ааааааааThings had begun badly that morning. James, excited about going back to school, had his trunk packed and ready, waiting beside the front door of the Potter family home. When he tromped back upstairs to collect his owl, Nobby, Albus was still sitting on the bed in his room, tying hisshoes. His trunk sat open next to the desk, half-packed.
аааааааа"Come on, Al," James said, setting Nobby's cage on the desk. "Dad's already pulling the car around front. If we don't get packed and on the road we'll be late."
ааааааааAlbus made no effort to hurry. He slumped off his bed and stalked out of the room. James watched him go, rolled his eyes, and began piling Albus' school books into the trunk. Albus' new snowy owl, who was as yet unnamed, sat in her cage next to Nobby's, clicking her beak nervously.
аааааааа"At least you don't have anything to pack," he griped to the owls. "Or a troublesome little brother."
аааааааа"Albus," Ginny's voice called from downstairs, "James, it's time to go."
ааааааааJames grabbed Albus' new robes and a handful of clothes from the closet, stuffed them into the trunk, and slammed the lid. If Albus got to Hogwarts without a clean pair of underpants, it was his own fault. James grabbed the handle and lugged the trunk toward the door, meeting Albus as he came back.
аааааааа"Is that my trunk?" Albus demanded.
ааааааааJames pulled the trunk past him, into the hallway. "Just get the owls, will you? We're going to be late."
аааааааа"I wasn't done packing!"
аааааааа"Well, I guess you're done now, aren't you?" James said, feeling suddenly angry. "Dad and Mum are waiting. What, did you decide you don't want to go to school after all?"
ааааааааWithout answering, Albus collected the owls' cages rather noisily and followed James down to the car.
ааааааааAs the family arrived at King's Cross station, James tried to lighten the mood.
аааааааа"Just think, Al, by tonight, you'll be all settled in, sitting in front of the giant snake's head fireplace and drinking a flagon of Butterbeer with your new snakey mates."
ааааааааAlbus scowled and opened the car door, stepping out into the fog of the parking structure. James followed.
аааааааа"Can I push a trolley at least?" Lily asked, displaying her best pout.
аааааааа"I'm sorry, Lily," Harry said, piling the trunks and owl cages onto two trolleys. "They're rather heavy, and we're in a hurry. You'll be seeing Hugo in a few minutes, though. If all goes well, Aunt Hermione and Uncle Ron will be joining us for lunch as soon as the train leaves. Won't that be nice?"
аааааааа"I don't want lunch," Lily said petulantly.
ааааааааThe family entered the large doors of the station and threaded through the commuters, attracting some curious stares as the owls hooted and fluttered their wings. Lily followed her parents, whining idly about her desire to go to Hogwarts with her brothers this year instead of two years from now.
аааааааа"I've been in the Slytherin common room," James said to Albus as they approached the platform. "Ralph showed me. Zane's even been in the girls' sleeping quarters. It's kind of like a five star hotel in Middle Ages Transylvania, if you know what I mean. You'll love it."
ааааааааAlbus turned to look at James. "I won't! I won't be in Slytherin!"
аааааааа"Give it a rest, James," Ginny admonished.
аааааааа"I only said he might be," James said defensively, grinning at Albus. "There's nothing wrong with that. He might be in SlythЧ"
ааааааааHe saw his mum's warning expression and fell silent. Feeling a little peeved, he took the trolley from her, glanced over his shoulder at Albus, and then pushed forward, running toward the partition. Just as it had last year, the partition seemed to dissolve. He flashed through it and pulled the trolley to a stop on platform nine and three-quarters. It was as crowded as it had been the last time he'd been there, although the mingled fog and steam made it hard to see everyone. Out of the dense mist, James could hear the chug and hiss of the Hogwarts Express, and for the first time all morning, he felt a bit better. Without waiting for the rest of the family, he pushed his trolley through the crowd toward the sound of the train.
аааааааа"James!" a voice called out. James glanced around and saw his Cousin Lucy standing next to Uncle Percy, who was apparently lost in animated conversation with a man in a pinstriped cloak. Percy's wife, Audrey, stood nearby, holding Lucy's sister's hand and looking over a schedule of departures.
аааааааа"Hi, Lucy," James said, pushing the trolley over to her. "I didn't expect to see you here. What's going on?"
аааааааа"We're on our way back already," she shrugged. "Daddy got a call. There was some sort of magical disturbance in Wandsworth and the Ministry needs him back. At least we get to go home for awhile. Where's Albus?"
ааааааааJames gestured back the way he'd come. "Albus is still in a snit. He's been grumpy ever since the Burrow."
