The Crossroads of Fate

Chapter 4: Prologue- James' Letter

Mors Incommodo watched from the Astronomy tower. He took possession of one of the rooms on the way up as his office due to recent, troublesome developments. With him was his new circle, and who would act as teachers now he had control of the school. Unfortunately, control was only in the eyes of the public. The Head's office sealed itself against him. Incommodo was unable to take his rightful office. He would have moved on the occupant, Lysander Scamander, but Professor Macmillan warned him that if he did so, the office would be sealed even more. This infernal school seemed to be set against him. He would have to deal with this when the time came. The war would have to end first. In the meantime, Incommodo had business to take care of.

He was effectively ruling his new Empire from his castle. His endgame would involve ruling from Greece but for now, this would do. It was time the world learned of his true name. He placed his long fingers on the sill, staring out, watching Albus Potter walk towards the hut. How did he live? How on earth could a Potter boy live through this curse? Did the Potter family have some untold immunity? Incommodo could have guessed Albus simply had two souls like he did but it was impossible. He had barely survived the invasion, a boy like him would not.

Nonetheless, he had full intention of finishing the boy off in the coming days. He had full intention of finishing many off in the coming days. The door opened and in walked three men he considered part of his inner circle, a circle quickly dwindling and a circle it was important he kept strong. Ernie Macmillan, newly instated Charms Professor was the first to enter. Incommodo knew he was unhappy with the position but this was necessary to maintain strict education standards in the school. He was best on forum with that subject. The next to enter, Marius K. Kimble, was his best spy and was the best at Transfiguration, thus would take the position. The three waited in silence until Theodore Nott and Draco Malfoy entered. Draco, he already decided would take up a subject teaching both the Dark Arts and its defenses. Soto's mistake in life had been separating the two subjects when they worked much better together. Draco would make changes to that system. Theodore Nott would be taking Potions class.

For all Incommodo's successes however, he was still far from finishing the Reservation. His duel with Dubium did little to finish him. Like himself, Dubium must've been immortal somehow. Somehow, he was more powerful than usual. He should have been killed. And with the Reservation increasing its numbers rapidly, it was gearing for an offensive on the Wizarding world. Already they took Diagon Alley, it was only a matter of time before they used their clout there and mounted an offensive on London itself. Incommodo would have to take steps to block Diagon off and keep them from London. Contain them as he would contain Potter… until that boy died.

"Draco…" Incommodo muttered. "You're a Dark Arts expert, are you not? Tell me, how might one go about surviving a Killing Curse?"

"Impossible," Draco said at once. "The Killing Curse tends to kill, Minister. That is why it is called a"-

"Mr. Potter confronted me earlier this month," Incommodo interrupted. "And I attempted his life. Why is it he is alive?"

"Are you quite sure this Curse hit?" Marius asked.

"Did anybody die for him?" Draco asked with a small muse to his voice. "Potters do tend to- how shall I say this- act like they are higher than others and are tricky. Perhaps he had you think it was him. Perhaps it was somebody else you killed. It would not be the first time a Potter pulls a trick."

"You believe he took Polyjuice Potion?"

"I am sure he took Polyjuice Potion," Theodore assured him. "Minister, the Killing Curse cannot"-

"It can," Marius said suddenly and Draco looked at him uneasily. "But the way out is ferociously unlikely. We're dealing with a very Dark aspect of magic unknown to most witches and wizards, let alone seventeen year-old wizards. Very unlikely."

"Unlikely or impossible?" Incommodo asked wispily.

"I would argue that Dark Magic leaves traces and Potter has no traces on him," Draco shrugged. "If he has two souls, we would know. If he got rid of it, he'd be dead. So, unless a soul was given to him willingly by the other host in the most exceptional of circumstances, both of which were ferociously unlikely, I would place the likelihood of Potter having two souls at nil. At best."

"This requires experimentation at the very least," Incommodo told them, and he turned to face his circle. "I will attempt his life again. If he dies, that proves the Polyjuice theory. If he lives, we assume he has two souls and explore other ways to kill him. Those with two souls must die. Particularly if a teenager is experimenting with such damaging areas of magic."

