An Unlikely Savior ~ (Edit) COMPLETED

Chapter 63 ~ Payback

After being grilled by James and Rose, Albus admitted that the Sorting Hat had wanted to put him into Slytherin, but he told it he wanted to be in Gryffindor.

”I did what dad did,” he said. “I knew he wanted me to be in Gryffindor, and I wanted to be in Gryffindor. Not Voldemort’s house.”

This was quite the revelation. So, Albus was a Slytherin in Gryffindor? Harry had received some of Voldemort’s power by transference. But Albus was born with Slytherin traits. Well, it explained a lot about his personality.

“I’m not sure it’s over with Eileen, Albus,” Rose said. “She might want a rematch. That was a great bit of magic, but you were lucky, you know. You caught her off-guard sending the snake back at her, but now that she knows you can do that, she won’t use the same spell again.”

”If she wants a rematch, I’ll give it to her. It’s allowed just once in the dueling rules,” he responded sullenly.

Albus knew that if there were a rematch, there was a chance he could lose. It really had been lucky Eileen chose that spell.

”I think you should both leave it alone, Albus. If she asks you for a rematch, you should say no,” James told his brother.

”Yeah, and look like a coward,” Albus snorted. “I’m not going to do that.”

“Stupid,” James spat under his breath and walked away.

“I’ll see you, Albus,” Rose said softly, leaving as well.

It was late, and mostly everyone had retired. Albus was the House hero, having vanquished the dreaded Eileen Snape. He didn’t say much as they fawned over him and asked him about being a Parselmouth.

”I inherited it from my dad,” he said shortly. Then James, Rose, Hugo and Lily came in and everyone withdrew to let the family talk. By the time they finished, everyone had retired. Well, almost everyone.

Albus sat in the common room alone, thinking about Eileen. He had beaten her. That would make her notice him now, show her that he was a strong wizard. Stronger than Alsop anyway. She wouldn’t walk all over him. But, he still didn’t know how to approach her, or if he ever would. He didn’t know why he was attracted to her. She was unfriendly, cold, seemingly untouchable.

Maybe that’s what attracted him. He didn’t like anything too easy. Being Harry’s son gave him a little celebrity and usually he could get what he wanted out of people, although he hardly wanted much. Shags. He liked shagging. He didn’t always get the witches he wanted, but he could always get in a snog or touch or two. To Eileen Snape, he’d always been a non-entity.

He certainly wasn’t now. He was younger than her, but only by a year. That was nothing. Witches went out with younger wizards all the time at Hogwarts, as long as they acted mature. But there was the matter of Alsop. Albus loved his brother, of course, but he was such a brainy marshmallow. If he wanted Eileen, why wasn’t he going out with her yet? He was always around her. But since she didn’t have a boyfriend, as far as Albus was concerned she was fair game, even if his brother did like her. If he liked her, he needed to act on it.

Well, he’d find out tomorrow what was going to happen next with Eileen. If she wanted a rematch, he’d give it to her. If she didn’t, well, he’d have to figure out what to do next.

“Albus?” a soft female voice called to him. He looked up with narrowed eyes.

Jennifer, the witch he accompanied to the Christmas ball, and who slapped him at the end of the night for getting too aggressive stood before the fireplace in her housecoat and slippers.

”What?” he said, a bit angrily.

”I’m sorry about slapping you after the ball,” she said, moving closer.

Albus didn’t say anything as she sat down on the sofa beside him, but he did look around the common room to make sure they were alone.

”I—I just wasn’t ready for that,” she said softly as he stared into the fire. But he was listening. “I’m sorry.”

”You already said that,” Albus replied, then turned his head toward her.

”What do you really want, Jennifer?” he asked her.

She shrugged.

”I don’t know,” she admitted. “Maybe to start over? To get to know you better?”

Albus’ eyes drifted over her slowly and she reddened a little.

”How much better are you willing to get to know me?” he asked her.

She shrugged again.

Albus suddenly stood up and caught her hand.

”Come on,” he said, pulling her toward the common room closet and opening the door. He looked at her.

”Will you?” he asked her softly.

She blinked at him.

”Yes,” she said in a small voice.

Albus smiled at her, then walked inside the closet, pulling out his wand and igniting the candle lamp hanging above.

Jennifer entered behind him.

”Close the door, Jennifer,” he told her.

She did so. Albus warded it, then turned toward the witch, flicking his wand.

”Silencio,” he breathed, then, “Divesto. Divesto.”

Apparently there were some fringe benefits to besting Hogwarts’ snarkiest witch.

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When Eileen stalked through the common room on the way to breakfast the next morning, her knapsack of books slung over one shoulder, she didn’t hear one squeal from her housemates.

They’d gotten the message.

However, in the entrance hall and the Great Hall, it was a different story. Squeals came from everywhere as she entered with narrowed eyes.

She looked over at the Gryffindor table. Rose, Hugo, Lily and James looked back at her soberly, not finding the squealing funny at all. Her brown eyes shifted to Albus, who stared back at her, his own brown eyes narrowed. Eileen looked away from him and sat down.

