Chapter 28: The Sounds of Screams

These days when Albus walked through the castle's corridors, he often heard his students talking about Remus Lupin's lessons and how quickly they became their new favorite class. Only a handful of Slytherins seemed to find anything to complain about them… but then again, Albus knew that the Slytherins loved complaining about anything so it didn't bother him. He knew that deep down they loved the class as much as everyone else.

He even asked some of his portraits to inform him on what Remus's classes were like and they always reported back with positive results—not that he was surprised. He remembered fondly how Remus had always had a gift for teaching that—sadly—so few had.

"Looks like they're finally learning something useful in that subject," Dilys once said after a few quiet weeks. "They're covering a lot of information in such a short time."

"Well, look at what they had to put up with for the last few years," Everard commented lightly. "They all have two years worth of information to catch up on at least. Not only was Voldemort hanging around Quirrell, he stuttered so much that no one could understand him… and I think even a troll could've taught better than that Lockhart. Honestly, I wish someone thought to erase that man's memory sooner."

"What did they learn today?" Albus asked brightly as he looked through the Prophet for any interesting news, but he was listening carefully. "I know that they've already covered Boggarts, Red Caps, and Kappas…?"

"Oh, I overheard Professor Lupin talking about teaching them all Grindylows next," Dilys informed him and Albus nodded approvingly.

"It sounds like the students are enjoying their classes," he said smiling. "I'm please to hear it. It makes me wish that Remus took the job sooner."

"Pffft. Students shouldn't be enjoying them!" Phineas snapped grumpily. "What's the world coming to when those brats are having fun in class? School isn't a place for them to be having a good time!"

"It's important for students to enjoy their classes, Phineas," Albus said, still looking through the Prophet. "It gets them excited for learning. And encourages them to do well and show up on time."

"Pffft," Phineas snorted again. "Just give them some detentions and it'll get them learning in no time."

"With far less good results," Albus interrupted firmly.

"And you wonder why you're the least popular Headmaster!" Dexter yelled at Phineas in a taunting way.

"If I want your opinion I'll ask for it!" Phineas shouted back.

But Albus had far more important things to deal with than his portraits fighting. From all the complaining he'd been hearing from the students in the halls, Severus was becoming something of a problem. As Albus suspected, it didn't take any time at all for the news of Neville Longbottom's Boggart to travel through the school. Once it reached Severus's ears, it put his Potion's Master in an even worse mood. Severus was more irritable than ever these days—especially when it came to Remus—and he was treating the students in such a way that it wasn't anything short of bullying.

Albus had tried talking to him about this, but he just turned a blind eye and deaf ear to his words. If this kept up, then Albus would have to seriously consider putting his foot down. He gave Severus a lot of free rein over the years, but this was starting to get out of hand.

"He doesn't know when to let a grudge go if you ask me," Dilys said coldly. "I mean I know that he turned his life around and is on our side now… but does he really have to terrorize children the same way that he was when he was here?"

Albus sighed unhappily. He had always wished that Severus could learn to break away from the past and move on. Unfortunately, he also knew that there are some scars that ran too deep for the healing. He ran a hand over the Elder wand that was in his pocket and the image of a teenage boy with thick, golden curls entered his mind…

*Flashback*

No one could deny that Gellert Grindelwald was a powerful wizard with a brilliant mind. Albus knew this all too well. After his mother had died, he had been forced to return to Godric's Hallow to care for his brother and sister. Where he would be trapped and wasted in that miserable, old house while the rest of the world passed him by. This would go on at least until his brother had graduated from Hogwarts. He knew that, as the oldest, it was his job to take care of them both for now. But Aberforth still had two more years before he left school… which meant that Albus had two years to wait before he was allowed to leave and become great like he deserved.

At least until a teenage boy with an impish grin and golden hair arrived to visit his aunt… that was when everything changed.

They were introduced, and quickly became fast friends—so glad to finally find someone with their level of intelligence and interests. Over the next few weeks, they talked and made plans of power and dreams of changing the world. Albus and Gellert were both very gifted, cunning, and undoubtedly ambitious as they planned everything out. As for Gellert, every single decision he made was calculated, very precise, and careful in every way possible. The two of them would spend countless hours going over maps and strategies…

Aberforth didn't make things any easier for them, constantly interrupting them and getting into trouble with the neighbors. It made it even more difficult to come up with their carefully laid-out plans with such a loose cannon there with them. Not that they paid him much attention anyway. They blocked him out… focused only on each other… they both knew what they wanted and sought to get it, no matter what the cost. They had a plan ready to go.