ааааааааLucy nodded understandingly but said nothing.
аааааааа"Well, I better get my trunk on board," James said. "We're already late. See you, Lucy."
аааааааа"Bye, James," Lucy replied, then added. "Keep an eye on Albus, all right?"
ааааааааJames felt a tiny twinge of guilt at that. He nodded. "Sure, Lucy. I'm his big brother."
ааааааааLucy smiled and waved. James turned and ran toward the train, pushing his trolley. As he met the porter, he saw Teddy Lupin moving through the fog with Victoire at his side, lost in hushed conversation. Satisfied that his things would be loaded safely onto the train, James trotted to catch up to them.
аааааааа"Hey, Ted, Victoire," he called.
ааааааааThey stopped near the station, but Victoire continued talking, her head close to Ted's.
аааааааа"It's time," she said, her face serious. "I do not wish to spend the year away at school with this secret between us."
аааааааа"It isn't between us, Vic," Ted said reasonably. "You know your parents aren't ready to know about us. Your mum already thinks I'm a bum waiting to happen. Give me some time to arrange things in Hogsmeade. Once I've proven I'm seriousЕ"
аааааааа"To whom do you need to prove yourself?" Victoire asked, stepping back and placing her fists on her hips. "My parents, or yourself?"
ааааааааTed rolled his eyes. He glanced at James. "This is what it's like dating a girl whose family I've known all my life," he said. "They know me too well for my charms to work on them."
аааааааа"Your charms work just fine," Victoire sniffed. "In fact, if it wasn't for your charms, you wouldn't even have this problem."
аааааааа"Sorry to interrupt," James said, raising his hands, palms out. "I just wanted to say hello. I'll just fade away into the mist again."
аааааааа"Wait a minute," Ted said, his face growing thoughtful. "I've got an idea."
ааааааааSuddenly, he grabbed Victoire and hugged her to him. She resisted for a moment, but then he kissed her, and she relaxed. Slowly, she dropped the handbag she was carrying and wrapped her arms around Ted's neck. James took a step backwards and looked around nervously.
аааааааа"Er, like I saidЧ" he began but stopped as Ted held up a finger, still kissing Victoire. Finally, he broke away and looked aside at James, smiling crookedly.
аааааааа"You saw that, right?" he asked.
аааааааа"I don't think I saw anything but that," James replied uncomfortably.
аааааааа"Good. Now do me a favor."
ааааааааVictoire looked at Ted, her arms still around his neck. "Teddy, noЕ"
ааааааааTed's smile didn't waver. "Go tell everybody what you saw."
аааааааа"What?" James blinked.
аааааааа"Just tell them. Say I came to see Victoire off, and you saw us snogging right here on the platform. Say you interrupted us and I told you to shove off. It's the juiciest bit of gossip on the platform this morning, and you get to be the one to share it. It'll get the word out about us and we won't even have to say a thing," he turned back to Victoire. "Happy?"
ааааааааShe tilted her head haughtily at him but smiled. "You're a rogue," she replied.
ааааааааTed shrugged. "I'm simply good at coming up with reasons to kiss you. So what do you think, James? Are you up to the task?"
ааааааааJames grinned. "I learned how to lie from Zane. I'll make it as juicy as possible."
аааааааа"Excellent," Ted replied. "And just to make it as realistic as possible," he made his face stern and looked at James, "shove off, will you? I'm busy."
ааааааааWith that, he kissed Victoire again. She grinned and giggled, pushing away from him playfully. James turned on his heels and trotted back into the crowd. After a moment, he saw his family gathered with Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione near the train. They were all looking back toward thestation. James followed the direction of their gaze and saw Draco Malfoy standing with his wife and son near the partition. Draco nodded curtly in their direction, and then turned to his son. The son had the same sharp features and white-blonde hair. He glanced toward James, seeming to recognize him. After a moment, the boy looked away again, as if bored.
ааааааааJames remembered the news he was supposed to share. He ran toward his family, dodging and weaving through the crowd. As he approached, he heard Uncle Ron say to Rose in a pointed voice, "Don't gettoo friendly with him though, Rosie. Granddad Weasley would never forgive you if you married a pureblood." James was glad to interrupt the uncomfortable pause that followed.
аааааааа"Hey!" he yelled as he approached. Rose saw him first and smiled. The rest of the family turned curiously. "Teddy's back there. Just seen him. And guess what he's doing? Snogging Victoire!"
