Chapter 3- All secrets
Sarah watched as her third year class worked on a simple calming draught. It was Hufflepuff and Gryffindor. Her eyes trailed to James who was whispering in a Hufflepuff girl's ear. The female giggled with a small blush on her cheeks.
"10 points from Hufflepuff and Gryffindor Mr. Potter, Ms. Sona!" Sarah loudly proclaimed. The two paused as did the rest of the class. James glared softly at her. Whereas Sammy Sona blushed with embarrassment for being called out. "For not working and flirting!" Everyone went back to work. James normally got Gryffindor points. However, whenever it came to potions class he was deducting the most points. It was obvious since his first year that Snape didn't like him. To be honest Sarah didnt hate him because he was a Potter, or anything like that. In fact she wanted to like him. However being just like his grandfather he ruined his chance with her. In his first year it was simple annoyance and pranks. Second year she was hoping he'd at least try harder. Yet, he still didn't mature, and he didn't do well with other snakes. He traumatized a first year Slytherin. He had sent a boggart on the Hunter quintuplets. They ended up having nightmares for the rest of the term. Sarah had to constantly give them calming draughts and dreamless potions. That spoiled any chance of him being on her good side.
"Hey did you do it?" Fred Weasley whispered from behind James. Sarah acted as if she wasn't listening and doing paper work. Though she could hear clearly.
"Yep…now Malfoy will end up with nightmares too," James whispered back. "I doubt he even knows about marking." Sarah froze in her work. Suddenly James' cauldron burst into pieces. Several smacked him in face. Other students near ended with the same fate.
"100 HUNDRED POINTS FROM GRYFFINDOR!" She screeched. The students paled in fear. James glared at her.
"What the hell for?!" James boomed. Sarah pulled out her wand and pointed it at him. His face paled to a deadly color. "What are you doing?" he whimpered. Sarah gave him the deadlest glare she could.
"I wonder if a trip to Azkaban is worth it," she wondered aloud. Everyone including James backed away to the back of the room. "Oh I think it is." She started making her way towards the young Potter. "However I cant risk it. If I get arrested my little serpents will be at your mercy, and I will not allow that. 100 hundred more points from Gryffindor." She walked back up to her desk. She turned back to face the crowd. "You are all dismissed." The students ran the hell out of there. Sarah leaned against one on the desks taking in a shaky breath. Too close….way too close that time. She looked around her class and sighed. Such a wonderful room it was. If only people could see it. "I suppose I shall go and get lunch."
Albus Potter hurried down the corridors to his DADA class. Sadly he'd missed breakfast and his roommates left him in bed. He wasn't mad at them. No he had a headache so he forgave them this time. Allison and Lavinia were bugging him to see Madam Pomfrey for pain killers, but he didn't feel like seeing her just yet. Scorpius barely spoke to him. Probably still thinking about what happened with James. Luckily Nathanile wasn't there at the time. Heaven knows that boy would have taken Albus by the arm and drag him down to the hospital wing. In a scurry he ripped open the DADA door and stepped inside the classroom. Professor Demos turned to face him.
"Ah Mr. Potter how wonderful of you to finally join us," he smirked. The Hufflepuffs snickered rather loudly. Albus kept a straight face as he sat down next to Scorpius. The blond stiffened as he sat down. Albus mentally frowned. "I was just about to pair everyone off to see if anyone one is capable of performing the disarming spell." Albus smiled to himself. He already knew spells up to NEWTS level. Seeing as his family rarely involves him in anything he simply sits down with a cup of sage tea and reads school books. Hermione was glowing with pride when she learnt of his obsession for learning. Harry told Albus once that he got his love for learning from his grandmother Lily. Then Albus was glowing with pride and satisfaction. He wasn't anything like the Potter-Weasleys. He was more like the Evans part of him.
Albus noticed that there was an uneven amount of students. He then realized that Lavi got paired against two female badgers. Now that made his blood boil. How dare they! Two against one isn't the least bit fair! They were told to begin. He stared at Selen Sona who wasn't looking at him in the eye. He sighed closing his eyes. Quickly he raised his wand (eight inches, basilisk skin, basilisk core) at her.
