Parts (4-8)

II

Chapter 2

A Warm Welcome

Part 1: The Old and the New

Scorpius was starting to regret his decision when he woke up on the morning of September 1st, or rather just got up because he didn't think he'd slept at all. He was worried about the meeting, about it just being a trap after all and having nothing to do with Varanian. He kept reminding himself he could back out at any time, he just had to refuse to go to Hogwarts or tell his parents about the arranged meeting but he couldn't bring himself to. If it was Varanian then it was probably important, otherwise he wouldn't have taken the risk of contacting Scorpius so he should be willing to risk himself too. It didn't make him feel any less anxious.

He got ready, changing into his school uniform already to save him having to do so on the train - assuming he wasn't ambushed and killed by Shadows - and finishing packing. He picked at his breakfast, he found it hard to feel hungry when his stomach was in knots.

"I'm glad you're going back to Hogwarts," his grandmother said and he was so startled at her starting a conversation that he nearly choked on his spoon, she was smiling weakly for the first time since her husband had died, "its what Lucius wanted."

"I was actually wondering if we could get to the station early?" Scorpius decided to ask, to make sure he was there at the right time, "so I can get a good seat on the train."

"Of course," his father agreed.

It was just his mother taking him to the station though, his father was staying with his grandmother so he said goodbye to them both and his friend Yip the house-elf before leaving with his mother. His mother actually seemed to be doing the best out of all of them, she hadn't been close to his grandfather so he supposed the death had hit her the least hardest. Its now or never, he told himself and tried not feel like he was walking to his death.

"Mother, I need the bathroom," Scorpius lied just after they arrived at the hectic station.

"Why didn't you go before we left?" his mother wondered and shook her head at him smiling, it had been a long time since they'd had a conversation like that. The nostalgia made his heart hurt.

"Because I didn't need to go then. Just carry on to the platform and I'll meet you there, I'll be as quick as I can..." he lied and quickly dived into the crowd of muggles.

As much as he tried not to, he really couldn't help but feel disgusted and a tiny bit afraid to be alone amongst the throng of muggles as it made him think of Marvin. It had been over a year since he killed muggle and escaped but it still upset him to think about it, he'd been having nightmares although he couldn't remember them but he was sure it was probably about Marvin like before. He knew that logically not all muggles were bad but he still didn't feel safe around them. It didn't help from meeting Michael's dad and Professor Ashain's wife, the former was completely unlikeable and the latter considered magic a disease.

He found the disabled bathroom - or a disabled bathroom anyway, he was pretty sure the sitting stick person with a partial circle was disabled anyway. He was there before quarter to but there was a giant clock keeping track of the time, he still felt awkward standing outside the disabled bathroom and got some funny looks, although his robes might have contributed to that. A few of them even asked him what he was doing and he just lied, claiming his mother was in the disabled bathroom and the lock was broken so he was standing outside to wait for her and make sure no one barged in. Muggles were gullible. He still didn't like it though, he clutched his wand in his pocket and that made him feel a little safer as muggles walked by and the clock hands crept closer to quarter to.

10.45am. Nothing happened. Scorpius intensified his scanning of the crowd but none of them were paying him the slightest bit of attention, no Shadows were attacking and Varanian wasn't coming up to him. Although considering Varanian was a metamorphmagus, the former headmaster could have walked past him a hundred times already and he wouldn't know, Varanian could even have been one of the people who'd spoken to. The lack of anything happening actually made him more worried, had he memorized the note wrong? Or worse, had something happened to Varanian to stop him from showing up?

Time continued to tick by and he waited for almost ten minutes before deciding he had to move or he would miss the train, his mother would be out of her mind and would probably start looking for him anyway so even if Varanian was simply late then it was pointless. He started to walk away, feeling slightly disappointed, slightly relieved and possibly more worried than he'd been before. Abruptly a hand was grabbing him and hauling him backwards into one of the rooms he'd passed.

"Relax, its me," Varanian's voice told him firmly before he had time to truly panic, Scorpius spun to face the fugitive whose appearance was shifting into a recognizable person. He thought that Varanian looked even thinner than when Scorpius had last seen him, his face was more gaunt and his silvery eyes were ringed with tiredness, even his short scruffy tawny hair seemed scruffier. Varanian had most of his scars invisible but left the ones on the edges of his cheeks and the bottom of his chin, it was the first time he'd seen Varanian in disheveled muggle clothes rather than wizard robes.

"I was there early, I waited for you," Scorpius pointed out as Varanian glanced around at the empty office room and went to peer out the door as if to make sure no one was following.

"I know, I'm sorry, I had to make sure it wasn't a trap or that you hadn't been followed. I had no way of knowing whether you still believed I was innocent or believed that memory altering crap."

"I've told them - repeatedly - that you didn't alter my memory and they don't believe me. Especially since you escaped."

"I didn't have much of a choice," Varanian pointed out running a hand through his hand and checking the door again, "one of the Aurors guarding me tried to kill me, he's one of the Shadows. Not that they'd believe me, if I gave myself up then I'd be dead by sunrise and they'd make it look like I escaped with my supposed 'shadow powers'. I don't know how many Aurors are Shadows but I know there's at least one much more senior Shadow person somewhere in the Auror office. The Shadows want me dead, the Aurors want me dead or alive, they're not picky anymore."

"That's horrible," Scorpius offered worriedly, actually feeling bad for Varanian as his situation seemed rather hopeless.

"Yeah but my in-laws have been helping me and its not what I wanted to talk you about. I've been trying to hunt down the Shadow Master, really not as easy as sounds. But I have found out some things," Varanian told him and Scorpius hung on his every word, "there's some kind of connection between the Specters and the Shadow Master, I don't know how it works or why or what exactly but I know the Shadow Master was connected to the Specters when you killed them. It sent the Shadow Master into some kind of coma and the leadership has fallen to the next in command which is one of more persons unknown. One of them is the person the corrupt Auror answers to, he or she is responsible for coordinating the attacks to hide the Shadow Master's condition and frame me. The others are either equals or higher ups, they're carrying on with the Shadow Master's plan and trying to revive him... That's where you come in."

"Me?"

"You're the one who put him into a coma, you're the one who can revive him."

"How?" Scorpius wondered and Varanian threw up his hands.

"I have no idea, I'm not even sure they know exactly. I don't know everything, I don't even know a lot, I don't even know if they want you dead or alive. Just snatches of conversations, deductions and thoughts I heard while I was possessed. They're after you though, I wanted to warn you. Try stay at Hogwarts with Marius, they're terrified of him so if anyone can keep you safe then its Marius. Even if Hogwarts isn't as safe as used to be."

"Is there anything else?" Scorpius asked desperately, "or anything I can do to help? I want to help. I want to hunt the Shadow Master too."

"What? Are you sure?" Varanian questioned looking surprised.

"Yes!" Scorpius protested fiercely, "I've been more sure of anything in my life. I want the Shadows and their Shadow Master dead. He took my grandfather's soul, the Shadow Master is evil, the Shadows are evil and they should be stopped and the Aurors aren't doing anything, if you're doing something and I can do anything then I want to help. I know I'm just twelve but-"

"You put the Shadow Master into a coma and destroyed hundreds of Specters, I don't actually care how old you are," Varanian interrupted, "but for now the best way you can help is just need to stay safe like I said. But safe doesn't mean do nothing, try learn as much defensive magic as you can and read up about patronus' because you should know how to protect yourself in case - when - the Shadows come after you again. I can't tell you more now, there's no time or you'll miss the train but I'll be in touch. Unless I die. Tell no one. Take care."

"You too," Scorpius offered as Varanian disapparated.

Scorpius hurried back, he ran in fact because it was nearly eleven. He weaved his way through the crowd and hurtled through the barrier, almost running into his mother who had been going to look for him. He didn't have time to do much else besides hugging her goodbye and telling her he loved her before rushing to get onto the train before it departed - his mother had gotten his things on already- which he managed, it left a literal minute after he got on board.

He was feeling oddly hopeful for the first time all summer, Varanian was going after the Shadow Master - who was in a coma - so how hard could it be to stop him? The Shadows would be stopped, Varanian's name would be cleared and with any luck the Shadow Master could rot inside their mind for the rest of their natural life because killing someone in a coma - even the Shadow Master - didn't seem right. Wasn't a bad punishment anyway. He made his way through the train where people were still finding their seats, mechanically having walked to the staff compartment and cheered up even more when he saw Professor Ashain there.

"Professor!" Scorpius greeted him happily and grinned, Professor Ashain looked up from staring out of the window and returned the smile weakly, "can I sit here?"

"Wouldn't you rather sit with your friends?" the professor wondered and Scorpius lost his mind as he was reminded of his guilt. Why couldn't he stop feeling guilty? He didn't feel guilty about Varanian. That made him feel worse, why didn't he feel guilty about Varanian? The former headmaster was risking his life to stop the Shadow Master and had saved him from Duvall, he may not be friends with Varanian but he respected him, "still on a guilt trip?"

"Yeah."

"Alright then," Professor Ashain agreed and gestured for him to sit, Scorpius sat down opposite him, "you really shouldn't feel guilty, you know? You saved the entire school."

"But I was willing to kill six people to do it. Four of them being my friends."

"You do realize the fact you were willing to sacrifice them is what saved their lives?"

"I don't think being willing to kill my friends is a good thing, I'm a bad person," Scorpius mumbled feeling his good mood slipping and the professor hesitated for a moment before replying.

"Did you ever consider that the mental pain it put you through to sacrifice them was so great that it was enough for six lives, including two people you disliked? I'm sure they'd have died if Calderon had done it, even if he was willing because he doesn't have the personal connection to them like you did so his mental sacrifice wouldn't have been enough to save them," Professor Ashain told him, Scorpius hadn't thought of that, "you're not a bad person, you're a good person to care so much in the first place so stop beating yourself up about it. Please."

"Thanks," Scorpius offered, actually finding comfort in the professor's words and smiled weakly before the train jerked particularly harshly, the cringe of pain in the professor's tired face told him that his wounds hadn't healed much, "still in pain?"

"Its not so bad. It only hurts if I move or talk or do magic or breathe," the professor brushed it off and laughed nervously, stopping to wince, "or laugh."

"I'm sorry."

"Its alright, I'll get better."

