I do not own Harry Potter.
Finally, two days after the fight against the dragon, Arthur and Albus were released from the Hospital Wing, free of scars, burns and any possible lung problems. What was strange, was that Albus' right arm seemed to be impenetrable. That was probably a result of when, in his first year, a mixture of magical medicines had been embedded in his arm after being attacked. Not long after the incident, his arm was showing the same symptoms as well. Albus seemed to be spending so much time in the Hospital Wing that he was sure that he should have his own bed reserved, just in case he ran into any more giant arachnids or fire breathing lizards. School had gone on for over three weeks and Albus had attended a total of one day in lessons.
McGonagall had been sending constant letters to the Ministry, trying to work out why there was a fully grown Peruvian Vipertooth in her school. There were no replies. One letter that was replied to, however, was her letter to Ginny and Harry Potter. Albus' parents had visited him in bed the very next day with news and pumpkin cake. Ted and Victoire had successfully arrived at the Paris University of Magic, where Victoire studied fashion and Ted studied Magical Development, (which consisted of making new spells and linking magic with science). When Albus told them about how McGonagall didn't have a clue how the dragon got there, there was only one way they would ever answer: "You have an invisibility cloak; use it!" Overall, it was nice for Albus to see his parents again, was there weren't many breaks from school. The pumpkin cake was nice. Albus decided to keep it a secret from Arthur.
Sure enough, after another two days of rest, Albus was back to school. Education, as usual, wasn't the main focus of the second year Hogwarts students, what with parties in the near distance, the lingering buzz of the summer atmosphere, not to mention a dragon in the Gryffindor common room. That atmosphere stayed with Albus as he strolled down the corridors of Hogwarts, ready to attend his first Defence Against the Dark Arts class of the year.
"I can't wait for today's lessons! I was speaking with Amelia earlier at breakfast, and she said that Barney told her that Mike told him that Courtney had said that Ben said that today's lesson was the Cornish Pixie lesson!" Rose informed, full of energy.
Albus poked the side of his head, "Amnesia, remember? Do you think I can really understand that?"
"It's the Cornish Pixie lesson!" Rose cried.
"What do Cornish Pasties have to do with defending ourselves against the dark arts?" Arthur asked. Two sets of eyes turned on him with raised eyebrows.
"Pixies, not pasties," Rose laughed. In embarrassment, Arthur hit himself on the forehead. "Anyway, I've been thinking about that dragon, you know, that one that you nearly got digested by. I was in bed last night, thinking about crime stories, when it came to me. Just like in crime stories there's always one thing that the detective looks for . . ."
"Motive?"
"Opportunity?"
"No, of course not! The detective looks for the entrance. How is a fully grown dragon going to get into the Gryffindor common room without being seen? It could have gotten in through a window, a big one though, and it would probably have to break part of the wall . . . Ok, forget the window; it obviously didn't get in through there. However, someone could have let it in, or, just as an idea to cover all the possibilities: it got in through the fireplace." Rose suggested with a very, how smart was that? expression.
"I agreed, getting in the window would be hard. Someone let it in? I doubt that. Why would anyone let it in anyway, nothing's being held secretly in the school? I doubt that McGonagall will make that mistake again. The fireplace could be a possibility. I dunno. Don't fuss over the dragon anyway, McGonagall's been asking the Ministry, and I'm sure she'll be told soon." Albus explained, knowing full well that he would never win a debate against Rose: but he might a well try.
"Ah, but after Amelia told me that Barney told her that Mike told him that Courtney said Ben told her that today's lesson would be the Cornish Pixie one, Amelia told me that me that Barney told her that Matt said to him that Ben said he heard McGonagall tell Hagrid that she'd not had a response from the Ministry yet!"
Arthur and Albus were left with blank expressions. Their eyes faced into the sky and they raised their eyebrows as they tried to make sense of Rose's complex explanation. Did that really make sense?
"Can you say that again?" Arthur said.
"Best not," Albus interjected. "My mind's melting just trying to make sense of the first part," Albus told Rose whilst miming his head exploding.
"Ok then, Albus," Rose began, starting to get frustrated. "Your parents came round not long ago; what did they tell you?"
If Rose's words were to take the form of an assassin, it would have Albus pinned up by a wall, choking him and making him beg for mercy. Albus didn't want to spit out the expected answer, but Rose would have won the debate nevertheless. She always did. "I ought to get my invisibility cloak unpacked."
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"You won't believe her," Esther began, pointing to her sister, who was talking with Seb outside the Defence Against the Dark Arts corridor, "She and Seb have been talking nonstop since we bumped into him along one of the corridors. They seem to be getting on really well."
"You don't mean, as in, flirting?" Rose asked.
"That's exactly what I mean! I can't believe they're getting on that well, one moment they're really awkward around each other and the next they're on the brink of deciding when to get married, how many kids they want and where to bring up a family!" Esther panicked, attracting the attention of the other people waiting in the line.
"They can't be that close already. It took months for you and Al to get together, and let's face it, everyone knew there was something going on there," Rose argued. Esther and Albus looked around awkwardly, pretending they hadn't heard what Rose had said.
Albus was saved by the door to the Defence Against the Dark Arts room opening with a creak. Unexpectedly, Esther, Rose and Arthur turned to look at Albus, then back at each other, as if they'd forgotten to tell him something . . . Something important.
"Al, don't panic!" Rose told him.
"Whatever you do, don't over react!" Arthur was saying.
"Listen to me, Al, you might remember her, and if you don't, please don't do anything rash!" Esther instructed him.
