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Chapter Text

Autumn seemed to arrive suddenly that year. The morning of the first of September was crisp and golden as an apple, as families bobbed across the rumbling road toward the great sooty station of King’s Cross; one such family was the Potters. In King’s Cross Station the Potters walked together to Platform 9 3/4, the platform where all young wizards and witches boarded the train to take them to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The Potters wove their way toward the barrier between platforms nine and ten. The tall thirteen year old boy with reddish brown hair, James Potter, rushed in front of his family. He ran past his dark haired eleven year old brother, Albus Potter, and his nine year old sister with bright red hair, Lily Potter. James, pushing his trolley, vanished through the barrier. It was now Albus’s turn to do the same; he looked to his father, Harry Potter, who was standing besides his wife, Ginny Potter. Harry, seeing his son’s worried face, grabbed onto his trolley and together they ran through the barrier. 

On Platform 9 ¾ the Potter family met up with the Weasley family; Ron Weasley, Ginny’s brother and Harry’s best friend, and his wife Hermione Weasley, Harry’s other best friend. The Weasley’s two children, eleven year old Rose Weasley and eight year old Hugo Weasley, greeted their cousins as they joined together. As the Potters and Weasleys chatted with each other, the scarlet red Hogwarts Express came riding into the station. When it was nearly eleven James, Albus, and Rose all boarded the train. James, who was entering his third year at Hogwarts, quickly separated from his little cousin and baby brother to go find some of his friends. Now by themselves, Albus and Rose looked out a window and waved goodbye to their parents. As the train left the station, a large smile grew onto Rose’s freckled face.

“This is it,” Rose said, her smile growing even bigger, “Today is the day our lives change forever. 

 Albus looked confused. Rose took a few steps forward and continued.

“Two future Gryffindors with famous parents, we have our pick. This might just be the biggest choice of our lives.”

Albus still looked confused. He followed her as she walked down the halls of the Hogwarts Express peering into each compartment and then quickly moving to the next.

“Um, Rose,” Albus began, “Don’t you think you're thinking too much about this? Cmon, let's just sit down.”

Rose abruptly stopped and looked back at him annoyed. 

“Seriously Albus? We’ve both heard the story a hundred times. Our parents met for the first time and became best friends the day they boarded this train. The people we sit with will determine the course of our whole lives and we can choose anyone we’d like!”

“I know but let’s just sit down. We don’t know if the people we sit with will be our life long friends, we don't even know if we’ll be put in Gryffindor,” Albus said timidly. 

“Oh Albus,” Rose said, still walking and checking out each compartment, “Don’t let James get in your head, we couldn't be put in Slytherin. Our grandparents were Gryffindors, our parents were Gryffindors, we’ll be Gryffindors.”

The two reached the end of the train and Rose had not found a satisfactory compartment. 

“Alright, let’s go back around a few more times. I think there are about six groups that may be a good choice.”

“Rose, we’ll be there by the time we find one. Lets just sit in there,” said Albus pointing at the compartment they stood in front of. It was nearly empty besides a pale skinned little boy with sleek blonde-white hair who was reading a very large book.

Albus opened the compartment door and the boy shot up his head in shock. 

“You mind if me and my cousin sit in here,” asked Albus to the boy.

Rose got close to Albus, her bushy bright red hair getting in his face.

“Albus,” she said urgently but also very quietly, “Not this compartment. I-”

“No I don't mind,” said the blonde boy with an innocent smile, “Come in.”

Albus hesitantly looked at his cousin but entered anyway and sat down. Rose followed him in the compartment but didn’t sit. 

“Hi, I’m Albus Potter and this is my cousin Rose Weasley,” said Albus pointing to Rose who was glaring at him for some reason.

The boy put down his book and opened his mouth to introduce himself but Rose cut him off.

“I know who you are. You’re Scorpius Malfoy,” she said coldly as the boy’s face turned red, “Son of Death Eater Draco Malfoy. Let’s get out of here Albus."

 As she went to open the compartment door to leave she looked backed at Albus who had not moved. Albus now recognized the kid, Scorpius Malfoy. His Uncle Ron had pointed him out when they first got on the station. He was the son of Draco Malfoy, the childhood nemesis of Albus’s and Rose’s parents. 

“Rose! You can just-” started Albus but then he looked to Scorpius and said, “She didn’t mean to offend you she just-”

“You know who his father is, you know what he’s done,” Rose interrupted, looking even more annoyed. “The little creep is probably just like him. I’m not really concerned if I offended him or not. Let's go, Albus, now.”

Albus hesitated for a moment. He looked up at his cousin who was giving him a stern look. He began to stand up but then looked back at Scorpius. Scorpius had picked up his book again with no intention of insulting Rose. Although he did look a bit sad that he’d be alone again.

“You know what Rose,” Albus said, sitting back down, “You go find another compartment if you want, I’m going to stay here for a little while.”

In Albus's mind it wasn't right to just barge into someone's compartment, insult them, and leave; he was raised better than that. Nevertheless, Rose gave him a disgusted look of betrayal and slammed the compartment door shut as she left. Albus and Scorpius sat across from each other looking at each other but not saying anything. Eventually Scorpius broke the silence.

“She was right, you know; about what she said about my father. You don’t have to stay here. I don’t want you and your cousin to fight because of me.”

“Don’t worry about it mate,” Albus said rolling his eyes and attempting a smile, “I could use a little break from her. She didn’t have any right to come in here and say those things anyway.”

It grew silent again. This time it was Albus who broke the silence.

“So, what are you reading?”

 “Oh, this,” Scorpius said, picking up the large book again, “This is Magical Flora & Fungi of the Wizarding World .
"

“Was that a requirement for school?” Albus said, “I don’t think I have that one.”

 “Oh no,” said Scorpius smiling, “My mum bought this for me in Diagon Alley. Father wanted to buy me a new broomstick but I said I’d rather they spend their money on this.”

“Anything interesting in there?” asked Albus trying to make conversation.

“I’ve just been skimming through it. I’m on a chapter about herbs that stop bleeding.”

“What house do you think you’ll get sorted into?” Albus blurted out. The sorting ceremony was all he could think about.

 “Probably Slytherin I guess. Can’t name a Malfoy who wasn’t,” said Scorpius lazily, “Just like I can’t name a Potter or Weasley who wasn’t in Gryffindor.”

“Yes, but you don’t know,” Albus quickly responded. 

“Yeah, I guess,” Scorpius yawned, “I wouldn’t worry about it. Hogwarts will be great for you. Your Harry Potter's son, that’s basically automatic greatness. As for me, who wants to be friends with the son of a Death Eater?”

“Rose said the same thing. I don’t want to be great just cause my dad was. I love my dad and everything but I want to be great on my own,” said Albus, “And it’s the same with you. I’ve heard stories about your dad and from one conversation I can tell your nothing like him.”

Scorpius looked taken aback like he’d never expect someone like Albus to say something like this. He then smiled for the first time since Albus first came into the compartment. 

“Alright Albus Potter, let's make a deal. Me and you will become great at Hogwarts and escape our fathers' shadows.”

“Deal,” said Albus, also now smiling. 

The two kept talking; this was the first time each of the boys had a real conversation with someone who didn’t view them as a miniature version of their fathers. Albus began to lose track of time and eventually he didn’t have any intention of finding whatever compartment Rose was waiting for him in. In the early evening when they were getting close to Hogwarts, Albus and Scorpius changed into their dress robes. 

 At around five in the afternoon the train arrived at Hogsmeade Station and the students began to get off of the train. The majority of the older kids walked along the platform and onto a mud track which led to countless carriages. Left on the platforms were the first years in their black ties, robes, cloaks, and hats. 

“Firs’ years this way!” called a familiar voice, “Firs’ years c’mon, follow me!”

Albus looked up at the enormous man with a thick gray beard wearing an even larger brown moleskin overcoat. 

“Hagrid!” Albus yelled to the man, Rubeus Hagrid, a lifelong friend of Albus’s family who he had known for as long as he could remember. 

“Huh? Oh! ’Ello Albus,” Hagrid said with a smile growing on his large face, “It's good ter see yeh! 

“You too Hagrid!” Albus said smiling, “This is Scorpius Malfoy, I met him on the train.”

“Oh um…Nice ter meet ye Scorpius,” said Hagrid, his smile fading. He then turned to the rest of the first years. “Firs’ years over ‘ere! Gather aroun’! All of ye follow me!" 

The first years followed Hagrid as he began to walk. Albus and Scorpius blended in with the rest of the crowd of the eighty or so first years. As they walked, Albus noticed Rose make her way to the front of the crowd next to Hagrid. He saw her mouth moving very fast talking to Hagrid and she kept turning back giving him dirty looks.  

After a few minutes of slipping and stumbling down a steep narrow path they got to the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side of the lake, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers. This was Hogwarts, it was going to be the home of these kids for the next seven years. 

There was a fleet of boats on the shore of the lake. The first years boarded the boats and sailed across the lake to the castle. After slowly crossing the lake, the fleet of boats entered a dark tunnel that took the students under the castle. When they reached the underground harbor the first years all got out of their boats and walked up a flight of stone steps. At the top of the steps was the large oak front door which Hagrid knocked on three times. The door swung open but Albus couldn't see anyone standing at the entrance. The first years entered the entrance hall of Hogwarts and began to form a large circle around something. When Albus himself got in the entrance hall he saw the person everyone was surrounding. The person in the middle of the circle was a very short man who was slightly taller than an average goblin. He had a long white beard and was wearing a black suit with a dark blue cloak and light blue hat. When the first years quieted down the tiny man began to speak.

“Welcome, welcome everyone!” the tiny man squeaked. “I am Deputy Headmaster here at Hogwarts, Head of Ravenclaw House, and your Charms professor, Finius Flitwick. I hope you're all hungry because the start of the term banquet will begin shortly. But first you will be sorted into your Houses. Here at Hogwarts your Housemates will be your family and your House Common Rooms will be your homes. You will have every class with your year’s House. The four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Where you are sorted is very important so prepare yourselves. Now form a line and follow me.”  

Albus swallowed at these words as a small bit of sweat dripped down his face. The first years followed Professor Flitwick into the Great Hall. The Great Hall was lit by thousands of candles floating in the air over four long tables each seating well over one hundred students. The first years followed Flitwick to the top of the hall in front of the long table where all the teachers sat. Flitwick waved his wand, and a stool and hat came floating into the room.

Albus stared at the hat. It was a multitude of colors, had tares, scorched marks, patches, and was extremely dirty. This must have been the Sorting Hat that his father told him about. As Albus was gazing at it, the hat twitched and the brim opened wide like a mouth. The hat then began to sing:

“Listen all to my classic song;

This year it’s short, not very long.

I’ve sorted students by my own

Into our Founder’s Hogwarts Homes.

Slytherin; they’re kind and rough.

The kind folk go to Hufflepuff.

Gryffindor for those brave at heart.

Ravenclaw; so tricky and smart.

I’ll look in your mind, soul, and heart.

But now it’s time for us to start.

The Great Hall erupted into applause at the hat’s silly song. When the applause died down Professor Flitwick stepped forward levitating a large piece of parchment in front of him. 

“When I call your name, please come sit on the stool and put on the hat to be sorted,” Flitwick squeaked with a smile, “Allen, Olivia!” 

A tall blonde girl nervously walked up to the stool and placed the hat on her head. The hat said something to her but Albus couldn’t make out what it was saying.

“GRYFFINDOR!” the hat bellowed so the whole hall could hear.

There was a loud applause from the whole Great Hall, especially from the Gryffindor table. Olivia Allen blushed, walked to the Gryffindor table, and sat down with a big smile. Another name was called but Albus was distracted by a sharp poke on his back. He whipped around and saw Rose standing behind him angrily. 

“You know I was in a compartment by myself for forty minutes waiting for you so we could find a compartment together after you ditched that weirdo,” she said to Albus while Scorpius was standing right next to him. “Everyone was already together by the time I joined the compartment, it was so embarrassing!” 

“You were welcomed to stay in our compartment,” Albus said as "Allerton, Noah" became a Hufflepuff. “You were the one who so rudely left us.”

“Us? You’d rather talk to that freak instead of me?” she said as she scoffed. Her face went red with anger and it almost looked like tears were forming in our eyes, “You ruined what was supposed to be the best day ever!”

She stormed off into the crowd as “Baker, Cyrus” became a Gryffindor and “Bradford, Issac” became a Ravenclaw. Albus turned back to Scorpius shaking his head at his cousin. After about forty more kids were sorted Flitwick called:

“Malfoy, Scorpius.”

Scorpius walked about to the stool and put the hat on his head. The Hat hit Scorpius’s head and cried out:

“SLYTHERIN!”

Albus sighed. He was kind of hoping Scorpius would be put in Gryffindor. He was someone Albus really liked talking to and he thought Scorpius might benefit from being in Gryffindor to escape his father's shadow. Albus thought of the deal they made with each other. They would both escape their fathers’ shadows and become great! 

Elizabeth Newman and Tom Nicholson became Slytherins, Samuel Norton became a Ravenclaw, and Poppy O’Brien became a Hufflepuff. It was now time for Albus Potter. Flitwick called his name and the whole Great Hall fell silent. Albus nervously walked up to the stool and placed the hat on his head.

“Hmm,” said the hat, “Well this is very interesting. You would be a fine Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff but even better in Gryffindor. I put your brother into Gryffindor, your parents into Gryffindor, heh , your whole damn family tree. You share many qualities of some of the greatest Gryffindors of the millennia."

Albus nodded, a million thoughts racing through his brain.

“Nothing to say boy? I do see something else. Very interesting, very interesting. Hmm, yes, I suppose this could be best,” said the hat quickly. He then waited about a long minute before yelling out, “SLYTHERIN!”

Albus let out a gasp which was heard by the silent Great Hall. After an odd second of silence, the Great Hall let out an applause. The Slytherin table was by far the loudest and the Gryffindor table by far the quietest except for James who stood up to cheer for his brother. Albus took off the hat and slowly walked to the Slytherin table. He could not believe what happened, his worst fears came true. When he got there he was patted on the back by a few older students and sat down. He couldn’t hear anything but a ringing in his ear. How could this happen?   

He didn't even snap back into reality until the Headmistress, Professor McGonagall, was finished with her speech and the feast appeared in front of him. He looked to his left to see Scorpius sitting next to him. 

 “Are you alright Albus?” asked the smiling Scorpius, shoving some food on his plate. 

“This isn’t right. I’m not supposed to be here,” said Albus. He saw the look that fell on Scorpius’s face. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude. It's just Slytherin, that's not me. I have to fix this.”

 “Uh, I don’t really think there’s much you can do. I don’t think the Sorting Hat really resorts,” Scorpius said, not at all displeased with Albus’s sorting, “I mean you got one friend.”

“The hat has to be thousands of years old. I heard that the song used to be way longer. Yeah, that's it! I bet the hat is malfunctioning or something. I’ll talk to Professor McGonagall tomorrow and I’m sure she could make it work,” Albus said, trying to convince himself.

“Maybe the Sorting Hat put you in Slytherin for a reason,” Scorpius said, shoving a large slice of ham in his mouth.

“No, I’m telling you it has to be a mistake. I bet I can switch, I mean there has to be people who have switched before right?” Albus asked but he was really talking to himself. 

“I don’t know mate, I’ve never–” Scorpius began.

“Don’t worry by tomorrow I’ll have this whole thing sorted out. I’ll go to talk to the Headmistress and she’ll fix everything. Yeah, it will be fine,” Albus said, pleased with his own conclusion. 

“Whatever you say,” said Scorpius, shoving another large piece of ham into his mouth. 

Chapter Text

When the feast had ended it was time for all of the students to make their way to their House Common Rooms. The older students began to get up from the tables and make their way out of the Great Hall. Now left in the Great Hall was about twenty first years standing around each of their House tables. Professor McGonagall stood up and the chattering first years fell silent.

“First years,” McGonagall began, “ A prefect from your house is waiting for you at the end of your table. Please listen to their instructions as they will escort you to your Common Rooms.”

 Albus, who was at the back of the crowd of Slytherin first years, began to follow the rest of the crowd walking to the end of the table. As he was walking he looked over at the Gryffindor table. The Gryffindor first years, led by Rose, were walking to the Gryffindor prefect. The Gryffindor prefect was a tall, athletic looking boy with messy brown hair that all the first year girls blushed at when they got to him; he looked exactly like Albus imagined a Gryffindor prefect to look like.  

Albus sighed and kept walking. He could only imagine what the Slytherin prefect looked like. He imagined an ugly short boy with greasy hair hunched over waiting for their arrival. Albus imagined he was from some old rich family who looked down upon everyone else and probably thought that the job of leading first years was beneath him. In Albus’s mind he would be the antithesis to the handsome, charming prefect leading the Gryffindors. Fortunately he couldn’t have been more wrong.
The Slytherin prefect who was now standing in front of the first years looked nothing like the boy Albus imagined; in fact, the Slytherin prefect was not a boy at all but the most beautiful girl Albus had ever seen. She was a tall girl who had big brown eyes framed by dark lashes. Her eyes were so dark they looked almost black, Albus thought they perfectly contrasted with her snow white skin. While her bold, full eyebrows were a dark black her hair was a glossy whitish silver-blonde with a light blue hue that was put into a perfect ponytail. Pinned to her robes was a small green badge with a silver P standing for Prefect .  

“Here, first years. Over here,” said the Slytherin prefect in a soft, kind voice. She smiled at the crowd, a loving smile that Albus felt was directed at him. “Welcome to Hogwarts and to House Slytherin. My name is Delphini Rosier and will be escorting you to our Common Room.”

Delphini Rosier was her name. A stupid smile grew on Albus’s face at her words. It took him a second to realize the group was walking. Albus followed the group, still grinning like an idiot.

“Change your mind?” Scorpius asked Albus, noticing his childish grin.

“Huh,” said Albus confused for a moment. But then he understood as his smile faded from his face. “Oh.”

Albus had forgotten all about the horror of being in Slytherin for a few minutes. All he had on his mind was the pretty girl he saw and completely forgot about his huge problem. No matter how many pretty girls the Slytherin house had, it was not where Albus belonged. 

Delphini walked the group to a door and swung it open to reveal a steep staircase leading downwards. They walked down the cold, dark staircase to the dungeons of Hogwarts. They followed Delphini past portraits of wizards and witches who were talking to the first years as they walked by. Then she abruptly stopped at the only part of the wall with no paintings. She faced the blank stone wall and then to the students.

“This is the entrance to our common room,” Delphini said to the confused first years. “The door is hidden so only a Slytherin can enter. All you have to do is face the wall and say the password. The current password is, and listen carefully: Viridi-Argenteo.”

As she said these words part of the floor transformed into a silvery stone serpent with emerald green eyes. The serpent slowly slithered and twisted up the wall. The serpent’s head retreated back into the ground parallel to the way it went up, leaving an archway behind. Under the archway was a door that swung open as Delphini entered the Common Room. As the other first years crossed the threshold, the air grew colder and a greenish light casted an eerie glow. The Slytherin Common Room was a long room with rough stone walls and had greenish lamps hanging on chains from the ceiling. They seemed to be very deep underground as they could see they were near the bottom of the Great Lake through the green tinted windows. Along the walls were cabinets filled with old, leather-bound books which glimmered in the low light. Above the cabinets and besides the windows, countless paintings of extraordinary witches and wizards covered the walls. Scattered around the room were fancy leather armchairs, deep green velvet sofas, and glossy wooden tables. What caught Albus’s eye was the grand fireplace that dominated the room, its mantel carved with twisting vines and serpents, tongues of green-tinged flames illuminating the great Slytherin crest above. 

It was a very impressive Common Room but just, in Albus’s mind, not the Common Room for him. 

“And over here-,” said Delphini pointing at two hallways, “-are where you will find your dormitories. Down the spiral staircase to the right is the boys’ dormitory and down the spiral staircase to the left is the girls’ dormitory. The first year dormitories will be the one with the 1 on the door. You’ll see that all of your belongings have already been brought down. You have your first day of lessons tomorrow. At breakfast, me or another prefect will pass out your schedules. Have a good night.”

She gave them another warm smile before walking down the left spiral staircase to the girl’s dormitory. Another ridiculous smile grew on Albus face as he watched her walk away. Scorpius quickly interrupted him.

“C’mon Albus. We’re going to be the last ones in the dorm.”

Scorpius was right. The first years had almost all already gone down the staircase. Albus and Scorpius quickly followed the boys down the right staircase. At the bottom was a long hallway, with doors numbered one through seven. The first years walked through the door labeled one .
The first year boys walked in their dormitory to see all of their trunks and other belongings already in the room. The room had ten large beds which stood against the wet stone walls. Each bed was draped with dark green velvet curtains that could be drawn for privacy. On the side of each bed was a wooden dresser for students to organize their clothes. On the front of each bed was a large silver chest for students to store any other belongings they may have. On the walls, large green and silver banners with the Slytherin crest hung proudly. Again, Albus appreciated the decor of the room but felt it was just not where he belonged.     

All of the first years began unloading their trunks into the drawers and chests. Albus reluctantly started unpacking as he didn’t know how long it was going to take for him to be switched into Gryffindor. As he was unpacking the hair on the back of his neck stood up; he turned around and saw five of the first year Slytherins standing behind him.

“Potter,” said the smug looking boy leading the rest of the group. He had jet black hair that was slicked to the side and dark blue eyes that were staring deep into Albus’s. “We all heard one of Harry Potter’s sons was going to be in our year, but it was quite a surprise that you were sorted into our house.”

“Yeah,” said Albus, not sure of what the intentions of the guys surrounding him were. “It was quite a surprise to me too.”

“I bet it was,” the boy laughed. He then outstretched his hand to Albus, “I’m Lysander Travers. Welcome to Slytherin. I’m sure you’ll do great things for the house”

“Thanks,” said Albus, shaking Travers’s hand. “But I think there was a mistake with the sorting hat. You see, I’m not really supposed to be here.”

Travers looked taken aback by this. He let go of Albus’s hand and said, “What? Are you too good for us Potter? Think you're above being a Slytherin.”

One of the other boys behind him scoffed. Another one’s smile had faded from his face and was no longer glaring at Albus. 

“No, no, not too good,” said Albus quickly, “It’s just I think I’m better suited in Gryffindor. I’m in the process of getting switched.”

“Alright then Potter,” said Travers looking disgusted, “Good luck with that.”

The gang of Slytherins walked to the other side of the room away from Albus’s bed. Albus sighed as he continued to unpack his stuff.

*** 

The next morning Albus woke up bright and early, for a moment forgetting he was at Hogwarts at all. Then, as he looked around the green and silver room he remembered the events of the night before.  He and the other first years got dressed for the day and left their dormitories. As they left, they joined the other Slytherins leaving the common room to head up to the Great Hall for breakfast. 

Albus sat at the Slytherin table next to Scorpius. He felt he was getting dirty looks from both his fellow Slytherins and the Gryffindors at their own table. As he was eating, Albus received his schedule from a different Slytherin prefect. He had Charms class first thing after breakfast with the Gryffindors, then Transfiguration with the Ravenclaws, lunch, and finally a double Herbology class with the Hufflepuffs. Tomorrow he had Potions first thing with the Ravenclaws, History of Magic with the Hufflepuffs, lunch, Defense Against the Dark Arts with the Gryffindors, and finally a flying class with Gryffindors. Then the order of the classes changed each day after. Things were getting permanent too fast. If Albus wanted to switch Gryffindor he would have to figure out something fast. 

After eating breakfast, Albus and Scorpius walked to their charms class. Their goal was to find the Charms Corridor on the third floor. This was a difficult task for the new students as Hogwarts didn’t work the way typical structures did. Albus and Scorpius thought they could simply walk up three flights of stairs but when they tried this they somehow ended up on the sixth floor. Confused, on the sixth floor, they asked an older student how to get to the third floor. The older boy pointed them to a hallway on the sixth floor that somehow led them back down to the first floor greenhouses. With only ten minutes before class started, Albus and Scorpius luckily found their way to the Charms classroom. 

They walked into the classroom to see most of their classmates already inside. Morning sunlight shone in through the tall, arched windows, casting golden beams across rows of polished wooden desks. Professor Flitwick’s desk was a collection of more scrolls and parchment than Albus could count. The tiny professor stood on thick leather books stacked high on his chair so he could be seen by the whole class. Behind him, a worn muggle blackboard stood covered with neat scribbles of notes and ideas. On the sides of the room there were large desks that sat two students each, behind them shelves lined the wall, crowded with books and fascinating items. Albus stared at a shelf which had glass jars filled with powders rapidly changing colors, books on spellwork and chams, and shimmering feathers that lay on their stands. When Albus looked away he saw Rose sitting alone at a desk unpacking her backpack. 

Albus felt a bit guilty for the way he left things with his cousin; afterall in the next few days he would become a Gryffindor. 

“Scorpius,” Albus said awkwardly, “Do you mind if I go sit with Rose? I just don’t like the way I ended things with her.”

“Oh, um,” said Scorpius, putting on a fake smile, “Yeah, of course, go ahead.”

Albus walked over to Rose’s desk. After a few seconds of standing there, she slowly looked up at him. He smiled at her but she angrily gazed at him for a moment before going back to unpacking her bag. 

“Rose,” Albus said, “Do you mind if I sit here?”

“I’m saving this seat,” she said without even looking up. “I’m sure your little friend would love to sit with you.”

Albus was about to say something when Professor Flitwick began to speak to the class.

“Alright everyone, the bell is about to ring. Please take your seats,” the tiny teacher squeaked.

At these words a Gryffindor boy with dark spiky brown hair pushed past Albus.

“Is anyone sitting here?” he said, pointing at Rose’s desk.

Rose looked to the boy and then to Albus. What Albus thought was a malicious smile spread across her face. She looked back at the boy and told him the seat was free. Albus went back to the table Scorpius was at and sat down. At exactly nine o'clock, the bell rang.

“Alright, settle down, settle down,” Professor Flitwick said to the class. “Welcome to the first day of lessons. This is quite exciting. Lucky enough for all of you, your first class is Charms. For those of you who forgot, I am Professor Flitwick, your Charms professor. Today we will be going through my expectations and what we will be learning this year. If time permits we can begin our study on our first spell.”

Albus sat through Flitwick’s lecture, not really paying much attention to the specifics. When Flitwick was done he pulled a small golden pocket watch from robes. He smiled and tucked the watch back into a pocket in his robes. 