"Minister"-

"The primary reason two souls give survival is because the Killing Curse cancels itself out upon meeting two souls and being unable to register which one to expel. In any case, the boy must die."

"Not necessarily," Ernie suggested. "Let the boy live."

"I quite agree," Marius said readily.

"Yes, by all means, let the Potter line continue," Draco shrugged.

"If he is capable of surviving the Curse, why risk inciting rebellion and anger on the part of Harry Potter, who you still want to join you?" Ernie challenged. "Why not study it? Explain your position to him. Let him join us and he could become a good asset. And if his son joins, Harry Potter might be more inclined to join as well. Besides, the Potters lost one child already. Best not incite further anger."

"So, I am being too hasty, it seems in denying the boy a life," Incommodo whispered. "Yet, he is seventeen. He is a man. And as a man, he is quite capable of making his own decisions. He will be given a chance. If denied, we revert back to my plan. In the meantime, there is more to think about."

"More?"

"Marius, in the States, who was your most recent Dark Witch or Wizard?"

Marius leaned on his dragon staff and said, "Gwendolyn Garth. Dark Witch. Hated wizards of all ages. She was of the belief that only witches were worthy of magic. Most recent crime before death was the Salem Massacre of 2019-2020."

"Yet, ultimately, she was defeated?"

"By my daughter," Marius said neutrally.

"I believe I have received rumors that there was an ulterior motive behind the massacre," Incommodo guessed. "A hidden agenda, if you will."

"She believed that killing a loved one would strengthen the power of another, out of sheer anger," Marius said stoically.

"Anger is indeed a powerful force and a worthy ally," Incommodo said in a low voice, walking around the room, passing Ernie, Draco, Marius and Theodore. "Did it succeed?"

"It seemed to have succeeded," Marius said slowly. "Yet, she met her downfall. What few Salem Wizards there were, were the brothers of more reputable Salem Witches. Killing their brothers provoked mass anger and increased power levels. She met defeat when my daughter made a call to arms and gathered those who lost their family. They alone took out Gwendolyn's followers, even a bunch of young Wizards gave their contribution, and Aries killed Gwendolyn herself. This paved the way for wizards to be allowed as decent an education as witches. She saved many wizarding lives."

"Muggles went through gender discrimination as well," Ernie said casually. "Interesting how the Salem Witches Institute had the same issue, just the other way around." Upon a look from Draco and Theodore, Ernie added, "I took Muggle Studies."

Draco and Theodore shared a smirk but said nothing. The Minister seemed to have taken in every word Marius was saying. "Ingenious plan, she had. Increasing the power levels of witches and wizards. Killing the loved one of a witch or wizard will invariably have the effect of increasing their power levels. The greater their love, the greater the power. Love indeed is a great force to be reckoned with. An ingenious experiment, merging love and anger together. The results would indeed be very severe. Death begets revenge, revenge spawns madness, madness gives way to power. Unlimited potential in a single human body. Let us return to history. Albus Dumbledore lost his entire family, Merlin lost his parents, even the founders of Hogwarts had their fair share of losses. The answer to how Hogwarts will be run is clearer than ever now."

"Minister"-

"Some students will not be ready for the changes we will make," Incommodo predicted. "These students will be unable to cope with coursework. They will not be useless, however. Their deaths will spawn a desire for revenge in their loved ones. Power will increase, the thirst for knowledge will spread and Hogwarts will spawn the greatest power the world has ever known."

"You'll incite rebellion," Draco said neutrally.

"It's the same mistake Lady Garth made," Marius warned.