"Don't you see, Albus?" Gellert once said while they were pouring over the Tales of Beedle the Bard. "Witches and Wizards are born with great powers. Why must we be forced to hide then from the Muggles when it's clear that we are far superior? We have the ability to achieve greatness, Albus. Can't you see? As wizards, we were meant to reign over Muggles and change everything! We can all come out of hiding and use our magic in the open just like it was meant to be! This is the way things will be once we take control of our destines as saviors!"

Albus looked up at him, half-excited, half-uncertain. But when he stared at his friend's face, the gleeful, mischievous look was strangely distorted and for a short second… became twisted, while his eyes that normally sparkled were instead coated with an icy cruelty at the idea of reining over others. But Albus blinked and the look was gone—back to his normal, trouble-making appearance. He bit his lower lip, deciding that it was just a trick of the light and nodded.

Gellert grinned at him. "Good. You're in. I mean, this idea of living alongside with Muggles has gone on long enough! Why must we be forced to hid in the darkness when they all get to live in the light?"

"I agree with that," Albus nodded to himself. "Yes. Why should we be forced into hiding? Be forced to keep our magic, our gifts, secret? We should be allowed to walk in broad daylight and not think twice about who sees us pull out our wands!"

"And think about what heroes the two of us will be when we bring magic out of the dark?" Gellert asked with a grin. "Why our names will go down in history."

"But don't you think that forcing the Muggles into submission a bit extreme?" Albus asked as he brushed a strand of his urban hair out of his face.

"As you once said to me, Albus," Gellert said with a rather wicked grin. "It's for the greater good. Don't worry about the tiny details right now… think about the bigger picture. Whatever the costs… they will be worth it in the end."

*End of Flashback*

It was only a few days later did he see what his plans had cost him… and they were most definitely not worth it.

It's hard to leave the past behind… Albus knew that better than anyone.

He sighed heavily as he folded his newspaper up and laid it down on his desk before he leaned forward to hide his face in his hands. Even after a century… his sister's death still hit him hard. He knew that it was his selfishness and stupidity that caused the light to fade from her eyes… he knew that it was his fault that he never spent any real time with her. Only putting up with her when he had to… in the end, he was forced to admit that he didn't even know his sister. Never bothered himself with getting to know what she liked and didn't…

He didn't even know what her favorite color was… her favorite flower, books, or food… or even asked her what she wanted for once instead of focusing on his own selfish ambitions. And he never would.

She was dead. And he had no one to blame but himself.

He shook his head hard, not wanting to see into the past any longer. Desperate for any kind of distraction, "Dexter?" he called to the empty portrait, hoping for a quick reply. And to his relief, almost instantly, the former Headmaster appeared.

"You called?" he asked in a causal-sounding tone before he yawned in a tired way and said, "I'm in the middle of my shift right now. Unless there someone else I should spy on for you while I'm at it?"

"I was just wondering if anything interested happened today?" he asked calmly, eager for a good change of subject.

"Don't you mean, if Potter so much as sneezed?" Phineas asked with distaste in his voice. Albus and the others all just ignored him—far too used to his insults and sarcastic remarks to care.

"Well, they found out about the first trip to Hogsmeade this weekend," Dexter answered evenly. "And from what it looks like, Harry isn't going."

"Really?" Phineas asked in surprise. "Now that's a first, I thought for sure that he would be one of the first into that village to buy Dungbombs and Stink Pellets along with the rest of those little monsters."

"Why isn't he going?" Albus asked, frowning slightly. From what he learned from Harry's personality, he had been sure that the boy would've jumped at the chance to explore the village… unless…

Dexter shrugged again. "Apparently, those no-good relatives of his wouldn't sign his form," he answered with a tone of antipathy. "He sure seems depressed about not being allowed to go."

Albus felt his heart clench tightly for a moment as—for no apparent reason—the image of Ariana being forbidden to leave the house came back to him.

"Oh, why don't you just get it over with already?" Phineas called out sardonically.

"Get what over with, Phineas?" Albus asked politely; glad to return to the present.

"Don't give us that," Phineas retorted, rolling his eyes in exasperation. "It's obvious that you want to give the kid permission to get out of the castle. It's written all over your face!"