"How's things with your family?" Scorpius asked curiously as well as to change the subject, starting to feel guilty again as the professor had been injured saving him, he should be the one in pain.

"Good. I think. I'm staying in contact with them, Calderon's allowing them to visit on weekends because the healers don't recommend me using magic to travel. I don't think Skye will come though, just the kids. She wouldn't even walk through the barrier to Platform 9 and 3/4. She seems more accepting of magic but still not there yet I think," Professor Ashain explained and looked thoughtful, "oh and my daughter is an Aviora."

"A what?"

"She can talk to birds."

"Cool," Scorpius offered with a slight smile before the compartment door opened.

He recognized the pair immediately, Professor Hagrid's son Corin and his best friend Maurice Rivers. Corin was as tall as an adult but lean, his face was still a child's boyish face and huge black glittering eyes like his father, his dark brown hair looked tamed though and he continued to hold himself with an air of elegance. Maurice looked maybe a tad taller than when Scorpius had last seen him - he was still dwarfed by Corin though - but his sea-green eyes were still sharp despite the dark bags they carried, his hair was light brown with a slight wave to it. Maurice was still wearing his strange translator necklace, a black teardrop in a gilded circle as well as still wearing the brown fingerless gloves that covered all the wrist he could see. Both boys were dressed in their Hogwarts robes and Corin beamed when he saw him.

"Hi Scor, mon ami!" Corin greeted him happily and strode over, hauling Scorpius to his feet and kissing each cheek, "it is good to see you again! We were almost afraid that you weren't on the train, we were looking for you."

"Err... hi," Scorpius guessed, still stunned by the reaction. Was that normal in France? Corin and Maurice both sat down next to Professor Ashain, Maurice placing a hand on his necklace that now glowed blue while the professor looked exasperated as Scorpius sat back down.

"I'm terribly sorry but this is the staff compartment, you can't sit here," Professor Ashain pointed out.

"Scor's here," Corin stated and looked down - he was just about taller than the professor - on Professor Ashain.

"He's... was... Calderon's assistant so that makes him practically staff."

"My father is a professor so that gives me permission to be in here, I give Maurice permission as my friend so all is well, Ashain."

"It's only logical," Maurice agreed but the compartment door opened again before the professor could reply, this time it was Molly looking on the verge of tears.

"Can I sit in here? Everywhere else is full," Molly said quietly.

"Sure, the more the merrier," Professor Ashain commented sarcastically but Molly seemed too upset to notice as she sat down beside Scorpius, staring at the ground sadly while the professor went back to staring out of the window.

"What's wrong?" Scorpius asked gently and Molly spared him a glance before replying.

"James told his friends about Lucy being a squib, it spread and now everyone knows. My friends don't want to be friends with me anymore, no one wants to sit with me and my cousins are either in full compartments or are sitting with people who won't sit with the sister of a squib. Everyone hates me."

"Well they should," Corin pointed out with a look of disgust.

"Yes. Squibs are disgusting and wrong, worse than being deaf," Maurice added and Molly's eyes managed to blaze with anger and fill with tears at the same time.

"Hey! Its not Molly's fault that her sister's a squib," Scorpius said defensively.

"No one is disgusting and wrong," Professor Ashain announced firmly, "there's nothing wrong with squibs, some people have magic and some people don't, its not disgusting or wrong."

"You must be related to a squib to say that," Corin told him dismissively.

"Well yes, an uncle but I never met him and it doesn't make a difference. People focus so much on the differences between each other that they forget the similarities, magic or not, we're all just human and that's what matters. Pureblood, half-blood, muggle-born, muggle or squib, no one is disgusting, wrong or diseased."

"That reminds me," Molly began turning to Maurice, "your father is my mother's brother, that makes us cousins. Which means you're my sister's cousin too. Which means you're related to a squib too."

"Damn," Maurice muttered looking down and the conversation ended.

There was a few minutes of extremely uncomfortable and awkward silence before Corin opened his mouth to speak. Whatever he was going to say however was cut off as the compartment door opened once more, it was the elderly witch who pushed the sweet trolley with a boy. He was the strangest looking boy Scorpius had ever seen, he was completely taken aback despite himself. He was clearly a first year, a particularly haggard looking first year and dressed in a muggle sweater, jacket, jeans and sneakers.

That wasn't what was strange about him though. His hair was white, not blond, white. Pure white, whiter than snow, it was nearly shoulder length with a slight wave to it. And his eyes, such sharp, piercing crimson eyes. His skin was so pale that it practically seemed colorless... Scorpius had the strangest feeling that they'd met before but that was impossible, he would have remembered someone with such a strange appearance. The boy stared at the ground, his strange eyes shadowed by tiredness and a melancholy expression on his face as though he would never be happy again.

"Sorry to trouble you, Professor," the elderly woman began although everyone but the professor still had their eyes on the boy who didn't move, "but could you spare a seat for... what was your name again?"

"Orous," the boy whispered without looking up and Scorpius could have sworn he'd heard the voice before.

"Could you spare a seat for Orous here? He's just standing in the corridor because he's too shy to ask anyone if he could sit with them."

"Why not?" Professor Ashain agreed although didn't sound very enthusiastic and Scorpius started to feel bad for sitting with him, he'd probably wanted a nice quiet journey not a full compartment.

"Thank you," Orous said so quietly it was barely audible as he sat down on Molly's other side, bringing his legs onto the seat and squishing his small body as far into the corner as he could, resting his head against it and staring at the ground still with that look of hopelessness.

Orous didn't speak another word for the rest of the journey, in fact he didn't move at all aside from breathing and blinking. Corin did most of the talking, barraging Scorpius with questions about his 'heroics' in saving the school which Scorpius tried to answer in as little detail as possible so Corin would get the hint he didn't want to talk about it. He finally did seem to get it and fell silent, instead turning to Maurice and starting up a conversation in their hand talk. Molly didn't seem in the mood to talk, even asking about Quidditch earned him short answers like he'd been giving to Corin and he took the hint much faster. He just went back to staring out of the window like Professor Ashain was doing. It felt like a long ride but at least the Shadows didn't attack the train. The Hogwarts Express didn't stop until it pulled into the station, they'd arrived.

Part 2: Fire From Nowhere

They left the train, giving Orous some privacy to change in the staff compartment as he alone hadn't changed. A silvery gibbous moon shone in the sky amongst the sparkling stars but it wasn't cold, it was a surprisingly warm night and the still air was devoid of even the gentlest breeze. Scorpius didn't really mind, as long as he didn't have to take another swim in the Black Lake then he was happy and only First Years went in the boats so the odds of that were highly unlikely. He was looking forward to the Thestral drawn carriages, he liked the strange creatures and he was actually feeling a lot better about being around his friends after talking to Professor Ashain.

"Ashain," Corin said as the five of them came out onto the platform, speaking as if to a servant rather than a professor, "I thought this would be rude to ask in the compartment but what was wrong with that boy? The freaky one with the red hairs and white hair that didn't say anything, is he even human? Is he diseased? Am I going to catch the disease from sitting with him?"

"He's an albino," Professor Ashain explained and gave Corin a disapproving look, "its a condition some people and animals are born with, its not contagious or dangerous. Its rude to call people freaky, treat your fellow peers with more respect."

"If I was being rude then I would have said to him 'bonjour Orous, why do you look like a freak with old man hair and creepy eyes?'"

Just as Corin spoke, Scorpius noticed Orous leaving the train, catching the last of Corin's sentence. A look of hurt crossed his face as he darted away from them with tears shining in his red eyes. Despite not knowing him very well - they hadn't actually spoken - Scorpius went after him, feeling bad for the boy. He called his name and Orous stopped in surprise, looking back with his piercing shimmering eyes.

"Corin didn't mean it," Scorpius offered awkwardly, he could never think of anything comforting to say and he tried to smile gently but had a feeling it made him look demented, "he was just being sarcastic, don't take it to heart."

"Hey psycho!" James Potter took that moment to spot him, swaggering over with a smirk and his cronies, "surprised you had the nerve to show up after what happened in Diagon Alley, you just fled like a coward with your loser father."

"Yeah because being apparated away without a choice is much more cowardly than begging the Shadows to take what they wanted to save your own sorry ass," Scorpius retorted and James' smile died, replaced by a look of loathing, "what no comeback, coward?"

"I'm not a coward!" James spat furiously, "you're a coward, you're just a pathetic, good-for-nothing loser and everyone knows it and everyone hates you, you Death Eater spawn piece of scum."

"Who saved your life not three months ago."

"That was... luck and Calderon, just shut up you liar! I don't care what the papers say, I know you're no hero, I see you for what you are. Nothing but an evil psycho."

"I actually don't care what you think because you're a jerk and I'm a Seeker," Scorpius pointed out coldly making James' eyes bulge with fury as Scorpius turned on his heel, "come on, Orous, I'll show you where you need to go."

"That's right, walk away coward! How's your dead sister doing with your dead grandaddy?" James called after him and despite himself Scorpius froze, he felt as though someone had just twisted a dagger into his heart at the hurtful sting of being reminded of the family he'd lost. Instead of blood seeping out, rage seeped in and his hands clenched into fists but he forced himself to breathe through it, he couldn't let James get to him. He started to take another step but froze as James spoke again, "having fun in hell together, I suppose? Well not fun because its hell and they're Malfoys and Malfoys are evil. Run along with your freak boyfriend with hair like an old man though, coward. Do you like being touched by old men or something?"

Scorpius had never hit anyone before in his life. But in that instant he swung around and threw a punch at James as hard as he could, having every desire and every intention of hitting him. Corin grabbed his arms and pulled him back before he could, the younger boy was much taller and stronger than him.

"He's not worth it," Corin pointed out quietly and jerked his head in the direction of James' friends, every one of them had their wands out ready to defend James, "you wouldn't have got close."

"Shut up!" Scorpius snapped. He didn't want to hear logic. He wanted to tear James' head off. He wanted- His thoughts were cut off by a scream and he realized James' robes were now on fire.

"Help! HELP! HELP!" James shrieked, trying to pat out the flames as he leaped around like a madman and his friends were either too stunned to help or didn't know a spell to put out the fire, much like the other surrounding students. Scorpius knew the spell to put out fire. He didn't use it. A second later Professor Ashain did though before the fire could do any real damage, even if using it made him look like he was about to pass out. The first words out of James' mouth weren't a thank you though, he pointed accusingly at Scorpius, "he set me on fire, Professor! The psycho tried to burn me alive! Expel him!"

