A/N: Another chapter for you to devour! I honestly think that this chapter isn't as good as the others, and that I should have written a bit more action into it, but I hope you enjoy it all the same.

Also, quite a few of you are beginning to spot the parallels between this series and the orignal series. Hats off to you, because the idea of 'History repeating itself' *wink wink* will come up again and again if you look closely enough.....on with the story!

***

CHAPTER TEN

Lion, Phoenix and Doe

Several things happened at once.

"Traitor" Esmeralda repeated in that icy, superior voice of hers. "Cowards."

The corridor was deserted. Scorpius dropped the article and took one step back from Esmeralda. Rose tightened her grip on her wand and Molly was muttering all kinds of hexes and jinxes under her breath. Albus could do nothing but stare, following the newspaper cutting as it fell to the floor from Scorpius' trembling hand.

For one crazy moment Albus thought that Scorpius was just going to walk away and leave Esmeralda there. It would certainly be the logical, safe thing to do. But Scorpius was so shocked and angry at Esmeralda's taunts that he was past being logical and safe.

He took another step back, and then –

"Expelliarmus!" he shouted, his wand out before Albus could register the movement. Esmeralda flew backwards and landed, quite unceremoniously, on the floor a good few metres behind them. Scorpius was next to her in seconds, his wand pointing at her heart.

"You don't know anything about my Dad" he snarled furiously. "You don't know how much what happened in the war affected him. You have no idea how sorry he is for what did. So you have no right to call him a coward because you don't know the horrible things he saw. Do you understand?" he hissed, the tip of his wand touching the Slytherin badge embroidered on her robes. Rose was staring, wide-eyed and concerned, her mouth gaping open in shock.

"Yes" Esmeralda squeaked in a voice very much unlike her usual icy sneer. Scorpius straightened up and put his wand back inside is robes. His expression was unreadable from this distance. Esmeralda got to her feet shakily and avoided looking at any of them before scuttling off down the corridor.

"That" Albus breathed when Scorpius met them, "was scary"

"I had to...doesn't know anything....teach her a lesson..." Scorpius gasped angrily. Then he grinned. "It felt brilliant too, after all the stuff she's done to me".

"You really shouldn't have, though" Rose said. "What if she tells McGonagall?"

Scorpius' face fell.

"Damn" he said quietly. "I never thought of that. I suppose if she does, McGonagall will tell my parents...I could just tell them what Esmeralda did to me...and Professor Winters" He became very quiet as he finished his sentence.

"I think it's really nice, defending your dad like that" Molly interjected.

"Someone's got to" Scorpius said. "I mean, the War ended twenty years ago and you should see the stick he still gets because of it, some people just don't want to give him a chance". Some of his earlier confidence seemed to be returning.

The bell signifying the end of break sounded as though in the walls of the castle themselves.

"We should get going, we don't want to be late" Rose said, beckoning for them to go to their next lesson.

"Yeah, in a minute. I just need to do something" Scorpius replied. He bent down and picked up the fallen newspaper article, and then took out his wand.

"Incendio" he said, putting his wand to the paper. It ignited at once, orange and red flames licking at the headline, dissolving the article into a small pile of grey ash.

"I don't want to think about it" Scorpius explained, seeing the confused look on the other's faces. "If this article is lying around, I won't be able to get away from it".

"Good idea" praised Albus, nodding in agreement. He would have done the same thing should a scandalous article about one of his family appeared in the Daily Prophet. Burn the evidence so it wouldn't hurt him.

However, they were stopped halfway down the Charms corridor by Professor McGonagall. Albus' heart sank into his shoes and an uncomfortable sensation gripped his insides.

"Mr. Malfoy" she said in a disapproving, severe tone associated with deep trouble. "I want to speak with you in my office. And you three can come too" she added, turning to Albus, Rose and Molly. Her dark eyes were hard behind her square spectacles and her brows were furrowed in disapproval.