"I'm afraid that I can't do that, Phineas," Albus told him lightly. "Of course, I feel bad for any student who isn't allowed to go and enjoy themselves. Unfortunately, there isn't much I can do about this."

Phineas snorted. "I'm getting real sick of this. Why not just come out and admit that Potter's your favorite? Why you're so interested in such a hopeless student I can't imagine…"

"Ok, that's enough Phineas," Albus said calmly. But he couldn't help but feel annoyed with him.

"Well, with all the other students gone, it should be easier to keep an eye on him though," Armando offered half-heartedly.

"He's got some real guts I'll give him that," Dexter said with a small laugh. "He actually went to go ask McGonagall if he could go."

"Don't tell me…" Albus smiled as the other portraits let out shouts of laughter, all knowing what the Transfiguration teacher would've said.

"What do you think she said?" he asked him, holding up his hands in a shrug and shook his head. "She refused point blank. Wouldn't listen to any of the excuses he came up with. But I think that she might've felt bad for the kid—I have to admit that he looked a bit like a wiped puppy after she said no."

"What?" Phineas said waving his hand away. "McGonagall feeling bad for someone else? Please, that woman's heart's like stone. She'd never…"

"You'd be surprised at how much she cares about her pupils," Albus immediately defended his old friend. "And how fiercely she fights to protect them." He turned back to Dexter and asked, "Anything else you want to report?"

"Nothing too interesting," Dexter confessed. "Unless you want to count the fact that Granger's cat tried to eat Weasley's rat yesterday. I saw the whole thing in the common room. That cat is just fixed on eating its owner's best friends' pet."

Albus raised his eyebrows. "I get the feeling that Mr. Weasley wasn't thrilled about that."

Dexter let out a hallow laugh. "That rat looked pretty sickly anyway if you ask me. But it was actually pretty comical the way that the cat jumped up and attacked Weasley. The rat then took off and went running all over the common room. Not that I mean to be insensitive, but Granger seems to be a bit cold about other people's pets."

"What do you mean by that?" Albus asked curiously as he folded his hands on his desk.

"Oh, it's just a bad week for pet owners. See, one of the other students… Miss Brown I think her name is? Anyway, she got a letter from home saying that her pet rabbit died. She was really upset."

"I would imagine so," Albus nodding sadly, feeling for the poor girl.

"What's with students and their pets?" Phineas asked annoyed. "They're just animals."

"So are you," Dilys said icily under her breath.

"What was that?" Phineas shouted at her from two paintings away.

"Nothing," she replied coolly. "Something must be wrong with your hearing."

"I'll have you know that my hearing is…"

"Anyway," Dexter had to scream to make himself heard over their argument. "That Brown girl was going around saying that Trelawney predicted something bad would happen to her on the 16th of October, so now she's treating everything that woman says as if her words are pure gold. And when Granger tried talking sense into her, it did sound a bit compassionless."

"And?" Albus asked.

"Mr. Weasley said that she didn't think that other people's pets matter much."

"Well that was rude," Dilys said folding her arms.

"But that is how she sounded," Dexter owned up to. "But they seemed to put that aside when they talked to Potter just before they left."

"I see… it's a sign of good friends when they're able to put their differences aside for their other friends. I'm glad that the three of them have each other. But please, just keep a closer eye on Harry today," Albus said, still feeling terrible for the boy. "With everyone else going, I'm curious to see what he does on his own."

*Later*

Albus was getting ready to go down to the Halloween feast, silently hoping that this one won't be as ah… eventful as the last two. Just as he put on his best hat, he heard Dexter's voice once again.

"Why not give the kid permission to go?"

Albus looked up as he tucked his wand into his pocket. "Let who go where?" he asked, though he had a good idea who Dexter was talking about.

"Don't act like you don't know," Phineas said snidely from his side of the room.

"I felt so bad for the kid wandering around on his own," Dexter said with a frown. "He looked so lonely… it was almost heart-breaking really."

"I assume that you're talking about Harry?" Albus asked as he handed a large cuttlebone to Fawkes who trilled happily and began gnawing at it.

"Who else?"

"Did something happen?"

"Nope. But Lupin invited him to tea," he informed him, shrugging.

Albus was slightly surprised by that, but he couldn't stop the smile that came to his face. He had been hoping that Remus would open up to Harry.