ааааааааThe adults looked down at James rather blankly. James raised his eyebrows, exasperated at their lack of response. "Our Teddy!Teddy Lupin! Snoggingour Victoire!Our cousin! And I asked him what he was doingЧ "
аааааааа"You interrupted them?" Ginny said incredulously. "You are so like RonЕ"
ааааааааJames plowed on, committed to telling it like Ted asked. "Чand he said he'd come to see her off! And then he told me to go away! He'ssnogging her!"
ааааааааLily spoke up, "Oh, it would be lovely if they got married."
ааааааааJames rolled his eyes, ignoring the rest of the conversation. Well, at least he'd succeeded in getting the word out. Ted would be satisfied. After a moment, James heard his dad saying, "Why don't we just invite him to come live with us and have done with it?"
аааааааа"Yeah!" James agreed instantly. "I don't mind sharing with Al. Teddy could have my room!"
аааааааа"No," Harry interjected. "You and Al will share a room only when I want the house demolished." He checked his watch, and smiled. "It's nearly eleven. You'd better get on board."
ааааааааJames hugged his mum and dad and a minute later climbed aboard the train, leaving the noise and steam behind him. He clumped into the nearest compartment with Rose right behind him. She pushed the window open and leaned out to wave. James joined her and glanced out. Albus was still on the platform with their dad squatted next to him. James remembered Harry doing the same thing with him last year, and didn't doubt that Albus and he were having a very similar conversation. Ginny saw James and waved at him. Lily skulked nearby, loosely holding her mum's free hand.
ааааааааAlbus disengaged from his dad, hugged his mum, and then clambered onto the train. A moment later, he entered the compartment with James and Rose. There was a commotion behind them as several other students crowded into the compartment, leaning toward the open window, chattering excitedly.
аааааааа"Why are they all staring?" Albus asked as he and Rose turned.
ааааааааOn the platform, Ron shrugged and called up, "Don't let it worry you. It's me. I'm extremely famous."
ааааааааAlbus smiled, and then laughed a little. Rose chuckled at her father. With a loud rattle and a jerk, the train began to move. James couldn't help noticing that his brother seemed to feel a little bit better. Albus smiled, allowing some excitement to show on his face as he waved. Alongside the train, their father walked, one hand raised and a wistful smile on his face. The train slowly gathered speed and James watched his parents get smaller and smaller on the platform. Rose leaned out the window and waved heartily at Ron and Hermione, then pulled herself in with a sigh, drawing the window shut.
аааааааа"Well," she said, plopping onto the seat across from James, "we're off!"
ааааааааJames nodded. Albus watched out the window until the platform was out of sight, and then joined Rose on the seat. He leaned back and watched the window as London began to stream past.
аааааааа"So what do you think, Al?" James asked, remembering Lucy's admonition on the platform. "Looking forward to your first year?"
ааааааааAlbus looked at James for a long moment, and then sighed hugely. "I'd be looking forward to it a lot more if I knew you'd packed me some socks."
ааааааааJames blinked, smiling a little, and kicked his brother's foot. "You never change them anyway. I didn't think you'd need any more than what's on your feet already."
аааааааа"That's disgusting," Rose announced.
ааааааааThere was a loud knock on the compartment door and the three looked up.
ааааааааRalph leaned in, his face flushed and smiling. "Hi, everybody. Room for one more?"
аа а а а"So Zane is going to Alma Aleron this year?" Rose asked, feigning disinterest.
аа а а а"You knew he was ever since he visited with his parents last July," Albus said.
аааааааа"Well, he wasn't completely sure then, was he? He said there was a chance his father might get his contract extended."
аааааааа"No," Albus insisted. "He said even if that happened, he'd probably end up going back to the States with his sister and mum. You're just sweet on him and can't help thinking that one bat of your eyes should have been enough to get him to climb mountains and forge mighty rivers to beat Hogwarts with you this year."
ааааааааRose rolled her eyes theatrically. "That's patently ridiculous. I barely know him, and what I do know of him, I find completely insufferable."
аааааааа"Insufferable enough to try to make the Draught of Enamor?" Albus grinned.
ааааааааRose whipped her head around and gaped at Albus. "I neverЕ!"
ааааааааAlbus shrugged, still grinning. "You need to learn to lock your diary with more than the silly little Forget-me-knot Charm that came with it. You of all people should know how easy those are to jinx open."
аааааааа"Why, you rat!" Rose cried, her voice rising so that it was nearly inaudible. "If I knew how to perform any curses, I'd turn your head into a marshmallow!"
аааааааа"Is this what things are always like in your family?" Ralph asked James, munching a licorice wand.
аааааааа"Pretty much," James nodded. "It's a good thing Louis hasn't found us yet. He really brings out the worst in Rose."
аа а а а"This isn't her worst?"
