Albus woke to the yells of his mother from downstairs. No doubt James had been causing trouble down there again. Ever since he had been little he had been stealing stuff from their shop. He looked out his window and saw his little sister Lily and his cousin Rose flying around on their brooms around the house.
Albus made his way down to Breakfast where his father and Ron were talking about Quidditch, "The Cannons are a sure thing for this year's play-offs Harry I can feel it." Ron said excitedly.
"Don't be stupid Ron, a 20 point win over the Arrows is nothing to get excited about and the top 6 teams are worlds ahead of you guys, Puddlemere in particular, I can't remember the last time Oliver let in more than 2 goals in a game, plus the magpies. They have won 41 championships now I think? They have made the play-offs every year since the competition was expanded to 15 teams. Plus Albert Lennard is the best seeker in the world at the moment."
"Wood is old and slow now Harry, trust me. And the Pies have that nutty Maddock as coach. He keeps saying that his team will be unbeatable when they get the skills from that game football right. But since when has any muggle things worked in the wizarding world. Remember when the idiot kicked the snitch? Cannons will get top 6. They have an easy draw compared to the Kestrals. I don't really care as long as we don't come last again this year, and as long as the Tornados don't win."
Albus really didn't care how any of those teams went he just wanted to hear how his dad expected his team, The Bristol Heat, to fare over the coming season. Luckily for him his father and Ron were far from finished talking.
"I wouldn't right off the three newest teams from claiming their first championship yet either. That John Arthur for the Armagh Raiders is an absolute gun. Also the Heat and the Kings are outsiders. Especially as the Heat have those two Australian young guns Tyrone Battle and Luka Doolan. Did you hear what they did to the Bat's defence last week? They could have one by a thousand if Krum hadn't caught the snitch within 20 minutes and they still won 260-0. The Kings have that beater Lux Raynor people fear for their life against him. He is an animal." Harry was clearly annoyed with his friends' inability to see that the Cannons had no chance of winning the League.
'Yeah maybe you are right. I probably shouldn't get my hopes up again this year. What game are you thinking of going too this weekend? I really want to see the Cannons play the Kings. Though Puddlemere United verse The Montrose Magpies clash is enticing, especially as they will possibly be the two teams that will be playing each other in the final this year."
"Ginny wants to see the Holyhead Harpies game against the Bats. So I might go with Lily to that because Ginny will be down on the bench with the girls no doubt. They are a real play-off shot this year. They're outsiders for the top two spot even. They haven't been up that high since Ginny and Katie Bell retired."
"So who are your pick for the championship dad?" Albus piped in as soon as he realised this conversation was beginning to stray into teams he had no interest in.
"I really don't know Al this looks to be one of the closest years in recent memory. Montrose, Tutshill and Puddlemere look to be the best teams in the league, but the Harpies, Raiders and Bats look to be the best chance for those other spots but if the two Aussies are as good as they looked on the weekend the Heat will be a force to be reckoned with. They are a rough pair too. Apparently they learnt their tackling skills from some muggle sport Ron and it seemed to work pretty well last week." Harry said clearly trying to tease Ron.
"You said it yourself earlier it is just one game Harry. The Heat doesn't have the experience to win the cup this year. A play-off berth would be a good finish for them. My picks for play-offs are United, Pies, Tornados, Cannons, Harpies then Raiders, in that order, have you heard any more on the bids for the new team next year?" Ron said.
"Let's not talk about this now Ron. Albus you have to get to Diagon Alley today. Don't forget to get a new broom for Quidditch try-outs," Asked Harry.
"I don't know if I want to play dad. James already has the seeker spot and Gryffindor has the Faulkner triplets in chaser. I am too small to be a beater or a keeper so I am not going to get a Start till 4th year." Albus said with the disappointment oozing out of his voice, "can I just get my own Owl instead?"
"If you are sure that is what you want then that is fine by me. Just think about it because you are better than James at seeker. He is only playing Seeker because he can't get chaser. Plus you might not even be in Gryffindor. Just try out Al. What is the worst that can happen?" Harry said trying to convince his son that playing in his house team was a good move.
