ааааааааNo more adventures this year, James thought. That was a good thing, wasn't it? Of course it was. Besides, the trio was broken. Zane was gone, back across the ocean and in a completely different time zone.That had never happened to Harry Potter. It had always been Harry, Ron, and Hermione, the magic trio, inseparable even to this day. Not so for James, and that, he told himself, was just fine. Let Albus have an adventure if there was one to be had. After all, he was the one everyone said looked just like Dad when he'd been younger.
ааааааааJames' forehead itched. Without thinking about it, he scratched it, pushing his unruly hair up. Just like he'd told Cameron, there was no lightning bolt scar there. James wasn't his father.
ааааааааWhen James lowered his hand, he saw Scorpius Malfoy staring at him from across the room. His face was inscrutable. After a moment, Scorpius looked away, as if bored. If there was any proof that the era of Harry Potter style adventures was over, it was sitting right over there: Scorpius Malfoy with a Gryffindor crest embroidered on his robes.
ааааааааJames sighed, opened his Transfiguration textbook, and began his homework.
ааааааааThe first days of school passed in a blur. James attended his classes and made a concerted effort to take notes and tackle his homework. His diligence sprang partly from his own resolve not to get behind early in the year, but was also partly due to the presence of Rose in many of his classes. She served as a constant, disgruntled source of competition since James was determined not to allow his first-year cousin to outperform him despite her natural braininess.
ааааааааOne class Rose didn't share with James was Care of Magical Creatures, which was still taught by Hagrid. Hagrid embarrassed James by greeting him with a gigantic, bone-cracking bear hug at the beginning of class.
аааааааа"I didn't have th' chance to say so at th' service, James," Hagrid said in what he thought was a confidential voice, "but I'm so sorry about your Granddad. Arthur was a great man, 'e was."
ааааааааJames nodded, a little annoyed at having been reminded of his granddad's death. It had been a few days since he'd thought about it. Hagrid invited the class to sit on the multitude of pumpkins maturing in his garden. He spent the period explaining what the class was about and describing the animals he'd introduce the students to over the course of the year. James didn't listen particularly closely, gazing instead out over the lake, his thoughts far away and melancholy.
ааааааааDuring his Wednesday free period, James sat with Ralph and Rose at a table in the library. He took the opportunity to write a short letter to his parents. When he was finished, it occurred to him to write a note to his Cousin Lucy as well, as he'd promised. He dipped his quill and jotted the first things that came to his mind.
Dear Lucy,
Hi! I hope Uncle P. and Aunt A. aren't dragging you all over the place too much, but if
they are, I hope you are having some fun and seeing some cool stuff. The school year is starting all
right. The new Defence teacher is Kendrick Debellows, the famous Harrier. Ask your dad if you
don't know who he is. He's pretty hardcore, and he doesn't have much good to say about Aurors,
so that class looks to be a bust. Al would say hi if he knew I was writing you. He ended up in
Slyth after all! I promised I would let him tell Mum and Dad, but he didn't say I couldn't tell
you. Rose is sitting right here and she says hi and get a picture of anything cool you see if you are
anyplace interesting, even if you're sick of seeing it all. Tell Mol we all said hello. Send a letter
and any pics back with Nobby, all right?
Sincerely,
James
аа а а аJames let Rose sign the letter to Lucy as well. When they were done, he took the letter back and reread it. Then, thoughtfully, he added:
ааааааааP.S. If you get bored, you could do me a little favor. Look up anything you can findabout something called the Gatekeeper or the Sentinel of Worlds. It might be a bit hard to dig up,but I know you like figuring stuff out, and it'd be a great help to me. But don't say anything toanyone else about it. I promised to keep it a secret. Thanks.
аааааааааJames finished writing, then quickly sealed both letters and stuffed them into his satchel. That afternoon, after their last classes, Rose and Ralph accompanied James to the Owlery. There, James attached the letters to Nobby's leg whilst Rose and Ralph stood near the door.