"I will do nothing," Incommodo said. "It will be the Inquisitor who does the dirty work. At the end of the year, I will punish the Inquisitor to placate the population and show off the results of the Inquisitor's work with the other hand. The media will take it from there. In time, the people too will be of the belief that weakness must be destroyed and make way for true, never-ending power." A knock on the door sounded and Incommodo flicked a wand for it to open. There stood two men. A hard-faced man with flaming red hair and a set jaw line, rotund green eyes and a burly build. The second was a dark-haired man with Mediterranean features and skin tone. "Macmillan, Nott, Malfoy, Kimble, I want you all to meet our newest member, Maximus Tyro." The red-haired man nodded solemnly. "And our Artifact teacher Zandar Lex, the Deputy Headmaster of the School for when I go away. Both will keep a strict eye on things. He has the- same occupation you all do in your spare time. He too is part of Dumbledore's Army. Joined in 1997 to combat the Death Eaters. We will hone the power and skills of the school and when the Reservation is dealt with, you five will turn on Harry Potter and kill him. The war will end then and there."

A snort that sounded like a snuffled laugh came from Draco. All five men turned to him but Draco kept his smirk, "Just funny. Potter is in for the biggest surprise of his life should he fail to join."

The Minister turned to Tyro with his hard yellow eyes, "Your job is simple. Study the students, make a list of their relationships, and report to me everything by Christmas. Understood?"

"It will be done," Tyro said with an almost kindly smirk.

"And once it is, you will kill who I order you to kill," Incommodo added to Zandar Lex. "By the time this year is over, I will have gained enough power to take over this school and the Wizarding world and we can deal with the rest of the world next."

"There is a chance that your experimentation will not yield the results you wish," Tyro warned calmly.

"It will not, however, I will discover in the process what will and give us the means to defeat the Reservation and establish power over the ignorant world."

The North Tower…

Apollo Leonidas Kimble was studying his Astro-sphere. He was uncomfortably aware of Professor Trelawney standing over him in interest. He was not sure what exactly made her a Divination teacher. She was- there was no other word for it- mindless. His first impression was positive about her, but the previous year, he heard her predicting Seth's death. She began striking him as either clueless or mindless, or possibly both. She was entrusted with The Sight. How could she announce someone's death so easily, especially when, as far as he knew- and he knew more than her- Seth was not slated for death. Seth's fate depended on his own choices. Everyone's fates depended on their own choices. That was what the Crossroads meant. Yet, she was ignorant. For a seer, she was ignorant of the Crossroads of Fate.

"Do you have Tarot Cards?" Apollo asked in a small voice.

Trelawney looked absolutely delighted. She hurried off and brought back a deck of Tarot Cards. Actual Tarot Cards. Apollo did not have a deck. He only had a deck of usual playing cards. If randomized, they could tell the future but they were not as accurate. Tarot cards were better but he could never get his hands on a pair. Attempting to buy them would draw attention to his abilities. He remembered being tortured when his abilities were known. Most people did not remember babyhood but he did. The pain of it forced him to remember even his own prophecies, making him ironically grateful for his own experiences. He shuffled the cards and drew one, staring at it interestedly. Death. So, was this his own future or Trelawney's future he was seeing?

Suddenly, as if the card triggered a vision, his eyes went blank again. He saw himself dancing around jets of green light. He saw an Acromantula scuttle up to him and bite him viciously, saw himself fall into his sister's arms as she fought it off. He would die against her arms, being embraced. Visions of his own death did not bother him. He saw something he always saw when seeing a vision of his death. A glowing substance, something otherworldly, ascend from his body and disappear, he saw himself standing before two roads, ready to take one, and appear back in some world, not as a ghost but not alive either. He had ascended into another plane of existence. Something unreal, something nobody would believe him on. Nobody but his own sister.

Visions of his death hardly scared Apollo. In fact, even those visions were not always the same. Sometimes, he saw a vision of him dying of old age, sometimes he saw a vision of him getting tortured for information, he would break, and then get killed by Incommodo. He saw a vision of Dubium killing him, everything was in the air. That was what war did. It was full of crossroads. It depended on the thoughts and actions of those in power.

