Chapter 18: Some Advice

Albus had woken up considerably more nervous about his meeting with McGonagall later that day. He'd accompanied Scorpius, along with Reggie, Malachi, and Milo to the Great Hall for breakfast and immediately felt a change in the atmosphere as most of the Gryffindor table fell quiet and stared at the small Slytherin gang. Al noticed that Rose and James were conspicuously absent from their friend circles.

Jade hummed slyly as the boys made their way over to the Slytherin table, which, thankfully, was as far away from the Gryffindors as possible. "Albus Potter," She drawled amusedly, "What exactly happened last night?"

"Erm…" Al didn't really feel like regaling Jade with the details between him and James, "I guess we had some trouble with Adrian Haverford is all."

"Oh really?" Jade mused, not exactly surprised, "Is that why he was escorted out earlier? He was screaming at your brother, you know. The Headmistress had him leave not ten minutes ago. I hear he's no longer on the Quidditch team." She finished, smirking.

That explained a lot of the reaction Albus thought to himself as he settled in for breakfast. He glanced over at the Gryffindors once more and saw that Adrian's massive form was also not there, though Callum gave him a particularly nasty glare when Al met his gaze.

"Was James okay?" Al suddenly turned to his housemate. She pondered this for a moment, "I mean Adrian was yelling a lot, but I think he's fine. It sounded like most of his House was on his side so I don't think he's going to have problems. Your cousin left with him." She shrugged sympathetically.

Al decided to spend some extra time deciding between the oatmeal and rice pudding on the table. When he looked up again, Jade was still looking at him expectantly and the other boys in his year now looked equally intrigued. Al realized Scorpius had also grown very quiet and had planted his face in his Herbology textbook while shoving the better half of a blueberry muffin in his mouth. He glanced up briefly as Natalia and Quinn arrived and sat down to the left of Jade.

"Great conversation this morning…" Quinn remarked, surveying the group with a slanted eyebrow. Jade smiled sweetly at her, "Oh you're just in time Arthur, Al's about to tell us what he did to get Haverford knocked off the Quidditch team. You heard he went to the Gryffindor party last night I'm sure…"

"I didn't do anything to get Adrian in trouble," Al finally said, ignoring Jade's triumphant grin as she lured him out of silence, "He's just doesn't care how many people see him act like a total troll that's all. It was bound to have some consequences at some point."

"Yes okay," Jade interrupted, "But what did he do last night specifically?"

"Did you hex him?" Quinn countered.

"No, he just…" Al glanced sidelong at Scorpius who reluctantly swallowed his meal and spoke softly, "He destroyed my Transfiguration ball."

"Oh not your Mum's?" Quinn implored, "I'm so sorry Scorpius."

"Just for fun or what," Jade pushed, while briefly acknowledging her classmates' pain.

"We weren't doing anything, Jade," Al replied, "We were sitting with the other first years and Callum just came up and starting messing with Scorpius and then Adrian made it worse." He finished simply.

Jade looked disappointed, "And then what? You just told on him to the Headmistress?"

"Oh. No I guess, well I guess she heard James and I going at it and must have checked on the party."

Jade's interest was rekindled, "Oh so you had a row with the Good Potter huh?" she smiled, "I mean it was long time coming I suppose. He really runs with the most obnoxious of 'em" She gestured lazily toward the far table and waggled her hand in a mocking sort of wave when she spotted Callum and his friends glowering in their direction.

"He gave me his Cele-orb," Scorpius added, but Jade snorted, "Oh cause that solves anything…"

"Yeah that's basically what I told James…" Al finished, "Well, I sort of lost it really- he wouldn't even look at Adrian while he was taunting us. Not one of them said anything! And then when we leave… he just thinks he can waltz in and separate himself from all of it, like he's just I can't tell whose side he's on cause how can you be on both?"

"Huh," Jade nodded approvingly, "So I'm guessing that the Gryffindors are all just going to cower from you in Herbology and we're not going to have any problems?"

"Don't sound so disappointed Jade," Reggie muttered grinning.

Jade's prediction wasn't far from the truth. The Slytherin's had walked into the Herbology Greenhouse to find the Gryffindors huddled together and whispering frantically. Though the moment they spotted Al, they became almost impossibly closer. Ryan and Travis didn't even wear their usual scorn for the Slytherins. Professor Longbottom seemed to be informed of the situation as well as he scrutinized Scorpius closely, trying to gauge the boy's demeanor. Herbology was not Al's favorite subject but Professor Longbottom was, by far, the most fair-minded teacher the Slytherin students had, other than their Head of House, Professor Rowle, who only taught Ancient Runes. Even Jade seemed to genuinely enjoy the pleasant, albeit clumsy man, perhaps because he'd given her a beautiful fairy bulb after she'd mentioned her family grew them often at home.

