ?"Albus asked. It seemed dead silent to Albus.

John the Divine shook his header."lusterlessness should 've come. We need his werewolf hearing."

Albus nodded in concord."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 front of him, and they set off. No one spoke. No one made any noise whatsoever. Albus had his ears poised to listen even the quietest interference, hoping to discover some clue as to where Malfoy and the others had gone.

Ihey walked for what felt like miles before they heard even the vague of noise. Albus noticed numerous ophidian skins and the bones from decades-old animals. Then, just when Albus had a belief they were reaching the end of the passage, he heard a interpreter, clearly, as if it was right next to him.

"Albus Potter. wellspring, well, is n't this a pleasant surprise."

Albus recognized the voice. It was Jarrett Willinson.


Cliffhanger ! I know. I 'm evilness. Thank you for all the wonderful inspection ! I will respond to them, but I 've been quite officious lately.

And now I 'll involve a few moments to boast. On the 16th I went to NYC for J.K. Rowling 's event for The Casual emptiness. I got to meet her and get a contract written matter of the book ! It was absolutely stick. I blogged about it on the forum, so please check it out !


Albus froze. He had n't heard that spokesperson in over a year and section of him thought he would n't ever listen it again. He always assumed Jarrett Willinson had stayed in Australia, where absolutely no one was looking for him.

Slowly, Albus turned toward the voice. He pointed his lit wand in its direction and saw that there was a very low curtain raising to his left. It appeared to be another pipe, but one much little than the one he and his acquaintance had just been in. Albus crept toward it, trying not to make any interference.

He turned to John, Kaden, and Amanda."What do you cogitate ?"

"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,"John 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 vocalization wavering. All his braveness from being the first to enter the chamber was gone.

"I do n't fuck,"Albus said."We 've come this far ..."

"Albus, I think Rose might 've been right,"Kaden said."Let 's just go-"

Kaden was interrupted by Amanda 's shrieking. There was a loud spatter, a clunk, and then more shrieking. Albus turned quickly back to the pipe. Amanda was gone, a diminished good deal of rubble in her place.

"Amanda !"Albus screamed, stepping over to the pipe.

"Albus !"she shouted back."Help !"

"What 's happening ?"John asked.

"Told you we should 've gone back !"Kaden shouted.

"well, we ca n't go back now,"Albus said, climbing into the organ pipe."C'mon !"

Albus had to crouch as he walked in order to fit through the pipe. bathroom and Kaden followed him, occasionally tripping over rocks as they went. Albus splashed ahead of them, his baton lighting the few feet in forepart of him. They followed Amanda 's screeching until they grew muffled and disappeared all together.

Finally, the pipe emerged into a small chamber, not unlike a humble interlingual rendition of the chamber they 'd just been in. It was wetter than the rest of the Chamber of closed book and the far paries contained a alloy grate that appeared to let out into the lake. But the piss was n't going through it.

Albus 's attention, however, was n't focused on the magically contained lake water. Instead, his heart drew to the collection of people scattered throughout the chamber. He breathed a suspiration of relief when he saw Amanda, in the clutches of Jarrett Willinson, who had his sceptre pointed at her head. Albus was just happy they found her. Jarrett was flanked by his son, Quinton, who was looking a bit worse for clothing. Azkaban did n't seem to throw agreed with him and he now looked far older than his early twenties.

Scorpio, Felix, and Elsie were there as well, looking very uncomfortable. Elsie was shaking and had a death traveling bag on her brother 's hand. Scorpius stood next to them and he seemed very disturbed. The only one who seemed at all OK with the situation was Felix, whose grimace seemed to be coming from his sister 's grip on his hand, not on the situation.

Albus did n't recognize the early three adult at first. Then he remembered their pictures from the seer. The curt woman was Dolores Umbridge, her grey hair greatly resembling a beehive around her mind. Her skin was deeply wrinkly and she did n't much resemble the person in the picture, but her eyes and flakey grin were the Lapplander. The other woman was about a foot taller and just as ugly. Her tomentum was stringy and mostly Brown University, with streaks of grey. Her nose was long, crooked, and boasted a boastfully verruca, giving her the look of a Greco-Roman Muggle 's variant of a witch. All that was missing was the green skin. The man resembled her, although he was scant and to a greater extent dumpy. Both were sneering. Albus assumed they were the Carrows.

