The fortnight following Albus’ birthday had been mercifully quiet. Both Morgana and Scorpius had not approached them in that time. Albus saw Morgana occasionally talking to Tristan but whenever she saw any of his friends approaching, she would swiftly stalk off with a glare. Malfoy seemed to know better than to rile Rose further and stayed at the Slytherin table without exception.
As Albus had suspected, Rose did not return downstairs for the remainder of the party, despite Effie’s encouragement. It was broken up early anyway by Victoire, Dominique and Gawain after confiscating contraband items from Fred and Alaric and two fifth year girls had enjoyed too much Butterbeer and let off two Dungbombs. This resulted in Professor Longbottom coming down from his study to reprimand them. They thought they might have just about got away with it when they plied Neville with some cake, but Temperance Gillow vomited on his shoes having mistaken a Puking Pastille for a normal sweet. He subsequently ordered the prefects to wrap up the festivities and Albus secretly thanked him for it.
Later that night, Rose came to Albus’ dormitory and apologised for storming off. He likewise apologised for inviting Morgana in the first place. They could never stay angry with each other for too long. The longest they had ever managed was when they were six and Albus accidentally blew up some of Rose’s favourite children’s books when he let off a fire-cracker that Fred had left lying around. She wouldn’t talk to him for a whole week until he fell off his miniature toy broom in the garden and fractured his wrist. Rose was so upset that she had cried and not stopped hugging him for nearly an hour despite the fact it was only a minor break.
They had now reached the last week of term before the Christmas holidays and Albus could scarcely believe that he had been at Hogwarts for three whole months. He had enjoyed his time immensely and met some amazing people in his first term - and some not so amazing. He had progressed well in classes so far on the whole. Defence against the Dark Arts was by far his favourite as well as Charms and Herbology. He was less optimistic in regard to Potions and Astronomy as he found the former rather difficult and the latter too fanciful. He preferred what he could feel and touch rather than the stars above. History of Magic remained, as ever, dull.
It was this dullness he had to endure in the session before lunch on their last Monday of term. Binns was mercilessly lecturing them on Ragnarok the Younger’s defeat in the second of the Goblin Rebellions at the hands of Greidawl. Albus found that such battles had a tendency to blur into one and by the end of the lesson he could have easily gone to bed. The History of Magic classroom was uncommonly cold, however, due to the fact that Professor Binns’ could not feel whether it was too hot or cold for his students. If it weren’t for that fact, at least half the class would most certainly be asleep. When Binns dismissed them they all shook off their poorly suppressed yawns and put away their History of Magic book, quills and ink in a hurry to get to the Great Hall.
Albus slung his satchel over his shoulder as Frank groaned. –Only one more of his lessons then we get a month off!†Frank’s face was one of blissful happiness at the thought of it. Theron, who had been sitting behind them next to Xander, snorted.
–Yeah, but I bet he’s going to set a couple of feet on the Damarchian werewolf slaughters of 400 BC to do over the holidays, just as a treat. He hinted it’d probably be one of the questions in the end of year exam as well,†Theron theorised, prompting a thoughtful nod from Rose. Frank merely looked at him blankly.
–When did we learn that?†His face was all bewilderment. Rose rolled her eyes as they walked out of the classroom and towards the hall.
–We spent all of last week on it, Frank! Don’t you ever listen?†Rose asked despairingly. Frank didn’t even have to think about it and gave a firm shake of the head.
–Not during his lessons. If I have to hear another word about the battle of the unicorns and the Hippogriffs led by Ethelred the Pointy-Horned...†He trailed off darkly. Albus was fairly sure Frank was just being facetious but considering how little Albus listened, that could well be a real battle. There were, it seemed, too many to count. By the time they sat down on the long Gryffindor tables and dug into their various sandwiches, pasties and salads, they were still lamenting their misfortune at having to do History of Magic at all.
