The Beater and Badger

Chapter 7: Trick and Treat


True to Hagrid's word, he let them borrow a boat for Albus's birthday on an afternoon. It was a Sunday, that 12th of October and their homework had been finished that morning, Rose scribbling up a conclusion by vaguely reciting the twelve uses of dragon's blood in time to pick up a small cake from the kitchen on her way to meet the others.

"Happy Birthday Albus!" Rose called out as she dashed towards the three and their boat, careful not to drop the cake. It had been nice of the house-elves to make it for her exactly the way Al liked it: white cake mix and the frosting had been generously dyed green and a particularly sweet elf named Feny had thought to add white lettering.

Elora was holding a couple wrapped gifts, including one that looked suspiciously like the wrapping paper had been singed as Albus and Scorpius were pushing the boat into the water. Finally, the boat drifted freely and Albus stepped in.

"Rose, Elora, get in already!" Scorpius called out as his pants steadily grew damper. Elora obliged and passed the presents off to Albus before climbing in and Rose followed her unsteadily. Don't drop, oh please Merlin, don't let the cake drop!

The cake mercifully made it into the boat unscathed as Scorpius pushed it and pulled himself into the boat with them. The Lake was beautiful today with amber and burgundy leaves trimming the trees. The Slytherins were practicing on the Quidditch field and some muggleborn students were playing a game that seemed to be half football and half baseball.

Rose was jolted back to the boat by Scorpius's elbow as Albus unwrapped a Wizarding chess set. Rose had thought to get it for him after he and Hugo's last game was interrupted by James playing with a Weasley Wildfire Whizbang. She could still remember how it smelled, like burning coal and cloth…it seemed so real…

Elora then shrieked and leaned back farther as the present with the charred paper burst into flames and a pair of fireworks escaped with a loud crack. Rose reached out to grab at it and as her fingers closed around the parcel, Albus yelled "No!" and the boat tipped over.

It was dark, she couldn't see the sunlight anymore and she couldn't breathe…Rose instinctively opened her mouth and choked as water rushed it. Then she felt something pull her gently and she grasped it, thinking it was one of their hands but it was cool and scaly. Rose's mouth opened again in surprise and she swallowed the water as Miss Cyrene pulled her out from under the boat and helped her bob to the surface.

Rose broke through and gasped, pushing red snarls out of her face as she coughed and rubbed at her eyes. It was then she became aware she was still clutching the gift tag from the fireworks. Although it was wet, she could still read it.

To: ASP.

From: the three who can now prank you because your time is up. Happy Birthday!

Rose fumed as she swam back to shore, Miss Cyrene compliantly pushing the boat back with her. Albus was pulling Elora, her bangs matted wet over her eyebrows, out of the Lake and then he helped her out but it was Scorpius who finally made her burst into hysterical laughter. During the boat tipping, the cake had landed into his hair; previously pale gold hair turned emerald green frosting and white cake crumbs that were soaking straight through.

The muggleborn players came running now, not looking at the drenched four but up at the sky. Following their glances, Rose turned her face up and a burst of color and pops filled the azure sky.

Albus, who was still holding his all presents, although wet and sticking to his soaked shirt looked up too and said clearly then, "You know, for a trick, that was a pretty cool birthday treat."

And once a firework exploded its way through the Gryffindor Tower window, Rose had to agree.

The birthday cake was now only good for turning Scorpius's hair dull green but Rose levitated the presents from the Lake and Scorpius had mastered an air-drying charm that he used on the presents and themselves. Albus finished unwrapping the rest of his presents; a book on how Arithmancy and Ancient Runes can be combined, a bag of Peppermint Toads, and from Lily and Hugo was a box of Chocolate Frogs.

"Oh, Al," Rose said suddenly as she reached into her pocket. "Lysander and Lorcan gave me this for you."

Thankfully, the Chocolate Frog cards that she had stuffed into her pocket in her hurry to the Lake had dried from Scorpius's spell, but Rose didn't hand it over yet. She was too busy staring at her uncle's face on the card.

Harry James Potter

Also known as 'The Boy Who Lived' and 'The Chosen One'.

Harry Potter is the only known survivor of the Killing Curse and defeated the Dark Wizard, Voldemort, ending two Wizarding wars in 1981 and 1998. A Triwizard Champion, the youngest seeker in a century, founder of Dumbledore's Army as well as a member of the Order of the Phoenix. He is best friends with Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger, is currently Head of the Auror Department since 2006, married to Holyhead Harpy Chaser and Dumbledore's Army member, Ginvera Weasley, and has three children.

Uncle Harry was grinning bashfully and winking Al's emerald green eyes at his niece, but Rose could barely smile back. She had known for months now that her Uncle was 'the bloody savior of the Wizarding world' as her Dad had phased it, but to see to see how much of a hero that he got his own Chocolate Frog card was astonishing. And behind that card was her Mum's and then Dad's, but she didn't spare those two a glance because Dad had theirs framed above the mantle.

