Chapter 7- The Way Down

Up seemed down and down seemed up. He spun around, trying to peer through the darkness. A huge form started advancing from the distance and only when it spread its tentacles, he understood what it was. The huge squid came to hunt him. He opened his mouth to yell, but only water poured in. He turned, trying to swim away, but the water around him were too heavy. He waved his arms wildly, quickly losing his strength. His brain shrieked from lack of oxygen, and, despite knowing it's a mistake, he took a deep breath. Now, it seemed that his whole body was in pain, simultaneously burning up and freezing down from the inside and outside. As the tentacles finely caught him, starting to tighten up around his body, squeezing what left of his life from him, he could see air bubbles floating up. All this time he swam towards the bottom. "It's fine, Al", His dad's voice came up, "it was all your choice…".

Albus woke up from his nightmare, all sweaty, his bed sheets tightened around his body. With his eyes still closed, he took a deep breath and calmed himself down. He slowly began recollecting what have happened the previous day, and, despite the warmth around him, a cold ran in his body. 'Perhaps it was all a bad dream', he mumbled to himself, 'I'm still at home, waiting for the train'.

"Al?", Scorpius voice came up again, "are you up already?". Albus carefully opened his eyes, the greenish color of the lake reflected on his silvery curtains. As he looked, a form of a big fish (or perhaps a merman?) threw a large shadow on it. His heart dropped, the truth downed on him, he was indeed sorted into Slytherin.

"Albus?", Scorpius muffled voice once more got through the drapes, "if we don't hurry, we will be late for our first class and miss breakfast". "I'm up", Albus tone was higher than usual, "what time is it?" he asked, trying to sound normal. "Almost 8 o'clock, the rest already went", Scorpius answered, "I waited for you, but you didn't wake up".

Albus dragged himself out of bed, he found it hard to dress up quickly, it felt like his strength was left back in his bed. He wondered what impression he would have left if he slept his way through his first day of school. Although, he thought to himself, finely managing to put the school robes loosely on himself, it wouldn't be a bad strategy in order to avoid all the unwanted attention he was sure to get.

He climbed the stairs with Scorpius, who was meticulously dressed in what seemed like secondhand clothes and quickly crossed the common room, heading out before the sixth years who sat there registered them. They lost their way outside and wasted precious time before getting saved by the fat frier, the resident ghost of the Hufflepuff house, who helped them find the right path, making sure to accompany them all the way to the dining hall.

Luckily, the Slytherin table was half empty, so they didn't have a problem finding a vacant spot to sit at. Some whispers started again, but this time Albus didn't noticed them, he was more uncomfortable with a feeling that grew in him, a feeling that he forgot something. "Here is the first-year schedule", Scorpius scanned a paper on the table, struggling to evade all the stares towards their way, "double History of Magic in the morning, Herbology and Charms afternoon and Astronomy in the evening, we should probably go out soon, we don't want to be late for our first lesson".

Albus growled with full mouth to show he heard him. He just saw Rose getting up from the Gryffindor table, she tried to pretend she didn't see him and went out without looking at his direction. He finished the meal in sour mood and then followed Scorpius to their class. This time they didn't got lost on their way to the second floor and Albus was pleased to find out it was assigned with the Hufflepuffs, from which he knew no one, so the task of sitting in the back of the class with Scorpius and ignore all the others became easier.

History of magic, as it turned up, was as dull as its sounded, the teacher, Hailea Natt, a small nervous woman with thin hair and a bit of hunched back, probably from all the books she constantly carried, was painfully boring. She barely managed to control the class and needed at least 15 minutes just to finish reading all the names in her monotone voice, only raising her head once when calling Albus' name.

He tried the best of his ability to keep track, but soon found himself dozing off, staring outside the window to the gray sky, his quill held loosely in his hands, making a stain on his paper. He wasn't the only one, some tried to faint attention, gazing at the teacher with cloudy eyes without getting anything, some spoke and joked quietly, even tasering each other with the famed 'Waes Bees' (a small bee shaped toy taser) under the table. But Violet took them all, she apparently didn't catch a lot of rest the night before, and constantly fell asleep. She needed to be wakened up on three different occasions, each time losing 5 points for Slytherin.