“Ok class, it looks like we have just enough time to begin our study on the Vermillion Charm,” Flitwick said happily. 

Albus took notes on Flitwick’s twenty minute lecture on the introduction to the Vermillion Charm. He wrote down:

Vermillion Charm 

Incantation: Vermillious

• it was the simplest spell to perform (even nonverbally)
• the spell sends out red sparks from the tip of the wand
• known as a sign for “needing help” when shot in the air
• it can be used as an offensive spell when shot at someone
• Sparks are bright and warm

Just before the bell rang Flitwick demonstrated the spell by aiming his wand up at an angle. He said the incantation and red sparks flew out of his wand like fireworks. The class clapped at his demonstration and Flitwick seemed very pleased. When the bell rang the students all got up to head to their next class. After Charms, Albus and Scorpius made their way back down to the first floor and followed a group of first year Ravenclaws into the Transfiguration Classroom

All the windows in the Transfiguration classroom were closed keeping the room very dark. In the dark, rows of desks lined the room, each polished wood surface worn smooth. At the front of the room was a long teacher’s desk with many random objects cluttered on it. Unlike Flitwick’s classroom, there was no chalkboard behind the desk, instead there was a table even longer than the teacher’s desk covered in what looked like a mess of random junk. There were also a few cages on the table of small animals like mice, rats, frogs, and birds. Albus and Scorpius sat together at the two person desk right in front of the Professor. When the bell rang the Transfiguration Professor stood up from his desk. He was a tall man wearing a fancy muggle-looking dark green suit and a big lime green wizard’s hat. His face was decorated with a twirly black mustache and well groomed goatee. The Professor pulled out his black oddly shaped wand. The wand was elegant but had an almost organic shape. The shaft flowed straight upward but just below the midpoint, the wand dipped into a smooth loop, which formed a distinctive and unexpected twist, almost like a knot. The Professor pointed his wand at where Albus and Scorpius were sitting and gave a hard flick. Orange smoak erupted in front of Albus and Scorpius, when they opened their eyes the desk had disappeared and in its place stood a giant lion which towered over the two boys. Just as the lion opened its mouth the Professor flicked his wand again and the lion spun back into a desk. The entire class all applauded, except for Albus and Scorpius who were still frozen in fear. 

“Transfiguration,” said the Professor, “The most versatile, useful, powerful, and dangerous form of magic.”

He flicked his wand again and the window covers transformed into a flutter of butterflies, filling the room with light. 

“I am Professor Wayne Macmillan, head of Slytherin House and your transfiguration professor,” he said beaming to the class as they watched the butterflies in awe. “Before we start I would like to clear up any misconceptions of this class. Yes, Transfiguration is difficult and can be disastrous if done wrong; that being said, as your professor I am here to guide you. You all will make mistakes and that’s ok. This class is going to be very hands on, I believe in using our wands more than our quills. I find theory can only take you so far which is why the only homework I’ll assign in this class is to practice what we did in class.”

Happy whispers and smiles filled the class at the promise of no homework.

“I will be showing you every aspect of transfiguration,” said Macmillan. “You’ll learn simple spells that you can use in everyday life, complex spells that can help you in dire situations, as well as martial spells that can be used in the most heated duels.”

Learning how to duel people was a main desire of most first years so these words also excited the students. For the rest of the lesson, Macmillan went over the basics of Transfiguration and then immediately started them on turning a match into a needle. 

After Transfiguration class was lunch. Albus figured this could be a good time to talk to Professor McGonagall about making the switch to Gryffindor. When Albus and Scorpius entered the Great Hall, Albus told Scorpius about his plan. Scorpius sighed, wished him good luck, and walked to eat lunch at the Slytherin table. Albus saw McGonagall at the teachers table but before going to talk to her he wanted to go tell Rose what he was doing. 

Albus walked over to the Gryffindor table. He found Rose sitting with a group of five other kids, one being the dark spiky-haired boy who she sat with in Charms. 

“Hey Rose,” Albus said bashfully as all the kids looked at him, “You guys mind if I sit here.”

They all looked to Rose except the spiky-haired boy who kept staring at Albus.

“Oh Albus, you must be confused,” said Rose smiling, “This is the Gryffindor table. I’m not sure if you noticed but you're not a Gryffindor, are you? Go back to your table, I’m sure Malfoy is waiting for you.”

The kids around her laughed.

“Rose c’mon-” Albus began.

“Run along Albus,” she said, still laughing with the rest of the group.

“Rose listen-”

But the spiky-haired boy cut him off and said, “You heard her Potter. Bugger off. Go back to your own table and sit with your little boyfriend.”

“Stay out of this,” snapped Albus to the boy. He was not in the mood for this kid’s input.

“Why don’t you make me,” said the spiky-haired kid standing up. A smug smile grew on his face.

Albus, now fuming, shoved Spiky-Hair away as soon as he got too close. Spiky-Hair stumbled but stayed on his feet. He pulled out his jet black wand and pointed it at Albus. Albus reactively went to pull out his wand even though he had never casted a single spell. But before Albus could even get out his wand:

“ Flipendo!, ” said Spiky-Hair, jabbing his wand in the air. 

A small flash of blue light came from the tip of Spiky-Hair’s wand. Albus felt like he was punched very hard in the stomach that flung his body back. It felt like he was being pushed by a huge gust of wind and a carpet was pulled out from his feet. 

Next thing he knew, he was on his back on the ground trying harder than anything to hold back the tears. When all the students nearby erupted into laughter it became impossible.

“This crybaby thought he could be a Gryffindor?” said Spiky-Hair laughing, “Us Gryffindors are brave!”

“Oi!” yelled a voice from behind Spiky-Hair.

Spiky-Hair turned around to see James, Albus’s brother, towering over him. Behind James were three other older Gryffindors with their wands drawn. James grabbed Spiky-Hair by the robes with his free hand and pointed his wand at Spiky-Hair’s face. The first years at the table who were just laughing fell silent immediately.  Spiky-Hair looked terrified, his hands were shaking so much he dropped his wand. 

“That’s my brother you little git,” said James, “Touch him again and I’ll turn you into a toad.”

Albus, weak and defenseless, being “saved” by his brother did not make him feel any better. He was still completely humiliated about what just happened. He could never switch houses now, the Gryffindors would completely hate him; not that it mattered as everyone knew they didn’t let little cry babies like him into Gryffindor. 

Tears still running down his face, Albus quickly got up and ran out of the Great Hall down to the Slytherin Common Room. When he got in the Common Room it was empty as everyone was still at lunch. Albus ran down to his dormitory, plopped on his bed, put his head in the pillow, and let out more tears. 

After a few minutes of laying there, Albus heard someone walk into the dormitory.  He whipped his head around and saw Scorpius standing by the door. 

“Go ahead,” Albus said, “You can laugh. I’m an idiot. I left my one friend to go pretend to be a Gryffindor. Me, a Gryffindor? You were right, the Sorting Hat didn’t put me in Gryffindor for a reason. I’m not brave at all.”

“I’m not going to laugh, Albus,” said Scorpius seriously. “There was nothing brave about that kid cursing you before you even had your wand out. There was nothing brave about him acting tough when he was surrounded by his friends. The Sorting Hat didn’t put you in Gryffindor for a reason, but it wasn’t because you're not brave. But if you really want to, you'll do great things for Gryffindor.”

Albus looked up and wiped the tears from his face. He looked at Scorpius, a true friend, his only friend. 

“You were right,” Albus said. “I’m in Slytherin and that is how it’s going to stay. You’ve been nothing but a good friend to me and I’ve talked about nothing but wanting to leave. I’m sorry.”

“Thanks,” said Scorpius, “It’s okay, really-”

“It’s not,” said Albus. “I wouldn’t want to be a Gryffindor with Rose and those other guys anyway. We’re going to be better than all of them. I’ll be the best student this school has ever seen and I’m going to do it as a Slytherin!”

Chapter Text

After his revelation, Albus’s view on Hogwarts completely changed. The next few days he went through his classes as a proud Slytherin. He had stopped caring if everyone liked him, especially Rose and the Gryffindors. He wanted more than anything to outshine Rose and her new friends any way he could. Rose had a similar feeling towards him and tried to outshine Albus anyway she could.

Albus hadn’t had any more interactions with the spiky-haired boy but found out his name was Cyrus Baker. If Albus hated Cyrus, Cyrus despised Albus. What James did to Cyrus humiliated him just as much as what he did to Albus. James being a popular Gryffindor who was bigger, older, and more powerful than Cyrus meant all the hate towards him went to Albus. Albus caught him on multiple occasions just staring at Albus with nothing but loathing in his eyes. He also noticed that Cyrus had to seem to become very close with Rose, the two of them seemed to run their little friend group. 

As for his lessons, Albus was actually doing very well. Filled with the drive to outperform Rose, Albus paid close attention in class, worked hard on his homework, and even spent some free time studying. Rose had to be doing similar things because the two of them remained evenly matched in their classes. Their two hands were always the first to shoot up in the air every time they had a class together. 

Albus liked all of his professors but he particularly favored his Transfiguration professor, Professor Macmillan. Macmillan was the head of Albus’s house and had told Albus he was very pleased to see him in Slytherin. Albus also found Macmillan’s classes very stress free but still very interesting and challenging. Macmillan’s laid back nature made him popular among all of the students. 

Albus also really liked his Defense Against the Darks Arts professor, Professor Zaccai. Zaccai was a short but muscular Scottish woman with long dark hair that flowed out from her yellow witch hat. She was a very energetic and unpredictable woman, you never knew what to expect when walking into her class. In their first lesson she summoned what she called “beginner dark creatures” into the classroom. She then sat down, put her feet up at her desk and let the students handle them to “test their instinct.” During this trial, Albus managed to narrowly dodge a fiery attack from one of these creatures. Seeing it was getting a little out of hand, Zaccia made all the dark creatures vanish. She then called Albus to the front of the class and awarded five points to Slytherin for his impressively quick reaction. 

There was one teacher that Albus didn’t love, this was his Potions professor, Professor Lutterworth. Professor Lutterworth was an old, plump woman who talked in a deep, monotone, raspy voice. She wore an all black outfit, a purple pearl necklace, and round glasses that hid her eyes. Her lessons were even more lifeless than Albus’s History of Magic teacher, Professor Binns, who was dead himself. But what made everything worse was on Albus’s first day of Potions he made the worst first impression with Lutterworth he could have. As she was taking attendance she paused before saying the next name. 

“Albus… Potteeer,” she finally said but then put down the list.

“Present,” Albus said, sitting next to Scorpius, called out from the back of the class.

“Miiister Potter. Please take a seat at this empty desk in front of mine .

“I’m sorry, Professor?” Albus said, confused. He looked to Scorpius sitting next to him who was just as confused. 

“I had the privilege ,” Lutterworth said, choosing her words carefully, “Of being the Potion master and head of house of your brother. It looks like I’ve been blessed with another Potter. ”

Albus sighed and sat in the front of the class. He knew James had gotten more detentions in his first sixth months at Hogwarts than Albus hoped to ever get in his seven years.

“Know Mr. Potter, I have my eye on you,” she said before going back to attendance. 

Albus had an interesting start at Hogwarts but everything now seemed to be going good; for almost his whole first week. 

*** 

On Friday morning, the students of Hogwarts were eating their breakfast. As they ate a parliament of owls came flooding into the Great Hall. This was the Owl Post delivering mail or packages to the students. As Albus and Scorpius ate two Albus came swooping down and dropped two letters, one to Albus and one to Scorpius. Albus quickly tore open his letter.

Dear Al,

This letter should reach you on the last day of your first week of Hogwarts. Me and your mother have heard about your sorting. We just want you to know we couldn’t care less that you’ve been put in Slytherin, we’ll know you’ll make us proud regardless of your house. I know it may not feel this way because so often at Hogwarts the houses are pitted against each other but remember the world isn’t split into Hogwarts houses. I know you will be just as good of a student as a Slytherin as you would have been as a Gryffindor. Always remember, me and your mother will always be proud of you and love you so much. We will write again in a few weeks but let us know if you would like another letter sooner. Write any time you need anything.

Love,

Dad

Albus smiled and tucked the letter into his robes. He then looked up at Scorpius who had just torn up his own letter and shoved the pieces into his pocket. 

***

Albus and Scorpius finished their last class of the day, History of Magic, taught by Professor Binns, the least interesting ghost ever. After class Albus and Scorpius left to go to the Great Hall for dinner. Hogwarts was still quite difficult for them to navigate at this point and they got lost again. 

“Yesterday that staircase took us right into the Great Hall,” said Scorpius, confused, as the stairs he just walked down disappeared. 

“Yeah well I’m pretty sure we’re on the seventh floor,” said Albus looking around, “Dinner will be over by the time we get down there.”

“It probably already is,” said Scorpius looking at his shiny watch. 

They continued to walk through the corridor but Albus abruptly stopped as he saw who was coming down the hall. Cyrus and six other Gryffidor boys walking in their direction. 

“Uh oh,” said Albus.

What?” said Scorpius, not seeing the gang of Gryffindors.

“Well, well, well, fancy seeing you here,” said Cyrus, a smug smirk growing on his face. “What are you two doing sneaking around up here?”

“We were just going to the Great Hall,” said Scorpius, not making eye contact with Cyrus. 

“Yeah, likely story,” chimed in one of the other Gryffindor boys.

“It’s true,” said Scorpius, “We just got a little lost.”

“Oh, smart ass Potter here doesn’t know something? That’s new,” said another one of the boys. “Who do you think you are trying to make Gryffindor look bad in every class?”

“I’ll tell you who he is,” said Cyrus, stepping forward, “He’s an embarrassment to his family. He’s a little baby who thinks he's better than everyone else. It’s time someone shows him he can’t keep trying to show up Rose and our house. And it looks like his brother isn’t here to save him this time.”

All the Gryffindor boys took out their wands. They all pointed their wands at Albus and Scorpius, led by Cyrus. 

“I’ve been working on the Pumpkin Head Jinx, you know. Should we see if it works?” said Cyrus raising his wand.

“ Melo- ” Cyrus began before abruptly stopping the incantation and jerking his arm high in the air. “Woah!”

He raised his arm awkwardly in the air as high as it could go. It went up so high he was picked up into the air by his arm which seemed to be floating on his own. Did Albus do this with some secret power?

“Seven on two?” said a voice emerging from a connecting hallway. “That doesn’t seem very brave.”

Albus whipped his head around to see Delphini Rosier, the Slytherin prefect Albus thought was really pretty, with her wand raised in hand. As she walked into the corridor the other Gryffindors all pointed their wands at Delphini. 

“Are you raising your wands at me ?” said Delphini amused.

She gave a small flick of her wand and the wands of all the Gryffindor first years flew into the air out of reach. 

“Raising your wands to a school prefect, about to perform magic in a corridor,  and threatening two unarmed students. That’s five points from Gryffindor, from each of you! I’ll also be speaking to your head of house,” said Delphini very sternly, “Now go back to your common rooms. Now.”

Delphini gave another lazy flick of her wand, releasing her hold on Cyrus’s arm and the Gryffindors’ wands. They scrambled to pick up their wands and they ran out of the corridor as fast as they could. The stern look on Delphini’s face and a smile took its place. She let out a small laugh before turning to the boys.

“Are you two alright? They didn’t rough you up too bad, did they?” said Delphini, sounding genuinely concerned.
Albus opened his mouth but words didn’t come out. He couldn’t believe he was talking to Delphini. 

“Yeah, we’re ok,” said Scorpius, saving Albus from the embarrassment. 

“That’s good to hear,” said Delphini with a warm smile. “I don’t know if I properly introduced myself. I’m Delphini Rosier, I’m one of the fifth year prefects.”

“Hi, I’m Scorpius Malfoy, it's nice to meet you.”

“Albus Potter,” Albus blurted out, blushing. “I mean, I’m Albus Potter… hi.”

“Hi,” Delphini laughed. There was an awkward pause of them just staring at her before she said, “You two should probably get to supper.”

“Ok,” said Scorpius, “We’ll be going.”

“And hey, I probably shouldn’t be encouraging your little rivalry but if you are sick of those boys picking on you, you could join the Dueling Club. I’m one of the co-captains, you two should come.We have our first meeting on Monday at 8:00pm.”

Their faces lit up at this. 

“W-we’ll be there!” said Albus eagerly.

“Great, I’ll see you then. We meet on the third floor in the room behind the big spruce door, you can’t miss it,” Delphini said before walking away. 

As Delphini walked away, she turned back and smiled at the boys; Albus felt his heart skip a beat and a stupid grin grew on his face. After standing there frozen for a second, Scorpius told Albus to follow him and the two hungry boys continued to try to find the Great Hall. 

Chapter Text

The dungeons were cold that Monday morning, and the air smelled faintly of damp stone and old herbs.  All Albus and Scorpius could talk about that morning, in what felt like an extremely long double Potions class, was the Dueling Club they would be attending later in the night. They were given the period to start working on their two rolls of parchment long essay about Wiggenweld Potion. Albus and Scorpius sat at their desk, their quills hovering over their parchments but their thoughts were far from the Wiggenweld Potion.

“I wonder what they are going to teach us,” Albus said quietly to Scorpius. They were both sitting at the desk right in front of Lutterworth. “We could become the most powerful first years.”

“Imagine all of the kinds of hexes we could learn,” Scorpius said out of the corner of his mouth, pretending like he was writing. “Cyrus won’t know what hit him!”

“I wonder if they’ll teach us how to block spells from hitting us,” Albus said a little louder, “Or maybe they’ll teach us how to become immune to jinxes!”

“Yeah maybe,” said Scorpius, also a little louder.

“Do you think we’ll actually start dueling tonight or-” Albus started a bit too loud.

“Excuuuse me Miiister Potter, Miiister Malfoy,” said Lutterworth looking up at them annoyed, “I hate to interrupt what I’m sure is a riveting conversation but iiif it continues, I’m going to have to ask you to continue it in detention.” 

“Sorry Professor,” the two said in unison. 

Silence filled the room again, all of the other students working hard, but Scorpius and Albus could not focus. Their essays remained painfully empty, while visions of dueling, spells cracking in midair, continued to fill their minds. The hours stretched on, and the clock ticked at an agonizing pace. But in their imaginations, they were already there, standing in a ring of students, wands poised and ready for whatever spell was about to be thrown their way. 

***

Their last lesson of the day was Charms with the Gryffindors. They had now finished their theoretical study on the Vermillion Charm. Today, Flitwick was letting the students practice the Charm. Flitwick had vanished the ceiling of the room so the open sky was above them. Then he let each student come up to the front of the classroom and practice shooting up red sparks into the air.

“Any volunteers to demonstrate the spell at the front of the class?” asked the tiny Flitwick. 

He had barely finished the question when Rose and Albus’s hands were the first to shoot up in air, as if they were propelled by springs. Albus leaned forward, arm stretched as high as he could manage. He whipped his head around at Rose whose hand was raised  just as high, but she sat with perfect composure. Rose’s gaze was calm yet razorsharp, daring Albus to beat her to it.

“Hmm,” Flitwick said, his eyes flicked back and forth between them, “Miss Weasley, why don’t you show us how to perform the Vermillion Charm.”

Albus slumped back into his chair as Rose shot him a triumphant smirk. She slowly lowered her hand, her eyes never leaving Albus’s, savoring her victory. With a little toss of her hair, she made her way to the front. The whole class watched her glide up, fully aware of her silent message to Albus: Better luck next time.

Rose took her time getting out her wand. When she had it in hand she waved it at the sky, her movements smooth and deliberate. She pronounced the incantation perfectly and said it very loud. 

“ Vermillious! ” she cried. 

The bright red sparks quickly flew out of her wand into the air. All of the Gryffindors roared with cheers and applause at once. Rose flashed another quick glance at Albus, as if to say, That’s how it's done. When she finished, Flitwick himself gave her a small round of applause and rewarded her five points. Rose returned to her seat with a self-satisfied smile, folding her arms as though her victory was sealed. 

“Mr. Potter,” Flitwick squeaked, still smiling, “Would you like to give it a try?”

Rose’s smile faded as Albus rose, confidently striding to the front of the class. When he got there the entire class watched him, waiting to see how he performed.  He raised his wand in the air without hesitation, his pronunciation was crisp and precise. Sparks, even bigger and brighter than Rose’s, flew high into the sky before exploding like fireworks. The Slytherins erupted in applause, a few Gryffindors even let out impressed murmurs.

After receiving Flitwick’s praise, Albus returned to his seat avoiding Rose’s glare, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. He didn’t need to say a word, his sparks had spoken for him. 

More students went up and demonstrated the charm but no one came close to Albus’s and Rose’s impressive sparks. Albus had stopped paying attention to his classmates' sparks demonstrations. He and Scorpius had gone back to discussing the Dueling Club. As they were talking Albus felt a hot sensation across his face and he was blinded by a flash of light. With much difficulty, he opened his eyes to see Cyrus standing at the front of the class, a small bit of red smoke fuming from his wand. 

“I’m sorry, Professor,” Cyrus said, trying to hold back a smile, “It was an accident.”

“Regardless of your intentions, ten points from Gryffindor!” Flitwick squealed angrily, “Are you alright Mr. Potter?”

“Yes,” Albus coughed, violently blinking his eyes. “I’m fine.”

On the inside Albus was overflowing with anger. He had impressed the whole class today with his charmwork but was undermined and embarrassed by Cyrus again! What calmed him was the thoughts of the Dueling Club that night. He was going to learn spells that would make Cyrus shake when he saw him coming. He wouldn’t have to put up with this much longer, soon Cyrus would fear him !

***

Supper had been a blur of hurried bites and stolen glances at the clock as Albus and Scorpius scarfed down their food. When they were finally done, they bolted from the Great Hall, their footsteps echoing off the stone corridors as they wound their way through the castle in search of the Dueling Club.

“Where exactly is it supposed to be again?” asked Scorpius,  glancing around a corner before they pressed on.

“Delphini said on the third floor,” Albus said, “Let’s try to go one of the ways we go to Charms.”

When they got to the third floor, they wandered a bit, checking doors they were only half-familiar with, until they finally found it. They stood in front of a tall spruce door, set with gleaming golden handles, that looked newer than any other door in the castle. Scorpius reached for the handle, his fingers curling around the cool metal. With one last shared look of anticipation, he pushed it open.

Inside, the room was enormous, larger than either of them expected, with a high, arched ceiling and walls lined with torches casting a warm glow over the polished stone floor. At the far end of the room, a black elevated stage stretched nearly the entire width, lit with a brighter, almost theatrical light that made it the clear focal point. In front of the stage, a crowd of about thirty students was gathered, chattering eagerly, all eyes fixed on Professor Flitwick, who was standing on the stage in between two older students holding their wands.

Albus and Scorpius slipped into the crowd, their eyes wide as they took in the scene. The room buzzed with excitement, everyone whispering in hushed tones and pointing at the two stoic looking students standing beside Flitwick. On Flitwick’s right was Delphini and on his left was a Ravenclaw boy. 

Delphini stood narrowing her eyes and the crowd fell silent, drawn in by her fierce intensity. Her usual warmth was gone, replaced by a quiet but powerful readiness. She held her wand by her side with steady control, her eyes fixed sharply on the now quiet crowd, her entire stance radiating a tension that seemed almost eclectic. Every breath she took was measured, focused, and precise. Behind her fiery eyes was a raw power that seemed to be yearning to explode out of her. 

To Flitwick’s left stood the Ravenclaw boy; he was tall, broad-shouldered, and had messy brown hair that sat just above his eyebrows. He held his wand casually, his posture loose and relaxed. He wasn’t on edge the way Delphini was; instead, he wore a small, confident grin, a look that wasn’t quite smug, but close. It was the kind of grin that said he had worked hard and was ready to test his skills. He gleamed with quiet satisfaction, as though he were already envisioning the spells he’d cast. 

Delphini’s glaze flicked over to him; catching the grin, a brief look of irritation flashed across her face. Her grip on her wand tightened. It was clear that his confidence was grating against her own heightened focus, she took a deep breath and looked even more determined. 

Professor Flitwick raised to signal the start. The spruce door slammed shut and all of the students beneath the stage looked up at Flitwick.

“Welcome everyone to the first Dueling Club meeting of the year,” squeaked Flitwick with a big smile. “This is the fifteenth annual year of Hogwarts’s official Dueling Club. You new members may not know but in my youth I became a national dueling champion. I have the privilege of teaching you the eloquent art of dueling. We will meet every Monday evening from 8:00pm to 9:30pm. To start off our first meeting , I’d thought we could begin by showing all of you what you could become if you stick with the club. We will be watching a duel between these two fine students, the captains of the dueling club, standing beside me.”

Flitwick looked over at Delphini and the Ravenclaw boy.

“To my right is fifth year Delphini Rosier. She has been in the Dueling Club since her first year and is a two time champion of our Dueling Championship held at the end of each year. To my left is fifth year Nicholas Fawley. He has been in the Dueling Club since his second year and is also a two time champion. Alright you two please take your spots.”

Flitwick left the stage, Delphini walked to the end of one side and Nicholas walked to the end of the other. Both faced each other and held their wands to their faces. 

“Alright, alright,” squeaked Flitwick, “Face each other and bow. Take three paces. Alright now before you begin, let’s remember this is just a demonstration. This duel is not for any rank or reward so let’s just keep it friendly. Nothing too extravagant you two, I’m serious. Alright, bow again and begin.”

Delphini and Nicholas raised their wands, each sizing up the other in a silent challenge, waiting for that first spark of magic. Delphini struck first, sending a violent spell hurtling across the stage. Nicholas blocked it instantly, his counterspell flashing back at her in one smooth motion. She deflected it, and the two launched into a furious exchange, blocking and casting back and forth, their wands like whips, each spell faster than the last. To the students watching, the duel was a blur of light and energy, shield charms flaring to life for split seconds before another attack barreled in.

Then Delphini, seizing a moment, dragged her wand low across the floor, transfiguring part of the stone stage into sand. With a fluid, spinning motion, she flicked her wand, and the sand rose, swirling into a storm that she sent straight for Nicholas, intending to bury him in it. But Nicholas reacted just in time, pointing his wand and transforming the rushing sand into a massive piece of glass. He pulled his wand back as though loading it, then thrusted it forward, shattering the glass into hundreds of sharp shards and propelling them toward her.