"Ok well I really want an Owl. Can I get both?" Albus asked getting excited about the prospect of having his own owl as well as the new 3rd Edition Firebolt.
"Ask your mother Al. You really have to get going. The others left over an hour ago. Ron will drop you off to the others on his way in to the ministry."
Not too much Later Albus was trotting around Diagon Alley with his cousin Rose. They had had a busy day and were just chatting Albus had grabbed all his books, his owl and his broomsticks and soon enough he was in Madame Malkins getting his school robes. As the woman was rushing around grabbing his robes for him Albus heard a noise as the door swung open and a boy with pale blonde hair and cold blue eyes walked into the room. This kid instantly made Al feel on edge. He looked so awkward and proper in his manner.
"So what is your name?" The boy asked casually.
"Albus Potter." Al replied quickly.
"You say it almost like if you say it quickly enough I won't hear you. Why is that?" The boy asked with a smirk on his face, "Well, anyways I am Scorpius Malfoy, so do you know what house you will be in at Hogwarts?"
"Gryffindor I guess," Al replied. "The rest of my family is in Gryffindor, but sometimes I think that I would be better off in a different house then the rest of them so I can be my own person for once."
"You could always come to Slytherin with me." The boy said. Clearly the idea of being in a different house had never occurred to the boy as he talked about the house as if it was a mere formality that he had to be sorted there.
"But that is where all the evil wizards come from!" Albus said startled that this boy didn't seem to know about all of the bad wizards from Slytherin.
"Do you think I am evil?" Scorpius asked him, clearly unsure as to what Al was getting at.
"Well you seem alright. That doesn't change the fact that Voldemort was from Slytherin. I am sure you would have heard about him." Albus said finally hoping that this boy would see his error and not go to Slytherin.
"Grindlewald was best friends with Dumbledore who was in Gryffindor. Every house has had their nutty students; the Slytherin house just outputs more dark wizards because we are the most ambitious house. I mean it is what we get selected on." The boy said as if he had no further interest in talking on the subject. So Al spat out "What team do you support in the Quidditch League?"
"The Bristol Heat" Scorpius replied. At that moment the conversation took off and they talked about the team and the two new superstars in the team who were looking like turning their team into a superstar outfit.
Albus heard the door ring and saw his mother walk into the shop. He saw the look of concern wash over her face when she saw the boy he was talking too and then she quickly ushered him out of the building. As his mother dragged him out of the shop he looked over and saw the boy with a bemused grin and somehow he knew that he had made his first friend for Hogwarts, even if he was going to be a stinking Slytherin.
Albus hadn't mentioned the boy to his mother or father but he could already tell that they were a little worried about him talking to the boy. He wondered how they knew who the kid was and why they were worried about him. He went up to his room where his snowy owl which he had named Gifford was flying around with the family's tawny owl Remus.
The next morning Albus was shaken awake very early by his father, "Al, there is someone downstairs I want you to meet."
Albus just let out a groan before hopping up and slowly making his way downstairs where he heard his father talking to a man in low voices. When Albus got down to the ground floor he saw an old man with grey hair who was slightly hunched over the table talking to his father in a voice that suggested that this man thought he was better than whoever he happened to be talking too.
"So this is Albus, call me Olivander I am a retired wandmaker. However I agreed to make your family wands as a favour to your father." The man said whilst looking him up and down, "Yes I do believe we can work with this."
He reached down to his side where he had a small pouch attached to his belt and he reached in and pulled out a box that was clearly too large for the miniscule pouch. He opened the box and Albus looked in and saw a wand. Albus reached out eagerly and grabbed it and he was just about to wave it when Olivander grabbed it out of his hand. "That put simply won't do. Here try this one and he reached into the pouch and pulled out a second wand. Here, 12 inches, Hawthorn with dragon heartstring." This process continued for the best part of an hour before Olivander suddenly didn't hand him a wand and looked worriedly at Harry.
"Albus just go get breakfast, okay, we will have you a wand by tonight, I promise." Harry said as Albus quickly ran out of the room to the kitchen where his mother was making breakfast for his brother and sister. Lily and James could clearly tell that Al was annoyed as they didn't say anything instead just sitting there in silence looking down at their food.
