Chapter 2- To the Core

"It's morning sweetie", Albus immediately woke up as Hope crouched down next to Scorpius, "Oh, I see you already awake", she said when she saw him, "Make sure Violet is ready in time as well, okay?". It turned out to be harder than it sounded as she was a heavy sleeper, her face well covered with her long shiny wavy hair, leaping up with a scream only when the small puppy jumped on her to take him out.

There was something sad about this dreary hour of the morning, when the sun just begun making its way in the sky, Albus thought as they begun preparing for their departure. It was a sort of unnatural stillness that, unlike the house at '12 Grimmauld place', did not suit the atmosphere. And, in similar fashion to what he did in the last couple of months he pushed those feelings aside by making himself busy.

He (his mother took care of bringing his belongings to the station) and Scorpius (who packed a week ahead) helped (or rather did most of the work) sorting Violet's things while she herself once more took the dogs out for a walk (something she seemingly liked to do). "What about Umbra?", Albus suddenly remembered, struggling to zip up her overflowing suitcase.

"She's already at Hogwarts, Mr. Longbottom came to pick her up a week ago", Scorpius, who sat on it to make this possible, answered. "Do you know what the reason for this could be?", Albus asked. "He said he was checking on some of the students to make sure they were all right", the pale boy's face showed that he as well knew it wasn't the full truth.

"Nice of him to do so", Albus' head throbbed in pain as he wondered whether they needed her to find something at the school- she was a half kneazle after all, something he believed was more of an urban legend by those who liked cats a bit too much not too long ago.

As they got out to the grey cold day his headache only increased as he felt eyes watching him from afar. Of course, he thought as Russell undid the infant safety seats in the back, his father wouldn't let him travel around alone anymore, at least not without any kind of a safety measure to boot.

"We should hurry if we want to get there early", Hope distracted her husband, who also sensed the surveillance around, and stopped to send piercing glances into the dim corners of the other houses. "Of course", he now suspiciously looked at Scorpius, who stared at the vehicle like he never seen one before from up close (which really could have been the case).

"You sure you don't want me to go with you?", Russell finally asked. "It's fine, well do it in a breeze", Hope dismissed, "Someone needs to stay here to babysit". "It's almost like you don't want me to accompany you there…", he scratched his red beard, again scanning the area.

"Don't be ridiculous, we have the rest of the day for ourselves…", "If by ourselves you mean plus three loud brats…", his grumbling was the last thing heard before their drive, that, compared to the rest of the preparations, was incredibly short, with Violet in front and the two boys in the back seat, which annoyed Albus a bit for some reason.

"Here we go!", Hope stopped the car near the king's cross station entry before struggling to lift Scorpius' book filled suitcase out of the truck as he himself stood aside on shaky legs, seeming even paler than usual after the smooth ride (it was nothing for Albus after his uncle Ron's wild racing).

"Perhaps inviting you two wasn't the smartest decision…", she said as they entered the station, "It was bad enough when we couldn't tell him where Violet went the previous year…", she sighed, "…It's not like I have a choice in the matter though… he knows Britain like the palm of his hand...". Violet was too tired to do anything but trying to go in a straight line, but Scorpius seemed a bit ashamed, understanding how obvious he was in his unfamiliarity with the muggle world.

Albus couldn't blame him, however, unlike him he had no previous knowledge or interactions with them, not to mention that even he himself got weird stares when caught ogling the toaster. He went through the stone barrier and was immediately met with his family in the almost empty 9¾ train platform.

"Hello Mrs. Ostrum, thank you for arriving here so early", his father shook Hope's hand. Albus was used to people becoming star struck in his father's presence, but he felt that there was something different about her just keeping a sealed expression while silently nodding, unable to get a word out of her mouth.

Scorpius next to her, on the other hand, stared in a complete shock (even more than when he had seen the truck), his jaw dropping completely as his eyes met Albus' mother at his side, letting out a sound that sounded like "Harpy". The only ones who kept their composure were Violet, who didn't know enough of the magical world to be impressed by his parents, and Albus himself, who was busy surveying his brother.

Although they stayed in the same house for several months, they hardly ever ran into each other, with Albus making sure to avert his eyes whenever they were in proximity. He had expected his brother to be fully recovered at this point, but instead he appeared to be as worse as before.

His hair, that was once full and shiny now looked thin and mousy; the tanned skin was even paler than Scorpius' and the constant big smile was gone. He even seemed shorter, almost the same height as Albus, who had the feeling that his body structure also resembled his now- lean instead of the muscular as it was in the past.

A terrible feeling spread in him as Lily moved forward to hug him, crying uncontrollably, and telling him to send her at least three letters a week. But only after they broke up, him automatically agreeing to her demands, did he understand what the feeling was- pity.

