Albus Potter and the Potions Master's Solution

31. The New Potions Professor

The following morning thoughts of the new Potions professor vanished briefly from the minds of the Gryffindor fifth years, for when they descended into the common room before breakfast they saw stacks of pamphlets on various careers scattered on every table. A sign affixed to the notice board informed them that career advice with Professor Longbottom would take place the following Monday. John was scheduled to go first.

Albus couldn’t believe how fast this had snuck up. For some reason he thought they still had weeks to go until career advice would take place, but there it was, only a week away. Yet he was no nearer to deciding on a career than he was to teaching trolls to tap dance. At least he would be missing History of Magic for his session.

“Looks like I’m missing Divination,” John said, grinning. “Excellent.”

“This is so exciting!” Rose exclaimed as she picked up a pamphlet on healing. “I mean, I already know what I want to do, but this feels like one step closer, don’t you think?”

“Sure,” Albus said, wishing he felt the way she did.

“I’ll probably have to stick with History of Magic, won’t I?” Amanda mused, leafing through the pamphlets. “It’s boring, but useful if I get into the Ministry. I just hope I’m not the only one who sticks with it.”

“I’ll do it with you,” Rose assured her.

“Can we just go to breakfast?” Matt asked. He looked slightly ill and hadn’t picked up a single pamphlet.

“Are you okay?” Albus replied.

“Fine. I just…want to go to breakfast,” Matt muttered. Without waiting for a response, he disappeared out the portrait hole.

Albus ran to catch up with him, leaving Rose, John, and Amanda still perusing the pamphlets, laughing about something in the pamphlet on training security trolls.

“Hey,” Albus said, slowing his pace to walk alongside Matt. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” Matt replied, hitching his bag higher onto his shoulder.

Albus didn’t respond until they reached the sixth floor, hoping Matt would elaborate, but he didn’t. “I know it’s not nothing.”

“Fine,” Matt snapped. “It’s career advice. I don’t want to do it. It’s too soon. It wasn’t supposed to come up this fast.”

“I don’t know what I want to do either,” Albus assured him. “But that’s the point of career advice. It’s supposed to help us figure it-“

“It doesn’t matter that you don’t know what you want to do,” Matt interrupted, his voice cracking. “You could do whatever you wanted. I can’t. So there isn’t much point in me having career advice-“

“You don’t know that. Longbottom might know of something you could do that you haven’t thought of.”

“That doesn’t matter. In the end, the only thing that will matter is whether anyone will hire someone like me. That law still exists. I’ll have to tell any future employers about my…illness.”

“And Longbottom might know of someone who would,” Albus pointed out.

Matt sighed. “It’s easy for you to be optimistic, Al. It’s not so easy for me. I’ll meet you at breakfast, okay? I’ve got to stop by the hospital wing.”

“The hospital wing?” Albus asked. “Why?” But Matt had already taken off and disappeared around the corner.

John, Rose, and Amanda caught up with Albus in the Entrance Hall, having taken one of the shortcuts. Albus explained what had happened with Matt, but neither John or Amanda had any idea why he went to the hospital wing. Rose kept her mouth shut, cluing Albus into the fact that she probably did.

When he stepped into the Great Hall Albus remembered the fact that they probably had a new Potions professor and his eyes moved instinctively to the staff table. Seeing the new face, he froze partway to the Gryffindor table, causing a Hufflepuff to run into him. She muttered an apology, but Albus didn’t pay attention. He was too focused on the new person at the staff table, who was obviously the new Potions professor. But she couldn’t be.

Rose gave Albus a push, jerking him out of his trance, and he continued his way to the Gryffindor table. He took a seat near the middle and his friends sat near him, all staring at the staff table as well.

“Isn’t that Matt’s sister?” John said as he scooped eggs onto his plate.

Albus nodded. “Yeah, that’s Amy. But why is she teaching Potions?”

“She’s a good brewer,” Rose said. “Kendrick probably couldn’t find an actual teacher on such short notice.”

“Doesn’t she have healer training?” Amanda asked.

“She’s training to be a brewer as well as a healer, so this’ll probably help,” Rose pointed out. “Look, she’s seen us.”

Albus glanced back to the staff table, where Amy was standing up, her eyes focused on the Gryffindor table. A few minutes later she had made the short trip to the table, the whispers of the other Gryffindors following her as she went.

“Albus, Rose!” she said. “John, Amanda. Nice to see you again.”

“What are you doing here?” John asked.

“Teaching Potions,” Amy answered. “Professor Burke asked me to yesterday and I couldn’t say no. He wanted someone who could take care of his potions. Honestly, I think he cared more about that than finding someone who could teach. I’ve never taught classes.”

“See? I knew Kaden wouldn’t be expected to take care of all of Burke’s potions,” Rose said.

“Burke wants us to do it together,” Amy clarified.

“Do you know what’s wrong with him?” Albus asked.

“I do, but he doesn’t want me to tell anyone, so don’t even try to get it out of me,” she said, lowering her voice. “I’ve got plenty of experience keeping secrets. Where’s Matt?”

“Hospital wing,” Albus answered. “We’ve got career advice next week and he freaked out a bit when he saw all the pamphlets in the common room.”

Amy sighed, shaking her head. She glanced at her watch. “I’ll see you in class later. I’m going to go see if I can find him before my first class. He doesn’t know I’m here yet.” She grabbed a pastry off the table and hurried off.

“Thank God,” Rose muttered.

“What?” Albus asked.

“Amy’s teaching Potions. Even if Burke is out for the rest of the year, we’ll still pass our O.W.L. Amy’s a fantastic brewer.”

“And you know what else?” John grinned.

“What?” Amanda asked.

“I can’t wait to see the look on Malfoy’s face when he puts it together that Amy is Matt’s sister. He won’t dare taunt him with her as our professor.”

“Oh, that’s right!” Albus said, his grin matching John’s. “What do you think she’ll do?”

“If he taunts Matt in front of her?” Rose asked. “He’ll have detention until she’s gone.”

***

There was much speculation about the new professor amongst both the Gryffindors and Slytherins as they waited outside Professor Burke’s classroom later that afternoon. Albus and his friends simply listened, none of them revealing the fact that she was Matt’s sister. Matt laughed hysterically when Janie Creevey suggested the new professor was Burke’s daughter, earning him many weird glances from the Slytherins.

“Potter’s cousin won’t be the favorite anymore,” Malfoy drawled, clearly reveling in the fact that Burke was gone, and assuming the new professor wouldn’t be as strict. He had returned to the castle after the Easter holidays particularly smug about something, but Albus hadn’t been able to figure out what it was. “I always saw him rushing into Burke’s brewing room every evening, anxious to solidify his quest to become the teacher’s pet.”

A few of the Slytherins snickered.

“Shut up, Malfoy,” Matt said, taking a step toward him. “Kaden’s a better brewer than you are.”

Malfoy laughed. “Feeling brave today, are you? You didn’t seem so brave last week when I saw you rushing off to the hospital wing. I suppose the Gryffindor traits had to reveal eventually.”

Matt paled, but he didn’t back down. “Shut up!”

Malfoy laughed even harder. “I always wondered why the Sorting Hat put you in Gryffindor.”

“Enough!”

Albus turned and saw Amy, standing right behind Malfoy, her face livid. He stifled a laugh and smirked at Matt.

“Turn around,” Amy said, her voice dangerously calm.

Malfoy turned, but didn’t wipe the smug grin off his face. “Who are you?”

“New Potions professor,” Albus said. “Or didn’t you see her at the staff table this morning?”

“You must be the Malfoy boy,” Amy said. “Inside. Now. I want you at the front table, where I can keep an eye on you.”

Amy followed Malfoy, whose face was now as purple as Uncle Vernon’s after Kaden told a few too many stories about Hogwarts, and the rest of the class followed Amy, into the classroom.

None of Malfoy’s fellow Slytherins joined him at the front table, something he didn’t look very pleased about. Albus, Matt, John, and Janie sat at their usual table just behind Malfoy’s. Albus and Matt laughed to themselves as they watched Malfoy slam his books onto his table with more force than necessary.

“I’m Miss Eckerton,” Amy began.

Malfoy turned around in his seat and gaped at Matt, who grinned back. A number of the rest of the class glanced at Matt as well.

“Mr. Malfoy,” Amy said sharply, “please face forward while I am speaking. Some of you may remember me. I was in seventh year during your first year, in Gryffindor. Right now I’m a fourth year student at the School of Healing, and I am also studying to become a brewer. Professor Burke asked me to fill in for him while he is gone.”

“How long will you be here?” Marina asked.

“Two or three weeks,” Amy answered. “Any other questions?”

“So you aren’t a professor?” Ethan asked.

“No. But I know how to brew everything in the curriculum, and Professor Burke left instructions for when I should teach each potion. Today, however, I wish to see where everyone stands in terms of brewing skills. I’d like everyone to brew a Draught of Peace. I believe you’ve brewed it before?”

“Yes, we have,” Rose answered.

Amy nodded and waved her wand at the board. “Instructions are on the board and may also be found on page thirty in your textbooks. Work with your usual partners.”

Malfoy got up to join Jackson Limbert at their usual back table.

“You may stay there, Mr. Malfoy. Your partner can join you at the front table,” Amy said, staring at him.

Albus stifled another laugh as he lit a flame below his cauldron. Matt joined the queue at the ingredients cupboard and returned with hellebore, moonstone, and a variety of other plants and phials to add to the potion.

Malfoy turned around as Matt began powdering the moonstone. “Who is she?” Malfoy asked.

“My sister,” Matt answered, smiling. “So you better watch what you say.”

Malfoy scowled and turned back to his potion, clearly unable to figure out a comeback that wouldn’t cause Amy to scold him again.

It was one of the most enjoyable Potions classes Albus had ever experienced. Amy didn’t bark instructions at them about not blowing things up and killing everyone in the castle, nor did she meander around the classroom commenting on every nuance of each potion. Instead, she let them brew to the best of their abilities, without interfering. Malfoy seemed to be the only student in the room who didn’t like her. Even the other Slytherins didn’t take issue with her teaching tactics.

At the end of the class Albus thought he and Matt brewed an acceptable potion. It wasn’t the exact shade of purple it should’ve been, but it was fairly close.

“I’ll mark these on O.W.L. standard,” Amy said as she collected samples from each pair. “I can almost guarantee this will be on your exam, so you’ll have a good sense as to what you’ll get if you don’t practice. Of course, you won’t take the exam in pairs. For homework, study for your O.W.L.s. Mr. Malfoy, I’d like to see you up front.”

The bell rang and Malfoy looked at the door before sighing and slouching up to Professor Burke’s desk, where Amy was lining up the flasks of potion the class had just brewed. Albus and Matt drifted to the front table, wanting to eavesdrop.

“If I ever hear you bullying my brother again, I’ll make sure you’re in detention every Saturday from now until the end of term,” Amy said, her face stony.

“I wasn’t-“ Malfoy began.

“You were,” Amy interrupted. “I heard you. And it needs to stop.”

“But it was just harmless-“

“It’s not harmless,” Amy said, raising her voice. “I know what you’ve said to him in the past, and it’s hurtful. I’ve heard you’ve let up a little this year, and that needs to continue. Don’t backslide.”

“But-“

“I have nothing else to say, Mr. Malfoy,” Amy said crisply, standing up. “If I hear about this happening again, you’ll be in detention. Simple as that. You’re dismissed.”

Malfoy slung his bag over his shoulder and stalked out of the room, muttering under his breath as he went. Albus followed Matt to Burke’s desk, where Amy was sighing to herself.

