The Rise of the White Dragon

Chapter 9: Impassive

A/N: Hi. And a lot of you asked where Phoenix was, one asked about why Seth likes Quidditch now. It just so happens that both are answered in this chapter. Please, remember that the battle did not end yet, even if Soot is here.

"Stand down, Selwyn. Your history is not on your side."

Albus looked up. A white dome surrounded them, standing in place, protecting them. It seemed that the Cruciatus Curse had dissipated before it reached Albus or Scorpius. Scorpius seemed relieved but his legs were still giving him away. He could not stand for tension and fright. He seemed fine just being on the floor. Rose was still standing up, watching the evolving situation now between Rojer and Professor Soot who looked intently at Rojer. It seemed, for the first time, Professor Neal Soot was going to show the entire school just what sort of defenses he knew against the Dark Arts.

"So, what is it that happened between you and Mold?" he asked easily.

"That, Professor is none of your concern," Rojer said simply, wand still out and face contorted in fury.

"Ah, but I am afraid it is," Soot said back. "See, Mold is a student of mine and just began classes. You can't possibly expel him now."

"The Mold family members are our number one suspects in locating Soto Lean, a vigilante currently at large," Rojer yelled. "Conveniently popping up in Hogwarts this year does not give you the authority to refute my judgments. His father refuses to tell us anything, the eldest son is being a better help in the matter!"

Malcolm folded his arms, eyes staring with unmistakable coldness but Albus could not tell if it was directed at Rojer or Walter's attitude. Soot looked from Scorpius, to Malcolm, up at Walter's disappearing form around a corner and back at Rojer. "Hogwarts is for all shapes and sizes. Who is it exactly that you forbid of learning magic, now? Muggle-borns? Dark Magic users?"

"The latter and its associates, Soot as you well know!" Rojer said, shaking in anger. "Mr. Mold is associating himself with a known helper of Soto Lean."

A smile played across Soot's face but Soot was standing, as the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher he ever had, defending them their lives. This smile was not wicked or cruel or even mocking, it was triumph. Like Rojer had fallen into his trap. "And you've just attempted the Cruciatus Curse. By your own law, your kids will be expelled along with Mold."

Rojer went furiously red and in seconds, wands were pointing at each others, sparks firing from each one. "I am the Overseer, here." Rojer whispered.

"I'm afraid the final decision rests with the Headmaster," a rough voice said from the doors to the Great Hall. There stood Phoenix, eyes staring hard down at Rojer. For a second, Albus thought Rojer might challenge Phoenix. The two stared at each other long and hard, the crowd holding its breath. Then, Rojer stowed his wand back in his pocket. "I'll let it slide this time, Phoenix but know you have angered the Ministry."

"I fail to see what changed since the summer," Phoenix said back calmly, voice not failing him.

Rojer gave one last scathing look before reviving Ridge and demanding the crowd break up. Just before they could, Phoenix whipped his wand out and a Stunning Spell hit Ridge full on in the face, sending him down again. Rojer looked up but Phoenix's wand was on his neck. "You've manhandled my students. I am afraid I can no longer permit you free reign in Hogwarts. Incommodo may have commanded you be given lodgings here but your status is done for. Therefore, I unilaterally revoke your right to punish students. Now, take your stooge and get out of my sight. Whichever students dares take their side will be expelled. Off you go! NOW!"

Soot turned to Scorpius, "Inform your friend that his expulsion has been refuted. I expect him back in class next week. No excuses." Scorpius did not move. "Up, boy! Don't expect any more sympathy from me if weakness is all you show. Up! Miss Weasley, take him up."

As told, Rose supported Scorpius and they walked the rest of the way to the Hospital Wing together. Albus walked up with them to deliver the message to Walter but he did not take part in their conversation.

"You don't know Rojer as I do, trust me, he's not the kind of person who can be reasoned with," Scorpius was saying.

"That poor boy, though," Rose said worriedly. "I hope he's alright."

"He'll be fine," Scorpius waved aside. "I know Seth a bit. He'll be back tomorrow like nothing happened."

"And did you see Daniel's face?"

"Danny? I don't know why you don't break it off with him," Scorpius was telling her. "For real."

