Albus looks up just in time to see Hedwig (the second) drop a note on his plate and land on the table, only to be shooed away by Rose. The envelope is addressed, "Sir A. S. Potter, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Sir? Who would address him like that? He picks up the envelope and opens it, ready for anything. A voice from inside screams, "Crucio!", followed by screams of pain. The great hall goes silent. Then the Slytherins all start laughing. He stuffs the note in his pocket and looks around the great hall for James. Even for him, this seemed a little over the top. James was staring at him with an astonished expression on his face. He stands up and walks over to Albus, who immediately asks, "You sent that, didn't you? Not a bad prank, but I wouldn't have used an Unforgivable."

"Sure I sent it, but not as a prank," James explained hurriedly, "Remember hearing about the Listening charm that was invented by George Weasley? Well, as soon as I knew about it, I made him teach me how to do it, and then I put it on the couch in the parlor. I linked that paper to it--"

"So that means--"

"It means someone just used the Cruciatus Curse in our house... and it sounded like Dad."