“You weren’t lying to me, were you?” she asked Matt. “You said he’d laid off you this year.”

“He had,” Matt said. “I wasn’t lying.”

“He probably thought he could get away with it with Burke gone. He didn’t know you were the new teacher,” Albus said.

“I don’t care what his reasons are. It’s unacceptable,” Amy said, crossing her arms over her chest. “You need to tell me if he does it again. I wasn’t kidding about the detention.”

Matt nodded, but didn’t say anything. Instead, he stared at the floor and played with a loose thread on his robes.

“Can’t you tell us anything about Burke?” Albus asked. “Kaden’s really worried.”

Amy laughed. “Albus, I told you not to bother. There is nothing you can say to convince me to betray Burke’s confidence. If he wants you to know his medical history, he will tell you himself.”

“Do you visit him in St. Mungo’s?” Albus asked.

“Yes. I’m at Mungo’s everyday for training and I pop in to visit.”

“Can I go with you? Or can Kaden?” For some reason, Albus had a feeling the mystery potion was tied in with Burke’s illness and if he visited, there was a chance Burke would tell him what was going on.

“Absolutely not,” Amy said flatly. “You need to let it go. Burke will be back when he’s better and that’s that. Put your energy into studying. These exams are important.”

Why did everyone think he couldn’t focus on more than one thing? Just because Albus was focused on Burke, or on the murders, didn’t mean he couldn’t study as well.

“Matt, would you like to have dinner at the Three Broomsticks before I go back to London?” Amy asked.

“You’re not staying in the castle?” Albus asked.

“No, Albus. I still have training every night. Matt?”

Matt nodded. “Sure.”

“Give me an hour to mark today’s potions,” Amy said. “Then we can meet in the Entrance Hall.”

***

Matt didn’t return to the common room after dinner, something Albus was sort of relieved about. Every fifth year spent the evening reviewing the career pamphlets that had been set out that morning. It crossed Albus’s mind that perhaps Amy took him to Hogsmeade for the exact purpose of allowing him to miss the first big exploration of the career pamphlets. The longer the pamphlets sat in the common room, the less attention they would receive from the students.

Rose, having already picked a career, had decided it was her job as a prefect to help the rest of the fifth years decide on a few options to suggest in their career advice meetings. So far she had helped Janie narrow it down to something involving charms research, and was currently attempting to help John.

“See?” she said, handing him a pamphlet. “You can do something in Quidditch without actually playing it, because it’s no guarantee you’ll get drafted for a team.”

John took the pamphlet, which was called “So All You Like to Do is Play Quidditch.” James had perused the same pamphlet last year, but dismissed every single option.

“What about broom design?” Rose suggested.

John shook his head. “I just want to fly brooms, Rose, not design them.”

“Maybe I can start in the Muggle Liaison office,” Amanda mused, looking at the pamphlet “So You Think You’d Like to Work in Muggle Relations”. “I haven’t taken Muggle Studies, though. Do you think they’d let me sit the O.W.L. without having taken the class?”

“You’re Muggle-born,” Rose said. “They’d probably hire you without the O.W.L. Plus, your uncle is the Prime Minister. I bet they’d hire you even if they didn’t have any openings.”

“I think I’d like to brew for St. Mungo’s,” Kaden said as he leafed through “Can You Brew?” “Professor Burke brewed for St. Mungo’s a few decades ago.”

“That’s what Amy is going to do,” Rose said.

Kaden nodded. He had remained subdued throughout the entire day, despite his happiness that Amy had taken over for Burke. Albus had given up on trying to talk to him, figuring he’d feel better once Burke was back.

“I’ve got to go brew,” Kaden said, setting down the pamphlet. “Amy told me she’d be back around seven.”

“Excellent. That means Matt will be back and Rose can figure out his career instead of mine,” John said.

“He won’t want her to,” Albus said. “I bet he’ll go right to the Den.”

Rose sighed, but said nothing. Kaden left for the dungeons, and Albus turned back to the pamphlets.

So far Albus had perused “Have you Got What it Takes to Be an Auror?”, “Is Magical Law Enforcement For You?”, and “What’s the Fuss About Private Detecting?”, which Bradley had taken off his hands as soon as he finished and had disappeared with it up to his dormitory. None of them seemed right, but the Auror one came close. He did notice there wasn’t a pamphlet on becoming a Presuler. With a sickening jolt to his stomach he realized he would probably have to talk to Balladanis if he decided to pursue that as a career.

“What about you, Al?” Rose asked. “Any thoughts?”

“I don’t know.” Albus sighed. “I suppose I’ll tell Longbottom I want to become an Auror. Nothing else really fits. I mean, private detective sounds interesting, but I don’t want to investigate people’s estranged family members. It seems so trivial compared to what’s really out there.”

“Well, it wouldn’t be trivial to the people you’d be helping,” Rose pointed out. “Don’t count it out yet. Talk to Longbottom. What about regular Magical Law Enforcement?”

“No. Might as well just become an Auror if I’m going to go into the Ministry,” Albus said. “I think I could get the O.W.L.s for it.”

“I’m sure you could,” Rose agreed. “You definitely want to do something that involves investigating?”

“Yes,” Albus said. That was the one thing he was sure about. “I’ve been investigating things for the past five years.”

Rose laughed. “Good point.” She turned back to John. “What do you think of those Quidditch options? You need a back-up plan.”

John groaned. “I don’t know. I just want to play Quidditch, Rose. Can’t you just look up stuff for Matt instead?”

“I already found him one,” Rose said. “Now come on, what about managing a team?”

“It’s unlikely I’d be able to do that if I haven’t played on a team. People do that after they retire from playing.”

“What are you lot up to?”

Albus turned away from “Have You Got What it Takes to Be an Auror?” and saw Matt take a seat next to Rose. He hastily shoved his pamphlet under his Herbology book. “Nothing.”

“We’re looking at the pamphlets,” Rose said, making no attempt to cover anything up. Instead, she pulled a pamphlet out of the stack in front of her. “And I found one for you.”

Matt shook his head. “No. Rose. I told Albus this morning-“

“Just look at it,” Rose said.

Matt sighed and took it. “Blast Off Into Astronomy Research,” he read.

“Yes,” Rose said. “You’ve got the best Astronomy marks in fifth year.”

“Yeah, you’re even better than Rose,” John interjected.

“Yes, well…you are,” Rose muttered. “But that isn’t the point. You’re fantastic at Astronomy. Think about it.”

Matt sighed and flipped through the pamphlet. “I suppose, maybe. I just…don’t want to talk about this tonight. Or for the next week. I don’t want to think about it.”

“You’re going to have to-“ Rose began.

“I know,” Matt snapped. “I know I’m going to have to think about it sometime. But for now, I just want to enjoy Hogwarts, because I’ve still got two years left. I’ll take as many N.E.W.T.s as I can, keep my options open. But no, I don’t want to think about this or talk about this anymore. I’m going to the Den.”

Rose didn’t respond. Matt got up and left without looking back, but Albus noticed he did take the Astronomy pamphlet with him.

32. Career Advice

By the end of Amy’s first week teaching Potions it was apparent that she was the most popular Potions teacher Hogwarts had had in a while. Albus overheard a few second year Ravenclaws talking about wanting her to stay, even after Burke left St. Mungo’s. Most of the castle, it seemed, was more than a little fed up with Burke’s intensity and habit of sending half his students to the hospital wing. Matt reported that Madam Pomfrey was in a much better mood than usual since it had now been over two weeks since students turned up in her ward with injuries from Potions class. Between the Easter holidays and Amy’s reign as school Potions Master, the nurse had had a much needed vacation from Burke’s accidents.

The only student who seemed to dislike Amy was Scorpius Malfoy, who scowled all throughout double Potions on Wednesday. But he didn’t say a word to Matt, Albus, or anyone else for that matter. When Amy returned their marks from Monday’s Draught of Peace, Albus managed to sneak a look at Scorpius’s paper and saw that he and Jackson Limbert only got an Acceptable, whereas Albus and Matt received an Exceeds Expectations.

“Do you think there’s any chance she’ll stay?” Amanda asked Matt during breakfast the following Monday.

“No,” Matt answered, lowering his voice. “She’s still got a year of training and then she’ll focus on research. She’s determined to fix Wolfsbane.”

Amanda sighed. “I wish she’d stay. I like her a lot better than Burke.”

“Burke does research and teaches,” Kaden pointed out.

“Burke isn’t a healer,” Matt said. “It’d be too much to do all three. She’s only here as a favor for Burke.”

“I wonder how he’s doing,” Albus said. “Did he ever respond to your owl, Kaden?”

Kaden shook his head. “No. But he told Amy what to do with the mystery potion. She won’t let me help with that one.”

Albus sighed. He had had vague hope that Burke would tell Kaden what the potion was for if Kaden had to brew it. But Burke had found a way around that.

“I’d better get going,” John said, stuffing the last of his toast into his mouth. “Don’t want to be late for Longbottom to tell me becoming a Quidditch player is unrealistic.”

“Good luck,” Albus said.

“Talk to him about those other options!” Rose shouted as John left the table.

Albus was distracted throughout all of Ancient Runes, his mind focused on his own career advice meeting with Longbottom, which would take place later that day. Would Longbottom tell him to just become an Auror? Or would have have some other brilliant idea that would suit Albus better?

Since John didn’t take Ancient Runes, Albus wasn’t able to ask him about his career advice meeting until Herbology. Halfway there, Albus and Rose bade goodbye to Matt, who looked thoroughly miserable and more anxious than normal as he set off for his career advice meeting. Albus felt bad for him, knowing Longbottom would insist he come up with something rather than just enjoy his last two years at Hogwarts.

“Who’s going to teach Herbology?” Albus asked as they left the castle. “Longbottom’s doing career advice all day.”

“No idea,” Rose said. “But someone must be. Class wasn’t canceled.”

Albus and Rose entered Greenhouse Three and saw a short, older woman with frizzy grey hair underneath a patched and frayed hat standing near the front. Albus recognized her as Professor Sprout, the Herbology professor who taught before Longbottom. She substituted for Longbottom when his wife had a baby a few years ago.

“Settle down, settle down everyone,” Sprout said briskly as she clapped her hands together. “A lot to do today. You’re repotting your mandrakes for the last time.”

“Shouldn’t we wait until Professor Longbottom is here?” Karina asked.

“I’ve been repotting mandrakes since before Professor Longbottom was born,” Sprout said dryly. “I think we’ll be able to handle it without him. Go on, get your mandrakes and those large pots next to them. Remember your earmuffs.”

“Bet he scheduled this for today on purpose,” Albus said to Rose as they collected their mandrakes. “So Matt wouldn’t be here.”

“You’re probably right,” Rose agreed.

The class put on their earmuffs and the mandrake repotting began. The mandrakes were now near maturity, making the repotting much more difficult than it had been previously. Rose’s mandrake seized handfuls of her curly hair as she tried to force it into its new pot and Amanda had to Stun it in order to get it to let go. Albus had more difficulty than most since he was working by himself, but once Rose and Amanda finished they took pity on him and helped force his last two mandrakes into their new homes.

“So, how did career advice go?” Albus asked John as they walked back to the castle after Herbology.

“Could’ve been worse, I suppose,” John said, shrugging. “He told me the same thing he told James, that I need a backup plan in case Quidditch doesn’t work out. Then he told me to keep my options open by sticking with all my core subjects. Fat chance I’ll stick with History of Magic, though. And I don’t think I’ll get the required O.W.L. to keep up with Potions.”

“Didn’t you get an Exceeds Expectations on that Draught of Peace?” Albus replied.