Hermione Jean Granger-Weasley

Hermione Granger-Weasley is a civil-rights activist, Head of the Magical Law Department, founder of the group known as 'Dumbledore's Army' and fought in the Battle of Hogwarts. She is often regarded as the cleverest witch of her age and is proud of her muggleborn background. Alongside the founding of Dumbledore's Army, she started the group S.P.E.W. which has changed the laws on House-Elves to improve their status. Hermione is friend of Harry Potter and is married to Ronald Weasley, whom she has two children with.

Ronald Bilius Weasley

Ronald is the sixth son of the illustrious Weasley family, best friend of Harry Potter, member of Dumbledore's Army and fought in the Battle of Hogwarts. He spent some years as an Auror, helping to track down remaining Death Eaters after the Second Wizarding War (1996-1998), most notably in the captures of Fenrir Greyback and Rodolphus Lestrange. Currently, he is a co-owner of the joke store, "Weasley Wizarding Wheezes", married to Hermione Granger and has two children.

There was more. At least eight cards were sticking out of the pack but it was so thick and heavy in her hand that there had to be probably twenty. "What is it, Rose?" Albus asked, breaking her trance. Wordlessly, Rose handed over the cards of their family members and Albus became quiet too for a moment.

Second period, Monday morning, Rose found herself waiting outside the dungeons of Hogwarts, where the second year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws shared Potions.

"Scorpius Malfoy!" Mafalda said as she sidled along next to him. The first years had just been released from Potions but she was in no apparent hurry to leave the classroom unlike the rest of the little Gryffindors and Slytherins who scurried towards the end of the hallway. "My friends have told me so much about you." She gushed. Another small Slytherin girl, with short black hair and a squished nose stood patiently next to her.

"Err, do I know you?" He asked. Mafalda dared to giggle.

"Oh, I'm Mafalda Prewett, related to the Weasleys. I'm sure you've heard of them—"

"Are you one of Rose's cousins then?" Scorpius asked her, nudging Rose's arm. Mafalda glanced, as if she hadn't even seen Rose Weasley before.

"Oh, yes of course I am." She acknowledged quickly. "Rosie is one of my favorite cousins, we even went to Diagon Alley together this summer—"

With this bold-faced lie, Rose's mouth fell open as she heard Mafalda prattle on. But before Scorpius could inject anything else, Professor Jigger came to the door, barking orders for the lollygaggers to get moving on. Rose gratefully allowed herself to be shepherded in as the black-bobbed girl and Mafalda vanished, but not before Mafalda Prewett waved cheerfully to Scorpius, turning his face tight and flushed.

The dudgeons was a chilly place to be and always seemed a little hazy from all the potion vapors, but it was an interesting one regardless as the cauldrons were always overflowing with strange smells and smoke, colors dancing in the air as Rose sniffed appreciatively.

"Class," Professor Isonia Jigger said as she re-entered the classroom of noisy twelve year olds. "Settle down students, we need to begin on Shrinking Solutions, page twenty-nine of your books. Pair up and get to work, I'll be grading this as a quiz." Many in the class groaned, but Rose scuttled closer to Scorpius at their table of four as he propped his book open to pages twenty-nine and thirty.

"We need half a handful of dead caterpillars, some shrivelfig and at least a pound of daisy roots to start with." He said quickly, efficiently getting their tasks separated. "If you want to bring the caterpillars to a boil, I'll chop up the daisy roots…"

"Scorpius, what do you know about the war?" Rose suddenly dared to ask.

"You mean besides the fact that a Dark Lord known as Voldemort tried to take over with ideas of pureblood supremacy with his followers known as the Death Eaters and was stopped because of the Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore's Army and Harry Potter?" Scorpius asked dryly. "Nothing, really."

"Scorp, I'm serious," She said, entirely serious despite the nickname. "I mean about your family." The other tables were noisy with chatter, but theirs grew silent from her awkward question. "I probably shouldn't be asking, but I couldn't help thinking that his ghost wanted to hurt us because of our families that had helped fight him, but what did your family did to, well, piss him off?" Rose whispered frantically.

Scorpius's face was pale but still smooth as he nodded. "You really want to know?" He asked dully. "My father and his parents were water-blood Death Eaters who betrayed him to save their lives and it worked. My grandfather had to serve time in Azkaban for being a Death Eater in both wars but because they betrayed him, my grandmother and Dad got off free. And you know what she did? She lied to the Dark Lord and told him that Harry Potter was dead." Scorpius said ruthlessly, throwing the cutting knife down on their table. "So I got to live out my childhood in relative peace with occasional side-remarks as to the fact that I'm a water-blood and from a stinking, cowardly Slytherin family."

They worked in absolute silence until they were only waiting for their potion to turn neon green, which the book said would take about eight minutes before Rose broke the tension.