As for Trelawney, he saw her tumbling down the stairs after getting cast down by a jet of fiery red light. She fell dead, no hint of breath left in her. He looked through his blind eyes at Trelawney, seeing her a single second in the future to help him visualize her. She wanted to say something to him. She appeared to be looking at some tea leaves. "My dear… my dear, poor boy… you have The Grim. Oh, the dog is clearer than ever in your cup, my dear. He haunts your life, and he will haunt your death. And you, my dear, the Messenger of Death, holding naught but a scythe in your hand. You, my dear, share the same fate as Mr. Malfoy. You will kill and be killed."

Ok, now he knew she was nuts. And possibly drunk. Was that sherry? How was a teacher even allowed to drink so easily? And if someone was going to die, they should not shoot their mouths off about it. This was what was going to get her killed. Well, no harm in warning against danger. It was her choice whether to take it or not. She had her crossroads to walk.

"My dear," she said again. "I must warn you"-

"You're in danger," Apollo interrupted.

"I- I beg your pardon, my dear?"Trelawney said, sure she had misheard. Nobody predicted her death before, did they? Then again, did she ever even meet a seer as powerful as he himself was?

"You stand at a crossroads now. The more deaths you falsely predict, the closer your own draws. Death does not like being cheated and Death does not like being falsified. Death is not a showcase for your talents, it is a fate all must walk including yourself. He shall embrace us all as our dearest, most loving friend of all. Your rare gift must be used wisely, not erratically. You must now pick a road of two. You can continue on your path, or you can change course. Your crossroads are now known."

Trelawney made a sound half between a choke and a laugh, "My- my poor dear unfortunate soul. It is you who are in danger. You will be swept from this room by someone you think will be a friend but is not. That someone… is your bane. And you will be killed that very day, my dear. Your secret will not remain secret for long. Ah, you doubt my words, my dear, but the fates from the beyond do not lie."

Apollo's vision triggered again. He wished he had sight just to see her face with his own eyes one last time. Two predictions, both involving the death of another, each from two seers. Which was the truth and which was the lie? Well, only time would tell, and of course, his fabled Crossroads of Fate. And alas, Trelawney had already chosen her own road. He saw a vision of Aries coming for him. Aries betray him? Really? No, she would never. And if she did come for him, it would be with precautions. They could not be intercepted. She was clever enough to avoid that. She knew what danger he was in now Incommodo was in charge of Hogwarts.

Yes, he would be swept from the room… by Aries. "My sister would never betray me."

"Maybe not intentionally, my dear, but she will be your bane," Trelawney pointed dramatically at him. Did she think she was punishing him for warning her or did she truly see something he did not? Even he did not know. Not yet anyway. "You are but a child, my dear, and have not yet matured into the Seer you are yet to become. Your… crossroads my dear are to walk the path as my apprentice and learn from a matured seer or seek your fortune with those who would destroy you and your short life."

Apollo widened his blind eyes at her, if only to show her how powerful his own powers could be. She never went blind, he did. She never remembered her prophecies, he did. She was never tortured for information as a baby, he was. And she lacked the true elegance and delicate nature of Prophecy. Becoming her apprentice? Ok, yes, Trelawney was right. He did have a Crossroads to walk. She set it for him and he would walk it. He knew his path. Did she?

Perhaps they were both doomed. Perhaps both would meet their dearest friend at the end of their road. And as Trelawney would fear the friend, Apollo would embrace him and walk on to whatever afterlife awaited him. He was ready, she was not. If he had to die if only to protect himself and his abilities from those who would certainly abuse it, he would. He would do everything in his power to avoid having to meet Incommodo again. He did not know Apollo was a Seer, let alone a powerful one and Trelawney was too dense to know Apollo's true importance. She would not give him away unless he was important and a figure in her life. That meant the further he stayed away from her, the better.

Yes, maybe rejecting her offer would lead to death, maybe it would not. But in the bigger picture, it was smarter to stay as secluded as possible. No one but a select few could know his abilities… at least until the war was over. If he lived, then he would come out. Seers were not as hated here as they were where he came from. He looked up and shook his head, "No, Professor, I must reject your offer. Seers must walk their own paths."

