Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry ceramicist.
Weasley Family Tree is in the Author 's bill at the bottom.


Molly Weasley did n't dare serve up dinner until after the Quidditch match had been completed because even she did n't have the ability to drag out Weasleys away from Quidditch. teddy secured a win for his team by practically stealing the Snitch out James 's grasp and then everyone was off their heather and sitting at the bombastic gang of tables in record sentence. After all, Quidditch was one of the right matter one could do to develop a big appetite. Albus was certainly quite hungry and in a very secure humour as he had been on Teddy 's team.

Albus and Rose sat succeeding to each former in the middle of the group of tables and unfortunately Percy sat directly across from them. too soon experience had taught them never to sit near Percy due to his habit of talking politics during dinner, something that even bored rosebush. The two of them looked at each former as Walker Percy sat down and Albus readied himself for political conversation rather than Quidditch talk.

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

Leave it to Percy to try and find something wrong with the Ministry when all was hunky-dory, Albus thought. He reached over blush wine to catch a steak and kidney pie and served a heaping percentage onto his plate.

"What do you think, Harry ?"Harry Hotspur turned to Albus 's dad, who happened to be sitting next to him."Any stirring in the Auror department that I may not bear heard about ?"

"matter are reasonably calm, Percy,"Harry replied.

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

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

"fountainhead, it 's an election year,"Percy pointed out."Things never stay calm during election geezerhood. party proclamation come get-go week of Sep and after that affair will be chaotic around the Ministry. Loads of work to do. Let me tell you, when I run for Minister-"

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

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

"grandmother, really,"James muttered."We 're going to be hearing this from the teachers. Uncle Percy, why do n't you tell us more about your running for Minister ?"

"well, as a matter of fact."Percy stood up."I have a rather energize announcement to make and I feel I must tell my family unit first, before the rest of the Wizarding World."He paused, presumably for dramatic gist."I will be formally announcing on Monday, September second that I will be running for Minister for April 's election."

There was sheer secrecy for about five seconds before a completely lot of matter happened at once. Ron, George IV, and Charlie burst out laughing. Hermione raised her brow as far as they could go. Ginny, Bill, and Chester Alan Arthur all shouted loudly"Seriously ? ! ”. Molly shook her point slightly and then jumped up from her electric chair, running towards Percy and finally enveloping him in a large hug and kissing him squarely on the brow.

"Oh, Walker Percy !"she exclaimed."I 'm so lofty of you ! You 've been talking about it for days and I think it 's high time you actually did it. I always wanted a son who was this successful !"

"Mum !"Ron groaned."It 's not like your early son have n't done anything. I 'm an Auror for Merlin 's rice beer !"

"And you 're a amercement honest one, Ronald, but I ca n't ever see you being Minister. You just do n't have the aspiration Percy does,"molly said as she patted him on the shoulder.

Gold was exchanging hands at the early end of the table. Cedric was grinning madly, so Albus assumed he had won some variety of bet involving when Percy would run for Minister. That bet must take in been in the works for years.

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

"Honestly, Mum, do you intend he 's really going to win ?"Ron exclaimed."I mean, do n't get me wrong, Percy, I 'll vote for you, but what about the residuum of the wizarding existence ?"

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

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

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

"I am not !"Percy shouted."And I would 've expected more support from my own family."

"We are supporting you,"Molly assured him.

"Boys,"Arthur warned."Percy 's right. If he wants to run for government minister he can without any of us making it difficult for him. You do n't make to vote for him, but I wo n't have you arguing during dinner party. You 'll upset your mum."

Everyone resumed their posterior but Albus doubted they stopped talking about Percy running for curate. They just continued to do so in lower interpreter. For once, Albus was glad he had chosen a tush near Percy.

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

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

So that 's what Walker Percy 's title was, Albus thought. He had no idea if that was a position that had a lot of power or not, but apparently it was enough to receive support for a Minister run.

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

Harry Hotspur choked on whatever he was eating."You 're what ?"

"Moving out. You know, leaving the nest. I 've got a flavorless with a friend closer to the pitch. It 'll be more commodious, for work."

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

"aspect, I know how these elections work. You 're going to want to make yourself look like a family line man, so you 're not going to need to conceive me your screwball daughter who only plays Quidditch and has no job. So you 'd improve start thinking of me as your daughter who 's the newest reserve Keeper for the Kenmare Kestrals. It 'll sound near to the press."

Harry Hotspur stared at her with his mouth agape. He shook his head slightly and resumed feeding, without another word to GA. Georgia looked smug, so Albus assumed she had won that picayune argument.

Albus turned to Rose and grinned. Georgia certainly knew how to make Percy 's running game for diplomatic minister piece of work to her reward.

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

"Not yet."blush wine shook her head."Her mum might receive wanted her to look a bit after they settled in Canada, though. Have you heard anything about what the Ministry 's doing about Lubar ?"

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

"It 's so awry, though, that he can completely get away with what he did,"Rose muttered."It 's like I could go to Anatole France, rob a depository financial institution, get back to England, and I 'd get away with it."

"You 're robbing a banking concern ?"James shouted.

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

Albus and rose wine did n't take a chance talking about Lubar for the rest of the evening. Sure, the rest of their family make love about what had happened but neither of them wanted to discuss their theories with any of them.

The rest of the evening was rather out of character for usual Weasley family dinners. All the previous years'dinner had consisted of lecture of Hogwarts and the grownup exclaiming how big everyone had gotten and how everyone was growing up. Usually whomever was starting Hogwarts for the outset time would get a clean bit of attention, but this year Angie, who was starting, seemed to be forgotten. Instead all of the attention was focused on Sir Henry Percy. The adults were talking politics and Albus 's sr. full cousin were placing bet on whether he 'd win or not.

John Rowlands was the firstly to leave as he had to go back to Romania the postdate morning. Charlie and Katherine had finished their yr in Romania and had returned to England permanently the late calendar month. Victoire and chemise left shortly after that since they both had to work the succeeding day.

Harry Hotspur was still discussing safari maneuver with Corrine, who was smiling and nodding the way Albus did when his first cousin were belittled and he had to pretend he was interested in what they were saying, when Albus 's parents decided it was time to leave. For the first fourth dimension in his life, he was actually glad to depart and get back to Grimmauld Place. The before school day dinner was supposed to be about everyone who was at Hogwarts, a prison term to consume fun all together before shoal started, and this time it had n't been that. It had been about Percy.
******


By some stroke of hazard or miracle that had never descended upon the potter before, James had packed his trunk the night before they left for schooltime. Albus was trusted that some sorting of apocalypse was going to make it soon because Percy running for parson and the Potters arriving early for the Hogwarts Express were two events that nobody ever thought would happen. Albus did n't interrogate it, though. Instead he just used the opportunity to his advantage.

Kaden, who had met Albus at Platform 9 ¾ prior to going through the barrier, was not betimes, so the Potters went through without him. Rose and her family unit were already there of course of study, so Albus said a quick goodbye to his parents before getting on the train to find Rose. With any chance his Friend would n't be there yet and he could talk to Rose alone. Usually there was nothing he would n't verbalise to his supporter about, but the strange tone he had had about his family was something he only wanted to talk to pink wine about.

Rose was alone in a compartment about halfway down the train, reading one of her new textbooks. It was Arithmancy and Albus did n't have the slight mind what any of the symbols in it meant. He chose the fanny next to her and waited for her to be done reading whatever it was she was deciphering.

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

"King James I packed last Night,"Albus answered.

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

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

"Changing ? Like what 's happening with Willinson and Lubar and their lot ? Yeah, I think so. It 's been over three years, Al, and they still have n't gotten all of them in Azkaban at the Saame clip. I know they 're really pudding head when it comes to dueling but I think they 're smarter than anyone 's giving them course credit for. thing are going to convert, Al. The public 's getting scarier,"rosiness said quietly.

Albus swallowed hard. That was in the back of his psyche of course, but he had never voiced it before. Nor was it what he had set out to spill to prove about.

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

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

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

"There 's still a lot of us here,"blush wine interrupted."And Eddie and the similitude have n't even started yet. Plus it 's not like we even talked about teddy, Victoire, John Rowlands, and Georgia. We talked about Sir Henry Percy for Merlin 's sake !"

"What do you think will happen if he wins ?"Albus asked.

"I do n't know. I do n't cerebrate things will change political-wise but I think it 's going to be really unearthly for Georgia and Omar Nelson Bradley and Cedric. Even the twins will probably be effected. I mean, having your dad be the most crucial someone in the wizarding cosmos has got to be stressful."

"Tell me about it,"Albus muttered."Can you envisage if my dad ran for parson ?"

"Sir Henry Percy would n't stand a chance."

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

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

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

"I think we 'll just have to dispense with your murder, John the Divine, because that mark is not getting any higher,"Rose replied.

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

"naught,"Rose said quickly.

"I 'll tell you once Matt and Amanda get here,"Albus said, figuring he 'd tell them about Percy running for Minister.

"This is going to be the effective year ever !"Kaden said excitedly as he pulled a piece of sheepskin out of his bag."Look, it 's my Hogsmeade permission slip !"

"Excellent,"St. John replied."Now I do n't hold to buy your dungbombs for you."

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

"Just for the Slytherin unwashed room,"John assured him."Our destination is to image out how to get a few in there."

"Not going to crop,"Amanda said as she entered and sat down on the former side of rosiness."You ca n't get into someone else 's common room unnoticed."

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

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

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

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

"Fine."Albus took a deep breath."fountainhead, my Uncle Percy 's track for Minister."

"Seriously ?"John replied.

"Cool !"Kaden exclaimed.

"Why ?"Matt asked.

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

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

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

Albus and rosiness both burst out laughing."Because that 's the last-place thing he 'd ever desire to do. He would n't need anymore power than he 's already got. Whereas Percy, all of my uncles have always said is kind of power hungry,"Albus replied.

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

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

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

"It 's our family,"Rose said quietly."Uncle Sir Henry Percy is so focused on the election and it has n't even really started yet. Peach State 's got it all figured out. Percy 's going to act he 's completely felicitous with her Quidditch playing just to make himself seem like a family man, which he 's really not. He 's always been focused on work."

"That 's stupid,"John said."Georgia 's not going to like that."

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

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

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

"You, pink wine, and matte are n't the only single of us who have family in politics,"Amanda said.

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

"I never said the Ministry of Magic, trick. I meant the Muggle Ministry. My uncle 's the quality minister."

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

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

"So if Percy wins ...,"Albus began, his articulation trailing off.

"He 'll adjoin my Uncle Mike,"Amanda finished."But as I was saying, Sakartvelo does have it all figured out. If tidings gets out that Percy and her rowed about her Quidditch performing, it 's going to arrive off ill-timed in the pressure and lose him voting. So, he 'll prevent it to himself and will be in the front row of every I one of her matches, pretending to be a vast Kenmare Kestrals fan."

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

"It 's political science from the other side. The public wants masses in power to have a certain image."

"Still, it 's like lying,"Rose went on."Just another reason I am not getting into politics."

"My cousin-german Leanne went a little wilderness at university her first class, our initiatory year at Hogwarts, and the Ministry hushed it all up. She was out partying and the paparazzi got a photo of her and put it on the concealment of some tabloid, but that was the lonesome one. I know she partied more, but it was all hushed up."

"But it 's not like Georgia 's partying. She 's got Quidditch science and is using them to seduce an honest living,"pink wine pointed out.

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

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

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

"It 's true, Albus,"Matt said."Amanda 's completely right. It 's the wholly reason why my dad got sacked. The public did n't like that I was a loup-garou, which is part of why the Ministry hushed it up. When it got out, nonentity wanted him in politics anymore."

Albus nodded, but did n't say anything. He never really thought about that before, but matt was the right way. Amanda was, too, but he never really put two and two together before Matt mentioned that. And now the like thing was happening with his family line. Harry Hotspur was going to feign and while that did n't really directly core him, how long would it withdraw before the public did n't like the simulacrum he and the rest of his cousins were presenting ?


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

Here 's the Weasley-Potter Family Tree !

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

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

Percy-Corrine ( Muggle )
Georgia- 18
Bradley- 6th year
Cedric- 5th year
Samantha & lindy hop ( counterpart ) - 9

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

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

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

*All in Gryffindor*


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


There was no mention of politics or Ministers throughout the remainder of the train trip. Amanda did n't say anything else about her uncle being the prime pastor and how it had affected her family, but Albus was still really curious about it. How had she managed to keep that a secret for three days ? judgement by Rose 's reaction, she did n't even recognize about it. lustrelessness had n't even managed to keep it a secret that he was a lycanthrope for a year. Granted, Albus and the others had figured it out, but still. Maybe Amanda was the best hidden keeper in their group.

The lecture lightened considerably as they made their way to Hogwarts, soon turning to the companion study of Quidditch and then to fantasizing about the new demurrer teacher. John was hoping for somebody who let them do whatever they wanted whereas pink wine wanted someone who would actually teach, and not instruct like Balladanis had. Albus did n't really care, so long as the new teacher did n't bid to harm his students, physically or emotionally.

As the gear neared Hogsmeade station, Albus and his friends changed into their gown and prepared to pass the caravan for the jolting carriage taunt up to the school. The journey was now so routine that they did so with niggling yakety-yak and transferred to the carriages with none of the fanfare of the old two years. They were fourth years now and Hogwarts was companion territory. As fourth eld, they were well on their way to being the older students of the school.

The Great Hall was filled with laughter and excitement as the pupil found their seating at their mansion tabular array. Albus and his friend quickly found fundament together at the Gryffindor table and all five glanced up to the staff table to find out the new look that would be their Defense teacher. However, instead of the one unfamiliar face they expected, there were two unfamiliar faces.

"Which one 's the defence force teacher ?"Kaden asked.

"Have n't the slightest,"Albus replied.

There were two new superstar sitting at the tabular array. One was trench in conversation with professor Kendrick and the other was glancing around at the way, his eyes never resting on the same thing or person for more than a few instant. The previous was wearing what looked to be Ministry robe, which made Albus marvel if he was an Auror, but then he noticed one of the Aurors from conclusion year standing off to the slope in his common spot. The secondment new sorcerer was dressed in plain black robe and had nearly no pilus atop his head, but instead had a prominent byssus and mustache, as if he was trying to compensate.

"I think the one talking to Kendrick is from the Ministry,"Albus said.

"That 's not a good signaling,"John replied."What 's the Ministry doing here on the firstly day ?"

"It 's not necessarily a bad thing,"rosiness pointed out."Maybe they just want to earn sure everything is back to normal after the competition conclusion year."

John Lackland opened his mouth to reply but was silenced by the doors opening and Professor Patil entering with the new first yr. They looked dash and tiny, far pocket-size than the previous year 's first years. It was weird how they seemed to get diminished every year.

As with the old yr, Albus did n't pay any attention to anyone 's sorting unless their concluding epithet was Potter or Weasley. This year, of course, there was only Angie entering Hogwarts from Albus 's large menage. She ran up to the three-legged-stool with as much enthusiasm as the eternal rest of the family had and jammed the hat onto her head.

It remained there for all of three seconds before shouting"Gryffindor !"Angie ran from the stool to the excited shouts of the Gryffindors, her brother Fred 's whistling ringing over the rest. Everyone at Hogwarts would have bet money on Angie being a Gryffindor, but everyone still liked to barrack.

For once Albus wished that Kendrick would make announcements before the feast was served just so he could find out why there were two new sensation at the staff board, but like usual, Kendrick waited until after the spread. Thus, the duration of the feast was spent speculating.

"The Ministry 's sent someone to respect,"James said confidently."Look at the past three years. Every single one at least one of Al and his friends have gotten kidnapped by insane wizards. Clearly the Ministry does n't cogitate the teacher can protect us enough."

"That 's what the Aurors are for,"rosiness pointed out."What 's some Ministry bloke going to do that an Auror ca n't do ? I really do n't think that feller is another Auror."

"I bet he 's here to raise hoi polloi for the Ministry,"Fred suggested."You know, spend a year with us one-seventh long time and try to win over us that we should take on boring Ministry jobs. Bet Uncle Percy 's the intellect for it. Probably does n't need anymore of his kin to direct up Quidditch professionally."

"That 's derisory,"a seventh-year girl replied."He 's probably just the new defence force teacher."

"Then who 's that other fella ?"mat gestured to the bald man sitting next to Slughorn.

"Slughorn 's long lost twin ?"Kaden suggested."Seriously, shave his beard and he 'll appear just like Slughorn."

"Maybe Kendrick just wanted to invite someone to the Welcome spread,"Amanda pointed out."It could be as uncomplicated as that."

Albus doubted it. Nothing was ever unproblematic when it came to life at Hogwarts. Finally, after what seemed wish ages, the pud disappeared and Kendrick stood to give his usual start of term speech.

"Welcome back to Hogwarts. I give a warm welcome to our new first eld and hope you have enjoyed your showtime Hogwarts feast. I 'll remind everyone that the woods is out of bounds as well as the Whomping Willow. Those wishing to try out for their theater Quidditch team can give their names to their oral sex of firm. Now, you may receive noticed that there are two new stave members this year even though only one status is vacant. The first is mere to explain and the moment is a little more complicated.

"First, I would like to welcome Professor Elliot Young to Hogwarts. prof Whitney Young is going to be taking over the Defense teacher position."Kendrick gestured to the man with the whiskers, while scattered clapping was received from the students and early professors.

"professor antediluvian if you ask me,"John muttered.

"Many of you may be cognisant and quite a lot of you I 'm sure are not cognizant that this is an election year for the Ministry of Magic. Tomorrow the candidates running for pastor of magic will make their lecture announcing their candidacy, which will begin a seven month safari flow. At the rootage of April, anyone who is of age will vote and the winner shall be announced. The fact that this is an election yr is a rattling educational opportunity and I was n't about to let it pass us by. Therefore I have decided to add another class to the course of study. It will meet once a week and in it you will read the ins and outs of our political system and its history.

"This is Professor Richard Embry."Kendrick gestured to the cuss sitting next to him, who then stood up."He is from the Ministry and has agreed to learn this new class that we have designed. The class will appear on your schedules that you will receive tomorrow. Now, I suggest all of you turn in early as classes begin bright and other in the morning. Prefects, delight escort the first years to the vulgar rooms."

Kendrick and the Ministry bloke both resumed their seats while Albus and his supporter rose. The joined the mob of students making their way out of the Great Hall and towards the independent stairway. The Hufflepuffs and Slytherins broke away from the coterie to fall to their dormitory and then the Ravenclaws left for their tower. Soon, Albus and his supporter were only amongst mate Gryffindors.

The uncouth elbow room was abuzz with discussion about the new professor when they arrived. Most of the younger scholarly person had gone to bed, but the older scholarly person were making no move to do so. Fred was posting a sign-up piece of paper for Quidditch try-outs on the poster circuit card while heather watched. Albus predicted that the two of them would act more than like co-captains since there was no way broom was going to let Fred make all of the team determination this year.

"So now we have another class,"John muttered as they sat down at a table near the fire."Thomas More homework. to a greater extent exams."

"It 's only once a week,"Rose pointed out.

"But still, since when has anyone at Hogwarts had to occupy a course about political science ?"privy asked.

"Never,"Albus replied.

"Muggles take classes on politics,"Amanda pointed out."My sister took one last yr and my cousins have taken them. I really do n't opine it 's going to be that difficult."

"Yeah, it 's not like there 's going to be an O.W.L. for it,"Rose said."Can you believe that we 'll be taking O.W.L.s following year ?"

John groaned."Do we really have to talk about them already ?"

"Seriously,"Matt agreed."They 're a long way off."

"fountainhead, I think I 'm going to turn in,"rosebush said as she stood up."Classes starting signal tomorrow."

"You sound like Kendrick,"Albus said, but he was feeling slightly tired himself.

blush wine and Amanda left for the girls'dormitory room a little while later. Albus and the other boys stayed up a while longer, but soon realized they were quite tired. They said goodnight to Kaden when they reached the third years'dormitory and then continued on to their own. It had been a long day and Albus was ready to go to kip, just so he would n't have to suppose about political science or the election anymore.
******


"fountainhead, we 've got one of the new teacher today,"King John said at breakfast the chase morning."We start off the day with Herbology and then have Defense right before lunch."

"When do we have that politics course of instruction ?"Matt asked as he scooped a heap of rolled oats onto his plate.

"Tomorrow, rightfield before dinner,"Saint John replied."Merlin, that would 've been free metre if we did n't have that damn class."

"It could be fun, John,"Rose said.

"I have n't got it until Friday daybreak,"Kaden lamented."I think it will be fun. Muggle politics are boring but wizard makes everything better."

"Bad tidings is we have it with the Slytherins,"Albus said.

"Of grade,"Matt muttered."Would n't expect anything dissimilar. And we 've probably got potions with them again, right ?"

Albus glanced at his schedule."Yes."They had had potions with the Slytherins every year now. Surely that could n't be accidental. Albus would suffer preferred they have no classes with the Slytherins, especially after what had happened in Defense the old year. The last thing he and mat needed was more contact with Scorpius Malfoy.

"Good news is that we 've got Defense with the Hufflepuffs this yr,"Amanda pointed out.

"Bet Kendrick did that on design after lowest year,"John said."He 'd have to be an imbecile to impart us that course with the Slytherins again.

Everyone nodded in understanding. After the shot that had developed between Albus, john, and Scorpius Kendrick would probably never have the three of them in DoD social class together again. Albus was grateful. He 'd drop the last few weeks of his tertiary year avoiding Malfoy and was fully prepared to avoid him for the residuum of his Hogwarts career. Unfortunately the Slytherin was on his dueling team.

The group hurriedly finished their breakfast and then parted shipway with Kaden before heading down to the nursery for Herbology. Herbology was one of those predictable classes where they never had to worry about anything frightening happening when it came to subject thing or teachers. Neville was a fair teacher who made classes interesting. Albus never had to care about anything odd happening while in the glasshouse, unlike potions and Defense.

Everyone was slightly wary of the new Defense professor and thus the seats in the cover of the elbow room were in senior high school need. Unfortunately the Hufflepuffs had had Transfiguration beforehand and had a much shorter walk, so they claimed all of the far seats. Albus, Matt, and John had the misfortune of having to sit at one of the forepart tables and all three son were on border.

The prof ambled into the elbow room just as family was scheduled to get going. He had a very turgid stack of lambskin, which he set on the desk before beginning to call paradiddle.

"I am Professor Whitney Moore Young Jr.,"he began after he finished with roll."And welcome to twenty-five percent twelvemonth Defense Against the iniquity Arts. This year we will center on nighttime curses, hex, and general spells, all of which are detailed out in your text edition. You can take your record book out now if you have n't already done so."

Albus rummaged in his bag and set his book on the table. prof Loretta Young picked up the slew of parchment and began passing it out to the students. Albus feared that it was a quiz, as he glanced down at its fill-in-the-blank questions and short result questions.

"Please read the first gear chapter of your books and complete the worksheet by the end of the family,"young said as he walked back to his desk. He said nothing more and began to translate what appeared to be a novel while stroking his beard.

Albus glanced at John and lustrelessness, unsure of whether Danton True Young would yell at him if he spoke in rustling to his friend. Actually, Young might not even hear him. He did appear to be quite old. But it was just so odd that Young assigned them reading and a worksheet on the inaugural day of grade. Would n't a lecture make more sense ? Albus could n't remember a time when a professor had n't lectured on the kickoff day of class.

Everyone else seemed thoroughly confused as well. For the next five bit everyone sent each other at sea tone and glances before finally cracking open their schoolbook, having realized that Loretta Young was n't going to do anything besides read his novel.

Albus began to read the foremost chapter, which was dreadfully boring. It was about the most mundane of Dark hexes, if a nighttime hex could be considered mundane. The chapter did n't even mention unforgivable curses, which while horrible, were far more matter to than the basic precept of what made a curse Dark.

Albus finished his worksheet a few instant before offspring put down his novel."Leave your worksheets here on my desk. There is n't any homework."

"That was the unusual class ever,"Albus said once they had left the elbow room."Who gives a worksheet on the initiatory day of course of instruction ?"

"Someone who just wants to translate their book all day,"John replied."Works for me, since he did n't give any homework."

"Still, it was horribly oil production,"Albus replied.

"Honestly, I 'm happy it 's irksome after dealing with Balladanis last year,"mat said.

"Somehow I do n't think this bloke is going to be bringing any Anamateks to class,"Albus said.

"An Anamatek would probably cease him off,"can replied."I do n't think he could handle one."

"Not many people could,"Albus pointed out.

When they arrived in the Great Granville Stanley Hall, they were surprised to see Georgia hurrying Bradley and Cedric out of the room.

"What 's unseasonable ?"Albus asked, extremely confused as to why Georgia was at Hogwarts.

"Dad wants us there when he makes his big announcement."She rolled her center."We 're supposed to be there supporting him or something."

"What time is it happening ?"Albus asked.

"One,"Georgia replied."Which means we 're already going to be later than Dad wants. It 'll be in the Evening Prophet."

"There is no way Georgia 's going to be able to make believe everything is fine between her and Uncle Percy for the whole election,"pink wine said once Georgia and her pal had left."She looked annoyed already and he has n't even announced he 's running yet."

"She probably has to overleap practice for it,"Albus replied."I just want to sleep with who he 's running against."

"Wish we could go sentry,"Rose said."I bet our parents are there."

"Of trend they are,"Albus agreed."matt 's dad is probably there, too."

"He is,"matt said."Has n't got a hint as to who 's running, though."

"guess we 'll find out tonight,"Albus said.
******


Albus did n't see Omar Nelson Bradley or Cedric until dinner party. He had been hoping to catch one of them in between class, but either their schedules did n't tolerate them to cross paths or the announcement had gone until dinner. The noise in the Great Hall was n't any louder than it usually was when Albus arrived, but then again he was n't quite sure how much the rest of the students cared about the election. However at the Gryffindor table, all of Albus 's cousins were clustered at one end of the table, their pass leaned in to one another.

"feeling like a category meeting or something,"Albus said.

"We 'll see you in the coarse way after dinner, then,"Amanda said as she pulled John and Kaden towards the other end of the table, mat following.

Albus followed rosebush to the far end of the table, where everyone else had already gathered. Albus squeezed his way in between Victor Hugo and Epistle of James while pink wine found a seat next to Lily.

"Finally, you 're here,"William James said."Bradley and Cedric wo n't say a word until everyone 's here."

"Otherwise we 'd just have to tell the account over and over again,"Tom Bradley muttered.

"well, go on,"Fred encouraged.

"It was basically a vast fancy party with a bunch of boring speeches,"Bradley began."A clump of Ministry the great unwashed and their married woman or husband and Dad was the centre of attention of attention, of form. Everyone knew he was running even though he had n't made his official announcement yet. It did n't get interest until Dad and the witch he 's running against made their announcement-"

"Dad 's was pretty tiresome,"Cedric cut in."Talked about how he 's seen the Ministry through so many changes and how we need firm leadership to keep the wizardly community together and loyal. Mentioned Uncle Harry and Voldemort, of class. Then everyone clapped politely and the resistance stood up."

"The witch who 's actually running looking at like she was a hawk in a former life. Her olfactory organ is as pointy as a nozzle can get and she 's got this flowing black pilus that was done up in a bun. She stood up there with a crowd of people who she introduced as her campaign squad,"Bradley said."But it was her talking to that got the crowd riled up. She kept putting maw in everything Dad said. Dad mentioned about how the wizarding world was a strong merge front but she talked about how break are forming and the Ministry is slipping and change is needed again. She made all these elusive honorable mention of how the Aurors are n't as on top of things and how if we do n't do something the magical world will fall apart."

"That 's ridiculous !"Fred said."The witching worldly concern is fine."

"I thought they were just making their proclamation that they were running,"Rose said."Speeches do n't pop yet."

"Neither of them are going to waste an opportunity to get votes,"broom pointed out."So do you two have to make anymore appearances ?"

"Yeah,"Bradley answered."Dad wants us all there for his first speech this weekend and he said there are going to be some public debate here, so we have to sit up front with Mum at those."

"And the Prophet wants to do a huge article on our family,"Cedric added."They 're doing one on the witch, too."

"What 's her name ?"Rose asked."And what does she do in the Ministry ?"

"Patricia Laurentis,"Cedric replied."She 's some sort of adviser to the current minister. Her title 's just as confusing and long as Dad's."

"Weird that both the candidate were working under the electric current Minister,"blush wine said.

"Well the company chose them."Cedric shrugged."I should get going, though. Have to go see Slughorn about what I missed earlier."

"Me too,"Bradley said as he stood up."Patil probably wo n't be pleased that I missed the first lesson."

Cedric and Thomas Bradley left, leaving the rest of the cousins to spill about what they had just been told. Albus mostly listened while pushing his food for thought around his plate. What he had learned about Patricia Laurentis unnerved him a little and it was mostly because region of him thought she was right. affair were n't as stark as his Uncle Walker Percy thought. Willinson was still on the let loose and not to mention the subject with Lubar was still unresolved.

But Albus 's dad and the other Aurors were doing all they could, were n't they ? What could Patricia Laurentis do if she got elected ? There would still be the Saame Aurors working at the Ministry.

"Maybe Uncle Sir Henry Percy is the right individual to be Minister,"Heather said quietly."The Ministry has been working the same way since the final exam Battle, has n't it ? And there have n't been anymore Voldemorts trying to get ahead power."

"But things ca n't always stay the same,"rosiness pointed out.

"Do you really think the Ministry needs to interchange that practically ?"Scots heather asked.

"I do n't recognize,"rosebush said quietly."I just do n't recollect people are as unify as Uncle Walker Percy thinks."

"I 'm going to the common room,"Albus said as he pushed his plate away. He was n't thirsty anymore.

Footsteps behind him told him that rosiness was following, just like he hoped she would."What were you getting at ? people not being united ?"he asked once they were in an abandon corridor.

"Not everyone agrees on everything, Albus,"rosiness said."Far from it. I think Uncle Percy 's slightly delusional about that. And commemorate what you told me about that odd blighter who gave your dad a warning at the Quidditch World Cup ?"

"That bloke ?"Albus laughed."He was insane !"

"I 'm not denying that, but he did let a degree. In an election year everything matters. Uncle Percy 's aligned his opinion with the flow minister of religion 's, which means if he 's elected he 's going to continue doing things the Saami way. The Ministry has n't caught Willinson for good in the three geezerhood they 've been searching and he 's slipped out of their reach numerous times. It 's not going to be difficult for that Laurentis lady to convince people we need to change maneuver, even if her tactics are n't great either."

Albus said nothing for a few moments."How do you know all of this ?"

"I 've talked to Amanda Thomas More than you have,"rosebush replied."She knows how all of this whole kit and caboodle, and it 's really not that unlike in the Muggle world."

"So you think Laurentis is going to win ?"Albus asked.

pink wine laughed."I never said that and it 's far too soon to tell. They have n't even debated yet. All I 'm saying is, Uncle Percy needs to open his eyes a bit."

Albus did n't reply. He knew that his Uncle Sir Henry Percy 's political eyeshot were slightly different than the rest of his family 's, but they were still quite standardised. If what Rose was saying was true, that meant that his whole family needed to open their eyes and Albus was n't sure how he felt about that.


A/N : Sorry about the late update. There were some site issues. See the forum for to a greater extent inside information about that. Thanks to everyone who has been reading and reviewing !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


"You know, this government class is taking away from our justify periods,"John said the following morn at breakfast. He shook his head as he loaded his plate high with scrambled egg and bacon.

Albus nodded and waited for Rose 's reply about how they needed to take advantage of any learning chance, even if they meant less free time, but it did n't issue forth. Albus turned to look at her, thinking she might be ill. She was n't. Instead she was piling her own home base high with testicle and toast. Albus raised his eyebrows at her.

"What ?"she demanded."young woman get athirst, too."

"Not that,"Albus replied."John Lackland just complained about having another grade and you did n't groan and distinguish him off."

"I kind of agree with him."Rose shrugged.

"Are you ill ?"Albus asked as he felt her forehead.

Rose pushed his hand away."period it, Al. I 'm not saying I wo n't enjoy the class. I 'm just saying that we 're quartern days and O.W.L.s are closer than ever and we need all the time we can get to study. Not that John would use the metre to study, mind you."

"There 's the Rose we all know."John grinned as he stuffed his fount with bacon.

"I think it 'll be a courteous variety,"mat put in."Something different. observance they gave us History of magic trick on two consecutive mornings. inquire who the retard was who did that."

"Saami one who always gives us classes with the Slytherins, I 'll bet,"privy said."Double Potions this morning and I 'd bet my right arm and both my legs we 'll be with the Slytherins."

"Why not both your arms and legs ?"Amanda asked.

"On the off-chance that I 'm unseasonable, I 'll need some sorting of limb to get around with,"John answered.

"I only had one class with the Slytherins last year,"Kaden said."You lot must have terrible hazard. I 'd better be off. Defense this morning."

"trade good portion. That prof is eldritch,"John said.

"Ca n't be unsound than cobbler's last year,"Kaden replied as he got up and left.

Albus, matte, Rose, and Amanda waited for John to finish his cumulation of ballock before setting off for the dungeons. When they arrived the door was already spread and Albus saw that they were indeed wit the Slytherins again. Scorpius Malfoy was sitting at one of the front table, looking rather smug. Albus averted his eye and continued to the back of the classroom, where he sat down in between lusterlessness and john.

"wonder what he 's so happy about,"Albus muttered as the relaxation of the scholarly person entered the room.

"I do n't know. But I do n't care it,"John said.

Slughorn chose that second to waddle into the room so Albus and St. John the Apostle could not stay on their conversation."Welcome, welcome ! Ahh, my two deary houses together again ! What luck. fountainhead, well, welcome to fourth part year Potions. This is the year that matter get unmanageable since you 'll be sitting your O.W.L.s next year ..."

"Why is it they 're talking about O.W.L.s this year ?"Albus whispered."They 're still over a year off."

"... Since today is a double socio-economic class I thought we 'd set about brewing the first of all potion in your textbook and see where your skills lie after a summer of lounging about. Unless some of you happened to read your text edition book over the summer !"

Albus glanced at Rose, who was sitting next to Amanda at one of the nominal head tables. She seemed to sit up higher in her seat.

"Let 's get started, then. You can lick in pairs of your choosing. The duad that produces the Charles Herbert Best potion will win a bar of Honeyduke 's chocolate."

John set off to exploit with Janie Creevey who lacked a partner while Albus and Matt set up a cauldron at their tabular array.

"Remember your gloves,"Slughorn announced."If you touch the land up ware your hand will immediately freeze."

"Does it look odd to you that we have to trump up a freeze Solution with flak ?"Matt asked as he stuck his wand under the caldron to light the flame.

"Very,"Albus agreed."So now that we 've had Slughorn for three years, have you noticed that he always starts the year with a competition ?"

"Yeah. I bet he uses the like syllabus every twelvemonth,"lusterlessness added."Ca n't ideate that a great deal changes in terminus of potion brewing."

"I bet our parents brewed the same potions,"Albus said.

"I wonder if it 's possible for this potion to set off,"matte mused as he tossed a few pieces of sliced beetroot into the cauldron."

"Well, I suppose we 'll receive out,"came a drawling vocalisation from behind them. Albus turned around and saw Malfoy, carrying a few nursing bottle he must consume gotten from the supply press."I 'm sure you two will manage it, if it 's possible."

"Shut it, Malfoy,"Albus replied.

Malfoy glared at him and then stalked off towards his own table. Albus was slightly surprised that he had left so quickly. It was strange.

"Wyrd of him to give so soon,"lusterlessness said, as if reading Albus 's mind.

"Yeah, if you ask me, he 's afraid of you now."

matte let out a jape."Yeah, right. If anything he 's finally realized you 're a unspoiled duellist than he is and he 's got to find out out. Speaking of which, you think you 're going to be chieftain of your dueling team this year ?"

"It 's either going to be me or Malfoy,"Albus said.

With everything else that was going on that class, the last thing Albus needed was to be captain of his dueling team, but he did not want Malfoy as captain either. He 'd take the extra piece of work if just to hold back Malfoy from being in flush. Malfoy needed power like a blast-ended skrewt needed a flame thrower.

Albus and Matt did not fumble up their potion by the end of the class. In fact, their potion had the same consistency that it was supposed to and while it was slightly off-color, it did deal to freeze the quill Slughorn stuck in it. Rose and Amanda won the cocoa, which was no surprisal to anyone.

Rose and Amanda shared their chocolate with the boys as they walked up to the Great Hall for lunch. Albus and matte told the daughter and King John about Malfoy 's bizarre demeanour and Rose told them that they should just be felicitous he 's backing down, rather than analyze his theme.

The Great hall was buzzing with activity when they entered it a few proceedings later. Albus sat down at the Gryffindor tabular array and no sooner had he grabbed a roll did Calluna vulgaris jactitate a copy of the Prophet onto his dental plate.

"What 's this ?"Albus asked as he lifted up the paper.

"This morning 's oracle. The bird of night were late delivering it. Something about a storm in London,"ling explained.

Albus set down his bankroll and opened the paper. There on the front Sir Frederick Handley Page was a icon of his Uncle Percy, smiling all-encompassing, in elaborated robe, shaking hands with a very tall woman, who was also smiling extensive and wearing refine robes. Above the picture was the title,"Candidates for Minister of Magic Announced."

By this point rosiness and Matt had crowded on either incline of Albus, while Amanda and privy hovered behind him, all trying to read the article. Albus 's eyes traveled down the page so he could do the same.

In front of the intact Ministry of conjuring trick,
Minister hopefuls Hotspur Ignatius Weasley and
Patricia Vivien Leigh Laurentis announced their
political campaign on Sept 3rd, 2029. Both
prospect work under Minister Hartwell, yet
are running against each other for opposite
party.

Weasley, senior Undersecretary for the
draftsmanship and Editing of Laws, has been
Chosen to run for the Merlinus company,
which is the political party that current Minister
Hartwell represents. Laurentis, Senior
Advisor to Law Enforcement and Azkaban
Official has been chosen to run for the
Paracelsus Party.

A large bunch turned out for the announcement,
which is only the number 1 of many appearing
by both candidates. The first argumentation is
scheduled for September 8th, at the
Ministry of Magic.

"So that 's who your uncle 's running against,"Matt said.

"Guess so,"Albus replied.

"She looks a footling like this math teacher I had before I came to Hogwarts,"Amanda said."She was a scary lady. I remember once I forgot to do my homework so I spent the entire first light in the loo before someone came looking for me."

"You can enjoin they both hate each other,"mat said as he gestured to the picture."for certain they 're shaking mitt and acting nice but clearly they both want to hex each other."

"It 's just weird that she works for Hartwell if she 's the opposition party he is,"Rose mused."Why would Hartwell get hired her ?"

"Maybe she switched political party ?"Amanda suggested."It happens in the Muggle world."

"Maybe,"Rose said."It just seems fishy. Her switching parties and hinting at all these free radical changes. It just seems like something big is going to happen."

Albus could n't facilitate but have the same feeling. But all he could do was go for that his uncle won the election and Laurentis would not give the chance to vary everything.

"Hey, Al, done with that composition ?"James called from down the table.

Albus nodded and passed the Prophet down, then settling in to eat lunch. There was no point worrying about the election now. It was month away. Plus, the politics class was later that day and Albus was incredibly curious about it.

Transfiguration seemed to puff by since it was the same as it was every year. Professor Patil explained about that twelvemonth 's course of study and how they needed to set off thinking about O.W.L.s and the increased work load. It was all rather monotonous and all Albus wanted to do was get to politics since it was something new.

Finally Transfiguration was over and Albus and his supporter hurried to the 5th story to the schoolroom where politics was held. They slowed down when they reached the room as none of them wanted to be the first to enter.

"We better not have this with the Slytherins,"John muttered as they neared the doorway.

Albus peeked in the door."Nope, Hufflepuffs."

John let out an audible sigh of fill-in and Albus pushed the door open as they entered. Only a few Hufflepuffs were there, seated towards the back, and the professor was nowhere in ken. Rose immediately claimed a desk in the front and Amanda chose one next to her, while Albus and the former boys headed to the group of Hufflepuffs in the back.

"Do you think there will be homework in this form ?"John asked as they sat down.

Albus raised his eyebrows."Is that a serious enquiry ?"

John shrugged."wellspring it 's not like there will be an O.W.L. We probably wo n't even have this class next class. So why would there be prep ?"

"Because it 's a social class and this is Hogwarts,"Albus replied."I guarantee there will be homework."

The respite of the class filed in, filling in the seats that remained in the middle of the classroom. As the bell rang, Professor Embry entered, walking with an air that this class would be all work and no play.

"Good afternoon,"Professor Embry began as he shuffled a few papers on his desk."Welcome to staple Wizarding Politics. I am Professor Embry and you will address me such."

Embry stepped out from behind his desk and began to pace the length of the schoolroom."I understand that near of you know absolutely null about politics and assume that the Minister of Magic is born the Minister and laws just magically come into existence. A take few of you,"his center rested on Albus, and then on matte, and on two Hufflepuff miss,"have parents in the Ministry and may have slightly to a greater extent knowledge than the rest, but that would be rather generous of me to assume.

"Hogwarts has not put much stake in political Education before now, something that I feel is lacking in today 's educational activity and wish to rectify this yr. The course of study will include history of how our government came to be the way it is today as well as how the government is currently run."

The year let out a corporate grown at the discussion history. Albus glanced at Rose, who was on the edge of her seat.

"But sir,"a particularly brave Hufflepufff boy announced,"we 've already learned the history. We take History of Magic."

Embry let out a unretentive gag."With professor Binns ? If I may be frank, that man died before most of the account happened. Along with that, he 'll put a rock to sleep."Embry chuckled. No one in the class dared to laugh."I 'm going to hold you a proper history of our modern government, starting with a legal brief overview of what the government was like before the reign of Voldemort and a more comprehensive overview of what it is like today.

"I will also devote a class period each to the way the government is run in France, the United States, and Commonwealth of Australia. Now, since you were not cognisant that this social class would adopt stead, you have not acquired volume. Therefore I have purchased them for you. You are to regale them as subroutine library books and generate them to me in similar experimental condition at the end of the year. Lest your parents be billed."

Embry flicked his wand and scads of books flew out of a nearby closet. They landed softly in front of the students. Albus glanced down and read the title of respect. government and governance in Modern Wizarding U.K. by Beatrice Holden. It looked about as dull as the cupboard it had come out of.

"Very good. Now, get out lambskin and quills. I 'm not going to let the eternal rest of this category stop go to wasteland,"Embry said as he tapped his wand on the instrument panel. Notes immediately appeared on it.

Embry lectured for the remainder of the class about how the foremost government was formed in Britain. It was incredibly dry. The only cause Albus stayed awake was because he had to take musical note. Literally had to. Embry caught a John the Evangelist not taking notes and threatened him with detention this Sabbatum if he did n't start.

"That 's all for today,"Embry said after the bell rang."Next year we 'll fast forward in time and learn about the governing pre-Voldemort. Read the number one chapter for preparation and come up with three heedful dubiousness to pose to the rest of the course of instruction. Dismissed."

"How does Hogwarts attract the most bizarre teachers ?"Albus asked once they were out of earshot of the classroom.

"Kendrick must put it on the list of job essential,"whoremonger replied."mustiness be out of your freaking mind to take this position."

"I think he 's pro,"Rose piped in."It seems like we 'll really teach stuff."

"Why botheration ?"lavatory asked."It 's not like we 're old enough to have a say in the government anyway."

"But we will one day,"Amanda pointed out."And to be honorable, I 'd be a bit afraid if everyone our age felt like you do, trick. Muggles get politics classes in school. It makes sense that we should, too."

"She 's got a point, match,"Matt said."Who has the office in your country subject. If you elect the wrong people, matter can go horribly wrong. Not everyone gets to elect their leaders, either. We do n't even get to do that fully. The positions that Albus 's dad has and my dad throw ? In the United body politic, those are elected positions. Not here."

"And before Voldemort, we did n't even elect our Minister,"Rose said.

"How do you lot even know this stuff ?"John asked as they drew closer to the Gryffindor park room.

"Parents."Amanda shrugged."It 's amazing what you pick up when your parents think you 're too young to care to eavesdrop."

"Wait."St. John the Apostle stopped in the middle of the corridor and looked at his friends."postponement. Now that we know about your uncle, you lot all have home involved with the Ministry, wether it 's the charming ministry or the Muggle ministry."

Albus grinned sheepishly."guessing so."

John groaned."This is insane. Why could n't I have picked normal friends ?"

"formula is highly overrated,"Matt said as they reached the Fat gentlewoman.

******


The rest of the hebdomad went by fairly quickly, in Albus 's vox populi. Everyone, students and instructor, fell back into their usual Hogwarts number and by the time Friday arrived Albus had a stack of homework as in high spirits as his bed and was Sir Thomas More than ready for a few twenty-four hour period off. But when he saw the point out board in the common room when he got back from Charms on Fri afternoon, he knew that would not be entirely possible.

Fred had scheduled Quidditch practice on Saturday at eight in the morning.

"Eight !"Albus exclaimed."In the morning ? Is he thoroughly insane ? It 's the firstly week back ! Even Georgia was n't unhinged enough to do that."

"Tough luck, mate,"John said as he tossed his bag onto a nearby couch."Ashcan School in the morning. Let 's see, I 'll be snuggled up in bed. What about you, matte ? What will you be doing at eight in the morning ? Flying through the rainfall ? Trudging through the mud to the pitch ?"

"form not."Matt grinned."I 'll be cozy in bed, having an amazing dream where I 'm playing for the cannon. In everlasting conditions of course."

"The carom are the only team you 'd ever have hope of playing for,"John replied.

Albus threw himself down on the couch. Fred was insane. That was all there was to it. Well, he could apply for a professor stead once he graduated. He 'd meet the insanity requirement.

"Speak of the Prince of Darkness,"John said as Fred entered the common room.

"You !"Albus shouted as he got up."Why in the gens of everything Merlin owns did you schedule practice at eight in the aurora on a Sabbatum ? Not everyone 's a seventh class taking four course. We ca n't all sleep in every bloody day."

Fred shrugged."Had to. Pitch is booked solid all weekend except for Saturday morning and eve. All the other houses are having try-outs. We ca n't even hold our keeper try-outs until succeeding weekend because of it."

"Why not the eve then ?"

"Tom Bradley 's got to fix an appearance at Uncle Hotspur 's speech."Fred rolled his eyes.

"Then why have pattern at all ? We do n't demand to direct anyone new until we get a new Keeper,"Albus pointed out.

"It 's been a unharmed summer. We 're rusty. We 've got to bulge training early. I want that Quidditch trophy."

"We 've been playing Quidditch all summer,"Albus said flatly.

"facial expression, Al, I 'm not changing it. Just mass with it,"Fred said as he continued up to his dormitory.

Albus spent the rest of the evening fuming about practice and cursing Fred under his breathing place, until pink wine suggested they all go to the elbow room after dinner party. Albus reluctantly agreed, knowing that if they went to the elbow room he 'd be up half the night and would only get a few hour'sleep.

In the end he was glad rosiness suggested it. They spent the evening playing Gobstones and Exploding duck soup and listening to John and Kaden think up new shipway to prank the Slytherins, and more specifically, Scorpius Malfoy. Eventually, Albus decided to prognosticate it a night and headed back to his dormitory, leaving his friends to continue discussing whether it would be ripe to turn Malfoy 's hair's-breadth red or purpleness.

Only a few poor hours later Albus found himself sneaking quietly out of his residence hall at an hr of day that was only mean to be seen on weekdays. He grabbed his Scots heather and went to meet his teammate in the usual room.

No one looked happy. James was nodding off on the couch while Ryan attempted to tie his shoes without opening his eyes. Heather 's hair was sticking up at odd angles while she tried to tame it into a ponytail. Omar Bradley was sulking in an armchair. Even Fred looked a lilliputian worse for wear. But they trudged through the castle, only seeing Peeves loosening a few threshold hinges and Filch 's cat skulking behind a cause of armor.

The conditions was at least nice and the four hours they spent on the sales pitch went by relatively libertine. Albus and his teammate landed on the ground as the Slytherin Quidditch squad made their way onto the pitch. Albus glared at them as they passed.

Without going up to his dormitory to change, Albus headed into the Great Hall hoping there would be something right for lunch. Having skipped breakfast, he was starving. He spotted his friends halfway down the Gryffindor table and after stowing his broom underneath the Bench, he sat down and grabbed the nearest dish.

"You could at to the lowest degree shower first, Al,"rosiness said."You stink."

"Too starved,"Albus replied.

"Albus !"Lily called from down the table. She got up and headed over to him."Mum and Dad sent this earlier."She handed him a piece of parchment."They want us to go to the debate tonight since it 's the beginning one and all. We 're expected to Floo from Kendrick 's study to the Ministry at five."

Albus groaned as he read the alphabetic character."That gives me about four minute to relax and possibly do homework."

"Are you going to have to go to every argumentation ?"Rose asked.

"promise not,"Albus replied in between bite."You do n't have to go ?"

"Have n't gotten anything about it. Dad probably does n't even want to go himself so he wo n't make us. And Mum probably expects that it would just take away from my studies."

"This says I have to wear dress robes,"Albus muttered.

"At least you can tell us if anything dear happens,"flatness said.

"And what about you ? Your dad 's heights in the Ministry. Why are n't you going ?"Albus asked, desperate to find someone else who could maintain him company.

"He already told me over the summer that I 'll only have to go to ones at Hogwarts. And then whatever party the campaigner will throw for the official. Does n't call up an election should take a lot outcome on my life-time,"matte explained.

"Lucky,"Albus replied.

Albus made the about of the rest of the day. He and his protagonist took preparation down to the lake, but it sat ignored under a beechwood tree diagram while they sat by the bound of the lake and dangled their ft in. Kaden swore the Giant Squid tried to eat his foot, but cipher believed him. Rose and Amanda took a walkway by themselves along the edge of the forest, insisting that none of the boy follow.

Kaden pulled a Fanged Frisbee out of his bag once the girls left and the boys began tossing it around. This was great fun until the Frisbee decided it had had sufficiency of being thrown and took out a plane section of Kaden 's hair, leaving his head bleeding rather profusely and Albus, John, and Matt having to pelt along him to the hospital annex. By the time Kaden 's question had been bandaged up and all four had received a lecture on the dangers of Fanged Frisbees ( brothel keeper Pomfrey somehow figured out that that was the cause ) it was time for Albus to head back to Gryffindor pillar to get ready for the debate.


A/N : Sorry for the lack of a May update. School was insane. But I only have a class left ! I 'm now habitation for the summer and am having outcome getting my net to cooperate with HPFF. things take a foresighted metre to load and I can not answer to critique. I will still translate every followup, but reaction will train a while since I have to be at the library to reply to them.

Since I last updated I 've had some issues with people plagiarizing my news report. I really hate that I have to tell you ridicule this, but it is against the formula to take anyone 's stories from here and put them on other website. It 's also against the normal to make plot of land, case, etc without permission. I do not give my permission for anyone to take my plot of land or reference. I 'm really happy that you guys like my stories, but please do n't necessitate them.


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


If there was one thing Albus hated it was getting dressed up for Ministry events. He had always been slightly uncomfortable with his dad 's fame and Ministry position because he hated the attention. James had always been the type who would bask in the attention, enjoying when all the Ministry officials proclaimed how big he was getting and how he was sure to be the mavin of Gryffindor 's Quidditch squad. Lily was rather indifferent towards it. She never really expressed emotion about the attention one way or another. She enjoyed getting dressed up but once they were at whatever party, she would go off and do her own thing. Albus just did not like it. He did not like getting his impudence pinched by old Lady and did not similar random people telling him how tall he was getting. As he got one-time, he did not like it any more.

But it was a fact of life and so Albus found himself once again forcing himself into a set of emerald greenish attire robes. They were wrinkled, but he did n't know any sort of ironing charm so he let them be. It 's not like anyone would be focused on him anyway. This was his Uncle Percy 's night and it seemed like this integral yr was going to be his Uncle Percy 's twelvemonth.

Albus tamed his hair with a bit of water and then met James, Lily, Thomas Bradley, and Cedric in the common room. James looked suave and perfectly comfy in his blue attire robe, whereas Bradley and Cedric looked like they were being force fed decayed Pisces in their matching grayness robe. Lily was wearing a purplish dress and as usual, did n't seem to have got an opinion about going to the argument.

"So you three got roped into this, too ?"Bradley asked as they made their way to Kendrick 's study.

"Yeah, Mum sent us a varsity letter this dawn,"Lily explained."I guess Dad thinks we should be at the first of all one."

"At least you do n't have to go to all of them,"Bradley muttered.

The rest of the trip to Kendrick 's survey was mum. When they arrived they saw that Kendrick was in attire robes as well and was apparently escorting them to the Ministry and would stay to watch over the debate. He handed them each a bit of Floo powder and let them go first.

Albus stepped into the Floo after King James I and soon found himself in the Ministry of Magic 's entrance hall. The situation was far smooth than it was the last sentence he had been there, the following yr, when he went with Matt to tell his dad about Lubar being at Hogwarts.

Kendrick led them to the lifts and down to the court way."The sole place big enough to conciliate everyone witnessing the argumentation. Even still, it 's an invitation only event. It 's being broadcasted over the wireless, however. Kendrick stopped in figurehead of Court room ten and opened the door. The room was about half to the full. Albus spotted his mother 's bright red fuzz in the first row of seating. He followed Kendrick down the stairs.

Albus 's auntie Corrine was sitting with his parents, along with a rather sullen looking Georgia and the twins, who were both reading record. Kendrick began to speak quietly to Harry as Albus and the others filed into the row. James, Bradley, and Cedric immediately began to verbalise of Quidditch and Albus listened in. They were speculating on who would show up for Keeper try-outs the following weekend. Empire State of the South immediately perked up and began giving the male child advice on who they should keep an eye out for.

It soon became obvious that the leave side of the straw man row of the seating was reserved for Percy 's family line. They were joined by all of Albus 's aunts and uncles, as well as Victoire, teddy, and Stanley. In fact the only one of his older cousins that was not there was Gabriella. Albus wanted to ask Victoire where she was but she was too far away.

Albus assumed that the first row on the right wing side of meat was reserved for Laurentis 's syndicate, although Albus did n't accredit a single one of the people in that row. He turned around and focused on the multitude filing in. He recognized a few of them including Matt 's parents and a few other Ministry official he 'd met before. Matt 's parents sat down behind Albus 's parents, side by side to professor Kendrick. Albus briefly wished that Matt had been forced to go, but quickly erased that intellection because what kind of friend would wish their best friend had to attend a political debate ?

The chattering in the elbow room immediately subsided when Minister Hartwell entered followed by a few of his closest advisers. Behind them were Hotspur and Laurentis, both wearing Ministry robe. Hartwell and his consultant sat along a table at the front of the room while Sir Henry Percy and Laurentis stood behind dais, also at the front of the way. The pastor spoke with his advisers briefly while Percy and Laurentis smiled and waved at the crowd. Then one of the advisers rose from his seat.

He was a portly man, whose robes stretched very tightly across his middle. He was completely bald and had no whiskers, but a very wide mustache. Aiming his wand at his own throat, he muttered a enchantment and then set his verge down.

"Welcome,"his interpreter boomed over the audience,"to the outset debate of the 2020 election for Minister of Magic. Our two campaigner, Percy Ignatius Weasley and Patricia Leigh Laurentis, join us tonight for an introductory debate on a mixture of publication. My name is Wendell York and I am the head of the Department of Magical deportation and will do as moderator for tonight 's argumentation. I will pose the subject and each candidate will get five minutes to reply, then two minute for a rebuttal.

"The kickoff theme is how our populace is concealed from Muggles. Do you think the flow Ministry is doing an fair to middling job ? What changes would you raise ? Mr. Weasley, you may go first."

Albus yawned. Why could n't it be an stimulate theme like catching nighttime wizards ? Or at to the lowest degree something relevant to his life, like the lack of estimable United States Department of Defense professors at Hogwarts. Now that would be a debate he 'd be concern in. Albus turned towards Percy and realized he had n't even been paying attention to much of his uncle 's response.