"Vale….Expelliarmus!" A beam of green light shot from the tip of his wand. Selen wasn't able to do anything as her wand slipped from her hand and landed in his. Albus kept a blank face, however it was clear that he was trying to hide his smile. Selen stared at him with a hint of fear. This actually began to worry him. He was expecting a frown or ya know….that glare that all the other houses give you when you've beat them. Albus quickly glanced over at his other classmates. Scorpius, Thomas, and Gemini were doing well much like himself. However, Lavi, Ally, and Olean weren't doing the best. Then again majority of the Hufflepuffs weren't doing that great either.
"Forty points from Slytherin!" Demos bellowed scaring half the not so focused kids. Albus went still. "For trickery and cheating!"
"We didn't do any of those!" Oleander yelled back. Demos glared at the brunet. The boy gladly did the same.
"Fifty points from Slytherin and fifty to Hufflepuff….oh and detention with Mr. Malfoy for a week." He then dismissed the class. The seven losing all faith in today stuck together and quickly fled the cursed room. They practically ran to the great hall for lunch. Luckily when they got there James and majority of Albus's family weren't there. All except Rose and Victoire. Cadent and Nate were there already seated. They waved them over. They sat and slowly ate having lost their appetites after losing fifty points.
"Albus," a silky voice called out. The table went quiet. The raven looked up to see his blonde cousin. His eyes widen as she smiled down at him. "How have you been Al?" he saw Cadent gap and Nate shutting his mouth. Albus gulped.
"Okay…and y-you?" he timidly asked. She sat beside him and ruffled his already messy hair.
"I'm alright..and I'm sorry," she whispered. He stared into her sincere pale blue eyes. "I should have been more firm with the others when you were first sorted. Though it seems mere words wont hold past grudges…its annoying really." She glanced at the table seeing how all eyes were on her. She sighed and pulled her little cousin into a tight hug. "Just remember Al…no matter what you do me..along with Teddy are on your side." She released him and gave him and his house one big bright smile. Loudly for them and the rest of the hall to hear her she said aloud, "Slytherin is the true light house. And I wish I was apart of this amazing house. Don't lose hope..your time is approaching!" with that she got up and left the great hall leaving all in shock.
"I am…in love with your cousin Potter," Cadent said. The house nodded in agreement.
An: When ever a Slytherin says they love someone they normally don't mean romantic love. Just heads up!
Selen Sona younger sister of Sammy Sona waited outside the great hall. As soon as she saw that unruly black hair she took a deep breath and raced after him.
"Albus!" she called out. The seven snakes paused and turned to her simultaneously giving her and guarded look. It scared her a bit but she pushed forward. Selen now stood in front of Albus.
"What is it?" he asked politely. It shocked her. Her sister Sammy said that Slytherins were rude and ugly people.
"I..um wanted to apologize for earlier …in class..." he gave her a confused look.
"Why are you apologizing for something a professor did?" he asked. She sighed.
"Because I didn't stand up for you. I'm weak when it comes to spells…and I let you take the fall for it," Selen told him. Albus and his friends stared at her for a moment. Before all smiling.
"You aint half bad huh," Oleander said. She was taken back. "I like you."
"Yeah your actually nice," Laviana commented. Allison and Gemini nodded. Thomas nudged Scorpius.
"Oh right…your..pretty?" he tried. Selen suddenly giggled. "Hey! Don't make fun of me! Its not like I can practice with the girls in my house!"
"And just what does that mean?" Allison asked hands on her hips. He gave her a blank face.
"I mean that the girls in my own house aren't that cute." The girls smacked him up side the head. Albus rolled his eyes at his friend's quirks. He turned to the amused Hufflepuff.
"Apology accepted Selen…um was that it?" he blushed. Her cheeks redden themselves.
"Oh I was also wondering…if you'd all like to..be my friend?" they paused and gave eachother calculating looks. After a while of silent staring conversation they gave her the yes. Beaming she hugged Albus who blushed so bad his blond friend was snickering behind him.
"Well now…we really should get going everyone," Thomas said. Saying their goodbyes they raced off with glee in their hearts.
Sarah Snape hurried down the corridors to the headmistress's office. She came to a stop at the gargoyles as they glared at her. She glared back and spoke the password 'Indigo.' Quickly she made her way into the neat room filled with books glass and shelves. The sorting hat perched up on the top shelf.
"Was there something you needed Sarah?" McGonagall asked from her desk. Sarah gave the elder woman a quick bow and then answered.
