Gray: Scorpius Malfoy and the Werewolf Army

by Fiery Gray

UNDER EDITING! (III): After the last two years, Scorpius' parents insist he have a "normal" year. While Scorpius juggles finding the Shadows spy in the school with electives, classes, Hogsmeade and friends. War is declared on the Shadows but the Shadow Master is back better than ever, building an army and raising hell. Hogwarts is not as safe as it once was. COMPLETE

10. Chapter 10: Previously Unknown

Parts (38-40)

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III

Chapter 10

Previously Unknown

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Part 1: Indecision

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At first Crystal thought things were going well with Bob, he was a bit abrasive but generally nice but the more time she spend with him the more his dark side started to show. The first time was having to leave early from a date when he boss called in for an emergency when someone hadn't shown up, he grabbed her wrist so hard it left bruises and dug his nails in so deep they drew blood as he screamed at her not to leave. She mumbled it was an emergency at work and he let her go, he sounded so sincere when he apologized, said he just really liked her and was afraid of ending up alone. Crystal liked to think the best of people and she felt bad for him, she hadn't meant to make him think she was leaving because she didn't like him, she just needed the money.

Things like that kept happening, he could turn in a snap if there was something he didn't like, the first time he hit her was over something as trivial as correcting him that it was Thursday not Friday. And then he'd be really apologetic the next second or upset that Crystal had made him act like that, he was nice usually and said Crystal just brought out the worst in people. Like she had with Robin. It wasn't Bob's fault, he was just stressed from being unable to work with his bad back. Crystal was already feeling at an all time low, her confidence, her self esteem were all at nothing. It was easier to believe she was at fault than that Bob was when he could be so nice, always there for her and willing to watch Michael. It wasn't like he was hurting Michael, she hated how little time she saw him due to working so many hours but she'd asked him and he was alright, Bob didn't even hurt her in front of him. It was good for Michael to get to be inside a house instead of waiting in a car so much, to have meals at Bob's house instead of just the food they got at the homeless shelter.

Still, Crystal wasn't really happy with Bob and sometimes she thought of ending things. She'd worked up the courage to break up with him when he'd been pressuring her to start sleeping with him but she'd lost her nerve after an argument with Jack, Bob was better than no one and it gave Michael a roof over his head. She was over Jack. She didn't love him. She didn't. She was really concerned about Michael though, she didn't understand why her bright son could fail so spectacularly at his schoolwork. Finally she decided to just talk to his teacher about it, squeezing in an appointment with Mrs Moore one Friday in April.

"Hi, I'm Crystal Sanford, Michael's mother," Crystal introduced herself to the surly looking teacher and offered her hand, Mrs Moore didn't take it.

"You're his mother?" Mrs Moore wondered disapprovingly.

"Yes."

"What did you have him when you were twelve?"

"Sixteen."

"Ah," the teacher nodded and gestured for Crystal to take a seat, still without shaking her hand. Crystal sat nervously and pulled Michael onto her knee, "That explains Michael's problems."

"What do you mean?"

"Children born to unwed inexperienced teenagers always turn out the worst, bad seeds."

"There's nothing wrong with my son," Crystal snapped defensively and hugged Michael closer, "He's good boy."

"If there was nothing wrong then you wouldn't be here," Mrs Moore pointed out dryly as she thumbed through a file, "And as to him being 'good', well he's quite the opposite. Doesn't play well with others, friendless, anti-social, a dark mind-"

"A dark mind? That's ridiculous," Crystal interrupted and Mrs Moore only raised a thin eyebrow before taking an image from the file and pushing it across the table to her, a crayon drawing of two dead people covered in blood... one of them bore an uncanny resemblance to Agnes.

"This is what your son drew when asked to draw a picture of how he envisions heaven, he drew that and said - and I quote - 'there's no heaven just death'."

"Its true," Michael insisted quietly.

"He... He saw his great-grandmother and a man stabbed to death in a mugging a few years ago, its understandable that's what he thinks of," Crystal explained also quietly and saw the teacher's composure waver for a moment, she pushed away the picture. Both from not wanting to think about her grandmother's death and guilt that Michael could still remember something so awful, and so vividly, "Its not a dark mind, its a horrible memory."

"Right," Mrs Moore nodded curtly but didn't look convinced as she replaced the picture in the file.

"And I don't think he's anti-social, he's just shy. And I was here to talk about his schoolwork anyway."

"Also nothing good there, he's far behind the rest of the class. He's lazy, doesn't pay attention, doesn't listen, doesn't even try-"

"How can you even sat that?!" Crystal interrupted frustratedly which earned an even more disapproving look from Mrs Moore, who Crystal was liking less and less by the second, "He does try, he does pay attention, he does listen and he's anything but lazy. He tries so hard but he still struggles, I wanted to see how you could help him because I hate to see him so upset about it."

"If he's not lazy then he's simply not very bright, intelligence is something we're born with and is nothing to do with school. I told you, he's a bad seed, you can't expect much from children with his parental situation."

"Michael isn't stupid and he isn't lazy," Crystal told the teacher as firm as she could manage without yelling as she stood, taking Michael's hand as she prepared to leave, "And you would know that if you spent five minutes with him instead of judging him for his parents instead of for who he is, you should be ashamed to call yourself a teacher if that's your attitude. You're the only reason he's struggling."

---

Maurice was glad Mrs Potter spoke up because he didn't want to have to think of a comeback to James' insult, or even if he should say something. His father wasn't a Shadow like James believed but that didn't mean he was innocent and Maurice was still furious with him, with the whole situation in general. In truth he'd been glad for the urgency in getting to the Ministry to stop the Shadows, it distracted him from thinking about how everything in his life was a lie. Everything he'd thought, everything he'd believed, it was all just crumbling to ruins around him.

He snapped his attention back to the scene around him, he wasn't going to think about that until he'd talked to someone. Scorpius had fallen back asleep while Mrs Potter had been reprimanding her elder son, Mr Potter returned with Jack the muggle and a frantic looking bald man who he assumed was the specialist as he started working bustling around Michael's injury.

Well, Jack's word appeared by his side as he looked to the Healer, still looking tearful and angry at the same time. Maurice wondered if he was going to hit anyone again, Mr Potter was missing a lens and he had scratches from the shards of glass broken by the muggle's punch.

Its salvageable, the Healer said and Michael's mismatched eyes flicked open weakly, He won't lose his arm but its still bad, we'll need to give him potions to regrow nerves, muscles and flesh itself. The scarring will be bad but he should retain full use of the arm once its healed, which will take months

Isn't that what what they did for Varanian and it it hurts him to to be touched, Michael's words appeared and Maurice hoped Michael was just repeating words because of the state of his health and not some defect with his translator necklace.

Yes but that shouldn't happen to you. Varanian is a metamorphmagus, metamorphmagi have a more complex physiology because they can change shape at will. It'll be fine but we need parental consent

I consent, Jack spoke up, Help my son already

You can't, Mrs Potter pointed out looking sympathetic, Crystal and are husband are his legal guardians

I thought Scorpius had woken up? Mr Potter spoke at the same time, it was a good thing Maurice was a fast reader.

He's gone back to sleep it seems, dear

I wanted to talk to him

I have to get back to patients I can actually help, contact me as soon as a legal guardian shows up so we can get started, the Healer's words appeared as he started to leave, I'll have them start weaning him off pain potion to be ready for it, the faster we start the regrowing process the better

I'm his father. That should count, Jack said but it looked like he'd shouted them as he looked angry but the healer only shrugged apologetically, He's only twelve, you rat bastard. Help him

"Thirteen," Maurice corrected but he wasn't sure if he was being ignored or just not speaking loud enough to be heard because Jack didn't react again, except to hit the wall in frustration as the healer left.

Why do you want to talk to Scorpius, James' words appeared and he looked even more enraged than Jack did.

To find out what happened, Mr Potter answered without a glance at his son as he walked over to Maurice, Would you mind coming with me

"Alright," Maurice agreed and James' eyes looked ready to pop out of his skull with rage, Maurice would have agreed to go with Mr Potter just to piss James off.

Why do you want to talk to him, James demanded, possibly at a yell but definitely furiously.

Calm down, Mr Potter said to his son and James sulkily crossed his arms, This didn't turn out how anyone wanted it to

Except maybe for the Shadows, Vern commented looking solemn but none of the others reacted to his words.

Can't we just go home, James spoke again to his father.

I can't, everything is in chaos right now but if you ask your mother nicely and lose the attitude you might, Mr Potter stated before turning to his wife and kissing her on the cheek, I'll let you know more as soon as I can. Come on Maurice

"I'll see you later," Maurice said goodbye to Vern, his only friend in the room wasn't sleeping.

Yeah and be careful, Vern offered with a slight wave of farewell.

Bye. And um I I'm sorry about your dad, Albus added as he suddenly found something interesting to stare at on the floor just as Maurice was taking his hand off his translator necklace.

Maurice wasn't sure what to say to that so just pretended he hadn't caught it as he followed Mr Potter out, earning a strange look from Jack as they passed the muggle. Harry led him through the hectic corridors of the hospital, Maurice hadn't been to St Mungo's since he was an infant and he didn't remember it. It was much to busy for his liking, too many people to watch for potential threats, too many doorways to watch for signs of attack. He passed some people he recognized, Aurors and volunteers he'd seen during the attack, he caught a glimpse of Professor Ashain arguing with a blond woman in muggle clothing in between coughs. Not that he was sick, as he frequently insisted whenever he did cough in the Ministry.

