Of Burns And Scalpels

Suspicions and Blasphemy

Scorpius headed to his own floor with less enthusiasm than usual. He was already feeling pretty worn out and he hadn't even hit the half-way point of the day today. It was going to be one of those long days that didn't seem to do anything for him.

Upon reaching the floor he was handed a stack of folders and a pen from a disgruntled orderly, who barely spared him a passing glance and merely remarked, "Those need to be signed off by noon" and shuffled off. He sighed and walked over to the service desk, setting the pile down.

"Is it time to leave yet?" He asked the desk man, an elderly wizard who was a retired Healer. The man chuckled and patted Scorpius' hand.

"Don't worry son," He said, a twinkle in his eye. "It is said that if your day starts out with strife and pain, it will end with something joyful." Scorpius scoffed a little but returned a friendly smile before opening up the first file. After writing a few notes and signing what was required of him, he felt his mind again wandering to other things. Mostly, Rose. He shook his head and scolded himself internally. He didn't understand why he couldn't just… let her go. It wasn't like he was waiting for her to change herself all of a sudden, walk through the doors and say something like, "Scorpius, I've loved you since…" Well, at least that's what ran through his brain. There were just some things that could only happen at a certain point in life, and he'd thought he'd long since accepted that he was not going anywhere on that beaten down path.

Scorpius turned to head back to his office when he heard a few healers gasp and someone skidding to a halt. He turned and his eyes widened in shock.

"Albus?" Sure enough, the man looked frazzled, holding his cousin, who looked so frail, in his arms. However Scorpius was slightly suspicious. Albus, though looking a little concerned, didn't nearly have the tense posture he'd come to expect from his testy friend. But, he didn't reflect on it long, because Rose coughed and instantly his attention was claimed.

"She fainted, but something's really wrong, I think." Albus said calmly. "It's strange, but I think you should take a look. I don't want to take any chances, not after what just happened…" He trailed off and Scorpius nodded. It would not do to allow her to suffer damage from injuries that should have already been healed.

"Someone pull a cart up, let's get her to an empty room." Scorpius said, closing away as much of his emotion as he could. He had to remain professional, seem indifferent to the situation; regardless of how much he was actually engrossed in the situation emotionally. Was it him, or was Rose just consistently making her way to his workplace unconscious?

Scorpius was surprised to see that though she was unconscious, Rose was stabilized and seemed to almost be asleep, occasionally coughing. Her skin was pale and her cheeks were tinged a slight green, but her breathing was rhythmic and she didn't seem to be shaking. Her temperature was also hardly above normal.

"Do you think she maybe was just… working too soon?" Albus asked once Scorpius did a once over. "I mean, I know Rose is pretty tenacious… Maybe it was too soon for her to be going back to work?"

"It is possible." Scorpius allowed, scratching his head. "Though for some reason I'm having a hard time actually telling what's wrong with her." Albus looked startled for a moment.

"What do you mean you're having a hard time telling what's wrong with her?" Albus repeated slowly. Scorpius sighed.

"It is exactly as it sounds." He explained. "Her breathing is normal, temperature seems to be fine, it merely looks like… well it seems to me it might be something as simple as dehydration." Scorpius crossed his arms. "I'm not sure what caused her to pass out so suddenly though… You said she just suddenly lost consciousness?" Albus nodded, turning his attention to his soundly sleeping cousin.

"I don't know… she started throwing up and then all of a sudden she was just… out. I got her here quickly, I thought maybe it was an effect of yesterday's events but…" Albus looked sheepishly at his friend. "I guess it's possible I could have overreacted."

Scorpius shook his head and smiled slightly, putting a hand on Albus' shoulder.

"No, you did the right thing." He reassured him. "I still have to do a complete checkup to make sure. You never know, she could have an infection or something. Better safe than sorry, mate." Albus nodded, making a quick worried glance at his cousin.

"I know you'll fix her up in no time." He said, suddenly cheerful. "You always do." Scorpius suddenly felt very suspicious. When it came to Rose, few of her family members actually didn't worry about her. She was the most uncoordinated of all the Weasley-Potter brood, and could hardly walk in a straight line let alone keep safe for more than a day or two. Needless to say, all of her family members had taken a liking to looking out for her when she wasn't aware they were doing so. They had become more than efficient at it. And when they had been in school…

Scorpius turned his attention back to Rose, who was still unconscious and sporting a horrible green color on her cheeks. He didn't really have time to think about Albus' motives now. It was about Rose. He'd get the rest out of Albus later. If he knew anything, Scorpius knew Albus couldn't keep a secret forever.

"Wipe that smirk off your face, mate." Scorpius chastised, smirking himself. "I will have Rosie up and running soon. Just go do… well, whatever it is you do. And you better not show up on my floor today with a new curse!" He yelled after the man's retreating backside.

Albus apparated to Alice's flat as soon as he stepped foot out of St. Mungos. He pushed open her door and was greeted instantly with her warm smile and a gentle embrace. He happily returned the favor and looked at her face.

"Part one complete." Albus said, chuckling. "She's unconscious right now, but Scorpius is in for it when she wakes up!"

"You weren't too suspicious were you?" Alice chided, tapping his cheek intimately. "I know how you can get sometimes." Albus laughed sheepishly.

"I walked out as quickly as possible and left Scorpius to his own devices. Now it's up to the two of them to realize what's really going on. Fabulous potion by the way, never would have guessed it was you." Alice beamed and blushed a bit.

"Just a new recipe, she should be sick every time she's conscious until A, I give Scorpius the antidote 'accidentally', or B, he finds a cure." She smirked and crossed her arms. "Though, I doubt he'll find one before I can slip him the actual one. I estimate at most he'll be able to cease her consistent vomiting. But that's it." She looked quite proud and for a moment, Albus couldn't help but be in awe.

"You know, I knew there was a devious streak that I loved in you." He said, before swooping down and landing a kiss on her lips. "Don't ever lose that." Alice giggled and the two embraced.

"Though," Alice said thoughtfully. "There's always a small chance that Rose will make the connection and ruin the entire plan…" Albus cocked an eyebrow at his girlfriend and Alice grimaced. "Actually that's a pretty good possibility… We're going to have to erase any doubt in her mind that you and I were planning this out." Alice pointed out. Albus nodded, understanding flitting through his mind.

"I'll talk to Lucy too." Albus said. "Get her in on it. She's awesome at keeping a secret and God knows she's been betting on those two for years." Alice nodded in assent and smiled, placing a hand on Albus's cheek.

"This will all be worth it in the end. Those two need a little nudge in the direction."

"Or a swift kick onto the sidewalk."

"Albus!"

"What! I'm just saying!"

Hey Guys! I am so so so so so so sorry that I've not updated in forever! I've been way way busier than I thought I'd be, and quite honestly most of my time is devoted to maintenance and sleeping, both of which take up a good portion of my day.

Anyway, enjoy this chapter, and I'll start working on the next one straightaway! Sorry again!

-Suzuka