Chapter 5: James' Folly

Albus awoke that Saturday feeling somewhat better than how he felt last night as he fell asleep. Tonight I'll show James to stop annoying me, thought Albus, maybe he'll even go back to the way things were before. That's really all Albus really wanted. He just wanted his brother back, and his cousins to stop ignoring him. He wasn't really sure how he was going to do it, but he knew something would come from this duel, whether it would be for good or for bad. Albus, being a Slytherin, had thought of a method of escape in case James decided to play a trick on Albus and Filch or Professor Corby showed up. Albus had looked through his plan over and over again, and saw no fault in it at all.

He plopped down into his favorite armchair in the Common Room and began reading Snape's copy of Advanced Potion Making. The incantations Snape had invented were ingenious. Albus particularly liked levicorpus, which he could cast nonverbally like the book had instructed. He tried it out on Scorpius and was delighted to find his friend dangling upside-down as if attached to an invisible hook on his left ankle. After an hour or two of practice in the Common Room, Albus had a pretty good grasp of what he would do during his duel with James. Albus had already mastered protego, expelliarmus, levicorpus, rictusempra, everte statum, and petrificus totalus.

After having lunch in the Great Hall, Rose had requested Albus come to the library.

"I'm sure you'll be brilliant at the duel, mate," said Scorpius. They parted as Scorpius reluctantly trudged on to go serve his detention with Professor Corby while Rose and Albus headed to the library. After a few moments of silence, Rose decided to unload on Albus.

"You aren't actually going to that blasted duel, are you!" asked Rose.

"Yeah, I am, why?" asked Albus.

"Because you're only going to get in trouble, that's why! I know you can beat that insufferable dolt any day! But going in the middle of the night is dangerous!" said Rose, now in a full tirade.

"How is it dangerous?" asked Albus dubiously.

"You could get killed! Or worse, expelled!" said Rose.

"You really have your priorities mixed up," said Albus with a grin.

"There really isn't any way of talking to you about this, is there?" asked Rose.

"Nope, I've decided," said Albus.

"Fine, let's go then," hissed Rose, motioning for him to enter the library. The Hogwarts library reminded him of Aunt Hermione's library. It was a massive room filled with bookshelves that stacked as far as the eye could see in any direction. Shelves and shelves of books filled the room in a spectacular display of academic prowess. The librarian, Madam Pince, was a stern witch who wouldn't put up with loud talking in her library. If she'd find out you've desecrated a book, you were pretty much done for. Rose led Albus past the wary eye of Madam Pince and over to a table.

"So why am I here?" asked Albus. Rose pulled out a book from her bag and placed it on the table. Albus stared at the cover. A Beginning Mage's Guide to Elemental Magic.

"Elemental magic?" asked Albus with one eyebrow raised.

"Elemental magic is a relatively new branch of magic, and it literally means "elemental magic." You see, every wizard and witch has a predetermined element that is part of their identity, much like a patronus or an animagus. Most witches and wizards choose not to pursue the path of elemental magic, but for those that do, it is a very rewarding and useful skill to have. You, my dear cousin, have displayed some very good examples of elemental magic at a very young age. I think you have a certain predisposition for elemental magic, which is why I think you should start learning it, along with me and Scorpius."

"You think I'm an Elemental Mage? Cool!" said Albus. He eagerly reached for the book, but Rose put her hand out to stop him.

"Wait. I'm not finished explaining. The first step in learning elemental magic is to first determine your element. There are seven elements that wizards have been known to control: fire, water, earth, wind, ice, lightning, and shadow. These elements are all related to one another and check each other in terms of power and capabilities." sad Rose.

"Ok, great. So what's my element?" asked Albus. Rose rolled her eyes.

"Isn't it obvious?"

"Erm…I don't think so. What is it?"

"Ice, you moron, Ice! All instances of underage, wandless magic you have done have involved some form of frozen water! Think about it! The time you froze your house, the time you froze James' feet onto the floor, the time you conjured a snowball."

She's right, thought Albus, I'm an Ice Mage.

"Yeah, you're right! So…now what?" asked Albus, who by this time was feeling very stupid.

"Well, the first thing after determining your element—," Rose picked up the book and opened it to a marked page," –is to 'Begin conjuring your element. Consult the following table as to which basic spell you should start working with. It will confirm your element if you are able to cast one of the seven spells listed with little to no difficulty.'"

Albus looked at the page to which she was referring. There were the seven elements listed, each coupled with a spell:

FIRE: Incendio WATER: Aguamenti

EARTH: Georum WIND: Ventus

ICE: Glacius LIGHTNING: Fulmine

SHADOW: Umbroria

His eyes found the spell for ice, glacius. He took out his wand and whispered,

"Glacius."

