Professor Potter

Even in the shade of the trees the summer blaze still burned him. Albus ventured further into the sea of trees to escape the stinging sun and find the small creek he visited often, Grimm trailing close behind him. It wasn't even noon yet, but even though it had just risen, the sun was still scorching the earth below. He was a tad darker than his siblings, inheriting his father's complexion along with his everything else, so he did not burn as easily. Still, the sun on his skin was unpleasant this time of year as it usually was in late August. Usually, it started cooling down in the weeks before school started, but this summer was proving exceptionally long.

He was deep in the woods near his house, in the same woods that he was bit nearly nine years ago. He wasn't afraid of the woods, he could barely even remember the night he got bit. His brother was, not afraid of the woods, but the forest creeped them out. Albus had always felt at peace in the woods. Since he was old enough to venture into the alone he had spent much of his time there, he spent nearly every second of every summer in these woods, he ventured out during Christmas break often to see his beloved forest covered in snow. The year he went to Hogwarts he ventured out into the forbidden forest, hoping to find the same tranquility he felt here, but the forbidden forest was much less kind.

Wizarding villages like Godric's Hollow had long been found in the deepest of wilderness, away from prying muggle eyes, where the fantastical could practice magic in the open without fear. This was still the case for most of the world, but muggles have torn away much of the natural wilderness that shielded their villages, in England in particular. A Lot of wizarding villages had been abandoned within the last one hundred and fifty years as muggles cleared away more and more wilderness. There were still some places where it was as secluded as they were three hundred years ago, Godric's Hollow being one of them. The closest muggle village, Odium, being miles away. 

Grimm was meowing in protest, the heat bothering her more under her thick black coat than her (Usually) furless friend. Albus often came into the woods to sketch. He loved to sketch wildlife, which was abundant in the woods. Lately, most of his sketches hadn't been the wildlife they usually preferred to draw. Rather of a particular person. As much as he tried to suppress them his feelings for his best friend had only grown over the last year. Most of the drawings he did now were of Scorpius. He had tried to make the conscious effort to stop drawing him but he didn't really commit to it. Scorpius was pale, but his cheeks were rosy, his face had always been full, with fat cheeks. When the third year began, Album Noticed that his best mate had started growing into himself. His face was still as round and childlike as the day he had first met him. But he had started gaining a bit of weight, filling him out with a bit of muscle, and widening his shoulders. Albus was a bit jealous, the only thing had widened in the last year were his hips and chest, neither of which he appreciated. 

“Stop complaining, you didn't need to come, you know,” He turned around and looked over to his feline friend. “You just followed me out here, you could have stayed home. Grimm gave a disapproving meow. “We’ll hit the creek soon anyways.” In the hot summer months, he came out to the creek often to draw. His sketchbook and charcoal pencil set was tucked into his leather letterman bag that he took into the woods with him. Along with a water canteen and a bowl for Grimm to drink out of. The creek was small and not deep, only going up to his knees at the deepest point. Dunking his feet in the cool running water and sitting down on a rock, sketching whatever came to mind, often a bird or animal sitting nearby. Animals often got skittish around people, but never Albus. It wasn't like Albus had some gift with animals like Hagrid did. The animals in the wood just seemed to accept him as part of the forest. They didn't view him as an intruder in their home, they saw him as a part of it. As harmless as the trees themselves.

He could hear the running water now. He also heard splashing, like something was running around in the water. He also heard small yips. As he approached closer he ducked behind a tree so as not to be detected. The consensus among wizards and muggles alike was there were no more wolves left in the area. The last wolf sighting was before the American Revolution. But he was looking at a pitch-black, and very large wolf. It wasn't a dog, it was much bigger than any wolf-dog look-alike. It had the unmistakable features of a wild animal. Albus had never seen a wolf in person before, much less a black one. Black wolves were common in some parts of North America. But in Europe, especially England, they were incredibly rare. Even more rare was that there were two little pups, with coats as dark as night, splashing around and playing in the water. Their mother watched him silently. Albus picked up Grimm, wanting to keep watching the animals, but not wanting her to startle them.

When reading about werewolves in textbooks you always saw the same illustration. A large monstrous thing, mostly hairless with a wolfish face and unnaturally long limbs. But the description you often got in textbooks did not match the pictures above them. The text would describe a being that ‘is almost indistinguishable from a normal wolf, with the exception of a tufted tail and short snout’. A description that never matched the diagram above. When Albus was young, and was first bit, his wolf form looked similar to the monstrous illustration you could find in books. As he got older his form started to look more like that of the textbook descriptions. By the time he was a teenager, he looked like a pitch-black wolf that had its tail cut off and smashed in the face with a frying pan. Eerily similar to the wolves that stood in front of him, only without the snout and tufted tail of a true werewolf.