“Yeah, because of Janie,” John said, nodding to Janie, who was walking a few paces in front of them with Marina. “I just did what she told me to do.”

“How did her career advice go?”

“Good. Longbottom thinks Experimental Charms in the Ministry would be a good fit for her, and reckons she’ll manage an Outstanding in her Charms O.W.L.”

“Excellent,” Albus said. “I hope Matt’s wasn’t a complete disaster.”

“Me, too,” John agreed.

Matt was already in the Great Hall when Albus and John arrived a few minutes later. He was scowling, and stabbing his carrots with more force than needed. Albus sat next to him and didn’t say a word while he made his sandwich.

“How’d it go?” John asked, filling his plate with heaps of lunchmeat.

“Horrible,” Matt answered, not looking up from his carrots, which Albus realized he was simply massacring and not actually eating.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Albus asked.

“No,” Matt muttered. He pushed his plate away and slung his bag over his shoulder just as Rose and Amanda sat down on the opposite side of the table. “I’ll see you in History of Magic.”

“Where’s he off to?” Rose asked, frowning.

“No idea,” Albus said in between bites of sandwich. “He said his career advice meeting didn’t go well.”

“He’s probably going to talk to Amy, then,” Rose said. “I saw Kaden in the Entrance Hall. He’s going to brew with her.”

“I wish he’d tell us what happened,” Albus muttered.

“He might, eventually,” Rose said. “But you’ve got to see how hard it must be for him, seeing us figure out what we want to do.”

“You’re the one who was pushing the Astronomy thing on him last night,” Albus pointed out.

“Yes, because I don’t think it’s as hopeless as he thinks it is,” Rose said.

“What’s not hopeless?” James asked, squeezing in between Albus and John and grabbing a roll.

“Your future,” Rose said, smirking. “If you actually manage to get drafted by a Quidditch team.”

“Hey, I’m good,” James said, his mouth full of roll. “You’ve seen me on the pitch. How’s career advice going? Had yours yet, Al?”

“I have it this afternoon,” Albus answered.

“Ah, well, I’m sure you and Longbottom will pick out something nice. You’ll continue to be the perfect child.”

Albus felt his cheeks redden. “Shut up, James.”

“Oh, come on. We all know you’re going to follow in Dad’s footsteps and become an Auror. He’ll be so proud.”

“You could’ve done that, too, James,” Rose said.

“I didn’t get enough O.W.L.s,” James pointed out.

“You should’ve studied harder,” Rose said, shrugging.

“Do you think Binns would notice if I skived off all of History of Magic instead of just the second half?” Albus asked.

“You’re not skiving off History of Magic,” Rose said flatly. “Come on. I’ll make sure you get there.”

Albus groaned. He couldn’t wait until he could drop History of Magic. Rose and Amanda were mad to consider continuing with it next year. Sighing, he got up and followed Rose, John, and Amanda out of the Great Hall and up to Binns’s classroom. He supposed he could use the time to try and get Matt to tell him about his meeting with Longbottom.

Matt was already sitting at their usual table when Albus reached History of Magic a few minutes later. He didn’t look up when Albus entered, but instead continued doodling absentmindedly on a spare bit of parchment.

“Hey, Albus.”

Albus turned and saw Marina standing at her table, dumping her books and parchment onto it. “Hi, Marina.”

“Have you had your career advice yet?” she asked.

“No. I have it partway through this class. How did yours go?” Albus’s heart was beating fast, as it usually did while he spoke to Marina. He wished it would slow down.

“Good.” She smiled. “I’m going to train to be a nurse.”

“Oh, like Madam Pomfrey? That’s cool.” Cool? Why hadn’t he come up with something to say that was well…more cool?

Marina giggled. “Sort of. But I want to work at St. Mungo’s. I can’t see Madam Pomfrey ever retiring, can you?”

Albus had it on good authority that Madam Pomfrey planned on retiring in two years, after Matt graduated, but that wasn’t common knowledge. “No, I suppose not.”

“Well, good luck. With your meeting.”

“Thanks,” Albus said just as Binns floated through the board.

Albus hurried to his seat next to Matt and took out a roll of parchment, a quill, and a pot of ink without any intentions of taking notes. What was the point in trying if he was just going to leave in half an hour anyway? He’d just copy Rose’s later. Looking straight ahead at Binns, who was droning on about some sort of goblin rebellion, Albus surreptitiously pulled out his wand and cast Muffliato against the tables surrounding his.

“So, what did Longbottom say?” Albus whispered to Matt.

Matt startled and dropped his quill. He bent to pick it up and then turned to Albus. “Nothing promising.”

“Like what?”

Matt sighed. “Look, Al, I’ll explain it all later tonight, in the Den. I know you won’t stop bugging me until I do, but I only want to say it once, and then I never want to talk about it again. So I’ll tell it once, when everyone’s there.”

“Okay,” Albus said.

Albus didn’t pay attention to anything except the clock for the remainder of the first half of class. As soon as the halfway mark arrived, he shot out of his seat and left, without saying a word to Professor Binns, who didn’t seem to notice.

Albus’s heart sped up again as he walked to Professor Longbottom’s study, in a similar way that it had while he was talking to Marina. But he was nervous for a vastly different reason. He knew there was no reason to be nervous, that Longbottom would tell him he could do whatever he wanted. Yet a small voice in the back of his mind disagreed. What if Longbottom told him becoming an Auror was a ridiculous idea and he ought to stick with regular Magical Law Enforcement?

By the time Albus reached Longbottom’s study he managed to beat the small voice down so that it was barely more than a whisper. Knocking once, he pushed the door opened and walked slowly inside, knowing only Longbottom would be there since he had passed Billius, who had been scheduled before him, on his way there.

“Albus, come on in,” Longbottom said, a jovial smile on his face.

Albus felt better immediately. Neville was the nicest professor at Hogwarts, not to mention his godfather. What was there to be nervous about? He sat down in the chair across from Neville. “Hi, Professor.”

“How are you, Albus?” he asked, shuffling pieces of parchment on his desk. “Feel ready for your exams?”

“Er, not yet,” Albus said. “But I think I will be.”

“Good. I hope the change in Potions professors hasn’t thrown you too badly.” He sighed. “Terrible, terrible, what happened to Professor Burke.”

“Is he all right?” Albus asked, hoping Longbottom would tell him something new.

“He’s recovering. The healers believe he’ll be ready to come back in two weeks or so. Now, let’s move onto the reason we’re here. Have you had any thoughts on what you wish to do after Hogwarts?”

“Well,” Albus began, toying with a loose thread on his robes and not looking directly at Longbottom. “Balladanis thought I’d make a good Presuler.”

Longbottom, who had taken a sip of tea, choked and started coughing. “H-he what?”

Albus felt his cheeks redden. “He thought I could be a Presuler, if I wanted to. Do you think he was wrong?”

Longbottom shook his head and coughed once more. “I don’t think he was wrong, but Albus, do you know what that involves?”

“Yes, and that’s why I was wondering if there was anything else like it, but not as intense.”

“You could certainly become an Auror,” Longbottom said. “If that’s what you’re asking.”

“Maybe,” Albus replied. “I really like solving mysteries.”

Longbottom laughed. “Yes, I’ve noticed that. You’d get to solve mysteries as an Auror.”

“But it seems like there are a lot of rules, with that,” Albus pointed out.

“Yes, there are,” Longbottom said, chuckling again. “I actually have an idea for you, if you want to hear it.”

“A different career?” Albus asked, his heart speeding up once more, this time from excitement rather than nervousness.

The professor nodded. “You’d train as an Auror and then put in a year or two of work in the Auror Department. But then, you’d move to the Department of Mysteries, if they accept you, where your official title would be an Unspeakable.”

Department of Mysteries. Why hadn’t Albus thought of that? Mysteries was right in the name. “What would I do?”

“I have only a vague idea,” Longbottom explained. “No one except the Unspeakables know exactly what they do. But you would be researching obscure branches of magic and solving magical mysteries. You would have to travel abroad for weeks or sometimes months on end. Occasionally, you would work with the Auror Department to catch rogue wizards, especially if these quests required travel outside of the United Kingdom. Other than that, well, it remains a mystery.”

Now that sounded exactly like what Albus wanted to do. He’d not only be solving mysteries involving Dark wizards, but also involving magic in general. He could spend his life doing what he loved doing best while at Hogwarts- solving mysteries. Except he wouldn’t be breaking school rules while doing so.

“What do you think?” Longbottom asked. “It wouldn’t be a guarantee they’d take you, but I think you’d be suited for it.”

Albus grinned. “It sounds brilliant.”

“I’m glad you think so. Your parents will be very proud, as will I. You’ll need top marks, however. Auror training requires at least five N.E.W.T.s, which is a very tough workload alone. Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Herbology, and Defense Against the Dark Arts at the very minimum.” He shuffled through the stack of parchment. “Your marks in all five of those subjects have been fine all year, although I recommend thorough studying in Potions and Transfiguration to ensure you get at least an Exceeds Expectations on those O.W.L.s. You won’t be allowed in the N.E.W.T. classes without at least that. I would also recommend sticking with Ancient Runes as that will most likely be useful when you move to the Department of Mysteries.”

Albus nodded. “What about Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy, and History of Magic?”

“No doubt they would be useful, but Albus, don’t overextend yourself. Six N.E.W.T. classes is plenty.”

“Okay,” Albus said, very happy he wouldn’t have to continue with History of Magic.

“If you have any other questions, stop by any time or send an owl,” Longbottom said.

“Thanks,” Albus said, standing up.

Albus walked to Potions in a fog, his mind on becoming an Auror and then an Unspeakable. Even Rose hadn’t thought of it, but it was perfect. The thought of solving secretive magical mysteries for his career made Albus feel like he had after beating Scorpius Malfoy in a duel.

***

“But what do Unspeakables do?” Kaden asked in the Marauders Den later that night. “It’s just so vague.”

“That’s the point of the whole department,” Rose said, grinning. “It’s the Department of Mysteries, Kaden.”

“Weird,” Kaden said, shaking his head. “So you’re signing up for a job when you don’t even know what you’ll be doing?”

“Yeah, that’s kind of the fun of it!” Albus said.

Albus had waited until after dinner to tell his friends what Professor Longbottom had suggested, choosing, like Matt, to only explain it once. Rose, Matt, and John had been duly impressed whereas Amanda and Kaden had been confused.

“Unspeakables are sort of the elite,” Rose explained. “Not everyone can just decide to become one. You have to work for the Ministry in another department and then either apply for it or get picked. Obviously it’s better to be picked. That’s why Albus has to train and work as an Auror first.”

Amanda nodded. “That’s brilliant. But how do you know you’ll be accepted?”

“I won’t,” Albus said. “But Longbottom thinks I’ve got a pretty good shot. What about the rest of you? How’d your meetings go?”

“Good!” Amanda said, her face glowing. “Longbottom thinks if I work at it, I’ve got a good chance at becoming not only an ambassador to other countries, in terms of their magical Ministries, but to Muggle Ministries as well! He thinks I should try to start in the Office of Muggle Relations or get right into the Department of International Magical Cooperation if I can.”

“And mine took all of five minutes,” Rose said, grinning. “I’ve got to stick with all my core subjects to get into the School of Healing, and I’m going to stick with Arithmancy and Ancient Runes as well.”

“That’s eight N.E.W.T.s,” Albus commented. “You’re mad.”

“It’ll be a lot of work, but worth it,” Rose said.

“So you’re only dropping Muggle Studies?” John asked.

“I might have to drop Astronomy, too,” Rose said wistfully. “I don’t want to, but it might be too much. I’ll have to wait and see.”

