m.i.a.v.i. un: g.g.

[roblet]

I have a number of inquiries if anyone would be willing to humor me. Some are for any Ministry officials reading, others are for anyone.

Will accommodations be made for those of us that cannot legally Apparate yet? What I am asking is this: if one is too young to Apparate and lives in the village set aside for "time deviants," will the community be connected well enough to the floo network that they will be able to get to work in London or will they be restricted to finding work in Hogsmeade for proximity? I am not sure just how close an eye the Ministry intends to keep on us.

What if we already have the Trace on us from another country?

Now for some general questions.

Who is hiring, may I ask? My skill set is wide-spread and I am not very squeamish.

Fellow "time deviants" : how many of you have settled into this provided (as it were) housing? How many of you still need accompaniment or assistance in paying?

When are you from? Where are you from? How do you feel about this place? Tell me these things.

Thank you very much for your time.

Comments

[secondpotter]

[Albus' quill hesitates. Something about that names tugs at his memory. He should know that name... why should he know that name?]

Gellert Grindelwald. That's an unusual name. My name is Albus Severus Potter. Did you really know Headmaster Dumbledore when he was-

[It finally hits Albus why he knows that name. His Dad had a book about Dumbledore - mostly garbage, he said, but it had some interesting stories in it. There was one about young Dumbledore and a young man who would grow up to be the first Dark Lord before Voldemort.

Oh fucking hell.]

[roblet]

[ gellert doesn't know why there's the hesitation or why the sentence cuts off so abruptly but he presses on, curious and intrigued but not offended. ]

Albus Severus Potter? Did your father name you after the Headmaster he is so fond of?

[ there's a spark of jealousy in him - perhaps unfounded - but it doesn't show through text, thankfully. ]

We are very close. I care for him very deeply.

[secondpotter]

[Alarm bells are going off in Albus' head. True, he's dealt with a Dark Lord before. Sort of. Actually, Albus isn't certain if Delphini really qualified as a Dark Lord or as a sort of Dark Lord wannabe. Finding out he was speaking to Gellert Grindelwald was a different matter all together.

Should he reply? Or should he just... close the book. Well, since Gellert knew his bloody name now (good going there, Albus!), he could always track him down.

How did he get into these sorts of situations?]

Sort of. Yeah, you know, I don't think my Dad really knew him. It must have been some other Albus. It's such a common name... and such...

Good! I mean, it's good that you care for your friends. I'm sure he'll be thrilled to see you again.

Um, well, I've gotta run. Things to do and places to see... you know how it is...

[engorgimpressed]

[Cue Scorpius running in to the Leaky Cauldron, darting to Albus' table at a full sprint, and nearly falling onto the table in his attempt to slam Albus' MIAVI notebook closed.

It was a very dramatic entry and now he's terribly out of breath because running is the Absolute Worst and he's just going to collapse ever more dramatically into a chair while heaving and giving Albus Such A Look.]

What-- [gasp] are you doing?

[guess who was reading through his own notebook on the way over]

[secondpotter]

[Albus did not expect to have Scorpius fly through the Leaky Cauldron just to snatch his notebook from his hands. He stares at Scorpius, surprised and a bit confused.]

Uh, well, hello there. What do you mean what am I doing? Oy, don't look at me like that. I'm just... chatting. Texting. Or, whatever it's called in 1980.

...do you think this is how your Dad felt whenever we tried to explain how muggle smartphones work?

[Is that Albus trying to change the subject? Why, yes. Yes he is.]

[engorgimpressed]

[Scorpius doesn't seem to know whether to be incensed or worried or terrified or some dreadful mixture of all three.]

What do I mea--

[He's still breathing hard, and his voice is getting an edge of shriek-y, but drawing even more attention is sort of against his point here. He stops and just tries to settle his breath for a moment, muttering a Muffliato while the regular buzz of the pub returns. He leans in close over the table, keeping his voice low.]

Albus. We're stuck in the past again, in some nightmare timeline where Tom Riddle is Minister, and you just put your full name and the fact that you've time-traveled where anyone could read it. For starters.

[And now he's started, so he has to keep going.] And you just told Gellert Grindelwald you're named after Albus Dumbledore. And-- [did he have another thing? Scorpius throws up his hands.] We are at such a disadvantage, here, Albus, and the only thing we have going for us is what we know that they don't! You have to be more careful about what you say and who you say it to!

[secondpotter]

[It's been a few months since he's seen Scorpius so worked up. The last time was over his final NEWT exam. Albus thought he was going to suffer a heart attack if he didn't de-stress.]