"You sure that you want your Golden Boy Potter alone with a werewolf?"

"Now, Phineas," Albus said softly. "James was one of Remus's best friends and he hadn't seen Harry since he was a baby. I'm sure that he still cares very much about him even after all these years." He then asked Dexter. "Did Remus tell him anything?"

"Nothing in particular," Dexter sighed. "Potter still doesn't know who Remus really is. But Lupin did show him the Grindylow that he asked Hagrid to get out of the lake for him. Oh, and they also talked about the Dementors and what happened with the Boggart."

"Really?" Albus asked interested.

"The day that Lupin taught them about Boggarts?" Dexter explained. "Lupin didn't want Harry to face it. It turns out that Lupin was afraid that Voldemort would appear and cause a panic."

"And that's not what Harry is most afraid of?" Albus asked quickly, astonished—he was now listening to every word.

"He came right out and told him that it was the Dementors," Dexter said grimly. "Looks like you and Harry have another thing in common. You both hate those creatures."

Albus stared at him as he digested this new information. "Well, well… I'm very impressed," he said finally, thinking this over. "So it's fear that Harry is most afraid of. And even more interesting, is that though Harry knows nothing about Remus, he still trusts him enough to talk about his fears."

"Oh, and by the way, Snape came in with Lupin's potion," Dexter informed him. "And I can't help but think Harry's getting suspicious."

"Does he have any idea what it's for?" Albus asked promptly, dreading that Harry was already figuring out what Remus was.

"How could he?" Dexter asked. "But you know as well as I do how curious that boy is. He's sure to figure something's up sooner or later. Though I think that it's more along the lines that Harry thinks that Snape's trying to poison Lupin."

Albus chuckled at that. "What makes you think that?"

"He told Ron and Hermione when they got back," he answered as if it was obvious. "Though I have to agree that Snape sure isn't making himself look innocent the way he treats everyone. He walks around with an attitude that clearly says that he's about to poison someone. But I also agree with Granger when I say that Snape wouldn't have done it in front of Harry."

Albus nodded and stated, "Well, I know that Severus would never poison Remus. But you are right when you said that he's not making any fans with the way he's acting." Albus bade them all a good evening not long after that, and headed straight down to the feast—his thoughts still buzzing with all this newly-learned information.

*Several hours later*

Once again, it was a marvelous feast. With the hundreds of jack-o-lanterns floating above their heads, bats swooping down on them and dropped wonderful sweets on the heads of the students, all ending with the Hogwarts ghosts entertaining them. They popped out of the walls and tables for some impressive formation gliding and reenacting their deaths. Nearly Headless Nick, especially, had much applause when he reenacted his beheading.

Albus felt himself getting drowsy and thinking longingly of his bed that was now waiting for him. He stood up as soon as the desserts had vanished and announced for them all to go to bed. Once the students all left in floods to their respective dorms, he stretched and yawned. And he had just gotten through with a conversation with Minerva about how successful the feast was when it all came crashing down…

The two of them had just left the Great Hall together and were heading up the Grand Staircase when he heard Dexter screaming at him from a painting of astonished-looking monks. "Dumbledore! Dumbledore! You need to go up to the seventh floor! The Fat Lady's been attacked! You need to go and…"

"What is this?" Minerva demanded just as Remus and Severus also appeared and all four of them were looking up at Dexter.

"The Fat Lady!" Dexter repeated impatiently as if he thought they were slow. "She's been attacked! You all need to go up there and make sure that whatever attacked her doesn't go after the Gryffindors who are all there!"

Albus felt the blood leave his face, all thoughts of going to bed now gone, the four of them all ran up the stairs, through a few shortcuts and straight onto the seventh floor. Like Dexter said, all the Gryffindors were indeed standing there, all peering over each other's heads, wondering what was taking so long to get into the common room. Once they heard their approaching footsteps, they turned to see him coming towards them just as he heard the voice of Percy Weasley call out, "Somebody get Professor Dumbledore. Quick!"

Everyone fell silent as they all parted to let them passed; his heart pounding so hard in his chest that it hurt. He heard young voice call out, "What's going on?" when he finally arrived at the portrait hole; but he barely paid any attention to anything but the destroyed painting. The Fat Lady's portrait's had been slashed with what had to been with a knife, strips of canvas littered the floor; great chunks of it had been torn away completely. He ran his fingers over one of the deeper slashes…

'It's almost like… claw marks?' he thought briefly before he turned, his good mood long gone, to see his other three teachers wading their way through the sea of scared students.

