Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter! I own nothing!

The Cruciatus Curse

On the way back to the Slytherin common room Albus felt something he had never felt. He didn't want to leave Hogwarts.

"I can't believe their making you leave." Scorpius said for the thousandth time while he was packing.

Georgia was helping him while Scorpius was coming up with a plan to kidnap him. It was about an hour later that Georgia and Scorpius were forced to say goodbye. The rest of the Potter's were waiting not far away talking with Neville and the headmistress. Albus was almost to his family when Georgia ran over and hugged him. At first Harry and the rest of the Potter's flinched expecting the worst. But there was not reaction. Albus simply returned the hug.

"Well I would hug you, but I feel like that would be awkward. Cause we're both dudes." Georgia hit Scorpius over the head with her hand. "Merlin! Why is it always me she hits?"

Georgia smirked, "Because he doesn't say dumb things every five bloody seconds."

Albus fought the urge to roll his eyes. They were going to kill each other without him. "He doesn't say anything!" Scorpius rebutted. "Oh but he's got so much spunk."

Georgia hit him again harder. "You're supposed to be sad you're best friend is leaving." She yelled.

"I am sad, sad that I'll be stuck here with you." Albus groaned and turned away knowing that Georgia was about to smack him again.

Ginny was watching her son and his friends across the hall. It was the most relaxed she had ever seen her son before. He even looked annoyed by their bickering. "Am I being selfish for wanting him close?" She asked Harry who was also watching the group.

Harry knew she just wanted Al to be happy, but she wanted him safe too. "No you're being a mother." He said wrapping his arms around her.

"He seems so happy here with them." Harry could see his wife regretting her decision.

He knew that if she made the decision while she was scared she would regret it. "We're going to find out who attacked Al I promise." Harry promised.

Albus was happy when his mum told him he could stay, but regretted packing. The next couple of weeks were attack free even though aurors were all over the school. Albus and Georgia spent most their time in the library trying to get Scorpius to prepare for exams. It was getting old and boring. It was late one afternoon when Albus got a letter from Hagrid asking if he would like to join him for tea. The weird part was usually Hagrid invited James and Lily too.

Not wanting to disturb Scorpius or Georgia he left after he was finished with dinner. Al was almost to Hagrid's hut when he felt someone watching him. He gripped his wand and turned around only to be thrown to the ground in agony. A boy he recognized as Derek Nott was standing over him. He was a seventh year Slytherin. Albus was suddenly wishing he hadn't walked to Hagrid's alone. The other was a girl he had only seen once. Her name was Diana Carrow.

She pointed her wand at him and whispered Albus's least favorite curse. "Crucio!"

He felt the pain engulf him continuously until she withdrew the curse. "This is for mother you piece of shit." Nott started to kick him. "Crucio."

Al didn't remember much after the second curse. The pain was too great. He just wanted it to stop. He didn't want to open his eyes again. It seemed like hours until he finally passed out in a numb cramp of pain.

"We won't know the full extent of the curse until he wakes up. Because of his previous exposure I'm afraid his chances of mental recovery this time are slimmer." The healer explained.

Harry couldn't believe how stupid he had been to let Al stay at school after the first attack. He had only been at school one term and he was already in the hospital. "I can't believe you convinced me to let him stay. I knew he should have come home with me." Ginny cried.

"I don't think Albus would agree. He loves Hogwarts." Harry knew that she would disagree.

Ginny grabbed her son's hand. Harry saw Ron , Hermione, and Neville arrive and knew they would want to know. "Harry." Hermione said hugging him.

"How is he?" Neville inquired.

Harry shrugged, "They won't know until he wakes up. What I can't understand is why he was in the forbidden forest for anyway?"

Ron had to agree it made no sense. "Halzer talked to Scorpius and Georgia. Al got a letter from Hagrid at dinner. Although Hagrid never sent Al a letter." Neville hated whoever was torturing his godson.

"What I can't understand is why Al?" Ron asked. "He's so quiet."

"I think that's the point Ronald. He's quiet, he's in a different house, he's the easiest target." Hermione didn't want Albus to end up like Neville's parents. Confined to St. Mungo's until death.

A few days had past and Harry was having Teddy cover his class until Albus was awake. The boy had been having multiple seizures and night terrors. The night terrors weren't new for Albus, but the seizures were. The healers feared that the longer he remained unconscious the more damage was being done. It was around a week later when an unexpected visitor showed up.

"Malfoy, what are you doing here?" Ron rudely interrogated.

Draco gave him a cold stare. "You think I'm here by choice, do you? Don't be daft Weasel I only came here for my son." His voice was hard and even. "Now where's Potter?"

Harry could hear Ron yelling from the tea room. He never expected that Malfoy would show up here. "I'm here Malfoy. What do you need?" Harry didn't feel like fighting, especially when he may lose his son. Whether the pair liked each other or not their sons had become mates. They didn't have a choice anymore.

"Scorpius and Georgia have been bugging Goyle and I to come check on Albus. I was just the first one to give in." Harry understood Draco's position. He cared about his son even if he wasn't thrilled with the boy's father.

Ron and Hermione left to go to work to avoid any more conflicts. "He's stable, but he keeps having seizures. Someone used the cruciatus curse." Draco was shocked. He knew that the boy had been attacked, but not to that degree.

"I thought the death eaters who kidnapped him those years ago are put in Azkaban for life. How did they even get on the grounds?" Harry knew Draco had a reason to be concerned about his son. It seemed so weird that he was here.

Harry nodded, "Well one escaped recently, but we think this time it was students."

Draco was taken back. "Students? You're not trying to blame my son for this are you Potter!" He spat angrily.

Harry shook his head. "No I know Scorpius and Georgia, their smart kids, but would never hurt Albus. I think it was another Slytherin. Some kid whose parents I got thrown in Azkaban." Draco relaxed a little.

"That's another reason I stopped by. Scorpius and Georgia have been snooping. I told them to stay out of it, but I knew they wouldn't. They keep asking me questions about the Nott and Carrow families." Draco hated that his son was noising around where it didn't have precedence. It reminded him of Potter and his friends at school.

Harry knew a Derek Nott and a Diana Carrow. They were dating if he wasn't mistaken. Both in Slytherin house and in their seventh year. "Thank you. I think I know who I'm looking for now." He held out his hand for Draco to shake.

Draco took it hesitantly before speaking. "Best of luck Potter. I hope Albus feels better." As much as Harry hated Draco he could honestly say he was thankful he dropped by.

The aurors took Nott and Carrow in for interrogation. According to Teddy they didn't even have to use veritaserum to get them to confess. The pair were proud to admit that they had tortured and planned to murder an innocent third year. Their only regret was that that oaf of a game keeper had come into the forbidden forest and disrupted them.

James and Lily had both been writing nonstop with worry along with the rest of their family. Harry and Ginny just didn't know what to tell them. Albus had shown no signs of being coherent or sane. The healers were starting to throw around words like catatonic and brain dead. Ginny refused to believe that her son was going to end up like the Longbottom's.

James, Lily and the Weasley's,

I know you are all concerned for Albus as we are all are, but there has been little to no sign of improvement. The healers are doing the best they can. Your mother and I will let you know as soon as his condition changes. Focus on your work and try to have some fun. I will be returning to Hogwarts soon.

Love,

Dad

P.S. I'm not sure how much Neville and Teddy have been filling you in, but the ministry did catch the students responsible.

Harry always hated writing letters from a hospital. Everyone is worried and wants news. It was a few days later that Albus opened his eyes. Harry and Ginny were responding to a few owls when they noticed his eyelids fluttering.

"Al?" Ginny whispered trying not to startle him. "Honey?"