Breathe, Scorpius. It's ok. Really. I know we're in some mad timeline but I doubt that anyone actually reads these things. Especially when it's someone else's conversation. But all right, yes, I probably shouldn't have put my name out there. Of course, I did meet with my Grandmum and told her my name out in the open a few hours ago...

[Albus pauses, now wondering if it had been a good idea to meet with anyone outside of Scorpius.]

I'm sorry, all right? But honestly, I didn't realize who I was speaking to. I understand that's not much of an excuse... but really, just because I'm named after Albus Dumbledore doesn't mean much here. I'm not him, am I? And Gellert Grindelwald is young. Probably our age if not younger. I don't think we're talking full grown Dark Lord levels, after all. I was careless, I admit it, but honestly, I think we'll be all right.

[engorgimpressed]

[He's not panicking, is he? He's been here over a week without panicking why would he be panicking now, just because Albus is here and made a mistake and oh god they're going to die okay yeah he's panicking just a little tiny eensy-weensy bit.

He buries his face in his hands. It's not okay, but hearing Albus say it is makes it feel like it could be, maybe.] Please be more careful, Albus. We can-- We can get you a new pen, with a different username that's not in any way tied to your actual name, and you can't just tell people who you are on that one, alright? That'll be the secret one. But I need you to take this more seriously! We're not just messing about and then trying to fix our own mistakes, this is something-- far more complicated!

[Wait. Hold up. Backtrack a moment. He peers at Albus through his fingers.] You talked to your Grandmum? Which one?

[secondpotter]

[There's more to Scorpius' panic attack than just concern that Albus had completely blown their cover. Albus stands up and shifts across the table, sitting next to Scorpius. He puts his arm around Scorpius' shoulders and hugs him.]

I'm sorry. I am. I promise I'll be more careful next time. I forget what that other world was like, you know? I didn't see it. That doesn't make me less of an arse for running my mouth when I should have kept it shut. We're in this together.

[He picks up his notebook and flips through the pages, showing Scorpius the conversation with Lily.]

Grandma Weasley isn't around, not that I know of. I saw Lily's name show up and I just... I couldn't stop myself. Not after the last time we saw her. Or heard her...

[Where Scorpius is haunted by the visions of the Dark Timeline, Albus is haunted by the sounds of that drifted from the house in Godric Hollow that horrific night.]

[engorgimpressed]

Yeah... [When Albus puts an arm around him, Scorpius slumps against him, closing his eyes for a moment. They're fine, for now. If nothing else, they have each other. And he definitely can't begrudge Albus speaking to his grandmum, especially after-- well.

Merlin, what he wouldn't give to speak to his mum. She wouldn't even be born yet, in this time, but what if she was displaced like them? Even if it meant she had to be trapped here--

No, he probably shouldn't think like that.

He reads through the conversation with Lily, feeling far more settled. More thinking things through than panicking.]

Was it a good talk?

[secondpotter]

[Albus enjoys the quiet moment when Scorpius leans against him. He can't imagine what it would be like if he'd arrived without him here. The only reason he's so open with others is because Scorpius was here. He feels safe. Scorpius always looks after him. No matter what sort of trouble Albus manages to find himself in, he knows that Scorpius is there to help him out of it again. Without him... Albus doesn't even want to consider it. Not in this strange time or even in their own. He doesn't know who he is without him and he doesn't really want to find out. Not if he can help it.]

Yeah. She's a lot like my mum which is funny. I guess you really do gravitate towards people who remind you of your family. She said I looked just like a Potter. Wonder what she'd say if James or Lily showed up here instead...

[Albus trails off, realizing he hasn't thought about his family at home once since he arrived. Strange that he was so worried about missing Scorpius that it didn't occur to him to think about anyone else. Well... maybe it wasn't that strange at all.]

[engorgimpressed]

[Unfortunately for them both, Scorpius can only do so much. He's really gonna need Albus to pick up some of the slack here.

He really doesn't want to move, but the middle of the Leaky Cauldron isn't really the place for a cuddle with his best mate, so he'll reluctantly pull away after a moment.]

I think their names might throw her for another loop, first off. [Scorpius grins a little.] I'd bet someone in your family's shown up, though, or is going to if they haven't already. I mean, it just seems more likely than not. [You know, because there's so many of them.]

[roblet]

[ he's being lied to. fascinating. but why? why, why, why? he wants to know very much. still, he's not against playing a long game. ]

Is it, in Britain? I would not know. I am not a native, forgive me. I had thought it rather rare.

I can only hope so. If he should wish not to see me, I do not know what I would do.

Of course. I hope we can speak again soon, Albus.

NOT HERE

[fishpetals]

[ GRANDSON WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS ]

un: kingweasley

[alwaysreturns]

Your name's WHAT?

[AND YOU'RE TALKING TO WHO???]

