Story Notes:

DISCLAIMER: I certainly do not own Harry Potter. I'm just having a little bit of fun!


Author's Chapter Notes:

Hello, my dearest readers!

Here is another next-gen fic from my side, featuring some of my very favourite next-gen characters.

I would like to thank my wonderful Beta, TheCursedQuill/Sarah for all her opinions. :)

Hope you guys enjoy this one. Please do R/R!


Prologue

The summer of 2023
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

CRACK.

It was like listening to a cheap firecracker go off— as if the second of May had just come to an end and someone was trying to get rid of a last, unused little firework after bursting an armload of them in celebration of Lord Voldemort's death. A few birds nervously took off and the flapping of their wings rang clear and loud through the foliage. Then there was silence. Thick, murderous silence, broken only with someone's gasping, ragged breaths. "Why?" asked the weak voice, gasping even more.

"I had to do it," replied another voice. This one was much stronger than the first.

"I n—need a r—reason…" replied the first, breaths getting more and more laboured. There was a thud. The person seemed to have fallen to the ground.

"I don't need to give one," replied the other voice, a menacing quality lingering around it. "I don't need to give one…"

"But what have I ever—" the first person couldn't complete the question. It seemed to be too painful to talk further.

"I'll make sure somebody finds your body on time," replied the other stronger, menacing voice before walking away.

Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy heard the receding footsteps as his cracked ribs caused him the worst agony possible. He could feel the blood rush out of a cut on his abdomen, trickling down to his sides and wetting his shirt as the pain increased more and more.

Another wound on his right arm just added to the pain and he could feel it burn and sear, pound and pulsate as though it were reminding him that he was still alive.

But he knew that he was going to die soon. There was no way out of this…

Everything around him was blurry and he was starting to lose track of what had happened… who he was… what he had been doing. A blissful blanket of black was falling over him, carrying him away to another world. Suddenly, the pain was no longer there. Suddenly, nothing was there. He was falling through an abyss… into the void.

***

Draco Malfoy sat on a wooden bench outside the hospital ward with the smell of spirits, antiseptic and medicinal potions slightly irritating him. He could just remember the Floo call he had received about an hour ago from his right-hand man and brother-in-law, Blaise Zabini.

"Scorpius has been admitted into St Mungo's hospital. He is gravely injured. You need to reach there, immediately."

Malfoy hadn't wasted a moment in rushing to the hospital to his son's side. Scorpius was extremely dear and precious and not even in his wildest dreams could Malfoy even think of losing his son— not after the tragedy that had taken place not very long ago. He loved his son so much that just corresponding with him through all those letters had helped him through that very traumatic phase.

But something strange had been happening since the last few months. Lately, something was wrong. Scorpius's life seemed to be in danger. Malfoy could remember Nathaniel Moore telling him that of late, he, Scorpius was being followed around and closely watched. There had also been all those unexplained incidents which had taken place at Hogwarts. Malfoy hadn't asked any questions, though. He had just asked Scorpius to be very careful, and Moore to strengthen the security around him. And now, it seemed it was too late to do anything about whoever had been trying to attack Scorpius.

Oh Merlin, please let Scorpius come out of this alive. Just this time. Just this time…

"Mr Malfoy?" said a voice and Malfoy stood up at the sight of the Healer.

"Healer Williams, is Scorpius—?"

"Mr Malfoy, he had lost a lot of blood by the time he was brought in… and the fractures were very bad. He was at a point of no return… we have tried to put him together, but the prognosis may not be great."

Malfoy's breath caught in his chest. No. No… this couldn't be happening…

"We understand if you would like to go in and see him." The Healer walked away, leaving Malfoy alone with his thoughts. Grudgingly, he entered the ward where Scorpius lay, with practically every part of his body covered in bandages. Malfoy sat beside his son and draped the boy's bare chest with his coat, glancing at the pale, but handsome face. He looked so much like Malfoy when he had been young…

Malfoy licked his lips, maintaining his composure with great effort. He pulled out a piece of parchment from his pocket and read it thoroughly. Scorpius would be avenged— Malfoy would make sure of it. He would make sure that the culprit went behind bars. But there was something, or rather someone, else he had to take care of first— that bloody cheat of an Auror called Nathaniel Moore.