Delphini’s gaze was quick, catching a moment’s opening in Nicholas’s defense. She fired off a quick, concentrated spell that streaked across the stage and struck him in the leg just as the shards flew her way. The blast snapped Nicholas’s leg, sending him to the ground, but she barely had time to savor her success as the shards approached, and she raised a powerful shield charm, the glass shattering against it.

Nicholas, now on the ground, swiped his wand upward, summoning a massive stone slab from the floor to shield himself. Delphini watched him with a triumphant smile, her wand steady as she began to move slowly toward his hiding place. On the other side of the stone, Nicholas was desperately mending his leg, casting spells so advanced that even the seventh-years in the crowd exchanged astonished glances.

As Delphini reached the slab, she gave a casual flick of her wand, sending a dark, explosive spell straight into it. The slab shattered, pieces flying across the stage as smoke filled the air. But as it cleared, Delphini’s eyes narrowed—Nicholas was no longer crumpled on the ground but back on his feet, wand raised.

He fired a quick spell her way, and she blocked it, then waved her wand in a circular motion above her head, summoning a ring of emerald green fire. The flames roared to life, swirling around her in fierce, hypnotic waves as she gathered them under her control. Nicholas’s grip on his wand tightened, but he held his ground, his face set with focused determination. Delphini made the fire burn brighter and hotter, his eyes squinted and he felt the heat but Nicholas did not retreat. 

With a final motion, Delphini directed the fire toward him, the green flames blazing as they streaked across the stage. Nicholas circled his wand at his feet, conjuring a ring of water that began to swirl around him. From this ring, eight large water tentacles rose, each one flowing and alive, forming a barrier between him and the oncoming fire. The tentacles slapped down on the flames one by one, extinguishing each attack Delphini sent his way until all the fire had been quenched.

Delphini’s eyes narrowed. She flicked her wand, and the water turned, trapping Nicholas inside a swirling sphere, cutting off his air. But he was quick; Nicholas aimed his wand inward, absorbing the water into its tip in a powerful spell that freed him. His wand glowed an ocean blue, and he began to spin it, the glow turning to a freezing white. With a fierce thrust, he sent a blast of icy magic toward Delphini. In an instant, she was frozen solid, encased in a shimmering block of ice, her fierce gaze locked in shock.

The crowd gasped, and Professor Flitwick stepped forward, raising a hand. “The duel is over,” he declared, nodding to Nicholas, who let out a sigh of relief. He pointed his wand at the ice surrounding Delphini, melting it carefully and freeing her. As she stepped forward, her face was calm, but a fire burned in her eyes, the only sign of her frustration. She nodded stiffly, her composure intact, and returned to stand at Professor Flitwick’s side, shoulders set with quiet determination, her fierce resolve undimmed by her defeat.    

“Well students you have now seen a duel between two very powerful students. Now this duel was a bit more…  extravagant than I hoped, but regardless. Any of you can be just like them with enough hard work and practice,” said Flitwick. “Alright now pair up with each other and find an open spot. You are going to begin duels with a partner to see what you know. Our captains will be around and provide advice and take notes on what we should work on this year.”

These words caused a hectic stampede of students moving around, pushing past each other to find their friends or someone they’d want to duel. When Albus turned to face Scorpius he was gone and the only person left near him without a partner was a Gryffindor fourth year. The two partnered up and went near the far left corner of the room.

“I’m Adam Gorman,” said the fourth year Gryffindor, “Are you ready Potter?”

“Yeah, I guess,” said Albus, taking out his wand. 

The two faced each other, bowed, took three paces, bowed again, and the duel began!

Albus stood there, his wand drawn, but frozen in fear. Gorman shouted an incantation and a flash of red light went soaring at Albus. The flash of red light narrowly missed Albus, flying right by his left ear. Albus gasped, his eyes bulged, and he realized he was in this duel; if he didn’t act soon he would lose . Albus pointed his wand at Gorman and casted the spell he was best at.

“ Vermillious! ” he yelled. 

The hot, bright red sparks flew from his wand at Gorman and hit him in the face. The red sparks blinded him for a few seconds. Albus realizing he had another opportunity sent more red sparks at Gorman which hit him in the stomach. The sparks caused a bit of pain but didn’t do much but annoy Gorman. 

Able to see again, Gorman pointed his wand at Albus and cried, “Locomotor Wibbly !”

Albus tried to move out of the way but the orange spell hit him. Albus’s legs immediately started to buckle under his weight, it was as if they turned to jelly. Albus, now wobbling around and struggling to not fall over, casted more red sparks at his opponents. The sparks terribly missed Gorman as Albus couldn’t properly aim while wobbling around. Gorman then casted another spell at Albus which hit him in the face. Almost immediately, Albus’s tongue began to swell. It grew to the size of a frisbee and hung outside his mouth. Unable to speak and say incantations, Albus could no longer cast anymore spells. 

Albus stumbled around unable to speak, waving his wand frantically in the air. Gorman then casted the Finger Fumbling Jinx onto Albus causing him to drop his wand and making him unable to pick it back up. The duel was pretty much over but Gorman still had one more spell in store to finish off Albus for good. 

“ Fulgari! ”

A yellow beam of light came soaring out of Gorman’s wand and wrapped around Albus, binding him. Still stumbling, Albus fell to the ground. Gorman left Albus who laid on the ground, his legs still wobbling, his fingers still fumbling, and his massive tongue flopping around. Albus watched other people from the ground, seeing some people getting beat just as bad as him. He saw a Ravenclaw first year he recognized from his Transfiguration class binded by vines that cracked through the ground. He saw a Hufflepuff boy he didn’t recognize, his nose was as big as Albus’s tongue and had grown hands that were poking him in the eye. Albus looked over and saw Scorpius had also lost his duel. His head had grown to the size of a large balloon which was lifting him in the air and his hands were turned into big flowers making him unable to hold a wand. The seventh year Slytherin he faced stood beaming in triumph at their victory. 

Luckily Albus didn’t have to wait too long as a helping figure walked over to him, standing behind his head so Albus couldn’t see their face. Albus heard a simple swish of a wand and in an instant of the jinxes that had been put on Albus were lifted. He got up to thank his savior but when he looked up his heart had sank and his face turned bright red. 

“Not a great first duel?” asked Delphini, smiling a little and raising an eyebrow.

Albus couldn’t believe he was talking to her again; and not just talking to her again, but being saved by her again! This was much more humiliating than the last time she saved him because he had lost this duel fair and square, all on his own. 

“Don’t feel bad,” she said, her smile growing warmer, “You’ll learn loads more in the next meeting. Flitwick just likes to have the first meeting be exciting so it doesn't feel like lessons.”

“Thanks,” Albus said, his voice cracking. He knew she was just trying to make him feel better.

“I really mean it. You shouldn’t feel bad,” she said as if she read his mind. Her smile faded a bit before saying, “I mean, you saw my rubbish duel. I lost in front of the whole club; I mean, talk about embarrassment.”

“What?!” Albus said, genuinely surprised, “No way, you dueled great! I’ve never seen magic like that before in my life! I don’t know how that kid was keeping up with you.”

“Well thank you Albus, you’re very sweet,” she giggled as a warm smile returned to her face, “I have to go check on other pairs, but I suppose I’ll see you soon if you stick with the club.”

“Yeah, definitely,” said Albus, his spirits high and the memory of the duel he lost had vanished from his brain. 

Albus blushed again as she walked away. He watched her walk away and over to other students who had lost their duels. He imagined her kind words lifting their spirits as they had lifted his. He watched her until his view was obstructed by a floating Scorpius, his head still as big as a balloon. 

When the Dueling Club had ended, Albus and Scorpius left with mixed emotions. On one hand the two of them had both lost their duals very badly but on the other hand they saw the kind of magic they could learn if they stayed in the club. Scorpius was weighing his options in his head while Albus walked behind him, only thinking about his interaction with Delphini. The two separated from the large group of students leaving the club, they only had twenty minutes to get to the Slytherin Common Room before curfew. 

“So Albus,” Scorpius said, turning back, “What did you think?”

“Huh,” Albus said, half listening. His cheeks were still red and he still had that dumb smile. “Oh, yeah, it went well. I think I’m going to stay in it.”

“Same,” said Scorpius, “Just wait until Cyrus tries us again.”

“Maybe once he finds out we're in the club, he’ll leave us alone,” said Albus, “ He’ll be the one who’s scared of us.”

“You know…Maybe we don’t even tell anyone we’re in the club,” Scorpius saw Albus’s curious face and said, “Then we can get really good and Cyrus will have no idea. Then the next time he goes after us, we’ll humiliate him!”

“Yeah,” said Albus imagining this, “Good idea.”

The two friends walked to the Slytherin Common Room, headed down to the dormitory, and went to bed. 

Chapter Text

A little more than a month had passed since Albus arrived at Hogwarts, and his first weeks had been nothing short of impressive. His talent for Defense Against the Dark Arts and Flying had made him stand out, especially in his ongoing rivalry with Rose. Though she met his determination with her own relentless work and natural skill, Albus had been steadily outshining her in some areas and she outhsining him in others, their competitive spirits only pushed them both to keep improving.

Every Monday, Albus and Scorpius continued attending the dueling club, where they learned not only spells but the more technical aspects like aim, dodging, and focus under the guidance of their captains: Nicholas and Delphini. Their skills grew with each meeting, and both were eager to test out their newly learned jinxes.

Meanwhile, his brother James had tried out for the Gryffindor Quidditch team and secured a spot as the new Chaser on the team. His success had stirred some excitement in the family, though Albus couldn’t help but like he too should be doing something impressive like his brother.

Day by day, life at Hogwarts became the new normal for Albus. He went to each class with energy and discipline, diving into his studies and embracing the challenges that his teachers presented to him. Even his encounters with Cyrus had quieted down to little more than angry glares across the classroom. For the first time, life at Hogwarts, and life as a Slytherin, began to feel like a second home.

On a cool Friday evening in the middle of October, the Slytherins and Ravenclaws had a double Transfiguration class for their last period. In this long class before the weekend, Macmillan wanted everyone in the class to try to turn an apple into an orange. A portion of the class was able to turn their apples the color orange but were unsuccessful in turning their apples into the fruit orange. It appeared like a few kids were able to do it but when Macmillan picked up their oranges and squeezed them, only apple juice came out. 

Albus slouched in his chair, blankly staring at his apple. He was so bored, he just sat there not thinking about anything at all. Albus tuned out Macmillan as he was giving tips on how to turn the apple into a real orange. Albus already had given up as he felt very tired and he could not get this spell down; perhaps if Rose was in the class he would be more motivated. 

As he continued to gaze into the apple he noticed it started to change, all on its own. Noticing this, Albus watched the apple swirl in ways he couldn’t describe but he knew it definitely wasn’t turning into an orange. The most accurate way he could describe it was the apple was twirly and spinning around in itself, strange lines whirling around inside. These lines became more clear and began to circle around in the apple. The circling lines morphed into a horizontal oval with a line in the middle that somewhat resembled an eye. The pupil of this eye then slithered out of the oval which disappeared as it left. The pupil, which now looked more like a snake, slithered up and opened its mouth towards the sky. The snake stiffened and fire ignited from the snake’s mouth. A hand then reached into the snake's mouth like it was about to pull something out. 

“Scorpius!” said Albus, looking away from the apple to his friend. “Are you seeing this?”

But when Albus looked back at the apple, it was ordinary again. The borders of the apples were defined and the inside was a bland red which was completely still. 

“See what?” asked Scorpius. He had turned his apple slightly yellow but not orange.

“The apple was just,” Albus started but then stopped. He glanced up at the class and there was only a few minutes left. About thirty minutes had passed without Albus realizing. “I must have fallen asleep.”

“Oh, well Macmillan just said to keep practicing this for homework,” sighed Scorpius, taking a bite out of his now yellow apple as the bell rang. 

***

The weeks from mid-October to early November passed very quickly, though Albus couldn’t shake the strange feeling that lingered from his odd dream in Transfiguration class involving the apple. He wasn’t even sure it was a dream—it felt too real, as if he had been wide awake.

On October 28th, Albus celebrated his twelfth birthday at Hogwarts. With classes out of the way because it was Saturday, he spent the day with Scorpius, enjoying the day with no school work. Morning brought letters and gifts from his family: his parents, grandparents, and even Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione had sent presents. His parents had got him a collection of new clothes and robes, some which branded the Slytherin logo or colors. In Albus’s mind, these thoughtful gifts reinforced the idea that his parents accepted him as a Slytherin. His grandmother had gotten him a collection of homemade sweets and his grandfather had gotten him a collection of muggle artifacts (junk). His aunt and uncle had sent him a book on simple hexes and jinxes to be used in intermediate duels. Albus could never remember getting a gift from his older brother in years priar, but this year James gifted him a vial of Booger Balloon Powder from Zonko’s Joke Shop, which Albus wasn’t quite sure what to do with but appreciated all the same. Rose, however, hadn’t wished him a happy birthday; he actually didn’t see her for the whole day. That evening, he visited Hagrid with Scorpius, who surprised them with a homemade cake. The three of them and Hagrid’s ancient looking dog, Fang, ate the whole thing.

Just days later, Albus experienced his first Halloween at Hogwarts. The feast on the 31st was better than even the start-of-term banquet in Albus’s eyes, with the Great Hall decked in eerie but charming decorations. As November crept in, the focus shifted to something even more anticipated—the first Quidditch match of the year. The talk of the castle was Slytherin vs. Gryffindor, scheduled for the upcoming weekend. Albus felt torn: as a Slytherin, he wanted his house to win, but he knew this was James’s debut on the Gryffindor team, and he wished his brother would perform well.

When Saturday finally arrived, the entire castle buzzed with anticipation. It felt as though everyone in Hogwarts was headed to the Gryffindor vs. Slytherin Quidditch match, the excitement spilling from common rooms to corridors as students gathered in either red and gold or green and silver to make their way towards the pitch. By ten o’clock, Albus and Scorpius had already left the Slytherin Common Room, dressed in bright green robes and carried signs in support of their team. Their laughter and chatter carried in the cool morning air as they made their way to the stadium, weaving through the crowds until they reached the top of the Slytherin viewing tower. They managed to secure seats with a clear view of the field, settling in with grins as they looked out over the massive, open pitch.

At eleven sharp, the Gryffindor and Slytherin teams took the field. Albus leaned forward, his eyes on the Gryffindor players as they walked out first, led by their captain—a tall, seventh-year boy with hair slicked neatly to the side, his expression confident and assured. Behind him came a short, stocky girl, her face completely dotted with freckles, and then a nervous-looking third-year boy with auburn hair—James Potter. The three chasers walked in formation, followed by a towering boy in a Keeper’s helmet and the two Beaters, who looked equally formidable: a bulky, blonde-haired boy and a muscular Asian boy, each gripping a big club. Finally, the Gryffindor Seeker, a small seventh-year Irish boy with a cocky grin, strutted in last, waving his arms to hype up the crowds. The crowd erupted in cheers as the Gryffindor team, wearing stylish scarlet robes with golden collars and the emblematic lion crest, took their places on the pitch. Their robes flowed dramatically, ending just above their black boots, and behind them, five reserve players stood in gold pinnies, ready for backup if needed.

Then, from the opposite end, the Slytherin team strode onto the field. Albus’s eyes widened as he realized their captain was none other than Delphini Rosier. She looked even more intense than he’d seen her at the dueling club, her focus unwavering as she led her team with an air of steely confidence. Behind her walked the other two Chasers, both slightly taller than her and serious-looking: a black boy with short hair and a white boy with wavy locks that fell past his shoulders. Then came the massive Keeper, his head nearly filling his helmet like a balloon with too much air. He was followed by the Slytherin Beaters—a pair of towering twins even larger than the keeper with bushy eyebrows and mean faces, each holding a Beater’s bat so hard that their grip was about to crush it. Albus thought they must have giant blood in them. Finally, the Slytherin Seeker appeared, a small, determined-looking girl who couldn’t have been older than thirteen, through her eyes showed nothing but fierce determination. Three older reserve players followed them in silver pinnies, each with the seasoned look of upper-year students.

The two captains stepped forward, meeting in the middle of the pitch where Madam Hooch, stern and sharp-eyed, waited to address them. “I want a fair game,” she said, her tone leaving no room for argument, and held out her hands to indicate they should shake.

Delphini held the Gryffindor captain’s gaze as they shook hands, her dark eyes steady and intense. Her opponent, previously full of confidence, faltered slightly, glancing away under her piercing stare before they parted. His smirk faded, his jaw tightening as he took his position. Delphini’s expression remained unreadable, her focus now turned entirely to the pitch as the two teams mounted their brooms, each player shifting into place. 

Madam Hooch tossed the Quaffle into the air, and with a whistle, she released the Snitch. The players shot into the sky in a rush of green and scarlet, the colors blending as they sped across the field, the roar of the crowd erupting around them. The match had begun, and Albus and Scorpius were on their feet, swept up in the thrill as the game unfolded beneath them.

After the whistle sounded, and the Quaffle shot into the air, it was instantly snatched up by Gryffindor’s stocky chaser, Sarah Firehorn. 

The Hogwarts Sports and Clubs commentator, Toby Carlin,’s voice rang out across the pitch, “And it’s Firehorn with the Quaffle! She’s off like a rocket!”

Albus leaned forward, anticipation in his chest as Firehorn tore down the pitch toward the Slytherin goalposts. But the Slytherin chasers closed in—Burke and Williams, their focus razor-sharp. Firehorn spotted them closing in and hurled the Quaffle high. 

“Quaffles passed to Ravensong, the Gryffindor captain!” Toby announced.

Just as Ravensong moved to catch it, Delphini Rosier appeared out of nowhere, ramming into him with a fierce body check. The Gryffindor stands erupted in boos as Ravensong lost his grip and wobbled on his broom. “And no foul called?!?—looks like the game’s already heating up!” Toby shouted. Delphini flew down and claimed the Quaffle, racing back toward Gryffindor’s goalposts.

“Come on, Stanley!” someone shouted as Ravensong scrambled to recover. Delphini was unstoppable, weaving past Gryffindor chasers and beaters, slipping through Bludgers with ease. With a swift throw, she sent the Quaffle straight through the left hoop, outpacing the Gryffindor Keeper’s defense. “And it’s Slytherin, ten points!” Toby called as Delphini punched the air triumphantly while flying near the stands and the Slytherin crowd exploded into cheers.

The match quickly became a fast-paced back-and-forth, with Gryffindor retaliating on offense. Firehorn brought the Quaffle back down the pitch, this time passing to Ravensong on the far left. A Slytherin Bludger whizzed past him, and he narrowly ducked, lobbing the Quaffle back to Firehorn just before Delphini could intercept again. Firehorn shot it high toward the goal post—right into the waiting hands of James Potter, who executed a flawless upward sweep and sent the Quaffle through the hoop.

The Gryffindor side roared as the announcer’s voice rose in excitement, “And James POOOOTTEEEER scores the first goal of his career! Ten points for Gryffindor!”

Albus beamed, watching his brother. His parents sat in the guest tower, with Harry clapping proudly and Ginny, wearing her old Gryffindor sweater, smiling as though it were her own goal.

The game went on, fierce and relentless. Both teams fought for every point, with the crowd’s cheers swelling each time the Quaffle neared a goalpost. By the half-hour mark, the score had climbed to 190-60 in favor of Slytherin. Gryffindor’s Beaters, determined to let the game end on Gryffindor’s terms, focused their Bludger attacks entirely on Rachel Cross, the young Slytherin Seeker. She dodged them with surprising agility but struggled to keep an eye on the Snitch, which was just what Gryffindor intended. Meanwhile, the Gryffindor Seeker, Shea, had one close brush with the Snitch but missed, his hand just inches away before it slipped from view.

The match grew even more intense, each goal and near-miss amplifying the crowd’s energy. Delphini Rosier scored once again for Slytherin, sending the score to 200-60. But then the crowd gasped as Shea, the Gryffindor Seeker, suddenly shot forward, eyes fixed on something small and gold. He was gaining fast, reaching out a hand—

“It looks like Shea sees the Snitch! He reaches out an arm aaaaaaannnd OH MY GOODNESS! NO! STOPPED BY ROSIER!” Toby exclaims, speaking as fast as he can.

 Just as Shea was about to catch the Snitch, Delphini swerved in and collided with him from behind, breaking his back and knocking him clean off his broom.

“Penalty on Slytherin! Looks like Rosier’s taken a big risk to save the game,” Toby announced, his voice a mix of fear, admiration, and excitement. Gryffindor was awarded penalty shots, and with Delphini in the penalty box, James Potter took his position to take them. He scored four times in a row, narrowing the lead to 200-100, before missing his fifth shot and ending the penalty. Being a Chaser down, and their best Chaser on top of it, Slytherin’s lead was shrinking. Delphini could only watch from the penalty box, her face stone cold as Gryffindor scored goal after goal tying the score to 210-210.

When she finally returned to the game, she flew straight to the Slytherin Beaters, the Gupta twins, and gave stern orders. They immediately adjusted their strategy, guarding Rachel Cross as she resumed her search for the Snitch instead of trying to just attack Gryffindor players. Without the Gryffindor Bludgers raining down on her, Cross could now focus solely on the Snitch. The Guptas protected her relentlessly, keeping Gryffindor’s Beaters at bay, and Cross darted through the sky, eyes sweeping the pitch.

With Delphini back in the game, the score climbed to 310-230 in Slytherin’s favor as both teams fought tooth and nail, but the real focus was now on the Seekers. Cross, shielded from Bludger attacks, scoured the field with newfound intensity. With Shea being taken out of the game from his injury, the Gryffindor backup Seeker was put in. He was much older and more athletic looking than Cross but still struggled to match her agility and skill.

Then, with a quick movement, Cross spotted a glimmer of gold near the Gryffindor stands. She dove, stretching out her hand as she closed in on the Snitch, her face determined. The Gryffindor backup tried to keep pace, but Cross had already gained too much ground.

“And Rachel Cross has caught the Snitch!” Toby’s voice boomed through the stadium. “Slytherin wins, 460 to 230!”

The Slytherin crowd erupted in cheers as the teams landed. Burke and Williams, the Slytherin Chasers, were enveloped in a bear hug by their Keeper. Rachel Cross, standing in the center of the pitch, held the Snitch in her hand, her face glowing with awe. Delphini landed next to her, and Cross threw her arms around her captain in a triumphant hug. After a few moments Delphini pulled away and lifted Cross’s arm high, starting a chant of “Cross!” that echoed through the stadium. One of the Gupta twins hoisted Cross onto his shoulders. Twelve feet in the air, she held the Snitch high, the young Seeker’s face beaming with pride.

Watching from the stands, Albus was entranced. He had always grown up liking professional Quidditch, but at Hogwarts, Quidditch was his new favorite event. 

Chapter Text

As the seasons shifted and winter settled over Hogwarts, Albus found himself growing more excited for the holiday break. Slytherin’s Head of House, Professor Macmillan, visited the common room to ask which students would be staying at the castle for Christmas. Albus and Scorpius both confirmed they’d be heading home, eager to spend the break with family.

A few days before the holidays began, Albus and Scorpius sat in the Great Hall, chatting over dinner about their upcoming plans. They were discussing Christmas gifts and treats when suddenly, icy liquid splashed over their faces. They turned in shock to see Cyrus standing behind them, a smug grin on his face as he held an empty goblet.

“Oops, sorry. Looks like I spilled my drink,” Cyrus said with a mocking laugh, strolling off before they could react.

Scorpius, fuming, shot to his feet, slamming his hands on the table. “We can’t just let him get away with that! Let’s go after him!”

Albus held back, calming his friend with a hand on his shoulder. “No…if we go after him now, we’ll just get in trouble. Besides, we have dueling club in ten minutes.”

Scorpius sat back down reluctantly, grumbling but conceding. They made their way to the club, letting their anger simmer down as they prepared for practice.

Once there, the club members gathered around Professor Flitwick, who stood on the stage with the two club captains, Delphini and Nicholas. He cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Hello, everyone! You can start pairing up to practice in a moment, but as this is our last meeting before Christmas break, I have an announcement to make.” The students leaned forward in interest as Flitwick continued. “You’ve all improved greatly since we started in September, so it’s time to tell you about the end-of-year Dueling Championship.”

Excited murmurs erupted around the room.

“This championship will take place in May,” he went on, “and the entire school will be watching. The champion will earn 80 points for their house, as well as the coveted Dueling Cup.”

Albus and Scorpius exchanged wide-eyed glances, their excitement only growing as Flitwick pointed to Nicholas. “Mr. Fawley here won last year’s championship, narrowly beating Miss Rosier in the finals.”

Nicholas gave a self-satisfied grin, glancing at Delphini, who rolled her eyes in response..

“And those 80 points helped secure Ravenclaw the House Cup,” Flitwick added with a smile.

“Yes, Professor they did,” Nicholas replied, his grin widening. Delphini pointedly looked away, clearly annoyed by his smugness.

Flitwick clapped his hands. “Alright then! Keep that in mind as you practice.”

The students broke off into pairs, and Albus and Scorpius moved to a corner, setting up their targets for spell practice.

“A Dueling Cup…wow,” Albus said, aiming a spell at Scorpius’s floating target. “Imagine winning that for Slytherin. It’d be like winning the Quidditch Cup, but all the glory would be just for you.”

“Yeah, and in front of the whole school, too. We’d be so popular!” Scorpius replied, his eyes gleaming. “And no one would dare mess with us again.”

Albus paused, lowering his wand thoughtfully. “Speaking of not getting messed with…I thought of a way to get Cyrus back without attacking him.”

Scorpius raised an intrigued eyebrow. “Go on.”

Albus leaned in, a mischievous spark in his eye, and began to outline his plan.

On the morning before break, Cyrus swaggered into the Great Hall, he spotted his friends at the Gryffindor table and made his way over to them. Sliding onto the bench, he took a spot across from Rose, who was quick to start a conversation.

“So, will you all be going home or staying here for Christmas?” Rose asked brightly. “I’ll be going to my grandparents’ house.”

“I’m not staying here either,” added Olivia Allen, the blonde girl seated beside Rose.

Tom Stark, sitting to the left of Cyrus, shrugged. “I’ll be staying here for Christmas. My older brother is, too.” Tom was short but surprisingly muscular for his age.

“What about you, Cyrus?” Rose asked, batting her eyes.

“I’m going home,” Cyrus replied, taking a big gulp from his goblet.

