Parts (13-16)
III
Chapter 4
Testing
Part 1: Arguments and Advice
They were all in trouble. Everyone who had taken part in the fight, everyone who'd so much and as been in the Library when it down. The Headmistress yelled at them personally for behaving like animals and for the damage inflicted upon the Library, even though Calderon had fixed it. She also insisted that she'd write to their parents and reset the hourglasses to zero because people from every house had been involved. After everyone injured was healed up - Scorpius imagined that Marigold would have grumbled excessively about this - they spent the rest of Monday writing lines.
So many people got Howlers about it that everyone stopped laughing at the people who got them, Albus and Rose had just finished laughing at Copper for getting one when they each got one themselves as did James - Hugo and Lily hadn't been there so were spared - and Carver. Corin was given a rather loud and uncharacteristic talking to by Professor Hagrid but his mother had sent him a letter offering her support, insisting as a child of a Hogwarts professor that he shouldn't have been punished or told off at all but that it served him right for not staying at Beauxbatons where things like that never happened. Even Scorpius got a letter from his parents, reminding him that it was supposed to be a normal year where he stayed out of trouble or no Hogwarts. Abby and August hadn't been involved but Nick had, Professor Longbottom strode right over to the Slytherin table to yell at him. People did snicker at that, the usually friendly well-liked professor losing his rag with his son. And then Professor Longbottom did something that Scorpius was sure had never been done before.
"And furthermore, you're suspended from prefect duty!" Professor Longbottom yelled as he snatched Nick's badge from his robes, "As a prefect, you of all people should have known better! Should have set a better example!"
"But Dad-" Nick tried to protest but was cut off.
"I'm not your father today, I'm Professor Longbottom! If I was your father then I would be ashamed to call you my son! All prefects involved are being suspended of their duties, you're just the first to hear about it!"
"I tried to stop it, I-"
"No excuses!" Professor Longbottom bellowed once more and Nick looked on the verge of tears, "You were completely out of line! You should be ashamed of yourself! You-"
"YOU JUST HATE ME BECAUSE I'M A SLYTHERIN!" Nick screamed before his father could finish his sentence, the professor seemed too surprised to respond for a minute, "But you know what?! I'm glad I'm nothing like my father, Professor Longbottom, because I'd be ashamed to be the son of someone who won't even let his son give his side of the story!"
On that note, Nick slung his book bag over his shoulder and ran out of the hall. Professor Longbottom remained in place for a moment before his expression hardened to anger once more, he tossed the prefect badge to his prosthetic arm and pocketed it before slinking back to the staff table.
"I don't like when my family fights," Abby sighed miserably, "Now they'll want me to pick sides. I don't want to pick sides."
"I absolutely hate it too, its an atrocity," Corin said enthusiastically in agreement with her and slammed his fist onto the table which made Michael flinch, Michael had a bad headache and was just resting his head in his hands on the table.
"I don't understand why they're mad over what happened anyway, it was a great opportunity to see who is better at defending themselves from a surprise attack," Maurice announced, "There's a war going on and we need to be able to defend ourselves or we'll die."
"Well you would think that," Rose pointed out with a roll of her eyes.
"What's Nick problem anyway?" Albus grumbled, "I don't think any reason actually justifies an excuse to the grown-ups."
"Well Nick has a different reason than most," a voice said and Scorpius jolted in surprise as he realized the Head Boy Hal Davis was standing beside him, "According to him, he went to find a teacher and told them about the... erm... incident. The professor said they were going to get help then sent him back in to try break it by himself with magic, they never came back with help though or stuck up for him and said Nick had permission."
"Which teacher?" Scorpius wondered curiously to which Hal shrugged, he had gotten tall but still lanky and guilty looking.
"Nick says he can't remember but swears blind its the truth."
"You'd think Nick would've come up with a more convincing lie," Rose pointed out before eying Hal, "And who are you anyway? There'll be another riot if you stay hanging around the Gryffindor table."
"Hal Davis. I just came over to speak to Scorpius," Hal explained and handed Scorpius a piece of paper, "Its a note with written permission to exempt you for the riot detentions, I figure you have enough on your plate without that."
"You can do that?!" Albus exclaimed as his jaw dropped.
"I'm Head Boy, I can do pretty much anything. I can exempt people from detentions if I feel they have a good enough reason, plus I got Calderon to sign off on it just in case."
"Can you do that for us?!"
"Sorry, I already got to Calderon to exempt Scorpius and Lorcan. He said anymore would be pushing it."
"Damn."
"Actually I wanted to talk to you alone for a minute if that's okay, Scorpius?" Hal asked and ran a hand through his dark hair nervously.
"Okay," Scorpius agreed and followed Hal out of the Great Hall into the corridor where they were alone, "What did you want to talk to me about?"
"Well its just... well... erm... There's this new Slytherin kid, Lorcan Scamander... He was erm... k-kidnapped l-like how you... you were."
"Yeah," Scorpius said slowly, not sure where Hal was going with it.
"The Sh-Shadows were responsible even though he wasn't... with them for half a year, he has th-the same sc-scar as you and he even reminds me of you. A little bit. I just erm... I just... wondered whether th-they were... they were responsible for... for... what h-happened to you too."
"They were. Why?"
"Because I graduate this year, if the Shadows are behind it then I'm going to fight them," Hal told him sounding immediately more firm and confident in his words, "Stop them from hurting anyone else, that's what I want to do with my life."
"Don't your parents want you to get a job in the Ministry?"
"Its my life not theirs, I'm doing this with or without their support," Hal shrugged as the bell for first lessons rang, "anyway see you around, Scorpius, I have to get my first class."
"See you, Hal."
The next few months of Jack's life were... interesting to say the least. It'd been a long time since he cared so much about his schoolwork, throwing himself into it was a good distraction from his impending fatherhood crisis plus saying he was focusing on good grades to go to college and get a better job was a good excuse for not getting an actual job. He didn't want a job, jobs were hard work and well... Jack didn't really like hard work. Crystal had gotten a job as a store assistant, she was very about providing for the baby. Even though her grandparents seemed completely willing to provide for them, why turn down free money?
It was annoying with Crystal having a job anyway, it meant he got to spend less time with her and he didn't like being away from her. It meant he had no excuse to avoid his friends since all they seemed to like talking about recently was how his life was over now he was going to be a father, goodbye fun and hello boring responsibility. Babies changed everything and Crystal wouldn't be the slightest bit interested in him anymore, only in the baby and using him for money for the baby. It certainly seemed that way, Crystal was more interested in the baby and it seemed to be the only thing she wanted to talk about when he wanted to not talk about it because the more people mentioned it the more freaked out he got.
It wasn't all bad, at least Crystal was spending time with him and they were still together. He met Crystal's grandparents, Agnes and Michael. He got the impression that Agnes didn't think much of him to start but she'd warmed up to him enough by his sixteenth birthday in March to bake him a cake, a delicious chocolate motorcycle cake. Michael seemed friendly to him right off the bat but Jack felt oddly wary around him, the guy was a decorated soldier who'd served thirty years which was intimidating, you definitely didn't want to get on the wrong side of someone who'd killed before. Jack didn't like being around people who'd actually done something with their lives anyway, it made him feel rather inadequate in comparison.
His birthday was good though. Since he was old enough legally to be on the road, Annie had gotten him a motorcycle, a cheap one that wasn't particularly fast but it was the best she could afford on a paramedics salary and he was grateful for it all the same. Crystal had bought him a leather jacket and some free lessons for his motorcycle which made him feel hopeful that maybe his friends were wrong, she did care about him and not just because of the baby. The government got him his own apartment that they paid for since he'd aged out of the foster care system, he thought it was pretty awesome to have his own place.
Crystal came over to see it and after a greatly missed make-out session, wound up making them dinner because she wanted his first meal to be a proper meal. Jack discovered cooking was not one of his many talents, honestly he thought it was a miracle that people had learned to peel potatoes without losing fingers, it was a miracle that he'd done one without losing his fingers. He actually enjoyed it though, just being around her and having fun laughing about nothing and talking about nonsense. He liked it with just the two of them, the baby was just going to ruin it. They'd never spend any time together with a baby that spend every waking - and sleeping - minute crying, they wouldn't be able to hear themselves think let alone each other speak. Why did people willingly decide to have children again?
"It wouldn't take too long to baby-proof this place," Crystal as saying and Jack realized he'd zoned out of the conversation for a second.
"No!" he barked irritably before he could think better of it, "This is my place, I don't want stupid baby-proof things here."
"Don't you want the baby to come here?" Crystal wondered cautiously looking confused and surprised.
"Of course I do," Jack lied, "I just don't want any of those stupid safety things."
"But then it wouldn't be safe for the baby to be here."
"So it can stay at your grandparents house. Can't we go one day without talking about the baby? There'll be plenty of time for that when its born."
"When he's born. He's a boy not an it," Crystal corrected him quietly and looked down at the plate, shifting the food about but not eating, "Jack, do you even want this baby?"
"So I was thinking of names," Jack said loudly, not wanting to have to answer that question because he sure whatever answer he gave would be a wrong one, "Jack Thorne Junior is always a good choice. Or if you are wrong by some... unlikely event, I was thinking could we name her after my mom?"
"We'll see."
Scorpius thought his week probably passed better than his friends did, with the exception of Abby, they were given mass detentions in the Great Hall every day after classes. He didn't think Michael had slept much to all of any night that week to stay on top of it all and they were up exceeding early every other day to get in some Quidditch practice before breakfast and his headache didn't help, he looked dead on his feet by Friday although at least he hadn't gotten a letter from home to tell him off like the rest of them. Rose and Albus were also worn out but to a lesser extent because they didn't have practice and had less classes. Abby wasn't worn out from detentions but she was upset about her father and brother fighting, Nick and Professor Longbottom hadn't spoken since Nick had been publicly humiliated and stripped of his prefect badge.
The weekend ended the detention streak thankfully, Corin got to go Hogsmeade and the rest of them got a chance to relax. And catch up on homework. Abby decided to get an early night when she was finished, still feeling down about her family and nothing they said seemed to cheer her up. Vern and Orous also had gone to bed, Maurice was still there to help them with their Ancient Rune homework. Except Albus who was now snoozing at the table, at least he'd stopped snoring.
"Hey guys!" a voice greeted them cheerfully and they noticed Corin bounding it over.
"Whazzup Crystal I'sn't watching you sleep," Albus said stupidly and sleepily as he was jolted awake by the sound.
"Don't dream about my mother!" Michael snapped.
"I wasn't! I was dreaming about crystals, you know the rock kind."
"You were dreaming about watching crystals sleep?"
"Yes," Albus very obviously lied.
"Seriously, Al, stop it. You're actually starting to creep me out," Michael told him seriously and worriedly.
"Forget about that, Hogsmeade is awesome," Corin announced as he sat down and launched into an explanation about the various shops, winking at them where presumably he thought it would be a good place to take a date to be discrete in front of Rose but she could see him winking even if she didn't know why.
"Well if this is all you're going to talk about then I'm going to bed," Rose grumbled after awhile, packing up and leaving much to Corin's delight.
"Phew, thought she'd never leave. Anyway, I also found this awesome shop that sells hair dye so I was thinking I should dye my hair to the same color as Ashain's to impress Abby even more. What do you think?"
"I think you're insane," Maurice commented dryly which earned him a tired look from Corin.
"And do you think that its just his hair that she likes or she likes other things too? Because I could try buy clothes the same as his, I'm adult-sized so I could probably actually get the same ones. And there's this fake beard I saw for sale and think I could transfigure it to look like Ashain's. And the witch at the makeup shop was telling me about a potion to change your eye color so I could make my eyes look more like his."
"I think you're going a little overboard," Michael offered.
"Yeah," Scorpius agreed, "I think she just meant that he looks nice, not that she has an Albus-like obsessive crush on him."
"Hey!" Albus protested, "And also you're wasting your time, Abby is completely not interested in you."
"Like how Crystal is completely not interested in you?"
"Excuse me, we're soul mates! Our destinies are intertwined until the end of time."
"Thank you, Albus, now I want to vomit almost as much as my head wants to split in two," Michael groaned in complaint and let his head fall into his hands.
"Well I think you're all insane," Maurice complained irritably, "Orous, Vern, Lorcan and even Abby don't care about these stupid things like you three do."
"Did you just say Lorcan?" Albus wondered.
"Yes. He asked me earlier if I'd teach him the spell I used to make the books attack, now there's someone who has his priorities straight. He wants to learn how to defend himself because he knows and cares about the war, unlike the rest of you."
"I don't think you should be encouraging him, he needs to relax not to be more on edge."
"No you should all be more wary and less relaxed," Maurice insisted as he stood up to leave, "And on the topic of your ridiculous desire for romantic relationships, you still need to figure out how to actually ask them out. You're going to do it wrong and they'll say no so give it up."
"Michael, can I talk to you?" Crystal asked anxiously as she bit her lip, her grandfather sat up sleepily and yawned as he'd been lazing on the couch. She noticed the bags under his eyes and regretted waking him, it was only the afternoon though, Agnes wasn't even home from the flower shop yet.
"Sure," Michael agreed and managed a smile as he sat up, only to be overcome by a fit of violent coughing.
"Are you alright?" Crystal questioned worriedly when it had passed.