"I did not!"

"Liar!"

"I didn't do anything to you!" Scorpius yelled and bit back adding 'but I wish I had' as he yanked his arms free of Corin's grip.

"Liar! Liar! Pants on fire!"

"No I think you're confusing me with yourself."

"See! That's practically an admission of guilt! He tried to kill me, Professor!"

"It is not! I don't even have my wand out!"

"Well maybe Calderon taught you to use magic the lunatic way he does!"

"How dare you insult Calderon!"

"How dare you try to kill me!"

"I didn't try to kill you!"

"Enough! Both of you. Now did anyone actually see who set the fire on Mr Potter? Anyone at all?" Professor Ashain interrupted irritably and addressed the nearby students, all of whom were shaking their heads, "innocent until proven guilty, Mr Potter, I'm inclined to believe Sc- Mr Malfoy. Wandless magic is beyond the talents of a Second Year and unless he managed to grow a third invisible arm holding an invisible wand as Co- Mr Maxime-Hagrid was holding his arms until just a moment ago."

"People don't just randomly catch fire!" James protested glaring at the professor furiously, "wait until my father hears of this. I know Malfoy attacked me."

"I didn't attack you!" Scorpius screamed.

"I said enough," Professor Ashain reaffirmed holding up his hands, "if your father has any ideas on how to find out who actually attacked you then I'd be glad to hear them, in the meantime asking for witnesses is the best I can do and you people closest will be questioned sometime during the week until we get to the bottom of this. For now though, I suggest everyone carry on heading to the Great Hall before we miss the Feast. Mr Potter, if you're unhurt then I suggest you find some new robes to change into and if you are hurt then tell me now and I'll take you to the Hospital Wing."

"I'm fine," James snapped darkly as he stalked away back to the train, adding the next quieter, "except that Malfoy tried to kill me and all."

"Alright then, carry on everyone!" Professor Ashain called to the crowd that started dispersing, "remind me never to shout again. Scor, come here."

"Yes, Professor?" Scorpius wondered going over to him.

"I just have to ask, you really didn't try to burn him, did you?"

"No, I really didn't," Scorpius said firmly, he knew he hadn't. Whenever he accidentally set things on fire his wrist hurt and his wrist hadn't hurt. He couldn't say that though. The professor tilted his head to one side and studied him a moment before nodding.

"Good, I believe you. Did you see anyone else do it? You're usually observant."

"I didn't, his friends had their wands out but it didn't look like they attacked James. I wasn't looking at anyone else."

"Alright. Best get to the carriages then."

"Cool, I've never been in a carriage pulled by invisible beasts before," Corin stated excitedly moving to follow Scorpius with Maurice in tow, he noticed Professor Hagrid's looming figure above the sea of heads behind them.

"Err... Yer don't go in the carriages," Professor Hagrid pointed out nervously, "yer go in the boats, since yer firs' years an' all."

"But Father, I want to go in the carriages."

"Well I'm sorry bu' yer can't."

"You're my father, a Hogwarts professor. Its your call."

"Rules are rules, Corin, I can't go 'round bendin' 'em fer you now tha' yer a pupil. Its no' fair on the other students."

"But I'm your son. I want to go in the carriages, Father."

"It don't matter, you 'ave t' go on the boats. Yer'll ge' t' go in the carriages every other year-"

"I don't care about every other year, I care about now and I want to go on the carriages!" Corin interrupted angrily, looking strangely like a three-year-old about to throw a tantrum despite being the height of a man. Professor Hagrid looked slightly upset but determined all the same.

"Well yer can't."

"But Father, I want-"

"No buts, Corin. Now come on. Firs' years, firs' years over here! Includin' you, Corin."

Corin looked both stunned and furious, his mouth opened and closed a few times but no words came out. Professor Hagrid moved away calling for the other first years, Maurice tugged his friend's sleeve to get him to move in the direction after them. Maurice glanced back to Scorpius as he led Corin away though, a cold smile on his lips as he winked for some reason. Scorpius almost asked why but the deaf boy didn't have his hand on his necklace, he scowled and went to turn back to Orous but the albino was gone - he noticed a flash of white hair amongst the crowd around Professor Hagrid - and then went to turn back to Professor Ashain but he was also gone.

His scowl deepened as he headed to the carriages, hoping to see any of his friends and thankfully found them staring at the Thestral pulling the carriage they were standing by. He managed a smile although internally his anger was ebbing into hurt at James' comments and curiosity over who had set the bully's clothes on fire, had it been Maurice? Was that why the boy was winking? Or was he winking because he thought Scorpius had done it and was impressed? Or some other reason entirely?

"So this is what Thestrals look like," Abby was saying.

"I can't believe I didn't realize that I'd be able to see them now and you three as well," Albus added and Scorpius realized they'd all been close enough to the front to see Molly's mother die, like he had. Although he could already see Thestrals anyway.

"I could already see them," Michael pointed out, Scorpius was pleased to see his friend was no longer bruised or in a cast although he was still frightfully thin and appeared exhausted.

"Hey guys," Scorpius offered and they grinned at him, Albus clapped him on the back.

"Glad you decided to show up," Albus greeted him brightly as they exchanged hellos and got into the carriage, Scorpius noticed Molly looking alone and waved for her to join them.

"Is that okay?" he asked his friends quickly, "she's kind of left out right now."

"Its fine. I can't believe my brother ratted her and Lucy out like that."

"Well he is mad at her for being friends with Scorpius, no offense," Rose said quickly, "he's not as close to Molly or Lucy as he is to me and Al so he's less harsh I guess."

"I don't think he knew his friends would tell everyone and get her universally shunned. I mean things are fairer now for werewolves and muggle-borns and house-elves, they should have done something for squibs."

"What's a squib?" Michael asked but his question went unanswered.

"Maybe they just haven't gotten around to it yet?" Abby wondered as Molly joined them, still lacking her usual cheer as he carriage departed, "how's Lucy doing?"

"Not good really," Molly pointed out miserably, "she was so looking forward to going to Hogwarts and being a witch, we are a magical family and she's just devastated. It doesn't help the way Rivers reacted, he was her column of support since... you know... Mother died. And Father knew, he and mother suspected for a long time apparently but just kept hoping she was a late bloomer. They never said it to anyone else though. He wasn't there when she didn't get a letter, he'd been at work for three straight days and had no idea. He's always at work these days. That doesn't help Lucy either. He got her into a muggle school though, he thinks that'll help."

"Maybe it will."

"Maybe... So, Scor, what happened with you and James?"

"We were arguing," Scorpius admitted and from the puzzled looks on Rose, Abby and Albus' faces they hadn't heard. Michael's expression was neutral, he didn't seem as invested in the conversation as the others or maybe he did know, Scorpius decided he might as well be honest, "and... I kinda... tried to punch him but Corin pulled me back, then someone set James' robes on fire - he's alright by the way - and he freaked and blamed me."

"Did you do it?" Rose asked.

"No! Corin was still holding my arms, I didn't even have my wand out."

"No offense but... you kind of are good at fire," Albus offered awkwardly, "I mean you caused on in your sleep, did you do it by accident? Its not your fault if you did."

"I didn't do it! Accidentally or on purpose, I swear, I didn't," Scorpius protested although he was almost starting to doubt himself from saying it so much.

"Its alright, I believe you. I'm sorry my brother's such a jerk to you. And Michael."

"Its fine," Michael mumbled.

The conversation turned more cheerful as they talked about the Great Feast and looking forward to their second year - hopefully with less pain and Shadow attacks - and lessons. Second years didn't have Flying lessons so it was only seven subjects, Molly pointed out they should enjoy the lesser workload while it lasted because the following three years would have the added electives. Scorpius also discovered that they hadn't had exams last year, in light of the attack only the OWL and NEWT students had had exams as they'd been unmissable and important for the students futures. He also learned that Professor McGonagall had once again been appointed Headmistress in light of Varanian's... forced leave, although Calderon had really ordered and arranged all the exams as he did. Abby explained they wouldn't see her that year though, the Headmistress would be with the Seventh Years - including Abby's older sister - in Beauxbatons for the Triwizard Tournament, someone from the Ministry had been appointed as the Acting Headmaster for the year. Elwood, who was rather young and Professor Longbottom didn't have a particularly high opinion on him, then again, Abby admitted her father was biased as he didn't like someone randomly being appointed by the Ministry over current Hogwarts staff. Although a lot of the staff were new.

History of Magic would clearly still have the ghost Binns, Abby knew for a fact Herbology would still be taught by her father and Scorpius knew for a fact that Defense Against the Dark Arts would still be taught by Professor Ashain. As far as they knew the Astronomy teacher - Professor Astor Koray - would still be there, he hadn't been one of the teachers looking to retire last year, he was only in his forties anyway. Charms, Potions and now Transfiguration would all have new teachers. Scorpius was suddenly less enthusiastic for those three subjects, he'd liked the old teachers and the change in Transfiguration especially bothered him as it had been one of his favorites along with Defense Against the Dark Arts. At least his favorite professor would still be there. Scorpius was actually looking forward to the Sorting, he'd missed his own and come in after everyone else was already sorted so he hadn't seen what it was like.

They arrived in the Great Hall and took their seats at the Gryffindor table with his friends - including Molly - as he noticed whenever Molly tried to sit down that people would rudely tell her not to sit there, it really didn't help increase his already non-existent house pride. He also noticed people pointing to him and whispering, he couldn't tell whether it was good or bad.

His palms started sweating again when he noticed Molly was sitting beside him, their hands were inches apart on the table. He shoved them into the pockets of his robes, she would think it was weird if she noticed his palms sweating for no reason and glanced instead at Michael. The muggle-born had his hand rested on his hand and looked like he wanted nothing more than to lie down to sleep, his sleeve was slightly down and Scorpius noticed bruising.

"What happened to your wrist?" Scorpius asked scowling and Michael hastily stopped resting on his hand, yanking the sleeve down to cover the bruise hastily.

"From the cast. Casts leave bruises," Michael told him and Scorpius' scowl only deepened, he knew more about muggle things than he wished he did and he was pretty sure that casts didn't leave bruises. Besides, hadn't his other wrist been broken?

"Wasn't it your other wrist that had a cast?"

"No."