[secondpotter]

[Albus has his quill back and he's staring at the latest response. He knows that name. How could he not?]

It's... what I said it was?

Is this who I think it is?

[Uncle Ron?]

private

[alwaysreturns]

[He realizes, belatedly, that writing where anyone can see is going to screw him worse than anything else.]

Dunno, you tell me.

[don't believe his calm writing, he is full of panic]

[secondpotter]

[Ah, a private message. He promised Scorpius he'd be more careful this time. And he meant what he said. But this was his uncle Ron. Surely, Scorpius couldn't be upset with him if he chatted with his uncle.

Could he?]

Ron Weasley. You know I've heard you hum that song on multiple occasions. It alway earns quite a few groans. Once mum charmed a pillow to chase after you to get you to quit.

Hullo.

[alwaysreturns]

[Mum?

He feels about as bewildered as is possible to feel, or so he thinks.]

Where are you? I want to meet.

[secondpotter]

I'm at the Leaky Cauldron. There are a few spots that are out of the way where we can talk. And yes, we really should talk.

[There was a lot that Albus wanted to say to Ron and a lot he knew he should keep under wraps. Judging by his uncle's shock he guessed that it wasn't the same Ron who had offered him a job at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes after he finished Hogwarts this past year. How much should someone know about their future? If it was even the same future. For all Albus knew he only represented a possibility - one that might not even come to pass. That was a terrifying thought and one he'd have to run by Scorpius later.]

[alwaysreturns]

[He doesn't respond - almost says look for the baseball cap, but well, if this is who he thinks it is, and he has no idea WHAT to think about that, then Albus (Albus Severus???) will probably recognize him, anyway.

He heads for the Leaky straight away, baseball cap covering most of his red hair and nothing at all covering his freckles or lanky height. He starts scanning the crowd the second he steps inside, looking for - Merlin, looking for someone who looks like Harry.]

[secondpotter]

[Albus is nervous when Ron enters the Leaky Cauldron. Gone was his rather happy-go-lucky attitude he had when he met up with Lily. After seeing Scorpius so panicked (and rightfully so, because honestly Albus, what were you thinking?), he is a bit more hesitant to expose himself for the future time deviant that he is. Of course, the damage was already done. His name was out there for all to see and of course people would want to know.

He stands up and waves at his uncle. Albus isn't going to admit it, but he's seen a younger version of his uncle before. It's not as though he's really changed much over the years. Just... older. Only his uncle doesn't look much older than Albus himself at the moment. He should have explained what he looked like, but then again, he's the spitting image of his father. He's fairly certain his uncle will spot him.

Albus waits until Ron joins him at the table before he casts the Muffliato spell. That doesn't change the fact that they look suspicious as hell.]

If you're here to scold me about being more discrete you needn't bother. I've been properly chastised enough and I promise I'll be more careful in the future. I just... didn't think. I'm working on it.

[alwaysreturns]

[The movement catches his eye, but blimey, throw in some glasses - and a scar, he assumes, Ron can't tell from here - and it's like looking at Harry.

It's like looking at Harry.

Merlin, that means mum is probably just who he thinks it is, too. Ron pauses where he is, staring for a moment - but it doesn't last long. He hustles over to join Albus, lets him cast his spell without even getting the least bit twitchy when he picks up his wand because he looks just like Harry and bloody hell. Potter genes run strong, don't they?

Ron reaches up to run a hand through his hair and just hits the hat instead.]

Scold you, me? [They shouldn't do this here, even with Muffliato in place. Still, it's hard to resist throwing ten thousand questions out.]

Are you my nephew? [They're the same age. Bill is only ten years older than him, even in his family with all the potential for age differentiation between him and his siblings, this is damned weird.]

[secondpotter]

[Albus smiles. He can't help himself. Even bewildered, his uncle is the same. Although there is a slight difference besides the age. He never remembered his uncle looking so ragged around the edges. Well, except when he was worried about his family. Still, he's used to his uncle looking cheerful most of the time. Not here, which was a damned shame.]

I am. Pretty easy to tell who my father is. Everyone says I look exactly as Dad did when he was growing up - except for the glasses and the scar, of course. There's more I could tell you, but maybe I shouldn't. Maybe we shouldn't even be talking. Scorpius thinks we should keep a low profile and he's right - he's always right. But... What the hell. You're you and if anyone can help us out you're up there at the top of the list.

[Albus is babbling now. He can't see how talking to his uncle could endanger them. He certainly wasn't Gellert Grindewald or any other flavor of dark wizard.]

un: rodle

[purports]

Albus Severus Potter, is it?

I expect to see you in the Time Deviants Registration Department soon.

[ and by "soon", he means immediately. ]