"Yeah, just the usual lousy lung," Michael shrugged it off and took her arm to pull her over to sit beside him before he started coughing again, a hacking cough that racked his whole body, "Okay, may be coming down with something but 'tis the season to be ill. So what's up?"
"I just wondered... I mean... If something happened to me... You... You and Agnes would take care of the baby, wouldn't you?"
"Where's this coming from?" Michael wondered with a raised eyebrow.
"Just... Y'know..." Crystal muttered but it didn't shake Michael's gaze, she felt her eyes starting to tear up and bit her lip to try stop it quivering, "M-My parents died before I was even born and I have defective heart... I... I'm scared I'll die before I even see my son. Jack is mostly supportive but he doesn't want to baby-proof his apartment and I'm not sure he'd want anything to do with the baby if I died so I just... I just want to know that my son will be safe if something does happen."
"You're not going to die, you hear?" Michael said firmly, forcing her to meet his eyes and she nodded weakly as he hugged her close, "And you don't even have to ask, of course we'd take care of the little one if it came to that. But it won't, you got that new valve in your heart and that'll last a good ten to fifteen years before you need to worry about it again, just stay on your meds and you'll be fine. I promise."
"Okay," Crystal whispered before Michael pulled away to start coughing again.
"Damn shrapnel."
Scorpius and the others were forced to admit that Maurice did have a point about that, researching Hogsmeade was useless if he couldn't ask Molly out. At least he still had five weeks to figure it out and he was spending more time with her now that Quidditch practices were back in full swing, James wasn't even bothering them as much as usual with Bludgers. With the new reserve Keeper Emmett Krane and his dislike of mess or dirt or bad weather or loud noises or a bunch of other stuff, James and Carver had great fun trying to get him instead, once they even managed to double team him and knock him off his broom into a mud puddle which made him flee in tears. Molly gave them a stern talking to but from the laughter on the way back to the castle, they seemed to think it was still worth it.
"Remind me, why did you join the team again?" Latimer was saying as Scorpius caught back up to him, Michael and Emmett as Molly had had to run off for prefect duty the next Saturday.
"My uncle thought it might help me make friends," Emmett said quietly, "I'm in James' year and he and his friends make my life hell because he doesn't think I deserve to be in Gryffindor because I'm weird and not brave. No one likes me. Did you know your hair is greasy? There's special shampoos that you can use to keep it clean or if you wash your hair more often then it can reduce the build up."
"And no one likes you?" Latimer wondered sarcastically to which Emmett seemed not to notice the sarcasm as he shook his head sadly before Latimer turned back to him and Michael, "You two looking forward to your first Hogsmeade trip?"
"Sort of, yeah," Michael answered vaguely and an idea occurred to Scorpius, they were on friendly terms with Latimer who was older than them as he was in Molly's year but ont related to her so it wouldn't be weird to ask.
"Latimer, have you ever asked a girl out before?" Scorpius asked and Latimer threw him a curious look.
"Sure, lots of times," Latimer told him with a shrug.
"Have any of them ever said yes?"
"When I look like this?" Latimer questioned with a raised eyebrow as he gestured to his face which was badly pockmarked, "No. Girls care about looks too."
"See, if you tried to make your hair less greasy then it would detract from your hideous face," Emmett pointed out cheerfully, "A clean head is a happy head."
"Don't you have class or something?"
"Its a Saturday," Emmett said in confusion to which Latimer rolled his eyes, "Did you get in the head by a Bludger?"
"Anyway, Scor, you shouldn't have that problem. If you want to ask Molly out then go for it, the age gap is the biggest concern."
"It is?" Scorpius wondered worriedly.
"You like Molly?!" Emmett gasped, "Like our Quidditch Captain and prefect, Molly?!"
"Yeah he does and if you want friends then you won't breathe a word about it," Latimer growled to which Emmett nodded and grinned before he turned back to Scorpius, "Personally I wouldn't want to date a thirteen year old but you're friends with her so it might not matter."
"So how do you ask them out?" Michael inquired although he didn't look particularly hopeful.
"Like this. Hey Stacy!" Latimer called out to a random girl who looked around fifteen who happened to be walking by at that moment, she had long straight blond hair and eyed Latimer suspiciously, Latimer smiled kindly, "Would you like to go out with me sometime? First Hogsmeade's trip is coming up."
"Ugh. Not even in your dreams, ugly," the girl - presumably Stacy - said dismissively as she carried walking.
"You wouldn't want to go out with her anyway, Latimer, she had terrible dandruff," Emmett pointed out as they reached the entrance to the Common Room, they said the password and were allowed entry, "I'll see you guys later, I have to shower and then finish arranging my socks in color order like I was doing before I had to go to practice. Think about what I said about the hair!"
"Remind me why I feel bad for him again?" Latimer muttered under his breath before turning to them, "But anyway, that's how you ask a girl out. Usually you might want to ease into it, have a conversation going or maybe compliment them but keep it casual. If you seem worked up and nervous then they'll be worked up and nervous, you don't want that."
"But she said no," Michael offered hesitantly.
"Really? Damn, and here I'd thought I'd slipped into an alternate dimension where I wasn't a loser," Latimer commented sarcastically before shrugging, "Seriously though, she said no because she was completely not interested in me, not because I asked her out wrong. If she does say no then she'll let you down more gently than Stacy did just now, its not the end of the world. You could always ask again at some later time or ask another girl, there's not a rule you only one question per lifetime."
Jack rather liked having his own place, he could eat as much junk food as he wanted and no more stupid rules from his foster families. He was practically a free man except for school and the baby that would be joining them at the beginning of September, Crystal was starting to show and people mocked her for being a 'slut' behind her back. Jack was seriously considering asking Annie to go and bunch some of them since it was wrong for boys to hit girls, even if they horrible people so he was forced to just snap at them which made them mock him instead for the impending doom of being a parent. Crystal said to just ignore it. Jack couldn't figure out how to do that though.
At least he could still keep busy with exams, he'd never been looking forward to tests so much in his life. There was also college applications to apply for and a nursery to build, Jack was at least glad that his kid would have nice bedroom. Crystal's grandparents turned the guest room into the baby's room, Michael built the crib himself - Jack was allowed to help, you could tell which bits be 'helped' with because those were the bars that were... less straight - and they spent an afternoon painting it. Crystal put her love of art to good use and painted a variety of animals on the walls for the baby to look at - and she put in a motorcycle just for him - and stars on the ceiling - those everyone helped with, Jack and Agnes' were the wonky ones, Michael and Crystal's were the star shaped ones - which looked great. The other things were store bought which was Agnes' most prominent role, since she knew what they needed more than her and Jack although they still helped. Michael wasn't feeling well so he stayed home to rest.
Times like those made him feel like fatherhood wasn't an impossible task, seeing people out and about with screaming smelly red-faced pudgy babies made it seem as impossible as his friends made it out to be. If actual parents couldn't get their kids to shut up then what chance did he have, really? But he was doing for it Crystal and because he wasn't going to walk out on his own flesh and blood child, his father had pretty much given up on any kind of attempt at being a parent after his wife died. Jack didn't want his kid to feel neglected like that, he wanted them to be happy and safe and normal.
At any rate, Spring turned to Summer and they took their exams, which were actually easier than Jack thought they'd be. He was shocked to find he didn't get lower than a C on any subject, he mostly had As and Bs much to his teacher's delight and his surprise. They missed Prom on account of Crystal not wanting to go pregnant, Jack didn't know much about what was fashionable in dresses but he was pretty sure that maternity dresses weren't good. Plus they didn't really have that much, Jack was getting buttons from the government and even with Annie and Agnes giving him money, it still barely covered the cost of living. It didn't matter about missing Prom though, the year were planning a huge party to celebrate graduating since it coincided with one of the more popular girls birthday. Jack's friends had convinced him to go, you didn't have to bring a date so it wasn't like he was ditching Crystal - who neither liked parties nor would drink alcohol while pregnant - and he didn't see why he couldn't go. He was being really good and mature and responsible, didn't he deserve a break for one night? It'd been ages since he'd been to a party, he wanted to live too. He was just about to leave when the phone rang.
"Hey Jack," Crystal's voice greeted him worriedly, "Could you do me a favor?"
"What is it?" Jack wondered trying to hide his irritation, maybe it was a favor that could wait until tomorrow at least?
"Could you take me to the hospital for my scan? I got the dates mixed up and its today not next week."
"But tonight's the night of the party."
"I know but it shouldn't take long, I don't want to go alone and I'm still too young to drive anyway."
"Get Michael or Agnes to take you," Jack insisted, he was fully intending to enjoy his last taste of freedom before it was all stinky diapers and loud crying kids.
"Agnes is still at work and Michael's not well, I don't want him to drive."
"Fine," Jack spat feeling anger get the better of him, his one last chance to be a normal teen and have fun before the baby came along and he couldn't even have that. No, he wasn't going to do it, it wasn't fair! Crystal or not, he was pulling all the weight, he was being supportive and giving up his life to be his a father and all she was doing was getting fat and naggy. He deserved one night to himself, "No! You can reschedule that stuff, this is something I've been looking forward to for weeks!"
"But Jack, this is important."
"What and my life isn't important?! I don't want it to be all responsibility and rules and nagging, I'm going to fun with my friends for once instead of blowing it off to do baby shopping or a baby scan or whatever! The world doesn't revolve around the baby and the damn thing isn't even born yet! Have it some other day, get Michael or go alone, I'm taking the night off, okay?! You're not the boss of me!"
"Well maybe if you were more responsible then I wouldn't have to be responsible enough for both of us!"
"Well you weren't responsible enough to not get pregnant in the first place!"
"Fine, enjoy your stupid party with your stupid friends and I'll hang out here with your stupid child! Do whatever the hell you want because I don't give a damn!"
"Fine, I will!" Jack yelled and the line cut to dial tone.
Jack slammed the phone down and stormed off to head to the party, walking because he didn't want to risk driving home drunk and damaging his precious motorcycle. He was starting to regret his outburst, he might have crossed some invisible line during the argument but he still had a valid point even if he had gotten it across badly. He deserved to have a life and to have fun as well. If his friends hadn't spotted him approaching then he'd actually been seriously considering going back to go apologize to Crystal, however his guilt started to wane as he started drinking and his friends were fully on his side. What had he been thinking? Crystal was the one out of line, not him. She should be apologizing, not him. In fact everyone who'd listen would agree with him, he was recounting the argument to some random but really cute girl for the... well he wasn't sure how many times but his words were slurring from drinking by that point so he assumed it was a lot.
Part 2: Falling From Grace
With Jack being unhelpful, Crystal was forced to go and rouse Michael. He was getting worse not better and despite his instance that they wait one more day, she knew Agnes was planning to drag him to the hospital herself if he hadn't improved by Monday. He had the lights off and the curtains closed in his room, even though it was still light outside, he was coughing ferociously when she went in. Forget Monday, with any luck she could convince him to see someone while he was there.
"Hold dinner, I'm not hungry," Michael rasped as the coughing subsided and he lay weakly back down.
"Its not about that," Crystal told him gently as he approached, he flicked open his hazel eyes open tiredly, "I got the ultrasound dates mixed up, could you drive me."
"Sure," Michael managed a smile before coughing again, "Just toss me jeans and a sweater, need to get dressed a minute."
Crystal left him to get changed but it didn't take long before they were on the way to the hospital, their progress slower and more erratic than usual due to Michael's frequent pauses to cough. They made it there though, Michael practically collapsed into one of the hospital waiting chairs from a violent fit of coughing, he seemed to be struggling to keep his eyes open and maybe it was just the hospital light but his face looked ashen. Crystal went to announce her arrival to the receptionist herself before Dr Cave came out, she smiled but Crystal didn't manage to return it as Michael went in after them.
"Are you alright?" Dr Cave asked of Michael with a look of concern but whatever answer he was going to give was ruined by coughing so violently he spat out... blood?!
"C-Can't br-breathe," Michael gasped as his legs buckled beneath him, Crystal ran to him in panic while Dr Cave started calling for help.
People were rushing in and bustling, they gave him an oxygen mask which seemed to help. She was shooed away as Michael was taken to a private room with a flurry of doctor-types and nurse-types hovering over him, Crystal took the time to call Agnes but she'd missed her. Agnes must've been on the way home because their was no answer at the flower shop or home. Crystal thought she'd check on Michael, give it a few minutes then try again. The medical types were all gone when she returned, except a lone figure in a white coat who looked incredibly solemn as he finished talking to Michael in hushed tones and walked by her. Crystal swallowed fearfully and went over to Michael, she sat down beside him and took his hand gently.
"How are you feeling?" Crystal whispered anxiously as he squeezed her hand, searching her face with eyes that still seemed to be fighting just to stay open.
"Hurts," Michael admitted, his voice made even more raspy from behind the mask which didn't sound like himself at all.
"What did the doctor say?" Crystal asked, hoping they could do something from the pain or something. Michael just looked at her for a minute before taking a shuddering breath and removing his dog tags with his free hand. Just like he had all the times she'd been in hospital with her heart, he put them over her head to hang them around her neck.
"You're the solider now," Michael told her quietly, "You have to keep fighting, Crystal, and not give up. Never give up. C-Can you do that for me?"
"I'm not sick."