Immediately the book became encased in a coating of ice, as did most of the table and, unfortunately for Albus, Rose's hands, which had been resting on the page. She presently glared at him and barked for him to defrost her. Not wanting to face the wrath of Rose, he tried incendio. To his disappointment, a faint trail of smoke was all that issued from his wand.

"That's not going to work! Ice and fire are polar opposites. If you can master ice you are guaranteed to be horrible at conjuring fire!" barked Rose, "Hurry up! I'm starting to lose circulation in my hand!"

"What do you expect me to do, tell the ice to go away?" asked Albus sarcastically. Rose glared at him.

"Actually, I've read on to find that if you can conjure your element, the next step is learning to control and manipulate it. Why don't you try controlling the ice?" said Rose. Albus raised his eyebrows at her dubiously before making a whip lash motion with his wand in desperation. A blue spark shot out of his wand and a tiny explosion singed the ice, allowing Rose to break free.

"Or you could just practically singe my hands off!" shouted Rose indignantly.

"Shh! Do I hear talking in the library!" came the voice of Madam Pince. Rose and Albus shrunk back in their seats.

"Well, then what's your element, Rose?" asked Albus. Rose, looking rather pleased with herself, took out her wand and said, "Ventus." A powerful blast of air struck the book and carried high toward the ceiling. Rose moved her hands in a pulling back motion and the book came gently down, seemingly cushioned by a blanket of air.

"Cool! We have to find out what Scorpius' element is!" said Albus.

"Who ever is talking in my library should leave at once!" shouted Madam Pince. Albus and Rose gathered their things and scuttled past the disapproving eye of Madam Pince before leaving the library. They walked down to the main hallway and saw Scorpius standing there looking around.

"There you two are! I was wondering what on earth you were doing?" said Scorpius.

"I'll tell you later, when it's required." said Albus, hoping Scorpius would pick up on the hint and Rose wouldn't. Unfortunately, much the opposite was true.

"Huh?" asked Scorpius.

"Oh no you don't! If you two even think about going near that room tonight I'll….I'll…well I'd better not!" shouted Rose. Albus was paying no attention to her, instead watching his brother and his friends casting everte statum and rictusempra for practice. That's all they have? I can top that, as long as I have my secret weapon Levicorpus, thought Albus. "Al! Hello! Earth to Albus?" asked Rose. Al snapped out of his trance and decided to change the subject.

"So Scorpius, how was the detention?" he asked.

"Awful. Corby made me polish all of his 'Auror of the Month Awards.' Tell your dad to give that award to people who actually deserve it." said Scorpius. Albus snickered. The trio headed into the Great Hall for dinner, with Rose parting, not before giving Albus an indignant don't-even-think-about-it glare. Scorpius started on Albus once he saw Rose was out of earshot.

"So, what's the plan?" asked Scorpius.

"What plan?" asked Xavier from across the table.

"Oh nothing, just some way to get back at my brother and the Gryffindors. We're supposed to have a duel tonight." said Albus. Xavier gave Albus a devious grin.

"Mind if I come along? I do know a bunch of good dueling spells," asked Xavier.

"Sure, Xav, we don't mind." said Albus.

"Where is the duel?" asked Xavier.

"On the Seventh Floor Corridor," said Scorpius.

"So the plan is for me to win the duel with James in about one minute. If he brings along any cronies and they try to duel, that's where you two come in." said Albus in a low voice. Xavier and Scorpius nodded in agreement. "Then, if Filch comes wheezing around, I'll make the Room of Requirement give us a room that only we can get into. We go into the room, the door disappears, and Filch only catches James and the Gryffindors. It's ingenious, isn't it?" Scorpius and Xavier traded sly smiles.

"Ok, that sounds foolproof." said Xavier, "By the way, I think that hat was right about this one, don't you, Scorpius?"

"Oh yes indeed," said Scorpius, "Al, my friend, you have made ol' Salazar proud." Al laughed.

The three of them finished dinner and headed back to the Common Room. They waited out the hours by playing Wizard's Chess. Once it was around 11:30, the three of them silently skulked out of the Common Room. They made it all the way to the sixth floor staircase when they heard a scolding voice behind them.

"And where do you three think you're going?" asked the voice. Oh no, this is it, we're done for. Albus turned around slowly. To his relief, it was only Rose.

"Oh, thank goodness Rosie, it's only you," said Albus.

"Oh don't thank me yet, because you three are going back to your Common Room right now!" said Rose indignantly.