"We need to find her," he informed them quickly when they saw the worried looks on their faces. He looked immediately at Minerva and said, "Professor McGonagall, please go to Mr. Filch at once and tell him to search every painting in the castle for the Fat Lady."

"You'll be lucky!" cried out cackling voice above them. He looked up right away to see Peeves bobbing over the crowd and looking delighted, as he always did, whenever something bad was happening. Biting his lower lip for a second and asked as calmly as he could, while at the same time had dread and fear filling him, "What do you mean, Peeves?"

Peeve's smiled faded slightly and then said with his wicked grin, "Ashamed, Your Headship, sir. Doesn't want to be seen. She's a horrible mess. Saw her running through the landscape up on the fourth floor, sir, dodging between the trees. Crying something dreadful," he said happily. "Poor thing," he said and that told Albus how serious this was.

"Did she say who did it?" he asked quietly, fearing the worse, praying he was wrong.

"Oh yes, Professorhead," he said cheerfully. "He got very angry when she wouldn't let him in, you see." He then flipped over in midair and grinned at him from between his legs as he finished by saying, "Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black."

Albus felt as if his heart had turned to ice. He then addressed the students who were all still standing there, each one with panic-stricken and terrified looks—as if they were about to start screaming. But he quickly waved them all back down to the Great Hall and ordered the other teachers to go and get everyone else before anything more happened. The Gryffindors were all gathered at their table, all talking quickly about what was happening while Albus looked at the door every few seconds, terrified that someone had been attacked as well.

He let out sighs of relief when the heads of Houses all showed up one by one, each telling him that everyone was accounted for and safe. He felt as though a huge weight was lifted off him once the last child had walked in, looking tired and confused, but thankfully unharmed.

Once everyone had gathered together he waved down the questions and explanations as he called out, "The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle." He looked up at the doors into the Hall again just as waving Minerva and Filius closed them and nodding in approval. "I'm afraid that, for your own safety, you will have to spend the night here. I want the prefects to stand guard over the entrances to the hall and I am leaving the Head Boy and Girl in charge." He then turned to Percy, who was looking excited at being left in charge and added to him, "Any disturbance should be reported to me immediately. Send word with one of the ghosts."

Percy nodded quickly and immediately began looking around the hall at all the students as if he had just been told that he was the new Headmaster.

Albus suddenly remembered that sleeping on the floor sure wasn't going to be comfortable for them and so he said, "Oh, yes, you'll be needing…"

He levitated the four tables out of the way, and conjured hundreds of squashy purple sleeping bags.

"Sleep well," he said as the doors closed behind him. Once he was out, he turned to his teachers who each had their wand out and were looking ready for anything. "We must search the entire castle," he told them all. "Don't leave a single room or corridor overlooked. But I also want a few of you to check in here every once in awhile. Remember, the student's safety is our number one priority."

They all nodded and quickly broke into groups of twos and began to search. Albus then looked up at the Grand Staircase, to where Dexter and Everard were watching from a painting of a grassy hillside and went straight up to them.

"Dexter? Everard? You both go and try to find the Fat Lady. Start with the fourth floor and search every picture you can until she's found. Come and find me as soon as you find her or if you see any signs of Sirius Black."

Both gave him a salute and left without questions, Albus watched them until they walked through the portraits next to them as he pulled out his own wand and began searching the castle for Sirius Black.

*Hours later*

At some unearthly hour in the morning, Albus, completely exhausted but still alert, decided to go and check on the students once his search had turned up nothing. He entered the Great Hall, and looked around for Percy who was prowling between the sleeping bags a short ways away. Albus gestured him over once he looked up.

"Any sign of him, Professor?" whispered Percy once he drew near.

"No," Albus answered tiredly. "All well here?"

"Everything under control, sir."

Albus nodded in satisfaction as he looked around at them all fondly. "Good. There's no point moving them all now. I've found a temporary guardian for the Gryffindor portrait hole. You'll be able to move them back in tomorrow."

"And the Fat Lady, sir?" Percy asked worriedly.