"But I am. I'm going to die... Complications from the shrapnel in my lung, they can't do anything. I'll be gone when morning comes, when I fall asleep it'll be for the last time and I'll slip away not too long after that. They can just make me comfortable. I as-asked them to call Agnes but if she doesn't get here in time, tell her-"
"She will," Crystal insisted as tears started to form that he wiped away with his free hand.
"Not dead yet, am I?" Michael pointed out and she took his hand to lower it from her face as she nodded, her baby bump got in the way though and he rested his hand on it, "S-Sorry I won't be able to be there for the baby, tell him I said hi."
Crystal talked to him for awhile, he always talked to her about random things when she was sick to take his mind off it, it felt weird for their positions to be reversed. His grip on her hand was getting weaker though, his eyes having to fight more to stay open, he smiled sometimes as they talked. The doctors did got hold of Agnes, traffic was a nightmare. Michael fought to stay awake for as long as he could but Agnes still got there just five minutes too late, she was a widow less than half an hour later. Crystal felt his grip fall away and he was gone, she held off her tears until then. And then she thought of Jack, their stupid fight earlier and it didn't seem to matter. She just wanted him to be not-dead, to know how she felt about him, to be there. Maybe she'd ring him.
"Hey Scor!" a familiar voice called as Scorpius was on his way to breakfast on Tuesday a few days later, he veered off from his friends to greet the assistant who was frantically waving at him, Scorpius smiled at him in greeting while Calderon held up his hand, "High five!"
"High five?" Scorpius repeated uncertainly as he high-fived Calderon's palm, scarred with the same Tiwaz rune as his own, "Why are we high-fiving again?"
"Felt like it," Calderon shrugged and led him down a deserted side corridor, when he next turned around he was holding the Map in his hand, "I have researched this and could find no students or staff who were missing a magical map of Hogwarts, so officially I have no obligation to keep this from you. Also I am now a hundred per cent confident – positive rather, that I do not show up on the map. Take that Mooney, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs."
"Err… okay," Scorpius said hesitantly as Calderon waved the map around triumphantly before handing it back to him, "Thanks."
"Although I will say, use it wisely and not for anything bad but I trust you."
"Hugo Weasley would probably be dead if not for this map, we're not using it for anything bad."
"Good, good."
"And thanks by the way, for getting me off detention," Scorpius added, he hadn't had a chance to thank him as the last time he'd seen him it had been when Calderon stopped the Library riot.
"No problem," Calderon brushed it off, "Just don't make a habit out of it, although I guess I can't blame for you being involved when I can't get how the fight escalated that far. Grant reckons it's the Slytherins fault for having a bad influence, Marigold reckons the students are just little monsters and Boggy reckons it's the stress from the Shadow War taking its toll and putting everyone on edge."
"I don't know either, it was just… chaos."
"It sucks. Everyone's fighting each other really they should be united more than ever, guess you can't blame the students when even the staff aren't getting along."
"They're not?"
"Not even slightly, there are rumors of a Shadow spy amongst the staff and it has everyone on edge and at each other's throats. Minerva says sometimes she wishes she could put them in detention. United we stand, divided we fall. If there is a Shadow spy then they'll be glad of the rifts."
"Hey Calderon, do you know the password to get into every teacher's private quarters?" Scorpius decided then would be a good time to ask, Calderon raised an eyebrow at him in askance as magical green lights started floating around them, "Just wondered."
"Yes I know it."
"Could you… tell me what it is?"
"Erm… Why?" Calderon questioned before the bell rang for first class, "I can't go around giving up that for no reason, it's for emergencies only. Sorry Scor but I'll catch you later. I'm supposed to be helping Ruby wrangle the Ripods round about now, the creatures in the forest seem about as riled up as the rest of Hogwarts, honestly."
On the note, Calderon left and Scorpius trudged off to his next lesson with his head filled with curiosity and delight at getting the map back. Calderon was right, the Shadows would want the staff to be divided and who was doing more to divide them apart than anyone? Grant. Accusing someone he knew for a fact wasn't a Shadow to get everyone on edge – or more on edge – to drive people apart with suspicions, no one would think it's the guy throwing accusations so that would put everyone but himself under fire as well. Michael agreed Grant was a viable suspect but not that he was the only suspect.
Scorpius was at least glad to have the map back, he spent the entire night up pouring over it. Watching Grant's name in case he tried to leave to do anything suspicious, he and Michael came to a mutual and silent agreement that it was better for Michael to hold onto the map for the time being. Scorpius was glad they had Care of Magical Creatures first thing, dealing with some dangerous deadly Fire Crab kept him wide awake even with Michael as his partner. Fire Crabs seemed to like Michael as well as unicorns because they were the only pair not constantly trying to avoid serious burns, once it started eating the food that Michael was giving it, it had calmed right down. Albus and Abby were having no such luck, theirs seemed particularly spirited or maybe it was just because Albus could shriek the loudest. Rose was working with Reuben Tear, theirs had fallen asleep or possibly died after Reuben had tried to force feed it.
History of Magic on the other hand was very difficult not to sleep through, Scorpius was slightly jealous of Albus' gentle snoring but he wanted to at least try pay attention because he didn't want to fail the subject even if it was boring. That and Charms were his least favorite subjects and unfortunately the next lesson after lunch was Charms, a double no less. Scorpius was very surprised to find everyone had a plant on their desks in front of them, a plant with long black leaves and a black stem as thick as his hand. Only when he sat down, the stem shifted to flesh-colored making it look like some kind of arm segment sticking up out of the pot. He saw everyone's was doing the same, or similar, those with darker skin in the class had plants that were darker unlike Scorpius' pale one.
"Are we doing Charms or Herbology?" Albus wondered in confusion as they sat down.
"Ah, Mr Potter, its only natural to be confused but I assure you it'll all make sense in a moment," Grant said cheerfully to Albus with a chuckle before throwing a look of loathing to Scorpius and Michael but he said nothing as he returned to the front of the class, "You may be wondering why you have this strange plant in front of you, am I right? Firstly does anyone what this plant is? Yes, Miss Longbottom."
"It's commonly known as the Chameleon plant, or Chamaeleonidae Plantae," Abby answered readily, she was the Herbology teacher's daughter after all, "Its called that because as a defense mechanism, it mimics the skin of the nearest creature in hopes of tricking it into thinking that its one of the predators and so will be left alone. These are all matching the skin tone of the one closest to them but can take on more exotic shades such as the patterns of snake skins."
"Excellent answer! Take ten well deserved points for Gryffindor," Grant applauded her with a smile as he turned back to the class, "As Miss Longbottom just pointed out, the plant mimics the skin. Now it doesn't just do the color but some of the characteristics too, namely that it will bleed slightly if you cut it. Not deep enough to injure the core of the plant stem but the outer protective layer. Which is why it makes it perfect for the spell we are going to learn to today.
"Healing is a very tricky magic to learn, it is much easier to destroy than it is to repair for example it takes only a second to break a bone but months for it to heal without magic. Healing magic requires more power than any other branch of magic because not only do you have to use power as you would with a normal spell but you need to use more power than whatever caused the injury. Think of it like this, if you wanted to heal someone but there was a brick wall in the way then you would need to scale the wall first which is why you needed extra power. Some people are more naturally talented at it than others.
"Today I'll be teaching you a very simple spell that heals small cuts, I'm going to go around in a minute and slice each of your plants which you'll then try to heal. Its a different kind of magic than you're used to so don't be surprised if you don't succeed, even if you're usually better at Charms."
Grant talked a bit more before teaching them the incantation and wand movement, he had them practicing that while he went around with a knife and sliced the stem of each of the plants. He told them to begin attempting to heal it when he was done. Scorpius was good at practical spellwork, with the exception of the Patronus Charm, he had mastered most everything he'd tried quickly. If not the first try then the second or third, fifth at the most. He'd been expecting to succeed at the healing charm too, especially when Michael got it first try, if Michael got it first try the it had to be an easy one. But no. Scorpius hadn't succeeded by the tenth time, it hadn't even started to heal or improved even slightly. No one but Michael had succeeded either. Naturally, Grant was ignoring Michael's hand in the air though as he dallied around others first.
"Sorry, Sanford, I guess I didn't notice you through the class as you're very short," Grant pointed out with a smirk and Michael twitched in hurt at the comment but said nothing, "Now what's the problem? Did you develop dyslexia of the hearing or something just as stupid to explain your pathetic failure?"
"I did it," Michael told him very calmly, Grant didn't lose his smile as he tapped his wand against the plant and was apparently expecting something to happen because he looked immediately enraged.
"What did you do? You and Malfoy swap plants?"
"No, I did the spell myself."
"And you expect me to believe you? You're the worst student in this class!" Grant spat as he cut Michael's plant once more, "Show me if you can really do it."
Michael picked his wand back up, Grant looked like he was expecting Michael to fail but he didn't. Once more, Michael flawlessly cast the healing spell on the plant. Grant's beady eyes narrowed further as he took his knife again, only this time he brought the blade through his own hand. There was gasps of shock from those who'd seen and all eyes turned to Grant as he held out his bloody palm to Michael, the slash deeper and longer than the ones on the plants.
"If you really can do it and that Malfoy didn't just jinx this plant for you then heal my hand," Grant challenged, still apparently expecting him to fail but Michael actually looked confident as he smiled and raised his wand. The flash of white was brighter that time and Grant's hand was healed as perfectly as the plant's, "Well you just earned yourself detention! For... For talking back. Tomorrow after class!"
"But I have Arithmancy then," Michael pointed out, Scorpius just glared at Grant for his unfair detention giving.
"Well I'll talk to Rivers and have you excused. Everyone else, back to work!"
"Phonecall for you," someone was saying and a second later Jack had a phone shoved into his hand.
"S'up?" Jack slurred drunkenly into the receiver, he'd drank so much he was having a hard time remembering how to speak at all.
"Jack?" Crystal's voice asked and Jack felt his anger reignite, she really couldn't let him have one night, could she? He must have said something to that extent because the girl he'd been talking to... Sophie? Spoke in agreement with him.
"No she can't, I think she needs help or something. You're like the perfect guy so what is her problem?"
"Wha's your problems?" Jack tried to demand of her but he feeling that it came out wrong. Wait, did Crystal sound like she was crying?
"I wouldn't interrupt you if it wasn't an emergency but it is, s-"
"Don't listen to her," Sophie insisted and lowered his hand holding the phone away from his ear, she had really soft hands, "If you let her think that this is okay now then she's only to nag you forever, you have to draw the line sometime."
"Jack? Are you still there?" Crystal's voice called him distantly and he reluctantly put the phone back to his ear but he thought Sophie was right, "I-I really need you right now."
"I'm ak sa parties, 'kay?" Jack complained to her irritably.
"Are you drunk?"
"Obviously! Ha'nt you've been to a party befores?"
"Fine," Crystal sighed, "Its fine, nev-nevermind. Jus-Just enjoy your party and I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Hallelujah," Jack muttered gratefully as a song he liked started playing, "I likes this song!"
"Want to dance?" Sophie offered standing up, her skirt was really short.
"T-Take c-care of yourself, o-okay? I-I love you, Jack, I don't w-want anything to happen to you too," Crystal's voice whispered but it barely registered over the noise of the party and the alcohol in his mind anymore.
"Sure!" Jack said to both girls as he tossed aside the phone and let himself be pulled onto the dance floor.
That was the last solid memory he had of the night. Dancing and drinking and then everything just was a black blur. Jack winced when he woke up, his felt as if someone had smashed his skull open with a sledgehammer. His mouth wasn't much better, he felt as though someone had thrown up in his mouth. Actually that was probably just him. He groaned and went to pull his pillow over his head, only to realize that it wasn't his pillow. He froze in fear and felt increasingly more ill - not from the taste in his mouth anymore - as he glanced to his right where... Sophie? Was sound asleep. What... What had he done?
Jack leaped out of bed as if it was on fire, he almost ran to the door before realizing he wasn't actually wearing anything. He scrambled for his clothes tossed around randomly and got dressed as he fled downstairs, the place was a mess from the party and there were still people passed out all over the place. He didn't care though, he felt like the world was collapsing around him as he ran home, the path falling away beneath his feet. He threw up, showered, threw up again and felt even sicker than he had when he woke up. He couldn't stop shaking as he went between sitting and pacing and clawing at his skull as if it would help him rid his mind of the memory of waking up with that girl. The rational part of his mind was trying to process the information, the rest of his mind preferred to just scream at him in shock and outrage.
"Jack? Are you up?" Crystal's voice snapped him from his stupor with a gentle knock on the door, he rushed to answer it. She was the person he wanted to see most and least in the whole world, she was standing there still pregnant with his own child and looked as if she'd been crying, weirdly she was also wearing Michael's dog tags. But she greeted him with a passionate kiss on the lips and he felt knives of guilt stabbing his heart from every angle, had he kissed Sophie like that too?
"Crystal," Jack offered with a word as she pulled away, he was too freaked out to even attempt to hide how upset he looked but thankfully Crystal was too focused on whatever was troubling her to notice as she went inside, "What's-"
"I wanted to apologize," Crystal told him and if possible, he felt even worse as she stood there just holding his hands gently looking guilty, "You were right, your life is important too and you deserve to enjoy it. I'm the one who got the dates mixed up like an idiot and I shouldn't have sprung it on you like that, I know you'd ben really looking forward to it. I don't mean to be a nag, I just... I just worry."