аааааааа"I'm glad I brought a cat," Rose said, wrinkling her nose. "This place is right rancid."
аааааааа"Cats can't deliver post," James replied.
аааааааа"Well, an owl can't snuggle up on your lap by the fireplace."
ааааааааRalph nodded. "Or cough a hairball on your shoe."
ааааааааRose elbowed him. James finished attaching the letters to Nobby and stood back.
аааааааа"Take Mum and Dad's letter first, Nobby. Lucy might send some stuff back."
ааааааааNobby screeched agreement. He spread his wings, balanced on the perch for a moment, and then launched. James craned his head as Nobby thrust upward, past the ranks of his fellow owls, and disappeared through a window at the top of the Owlery.
ааааааааAs the three students made their way back through the castle to dinner, James asked Rose pointedly, "So how was your first Defence Against the Dark Arts class?"
ааааааааRose pressed her lips together and hefted her satchel. "He wouldn't let me run the Gauntlet."
ааааааааRalph glanced at her. "Well, that's a good thing, right?"
аааааааа"No, Ralph, it isn't. The boys all had to run it. Debellows says girls are 'too delicate' for it. He set us up doing one-on-one drills with each other. None of the other girls take it seriously, either. It was a complete waste of time."
аааааааа"I hadn't really noticed it," James said, "but now that you mention it, he doesn't have any girls run the Gauntlet in our class either."
аааааааа"Or face the clockwork ogre," Ralph added. "That club may be padded, but it packs a wallop."
аааааааа"You should be glad you're a girl, then, Rose," James said fervently. "It's your free pass out of that bruise factory."
ааааааааRose shook her head, annoyed. "You're both completely missing the point! Girls aren't any less capable than boys. I bet I could beat most of you through the Gauntlet if I had a chance."
ааааааааJames stared incredulously at her. "You want to go through that thing?"
аааааааа"Well," she replied, hedging a bit, "not really. I mean, it does look pretty brutal. But it's the principle of the matter."
аа а а аRalph shook his head. "This is the first time in my life I wish I'd been born a girl."
аа а а а"I'm going to write Mum and Dad about it," Rose declared firmly. "When Mum hears thatЕ"
ааааааааRose's voice trailed away as a cold push of air suddenly rippled her robes. James and Ralph felt it as well. The three stopped in the corridor, glancing around.
ааааааааJames frowned. "What was that?"
ааааааааNeither of the others responded. There didn't appear to be any obvious source of the breeze. There were no windows in this section of the castle. Closed doors lined the walls, lit by a series of lanterns hung on chains. As James looked, the lantern at the end of the corridor winked out. James nudged Ralph and pointed.
ааааааааRalph's voice wavered. "Was that already burnt out, or did it justЧ"
ааааааааThe lantern next to it flickered and died, as if someone had blown the flame out.
аааааааа"Maybe it's just the wind," Rose said uncertainly. "Come on, let'sЧ"
ааааааааTwo more lanterns blinked out in quick succession. James glanced at Rose, then Ralph, his eyes wide. Suddenly, much stronger than before, a cold wind tore down the corridor, streaming through their robes and whipping their hair. It blew the rest of the lanterns out, throwing the corridor into murky darkness.
аааааааа"Look!" Rose cried breathlessly, her voice unnaturally high. James and Ralph followed her shaking, pointing hand. There was a figure moving down the corridor. It floated above the floor, its head lowered, obscuring the face. It drifted toward them swiftly and silently. James grabbedRalph and Rose's sleeves, pulling them as he attempted to back away, but his legs felt frozen. The figure was moving too quickly. It was nearly upon them. Suddenly, just as it heaved directly in front of them, it raised its head.
ааааааааRalph gasped. Rose uttered a little scream. James blinked.
аааааааа"Cedric?" he exclaimed, his heart pounding. "What are you doing?!"
ааааааааThe ghost of Cedric Diggory straightened and grinned at them. "I've been practicing," he said in his distant, ghostly voice.