"Hiding in a map of Argyllshire on the second floor," Albus informed him. He, himself, had been searching the seventh floor when he heard Everard shout from across the corridor that he found her. He went down to find her crying, and slashed up—completely distraught. It took some time for him to calm her down enough for her to tell him what happened. Once he got the story from her, he told her to take refuge in one of the portraits in his office—preferably in Phineas's portrait—until he sorted everything out. "Apparently she refused to let Black in without the password, so he attacked. She's still very distressed, but once she's calmed down, I'll have Mr. Filch restore her."

Suddenly, the doors opened again. He looked up to see a tired-looking, and irritable Severus comes in. Albus turned to him, hoping for good news. "Headmaster?" Severus asked quietly. "The whole of the third floor has been searched. He's not there. And Filch has done the dungeons; nothing there either."

Albus frowned. He then asked, wanting to make sure that every single room in the castle had been searched. "What about the Astronomy tower? Professor Trelawney's room? The Owlery?"

"All searched…" Severus answered.

"Very well, Severus," Albus sighed. He had a feeling that this was the case, but that didn't stop the disappointment that he was still loose, and the relief that Black was no where inside the castle. "I didn't really expect Black to linger."

"Have you any theory as to how he got in, Professor?" Severus suddenly said with a little hiss in his tone.

Albus eyed him wearily, having a pretty good idea where he was going with this. "Many, Severus, each of them as unlikely as the next."

Severus's eyes narrowed in anger. "You remember the conversation we had, Headmaster, just before — ah — the start of term?" He was trying hard not to say too much with Percy here, and Albus didn't know how many students were still awake and probably listening in.

"I do, Severus," Albus said, remembering the conversation about Remus all-too-well, and was not in the mood to hear Severus accuse him again.

"It seems — almost impossible — that Black could have entered the school without inside help. I did express my concerns when you appointed —"

"I do not believe a single person inside this castle would have helped Black enter it," Albus said firmly. "I must go down to the Dementors. I said I would inform them when our search was complete."

Percy suddenly spoke up, "Didn't they want to help, sir?"

"Oh yes," Albus answered him, almost angry. Cold rage filling him at the thought of having those monsters inside Hogwarts, where it's supposed to be a place of safety, and have them exposed to the students. "But I'm afraid no Dementor will cross the threshold of this castle while I am Headmaster."

Percy looked startled at his tone, and Albus felt some of his anger fade at the look on Percy's face. But he didn't have time to dwell on it as he quickly and quietly, trying hard not to wake anyone, walked out of the hall.

The sun had already risen before he was able to return to his office… and was greeted by a furious Phineas.

*A few days later*

Things hadn't quieted down over the next few days; not that he expected them too. He had indeed found a new protector for the Gryffindor common room, but to be honest, he wasn't so sure of his reliability. But then again, Sir Cadogan was the only one who would take the job… so he didn't have much choice. But he now had other worries to add to his ever growing load.

His fears of Harry being targeted by Sirius Black had just been confirmed. He had been hoping, praying that Black coming after Harry was nothing more than a rumor at most. But why else would Black be trying to get into Gryffindor Tower if not because of Harry? He asked the teachers to all keep a closer eye on him just in case… but at the same time, he also knew that this was causing problems for the boy. He felt bad, but Harry's safety was far more important.

He was waiting for Armando to come back and inform him on Harry and was glad when he finally appeared. Albus looked up at him and waited for a report. "That Black fellow sure has McGonagall scared," Armando explained. "She just told Harry about Black being after him and that she doesn't want him to be practicing Quidditch in the evenings."

Now Albus was already aware that Harry knew about Black, but what Armando said about Minerva wanting to cancel their Quidditch practice surprised him. He was grateful for Minerva ready to take such measures… though he knew just how painful it must've been for her to come to that decision.

"Why do I have the feeling that Harry didn't take that to well?" he asked him.

"Well, he was able to convince her not to make them cancel," Armando confessed, "But she insisted on having Hooch out there to keep an eye on them."

Albus folded his hands together and bobbed his head consent. "Yes, that should do well for the time being." He looked out the window at the pounding rain beating against the glass. "Though I can't say I'm optimistic about the weather conditions for this first match."

He sighed; remembering the last few Quidditch matches and coming to a silent decision. If the weather does become too intense, he would be sure to call the match off. Hopefully, the game would end quickly without anything happening…

And so, over the next few days, things were pretty uneventful. Which he was very grateful for. At least until Everard told him of Severus's treatment of the third-year Gryffindors in Defense Against the Dark Arts one day when Albus was writing—what felt like his hundredth letter to the Ministry about Black—and told him of what Severus decided to teach them all.