As he lowered the goblet, Alex Walsh, the boy with tightly curled hair on his other side, jumped in. “What do you all think you’re getting for Christmas? I asked for a new broomstick—planning to try out for Seeker next year.”

“Good,” said a pretty girl with dark skin and curly hair named Ericka Moltensphere, seated on Rose’s other side. “We’ll need a new Seeker, with Shea graduating.”

“The last game was crazy,” Olivia said, her eyes wide at the memory.

“That Rosier girl is insane. She should’ve been expelled for what she did to Shea!” Rose exclaimed.

Cyrus sniffed listening to the conversation.

“Expelled? She could’ve killed him,” Ericka replied with a shudder. “I’d send her psycho ass straight to Azkaban.”

“Don’t be soft. Quidditch is a brutal game,” said Alex, cautiously looking around before saying the next part. “Maybe if Shea spent more time practicing on the pitch instead of snogging girls, he wouldn’t be in the hospital wing.”

“I’d let Gryffindor loose a thousand games if Jimmy Shea would snog me,” said Ericka. Rose and Olivia both laughed but Alex and Tom did not find this funny. 

“Wouldn’t put it past Slytherin to have someone pay off Madam Hooch,” Olivia muttered thoughtfully.

“It’s like I’ve been saying,” Tom said, nodding. “Slytherin had to have been cheating.”

Cyrus sniffed again, much louder this time, catching Rose’s attention as she noticed a shiny green blob trickling out of his nose.

“Um, Cyrus…” Rose said, smiling awkwardly. “You’ve got a little something…” She pointed to her own nose to give him the hint.

“Oh, um… thanks,” Cyrus muttered, a little embarrassed. He wiped his nose aggressively. “Did I get it?”

The group leaned in for a closer look but recoiled. The green snot was now streaming from both nostrils.

“Uh, no… it’s worse,” said Rose, wincing.

“That’s disgusting,” Ericka muttered.

Cyrus frantically tried to wipe his nose, but the more he wiped, the larger the globs of green mucus became, inflating like balloons. The two massive blobs floated upwards, stretching and growing until they began lifting him off the bench.

Suddenly, he was airborne, the booger balloons pulling him up in front of the entire Great Hall. Gasps and laughter erupted as Cyrus hovered near the enchanted ceiling, bumping into floating candles while his friends stared in shock below.

Professor Flitwick, alerted by the commotion, spotted Cyrus struggling mid-air and swiftly raised his wand. With a quick flick, he popped the mucus balloons, and Cyrus began to fall—but Flitwick flicked his wand again, catching Cyrus just before he hit the floor.

As Flitwick approached, Cyrus lay on the floor, covered head to toe in thick, green mucus, his face red with embarrassment.

“Come with me, Mr. Baker,” Flitwick squeaked, trying to keep a straight face. “I’ll escort you to the Hospital Wing.”

As Cyrus shuffled out behind Flitwick, the hall’s laughter still echoing, he shot a furious look across the room—just in time to see Albus, a sly grin on his face, slipping a small vile labeled “Booger Balloon Powder” into his pocket.

“How’s that for revenge?” Albus whispered to Scorpius, who chuckled.

“Christmas came early,” Scorpius replied, grinning broadly.

***

The next day, the Hogwarts Express bustled with excitement as students returning home for the holidays boarded the train. Albus and Scorpius found themselves a quiet corner and chatted about their Christmas plans as the train chugged towards King’s Cross Station. When they arrived, they exchanged goodbyes before stepping off to join their families.

Albus spotted his brother, James, waiting for him, and behind them was Rose, trailing a bit distantly. They walked off the platform together, heading towards their families gathered near the barrier. At the front stood Harry Potter, recognizable with his round glasses and a white shirt beneath a black tie. Beside him was Lily, his youngest, clutching his hand. She wore a cozy black sweater with a large red “L” stitched on the front. Ginny stood on Lily’s other side, her vibrant red hair falling gracefully down the back of her stylish trench coat.

Just behind the Potters stood the Weasleys. Hugo Weasley, only eight, tugged eagerly at his father Ron’s sleeve. Ron stood tall beside Hermione, who wore a smart purple collared shirt with a black tie, a long black skirt, and purple heels. As Rose quickly walked past James and Albus to join her parents, the Potters and Weasleys greeted one another warmly. The children ran into their parents’ arms, and laughter filled the air as they reunited after a long school term.

Together, the two families made their way to the Floo Network station, ready to travel to the Burrow—home to Arthur and Molly Weasley and the heart of the family. This Christmas, all of Arthur and Molly’s children and their families would gather under one roof.

When they arrived at the Burrow, “Grandma” Molly was ready, presenting each family member with one of her famous Weasley sweaters. Each sweater was a unique color, bearing a carefully stitched initial on the front. Albus accepted his with a smile, grateful for the warmth and familiarity of the tradition.

The days leading up to Christmas passed in a cheerful blur. Albus played endless games of Quidditch with his cousins, indulged in his grandmother’s delicious cooking, and spent evenings relaxing by the fire in the Burrow’s cozy living room. Christmas Eve brought a grand feast with the entire family—twenty-six Weasleys, Potters, and their loved ones—all gathered around a large table laden with Molly’s finest dishes.

Bill and his wife, Fleur, chatted at one end of the table, while two of their children, Dominique and Louis, argued over who would receive more presents. Their eldest, Victoire, sat beside her boyfriend, Teddy Lupin, Harry’s godson, who had his arm wrapped around her.

Harry, sitting next to Lily and Albus, was deep in conversation with Ginny’s older brother, George, and his wife Angelina, while Fred, George’s son, laughed with Hugo across the table. Hermione and Rose shared a lively discussion with Molly about Rose’s first months at Hogwarts, while Arthur entertained Percy’s wife, Audrey, and their daughters, Molly and Lucy, with stories about Muggle inventions. Percy sat nearby, listening intently and occasionally interjecting.

Ron, Ginny, and Charlie sat at the end of the table listening to James detail his experiences in his first Quidditch game. Each of them provided James with their own advice which James noted, especially his mother’s. 

After hours of feasting and laughter, the family was finally full and content. They lingered around the table, chatting and catching up until they slowly dispersed throughout the house. Albus eventually made his way to the living room, sinking into a comfortable armchair in front of the crackling fire. He must have dozed off, lulled by the warmth, because he woke to the sound of Hugo and Fred chasing a toy Snitch around the room.

Blinking his eyes open, he glanced at the clock—it was 12:30 a.m. Deciding it was time for bed, Albus made his way through the loud kitchen, where he passed his mum chatting with his Uncle Ron about the Chudley Cannons, Butterbears in hand. His dad was deep in conversation with his Uncle Percy and Aunt Hermione about goblin relations, they too were all holding almost empty Butterbear glasses. 

After saying goodnight, Albus climbed the stairs to the room he was sharing with James, Hugo, and Teddy. When he entered, James was already sound asleep. Hugo was still downstairs, no doubt playing by the fire, and Teddy was probably sneaking a few more moments with Victoire. Albus slipped into bed, the excitement of Christmas morning already tugging at his dreams as he drifted off into a deep sleep. 

Albus awoke on Christmas morning with the first rays of winter light spilling through the window, casting a gentle glow over the room. His cousins were already stirring, their whispered excitement growing until they were finally loud enough to wake everyone else in the house. Within minutes, the family gathered in the cozy living room, where a massive, beautiful Christmas tree stood proudly by the fireplace, its branches heavy with hundreds of unique ornaments, each carrying memories of Christmases past. The room was filled with the scents of pine and cinnamon, and Albus felt a rush of excitement at the sight of presents piled high beneath the tree, easily over a hundred in total.

The frenzy began, wrapping paper flying as Albus and his cousins tore into their gifts. He marveled at each present, delighted by what his family had chosen for him. From Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur, he unwrapped a small golden apple, polished to a brilliant shine, the light glinting off its surface like real treasure. Uncle Charlie’s gift—a rare Dragon’s Breath potion—gleamed with a silvery light inside its glass vial, mysterious and captivating. Albus turned the vial over in his hands, eager to study it later.

Uncle Percy and Aunt Audrey had gifted him a thick book, History of Dueling in Europe, its leather cover embossed with ancient dueling emblems. Albus imagined hours spent poring over its pages, reading about legendary wizards and their historic clashes. Then came a whole assortment of joke items from Uncle George and Aunt Angelina: Acid Gum that promised to make his mouth fizz, an Anti-Howler Mailbox, Exploding Snap cards, and Buoyant Butterscotch that floated when you tried to bite it. Each joke gift brought a grin to his face, as he pictured all the ways he could use them back at school.

Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione’s gift was a brand-new bronze set of Wizard’s Chess, along with a book of strategy tips that looked thick enough to keep him busy for weeks. His grandfather Arthur had gotten creative again; his present was half of a Muggle Nintendo DS—the other half, Arthur explained with great satisfaction, had gone to James. Arthur chuckled, explaining these were all the rage among Muggles, and Albus couldn’t help but laugh at the broken device, though he was sure his grandfather thought it was ingenious. His grandmother Molly had made him a rich fruitcake, wrapped in red cellophane, and, of course, a new Weasley sweater in deep green with a proud “A” stitched across the front. Albus pulled it over his head, grateful as always for the warmth and care that went into every stitch.

Finally, from his little sister, Lily, he received a homemade Christmas card, its edges slightly uneven, with a glittery drawing of the two of them on the front. He grinned as he looked at it, touched by her effort. He revived nothing from James who explained to him that his birthday gift was expensive enough, although James did tell Albus he was proud of the way Albus put the gift to use. Pride from his older brother was the best gift he could of given him. 

The morning was full of laughter and the usual good-natured teasing, but as Albus looked over his pile, he noticed two familiar faces were missing. He scanned the room and soon spotted his dad standing in the doorway, watching him with a small smile. When their eyes met, Harry lifted a hand and beckoned him over. Curious, Albus slipped through the room and joined his father in a smaller, quieter room nearby.

In the center of the room sat a single, large green box wrapped with a red ribbon. Harry nodded toward the box, his expression warm and knowing, and Albus felt his heart quicken. He had a feeling this gift was something special.

Albus quickly knelt beside the green box, his fingers fumbling in excitement as he carefully undid the ribbon and lifted the lid. Inside, something soft and silvery glimmered, catching the light in a way that was almost otherworldly.

“When your brother was your age,” Harry began, his tone playful yet meaningful, “I offered him a choice between what’s in this box and a rather powerful map that’s been in our family for three generations now.”

Albus’s interest was piqued, his eyes darting to his father’s face, then back to the gift. Carefully, he peeled away the final layer of wrapping, his heart thudding in his chest. As he lifted the object inside, it felt as though he were holding a liquid piece of fabric—weightless, fluid, and shimmering in his hands.

“I was your age when I was given this,” Harry said, a nostalgic smile spreading across his face. “It got me out of—and into—quite a bit of trouble.” He chuckled, his eyes twinkling with a mixture of mischief and fondness.

Albus’s mouth opened slightly as the realization hit him. “Dad…,” he whispered, barely able to believe it. He knew the stories well—of Harry Potter’s Invisibility Cloak, woven from ancient magic, passed down through generations of Potters.

“Merry Christmas, Al,” said Harry softly, a warmth in his voice that wrapped around Albus like a blanket. “You’re now the next Potter in line to own the true Cloak of Invisibility. It’s been in our family for hundreds of years, and I trust you’ll put it to good use.”

Albus stared down at the cloak in awe, letting it slip through his fingers like water, and then, without a word, he launched himself into his father’s arms, gripping him tightly. It was as if his father had just entrusted him with a piece of their family legacy.

“I can’t believe James passed on this!” Albus exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear as he held the cloak up, its silvery sheen catching every flicker of light in the room. “Thank you, Dad.”

Harry ruffled his hair, grinning down at him. “You’re welcome. Hogwarts has its share of secrets, Al, and I’m sure you’ll have fun finding a few of them—though remember, not too much fun.” He gave a mock stern look, though the hint of a smile betrayed him. “Or I might just have to take it back.”

That Christmas was one of the best Albus had ever known. Evening came, and the large family gathered around a feast that seemed even more lavish than the night before. Albus was still buzzing from the morning’s surprise, his mind alive with plans for what he might do with the cloak once he was back at Hogwarts.

Finally, after a day full of laughter, food, and family, Albus headed to bed early, too full to stay up any longer. He lay down and pulled the covers up, his mind racing with images of adventures he and Scorpius could embark on, hidden under the folds of the Invisibility Cloak. As his eyes grew heavy, he let those thoughts carry him into sleep, already dreaming of the mischief that awaited him back at school.

Albus woke; yet, he wasn’t in bed, nor was he even in his room. The stars glittered above him in an endless night sky, while beneath him lay not grass, but familiar, shifting lines that formed a kind of field. Albus blinked, trying to shake the surreal feeling from his mind. He remembered lying down to sleep—was this just a dream? No, something felt too real, too intense.

He turned in place, confusion mounting. Where was he? The familiar comfort of the Burrow seemed impossibly far away. He squinted, and through the haze, a large structure emerged, standing at the edge of his vision. Its shape was hauntingly familiar, yet blurred and shifting, as if built from the same lines as the ground itself.

Then, it clicked. Albus recognized these lines; they were just like the ones he’d seen in that odd apple a few weeks ago in Transfiguration. His heart beat faster, the strange familiarity both unsettling and compelling him to move closer.

As he took a step forward, a series of loud cracks split the silence behind him. Albus spun around to see tall, shadowy figures standing where empty space had been moments before. There were four of them, their bodies made of blurred and shimmering lines. He squinted, trying to make out more details, but his mind filled instead with a voice—no, not a voice. It was as if the words were echoing inside his own head.

“It’s exactly 3:00 a.m.,” one of the figures declared in a cold, unfamiliar tone.

“That’s the time he said to do it,” whispered another voice, even sharper and more urgent. “Do it now! He said exactly 3:00 a.m.!”

One of the figures raised something, the lines around it twisting and converging until, with a sudden clarity, a jet of fire burst forth. The flames blazed against the darkness, bright and terrible. This was no weird lines, this was real fire! Albus shielded his face, his heart pounding wildly. But when he forced his eyes open again, he was lying back in bed, drenched in sweat.

He sat up, breathing hard, his mind reeling. That couldn’t have been a nightmare. It had felt too real, too vivid. His heavy breathing must have woken Teddy, who stirred grumpily in the bed across from him.

“What’s the matter, Albus?” Teddy muttered, his voice thick with sleep.

Albus shook his head, barely able to speak, his mind still racing. Before he could explain, James rolled over, his wand already casting a dim light on the bedside clock. “What’s all that noise?” he muttered, rubbing his eyes. “It’s nearly three in the morning.”

“Nearly?” Albus managed, his voice trembling. Somehow, he knew. Whatever he’d seen hadn’t happened yet, but it would. And it would happen soon.

Without another word, he sprang from his bed, sprinting down the hallway to his parents’ room.

“Mum, Dad! Dad!” he cried, bursting into the room with panic in his eyes.

Harry was instantly awake, his wand raised instinctively before he recognized Albus and lowered it. He quickly reached for his glasses. “Albus, what’s wrong?”

“There are people outside,” Albus panted, struggling to catch his breath. “They’re—they’re going to burn down the Burrow!”

Harry reacted immediately, disapparating with a sharp crack as soon as the words left Albus’s mouth.

“Stay here,” Ginny said urgently, getting out of bed and hurrying toward the stairs.

Albus hesitated only for a moment before following her, keeping a cautious distance. He didn’t know what he’d seen, but he knew he had to be there.

As he crept down the stairs, hearing more cracks, he glanced back to see Teddy and James slipping out of their room, faces pale with worry. “What’s going on, Al?” James whispered.

“We’re being attacked,” Albus said, his voice quivering.

The three of them reached the bottom of the stairs just as Harry returned, gathering a group of family members in the dimly lit living room. “Bill, Fleur, Percy, Ron, Hermione—outside, now!” he commanded, his voice tight with urgency.

“I’m coming too,” Ginny said, her voice unwavering.

Harry hesitated, worry flickering across his face, but he nodded. “Okay. George, Charlie, Angelina, the rest of you—stay here and keep everyone else safe.”

Harry, Ginny, and the others moved outside, wands drawn, their footsteps heavy and tense. “Ron, Bill, Fleur, Hermione—circle around and check the perimeter,” Harry ordered. “Follow Ron’s lead.”

As the others spread out, Harry, Percy, and Ginny remained near the front, eyes scanning the darkness. Percy looked to Harry, his brow furrowed. “What’s going on, Harry? What’s happened?”

“Albus saw wizards setting fire out here,” Harry replied, his eyes alert as they searched the shadows.

“Well, technically, I dreamed it,” Albus admitted, creeping up behind them. “But it felt real.”

“Albus, go back inside—” Harry began, but Percy interrupted with a skeptical grin.

“We’re out here because of a dream?” Percy lowered his wand, half-amused. “Kids have nightmares—”

“Quiet, Percy!” Harry snapped, his wand raised once more. He’d heard something, a faint murmur from the darkness beyond.

A voice broke the stillness. “It’s exactly 3:00 a.m. Do it now! He said exactly 3:00 a.m!”

George suddenly appeared, grabbing Albus and pulling him back inside. But as they retreated, the night outside erupted in a flash of fire. Albus caught one last glimpse of his father and mother, wands raised, sending a jet of water toward the advancing flames to block them from reaching the Burrow.

Once safely indoors, Albus pressed his face against a window, watching as four hooded figures emerged from the shadows. They wore cloaks of darkest black and bone-white masks with slanted black eye slits that seemed to drink in the night.

“Wands up!” Harry shouted. “Stay on guard!”

A fierce duel erupted in the yard. Harry held his ground, spells flying as he faced two attackers at once. Percy and Ginny held back another pair, the air alight with streaks of magic and blasts of light. Harry disarmed one of the figures just before Ron and the others returned from the back, surrounding the attackers.

Outnumbered, the figures hesitated. Three of them disapparated, leaving the one Harry had just disarmed, scrambling on the ground for his wand. With a swift spell, Harry forced him to his knees, pressing his wand to the figure’s throat.

“Who are you?” Harry’s voice was a snarl. “Why did you come here?”

The masked figure sneered, his voice calm and almost mocking. “We are doing what must be done to achieve our goals.”

“What goals?” Harry roared, yet his voice ice-cold. “What does this have to do with my family?”

“To bring the Dark Lord back to power,” the figure intoned. “It’s already been done. He will kill you, your wife, your children—”

Harry’s fury broke through his composure, and he pressed his wand harder into the man’s throat. But Harry’s blinding rage had lowered his guard, the masked figure lunged, seizing Harry’s wand with both hands.

“It must be done,” the figure whispered, almost in reverence. “It has already been done. REDUCTO!”

A flash of dark light erupted between them, and with a blast, the figure dissolved into nothing but black dust, scattering across the ground. Harry lowered his wand, staring in shock at the remnants of the man who’d just taken his own life rather than answer any more questions.

As the dust settled, Harry knew there was a lot to do.

Harry’s first instinct was to check on his family. Relief washed over him as he confirmed that everyone was unharmed, though a few had sustained minor injuries in the skirmish. Percy nursed a broken nose, and Ginny’s legs bore shallow cuts, but they both assured him they were fine.

With everyone safe, Harry’s Auror instincts took over. He instructed everyone to head inside while he and Ron scoured the grounds for any signs of lingering danger. After an exhaustive sweep, they were sure—the attackers were gone.

Harry then contacted the Ministry, and as the Head of the Auror Department, his request was answered quickly. Within the hour, a team of healers arrived to tend to the family’s injuries, while Aurors—Harry’s trusted colleagues—assembled to assess the attack. As dawn crept in, Harry stood in his black suit and red robes emblazoned with the Ministry’s golden “M,” joined by seven highly skilled Aurors dressed in brown robes and dark suits, all bearing the same emblem.

As Harry and his Aurors combed through the night’s events, they fortified the Burrow, the Potters’ home, and the other Weasley households with powerful protection spells. Though the attack had been brazen, Harry’s years of experience and leadership shone through in his ability to keep his family calm and ensure their safety. Since becoming Head Auror, he had proven himself time and again to be a formidable force in the fight against Dark Magic. His reputation was legendary, not only as the “Boy Who Lived” but as one of the most exceptional Aurors the Ministry had ever seen. And, as Harry’s team deduced that the attackers were likely a deluded group of pure-blood fanatics clinging to the memory of Voldemort, his tactical prowess shone through yet again.

By morning, with protective spells in place and plans laid to track down the remaining members of the fanatical group, Harry led his team back to the Ministry to finalize their next steps.

***

The day of the children’s return to Hogwarts arrived soon after, and Albus was upstairs, packing for the journey back. A gentle knock on his door announced his father’s presence.

“Hey, Al,” Harry said, stepping in. “Can we talk for a minute?”

“Sure, Dad,” Albus replied, still folding clothes into his trunk.

Harry took a breath, looking serious but calm. “First, I just want to remind you, again, that we’re all safe and everything is fine. My department and the Ministry have this whole thing sorted. It was just a bunch of crazed fanatics, and we’re taking care of them.”

Albus nodded, trying not to let on how relieved he was by those words. “Oh. Good.”

“Albus…” Harry’s expression softened. “I think we need to talk about what happened.”

Albus glanced up, a bit wary.

“Albus, your… ‘dream’ saved our lives.” Harry’s tone was full of gratitude but edged with something more. “It wasn’t just any dream. It was highly unusual.”

“Yeah,” Albus admitted, pausing. “I guess it was.”

Harry took another breath, choosing his words carefully. “I’ve contacted some experts at the Ministry. They believe your dream was a vision—a glimpse of the future, not just imagination. Albus, they believe you’re a Seer.”

The word took Albus by surprise. “A Seer? Me?” He struggled to process it. The rare gift of seeing into the future was something most witches and wizards only read about. The thought that he might possess it left him speechless.

Harry gave a small nod. “It’s a rare ability, and the Ministry’s experts think you might have it. So, I’ve arranged for some lessons to help you understand and control it. Hogwarts has a Divination professor, Professor Shafiq, who’s one of the few known Seers in our world. The subject of Divination isn’t taught until your third year but he’s agreed to give you private lessons. Every Saturday at 3:00 p.m., you’ll meet with him until he feels you have a good grasp of your gift.”

Albus took a shaky breath, still absorbing it all. He was a Seer—a real Seer. He could already imagine Rose’s reaction to finding this out. 

Harry smiled, clearly proud. “I need to get back to the office, but have a good term at Hogwarts, Al. Have fun, but be safe. I love you.”

“Love you too, Dad,” Albus said, grinning as Harry left. He closed his trunk and stared out the window, his mind racing with the possibilities ahead.

Chapter Text

“An invisibility cloak? You’re a Seer?” Scorpius exclaimed, eyes wide. “Wow… my Christmas seems a bit tame in comparison.”

“And I have private lessons with the Divination Professor every Saturday!” Albus added, grinning. “He’s going to teach me how to properly see the future. Between that and all the skills we’re picking up in Dueling Club, we’re going to be unstoppable!”

The two of them rode the Hogwarts Express back early on the morning of January second. Albus was busy recounting all the events of his holiday, with Scorpius hanging on to every word. After a lively day on the train, they finally arrived back at Hogwarts.

The first week back seemed to stretch on forever. Classes resumed in full force, with professors piling on assignments as if to make up for lost time. But Albus barely noticed the workload—his thoughts kept drifting toward his first private Divination lesson with Professor Shafiq on Saturday.

When the day finally arrived, Albus made his way to the Divination classroom at three o’clock. It took him nearly an hour to locate it in the North Tower, and by the time he arrived, he was slightly out of breath. Entering, he found the room wide and high-ceilinged, with dim candle light casting shadows that danced across the walls. A figure stood near the far side, facing away from him.

“Hello… sir?” Albus called hesitantly.

Without turning, the man said, “Hello, Albus Potter.”

“Whoa! Did you have a vision of me coming in?” Albus asked, feeling a thrill.

Professor Shafiq turned with a half-smile. He wore a flowing green cloak, a tall purple hat, and glasses that framed his intense, watchful eyes. A black mustache curled artfully above his mouth.

“A vision?” Shafiq chuckled. “Not quite. I did however receive a letter from your father and Professor McGonagall explaining your situation.”

“Oh, right.” Albus felt his face warm with embarrassment.

“Don’t worry.” Shafiq laughed. “You’re excited, as you should be. I am too. It’s a rare thing to meet another Seer.”

Albus’s grin returned.

“The ability we share is exceptionally rare,” Shafiq explained. “In each generation, only a handful, if any, are born with it. You’re even rarer still; most Seers don’t experience visions until they’re much older. My first came at seventeen.”

Albus’s excitement only grew as Shafiq asked him to recount the Christmas vision, and any others he’d had. Albus told him about the strange lines on the apple in Transfiguration class, how they’d formed an eye, and then something else entirely.

“Interesting,” Shafiq murmured, deep in thought. “At your age, random visions may come and go as your Inner Eye strengthens. Follow me.”

Albus trailed Shafiq to a small desk. On it sat a jagged cube of red crystal, glowing faintly in the candlelight.

“This is a Divination crystal,” Shafiq explained. “Ordinary wizards can interpret vague images in crystals, tea leaves, or crystal balls, but a Seer’s Inner Eye will see far more. I want you to focus on this crystal, just as you did with that apple. Let your Inner Eye guide you. Let your mind and senses focus on the crystal while your Inner Eye does all the seeing.”

Albus stared at the crystal, but no swirly lines appeared. After several minutes, he stole a glance at Shafiq, who simply nodded, waiting. He returned to the crystal, letting his mind wander to anything but the object in front of him. He thought about the Invisibility Cloak, about Delphini Rosier… and before he knew it, twenty minutes had passed.

Shafiq sighed, breaking the silence. “Not a bad start, Albus. We’ll continue next Saturday.”

Albus thanked him, leaving the room a bit deflated but still hopeful. His first lesson hadn’t been as magical as he’d expected, but he was sure next week would be different.

The following Saturday, Albus returned to Shafiq’s classroom. This time, he pushed aside all distractions, fixing his gaze entirely on the crystal. 

“Alright Albus,” started Shafiq, “Keep your eyes on the crystal and the only thing I want you to think about is that crystal. Keep all your senses on this crystal and your Inner Eye will open. That’s why visions so often take place when you're asleep; while not thinking your senses are resting.”

His mind cleared, and slowly, faint lines began to swirl across the crystal’s surface, becoming distinct shapes: tiny figures marching, a flaming torch, and then a girl standing on a ship.