He wasn't the only professor Maurice saw either, he spotted Grant looking anxious as he hugged his daughter - she'd injured her arm before he got there, not severely but still needed attention - Wynona, a journalist and writer but not a bad duelist, especially with charms. She was a comely woman in her mid-twenties with hair that couldn't decided whether it was blonde or brown, she had beady eyes just like her father only hers were blue. Mr Potter stopped a few times, either to say something to someone or to be stopped by someone, the conversations weren't long enough for Maurice to bother translating. Sometimes he really wished he could hear. He felt his heart twinge painfully at that thought, all that time spend admiring his father for not turning on him for being deaf like his mother had and it wasn't even true.

They carried on before Mr Potter led him into a small private office belonging to one of the healers that - presumably - Mr Potter had been given permission to use, only it wasn't empty. Percy Weasley was there with one of the volunteers, a woman about his age with long curly hair and an arm in a sling who he thought was named Penelope or Prudence maybe. They were kissing. The couple pulled apart as soon as their privacy was ruined but they'd still been caught, Maurice didn't bother masking the look of disgust on his face. What was with people and relationships? They never worked out and the only rational purpose he could see for it anyway was that romantic relationships served was to produce offspring although he thought kids were better off not being born into such a terrible world. And that didn't explain it all anyway, Corin, Scorpius and Michael were too young to be considering fatherhood yet still wanted to date. The woman straightened up and left immediately while Percy's face went as red as his hair as his lips started moving, Maurice put a hand to his translator necklace.

I was just checking to see how she was doing, Percy told them looking awkward.

"Checking with your mouth?" Maurice wondered rhetorically and disapprovingly, Percy's face - if possible - went even redder. At least his own father didn't date.

I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone for the time being, Harry, this is quite new and we're not ready to start telling people yet

Alright, Mr Potter nodded, not looking too interested which Maurice supposed made sense, he had much bigger things on his mind than his brother-in-law's love life. Percy managed to look grateful behind his blush as he started walking towards the door but Mr Potter stopped him, And Percy, you know Roman is a fugitive now

Yes, I heard, Percy said with a glance at Maurice.

Maurice doesn't have anywhere to go and he's Roman's son, your nephew through Audrey

The answer's no before you ask. I don't want anything to do with him. Try Aub. No. Don't. I didn't think that's true. That's just no. Try his mother

Her whereabouts have been unknown for over a year and her muggle husband is in Canada right now. If you could just take him temporarily, it'd be a lot easier

"Just send me back to Hogwarts," Maurice spoke up and both men turned to him, "I'll be fine there."

There. Problem solved, Percy commented before leaving.

Are you sure you're okay with going back to Hogwarts, Mr Potter asked as he closed the door behind Percy.

"Yes," Maurice told him truthfully, there was a certain professor he was dying to talk to. Mr Potter nodded as gestured for him to sit down as he sat down in the chair opposite, not putting the desk between them before rubbing at the eye that Jack had punched, "You're in a building full of healers and it wasn't caused by magic, you could probably get it fixed up in a second."

Its alright. I deserved it, Michael was my responsibility and Jack had every right to be upset, Mr Potter said looking guilty before he reached out and took Maurice's free hand, Maurice hadn't put on his fingerless gloves when he'd gotten dressed and went to look for Scorpius. His face drained of expression and he pulled Maurice's sleeve slightly up to see, his eyes were dark when they met his own, Did Roman do that to you

"Well..." Maurice started but trailed off, he didn't want to mention his first school at least until he'd heard what his teacher had to say about it and technically Roman had made him do it, "Yes. But only because the Shadows made him."

Okay. Just tell me what happened today

Maurice started on a surprisingly truthful explanation but he really had just woken up to find all hell breaking loose, the only things he left out were the implication that his first school was Shadow-related and the fact that Varanian, Scorpius and Michael seemed oddly familiar with each other. He wasn't completely sure if they had been in contact since Varanian had gone on the run but if they had then he wasn't going to say anything to jeopardize the only man truly fighting the Shadows or his father, even if he was mad at him for being a lying weak coward. Mr Potter listened attentively and held his questions for the end.

---

Jack hated waiting, hated feeling helpless and hated seeing his son hurt. Since he was experiencing all three, Jack was in a foul mood. He hoped the jerk bastard who'd put his son in danger would come back soon, one punch wasn't justice in comparison to Michael's burns. Or that the jerk bastard healer who wouldn't help Michael until Crystal or blasted Bob was there came back so he could give him a piece of his mind or fist too, he was Michael's father. That shound count. He couldn't even decide what to do with himself, he wanted to cry for his son's pain, also scream in anger that this had happened and vomit from the smell of his child's burned flesh.

"I'm just going to take these to my parents, I'll be back," Ginny told him gently with a look of sympathy that jolted him back to reality, Jack grunted indifferently. He was mad at her too. It still took them a minute to go, the younger two both wanted to stay but lost the argument, "He'll be okay, Jack. You should be proud to have such a brave son."

"I'm brave too, I'm much braver than Drag-Michael," the eldest one protested as they finally left. Jack didn't feel proud, he knew he was a horrible person for thinking it but he'd much rather it be any of the others in the bed instead of Michael, anyone but his son.

Jack sat back down beside Michael and pulled our the picture he always kept with him of Michael on the day of his birth, a perfect - albeit slightly small - baby. And now? He was scarred and damaged, it was too much for an adult to go through let alone a twelve year old. And it was all magic. Michael had been fine before he'd gone to that school, it was going to kill him one day. Jack pocketed the picture again and fought back tears as he gripped Michael's hand once again, he didn't want to see him suffer, he didn't want to be there but at the same time he didn't want to not be there when Michael needed him. He was going to be thirty in a few months, it was about time he grew up and started being mature and responsible and all that crap.

"Michael," Crystal's voice gasped and Jack jumped up as he spun in time to see her run to their son, looking completely shattered and utterly distraught as she fought back tears. Jack's first instinct was to reach out to comfort her and his anger to be flooded with rage. He was over Crystal. He didn't love her. He didn't.

"He's hurt," Jack snapped before he could stop himself, his misplaced anger getting the better of him, "He's hurt because you agreed to let him stay with those people!"

"Its not their fault that the magical world is under attack," Crystal said as she took his place in the seat and held Michael's hand tight.

"No but its yours for letting him be in danger!" Jack yelled frustratedly and tears did slide down Crystal's cheeks that time but Jack was blind to them from rage, "Don't let him stay with wizards! Don't send him back to that school!"

"Its Michael's choice."

"No its not, its yours! How many scars is he going to have before you see its a bad thing?! Will you realize it when he's completely broken or when he's dead?!"

"Jack, please. The muggle world is dangerous too. This doesn't matter right now anyway."

"The muggle world's safer than this one! And our son's safety doesn't matter to you!? You're a terrible mother!"

"I know," Crystal choked on a sob as she gripped at her heart, "But at least I'm not going to run away, that's all you ever do."

"Well all you ever do is drive me away, screw you!" Jack spat as he stormed off to get that healer, he figured it was impossible to find through the busy corridors and instead just flagged down a random healer to demand they get the burn specialist to help his son.

He wanted until he saw the specialist heading towards his son's wing before he left, Michael hardly needed him when Crystal was there. It wasn't like Michael even liked him and Crystal clearly didn't want him there either, plus Jack needed a drink. He stalked out back outside to his motorcycle and took off, starting to feel his anger drain and guilt gnaw at him for leaving his injured son. For a drink. When he was trying to be responsible and stay sober, keep a job... His job. He changed direction.

He pulled up outside the run down shop that passed for a base of operations. The door wasn't locked, he barged in and went straight through to the back where Alexis looked up from writing something to look at him. Surprise replaced her usual neutral expression and the boy from the hospital sprang back into his mind, the one that Potter had wanted to talk to. The one who bore an uncanny resemblance to Alexis, he was sure they were related. Not that it mattered in that moment.

"I'm done," Jack announced seriously and angrily, "I quit."

"You quit?" Alexis repeated as struggling to grasp what he'd just said and Jack felt a familiar chill feeling engulf him as it did during all his sessions, as if he'd just been soaked from the inside out with icy water, "Any particular reason?"

"My son is lying in the hospital right now! Injured! His arm mangled by magical fire! I'm freakin' done with the magical world."

"Well that's hardly fair," Alexis cooed before abruptly being hit by a spark of black and collapsing to the ground, Jack moved to help but found his body wasn't obeying him.

Just relax, we don't have much time, a voice spoke and Jack would've jolted in shock if his body was still under his control. He couldn't see the speaker though and it wasn't Alexis, in fact the voice almost seemed to be coming from inside his mind, I wanted to speak to you.

"Who are you?" Jack demanded and was slightly surprised - but immensely relieved - when he heard his voice speaking the words.

They call me One, the first and only one with a name, the voice continued, And as I said, I'm pressed for time. I managed to glean myself some freedom from my master during their absence, however if she caught on then I'd lose it or be destroyed which are both things I'd rather avoid.

"Whatever it is the answer's no. I'm not completely stupid," Jack stated immediately, he wasn't about to agree to anything being proposed by a voice inside his mind.

You could at least hear me out, there's important things you should know.

"Like what?"

Like these people you work for, they're not just smuggles. They're the Shadows that are plaguing the magical world, the ones responsible for your son's injury.

"Yeah right," Jack scoffed disbelieving, he was working for smugglers not evil psychopaths. He'd notice if they were Shadows.

Yes right. And they're not really trying to give muggles magic.

"Now that one is definitely not right, I've been working with for over a year."

Oh, they are trying to give something magic.

"I don't follow. You could at least try to keep your lies consistent."

I don't have time, just don't quit because they'll kill you. Or worse. You're my favorite candidate so I'd rather that didn't happen.

"I'm not going to not quit just because a disembodied voice in my head told me not to."