"What are you doing here, potter ?"Scorpio asked, clearly trying to sound more surefooted than he was.

"Shut up, Malfoy,"Jarrett snapped."I 'll ask the interrogation. And I can only assumed they followed you three. Whether it was intentional on your division, I have no idea."

"Ca n't we just go ?"Scorpio demanded."We did what you wanted-"

"No, no you did n't,"Jarrett interrupted."You did what your father wanted and then you did piece 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 fancy 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 want to !"Malfoy looked scared now. He pulled his scepter out of his robes and held it up shakily.

"Oh, are you going to duel me ?"Jarrett asked, shifting Amanda in his blazon so that he could point his wand at Malfoy.

"M-maybe."

Jarrett sighed."This is pitiable. I do n't care taking vantage of fragile youngster, and yet here I am-"

"I 'm not fragile !"Malfoy shouted.

"You just miss your granddaddy,"Jarrett said."You 're flimsy. So is your father, and he 's well-off to deceive."

"He is not !"

At that point Elsie started crying. It started out as small sniffles but within ten seconds blew up into gimcrack sobs. 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 smooth,"Felix muttered.

"I just want to lead, Felix !"Elsie sobbed."I did n't need to do this. You know I did n't want to do this !"

"You did n't receive a pick, Elsie. He 's our uncle and he needed our help."

"Could someone please just explain 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 rid to give. I really do n't care what the Hell you do."

Albus exchanged glances with John and Kaden, who both shrugged. None of them were going to result, of class, but Albus was utterly confused. For the by four class Jarrett and Quinton Willinson had tried to kidnap 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 ceramicist ? I thought you were smarter than that."

"Put what together ?"Albus asked, still confused.

Jarrett squeezed Amanda tighter."She 's the Prime Minister 's niece, who happens to be a Wiccan. She 's currently the best bargaining micro chip I could possibly have got. I only wish I 'd known about her other, but thanks to your uncle the entire wizarding world knows she 's the heyday minister of religion 's niece. I must thank that reporter.

"Potter, do you gain how bad Laurentis would calculate if anything happened to the Muggle Prime parson 's niece a niggling over a month after she took office ? And just days after her appointed brain Auror revolutionized the department ? Oh, it would depend awful, potter. So we, all of us, are going to sit stringent until the Aurors get here and then I 'll induce my demand and the Aurors will pass in because if they do n't, I 'll kill the Prime rector 's niece."

Albus 's lip fell clear. He stared at Jarrett, whose grin resembled that of a soul who just won the lottery. Amanda looked terrified, her eyes darting everywhere and a few digress tears running down her cheeks.

"Of course you can leave, thrower,"Jarrett said."Go get your dad. Go get the other 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 official anymore, potter. It wo n't be as big of a offense if they hex you now."

Albus glanced at Umbridge and the Carrows. Umbridge did n't see like someone able of hexing anyone, given that she more closely resembled an mentally ill mental patient than a dangerous witch. But the Carrows, they looked capable of murder. As for Quinton, he was n't often of a threat. Still, Albus, privy, and Kaden were more outnumbered than they ever had been before.

"But why ca n't we pull up stakes ?"Malfoy asked, his vocalisation wavering."Or at least me ?"

"Because I might need you to do something else,"Jarrett snapped,"and I want you here because if I let you leave I doubt you 'll come back. I know you did n't bring us the young lady. She came with thrower, following you."

"Why does it matter ?"Malfoy asked."The point is she 's here now."

"I do n't recall you would 've ever brought her to me, Malfoy."

"You 're aright, I would n't ! And do you want to have it off why ? I never wanted to serve 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 hold brought Amanda to Jarrett ?

"Then why are you here, Malfoy ?"

"To facilitate my dad !"Malfoy said, his sceptre still pointed at Jarrett."I did n't know you idiots were going to have got a plot of your own."