"I'm sure it was the other one."

"No, it was definitely this one. You just weren't paying attention."

"I don't think casts leave bruises anyway."

"They do, okay?!" Michael snapped and Scorpius was taken aback, trying to recall an instance when his friend had lashed out at him like that before, "I'm the mudblood, I know more about muggle things and the cast left a bruise and I think I know which wrist I broke more than you do. Stop badgering me about it."

"Sorry," Scorpius muttered feeling extremely confused as were the others who knew him, Michael looked guilty.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap like that, I'm just tired. Babies don't like you to sleep, you know?" Michael explained with a nervous smile that looked forced. Scorpius just nodded, not wanting to upset Michael further.

Part 3: Sorting Surprise

The conversation went back to trivial things, people were still catching up all around them. He saw James - now in non-burned robes - telling anyone who would listen about how Scorpius had 'viciously' set him on fire for absolutely no reason other than that Scorpius was an evil maniac, Professor Ashain apparently refused to believe him just because they were both related to Death Eaters so they 'obviously' conspiring against him. Scorpius balled his fists angrily again, still furious with him, he almost wished that he had set James' robes on fire.

He tried not let it get to him again though so instead he looked back to the teacher's table, seeing the lack of professors he knew was disappointing although he did recognize some faces. Abby's dad, Professor Longbottom, was talking to one of the strangers as was the Astronomy professor while Rivers seemed to be boring Professor Ashain again from the exasperated look on his tired face. Professor Trelawny wasn't there but she didn't usually eat with them anyway and Professor Hagrid would still be with the First Years, the rest were all strangers. The man sitting in the Headmaster's chair did look rather young, in his early thirties maybe and the fact he his smile made his dimples very visible didn't help much. He was clean-shaven and pale with curly bright blond hair that flopped heavily to one side and deep blue eyes, they almost looked navy even.

Scorpius sat up straighter in his seat when the side door opened and Calderon came out, he knew his face split into a smile when he saw him and Calderon cast him a wave with one of his scarred hands when he noticed him. Calderon looked as lanky as ever, still dressed in muggle clothes, jeans, sneakers and a red sweater and still wore the silver dragon necklace around his neck that Scorpius had given him last Christmas. His dark black hair remained neat and his dark eyes stuck out on his pale face. He still looked tired but not as though he was about to die of exhaustion. The dog bounding after him was new though, the huge puppy was all legs as it enthusiastically followed after Calderon with its large pink tongue lolling lazily out of its mouth. Calderon was carrying a three-legged stool that he placed at the front of the hall before moving to stand off to the side with the enthusiastic boarhound pup that sat beside him and licked his hand until he petted the thing. Scorpius longed to go over to him, maybe with all the old teachers he knew he would have risked it but so many new faces put him off.

Almost on cue the doors to the Great Hall opened and the mostly nervous-looking First Years filed in behind Professor Hagrid, gasping in amazement and gazing around at the floating candles and bewitched sky. The half-giant said something to Calderon before going over to take his seat at the staff table. The new students were all muttering amongst themselves, unsure of what they were supposed to be doing. Calderon smiled and snapped his fingers, summoning the tattered old Sorting Hat from the Headmaster's office in a blaze of light. It hovered in the air amongst swirls of light.

"That's new," Rose muttered as everyone stared at the floating hat in amazement.

"No it isn't. Calderon did that the first two years I was here, last year he was in the hospital wing so it was the way you saw it," Molly explained in a whisper before the hat started to sing.

"Over one thousand years ago

Lived the Hogwarts Founders four

The greatest friends I ever knew

This castle's heart, soul and core

However they were very different

But do not think it made them weak

We all have both strengths and flaws

To make every one of us unique

Fiery Gryffindor was bold and brave

Sweet Hufflepuff, fair and kind

Witty Ravenclaw, wise beyond her years

And Slytherin has his cunning mind

But while they had their differences

One thing bound them united

Their desire to teach young sorcerers

A noble goal, albeit shortsighted

For this story has not a happy end

For those friends, the Founders four

Slytherin wished only the purest blood

"Nonsense!" declared old Gryffindor

And so the friends fought themselves

Eventually all turned against the one

Slytherin chose to leave the school

The damage could not be undone

The fearless four became only three

And would forever remain divided

Three walls are not as solid as four

So listen to me now, be guided

While I carry out my task today

Of dividing you as I am made to do

Forget not, while we have differences

We have many similarities too

So learn, have fun, make friends

But life changes like the weather

And divided though the houses are

Hogwarts stands together."

When the hat finished its song, the hall burst into applause and Scorpius awkwardly clapped along too although he didn't want to, he couldn't help dislike the hat for putting him into the wrong house. The tattered old had bowed - or at least what Scorpius thought was a bow as it tipped itself - to each of the four tables and to the students gathered in the center. It was then Calderon's turn to speak.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, or welcome back some of you," the assistant said to the crowd with a kind smile, magically making his voice carry without seeming to do anything, "so how this works is we go alphabetically as per tradition, I'll call out your name and you come forward to sit on the stool. I'll lower the hat onto your head, the hat calls out your house and your new house table. It'll be the one cheering crazily in case you have trouble finding it, is that clear?"

"I want to go first, Marius," Corin demanded - he and Maurice were right at the front, presumably so Maurice's translation necklace was in range to understand Calderon's words - while everyone else nodded in understanding.

"Well tough luck unless you change your name to something that comes alphabetically before 'Abel' I'm afraid," Calderon pointed out and Corin's face went red with rage as he folded his arms crossly, "Abel, Malachi!"

One of the first years stumbled forward from the crowd, a short pale boy with long dark hair came up to the stool nervously and sat down. Calderon gestured and the Sorting Hat was lowered onto the little boy's head, the brim actually fell over his eyes but he could see the boy was biting his lip. A minute or so passed before the hat shouted:

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Malachi Abel smiled and ran over - the Sorting Hat magically flew off of his head as he ran - to join their table, Scorpius had to applaud with the others to welcome the relieved boy who sat down beside Abby. Everyone with arms length started shaking hands with him, Scorpius was less enthusiastic about that but thought it was strange. No one had shaken his hand when he'd been sorted. As the second boy was called, sorted into Ravenclaw almost the second the hat touched his head, Scorpius noticed the shaking hands thing happened to him too.

"Do we have to shake hands with all the new first years? Or is it just the first ones?" Scorpius asked of Molly as the first girl was called.

"With all of them," Molly pointed out with a weak chuckle, "I forgot you managed to miss your own sorting, this must all be new to you. Yeah though, we applause and shake hands if you're close enough. And we are, we're literally right beside the new ones."

"How do you miss your own sorting?" the new Gryffindor wondered curiously.

"Its a long story," Scorpius told him tiredly, not really feeling in the mood to talk about it - and he didn't want to miss the sorting by talking anyway, "I'll tell you later."

"Why doesn't Calderon have a list?" Rose wondered curiously, "I mean, there's no way he can remember the names of all the new students. In alphabetical order to boot."

"He's Calderon, he has a really good memory."

"Ooh wanna bet whether he can remember them all or whether they have to go get a list?" Albus offered cheerfully and made a bet with his cousin for a sickle over whether Calderon could remember them all.

Scorpius just went back to watching the sorting, there were quite a lot of As then they moved on to Bs, Cs and Ds. Calderon had yet to so much as falter on the names, his dog seemed to have decided this was boring and lay down on its master's feet to sleep. The sortings didn't seem to take that long, less than five minutes and quite a lot were done in seconds.

"Dursley, Vernon!"

Calderon called and the nervous Vern came forwards, now dressed in wizard's robes but he actually looked like he was shaking with nerves as the hat lowered itself magically onto his head. He jumped when the hat was on him - or maybe it was from the hat speaking to him - as he looked around wide-eyed as if trying to find a speaker. He heard James angrily muttering that if Vern got Gryffindor then he was going to kill the boy, Scorpius suppressed the urge to shot him a dark look and heard Albus whispering 'not Gryffindor' under his breath too.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Vern smiled weakly at the hat's decision, running over to the Hufflepuff table as the hat magically flew off his head and back into the air, Michael clapped despite being in the wrong house. Vern looked over to them from his new house and waved cheerfully, Michael gave him a thumbs up and Scorpius smiled a congratulations. Scorpius sighed remembering how he'd wanted to be in Hufflepuff, Vern was lucky. Vern was the last of the Ds, they carried on through the alphabet for awhile with no event or no one that Scorpius recognized until they got to the Ks.

"Knox, Orous!"

Scorpius sat up straighter, he hadn't known Orous' last name until then and the albino stepped forwards. Orous looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there, he looked more miserable then ever as he sat down at the stool. His unusual appearance was earning him a murmuring and pointing through the crowd, Orous looked down to the side rather than at the students whose eyes were on him. He squeezed shut his crimson eyes as the hat was placed upon his snowy hair, it took a long time to decide. A minute passed. Then another. And another. They passed the five minute mark and people started whispering again. Six minutes. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten.

"Hurry up, freak!" James yelled and Calderon shot him angry look.

"Congratulations, Gryffindor begins the term twenty-five points down," Calderon informed the hall as he folded his arms, James' jaw dropped in outrage and several Gryffindors glared at him while the other houses snickered.

More time passed and Scorpius was starting to wonder if the hat was actually broken or the boy wasn't a wizard or something, he had a feeling other people were too. Some people shared James opinion and were just annoyed with the long wait, it had to be some kind of record for the longest time taken to sort someone in the history of Hogwarts. He looked at the teachers for their reaction, Rivers looked bored out his mind and seemed to be complaining to Professor Hagrid, a few people were speaking to the Acting Headmaster who looked puzzled. Professor Ashain just looked sympathetic, Scorpius realized he was right to feel that way. As inconvenient as it was for them it had to be worse for Orous, in fact Scorpius thought he saw wetness on the boy's face from tears.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

The Sorting Hat screamed so abruptly that the whole school jumped and Orous was in such a hurry to be away that he knocked over the stool and tripped, falling flat on his face. Laughter ensured until Calderon shushed them and helped Orous up, Scorpius was too far away to hear what they said but Calderon had a kindly expression on his face as he spoke and Orous wiped his eyes and nodded before carrying on to the Hufflepuff table. No one applauded him, either from the laughter or the wait but no one applauded and Orous perched himself on the very edge of the table away from anyone else so even if they wanted to they couldn't have shaken his hand.

