Hogwarts: A Future

Chapter Eight: Salamander's Spots

The third Friday at Hogwarts rolled on as easily as the first two. Al was conscious of Rose's worry last Tuesday about being friends, so at breakfast he joined her at the Ravenclaw table.

'Rosie, let's go watch the Quidditch try-outs tomorrow?'

'Ooo, yes! Isn't James trying out?' Rose beamed excitedly, passing Al a jug of apple juice.

'Yes, I hope he gets in. He's been threatening to keep practicing with me if he doesn't.' Al made a comically morose face.

'They were some impressive bruises.' Rose laughed.

'Dad had to tell him, 'if you can't control where the Bludger is going, ask me for a cushioning charm, your brother isn't a beater's bat!' Al deepened his voice, attempting to mimic his father. The cousins were laughing over their porridge, when a shadow fell upon them.

'Well Albus Potter,' a gruff voice spoke, 'when are you goin' ta see me, ay?'

They looked up at the enormous figure of Rubeus Hagrid.

'Hagrid!' they both grinned up at him, 'I'm really sorry, Hagrid,' Al began, 'I meant to come in the first week but...'

'Ah, I know it's excitin' startin' school,' Hagrid's eyes twinkled, 'why don' you come to my hut tomorrow before Quidditch try-outs? Bring ya friends, if you want.'

'Of course Hagrid!' Al stood to hug Hagrid, barely reaching the top of Hagrid's leg.

'Ah, well,' Hagrid spoke again gruffly, patting Al on the top of the head and almost knocking the boy into the Ravenclaw table.

'I know I was meant to visit the first week, with Rosie,' Al sat down, feeling very dizzy, 'but everything sort of, happened.'

'Tha's alright Al. I know tha' Hagrid was interrupted by a gentle voice,

'If you'd excuse me, Professor Hagrid, I would not like to see these first years late for class. Albus, your first lesson is with me.'

All three turned, Hagird inadvertently knocking a Hufflepuff first year almost under his table, to see Professor Goodfellow, again in golden robes, standing before them.

'Oh, right ya are, Professor.' Hagrid smiled, turned back to Rose and Al, 'see ya tomorrow you two.' And he left, humming, toward the doors of the Great Hall and out to the grounds.

Professor Goodfellow smiled down at Rose and Al as she passed, 'I will see you shortly in class, Mr Potter.'

'Yes, Professor,' Al smiled up at her before turning back to his porridge. He expected Rose to being to chat in her usual cheerful way, and was surprised when next to him she maintained a silence. Looking up he saw her head was turned away from him, looking up towards the teacher's table.

'It'll be good to go to Hagrid's. Will you bring anyone?' Al asked, feeling it most unusual that he had to prompt a conversation.

'What? Oh, maybe. I don't know,' Rose turned back to her breakfast, frowning a little.

'What is it?' Al asked in surprise.

'I don't know,' Rose repeated, 'I just... something about Professor Goodfellow I just don't like.' She finished in a whisper. Al looked up to where the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher had just taken her seat, chatting to an older teacher. Al shrugged.

'You're probably just remembering all those stories about the Defence teachers that our parents used to tell us, Rosie.'

'Yeah, that's probably it,' she smiled. 'Do you want to meet in the library at lunch so we can get our homework out of the way before tomorrow? That way we can start the weekend with a clean slate.'