"Well I suppose we have a busy period ahead of us, now let's see, oh! Hello Miss Weasley," Professor Longbottom rarely punished students for being late, "Well now let's see if you can tell me two potions in which the Shrivelfig is required?"

"Shrinking Solution and Draught of Euphoria, Professor," Rosie hastily found a place between Anya and Ida. She seemed flustered and little upset, but gathered her composure slightly when she saw Al looking.

"Ah Splendid yes!" Professor Longbottom puttered happily, "Ten points for Gryffindor. And now, who can tell me where all potion-grade fruit originate from?"

"The lands around ancient Abyssinia," Answered Jade, ignoring Rose's and Anya's raised hands, "They thrive especially in the Great Rift."

"Yes excellent! Ten points to Slytherin as well," Professor Longbottom handed out small shovels and spears to the students.

"Now the Shrivelfig can survive particularly harsh environments and, in fact, we find that more extreme climates potentiate the potency of its blossoms, which usually soothe the user from physical and mental stress. Now today we are going to vegetatively propagate two Shrivelfig roots, one to your sand pots placed in front of you, and another to the rocks, which are located at the edge of the table. Albus observed the large formation of boulders that made a sort of lumpy pyramid near the West end of the Greenhouse. "You'll work in pairs once again and-Oh! Be careful while you transport the roots- they can be very aggressive and a little clingy."

Al and Scorpius wordlessly paired up and obtained one of the smaller plants they could find. "Okay, you spear and I'll hold." Scorpius nodded.

Twenty minutes later Albus regretted both choosing a small specimen and volunteering to hold the roots. Once the plant had been speared apart the sister propagates had latched viciously onto each of his arms and Scorpius was not being very successful in his efforts to coax them into their habitats.

"I think you can tug a little harder," Al tried to hide some of his urgency as the roots eagerly moved upward, immobilizing his elbows.

"I just don't want to injure them." Scorpius huffed, flustered, "The roots look very fragile." He glanced furtively at Malachi and Reggie, who'd chosen the largest plant and seemed content to manhandle half the roots into their pot. Jade and Quinn were also struggling, "A little clingy he said… does that mean this won't strangle me?" Jade glared at a root climbing near her neck. For what it was worth, the spindly root seemed to reverse course under her gaze.

"Maybe you can slide your arm into the pot and we'll figure out the rock later." Scorpius offered.

That had been a good idea. As Al funneled his arm into the sandy depths of their long, cylindrical pot, he could immediately feel the grip of the roots lessen as the plant moved into a more preferred environment. Still, he continued his dive until the top of his shoulder's met the sand, before slowly and victoriously pulling his limb out Shrivelfig free.

Only Eddie Longbottom and Maybelle Vance had managed to secure both of their roots. Al noticed Ed had wrapped his arm in a rather greasy substance, allowing his roots to easily slide off. His situation seemed a little beyond that preparation. Scorpius was scanning the pages in their textbook and Al found he had little to do other than feel the remaining roots begin to wrap around his abdomen. He looked around at the other pairs and was reassured that most groups now had an unfortunate partner wrapped in one or both root sisters. Rose was the battling a particularly speedy root that wrapped around both arms, and was now traveling to her right leg, rendering her almost motionless. Aldo had just finished setting the sand pot and now puzzled out loud, "Well they don't grow above the Mediterranean? So maybe they don't like cold?"

"They snap if they freeze though," reasoned Rose.

Scorpius was also listening to the conversation and suddenly turned to Al, "I have another idea." They scampered over to the rock formation where Eddie and May's root now pleasantly pulsed. Choosing a protrusion Al held his arm as close as he could to the rock's surface, yet the roots didn't budge. Carefully, Scorpio brandished his wand and twirled it skywards "Eira Espousare!"

A small column of snowflakes began falling on Albus' outstretched arm from the ceiling and Al could feel the tendrils shaking uncomfortably as the flakes made contact. Gently, he guided the roots to the rock and made sure the growth was secured.

"Oh my, brilliant! Ha!" clapped Professor Longbottom.

"Malfoy bring that charm over here!" Jade was almost immobilized by her large plant as well, "it's nothing personal Quinn but you made it hail when you tried that spell in class…"

"I'm very pleased with all of you!" Concluded Professor Longbottom, "Always good teamwork and such creativity. Why the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs lost half of their plants and here, well, I guess we'll see how that one does…" He gestured to Reggie and Malachi's sulking plants, which had not taken well to their badgering approach. Aldo had discovered that the plants also didn't like being peppered, and was similarly successful in guiding his and Rose's plant to a rock close to Al's. Rose had sneezed quite a bit in process though. "What made you think of that spell?"