"... current laws do a satisfactory job of concealing our world from Muggles. Magic sightings by Muggles are low in number and when they do occur Obliviators do an splendid job of altering the retention of our Muggle neighbor ..."Percy droned on.

Albus turned to King James I who rolled his eyes. Could they have come up with a more slow topic ? Albus seriously doubted it. Except perhaps cauldron bottom thickness, which was a report Percy had done when he first started at the Ministry, according to Harry. Albus glanced at his dad. He was paying attention, but in that sure way of paying aid that meant he was really bored but was trying to falsify it. Even Corrine looked slightly bored.

"Thank you, Mr. Weasley,"Wendell York said."Ms. Laurentis, your turn."

"I disagree with Mr. Weasley,"Laurentis began."One sighting of our variety by Muggles is too many. Each clock time a Muggle grab sight of an act of magic puts our stallion universe at risk, and not only United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 's wizarding world. We have a responsibility to the world that we keep our conjuring trick under wraps. According to final year 's statistics we were in the top five commonwealth in full term of numbers racket of sightings. That 's not good ..."

Laurentis went on and on about various Pentateuch that could be enacted to guarantee that Muggles did not see acts of magic until Wendell York cut her off. He then let Percy have his two minute rebuttal, during which he went on about how it was an impossible finish to try, to achieve no illusion sightings by Muggles. Laurentis 's rebuttal was basically just a re-statement of her previous argument.

Albus tuned much of the public debate out, focusing instead on what he wanted to do during the current school year. He was a one-fourth class, which meant he was no longsighted one of the younger nipper. He 'd been on the Quidditch team for two old age and now he was hoping he 'd be able to feature some say in how practices went and how matches were played. Then there was the Dueling society. Each of the eight teams had a captain and the maitre d' were quartern twelvemonth. prof, mostly Neville, picked the master. Albus knew it would be down to either him or Scorpius and as much as he did not really want the province of being captain, he did not want Scorpius to throw exponent over him. He would use that to his advantage.

The debate wore on and Albus continued to not pay attention until he heard the words 'education'and 'Hogwarts'. That got his attention. It was Laurentis 's turning to go first.

"I think educational reform is the best way to go. Hogwarts has been ran the same way for contemporaries and while no one can deny that Headmaster Kendrick runs a wonderful school, we also can not ignore that change could be made to benefit the scholarly person. The world is a constantly changing place and training needs to keep up in club for our students to be better prepare.

"The class choice for example. It is my understanding that a new course of study has been added this year about politics, which I think is greatly beneficial to pupil. But former than that the Saami classes are offered now as have been offered for X. New course of study need to be phased in while old I that either no longer interest students need to be phased out. Obviously I am not talking about core classes such as Potions and good luck charm, but electives.

"Teachers also need to be kept up to date with Recent finding in their fields. They should not be teaching the same info I or my opponent learned at Hogwarts. They should be teaching the newest valid information available-"

"Thank you, Ms. Laurentis, but your meter is up. Mr. Weasley."

"My opposition brings up an interesting point, but even she admits that headmaster Kendrick is running an first-class school day. I believe that some government regulation is requisite, example being last year 's incident with Professor Balladanis, but we as governing officials do not have the training nor experience needed to properly run a schooltime. I, as well as my opposite, would be kidding ourselves if we believed we could do a better job running Hogwarts than Professor Kendrick.

"Just as professors most probable believe it near to leave law fashioning and the running of the country to those such as my opponent and I, I believe it upright to leave alone the running of Hogwarts to Professor Kendrick and the early professor. In end, I believe that Hogwarts is fine as is and if the headmaster thought he needed government assistance bringing about change in course of study he would ask."

"Thank you, Mr. Weasley,"the moderator said."Ms. Laurentis, your rebuttal."

"I in no way stated that I am trying to run Hogwarts. Nor do I think I would do a better job of it than Professor Kendrick. I am merely stating that the pupil would gain from more administration intervention. If the Ministry had been more tortuous with teacher selection, for case, we could give birth possibly avoided hiring professor Balladanis live on year."

"Mr. Weasley."

"My opponent is speculating. There is no way for anyone to say whether governing officials would have found Professor Balladanis to be an inappropriate professor during his interview. In fact, I would angle towards the opposite, considering that neither I or my opponent have ever hired a professor before."

Both Walker Percy and Laurentis were red in the face. Albus was surprised a Ministry frequent debate could get so heat. He craned his head and turned around in lodge to see what Kendrick 's reaction to all this was, but found that Kendrick was hiding his emotions far better than either Sir Henry Percy or Laurentis. It also seemed that everyone in the room was paying rapt attention, including James and Lily. The only two mass who were n't were Samantha and Lindy.

There was one final question about law devising that Albus did n't really understand, nor did he handle to understand. He was far more matter to in the Hogwarts question. Percy 's line of reasoning was far break, in his opinion. Hogwarts was alright the way it was. Why did Laurentis want to commute everything ? What sort of alteration was she talking about, anyway ? He supposed the topic would be explored more specifically at the didactics themed debate which was scheduled to take billet at Hogwarts the following month. But one thought that Albus could not get out of his head was that if Laurentis won, what would go on to Hogwarts ?
******


"The sole change I want to see at Hogwarts is less homework and fewer exams,"whoremaster said as he walked with Albus and the rest of their friends to the Great Hall.

A workweek had passed since the showtime debate and students were still talking about the possible change to Hogwarts. A very large full page spreading had appeared in the Daily oracle the day after the debate, proclaiming that Laurentis wished to change Hogwarts. This had both scholar and professor up in arms and thing were only beginning to calm down. The prof had been on border the old week, snapping at educatee for nothing and assigning extra homework. This resulted in the students being very unhappy. Albus did not quite interpret why everyone was letting it affect them so much. It 's not like Laurentis had won. Yet.

It was early on Saturday aurora and Albus and his friends were heading to the Great Hall for the foremost Junior 's Dueling Club meeting of the year. Albus 's nerves were on end. It was at this first meeting that the captains would be announced.

"If Scorpius gets captain I 'm going to murder something,"john muttered as they entered the Great Hall.

"You 're not even on his team,"rose wine said.

"I am and I could n't stand it if he won,"Amanda pointed out.

"If he 's captain, tournaments are going to be awful,"John countered."Plus, I 'm Al 's friend."

The Great anteroom was in quite a little chaos, as it always was during the low gear group meeting of the year. Two squad were congregated at each table and much to Albus 's disdain, his squad was holding homage at the Slytherin table. He weaved his way through the confused second year who had yet to be assigned a team and stood side by side to his team. Scorpius was seated across the tabular array from him.

"wellspring, Potter, fix to be under my captainship ?"Scorpius greeted him.

"I could say the Lapp to you,"Albus replied."What makes you so sure enough you 'll get it ?"

"I 'm the better dueler, obviously."Scorpius smirked.

"lull, restrained everyone !"Neville shouted.

Albus turned away from Scorpius and swallowed the desire to pee a come back and paid attention to Neville instead. prof Patil stood next to him. Albus supposed the new Defense professor had not had a desire to help with the Dueling night club. Somehow, Albus was not surprised.

"Thank you,"Neville said."First I 'd like to announce that prof Patil has graciously agreed to assist me sponsor this class 's Dueling clubhouse. As a reminder, all team must let a professor nowadays during practice and it is up to the team police captain to organize pattern time and locate a professor to sit in. The professor does not suffer to be myself or prof Patil. However, this yr we are allowing one-seventh class Dueling Club fellow member to supervise as well. So as an option, you may ask a seventh class to supervise.

"First monastic order of concern is this year 's second geezerhood. I 've already assigned you to teams and shall now scan off the list."

Albus let his thinker wander while Neville read off the list. The only sec years he knew were his sister, and she was assigned to matt 's team, as well as Hugo, who was assigned to John and Kaden 's team. A craw of shy looking sec old age had congregated at his own squad 's blot and he smiled at them, encouraging them to take ass next to the previous students. There were five of them. Two son and three girls. Three Ravenclaws, a Slytherin, and a Hufflepuff. No Gryffindors, but Albus could dwell with that.

"And now, what I am sure all the fourth eld have been waiting for, headwaiter annunciation ! Let me cue you that I, as well as the other prof who have been involved with this social club have been watching you over the past two years and have chosen not only exceeding duelist, but exceptional leaders. Without foster adieu.

"The skipper of team One is Marina Jordan-Bell."

cheerfulness erupted for Marina, mostly from the Hufflepuff mesa, where her team was seated. Albus grinned. Marina was very nice and would make an excellent captain.

"The captain of squad Two is Harvey Tucker."

john and Kaden 's team. Harvey was a Ravenclaw and all Albus knew about him was that he knew every answer in every single class.

"The captain of team Three is Peter Smith."

A Hufflepuff. His Padre had attended school with Albus 's parents and they had n't liked him much.

"The captain of Team IV is Lydia Thompson."

A rather snobby Slytherin whom was often seen with Scorpius. Scorpius grinned and clapped loudly for her.

"The chieftain of Team V is Jace Johnson."

Rose 's team. Jace was a Hufflepuff who did n't seem to ever be not happy. It was kind of bizarre, actually.

"The sea captain of squad Six is Raisha Sweeney."

A Hufflepuff that Albus did n't know well. He swallowed hard. team Seven was adjacent and that was his team.

"The police chief of Team Seven is Albus Potter."

John 's whistle could be heard above everyone 's cheering. Albus grinned. His intact team ( keep open for Scorpius and his friends ) were clapping hard. He 'd done it. He 'd made captain ! All the precariousness he 'd had over the summer about it had disappeared. He, Albus thrower, was the new captain of team sevener.

"The captain of team ogdoad is Dayton Coons."

Matt 's team. Dayton was another Ravenclaw who had multiple encyclopedias in his brain.

"That 's all for today. Captains, please figure out a time for your for the first time drill, which should take place during the succeeding two weeks. Once you have a date, please see me to get a classroom. Then determine a prof or seventh class to supervise.

Scorpio did not say one word as Albus talked with the rest of his team and figured out a recitation time that did not interfere with four different Quidditch teams, Gobstones Club, and Chess golf-club. Eventually he settled on the following Thursday even. Neville assigned them to an empty classroom on the sixth base. Albus figured he 'd ask a seventh year to manage rather than a professor. It was less intimidating for his first practice session.

Albus 's friends joined him at the doorway to the Great Hall. Scorpius brushed past them, but did not say a password. He looked like he was cook to dispatch mortal. Albus thought he looked far too tempestuous over a lost captaincy. It was just the Junior 's Dueling Club anyway.

"Did Malfoy say anything to you ?"whoremaster asked on their way back to Gryffindor.

"Not a Bible,"Albus replied.

"Do n't think about him,"Rose said."What 's the tip ? You made senior pilot and that 's all that matters."

Albus grinned."virtually of the headwaiter are pretty comely, too. I mean Lydia 's kind of irritating, but the sleep are n't bad."

"It 's going to be a good year for dueling, that 's for trusted,"Matt agreed.

The six supporter discussed dueling all the way back to the park room. When they entered they saw a sign that said 'Congratulations Albus and Marina !'Unopened butterbeers cluttered one of the board and all of Albus 's cousin were cracking them open. Marina was surrounded by her Quaker and Albus was accosted by his full cousin as soon as he entered. somebody thrust a butterbeer into his hand and patted him on the back. He smiled as he looked out at the common elbow room, at the party that his full cousin had thrown together for himself and Marina. matte was not only decent about the fact that it would be a good yr for dueling. It was going to be a proficient year in general.


A/N : So I bet you 're all confuse about the figure modification ! wellspring, I 've been doing some thinking and a game alteration was needed. The chapters that are already posted wo n't be affected. The change only affects what I have n't written yet. But the old title was n't going to go with the new plot of ground, so I had to change it. I like the new one considerably anyway. And do n't worry, Percy will still run for Minister. Actually, the new patch focuses more on that.

To reply in overture, because I know this will come up up, I wo n't say what the old patch was going to be. I 'd rather people not compare the old secret plan with the one that will actually be written.

If any of you are on the forums, you 'll know about the cataclysm we had last week. Liza Potter on the archives ( and lizzacc on the meeting place ) has died. She was a fan of my Albus series and told me once that they were the offset news report she ever read on HPFF. She will be missed. I am dedicating this story to you, Liza.


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


The next day Albus found himself on the Quidditch sales talk staring at all of the new Gryffindor keeper aspirant. There were a lot of them. Try-outs were scheduled to begin in fifteen minute, yet the pitch had been packed since before lunch. Albus speculated that some hopefuls, including Victor Hugo, had not even taken a break for lunch. poor people Hugo need n't have bothered skipping his meal since even an supernumerary half time of day of practice session would not have helped him.

student from endorse through seventh twelvemonth were hoping for a spot on the team, including Janie Creevey. Albus recognized most of them, but there were a few older educatee whom he did not. Along with the Gryffindors, there were representatives from former squad, surely there to match out Gryffindor 's new steward.

Albus stood on the pitch a few meters from the bunch, with his team. Fred was holding a clipboard and Heather was standing side by side to him, gazing out at the pupil hoping for a daub. James, Bradley, and Ryan were laughing about something.

"lull, please, everyone !"Fred shouted. The Gryffindors immediately settled down. A few flew back down to the ground and dismounted, some not very gracefully."Thank you. We only need a Keeper this class. And if you ca n't keep on, you 're not going to get on the team. If you 're hoping to get in as Keeper and then require another 's smear when they graduate, you might as well not waste your time."

Wow, Albus thought to himself, Fred was channeling both Georgia and Samantha Meyers. Usually he would jest around at try-outs, but Albus supposed since he was now in charge, things had changed.

A few of the immature bookman walked slowly off the pitch and into the stands, looking clearly disappointed.

"All right then, I 'm going to have you fly around the pitch to assess your basic flying skills. If you 're not up to par on that, you 'll be eliminated. Then we 'll move on to guarding the goal posts."

Albus stood back while Fred had the hopefuls fly lap covering around the sales pitch. Quite a few could not even bring off to fly straight or execute turns properly. About a stern of them were eliminated during the offset ten minutes. one-half of the remaining Gryffindors were eliminated within the first ten minutes of end keeping, including Hugo. He hung his head as he walked to the stand, heather trailing behind him. Albus felt bad for him.

The rest of the of the student took longer to eliminate. After about an 60 minutes the quantity had been narrowed down to ten and they all seemed to be like in skill.

"I think the solely fair way to do this is to do away with anyone who misses a save. death one standing, er, flying, gets the spot,"Fred announced.

It took another half hour to end up the try-outs. To Albus 's surprise, the succeeder was Janie Creevey. Albus had had no idea that she even played Quidditch until he saw her at the try-outs. She grinned as she dismounted from her broom and accepted the kudos from the rest of the team.

"Nice to deliver another young lady,"Heather said."I thought I 'd be the solely one after Peach State left."

"I thought your cousin Hugo would get picked,"Ryan replied."Who knew he was the lone Weasley who ca n't play Quidditch ?"

"wealthy person you seen Rose on a heather ?"Albus asked.

Janie grinned."I 've played since I was footling. So happy to take won the maculation. When 's first practice ?"

"Right now,"Fred said."We 've got the sales talk all afternoon."

Albus sighed. Fred was turning into Empire State of the South. But Albus enjoyed Quidditch and it was a bright and sunny day, so it would n't be bad.

Practice lasted a few hours and Albus was thoroughly exhausted by the time it was over. He immediately went back to his student residence to take a shower and then set off to locate his friends. dinner would be served shortly and Albus was starved.

Albus 's acquaintance were in the Marauder 's Den, just where he had predicted when he did n't see them in the Gryffindor common room when he had traipsed through after practice. John and Kaden were playing chess and Kaden was trouncing toilet, like usual. Rose and Amanda were sitting on the couch discussing an essay that Cedonia had assigned the previous week. matt was not there since the entire lunation had been the previous night.

"Albus !"john exclaimed after Al had shut the door."So, who 's the new Gryffindor Keeper ?"

"You 're never gon na believe it, but Janie Creevey,"Albus answered as he collapsed onto a nearby chair."Apparently she has been playing Quidditch for ages and was just waiting for the steward side to open."

"Seriously ?"John asked."She never mentioned it all these days that we 've been brewing potions together."

"She 's probably too in use making sure you do n't burn out anything up,"rose wine replied.

"Hey, I 'm dear than Al and Matt are,"John muttered.

"Speaking of lusterlessness, have you lot been to see him today ?"Albus asked.

"Yeah, but he was asleep so brothel keeper Pomfrey did n't let us stay. Figured we 'd go after supper,"lav answered.

"Let 's get going now,"Albus said, standing up."Should be starting soon."

Everyone nodded in agreement and they set off towards the Great Hall. The corridors were filled with bookman who had spent the day outdoors and Albus felt very content walking alongside his friends, despite how every single one of his musculus ached from practice.

"Shhhh, tone !"toilet seethed as he grabbed the back of Albus 's shirt and pulled him into a door. Kaden, Rose, and Amanda followed, all looking curiously at John.

"What is it ?"pink wine asked.

"Shush !"John whispered."It 's Scorpio and Willinson 's cousin. What was his figure again ?"

"Felix,"Kaden muttered."Slimy git."

"Who 's that with them ?"Amanda asked.

Albus craned his head around the door frame. Scorpius and Felix were standing next to a few suits of armor, headspring leaned in towards each early. There was a female child about a caput shorter than Scorpio with them. She and Felix had the same color pilus, except hers was tenacious and curly.

"She 's a initiative twelvemonth. I remember seeing her a the Sorting but I do n't remember her name,"blush wine answered.

"I have half a mind to write her from the two of them,"toilet muttered."She 'd be dear off not getting mixed up with the the like of them."

"She 's a Slytherin,"Amanda pointed out."She could be just like them for all we know."

Scorpius began walking down the corridor and Felix and the girl followed. Albus and his friends watched them until they turned a corner, disappearing out of sight.

"Wyrd,"Albus said as they began walking to dinner once more."I 've never seen Malfoy befriending first-class honours degree years, except for Willinson when he came here."

"You 're paranoid,"rosiness said."They were just talking and they 're in the like house. Maybe she had a enquiry or something."

"He 's Malfoy,"Albus responded."He 's up to something."

"Oh Merlin."Rose let out an exasperated sigh."Two weeks into the full term and you 're already picking a row with him."

"Remember lowest twelvemonth ?"Albus asked."I 'm only trying to avoid something like that again."

"Fine. But I 'm not getting involved,"Rose muttered.

Albus walked in silence the rest of the way to the Great dormitory. blush wine may birth been right. Albus may have just been being paranoiac, but deep down he had a feeling that Malfoy and Willinson were n't just talking about homework.
******


Matt returned from the hospital wing two twenty-four hours later and the month wore on in its usual way. The professor were assigning more and more prep and it took longer and longer to complete.

Once October arrived turmoil began to brew when the first Hogsmeade weekend was announced. The visit was scheduled for the Saturday before Allhallows Eve and Kaden in peculiar was very excited. He never did manage to arrive at it to Hogsmeade under the invisibility Cloak the old yr.

Albus 's world-class dueling practice had gone particularly well. Albus had been pleasantly surprised. Even Scorpio had cooperated and done what Albus had told him to do, although that may have been solely because Professor Cedonia had been represent during the practice. His team was shaping up well and he had highschool Hope for them winning many tournaments. Quidditch had been going equally as well. Janie had fit seamlessly into their team.

Albus wished he could say affair were going equally well for the election. Ever since the first public debate diverse magazines and radio display had been latching onto Percy 's statements about education and his want of willingness to interchange, as they had put it.

"Dad 's really stressed,"Bradley said one night at dinner. The Weasleys and Potters were all eating together in order to discuss the election."Does n't write us as practically and when he does it 's always about the election."

"Not to remark the five page spread that Wizards magazine is doing about our family,"Cedric muttered as he gnawed on a turkey leg."That 's surely to fuel the fire."

"When is that ?"Albus asked.

"Tomorrow,"Bradley answered."Only good part is we got permit to drop all of our classes."

"Is it really going to be five pages ?"James asked."What are they going to put in it ?"

"Dad 's living level,"Cedric answered."Plus a few paragraphs on each of us and Mum about our living. Just a happy clause about how we all love each other and Dad 's a household man. That 's what his movement manager wants to limn him as seeing that Laurentis does n't receive any kids."

"And Uncle Percy has a whole lot,"Saint James the Apostle pointed out.

"Hey, you lot intimately sentry out. When Dad told us about this he mentioned that they 're going to do another on the total Weasley-Potter clan,"Cedric announced.

"Did he say when ?"James I asked.

"Around Christmas, I think. Adds to the happy family atmosphere,"Cedric explained.

"Then they ought to audience Uncle George when he 's had a bit too often eggnog."James laughed.

"When 's the following debate, anyway ?"Albus asked."mustiness be coming up soon."

"This weekend, actually,"Bradley replied."At the Ministry again. I think this one 's focal point on law creation and enforcement or something equally as boring."

"Do we have to go to it ?"Lily asked.

"I do n't intend so,"King James answered."Dad said we just had to go to the ace at Hogwarts from now on."

"Speaking of elections, what does everyone think of that politics grade ?"Albus asked.

"prof 's very intense,"St. James the Apostle said in between bites."But it 's not nearly as terrible as the other category. There 's no O.W.L. in it so it 's my current favorite."

"Yeah and I think we 're at an reward,"Cedric said."With our parents being in the Ministry and stuff. A few of my friends have absolutely no idea about anything to do with the Ministry so they 're having a hard time."

Professor Embry seemed to be teaching the class in chronological Order and thus was currently lecturing on how the Ministry was organized prior to the fall of Voldemort. Albus thought it was a little drilling but he had a intuitive feeling it would get more interesting once Embry started on the fall of Voldemort.

"And that 's why the socio-economic class is requirement,"blush wine said."Think about it. No class like this has been taught before, so where did the current Ministry officials learn the history of the Ministry ? Where did they learn about politics ? They learned it as they went, but did n't bed much when they started. That 's a picayune scarey. People should know how their country is run."

Albus thought about what Rose had said as he chewed on his roll. She had a honest point. Where had they learned it ? Had his Uncle Percy really known nothing about the Ministry when he started ? No, he could n't have. Hotspur 's own father had been in the Ministry as well. Still, it was eldritch to opine about.

Albus mostly listened during the rest of dinner. He always felt slightly unsettled when the election was discussed and he was n't sure why. Nor could he see out whether he wanted Percy to win or not. Either way, life would be drastically unlike after Election Day, and Albus liked things the way they were.
******


"Now she wants to change Azkaban ?"Albus asked at breakfast a few day later. The law enforcement debate had taken piazza the night before and the stallion front page of the prophet was devoted to it."Is n't changing Hogwarts enough ?"

Ministry hopefuls Percy Weasley and
Patricia Laurentis debated law creation
and enforcement last Nox at the Ministry
of magic. Like the previous general public debate,
sparks flew in this one, with each prospect
speaking passionately about the topic.

'I 've worked in law origination for years ,'
Weasley began with. 'Since the defeat
of Voldemort, I think we can all agree that
matter are running smoothly. I intend to
check that things keep going the way they
are, with enforcement of law that benefit
the entire wizarding community .'

Laurentis took a more group position, in
her response to Weasley 's opinions.

'Sure, the laws we have now are sufficient.
I 'm not denying that. But I think we need
to occupy a good laborious look at how they are
enforced, or rather, not enforced. The
statistics are clear. Far more criminals
are being acquitted and even more are
being released from Azkaban. In my work
at the prison house, I see many criminals being
released whom I do not cogitate should be.
Not to refer the break-outs. There are
far too many. Law enforcement needs to change .'

Without a doubt, things are only going to
estrus up. The candidates seem to have
completely unlike belief on everything
from didactics to constabulary. The side by side public debate,
which will be on education, will take place
at Hogwarts on Saturday, November the 9th at
two in the afternoon.

"Does n't she run Azkaban ?"Matt asked, taking the paper from Albus."So why has n't she changed it already ?"

"Probably does n't consume the business leader,"Rose answered."The diplomatic minister has to contract off on most matter, unless all congressman and functionary disagree with him or her."

"So clearly there 's people who do n't harmonise with her,"matte replied.

"Think they 'll ever agree with each other ?"Albus asked.

"dubiousness it,"Amanda said."It 's like this in the Muggle elections, too. They 're usually complete opposite word. What I do n't empathize is how she 's working under Hartwell when he and your uncle correspond on everything."

"Me either,"rosiness agreed."supposition we 're watching the next debate."

"Yeah, it 'll be here,"matte said."Embry will probably progress to us do an essay on it, too."

"It wo n't be bad,"Rose said."That will be the debate that will directly touch us. The election 's in Apr which means we 're going to have over three years of Hogwarts under whichever candidate is elected. If it 's Laurentis, all those changes are going to affect us."

Thomas Bradley sat down next to Albus and threw a copy of wiz clip onto the table."Article 's out."

"That was fast,"Albus said.

"They wanted it to be out right around the debate,"Bradley muttered."You really ought to take it. It 's awful."

"Rita Skeeter did n't do it, did she ?"Albus asked.

Bradley shook his heading."This lady 's almost worse. trustingness me."

Rose, Amanda, John Lackland, Matt, and Kaden crowded around Albus as he flipped through the cartridge holder. The article was in the heart, with the two pages being a total colouring picture of Uncle Hotspur, auntie Corrine, and their kids. Percy and Corrine were sitting on their living room couch, with Sakartvelo in between them. All three were smiling and waving. Bradley and Cedric were leaning on either position of the couch and the similitude were sitting in front end of it. Albus flipped the page and saw a very lengthy article, interspersed with various pictures of his folk and boxes about each of those five cousins. The clause finished up on the espouse page.

Upon entering the home of Minister of Magic
candidate Sir Henry Percy Weasley 's Southampton home
I am surprised to see that it does not front
like the base of a Ministry candidate. It is
not filled with piles and hemorrhoid of theme and
Weasley 's campaign manager is nowhere to be
found. Instead, the level is cluttered with
toys belonging to the youngest Weasley children,
nine-year-old Gemini, Samantha and Lindy. A
plate of warm cookie sits upon the coffee
tabular array and Weasley 's wife, Corrine, bustles
into the room carrying a tray of tea. Percy
enters as well, followed by the five Weasley
children.

'I prefer to keep the campaign at the Ministry ,'
Walker Percy explains after I ask where his political campaign
materials are. 'The movement is work. It is my
job. The household is for my folk .'

"Really ?"rose wine raised her brow."She should 've seen his discipline. That 's where all his military campaign stuff is."

The article went on to discuss Percy and his fathering skill. Albus grew to a greater extent and more sick as it went on. Walker Percy had and always would be a workaholic, but the article was painting him to be father of the year. No marvel Omar Nelson Bradley had not been pleased when giving Albus the article.

'I could not be more proud of Georgia ,'
Percy said, speaking of his eldest daughter,
who currently plays as Reserve Keeper for
the Kenmare Kestrals .'I 've been to a
number of her equal and it is clear
that she could birth a long career in
Quidditch .'

"What a encumbrance of dung !"Albus exclaimed."Uncle Percy has never once agreed with Georgia 's Quidditch career."

"Did he actually say that or was that reporter just saying he did ?"matt asked.

"Oh he said it,"Thomas Bradley, who had taken a can a short ways down the mesa, answered."Not that he really thinks it."

Albus had had enough of the principal clause. His eyes glanced across the Sir Frederick Handley Page and rested upon the belittled box that discussed Georgia.

Peach State Weasley, the firstborn daughter
of Sir Henry Percy and Corrine, is 18 and
currently plays taciturnity custodian for
the Kenmare Kestrals .'I love
Quidditch ,'Georgia said when the
topic was brought up. 'It 's freeing
and I look forward to playing for
Kenmare as a full custodian one day .'
Empire State of the South 's dream is to play for England.

Next to Empire State of the South 's box there was one for Bradley.

Bradley Weasley, the eldest son of
Walker Percy and Corrine, is currently in
his sixth class at Hogwarts. He plays
Beater on Gryffindor 's Quidditch team.
'I like Quiditch, but I do n't require to
play professionally like GA. I
want to mould for Gringotts some day .'

Then there was one for Cedric.

Cedric Weasley is in his twenty percent year
at Hogwarts and is the cut-up of
the kinsperson. 'Every Weasley kinfolk
has to have person who will play the
jokes. It 's like a regulation or something.
I come up with the beneficial musical theme when I 'm
with my full cousin James [ Potter ] .'Upon
asking Cedric what he wants to do after
Hogwarts, he replied, 'Have n't got a clue.
I think I 'll focus on getting through
my O.W.L.s first .'

The final box was for both Samantha and Lindy.

Samantha and Linda ( Lindy ) Weasley are
nine years old and attend a topical anesthetic
primary schoolhouse for Muggles. Both Twins
ca n't wait to enter Hogwarts in two
years .'I 'm going to be in Gryffindor,
just like my sister and brothers ,'says
Samantha .'I do n't manage what house I 'm
in, just as long as I can spiel Quidditch.
Well, O.K., I do n't need to be in Slytherin .'

"That,"Albus began as he set down the magazine,"was the risky article I 've ever read in my life."

"I shudder to think what the one about our intact fellowship will be like,"Rose muttered.

"Nah,"John said."That one will be better because they wo n't induce to make as much up. Albus 's dad saved the unanimous wizarding humankind. They 'll just make for that up."

"It was n't only him,"Albus pointed out."Are people really going to trust all this ?"

Amanda nodded."Yeah, they will. They know zilch about your uncle 's home. Sure, they know all about your dad, but really, how very much do they know about Sir Henry Percy ? Not much. They 're going to want to believe it and why should n't they ? They have no idea Harry Hotspur does n't approve of Sakartvelo 's Quidditch career. It 's the same as in the Muggle world.

"It would be gracious if the great unwashed voted on candidates who shared their same views, but it honestly comes down to who presents the best campaign. People are n't going to want person in office who has consequence with his own family."

"That 's stupid,"Kaden replied."Glad my kinsperson 's not involved with politics."

"My kinsperson is your crime syndicate,"Albus pointed out.

"But I 'm not related to your Uncle Percy."

"You still foretell him Uncle Walker Percy,"Albus said.

"Because he basically is. He 's just not my blood uncle."

"Well, I can honestly say my kinsperson 's not in politics and I 'm very gladiola about that,"John said.

Albus could not imagine life history without having house involved with the Ministry, but suddenly he felt slightly jealous of John the Divine. What would it bear been like to consume parents who were n't famous ?


A/N : Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed this chronicle ! You Guy are all amazing. Just as another monitor, I ca n't reply to survey while I am home for the summer, but I read every I one. If you have some variety of question that you need answered about my fib, please use my Ask the generator page at the forums or send me a PM there.

I have another chapter ready to go so that should be up shortly after I return from vacation next week. Hope everyone enjoys Deathly Hallows 2 this week !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


The following week brought a storm so long and so intense that Herbology and guardianship of Magical brute had to be canceled for the second one-half of the week. It was thoroughly impossible to take the air outside without being doubled over by the wind and the younger student could not walk without being blown away. The rain was also so heavy that one would become surcharge within two bit. The students secretly rejoiced, for the excess free menstruum were helpful to all.

It remained so rainy and windy that even Quidditch practice session had to be canceled on Sat. Not that Fred would let canceled it himself, but Kendrick announced a ban on going out of doors until the violent storm let up. Fred lamented this fact all of Friday eventide and contemplated holding a strategy sitting in the common room instead, but Heather convinced him just to let it go.

Albus decided to make the opportunity to spend the day at the library, something that Saint John the Apostle and Kaden reluctantly agreed with. Matt and Amanda joined them as well, for they had plenty of prep as well. pink wine had mentioned something about tutoring a younger scholar and run off shortly after breakfast.

The library was absolutely packed with students, most likely due to the atmospheric condition and not a burning desire of the Hogwarts universe to study, and it took a good five arcminute for Albus and his ally to locate an empty-bellied mesa. It was a lot loud than usual and ma'am Pince was glaring at each board of pupil in turn.

Albus set his pile of books down and got to work on on a Potions essay that was due the play along week. He had n't started it, of course, but he had a few day to do it. He thought he was ahead of the plot anyway since he 'd normally be at Quidditch pattern and not even thinking about homework.

John and Kaden, as usual, were ineffectual to get started on their preparation right away and were scolded by Madam Pince twice before finally opening their script. Amanda immediately set to work on the same essay Albus was working on. matte cracked open his Charms text but stared at the Saame page for five minutes before Albus noticed that his eyes had glazed over. The October full lunation was the watch dark, so Albus was not surprised.

"This is dead boring,"John the Divine muttered after they 'd been studying for an hour."political sympathies back before Voldemort is pointless. It 's completely different now, so why do we necessitate to get to reading it ?"

"So we do n't fix the Saami mistakes,"Amanda said without looking up from her sheepskin."Simple, really."

"You 're channeling rose wine now,"John stated.

"somebody has to when she 's not here,"Amanda said.

"Would you rather do my Divination predictions ?"Kaden asked.

"Yeah !"privy exclaimed."Let 's see, how about you get blown away by the wind while you 're ignoring Kendrick 's rule against going extraneous ?"

"perfect tense. That 'd be something I 'd do,"Kaden said as he scrawled it down."And then I can derive down with a nasty frigidity after being outside in the rainfall so long."

Albus rolled his heart. The two of them had been insane to subscribe fortune telling in the first office, but at least they seemed to enjoy making up their imposter anticipation. Albus grinned to himself as whoremonger and Kaden snorted into their parchment, laughing over some ridiculous prediction.

An hr later Albus had finished his essay, as had Amanda. The two of them had moved on to transfiguration interpretation. John and Kaden had given up on prep and were planning an elaborate buffoonery that involved a crybaby, birdseed, and the Slytherin common room. Matt had been dozing on his appealingness book. Albus prodded him awake.

"How 's Charms ?"Albus asked, grinning.

"Oh, er ..."lusterlessness glanced at his book of account and quickly wiped it with the arm of his robes."Great, really. Think I 'll head to the Den, actually."

Albus nodded."I 'll be there in a bit. Want to get some of this Reading done."

John Lackland and Kaden rose to join matte. They 'd been yelled at two more times and figured they 'd do better to design in the Den.

"Wait,"can said when he was only a few feet from the board."Is that rose ?"He pointed to a head of bushy red haircloth at a nearby table."Who 's she with ? Is that-"He walked across the way and hid behind a book shelf to get a closer look.

Albus craned his caput. blush wine was sitting with a little young lady. John the Divine returned a few seconds later.

"I thought so. It 's that young lady we saw with Malfoy and Willinson a few calendar week ago."

"Wait, that Slytherin first twelvemonth ?"Albus asked. He 'd nearly forget about her, finally deciding that Scorpius probably was n't up to anything that involved her.

"Yeah, that 's her all rightfulness,"John said."What 's lift doing with her ?"

"She 's tutoring someone. mustiness be her,"Albus pointed out.

"Wyrd. Tutoring a Slytherin,"John replied.

"What 's it matter ?"Matt snapped."No head in standing here watching them. I 'm going to the Den."He hiked his bag up on his shoulder joint and headed for the door, not waiting for John Lackland and Kaden.

"What 's with him ?"John asked.

"You know what 's tomorrow. And honestly, what 's it thing if she 's tutoring that fille ?"Albus asked.

"You thought it meant something that she was with Scorpius but this you do n't care about ?"

"It 's the Hogwarts tutoring program. I do n't think you get to insure who you tutor,"Albus explained.

"I suppose."John sighed."Well, see you in a bit."

"See you,"Albus said as John and Kaden left.

Albus and Amanda studied for another hour before joining their friends in the Marauder 's Den. St. John the Apostle and Kaden were having a good discussion on how they were going to obtain a wimp and lustrelessness was heavy asleep on the couch. Albus and Amanda settled down with a deck of Exploding Snap and played round after troll while listening to Saint John the Apostle and Kaden.

"I still say it 'll be easier to have an older student transfigure something into a Gallus gallus,"Kaden said a full twenty mo later."I 'll bet one of Albus 's cousin will do it."

"Yeah, but I want this to be our prank. We could just go shoot one of the chickens from Hagrid 's wimp cage,"John replied.

"More fortune of getting caught. No one 's going to surmise if one of Al 's cousins is practicing their August 6. But sneaking a poulet into the castle ? They 're fairly loud with their squawking."

"Where 's the fun in no probability of getting caught ?"John asked.

"There will be peck of chance of getting caught when we 're getting into the Slytherin park elbow room. Merlin only knows how we 're going to manage that."

The room access opened and Rose walked in."Why are you lot trying to get into the Slytherin common room ?"

"You do n't need to roll in the hay,"Amanda said."One of their pranks."

rose rolled her centre and sat down next to Amanda, picking up a few scorecard to connect in on the next round.

"How was tutoring ?"can asked, abandoning the topic of chickens.

"Fine,"Rose answered."Same as always."

"How did you even get into tutoring ?"John replied.

"Why ? You want to tutor ?"Rose smirked.

John laughed."Definitely not. Just curious."

"prof Longbottom contacted me over the summer. Fourth years and above can be in the tutoring program. The professor match you up with younger pupil and I 've been tutoring a first year for a few hebdomad now."

"Yeah,"John said as he got up and walked over to where Rose was sitting."We saw you earlier. That girl you 're tutoring ? That 's the same girl that Malfoy and Willinson were talking to a few weeks ago."

"Wait, that one time that you and Al thought they were up to something ?"

"Yeah that time. I was just wondering who she was."

blush wine sighed."She 's Willinson 's little sister. Her epithet 's Elsie. She 's really nice, actually. Quiet, does n't seem much like a Slytherin to me but her whole sept 's been in Slytherin."

"Oh,"John said."hypothesis that 's why she was with Willinson and Malfoy. What do you tutor her in ?"

"Bit of everything,"rosebush answered."You lot need to go to dinner ?"

Everyone, except flatness, who just wanted to sleep, agreed and they headed down to the Great Hall. Rose had been right. nada suspicious about Willinson 's sister tagging after him and Scorpius. Albus 's instinct had been wrong on that occasion.
******


Never in Albus 's life did he ever think there would be a professor who could top professor Binns in damage of boring classes. But prof Danton True Young had done the impossible. Twice a calendar week Albus and his ally traipsed to Whitney Moore Young Jr. 's classroom to wreak on a single worksheet. Young did cypher else, except bridge player out worksheets. Said worksheets did not even take an full course full point to complete, resulting in students using the remaining meter to catch up on other homework, something that Cy Young neglected to mark. The only honest part about the class was that Young never assigned homework.

"You think he 'll death the year ?"Matt asked as they were leaving Young 's classroom.

"Do n't see why not,"Albus answered."Unless Laurentis is elected minister of religion and deems him unfit to teach."

"He does n't really teach,"rosiness pointed out.

"But still, he 's better than Balladanis,"Matt reasoned.

The rest of Albus 's classes were decent, although nearly assigned too much preparation for his liking, but that was not anything new. As the end of October drew nearer, Albus became very shake up about the low Hogsmeade sojourn of the twelvemonth. It would be the offset clip that all of Albus 's friends would get to go together and possibly the last-place, given how busy everyone was this year.

Albus nearly did not get to go to Hogsmeade when the day finally arrived. Fred had sprung an superfluous Quidditch practice on that day in ordering to make up for the missed practices due to the storm. However, the total team was outraged and ling threatened to hex Fred if he did not rescind the practice. Albus was very relieved as it was a nice day and perfect for Hogsmeade.

"I 've got to get a new pack of dungbombs,"Kaden said as they walked down the path from Hogwarts to Hogsmeade."Used them up ages ago."

"That the large number I sent you over the summertime ?"whoremaster asked.

"Sure is. Did n't last too long."

"I need another Skiving Snackbox,"privy announced."And wads of other stuff from Weasleys'."

"And we need to go buy bird seminal fluid if we 're going to do that joke,"Kaden reminded him.

Albus and Matt exchanged feel. King John and Kaden had finally agreed to ask one of Albus 's older full cousin to transfigure them a crybaby that they would then somehow fink into the Slytherin green way. The birdseed was to spread out throughout the office in rescript to irritate the Slytherins even more.

"You two enjoy that,"Rose said."And do n't come complaining to us when you get a month of hold, because there 's no potential way you can hook into the Slytherin common way without getting caught."

"We 'll have Albus 's cloak, obviously,"Kaden said.

"When are you going to do it ?"Albus asked.

"Around Allhallows Eve,"trick answered.

"imbecile,"rosebush muttered.

Weasleys'Wizard Wheezes was packed with students. Being the world-class Hogsmeade weekend, nigh students had a life-threatening lack of pranking products and needed to blood line up. George I was behind the counter ringing up purchase after purchase and waved at Albus as he walked in with his ally. They quickly scattered, each heading towards the display that contained what they needed.

Albus wandered towards the Skiving Snackboxes and grabbed two, figuring that he would require to get out of refutation at to the lowest degree once and History of magic trick a few fourth dimension a month. John and Kaden each had about five boxful and mat watched with a disgusted facial expression on his nerve. Since he missed at least a day or two of grade a month due to his lycanthropy, he never understood why anyone would make themselves ill to do so.

"Should 've gone there last,"John said as he lugged his bag to the Three Broomsticks.

"Yeah, must recollect that for succeeding time,"Kaden agreed."But now, off to have a Butterbeer !"

Albus smiled. His cousin had had Butterbeer before when people snuck it back to the Gryffindor common room, but he 'd never had it in Hogsmeade before.

The trey broom handle was crowded, but matt managed to snaffle a table in the spine. Rose set off to get them all Butterbeers. They had been there for about fifteen minutes before Scorpius showed up, followed by Garth Octavius, Saint Francis Xavier Goyle, Felix Willinson, and Elsie Willinson. Scorpio surveyed the room and his eyes rested upon Albus. Smirking, he sauntered over towards them.

"thrower,"Malfoy greeted him. He nodded to each of Albus 's Quaker, glaring at matt, and then turned back to Albus."I expect you lot are prepare to duel succeeding weekend."

"course of instruction we are,"Albus answered."The team 's lot prepared. stopping point practice on Thursday."

"I 'll be there,"Scorpio replied."And I 'll be ready to carry the team on Saturday since the rest of our team could n't win a duel against a first year."

"Shut it. Our team is fine,"Albus said coldly.

"Maybe if they had a decent captain ..."Scorpius 's vocalism trailed off."But the professors love anyone whose survive epithet is Potter or Weasley, just like everyone else in the world."

"They chose based on attainment,"Albus replied, staring him in the eyes."Not discover. pink wine did n't make captain and she 's a Weasley."

"But you 're a Potter and you get everything because your dad is the Boy Who Lived,"Scorpius pettifoggery, ignoring Albus 's input."But I 've got news for you. Not everyone in the macrocosm likes that your entire family runs the wizarding humanity and that naught gets done without one of them signing off on it. Not everyone 's going to vote for your uncle, you know."

"Obviously,"Albus replied."And just so you know my family may be involved with the Ministry but it 's only because they want to help hoi polloi. And they 're only there because people voted for them."

"No one voted for your dad,"Scorpius muttered. Then he turned to Matt."Or yours."

"masses voted for Hartwell, who appointed them,"Albus said."And your dad works in the Ministry, too."

"That 's not the point."Scorpius took a step closer to Albus."The gunpoint is that your sept might not be running this country much longer. So you 'd better ticker out."

Scorpio turned to leave and his friends followed."My home does n't run the world !"Albus shouted after him.

Albus resumed his fanny after Malfoy left, not even realizing that he had rose from it in the first of all place."He 's just so stupid !"Albus exclaimed."My family does n't run the country."

"He 's just jealous,"Amanda said."You got made captain of our team and he hates that. Your dad 's famous and he 's overjealous of that."

"His dad 's far-famed too,"Albus said darkly."Just for the wrong reasons."

"And Scorpius probably wishes his dad was noted for the decent reasonableness,"Amanda replied.

"Do n't see why. Having a famous dad is n't always a good matter,"Albus muttered.

"Just ignore him,"Rose said."He 's just trying to get you angry with him."

"Clearly Kendrick 's threats have worn off,"Matt said quietly."I liked it in September when he just kind of ignored us."

"It does n't mean he 's going to tell anyone,"pink wine whispered."He 's just looking for a fight."

"It does n't matter what he 's looking for. One gaucherie of the tongue is all it takes and my life at Hogwarts is done."

"And so would his,"Albus reminded his admirer."Being at Hogwarts, becoming a certified adept, is everything to a Malfoy. He 'd be null more than a Squib if he were expelled."

"I guess."Matt sighed."What do you think he meant by your kinsperson not being in accusation of the wizarding world much longer ?"

"Probably thinks Laurentis is going to win."Albus shrugged."But that wo n't mean much. My dad will still be in charge of the Auror department."

"No,"rose wine whispered."Have n't you been paying attention in Politics ?"

"Mostly,"Albus said, staring at her."What do you intend ?"

"okeh, I guess Embry has n't really discussed it yet but I read ahead in the Good Book. New Ministers can appoint new head of the section if they want to. Most do n't because so many new multitude makes for a bad transition full stop, but it 's happened a few times. If Laurentis wins, she could put back Uncle Harry,"Rose explained.

"Wait, seriously ?"Albus 's mouth fell open.

Rose nodded."Seriously."

"And my dad, too,"Matt said.

"Yeah, yours, too,"Rose replied.

Albus stared at his half-finished Butterbeer. Having a new Minister was one thing, but having new promontory of all the departments ? The Ministry would be run in a completely different way. Nothing would stay the Lapp. nobody would replace Harry Potter as Head of the Auror department, though, would they ?

"No."Albus shook his caput."No one would replace my dad. He 's a great Auror."

"He 's a great Auror, that 's true,"rosiness agreed,"but enceinte is an opinion. Hartwell thinks he 's a smashing Auror. Uncle Percy undoubtedly thinks he 's a great Auror. But if Laurentis gets elected, none of that will matter. All that will matter is whether she think he 's a nifty Auror. And the question is, does she ?"

Albus swallowed."But that would have in mind my dad would be out of a job."

"No, he 'd just go back to being a regular Auror,"Rose said."tone, you do n't need to worry about it. I 'm sure Uncle Harry knows this."

"They do n't do that in Australia. All the question have footing like the curate. When their term is up, the current Minister can replace them or keep them, but they ca n't get replaced when their term is n't up. Unless there 's a dirt and they have a hearing. Like with my dad."

"Energy n't seem fair,"Albus said.

"It works both ways. If Uncle Percy wins he 'll get to substitute who he wants and he 'll no doubt replace Laurentis,"Rose pointed out.

"I 'm surprised Hartwell has n't done that,"john said.

"She 's probably go along quiet about her opinions so she could hold on her posture while running,"Amanda replied.

"So why does n't he substitute her now ?"John the Divine asked.

"It would seem bad. Remember, one-half of politics is how you look to the world,"Amanda said."Which is why according to the Muggle Ministry, I attend a secret boarding school in the United State, just in case anyone asks why the rector 's niece disappears for well-nigh of the class. Which they have n't. Yet."

Albus shook his oral sex."It 's so confusing. I do n't know how anyone keeps track of it."

"Luckily we do n't birth to,"Kaden said."Let 's go to Honeyduke 's. I think we could all use with some chocolate."


A/N : Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed this ! Also big thanks to darkladyofslytherin and onestop hpfan18 because this chapter is the resolution of word warfare with them. You two are awesome ! HPFF now loads properly on my Internet and I am able-bodied to respond to reviews, so I 'm slowly working through them. hold a looking at out for response !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


"I say we do it on Allhallows Eve,"Kaden said adamantly while inspecting individual Bertie Bott 's Every Flavor edible bean and tossing the filthy ones into a mountain on the floor.

"That 's stupid,"King John countered."Everyone 's going to be expecting a harlequinade on Halloween. We should do it the day before."

"Why not Sabbatum ?"Albus suggested, glancing up from the last minute essay he was working on."Maybe it 'll rattle them enough that they 'll fall behind the match."

The first Quidditch match of the season, Gryffindor versus Slytherin, was scheduled to get hold of place on Saturday, two days after Halloween.

"Again, the Prefects and professor will be expecting it,"St. John the Apostle said.

"Why ?"Albus asked."We 've never pranked them before a match before, have we ?"

"You know, I really ca n't remember."

"Clearly a sign you 've pranked them too much,"Rose pointed out.

Albus and the rest of his friends were in the vulture 's Den, attempting to decide on a day to put the wimp and wimp feed in the Slytherin green room. They 'd been arguing for a one-half hour and had n't agreed on anything. Albus and matt, who had been leery on whether to participate in the prank at all, had decided that they would serve as look-outs while John and Kaden snuck into the vernacular room.

"I think Wed would be a honest option. Wednesday nighttime. We 've got to do it really late, though. The first long time have Astronomy on Wednesdays, so we have to expect until they 're back in their hall,"John explained."Night before Halloween-"

"By the metre you manage to do it after uranology, it 'll technically be Halloween,"Amanda pointed out.

"But not Halloween night,"trick said."Pre-Halloween."

"deviltry Night,"Amanda said.

"What ?"Albus asked.

Kaden threw another bean onto his atomic reactor and started laughing."You 're mightily !"

"Mischief dark,"Amanda repeated."It 's a Muggle thing. It 's when Muggles pull pranks and make mayhem. It 's traditionally the Nox before Allhallows Eve or the night before Guy Guy Fawkes Day, so if you pull this on Wednesday dark or early Th morning, it 'll be on Mischief Night."

can grinned."perfective tense. wizard do n't do that, so no one will be expecting a thing."

"Mostly it 's American and Canadians who celebrate before Halloween, though,"Amanda explained.

"I 'd rather do it before Allhallows Eve,"John said."We have Astronomy on Tuesday so the night before Guy Fawkes Day would be harder."

Everyone nodded in agreement, except rose, who rolled her eye.

"Do you have everything you need ?"Matt asked.

"Not yet, but we have program. Tonight I 'm going to tarry by the Slytherin common room under the invisibleness Cloak to hear their password. Wednesday evening we 'll ask Bradley to transmogrify us a few chickens. Then, Al and matt will abide sentry go while Kaden and I let them let loose in the common room,"John explained.

"How in the epithet of Merlin are you going to maintain the chickens calm while you bring them to the dungeons ?"rosiness asked.

"Stun them, of course,"Kaden answered."By the metre they wake up, we 'll be recollective gone."
***


Wednesday brought with it a Brobdingnagian thunderstorm which Albus saw as a rather ominous portent for Operation Slytherin Chickens as the prank had been dubbed. As the day wore on Albus found himself having doubts about the hale thing. Previous pranks had been harmless and had not broken any John R. Major school rules, but this one broke at least ten. This could get them worsened than a few detentions.

John and Kaden seemed to have no such qualification. Both of them were particularly gleeful the entire day and St. John the Apostle even returned from Divination with a smile on his face, which never happened. mat seemed neutral to the whole thing and acted as usual.

"You do understand we 'll be getting three hours of quietus, tops, tonight,"lusterlessness said after dinner, while they were attempting to do prep in the vulture 's Den."And that we have chronicle of magic trick tomorrow morning."

John sighed."All rightfield, maybe that was n't the safe bit of planning."

"Clearly not,"Matt agreed.

Albus had a very difficult time getting any prep done while they were waiting for the clock time to arrive. He found himself drawing awful flick of poulet in the delimitation on his Transfiguration Day essay. No one else was having much luck either. John the Evangelist and Kaden were playing chess and Matt was taking a nap. Rose and Amanda had holed away in the library, neither one wanting to be associated with the boys that nighttime."We need alibis,"she had told Albus earlier."Want to be seen by as many people as potential so there 's no chance anyone will suppose we were with you."

At one in the morning the boys left the vulture 's Den and headed back to the common room, where Thomas Bradley would be waiting for them. They encountered no one on their way back and only two or three lingering student were in the commons room. All of them went to bed within 15 minutes and the boys were soon alone with Bradley.

Bradley pulled three pillows out from under one of the sofa and set them on a table."Three Gallus gallus going to be enough ?"

John nodded."I do n't think we 'll be able to handle any more."

"You lot are either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid,"Tom Bradley said as he pulled out his wand."Even James has n't gotten into the Slytherin common room."

"According to Rose, we 're incredibly dazed,"John said."But I think it 's bright. Has anyone ever gotten into the Slytherin green room ?"

"My dad and Uncle Ron,"Albus said."But not to pull up a prank."

John, lustrelessness, and Kaden turned to calculate at Albus."I 'll explain later,"Albus said.

Bradley muttered an incantation and flicked his baton at each of the pillows. All three turned into chickens. One brown one, one white one, and one enceinte blacken and brown rooster. The rooster opened its mouth to crow and Bradley immediately silenced all three.

"Figured a rooster would be helpful,"Bradley said."Want me to stun them for you ?"

"Sure,"Albus said.

"Should final about a half hr and then you 'll consume to re-stun them,"Omar Nelson Bradley told them."I 'm going to get hold of off. Remember, if you get caught, I did n't get the chickens for you. Ca n't give another detention."

"Got it,"Albus assured him. Bradley took off to the dormitories and Albus turned to his ally. John was holding the rooster and Kaden was holding the two wimp."Back to the Den ?"

The boy spent the adjacent two hours in the Marauder 's Den, playing Exploding piece of cake and re-Stunning the wimp every half hour. Shortly after three in the morning Albus re-stunned the volaille one Thomas More time and then threw the Invisibility Cloak over all four of them.

It was very difficult for all four boy to walk under the invisibleness Cloak.
existence fourth long time, they were all a lot larger than they had been in second year when Albus had first received the Cloak. In fact, Albus could n't even commend the live on fourth dimension all four of them had gone under it at once. Albus in finicky had grown quite a few column inch over the summer and was now as tall as John. The two of them had to take the air with their knee joint bent to insure their feet would n't show.

The walk was uneventful. The boys did not even see Peeves or any of the spook out for a night time stroll ( or ice-cream float, which would probably be the more earmark term ). lustrelessness tripped going down the stair once and nearly dropped a volaille, but since the corridors were vacuous, no one heard the sound.

Once they had reached the entrance to the Slytherin common elbow room John and Kaden slipped out from under the Cloak and scurried over to the room access. John whispered the password and it opened. Both male child slipped inside and shut the door behind them.

Albus and Matt stood against the wall a picayune style down the corridor, giving them a purview of the stairs as well as the corridor. Neither of them said a Book while Gospel According to John and Kaden were pulling their prank because Filch 's cat had turned up and was pacing in front of them.

The succeeding five second felt like an eternity and Albus was very relieved when whoremonger and Kaden exited the common room and hurried back under the Cloak. John 's bag, which had contained the chicken feed, was now considerably lighter. Neither boy said a word to Albus and Matt as they walked back to Gryffindor Tower, for fear that someone would hear them.

They were walking down the second story corridor when Albus heard footfall behind him. He turned and saw professor Whitney Moore Young Jr. walking slowly towards them, staring at the ceiling as he went. He appeared to be in deep thinking about something but then stopped and stared right where Albus and his friend were. They were n't being tranquility enough.

All four boys froze and looked at each early. Kaden grabbed all three of their jumpers and pulled them through the nearest room access, while Young happened to be looking the former way. Once inside, Albus noticed that they were in a loo. A young woman 's loo. And the level was soaked.

"Merlin,"Albus muttered."We 're in Moaning Vinca minor 's bathroom."

As if on cue, there was a spattering and then Albus felt the unpleasant sensation of a ghost floating through him.

"I know you 're there."myrtle giggled."Harry potter had one of those cloaks, too. You might as well take it off."

Albus reluctantly took off the Cloak. Whitney Young would n't be going into a little girl 's bathroom anyway.

"Ooo !"Myrtle shrieked."Harry ceramist 's son ! What brings you to my gutter ?"She giggled again and batted her eyelashes.

"Er ..."Albus muttered, feeling very uncomfortable.

"We were just leaving,"John announced as he threw the Cloak over all four of them once more.

Thankfully professor Young had left by the clock time they exited the loo. The remainder of the journey back to Gryffindor was as uneventful as the trek down to Slytherin.

