
Chapter 7: Prepare for the Ball
You're in luck! I've written like three chapters - I still have to edit - and they might come before my brithday coming Saturday.
***
As the ball approached everyone got excited. Albus wasn't, though. He liked Felicia, she was really nice to be around and everything, but he didn't like the idea of Fred and Quinn dancing around the Great Hall. Tyler would be going with Nicole Miles, who then became his new girlfriend who he kept kissing.
Albus, Quinn and Tyler were strolling through the halls when they passed the kitchens.
"Let's go visit Micky!" Said Albus, and the three entered the kitchens.
As soon as they did, a fat house elf smiled and walked towards them. "Mr Potter, how are you? We haven't seen you in quite a while! Are you looking for Micky? MICKY! POTTER'S HERE!" he bellowed, and the tiny - now a bit taller - house elf trippled their way.
"Albus Potter!" He exclaimed, and they hugged. "How wonderful, I will get some cookies and tea and sweets." He said, and he walked off again.
When the elf returned a huge crowd of elves circled around them.
"What's going on?" Asked Quinn, and Micky smiled.
"I-err I told them you have great stories to tell, can you tell us some?" He asked, and Albus nodded.
They sat down, and Albus raised his voice. "I will tell you my father's story. At least, the amount of it I know. I heard it from an old professor of his, whose name is not important. He told me, it all started with a prophecy. That's a prediction of the future." And like that, Albus retold Severus' story, as he had remembered it word for word.
The elves had listened carefully, and Tyler and Quinn enjoyed eating candy and cookies, and some of the elves even cried, like Winky. After the elves had clapped and cheered, the three decided it was time to go again.
The time had passed quickly, so the three found themselves sitting in the Great Hall for dinner again, yet when they walked that way they walked into Professor Slughorn who clearly needed their attention.
"Albus! I was wondering when I would run into you. You see, I wanted to give a Christmas party but the ball got in the way, so I have rescheduled and there will be a dinner on Wednesday! You, Quinn and Tyler are more than welcome."
Albus, wishing to stay on good terms with the man, nodded. "I'd love to come!"
Both Quinn and Tyler were happy to join too, and agreed to come.
"Those parties are quite fun aren't they?" Said Tyler, but Albus wasn't paying attention.
He noted that at the far end of the table, a chair was filled with someone new. It seemed as though their usual Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Professor Chubbs had made place for a new teacher. It was a man with long thick hair and a huge mustache. Albus thought for a moment it was Igor Karkaroff, but shaked that thought off immediately.
"Good evening, and maybe some of you have noticed it already, but our Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Professor Chubbs is not here, for she had some business to do, so I would like to introduce you to Professor Edgar Lachson. He will be your temporary new teacher." Explained the Headmaster.
Albus was eyeing the man when he looked back to him. Then, Albus figured this was Igor Karkaroff, and he decided to tell the headmaster as soon as dinner was over.
Yet, when the dinner was over and Albus went to tell the headmaster this, Professor McGonagall stopped him.
"Mr Potter, I am very disappointed in you. Your previous grade for Transfiguration was a disaster, so I wish to see you this Wednesday for extra lessons." She said, and Albus frowned.
"But professor, I have Slughorn's dinner then!" He exclaimed.
"That is your own problem. A Dreadful for a test that will count maybe a third of your end grade is not good enough."
"But -"
"No buts. I will talk to your father about it, see what he has to say."
"Not my father!"
"I am sure if you had studied better-"
"Professor I have to go and talk to the headmaster!" Said Albus, which silenced her for a moment.
"What do you need to talk to him about?" She asked.
"I think that the new DADA professor is a Death Eater named Igor Karkaroff." He said, and McGonagall raised her eyebrows.
"You are like your father, I must say. But Professor Lachson is not a Death Eater. Now, you have to go to bed, chop chop!" She said, and she walked him all the way to Gryffindor Tower.
***
The next day was a hard day. They had four tests, Charms, Potions, Astronomy and Albus had a Magical Theory test and Tyler a Music test.
When Albus walked to the Magical Theory test he ran into Rose, who went to go there too.
"Hey Al." She said, and she sat next to Chris McLaggen.
Albus ended up sitting next to Luke Finnigan, who usually sat next to Chris.
Albus thought the test was a piece of cake, yet when Rose said it was hard Albus felt really nervous, which caused him to forget about his idea to inform the headmaster.