"But why? We have to show James he's not as cool as he thinks he is!" said Scorpius.

"No you don't! I know you can beat that prat any day of the week, but you can get in trouble if you stay here!" said Rose.

"That's why we're not staying here, we're going to the Seventh Floor," said Scorpius.

"Oh no you don't! And what if Filch is there? Then what are you going to do?" asked Rose.

"Oh we know exactly what we're going to do. Now do you want to stay here or come with us?" said Scorpius.

"I suppose I have to come with you! The Ravenclaw Knocker didn't think it prudent for me to leave and flew away. He won't be back for a while." said Rose. The four of them ascended the sixth floor staircase and headed to the Seventh Floor, with Rose scolding them the entire way.

Albus squinted. At the end of the Hallway was his brother, flanked on either side by a friend, with a smug look on his face.

"Thought you Slytherin cowards would never show," James smirked.

"I refuse to be called a coward," said Albus.

"Mmm…you sure you don't want to back out right now?" asked James, chuckling.

"Nope. I'm ready." said Albus, with a Slytherin smirk on his face.

"Rose, I'm disappointed. Will I have to tell Uncle Ron?" said James.

"You'd better not, James Sirius Potter, I'm trying to get these dolts to go back. And so should you!" said Rose.

"Ah, always the spitting image of Aunt Hermione, aren't you? Well, anyway, let's duel, Albus Snivellus Potter." said James. Albus and James strode to the center of the hall, their wands drawn. They did the traditional duel bow before taking a few strides back and turning around.

"Ready? 3…2…," began James. Before he finished two, James shouted, "Rictusempra!" And an orange beam shot towards Albus. Anticipating his brother's trick, Albus whipped his wand up and shouted,

"Protego!" An invisible bubble formed around Albus and James' spell dissipated.

"Expelliarmus!" shouted James. This time a red beam shot from his wand, and Albus blocked the spell again.

"Aren't you going to go on the offensive, Snivelly?" taunted James. Albus smirked. Mustering up his magical ability, Albus pointed his wand toward James and thought, Levicorpus. James, caught off guard by the wordless spell, couldn't block it in time. A yellowish beam shot from Albus' wand and coiled itself around James' left ankle. The spell flipped James upside down and pulled him into the air. Albus started laughing hysterically.

"Oh, tricks I see. Well, in that case, Expelliarmus!" shouted James while dangling upside down. Albus blocked the spell before firing a disarming spell of his own. James wand flew out of his hand and Albus caught it. Albus marched up to James and triumphantly,

"I believe this means I win." He thought, Liberacorpus, and James fell to the ground. His brother stood up and Albus handed him back his wand, which James quickly snatched.

"What's that, Slytherins being nasty? Show me!" came the voice of Professor Corby from the staircase on the opposite side of the hallway. Albus glanced behind James and noticed his two friends were gone. James smirked.

"Gotcha Snivelly!" taunted James. Albus felt a devious grin etch across his face as he thought, I need a place only Rose, Scorpius, Xavier, and I can get into. As he thought this he saw the ever familiar tall wooden doors of the Room of Requirement materialize on the wall.

"Guess again, Gryffindork!" said Albus as he opened the door and ushered Rose, Scorpius, and Xavier inside. He entered and shut the door as tight as possible before James could get to him. He heard James pounding on the door before it stopped as he heard Professor Corby's voice.

"James! What's going on? I heard some Slytherins were out of bed!" said Corby.

"They are! They went in this room!" said James.

"What room?" asked Corby.

"Huh! There was a door here a minute ago!" shouted James. "Albus Snivellus Potter if you're in there, hear this! You're dirty, no good, rotten, slimy, traitorous Slytherin scumbag!"

"Come on James, we'll check the Common Rooms," said Corby, and Albus heard their footsteps grow softer and softer. Scorpius was brave enough to peek his head out the door.

"They're gone," said Scorpius with a sigh of relief.

"Despite the fact that I strongly disapprove of this little adventure, I must say, my dear cousin, that was an excellent and well thought out plan." said Rose. Albus and Scorpius looked taken aback.

"Wait, did you just complement me for how I broke the rules?" asked Albus in disbelief.

"Yes, but now we're stuck in here and Corby is going to check the Common Rooms and see we're not in there! How are you going to get us out of this one you dolt!" shouted Rose.

"Like this." said Albus. I need a way to get back into the Ravenclaw Common Room, he thought. An empty picture frame appeared on the wall opposite the door. "Climb into it, Rosie."

"Are you nuts! It's a portrait!" said Rose.