“What do you see, Albus?” Shafiq asked, resting a hand on his shoulder.

“Uh… it’s a bloody knife. Or maybe a tooth?” Albus said, still watching the lines morph.

“Excellent,” Shafiq said with a smile. “You’ve opened your Inner Eye on command. In time, you’ll learn to control what it sees.”

Over the next few weeks, Albus spent nearly every Saturday afternoon in the high-ceilinged, candlelit classroom in the North Tower, working intently to control his newfound ability. The lessons were intense, requiring a focus unlike anything he’d ever experienced in his usual schoolwork. He learned to summon and close his “Inner Eye” on command, though it sometimes felt more like coaxing a skittish creature out of hiding than turning a simple switch on and off.

Professor Shafiq, with his twirly mustache and knowing smile, guided Albus with careful instructions and quiet encouragement. Each week, Albus sat at the small desk before the jagged red crystal and tried to quiet his mind, to turn off his senses until the world around him felt soft, silent. But it was difficult. Every time he thought he was close to slipping into that elusive state of clarity, his mind would wander, drifting to the buzzing chatter of the common room or the Dueling Club or—more often than he’d admit—to thoughts of Delphini Rosier.

But slowly, week by week, he improved. By mid-February, Albus could slip into his visions more easily, letting the swirly lines sharpen and form images within the crystal’s depths. Now, as he peered into the red crystal, Shafiq instructed him to take his training a step further: instead of passively observing whatever appeared, Albus would focus his mind on a specific thought or moment in time and see if his Inner Eye could respond.

It was late one Saturday afternoon when Shafiq suggested Albus focus on his upcoming Monday morning Potions class, the double period he was dreading.

Albus took a deep breath, bringing the image of the Potions classroom into his mind. He focused intently on the lines and shadows in the crystal, allowing his thoughts to drift to the dark stone walls, the heavy wooden desks, and Professor Lutterworth’s stern gaze. Slowly, the crystal began to respond. The lines swirled, morphing and shifting until they became something recognizable.

He could see the classroom—clear as day. Professor Lutterworth was standing at the front of the room, her dark hair pulled back, gesturing at something written on the blackboard.

“I see the class,” Albus murmured, leaning in closer to the crystal. “Pretty clearly.”

“What do you see?” Shafiq asked, his voice calm but with an undertone of interest.

“Uh… it looks like she’s written an essay assignment on the board.” Albus squinted, letting the vision come further into focus. “We’re learning about how to make a cure for boils.”

Shafiq’s eyes widened slightly as he watched Albus. “What?” he said, caught off guard. “You mean to say you can actually read the board?”

“Yeah,” Albus replied, somewhat amazed himself.

Without warning, Shafiq leaned over and placed his hand firmly on the crystal, snapping Albus’s focus back to the present. The vision dissolved immediately, leaving Albus blinking in the dim candlelight.

“That’s enough,” Shafiq said with a touch of gravity in his tone. He regarded Albus thoughtfully, almost warily. “You have a powerful ability, Albus—one that can be very dangerous if not handled carefully. It is unwise to look too far or know too much about the future. I’m afraid this puts an end to our weekly lessons, at least until you take Divination class.”

Albus looked down, still processing what he’d seen and the feeling it left behind—a strange, heady mixture of excitement and unease. “I didn’t mean to go too far,” he said quietly.

Shafiq softened, reaching into his robes to pull out a small, shimmering blue crystal. The gem was smaller than the red one and cool to the touch, with deep blue facets that caught the light.

“This crystal is not as powerful as the one we’ve been using, but it should help you keep control,” Shafiq explained, holding it out to Albus. “I’m giving this to you so you can manage your visions on your own. I want you to gaze into it once a week to keep your Inner Eye open, just enough to maintain it until you’re ready for more advanced training in your third year. Use it carefully, and try to focus on insignificant things—like what lunch might be tomorrow.”

Albus took the crystal, holding it carefully in his hands. The soft blue glow seemed to pulse with a quiet, calming energy. His eyes gleamed as he looked back up at Shafiq.

“Thank you, Professor,” he said, his voice full of gratitude and excitement. “I’ll be careful.”

Shafiq gave him a small, approving smile. “I know you will. Remember, Albus, your Inner Eye is still young, easily confused. Don’t overwhelm yourself with questions about the future. In time, when you take Divination, you’ll learn to interpret what you see. For now, keep things simple.”

They stood, and Shafiq extended his hand. Albus shook it, feeling a warm sense of accomplishment. He thanked Shafiq once again, gripped the crystal in his hand, pocketed it, and left the room, gripping it tightly as he walked down the winding staircase of the North Tower.

That crystal felt like a promise, like a key to something greater waiting just beyond his reach. That night he couldn’t resist showing it to Scorpius. They stayed up late experimenting with the crystal, laughing at the strange visions it produced. Albus peered into Scorpius’s future and saw him confidently disarming a Ravenclaw in Dueling Club on Monday. But by one in the morning, his visions became muddled and confusing—he saw a red-eyed puppy, a quill dipped in venom.

“Okay, one more,” Albus said, stifling a yawn as he glanced around the empty common room. “What should I do?”

Scorpius thought for a moment, tapping his chin thoughtfully. “You said you could check specific dates, right?”

“Yeah,” Albus replied, feeling a burst of energy at the challenge. “Name one.”

“Alright, do Valentine’s Day,” Scorpius said with a mischievous grin. “February 14th. That’s this Wednesday.”

“Valentine’s Day?” Albus chuckled, picking up the blue crystal and focusing on it. “Alright, let’s see…”

He held the crystal tightly, his gaze intense as he concentrated. After a moment, his expression shifted. He blinked, his grip loosening, and suddenly, the crystal slipped from his hands and clattered onto the table.

“What? What is it?” Scorpius said, leaning forward, his voice tinged with urgency. “Albus, what did you see?”

Albus’s face broke into a slow, disbelieving smile. “This Wednesday,” he began, a touch of awe in his voice, “I get a Valentine’s letter… telling me to meet someone in the Greenhouse. At eleven o’clock.”

“What?!” Scorpius’s eyes widened. “From who?”

Albus’s grin only grew wider, his eyes shining. “Delphini! Delphini Rosier wants to meet me on Valentine’s Day!”

Scorpius blinked, his face frozen in disbelief before he burst out laughing. “You’re joking,” he said, though his voice held a hint of hope for his friend.

“I’m not! I saw it right here—I saw the letter! I even read it!” Albus insisted, his grin stretching from ear to ear.

Scorpius shook his head, laughing harder. “So you’re telling me that the prettiest, most popular girl in the school is going to ask you—a first-year—to meet her? For Valentine’s?”

“I told you she’s been watching me at Dueling Club!” Albus said confidently. “She fancies me!”

Scorpius looked at his friend, a blend of admiration and amusement in his eyes. “Wow.”

The two of them just stared at each other, the reality of the prediction settling in as they shared a wide grin, filled with excitement and disbelief. Valentine’s Day was going to be unforgettable.

***

That Monday evening, during Dueling Club, Albus’s attention kept drifting toward Delphini, who was stationed across the hall. She was demonstrating the Disarming Charm to a small group of younger students, her wand movements precise and confident. Albus, who had proudly mastered the spell the week before, tried to catch her eye by showing off on a practice dummy, casting “ Expelliarmus !” with deliberate force and hoping his skill would be noticed. But Delphini’s attention remained fixed on her students, her dark eyes bright with concentration.

As the session wore on, Albus noticed Delphini exchanging laughs and easy conversation with Nicholas, the fifth-year Ravenclaw co-captain of Dueling Club. Nicholas was older, taller, and a better wizard than Albus. He wasn’t incredibly good looking or anything but was alright and he seemed to have a knack for making Delphini laugh. Albus felt a sharp stab of jealousy that surprised him with its intensity. To calm himself, he focused on his vision—the vision of the Valentine’s Day letter waiting for him in the future. He knew him and Delphini weren’t together yet, and he had no real reason to feel jealous. But still, he couldn’t shake the unsettling thought of someone else occupying Delphini’s attention.

When Dueling Club ended, Albus decided he needed to know more. It wouldn’t hurt to see if Nicholas was, well, any kind of competition.

“Scorpius,” he started in a low voice as they gathered their bags, “do you think that Ravenclaw bloke Delphini talks to… you think he fancies her?”

Scorpius looked over to where Nicholas was packing up and shrugged. “I mean, he might. They’re always talking. If so, you’re in trouble,” he added, half-teasing. “He’s a prefect, a top dueler, and he’s a beater on the Quidditch team. Pretty good one too, from what I’ve heard. Not to mention—”

“Okay, okay, I get it,” Albus muttered irritably, cutting him off. “I’m going to go talk to him.”

Scorpius blinked, surprised. “What? That’s kind of bold, isn’t it?”

“Oh, Scorpius,” Albus said with a sly grin, “so young and naive. You’re forgetting that I’m a Seer. I already know I’m going out with Delphini on Valentine’s Day. No need to worry—I’m just… checking out the competition.”

“Oh, alright, Mr. Seer.” Scorpius raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Go on, then. Check out your competition. He’s got you beat.”

“Whatever,” Albus rolled his eyes, trying to mask his nerves. “You just watch.”

He approached Nicholas, who was extinguishing a minor fire on one of the practice dummies. As he got closer, Albus realized just how much taller Nicholas was—he had to tilt his head to meet the older boy’s gaze.

“Hello,” Nicholas said, glancing down at him. “Can I help you?”

“Hi. Nice to officially meet you, Nicholas,” Albus said, summoning his confidence. “I’m Albus Potter.”

“Madone! You’re Harry Potter’s kid?” Nicholas’s eyes widened in recognition. “Pleasure to meet you, Albus.”

He extended a hand, and Albus shook it firmly.

“Call me Nick, everyone calls me Nick,” he added with a friendly smile.

There was a brief, awkward silence, and ‘Nick’ tilted his head curiously. “Can I, uh, help you with something?”

Albus hesitated, trying to find an indirect way to ask his real question. “So, this Dueling Championship at the end of the year… you won it last year?”

Nick grinned. “Yep! It’s a great event—especially if you’re the one holding the trophy at the end.”

“Yeah, I bet.” Albus tried to sound casual. “I don’t think I’ve got much of a chance of winning, though.”

“Don’t say that! You know, I won my first championship the first year I was in the Club,” Nick replied, clearly trying to encourage him.

“Wow, you won as a first year.”

“Well, no. It was the first year I joined but I was in my second year. But Delphini, now she won in her very first year—natural talent. We’ve both won twice now.” Nick looked thoughtful. “But anyone could take it this year. Could even be you.”

“Right,” Albus said, trying to keep his voice steady. He cleared his throat. “Hey, Nick… are you and Delphini, you know, together?”

Nick’s eyes widened. “What? No! No, we’re just friends, good friends,” he said, almost laughing at the idea. “I’m happily with my girlfr—”

But Albus had stopped listening. He’d heard what he needed: No ! That was all he’d wanted to hear. He grinned, already anticipating the look on Scorpius’s face when he told him.

***

Valentine’s Day finally arrived, and Albus could hardly contain his excitement. He had known this day was coming—the day he’d receive a letter from Delphini Rosier herself. As he went from class to class, the hours felt like an eternity. By the time his last class, Defense Against the Dark Arts with the Gryffindors, rolled around, he’d given up on everything else, barely even noticing his cousin Rose as she expertly fielded all the professor’s questions. His gaze was glued to the clock, waiting for the hands to crawl to the hour.

Finally, the bell rang, and Albus scrambled to grab his bag and escape. But as he reached for it, something caught his eye: a small, neatly folded envelope perched on top, with “Albus” written in delicate script. The “U” was drawn as a heart.

His pulse quickened as he snatched the letter, turning it over in his hands. Albus paid no attention to the mocking smirk Cyrus threw his way; nothing anyone thought mattered in this moment. He had Delphini Rosier’s letter in his hands.

He and Scorpius rushed to the Common Room, which was blessedly empty after classes. Albus tore open the envelope, his heart hammering as he read the letter aloud:

Dear Albus,

I was talking to the Ravenclaw prefect, Nicholas Fawley, and he mentioned that you’d been asking about my romantic life. Well, for your information, I am single, Alby… and I think I’m in love with you. I’ve been hiding my feelings for too long! Meet me in the Greenhouse tonight at 11:00 p.m. I’ll make it a night you won’t forget.

Love,

Delphini Roseier

Albus read the words over and over, hardly able to believe them, feeling the warmth bloom across his face. He looked up at Scorpius, who raised his eyebrows and gave him a teasing grin.

“Looks like you’ve swept her off her feet, Alby,” Scorpius chuckled. “Guess you’ll need the Invisibility Cloak tonight.”

Albus clutched the letter to his chest, a smile spreading wide across his face. Tonight, he’d meet Delphini in the Greenhouse. It was everything he’d dreamed of.

As the clock inched towards 10:30, he couldn’t help pacing, brushing his hair back nervously. “How do I look?” he asked, adjusting his robes.

Scorpius gave him a tired but supportive smile. “Like a future heartbreaker,” he teased, and tossed the Invisibility Cloak over Albus, who vanished in an instant.

“Alright, I’m off,” Albus said from somewhere in the room, his voice full of anticipation.

“Good luck,” Scorpius mumbled, already crawling into bed.

Albus slipped through the dim corridors, heart racing, barely feeling his footsteps as he made his way toward the Greenhouse. He arrived precisely at 11:00, but when he lifted the cloak and looked around, the Greenhouse was empty and silent. Maybe, he thought with a nervous thrill, she was hidden under her own Invisibility Cloak, just out of sight.

He stood waiting, each second dragging by. Then a voice pierced the quiet.

“Hello there Albus.”

But it wasn’t Delphini’s voice. Albus whipped around to see Cyrus, standing in the shadows, wand at the ready, a wicked smirk on his face.

“What’s going on?” Albus snapped, his heart thudding with dread. “Why are you here?”

Cyrus let out a cruel laugh. “Please, Potter. You really thought a fifth year would be interested in you?”

The words hit like a punch, and Albus felt a sickening realization. “What?” he stammered, fury mingling with humiliation.

“Let me guess,” Cyrus sneered. “You’ve got a little crush on that slut Rosier? I overheard that Ravenclaw prefect talking to her about you, saying you’d been asking about her. So I thought… why not help you out? Wrote you a little love note, just to lure you here.” He twirled his wand casually. “Now, I’ll teach you a lesson for that little stunt before Christmas.”

The two raised their wands in unison, but Albus was faster. With a quick flick of his wand, he performed the Disarming Charm. Cyrus’s wand flew out of his hand, leaving him defenseless. For a brief moment, Albus thought he’d won.

Then a new set of footsteps echoed behind him.

“Grab him!” Cyrus roared.

Albus spun around, just in time to see four other Gryffindor boys charging at him. He struggled, but they overpowered him, yanking his wand from his grip and forcing him to his knees. Helpless, Albus glared up as Cyrus picked up his wand, a glint of triumph in his eyes.

“You humiliated me, humiliated Gryffindor!” Cyrus spat. “You’ve been trying to outshine us since the day you chose Slytherin over your own family’s house. But now, Potter… you’re going to pay.”

Albus struggled, but the Gryffindors held him fast. Fury burned through him as Cyrus approached sneering.

“Looks like that little bitch isn’t here to save you this time!” 

Chapter Text

The next morning, Scorpius awoke early, eager to hear all about Albus’s night. But when he turned toward Albus’s bed, he found it empty. A quick glance around confirmed that Albus wasn’t in the dormitory. A knot of worry twisted in Scorpius’s stomach. Slipping on his shoes, he headed to the Greenhouse, just to check if, by some wild chance, Delphini and Albus were still there.

When he arrived, the Greenhouse was silent, the early morning light casting long shadows across the rows of plants. Scorpius drew his wand, the unease rising with each second. He murmured, “Revelio,” watching as a soft green light pulsed from his wand and swept across the floor.

As if drawn by some invisible force, his wand tugged toward a specific spot on the ground. His heart raced when he saw it—streaks of blood, faintly glowing under the spell. He stepped closer, and the faint sound of labored, muffled breathing met his ears.

With a trembling hand, Scorpius reached down and pulled at the air, his fingers catching on the familiar, shimmering fabric of an Invisibility Cloak. He yanked it back, revealing Albus sprawled beneath, his body frozen in a Body-Binding Curse, bloody and broken.

Scorpius gasped, his heart pounding as he took in the sight. Albus’s face and shirt were smeared with blood; his breathing was shallow and ragged. One of his eyes was swollen shut, a nasty bruise already darkening his skin. His nose looked broken, a long gash marred his forehead, and several of his teeth were missing. Scorpius felt his stomach twist at the sight of his friend, beaten and helpless.

With a surge of determination, Scorpius lifted Albus onto his shoulder, struggling under the weight but refusing to leave him there alone. He half-ran, half-stumbled his way to the hospital wing, feeling every ragged breath Albus managed as a reminder of the pain he’d endured.

Madam Pomfrey gasped when she saw them. Without a word, she ushered them inside, guiding Albus onto a bed and immediately beginning her work. She barely glanced at Scorpius as she dismissed him, leaving no room for questions.

Scorpius, forced to go through the motions of his classes, could barely focus. His thoughts spiraled around Albus, wondering who could have done this to him, though his suspicions began to narrow the moment he caught Cyrus with a cruel, triumphant smile.

As soon as the day’s final bell rang, Scorpius raced back to the hospital wing, bursting through the doors only to stop in his tracks. Professor McGonagall was sitting at the end of Albus’s bed, her face lined with worry and anger.

“Potter, if you tell me who did this, I will ensure they’re properly punished,” she said, her voice soft but firm.

Albus, propped up against the pillows, looked pale and drained, though Madam Pomfrey’s efforts had healed most of his injuries. He seemed almost a shadow of himself as he met McGonagall’s gaze.

“I told you,” he said weakly, his voice hoarse. “I fell.”

McGonagall’s eyes darkened as she studied him, disappointment mingling with the hurt in her gaze. With a sigh, she stood.

“If that’s your final word, so be it,” she said quietly. “Remember, my office is always open if you recall… anything else.”

She left, nodding at Scorpius as she passed, and Madam Pomfrey soon followed, leaving the two friends alone. Scorpius immediately turned to Albus, frustration simmering beneath his worry.

“Albus,” he whispered urgently, “what happened? I knew something was off. No offense, but the whole thing didn’t make sense.”

Albus closed his eyes, shame and frustration warring on his face. “I was an idiot. Cyrus tricked me.”

“Then tell McGonagall,” Scorpius urged, genuinely bewildered. “Why would you lie to her?”

“You don’t understand,” Albus replied, his voice wavering with a fear Scorpius had never heard before. “We were fools to stand up to Cyrus in the first place. Trying to get back at him… it was a mistake. If I tell on him, it’ll only get worse.”

Scorpius’s hands clenched into fists. “What? You want to let him get away with this?”

“Damn it, Scorpius!” Albus snapped weakly, tears glistening in his eyes. “If we let him win, maybe he’ll leave us alone.”

“But—”

“No!” Albus’s voice trembled. “I just… I don’t want to get hurt again.”

Scorpius fell silent, torn between his anger and his horror at the fear etched across Albus’s face.

***

The next day, Albus returned to classes. Outwardly, he was whole—Madam Pomfrey had erased the bruises, mended the bones, and healed the cuts. But on the inside, he felt hollowed out, a shell going through the motions. He walked the corridors with his head down, shrinking away from the world, each step feeling heavier than the last. He barely noticed when his cousin Rose looked at him with confusion, or when Cyrus shot him a smug, knowing smirk from across the room. It was as though his very spirit had been drained.

In class, Albus, once so eager to prove himself, now avoided every challenge. Where he used to fiercely compete with Rose, Cyrus, and the other Gryffindors, now he shrank back, desperate to avoid notice. Even his wand seemed to sense his reluctance, the once-familiar spells faltering as his movements grew sluggish and uncertain. He spent most lessons staring blankly at his parchment, barely bothering to take notes. Each day, his professors’ sighs grew louder as his grades slid further, unnoticed and unchallenged.

Scorpius watched all of this with a sinking heart. Albus, his best and only friend, was fading before his eyes. Scorpius felt a sense of loss, as though he were watching a part of himself disappear along with Albus’s spark. Gone was the boy who used to laugh with him in the library, or throw himself into Dueling Club practice with fierce determination. In his place was a shadow, flinching at even the mention of Cyrus’s name, ducking his head whenever a Gryffindor came too close.

During Dueling Club, it was even worse. Albus once thrived there, where he rose to be one of the best duelers in their year; the club a place where he could be himself without fear of judgment. Now, he shuffled through the drills, barely putting in any effort, his wand movements half-hearted and lethargic. Every time he stumbled or faltered, Scorpius felt a fresh wave of frustration and helplessness. Watching Albus struggle with spells he once mastered was like seeing a brilliant flame reduced to cold embers.

And then there was his divination crystal. Albus had once held out hope that he might be a great Seer, someone who would be respected among all wizards. But now, even that spark had faded. Once a week, he would reluctantly peer into the crystal, summon visions of meaningless things like Shafiq originally wanted him to. He had no ambition to peer deep into the future like he once had.

Scorpius longed to do something, anything, to snap Albus out of this dark place. He wished he could stand up to Cyrus for him, to tell everyone what had happened. But every time he looked at Albus’s empty gaze, he knew it was impossible. Albus had drawn a line between them and the world, retreating into a place where Scorpius couldn’t follow. It was as though Albus’s fear had built a wall around him, one that even Scorpius couldn’t break.

As the weeks turned into months, Albus withdrew even further, his sadness becoming a constant shadow over their days. Scorpius would catch him staring off into the distance, his face etched with a quiet despair that twisted Scorpius’s heart. The Albus he knew, the one who had once been so full of life and ambition, was slipping away. And all Scorpius could do was watch, feeling as powerless as he had that morning in the Greenhouse. He needed to do something, or the Albus he deeply cared about would be gone forever. 

***

One afternoon at the beginning of May, Albus and Scorpius lingered in the Great Hall after a Dueling Club meeting, their classmates buzzing with excitement. Professor Flitwick, perched on a stool at the front of the group, cleared his throat.

“Excuse me, everyone,” he squeaked, his voice amplified by magic. “In just three short weeks, Hogwarts’ 15th annual Dueling Championship will take place! If you wish to compete, please talk to one of our captains to sign up. I encourage all of you to enter.”

Cheers and murmurs rippled through the group, and Scorpius grinned, practically vibrating with excitement. He turned to Albus, but his friend only sighed, his shoulders slumped as though weighed down by invisible chains.

“Come on, Al,” Scorpius said, nudging him gently. “Let’s go sign up.”

Albus shook his head, looking down. “You go ahead. I’m no good at dueling anymore.” His voice was flat, defeated. “I’m going back to the common room.” Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving Scorpius staring after him.

Scorpius forced himself to shake off his disappointment and made his way over to Delphini, who was handling the signup list.

“Hello, Scorpius,” she greeted him with a small, knowing smile.

“Hi,” he replied, unable to hide the sadness in his tone. “I’d like to sign up for the Dueling Championship.”

“Good for you,” she said, neatly writing his name onto the parchment. “I’m sure you’ll have a lot of fun. Is Albus signing up as well?”

“Uh… no,” Scorpius admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “He’s been… kind of down lately.”

“That’s too bad,” Delphini said with a sigh. “But you’re a good friend. I’m sure you’ll find a way to snap him out of it.” She gave him an encouraging smile. “Have a good night.”

Scorpius forced a smile and thanked her, but as he made his way back to the common room, Delphini’s words echoed in his mind. He wanted to be the friend who could bring Albus back to himself, but no matter what he tried, Albus stayed trapped in his gloom. Scorpius understood one thing, though—Cyrus and his gang would never stop if Albus kept cowering. Avoiding them hadn’t made Albus safer; it had only encouraged Cyrus to push them harder.

Days later, a plan formed in Scorpius’s mind. He managed to convince Albus to join him in the library after lessons, hoping his friend would regain some confidence. What he didn’t mention was that he’d overheard Cyrus, Alex Welsh, and Tom Stark  say they’d be in the library, too. Maybe if Albus saw that hiding hadn’t protected him, he’d find the strength to stand up for himself.

They found a table near the back, and Albus sank into a chair, already pulling a book open, though his eyes were dull and unfocused. It didn’t take long for Cyrus and his friends to notice them.

“Well, well, well,” Cyrus drawled, striding over with Alex and Tom, a gleeful grin spreading across his face. “Look what we have here.”

Albus froze, his hand trembling slightly as he set down his book. “We… we were just leaving,” he stammered, the fear in his voice unmistakable.

Scorpius kept his gaze steady, his hand slowly sliding into his robes to reach for his wand. But Cyrus was faster, flicking his own wand and muttering a hex under his breath. In an instant, Scorpius’s hands ballooned to the size of watermelons, the weight pulling his arms to the floor.

Please Cyrus, we don’t want any trouble,” said Albus, “We were just leaving.”

“Yeah,” said Scorpius with a hint of sarcasm in his voice, “We have left you alone for months, surely you have to leave us alone now.”

“Ha!” exclaimed Cyrus. “What gave you that idea. You two snakes think you’ll ever be safe from us? Just watch, this will never end.”

These words hit Albus harder than the beating he was put through. All the months he’d spent hiding, avoiding Cyrus, flashed through his mind, and for the first time, he realized that the fear he’d clung to hadn’t saved him from anything. All it had done was made him weaker, more of a target. And now Scorpius, his only friend, was suffering because of his fear. Something inside Albus snapped. The fear was still there, but it didn’t matter anymore. He wouldn’t let Cyrus hurt Scorpius any longer.

Albus raised his wand, his eyes blazing. “You’re the one who should be afraid!” he shouted, his voice echoing through the library. “This ends now!”

Cyrus’s grin faltered, surprise flickering across his face as he lifted his wand. But before he could cast another spell, Madam Pince, the elderly librarian, came storming over, her face a mask of fury.

“Enough! Dueling in the library?” she barked. “Leave at once! Ten points from Gryffindor and ten from Slytherin! Out! All of you, before I make it another ten!”

The two groups held each other’s gaze for a tense moment before reluctantly lowering their wands. Cyrus gave Albus a hard stare, then turned and walked out, his friends following. Albus and Scorpius did the same, heading toward the hospital wing to undo the hex on Scorpius’s hands.