"Oh erm, well I'm also not great at the snow charm yet- it's more like sleet- and I just felt like plants might get jumpy if they're being seasoned." Aldo explained, eliciting snickers from even the Markovs.

"I'm adding another fifteen points to each house! For ingenuity and… comradery let's say." Professor Longbottom beamed as the students exited the greenhouse.

"So basically he's glad we didn't kill each other today," Jade elbowed Albus a she packed her bags, but enthusiastically waved off her professor as she left.

"Oh Al, hi… uh how are you?" Al looked up into his Dad's schoolmate's easygoing face and figured that the staff had also probably heard details of the night's events as well.

"It's fine Professor, thanks for asking."

"And Scorpius is feeling better I hope?"

"I uh, yeah he seemed better this morning but I really haven't talked to him about it. I suppose I need to find him and James sometime soon." Al wondered if Rosie was too far ahead or if he might catch her to ask about James."

"I see," nodded Professor Longbottom. Al suddenly felt a bit of the emotion that had fueled his rant against his brother bubble again with an acerbic aftertaste. He looked up at his teacher, "I suppose I shouldn't have yelled so much and made this such a big deal."

Surprisingly Professor Longbottom didn't agree right away, "Well Al, I don't really see you as much of a confrontationist, so I guess I'd need to know why the fight happened."

Al sighed, "I mean I guess I blame James for his friend's behavior that's all, he just tried to make the situation better in his own way though. I was unfair"

"hmm…" Professor Longbottom thought for bit. As Al waited for a reply he gazed up at the prominent man. His professor always seemed to look harmless and a little disheveled, with long cheeks and bushy eyebrows that rested in an anticipatory upturned manner. But on the left side of his face was a long, slender scar from the deep slice of a curse that Albus knew came from the Battle of Hogwarts.

"I guess my advice to you, is that if you truly want to live a fair life," He looked at Al kindly, "No foe is worth ignoring when they happen to be in the right and no friend is worth defending when happen to be in the wrong. But it takes a great deal of courage to stand up to-or for-them. Or at least that's what someone told me long ago."

Al pondered his teacher's words as he made his way toward the Headmistress' Office, feeling as though he understood that Professor Longbottom seemed approving of his actions but also as though he'd come across another Ravenclaw riddle. When he alighted from the top step of the staircase, he saw the door to McGonagall's office was open and stepped inside.

The noon sunlight was fractured by several stained-glass ornaments that hung from the ceiling and speckled the space with dappled rose-gold and ruby tones. Albus remembered that McGonagall once was the Head of Gryffindor House and seemed to still prefer that color scheme, though this was considerably more elegant. The space was both brimming with objects yet primly organized; small silver and gold gadgets lined a few shelves near the entrance and seemed to be place in increasing complexity. A solar system spun regularly across the rafters and was accented nicely by draping maps of planetary and lunar geographies. Beneath the galaxy was coffee table accented with several stacked trays and bowls, offering a wide variety of sweets to visitors. A smaller table stood behind one of two cozy armchairs, velvety and copper colored, with whirring machines percolating out hot chocolate, coffee and tea.

A twin set of shirt stairs led upwards into the more administrative part of the office. Behind the impressive mahogany desk stood an equally stout bookshelf, packed with old, but not dusty spellbooks, most of them referring to specialties in transfiguration, with a few on astronomy and charms. Near a large window perched no less than eight Great White owls, with dazzling plumage and piercing yellow eyes, though presently five were dozing peacefully. There were a few other odd plaques for awards in transfiguration and teaching, but the rest of the wall space was dedicated to numerous portraits of former Headmasters. And although Albus knew she was a very organized witch, even McGonagall couldn't fully render the portraits to a standard of "neat". The frames were all sorts of material, some wrought out of metal, others wooden, one was glassy and turquoise. Some were thick and ornate while others slender and simple, some were oval and one was even triangular. Like the owls, most of the portrait subjects were also asleep and a few were completely empty. A large stand with a worn potions book stood facing one of the empty portraits and just in front stood a rather large cauldron brewing a milky liquid that Al was sure was the same concoction in the vials McGonagall had been holding when she'd found him last night. The potion smelled pleasant, if not a tad sickly sweet, and Al identified the blossoms of the Shrivelfig plant he'd just propagated in class.

