accompany him. James shoved his plate away and stood as well, meaning to head Albus off near the door. He wanted to warn him about Tabitha's broom, but that wasn't all he meant to say. Albus was accepting this whole Slytherin assignment too easily, and James couldn't help feeling it was a betrayal of his family. He firmed his jaw as he turned to catch up to the departing Slytherins near the door.
'James,' a voice rang out. James glanced back and stopped. Tabitha Corsica was approaching him from behind, smiling pleasantly. She had apparently broken away from Albus' constant entourage. James merely looked at her.
'I'm glad to see that you still feel comfortable dining at the Slytherin table,' Tabitha said, affecting a warm smile. 'I know there was some… unpleasantness last year. I am glad to see that it hasn't strained interhouse relations.'
James shook his head, his anger rising. 'Just stuff it, Corsica. There are no 'inter-house relations'. Just because Ralph is my friend, it doesn't mean I'm all smiles about what you and your lot stand for. I haven't forgotten the debate.'
'Nor have I forgotten that you attempted to steal my broomstick before the tournament match last year,' Tabitha said, batting her eyes coquettishly. 'But I've decided to let bygones be bygones. I'd have thought you might feel a bit different, considering everything.'
'Considering that Albus ended up going to the Slytherins just to spite Scorpius?' James spat. 'He doesn't know what he's doing. And you're taking advantage of him.'
Tabitha frowned slightly. 'I'm sorry you feel that way, James. We happen to think that Albus fits in with us very nicely. He tells me that you witnessed his remarkable practice flight the other night, and I want you to know that I am quite glad you did. There was no trickery there. Albus is very talented. He will make a valuable addition to the Slytherin Quidditch team. And since you mention Scorpius Malfoy, I would think that the fact of his Sorting would prove to you precisely what I've been saying all along.'
James glanced toward the door. Albus was leaving without so much as a look back. 'What's Scorpius have to do with anything?' he asked.
'Well,' Tabitha replied, arching her eyebrows, 'Scorpius has either broken from the tradition of his father, choosing courage and valor over ambition, thus proving his worth as a Gryffindor. Or the Slytherins have changed, no longer to be the house of greed and corruption, as was the case in the day of Scorpius' father. Either way…,' she smiled, waiting for James to give her his full attention, 'it is proof that the Sorting Hat knows its business. Your brother is in Slytherin because that, James, is where he belongs. I truly hope you will not feel the continued need to interfere with that.'
'He's my brother,' James replied. 'I'll interfere wherever I see fit.'
'I'm not threatening you, James,' Tabitha said, the smile going out of her voice, 'I'm doing you the favor of warning you. Your brother is special. It may well be that we Slytherins are the only house that could recognize that. Albus has a destiny. I tell you this as a friend: if anyone attempts to stand in the way of that destiny, even you, they do so at their own risk.'
James studied Tabitha's face. She seemed remarkably sincere, and yet it was so hard to trust anything she said. 'What do you think you know about Al's destiny?'
Tabitha smiled a little again. 'That's for him to tell if he chooses. But I expect he hardly realizes it himself yet. My advice, James: watch and wait. And enjoy your brother's success. It's what he would do for you.'
With that, Tabitha turned, her robes sweeping delicately, and left the Great Hall.
After dinner, James was accompanied by Ralph and Rose to the Gryffindor common room. On the way, he told them about his conversation with Tabitha and her unsettling proclamation of Albus' potential, but neither of them seemed particularly impressed.
'That's the way she always talks,' Ralph said dismissively. 'Even some of the Slytherins tend to view her as a bit of a drama queen.'
'You mean anyone other than you and Trenton?' James asked, arching an eyebrow.
'They do seem to sincerely like Albus,' Rose commented, stepping through the portrait hole. 'Maybe it's all true. Maybe Albus is the boy of destiny. Apparently, that kind of thing runs in the family, just like dark hair and Quidditch skills.'
'It's not funny,' James said, but he couldn't help smiling a little.
'You should just come with me down to the Slytherin common room one of these nights,' Ralph suggested. 'See for yourself how Albus gets along with everybody. Honestly, he does seem to fit in pretty well. It'll put your mind at ease.'
The three made their way across the crowded common room, joining Noah, Damien, and Sabrina on a pair of couches in a dark corner.
'We were just talking about you, James,' Noah proclaimed, patting the couch cushion next to him. James flung himself onto the couch, happy to be among his friends.
'We've got an idea,' Sabrina said wisely, tapping the side of her nose.
'Does it have anything to do with the Heracles window again?' Ralph asked, grinning. 'That was a big hit even with the Slytherins. Filch still hasn't gotten it entirely back to rights. Heracles' face keeps reverting to Malfoy's overnight.'
'It's all in the wrist,' Damien said proudly, flexing his hand.
'No, this is even better,' Noah replied, leaning forward on the couch and lowering his voice. 'It's this Debellows disaster that's got everybody in a lather. Seems that people don't so much mind a little physical training; I mean the guy does have a point that battling the Dark Arts does sometimes require a little actual fighting. But this whole no-spells thing for the younger years is just over the top. And so it got us thinking…'
'This has happened before!' Sabrina said, smacking James on the shoulder.
James glanced around at the Gremlins. 'I'm missing something,' he admitted.
'Back in your dad's day,' Damien replied, rolling his eyes. 'The reign of Umbridge the Terrible.
'It wouldn't surprise me,' James said, smiling crookedly. 'It seems I haven't read any of the right books.'
Rose made an annoyed noise. 'Umbridge was the D.A.D.A. teacher,' she explained. 'She refused to teach them any usable defensive techniques because she was a Ministry tool, back when the Ministry was trying to squash any and all rumors about the return of 'He Who Must Not be Named'.' She pronounced the euphemism with obvious sarcasm.
'I remember,' James finally said, nodding. 'But that's not what Debellows is about.'
Sabrina cut James off. 'It amounts to the same thing. So your plan is to solve it the same way.'
'Oh no,' James said, shaking his head. 'No way. I'm not starting up another Dumbledore's Army. I just got done telling Cameron Creevey the other night that I'm not my father. I don't want people thinking I'm trying to relive all of his old adventures.'
'Not to fear,' Noah said, throwing his arm around James' shoulders. 'No one will be thinking that. For one thing, we can't use that name.'
'Agreed,' Damien replied. 'Too old-school. Maybe 'Merlin's Army'?'
