James, Lily, Albus, Rose & Hugo's Times at Hogwarts Chapter 4
Albus' anger seemed to have vanished the next morning. He knew he ought to be mad at James for tricking him and trying to get him expelled but as he saw his older brother's face full of misery, his fury disappeared.
Albus changed into his robes as James did the same. They then went into the Great Hall for breakfast without speaking to one another. Albus Sat beside Rose as James sat beside Lily. James noticed Hugo trying to get her attention but Lily wasn't looking at him. She was grinning at someone from across the great hall.
James looked up from his breakfast to where she was smiling and saw… Scorpius. They were mouthing words to each other. James turned to Lily. "Since when were you friends with Scorpius?" She looked at James her face showing nothing but revulsion and hatred. "Since when were you allowed to speak to me?" She got up and went to sit with Albus and Rose.
James sighed and picked at his food. Owls started arriving and he was sure he was going to get a tell-off from mum. He sat sulkily waiting for the letter filled with anger and disappointment.
Albus was watching James from across the hall. "You really shouldn't have requested for a howler Lily." Lily shrugged. "He deserved it. Besides, if he was caught by a teacher, he would have lost about 100 points from Gryffindor." Albus nodded sulkily. "Yeah, I know."
An owl swooped down and dropped James his letter. A red letter. James looked at the howler, terrified. By now, all the Gryffindors were chanting, "Op-en it. Op-en it. Op-en it!" James did as he was told. The letter had burst open and formed a mouth. A terrible voice filled the Great Hall.
"James Sirius Potter, we are very disappointed in you! How dare you scare your brother like that! Putting a murderous note under your pillow! It was a good thing Lily wrote to us. You'll be on the train home tonight! Go pack your bags! We're sickened by your behavior."
The howler burst into flames. Everyone in the Great Hall was staring at James, Everyone except Lily. She was looking down at the table, guilty.
Albus looked at Lily. "Lily, how could you? Now he's never coming back to Hogwarts!" Lily didn't answer. James got up and left the Great Hall to start packing.
Albus glared at Rose and followed James out the doors of the Great Hall. I hope James' okay, he thought. Potions was next. Professor Slughorn seemed to be rather biased, but in a nice way. While Albus was brewing an antidote, Slughorn tried helping him as an excuse to talk to him and Lily, who were sharing a table. He went on and on about Mum and Dad, you'd think dad was the best in his year at potions.
"Professor Slughorn," Albus asked him. " Was my dad good at potions?" Slughorn's eyes seemed to pop out of his eyelids."Good? GOOD? He was brilliant at it! It was his best subject! why, i'm surprised your father didn't mention it. I hear he's an auror now. Fascinating. I always knew he'd make a good one. Oh yes, I always knew. Who wouldn't think he'd make a good auror? He was The Harry Potter, after all. The Chosen One! The Boy Who Lived! Oh I still remember all those silly names they used to call him. Tell your father I said hi. I really miss him in my classes, oh yes, I really do." And with that, he waddled off toward his desk.
What did he mean? The Harry Potter? The chosen one? The boy who lived? What's he talking about? Chosen for what? Albus wondered. He sometimes got the feeling his father wasn't telling him something. Lily and Rose were also looking lost and dumbfounded. Lily turned to Albus. "What did Professor Slughorn mean?" Albus shrugged. "We'll ask dad and mum at christmas." Slughorn also seemed to go on about mum a lot. Albus thought. And dad's mum, who was also named Lily. Oh well, we'll ask mum too.
(After a few more lessons for Albus...)
James skipped all his lessons to pack. He was busy emptying his drawers when Albus came into the room. He had said he was feeling sick in his last lesson, defence against the dark arts and had kindly gotten dismissed with a 'I hope you'll feel better soon' from professor Lupin. Albus sat on his bed. And James sat on his own, across from him.
"I'm really sorry I tried to get you expelled." James said quietly. Albus nodded. "That's okay. I am a pain once in a while. I'm sorry you have to leave Hogwarts." James nodded. "Yeah, I'm going to miss this place. I guess there's no way I can stay." Albus shook his head sadly. "No, I sent mom a letter pleading your stay, but she said she was still very angry with you." James nodded at the ceiling.
Albus got up and held out his hand. "Then I'll see you at Christmas, James. Take care." James got up too and hugged his little brother. "Yeah see you at Christmas Al." His trunk was packed. He grabbed it and heaved it out the door along with his owl, Padfoot.
Albus followed him into the common room and out the portrait hole. He found that Rose, Hugo and Lily were waiting outside the portrait hole too. They all hugged James goodbye. James looked at Lily a little stiffly but she didn't seem to notice.
As James went onto the train, Albus, Rose, Hugo and Lily waved goodbye. "Take care, James!" Albus yelled but his words were lost in the loud steam of the engine. The train was picking up speed. Faster, faster, faster, faster… gone. Albus watched his brother disappear from sight. That is the last time I'll ever see him at Hogwarts again, Albus thought.
He made his way back to Gryffindor tower without speaking to the others. He no longer had a brother at Hogwarts. Goodbye James, he thought miserably. We'll see you at Christmas. Lily put a comforting hand on his shoulder. Albus shook it off and ran up the boys' staircase and out of sight.