Then stay for yourself, to find out the truth. If you're so sure they're not Shadows then you've nothing to fear. I'll be in touch if you don't die, you'll need my help if you except to get out alive.

Jack felt the chill feeling leave him as quickly as it had came, leaving him confused. He just stood their for a moment, trying to process what had happened to him. That feeling was supposed to be caused by spells they were testing to try give him magical powers, Alexis couldn't have done anything when she was knocked out. Jack almost slapped himself as he recalled her, bending down to check on the beautiful woman's condition. She was alive and feebly stirring, he helped her to her feet.

"Are you alright?" Jack asked with genuine concern.

"I erm... think so, I guess your leaving just shocked me that much I fainted," Alexis offered although Jack had a feeling she'd passed out from the black sparks, then again she wouldn't have seen it, "You did you were leaving?"

"Yes," Jack admitted although now he was having doubts, "Maybe."

The whole strange ordeal had wiped his anger and upset against magic. Not all magic was bad. Just Shadows for hurting his son, Potter for not protecting his son and that death trap that passed for a school. Actually he was thinking with more clarity, he needed to go back to the hospital. Apologize to Crystal and stay with Michael. He'd worry about all this later, being there for Michael was what was important at that moment.

"Could you at least thing about it?" Alexis wondered as she grabbed his arm when he tried to leave, he gazed down into her oceanic eyes, "Please, I'd... I'd miss you if you left."

"Miss me?" Jack repeated and almost laughed, he hadn't nicknamed her 'the Ice Queen' for nothing, "I got the impression you couldn't wait to be rid of me."

"Well sometimes its fun to play hard to get and other times... its better to just give in."

Jack would have asked what she meant if she hadn't captured his lips in hers in the next instant. His surprise turned to delight as he passionately kissed her back, his arms automatically encircling her as hers wrapped themselves around his head to pull him closer. Thoughts of Michael and Crystal being wiped from his mind in the heat of the moment. They only broke the kiss to draw breath.

"Still going to leave?" Alexis asked without breaking the embrace.

"No," Jack confirmed, or at least not yet until he'd thought about it. Alexis smiled the first smile he'd seen on her face, it was a cold smile that seemed almost triumphant before she tilted her head up for another kiss.

---

Maurice expected to be pawned off on someone who wasn't important when Mr Potter was done with his interrogation, he was wrong. instead, Mr Potter took back to the apartment to pack where Aurors were already arriving. Maurice was surprised at how untouched the place was, as if the attack had never occurred... Maybe the Aurors weren't the first ones there. Maurice packed up his stuff, placing an undetectable extension charm on his trunk to fit all his books and clothes since he got the impression he wouldn't be returning. He also packed up Scorpius' things to be brought back to him, thankfully Scorpius was a neat type of person. After that, Maurice found himself Flooing back to Hogwarts with Mr Potter where an anxious Headmistress was waiting for them. She said something that Maurice before he got his translator necklace working.

I'll be fine, Mr Potter brushed whatever it was off, Where's Marius

Ill, Headmistress McGonagall told him with a slighter softer expression, I know you wanted him but he's in the hospital wing and I'd rather he stay there to rest. Whatever you want can wait until he's better or at least less ill

Fair enough

Mr Rivers, would you like to get settled in back to your dormitory

"Alright," Maurice agreed, sensing that they wanted to talk away from his prying eyes although there was a whole roomful of other eyes in the portraits so really it wasn't private at all. He'd also have liked to see his friends again but he decided to sacrifice asking to get to speak to his professor sooner.

He took his trunk - that he'd also used the Featherlight Charm on to make it liftable - back to his empty dormitory, he knew Rose, Abby and Lily were Gryffindors staying for the holidays but he didn't see them. Thankfully, he didn't want to see them right now, there was only person he wanted to see. He left his trunk on his bed for later before rushing off to the classroom of his favorite professor, the man was sitting at his desk and scribbling at papers before Maurice entered and he looked up in surprise.

'When did you get here?' he signed with his hands which was blissfully easier on Maurice than the effort from his necklace, however it didn't effect Maurice's determination.

"Roman told me everything," Maurice told him immediately as he stopped before the desk, he saw the flicker of anxiety in the man's eyes and he knew already that it was true but he still didn't want to believe it. The belief that everything he was put through, the blood quill, the torture, the extensive training, was all for some noble cause he was preparing for was how he coped. He fought the tears his eyes begged him to form, "Is it true? Are you a Shadow?"

'I think you already know that the answer to both is yes,' the professor confirmed and Maurice felt all last slivers of childish hope banished in an instant, his knees felt weak and he hadn't realized he'd zoned off until the professor was putting him down into a seat and sitting opposite him directly, 'But it doesn't change anything.'

"It changes everything."

'Maurice, your view is as biased as the rest of the world. They see us as monsters because they can't see the big picture, they paint us as evil because they can't understand.'

"No, I'm pretty sure its because of all the attacks and murders."

'You know the world wasn't a good place, the Master only seeks to make it better. You must knock down a ruined house before you can build a newer, better one. Some things and some people must be sacrificed but ultimately it'll be better in the end, for you, for me, for everyone. We're not evil ones, the rest of the world is.'

"I find that hard to believe," Maurice spat but the professor didn't look upset.

'I can understand your doubt but think about it, if I was evil then I would have killed you as I realized you knew the truth, at the very least I wouldn't let you leave this classroom with your memories intact. But neither of those things are going to happen,' the professor told him before drawing his wand, aiming it as his hands and in a flash the coverings vanished to reveal scars just like Maurice's, overlapping words engraved into his skin and extending beyond his hand. Maurice started in shock, 'You really don't think I'd do anything to you that I hadn't first endured myself? That would hardly be fair.'

"I never realized," Maurice admitted truthfully as the man covered his hands once more.

'We don't tell you about who we are until you complete the school. Its to give you a choice, Maurice, because its up to you to decide which road you want to walk. Its your life and all the training in the world isn't going to take that away from you, you can choose to fight against me or with me. Its your choice and no one else's.'

"It is?"

'Yes,' the professor nodded with a kind smile, 'This has got to be a lot for you right now but I want you to go away and think about it, give yourself time to adapt. We'll talk more when this isn't so new to you, think about what I said. You're a valuable asset, stronger than most people give you credit for and I'd like for you to be on my side, you could even help me with my missions here. Or you could throw me to the wolves and watch them tear me apart. I trust you'll make the right decision.'

"I'll think about it," Maurice promised and his professor patted him on the shoulder before Maurice left, half expecting an attack to occur at any moment to stop the risk of him blabbing. But nothing. Maurice walked away with a lot to think about.

---

Part 2: Past and Present

---

"Hey, you're early," Bob said as he answered the door, holding a bottle of beer in his free hand as he smiled. Crystal was hesitant to return it but it was a good sign that he was in a good mood, she needed him to be a good mood because she had to cancel their date, "Mum's not even here to babysit the kid yet."

"I know, he's just outside in the car. I just needed to talk to you real quick," Crystal told him as he pulled her inside and into a kiss.

"Mhmm. Looking forward to tonight?"

"That's the thing, Bob, I can't do tonight. Someone called in sick and Marco's asked me to go in so I have to work, I'm sorry."

"What?" Bob demanded as his smile slipped off his face and rage burned behind his eyes.

"I have to work... raincheck?"

"No, Crystal! Tell your boss no, you had plans with me first."

"I need the money. I'm really sorry, I was looking forward to it too. I have to go now but I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?" Crystal apologized sincerely and turned to leave.

"I said no!" Bob snapped as he grabbed her arm.

It happened extremely awkwardly. Crystal tried to move quickly to get away from him before he could blow up at her but Bob was stronger and tried to stop her. His grip was like a vice and her arm was twisted painfully as she turned, half falling from the momentum at the sudden stop. She heard a snap and bit her lip to stop herself from crying out from the pain. Bob let go to give him a chance to strike her with the bottle, she tried to step back to avoid it but this only served to make it hit her throbbing arm. The bottle shattered, shards dug into her skin and the beer sprayed onto her. She did cry out then.

Bob froze, she was half-out the front door and he mustn't have wanted his neighbors to see. He opened his mouth but Crystal had already started running for the car, she got in quickly and drove. It was extremely difficult with one arm and she was flooring it beyond the normal speed limit but her instincts were to get as far away as fast as she could. The pain in her arm cascaded through in waves, she wasn't sure when she'd started crying but tears were streaming down her cheeks. Either from the physical pain or mental anguish that her boyfriend had hurt her like that, she was bleeding and she thought her arm was broken.

She stopped when she couldn't see through the tears anymore, driving one handed at high speed without a seatbelt was dangerous enough without being blind. Michael was in the car beside her after all, she didn't want to cry in front of him but her tears wouldn't stop flowing anymore than the blood from her arm would. She spared a glance for her arm and was even more certain it was broken, there wasn't supposed to be a bend in the forearm and it was sliced from the glass from the bottle. She started pulling them out frantically, not wanting the shards of the beer bottle to be there despite the pain and the blood started flowing more freely... Actually she was pretty sure that you weren't supposed to do that. She was so stupid.

"Crystal, you're hurted," Michael pointed out anxiously and she forced herself to see his horrified face.

"N-No, I'm fine," Crystal lied and tried to force a smile through the pain but he didn't look convinced, "J-Just a scratch."

"You're hurted," Michael repeated.

Before she could think of a reply or do anything, he reached out and took her injured arm. He couldn't have been more gently but the pain was intense so much so that she had to bite her tongue to stop herself from crying out, she bit her tongue so hard she tasted blood. And then the pain stopped. Abruptly, she felt a warmth flooding through her, a good feeling, a healing feeling. She glanced at her arm and saw light coming from her son's small hands where he was touching her, reflected in his dazzling hazel eyes that were staring at her arm but she got the sense he wasn't seeing.