Professor Natt seemed oblivious to most of it, not noticing that the only student who truly followed her was Scorpius, who apparently was immune to her tediousness. After a grueling hour and a half, in which she only gave a background of how the school year should be constructed, they finally got out, complaining about the dreary beginning of their semester. Violet, who still seemed somewhat sleepy from the class, joined Albus and Scorpius as they headed out.

"Hey", she gasped, "did I miss something important?". Scorpius immediately began recollecting what was told in the class, but Albus had a suspicion that the conversation had a different point. And sure enough, as Scorpius stopped his rambling to gulp some air she interjected again, "No point in all of that ", she smiled faintly, "I will just forget all of this in five minutes", she left him a bit embarrassed.

"I actually wanted to ask about the houses", she continued in hushed voice as they passed by a couple of fourth year Gryffindor's who stared at them. "What about them?", Albus asked, already knowing what she is going to acquire about. "Well, is it permanent?", she blurted quickly, "Can you change it? How does this stupid hat even make his decisions anyway?". Yet again, it was Scorpius who answered, "Yes, no, and according to the soul' wishes imbedded in the hat by the funders. Hufflepuff preferred hard working students, Ravenclaw smart ones, Gryffindor wanted the brave and Slytherin championed ambition".

He started expending on the subject but was stopped again, this time Violet didn't fake any cordial. "What do you mean I can't change it?", she stopped them on the stairs, all stressed, "don't I have any say in this matter? it's not like it's a decision for a week or two". Scorpius opened his mouth, but this time Albus spoke, "We don't have any choice in the matter, we just have to suffer". She looked at him, her purple eyes, heavy from sleeplessness sealed from any emotion, and without saying anything else rushed down.

"Speak for yourself", Albus turned his head, Tucker was behind him, Jacob and Oliver on both his sides, they bypassed them as well, not before exchanging indignant glares with each other. "What's their problem?", Albus asked angrily, staring at their scalps from above, "they shouldn't interfere in other people discussions". "You know", Scorpius played with his bag, rearranging the papers inside, "there are some who wanted to be in this house". "But not you, right?", Albus asked, but his companion was spared by Victorie, who appeared from the main hall, "Al", she called, and walked towards them.

She didn't really have to do so to garner attention, with her tall and statuesque figure, dark blue eyes illuminating from her strikingly gorgeous face, and her elegant long golden-red hair that waved behind her. A group of fifth years' Ravenclaw boys who entered the school throughout the main school door, probably from a care of magical creatures' class, noticed her as well, with one of them staring so much that he bumped into the ten-meter-high main entrance door, drawing loud laughs from his friends.

Victorie ignored them, she was used to it by this point. She stopped before Albus, her 'head girl' badge shining on her chest, "You mind if we had a little chat", she asked. "Sure", Albus reluctantly said, she indicated outside, to the gloomy lake, and they started advancing there. "Alone, if we may", she said to Scorpius, who seemed to turn as well, he mumbled something incomprehensible under his breath and turned to the dining hall, which was empty at this time. They stepped outside to the chilly day and said nothing until they reached the shores. The water weren't as wild as the night before, but there was still some restlessness in them, spraying Albus face with their icy cold drops.

"I glad I caught you, I finished Herbology early today. How are you feeling?", she asked, looking at him from above. He didn't like it, it made him feel like a little kid, "did you asked Rosy that?", he retorted, fixing his eyes on the waves. Victorie took a long breath through her well-shaped nose, "I will afterwards, I just managed to catch you first", "You're lying", Albus said immediately. "I'm not lying, you little brat", she snapped, and then stopped herself and took another deep breath, "I'm trying to help you here.", she as well turned her head to the grey water, "There is no point in pretending that everything is fine, I'm here to talk".