"No, no, its fine," Jack insisted as he brushed the hair from her face, how could he have cheated on her?! The phone started to ring but he ignored, "I'm the one who should be apologizing, I was way out of line and I'm sorry."
"Aren't you going to get the phone?"
"No, it can wait," Jack said firmly as he distantly heard his voice on the answer message, "I was being a selfish git, I didn't mean the things I said and I shouldn't have said them. I-"
"Hey this is Sophie," Sophie's voice spoke after the beep, Jack felt as if his heart stopped beating. In that moment he wished it had, "I had a really great time last night, I'd love to hook up again sometime. Just be quick, only got two weeks before the old ball and chain boyfriend gets back from Rome with his folks. Call me."
As if the message wasn't damning enough, Sophie made a kissing sound. Crystal looked stunned for a moment then her eyes filled with a mixture of hurt and tears as she looked at him in askance, already knowing the answer but desperate to be wrong. He averted his eyes in shame. Crystal tried to run but he grabbed her back, he didn't want to lose her.
"I'M SORRY!" Jack shrieked fighting back his own tears, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! I'm sorry! Please Crystal just hear me out."
"Wh-What's to hear out?" Crystal wondered tearfully but at least she wasn't trying to run, "While I was watching my grandfather die, you were screwing some random girl?!"
"Michael... Michael's dead?" Jack repeated in shock for a moment as Crystal nodded, "I'm sorry, I know how much he meant to you."
"I don't want to hear you apologize!"
"Okay look, I was just upset and drunk, I was so drunk," Jack babbled and she started to turn her head away, it felt like a pathetic excuse even to his own ears.
"Jack..."
"But-But you know its a good thing, it made me realize... It made me realize that I'm being an idiot, parties and drinking and all that stupid stuff is only fleeting and I just screwed up and made the worst mistake of my life. You're what really matters, you and our baby and I-I love you, Crystal, please don't go," Jack begged, meaning every word, "I want to be there and to be responsible for you and the baby, I'll even get a job and learn how to cook because this really matters to me, figure out how to change diapers, drive you to all your scans. I just want you to be happy, for the baby to have a good life. I know this might probably sound like a bunch of empty promises but I mean it, I mean it more than I've ever meant anything in my life. Meeting you was the only good thing that's ever happened to me and please don't go, don't go just because I'm an idiot. I'll never do it again, never ever, I swear I'll never hurt you or the baby again. Please, Crystal, please."
Jack wanted to say more but his throat jammed up as he choked on his tears, she hesitated and just for a second hope crept into his heart before she turned away. He felt her squeeze his hands like it was the last time, his mind realized that it was even before his hope died.
"I have to go," was all she said as she turned and ran away, she didn't stop when he called her name.
Jack watched her go, waiting until she was long out of sight before closing the door reluctantly as slowly as if it was shutting her out of his life. He grabbed the phone and threw it against the wall with enough force to smash it to smithereens before he threw himself down on the couch and cried like he hadn't in years but it didn't ease his pain or self-loathing any. She'd never forgive him. And neither would he.
"I still can't believe he gave you a detention for basically no reason," Rose was saying when the school day finally finished with Study of Ancient Runes, "Honestly, its just completely wrong."
"If you're still surprised then clearly you don't know Grant very well," Michael started to shrug it off before he seemed to have an epiphany because the look on his face was triumphant as he snapped his fingers, "I forgot my quill. Scorpius, come with me and help me look. We'll catch back up to you at dinner."
"Sure, I'll be considering writing to a very strongly worded letter of complaint to someone," Rose shrugged as Scorpius felt himself be dragged back the way they came then down an empty side corridor.
"This is perfect!"
"Perfect for what?" Scorpius wondered with a yawn.
"My detention with Grant, I'll be alone with him so its the perfect time to give him the sleeping potion and test his wand for corruption! You can hide under the cloak - that I still have on loan from Albus - and I'll distract him, leaving you to to drop the potion into his drink. He falls asleep, you check his wand then get back under the cloak and leave while I give him the antidote and shake him awake as if I'd just noticed him dozing so its not suspicious and to make sure he's okay."
"Okay," Scorpius agreed, since he didn't have the code from Calderon... It was actually a good plan although Scorpius still didn't like the idea of drugging someone. Even a potential Shadow who he despised, "But we don't have the ingredients."
"I got them ages ago."
"You just got the ingredients? You just assumed that I'd go along with it?" Scorpius questioned feeling irritated that Michael could just make that assumption.
"Vipera told me I could take any ingredients I wanted as long as I didn't run them down to nothing to practice making potions in my time, I got those just in case while I had the chance along with the others I wanted. Better than having to steal them."
"Well alright," Scorpius reluctantly agreed, "I can't believe you didn't tell me about that."
"Why? I don't tell you every little thing about my life," Michael shrugged it off as they started heading back to get dinner, it'd be better to wait until later to work on the potion since they'd already told Rose they'd meet back at the meal. Scorpius scowled as he realized something.
"I've told you all my secrets and you've told me none of yours."
"What makes you think I have secrets? Boring muggle life, remember?"
"Is it?" Scorpius wondered and Michael glanced at him with his mismatched eyes, "Is your muggle life really that boring?"
"Obviously," Michael laughed and flashed him a convincing smile, "Unless you want to hear how impressed I was to fit all the garbage bags to be thrown out after baby Bertie has that stretch of diarrhoea and went through a zillion diapers."
"Eugh, no thanks," Scorpius agreed firmly, wrinkling his nose at that mental image, "Are you trying to put me off my dinner?"
It was only after they'd snuck out to the Room That Doesn't Exist and concocted the potion before sneaking back into bed, that it dawned on Scorpius that he realized that actually he didn't know a frightful amount of things about his best friend. Michael had mentioned siblings before but Scorpius didn't actually know how many or what their names were or how old they were, he thought the baby Bertie had been born last year but he was clueless about the rest. He'd never seen or met the stepdad Bob and didn't know much about Crystal either beyond that she worked a lot, Scorpius toyed with the friendship bracelet around his wrist, he'd worn it since Michael had given it him for his twelfth birthday. Was Michael's life really that boring? Was that why he was so fascinated by magic and desperate to be away from his boring muggle life? Or was there just something Michael didn't want them to know? No, Scorpius was just being paranoid. Michael would've told them if something was wrong.
Part 3: Birth and Death
Jack was in misery. He'd screwed up. He'd screwed up majorly bad and it didn't appear as though Crystal was feeling particularly forgiving. He didn't blame her, he wasn't particularly forgiving of himself either but it didn't stop him missing her. He tried calling but she didn't pick up the phone. He spent most of his days moping in his apartment alone, reading - not that he'd ever admit to liking reading - to take his mind off things or taking his motorcycle for a ride when Annie nagged him into fresh air. Annie was the only person he was speaking to, except the people he bought his takeout dinners from.
"C'mon Jack, its been a month," Annie complained and Jack was jolted awake, he'd fallen asleep on the couch and felt the book he'd been reading - Moby Dick - that had doubled as a shade for his eyes pulled off him, "Since when did you read Moby Dick?"
"Thought I'd give it a shot since since it was Dad's favorite book," Jack lied with a shrug as he sat up sleepily, he'd actually read it several times and why had he given Annie a key again? She tossed it aside dismissively.
"Can't sleep on your lazy ass forever."
"Oh shove off," Jack snapped as he snatched the book back up and lay back down, "I don't have to listen to a lazy ass alcoholic."
"No I won't shove off! Acting like this isn't helping anybody."
"Please, like I ever helped anyone. All I do is screw things up."
"Things or people?" Annie wondered and Jack irritably threw the book at her but she ducked, "Well look at that, you even throw screwed up."
"Go away!"
"Make me!" Annie demanded and Jack hesitated before lazily lying back down, "Too lazy to even get rid of me."
"Did you actually have a reason to come here beyond making me feel worse?"
"Well then don't insult me!"
"Fine. What do you want?" Jack wondered irritably, he preferred being miserable alone.
"You know what I want, for you to get off your butt. I know you feel like the world ended but it hasn't, planet's still spinning out there."
"I don't care."
"Not about anything?" Annie prompted and Jack thought of something.
"Have you seen Crystal?"
"Just around the hospital."
"How is she? How is the baby?"
"Well she seems pretty down and your kid's alright, kind of a scrawny runt even for a foetus but healthy as far as they know. Or so my doctor buddies tell me anyway."
"Don't call my kid a scrawny runt," Jack growled half-heartedly before sighing as he sat up and she dragged over a chair, sitting on it backwards like he always did, "Think I'll ever get to see the kid? If Crystal never speaks to me again then it doesn't bode well for me being a dad and all."
"Well lying here on your butt isn't helping any."
"Would anything?"
"Did you ever hear back from any of the colleges you applied for?"
"Yeah."
"Which ones?"
"All of them," Jack offered truthfully and her eyes bulged in surprise, "Good to know you have so much faith in me."
"Oh shut up," Annie complained, "Anyway, what you need to do is get into college. Try be responsible for once, maybe get a job for the summer or at least make this place baby-ready."
"How is that going to help if Crystal is never going to talk to me to know all of this?"
"Well if she never talks to you again then it won't matter. But you shouldn't be thinking about that, you should be thinking that if she ever does talk to you then knowing you've done nothing all month but sit and feel sorry for yourself is going to make her not want to talk to you more."
"You might be a genius," Jack pointed out with the first hint of a smile he'd had in a month, Annie laughed.
"Nah, if you think I'm a genius then I'd get your head checked out."
Scorpius was nervous during his classes for that, if Michael was too then he didn't show it. He could barely focus on Potions first thing for being reminded that he'd just made a draught last night to drug Grant, it wasn't that he suddenly thought Grant was innocent but... Marvin had drugged him. He didn't really want to do that to anyone, even they were they potentially Shadow-worshipping scumbag like Grant. And by some unlikely chance that he wasn't the Shadow, he was still a scumbag. His lessons seemed to pass incredibly quickly that day, for once he wished there had been a History of Magic because that always dragged by.
He still wasn't want to do it but doing nothing was worse. They all filed out of class except Michael who had to stay for his detention, Abby headed off to Arithmancy alone while Scorpius headed back to the Common Room with Albus and Rose. Excusing himself for not feeling well as he ventured upstairs to get the cloak and potions, he threw the cloak over himself before heading back down so they wouldn't notice him leaving. It was a lot to easier to move under the cloak alone than when sharing it with other people, he reached the Charms classroom easily where Grant was sitting at his desk with a cup of tea while Michael was writing lines. Scorpius was careful to not make any noise as he walked over to Michael, prodding him gently in the back through the cloak to alert Michael to his presence so he could make his distraction.
"Professor, I'm really struggling with this word," Michael spoke aloud and Grant glanced across at him irritably, "Could you write it clearer because I don't think I'm getting it down right?"
"What does the word start with?" Grant demanded and Michael peered at the page.
"F?" Michael guessed very believably, Grant stalked over to him furiously while Scorpius crossed back over to the desk and tipped the first vial of liquid into Grant's tea while his back is turned.
"I wust nof telk pack ot faechars?!" Grant roared as Scorpius crept back from the desk, Grant tore up Michael's parchment and scribbled down something down on a fresh piece, "Hide behind your dyslexic lie if you must but I see through it, you're just a stupid little boy with horrifically bad handwriting!"
"I thought the f was the only one I'd gotten wrong," Michael muttered miserably as Grant stormed back over to his desk and sat back down.
"You're going to sit there and write them out a hundred times! One hundred correct times or I'll make you do them again!"
Michael turned sadly back his paper while Grant turned back to the papers he was marking, Scorpius just stood there waiting like an idiot. Grant picked up his cup and sipped it once before placing it back down, he yawned once before slumping at his desk and starting to snore. Scorpius tossed off the cloak as he and Michael both ran over to him, starting to rummage in their professor's pockets for his wand. Michael found it first but pulling it out also dislodged a piece of paper from his pocket as he did so.
Scorpius paid it no mind, Michael was picking it up anyway, and instead took Grant's wand. It was a lightly colored gnarly wand and quite thick, he didn't know what kind of wand it was though, Varanian was the wand expert. You didn't have to be a wand expert to use the spell though, Scorpius cast it on the wand and expected it to start glowing with the telltale glow of a Shadow. But it didn't. It remained lightly colored but not glowing. Scorpius tried it a few more times just to make sure he wasn't off on his spells but to no avail, Grant's wand wasn't corrupted like the Shadows.
"It doesn't mean anything," Scorpius said quickly to Michael, "Varanian said it himself that some Shadows don't use corrupt wands specifically to avoid detection, there's every chance that Grant doesn't have a corrupted wand for that reason. Especially when he'd be needing it to demonstrate spells without giving himself away."
"I know," Michael nodded and Scorpius noticed he'd pick up the piece of paper.
"What's that?"
"The thing that fell out of Grant's pocket, it looks like a letter. Come on, let's just put his wand and letter back so I can wake him up."
"Wait, if he had it in the pocket with his wand then it must be important. It could be just as damning evidence as the wand would've been, a letter with instructions from the Shadows maybe."
"I don't think its right to go through his mail, it looks older anyway," Michael pointed out.
