Chapter 4

Albus' stared at the book, the cause of his and the wizarding world's misfortune. It was beautiful was blood red rubies' and golden yellow ambers but the stone that stood out the most was an emerald carved into a snake circling around a non reflective mirror. Albus stroked the snake and then it all started a burning sensation edged through his veins of is left are and a pain as though somebody had thrown a brick on his head struck his forehead. Then just bellow his left had a red burning flame carved its way through his arm. Sweat poured down his forehead and there was so much pain then Albus couldn't make a noise. The red flickering went on carving itself into a snake had bellow his left hand. Now green flames were licking there way through. Albus sprung out of bed and ran toward the bathroom to put cold water on it. But he let out a howl out pain and it al went dark.

'Albus, Albus, AL!' Jack said clapping his hand against his face.

Albus opened his eyes and four faces were hovering around him through his glasses he could barely make out a face but yet he could hear everything clearly.

'What do we do? Take him to the hospital wing?' Zack Thomas' voice seemed to ask.

'I don't know? I mean he has only been out for about 5 minutes' Colin responded half asleep.

Albus let out a moan clutching his head trying to relive the dizziness and pain.

'Whoa, Al that was so scary, you like scremed so loud and then you like passed out, we had no idea what happened to you mate!' Jack said helping him up.

'You alright. What happened' Sam said shivering.

'Yeah, I suppose. Sorry about you know and I don't really want to talk about it right now. Albus said hobbling into bed.

They all looked like they were in shock but they all said goodnight once more and hopped into bed. Albus stared at the blackened scar as he rolled up his sleeve thankfully as luckily it had rolled down not to cause any fuss. The scar was as black as charcoal with a winding snake. He put his glasses on the bedside table and tossed over trying to fall asleep and not think of the event that happened that night. He finally drifted off into a restless night sleep, waking up in sweat after his dream of the book and scar.

As he peered out the window it was a breaking into dawn so he put on his dressing gown and his glasses and avoided looking at the book or the scar. Jack snored heavily and he tiptoed downstairs to the common room to find Rose who was always up early. He was right. She was sitting in an arm chair by the fire reading Hogwarts a History and at the far end was too girls reading witch weekly who looked as if they were both 15.

'Rose?' Albus whispered tapping her back. She jumped up and let out a quiet squeak.

'Al, what are you doing up so early it's not like you at all!' She said half cross and half surprised.

'Well, I had a rough night sleep and last night…something really strange happened.'

Rose look concerned and tapping a seat on the sofa next to her.

As Albus' explained Rose looked more worried and worried and finally after he was done she said half in panic.

'Albus, you need to tell our parent right now! If what I think is correct then something is strange and horrible is going on here. We should defiantly go to the owlery now!'

'Rose! I cannot just send mum and dad d a letter saying, oh by the way Hogwarts is great so far other than a minor detail that a have a scar of a snake on my arm and a book that is really dangerous!'

'But Albus you must, what is happing to you seems like very dark magic and I don't think the person who caused this did it for a good reason.'

'Rose maybe it is a prank or something I mean there is no point in…' She cut him off.

'Bring me the book' she said strictly.

Albus ran up the spiral staircase a little too loud and woke up Jack. Jack bolted up right and groaned.

'Albus it's too early in the morning, you know the first day for the first years is a half day!' Albus nodded at Jack and looked quickly at the book took a deep breath and held it by the corner. Jack groaned and took it out of his hand a followed followed him downstairs.

'Oh, Rose is here…I better go back to bed!' Jack said before Rose mumbled loudly

'I don't bite'

'Sure you don't' Jack said loudly

'Excuse me, what exactly have I done to you for you to hate me so much.'

I don't know you tell me!' Jack said fuming his face tomato red.

Rose crossed her arms and dragged Albus to her side. Jack following him.

'Can't you tell your not wanted here Jack.' Rose spoke up

'That's exactly why I am here!' Jack sniggered.

Albus rolled his eyes and told Jack to give Rose the book. He explained everything to her that he knew.

