A.R.I.S.E. and the Snake Society
Chapter One: The Chosen's Son
"We'll miss you sweetie!" Albus's mum, Ginny Potter, said as she kissed him on the cheek.
She did this every year. Even though Albus was fourteen now, and going to his fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His father, Harry, who he shared striking resemblance, was cooler about it. He hugged his son, and said, "Be good. We love you."
His little sister, Lily, was starting her second year, and their mum showered her with hugs.
Albus's older brother, James, was not getting it so hard. He was sixteen, and starting his sixth year. His mother kisses him on the forehead, and says, "You'd better not make in trouble." But she's smiling.
All five run into the pillar separating the muggle train-station and Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
Albus was the first to spot the Weasley family. Rose, Albus's cousin and one of his best friends, was laughing at something her younger brother Hugo had said. She was literally her father and mother mixed together. She had red/brown hair, a sort of bronze color. Where her mum's is wild with curls, and her father's is straight and red, Rose's hair is naturally in tiny ringlets. Her eyes are a brown that's almost golden.
"Hey," he greeted, and Rose beamed up at him. One thing Albus hadn't inherited from his father was his physique. He'd always been tall, and he was a tad more muscled then his father had been. The latter could be explained by Quidditch. Like Harry, Albus had a talent for the sport. But, unlike his skinny, speedy dad, he was Beater for the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. He also had inherited his father's green eyes, but not his eyesight. Albus needed no glasses. He had when he was younger, but not anymore. He had dark, messy hair, though.
Hugo gave a curt nod. He was their cousin, just like Rose. Where Rose and Albus were best friends, Hugo never talked to Lily in school. She seemed fine with that.
Rose had more things then Albus did, because she brought at least fifty books over the required number.
Their friend, Scorpius Malfoy, approached them with his father in tow. Mr. Malfoy seemed awkward around Rose's and Albus's parents. Albus had learned that Harry and Draco were school rivalries.
Scorpius was Gryffindor, much to his father's distaste. He was very nice, but pre-judged because his father had been suckered into being a Death Eater.
Albus had heard stories about the Dark Times. His father had destroyed Voldemort twice. His father was a hero, the Chosen One, and no one ever let Albus forget it. Still, he couldn't imagine a better father. Even if he did live in his shadow.
"Hey, Scorp," Albus smiled. But Scorpius had already moved on to talking to Rose.
Another one of their friends, Indigo Thomas, came forward. She had dark skin and brown hair and blue eyes. Her dark hair was long and straight, and her smile was daring. Her father, Dean, used to date Albus's mum before his dad came along. It should be strange, Albus supposed, but it never was.
"'Sup, Al?" Indigo grinned. Her smile made his stomach do weird flips.
"Hi, Indy. Have you seen Ever?"
Ever was the completion to their inner circle. She's a muggle-born girl with pixie-like hair and spunk that Albus had never seen anyone else wear.
Indigo looked away. She looked around at the crowd of people around them, as if searching for her friend. "Yeah. She's already in the train, saving our seats."
"Great," he said to her, and then turned to his family. "By mum, dad. See you guys later."
"Love you!" His mum cried once again. "Write all the time, okay?"
"Alright, mum," he mumbled, a little embarrassed. And then he saw his dad. Harry had never had parents at all. No one saw him off for the first day of school; no one told him how much they'd miss him over the school year. Albus stopped being embarrassed.
James was already gone, goofing with his friends. "Love you!" he called over his shoulder.
"See you, mum," Lily mumbled. Harry crushed both Albus and his little sister into a hug.
Aunt Hermione was nearly in tears as she saw off her kids. Uncle Ron was just smiling at them, as if to say, Your mother's crazy, just ignore her. This got him a half-hearted elbow in the ribs.
Mr. Thomas hugged his daughter and then the four friends were off. Conversation came easy, and it seemed no time at all had passed when they arrived at the compartment Ever was holding for them.
Her hair was splayed across the seat she was lying on. It was brown with multi-colored streaks. She was wearing dark jeans, combat boot, and a white shirt with a cool black design on it. The design was partly covered by a black vest.
She was laying with her feet on one of the long seats, and with her head on the other. Her arms were behind her head as if the ceiling of the train was the most interesting thing in the world. She didn't seem even a little shy. That's why Albus loved having her as a friend.
Her mouse, Abigail, was sleeping next to her. Ever was the only one of the bunch who had a pet.