Albus had countless edgy replies in his head, but in the end, he ousted, in the calmest manner he could, "What's wrong with me, exactly?". Victoire took couple of seconds, still staring forward, "we all have problem adjusting in new places", she finely said, "I'm happy to hear you are doing well, although I will advise you to take help whenever you can." She turned and put her hand on Albus shoulder, "remember, Al. I will always be here if you need me", and after that she began her way back to the castle, leaving Albus alone on the lake shores.

Albus stayed there for a while, staring into the empty water, regretting his outburst. He shouldn't start fights with people who want to help him, even if they treated him like a baby, it was, after all, bad enough to be separated into a different house. The cold winds began biting his skin, and he decided to get back into the castle as well. Now, in the day light, the building outlines were even more pronounced, its outliers' dark grey stones full of cavities and cracks and the metal armored statues scattered across filled with battle scars. The structure also stretched so wide that his end was invisible in the hazy day, and so tall, that Albus had to crank his head up to see its upper towers.

It gave him chill, yet admiration at the same time. The battle of Hogwarts perhaps was fierce, but it must considerably helped to have this giant monstrosity on your side. He entered the massive oak doors, the winds passing through them whistling in agreement with him. He checked his watch, lunch should start soon, and he didn't want to get lost again in the underground mazes. He instead opted to check the tapestry in the now vacant main hall. The picture of his late uncle Fred, of which had a copy in the Diagon Alley joke shop, expectedly empty.

The rest of the many ornaments were similar in nature, mainly in memory of those who fell under the attack of the dark lord on the school almost 20 years ago. Albus stomach turned after losing count of all the teenagers and kids who died in this assault. A lot of youngsters in their seventh or sixth year, even one 13-year-old, not much older than his brother.

He moved from a plaque with writing on it, dedicated to one Colin Creevey, to a nice homey photo showing a couple holding hands, the man had a grey hair and despite looking tired had a wide and warm smile and the woman laughed, her hair changing color every couple of seconds. With another pinch in his heart, he recognized Teddy's parents, all left of them is a memory, dying before their son even learned how to crawl.

The statue next to them, however, was much different from the homey photo, or even the rest of the memorials for that matter. It was a big golden sculpture of a young and tall handsome man that Albus didn't recognize. The base had a bald dedication: "Recognitions for the generous contribution of Altum Mites & Amissum Fort". Beneath it in smaller writing was added, "Despite the pond between us they came to our aid in a time of need. It's easy to break but hard to make (Robert Averill Blishweak)". Someone added wacky colorful glasses to the face, and Albus couldn't stop himself from snickering from the ridiculousness of the serious look combined with the stupid spectacles.

Sounds of laughter came from behind, and when Albus turned, he saw his brother and two of his friends coming downstairs, joking loudly. As they noticed him, the two friends immediately started whispering to each other over James' head, while he uncommonly kept quiet. They kept that until they reached the dining hall, there, James spun around for a second, and seemed to want to say something, but the words got stuck in his mouth and he just settled down for a quick nod. "First Rosy and now James", Albus thought to himself, and followed them inside, wandering if this day can get any worse.

He finished his meal alone and got out quickly, ignoring the first students who just now begun arriving. He went outside and slowly made his way towards the greenhouses behind the school, the uncomfortable feeling that he forgetting something rising in him again. He passed the first six massive glasshouses and entered the seventh one, which had a bald dirty "1" above its gates. The place was warm and humid, with numerous plants and shrubs, and in the middle of the space, was a huge wooden table with chairs around him, at its head already sat Longbottom, reading 'The Quibbler'.

He raised his head and then peeked at his watch, "you are quite early", he stated. Albus glanced around the empty area, regretting that he didn't spend some more time near the lake, "I finished my meal early", he finely said. "I get it, I also didn't eat a lot during my first weeks here", Longbottom said, returning his gaze to the tabloid, "you will get used to it, eventually". Albus wanted to declare aloud that he is nothing like him, but held himself back, Victoire words floating in his head. Longbottom pulled a chair next to him, swept some dead leaves off it and signaled Albus to come and sit next to him.