"My dear boy, you lack the aura required of a Seer," Trelawney said quietly. "You are no true Seer."

Lycah's hut…

Albus awoke in the middle of the night to see a blanket had been conjured for him. In his sleep, he had fallen to the floor and beside him, sleeping against his chest was Kabe. Fora was sleeping with her head facing up and Lycah was on her giant bed. Lorcan looked like he'd fallen asleep in the middle of reading and his head lolled unconsciously to the side against Lycah's body. Lysander was on the floor, his body sprawled out across two mattresses on the floor that usually belonged to him and Lysander. Albus fell asleep again rather quickly, realizing that Lycah had done nothing to kick anyone out. He slept on peacefully, for once not worrying about the war, not knowing that elsewhere, Mors Incommodo was giving a speech.

"Wizarding world,

"I speak to you now across a small audience. The Reservation has taken the papers but the media still runs strong. I will rely on word of mouth to relay that the Arsenal of Education is back and it is back with a vengeance. For weeks, you have assumed that Hogwarts will close down, that the school is nearing its final stages and is serving as little more than a sanctuary for students. I speak now to dispel those rumors. Hogwarts is a school and the Arsenal its sword. I take now, unilateral control of Hogwarts Headmastership. Teachers have been and hired and students, hopeful and future, have been brought to safety.

"During this school year, we will hone and train the best and brightest of students, Hogwarts will now churn out the best of minds and cultivate what must be cultivated. Studies will be done, events will be held, special examinations will be taken, and awards will be given to those who relentlessly pursue the art of education and the means to success in the Wizarding world, a Wizarding nation that will surpass all others in terms of education once and for all. This year will witness the beginning of a new era, an era which the Reservation and the Dumbledore's Army cannot and will not put an end to.

"We now lie well beyond the Reservation's reach. We have no delusions this will last forever but we also do not have delusions that the Reservation will win this war. I have hired a full staff of teachers filling in for those who have tragically lost their lives weeks ago. I speak now to relay the message: The Reservation's plan of shutting Hogwarts down and picking students off at home has failed. Their only hope now is to strike its base, lose its forces trying, and lose the war before the Sword of the Arsenal of Education!"

Albus woke up again, but this time to a sharp pecking on his bare arm that hung out of the covers. He groaned angrily and tried ignoring it in vain. He heard sniggering. Somebody was doing this on purpose. "L'right, m'up," Albus mumbled form the covers, and he sat up, rubbing his arm in pain. His roommate Mark was already up, laughing at the pecking.

"Why didn't you do anything?" Albus demanded tiredly. "I was sleeping."

Albus was always in a bad, cranky mood if woken up against his will, and it never alleviated until he had something to eat. Now, he slept against the wall of Hagrid's hut, aware that the others were stirring as well. Lorcan had changed position so he now lay in an arc over Lycah's body. Fora remained unmoved but Kabe was up with Lysander, fixing some tea and cakes. Albus never woke up in that hut before. He looked around. Mark seemed to have entered early in the morning to see him. His friend, Scorpius, was there too but he knew better than to let Albus wake up in an untimely manner. Mark had yet to get it through his skull that Albus hated being woken up, despite living five summers with him in his room.

"And ruin the only source of entertainment I have?" Mark chuckled. "Never. I much prefer watching, counting the seconds of pecking before you wake up. It's a new record, Al. Ten seconds."

Albus groaned angrily and Scorpius turned to Mark, "Told you he'd take it poorly. You still don't have experience with living with Al, do you?"

"I do," Mark countered. "And I know his buttons. That's why I like pushing them. What?" he added as Albus and Scorpius shot him annoyed looks. "You asked me to get over my depression, here's how." Albus kicked the covers off himself, wanting very much to punch Mark in the face but holding himself back. Mark just smirked, "You need humor in your life."

"Stay depressed," Albus muttered, scratching himself tiredly as Lysander started stirring. Lycah seemed to have woken up and she was fiddling with Lorcan's hair absent-mindedly as the boy stirred more and finally opened his eyes.