“What about you?” Albus asked, turning to Matt. He hadn’t said a word since they started discussing their career advice meetings half an hour earlier.

“What?” Matt asked, closing his Astronomy book.

“Your career advice. You said you’d tell us what happened tonight,” Albus explained.

Matt sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He still looked upset, despite the fact that career advice had been hours ago. “Fine. But Rose? I really, really don’t want to hear any advice after I tell you. I’ve had enough.”

Rose nodded. “No advice.”

Matt took a deep breath and stared at the wall as he began to speak. “Longbottom liked your idea about Astronomy, Rose.”

“I told you!” Rose exclaimed. “So why did it go so poorly, if-“

“I wasn’t finished,” Matt interrupted. “Longbottom reckons I might have a shot at it, except for that law that requires werewolves to inform their employers of their condition.”

“Which is a rotten law,” Amanda muttered. “And I’m determined to do away with it once I’m in the Ministry.”

“Thanks, Amanda, but it’s going to take years, decades even-“

“Then I’ll work at it for decades, if I have to,” Amanda said.

“Go on, Matt,” Albus said.

“Employers don’t have to hire werewolves,” Matt continued. “Once I tell them about it, they can decide not to hire me.”

“So you’ll just have to keep trying at it,” Rose said, “and eventually someone will hire you.”

“It’s…it’s not that simple, Rose,” Matt said, his voice cracking. He lifted his head up and turned to the rest of the group, looking even more anxious than he had before. “I don’t…I don’t want to tell anyone. I can’t tell anyone.”

No one said anything for a few minutes. Albus didn’t know what to say that could possibly make his friend feel better. He knew the reason Matt didn’t want to tell anyone about his lycanthropy was rooted in why his family had to leave Australia, and his worst fear in the world was the disaster being repeated in Britain.

“But Matt,” Rose said quietly, “you’ll have to. No matter how unjust the law is, it’d be illegal not to disclose it. And they’d find out eventually. You have no chance of getting a job unless you tell.”

“So you see? You see the problem?” Matt asked, his hands shaking. “That’s why I didn’t want career advice, because it doesn’t matter what I pick, or what I do, I’ll have to tell every single employer of every single job I apply for about my lycanthropy. And then they’ll know, even if they don’t hire me. I won’t be able to take that information back. Think how long it’ll be before I find someone who will actually hire me. Think how many people I’ll have to tell. The whole country will know.”

“Not the whole country,” Rose reasoned.

“But close enough,” Matt said, his breath hitching in his chest. “I can’t do it. And I’d rather not think about it until I have to.”

“What did Longbottom say?” John asked. “When you told him that? Surely he had some ideas-“

“There’s no getting around the law, John,” Matt interrupted. “So I didn’t see the point in telling him. I…I left.”

“You left the meeting?” Rose asked, furrowing her brow.

Matt nodded. “About five minutes into it.”

“Did you have another-“ Rose began.

“Yes,” Matt interrupted, turning away from them again. “Yeah, I did.”

“Have another what?” Kaden asked.

“Nothing,” Matt muttered. “I came up here, until the end of Herbology. And that’s all I want to say about it.”

The group sat in silence for nearly five minutes before Rose pulled a stack of books out of her bag, signaling the beginning of the evening’s homework session. Kaden left to brew with Amy, while Albus, John, and Amanda joined Rose in writing their Charms essays due the following morning. But Matt remained on the couch staring into space for another half hour before digging out his own Charms essay.

33. Explanations

Professor Burke didn’t return to Hogwarts the following Monday, stretching his absence into its third week. Most of the student body had stopped discussing his mysterious illness, their minds now on the upcoming exams and the Quidditch final. Gryffindor thrashed Ravenclaw in the past weekend’s match, securing their spot in May’s Quidditch final, which would be played against Hufflepuff. Albus was very happy to have the chance to play Hufflepuff again, since their previous match had gone so horribly. April’s dueling match had also taken place over the weekend, but the points remained so close that the tournament was still anyone’s game.

The fifth years, with their career advice now behind them, were studying more furiously than ever. On any given night every single fifth year could be found in the library right up until curfew, only leaving when Miss Walsh kicked them out, expressing her need for a few hours sleep before the whole thing started up again the next day. The fifth years’ revising habits were rivaled only by the seventh years, who were gearing up to take their N.E.W.T.s.

The effects of so much studying were being felt by most of the fifth years, and fewer of the seventh years, who had had experience with such high pressure exams before. Leigh Montague of Slytherin and Ronald Bones of Hufflepuff both wound up in the hospital wing on the same day due to exam stress, needing Calming Draughts from Madam Pomfrey. Marina and Karina quizzed each other on various subjects every time they walked through the corridors together, their bizarre ability to know what each other was thinking coming in handy to study more quickly and efficiently. Carter Eubert of Ravenclaw had developed the annoying habit of boasting about how much he remembered from previous years and offering to write up study guides for anyone who wanted them. Albus declined, already having had study guides written up for him by Rose. Both Elaine Asterly and Olivia Price of Hufflepuff enjoyed comparing the amount of hours they studied per day with anyone who would talk to them. Albus quickly learned to avoid them when he saw them in the corridors.

Meanwhile, the professors had now entered their last week of teaching new material. All of them, even Amy, stressed how important this new material was, and not to neglect it while studying previous years’ material. The only professor who didn’t seem to notice, or care, that O.W.L.s were nearly upon them, was Professor Young, who still only taught when his classes were observed by MacDougal.

“What happens if we fail them?” John asked suddenly, as they sat around one of the larger tables in the library Tuesday evening after dinner.

“Our exams?” Rose asked, not looking up from her book.

“Yeah,” John said, his eyes wide. “Because everything I relearn leaks out of my ears at night. Maybe I should stop sleeping.”

“That’d be stupid,” Rose muttered.

“I was only joking,” John said. “But seriously, what happens if we fail?”

“We have to take them again,” Rose answered. “If we want to. People who only fail one or two just don’t move onto those subjects in N.E.W.T.s.”

John nodded and returned to his studying.

“Where’s Matt?” Rose asked, glancing at her watch. “He’s going to have to go soon.”

“He’s already in the hospital wing,” Albus said. “Amy’s with him. He went up there before dinner.”

“Oh. I thought he was the dormitory during dinner,” Rose said, lowering her voice. “He’s really lucky there isn’t one during O.W.L.s.”

Albus nodded. Matt had checked that at the beginning of the year, although Albus didn’t think there was any way he could’ve taken his exams at another time. The Ministry didn’t give exceptions on when exams were taken for any reason, unless Hogwarts was under attack. Matt would’ve had to take them again the following year, which would’ve set him behind in N.E.W.T.s.

“Bad time to be missing class, though,” Rose continued. “Last week of new material and everything.”

“Amy’s teaching us that last new potion that’s almost guaranteed to be on the O.W.L. tomorrow,” John added. “He’ll miss that.”

“Well, I’m sure she’ll teach it to him after he’s better,” Rose said. “She is his sister.”

“Right,” John said. “And he won’t miss much in Defense tomorrow. MacDougal won’t be there. And Herbology is always easy to catch up in.”

John was right. The following day’s Defense Against the Dark Arts class was utterly pointless. The worksheet seemed even easier than usual, and Professor Young spent the entire period furiously writing on a roll of parchment, which inched its way over the edge of his desk as he filled more and more of it. Unfortunately Albus was too far away to read any of it, not that that stopped him from trying.

The potion Amy taught was painstakingly complicated, even more so than the Draught of Peace. Albus spent a quarter of the double period chopping his valerian root into half inch pieces only to discover he had misread the instructions and they needed to be in quarter inch pieces, doubling his work. The potion itself, a Sleeping Draught, emitted a wonderfully calming scent that certainly calmed the nerves of the stressed fifth years, but also slowed them down enough that the potion was nearly impossible to complete in the allotted time.

“If that’s what we have to brew for our exam, I’m screwed,” John said as they left the classroom.

“Amy said it would be on the written exam,” Rose explained. “Weren’t you paying any attention? We won’t have to brew it.”

John breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. Because if we did, I’d be the next one to need a Calming Draught.”

***

April rolled into May at the end of Amy’s third week as Hogwarts Potions Master, resulting in even warmer days, which only teased the students as they gazed at the sunny grounds through the windows of the library. Matt returned from the hospital wing two days after the full moon with a few more scars and determination to catch up on all he’d missed while he was gone. He even went with Albus to his tutoring session on Saturday so that Albus could attempt to teach him what he’d missed in Transfiguration on Thursday. Elsie was there as well, and the three of them worked furiously for much of the two hours. Albus only paused to answer a few questions for a fourth year who stopped by.

Despite having time to work on his homework during his tutoring hours, Albus had a hard time fitting everything in around prefect patrols, Quidditch practice, and dueling practice. Albus had yet to take care of Burke’s potions since the start of Amy’s reign as Hogwarts Potions Master, but there weren’t enough hours in the day. Kaden had taken on that responsibility, something Albus certainly wasn’t going to question. Kaden had the time and he enjoyed it.

But even the lack of spending evenings brewing in the dungeons didn’t prevent Albus from having to stay up later than the rest of his friends working on homework due the next day. On the first Sunday in May he found himself sitting on his bed, the curtains pulled around him, writing a History of Magic essay by wand light while the rest of the fifth year boys slept soundly. It was well past one in the morning and everyone had been asleep for over an hour.

The first time Albus had had to do this was two weeks prior and he chose to finish his essay in the empty common room after the rest of the Gryffindors went to bed. Until he was visited by none other than Moaning Myrtle, that is. Surprised to see her out of her toilet, Albus had stumbled over his words for almost five minutes before asking her what she was doing there. She then informed him that she’d been watching him for half an hour and she often visited the common rooms at night, when they were empty. Albus didn’t bother asking why. Instead he resolved to only do late-night homework in his dormitory so that he could easily pretend to be asleep if Myrtle ever decided to pay a midnight visit again.

Albus yawned as he measured his essay. It was still two inches too short. He sighed and glanced at the clock on his bedside table, debating whether it was worth it to end his essay now and risk losing a few points. It was only History of Magic, after all. It wasn’t as if he’d need that class in his future career as an Unspeakable.

Someone was mumbling in their sleep. Albus couldn’t tell whether it was Matt or Ethan, who were on either side of him. A bed creaked and Albus peered his head out of his curtains. It was Matt, and he was now thrashing around in his sleep. He was probably having another nightmare. Discarding his essay on his bed, Albus got up and crept quietly to Matt’s bed. He pulled back the curtains and shined his wand inside.

The wand light illuminated Matt’s face, which was drenched in sweat. Suddenly, as if he knew Albus was there, Matt sat bolt upright, his eyes wide. Albus jumped back, startled since Matt could usually sleep through anything and wouldn’t wake up when a bit of light hit his face.

“Matt?” Albus asked, lowering his wand slightly.

Matt stared at Albus, but didn’t respond. His chest was heaving and his entire body was shaking. Albus thought he looked very similar to right before the March full moon, when Rose accompanied him to the hospital wing after having a panic attack. But Rose wasn’t here now; she was fast asleep in the girls’ dormitory.

“Matt?” Albus repeated, edging closer to the bed. “Are you okay?”

He shook his head wildly and took a deep, raspy breath. “A-Albus.”

“What’s going on?”

“I…”

“Breathe,” Albus said, remembering what Rose had done before. She had conjured a paper bag, but Albus definitely couldn’t do that yet. Instead, he climbed onto the foot of Matt’s bed and sat there, hoping his mere presence would help. “Breathe. In and out. In and out.”