ааааааааJames dug in his bag and produced his wand. Finally, now that he was on the train, he was allowed to use it again. He was tempted to strike up a game of Winkles and Augers with Ralph, but he knew that Ralph would defeat him easily with his unorthodox green-tipped wand. James would've liked to believe that Ralph's skills were only due to the fact that his wand had once been a part of Merlin's magical staff, but he knew better. Ralph was talented, and he probably didn't even know the limit of his own talents. Being beat by Ralph at Winkles and Augers was particularly galling because Ralph tended to apologize for it.
аааааааа"It is a shame that Zane couldn't come back with us this year," James said. "It's going to be a bit weird without him."
аааааааа"Well, it was always a bit weird with him too," Ralph said. "So maybe it'll all even out. Besides, we'll still get to see him. He says that the Alma Alerons have some experimental new communication methods. He's going to be on the testing team for them."
ааааааааJames nodded. "Sounds like old Chancellor Franklyn has been hard at work since he left."
аааааааа"I'll say," Ralph agreed. "Dad visited them over the summer and they took him on a tour of the school and grounds. The whole campus is packed into a single yard surrounded by a stone wall in some old neighborhood of Philadelphia. You'd never even notice it if you walked past it. Talk about unplotted space! They even have a Timelock!"
ааааааааJames furrowed his brow. "What's a Timelock?"
аааааааа"Oh, it's totally cool," Ralph enthused. "It's the only way into the school. It's kind of like an airlock. You know how when rockets connect to a space station, they have this locked off chamber between them?"
ааааааааJames raised his eyebrows sardonically.
аааааааа"Oh yeah," Ralph said, "I keep forgetting you were raised by wizards. All right, an airlock is kind of a closed chamber between two places with really different atmospheres. It has doors on both sides. When you go into the airlock on your side, you bring your atmosphere in with you.Then the doors lock and your atmosphere is swapped out for a new one. That's the only way a spacewalker can get inside the breathable environment of a space station."
ааааааааJames' expression didn't change.
аааааааа"All right," Ralph said defensively, "so I grew up watching science-fiction films. Not all of us were born with a silver wand in our mouths, you know."
ааааааааJames laughed. "Go on, Ralphinator. So what's a Timelock?"
аааааааа"Well, that's just it! It's an airlock for time! Not only is the Alma Aleron campus hidden inside some magical stone wall that makes it seem loads smaller than it is, it's hidden in time, too! You have to go in through the Timelock to exchange your time for whatever time the campus is occupying on any given day."
аааааааа"That's impossible," Rose chimed in, lowering the book she'd been reading. "Time travel is not only highly unstable, but extremely risky. The Ministry has even outlawed Time-Turners because too many people were fiddling around in the temporal fluxstream, making history all wonky."
аааааааа"The 'temporal fluxstream'?" Ralph repeated, blinking.
аааааааа"'Wonky'?" Albus grinned.
аааааааа"Rose takes a little bit of getting used to," James said. "But she's the person to go to if you need a cure for poison ivy."
аааааааа"Or the occasional love potion," Albus added.
аааааааа"It would've worked if I'd succeeded in getting him to drink it," Rose pointed out primly. "And I was only testing it on him. I just find him slightly less obnoxious than any of you."
аааааааа"What kind of wand did you get, Rosie?" James asked, changing the subject.
аааааааа"Only my dad's allowed to call me that, Jameson," Rose replied, reaching for her bag.
ааааааааJames smiled. "'Jameson' isn't even my real name."
аааааааа"It's willow," Rose said, flourishing her wand daintily and holding it up. "Eight inches, with a Pegasus feather core."
аааааааа"What about yours, Albus?" Ralph asked, popping the last bit of licorice wand into his mouth.
ааааааааAlbus' face changed a little and he shrugged. "It's a wand. Eight and a half inches. It's made out of yew."
ааааааааRalph nodded. "So what's the core made of?"
ааааааааAlbus glanced aside, out the window, his face darkening. "What's your wand core made of, Ralph?" he asked pointedly.
ааааааааRalph blinked. He reached into his bag and produced his wand. James looked at it, remembering it well. It was at least a foot long, and thick as a broomstick. The end was whittled to a dull point and painted lime green. It looked as silly as always, and yet James knew, perhaps more than anyone, what that wand was capable of in Ralph's hand. It had saved James' life at least once.
аааааааа"Well," Ralph admitted, "I used to think it had a yeti whisker coreЧ"
аааааааа"A yeti whisker?" Albus said, leaning forward and grinning.
аааааааа"We've been through this," Rose sighed. "Nobody knows what's inside Ralph's wand except maybe Merlin. And I'm sure not going to ask him. He creeps me out."
