| 1 |
A Prologue of Sorts
Everyone was stunned. I saw a few jaws literally drop. Clearly, anyone who knew anything about magic, the Second Wizarding War, or the Malfoy family expected Scorpius to be sorted into Slytherin.
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| 2 |
The First Shift
"Right here? Right now?" Holly asked.
"On the count of three," I suggest. "One." I visualize the shift. "Two." I prepare myself for the shift, feeling it. "Three." I complete the shift.
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| 3 |
A Long Strange Trip
I barked once, then chased after Scorpius.
Run. Run faster than him. Chase him. Tackle him. Let him dominate you.
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| 4 |
Endings
“She’s doing it again.”
“She always does this.”
“I suppose we should stop it.”
“She’s probably imagining all the terrible ways she’s going to die this year.”
“She’s worse than Trelawney.”
“So bloody cheerful.”
“They should have tea some time.”
“Ah yes. The inaugural meeting of the Paranoid Doomsday Predictors of Hogwarts club.”
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| 5 |
Beginnings
By breakfast the next morning, the news has spread all over the school like wildfire. Rose Weasley was dumped because she wouldn’t put out.
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| 6 |
The Letter Brigade
“Let’s go,” she said, hooking her arm through mine. She pulled me out of the library and down the hall, while I struggle to maintain her pace.
“Where are we going?” I ask, but I already know. She’s taking me to the kitchens for a cup of tea.
“I’m taking you to the kitchens for a cup of tea.” Spooky, right? I should talk to Trelawney, find out if I’m a Seer.
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| 7 |
Back to Normal
“So, you found this person in the database? So you know who it is?” I leaned forward in my chair.
“Yes and no,” Jensen replies. “We have matched the trace to an entry in our database. Unfortunately, it’s been matched to the trace on several open cases. We do not know exactly who this man is.”
“Well,” dad says, raising up in his chair. Mum hissed his name, rebuking him, but he just waved her away. “What do you know?”
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| 8 |
Another Letter
Who is this guy? How dangerous is he? Can he get into Hogwarts? How has he been following me all this time. All this time, he’s been watching me. When I thought I was alone, he was there, with a camera. Even now, he may be watching. I’m never alone. I have to move. I have to get away from him. Why is he doing this? Why won’t he leave me alone?
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| 9 |
Meeting the Letter Writer
“Do you want to look at it?” Holly asks softly.
“I have to,” I tell her. Taking a deep breath, I unroll the parchment. The drawing is exquisite, enough detail to resemble a photograph. Slowly, I start to look at the details.
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| 10 |
Learning to Adapt
“My Rose,” he whispers. I look up at him. When he smiles, his teeth are stained red. He lunges for me, and it’s all I can do to scream.
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| 11 |
Back to the Hospital Wing
I didn’t realize something was wrong until she screamed. How was I supposed to know she wasn’t just playing? She was just sitting there on her broom, looking around at everything. Then, she screamed, just once. One short, shrill, piercing scream. Then she fell.
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| 12 |
Growing Pains and Mental Strains
“You think I’m crazy. You think I imagined seeing him, don’t you?” I whisper.
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| 13 |
Halloween Hijinks
“ENOUGH,” Professor Swan bellows. The hall falls silent. “Who is responsible for this?” James clears his throat and a large, blue banner unfurls.
Happy Halloween Hogwarts! Your favorite mischief maker, James.
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| 14 |
Hogsmeade
“I’ve sent a patronus. They’re in Hogsmeade now,” Auror Jensen says tersely.
“This looks recent,” Auror Smith says darkly. “He probably took it just before he sent it. The colors haven’t even properly settled in the print.”
“What does this mean?” Scorpius asked. The portrait of Professor McGonagall clears her throat.
“It means, Mr. Malfoy, that things just got a lot more serious.”
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| 15 |
Chez Potter
There’s no greater feeling than waking up in the morning. I open my eyes to the sun streaming through my window. Sitting there, bathed in the light, I am able to forget for a moment. For one, glittering, perfect moment, I forget exactly where it is that I am waking up. And why. But of course, this feeling only lasts a moment, and then it all comes crashing down.
The letter.
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| 16 |
Lockdown
I found it much easier to focus on the Auror and his mannerisms than to focus on the emptiness of the halls. I would call it a ghost town, but even the ghosts weren’t around. The portraits were subdued, all sleeping or gone, probably visiting friends to relieve the boredom. There was a hush over the entire place, and our echoing footsteps didn’t make it better.
