"How-- how did you know my name?" Hermione gasped, horrified. She was not ready, not ready to face the truth. And yet, he already knew. Hermione could feel the last of her ties to normalcy and happiness unraveling, slowly, as panic rose inside her. The only sound in the air as Albus stood to make his way toward a shabby bookcase was that of Hermione's labored breathing.
Without a word, Albus selected a book and turned each page in a painstakingly careful fashion until he came upon one that suited him. Finally, he spoke. "Who's Who Among Wizards and Witches, seventh millinium edition, page seven-hundred forty-two." He offered the page to his guests as pointed to a familiar picture. "Hermione Granger." Fred gave a hearty chuckle as he surveyed book and boy. "A regular book-worm he is, just like his old mum." There came another gasp from Hermione, but the comment went unnoticed by the small boy at the center of everyone's attention.
Instead, he turned to Fred. "Fred Weasley." He pointed to Ginny before adding "And sister."
"Albus has seen a picture of you both when he snuck into my space at the front desk, haven't you son?"
Albus nodded, turning at last to face a fascinated Lily. "But I don't know her."
Ignoring her sense of decorum, Lily stepped close to the strange boy, determined to introduce herself before the fear of waking up from this dream world could fully permeate her sense of wonderment. "I'm your twin sister...sort of." She said, giving a wobbly glance to her mother, who had yet to make it clear to Lily's eight-year-old mind just how two people could be almost twins. "I'm Lily." she concluded as she offered up a hand to her brother.
"Lily." Albus repeated, reaching for her hand. At first, it looked as though he meant to shake it, but he did not. Instead, Albus turned Lily's hand upward, positioning it so that her palm was facing him and then placing his own smaller palm against hers. Had the two been a normal brother-sister pair, this moment would have been a Kodak moment, one to preserve in one's memory and cherish for years to come. Lily and Albus, unfortunately, were far from being a normal pair.
"Albus!!" Hermione screamed as a flash of light shot out from the entwined fingertips of both children, sending the skittish boy running for a haven under his tiny bed as the peevish nurse that had brought the Lily and her family into the room burst through the door with furious exclamations.
"I thought I told you that he doesn't like light!!!"