"It just seems too unlikely that after almost two years, he decides I'm not good enough for him," Rose said testily. "I'm sure there's something else…"

"He's a slimy git!"

"He's not a git, Scorpius," Rose corrected. "He just kissed a girl when he shouldn't have."

"I wouldn't have done that," Scorpius said, half affronted. "We always told you he wasn't worth it, why'd you stick with him?"

"Because he was not" -

"You saw what he did!"

"Scorpius!"

Albus kept blissfully silent. He knew what was happening and he expected this, honestly from their third year. Scorpius had done a good job of keeping his feelings to himself but he would be very surprised if the two were not dating by the end of the year. And then, of course there was Lily as a factor. Albus did not need Divination to see that this had the potential to evolve into something that was actually mildly interesting.

"Rosie!" The three of them stopped and looked. Albus' stomach dropped. It was Daniel Dagger and he caught up to them both, looking breathless and if possible a little nervous.

Rose herself slowly turned to face him, arms folded in a show of strength as Daniel stayed three feet away from her. "Can we talk? Alone?"

For a minute, it looked as if Rose had every intention of taking him up on that offer but Scorpius threw Daniel a dirty look and Rose thought better of it. "Anything you want to say can be said here."

Daniel went red briefly but caught himself and said, "Fine. Potter can vouch for me anyways." Albus, Scorpius and Rose stood against the wall and Daniel stood facing them, like he was on trial for this. Albus may have sympathized with him if Daniel hadn't been a git to him for the past four years. "I didn't mean to, ok? Louis has Veela powers and he sort of transferred them to a girl to make her irresistible. She's been getting kissed by about ten guys besides me anyways."

"You know he does that!" he said angrily. "It's not my fault. It's not like I went for her or anything."

"Well, it's not like she went for you either, so which is it?" Scorpius asked innocently.

"This has nothing to do with you," Daniel said through gritted teeth.

"Don't be mean, Daniel," Rose said, eyes flaring up.

"I said what I had to say," Daniel said quietly, looking quite pathetic. "Just… think about it, ok?"

And he disappeared around the corner. Scorpius watched him go half bemusedly before Rose rounded on him next, "And stop being so mean to him."

"Yeah, cause he wasn't a grouchy git to Al and I for the past four years," Scorpius mumbled. "And what was that about transferring vela powers? Really?"

"Actually, Louis can do that," Albus recalled honestly. He knew why Daniel thought Albus could vouch for him. "He did it on a girl in the village when I was five and… well… long story short, he probably knows enough to wreck whatever I have with Alexis."

"You were five, Al, if anything she'll laugh," Rose laughed.

"Not much better on my end," Albus said pointedly with a wide grin.

They laughed as they approached the Hospital wing corridor and went silent, as if suddenly and solemnly the air changed around them and Albus was forced to brood on other matters.

Albus of course had Quidditch. He was training his team like crazy, even gave Lucy and Seth extra flying lessons so they could fly better. Lucy was fair and smart but she needed to fly well if she was going to have a shot. Seth on the other hand seemed to barely care what was going on. He learned faster than Lucy did but his face was so irritatingly impassive and Albus could not help but remember that face when he watched his father actively threaten to kill Albus' own family. Albus seriously started to regret letting him on but he was the best on forum and he didn't say or do anything to give Albus the incentive to throw him off.

"I've been reading a lot on professional Quidditch moves," Seth said hopefully as he blocked a Quaffle.

"Don't aspire to them, though," Albus told him as he took out another. "I mean, maybe later but we're just starting out. They'd be too difficult and you'll blotch them up."

"I dunno, one of them sounds really easy," Seth shrugged, readying himself. "Look, just trust me. I think I can save the goals."

"I know you can, it's Hugo outmaneuvering you I'm worried about," Albus shrugged.

Seth zoomed up, jumped and kicked the Quaffle right across the pitch and into the goal on the other side. He grinned mightily and landed, relaxing himself against the bottom of the left goalpost. Albus landed too and reached in his bag for a chocolate bar and broke it in half for Seth. Seth took it, examined it and sniffed it, "This doesn't have peanuts, does it?"

