The fire in the Slytherin common room burned low that evening.
Most students had already gone to their dormitories. The greenish glow from the lake outside the windows shimmered across the stone walls, giving the room an almost underwater silence.
Albus Severus Potter sat rigidly in his chair.
The letter from his father rested in his hands.
Across from him, Scorpius Malfoy watched quietly.
"Well?" Scorpius asked.
Albus didn't answer immediately.
He unfolded the parchment slowly.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
Strong. Clean. Familiar.
The handwriting of Harry Potter.
Albus began reading.
His expression changed almost instantly.
Scorpius leaned forward.
"What does it say?"
Albus lowered the parchment slowly.
"He says… Hogwarts is supposed to be difficult."
Scorpius blinked.
"That doesn't sound so bad."
Albus continued reading quietly.
"He says people stared at him too."
Scorpius nodded.
"That's probably true."
But Albus's voice had grown colder.
"He says I need to stop worrying about what people think and focus on becoming a good wizard."
Scorpius frowned slightly.
"That still doesn't sound terrible."
Albus folded the letter again.
"He also says fighting in class is unacceptable."
"Well… he's not wrong."
Albus stared at the fire.
"He doesn't understand."
Scorpius tilted his head.
"Understand what?"
Albus didn't answer.
Instead he reread the final lines silently.
*You are stronger than you think, Albus.*
*But strength comes from discipline.*
*Love,*
*Dad.*
The words should have comforted him.
Instead they made the knot in his chest tighter.
"He thinks I'm just overreacting," Albus muttered.
Scorpius shrugged gently.
"He might just be trying to help."
"You don't get it."
Albus's voice sharpened slightly.
"My father defeated Lord Voldemort."
The name echoed quietly in the empty room.
"He fought in a war," Albus continued.
"He's famous everywhere. People respect him. People admire him."
Scorpius listened carefully.
"And you feel like you can't measure up."
Albus didn't respond.
But his silence answered the question.
---
The next morning made things worse.
Breakfast in the Great Hall was unusually tense.
Word about the fight in Defense Against the Dark Arts had spread overnight.
Students whispered openly now.
"Did you hear?"
"Potter attacked someone."
"Typical Slytherin behavior."
Scorpius sat quietly beside Albus.
"You're becoming famous already."
Albus sighed.
"That's exactly what I didn't want."
Across the hall, the Gryffindor table was unusually loud.
James Potter was telling a story.
Several students were laughing.
Albus watched his older brother for a moment.
James looked completely comfortable.
Confident.
Popular.
Everything Albus felt he wasn't.
Scorpius followed his gaze.
"That's your brother?"
Albus nodded.
"He seems… well adjusted."
"Yeah," Albus said quietly.
"He always is."
---
Later that afternoon, something unexpected happened.
Albus and Scorpius were walking through a quiet stone corridor near the library.
Footsteps echoed behind them.
A calm voice spoke.
"Albus Potter."
They both turned.
A young witch stood at the end of the corridor.
Her silver hair caught the torchlight, giving it a faint glow.
Her expression was warm.
Almost friendly.
"I've been hoping to meet you."
Albus frowned slightly.
"Do I know you?"
She smiled gently.
"Not yet."
Then she looked at Scorpius.
"And you must be Scorpius Malfoy."
Scorpius shifted uneasily.
"How do you know our names?"
The witch stepped closer.
"Oh, people talk," she said lightly.
"But I'm not interested in rumors."
Her eyes lingered on Scorpius briefly.
"Especially the unpleasant ones."
Scorpius said nothing.
Albus crossed his arms.
"So who are you?"
The witch smiled again.
"My name is Delphi."
Delphi.
There was something strangely calm about her voice.
Comforting.
Reassuring.
"I work with the Ministry sometimes," she continued.
"Your father and I have crossed paths before."
That caught Albus's attention immediately.
"You know my dad?"
"Only a little," Delphi said smoothly.
"But I know something about both of you."
Scorpius raised an eyebrow.
"What's that?"
Delphi's smile deepened slightly.
"You both understand what it's like to live in someone else's shadow."
Albus felt a chill run through him.
Delphi leaned casually against the wall.
"Tell me something," she said quietly.
"Have either of you ever wondered if the past could be changed?"
Scorpius frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Delphi's eyes sparkled faintly.
"What if mistakes in history could be fixed?"
The corridor suddenly felt colder.
Albus felt something strange stirring in his mind.
"What kind of mistakes?"
Delphi looked directly at him.
"The kind that ruined people's lives."
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Delphi straightened.
"Well," she said pleasantly, "something to think about."
She turned and walked away down the corridor.
Her footsteps faded slowly.
Scorpius looked at Albus.
"That was… strange."
Albus nodded slowly.
But something about her question kept echoing in his mind.
*What if the past could be changed?*
Neither boy realized that the idea had just been planted.
And once planted—it would grow into the most dangerous decision of their lives.
---