Oh no, this can't be good, Esmeralda's probably told McGonagall that Scorpius attacked her....and made up a load of stuff that isn't true as well. Great Albus thought miserably. He was mostly worried for Scorpius, who was looking rather nervous. Surely there was some school rule about defending yourself against bullies.

Because that was what Esmeralda was – a bully. At least Scorpius had Albus, Rose and Molly as witnesses should Professor McGonagall ask what happened.

"Sherbet lemon" Professor McGonagall told the giant golden griffin when they reached her office. It sprang aside at once and a flight of stone steps appeared. The five of them climbed on, Albus' worries elevating. Professor McGonagall pushed open the heavy oak door and strode purposefully into her office. It was just the same as it had been the last time Albus had been here. The large, circular room was covered on one half by one long, curving bookshelf filled with heavy-looking books. Several smaller tables stood around the room holding a host of weird and wonderful objects, stacks of parchment, spare quills and bottles of ink in every colour of the rainbow. The room was dominated by an enormous mahogany desk and matching ornate high-backed chair – and next to it stood Professor Umbridge.

Albus had to stop himself from gasping aloud as he spotted her there, a smug smile on her wide mouth, a horrible pink velvet Alice band in her iron-grey curls, set in what she probably thought was a jaunty fashion. Today, she was wearing robes of an eye-watering, bright pink with a fur-lined hood and a matching pink cardigan over the top. She really shouldn't be wearing that at her age, Albus thought with a sly smile. His expression faltered suddenly, however, when he saw that Esmeralda was sitting in one of the two chairs in front of Professor McGonagall's desk.

And from the severity of Professor McGonagall's expression, all four of them – Albus, Rose, Molly and Scorpius – were in very deep trouble.

"I have brought Professor Umbridge" the name came out distorted through Professor McGonagall's teeth, "here today because of a matter of serious importance. As our resident Staff and Student Welfare Official, she was most concerned when Miss Zabini came to her with claims that you" she snapped sternly, her eyes flashing behind her glasses as she turned to Scorpius, "have been bullying her in the past few weeks".

"WHAT?" spluttered Molly furiously. "No way, Professor, you've got it wrong! She's the one bullying him, not the other way around!"

"Be quiet, Miss Finnigan! This is a matter that does not concern you!" Professor McGonagall chastised.

"But it's true!" Molly wailed indignantly. "She's been calling him names and hiding his stuff and making fun of his family and she just called his dad a coward ten minutes ago!"

"It's true, Professor" Rose had found her voice and was nodding enthusiastically in agreement.

"Mr. Potter? Your contribution?" Professor McGonagall said disbelievingly.

"Yeah" Albus replied. "I mean, yeah, she's been horrible to him. She's the one who should be punished, not Scorpius".

"Very well" Professor McGonagall sighed. "Mr. Malfoy, Miss Zabini, may I ask that you both join Professor Umbridge in her office. I will also be there. This will need some serious investigating, as you know full well that there is a zero tolerance system on bullying in this school. Miss Weasley, Mr. Potter, you may return to your classes".

Esmeralda rose from her chair and swung her long black hair over her shoulder. As she passed Albus, she deliberately knocked into him, hard. Her acid green eyes flashed as she looked back and the phrase if looks could kill went through Albus' mind. Scorpius followed her timidly, looking downcast but somehow also pleased that his three friends had stuck up for him. Professor Umbridge, short and squat, swaggered past them importantly and adjusted her pink cardigan. Rose wrinkled her nose as she followed Professor McGonagall, Esmeralda and Scorpius out of the door. Now, Albus and Rose were quite alone in the Headmistress' office.

"We should go" Rose said. "We don't want to be even later than we already are". Albus nodded. He turned towards the dark oak door and made to open it, reaching for the ornate brass doorknob in the shape of a lion's head.

"Well, well, well! I must say, this is a nice surprise, Mr. Potter. That was a very loyal thing you just did" a voice sounded from nowhere, making Albus and Rose both jump a foot in the air. They wheeled around, looking for the source of the voice, but there was no one there. Was there?

