Chapter 4: Howlers

In the morning, after half an hour, Albus and Colin found their way to the Great Hall. Albus' day wasn't off to a good start; he and Colin almost fell off one of the staircases when it suddenly shifted, and not a minute later they ran into Peeves, who didn't allow them to go unless they each ate one of his Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, all of which were either a sickly yellow, a sticky green, or a gooey brown. Luckily, Albus ended up with one that tasted like butterbeer, but Colin swore that he had ended up with a vomit-flavoured one.

In the Great Hall, Albus and Colin sat beside each other on the Gryffindor table, under the enchanted ceiling, which now showed a blue, sunny sky. Albus found out that Roxanne was back, looking quite fine as she fed herself to sausages. The Gryffindor ghost, Nearly Headless Nick, sat beside Albus, patting him on the shoulder, which felt like it had been dipped in icy water. Soon after breakfast, the morning delivery arrived, and Albus saw the family owl, Spot, amongst them, carrying a letter in her beak. It soon landed near Albus without knocking over his glass of pumpkin juice. Albus opened the letter and started reading.

"Dear son Albus,

Ginny and I were very proud when Professor McGonagall sent us and owl saying that you got in Gryffindor. I hope that your first day will be exciting. Don't forget to visit Hagrid with James and Rose on weekends. I'll tell you something very important, so read carefully. My father, James, my godfather, Sirius, Teddy's father, Remus, and a boy named Peter Pettigrew (who betrayed my parents to Voldemort, as I told you one day) made this map called the Marauder's Map. It shows most places in Hogwarts, and it also shows where people are. It is like a blank piece of parchment, but its contents can be revealed by tapping it with your wand and saying, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," and it can be deactivated by tapping it with your wand and saying, "Mischief managed." Your brother James stole it from me yesterday, before we started driving to King's Cross. I know it's him because he had a piece of parchment in his pocket, which he hid from me embarrasedly when I cast him a suspicious look. You have to persuade him to share it with you (no one else), because he still doesn't know how to use it and what it really is. I don't blame him; he wouldn't steal it if he knew it was one of my prized possessions and that it belonged to my father and godfather, but unfortunately Ginny is now, I expect, sending him a—"

Before Albus could find out what Ginny was going to send James, two collosal voices erupted from the Gryffindor table. One of them came from Ginny's fierce sound magnified a hundred times, and the other came from what sounded like a shouting middle-aged man. Albus found out what the voices were; James had received a Howler from his mother, while William Corner had received one from his father, Michael.

The enormous sounds echoed around the Great Hall louder than any voice Albus had ever heard, and it was difficult to hear what each Howler was saying, though he caught snatches of "disgrace to our family" and "stupid kid" from Michael Corner, while Ginny shouted things like "stole your father's prized possessions" and "had enough of your mischievous mind." Albus knew that Michael was shouting about William getting Sorted into Gryffindor, and Ginny was shouting about James stealing the Marauder's Map. A soon while later both Howlers stopped shouting, Ginny's Howler a while later, and the Slytherin table erupted with laughter, which was started by Scorpius Malfoy. A few of the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, and even some Gryffindors, joined in. Peeves was happily singing a mocking song, which was impossible to hear over the roar or laughter.

"You shut up, Malfoy!" shouted Albus and Colin across the hall together.

An embarrassed William kept glancing at the Ravenclaw table, closed his eyes, and opened them, looking green. He looked like he wanted to Apparate. James looked both confused and embarrased. He turned to Albus.

"I don't know, I swear I don't know what's been happening!" James shouted, after the laughter had died out.

"Well, you know a piece of parchment you stole from Dad?" Albus said, feeling sorry for James and not laughing at him. "That's a map of Hogwarts. It shows almost all places in the castle and even shows where the people are. It's called the Marauder's Map. Here, read this letter," he added, shoving Harry's letter into James' hands.

James grew redder and redder as he read on.

"I didn't know it was that valuable!" said James, looking honest as he gave the letter back to Albus. "Honest! I feel so bad for stealing that! I don't deserve at all to have it! Here, you and Rose can have it!"

"Thanks, James, but Dad said to use it together and without Rose, because it's very valuable," said Albus. He looked at the map, activated it, and found his dot, labeled ALBVS POTTER, on the map. He used the map to go to the owlery. As he stepped over owl dropping and bones of dead prey, he finally spotted Hippo, perched handsomely in a corner, between two barn owls. Albus sat down, leaning on the wall, took out his favorite peakock quill and a piece of parchment, and started writing a letter to his father.

"Dear Dad,

Thanks for the map. James was very ashamed and said he's sorry. I feel sorry for him, too. Now I won't have any more trouble finding my way around the castle, and I promise I'll never use it for mischief, not unless it's REALLY important. I promise James and I will keep it safe, and I'll give it back to you after this year, when I learn to find my way in the castle. I'll also keep in mind to visit Hagrid on weekends, but I have to be extra careful of rock cakes!

Your son,

Albus

P.S. James feels very guilty. I hope you'll send him a letter to cheer him up."

He tied the letter to Hippo's foot, and Hippo soared out of the owlery and into the sky, and Albus watched him from the window as he disappeared slowly over the horizon.