"Oh careful dear! It emits rather large bubbles from time to time and it's quite hot at the moment!" Al started slightly as McGonagall burst into the entryway, looking as though she'd had a busy morning. A bulky stack of letters was nestled under one arm while her other hand gripped the tails of eight, fat, dead mice. Al recognized the Burrow as one of the addresses and wondering nervously whether the Headmistress was already sending letters home about the incident last night. McGonagall walked briskly towards her, now alert, owls and plopped the mice on trays near each perch. As the birds munched contently, she quickly fixed a sizable portion of the stack to each and opened the near window, where the owls flew gracefully into the sunny skies.

"And now that we have that settled.." She twirled her wand to clean up her hands and returned to sofa and table setup where Al now stood. "Come, have you tried the sweets? Well help yourself, I know you're not that shy at home…."

Al sank into one of the armchairs with a handful of candied citrus, but only turned the candy absentmindedly as he appraised McGonagall.

"Well, it seems like there's been a bit of a feud brewing between you and your brother." The older woman finally stated.

"I mean it was mostly Adrian…" Albus began.

"But you didn't yell at Adrian did you?" McGonagall inquired.

"Well no, he's… well I don't really care about what he does." Albus tried to explain, "Everyone knows he's a bad sport and has a temper and is childish…" he caught the edges of McGonagall's mouth curving slightly, "But James, I know James isn't like that…"

Relief washed over the Headmistress' features as he finished and Al raised his eyebrows, "Is that…okay?"

"Oh yes! Well actually I'm very glad to hear you say that- I think it will help me in my talk with your brother later today."

"Can I ask why?" Al was genuinely at a loss.

"Because I can tell him that you aren't acting this way because you no longer care about him. I happen to think, and correct me if I'm wrong, that you are mostly mad because, until this year, he meant the world to you." She explained, looking for his approval.

The more Al thought about it, the more he agreed. James was always pushing the boundaries at home rule-wise but he never did anything mean-spiritedly. Until this year Al told his brother everything, things that made him mad, things that made him cry. And now, for many months, that trust had been slowly slipping away, every time he watched James ignore his friends' very mean-spirited antics. And no one, not even Scorpius, had replaced that.

"Yeah, I guess, school's not the same as home." Al concluded.

McGonagall smiled again and Al thought he might bring up the other nagging thing that had dampened him for most of the semester. "I'm… I am a little jealous of him too, I think."

A chuckle, "Al there's nothing to be jealous about that we can't work on. Some Quidditch players are horrible flyer's starting out, I don't particularly remember your Mum being especially talented until her third year. You're already doing better in class though that's not to say if he didn't try a little more…. And you might not know it, but you've managed to make a wide net of acquaintances in your own way. James has two years of friendship on you, he didn't come in Mr. Popular."

Al shook his head, "No it's really not that… honestly," He carefully chose his next words, "I just feel like James is what my Mum and, well really my Dad want and I'm…. I'm not like him and it's really hard because I don't think I want to be like him, not exactly."

McGonagall had grown more somber listening to Al, "And what do you think the son of Harry Potter needs to be like?"

With that mention, a number of the portraits came to life and peered around the room.

"Harry Potter? Is he here again?"

"Oh my, no, but I recognize those eyes."

" Another Potter? Are there more?" a dour-looking man framed with the name Phineas Nigellas Black appraised him skeptically.

From the middle of the portraits, a particularly old man with a long beard and half-moon spectacles smiled at Albus. He seemed to be looking at the empty portrait next to him and after awhile exited his frame as well.

McGonagall rolled her eyes, "Well obviously he was very famous but… that did not help," She scolded the portraits.

Albus didn't mind the interruption, until the Headmistress asked, he'd never actually considered what would make his Dad proud, only that whatever he was now probably wasn't enough. "I don't know, I guess… well he saved the world McGona…Headmistress"

"Disrespectful" chided Phineas, "That's a lot like your father"

McGonagall shushed the portrait, "Albus your dad didn't save the world when he was eleven. He didn't save the world when he was seventeen either. He was one of many young magical folk that decided to fight for a cause that was going to come for them anyway."

"But he's different…"

McGonagall shook her head, "Not in the way you think dear. There were students that perished in these halls. That endured a year of Death Eater propaganda and torture. Neville Longbottom has scars, Luna Lovegood, Horace Slughorn- the man in your Common Room. Of course your father has the scar which I'm sure is what you're getting at. But you know, when Voldemort came for Hogwarts, he promised to spare the school if we'd only turn over Harry Potter, and every one of us said no, knowing full well the costs incurred" She paused and took an emotional breath, "you Potters are one of numerous children from heroes and heroines. Your class is full brave family lines- and trust me, until fate played their hands, they were quite the ordinary group of young wizards. You are not a disappointment Al."