–I mean – when am I actually going to use it later in life, anyway?†Xander asked rhetorically as he chomped off a rather large piece of turkey and stuffing sandwich. Theron and Frank nodded their heads vigorously in agreement, although Rose frowned slightly.
–I find History of Magic itself quite interesting. It really explains where the supposed importance of blood purity came from and why our relationships with magical creatures are how they are today. It’s Binns’ teaching I can’t stand.†Albus couldn’t help but feel Rose was fighting a losing battle with that argument. Even Effie, who was usually on Rose’s side about most things, wrinkled her nose at her words.
The seat on Rose’s other side was swiftly occupied by James who sat down with a grin on his face, flanked by the usual motley crew. –History of Magic’s nothing, Rosie, compared to Defence against the Dark Arts.†James’ turned his gaze to his younger brother as he picked up an egg and cress sandwich. Rose rolled her eyes and muttered something that sounded distinctly like ‘boys!’
–We were learning about the difference between a werewolf and an Animagus today. I’d love to do it - Swinburne’s one. An Animagus that is, not a werewolf. He takes the form of an owl. I think that’d be cool - you’d get to fly and everything. You wouldn’t need a broom!†James exclaimed enthusiastically. His eyes wandered off in what Albus felt was a very worrying way. Once James got an idea into his head, it was rather difficult to get him to drop it.
Alphie shook his head and swallowed his pumpkin juice, gesturing across the table at James with his half eaten sandwich. –But think of how vulnerable an owl would be! They’ve got those talons and the beak but that’s only really useful against a particularly violent rat. I’d be a wolf or something cool like that.†James cocked his head to the side as he weighed up the pros and cons. Eventually he nodded his head in agreement.
–A wolf would be cool, actually. Like being a werewolf but without the whole murderous bit,†James said lightly, provoking a laugh from Conall and Louis.
–I think I’d be a cat,†Persephone contributed thoughtfully as she sipped her water. Rose and Effie both seemed rather interested in the suggestion. The boys all looked at Persephone with matching incredulous expressions.
–Girls!†both James and Alphie exclaimed at the same time. The latter turned to Albus grinning, though slightly shaking his head at his friend.
–How about you, Al? What would you be?†Albus’ mind was flooded with ideas. There were so many to choose from. Would it be on two legs or four or none? Would it be airborne? Amphibian, mammal or reptilian? He was clearly silent for too long as James decided to answer for him.
–Evidently, my little brother would be a sloth at the rate it’s taken him to answer that question.†Albus gave his brother a sarcastic smile and threw the crusts of his bread at him.
Louis ran a hand through his tousled bronze hair with a contemplative expression on his face. –Why would Swinburne be an owl, though? I mean, if you wanted to be a bird, wouldn’t you be something bigger? Like an eagle - now that would be brilliant! You’d be big enough that no one would come and get you, plus you’d fly and could easily swoop and attack- †Louis stopped his sentence short when he noticed Rose drop her sandwich and gather up her books and bag in a hurry.
–Just remembered - I need to get a book from the library. I’ll see you in Herbology!†she spoke abruptly and in a slightly absent manner, like she wasn’t exactly thinking about what she was saying. Tristan, who had been uncommonly quiet up until this point, frowned at her words.
–But we have Charms next, remember?†Rose nodded her head vaguely and brushed a strand of wild auburn hair out of her eyes.
–Yes, of course. See you then.†They watched her walk away with some confusion. Up until that point she had seemed perfectly alright. Her behaviour now was vastly different and more than a little odd. Tristan in particular looked concerned as he watched her mane of reddish hair bob off towards the library. This may have been in part due to the fact she managed to bump into Scorpius Malfoy on the way and her faint apology of ‘excuse me’ could be heard by those on the table. Perhaps she had not seen who it was, but if she did, that was altogether stranger. Even Malfoy himself seemed bemused as his gaze lingered on her until she was out of sight.
