Complexity

By ChocolateEclar

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters or places, although I do own this story and some elements of the characterizations of Al Potter, his siblings and their cousins, Ben, Abigail, and Dittany.

A/N: As always, thanks for the reviews. :) This chapter takes place during Al's third and fifth years.

Chapter Ten: Festivity

Harry Potter was sitting in the office when Snape returned from a rather annoying errand. He rarely left the headmistress' office, so it was interesting to see the changes in the castle. Still, the reason for the leaving had more than destroyed all good points.

To be rudely awakened by a grouchy, old, self-important portrait was bothersome enough. It was much worse that Slughorn had requested his presence in his office, and then the old portrait practically ordered Snape to follow him. The old man was apparently a famous great-grandfather of Slughorn's, which did nothing to lesson Snape's temper when Slughorn pointed this out as way of introduction, as Snape was squashed in the small portrait with the old man.

"Well, down to business," Slughorn had continued hurriedly, as if he had only stopped to make introductions for formality's sake. "I'm afraid I need a second opinion on a student poisoning diagnosis." And then all sorts of other annoyances came about, as Snape realized he was not going to be able to return to sleep for some time. (What else could the poison have consisted of aside from Deadly Nightshade and Water Hemlock anyway? The color was just the right hue for the combination, for Merlin's sake. Slughorn had protested that it could have been chopped instead of crushed, but then the person being poisoned would have noticed it more quickly.)

It only makes matters worse to find a thirty-nine year old Harry Potter sitting in the chair in front of McGonagall's desk without the headmistress behind it. He is only just a little older than Snape himself had been when he had died, and it is… disconcerting (the original James Potter probably would have looked much the same, minus the green eyes, if he had lived that long…).

"The shop is doing all right," Harry is saying to Dumbledore. "Fred, that is, my nephew, just left the main shop in Diagon Alley to be fully in charge of the one in Hogsmeade. Ron goes over there sometimes during the holidays to just help out, but mostly George has enough employees at this point where he doesn't really need it."

"I'm sure George must have plenty of nephews and nieces to choose from to work for him during the summer," Dumbledore supplies.

"Yeah," Harry says. "He hired James over the last summer. Basically, James just wanted to get some business experience and then left after a month to set up his own newspaper.

"I've heard of it," Dumbledore states. "It's called That Newspaper That Doesn't Lie, is it not?"

"Yeah, or Blunt, as its fans like to shorten it to," the Auror answers.

"I assume there are no Rita Skeeters at this newspaper," says Dumbledore in amusement.

"Of course there isn't," Harry answers. "Mostly students read it and submit their own stories. George helped fund it on the condition that James includes a page of advertisement for Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes in every issue."

"I will have to read it," Dumbledore says.

Harry grins and replies, "James and Al are working on a collaborated article about themselves, which probably won't be published until they decide they have it exactly right."

Snape has had enough of listening to the idle talk and barks, "Haven't we enough Potters running amok in this office at all hours?"

Harry gaze shifts, as he searches for Snape's face. When he meets Snape's eyes, Harry replies good-humoredly, "I've heard of that. My cousin's son insists it's a bit unhealthy, but it doesn't seem to have made Al any stranger than can be expected."

Snape grunts and settles into his chair in his portrait.

"I remember you here predicting your muggle cousin would have a wizard son," says a wizard with long white sideburns and little other hair (or teeth for that matter). He begins to crackle, "Dang mud – " when several portraits yell, "Quiet, Gunhild!" and "Oh, shut it!" Unfortunately, former Headmaster Gilford Gunhild sleeps for two years at a time and then stays mostly awake for six months. It is currently the awakened months, and Snape suspects that, considering his own state of mind during his tenure as headmaster, he would have tossed the portrait out of the window if Gunhild had dared to sprout such words at the time.

"I've just been to the hospital wing," Harry continues with a weak smile. "My son was poisoned."

"Oh, of course it would be him," Snape says. "Can't keep your son out of the sickbed this year?"

