Here's Chapter 6!
"So what position would you guys try-out for next year?" Rose asked as she nibbled her toast.
"Chaser, definitely." Scorpius answered quickly. "My dad and I played Quidditch one on one almost every weekend from the time I could pick up a broom, to just a year or two ago when his work at the Auror office began to pick up. But I've been practicing by myself, and with some of my dad's friend's kids."
"Your dad played Quidditch with you every weekend?" I asked exceptionally surprised.
"Yeah. Didn't your parents teach you guys how to play, and practice with you?" Scorpius asked clearly confused.
"Well, yeah. All the time. Quidditch is a huge deal in the Weasley and Potter households. I just thought that with your dad's history and all…" I broke off there not wanting to finish my sentence.
Sudden realization and shame crossed his face. "Just because he got mixed into the dark arts with he was younger, doesn't mean he's still involved in it, or that he's evil, or is a bad dad that doesn't spend time with his only son!"
Rose and I just gawked at him utterly speechless and in shock.
"Sorry. My dad's past is kind of a touchy subject for me. I didn't mean to snap. Most people have such a negative view of my dad because of his past, that as soon as they find out I'm his son, people have a negative view of me." Scorpius explained.
Rose listened patiently while I nodded in agreement and added, "I know what you mean. Not about the negative view, but about being judged because of who your father is. My dad's the Boy Who Lived. How do you live up to that?"
"You don't." Scorpius answered.
And of course, Rose had her side of the story to share. "I agree with both of you. My mom was the Brightest Witch of her age. So basically, if I don't get the same marks as she did, or better, I'm either adopted or disowned. Maybe both."
"We'll make it a competition then. Whoever is the top of our class every year gets to choose the loser's punishment. And the punishments have to get worse every year." Scorpius challenged with a gleam in his eye.
"Bring it albino." Rose taunted.
"You're on freckle-face." Scorpius sneered back.
"This should be interesting." I said rolling my eyes at the two.
"Very interesting. Oh, and you couldn't possibly be adopted with that hair." Scorpius added nodding to Rose's trademark flaming red Weasley hair. I was grateful I got my dad's hair color.
Rose quickly changed the subject to avoid a lengthy argument. "On another note, what position would you want, Albus?"
"I don't know. I guess my dad always said I was a better seeker than James will ever be. He thinks James lacks patience." I paused and thought for a moment. "Seeker would be my first choice, but some positions aren't always open to second years because they are already filled by older players. What about you, Rose?"
She gave Scorpius a confident grin. "Chaser."
"Oh, so yet another competition?" Scorpius raised his eyebrows.
"You've got it, Scorp."
"Alright. How about a maximum of two competitions at a time between you two? One athletic, and one academic." I said trying to keep the peace.
"Fine." Both agreed in unison.
We all turned out attention to the front doors of the entrance hall as Lucy, Fred, James, and Roxy ran out with their brooms.
Apparently Fred or Lucy, (maybe both) had snuck into the Quidditch supply room to get a set of Quidditch equipment. Neither should have had access to it because neither were captains. I figured they had sweet-talked Dom into it, or Fred had devised a different plan. Lucy had gotten out a quaffle to show James a few moves and give him some tips, while Fred got out a bludger to show his sister a thing or two.
As expected, after a few drills, James got distracted.
Emily Wood, whom James has had a massive crush on since the first day of his first year, walked by laughing with her friends with her broom over her shoulder. As soon as he saw her, he swopped down on his broom, and hovered in front of her upside down. She gave him an unamused glare.
"What do you want, Potter?" She spat, already annoyed.
"I only want you to admit you like me."
"Only?"
"Yes. See? It's really very simple. Quite painless actually." James said cheerfully.
"Clearly." Emily replied, her voice laden with sarcasm. "I say that you're an arrogant pig to think that just any girl will like you just because you think she should." She stated loud enough for anyone remotely close to hear.
James stood there dumbstruck as Emily stomped off. Those who found it amusing laughed, while others just shook their heads and went back to their activities.
Without thinking, I yelled, "Rejection!"
This snapped James out of his trance. He caught site of me with my hands still cupped around the corners of my mouth.
He charged at me yelling, "You'll pay for that you little prat!"
"Uh oh!" I whispered turning to climb the big oak tree that we had been leaning against.
I got about a fourth of the way up the tree when I heard James begin to climb the tree and throw a few choice threats in my direction.
I heard Lucy call my name, and I quickly climbed out on an overhanging branch hoping she had some helpful guidance for me.
"Catch!" She yelled throwing her broom up to me. I caught it with miraculous grace and clamored on, hopeful to get away from James. Lucy was now my favorite cousin (next to Rose of course).
I sped away hearing James yell, "Fred, throw me my broom, will you?"
I looked back to see James climbing onto his own broom. "Good luck, Albus!" I heard Scorpius call.
"Play your strengths!" Rose added.
All I had to do was think like a snitch. If he can't catch a real one, he won't catch me if I act like one.
I sped to the Quidditch Pitch weaving in and out and between the three hoops on both sides.
I flew in the direction of Hagrid's Hut, slowed so that James was right behind me, and made a dash right for the small shack.