Jarrett laughed."Now you 're the retard. You think we 'd accept agreed to his plot of land if there had n't been something in it for us ? Meaning my son, here. Not these other three. I 'm not surely why they agreed to it. I 'm not even sure Umbridge knows where she is, actually. She has n't said much 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 topic of arcsecond, he sent five consecutive hexes at the Carrows and Umbridge. Umbridge collapsed immediately, not moving. The Carrows both went for their verge, but were too irksome. Malfoy sent two Thomas More Stunners and the Carrows fell over, one on top of the other.

Malfoy turned back to Jarrett, breathing heavily."looking at like the odds are a lilliputian different now."

"Malfoy, what are you doing ?"Albus asked, still trying to wrap his brain around the fact that Scorpius Malfoy had just helped him.

"Shut up, potter,"Malfoy muttered."I 'm not doing this for you."

"Scorpius, what is your problem ?"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 affair his way,"Malfoy said."It 's like I told you at the beginning ; I only did this for my father."

Albus still did n't have sex 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 know the Aurors are coming ?"Albus asked.

"That does n't matter now,"Malfoy said as he sent a Stunner at Jarrett.

Albus turned to John the Divine and Kaden."focal point on Quinton and Felix. No offense, but you are n't the best duellist and I do n't want you to hit Amanda."

John and Kaden nodded. Albus glanced at Malfoy, attempted to shake off the weird feel he had from being on Malfoy 's slope, and started sending hex after hex at Jarrett. Jarrett, clearly unable to duel while holding Amanda, threw up a carapace and did n't hex back. Albus and Malfoy silently agreed to keep going, in an attempt to weaken the shield.

Albus heard a loud crash and turned to his right. dust was settling near where the Carrows and Umbridge lay. Once it settled, Albus saw that a big boulder had fallen from the ceiling and had landed on top of the female Carrow.

"I think she 's stagnant,"Kaden said.

Albus swallowed hard. expiry had never crossed his mind when he 'd do down here. Trying to labor it from his thought, 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 land against the bulwark. 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 awful head ache,"Kaden muttered.

"Do n't hang asleep,"Albus said."arrest awake. You 've probably got a concussion."

Albus heard splashing and looked up. Five wizards stumbled through the piping, their wands out.

"Wands up !"one of them shouted. Albus did n't recognize the voice."nonentity motility !"

"Are they all here ?"another asked.

"I believe so,"the foremost 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 military position to pretend demands,"the 1st Auror said.

"Albus ?"

Albus turned back to the pipe and let out a sigh of relievo. His dad had been the fifth Auror to arrive."Dad. Kaden needs to go the hospital wing. Now."

Harry knelt down next to Kaden and assessed him."We 'll ingest this lot rounded up soon. Then I 'll take him."

"Let go of the missy, Willinson,"the for the first time Auror said. He took a few stair forward and Albus was able to see the side of his face. It was Robert Johnson, the new Head Auror.

"She 's the efflorescence minister of religion '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 wand flew in a perfect arc out of his hand and Johnson caught it."Petrificus Totalus !"

Jarrett attempted to parry the spell, but still keep hold of Amanda. He failed and collapsed to the floor. Amanda ran forward and Harry caught clutch of her, directing her to sit next to Albus and Kaden.

The Aurors conjured rophy and tied up Jarrett, Quinton, the Carrows, and Umbridge. None of them said a word and none of them questioned any of the defendant. If Albus had n't known any bettor, he would 've thought the Aurors knew exactly what they were going to find down here. It was all very confusing.

Johnson and the three unfamiliar Aurors grabbed custody of the criminal and took them out of the chamber. Harry was left with Albus and the rest of the scholarly person.

"Dad, what 's going on ?"Albus asked.

"I have my suspicions, but unfortunately I do n't have 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 lav. Once there, he pointed his sceptre at the pipework and it turned into stair. A few minutes later, they were back in the loo. Albus blinked a few times at the bright lights and then his centre 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."Vinca minor seemed rather disappointed.

"Let 's go,"Harry said."infirmary wing."
***


Albus had no real reason to ride out in the infirmary wing. After muttering about how Albus and his admirer were always getting into trouble, Madam Pomfrey proclaimed him in perfective tense wellness. lav, Amanda, Scorpius, Felix, and Elsie were also fine. Kaden, on the other hand, had a concussion and was not allowed to kip. Albus, John, and Amanda remained in the hospital wing with him. Rose and lustrelessness joined them as well, despite the fact that it was well retiring curfew.

