BONUS
A glance at the following story : THE SHUFFLERS OF LIGHT
When the winds were gusting over the cracked white plain, one could almost hear dull voices, as if far beneath the thick layer of snow and ice, ancient giants had been singing a lament.
Once, Terrence had said he imagined them like huge tipsy trolls, toasting with their butterbeer tankards and telling stories of the origins of Time, but Wendy had shuddered at the thought that Muggles drillings could someday disturb these benevolent old folks.
Scorpius, of course, had merely shrugged at the idea of people living underneath floe and gone back to his paperwork.
Albus had said nothing, his forehead leaning against the window, his green eyes lost in the contemplation of the blizzard. Sometimes, a dreamy sigh was heaving from his chest, but he could not explain why.
When there was no storm, the Shufflers of Light valley was one of the most glorious places in the world.
Under the vast sapphire skies, the sun glittered on the white velvety slopes and sparkled on the blue ice edges. In the polar coldness reigned a hushed silence, that was not disturbed by the whining of the flying whales or the barking of the firetailed foxes rolling playfully in the snow. In the middle of the plain, the scarlet Observation Tower looked like the pointy hat of a leprechaun or the tip of the Hogwarts Express' whistle, with small clouds of smoke gushing from time to time from the silver ducts.
Wendy had done a very nice sketch of that sight, which was pinned in the locker room, just above the dischilblaining machine and Albus wanted to send his parents a copy of it, since pictures gave out nothing of the clarity and beauty of the site on which he was working.
It was almost seven years after the rebellion of the Hebrides.
Harry Potter had become Minister of Magic and although there were still some people complaining, overall Britain wizarding community felt satisfied under his rightful leadership. The Boy Who Lived, the war hero, the Auror who had turned to politics, remained a simple and accessible man, whom they knew would never compromise with dark forces.
Ginny was still working for the Department of Magical Games and Sports, but she showed active in galas and charity evenings as the worthy wife of the minister. Sometimes came along her daughter Lily ("A beauty!") who had just finished her studies at Hogwarts. Rumor had it the young lady was going for "a career in fashion." But people were not quite sure what that meant.
James, the eldest son of the minister, had failed to the Auror entrance examination for a reason that only Harry Potter, Teddy Lupin and Ron Weasley knew. After this painful experience, James had packed up a bag and gone hitchhiking for over a year. From brooms to flying carpets, in the Knight Bus, hot balloons, gondolas, steam trains and ships, he had finally found himself in Sicily, where his natural charm and his clever patter had put him at a key post in the trade with the Cola Clan of fishmen.
Wendy Philips, Terrence Swanson and Scorpius Malfoy were still close friends.
They were the only ones in the world – except for Harry – to know the truth about Albus.
It had been during their seventh year, while in internship in Brazil, that his three friends had (re)discovered Albus' secret, when he had changed into his other self to save Terrence from the bite of a fer-de-lance snake. Wendy had sulked a bit - Scorpius a lot - but ultimately they had been relieved to learn that Toothless - Albus had never managed to make them understand it was not the real name of the dragon - was still alive.
That may have been why Scorpius had finally yielded to his father and entered the ministry. The Unspeakable he would become after ten years of service to the government could effectively protect the greatest mystery of Britain. For now, after two years in the Office of Disinformation, he had asked to be transferred to the South Pole where he served as a liaison officer, which allowed him to keep an eye on both his friend and on a certain Miss Phillips.
The dauntless girl had finally gathered her courage and opposed the future planned for her by the almost invisible businessman to whom she gave the name of father. Encouraged by the old butler Barrie, she had chosen her own destiny. Once she had received her magical mechanical engineer diploma, she had been assigned to the Observation Tower for her first job and if her relationship with her stepmother had not really benefited from it – Madame swooned just thinking about a young lady of her class with hands full of grease - however the distance had helped soothe it.
Several Quidditch teams had made offers to Albus at the end of his studies. They wanted him as a Seeker or a Chaser, and his mother would have wanted him to follow in her footsteps and make a name in the national sport. He had undeniable talent and it was not every day people were quarrelling over a player with such a handicap. Even Harry almost wanted his son to accept, if only for the changes in mentality this could have brought to the still full of prejudices wizarding community. But the second of the Potter children had politely refused. Quietly, without ostentation, as he had always done, he had walked on his own path. After two years of training, he had brilliantly completed his ethologist studies, then had applied to Antarctica and left England to study the behavior of the magical wildlife of the white continent.
Terrence had joined his three friends six months later. He was far from having completed his studies - even though his genius brain put him five or six steps ahead of the other students - but he had already obtained a first cycle license, which allowed him to perform the functions of a healer in Inlandsis Station while doing his third year boarding internship.
And that was how the 'Inseparables of Hogwarts' were now all standing at the ends of the world.
Everything was fine so far.
But things never stayed peaceful long when these four were together.
TO BE CONTINUED...
They're 21 years old, now. They have not changed much, yet they're about to find nothing is as it seems.
Terrence, Albus, Wendy and Scorpius are back in The Shufflers of Light.
Meet Pepper the house elf. Learn about Scorpius' lonely years at Hogwarts. Go deep in the depths of Earth and discover the secrets buried there. Face new challenges and old enemies. Come across beautiful landscapes and terrifying creatures. Laugh and cry, crawl under your blankets, hold your breath and watch the four friends grow into true heroes.
Why was Albus called to Antarctica? Will Terrence find his way before it's too late? Can Wendy protect the one she loves? What is Scorpius hiding?
Who are the Shufflers of Light?
Read the last story of the Choice Trilogy. Go back to the beginning and put an end to the journey of the boy who had a dragon's heart.