“I…have to get…away,” Matt wheezed.

“Away from what?,” Albus asked. “There’s nothing here. You’re in the dormitory.”

“I…he’s chasing…after…” Matt said, his voice cracking.

Albus could no longer tell whether Matt’s face was wet with sweat or tears and he lowered his wand even more, hoping it wasn’t the latter.

“Nothing is here,” Albus said softly. “Just me, and John, Billius, and Ethan.”

“He’s out…,” Matt choked out. “I can’t…run.”

“Wha’s going on?” a sleepy voice said.

Albus turned to the opening in the curtains and saw Ethan, the lightest sleeper of the five of them, standing in between Albus’s and Matt’s beds, looking confused as he ran a hand through his messy hair. He looked from Matt to Albus and back again.

“Should I get Madam Pomfrey?” he asked.

“No,” Matt said quickly, taking a deep breath. “I’m…fine.”

“You don’t look fine,” Ethan said. “Maybe you need a Calming Draught? Karina had one the other day and it worked in about five seconds.”

“No,” Matt repeated.

“Just go back to bed,” Albus said hurriedly. “It’s nothing to worry about.”

Ethan didn’t look convinced, and Albus couldn’t blame him. Matt looked like he was having a nervous breakdown, and didn’t seem to be getting any better. He was shaking even more than when he first woke up and his breathing seemed rapid and shallow. Still, Ethan turned away, with one more odd glance at Albus.

There was a loud bang and Ethan let out a loud string of expletives.

“What was that?” Albus asked.

“Stubbed my toe,” Ethan muttered. “On Bilius’s bloody cauldron.”

“Sorry!” Billius shouted. “Why are we all up?”

“It’s nothing!” Albus said, groaning inwardly. He turned back to Matt. “Common room. It should be empty.”

Matt nodded and slid out of bed. He was shaking so hard he stumbled into John’s curtains and grabbed Albus’s arm for support.

John stuck his head out of his curtains. “What the bloody hell-“ He cut himself off when he saw Albus and Matt. Without another word, he took Matt’s other arm and the three of them hurried down the stairs to the common room while Billius and Ethan stared.

The common room was, mercifully, empty of people, both living and dead. The few portraits that were awake hurriedly feigned sleep when Albus lit one of the lamps.

Matt collapsed into one of the good armchairs by the now dead fire and Albus and John took the chairs on either side of him. John stood up as soon as he sat down. “Rose. We need Rose,” he said. “I’ll go get her.”

“I-“ Albus began, but it was too late. John had already reached the stairs to the girls’ dormitories and made it a few steps up before they turned into a slide and deposited John back at the bottom.

“What the hell was that?” John exclaimed, standing up.

Albus stifled a laugh. “We’re not allowed in the girls’ dormitories.”

“But they’re allowed in ours!” John said. “That’s sexist.”

“It’s an old school,” Albus pointed out.

John groaned and returned to his seat. “What are we supposed to do? Rose would know what to do.”

Albus didn’t have the slightest idea. He turned to Matt, who had brought his knees to his chest. In the lamp light, Albus could no longer deny Matt was in fact crying, something that made Albus distinctly uncomfortable. John didn’t look any more comfortable than Albus felt. Both of them were out of their element, and without Rose, they had no idea what to do.

“Madam Pomfrey?” John suggested.

Matt shook his head. “No.”

Albus looked at John, who shrugged. Without Rose, and with Matt declining to wake up the nurse, they had no other options but to sit. And so, they sat. Albus watched as Matt took deep breath after deep breath until his rattling breathing returned to normal and the shaking subsided. Half an hour later, Matt merely looked exhausted, but no longer looked like he was having a nervous breakdown.

“Better?” Albus asked tentatively.

Matt nodded.

“Do you want to go back to bed?” John asked, looking wistfully at the stairs to the dormitories. It was now just past two in the morning.

Matt shook his head. “I don’t think I’d be able to sleep.”

Albus glanced at Matt, who looked so thoroughly miserable, he now felt guilty about feeling uncomfortable earlier. Yet what Albus felt most, was curious. What was Matt hiding from them this time?

Taking a deep breath, Albus turned to Matt. What was the worst that could happen if he asked? Matt wouldn’t tell him, and then he’d be in the same position he was in now. “What was that? Are…are you going to tell us what’s been going on?”

Matt sighed and wiped his eyes. He turned to John and then back to Albus. “I…it was a panic attack, and it wasn’t my first.”

“I know,” Albus said quietly. “We were all there when you had that one before the March full moon.”

“That wasn’t the first one either,” Matt said as he toyed with a loose thread on the arm of the chair. “I got them a lot when I was little, after I was first bitten and then again after…Lubar kidnapped me…and that whole…thing.”

Albus nodded. He had already known that, but he didn’t want to interrupt again.

“They went away for a while and it was great. I still had nightmares, but I went years without having a panic attack. Then they came back.”

“When?” John asked.

“The summer after third year,” Matt said. “After-“

“After Lubar took all of us to Australia,” Albus said, realizing how as awful as that had been for all of them, it must’ve been a hundred times worse for Matt. “I hadn’t realized-“

“I hid it,” Matt said, shaking his head. “I didn’t want anyone to know, but then it started getting even worse over this past summer. It was easy to hide since I was home. They got better once I came back here, but then…in January, it got really bad.”

“Did something happen over the holidays?” Albus asked, remembering how reserved Matt had been during the New Year’s party. He had assumed it was because of the recent full moon, but maybe it had been something else.

Matt squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again. “The werewolf…the bloke who bit me…he’s out of prison.”

Albus’s jaw fell open and he quickly shut it. “How can that happen? Wouldn’t Australia lock werewolves up for good for biting people?”

“You’d think, wouldn’t you?” Matt said. “But no. He got ten years. He didn’t mean to do it-“

“He could’ve locked himself up during the full moon,” John muttered. “So it’s his fault.”

“He wasn’t in his right mind,” Matt insisted.

“Why are you defending him?” John asked.

Matt sighed. “Because we’re the same now. I could go out and bite a kid just like he did to me, and I wouldn’t know what I was doing either. I’m not afraid of him. He’s in Australia and he’s no harm to me now. I’m already a werewolf. I know that. But I keep having nightmares about it and I can’t stop them and whenever I have one I wake up having a panic attack.”

“Is that what happened before the March full moon, when Rose took you to the hospital wing?” Albus asked.

Matt nodded. “It happens more often before the full moon.”

“That’s why you saw Healer Norlam, isn’t it?” John asked. “After that full moon.”

“You know Healer Norlam?” Matt replied. “And yeah, it is.”

John nodded. “My dad works with him, so I’ve met him.”

“I see him every Friday,” Matt said, not meeting either of their gazes. “That’s where I disappear to.”

Albus nodded. It all made sense. “And you told Rose?”

“I did. I had to, after what happened in March. She would’ve figured it out anyway.”

Albus laughed. “But she refused to tell me.”

“I made her swear not to tell anyone.”

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Albus said. “None of us deserted you when we found out about the lycanthropy. This won’t be any different.”

“I don’t know,” Matt mumbled. “It’s just one more thing. The lycanthropy, the PTSD when I was little, being ill all the time…and now this…panic attacks and anxiety and who knows what else.”

“It doesn’t mean you’re weak,” Albus said adamantly. “Anymore than the lycanthropy does. You’ve been through more than most wizards twice you’re age and you got through it all. You’re stronger because of it.”

Matt nodded, but didn’t say anything. He pulled the loose thread out of the chair and twisted it around his fingers.

“What about that potion you’re on?” John asked. “Could that be making the panic attacks worse?”

Matt laughed and gave a wry smile. “You sound like Amanda.”

John shrugged. “You know she would’ve mentioned that if she was here.”

“She’s been wanting to ask that all year, I’m sure. But the potion isn’t for the lycanthropy,” Matt explained. “You just assumed that, and I let you. It’s an anxiety potion. I’m on it all the time, but I take more of it around the full moon because the anxiety gets really bad the few days before it. It’s got side effects, and it does make the full moons a bit worse, but it’s worth it because I don’t have panic attacks constantly anymore. It was really bad in the beginning of the summer, before I went on it.”

“But, Burke makes the potion, doesn’t he?” Albus asked, furrowing his brow. “And he said it wasn’t working….”

Matt grinned. “Burke’s a good actor, isn’t he? He does make the potion, but it’s working just fine. He does want to get rid of the side effects, but the potion is working.”

“Why don’t you just take a Calming Draught?” John asked.

“Regular Calming Draughts aren’t meant to be taken every day, the way I take mine. And I can’t take regular Anxiety Potion either, because the lycanthropy screws everything up. Burke made this one with that in mind. It’s got a bit of aconite in it.”

“So this whole year…” Albus began.

“I’ve been hiding it,” Matt said, sighing. “I’m sorry, I-“

“Don’t be sorry,” Albus said. “It’s just kind of ironic…you were better at hiding this than hiding your lycanthropy.”

“That’s what Amy said. She said I was stupid for hiding it, but I hate being the one you all take care of. And this is only going to make it worse.”

“We don’t think you’re-“

“You do,” Matt said. “Rose especially. But I’m not angry about that. It’s just the way it is, and it’s the way it’ll always be. My parents and Amy are worse.”

“But what do we do if that happens again?” Albus asked.

“A panic attack?” Matt asked. “I just have to work through them, so exactly what you did tonight. Madam Pomfrey can’t do anything. There’s no spell or potion that stops them. Calming Draughts can help, but I can’t take those when I’m on the Anxiety Potion.”

“You had one during your career advice, didn’t you?” Albus asked, suddenly remembering how Matt had told them that he left his meeting.

Matt nodded. “Professor Longbottom didn’t know what was happening at first either. He kept offering me tea.”

Albus laughed. “My nana Molly always offers people tea when something is wrong, no matter what it is. Pity it doesn’t work.”

“So do the professors know?” John asked.

“Yeah. I’ve got permission to leave class whenever I need to.”

John’s eyes grew wide. “That’s brilliant.”

“Not really,” Matt said flatly.

“Should one of us go with you…if it happens in class?” Albus asked.

Matt shook his head. “I’ll be fine. Come find me later.”

Albus nodded. Why did this have to happen to Matt, who already had so much on his plate? Or was it all connected? If he had never been bitten, would he never have developed the anxiety and panic attacks? Albus had no idea. That was a question for Rose.

“Just do us a favor,” John said. “Tell Amanda, so she’ll stop bugging you about that potion.”

34. Arrested

Albus told Rose about Matt’s confession the following morning at breakfast. Rose seemed relieved about no longer having to keep Matt’s anxiety and panic attacks a secret, at least from Albus and John. Albus hoped Matt would tell Amanda and Kaden soon, so that no one would be in the dark. Amanda hadn’t noticed Albus and Rose’s hushed conversation, as she spent all of breakfast coming up with made-up predictions for Divination with John, who kept debating whether it was worth it to use a Fever Fudge to get out of having to spend the first part of his morning with Trelawney.

Matt, who had been asleep when Albus left Gryffindor tower, never showed up to breakfast, and Albus debated running up to the dormitory to wake him up for Ancient Runes until Rose told him not to. Panic attacks, she informed him, often left a person utterly exhausted and still on edge, even hours later.

While Matt didn’t seem to want to discuss what had happened in the wee hours of Monday morning any further, Albus still watched him carefully in classes for the remainder of the week. He tried to do so conspicuously, remembering what Matt had told him and John about how he hated being the one everyone felt the need to take care of, but Albus couldn’t help it. If Matt’s panic attacks were so bad he had permission to leave class whenever he needed, Albus felt there was a need to pay attention in case it happened. However, by the end of the week, nothing had happened. Matt never left class, and Albus let his guard down a little.