James turned to Albus with the same bewildered expression. –What the bloody hell was that all about?†Albus shrugged. He supposed that Rose would tell him later in Charms when she was less pre-occupied.
–I’d be an ocelot,†Effie said suddenly, causing everyone to look at her. No one responded for a moment until James started laughing lightly. Effie’s cheeks were tinged with pink but she stuck her chin out defiantly and did not back down from her decision.
–Why an ocelot?†Conall asked her curiously, ignoring his friend’s endless giggling. Effie’s blush settled down as she re-directed her gaze.
–Well, like Persephone said, I’d like to be a cat. But a normal domestic cat has no defences. Wild cats do - but I wouldn’t want to be too big as I’d be too noticeable. Therefore, an ocelot would be...perfect,†she finished weakly. Conall nodded in understanding as did Persephone. James, however, continued laughing. Effie did not take kindly to this and refused to communicate with James for the remainder of the time he deigned to grace them with his presence. Luckily this was not too long as he, Alphie and Louis went to break into Filch’s office to steal back some Nosebleed Nougat he had confiscated from them earlier that day (they needed it later for Potions). Persephone and Conall did not join them but instead went to talk to Cavan Bellamy and Malva Lyall respectively.
The rest of lunch passed all too quickly for Albus and before he knew it they had five minutes to make their way to the Charms classroom. Even with running they only just managed to make it on time. They took to their seats swiftly with the notable absence of Rose. Albus was a bit shocked by her tardiness - Rose was never late if she could help it and always encouraged them to be at least five minutes earlier than necessary. Albus felt she was probably slightly scarred after their first Transfiguration of the year when they had been late on his account.
Rose entered, rather flustered, about five minutes after the start of the lesson. They all were given a small treasure chest each and were told to practice the ‘Alohomora’ incantation on their locked strongboxes. Professor Nimble was demonstrating the wand motion to the rest of the class when Rose arrived, mumbling her apologies. Nimble barely noticed her late appearance, only acknowledging Rose with a slight incline of the head and pursed lips. She took the spare seat next to Frank who mouthed ‘what were you doing?’ in a mystified manner. Rose shook her head to indicate that it wasn’t important and that she did not wish to talk about it now.
It was to take several failed attempts at unlocking the chest - with the exceptions of Albus, Rose and Tristan who accomplished the feat in good time - before the end of the session was announced and they were allowed to talk freely. However, when Theron asked Rose why she was late she merely said that she would explain later. When she spoke, she concentrated on Albus, as if the information was particularly pertinent to him.
They soon became too distracted by Herbology to wonder about Rose’s whereabouts as Professor Longbottom announced that they would have a timed essay in the last session of term. There were audible groans from most the class. Even Frank let out a ‘oh, dad, come on!’ as he for once forgot to treat his father solely as a teacher. Neville assured them that it was a requirement that he set one and reminded them that it was not for his own enjoyment that he sit and mark essays over his Christmas Holiday.
Once they had finished learning how to safely re-pot their Carnivaboris plants, making sure they were wearing gloves in case they began to nip, they were dismissed and free to go to dinner. Thoughts of questioning Rose were lost at supper in a flood of complaints about their timed-essay. Xander could barely consume a forkful without issuing an objection. Rose tried to argue it would be a challenge and would make sure that they were on the right track to receiving good passes in their end of year exams. The others were unable to see it that way and scoffed at her attempts to do so.
They finished their dinner rather quickly and it wasn’t until Xander, Effie and Theron announced that they were taking their leave for the library that Albus remembered Rose’s odd behaviour earlier. He resolved to ask her about it when they were settled in Gryffindor’s common room. Upon their entry there was a huddle of second years crowded around Fred and Alaric. The younger students were purchasing armfuls of Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes stock that Fred had been ‘given’ by his father, George. Dominique and Gawain broke the group up on their way up to Gawain’s room. The second years scurried away and dispersed, causing Fred to call after his cousin.