A low, amused chuckle.

What the-? thought Albus wildly.

Who was speaking to him? And how did they know his name?

"Over here, Mr. Potter and Miss Weasley!" the voice laughed. "Above dear Professor McGonagall's chair". They both spun around, searching, looking –

"Professor Dumbledore!" Rose exclaimed in shock. "It's you!" Her gaze was fixed on the largest, most impressive portrait hanging behind Professor McGonagall's desk chair. An old man with a long, silvery beard that matched his hair in a navy tasselled cap and half-moon glasses was smiling at them fondly. Professor Dumbledore. Albus suddenly felt himself going very red, feeling stupid for not realising it sooner.

"Yes, it is me, Miss Weasley" Professor Dumbledore said heartily. "I apologise for startling you and your cousin. Then again, I rather startled myself. I'm afraid I haven't become accustomed to seeing such widely recognised faces in this office" Albus flushed red again.

And then he suddenly realised something. This was Albus Dumbledore – his namesake! This was the perfect opportunity to find out more about his father's schooldays, and the man he had been named after.

"May I ask your names? There are rather a lot of Weasleys in this school, though not so many Potters. In fact, I only know of one. Quite the frequent visitor, I might add" Professor Dumbledore said.

"I'm Rose, Professor. Just Rose Weasley" Rose squeaked nervously. It felt extremely odd to be talked to by a portrait, and especially if that portrait was one of the greatest wizards of all time.

"And you, young man?" Professor Dumbledore asked interestedly.

"I'm Albus, sir. Albus Severus Potter. Most people call me Al" Albus replied nervously, looking at the floor rather than at Dumbledore's portrait.

"Are you really?" Professor Dumbledore said incredulously. "Well, I'm most honoured. I never expected Harry to think so much of me. Don't you agree, Severus?" he called to the portrait on his left. Albus' stomach gave a funny jolt when Professor Dumbledore mentioned his father by name. And gave another jolt when the hook-nosed, sallow-skinned man on Professor Dumbledore's left spoke.

"Albus Severus Potter" Professor Snape said, very quietly. "My my....this is not something you hear every day" He sounded somewhat disbelieving.

"It seems that Harry received your parting message, Severus" Professor Dumbledore said sadly.

"Indeed. Though I haven't the faintest idea why I should have been given such honour" was the only reply from the Potions Master. He seemed to be lost for any other words.

Albus, however, was flummoxed. What parting message? This was becoming very odd. From what he knew about Severus Snape, he had expected a sharp telling-off for loitering in the Headmistress' office.

"I only need to ask you one thing" Professor Snape spoke again, this time in a strained voice, as if what he was trying to say was causing him pain.

"Er...okay. Um, Professor" Albus stammered, feeling stranger and stranger every second.

"What colour are your eyes?" Snape asked. Wait – what? Albus thought. That's a bit of an odd thing to ask someone.

"Green, Professor" he replied, feeling a bit stupid. "Like my dad's. His are green too".

"Lily's eyes" Professor Snape sighed sadly. "And I had thought myself free from all of this..."

The office door flew open and in strode Professor McGonagall, wearing her most stern expression.

"Potter? Weasley? What are you still doing in my office? You are meant to be in lessons!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed. Albus and Rose jumped and wheeled around.

"I'm sorry, Professor, we were just-" Rose started to explain.

"It was my doing, Minerva. I was merely making conversation with Miss Weasley and Mr. Potter here" Professor Dumbledore said, from behind them.

"Oh, well....very well, in that case....off you go then" Professor McGonagall said, flustered, wiping her square spectacles on the hem of her emerald robes. "Though you really should know better than that, Albus" she added sternly to Professor Dumbledore's portrait. Professor Dumbledore merely smiled in return.

Albus and Rose quickly left Professor McGonagall's office, suddenly realising that they were forty minutes late for Charms.