аааааааа"Y-you know him?" Rose stammered, recovering a little.
аааааааа"Yeah, we know him," Ralph replied. "That wasn't right, Ced. What was that all about anyway?"
ааааааааCedric looked taken aback. "I'm the 'Specter of Silence'. I've been practicing over the summer, trying to create a little mystique. What, was it too much?"
ааааааааJames nodded, his eyes wide. "Yeah, I'd say it was a bit much! Can you, you know, fix the lights?"
ааааааааThe ghost glanced back at the snuffed lanterns. "Actually, they're a lot easier to put out than to relight. Hold on."
ааааааааCedric closed his eyes and screwed up his face. After a moment, two of the lanterns flickered back alight.
аааааааа"That's a bit better," Rose sighed. "But still. Don't do that again, all right? At least not to me."
ааааааааCedric smiled. "You must be Hermione's daughter. You have her hair, although it's a bit redder."
аааааааа"I prefer the term 'auburn'," Rose said. "Anyway, yes. Nice to meet you, er, Cedric. I remember hearing about you. Care to accompany us to dinner?"
ааааааааCedric looked thoughtful. "I don't think so. It's not good for the mystique, hanging about in the Great Hall with everyone there."
аааааааа"All the other ghosts do it," Ralph commented. "The Bloody Baron's down there nearly every meal, waving his sword around and teaching the first-years bad words."
аааааааа"YeahЕ," Cedric agreed doubtfully. "That's fine for him. He's been around since foreverЕ"
ааааааааJames narrowed his eyes. "How many people have seen you, Cedric? I mean, not counting us?"
ааааааааThe ghost floated nervously. "Besides you? ErЕ does the portrait of Snape count?"
ааааааааJames shook his head.
аааааааа"What about the Muggle intruder?"
аааааааа"No."
аааааааа"Well," Cedric admitted, "that's pretty much it, then."
аааааааа"Wait a minute," Rose said, raising her hand. "You're a shy ghost?"
ааааааааCedric grimaced. "Not 'shy'. I was never shy. I've just beenЕ busy."
аааааааа"Busy learning how to blow out lanterns and practicing being the 'Specter of Silence'?" James clarified, tilting his head.
аааааааа"Look, it's just different, that's all," the ghost said. "I haven't been down to a dinner in the Great Hall since the night I died, over twenty years ago."
ааааааааRalph spoke up, "So? Not much has changed, I'm guessing. From the looks of things down there, they've been running it pretty much the same since the founders themselves. Come on, it'll be fun even if you can't exactly eat the food."
ааааааааCedric shook his head sadly. "I can't. Not yet." He heaved a ghostly sigh. "Last time I was there, I sat with my friends. I was on my way out to what I hoped would be a victory in the final challenge of the Triwizard Tournament. Everybody toasted me with their pumpkin juice and wished me good luck. I promised them I'd tell them all about my adventure the next day at dinner, with or without the victory cupЕ" Cedric's ghostly eyes had gone thoughtful. "Cho Chang met me by the door on the way out of the hall. She wished me luck in the maze. I wanted to kiss her, but I didn't, not right there in the entrance to the Great Hall with everyone looking. I promised myself I would kiss her afterwards. Actually, I think I cared even more about that than I did about winning the cup. Kissing Cho was going to be the real prizeЕ" Cedric paused, and then blinked, shaking himself. He glanced at James, Rose, and Ralph, as if remembering they were there. "But that never happened, of course. It feels like it was yesterday. It feels like if I went down to dinner now, Cho would be there, watching for me. There would be Stebbins, and Cadwallader, and Muriel, all anxious for me to regale them with the details of my trip through the maze. That's how it feels to me, but it's not true. They wouldn't be down there. Not really. They've all grown and moved on. I'm just a distant memory. Instead, my old table would be full of people I don't know. They'd not even recognize me." He shook his head again. "Maybe someday I'll be able to come down. But not yet. I can't."