Orous buried his head in his arms while Calderon magically righted the stool, resuming calling the names. Vern looked across at Orous sympathetically, he seemed very torn before going over to sit beside the albino. Vern said something to him that was probably an introduction and Orous looked up, Vern gave him a kind smile and spoke to him. Scorpius had a lot of respect for him for that, the poor boy could probably use a friend after that, it wasn't his fault that the hat was stupid. All the names seemed to fly by after that in comparison to Orous' lengthy sorting, it wasn't long before it got to another name that Scorpius recognized.

"Maxime-Hagrid, Corin!"

Corin mouthed something that looked like 'finally' as he came up, having a short conversation with Calderon out of Scorpius' earshot before going over to the stool. Calderon gestured and the stool legs grew in length to adjust for Corin's adult height, Corin looked begrudgingly grateful as he sat down and the hat was magically lowered onto his head. Corin looked very confident in comparison to most first years, the hat didn't take long to decide for him.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Corin looked like he'd had a ice cold bucket of water thrown into his face, his confidence was shattered and he looked utterly shocked as he seemed to walk over in a daze and sit down. Clearly whatever house he'd been expecting, it hadn't been Gryffindor. Professor Hagrid on the other hand was cheering louder than the whole of Gryffindor put together, he stood so abruptly to applaud that he knocked into those beside him, including Professor Ashain who cringed and rolled the shoulder.

"You seem surprised," Rose commented neutrally.

"Maurice and I thought we'd be in Ravenclaw because we're smart, am I too stupid for Ravenclaw? I have Giant blood in me and they're not exactly known for their intelligence," Corin explained and his voice cracked on the last, he looked like he was about to cry, "Maurice is going to get Ravenclaw for sure and then I'll have no real friends because everyone is only nice to me because I'm the Headmistress' son and behind my back they laugh and call me the Headmistress' giant bastard. I suck."

"Hey, it'll be okay," Michael offered gently as Corin buried his head in his hands, "Maurice hasn't even been sorted yet, he could still get Gryffindor."

"What if he doesn't?" Corin moaned looking up.

"Then deal with that bridge when you get to it, just because you're in different houses it doesn't mean you can't still be friends anyway. Maurice didn't strike me as the kind of person whose easily swayed from his loyalties, whatever and whoever they be."

"You know..." Corin began after a moment of looking thoughtful as he clapped Michael on the back, "considering you're a complete and total failure at magic, you're actually not that bad, Marco."

"Michael. Is it really so hard to remember Michael?" Michael whispered tiredly and the conversation dwindled and they went back to watching the sorting, there were quite a lot of Ms before a name caught his attention.

"Nott, Olivia!"

She shared a resemblance to her older brothers, a blue-eyed brunette like them only with longer hair and more feminine looking. She looked cheerful as she skipped over to the stool that had been shorted back to its originally height after Corin was sorted, it wasn't difficult to guess what house she was in. Sure enough, it took only seconds for the hat to decide.

"SLYTHERIN!"

Her smile widened and she skipped over to the Slytherin table to a thunderous applause led by her brothers, especially the elder Kyle. Scorpius didn't like either of the Nott boys, the now-fifth year Kyle was the Slytherin Seeker and a cheat and... Maximus? Scorpius thought his first name was - although he just tended to think of him as 'Nott' - was a bully in their year. He went back to not recognizing names for awhile, Corin was getting increasingly frustrated with every name called that wasn't Maurice's after they got to the Rs.

"Rivers, Maurice!"

"Finally," Corin complained before biting his lip nervously.

Maurice had stayed near the front with his end on his necklace for the entire turn, he let go of it to approach the stool and calmly sat down. His expression was completely neutral as the hat was placed on his head, if he was nervous about which house he would get then it didn't show on his face at all. The hat took a good deal longer to decide than Corin, it was exactly five minutes before the hat made up its mind.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Scorpius sure whether the hat spoke it into his mind or whether he just noticed which table cheered but Maurice understood his house, walking over with perfect calm without a hint of emotion to give away whether he was pleased to make Gryffindor or disappointed to not make Ravenclaw. Corin was clapping the hardest of everyone and cheering with a ferocity to rival his father's, the noise of which the deaf Maurice would be oblivious to as he took a seat beside his friend. Corin was beaming, Rose didn't look pleased though and Scorpius recalled the incident with Maurice from last year, clearly Rose remembered.

The Rs and Ss passed quite slowly, they just happened to be popular letters for last names as was the Ts. The only other person Scorpius even half knew was the younger brother of one of the other Gryffindor boys in his year, Rohan Tear joined his brother in Gryffindor much to Reuben's delight. After T, the letters passed by quite quickly, the numbers had dwindled massively. The final person was a boy named Blaine Zabini who was put into Slytherin, the sorting was finally over. Rose groaned and handed over a sickle to Albus as Calderon had managed to get every name correct, the assistant clapped and both stool and hat vanished in a whirl of lights.

"Lucy should have been here," Molly whispered sadly as the Acting Headmaster stood up to speak, clearing his throat and the crowd fell silent.

"Greetings everyone! I am Silvanus Elwood," Elwood introduced himself brightly, "I have been appointed by the Ministry to act as Headmaster while Headmistress McGonagall is away at Beauxbatons with the Seventh Years for the Triwizard tournament, I'm sure you'll all join me in wishing the Hogwarts Champion luck. I-"

Whatever Elwood was going to say was cut off as an explosion erupted from the center of the room, the hall vibrated as smoke and debris was thrown into the air. Scorpius had to grab the table to steady himself as did everyone else around him, Elwood had been knocked back into his chair from the force and Calderon - who had been standing nowhere near a table or chair - was thrown against the wall.

It was only then that he noticed a group of seven standing in the center of the hall, dressed in black clothes with black cloaks with a symbol on the cloaks that he recognized. A crimson snake's skeleton, coiled around itself in a figure eight with its forked tongue sticking out at them. It was moving on the cloaks. They were Shadows. They were also wearing red skull masks to hide their faces.

They didn't waste a second of time as they launched an attack on the staff, Professors Ashain and Longbottom were the only ones fast enough to put up a defense. Scorpius thought them both being former Aurors probably had something to do with it. The others weren't so lucky, those closest to the Professors' shields were alright and Professor Hagrid must've been incredibly resilient but the others were taken off guard and tossed backwards like rag dolls from the explosive spells. Most were nurses injuries of various severity and some weren't even moving at all, he hoped they were just unconscious.

The seven didn't stop just because they'd caused damage, they continued firing spells at the teachers who were now trying to defend themselves against the onslaught. Scorpius didn't know whether the Shadows were just talented duelists or if it was because the teachers fighting were mostly injured but the teachers seemed to be losing, despite having superior numbers. Rivers fled into the door off to the side and Calderon flung his hands out, shifting the tables onto their sides and over to the wall without hitting any of them to barricade them.

"GET BEHIND THEM!" Calderon yelled over the sound of spells being yelled and magic being used.

Most people didn't need to be told twice, a few seemed too stunned or scared to move and others - he noticed Hal especially - and their friends having to get them to move. Scorpius didn't blame them, Hogwarts was supposed to safe! How had they even gotten in?! Hadn't the Aurors replaced the protective enchantments? The Aurors... He recalled his conversation with Varanian, had the Shadow Auror sabotaged it somehow? Were more involved? He tried to shove his thoughts aside, he could worry about it if he lived long enough.

He started to move though the lead Shadow laughed and raised his wand, shadowy shapes appeared in the air and for a second Scorpius thought they were Specters but even as the lead man was shot down by Professors Longbottom and Ashain at the same time they formed into... something else. They were humanoid in shape, taller than a man but not as tall as Professor Hagrid and wore ripped, ragged black cloaks that covered even their faces. Their almost decayed hands stuck out though, scabbed and slimy looking fingers stretched out. Scorpius felt as though the room had suddenly gotten infinitely colder, he could see his breath before his face it was so cold and his scarred wrist fell like it was encased in ice.

"Scorpius... Come to me... Scorpius."

Scorpius was suddenly filled with the same sensation was back as Diagon Alley, the dueling, the fleeing to the barricades just melted out of his mind as he stared at the... thing. It hadn't seemed to have spoken, its cloak still covered its face but Scorpius couldn't look away, he couldn't blink and it was beckoning him. His legs shook and threaten to collapse, he was so tired, so weak but his drooping eyelids kept on the creature as he started to slowly drag his feet towards it. Maybe if he could reach it then he could finally sleep?

Something silvery struck the creature and his trance was broken, Scorpius felt like he'd been kicked in the stomach as he fell to his knees shivering violently against the cold. Hands were grabbing him and pulling him to his feet, ushering him in the direction of the barricade tables, he realized it was Maurice, Corin and Molly. He was barely aware of that though, he could never be happy again, memories of Marvin were flooding his mind so much he could no longer think. He wanted to cry and scream for it to stop, he had no idea if he had done either or not as collapsed on the safe side of the barrier, unconsciousness blissfully took him and the memories stopped.

Part 4: The Silver Dragon

Atticus Ashain's brief moment of relief that the sorting was over and they could finally eat was shattered by the explosion, the figures appeared. His years as an Auror spared him as ingrained instinct took over, almost before he realized what he was doing he was casting a Shield Charm as was Neville. Those closest to them were protected by the shields but the others were hit badly, the spells used were brute force and threw them backwards against the wall.

He didn't have time to dwell on them though as the figures continued firing spells towards them, he was on his feet fighting back and moving around the table so his movements weren't even more constricted by chairs and tables. Although he did notice Rivers fleeing through the door near the side, if he hadn't been too busy focusing he would have rolled his eyes in disgust. But he did have to focus, the Shadows weren't exactly unskilled and every time he cast a spell he the pain intensified, he felt like he was on fire. In a bad way.

He had to push through the pain. He couldn't stop, he was one of the few managing to hold his own against the onslaught of spells. He didn't even know what the spells he was deflecting were, neither vocalized a spell, it was just one jet of light smashing into a shield after another. The mask hid his enemies face so he didn't even have that to go on, the man - or possibly woman? - did seem to be an experienced duelist though, exceedingly fast with attack or defense as well as being light on their feet which gave them an advantage, Atticus' wounds were slowing him down although he was matching the speed of the spells and using nonverbal magic to not lose the one advantage he had. From the cries of spells, most of the other staff were saying them aloud while the attackers said nothing and he could hear a dog barking.

