Iron John
1. The mansion on the forest's edge
Al Potter looked around his new room with satisfaction. He just finished the arrangement of the new furniture and packed away his belongings. The new house was really great. He approached the big window which looked straight to the deep, dark forest.
Less than a hundred yards away began a dense jungle, which was on par with the forbidden forest near Hogwarts. He placed his telescope at the window and looked forward to observe the stars and perhaps some wild animals at night.
"Hey, here again at last?" a raspy voice said behind him. In the doorframe stood his brother, James, with stylish tousled hair, still in his Hogwarts uniform.
Albus shrugged tiredly. "Since two hours. How was the train ride?". James pursed his lips. "Boring. As always. Since chaperones are coming along, no fun is allowed."
Albus knew his brothers sense of fun in all details. So he only nodded. "Look, the view is great." he said as a kind of peace offer. James came in and opened the door to the small balcony. "Great" he allowed. Then he got to the point. "I heard something new." he said. "Father did not buy the mansion. The ministry has given it for investigation purposes. In this forest. If he is successful, he can keep the house for free." Albus looked perplexed at his brother. "Oh, knows mum about it? She will be delighted!" he growled sarcastically. "She was so looking forward when dad resigns from the aurors!"
James gave an annoyed snort. "A quiet stupid idea, if you'll ask me. He could be Head Auror, but he is to good for this evil world."
"You'll tell me, James." answered Albus. "How was Hogwarts?"
James sighed. "Boring. Somehow nothing is going on. Maybe I should imitate you."
Albus did not return to Hogwarts after his first year. Four months after his arrival he got sick and the medical in St. Mungos suggested the absence from the old castle. Harry and Ginny Potter reluctantly sent him to a private lesson with a warlock in Krakow. He stayed there for two years and should go back to Hogwarts with the next term. But this was his greatest fear. He felt trapped there.
His parents were horrified. For them Hogwarts - the school of witchcraft and wizardry - was a second home. They seemed never to stop telling stories about it. His aunts and uncles also raved about the old castle. Albus always shuddered inwardly when he had to listen to the boring stories.
Eventually his father relented and had extended his stay in Krakow again and again.
But now it should end. Albus sighed quietly.
James had meanwhile entered the balcony. The view was really breathtaking.
"Oi!" he exclaimed suddenly. "Is that yours?" Albus rushed to see, what he meant. On the railing sat a raven. And what a raven! It was a rare magical Raven of Prey, nearly as big as an eagle and his pitch black feathers were glowing in the evening sun. "No, I see it for the first time too." said Albus and stepped forward. The raven was wearing an expensive ring on his left leg, so he was the property of someone. "Great bird!" said James, "I'd like to possess one too, but they are virtually priceless. And rare, very very rare."
Albus took a piece of fresh liver from the food bowl of his owl and gingerly offered it to the raven. The bird took it graciously.
"I'll write to my professor." announced Albus. "He is a passionate crypto zoologist and he can write me some facts about the Corvus rapio scotia. Perhaps I can keep it." James pointed grinning to the raven who took flight at that very moment. "Okay." said Albus. "Probably not." He shrugged. "Will see it again, I'm sure"
Kreacher came in and called them to dinner.
The family gathered around the large dining table, which they loved in Godrics Hollow already. Aunt Hermione, Uncle Ron, Rose and Hugo were also present. Albus was happy about that, because he had not seen them in a while.
"Alright," opened Harry the table. "We'll drink to the new house. However, there are still a few things to say." That was the traditional phrase about trouble in the Potter household. Ginny rolled her eyes and sighed. "The villa is an incentive that was given to me from the Minister of Magic for my last case as an auror. Yes you heard it right, this is my last investigation and I will stop this career and devote to more beautiful things in future. Before that, I'll clean this forest" he gesticulated with his fork in the general direction of the forest, "from dark elements. And therefore please do not enter this woodland. Inside of this jungle five huntsmen went missing in the last year. The muggle prime minister personally asked to intervene. Our minister suspects Death Eaters. I believe wild animals. But, Ron and myself will find out soon. I gain the house and Ron will become Senior Chief Auror. What do you say?"
Albus looked furtively toward Hermione. She did not show anything, but if you looked more closely, saw her discomfort. "I conclude the Death Eaters, there aren't any on the lose." she said. "I'd say meanwhile they are urban legends! Even the permanent Snape sightings are more than laughable."
Albus gnawed his chicken leg and ignored the further communications. He wondered, if he could talk to Hermione about his Hogwarts problem. She was the only open minded person to take his side. He decided to wait for a suitable moment.
Unfortunately the moment did not appear. But another telling incident took place. He climbed the staircase, when he heard the voices of his parents in the drawing room. He never resisted a chance to gain information so he listened.
"He does not want to go to Hogwarts?" he heard his mother say. "Don't think so. James told me, he wishes to go to Poland again. And he seems to be very determined." his father growled. "It becomes awkward. What is it about him? We all were there and did it hurt us? No! It was a great time. Well, minus the Carrows. And Snape. And Filch. Okay, but everything else... What will people say? Sometimes it is as if I had a disabled child!" "Now, Now!" intervened Harry. He understood his wife perfectly, but that last comment was a bit to much. "Did someone talk about it? Someone at all?"
Ginny paced before the window. "No, yes. My mother." Harry laughed exasperated. "Your mother. Really, Gin!"
Albus had heard enough. His own mum believed him disabled, because he would not sleep in one dormitory with several farting and snoring boys? Great!
He locked his room and took his telescope. The night was warm and moonlit, he observed the forest. One time he even thought he saw an unicorn between the trees.
But when he adjusted the telescope, he saw a man between two pale birch trees, who looked up to the house. He was startled and looked closer. The man was gone. Albus wondered if it was a play of the moonlight. He packed his telescope and closed the window. He could not sleep and stared at the ceiling for a long time.
