Albus Potter and The Chalice of Morgana
Disclaimer : I do not own Harry Potter, It's characters or it's locations no matter how much I would love to.
A/N : This is my first fanfic any criticism is welcome and if you have any guideline you would like to give to the story please do.
p.s see the note at the bottom.
Chapter 1: There's A New Day Coming
Albus Severus Potter had had enough. He was barely in his seat before the questions started.
' Oh my god you're Albus Potter! You like exactly like your dad, think you can get me an autograph?'
'I heard you and you're family have the best brooms in the industry think you'll be flying this year?
'Hey think you can put in a good word with your brother, he is so cute.'
That last question was the last straw. He looked over to his cousin Rose to see if she was fairing better but from the scowl on her face and the reddening of her cheeks he could tell she was in as deep water as he was. All in all they couldn't blame him for his next actions.
Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a small round object. It was a product of his Uncle George's own creation. Apparently his granddad had taken it upon himself to study the 'odd thingy that hooks up to the viewer box' or video games and came across a particularly nasty one about killing people in some made-up muggle war. Granddad immediately threw away the game but not before Uncle George saw what is known as a flash-bang and locked himself in the workroom for three weeks perfecting said object until it was quote unquote non-lethal. The result was a bright, blinding light that caused disorientation for about two minutes. The perfect getaway distraction.
Or the best way to get on Grandma Molly's bad side. Suffice to say the demonstration did not go over well with her...
Apologizing in advance to Rose in his head, he discretely flicked the ball into the air and covered his eyes. At the resulting flash and screams of panic he ducked out the compartment and headed for the back of the train.
Albus had no problem moving through the crowds. As arguably the quietest of the Potter/Weasley Clan aside from Hugo, he maneuvered his way through the panicky first years and excitable students with ease only pausing momentarily to see his brother James and his friends gesturing enthusiastically over what can only assume is quidditch.
Noting the compartment in his head he continued his trek towards the back of the train. After awhile the crowds were becoming scarce and the noise level silent. Finding his final destination, Albus opened the door to the last carriage and stepped inside.
Only to freeze in place.
The last cart was empty but that wasn't the problem here the problem was the atmosphere, something was off in here but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Taking a deep breath and cursing his inherited curiosity he ventured forward checking every compartment, finding each empty. At the final one Albus paused and breathed in. He could sense something beyond the door. Pulling out his wand he readied himself and stepped in.
Once in saw something he was not expecting to see.
In his ever creative mind he made out the compartment to have some horrific creature in it or at the very least a dead body.
'Okay, maybe not a dead body.' he thinks with a shudder.
But the thought remained. He was definitely not expecting to see a small table filled to the brim with little cakes and tea. And he was expecting even less to see a beautiful woman drinking said tea and eating a small cake. Speaking of beautiful women.
'Wow.' was the only coherent thought Albus could process at the moment.
He had never been under the impression that girls were gross like certain members of his family *cough* James *cough* but the woman in front of him was beautiful on a cosmic scale. And also very powerful. She was sitting very quaintly sipping tea her long blonde hair falling in curls to her waist. She had wide eyes and full lips on a pointed face. Her ears had a slight point to them and were adorned in diamond earrings.
She was wearing long robes that were a pale yellow in color and decorated in fine jewels. She appeared no older than eighteen. And she was looking right at him.
"Hello." she said her voice sounding eerily like chimes.
"Uh hello." Albus replied keeping a wary eye on the woman in the compartment.
"Would you like some tea?" she asked.
"Um I don't think..." he began.
"Oh do come in you're letting in a draft." she commented.
Looking behind him he slowly closed the door and sat in the seat opposite her. She seemed relatively harmless. Albus sat, playing with his wand, not yet ready to put it away, looking every where but the lady in front of him.
"Nervous?" she asked, a small smile on her face.
Nervous? Of course he was nervous sitting in a small compartment opposite a beautiful stranger whom seemed powerful enough to hex him into next year.
As if she heard his thoughts her smile broadened and she replied.
"No special boy about school. You are nervous about which house you are to go in, no?
Albus started a little at the question. "No...I...um...that's not." he sighed "Yes."
The Woman's smile softened. "Do not fret young one for it is a rational fear. Your know, your house can decide your whole future if you let it."
Looking up at her he asked "Did you go to Hogwarts?"
She smiled wistfully "No special boy but I wished I did."
At the use of the nickname a second time he asked "Why do you call me Special boy? There's nothing special about me?
Her smile came back in full force "Ay, but you are somebody's special boy aren't you."
It was said as if a fact not a question and Albus didn't have time to reply before she started talking again, apparently to herself.
"Ah four houses, four choices, four different paths. I wonder which one he'll choose. The path of bravery, the path of wisdom, the path of ambition or the path of loyalty. Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin or Hufflepuff.
"Four houses, four choices, four different paths and each with a different destination. And at each destination the fate of a world."
She looked back at him now eyes hard and calculating.
"And which path will you choose?"
At that question all the air in the room seemed to vanish and Albus felt light-headed and a cold chill ran up his spine at the sudden intensity in the room.
Panic began to form in his head from the tense situation.
' This is too much I can't think of this now.' 'Do I have to answer her and what happens if I don't?'
But before he could answer or faint for that matter, she clapped her hands and smiled again. "Oh but all of that can wait till later, how about some tea?" she asked politely.
Still a bit shell shocked he nodded absentmindedly and drank.
It was good tea.
While he drank the delicious tea the woman spoke again.
"I see great things in your future Albus Potter, great things."
At the use of his name he snapped back to reality.