She ignored all the squealing and presently it died down as she stoically ate her meal. However, the chuckling continued. She didn’t care. If anyone tried anything, they’d find her just as fast and as mean as ever. Maybe worse, now that she had a point to make.

Albus ate slowly, watching Eileen eat. He meant to leave the Great Hall just before she did and wait for her and find out if she wanted a rematch.

From the Ravenclaw table, Alsop’s eyes rested on Eileen’s back. He wanted to talk to her, too.

Albus saw her pushing her plate away, quickly stood up and left the Great Hall. He stood outside expectantly.

Eileen left too, followed by Alsop.

”Uh oh,” Rose said as she watched the three of them leave in succession. “That can’t be good.”

”I’m sitting this one out,” James said, picking up a piece of toast.

Hugo started to get up, but Rose hissed at him, “You stay here, Hugo! I mean it. They probably need to talk.”

Hugo sat back down. There was something very serious in Rose’s voice this time. Normally, he just ignored her, but this time—

Eileen exited the Great Hall to see Albus standing there, his arms folded. She started to walk by him.

”Wait, Eileen,” he said, approaching her.

Eileen stopped, just as Alsop walked out of the door. He frowned immediately and hurried up to the pair, joining Eileen and glaring at his brother.

”What are you up to now, Albus?” he asked him.

”Nothing. I just wanted to make sure this was over,” he told his brother, but his eyes met Eileen’s stony gaze. “Is it? Or do you want a rematch?”

”Rematches are bad form,” Eileen replied. “My father says only wizards and witches lacking in character ask for rematches.”

Albus continued to stare at her.

”So, you don’t want one?” he asked.

She shook her head.

”No. You beat me fair and square,” she said tightly “I hope that brings you ‘satisfaction.’”

Albus’ heart started to pound as he suddenly blurted out what he said next.

”No, it doesn’t. What would give me satisfaction is if you’d go to the Valentine’s ball with me,” he said, frowning slightly.

”What?” both Eileen and Alsop said together.

”If you’re really past this, then come to the ball with me,” he repeated as Alsop fairly trembled with rage.

Eileen blinked at him. Did he really expect her to go to a ball with him? He was Alsop’s brother and besides, he’d just turned her into a flying pig.

“You’ve got nads on you bigger than Hogwarts, Albus,” Alsop growled at him, his fists clenched at his sides.

”What? I’m just asking her to a dance,” he shot back at him.

”You knew I was going to ask her,” Alsop fumed back at him.

Eileen watched the exchange in amazement as the brothers argued over her. Students were leaving the Great Hall and stopping to listen.

Alsop suddenly pushed Albus and Albus pushed him back.

”Fight! Fight!” the students all chanted as the brothers drew their wands and pointed them at each other, ready to duel.

James, Rose, Hugo and Lily stood nearby, unable to believe what was happening.

”They’ve both gone nutters,” Hugo breathed as Eileen inserted herself between the two wizards, both of their wands now on her.

”I’m past it, Albus, but, no, I won’t go to the ball with you,” she told the Gryffindor, who frowned at her. “So, there’s no need to fight Alsop.”

Both wizards lowered their wands.

”Why?” he asked her.

”Because, I don’t like you. It’s simple as that,” she responded.

Albus turned red.

”Fine,” he spat, turning on his heel and stalking away.

In the crowd, Jennifer watched him go, her blue eyes filled with tears.

The crowd dispersed, murmuring about the altercation between the brothers. Eileen looked at Alsop, whose chest was rising and falling rapidly, a glazed look in his eyes as they followed Albus, who headed for the dungeons and his potions class.

“Alsop, are you all right?” she asked him.

He looked at her.

”No. I’m not all right, Eileen. This would never have happened if you stopped putting me off and would be my girlfriend. No one else would ask you out,” he said angrily.

Then he stalked away, heading up the marble staircase quickly, Eileen looking after him, perplexed.

So, this was her fault? Alsop sounded as if wizards were lining up to go out with her. That wasn’t the case at all. People were staring at her and whispering. She scowled and headed off to her next class, completely aggravated.

**********************************************

That evening, Albus was walking down the fourth floor corridor alone, just wandering through the castle. It was suppertime and most of the students were in the Great Hall. He needed to think. Eileen had shot him down. He should have known she would, but, he was compelled to rush in when he saw an opening. She might have said yes.

“Stupefy!” a voice shrieked, the hex hitting him from behind.

He crumpled.

Someone walked up to his fallen body, pointed a wand at him and hissed, “Furnunculus!” He was immediately covered in boils.

”Take that Albus Potter,” Jennifer snarled at the unconscious wizard before she stalked away.

Apparently, there were disadvantages to besting Hogwarts’ snarkiest witch, then asking her out as well.

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A/N: Lol. I know y’all were probably expecting some other kind of payback. ;) Ah well, keep ‘em guessing. Thanks for reading. ***

A/N/N: By the way someone donated to read one of my original stories, but I couldn't find a small fruit cake, so I suffered through with a bit of cinnamon pull-apart bread with raisins. Coupled with a cold glass of milk, it hit the spot. I'm happy now. :)