16. Proper Socialization at Lockley Castle

Not much happened during the last term of the school year. Aurelius continued to pay more attention to Alastor, which the younger boy definitely enjoyed. He continued to study with his friends on a regular basis and would sometimes go to Professor Dumbledore if he was having trouble in Potions, which didn't happen very often. The professor was more than happy to help Alastor and never failed to ask after his health and how he was doing in his other classes.

Almost before they knew it, the school year had ended. Alastor slowly packed his trunk while the boys around him talked quietly, discussing plans for the summer. With a glance to the bed beside his, he saw the Albrecht twins, Alfons and Maximilian, packing up and speaking in rapid German, though he caught the words 'Copenhagen,' 'Stockholm,' and 'Oslo'.

They caught sight of him staring and spared him a smile.

"Al, would you like anything in particular from Scandinavia?" Maximilian asked, locking his trunk.

"Um… just surprise me," said Alastor, having no real idea of what to ask for.

Alfons laughed. "Oh, we'll surprise you, don't worry about that," he winked.

Just as he'd finished, the other boys—Cassius Malfoy and Angelus Black, two of his cousins—fell silent. Wondering what was going on, Alastor looked up to see his brother standing in the doorway to the dormitory.

"Would you please excuse us? I'd like a word with my brother."

That cool request from Aurelius sent Cassius and Angelus away in a minute, though Alfons and Maximilian—after silently checking with Alastor if this was okay with him—took their sweet time in leaving, clearly letting him know they weren't at all pleased about being ordered about.

Alastor remained, knowing that Aurelius wanted to speak with him. When they were alone, Alastor spoke. "Hello, Aurelius."

"Hello, Alastor," Aurelius returned his brother's greeting. "Packing up I see." The younger watched the elder cross to the end of his bed to sit down on it. After a short silence, Aurelius asked, "You're staying with friends again, correct?"

Alastor nodded, wondering what this was about. "Yes, I am. With the Lockleys."

"I see. I only wished to know so I can ensure that Mother and Father aren't privy to that." Aurelius nodded, giving his brother a benevolent sort of look. Aurelius rose and patted Alastor's shoulder before leaving the dormitory.

Puzzled, Alastor stood and left the dormitory as well. As he came down the stairs Daniel hailed him.

"Al!"

"Hey, Danny," Alastor greeted the older boy. "I wanted to ask you something."

The taller boy steered Alastor over to a quiet corner of the common room so they wouldn't be overheard. "Shoot, I'm all ears, partner."

"I've heard that there'll be three spots open on the Quidditch team next year," Alastor started, trying to keep the eagerness from his voice.

Daniel nodded with a grin. "Darn right, we need Beaters and a Chaser. Why d'ya ask? Did you want to try out?"

Alastor grinned sheepishly. "Well, yeah."

"That's great, Al." Daniel patted Alastor on the back. "Practice over the summer, decide which is a better fit for you, and show me what you got when term starts."

Alastor smiled broadly. "Of course, I'll train very hard."

"Just do your best. Don't want you injuring yourself before tryouts." Daniel chuckled and patted Alastor's shoulder before letting the other boy head off in search of his friends.

"So, is anyone going to try out for Quidditch next term?" Griffith asked as they rode the train back to King's Cross.

Alastor laughed. "Trust you to think of Quidditch, Griff."

"Well?" Griffith ignored Alastor for the moment as he looked around at the others.

"I-" "I'd-" Stewart and Belladonna had started to speak at the first time. Stewart gestured to Belladonna, "Ladies, first."

Belladonna rolled her eyes before stating, "I'd like to try for Beater."

Stewart's face lit up. "A lady after my own heart! Why, that's the posish I'll be trying for!"

"I'm going in for Chaser," Percy chimed in as Belladonna merely grabbed the hood of Stewart's cloak, pulling it over his face.

"How about you, Al?" Griffith asked once the laughter had died down.

He smiled, feeling shy for some reason. "Danny said they'll be looking for a Chaser and two Beaters, though I think I'd try for Chaser." He looked at the boy beside him.

"Rrem?"

"Ah… no, I won't be trying out," Rremly answered quietly, shaking his head and smiling his trademark smile.

Alastor frowned at this news, as did Belladonna. Percy looked concerned. Griffith just gaped at the other boy, but Stewart was the one who voiced the question all of them had on their minds.

"Egad! Why not? You were planning on it before! You were going for Seeker..."

"Yes, Stew, I was planning on it, but plans have a way of changing," Rremly said softly as Percy nudged his friend with his elbow and Belladonna rolled her eyes. Stewart glanced at him long, but must have been worked on by those pleading eyes of Rremly's, for he smiled, nodded, and fell silent.

For his part, Alastor wondered if the change in plans had anything to do with whatever had taken Rremly from the school for three days at a time twice in the term. Shaking himself from his thoughts, he looked at Griffith.