"No."

"Caramel?"

"Yeah."

Seth nibbled it testily and then gobbled it down, nodding in thanks and Albus sighed, wondering what to say to this kid. A part of Albus hated him for his role last year but another part of him quite liked him. Was he innocent at all? There was something about Seth that did not sit right with Albus and he could not put his finger on it. But the only other time Albus ever spoke to him straight up was when they met the previous year. In fact, he remembered, Seth asked him a lot about Quidditch, seemingly interested before…

"Y-you're interested in Quidditch?" Albus asked interestedly.

"No, not really," Seth admitted. "But my Muggle-born friend wants to know all about it and I promised him I'd tell him in my next letter so…"

Albus finished off his chocolate bar and got up with Seth. The sun was setting but neither were quite done, it seemed. Neither moved. Seth was never interested in Quidditch, so why did he try out? Muggle-born friend… Simon? Simon Far? Was he Seth's friend? Since even before he was taken hostage? Was Simon being taken an act of Soto's against Seth?

"So, why play Quidditch?" Albus asked him suddenly as they walked slowly back to the castle.

Seth didn't answer. He kept his face emotionless as they left the pitch, his breathing very quiet and his steps light. Albus did not prompt him either. Finally, Seth said, "I found out over the summer that I'm actually quite good and I lost a bet with Simon so I tried out. Apparently, I'm in too."

"Wait a sec, so you didn't come in for the team?" Albus asked, stopping dead in his tracks.

"Why the heck would I do that?" Seth scoffed. "You guys aren't exactly my best pals or anything."

"No, but I wanted teamwork," Albus said.

Seth sighed and stopped too, staring at Albus impatiently and Albus could sense a confrontation coming. "Your Keeper's job is to save the goalposts. Trust me, Al, you don't want him in the way."

Before Albus could respond, he heard giggling in the distance. He looked around and he saw a couple. Albus was used to couples behind bushes but these two he knew. Eric Wallaby and Molly Weasley, Albus' cousin. He stared as they emerged, both red in the face. Eric dusted himself off shiftily and grinned uncertainly at Albus before following Molly off. Albus stared at the spot where they emerged from and was snapped out of his thoughts by Seth's voice, "Well, that happened."

They stared over the hedge and to the lake where, in the dim light, they could just make out three kids sitting across from each other. Alpha and Proxima Albus recognized by the line green hats over their heads but the other was indistinguishable. Until Seth muttered, "Simon. I didn't know he made friends already."

"Friend of yours? I saw him helping you up when… Rojer…"

"Yeah," Seth's expression changed. It was not impassive anymore. His face, however young was etched in lines of fury and anger. Albus could almost feel the rage bubbling over, could almost sense Seth's intense desire to hurt someone. There was no doubt about it. There was definitely something wrong with this boy. "I was doing a Transfiguration exam for Rojer. When I finished, he dragged me out for the History exam. Son of a snake…"

"I don't like him much either," Albus muttered, thinking of how Walter stood up to him. Walter, someone who actually once said he sympathized with Incommodo. "I'm going to do something."

"Oh yeah, like what?" Seth said, a small hint of challenge in his otherwise impassive tone.

"The Arsenal of Education is attacking Hogwarts," Albus said quietly, more to himself though Seth heard.

"Yeah, and they attacked Diagon Alley before, what's your point?"

"Do you even care?"

He knew the answer before Seth even said it. He did not care. He did not care about anything. He was twelve years old, still a preteen child but he was… there was no other word for it, a sociopath. And Seth scoffed and folded his arms, "There are a lot of things I don't care about. I don't care about Dumbledore's Army, I don't care about the Goblins, I don't care about the Ministry, I don't care about the Reservation, heh, I don't even care about the Purifiers. But I do care about the Arsenal. Neither me nor my father wants them to win."

The idea was slow in coming but Albus wanted to do something. Something drastic. He was already so involved, finding the Enchanter's Princess, getting a network but there was a perfect way in doing so, in finding both with one idea. He could not believe it did not occur to him before. He needed a network and it did not have to be silent or secret. It could be in the open… under a different pretext. He knew because Professor Macmillan had given him the idea so long ago and probably unintentionally. These coins represent the old group called Dumbledore's Army. It was a rebellion within the wall of this very castle. It was founded by- Harry Potter.