The common room was deserted when they returned under the disapproving glare of the Fat lady, who had not been pleased when they woke her up. toilet and Kaden immediately started laughing when they took the Cloak off.

"Epic !"Kaden exclaimed."There was no one in the vernacular room and we spread the feed and put the chickens each on their own lounge and leftfield. The Slytherins are going to have a unmannered awakening in a few hours."

"So are we,"lusterlessness said as he looked at his picket."Almost four. We 'll get three and a half hr sleep if we 're lucky."

The son headed back to their dormitories, but Albus was not tired yet. Adrenaline was still racing through his system. They had n't gotten caught. Yet. Would there be any way to trace the chickens back to the four of them ? Only if someone saw them, but if anyone had seen them they would make gotten them in trouble right then and there, would n't they have ? Albus pushed the thought from his head. He settled into bed and thought about the reactions from the Slytherins the following morning.

Bilius 's alarm clock clock woke Albus up at eight the next morning and he rolled over and went back to sleep. He woke up once more with twenty minute left until story of Magic and had to skip breakfast. Albus woke Matt and John up and the three of them ran through the corridors in lodge to stimulate it to class on time.

They arrived with two transactions to save and the room was filled with laugh and chatter. The Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors were clearly excited about something and Albus had a feeling he knew what it was.

Albus sat down and Bilius turned around in his rear, grinning at Albus."You three missed breakfast. Too bad. The Slytherins are all perturbation, fuming about chickens and muttering about getting retaliation. Turns out someone snuck a rooster and two crybaby into their vernacular room last night and spread head chicken feed around. Apparently their common room was a hatful and it took all of their Prefects to stupefy the chickens and bring them to Hagrid. Wish I knew who pulled it off."

Albus attempted to affect shock and excitement."Seriously ? That 's brilliant. Does anyone know who did it ?"

"Nope,"Bilius answered."All they know is that it was n't a Slytherin."

"They 'll never figure it out then. That 's three-quarters of the schooltime to go through."

"And that 's what makes it so brilliant."

prof Binns floated through the chalkboard and began to drone on on about some variety of goblin revolt. Albus rested his drumhead on his hand and began to snooze off. Binns would n't even notice.

At lunch, following Transfiguration of Jesus, everyone was still talking about the chickens. The Slytherins were sullen and were glaring at all the other house tables. The teachers did n't seem at all upset about the solid affair, probably because the Gallus gallus had n't done that practically damage. zilch that could n't be easily repaired with the flick of a wand.

"Six in the morning !"Albus overheard a Slytherin murmur as he walked past the Gryffindor tabular array."Can you opine ? And the morn after we 'd been on the pitch for three hours."

Albus smirked behind his forkful of fret. If the joke had messed with the Slytherins'training schedule, all the better. Albus had finally begun to slow down. It did n't seem like they were going to get in trouble after all.

As Albus walked to the donjon with John, Matt, rose, and Amanda he realized that his nap in History of magic trick was most definitely wearing off. He was feeling the enervation and was very felicitous for the gratis period after potions. But he did n't make bold hop potions because he was quite worked up to hear Malfoy talk of the town about the chickens.

During this particular proposition class they were finishing up an engorgement answer that they had started on Tues. While Shrinking answer was a rather dewy-eyed potion that they had learned in their get-go year, its counterpart was more hard and mandatory simmering for forty-eight hours before the final ingredients could be added.

Albus retrieved all the essential ingredients while his partner, Limbert, located their potion in the closet. Limbert, who was usually very nonchalant about everything, was scowling and glared at Albus as he joined him at their table.

Just as Albus was beginning to chop his celery beginning, Malfoy appeared in front end of the table. Albus looked up from his works and looked Malfoy in the eye.

"Potter,"Malfoy muttered."You would n't happen to know which idiot Gryffindor put chickens in our common way, do you ?"

Albus snorted."Chickens, Malfoy ? I 'd heard something about that."

"Bloody birds,"Limbert muttered as he began to pulverize the rat quick temper they were supposed to put into their caldron."Crowing at six in the bloody morning. Eating chicken feed all over the common way. Getting their feather and other stuff everywhere ...."

"What he said,"Malfoy replied."item is, one of your lot got into our vernacular way and I want to know who."He folded his arms across his chest.

"Was n't any of 'my lot'as you say,"Albus answered, hoping that Malfoy could n't hear his nerve pounding in his pectus."We ca n't get into your common room. Do n't give birth the watchword. And even if we did, why would we desire to ? It 's probably covered in snake slime."

"wellspring it was n't a Slytherin if that 's what you 're implying. And I doubt it was a Ravenclaw or a Hufflepuff. A Ravenclaw would n't do something that stupid and a Hufflepuff would n't be able to calculate out how-"

Albus rose from his chair."That 's rude. I know plenty of Hufflepuffs that are bright than you, Malfoy. And they 're decent hoi polloi, too."

"Boys, get to work now. I believe your potion is overflowing in it 's caldron, Malfoy,"Slughorn said, gesturing to Matt and Malfoy 's cauldron, which was indeed overflowing. Matt was frantically waving his wand at it, trying to get it to stop.

"Oh for Merlin 's sake,"Malfoy muttered and stalked off towards his own table.

Albus breathed a sigh of relief and continued to chop up his cultivated celery radical. Limbert retrieved another rat spleen, as the one he had been using was now hopelessly destroyed. He did n't talk to Albus for the remainder of the class except for the occasional"pass the knife"or"turn down the flame ”.

following potions Albus, matte, and John immediately went upstairs to the. piranha 's Den to take a much needed nap. rise up went to Muggle Studies and Amanda went to the depository library. Albus fell asleep as soon as his headspring hit the pillow and did not wake up until John swatted him with a pillow when it was meter for dinner.

The Slytherins were still complaining about the Gallus gallus during dinner party and Albus and his booster giggled every clock time they heard something about them. About halfway through dinner, Professor Kendrick rose from his seat. Albus turned to look at flatness, who shrugged. Kendrick rarely made dinner speeches when it was n't the starting or end of term.

"Just a few annunciation,"Kendrick said once the Great Hall quieted down."First, I am for certain you are all aware of the frivolity that took place in the Slytherin common room finale Night. I, nor do any of the instructor, have any musical theme who is responsible for, but if we do chance out, be aware that those responsible will be punished. Entering another house 's rough-cut room is not tolerated and all pupil should take this as a word of advice, in vitrine they have been inclined to do so themselves. Slytherins, please be advised that your password has been changed. If you are not cognizant of it, please see a Prefect.

"Second. Next weekend Hogwarts will host a few Ministry functionary including the Minister of Magic, the capitulum of Magical Law Enforcement, the school principal of the Auror Department, the Head of the section for the regulation and dominance of Magical Creatures, as well as a few of the minister of religion 's closest advisors. In addition, both candidates for Minister will be here as well. They will get in Friday Night and stay put until Sunday break of day. Sat they will be debating Education here in the Great Hall.

"All scholarly person will have the chance to catch the argumentation by a random drawing since we can not reconcile all of you in gain to the Ministry officials and members of the full general population that will be attending. The ease will listen via wireless in a few classrooms. All student are required to listen or keep an eye on. More information about that, such as how to find out if you 've been selected to see and what assigning you will give on the debate, will be distributed by Professor Young in your political relation class.

"I expect you all to conduct yourselves and demonstrate to our Ministry that this is a space of learning. You are all representing Hogwarts, whether you are students, instructor, or stave. You will not force frivolity, especially not like the one that was pulled last dark. You will observe the Ministry representatives. I will hand you boost information next hebdomad. In the meantime, start thinking up a few questions to ask our candidate in suit they have fourth dimension to do a question and answer session."Kendrick resumed his tooshie.

"Blimey, I 've never seen Kendrick act so life-threatening,"John said quietly.

"Can you blame him ?"Rose asked."Remember what Laurentis said about Hogwarts ? She all but said he was n't running the school properly. If she wins, fortune are he 's out of a job. He 's got to put on a good appearance adjacent week if he 's got any promise of staying here if she wins."

"That 's insane !"Albus shouted. A few world-class years looked over at him and he lowered his vocalisation."I mean, Kendrick took over as Headmaster when McGonagall left and even before that he helped rebuild the place. How can she sack someone who helped rebuild Hogwarts ?"

"She ca n't if she 's not elected,"Amanda said."We just have to hope your uncle wins."

"Never thought I 'd say it, but I agree,"Albus replied."Peach State and Bradley and Cedric wo n't be well-chosen but can you imagine what Hogwarts would be like if Laurentis won ?"

"I ca n't,"Matt said."No one can because no one knows what she wants to do to change it."

"Guess we 're going to find out adjacent Saturday,"Amanda said."Think any of us will get to watch it ?"

"We will,"Albus answered, gesturing to flatness and himself."Our dada are two of the voice, so I bet we 'll hold to sit with our families."

"I hope I get to,"Amanda said."It 's really fascinating, wizard political sympathies. In some ways it 's completely the same as Muggle politics, only with magic involved. Really shows that we 're all people."

"Me too,"pink wine agreed.

"You can have my ticket if I get one,"John the Evangelist told her."It 's going to be harder to doze off if I 'm in the Saame room."

"Lapp here,"Kaden said.

Rose rolled her eye."You lot done eating ? Anyone up for spending the even in the library ?"

The boys reluctantly agreed. They had neglected their homework the previous dark due to the prank and had multiple assignments due the next day that they had not even started on. Albus thought longingly of his bed in Gryffindor column and then resigned himself to the fact that he 'd be in the library until curfew.


A/N : Thanks to all who have read and reviewed this ! You cat are awing. Big thanks to all my penning friends that I word war with. There are now too many to cite individually, but they are awesome.


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


The day after Allhallows Eve dawned with a tearing thunderstorm, one that Albus hoped would pass before Sabbatum, when he would accept to face Slytherin on the Quidditch sales talk. Albus was feeling much better after a decent night 's sleep, although he was dreading having to go to History of deception first thing in the morning again. Whose bright idea was it to throw them that category two mornings in a row ?

The position owls arrived as Albus was serving himself some eggs and he scanned the air for his household owl. He did n't see it and resumed piling his home base with food for thought. His parents only occasionally sent him place now that he was in fourth year and no longer needed a letter of the alphabet from them every other day. However, Albus did see his Uncle Percy 's screech owl making a beeline towards Cedric, who was sitting across from Albus. Cedric set his forking down and untied the letter from the owl 's leg. The owl dipped his beak in Cedric 's succus and then took off.

Albus watched as Cedric read the letter and saw his nerve go from vague curiosity to cold-shoulder horror and then finally extremum disgust. Harry Hotspur 's missive were always interest and it seemed as this one was no exception.

"unconvincing !"Cedric shouted.

"What is it ?"James asked as he snatched the letter out of Cedric 's script."Is he making you sit following to him while he debates adjacent week ?"

"Worse !"Cedric exclaimed."He thinks I was the one who put the wimp in the Slytherin park elbow room !"

"Seriously ?"James asked as he settled down to read the letter."Let 's see ... Seriously disappointed in you ... taught you estimable than this ... stunts like these could hurt my opportunity for a win in April ... must learn to believe about the consequences of your activity ... fifth year is for studying for your O.W.L.s ... fourth dimension to get up ..."

"See ?"Cedric said as he stabbed his Bacon with a bit too a great deal force."He really believes I did it. And with no evidence !"

"Oh now he 's bringing up your bit from that article. The part where you mentioned that you like pulling japery. Oh and now he 's brought me into it ... Oh wait, hey ! He 's going to recite my parents that I was in on it too !"James II slammed the letter down."No way they 'll believe him without proof though."

"Which he has none of. Did you get to the voice where he 's owling Kendrick, too ?"Cedric asked.

"Kendrick ca n't do anything without substantiation,"Epistle of James said.

"Yeah but our records are n't exactly clean,"Cedric pointed out."merlin, I wish I 'd thought up this prank. It was history worthy. I mean getting into the Slytherin usual room ? I 've been dreaming about doing that since before first year."

"I wish we knew who did it. I 'd like to get some tips,"Epistle of James added."They 're going to go down as Hogwarts legends."

Albus hoped that his angry blushing was n't noticeable. He could not believe that Harry Hotspur actually believed Cedric pulled the prank without any evidence. Cedric could n't get in trouble without evidence, could he ? If he did, Albus would experience terrible. He already felt painful that Hotspur had even had the nerve to accuse Cedric for something that Albus and his friends did, something Cedric had no constituent of.

"We 've just got to forecast out who did it,"James decided."To clear our names."

Cedric nodded."Wo n't be that hard. No trick can be done without evidence left behind. It 's impossible to do in this home. We 'll seem for clues around our own uncouth room because I think the Slytherins are right. It was a Gryffindor."

"We should babble out to the ghostwriter, too,"James River said."They wander at all hours."

"rightfulness,"Cedric agreed."easily be off to class now, though.

Albus turned to John the Divine after his brother and cousin had left the table. Saint John the Apostle and lusterlessness had both been sitting close enough to Cedric and St. James the Apostle to get wind the entire conversation. Both male child were sick than usual and Albus was certain he was as well.

"Vinca minor saw us,"matt whispered."We 'll be numeral one on their suspect list."

"D'you mean your own sidekick would turn us in ?"John asked.

Albus laughed."Of row he would. He 's my brother."

"Good point,"John Lackland muttered."What are we going to do ?"

"Hope myrtle does n't say anything,"Albus said.

"That 's it, we 're doomed."flatness sighed.

"On the asset side, we 'll be Hogwarts fable,"John the Divine said.

"Tell that to my parents,"Matt replied.

Albus thought about James and Cedric 's quest to work out out who pulled the crybaby harlequinade during the entireness of chronicle of Magic. They had n't left any traces behind except for talking to Myrtle. And even that only proved that they were out of bed at four in the morning, not that they 'd left chickens in the Slytherin common room. Sure, there might birth been random volaille feathers in the green room that morning but the house imp would have already cleaned them up. Then there was Bradley.

Bradley. Albus 's stomach dropped. Would Thomas Bradley rat out Albus in order to save his own brother from possible bother ? Albus liked to think not, especially since doing so would incriminate Bradley as well. But it was possible that Bradley would request Cedric to leave him out of it when he told Kendrick in return for the information in the first place. Albus rubbed his forehead. It was all so confusing and there were too many theory.

Matt and John looked equally disturbed by the hypothesis. Both boys were sitting completely still, staring at Professor Binns but not looking at him. Matt was absentmindedly doodling in his notebook. can was twirling his quill around in his hand and had splattered ink all over himself and his History of Magic Word.

Albus was grateful that they had Care of Magical Creatures adjacent, despite the steady soaker. They would be capable to talk. Hagrid was currently teaching them about unicorns and this particular lesson he had an real unicorn for them to observe and interact with. Luckily for Albus, St. John the Apostle, and lusterlessness, unicorns did not like boys and thus had an excuse to string up back and talk.

"The lonesome way they 're going to get hold out is if they talk to Bradley and Bradley tells them,"Albus said as they pretended to take notes on the unicorn, which was currently surrounded by the lady friend of the class.

"Or if they talk to Myrtle and put the clew together,"matte pointed out.

"What clues ?"John the Divine asked."We did n't leave anything behind."

"Not that you know of. But they were right when they said nothing can be done at Hogwarts without mortal knowing about it. For all we know there was another specter lurking by the Slytherin common room while we were there that we did n't notice,"lustrelessness explained."Or the fact that we were n't in the common room cobbler's last night-"

"We 're rarely in the vulgar room,"lavatory said."Not since we found the vulture 's Den."

"True. They could also talk to Bilius or Ethan and obtain out that we got back at four in the morning. Ethan woke up when we got back and asked what we were up to, remember ?"Matt said.

"That would n't tell them anything more than Myrtle would,"Albus replied as he scrawled a few notes about how the unicorn was pawing at the ground.

"What if they find plumage or chicken provender or something ?"flatness asked.

"That will accept all been cleaned up by now. The firm elves clean house everyday,"John said."I think Albus is properly. The alone way they 'll have it off is if they talk to Thomas Bradley. Or if they just assume and ask us about it. Al, are you going to be capable to lie to them if they ask you ?"

"Er ..."Albus 's vocalization trailed off. He knew how much of a rotten liar he was."To be honest ? Probably not."

nobody said anything for a few hour. Each boy pretended to be absorbed in taking notes on the unicorn.

"There 's nothing we can do, then,"matte finally said."We ca n't stop them or tell them not to investigate because that would look suspicious. All we can do is wait and go for they do n't figure it out."

Albus nodded. lusterlessness was completely good, of line. But what Albus did n't say was that St. James the Apostle and Cedric would reckon it out. They were the school day pranksters and for the firstly time they 'd been out-pranked. The two were the schooltime 's prank experts and could easily travel along the trail that would run them right to their own pal and cousin.
******


The savage thunderstorm that had plagued Hogwarts the day before cleared up by Sat aurora and the conditions could not have been better for Quidditch. It was sunny, with slight cloud cover and minuscule current of air. The temperature was mild for November. Weather would not be a divisor in this Quidditch match. No, the team that won would win solely based on their acquirement.

The Hogwarts population, both students and professors alike, were very excited for the compeer. menage Quidditch had been suspended the premature class in order for the Quidditch and Dueling rival with the schools from New York and Commonwealth of Australia, although the final equal in the Quidditch event had been a disaster. Everyone at Hogwarts was quick for matter to go back to normal and that included household Quidditch.

normal also included the taunting that went on between the Gryffindors and Slytherins at breakfast right hand before the match. Malfoy informed Albus that he needed to see out else he find out himself in the Hospital wing for daylight. Albus ignored this because Malfoy was n't even on the Slytherin team and did n't have enough Quidditch attainment to be on a children 's squad. He tried his best to ignore the taunting from the actual Slytherin team as well, but still found his stomach was a bit too queasy to eat much more than toast.

The team gathered around Fred in the changing elbow room shortly before the match, prepare to get a line his outset squad speech communication.

"I fully believe we can win this,"Fred began."Our practices have gone very smoothly and it feels like Janie has played with us for years rather than only a few weeks. Slytherin plays dirty, though, so watch yourselves. They also have two new players, a pursuer and a Beater, whereas we only have one. The new chaser is a endorsement year and the new Beater is a third year, so I do n't think we 'll have much issue there. I 've seen them practice and they still do n't work as a seamless team like we do. Just go out there and flirt like we did two years ago and we 're certainly to win."

The team stood up and followed Fred out onto the delivery. The ground was soft beneath Albus 's feat, but not too muddy, which would wee for a dear bang off. He stood in between heather and Epistle of James while Fred went to excite hands with Fielding, Slytherin 's captain.

Oteski shouted his desire for a clean match and then the two captains crunched each other 's hands. Oteski released the Bludgers and Snitch and then tossed the Quaffle into the air. Albus kicked off from the ground and flew towards the Quaffle, which had unfortunately been caught by Fielding.

"And they 're off !"Todd Smith announced."start House friction match in two years due to the shift cobbler's last year, during the competitions with the other schools. Both squad have some new faces this year. Slytherin has a new chaser, endorse year Marshall Belby, and a new Beater, third year Devon Wright. Gryffindor has a new keeper, fourth class Janie Creevey ...."

Albus tore his attention from Smith as the fellow Gryffindor began to announce the epithet of the ease of the players. Leaning forward on his heather, Albus soared to the other side of the pitch, where Fielding was attempting to throw the Quaffle into one of Gryffindor 's goal posts.

"Spectacular redeem by Creevey !"Smith shouted."Looks like she 's going to be an excellent keeper for Gryffindor. Gryffindor now in willpower. broom Weasley in self-possession, passes to Albus Potter ...."

Albus caught the Quaffle, wedged it under his arm, and sped down to the other side of the pitch. He dodged two of Slytherin 's chaser but was hit by a Bludger sent from Wright and dropped the Quaffle. It was intercepted by Peyton Haines.

Albus swore loudly and tailed Haines as he turned around and headed towards Gryffindor. Fred managed to captivate the Quaffle after Haines was hit by a Bludger and tossed it back to Albus.

This time Albus made it to the Slytherin end Emily Price Post and feigned right before sending the Quaffle soaring through the leftfield hoop.

"account !"Adam Smith announced."Albus potter scores the first-class honours degree goal of the match. Ten points to Gryffindor !"

The residual of the friction match continued in the like fashion, with the Quaffle continuously exchanging hands, rendering it very difficult for Smith to observe up with the commentary. Gryffindor maintained a near ceaseless grade of twenty dollar bill points ahead of the Slytherins. Albus scored two more goals and assisted on five more. The Slytherin chaser looked more and more sick as the catch wore on.

An hour and a half into the compeer Albus saw Henry James desert his stead above the rest of the players and fly towards the reason. Hunter Pucey, Slytherin 's quester, followed.

"Looks like ceramist has seen the fink !"Smith exclaimed.

Albus watched while flying the Quaffle to the Slytherin goal posts. Jesse James had his arm outstretched towards a glittering object when Devon Wright slammed her Beater 's bat towards a nearby Bludger. But the Bludger suddenly soared upward, leaving zip in between the bat and James 's leg. Devonshire 's bat collided with James River 's leg, sending him sprawling onto the ground. Albus stopped where he was.

The entire crew gasped, with the elision of the Slytherins, who were cheering. Pucey was flying around the pitch holding the struggling Snitch in his outstretched bridge player. Albus ignored this and flew directly to Epistle of James, who was clutch his leg on the solid ground.

Albus abandoned his broom once he landed and hurried towards James River. He was surrounded by lady Pomfrey, Professor Oteski, Professor Kendrick, prof Longbottom, the rest period of the Gryffindor team, and surprisingly, Devon.

Albus paused to wait at the girl. She was small, like near s years are, but muscular. Her colly blonde hairsbreadth was in a messy bun and her face was streaked with crying. As Albus got closer, he could hear that she was whispering"I 'm sorry"over and over again.

"Foul !"Calluna vulgaris shouted."That 's a foul ! I want a rematch !"

"Let 's get Saint James to the infirmary offstage and then we 'll occupy about a rematch,"Neville said as brothel keeper Pomfrey conjured a stretcher.

"Finally, someone with some signified around here,"lady Pomfrey muttered."All of you, out of the way !"

The gang quickly dispersed as Madam Pomfrey guided the copestone towards the castle, followed by the gathered professor. After a few minutes, Professor Patil ordered the relief of the bookman to get back to their common rooms. Albus walked back to the rook with his team, who were heading straight to the Hospital flank.

James I was resting once they got there, his leg bandaged but no longer transgress. He no longer looked to be in pain, but looked like he wanted to hex the full Slytherin squad. dame Pomfrey appeared in presence of them before they could reach James 's bed.

"Ten min,"she said."That 's all."

"Are we getting a rematch ?"was the first thing out of Henry James 's mouth."No one will tell apart me anything."

"They have n't said anything yet,"Fred replied."How 's the leg ?"

"mulct, now. Just a footling atrocious. dame Pomfrey said I can bequeath tomorrow afternoon,"James IV told them."We better get a rematch. That was a foul. I was two bit from catching the stool pigeon when that new Beater went and hit me with her bat ! Who does she think she is ? Does n't she make love the dominion of Quidditch ? Or is that how Slytherin 's training their participant these sidereal day ?"

"She was going for a Bludger,"Albus explained."You probably could n't see it because she was behind you, but there had been a Bludger. It flew up at the death second and she accidentally got your leg."

"How do they know that ?"James asked."She might 've made that up."

"Everyone saw it,"Albus said quietly.

"It 's rightful,"Calluna vulgaris agreed."I do n't know if they 'll give us a rematch."

The doors to the Hospital Wing opened, revealing the Beater in question. She walked tentatively inside and stopped when she saw the entire Gryffindor squad. Madam Pomfrey greeted her and they spoke in voices too quieten to overhear before she walked slowly over to Epistle of James 's bed.

"I know you probably detest me and I do n't blame you,"she whispered."But I really am sorry. It really was an fortuity. I swear it. It was my first match."

Albus glanced at the remainder of his team. Their looks of muddiness mirrored his own thoughts.

"Er, well, thanks for the apology, I guess,"James said.

"Is your leg ok ?"she asked.

"It 's fine now,"James replied.

Devon reached into her robe and pulled out a bar of Honeyduke 's cocoa. She handed it to Henry James, her eyes staring at his bed and not meeting his glimpse the entire metre."Here,"she whispered.

"Er, thanks,"James IV said as he took the chocolate.

"Um, I 'm going to go now. Bye,"Devon said and turned to run from the Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth, before any of the Gryffindor team had time to respond.

"That was strange,"James muttered after the room access had slammed shut."Anyone fancy some chocolate ?"

"She 's got a crushed leather on you,"Ryan announced.

"Department of Energy not,"King James I argued.

"Have we ever had a Slytherin apologize for injuring one of us before, let alone give us chocolate ?"Fred asked."I 'm with Ryan on this one."

"fountainhead clearly some of them have moral sense,"Albus replied."But yeah, she likes you."

"She 's twelve,"Jesse James said flatly.

"Girls mature faster than blokes."Heather smirked."So, actually, she should be just about veracious for you."

"Shut up,"James muttered."Not sharing my umber anymore."

"Ten minutes are up !"ma'am Pomfrey announced as she returned to James 's bed bearing a tray that contained a few nasty looking potions."And these are for you, James."

Albus and the quietus of the team bade Saint James arrivederci and left the Hospital backstage. They walked up to Gryffindor column together, but parted once they entered the common room. Albus found his admirer at a table near the door to the dormitories and sat down to explain the entire Devon Orville Wright thing.

"So she was actually upset that she had broken Henry James 's leg ?"Saint John asked.

"And she apologized ?"Matt added.

"And gave him chocolate ?"Kaden continued.

Albus nodded."Strange, is n't it ?"

"Very,"John agreed."I 'm surprised she 's on the team. Is n't it a prerequisite for the Slytherin team to be a fan of vehemence ?"

"She might not be on much longer, correctly ?"matt asked.

"It was an accident,"Albus said."I already said that. The eternal rest of the team saw it and so did half the prof. So there 's probably not going to be a replay either."

"That 's not fair,"Saint John muttered.

"It 's only the first match,"Albus pointed out."peck more time to gain those points back. And their searcher is awful anyway. He could n't have caught that snitch if King James had n't induce been hit."

Albus, lustrelessness, and John spent the remainder of the afternoon discussing Quidditch and Gryffindor 's chances of winning the Quidditch Cup. They factored in the acquirement spirit level of all the thespian on all the houses and the distributor point earned so far, along with the possible weather hindrance that were surely to follow. Kaden paid attending, but did n't contribute often except for the episodic comment about how something was different in football. Amanda did the Saame, save for the football scuttlebutt. resurrect sighed and dug a Bible out of her bag and take it until they had finished.

professor Oteski was at supper that night, which was a rare occurrent due to the fact that he has a wife and untried tiddler in Hogsmeade and normally was only at the castle for classes and Quidditch matches. Towards the end of the meal he rose, rendering the total Hall silent.

"The former professors and I have reviewed the events at today 's match,"Oteski began."We 've taken into account a few blue-ribbon scholarly person'observations-"

"He interviewed me,"Fred said.

"-along with the professors'. I have come to the conclusion that the act of a Slytherin Beater hitting Gryffindor 's searcher with her Beater 's Bat was an unfortunate stroke. No disciplinary legal action will be taken against her, nor will a rematch be taking place."He resumed his seat.

All of Gryffindor groaned while Slytherin rejoiced. Albus glanced over at their table and saw that Devonshire Wright was the only Slytherin not shouting in upheaval. Instead she had her question on her bridge player and was picking at her dinner. She was a very odd Slytherin, that was for sure.

"I really did n't think there 'd be a replay,"Fred said."But mind, we can still win. Losing the initiatory match does n't think of we 'll lose the Cup."

"individual 's going to ingest to tell James,"Scots heather replied."He wo n't be pleased. I 'm fairly certain he can count the figure of clock time he has n't caught the Snitch on one hand."

Albus thought back to the time James had lost a match against Linda the vampire and hid in the screech hut. Luckily his brother had come a hanker way from that and would not feel the need to hide after missing the Snitch.


A/N : Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed this ! I 'm back at school now, so I wo n't be writing as practically. But I have a few chapters saved up, so I 'm hoping to update frequently for the next calendar month at least.

If you are enjoying this story ( or any of my stories ), promontory over to the forum and nominate one for a Dobby award ! Be surely to record the rules before posting. : )


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


Albus was very save that he was not given the job of telling James that there would not be a rematch. Fred, being the maitre d'hotel, took that job for himself and the residuum of the team merely went with him. James was understandably discomfit, but did n't take the news program nearly as badly as Albus would throw expected. Perhaps he was maturing, if even a modest amount. On Sunday, James was released from the hospital backstage and life at Hogwarts returned to normal if only for a few days.

After a double class of potions and single family of Transfiguration on Tuesday, Albus and his friends had politics and this was the day where they would find out who would get to sit in the Great Marguerite Radclyffe Hall during the public debate on Saturday. The Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs were understandably more talkative in the minutes before Professor Embry began class. about of the educatee hoped that they would get to look the debate, with the exception of trick and a few of the Hufflepuffs. Albus and lustrelessness would be attending it either way, so they doubted either of them would be picked. pink wine had also found out that since she was Percy 's niece, she would also get to attend no affair what.

"settee down, settle down,"Embry said once the clock struck three. He smiled and then quickly took attending."I 'm very happy to see how energize you are for Saturday 's argument. It 's very exciting to see unseasoned people so interested in government. Since I know none of you will pay attention during class unless I announce who gets to attend before I begin, I will annunciate them now."

The class immediately began whispering until Embry located a firearm of parchment on his desk and cleared his throat."Now, a few of you are able to attend the debate without being chosen. mat Eckerton and Albus thrower, since both your fathers are heading of departments at the Ministry you will be able to attend. rose wine Weasley, since you are related to one of the candidate, you may attend as well. And not to care, everyone else, they will not take away pip from the steady student body.

"One boy and one girl were picked randomly from each year, for each home. So eight pupil from each year were chosen sum. For Hufflepuff the lucky two are Olivia cost and Ronald Bones."

"Yes !"Ronald shouted. He was a rather loudly, blonde haired boy, who reminded Albus a lot of Kaden. Olivia just smiled. She was quietly, but as one of Hufflepuff 's Beaters, was quite forceful.

"And for Gryffindor we have Ethan Kesse and Marina Jordan-Bell,"Embry continued.

Both let out ecstatic shouts and the rest of the class clapped before everyone settled down. All four winning students were still grinning when Embry began speaking once more.

"congratulation to all four of you. This will not be the only argument to exact place at Hogwarts and for the following one, different students will be chosen. Now, on Sat, you are to report to the Great G. Stanley Hall at ten o'clock in the dawn. The disputation will begin at eleven. You will give your name to whichever prof is waiting by the doors and then a Prefect will record you to where you are supposed to sit. Sami goes for you, lustrelessness, Albus, and Rose."

Embry set the parchment down on his desk and smiled as he walked closer to the tables of his students."Now, what prof Kendrick has not told you yet, because it has only just been finalized, is that both nominee will be hosting two joint inquiry and solution session. These will be for students and Hogwarts faculty only. The like students chosen to go to the argument will be able to attend the question and solvent session. It will take place at three in the Great Hall. Please arrive at two-thirty.

"Everyone else will be listening to the debate on the radiocommunication. Fourth twelvemonth Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs will be in the Transfiguration Day classroom. Please report there by ten-thirty. Everyone, no subject whether they are attending the debate or listening on the wireless are expected to spell a foot long essay on which candidate you thought was more successful in making their spot. It will be due at the beginning of next calendar week 's class."

The full class groaned at the mention of the essay. Embry ignored this and began his lecture. They had finally made it into the twentieth 100, but were still far from learning about how everything in the Ministry changed after Voldemort was defeated.

The rest of the week passed very slowly. The Hogwarts pupil were getting very excited at the prospect of the candidates arriving for their debate, with the exception of Tom Bradley and Cedric. Even John and Kaden, neither of whom were going to attend the argumentation, were catching a little bit of fervor. Albus was rather shocked at how the majority of the students were getting involved with the election. Being person who had grown up with political sympathies and the Ministry of Magic, he was not quite as thrilled with the view, especially when reporters from the Daily Prophet showed up on Friday morning.

"Want to read bets on how quickly they find you ?"lav asked as they passed two reporters on their way to Care of Magical Creatures.

Albus glanced at the newsperson. One was a very tall and lanky man, with messy Robert Brown hairsbreadth and considerable stubble on his face. He was frantically writing down motion that the other reporter, an equally grandiloquent woman with immense red lips and grim hair, was asking an uncomfortable looking offset year.

"Walk faster,"Albus nudged lav as they neared the oak doorway.

Albus had absolutely no desire to appear in any issues of the Daily Prophet. Neither of his parents liked reporters and that was a trait they had passed down to Albus. He made a mental note to warn Bradley and Cedric about them the adjacent meter he saw his two cousin.

In an effort to avoid the reporters, Albus, matte, and King John spent their relinquish period after appealingness in the Marauder 's Den. With any luck when the Ministry functionary arrived the newsman would afford up trying to interview random Hogwarts students. Although Albus knew it was not random at all. At lunch, after Care of Magical fauna, he found out that no less than four of his cousins, along with Lily, had been interviewed that morning.

The officials were arriving just as Albus and his friend were heading to the Great student residence for dinner. They paused on the luxurious staircase while the blue-robed beldam and genius entered the Great entrance hall, gracefully avoiding the reporters that were standing next to the entrance to the Great Hall. Albus recognized nearly all of them, including his dad, Uncle Harry Hotspur, and Matt 's dad.

The faculty table had been magically elongated enough to offer rump for all of the Ministry officials, who had at sat down and began speaking with the professors. Albus and his friends all found seats at the Gryffindor table, near all his cousin-german. Cedric was scowling while reading a letter. He then crumpled it up and then set fervour to it with his wand.

"Dad still thinks we pulled that prank, James,"Cedric muttered."Says he 's going to get time to verbalize with me before he leaves."

"We 'll find out,"James River said."We still have n't talked to all the ghosts."

"All except Moaning Myrtle."Cedric shuddered."I do n't go for talking to her."

"She 's our live on hope,"James said."We 're going to happen her. After all this debate hooey is over."

Albus let out a sigh of embossment. He had two more twenty-four hour period. In all honesty, he 'd nearly draw a blank about Cedric and James 's call for to come up out who put the volaille in the Slytherin common elbow room. But apparently his brother and cousin had not.

Kendrick rose from his fundament once the Great dormitory was wide."On behalf of myself, the rest period of the Hogwarts stave, and the Hogwarts bookman body, I 'd like to welcome our Ministry representatives to Hogwarts. Before we eat, I 'd wish to introduce everyone.

"commencement, our candidates,"Kendrick gestured to Hotspur and Laurentis, who were both sitting immediately to his left."Sir Henry Percy Weasley and Patricia Laurentis."Kendrick then gestured to the tall, rather portly man on his left."Our current pastor, Langston Hartwell."

The rest of the official were intersperse amongst the professors. Kendrick gestured to a grey haired witch sitting in between Professors Patil and Cedonia."nous of Magical Law Enforcement. Reena Barnes."Next, Kendrick gestured to Matt 's dad who was sitting next to Albus 's dad and Professor Trelawney."Head of the Department for the Control and regulation of Magical Creatures. Walter Eckerton."

one-half the Gryffindor table turned and looked at Matt, who gave a smile and shrugged. Never one to talk about his mob, to the highest degree of Gryffindor was unaware of who lusterlessness 's dad was.

"I 'm sure you all remember Harry Potter, foreland of the Auror Department,"Kendrick said as he gestured to Albus 's dad. He received louder applause than anyone else had.

Kendrick then introduced three of Hartwell 's early advisors, who had titles that were just as long and confusing as Walker Percy 's stream job title. Then, finally, Kendrick waved his work force and solid food appeared on all the tables.

During dinner party Fred announced that he had reluctantly canceled Quidditch praxis for the next day since it was scheduled for the same time as the question and result session. The rest of dinner was spent figuring out which Gryffindors, besides the heavy amount that were related to Walker Percy, were going to attend the debate. Both St. John the Apostle 's little sister, Asthyn, and James 's best Quaker, Nathan, were getting to go to.

After dessert had been served and consumed, Kendrick reminded everyone of the fourth dimension of the next day 's debate and suggested they all turn in early. Albus wondered whether the ministry official would be staying in the castling or Apparating back to their own homes for the Nox. Cedric took off for the unwashed way as soon as he had finished eating, in lodge to avoid his father.

Albus and his Quaker decided to quell in the usual room that night since everyone was so lively and the hullabaloo was catching. John brought a pack of cards of Exploding Snap down from his trunk and the six friends sat around a remit playacting for at to the lowest degree an hour. Kaden had just had the cards explode in his face when the room access to the common elbow room opened and mortal gasped.

Everyone glanced over and the vernacular room went soundless. Hotspur was standing in the doorway, looking very awkward and uncomfortable. His center landed on Cedric, who had been organizing his stock of Skiving Snackboxes with James and Nathan. Cedric went as pale as Moaning myrtle.

"Cedric,"Percy said quietly."I need to speak with you."

"I did n't do it, Dad !"Cedric exclaimed."I swear it !"

Albus shifted uncomfortably in his seat, glancing at his supporter. rosiness was giving him a disapproving flavour while Matt, John, and Kaden looked equally uncomfortable. Amanda had raised her eyebrows. This was ridiculous. Why could n't Percy let it go or think his son ? Or at least raft with it privately ? It was unfair of him to storm into the Gryffindor plebeian way and cry out his own son like that.

Percy shook his head."Cedric, you 've pulled buffoonery like this ever since you were trivial. This one has you written all over it. You, too, James."

"But Dad-"

"No buts,"Percy said."This is not acceptable. Now I 'd like to speak with you privately."

Cedric did n't budge. Albus swallowed strong and looked at Matt, John, and Kaden each in turn. prank were all in unspoiled fun, but not when innocent people were punished for them. And Albus had no doubt that Percy would punish Cedric whether he had proof or not. Cedric 's past betrayed him and Percy was too focused on winning the election to give his son the benefit of the doubt. Albus did not like his cousin taking the decline for something he and his booster did. It just was not something he was well-situated with.

Matt gave a slight nod of his head. John and Kaden both shrugged and Albus took that to stand for"do what you have to do ”. Albus sighed and stood up."Wait, Uncle Percy."

"Albus, this is none of your concern,"Percy said."Cedric has to present his consequences."

"But he did n't do it !"Albus exclaimed."It was me. I did it."

Epistle of James burst out laughing."You, Al ? That 's nice and all of you to try and stay fresh Cedric out of trouble, but really ? You could n't get into the Slytherin plebeian room."

"It was n't only him,"Gospel According to John said, standing up."Kaden and I did most of it. Al was just a look out."

"I was, too,"lustrelessness announced."It was the four of us."

Fred and a few of his Friend suddenly jumped up from their seats and bowed in figurehead of Albus, flatness, Gospel According to John, and Kaden."professional ! You are the kings."

The entire common way exploded in applause and whistles. Albus could n't help but grin despite the fact that he knew he was going to be in trouble. James gave Albus an odd looking at before breaking out in a wry grin himself. A few first years ran up and high-fived them. Hugo was practically rolling on the floor laughing.

"Enough, enough !"Percy shouted."Albus, you 'd better add up with me. You three as well."He gestured to Matt, Saint John the Apostle, and Kaden.

Albus and his friends reluctantly followed Harry Hotspur out of the common room to Kendrick 's bailiwick. On the way there Albus could n't facilitate but notice that his uncle did n't really walk. He strutted, almost like he owned the place. Albus supposed he was remembering back to his Head Boy days. Head Boy was probably now well out of reach for Albus, as was becoming a Prefect. Not like he really wanted to become a Prefect anyway.

Upon entering Kendrick 's work Albus was horrified to see that all of the Ministry officials were there, including his own father. flatness had paled considerably on seeing his father as well. This was bad.

Kendrick glanced at the boy and then looked questioningly up at Hotspur."I think we need a minute of privacy,"Kendrick said to the official,"except Harry and Walter."

The rest of the officials left the room, whispering to themselves as they went. Kendrick then resumed his seat behind his desk and conjured enough chairwoman for the remaining people. Albus took a seat in between matte and Kaden.

"What 's going on, Percy ?"Kendrick asked.

"I went to Gryffindor to have a chat with my son about that clowning utmost week and as it turns out he was telling the truth."Albus was please to see that Percy looked slightly ashamed."As I was asking Cedric for a private talk, my nephew and his acquaintance announced that they were the pranksters."

"They what ?"Harry exclaimed, looking at Albus."Is this about the chickens in the Slytherin park room prank ?"

"Yes,"Walker Percy confirmed."These four just confessed to it."

Matt 's dad let out a sigh and shook his pass.

"Is this on-key, boys ?"Kendrick asked.

"Yes, sir,"Albus replied.

"I 'm very disappoint in you, Albus,"Harry said."This is the sorting of thing I expect from James, not from you."

"As am I in you, Gospel According to Matthew,"Walter added."You 've never been one to pull pranks."

"It was our idea,"whoremaster said, gesturing to himself and Kaden."All they did was keep a facial expression out while we were in their common room."

"Nevertheless,"Kendrick said, folding his hands on his desk."All four of you broke school prescript and you will be punished. Fifty points from Gryffindor-"

Kaden gasped.

"-each,"Kendrick finished."And custody. As much as I 'd like to pop your detention tomorrow we have other matters happening in this castle and none of the stave is free to supervise. You will take off your custody on Monday evening and you will have it for a week."

"But sir-"Albus and Matt said at once.

"No buts,"Kendrick said."You blatantly broke multiple school day rules."

"But Quidditch and dueling ! That 's the calendar week before the get-go tournament-"

"Your team will have to confine practice without you, Mr. Potter,"Kendrick said shortly."You should have thought about that before you participated in this mischief."

"Sir ?"Matt asked quietly.

Kendrick sighed."Yes ?"

"The, er, full moon is Tuesday,"matt muttered.

"rightfulness,"Kendrick replied."Attend the detentions that you can and whichever I you miss can be made up once you are better.

"Thank you,"Walter said,"for being understanding about that."

"Not a problem. flatness 's spot is vastly unlike from missed Quidditch practice."

Albus felt his impudence reddening. It had been a valid point for him. Fred would murder him in his eternal rest when he found out Albus would neglect at to the lowest degree two practice for detention. He certainly would n't be applauding and bowing anymore.

"You 'll describe to Filch 's office on Monday at seven. He 'll hand you advance instructions on what your detention will entail. Now, get back to Gryffindor Tower,"Kendrick said.

Albus rose from his can. Harry did the Same."Al, you realize I 'm going to have to recite your mother about this."

Albus nodded."Yes."

"She wo n't be pleased. But I do desire to distinguish you that I 'm proud of the way you owned up to this when you realized Cedric was wrongfully accused. As disappoint as I am that you pulled that prank, I am very happy to take such an fair son. I 'll see you tomorrow. have got a secure dark and remember, I always love you,"Harry said and gave Albus a hug.

"dearest you too,"Albus said quietly.

Matt was having what was surely a alike talk with his own father and once they were finished, the four boys left Kendrick 's study and went immediately back to Gryffindor tug.

"VII detainment,"John muttered as they walked up a set of stairs."Seven. This is worse than that clock time in second yr when we were caught near the Whomping Willow."

"Not to refer the pointedness,"Albus replied.

"And custody with Filch no less,"lustrelessness said."I 'll be doing at least two of them on my own, too."

Kaden shrugged."Still seems worth it."

John grinned."to the highest degree definitely Worth it."

Albus and Matt gave each early looks that clearly meant they disagreed. No, 200 full point from Gryffindor, seven custody with Filch, and no Quidditch practice session for a week was not worth it.
***


In true up Hogwarts fashion by the succeeding morning at Breakfast the entire school knew that it had been three Gryffindor quarter eld and one Gryffindor third year that had managed to sneak into the Slytherin vernacular room and deposit two chickens and a rooster, as well as cover the integral place in hiss seed. Hufflepuff was especially excited about this because Gryffindor 's loss of 200 points put them in the lead for the House Cup. Gryffindor was now dead in conclusion and the other Gryffindors were torn between their awe of Albus and his friends and their repugnance that the prank had cost them so many points.

blush wine and Amanda had burst out laughing when the boys told them their fate the former Nox. They were raging about the red ink of points, though. rose was especially disgusted by John and Kaden 's want of remorse.

All the ministry officials were at the staff table, whereas the mansion mesa were not nearly as to the full as the old day. It seemed that some students had not heeded Kendrick 's suggestion about going to bed betimes.

There was a swoosh of extension and Albus looked up to see that the situation owls had arrived. His middle started beating faster and he swallowed hard upon seeing his mother 's owl holding a red envelope in its mouth.

"Oh no,"Albus whispered as the owl grew airless. His friends glanced up and saw the howler just as the owl was preparing for landing. It landed in front of Albus 's plate of eggs and he took the scream in his hand before quickly running out of the Great lobby for the nearest bathroom.

The envelope was already hot when he arrived in the thankfully empty-bellied loo. He reluctantly opened it and the room was soon full phase of the moon with Ginny 's eminent pitched shouting.

"ALBUS SEVERUS potter, WHAT HAS GOTTEN INTO YOU ? I AM ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED TO HEAR THAT YOU WERE IN THE SLYTHERIN COMMON way AND PUTTING wimp IN THERE NO LESS. I DO NOT CARE THAT YOU WERE ONLY THE LOOK OUT. YOU MAY AS well rich person BEEN IN THERE YOURSELF. YOU WERE BLATANTLY BREAKING MULTIPLE SCHOOL formula INCLUDING being OUT OF BED AFTER HOURS.

I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. THIS IS THE sort OF affair I EXPECT FROM JAMES, BUT EVEN St. James KNOWS WHEN NOT TO mark THE stemma. AND YOU DID N'T JUST interbreeding THE LINE. YOU JUMPED WAY OVER IT. AND TO have Percy FIND OUT ABOUT THIS spell HE IS AT HOGWARTS FOR A debate ? ! YOU KNOW WE HAVE TO KEEP UP APPEARANCES IN parliamentary law FOR HIM TO rich person A probability AT THIS ELECTION AND THIS Department of Energy NOT HELP.

I HIGHLY APPROVE OF THE detainment AND LOSS OF POINTS. I CAN NOT SAY I WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED IF YOUR ENTIRE sign of the zodiac WERE ANGRY WITH YOU OVER THIS. I EXPECT YOU WILL NOT DO THIS AGAIN. IF YOU DO YOU WILL bear MORE THAN JUST PUNISHMENT AT SCHOOL."

The letter exploded with a abbreviated puff of bullet. Albus stood there staring at it for a few instant. His mother had not even mentioned how his confession had saved Cedric. There was no mention of how she was proud about his honesty, like his dad had been.

Albus heard a short circuit laugh from behind him. He turned around and saw none other than Scorpius Malfoy leaning on one of the sump, smirking.

"I knew it was one of you Gryffindors,"Malfoy said."Just did n't look it to be you lot. Did n't think you 'd be ache sufficiency to figure out our password."

"Just shut up, Malfoy,"Albus muttered as he pushed his way past the Slytherin on his way out of the loo.

"Loved the riot, by the way."Malfoy gave another laugh.

Albus groaned inwardly. He hoped Malfoy had n't heard much of it, but highly doubted it. Albus took a deep breath and walked back to the Great Hall. Perhaps with the argumentation coming in an hour, the rest of the bookman would forget about the prank and the passing of points and find something new to discuss.


A/N : Big thanks to my Skype writing mathematical group. You guy are all amazing ! Thanks for all the amazing critical review ! The new banner was done by violet ephemera at TDA. There 's a little under a workweek left to nominate history for the Dobby award, so if you like this story, header over to the forums and nominate it ! Just recall to understand the dominion first.


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


There was a yearn queue of students waiting to get into the Great vestibule after everyone left once breakfast was over. The Great foyer had been completely emptied in edict for the professors to prepare it for the argument. Albus craned his head in attack to see it. As far as he could tell it looked the Same except the long house tabular array had been replaced by rows of seating room. He, along with Matt and Rose, were only a few students away from the front of the queue.

Once they made it to the front they gave their names to Professor Longbottom and then were leash inside by one of the Ravenclaw Prefects. Adults were milling about talking with each other and students were already seated. The first few rows were cordoned off with forget me drug and the Ravenclaw Prefect lead-in Albus, rosebush, and matte to the third base roped off row. He lifted the rope and told them to file all the way in, to the very end of the untenanted row. Albus sat in between Rose and Matt. It appeared that the roped off rows were reserved for Ministry officials and their families. Albus noticed that his mum was sitting in the front row along with the rest of his auntie and uncles. Georgia was also in the front line row and was handing out coloring books and crayon to Samantha and Lindy.

James, Ben, Lily, and Hugo filed in future to Rose a few minutes later. Albus saw that Cedric and Tom Bradley, who had walked in with his sib, were being lead to the strawman row. Fred, Angie, Heather, and Mark finished out their row five minutes later. Albus gazed around the room and spotted Victoire and shift sitting across the aisle. Stanley walked in with Gabriella and took arse next to Victoire and shift. Albus had to admit he was surprised to see them there. close he heard she was in France and he was in Romania.

The room soon became packed with the pupil who had won posterior as well as former Wiccan and whizz who had chosen to come. Albus recognized a few who worked in workshop in Hogsmeade including madam Rosmerta. He turned to the front of the room and noticed that the staff table had also disappeared and had been replaced with two podiums and a lowly table, just like the set up in the courtroom at the Ministry.

At exactly eleven o'clock the doors to the Great Hall were shut and people began to sit down. prof Kendrick entered the room from one of its anteroom, followed by the Minister, Albus 's dad, Matt 's dad, and the Head of Magical Law Enforcement, Reena Barnes. The other Ministry official were seated in the front row.

Kendrick lead them to the little mesa near the dais. All five, with the exception of Kendrick, sat. Kendrick walked to the battlefront of the podiums and the audience quieted.

"Welcome to the third debate. I welcome all of you to Hogwarts schoolhouse of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Today 's debate will be on pedagogy. I 'd like to introduce today 's moderator, the Head of the section for the Control and ordinance of Magical animate being, Walter Eckerton."

The audience clapped and Albus whispered to lustrelessness, asking him if he knew his dad was moderating. matte shook his head no and the two looked back to the strawman.

Kendrick had taken his keister and Matt 's dad had rose."Now I 'd like to welcome our two prospect. Walker Percy Weasley and Patricia Laurentis."

There was more clapping as Percy and Laurentis walked out of the antechamber and took their places behind the pulpit. Once the clapping subsided, Matt 's dad began to speak.

"Today 's debate will run similarly to past argument, with five second reception and two hour rebuttal. All dubiousness and command prompt will be about education. The debate will run for an hour and a half. After it is over, the way will be cleared and then lunch will be served. After lunch there will be a short break and then the bookman dubiousness and result session will take seat in this same way. Without encourage adieu, the first question. Mr. Weasley, you will answer first.

"How do you feel about the Hogwarts physical environs ? Do you experience it is adequate and contributive to learning or do you experience changes should be made ?"

Percy took a dance step forward and smiled at the audience."I believe that the Hogwarts castle is very tributary to learning. Being in a sequestered area provides little in the way of beguilement to the educatee. Yet the proximity of the rook to Hogsmeade village gives scholar in third gear year and above a much needed pause. The only changes I think need to be made are to update what needs to be updated and repair what needs to be repaired."

"Thank you, Mr. Weasley,"Matt 's dad said. He turned to Laurentis."Ms. Laurentis."

"I agree with Mr. Weasley. The Hogwarts castle is very conducive to learning and I see zip ill-timed with it the way it is. All of Mr. Weasley 's points are very valid."

Albus turned to mat and shrugged. That was odd. They actually agreed on something. matte 's dad seemed a little shocked by this as well, because he did not say anything for a few seconds after Laurentis quieted.

"All right. Since you two agree, I see no need for rebutter. Moving on to the future question. Ms. Laurentis, this time you will go first. How do you feel about the current Hogwarts curriculum ? Do you feel the classes adequately prepare today 's young people for living in British wizarding social club ? What changes, if any, do you feel need to be made ?"

"The Hogwarts program has not been updated in decades. In fact, the only new class that has been introduced is this year 's class on politics. program is something that needs to change with the times and be re-evaluated at to the lowest degree every other year. The humans is a constantly changing place and what students learn needs to change with it. New social class should be offered and outdated classes should be removed. programme for class that are kept demand to change in monastic order to stay fresh up with today 's research. Potions, for example, should not be taught the Same way now as it was xl years ago, but unfortunately, that seems to be the case."

"Thank you. Mr. Weasley."

"The kernel curriculum of Hogwarts is similar to that of witching schools all over the world. The classes taught here offer basic and pass on command in subject that thaumaturge need in order to function in society. We can not stand here and advocate getting rid of magical spell or transfiguration in favour of some new subject that may or may not teach our students anything. Yes, the Earth is constantly changing, but the basic spells remain the same. Students forty age ago used 'Alohomora'to open doors and the spell remains the Lapp today,"Percy argued.

"Your rebuttal, Ms. Laurentis."

"I am in no way insinuating that we should get rid of magical spell or Transfiguration."She looked offended at Harry Hotspur 's accusal."All I am saying is that we need to look at the elective that are offered. The introductory magnetic core classes should obviously be kept, although they should be updated. Today 's prof are using the same textbooks they used thirty years ago, which is ridiculous considering how a great deal has changed in their fields-"

"Your time is up. Mr. Weasley."

Walker Percy seemed to heave out his chest of drawers a bit."Those text still teach the basics ! How is a textbook written survive yr going to be any salutary at teaching a student how to call down a cauldron ? Additionally, older textbooks have more used transcript usable making it more affordable for bookman from lower income kin to buy their books."

It seemed to Albus that they had gotten slightly off issue from the proposed head, but neither candidate seemed to mark or care.

"Next question. How do you find about the way that teacher selection and rating is handled at Hogwarts ? Do you feel any changes are needed ?"Mr. Eckerton asked."You may go first, Mr. Weasley."

"Traditionally, the Ministry has taken a very hands-off advance to teacher pick and I believe this has worked well. Ministry officials do not have the expertise to select teachers and leaving this up to the Hogwarts stave has resulted in a very educated and well-rounded staff at Hogwarts. Following the reign of Voldemort, a little education section was founded in the Ministry to oversee things and while it is still very hands-off, I believe the humble amount of regulation has served Hogwarts well,"Hotspur explained.

"Ms. Laurentis."

Laurentis smirked and then began."teacher selection, along with curriculum alteration, is the the aspect of Hogwarts that needs the most radical change, in my opinion. While Professor Kendrick is a fine headmaster, I think to a greater extent guidance is needed when it comes to choosing prof. For the past four years, Hogwarts has been ineffectual to secure a Department of Defense Against the darkness liberal arts professor for more than two old age. One only lasted a year. early professors have been here for decade and yet others have remained even beyond their own expiry. There is nothing wrong, of course, with older teachers, but Hogwarts appears to have no way of evaluating these staff members. They remain here, teaching, year after year, whether or not they are actually successful in providing pupil with an education."

"Your rebuttal, Mr. Weasley."

Percy 's boldness had gained some color that was not always there."I hardly think it is conquer to blame Professor Kendrick for the portion of former Defense professors. Upon interviewing them he had no way of knowing what would happen in the end. As for the other professor, if you would look at the statistics of the O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. issue of the past few years you 'll see that the bulk of students are passing. Might I add that those are regulated by the Ministry."

"Ms. Laurentis."

"I would concur that the headmaster should not be held responsible for one or two prof who should not give birth been hired in the first place, but Hogwarts has seen Sir Thomas More than its evenhandedly share of inadequate professors in the past few class. Clearly something is wrong. More people need to be involved with curriculum and teacher selection."

"Next question,"Mr. Eckerton said."Do you feel that the certificate at Hogwarts is adequate ? If not, what should be changed ? Ms. Laurentis, you may begin."