"Griff, what are you going for?"

"What makes you think I'm going to?" Griffith asked, skepticism dripping from his words.

Stewart nudged Griffith with his elbow, "Because you're the Quidditch nutter. So, which will it be?"

"Chaser," Griffith admitted, looking decidedly sheepish.

Stewart grinned triumphantly. "Ha! Knew it!"

The witch with the food cart arrived while everyone was laughing and they were soon too busy eating the snacks they'd bought to do much talking.

Alastor had visited Lockley Castle while he was spending the holidays with the Pomfreys, but now he would be spending most of the following month there and took time to actually look. There were three floors. The ground floor was home to the parlor, the main hall—which was a glorified sitting room with a grand piano, harpsichord, two large luxurious sofas, several settees, a great grandfather clock, game table, and a magnificent fireplace—the dining hall, the enormous kitchen, a large library, Mr. and Mrs. Lockley's study, a gallery, and of course a grand ballroom. Everything in the castle was gold and bronze—the fabrics quite dated, the prevailing color schemes were maroon and honey. The castle was warm, sumptuous, and beautiful.

The second floor consisted of the bedrooms: master bedroom and several unused bedrooms which were mainly used by friends or the extended family whenever they came to stay. As for the third floor, it was given over completely to the children. Percy, Josselyn, and Julian each had their own rooms, all of which had their own lavatory. There were three other bedrooms—one used by Viatrix and Lucilla while the other was Juno's—and a guest room, and these, too, had their own lavatories. This floor also housed Josselyn's sewing room and a smaller common room for everyone.

As Alastor settled into the bedroom that would be his for the duration of his stay, he couldn't help feeling a little jealous of his friends. Being the last to climb off the train, he'd seen how warmly their families had greeted them. It had been quite obvious that the others were loved. Alastor wasn't even sure if his own parents liked him in the smallest measurement, let alone loved him.

The moment he'd stepped off the train, however, Poppy, and Rolanda had virtually smothered him with hugs, which he'd gladly returned. All the adults greeted him warmly as if he were one of their own. When he'd fell in with Percy's family, Percy's siblings and cousins chatted easily with him as if they'd always been friends. Juno, for example, simply loved to rustle Alastor's hair, eyes twinkling playfully.

He'd watched Belladonna join the Pomfrey family, who she was staying with this time around. The Albrecht twins followed along with Felix to greet his grandfather, Fritz, whom they all called 'Opa' (whom they usually stayed with over the holidays before returning home to see their parents in Berlin). Looking around a last time, he saw Griffith, Rremly, and Milo joining their families, and he just couldn't help the sigh.

Alastor suddenly jumped when his brother touched his shoulder. Calla wished to speak with him, so Alastor followed his brother to where she waited. It turned out that she was reiterating the fact that he needed to be on his best behavior and remember his manners. When she'd finished lecturing him about the importance of maintaining the family dignity, he was free to leave with the Pomfreys.

It was the ruse he and his brother had come up with—which Stewart agreed to, but wasn't so sure about. He wanted to let his parents know so that they wouldn't be surprised if Alastor's mother or father showed up to fetch him. Alastor, who highly doubted if the Pomfreys would go along with such a plan, was adamantly against it. Eventually Stewart agreed when Alastor made him aware of the fact that Aurelius would give them ample warning concerning when his parents would come.

Alastor walked away just some feet, and when he looked back to see that Calla was now occupied and not looking his way, he quickly darted after the Lockleys.

"Al?" A soft knock upon the open door accompanied the quiet question and Alastor, coming back to the present, turned to see who his visitor was.

He smiled when he saw Percy in the doorway. "Yeah?"

"Dinner will be ready soon," Percy told him. "Did you need help settling in?"

Alastor shook his head. "No, thanks. Will it just be the family tonight?"

"Depends," He smiled. "Did you mean just the immediate family or extended as well?"

Alastor couldn't help grinning. "Immediate."

"Then you're in luck. It'll just be us this time- but you should know we all dine together quite a lot. Here and at my cousins' homes, too." Percy laughed. "Oh, and there's the usual birthday bash for Juno and I. That'll be near the end of the month, though, so don't worry."

Alastor was a bit amazed by all this. He couldn't ever imagine having such a large family and getting along with them so well that he'd want to see them all so often. As for the party, he tried not to get anxious over it—consoling himself with the fact that he knew for certain that he had something appropriate to wear. He was exceedingly glad that he took care to keep the two ensembles Percy and Josselyn had given him in perfect condition.

Suddenly he felt Percy wrap an arm around his shoulders. "Don't lose your head, there," said Percy. "You'll be fine."

"I hope so…"

"C'mon, let's go have a game of cards," Percy smiled.

Alastor couldn't help it. "You're on." He smiled, too.