Aladdin's POV
I found refuge in the Slytherin dorm, startling everyone who were in multiple stages of getting ready for bed. Luckily, Romana had stumbled across a water repelling charm to use on the girl's side of the room where it had started to flood due to the Slytherin dorm being built partially under the lake.
The triplets were around the fire with Josh, and I was surprised to also see a head of dark braids among them. With the wild hand gestures Anna was making and the slightly shaking bodies of the triplets due to laughter, Anna was most likely telling Josh what had happened-with a little exaggeration here and there.
Romana was lounged on one of the couches, already in a pair of Snoopy pajama pants and a way-too big, light blue t-shirt. In her lap, a book was propped open surprisingly.
Dean was kneeling next to the coffee table, quill in hand, ferociously copying notes from a text book; most likely the work was due Monday and he didn't want to work on Sunday.
Scorpius was writing as well, his owl perched next to him. Wondering what the hell he could be doing, I walked towards him and peered over his shoulder at what he was writing. I only got as far as 'Dear Mum and Dad,' when he suddenly turned around and shielded the parchment from my gaze.
"What are you doing?" Scorpius asked with a deadly calm tone.
"You can't write your parents, Scorp." I scolded, taking the parchment away and folding it nicely, hopping over the back of the couch and sitting next to him. "It's actually illegal now."
"Whatever," He grumbled. "Soon, it's going to be illegal for them to freaking breathe!"
Chuckling, I rolled my eyes and pushed his shoulder good naturedly. "Anyway…onto better subjects, how's it going with you and Rose?"
At the mention of Rose, Scorpius became a tomato, causing my jaw to drop. I hadn't gotten this sort of reaction in weeks!
"She's...um…she's good." Scorpius muttered nervously, not meeting my eyes.
With a sly grin planted on my face I decided to dig a little deeper. "Did something happen?"
I had no clue how it was possible, but Scorpius' blush deepened. "Well…we're, erm, we're going to Hogsmeade next weekend…"
"You asked her out on a date?!" I squealed excitedly, catching everyone's attention.
"What's going on?" Romana asked cheekily, sitting next to Scorpius on his left. "Did little Malfoy get a date?"
"Girls and dates-is it that big a deal?" Dean muttered from where he was kneeled.
"Actually," I began. "Yes. Because this is his first date. Ever. Little Scorpion's growing up!"
"Don't call me that," Scorpius muttered half-heartedly.
"Scorpius got a date!" Walker began chanting. "Scorpius got a date! Scorpius got a date!"
Within minutes, every young Slytherin was chanting, including Anna. After a few more minutes, they settled down, out of breath and ready for bed.
Sadly, Anna bid us all adieu, rushing in hopes of not being caught out past curfew, since it started in only a few minutes.
However, what was one man's treasure was another's trash…or however that stupid, Muggle saying went.
Albus' POV
It was common knowledge that a good amount of Gryffindor was made up of Weasley or Potter kids. The few that were sorted into other houses-such as Molly and Lucy who were in Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff-seemed to spend more time in the Gryffindor dorm than their own.
In retaliation, a lot 'family' issues became School issues. Let's say a small fight broke out between Fred-Gryffindor-Molly-Ravenclaw-and Lucy-Hufflepuff-in the Gryffindor dorm room, the next day, there would be clear lines as to who was on whose side school wide. Due to this dilemma, family conflict was avoided at all costs, but sometimes, it was inevitable.
"You said yes?!" James screamed as I crawled into the portrait leading into the common room.
It was a sight to behold. The entire rowdy house of Gryffindor had gone silent, all eyes watching James, who was standing in front of a sitting Rose.
"James, you already knew that I like him." Rose sighed, trying to defuse the situation in a calm tone, much like her mother.
"Liking and going on a date are two different things!" James exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air.
I crossed the common room to try and defuse the situation. "OK, what's going on?"
"She's going on a date with Malfoy!" James exclaimed, pointing at Rose in shock.
Rose stood up and crossed her arms, glaring at James. "It isn't that big a deal, James!"
"Yes it is! You are betraying the house of Gryffindor, not to mention your own family!" James exclaimed, jabbing a finger at her. "You know what side his family was on during the war! And who knows about the others!"
"You don't know them, James!" Rose yelled right back. "Scorpius isn't like his family was! And have you ever heard of a pureblood family with the last name Sattler or Parker?"
"No, but you can never be too cautious! Which is why Romana and I are friends! Barely even that!" James screamed frustrated.
Sighing, I placed a hand on one of their shoulders, gently prying them apart. Their breathing was slightly labored and there was steel in their glares.
"Will you two calm down?" I sighed, then turned to the rest of the Gryffindors. "Get to bed."
James rolled his eyes, but went to bed without another word. With a glare at the lingering Gryffindors, they left, not wanting to get in trouble due to two prefects now in the room-Rose being the girl prefect.