ааааааааRose reached out to pat Cedric's arm, but her hand went right through it. "I'm so sorry, Cedric," she said. "You can come with us whenever you want to. Your old friends won't be there, but there might be some new friends waiting."
ааааааааCedric nodded and smiled, but James didn't think the ghost believed Rose's words.
аааааааа"Will we be seeing you around?" James asked him.
аааааааа"Sure," Cedric agreed. "Maybe the whole 'Specter of Silence' thing is a bit too much. Next time, I'll tone it down."
ааааааааThe three students turned and made their way back along the corridor. As they rounded the corner, James glanced back. There was no sign of Cedric's ghost, but James had a sense that he was still there anyway. James waved goodbye, then caught up to Ralph and Rose.
ааааааааAs they passed the great open doorway looking out over the courtyard, James stopped. In the blue evening gloom, a small group of students was gathered near the gate. James noticed they were all Slytherins, and Albus was standing in the center of them. With a start, James realized itwas Wednesday night, the night Tabitha Corsica had planned to 'make arrangements' with Albus.
аааааааа"Hold up," James said quietly, stopping Ralph and Rose. As casually as he could, he sauntered over to the door and slipped into the shadows, watching the group of Slytherins.
аааааааа"What's going on out there?" Rose asked, joining James. James shushed her.
ааааааааTabitha was talking to Albus, smiling prettily, nodding her head. Philia Goyle and Tom Squallus hovered nearby along with a few other Slytherins whom James didn't know. James couldn't hear what they were saying. As the crowd shifted, James saw that Tabitha Corsica was holding something tall and thin, wrapped in a black sleeve.
аааааааа"That's most of the Slytherin Quidditch team," Ralph explained in a low voice. "There's Beetlebrick. He's the Keeper. Fiera and Havelock are Beaters."
ааааааааJames narrowed his eyes. "One guess what Corsica has in that black cover."
ааааааааThe Slytherins suddenly turned and began to walk out of the courtyard. Albus was leading, laughing, and gesturing happily. James slipped through the doorway, following.
аааааааа"Where are you going?" Ralph asked.
аааааааа"What's it look like? I'm going to follow them. Corsica is planning to put Al on that flying curse of hers."
ааааааааRalph grimaced. "What are you planning to do, stop them?"
аааааааа"I know you can't help me, Ralph," James said quickly, "since they're your housemates and all. But I'm going to go see what they're planning, at least."
аааааааа"It's not that," Ralph replied. "I just think it's Albus' choice. I sort of think maybeЕ you shouldn't get involved."
аааааааа"I'll take that into consideration," James muttered darkly. He jumped out into the quickly darkening courtyard. A moment later, he heard footsteps as someone followed him.
аааааааа"You don't have to come, Rose," James said, stopping at the courtyard gate.
аааааааа"What kind of a thing is that to say?" she whispered harshly. "I was going to spy on them whether you did or not."
ааааааааJames smiled at her. Together, they hunkered down and slunk around the edge of the gate, watching for the departing Slytherins. The gloom of the approaching night made it difficult to see. After a moment, Rose pointed. James followed her direction and saw the robed figures cresting a hill a hundred yards away. They were heading for the Quidditch pitch, of course. Keeping as low as they could, Rose and James followed.
ааааааааAs they neared the pitch, James motioned for Rose to follow him. He led her in a curving path around the side of the Gryffindor grandstand. As quietly as they could, they crept up the wooden staircase to the lowest level. There, they crouched before the guardrail and peered down into the dark pitch.
ааааааааThe group of Slytherins stood on the centerline. James could hear their voices indistinctly. Tabitha seemed to be the one speaking. There was some motion as the figures moved about, and James silently cursed himself for leaving his glasses in his bag.
аааааааа"What's going on?" he whispered helplessly. "I can barely see who is who."
аааааааа"Tabitha just took the cover off of a broom," Rose whispered back. "She seems to be explaining how it works to Albus. He looks pretty anxious to fly it. He can barely stand still. Looks like he has to go to the loo."