"I wish to use Veritaserum on James Potter," she said. McGonagall was taken back but regained her composer.
"Whatever for Sarah?" the elder asked.
"I believe that James has marked two students." McGonagall lost her composer completely. She knew that James was a trouble maker…but to use a dark spell…and on students?! "One of them is Malfoy…the other I'm not sure of." Shakily McGonagall gave her a nod.
"Very well." Sarah bowed and left leaving a shaking Headmistress.
"Bloody Hell," Oleander and Scorpius growled as they neared the quidditch pit. Gemini played with the ends of Allison's hair as they walked. Thomas was placing Laviana's hair in a bun. The other two boys were death glaring the red and golds from far away. Albus simply kept a blank face up. Like hell he was letting them get to him again. The lions sneered as the seven neared the brooms. Girls were on one side while the boys on the other. Albus thanked Merlin they all were set at the end of the line near the professor. She told to call to their brooms with 'up.'
All the snakes except Thomas and Allison were able to lift their brooms the first time. Rose did well unlike Mails. Albus smirked to himself victorious.
The first years mounted…and that's when shit happened.
"So Sara..whats the matter?" James asked with his smug look still plastered on his face. Snape glared down at the third year with hatred. "Am I getting detention again?" he sat down in the chair behind her form as she remained standing.
"No…not yet atleast," she muttered. "By permission of the Headmistress I'm going to be using Veritaserum on you for some answers." James flattered for a moment before smirking.
"Oh and why would you go so far for answers?"
"Because I know you will lie..especially for this. Then again I'm sure being Gryffindor you are brave to take this and answer," Sarah said holding out the small vile of the potion. James studied it then her before going back to the potion. Finally he sighed and smirked. He took it from her hand and uncorked it. He threw his head back and drank what was in the vile. With one gulp it was all gone. Snape took the glass vile back and waited for the potion to kick in.
"Im ready your greatness," James smirked.
"Did you mark Scorpius Malfoy?" she asked. James became blank then he glared at her. Sarah could tell that he was fighting hard against the potion.
"Yes," he whispered finally. Sarah's breath caught mid.
"Did you mark anyone else? And if so who was it." James growled in his throat, hunched over clutching his head. His body started trembling greatly, as he took rigid breaths. Sarah though wouldn't admit it aloud was impressed by the boy's resistance. Though he wouldn't be able to last long.
"Albus Potter," he breathed slumping in his chair. Sarah could feel her heart breaking, her eyes watering. My poor little Snakes! My poor youngsters! She glared at the red and gold boy that sat back in his chair gazing at her with a blank face. "Is that it," he bit.
"One more question…why?" she was practically begging for a good reason for his actions. She took a step back as he got up. His smirk returned. What? The Veritaserum should last enough for one more question? Unless he!
"That…is a very good question isn't it?" he stood right in front of her. Sarah wasn't all that much taller than him. "I guess I could tell you…or let you wonder for all eternity." She hissed at him but then paused. He wrapped his arms around her neck bringing her ear to his mouth. Her eyes widen suddenly. He spoke so softly..that not even the ghost around the corner couldn't hear.
Albus washed his hair ridding it of mud from earlier. A sudden storm fell in causing massive rain fall that drenched them all in seconds. All out door classes were hence cancelled and students that were soaked were to report to their houses to clean themselves before dinner. He heard the showerhead in the stall next to him turn off. He quietly listened to the footsteps as they trenched across the tile floor and towards the sinks. Albus turned around and drew his curtains slightly to find that familiar mop of platinum hair.
Scorpius stared at his bruised face. It was once healthy and cut free. Now it was sickly pale and carrying marks. He looked down at his hand that held the memory of true fear for him. James Potter had freaking cursed him. He'd read about this marking before coming to Hogwarts. Depending on where you mark your victim you curse them in some way. On the cheek you slowly de age till you turn to an infant and die. On your heel you slowly bleed to death. On the side of the neck the prey earns vicious nightmares on their birthday at night. As for him…on the back of the hand….causes you to slowly lose your life force. Each time you use magic your life span shortens till you die.
"Does it hurt?" a voice breathed behind him. The Malfoy twisted to face Albus who held a hurt look. The raven reached and cradled the cursed hand. He gently creased the hand frowning. "James did this…right?" Scorpius nodded and closed his eyes falling asleep do to the soft warm hand holding his.