"C'mon, I had to give him a sleeping potion, you have to let me read the letter," Scorpius insisted and Michael reluctantly handed it over.
Father,
I am writing this to you because if I tried to say it in person then you'd just start an argument and not even hear me out so read these words and read them well.
I'm leaving. I'm sick of your obsession and I'm sick of you, I have to get away or I am going to go insane. I loved Mother too and I miss her just as much as you do but you're taking it to far, she's been dead for years. Lucius Malfoy did enough in the eyes of the Ministry to gain immunity for his crimes, I don't agree with it but its how the world works so just get over it.
Would Mother even want you to spend your days trying to figure out a way to have him thrown in Azkaban? I think not. Throwing an old man in jail who isn't hurting anyone anymore isn't going to bring her back anyway, you think it'll help you but it won't. When nothing changes you'd just want more and who would be next? Other Death Eaters? People who supported Death Eaters? People who just happen to be related to Death Eaters? People who just happen to be Slytherins because that's the house many Death Eaters came from? When does it end? Who will you want in jail when they're gone?
It still won't help and you have to realize that. Let it go, Father, the only person they'll throw in Azkaban is you for bothering them so much. Write another book, go back to teaching but just stop with the send Lucius Malfoy to jail campaign, move on with your life. Its over. The war ended years ago.
I don't know if I'll be coming back, I don't even know where I'm going but as long as its away from you then I don't care. Goodbye Father, just goodbye.
Wyatt
"Letters that start with 'father' probably aren't Shadow-related," Michael commented as he took back the letter, "Give me the antidote, sooner you're back and Grant's awake the better."
"Alright."
Jack did as Annie advised, he got a place in college and baby-proofed his apartment like Crystal had wanted. Annie helped to make it baby safe and they bought some baby stuff, a cheap crib from a yard sale and some other baby things that it would need if Jack ever saw the kid. Weirdly now he thought that he might not never get to his child, he actually wanted to. Maybe it was true what people said about not realizing what you had until you lost it. He fell asleep thinking about that on the last day of August, he got an early night because it would be his first day of college the following day although he kept feeling like he was forgetting something significant about the date. Until the phone decided to rudely awaken him.
"Yeah?" Jack yawned sleepily into the receiver instead of giving a frustrated retort to who he assumed was Annie calling him.
"Hi Jack, its Agnes. Agnes Sanford?" the voice over the phone told him as if he would have forgotten her, he felt a surge of joy that she was contacting him for a moment as if she was then Crystal had probably told her to! Or no... something hadn't happened had it?!
"Is Crystal okay?" Jack asked fearfully, feeling suddenly more wide awake than he had in his entire life.
"She's in labor... I... I felt like you had the right to know since you're the child's father. Despite everything. That's all. I have to get back to her now."
"I'm on my way."
"You are?" Agnes said with a tone of surprise.
"Of course! As you put it 'I am the child's father' and I want to be there! Unless it bothers Crystal like a lot but I am still going to be in that hospital, dammit!"
"Well... Well you might want to hurry, things are moving pretty quickly over here."
Agnes didn't wait for a reply before hanging up and Jack didn't bother to give one as he leaped out of bed, grabbing whatever clothes were nearest and pulling them on quickly. He got to the hospital as fast as he could, quite literally breaking more than one road law but it was late so no one was about, not even cops apparently. Jack ran into the hospital where he nearly ran into Annie who was holding a paper cup of coffee.
"Whoa, where's the fire?" Annie complained immediately and glared at him, "You nearly made me spill my coffee! I still got an entire night shift to go, I need my damn coffee."
"Crystal's in labor! Where do people do that?!"
"Well usually we take them out back, there's a kennel and-"
"ANNIE!"
"Fine, fine. Come on, I'll find her," Annie grumbled.
He followed her so closely that he stepped on her heels more than once but in a few minutes he was standing outside a door where he could hear Crystal screaming. He hopped from one feet to the other to resist the urge to run in there, Annie thought it was better to get Crystal's permission first so he was stuck standing outside holding Annie's coffee while she went in to check. He was so excited when she came back out that he accidentally sort of tossed her cup away and spilled it all over the floor.
"What did I say about my coffee?!"
"Forget your damn coffee! What did Crystal say?!"
"She agreed as long as you don't speak to her."
"Well come on then!" Jack said excitedly as he grabbed her hand and pulled her inside the room.
"You have to put on a thing first!" Annie complained, "And I don't want to watch."
It turned out Jack couldn't have arrived a moment too soon, he half-dragged Annie over to Crystal, Agnes and some random doctor guy - they were the only ones there anyway - while the nurse went to fetch the 'thing' that he was supposed to be putting on. The baby was born before she'd returned. Crystal offered her hand to him and he took it with the one that wasn't still holding Annie's hand, she screamed one final time and squeezed Jack's hand so hard he felt as if his hand was broken. And then he heard a baby crying. His and Crystal's baby. Jack's mind just seemed to freeze.
"Eleven forty-five pm. You win the record for my personal shortest delivery time, little guy must've wanted to spare you pain by making it quick," the doctor joked.
"I-Its a boy?" Jack stammered in stunned amazement as Crystal let go of his hand, it was tingly and hurting.
"Yes."
"Told you," Crystal breathed as the doctor came back over with a tiny bundle of white blankets that he handed to Crystal, she smiled at the baby as it - he - stopped crying. Looking up at her and curling a tiny hand around the blanket, there was an abrupt flash and they all turned to see Annie holding a camera being the cause before turning back to the baby. His baby. Jack was sure people were speaking but he wasn't listening, he couldn't take his eyes off his child, "Do you want to hold him, Jack?"
"Y-Yeah," Jack agreed uncertainly, terrified of dropping the baby as Crystal handed him the bundle of blankets and his son looked at him for the first time. The rush of love he felt for his son actually brought tears to his eyes, he wanted nothing more than to protect the fragile baby in his arms, "H-Hey th-there, l-little guy. I'm y-your D-Daddy."
"Are you crying?" Annie wondered with a mocking smirk.
"No!" Jack lied immediately but could do nothing to wipe his eyes due to holding the baby who curled his fingers around one of Jack's fingers. Jack was too overjoyed to notice that his hand didn't hurt anymore.
Scorpius was disappointed that Grant's wand hadn't been corrupted, it made him think that getting the password from Calderon was more important than ever. Grant remained his top suspect after all. But since it had been a failure, it did make it seem less likely that the Shadow would have a corrupted wand. He wanted to ask Varanian's opinion but it was still only early October, he still planned on contacting him by asking Professor Ashain's daughter - who could speak to birds - to direct the vultures to him but Professor Ashain's probation had only just ended and he hadn't seen the girl around yet.
Albus' birthday was on Friday but he wasn' particularly cheerful, upset he'd not made the Gryffindor team by age fourteen and that his father wasn't coming until the next Saturday instead of the day after his birthday. James' birthday was in late December and Lily's would nearly always fall during the Easter break so he was the only Potter child who didn't get a big family celebration for their birthday. Only Michael hadn't given up trying to cheer Michael up by the time they went to bed.
The next week passed surprising quickly despite the uncertainty plaguing Scorpius' mind, both about the Shadow professor and the asking Molly to the upcoming Hogsmeade trip, which was only two weeks after Harry Potter's visit. Albus was much more cheerful that Friday than he had been for his birthday, Lily was equally excited by the prospect of seeing her father. Although not everyone was, Hugo was dreading it as he was convinced Harry was going to tell him that he was disowned from the Potter/Weasley clan for making Hufflepuff. No one had had any luck convincing him otherwise.
They had to have an early breakfast - or at least clear out earlier- to give them a chance to set the Great Hall up for the Boy Who Lived. Calderon gave a high pitched whistle to draw their attention when it was time to leave, shooing them out with giant incorporeal brooms of light that actually passed right through everyone and everything. When Scorpius returned to the Great Hall again, there was a sea of chairs in place of the benches with a small aisle between two halves of chairs to allow people to get up and down easier but they were allowed to sit anywhere. Due to his Maurice's deafness and needing to be close to translate, he got the closest seat and as his friends - and Albus - they also got close seats.
Maurice, Corin, Scorpius, Michael, Orous, Vern, Abby, Albus, Rose and surprisingly Lorcan all had seats on the front two rows on the right side thanks to Maurice. Lily also opted to sit with them to be close to her dad, Viola looking very begrudging as she sat with her 'friend'. Hugo also appeared to have been dragged along but he kept his head bowed low, August also sat with them and Lysander with his Gryffindor friends on the third row on the opposite side to Lorcan. Lysander wouldn't look at his brother. Dom, Hal, Molly and Latimer all sat with them too while Freddie sat on the left side front row with his girlfriend Caitlin, Louis and their friends as well as Roxy and her friends. Nick sat nearby too but looked very sullen and was without his friends who were sitting way near the back, a lot of Slytherins were sitting way nearer the back that Scorpius could see, including all three Notts. James approached the front row with his friends but there wasn't enough seats for them to sit together, James seemed to be struggling whether to be further away from his father with his friends or closer but with his enemies. He seemed to decide the latter as he grumpily took the closest seat which was near Scorpius and directly beside Lily, he shooed his friends away.
"Why are you freaks sitting here anyway?" James demanded after a minute of silently glaring between Scorpius, Maurice, Michael, Orous, Vern and Lorcan.
"Because Maurice is deaf and needs to be closer to translate," Albus answered before any of them could, "His friends get to sit with him if they show up while there's still seats."
"Ridiculous. He doesn't deserve special treatment just because he can't hear."
"Well its a better reason for special treatment than just because you can't catch a Snitch," Lorcan quipped with a dark edge to his amber eyes and James' face burned red with rage, Lorcan was still holding his wand like he was every time that Scorpius had seen him.
"Shut up, freak, don't you know that Slytherins with the nerve to show their faces to my father should be in the back rows so he doesn't have to look at those sick, scummy cowards."
"Potter, you're sitting within earshot of a prefect as well as Head Boy and Girl. I'd shut up if I were you," Hal commented and James threw him a filthy look before slouching irritably in his chair.
Scorpius turned his attention away from the newly tense atmosphere in the seats to glance at the area where the staff table usually was, it was still there only with a dark velvet tablecloth covering it and without the chairs. The chairs were on the left and right against the wall as well as a row facing them, most of the teachers and staff were sitting in them. In fact all of them were, except Professor Ashain, Professor Longbottom, Grant, Calderon, Headmistress McGonagall, the two healers who only worked part time and Binns of course.
It was only a minute later that the three missing professors came out the side room off to the side and leaned against the wall except Grant who took a seat. Headmistress McGonagall came out next and he noticed Harry Potter standing just inside the doorway talking to Calderon but neither came out as the headmistress strode over to the center of the teacher's area which drew all eyes.
"I'm not going to say much, I just ask that everyone is on their best behavior and gives a nice warm Hogwarts welcome to an old friend of mine. The Boy Who Lived, the man who conquered the Dark Lord Voldemort, who is the current Head Auror of the Ministry of Magic, Harry Potter himself!" Headmistress McGonagall announced.
Harry Potter didn't seem to notice his name being called from the way that Calderon half-pushed him towards the door, he straightened his crooked glasses before exiting the room. The cheers and applause in the room was deafening - except to Maurice - as they saw Harry, Headmistress McGonagall clapped slightly herself as she took the only remaining seat which was beside Grant in the center of the chairs opposite them. Harry moved to the place where the headmistress had been standing and was clever enough to wait until the noise had died down before even attempting to speak to them, although he did give a slight wave to Lily who was waving frantically to her father.
"Thank you, its good to be here today and to see so many enthusiastic fresh faced students in my old school," Harry began with his voice carrying magically, Scorpius thought that the whole school had attended and were now listening intently as Harry took on a much more serious tone, "Although I am sorry that I could not be visiting under more pleasant circumstances, I come today to talk to you about a matter of the utmost importance and it is not to be taken lightly.
"The Shadow War. I trust that you all have heard of that, its not just a title to exaggerate the situation we have with the group currently known as 'The Shadows' but it is in fact the name of the war. The Wizarding World is at War is at war and by Wizarding World, I mean it quite literally, we believe this is a global crisis. The Shadows are a very dark, very dangerous force with beings at their disposal that we've never seen the likes of before and they are gathering more people all the time, its been confirmed that at least three more prisons across the world had been wiped just like Azkaban and another town eliminated just this Tuesday in Greece. The Shadows are being led by a figure currently known as 'The Shadow Master' who is as of now, an unknown dark witch or wizard of unknown age or creed. We are quite certain that it is not your previous headmaster, Varanian, although he is still believed to be a Shadow.
"I am not telling you this information to scare you but if you do not know already then you should be aware and keeping you in the dark will only put you more at risk, the Shadows are a threat we have not seen the likes of since Voldemort and are to be taken very seriously. The Ministry and the other Wizarding governments are doing everything in their power to keep the people safe, attacks are sporadic and we're not in the same state of crisis as we were the final year of the Second Wizarding War but you still need to be aware of these things as they do effect you, even here. For example anyone who wasn't here for the memorial attack was lucky."
