Albus Potter and the Curse of the Deceiver

Reunions

—CHAPTER 1—

Reunions

Albus Severus Potter was lying on his bed on his back, looking up at the ceiling. He was lonely. He hadn’t seen a single one of his friends apart from his cousin Rose Weasley but they’d hardly seen each other. He wasn’t grounded like last summer. He wasn’t in trouble either...well, not much. All he’d done was blow up the Potions dungeon but nobody had been angry with him because he’d done it to save a friend. He did, however, have to pay to school back so Albus had been working at the Leaky Cauldron like the previous summer.

There was the sound of a baby’s high pitched screaming from downstairs and Albus grimaced. Sure, sure, Hannah was cute. Cute but loud. Rose had been looking after her little sister nearly all holidays. Scorpius’s parents had gone to visit friends in Wales so Scorpius had gone with Avery to America for the holidays. Meanwhile, Jessica and Max were in London all summer and Dimitri lived there too. That’s what made Albus feel deserted. All his friends were together but him. School began in a week which was something he was greatly looking forward to. He was praying for a quiet year and he’d vowed not to get himself into any adventures or mysteries. Just a peaceful year at Hogwarts. That’s all. There was a knock on his door which startled him out of his thoughts. ‘Come in,’ he called. The door creaked open and Rose’s face poked round the door. ‘Hey Al,’ she said, sounding relieved. ‘Mum says we’re leaving in ten minutes. Just wanted to say hello.’

‘It’s great to see you,’ Albus said, sitting up. ‘Hasn’t exactly  been my favourite two months in the world.’

Rose laughed. Albus noticed how pretty she actually looked. No wonder Scorpio had a crush on her. If she wasn’t his cousin (and if Jessica didn’t exist) he would too. Her red hair was falling onto her shoulders and she was wearing a long sleeved black shirt and blue jeans. She folded her arms and gazed at her cousin. ‘Al, have you heard from anyone...’

‘No,’ Albus said curtly. ‘I haven’t. You?’

Rose shook her head. ‘By the way. Remember how Mum was taking photos at platform 9 and ¾ two years ago?’

Albus laughed. ‘Couldn’t forget it! She had us posing!’

Rose chuckled too. She put something on the bed. Albus frowned and picked it up. It was a photograph. On the far left was Hugo and his broad grin. Beside him, Albus saw himself. His short blackish brown hair flopping over his forehead. Beside him, James, smiling, looking superior. And after James on the right, Rose, looking eager and excited. Before any of the trouble and adventures had began. ‘Those were the days,’ Albus said absentmindedly. Rose gave a small smile. ‘I’ll say,’ she agreed.

Albus’s eyes flew open. There was yell from downstairs and he didn’t recognise who’s it was. The thunder was booming outside and the rain was pelting down onto the roof of Potter Mansion. Albus sat up groggily and he gave a muffled groan. It was pitch black darkness in his room and he fumbled for a torch. He found one on the floor, flicked it on and got out of bed. He pushed open his door and his heart started to pound. He started to run down the stairs and skidded to a halt when he reached the doorway. Standing there, soaking wet, was the Longbottom family. Neville and Luna were carrying a suitcase each and Max and Jessica were holding a rucksack. Albus stared at Jessica. He didn’t know how but over the two months he hadn’t seen her, she’d become beautiful. Harry asked Neville a few questions and from what Albus heard when he wasn’t gawking at his crush, he found out that Dimitri’s parents were worried about having wizards in the house so found a soft way of saying ‘Get Lost.’ Neville and his family were on their way back home when the car broke down and that Potter Mansion was the closest place to stay. Of course Harry and Ginny had allowed the Longbottoms to stay.

‘The shower’s upstairs, third door to the right,’ James said, yawning. ‘Jess, you can stay in Lily’s room. Max, stay in Al’s. I’m going back to bed.’

He sleepily trudged back upstairs. Albus gave Max a quick wave as his friend rushed up to the shower. Neville, Luna, Ginny and Harry walked into the kitchen. Albus and Jessica were left in the foyer.

‘Sorry I haven’t written much,’ Jessica said finally. ‘You’ve changed!’

‘So have you,’ Albus said, rather quickly. ‘Have Scorpio or Avery written lately?’

‘Um...yes,’ Jessica said. ‘Max and I kept in touch with them once a week.’

Albus saw Rose’s shocked face in the doorway and inside of him, anger flared. He spun round on his foot and ran back up to his bedroom, slamming the door behind him. He jumped onto his bed, burying his face in his pillow. He couldn’t believe it. His two best friends in the world, Scorpius and Avery, had been ignoring him.

*

‘Be good,’ Ginny said tearfully. However, this time, she wasn’t talking to James or Albus but she was talking Lily.

‘I will, Mummy,’ Lily said, hugging her mother. ‘Now if you’d just let me go!’

Ginny pulled away and smiled. ‘Off you go, then.’

‘Albus,’ Scorpius called, waving. Dimitri and Avery ran with him. Albus turned and ignored them.

‘Al,’ Rose said softly. ‘Come on. Just hear them out.’

Albus did no such thing. He walked briskly past Jessica, waved to his mother and jumped onto the train, finding an empty compartment and locking it. He pulled his knees up to his chest. There was the sound of someone knocking on the door. Albus looked up warily and saw his favourite teacher, Professor Irin smiling at him.

‘Alohamora,’ Albus said heavily, pointing his wand at the door and the it opened with a click. Professor Irin sat beside Albus. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘My friends were ignoring me all summer,’ Albus said bitterly.

Professor Irin looked sympathetic. ‘Even Avery?’

‘Yes, even Avery,’ Albus snapped, turning around and folding his arms angrily. Professor Irin smiled. ‘I know why, Al. You know how all of them were away from home during your birthday?’

Albus nodded, pretending to be uninterested.

‘Well, you like surprises don’t you?’

Albus suddenly heard a bang and streamers erupted out of nowhere and the door flew open, half of all Gryffindors charging into the compartment.

‘Hey, this place is getting cramped, I’m claustrophobic!’ Max wailed.

‘Enrogio,’ Rose said over the loud yelling in the carriages. Albus stood there, dumbfounded. ‘This is what you were all planning throughout the summer?’

Everyone laughed and nodded. Jessica stepped up. ‘Al, in the past two years, we’ve all run into some pretty scary dangers and you’re always the one who comes up with that brilliant idea to save us all. We thought that for your thirteenth birthday...you deserved something big.’ She reached behind her and pulled out something in the shape that Albus recognised as a broomstick.

‘No way,’ he breathed, grabbing it and ripping off the wrapping. It was the shiny, sleek SkyRanger717.

‘Well?’ Avery asked. Albus grinned. ‘You guys are the best!’

Everyone in the carriage laughed. Rose raised her glass of butterbeer. ‘Now bring on the third year!’