ааааааааJames looked at Rose. "He does? Why?"
ааааааааRose gave James an expression of exasperated disdain. "He'sonly the most famously self-serving wizard in the history of the magical world, you know."
аааааааа"Yeah, I suppose, but he's not evil."
аааааааа"Hasn't it occurred to you that a wizard as powerful as Merlin could be all the scarier because he's not evil but just selfish?"
ааааааааJames frowned incredulously. "Where in the world did you get that? Your own parents were part of the committee that succeeded in getting him appointed Headmaster."
ааааааааRose put her wand back into her bag and shoved it under her seat. "Let's just say even his strongest supporters think there's a lot we don't know about him."
аааааааа"Like what?" James demanded.
аааааааа"Like things we don't know," Rose repeated pedantically. "That's pretty much the point: we don'tknow them."
ааааааааJames scoffed and turned away, fingering his wand.
ааааааааThe sky outside the train window was still grey as slate, promising rain. Fields marched past monotonously. James decided to go see if he could find any of his other friends. He stood and shoved the door open.
аааааааа"Hey," Ralph said, not looking up from the tabloid he'd flipped open, "if you see the cart lady, send her back down this way, would you? I'm starved."
ааааааааJames nodded and stepped out. He was about to close the door again when Albus squeezed through, joining James in the corridor.
аааааааа"Why didn't you tell Ralph what your wand core was?" James asked as they walked.
аааааааа"What business is it of his?" Albus replied, as if daring James to respond.
ааааааааJames shrugged. After a moment, Albus sighed.
аааааааа"Look, it's bad enough everyone makes those jokes about my name. Asp, a kind of snake, ha ha. If word gets out that my wand core is a dragon heartstringЕ"
аааааааа"I think it's kind of cool," James said. "Nobody messes with a dragon."
аааааааа"Except for Uncle Charlie and Harold and Jules," Albus said, allowing a small grin.
аааааааа"Yeah, but they're totally dotty. They're almost as bad as Hagrid when it comes to dragons." James stopped in the corridor and looked at Albus. "It really isn't a big deal, you know. I tease you about it, but really, it's only because when I was being sorted, I actually consideredЧ"
ааааааааSomething flickered past them in the corridor. James saw it and whipped around, gasping.
аааааааа"What?" Albus asked, glancing around.
ааааааааJames shook his head, still studying the shadows of the corridor. "I don't know. Something. I think I've seen it before, but I don't know what it is yet."
аааааааа"I see your first year of school has you just brimming with knowledge," Albus said.
ааааааааJames held up his hand toward Albus, silencing him. The light in the corridor was watery and indirect, full of flitting shadows as the train passed through a stand of woods, but James was certain he recognized the shape and movement of the tiny shadow imp. He was intent on finding it.
ааааааааThere was a sudden noise and burst of air, making James jump. He glanced up as a large man with very short dark hair stepped into the corridor from the adjoining car. He slid the connecting door shut easily, slamming it into place.
аааааааа"Bitter day out there, boys," he boomed, stalking toward them down the aisle. "You'd best be getting to your compartments. It's not wise to be gallivanting about a moving train."
аааааааа"We're just, er, looking for our friends," James replied.
аааааааа"Same as me, then," the man grinned, sidling past. "Better luck finding them than I've had, eh?"
ааааааааThe large man moved to the end of the corridor and yanked the door open, letting in another burst of air and noise from the connecting breezeway between the cars. A moment later, he slammed the door.
аааааааа"Was he a teacher?" Albus asked, looking after the man.
аааааааа"I've never seen him before," James answered, distracted. He noticed that the door through which the man had come was not entirely closed. It had slid slightly back open when he'd slammed it. A whistle of cool air pushed through it.
ааааааааThe shadow imp suddenly landed in front of the door, examining the small opening. James saw it and his eyes widened. The creature seemed to turn back to him, as if daring him to follow. The crack was far too narrow even for the tiny shadow shape, but then it turned and squeezed through, pouring through the space like smoke.
ааааааааJames bolted toward it.
аааааааа"What is it?" Albus said, following.
аааааааа"Did you see it?" James asked, trying to keep his footing on the swaying floor.
"Yeah! Looked like a shadow, but standing all by itself!"
ааааааааJames reached the door and yanked it open. Misty air and the deafening clack of the train's wheels poured in. The tiny connecting breezeway rocked disconcertingly, but the creature was there, capering in the alcove of the doorway leading into the next car. James reached for it, but it slipped beneath the door, making itself so flat as to virtually disappear.
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