Michael let go and the light receded back into him, the pain remained gone though. And not just the pain, she realized. Her arm was now perfectly straight, the cuts were all gone as if they'd never been there at all. She didn't even taste blood in her mouth anymore. But she hadn't just imagined it, discarded shards of bloodstained glass were still on the floor where she'd thrown them. But it was impossible, her son couldn't have just healed her. That was impossible. Michael swayed in his seat before he met her eyes, a smile tugged the corners of his mouth and with a pang of guilt, she realized just how long it had been since she'd seen him smile.

"Now you're okay," Michael breathed before his eyes snapped shut and his body slumped unconsciously in the seat.

"Michael?!" Crystal wondered in panic and reached out to gently shake him but he still didn't stir, "Michael?! Michael?! Wake up! Michael!?"

She wiped her eyes and drove them straight to the hospital, still reeling from what had happened. Her arm had been hurt and now it was fine. Michael had done it. Her five-year-old son. He still wouldn't wake so she scooped him up to carry him inside.

"Help me! My son! Help!" Crystal cried desperately as she raced into the hospital, immediately been swarmed by nurses, "You have to help him. My arm was broken and bleeding and hurt he healed it and then he just passed out or fell asleep. Like magic. It was like magic."

"Ma'am," one of the nurses - the one who looked the most senior - said seriously, the others dispersed and they no longer looked anxious, "How much have you had to drink?"

"What? Nothing!" Crystal protested and realized for the first time that being sprayed by the beer had left the reek of it on her, "I swear! Its just my clothes has some beer spilled on me, I wasn't drinking it."

"Well I doubt you were washing windows with it."

"I'm not drunk! This really happened, my son healed me and then just closed his eyes, he's a light sleeper and he shouldn't be like this. It was like magic."

"Uh-huh. Its getting a bit late now, little kids need their shut eye."

"No its not that! I think healing me might have drained his strength or something and I'm worried about him. It was like magic."

"Well okay, how about this is what we do," the nurse announced as she walked over to the reception desk and returned with a pamphlet that she handed to Crystal, "You go home now and give your little boy time to rest, if you're still concerned in the morning when you've sobered up then bring him back in. And you might want through that as well, there's plenty of support available."

"I told you, I'm not drunk!" Crystal insisted as she saw the pamphlet was about AA, "Look, Annie... Annie Thorne, she's a paramedic and let me see her and she'll help my son because he's her nephew. I'm worried about him because he healed me and them passed out, it was like-"

"Like magic, yes you've mentioned," the nurse commented dryly, "No, I'm not going to do that and if you think claiming kinship to an unlikeable promiscuous alcoholic was going to help your cause then you are sadly mistaken. You might want to give her that leaflet when you're done with it."

"Give it to her yourself, I'm not drunk," Crystal snapped as she handed the pamphlet back to the still dubious looking nurse and left frustratedly.

She actually wasn't sure where she should go, she didn't want Michael to spend the night in the car. She was afraid to go back to Bob, she couldn't really let him lie down anywhere at work and she wanted to be able to keep an eye on him. There was only one place she could go really, she drove to Jack and Annie's as the rain started to pour down. Picking up her still-sleeping son and carrying him out to the apartment, she saw Jack's motorcycle which she took as an indication that he was there. However she got no answer at the door when she knocked. Again. And again. She was hammering it so violently that her hand was started to hurt when it finally swung open, Jack glaring at her with a bottle of beer in one hand. What was it with people answering the door like that?

"What?" Jack demanded so irritably that she nearly turned and fled.

"Can I come in?" Crystal asked as she shifted position to try shield Michael more from the onslaught of rain.

"No," Jack barked as he leaned against the door frame, sipping his beer, "What do you want?"

"Jack, its raining."

"I offered you a place to stay here but you turned it down. Why don't you go hang out at your boyfriend's place? Or is he homeless too?"

"Please," Crystal pleaded and Jack rolled his eyes childishly, "This is about Michael. I'll go in a minute."

"Fine," Jack grunted as he let them inside and slammed the door behind them, "What about Michael?"

"I hurt my arm really badly and Michael healed me and then passed out and I'm worried about him but the nurse at the hospital wouldn't help me and I don't want him to sleep in a car when something could be wrong," Crystal blurted out before she could stop herself, "It was like magic but I don't know if it drained him or hurt him maybe because now he's asleep."

"How much have you had to drink?" Jack wondered looking the slightest bit concerned and Crystal felt like slapping herself.

"Nothing. Can you just take Michael and keep an eye on him because he might be sick? Take him to the hospital if anything changes. I have to work."

---

Scorpius spend the rest of the day waking up and falling asleep, drifting in and out of strange ancient dreams all in that language he didn't understand. He supposed it was better than waking up in a cold sweat but he still didn't like it. He saw Albus and Vern a few times although James had chosen to stay with his grandparents, talked to them even because when he was awake he was more aware than Michael was. His parents and grandmother unfortunately came too, anxious and annoyed at not being alerted sooner. They whisked him off home, there wasn't anything physically wrong with him as far as the healers could tell, just tired from the day's exertion. Scorpius was both glad to be out of the hospital but not glad to be away from Michael. He spent the weekend still falling in and out of sleep, he was dying to see Varanian but put off seeing him until he could stay awake for more than ten minutes at a time. He couldn't make sense of his dreams but he was sure they were to do with the Scepter.

Or maybe not. He woke in the middle of the night to see a silver light, he had to blink his eyes against the piercing brightness of it. He got up and walked around his room, trying to figure out where it was coming from. It seemed to follow him around though, like it was coming from him. Or more specifically his hand. He lifted his hands and saw the light distinctly coming from out out his left palm, he turned his hand around slowly nd had to squint against the intense silver light. It wasn't coming from his palm but specifically the rune scar. Or maybe that was just a dream because it wasn't when he woke up the next morning. He was feeling refreshed by Monday though, not even slightly tired and decided to risk slipping out to see Varanian. He lied to his family about still feeling tired and locked himself in his bedroom before Portkeying away, making his way to the dilapidated building Varanian used.

"Stop intruder!" Roman shrieked and Scorpius was shocked to find a wand aimed at him, Roman relented and lowered it upon seeing him though. He glared, one of his eyes black from a bruise from being hit by the huge man, "And what the hell do you think you're doing here? You nearly gave me a heart attack. Wait, how did you even get here? This place is supposed to be protected."

"I know, I'm a Secret-Keeper. I came to see Varanian," Scorpius answered, "Why are you here?"

"Because Varanian told me to stay out of his nice clean basement and in the filthy, ruined, more at risk part of this dump."

"I meant... nevermind," Scorpius dismissed it, of course Varanian would have to keep Roman there for his safety, "Is Varanian in?"

"Yes, he got in about an hour ago. Let me take you to him."

"I can go myself."

"I know but it gives me to do other than... oh wait, nothing," Roman snapped as he started to lead Scorpius down into the basement, "I have nothing to do."

"You're free to leave at any time," Varanian commented as they got down the steps, he was sitting on the chair writing something that he moved to go and pin on his walls of information. His injured arm was bandaged again but thankfully not bloodstained, his movements with it seemed stiff though. His hair was brown that day and the bruises he'd incurred from the huge man were hidden like his scars, "How are you doing, Scorpius?"

"Okay," Scorpius told him.

"No strange dreams of ancient times?" Roman wondered slyly as he leaned against the wall and folded his arms casually.

"Yes. How... How did you know that?"

"Because I was right."

"Do you know why? Is it to do with the Scepter? Why did it only effect me?" Scorpius asked curiously and anxiously.

"Maybe I'll tell you, if you do something for me first."

"What?"

"Roman, just tell him," Varanian complained and Roman shot the metamormagi a dark look.

"If I do will-"

"No."

"You suck," Roman sighed before sitting down on the steps and looking back to Scorpius, "What do you know about Herpo the Foul?"

"Ancient Dark Wizard, one of the earliest known. He was a Parselmouth and the first to hatch a Basilisk, according to his chocolate frog card."

"Very good," Roman offered sarcastically as Scorpius sat down to listen, "However as you can imagine there's much more to it than that. Herpo was one of the first known Parselmouths, his ability made him feared when it was discovered, his family and his village turned on him and tried to kill the teenage Herpo. He managed to get away though and instead vowed revenge, his desire for revenge and to truly hurt them got him delving into Dark Magic. He met a Dark Wizard named Kakopistis, a powerful and also vile man but one who preferred to stick to stay in the background and not get his hands dirty, he wanted to use Herpo to advance his own power, to conquer. He trained the young Herpo to hone his magical skill and teach him about Dark Magic, he enlisted the help of Eliaravdos - a famous creator of scepters and wands - created Herpo the Scepter the Shadows tried to steal.

"Herpo returned to his village with his new Scepter and and slaughtered every last man, woman and child there for his vengeance. Kakopistis encouraged him that now he'd had his revenge, he should set his sights higher due to his power and Herpo was interested but preferred to continue experimenting with Dark Magic and with his ability. He hatched the first Basilisk but its first victim was unintentional, his Basilisk accidentally killed Kakopistis. Herpo was devestated and vowed to do as Kakopisitis had wanted but it also instilled in him a fear of death, he wanted to make sure his campaign wouldn't be over before it started. So he started trying to find a way to make himself immortal, ultimately discovering and creating the first Horcrux. Do you know what a Horcrux is?"

"No," Scorpius admitted but it didn't sound like a very good thing, Roman rolled his eyes.