"Sorry Professor Flitwi-" Rose began when they entered, but stopped dead in her tracks mid-sentence. Albus followed her gaze and felt as if he had just walked through Nearly Headless Nick. Tiny Professor Flitwick was nowhere to be seen. The person standing behind his desk was taller, with shoulder-length wavy grey hair and hard, black eyes in a very wrinkled face. Her mouth was set in a hard line.

It was Gloria Winters.

"You are more than half an hour late!" she barked angrily. "Where have you been?"

"We were with Professor McGonagall" Rose explained nervously.

"Interesting" said Professor Winters coldly. "I have just seen Professor McGonagall pass by this corridor and you were not with her. In fact, she was quite alone."

Albus' mouth gaped open in disbelief. Was this woman deliberately trying to make it look as though they were skipping classes?

"Fifteen points apiece will be taken from Gryffindor for your tardiness and negative attitude to your lessons, and you will join me in detention in my office tonight at seven o'clock. No excuses." Albus suddenly remembered something that Amanda Braithwaite had told him that morning.

"But Professor, I've got Quidditch practice" Albus said. "We're starting early this season".

"No excuses, Potter! You will be in my office seven o'clock sharp. I do not want to see you on the Quidditch field, understood? You must learn to take punishment when you have done wrong" she snapped irritably. "Sit down. Professor Flitwick is ill today and so I offered to cover his lesson. Turn to page 24 in your books, Intermediate Theory of Charms."

***

Late that afternoon, after classes had ended, Albus was sitting hunched over a Herbology essay on the uses of Fanged Geraniums in a very bad mood. Not only was he going to miss vital Quidditch practice that evening – for which Amanda Braithwaite was highly unappreciative – but it turned out that Esmeralda was not being punished for bullying Scorpius because there was no proof that she had actually done anything. To cap it all off, he kept going over the brief – but none the less intriguing – conversation he had had with Professors Dumbledore and Snape in his head, wondering what it all could have meant. The part about Albus' father receiving Professor Snape's 'parting message' was the most confusing, as Albus had absolutely no idea what Dumbledore had been talking about.

And then it hit him. He had had the same idea in Professor McGonagall's office not a few hours ago! He knew from the staff schedule and rota pinned on the notice board in the Entrance Hall that Professor McGonagall was in a staff meeting from now until dinner, which gave Albus a one-hour window to go to her office and talk to Professors Snape and Dumbledore about his dad and, more importantly, about the Second Wizarding War. He could take the Maurauder's map so that he could keep an eye out for Filch or Mrs. Norris. He already knew the password to get into McGonagall's office. Could he pull it off?

Acting quickly, before he could change his mind, he rolled up his Herbology essay and stuffed it, along with his quill, ink and textbook, into his schoolbag and rushed upstairs. He dropped his bag by the bedside table, then reached underneath his bed and pulled out his trunk. He quickly opened it, rummaging around in the mess of robes, ordinary Muggle clothes, bits of parchment and several broken quills. Albus pulled out the Maurauder's map and his wand from his pocket, before shutting his trunk and pushing it back under the bed. He pricked his ears carefully, listening for any sound that suggested he might get caught. Then, he put the map in the inside pocket of his school robes, out of sight, descended the stone steps and went out the portrait hole.

What am I going to say when I get there? He thought suddenly. I can't just barge in. He only hoped Professor McGonagall didn't come back from the meeting early and catch him in her office. The corridors were virtually deserted; only the people in the portraits gave him inquisitive looks as he passed. He ducked into an alcove on the Transfiguration corridor and took out his wand.

"I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good" he whispered, tapping the Maurauder's map with his wand.

At once, ink appeared on the parchment, snaking into shapes and drawings. In a matter of seconds, a miniature replica of Hogwarts castle, complete with grounds, had formed before his eyes. Albus opened the map and scanned it carefully. Good, Filch is on the second floor...and Mrs. Norris is prowling the Entrance Hall. Perfect. There were no students around either, though he grinned to himself when he identified the tiny dot labelled 'Rose Weasley' in the library. And, next to it, a dot labelled 'Scorpius Malfoy'.