“Amy thinks Burke will be back by Monday,” Matt said as they walked to dinner on Friday after an afternoon of studying.

“I thought she couldn’t tell anyone anything,” Albus said.

“I don’t count,” Matt replied, grinning. “Anyway, if he’s not back by Monday we’ll have a new substitute. Amy can’t miss anymore rounds at St. Mungo’s.”

“He better be back, then,” John said as they descended the stairs into the Entrance Hall. “I don’t think we’d be lucky enough to get two good subs.”

“Me either,” Matt agreed. “Hey, Al, isn’t that your dad?”

The oak front doors had just opened, revealing two men wearing traveling cloaks. Albus ran down the last few steps and recognized not only his father, but Head Auror Johnson as well. What were they doing here? Albus weaved through the crowd of students flowing into the Great Hall, Matt and John hurrying behind him, and stopped in front of his dad.

“What are you doing here?” Albus asked.

Harry gave him a grim smile. “Nice to see you, too, Albus. But I’m here on Auror business. Not pleasant business, either.”

Albus’s eyes grew large. He exchanged glances with Matt and John. “You don’t mean-“

“I can’t discuss it, Albus.”

“We need to get going, Potter,” Johnson muttered, eyeing the Great Hall. “I don’t want to linger.”

“Dad?” Albus asked.

“I have to go, Al,” he said quietly. “Tell James and Lily I said hi.”

“Potter,” Johnson repeated.

“Right.”

Albus watched as his dad hurried up the stairs with Johnson, neither of them paying any attention to the whispers they were generating amongst the students heading to dinner.

“That is so weird,” John said. “Your dad following orders instead of giving them.”

“Never mind that!” Albus said, seizing Matt’s and John’s robes in his hands and pulling them back to the stairs. “This must have something to do with Young! Why else would they be here?”

“You don’t think-“ Matt began, his eyes wide.

“They’ve come to arrest him!” Albus exclaimed. “That must be it. Come on. If we hurry, we can listen in.”

“They’ll see us,” John pointed out.

“Good thing I’ve got the Cloak, then,” Albus said, glancing around the Entrance Hall to see if anyone was watching. Only a few stragglers remained, most everyone having gone into the Great Hall, and no one was paying any attention to Albus, Matt, and John. He pulled the Invisibility Cloak out of his bag.

“You carry it around with you?” Matt asked, raising his eyebrows.

Albus shrugged. “It’s never any use in the dormitory, is it? I’ve also got a few Extendable Ears in here. I just don’t know if we’ll all fit.”

“If you two weren’t giraffes,” Matt said. “We won’t need to put it on until we’re close. It’s not a crime to walk around the castle during dinner.”

“Hang on,” Albus said as he pulled the Marauder’s Map out of his bag. He flipped to the Hogwarts page and searched for his dad’s dot. “They aren’t in Young’s study. They’re in Kendrick’s study.”

“Where’s Young?” John asked.

“His study,” Albus answered. “Let’s head up there.”

The boys hurried up the stairs, Albus glancing at the map every few seconds as he went. The corridors were virtually empty, save for a few ghosts who paid no attention to Albus, Matt, and John. If Albus’s dad and Johnson were there to arrest Young, it made sense to do it now, while all the students were eating dinner.

“They’re leaving Kendrick’s study,” Albus said as they reached the third floor corridor. “Hurry.”

Albus skidded to a halt in front of the door to Young’s study. It was open a crack, but the last thing Albus wanted to do was alert Young to the fact that they were there. Wordlessly, he gestured for Matt and John to move to the side of the corridor, as close as they could possibly get to the door without blocking it. He threw the Cloak over the three of them and once John crouched down, they were completely hidden. Albus then extracted three Extendable Ears from his bag and distributed them. Shoving the end of his own Extendable Ear into his ear, Albus watched the map and waited.

Just as he suspected, his dad, Johnson, and Kendrick soon arrived at Young’s study. Albus didn’t even breath as the three walked into the open doorway without knocking.

“Kendrick?” Albus heard Young ask. “And…Potter? Johnson? What’s going on?”

“Hold on,” Albus’s dad said. He shut the door. “I don’t want anyone to overhear this.”

“No one was out there,” Johnson said hurriedly. “Let’s get on with it.”

“You must be forgetting how…resourceful Hogwarts students are.” There was a pause. “This ought to do it.”

The voices turned into faint mumblings. Albus groaned and yanked the Extendable out of his ear.

“Damn!” John exclaimed, doing the same. “Muffliato?”

Albus shook his head. “I can still hear them mumbling. It’s just an Imperturbabble charm, so the Extendables won’t work. My dad probably knows we’re here, just by guessing.”

“Is there any way around it?” John asked.

“No,” Albus muttered. “So much for-“

“Would the two of you shut up?!” Matt seethed. “And Albus, switch places with me.”

“What-“

“Just do it!” Matt said.

Albus shuffled to the side and Matt slid into his spot, so that he was now closest to the door.

“You always forget,” Matt said quietly, “that just because you can’t hear anything, doesn’t mean I can’t. I can hear every word they’re saying.”

Albus had forgotten about that. As much as he wished Matt had never been bitten as a child, there were fringe benefits to his lycanthropy and this was one of them. Himself and John were completely useless at eavesdropping on a conversation behind a solid oak door, but Matt was not.

The three boys stood silent and frozen for nearly twenty minutes while Matt listened to what was going on. He said nothing while listening, but he was frowning, and his eyes grew wide every so often.

“They’re coming out,” Matt whispered, backing away from the door. “Don’t move.”

The door opened. Professor Kendrick led the group, followed by Professor Young, who was in handcuffs, and Johnson, who had one hand on Young’s cuffed hands and the other held his wand. Albus’s dad brought up the rear, brandishing his own wand.

“You can Floo through my study,” Kendrick said, his voice hard.

Albus waited a full ten minutes past the moment the sound of their footsteps disappeared before pulling the Invisibility Cloak off of himself, Matt, and John. They stared at each other for a minute before turning to walk toward the Marauder’s Den, all three of them knowing that now was not the time to go to the cheerful Great Hall for dinner.

“What did they say?” John demanded as soon as he shut the door behind them.

Matt ran a hand through his hair, his pale face anxious and vaguely upset. He sighed and collapsed into one of the armchairs.

“What is it?” Albus asked as he began to pace around the room.

“They’ve arrested him,” Matt whispered. “They actually arrested him.”

Albus had gleaned that part from the handcuffs and Young’s murderous expression as the group left for Kendrick’s study. What he didn’t understand was why and how. “What about his alibi? Cedric got questioned by Aurors.”

“They found more evidence,” Matt said, his eyes still wide. “DNA evidence.”

“So they think Cedric’s lying?” Albus exclaimed. “He wouldn’t do that!”

“Now it’s going to be up to the Wizengamot to figure out. They had enough evidence to arrest him,” Matt explained. “Young demanded that Kendrick stand up for him, but Kendrick couldn’t do anything, of course.”

The door burst open, revealing Kaden, followed by Rose and Amanda, all three looking very worried.

“Are you all right?” Rose said, rushing over to Matt.

“How did you find out?” Albus asked at the same time. If Young had been taken to the Ministry via Kendrick’s fireplace, how had Rose, Amanda, and Kaden found out?

“Well, when you didn’t show up at dinner, I just assumed,” Rose said, looking at Matt in confusion. “But you look awfully good for having a-“

“It wasn’t that,” Matt interrupted.

“Then why weren’t you at dinner?” Kaden asked. “When none of you showed up Rose ran all the way up here. We only caught up halfway. And then she told us.”

Rose grimaced. “I’m sorry, Matt. I thought they’d see it when we got up here, and figured since you told Albus and John-“

“It’s fine,” Matt said quickly. “I was going to tell them anyway. But I didn’t have a panic attack, I swear it.”

“You still look pale,” Rose said.

“Professor Young’s been arrested,” Matt explained. “And I overheard his conversation with Albus’s dad and the Head Auror and Professor Kendrick.”

Rose’s eyes widened and she lowered herself onto the couch. Kaden let out a low whistle and looked to Albus, who nodded, for verification. Amanda let out some sort of combination between a squeak and a whimper and sat next to Rose.

Matt told them the whole story, from the moment he saw Albus’s dad in the Entrance Hall to the moment Rose, Kaden, and Amanda came bursting into the Marauder’s Den. All three, even Rose, were speechless when he finished.

“But what will happen now?” Albus asked, anxious to get back to what they’d been discussing before Rose, Kaden, and Amanda arrived.

Rose squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again, looking at Albus. “He’ll be arraigned at the Ministry, and they’ll set bail. If someone posts his bail, he’ll go home and await trial. If not, he’ll await trial in Azkaban.”

“How long will that take?” Matt asked.

“Arraignment? They’ll probably do it Monday. And the trial? That could take weeks, although they’ll probably hurry it along since it’s such a high-profile case, and the Ministry will want to make it obvious that they solved it. Or rather, think they solved it.”

“You don’t think he did it?” Albus asked, relieved to know he wasn’t alone in firmly believing Young’s innocence. “Even with the DNA?”

“No,” Rose said adamantly. “I believe Cedric, and I’m nearly positive the two murders are connected. So if he didn’t do the second, he didn’t do the first. But mostly? Young is the laziest person I’ve ever met in my life. Why would he put forth effort into murdering people? I can’t think of anything he particularly enjoys or dislikes. He’s just…there.”

“He doesn’t seem like the murdering type, does he?” John agreed. “So what, you think someone’s framing him?”

“I think the Ministry is stumped and wants to show they’ve made progress, so they’ve done a sloppy investigation and Professor Young is caught up in it,” Rose said.

“So what do we do?” Albus asked. If Young didn’t do it, he needed to be released.

Rose sighed. “There’s nothing we can do, Albus. We don’t have any evidence. That Head Auror won’t listen to us. We just have to hope the Wizengamot comes to the same conclusion we have.”

Kaden let out a low whistle. “Down a Potions teacher and now a Defense teacher, all right before your O.W.L.s.”

“Young may be innocent, but he was an awful teacher,” Rose pointed out. “We’ll be better off with anyone they get to replace him.”

“So long as it’s not Balladanis,” Matt muttered.

Amanda gasped. “They couldn’t bring him back, could they?”

“No,” Rose said. “Kendrick wouldn’t allow it, and the only way the Ministry could appoint a teacher is if Kendrick can’t find anyone. He’d sooner let Albus teach Defense than Balladanis.”

John burst out laughing. “So we’ve got nothing to worry about. C’mon, let’s go to the kitchens. I bet the House Elves have extra from dinner.”

***

The following morning there was a very large article splayed on the front page of the Prophet, along with a picture of Professor Young in handcuffs, looking both stunned and murderous as he struggled against the Aurors on either side of him. The article itself didn’t give away any information Albus hadn’t known before reading it. It gave an overview of both murders, a brief biography of Professor Young, and how he would be kept at the Ministry until his arraignment on Monday, just as Rose predicted. A trial date would be set on Monday, at the arraignment.

Every single student in the Great Hall was discussing the arrest, copies of the Prophet trading hands faster than Puking Pastilles during a History of Magic class on a nice day. The professors looked shocked, talking amongst themselves in hushed whispers and paying no attention to the frantic conversations of the students. However, there were two students who were simply sitting at their house tables, not speaking, not eating, and not reading the Prophet.