–Oi, Dom! You interrupted our private business! How would you like it if I marched up to Gawain’s room and pried you two apart?†Fred asked in an outraged manner. He stomped up the same staircase which would branch off to his own dormitory. As they went, the faint murmur of Alaric could be heard after a snort.
–As if you could...†Fred chuckled in assent and made a sound akin to ‘eurgh’. Albus smiled slightly. Dominique and Gawain had been going out since the end of their third year and had been inseparable ever since. They were very similar in terms of academia and attitude to the rules. Albus felt they were probably aiming to be Head Boy and Head Girl - they did everything else together.
Rose and Frank settled on the largest sofa, the latter stretching his legs so that they rested on the coffee table. Rose thwacked Frank’s legs with a reproachful look, resulting in him rolling his eyes and swivelling so that he lay across the whole sofa and his legs now rested atop her lap. Rose pressed her lips tightly together and narrowed her eyes slightly but did not move him, instead propping up her Transfiguration book on Frank’s shins. Tristan occupied one of the deep armchairs and Albus the smaller of the sofas. He sprawled out with a sigh and did not even bother touching his books. He turned his eyes to his cousin now instead.
–So, Rosie, why were you so eager for the library at lunch time?†Albus inquired curiously. He observed the slight flush in Rose’s cheeks but it died down quickly enough.
–More eager than usual, anyway,†corrected Frank from his prostrate position. Rose slapped his knee playfully and he merely gave her a mocking smile - still refusing to move.
–It was nothing really,†she started, looking slightly flustered. –I thought I had an idea, but it came to nothing.†Her vague words did not impress Frank who merely frowned and picked up his History of Magic book which he had no intention of reading (proved by the fact that he opened it upside-down).
–Care to make that more unclear?†Frank asked rhetorically. Rose cast him a withering look but did not object as she flicked another page of her Transfiguration book over.
–It was when Louis was talking about bird Animagi. It made me think...†She flicked her eyes to Albus. –The bird that attacked James - something made it more intelligent than others. Weylin supposed it was controlled by someone clever. But what if it was someone clever.†Albus and Tristan recognised her implications straightaway and the former nodded enthusiastically. He was eager to find out any information that could be pertinent to his brother’s attack, particularly as no one had any ideas at the time.
–What do you mean?†Frank asked, perplexed. Clearly he had not been struck with the same comprehension. Albus rolled his eyes and shook his head at his lounging friend.
–She means, what if it was an Animagus,†Albus explained slowly. Frank’s eyes widened and he clicked his fingers and pointed a stubby finger at Rose. She shook her head, however, the blush returning to her face.
–I should have known that Weylin would have thought of it already.†They all looked at her now in confusion. Tristan, who had previously not expressed interest in the conversation, cocked his head to the side questioningly. –I looked up the roll of registered Animagi - there are quite a lot more than I realised, but not too many. I went through all of them over lunch and only a couple were bird Animagi. None of them matched the description of the bird that swooped on James.†Albus sighed heavily and the hope that had been building inside him dissipated as quickly at had swelled. Tristan too exhaled heavily and sat back in his seat before burying his head into his Transfiguration book. They were to read the next chapter and then compose an essay on Bauchian Transfigurations. Charms homework was to practice ‘Alohomora’ which thankfully Albus had virtually perfected already. It was a small mercy considering their hefty workload.
–Clever thinking, though, Rose,†Frank complimented her sweetly. She smiled at him jadedly but this soon turned to a small frown with his next words. –Talking of which, fancy doing my History of Magic essay for me? Cheers!†he exclaimed before she had even agreed and he allowed the book he had been pretending to read to fall on his face, obscuring it from everyone else.
–Wingardium Leviosa!†Rose muttered with an elegant flourish of her wand. The book levitated a few inches above Frank’s startled face. She fixed him with a piercing glare. –No.†With that simple statement, she withdrew her wand and the book fell back heavily on Frank’s face. He let out an exaggerated whimper of pain and Albus chuckled at his melodramatic friend.