As he sat down, he prepared himself to be asked to open about his feelings again, however, for a long time he just sat there in silence, watching the Professor trying to solve a conundrum from the paper. Finely he put it down, red lines on his forehead from all his pondering. "It may sound ridiculous", Longbottom moved some blonde hair from his eyes, "but there is very good gardening advice in there sometimes, only if you manage to understand the riddle first, of course".

Albus looked at the wrinkled paper, between two ads, one for the wacky glasses he saw on the statue and other for a new version of the 'Weas Bees' (illustration of an electric bee in black and blue), was the weekly magical quiz. Below the title 'solve the riddle and be the winner' was a badly drawn sunflowers dancing in an oval shape on the red ground, with the sun in the distance, shining and sending its yellow rays into every direction. Five vacant squares were under them, suggesting the desired word. "I asked Professor Sinistra and Professor Flitwick, they suggested orbit and light". Longbottom exhaled wearily, "I would have sent an owl to Luna, but she is weirdly serious when it comes to her puzzles".

He took his wand out and directed it to the picture, "earth, plant, dance…", he started to mumble. Albus looked at the plants, the amateur drawing skills probably distracted everyone from the state of the flowers themselves, who were withered and shriveled. It reminded him of the dancing flowers of Lily, the thought of how she made sure to water them every day crossing his mind. "Water", Albus said loudly, "it's not about what in the picture, it's about what lacking in it", he said when the Professor stopped and raised his head.

Longbottom squinted at the picture and then said the word, and as soon as he did, blue waves washed over the picture, the ground became grey, and the yellow sun turned into a silvery moon. Albus watched as the now fully irrigated plants made their way to a small animal with webbed legs, long neck, and extraordinary big blue eyes. A writing on new usage for Mooncalf dung appears behind him in curled letters. "So simple", said the Professor with awe, "you clever boy, you just outsmarted three professors".

Albus enjoyed the compliment and watched as students began arriving. Scorpius scrolled in with Violet on his side, and they both joined Albus. Professor Longbottom stood and straightened up, the magazine gone from his hands and a new facade of distance on his face. When all the students finally came in, the class began, and thankfully they didn't spend too much time on introductions this time. "…And that's it", the Professor finished his opening, "arriving on time, bringing the books and doing all the acquired assignment. Now…", he moved next to some of the containers, "…who could tell me its name and usage?", he pointed towards a small unassuming herb-like plant.

Both the Slytherins and the Ravenclaws exchanged looks, apparently no one anticipated to be asked those things on the first class. However, next to Albus, Scorpius shyly raised his hand, "Dittany, Sir. It has a very impressive restorative abilities and therefor used to heal a variety of injuries and poisoning damage". "Malfoy, right?", asked Longbottom, and after Scorpius nervously nodded, he pondered for a second and eventually said, "Very well, 10 points for Slytherin". He moved to the next plant, with long beefy leaves and two milk white upside-down flowers at is head.

Scorpius was the only one to know the answer again, "Moly, Sir. very useful in balancing side effects in potion making and therefor very common in them", he said. "May I ask how you are familiar with it?", inquired Longbottom. "My dad is a potion maker, and I used to assist him a lot". "Interesting", the Professor scratched his chin, "Another 10 points for Slytherin", he finally declared. Violet patted Scorpius shoulder, he just managed to catch up with all the point she lost, and then some, in less than a minute. It seemed that there wasn't any plant or use that Scorpius wasn't acquainted with, and he quickly gained confidence as it became clear that he was years ahead of everybody else, making Albus a bit jealous at the same time.