***
On Wednesday Albus sat in McGonagall's office, staring at his book while thinking about their lesson from 'Edgar Lachson'.
He spoke differently than Igor Karkaroff, yet Albus still felt as though he was him.
"Well, have you studied it? Then you can make a little pop quiz for me." Said McGonagall, yet Albus hadn't even read one sentence.
"What are the five things you can't transfigure?" She asked, and Albus thought.
"Food.." started Albus, and McGonagall immediaty figured he didn't know it.
"Potter, if you want to pass this year you will have to work harder. And if there's anything that prevents you from working, then you can tell me. I'm here for you if you need me, you know."
Albus nodded. "I just think that professor Lachson is Karkaroff."
"But that is a false accusation. Surely the headmaster would notice that."
"Would he? Did the previous headmaster notice that Professor Quirell had Voldemort on his head? Did he notice that Mad-Eye Moody was a Death Eater? Did he notice that Umbridge made my dad make scars in his hand that said 'I must not tell lies'? Did he? DID HE?" bellowed Albus, and McGonagall stared blankly at him for a moment. But Albus wasn't done. "And considering the fact that Albus Dumbledore, my namesake, who was the most powerful wizard in the world didn't, how do you reckon this new headmaster does?"
"That's enough Potter. You will be doing Detention with me this Saturday. And I will take 10 points from Gryffindor for yelling at me."
Albus decided he didn't have much to lose. "Is that how Karkaroff will be stopped? I have been attacked by that man, and he did not seem to have mercy. What are you going to do when he kills students? Are you going to punish the students that saw it coming?"
"He attacked you?" McGonagall gasped. Albus didn't want to tell about their illegal visit. "When did this happen?"
"When I was in my grandparents' old home." He muttered, and McGonagall looked stern.
"And why did you go there?"
"For answers. I have always wanted to know my dad's story."
"Surely you didn't think you'd get answers there, did you?"
"I found other things. I found out they wanted to swap secret keepers again, and that my grandmother was pregnant when she died." Albus said grimly.
McGonagall gasped. "She was pregnant?"
"Yes. And I found out that Severus had a crush on her, and I was attacked by Igor Karkaroff who told me that despite the fact I'm named after Severus my dad hated him."
"Yes, well I knew that. But this didn't have to keep you from working, so what was your actual reason?"
"I don't have an actual reason! Can't I just retake the test and get a good grade?"
"Well, if you were to have an Outstanding for it." She said, and Albus knew she didn't expect him to get that.
"Deal. If I get an outstanding for the test it will be my new grade." Albus jumped up and left McGonagall's office.
***
As the first wintery days arrived, the entire school was getting ready for the ball. It was before actual Christmas so people could go home afterwards. Albus would go home, though Quinn wouldn't. Tyler hadn't decided yet, for he wasn't in a mood for his parents. He and his dad always had a bad relationship and it was always a very thin glas that stood between real fights.
On the day of the ball most people had a date: Tyler and Nicole, Quinn and Fred, Albus and Felicia, and - to Albus' surprise - Rose and Chris.
When Albus stood in the common room to take Felicia to the ball Quinn came down from the girl's stairs. She looked flawless. Her hair was - instead of her usual ponytail - loose and she had curled it, and she wore a stunning dress. It was a long red dress, with red beads all over it. She noticed Albus - who wore normal dress robes - and she smiled at him. Albus smiled back, before seeing his little sister coming down.
She was wearing an orange very short dress - so short Albus thought that when she'd bend over you'd be able to see her knickers - which had a very low cleavage.
"Lily you are so not going to wear that!" Exclaimed Albus, and he walked towards her.
"Why not? My friend Maya from our street chose it, it's gorgeous."
"No it's not. It's hideous. I'd rather have you wearing a nun's outfit."
"You are being ridiculous!" She exclaimed.
"I can fix your dress in a heartbeat, okay?" She shook her head.
"It's my dress and my choice. I'm fourteen goddamnit!" She started to walk away but Albus was not going to let her go like that.
"If you don't let me change that dress I will ruin it!" He exclaimed, but Lily ignored him. "Alright you're asking for it. Aguamenti!" He exclaimed, and water sprayed all over her dress. She started to cry and yell all sorts of swears at Albus, and ran upstairs - hopefully to get changed.
When she was upstairs Felicia came in sight, wearing a lovely blue dress, with a winter print all over it. She looked great, but not nearly as beautiful as Quinn did.
Albus took her arm and they followed the rest towards the Great Hall.
***
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