The hut was slowly coming to life again but Albus never saw it this crowded during Lycah's days here. Only Hagrid had commanded such attention. Albus turned to Scorpius and Mark, "What're you guys doing here?"

"Looking for you," Scorpius shrugged. "Incommodo made a speech and Hogwarts heard it from a hidden wireless."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Hogwarts is back on," Mark sighed. "We have seventh year, exam results are being given and NEWT classes are still being taught. Apparently, Incommodo single-handedly and unilaterally replaced all the vacant teaching positions. The nerve. I half wish it stayed closed and he stayed out of our business."

Albus was not sure how to take this. Incommdo kept it open. By all rights, he was helping it recover. Still, Albus was not fooled. This was something Incommodo wanted. He already detailed his plans to a disguised Albus about wanting the schools of wizardry first to educate the youth and start them against the Ministry. Hogwarts came first and then the rest of the world but the Reservation had to go. They were too large a thorn in his side. Only then would he annihilate the DA and claim leadership. Whether he succeeded or not was a different story. Albus swore to himself he would not allow him to succeed.

The rest of the hut seemed to be listening too. Kabe and Lysander served them all breakfast cakes and Lycah, for once quiet and not yelling, listened interestedly from her bed over her smoking cup of tea. Albus knew there was only one thing for it. If the Arsenal had Hogwarts, then the Guard needed to stay hidden. The only way to do that was to make use of the DA's security system Albus now had control of.

"But… Lysander has control," Lycah said shortly.

"Just because he can't have the office itself doesn't mean he can't announce himself as Headmaster," Lorcan told her. "Besides, Lysander can't just come up and announce himself Headmaster. They'll laugh at him. Sander only has the office, is keeping it from Incommodo. And he would not have managed if the school governors did not die."

"The office works as its own place, with its own magic," Lysander yawned. "Phoenix dying before his time was up threw the ownership into the air. Keeping it safe helped it recognize me as a guardian, at least until a real Headmaster can take charge."

"But… how'd you know?" Lycah challenged. "How'd you know Incommodo would take charge or the governors would die?"

"Oh, that's simple," Lysander smiled mistily. "The future told me."

"You know di"-

"No, but… it still told me," Lysander shrugged.

Albus knew by Lysander's vague look that if he did not do Divination, then he was warned purposely. Apollo told him. As the previouys year had ended, Apollo had started acting. He warned Albus and he even warned Lysander. He had known… Steering the conversation out of these waters, Albus shrugged, "At least he can't do anything right now. Incommodo is too limited and without the Headmaster's office, he can't do what he could usually do."

"What's the difference?" Scorpius asked.

It was Mark who answered, seeming to revert back to a solemn form as he spoke, "The office has the portraits who can visit their other portraits elsewhere, make for good eyes around the world and the school, they're good advisors, and there's a Pensieve, the sorting hat, and a chamber that only the real occupant can enter. I'd say Incommodo is missing out on a lot."

"Then, he's just lying to the world," Scorpius got straight.

Everyone was very calm and easy, looking at each other curiously like they had never met in this manner before. The hut looked smaller than ever with so many people inside and incredibly quiet with everyone silent. In particular, Lycah did not say anything. She got up and started pouring herself more tea and released a low, contented sigh as she sat. Albus had never seen her awake like this before, very calm and easy. He had never known her to be lax but very hard-headed, very secluded, and unwilling to receive anyone who was not Lorcan or Lysander. At that moment, she was looking at everyone curiously and expectantly. Albus did not have long to guess what was going through her mind either.

"So, I happen to have a portrait here," Lycah said calmly. "A pathway to Hogsmeade. Anyone gonna tell me what you hope to use it for or can I take it down?"

"Please, don't," Mark mumbled, returning to the wall beside Albus.

"It'll lead us to the old DA Headquarters," Scorpius recalled. "Al, you got the keys?"