After that they were promptly split into groups. Longbottom tried to create clusters of four- with two from each house in them but gave up after seeing that the Ravenclaws almost doubled the number of the Slytherins. Still, Albus and Scorpius were arranged with two other boys from the second house- Joshua Alves, the thin and dark-skinned kid, and Oscar Dawlish, with pale skin and hair so colorless it almost seemed gray. The students from the different houses preferred not to interact with each other too much, and the professor remark on how they will have to cooperate to succeed in the more dangerous plants seemed to fall on deaf ears.

While not becoming friends, the group that Albus was in certainly had more collaboration and teamwork than the rest, mainly with the helpful knowledge of Scorpius. The group next to them, however, with Royal and Mia, was needed to be split up after the snobby girl made some offensive remark that caused one of the Ravenclaw girls they worked with to burst into tears. They didn't manage to accomplish too much but were still given homework for the next class, although Albus knew he wouldn't have any problem with Scorpius' assistance.

The bell rang in the distance, declaring the end of the class, and all the students promptly headed out, removing their gloves, and shaking their dirt filled shoes. Albus himself, however, was delayed by the Professor, who apparently wanted to exchange some more words with him in private.

"Al", he said after the last student went out, "I don't have a lot of time before my next class. I just want to tell you that even though I'm not your head house I'll always be here if you need me, I'm your guardian after all". A different thought crossed Albus head however, "Sir, did you sent Victoire to speak with me?", he asked. Longbottom looked at him for a moment, "Yes", he finely said, apparently not seeing any reason to hide that fact.

So, he as well believed Albus could not handle the situation alone, "I'll be sure to keep it in mind", he said through clenched teeth and hurried out before the Professor could stop him again. Outside he met with Scorpius, who patiently waited for him next to the gates. Albus appreciated the fact that he had a companion in this foreign place, but in his heart, he began to lose some patience from all the clinginess, "You know, you don't have to escort me all the time", he said. "Well, none of us need to do anything but eat and sleep in order to survive, but we still do it", Scorpius weird answer came. "Say", he ignored Albus' baffled expression, "Do you have any idea who our head house is?".

"No, why?", Albus forehead contorted, his previous resentment fading away. He had never heard anyone in his family remark on who stood as the Slytherin head. "Vi asked me and I didn't know", continued Scorpius, as if reading Albus' mind, "she heard that Flitwick was the one to welcome his house-student after the sorting and wandered way the same wasn't done for us". "Perhaps they just don't care", Albus shrugged, "you could ask one of the prefects, I'm sure Brennan will know".

"I don't like him", Scorpius declared, "he's too nice". "Too nice?", Albus scoffed, raising an eyebrow. "My dad told me that people who are overly nice always have something to hide", his friend said. "Or they are just nice", answered Albus as they passed the school gates. Scorpius made an unintelligible voice, showing disagreement. Royal, Ella and Poppy passed them, and as they did, the first fell silent and the other two began whispering between themselves, reminding Albus of what have transpired earlier with James.

They lost track with all the dead-end corridors, moving stairways, doors who pretended they were walls and walls that pretended to be doors. They almost ran into Peeves the poltergeist on their way, but luckily the small colorful creature was busy chasing Harry Dehoff, his wickedly slanted orange eyes shining in glee as he aimed dead spiders at the frightened kid.

Even though they left early they were still almost late for the class, the rest of the students already sitting in their chairs as they entered. They had to sit next to Tom and Hunter, with the former not even pretending to hide the thick finger he pointed towards Albus or reduce his voice as he gossiped about him. Albus clenched his teeth again, Tom egglike head got him mad, he just wanted to cast a spell right at it.

He froze, feeling the blood running away from his face. He just understood what he forgot since the morning- his wand! As the lesson began, Albus tried to check his pockets again without drawing any attention to himself, but knew it was lost cause from the start, the wand was certainly left in his second robe.

He barely listened to Professor Flitwick as he began his introduction and got panicked when the tiny man asked everyone to pull out their wands. "Remember, it just the basics of levitation spells", called the Professor, stepping down from his stand, "it shouldn't be too hard or dangerous", he said and immediately ducked when Violet bag leaped towards his head.