When they were finally all gone, Rose collapsed onto the couch, holding her face in her hands. "This is a mess," She grumbled. "I almost wish that this whole project thing never even began!"
I scoffed, sitting down next to her. "Trust me, I have a lot worse issues."
"Like what?" Rose pressed with a raised eyebrow and a crooked smile.
Oops, I grumbled in my head. I loved my family and all but trusting them with certain information was not the brightest idea. Most of them would do anything for a little bit of attention-it happens when your parents are famous. However, Rose was never like that and by far my favorite cousin.
"Remember how I asked Aladdin if I knew her?" I asked.
Rose's eyebrows raised, "Aladdin, now, huh? Not Parker? When did that happen?"
"Not the point," I rolled my eyes. "Anyway...Rose, I know her. I'm not sure how, but I do. And she-she knows me."
"That's not possible…" Rose said with furrowed eyebrows.
"We're wizards-anything's possible." I scoffed.
Rose rolled her eyes, "Have you talked to her?"
"Once-she's barely even looked at me before today when we went to find some first years." At that, it seemed like a marble had been lodged in my stomach. My tone got much more serious. "Rose, I saw Hugo and Lily today…"
"And...?" She prompted.
The previous rage filled me. "They were torturing first years! They'd let boggarts on them!"
"Oh, god!" Rose groaned, throwing her head back to look at the ceiling. "Who? Are the kids OK? How much trouble are Hugo and Lily in?"
"None." I seethed, fists clenched. "The first years were Slytherin triplets-Susan, Sarah and Sophie-and Anna, a Gryffindor first year; their alright. Hugo and Lily aren't in any trouble. McGonagall said they were probably trying to help."
Rose turned confused, "What happened?"
I told her the story from finding Aladdin who was looking for the girls to walking out on McGonagall. Rose's face went into a variety of expressions and settled into one of shock.
"I cannot believe this," Rose said in shock. "We're closer to destroying our own House than helping theirs."
"I'm not sure that they need the help that we think they need…" I said softly, trying to gauge how Rose would respond.
"What do you mean?" Rose asked.
"I don't know-My dad says that Malfoy's dad used to call Aunt Hermione a…mudblood. Have you ever heard a Slytherin say that to anyone?" I asked.
A moment of silence passed as Rose tried to find a time where one of the Slytherins had.
"No," She admitted after a few minutes. "I haven't."
"And, as crazy as it sounds, I'm not sure Aladdin's a pureblood." I stated.
"OK, let's not get too wild now." Rose chuckled. "Aladdin is like the Queen of the Snakes."
"She has muggle technology." I pointed out causing Rose to raise an eyebrow.
"And you know this how?" She asked.
"She was wearing headphones by the Black Lake." I explained; Rose nodded in understanding.
"That doesn't mean she isn't a pureblood, Al. Maybe Aladdin finds muggles interesting or something-like Grandpa Arthur." The moment Rose said that her eyes widened. "I just compared a Gryffindor to a Slytherin."
"C'mon, Rose, I thought you would be the easiest to convince they aren't all that bad, especially since you're gonna be Mrs. Malfoy eventually." I poked fun.
"You are?" A young voice exclaimed from the portrait hole.
Turning towards it, I saw Anna who looked like she was trying to sneak back in since the portrait was barely open. However, she seemed to have forgotten to sneak in her shock and now had one foot in the Common Room and another out in the hall.
"He was joking, Anna." Rose blushed as she buried her face into a pillow, causing Anna to 'ooh' in realization.
"By the way, Scorp is really looking forward to the date." Anna teased as she skipped up the stairs to her dorm room causing Rose's blush to multiply.
Aladdin's POV
Laughter. Running. A large green grassy field. I was small, about five. My legs stretched to run across the large field as childish giggles tumbled from my lips. Every now and then, I'd look over my shoulder and see a young boy about my age running after me, causing me to run faster.
We made it to a lake where we both collapsed in laughter. Laying down, we watched the sky for a few minutes. I turned my head to look at the boy lying next to me. His hair was a reddish-gold, and plenty of freckles dust his cheeks. A feeling of friendship ran through my veins, and a small smile was on my face.
"Corrine?" The boy asked as he studied the sky.
"Yea?" I asked, my voice high-pitched and small.
"How come your dad doesn't take Muggle-borns and barely any half-bloods?" He asked curiously, turning his face.
"I dunno…there aren't that many, though." I pointed out.
"Guess your right…" The boy sighed. A mischievous smile appeared on his face. "Bet I can beat you to the kitchens"
"Bet you can't," I stuck out my tongue, leaping up and running towards the castle while the boy complained that I was cheating.
I was older now, about ten, watching a girl who seemed to be in her teens fight with a woman who seemed middle-aged.