"Its incredibly Dark Magic, it was used by Voldemort himself. A Horcrux is an object where a person has hidden a fragment of their soul."

"What like taking the magic out of someone's soul?"

"No but its devestating like that. That is taking a specific part of someone's soul, this is just splitting it. Like taking the bones from someone's hand, a specific part whereas a Horcrux is like cutting off your own hand including all the things it contains. Do you understand?"

"I think so."

"Now having a Horcrux anchors the creator's soul to Earth, even if their physical body is destroyed they'll still... survive in some form like Voldemort did before his resurrection, he only died after all his Horcruxes had been destroyed first. However its not a good thing, splitting your soul requires you do a horrific act. Murder. To kill an innocent just to prolong your own. Creating a Horcrux diminishes your humanity and disfigures you, makes your main soul unstable and ultimately - if the Horcrux creator was killed, Horcruxes and all - would trap your soul eternally in limbo," Roman stopped as he looked upset.

"Something wrong?"

"I just fear its Orous' fate for what the Shadow Master had the Specter do to his soul," Roman said quietly before shaking his head as if to clear his mind of it, Scorpius hoped it wasn't. He didn't want that to happen to Orous or Professor Ashain's seven-year-old son, "Horcruxes can be any object, big or small, valuable or trash, it can even be a living being like an animal or a person. Herpo turned his precious Scepter into a Horcrux so it would always be with him, always be protected. And then he started his campaign of destruction and terror. Many tried to stop him but all failed, he was too powerful. When someone finally did succeed in killing him, he survived because of his Horcrux and Kakopistis' son revived him physically so it could continue.

"Pancratius and Ashylos were two wizards who lived during this time, whose settlement was attacked by Herpo. Herpo set his Basilisk on the village but Ashylos was an Avisora, he could talk to birds and had a specific connection to vultures. He called them to his aid and they blinded the Basilisk, it wasn't defenseless but the villagers could now fight back with their eyes open. Pancratius led them against against Herpo and successfully fought off the Basilisk and the rest of the attack force. Pancratius tried to get them to go after Herpo together and take him down while he was down from a loss but they were all too afraid. Everyone but Ashylos. The pair set off together to take down Herpo the Foul, becoming close friends in the process.

"They stood firm against Herpo and his army, the people laughed at two men against them. Ashylos called for the birds, hundreds, thousands even that swarmed against the army which evened the odds as the two fought their way through. Herpo set his Basilisk on Ashylos to give it revenge since Asylos couldn't call for the aid of his birds because they were busy with the army, while he took on Pancratius. Pancratius was good but Herpo was better and ultimately disarmed Pancratius, he assumed victory but Pancratius wasn't done. Pancratius embraced the power inside himself and fought wandlessly, wandless magic is the most difficult to do, absolutely the most dangerous and undeniably the most powerful.

"While this was happening, Ashylos was fighting the Basilisk and ultimately killed it but wound up injured and dying from its venom when Pancratius was embracing his power. Pancratius not only obliterated Herpo, his palace, his army and the land around them but healed Ashylos from dying and blessed him with eternal youth, supposedly his descendants too. But it was at great personal cost to Pancratius. He used everything he had inside, the force of the magic tore him apart. His power destroyed him too. I don't mean kill. I mean it completely destroyed his soul to do this. It just left the Herpo's Horcrux to destroy.

"Ashylos tore a fang from the dead Basillisk's mouth since his wand had been lost in the Pancratius' destruction of and drove it into the crystal orb, shattering it and supposedly destroying the fragment of Herpo's soul. Ashylos broke Herpo's Scepter's handle, taking the uncarved ash wood handle and top section that you saw. n truth he probably intended to get rid of it but he was standing alone on the ashes in the wake of devastation, the people went after him and he was forced to flee, leaving behind the Scepter in the process. Except for the handle that he ultimately had fashioned into a wand.

"All - or at least part of this - is legend and subject to being wrong or at least not entirely accurate, it was thousands of years ago after all and this next part has conflicting reports about a curse on the Scepter. Some claim that Herpo cursed the Scepter, others think it was because of the Horcrux and others think that Ashylos was the one to curse it as it warning or a combination of more than one thing. There has been little evidence to support claims of a curse though, however several owners of the Scepter - especially early on - have reported strange dreams of ancient times. I'm not sure how but I reckon they tapped into his curse and so did you, in your case I think its because of your hand."

"Because of the rune scar?" Scorpius guessed in confusion and Roman nodded.

"Blood Rune magic is ancient and ancient magic leaves traces, the ancient 'curse' on the Scepter reacted to that and had an effect on you. Gave you these visions and dreams for... whatever reason, a warning possibly or something worse or both. It should only last a few days and unless you touch the Scepter again, or possibly at least to not touch it with your scarred hand, should be fine."

"What about the rest? I was in pain and the language thing. Did they report that?"

"No but like I said, it reacted, probably more forcefully than whatever the others did to trip it since its highly unlikely they also had used Blood Rune magic," Roman explained before shrugging, "Or alternatively, the owners could just have neglected to mention it, those wealthy people would probably just have suffered in silence than admitted to something that could potentially lose them face. Strange dreams are bad enough."

"Alright... Where's the Scepter now then?"

"Potter's put it into hiding," Varanian answered for him and Scorpius glanced back, having almost forgotten he was there, "I haven't figured out more than that but for a fact its under protection and not in the Shadow Master's fingers right now. With any luck it'll stay that way."

"It won't," Roman snorted, "Have you not noticed that we collectively and individually have terrible luck? Harry's going to lose that Scepter, mark my words."

"Maybe he won't, he's not completely incompetent. Hope for the best, plan for the worst."

"Yes he's so not incompetent that he's hunting not one but two people for crimes they didn't commit and one of his own people was a Shadow traitor who murdered his friend and boss, the Minister for Magic. Great man there."

"He did stop Voldemort," Scorpius pointed out in response to Roman's sarcasm.

"So what? It was too late to save my family. Who cares if Voldemort's dead anyway? We were better off with Voldemort, I'd rather take on Voldemort than soul destroying Specters. We're going to lose and they're going to destroy us," Roman complained before glaring at Varanian, "Especially when you won't even stay put for more than an hour at a time, why throw yourself into danger when you have a perfectly protected wreck right here?!"

"I gave you a wand," Varanian protested.

"Well its not my wand! You're a lousy wandmaker compared to Ollivander. I'm a sitting suck here."

"Then why didn't you pick one of the Ollivander wands?"

"They didn't feel as right."

"Then why are you complaining?!"

"Wait, you're a wandmaker?" Scorpius wondered in surprise and Varanian nodded.

"Sort of, anyway. I studied wandlore for a time, that's how I knew enough to figure out about the corrupted cores. Some of the wands I have are ones I made, they don't tend to sell wands apprentices make so I just kept them at my in-laws with some other old junk. Came in useful when the Aurors took my wand. Do you know what Lorcan Scamander did with the wand I gave him? That was one of mine."

"I think he still has it."

"All right."

"So what else do we know?"

"Well the British Wizarding World is kind of in chaos right now," Varanian pointed out seriously, "Not only was the Minister for Magic killed but the Ministry was attacked, there's real no leadership and no real order right now. The Shadows are taking advantage of this, there's been nine confirmed Shadow attacks since the Ministry and possibly more. Non-Shadow criminals have also been taking advantage, there was riots in Diagon Alley and looters, crime has gone up and the Aurors have had their hands full."

"They still managed to put out wanted posters of me with a price on my head," Roman complained, "And new posters of you, Varanian, with an increased reward and new crimes on your list. Don't forget that."

"Its not exceptionally important. And as to the things you mentioned in your letter, I still don't know what Greyback's up to exactly but I know he was involved in the werewolf attack on Hogwarts. I think most likely that the attack was a test, I think the Shadow Master wanted to test what the reaction would be because he is big on planning. He might be trying to figure out the best way to launch a werewolf attack at Hogwarts, Greyback was known for going after children and it wouldn't be the first time the Shadow Master wanted to take over Hogwarts. Its insane though, Hogwarts is very well protected."

"There's only so much protection can do against an army. A Werewolf Army."

"A Werewolf Army?" Scorpius repeated dubiously as he glanced back to Roman.

"That's the word from the mouths of the Shadows, they're building a Werewolf Army. Alzay says they give people a choice, serve or die. The ones who want to live are turned to werewolves so once a month they can be useful, regardless of their reluctance or willingness to be a Shadow. Werewolves answer to the call of their own kind so they give Greyback Wolfsbane potion to keep his mind during his transformation, that way he can control the werewolves by commanding them as the Alpha while still staying in line with the Shadows' goals."

"And she just told you this?"

"Anything to freak me out. But in this case, I think its true. And before you ask, no, I don't know who the Shadow Master is."

"Okay. And I think Grant is the Shadow professor though, he shut Michael, the Head Healer, Professor Ashain and his daughter in the hospital wing to die."

"If Grant was a Shadow than he'd know better than to try to kill Brutus Ashain's little brother, Brutus killed a Shadow for that a few Christmases ago. Brutus may be the ugliest person I have ever laid eyes on but he's not one you'd want to cross, he's closest to the Shadow Master and rumor has it that his girlfriend-wife-lover type person is even more high ranking that he is. I've met him personally and I was just possessed but I still knew about that, the Shadow professor is quite high ranking and knows Brutus personally so he would definitely know that. Its not Grant. He's just a complete asshole bastard on a different level."

"Really?" Scorpius wondered in shock that someone could possibly date Brutus. It made him feel both better and worse, better as Michael and Latimer might not be so doomed romantically after all and worse that even someone Scorpius would've thought undateable could be doing better than he was with Molly.