Scorpius grinned through the pain, hardly caring about the swollen hands or the lost points. Albus was back, his friend’s fighting spirit finally rekindled. For the first time in months, Scorpius felt hope—the plan had worked.

In the days that followed, Albus threw himself into his studies with a new fervor, determined to catch up on all the work he’d been neglecting. But this time, it wasn’t just about getting good grades—it was about something far more satisfying: he and Scorpius were plotting a way to put an end to Cyrus’s bullying once and for all. This plan would be different from the petty pranks they’d tried before; no silly Booger Balloons or showing Gryffindors up in class. They wanted something powerful, something that would give Cyrus a taste of his own medicine.

One afternoon, as they huddled in the Common Room, Albus leaned in close and whispered, “Have you ever heard of a Boggart?”

Scorpius’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “I think so. Remind me.”

Albus’s voice dropped even lower, making the whole idea sound just a bit more ominous. “Boggarts are dark creatures that hide in places people don’t expect. When you open their hiding spot, they come out and turn into your worst fear.”

Scorpius’s face lit up with a spark of intrigue. “That could work.”

“Yeah, but here’s the problem,” Albus said, his voice tinged with disappointment. “Once Cyrus realizes it’s only a Boggart, he’ll just brush it off, and it’ll probably make him even madder — not scared of us.”

“True…” Scorpius tapped his chin, thinking hard. “But what if we used a Boggart to learn Cyrus’s biggest fear—and then we make it real?”

Albus’s eyes glinted with excitement. “That could work! But where are we going to find a Boggart?”

Scorpius hesitated, then suggested, “Well… you could always use your crystal. Look into the future and find out where a Boggart might turn up.”

Albus frowned, clearly uncertain. His past experience with the crystal had been disastrous, the consequences haunting him still. “You know how that went last time, Scorpius. I’m a rubbish Seer.”

“You’re not!” Scorpius said earnestly. “We might’ve overdone it before, that’s all. I know you can do this.”

Albus sighed. He hadn’t used the crystal selfishly in months. He had only been using it to predict the following days lunch like Shafiq told him to. But a determined, steely part of him wanted nothing more than to see Cyrus get what he deserved. Reluctantly, he agreed.

Placing the crystal on the table, Albus took a deep breath and focused, his mind fixed on the idea of a Boggart. After a few tense minutes, the mists in the crystal swirled and parted, revealing a scene. “Got it,” Albus murmured, sounding impressed with himself. “Tomorrow, two Hufflepuff girls will find a Boggart in an old cabinet on the fifth floor—in a classroom with pink walls and nothing but that cabinet inside.”

Scorpius beamed. “See? I knew you could do it. You rest up; I’ll go research how to handle Boggarts.”

The next day, they slipped away from the crowded Great Hall after lunch, exchanging whispers about the plan. They reviewed every detail, until Albus and Scorpius both knew exactly what they’d have to do. Each had a part to play.

Albus ducked into the Slytherin Common Room to grab his Invisibility Cloak, while Scorpius sneaked into the Transfiguration classroom and “borrowed” a small empty chest from Professor Macmillan’s desk. Cloak and chest in hand, they met on the fifth floor, hearts pounding, ready to see their plan through.

Albus flung the Invisibility Cloak over both of them as they slipped silently into the room. Just inside, they saw two older Hufflepuff girls staring nervously at a large cabinet, which shook and rattled as if something were trying to escape.

The blonde girl wrung her hands, her expression anxious. “I don’t want to do this,” she muttered.

The brown-haired girl nudged her. “You promised!”

The blonde swallowed, clearly torn. “I know, but… why are you so curious to see what’s inside?”

The other girl’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “Don’t you want to know?”

Finally, with a reluctant nod, the blonde girl agreed, and they moved closer to the cabinet. The brown-haired girl reached out, gripped the handle, and swung it open.

At once, a huge, furry hand thrusted out, followed by a massive creature that looked straight out of a Muggle horror movie. A giant werewolf loomed over them, easily twenty feet tall, with sharp claws, yellow eyes, and a muzzle dripping with saliva. It threw back its head and let out a blood-curdling howl that sent the blonde girl fleeing from the room, screaming in terror.

The brown-haired girl fumbled for her wand, managing to aim it at the monstrous Boggart. “R-Riddikulus!” she stammered. In an instant, the terrifying beast shrank down into a harmless puppy wearing a tiny top hat, wagging its tail and prancing about before retreating back to the cabinet. The girl, still pale and trembling, hurried out after her friend.

Scorpius tugged the Invisibility Cloak off and exchanged a determined look with Albus. “Ready?”

“Yeah,” Albus whispered. “Just be quick.”

Scorpius nodded, swallowing hard, and moved to the cabinet, setting the small chest down in front of it. With Albus standing at a safe distance, wand at the ready, Scorpius took a steadying breath and pulled open the door.

The cabinet stopped shaking. From the darkness within, a small, pale hand emerged—a woman’s hand, reaching slowly toward Scorpius. For a moment, he almost smiled, as if transfixed.

Then, before their eyes, bloody cuts began to open up along the hand and arm, thick blood dripping and pooling in a horrific display that defied reality. Scorpius tried to pull away, but the hand held him fast, tightening its grasp.

“Incendio!” Albus shouted, sending a jet of fire toward the top of the cabinet. Flames ignited instantly, licking hungrily at the wood. As smoke began to curl into the air, Albus dashed forward, grabbing Scorpius by the shoulders and hauling him back. They bolted from the room, slamming the door shut behind them and waiting breathlessly as the fire consumed the cabinet.

After a few minutes, they cautiously cracked the door open. Inside, the cabinet was nothing but smoldering ash, but the small chest Scorpius had set out was now trembling — the Boggart seemed trapped inside.

Albus stomped out the flames on the remains of the cabinet and wrapped the chest, which now contained the Boggart, in the Invisibility Cloak. The two boys returned to the Slytherin Common Room, carefully hiding the chest at the foot of Albus’s bed, where it sat, invisible, but rattling softly now and again. The first stage of their plan was complete.

“Now all we need to do is get Cyrus alone with the Boggart—and make sure we’re there to see it,” Albus murmured.

Scorpius grinned, his mind already racing. “I think I have just the idea.”

***

One morning in early May, Cyrus walked into the Great Hall, his steps confident as he joined his usual group at the Gryffindor table. Waiting for him were Rose, Alex, Tom, Olivia, and Ericka, all already in the middle of a lively conversation about Quidditch.

“We blew out Hufflepuff,” said Tom proudly. “It wasn’t even close.”

“Slytherin only beat them by 170 points,” added Rose, her tone sharp with rivalry. “Their Seeker caught the Snitch within the first ten minutes.”

“Yeah, which actually matters,” Alex chimed in.

“Explain it again,” Ericka asked, clearly a little lost.

Alex sighed but dove in. “Alright, so Slytherin did win all three of their games this year. Gryffindor and Ravenclaw both narrowly lost to Slytherin, but both of us absolutely flattened Hufflepuff—by well over six hundred points. And when we each lost to Slytherin, it was by about two hundred.”

The group nodded, listening closely.

“So, if Gryffindor can beat Ravenclaw by a lot this weekend,” Tom said, leaning in eagerly, “we still have a shot at winning the Cup.”

As the conversation continued, the Owl Post swooped into the Great Hall. Letters and packages fluttered down onto the tables, and an owl landed in front of Cyrus, dropping a lumpy, poorly wrapped package.

“Expecting something, Cyrus?” Rose asked, eyeing the parcel with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.

Cyrus frowned. “Didn’t think so.” He began to examine the package, noticing it was shaking slightly.

“It’s moving!” exclaimed Ericka, her eyes widening.

With growing trepidation, Cyrus carefully unwrapped the package to reveal a small chest, rattling as if something were desperately trying to escape. A sly grin spread across the boys’ faces as Cyrus, swallowing nervously, opened the chest. It stopped shaking immediately.

Then, to Cyrus’s horror, dozens of snakes came slithering out, writhing over each other as they spilled onto the table, heading straight for him. His eyes bulged, and he recoiled in shock, his face going pale.

The commotion quickly caught the attention of Professor Zaccai, who strode over, her wand raised. Taking one look at the scene, she seemed to understand what was happening. Pointing her wand at the slithering mass, she shouted, “Riddikulus!”

In a flash, the snakes burst into confetti, which floated into the air before settling back into the chest.

“Looks like someone sent you a Boggart, Baker,” she said, picking up the chest. “A rather cruel prank. I’ll be examining this box to see if anyone left a trace on it.”

But Cyrus wasn’t listening. He’d spotted Albus and Scorpius at the Slytherin table, watching him with satisfied smirks. Stage two of their plan had succeeded.

Snakes. It was almost ironic that snakes were Cyrus’s biggest fear. Over the next few days, Albus and Scorpius spent all their time in the Common Room plotting and coming up with ideas.

“…but we can’t manage advanced magic to really scare him,” Albus muttered one night. “Neither of us knows a spell to summon a hoard of real snakes, and finding just one and sending it at him wouldn’t be all that intimidating anyway.”

“Maybe if we found a snake, we could charm it somehow. Something we could do to make it bigger, scarier,” Scorpius suggested, deep in thought.

“That’s it!” Albus said, an idea sparking. “We can make it bigger! An Enlarging Charm isn’t too difficult—we can learn it. A huge snake has to be terrifying, especially for someone who’s scared of them.”

“Good idea,” Scorpius agreed.

“Oh, and I almost forgot!” Albus added, eyes lighting up. “My Uncle Charlie gave me a Dragon’s Breath Potion for Christmas.”

Scorpius’s jaw dropped. “Are you serious? That stuff’s barely even legal in England!”

“Yeah, my gran would have killed him if she found out,” Albus grinned. “A giant, fire-breathing snake would definitely be terrifying, and it would make us look powerful when Cyrus finds out we were behind it.”

“Then we just need to master the enlargement and shrinking spells,” Scorpius said.

“Alright, let’s start tomorrow, bright and early,” Albus decided.

The two boys dedicated all their free time to practicing the spells in between studying for final exams. They started small, first using the incantations Engorgio and Reducio on bottle caps, then chess pieces, and finally crickets they’d taken from Transfiguration class. After a few weeks, they had the spells down.

One Saturday in the Common Room, Scorpius leaned close and whispered, “We’ve got the potion, we know the spells… now we just need a snake and a way into the Gryffindor Common Room.”

Albus’s eyebrows rose. “The Gryffindor Common Room?”

“Yeah,” Scorpius said with a mischievous glint. “It’d be the perfect place to catch Cyrus off-guard. We sneak in under the Cloak and give him the scare of his life.”

“Alright,” Albus agreed. “But as for the snake, I don’t think either of us can conjure one out of thin air.”

“True… That’s some pretty advanced magic,” Scorpius admitted, thinking.

“What about Delphini?” Albus suggested. “If anyone could do that, it’d be her.”

“Shall we go ask her then?” Scorpius asked, looking a little apprehensive.

“Yeah,” Albus said, his voice steady despite the fluttering nerves.

The Common Room was crowded that Saturday, and it felt like the entire house was gathered. Albus and Scorpius threaded their way through groups of students, past a pair of third years playing wizard’s chess, a few kids tossing a Quaffle, and fifth and seventh years frantically studying for their O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. exams respectively. They finally spotted Delphini, lounging on the most comfortable sofa, leading a conversation with an elite group of popular Slytherin girls. The group was made up of mostly sixth and seventh years, a few fifth years, and one young third year girl. This third year was Rachel Cross, the seeker on the Slytherin Quidditch team.

“Won’t it be too late,” said a seventh year girl with long blonde hair.

“It’ll be fine,” assured a relaxed sixth year.

“And if we’re caught, being out too late won’t really be the main concern, will it?”  laughed a very pretty seventh year.

Rachel Cross looked up from the book she was reading at these words, her eyes gleaming.

“You’re not coming,” said Delphini, raising an eyebrow. 

“What! Why?” exclaimed Cross, slamming her book shut.

“You’re like twelve,” laughed the pretty seventh year.

“I’m fourteen!” Cross protested as the older girls laughed.

“You’re thirteen,” added Delphini calmly.

“Oh come on I’m close enough!” argued Cross, outraged.

“You weren’t invited even if you were fourteen,” snapped Delphini, ending the debate. “Now go back to reading.”

“I don’t know, Delphini,” began a fifth year girl, “Me and you must of been fourteen when we all-”

Delphini shot her a sharp look and the fifth year quickly fell silent, holding in a laugh. Albus and Scorpius still stood nearby, waiting awkwardly, their cheeks flushing as a few of the older girls casted them annoyed glances. After a few moments, Delphini noticed them. She paused the conversation and gave them a small, polite smile.

“Hello,” she said, her tone gentle but confused. “Did you two need something?”

“Um…” Scorpius stammered under the annoyed gaze of Delphini’s friends, “Could we talk to you… over there?”

“Alright,” Delphini replied, giving the group around her a little wave as she got up. “I’ll be back in a moment.”

When they were finally alone, she looked at them with a wry smile. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Albus felt a bit flustered seeing her up close, she was dressed more casually than usual. He was used to seeing her in her fancy green tie and expensive black robes. Today she wore a green and silver striped Slytherin Quidditch sweater, black shorts, and small fluffy brown boots. He quickly gathered his thoughts, not wanting to take up more of her time than necessary.

“We, uh, need a favor,” he said, clearing his throat. “Do you think you could conjure… a snake?”

Delphini blinked, her expression blank. “A snake?” she repeated. “Why on earth do you need a snake?”

“It’s for an assignment,” Scorpius lied quickly. “Urgent. Due Monday.”

Delphini raised an eyebrow, as if she could see right through them, but after a moment, she simply sighed and gave a lazy flick of her wand.

A snake appeared, coiled neatly on the floor before them. Albus and Scorpius exchanged excited looks.

“Thanks,” Albus said, trying to keep his tone casual, though he was bursting with anticipation.

Delphini smirked. “You know, I thought you were here to talk about the Dueling Championship. You still don’t want to enter, Albus?”

Albus’s face flushed with sudden realization—he’d completely forgotten to sign up. “Is it too late?”

“Nope,” she said with a smile. “I can speak to Flitwick on Monday if you’d like.”

“Thanks! That would be amazing!” Albus replied, grinning.

“No problem,” she said before heading back to her friends, who were awaiting her return.

When she was out of earshot, Scorpius picked up the snake, grinning. “Now we just need to find the Gryffindor Common Room.”

“And a Dueling Championship to prepare for,” Albus said, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Chapter Text

Over the next few weeks of May, Albus and Scorpius focused all of their attention on studying for their exams and training for the Dueling Club Championship. As for their revenge on Cyrus; they had the snake, the potion, and the spells. All they needed now was to find where the Gryffindor Common Room was and find a perfect chance to do it. Albus came up with a brilliant plan to trick his brother, James, into giving him the information he needed.

“Nice try you slimey little-”

The plan was unsuccessful. 

They also thought of just following a large group of Gryffindors into the Common Room but they didn’t know the kind of security that would be at the entrance so they deemed this plan too risky. 

When May came to an end the two still didn’t have a plan to get into the Gryffindor Common Room, largely because they were so focused on winning the Dueling Championship. Albus and Scorpius had even put studying for their exams aside to focus on training together. After their weeks of extra practice the two were ready for when the day finally came.

Early in the morning on the twenty sixth of May, Albus and Scorpius woke up bright and early with what felt like pixies buzzing around in their stomachs. The two quietly left their dormitory, careful not to wake anyone up, and entered the Common Room. In the empty Slytherin Common Room the two of them reviewed spells and went over different strategies. They also discussed a new plan Albus had come up with to find the Gryffindor Common Room.

“Today, Scorpius, almost the entire school will be in the Great Hall watching the Championship,” Albus began.

“Yeah, they’ll be watching one of us win it,” Scorpius replied confidently.

“Let’s hope so,” Albus said. “But just in case one of us gets knocked out early…”

“Yeah?” Scorpius said, a puzzled look on his face.

“Whoever gets out first should take the Invisibility Cloak and follow the first Gryffindor they see heading back to their Common Room,” Albus explained.

Scorpius hesitated. “What if there’s security? What if it detects the Cloak?”

“We’re running out of time. Summer break is just weeks away,” Albus reasoned. “If there’s security, at least there won’t be many people around to notice us.”

After a moment of thought, Scorpius agreed

As the clock crept towards half past eight, the Common Room began to fill with other Slytherins. Albus took a deep breath, and Scorpius shut the book he’d been skimming. Together, they joined the others heading to the Great Hall, hearts pounding with a mix of excitement and dread.

When they entered the Great Hall, they saw Professor Flitwick, Delphini, Nick, and a few other club members busily setting up. The usual four long tables had vanished, replaced by a sleek black stage stretching from the entrance to the Headmistress’s podium. On either side of the stage were seven long benches for spectators.

At nine o’clock sharp, Flitwick called for the attention of the thirty-two participants. “Today is the day we’ve been waiting for all year,” he announced, his high-pitched voice ringing through the hall. “It’s time to showcase your skills. People will start arriving soon, as our first match begins at ten. But first, I have finalized the brackets.”

With a flick of his wand, a small parchment expanded into a massive chart visible to all. It displayed sixteen matches in the “Elimination Round 1” at the bottom, progressing through subsequent rounds until the “Finals” at the top.

Albus scanned the chart for his name. The first duel caught his eye:

Duel 1: Delphini Rosier [Year: 5 - House: Slytherin - Years in Club: 5] vs. Jeffery McDonald [Year: 7 - House: Hufflepuff - Years in Club: 7]

Next to it:

Duel 2: Scorpius Malfoy [Year: 1 - House: Slytherin - Years in Club: 1] vs. Samuel Blueflames [Year: 1 - House: Ravenclaw - Years in Club: 1]

Albus exhaled in relief. Scorpius’s opponent was a fellow first-year—not too daunting. However, if Scorpius and Delphini both advanced, they’d face each other in the next round. Albus didn’t like Scorpius’s odds against her.

Continuing down the list, he found his own match:

Duel 5: Albus Potter [Year: 1 - House: Slytherin - Years in Club: 1] vs. Robert O’Neill [Year: 2 - House: Slytherin - Years in Club: 2]

This was it, his first duel. His opponent was fellow Slytherin, Robert O’Neill; Albus did not know this boy. He had a year of experience on Albus but it could be worse. 

When he got to the end of the parchment he saw Nick’s duel, Duel 16.

Duel 16: Nicholas Fawley [Year: 5 - House: Ravenclaw - Years in Club: 4] vs Gabriel Brock [Year: 6 - House: Gryffindor - Years in Club: 6] 

Albus then walked back towards Flitwick with the rest of the club. When everyone came back, Flitwick began, “Alright everyone, you have now all seen your dueling information. Remember these were all randomly selected, so I will not be hearing any complaints. You all can take a seat in the front row of the bench on my left, I reserved it for members of the dueling club.

Albus and the rest of the Dueling Club made their way to the bench and all sat down. Albus sat next to Scorpius who looked very confident. While they waited for an hour, the two of them discussed their duels and reviewed all the spells they knew. People started trickling in the Great Hall. At around quarter to ten, Albus saw both his parents and younger sister, Lily, walk into the Great Hall. Various kids all gasped and pointed as Harry Potter walked in, but Harry walked past them all, smiled at Albus, and took his seat in the parent/guest section. Albus had mentioned the Dueling Championship to his parents in one of his letters, but all they responded back to him was Good Luck . He had no idea they were coming to watch! 

Albus turned to Scorpius. “It has to be you.”

“What?” Scorpius asked, startled.

“If my parents are here, I can’t sneak off to follow a Gryffindor. They’ll notice,” Albus said, reluctantly taking the Invisibility Cloak out of his pocket and handing it to Scorpius.

Scorpius accepted it with a nod. “Fine. But who knows, I might not lose any rounds.”

At ten o’clock, Flitwick got on the stage. The chattering hall grew quiet in anticipation. 

“Welcome, welcome everyone! Welcome everyone to Hogwarts Fifteenth Annual Dueling Championship!” beamed Flitwick. “For those of you who don’t know, I am Finius Flitwick, the head of the Dueling Club. I don’t want to hold this up for too long, as we have many duels to get through. The rules are simple; the duelers will face each other, bow, walk ten paces, and duel until they are unable to or surrender. With that being said, let’s begin!”

“Miss Rosier, Mr. McDonald please join me on the stage and face each other wands down,” Flitwick said. 

Delphini Rosier and Jeffrey McDonald ascended the stage, their footsteps echoing in the expectant silence. Delphini’s emerald-green robes swished elegantly around her, her demeanor exuding confidence. Jeffrey, taller and more intimidating, rolled his shoulders as if shaking off the weight of the crowd’s gaze.

Before Flitwick could continue, the unmistakable voice of Hogwarts Sports and Clubs Commentator: Toby Carlin burst through the air, magically amplified to reach every corner of the hall.

“Aaaaall right, Hogwarts! Here we go with the first duel of the championship!” Toby’s excitement was infectious, drawing cheers from the crowd. “In this corner, we have fifth-year Slytherin, Dueling Club Co-Captain, and all-around prodigy: Delphiiiiini Rosier! And in the other, we have seventh-year Hufflepuff powerhouse and a man who’s no stranger to a duel: Jeffrey McDonald! Let’s see who’ll come out on top!”

The crowd roared as the duelers turned to face each other. Delphini offered a slight, almost dismissive bow, her smirk barely concealed. Jeffrey returned a deeper bow, his face stoic and determined.

“Wands at the ready! Take ten paces,” Flitwick called. They moved in unison, tension crackling like static in the air. “And… DUEL!”

Delphini moved first, she lazily flicked her wand at McDonald. A blazing jet of red light erupted from its tip, slicing through the air toward McDonald with ferocious speed.

McDonald's grip on his wand tightened as he shouted, “Protego!” A shimmering silver barrier materialized before him, catching the spell mid-flight.

But Delphini’s spell struck McDonald’s shield with such force that it shattered the silvery barrier like glass and continued barreling at Delphini.. The spell hit McDonald square in the chest, sending him flying backward. He landed hard on the stage floor, the impact echoing through the hushed hall.

“Sweet Merlin’s beard! That’s it! That’s it, folks! Rosier’s spell blasts through McDonald’s shield like it was parchment!” Toby shouted, his voice barely audible over the explosion of cheers. “Ending the duel in record time, Delphini Rosier takes the win!”

The Slytherins erupted into thunderous applause, their cheers drowning out the rest of the hall. Delphini lowered her wand, her posture radiating ease, as if the duel had been no more taxing than swatting a fly. She turned on her heel, her silver hair faced McDonald as she looked to the audience. With a flourish, she performed a mock curtsy, her grin sharp and self-assured.

“Oh, she’s not just a duelist, she’s a showwoman!” Toby crowed. “Give it up for Rosier!”

Her fellow Slytherins roared even louder, stamping their feet in unison. Nick, her co-captain, sat next to other senior members of the Dueling Club. Delphini’s gaze found his, and for a moment, their eyes locked. He gave an approving nod and smile but she knew she broke through his calm composure, she rattled him. She took her seat, a smug look resting on her face, and it was time for the next duel. 

Scorpius Malfoy hesitated before stepping onto the stage, his legs shaking beneath him. His wand felt heavier than ever in his hand as he faced off against Samuel Blueflames, a tall Ravenclaw first year with a sharp mind and a reputation for being quick on his feet. Blueflames adjusted his stance confidently, his wand already raised. Scorpius swallowed hard, stealing a glance at Albus, who gave him an encouraging nod from the Slytherin bench.

“All right, everyone!” boomed Toby Carlin’s voice, echoing across the Great Hall. “Our second duel of the day is about to begin! Representing Slytherin, we have Scorpius Malfoy, a young first year who looks ready to prove himself! And facing him, we have from Ravenclaw, Samuel Blueflames, another first year equally determined! Duelers, face each other, bow, and prepare to take your ten paces!”

The two boys bowed stiffly before retreating to their positions. The tension was palpable, and the crowd leaned in, eager for the action to begin.

“Begin!” Toby shouted.

They both stood there, wands drawn, anticipating each other’s moves. Impatient, Blueflames raised his wand.

“ Flipendo !” Blueflames shouted, sending a cyan jet of light barreling toward Scorpius.

Scorpius barely managed to duck, the spell sizzling past his head. The audience gasped at the narrow miss. Seizing the moment, Scorpius pointed his wand and bellowed, “ Anteoculatia! ”

A purple jinx zipped through the air, striking Blueflames squarely in the forehead. The Great Hall erupted into laughter as a pair of massive antlers sprouted from Blueflames’s head..

“Malfoy’s curse has hit Blueflames right in the face!” Toby Carlin said and soon the whole Great Hall was chuckling. “Ha! It looks like Blueflames had sprouted great big antlers! It’ll be hard for him to keep his balance!”

As Blueflames stumbled around, Scorpius saw another opportunity to strike and raised his wand.

“ Expelliarmus !” Scorpius yelled.

A flash of red light soared towards Blueflames’s wand hand. The disarming charm just barely missed Blueflames who had now gathered his balance and was aiming his wand at Scorpius. Blueflames casted a Body Binding Curse and it flew at Scorpius, who narrowly dove to the ground to get out of the way which resulted in impressed murmurs from the crowd. 

From the ground Scorpius used the Vermillion Charm and shot a burst of red sparks which exploded in Blueflames’s face, blinding him momentarily. Scorpius scrambled upright, his wand raised, as the smoke cleared. The duelists squared off again, wands aimed directly at one another.

“ Williantundra !” yelled Blueflames.

A snowball rocketed out of Blueflames’s wand and smacked Scorpius square in the face. Chuckles rippled across the hall as Scorpius wiped snow from his eyes, only to see another spell racing toward him. He flinched, but it struck him before he could react. For a brief moment, nothing seemed to happen—then six wasps burst from his ears and began stinging him relentlessly.

Panic gripped Scorpius as he swatted at the buzzing attackers. He needed to act fast or he would lose this duel. Desperation driving him, he cast another Vermillion Charm to buy time. The red sparks sent Blueflames stumbling again, but Scorpius knew his window was narrow. The wasps weren’t going anywhere, and Blueflames had the upper hand if the duel dragged on.

Scorpius thought to himself, what could he do? He knew he had Blueflames off balance a little, but Blueflames had him on time. If Blueflames could stall Scorpius for long enough, eventually the wasps would finish the duel for them. He focused on the fact he had Blueflames off his balance. 