Harry left after delivering them to Madam Pomfrey, but promised to return in a few hours. That had been three hour ago and Albus was still waiting for him to occur back, and for an explanation. They 'd explained the intact ordeal to lustrelessness 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. brothel keeper Pomfrey, upon seeing him, hurried off to her study.

"Kaden,"Harry said."How are you feeling ?"

"Like mortal ran my head over with a hand truck,"Kaden said.

Harry chuckled."You 'll palpate better soon."

"What was that about, Dad ?"Albus asked."Why was it almost like the Aurors expected all the captive to be there ?"

Harry sighed."No one knows for sure. The official record is that they received an anon. tip, but none of the prisoners are explaining why they were in the sleeping accommodation 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 affirm my possibility,"Harry said."I suspect that Scorpius Malfoy, along with Felix Willinson, were instructed by Draco Malfoy to feel a worthy location to house the captive for safe-keeping until Aurors could be brought in to capture them. This, of course of instruction, had to be done after the Auror Department was reorganized by Robert Lyndon Baines Johnson, in orderliness to make both him and Laurentis look ripe. If Laurentis looks good, Draco Malfoy looks good."

"But that means that Laurentis and Dragon Malfoy knew where the prisoners were,"Albus said.

"Yes, yes it does,"Harry said quietly.

"Uncle Harry,"blush wine began."You do n't mean that Laurentis organized that break-out, do you ?"

"It 's crossed my mind,"Harry said."But it 's irrelevant, because I have no cogent evidence. Nor do I have cogent evidence of my theory about Draco Malfoy and his son. Alecto Carrow is dead, Dolores Umbridge is clinically insane, and Amycus Carrow is n't talking. Jarrett and Quinton Willinson are n't talking, either, and I somehow doubt Scorpius Malfoy will rat out his sire. So, for now at least, this will continue a theory."

"But Dad, it 's illegal,"Albus said.

"It is,"Harry replied."Do n't worry about it, Albus. The prisoners are back in Azkaban, which is all that matters right now."

"But Dad-"

"Albus. bedevilment will do nothing. In my experience, people who are debase like this are never able to continue it a hole-and-corner long. Whatever happens will happen."

"What about Scorpius ?"Amanda asked."Why did he switch side of meat like that ?"

"Scorpius Malfoy has had a unsmooth year. His grandpa 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 and then when it came time for him to get further into it, by helping Jarrett Willinson get hold of Amanda, he realized he did n't desire to be involved, not would his father have wanted him to be involved."

"Is he going to get in trouble ?"Albus asked.

"No,"Harry said."As far as the record is concerned, Scorpius, Felix, and Elsie stumbled upon the prisoners just as you lot did."

"That does n't look fair,"Albus muttered.

"No, it does n't,"Harry said."But on the other hand, I think Scorpius Malfoy deserves a break this year. I think he 's grown up a lot over the retiring few months. 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 screaming Shack, though. Probably wanted it for the prisoners."

"I suspect that, too,"Harry said."I must say I 'm glad he chose the sleeping room of Secrets."

"Me, too,"matt agreed.

"I have to reelect to the Ministry,"Harry said as he stood up."This will be in the newspaper publisher tomorrow, although I have no idea what case of story 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 affair we need is an article in the vaticinator claiming that Harry Potter is a conspiracy theorist."

Albus laughed and said good night to his dad. lady Pomfrey let them log Z's in the hospital wing that night, considering how deep it was. Kaden, of course, had to persist waken. Albus was surprised by how well-heeled slumber came, considering what he 'd been through that Nox, but it was nearly two in the aurora. He realized with a sinking opinion that he still had exams the succeeding day. Herbology and antediluvian Runes. He hoped they would n't go too horribly.


A/N : Thanks for all the lovely revaluation ! I will be getting to them as soon as I can. The next chapter will the last in this novel. I 'm not indisputable when the fifth novel will be up since I have yet to fare up with a concrete plot for it. I 'm going to take a break to compose former stories that I 've had in my top dog for a while.

It 's the end of October, which means it 's nearly NaNoWriMo season ! I 'll be continuing to update Between Here and Somewhere throughout November, as well as posting the last chapter of this succeeding Fri. But you wo n't see a lot else from me until December, as I 'll be busy writing an original fic.