He peeked his head beyond the tree to get a better look at the majestic mother and her cubs. That's when the mother noticed her watcher. Albus quickly ducked behind the tree again, but it was too late. He had been spotted. The mother wolf walked over to him, calmly. Once she reached the other side of the river Albus considered running. But when he saw the wolf he felt a strange wave of calm wash over him. The wolf stood in front of the boy, he didn't try to back away. She looked him up and down then stepped closer to him, sniffing him a bit. She then returned to her pups. 

Albus stood in clear view of the creek, no longer hiding behind the tree. The mother barked at her pups to get their attention, then picked both of them up by the scruff of their necks. She walked towards Albus and dropped her pups in front of him. She looked at the pups then at the werewolf in front of her, then back at her pups, as if to show them to him. Both little ones panting in the heat. They looked to be around two months old, but from the looks of it they still had most of their milk teeth. The pups looked at him curiously, Albus wondered if they had ever seen a human person before. They then heard a loud crack and then the rustling of the bushes behind Albus. As if something stepped on a stick or branch and fell. The wolf, now alerted, walked to the other side of the creek and into the deep wood, her pups following behind her. Leaving the young werewolf standing there, stunned in the wake of this dreamlike moment.

“Albus!” He was broken out of his trance by his brother's voice. He whipped around to look at the redhead. He looked sweaty and out of breath. “Mom and Dad want you back at the house, you're gonna miss breakfast!”

…

“Finally home I see, Birthday boy,” Harry said while hovering over the stove the moment his sons got home, the radio next to him on the counter playing some news program. The wizarding world in terms of technology was far behind muggles. Nineteen forty style radio was still a common form of wizarding communication. Harry always had done most of the cooking, being that he was a much better cook than Ginny. He preferred to do the cooking the muggle way, he said it was calming. He had recently quit his job as an auror to become the DADA teacher, to much public uproar. “I'm making Your favorite, steak and eggs. Jamie, set the table.”

“Why doesn't Albus do it? I always have to set the table."

“It's his birthday, can do whatever he wants,” Albus smirked at his brother and James rolled his eyes.
 
“It's okay Lilly, you'll get your letter,” Ginny told her daughter as they came down the stairs into the dining area.

“School starts in a little less than two weeks. Albus and James both get their first-year letters in early July.” 

“Well they all get their school supply lists for the year in early July too, but they haven't this year."

It was true. Hogwarts acceptance letters, staff acceptance letters, and school supply lists all went out and were received in early summer. This year however no one had received any acceptance letter, school supply list, or staff briefings. His little sister was very anxious, worrying that she would never get her Hogwarts letter, which was a bit wild. Wild magic, or baby magic as most people call it, is the magic that young witches and wizards perform by accident before learning how to control it. Usually in a response to potent emotion or a life-threatening situation had always been very present in Lily. She had probably done more baby magic in her youth than all of her brothers combined. It would be insane if she didn't get into Hogwarts.

“Happy birthday, baby.” Ginny cooed as she killed her youngest son on the forehead.

“Thanks, Mum.”

“Another major breach of the statute of secrecy occurred this weekend. Two underaged teenage wizards, identified as Justin Bell and Kole Merril were filmed using magic by a muggle grammar school student who then posted it on the muggle internet. With the popularity of muggle social media and the increase of muggle cameras, whether it be cell cameras, security cameras, or muggle… ring cameras? These incidents are only becoming more frequent. Some wizards have called into question whether the statute of secrecy will continue to hold.``

“Justin Bell? Isn't that Katie’s boy?” Ginny asked her husband 

“Yes she is, isn't she on the Kestrels now?” 

“Yes, she is.”

“Who cares about the damn Kestrels! Did it say if Justin was arrested? Turn the radio up.” James rushed into the kitchen and turned up the radio.

“The two boys, both who were to start their fifth year in September, are now awaiting trial.”

“Fuck!” 

“Jamie language!” Harry scolded, a bit of egg lifting from the pan as he slid their spatula underneath it. “Was Justin a friend of yours?” 

“He was the best beater we had, now I'm gonna have to find another one.”

“Your friend got arrested and all you can think of is finding a new beater?” Albus commented, more snidely than he intended. 

“He wasn't my friend, he was a right git actually. But we are never gonna beat the Slytherins this season now.” 

“You're the Gryffindor quidditch captain, surely you could just use strategy right?”  Albus teased.

“Bellie is better at strategy than I am.” He admitted, with a blush.

“Who on earth is Bellie?” Ginny asked with a mouthful of eggs that she had stolen from the pan her husband was working on.

“That's what Jamie calls his girlfriend!”  Albus half yelled as he poured himself coffee.

“You arsehole!”

“Jamie for the love of god!” 

“He's of age now, he can swear if he wants to,” Ginny told her husband. “That's your nickname for Balisama? Seriously?”

“Don't make fun of me.” 

“Everyone sit down and eat.” Right as they were sitting down at the table an owl crashed through their window, broken glass scattering across the floor. Dropping the thick stack of letters it was holding.

“Holy fuck.”