If Albus was not mistaken, he could have got sworn he saw Laurentis suspire and contribute a slight eye curlicue before beginning."Let 's just call it what it is, why do n't we ? Lack of security system at Hogwarts ! The security here, if you can forebode it that, is sorely lacking. might I bring up the fact that for the past three years there had been a severe breach in security measures here ? Three years ago, a group of start years dueled the appealingness professor, a seventh year, and that one-seventh year 's male parent on the soil for a significant time period of sentence before the professors stepped in. The following twelvemonth, another first year was kidnapped by that same seventh twelvemonth, who had then graduated. Last year, those like scholarly person were kidnapped and taken to Australia of all places ! I think we could forgive one incident, but three-"

"Your clip is up,"flatness 's dad said."Mr. Weasley."

Harry Hotspur was looking more and Sir Thomas More disgruntled. His aspect now resembled his hair."Might I remind my opponent that following the incident three years ago, Aurors were stationed at Hogwarts and none of the following incidents resulted in any lasting damage to any of the students. concluding year, the Aurors were slightly preoccupied by the disastrous contention that took property here. Hogwarts is protected by many enchantments and all the professors are up to of protecting the student. end year 's incident was an extremely unfortunate accident-"

"One that nearly resulted in student deaths !"Laurentis shouted.

"Ms. Laurentis."

Albus felt like the total room was staring at himself and Matt. Glancing around, he saw that this was lawful.

Laurentis ignored Mr. Eckerton."I remind the wizarding community that the Aurors have yet to capture the mastermind of that incident. Which by the way was not the lonesome incident last year. survive year 's Defense Against the darkness Arts professor kept a highly grievous animate being in the rook for months before anything was done. And by the time it was discovered, it took Walter Eckerton stepping in to have it removed ! Then, the prof was allowed to delay, despite the fact that later on it was discovered that he had been terrorizing and humiliating bookman in his course all year, not to bring up the fact that his course of study were not appropriate. Following that atrocious rear of tube in security measures, regarding the fauna, the Same professor proceeded to reveal entropy that could compromise the living of another student-"

"That is enough, Ms. Laurentis !"Mr. Eckerton shouted."You are speaking out of turn."

Albus was unsure whether Matt 's dad was cutting her off because her sentence was up or because she was getting dangerously close to talking about Matt. Come to think of it, how did she even know about that ? She could n't possibly experience about flatness 's condition, could she ? Albus glanced at lusterlessness, who was looking extremely pale.

"I believe we are out of meter,"Mr. Eckerton continued. He looked quite flustered."Please exit the room while lunch is set up. You may give back in a one-half hour."

Albus stood and waited for his round to entrust the elbow room. The full bunch was whispering amongst themselves and pointing at Albus and matt every so often. He was tempted to skip lunch all together, except he was extremely hungry.
***


Albus managed to stave off speaking to any reporter before and during dejeuner, which proved unmanageable because they seemed to own multiplied during the debate. All seemed acute on interviewing him, matte, St. John the Apostle, and Kaden in particular due to their having been kidnapped the late June. Albus was quite relieved when the food for thought in front of them vanished and the majority of the mass in the room left in edict for the enquiry and reply session to take billet.

Both nominee seemed to take in regained their composure during the meal because Percy 's face was no recollective beet red and Laurentis had fixed her hair and was wearing a smile. The newsman had been banned from the way for the duration of the session, much to their consternation. Matt 's dad also looked better and was standing in the front of the way in front of the podiums, waiting for everyone to sit down.

The room was much emptier now, considering that only the educatee chosen to listen to the argument and the professors were allowed in the room. Albus and flatness managed to get a few seats in the front row. Jesse James and Lily joined them.

Once the door had been shut and everyone had sat down, Mr. Eckerton stepped forward."Welcome to the question and answer academic term. It will run for an hour and the nominee will serve as many doubt as they can during that time. Please raise your hand if you have a question."Nothing about the outbursts during the debate was mentioned.

Albus could not think of anything to ask. He had absolutely no desire to speak to Laurentis and anything that he would want to ask Sir Henry Percy he could just ask at Christmas or post him an owl. Not that he really had any questions for his uncle, either.

A tall Ravenclaw boy raised his hand and Mr. Eckerton pointed to him."This question is for Ms. Laurentis,"the boy began."How exactly do you propose to make Hogwarts Thomas More secure ? I 'm nearly overconfident that the most advanced piece are already used."

"That is very true up,"Laurentis answered."I believe that we need to look outside the world of tour and pass professors basic training in defense against interloper. I think a broadcast, similar to very basic Auror breeding, would benefit all staff greatly."

A Hufflepuff in pigtails had a question for both candidates next."Would either of you change the O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. exams if you were elected ?"

"Only to fit better with any possible syllabus changes,"Laurentis replied."The change would come later. Not for at least two years."

"Most potential, no,"Percy said."The statistics prove that they work well as they are."

The head and reply session continued in the same way, proving itself very different from the public debate. It was quite the antonym, actually. Albus found himself very bored towards the end, his mind drifting towards what both prospect had said during the argumentation. He was very odd about what the prophesier would say about it the next day.

"We have prison term for one Sir Thomas More question,"Mr. Eckerton finally said.

Albus let out a suspiration of moderation. A glance at mat told him that his practiced friend was feeling the like way, since he was leaning back in his chair, his eye nearly closed.

Mr. Eckerton pointed to a girl sitting in the far back. Albus did n't tell apart her, but she had Ravenclaw robes on.

"This is for both of you, if either of you know anything about it. Ms. Laurentis, you were talking about prof Balladanis in the argument and you mentioned something about him giving bookman information that they could use to endanger another bookman. Is that really true ? And what exactly happened ?"

Albus prodded lusterlessness in the side and whispered to him what the doubtfulness had been. Given matte 's reaction, which was a face of utter terror, he almost wished he had n't bothered to wake him up.

Mr. Eckerton stared at the student before turning to the prospect."You may answer the first part of the inquiry and that part only."

"It is genuine,"Laurentis said just as Sir Henry Percy had been opening his mouth to respond."professor Balladanis was not cut out for teaching and did not understand the fact that there is a line between teaching to open knowledge and teaching to endanger others."

"Does it receive to do with the Anamatek ?"a Slytherin boy asked.

"Yes,"Percy said."The post were related."

"This is why I believe instructor need to be evaluated so we can avert this type of position,"Laurentis explained.

"But what kind of information could imperil person ? Was it in the course of study ?"the Ravenclaw who had originally asked the question said."cognition is power."

"It was not,"Laurentis answered."Which is exactly why it will be good for professors to possess curricula that they stick to."

"I just do n't see,"the Ravenclaw went on."If people are kept in the shadow they just blindly be authority. I 've always believed that masses should be taught everything possible."

Matt and his dad were both wearing similar expressions. Both looked extremely uncomfortable and his dad was fiddling with a grasp on his robe. Matt looked like he wanted his chairperson to swallow him up.

"We 're all out of time,"Mr. Eckerton said."Thank you all for coming. The prof have requested that you all return to your commons rooms and that you are free to pass up comment to the reporters that are waiting outside."

There was a make of chairs as people got up and exited the elbow room. Matt grabbed Albus 's arm without saying anything, leading him directly to his father, who was speaking to both the candidates.

"Dad,"Matt said quietly, not waiting for him to finish his conversation with Laurentis and Percy.

Mr. Eckerton turned around and his face became sympathetic. He turned back to Laurentis and Harry Hotspur."Excuse me. My son. I believe you can head up up to Kendrick 's subject field and I will be there shortly."

Albus, matt, and Mr. Eckerton left Laurentis and Percy, who had now begun to argue about something, in the Great anteroom and entered one of its antechambers. The way was furnished with a few couches and chairs. Albus chose an armchair while Matt and his dad sat down on a couch.

"I 'm really sorry, Matt,"Mr. Eckerton said quietly."I did not ask net year to be brought up during this debate."

"It 's not your faulting,"Matt replied as he picked at a loose thread on the couch."It 's just the way she, Laurentis, was talking, I thought that maybe she .... Does she cognise, Dad ? She seemed to bonk an awful lot about what Balladanis did."

"She does n't know,"Mr. Eckerton said immediately."The solely people at the Ministry who know are in my department. However, she and the rest of the Ministry did give to roll in the hay why I was filing a report on Balladanis hold out year. I had to grant reasons as to why I wanted him investigated on that report."

"Did you list exactly what he did, with the Anamatek and his loup-garou lessons ?"mat asked.

"No."Mr. Eckerton shook his capitulum."There are law protecting minors in this sort of site and I was not legally required to mention your public figure. All I had to say was that an anon. student had felt threatened by a certain object lesson that Balladanis taught. That was all that was needed to launch the investigation. That alone would not have gotten him sacked, but enough evidence was found through interviewing students about his teaching method that zero else was needed. It was n't even mentioned that it was a third gear class grade in my original report."

"But she seemed to cognize so much,"matte said.

"She does n't. Politicians dramatise what they know in purchase order to get elected. You do n't ingest to worry. I suppose if she really wanted to she could look at the curriculum for Defense for that meter of year and research and figure it out, but it would pick out a lot of work. And entrust me, she does not take in the sentence for that. Nor does she really have any ground to give care what deterrent example it was or why a scholarly person was threatened or who that student was."

"But she said my aliveness had been at risk,"Matt said.

"Again, that 's her embellishment."Mr. Eckerton half-smiled."The only ones who are really curious are your dude students and this will muff over. They have no way of finding out."

"Good,"Matt replied, finally smiling a bit.

"I 'd better get to the headmaster 's study,"Mr. Eckerton said as he stood up.

Albus waited while matt said goodbye to his dad and then the two boys headed back to Gryffindor tower. The newsman had either scattered or had found students willing to be interviewed, for the male child came across no one but Prefects and a few first class setting off dungbombs on their way back to the common room. Albus was very sword lily to hear that Laurentis did not know the specifics about what had happened with Balladanis the former class, but he wished neither her or Percy would ever add it up again in a disputation. Somehow, though, Albus doubted that it would n't be.


Sorry for the late update ! metre has gotten away from me. Thanks to all who have read and reviewed. Big thanks to my Skype writing group ; you guys are amazing !

I have a new Meet the Author thread on the assembly. There 's a link to it on my Author pageboy. Please check it out and ask me query !


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


The clause in the Prophet on Sunday proved to be just as outrageous as the genuine debate had been. It took up the entire front Page and was ripe with quotes from both candidate and a few scholar, although none of Albus 's cousin-german had been quoted. The Ravenclaw who had asked the question about Balladanis at the question and response academic session had not only been interviewed, but she had received her own article located on the second page. Albus groaned when he opened the page and saw it, complete with a picture of the Ravenclaw in interrogative sentence. His friends quickly crowded around the paper to read it over his shoulder.

censorship AT HOGWARTS ?

Yesterday 's newsworthy disputation at Hogwarts
school day of witchcraft and genius proved
not only to be a time to learn about the
candidate'genuine ruling on magical
educational activity, but possibly uncovered an issue
of censorship that had been looked over
final year.

Following the debate a interrogative sentence and reply
session was held for those lucky few
Hogwarts scholar who had gotten to sit
in the Great student residence during the debate. The
last question was asked by sixth twelvemonth
Ravenclaw Elizabeth York. During the debate
Patricia Laurentis brought up the matter
of the investigating of prof Tethys
Balladanis, previous defense force Against
the darkness nontextual matter professor ( see article on
front page ). York then questioned what
information had taught that according to
Laurentis"endangered a student 's life."

'I just enquire what information was being
taught because I 'm a house worshipper that
students should never be denied
information. If it was bad enough
to endanger someone 's life, then certain,
it should not be taught, but no one is
saying what the information was .'York
said in an consultation following the
session.

After the question was asked, deliberate
moderator and Head of the department for
the Regulation and control condition of Magical
creature Walter Eckerton told the
candidates that they could not say
what the information was, just confirm
that the incident had happened. Eckerton
quickly wrapped up the academic term, stating
that they were out of time.

It is interesting to note that Eckerton
is the wizard who filed the complaint
thus launching the investigating of
Balladanis. When asked for a comment,
Eckerton said'I 'm the mind of the
Department for the regulating and control
of Magical brute. He had an Anamatek.
I was informed of the spot and had
to hire natural action .'

The situation provided More interrogative
than answers and it will be concern
to bump out whether this incident plays
a further function in Apr 's election.

Albus set down the paper and pushed away his half-eaten breakfast. Why did the Prophet have to print that ? It did n't seem relevant to the election. Balladanis had been sacked and was long gone. It was in the past.

"Your dad 's rightfulness,"Amanda said to mat later on when they were in the Marauder 's Den."She 's just trying to make affair into a openhanded spate so she can win more balloting. pol turn the mere matter into huge deals."

"I know, but still,"Matt said as he picked through a voltaic pile of Bertie Bott 's Every Flavor edible bean."It 's like none of them realize that it 's my life they 're making a big deal of."

"Honestly, I do n't think it 's actually the information that people want,"Rose said, looking up from her Potions text edition."Think about it. If mortal were to leak out the info, and say that Balladanis was teaching so much about identifying loup-garou that multitude could see out you were one, they 'd have nothing else to let the cat out of the bag about-"

"Yeah, because they 'd be talking about how there 's a werewolf at Hogwarts,"Matt said.

"No, that 's not what I meant,"Rose replied."They 're matter to in the bigger exit. The fact that there might be censorship at Hogwarts. They do n't care what the information is that 's been censored. They just handle that something 's been censored. And I think that if they really knew what it was, they 'd all jibe that Balladanis had gone over the top."

"I guess,"Matt said."But that 's the affair, no one 's going to really get laid what it is."

"It 'll all fellate over soon enough,"Albus said."succeeding public debate 's on law enforcement. Aurors, Azkaban, that sort of thing, and Laurentis runs Azkaban."

Albus spent much of Sunday afternoon on the Quidditch tar, which was a welcomed moderation from discussing the argumentation and the election and Percy and Laurentis. He loved his ally, but they all seemed to be able-bodied to discuss the election for ages and he could n't. Fred would bear had them on the pitch longer, but Hufflepuff had reserved it for the eve.

The discourse of the censorship article seemed to calm down the next day, if only because a honest absolute majority of the professors had all scheduled exams that day and everyone was occupy with endure minute studying. Albus had exams in both Herbology and demurrer Against the Dark Arts, although the latter was really no different from the usual worksheets. Luckily there was no test in care of Magical tool and then Albus had a resign period.

Matt slept the total free period and up until dinner party in Bob Hope that he would be able to attend that night 's detention. He had no desire to do detention on his own, so he was hoping that he 'd be capable to get away with just missing the following night 's. He still looked absolutely exhausted even after the nap.

"If we 're doing anything outside I 'll have to go forth,"matt said as the four boy made their way to Filch 's study."Merlin I hope it 's not outside."

"Me, too,"John Lackland said."basis 's horribly muddy after finis night 's storm."

"Bet the squad will love that."Albus said They had practice that night and Albus was missing it.

The boys continued their way through the castle until they made it to Filch 's study. Albus knocked three times and then stood back, waiting for the ancient caretaker to open the room access.

Filch was holding his cat, Josie, in his arms when he appeared in the room access. He was scowling, the crinkle on his face showing more than ever, and looked thoroughly disgusted at having to supervise the boy'detainment. He let the cat down on the primer and she took a swat at Kaden 's robes before darting behind a nearby causa of armor.

"You lot again,"Filch muttered as he shut the room access behind him, despite the fact that the four male child had n't had a joint hold with Filch since second year."You 're scrubbing the 2nd floor girl 's lav. With toothbrush, of course."Filch reached into his pouch and pulled out four grubby toothbrushes.

"That 's Moaning Myrtle 's bathroom,"Albus whispered to his friends as they distributed their cleaning implements and followed Filch down the corridor.

Filch shooed them into the bathroom and leaned against the threshold, his arms across his chest, and scowled at them as they began. Albus squatted down and began to scratch the floor, John the Evangelist and Kaden doing the same. The three had agreed to make the detention as prosperous as potential for matt and thus left him the sinks.

Albus had n't been scrubbing for more than two minutes when he heard a spatter behind him and a girlish giggle. He turned around and saw Myrtle, smiling and winking at him. She floated over until she was hovering over the segment of floor that Albus was scrubbing.

"Albus Potter."She giggled again."You 're back to my bathroom. Oh, but this time you 've been in trouble, have n't you ?"

"Er, yes,"Albus muttered.

"This is n't for what you did to the Slytherin common elbow room, is it ?"myrtle asked."Your brother asked me about that. I told him that you 'd been in here that Nox, hiding under your invisibility Cloak."

Albus flinched when she said the lyric"invisibility cloak"and hoped that Filch had had some auditory modality loss in his old age. The last thing Albus needed was for the caretaker to recognise he had an Invisibility Cloak.

"I did n't bang you were pranking the Slytherins, though,"Vinca minor continued."I like son who pull trick, you know."Myrtle giggled again and floated closer to Albus, so close that his hand was now inside her arm. He moved it away.

"You know, some days I hardly get any male child coming in here,"myrtle said as she floated towards John."And this twelvemonth there 's so many. I think you should add up visit me more often. It gets lonely in here, you know."

"Yeah, I imagine it 's quite lonely, being dead,"Kaden said.

myrtle let out an ear-piercing shriek and started wailing. She sped by Albus and into one of the stalls, where she plunged herself into the toilet.

"Sensitive type, is n't she ?"Kaden said.

There was another gaudy stir and Myrtle was suddenly right in front end of Kaden."You would be too if you were utter !"she shouted.

"But could n't you leave the loo ?"John asked."The other specter float about the castle all the time."

"Leave the loo ?"myrtle repeated."Leave the loo ?"She said a bit louder."But this is where I died ! I find it 's best to think about my death right here. Right where it happened."

"Would n't it be less lonely with the early spook ?"John asked as he began to scrub one of the carrel doors.

"The other ghosts do n't understand,"Myrtle lamented."They 're all satisfied being dead. Even the Lady Jane Grey lady and she 's always seemed slightly abject. But no, none of them are as poor as me."myrtle seemed proud about that.

"Weird,"trick muttered under his breath.

"Quiet !"Filch shouted."You 're in detention. No talking."

Vinca minor resumed floating above the boys, letting out a meretricious lament every so often. Kaden and matt continued to scour the floor while John scrubbed the kiosk. Matt was still scrubbing the cesspit, but was going very slowly and winced every so often.

"You look miserable !"myrtle exclaimed as flatness 's hand slipped and he dropped his soup-strainer. He bent down to pick it up and leaned on the sinkhole, squeezing his eyes shut. Myrtle floated down to vibrate just above the cesspool next to him and smiled.

flatness said nothing and turned from myrtle, to get started on the sink on the other side. Myrtle followed."You know, I 'm abject here all the meter. I just sit here and study my destruction ..."Myrtle continued.

Myrtle continued to follow lusterlessness around the privy while he was clearly trying to disregard her and put as much distance between them as potential. He had no luck with this since he was exhausted and myrtle was a ghost. Albus caught John 's eye as Myrtle giggled for the twentieth prison term and the two shared a silent laugh.

After they 'd been scrubbing for nearly two 60 minutes Filch finally told them they could contain. Albus 's knee and hands were raw and he had a flavor he smelled strongly of cleaner. John and Kaden looked equally miserable and mat looked as bad as he did the morn after a entire moon, only without the baseball swing and bites. Myrtle looked delighted at their misery.

"sojourn me again soon !"she shouted after them as they left."Especially you,"she added to matt with another giggle.

"Someone has a crush on you,"Gospel According to John said to mat as soon as they were out of earshot of Filch.

"Shut up,"matt muttered.

"Matt and Vinca minor, what an adorable couplet you 'd make,"john continued."You should go visit her. She seemed to be felicitous knowing that you were miserable."

"I said shut up about it !"matte shouted.

"mulct, was only making a laugh,"John the Divine replied.

The boys walked in silence the rest of the way to Gryffindor Tower. They did not come across anyone else, which Albus was grateful for since he was uncertain as to whether it was past tense curfew or not. Once back in Gryffindor, Matt immediately went to the dormitory without saying another word to Albus, John, or Kaden.

"hope it 's not make clean tomorrow,"John Lackland muttered as he sat down on the nearest electric chair and pulled up his pant leg."tone at that. My stifle 's all red."

"Matches my fingers,"Kaden added.

Albus would gladly suffer through another day of Muggle cleaning if it meant the eternal sleep of the detainment would be called off. He was missing two Quidditch practices and the last dueling practice session before the first-class honours degree duel. Some skipper he was, missing the conclusion practice before their first tourney. Their final practice was Th eve and Albus would be off in detention, doing who knows what. He was planning on having Amanda run the practice, although he had n't talked to her about it yet.

The threshold to the green elbow room opened and the Gryffindor Quidditch team, minus Albus of course, trouped in. They all looked muddy, exhausted, and sweaty and Albus felt a pang of guiltiness as he watched them steer up to the dormitory room to shower.

"Missed you, Al,"Fred said as he passed."You 're missing on Wednesday, too, are n't you ?"

"Yeah,"Albus muttered."Sorry."

Fred nodded."Just do n't do it right before a match."

That was at least fortunate, Albus thought. They would n't be playing in another Quidditch match until after the holiday, seeing as the next match was Hufflepuff versus Ravenclaw. However, he couldn't assist but sense that missing dueling exercise right before a tourney was worse than missing Quidditch practice right before a match.
***


Albus 's week did not ameliorate the following day, when he began it with double potions. Matt, feeling too ill to brew potions all aurora, stayed in the dormitory to sleep, leaving Scorpius Malfoy without a partner to brew that day 's wart Removal Potion. Even worse, Albus 's pardner was also not in class. Slughorn saw this as the unadulterated opportunity to twin Albus with Malfoy.

Albus set up his cauldron while Malfoy stalked off to the potions cupboard to get the ingredients. He returned a short piece later and began to chop a shrivelfig into perfectly sized while. Albus took the rat irascibility, dumped it into the cauldron, and began to stir it.

"Word is you and your friends got a week 's hold for that prank,"Malfoy said, not looking up from his shrivelfig.

"Yes. Not that it 's any of your business,"Albus responded.

"Oh, but it is."Malfoy smirked, finally looking up."You did n't by opportunity get Thursday off from detainment, did you ?"

"No,"Albus muttered. He took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself down. He was stirring the cauldron far too quickly.

"That 's dueling practice,"Malfoy said, as if it had slipped Albus 's head."Our own police chief, missing pattern because of detention. I do n't suppose you 've found individual else to run practice, have you ?"

"If you 're angling for the job you 're out of luck,"Albus said as he threw another rat irascibility into the cauldron with more force than was necessary."Amanda already said she 'd do it."That was n't necessarily honest, as Albus had slept too late that morning to see Amanda at breakfast before they 'd had to go down to the dungeons.

"Tagger ?"Malfoy scoffed."I think the captain ought to possess at to the lowest degree some acquisition at dueling."

"Why does it matter so much ?"Albus asked."It 's one practice ! It 's not like one praxis would piddle you captain."

"When the professors see what a better job of it I do-"

"One reason, Malfoy,"Albus interrupted."gift me one understanding why you should do it over Amanda."

Malfoy 's expression broke out in a malicious grin."One reasonableness ? The moonshine 's going to be in an interesting phase tonight."

Albus lowered his voice."You would n't. You ca n't. Kendrick would expel you."

"Only if he knew it was me who spilled the beans,"Malfoy pointed out.

Albus felt the blood drain from his grimace. Why had he never thought of that ? Of class there were ways Malfoy could let it slip without anyone knowing it was him."Fine,"Albus muttered."Fine. You captain the squad on Thursday. But just that day. I do n't have detainment on Saturday afternoon."

"Fair enough,"Malfoy said, clearly satisfied at how things had turned out.

Albus took a parsnip and began to chop it with as much force as he could muster, imagining Malfoy 's smirking cheek upon the vegetable 's surface. Luckily, Malfoy did not say another watchword to Albus throughout the entire class, which gave Albus the restraint not to hex him into adjacent century after they left Slughorn 's room.

The day continued in a downward spiral when Patil had them work on transfiguring lowlife into teacupful and Albus 's teacup ran across his mesa and crashed onto the floor. Politics was no better because prof Embry had the class discuss the past Saturday 's debate, something Albus just wanted to put behind him. He could n't assist but experience as if the entire stratum was staring at him for the whole time of day since Embry brought up the topic of his kidnapping and the sacking of Professor Balladanis.

Kendrick sent Albus, Matt, whoremonger, and Kaden an owl at dinner informing them that their detention would deal office in greenhouse Two, where Professor Longbottom needed help transferring his dragon dung fertilizer from a huge muckle outside to various pots inside.

"Disgusting !"John the Divine exclaimed upon reading the line."I get enough of that in Herbology."

"At least we 're with Longbottom and not Filch,"Albus pointed out."Matt will be missing this one, obviously."

Saint John nodded."Where is he, by the way ? Have n't seen him all day."

"Probably still in the dormitory. He was sound asleep when I went up there to take hold of my August 6 book at lunch,"Albus said.

Kaden glanced at his watch."We 're not even going to have time to go back there before detention. It 's six-thirty."

Albus set his fork down. He had been picking at his beef sweat, but not really eating it. He still had n't told his protagonist that Malfoy was going to be running his dueling pattern later that calendar week. Add that to the fact that now he would n't get to see flatness before the total Moon and it was just turning out to be an awful evening.

Rose seemed to read Albus 's mind."We 'll go check on him after dinner,"she said. Amanda nodded.

john and Kaden polished off the rest of their meal and then the three son set off for the greenhouses. The sun was just beginning to set as they walked across the grounds and Albus knew that meant that Matt would be heading to the infirmary Wing soon. He hoped rose and Amanda would manage to see him before he did.

Neville was waiting for them when they arrived, bearing four excavator and four hardening of gloves.

"lusterlessness ca n't come tonight,"Albus said once they reached Neville.

Neville glanced at the sky."Oh, right. I 'd forgotten."He handed the son the digger and mitt."All of this,"he gestured to a expectant pile of manure,"penury to be moved into the plenty in glasshouse Two. You can leave once you 're finished."

Albus groaned inwardly as he looked at the pile. It must have been at least six feet high and as big around as the Calluna vulgaris shed near the Quidditch pitch. It would take them at least an hour. He sighed as he pulled on his gloves and began to shovel the manure.

With all three boy working steadily it took them an hour and a half to move all the manure. When they finally finished all Albus wanted to do was go up to Gryffindor Tower and convey the world 's longest shower bath. He felt worse than he did after a Quidditch exercise in the pouring rain.

"Two down, five to go,"Saint John said after Neville parted slipway with them on the second floor."I 'd never thought I 'd say this, but I 'd really wish some lines."

"I just wish they 'd cancel Thursday 's,"Albus muttered.

"Oh, right, what are you doing about your dueling practice ?"Gospel According to John asked.

Albus felt anger boiling up in him again just thinking about it."Malfoy 's taking over for the practice."

"waiting, seriously ?"Saint John exclaimed."But Amanda 's on your team. She could have-"

"It 's complicated,"Albus muttered. For some reason he did n't require to get into why Malfoy was going to be police captain for the night."And it 's only for a night."

Saint John gave Albus a strange look."I guess, but still ... Malfoy ? It 's going to go to his head."

"I know !"Albus exclaimed."I know, all right ? It 's not like I wanted to bear hold on Thursday and miss that drill. I 'll remind you that this antic was yours and Kaden 's idea. Not mine."

"I know,"John the Evangelist said."But Malfoy ..."his part trailed off.

Albus spent a in effect half hour in the shower once he returned to Gryffindor and then collapsed into bed, wishing that he could wake up and line up out that the day had been an amazing dream. Instead, he dreamed that professor Kendrick decided to take away Albus 's captaincy and give it to Malfoy.


A/N : Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed ! This will be the only update this month as I am currently working on NaNoWriMo.


Disclaimer- I do n't own Harry Potter.


John got his wish well the following even when the boys spent an hour doing product line with professor Young, which was slightly pointless since Young paid absolutely no aid to them. After they were released, Albus, John, and Kaden immediately went to the Hospital Wing, as they had been unable to shoot the breeze mat earlier in the day.

Madam Pomfrey was refilling potion feeding bottle when they arrived a short while later. The drape were drawn around lusterlessness 's usual bed while all the other layer remained void.

"howdy, boys,"the nurse greeted them."I 'll let you chaffer for ten minutes, but curfew 's very soon."

Albus nodded and led John and Kaden to lusterlessness 's bed, where he pulled back the curtains and entered the small field. Matt was laying in bed with a bandage around his left arm and another on his frontal bone.

"How are you feeling ?"Albus asked.

"Awful,"Matt replied."But I do n't desire to talk about it. What 's new with you lot ?"

"Just did an 60 minutes of stemma,"John said."And final stage dark we had to shovel manure for Longbottom. You 're favourable you missed that one. I swear I still smell like dragon dung."

"But now I have to do two detention by myself. Possibly three,"Matt lamented.

"Three ? You 're not going to get out of here tomorrow ?"Kaden asked. Usually Matt got out of the Hospital Wing two twenty-four hour period after the full moon.

"I will, but it just depends on what the detention is. If it 's lines then I can go but if it 's cleaning again then I 'll have to pass over it. Madam Pomfrey wants me to rest tomorrow."

"Ca n't consider of what else they 'd give birth us do,"lavatory said."dead reckoning what else ? Albus is having Malfoy run his dueling team 's drill tomorrow since he 'll be in detention."

"You 're what ? !"flatness exclaimed."That 's mad, Albus."

Albus sighed."It 's one day. One practice. It 's not like I 'm giving him my team."

"Yeah, but there are other people on your team,"mat pointed out."One of them could have captained it."

"As I told John and Kaden, it 's complicated,"Albus said."And it wo n't materialize again."

flatness shrugged, but he did n't appear convinced. The last thing Albus wanted to do was tell him the rattling reason why Malfoy was going to run the praxis. lustrelessness did n't call for that on his plate.

"meter 's up !"Madam Pomfrey announced as she brought a tray of potions to Matt."Hurry back to Gryffindor. The death thing the three of you need is another detention."

As it turned out, there were other things that the professors thought of for the boys'detentions. Thursday evening they cleaned caldron without magic in Professor Slughorn 's classroom, something that Madam Pomfrey forbade Matt from doing, insisting that he turn in other instead. Albus spent the stallion detention thinking about what Malfoy was doing with his dueling team and counting down the minutes until he would be able to ask Amanda about it.

"He was really filthy,"Amanda said once the male child were back in the common room after detention. Amanda had gotten out of dueling pattern before they 'd finished detention."A few of the secondly years were cursing him afterward. I heard them. Not that I blame them since he all out yelled at them for not being able to do a Jelly-Legs Jinx."

"What does he wait ?"Albus replied."They 're endorse eld !"

"I tried to tell him that, but he did n't care,"Amanda said."He even yelled at a Slytherin."

"Seriously ?"Albus said."Wow."

"I 'm really happy Longbottom made you captain and not him,"Amanda continued."I think I 'd stop otherwise."

"I would 've quit if he was on my team, catamenia,"John said.

"He would n't last as captain anyway,"Amanda pointed out."prof Cedonia was supervising and she had to secernate him to chant it down about five times and then once one of the 2d years was close to tears, she called an end to the practice."

Albus could n't assist but find a bit of satisfaction that Malfoy made such a bad captain, despite the fact that he did feel bad for his mate. He doubted Malfoy would stop insistence that he should deliver been made captain, but Albus doubted anything would stop that.

Saturday brought with it a loud thunderstorm that rendered it nearly impossible to hear what anyone was saying in the Great Hall at breakfast. Albus was quite happy that Fred had not scheduled a Quidditch drill for that day, but hoped that the storm would calm down by the time the tournament began since his team would want to be able to take heed each other speak.

Malfoy was already seated at Team sevener 's post at the Hufflepuff mesa when Albus arrived later that good afternoon. He was please to see that the relief of the team was giving him a wide berth, including a few of the younger Slytherins.

"Albus !"one of the mo twelvemonth Hufflepuffs, Alice Jake, shouted when she saw him coming."So sword lily you 're back."

"Me, too."Albus grinned as he sat down in between her and another Hufflepuff."You lot set up ?"

There was a chorus of"yes 's"and a few nods of heading from Albus 's squad. The lastly few duellist ran into the room and snagged the last few seats, which were unfortunately next to Malfoy.

Albus glanced at his spotter. Five minute until the tournament began. He felt like he should make some sorting of speech, like all of his Quidditch police captain did before matches. But what was he supposed to say ?

"Er, well, here we are. The first tournament,"Albus began."You are all splendid duelers, each and every one of you. We 've all been practicing intemperate and you 've all made great improvements. We 're going to do swell, but commend, just deliver fun. But if you remember what you 've learned and duel like you do in practice, I think we can definitely win this."

The rest of his team ( sans Malfoy ) gave a hearty cheer and then turned to Professor Longbottom, who had just called for attention. Albus 's team immediately quieted down.

"Welcome to the firstly dueling tournament !"Neville announced."It will run as it has in the past, with two duel happening simultaneously. prof Cedonia is coming around with the tourney schedule, which will be given to each captain. Please pay attention and know when you are to duel. Everyone will duel twice. professor Cedonia and I will each preside over a dueling traffic circle and will declare the winner. The first person to disarm their opponent will be given a gunpoint. Remember, you are only allowed to use trance you have learned in your classes. The first duels will start momentarily."

Professor Cedonia handed Albus a objet d'art of lambskin and he set it down while his team crowded around him."I think it 'll be easygoing for me to let you know when you 're to duel. I 'll tell you two duel before you 're scheduled. Alice and Tucker, you 're first."

Albus glanced down the list and noticed that he was the tenth affaire d'honneur in Neville 's ring and the seventeenth in Cedonia 's. That would feed him plenty of prison term to get used to organizing his team. It was slightly overwhelming, having to constantly be paying attention to the list and figuring out when everyone should be dueling. After a few affaire d'honneur, he managed to get the hang of it.

"Malfoy,"Albus said."You 're up in two duels, in Cedonia 's ring."

Malfoy nodded, but did n't say anything. He had not said a Logos the entire tournament, which was very uncharacteristic, and the ease of the team seemed to be set on ignoring him.

Albus handed the tilt to Amanda and headed to Neville 's dueling hoop, where he was set to duel John Lackland. Two Hufflepuffs from other squad were currently battling it out and Albus was next. The shorter of the two Hufflepuffs finally managed to demilitarize his opponent.

"spot to Team Four !"Neville shouted as the two Hufflepuffs left."Albus potter versus John Brickston."

Albus and John gave each other apologetic smiles before bowing and raising their wands, waiting for Neville 's okay.

"Ready, affaire d'honneur !"Neville shouted.

Albus immediately sent a leg-locker jinx at John, who easily deflected it. John sent the same at Albus who also avoided it. Albus continued sending piece at John, who kept avoiding them, until he finally got hit with a Jelly-legs Curse and nearly lost his footing. In the clock time it took him to perform the counter-curse, Albus was capable to hit him with Petrificus Totalus.

"Expelliarmus !"Albus shouted as John fell over. He caught Gospel According to John 's verge in his right hired hand and then turned to Neville, who was smiling.

"point to Team Seven !"

Neville performed the counter-curse on John and the two boys left the ring. Albus headed back to his mesa, where Malfoy was just heading to Cedonia 's dueling mob.

Malfoy dueled a second year and won within two minutes. He was smirking as he walked back to the Hufflepuff table, but he returned to mediocre applause. It seemed that the rest of the team was still acrid about Thursday 's practice.

The residual of the tourney went well. Both Albus and Malfoy won their bit affaire d'honneur, although Malfoy had a lot More difficulty since he dueled a fellow fourth part class.

"tending, I 'd care to announce the winner !"Neville shouted a short while after the final exam duel. The entire room immediately quieted and looked up at Neville."Thank you. In third berth with 44 points is Team Four !"

Cheers erupted from the Ravenclaw table, where squad quaternary was currently seated. Once they quieted down, Neville spoke."In second place with 52 points is team seven-spot !"

The rest of Albus 's team began to outcry and inspire, but Albus was too stunned to do much of anything. He could n't conceive it ! His foremost ever tournament as police captain and his squad had gotten endorse place ! A few people slapped him on the back and he broke out into a smile.

"And in first seat, with 55 points is squad Six !"Neville announced.

There were cheerfulness from the other end of the Hufflepuff mesa, but Albus ignored them. He was still shocked that his own team had done so well.

"Great job, everyone !"he said once he regained his composure."I knew we could do it !"

The tabular array was filled with fervor and chatter and it continued even after they got up and began to pull up stakes the room. Albus was anxious to get back to Gryffindor tower where he could keep his go up win with his friends.

"Nice going, Potter,"Malfoy spat as soon as they left the Great Hall."I bet if I were the headwaiter we would 've won."

"We got 2d,"Albus replied."That 's really good."

"first would 've been better,"Malfoy muttered."I 'm amazed we even got arcsecond considering how awful you are at practices."

"punter than you,"Albus said."No one liked your practice on Th. Did you detect how no one talked to you today ? They hated it."

"They 're just too used to you coddling them,"Malfoy said, taking a step closer to Albus.

"fountainhead it does n't a lot matter because I 'm the chieftain and you 're not,"Albus said as he toyed with his sceptre, which he was still brandishing in his get out hand.

"For now,"Malfoy replied, eyeing Albus 's verge."If you keep getting in problem I bet they 'll replace you."

"C'mon, Albus."matt had appeared next to Albus."Let 's get back to the rough-cut room."

"better hear to him."Malfoy gave a inadequate laugh."You 'd reckon it 'd the early way around, though. Him attacking me rather than you. But I suppose that would only be in a sealed time of-"Malfoy glared knowingly at Matt.

"Shut up ! And ask that back,"Albus seethed, raising his wand.

"Seriously, Albus, let 's go !"Matt grabbed the back of Albus 's robes and pulled him towards the staircase.

"Evil git,"Albus muttered, looking back at the bunch in the Entrance Asaph Hall. Malfoy was already gone."Why does he always have to bring it up like that ?"

"It does n't count,"Matt said.

"Of course it matters !"Albus said indignantly."It 's diss !"

"I 'm used to it,"flatness said quietly.

"So what ?"Albus exclaimed."That does n't think you should suffer to expend the rest of Hogwarts having him bring it up every day."

"And you hexing him would have solved everything ?"Matt asked."You just would 've gotten another detention."

"Would 've been worth it,"Albus muttered.

"No, it would n't let,"matte argued."You 've just got to ignore him. I ignore him."

"I really hope that following year he 's not on my dueling team,"Albus said.

"I do n't think he will. Did n't they go back to House squad for dueling for twenty percent through seventh days this class ?"Matt asked.

"Did they ?"Albus asked.

"That 's what one of the sixth years said,"Matt answered.

"commodity,"Albus said."Then I just have to get through this year."

Albus and matt were the last of their booster to get back to Gryffindor, where it appeared that no one was doing prep. Epistle of James had set a few fireworks off out the window and everyone was watching them while eating platters upon platters of cookie.

"What are you lot celebrating ?"Albus asked James as he took a biscuit.

James IV shrugged."Just the fact that we 've got a Saturday with zippo to do. wellspring, Cedric, Ben, Nathan, and I that is."

"Where have you two been ?"rose asked as she walked up to Albus and mat. King John and Kaden were behind her, a biscuit in each bridge player.

"Al nearly got into a duel with Malfoy in the Entrance lobby,"Matt explained.

"Albus !"Amanda exclaimed."You ca n't get anymore detention !"

"I know, but he said something really wretched,"Albus said and turned to John."You would 've hexed him."

"What did he say ?"Rose asked.

"He said that he was storm I was n't attacking him,"Matt said quietly.

"You 're right,"John growled."I would 've hexed him."

"See ?"Albus said.

"And I told you that it was n't worth detention over,"Matt repeated.

"But if it continues,"pink wine said,"you 've got to narrate Kendrick."

"I 'm not telling Kendrick,"lusterlessness insisted."I think he 's got enough to worry about with the possible action of the entire school day getting changed if Laurentis wins this election."
***


"Why in the name of Merlin are we doing detention in the forest ?"Kaden asked at breakfast the fall out cockcrow.

"Seriously,"John agreed."That 's not really detention, is it ? The forest is cool. I 've always wanted to go in there."

"Are you two insane ?"Amanda asked."There 's all sorting of tool in there."

"My baby did detention in the forest once,"matte said."She had to harvest these industrial plant Slughorn needed and they could only be harvested the night of the full moon."

"fountainhead that 's one detention you 'll never induce to do."John laughed.

"Maybe we have to harvest some other kind of plant ?"matte suggested, ignoring John 's remark.

"Dunno."Albus shrugged. The letter they 'd received had not gone into specific. It just stated that they were to touch Hagrid near his hut at three that afternoon.

"At to the lowest degree you 're not going at night,"rosiness pointed out.

The few hours Albus and his Quaker had until detention went by rather quickly. They spent the 60 minutes in the common elbow room alternating doing homework while participating in very tumid bout of Exploding Snap with nearly all of Albus and Rose 's cousins. Everyone was covered in ash by the time three o'clock rolled around and the boys had to run up to their student residence to wash their faces before heading down to Hagrid 's hut.

Albus liked Hagrid. He had known the half-giant since he was little and was slightly confused as to how detention with Hagrid could possibly be considered hold. Perhaps professor Kendrick was unaware that Albus and his friends visited Hagrid every so often and savor spending time with him.

Hagrid was already outside when Albus and the other three boys arrived, armed with his crossbow and Fang by his side. Albus swallowed hard upon seeing the crossbow. Did Hagrid really think they would need that ?

"'Ello, boys !"Hagrid greeted them."Fairly simple detention today. We 'll be collectin'unicorn bum hairs."

"Like getting them from unicorns ?"Kaden asked."I thought they did n't like boys."

Hagrid gave a booming laugh."No, no, Kaden. It 'd be a crime to charter 'em right from the unicorn, wouldn'it. No, we 'll be gettin''em from crotch hair and tree. As the unicorns run past they get snagged. Let 's get goin'."

fang let out a tacky barque as they made their way to the timberland. Collecting unicorn hair. That was n't bad at all. But still, it was the forest and that was where Washburn and Willinson had spent a lot of their time the premature year. They would n't be back there, would they ? Obviously Washburn and Quinton Willinson were in Azkaban, but what about Quinton 's male parent ? Where was he ?

"What do we need unicorn haircloth for ?"John asked as they entered the forest."No one here makes wands."

"Used for a lot more'n wands, aren'they,"Hagrid answered."Potions, mostly. Tha 's what we need 'em for. Seventh class are brewing somethin'that needs unicorn hair so prof Kendrick volunteered you four to collect 'em. Slughorn 's too old to do it himself."

"That 's for certain,"John muttered to Albus.

It was very dark in the forest, despite the fact that it was day. All four boys lit their verge and Hagrid 's pink umbrella was providing to a greater extent dismount than two wands combined. Hagrid had told them that they would n't find any hair until they were at to the lowest degree fifteen minutes into the forest since unicorns rarely ventured near the edge.

The forest was very dense and it was difficult for them to walk next to each early. Soon, they were forced to walk single Indian file through a very small path that was riddled with tree limb and rocks. Albus stumbled every so often and mat managed to go down over three prison term before anyone found any unicorn fundament whisker. Galloping hooves could be heard in the distance and Albus figured they were centaurs. His dad had told him that there was a herd of centaurs in the woodland, although Albus had never seen one before.

"Here we are,"Hagrid said after what had been at least a xx minute walk. He gestured to a nearby shrub."Jus'have a feel around here and I 'm sure enough we 'll bump plenty. This is a known orbit where unicorns live. Don'wander too far."

Hagrid had provided them all with buckets in which to collect the hair. Albus set off for the nearest bush and found a few hairs snagged in the branches.

"Last custody,"John said as he worked alongside Albus."Thank Merlin."

"Speak for yourself,"matte called out from a tree a few metre away.

"Do you lie with what you have to do for your side by side ones ?"Albus asked.

"Lines, all three nights,"matt said."Easier, I suppose, than coming up with anything else when it 's just me."

"wagerer than cleaning privy again. Or digging up dragon droppings,"Kaden said."Whoa, I just found a entirely thud of hair."

After they 'd been working for a half hour Hagrid decided that they 'd collected enough. They set off re-tracing their stair through the forest. Albus found it a little less shuddery on the walk back and he was n't indisputable whether it was because he had gotten used to the stochasticity or because he could see the sun at the edge. He was very eased to line up that he did not see Jarrett Willinson anywhere in the timberland, although now that the hold was passed he realized that Willinson would n't go back there now that the Resurrection Stone was no longer there. No, Willinson was most probably still in Commonwealth of Australia, where no one was looking for him. At least, Albus hoped he was.


Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed ! You guys are awesome ! Sorry for the want of updates lately. NaNo gave way to a frantic finish of all the papers I 'd neglected during Nov. But I won NaNo and classes are over so I 'm hoping to get a serious bit of writing done within the next month.


The cobbler's last few week of November provided the Hogwarts students and staff with a much needed period of time of calm. The next election debate would not rent space until December and the the security review at Hogwarts matter seemed to have died out, with the Daily prophet no longer publishing article on it. Both Quidditch and dueling tournaments were over for the term, leaving the bookman with a bit Sir Thomas More fourth dimension to devote to their studies. The next Hogsmeade visit was scheduled for the second Saturday in December, a workweek before term ended.

Albus enjoyed the sameness of those few week. His days were filled with homework, Quidditch praxis, and dueling exercise. Team Seven was very happy to have Albus back as their captain and most continued to discount Malfoy during practice. Malfoy still reserved a special glare of hatred for Albus and his protagonist, but he did not essay to start anymore affaire d'honneur in the corridor, like he had after the dueling tournament.

Dec arrived with a snow violent storm that caused the Ravenclaw Quidditch squad to strike down two of their practice. This gave Fred the opportunity to book the sales pitch for two spare recitation, something that earned him a healthy dose of U-No-Poo in his morning autumn pumpkin juice courtesy of James and Bradley. Albus was well-chosen to see that the job of school prankster had been rightfully returned to James and his champion. The hebdomad of detentions had certainly dissuaded Albus from planning anymore antic. The Lapplander could not be said for John and Kaden, who were plotting something, although Albus did not experience what.

Albus, mat, and Amanda spent the first Sat of December ignoring their homework in the Marauder 's Den. The Slytherin team had the pitch for the intact day, which gave Albus a much needed break from Quidditch. bathroom and Kaden 's location would probably only be found with the predator 's Map and blush wine was tutoring in the library.

There was a meretricious squawk from outside the elbow room, which was blush wine 's signal that she was outside and wished to be let in. Albus got up from his plot of Gobstones and let her in. She dropped her bag unceremoniously on the floor and flopped down on the couch.

"I 'm interest about Elsie,"Rose said.

"Elsie ..."Albus prompted.

"Elsie Willinson !"she exclaimed."The first twelvemonth I 've been tutoring all year."

"Oh yeah, the one with the idiot for a blood brother and a cousin and uncle who want to bring back Voldemort. Yeah, I 'd be worried, too,"Albus said as he returned to his secret plan.

"No, I 'm not worried about her stupid brother. I 'm distressed about her."

"What, is she still failing all her field of study ?"matte asked.

"No, she 's actually doing much unspoilt,"Rose said."She 's just very quiet. She never talks about anything other than homework-"

"sound like you."Albus turned around and grinned at his first cousin."Although you 're not quiet."

"I 'm serious, Albus,"rosiness said flatly."Her brother walks her to the library for our sessions and then picks her up when we 're done. I never see her with anyone other than him and occasionally Malfoy. I 've never seen her eat with anyone former than them, either."

"That is variety of strange,"Amanda said.

"See ?"Rose said."Amanda thinks it 's weird."

"So she 's shy."Albus shrugged."I just do n't see what it 's got to do with you."

"It does n't really,"pink wine said quietly."But if she 's having issues. We all know about her family. If her brother 's keeping an eye on her there must be a reason."

Albus had n't thought about it that way. What if Felix Willinson was trying to keep an eye on his sister ?"If she 's doing something her mob does n't like I bet she 's going against something they want."

"That 's what I thought,"pink wine agreed."Which means she 's trying to do something serious. Or he 's trying to make for sure she does n't spill family secrets."

"You think they have Thomas More crime syndicate arcanum than just wanting Voldemort back ?"matte asked.

"Of course of instruction they do,"Rose said."We only found out endure year that they were related by marriage to Lubar. I mean, you never would 've guessed that in firstly or second base year."

matt shuddered."Probably a practiced thing that I did n't. I probably would take in refused to total to Hogwarts."

"to the highest degree pure-blooded mob like them have dark closed book,"Albus said as he fiddled with a Gobstone. It squirted him in the face and he rubbed the liquidity on his robe."The ones that want the stock to persist pure and stuff. Like the Malfoys."

"And I 'd bet my last Galleon that Elsie Willinson found out one of those secrets and wants to narrate soul,"Rose stated.

"You think it 's got to do with what they 're trying to do ?"Albus asked.

"I 'm certainly it does."

"The sole trouble for them is that Jarrett 's on his own now,"Amanda said."With the other two in jailhouse, what 's he going to do ?"

"You 're forgetting about Lubar,"Matt said darkly.

rose wine got up and started walking around the elbow room."To be reliable, I do n't get it on how much he 's going to be involved, especially if this going to take blank space in Britain. Think about it, last twelvemonth he had the excuse of the tournament to be here. He 's got no excuse this yr. He 's a Ministry official. A horrid one, but still a Ministry official. It 's not in his best interest to be trying to bring back Voldemort."

"That did n't even bring,"Albus cut in."They ca n't bring him back, even a ghostwriter of him, with the resurrection Stone."

"Jarret Willinson was a Ministry functionary,"Matt pointed out.

"He was a secretary for the Obliviator business office. That 's a little dissimilar from a Head berth,"rosebush explained."Lubar has more to lose."

"I say we try and figure out what Elsie 's keeping secret and I bet it 'll take something to do with what Willinson is planning now. Because I guarantee he 's planning something,"Albus decided.

"How are we going to do that ?"Amanda asked."She 's always with Felix."

"Not when Rose is tutoring her."Albus turned to Rose."You think you could try and get her to open up up ?"

"Well she 's not going to just come out and separate me. I can try, but it 'll take a while,"blush wine said.
***


Albus told bathroom and Kaden about the conversation about Elsie later that night. John the Evangelist proclaimed that he knew something had been eldritch about that girlfriend from the moment they had seen her at the origin of the twelvemonth. Both male child agreed that they needed to find out what it was she was keeping private. Albus then asked them what prank they were planning, but John and Kaden mysteriously went quiet as soon as Albus brought the topic up.

Albus laid awake that nighttime for a hanker time thinking about Elsie Willinson. He could not shake the image of her with Felix and Malfoy in the outset of the year from his psyche. She had looked so faint-hearted and innocuous, far too innocuous and young to be involved with anything like what her menage was involved with. In fact, she reminded him a bit of Lily, although he was n't sure why since Lily was anything but timid.

break of day arrived shortly after Albus had fallen asleep and despite the fact that he 'd only begin a few hours sleep, he got up around six and decided to get a bit of reading done in the uncouth room. He knew he would n't be capable to fall down back asleep.

Upon arriving in the common room, Albus thought he was still dreaming. He rubbed his heart and pinched himself to try and wake up up, but it was no use. He was in fact awake. The range before his eyes was real, and it was painful to depend at.

The Gryffindor common room was no longer red and atomic number 79. It was now decked out in leafy vegetable and silver grey. The comfy couches and chairwoman were gone and had been replaced instead with standard classroom chairs. Various streamer were hung up in the elbow room that depicted Snake. In fact, the Gryffindor green room now looked exactly as Albus imagined the Slytherin commons room to see, except for it not being under the lake.

However, the sheer Slytherin-ness of the vernacular elbow room was not the weirdest variety, by a long shot. The unknown new plus to the Gryffindor commons room was a Zane Grey and white goat. It was standing in the middle of the way, its brain down and buried in a leger. The thing about Capricorn, though, was that they did not relish books the way masses did. Goats ate Good Book. This goat was currently munching on The Standard record book of magical spell : Grade Two. Albus 's eyes drifted from the butt and around the elbow room again, where he now noticed remnant of other books, quills, homework, and even a cloak.

The goat looked up and stared at Albus. It let out a bleat and then went back to the book. Albus crept a lilliputian stuffy and noticed that a mark was affixed to the goat. It said 'The Gryffindor Capricorn : Gryffindor 's new mascot. Gifted by the Slytherins. Next time, cerebrate twice about putting wimp in our common way .'

Albus stood in the eye of the room, his stare alternating from the stooge to the note of hand and back again. A goat ? That did n't even make any good sense. Not only that, they were clearly trying to copy bathroom and Kaden 's prank. And changing the way into a Slytherin room ? It was horrifying, absolutely horrifying.

Albus tore his eyes away from the Goat and ran back up the helix staircase until he got to his own dormitory. He flicked on the visible radiation and Ethan, the short sleeper of the bunch, rolled over and groaned.

"Everyone get up !"Albus shouted."Up, get up !"

"What ?"Ethan asked shortly."It 's like six in the morning !"

"I know it 's six in the morn !"Albus replied."Get up and go down to the common way. Now."

Ethan slowly got out of bed and went over to Bilius 's bed to get him up. Albus woke John up and then the two of them woke matte up while Bilius and Ethan went down to the vernacular room. Their vociferation of anger could be heard all the way in the dormitory.

"What is it ?"John asked as he and mat followed Albus back down the stairs.

"The Slytherins have had their revenge,"Albus said, handing trick the note.

Albus took a detour to the third year 's dormitory to get Kaden up. Kaden 's roommates got up as well and soon there was a large crowd in the vernacular way. By the clock time Albus entered the elbow room again, the first of all, instant, and sixth years were all there. The seventh and fifth geezerhood were right behind him.

The common room was in topsy-turvydom. James, Cedric, and Nathan were inspecting the Capricorn. The prefects were all congregated in one touch, clearly trying to cipher out what to do. A one-quarter of the bookman were standing flash-frozen, with looks of revulsion on their faces. Another fourth were laughing, despite the fact that the japery had happened in Gryffindor. Victor Hugo was wrestling the goat for the copy of the touchstone account book of Spells : gradation Two, which evidently was his.

The girls'dormitory door opened and all the Gryffindor girls flooded out of it. rose wine and Amanda made their way over to Albus and the rest of the boys, who were receiving numerous stares and glower from their confrere student. Clearly a few of them were blaming Albus and his ally for the Slytherins'want for revenge.

"What in the name of Merlin happened ?"rose wine asked.

John handed her the promissory note."The Slytherins have had their revenge."

"Malfoy ?"Amanda asked.

"No way to know, is there ?"Albus replied.

"It 's got to be, though,"King John said."No one else hates us like he does."

"I bet a lot of Slytherins wanted retaliation,"rosiness said.

"All right, quiet everyone !"Albus 's full cousin, cross, shouted over the crowd. He was one of the sixth twelvemonth Prefects."You 're all to get back up to your dormitories. I 'm going to fetch professor Longbottom. Who 's the one who first saw this ?"

"I did,"Albus announced.

sign sighed, as if thought he should have known."Al, ride out down here. The rest of you, back upstairs.

Rose handed Albus the bank bill back and she and the rest of Albus 's friends turned to go back to their dormitories. There was a general muttering and susurration as everyone left. Soon, the common room was vacate except for Albus, the goat, and the six Prefects. Mark left in order to go get prof Longbottom.

The Prefects whispered amongst themselves while Mark was gone. Albus stood off to the side, as he did not sleep with the Prefects very well. He recognized a few as acquaintance of his cousin.

Mark returned ten bit later with Professor Longbottom in tow. The herbology prof froze in mid-step when he entered the room. His gaze shifted from the new article of furniture to the caprine animal to the streamer and back to the goat.

"Albus discovered it,"Mark said.

Longbottom turned to Albus."And it looked like this when you found it ?"

"Mostly,"Albus answered."The Capricorn had been chewing on one of Hugo 's books so he took that. And individual 's cloak had been here, but it was a Gryffindor cloak."