The first was Elsie Willinson. Albus only managed to get a quick glance at her as he made his way to the Gryffindor table, but she looked upset. Her brother, who was sitting next to her, hadn’t seemed to notice. The second was Cedric, whom Albus sat across from once he reached the table.

“Cedric?” Albus asked, waving his hand in front of his cousin’s face.

Cedric blinked and shook his head. “Hi, Al. Have you seen the Prophet?”

Albus nodded. “Someone left their copy in the common room. But I already knew everything.” Albus quickly explained the previous evening, leaving out the part about the Interperbabble Charm and Matt’s ability to hear through solid oak doors.

“How could they do it?” Cedric asked. “I mean, I don’t exactly like Professor Young. He’s an awful teacher. But he didn’t murder that bloke in Hogsmeade. It’s just not possible!”

“They found his DNA at the scene,” Albus explained. “That’s what Johnson said.”

“Weird it took this long to figure that out,” Cedric muttered.

Albus had spent all night thinking about that, but he knew it often took weeks to get results of DNA tests back, especially if the samples were very small or contaminated by other things. “Maybe the Wizengamot won’t think there’s enough evidence to convict him.”

Cedric sighed and shook his head. “It’s too late for that. They already arrested him, so his life is ruined. He’ll never get his job here back.”

“Well, I think MacDougal would’ve had him removed at the end of term anyway,” Albus pointed out.

“But, Al, it’s so much bigger than that. Whether or not they convict him, while they’re spending their energy on the trial and whatever, the real murderer is still out there. We know he’s innocent, so that means there’s still a murderer out there.”

Albus felt his eyes widen. He hadn’t even thought of that. What if someone else was killed? “I wish there was something we could do.”

“Me, too,” Cedric agreed. “But you know what this whole thing has done?”

“What?”

“I’ve decided to go into Magical Law Enforcement,” Cedric said with a wry smile. “Just a regular MLE, not an Auror. I don’t have the marks or nerves for that, but I think I could be a MLE officer.”

“That’s great,” Albus said. “Your dad will be proud.”

Cedric gave a short laugh. “He’s still trying to convince Bradley to do a Ministry internship after he graduates. That’s never going to happen.”

“What does Bradley want to do?” Albus asked. Bradley’s indecision about what he wanted to do after Hogwarts made Matt’s decision to ignore life beyond Hogwarts look reasonable. Bradley had a little over a month left in school and as far as Albus knew, no clear intentions on what he wanted to do.

Cedric shrugged. “Haven’t got a clue. I’m guessing he’ll work for Uncle George until he decides.”

“Uncle George is lucky so many of us can’t make decisions,” Albus pointed out. “He’s never had to hire anyone outside the family.”

Cedric laughed, the concern about Professor Young disappearing from his face. “First Teddy, now Heather, and next it’ll be Bradley.”

“And then James,” Albus said. “If he doesn’t get recruited.”

“Then there’s Gabriella,” Cedric continued. “What with her decision to flit around the world and paint. I think only Victoire and Stanley have had any real idea on what they wanted to do.”

“What about Fred?” Albus asked. Fred, not having been recruited by a Quidditch team, was now the assistant to the assistant manager of the Tutshill Tornados.

“He only took that job because he didn’t want to work in the shop,” Cedric said. “He wanted to play Quidditch.”

“Good point,” Albus said, spooning eggs onto his plate.

“What about you?” Cedric asked. “Going to follow the tradition of working in the shop for a year?”

“Nope. Going to train as an Auror and then try to get a job in the Department of Mysteries.”

Cedric’s jaw fell open. He shook his head and recovered. “Seriously? You’re going to be an Unspeakable?”

“I’m going to try,” Albus said, shrugging.

Cedric looked impressed. “You’re going to join Victoire and Stanley in the ‘Successful Cousins’ club.”

“You are, too. MLE, that’s good.”

“Eh, we’ll all be eclipsed by Rose,” Cedric said. “She’ll probably become St. Mungo’s most well-known psychiatrist. I’d bet ten galleons she’ll make some brilliant discovery before she’s thirty.”

Albus laughed. “Of course she will.”

“Albus!”

Albus turned and saw Rose, Matt, and Kaden hurrying over to him. They reached the table, but didn’t sit down.

“What is it?” he asked.

“There you are,” Rose said. “You’re down here early.”

“Couldn’t sleep,” Albus said. “And none of you were up yet.”

“Never mind that now,” Rose said hurriedly, glancing at the door leading to the Entrance Hall. “We’ve got to go?”

“Why?” Albus asked, looking at his unfinished eggs as his stomach grumbled loudly. “What’s happened?”

“Burke’s back,” Kaden said. “We just saw him.”

“Oh,” Albus said, thinking that Burke’s return wasn’t a cause for skipping breakfast. “You want to go see him?”

“Well, yes,” Kaden said. “I’ve just spent three weeks brewing his potions for him, so he ought to tell me what’s been going on. And you and Rose, too. You’ve been working for him all year.”

Albus wasn’t too sure Burke would see it that way, considering how secretive he’d been ever since he arrived at Hogwarts. “And what about…” Albus began, glancing at Matt.

“I’ve been taking one of his potions all year,” Matt whispered. “I want to know what happened.”

Albus nodded, agreeing that Matt had a point. He still didn’t think Burke would actually tell them, but on the off-chance he did, Albus wanted to be there. Grabbing a piece of toast and saying goodbye to Cedric, Albus got up and followed Rose, Matt, and Kaden out of the room.

35. The Mystery Potion

The door to Burke’s brewing room was closed when Albus, Rose, Matt, and Kaden arrived a few minutes later. None of them wanted to be the one to actually knock on the door, even Kaden, who had been so adamant about confronting the potions master in the first place. Finally, Rose raised her hand and delivered three short knocks, stepping back to stand alongside Albus after she did so.

They waited for what felt like ten minutes. If Albus had been alone, he would’ve left after Burke didn’t answer, but he was with Kaden, and Kaden knocked after Rose’s knocks didn’t seem to work. A minute later, the door slowly creaked open, revealing a fraction of Burke’s head. His eyes met Kaden’s and he opened it wider, stepping aside for them to enter.

Professor Burke, to put it bluntly, looked terrible. His hair, which normally defied all laws of gravity, was plastered to his skull, the ends hanging limply over his ears. He had also lost a significant amount of weight, and his face was now gaunt, with purple bags beneath his eyes. However, what was most noticeable, was the sleek, black cane he gripped in his left hand, which he leaned on heavily as he returned to his desk chair.

The room itself didn’t look any different. The mystery potion sat upon Burke’s desk, spewing ominous amounts of black smoke. A small flame flickered beneath it. The other potions bubbled and frothed as they boiled.

Albus coughed as he followed Kaden to Burke’s desk. Burke rolled the chair away so that his face wasn’t blocked by the smoke. He waved his wand and conjured four chairs, which fell softly in front of him. Kaden took one, and Albus, Rose, and Matt followed.

“Thank you for caring for the potions in my absence,” Burke said gruffly.

“You’re welcome, Professor,” Kaden said. “Are you…are you feeling better?”

“I’m fine,” Burke answered. “Spry as a baby hippogriff.”

Albus stopped himself from grimacing. Professor Burke looked anything but fine. He looked worse than Matt did after a particularly terrible full moon.

“I owe you an explanation,” Burke continued. His eyes rested on Matt. “All of you. However, none of what I am about to tell you can leave this room. Mr. Dursley, Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley, the three of you have proven yourself trustworthy over the past year. Mr. Eckerton, well, you know the consequences if I were to become unable to brew your potion before I finalize it and teach your sister how to do it.”

Were they about to learn why Burke had been illegally brewing Polyjuice Potion? That was more than Albus had hoped for. Whatever it was, it seemed they were right in assuming Burke didn’t care if they knew what he was doing, since his incarceration meant he would no longer be able to brew Matt’s potion, which, they knew now, actually helped.

Burke fingered his cane and breathed deeply before he continued. “I am dying.” He let out a short laugh. “Well, we are all dying. But I will reach the destination far before any of you, and far before I want to or anticipated I would.”

Burke paused, and nobody said a word. Even Kaden, who Albus could tell had a burning question on the tip of his tongue, remained silent. The only noises in the room were the steady bubbling of potions and a particularly loud cough from Matt.

“I have a chronic and degenerative disease,” Burke said, turning to Matt, “not unlike yours, in terms of its effects.”

Matt looked horrified, and Albus couldn’t blame him. What did Burke mean by that? Even after the worst full moon Matt never seemed as bad as Burke looked now.

Burke gave a wry smile, noticing the look on Matt’s face. “I merely meant it holds me back from doing what I’d like, what I need to do. It is slowly killing me, and before it does, it will leave me bedridden and unable to brew. As you can see, it is getting worse. That seizure I had, which led to my unplanned trip to St. Mungo’s, will not be the last. Unless…unless I am able to slow it down, to cure it even.” His eyes drifted to his mystery potion.

Suddenly, Albus realized what that potion was, why Burke was so secretive about it, and why it seemed to mean everything to him. Because it did mean everything to him. It was his cure, or at least the start of it.

“I have been unsuccessful thus far,” Burke said. “Which is blatantly obvious given my current state. But I will continue until I am no longer able to do so. If I am lucky, I will succeed before that and I will live as long as Albus Dumbledore, creating many breakthrough potions before I die.”

“You’re-“ Matt began, his voice hoarse, “you’re trying to cure your own disease?”

Burke smiled again. “I am, much like your sister is trying to cure yours.”

“She wants to fix Wolfsbane,” Matt corrected. “There’s no cure for lycanthropy.”

“Not yet,” Burke said. “Nor is there a cure for what I have, but it is my hope that this potion will turn into a cure. Or at least a way to stall the symptoms. I have far too many potions I am working on to die in the near future. If I expire before they are finished, I fear my current research will simply fall away. Very few people go into the field of potion research and no one has time to continue an old man’s projects after he dies.”

“Sir, are you going to stay at Hogwarts?” Kaden asked. “And I would continue your projects.”

“Yes, Kaden,” Burke said, smiling. “As long as Professor Kendrick will have me. And thank you. That means a lot.”

Rose glanced at Burke suspiciously. “But why did you come to Hogwarts? Teaching only takes time away from your research.”

“At first glance, yes, Miss Weasley, it does,” Burke answered. “But teaching is a noble profession, and it is my hope that I will inspire a few Hogwarts students to go into brewing as a career. By teaching, I can secure the field of brewing even beyond my death. That was my first reason. My second was selfish. I needed help with the day-to-day task of caring for my potions, and that will only increase in necessity as this terrible disease robs me of fine motor skills.”

“Why not hire assistants?” Rose asked.

“I do not have the funds for that,” Burke said. “Brewing is expensive, and I use all my gold for ingredients. The Ministry provides funds for potions researchers, but I choose to do it on my own, so I am not affiliated with them. The Ministry has great control over what potions are researched with their money. I use private grants, but they take time to secure, so I must be careful about how I spend.”

Albus exchanged a glance with Matt, knowing he was thinking the same thing. Was money the reason Burke brewed Polyjuice?

“The third reason,” Burke continued, his eyes resting on Matt, “was you, Mr. Eckerton. You began taking my experimental Anxiety Potion with aconite almost a year ago, and the opportunity to see its effects firsthand was too good an opportunity to pass up. I must say it’s working quite well, unless you disagree?”

“N-no,” Matt stammered. “It’s working fine.”

Burke looked rather pleased with himself as he fingered the top of his cane. “Excellent, excellent. I must ask you to leave now, as I am in need of rest. I will see you in class tomorrow, Mr. Potter, Mr. Eckerton, Miss Weasley. Kaden, I will see you tomorrow evening. I am afraid I require more assistance with the potions than before my visit to St. Mungo’s.”