Albus sat silently, "Yeah I guess."

McGonagall sighed, "I know your father, in addition, is almost a legend with his story."

"Funny enough, that reputation -that expectation of greatness- plagued him in a way not unlike yourself you know."

Al cocked his head.

"He was a pretty ordinarily skilled wizard. I believe both you and James seem to take classes a little more seriously. And he knew it- I think I remember him recalling himself as 'simply lucky'" McGonagall chuckled again, "He didn't understand why he'd supposedly defeated a highly talented wizard as an infant. And he didn't think he could do it again, quite honestly."

"Oh." Al reflected somewhat to himself, "yeah I guess that's a lot to take in"

"Quite." Agreed McGonagall, "But do you know what made him win? Because yes, when the battle ended, it was him facing that monster, wand to wand. Do you know what made him get that far?"

Al didn't have the answer.

"The thing that I most admire about your father is that he appreciates humanity. I think, with the way some of us are gifted with magic, that we can let other things slide."

"Like what?"

"Like love. A good many bad wizards were made because someone forgot to love them. Like dignity, which can't be fixed like bones and wounds. Like honor and honesty…" McGonagall considered Al, "Like fairness and empathy- I think you already embody quite a bit of what made your father, and your grandmother I might add, uniquely special."

Al didn't think he'd felt this light since the train ride to Hogwarts. Still, he asked one more question, "But, Headmistress, my dad, he chose to not be in Slytherin…"

McGonagall shrugged, "I saw your father first walk in the Great Hall with Ronald Weasley by his side and he never left. I think you found an equally great friend in Mr. Malfoy- Houses change my dear, but I'd trust your judge of character more if I were you."

From behind McGonagall, the cheery Headmaster had returned to his seat and the empty portrait next to his finally held its inhabitant. He was considerably younger than most of other Headmaster's, with long black hair and deep black eyes. His features seemed blurrier than the other paintings as well.

McGonagall caught Al's line of sight, "Ah your namesakes! I'm sure you've guessed. Severus how nice of you to grace us with your presence."

The younger man rolled his eyes and sneered, "Albus told me you were in need of more potion advice."

"Ah well I was sure you would answer that call, Severus," The older man genially admitted his lie, winking at the younger Albus.

Al couldn't think of two more dissimilar men as he stared at the portraits, Dumbledore still smiling warmly while Severus looked the boy up and down, derisively, pausing slightly as he met his eyes, "This is the boy that he named after me?"

"Why yes Severus, and if you look closely, you'll see he shares your House as well." Dumbledore patiently watched the younger man's expression change.

"He's in Slytherin?" The beetle black eyes now fixed on the serpent emblem emblazoned on Al's robes.

"You'd already know that if you would spend more time in your House portrait, Severus," McGonagall chided. Albus recalled that the hideaway nook Scorpius had discovered held a large painting of potions and plants, but looked as though a figure should have been the central subject, yet he'd never seen anyone in the frame.

"And what, he's in trouble?" Severus inquired to the Headmistress, "That would be unsurprising…"

"Just a small quarrel between brothers is all," said McGonagall, "Harry and Ginny, most unsurprisingly have two strongheaded sons."

"James Sirius, am I correct?" Dumbledore replied.

At this Severus snorted, "Oh no wonder they don't get along…"

But Dumbledore pushed by his colleagues' remarks, "And a Lily Luna Potter to round off the bunch if I'm not mistaken. She'll be joining us next year?"

Severus choked slightly, to the older Albus' amusement. "Potter was always much too sentimental for his own good…" the man muttered. He caught Al's eye and seemed perhaps a tad pleased, before nodding brusquely and making an exit, "Well if tradition holds, I'm sure we'll see each other soon Mr. Potter."

Dumbledore looked kindly on Al, "Yes, I suppose he's right, after all, I've yet to meet an interesting person that didn't break a few rules along the way."

McGonagall had conjured a small sandwich and cookie, "Well I do believe I've taken the better part of your afternoon Albus." She handed Al the meal and guided him to the exit.

Before descending the stairs Al turned once more to McGonagall, "Headmistress, are you going to send a letter to my parents?"

"Not unless you two can't figure out your differences. I happen to believe that school is a place to learn how to solve these sorts of issues between peers- I would just rather not see brothers hexing each other in the process."

Relieved and deeply content, Al skipped down the stairs and headed to afternoon Potions. Somehow, as the anger and shame had dissipated from his mind, he could now feasibly imagine calmer words to exchange with his brother. He'd seek him out later that evening.