Longbottom sighed."All right, Albus, you can go back up to your dormitory."He turned to the Prefects."Let 's go through all this and see if we can encounter any clues to figure out who it was."

Albus reluctantly went back up to his dormitory, where he found not only all of his roommates but Kaden as well, discussing the antic. They all turned to Albus when he entered.

"Find anything out ?"John asked.

"Nope,"Albus answered."The Prefects are helping Professor Longbottom go through everything for clues."

The boy whiled away the time until breakfast by trading Chocolate Frog cards, playing circle of Exploding gingersnap, and discussing the Quidditch time of year. Matt fell back asleep after defending the carom to everyone else, but no one else was able to go back to bed.

print knocked on their door a few hours later and told them they were justify to get up and go to breakfast. Albus woke Matt up and the boy went back down to the common room. It looked normal once Sir Thomas More. All end of the Slytherins were gone and the goat was nowhere in tidy sum. The classroom chair had disappeared and the regular comfy couch were back. Albus was relieved to see their common way back to its usual province, although that did nothing to satisfy his curiosity about who had done it.

"wonderment what they did with the goat,"Kaden said as they walked down tot he Great Hall.

"Probably gave it to Aberforth,"Matt said.

"Aberforth ?"Kaden asked.

"Dumbledore 's brother. He owns the Hog 's Head in Hogsmeade. keep goats in his pub. Weird bloke,"Matt answered.

"He keeps caprine animal ? In his pub ?"Kaden repeated."Do they just wander around ?"

"Yeah,"mat said.

The Great student residence was populated only by Gryffindor bookman, which did not surprise Albus in the flimsy given the early hour and the fact that it was Sunday. The professors were all up having breakfast and were whispering amongst themselves. No dubiety that Longbottom had told them about the trick. Slughorn in particular looked unnerved.

Rose convinced the quietus of the group that it would be a good idea to head to the library after breakfast to take advantage of the fact that it would be empty. Albus had a few essays that he 'd neglected and trick and Kaden needed to make up some new anticipation for Trelawney.

After a few hours of studying Albus felt his aid jump to cuckold. The library had filled up since they had arrived and Madam Pince was watching over the office like a hawk. The room access opened and Albus was surprised to see Elsie Willinson manner of walking in, followed by her chum and Scorpio. Scorpius 's heart met Albus 's and he veered from his little group in monastic order to waltz over to Albus.

"How 's your mutual room ?"he asked with a smirk.

"Is that a confession ?"Albus replied as he stood up.

"Of course not. It 's all over the shoal. Everyone knows that your common elbow room looked like an wing of mine this morning. And that Goat, I heard it ate a few books. Serves you right after what you lot did to ours,"Malfoy said.

"We know you did it, Malfoy,"John said."Just waiting for the prof to prove it."

"If I did do it, and I 'm not saying I did, I would n't have left any evidence like you idiots obviously did."

"We did n't,"John said flatly."Albus confessed to keep his cousin-german and Brother who had been wrongly accused."

"How noble."Malfoy laughed.

"Just tell apart me one thing,"Albus said."How did you get into the common room ?"That was what had been bothering Albus the most. He and his friends had used the Invisibility Cloak to figure out the Slytherin watchword, but how had Malfoy done it ? As far as he knew he did not have an invisibility Cloak.

"I did n't,"Malfoy said."And if I did I would n't evidence you how I did it."With one Thomas More blaze at Albus, the Slytherin walked away towards the table that Felix and Elsie had found.

"How did he get into our vernacular room ?"Albus asked as he sat back down.

"No idea,"Matt said.

"I 'm betting he threatened a number one year into telling him what it was,"John said."Would n't put it past him."

"You do n't love it was him,"Amanda pointed out.

"They 're never going to ascertain out who it was, either,"rose wine said."Not unless they confess like you did. Otherwise no one would 've found out it was you."

"Guess it does n't really matter at this point."Albus sighed."They 've had their revenge."

"Which means it 's time for ours,"Kaden said as he grinned at John.

Rose groaned."Really ? It 's just going to turn into a vast clowning war if you have revenge."

"That 's the gunpoint,"whoremonger replied.

If John and Kaden were trying to begin a prank war Albus did n't want any part of it. He had had enough detainment for a lifetime and did not desire spending anymore of his Hogwarts career scrubbing bathrooms or doing blood. Albus sighed and returned to his Reading. John the Divine and Kaden got up and left the program library, presumably to work on their adjacent prank.

Later that day at dinner prof Kendrick gave a very stern public lecture to the entire shoal about breaking ruler, especially the rule about not entering common rooms that were not yours. It was very standardised to the lecture he gave after the chicken prank, except this time Albus could tell that the headmaster was even More angry. Albus kept glancing at Malfoy during the manner of speaking but the Slytherin boy did not seem guilty at all. In fact he seemed disinterested in Kendrick 's speech.

The public lecture of Gryffindor 's Goat ( as the buffoonery had now been dubbed ) died down by the heart of the calendar week. near of the rook was excited about the approaching Hogsmeade misstep and then the winter vacation. prof Longbottom sent around a sign-up weather sheet for those students who wished to stay menage during the holiday, although none of Albus 's supporter signed it.

"I 've always wondered what it would be like to stay put,"whoremaster said as prof Longbottom passed by.

"Me too,"Albus agreed."But my parents already said I ca n't this year since there 's some big Ministry Noel party we 've got to go to. For the election and all."

"Lapp here,"lustrelessness said."We 're not even going to Australia because of it."

"Wow, that 's the endorsement year in a row,"Albus replied.

matt nodded."My grandparents are coming here and then we 're visiting them over the summer."

"I think we should all stay next class,"Kaden said."Then I can go a whole school year without seeing my grandparents. Or Aunt Marge."

Albus agreed that that was a goodness ground to stay at Hogwarts over the holiday."Yeah, that would be fun. My dad says the castle 's great at Christmas."

"It would be concern to see what Yuletide is like,"Amanda said. Amanda 's crime syndicate was Jewish and historied Channukah.

"You 're receive to arrive to our grandparents'star sign for Christmas this year,"rosebush suggested.

Amanda grinned."I 'll ask my parents. I 'm sure they 'll say yes since Channukkah was early this yr and I 've already missed it anyway."

"rosiness, you 've got post,"Albus said, gesturing to Rose 's family 's owl, which had just landed on the table.

"Oh, dear !"blush wine said as she ripped open the letter. She scanned it for a moment before smiling widely."I wo n't be going to Hogsmeade with you."

"You wo n't be ?"Albus gave her a quizzical look.

"No. Mum and Dad are taking me to the debate that 's that day. I owled them a few days ago to see if I could go and they said yes !"

"You want to go to another one ?"lavatory asked.

"I 'd go to all of them if I could. They 're just so fascinating."She scanned the letter again."I 'm supposed to to to Kendrick 's study at ten on Sabbatum to floo home."

"What 's this one on ?"Albus asked.

"Law enforcement. The Auror Department. How it 's run and and how trials are run. I think it 's going to be the most worry one since both Uncle Percy and Laurentis have already hinted at their views on that topic."

That was for sure. This debate would probably be even more volatile than the one on teaching."You 'll deliver to let us know all the details,"Albus said.

"Oh I will,"Rose replied."It 's why I wanted to go. I 'd rather not pick up everything instant helping hand from the Prophet."

She had a point there, Albus thought. Although he was glad that Rose was the one going and not him. As practically as he thought the election was interesting, he 'd rather be in Hogsmeade with his Friend than sitting in a court listening to political leader all day.


A/N : Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed this so far ! I 'm almost done with school ( forever ! ) so I 'm hoping to update more often.


The week leading up to the Hogsmeade trip dragged by very slowly. Albus was certain that Wednesday in particular was at least twice as long as a normal day and by the time Friday finally decided to make an appearance Albus was for sure he would go insane from all the preparation he had to complete. Tuesday had been the full moon, but luckily Matt left the infirmary wing Thursday good afternoon and had been cleared by Madam Pomfrey to go to Hogsmeade.

When Saturday arrived there was a receive time out in the rash that had blanketed the Hogwarts yard in two feet of coke. Albus and his friends slept late and by the metre they woke up Rose had already left to go to that day 's debate. Albus, Matt, and John quickly dressed and met Kaden and Amanda in the commons room.

Fred accosted Albus as he was about to leave."Albus ! gladiola I found you. I booked the pitch for today at three since there 's a break in the storm."

"But Fred, it 's Hogsmeade today,"Albus pointed out. As much as he loved Quidditch, Hogsmeade trips were rare occasions and he had Christmas shopping to do.

"Exactly !"Fred exclaimed."So none of the other squad have booked the sales pitch. It 's booked substantial the rest period of the week and we need another practice in before break starts."

Albus sighed. Fred was compensate, of course. He glanced at his watch. It was noon, so if they hurried through dejeuner he would still cause a dependable two hr in the Village."All right. I 'll see you at three."

"Excellent,"Fred said."Just accept to find James ...."

Amanda snorted and started laughing. Fred, who had turned to leave, stopped and looked back at her."What ?"

Albus, John, lustrelessness, and Kaden also looked questioningly at Amanda.

"Oh, I guess I forgot to tell you,"Amanda began."pink wine and I were in the library endure calendar week and overheard James II asking some Hufflepuff one-fifth twelvemonth out. They 're going to Hogsmeade together today."

Fred burst out laughing."delay, James has a escort ?"

"James I asked a girl out in the library ?"Albus joined Fred in his laughter.

"Do n't tell him that rose wine and I overheard him,"Amanda said."He 'd mutilate us if he knew it was us who told."

"Bet he 's already in Hogsmeade, then,"Fred said, still laughing."They amend not be in lady Puddifoot 's because I do n't fancy going in there to differentiate him about practice."

Albus was still laughing about the idea of St. James asking a lady friend out in the subroutine library of all billet. He wondered who the Hufflepuff was. Maybe he 'd cope to view a glimpse of them in Hogsmeade together.

"He 's not actually going to leave her to go to Quidditch practice,"Amanda shouted after Fred as he left the common room.

"He will if the escort 's going poorly,"Fred shouted back and disappeared into the corridor.

"Well let 's hurry up and get to Hogsmeade,"Albus said."I want to see if I can figure out who this girl is."

Albus hurried out of the usual elbow room followed by his supporter. They ate a very rushed tiffin in the Great Hall and then ran outside and down the way of life to Hogsmeade. As they neared the village Albus kept his center peeled for his Brother.

"Where to first ?"mat asked.

"Weasleys',"John and Kaden said together.

Albus and Matt shared a glance. They should let known. They followed John and Kaden as the two pixilated boys led the way to Weasleys'star Wheezes.

The shop was packed to capacity as it always was on Hogsmeade weekends. Albus waved to his Uncle George III who was behind the buffet ringing people up as fast as the public treasury would let him. Teddy was working that weekend and was restocking a shelf of Skiving Snackboxes. lav and Kaden each grabbed two as the male child passed.

Albus grabbed a few Extendable Ears as his seemed to have disappeared and a box of Deluxe Whizbangs for James for Christmas. He joined the long waiting line at the till and was joined by John and Kaden who each had arms overflowing with products. mat and Amanda were n't buying anything and were playing with a few pigmy Puffs that were in a cage in the front of the memory board.

"Neither of you have seen James, have you ?"Albus asked.

"Nope,"privy said."Bet they 're at the ternary Broomsticks."

"Or that place that Fred mentioned. dame whatever ?"Kaden put in.

"Madam Puddifoot 's,"Albus said."Horrifying place. Covered in frilled things, and pink stuff."

"Let 's not go there,"Kaden said.

Albus and John both agreed. They would look for James, just not at gentlewoman Puddifoot 's. The queue moved relatively quickly and soon Albus, John the Divine, and Kaden had their supplying.

The side by side stop was Honeyduke 's where everyone stocked up on candy and Albus bought a Christmas present for Lily. Then they made their way to the Quaffle Shop and then the Three Broomsticks. Albus had yet to see St. James the Apostle, but his prison term was quickly running out. He had a half hour before he had to head back to the castling for Quidditch practice.

King John went to the bar to get five Butterbeers while the rest of the radical found a table. Luckily Scorpius Malfoy was nowhere in sight. Albus gazed around the bar until he spotted his brother 's familiar red hair. Unfortunately the girl he was with was facing away from Albus 's table so all he knew was that she had very long, very straight brown haircloth.

"There they are,"Albus whispered to matt, Kaden, and Amanda."Any of you know who the girl is ?"

"That 's Gabby Ellis,"John said as he returned with the Butterbeers."My cousin knows her. She 's one of the fifth part twelvemonth prefects."

"Wait, so James River not only asked her out in the library, but she 's also a prefect ?"Albus exclaimed.

"Guess so."John the Divine shrugged."I 'll never ask out a prefect. Now he 's going to have to watch his step."

"You realize that there 's a beneficial prospect one of us might be a prefect adjacent class,"Amanda pointed out.

"Nah, they 'll pluck Bilius or Ethan,"John said."They 'd never pick me, Al, or matt after that prank."

"wellspring Rose is obviously going to be a prefect,"Amanda said.

"We 'll just induce to sneak around more next year,"John said."Ca n't sustain a prefect knowing about our pranks."

"Dervish and Banges is still unoccupied,"matte said, changing the subject."Do n't you think that 's kind of odd ?"

Albus had n't really thought about it."Yeah, but no one 's going to need to buy a shop class where someone was murdered."

"Still, it 's just foreign,"matt said as he sipped his Butterbeer.

"individual might still own it,"Amanda pointed out."They might not desire to do anything with it or trade it."

"shot that 's a unspoiled point,"Matt said.

"Look, James and the girl are getting up,"Kaden said.

Albus turned and saw that James was indeed rising from his chair. Gabby did as well and the two of them walked side by incline out of the pub. Gabby was pretty, Albus had to include. Her eyes were brilliantly and her brass were pinkish. James was grinning. Neither of them noticed Albus or the others on their way out the door.

"Think he 'll show to Quidditch pattern ?"John asked.

"If he values his biography,"Albus replied."speechmaking of that, I should probably get going."

Albus said goodbye to his friends and headed back out into the low temperature. The sun was out and there was no wind, but it was still bitingly cold. He trudged his way through the snow and back up to the castling, where he ran up to Gryffindor tower to spend off his purchases and change into his Quidditch robes.

The rest of the team was already on the pitch when Albus arrived. Fred was arguing with Henry James about something while the rest of the team stood off to the side.

"She 's not even on their team !"James shouted."She 's not going to steal any of our plays."

"But she 's still a Hufflepuff and this is a close up practice !"Fred argued.

Albus glanced over to the stands and saw Gabby sitting there, wrapped in a very large Hufflepuff cover. She smiled and waved at Albus, who gave a slight wave back.

"I could n't just go away her. I promised we 'd spend the day together."

"And she wants to watch you trifle Quidditch ?"Fred asked."mulct, fine. She can stay. Let 's just get going. We 're wasting time."

Fred and St. James the Apostle joined the rest of the chemical group."All right !"Fred shouted."Let 's fly around the tar a few meter to get warmed up."

Albus mounted his heather and soared into the air. He joined the rest of the squad in their flight around the pitch and lost himself in flying. It was dainty to just fly and blank out about everything else that was on his judgement.

The practice went incredibly well. It was their best pattern in weeks since the weather was cooperating. The Gryffindor team did not experience any publication with performing, but the conditions was usually horrendous whenever they practiced. Fred insisted this was a in force thing since it would help oneself them con how to fiddle in matches with bad conditions but no one else agreed. Albus was very glad to receive a practice session where the conditions were ideal. It made Quidditch so much more enjoyable.

James and Gabby hurried off as soon as practice ended and the rest of the squad walked back to the castle together. They were nearly back to Gryffindor tug when pink wine, matt, St. John, Kaden, and Amanda came running towards Albus, all five looking slightly terrified.

"What 's wrong ?"Fred asked.

"It 's nothing,"rose wine said."We just need to talk to Albus."

"meet us in the room after you stash your broom,"Matt whispered and the five of them hurried off.

Albus hurried into the common way and up to his dormitory. He had absolutely no idea what was going on, but it must have just had to do with his friends because everyone else in the vulgar room was acting normally. Albus quickly put his Scots heather away and ran back out to the corridor.

It did n't aim him long to reach the Marauder 's Den. All his friend were sitting quietly and looked up at him when he entered.

"What in the name of Merlin is going on ?"Albus asked.

"Two things,"rosebush began."One, the debate. It was ... well ... insane is the just tidings to key it, really. And two, I 'll let everyone else explain that first."

"Malfoy was lurking near the screeching Shack,"lustrelessness said."After you went to Quidditch practice we walked around the hamlet and noticed him. It looked like he was trying to get in."

"Did he ?"Albus asked.

"No, he ca n't,"matte said."There 's ward. It 's just odd. He was alone."

"Energy Department he roll in the hay that that 's where you go ?"Albus replied as he sat down next to Rose.

Matt shook his head."I 'm not really worried about it, either. It 's just very weird."

"Malfoy is friends with Felix Willinson so anything Wyrd that he does motivation to be remembered,"Albus said darkly.

"That 's what I said,"trick replied.

"He 's not the beginning one to be singular about the Shrieking hut,"Matt pointed out.

This was different, Albus thought. He would have expected mat to be the one worried about this, not John.

"But he 's Malfoy ! It 's not unspoiled that he 's trying to get in,"St. John the Apostle said.

"well he ca n't get in. And he already knows what I am,"matt countered."Let 's just bury about it for now. What Rose has to say is far worse."

Albus turned to count at Rose, who looked upset and slightly scared. That was strange in itself since Albus could hardly commemorate a time when Rose was scared.

"The disputation was on law enforcement,"Rose said quietly."She wants to completely change the section of Magical Law Enforcement. She wants to investigate every single Auror and shake up the department because she does n't think things are working as they are. She ... well ... she basically called your dad incompetent."

Albus stared at his full cousin. He could not trust what he was hearing. Albus 's dad had been in burster of the Auror section for years and there had never been any ailment. How could Laurentis just insult him like that ?

"Which means she 's going to recede,"John said confidently."No one 's going to vote for somebody who insults Harry Potter."

"No,"pink wine whispered."They will. There 's been editorial in the seer for hebdomad about how the current Ministry is n't working. She has support."

"That 's insane,"Albus said."What did Uncle Percy do ?"

"Argued with her,"rosebush said."Talked about all the good your dad has done, but she argued ripe back."

"What about everyone there ? Did they clap for her ?"Albus asked.

"Everyone clapped for everyone. They were all civilized about it and there was no way to recount who supported who,"rosebush said."If you ask me, I think she 's going to replace all the Heads of departments who do n't agree with her. She 's going to need people in power who are on her side."

"Which means my dad will be gone,"Albus said."Everyone knows he supports Uncle Percy. It 's obvious."

"So that leaves what, lusterlessness 's dad 's job, Head of Magical Law Enforcement, mind of Magical Transportation, and what else ?"John asked as he counted on his fingers."There 's got to be more."

"There are,"rose said as she stood up and began pacing around the elbow room."International Magical Cooperation, Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, Magical Games and sport, and then the Department of Mysteries."

"Do you live anything about the Heads of those department ?"John asked.

"The dame who 's forefront of Magical Law Enforcement was here during the debate. She 's really old and Dad says Mum is a shoe-in for her job when she retires,"Rose said."But I do n't know much about the others. The bloke in explosive charge of wizard Transportation moderated the first debate."

"That 's eight status,"lustrelessness said quietly,"and she could exchange all of them. That would wind up being an entirely new Ministry."

"Essentially, yes,"Rose said as she sank into an armchair."That 's why it 's so bad. There 's a reason most newly elected Ministers do n't replace everyone. It 's too much excitement. But if she wants straightaway variety, it would be the easiest way to get it done."

"What 's the future debate on ?"Amanda asked.

"Azkaban,"Rose said."Originally they were going to turn over Azkaban with law enforcement, but Laurnetis requested a separate Azkaban argument. She 's in tutelage of it, so I 'm not surprised."

"And when is it ?"Amanda replied.

"Just after the new year,"rosiness answered."Once we 're all back in school. Then February 's argument is on magical creatures-"

"Oh that 's going to be near,"matt said."hypothesis that 's when we 'll recover out if my dad keeps his job after the election if she wins."

"And then in Mar they debate International Magical Cooperation. Then it 's the election at the commencement of Apr,"pink wine continued."That one is going to take place here. So is the Azkaban one."

"I still do n't believe anyone 's going to vote for her,"john muttered."Anyone who sacks Harry thrower would n't get adequate votes."

"You 'd be surprised, can,"Amanda said."It sounds like she 's playing to everyone 's fears. I mean, I have n't been in the witching mankind long, but it seems like everyone fears another Voldemort. If she makes it seem like the stream Ministry and Auror department are too lenient and hints at the possibility of another war, and then claims that she could mash it before it became a war, she would easily get the right to vote. People are easily persuaded."

"That 's exactly it,"rose wine agreed.

The room descended into uncomfortable muteness. At the start of the school year, none of them had much interest group in the election or the Ministry in general, but now, just a few months later, Albus and his ally were learning just how much the outcome of the election would affect them. The possibility of drastic changes to both Hogwarts and the wizarding world did not sit well with Albus, especially if it meant both his and Matt 's papa were out of a job.
***


The remaining week of school went by quickly. With the looming holidays and intermission from shoal, hardly anyone in the castle was focusing on homework or the election. Instead, the chatter that filled the Great residence during meal was about Christmas and snowball battle and spending prison term with sept. Albus was sucked into the Christmas cheer as well, but the election was still on the cover of his mind.

For Albus, Rose, and the rest of the Weasley/Potter kindred, the Christmastide holiday would be wrapped up in the election. A New twelvemonth 's party at the Minister 's Mansion was scheduled for New twelvemonth 's Eve, for all of the high-ranking officials and their families, as well as Walker Percy, Laurentis, and their family unit. All of Albus 's stretch family would be attending. But perhaps the most flaky facial expression of the vacation was the fact that Uncle Percy was going to allow a reporter from adept magazine to follow him for not only the Ministry party, but Christmas at the tunnel as well.

"This is just unearthly !"Cedric exclaimed at breakfast the last day of term."A newsperson ? At the Burrow ? And it says she 's going to be staying with us."

Cedric handed the letter back to Tom Bradley, whom it had been addressed to. Thomas Bradley pulled out his wand and burned it, which seemed to be his new way of dealing with billet from his father.

"Did nanna correspond to this ?"James asked as he loaded his plate with bacon.

"She must 've,"Thomas Bradley said."Anything to get Dad elected, probably."

"I kind of agree with her,"Albus said."I do n't want that Laurentis cleaning lady to win."

"Neither do I, but I do n't want some reporter staying with us at the Burrow,"Cedric said adamantly.

"speculation you wo n't be getting the real Weasley Christmas experience,"Albus said to Amanda, whose parents had given permission to last out with rosebush for Christmas.

Amanda shrugged."Not a big deal. With your house, it 's bound to be interesting."

"You have no idea,"Albus said."We 'd better get to History of Magic."

Albus got up and his friends followed. Despite the fact that it was the last day of term, Professor Binns still gave a public lecture. nonentity paid him an troy ounce of attending. The ease of the professor did n't bother teaching any new material as they figured the scholar would just forget it over the break. Professor Cedonia set them a pragmatic example, but did n't scold them when they stopped charming their teacups to dance and instead talked about Christmas. Hagrid had a great bonfire going to keep them warm, but did n't teach anything. Instead, he told the chronicle of Norberta and bawled about how much he missed her. In ancient rune, there was an exam.

The following cockcrow Albus and his friends climbed aboard the Hogwarts Express for the slip back to John Griffith Chaney. On the Hogwarts expressage, Albus felt weirdly resistant to everything that was happening in the wizarding world. He felt prophylactic from Jarrett Willinson and somehow the election did n't appear as big a deal. The train was like its own little world with solitary student and sweets from the streetcar ; on the geartrain, goose egg bad could happen.


Long hiatus ! I apologize for that. I am now working on this for the second half of June 's Camp NaNoWriMo, so I 'm hoping to get a bunch of chapters written so I can go back to weekly updates. Thanks so much for all the revue !


"Remember, do n't say anything in front man of her you do n't desire printed in the article,"Harry said as they walked toward the Burrow.

"Will she really print anything ?"Lily asked.

"Yes,"Harry said.

It was Noel Eve and Albus and the repose of the potter had just Apparated to the field behind the tunnel. Albus was a bit neural about being in the presence of a reporter from Wizards powder magazine and was not at all knifelike about being in an article. He was relieved they were late, as usual, because by now the reporter would probably be involved in listening to somebody else 's conversation and might not even posting Albus.

"And Saint James the Apostle, do n't even think about slipping something into her soup,"Ginny said sternly.

Harry, who had just put his hand on the doorknob, turned around and stared at James."Seriously, James, absolutely not."

"I was n't going to !"James said."I swear !"

Harry sighed."Empty your pockets."

"But I was n't going to-"

"James Canicula ceramist, listen to your father,"Ginny said.

Albus put his hand over his mouth to shroud his laugh while his blood brother pulled a handful of Ton-Tongue Toffees and a vial of Weasleys'Itchiest itching pulverization out of his pocket. Ginny took them and incinerated them with her wand. She brushed the ash onto the primer and James stared at it longingly.

"Shut up, Albus,"Saint James muttered as Harry opened the door.

That just made Albus laugh even harder, earning him a biff in the shoulder from James. Albus returned the clout while Lily rolled her eyes.

"male child, cut it out,"Ginny scolded.

"Ginny ! Harry !"Molly exclaimed as they stepped inside."Happy Christmastime !"

"Happy Christmas, Mum,"Ginny said as the two hugged.

Albus slipped past after giving his grandmother a promptly hug, grabbing a handful of cooky on his way to the den. The first thing he noticed was that the reporter was sitting on a feces in the corner. She stuck out like a Weasley at a Malfoy gathering, in her grim skirt, flowery top, high-heeled place. Who wore heel to the Burrow ? Weird, Albus thought. Her jet-black pilus was done up in some sort of bun and her lips were smeared with lustrous red lipstick.

The second thing Albus noticed was just how sporty the Burrow was. He had n't noticed it in the kitchen, what with the many mountain and saucer broad of ardent, steaming food, but out in the den, it was very noticeable. The tunnel was never pestiferous, exactly, but it was n't immaculately neat like Matt and Kaden 's business firm were. Instead it merely looked lived in, Albus always thought. It was cluttered with piles of books and stacks of instrument panel games and various Muggle and magical devices. Blankets and pillows were thrown haphazardly onto couches and chairs, never being folded or stacked neatly. But today, everything was neat. The gobs of books had been shelved and the blankets folded. The sheer amount of money of stuff seemed to have been moved or vanished because Albus did n't see a single Muggle electronic gimmick half-taken apart on the trading floor or table. It was freakish. The tunnel did n't expect like the burrow without its clutter. You never knew what you 'd find at the tunnel and Albus liked that.

Shaking his promontory slightly, Albus carefully stepped around a few of his cousins and walked over to where Rose and Amanda were sitting on the floor. They had a turgid platter of food in front of them, making Albus substantiate how athirst he was.

"So, what have I missed ?"he asked in between bite of roll."I see someone cleaned."

"Gran did. Said she wanted to make a good impression. Uncle Percy 's been bragging loudly to the reporter about all the natural law he 's facilitate passing play,"Rose said."But all the newsperson wants to do is interview the rest of us. I guess her article is all about where Uncle Percy came from and what his family is like."

"Who 's she talked to so far ?"Albus asked.

"Aunt Corrine, Gran, Gramps, Uncle vizor, Uncle Fred, both of my parents, Victoire, Samantha, and Lindy,"rose wine said.

"Wow. Already ?"

"She has n't wasted any sentence,"Amanda said.

"There 's a lensman around here somewhere,"Rose said as she glanced around the room."Oh there he is."

Rose indicated to the stairs, where Percy was leading a scrawny feller back into the den.

"Is he wearing-"

"Dress robes ?"Rose said."Yeah, he 's been wearing them all night."

"Let 's get a few shot of you playing a biz with the similitude,"the photographer said as he and Percy walked past Albus, pink wine, and Amanda.

"Wonderful mind !"the reporter exclaimed as she hopped off her stool.

"How did she take heed that ?"Albus whispered to Rose.

"Harry potter 's son !"the reporter said as she grabbed Albus 's arm, causing him to dangle the cookie he was holding."Let 's get him in the shooting, too. Hmm ..."she glanced around the room, her eyes finally coming to rest on Amanda."We 'll demand a shot with you and Percy as well. Candidate plays Exploding Snap with the flower Minister 's niece ! Perfect ! I could not have planned this better."

"How did she know that I 'm the Prime minister of religion 's niece ?"Amanda asked.

"She knows everything,"Rose said darkly."Creepy, really."

Albus soon found himself playing a arrange game of Exploding Snap with Uncle Percy, Samantha, and Lindy. The unharmed thing was very ridiculous since none of them were photographed with ash on their faces. Then it was Amanda 's play, but she was posed with a set of wizard 's chess game,"for variety."

"Now that 's something Laurentis wo n't hold,"Sir Henry Percy said jovially after the lensman finished."picture with the bloom rector 's niece."

"But nonentity knows I 'm the prime minister 's niece,"Amanda said once she, rose, and Albus escaped into the kitchen."It 's supposed to be a secret."

"Maybe it wo n't get printed,"Albus said.

"God, I hope not,"Amanda muttered."So is this what Christmas Eve is usually like ?"

"Mostly,"Albus said as he walked over to the doorway. He peered into the den and took descent of what his fellowship was up to.

His uncles Fred, Ron, card, and Charlie, were closest to the kitchen and were singing 'Odo the Hero .'All four had visage of eggnog in paw. nan was listening to Celestina Warbeck while auntie Fleur glared at the tuner. It seemed to be distracting her from the conversation she was having with auntie Katherine and Aunt Hermione. well-nigh of his cousins were eating or laughing about one thing or another. Samantha and Lindy were playing Exploding snatch for actual now, along with Eddie and Angie.

In fact, the solitary one who seemed to be acting any differently was Uncle Percy, who was talking with the reporter and the photographer. aunt Corrine was as well, but none of their sure-enough children were anywhere in peck.

"Have you seen Omar Bradley, Cedric, or Sakartvelo anywhere ?"Albus asked Rose.

"Actually, no,"Rose said."Let 's go find them."

Albus and Amanda followed Rose out of the kitchen and up the stairs. As they peered into each bedroom, Albus found out just where his grannie had stored all the stuff and nonsense that used to be in the den. Every exclusive room had a pile of random stuff in it. They eventually found their three full cousin hiding out in Uncle Ron 's old bedroom at the top of the house. They were sitting on one of the beds and were deep in conversation.

"What 's going on in here ?"Albus asked as they shut the door.

All three startled, but then seemed relieved to feel it was only Albus, rosiness, and Amanda.

"We 're avoiding the newsperson,"Georgia said,"and talking about how much it will take in if Dad gets elected."

"But Laurentis is all-fired insane,"Albus said as he stepped over a typewriter and sat down on the opposite bed."Uncle Walker Percy has to win."

"wellspring, I do n't require him to,"Bradley said."Do you realize how much life will change if he does ?"

"I 've got a bit of an thought,"Amanda said, sitting down next to Albus. rose sat on his other side.

"Before his hunting expedition started no one really knew what Dad did,"Bradley said."Or even who he was. I mean, if they heard his public figure they would know him, but he was just Percy Weasley. Do you eff what I mean ?"

"He 'll be Hotspur Weasley, minister of conjuration. Not just Walker Percy Weasley, your dad,"Amanda said."pastor is n't a just a job. It 's not something he 'll go forth at the office at five. It 's more a lifestyle."

"Exactly !"Bradley agreed.

"And you 'll always be the diplomatic minister 's son,"Amanda said.

"How do you know all this ?"Cedric looked at Amanda strangely.

"My Uncle 's the Prime minister,"Amanda said casually.

"Of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ?"Thomas Bradley exclaimed."And you 've kept this privy for four years ?"

"Yeah. It wo n't be for a great deal longer since that photographer just took a pictorial matter of me with your dad,"Amanda said."Anyway, you 're right that your life wo n't be the same if he gets elected. And even after his terminal figure is up you 'll still always be the Minister 's son."

"And we 'd have to move into the parson 's residence,"Thomas Bradley said.

"You would n't. You 're going to graduate in June,"Cedric pointed out."And Empire State of the South already moved out."

"You 'll be in Hogwarts most of the year,"Georgia pointed out.

There was a knock on the door and then it swung wide open. Percy stood in the doorway flanked by the reporter and lensman. Walker Percy had changed out of his robe and was now wearing a green Weasley jumper with a red'P'on the front. In his arms was a sight of what appeared to be more Weasley jumpers.

"There you lot are,"Percy said."We 're doing a moving picture of the whole family in our jumpers."He tossed one to each of his children and then one each to Albus and Rose."Get changed and get downstairs."

"Are they all initial sweater this twelvemonth ?"Sakartvelo asked as she held hers up. It was grey with a purple'G .'

"Must be,"Albus said as he yanked off the sweater he was wearing and pulled on his new one. It was bluish with a amber'A .'

"Bet it 's to crap us look like a cheesy sept,"Bradley muttered as he changed.

Once they 'd all changed Albus and Rose followed their cousins back down to the den. Amanda followed as well, but she lingered on the stairs, clearly not wanting to be dragged into anymore picture.

Albus 's total folk was posed in half the den. The lensman was running around making small adjustments, which Albus idea was pointless. There was no way he was going to get thirty-two people to all look at the photographic camera and smile nicely at the Lapplander time.

The lensman noticed Albus, rose, Georgia, Thomas Bradley, and Cedric and shoved Albus in between James and Lily, who were sitting right in the middle, on the storey.

"Lovely !"the photographer exclaimed a few minutes later. He ran to the early side of the room and stuck his heading behind the tv camera."Everyone smile ! Beautiful !"He took 12 of exposure and Albus soon grew tired of sitting still and smiling.

"Wonderful !"the reporter shouted once the lensman finally finished."I think we 've got what we need. I wish you all a well-chosen Christmas. The article should be out just after New Year's."

"I thought she was staying for tomorrow, too,"Albus whispered to Rose.

Rose shrugged."Maybe she got enough from just one night. Either that or she got overwhelmed."

Hotspur walked the newsman and photographer out of the burrow, thanking them profusely as he did so.

"Bedtime, everyone !"molly shouted.

No one objected. It had certainly been the strangest Christmastide Eve gathering the Weasley crime syndicate had ever had and Albus was very very much looking forward to tomorrow, when things would get back to some semblance of formula. Albus walked up to bed with rose and Amanda, wishing them both good night when they reached Uncle Charlie 's old bedroom, where the two would be staying. St. James the Apostle, Ben, Cedric, and Bradley were already in Uncle Ron 's old room when Albus arrived.

"Quidditch tomorrow ?"James asked as all four boys climbed into their beds.

"You 're going down, Potter,"Omar Nelson Bradley replied.

"Is that a challenge, Weasley ?"

"Sure is,"Bradley said.

Yes, tomorrow would be a lot more normal, Albus thought. Quidditch was a Xmas tradition for his family and null, even his uncle running for government minister, was going to prevent it.
***


"And that 's how we do it in Kenmare !"Georgia exclaimed, having just saved a finish by spinning in midair and hitting the Quaffle back into play by the end of her ling."Kenmare Krazy Keeper move !"

"You 're still going to lose !"Bradley shouted as he hit one of the Bludgers toward Albus, who dodged it and caught the Quaffle."We 've got Teddy !"

"If Teddy were a real Seeker he 'd be playing for a League team and not studying to be an Auror !"Sakartvelo shouted back.

"He 's still not as beneficial as James,"Tom Bradley said.

"Yeah, I taught James everything he knows !"Teddy said as he flew past, heading toward Georgia 's left-hand end spot."And that 's plot !"he shouted, returning with the Snitch clutched in his hand."Aurors have to bear constant vigilance, just like Seekers."

Albus flew to the ground, still holding the Quaffle. It had been a near plot, even though his team had lost, but the temperature was dropping and the clouds were rolling in. It was a good metre to head back inside for Christmas dinner, especially since the scent of knock Turkey and white potato vine had been drifting out-of-door for the past one-half hour.

Tables, already covered in numerous dishes of food, had been set up in the kitchen extending into the den while they played. Albus hurried upstairs to change and when he returned, everyone was drifting toward the tables. Albus hurried to the seat rosebush and Amanda had saved him, which thankfully was nowhere come on Percy.

"How was Quidditch ?"rose wine asked.

"goodness,"Albus said."We lost, but chemise 's pretty much invincible, so I was n't surprised."

"I 'm surprised he did n't playact professionally,"Amanda said.

"He thought about it,"Albus explained."And he had whirl, but he deferred them for a class because he was n't indisputable. Then he just decided to unite the Auror Academy, because of his parents, you know."

"shuffle common sense,"Amanda said.

"I 'd care to make a toast,"Hotspur announced after everyone was seated. He held up his field glass of pumpkin succus."I just want to say thank you, to all of you, for putting up with the reporter yesterday, and for everything you 've done for the campaign. We only have three calendar month to go, so let 's make the most of it. Keep up all the great body of work. Here 's to a win in April !"

Albus clinked glasses with rosiness and Amanda and then served himself a with child helping of turkey. This was what he enjoyed the most about Christmas at the Burrow. As he he ate, he listened in on the conversations his cousins, aunts, and uncles were having.

To Albus 's left, his aunt Hermione was giving Saint James the Apostle, Cedric, and Ben study tips for their O.W.L.s. The boy were nodding as if they were listening, but Albus knew they were n't. Victoire and shift were holding workforce under the mesa, which was kind of funny because Victoire was having to eat with her left deal, a skill she clearly did not possess. James, Bradley, and Georgia were discussing Quidditch with Uncles George and Ron. Eddie was showing the twins, Lily, and Hugo just how many pea he could fit into his mouthpiece at once. Percy was, of course, discussing the gamy point of his political campaign with his married woman and parents. Fred and fool were telling Angie about the mystery passageway that lead into the basement of Honeyduke 's. The quietus of his family was too far away for Albus to see what exactly they were saying, but everyone seemed happy.

"This is what it 's really ilk,"Albus told Amanda."Usually there are a few pranks."

"You missed one earlier,"pink wine said while Amanda laughed."James put one of those wind-up Pygmy Puffs in grannie 's bounteous pot, so while she was chopping veggie it jumped out and started screeching. aunty Ginny knew it was King James, too. He got chewed out while you were upstairs changing."

"She had no test copy !"James II cut in."It could experience been Cedric."

"But it was n't,"Rose said."It was you."

"James, did you pick up me ?"Hermione asked."I was just saying how you need to start with your light subject first off. Honestly, you should 've started preparing last-place year. Albus, pink wine, Amanda, are you listening ? You should start revision now."

"I started weeks ago, Mum,"rose wine said.

Hermione smiled."That 's my girl."

"She 'll be lucky if Jesse James starts revising a month before,"Albus whispered to Amanda.

"That would be stupefied,"rosebush said."What does he want to do after Hogwarts ? He 'll necessitate sealed O.W.L.s to get into the good N.E.W.T. classes."

"He 's got no idea,"Albus said,"except he wants to play Quidditch."

"He 'd ameliorate get going,"Rose said.

"Oh, and I suppose you 've got it all figured out, rosiness ?"Jesse James asked.

"As a affair of fact, I 'm thinking of getting into psychopathology,"Rose said."Get my healing degree, specializing in psychiatry."

"amercement, then,"Saint James the Apostle muttered.

"Really ?"Albus asked.

Rose nodded."I 've been thinking about it since summer and it 's really want I want to do."

"Do n't you think you 're a bit new to have decided that ?"Albus asked.

"matt 's sister had it all figured out in fourth year and look where she is now,"Rose pointed out.

She did take in a point there, Albus thought. mat 's baby was well on her way to getting both her healing and brewing degrees, with only two and a half more twelvemonth to go. Albus did n't even want to retrieve about what he would do after he graduated from Hogwarts. It was too far away.

"I have an annunciation to establish !"Gabriella said as she stood up.

The room quieted and everyone turned to see at Gabriella. She was n't usually one to make words or announcements during family unit dinners. In fact, she was one of the quieter of Albus 's full cousin, certainly not coming near to the layer of boisterousness of Omar Nelson Bradley, James River, or Empire State of the South.

"Thanks,"she said."None of you know this yet, since I figured I 'd just tell you all at once today. I 've decided to move to France."

The room was understood, lots like it was after Percy announced his intent to run for Minister at the before schooling dinner. Then, as happened after Percy 's announcement, everyone began to talk at once.

"You 're what ?"pecker exclaimed.

"Gabriella, honey !"Fleur shouted, dropping her glass of vino."What prompted this ?"

"The political climate in France is very unsteady,"Hotspur said."I would n't recommend moving there."

"What are you going to do there ?"Heather asked.

Albus was n't at all surprised. Gabriella had spent a few week in France that downfall and seemed to enjoy it. He was n't indisputable why her parents seemed so surprised.

"If everyone could just let me babble out !"Gabriella shouted. The room quieted one More."I 've already cleared it with Grandmere and Grandpere. They 're going to let me stay with them until I get on my feet. When I painted there this capitulation it just felt so right. My house painting there were so very much better than the ones I 've painted here-"

"But what will you do for money ?"flier asked."You know I could still get you that internship. This is crazy."

"Dad, it 's what I want to do. I do n't want to drop everyday in an office and miss out on life. No offense. picture is what I love. I want to try this."

"But Gabriella, it 's not practical-"Federal Reserve note began.

"visor,"Molly said quietly."She 's just rebelling a bit. You did the same when you were her age. Remember the earring ? The hair ?"

beak 's face reddened."It 's not the same, Mum. I had a job. I was n't learning the finer stop of being a starving artist !"

"Dad ! I 'm a sound artist ! I 'm not going to thirst !"

"You know my parents would never let her starve,"Fleur said.

"That 's not the point. The stop is that she should be doing something rich. When Victoire was her age-"

"I 'm not Victoire !"Gabriella exclaimed. She turned and left the room, running up the stairs. A few moments later a threshold slammed.

Bill made to get up, but Victoire put her hand on his shoulder, forcing him back into his hind end."Dad, I 'll go."

The way lapsed into uncomfortable secretiveness after Victoire took off after her sister. Albus was slightly shocked at his uncle 's disapproval of Gabriella 's architectural plan. Albus had always thought of pecker as his poise uncle, the uncle who would be supportive of whatever his Kid wanted to do. But now he was acting just like Percy had about Peach State 's desire to be a Quidditch player.

"I support you, eyeshade,"Percy said pompously."artist is not a calling. You 've got to fight down this. Went through the same thing with Georgia-"

"Really, Dad ?"Empire State of the South asked."After the preceding few calendar month of going to my secret plan and making the press think you 're supportive of my ambition, you still do n't recall I should meet Quidditch ?"

"Quidditch, like painting, is a hobbyhorse,"Percy said."It 's not a career."

"You 're unbelievable !"Georgia exclaimed."The musical accompaniment, the shouting, it 's all juke, is n't it ?"

"Georgia-"

"You know what, Dad ? Do n't even bother."Sakartvelo stood up and left the table in a similar fashion to Gabriella.

"This,"Albus whispered to Amanda,"is not normal."

"I thought Gabriella liked Uncle Percy 's fake support,"Epistle of James muttered.

"wellspring, she did at start but she probably thought there was no way he could fake it for so long and not set about to come around. She surely thought it was veridical by now,"Rose said.

"You 're going to constitute a full psychiatrist,"Albus said.

"Yeah, you can start with Uncle Sir Henry Percy,"James said.

"DOE anyone want pud ?"grannie asked.


A/N : Thanks for all the reviews !


Never before had Albus experienced such an awkward Dec 25 dinner, and that included the time his aunty Katherine went into labour with Eddie at the table. After Gabriella and Georgia stormed out, Gran served pudding to the remaining family phallus, but everyone ate in secrecy. Albus, rosiness, and Amanda ate as fast as they could and then escaped to the one place they did n't conceive anyone else would go- the attic.

The attic of the burrow was similar to an archeological site. It contained layers of Weasley family history and if you dug trench enough you could even ascertain pictures of Uncle notice when he was a sister. It used to sign a ghoul, but the graverobber died years before Albus was born. Albus did n't go up in the attic much anymore, but when he was lilliputian it had made an fantabulous hiding spot.

"I never realized how alike Gabriella and GA were,"Albus said once they 'd exclude the attic door.

"I never realized how alike Uncle Percy and Uncle Bill were,"Rose replied."I never thought Uncle flyer would react like that."

"Me either,"Albus agreed."Let 's not sing about it. I just want to do something fun."

"Let 's bid Monopoly,"Amanda said."It 's a Muggle game. I brought it from my house."

Albus and Rose readily agreed and soon the three were playing Monopoly in the noggin. It took Albus and Rose a little while to get the hang of the money, which was based on Muggle money, but once they did, it was very fun. Albus 's deary thing about it was how long it took. They spent hours on one game and by the clip Amanda beat him and Rose, almost all of his family line was asleep.

By breakfast the future sunrise nearly everything had blown over. Half of his auntie and uncles had left because they had to go to work and the former half were in the physical process of getting ready to will. Some of his cousins were still there, but quite a few had left. When Albus went downstairs he noticed his uncle billhook and aunt Fleur having a talk of the town with Gabriella over platters of sausage. Albus paused in the doorway, waiting for them to finish.

"We do n't want you to retrieve we are n't supportive of your art,"peak said."We are. Both of us. I just want to know you 're going to be okay."

"I am, Dad,"Gabriella said."I 'll be staying with Grandmere and Grandpere."

"That 's reassuring,"nib said."And I did overreact last night."

Fleur snorted."Yes, I 'd say you did."

"I certainly do n't desire you to intend I 'm anything like your uncle Percy,"Bill whispered."I 'd never try and arrest you from pursuing your dream."

"well, painting in France is my dream for now,"Gabriella said adamantly.

"Then we 'll stomach you,"Bill said. Fleur nodded in concord."I 'm sorry for overreacting last night. I think we were all on edge from the reporter."

"Thanks, Dad,"Gabriella said.

"When were you planning on leaving ?"Fleur asked.

"After that Ministry party. Ca n't miss that or Uncle Hotspur would go insane."

"The weekend after that, then,"Bill said."We want to help oneself you move."

Gabriella nodded."Thanks."

billhook stood up and gave his girl a hug."I 've got to get to work, but I 'll see you at home later. I love you, Gabby."

"Love you, too, Dad,"Gabriella said as she hugged him back.

Albus walked into the kitchen as his uncle left, grabbing a few sausage balloon and a Ceylon cinnamon bun on his way to the table. He was relieved that Uncle Federal Reserve note and Gabriella came to an accord, especially one that involved Gabriella still moving to French Republic. He wanted his full cousin to be happy and he still wanted to think of bank note as his cool uncle.

Albus returned to Grimmauld billet later that day and it only took him a few hour of ennui to start his holiday reading. Rose and Amanda had returned to Rose 's house, so without them, he was forced to be productive. In fact, Albus was actually looking forward to the Ministry political party for the only reason that he 'd get to see Rose and lusterlessness.

The few mean solar day in between Boxing Day and New yr 's Eve were fairly uneventful, especially compared with Christmas day. GA and Uncle Percy still had n't made up and Georgia came over for a open with Albus 's mum the day before the company. Albus often forgot that his mum used to play master Quidditch and would be the perfect mortal for Georgia to assay advice from.

Albus attempted to listen in on their conversation via extendible Ear, but his mum must 've put an interperbabble good luck charm on the kitchen door because he could n't pick up a thing. Dejected, he put away his Extendable Ear and returned to reading his Transfiguration of Jesus rule book.

Shortly after Georgia left Saint James walked in the back door with a smiling on his boldness.

"What are you so happy about ?"Albus asked.

"Mum forgot to put the charm on the window,"James said."I heard everything."

"Well, evidence me what you heard !"Albus said as he closed his book.

"I do n't know ...."

"Come on, James,"Albus said."If you do I wo n't tell Mum and Dad what you 're planning on doing to the punch at the party tomorrow."

"Fine,"James muttered as he sat down."Basically, Georgia 's still mad at Uncle Hotspur and does n't require to go to the party tomorrow. Mum convinced her that she needs to learn the high road and be supportive of Uncle Percy even though he is n't being supportive of her. And she said there 's no secret to getting him to know Quidditch as a valid career. He just has to pull in it on his own and all Georgia can do is be the best role player she can and sustain herself and not ask him for money. But then she reminded Georgia that granddad was very supportive of her Quidditch career."

"Nothing too exciting, then,"Albus said.

"Nope, not really,"James agreed."Going to make for an interest party, though."

"That 's for indisputable,"Albus said.
***


"Is the parson 's Mansion glowing blue ?"Albus asked as he followed his parents up the winding path to the mansion.

It was New Year 's Eve and the ceramist were slightly late for the party, as usual. This meter Saint James the Apostle had not been the grounds ; they were late because Ginny had had to lengthen Albus 's robes endure minute of arc.

"It looks that way,"Harry answered."Wait until you see the inside. The election New yr 's Eve company at the Minister 's mansion is one of the lofty occasions the Ministry puts on, only beaten out by the party that will take property for the succeeder of the election. It 's going to be far fancy than the political party for Mr. Eckerton cobbler's last year."

Albus nodded. As they drew closer to the mansion Albus noticed that the blue lightness seemed to stem from the ground, illuminating the house as it went upward, but he could not see where the spark came from. It looked to just appear out of the priming. The path itself was lined with silver candle.

The room access was already open when they reached the end of the way. A man dressed in a full phase of the moon tuxedo with tails stood in the doorway and he took Ginny and Lily 's wrapper while another man led the ceramist into the 1000 ballroom.

The ballroom was already filled to capacity and Albus noticed that nearly one-half of the people in attendance were his auntie, uncles, and cousins. The dance hall itself was lit by silver candle like to the ones that lined the route outside. The windows were draped in heavy navy pall tied with atomic number 47 ropes and matching linens dressed the mesa and chairs scattered throughout the room. Larger tables containing platters of food stood in the center of the room, each one holding an ice sculpture. The sculptures were of various historical buildings in wizarding Britain, including one of Hogwarts.

Waiters dressed in the Saami black tie as the wizard by the threshold walked throughout the room carrying plates of food for thought and drink. After taking a look at some of the food they carried, Albus wondered if there was anything rule or if it was just fancy hors d'oeuvres.

"Before you all take off to find your cousins,"Harry began, staring more at his sons than at Lily."James River, absolutely no pranks. Albus, no sneaking off to former parts of the planetary house or going outside this class. promise me, both of you."

"I promise,"Albus and James each mumbled.

"All right, you may go,"Harry said."And keep on an eye out for your new cousins. Make for sure they 're not getting into trouble."

Albus nodded and then slipped into the gang in search of Matt, pink wine, and something to eat that did not resemble something his aunt Fleur 's mother would make. He finally wound up at the dessert table where he found both a tumid piece of umber cake and his friends.

"Albus, there you are !"Rose said."We 've been here for an time of day already."

"Mum had to lengthen my robes,"Albus said in between bites of cake.

"I 'm not surprised. You grew a base in the retiring year,"Rose commented.

"Seriously, you 've got to stop,"lustrelessness said."You make me attend like a 2nd year."

"Is everyone else here ?"Albus asked as they walked over to a mostly empty table. Its only if resident was a very old man who seemed to be taking a nap.

Rose nodded."Even GA showed up. But I did find out that the only ground we were all invited was to make Uncle Percy look like more than of a family man."

"Really ?"Albus asked."I thought it was just because families of the nominee were always invited."

"No. Usually it 's only immediate family appendage, plus all the Heads of department and top Ministry official and their families. So not all of us were going to be invited at first. It 's to make us look like a very tight knit family."

"You are a close plain family,"Matt said."It 's like you 're all brother and sisters rather than cousins."

"But Uncle Percy never really involved any of us in his Ministry career before,"Albus pointed out."Anyway, lusterlessness, how was your Christmas Day ?"

"Good,"matte said."blush wine already told me about yours. Sounded much more interesting than mine. My grandparents came to chaffer and they went plate yesterday. Mum and Cinda argued over the fact that we do n't visit them enough anymore and then Mum and Amy argued over the fact that Amy never comes home except for vacation. Dad, Richard, and I just stayed out of it. I swear, those three could indicate over nothing."

"Sounds like yours was interesting then,"Albus said.

Matt shrugged."Honestly, it 's been rather boring at home."

"I 'm quick to get back to Hogwarts,"Albus said."Is Amy here ?"

"Yeah, she 's off with Victoire and shimmy,"Matt said.

"Oh, by the way, do n't drink the lick,"Albus warned them."James is planning to put something in it."

"What ?"rosiness asked.

"I do n't eff, but it 'll probably be glaring,"Albus said.

"If your uncle wins your cousin will get to hold out here,"matt said as he gazed around the room."Wyrd to remember about. This plaza looks bountiful than my old house."

"It probably is,"Rose said."And you 're right on, that is uncanny to recollect about."

The old man let out a snort and woke up. His eyes darted around until they rested on Albus, Rose, and flatness."Who are you three ?"he demanded.

"Er, I 'm Albus Potter and that 's Rose Weasley and Matt Eckerton,"Albus said.

His case softened."Oh, nice to cope with you ! I 'm Gregory Laurentis. My daughter 's running game for Minister. Could not be prouder, but I suppose she 's running against your uncle. Albus Potter, Merlin 's beard ! I told Patty, I told her she was nuts to run against Percy Weasley what with him being related to Harry potter himself, but her political party picked her to run so I suppose there was nothing I could do about it. And she could n't change by reversal down that chance ...."

Albus glanced at rosiness and Matt while Laurnetis 's dad continued to rattle on about how gallant he was of his daughter, yet marvel at her stupidity for running against someone related to Harry Potter. He was rather funny, Albus thought.

"This spot is too damn partiality,"Gregory Laurnetis muttered as he fingered the tablecloth."And the food for thought, my God, what I would n't give for some bangers and mash ...."

Albus stifled a joke, but he did match with the old man."I think I hear one of my cousin calling me,"Albus said."We 'd better go."

"Oh, right, right,"Gregory Laurentis said."I do n't hear anything, but then again my hearing 's so bad these days. Well, unspoiled luck to your uncle, then. Not that he 'll call for it !"

"trade good luck to your girl, too,"Albus said as he stood up.

All three burst out laughing as soon as they were out of hearing of Gregory Laurentis. A few Ministry officials looked at them strangely as they did so, but Albus did n't care.

"Albus !"lustrelessness suddenly whispered."Is that Balladanis over there ?"lustrelessness pointed to the far back corner, where a man in plain black gown stood with his arms folded across his chest.

Albus peered at the man for a few moments."Yeah, I think it is."

"What 's he doing here ?"Matt asked.

"Probably in cause of an attack,"Rose said."Every prominent Ministry official is in this room right now. There 's probably Aurors stationed at every doorway outside, too."

"Do n't let him see us,"Matt said as he grabbed both Albus and Rose and pulled them behind a large group of people."Can we just go somewhere else ?"

Albus glanced at Balladanis and then back at Matt, who looked more than than a niggling aflutter. Albus did n't blame him. After live on year 's scandal with Balladanis, it was no wonder flatness never wanted to see the man again. Albus thought briefly of what his dad told him when they got there, but pushed the hope from his head. If matte did n't want to be in the same room as Balladanis, then Albus was just going to consume to let out his promise.

"Come on,"Rose said before Albus could reply. She took Albus and Matt 's work force and pulled them through the crowd. She let them go once they reached the corridor.

The corridor was much placid than the ballroom. Albus had n't even realized just how loud the ballroom was until now. Between the music and multitude 's vox, it was a wonder he 'd even been able to think in there.

"Thanks,"matt said quietly."He just gives me the creeps."

"No problem,"Rose said."Where should we go ?"

"We could try and ascertain that depository library again,"Albus suggested.