"I'm sorry, Scorpius." She whispered. "I didn't mean to bring that up like that, I'd just been wondering about it since my parents told me, but I really got curious after Lysander gave me those Chocolate Frog cards for Al—"

"Don't worry about it," Scorpius said simply. "I'm not off half so bad as most like me are, being in Ravenclaw instead of Slytherin helps of course. And my mother's family stayed out of the war as much as they could but she can't help loving people with emotional issues." He insinuated.

"What do you mean, you're not off half so bad?" Rose persisted.

Reluctantly, Scorpius swallowed. "You know Zaneeta Selwyn? Black hair, in Slytherin, she came to my birthday party last year? She has a little sister, Amaryllis Selwyn, the one who is friends with that Mafalda. My family are old friends with her mother."

Racking her brains, Rose finally came up with a picture of a stormy girl with wavy black locks and nodded. "Was she that girl who fell down three flights of stairs and broke both her legs two weeks ago?"

"Her uncle was a big-time Death Eater; sentenced to Azkaban for life but he killed himself before the Aurors could get him. Plus she's a pureblood and in Slytherin." Scorpius said flatly, studying his cauldron intently.

"You don't mean—!" Rose exclaimed, horrified.

"Madam Pomfrey was able to fix her up in a jiffy." Scorpius said shortly and that was the only thing he said as Professor Jigger shooed them out of her class again for the Sixth Years as she lugged out a cauldron full of a almost gleefully leaping golden liquid.

This gave Rose plenty to mull over between classes and Quidditch practices as she began to observe the Slytherins for the first time since she had started school. They really tended to be a quieter bunch than the Gryffindors, most were good students too. Unlike the Hufflepuffs, Slytherins usually were found either alone or in gangs of them. They all followed dress code regulations, even the one third year girl she observed who enjoyed a punk look with purple tipped hair along with a nose ring. And surreptitiously, she realized that the detentions served by Slytherins almost always were in groups. Rose Weasley saw nothing that screamed Death-Eater, Evil, Waterblood, Pureblood, Dark Lord in Training. But she did see small spell burns, a slight bruise here and there, a hex from behind and all of their victims were silent Slytherins.

By the time Halloween had rolled around, the cold air and fallen leaves had actually brightened both Rose and Scorpius to their old enthusiasm. Suitably for the holiday, the sky was streaked with lightening and thunder as the clouds hovered ominously purple. Hagrid had carved jack o-lanterns the size of his waist and the Gryffindor ghost, Nearly Headless Nick had booked a ghostly orchestra which screeched and wailed it's way through the feast. The feast itself, was beyond anything Grandma had ever made in Rose's memory. Cauldron Cakes and Gummy Ghouls, Licorice everywhere, candy corn, pumpkin juice tinted red, bats shrieking above…

"Having a good holiday?" Madam Dubvessa asked as she leaned over Rose's shoulder. She precariously carried a goblet of red liquid too but seemed in danger of dropping it, despite her eyesight.

"Yes," Rose said delightedly, helping herself to the Sugar Quills.

"I do love Halloween," Madam Dubvessa said wistfully. "The best time of year for books that are something frightful…I do think I'll read Hamlet tonight, Claudia borrowed Macbeth I think last week." And with that, she drifted back towards the teachers' table.

Rose had just finished off her supply of Sugar Quills when the Great Hall went quiet as the Headmistress rose to her feet, and waited patiently for them. She didn't have to wait long though, as the hall quieted themselves for her.

"As many of you are no doubt aware," Sprout began. "That Professor Thomas is expecting." She gestured one, dirt-streaked hand towards Professor Thomas, who smiled and blushed slightly as she patted her rounded stomach. The teachers began to clap as a few whistles and cat-calls broke lose from James, Fred and Louis and laughter from their sycophants followed.

"As of Monday," The Headmistress continued. "Her maternity leave will begin until January. The substitute I have hired will be arriving this weekend and will start classes on Monday. I'm sure you will also wish Professor Thomas the best of luck and will give your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher a pleasant welcome."


Happy Birthday Hermione Granger! Mrs. Granger-Weasley is now the big 30 years old tomorrow so we wish her a happy birthday indeed. :)

School is going well and my writing's not doing too badly for the lack of time either; I've deleted some scenes that I can't remember for the life of me that I included early on and added some new ideas suggested to me. I'm immensely pleased with the next chapter, which I think will come out on Albus's birthday although we celebrate his birthday in this chapter. On other topics; I have a new obsession known as Glee. Wed. nights make me gleeful now. :) And I have a new poll up, please vote!

The answer to last week's question is: Mopsy, Hagrid's new puppy. Mopsy was to be a dog-loving woman in Hogsmeade to counter Mrs. Figg. She was to take in Snuffles but Jo's editor suggested removing them to a mountain so they have an easier time with their conversation.

This week's trivia!: "Puckle", "Spinks" and "Spugens" were the original last names of what characters? *Hint: they appeared in all seven books!*