Chapter Two
Thank you to Hermy and Roe for your reviews!
"So you're not under possession? I mean, Scorpious' spirit isn't in you?" I leaned back against the headboard and watched as Scorpy (as I have dubbed him) battled against the lumps on my quilt. He had a vaguely frustrated look on his face as he yet again fell on his bum.
"I already told you, it's just a part of him that's in me." He huffed as he struggled back onto his feet. He refused to let me help him. Not like it would be too much effort to just pick him up and put him on my pillow. He barely weighed a thing!
"So you're still, in a vague sense of it, just a doll?" I asked.
Scorpy looked at me for a second, his grey eyes shining with a light I couldn't understand. "I can still feel. I mean, when your brother was giving me sweets earlier, I really truly was hungry."
"I see." I nodded and he resumed his imminent climb up my bed. "Do you know if Mr. Malfoy knows about Scorpious' being missing?"
"I would like to think so." Scorpy hummed. "What father, or parent in general, wouldn't be worried when his son suddenly disappears off of the face of the earth?"
"A rather bad one, I'd like to think." I nodded. For a second, I closed my eyes and wondered. Wondered why exactly I was taking this so calmly. Yes, I'd already had my moment of hysteria when I'd scared Scorpy in the living room but now that I've talked to him, I'm quite alright with this.
Scorpy had no idea about who created him just that he was actually a living being. In a warped sense, there were two versions of Scorpious Malfoy. One, who was currently missing, was the living and breathing and studying son and only heir of Draco Malfoy and Astoria Malfoy. The other was currently fighting with my pillowcase as he tried to heave himself onto the fluffy cushion and was the size of my palm.
I can't say that I know a lot about Scorpious because I've never even met him. He and his Father both resided in France. Mr. Malfoy was Beauxbatons' Potions teacher and Scorpious was its Charms Prodigy. The Prophet once said something about Mr. Malfoy and Mrs. Malfoy separating and Scorpious chose to stay with his Father. I don't think I would have known about that if Dad and Uncle Ron hadn't had a rather loud conversation discussing it.
"Al! Get down here, Al!" Lily's voice and loudness sometimes came in handy and I sighed. A glance at Scorpy showed equal frustration as he pulled himself onto my pillow.
"I just got here!" He cried in dismay as I stood up and offered my hand. He begrudgingly got on it and I raised him to my shoulder where he situated himself rather moodily. I grinned at his pouting and his rather quick commentary on how difficult it had been to climb that Everest.
"Albus!" I rushed out the door and down the stairs. I couldn't help but wonder if the real Scorpious was like this. Temperamental… like Scorpy, cause Scorpy was very moody and rather vocal about his feelings. I wish I could be more like that.
"What's up?" I asked as I jumped off the last few steps and walked into the living room, where it seemed everyone was.
Mum was holding the Prophet , which issue it was I have no idea, and was frowning. "Madam Maxine has sent a missive to several people."
"A missive?" I asked. I knew all about Madam Maxine and how she'd gone bonkers when Aunt Fleur nearly got killed in the Triwizard Tournament back in the 90's. I could feel several people staring at Scorpy who was standing on my shoulder. "What for?"
"C'est l'actualité! Oh très rapide! Qu'est-ce qu'il dit?" I was momentarily startled as Scorpy yelled right by my ear. I could actually feel him tugging on a lock of my hair at his excitement at seeing the paper. Of course, I had to ask.
"You speak French?" But Jamie got to before me. He got off his seat and delicately plucked Scorpy off of my shoulder and into his hand. The blonde looked startled and surprised as the question.
"I… I don't know. I mean, I didn't know I could." Scorpy frowned. "Maybe it's because the other Scorpious speaks French, so I can too?"
"It makes sense." Mum said before she cleared her throat. "To continue though, the missive is in regard to Scorpious ' disappearance. Madam Maxine wants the very best to come and help her find him. Evidently, Malfoy isn't taking it well."
"I could relate." Uncle Ron mumbled, his arms around Rosie. "I know he's a git and all but no one wants a missing child. Wouldn't know what to do if Rosie or Hugo here went missing. I think I might just bring out the sword of Gryffindor if I think it would bloody help."
Rosie shifted a bit but stayed in Uncle Ron's embrace. I now realized that Lily was sitting on Dad's lap. What was it with Father's and their daughters? Why is it always them together? Favoritism so sucks.
"Will you help?" Scorpy asked quietly. He was encased in both of Jamie's hands and staring at his own tiny hands. "I know that my Father has done many of you wrong, you especially Mrs. Weasley. But I don't like the idea of him worrying too much. I am safe, but for some reason I cannot tell you where I am or who has taken me."