"All of them," Albus said easily. "I don't even know where each of them leads but it's worth finding out, isn't it?"

"Malfoy Manor, Potter abode," Scorpius counted off his fingers. "It's simple enough to guess that they probably lead to the rest of the DA members' houses. Question is: are they all uninhabited now the Reservation found one of them?"

"According to dad, yes," Albus said, staring at the green key for the Malfoy Manor.

"Headquarters is like a network," Mark told them frankly. "Only Lily probably knows the entire way since she visited it extensively last year. The DA probably vacated everything so that'll be exactly why the Reservation won't care to look there anymore. They think they rooted them all out but…"

"They didn't root us out," Scorpius said, grinning. "We can end up in other areas of Britain in minutes, if anything happens, we'll know firsthand. All members of the DA are probably scattered all over the place anyway."

"Hold up, hold up," Lycah interrupted. "You're actually considering leaving Hogwarts? You want to die, don't you?"

Scorpius folded his arms, "No, we don't. We can't, because all those places are protected by Fidileus Charm and they're easily entered and escaped if we need to. Plus, we can't do it often because we obviously have exams."

"How long do you reckon until Incommodo expels us?" Lorcan asked curiously.

"He wouldn't, would he?" Scorpius asked.

Lorcan shrugged and Lycah just sighed and said, her eyes resting on the window, "Even if he does, he can't go taking wands away. It'll go against his creed. Educate yourselves if it comes to it. Like I did."

"And a fat lot of good that did you," Scorpius muttered.

Lycah seemed to have heard because she fixed him with an angry glare and said, "You know nothing of hell."

Mark gave more of an answer to Scorpius' question. He turned to the blonde boy and sighed, "He wants to find the best of us. He said it himself. Some of us, like Aries and I are more or less safe, but I do not think he will go ahead and expel those who perform below our standards. At worst, he'll probably ignore you and give you the silent treatment. And trust me, you're better off like that. Times like this I wish I was an idiot."

"You can say that," Scorpius told him seriously. "But us Malfoys have it against Incommodo. He may spare people like you and Al"-

"Are you kidding me?" Albus scoffed.

"-but he won't spare me," Scorpius finished as if Albus did not say anything.

There was a moment of silence throughout the hut as they pondered those words. Everyone seemed to be thinking the same thing but nobody seemed to know quite how to phrase the question running through all minds at that moment, "Why do the Malfoys hate him so much?"

Albus already knew the answer. Scorpius explained it before. Scorpius smirked guiltily and folded his arms, "It's not for some moralistic reason. Us Malfoys like to get our hands on Dark objects and artifacts. One day, during a tourist trip to Greece, my great grandfather Abraxas Malfoy visited Greece and tried to secure possession of the Soulless Scepter. Incommodo got to it first and we've been trying to get it from him ever since. It would be the crowning jewel of our artifacts. We believe Incommodo cursed him to get Dragon Pox which is why Abraxas died but we could never pin it on him. In fact, we believe he laid a curse on our family so we would all die premature deaths. We're not sure though and grandfather never forgave Incommodo."

A snort sounded from Mark as if he was trying to stop himself from laughing, "And there I thought the Malfoy family might not be so bad after all."

"Yeah, no, we're still pure evil," Scorpius said happily. "Lucky we have common interests, huh, Al?"

"Huh?" Albus asked absent-mindedly.

"Still in his own world," Scorpius mumbled.

Albus was not in his own world as much as he was thinking about theirs. Scorpius and Mark were talking quietly and once Albus felt alone enough, he secluded himself in a corner and took out the letter James left to him. He unsealed the envelope. He felt a prickling feeling on his fingers as he opened and he knew the Charm James had placed was reading him. It must've been reinforced by Louis since it was still in effect after James' death. He unrolled the letter and read. For Al and only Al. Everybody else is forbidden from reading this. Upon completion, burn this letter and vanish the ashes. Let nobody read it. Keep it to yourself no matter what or so help me, I will haunt you.