"GET BEHIND THEM!" a voice that sounded like Calderon yelled over the chaos

He risked a flicker of a glance beyond his opponent, the assistant's arms were out and the house tables were now being used as barricades to protect the students. That was good. The students were the most important thing to protect, really it was good that none of them were going after the children. No sooner had he thought that the lead attacker blasted Elwood back with a particularly violent spell, he heard the man scream but didn't risk seeing what had happened to him as the lead man - or woman - raised his - or her - wand and shadowy shapes started to appear in the air.

In panic he thought they were Specters and risked getting cursed to launch a spell at the man, Neville seemed to have the same idea as both collided with the attacker almost at the same time and he was thrown violently back to where he lay on the ground unmoving. His opponent hadn't stopped attacking him while he cursed the other enemy, he tried to jerk his head out of the way of the red jet of light but it still tore though his cheek, it stung painfully and he felt blood oozing from the wound but it paid it no mind, it wasn't half as bad as the pain in his torso and he was managing to push through that.

They'd been too late to stop the lead man's spell though, the shadowy shapes solidified. Not into Specters though, but Dementors. They started going after the students, except one that remained and gestured with its long scabby fingers as if beckoning someone. He started to think how stupid it was, no one would willing towards one of those things but then he realized to his horror that someone actually was for some bizarre reason, Scorpius was walking towards it. He moved to cast a patronus but was forced to cast another Shield Charm instead to defend himself, his opponent wasn't going to give him a break.

Neville again seemed to think along the same lines as him as he cast a Patronus, Atticus was only watching out of the corner of his eye as he launched a counter spell at his own opponent but he saw a flash of light that knocked the Dementor away from Scorpius, oddly enough the boy fell to his feet but others were pulling him back towards the barrier. He was more concerned with Neville, breaking away to cast a Patrnous had cost him dearly and he wasn't so lucky at being able to avoid the fiery curse that smashed into his wand arm.

Atticus was way off to the right with Neville more centrally to the left of him so he wasn't quite sure what had happened but Neville cried out and fell to his knees, clutching at his left shoulder and his Patronus vanished immediately. A flash of horizontal lightning tore through the air and sped towards Neville's attacker, hitting him directly in the center of his chest and jolting out his - or her - back. The attacker fell to the ground and Atticus was sure he hadn't survived.

"I didn't mean to do that!" Calderon cried in horror and Atticus risked a glance as he put up another Shield Charm, the assistant was clutching his fists to his chest and gazing anxiously at the battle and the Dementors, his eyes darting around as if trying to take in everything at once... None of the people were attacking him.

"Calderon!" Atticus called out but turned his eyes back to his opponent in time to deflect another curse before his distraction could be used to his advantage again, "do something about the Dementors! You have to protect the students!"

"I can't, you fight Dementors!"

"Yes you can! Cast a Patronus, fight them off!"

"But I can't cast a Patronus!"

"Yes you can!" Atticus protested although yelling was making his insides burn more, if Calderon could fight off Specters and Specters were fought off by Patronuses like Dementors then logically he could fight off Dementors... right? He hoped so, it wouldn't matter much if they fought off the attackers if the students had all been kissed and even if he did cast a Patronus it would vanish and be useless the second his opponent picked him off for being distracted like Neville, "just think of a happy memory, powerful happy memory and just... magic it out! I know Dementors terrify you but if you don't do this then the students could die or worse! At least try!"

Calderon gave no reply and for a minute Atticus thought he hadn't listened, he was trying to think of some other way to convince him or wondering if a Shield Charm could hold off his opponent long enough to cast a Patronus to protect the students himself. He didn't think so, his shield defected a fiery spell but his opponent had already fired another before it had scorched the wall. It didn't help his strength was burning out, he was exhausted despite only having been dueling for a few minutes, his energy was ebbing away with every spell. His healers had probably been completely right to advise him to not use too much magic until he healed, his wounds felt like they were tearing him in half.

To his surprise though his opponent was the one who hesitated next and Atticus spared a glance in the direction the skull masked man - or woman - had looked. Calderon had climbed onto the staff table and a silver light looked like it was being pulled from his body, he had a look of intense concentration on his face as the huge silver wisps were dragged out of him in a shape. A shape of a scaly head and a second later the head shot forward and the massive silvery body followed so fast that Atticus nearly jumped.

Calderon had cast a Patronus. It was by far the largest Patronus that Atticus had ever seen as well as one of the most unique, it was a dragon. Calderon's Patronus was a dragon. The huge silvery beast roared as it sped through the hall, swiping and biting at the Dementors that were batted away like flies, it breathed wispy silver flames at them too. The entire battle stopped for a moment for jaws to drop, Calderon's maniacal laughter broke the silence. How the assistant managed to laugh several pitches higher than his actual voice, Atticus had no idea but the demented shrill hysterical laughter echoed around them. He just laughed and laughed. And laughed. Does he actually realize we're in mortal peril or... what? he wondered to himself.

Atticus' opponent seemed frustrated with this and threw a curse in the assistant's direction, Atticus threw a stunner that hit them unchallenged and took the man - or woman - down but it didn't stop the spell from cutting through Calderon's shoulder. This just made Calderon laugh more as he threw up his hands and his familiar yellow light shot up from everywhere, so bright that Atticus couldn't see anything, he had to close his eyes or be blinded. When the light faded he opened his eyes and blinked, the attackers - except the one he thought was dead - were all gone. Calderon stopped laughing and looked puzzled.

"Where did they all go?" Calderon wondered and Atticus shrugged but regretted the wave of pain it caused. If Calderon hadn't... vaporized them or... banished them? Or whatever then he had no idea. And he really felt to drained and in pain to properly care.

There was a moment of awkward silence, the Dementors had been driven off by the Patronus and the attackers had... gone. The students remained behind the barriers were not talking amongst themselves in panic. Calderon's dragon continued circling the hall. Most staff were unmoving on the ground or nursing injuries, a few were still standing like him and Calderon but showed signs of the fight, sleeves torn and small bleeding cuts. They were all taking in the scene. A few students ran towards the adults... Michael? was going around the injured, Neville's kids were gathering around him. Things needed to be done. Calderon whistled a piercing whistle, Atticus winced at how high-pitched it was but it successfully drew everyone's attention. Calderon looked completely serious.

"Alright, here's what's going to happen," Calderon said, making his voice magically carry, "you're going to go to your Common Rooms with a teacher to escort you to make sure you get there safely. Professor Hagrid take Gryffindor, Professor Koray take Ravenclaw, Professor Vipera take Slytherin and Professor Dunbrooke take Hufflepuff. Then the professors will return here and you are to remain in your Common Rooms and not leave for any reason, you'll be told more when we have more news, leave any students who are unconscious or injured as they will be seen to as Professor Fintan is going to get the healers. Now."

No one questioned Calderon or disagreed with his decision, regardless of his position. He'd chosen the professors who looked the least injured - well Hagrid looked rough but being a giant made him resilient - except for him and Calderon the rest weren't standing or present. It was over and the adrenaline rush was fading, the pain remained and Atticus' legs felt like they were going to give way. He staggered to get towards the scorched wall, leaning heavily against it for support as everything swirled dizzily. He felt like he was going to pass out, he closed his eyes and tried to breathe through it awkwardly, he knew his breathing was erratic at best but he hoped that as he was no longer magic that the pain and weakness would recede or he actually pass out. He was right though, he wasn't sure how much time passed before it became bearable enough to open his eyes and pay attention to the world around him again.

He hadn't even noticed the healers arriving but they were there as were the four teachers who'd left and almost all of the students were gone, the only ones left were mostly sitting and being handed chocolate to deal with the Dementors effects. Scorpius was amongst them with Albus and Rose beside him, as was the Orous boy and a handful of older students. Neville's kids were still frantically hovering around their dad as one of the new healers saw to him, tending to his arm... or rather the stump where his arm had used to be. Atticus felt sick.

"He's got a broken arm and that gash to abdomen looks nasty but its not deep enough to touch the internal organs, " Michael was saying about the new Muggle Studies professor, the healer shot him a dark look.

"I don't need to hear the silly suspicions of a first year," the new healer said stiffly as he saw to the man.

"I'm a second year."

"I don't care," the healer snapped and went back to seeing to the man, "alright so he has a fractured arm and a laceration to the abdomen, no vital organs have been hit."

"I told you."

"Shut up! Some of us are trying to work. Make yourself useful and get out of my light."

"Are you alright, Ticcy?" Calderon asked from behind and Atticus jumped, wincing at the pain it caused.

"Sure. Mostly. It can wait," Atticus offered and regretted speaking as the silver dragon landed in front of them, folding its massive wings and looking at Calderon with huge silver eyes the size of the assistant's head, "is that thing still here."

"Yes. I like it," Calderon pointed out and smiled at the Patronus, "evil people can't cast Patronuses but I cast a Patronus so it means I'm not evil. I'm not evil. Isn't that great?"

"Erm... Why would you think that you were?" Atticus wondered puzzled, Calderon was some between slightly eccentric and completely insane definitely but he'd never struck him as a bad person. Calderon lost his smile and shrugged before rubbing his forearm.

"Because of my parents, I guess. Make sure you do get seen too, the cut on your face looks pretty nasty."

"You too," Atticus commented nodding to the darker colored fabric around the assistant's shoulder, Calderon blinked in surprise before laughing shrilly again.

"I had actually forgotten about that!" Calderon explained with an odd cheerfulness before he was called over.

One of the Healers who seemed to be in charge was giving him a report while the severely injured teachers were brought to the hospital wing and Neville must have insisted on his kids not coming because they looked sad as they stayed unmoving while their father was magically carried away on a stretcher. Glumly he realized that all that wasn't going to help improve Skye's views on magic any, he would have sighed if he'd had the energy. One teacher must have died, he realized, as there were two bodies that been moved to one side and covered by black blankets.

"Alright, Ruby, can you make sure these students all get back to their dormitories," Calderon said just as Rivers returned, Harry Potter leading over two dozen Aurors in tow as they went up to them. Rivers must've went to get help, Atticus realized, not a completely selfish coward then.