"Yes, it is extremely unlikely that Grant is a Shadow."

"I meant... nevermind."

"What you need to do when you go back is talk to Marius," Varanian spoke up, "Tell him about Maurice so he can seal the connection to the Shadow Master and have another go at getting the universal password, if they are planning to attack the school then they probably need the Shadow professor's help so figuring him out to stop him would be good."

"Why bother?" Roman spat bitterly and miserably, "Maurice is beyond help now, he's already corrupted by Dark Magic. Shadow Master or not, its too late for him. He's just like his mother."

"He's twelve," Scorpius protested angrily, "There's still hope for him."

"I disagree."

"Well you're wrong."

"Just because I'm a pessimist, it doesn't mean I'm wrong!" Roman snapped, "And you two are fools if you think you can change anything, the Shadows are too powerful to be taken down by a child and an old man. Your arrogance will be your downfall."

"Forty-Seven isn't that old," Varanian pointed out defensively as Roman stood.

"My point is that you're fooling yourselves if you think you can make difference! Its too much! You can't stand alone against the Shadows and expect to survive, let alone win! They have a swarm of Specters and an Army of Werewolves, where's your army!? Not existing, that's where!"

"You could help if you want, that'd make four. Do you like those odds better?"

"What so my chances of death go from ninety-nine percent to a hundred percent?! No thank you! You should be focusing on how to avoid getting caught, not throwing yourself into the path of certain doom!" Roman yelled as he started to storm off upstairs.

"Where are you going?"

"To lie in my filth-covered tomb since you don't bother cleaning the upstairs!"

"You can clean it if it'd make you feel better," Varanian called after them but Roman was closing the trapdoor as his loud angry footsteps continued off, "I don't think he handles stress well."

"Then why'd you ask for his help?" Scorpius wondered.

"Because it would be useful or at least better than just bothering me with petty complaints. He helped the other day after all, sure he bitched and whined but he still did. Not that he doesn't have issues, I heard him crying the first night and he woke up screaming the second."

"How useful," Scorpius sighed and felt a twinge of guilt as he hesitated before continuing, "Do you think that... that he might have a point? The odds do seem kind of... well definitely against us, especially now that the Shadow Master's back and all."

"Of course he has a point, the goal is not an easy one," Varanian pointed out as it were obvious, "But that doesn't mean I'm giving up. You can back out if you want, there's no shame in it. But I'm going to keep fighting until the Shadows are gone or die trying, no matter what. Its better to try and fail then never try and all."

"I'm not going anywhere either. What are we going to do about the Werewolf Army then?"

"We kill Greyback. It you cut off the head then the snake will die, we kill the Shadow Master and the Shadows fall apart without leadership. We kill Greyback and there's no one with the strength of will or loyalty to the Shadows to lead and control the Werewolf army."

---

Part 3: Never Enough

---

Jack was rather ticked off with Crystal, all the effort that he'd put into trying and she had had a boyfriend all along. He'd started drinking again. He'd been tempted to just sever contact until he could deal with it - or Crystal broke up with that guy - but he still wanted to see his son. He tried to avoid Crystal, getting Annie to drop Michael back and answer the door to get him from Crystal whenever he could. Annie told him he was being stupid, he told her he didn't what she thought because she was an alcoholic. He was glad he and his sister had such an honest relationship like they did.

Crystal showed up Michael one evening out of the blue though, Annie wasn't there so Jack hid and went very quiet but she didn't leave. Finally, he sucked it up and just opened the door. He wished he hadn't. Crystal had reeked of beer and had been on an insane rant about Michael magically healing her before dumping him on her to go to 'work' although he thought that probably meant to drink more. Crystal had never been a big drinker, it was something to be concerned about. He blamed her boyfriend, that blasted Bob guy had probably gotten her into it. Michael was sleeping peacefully so Jack just laid him down on the couch beside him and went back to drinking as he half-watched the TV, specifically a horror movie night.

It was something the station was doing, every Sunday that month was a different theme of horror movies. Zombies the first Sunday, Vampires last week and Werewolves now. Annie loved horror movies and they'd been watching them, he was recording them since Annie was working. Jack had already had a fair bit to drink and he was tired, half drifting asleep and was seriously considering just calling it a night since he'd watch them with Annie later, he'd probably be up earlier with Michael there too. He went to use the bathroom after he'd finished his last beer, showered and brushed his teeth in readiness for bed, he was tired. He hadn't given leaving the TV on while he was gone a second thought, Michael had been sleeping after all. Michael wasn't sleeping when he got back, he was sitting up with wide eyes glued to the screen where a werewolf was tearing someone's head off.

"Hey! No, no, Mikey, don't watch that," Jack told Michael desperately as he rushed over, scooping his son up and sitting down with Michael's head facing away from the TV, "That's for grown-ups, not for little kids."

Michael didn't say anything. Jack hugged his son close, hoping he hadn't been awake long and was maybe too sleepy to have truly registered what he'd seen. Then again, Michael had already seen two people murdered, seen Crystal almost murdered and been attacked himself so horror movies probably wouldn't have that much effect on him anyway. He made the mistake of closing his eyes as he got comfortable as he still held Michael, pulling the blanket over them in a semi-sitting but comfortable position, if not for the screams and howls coming from the TV then he could've fallen asleep. He patted around with his free hand in search for the remote, finally succeeding and trying to remember where the power button was. He pressed a button and the sounds stopped, he felt triumphant as he put it down and drifted off to sleep.

He didn't realize he'd hit mute instead of the off-button until the morning. Michael didn't sleep for a single second that night, he was so tired that his eyes hurt, they felt like they were burning. But he couldn't sleep, he couldn't even take his eyes from the television screen. The movie marathon ended not too long before sunrise but Michael's fear kept him awake.

---

The only flaw in Varanian's plan was the finding of Greyback to kill him and then actually killing him was probably more difficult an action than it sounded. Varanian had killed before and Scorpius had been with him every time, he'd killed the Shadow Duvall to save Scorpius' life at the end of the First Year and then the Shadow Triskett when he'd fallen through the Veil. Shadow Zeke had also apparently died from injuries caused by the brains that Varanian had tricked them into attacking the Aurors, Zeke had been the only one to die and Varanian suspected it could've been the Shadows shutting him up as well. He'd never outright murdered someone before though.

He didn't spend as much time with Varanian had he had on previous breaks though, Varanian's injured arm meant he couldn't help Scorpius with his training as much as he did normally. It was also a bit weird with Roman there, he tended to just hang back and make negative comments. The strange dreams did stop though, as Roman predicted. Scorpius was also surprised with a letter from a Molly, concerned and wishing him the best recovery. He didn't really like being fussed over but he thought it showed Molly cared about him, that was a good sign. The whole thing at the Ministry had made him all the more determined to solidify their relationship with a kiss. That was assuming his parents let him go back to Hogwarts, he was anxious to awaken Monday morning to see his father was reading a letter from Hogwarts.

"What's that?" Scorpius wondered worriedly as he sat down at the table, "You can't possibly blame Hogwarts for what happened with the Ministry."

"We're not," his father pointed out as he folded up the letter, "They owled us, owled everyone probably to explain the changes to calendar. There's an extra week of winter break and so one week less in summer, with the chaos from the Minister's death they think its best to give an extra week for things to stabilize. It also covers another full moon, to make sure there's not another werewolf attacks against Hogwarts. Now that one we are blaming Hogwarts for but it didn't happen while you were there so I suppose its forgivable. They're also switching the Hogsmeade weekends to Sundays rather than Saturdays since the last two happenings were on Saturdays as a precaution."

"Really? Wait, that's great!" Scorpius exclaimed happily, Valentine's Day was on a Sunday which increased his options of doing something romantic and special for Molly and they'd kiss for sure... But what to do? "Father, what do you think is something nice and romantic to do for a girl on Valentine's Day?"

"WHAT!?" his father spluttered out in shock, choking on the tea he'd been drinking.

"You know like how do I make it special for a date?"

"What?!"

"I said-"

"I know what you said!" his father interrupted as he seemed to try to compose himself, he took a deep breath, "Don't you think that you're a bit young to be dating?"

"No, I've had a crush on her since First Year," Scorpius pointed out and his father only looked more uncomfortable as his grandmother came in, "Please, I really want this to go well and I could really use your advice."

"What are we talking about?" his grandmother wondered as she sat down.

"Your grandson wants dating advice," his father said shortly, his grandmother's eyes fluttered in surprise as she turned to him as his mother joined them.

"Dear, don't you think that you're a bit young to be dating?"

"No," Scorpius moaned and regretted asking, why had he thought his family could possibly help him with anything? He wished he was closer to them.

"Aw does my little boy have a crush?" his mother smiled gently.

"Astoria, don't encourage this. He's just a child, he's too young for this," his father insisted and Scorpius felt a flicker of annoyance. He wasn't a child, he may not be an adult yet but 'child' was insulting, "Especially considering... you know. Don't give him any advice."

"Did you want advice, Scorpius?"

"Yes," Scorpius mumbled, "On how to make Valentine's special so she'll be happy and kiss me and we'll be a couple."

"Okay, I can give you some advice for that."

"Astoria!" his father and grandmother protested at the same time but his mother paid them no mind.

"Really?" Scorpius wondered hopefully as his mother turned to face him.

"Yes," his mother nodded, "You're rushing things, you need slow down and wait."

"Wait for how long?"

"Four or maybe five years," his mother offered and Scorpius felt his face fall, his father in trying not to laugh, "Seriously, Scorpius, its better to wait until you're older and more ready, it'll be better for you in the long run."

"Thanks," Scorpius said sarcastically, no longer feeling hungry. When were they going to stop thinking he was a stupid weak child?