"You have one too right?" Scorpius asked starring at Albus's neck. "Can i.." his friend nodded. The boy gently touched Albus's mark causing the raven to shiver. "Sorry." They stared at eachother breathing not talking.
"I get that you two think yourselves cute but I didn't expect you to try it so soon." They wiped around to see the twins. Thomas for the seventh time smacked his brother.
"It will be supper soon," Tom told them as he dragged his brother away. Albus let out a giggle before staring back at his friend.
"I suppose we should be getting ready…and..ah," Albus looked down before covering his eyes. "And get dressed..quickly." Scorpius rolled his eyes at the poor boy. I mean for Merlin's stupidly long beard he was wearing a towel.
All students were chatting about classes and families. Though everyone seemed to seem be oblivious to the Slytherin table who were silently trying to figure out the freaky weather from earlier. Gemini picked at her broccoli that sat on the side of her plate. Allison took notice and gave her a look.
"I don't like this school is all," she muttered. Allison frowned but couldn't help but mentally agree. When she first got her letter she was so excited to start. Getting her items and her beautiful wand. Though the minute she was sorted…things got unpleasant. Yes she was part of a loving house and had amazing friends. But its still hard be happy with the rest of the school trampling all over you.
"Don't worry..its only the first week. We cant give up," she told Gemini. The red head gave her a look that she couldn't place. Though when her friend smiled she eased.
"So…one more day and class before the weekend," Oleander mentioned to their little group. Lavinia threw her hands in the air.
"Thank the Gods!" she screamed. Allison burst out laughing as the others shook their head. They had all read Percy Jackson. Though only Lavinia used the references. "And yes that includes Zeus, Hera, and Ares."
"Hey did you guys hear?" Cadent sat next to Scorpius. "Earlier her Highness used Veritaserum on James Potter." Albus head shot up and glasses swung off hitting Scorpius's cheek in the process. The blond yelped as Cadent laughed. Albus blushed and apologized.
"Whatever for?" Thomas asked. Oleander gave him a dumb face. "It was a question Oleander."
"Yeah a bloody dumb one Tommy!" Said twin smacked his brother. "Anyway Cadent."
"Apparently James had Marked a student or two recently," he whispered. Scorpius and Albus paled glancing at one another.
"Just who told you this?" Gemini asked. Cadent rolled his eyes muttering 'firsties.'
"Peeves…duh!" he threw his hands up smacking Nate in the face. That part of the table went silent waiting….waiting. "Nate?"
"So you think its okay to move places and smack me in the fucking face?!" he roared. Cadent paled as the shorter male grabbed him by the collar and dragged him outside the great hall. Just then Inaz Humphrey came over.
"Al do you mind checking on them for me?" she pleaded.
"Huh! Why me?" he whimpered.
He quietly made his way out of the great hall and into the dimly lit corridor. The moon shone through the high up windows bathing the first year in a beautiful glow. He then remembered he was to check on his classmates. He walked down the hall till he heard a gulp. Quickly he drew his wand and hid behind a pillar peeking. Underneath the moon light he saw it. Something he'd read about in books…but never in a million years thought would witness. Cadent had Nate up against the wall arms wrapped around eachother. Nate was gasping as the sixth year drank from his neck.
…Cadent is a vampire…?..!
Said vampire pulled back resting his head on the boy's shoulder. Both gasping softly. Albus let out a breath he was holding. He met Cadent's now blood red eyes. Quietly the young boy made his way back to the others. When the others asked what took him so long he simply said he got lost in the dark.
Albus sat in front of the green fire. Everyone else had gone to bed to tired to stay up any later. He sighed curling up into a ball. Too many things were happening at once. The sorting, James, Queen Snape, Seren….and Scorpius. His head was pounding slightly. Why couldn't his life be normal for once? He was so deep in thought that he didn't notice the presence in front of him. He looked up at his friend who was in his own bed wear. Scorpius said nothing as he sat next to him. Then he positioned the other so he could lay his head on Albus's lap. The Malfoy spawn buried his face into the raven's stomach. Albus smiled and leaned back as he patted the blond hair. Neither realized that they both fell asleep in that position. Or the ghost watching them with brown red eyes.