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Chapter Three:
Fred Weasley appeared in their compartment just as they finished changing. James laughed.
"I still can't believe you're a prefect!" he said. "Your dad must be livid."
"He's teaching me how to 'game the system' and sell soap from the bathroom," he said with a wink. "Anyway, we just got an owl. The first-years aren't to be shepherded to Hagrid for the boat ride."
"That's odd," Rose said. "Could it have to do with the tournament?"
"I doubt it," Scorpius said. "McGonagall values tradition above anything. I doubt she'd agree to change something that has been associated with Hogwarts for hundreds of years."
"Mum and she haven't been getting along lately," Rose said quietly. "I've heard her ranting about how she wishes she'd retire, but McGonagall wants to beat Dippet's record."
"Weren't they like best buds at one point?" James said. "I remember dad ranting about how your mum would take McGonagall's side at school sometimes."
"They haven't been close since mum became Minister," Rose said.
Albus looked out the window.
"We're getting close."
"I'll go find a seat," Fred said. "With a girl obsessed with the scent of lavender."
Fred disappeared.
"If he wasn't anything like his father, then I'd think the world would be doomed," James said.
"Worse than a Potter being a Slytherin?" Albus asked jokingly.
"You're named after one, so that makes a tiny bit of sense," James said.
The train stopped.
"Feels weird not hearing Hagrid's voice," Rose said.
They got off the train and saw Hagrid in the distance. As they got closer, they saw how miserable he looked.
"I just wanted to see the young ones," he said sniffling. "The look on their faces when they see the castle, there's nothing like it."
"What's going on?" Albus asked.
"I can't say," he said.
James stifled a snicker.
"You can tell us," Rose said.
"Your mother," he said. "Your mother's changed a lot over the years. I don't think I recognize her anymore."
"What does my mother have to do with anything?"
"Your mother just swept onto the school grounds. Ordered more thestrals, and sacked McGonagall when she refused."
"What!?" the four of them said in unison.
"Keep yer voices down," he said. "Your mum wanted to hold the selection for the Excalibur tonight. I never seen McGonagall so mad."
There was the sound of crying.
"Go," Hagrid said. "And find out what has gotten into yer mother!"
They ran into Louise comforting a first year. He exchanged a look with the group. This didn't promise to end well.
Scorpius looked at the thestrals.
"I'd freak to if this was the first thing I saw."
"Do I smell smoke?" Albus said.
"It's an earthy smell," Roxanne said. "It's like live plants were burned."
"Who would do such a thing?" Rose asked.
They got into the carriages.
"McGonagall sacked," James said slowly. "By Aunt Hermione."
"I'm sure mum had a good reason," Rose said.
"I wonder if she was shaken up by seeing Voldemort at the height of his power," Scorpius said.
"That's a possibility," Rose said.
"What aren't you telling us?" Albus asked.
"How can you tell?" she asked.
"You're my cousin," he said.
"And?"
"Nothing," Albus and Scorpius said at once.
"It may have something to do with how you keep a diary like a muggle, with no secrecy charms," James said.
"Why you intervertebral!" she screamed.
"Drown them in the lake later," James said. "What has Aunt Hermione been up to?"
"She wears a jeweled eye of Horus necklace under her robes," she said. "Dad believes it's a gift from the Egyptian minister of magic. The way she holds it though at times. It's like it a burden."
"Or a horcrux," Scorpius said.
"Let's not jump to any conclusions," Albus said.
"Right," James said. "Who knows what kind of hexes could be on it."
The carriage trundled forward. The smell got worse. No one spoke.
They stepped off the carriage. A sobbing Neville jumped into their vision, with his robes torn.
"I'll never forgive her! NEVER!" he shouted, as he rushed past, without seeming to notice them.
"Oh my god," a student up ahead whispered.
The Hogwarts logo was scorched into the lawn, with a paralyzed whomping willow in the center. Hermione in purple robes and several other ministry members stood there, along with the press. Floating lanterns lit the path.
"This way," the transfiguration professor beckoned, towards the site.
They walked towards the willow. The smell of burnt plants was pungent.
"Maybe we should tackle the necklace off her," James muttered.
"Not the dumbest idea you've come up with," Albus said.
Excalibur with its gold hilt, covered in gems of every color, glinted in the night.
Flitwick stepped forward. His smile looked forced.
"Welcome to Hogwarts! We're starting things a little differently this year. Allow for the students able to partake in the Excalibur Games to step forward."
Hermione stepped forward.
"Let's start with the Hufflepuffs," she said impatiently.
Sara Goyle nervously stepped forward. She pulled at it, and nearly fell to the ground when it wouldn't budge.
A few other students tried, and each fell in a way that was amusing to the younger students.
April Jordan with her blond hair in seven braids stepped forward. She pulled, and to her amazement, it came out. Yellow and black sparks spouted out from the blade.
"Congratulations!" Flitwick said, in a tone that sounded forced.
The sword flew out of her hand and back into the tree.
"Ravenclaw next," Hermione said.
Albus did notice Hermione touch the center of her chest, where a necklace might be hidden.
It was a similar process. Students fell after trying to pull Excalibur. After eight people, a muggle named Mitch Ellison managed to pull it out, and sparks flew from it.
"Slytherin!"
Albus bravely stepped forward and reached for the sword. As soon as he wrapped his hand around the hilt, he found himself flying rear-first to the ground.
"That hurt," he muttered as he stood up.
A few other students took turns. Albus nudged Scorpius forward.
"Fine," he said.
He lamely touched the sword. It flew into his hand.
"No," he moaned as sparks flew from it.
The sword flew back into the tree.
"NO!"
McGonagall came rushing forward.
"You can't have a tournament if the sword is nothing but molten silver!" she screamed as she approached Excalibur. She blocked the sight of it.
There was a shower of sparks. McGonagall turned around. Holding Excalibur, she looked like a student of around seventeen years, with shiny, flowing dark hair.
Excalibur flew back into the tree.