Hogwarts: A Future

Chapter Four: Outsiders In

Al froze in the doorway of the Entrance Hall. The September night breeze seemed to feel even cooler against the back of his neck where hot perspiration now beaded up. The combination of the colder temperature outside and the sudden flush that prickled his body make Al feel ill.

'Lumos,' said a boy's voice, and in the bright light of the wand tip Al could see four older students standing in front of him, all with their wands in hand. The boy with his wand illuminated stood near the back of the group, and in the bright light Al couldn't see the faces of the other students clearly. Their dark shadows stretched across the Entrance Hall.

'Huh,' one of the students sounded surprised and walked forward slightly to scrutinize Al's face. 'It isn't him,' she said. Al hoped silently that Scorpious would have the good sense to remain hidden outside in the grounds before replying, 'uh, him who?' He bit his lip. Even to his own ears the question sounded false.

'What're you doing out of bed firsty?' asked another of the, Al realised, much taller figures.

'Um. Er, couldn't sleep.' Al said lamely. They laughed unpleasantly. From the tilt of their heads Al knew they had glanced at each other. If these students were prepared to gang up on a first year from their own house, Al thought as nauseous shivers ran through him, what would they do to him? He had an abrupt flash of the comments other people would make over the next day when these students would reveal what they had done. Al was from a large enough family to know that nothing remains secret for long. Everyone hears about it, and from what James had said, school was just the same. Another shudder rippled through him. What would James, Freddie, Louis and Roxanne say when they found out about this? And found out Al couldn't defend himself, as he was sure they would be able to. It was a cold feeling. He had never been threatened before, had always had his parents, siblings, cousins there. He felt ashamed that he had come to school thinking that bullying was just a thing which happened in books.

'What House are you in?' the girl asked, moving forward again, frowning. Al started.

'Er,' he bit his lip again.

'Hey, I recognise you,' the first boy pipped up. 'You're a Potter.'

Well, thought Al, at least Aunt Hannah probably wouldn't tell his parents about this until after she healed whatever they were going to do to him. He tried to maintain eye contact, but couldn't.

'Ha, a Potter. That's worse than a bloodtraitor. What're you doing out of bed Potty? Think you own the school, do you? Think you can just wander around without consequences?' the girl moved closer with each horribly drawn out word, her wand now raised. She was close enough to be blocking some of the wand light, and Al could see the mean smile that stretched across her face.

'No,' whispered Al. He couldn't move.

'What was that?' one of the boys taunted, 'Speak up Potter. Let's all hear what one of the great Potters has to say.'

They laughed again. Al could only stare down at his slippers, hearing the mingling sounds of their cruel laughter and the blood beating in his ears.

'He's shaking, look!' the girl laughed again.

'Wait until my mother hears about this, a Potter quivering, she'll love it!' the boy with the illuminated wand laughed savagely.

'Why?' whispered Al.

Without warning the girl had his hair in a fierce grip, he gasped from mingled surprise and pain as she yanked upward.

'D'you know my name, Potter?' she asked, and without waiting for a response continued, 'it's Aello Mulciber.' She paused to yank again on Al's hair. 'My uncle has been in Azkaban since YOUR,' she started to punctuate every word with another yank, 'DAD. PUT. HIM. THERE.'