Eventually Frank begrudgingly agreed to complete the essay on the first attempted abolition of Hippogriff baiting in 1034 AD himself. Apparently it made a come-back in the sixteenth century before being banned once and for all in 1867 AD. Well, at least that’s what Albus wrote in his essay. Its accuracy was questionable as he was half-asleep when writing it and the dates had a tendency to merge into various incorrect figures. By the time he had completed his rather short and poorly constructed conclusion, it was nearing ten o’ clock.
He spent a lazy half an hour absently unlocking the padlock on Rose’s diary and manually locking it again as they had not learnt how to do the reverse magically yet. Every time he practiced he could see his cousin’s face flicker with annoyance, but she did not say anything as she was too engrossed in her History of Magic Essay (she had completed the Transfiguration essay and half the History of Magic essay in the time it had taken Albus to complete the latter). Albus knew she would let him copy the Transfiguration essay tomorrow over lunch so was not too concerned about that.
A yawn threatened to escape from Albus as it drew near to half ten so he retired to their dormitory, with Frank in tow, with the intention of reading some Herbology notes in preparation for their timed essay. He read about a paragraph before Xander, Tobias and Theron returned from the library and distracted him with a pack of Carmela Pomeline’s Real Flying Saucers. They got through a whole pack between them before they decided to get dressed into their night clothes and go to bed. Frank was unconscious in a matter of seconds and his snores echoed throughout the room. Albus allowed the light beside his bed to remain on as he powered through a couple of pages of Herbology.
The next thing he knew, he was in Herbology but it was different somehow. Neville wasn’t there. It took Albus a while before he realised all the students were looking at him expectantly. Of course, he was their teacher. They were learning about Devil’s Snare today and Albus was going to demonstrate how to react if it ever captured you. All of a sudden and without thought, he launched himself into it. At first he sat perfectly still. He could feel a vine creep up his leg, snaking round it and constricting. Another vine tickled his torso as it wound its way around, crushing his ribs against his lungs which were in want of air. For all his earlier calm he was now distressed. Sweat poured down his face and his hands began grasping, tearing - first at the vines, then at his own skin - in his desperation to be free of the ties.
He looked desperately at his students but they merely stared back solemnly. There were some pitying faces amongst them, some sneering but neither would help. But finally, as a particularly broad vine coiled around his throat and he could feel the light leaving him, it was restored. The last thing he saw was a girl with dark hair; pure white skin; shocking blue eyes and a kind face – and oh yes, she was beautiful. She with those intelligent eyes pointed her wand towards him and the light filled his vision and the room and blinded him. The last thing he felt were the bonds loosening and the air rushing to his lungs like it was his first breath. He inhaled again, hungry for more.
It was then that he woke with a start. It was two in the morning and he had fallen asleep on his Herbology book. He had creased the pages slightly, but he could barely sum up the energy to care. He was about to put out his bedside light when he noticed an absence in the room. Tristan had not yet occupied his bed. The covers were still not turned down and his books were neither at his desk nor anywhere to be seen.
Concerned that Tristan may have fallen asleep in the common room downstairs; Albus dragged himself out of bed, ignoring the protests from his aching limbs. The position he had previously been in was not too comfortable. He found himself rather cold out of the comfort of his four-poster bed so grabbed his hooded jumper from his desk chair and slipped it over his head with a yawn. He crept through the dormitory so as to not wake the other boys and opened the door silently. His footsteps scarcely made a sound against the stone staircase. As he was wiping the sleep from his eyes, he neared the bottom of the staircase. From this point he could hear voices. They were strained and forceful, although everything was expressed in an urgent whisper. Albus did not make his presence known but halted in his tracks and waited, barely breathing.
–I’m not kidding Linnaeus - this has got to stop!†the clearest voice exclaimed. It was still hushed into a hoarse whisper, so it was difficult to make out. The other seemed further away somehow and deeper and more mature in tone.