ааааааааJames could see what happened next. Tabitha held the broom out to Albus. He took it in both hands and looked at it, then looked back up at her. James couldn't see his face, but he knew Albus was grinning that infectious, reckless grin of his. Finally, the other Slytherins stepped back away from him, leaving him in the center of a rough circle. Albus hefted the broom with one hand, as if testing its weight and balance on his palm. Then, deftly, he tossed it into the air. It came down and bobbed next to him at hip height. James struggled with the urge to shout out, to warn Albus. James had ridden that broom once, and it had been a dreadful disaster. There was something extremely unusual about the magic of it. It had fought James and very nearly killed him. When Tabitha rode it during Quidditch matches, it seemed to exercise a very suspicious influence over the brooms around it, and even, James suspected, the Snitch itself. Rose hooked her hand into James' collar and pulled him down. James hadn't realized he'd begun to stand, preparing to call a warning to his brother. He glanced at her, his eyes wide.
аааааааа"Don't," she mouthed, shaking her head.
ааааааааJames looked back down at the pitch. Albus reached out and wrapped his hand around the handle of the floating broom. Quickly, as if purposely not thinking about it, he swung a leg over it, straddled it, and kicked off. The broom shot straight up, spinning slowly and carrying Albus high into the deepening night. It reached the top level of the grandstands and stopped gently. Albus was merely a black shape outlined against the dusky sky. As James watched, he crouched low over the broomstick. It shot forward, perfectly in control. Distantly, Albus ballyhooed happily, his voice echoing over the nearby hills.
ааааааааRose leaned toward James. "I had flying lessons with Albus on Tuesday," she whispered. "He couldn't fly like that then."
ааааааааJames pressed his lips into a thin line. He glared down at the assembly of Slytherins on the field but couldn't make anything out. If any of them were directly influencing Albus' flight with their wands, he couldn't tell it.
ааааааааIn the silence of the descending night, James could hear the swish and flap of his brother's inaugural flight. Albus flickered and swooped over the pitch and the nearby hills, whooping with delight. Finally, after a few minutes of random soaring, he dipped into a long, curving bank over all four of the house grandstands, picking up speed. James and Rose crouched as low as they could as Albus swept in over the Gryffindor gangway. He turned the broomstick easily and pulled it to a hovering stop near the flags that topped the grandstand. James held his breath, hoping that the shadow of the seats was enough to hide him and Rose. Albus took a deep breath, aimed the broom back down toward the pitch, and suddenly stopped. He seemed to be looking directly at James, but in the darkness, it was very hard to tell. He was probably looking past James, down to the Slytherins standing in the center of the pitch below. Finally, Albus leaned forward. The broomstick pitched into a steep dive, sweeping over the rows of seats. James crouched as low as he could, fearing Albus might actually graze him when he passed over the guardrail. As James ducked, a hand reached down and tousled his hair, fleetingly. The wind of Albus' passing subsided, and James heard his brother laughing as he swooped into the darkness of the pitch.
аааааааа"That little prat!" James rasped. Rose shushed him.
ааааааааAlbus descended in a tightening circle, finally bringing the broom to a landing as gentle as a dandelion seed. The Slytherins applauded and collapsed around Albus, congratulating him.
аааааааа"A natural," Tabitha's voice rang out on the breeze. "Just like your father."
аааааааа"'Natural' nothing!" James hissed under his breath. Rose tugged at his robes, pulling him down into the shadows again. Together, they watched the group of Slytherins walk back across the pitch, their voices lost in the rising wind. As James watched, he saw Albus glance up at him andgrin.
ааааааааAfter a minute, James and Rose climbed down from the grandstand and retraced their steps back to the castle.
аааааааа"You saw the way he operated that broom," James exclaimed, struggling to keep his voice low. "Or to be perfectly accurate, the way it operated him!"
ааааааааRose answered thoughtfully, "I admit it looked a little suspicious. But you said yourself you could barely control a broom until you got your Thunderstreak. Maybe Albus just needed to get on the right sort of broom to show his stuff."