"I didn't tell you my name." He asked accusingly.
She looked at him like one might look at a toddler who just dribbled on his chin. "Everyone knows your name Mr. Potter." was her reply.
Okay, she had him there. "Well you know my name but what's yours?"
She opened her mouth to reply but then shut it instantly and looked towards the door as if she heard something.
"Dear me I've lost track of time." she mumbled absentmindedly.
"Who are you?" he asked more forcefully this time.
Her head snapped back to him so fast he swears she must have got whiplash. She raised her finger to her mouth as if to shush him, winks and says:
"Spoilers."
She then gets up and heads to the door. The tea and the table disappearing as she leaves. In one last effort Albus shouts at her:
"What is your name!"
She looks back at him for a moment as if contemplating something before smiling and whispering "Xana."
She turns and heads out the door in a shower of gold leaving no indication she was ever present.
"Xana." Albus repeated once she left before settling back down in his seat and thinking over what just happened. Who was that woman? What were her goals? What does she want with me?
A small voice rang in his head 'four houses, four choices.'
"And four different destinations." He whispered to himself.
But before he had time to further contemplate the statement the door slammed open and a white haired boy poked his head in.
"Oh didn't realize this was taken, I'll find somewhere else."
He had immediately recognized the boy as Scorpius Malfoy. He had seen him once at a Gala their parents were attending a couple years ago but Albus was busy defending himself from his brother's antics to properly meet the boy.
"No that's okay you can stay."
To say the boy was surprised would be an understatement. He paused his eyes widening slightly and mouth open before quickly putting a mask of cool and replying
"O...kay." Though it sounded more like a question than an actual answer.
"Yeah it's cool come on in, there's plenty of room."
This caused the other boy to chuckle before bringing in his luggage. He raised his eyebrows at that they had to have left the station an hour ago.
"Isn't it a bit late to be choosing a compartment?"
Scorpius chuckled a bit before responding as he put up his trunk
"I suppose but we only left the station ten minutes ago so my timing isn't completely off."
Albus started at his reply "What?" he asked already dreading the answer.
"The station we left ten minutes ago, where's your head, Potter? was Scorpius's reply.
He was giving him the same dribbling baby look Xana had given him. He supposed in this situation it was kinda appropriate.
"I just lost track of time, that's all."
Scorpio raised an eyebrow but didn't comment any further choosing instead to settle in his seat and look out the window. The silence that followed was drawn out and awkward. Neither boy said anything simply looking out the window evading eye contact. Albus opened his mouth to speak a few times but after finding he didn't know what to say he closed it. Deciding he had enough of the silence Albus slid forward in his seat
"Albus Potter." he said holding his hand out. Scorpius turned his attention to Albus and seeing his hand, looked at it like it was some foreign creature about to bite him.
"What do you think you're doing?" he asked incredulously.
"Introducing myself." Albus replied.
"I'm fairly sure I know who you are Potter."
"And I know who you are but we've never actually been formally introduced, so.." he shoved his hand forward again.
"Albus Severus Potter." he said.
Scorpius looked at his hand and back at him before grabbing his hand, albeit reluctantly, and proudly declared.
"Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy, nice to make your acquaintance."
"Nice to meet you Scorpius."
Scorpius smiled and Albus smiled back and for the second time today the door slammed open.
"There you are Albus I've been looking all over for you." Rose say as she steps into the compartment.
"You could've warned me before bolting and leaving me with those vultures and oh, hello." she said noticing Scorpius for the first time.
"Scorpius meet Rose, Rose meet Scorpius."
"Scorpius eh?" she says turning her head to him and lifted her chin in the hair.
"Hello Scorpius Malfoy, My name is Rose Weasley and I'll be beating you in every test we have until we graduate." she announced before sitting down next to Albus.
Both of Scorpius's eyebrows flew up at the sudden declaration, his eyes cut to Albus and back to Rose before he smirked and replied:
"In your dreams, Weasley."
And thus began the first of many Rose/Scorpius arguments the trio would endure during the journey ahead of them. None of them had any idea how hard the path ahead of them would be.
Far away, unbeknownst to the children, three figures in black robes watch the ongoing scene through a large decorated mirror on a wall in an dark, dank room. The faces of the conversing children shown clearly on the mirror.
"Are you sure they are the ones?" the tallest figure asked in a deep, grave voice.
"Yes the oracle has spoken, they will bring great things. Great things." The middle figure replied in a raspy voice.
"They are but children!" The smallest figure screeched a high pitched noise that could break glass. "What can they do?"
"You should know by now how powerful a child can be." the tallest figure says ominously.
He turns his head to the back of the room. "What say you Xana, this is your project after all."
A fourth figure emerges from the darkness. The familiar tall blonde woman with the curly hair walks out towards the mirror, her very presence bringing light to the dark room.
"The boy is strong, stronger than he thinks and with with friends even stronger than that " She says as she runs her hand along the mirror pausing on the visage of Albus. "but I cannot predict how this particular tale will end. These next few hours are very critical. A choice must be made and a path must be paved. Where the path leads depends on the boy."
"Well then lets hope he chooses right."
The tall figure states as they all watch the train and it occupants get closer and closer to their final destination, Hogwarts.
A/N part 2 : I do have a request for readers I would like to offer you guys the choice to choose which houses Albus and the gang will join, I have a plan for each. Although know this Albus isn't going to be in Gryffindor because I have plans for that house. *insert evil laugh*. You can say which house you want to see them in in the reviews or you can PM me with your choice.
And also I am going to need a Beta reader so if you would like the position PM me and let me know.
- Anna