Albus, John, and Matt overslept the succeeding morning. Albus awoke ten moment before their Herbology exam and had to wake up John Lackland and Matt, which is never a pocket-size effort. It took a full five minutes to get them up, but soon they were running through the corridors knowing full well that they would be late. Unfortunately for Albus, none of his mind was on Herbology. He could n't stop thinking about what happened terminal night.

The son ran into greenhouse three five second late and as soon as they shut the doorway the entire class looked up from their exam and stared at them. Albus got the discrete feeling that they all knew about close night, whether from rumors or from the prophet. Professor Longbottom got up from his BM and walked over to them.

"boy,"he said quietly.

"I 'm sorry we 're late, sir,"Albus said."We overslept-"

"Albus, it 's sanction. I know what happened finally night. Just go take your seats. Your test are already laid out."

"Thanks,"Albus replied.

Albus was very grateful that Herbology had been the exam he was of late for. Longbottom was the most understanding professor in the entire school. Albus settled down and managed to take the examination without falling asleep. While there were a few questions that he was n't sure enough about, he was quite convinced that he at least passed.

By the time the exam period ended Albus was starving, as were John and Matt. They, along with pink wine and Amanda, headed immediately to the Great Charles Francis Hall for dejeuner. 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 dubiousness. There were a crew of multitude crowded around Malfoy, too."

"Do either of you have the vaticinator ?"Albus asked as they sat down.

"Yeah, here,"rosiness said, handing it to him.

Albus unfolded the paper and set it down on his plate. John and Matt sat on either position of him and translate over his shoulder.

con CAUGHT AT HOGWARTS

Newly appointed Head Auror, Robert
Lyndon Baines Johnson, received an anonymous tip
late lastly night that led him and four
other Aurors to Hogwarts school of
Witchcraft and wizardry. The tip
told Aurors that escaped inmate
Amycus Carrow, Alecto Carrow,
Quinton Willinson, and Dolores
Umbridge could be found in the Chamber
of Secrets deep under Hogwarts School.

The Chamber of Secrets, long since
regarded as a rumored hide out bedroom
beneath the schooling was proven to
exist in mid-1993. The bedroom has
remained abandon since then.

All four escaped convicts, along with
Jarrett Willinson, wanted for a yr
by the Auror Department, were found in
the Chamber of closed book by Robert Johnson
and four former 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 utterly by therapist
late last night, after the ceiling in
the Chamber collapsed, crushing her
instantly.

Six Hogwarts students were found in the
Chamber as well. Johnson has released
very little information on this view
of the night, but has said that Jarrett
Willinson captured one student with the
intent of killing her if demands were
not met. The names of the scholar have
not been released.

It is unknown how the yardbird got into
the schooltime. failing in the protective
wards are currently being addressed. 'We
want to assure the public that Hogwarts
School remains as prophylactic as ever. The trouble
will be cover quickly. There is no
need to panic .'

"Unknown how the inmate got into the shoal ?"Albus said incredulously."They 've covered the unscathed affair up !"

"What did you gestate, Albus ?"Rose asked, shaking her head."Uncle Harry said it would happen."

"I bet that new headland Auror is in on it,"Albus muttered."He 'll probably say he investigated but all he 'll do is make up stories to compensate up what Laurentis did."

"You 're probably right-hand,"Rose said.

"Who 's right ?"Kaden asked as he sat down.

"Albus,"rose said.

"rich person you seen this rubbish ?"Albus asked, holding up the paper.

"Yeah,"Kaden replied."But honestly, I do n't manage right now. I just want a sandwich. The soothsaying exam was brutal. I had to tell Trelawney 's hereafter in tea leaves."

John laughed."What did you say ?"

"Told her she was going to assemble an untimely expiry at the hands of a roll Quaffle,"Kaden said.

Rose groaned."Oh, Kaden, you didn't."

"She actually liked it,"Kaden said."Her huge eyes lit up and everything."

"She likes death, Trelawney,"can said."Or at least the construct of it."

"Weird,"Albus muttered.

