SWTNG

Chapter 9

The Professor's House

Early Tuesday morning, Scorpius sat nervously at the Potter's kitchen table. He didn't feel comfortable going over to a professor's house. Even if the Professor was Mr. Longbottom. Albus was ranting about the things they could do and a strange story about he and Serendipity catching something called a Pollywagli together. He was going to ask what it was, but James frantically moved his hands signaling him not to. Albus must have caught it because he glared at James and answered the unspoken question. Scorpius listened, even though, his interest had failed to keep.

"Thanks for explaining." said Scorpius, taking advantage of Albus eating a sausage to stop the ranting.

"Smooth." said Lily in a whisper.

"What time are you planning on coming home?" asked Harry as he passed more eggs to James.

"What time do you want us home?" asked Lily.

"Dinner time at the latest." said Ginny who was walking to the table with more pumpkin juice.

"Dad, can I have my allowance early. Lynn said there's a sale at the Supply shop and I wanted to get some new gloves for Quidditch." said James with a smile.

"He just wants to have an excuse to gawk at Lynn." said Albus, Lily giggled as James hit him without even looking at Albus.

"James don't hit your brother." said Harry, though he looked slightly amused, "And Albus."

"Yeah dad?" asked Albus taking a drink of pumpkin juice.

"Stop making fun of your brother and his girlfriend."

"She's not my girlfriend, Lynn is just my friend." said James defensively.

"Who you want to be your girlfriend." said Lily.

"Shut up, Lily." said James, glaring at his sister, Albus and Lily smirked at each other.

"Oh Lynn, your so beautiful." said Albus in an almost perfect imitation of James voice, only slightly higher pitched.

"Why Jimmy, your so flattering." said Lily with mock eyelash bating.

"Dad!" said James, as Harry had started laughing with Ginny, "Mom, make them stop."

"Your so good at Quidditch, Lynn." said Albus still mocking James, Scorpius had startled laughing.

"Oh Jimmy, when you do that Bottle-nose Drop dive, it makes my heart all a flutter." said Lily.

"I'm going to Fred's." said James getting up and heading to the fireplace.

"James..." Harry tried to stifle his laughter as James stomped into the fireplace and vanished, "He'll be back."

"At dinner. Now Lily, Albus. It may be funny sometime, but don't make fun of your brother like that." said Ginny, a serious expression.

"He'll be back in a couple of minutes." said Harry, looking at the fireplace.

"What makes you so sure, Mr. Potter?" asked Scorpius.

"Because without his allowance he won't have an excuse to visit Lynn." said Harry, there was a couple snickers around the table. "Call me Harry."

"Neville and Luna will be expecting you soon." said Ginny looking at her watch.

"I'd wait for five more seconds before using the fireplace." said Harry, standing by it, then the flames erupted and James walked in.

"I am not predictable." said James, looking at Harry with a sour face.

"Of coarse not." said Harry, holding out James' allowance.

"Have fun, sweetheart." said Ginny, "Give our love to Fred and the others."

"Okay, mum." said James, walking back into the fireplace.

"Have fun snogging!" yelled Lily and Albus at the same time James disappeared.

When they arrived at Neville and Luna's they where greeted by a dreamy eyed and warm smiled Luna. She waved them outside and told them Serendipity (Seri) and Alison where out there. Scorpius took back what he said about Shell Cabin being the most wonderful house he'd seen. The Longbottom cabin appeared small on the outside with a thatched roof and a pickett fence. The pickett fence was a lovely maple color with an arbor covered in vines in the front. The back door led to a large and lush garden in the back. There where many strange plants and little creatures everywhere, Scorpius had never seen or heard of things like he saw. Down the stone pebbled garden path, large willow trees ran down the hill to a large creek.

"I love this house." said Scorpius without thinking.

"So do I." a voice came right next to his ear, he jumped.

He swung around to see Seri and Alison standing there. Alison was giggling, which led to the conclusion she'd been the one to scare him. The only time he'd met Alison was at the Christmas previously and only momentarily. She gave the strongest feeling of a tom boy. Her hair was long, but tied back. She wore loose overall jeans and now shoes. But he was very distracted by her belt and earrings. They seemed to glow every time the wind picked up.