"Well, no, I suppose not with the scrofungulus and all, but it isn't that son this time," explains Harry. "I suppose Slughorn didn't feel like telling you who you were helping when he asked for your advice about the poison."

"I can only assume there is an epic story behind the poisoning then," states Snape.

Harry laughs a little, as he smirks wryly. He folds his arms and leans back. Snape notices there is a new scar on him, aside from the familiar lightning bolt. It is a thin line perhaps three or four centimeters long that runs along the underside of his lower right arm. (He assumes it is probably from some kind of situation where Harry had had to protect his face when he had no other choice. It's a better alternative than being hit in the face with a curse, like Mad-Eye Moody in his younger years.) "I generally think," Harry says, "there are more epic things than the story of a vindictive boy who got pushed too far by my loudmouth eldest and decided to slip some poisonous plants into said loudmouth's water."

"Such a base, unoriginal act," Snape says.

"Of course you never would've poisoned anyone," comments Harry.

"So you think you know something then, Potter?"

"I read your potions book," Harry replies simply.

"Of course." Snape sneers and stares at Harry darkly. "How could I forget your total lack of sense when reading my notes in the margins?"

Harry shrugs. "That was a long time ago. I've more than advised my children against trusting random objects."

"It's always about you and your family, Potter," says Snape. "What of Draco Malfoy, the boy you maimed?

"Malfoy seems no worse for wear, although I didn't feel much like apologizing since he tried to kill me again during the last battle of Hogwarts," Harry answers. "I saved his life twice during it. He now feels an obligation to accept his son and my niece together, although Ron hasn't felt the same." He smirks to himself and then stands up. "I figured I might as well come up here for a chat while James is still sleeping," he says, "but he should be awake any minute now."

"Give my regards to your family, Harry," Dumbledore says, beaming.

Harry nods and says, "I just hope Lily isn't the next one in the hospital."

"Slytherins are not foolish enough to let their drinks be poisoned," Phineas Nigellus insists.

"Mad-Eye Moody was a Gryffindor and he's the only one I've ever seen with a hip flask," Harry states. "Well, that is, if you don't count Barty Crouch, Jr., posing as him, I suppose."

Phineas Nigellus ignores him and goes off about Slytherin pride. Harry rolls his eyes and leaves with a general wave towards the room.

Two years later, Snape reads the article by Al and James Potter in the editorial section of Blunt. It is nestled in the very front of the newspaper before an article by Luna Lovegood-Scamander on the health effects of tickling dragons (which is called "Tickling Dragons May Be Worth the Risk").

Factual Information (also known as We Probably Won't Save the World. Sorry.)

By James S. R. Potter, editor-in-chief, and Albus S. Potter, journalist

(Note: This is a joint effort that we decided to break up into segments that are each written by one of us to start off. This is our one and probably only – we almost killed each other during the making of it – collaboration article. J. Potter)

ASP (Albus S. Potter): Despite being born with controversial names, my brother and I freely admit that we are not particularly as interesting as some have hoped. To be perfectly honest, we probably will not save the world, nor do we have any fascinating scars (although the editor-in-chief of this newspaper has often joked about getting a tattoo in the shape of a lightning bolt).

not to be confused with the kind of snake

JSRP (James S. R. Potter): Our parents are Harry and Ginevra Potter. This means that we are not in any way related to our aunt Hermione Weasley by blood, despite the fact that she is a very nice person. Al is not my half-brother. He is my full-brother, if you will. End of story.

ASP: Precisely. Anyway, no, we are not going to join a band or lead a revolution or any of the other outlandish things people seem to think we have the capacity to do. In fact, contrary to popular belief, we are just trying to finish our schooling and run a newspaper. (Thank you to those who paid for this newspaper. Otherwise, we would have a lot of copies stuffed in James' school trunk and all over his room at home. This would probably lead to a major fit from our grandmother, so we like to avoid those kinds of situations.)

JSRP: No, we really don't want to get our dad's autograph for you. I'm sorry. I know that sounds a bit smug or rude, but, as Al said, we are trying to get through school. Our dad is an Auror. He doesn't have time for us to be forwarding him thousands of owls requesting his signature. None of us would ever sleep.