He shook his head and watched as James advanced and boarded the train with Freddie, who waited for him, all the while not sending a single glance at his direction. One thing was without a doubt- he preferred to be angry with his brother rather than feel sorry for him, something that he still couldn't wrap his head around- he always seemed so invincible...

"Are you okay?", his mother asked him as they made their way to the train. Albus glanced back, where the rest still stood- when did he move forward? "Is there a chance I had tracking after me in Teddy's house?", he inquired. "Why, did something happen?", his mother worriedly clasped his shoulder.

"No, but it be nice if you at least tell me next time", the small anger that came with being followed helped clearing his mind a little, "And the pale boy over there...", "Scorpius?", "Yes, he's a huge fan of yours, he'll probably be overjoyed if he'll get your autograph".

"Very considerate of you...", "I didn't do anything, I just stated a fact...", Albus impatiently waved off her words. "James feels better now", she softly cut him off, "He's tough, always finding a way to get on top", Albus answered, more to himself than to her. "True", she ran a hand through his black hair, which immediately went wild again, "But you should still look after him, okay?".

For a change, he couldn't come up with an answer. "I should probably get on the train now… to catch a good seat…", Albus stammered, and his mother, apart from a brief survey of the almost empty station, didn't add a thing, and just gave him a long warm hug goodbye.

He slowly waddled to the back of the train, the way annoyingly long, his belongings behind weighing him down like heavy metal chains. It seemed like an eternity until he tiredly sat down in the last cabin as if he had just finished a week's journey, his mind barely processing the sight of his mother as she signed a small picture for Scorpius in the distance (his legs so shaky it was a miracle he was able to stand).

"Merlin's beard!", Albus shrieked in surprise as his father appeared outside the window, as if out of nowhere, "I think you forgot something", he quietly said. "Sorry, I forgot to say goodbye…". "That too... But in truth, I meant it...", he pulled Albus' wand from his cloak and sent it forward for him to take, the hilt at his direction, and the tip, Albus noticed with nausea, aimed straight at his heart.

He remained frozen, not making any indication he was about to grab the cursed item. "People are starting to arrive", his father pointed out, his hand steady in the air, and indeed familiar faces appeared- like uncle Ron and Hermione together with Rose and Hugo (massive ice cream in hand); Luna Scamander with her twin sons and Rollo, besides a man with an amazingly small head and a woman with an amazingly long arms and legs.

The silence prolonged. "I don't want that…", it took Albus a great effort to not swear aloud, "…that thing!". "It's just a wand…", "You once told me it's the wand that choose the wizard…", "One doesn't cancel the other…", "I'm not stupid!", Albus finally failed to control his anger. "Take it!", his father cooly cut him off, "Trust me on that…".

Albus remembered the previous year when he promised him one could choose his desired house, and how wrong he was… "Please", a plea snuck his voice, "Perhaps I should just stay at home…". His father didn't let him finish, grabbing Albus hand with his own empty one, pronouncing the pale scar on it, that spelled 'I Must Not Tell Lies' (the only one he carried other than the famous lightning shaped one on his forehead).

Behind, a 'Fart and Flight' bomb was released, catching everyone's attention, apart from Luna, her big unflinching gaze aimed right at them, even when the contaminated gag inducing green gas surrounded her, making her eyes to tear up. "It's just a wand, yet a special one, but not for the reason you think…", his father continued as if nothing happened.

"Every wand has its own unique core, some of the rarest among them is a phoenix feather, as in yours…". "But…", "…and as in mine…", his father persisted, "…from the same bird in fact, the one that belonged to the one your name you carry… Albus…".

For a second time he found himself speechless. "Here", Harry placed it in his hands. Albus felt nothing from the wand, but a radiation of power did cross over from his father, the bolt shaped scar on his head, that was like an older reflection of his own, as if shaking with the feeling.

"Good luck in your studies, talk to no one about what happened at the end of last year and…", he hesitated for a moment, "look after your brother for us!", his father abruptly ended their conversation and turned towards the stanch behind, "Are you sure it was him Ron?", he asked with a smile. "Of course!", his uncle replied, seeming to be immune to the horrid smell, "Who else will be childish enough to do such a thing?".

"Who really?", Hermione's red face looked like a tomato behind the Bubble-Head Charm she created for herself. She patted rose's back, who was busy vomiting into a nearby bin, as Hugo, the supposed culprit, stood on her other side- not bothered by the mayhem around, determined to finish his ice cream cone despite his worryingly green face.

But what caught Albus attention was the scene behind the toxic circle. There, for a second, two best friends, his mom and Luna, were visible- the blonde woman standing in her usual calmness, yet Ginny failing to do as much, her face redder than that of Hermione as the two were deep in a heated argument…