"You heard me," Everard said in disgust. "He teaching them how to recognize and kill Werewolves. He's obvious what he's doing! He's trying to get them all to connect the dots."

Albus frowned, his tolerance for his Potions Master growing thin. He was going to ensure that they had a long talk about this. But he was also worried about anyone else finding out about Remus's condition. He was sure that some of the more observant ones like Miss Granger would surely figure out the truth in no time. He could only hope that they wouldn't care what Remus was and keep quiet. If word got out… Remus would decide to leave…

"And that's not all," Everard said frigidly, interrupting his train of thought. "The way that Snape treats them… he practically reduced Miss Granger to tears. He resorts to name-calling and yelling at them? Did you know that he sounded like a little kid with all those insults?"

"A sign of a real teacher!" Phineas called approvingly.

"A sign of immaturity!" Everard snapped back.

"What did he say?" Albus interrupted.

"Well," Everard went on grumpily, "When he asked a question, Granger raised her hand to answer it like always. But he ignored her and started insulting them all when no one else said anything. He went on about something about how slow and behind they all were."

"Well, they have much to catch up on," Albus said frowning even further.

"And when Granger started talking about Werewolves, he took points away and called her an insufferable know-it-all," Everard finished.

Albus felt his hand clench. His anger growing at the thought of any of his pupils being treated like they weren't worth anything. But just before he could call Severus to his office, Everard continued by saying, "Despite the fact that he's angry at her, and calls her a know-it-all all the time, Weasley stood up for Miss Granger."

"Ohhh! What did he say?" Dilys couldn't help but ask.

Everard laughed and answered, "He said, and I quote: 'You asked us a question and she knows the answer! Why ask if you don't want to be told?'"

Almost everyone else laughed, Phineas looked ill-tempered, and the corner of Albus's mouth twitched. "And let me guess…"

"Detention," Everard said simply. "Snape can dish it out, but he sure can't take it can he?"

"I'm afraid that it's a forced habit for him," Albus said sadly, his voice just dribbling with disappointment.

"Well," Everard groaned, "I think that he needs to study up on the Kappa when he's got the free time. He said that they're found in Mongolia, not Japan."

"I think it was more about insulting them," Albus answered grimly, making a mental note to talk to Severus about all this before the next time he was allowed to substitute for another class.

"He just keeps making everyone hate him even more," Everard informed him. "Weasley sure came up with several ah, 'choice' words about Snape. I don't think I can repeat what he said, but the point is, no one is very happy with him. You really need to teach him the golden rule."

"I'm afraid that's easier said than done," Albus admitted, but he would have a few 'choice' words of his own when he did have that talk with Severus.

*A couple weeks later*

Over the next few weeks, Albus had devoted all his time and effort into dealing with the constant bombard of questions from the Ministry, and tightening security. In fact, he had been so busy with everything else, he wasn't even aware that the Slytherin team had pulled a trick on the Gryffindors and switched with Hufflepuff until it was too late to do anything about it.

Albus would wait until tomorrow to get the full story, but for now… he glanced at the heavy downpour hitting the windowpane. He performed a quick, water-reflecting charm on his clothes before he headed down to the pitch, ready to call it off at any moment.

And just like he thought, by the time he arrived at the field—the weather was horrid. Everyone had large umbrellas as the rain poured down on them in a cascade. He was just outside the Quidditch pitch and could hear, even over the gale, the Slytherins laughing and pointing at both teams from their seats… obviously enjoying the fact that they weren't playing in these conditions.

But the storm continued to get worse with every second. The rain coming down harder and faster, the wind getting stronger, and lightening starting to flash. The wind was so great that Albus could see the players in the air getting blown off course… which only made it even more difficult to keep his eyes on them all—Harry especially.

But he was getting worried, if the Snitch wasn't caught in the next 60 seconds he would call everything off. But if things went on too much longer he would have to…

Albus stopped thinking right there. He knew right away something was wrong as ice flooded through him… the sounds of his brother's voice suddenly filling his ears:

"Well? Say something! Don't just stand there like you think that you're better than everyone else! For once in your life, Albus look at me and say something useful!" Aberforth was screaming at Albus. "Why don't you just pack your trophies and leave? That's what you want isn't it? You can't stand being stuck here and taking care of your worthless brother and damaged sister can you? Look, I don't give a damn about school anymore! I'll take care of Ariana! Just get out of here and take him with you!"