“ Dentadura! ”

A spell struck Blueflames, causing his teeth to grow grotesquely long, nearly reaching his knees. Weighed down by his oversized teeth and antlers, Blueflames staggered wildly, his spells firing off-target. Scorpius saw his chance.

“ Flipendo! ” he yelled.

The force of the spell knocked Blueflames off his feet, his wand flying out of his hand. Blueflames struggled to rise, but the weight of his antlers and teeth pinned him down. Before he could recover, Scorpius dashed across the stage and snatched up his opponent’s wand.

“I yield!” Blueflames cried, defeated.

The Great Hall erupted into applause, led by the Slytherin table. Even students from other houses joined in, impressed by Scorpius’s performance. He returned to his seat with flushed cheeks, where Albus clapped him on the back.

The third and fourth duels passed by quickly. The third was a brief and almost comical match between a sixth-year Gryffindor and a third-year Hufflepuff, ending with the Hufflepuff tangled and restrained by his own tongue. The crowd roared with laughter as he was helped off the stage, red-faced but smiling. The fourth duel lasted a bit longer but didn’t hold the same intensity as Scorpius’s match. This time, a third-year Slytherin squared off against a fourth-year Ravenclaw. Despite the Ravenclaw’s creative spellwork, the Slytherin disarmed him with ease, prompting the older student to yield.

Finally, it was time for the fifth duel—Albus’s duel.

Robert O’Neill, a second-year Slytherin with a cocky demeanor, strutted onto the stage with a self-assured smirk. Albus followed a moment later, his heart pounding like a drum in his chest. As he climbed the steps, his eyes scanned the audience. He spotted his father near the back, and Harry’s warm smile seemed to melt away some of his fear. Turning to his mother, he caught Ginny’s fierce nod of encouragement. The fire in her expression ignited something in him. He was ready.

“Alright, everyone, we’re on to duel number five!” boomed Toby Carlin. “First up, we have Bobby OOOO’Neill! A second-year Slytherin who made it to the quarterfinals last year—no small feat for a first-year! And facing him, you all know the name, we have… Albus POTTER! A first-year Slytherin, but don’t underestimate him, folks—rumor has it his old man might’ve taught him a trick or two. Duelers, face each other and bow!”

The boys stepped forward and bowed, their movements deliberate and measured.

“It’s a shame I have to do this to a fellow Slytherin, Potter,” O’Neill said, his grin wide and taunting. “But beating Harry Potter’s son? That’ll more than make up for it.”

“The one who gets to try,” Albus shot back, his voice steady despite his nerves.

O’Neill’s grin faltered, but he recovered quickly. The two turned, took their ten paces, and waited for the signal.

“Begin!” Toby shouted.

“ Expelliarmus !” O’Neill bellowed, wasting no time.

Albus dove to the side, the spell whizzing past him in a burst of red light. His breath came fast as he scrambled to his feet, gripping his wand tightly. But before he could regain his footing, O’Neill struck again.

“ Flipendo! ”

The spell slammed into Albus’s back, sending him sprawling to the ground.

“How disappointing, Potter,” O’Neill jeered, twirling his wand arrogantly. “Not quite as good as Daddy, are you?”

“ Vermillious! ” Albus yelled from the ground, aiming blindly.

A shower of red sparks erupted from his wand and exploded near O’Neill’s face, forcing him to stagger back. Albus leapt to his feet, seizing the moment. As the smoke cleared, O’Neill’s face twisted in fury.

“ Everte Statum! ” O’Neill roared, sending another curse Albus’s way.

This time, Albus dodged smoothly, staying upright. He retaliated with his own curse, but it narrowly missed. Both duelists began inching closer to each other, the distance making their shots harder to land.

The crowd watched in silence, tension thick in the air. The two began to circle each other, each waiting for an opening. O’Neill broke the stalemate, firing a spell aimed straight at Albus’s head.

Albus ducked and weaved, the spell missing by inches. Reacting instinctively, he jabbed his wand forward sending a Bat-Bogey Hex at O’Neill.

The spell hit O’Neill square in the face. Instantly, grotesque bat-shaped bogeys erupted from his nose and began flapping wildly. O’Neill squirmed and clawed at his face, the curse leaving him momentarily helpless.

Seeing his chance, Albus struck again.

“ Expelliarmus! ”

O’Neill’s wand flew from his hand, spiraling through the air. Albus caught it deftly in his free hand. The duel was over.

“Looks like I am as good as Daddy,” Albus muttered under his breath, though it sounded far cooler in his head than it did aloud.

The Hall erupted into applause, the loudest cheers coming from the Slytherin table. Older Gryffindors joined in as well, impressed by the young Potter’s skills. Albus’s chest swelled with pride as he glanced at the cheering faces. His eyes sought out the professors; even they clapped in approval, with Professor Shafiq beaming at him and Hagrid cheering his name. His gaze shifted to his family. His father gave him a proud nod, his mother grinned fiercely, Lily threw two enthusiastic thumbs up, and finally—Delphini. She smiled at him with quiet approval, and Albus felt a rush of warmth.

Returning to his seat next to Scorpius, Albus couldn’t stop grinning. The two friends chatted excitedly about their next duels. Scorpius, however, looked a bit less confident now that he knew he’d have to face Delphini.

As the duels continued, Albus took a moment to visit his parents. Circling around to where the families sat, he saw their faces light up as he approached.

“What a duel, Al!” Ginny exclaimed, pulling him into a hug.

“Haven't seen a Bat-Bogey Hex like that since I was at Hogwarts!” Harry said with a grin.

“You were so cool, Albus!” Lily beamed, practically bouncing in place.

“When’s your next match?” Harry asked.

“I’m the third one in the second elimination round,” Albus replied nervously. “I’m going against a fourth-year—some Hufflepuff bloke.”

“You’ve got this,” Harry said confidently. “Just remember to keep your wand ahead of you—it stops you from telegraphing your next spell.”

“Shield charms might be advanced for your year, but your dodging is very impressive,” Ginny added proudly.

“You’re the best wizard I’ve ever seen!” Lily chimed in, hugging him tightly.

Albus said his goodbyes and returned to his seat. Scorpius was pale and fidgeting, growing more anxious with each passing duel. By the sixteenth match, Scorpius looked sick with nerves.

When Toby Carlin announced the second round of eliminations, Scorpius forced himself to stand. Delphini joined him on the stage, her expression distant, as if her mind was elsewhere. Scorpius, on the other hand, could focus on nothing but survival.

They bowed, and for a moment, Scorpius felt a sliver of calm. That calm shattered when Delphini, with a casual air, said softly, “ Sorry .”

His heart hammered in his chest. His only plan was to overwhelm her with sheer speed, firing spells as fast as possible before she could react.

“Alright, duelers,” Toby announced, “Begin!”

“ Expelliarmus !” Scorpius shouted the moment the words left Toby’s mouth.

The spell streaked toward Delphini but was blocked effortlessly with a silent and dismissive wave of her wand.

“ Flipendo !” he tried again, desperation edging his voice.

Again she effortlessly blocked it with a lazy wave of her wand. He fired spell after spell at her and she blocked each one like it was easier than the last. Clearly getting bored, Delphini flicked her wand which sent Scorpius flying backwards and knocking him out. She had won the duel. 

Professor Flitwick hurried onto the stage, reviving Scorpius with a few waves of his wand. He sat up, dazed but unharmed, and was escorted back to the Slytherin bench. His head hung low as he dropped into his seat beside Albus.

“You did great,” Albus whispered, trying to console him, but Scorpius only shook his head and stared at the floor.

The second duel of the elimination round followed, a high-energy clash between a sixth-year Gryffindor and a third-year Slytherin. Sparks flew as both duelists traded powerful spells, the Gryffindor ultimately securing victory with a perfectly timed Binding Hex that left his opponent immobilized. The crowd erupted into applause as the defeated Slytherin was freed and helped off the stage.

Albus barely registered the cheers. His heart pounded in his chest as Toby Carlin’s voice boomed through the Great Hall.

“Aaaaaaand now we have our third duel in the second round of eliminations!” Toby’s tone was as animated as ever. “Representing Hufflepuff house, we have the fourth year: Treeeevor Bolte! And from Slytherin house, the impressive first year: Albus POOOOOTEEEEEER!”

The Hall burst into applause, with a particularly loud cheer from the Slytherin table. Albus stood, his knees weak and his hands trembling. He swallowed hard and forced himself to move, one step at a time, toward the stage.

The moment his feet touched the platform, the world seemed to quiet. He turned to face his opponent, Trevor Bolte, a sturdy-looking Hufflepuff with a confident smirk. They met in the center of the stage, bowed to each other, and turned to take their ten paces.

Albus and Trevor Bolte faced each other, their wands raised, each anticipating the other’s move. The Great Hall was silent except for the occasional murmur from the crowd. Albus’s grip tightened around his wand. Taking inspiration from Delphini’s earlier duel, he decided to make the first move.

“Expelliarmus!” Albus shouted, his voice steady despite the pounding in his chest.

“Protego!” Bolte countered swiftly. A shimmering shield materialized just in time, intercepting Albus’s spell. Though the Disarming Charm shattered the translucent barrier, it served its purpose, leaving Bolte unharmed.

“Stupefy!” Bolte bellowed, retaliating with a stunning spell. The red beam of light shot from his wand, crackling through the air faster than Albus could react. He flinched, feeling the heat of the spell as it missed him by a hair.

Albus didn’t hesitate. Raising his wand, he yelled, “Rictusempra!”

Bolte attempted to summon another shield charm, but his timing faltered. The tickling jinx struck him squarely, and a burst of laughter erupted from the older boy. Bolte struggled, clutching his wand as his body shook with uncontrollable giggles.

“Flipendo!” he managed to yell through his laughter.

The knockback jinx shot toward Albus, who tried to dodge, but the spell tagged him as he moved. He tumbled backward, landing hard on the stage. For a moment, the world spun, but Albus gritted his teeth and scrambled back to his feet. Across the stage, Bolte was regaining his composure, the effects of the tickling charm wearing off.

The two duelists squared off once more. This time, Albus struck first, firing off the Pus-Shooting Warts Curse.

“Protego!” Bolte cried, his shield flaring up in time to block the spell.

Not giving him a chance to counterattack, Albus raised his wand again. “Tarantallegra!” he shouted.

The spell hit Bolte’s legs, and immediately they began to move uncontrollably. He jerked into an awkward, involuntary dance, his feet tapping wildly against the stage. The crowd erupted in laughter, but Bolte wasn’t finished. He aimed his wand and managed to cast a silvery spell through his frantic movements.

The spell struck Albus in the face. For a moment, nothing seemed to happen. He raised his wand to retaliate, determined to disarm Bolte once and for all—but when he opened his mouth, no sound came out. Panic surged through him as he realized what had happened: a Silencing Charm.

Albus waved his wand desperately, trying to cast nonverbally, but nothing came of the violent wand shaking except for a few weak sparks. He couldn’t cast a spell without his voice. He was defenseless—and Bolte knew it.

When the dancing spell finally wore off, Bolte planted his feet firmly on the ground. He pointed his wand at Albus, a victorious grin spreading across his face.

“Stupefy!” Bolte shouted.

The stunning spell struck Albus squarely in the chest, sending him to the ground. The duel was over.

Albus opened his eyes and found himself back on the bench. The noise of the Great Hall buzzed around him as he gained consciousness. Albus glanced at Scorpius, who offered a sad smile. They had both been eliminated but had made it remarkably far for first years. Despite their disappointment, they sat side by side, watching the remaining duels for the rest of the day. As the Second Round of Eliminations and the Quarterfinals unfolded, their thoughts occasionally drifted to their plan to sneak into the Gryffindor Common Room later.

None of the eliminated Gryffindors left for their dormitory; instead, they stayed on the benches, eager to watch the conclusion of the Dueling Championship. By 5:00 p.m., after a short break following the intense Quarterfinals, it was time for the highly anticipated Semi-Finals.

The four remaining duelers, the strongest competitors of the day, stood next to Professor Flitwick at the center of the stage. The tiny professor raised his arms, signaling the audience to quiet down.

“Alright, everyone, please take your seats,” he called, his voice firm but kind. “We are about to resume. The championship is nearing its end. Mr. Carlin, if you would do the honors?”

The students hurried to find their seats, eager not to miss a second of the action. On the stage, two duelers remained: Delphini Rosier and Colleen Glassclover. The Slytherin and Gryffindor faced each other, their mutual animosity radiating across the hall, a rivalry forged over a millennium of house competition.

Toby Carlin’s amplified voice rang out over the crowd. “Alright, Hogwarts, we’ve got two duels remaining! First up, we have from Slytherin House, the two-time champion, Delphiiiiiiiiini Rooooosiiiiiiier!” Cheers and applause erupted from the Slytherin benches, joined by many scattered shouts of support from students in other houses.

“And going up against her, representing Gryffindor House, we have a seventh-year, Head Girl, Colleeeeeeen Glassclover!” The Gryffindor benches exploded with noise, their cheers ringing across the hall as Colleen stepped forward with a confident smile

“Roiser has made the finals every year she’s been at Hogwarts. Will Glassclover, who I hear has just been accepted in the Summer Auror Program, be the one to end the Two-Time-Champ’s finals streak?” boomed Toby, causing murmurs and excitement around the Great Hall. 

The air between the two duelers was thick with tension. Delphini stood tall and impassive, her silvery-blue hair catching the light, while Colleen’s expression was all smirking confidence.

“Time to embarrass you in front of the whole school,” Colleen sneered, loud enough for the crowd to hear. “Show everyone you’re not the special little prodigy everyone thinks you are.”

As they moved closer, Colleen leaned in, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper. “You’re just some attention-seeking whore.”

Delphini simply smirked, choosing not to retaliate. Reluctantly, the two then bowed to one another, their movements stiff and unyielding. They walked their ten paces, each step deliberate, before spinning to face each other.

“Begin!” shouted Toby Carlin, his voice cutting through the silence.

Delphini and Colleen faced each other, wands raised and eyes locked. The tension between them was palpable, electrifying the Great Hall. Colleen made the first move, flicking her wand sharply. A bolt of golden light crackled through the air, hurtling toward Delphini.

With a quick and graceful motion, Delphini conjured a shimmering shield charm. The golden spell rebounded off her barrier, streaking back toward Colleen. It whizzed past her face, so close it ruffled her hair. Colleen’s expression twisted with frustration as she fired two more lightning-fast spells in rapid succession. Delphini effortlessly dodged one and blocked the other with a flick of her wrist, her expression calm and unbothered.

Colleen hesitated, waiting for Delphini to counterattack, but instead Delphini turned her back to Colleen and smiled at the crowd. Irritated, Colleen lashed out again, sending another spell streaking toward Delphini. As though she knew when Colleen was going to strike, Delphini slowly turned back around at the perfect time and lazily blocked Colleen’s hex. The grin on Delphini’s face widened, and Colleen’s anger flared.

With a furious whirl of her wand, Colleen sent a powerful jet of fire roaring toward her opponent. Delphini’s smile grew even more. Lowering her wand, she raised her hand and pinched her fingers together, and the flames instantly extinguished. Gasps rippled through the audience.

Delphini giggled softly, the sound light and mocking. Colleen’s face darkened, her wand trembling slightly as she clenched it tightly.

“You think this is funny?” Colleen spat, cocking her wand back. She launched a powerful spell that barreled toward Delphini like a battering ram.

It was fast, powerful; but poorly aimed. Delphini tilted her head slightly, letting the spell sail harmlessly past her. Leaning forward, her smirk deepened as she let out a sharp, sarcastic exhale, her eyebrows raised in mock disappointment.

Fuming, Colleen unleashed a volley of spells, one after another, each bursting from her wand like fireworks. Delphini deflected them all with almost lazy precision, her laughter ringing out across the hall. She was completely in control, as though she were toying with Colleen.

“Adorable,” Delphini laughed. 

Panting and flushed with frustration, Colleen finally screamed, “Fight back!”

Delphini’s laughter slowly stopped. She lazily raised her wand, and with a precise flick, sent a single spell flying faster than Colleen could react. The spell struck Colleen squarely in the face with a sickening crack, breaking her nose.

The crowd gasped in unison. Blood dripped from what barely resembled a nose as Colleen clutched her face, letting out a loud, anguished wail. Desperately, she raised her wand and fired off another spell, but her aim was wild and unsteady.

Delphini blocked it effortlessly. The spell rebounded off her shield and struck Colleen in the chest, sending her sprawling to the ground.

“What was it you said, love?” Delphini said, her voice dripping with mock sweetness and walking towards her opponent. “You’re going to embarrass me in front of the school?” She laughed again, the sound echoing through the stunned Great Hall.

Summoning what little strength and hatred she had left, Colleen pushed herself up and fired a final spell at Delphini. Delphini waved her wand dismissively, and the spell rebounded off her shield. This time, Colleen’s own spell struck her directly, throwing her high into the air. The audience watched her like she was a sick dog being put out of her misery. Colleen landed with a heavy thud, unconscious.

The duel was over.

For a moment, the hall was silent, stunned by the sheer dominance Delphini had displayed. Then, the Slytherins erupted into cheers, their applause drowning out the boos and jeers coming from the Gryffindor benches.

Delphini stood tall in the center of the stage, lowering her wand with a graceful flourish. The faint smile on her face never wavered as she turned to the Gryffindor bench, her silver-blue hair catching the light like a crown.

The Gryffindors erupted in even more angry boos, their frustration and humiliation poured out in waves. Delphini had done more than just defeat their last competitor—she had shattered their final hope for glory. The Championship Cup, the coveted eighty house points, and the pride of Gryffindor House had all crumbled in the face of her ruthless victory. Worse still, she hadn’t simply won; she had humiliated Colleen Glassclover, the best Gryffindor had to offer: top of the seventh year, Prefect, and Head Girl of Hogwarts. And now, with that faint smirk on Delphini’s lips and that infuriating bow, she was gloating—laughing, in a way, at the very spirit of Gryffindor itself.

Delphini straightened, tossed her hair over her shoulder, and strutted back to the Dueling Club bench, every step exuding triumph. Sitting down, she crossed her legs gracefully, her wand resting lightly in her hand as she cast a glance toward Nick Fawley. Delphini’s expression was one of quiet, cocky confidence, as if to say, Follow that . Nick sat nearby, his posture stiff , elbows resting on his knees, his hands were clasped loosely together. He lowered his head, his thoughts a mystery to everyone but himself; but it was safe to assume he was not dwelling on his next match, but the one that followed. 

Meanwhile, Colleen remained crumpled on the stage. Professor Flitwick hurried to her side, reviving her with a quick charm, but her face was far beyond a simple spell’s ability to mend. Her nose, disfigured and grotesquely on the far left of her face, refused to heal completely. Flitwick called over Madam Pomfrey, who arrived flanked by three other teachers to assist. It took several painstaking minutes to repair the damage, and even then, Colleen’s face was blotchy and raw with lingering bruises.

The Gryffindor Head Girl sat up, clutching her face in mortified silence. The boos and cheers had quieted now, replaced by murmurs from the crowd. Embarrassment and rage burned in her eyes as she blinked back tears. Without a word, she stood, clutching her wand tightly, and stormed out of the Great Hall, her head held high but her shoulders trembling. She was heading towards the Gryffindor Common Room. 

“Albus!” said Scorpius, realizing this was their chance.

“Oh,” said Albus, his gaze breaking from Delphini. “Go, quick!” 

Scorpius slyly slipped into a shadowy corner, his movements quick and quiet. With a practiced hand, he pulled the Invisibility Cloak over himself and disappeared. Not a trace of him remained; he had vanished entirely.

Albus, unaware of Scorpius’s maneuvering, turned his attention back to the stage as the next duel began. This match was between Nick Fawley and the Head Boy, a seventh-year Hufflepuff. Unlike Delphini’s earlier duel, this one was marked by mutual respect. The two duelers exchanged brief nods before assuming their positions.

Toby Carlin’s voice boomed across the hall. “And now, our second semi-final! Representing Ravenclaw, we have the co-captain of the Dueling Club and Two-Time-Champion: Niiiiick Faaaaawley! And facing him, representing Hufflepuff, the Head Boy and a powerful seventh year: Sheldon Haaaaart!”

The crowd buzzed with anticipation as the duelers bowed and took their ten paces.

The match began, but it was over almost as quickly as it started. Nick moved with ruthless efficiency, firing three consecutive spells in rapid succession. The first spell, a stunning charm, forced Hart to summon a desperate shield charm, which broke on impact. Before Hart could recover, the second spell slammed into his side and the third struck him in the chest, knocking him flat onto his back.

The hall fell silent for a moment, stunned by the sheer speed of the victory. Then, all but the Hufflepuff table erupted into cheers, their applause ringing through the Great Hall.

“And that’s it!” Toby Carlin exclaimed, his voice as energized as ever. “Ladies and gentlemen, the championship match is decided! Once again, the final duel will pit Nick Fawley of Ravenclaw against Delphini Rosier of Slytherin! This marks the third consecutive year these two titans have faced each other in the final!”

Nick helped Hart to his feet, offering a respectful nod before stepping off the stage. As the crowd buzzed with excitement, Nick made his way to the Dueling Club bench, his expression calm and focused. Across the room, Delphini leaned back in her seat, her lips curved into an almost predatory smile; she lost last year to Nick, she wouldn’t lose again. 

The stage was set. The crowd was electric. The final duel of the championship loomed ahead, promising yet another clash between Hogwarts’ most formidable rivals.

At precisely 6:00 p.m., it was time. The crowd hushed in anticipation as Professor Flitwick stepped onto the stage, his small stature amplified by the energy in his voice. He raised his arms, his words carrying effortlessly across the Great Hall as he hyped up the spectators.

“This is it, everyone! The moment we’ve all been waiting for—the championship match! Two duelists, two captains, two of the finest wands Hogwarts has ever seen! Will it be Slytherin or Ravenclaw? Let’s find out!”

Delphini Rosier and Nicholas Fawley stepped onto the stage, their footsteps echoing in the silence. The two duelists faced each other, Flitwick standing between them, still speaking to the audience. But his words faded into the background for them. Their focus was razor-sharp, locked entirely on each other. Every twitch of a hand, every bead of sweat, every shift in stance—nothing escaped their attention.

All the duels they’d fought that day suddenly felt like mere warm-ups. Those matches had been child’s play compared to the war they were about to enter. The stakes were higher than ever: glory for their house, triumph in front of the entire school, and personal pride. They had both won the championship twice before, this would break their tie. 

Both took deep breaths, their hearts pounding like war drums in their chests. The pressure was immense, but neither flinched. They were veterans of this stage, champions who had stood here before, but tonight felt different. 

Flitwick finally stepped aside, his parting words drowned out by the thrumming anticipation in the room. The two duelists raised their wands. The Hall fell deathly silent.

Toby Carlin’s voice broke the stillness, each word charged with electricity.

“Ladies and gentlemen, duelists… begin!”

At Toby Carlin’s words, the duel erupted. Spells began flying across the stage in a dazzling display of color and power. To the untrained eyes of the audience, the next few minutes looked like nothing more than a chaotic light show. The sheer complexity and speed of the spells exchanged were beyond comprehension for most. Every movement was precise, every counter flawless. The defense from both duelists was as impressive as their offense.

For ten long minutes, neither gave an inch. The duelists moved like blurs, their magic colliding in a cacophony of sparks and explosions. Finally, they slowed, breathing heavily, their faces tense with focus. It was a stalemate. They needed to get creative.

Nick was the first to act. Drawing a wide circle with his wand, he conjured seven golden eagles that bursted into the air, their razor-sharp beaks glinting as they dove toward Delphini.

Delphini reacted with practiced precision, spinning her wand through the air. The golden eagles melted into streams of molten lava, which she then summoned to circle around her. With deliberate movements, she shaped the lava into a towering knight wielding a blazing sword. Her molten creation roared to life and swung at Nick as Delphini simultaneously unleashed a barrage of spells.

Nick struggled, deflecting Delphini’s spells while dodging the knight’s molten blade. He couldn’t keep it up for long. Thinking quickly, he aimed his wand at Delphini. A powerful gust of wind burst forth, forcing her to stumble back for just a moment. That moment was all he needed.

Nick conjured a dark cloud above the stage, and heavy rain poured down. The molten knight hissed and cooled, its fiery form hardening into brittle stone. With a sharp gesture, Nick turned the storm against Delphini. He cocked his wand back, and bolts of lightning shot out from the cloud, pounding against her shield charm.

Delphini’s shield held for a few seconds, but cracks began to appear as the lightning intensified. Realizing she couldn’t hold it, she dropped the shield and rolled athletically to the ground. When she came up, she raised her wand and summoned thick jungle vines that erupted from the stage, forming a protective wall to protect her from the lightning. When lightning ceased,  Delphini sprang to her feet, her wand spinning through the air.

The vines twisted and morphed under her command, forming a massive serpent. The snake lunged at Nick. He reacted instantly, blasting the snake apart with a powerful explosion. But the snake’s body had been a trap—when it burst, a thick, toxic liquid splattered across the stage. Some of it landed on Nick, blinding him when it got into his eyes.

Nick staggered, covering his face. Blinded, he summoned a large, impenetrable shield around himself, buying precious seconds to recover. But Delphini didn’t give him leisure time. She hammered the shield with relentless spells, the cracks spreading as Nick struggled to think.

When the shield shattered, Nick emerged, his eyes milky white from the blindness—but his ears and nose had elongated into those of a bat. The crowd gasped in amazement.

“Genius!” shouted Toby Carlin. “He’s given himself the features of a bat! He’s using echolocation to see!”

For the first time, Delphini allowed herself a faint, impressed smile. She wasted no time, sending a flurry of spells hurtling toward him. Nick blocked with precision, but his blindness made this insanely difficult—one mistake, one spell landing, and it would all be over.

Nick thrusted his wand into the ground. Stone pillars erupted from the stage, forming a maze around him. Then he spun causing a flash of light and dozens of mirages of Nick ran out of his spinning blur, darting behind the pillars. Delphini scowled and began systematically destroying the pillars one by one, the false Nicks vanishing as she did. Just as she reached the real Nick, he unleashed a flurry of spells, forcing her on the defensive.

Then, with a powerful motion, Nick plunged his wand into the ground again. Pure blackness spread across the stage, swallowing them both. No one in the Great Hall could see what was happening inside—the darkness was absolute; no eyes could penetrate it, but Nick no longer used his eyes to see. 