'Hmmm, interesting. Okay Al if you refuse to tell our parents then we'll have to tell Neville.

'Huh? Neville, what do you mean Neville?'

'Professor Longbottom. Our parent's are good friends.' Rose answered back sharply

'Okay, just a question' Jack growled.

'After breakfast' Albus said quietly as he and Jack stood up to get dressed and go for breakfast.

They met back with Rose and walked out of the door into the corridor where they stood for a minute discussing how to get there. Then they saw Dominique walking out of the fat ladies portrait.

'Oh hello Rosie and Al haven't spoken to you since you left the station. How are you? Enjoying Hogwarts?' Dominique asked eagerly.

'Oh Dom, it's amazing better than I thought infact! We are heading down for breakfast but I don't know how to get there! Can you help us! Rose said excitedly as if what Albus had told her was at the back of her mind.

'Of course! Oh and sorry to be rude! What's your name?' Dominique said putting her hand through her flaming red hair. She was very pretty as her mother Fleur was part Veela and had an athletic body.

'J-J-Jack Cald-d-derwood.' He stuttered looking embarrassed

She smiled and led them to the Hall where there were quite a lot of students. They found a table and on there plates appeared boiled egg and soldiers. Jack appeared to be delighted but Albus' picked had his toast not feeling peckish what so ever. Rose too looked distracted looking around everywhere for Professor Longbottom. She dipped her toast in her egg and elbowed Albus hard in the ribs when professor Longbottom walked through the Hall. She flagged him down and both Jack and Albus looked ashamed.

'Hello, professor Longbottom how are you this morning' Rose asked politely.

He responded saying he was good then asked them about so far at Hogwarts and once again Rose looked ecstatic about answering. Then she finally asked

'Professor we have a problem… a concern and we wondering of we could ask you about it… in private if that's ok?' Rose asked

'Of course Rose I have classes very soon but during first break at 10:00 I'll be in my office by the Herbology green houses.'

The thanked him and walked towards the staff table to be served his breakfast.

The morning sped by as they went to the common room Rose sat in the corner reading and Albus and all the first years ate bertie bott's every flavoured beans and laughed at there each other's faces when they came across a strange flavoured one.

They walked down with their fellow class mates and there first subject was charms where professor Flitwik who looked very old stood on books as he was extraordinarily small. He just talked about the simple rules of charms and demonstrated a few spells.

When break time arrived they bumped into Roxanne who was really happy too see and talk to Rose and Albus. She also talked to Jack who just simply nodded at her or shook his head. She showed them the way to the herbology green houses and they walked to professor Long bottom's office. Rose knocked on the door and the teacher emerged.

'Rose, Albus and….'

'Jack' He said sounding rather frustrated.

They walked into the office which had a desk crammed at the back of the room and a large collection of potted plants were everywhere and green rug that appeared to have a charm on it to make flowers grow every few seconds and about 5 bookcases crammed with an endless supply of books to do with everything about herbology. They stood on the odd rug when the professor asked.

'What was it that you wanted to see me about?'

'We have a concern on what happened last night to Albus, Al explains!' Rose said worriedly.

Albus explained every thing to the teacher as he walked slowly toward a plotted plant and started fiddling with it worriedly. After he was done rose seemed to question the professor asking if she was right.

Then Neville finally said 'Albus, I am very sorry to tell you this out of my knowledge I have no idea what it is but it looks a lot like dark magic. We must alert you parents, they will know what it is.'

But before Albus could protest the scar burned once more flashing green. He could see Rose and Jack's frightened and panicked faces and Neville's eyes looking more worried than ever. Then Albus shut his eyes and all he saw was a hooded figure standing in a forest of some sort with a ring with a black stone in his hand. My lord I've found it, it is time the boy's life may now be taken by yours, only in a matter of months and your soul may live on. Then Albus could not feel a single bone in his body not a single pump off blood not a single heartbeat or breath and his mind with blank unable to think and went all dark.

Now you understand that the dark times are rising once more and many more dark and powerful wizards will become at large. Albus' life may not be around for much longer as something evil will take his place.