Harry paused at this to let his words sink in, essentially all third years and above had been there for that and even some of the younger ones, especially those from wizarding families. Many people even shifted uncomfortably at the memory or looked saddened, Professor Ashain twitched at the mention of it and Scorpius was forced to recall how he'd nearly died saving Scorpius' life. Silent tears seeped from Rivers' eyes at the memory of his twin sister's death, the assorted Weasleys and Potters hung their heads. That was expected though, he noticed Latimer flinch and squeeze his eyes shut as if trying to block the memory out. Scorpius hadn't actually known Latimer back then, he realized so had actually no idea whether the pockmarked boy had lost anyone or been injured or something.
Lysander had hung his head but Lorcan glanced over to his twin with a sorrowful expression, Scorpius remembered seeing them there suddenly. Nearly running into Rivers, happy and carefree and you wouldn't have been able to tell them apart, they'd seemed close. It wasn't difficult now despite them being identical twins, even without the different house colors. Lorcan turned back away from his brother sadly. Or maybe it was because that May had been the month of their abduction, meaning Lorcan had been held the longest out of all of them. Not just Lysander but him and Orous as well.
"Dark times we live in right now," Harry Potter continued and drew their attention back to him, many people seemed grateful, "Does anyone know what the most important thing is in times like this? Anyone? Yes, you."
"Being prepared to defend ourselves and fight in the war," Maurice answered readily.
"Name?"
"Maurice Rivers."
"While being prepared is very important, its the main reason I came to speak to you today but not the main one. Anyone else? Yes, James."
"Knowing the most powerful spells," James told his father confidently but Harry shook his head and James slumped back sulkily.
"Knowing spells is very useful but not the most important thing. Yes, Lorcan."
"To stop destroying the lives of good people by forcing them to be a fugitive for no reason," Lorcan answered firmly.
"Not now, Lorcan, we've been over this. Anyone else? No?" Harry said and no one raised their hands or called out, "Unity. We have to stick together, united we stand and divided we fall. We have to look out for each other, take care of each other, we're at war with the Shadows not each other. Every division, every rift between us makes it easier for the Shadows. They want us to be driven apart, to be vulnerable alone not to stand strong together against them."
Jack didn't really want to every let the baby go but that wasn't particularly fair, Crystal wanted to hold their child too. Agnes didn't say anything but when Crystal asked her, the elderly woman practically hit the ceiling in eagerness. Annie on the other hand, laughed nervously and excused herself for work before basically running when Crystal offered to let her hold her nephew. Eventually it was suggested that they get some rest because it was late, Jack tried really but he not even riding his motorcycle was enough to want to make him leave his son. He was feeling perfectly awake. He went back in to see his baby, who also apparently also wasn't tired but was making noises like he was trying to cry. Jack picked him up and he seemed to calm down, maybe he'd just been lonely? Could babies actually get lonely?
"Did you miss me?" Jack asked the little one with a smile even though he very much doubted it, the baby didn't know what any of those words meant, "Not the best place to spend your first night in the real world, hospitals are pretty boring places. Although I'm sure my sister would disagree, she works here you see and has pretty eventful days by all accounts. My sister is the one who didn't want to hold you, its nothing personal, she's just kind of odd sometimes. Just as a heads up, you don't have a very normal family... whatever your name is. Somehow I doubt very much its Jack Thorne junior."
"I guess you had the same idea as me," Crystal spoke and Jack jumped as he spun to see Crystal standing in the doorway, her eyes slipping to the baby as she smiled weakly, "Couldn't stay away."
"Shouldn't you be resting?"
"I feel fine and I'm in a hospital anyway, room's not two doors away."
"Okay," Jack nodded hesitantly and felt suddenly awkward, should he apologize again?
"Its Michael by the way."
"What?"
"His name," Cryatal told him and nodded to the baby while closing her hand around the locket and dog tags around her neck, "Michael, after my grandfather and Harold as his middle name, after my father. The greatest man I ever knew and the greatest man I never got to know."
"Sounds... good," Jack offered with a slightly forced smile, he should've known better than to think he might get a say in the naming. Not that he had a problem with the name, they were better namesakes than his own father or even himself.
"And I'm giving him my last name, Sanford not Thorne."
"Okay," Jack agreed - not that he really had a choice - again, he had kind of seen that coming though. He looked back down at Michael Harold Sanford, who was still staring at him intently.
"But..." Crystal started to continue and he glanced back up to her, she shifted nervously but took a deep breath, "If you want to be involved in his life then you can. We're still through, its over between us but you're still his dad so if you want a place in his life then its yours."
"I'll take it," Jack smiled.
That time Jack agreed without a hint disappointment, it would take time for him to ever have another chance with Crystal. Just being on friendly terms with her and being involved with his son's life was more than good enough for the moment, besides Michael was the new number one in town and he wanted to be a good dad. Okay so maybe Jack did have a slight issue with the name, he couldn't say Michael without thinking of Crystal's grandfather but the baby wasn't Crystal's grandfather, he was his own person. He wondered if she'd be on board with giving their son a nickname, Mick? No. Mickey? Hell no. Mike? Maybe. Mikey? Jack liked that.
"I'm going to talk to you now about something that your parents might not like you to hear about but I believe its imperative for your safety to know what the Shadows are capable, for your own safety. There are three spells that a witch or wizard can use on another person that earn them a life sentence in prison, use of these spells has been deemed unforgivable which is why use of them is punished without hope of release and why they are known as the Unforgivable Curses," Harry continued and Maurice's hand shot straight into the air which made the famous Head Auror pause in surprise, "Yes, Mr Rivers?
"That isn't always true is it?" Maurice questioned with made Harry look even more surprised, "It only counts within the legal boundaries of a country, is it not true that in places without jurisdiction it is not a crime to use them?"
"theoretically yes, but places out of the bounds of a country don't tend to have anyone around to use said spells in the first place."
"In the First Wizarding War, Aurors were given the right to use the Unforgivable Curses in the line of duty."
"That is correct."
"And that in this past month, the same law has been reinvoked for Aurors in the pursuit of Shadows."
"I'm glad you keep so well informed on world events," Harry offered although looked like he wasn't sure how to react to Maurice, everyone else seemed surprised by the audacity of a Second Year to be holding a conversation with the Boy Who Lived during an important talk, "That is also correct but aside from those circumstances it is a crime."
"Don't you think that's wrong?"
"I'm sorry?"
"As you say there's a war going on, isn't it unfair that only Aurors are allowed to defend themselves with these spells while everyone can't or risk life imprisonment? Don't you think that everyone should be allowed the Unforgivable Curses in dire circumstances?"
"No I don't, this is not the kind of magic anyone should be exposed to and allowed to use. Even Aurors are encouraged to use them very sparingly."
"But Aurors won't be there to defend us," Maurice continued, seemingly oblivious or uncaring that the entire school was listening, "We have to defend ourselves and killing Shadows is the only way to be truly safe from them, Aurors have the capabilities to lock Shadows up and the need to try glean information from them. Regular people don't, killing attackers is the best way to ensure safety and the Killing Curse is the most efficient way to kill."
"You shouldn't be so willing to kill," Harry said firmly.
"No, you misunderstand. You shouldn't want to kill but you should be willing if it comes down to it, there's a difference."
"Well this is a rather interesting debate, you have some strong opinions but if we could continue it after then it would be preferable," Harry told him and went back to addressing the hall as he retrieved a box from beneath the table, taking out a spider and enlarging it before continuing with. There was some charm apparently stopping the spider from getting off the table before it kept jolting back from the edge, Rose cringed though as she didn't like spiders, "Anyway, the three Unforgivable Curses. They have been used by Dark Wizards in the past, Voldemort was a great user of them and its either suspected or confirmed that Shadows have used them as well. What makes them so dangerous, aside from what they actually so is that they cannot be blocked by any spell. I will demonstrate and talk about them individually now. First, the Imperius Curse. Imperio."
Scorpius cringed inwardly at the memory of the spell, the Shadow Auror had used it on him the previous year. Although it hadn't quite worked. Harry flicked his wand at the spider and it immediately stopped trying to run off the table, instead merely staying beneath Harry's wand. Harry walked up and down the table, holding his wand over the spider as he did so. The spider followed his every movement.
"This Curse allows the caster to control their victim," Harry explained as he let the spider go, taking another from the box and also enlarging it, "Makes them do and say whatever they want, force people against their will to obey. Its not completely flawless, the victim can fight and free themselves from the curse however that can put them in more danger from the caster and its something guaranteed you can do. Voldemort used it a lot during both his campaigns, it made it difficult for the Ministry to know who was guilty or innocent for being a Death Eater as many insisted they'd been under the influence. The Shadows are less inclined to use it with the Specters, however its still worth mentioning. Now the second, the Cruciatus Curse. Crucio."
This time he flicked his wand at the second spider, even if Scorpius didn't already know it what it did then it would have been obvious from the spider's reaction. It looked in pain. Its body jerked, rocking from side to side as it twisted its legs like it was fighting for any way that it could move to make the pain stop. Scorpius noticed several people looking away like they didn't want to watch, Professor Ashain and Orous both flinched at the spell and he noticed Lorcan tightening his grip on the wand. He also saw Dom look oddly angered and Lysander look oddly curious. Michael's face drained of all color and he gripped the edge of his seat, his mismatched eyes seemed glued to the spider. He didn't relax even after Harry stopped, simply flicked his mismatched to Harry like he'd never seen him before.
"Also known as the Torture Curse," Harry told them grimly as he took out a third spider and enlarged it, "It inflicts horrific, unbearable pain on the victim. Especially with prolonged intense exposure can cause irreparable mental damage, although just once is traumatic enough by itself. That one, the Shadows have no hesitation in using. And the final curse, the Avada Kedavra Curse. Avada Kedavra."
Scorpius knew what the curse did but it was still the first time he was seeing it used with his very own eyes. There was a flash of green light, blinding green light that seemed to fill the entire hall for a moment. And then the spider was dead. There was a rush of murmuring and panic throughout the hall at the last spell, several people looked shaken but many looked as grim as Harry was.
"The Killing Curse," Harry informed them, "Instant death. The Shadows can hurt you, can kill you and can control you. They are highly dangerous and you should be aware that they are capable of things like that, they aren't going to call you names or take your books, this is serious. If there's a Shadow attack, you don't fight, you get to safety and get to help because sometimes there's no defense. Look out for each other... Yes, Mr Rivers?"
"Are you going to teach us to use those spells?" Maurice asked very seriously and very calmly as he lowered his hand, Scorpius didn't think there wasn't a person - teacher and student alike - who wasn't shocked by the question. Harry looked at him as if he wasn't sure that he'd heard right.
"Absolutely not. They are highly illegal and dangerous," Harry pointed out, speaking clearly as if afraid that Maurice wasn't hearing him right, "And aside from that, they are very difficult spells, you need to be in a certain mindset and with a lot of focus and will to be able to cast them. Which is another reason why only Aurors have been given permission, aside from myself, Professors Ashain and Longbottom - as former Aurors - are probably the only ones in the school capable of performing these curses."
"I don't believe you," Maurice said simply with earned a string of nervous laughter at the childish statement compared to Maurice's mature rational arguments, several people looked amused at him.
"Alright, why don't you come up here and I'll prove it?" Harry challenged and Maurice didn't hesitate to move, from the way that Harry twitched, Scorpius wasn't sure he'd thought Maurice would accept. But Maurice did, joining him the famous hero behind the table, Maurice's expression remained neutral but his oceanic eyes rippled with interest as Harry cleared his throat, he could hardly back out of it now, "Try and perform one of the Unforgivable Curses on one of the spiders, go with the Imperius Curse even because its the simplest to execute. You'll see - as I hope everyone will - how difficult these spells are, they are not for the fainthearted or for the general public."
Maurice nodded in understanding as he pulled out his wand, holding it in a gloved hand. He let go of his translator necklace and his face took on a look of intense concentration, everyone was holding their breath and watching with morbid interest.
"Avada Kedavra," Maurice breathed as he slashed his wand at the spider.
It wasn't the spell he was supposed to try to use but the words still left his lips and everyone who wasnt close enough to hear would immediately recognize the spell. The flash of green light that flooded their visions was unmistakable, along with a whoosh of magic being used. When the light faded, Maurice was standing with his wand still aimed the spider. It was dead.
No one spoke. Everyone who too shocked, the teachers and Harry Potter didn't even try to hide the surprise on their faces and several even had their jaws hanging open. The students were equally shocked, some were looking at Maurice like they'd never seen before, like he was a monster. Viola looked impressed and stunned rather than horrified though. Maurice didn't look the slightest bit surprised though as he lowered his wand, a smile slowly crept onto his face. He threw Harry Potter a triumphant smirk, his smile had never looked colder and his calm actually made him look all the more dangerous.
Part 4: Sparring
Jack's life soon settled into a routine of college and fatherhood, if he wasn't writing and researching assignments then he was feeding and changing diapers, both of which were easier with practice. Once he'd actually settled into college he actually found it easier to stay on top of his work than his friends, for the most part he actually got straight As with the occasional B thrown in. After a few months caring for Michael seemed easier as well, when Agnes was telling and showing him - and Crystal - how to do formula and diapers and everything, it had seemed like she was speaking a foreign language but once he got the hang of it, it was easier.