Albus excused himself temporarily and went outside by the pumpkin patch, trusting Lysander to keep everyone away from him while he read the letter.

Dear Al,

If you are reading this, this means I am probably dead. I'm not going to write a letter about how much I love you or give a secret code or some lame thing like that. I'm smart enough to know this sort of thing should be done in person. I'd think dad would know that after that ridiculous R.A.B. idiocy in his time and this current Enchanter's Princess debacle (I mean, his clue cannot have been more cryptic.) For your information, I am writing this letter to you now, beginning of your fifth year, and my sixth year, and we had just gotten out of a scuffle with the Minister. He nearly killed me and this is why I am writing this now, second month back at Hogwarts.

Things have gotten more important to me lately. This may seem foreign to you since your older brother was always the prankster. Al, my prank days are over. I am never pranking another soul again for as long as I live (unless they really deserve it, like that Rojer fella.) A certain someone made me see that and this is what I mean to talk to you about. To be honest, this information is supposed to stay with me but if I die, I want to make absolutely sure that it gets to you because if I am dead, you are someone's only hope for survival in a world that has been so unkind to him, I can't put it into words. There is a Gryffindor first year student (first year at this point at least) named Neil Nott. Look after Neil Nott. He is your mission, understand me?

To be honest, even here, I won't reveal what I know. That's his choice. All I want is to ask you for one favor. If I lived long enough, you'll already have a little clue as to what that favor entails. He is being bullied, given a lot of grief for his family and house, and that's on top of a rather drastic story he will have to choose to divulge to you. I promised him my lips would remain sealed and at this point, even my quill won't break its silence. Why do I resort to such drastic measures? I need to explain something about your older brother.

After thirteen years of pranking family and friends, things have grown rather tiresome. I thought my first target this year would be Neil but I had the fortune of having a private conversation with him first. Neil has been through a lot. I mean, A LOT! Wow. I never thought so many sad events in one lifetime were even possible, especially for an eleven year-old boy. As said, I can't say what it is but I'll explain the effects, or at least what I can from them.

Neil has so many fears, he can hardly function in life. I mean, he'll probably die if he can't be helped which is why I'm asking you to help him. Neil has a major fear of vampires. He is terrified of them. This means trouble because he is currently trying to avoid Potions lessons with Era. We're trying to make up an allergy of Potion steam to get him off. I think it'll work. Neil is also scared of older women for the same reason. It sort of gives him difficulty in Transfiguration because Professor Redgrow picked the wrong gender to be born as (pranks might be done, jokes aren't.) God help when he gets older and starts developing romantic interest. He is also scared of speaking much. Some people are just naturally quiet but he is actually scared of talking too much. Couple that with a fear of magic and one starts wondering how he'll ever manage. He has a natural fear of death but I'm getting the impression this fear is more drastic than others and he fears his own father which makes for a hard home life.

So, talk to him. Even if he doesn't respond, talk. The more you talk, the more he listens; the more he listens, the more he has to say; and, the more he talks, the more comfortable he is. There, I gave you a strategy, so don't say it didn't work. Help him if it's the last thing you do. If he talks to you, you'll know why. And you'll know why I am done pranking people. I hurt you, and there I meet someone far more damaged than my little brother. So… Neil is my redemption. I'll offer him whatever help I can till my dying day and if I die, I'm piling that on you because he can't go on alone. 'Nott' for much longer (pun so intended, always wanted to make that joke but Neil isn't the joking type.)

Oh, and before I go, please keep in mind that he hates being touched. So, don't try patting his shoulder or hugging him unless he asks you to. Ok, I think that's everything. See you in the next life. I'm sorry for everything. Really. And one day, when we're both dead, I'll explain everything. Just… make sure your life is long and prosperous and make sure his is too because he deserves it more. No, really, he does. I'm serious. I'd better not see him walking in the afterlife as a boy or I'll leap back as a ghost just to pummel you (somehow. I'll figure it out.)

Your brother,

-James Sirius Potter

The Eyes and Ears of the Castle

Former Prank Master