Albus and Rose ran to their fathers and Atticus missed his children, Harry and Ron hugged their children and said a few quick words before dismissing them to be dropped off with Hagrid. It was only after all the students had left that Harry asked what had happened, Calderon filled them in and Atticus half listened. He only decided to leave the safety of the wall when Calderon had finished, he felt as though he was walking across a trampoline and it hurt to move but he managed the short distance to reach them.

"I have no idea what happened to the attackers but they were Shadows from the symbols on their capes," Calderon was saying, "it should have knocked them out."

"Are you sure you didn't do anything?" one of the Aurors... Rooke,was it? wondered.

"Yes. Whatever happened to them I didn't do it. What's going to happen?"

"Well this is worrying," Harry said scratching his jaw and looking anxious before turning to the Aurors and telling all but Ron and Rooke to search the castle and grounds for any sign of them and another one went to get the Minister for Magic himself as it was over his head, "how did they get past the defenses we put in place? Why were they even attacking?"

"And how the bloody hell did they summon Dementors like that?!" Ron added.

"I have no idea," Calderon admitted.

The Aurors and the handful of teachers still there discussed theories while they waited for the Minister to arrive, Atticus listened but his mind was too drained to contribute anything. He did think each theory was more ludicrous than the last, they had wanted to possess the students last year - or rather earlier in the year - to build an army but this time they had just attacked the teachers and set Dementors on the students. That wouldn't really help unless they had expected to kill all the staff to leave the students vulnerable, Atticus didn't agree with that. It was a stupid plan, maybe if they'd sent an army but seven people? No matter how skilled, they had to have realized it was futile, especially considering Calderon would be there. The Shadow Master may be evil but he didn't strike Atticus as stupid, the attacks were very coordinated and well thought out, none of them had been caught. Either the Shadow Master was losing his touch or they'd attacked for another reason, something specific. Or at least that's what Atticus thought. He could be wrong he supposed, he wasn't in the most clear frame of mind.

Exhausting ideas they moved over to the dead, hoping to identifying the dead man and Calderon magicked off the blanket off one before removing the mask and they startled in shock. The man - or woman? - had unhealthy completely gray skin but that wasn't what was most shocking, the eyes, mouth and nose were gone. There was just a blank empty lumpy face devoid of features. There wasn't a hair on his - or her - head either.

"What the...?" Ron muttered.

"Ooh I read about this!" Rivers exclaimed excitedly, "in some Magical Tribal cultures they used to create these special masks to wear while they attacked their enemies to hide their identity so the victims wouldn't know which tribe had attacked them, the best part was that they were enchanted so that if one of them died wearing the mask then it would absolve the wearer of their features so the enemy couldn't identify the attacker and seek revenge on the dead one's family or tribe."

"It doesn't look very tribally," Calderon pointed out and Rivers rolled his eyes.

"Obviously, Assistant, I wasn't suggesting they were using relics but they could have figured out how to create them from ones they stole - and I read the papers, I know they stole some - and created their own."

"How do we reverse it and find out who this person was?" Harry asked, Rivers huffed indignantly in reply.

"How am I supposed to know? I'm not the expert. And I'm not doing your job for you. I was under the impression there was no way but then again people in the past were pretty stupid so maybe they just didn't figure it out."

They were spared from hearing any more of Rivers as the Minister for Magic arrived, flanked by two high-ranking looking officials and several Aurors. Kingsley looked noticeably weaker than he had at the memorial, apparently he'd been cursed in the back and as a result he suffered from some problems from spinal damage, one of which being that he now needed a cane and walked much slower. It saddened Atticus, he'd known him since his Auror training and it was strange to see him looking so haggard and aged from the ordeal. Calderon jerkily bowed for no apparent reason and the dog wagged its tail excitedly the movement.

"I've been told what happened," Kingsley said projecting calm with his voice although Atticus was sure he was just as shaken as they all were.

"So err... Master Sir Mr King Minister, what's going to happen?" Calderon asked again nervously and Kingsley smiled weakly and held up his palm.

"Kingsley is fine."

"Kingsley..." Calderon offered hesitantly and paused slightly, looking at Kingsley as if expecting him to change his mind and suddenly lash out at him, "so what's going to happen? Are the students being sent home? Is the school being closed?"

"You can't close the school!" Rivers shrieked in panic.

"I wasn't planning on it," Kingsley pointed out and Rivers relaxed visibly, "but protective measures will be put in place to protect the students, how many Aurors can you spare to guard Hogwarts, Harry?"

"As many as we need, my sons are here and the safety of our children is more important than anything," Harry said firmly but Calderon looked concerned.

"Elwood is seriously injured, he's in no condition to act as Headmaster for the time being, they're not even sure he'll survive," Calderon told them, "Minerva has to stay in Beauxbatons with the seventh years and the Deputy Headmaster is also seriously injured and in no condition to... headmaster anything. How can you be thinking of keeping the school open without someone leading it? And most all of the staff are injured to some degree, some are okay to teach but some aren't, one died. So not in much condition to take over and Elwood's been here two months and still didn't really have the hang of things. You need someone now, you need someone to act as headmaster and since there's no one the school can't be open you need to coordinate your arrangement of Aurors with someone in charge too, patrols worked out, best places for them to be and to coincide with the schedules. And the schedules need to be rearranged tonight if they're to have classes, substitutes worked out and-"

"Don't you do all of that stuff anyway?" Atticus wondered and Calderon jumped.

"Well yes. But I do it for the Headmaster, Headmistress or Acting Headmaster. They make the final decisions and approve everything, I just... assist."

"Well now you don't need that, you can be the Acting Headmaster," Kingsley offered and lights flashed around Calderon as he looked panicked.

"No! No, no, no, no, no, no, no! I can't be the Acting Headmaster."

"I have the utmost faith in you."

"But I'm just an assistant! There's two kinds of people in life, the people who are masters and lead others and then there's the other people and I'm the other people. You can't put me in charge of a school!"

"I just did."

"But... But I'm, I'm me! I just... can't! I'm not... not a person like other people, I can't, I'm not even sane! I'm a madman, ask anyone. I can't, I'm not..." Calderon rambled losing them all as he gripped a chunk of hair in either hand.

"Do you want the school to be closed down?" Harry asked him.

"No!"

"Then do it, you know the running of the school better than anyone whose not a former Headmaster. You took charge today and you defeated the Shadows again, if anyone can keep the school safe then you can. A wise man once told me that the best leaders are those who have power thrust upon them, rather than those who go looking for it."

"But I don't want to run the school, I can't," Calderon protested miserably, "damn it Ticcy, why did you have to say that?!"

"It would only be temporary anyway if you wished, please?" Kingsley added and Calderon let go of his hair, making it stick up and look even crazier. Calderon looked incredibly thoughtful for a moment before sighing heavily.

"Fine. I'll do it. But just you wait, I'll fail, you'll see."

"Sure. Now let's discuss the Aurors arrangements."

Part 5: Clustered Common Room

Scorpius was in a daze, he was barely aware as he woke up. People he should've known the names of where saying words he should have known the meaning of but it barely registered, it was hard to think, he felt as though there was a block of ice where his brain should be. He was so cold, different to being plunged into the lake or battered by wind, it wasn't as though the cold was around him, the cold was inside him. He was aware of every heart beat and everyone just seemed to pump freezing water instead of blood through him, he felt numb.

He just sat there - where there was - shivering, he didn't have the strength to think of moving let alone move. Vaguely he was aware of someone pushing something into his surprisingly unfrozen fingers, a phrase that bore some resemblance to the word 'eat' was repeated constantly. Someone moved his hand to his mouth and he nibbled the edge of the substance in his hands, not knowing or caring what it was. He felt warmth immediately flood his body, banishing the cold and spreading to the very tips of his fingers and edges of his toes. He took a much bigger bite to stop the cold from returning and ate the substance, it took a few minutes to realize it was chocolate. Had chocolate always been like that? Or was it just a special kind of chocolate or altered by magic?

He was only starting to become aware of everything again when he was being pulled to his feet and ushered to leave with a random assortment of students, he just walked along with them as they carried on saying words that were sounding more familiar. No one said anything, everyone seemed too shaken to speak, not that Scorpius could blame them. They walked to the Dungeons and left some of the students by the entrance to the Slytherin Common Rooms, he recognized Abby hug her brother goodbye before the rest of the group carried on. Meandering to the entrance to the Hufflepuff Common Rooms and leaving more students there, he recognized the albino Orous as one of them, he kept rubbing his wrist oddly. They dropped off the Ravenclaws next, none of whom he knew by name and then it was just them following Professor Hagrid back to Gryffindor Tower.

The professor made assurances everything would be fine but the words sounded as hollow as an echo fading into the night, they went inside and Scorpius saw the Common Room was so crowded he wondered if there was even any room for them although the absence of the seventh years helped lessen the numbers a bit. There was just a mass of bodies, wide-eyed and fearful, some were talking amongst themselves and others weren't talking at all. There wasn't really anywhere to sit so he sat on the steps to the dormitory, almost going up there but he didn't want to miss out on any news so he sat and his friends sat around him.

"Do you think my dad's going to be okay?" Abby asked worriedly, she sounded on the verge of tears.

"Sure," Michael brushed it off and actually managed to inject his usual cheerfulness into his voice, the smile left his hazel eyes untouched though.

"But... his arm," Abby breathed and Scorpius would have scowled if he had the strength, what had happened to her dad's arm? What had he missed?

"He may have lost his arm but he survived and the healers are treating him, they got to him in time so he should be fine."

"Except for having no arm."

"It was his wand arm too," Albus pointed out and it seemed too much for Abby who burst into tears, the others spent a long time comforting her.

He was lost in his thoughts, the attack played over and over in his mind. If he had had any reservations about Varanian's words before, he didn't then, that... thing had been after him, just like the possessed had been in Diagon Alley. And just like in Diagon Alley, he had gone towards the disturbing thing that wanted to kill him or take his soul or whatever they intended on doing to him. He was scared.

"Hey!" James barked as if on cue and Scorpius looked up to see the bully fighting his way through the crowd to him, his face was red with anger, "yes you! Malfoy, you psychotic evil spawn of scum! This is all your fault!"

"What?!" Scorpius managed to utter in outrage and surprise.