---

Working had a calming effect on Crystal, gave her time to process what had happened. Her son had magically healed her. Although she did realize that walking into the hospital and saying that hadn't been the best idea she'd ever had, she'd just been too shocked and anxious to think straight. She had seen Michael heal her with her own eyes and she had trouble believing it so why would they? She called Jack using the phone at work in the morning and he claimed Michael was fine, much to her relief. She asked him to watch Michael for the day instead of sending him to school while she worked which he agreed to.

She actually went to see the doctor before heading back to the restaurant though, she just wanted to make sure that Michael had healed her and not that she was just insane. She asked him to re-check her arm several times but he insisted it was fine, she was still cancer-free and in reasonable health aside from her heart but the valve was keeping that in check. No bruises from being grabbed, no cuts from the glass, no broken bone, no scars to indicate it had ever occurred at all.

"Congratulations," the doctor announced suddenly with a smile, breaking her from her thoughts of possibly bringing Michael down to check him out as well.

"Congratulations on what? Being mostly healthy?" Crystal wondered, doctors didn't tend to congratulate people on that.

"On being pregnant."

"Say again?"

"You're pregnant, congratulations."

"I can't... I can't be pregnant," Crystal stammered out fearfully, she'd just decided that now that would be a good time to break up with Bob. She couldn't be pregnant. She was just recovering from cancer. She was working two full time jobs. She didn't even have a home. She could barely take care of the child she had and that was her responsible son. How could she handle a needy newborn baby? Bob's baby.

Crystal didn't know how she managed to keep a straight face as the doctor took her for an ultrasound and it was... different to Michael, she didn't have the overwhelming feeling of clarity that she'd had with Michael. She didn't know what gender the baby was, she didn't feel any closer to knowing what to do, she didn't even feel attached to the baby like she had to Michael. She just felt... terrible.

Her boss yelled at her all day for not paying attention, she was too distracted to even care. She wasn't any closer to figuring out what to do beyond telling Bob, despite everything she thought he had a right to know. Jack had run away when she'd told him, she thought Bob would probably do the same. She drove over there after work, he opened the door much faster than Jack and looked completely stunned.

"Crystal... Your arm..." Bob managed as his blue eyes bulged.

"Michael magically healed me," Crystal told him as she let herself inside.

"I'm being serious! Your arm looked broken, I went to the hospital to see if you were alright but you weren't there."

"Yeah because Michael magically healed me, believe it or not but its the truth."

"There's no such thing as magic, Crystal," Bob pointed out as if he was talking to a child.

"Fine then you explain it and explain the shards of beer bottle I pulled out of my arm that have my blood on them," Crystal said dismissively, "That's not the reason I'm here though."

"Its not?" Bob wondered slowly, seemingly still trying to work out how she could've recovered so fast.

"I'm pregnant."

"You're pregnant?" Bob repeated quietly as his eyes locked with hers, "Seriously, for real, going to have my child, pregnant?"

"Yes," Crystal confirmed as she retrieved the scan photo from her pocket and handed it to him, Bob looked at in stunned amazement before a smile seeped onto his face.

"I'm going to be a dad," Bob exclaimed delightedly and Crystal found herself pulled into a surprising hug, he was still smiling when he pulled away as his eyes darted between the scan photo and her stomach, "This is the best thing that could've happened."

"No. No its not, I'm homeless-"

"No! Crystal," Bob interrupted but was still grinning as he took her hands in his own, "You'll move in with me, of course and your kid can stay too. My little prince or princess is not going to be born without a roof over his or her head, they'll stay here with their own rooms and we'll be a family."

"I don't... I don't know, Bob," Crystal admitted quietly and fearfully, "You hurt me pretty badly yesterday."

"It was an accident! I'd never do anything like that on purpose, you know that. I love you," Bob told her as he caressed her cheek gently and lovingly, "I won't hurt you again, I would never hurt the mother of my perfect little angel, I wouldn't do anything to harm my own flesh and blood. I promise. Let's get married."

"What?"

"Married," Bob repeated and moved away to a chest of draws near the door, sparing another look at the scan photo that reinvigorate his smile as he hastily started scrambling through the draws. Crystal was seriously starting to wonder if she was dreaming, that everything since she'd gone over to cancel the date had been a dream. Bob returned holding a ring in his hand, a grubby gold with a single diamond, "Will you marry me?"

"I don't know," Crystal repeated anxiously but Bob didn't seem to notice as he slid the ring onto one of her fingers.

"C'mon. Think about what's best for the baby, you were whining that the schoolteacher doesn't think much of your son because he's a bastard born out of wedlock. Our baby won't have that problem, our baby is perfect. The baby will have a room and toys and clothes, anything it wants and a stable environment with both parents. You'll have a home again and so will your son, isn't that better than the streets? And I promise I won't hurt you again."

"I want to believe you..." Crystal began, waiting for him to snap at her but his smile hadn't faded, "I need proof that you really aren't going to go back on your word as soon as you lose your temper."

"What if I sign up for anger management? Is that enough."

"Well... I suppose."

"Consider it done. So is that a yes?"

"Yes," Crystal hesitantly agreed, what he was saying made sense, it would be better for Michael and the baby. Bob pulled her into another hug, she just hoped that Bob's good mood lasted.

---

Scorpius spent most of the rest of the extended break in St Mungo's visiting Michael, including New Year's when everyone put their wands into the air to shoot out sparks in celebration. Usually they just talked about trivial things or played pointless things like Exploding Snap or Gobstones or muggle card games, Wizard Chess if it was just the two of them. Michael seemed in good spirits which Scorpius was glad for, he'd been afraid that the treatment for his arm would be painful based on what he knew from Varanian. He'd still have until they were back in Hogwarts to tell Michael everything though, he couldn't risk them being overheard even though Michael had been given his own private room at Harry's request. Albus and Vern visited quite often as well, in fact Scorpius was sure they visited more often than either of Michael's parents.

Although he did see Jack once and Crystal a couple of times, which also resulted in Albus' painfully awkward attempts to get close to Crystal if he was also there. Either Albus was incredibly shy, unusually stuttering and shaking - a healer had even asked him if he was feeling alright once - or blurting out random facts while sweating profusely. He was sure Crystal noticed but was good enough to not say anything, she was always very polite and very quiet. Tired too, so much so that she looked ill and gripped her chest over her heart as if pain more than once but insisted it was normal and nothing was wrong if anyone asked. She was hurt too, the last time he visited Michael was two days before they were set to go back to Hogwarts - since Michael was going home that day - and was surprised to see her with a black eye.

"What happened to your eye?" Scorpius asked before he could stop himself.

"Work," Crystal answered dismissively.

"What are you, a Boxer?" Albus demanded in confusion.

"No, one of my jobs is a care assistant for the elderly. Mr Perkins hit me in the head with his cane when we were trying to convince him to come inside or at least put his clothes back on. It happens."

"Happens all the time," Michael added strangely and Crystal nodded.

"Stupid crazy old people," Albus complained before his face lit up, "I know! I'll get one of the healers to heal it for you."

"I'd rather you didn't, people who already saw it would think it strange to have healed so fast," Crystal pointed out and Albus appeared crestfallen that his attempt to help her had failed.

They went back to the usual, muggle card game this time which Scorpius lost at it but didn't lose as badly as Albus, who was especially terrible at it while Michael excelled. Scorpius' father was the first to pick him up so he bade farewell to his friends and Crystal before leaving, he packed up his trunk ready to go back to Hogwarts even though they didn't leave until Monday. He visited Varanian on Sunday as well, he'd become quite accustomed to being met with Roman's wand aimed at him before Roman recognized him and relaxed. Scorpius thought he was quite on edge really.

"I can't talk long, I'm going to try find Greyback. He'll have to resurface for the full moon tonight after all," Varanian pointed out when Scorpius got down into the basement, "So let's make it quick. You know what you're doing when you get back to Hogwarts? Checking the wands is good if Marius doesn't give you the password anyway, if he does then try go with that."

"Yeah, I got it," Scorpius nodded, "Are you sure you should be going after him with your still banged up?"

"Start with my so-called brother," Roman commented bitterly from his usual position of leaning back against the wall with his arms folded, "Bastard left us for broke after our parents died."

"That doesn't make him a Shadow," Varanian pointed out, "And I'll be fine, Scorpius. Start with Dunbrooke or Florian since they can't do Patronuses, I couldn't find as much on them as I could for the others. And try get Maurice to talk about his time at that 'school' because the teachers would be Shadows, the more we know the better."

"I'll do my best," Scorpius promised, "And I'll stop obsessing over Grant. And I don't think its the Divination professor either, she said something about hoping Selwyn gets what he deserves and he's a Shadow."

"We know its not a woman anyway, plus she's blind so I doubt the Shadows would bother with her. Selwyn's one of the two Death Eaters who attacked her and her father, who they killed, so I don't think she'd work with him anyway."

"Who was the other?"

"Dead," Varanian stated bluntly, "I have to go now, I'll be in touch. Get Ashain's kid to send the vulture again if you can, if it would stay long enough for me to reply then that would work."

"Couldn't you reply with a talking Patronus?"

"I can't do a talking Patronus and neither can you."

"Fair point. Will you ring me about how it goes though?"

"If you like," Varanian shrugged as he headed for the steps, "Take care, Scorpius. Watch your back."

"You too," Scorpius offered as Varanian left, leaving him alone with Roman who was looking rather melancholy, "Well... I'm just going to go too. Bye, Roman."

"Wait! You're going back to Hogwarts tomorrow?" Roman burst out desperately, breaking from his thoughts as he practically jumped to block Scorpius' path and continued awkwardly, "Where my... my... um... sons will... will be?"