ааааааааJames shook his head, exasperated. "You don't understand. I tried to ride that broom myself, once. It about murdered me!"
аааааааа"Well, you weren't supposed to be riding it, then, were you? Some new brooms are smart that way. Even yours has the 'Extra-Gestural Enhancement' option, doesn't it? Once it bonded with you, anybody else who tried to ride it would have serious trouble."
аааааааа"Look," James said, throwing up his hands, "you just have to trust me on this, Rose. That broom's cursed, somehow. And Tabitha is probably the one that cursed it."
ааааааааRose looked sideways at him. "Why would you say that?"
ааааааааJames shook his head. "It's a long story. But I'm telling you, there's something especially wicked about her. You probably wouldn't believe me even if I told you. Hardly anybody else does."
аааааааа"Well," Rose replied, keeping her voice as even as possible, "maybe there's a good reason for that."
аааааааа"Who's side are you on anyway?"
аааааааа"Excuse me," Rose said, getting angry. "You mean am I on James Potter's side or Albus Potter's side? Because I didn't know I needed to choose."
ааааааааJames sighed hugely. "Just forget it. Sorry, Rose."
ааааааааRose looked at him for a long moment as they neared the courtyard gate. "Flying runs in the Potter blood, James. You can't know that Albus isn't just that good by his nature. The whole reason first-years are allowed to try out for Quidditch is because of how good your dad was his first year. But if there is something strange about that broom, or Tabitha Corsica herself, I'll be the first one to help you tell Albus about it. All right?"
ааааааааJames smiled wanly. "You promise?"
ааааааааRose nodded. Together, they entered the courtyard and climbed into the light of the main hall. Ralph was sitting on the bottom of the main staircase, waiting for them. James smiled.
"He flew it, I'm guessing," Ralph said, getting up to join them.
"How'd you know?" Rose asked.
аааааааа"Albus and the rest just passed me on the way in to dinner," Ralph said. "Albus came over and told me to give you a message when you came in. He said he might just steal your place at the next family Quidditch match."
ааааааааJames rolled his eyes and glanced at Rose. "Don't you laugh," he said, pointing a finger at her.
аааааааа"I didn't say anything," she replied, covering her mouth with her hand. "Come on. Let's get inside for dinner before they close the doors on us."
6.THEKING OF THECATS
Thursday morning, James and Ralph's first class was Wizard Literature. The classroom was aаsemicircular gallery attached to the rear of the library. Windows lined the curving wall, filling theаroom with morning sunlight. The new Wizard Literature teacher, Juliet Revalvier, sat at her desk, leafing through a large book as the students found their seats. Compared to most of the Hogwartsteaching staff, Professor Revalvier was relatively young and petite. Her dark blonde hair was cut shoulder-length, framing an open, friendly face. With her reading glasses on, James thought she looked a bit like a brainy pixie.
аааааааа"Not you again," Ralph whispered as Rose slipped into the seat next to him.
аааааааа"I specifically asked to test into this class if I could," Rose explained, pulling her Wizlit textbook out of her book bag. "I've got all of Revalvier's books on the classics of magical literature. You know, she even wrote a few novels herself, a couple of decades ago, although theywere mostly marketed to Muggles under a made-up name. It was all a bit controversial."
аааааааа"Yeah, I know about those," James said, remembering Cameron Creevey and his mention of the novelizations of the adventures of Harry Potter. "That was her, was it?"
аааааааа"Well, her and a few other people. It was a test project, spearheaded by one of the big wizard publishing companies. I think the problem was that it was, if anything, rather too much of a success. The Ministry ended up getting involved and there was quite a hoo-ha. Apparently, publishing true accounts of the wizarding world as fiction in the Muggle world is a violation of the Law of Secrecy, although the Wizengamot never convicted her of anything. Shewas stripped of most of her royalties, which explains why she ended up here, teaching."
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