Albus shouldn't have been eavesdropping. He knew that. His father had lectured Lily time and time again that her brothers were getting older, to leave them alone, and here he was doing the same thing to James. But the word "Azkaban" caught his attention, and he wondered if Evelyn was going to tell James how her father got there. Albus was curious. Not only about what happened to her father, but he had actually found a map of Azkaban hidden in James' stuff the other day when he was searching his room for chocolate frogs.
Evelyn and James were on the other side of the tall white fence that separated their house from the neighbor's house. Albus, having been flying between the two houses, stopped to rest under the neighbor's tree, which he did often. The neighbors loved him. They hated James, who had played multiple pranks on them throughout their time living there. James would never be allowed to sit under their tree.
He probably forgot Albus was outside, which made this situation all too perfect; James wouldn't tell their parents he was listening in because he would never find out.
Albus listened closely, trying to make everything out.
"...make sure everything is finalized," Evelyn said.
"It is. We have everything we need. We know all of the spells. We know the layout. We have everything under control."
"I know. I guess I'm getting nervous."
"We're two of the best in our year. I'm the son of Harry fucking Potter, of course. We can do this. Besides, this is justice for my father putting your father in Azkaban."
Albus wondered what "this" was. It didn't sound like something their parents would approve of, that's for sure. Maybe there was a way Albus could get James in trouble, if only his parents didn't find out he was listening in on their private conversation. He was incredibly mean to him earlier, after all.
It didn't take long time listening to find out what they were talking about.
"James, breaking my father out of Azkaban isn't as simple as doing a patronus at school."
"Of course I know that, Evelyn. I'm not thick."
Breaking her father...out of Azkaban? Albus dropped his broom and went around the back of the house, so his brother didn't see him. He ran inside and nearly bumped into his father.
"Whoa, Al, slow down." Harry said. And then, when he saw he was upset. "Albus, what's wrong?"
"I can't tell you here," Albus said, shaking. "James could be back any minute. Come upstairs."
"Alright..." Harry said hesitantly.
When they reached the hallway upstairs, Albus burst into tears.
"Albie, what's wrong?" Harry asked, using his son's young childhood nickname.
"Dad," Albus started. "I overheard James and Evelyn talking. Her father...you put him in Azkaban. They're...they're planning on breaking him out."
Harry looked at his son as if he was unable to comprehend the words he was saying.
"I heard them. They have a plan and everything."
"You must have heard wrong," Harry told his son.
"Dad, listen to me. I found a map of Azkaban the other day, hidden in James' stuff. Why would he have one if that's not what they were planning on doing?"
Harry didn't move for a few moments. Finally, he said "When James comes home, tell him to come upstairs. I want to talk to him. Alone."
"Yes, Dad," Albus replied softly. He made his way downstairs just as James and Evelyn were coming through the door.
"I'm starving," James said. "Hey, Al. Wanna play Quidditch with us after lunch?"
"James," Albus started. "Dad wants to see you upstairs."
James cursed under his breath. "What did I do this time?"
Albus tried his best to give an uninterested shrug before James hurried up the stairs to find his father.
James didn't even have time to say anything before Harry grabbed him strongly by the arm and dragged him into his bedroom.