I pulled Lucy's broom upward so I was flying "belly-up" back the way I had come.
Not being as agile as me, James raced under me and through the window of the hut. It was like my own version of the famous Wronski Feint.
I flipped over so I was right side up again, and looked back to see James emerge from the hut looking frazzled.
"I'm gonna get you, Albus!" He threatened.
I just shook my head at him. I had a plan.
James had nicked the Marauder's Map from the desk drawer in my dad's study that had accidentally been left unlocked the summer before James's first year of Hogwarts. After the battle of Hogwarts and the rebuilding of the castle, things had been added, replaced, or removed altogether. As the castle was altered, so was the map. James had wasted no time in lording it over my head that he had found it and that it was all his.
What he didn't know was that some nights I would take it from his room and study it in detail while James was asleep and return it safely to its hiding place before James woke up the next morning. All James wanted it for was to see where people were and how he could get around them. What I wanted it for was secret passageways and hide-outs I could use for my advantage. The whole week before I boarded the Hogwarts Express for myself, I nicked the map from James and I started to copy it down on any loose parchment I could find. I planned to have Rose put a concealment charm on it as soon as possible. Until then, I guarded it with my life.
So I had a few tricks up my sleeve.
I flew past the Greenhouses used for many of the Herbology classes and headed for the owlery. I plunged through the window yelling, "Get him!"
As if on cue, every owl look flight at the disturbance as I shot out the window. I could hear James struggling to escape the wild fray of feathered wings unscathed. This set James even further behind me. I swerved around Gryffindor tower as some students in the commonroom gawked out the window at me. I headed for Ravenclaw tower and did the same with the same reaction as a result. Because of the further space between James and me, I could perform my final ruse. I sped to the Astronomy Tower and spiraled down it as fast as I could. There was a secret room that's entrance was just above where the tower joined with the rest of the castle. Luckily for me, the entrance opened on impact and I barged into the room coming to a stop as I hit the wall opposite the door. It wasn't he most graceful landing, but it would do. From the inside looking out, the walls were clear like a massive room made solely of glass, but the walls were bricklike, cold, and damp to the touch. You could see everything such as the sky and the students lounging on the ground going about their business unaware they had an audience. This included James who was still circling the Astronomy tower flustered to have lost sight of me. Many people were still watching James, but some had lost interest.
Soon even James lost interest in searching for me. He returned to the ground and stomped off to the Entrance Hall dramatically with Fred and Roxy following.
I waited for a few minutes before exiting my hideaway just in case they were waiting at the window for me to reveal myself. Even if they were, I figured I could easily "out fly" James again.
When I figured no one was looking at the astronomy tower anymore, I flew out quickly down to where Lucy, Rose, and Scorpius were standing with an older boy in Slytherin robes.
As soon as I landed, Rose attacked me with a hug yelling, "Merlin! That was impressive! Where did you learn all of that?"
"I just thought like a snitch. Fast and sneaky."
"How did you disappear like that?" Scorpius asked.
"A magician never reveals his tricks." I answered with a grin.
"Well, that's a pretty talented cousin you have there, Lucy." The older Slytherin boy said looking genuinely impressed.
Lucy on the other hand, wasn't paying much attention. She was too busy gawking at the older boy with dreamy eyes, though the boy didn't seem to notice he had an admirer.
"Uh…Lucy?" The boy looked at her confused.
As soon as she caught him looking at her, she snapped out of her trance. "What? Uh, yeah…really talented."
Rose gave her a Malfoy worthy smirk, and Lucy returned the gesture by sticking out her tongue at her when her crush (or personal obsession as I like to call it.) wasn't looking.
The older boy stuck out his hand for me to shake and introduced himself. "Collin Higgs. 7th year, and Seeker for Slytherin."
"Albus Potter." I answered hesitantly shaking his hand.
He also shook Scorpius's hand saying, "Nice to see you again, Scorpius. Tell your father I said hello."
He shook Rose's hand out of courtesy, but didn't seem to care when she introduced herself.
"Do you play Quidditch?" Collin asked turning back to me.
"With my family, yes." I reasoned.
"What position?"
"Seeker." I answered quickly.
"You're a first year, aren't you?" Collin questioned further.
"Yes." I replied getting quite annoyed with all of the questions.
"Come to the try-outs next week. Lucy will give you the details." He said matter-of-factly.
"Okay. But…I-"
He cut me off as he turned to Lucy. He was so close to her, I thought she would surely faint. "I think I've found my replacement for next year." With that, he walked away.
Lucy, now out of her dream-like trance, grinned at me. "That was awesome. You basically have the position next year. He doesn't praise anyone very often." She went to turn away and walk back to James, and make him practice more, but thought better of it at the last second. "Oh, and I'm glad you angered James like that. He needed a vigorous game of cat and mouse. They don't call it chaser for nothing." She winked and ordered James to do laps.
He complained, of course.
Hey guys. First, thank you all so much for sticking with this story and reading it. You guys are all super awesome. One question. Should I just make this story solely Albus's first year, and just make 6 sequels? Or should I fast forward a bit and make it to the end of Albus's seventh year by the end of this story?