Albus Potter and the Midnight Curse

Chapter 1

Summer seemed endless for Albus Severus Potter. Of course, he loved the idea of not having to go to class and work. He loved not having to deal with the bullies that still thought he was unworthy of being a Potter. He loved the idea of waking up as late as he wanted and do whatever he wanted. But he couldn't do that.

He still had some issues with his dad (which they were trying to fix. Key word in trying.) He was stuck for the whole summer with the issues and arguments they had almost daily. Every time they fought, the house fell silent and all eyes went to them. The whole family was trying to live harmoniously, but with Harry and Albus together, it was near impossible.

His brother James didn't really help either. He would go around the house making up little songs about how Albus wasn't the son Harry wanted and he was. He would get in trouble because of this, but it still hurt every time he made up a new tune.

His mother still reminded him every day of the way he and Scorpius had messed up trying to go back and save Cedric. She gave him endless lectures about it, and to 'never ever do it again'. He wasn't planning to anyways. At first, Ginny had been understanding, but as time passed, all the anger and worry she had suppressed came all at once.

The only comfort he had in the house was his little sister Lilly. She had just turned eleven, so she would be attending Hogwarts that year with both James and himself. Lily was so excited with the thought of going to an amazing magical school that she wouldn't stop talking about it.

This might have been obnoxious at first, when she was constantly asking questions about anything and everything Hogwarts related. After a while, Albus realized even though that Lily asked so many questions and talked so much, she never once asked him about the bullies or all the trouble he had had the past year, and he was immensely grateful for that.

Albus had started to spend his afternoons with Lily, answering questions, as a distraction from everything else. Even though she was a pretty great distraction, she still wasn't enough to keep his mind from who he truly needed.

After all that had happened, Albus begun to feel alone. He couldn't stop thinking about Delphi and all the bad things that had happened. He felt guilty that he had almost destroyed the whole wizarding world by almost permitting the most evil and dark wizard in the history of the world to return. The only person who could take his mind off things was his best friend, Scorpius Malfoy.

Every time he was without Scorpius, Albus' mind went to all that had happened. He needed to talk to Scorpius. Even seeing him would help. But that couldn't happen. Scorpius was with his father, Draco, vacationing at their house in Tuscany.

Draco had offered for Albus to come along, clearly seeing that the two young wizards made each other happy just by being in the same room. Even though both Albus and Scorpius were ecstatic at the idea, Ginny and Harry had declined the offer. Ginny had said that Harry and Albus needed to do some bonding this summer, and he needed to be home.

And not being able to go with Scorpius, Albus felt more alone than ever.

So that brings us to the present.

Albus was laying on his bed, eyes still wide open. He couldn't sleep. His mind was going through the events that had occurred in the past year, and no matter what he tried, he just couldn't clear his mind.

Albus glanced at the clock on the other side of the room.

2:37 A.M.

He still couldn't sleep, and his mind was jumping from one thought to the other as he tossed and turned restlessly on his bed.

Then his mind went to the place of no return.

Scorpius.

He needed Scorpius. At the thought of his best friend, so far away, his stomach sank. He missed him terribly, more than he had ever missed anyone before. He just needed to talk to Scorpius. Just a few words would help him clear his mind and end this emotional duel he was having with himself.

13 days.

Just 13 days until I get to see my best friend.

Albus made up a mental image of him seeing Scorpius again, and hugging him tight. At the thought, his whole body relaxed and his mind surprisingly cleared of all negative thoughts.

Albus spent the next couple of minutes thinking of what he would do and say once he did see his best friend. After a few minutes of thinking, he drifted to sleep.

Albus was in Kings Cross train station. He had just run through the wall between platforms 9 and 10, getting to platform 9 ¾.

The air was filled with smoke that erupted form the Hogwarts Express like a milky white river.

Behind him came his brother James, his father, and his little sister Lily clinging to Ginny.

'You'll be alright, Lil. Just be yourself.' Ginny tried to assure the little girl.

Lily nodded nervously, but only calmed down a bit when she saw her cousins Rose and Hugo running towards them, followed by Ron and Hermione.

After a lot of hugs and kisses, the train gave the warning signal.

Ten minutes until departure.

'You'll do fine Lily. And I'll be there for you. We can both be sorted into the same house and we will be first years together.' Hugo said reassuringly. 'We'll be fine', he said, Trying to convince himself more than anyone else.

Albus was looking at the crowd, looking for the familiar silver-blonde hair and grey eyes. And then he spotted it. Even though he couldn't see his face, just his back, he knew exactly who he was.

There was Scorpius.

Albus broke into a run, racing for his best friend. He heard his parents and friends tell after him, but he didn't care. The thought of seeing Scorpius only made him run faster and faster.

When he was barely a few feet away from his friend, he saw the black smoke surrounding Scorpius.

'Scorpius!' He called out. 'Hey Scorpius! It's me! Al!'

But Scorpius didn't react. He didn't turn around or move at all.

Albus instinctively put a hand on Scorpius' shoulder. Only then Scorpius turned around with a small smile on his face.

'Hi. Albus. I've missed you.'

'I've missed you too.' Said Albus and pulled Scorpius into a bone crushing hug.

As soon as Albus' arms were around his friend, he felt a strange warmth flood his body, from the top of his head to the tip of his toes. He had never felt that warmth before, but he knew what it was. It was safety, comfort, peace.

But the moment lasted all too little when he felt like he was hugging air. He opened his eyes and looked at his friend.

Scorpius looked like he did when he was hit by the Cruciatus curse. His expression showed so much pain that it was unbearable for Albus to watch, but he forced himself to, trying to figure out how to help.

Scorpius yelled in pain like he had just a few months before, when Delphi had attacked him.

'Help me! Help me Albus!'

'What do I do?!'

Then Scorpius yelled so loud that Albus felt like his ears were bleeding. Scorpius became paler and paler, almost transparent. He looked like a ghost. Albus reached for his friend and saw that his hnad could go through his friend's body.

'SCORPIUS!' Albus desperately yelled and tried to cling to his friend.

Suddenly, darkness grew upon him and he closed his eyes.

After a few moments, he felt the freezing cold air hit him.

He opened his eyes when he heard a hissing sound. One he heard only ever heard twice before.

The first time was when his father, Harry, had been taking a nap on the couch. Harry had had a nightmare. The second time was when Delphi had been speaking to Harry, thinking he was the dark lord.

He recognized the sound.

Parseltoungue.

Albus knew that there were only very few wizards who had the ability to speak Parseltoungue, and his father, Delphi, and Voldemort were the few known.

Albus was surprised when he realized he could understand what the hissing was saying.

'When the clock strikes twelve, when forbidden love is acknowledged, when the unknown is told to the third, the beast will surge, the loved will die and our Lord will return. Darkness is coming. We're coming.'

Albus' mind was going everywhere. Why could he understand Parseltoungue? What was that prophecy? Forbidden love? What beast? The dark lord will return? What is going on?!

As he was thinking about all the possible meanings of what he had just heard, the world started to shake.

'SCORPIUS! Where are you?!' He yelled again in desperation to find his friend.

'Albus! Albus!' a familiar voice yelled.

And with that, he woke up.