Albus leaned forward so that his face was right above hers, and they were looking at each other. Her eyes were grey-blue, opposed to Indigo's icy blue irises. "These seats taken?" Albus asked, smiling at his friend.
She grinned back. "I don't know. What's the password?"
He tapped his chin, as if thinking about it. "Hm. Is it, 'Ever's the coolest, best witch in the universe'?"
She sat up. "Close enough," she concluded.
Rose and Indigo sat next to Ever on one side, and Scorpius sat next to Albus on the other.
Indigo was wringing her hands, something she did when she was upset. Albus pretended not to notice. She'd talk about it if she wanted to.
"Are you taking Divination?" Albus asked no one in particular.
"Of course, I will," Ever volunteered. "I have the 'Inner Eye',"
She made it sound so dramatic, but it was also very true. She had more Inner Eye in her pinkie finger then their teacher did in her whole body.
"No." Rose said. "It's all chance and guessing. Mum says that Professor Trelawney only made two correct predictions in their three years of that class."
"That's two more then I would've given her credit for." Scorpius said, which got him a dark look from Rose.
"I'm taking the class," Indigo burst out. Then she blushed slightly as they all looked at her. The blush was actually very cute. "I mean, those few correct predictions could be important, you know."
"Yeah," Albus agreed. "Both of them helped my dad a lot." Then to all of them, "Has anyone got Firenze?"
"Me," Scorpius and Indigo said at the same moment.
Ever frowned. "I have Trelawney. Gross. I wanna be with you guys." Then she shrugged and gave a small smile. "Mum's always saying I should 'broaden my horizons'."
Albus grinned at her. "You get on with all that broadening."
"I think I might."
Then Indigo blurted, "What house do you think my brother will be in?"
Scorpius and Rose were deep in conversation about Muggle Studies, which Albus, Ever, and Indigo had not chosen to take. Albus looked at Indigo and shrugged.
"It doesn't matter much. Scorp'll still give him nuggies no matter what."
She grinned. His stomach did that flip thing again. "He hasn't done that in years."
Every summer, they spend a week or so at Indigo's house, then Albus's, then Rose's, and Scorpius's. Even though Ever's been to all of their houses a number of times, they'd never seen her home. She gets weird when you talk about it, so they just don't.
Albus laughed. The picture of a young, squirming Antony Thomas was stuck in his mind. "You never know. Maybe he'll beg to be in Hufflepuff just so he doesn't have to deal with us."
She laughed, too. "I wouldn't doubt it."
Then the candy cart rolled around, and Albus and Scorpius jumped up at the same moment.
"Two chocolate frogs, and a licorice wand, please." Albus ordered. Then he looked at his friends. "Anyone else want something? On me."
"Well, if it's on you," Ever said, and ordered a pack of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Jelly Beans.
Indigo got Acid Pops, which she paid for herself. Then Albus paid for Rose's Cockroach Clusters and Scorpius's Fizzing Whizbee's.
Once the cart was gone, Ever wrinkled her nose at Rose. "I don't know how you can eat those."
"They're good," Rose defended and took a bite of one. It made a loud crunch noise that made Ever gag.
Scorpius leaned closer to Albus and whispered, "How much do you want to bet that Ever's got all bogey flavored?"
Albus laughed. "Knowing our luck, she just might."
Sure enough, when Ever took her first bite; she spit it out like it was burning her. The chewed up jelly bean missed Scorpius by inches. "I'm pretty sure that was slug."
"You've got a lot of practice tasting those, have you?" Scorpius joked, which got him a small glare.
Ever took out her small sketch-pad, which no one really noticed because she did all the time. Only Albus knew why she had it. Only he knew why she used it.
Indigo, Rose, and Scorpius were talking about Quidditch, so they didn't really notice when Albus asked to speak to Ever in the corridor. Indigo looked up immediately, probably trying to see if something was wrong. Albus gave her a small smile, and she half-heartedly returned to conversation.
Once out in the corridor, with door closed securely, Albus whispered, "Are you having visions again?"
She had the Inner Eye more then anyone knew.
"So what if I have?" It wasn't mean or sharp, just a faint question.
"It could be important." He insisted. "Please tell me?"
"I will," she sighed. "Later. When I know we're alone."
It was better then what he'd thought would happen. He nodded. "Okay. You'll tell me later then. Promise?"
"Sure, Al, I promise."
"Good."
Ever did not make promises lightly.