Agnes and Jack both had work and college on weekdays only for about the same time even so Crystal worked her shifts to be more in the afternoons/evenings as well as weekends, she chose not to go to college to study art like she'd wanted before. She worked everyday but Monday so had Michael all day then, Tuesdays and Thursdays were when Jack had him and Wednesdays and Fridays were when Agnes had him. Weekends were more alternated but even if Jack didn't have Michael for the entire weekend, he would at least see him for part of the day. Despite the crying and the crying again and the not particularly fun aspects of fatherhood, Jack liked spending time with his son. His friends thought he was mad as did Annie - although more than once he'd caught her talking to Michael or kissing him goodbye when she thought he wasn't looking - but he didn't care.
He was on top of his schoolwork, taking good enough care of Michael to stop being nagged by Agnes and on speaking terms with Crystal again. He was deliberately not dating anyone and staying away from parties - despite his friends' best efforts - to prove to her he could be faithful and responsible, aside from the occasional drink with Annie, he actually stayed away from alcohol too. Crystal didn't date anyone either so he was happy enough with just being patient, he usually wasn't good at being patient but she was worth waiting for. What could possibly go wrong?
The year actually passed quickly and his tiny son into a slightly bigger baby, Michael was crawling by the time Jack turned seventeen and trying to walk by the time Crystal turned seventeen - the same day as Michael's first birthday - that Jack kicked himself for forgetting, he wasn't good with dates. The second year was different, Michael was a toddler not this baby, by this stage it was also very obvious that he took after Crystal. He had her eyes and soft features, the same color hair as her although it was as unruly as Jack's. By Christmas Michael could walk and tried to everything by himself except to play, he could talk too - his favorite word was 'why' - although not completely perfectly.
Crystal invited him and Annie to spend Christmas with them that year which was great, the food was much nicer than the microwave ready meals that he and Annie had had the previous year. Michael seemed delighted to have his family altogether at once and Jack thought he was the only child on the entire planet who didn't tear through his presents, instead went around hugging and kissing all of them and telling them he loved them for every single present he had but didn't open them. Instead played with them still wrapped to not 'hurt' the paper, eventually they helped him to open them carefully so be could play with his toys without 'hurting' the paper. Overall the day went well though and it spurred the idea of family outings - for Michael - for the New Year. Things were going good, Jack treated himself to a newer, better motorcycle for his eighteenth birthday but aside from that kept the focus on his 'family' and college work.
Jack graduated college with honors, getting all his A-levels and started applying to universities but there was really only one university he was interested in getting into: the one his father had taught at. Jack usually tried not to let thoughts of his parents distract him but he oddly wanted to get into Oxford University, to feel some connection to his parents and the memories so distant they were almost dreams of a happy life before the accident. He was ecstatic to get in but he was so focused and desperate for that that he probably didn't pay enough attention to Crystal as he should, she'd been complaining of feeling tired and was very run down that summer. It wasn't until she collapsed at work that Jack worried about it, maybe working six day weeks wasn't the best thing to do with a heart defect.
It still took a fortnight of nagging from him, Agnes and finally a demand by Annie - who as a paramedic knew about health things than any of them - before Crystal saw a doctor. She went on a Saturday while Jack had Michael, he didn't expect to hear back from her until Sunday when she picked Michael up - Crystal had learned to drive a car the day she was old enough - or maybe a phone call but he was wrong. Jack was actually in a good mood, next week he'd be starting University and he'd actually remembered Crystal's birthday that year. Michael would also be turning two, Agnes and Jack were quite proud they'd got him potty trained already but Michael's determination to everything himself probably had more to do with that than they did. Jack was cuddled up with Michael on the couch, the movie - Cars - was nearly over and then he'd put Michael to bed.
The adults seemed to pretend like Maurice hadn't just performed dangerous Dark magic - even it was just a spider - and continue on, Harry Potter sent Maurice back to his seat and opened the hall up to questions. At least it took everyone's minds off it, as they asked about Harry's interesting history. It didn't stop people from looking at Maurice fearfully or at least differently, even Scorpius was worried by it and he'd actually killed someone before. After that it was lunch.
"Everyone stand up!" Calderon told them all as he emerged from the side room jumped up onto the table - one of the teachers had removed the spiders while Harry was answering questions - and grinned as they obeyed. Calderon threw up his hands and laughed his maniacal high-pitched laughter as his yellow light shot out, immediately the chairs started merging into tables and benches in the rows they were in. He snapped his fingers and there was a whoosh as plates, goblets and cutlery started appearing. Calderon clapped and threw out his hands once more, the tables were now filled with food. It wasn't the usual seating arrangement but Scorpius didn't mind too much, at least he'd get to sit with his friends even the those in Hufflepuff although James would be there, "Well don't stand there staring at it, eat up!"
"What about our food?" Rivers complained loudly as Calderon decided to randomly backflip off the table for no apparent reason, he waved his together to the right as if shooing something away but instead the table became filled with plates and food. Calderon then pulled the tablecloth out from beneath the staff's feast, miraculously without displacing anything which made him laugh again as he gestured one final time and the teachers' chairs magically dragged them across the ground so quickly that many - including Rivers - cried out in surprise or at least gripped onto their seats for dear life, "Bloody lunatic."
"Think we'd be able to Dad alone now?" Albus wondered as everyone sat down. Almost as if in answer to his question, Harry pulled Calderon to one side and started up a conversation with him as they headed back out the side door with Professors Ashain and Longbottom. Headmistress McGonagall also went to join them, Grant made a move to as well but whatever she said made him stay although he looked sulky at being left out of the conversation, "Guess not."
"Shouldn't be surprised," James spat, "Never has time for us anymore."
"Forget that!" Rose exclaimed in exasperation before turning to Maurice who had a hand on his translator necklace and the other getting food on his plate, "What the hell, Maurice?!"
"What?" Maurice wondered in confusion, "There's plenty of chicken legs, this is just one."
"Not that! What the hell were you doing using the Killing Curse?!"
"I thought it was the most useful so I tried it instead of the Imperius Curse."
"Why did you try use an Unforgiveable Curse in the first place?! They're Dark Magic! Dark, Maurice, Dark. Dark is bad! You should never use it! Ever!"
"I don't see how its Dark magic if you use it for a good cause," Maurice said and still seemed confused, "My point remains valid, if an enemy's dead then they can't attack you again. It is the most efficient spell to kill with, quick and painless. There's a war going on and we'll all have to fight in it, defend ourselves."
"Psycho," James insisted looking darkly.
"Well you would think that but the rest of you understand," Maurice pointed out looking at them for some sign that they believed he did the right thing.
"We understand that you believe that but... you're wrong," Michael said finally when no one would look at him, "You shouldn't be so quick to take a life."
"They'll never understand," Viola spoke up and switched to a language that no one but Maurice could understand, his eyes flashed darkly.
"You're wrong," Maurice snapped at her before giving the rest of them a strange look before stalking off.
"Good riddance," James commented.
"What did you say to him?" Lily wondered to which Viola shrugged dismissively, apparently not wanting to divulge.
It was a slightly awkward meal with James there, although Hal's previous reminder about him being near the Head Boy, Head Girl and a prefect seemed to be keeping him mostly in check. He noticed that Lorcan only picked at his food because he was too focused on scanning the room as if he was waiting for the next attack. Maurice returned near the end of lunch at his seat, saying and eating nothing or even bothering to put a hand to his translator to listen to them. They were shooed to get some fresh air for fifteen minutes while the hall was set up when they'd finished their food, outside was pouring rain though so it more like fresh corridor.
When they went back there was a raised platform running down the center of the hall where the aisle had been but there were no chairs this time but stands against the walls, Harry Potter and Professor Longbottom were standing on the platform while the other teachers were around the area where the staff table would be. This time Harry started talking to them about dueling, Scorpius found himself zoning out a bit as he already learned a lot about dueling from Varanian or even from Defense Against the Dark Arts. Harry didn't talk about it long at least before going into a demonstration duel with Professor Longbottom.
That was more interesting. Scorpius was only to keep track of what was happening because Varanian's training to recognize what was being cast quickly because they were dueling quickly, there was different colored beams of light shooting from both wands and shields being put up in defense to deflect them. Some spells either couldn't be dodged because of the spell itself or had to be dodged as both were capable of firing spells in rapid succession which meant the Shield Charm only lasted for one of them. Scorpius got the impression they were holding back though, they seemed only to be using simple spells which was probably to make it easier for the students to follow as well as because they didn't actually want to harm one another. Harry eventually emerged the victor, disarming Professor Longbottom after he dodged and deflected two spells but was just about too slow to avoid the third. Or at least in that narrow platform anyway, the space was constricting and the professor would've done better in a larger space. Scorpius still enjoyed watching though.
After that, Harry split them up by year and had them dueling each other, he would go around offering advice. The First Years were first while the rest of them went to sit on the stands to watch or just chat amongst themselves as it wasn't a particularly interesting event if you weren't participating, the first years barely knew any spells after all. Harry then picked the sixteen he thought were best - four from each house - to duel in a more tournament fashion which was more interesting, Professor Longbottom offered, ten house points to the two who took third place, twenty-five for second and fifty for first.
Scorpius recognized five of them, Lily Potter, August Longbottom, Lorcan Scamander, Viola Kalya and Hugo Weasley had all been chosen, Lysander however had not because he wasn't particularly good at it. The Hufflepuffs went against each other first, to decide the Hufflepuff champion who turned out to be Hugo quite easily. The Gryffindors went next and Lily also took it, Scorpius thought Viola might've been giving her private tips to improve or maybe she'd heard it from her father. Ravenclaw went next and August won it, although with more difficulty due to Ravenclaws actually having the most challenging duels of all as they seemed to know more spells. Professor Longbottom looked ready to burst with pride. Slytherin was the final one, Lorcan was the only one of the five who hadn't actually lost in any of the practices and came out undefeated again. Scorpius knew from the way he dueled that Maurice had been giving training. Viola looked murderous to have lost though. And so it was the friends who were set to duel.
They seemed to decide to do it like Quidditch, Lily went against Lorcan and Lorcan easily emerged the victor, he was faster, more agile and knew more spells than her. August went against Hugo next, that was a much closer match with August ultimately taking it. August was the only person who seemed to put up a fight against Lorcan but once more, Lorcan won. There was a hint of a smile on his face as he was praised and seemed to relax slightly, possibly feeling better for his ability to defend himself. At least from kids his own age. And his house actually cheered him for winning them fifty points before they went into the stands and it was the second years turn.
Those duels were more interesting and faster as they'd learned the Disarming Charm - only some of the first years had - and it went the same, Harry going around to offer advice before having the best four from each house picked to face off. All four of his first year friends had been chosen. The Hufflepuffs faced off against each other first, Orous won easily, he seemed observant enough to notice the direction of the spell to dodge it which he would then throw his own Disarming Charm that hit every time. Eliza Pentakel won Ravenclaw and Olivia Nott won Slytherin, Scorpius didn't know them personally but he knew their last names from their older brothers. Maurice and Corin's extra years in Beauxbatons very clearly gave them an advantage, they slaughtered the competition and had to face each other. Maurice won. Of course Maurice won, he made it look the easiest and most natural thing in the world. Maurice and Orous both won their duels with ease, making it exciting that the third place houses would now take second or third, the Gryffindors who'd been horrifically disturbed by Maurice casting the Killing Curse were now cheering his name.
Twin against twin. Not that anyone in the crowd but Scorpius and Michael knew it. That was an intense duel, Maurice tended to only mouth the spells or at least say them so quietly it wasn't noticed which was an advantage he had but not to Orous went by wand directionality and wasn't bothered. Maurice clearly knew more spells and knew how to dodge but Orous just seemed naturally skilled, Maurice was a fraction too slow to miss Orous' final Disarming Charm and lost. Maurice didn't look angry, rather sad as they trudged back to the stands while Scorpius' year came out.
Scorpius hadn't been in a duel since what happened with James the previous year which resulted in the loss of Michael's eye, that was before Varanian had started training him. Scorpius discovered he was good, he could cast, he could dodge and he was quick on his feet. He thought Varanian would be proud that he hadn't lost a single practice round, the training had definitely paid off.
"Okay well done everyone!" Harry announced as he called them to a halt and started going through the sixteen names, Copper and Nott had both been picked but the rest he couldn't place names to faces except to say they were vaguely familiar, "And finally for Gryffindor: Scorpius Malfoy, Abby Longbottom, Albus Potter and Michael Sanford."
Scorpius couldn't help but be proud to have been chosen, although he was surprised that Michael had been. He wondered if that made him a bad friend. Nott won for Slytherin but he was glad Copper lost to Yanis Hawthorn of Ravencaw and a girl named Druella Spritz emerged the winner for Hufflepuff. And then it was the Gryffindors, Abby went against Michael first and Scorpius realized why Michael was so good. He may not be the best at spellwork but he was quick on his feet, his reflexes off the Quidditch pitch were just as good as on the pitch and he reacted faster than most people did, his small size only made him harder to hit. Michael won. Scorpius was pitted up against Albus, a Potter against a Malfoy once more. It was incredibly strange to be going against his friend. It was incredibly sad for Scorpius to beat him so easily. Albus got the first spell in but Scorpius effortless dodged it and cast a Disarming Charm back in return, Albus tried to dive out of the way but he was a fraction too slow and lost his wand. Albus looked crushed as they shook hands after, unable to even look in his father's direction for shame. Scorpius wondered if maybe he should have deliberately let Albus win or something.