"Just do it. Do you want to get caught?" asked Albus. Rose glared at him before reaching her arm out and, much to her surprise, sticking it through the portrait as if the empty portrait was a door.

"And this will take me back to the Common Room?" asked Rose.

"Yup! Not sure exactly where, but you better get moving!" said Albus.

"But how are you three going to get back?" asked Rose. I need a way to get back into the Slytherin Common Room, thought Albus. Another empty picture frame materialized next to the first. "This better work or you'll be hearing from me, Albus Severus Potter!" said Rose as she climbed into the portrait. As she walked she got smaller and smaller and smaller before they couldn't see her any more.

"Alright, we better get a move on," said Scorpius," You first Al." Albus climbed into the empty portrait. It was rather dark in there, so Albus lit his wand with lumos. Scorpius and Xavier did likewise. Albus walked down the passageway, which seemed to go on into nothingness, before he saw a familiar fireplace through another picture frame far away. He quickly ran towards it along with Xavier and Scorpius. Before he got to the end however, he noticed a figure standing off to the side of the picture frame. Albus gasped. It was the full-fledged figure of Severus Snape, not cut off like his portrait was.

"P-professor Snape?" asked Albus.

"Hello, Albus, mind telling me why you have need of my portrait at this hour?" said the sallow-faced man impassively.

"Sorry, Professor, but we were in the Room of Requirement after I beat James in a duel and needed another way back into the Common Room." said Albus.

"Hmm…I see, so you beat your obnoxious Gryffindor brother in a duel? Very nice. How?" asked Snape, his face still impassive.

"I used your levicorpus, sir. I caught him off guard since I cast it nonverbally." said Albus. Snapes lips curled into a slight smile.

"Very well, you'd better get back into the Common Room, I won't say a word." said Snape.

"Thank you, Professor," said Albus. Snape motioned with his hand for them to go through the portrait. Albus, Xavier, and Scorpius climbed through the portrait and into the Common Room.

"We'd better get back to bed and make it look like we were asleep," said Xavier. Albus and Scorpius nodded. They began walking up the staircase, with Albus giving Professor Snape one last look before heading up. The greasy haired man winked and, with a billow of black robes, he was gone. Albus, Scorpius, and Xavier silently walked into the dormitory, trying not to wake up Melvin or Adrian. The three of them lay down on their beds and closed their eyes. In about five minutes, they heard Professor Corby's voice coming from the Common Room.

"ALL SLIMY SLYTHERIN STUDENTS PLEASE REPORT TO THE COMMON ROOM IMMEDIATELY!"

With some grumbles coming from Adrian and Melvin, the five Slytherin first years made their way down to the Common Room, where the other Slytherins were assembled in front of a wary-eyed Professor Corby and a smirking James. James smirk turned into a frown in disbelief when he saw Albus walking towards him.

"Wh-wha? How the bloody hell did you get back here? We guarded all known ways back to the Common Room!" said James. Albus tried his best to make his face look convincing.

"What on Earth are you talking about James? I've been asleep this whole time," he said in a confused voice, feigning sleepiness as well.

"You're absolutely sure you weren't out of bed on the Seventh Floor Corridor tonight?" asked Corby sternly, his eyes staring menacingly into Albus'. Albus resisted the urge to gulp nervously and said,

"No, I wasn't out of bed at all tonight Professor," said Albus.

"If it helps at all, I have been watching the Common Room all night and have seen no one enter or leave the room, Corby. So unless you are suggesting that Albus here can Apparate within Hogwarts at the young age of eleven, I advise you to drop the matter entirely." came the snide voice of Professor Snape from his portrait.

"Very well, Professor Snape," said Corby, looking depressed because he couldn't get Slytherin this time.

"Aren't you going to do something about the other Potter being out of bed this late?" asked Snape. Albus couldn't help but laugh in his mind. Thank you Professor Snape.

"Erm, alright, five points from Gryffindor, get back to bed, James," said Corby, with each word seeming to be caught in his throat as he said it. James glared angrily at Albus.

"Fine," said James, before spinning on his heel and leaving, with Corby in tow. Everyone else was too sleepy to talk and trudged back to the dormitories. Albus stayed behind and strode over to Snape's portrait. The pale man was smiling deviously at Albus.

"Thank you, Professor," said Albus.

"Any time, Albus, any time," said Snape.

"Well, good night, sir," said Albus.

"Good night, Albus," said Snape. Albus walked up to bed and collapsed on his mattress. Tonight was a big success for him. He showed his brother not to mess around and avoided detection cunningly. Albus smiled at himself before nodding off to sleep.