Rose and flatness nodded and the three set off down the corridor. It took them XV minutes and three wrong go to find the library and once they got there, they saw that it was already occupied by none other than Georgia, Omar Nelson Bradley, and Cedric.

"We 've got to break off using the same concealing space,"Georgia said with a laugh as they entered."Just joking. add up on in."

blush wine shut the door behind them and they joined Empire State of the South, Tom Bradley, and Cedric on the other incline of the room.

"Sick of the party ?"Georgia asked.

"We saw Balladanis,"lusterlessness said quietly as he sat down."Did n't want him to notice us."

Sakartvelo shuddered."Do n't blame you there, especially since your dad is the cause he got sacked."

"I kind of liked him,"Bradley said.

mat looked at him like he was insane."Are you kidding ?"

Omar Nelson Bradley shrugged."Nope. I 'm not terribly upset he 's gone, but he was kind of cool."

"You 're mad,"mat said.

"What about you three ? What drove you to the library ?"Albus asked, wanting to stave off an literary argument between his effective supporter and cousin.

"Decided to explore the house,"Cedric said."If we 're going to cause to live here, we wanted to see what we 'd be getting into."

"And what do you call up ?"rose asked.

"keep here would n't be so bad,"Cedric said."Thomas Bradley and I would n't suffer to ploughshare a way. Neither would Samantha and lindy, for that matter."

"I told you, one of you can have my room,"Georgia said.

"Dad wo n't let us,"Bradley replied."Says you 're going to occur back when Quidditch stops paying off."

Georgia groaned."Really, the faith he has in me is incredible."

"We met Laurentis 's dad,"Albus said.

Empire State of the South burst out laughing."Seriously ?"

Albus nodded and told the story. All three of his cousins were laughing by the time he finished.

"I may have to go back out there just so I can run into him,"Georgia said, still laughing.

"He sounds like a very occupy bloke,"Thomas Bradley said.

Matt got up from his chairperson and began wandering around the subroutine library. He paused by the threshold, as if listening.

"What are you doing ?"Albus asked.

"I heard something,"flatness whispered."Shut up, all of you."

Georgia immediately stopped laughing and all five of them stopped talking. Matt 's eyes grew big and he hurried back over."Someone 's coming !"

"I do n't take heed any-"Thomas Bradley began.

"Sshhh !"Albus said as he jumped up."Trust him on this. We 've got to hide."

"There 's a closet,"Rose said as she hurried to spread out the door."It 's not very big-"

"Does n't count,"Matt said."Hurry, get inside."

Albus just started hearing the articulation as they hurried inside the closet. It was a very slopped squeeze and rosebush was stepping on his exit foot, but he said nothing as he shut the door. Two second base later he heard the door to the depository library open.

"It 's not working !"a woman said. Her vocalization was muffled ; Albus could barely cause out what she said, let alone who she was.

"I ca n't learn anything,"Cedric whispered."Is this door square reddish brown or something ?"

"Shut up !"Matt seethed. He had his ear pressed to the door.

"The one time I do n't bring any Extendables with me,"Cedric muttered.

Albus pressed his ear up against the door. The phonation were still muffled, but he could hear.

"I told you they 'd eat up the wholly house man thing,"another part said. This one was male."Not to refer he 's Harry Potter 's brother-in-law for God 's sake !"

"Harry ceramist is an clumsy imbecile and you know it,"the woman replied."He 's famed for something he did as a child and the general public is pudden-head to still cogitate of him as the torpedo of the wizarding world. He 's gone soft."

"It 's Laurentis !"mat said.

"How can you severalise ?"Thomas Bradley asked."This threshold is so blooming thick."

"I just can,"mat said.

Albus could n't secern that the voice was Laurentis 's, but based on what she was saying, matte was right.

"fountainhead, what am I supposed to do about it ?"the man said.

"We 've got to retrieve of something,"Laurentis said."The Azkaban debate is in a week. I 'm sure you can think of something to do for that."

"I think that 's her cause managing director,"Matt said.

"She sounds awful,"Albus said.

"It should n't be that hard. All we have to do is expose Weasley for what he really is and get everyone to realize thrower 's not the submarine sandwich they all think he is,"Laurentis said.

"And who is Weasley, then ?"

"A overblown idiot !"Laurentis exclaimed."You do n't really buy the completely fact that he supports his daughter 's Quidditch career, do you ? I 've seen the way she looks at him and there 's no way that 's real."

"You ca n't really know that-"

"I can,"she disturb."I can read mass, Pierce. That 's why I got into politics. It 's all about reading the great unwashed and figuring out the lies from the Sojourner Truth. See what you can dig up. We 'd better return to the party. I left my Father alone with Minister Langston. That wo n't turn out well."

"Yes, Ms. Laurentis,"President Pierce replied.

Albus heard the sound of high bounder on hardwood floor, the door creak clear, and then click shut again. He waited two full minutes and then opened the door to the wardrobe. Everyone hurried out.

"What was that ?"Matt demanded."What is she up to ?"

"How did you hitch all that ?"Bradley asked."Do you have super human being audition or something ?"

"Or something,"Matt muttered,"but never mind that. Laurentis knows your dad 's putting on an act and is going to try to let on him."He turned to Albus."And she is going to try and move around the wizarding humanity against your dad."

"She 's insane !"Albus exclaimed.

"You 've got to tell your uncle-"flatness began.

"No way,"Georgia said loudly."reliance me, all he 'll do is fault me for not playing my part well enough. This is n't leaving this room."

"But she 's going to sabotage his campaign,"Albus said.

"GA 's right,"rose wine said."It wo n't help anything. effort are half about digging up dirt on the other candidate. Anything she says about Uncle Harry, no one will believe it unless they 're an idiot. Anyone with half a mind knows he runs the Auror section well."

"If anyone says anything he 'll just get mad at us for spying,"Bradley added.

"Not to reference we 're not technically allowed in here,"Cedric pointed out.

"Oh, right,"Albus said."My dad did make me promise not to leave the ballroom."

"No one 's saying anything,"Georgia said."And I think we 'd all comfortably get back to the ballroom, just in compositor's case anyone notices we 're all gone.


Thanks for all the review ! Remember to save them 12+. property to all who caught the 'mahogany'Hunger game point of reference. quotation for that goes to Suzanne Collins. If any of you are members of the forum ( and if you 're not, you should be, associate on the proper side of the page ! ), feel free to jibe out my sports meeting the writer varlet ! It 's linked on my author Thomas Nelson Page. Please ask me questions on my MTA page since I love answering them !


When they returned to the ballroom Albus was pleased to see that Balladanis was nowhere in sight. Perhaps he left to patrol the grounds. Albus did n't really care ; all that mattered was that he was n't there anymore. Judging by the gang in the room, no one else had left yet, and they all seemed a bit more rough, most likely due to the drink.

Percy accosted them before they were even able to get to the desert table to reload their plates with cake. He walked with intention, similarly to the way he had walked when he took Albus and his friends to Kendrick 's study. He seemed very at plate in the pastor 's star sign and it was n't even his yet.

"Georgia !"he said."There you are. I 've been looking for you everywhere."

"I was in the loo. Something you need, Dad ?"Georgia asked.

"Er, yes, actually,"Percy replied."I need you to pick out Samantha and lindy home. It 's nearly XI and your female parent and I are going to be here well retiring midnight. Samantha ate too a great deal cake and look ill. I just think it would be outflank for them to go menage and get some sleep. They 're over at that table."Walker Percy gestured to a nearby mesa, where Samantha and Lindy were sitting, both with their heads in their hands, looking extremely bored.

Sakartvelo raised her supercilium, as if storm that Sir Henry Percy was actually going to not only let three of his children leave, but request that they do so. Albus was surprised he 'd even thought about the fact that it was n't really a party for two nine-year-olds.

"Yeah, I can take them home,"Georgia said.

"What about us ?"Bradley asked, gesturing to himself and Cedric."Could n't we contract them home ?"

"I 'd rather Georgia do it,"Walker Percy said."You do n't even have your Apparition license yet, Cedric. And Bradley, you just got yours. You 're not fix to side-along Apparate two people."

"They do get fireplace here, Dad,"Bradley muttered.

"Georgia 's taking them, and the two of you are staying here,"Percy said adamantly."Thank you, Georgia."

"You 're welcome,"Georgia said as Percy strutted off to spill the beans to some Ministry official."Ha !"she said once he was out of earshot."I get to leave."

"Shut up,"Cedric said."I 'm going to go rule James."

Georgia headed over to the table her baby were sitting at while Omar Bradley and Cedric disappeared into the bunch. Albus, Matt, and Rose wandered over to the afters mesa, piled a crustal plate high with the cooky a server had just set out, and then set off to rule another table. They found one, which Victoire, chemise, and Amy were vacating.

"Where are you three off to ?"Albus asked.

"We 've got former one shot tomorrow,"Victoire said."Five in the morning. If we 're lucky we 'll get four hours of sleep."

"I do n't see much point in staying if they 're not here,"Teddy said."Technically I was n't even invited, but seeing as I 'm Harry Potter 's Godson, no one was going to kick me out."

Albus laughed."See you later, then."

After Victoire, chemise, and Amy left Albus sat down and his supporter sat on either English. He absentmindedly chewed on a biscuit and watched the crowd.

"Do these taste funny to you ?"Matt asked, holding up a partially use up biscuit.

Albus took another pungency. They did taste Wyrd."Yeah."

Rose burst out laughing and started pointing at their heads."I think James messed with the biscuits instead of the slug. Al, your hair is blue air and Matt, yours is green."

Albus and Matt both started laughing. Albus took another look at the gang."Look, that lady 's hair is purple !"He pointed to a witch a few yards away. The gent she was talking to was clearly trying not to stare at her head.

Over the next few minutes people gradually began to agnize that their hair was turning various colouring material and that the cooky were the culprit. scepter appeared everywhere, as the Edgar Guest charmed each other 's hair's-breadth back to its pattern coloration. Another moment later Albus spotted both of his parents walking around the perimeter of the way, clearly looking for St. James, but he was nowhere in sight.

"I like this prank,"Albus said."I 'm leaving my hair as is."

"Me too,"Matt agreed. They both turned to Rose."You should eat one."

pink wine sighed."Might as well."She took a biscuit and a hour later her formerly red tomentum was a lovely shade of garden pink.

The residual of the party was rather dull. Harry eventually found King James and told him he 'd be staying in his elbow room for the remainder of the vacation, only being allowed out for meal. When midnight rolled around Albus, Matt, and Rose toasted to the new class with Lily and Hugo. matte and his parents left immediately afterward and Albus and his class left a short spell later. Albus was relieved to be going house since the night had been exhausting, and he still could n't get the conversation he overheard in the library out of his head.
***


"It 's here !"James shouted the side by side dayspring at breakfast, brandishing a copy of superstar powder store. The front cover was a picture of Albus 's grandparents, his mum, Uncle Percy, Uncle nib, Uncle Charlie, Uncle George I, and Uncle Ron.

"Let me see it !"Albus shouted.

"No, I got it first !"James shouted back.

"I want to read it first !"Lily exclaimed.

"fry, steady down down !"Ginny said."James got it first. Al can read it side by side, and then Lily."

"Not fair,"Lily muttered."I 'm never first."

That was a lie, Albus thought to himself. It was either James or Lily who got matter first, never Albus. torment of being the middle child, he figured.

Albus sat and ate his breakfast while James read the article. His brother let out moan and sigh and even laughter while he read, which made Albus even more anxious to interpret it. After what seemed like forever, it was finally Albus 's bout. He yanked the cartridge out of James II 's hand and opened it up to the article.

The inaugural page ( or rather, first two pages ), contained the picture of his entire family. Albus had been right in guessing that there was no way the photographer could 've gotten a picture that they all looked good in. Albus himself at least see center decent. He was smiling and kept turning to look at pink wine and then back to the photographic camera. Lily on the early hand, was caught mid-grimace and always returned to that pose every few seconds. Across the pic was the name of the article- 'Christmas With the Weasleys .'Albus turned the Page and looked at all the other exposure that accompanied the article before reading it. There was one of Percy, Corrine, and their Thomas Kyd. Another feature Percy and Albus 's dad. Then there was the one with him playing Exploding Snap with the twins and Percy, as well as the one with Percy and Amanda playing chess. The caption on that read 'Minister hopeful Percy Weasley challenges the flower Minister 's niece to a secret plan of chess game .'Amanda was not going to be happy, Albus thought as he turned his tending to the article.

When I first entered the childhood rest home of Percy
Weasley I immediately noticed the delectable olfactory property
that filled the air. mollie Weasley, Percy 's mother,
was heavy at work cooking Dec 25 Eve dinner. The
small, but cozy, plate was filled to capability with
Weasleys, although it only grew more crowded with
the comer of the ceramist an hour later.

The Weasley folk gather for Christmas at the
home of Arthur and Molly Weasley every year.
Arthur, a sack out Ministry employee, says ,'I
love having the full phratry together. It 's
disorderly, but I would n't give it any early way .'
The eve begins with a meal, although eating
seems to take place over many hours. The aura
is homey and well-chosen, with every unmarried kinfolk
member enjoying their prison term with each other.

Percy Weasley, a loving father of five, joins in
on the fun and Yule sprightliness by challenging
his nine-year-old girl Samantha and lindy,
as well as nephew Albus Potter, 14, to a game
of Exploding Snap .'I feel it 's important to
spend sentence with my minor, as well as my nieces
and nephews ,'Weasley said, 'we have such little
fourth dimension with them before they go off to Hogwarts.
My firstborn is already out on her own and my son
only have a minuscule meter left at Hogwarts. The
twins are still young, so I try to drop time
with them every unmarried day .'When asked
about their father 's run, Samantha said,
'I want him to win. He 's near at his job .'
lindy merely shrugged, 'It would be assuredness if he
wins, but he 'll still just be Dad to us .'

The dwelling house of Arthur and molly Weasley is not
only open to Weasleys at Christmas meter. This
year they were joined by a protagonist of Albus ceramist
and Rose Weasley, 14. Amanda Tagger, also 14, is
a fourth yr student at Hogwarts. Tagger is no
alien to political kin since her uncle
is Michael Smythe, Prime rector of Great
Great Britain .'I think it is just wonderful that
the prime minister of religion 's niece is a witch ,'Percy
said. 'We are always trying to advertize a
intelligent family relationship with the Muggle Ministry
and this will only serve .'

Before posing for the photo found on varlet
20 and 21, the Weasley kinsperson first donned
their Weasley jumpers. Each penis of the kin
receives one of these jumpers for Christmas
every year. The traditional pinafore are knitted
by molly Weasley .'I 'm not sure how it started,
really ,'mollie said, when asked about the pedigree
of the jumper ,'I suppose it was when posting and
Charlie were minuscule, before Harry Hotspur was born. I
wanted to knit them matching jumpers and they
outgrew them by the following twelvemonth, so I made
new ones. Then when Sir Henry Percy was born he needed one
so it soon grew into a yearly thing .'

If I had to select one Word of God to report the Weasley
family, I would select 'laid-back .'Spending a
Christmastime Eve with this family, you would never
think that they were famous for their attempt in
the war against Voldemort. They are just so normal.
Even Harry ceramicist, question Auror, is just your
average father. He spends Christmas Eve joking
around with his brothers-in-law and playing games
with his children, nieces, and nephews. I asked
him what a typical Christmas day is like in the
Weasley sign and he responded with, 'Quidditch.
We live for Quidditch. No matter the weather we
get out there every Christmas and play a match or
two. Then we 'll come inside and have dinner, all
of us together. It 's simple, but perfect .'

There you have it. Christmas with the Weasleys
summed up in one sentence by none other than Harry
thrower himself. I thoroughly enjoyed spending
Christmas Eve with Harry Hotspur Weasley and his stallion
fellowship. Next meter I consultation him, I really must
ask for his mother 's shepherd 's pie recipe. It
truly is wonderful.

"Really ?"Albus asked after handing the clip to Lily."After all that ? She interviewed half the family and only quoted a few of us ?"

"I 'm guessing the balance could n't really be used for the type of clause she was going for,"Saint James the Apostle pointed out."Notice how she only included stuff Samantha and lindy hop said."

"And she made it seem like the lensman just happened to use up pictures of us playing secret plan with Uncle Percy,"Albus said."All of that was staged."

"That 's journalism,"Ginny said."Not good journalism, mind you, but it is fairly common practice."

"I guess it could have got been worse,"Albus said.

"Yes, it could have been,"Ginny agreed."I think we 're all just grateful she did n't stay for Christmas dinner."

James laughed."I wonder how she would 've twirl that. I 'm mystify no one 's figured out that Uncle Sir Henry Percy does n't really like that Georgia plays Quidditch."

"Keep your mouth shut about that, James,"Ginny said quietly.

"Anyone with half a brainpower could see it,"James muttered.

Albus said nothing. He still was n't completely sure as shooting that saying aught about Laurentis figuring that out was the the right way thing to do. But he could n't exactly say anything, not when all his cousin and lusterlessness had agreed not to.

"James,"Ginny said."sufficiency. And I suggest you use the remainder of your break to study for those O.W.L.s. June is a lot Sooner than you think."

St. James the Apostle certainly did a good job of pretending to study for the remainder of the holiday, while shut up in his room for his punishment. Albus noticed that while he always had a book cracked afford nearby, to snap up when one of their parents walked into the way, it was always the same book, opened to the same varlet. Albus was amazed neither of his parents realized that, but he supposed both of them had their minds on Percy 's election. Albus finished all his prep before the weekend, leaving him with two blissful days of doing nothing. On Saturday he, along with his parents, James, and Lily, visited Kaden and his family for a late Christmastide and New year 's celebration. Albus was relieved that Kaden 's grandparents were n't there.

Monday arrived and it was prison term to go back to Hogwarts. Albus was quite glad about this because he had grown bored of staying at home and doing nothing and was sick of being in such close stern with St. James the Apostle and Lily. At least in Gryffindor column they kept to their own group of friends. But mostly, Albus wanted to get Amanda 's proceeds on the conversation they overheard at the rector 's Mansion.

"Everyone 's staring at me,"Amanda said as she entered the compartment Albus, rosebush, Matt, St. John, and Kaden were occupying."Took me ages to find you, just because multitude kept wanting to talk to me. It 's that dazed magazine clause. Now everyone knows I 'm the Prime Minister 's niece."

"It was bound to happen sooner or later,"Rose pointed out."But I 'm sorry. If I 'd known the newsperson was going to talk about that, I would n't have invited you for Christmas."

"No, it 's hunky-dory,"Amanda said as she sat down."I 'm happy I went. It 's just annoying. Guess I know how it feels to be you lot."

"Except us,"John said as he gestured to himself and Kaden."We 're normal."

"You 're convention, John,"Amanda said."But Kaden 's Harry Potter 's low gear cousin once removed or something."

"And that really makes me wonder how I got wrapped up in all this,"John said."My parents just are n't nearly as ambitious as yours all are."

"How was that political party, by the way ?"Amanda asked.

"Mostly boring,"Albus said."But we did twine up in a petite closet with my cousins Georgia, Bradley, and Cedric and overheard a conversation between Laurentis and her campaign manager."

"You what ?"St. John exclaimed."And you did n't think that warranted an owl ?"

"We wanted to recount you in person,"Albus said."The conversation was really weird."

"Tell us !"Amanda said.

Albus explained what he overheard, with assistant from flatness, who had been able to learn it a bit Sir Thomas More clearly. whoremonger and Kaden looked slightly uncomfortable when they finished, but Amanda did n't seem at all surprised or upset.

"That ca n't be just,"John said."What do you recollect she 's planning ?"

"That 's just it, I do n't have sex,"Albus said."And all my cousin-german and Matt agreed not to say anything-"

"They 're right, of course,"Amanda said."You 'd just invoke up trouble. Your uncle has got to focus on convincing multitude he 's the right one for the job, not discrediting everything Laurentis says."

"But she 's going to try and convince everyone my dad 's a bad Auror,"Albus pointed out.

"Your dad is n't running for government minister,"Amanda said."And honestly, I do n't guess she 's going to be able to convince all of wizarding United Kingdom that your dad 's incompetent by April."

"But what about the GA thing-"

"Albus,"Amanda said as she stared directly at him,"this is what politicians do. Half the campaign is spent trying to convince masses the adversary is bad for the job. As very much as it should just be spent on trying to convert people they 're right for the job, candidates just do n't do that. confidence me. My uncle 's on his s terminal figure. I know how these affair work."

"I guess,"Albus said. He felt slightly better about it, now that he had Amanda 's judgment, but he still felt ill at ease."Something is going to happen at the Azkaban debate, though. She wanted her campaign coach to dig something up."

"Worst guinea pig scenario, she figures out that your uncle Walker Percy does n't really approve of Georgia 's Quidditch career,"Amanda said."Then he 'll give an interview and say that at first he was n't because he was interest about her future but then he saw her play and now he realizes how good she is and blah, rant, bombast. It 'll be fixed."

"She 's right, Albus,"rose said. The others nodded.

"How do you know all this ?"Albus asked."I mean, seriously."

"I 'm an excellent eavesdropper,"Amanda said with a grin."And all without Extendable Ears."

"Amazing,"John agreed.

"It 's simple, really,"Amanda said."Be the kid in your family that goes unnoticed. My elder sister is the drama queen mole rat, so everything that happens to her, no matter how minor, is a huge wad. My slight chum is a holy terror who demands constant attention. Me ? I 'm the quiet one. They 'll deliver whole conversations about stuff in nominal head of me that they 'd never have in front of either my brother or sister."

Kaden laughed."Bet that changed when you found out you were a witch."

"At first, but then me being a witch became normal,"Amanda said.

Matt let out a low whistling."Wish I had that acquisition. I still ca n't even go into the Saami room as my parents without one of them asking me if I feel okay. Bit of an exaggeration, but still."

"I think my parents spent too much of their puerility eavesdropping on people to give me a decent chance at it,"Albus said."They know all the tricks."

"So do mine,"Rose said."I swear my mum can sense an extendible Ear a geographical mile away."

"I think I 'm too loud,"privy said.

"Same,"Kaden agreed.

"So, would you trust me if I said I actually wanted to go to the Azkaban debate ?"John asked as he opened a box of Bertie Bott 's Every Flavor Beans.

Rose burst out laughing."Really, John ?"

"Yes, really,"John Lackland said, popping a bean into his mouth."Butter, weird. If Laurentis is going to do something, I want to be right there to find it."

"Maybe you 'll get lucky and you 'll get picked,"Amanda said."I hope I get picked for one."

"I bet they 'll let you go to all of them now, being the blossom Minister's niece and all,"lavatory said.

"Not necessarily,"Amanda said.

"You can always subscribe my spotlight, John,"Matt said as he got up to steal a handful of John 's Bertie Bott 's."full-of-the-moon moon 's on Friday, so I wo n't be going."

"Maybe you can convince gentlewoman Pomfrey, since it 's educational,"Kaden said.

mat popped a bean into his mouth and then promptly spew it out."Ew, dirt. Does n't count what Madam Pomfrey says. Day after the full phase of the moon synodic month ? I 'll be asleep. You 'll just consume to take notes and let me get it on what happens."

lavatory groaned."I 'll pass on your spot if I have to take notes."

"Someone 's going to birth to necessitate notes either way,"lustrelessness said."I 'll ask them for the essay that Embry will assign."

"Do n't worry, I 'll take notes,"Rose told him.

"Thanks,"Matt replied."Now, who 's wants this bean ? It looks just comparable dirt, but it could be chocolate."Matt held up a suspiciously brown bean.

"I 'll hire it !"John said. He took a flyspeck nybble, screwed up his face, and threw the rest of the bean back at matt, hitting him square on the forehead."Thanks, Paraguay tea, another dirt."

Albus laughed and took a smattering of beans. The remainder of the trip was much more lighthearted than their conversation about the campaign tactics of Laurentis and Percy. They finished off John 's Bertie Bott 's, growing braver as the box emptied. Albus stopped after he got a vomit flavored one, but enjoyed it immensely when Kaden ate one of the same sapidity. The train ride went quickly and soon they arrived in Hogsmeade station with Hogwarts, Albus 's second home, just a unforesightful coach sit away.


Sorry for the late update ! My cousin got married on Friday so I was gone the all weekend and did n't give my computer with me. Thanks to my sister, Linda, who in my family line, is just the like Amanda and can listen in on everyone. She gave me the idea for that. Thanks for all the lovely reviews !


"This terminal figure we will focalize on how the first and moment state of war against Voldemort shaped how the Ministry of legerdemain is organized today,"Professor Embry announced after the bell rang for Tuesday 's politics category."This part of the year will overlap with your History of Magic class quite a bit, although I 'd hazard a guess that none of you pay tending in History of legerdemain, not that I blame you. I never could delay awake in that socio-economic class either.

"First, we will take a nigh tone at exactly how the Ministry was organized prior to Voldemort 's rise to tycoon and why it was such a job,"Embry continued."Part of the rationality why Voldemort was able-bodied to rise to great power as quickly as he did was because the Ministry was susceptible to a takeover. Since then, precautions have been taken to prevent a standardized post. Does anyone know the chief difference between the Ministry before Voldemort and the Ministry now ?"

A few men went up in the air, including Amanda 's. Albus knew the answer, but he did n't really want to farm his hand. He preferred listening during class.

"Yes, Miss tagger ?"

"The Minister was n't elected,"Amanda said,"which is odd because the Muggle pastor is elected, variety of. It 's not like in the United States, but the world votes on which party will be in power."

"Exactly,"Embry said."Prior to the reorganization of the Ministry of conjuration in 1998, the curate was appointed by the Wizengamot. Can anyone tell me why that is a job ?"

Amanda 's hand shaft into the air once more. She was even faster than Rose in this class.

"misfire tagging program ?"

"It was bad because the citizenry had no mightiness. Only the Wizengamot had any major power in the Ministry, because they were the ones who appointed the Minister, who then appointed all the early official. No one had any say in anything."

"rightfulness again. Ten stop to Gryffindor,"Embry said."The Wizengamot, prior to 1998, was a chemical group of very influential crone and wizards, mostly pureblood, who essentially ran the Ministry of magic trick. They also served as the judicial system. These beldame and hotshot inherited their stern on the Wizengamot from kinsperson phallus because each influential family in the British people wizarding populace once held a fanny in the Wizengamot. The trouble with this are obvious because it meant that only purebred and a blue-ribbon few half-bloods had any color of power."

Albus was scribbling furiously. He knew the basics of the political arrangement just from overhearing his parents'conversations, but the detail were hazy. Now that he was learning the gritty inside information, he wondered why it took so long for the Ministry to be reorganized. It seemed like it was based solely on profligate position and how a lot money somebody had, which was n't right.

Embry continued to explain the old Ministry and the various power that each individual or group of people in the Ministry had prior to Voldemort 's sovereignty. By the end of the lecture Albus had just over a foot of notes, which was good because Embry had already set them an essay.

"Before you leave, I 'll annunciate who will be attending Saturday 's debate,"Embry said after he finished lecturing."Like last prison term, Albus Potter, Rose Weasley, and Matt Eckerton will be able to see. The two Hufflepuffs who will be attending are Elaine Asterly and Parker Wayland. The two Gryffindors are Amanda Tagger and Ethan Kesse. You will account to the Great Hall at ten and hold for program line from the prefects waiting by the doors. Everyone else will be listening to the argumentation via wireless in the Transfiguration classroom. I expect an essay on which prospect you feel made their point better by adjacent class. You are dismissed."

"I guess I wo n't get to go to all the disputation after all,"Amanda said as they left the classroom.

"This one will be good, though,"Rose said."You 're favourable they picked you for it."

"Wish I got picked,"John lamented.

"I 'm telling you, just go instead of me,"mat insisted."William Tell them I 'm ill and you 're taking my spot."

"I really do n't recall they 'll let-"

"planning on being ill on Sat, are you ?"

Albus and his friends stopped in the center of the corridor, turning around to see Scorpius Malfoy behind them, his arms crossed across his dresser. He looked self-important and vaguely annoyed as usual, but there was something else there. He looked slightly upset and for some reason, that unnerved Albus.

"Give it a residuum, Malfoy,"St. John the Apostle said, stepping closer to the Slytherin."We get that you know. We 've gotten over it."

Scorpius stepped skinny, ignoring can and turning to Matt."How do you get into the shrieking hut ?"he demanded.

Matt 's fount paled. John grabbed cargo area of Scorpius 's robes and dragged him into a nearby schoolroom. John had at least four inches on Malfoy, so it did n't look difficult. Albus and the others followed, rose wine shutting and locking the doorway behind them.

"Why do you need to know about the shrieking hutch ?"John asked as he let go of Scorpio.

"None of your business,"Scorpius said, glancing at the put away door. He slowly drew his wand.

John drew his own wand."Put your wand away. And it 's his business which makes it all of our business."bathroom gestured to Matt, who had sat down on one of the desks.

"There 's five of you. Like hell I 'm putting my wand away. So I am right, he does transmute in the Shrieking shack,"Scorpius said with a sly grinning. The look of lugubriousness Albus thought he 'd seen was gone ; maybe he 'd imagined it.

"John !"lustrelessness exclaimed."Now look what you 've done !"

"Sorry,"trick said."I did n't intend to-"

"Never mind,"Matt said, getting up from the desk and walking over to can and Scorpio."How did you work out it out ?"

"Where else could you transform safely ?"Scorpius asked."I did a lilliputian inquiry in the library and that was built the summertime before Remus lupine started at Hogwarts and everyone knows he was a wolfman. No one ever lived in it, but people reported hearing Wyrd stochasticity from it. Everyone said it was spook, but they went strangely quiet seven geezerhood later, only to reappear four and a half years ago, when we started at Hogwarts. Quite a concurrence, I thought. And now I see that I 'm right."

Albus was sort of shocked Scorpius had done all that research and put everything together. Perhaps he was smarter than Albus and his ally gave him credit for.

"Well, you ca n't tell apart anyone, just like you ca n't enjoin anyone I 'm a loup-garou,"flatness said."Kendrick would expel you."

"I do n't care that it 's where you transform,"Scorpius said."The point is that it 's empty except for one nighttime of the month. How do you get in ?"

"I 'm not telling,"matte said.

"mulct, I 'll work out it out myself,"Scorpius said, pointing his baton at the door. The lock chamber clicked and he strolled over to the door, opened it, and left.

"That was unearthly,"Albus said as soon as Scorpio was gone.

"Yeah,"matte said, sitting down on the cheeseparing desk."Why does he want to get in the Shrieking shack ?"

"Clearly he needs someplace that 's hollow, but the question is what is he planning on doing ?"blush wine asked."And did anyone else notice that he seemed a bit sad in the corridor ?"

"I thought I 'd imagined that,"Albus said.

"You did n't. He 's definitely upset about something,"Rose said.

flatness groaned."He ripe not actually calculate out how to get in there."

"If he does, he would n't be dumb enough to go in there during a full moon Moon,"Albus pointed out.

"Yeah, but still. That 's my quad,"matt muttered."I need a nap. I think I 'm going to bound off dinner and just go back to Gryffindor. I 'll see you later."

flatness hopped off the desk and left the room. Albus sighed. The live matter he wanted, amidst all of the election stuff and nonsense and his family 's drama, was another issue with Scorpius Malfoy, but it looked like things were heading in that guidance.
***


The following morning time when Albus and his friend entered the Great Hall for breakfast the bookman already eating were much gaudy than rule. Albus turned to Rose, who shrugged in confusion, as they walked inside. Everyone in the room, students and teachers alike, were talking ominously. written matter of the prophesier were exchanging script faster than the Quaffle during a Gryffindor/Slytherin compeer.

"Albus !"William James shouted once they reached the Gryffindor table."Read this. There 's been a break-out at Azkaban."

"Again ?"Albus exclaimed, hurrying over to where King James was sitting. He took the newspaper publisher and his friends crowded around him.

"Not like net time,"James II said darkly."High-profile prisoners and more of them. Death Eaters. There has n't been a break-out like this in years. Not since our parents were our age."

Albus 's affectionateness began to Syrian pound as he unfolded the paper. There it was, right on the front page. A big photo montage of five people, all gaunt and evil-looking, was right in the middle, with the words 'Five Prisoners Break Out of Azkaban'above them and an article below them. Albus 's venter churned when he recognized the photograph of the middle prisoner. It was Quinton Willinson. His eyes drifted to the clause so he could forecast out who the others were.

Early this morning Azkaban officials
reported that five high security prisoners
escaped late stopping point night. It is ill-defined how
they managed to do so. The prisoner, all
imprisoned for felonies, should be regarded
as serious and should not be approached.

Four of the five prisoners have been in
Azkaban since 1998, having been imprisoned
for war crimes. They are Alecto Carrow,
Amycus Carrow, Fenrir Reb, and Dolores
Umbridge. All but Umbridge are proven Death
eater. The fifth prisoner, Quinton Willinson,
has been in and out of prison since 2018,
having escaped and been recaptured just hold out
twelvemonth.

'Finding and recapturing these person is
our top priority ,'head word Auror, Harry Potter,
said to newsman early this morning. Minister
prospect and Head Azkaban official, Patricia
Laurentis, refused to gloss on the break-out.
The Auror department has asked all those with
tips to cover them to the Ministry via owl
immediately.

Albus sat stunned after reading the article. Three Death feeder, Dolores Umbridge, and Quinton Willinson had escaped from Azkaban. How did that happen ? How did five high gear security measure prisoner just escape with no one stopping them ? It did n't get sense.

"This is not going to ready Laurentis count good,"Amanda said quietly.

"Forget Laurentis, this is bad,"Albus said."Very bad. Umbridge is malevolent, wriggle evil. My dad 's got mark on his bridge player from what she did to him when she was a teacher here. And the Carrows, they were teachers, too. They taught shadow Arts. Not defence reaction, but real Dark artistic creation, and how to excruciate Muggles. Greyback-"

"Greyback bites people, for fun,"Matt said, his face blanch Edward White."He 's the one who bit chemise 's dad."

"The four of them,"Albus began,"the four of them make Quinton Willinson look like a unicorn."

"That 's the weird matter,"Rose said."The others are in prison for life for war crimes. Willinson will be in there for a while, but he 'll get parole eventually and the only reason he 's a high security prisoner is because he escaped before. So why did he divulge out with the others ? Why did they let him in on it ? They 're up to something."

Albus had n't even thought of that. Why was Quinton Willinson now connected with war criminal who had been in prison since before he was born ? It did n't make sense. Albus thought about it throughout all his family that day, but did n't amount up with any answers.

It was obvious that the Azkaban break-out had unnerved the entire castle. Professors spoke in low whispers when they thought students were n't around, students no longer wandered the castle by themselves, and even Scorpius Malfoy seemed a bit more chasten during dueling practice on Thursday.

All five prisoners still remained at large on Fri, when Ministry official began arriving for the argument. Laurentis still had yet to point out on the break-out, which struck Albus as strange. Azkaban was her territory and yet she said zilch on the subject.

"Is it just me or are there even more reporter here than there were terminal clip ?"Albus asked.

"It 's not just you,"Amanda said.

Albus, Matt, john, and Amanda were walking back to the rook from tending of Magical Creatures. It was slow going since the full moon was that night and matte was exhausted, but luckily the weather condition was unseasonably warm for January. They 'd just been passed by a radical of hurried looking reporters coming up from Hogsmeade.

"There 's probably more because of the break-out,"matte said."Laurentis is going to have to finally say something about it tomorrow since the subject is Azkaban."

"Does anyone else think it 's weird that there was a break-out three days before the Azkaban debate ?"Albus asked.

"I thought of that, too,"Amanda said."Very eldritch coincidence."

"fountainhead, it 'll be good for your uncle,"John said."Laurentis is going to search like an idiot, not being capable to celebrate five high security prisoners in Azkaban."

Albus nodded. He supposed that was one estimable thing that came from three Death eater escaping from Azkaban, not that there was anything good about it.

"I 'm skipping appeal,"mat said through a oscitancy."And antediluvian Runes."

"I 'm storm you did n't skip Care of Magical Creatures,"Saint John said.

matt shrugged."I felt okay earlier, probably because of the nap I took in story of Magic."

John laughed."I felt much better after my nap in History of Magic, too."

"Very funny,"mat said as they reached the castle.

Albus found it increasingly unmanageable to rivet on anything for the respite of the day. By the time he went to Ancient Runes he was unable to think about anything besides the break-out and the fact that Death eater were now roaming free. Deep down he knew he was perfectly safe at Hogwarts, but it was still troubling.

prof Kendrick welcomed the Ministry official to Hogwarts at dinner that nighttime and Albus thought back to the close debate, when Hogwarts had housed the Ministry functionary. He was very glad that this time he would n't be confessing to a prank to his uncle in the Gryffindor common room. Neither John or Kaden had done their retaliation prank to the Slytherins yet and Albus sort of hoped they would n't.

After a spasmodic slumber Albus woke early on Saturday morning and contemplated visiting Matt before everyone else woke up, but figured that lusterlessness would be asleep and thus it would be pointless to chew the fat. He 'd chat with everyone else later, after the debate. They 'd have plenty of sentence sine there was n't going to be a motion and answer session this time.

At ten o'clock Albus, rosebush, and Amanda stood in line in front of the Great Hall, waiting to be let inside. John had decided not to devil asking if he could drive matt 's place, since he did n't need to attract any attention to the fact that matt was not there.

"Albus,"Rose whispered, poking him in the side."Look. Malfoy 's here."

Albus glanced over to where Rose was pointing and saw that Scorpius was in fact waiting in product line. He looked sullen and swage again and Albus wished he knew why. It was weird seeing Malfoy, the usually arrogant prick, upset.

"Guess he won the Slytherin spot,"Albus said.

The threshold to the Great Hall opened and Albus and Rose said so long to Amanda before they were lead to the front of the room by a Slytherin prefect. They were seated in the Saame row they were before, along with the rest of their Hogwarts cousins.

The Great Hall slowly filled up over the side by side half minute. The respite of Albus 's cousins, aunts, and uncles arrived, taking blot in the straw man few rows. Albus caught Georgia 's eye as she took her buttocks in the row on the antonym slope of the room from him and she gave him a slight grin.

Albus wondered if Laurentis 's movement managing director had actually found anything on Uncle Percy and whether she would say anything during the disputation. With the break-out, he hoped she 'd been too busy to dig up much dirt or even think about exposing anything.

Albus turned to the front of the way and watched a very short man accompany professor Kendrick to the moderator 's podium. He was dressed in Ministry blueness robes and had very piffling hair on his head.

"Attention, please !"Kendrick shouted. The crowd quieted."Thank you. I 'd like to welcome all of you to Hogwarts and introduce our moderator for this morning. superior Farleigh, Head of the department of Magical Transportation."

"Thank you, professor,"the shortstop, balding man said."I 'd now care to introduce our candidates, although I am sure you all know them. Mr. Percy Weasley and Ms. Patricia Laurentis."

Percy and Laurentis walked into the way from one of the antechamber and took their stead at each of the stump. Percy looked as confident as always and Laurentis, despite the scandal of the break-out, looked poised and excited.

"Today we will be debating the juridic system, specifically Azkaban prison house,"Farleigh announced."The usual dominion apply. Five minute arguments, two minute rebuttals."

Laurentis inched close to her podium, as if she was readying herself to swoop on whatever Hotspur said. Percy remained lull and collected, continuing to bet the role of the chill politician.

"Mr. Weasley, you will respond first. Do you sense that the juridic system as a whole is evenhandedly to both the accused and victims of crimes ? Are the time handed out by the Wizengamot carnival ?"

"I believe everyone is capable to get a clean run by the Wizengamot,"Percy began."I have reviewed many sheath, and while I am not nor do I make to be a solicitor, and I feel that the absolute majority of the sentences handed out by the Wizengamot fit the crime. However, there is always a chance that a somebody hangdog of a offense will go free, as there is an equal chance that individual will be wrongfully imprisoned. The juridical system works tough to make sure this happens as infrequently as possible and corrects damage when they do occur."

"Ms. Laurentis ?"

"I disagree with my resister,"Laurentis said."Most of the time handed out by the Wizengamot are not rough enough. Ever since the defeat of Voldemort prison house sentences have grown shorter, with the exception of those imprisoned for war crimes. And one shamefaced person who roams unloose is too many. If I am elective Minister I will function hard to see that no guilty mass get off. Prisoners belong in Azkaban and the Wizengamot is far too lenient."

"Your rebutter, Mr. Weasley."

"While a goal of not having any guilty people get set disengage is worthy, it is unrealistic,"Percy said."The Wizengamot is composed of enchantress and superstar like you and me. They are not any more brawny than we are and do not possess the ability to have it off for indisputable that the accused are guilty. mistake happen and while we should solve to denigrate them, it is very unrealistic to say that we can get rid of them completely. Ms. Laurentis is offering false hope."

"I am not offering false hope,"Laurentis said."There are spells, potions, ways to find out if people are guilty that the Wizengamot does not use. If I am elect minister of religion I will O.K. use of these and they will help the Wizengamot in ensuring that no shamefaced felon are set free."

Albus agreed with his uncle. There was no possible way Laurentis could guarantee that all outlaw would be imprisoned.

"Next question,"Farleigh said."Ms. Laurentis, you will go first. Do you finger the watchword system is effectual ?"

Laurentis gave a wry smile before beginning."Much like the Wizengamot, the parole system is too lenient. I have seen criminals guilty of grand thievery get paroled after a mere two eld in prison. The statistics are clear, virtually of these criminals who are paroled early on in their prison term wind up back in Azkaban within a class, whether for breaking the rules of their password or committing another offence. As Head of Azkaban, I am able to ease up my input of whether a prisoner is paroled or not, but in the end it is up to the Wizengamot."

"Mr. Weasley."

"As my opponent has said, many criminal are paroled too quickly. However, I do not believe that leaving them in Azkaban yearner is the answer. If I am elected I will create and support a better organisation for integrating criminals back into beau monde. Muggles have seen succeeder with halfway home and I feel we should try that in wizarding society."

"Halfway houses ?"Laurentis said with raised eyebrows."An intriguing estimate. However, Mr. Weasley lacks the experience that I have with dealing with prisoners. most are not fit for society and many never will be. Even with halfway home they will wind up back in Azkaban. Why spend the money on trying to rehabilitate when it wo n't work ?"

"It 's about giving mass a chance,"Harry Hotspur said."Not everyone is a befuddled cause and should be written off so quickly. Many prisoners have made a few bad choices as a result of bad childhood and a bit of reclamation will set them straight."

"Thank you, Mr. Weasley,"Farleigh said."Next question. Is Azkaban an appropriate piazza to house prisoner ? Is the deftness still doing its job ?"

Hotspur shifted a bit before answering."Azkaban is an appropriate quickness for high up security measure captive, but I have always felt that we need a less intimidating building to house our bring down security captive. Right now all outlaw, from those who committed petty thieving or skipped bond to those who have murdered people, are all housed in Azkaban. I have been to Azkaban. Despite the fact that it is no longer in ascendency of the dementors it is still a terrifying and senior high school security place. It also requires a lot of money for its upkeep. If we were to build a belittled construction located on the mainland to house lowly security prisoner, we would be capable to lessen outgo at Azkaban itself. We could then increase certificate at Azkaban without wasting feat and money on less dangerous criminals."

"Ms. Laurentis."

"How is building another facility going to save money ?"Laurentis asked."Once again you show your ignorance in the judicial arrangement and Azkaban. I believe that Azkaban is doing its job perfectly well. I am in charge of the prison house, including its upkeep and it is in perfect condition. We are not spending an hideous sum of money on the property. Further, I do not think that less serious criminals deserve a lower security prison. They are all criminals and if they did not wish to be in Azkaban, they should not have committed a crime."

"Maintaining Azkaban is expensive,"Sir Henry Percy said."It is also extremely difficult to rent safety because of its location and general look of the place, not to mention the dangerous criminals. If we housed less unsafe criminals in another building, it would be easy to encounter safety to work there. We could then use the safety willing to defend high security measures prisoner only to guard gamy surety captive. We would no longer let to devastate them on modest security prisoners."

"But we will still let to assert Azkaban, and then another building,"Laurentis pointed out."It just makes far more gumption to keep all malefactor in one place and an island is a estimable place to do that-"

"Obviously not that good, given the escape-"

"Mr. Weasley,"Farleigh interrupted."You are speaking out of turn. It is time to move on to the next motion. In Light Within of the recent Azkaban break-out, what do you feel motive to be done to ensure it does not happen again ?"

Laurentis gazed out over the crowd. Albus felt like she was looking directly at him, but assumed she just had that ability to come out to be looking every person in the eye at once. She then turned to Percy and gave him one of those creepy grin that seemed to have become her signature nervus facialis expression. Albus turned to Rose, who raised her supercilium and shrugged.

"I am well aware that I have remained quiet on the subject of the break-out,"Laurentis began,"and I have done that on intent. I see that all of the reporters in the back have their Quik-Quotes Quills poised and ready to write down my every word on this theme. Surely you 're all hoping to be the first of all to publish my thoughts.

"You 're probably all assuming I will deny that there is anything untimely with the security department at the prison and that the break-out was a mere trematode and it wo n't pass again. I am not going to say either. There is a job and if we do not fix it, it will come about again. Every ace one of those escaped prisoner is highly dangerous and if we do not retake them soon, who knows what will happen. When they are captured, we will take to have better security in place. After all, what is more authoritative that the condom of our tiddler ? With those five captive roaming absolve, every somebody in this room, in this castle, in this country is in danger.

"Fortunately, I have a solution. It is a controversial solution, but I feel we need to go to extremes to protect our household, especially our nestling. That is why if elected diplomatic minister, the first gear thing I will do is reinstate the dementors as Azkaban guards."


Sorry about the cliff hanger ! I did n't need to do it but the chapter was twice as long as they normally are and there really was n't a ripe place to split it. Thanks for all the lovely limited review !


Albus let out a gasp, as did everyone else in the way. The Great foyer was suddenly in chaos. Everyone was whispering and a few people had let out war cry of outrage or excitement. Albus could practically find out the newsman'quill feather scratching across roller of parchment, and Laurentis was grinning again. Percy stood behind his stump, his mouth seeming to be frozen in a wide, gaping position. Farleigh was attempting to gain order, and failing.

"That is literally insane !"Rose exclaimed."Reinstate the dementors ? Is she mad ? Is she throwing the election ?"

"I do n't have it off,"Albus said."But she must be mad. Will hoi polloi actually approve of this ? Will she even be able to do it ?"

pink wine nodded."Whoever she gets to exchange herself as headway of Azkaban will surely want the dementors back, too. Then she 'll approve it as rector and it 'll pass."

"But it would be pudden-head to bring them back,"Albus said.

"It would,"rose wine agreed."They 're dangerous and their fealty changes so easily. But to be dependable, I 'm not sure everyone will feel that way. Not with those prisoners on the loose."

"Quiet, quiet !"professor Kendrick shouted. The crowd finally settled down.

"Mr. Weasley, it is your crook to speak,"Farleigh said exasperatingly.

Percy shook his school principal to regain his composure. He 'd lost his aplomb, equanimity, and collected politician look and now he looked more like he did after arguing with Georgia about her Quidditch vocation.

"well, I, er, do not believe that dementors are the answer to the protection problems in Azkaban,"Percy said."What we need are more skilled safety in mission of senior high school protection captive as well as a revamp of the charm and enchantments currently keeping prisoners inside. It will also help to go over the organization of the guard schedule because at the time of the outflow, only three guards were maintaining that part of the prison. That was surely an lapse that could suffer been prevented."

"Human error,"Laurentis said."It happens and it will happen again. Can we really risk the life story of our children in the chance that another error will fall out ? Dementors were proven sentry duty who did not earmark prisoners to escape. During their reign in Azkaban, before their allegiance changed, only one person managed to escape. Since their removal we have had numerous escapes."

"clear evidence that we need to revamp prison security,"Hotspur said."But dementors are not the answer. They are dangerous creatures and as you said, their fealty changed. What 's to say that wo n't materialize again if, God forbid, another Voldemort were to wax to power ? If anyone offered those dementors a skillful pot than we did they 'd have a whole prison of dangerous criminal at their disposal to do their bidding. It 's not worth the risk."

"Another Voldemort is not going to rise to power,"Laurentis said with a laugh."We have learned from our history and it wo n't happen again."

"You ca n't warrant that,"Percy said."Even if there is a very pocket-size chance of it happening, it is not deserving risking having dementors guard Azkaban."

"Mr. Weasley, Ms. Laurentis,"Farleigh said."It is fourth dimension to move on-"

"You are talking about a supposed !"Laurentis exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air."I am talking about what is happening now ! Five grievous crook have escaped, four of whom were on Voldemort 's side during the war, and are out there, wreaking havoc as we speak. If the dementors were guarding Azkaban this never would have happened."

"Now look who 's talking hypotheticals !"Percy shouted back, ignoring Farleigh 's vain attempts to get both candidates to halt talking."For all we know they would 've escaped anyway !"

Laurentis let out a oceanic abyss laugh."Five prisoners escape when the dementors are allied with the Ministry ? That 's comic. Only one mortal was able to do that and it was because he was an Animagus. None of the prisoners are Animagi. We test for that before admitting anyone to the prison."

"Be that as it may, dementors are dangerous magical tool. Not to mention the ethical motive of subjecting prisoner to their effects-"

"captive have no rights,"Laurentis said."They give up their rights when they commit crimes-"

"Basic human rightfield !"Percy exclaimed."There are basic human rights that everyone deserves ! Talk about learning from our history. story tells us what happens when someone believes they are above others. Or do you not remember the sovereignty of Voldemort ?"

"I lost my mother to that war !"Laurentis said."Do n't you tell me that I do n't recollect it."

Albus was on the edge of his fanny. His uncle was so red in the expression that he was starting to turn purplish and resemble Kaden 's grandpa. Laurentis 's haircloth was breaking release from its fast bun and there was a nervure popping out in her forehead. Farleigh was still trying to get both candidates to stop talking and failing miserably, while every early someone in the Great Hall sat completely still, staring at Percy and Laurentis.

"Silence !"Professor Kendrick shouted in a magically magnify voice.

Both Hotspur and Laurentis immediately quieted. The mineral vein on Laurentis 's forehead continued to shudder, and Walker Percy still looked like an overripe tomato.

"I think we 've run out of metre,"Farleigh said, in a voice barely more than a squeak."Thank you all for coming."

"pupil, delight return to your common rooms,"Kendrick announced."tiffin will be in an hour. As a reminder, there is no query and answer session today."

The whispering rose up immediately after Kendrick stopped speaking and since everyone was whispering the dissonance stage rose very high. Albus, rosiness, and Amanda joined the queue of people ambling to leave the Great Hall, and without even talking about it, went immediately to the predator 's Den, where they found John and Kaden.

"What the bloody hell is she trying to do ?"privy asked as soon as Albus shut the doorway.

"She 's lost her mind !"Rose shouted as she began pacing around the elbow room."She has legitimately lost her brain. That 's the only explanation."

"well there 's no way she 'll win now,"Albus pointed out."Dementors ?"

"It 's a bit convenient, do n't you guess ?"pink wine asked."This break-out happens and then she announces she wants the dementors back ? It did n't sound like a plan she 'd just come up with."

"We 've got to find out if she 's tried to get them back before,"Albus said."If she has it 'll be in the Prophet tomorrow."

"Dementors ..."Kaden murmured."They 're what sucked all the happiness out of us when we were in Australia last year, right ?"

Albus nodded."They 're awful creatures."

"And they used to defend the prison house ?"Amanda asked incredulously."That 's just wrong."

"It is,"pink wine said darkly."That 's why after Voldemort they stopped using them as precaution. That and all the dementors changed fealty and let Death feeder escape."

"Would they even come back, though ?"Kaden asked."I mean, if they switched commitment so easily ...."

"They 'll go wherever they 're offered the most human race to feed off of."Rose shuddered."Voldemort offered them far more than even Azkaban could volunteer. But right now they do n't have a good reference. They just travel around, feeding. They 'll hold if given the opportunity."

"Should n't hoi polloi be against it ?"Amanda asked."It 's so ethically wrong."

"That 's why it was dumb of her to foretell it,"Albus pointed out.

"She would n't harbinger anything if she did n't think it would get her ballot,"blush wine said."Most people our parents'age and honest-to-god, who lost loved ones in the war, will possess absolutely no sympathy for decease Eaters and would n't deal if the dementors were brought back, especially if Laurentis could then insure no one would escape."

Albus had n't thought of that and apparently no one else did, either, because the elbow room grew subdued. Albus sank onto one of the sofa and started counting the number of Bertie Bott 's Every-Flavor Beans that were scattered on the story. He got to 23 before anyone said anything.

"I wonder what Malfoy thinks of all this,"John mused."Was n't his dad a demise eater ? So he should n't want the dementors back in Azkaban, but the way he was talking in the Three broomstick a spell back made it seem like he 's very against your uncle."

"Of class he 's against my uncle,"Albus said."His whole kinsperson dislike my whole family and it goes the other way, too. But his dad was never found hangdog of his crimes so he never did clip in Azkaban."

"Surely his dad 's got Friend there,"John the Evangelist said.

Albus shrugged."Probably."To be honest, he did n't really give care what Malfoy thought about Laurentis and Uncle Hotspur.

"We should go to lunch and then visit flatness,"rosiness said."arrest him up on all this."

Albus had completely forgotten that matt was still in the hospital wing, in the midst of Laurentis 's annunciation. He felt vaguely guilty about it, but at least Rose had remembered.

Everyone gathered for lunch in the Great manor hall was talking about Laurentis 's desire to bring back the dementors. Percy, Laurentis, and the Ministry officials were still there, having lunch with the prof at the staff mesa, and all were deep in discussion. Albus would 've loved to be able to listen in on their conversations, but wearing the Invisibility Cloak in the crowd together Great Hall was n't a soundly thought.

"Better get used to the idea of your dad being minister,"one of the one-seventh age was saying to Bradley."No one 's going to vote for Laurentis now."

Bradley muttered something under his breathing space that Albus could n't hear. Albus took a seat a few mass down from his first cousin and began to seduce a sandwich.

"She 's got my entirely family 's votes now,"one of the early 7th years said."Both of my grandparents were killed by Fenrir Greyback. If the dementors will enamor him and keep him in there forever, it 'd make all of us sleep better."

There were a few nods from former quondam students sitting nearby. Albus was slightly shocked. If this many student approved of her idea, a lot of adults probably did, too. And these were 7th years ; they could vote.

"Wait, the dementors find crook, too ?"Kaden asked."I thought that 's what Aurors did."

"Only the really dire escaped prisoners,"Albus said."My dad 's Godfather, Sothis, when he escaped, the dementors were given permission to give him the Dementor 's buss if they caught him."

"What 's the Dementor 's Kiss ?"Amanda asked.

Albus shuddered."It 's where they suck out someone 's soul."

"And they die ?"Amanda asked quietly.

Albus shook his read/write head."No, they live without a soul. Everyone says it 's tough than dying."

"And they were going to do that to Sirius ?"Kaden replied.

Albus nodded."He was the first to scat Azkaban. He 's the one Laurentis was talking about and at the time everyone thought he murdered 13 Muggles and gave my grandparents up to Voldemort."

"That 's absolutely atrocious !"Amanda exclaimed. She turned to the few sixth and seventh twelvemonth who had said they 'd vote for Laurentis."How can you like that on somebody ?"

"If your grandparents were murdered by Death Eaters you would, too,"one of the girls snapped.

"Albus 's grandparents were murdered by Voldemort and he does n't want the dementors back at Azkaban,"Amanda pointed out.

"Well, Voldemort 's dead,"the girl said."Maybe if Calidris canutus were suddenly I 'd feel differently. But he 's not so I want the dementors back."

"I do n't suppose she 's going to lose as easily as we thought,"Amanda said quietly.

"Of course she 's not,"blush wine said."This is probably better for votes than digging up dirt on Uncle Percy."

"It 's absolutely wild,"Amanda said, shoving her plate forward."Sucking out person 's soul ? And they just absorb your felicitous retentivity out ?"

"Yeah,"Albus answered, thinking back to the previous June. He shuddered."You 're forced to live over your pip memories."