Albus had the funny notion Scorpius liked Rose a lot more that he was letting on – but he pushed that to the back of his mind for the moment, and carried on up to the floor where Professor McGonagall's office was.

His heart was racing as he finally reached the floor he wanted. He suddenly felt nervous. What if they – Professors Dumbledore and Snape – told him off for snooping in the Headmistress' office? He knew that what he was doing was breaking about twenty school rules – not that he knew what they were, exactly – but it he felt that it was important that he spoke to them. Who better to give him information about his dad and the Second War than the two people he had been named after? Eyeing the statue of the golden griffin at the end of the corridor, he tiptoed carefully towards it, glancing at the map every few seconds to see if anyone was approaching. He drew himself up to full height and willed his nerves to disappear.

"Sherbet lemon" he said, as clearly as he could. For a second, he thought the griffin would not respond. And then, the enormous golden statue jumped aside and a spiralling staircase appeared. Albus quickly jumped onto it and climbed up to the heavy oak door.

He suddenly remembered that the door had no handle. How was he supposed to open it? It must be locked by magic! Don't you pay attention to Rose at all? A bored but irritated voice sounded from somewhere in his brain. If you did, you'd remember how to open locks by magic!

Albus racked his brains. Of course!

"Alohomora!" he waved his wand at the place where the door handle should be, and there was a soft click. There was no going back now. He placed his free hand – the one that wasn't clenched so tightly around his wand that the knuckles were white – on the door and slowly pushed it open.

Albus' breath hitched in his throat as he stepped inside the lavish, circular office. It was completely deserted. The high-backed chair that Professor McGonagall sat in was vacant. There was a precariously high pile of parchment perched on the desk. A large, moving model of the solar system sat on one of the spindly tables, giving off a strange, silvery-blue glow that reminded Albus of the memories swirling around in his father's Pensieve. It was quiet, too quiet, and Albus was all too aware of the thundering of his pulse in his ears.

He jumped when the door behind him clicked shut, then he cleared his throat and walked over to the enormous desk. Stowing the Maurauder's Map – with a whispered "Mischief Managed!" - he laid nervous eyes on the portraits of Professors Dumbledore and Snape. Neither of them seemed to have noticed Albus come in at all. In fact, they both looked like they were asleep.

Feeling rather silly, Albus cleared his throat again, hoping that it might attract the former Headmaster's attention.

"Professor Dumbledore?" he said, as loudly as he dared. "I-I wanted to talk to you about something". No response. Perhaps the old man really was asleep. Maybe Albus should come back another time.

Then, Professor Dumbledore's eyes snapped open and his bright blue gaze found the twelve-year-old boy in front of him.

"Oh, hello again. What mischief has caused you to be summoned here this time?" Professor Dumbledore said with a crinkly smile. It took a few seconds for Albus to catch on that the old professor was joking with him.

"Oh, nothing, Professor. I-I just wanted to talk to you...about my dad...and about the War" Albus replied quietly. If possible, Professor Dumbledore's smile widened.

"Ah, yes. Quite the brilliant student in many more ways than one, Harry was" Dumbledore said. "And, like yourself, never short of trouble to find himself caught up in. But I suppose that is one of Hogwarts' many occupational hazards, is it not?" Professor Dumbledore pondered. "So, Mr. Potter, what was it about your father that you would like to know?"

"Um...well, I was just wondering...my dad, he never really talks about the Second Wizarding War, and, well, I...um...I wanted to know why" Albus stammered, wiping his sweating palms quickly on his robes.

Well, it wasn't every day that you talked to one of the greatest, most powerful and influential wizards of all time. Then again, it wasn't every day that you were named after one of them either. Professor Dumbledore was silent for a few moments, as though he was thinking deeply.