If it was strange to be dueling Albus, it was even stranger to be dueling Michael. Michael also proved to be more difficult to beat, he wasn't the greatest at spells still but he that didn't matter if Scorpius couldn't actually hit him and eventually it wouldn't matter if Michael could get him first. Finally Scorpius cast a spell on the ground, just enough to make it wobble to throw Michael off balance to disarm him. Michael still managed to dodge it the first time by jumping but Scorpius caught him the second time as he was landing. Compared to that the other duels were easy, Nott put up more of a fight than Albus but less than Michael and Scorpius defeated him, Yanis Hawthorn wasn't any better. Scorpius didn't actually realize he'd won until the Gryffindor segment of the crowd cheered his name, he'd been so focused on the matches that he'd almost forgotten why.
James' year was next, Scorpius was annoyed that James was good and surprised to see the Ravenclaw Seeker Pentakel was in James year. For some reason, he'd thought the boy older. Those duels were more interesting than the second years, some of them knew the Shield Charm. Pentakel, James, Roxy and Carver were all picked to be finalists, the others Scorpius didn't know. Roxy beat Carver but James beat her making him the Gryffindor champion, James and Pentakel both easily won their duels against the Hufflepuff and Slytherin finalists. Their attitudes were drastically different, James triumphant and bowing to the crowd while Pentakel was completely calm. Scorpius was more than slightly pleased that Pentakel beat James and when James refused to shake his hand after, Harry looked angry and James sulkily did it but the look in his implied that Pentakel had joined the list of James' least favorite people.
Molly's year was next, fifth years could definitely use the Shield Charm which made for some interesting intense duels, even just for practices. Molly, Latimer and Nick were all picked as finalists, Nick and two girls that Scorpius didn't know took Hufflepuff and Slytherin, Nick looked on a war path. Scorpius actually found himself cheering along for Molly until it came down to her and Latimer, it felt wrong to cheer against Latimer when they were Quidditch-friends anyway. Molly seemed as reluctant to duel her friend as Scorpius had been to cheer against him which made it an easy victory to Latimer. It was easily one of the most intense duels so far, Latimer and Nick were both determined and skilled. Ultimately Nick managed to win the same way that Harry had beaten his father and easily beat the Hufflepuff girl. Professor Longbottom seemed caught between pride and still bothered by Nick's involvement with the riot, the dark look Nick threw him seemed to decide it and the semi-smile vanished.
Sixth years were next, similar to the fifth years but with some more advanced spells. Freddie and Louis both made the final sixteen but Caitlin didn't, Louis lost to another Gryffindor girl meaning he didn't have to duel his cousin who took the Gryffindor finalist spot. Kyle Nott - the Slytherin Seeker and as of that year, Captain - won the finalist spot and narrowly beat Freddie in their duel. The Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff duel was also won by a very narrow margin and the Hufflepuff girl then beat an infuriated Kyle. Kyle also refused to shake hands after until whatever Harry said changed his mind, Kyle still did not look pleased though.
The Seventh year duels were probably the most interesting, despite Dom being the only person that he knew. They were done mostly non-verbally, even the practice duels were intense. Dom was one of the sixteen as was Hal, Hal won the Slytherin spot while Dom made mince meat out of the other Gryffindors and Hal was crushed by her along with the final Ravenclaw boy she faced. Dom was someone you did not want to cross in a duel. After that Harry gave some final words of encouragement before they were dismissed, the applause and cheers for the heroic Harry Potter was deafening.
"They should make a motorcycle sequel," Jack muttered to himself as he suppressed a yawn, "Now that'd be a decent movie."
"Jack," Michael questioned abruptly and Jack blinked in surprise, he hadn't really thought Michael was listening, "Why you no like cars?"
"I'll tell you when you're older," Jack offered, death wasn't something he wanted to explain to him.
"Crystal saided cars hurted Jack's mummy and thas why."
"Well that's right."
"I saided where's is Jack's mummy and Crystal saided Jack's mummy dieded. What is dieded?"
"Died, Mikey, not dieded," Jack corrected to buy him time to think of an answer, "It means she's not here anymore."
"Where is Jack's mummy go?"
"She erm..." Jack trailed off, really not sure what to say and starting to feel uncomfortable so he decided to change the subject, not that it always worked but the movie credits had just started rolling so he had a perfect excuse anyway, "Mikey, do you know that you're the only person in the whole entire ginormous universe who is my son? The only one who can call me 'dad'."
"Yes, Jack. I knows."
"So why not call me 'dad', eh? Dad, daddy, dada, father, I'm really not picky. And Crystal is your mummy, you can call her mummy."
"Michael doesn't know," Michael moaned and nuzzled his head against Jack's shoulder, Jack couldn't help but laugh at the sudden switch from first person to third person even though Michael's use of his name bothered him. Was he just copying Crystal or did Michael just have some kind of issue with him?
"Does Michael not know?"
"No, Michael doesn't," Michael affirmed and Jack was stopped from replying by the bell going.
He gently detangled himself from Michael and went to answer it, surprised to see Crystal standing there in the blinding rain. He smiled in greeting but she didn't return it, she was looking very solemn and anxious as she gripped the locket and dog tags around her neck. She didn't move when he invited her in. He asked her what was wrong but she said nothing for a minute, staring at the ground silently. He was about to ask again, thinking for some reason she hadn't heard him.
"I saw the doctor today, Jack," Crystal spoke finally, so quietly it was scarcely more than a whisper as she flicked her eyes up to meet his own finally, "I have cancer."
Jack felt as if he'd just had freezing cold water thrown over him and as her words sunk in, the water froze him to the core. He didn't want it to be true but he needed only take one look at her face to know that it was, she was talking about how she had a weak immune system so they shouldn't be so surprised and about how she was going to need chemo to try and make her better. Her words were barely registering though, Jack's legs were shaking, he felt as if he was going to pass out.
Crystal was going to die. He knew it, with his luck, he just knew it. History was repeating itself, Jack had lost his mother when he was two and now Michael would suffer the same fate. Jack couldn't cope with that. He still loved her, together or not, he loved her and he couldn't cope with her dying. He couldn't.
"So do you think you'd be able to watch Michael while Agnes takes me to chemo? I don't want him to see me like that," Crystal was saying when Jack drifted back to reality, "They-"
"DON'T YOU KNOW YOU COULD DIE?!" Jack screeched, shocking Crystal as well as himself and Michael who'd moved over unnoticed to watch them, she looked on the verge tears, "Stop talking about it like its just some thing that'll get better!"
"Don't you think I don't know that? I'm scared too but I have to try, be strong for Michael. And I need you now to do the same, for him."
"You always need bloody something!" Jack yelled as his eyes fought tears, not even sure why and a part of his mind was begging him to stop. He wasn't listening though, he just had to lash out at someone and she happened to be there, "Can you do nothing by yourself?! Its pathetic! You're pathetic!"
"Jack-"
"NO! Get out! Get out! Both of you get out!"
Jack grabbed Michael up from nearby and shoved him into her arms outside in the rain before stalking past them and running to his motorcycle, he thought her heard one of them cry his name but he didn't care. He just had to get away, he looked back at them. Both mother and child were watching him, Crystal's lips were moving but words were completely lost in the thundering rain, Michael looked somewhere between upset and confused. It would be the last time Jack saw either for three years.
Jack turned his back on them as he clambered onto his motorcycle and sped away from them without another backwards glance, not hearing Michael cry of 'Daddy come back!' and not knowing that would become Michael's earliest memory. Watching his parents fight, watching his own father turn his back on them and leave into the night.
"Think we'll get a chance to speak to Dad now?" Albus wondered grumpily to no one in particular as everyone started leaving the stands and filing out or trying to get autographs.
"Hey Dad!" Lily cried out and excitedly bolted to towards her father as Harry Potter came over to them, she threw her arms around him but from the half-hearted way he returned the hug, Scorpius thought that seeing his children wasn't the reason that he'd come over.
"Hey Lily. Could you stay behind? I want to talk to you," Harry greeted her regardless before predictably turning to those trying to leave who had to stop, unsure who he'd spoken to and Harry seemed to realize this too because he added, "By that I mean Vern and Hugo. Scorpius, if you also wouldn't mind."
"What about us?" Albus asked looking almost upset, "You're not going to talk to us?"
"Err... Yes of course, I might have an extra minute," Harry agreed reluctantly which caused James' nostrils to flare angrily but he said nothing, "Come this way, Marius said I could use that room off to the side."
The group - Harry, James, Albus, Lily, Vern, Hugo, Scorpius and Rose - started heading to the other end of the hall. The number of students asking for autographs diminishing as their number decreased before they reached the room off to the side, it was rather tedious having to stop for them. Scorpius wondered if Harry actually did it to not upset the children or whether he genuinely enjoyed the attention he got for being famous.
"Now, Hugo," Harry began and Hugo looked about to burst into tears, "Your parents wanted me to talk to you because you haven't been writing to them or replying to their letters at all, they're concerned."
"I-I h-haven't been reading them," Hugo stammered out nervously and quietly, blinking away tears.
"What do you mean you haven't been reading them?!" Rose demanded immediately rounding on her brother.
"I don't want to be disowned!" Hugo shrieked as some tears leaked out.
"Your parents don't want to disown you!" Harry protested, interrupting Rose who had her mouth open to make a retort, Harry placed a hand gently on Hugo's shoulder, "They're worried about you. You know what your dad's like, he didn't mean what he said and he feels terrible about it. If you read their letters then you would know that. Do you think you could do that? And give them an owl to put their minds at ease?"
"Okay," Hugo mumbled weakly as he wiped his eyes, he still didn't look convinced even as Harry hugged him, "See you, Uncle Harry, thanks for coming."
"See you soon, Hugo," Harry offered as Hugo moved away, Rose going with him and engaging her brother in conversation out of earshot as Harry moved on, "Now Vern, I spoke to your grandmother like you asked and she thinks that it would be best if you didn't spend Christmas just for this year."
"I... I understand, its alright," Vern said quietly with a very forced smile, "Guess I'll be keeping Michael company, he says Christmases here are alright."
"You don't have to spend Christmas here, there's a place at the Weasley/Potter table if you'd like it. You're family and are more than welcome," Harry gave the boy a smile, "Think about it."
"I will, thanks Uncle Harry," Vern told him with a less fake smile although from the look that James gave him, Scorpius wouldn't be surprised if he ended up not going. Harry also gave Vern a quick hug before he left to go rejoin the others.
"Alright, so if you three could wait out here while I talk to Scorpius in private then we'll be out in a minute."
"No!" James snapped furiously, "We're your children! Why do you want to talk to him first?!"
"Because its important."
"What?! And we're not?!"
"Of course, family is the most important thing."
"Then why speak to Malfoy?!"
"Because... its important," Harry repeated which didn't seem to soothe James at all, "Why don't we talk about this after? It should only take a few minutes."
"Nevermind," James spat as he started to walk away, "Its clear where your priorities are. Have fun with Malfoy."
"James!" Harry called after him but James didn't stop, Harry looked concerned by this but didn't place it about talking to Scorpius as he ushered him into the room, "Just wait here."
"Yes, Daddy," Albus and Lily said in unison as Harry closed the door behind him, he flicked his wand at the door and it shimmered.
"What did you just do?" Scorpius wondered curiously.
"So we can't be overheard, you can never be too careful with Extendable Ears around," Harry offered with a shrug, "So Scorpius, I just wanted to check in. Anything unusual? Dreams or visions or voices?"
"None," Scorpius told him truthfully, he'd even stopped waking up drenched in sweat, "And Orous hasn't had anything strange either. Nothing weird has happened with Lysander or Lorcan as far as I know, unless you count some weird instances with Lorcan accidentally using magic. But that could just be because he's on edge, our magic is linked to our emotions and all that."
"Yes, I had heard about that, Lily mentioned it. I'm glad there's nothing else. I also wanted to ask you about your friend... Maurice Rivers, being able to cast the Killing Curse and some of the spells he used in duels were more advanced than is to be expected of his age."
"Maurice has some odd ideas," Scorpius shrugged, not sure what he was supposed to say and not wanting to get Maurice in trouble anyway, "About us fighting in the war and having to protect ourselves, he's not evil. You shouldn't have let him try those spells."
"I honestly didn't believe he would come up to try prove me wrong. Its highly... unusual, I'm not saying he's evil but dabbling with the Dark Arts is not something anyone should be inclined to do. Especially at his age, Dark Magic is a slippery slope as it corrupts those who use it which makes it harder to stop. It takes a strong mind to resist as well as training, which Aurors undergo. Your friend is young and inexperienced, much more at risk to the influence of the Dark Arts if he continues down this path."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Hearing it from a friend he respects will have more impact than to hear it from the mouth of a stranger, Maurice is in the most danger from himself. Plus its good for any young wizard to know, including yourself."
"Alright," Scorpius said slowly, getting the impression that Harry meant because he was a Malfoy and more likely to use Dark Magic which wasn't very fair, "Was that all?"
"If there's nothing else unusual to report. Thank you for talking to me."
"No problem," Scorpius brushed it off.
It was only much later as he lay in bed that Scorpius wondered whether he should have told Harry about his suspicions - or rather, near certainty - that Maurice too was bound to the Shadow Master. And unlike the rest of them, Maurice's connection hadn't been sealed off.