"Yes."

"And you're... friends with... with them both?"

"Yes."

"Could you... Could you tell Orous... tell Orous that..." Roman started to ask but trailed off.

Roman opened and closed his mouth a few times like he was struggling to find the right words. Or maybe it was difficult for him to ask a favor of someone he barely knew. Or maybe he just didn't know what to say. Finally Roman sighed heavily, apparently giving up and looking more dejected than ever as he just turned and retreated back upstairs.

Scorpius actually felt bad for him, he'd traded one kind of imprisonment of being forced to obey the Shadows to another where he was forced to stay hidden. No wonder he was in a bad mood. Scorpius nearly called him back to finish his sentence to start some kind of communication with Orous but decided against it, he didn't know if Orous knew about his parentage or not. He didn't think Orous had known before Christmas but if the Ministry were looking for a permanent guardian for Maurice then Orous' stepdad would have been on their list, meaning Orous might have been told. Even if Orous did know, he wouldn't know about his mother being a Shadow or making Roman stay away. Considering everything he'd been though, maybe Orous was better off not knowing.

---

Michael was wracked with guilt. He couldn't stop thinking about the man from the Ministry, the guy who had used to be a healer and had stepped up to help with the injured before dying. The man had saved his life and it tore Michael up inside that he hadn't been able to repay the favor, he couldn't get it out of his head no matter how hard he tried. And what made him feel worse was that he didn't even know the man's name, they'd just gotten on with things and never even bothered with names. The man had saved the life of a nameless stranger and Michael had failed to save him. It bothered him immensely and he couldn't shake the guilt. No one else cared or even understood why he did but he couldn't help it.

The other thing tormenting him was his arm. It hurt. A lot. Like his arm was still on fire. He couldn't complain about it though, the healer had explained from the start that he basically had a choice between less pain and a slower recovery or more pain and a faster recovery. He'd insisted on the latter, wanting to have his arm back as soon as possible regardless of the cost, especially since his left was his dominant arm. He had three potions first thing when he woke up and three last thing before he - tried - to go to sleep, he had his only pain potion in the middle - which was good because that was the time his friends visited so it was easier to pretend he as alright - and then had a salve applied to his arm every few hours - it lessened each week - just for his arm. He had a newfound respect for Varanian.

He desperately wished to be back in home or Hogwarts to give him things to distract himself but the break had been extended an extra week and Crystal would rather he be in the hospital for his own safety. He was also disheartened to learn his wand had been charred, for some reason he'd stupidly thought that it would be protected but no. A healer had tried a spell with it to test and it still worked at least, he really didn't want a new wand, especially considering how hard it had been to get that one. He supposed it didn't matter, his arm looked ruined so why not his wand? He couldn't complain, at least he was alive unlike that poor nameless man.

"Are you okay?" Crystal asked and Michael was drawn away from his melancholic memories as they finished getting on his jacket to go, his friends had left already.

"Fine," Michael lied with a fake smile but unlike his friends, Crystal didn't look like she bought it and once again gripped her chest as she had been doing, "Are you?"

"Its just my heart," Crystal brushed it off as she had been doing but since he was going home that day, she must've decided it was alright to elaborate, "The valve in my heart is failing, that's why I passed out at the start of September. Its not a big deal, I knew when I got it that it only had a ten to fifteen year lifespan and in its defense, it has lasted fourteen and a half-ish so far."

"They'll give you another one, though?"

"I'm on the waiting list to be put on the waiting list for the operation. Did you know they have waiting lists for waiting lists?" Crystal explained and gave a weak smile at her rhetorical question, "Of course if it fails completely before then I jump onto the other list and will have to be in hospital, I'm hoping it won't come to that."

"Me too," Michael admitted worriedly, "Does Bob know?"

"Yes, he's been much nicer to me because of it. This is the first bruise since Agnes' seventh birthday because apparently a two tier birthday cake wasn't good enough, this was because I badgered about him about bringing you to the station on Monday since I have work."

"You didn't need to do that, I could've just gone by myself."

"Not with one arm," Crystal insisted before sighing heavily and looking sad, "We can't keep doing this."

"What do you mean?" Michael wondered in confusion.

"Jack has a point, Michael, you come home every year more scarred, more hurt. Its not right. Sometimes I think that we get so used to Bob that we forget what its like to not constantly have the threat hanging over you, forget that its not supposed to be like that. Not in school and not at home."

"Crystal, its fine," Michael brushed it off, confused by what she was talking about, "Life isn't fair. This is just how things are, you make the best of things."

"You don't even understand what I'm saying, do you? You think this is normal."

"Not really," Michael admitted and felt bad by how upset she looked, "Its okay, don't be sad. Things will get better."

"No they won't. Bad things just happen to you, good things only happen when you fight for them. We can't live like like this. I can't go on like this."

"What are you going to do?"

"I... I don't know," Crystal muttered as she trailed off, the spark of determination fading from her eyes as she gripped her heart again, "Nevermind."

"Hey, I'm glad I caught you," a new voice said and both jumped in surprise to see Mr Potter standing in the doorway, Michael hadn't seen him since he'd carried him to the hospital. He looked exhausted and his smile was strained, "How are you doing?"

"Great," Michael lied and grinned to which Mr Potter nodded.

"Mrs Sanford, would you mind if I had a moment alone with Michael?"

"Um... Sure, I'll go and check out with the healers," Crystal announced as she stood, kissing Michael gently on the forehead before leaving, "I'll be back."

"So how are you, really?" Mr Potter asked as he came over to him, "The healers say you're in more pain that you let on."

"I guess I have a high tolerance for pain, its bearable pain. I'll be fine and that's what's important, if I was a muggle then they'd have had to amputate it."

"Right," Mr Potter nodded again and looked guilty, "I wanted to apologize to you, Michael, I shouldn't have used you like that. It wasn't right of me or fair on you, your arm wouldn't have been burned at all if I'd sent you back with the others. I'm sorry."

"Its alright, I wanted to help," Michael shrugged it off dismissively, "I should be apologizing to you, I'm sorry I wasn't more useful."

"You were plenty useful, you did a fantastic job. Really. You're not at fault here."

"Neither were you, please don't feel bad. My arm will be fine, should be healed up before the next Quidditch match even."

"That's great," Mr Potter offered but his smile was even more strained than the one before and died even quicker, "If there's anything you need, anything at all or any help with anything, at school or at home then don't hesitate to ask. Alright?"

"Alright," Michael agreed although he had no intention of ever doing so. Mr Potter opened his mouth to say something else but was interrupted by the arrival of a newcomer, Rooke, the family friend that he'd met on the day of the attack. The one that something was off about.

"Hey Michael, how you doing?" Rooke greeted him pleasantly with a warm smile and it hit Michael what bothered him about Rooke. His smiles and cheerfulness were false. Michael recognized from himself, he was good at it too but there was always something very subtle about the eyes that gave it away if you looked really closely, Rooke was the same.

"Great," Michael lied once again.

"Good to hear. Sorry to cut this short but are you done, Harry? Its a full moon so we should get going."

"Okay," Mr Potter agreed obviously as he went to leave, "I'll let you go then, Michael. Take care. And think about what I said, I'm here for you."

---

Scorpius couldn't wait to get back for Hogwarts, he woke well before the sun rose but was too eager to get back to sleep. He took an unusual amount of time getting dressed, both to kill time and because he'd be seeing Molly. He changed his clothes three different times before being satisfied and still was bit early for breakfast, he decided to recheck his trunk before heading down to help the house-elves with breakfast. It had been awhile since he'd talked to them, his house-elf friend Yip was in a cheerful mood - as he usually was - and had the others doing a breakfast-making song with him.

Scorpius had more breakfast than usual since he knew he wouldn't get to eat anything except junk from the trolley until late for the feast back at Hogwarts. It still felt forever since they were on the move, only his grandmother was dressed at breakfast and she wasn't even coming to see him off! His parents seemed to be a strangely affectionate mood, he saw them kiss twice. Normally he wouldn't care too much but every second was a wasted second when he could be getting back to Hogwarts, which was a much more productive place to be. He wanted to see how Maurice was doing, see his friends and Molly as well as finally be able to fill Michael in back at the Room That Doesn't Exist. It felt like forever before they were on their way, although he was frequently reminded that they were getting there early anyway.

He hugged his grandmother and allowed himself to be kissed several times before leaving. Finally they reached the station though, his parents seemed to be walking unusually slowly. Scorpius was pushing all his things on the trolley and he was still faster than them, why were they so determined to drag their heels? Or was his unusual impatience just making it seem like that? They were almost at the barrier when he heard a familiar voice.

"You just walk towards it and go through," Michael was saying, sounding exasperated.

"Are you sure its the right place?" a man's voice who Scorpius didn't recognize complained in reply.

"Yes! I've gone through three times to show you now. Just do it already, its easy really."

"Well its easy for you. How do I know that you're not going to make it turn into a solid brick wall when I go towards it so I'll look like an idiot and get hurt?"

"I can't control it, it just... is open like that."

"Yeah because I should take your word for it," the man snorted.

"Then just go home, I can take it from here."

"I'm supposed to make sure your magic crap gets on the train okay, I can hardly do it from here."

"I'll tell Crystal that you did it, lie. You like lying to her," Michael insisted and Scorpius was starting to get why he was sounding so exasperated.

"What? So you can make it seem like I was too afraid to go through the barrier?! Like hell!"

"I wouldn't do that," Michael protested as Scorpius finally drew near enough to see his friend, surprised that Michael was sporting a split lip. His surprise turned to horror when he saw the man that Michael had been talking to, it was the man he'd seen in the crystal ball, Michael's killer.