Albus 's remaining examination took place with little flourish. Despite his judgment not being on the fabric, he thought he did fairly well, and when the marks were released he discovered that he had passed everything. His transfiguration scratch was a bit low, but still passing.

The Hogwarts educatee, with their short retentiveness spans, soon forgot about the drubbing in the Chamber of Secrets and moved on to former topics of word such as the summer vacation and the current Quidditch season. Albus certainly did n't take care this because it meant he was no longer the pith of attention. Despite the fact that the Prophet never released the gens of the students in the chamber, everyone knew it was Albus, John the Evangelist, Kaden, and Amanda, along with the three Slytherins.

"looking at, 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 listen it."

“'I wish to clap the Auror department for their work in recapturing the remaining escaped criminals. The well timed recapture after the shakeup of the section only reinforces how significant a decision it was to reorganize. With the new ordinance and insurance policy in the Auror Department, organized by Robert President Johnson, the Aurors were able-bodied to beguile the felons immediately after receiving the tip. We can most assuredly look forward to Sir Thomas More succeeder from the Auror department .'”

"What a payload of crap,"Albus said."Of course they were able to recapture them quickly after receiving that tip. They organized for the yardbird to be in the Chamber in the first place."

"It 's like your dad said, though,"Matt began."Everything will get revealed eventually. That 's not an easy secret to stay fresh, what they did."

"Hey, it looks like Embry 's going to arrive at a voice communication,"Kaden said, gesturing toward the staff table.

prof Embry stood up and raised his bridge player for secretiveness. This did zippo, of course."Quiet !"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 instruct you all this year. I never expected to teach and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope you enjoyed taking my social class as much as I enjoyed teaching it, and I hope you all have a large discernment and intellect of our government. Today is my finish day at Hogwarts, as the political sympathies course will not continue next class, and I am once again needed at the Ministry. Please do n't hesitate to owl me if you wish to receive a tour of the Ministry for pedantic purposes. I daresay that a few of you might own careers in political relation yourselves."

Embry sat back down and the entire elbow room explosion into applause. Albus was n't sure if the clapping was for Embry or for the fact that politics would no longer be a class. Albus had n't minded the socio-economic class, but one fewer class was to be appreciated.

"I learned something about politics this class, all right,"whoremaster 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 River shouted from a few fanny down.

"Oh, I do n't know."Amanda shrugged."I think it might be interesting."

Albus was n't at all surprise to hear Amanda say that. If any of his friends were to become pol, it would be Amanda.
***


Later that day Albus found himself at yet another Hogwarts graduation ceremony. He and pink wine had attended every unity graduation exercise ceremony since starting Hogwarts, and one the yr before, too. It had gotten to the degree where he did n't pay much attention to the oral communication because they all sounded very exchangeable to the ones he 'd heard before. During this ceremonial, the only part Albus paid tending to was the part where Fred and broom 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.

Sakartvelo grinned."That we did. It 's kind of surreal, to be true. Dad did n't win, so things are no different than they were this time last class, really."

Albus nodded."How is Uncle Walker Percy doing ?"

Georgia shrugged."I 'm not for certain. He does n't talk about it much. Actually, the weird affair is that whenever I go over there for dinner party he spends a lot of time asking about Quidditch. I think it 's mostly to keep me from asking about his want of employment, but I 'm not going to sound off. Maybe he 'll even learn to care 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 actual politico, since Laurentis would n't strike him. I do n't think he wants to do that. He 's been helping Uncle George with the shop, but I do n't imagine Uncle George really likes that. Says Dad 's too obsessive. But he 's too gracious to recount Dad he ca n't help."

"Albus !"rose shouted."We 've got to go. The carriages are leaving."

Albus nodded to Rose and then turned back to Georgia."I 'd better go. Let me know when your side by side match is. I want to go."

Empire State of the South grinned."for sure matter. See you soon, Al."

"Bye, Georgia,"Albus said as he turned to stick to pink wine back to the castle, where they would grab the thestral-drawn carriages back to Hogsmeade.
***


"I say we go to John 's household this year,"flatness said as the Hogwarts Express hurtled back to London.

"Are you mad ?"John asked, unwrapping a Chocolate Gaul."I mean, really, are you ? You want to issue forth to my house, where I have three loony picayune sisters running about ?"

lusterlessness shrugged."They ca n't be that bad."