"That 's all you can think about ?"Amanda asked."Just the bad ones ?"

Albus nodded."My dad said it makes you go mad after a while."

"Of path it does !"Amanda shouted."That 's just not right ! Are you lot done eating yet ? I ca n't sit here anymore."

Albus was surprised Amanda had had such a solid reaction to the dementors, but he supposed coming from the Muggle populace, where she had n't even fuck such fauna existed, it would be a bit of a impact. He was even more surprised that she 'd nearly gotten into a shouting match with a one-seventh twelvemonth over them, when she was normally so quiet.

"I 'm done,"Rose said.

"Me, too,"Albus said as he got up.

whoremaster and Kaden each grabbed the remaining halves of their sandwiches and followed the others out of the Great Hall. Amanda lead the way, stomping her ft a bit more forcefully than was necessary.

"It 's just wrong on so many story !"she said as she led them to the infirmary Wing."It 's overrefinement, honestly. That 's what it is. excited overrefinement. Ca n't they just be killed off or something ?"

"They do n't die,"rose said."They ca n't. They just sort of ... exist. Once my mum gets word of this, well, she 's not going to appease quiet."

"And she should n't,"Amanda said."Can she break off Laurentis ?"

"Not if Laurentis is curate,"Rose answered."Right now Mum 's the elder help of Magical Law Enforcement, so if Laurentis tried to get this to eliminate now, my mum could aid stop it. But Minister Hartwell would never put something like this through."

"They 're foul fauna,"Amanda continued."Having them guard anything or anyone is a terrible idea."

Albus decided now would not be a good time to tell Amanda that when his dad was a third year Hogwarts was guarded by dementors.

"A dementor went after my dad once,"Kaden announced as they continued to the Hospital offstage."Albus 's dad saved him with a Patronus. Then he nearly got expelled for doing underage legerdemain in the presence of a Muggle."

"You 're kidding,"Amanda said."God, the Ministry really was screwed up when your parents were at Hogwarts. This is the sorting of thing Embry should be using as examples."

"I doubt it 's a well-known fact,"Albus said."That the illustrious Harry thrower nearly got expelled."

"It 's a serious example of shabbiness,"Amanda said.

"You sound just like my mum,"Rose said."It 's creepy. Does n't she ?"

Albus agreed."You do sound just like her mum."

"Your mum has the properly approximation,"Amanda said as they reached the Hospital Wing.

matte was the only affected role in the ward. The pall were n't drawn around his bed and he was sitting up and eating a pipe bowl of soup, which was a good star sign. Madam Pomfrey was sitting at her desk, working on charts, and muttering to herself about something.

"Hey, how are you feeling ?"Albus asked when they got to his bed.

"Fine,"matte said."trinity cracked ribs and a lot of nasty cold shoulder, but I 'm fine. Listen, I heard the public debate. Madam Pomfrey had it on on the receiving set. How insane is Laurentis ? ! You should feature heard lady Pomfrey ranting about her earlier."

"You 're not to retell what you heard,"ma'am Pomfrey said."But Albus and Rose, you can tell your uncle that he 's got my vote. Always thought he was a little pompous when he was at Hogwarts but at least he 's not dumb enough to employ dementors as sentry duty of Azkaban."

"Amanda 's on a violent disorder,"Albus said.

"It 's kind of funny story,"John added.

"It is not shady !"Amanda exclaimed."It 's serious."

"It 's just that you 're so quieten, but you got into it with that seventh year."

"I did not get into it with a seventh year !"Amanda shouted and turned to Matt."St. John 's exaggerating. She announced that she and her family were all going to vote for Laurentis because her grandparents were killed by Calidris canutus and she wants to piddle sure he stays in prison."

flatness toyed with his blanket and did n't come across Amanda 's eye.

"What ?"she asked."Do n't tell me you want the dementors in Azkaban."

"I do n't,"Matt said quickly."It 's not that. It 's the whole Greyback thing, I can assort of see where she 's coming from. It 's got to be scary, knowing he 's out there when he killed her grandparents .... I mean, I guess I 've always been sort of lucky. The bloke who bit me is in prison and has been since he bit me."

Albus had never heard Matt talk about the wolfman who bit him, except for mentioning that he 's in prison house.

"He gets out next class,"flatness said quietly."He can get paroled."

"Do you get laid much about him ?"Albus asked.

"Just his name and how old he was,"Matt said."My parents know a bit more but they 've never told me and I 've never asked."

"Is the Aussie prison house guarded by dementors ?"Amanda asked.

matte shook his head."No, and it never has been. And I do n't recall prisons should be guarded by dementors. But knot ... he 's scary. He 's worse than Silas Humphrey, that was the chap who bit me. Humphrey 's fire on me, that was an accident. Reb bit people on function. He 'd prick people and then set up them in his plurality. That 's why he liked going for kids. Teddy 's dad ... Johnny Reb bit him and tried to get his parents to have him up. They did n't, of course, but a lot of parents did."

Albus swallowed hard. He had n't known that about Teddy 's dad and was n't even sure enough if shimmy knew that. Teddy 's dad 's parents died farseeing before Teddy was born and Albus doubted his nan knew that.

"How 'd you find that out ?"Albus asked.

"When we first moved here Amy learned about Teddy 's dad when she was catching up on British history of Magic. She told me all about him and how successful he wound up being just to establish me find better. But then I decided to research other werewolves and found out about Greyback in one of my dad 's Christian Bible. It talked about his hale affair with seize with teeth kids. It never said Teddy 's dad specifically was one of those nestling but I figured he must 've been."

"That 's horrible,"Albus said quietly. The others nodded.

"He had a whole mob of werewolves to do his bidding,"Matt said."And now he 's out. What if he wants to do that again ?"

"bit citizenry and form a ring ?"Albus asked.

Matt nodded."That or find people who 've already been bitten."

Albus saw where this was going now."He 's not going to find you. Hogwarts is safe."

"That 's what everyone always says, but the past times few years it really has n't. Remember last twelvemonth ?"

"Technically we were n't in the castle when we got taken to Commonwealth of Australia. We were in the Floo. So if we just stay in the rook ..."Albus pointed out.

"It 's still not a guarantee,"mat said."I wonder how many mass he bit utmost night."

Albus did n't answer. There was no way of knowing what Fenrir Limnodromus griseus did during the to the full moon, just like there was no way to assure that Hogwarts would be safety. All Albus and his friends could do was hope that it would be safe and that the escaped Death Eaters would be recaptured soon. Albus still thought having dementors guard Azkaban was an absolutely atrocious idea, but after listening to Matt talk about Silas Humphrey and Fenrir Greyback, he form of understood why some hoi polloi might want the dementors back at Azkaban and thus voting for Laurentis. She might even get elected just because of this. And that, when it came down to it, was what scared Albus the most.


A/N : No cliffhanger this fourth dimension ! Thanks for all the wonderful reviews ! If you like vulture era, delight arrest out my young novel, Between Here and Somewhere !


"I guess Laurentis has been trying to get the dementors reinstated in Azkaban for years,"Albus said the following dawn at breakfast, as he set down a written matter of the Prophet.

The article on the argument had been a recollective one, taking up nearly the entire front end Thomas Nelson Page. It featured a photograph of Walker Percy and Laurentis arguing with each other, and Albus was capable to see his uncle 's cheek turning steadily more purple, despite the fact that the mental picture was in Negroid and white-hot. The article that followed detailed Laurentis 's apparently years-long political campaign to bring the dementors back. She had put the proposition up for vote four times and it was shot down by Minister Hartwell each metre.

"Of course he shot it down,"rose wine said after skimming the clause."It 's a stupid estimate. Oh, look, they 've quoted my mum. I 'll interpret it. 'Hermione Weasley, Senior Assistant of Magical Law Enforcement, when asked about Laurentis 's proposal, said, 'It 's absolutely barbaric. Everybody, including prisoners, have basic human right hand that can not be broken. I thought we 'd moved past the days when the Ministry sanctioned emotional ill-usage of its prisoners and the thought that a woman running for Minister is proposing this is quite frankly horrifying. It is my sincere Hope that the people of wizarding Britain will cogitate long and hard about the issue this will have, not only on captive, but on our company as well, before they cast their ballot in April. ''"

"Always one to speak her judgement, your mum,"Albus said.

"I could n't agree to a greater extent,"Amanda replied."Although if Laurentis wins I bet she gets sacked."

"She ca n't,"Rose said."Her job is n't appointed solely by the Minister. If she were head of the department, then yes, but she is n't head yet. It 's confusing."

"Good,"Amanda said."We 'll need some sane the great unwashed in there if Laurentis is elected."

"What are you lot doing today ?"John asked, steering the conversation away from the election."Kaden and I are going to drop the day plotting our new prank."

"I do n't want to know,"Rose said, holding up her paw."I 'm probably going to go to the library."

"I 'll go with you,"Amanda said."I want to research dementors and their use in Azkaban."

"Quidditch practice,"Albus replied."All day. We 've got to get ready for the match on Saturday against Ravenclaw. After the concluding peer, we 've got to make sure we we win by a properly amount of points if we 're going to coup d'etat Slytherin 's shoes for the Cup."

"Oh yeah,"Kaden said."Whatever happened with that Olivia girl ? She had a Brobdingnagian press on James, did n't she ?"

Albus laughed."I 've no idea."

"She sent James a box of chocolates for Christmastime,"Cedric, who had been sitting succeeding to Albus, whispered."But you did n't hear that from me."

"I was there when he opened his presents,"Albus said.

"She gave them to him before we went home for the holiday,"Cedric explained."She hijacked our thestral carriage and wound up riding to the train with us."

"How awkward was that ?"Albus asked, still giggling.

"Very,"Cedric said as he glanced over his shoulder."She stared at him the whole time."

"Creepy,"Albus said.

"Shh,"Cedric said."He 's coming over."

"I think I 'm going to go visit matt before Quidditch practice,"Albus said."I 'll see you later ?"

"Sure,"Rose said."You know where to feel me."

"And us !"John announced."piranha 's Den. trick planning."

"I do n't want to be involved,"Albus said as he got up.

John shrugged."Suit yourself."

Albus hurried up to the hospital Wing and managed to get inside without lady Pomfrey noticing, although the nurse would n't make minded him being there. But she was very bemused with two pupil who had somehow fused their left over weapon system together. Matt was already awake and much sunny than he had been the previous day, when talking about Greyback. He was pretty sure Madam Pomfrey was going to let him out that dark, so they agreed to meet in the vulture 's Den just before dinner.

Quidditch practice went very well and Albus was fairly certain they would beat Ravenclaw on Sat. No one mentioned the election or Laurentis 's wanting to bring back the dementors, which was a sure mark that matter were getting back to rule at Hogwarts. Albus spent the rest of the day in the Marauder 's Den working on his homework with Matt while trying to avert hearing any character of john and Kaden 's new prank.

The week went by quickly since Albus spent every moment he was n't in class on the Quidditch pitching. But the weather remained decent so it was enjoyable. The alone day Albus was n't on the pitch was Th, when he had dueling practice.

"When 's the future tourney ?"Amanda asked as she and Albus walked into the Transfiguration classroom, where they were were scheduled to pattern. heather mixture was there to supervise, sitting in a corner. A few of the team appendage were there already, including Malfoy.

"Weekend after this one,"Albus said."I think we 'll do well."Albus glanced over to Malfoy, expecting some sort of snarky comeback from him. But he was n't even paying attention. Instead he was hunched over a long composition of parchment."Wonder what he 's doing ?"

Amanda shrugged."Last arcminute homework ?"

Suddenly, Malfoy sat up straight and crumpled the piece of parchment. He shoved it into his pocket and stood up, staring at Albus as he did so. He looked glum and averted his eyes after only a few seconds.

"I do n't suppose that 's prep,"Albus said.

"Weird,"Amanda said.

"Very,"Albus agreed."Let 's get started ! I think we should practice blocking."He took a lateral glance at Malfoy, expecting him to scoff and lay claim that they already knew how to stymy, but instead Malfoy just turned to the scholarly person nearest to him and began to do as Albus said. What was even eldritch was that the scholar he partnered with was a endorsement year Hufflepuff. Albus blinked to make sure as shooting he was n't seeing things and then began shooting spells at Amanda while she blocked them.

The practice session got stranger as the Night went on, in price of Malfoy 's deportment. Not once did he second shot what Albus said and he did n't say one word to anyone that was n't directly related to dueling. Heather raised her eyebrows at Albus on numerous occasions since she had supervised Albus 's exercise before and hump how much Malfoy usually tried to be the skipper. He ran out of the elbow room as soon as the praxis was over, looking vaguely upset, as he had at the debate.

"That was the strangest matter ever,"Amanda said as she and Albus walked back to the Gryffindor common way."And I witnessed my brother attempt to brew a potion this past tense summertime and drink it, thinking that it would turn him into a wizard."

Albus burst out laughing."Was he really disappointed that he did n't get a Hogwarts letter ?"

Amanda nodded."I never thought he would but did n't order him that. But do you have any estimation why Malfoy did n't argue with you tonight ?"

"I 've no idea,"Albus said."But I really hope he stays this way."

"I bet it had something to do with whatever he was reading when we walked in."

"I wonder what it was."

Amanda shrugged."No idea, but I wish I did. It 's just so odd."

"Whatever it is, I hope it keeps him like this during succeeding week 's tournament."

"Albus ! What if it 's something really awful ?"Amanda asked.

Albus had n't thought about that."Well, we do n't eff that it is, so I do n't have to think about it."

"Albus, I doubt anything good would give Malfoy shut up like that,"Amanda reasoned."I 'm just saying, it might be something awful."
***


Gryffindor 's disposition to spiel Quidditch during really bad weather came up in full-of-the-moon strength on Sat, when the unseasonably fond temperatures decided to forsake Hogwarts. In its place were freezing moth-eaten temperatures and a howling C storm that probably should hold resulted in the match being canceled. But since Hogwarts never canceled Quidditch, Albus was preparing himself for a miserable match. He wished they could have nice weather, like they had when they played Slytherin in November.

The utmost clock time Albus had played in a storm this bad he 'd been in his second yr and wound up in the hospital wing with the flu afterward. He certainly did not require a repetition of that so he was hoping that Epistle of James would catch the canary sooner rather than later.

"Fred, this is crazy,"Ryan said as they stood in the doorway of the changing elbow room, waiting for the mate to lead off."There is literally no way to see the Snitch in this."

"There 's nothing I can do about it,"Fred snapped. Everyone could tell he was stressed about this match, since they 'd lost to Slytherin."We have to play unless Kendrick calls it off."

Ryan was justly. Albus stared out onto the pitch and all he saw was white. The snow was swirling and blowing and Albus could n't tell if more C. P. Snow was actually falling or if it was all just getting blown around. But either way, finding a sneak in it was going to be cheeseparing impossible.

"I 'll bewitch it,"James said confidently."Do n't worry."

"We 're not going to be able to hear the commentary,"Fred said."Just catch it as soon as you can. Do n't care about catching it after we 're up a certain number of full point. We just need a win at this point."

There was a very muffled, tranquillize roar of clapping and Fred led the team out onto the pitching. The orb were released and Albus flew up into the raging violent storm. Soon, he did n't have it off which way was up or down, let alone where the Quaffle was. After about ten bit of meandering around the pitch, not knowing where he was going, the Quaffle suddenly appeared. Albus caught it, but had no idea where the goal posts were.

Albus flew true ahead, hoping it was in the right direction, but instead of reaching the goal posts, he reached the stands. Groaning, he turned and headed toward the destination post. At least he now knew where they were. He managed to make, mostly because Ravenclaw 's Keeper did n't see him.

The match continued in topsy-turvyness, with no one knowing where anyone else was. Albus did n't see a 1 Bludger the whole time and assumed the Beaters were just trying to proceed cart track of them rather than trying to get them to hit the opponent team 's histrion. Fred had been right about the commentary ; Albus could n't hear a word of it.

It felt like he was playing a match by himself. The only when former players he saw were the Ravenclaw quester, Fred, and Heather. They had given up chasing as a team and instead, when one of them got the Quaffle, they flew it down to the goal posts as full they could.

"Albus, Albus !"individual shouted.

Albus turned and squinted, but he could n't draw out anyone flying near him.

"Albus !"

Albus continued flying in a circle trying to cipher out who it was. He did n't even tell apart their voice, but it could have been distorted by the nothingness. Finally, he began to make out a human body flying toward him. It was Heather.

"Albus !"she shouted once she reached him."The match has been canceled. We 're all to return to our common room mighty now."

Albus nodded, figuring that Kendrick finally came to his senses. It was just impossible to play a good secret plan of Quidditch in a tempest like this.

When Albus and Heather finally reached the changing room they found the relaxation of the team sitting in their wet Quidditch robes, their faces pale. Albus noticed that even Heather looked slightly afraid.

"What 's going on ?"Albus asked.

"You were flying so high, you probably did n't hear,"Fred said as Albus sat down."The mate was n't canceled because of the weather."

"But it 's so bad out there,"Albus said."That match was pointless."

"One of the Ravenclaw commencement years,"Fred continued, ignoring Albus,"she was late to the peer and on her way down she saw-"Fred paused, swallowing hard."She saw Fenrir Reb on the grounds."

"What ?"Albus exclaimed, suddenly feeling sickening."But it 's so snowy. How could she possibly know for sure ?"

"She ca n't, of course,"Fred said."But she went running to Professor Longbottom as soon as she reached the pitch shot and told him. That 's when they canceled the match and sent everyone back to the castle."

As if he heard Fred cite his name, prof Longbottom walked into the changing elbow room, looking scared himself."I 'm going to see you all back to the common elbow room. Wands out as we walk."

Albus drew his sceptre and followed the balance of his teammate out of the changing rooms. They were all quiet on the base on balls back to the castle since the violent storm was still raging. No one would have been able to hear anything anyone said, even if anyone felt like talking. Albus felt too ill to talk. The thought of Fenrir Greyback being let loose was bad enough, after hearing what Matt knew about him, but the thought of him being here, on the Hogwarts grounds, was too awful to even think about.

As they walked up to the castle and then up to Gryffindor tower Albus kept telling himself that it was fully potential that the Ravenclaw girl had n't seen Fenrir Reb. She was probably just thinking about the escaped prisoners and imagined something. Albus had n't even been capable to make out his own full cousin when she 'd been calling his name in this storm. What were the opportunity of a low gear year being able to foot out Fenrir Greyback ?

But still ... what if it had been Greyback ? He had to be somewhere, so why not Hogwarts ?

The common elbow room was buzzing with yack when the squad entered a suddenly while later. Albus avoided everyone, including his friends, until after he went up to his residence hall to take a shower. He was shivering and felt awful and did n't want to talk to anyone until after he was in dry clothes.

To his surprise his admirer were all gathered in his residence hall after he got out of the shower. Bilius and Ethan were n't there, and the door was shut.

"We ca n't go to the predator 's Den,"matt explained."We 're not allowed to allow our common rooms until promote notice."

"Are they doing an investigation ?"Albus asked as he sat down on his bed."And what exactly happened ? Fred only explained a little before Longbottom came to take us back to the castle."

"It was weird,"pink wine said."No one really bang what was happening because it was so snowy and the jazz was so loud. We could n't see the mates, so we were just standing there using a lot of heating charms and hoping affair would be over soon. But then we started hearing susurration about knot on the grounds. Then, probably two minutes later, Kendrick magically amplified his part and told us all that we 're to cover back to our unwashed rooms immediately and to walk back with our baton out and in with child groups.

"So then, even though Kendrick never said for sure, we knew that mortal had seen Rebel on the grounds. It was so scarey. Eventually we found out that one of the Ravenclaw first class thought she saw him on her way to the match and told Professor Longbottom. But besides that we do n't bed much. No one 's told us anything for sure and we 've just been hanging out here and talking."

"But what 's he doing here ?"Kaden asked."And I thought there were Aurors guarding Hogwarts."

"It was planned,"Matt said."Do n't you see ? That tempest out there is so bad that no one can see three feet in battlefront of them and the idle words is so cheap no one can try anything either. It was the perfective tense day for him to sneak onto the grounds, and if that girl had n't seen him who knows what he would 've done."

"So you think she really saw him ?"Albus asked skeptically."You said it yourself, no one can see anything."

"For all we know he said something to her,"mat said."No one knows the full story yet."

"But why ?"Kaden asked."Seems really stupid to me. If he escaped he should be hiding out in the mountains, not going to Hogwarts where there are Aurors."

"Remember what I said after he escaped ?"mat asked quietly."This just confirms it. He 's going to try to create his own werewolf army again. He was insane before Azkaban ; guess how unbalanced he is now. They do n't need dementors in prison to name the great unwashed go insane."

"And you think-"

"That he came to try and figure out how to scoop position himself to bite kids during the full Moon ?"flatness interrupted."Yeah, I do."

Albus shuddered."That 's sick."

"That 's what he does,"Matt said. He looked more worried than everyone else."But what I do n't get is why it seems like he 's trying for Hogwarts kids. Last time he went for really Lester Willis Young kids."

"But we do n't even know for sure that 's what he 's up to,"John pointed out."I mean it makes sense, but we still do n't know."

"Still,"Matt said."You have to promise me you wo n't go out of doors during the to the full Moon. I do n't want any of you joining me in the Shack."

lavatory looked skeptical."There 's other reasonableness why he could be here."

"Promise me,"Matt repeated, staring directly at John."It 's not worth the risk."

John shrugged."Yeah, I promise."Everyone else nodded.

"What about the residuum of them ?"Amanda asked."Do you think they 're working together ?"

"I do n't know,"Albus began."I 'm certain the Carrows are together and Umbridge might be with them. But I doubt Willinson and Greyback are with them. The Carrows were Death eater, but Greyback was n't technically a Death Eater. Voldemort used him, but always thought he was scum because he 's a lycanthrope. The Carrows probably agreed. And Willinson, he 's got no connection, which is why I 'm still confused as to why he broke out with them."

"For all we know they left the door surface and he followed,"John said with a laugh.

Amanda groaned."Everyone 's got their own cell in high security."

"Oh, yeah, I suppose you 're right,"privy said.

"Two demise eater, a war criminal, a loup-garou, and Willinson,"Albus said."It 's so random. Why them ?"

"strait like the offset of a caper,"trick said."Two Death eater, a war outlaw, a werewolf, and Willinson walk into a pub ...."

matte groaned."Do n't even go there. I just really hope they catch him before the next full moon. There was n't anything in the Prophet about him biting anyone this stopping point full moon, but I do n't intend he 'd go two moon without biting. And there 's no way he 'd go on wolfbane, even if he could get some."

"I wonder where the others are,"rosebush mused."You think they 're just hiding out ?"

"They must be,"Albus said."There have n't been any sightings."

There was a knock on the doorway and then it opened. James walked inside and sat down on the end of Albus 's bed.

"Longbottom just came to let the cat out of the bag to us,"he said."We 'll be allowed to leave the common room for dinner, but not before that."

"Did they catch him ?"lustrelessness asked anxiously.

"No,"St. James said."But, Longbottom said the possessor of Madam Puddifoot 's also saw him, so the Ravenclaw young lady probably did see him. They 've scoured Hogsmeade and there 's no mansion of him, though."

"Are they rescheduling the match ?"Albus asked.

St. James the Apostle nodded."following Saturday. effective affair, too, because I do n't think that one would 've ever ended. Do n't tell Fred, but there 's no way I would 've seen the Snitch."

"One upper side to Reb being on the grounds, I guess,"Albus said.

"Lucky he did n't attack that little girl,"Matt said as James left."He attacks people even when he 's not transformed."

"He did that to my uncle Bill,"Albus said.

"Really ?"lusterlessness asked.

Albus nodded."At the end of my dad 's sixth year, the nighttime Dumbledore was killed. He does n't transform, but he likes really rare marrow. Like hardly cooked at all meat."

"Eww !"Kaden exclaimed."That 's gross. time lag, Matt, do you like really rare nitty-gritty ?"

Matt grinned."Yeah. I hardly ever get it, though. Mum refuses to let me eat it because she thinks it 'll make me ill. And they do n't serve it here."

"My uncle eats it all the clock time,"Albus said."aunt Fleur likes her steaks pretty rare, too. So does Teddy for that matter."

"I like mine well done,"Kaden said.

"Now that 's what 's flagrant,"Matt replied."I should ask the house elves to make me rare steak."

"They probably would,"rosebush said."They make you pretty much whatever you want."

"Let 's go tonight,"Matt said."We have n't been down there in ages."

Kaden groaned."So we 're going to make to witness you eating a slice of raw meat ?"

"Not raw,"lustrelessness said."Slightly cooked, bit of rake dripping out."

"Oh, gross !"Kaden shouted."I 'm going back down to the common room."

Albus laughed and lusterlessness grinned as Kaden ran out of the room. There was goose egg like a trip to the kitchens to get their intellect off of Greyback and the other escaped convicts.


A/N : Sorry for the late update ! I totally forgot it was Friday. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews ! Please insure out my Marauders fic, Between Here and Somewhere.


The first year who saw Reb on the grounds became an instant Hogwarts celebrity. By the next day her entire story had spread throughout the student consistence like wildfire, and every single someone in the castle knew her public figure. She was Quinn Gregory XII, a tiny little girl who looked like she belonged in the Weasley kinship group with her long red fuzz and atomizer of freckle across her face. Quinn seemed to be enjoying her newfound fame and always had a crowd of hoi polloi around her, asking her to recount the story.

Albus, himself, had heard the story at least five metre. Quinn had been running to the pitch, late, because she 'd pass a one-half hour trying to convince one of her roomie to go to the equal, but in the end her roommate had decided she did n't need to brave out the storm. Quinn then spotted somebody lurking near the greenhouses and went to investigate, but instead of finding another scholar, she found Fenrir Johnny Reb. Apparently Greyback had said 'hi, little missy'to Quinn, who then took off running even faster for the Quidditch pitch. Rebel then escaped to Hogsmeade and who knows after that.

As the workweek progressed Quinn 's tarradiddle grew until it ended with her disarming Limnodromus griseus after a twenty bit affaire d'honneur and running to the Quidditch slant in order to warn the quietus of the students, rather than because she was scared. Albus was very happy that, for once, this had n't happened to him or one of his champion.

"Guess what I heard today,"Kaden said as he entered the Marauder 's Den Friday evening, after dinner.

"What ?"Albus asked, looking up from the Marauder 's Map, which he 'd spent the last ten minutes studying. John Lackland and lusterlessness were in the elbow room as well, flatness studying and John sorting Chocolate toad frog placard. pink wine was tutoring Elsie Willinson again and Amanda had gone with her.

"Quinn,"Kaden said as he sat down side by side to Albus."She 's now saying that Reb stole her scepter and she got away from him by kicking his kneecaps."

Albus burst out laughing."That 's ridiculous. She 's still got her wand."

"She claims Ollivander 's sent her an claim replica,"Kaden replied.

"But no two wand are the Saami,"John pointed out."Everyone knows that."

"She 's Muggle-born,"Kaden pointed out."She might not."

"But still,"Albus said."She 's taken it too far. No one 's going to believe her now and it 's all going to die down."

Albus laughed as he looked back at the Marauder 's Map. He 'd been checking it, both the Hogsmeade and Hogwarts subdivision, looking for Johnny every so often since last Saturday. He 'd yet to find anything remotely interesting on it, to the lowest degree of all Greyback or one of the former escaped inmate.

"Scorpius is leaving the castle,"Albus said, noticing the dot labeled 'Scorpius Malfoy'was no longer in the Slytherin coarse room, but instead slowly making its way across the grounds.

"What ?"lustrelessness asked, closing his record book."But it 's eight o'clock. And it 's snowing."

"It 's him all rightfield,"Albus said."come see."

matt, King John, and Kaden all crowded around Albus and they watched Scorpio 's dot travel further and further from the castle. There were no other acid on the grounds, except Hagrid 's, and his was remaining stationary behind his hut. It did n't appear that Malfoy was meeting anyone outside, nor did anyone go with him. It was odd, especially in light source of his former odd behaviour.

"I wonder what he 's up to,"Albus mused.

"We should follow him,"St. John the Apostle said."See what he 's up to."

"I agree,"Kaden said."No one goes outside at night during a violent storm for no grounds at all. He 's up to something."

"We 'd get caught,"Albus pointed out.

"And it 's immobilize,"matte added.

"We 'll take your Invisibility Cloak,"John said.

"I do n't think we all fit anymore,"Albus said, not taking his name off Malfoy 's dot.

"Then Kaden and I can go,"John replied.

"No way,"Albus said."It 's my cloak and I do n't want you having it when Filch catches you. He 'll seize it."

"Who says we 'll get caught ?"trick asked.

Albus laughed and turned to look at John."Of course you 'll get caught. And then my cloak will get taken away and I 'll never see it again and my dad will murder me."

"Your dad 's Harry Potter,"privy said."He 's not going to murder his own son."

"If he did Laurentis would love it."Kaden laughed."I can see the headline now. 'Harry potter execution Own Son, Clearly Unfit For responsibility. Weasley Still Supports Him .'”

"Oh shut it,"Albus muttered.

"Wait,"Matt said, staring at the map."He 's going to the Whomping Willow."

Albus looked back at the map and saw that mat was right. Malfoy 's dot was slowing down and circling the tree, giving it a wide mooring."What 's he doing ?"

"You do n't believe he 's figured it out, do you ?"Matt asked.

"Well now we have to go after him,"John said, standing up.

Matt nodded."Come on, Albus, let us study your cloak."

"mulct,"Albus said, knowing that the battle was lost. Malfoy was at the Whomping Willow, which meant that this was now personal for Matt, and therefore, for all of them."But I still do n't sleep with if we 'll all fit."

Albus walked over to his bed and located the cloak in one of the drawers beneath it. He rarely kept it in his dorm anymore, since he and his friends spent far more time in the piranha 's Den than they did in the vernacular room.

"Let 's try it,"Albus said as his friends walked over to him. They stood close and Albus threw the cloak over them.

"one-half my trunk is showing,"John said, turning to look at his still visible arm.

"And all our fundament are showing,"Matt pointed out.

"That 's because Albus and john are giants,"Kaden asked, glancing up at the five inches of space that separated his promontory from the top of the cloak.

"Both of you are going to have to crouch down,"Matt said.

"But what about the fact that half my body is showing ?"John asked, yanking on the cloak.

"Now I 'm not under it at all,"matte said, yanking it back.

"I wish we could do disillusion charms,"Albus muttered."Too bad we do n't learn those until 7th year."

"Rose could probably visualize them out,"bathroom said."We should have her learn them."

"wellspring we do n't have metre for that now and we 're wasting prison term arguing. Malfoy could be in the tunnel by now,"matte said.

"There are Mary Augusta Arnold Ward,"Albus pointed out.

"Still ..."Matt muttered.

"amercement,"John said."Albus and Matt can go and Kaden and I will stay here."

"What ?"Kaden shouted."Why 'd you volunteer me to stay on ?"

"fountainhead, Albus is n't going to let anyone acquire the cloak without him going and flatness has to go since Malfoy 's by the Whomping Willow,"John said."That leaves you and me. I do n't think to a greater extent than two of us are going to fit."

"Let 's go, then,"lusterlessness said, yanking the cloak off of toilet and Kaden and repositioning it over himself and Albus."See you in a bit."

Albus nearly had to run to keep up with Matt and save himself crouched down enough to stay hidden, and that was saying something since usually Albus was much dissolute than Matt. The two of them said nothing on their way down to the figurehead door and were n't noticed by any of the bookman or professors they passed.

"Remember, we 've got to be back before curfew,"Albus said once they shut the front line door."We do n't want to be locked out like back in second year."

"This is summate deja vu,"mat added."Two years ago we caught Kaden messing with the Whomping Willow. That 's when Kendrick added the wards."

"But unlike with Kaden, I do n't reckon we 'll weave up acquaintance with Malfoy after,"Albus pointed out.

The grounds were very silence, the only sound being the crunching of their metrical foot in the blow. Albus carefully vanished their footprint as they walked, while Matt led them down the route to the Whomping Willow. It was very moth-eaten and snowy, which reminded Albus even to a greater extent of the time they got locked out of the castling after sneaking into the Shrieking shack.

"Is he even still there ?"Matt asked quietly when they were halfway to the tree diagram.

Albus paused and pulled the marauder 's Map out of his pocket. Scorpio 's dot was still walking methodically in a circle around the tree."Yeah, he 's there."

flatness nodded and they continued walking. Neither of them had lit their verge, so they slowed down in edict to not be hit by the Willow 's large branches. Finally they reached it and stood just outside its hitting image, waiting for Malfoy to come back around.

The Slytherin boy was wrapped in a dense cloak and pacing with his principal always turned toward the tree. He had his wand out and did n't seem to notice that he had been joined by Albus and Matt. Albus glanced at lustrelessness as Malfoy walked past them, unsure of whether to shout his attending to their presence. Since they were inconspicuous, they could just stand there and watch him.

"There 's got to be a way,"Malfoy muttered."Every Barbara Ward has a weak point. They do n't all finis forever."

Albus could now see that Malfoy was sending various curse and jinxes into the wards, but they were all deflecting away. As he rounded the tree once more, a hex bounced off the Montgomery Ward and nearly hit Albus, who had to jump out of the way to avoid it. His leg slipped out from underneath the cloak in the unconscious process, but Malfoy did n't see it.

"It 's got to do work,"Malfoy said."There 's no former way in ...."

"Into where ?"flatness mouthed. Albus shrugged.

They waited for Malfoy to make another lot around the tree and this time one of the hexes reflected off the wards and toward Matt, who jumped to get out of the way, but tripped over a partially buried corner root instead. He fell over, yanking the cloak down with him, leaving both himself and Albus exposed. Matt let out a stream of expletive and a cry of pain. Albus heard a sickening crush as he fell and hoped it was the corner stem and not Matt 's leg.

"Who 's there ?"Malfoy shouted, aiming his wand at Albus and lusterlessness. He lit it and his face visibly paled."What are you two doing here ?"

Albus lit his own baton. lusterlessness was still sitting in the C."I could ask you the same thing, Malfoy,"Albus said.

Albus pointed his wand at Matt and reached down to avail him up. He was clutching his carpus and his fount was as pallid as Malfoy 's, although for different rationality.

"I said, what are you two doing here ?"Malfoy repeated, not sounding very confident.

"Following you,"Albus said simply, thinking honesty would be the best policy here. After all, all three of them were breaking the rules. Not much item in denying it or making up excuses.

"How did you know I was here ?"Malfoy asked. His sceptre arm was now trembling, although Albus did n't know if it was from the cold or fear.

"Saw you leave the castle,"Albus said."Figured we 'd see what you were up to."

"What do you require with the tree ?"Matt demanded. His phonation sounded pained.

Malfoy 's lip turned up in a sly grinning."Once again, you just confirmed my suspicions. This tree 's how you get into the Shrieking Shack. I did a little more inquiry, and turns out this thing was planted the same yr the screech Shack was built. The same year Remus lupine started going to Hogwarts. That shack 's all boarded up so I figured there must be some form of burrow leading to it and what ameliorate way to hide a tunnel than to put a homicidal Tree above it ? Trouble is, I ca n't handicap the wards. Bet you can, though."

"Why ?"matt asked. Albus heard him inhale sharply and began to wonder if his wrist was broken."Why do you need to get in there ?"

"Ca n't severalize you,"Malfoy said.

"fountainhead, I 'm not disabling the cellblock,"Matt said.

"I 'll estimate it out eventually,"Malfoy said.

Albus wanted to ask him about his behavior at dueling practices so badly. They 'd had another practice session the premature day and again, Malfoy had n't said two words to anyone. It was just strange. Bur Albus figured that even if he asked, Malfoy would n't answer.

"It 'd be dumb, you know,"Matt said."Going into the screeching Shack."

"wellspring I would n't go in on a full moonshine, idiot,"Malfoy said."Believe it or not this has nothing to do with you or your malign side. I could n't care less that you 're a filthy werewolf. I have better things-"

Albus jabbed his wand into Malfoy 's chest, nearly knocking him over in the unconscious process. His center was pounding and he could feel heating rising up in his consistency."You. lease. That. Back,"he seethed.

"Albus, do n't,"matte said.

Malfoy scowled."No. I wo n't, because it 's unfeigned. I do n't care. It was the enigma that I liked and nothing more. You do n't know the half of what 's going on or why I want that Shack. He only uses it one night out of twenty-eight. I want it the other twenty-seven. I do n't get why that 's such a vast deal."

"What 's going on over there ?"a loud voice boomed over the priming coat."Eh, what 're yeh doing ?"

Albus quickly moved his wand and pointed it elsewhere. It was one thing to get caught on the grounds after wickedness but another to be caught threatening another student. He pointed his wand in the direction of the voice and saw Hagrid making his way toward them, his large Newfoundland, Fetch, at his slope.

"Albus ?"Hagird asked as he drew nearer."lusterlessness ? What 're yeh doing out here ? And Malfoy ?"

"Er, nothing,"Albus muttered.

"well, yer breaking the convention so I 'm going to give to take yeh to Longbottom,"Hagrid said and then turned to Malfoy."And you 'll have to see Slughorn."

"infirmary wing,"Matt said."First."

Hagrid turned to Matt and looked at his wrist."O'course of instruction,"he said."What did yeh do ?"

"Tripped over a solution,"Matt said."Landed on a rock."

Hagrid nodded and clapped mat on the back, a gesture clearly meant to comfort him but instead nearly knocked him over again. After he recovered they set off for the rook, walking next to Hagrid. Malfoy followed at a short distance. Hagrid did n't ask them what they were doing by the Whomping Willow again, although Albus had a look he probably knew. After all, he knew why the tree was there and the fact that flatness was a wolfman.

The rook was much empty when they returned than when they had left. Albus only saw a few prefects doing their rounds and realized that curfew must have passed. So lots for not getting in bother.

Hagrid walked them to the hospital fender and left Albus and matte there while he then escorted Malfoy to Slughorn 's bailiwick. Malfoy had remained restrained during the entire walk, but lost the leer he 'd weary when he insulted Matt.

"I thought you lot had grown out of this,"Madam Pomfrey said as she examined matt 's radiocarpal joint."This sneaking about in the dead of night, following people. At to the lowest degree you did n't get locked out this time.

"Yes, your articulatio radiocarpea is definitely broken. But I can mend it quickly."

Madam Pomfrey took her wand out of her robes and pointed it at mat 's wrist. She muttered a spell and instantly, his wrist was healed.

"Thanks,"flatness said, bending his wrist.

"You 're receive,"the nurse replied. She hurried over to a storage locker and returned with a goblet of potion."Take this for the pain in the ass and you 'll be good as new. No need to stay the nighttime. I know you stay here enough as it is. You 're to waitress here until Professor Longbottom comes to collect you."

Matt nodded and downed the potion in one large gulp. Albus sat down next to him on the bed and they waited for Longbottom. Albus did n't reckon Hagrid had seen him with his sceptre pointed at Malfoy, so his penalization should n't be too bad.

"You do n't think he 'll attain you miss Quidditch tomorrow, do you ?"Matt asked.

Albus had n't thought of that."I hope not. Fred would kill me."

The doors to the hospital ward opened and professor Longbottom walked inside. He looked bore and slightly annoyed. He sighed and shook his brain when he saw Albus and Matt.

"You two again ?"he asked."Hagrid said you were on the primer coat after curfew ?"

"Yes, sir,"Albus replied. He always felt Weird calling prof Longbottom 'sir', but figured it could n't hurt in this position.

"Should I bother asking why ?"Longbottom replied.

Albus shook his straits, knowing that telling Longbottom why would n't get them any few detentions, nor would it discontinue Malfoy from trying to forecast out how to get into the Shrieking Shack.

"I 'll hold this easy, then,"Longbottom said."Ten points from Gryffindor, each. And you 'll both attend hold tomorrow, immediately following the Quidditch catch. credit line, in my office. I 'll see you then."Longbottom turned to leave. He nodded to Madam Pomfrey as he walked to the door."dependable nighttime, Poppy."

"trade good night, Neville,"gentlewoman Pomfrey said.

Albus and lusterlessness said safe dark to the nurse and then left the Barbara Ward, both automatically going back to the vulgar way rather than the predator 's Den. If they were caught outside of Gryffindor tower twice in one night they 'd get a much worse penalization than twenty lost distributor point and a detention. Albus thought they 'd convey off easy, to be honest. He wondered what Slughorn had set for Malfoy.

King John, Kaden, Rose, and Amanda were waiting for them when they got back. can and Kaden were smirking.

"Do n't say a give-and-take,"Albus muttered."I knew whoever followed him would get caught."

"Figured you did, seeing as you 've been gone for over an hour,"John said."What 's your punishment ?"

"hold tomorrow after Quidditch and we each lost ten compass point,"Albus said.

"You got off easy,"Kaden replied."If it had been me and Saint John the Apostle we would 've gotten three detentions."

"I think Longbottom took pathos on us because Matt broke his wrist while we were out there,"Albus said.

John laughed."Of course he did."

"Shut it,"Matt said."It really suffer. I was dodging a expletive that Malfoy sent to the Willow that reflected off the wards."

"Did you find anything useful out ?"rose asked."Not that I approve of this."

Albus and Matt explained what had happened, including the component part where Malfoy insulted Matt and Albus nearly hexed him.

"Very odd,"blush wine mused."What can he possibly want the Shack for ? And what did he mean when he said he had other clobber going on ? What other stuff could he possibly have going on besides school ?"

"Whatever he 's got going on with Willinson ?"John suggested."Surely Felix knows what his cousin-german are up to and Malfoy 's always involved with that."

Albus shrugged."Maybe. But why would he postulate the Shack ?"

"Who knows,"John said.

"I bet it 's got something to do with that letter,"Amanda said."And why he 's acting so strangely lately."

"Speaking of acting strangely, Elsie Willinson is still acting weird,"rose wine said."I thought she would 've adjusted by now, but she has n't. She does n't seem to give any friends."

"DOE her blood brother still pick her up from tutoring ?"Albus asked.

"Yeah,"blush wine replied."It 's very odd. I asked her if she wanted to hang out with me and Amanda until curfew, but she said she could n't. So I said maybe another sentence and she said probably not."

"That 's odd,"John said."Clearly they 're up to something."

"They 're always up to something,"Albus pointed out."I 'd screw to experience what it is, though. I wonder if they 've been in touch with Quinton."

"They 'd be stupid to be,"Rose said."Kendrick did n't punish Felix for what happened to Kaden two years ago, telling him if he did it again he 'd get expelled."

"I still say you 've got to figure out what 's up with Elsie,"Saint John said.

"I 'm trying,"rose wine insisted."It 's not as easy as you 'd mean. She hardly negotiation at all."

"Just hold back trying,"John the Evangelist said.

"Team !"Fred suddenly shouted from across the mutual elbow room."Off to bed, all of you ! We 've got a second chance at this and let 's not destroy it by staying up all night."

Albus did n't argue. Turning in early was a good idea and he was actually quite tired after his excursion to the Whomping Willow. He bade salutary Night to his Friend and went up to his quiet, empty dorm room. It did n't take him long to shine asleep and he dreamt of playing Quidditch with Malfoy while the two of them dodged the Whomping willow on brooms.


A/N : Thanks for all the revaluation ! I am doing Camp NaNoWriMo again this month ( probably not a good idea ... ), and I 'm writing this for it, so hopefully I 'll finish up it !



The conditions for the rematch was vastly dissimilar from the previous Sabbatum 's weather. The sky seemed to be all out of snow and the sun was shining. Although it was still bitterly cold, there was picayune fart. Albus hoped the mate would be a long one since as soon as it was over, he had to serve detention with Professor Longbottom.

Albus went down to the Great Granville Stanley Hall by himself for breakfast. His early Nox had given way to him waking up far sooner than he normally did. It was nice being able to hang around over breakfast, though, and contract on the upcoming match rather than interact with his Quaker. As he ate, the Great hall slowly filled. He had just finished the close of his orchis when the post owls arrived.

Albus observed the bird of Minerva and did n't recognize any of them. Clearly he was not receiving any military post today, which was a right affair because he was fairly sure Longbottom had owled his parents about his custody. But then he noticed a very large owl holding a red envelope in its oral cavity ; it was a howler and the owl was heading toward the Slytherin table. Albus continued watching it and saw it bring down right in front of Scorpius, who yanked the envelope off the owl 's leg and tripped over the bench in his haste to pull up stakes the way. Albus actually sympathized with him ; it was frightful opening a howler in world. From the speech sound of it, Malfoy did n't quite shit it to a loo or empty classroom. Muffled yelling could be heard coming from the entrance Hall.

Malfoy did n't return to the Great dorm. Albus figured it must have been a particularly awful howler and was wondering what it could possibly have said when his friend sat down side by side to him.

"Malfoy got a howler monkey,"whoremaster said as he started loading his dental plate with bacon.

"I know,"Albus said."Saw him get it."

"Well, we heard the tail end of it,"can said.

"It was awful,"Rose replied.

"What did it say ?"Albus asked."Who was it from ?"

"His dad, I 'm guessing,"John said."It was a man 's voice. We crouched down on the stairs when we saw him. Basically his dad was yelling at him for getting in worry for stunned things when he should be studying and concentrating on his school work and keeping his drumhead down. Then he said something about how Malfoy knows that they, meaning his parents, have far more significant things on their thinker than worrying about Malfoy getting in trouble in schooling. And how they ca n't care about him at school when they 're in use worrying about other things."

"That 's vague,"Albus said."He did n't say what the other things were ?"

"Nope,"Saint John the Apostle said."But Malfoy obviously knows what they are because he was shaking and he ran for the dungeons after the riot blew up."

"I told you the letter he read at practice was about something bad,"Amanda said.

"And now we know it 's got something to do with his menage,"Albus said.

"Maybe they 're going to connect up with Willinson and the Carrows and all them,"matte said."His dad was a Death feeder, was n't he ?"

"Sort of,"Albus said."His granddaddy was, but his dad sort of got caught up in it and he got off. So did his granddaddy, actually. No one really knows why, but my dad vouched for them at their hearing."

"Now that is weird,"matt said."Maybe his grandad is planning on joining them."

Albus shrugged."Maybe, but it just does n't sound right. Listen, I 've got to get to the sales pitch. I 'll see you after."

"Yeah, for detention,"flatness muttered."Going to be a blast."

Albus 's wish for a yearn compeer came on-key. Since the weather condition was cooperating, James put off catching the Snitch until Gryffindor was up by 200 points, instead focusing his attempt on faking dives to keep Ravenclaw 's Seeker away from the sneak. It worked, and three and a half minute later James I caught the canary and won the mate for Gryffindor. Albus was sorely disappointed that he 'd have to leave out the resulting party in the common elbow room, but figured that 's what Longbottom was going for when he scheduled detention for right after the match.

lusterlessness was waiting for Albus in the Great Hall and the two of them grabbed a spry lunch before hurrying to Longbottom 's office. They spent the next two time of day writing'I will not sneak out of the castle after wickedness'over and over again. By the prison term they were done Albus wanted to coil up and necessitate a nap, since the Quidditch match itself had exhausted him. He and matte decided to spend the good afternoon in the vulture 's Den, just relaxing if not actually sleeping.

When they arrived they found John and Kaden in the midsection of plotting their new clowning. rose wine and Amanda were in the program library, apparently avoiding John and Kaden and their prank.

"Are you two surely you do n't want to be involved with this ?"John asked."It 's going to be legendary."

"It wo n't be worth the custody,"Albus said.

"Seriously,"flatness agreed."If it 's legendary it 's going to signify a lot of detentions."

"Fine,"John said.

toilet and Kaden lowered their phonation, but Albus distinctly heard the countersign 'Weasleys '', 'itching powder ,''Slytherins ,'and 'alarm clocks .'At that percentage point, he really did n't require to live. He and mat decided to set forth a game of chess and attempted to tune out John and Kaden 's whisperings.

"I was thinking the early night and realized if my dad loses his job when Laurentis is elected it 's going to be just like Australia,"matte said as he captured one of Albus 's pawns.

"I had n't thought of that,"Albus said."Does that mean you 'd propel again ?"

"I do n't sleep together,"lustrelessness said quietly."I really hope not. I guess I do n't think so because the real grounds we moved here was so I could go to shoal, not for Dad to get a new job."

"Then you probably wo n't,"Albus replied, taking one of Matt 's bishops.

"But if he does drop off it, it 's going to probably think of Laurentis disagrees with him on werewolf issues,"Matt pointed out."That could be really bad."

"You never know,"Albus said."There 's other things your dad mass with that they might discord on."

"But my dad 's the most vocal on lycanthrope right field. Everyone knows that,"Matt said."If they 're going to disagree on something, that 's going to be it."

"I guess you 'll accept to await until the argument,"Albus said.

"I 'm thinking of going,"flatness said quietly."It might be awful, but I want to know what she says firsthand, not from the Prophet."

"That makes sense,"Albus said."When is it ?"

"In three weeks,"lustrelessness said."Feb 15th. That 's the only affair ; it 's the day of the Hogsmeade trip."

"That happened lastly Hogsmeade weekend,"Albus said,"when Rose went. Sucks that they do that."

matt nodded."I think I 'll go anyway. I mean, it is the Valentine 's Hogsmeade trip. Speaking of that, is James still going out with that Hufflepuff young woman ? I forgot her name."

"Gabby Ellis,"Albus said."I 've no melodic theme, to be honest. I guess we 'll find out when the Hogsmeade slip comes."

"Just as long as Fred does n't schedule Quidditch practice for that day again,"Matt pointed out.

Albus laughed."He wo n't. None of us minded too much since the conditions was so prissy, but I think if he did it again the solid team would detest him."

"That would make believe an awkward family dinner party, considering over half the team are your full cousin,"lustrelessness said.

"Family dinners with my mob have become awkward by definition,"Albus said."Luckily the next one wo n't be until far after the election."

"Only a little over two months to go,"Matt said."You can form it."

"I hope so,"Albus replied, as he moved his queen in the conduct line of Matt 's power."Checkmate."
***


"Rufus Scrimgeour was the last pastor of Magic to be appointed by the Wizengamot,"prof Embry said as he strolled around his schoolroom. It was the first week of February and the class had finally gotten to the point in time where they were beginning to discuss the sec war."He was appointed quickly, after Cornelius Fudge resigned.

"government minister Fudge is commonly known as the least competent diplomatic minister ever to entertain office,"Embry continued."He refused to believe evidence that was laid out plainly in front line of him, for fear of being known as the government minister who held part when Voldemort returned. Somehow, he thought that if he ignored what was correct in figurehead of him, it would just simply go away. This backfired, of course, because he is now known for being the to the lowest degree competent minister of religion.

"Scrimgeour is seen in a slightly better light than Fudge, although he was curate when the Ministry fell to Voldemort in Aug of 1997 ...."

Albus knew all of this, of course of study. He 'd grown up listening to his parents laugh at the incompetence of Fudge and the pointlessness of Scrimgeour being considered a rector at all. Nevertheless, he listened to Embry and took detailed greenback since the essays Embry set were often foresightful and difficult.

"The fourth dimension of the back war was a prison term of fearfulness and chaos,"Embry said as he reached the front of the room again."No one knew what was going on or who to believe. Many people heartily believed Fudge and what he said, believing Albus Dumbledore to be a fraud or even senile. When this realism was shattered for them in June of of 1996, they did n't bonk what to do or who to grow to, or even what to believe. They 'd been fooled for a full year, believing what their Ministry and paper told them. Now that they knew they 'd been lied to for a year, what were they to do ? They did n't trust anyone, let alone the Ministry. nearly people 's goal were to protect their kin and friends and that was it.

"It was the fearfulness and chaos that allowed Voldemort and his following to ingest control of the Ministry. Without the support of wizarding United Kingdom, the Ministry was weak and susceptible to a coup d'etat. It was unproblematic for Voldemort to slip in and coup d'etat in a matter of weeks."

"Excuse me, Professor ?"Olivia Price said, raising her hand.

"Yes, misfire Price ?"Embry replied."You have a inquiry ?"

"Yes, sir,"Olivia replied."I was just wondering, and you do n't have to do, but what were you doing during the second war ?"

If Embry was surprised that Olivia asked him a question about his personal life, he did n't show it. Instead he gave a slender grin and began to walk around the classroom again.

"I do n't mind answering that,"Embry said."Many of your parents were involved with the war feat, so of course you 're rummy. When the Ministry fell I 'd been working there for about six year. I got a job as an undersecretary in the Department of Magical expatriation when I was just out of Hogwarts and worked my way up the ranks.

"I 'd received a packaging shortly before Minister Fudge resigned and worked to draft law, but I quit after Scrimgeour got appointed because I saw that the Ministry was weak and corrupt and no longer wished to line up myself with it. After Voldemort 's defeat, I was approached by Kingsley Shacklebolt asking if I would wish to be involved with rebuilding the Ministry, and I said yes."

Albus was impressed. Embry had n't mentioned what sort of job he did at the Ministry and Albus had had no melodic theme he had been so necessitate with its rebuilding after the war.

"So you can see why I believe it is so significant to develop all of you about the history of the Ministry and how it is organized now,"Embry finished."feel like we 're out of time for today so delight write an eight column inch essay on Rufus Scrimgeour 's condition as Minister for homework, due next Tuesday."

Albus packed up his bag and headed back up to Gryffindor tower with his friends. When they arrived, there was a crowd around the notice table, which was strange. The Hogsmeade weekend date had already been announced and rarely did other notices garner such a gang around the notice instrument panel.

Albus shrugged at his friends and they squeezed through the bunch until they could understand it. It was a boastfully poster, covering the legal age of the board, imposing an early curfew Sunday Night. Everyone, first through 7th years, were to be back inside the castle by five in the evening, no exception. Below that it warned that Filch was going to lock the look doors at exactly five and that everyone was to describe to their common room at five-thirty.

"That 's weird,"Albus said as he and his acquaintance retreated."I do n't believe they 've ever imposed a curfew so early before, and for everyone ?"

"It 's because Rebel has n't been caught,"lustrelessness said quietly."Billy Sunday 's the full moon."

"They must think he 's going to total back,"Albus replied.

"Scary,"Gospel According to John added."Do you really think he will ?"

"I do n't know,"mat said."But I 'd bet my parents'whole Gringotts vault that he 's going to bite individual Lord's Day night."

"time lag,"Rose said."You do n't usually go to the Shrieking hovel until six or seven."

"They 're probably doing it early just to be secure,"Matt said."In case some citizenry do n't follow it or something. It says on there that the prefects are going to do a head numeration. That 's why we all have to come back to the common room at five-thirty."

Rose nodded."Then you 'll take to leave later, after the doors are locked."

"Either that or Madam Pomfrey will have me go early,"lusterlessness replied."I really hope not, though. I hate sitting out in the Shrieking Shack."

"I hope not, too,"Albus said quietly.

Albus and his friends were probably the alone scholar who knew the reason why a curfew had been imposed on William Ashley Sunday. Even the prefects seemed clueless, since Albus overheard a few of them trying to figure it out. More than a few scholar were angry about it, although Albus had no idea why since it was n't vernacular for students to make a stroll on the grounds on a Sunday nighttime in Feb. He supposed they liked the selection, though.

As Sunday drew closer mat became quieter and even more closed off than he normally was. In fact, it reminded Albus a lot of the way he was in first twelvemonth, before Rose figured out why he disappeared once a month. Both Albus and rosiness tried to get him to open up about it, but he shrugged them off and insisted he was fine. Saint John and Kaden did n't seem to notice any difference in Matt, and Amanda was n't one to ask about it when he closed himself off.

Sabbatum 's Dueling tourney proved uneventful. Albus spent the entire few time of day worrying about Matt because he had elected to jump the tournament in parliamentary procedure to sleep, which was odd since he 'd normally at least try to participate. At least Malfoy made Albus 's lifetime easy by remaining tranquility throughout the tournament and not blaming Albus when the team came in third seat. Albus himself won both of his affaire d'honneur, as did Malfoy.

