Author's note: There is such thing as the conjunctivitis curse. I did not make it up. Google it if you don't believe me. :) Just thought I'd mention that.

Chapter 25: Albus Potter's Discovery

Albus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy were best friends. Nothing could change that, not even their parents. Or so everyone thought.

Not long after Faith's sixth birthday, I received an unexpected note.

Luci,

Albus Potter attacked Scorpius Malfoy using the conjunctivitis curse. I assume you would like to speak to them both. Should I send them to you after Madame Pomfrey's through with Scorpius?

Love,

Jason

Quickly, I wrote a reply.

Jason,

Please send Mr. Malfoy to me as soon as he is ready. When he is finished, I will ask for Mr. Potter. Thank you.

Love,

Luci

Whenever students got into an argument, and one of the students was harmed, it had always been a policy of mine to question the victim first, although I was never sure why. In this case, the victim was Scorpius. It took awhile for Scorpius's eyes to go back to normal, as the conjunctivitis curse swelled the victim's eyes shut and caused the victim a great amount of pain. When Madame Pomfrey was through with Scorpius, she sent him to me.

"Do you care to tell me why you are here, Mr. Malfoy?" I asked Scorpius as he sat down across from me.

"I thought you asked for me, Headmistress." Scorpius said with a grin.

I ignored Scorpius's comment. "I need to know what happened between you and Albus in Defense Against the Dark Arts this morning."

The fifth-year Slytherin frowned. "Oh, that." He muttered. "Al and I were in class, and we got into an argument. He used the conjunctivitis curse on me, and I'm his best friend, other than Rose, of course. Imagine what he would have done to me if I was his worst enemy!" Scorpius managed a weak laugh.

"What did you argue about?" I asked.

"I can't tell you that." Scorpius muttered.

"Mr. Malfoy!" I snapped. "You will tell me what your argument was about or the chances of you receiving a punishment will be definite instead of slim."

Scorpius sighed. "I said something Albus didn't like… something about Rose… and he attacked me."

"Thank you Mr. Malfoy. You're dismissed."

Just as he was about to leave, Scorpius turned around and asked, "Headmistress, is it possible for a Slytherin to fall in love with a Gryffindor?"

Why was he asking me that, of all questions? "Have you forgotten that I, a Slytherin, am married to a Gryffindor? It is very possible."

"Thank you, Headmistress." Scorpius said, closing the door behind him.

After Scorpius left, I sent a note to Professor Sniderson, the Transfiguration teacher who was currently teaching the fifth-year Gryffindors, asking her to send Albus Potter to my office. Thinking I had a few minutes, I went to the staff lounge to grab a cup of coffee. There I ran into Neville Longbottom, who had a few questions for me. Before I knew it, more than twenty minutes had passed, and I knew Albus would be waiting for me in my office.

When I returned to my office, Albus was acting more like his brother than himself. He was looking into my pensieve, glancing at the memories I had never shared with anyone but Jason.

"Albus Potter!" I snapped as I yanked Albus out of the pensieve, not bothering to be gentle about. "Just what do you think you're doing?"

"I – I'm sorry!" Albus stammered. "I didn't know what it would do, I swear!"

Sighing, I closed my eyes for a few seconds. Albus was normally nothing like his brother, James. He always followed the school rules, and even made others obey them, too. That was the reason Jason had made him and his cousin, Rose, the Gryffindor prefects. Still, those memories were not something I wanted him to see. I didn't want any student to see those memories, in fact, especially not the son of Harry Potter.

"How much did you see?" I whispered, trying to stay calm.

Albus didn't say anything.

"Answer me, Potter!" I snarled.

"I got to your fight with your brother about him becoming a deatheater. Is Severus Snape really your brother?" Albus replied.

I sighed. It was too late anyway. Albus already saw the memories, so I might as well tell him. "Yes, he was. What does it mean to you?"

"My middle name is Severus. I'm named after him." Albus said softly.

I froze. "Why?" I asked, sounding like a young child.

Albus frowned. "I don't really know. But my dad said he was probably the bravest man he ever knew."

I couldn't believe it. Harry Potter, who not only defeated Voldemort when he was seventeen but also as a baby, thought my brother was brave. Harry was a valiant Gryffindor, while my brother was a cowardly Slytherin. Nothing made sense.

"Please sit down, Mr. Potter." I said softly, trying to change the subject. When we were both seated, I continued speaking. "I assume you know why you are here."

Albus nodded sadly.

"I want you to tell me your side of the argument, every last bit of it, from the very beginning to the last detail."

Albus sighed. "Well, this morning at breakfast, Scorpius told me he had something important to tell me. But then Rose sat down with us, and he said he'd tell me later. When we went to Defense class, Rose went to talk to her other friends, giving Scorpius the perfect opportunity to speak to me alone. He told me he fancied Rose, which made me mad. I mean, he can't fancy my cousin! What if he's ends up breaking her heart or something. Anyways, that's when I used the conjunctivitis curse on him."

Wow. I wasn't expecting that. "Why did you use that curse and not something else?" I asked curiously.

"We were learning about it in Defense, and I couldn't think of anything else to use." Albus answered sheepishly.

I nodded. "Alright, Mr. Potter, you will serve detention every Friday night with Professor Clearton for as long as he sees fit. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, Headmistress." Albus said, and I dismissed him from my office.

When I went to pick up Faith from Minerva's cottage that afternoon, I told Minerva about the pensieve incident. Minerva laughed at my story, causing me to glare at her. "What is so funny?"

"I'm sorry, Lucianna." Minerva apologized. "It's just that his father did that to Albus Dumbledore when Harry was in his fourth year. My, that Albus is like his father in so many ways."

I couldn't help but laugh. What else could I do? Well, like father like son, and I guess there would be no other person for a person to take after than the great Harry Potter himself.