“Albus! Language.” The Slytherin boy quickly went and picked up the letters that had landed at his feet. He undid the twine that binds them together. 

“Lily here's yours.” His little sister quickly grabbed it out of her brother's hands. Albus looked over the pile. There were the seventh and fourth-year Letters addressed to him and James, the one addressed to Lily was already in her hands. Albus took a bite of his steak and eggs.

“We'll need to go to get school supplies soon,” Harry said.

“Do I have to go school supplies shopping with you? Albus asked his dad.

“Yes, we need to get your school supplies, you've also got to get fitted for new robes, you've gotten taller over the summer.”

“I haven't gotten as tall as Scorpius. I swear he grew like a full foot over the summer! He's taller every time I see him, he’s gained some muscle too-”

“Enough.” Harry was completely over all Scorpius talk.

“I invited him over.”

“We don't have room.”

“Bull.”

“He can't come, it will be too cramped.” 

“No it won't, Teddy isn't even coming!” 

“What? Why isn't Teddy coming?” Lily was dismayed, looking up from her Hogwarts acceptance letter for the first time since she got it.

“He got put on an undercover Auror mission,” James spoke up.

“Why does he get sent on so many of those, you were never sent undercover so often.” Gunny looked over to her husband.

“Teddy is a Metamorphagus, dear. He has a particular skill set.”

“Will he see him before we go to school?” Lily asked her dad.

“We might not see him till after Christmas.” Lily sighed disappointedly at her dad's answer. “Now, about your robes, Albus.”

“Oh my god why?”

“Why don't you want to go school shopping with us?”

“Because everyone will be at Diagon Alley and it will be super crowded.”

“Diagon Alley is always crowded.” his mother butted in.

“Yeah, but there will be people from school there and they will be with their parents.” He whined.

“So? You'll see people from your school at your school, why does it matter if you see them at diagon alley.” Harry Chided.

“Last time I went to Diagon Alley with Scorpius, someone threw a rock at me.” 

“What!?” Ginny exclaimed. “Why didn't you tell us?”

“He missed.” 

“It's ok, he probably was throwing it at that bloody Malfoy.”

“Dad, that's so rude, oh my god.” Albus knew for a fact that it was directed at himself because the person in question had called him a ‘half-breed’. 

…

“You fucking Gryffandores don't stand a chance, Belisama is going to smoke your ass,” Albus told his brother, taking a big bite of his cake, sweet buttercream hitting his tongue.

“You don't even like quidditch!” 

“I don't like quidditch, but I hate the idea of you Gryffindors winning more.”

“Good god.” 

“I like quidditch.” Scorpius chimed in. Albus was happy that his dad didn't make a big fuss when Scorpius showed up, but he sure did make his dislike known. 

“Oh yeah, who do you think will win?” James asked. 

“Well, I am partial to one team.”

“Oh yeah? Gryffindor or Slytherin?”

“Hufflepuff, I'm a Hufflepuff. I was obviously referring to Hufflepuff.”

“Don't make me laugh, you guys don't stand a chance.”

“You know what I think, I think Belisama is gonna smoke your ass in more ways than one,” Lilly told her older brother with a smirk.

“Lily oh my god!” Albus half laughed, half yelled with a grin on his face. His smile grew even larger when he saw how scandalized James looked. Lily let out a little girl giggle.

“MOM! Do you hear her?” James yelled to his mom who was in the kitchen not even ten feet away from the dining table full of kids eating cake. 

“What? I didn't hear anything.” She said with a cheeky smile.

“Hey, Albus, could you come to talk to me in the other room?” His dad asked him from around the corner. He internally groaned and walked over in a huff. Not in the mood for his dad to lecture him about Scorpius.

“What is this about?”

“Listen, I know we don't always see eye to eye, and that we get into spats often, but I wanted you to know that I'm proud of you. And that I know you've been practicing spells up in your room all summer even though you're underage.”

“Merlin! Did you wait till my birthday to ground me? Seriously?”

“What? No. I'm proud of you for being so studious.”

“Well, I obviously need to practice, I suck at pretty much all of them.”

“Don't say that. I wanted to give you a present, I snagged it from the ministry before I left my job as an auror.” He handed Albus a simple present box. When he opened it it revealed a Silver necklace. It had a delicate chain with a large teardrop-shaped bolt at the end of it is white silver, with ornate swirl designs embossed onto the metal.
“A necklace? It's beautiful.”

“It's not just any necklace, it has a very illegal concealment charm on it. It can hide the use of magic from the ministry's detectors. I know you probably won't get much use out of it now since school is starting again in a few weeks, but I'm sure it will help you practice.”

“I cannot believe you're giving this to me.”

“I don't always agree with all of your choices, but I trust you enough not to make too much trouble with this.”

“Well I'm about to.”

“Don't make me regret this,” he told his son with a smile. His son smiled back.

“Thanks, Dad.”

“I love you, Al, Happy fourteenth.”

“I love you too, Dad.”