He pointed a shaking hand at Gellert who was still lurking in the doorway and watched the two brothers argue.

"You're not quitting school!" Albus argued back loudly. "You need to finish your education! I told you that I'll take care of her until…"

"Until what?" Aberforth demanded. "You never wanted to deal with her even before Mum died! You can't stand the sight of us can you?"

"That's not true!" Albus shouted back. At least, not completely true. Albus loved them both dearly, they were the only family he had left. But…

"And you!" Aberforth roared, storming over to Gellert glared back fiercely. "You selfish, loathsome, evil little cockroach! You get kicked out of Drumstrang for Dark Magic didn't you? That school is KNOWN for teaching the Dark Arts! I don't know what you did, but don't think you've got me convinced for a second that you turned over a new leaf!" He turned back to Albus and screamed, "You better give it up now. You can't move her, she's in no fit state, you can't take her with you, wherever it is you're planning to go, while you were busy making your clever speeches, you forgot that Ariana is too weak to be moved anywhere! What you two are planning is nothing but evil and you know it!"

Albus refused to admit the truth of his brother's words. He tried desperately to explain once again… but Aberforth was on a roll.

"Look, Albus," Aberforth continued. "I know that you finally found someone of your level, an equal! There's actually someone out there worthy of your presence! Not like your worthless siblings that you wish would just disappear!"

"Enough!" both of them turned to Gellert after his sudden outburst. His eyes flashing angrily and his lips curled into a cruel snarl. He immediately pulled out his wand and pointed it at Aberforth's chest as if he was fighting the urge to curse him and stared menacingly.

"Gellert!" Albus called to him in shock.

"Don't you dare think that you can tell us what to do! Not when you don't understand what we're going to do! Don't you see that if we succeed, Ariana won't be forced to be hidden in this house any longer? Why should you, a drop-out schoolboy, be able to tell me what's right and wrong?"

"Oh, what are you going to do about it?" Aberforth snarled back, ready for a fight. But before he could even pull out his wand, Gellert screamed out "Crucio!"

Aberforth's screams filled his head and Albus was drowning in cold sorrow… only vaguely aware of what was happening. Fighting the memories, he started running onto the field. He reached it just as the Dementors started swarming, feasting on the enthusiasm the crowd was giving off. Their screams of excitement had turned to ones of horror and fear. That was when it happened.

He looked up at the players… and he felt his insides freeze as pure terror crashed through him when he saw that Harry had suddenly stopped flying… he had frozen in midair… and then slowly slipped off his broom and was falling to earth.

Fighting to keep his mind clear, though nearly impossible now that he heard Ariana screaming in his ears, he used the Impediment Curse to help slow Harry down right before he hit the ground. And then he thought of a memory, he thought of a time before Ariana had been attacked and his family was still together, before he was able to summon his phoenix Patronus and forced the Dementors to leave.

Once they had fled, the screaming stopped and he turned to see that Harry was lying in the mud just a few yards away. Feeling another wave of panic rush over him, he ran over to the boy. And for one—heart-stopping moment—he was sure that he was dead. He reached over and checked Harry's wrist to find the faint beating of a pulse just as Harry let out a small groan of pain. Feeling warm and welcoming relief that he was alive; he conjured up a stretcher and levitated him straight up to the Hospital Wing—mentally cursing the Dementors all the way.

But once they were just a floor beneath the hospital… something happened…

"Stop…" Harry croaked from the stretcher, and for a moment, Albus thought that Harry had woken up and was talking to him. But when he did and looked down at him, he realized that Harry was talking to a dream. "Please… stop… stop the screaming…"

Albus stared at his tortured, sleeping face when he spoke those words—his heart aching for the boy next to him. Now having a good guess to what Harry was forced to hear. And he understood too-well what it was like to be forced to hear the ones we love scream their final moments… Ariana's cry was still ringing in his ears…

He was glad that his beard and face were soaked by the time that he arrived with Harry at the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey didn't notice the single tear that had fallen from his eye and slid down his cheek.

(I know that I've been asked to update a lot sooner. I'm sorry, but this chapter has been difficult. And I've also been working on finals… but nevertheless, I hope that no one was disappointed with this chapter, and are there any suggestions to what should happen in the next one?)