The crowd waited breathlessly. Seconds passed. Then there was a loud crack followed by the sound of someone collapsing to the ground.

The darkness cleared. The duel was over.

“OH MY? HE’S DONE IT!” bellowed Toby Carlin, barely audible over the thunderous cheers of the Ravenclaws. “FAWLEY HAS WON THE DUELING CUP! HE’S BECOME THE FIRST THREE-TIME CHAMPION SINCE LIRAM TRADD! RAVENCLAW IS AWARDED EIGHTY HOUSE POINTS! NICHOLAS FAWLEY IS THIS YEAR’S CHAMPION!”

The Ravenclaw table erupted, students rushing the stage. They thrust the Dueling Cup into Nick’s hands, lifting him into the air as cheers filled the Great Hall.

Amidst the chaos, Albus’s eyes fell on Delphini. She was no longer stunned but remained on the ground, her head bowed in defeat. The weight of her failure seemed to press down on her. She had not only lost the championship but had also failed her house. Professor Shafiq approached her, his expression tight with disappointment, and helped Delphini to her feet. Wordlessly, he guided her back to the Slytherin bench.

Nick’s celebration was cut short as old Madam Pomfrey approached, her face stern. She grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the Ravenclaws. “Hospital wing. Now,” she snapped. “We’re fixing those eyes. This will take all night!” Nick, still grinning despite her scolding, followed her out, the Dueling Cup in hand.

As the noise of the Great Hall began to fade into background chatter, a voice spoke beside Albus.

“I found it.”

Albus turned to see Scorpius pulling off the Invisibility Cloak, his face alight with excitement.

“What?” Albus asked, forgetting all about their plan due to the intense duel he just watched.

“I know where the Gryffindor Common Room is!” Scorpius said, his grin widening. “And I know how to get in!”

Chapter Text

Cyrus woke up late on a warm Saturday morning at the end of June. The school year was winding down, and with it, the final days at Hogwarts before summer break. Exams were finished, and the students had been enjoying a few blissful weeks of freedom. Tomorrow, everyone would board the Hogwarts Express and head home for the summer.

He rolled out of bed around 11 a.m., stretching lazily before realizing he had missed breakfast. Unbothered, he made his way down to the Common Room, hoping to spend some time with his friends one last time before the year officially ended.

The Common Room was quieter than usual, the air thick with a mixture of end-of-year excitement and nostalgia. The day before, it had been cemented that Slytherin was officially going to win the Quidditch Cup, which seemed to weigh heavily on the minds of the Gryffindors. Cyrus crossed the room toward the familiar corner where he and his friends always gathered.

Tom and Alex, his two best friends, were sprawled on the couch, deep in a heated conversation about next year’s Quidditch season.

“I’m telling you, we just need a better Chaser lineup,” Tom said, gesturing wildly.

“Don’t start with that again,” Alex groaned, rolling his eyes. “Our Chasers are fine. We need a new Seeker.”

Wedged between them was Ericka, who looked utterly bored, her arms crossed and her gaze fixed on the ceiling. She sighed loudly, clearly tired of the endless Quidditch talk.

In the two armchairs nearby sat Rose and Olivia, their voices low as they discussed the upcoming House Cup announcement.

“With the points Slytherin got from the Quidditch Cup,” Rose said, frowning, “I don’t see how they could lose.”

“I know,” Olivia replied, wrinkling her nose. “I’m not looking forward to watching them celebrate at the feast. They’ll be insufferable.”

Cyrus grinned to himself as he approached, slipping into the seat next to them. “Excited for the feast tonight?”

Rose looked up and smirked sadly. “Not unless Gryffindor miraculously comes up with an extra hundred points.” 

The Gryffindor Common Room quickly fell silent as a sudden commotion drew everyone’s attention. Cyrus and his small group of friends stood up to see what was happening. Near the center of the room, Colleen Glassclover, the Head Girl and a seventh-year prefect, stood beside another prefect, commanding the attention of the students.

“Alright, everyone,” Colleen announced, her voice crisp and authoritative. “Professor Lutterworth has asked me to remind all of you to have your trunks packed and your dormitories cleaned. She will be coming to check each dormitory soon, so don’t wait until the last minute!”

Her words sparked movement almost immediately. Over the next hour, students began trickling out of the Common Room, heading up to their dormitories to pack and tidy their spaces.

Ericka and Olivia stood and approached Rose. “Are you coming?” Olivia asked.

Rose shook her head. “I’ve already packed,” she said simply, waving them off.

Satisfied, the two girls joined the rest of the Gryffindors disappearing up the staircase. Cyrus took the opportunity to glance at Tom and Alex, jerking his head toward the exit. “Go on, get lost,” he muttered. The two hesitated, exchanging glances, then shrugged and left, leaving Cyrus and Rose alone.

“Already packed?” Rose asked, raising an eyebrow as she leaned back in her chair.

“No,” Cyrus admitted with a sigh. “But I don’t really feel like packing right now.”

Rose smirked faintly but didn’t press him further. The room grew quiet, the only sound was the soft crackling of the fireplace as Professor Lutterworth entered and last few students followed her into their dormitories.

Now, the Common Room was completely empty—or so Cyrus and Rose thought. Hidden close by them, Scorpius and Albus stood close together, concealed beneath the Invisibility Cloak. In Scorpius’s hands was a small vial of Dragon’s Breath Potion, while Albus carefully held a writhing snake. They exchanged a glance, their hearts pounding. 

“Well,” said Albus, glancing around the Common Room, “Now or never.”

Scorpius nodded, determination etched into his face. “Open its mouth,” he instructed, uncapping the small vial of potion.

Albus fumbled to adjust his grip on the snake, forcing its mouth open as Scorpius poured the orange elixir down its throat. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the snake shot out a tiny flame from its mouth. Startled, Albus silently mimicked a yelp and dropped it. The snake hit the floor with a soft thud, unharmed, and slithered out from beneath the Invisibility Cloak, too small for anyone to notice in the quiet room.

This was it.

Albus and Scorpius exchanged a glance, their hearts pounding with anticipation. This was the moment they had been waiting for—the culmination of everything they had endured. All the bullying, the harassment. Scorpius’s mind replayed every moment he had watched Cyrus tear his best friend down, stripping Albus of the confidence that had once defined him. Albus, meanwhile, thought about every humiliation Cyrus had inflicted on him, every time Rose had laughed along or cast him aside. Together the boys had suffered, time and time again they suffered—but today, they would prove to Rose and Cyrus that they were not to be trifled with.

Both boys raised their wands, anger and a lust for revenge surging through them. In unison, they cast the spell.

“ Engorgio !”

Two identical beams of magic struck the snake simultaneously. Albus and Scorpius froze for a moment, realizing they had never discussed who would cast the spell. Their twin incantations mingled, amplifying the effects. They turned to the snake, now glowing faintly from the combined magic.

The snake began to grow.

And grow.

The boys’ triumph turned to alarm as the snake expanded, becoming enormous within seconds. Its scales gleamed in the flickering firelight of the Common Room, its eyes glinting with an unnatural intensity. Cyrus and Rose finally looked up, their conversation cut short as they saw the creature towering before them.

The snake opened its jaws wide and unleashed an enormous puff of fire, its heat scorching the air.

“Merlin’s beard,” Scorpius whispered, his eyes widening. The snake had grown far beyond what they had intended. Its size and the fire it was producing were no longer controllable—and it was dangerous.

The creature hissed and rampaged around the Common Room, its tail smashing into furniture and its fiery breath setting sofas and chairs alight. Cyrus’s eyes bulged in terror as the snake turned its attention toward him and Rose.

“This has gone too far!” cried Scorpius, panic rising in his voice.

Albus raised his wand and shouted, “ Reducio !” The spell hit the snake, but it did nothing. The creature had grown too large, the charm on it amplified by the overlapping spells and intensity of the casters. It couldn’t be shrunk back down.

The snake slithered closer to Cyrus and Rose, its body coiling with menace. Rose, trembling but resolute, stepped forward, wand raised. “ Petrificus Totalus !” she cried. The spell hit the snake, momentarily freezing it in place. But with a violent shake, the creature broke free of the spell, hissing loudly as its fiery gaze locked onto her.

It inhaled deeply.

Cyrus, frozen with fear, seemed to snap back to reality. He lunged toward Rose, tackling her to the ground just as a massive burst of fire shot out from the snake’s mouth, hitting the spot where she had been standing moments before.

“Scorpius, we have to help them!” shouted Albus.

Still hidden beneath the Invisibility Cloak, the two boys moved closer to the chaos. As they did so, Cyrus scrambled to his feet, his wand shaking as he shouted, “Vermillious!”

A burst of red sparks erupted from his wand and struck the snake’s head. The creature recoiled, shaking its head violently as if in pain. Seeing the effect, Scorpius, Albus, and Rose raised their wands.

“Vermillious!” they shouted in unison.

Red sparks flew from all directions, pelting the snake in the face. The blinding light and sharp bursts disoriented it, forcing it to thrash about. The creature hissed furiously, unable to focus on any one of them as sparks continued to bombard it.

The sparks only slowed it. The snake hissed furiously, its movements becoming more erratic. It reared its head back and unleashed another torrent of fire, this time narrowly missing a portrait of an old silver haired wizard wearing half-moon spectacles and a tall vibrant purple hat.  

“Keep going, Cyrus!” shouted Rose, her voice full of resolve. She fired another volley of sparks. The snake jerked its head toward her, its glowing eyes narrowing.

The creature lunged.

Rose dove behind a toppled chair, and Scorpius aimed his wand at the creature’s side. “Flipendo!” The spell struck the snake, causing it to reel back. Albus added his own spell to the mix, aiming directly at its head. 

Cyrus and Rose fired their spells at the same time as Albus, the combined magic hitting the snake square in the forehead. The impact created a flash of light, and the enormous creature hissed loudly, rearing back. The combination of spells dazed the snake, and for a brief moment, it stopped attacking, swaying as if disoriented.

“What on Earth is-” began a raspy voice from behind them, “Oh my!”

Cyrus, Rose, Albus, and Scorpius turned toward the voice in alarm. The snake, regaining its will to fight, hissed again—but before it could move, its body began to shrink rapidly, its enormous coils dwindling until it was no larger than a garden snake.

As the shrinking snake slithered to the floor, it revealed Professor Lutterworth standing in the doorway, her wand still pointed at the now tiny snake, her sharp eyes taking in the scene. A few students had emerged from the dormitories behind her, their faces pale as they took in the scorched Common Room.

With a quick flick of her wand, Lutterworth vanished the tiny snake. She turned her piercing gaze toward Cyrus and Rose, both of whom were out of breath and visibly relieved.

“Miss Weasley, Mr. Baker,” Lutterworth said, her voice calm but hiding panic, “what on Earth happened here?”

Rose hesitated, then straightened, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke. “I—I don’t know, Professor. This giant snake just appeared… and it started breathing fire!”

Lutterworth narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Rose as though weighing the truth of her words. After a tense moment, she gave a small nod, seemingly satisfied with the explanation.

“Perhaps,” Lutterworth said slowly, her tone thoughtful, “this is the work of the same person who sent you that Boggart, Mr. Baker.”

Her eyes scanned the room, lingering for a moment as though searching for something—or someone.

Albus and Scorpius, still hidden under the Invisibility Cloak, exchanged panicked glances. They had seen enough. Quietly, they slipped toward the portrait hole, taking care not to disturb anything as they left Rose and Cyrus to continue explaining the events to Lutterworth.

The last thing Albus heard as they exited was Rose, her voice steadying, saying, “We just tried to stop it, Professor. That’s all.”

The two ran as fast as they could, careful to keep themselves hidden under the Invisibility Cloak, their hearts pounding as they made their way back to the Slytherin Common Room and then into their dormitory. They didn’t stop until they were safely inside, panting heavily, the adrenaline still coursing through their veins. Albus ripped off the Cloak, and they stood there for a moment, catching their breath.

“That… could have gone really bad,” Albus said between gasps, his voice tinged with both relief and disbelief.

“But it didn’t,” Scorpius replied, grinning despite himself.

They looked at each other, the enormity of what they’d done sinking in. Technically, their plan had been a success. They had definitely scared Cyrus, and no one had gotten hurt. Well, not physically.

Albus’s thoughts turned to Professor Lutterworth’s parting words—the comment about the person who had sent the Boggart being behind the snake. That, combined with the spells they had cast under the Cloak, left little doubt in Albus’s mind that Cyrus would figure out who was responsible. Albus would be feared!

Slytherin had won the Quidditch Cup. Slytherin was about to win the House Cup that very night. And Cyrus would finally stop tormenting them. Everything was falling into place.

Albus glanced at Scorpius, who was leaning casually against the wall, his grin still wide. “We did it,” Scorpius said confidently, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes.

Albus smiled back. They had done it.

Later that evening, the two made their way down to the Great Hall for the End-of-Year Feast. The castle was alive with chatter and laughter, students buzzing with excitement over the approaching summer break. Albus and Scorpius walked side by side, their heads held high as if they were kings of the world. 

The doors to the Great Hall opened, and the glow of hundreds of floating candles greeted them. The banners of each house adorned the walls, though Slytherin’s green and silver dominated the room in anticipation of their House Cup victory. The long tables were filled with students eagerly awaiting the feast to begin, their voices blending into a symphony of celebration.

Albus and Scorpius exchanged a knowing look as they stepped inside. This was their night.

Albus and Scorpius slid into their seats at the Slytherin table just as Headmistress McGonagall stood at the podium, her presence commanding the attention of the Great Hall. The chatter and laughter quieted almost immediately.

“What a year it’s been at Hogwarts,” McGonagall began, her sharp gaze sweeping over the room. “I hope you all feel proud of the work you’ve done this year and the ways you’ve grown into better versions of yourselves. Now, as I understand it, the House Cup still needs awarding.”

A ripple of excitement swept through the hall, each table brimming with anticipation.

“The points stand thus,” McGonagall continued, consulting a parchment in front of her. “In fourth place, Hufflepuff, with four hundred and nine points.”

The Hufflepuff table clapped politely, though there was a faint air of disappointment.

“In third place, Gryffindor, with four hundred and sixty points.”

The Gryffindor table gave a few weak cheers; their applause lacking the usual vigor.

“Ravenclaw has five hundred and thirty-nine points,” McGonagall announced. The Ravenclaw students clapped enthusiastically, some exchanging proud smiles.

“And in first place,” McGonagall said, her voice rising slightly, “Slytherin, with five hundred and fifty-two points.”

A storm of cheering and stamping erupted from the Slytherin table, the sound reverberating through the hall. Green and silver banners shimmered above them as students roared their approval. Albus and Scorpius exchanged wide-eyed grins, their hearts swelling with pride. Their very first year at Hogwarts, and their house had won both the Quidditch Cup and the House Cup!

“Yes, yes, well done, Slytherin,” McGonagall said, raising a hand for silence. Her voice, though calm, carried an edge that immediately stilled the celebratory chaos.

“However,” she continued, her sharp tone cutting through the lingering noise, “I do believe recent events must be taken into account.”

The room went very still.

The smiles at the Slytherin table faded slightly, replaced by furrowed brows and uneasy glances. Albus and Scorpius exchanged a worried look, the weight of McGonagall’s words settling heavily on their shoulders. 

“As is often the case at Hogwarts, rumors travel fast,” McGonagall began, her sharp voice cutting through the murmurs already spreading across the Hall. “I’m sure many of you have heard there was an attack in the Gryffindor Common Room. An attack on two first years.”

Gasps and whispers spread instantly, students leaning in toward one another.

“No, it was not a baby dragon or a Basilisk, as I’ve heard some of you say,” McGonagall continued, her tone firm but laced with faint exasperation. “There was, however, a snake—a snake enchanted to grow to an enormous size and breathe fire. This snake somehow entered the Gryffindor Common Room, destroying nearly everything in its path.”

The Hall was alive with murmurs now, heads turning in every direction as students tried to make sense of what she was saying. At the Slytherin table, Albus and Scorpius exchanged uneasy glances, their stomachs twisting.

“Thankfully, no one was hurt…” McGonagall paused, letting her words hang in the air. “…thanks to the bravery of two young first years.”

The whispers intensified, and all eyes turned to the Gryffindor table. What was McGonagall getting at?

“Rose Weasley and Cyrus Baker,” McGonagall continued, her voice warm and proud, “courageously fought against the snake, doing everything they could to protect themselves and their fellow students. Thanks to their quick thinking and courage, no harm came to anyone.”

The Gryffindor table erupted in applause, their cheers echoing through the hall as Rose and Cyrus sat wide-eyed, their faces a mix of pride and embarrassment.

“Danger was thrust upon these young first years,” McGonagall said, beaming at the two of them, “and they bravely rose to the challenge. They have shown what it truly means to embody the values of Gryffindor House at such a young age. For their heroic actions in the face of danger, I am proud to award them both fifty points for Gryffindor.”

The Hall fell silent for a moment as the weight of her words sank in. Then McGonagall added, her tone almost triumphant, “Which, I believe, puts Gryffindor at five hundred and sixty points, meaning—”

She didn’t get to finish. The Gryffindor table erupted in a thunderous roar, their cheers drowning her out as they threw their hats into the air and pounded on the table. The Slytherin banners that had been draped around the Hall shimmered and changed into blazing scarlet and gold. Gryffindor had won the House Cup!

The entire Gryffindor table surged toward Rose and Cyrus, surrounding them in celebration. Students clapped them on the back, shouted their names, and yelled about the party they’d be throwing in the Common Room that night. Even a few Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students cheered along, swept up in the excitement.

As the Gryffindor celebrations continued, McGonagall waved her wand, and the tables filled with food and drink, signaling the beginning of the feast. At the Slytherin table, Albus and Scorpius sat frozen, their triumph turned to ashes. They exchanged a silent look, the reality of what had just happened, the reality of what they had done. 

Many Slytherins left the feast early that night. Those who stayed mostly picked at their food in silence, their mood somber and defeated.  Even the Bloody Baron was absolutely outraged by the decision, loudly exclaiming how the mock win was an insult to the House of Slytherin. The energy at the Slytherin table, once vibrant with anticipation, had been completely drained leaving them silent in their loss. The contrast couldn’t have been sharper when they returned to their Common Room. There, the anger and frustration finally boiled over.

“I never took McGonagall to play favorites!” a boy yelled, slamming his fist onto a table.

“Absolute bullshit!” shouted another, pacing furiously.

Albus and Scorpius sat on one of the sofas, silent as the accusations and outrage swirled around them. Their hearts pounded in their chests as deep down, they knew the truth—they were to blame for Slytherin’s loss.

It wasn’t long before the Common Room began to empty. No one wanted to sit around and stew in their bitterness. By the time the room was nearly deserted, with just a few stragglers left, Albus and Scorpius stood up, ready to retreat to their dormitory.

“Sit back down,” commanded a quiet, cold voice.

They froze. Slowly, they turned to see Delphini sitting legs crossed in a lone armchair near the fire. Her hair was tied in a messy bun, and she twirled her wand absentmindedly in her hand. Her gaze was fixed on the fire, unblinking, her eyes immersed in the flames. As she broke her gaze into the fire and turned to face the boys, they noticed a slightly crazed look in her dark eyes. 

Scorpius swallowed hard. He and Albus exchanged a look before slowly sinking back onto the sofa.

Delphini rose from her chair and walked over to stand in front of them. Her steps were silent as moved, her presence now in front of them was overwhelming. For a moment, they felt like they were about to be scolded by a teacher. But she wasn’t a teacher. She couldn’t possibly know what they had done.

Or could she?

She stared at them with narrowed eyes, as if peering directly into their souls.

“What’s the matter?” Albus asked nervously, his voice cracking under the weight of her gaze.

“You tell me,” Delphini replied, her voice cold as ice. Something was off. 

Albus and Scorpius exchanged another uneasy glance. “What are you talking about?” Scorpius squeaked, his heart pounding so hard he could barely hear his own words.

Delphini’s gaze shifted to Albus, locking onto his eyes. “Was it you two?” she asked, her tone plain and deliberate.

Albus hesitated, his stomach twisting. Somehow, she already knew.

“What, Delphini?” he said weakly, forcing a fragile smile.

Her expression didn’t change. She stared at him, emotionless, and repeated, “Was it you?”

The boys didn’t answer. They dropped their heads, unable to meet her eyes.

“You had me conjure that snake a few weeks ago,” Delphini said, her voice low but seething. “The two of you staying up all night in the Common Room whispering to each other. You snuck off during the Dueling Championship…”

“How do you know about that?” Scorpius blurted before he could stop himself.

“Quiet,” Delphini snapped, silencing him with a glare.

Her voice rose but still a whisper, trembling with restrained anger. “How stupid are you? Really—how stupid? Someone could have died !”

Albus looked up, his mouth dry. “We never meant—”

“Never mind what you meant,” she cut him off sharply. “Did you think it would make you look tough? Sending a fire-breathing giant snake after two kids you don’t like, you thought it would make you cool?” Her voice turned icy, her words hitting like a whip.

“How tough will you be when I tell the rest of the House it was you two who cost us the Cup? The Cup I worked so hard for us to win.”

Albus and Scorpius went pale. Their stomachs sank as they imagined the fallout.

“Or better yet,” Delphini continued, her voice quiet but venomous, a crazed smile growing on her face, “How tough will you look when I make you explain this to McGonagall? Still think you’re clever when they expel you, snap your wands, send you to Azkaban?” She leaned closer, her words razor-sharp. “Do you think Harry Potter would be proud?”

“Delphini—” Albus began, but her sharp glare stopped him mid-sentence. Her eyes were like daggers, cutting through him.

Silence filled the room, suffocating them. The fire crackled faintly in the background, but neither boy dared move or speak. In this moment they’d rather face the giant fire breathing snake than the angry sixteen year old before them.

“This…” Delphini finally said, her voice breaking the silence like a hammer, “…is your one chance. You’ll go home for the summer, and you’ll think about what I’m saying to you. This… was an enormous lapse in judgment, and you will never do anything like this again. Because if you do, I will know. And so will everyone. ”

Albus and Scorpius nodded, their heads still bowed, shame radiating off them.

“Do you understand?”

Albus and Scorpius nodded again, still staring at the floor, unable to meet her piercing gaze.

Delphini said nothing. She didn’t move, didn’t blink, didn’t even shift her expression. The silence stretched on, each second agonizing. The two boys exchanged nervous glances before mumbling, “Yes.”

The silence remained unbroken.

Albus hesitated, realizing what she wanted. With great effort, he raised his head and forced himself to look her in the eyes. His voice trembled slightly as he spoke. “Yes, we understand.”

Scorpius followed suit, his face pale as he met her unyielding stare. “Yes, we understand.”

Delphini studied them for a moment longer, her expression unreadable. Finally, she gave the slightest nod.

“Bed. Now.”

The boys didn’t hesitate. They practically bolted toward the dormitory stairs, the weight of her words pressing heavily on their shoulders.

Their last night as first years was not one of triumph or celebration, but a night spent in restless silence, haunted by the quietness of Delphini’s anger and the undeniable truth of her words.

***

The next morning, students boarded the Hogwarts Express, their chatter and laughter filling the platform as trunks were loaded and goodbyes were exchanged. Albus and Scorpius found an empty compartment, sitting down in silence as the train began to move. Their first year at Hogwarts had been a whirlwind of experiences—some triumphant, some bitter. It was unfortunate, Albus thought, that the year had to end on a low disguised as a high.

The more they reflected on Delphini’s lecture, the more they realized how deeply her words had struck them. Technically, they had gotten away with everything. They hadn’t been exposed, and no punishments awaited them. But there was no glory in their victory, no sense of satisfaction. They had cost Slytherin the House Cup—an achievement their housemates had worked tirelessly for—and in doing so, Albus felt he had lost something far more personal.

He wasn’t sure if Delphini had ever truly thought of him as a friend, but if she had, that only made it worse. He had thrown away whatever trust or respect she might have had for him, and the loss stung more than he could admit.

“You know, Scorpius,” Albus said quietly, his gaze fixed on the countryside rushing past the window, “we have to let this thing with Cyrus and Rose go. Next year, we focus all of our attention on ourselves. Focus on becoming great.”

“Yeah,” Scorpius sighed, leaning back in his seat. “Imagine what we could’ve gotten done if we hadn’t spent all that time plotting.”

“Exactly,” Albus said with a small nod. “Next year, we’ll do what we set out to do. We’ll escape our fathers’ shadows and make our own mark. Forget Cyrus and Rose. They’re not important enough to take up our attention anymore.”

“In September,” Scorpius said, a hint of excitement creeping into his voice, “we’ll find something that’ll really make us stand out!”

Albus allowed himself a faint smile, already imagining what the next year might hold. He made a silent vow to himself: he would repair whatever damage he had done to his relationship with Delphini. He would prove himself, prove himself to her . He would prove himself not just as a housemate, but as a true friend. Maybe even something more.

As the train chugged on toward King’s Cross, Albus and Scorpius began brainstorming dreams and ideas for their second year, their earlier somberness giving way to cautious optimism. Their laughter returned, and for the rest of the train ride, the two friends enjoyed each other’s company as they always had.

When the train finally pulled into the station at Platform 9¾, the hustle and bustle of families reunited filled the air. Albus and Scorpius stepped off the train, their trunks in tow.

“I’ll write you,” Albus said, clapping Scorpius on the shoulder.

“Same here,” Scorpius replied with a grin. They gave each other a nod before heading in opposite directions to meet their families.

As Albus made his way through the crowd, a familiar voice called out, “Albus!”

He barely had time to react before Lily came charging toward him, throwing her arms around his neck in a tight hug. “I missed you!” she said, beaming.

Albus chuckled, setting his trunk down so he could hug her properly. “I missed you too, Lily,” he said with a tired smile. 

Ginny was next, pulling him into a warm embrace. “Welcome home, love,” she said with a smile.

Finally, Albus turned to his father. Harry Potter stood with a knowing smile on his face. He stepped forward and wrapped his son in a firm hug. When he pulled back, his green eyes—so much like Albus’s own—searched his son’s face with curiosity. “So,” Harry said, his voice gentle but teasing, “How was your first year?”

Albus paused, his mind racing through the highs and lows, the victories and regrets, the lessons learned and the ones still to come. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“It was… eventful,” he finally said.

Harry laughed, slinging an arm over Albus’s shoulder as they began walking toward the barrier to the Muggle world and his own memories flooded through his mind “Yeah, Hogwarts always is.”