–Which part?†the elder of the pair asked in a cold and unfeeling way.
–Um, I don’t know - the part where you show up unexpectedly? Or the part where you keep trying to ruin my life? Or the part where you try and make me do things I don’t want to do? Take your pick!†the younger voice said ironically. His voice was all bitterness and anger. It was little more than a growl now, making it near to impossible to determine the age of the person.
–Fool! What I am asking you to do is nothing - you have no idea of the greatness that could be achieved if you would just co-operate!†The elder voice was chastising the younger although the latter was having none of it. He made a throaty noise of disgust.
–Greatness! I know very well what your idea of ‘greatness’ is and I will have no part in it!†the younger snarled ferociously. Albus thought he could hear the vague sound of the fire spitting but it was drowned out by the second voice.
–You are a part of it. Having this conversation with me makes you a part of it,†Linnaeus replied sharply. If Albus had been having the conversation with him, he would have shrunk from his cold tones, but this boy did not back down.
–That is why it is to be our last, understand?†the boy argued determinedly. The older man snorted humourlessly before saying something barely audible. Albus inched closer, taking one step down. This was a grave mistake as, when he did so he stubbed his toe against the wall. Although not too painful, it was painful enough to cause Albus to breathe in sharply. The voices ceased their bickering immediately. Albus held his breath for fear of detection.
–I hear someone coming at your end,†the elder voice said tensely. Albus had no idea what he meant by this but could not move to gain a clearer idea.
–Me too. This is the last time I will be seeing you, Linnaeus.†The younger boy’s voice was definitive and forceful, considering who he was speaking to. Albus heard receding footsteps headed in the direction of the portrait hole. As Albus descended the last couple of stairs he thought he heard a faint voice whisper: ‘we shall see...’ before the portrait hole swung closed.
Within a couple of seconds of it closing Albus was standing in the common room. At first he thought it was empty but Tristan was approaching him fast. He looked slightly flustered and a cerise hue covered his alabaster skin. His books lay on the table where Albus had last seen them. Evidently whatever he had been doing had not involved studying.
Albus surveyed him critically for a moment. –Did you see someone come through here?†Albus asked curiously, gazing over Tristan’s shoulder. Tristan gave a non-committal shrug and cocked his head to the side.
–I thought I saw an older student leave around the same time as I came in from my walk. Didn’t see his face though.†Tristan slumped on the sofa with his fingers massaging his brow lightly. He sighed before picking up all his books and shoving them haphazardly into his satchel. –What are you doing up so late, anyway?†Albus shrugged and followed Tristan as he began to walk to the staircase.
–I had a bad dream,†Albus said by way of an explanation. Tristan tutted and shook his head lightly.
–What did you think that Somno plant was for? Decoration?†Tristan asked sarcastically. Albus laughed absently and was only half listening as Tristan talked about how difficult their History of Magic essay was all the way back to their dormitory.
Once they settled into bed Tristan called out a sleepy ‘goodnight.’ Albus returned it quietly and without concentrating. His mind was elsewhere. His mind was in the common room with the two quarrelling men and the tasks the younger had to carry out. His mind was with Linnaeus - whoever that was - and his relationship with the mystery Gryffindor. They had sounded so distressed and on edge. Right then Albus knew that, from the tone of the conversation, whatever the tasks were that Linnaeus wished his reluctant accomplice to carry out, they were not good.
He tore a sprig off the Somno balm and placed it under his pillow. With thoughts of plotting, intrigue and threats swirling around his head he could not very well drift off without it. As he held on to the last threads of consciousness he heard the voice of the older man echoing in his mind and a final thought sprung out from amongst the resonating sounds. He hadn’t ask Tristan why he was out on a walk in the first place...
Albus Potter and the Midnight Thief by Alice Mac
Chapter Endnotes:
Sorry for the long break - hopefully the updates will be more regular from now on! Please tell me what you thought of it!