"It's ALWAYS about Corrine, Mother! Why can't it be about me?!" The girl screeched causing a feeling of shame to wrack through my body. I was hidden around the corner, so at least I found solace in the fact that she hadn't meant for me to hear.
"Helena!" The woman scolded. She looked an awful like the portrait of Rowena Ravenclaw that hung in the Great Hall. "Keep your voice down! Are you really jealous of your little sister? The little sister who shall-"
"'Disappear on her fifteenth Hallow's Eve, never to be seen again, only brought back to restore the honor of her forgotten family.'" The girl mockingly recited in anger. "I know the prophecy! But it is not an exact science! So she was born on October 31st, that doesn't mean that Corrine is the girl!"
"You know as well as I do that Corrine takes after her father more than anyone. The gene skipped you, but she is a Parseltongue. You took my memory, though, making you more Ravenclaw than Slytherin. And the prophecy specifically mentions the rival houses." The women said, her voice quiet.
I felt a hand on my shoulder, and, embarrassed at being caught, turned around slowly.
"Corrine, I think it is about your bed time." The man said with a small, sad smile.
Without protest, I let the man lead me to a small room decked in green and silver. I climbed into a large canopy bed and as the man leant down to place a kiss on my forehead, I stopped him.
"How come Helena doesn't like me, papa?" I asked, my voice young but not as high-pitched as it had been.
The man sighed and sat down at the edge of the bed, brushing my hair out of my face with his large hand. "It is not that she does not like you, Cory." He explained. "She is just jealous."
"Of what?" I asked. "And what were they talking about? What prophecy? And what do I have to do with any of it?!"
With another sigh, he stood up and kissed my forehead. "All in due time, Corrine, all in due time."
The vision spun and I was now in a dark, slightly damp place. The air smelled of musk. Somehow, I knew I was thirteen.
The man that had been in the last vision was there again, but his hair line was a little more receded and his beard a little more gray. He held a lantern as we navigated through what felt like a maze.
"Papa, can we slow down?" I asked as I struggled to keep up. My back felt stiff and it was hard to breathe; my mind immediately made the connection that I was wearing a corset.
"Can you even breathe, child?" The man asked, stopping and waiting for me to catch up. He eyed my torso in annoyance and rolled his eyes. "Your mother and her ideas of how young ladies should be brought up. I take you to the Chamber to meet the Basilisk and she forces you into a corset."
Taking out his wand, he muttered a spell and the constricting feeling around my torso melted away. The long skirts that had been getting heavier as they picked up water tightened and separated into leggings. The bodice of the dress and dreadful corset turned into a tunic.
I sucked in a large breath and sighed gratefully. "Thank you, Papa."
The man smiled and we continued on our journey. We ended up in the center of the maze which had the statue of a man with very long hair and facial hair. His mouth was open and his eyes hollow.
The man spoke in a language that-though I knew it was not English-I understood perfectly well. All of a sudden, a giant serpent slithered out of the mouth of the large stature.
"Corrine," The man said, resting his right hand on the head of the serpent who had his eyes shut. "Meet the Basilisk."
The world spun out again but I was back in the chamber with the statue. I was older this time, though, maybe fourteen.
"How come no one has tried to kill it before?" I asked as I watched the Basilisk slither around. "If it is so deadly, people must certainly be afraid of it."
"Oh, they have, though." The man explained, watching the Basilisk with dark eyes. "However, they underestimate its power. A Basilisk is much like a phoenix, just with a much longer regeneration period. It takes 28 years after the Basilisk is killed to reappear, and another year to fully return to power."
"That would give it enough time for people to think it's dead so that no one would constantly be trying to kill it," I realized, looking up at the man.
He smiled. "Precisely."
The next thing I knew, I was laying by the lake, the sun beaming down. Next to me, an older version of the boy I had met in the first vision laid, smiling.
"What are you so smiley about?" I chuckled, grinning at him.
"Just…thinking." He sighed, looking up at the sky. His smile fell. "My mum and dad have been acting really weird lately…"
"So have mine…" I muttered sitting up and hugging my knees to my chest.
"How's Helena?" The boy asked, obviously trying to change the subject.
"Gone. Still." I laughed bitterly. "Mum sent the Baron after her. I'm pretty sure she has no idea how madly in love he is with Helena."
The boy laughed heartily. I knew that laugh. I knew that voice. I knew that boy.
I woke up with a startled gasp. It was dark in the room with only the fire glow for light. Everyone around me was fast asleep and from a glance at the clock, it was two in the morning.
Sitting up, I ran a hand through my hair trying my hardest to think about what the dream was about what it meant. The only thing I could think of was that the boy, the clearly red-headed boy from my dream, was Albus. Albus Potter. The boy with raven colored hair and green eyes, not brown.
Also, it had been a few months more than twenty-eight years since Harry Potter had 'killed' the Basilisk.
Merlin, when did my life get so bloody complicated?