ASP: No, we don't really care that our sister is in Slytherin. She is welcome to go her own way. That is, as long as she doesn't try to conquer the wizarding world and start walking around calling herself Lady Ima Murderer or something. Then, we would have to kick her butt.

JSRP: I always love when people ask what it's like living with our dad. My perfectly honest answer is, "Well, him being famous can be annoying sometimes, but then he still was the one who picked us up when we fell off our brooms as little kids (except when he picked Al up, Al never got back on because he decided he hated heights right then and there, despite being only like a half of a meter off of the ground)." My perfectly dishonest answer is, "Oh, we just love the attention! Feel free to gawk at us." (Note the sarcasm.)

ASP: And then people seem to think that our mom being a big Quidditch star and news correspondent must be interesting, and it is, but mostly if you're James and fascinated with the sport. Otherwise, it's like, "Oi, Mom wrote that article in the paper on Quidditch, but she's still just our mother."

Now for some random questions (that have been mailed to Blunt over the years):

Favorite Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes' product?

ASP: Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder. It's just useful.

JSRP: Wildfire Whiz-Bangs. The firework dragons are the best.

Best Subject?

JSRP: Potions or Defense Against the Dark Arts.

ASP: Yeah, DADA is in our blood. I'm also good at Transfiguration.

Girlfriends

JSRP: Is that an offer?

ASP: No comment. Sorry. Believe me, it's not that exciting. At least, I don't think so.

Last thoughts:

ASP: You can certainly continue to ask us questions, but it's unlikely that we will answer any more of these.

JSRP: And now we return you to your normal, grammatically and stylistically correct essays and articles.

"Load of rubbish, innit?" asks Al when Snape finishes reading.

Snape had barely noticed him come in. Now, he sets the paper down and eyes the fifth-year boy. "I was actually reading the article by your aunt on using Polyjuice Potion with animal hair and its effects."

"That sounds like Aunt Hermione," Al says. He smirks a little and adds, "I've only used the stuff once, and that was a minor disaster that you probably don't want to hear about."

"I would not doubt it," says Snape darkly.

"How was the article received, Albus?" asks Dumbledore with a grin.

"Sales were through the roof for this edition," Al replies, as he runs a hand through his hair. At the moment, it just brushes the nape of his neck in big, dark waves. "My mates were incredibly amused by it because James and I hadn't let anyone read it, including Lil. Most other people were either amused by the digs at the Prophet and such or disappointed in the utter lack of information we actually gave."

He chuckles a little and takes out a copy of the newspaper from his book bag. "This is the special edition I gave Ditty." He opens the newspaper up to the article and, Snape realizes, there is an extra page after the end of it. Written in huge font, the page says:

WILL YOU GO TO THE YULE BALL WITH ME, DITTANY LONGBOTTOM?

- Al

Snape rolls his eyes, but several of the female portraits make appreciative noises. "How did Miss Longbottom react?" asks Dilys Derwent.

"Well," explains Al, as he shuts the paper and puts it away. "First, she freaked and thought it was in every copy, so she basically ripped one out of Abby's hands to see if hers said the same thing. It didn't, so she went to everyone else's copy too. Only then did she basically come up to the Gryffindor Tower, where I'd been hiding during lunch, and punch me before saying that she would, indeed, go to the dance with me."

"That's darling," cooed the witch with the wig.

"I do try," Al says with a smirk.

It is, Snape decides, just as sickening to watch students act like lovesick puppies while being dead as it had been while being alive.

On the other hand, it is extremely satisfying to watch Al grimace when the bewigged witch insists on knowing all about the dress robes he is going to wear and telling him that his hair is just a bit too long.

A/N: Next chapter may feature an adult Al, or perhaps something to do with the Yule Ball. I haven't quite decided yet. Please review.

EDIT: A side note, if you will... No, I don't think Draco would have killed Harry during the last battle of Hogwarts as he was unable to kill Dumbledore. However, I think after 21 years that Harry can exaggerate a bit. :)