"Says he who is the youngest in his sept,"privy said, looking at Albus for support.

"He 's right,"Albus agreed."And I 've only got one trivial sister. Wait a min, flatness 's the only one of us who does n't have younger sib, is n't he ?"

The others nodded."All right hand,"John Lackland said."Let 's give Matt a real sense of what having lots of siblings is like. I 'll owl you and let you know when."

"Exploding crack ?"Kaden asked, holding up a deck of scorecard.

"Sure,"Matt said. Everyone else nodded.

Kaden began to contend the cards, but before he finished, the compartment door 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 verge, looking a bit unsure of himself. He was alone. Albus wondered where Felix was.

"What do you want ?"John asked.

"Er, can I just peach to you lot ?"he asked quietly, stepping inside and sliding the door 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 ?"rosiness asked, clearly concerned about the girl.

Malfoy shrugged."She 's always with Felix. She never said often around me."

"Is she really a parselmouth ?"John asked."I assume she 's the one who got you into the Chamber ?"

"Yeah, she did, but she 's not a parselmouth. She 's just really good with languages so she was capable to fake it,"Malfoy explained.

There were a few moments of ungainly secrecy. Malfoy shifted his weighting and leaned against the door.

"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 flatness 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 gunpowder into all the Slytherins'laundry-"

"That was n't us,"Kaden said quickly, a little too quickly.

"And we know you put the goat in the common way,"John Lackland 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 loup-garou. Really. Sure, it 's weird and I have no estimation why Kendrick even lets you be here-"

"I wo n't waver to hex you, you know,"John said, reaching into his robes for his wand.

Malfoy held up his hands."No, do n't. I guess what I 'm saying is that I think we should prognosticate a truce."

"A truce ?"Albus asked, raising his supercilium.

"Yeah, a truce,"Malfoy said."You all know my grandfather died this year. It makes all this fight we do look really stupid."

"You 're not saying we should be friends, are you ?"John asked incredulously.

Malfoy screwed up his case."God no. I 'm saying you lot barricade only pranking the Slytherins, do n't separate anyone that I dueled on your side in the bedchamber, and I wo n't secern anyone Eckerton is a werewolf. I 'll really promise that, without any threats of expulsion."

Albus was skeptical. Could the death of Lucius Malfoy really prompt this variety in Scorpius ?

"C'mon, cease-fire ?"Scorpius asked, sticking his script out to Albus.

"Oh, just do it, Albus,"Rose said."We 've got O.W.L.s following class. You do n't demand this pudden-head feud distracting you. Or any of us."

"fine, truce,"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 act for a wax min."That was the foreign thing I 've ever seen,"he finally said, resuming his seat.

"I do n't think any of us will ever to the full understand what happened there,"rose said."But I think it 's a good thing."

"Weird, though,"lustrelessness said."You think he means it ?"

The weirder thing was, was that Albus did actually believe him. There had been something in Malfoy 's centre that Albus had n't seen before. It was like Malfoy seemed older somehow. He was no longer a kid, whose biggest headache was arguing with Albus over stupid things. Somehow, Malfoy had grown up.

Albus supposed they 'd all mature up that year. They were going to be 5th years now, and Kaden would be a quaternary year, and that meant they were the previous students in the school. They were growing up. All of them. Even Malfoy.

"Makes me wonder what future year will be like,"Amanda mused."Everything about this year has been strange."

"We 've got Laurentis reforming Hogwarts,"Rose reminded them."I think it 'll be plentifulness strange."

Albus had nearly forgotten about that. He did n't want Hogwarts to change. Despite all that was going on in the outside world, Hogwarts had always remained the Lapplander. But now it was n't. Hogwarts was going to change.

Albus leaned back in his rear 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 recall about it just yet. There was still a whole summer before that would hap, and Albus intended to enjoy it.


A/N : Thank you so much for all the support and follow-up for this story ! You guys are amazing. I will be taking a break before continuing with this serial as I have early stories floating around in my head, but I 'll eventually come back to Albus. I 've no idea how recollective it 'll be, though.

In the meantime, please check out my predator Era story, Between Here and Somewhere ! And hold open checking back for my inspection responses, because I will get to them.