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| 17 |
Remembering
“And what if…” I take a deep breath, “what if I said that I did want to?” I asked him.
“I’d say you’re only doing it because you feel bad, and that it’s still compelling you into doing something. You feel under pressure, and that’s not right.”
“Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy,” I said sharply, pulling him down to sit next to me. “I, Rose Weasley, want you to kiss me.”
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| 18 |
Full Moon
It was on this third night that I was shaken awake in the middle of the night.
“What- whosat?” I groaned, trying to wipe the sleep from my eyes. “Whassappening?” I shook my head and rubbed my eyes.
“Rose, I need your help,” I heard a small voice whisper.
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| 19 |
Lockdown Lifted
“Only five hours and twenty three minutes to go,” a second year squeaked. She and her friends laughed, bouncing around. She was one of the kids who had been in that duelling club. Anything to keep moving, to keep herself distracted.
“Shut up, you’re making it worse,” an older student groaned.
“Oi, leave her alone Shannon. She’s just excited, and you know you’re excited," her friend laughs.
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| 20 |
The Feast
“Oh, God, it feels so good to be out in the Great Hall. I’ve missed seeing the sky,” I overhear someone sigh.
“Actually,” I point out to the poor Hufflepuff third year, “it’s not actually the sky you’re seeing. The ceiling was bewitched to reflect the day’s sky. You should read about it in Hogwarts: A History. Great book.” The child looks at me as if I’ve got seven heads.
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| 21 |
Dreams and Nightmares
I was tied down; I could feel the binds chafing at my wrists and ankles. All I could feel beneath me was something hard and unyielding, but not so hard as a floor. Faces forced themselves into my field of vision, two men, leering over me. Big eyes, lips curled in a sneer, and jagged fangs peeking out from their mouths.
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| 22 |
Winter Is Coming
The grounds of Hogwarts never look more enticing than when you’ve been ordered to stay inside and keep your head down.
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| 23 |
Christmas Break
“Right, everyone this is Amber. Amber these are my cousins James, Al, and Lily, my brother Hugo and of course you know Holly and Scorp and Dom.”
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| 24 |
Welcome to the Burrow
“Amber, I invite you to the Burrow. It’s the home of my grandparents, Molly and Arthur Weasley. It’s located on the outskirts of Ottery St. Catchpole, in Devon, England. It’s hidden among the hills from all Muggles and most in the Wizarding community. Amber Wells, welcome to the Burrow.” As I spoke, I watched the range of emotions on her face. It started with blank, neutrality, followed quickly by confusion, then interest, then wonder, then utter elation.
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| 25 |
A Very Weasley Christmas
The living room is dominated by a ten-foot tall Christmas tree, decorated with all sorts of baubles and twinkling decorations. Someone had even enchanted snow to perpetually fall on the tree, decorating the branches but never hitting the floor. Beneath the tree sit a mound of presents decorated in all sorts of different wrapping paper. Hugo, ever the patient child, starts distributing presents so that everyone can begin.
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| 26 |
Pack Life
Suddenly, she gets this manic look in her eye, just before she screws them closed tight. Her face pinches up and her hands clench into fists, her knuckles turning white. Nobody knows what to say, until she starts shaking.
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| 27 |
Punishments
“What are you wearing?” I laughed. He shrugged, looking himself up and down. I’m not entirely sure what person would lay around in their bed, which his hair indicates he was doing, in black dress pants, an emerald green silk shirt and a black dress jacket.
“A simple t-shirt and pyjama pants is never good enough for Malfoy Manor, unless of course you’re asleep and no one can see you. Now, what do you want with me?”
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| 28 |
The Moon's Call
“It’s Beta Kessler. He’s summoning me,” she says breathily. “I have to go,” she says, standing. I grab her arm and she struggles against me
“Amber it’s not safe,” I remind her.
“I have to go. I can’t disobey a direct summons. Let go! I have to go!” she shrieks, fighting against me.
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| 29 |
Truth
“Scorpius?” she whispers uncertainly. Her lower lip wobbles and she wraps her arm around her middle, holding herself together as she begins to shake.
“It was just a dream, kiddo,” I tell her, wiping away the first tear that falls down her cheek.