Without waiting for a reply, Professor Burke rose unsteadily from the chair and shuffled to the door leading to his living quarters. Albus stood up and left, his friends following.

“That,” Matt began, “was weird.”

“Are you okay?” Kaden asked, looking at Matt. “Your face is all red and blotchy.”

“It’s the aconite in there,” Matt said. “I’ll be fine. There wasn’t very much.”

“Then you shouldn’t have gone in!” Rose said.

“I wanted to hear what Burke had to say,” Matt said. “I’m fine. I promise.”

Rose didn’t look convinced, but Albus thought Matt looked a lot better than he had when they’d gone into the apothecary in Diagon Alley. Clearly he wasn’t having a full allergic reaction.

“Did any of you think he was ill?” Rose asked as they walked up the stairs to the Entrance Hall. “Before he had the seizure?”

“No,” Albus said. “I thought he was just clumsy, but I suppose he always dropped things and knocked stuff over because of his illness, right?”

Rose nodded. “He did a really good job of hiding it.”

“Everyone will know now,” Kaden said. “As soon as they see him, what with that cane. And he looks terrible.”

“He doesn’t really think what I’ve got is similar to what he’s got, does he?” Matt asked. He looked worried.

“He can’t,” Albus said. “You’ve got lycanthropy. He’s obviously got something else. You get ill and then get better every month. There are only lasting effects if you injure yourself.”

Matt sighed. “Not exactly, Al. People’s bodies aren’t exactly designed to change shape and back again once a month. It’s got lasting effects. Even if Amy comes up with better Wolfsbane, it’s still going to have lasting effects.”

That hadn’t ever crossed Albus’s mind. “What sort of effects?”

“General aches and pains all the time, not only just around the full moons. Some people react differently to the transformations and develop other conditions because of it. I’ve been lucky enough not to had to deal with that yet, unless you count the anxiety. And…people like me…tend not to live as long as normal,” Matt said quietly.

“Unless someone cures it,” Rose said quickly. “It’s fully possible that that’ll happen in your lifetime.”

“But even that wouldn’t undo the damage that’s already been done. Remember what happened with my leg in December? That’s only going to happen more often as the bones and joints and everything weaken with every full moon.”

“Don’t think about that now,” Albus said. “We’ve got enough to worry about with O.W.L.s.”

“Al is right,” Rose said, forcing a smile. “Let’s get breakfast and get to the library before all the good tables are taken.”

***

Professor Young was arraigned on Monday, the same day Professor Burke resumed his teaching responsibilities. It was hard to say which topic was discussed the most in the Great Hall during meals that day. Burke’s cane and general sick look were discussed at length, with everyone speculating what exactly he had. During one of these discussions, Albus realized Burke never told them the actual name of his illness, just that he was ill and would eventually die from it. As always with the Hogwarts rumor mill, the speculations ranged from plausible to outrageous. One of the more popular rumors was that Burke was a vampire detoxing from human blood.

The discussion of Professor Young centered around debate of whether anyone would post bail following his arraignment. There was also the subject of who Kendrick had gotten to replace him, and Young’s replacement was none other than Albus’s father. Albus hadn’t been entirely surprised to see his dad sitting at the staff table at breakfast Monday morning, and mostly he felt relieved they’d have a decent Defense professor to help them review for O.W.L.s.

An article about Young’s arraignment was the front page article in the Prophet on Tuesday morning. Albus skimmed it, as it did not contain anything new, until he reached the very end, which gave details about the trial.

“Trial is set to begin on May 31st,” Albus said, setting down the paper. “But they’ve only charged him with the Hogsmeade Murder. Did you know that, Rose?”

“Yes,” Rose answered. “It was in Sunday’s paper. They don’t have evidence to charge him for the Knockturn Alley one, even if they suspect it was him. I’m sure the prosecutor is hoping he’ll confess at some point during the trial.”

“Has anyone bailed him out?” Matt asked, taking the Prophet from Albus’s empty plate.

“No,” Albus said. “It’s really high, since he’s on trial for murder. 500,000 Galleons.”

“Bloody hell,” John whispered. “No one has that kind of money.”

“Only rich purebloods,” Albus said. “And I don’t think Young is rich.”

“So he’s stuck in there for three weeks,” Matt said. “That’s awful.”

That it was. However, Albus found little time to think about Professor Young and his unfortunate arrest and subsequent murder trial over the next three weeks. O.W.L.s were drawing ever nearer and every single professor was now assigning twice as much homework as they had the previous month, all of it review. No one was teaching anything new, for which Albus was grateful. He would’ve thought the review classes would be less work than learning new things, but he was wrong. It surprised him every day how little he remembered from previous years, especially in History of Magic. They’d also lost their study hall time during Defense Against the Dark Arts, since Albus’s dad actually taught. Not that anyone complained.

During the three weeks in which Professor Young sat in Azkaban, surrounded by dementors, three more fifth years required Calming Draughts from Madam Pomfrey, resulting in three raving rants about the exam system and how it brought too much stress upon growing minds. Luckily, Matt was not one of the three who needed to visit the nurse. Professor Burke’s potion seemed to be working, at least during the day; Matt had not had to leave any classes due to panic attacks. The middle of the night was a different story. Albus’s midnight essay writing had become something of a habit and he witnessed two more of Matt’s nightmares that turned into panic attacks, one of which had taken place the night before the full moon and the other the night before Young’s trial was set to begin.

There was much talk in the Great Hall at breakfast on May 31st. The Prophet had reached new levels of insanity, publishing not only a life story of Young and restating everything they’d already published about Michael Sheldon’s murder, but also a description of his arrest, in which Auror Johnson greatly exaggerated his own heroics.

“This is utter crap,” Matt said, tossing the paper onto the table. He looked exhausted and Albus doubted whether he’d gotten any sleep after he recovered in the wee hours of the morning. “He didn’t put up any sort of struggle that I heard. The only thing he did was argue with Johnson.”

Rose sighed. “Come on, Ancient Runes. I don’t want to be late.” Albus and Matt hurried after her.

Albus had a difficult time paying attention in Ancient Runes. His whole mind was focused on Professor Young. How long would the trial take? Would the members of the Wizengamot be influenced by Auror Johnson and Laurentis or would they remain impartial? Albus was sure there was no way they could convict him if it was the latter.

“So they must still be investigating the Knockturn Alley murder,” Albus said as they walked to Herbology after Ancient Runes. “Right? Since Young was only charged with the Hogsmeade Murder.”

“Supposedly,” Rose agreed. “But I think they’re probably hoping people will assume Young did both.”

“It’s easy to, the way the Prophet is implying that he did both.”

“I think I might skive off History of Magic,” Matt said, changing the subject entirely. “I don’t think I’ll make it to Astronomy unless I get a nap. Sorry, what were you talking about?”

“The trial,” Albus said. “Are you all right?”

Matt shook his head. “I feel all jittery and on edge. I don’t think anything except sleep will help.”

“Why doesn’t that potion work at night?” Rose asked. “Should you take more of it?”

“It’s because I can’t control what I dream about. My nightmares are about my worst fears, and that sets it off.”

“You ought to learn Occlumency,” Rose said. “Learn to close your mind. My mum could teach you.”

“Isn’t Occlumency just about closing your mind to intruders?” Matt asked skeptically. “No one’s trying to read my thoughts.”

“That is the main goal of it, yes,” Rose said. “But it’s also about learning how to fall asleep with an empty mind. If you’re thinking about nothing when you fall asleep, you might not have as many nightmares.”

“But I can’t control what I think about after I fall asleep,” Matt said.

“It might still be worth a shot,” Rose said. “Couldn’t hurt, could it?”

“I suppose not,” Matt agreed.

Rose nodded. “I’ll owl her and maybe you could do it over the summer.”

“Thanks. In the meantime, I’ve learned all the History of Magic that I possibly can. I’m taking a nap after lunch. And don’t try to convince me not to.”

“I won’t,” Rose assured him. “It’s not like you want to skip for a stupid reason.”

Albus pushed open the oak front doors, revealing a beautiful spring day. The air was warm, with just a slight breeze, and only a few white clouds obscured the mid-morning sun.

“Maybe I’ll spend History of Magic out here,” Matt said. “Great day to nap by the lake.”

“If you do that, I’ll be tempted to fake a headache and skive off,” Albus said.

“No, Albus, you really can’t afford to do that,” Rose said as she led them down the path to the Herbology greenhouses.

Albus sighed. He couldn’t wait until exams were over and he could enjoy some well-deserved time wandering around the grounds. Even more so, he was looking forward to the summer holidays.

They arrived at the greenhouses a few minutes later. Rose opened the door and Albus and Matt followed her inside. Matt stopped short upon seeing what was sitting on the work tables.

“I thought we were done repotting mandrakes,” Matt said, eyeing the closest mandrake warily.

“We are,” Professor Longbottom said. There was a glint of excitement in his eyes. “Today we’re harvesting them! Although I suppose you won’t be able to do that either, will you? No…we’ll have to take them out of the pots to harvest them and they’ll scream…we’ll stun them straight away, but there will still be a few minutes of screaming. You’ll have to return to the castle. Madam Pomfrey would have my head if I didn’t excuse you.”

Matt nodded, looking extremely relieved. He turned to Albus and Rose. “I’ll see you at lunch.”

“Now you won’t have to miss History of Magic,” Rose pointed out. “You can use this time to nap.”

“I suppose,” Matt said, shrugging. “I’ll see how I feel then.”

Matt left and Albus and Rose quickly found their seats. Albus hoped Rose would help him after she and Amanda finished their own mandrakes. Without Matt, it would take him twice as long.

“This is the day we’ve been waiting for all year!” Professor Longbottom said, clapping his hands together. “Today we harvest the mandrakes. Mandrake harvesting is a tricky task, owing to the fact that the mandrakes are squirmy and must be stunned before harvesting can take place. After they are stunned, they must be chopped into pieces about the size of a Galleon. Put the chunks in the jars provided and I will perform a preservation charm on them after class.

“Next year you will use these same mandrakes in Potions, if you choose to continue with the subject. Professor Burke is very excited for you to use them….”

“I’m not surprised,” Albus whispered to Rose, “he’ll know exactly where these mandrakes have been.”

“…Knives can be found on the back table, jars on the front. Earmuffs must be worn throughout the period, as the stunning will wear off if you are not quick enough.”

Longbottom released them and there was a mad scramble for earmuffs, jars, and knives. Albus took his supplies back to his table, put on his earmuffs, and stared at his mandrake. They looked perfectly harmless while potted, the only indication of life being the occasional movement of the leaves.

Grimacing, Albus brandished his wand and grabbed hold of the mandrake’s leaves with his other hand. He yanked, and it broke free of its pot, letting out an awful scream. The scream was even louder than before, most likely since the mandrakes had reached maturity. Not wanting to listen to it any longer, Albus stunned the mandrake and it fell limp.

Once stunned, it was surprisingly easy to harvest the mandrakes. It was very similar to preparing potions ingredients, something Albus had much experience with. However, more than a few of Albus’s fellow students had difficulty since their stunning spells weren’t nearly as strong as his and wore off in mid-harvest. At this point one person was needed to hold the mandrake while another person stunned it again.

By the end of the class all the mandrakes had been harvested and were contained in a pyramid of jars, ready for Longbottom to preserve them. Albus couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction that the mandrake project was over. It was something they’d been working on all year, and the fact that it was over seemed to signify the end of term. Only three weeks remained, and only O.W.L.s stood between the fifth years and the freedom of summer.