I frowned. What the…? Lily had gotten off of Dad's lap and had walked towards Jamie and regarded Scorpy quite closely.
"Sco… Scorpious?" Dad said slowly. "Is that actually you?"
"Yes." Scorpy answered. I now realized that he was using a different tone. Not the playful Scorpy I had been talking to two minutes ago but a more… dignified Scorpious with a rather controlled tone. "I must admit I was shocked to find myself surrounded by Potter's and Weasley's alike. Where am I? Or rather, what is this I am currently in? You all look so big."
"You're in a doll." Dad said. "I guess this rules out the possibility of it being a Hocrux. I've never seen this happen. Not with the locket or the diary. He should be projecting out of the object but he isn't. He's actually…"
"Possessing the doll?" Mum added. She was paler than usual. I didn't know what a Hocrux was, and a brief look at my siblings and cousins showed that only Hugo had an idea on what it was.
He mouthed. "Hogwarts, A History" to us and I nodded. I'm pretty sure I had that book in my room. Probably buried under all of my notes in class. Nothing a good Summong charm can't find.
"I don't know how I'm doing this Mrs. Potter." Scorpy continued. "And I must apologize. I have been privy to the more… unsavory acts my grandparents and parents have done during the war and I'm sure that this must bring back memories you'd wish to lock away."
"That's quite all right Scorpious." Mum answered in good spirit. "This isn't really something I can fault you since all you want is help. How can we give you that exactly?"
Scorpy's eyebrows pulled together and again I noticed that he really had a huge forehead! "I'm sorry… I don't know. I don't even know how I'm doing this, possessing the doll and talking to you, I mean."
"Do you think your Father might have an idea?" Dad asked. He was on his feet and pulling on his coat and so was Uncle Ron. "Can you tell me anything that could help?"
Scorpy frowned even more. "All I know is that I was in the Charms classroom when everything went blank."
"What were you doing there?" Dad asked, going into Auror mode. It was fascinating watching my Dad's transition between just Harry to Auror Harry. You wouldn't believe it if you didn't see it with your own two eyes.
"I was trying to conjure my Patronus." Scorpy mumbled. "It's… I'm not actually allowed to practice that since it's a fourth year spell but I know that my Professors wouldn't mind and my Father had classes to attend to and wouldn't look for me until the end of the day."
Uncle Ron chuckled. "Rule breaker."
"Not really!" Scorpy cried, his cheeks flushing before his eyes widened. "I… Uh… What's going on? Hey!"
Jamie carried Scorpy to eye level before deflating against the settee. I realized almost instantly that we'd lost actual Scorpious and it was only Scorpy here with us.
"At least we have something." Dad mumbled before he distractedly gave Mum a kiss on the cheek and he and Uncle Ron walked to the fireplace. He grabbed a handful of Floo powder before facing us. "We'll be back as soon as we can."
"Don't hurry." Mum called as he Flooed away.
Uncle Ron followed and we watched in silence till the green flames smoldered back to the original orange and red. Aunt Hermione then let out a speculative sound as she watched Scorpy who was still looking around at everyone in confusion. "I wonder how he works."
"I know." Mum said. "Did he even realize that he wasn't being himself for a moment?"
Jamie passed Scorpy to me and I returned him to his spot on my shoulder. "Who are they talking about?"
"You." I answered and watched as his eyes grew wide. "For a second there we lost you and Scorpious spoke to us through you."
"Like a floo call?" Scorpy asked. "He used me as a medium?"
"I guess so." I nodded.
"Maybe that's why I was sent to you." Scorpy whispered. "So that he could speak to you. Maybe you should give me to your Father, Albus. I'll at least be helpful to him."
I looked at the blonde who was looking quite sad and I couldn't help but wonder why. I nodded though and turned to my Mum who was busily setting up a chessboard with Aunt Hermione. "Mum is it all right if I take Scorpy to Dad? He wants to help."
"All the way to France? Albus are you sure you can handle that long a distance?" Mum asked, her eyebrows shooting up. I nodded and she bit her lip for a second. "Oh all right. Be careful and bring the missive with you so they'll know to take you to Madam Maxine."
I nodded and grabbed the piece of paper off of the table and looked passed my brother, suddenly remembering that I'd originally planned to do something else. "Help me please Jamie. Find everything you can about Hocruxes and their uses."
"All right." He whispered back.
I strode to the floo and brought Scorpy to rest on my palm. There was no way I was chancing him falling off over Central Europe. I grabbed a handful of Floo powder and took in a deep breath.
"You sure about this?" I asked Scorpy who looked at me with a decided face. "Okay... Beauxbatons Academy of Magic."