"There Pollywagli seedlings." said Alison, she pointed to lush green near the water banks.

"They only open every orange moon." said Seri, pointing to blue spiky pods at the tops.

"Al, you said Pollywagli are water creatures." said Scorpius quietly.

"They are, seedling plants grow from their. . . ohm droppings." said Albus.

"Eww." said Scorpius.

"Not really, all plants grow from droppings." said Seri, somehow they'd drifted under a willow, "Seedlings have no real magical properties apart from creating light."

"Our parents discovered Pollwagli's and the link between seedlings." said a young boy from up in the tree.

"Franklin, why are you in the tree. Mummy and Daddy told you not to go in the tree." said Seri, a serious expression on her normally happy face.

"Hi Franky." said Lily as she and Albus waved.

"Hi, Lily, Albus..." he waved at Scorpius with a curious look.

"Scorpius." said Scorpius giving a wave.

"Franklin." said Alison, starting to climb up the tree, "Come here."

"I can get down myself." said Franklin, starting to climb down and then falling, "I'm fine."

A little while later Rose and Hugo arrived. A little while after, Scorpius became aware of something. No matter where he went, Hugo followed. Because of this, so did Lily and Alison, all giggling. This gave little time for him to actually pay attention as Seri told them what to expect next year.

"Will you three go elsewhere." said Rose as they sat by the garden pond.

"Why?" asked Hugo, he looked very sincere.

"We want to talk about school and your giggling is annoying." said Scorpius with a sigh.

"We'll stop." said Lily, covering Alison's mouth.

"Yeah, I want to hear about Hogwarts." said Hugo.

"Mmee twoo." is what was heard from Alison.

"Okay, so in second year..." Seri was cut off.

"Can you talk about first year afterwords?" asked Hugo.

"Only if you tell us why you are stalking Scorpius like Vultures waiting for death." said Albus.

"Thanks for the visual." said Scorpius now picturing a vulture eating a dead and rotting creature.

"No reason." said Hugo tipping his hat in the pond water, trying to catch a fish.

"Just fun and games." said Alison, Lily giggled.

"Can't you just go chase butterfly's?" asked Rose.

The talk about school lasted a long time. The only reason they really stopped was because hunger had gotten to them. They headed inside, Hugo right behind Scorpius. This caused Scorpius the thought of pushing Hugo into the pond when they got back outside. Rose whispered something to him, but he only got it was about Seri.

"What?" asked Scorpius in a whisper back.

"Talk more later, to many ears." said Rose, Scorpius rolled his eyes, Potters and Weasley had issues.

"Why!?" Scorpius found himself yell as the younger trio giggled behind him.

"Nothing." said all three and they finally retreated back to the garden.

"Let's go eat in my room. Ali and Franklin don't come in unless they ask." said Seri, pointing down the hall.

They returned home, er, the Potter residence around six, all three exhausted. Scorpius had gotten to see first hand what a Pollywagli was and he was NOT eager to meet it again. He knew his dreams would be plagued by it for sometime. Dinner was very amusing that night. Lynn had come over for dinner, James still denying his feelings. Lynn had enjoyed the humorous torture of James and had even chipped in a bit. James had even started to enjoy it, most likely because Lynn was okay with it.

"Thanks for coming to dinner Lynn." said Ginny with a laugh as Lynn went to the fireplace.

"Thanks for having me over. I'll give mum and dad the pie, bye Harry, bye Ginny, everyone." said Lynn, and then as a last humorous remark she winked at James, "Bye honey."

"See you darling." said James with a small laugh.

"So I think you all should turn in soon." said Harry looking at his watch, it was still early.

"Why?" asked Lily, she looked at the clock.

"I thought you'd want to get to the carnival early tomorrow." said Harry, he smiled as Lily ran off up the stairs, the others slowly followed.

Scorpius and Albus where quickly changed into their night clothes. Albus retelling what a carnival was and the fun rides they where going to go on. Scorpius started dozing off after Albus was talking about something called a soft pretzels and cheese. By the time Albus said the word Cotton, Scorpius was asleep. Dreaming about a large cotton wad that sprung a Pollywagli from it. He ran from it and right onto a tilt-a-world thing where it wouldn't stop spinning.

TBC