James would love it! "Could you help then?" Albus said suddenly, knowing he sounded pretty lame. And he caught Seth's look, for once shocked. "We could- we could stop them. We could stop them here. Hogwarts was always safe. It's less safe with Rojer and Ridge around."

"O…k…" Seth said slowly.

"But I- we- I mean, with a bunch of other people… could resist it," Albus said slowly, trying to pitch the idea to who he knew was a lost cause.

"And… why would I help you?" Seth asked with a superior smirk on his face. "What's in it for me?"

"As friends" -

"You know the game," Seth shrugged. "You help me and I help you. We're barely even friends. In fact, I have friends and neither of them judged me, second-guessed me, or avoided me like the plague. So, since we're not friends, you play the usual game. What do I have to gain by helping you, and what exactly do you stand to benefit if I do? Exactly how much are my… services worth to you?"

"I…" Albus was at a loss. He knew Seth would refuse but he could decide if this was better or worst. For one thing, at least he left the door open but it irritated him that the kid truly cared nothing about anything. At all. "He hurt you. Surely you want to get him back."

"No, I'll just avoid him like the plague," Seth shrugged. Then, as if he suddenly remembered something, Seth steered Albus around and they turned back. "I'm supposed to pass a couple of messages on to you," Seth said frankly in response to Albus' questioning look. They were back at the Quidditch pitch.

Albus stopped breathing for a second. "From who?"

"Father."

Albus exploded inside. A part of him really wanted to Jinx Seth there and then, lock him up and hold him hostage like Soto did to Lily. And the more he thought of it, the more it seemed like a good idea.

"Your father promised me no contact…"

"Well, if you'd rather you save your daddy all by yourself"-

"Of course I don't!"

"Then listen up cause father did tell you to take me seriously," Seth said frankly. "Even if you think I'm the plague." Albus could not believe the conversation had taken this turn. From almost liking Seth for being compliant in Quidditch, Albus was presented with enough reasons to despise him. This, he reminded himself was why he hardly liked second years let alone first years. And James expected him to use them as information gatherers? Albus found he had his arms folded and Seth, face now having a small tinge of triumph, said, "So, gonna listen?"

"Make it quick," Albus grunted. "Only I have more important things on my mind than whatever your father has to tell me."

"Well, lucky for you, one of those things is the topic of the conversation," Seth shrugged. "Look, my father wants me to tell you that he found Gryffindor's Heir and we can work some magic so Slytherin's heir gains significance. He also wants me to tell you how to get rid of that curse in your body. You know, the essence of the essence of great-gr- erm… the Dark Lord."

Albus had to admit, as little as he liked Seth now, him and Soto always had something interesting to say. Gryffindor's Heir. Slytherin. The Dark Lord. And Albus knew Ravenclaw. Was Harry right? Did they need Hufflepuff next? His mind was whirring, the wheels in his head turning and he barely registered Seth folding his arms, staring at him. "Who's Gryffindor's Heir?"

"I'm not allowed to tell you," Seth said impassively. "Not until you've offered something as equally precious."

"Even if I knew Hufflepuff's Heir, I wouldn't tell you!"

"Well, at least you know the game now," Seth shrugged. "But I'm surprised you didn't ask about the curse inside you, Al. Surely you're concerned about that?"

Albus did not want to appear concerned at all. Truth was, he knew it was starting to speak to him. It was growing stronger. Albus did not know how to respond and apparently, he did not need to. Seth was walking back to Hogwarts and Albus was following him. Seth remained silent until they reached the point where they were before. In the dim twilight, Albus could see Simon still talking with the Greengrass twins. Seth sighed and said, "This is where we split up. But the curse… I can tell you this cause getting rid of it already costs something."

"Tell me," Albus pressed, a little too eagerly when he looked back on it.

And Albus hated the smirk he had. Like he was waiting for this the whole time, he took out of his robes pocket another crumbled piece of parchment and said, "Read this. But… long story short, you need to kill someone."