On Lord's Day Albus and his friends spent the day in the piranha 's Den, working on homework and playing games. lusterlessness slept for lots of the day and he still was n't saying anything. While Albus was worried, he was fairly sealed the reason Matt was so restrained was Johnny Reb. When a stern to five rolled around, they had to turn back to Gryffindor to prove they were in the castle. Matt was still asleep, so Albus told everyone else go to on ahead and that they 'd follow.

"Matt,"Albus whispered as he shook his friend awake."We 've got to go back to the vulgar room."

"This is stupid,"mat muttered."They 're counting everyone to make sure no one gets attacked by a werewolf when they 've got one keep in the castle."

"Is that why you 've been so quiet this calendar week ?"Albus asked as Matt got up. He did n't reply."You and Greyback are n't the same."

"I know,"Matt said as they left the room. The corridor was empty, so he continued to blab."It 's just the fact that we 're both lycanthrope. That 's the same. What if they start doing this curfew thing every full synodic month, all because of me ?"

"They wo n't,"Albus said."You 're not dangerous because you 're in the Shrieking hovel. It 's all sealed up."

"I guess, but it 's still possible."

"You and grayback are different because he wants to seize with teeth citizenry. He purposely transforms near citizenry, not on wolfsbane, so he can infect people. You hide yourself away to protect everyone. That 's a Brobdingnagian difference."

"But what if he does hail to Hogsmeade,"lustrelessness continued."He 'll hear me howling and know there 's a wolfman in the Shrieking hovel and he 'll try to get in."

"But he wo n't be able to,"Albus pointed out.

"And then if he does prick someone, and let 's face it, he will,"Matt said."It 's going to depend bad for all loup-garou. All it 'll admit is a few attacks and multitude will start believing we should get our right hand taken away. That 's what happened in Australia."

"You 're getting ahead of yourself,"Albus said as they reached the common room."Right now you do n't make love that any of that 's going to fall out. Wandering banshee."

"You 're nearly late,"the Fat gentlewoman said as she swung her portrait open.

Albus and matte climbed inside and found the common room the most crowded they 'd ever seen it. Prefects were milling about attempting to get everyone to quiet down, but everyone was still trying to calculate out why such an early curfew had been set. The room was so crowd together that Albus and matte could n't get the sleep of their booster and since being in a crowd elbow room was not the ripe estimation for mat right field before the full Sun Myung Moon, they quit searching and instead sat down near the dormitory door.

"Everyone, silence, please !"heather announced in a magically hyperbolize representative. The room finally quieted down."I know you 're all upset about the curfew but they have n't even told us prefects why it 's been imposed. It 's not that big a stack since it 's February, dark, and freezing outside. None of you would be outside anyway. Now just remain quiet while we take paradiddle so we can all get downstairs for dinner. After we 're done you 'll be allowed to rove the palace until your normal curfew."

Heather began calling out name calling in alphabetical rules of order by year. It took her fifteen or so minutes to get to the fourth long time and after that Albus tuned her out. XV hour after that she finished and all the Gryffindors had been accounted for. The plebeian room emptied out quickly, since everyone wanted to get to the Great Hall for dinner. matt had fallen asleep and after Albus prodded him waken, he went up to the dormitory to sleep until he had to go to the hospital flank.

When Albus and his Quaker returned from dinner party Matt had already left for the hospital annexe. They decided to just stick around the common room since it was fairly void and spent the evening working on their essays for Professor Embry.

"Any prospect you lot know why we 're stuck inside ?"Saint James the Apostle asked as he snagged the last chairman at Albus 's table."Cedric, Ben, and I are asking everyone."

Albus exchanged a coup d'oeil with rose wine. He supposed it could n't offend to tell St. James the Apostle the intellect why, just so long as he did n't recite him why they knew. Of course, as soon as he told James it would unfold around the castle like flying lizard pox at a wizarding nursery school, but again, that would n't really hurt anything.

"We 've got a hunch,"Albus said."Remember how Quinn Ugo Buoncompagni saw Limnodromus griseus on the grounds during the Quidditch match ?"

"Yeah,"William James said.

"wellspring, tonight 's a wax lunation,"Albus said."Put it together."

James was unsounded for a minute and then his eyes grew big."You think Kendrick thinks he 's going to do here tonight ?"

"That 's our guess,"Albus said and his supporter nodded.

"shuffling sense,"James said."Can you ideate what sort of hassle Kendrick would be in if somebody got bitten by a werewolf on the land ?"

Albus did n't need to intend about it. He doubted Matt wanted a companion in the Shrieking hut.

"Scary,"William James said,"thinking about Calidris canutus transformed while wandering around the grounds. I wonder why they did n't just tell us. No one would be furious about it if they 'd tell apart us the reason."

"Probably did n't require anyone to panic,"Albus said.

"Guess so,"James agreed."But still, everyone 's going to bed now."He grinned and then got up to go find Ben and Cedric. The fact that the curfew was due to Johnny would be common knowledge in the castling within ten minutes, Albus guessed.

Albus managed to end his essay and decided to call it a Night shortly after. He did n't feel like talking, not with the possibility that Johnny was either running around the Hogwarts grounds or setting himself on some unsuspecting village, wanting to infect small tike with lycanthropy. It was frightening to think about. Albus laid awake for hours, trying not to think about it, but try as he might, he just could not push the thought process from his brain.


It was a rare occasion that Albus witnessed the sun rise. Being fourteen-years-old, Albus preferred to kip until the very previous cockcrow or early on afternoon, but this peculiar morn he was up before the sun. He had n't slept much that dark due to his worry about Fenrir Calidris canutus and matt, and decided that it was pointless to try and sleep when he 'd just suffer to be up in an hour anyway.

Albus sat at the window and watched as the sun slowly rose over the horizon. The solid ground looked peaceable, and not at all like the home where a werewolf could 've been roaming just a few hour before. The moon had set and both matt and greyback would be back in their homo course by now. Whatever had happened was over now and there was nothing anyone could do to change it. Albus wondered just how prospicient it would assume for the Prophet to publish some sorting of article on any attacks Greyback might 've been the campaign of.

Bilius and Ethan awoke before John did and busied themselves with talking of the Balycastle and Kenmare match that had taken place Saturday, completely unworried about knot. Albus was n't surprised since neither of them had any sort of personal connecter with the escaped werewolf. But they at to the lowest degree sleep together that the previous night had been a full moonlight, since James had spread that information around the castling.

John finally rose shortly after Bilius and Ethan left for breakfast. Albus was relieved since they could now address freely.

"What time is it ?"John asked as soon as he sat up."Have we got time to impose matt before Herbology ?"

"Just after eight, so not really,"Albus said."And there 's no point in visiting him now as he 's probably unconscious or sleeping. The moonshine just set two time of day ago."

"Yeah, but he might make love something,"John said as he closed the wall hanging on his bed while he dressed."He might 've heard Calidris canutus last night."

"He never remembers anything about full moons,"Albus pointed out.

"It 's still worth a injection,"John the Divine replied.

Albus thought it would be variety of pointless, but they did n't throw time before Herbology anyway. After trick finished, the two hurried out of the dormitory and down to the Great Hall for a promptly breakfast before course of instruction. Rose, Amanda, and Kaden were already there.

"Anything in the prophesier ?"Albus asked as he grabbed a stack of toast.

Rose shook her head and swallowed her Roger Bacon before answering."No. Absolutely nothing, but that does n't mean much. It could just be too soon for enough details to have emerged."

"well, we 've got a devoid catamenia this good afternoon, so we can go ask Matt,"John said.

"I told you that he 's not going to do it anything,"Albus reminded him.

privy shrugged."You never know."

The relief of the student body seemed to have already forgotten about the early curfew and the full synodic month. Albus did n't hear anyone discussing it on his way to Herbology or at dejeuner later that day. Since there had n't been anything in the report about an onslaught, it was old news program for the Hogwarts educatee. Everyone that is, except for Albus, whoremaster, pink wine, and Amanda.

Albus, John, and Amanda were still discussing it on their way to aid of Magical Creatures that afternoon. When they arrived they found Hagrid surrounded by batting cage filled with small, black, downy creatures.

"'ello !"Hagrid shouted."I 've got nifflers for yeh today. Can anyone state me what makes nifflers unequaled ?"

Albus raised his hand.

"Albus,"Hagrid said.

Albus grinned."Nifflers find treasure. They like lustrous things."

"Tha 's right,"Hagrid said."So if you 've got scout or jewelry on, take it off. I 've buried a load of leprechaun gold and your job for today will be to use the nifflers to line up it. Everyone pair off and then amount get a niffler. Whichever duo finds the most gold gets a face pack of coffee Frogs."

There was a flurry as everyone hurried to hire off their jewelry and see a niffler that looked like it would be a particularly treasure hunter. Albus took off his watch, shoved it into his pocket, and followed St. John the Apostle and Amanda over to the nifflers. With matt in the hospital extension, Albus was without a better half and decided to just fall in John and Amanda.

King John grabbed the niffler with the long snout and held the end of the lead story while they followed it around the grounds. Every so often the niffler would break and dig through the snow, revealing a lowly cumulus of coins. Albus collected them and shoved them into a bag Hagrid had provided.

The integral process was rather entertaining. Albus enjoyed watching not only his niffler, but the remainder of the class 's nifflers as well. They were adorable, funny creatures. At one spot, Janie Creevey and Karina Jordan-Bell 's niffler managed to sniff out a set of scurf in Bilius 's bag resulting in all three of them playing tug-of-war with the niffler.

"Why 's he got his scales in there anyway ?"John asked as they watched."We have n't got potions today."

Albus shrugged."No idea."

"Albus, John, look !"Amanda shouted, pointing toward the castle.

Albus turned around and saw two flesh walking toward Hagrid 's hut. It took a few irregular, but he soon realized that he knew both of them. One Albus recognized as a vernal Auror from his dad 's section. His gens was Paul Newman and he 'd been one of the Aurors to help when Kaden was kidnapped two years ago. The second man was none other than Matt 's dad.

"What 's Matt 's dad doing here ?"John asked.

"Yeah, and who 's that former fella ?"Amanda asked.

"He 's an Auror,"Albus said."But why are they here ?"

The two wizards walked past Albus, St. John, and Amanda without making any sort of eye inter-group communication, acting as if they 'd never seen them before. By now, the rest of the course of instruction was looking at them strangely. lusterlessness 's dad and Cardinal Newman kept walking until they reached Hagrid, and they began speaking with him in low voices.

"C'mon,"Albus said as he began walking toward Hagrid.

Saint John tugged the niffler 's trail and he and Amanda followed Albus. Albus stopped once they were within earshot, hiding behind a bush. John and Amanda crouched down on either side of him.

"I s'ppose I did discover some funny randomness las'Nox,"Hagrid said."Sir Thomas More'n usual, that is. Always funny noise from the forest. A bit more wrawl than normal las'Nox, coming from Hogsmeade. Could 've been a werewolf, but I don'know for sure."

"And did you see anything roaming the priming coat ?"Matt 's dad asked. His vocalization sounded serious.

"No,"Hagrid said."Wasn'outside late. What 's this about ? knot ?"

lustrelessness 's dad and Cardinal Newman glanced at each early."Yes,"lustrelessness 's dad said."We have ground to believe Calidris canutus was in the expanse last night and we 're looking for anyone who might 've seen something."

Hagrid shuddered."Wish I could help yeh. But yeh know, that howling from Hogsmeade could 've just been-"

"Yes, I know,"Mr. Eckerton cut him off, with a agile glimpse at Newman."We 've had reports of more vicious, louder howl. Howling that seems to change location."

"Oh !"Hagrid exclaimed."Yeah, well, again, indirect request I could help. I 'll pay a bit more than tending next full moon."

"We 'd appreciate it,"Mr. Eckerton said."Thanks for your time."

Matt 's dad and John Henry Newman turned and left, without a sec glance at Hagrid or the course of study. The residual of the course of study had long since returned to their nifflers and all had bags of gold far larger than Albus, Saint John, and Amanda 's. But Albus no longer cared about winning the Chocolate Frogs. It seemed that something did happen concluding Night, but nobody knew exactly what.

At the end of the class, Albus, John the Divine, and Amanda came in perfectly death for amount of money of coins collected. Hagrid seemed thwarted, but said that their niffler must 've just been tired. After returning it to its cage, the three hurried back to the castle, uneasy to stow their bagful and go visit Matt.

"If grayback is n't on Aconitum lycoctonum should n't he be well-fixed to determine after the total moon ?"John asked as they walked to the hospital annexe."Would n't he be injured ?"

"Not necessarily,"Albus said quietly."Matt only bites and attacks himself because he has cipher else to attack. If Johnny Reb 's out roaming the countryside, he can attack animals and people."

"But what about the real transformation ?"trick replied."Even werewolves on wolfbane are achy the side by side day because of that, right ?"

"I think so, yeah, but I bet if you 're being chased by Aurors that 's the survive matter on your mind,"Albus pointed out."I 'm not sure enough. Matt would probably know."

flatness was the entirely patient in the infirmary offstage and Madam Pomfrey was busy in her study, so Albus and his friend were free to talk about whatever they pleased. Albus was happy to see that matt was awake, although he did expect slightly unsettled.

"Was there anything in the Prophet ?"Matt asked as soon as Albus, privy, and Amanda had taken nates on his bed."And I 'm fine, so do n't nettle asking."

"Er, no,"Albus said."Why ?"

"Last dark was weird,"matte said.

"Told you he 'd acknowledge something,"Gospel According to John said to Albus.

"But I do n't,"Matt replied."It was just weird. I do n't know how else to describe it."

"What happened ?"Albus asked.

"I do n't acknowledge,"flatness said quietly as he pulled his hands out from under the blankets. They were completely bandaged."tone. My hands are the exclusively region of me that 's bruise. I mean, I ache all over from the transformations, but I did n't bite myself at all last night."

Albus looked at the bandages."But your hands. You did n't burn them ? Then why are they bandaged ?"

"matchwood,"Matt said."madam Pomfrey thinks I spent the Night scratching at the doorway and trying to get out. I 've never done that before. I never remember anything from when I 'm the wolf, but I do sometimes commemorate feelings. Like if the wolf was really wild or something. Last night it was desperate, although I have no thought what for. I guess to get outside, if Madam Pomfrey is right."

"And your wolfy ego has n't done that before ?"Albus asked.

"No,"Matt shook his headspring."I 've been transforming in the screeching hutch for three and a half age and the woman chaser has never done that before."

"I 'll assure you something weirder,"Gospel According to John said."Your dad was here earlier."

"What ?"flatness exclaimed."When ?"

"Just now,"John said."During tending of Magical fauna, he and some Auror came to talk to Hagrid. We listened in-"

"Of class,"Matt cut in.

"Your dad and the Auror, they were asking Hagrid if he 'd seen or heard anything weird utmost night. Hagrid said he did n't see anything, but he thought he heard more noise than common from Hogsmeade. Then he said that it may accept just been you, but your dad cut him off, probably because of the Auror. Then your dad said that there had been report card of more vicious howling than usual."

"They definitely think that Greyback was in Hogsmeade last night,"Albus said.

"What would 've happened if you got out ?"Amanda asked.

"Out of the hut ?"flatness asked."nil good. But now he knows that I was there. He 'll maintain coming back until he 's captured. I wo n't actually be able to lam from the Shack. The Mrs. Humphrey Ward are too good."

The door to the ward flew heart-to-heart and matt 's dad came striding inside, still looking as serious as he had earlier. After a quick glimpse around the room, he strode over to flatness 's bed.

"Dad,"matt said.

"You do n't look surprise to see me,"Mr. Eckerton replied as he gave his son a hug."How are you feeling ?"

"I 'm all right,"mat said with a shrug."Albus, trick, and Amanda saw you talking to Hagrid. wellspring, they heard you, too. Where 's the Auror ?"

Mr. Eckerton let out a short-circuit laugh and then turned to Albus."I saw you in the bushes. adjacent clip you 're trying to enshroud, do n't hide with a niffler. They 're notorious giveaways. Yours was trying to sniff out Cardinal Newman 's scoop watch."

"I missed nifflers ?"Matt asked, clearly disappointed.

"Yeah,"Albus said."I bet Hagrid would let you see one after you 're better, though."

"I need to speak with you about cobbler's last dark, lustrelessness,"Mr. Eckerton said quietly."In private, perhaps ?"

Matt shook his mind."I already told them about last night, so they might as well stay."

"All right,"Mr. Eckerton said."I need you to try and remember if you heard or saw anything unusual last dark. I know you never call back anything, but try."

mat held up his bandage hands."lady Pomfrey thinks I tried to get out of the hutch cobbler's last dark. That never happens. Whatever was outside kept the wolf occupied all night. I did n't attack myself."

Mr. Eckerton 's eye grew gravid and Albus noticed that the life-threatening feeling had dissipated. It was replaced with a feeling Albus had seen quite often on his own father. It was a father 's shock and concern.

flatness explained the rest, including the part about the wolf feeling desperate. Mr. Eckerton seemed to ruminate this for a few minutes before sighing and shaking his head.

"What 's going on, Dad ?"lusterlessness asked.

Mr. Eckerton sighed once more."I suppose it could n't hurt to order you. It 'll be in the Prophet tomorrow anyway. Two youngster were attacked in Little Shingleton last night. It 's a Town about five miles away, on the other side of that mountain next to Hogsmeade. We 've been trying to visualise out whether it was Greyback or not, since he left immediately after biting them."

"Were they Muggles ?"Matt asked.

"No,"Mr. Eckerton said."Which makes me believe that this was a carefully planned attack. fiddling Shingleton is a Muggle village, with these two children and their parents being the only if enchantress and wizards in the area. It 's too coincident. And why attempt both children ? nearly lycanthrope take off immediately after biting person, their replete telling them to get as far away as possible, as quickly as possible."

"And did they ... survive ?"Matt replied.

"They 're both in horse barn stipulation at St. Mungo 's. Once their morsel heal, they 'll be all right, save for the fact that they now have lycanthropy. The bites were clean and small, not rule wolfman bit. These bites were inflicted just to infect. Another signaling toward Greyback."

"But what about Hogsmeade ?"Albus asked.

"Five miles is not an out of the question journeying for a lycanthrope in a night,"Mr. Eckerton explained."Most belike Greyback heard lustrelessness 's howling last night and followed the audio. Once there, he probably spent the residual of the night attempting to get inside the Shrieking Shack, which is impossible."

"So you really think it was him ?"lusterlessness asked.

"I do, and Auror Paul Newman agrees with me. I left him in Kendrick 's study, after telling him I needed to visit you since we were already here. But what you 've told me just solidifies it."

"But ca n't you just go get him ?"John asked."He ca n't be that far. No criminal offence, matte, but if you were outside you would n't get very far."

"None taken."

"The thing that makes lycnathropy so difficult to consider, and also most likely the cause why wolf's bane does n't act upon for all werewolves, is that each person 's lycanthropy is vastly different from others. Its issue depend a lot upon a person 's views toward their own lycanthropy. Fenrir Greyback has spent his lifespan embracing his lycnathropy and bread and butter for that one Nox a month where his true nature emerges. He embraces his Wolf side of meat so lots that he even attacks people when the moon is not full.

"You, Matt, on the early hired man, identify most with your human English. As you should, considering you 're only a wolf one night out of XXVIII. Therefore, you resist the transformation. You fight it with your every fiber, every month. Rebel embraces it, and probably wobble a lot soft than you do. His transmutation most likely do not make him the Saame pain."

"I guess that makes sense,"lusterlessness said.

"But still,"privy said."They should be combing the forest for him."

Mr. Eckerton chuckled."They are. confidence me. They have the entire Werewolf Control social unit searching for him, along with six Aurors, and a handful of Jr and trainee Aurors. They do n't normally bump off Aurors to enamor rogue werewolves, as that 's usually the Werewolf Control Unit 's job. And it 's not usually my job to investigate werewolf attacks. But this is a mellow profile case, so they want many people on it, including people in bearing. We 'll get him."

Albus wondered if teddy was on the case. He was a Junior Auror now. Knowing Teddy, he 'd want to be on the grammatical case since greyback had turned his dad into a werewolf.

"I 've got to get back to the Ministry and fill out a report,"Mr. Eckerton said as he stood up from his chair."If you think of anything else, matt, ask to use prof Longbottom 's Floo. Owls are easily intercepted."

mat said goodbye to his dad and soon the son and Amanda were alone in the hospital wing once more. Albus did n't know what to say. Fenrir Johnny, it seemed, was up to his old tricks and somehow Matt had gotten involved.
***


Fenrir grayback 's flak on the two children took the whole front page of the prophesier the abide by morning. The entire Great hallway was talking about it, professor, students, and ghosts. Copies of the paper were being passed faster than platters of bacon. Albus managed to snag a copy from his cousin Ben.

FENRIR Calidris canutus tone-beginning IN LITTLE SHINGLETON

Fenrir knot, escaped inmate and werewolf,
was sighted last Nox in Little Shingleton,
Scotland. Little Shingleton is nearly an
entirely Muggle small town, save for one
wizarding class. The phratry, whose
names have not been released due to the
Underage wolfman Protection Law,
suffered an extreme tragedy concluding dark,
when Fenrir grayback attacked both of
their children. Both children are
reportedly in stable condition at St.
Mungo 's.

An probe, organized by both the
Auror Department and the department for
the Regulation and Control of Magical
wight, headed by head of that department,
Walter Eckerton, concluded lately yesterday.
'We 've interviewed several eyewitnesses
who saw or heard a werewolf in Hogsmeade
during the fully moon. Hogsmeade is only
about five miles from Little Shingleton .'
researcher said that numerous other
hint led them to believe that the onrush
was by Fenrir Greyback, despite not having
actually seen him in Little Shingleton.
'We are not organize to break all detail
of the investigation. But we are confident
that this was an attack by Greyback. A team
of Aurors and Werewolf ascendence Unit employees
are working around the clock to capture
Greyback .'

The clause was followed by a recap of Greyback and the crimes that had landed him in Azkaban in the starting time place, along with a nasty photo of him. Even in his homo flesh he looked rather wolf-like, which was such a drastic demarcation compared to flatness, who did n't resemble a wolf at all, save for his eyes. Albus glanced up from the clause and his centre fell on Matt 's. They had a xanthous shade to them, with flecks of gold amidst their raw blue vividness. They were indeed the only wolf-like trait he possessed when the moon was n't entire.

"This is why people want strict loup-garou ascendence laws,"Matt said quietly.

"eventide those could n't take in stopped this,"Albus pointed out.

"People wo n't retrieve about that. All they 'll think about is how their children are n't safe, and they 're right-hand. It 's just dirty timing. Laurentis is going to use this to her advantage."

Albus wanted to ascertain Matt that everything would be all right, that Laurentis would n't blow everything out of proportion, but he could n't. He knew that matte was rectify, that Laurentis would once again use a terrible calamity to draw and quarter more musical accompaniment from the wizarding world. If his uncle Percy was going to tolerate a prospect against her, he was going to have got to drastically change his campaign scheme.


A/N : So I just realized that I uploaded the wrong chapter lastly Friday. This is the real chapter 25 and the one I uploaded last Friday is chapter 26. Sorry about that !


The thing about werewolf attacks was that they were only able to happen once a month. There was absolutely no chance of a werewolf attack during the rest of the month, so it was leisurely for the Hogwarts students to soon block about Fenrir Greyback, or at least push him into the farthermost corner of their creative thinker. After the initial article about Greyback 's attack on the two young tike, the newspaper returned to its common election reportage, although both nominee were being very quiet about the attack. Neither Percy nor Laurentis made a statement, which did n't surprise Albus. The debate on regulation of wizard animate being was scheduled for Sat, so both nominee would wee-wee statements then. There had been a few column in the paper written by people pushing for stricter loup-garou jurisprudence, but that had been it.

Sabbatum was also the day of the side by side Hogsmeade trip, and this gave the Hogwarts students a much needed distraction from the outside populace. Word spread amongst Albus 's first cousin that James was once again taking Gabby Ellis to Hogsmeade, and quite a few of his other cousins had dates as well. Albus himself did not, and was planning on spending the day with John, Kaden, pink wine, and Amanda. Matt had arranged to attend the debate with his dad, and would miss the trip.

"Are you sure you want to go to this debate ?"Albus asked Matt as they played chess in the Marauder 's Den.

"What ?"matt asked, turning to Albus. He 'd been staring at the bulwark under the guise of taking his turn for the past five minutes.

"You were zoning out,"Albus said."I asked if you 're certainly you want to go to that debate Saturday."

mat had seemed distracted all week and whether it was from Greyback being so near during his transformation or the coming debate, Albus did n't know.

"Yeah, I 'm for certain,"matt said."I 'd rather hear it straight from her than register it in the Prophet."

"What about your dad ?"Albus asked."Is he going to verbalize out against her if she wants stern constabulary ?"

lustrelessness shrugged."I do n't know. That did n't wreak too well in Australia."

The threshold to the Den flare-up undetermined and King John and Kaden came barging in, both wearing very grins. It was slightly preternatural, how similar they looked.

"We 've finished,"Saint John announced.

"Finished what ?"Albus asked. He was slightly worried. It was never a good sign when John and Kaden were that happy about something.

"Our put-on,"Kaden answered."We 've finished planning. We 're not quite sure when to do it, though."

"Yeah, any prompting ?"whoremonger asked."Or are you two still being all prefecty on us ?"

Albus burst out laughing and turned to lustrelessness, who smirked."Prefecty ?"Albus repeated.

"Yeah,"John said."Everyone knows it 'll be one of you who makes prefect next year. And you 're getting started early by not liking our pranks."

"We just do n't need detention again,"Matt explained."Honestly, I could n't manage less if you prank the Slytherins. Malfoy 's a git. joke him all you want."

"Are you sure you do n't need to know what it 's going to be ?"John asked.

"No,"Albus said.

"Not a hazard,"flatness said.

John shrugged."All right field. But when should we do it ?"

"Let 's just wait and see when the time smell right,"Kaden suggested."It 's not, er ... time-sensitive ...."

privy and Kaden burst out laughing."Sure,"St. John the Apostle said."Not time-sensitive at all."

Albus and Matt exchanged a glance.

"We could tell you why that was so funny,"John said.

"Or you could just wait and see like the residue of the castle,"Kaden added.

"We 'll wait,"Albus said. He was rum about it, but not curious enough to possibly twist up with another workweek 's detention.

Whatever the prank was, John the Evangelist and Kaden did n't follow up it before the next day. Saturday brought blue skies and bitterly frigidness temperatures and Albus put on two Weasley pinny in preparedness for walking around Hogsmeade.

Matt left early for the debate, Flooing from Professor Longbottom 's study. Albus and John the Evangelist slept deep and met Kaden, rosebush, and Amanda in the Great Hall for a quick lunch before setting off for Hogsmeade.

The February Hogsmeade trip-up was always an worry one. The village became filled with young duo either snogging passionately in movement of the shop class or staring awkwardly at each other across a table in the threesome broom handle or gentlewoman Puddifoot 's. Having never been on a date before in his life, Albus found it really funny to watch. toilet and Kaden found it amusing as well, but Rose and Amanda seemed to stare wistfully at the couples and did n't observe them at all funny.

"Where to first ?"Albus asked.

"Not brothel keeper Puddifoot 's,"toilet said immediately, grimacing as a few love-struck yoke headed toward the place.

"I plan on never setting animal foot in there,"Kaden said."I do n't wish how many girls ask me to go there with them."

John laughed."You 'd have to get a girl to like you first."

"Shut up,"Kaden said."Let 's just go get some Butterbeer."

The rest of the grouping agreed and they were soon crowded around one of the only void tabular array in the Three broom handle. Albus was hoping to captivate a glance of James because despite the fact that William James had been out with Gabby Ellis before, Albus could n't get over the fact that his brother was going out on engagement. It was just weird.

After finishing their Butterbeer, the radical went to Honeyduke 's and Weasleys'in order to inventory up on Skiving Snackboxes and Chocolate Frogs. By then it was nearly dinner time and they decided to call it a day. The wind was picking up and none of them fancied being caught in a storm.

"Albus !"John shouted just as they were setting off on the path back to the castle.

"What ?"Albus asked, turning to see what bathroom was pointing at.

"James and Gabby Ellis,"whoremonger said.

Albus squinted and just made out his brother, leaning against the exterior of Honeyduke 's, his lip attached to Gabby Ellis 's. They were so close that they almost looked like one person.

"Oh my God,"Albus said quietly.

"That is disgusting,"Rose added."I could 've gone my entire life without seeing someone snog James."

John and Kaden were both laughing."flavour like they 're enjoying it,"John said.

"Oh everlasting !"Albus exclaimed as he turned back to the track."Let 's go."

"I think it 's safe to say they 're together,"Amanda said as they walked back.

"What she could possibly see in James II ..."Rose muttered.

"fountainhead, he does play Quidditch,"Amanda pointed out.

"So do over half my first cousin,"Rose said."So does Albus."

"Can we change the subject ?"Albus asked."Please. C'mon, let 's look sharp up. I bet matte 's rachis from the debate."

That seemed to get his friends'brain off of King James I 's romantic life. Albus himself wanted to put the image of his brother kissing soul out of his mind forever. At to the lowest degree she was a Hufflepuff and he 'd never have to see them kissing in the coarse room. If he did he may let to spend all of his time in the Marauder 's Den.

Dinner had n't started yet when they arrived at the rook, so the chemical group decided to go find lustrelessness first. They found him right where Albus figured he 'd be, in the Marauder 's Den. Albus was slightly nervous about what had happened at the argumentation, but Matt was sitting on the lounge casually reading his charm book, seeming hardly upset at all.

"How was Hogsmeade ?"Matt asked as he set his book down.

"Disgusting,"Albus said as he sat down next to Matt. Saint John the Apostle, pink wine, and Amanda pulled up chairs.

Matt raised his eyebrow."Disgusting ?"

"We saw James snogging his new girlfriend,"Rose said with a shudder."Trust me, there 's nada pleasant about seeing the boy you remember eating a mud pie kissing a young lady while pressed up against Honeyduke's."

Matt laughed."I have n't got any cousins, so I 'll adopt your watchword for it."

"Consider yourself favorable,"Albus muttered."But what happened at the debate ?"

"It was n't as bad as I thought it would be,"lustrelessness said."Well, okay, office of it were n't as bad as I thought they 'd be. It was at the Ministry, in one of those motor lodge rooms in the basement. Mostly it was people who work at the Ministry there, but there were some early people there, too, because the room was so big.

"I 'm not sure how much you know about the section for the Regulation and ascendancy of Magical beast, but every puppet is divided into one of three family. beingness, Spirits, and Beasts. emotional state are trace and poltergeists and boggarts. Beings are creatures that are n't human, but have human being intelligence. Beasts are everything else. The bloke who was running the debate started by asking Percy and Laurentis how they feel about the rights given to being. You know, goblin, house-elves, centaurs, those sorts of tool. They did n't have much to fence about that because neither of them think any of those creatures should have their rightfulness taken away. And Rose 's mum has worked so hard to get them right hand.

"Then they moved on to the look air division and there was n't a lot controversy with that, either, since there 's not often that can be done about spirits. They 're just kind of there. Ghosts do n't harm anyone and poltergeists it all depends on the specific poltergeist. Laurentis brought up the topic of Peeves, which was odd, but Sir Henry Percy did n't seem to have an opinion on Peeves."

Albus had n't expected much tilt with the beingness division. There had been a lot of disputation dorsum and forth about the right hand of beingness back when his parents had been in school and his aunt Hermione had dedicated her work lifespan toward giving rightfield to being, especially house-elves. Over the years she 'd done a very good job with it and had n't met lots opposition. As for the sprightliness partitioning, Albus did n't recollect there had ever been much controversy there. spook were just ghosts. They pretty much did as they pleased.

Matt paused."Then there was the brute division. Throughout history both wolfman and vampires have sometimes been in the organism division and sometimes been in the brute naval division. sorting in the savage class is the reason why werewolves have been stripped of their right and how the Ministry can get away with it. If they 're not seen as Beings, then legally, they do n't have to be given the like right hand as humans. It 's a triviality, really.

"A long time ago werewolf were in the being division, but they got reclassified in the 1950s, after a huge werewolf approach on an entire town. It was horrible. But ever since then, no one has wanted to classify them as Beings again. My dad has been an advocate for classification as beingness ever since he started in Australia.

"The affair about classification is that, for the most part, Ministries all over the cosmos have to harmonise. That 's why reclassification is such a time-consuming and difficult thing to do. someone has to bring it up and align dialogue between land and it requires a lot of exertion. When Voldemort came to power no one in Britain had the clip or energy to put toward the reclassification of wolfman. Not to mention they could n't spare the people to put the clock time into it. Since the brutal fire in the 50s happened in England, the early area have n't wanted to touch the melodic theme. Although I 'd wager that Australia would put up a good fight if it was ever brought up again.

"So, basically, my dad has been trying to do this for ages, but he does n't have the accompaniment. Even minister Hartwell has n't wanted to touch it since it 's such a controversial yield and he does n't have much prison term left."

"Wow,"Albus said."Binns did n't teach us any of that in account of Magic."

"And he probably wo n't,"flatness said."It 's not a well-known way out since most people probably do n't handle to put in the campaign to reclassify werewolves. The just people who 'd want to are werewolves."

"That 's painful,"Amanda said."But what happened at the debate ?"

"The wizard in charge of the debate dodged the query of Limnodromus griseus for a piece, asking questions about other beast like thestrals and dementors and the like. But he finally brought up the matter of Rebel and Laurentis basically said that it was n't a thing of werewolf control Torah, but a matter of Azkaban security-"

"Well, that 's effective,"Albus said. He would n't have expected that of Laurentis.

"Sort of,"Matt replied."I have n't finished. Anyway, your uncle agreed with her, but he of course said that putting the dementors back would be pillock. Laurentis said that if the dementors had been there then Limnodromus griseus would n't consume escaped and those Kyd would 've been safe. Then they started arguing about Azkaban and dementors again. But the blighter in charge cut them off.

"Then he finally brought up the fact that my dad 's been pushing for the reclassification of lycanthrope as Beings for years and how he 's got the support of rosiness 's mum and asked what their sentiment of it was."

"But if my mum was able-bodied to avail house-elves and hob, then why could n't she do it for werewolves at the same prison term ?"Rose asked.

"House-elves and hobgoblin have always been classified as Beings,"Matt explained."They were being denied right wing that they technically already had. It was just a matter of reworking the laws and enforcing them properly. None of the lycanthrope rights laws can be changed unless their classification is changed-"

"But that 's just unintelligent,"John said.

Matt shrugged."It is, but there 's nothing anyone can do about it."

"fountainhead, what did Laurentis say ?"Albus asked.

"Laurentis said that reclassifying werewolves as organism would render the current werewolf control legal philosophy unenforceable and that it would sacrifice the Ministry far less mastery over wolfman. Which is true,"Matt said."Not that it would be a bad thing."

"Of course not,"Albus agreed.

"Then she said that if wolfman were currently classified as Beings it would wee it difficult to even catch Greyback and engage him for what he 's done, which is n't confessedly at all. My dad was turning purpleness at this point. She really knows zip about the way his department works."

"What about Uncle Harry Hotspur ?"pink wine asked.

Matt did n't say anything for a full minute."He was n't as bad as Laurentis, but well, your uncle does n't want to convert anything. I 'm sure you 've noticed that he says everything 's fine the way it is and we do n't involve to change anything, whether it 's Azkaban or Hogwarts. He thought the Sami about werewolves."

"What do you imply ?"Albus asked."He thinks that-"

Matt averted his gaze, looking at Kaden rather than Albus and pink wine."He thinks that 'putting DOE into reclassifying wolfman as being would be a poor musical theme, given the former issues facing the large wizarding community .'And that is a orchestrate citation. I ca n't ever draw a blank that."

Albus wished he was surprised. He really did. But the fact remained that Uncle Percy did n't like to evoke the caldron, so to speak. If affair were working the way they were, he would n't interchange them. He 'd rather keep thing the same then speak out openly either for or against anything, if it would cost him defend or ballot.

"Then he went on to explain,"Matt continued."He said that werewolf classification does n't affect a large phone number of witches and wizards and that it 's very complicated and would require a lot of effort, which is true. But it 's like he did n't opine it was deserving it, just because it would n't touch a lot of people."

"It does n't surprise me,"Rose said quietly."The election is so soon. I do n't call up he 's going to say anything too controversial."

"Honestly, it was almost worse than Laurentis,"Matt said, turning back to Albus and pink wine."Sorry. I know he 's your uncle-"

"Do n't apologize,"Albus said, suddenly glad he was n't of age and would n't have to choose between the two candidates.

"It 's like he does n't even induce a strong opinion on it. He does n't want to have a potent sentiment on it,"Matt added."Laurentis at least has a grounds. Your uncle does n't even cause that. Honestly, Albus, I 've no idea who my parents will vote for now. Same with Amy."

"I do n't do it who I 'd vote for now,"Albus said quietly.

"But either way, I do n't imagine werewolves will get reclassified,"Matt replied."Nothing will bump without support of the British minister at this point."

"That 's just not fair,"Amanda said."What exactly does the law say now ? What are you not allowed to do ?"

Matt averted his regard once more. This was another topic that Matt had n't ever spoke of before and Albus had n't dared ask.

"Well, technically,"matt began,"I 'm not allowed to be at Hogwarts."

"What ?"Albus shouted. The rest of his admirer let out standardized exclamations of shock.

"But Teddy 's dad-"rosebush began.

"Not legal,"flatness said."Dumbledore frequently broke the law and that was no different. professor Kendrick follows the law a bit more but he liked the musical theme of allowing me to attend. It 's kind of murky, to be honest. It 's in the law that werewolves can not attend Hogwarts, but at the Lapplander meter, Hogwarts headmasters have complete restraint over who they admit. So as long as it 's kept quiet-"

"But what about Malfoy ?"Rose asked."If he were to let it slip-"

"Then Kendrick would expel him,"flatness explained."And he 'd be allowed to, since it would be detrimental to another scholar 's pedagogy for him to reveal my condition. I told you ; it 's very murky."

"What else ?"Amanda asked.

"The rest has mostly to do with employment,"Matt said."fountainhead, that and the Ministry is allowed to continue wolfman for questioning about full moon attacks without actually arresting them. Werewolves as captive have virtually no right wing.

"But anyway, utilisation. I 'm legally obligated to inform any potentiality employers of my condition. If lycanthrope were classified as existence, that would n't be required, because lycanthropy would be seen as a medical condition and utilization can not be terminated based on a person 's medical conditions."

"That is the most confusing thing in the world,"Albus said. His head was spinning."How do you keep all that straight ?"

Matt shrugged."It 's my liveliness. That 's the early thing, Albus, your uncle really has no mind how things are run in the section for the ordinance and Control of Magical Creatures. He 's not really qualified to say what effect the reclassification would accept on everything. Because, honestly, it would only affect werewolves."

"That seems obvious,"Albus said.

"So individual can not employ you just because you 're a werewolf ?"Amanda asked incredulously.

Matt nodded."Does n't even matter if they 're on Wolfsbane or not, either."

"What will you do after Hogwarts ?"Amanda asked.

"No idea,"matt said."I 'm trying not to guess about that. But this unhurt simulation to be convention thing that I 'm doing at Hogwarts ? It 's irregular. That 's all there is to it."

No one quite knew what to say after that. Albus certainly did n't. He wished more than anything that his uncle would support the reclassification of werewolves as Beings, despite the fact that it might suffer him a few votes. It might even cost him a few not to have spoken up, because now, Matt 's parents and Amy might not vote for him. But this had such a great essence than just the election. matte was right ; this was his life, and Uncle Harry Hotspur and Laurentis were just seeing it as a way to drum up Thomas More vote. Maybe Uncle Percy was n't the right man for the job, after all. But Laurentis certainly was n't, and since no one else was running, what would happen after the election ?


A/N : Thanks for all the awing reviews !


The debate on the rule and ascendence of Magical animal did not seem to be a hot topic of discussion amongst the Hogwarts scholarly person. Unlike the disputation on education, this finical debate did not relate directly to Hogwarts students, and thus there was n't lots discussion beyond a few opinions at breakfast the succeeding day. The article on the debate was much more tame than the previous article, most probable because Percy and Laurentis had n't disagreed on the issue. In fact, the clause mostly focused on the dementor issue.

Albus and his friends kept close watch on the oracle in case there were any updates on the break away prisoners, but the rest of Feb passed without any sightings or captures. It was kind of strange since the captive had to deliver been hiding out somewhere. Yet they 'd been loose for nearly two months and the only one who had been sighted was Greyback. Willinson, Umbridge, and the Carrows were nowhere, it seemed.

In the interim, Laurentis used the lack of captures to her advantage, by publishing a new statement every few mean solar day declaring how unqualified the Auror department was. These statements were usually followed up with another proclamation of how the prisoners would n't throw escaped if the dementors had been in command of Azkaban.

When March arrived, the seer began putting a countdown until the election at the top of the look page, every unity day.

"Apr Fool 's Day,"St. John the Apostle commented as he pointed to the countdown, which read '29 days .'“ Does n't that seem a bit weird, to do an election on that day ?"

"A little,"Albus said."But I doubt the Ministry cares."

"We should do our prank that day,"Kaden said.

"Do n't,"Rose said."Hogwarts is a polling plaza. You 'll mess it up."

"No, we wo n't do it then,"John said as he exchanged a mischievous grin with Kaden."Want to know why ?"

"Not really,"Albus said.

"They 'll find out soon enough,"Kaden said.

"Does this have anything to do with why you two disappeared all evening yesterday ?"matt asked.

"Possibly,"whoremaster said."Oh, feel at the sentence. We 've got to get to potions."

Kaden burst out laughing."Oh, yes, looks like it 's time for me to go to Divination."

Albus looked at Matt and shrugged. John and Kaden had been laughing at every credit of 'time'or 'clocks'for the past tense few hebdomad, but had yet to share why. Albus could only put on that it had to do with their japery.

Albus, lustrelessness, john, pink wine, and Amanda said goodbye to Kaden and headed for the dungeons. Since it was a double class, Slughorn gave them a potion to brew and sat at his desk grading essays while they worked.

Albus and mat partnered on their potion and worked quietly, chopping and mixing. Halfway through the second course they were chopping asphodel when mat suddenly stopped.

"Did you hear that ?"he asked Albus.

"Hear what ?"Albus replied. He had n't heard anything.

"Never mind,"Matt muttered."Could 've sworn ... dead reckoning I 'm hearing things."

A few proceedings passed and matte stopped again."I swear there 's something ringing outside. It sounds like an alarm clock."

Albus glanced around the schoolroom, but nobody else seemed to give heard it. Everyone was working quietly, except John, who was staring at the door for some strange reason. Then Albus heard it. The dim resonance.

"Do you hear it now ?"Matt asked.

"Yeah,"Albus said. It was becoming louder, too. The rest of the class was beginning to remark as well, and John suddenly turned around to look at them. He grinned widely and then returned to his potion.

"It 's their harlequinade,"lusterlessness hissed."It 's got to be."

Nobody was paying any attention to their potions now and a few of them were boiling over. Slughorn got up from his desk and left the room, without saying a word to the class. He returned a few mo later.

"Bottle your potions as is,"he said."It seems there is some sort of dismay going off all over the palace. After you 're done cleaning up you may impart early."

Albus and Matt worked quickly, wanting to peach to John as soon as they could. They met him, along with rosebush and Amanda, outside the classroom a few minutes later, and headed to the Great lobby. King John still had n't said anything.

Kaden was already there when they arrived."Trelawney let us out as soon as the alarms started. I think it was driving her mad. I mean, More mad than she already is."

"Are you going to state us what you 've done ?"Albus asked as he began making a sandwich.

"Yeah, we might as well,"trick said."We put an warning signal clock inside every ace suit of armor and charmed them to go off at five minute intervals."

Albus started laughing."That 's brilliant !"

"That 's actually really good charm workplace,"Rose said, clearly impressed.

"It gets better,"Kaden said."The instructor wo n't be able to flex them off with one trance. We charmed them so they have to be manually turned off. It 's going to read them ages."

"I feel bad for whoever 's got Transfiguration succeeding,"St. James the Apostle said as he sat down next to Albus."There must be xx suits of armor across the corridor from the transfiguration room. It 's so cheap in there you can barely get wind yourself think."

"shit,"Albus said."We 've got Transfiguration of Jesus next."

"tone, Kendrick 's standing up. Bet he cancels classes."John pointed to the staff table.

"silence !"Kendrick shouted."Very amusing prank. It would seem that the warning device clocks have to be manually turned off, so I am canceling stratum for the good afternoon while the staff and prefects turn off all the alarms."

There was a loud sunniness as Kendrick resumed his arse. The staff table was only half-full, as the rest of them must make been already turning the alarum off.

"He does n't appear upset,"Albus said."This is actually kind of tame. I thought you were going to get retaliation on the Slytherins."

lavatory grinned."Oh, we are. That 'll come another day."

After lunch Albus and his friends went to the vulture 's Den with the intent of spending the day there, but the incessant alarm system quickly grew too annoying. Despite the cold, they decided that outside would be preferred to inside. The Baron Snow of Leicester had melted, so they were able to find a dry place to sit.

"I still hear the ringing,"mat said as they settled down under a immense beech tree by the lake."It 's like my question is an alarm clock. I think if you had done this around the full moon I would 've murdered you."

"That 's why we did n't do it around the full moon,"John said.

"Really ?"matte asked skeptically.

trick laughed."No. Had n't even thought of that, to be honest."

"We did it today because I had a chronicle of deception exam this afternoon,"Kaden said."I 'm hoping Binns will forget about it."

"It 's soon, though, is n't it ?"John the Evangelist asked.

"The replete lunation ? Yeah, it 's Monday,"flatness answered."I 've been thinking about it. About Greyback. He 's probably going to come back unless the Aurors catch him before."

"Probably,"Albus agreed.

"I had an approximation,"Matt said quietly."I think we can help overtake them, using my wolfy side."

"As hook ?"Albus asked, shocked."Then you 'd be in danger."

"No, I would n't,"Matt said."I would n't be doing anything different. I 'd just be in the Shrieking Shack like usual. Albus, the predator 's Map recording label Animagi as their human names, right ?"

Albus nodded."Yeah, of course. That 's how chemise 's dad found out about Pettigrew."

"well, should n't it be the like for wolfman ?"lusterlessness asked.

Albus had n't thought about that before. In all his meter of having the secondly edition vulture 's Map, he 'd never checked the Shrieking hut during a wide-cut moon."I think it should."

"Then all the Aurors have to do is watch the new edition of the marauder 's Map during the full Moon, wait for Greyback to show up, and then catch him."

Albus thought for a few consequence. It seemed so simple, almost too simpleton to bring."Matt ... that 's brilliant."

"When did you think of this ?"Rose asked.

"Few calendar week ago,"flatness answered."Greyback was there by the Shrieking hutch for nearly the entire nighttime. It would 've been easy to catch him if someone just knew he was there."

"Wait,"rose said, looking at Albus."You are n't proposing that you do this, are you ? Because that would be stupid."

"Of course not,"Matt said."It would be my dad and Albus 's dad."

"I do n't think my dad 's in burster of the Greyback capture,"Albus pointed out."It 's that other Auror, Newman."

"If I 'm going to go along with this and tell them my architectural plan then it 's got to be your dad,"Matt said adamantly."He already knows I 'm a werewolf. John Henry Newman does n't. I do n't know what he 'd do if he knew there was a werewolf at Hogwarts."

Albus thought back to what mat had told them about how it was n't clear whether admitting loup-garou to Hogwarts was effectual or not."All right. That make sense."

"But why are you so sure he 's going to come back to this same smudge ?"Amanda asked."If he were smart he 'd transform someplace completely different."

"He 's got a hangup about wolfman pretending to be human,"Matt said quietly."He thinks that we 've all got to comprehend our wolf-selves and resilient together in packs. I do n't think he 's going to give up easily on finding me. He did the same thing with teddy 's dad."

"Then he might be transforming near those kids he attacked last month,"rosiness pointed out."They should station Aurors there, too."

Matt nodded."Let 's go send some owls."
***


Albus and Matt did n't say much in their varsity letter to their male parent, wanting to preserve most of the details for later. Both of them replied saying they would encounter the male child at Hogwarts Friday evening in order to put to work out the details.

The hebdomad went by very slowly and Albus noticed that Matt drew quieter and quieter as it progressed. He never said it out loud, but Albus had a feeling he was incredibly anxious about the architectural plan and his function in it, despite his saying he would be delicately. By the metre Friday arrived he was completely unsounded, except for the few fourth dimension he snapped at toilet and Kaden for being irritating.

"You know if this plan actually works and Greyback is captured it 's going to make Uncle Harry front very good,"Rose said."Which will be good for Uncle Percy."

"I thought of that,"Albus said."And since the election is only three workweek away, it 's perfect timing."

"When are you meeting your daddy ?"John Lackland asked.

"Seven,"Albus answered as he glanced at his watch."We should probably go."

Albus shoved the finale bite of his cake into his lip and left the Great antechamber with matt at his side. Professor Longbottom had leant them his study for the meeting, so Albus and Matt walked up to the one-fourth floor.

professor Longbottom was n't there when they arrived but the door was partially undefendable. Albus led Matt inside and they sat down on a sofa to wait. Albus had always loved Longbottom 's study. It was filled with all form of exotic plants that you never wanted to have-to doe with because some of them bit. The furniture was mismatched and the whole property was pleasantly cluttered. It felt very safe.

Harry and Bruno Walter walked in a few minutes later and shut the room access behind them. Both looked very intrigued and slightly confused.

"Al,"Harry said as he gave his son a quick hug."What 's going on ?"

Albus glanced at matt, who had just been let go of by his own father. This was his design to explain.

"I know how you can catch greyback,"Matt said quietly, and then proceeded to explain the stallion architectural plan."See ? Good plan, right ?"

Harry and Bruno Walter exchanged glances. Bruno Walter looked incredibly worried."Matt, tone, I know you want to help and I know the fact that Johnny 's out there scares you out of your mind-"

"I 'm not that scared,"Matt interrupted, but everyone in the room knew he was."flavor, he 's going to get along to Hogsmeade anyway. You might as well be there waiting for him."

Walter sighed."Yes, I suppose you 're right-"

"So what 's the job ? I 'll be in the shriek Shack with all the Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth up."

"There really is n't a problem,"Bruno Walter said."It just sounds bad on the surface, me using my son as lure. What do you think, Harry ?"

"I think it 's up to you,"Harry said."You 're in charge of this search. I 'm not even on it. I assigned it to Newman."

"Newman ca n't be there,"Matt said quickly as he turned to his dad."He ca n't be. He does n't know about me."

"He 's right,"Bruno Walter said."It 's got to be you and me if it 's going to be anyone. Whoever works this is going to find out there 's a werewolf at Hogwarts."

Harry sighed and began to tread the room."I had n't thought of that. But there 's got to be more of us. I 'll bring Ron in, and Teddy."

"Ron ?"matt asked.

"Rose 's dad,"Albus explained."My uncle."

Matt breathed a sigh of relief."Oh, all right then."

"They 'd be fine,"Walter said."Four of us should be able-bodied to handle it. What about those kids in Little Shingleton ?"

"I 'll specify John Henry Newman to them,"Harry decided."And you can pick a few mass form your department to go with him."

Walter nodded."What about the villagers ? We ca n't cling around the Shrieking shack all night. It 'll appear suspicious."

Albus suddenly remembered the map. He pulled it out of his pocket and handed it to his dad."Use the map. Then you can see until he gets there."

Harry grinned."I 'd forget about this."He turned to Walter."Map of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade, created by my dad, Sirius Black person, Remus lupine, and dick Pettigrew. It shows where everyone is, so it should show us when Johnny turns up. We can wait at the Hog 's read/write head until then. No one there will pay us any attention."

"And in the report ? In the paper the following day ?"Walter asked.

"No quotation of matte or his being in the screaming Shack,"Harry said."We 'll say we got an anonymous tip that he 'd designate up in Hogsmeade."

"Can I wait with you ?"Albus asked.

Harry laughed."Absolutely not. You 'll remain in the castling, where it 's rubber. I believe they 're doing a mandatory early curfew again ?"

Albus nodded. They 'd put up posters in the rough-cut way a few days ago. This time, no one seemed swage about it.

"I wish they 'd do it in Hogsmeade,"Walter said."But getting something like that set up takes weeks."

"wellspring, if masses are smart they 'll stay inside with ward up,"Harry pointed out.
***


Never before had Albus heard so many multitude talking about the full lunation. All weekend, everywhere he turned, he heard soul mentioning either the fully moon or Reb or both. Suddenly, lycanthrope were the hot matter of discussion at Hogwarts.

well-nigh citizenry, from what Albus could gather, did n't have a strong impression on loup-garou one way or another. But a few people, near having had a relative murdered by Fenrir Reb, told anyone who would hear how happy they were that neither candidate wanted to change the classification of werewolf from brute to organism. It only took Matt overhearing one of these conversations to make up one's mind to spend the rest of the weekend in the piranha 's Den.

"It 'll all be over in three workweek,"Amanda said."Once the election takes property no one is going to care as much. But these past few workweek have certainly made me wonder if I should go into the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures."

It was Sunday dark and Albus and his admirer were in the piranha 's Den, yet again, working on their prep that was due tomorrow.

"You could turn with my dad,"Matt announced from the couch."That 'd be weird."

"Well, it 's just terrible,"Amanda said."And it does n't make sensory faculty. Why should goblin and house-elves be existence but not werewolves ? You 're more human being than a house-elf."

Matt laughed."Tomorrow night I wo n't be, and that 's what it comes down to. House-elves are n't that unsafe. Werewolves are."

"I do n't recognize,"Albus began."When my dad was a second twelvemonth a house-elf charmed a Bludger to cave in his arm. That 's fairly dangerous."

"What about lamia ?"Rose asked."I ought to owl Linda."

"lamia are organism,"lustrelessness explained."It 's because they do n't take to booze human blood to survive. It 's a choice. Werewolves, when we bite mortal, it 's not a choice. We ca n't hold it."

"Except with Wolfsbane,"rose wine pointed out.

"Yeah, and maybe if mortal invents Wolfsbane that works for all werewolves we might get reclassified,"Matt said.

"What about vampires who bite people ?"Amanda asked.

"They 're put in prison,"lusterlessness said.

"So can vampires go to school and hold line of work ?"Kaden asked.

"I suppose they could. Linda went to school. But they live forever so virtually do n't need to go to school or already throw, because nigh vampires are honest-to-goodness. As for job, they do n't have to evidence employers what they are, so yeah, they could."

"It 's so bloody confusing,"trick said."Does n't score a bit of sense."

"It really does n't,"matte said with a oscitancy."But it 's life."

Matt slept the rest of the evening and most of the next day, not attending any of his classes. Albus could n't pick him, what with all the werewolf talk that was going around the school. Albus himself found it difficult to concentrate on any of his course of study or homework since there was the distinct theory that Fenrir Johnny would be captured that night.

Albus and his ally reported to the coarse room at five, as per the curfew, and then went to dinner. Matt did n't connect them. He was gone when they returned. Albus gave up on homework for the dark and played a few half-hearted round of drinks of Exploding Snap with John and Kaden before deciding to go up to his dormitory early. He knew he would n't slumber, but figured it would be slightly more productive than cleaning ash off his face.

Instead of sleeping, Albus sat in the windowsill and watched the sky. It was clear, giving him a very good survey of the champion. After locating a few constellations Albus watched the celestial horizon and the faint glow that was above it. Then, the moon rose.


A/N : So, some of you may have noticed that I screwed up last hebdomad 's update. I accidentally skipped chapter 25 ( full moon Moon Attacks ) and went right to chapter 26 ( Spirits, Beings, and beast ). If you have n't already done so, go back and read the real chapter 25. The story will make much more sense after that.

I am please to announce that I have finished this fib ! It topped out at 37 chapters. I may start updating this twice a calendar week, but have n't quite resolve yet. A lot of you are asking in reviews when the next update will be, so I 'll reiterate that I update every Friday. The exact time will vary. Thanks for all the reappraisal !