What? Who were they talking about? Albus was completely confused by what they were saying; none of it made sense. None of it made sense, however, until Albus saw who they were talking about. She was tall, in an emerald dress decorated by intertwining serpents, matching the design of her purple, silk gloves. Her pale, bony face was topped off by a large, purple turban with a snakes head emerging out the front of it, lifeless but still disturbing with its shiny fangs and fierce eyes. The woman's eyes were the same green as her glossy lipids or her high heels, only adding to her height and eerie appearance. Albus knew exactly who this woman was. He'd seen her face on circus advertisements and history books whilst researching the woman responsible for his cousin's death.
"Hello, you must be Mister Potter," she said, stretching out her hand, hoping for it to be shaken, "Professor McGonagall warned me you'd be late, again. I'm Madame Serpentina, nice to meet you!"
Albus glared at her, like an eagle stalking its prey, and refused to shake her gloved hand. "It's you, isn't it . . . You're Madame Serpentina."
Serpentina giggled slightly, "Exactly, I did just say so. I suppose that'll be the amnesia talking."
"You're the Madame Serpentina that worked in a travelling circus. You're the Madame Serpentina that caused my cousin to die. You're the Madame Serpentine that ruined my family!" Albus screamed.
Immediately, Serpentina's happy, delighted face dropped. "I'm sorry, what was that you said?"
"You know exactly what I said! You're the woman that made the Unbreakable Vow with my cousin in return for everlasting magic, causing him to die. I know that you'll say you weren't responsible for his death, that he knew the consequences of his actions or that he was a stupid fool, but he was only young, you should never have spoken to him. Ask a kid if they want a lifetime of outstanding magic and they'll take it! You, and you alone, were responsible for what happened to him!" Albus spat.
"Al, calm down, let her explain," Esther said, tugging his elbow.
"No!" Albus cried. "I've not finished! Because of you, he felt that he was forced to jump of a tower, and if he didn't, he would've died anyway! His death was entirely your fault! He had a whole life ahead of him, and you took that away for three Knuts, two Sickles and a crimson button! How does that feel? Talk! Explain yourself, bitch!" Albus screamed. The entire class gasped.
"Albus, please stop before you get in any more trouble," Esther pleaded, tugging his elbow again.
"Come on, ANSWER ME!" Albus screamed, turning as crimson as the button that Hugo had handed over to Serpentina. He was visibly shaking was anger and his forehead became flooded with sweat.
Madame Serpentina took a deep breath and gestured to Esther that she shouldn't interfere and that the class should lead into the classroom, leaving her alone with Albus. "I understand, Mister Potter, that you are under a lot of pressure and have undergone a lot of trauma of late, however, I do insist that we keep our disagreements and that you do not speak to me, or any other member of staff your that matter, in such an abrupt and explicit fashion. I will forgive you for that. I will, however, not forgive myself for what I have done. Yes, you were right, your cousin's death was entirely my fault; handing such a momentous decision on a boy his age is unforgivable and extremely unwise on my part. The fact that I caused the loss of such a young and ambitious life breaks my heart every day, but I don't expect you to understand. Nothing I say, I understand, can change how you feel about me and my actions, and I do not want you to, because I don't deserve forgiveness. I do, on the other hand, hope that I can prove myself to be a better person." With an unsure smile, Serpentina offered Albus a handshake.
Albus understood exactly what she was saying, and he agreed, thoroughly, what she said about not deserving forgiveness. He certainly wouldn't give her that satisfaction. Nor did he give her the satisfaction of accepting her handshake. Instead, he stared into her dark green, bewitching eyes, just for a moment, and then entered the classroom. She understood his actions.
The classroom was rounded with stained glass windows, flooding the room with multicoloured lights. Faded ancient symbols were painted onto the walls, the twisting staircase led to Madame Serpentina's office, voodoo dolls and snake skeletons hung from the ceiling like the mobile of a disturbed infant. A large, oval blackboard stood at the front of the classroom, paired with a floating piece of chalk. Primed at the back of the classroom was a 19th century style projector. Overall, the room looked more like a gothic, voodoo tent more than a classroom. That was obviously Serpentina's style.
Rose had saved Albus a seat towards the front of the class, on a large circular table with Arthur and Barney. That would be another person Albus would have to try, or pretend, to get along with. Yes, Albus had made up with Barney White at Hugo's funeral, but still wasn't quite over his betrayal in an alliance with Scorpius Malfoy, which resulted in his family life being printed on the front pages of tabloids. Things could be worse, Albus could be sharing a table with the mysterious Ben Applewhite, accompanied with Scorpius Malfoy and his henchmen, Capricorn and Milligan.
Placing his personal torment and angers to a side, Albus threw his bag to the floor and sat in his seat. Serpentina took her place in front of the class, with a mysterious, cage like object covered in purple cloth on a wheeled cabinet. "Settle down class, settle down! Here, we find ourselves in yet another lesson of Defence Against the Dark Arts. Today's lesson teaches important values for any aspiring witch or wizard, values of courage, resourcefulness and quick thinking," Serpentina dictated to the floating chalk. "Yes, young witches and wizards, today's lesson defends you against the devilish works of the infamous, Cornish Pixies!"
Swiftly, Serpentina removed the cloth from the cage, revealing a hoard of pixies. Each pixie was a blue colour, with cute wide eyes and a troublesome smile. They were completely wild: they were giggling and screeching as they rattled their cage and tried their very best to break the bars. Despite being only inches tall, in their group of at least twenty, Albus could sense they would cause instant mayhem.
"The aims for this lesson are simple: you have a whole hour to get the Cornish Pixies back in the cage after I've released them. Any spells you know can be used, but please, try your best not to harm them." The class got out of their seats and prepared themselves. "You may begin . . ."
Thank you for reading! There'll be more of the Cornish Pixies in the next chapter. :-)