"You heard me! You're risking everyone's lives just by being here, this whole thing is your fault! The Shadows are after you! Not us, not any of the teachers, you! First Diagon Alley and now here at Hogwarts! You're endangering everyone's lives, what the hell is wrong with you?!" James was yelling now, far louder than anyone in the room had been speaking and all other conversations had stopped, the whole of Gryffindor house was watching them, "if you had any shred of common decency or sense then you wouldn't be here! You wouldn't have come here in the first place, you would leave now because we're all in danger because of you! Our lives are at risk because of you! If anywhere in the small gnarly black decrepit lump of stone that you have for a heart there was a speck of goodness then you would leave so that we'd be safe!"

"How can you even say that?!" a voice cried out and Scorpius expected it to be his own but it was Michael who'd jumped to his defense.

"You heard me, Dragon-breath! If the Shadows had just taken him in Diagon Alley then none of this would have happened, we should just give them what they want!"

"Oh yeah because giving evil psychos what they want is always the right thing to do!" Michael commented sarcastically, on his feet and strategically positioning himself between James and Scorpius, James' fists clenched, "besides there's no proof they were after Scorpius! They didn't make any demands, they attacked the teachers not us! Just because Scorpius was near those things doesn't mean they were after him or want him, everyone was near those things, its not his fault so lay off him!"

"They're called Dementors you bloody idiot! Evil creatures that my father fought in a war that he won when he defeated the Greatest Evil Wizard of all time! What has your father done lately? Oh yeah, nothing because he's just a flaky scumbag criminal muggle."

"What? Attacking Jack just because your arguments are so weak that you can't defend your completely unfair reasoning?" Michael retorted although he had a feeling the James' jab had hurt him nonetheless.

"No!" James screamed and seemed to realize this wasn't a good enough comeback, "giving the Shadows what they want is the smart thing! Its only Malfoy, there's more lives at stake!"

"Assuming you're insane theory is correct, so what? We just give the Shadows everything they want? That's definitely going to stop them!" Michael quipped using sarcasm again, "there where does it end? Why not let them take over the school next time? Why not give them control over the Ministry while we're at at? Oh yeah, why not offer up some towns for them to slaughter just to sweeten the deal, they'll be so grateful they'll just give up and go home and the world will be saved! Great plan, genius!"

"That's not what I meant and you know it! You're just twisting everything because you're your friends with the psycho!"

"You're just twisting everything because you hate Scorpius! What if they want you? What if they want your friends, cousins or brother? Would you still give them what they wanted then?!"

"Of course not!"

"See, you're a hypocrite," Michael told him, making a visible effort to reign in the volume of his voice as he folded his arms and Scorpius noticed a lot of people in the crowd were actually nodding in agreement at this. James seemed to notice this too as he looked livid.

"No, I right! I'm not a hypocrite! I'm only trying to save us all! I'm Harry Potter's son and you're nothing."

"You're a coward!"

James lashed out so fast that no one had time to react, he didn't whip out his wand - wasn't much space too with the throng of people - instead he swung his fist that collided with Michael's face with a loud thud. The nearest to James pulled him back before he could do anything else while Michael was knocked off balance and staggered but managed to right himself, when he turned back to James he was squinting with his left eye as if it was troubling him. And he was laughing. It sounded more unhinged than Calderon's considering the situation.

"Merlin's light, his eye!" Molly gasped and put her hand over her mouth.

"What?" Albus wondered, looking extremely uncomfortable at the discord between his brother and his friend. Molly blinked a few times in surprise.

"Sorry, I'm just going mad I think, thought I saw something."

"Oh no, you hit me! I've never been hit before in my life, you must be so brave and strong to hit someone younger and weaker than yourself! That must mean I was wrong about everything and you were right!" Michael yelled sarcastically when his laughter died, "you're pathetic! Do whatever you want to me, it doesn't make what I've said any less true and deep down in the... what was it you said? If anywhere in the small gnarly black decrepit lump of stone that you have for a heart there was a speck of goodness then you would realize that!"

"Well say what you want, everyone agrees with me!" James snapped and people noticeably stepped away from him.

"No we don't," Freddie Weasley scoffed, still managing to make orange dreadlocks look cool, "sorry cuz but I don't think the Shadows were after him and even if they were, that's no excuse to give him up or kick him out of the school, I wouldn't do that to anyone. Not even Tanner. And you know how much I hate Tanner."

"I'm you," one of James' cronies offered but most people were murmuring their support for Freddie and Michael, James looked outraged.

"Think you lost whatever credibility you had when you hit the first year, mate," someone else pointed out as James freed his arms from the student's grasps.

"I'm a second year!" Michael protested.

Any further discussion however was ended by a small pop and the arrival of several of the house-elves from the kitchens bringing plates of food. It was probably the first time in Hogwarts history that the Welcoming Feast had been canceled but they still had to eat, the house-elves had been told to divide up the food into four and bring it to the students in their houses. They made a huge buffet of food and another buffet of deserts, they stacked plates and cutlery for the Gryffindors to use. The house-elves encouraged them to eat some chocolate from the desert table at some point - even if they ate nothing else - and left after telling them they had no more news, aside from the facts that the staff and Aurors were working on it, they assured them they were safe and managed to sound more convincing than Professor Hagrid had before leaving.

Scorpius didn't feel much like eating but predictably Michael brought him over a heaped plate of food for him to eat and a second plate chocked full of chocolate, although that was to share because everyone was going for anything chocolate at the house-elves' suggestion. Only after they were all eating did Michael get his own food but had devoured it as if he hadn't eaten before and had gone for seconds before any of them had finished theirs, in fact he was on thirds by the time they'd finished theirs. It was delicious despite everything but Scorpius found it hard to swallow, what if James was right? Was he putting everyone's lives at risk by being there? How desperate were the Shadows to get him?

"Do you think our dads are going to come say hi to us or just leave without saying goodbye?" Albus wondered thoughtfully after returning with a plate of non-chocolate deserts for himself while Rose had a second plate of proper food, she shrugged.

"Your dads?" Scorpius wondered and was filled in on what had happened after he lost consciousness, including Calderon's silver dragon, "wow. Just... wow."

"Well Dumbledore's Patronus was a phoenix so they can be more magical creatures than pigs and bunnies."

"In the past someone had a giant for a Patronus too," Rose added, "but Calderon's dragon was still impressive."

"Yeah, it was awesome. I hope my Patronus is a dragon or at least something cool."

"What's a Patronus?" Michael inquired after swallowing his mouthful of food but Rose didn't seem to notice as she spoke as if he'd said nothing.

"I hope mine is an intelligent animal like a dolphin or a chimpanzee. What about you Abby?"

"I don't know..." Abby sighed disinterestedly, her dad's injury clearly on her mind, "something cute like a bunny or a baby seal. What does it matter? My dad just lost his arm."

"Sorry," Albus muttered glumly.

"Do you think they're going to close the school?" Scorpius asked and Michael nearly choked on his ham.

"They-They wouldn't close the school would they?" Michael wondered trying and failing to keep the fear out of his voice, "I mean last year most everyone got possessed and they didn't close it then."

"Well they might if they think its dangerous enough," Abby offered and Michael's face lost all color, "dad said they nearly closed the school in his second year with the Basilisk attacks."

"But they can't do that! What-What about all the students? Where will we learn magic?"

"Parents will teach I guess but I wouldn't worry about it."

"How can I not worry about it?!" Michael burst out looking close to tears, "its alright for you guys, you have magical parents who can teach you and you have nice families anyway. They-They can't possibly think we'd be better off at home?"

"Well obviously," Albus offered and Michael shoved aside his plate miserably.

"I don't think they will," Rose spoke up, "magical education is important and they did actually fight off the attackers and Dementors, with the Shadows its not like homes are that safe anymore anyway. Although I reckon when word gets out about this that there'll be plenty of people who get pulled out of school if their parents think its too dangerous but it'll probably stay open, I hope so. I am dying to get cracking this year. Despite everything that just happened tonight."

"Well my dad's a teacher so I'm staying either way," Abby said with a shrug and a sad look, "besides, its not like home is safer after all the Leaky Cauldron was attacked last year. Is anywhere safe anymore?"

No one answered her.

The time seemed to drag by after the meal was finished. Usually after eating they would all go to bed but everyone was uncertain and unsure, all around them the same conversations to them were being heard but by different voices. People were talking about what was going to happen, what they were supposed to do, the fate of the school, the fate of the teachers, why the Shadows had attacked, how they'd broken through the defenses... they talked but no one had any answers, even after the house-elves magicked away the leftovers and dishes they had no more answers for them. Scorpius was thankful the discussion was off him and that James was staying away, he was considering asking Albus if they should use the cloak to investigate what was happening before adults finally arrived.

Professor Hagrid - looking in slightly better condition than he had been in earlier - was there along with Rose and Albus' dads, they told the students that the situation had been dealt with and were advised to go to bed and go on down to the Great Hall for breakfast in the morning as usual as things were being arranged so they could still have classes. More would be explained then.

The crowd universally decided to disperse then, heading to their dormitories for sleep with the exception of James, Albus and Rose who went over to their dads. Scorpius and Michael decided to just leave them be and headed back up to the dormitory, the room virtually identical to last year, right down to the positioning of the beds. He retrieved pajamas from his trunk before closing the drapes, giving himself some privacy to change and climb under the covers. Not that he expected to sleep much.

"Hey Scorpius... you still awake?" Michael asked after a few minutes from beyond the drapes, from the snores Angelo was asleep and Reuben had just left for the bathroom.

"Yeah," Scorpius offered.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Erm... sure?"

"Why did you go towards the Dementors? Just like you went towards the possessed people in Diagon Alley."

"I honestly don't know," Scorpius decided to admit, he couldn't come up with any kind of reasonable explanation at all.

"Ah right. Okay, just wondered. Goodnight."

"Hey Michael?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks," Scorpius told him, "you know for stopping me from going towards the possessed people in Diagon Alley and defending me from James, although I wish you wouldn't. It just got you punched in the face, he's going to seriously injure you one of these days if you always stand up for me."

"Don't worry about me and its fine," Michael brushed it off just as Reuben returned and they went silent.

Albus returned a few minutes later and went to bed, Scorpius nearly asked him if he'd learned anything from his father and uncle but decided against it. Albus liked his sleep, if he wasn't telling them immediately then clearly he knew nothing or intended to wait until morning. Scorpius had expected to find it difficult to sleep with the Shadows on his mind but he slipped into slumber with surprising speed.