Everybody seemed to have fun, enjoying the first time they had to use their wands too much to notice Albus. Unfortunately, the small Professor passed between the students and quickly appeared in the place were Albus was seated in. "Almost there Malfoy, just a bit more movement in the wrist", he reached Albus, "why aren't you practicing, Potter?", he asked him bemused.

"I forgot my wand, sir", Albus admitted as quietly as he could. "You forgot your wand?", Tom laughed, his voice booming, making the whole class stop and turn their head to his direction. He felt as the blood came rushing back to his head, making his face burn in embarrassment under all the silent stares.

But it was Rose's little smarmy nod from the front of the class that pushed him over the edge. "I'll bring it", he jumped and stormed out of the class before the Professor had a chance of stopping him. He was ashamed and furious at the same time, and his emotions distracted him in his way to the common room. He hardly noticed where he went, turning to the wrong sides of the castle, entering dead end corridors, and getting stuck in vanishing steps (twice in a row, in the same place). And when he finely got underground, his mind still far away from him, he got lost in the dark mazes.

Albus thought again about Rose' ingratiating expression when the sounds began. They came to him like a splash of cold water, waking him up to his surrounding and reminding him that he had no idea where he is. He looked around, on the wall was a round metal shield with a drawing of snake with twelve heads on it, and, at the moment, it reflected a soft green light. Albus followed the source of it, finding small square hatch in the wall across. Incomprehensible sounds, frightening and fascinating at the same time, came from it, softly echoing between the damp narrow walls in waves.

He only had a brief opportunity to glimpse into the narrow, rough-hewn passage leading down, a greenish light reflected on its wet black stone, before sounds of footsteps came up. He came into his senses and quickly got into a side corridor, earning some distance, instinctively knowing that if he will be caught in this place he will be in trouble. Now, the competing thoughts of what it was and where he is raced in him as he got even more lost inside of the endless labyrinth.

He went from one corridor to another and was just about to enter panic mode when he collided full power with someone and fell backward. "Dammit, Al", James felt his forehead, where a small bump began growing, "What the hell are you doing down here?". "If anything, what are you doing down here?", another voice came, and Brennan materialized from the shadows, "Don't you have a class to be in?". James swiftly hid the paper he had in his hands, but not fast enough to hid it from the prefect or Albus, who for a second, saw small lines vanishing from the old piece.

Brennan raised an eyebrow, but Albus brother put on an unconvincing innocent look, "Just got lost", he said, "I'll be out of here in a jiffy", he turned and briefly walked away. Albus looked up at the prefect, he looked even more tired than the night before, the begs under his eyes pronounced in the dim light, "Why are you here?", he asked.

Brennan faced him surprised, "Now I'm under investigation?", he chuckled tiredly, "I'm here for the same reason you are here, to get into our common room, right?", he advanced the closest wall and loudly called "Legion". "Say", he began as the opening emerged from the wall, "do you have any idea why your brother is snooping down here?".

Albus shook his head and followed in after Brennan, "By the way, aren't you supposed to be in a class as well?", he asked. Albus looked around, Hayden Flint, who sat next to the fire with one of her friends, sent them both dirty looks as they entered. "I forgot something here", Albus finely said and did not expand. "Predictable", scoffed the man with the oily hair in the picture near them.

Brennan ignored him, "well, I had a problem of sleep deprivation", he began, "on my first day here I was so tired I literally forgot to wear pants to breakfast. So, is it worse than that?", he asked. "No, not even close", Albus laughed. "Shame, it could have been an epic story, Peeves still call me 'tidy mighty' to this day", Brennan smiled, "is there anything else I should know about?".

For a second, the green and blue eyes intercepted, but in a moment notice Albus decided not to talk about the passageway, judging it was just another weird location in this strange place. He shook his head, and the prefect didn't ask anymore.