“No, it’s never just a dream,” she whispers.
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| 30 |
Lies
“Get away from me, Malfoy.” I sneer his surname, only feeling a twinge of remorse when I see the pain on his face.
“You weren’t saying that last night,” he mutters. I spin around on my heel, pointing an accusing finger at him.
“I cannot wait until we have a whole castle so that I won’t have to look at your smug, pompous, arrogant, idiotic, pureblood face.”
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| 31 |
In the Light of the Moon
“Just drop it, Scorp, I’m trying to take notes,” I hiss at him. He scoffs.
“Please, no one need bother listening in Binns’ class. He wouldn’t notice if the Third Wizarding War started in his room during his lecture. You just don’t want to talk to me.” He leans across the aisle, his hair falling into his eyes. I bite my lip, knowing he’s right; if Binns didn’t even let his own death interrupt his teaching, he wouldn’t stop for a few students not paying attention.
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| 32 |
Damaged
Panic.
Blinding, fear. Heart racing, nauseating, hairs standing on end, teeth on edge, horrifying, insane, heavy breathing, panic.
Everything I see, everywhere I look is red. Red sheets, red hair, red blood, red envelopes. Everywhere I look, I see red, like blood. Blood on the walls. Blood on my bed sheets. Blood on my clothes. My shoes. My hair. My trunk. Under my nails. In my eyes. On his hands. On his face. His teeth. My neck. On the floor.
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| 33 |
Taken
We’re standing in the middle of Diagon Alley, the crowd bustling around us. To the average passerby, we likely look like a couple bickering about lunch plans. Before I can even try to get someone’s attention, hope someone looks at me and thinks What the hell is Ron and Hermione’s daughter doing in Diagon Alley during school with some creep twice her age?, he pulls me again into the darkness.
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| 34 |
Anger and Jealousy
“I’m hungry,” I whisper, regretting that I won’t get anything to eat now. But I don’t regret it knowing it gave a meal to that other girl, since it’d probably been longer since she’d eaten.
“Then do better at lunch time, and win your fight,” he says simply, walking back out the door, leaving me alone.
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| 35 |
Pain and Fear
“I just can’t sit around, not knowing what’s happening to her,” I whimper. In my mind’s eye, all I can see is Rose sitting on an old, rickety, metal frame bed with a lumpy, hard mattress and an uncomfortable, scratchy blanket. All I can imagine is her huddled on the bed, clutching her knees to her chest and rocking back and forth, eyes full of fear. I can feel her worry, and her pain, like a knot in my stomach. I know she’s afraid, and I know she’s crying out, and I know I can’t do anything to help her.
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| 36 |
Questions
The red-headed boy and the black-haired boy stand chained together on the stage. Neither one wears a shirt; their pale skin reflects in the moonlight. They both wear plain black underwear, the only clothing on them. Bruises cover their entire body, and I see what looks like dried blood on the redhead's chin. These children are about to be put to death. All because of me.
I think I might be sick.
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| 37 |
Answers
“Oh God, I feel sick,” I moan, sitting up in bed.
“Madame Pomfrey!” Holly shouts. She comes running out.
“Moore, go get the Headmaster. Malfoy, are you going to vomit?” she asks me. My stomach is churning, but it doesn’t feel like anything’s coming up.
“No, just hurts,” I groan.
“Alright, just breathe. The Head’s on his way. Just breathe, boy,” she assures me, rubbing my back.
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| 38 |
Connections Lost and Found
“Sir, please, talk to me!” I beg. He doesn’t respond, just keeps talking to the portraits.
“And I need you to run to the Auror’s command base and get Deputy Head Auror Leeland. Oh, and Albus, if you could get me Holly Brookes and Amber Wells from the Hospital Wing, I’d greatly appreciate it.”
“Why do you need them?” I ask. He continues talking as if he never even heard me.
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| 39 |
No Rest for the Lonely
“Taylor, please,” I whisper. “I’m so cold, can you give me a blanket?” She looks down on me with her arms across her chest. I shift uncomfortably, the tape pulling on my ankles. She kept my wrists bound together, but now I’m laying on my bed. She apologized profusely as she yanked my arms above my head to tape them to the bed frame, and my ankles to each bedpost at the other end.
“I’m sorry,” she starts. I’m getting real sick of that phrase.
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