Ten minutes later Harry came in and got Albus to come back out and sit at a table with them. "Albus," Olivander started, "I have a wand I believe will fit you but I must admit that another wand maker made it and he created it has similar properties to a wand he got off someone else. I have tried to recreate wands of its quality since I first found it many, many years ago. It is truly a spectacular wand at 15 inches, made of elder and with a thestral hair core."
Olivander pulled it out of the bag and it wasn't in a box. It was a truly beautiful wand with carvings on the bottom of the handle. Albus felt that he should know what this carving was of but was having a bit of a mental blank. Albus reached out and took it into his hand. Almost at the moment he touched the wand he felt warmth spread out over his entire body, radiating from his hand. He waved the wand and a shower of emerald green sparks came out of the end of his wand.
On the Saturday the week before they returned to Hogwarts the family was up really early to get to the days Quidditch game. It would be the last before they headed off to Hogwarts for the year so they decided they had better make the most of their day and were getting out early to see the Youth and Reserve squads play. It was going to be the Heat V Cannons so Albus and Ron were more excited than the other family members especially as both teams were undefeated so far.
When they arrived at the Arena they walked in to the late stages of a youth game. There is a 2 hour time limit on youth and reserve grade so they do not run into the time required for the first grade game. The Heat was out in front 170-0 when suddenly everyone realised there was a chase for the snitch. The two seekers closed in together and then suddenly the heat seeker jumped off his broom straight in front of the opposition seeker and grabbed the snitch from right under his nose. The crowd watched silently as the guy started to speed towards the ground. Then suddenly out of nowhere the keeper of the heat appeared and caught his player only metres above the ground.
The crowd erupted into cheers as the heat team had kept the undefeated streak alive. Suddenly the Announcers voice rung out over the crowd.
"AND TODAY YOUR MVP IS… FROM THE BRISTOL HEAT… CAMILO SILVIERA, WITH NO GOALS CONCEEDED IN ANOTHER PERFECT KEEPING PERFORMANCE."
"He is the Slytherin keeper" James said obviously annoyed at the fact, "Even the Faulkner triplets couldn't score on him last year. He is an absolute freak."
"How did they not win a game then" Albus asked interested in what was the problem with this Slytherin team.
"Their Seeker was a joke. He has no shot at keeping his job this year. Especially with this year being the year that Hogwarts select a team to go play against Drumstrang in a best of 3 series over in Bulgaria next school break. Everyone suddenly wants to be involved in the squad selected this year. It is the best thing ever being in the school team, I got to play last year when Hogwarts held it and we lost all three games to Drumstrang but their seeker is an absolute gun."
Two hours on and the day had only got worse for Ron with the Reserve Cannons also downed by a large margin. The First Grade game had only just begun and already the two Chasers from Australia were making the Cannons defence look terrible. Though in reality it was the two chasers desire to not get stuck with the ball at all costs that kept their attack rolling forwards. No look passes would go straight into their teammate's hands and shot would go in when the player wasn't even looking at the Goals. Within half an hour the game had got out to 90-0 and had shown no signs of slowing when Viktor Krum swooped down and caught the snitch.
Just a few hours later and Albus found himself in a small wizarding community in Bristol where the fans had gathered to celebrate their third straight victory of the season that had catapulted them into outright lead of the competition as the only undefeated team. Suddenly out of the middle of the crowd a shriek was heard and everyone went silent. Albus looked into the place where a small gap in the group had appeared and he could see his father and a man in a black cloak and a strange black mask over his face that made it impossible to recognise him standing over a corpse on the ground.
Out of nowhere the man conjured three swords which shot at harry who quickly transfigured them into a liquid that shot back at the man before exploding into flames. The man waved his wand and the fire formed into a snake and shot back at Harry who made an entire wall out of water in front of him which fizzled the flames out to nothing then formed a wave that shot back at the man who apparated out of the way of the water and suddenly he was gone.
Albus felt a hand grab his arm and suddenly he was back in his own home. He heard a crack before he turned around just missing the person who had apparated him and all was silent. For the first time in as long as he could remember Albus was alone.
