Chapter 11: The Fight with Malfoy

"Wow." Naomi gasped.

Albus had just told them how it went in McGonagall's office. "I can't believe it, truly. How- how can it happen?" Naomi continued.

"I thought Voldemort was rather evil and therefore didn't think much about things before he was defeated, probably because he thought he was going to win," Andrew continued, "but now, Voldemort's come and this time he's clever, too.They were in the Gryffindor common room. Just then, Naomi picked up the Daily Prophet she was reading before Albus told her the story. "I think," Naomi whispered, "I knew Voldemort was back before you did, Albus. It's just, I didn't believe myself."

Albus grabbed the copy of the Daily Prophet. The headlines blared: TEN VICTIMS OF THE UNFORGIVABLE CURSE, AVADA KEDAVRA.

"What can this prove? Voldemort's back so he's striking all those innocent people just for fun." Albus shrugged. 

Naomi smirked. "That's what you think at first. Look, I'll read the passage to you: As Halloween draws to a close, there has been a very spooky case about ten victims found in Sierra Alley. The victims were found right in front of the antiques shop in Sierra Alley. From the Antiques shop, a very, very rare artifact called 'Crotalus.' It is a very rare amulet that once belonged in the worthy hands of one of Hogwart's founders, Salazer Slytherin. One person named Romev Dolt and his friend, Ervain Antis Nagof, claimed to have seen it happen."

"So? Two people saw it." Andrew shrugged. 

 Naomi smirked. "In this piece of text, I found anagrams. I thought that Romev Dolt and Ervain Antis Nagof were weird names, so I rearranged the letters. I rearranged Romev Dolt to form one name: Voldemort. I was reading this Prophet the whole time during Breakfast because I simply saw these anagrams."

"What about The Servant of Nagini?" Andrew asked.

"If I look carefully, I think I can see that Ervain Antis Nagof spells into 'The Servant of Nagini.' Anagrams are quite complicated."

"Naomi." Albus swallowed, "does this mean Voldemort tricked the people into thinking he was actually Romev Dolt?"

"Yeah, of course. But first of all, I find it a little hard to concentrate on schoolwork lately, Albus, and I must tell you why."

"Because Scorpius is always mocking the teacher with these hand movements?" Andrew cut in.

"No, Andrew. What I am worried of is not that, but the fact that I got attacked by someone. Now, my suspicions are getting a little scary, because now that you said Voldemort is back... it was truly unexpected, Albus, really."

Albus nodded. "I know."

"But what concerns me is all these attacks. Remember when James jinxed your broom but McGonagall used Legilimency to prove James had not done it?" Naomi recalled.

Albus nodded. "Yes. But who did it?"

"Albus, I think Voldemort is trying to kill you." Naomi answered. 

Andrew gasped.

"Why? He's after my father, not me."

"Look further into the situation, you'll see. If Voldemort kills you, then that'll strike your Dad and hurt his feelings real bad. When you are sad or upset, magic comes out a little weakly when you do it. This will make Voldemort be able to get your father. When he is sad and his powers are weak." Naomi explained.

Andrew scratched his hair nervously. "You're really smart when you try, Naomi."

Naomi smiled for an answer.

"Then Voldemort probably did the Avada Kedavra on you. But why? Why not me?" Albus asked.

Naomi shrugged. "I-I don't know. Perhaps I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, I must suspect."

Andrew sat back. "It's starting up again. Don't you two see? This is danger. It's coming, the attacks, the killed people, the curses, the weird stuff about Horcruxes and all that, the evil magic, the terrible spells. It's all coming back, along with Voldemort."

There was a long silence.

Albus shuffled his feet. Borthwick shuffled in his owl cage. The howling wind outside the windows increased. The moon in the sky was bright, a perfect night for the werewolves to roam. But it was not this that troubled Albus: it was all these terrible problems swarming freely in his mind. Here and there they flew, and a headache was what they'd concluded to. All the Voldemort this and Voldemort that was bothering him. He needed a break, but a break was not available.

"Maybe," Albus said, "If we wait for any further copies of the Daily Prophet, we can find more anagrams."

Naomi sighed. "Oh, Albus, I don't know. I feel awful about all these bundles of problems. Mysteries are not my thing. We don't know what to do next, and three kids like us can't convince the Ministry of Magic that Romev Dolt is Voldemort. They'll think we're kidding around, silly kids."

Andrew stood up from his chair. "But we're not. I'm going to be talking to McGonagall first thing tomorrow, before breakfast. She ought to be there. I can't take chances when it comes to Voldemort, we've got to have someone powerful by our side."

Albus shrugged. "I think McGonagall just might take it the right way, but I think... I think she'll be a bit too logical and think that we're wrong."

Naomi nodded plainly. 

"So what can we do?" Andrew folded his arms.

"I don't know."

The next morning Albus awoke and put on a clean set of robes and followed Andrew out to the Great Hall for breakfast, joining Naomi, when Scorpius arrived.

"Here comes Scorpy." Andrew whispered in Albus's ear. 

"I heard that, pea brain." Scorpius sneered. 

"Oh did you, Malfoy? I'm glad you liked the little nickname I made for you." Andrew shot back.

Malfoy looked smug. "Say, it's Potter here. Oh, and there's his girlfriend, Naomi."

Naomi glared.

"Too bad they left you out, Andrew." Malfoy continued.

"Be quiet, Malfoy." Naomi glared pointedly.

"Why don't you be quiet, Maxwell? You have a much bigger mouth than me, I must say."

Albus gritted his teeth. "That's saying something, isn't it, when it comes to how much you like to babble just about anything?"

"Shut that big mouth of yours, Potter," Malfoy sneered.

"If you don't be quiet, I'll-" Albus began, but Malfoy pointed his wand and said, "RICTUSEMPRA!"

Before the spell his Albus, however, he quickly pointed his wand and yelled, "PROTEGO!"

The spell Malfoy conjured shot straight back at him, but just then, the caretaker rushed into the room. Aaron Abelard, the caretaker, was, as usual, hidden beneath the hood of his cloak. Before the spell could come, the caretaker said, "SALVIO HEXIA."
Abelard turned to Albus, Naomi, and Andrew. "It is not nice to have these wizard duels," The caretaker bellowed, "without teacher permission. Is it true, Potter, you used the Rictusempra spell against Scorpius Malfoy?"
"He did it to me, first, sir!" Albus said.
"I do not ask of such nonsense to be pointed towards me. I saw you conjuring a Rictusempra, and therefore you, Potter, and your two pals will have detention."
With that, the caretaker turned, his cloak swishing, and disappeared.