"One of the things I admire most about your father is his ability to love and to forgive" Professor Dumbledore eventually began. "You see, your father had a very rare gift – one, many still believe, he inherited from his mother Lily. He saw good in people where they did not see it themselves, even in those people he should, naturally, have hated"

Professor Dumbledore gave him a knowing look. Albus realised he was talking about Draco Malfoy. It was true. Instead of hating Scorpius' father for what he had done – for the things he had been involved in – he had agreed to call a truce and move on. Now, they were what you could say friends were.

"He said once that you were – and still are – one of his biggest inspirations. He said you helped him a lot when the War was going on. That's why he named me after you" Albus replied.

"I'm very flattered" Professor Dumbledore said. "Though I really am not the wisest wizard, young Albus. Quite a few times I left your father in the dark....and I saw how much that aggravated him, though I may not have shown it myself. But, I suppose, that is the mark of a great wizard - when you are given no directions, you are still able to find your way." Dumbledore sighed again – that strangely sad sigh – and looked down his very crooked nose at the tips of his interlaced fingers.

"I think you'd best be off to your Common Room, Mr. Potter" Professor Dumbledore suddenly announced. "Professor McGonagall will be back from her meeting very soon and it is unwise to linger in her office out of bounds, do you not think? But, if you wish to talk to me again – and I assume you will, for you are the sort of inquisitive boy I always saw your father as – you know where to find me" Dumbledore tipped his silver tasselled cap in Albus' direction.

"Okay, then...thanks, for, you know, agreeing to talk to me" Albus said, feeling much less nervous now than he had been before.

"The pleasure is all mine" Professor Dumbledore smiled. And, thanking him timidly once more, Albus turned on his heel and left the office.

When Albus had left, Professor Dumbledore turned to the portrait next to him. The occupant seemed to be sleeping, but Albus Dumbledore was not fooled.

"Quite the charming young boy, isn't he, Severus?" asked Dumbledore loudly. "He is very much like Harry, don't you think?"

No response.

Professor Dumbledore sighed and twiddled his thumbs absent-mindedly. It seemed that the Potions Master was not up to cooperating with him today. "Very well, Severus, very well...but I had assumed that you, of all people, would wish to get to know the boy? It is, after all, your name with which he has been gifted as well as mine" There was still no response from the hook-nosed man in the portrait.

Deciding that he'd better not press things too far, Professor Dumbledore sat back in his own portrait, deep in thought. He was especially glad that Harry had found what he had always wanted – a proper family. But on the other hand, he was jealous too. Yes, Albus Dumbledore was jealous, jealous of having such a loving, caring family. It was at times like these that he wished he had spent more time with his brother and sister, before...well, when times were not so Dark. He regretted it deeply, and felt sorry for old Aberforth, having to fill the role that Albus had left empty, and take care of Ariana. Oh, how he missed them now!

Later, much later, when the aged yet brilliant Headmaster had eventually fallen asleep did Severus Snape stir.

"I don't deserve it" He said, to no one in particular.

***

A/N: Weeelllll....what d'you think? I decided not to include Al and Rose's detention with Professor Winters because I wanted to focus more on the conversations Al has with Dumbledore and Snape. I tried to be as in-character as I could when writing them and I hope Snape in particular isn't too OOC - I'm not used to writing post-War characters so I've just gone with what I think Snape would act like once the War was over.

A few questions, now then, to get you thinking:

1) Why does Gloria Winters punish Albus and Rose so extremely for being late (very late, in fact, but that's not the point) to class, and why is she deliberately refusing to believe them when they say they've been with McGonagall? Hint: who was the eye-witness testimony who freed the Malfoys?

2) Where does the title of the chapter, Lion, Phoenix and Doe, come from?

3) And, finally, why do you think Draco told Scorpius how to use the Room of Requirement? (see chapter nine, Gloria Winter's Wrongdoings)

Until next time, HPfangirl4life xxx