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Chapter Eleven: Emerald Flames and Invisible Words
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January 2024
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Hermione seemed to always be around, which didn't give Scorpius and Rose much time to be alone. New Years' Eve came and went, and her parents didn't go to the usual party at her Uncle Harry's house. For the past five years, Harry and Ginny had hosted a party for all their adult friends. James, Albus, and Lily would come over and stay the night with Rose and Hugo. James was old enough by that time that their parents allowed him to be in charge, but truthfully, they were always well-behaved. This year, her parents refused to go.
There were just two days left in the holiday and no one had spoken to how they were going to get back to school. Hugo asked if they were going to take the Hogwarts Express or the Knight Bus. Ron's response was, "We haven't decided yet. Pass the corn." Rose couldn't stand this state of unknowing that her parents were putting her through. After dinner that same night, Rose and Scorpius exchanged a knowing look and Rose retreated outside. Her mum warned her not to go outside the protection wards that extended into the back garden. There was a large tree that marked the boundary. Rose pulled on her school cloak, fastening it around her neck, and walked through the frosty grass.
It took only moments before Scorpius walked outside and joined her. He placed his hand behind her ear, cradling her head, and kissed her mouth. His weight pushed against her, until her back was pressed against the tree, and she breathed in his kiss, opening her lips to welcome him.
Rose pushed Scorpius away. "My parents," she whispered, "might see." She walked around to the other side of the tree, taking Scorpius' hand. Unless her parents or brother came outside, the tree blocked their view from every window of the house. "We need to talk about your father-"
"I haven't kissed you in days," said Scorpius, kissing her jawline. "We'll talk about him" - another kiss, below her ear - "later, yeah?"
"But-"
Scorpius kissed her mouth again, swallowing her objections. He pushed her cloak away and reached for her hips, lifting her jumper and placing his hands on her skin. His touch was warm and she invited it, invited his hands to slide over her.
"We can't," he breathed, "I know." He pulled back and kissed her forehead, the corners of her eyes, her nose.
"I love you," said Rose quickly.
Scorpius smiled, albeit sadly, and nodded. He stepped away and fixed her cloak back over her shoulders. "I know you want to talk about my father and how I want to help him escape."
"Yes, it's completely ridiculous. You're going to get yourself arrested – or killed – or both! You've completely lost your marbles."
"My marbles? I haven't lost anything."
"You're so clever, why are you doing this?"
Scorpius shook his head. "It has nothing to do with cleverness, Roser."
"Then why are you going to do such a mad thing?"
"It's not mad. Look, my father deserves the right to avenge my mother's death. I know it sounds mad and barmy and whatever else to you, but it is something he desires to do. Someone kidnapped her and killed her and it was because of him. I mean, because of his business. He feels guilty."
"No fucking way," said Rose, growing cross. "Revenge is a horrid idea. I know you wish someone would kill the men who killed her, but – did you just call me 'Roser' a moment ago?"
"Heat of the moment. I thought it was funny."
"Hmph. Anyway. How are we going to break your father out of prison?"
"I have a few ideas – did you just say 'we'?"
"Oh, did I? Why, yes, I suppose I did."
"You're cheeky but mad. You're not helping. I couldn't ask you to do that, not when your father is the Head Auror on this case. I won't ask you to choose between me and your family."
"You're not making me choose. I want to help you. What ideas do you have?"
"They're going to move my father to a safe house. He'll still be a prisoner there, unable to leave. I have been studying my counter-charms and I am going go try to take down the protection wards on the house, the ones that keep my father from being able to leave."
"My mother helped design those protection spells," said Rose. "Did you know that?"
"I figured as much."
"But that will be next to impossible." Rose shook her head. "I don't know of anyone who is clever enough to break down one of her protection spells, at least not in one afternoon. That sort of thing would take time – days! I don't think it's a good idea anyway, there has got to be something better."
"I thought of ambush."
"Ambush? You really are mad, then, aren't you? You mean when the Aurors take your father from the Ministry and to the new house? No, they won't take him out of the Ministry."
Scorpius ran his fingers through Rose's hair. "How do you think-?"
"Floo Network, straight to the safe house."
"Then that's what we'll have to do, re-network the Network."
Rose let out a hearty laugh. "Again, you're mad. You're absolutely bonkers."
Scorpius dropped his hands. "Rosie. . . ."
"My dad calls me 'Rosie.'"
"Just trying it out. Roser is better anyway."
"And if I called you 'Scorpio' or 'Scorpy' or—"
"No, thank you. I don't think nicknames fit me. Let's get back to our problem."
"Fine." Rose sighed; her breath curled like smoke in the air. "I'll help you, but it makes me nervous. My father will feel so betrayed."
"Then don't help me. I won't blame you if you don't. Believe me, I am not going to make you choose between me and your family."
"Listen, perhaps you can talk to my father about accompanying your father through the Floo Network to the safe house. Once you've both gone through, you can magic it shut from inside the house. Then no one would be able to get through the fireplace and you can leave the house."
"Not with the wards up," said Scorpius. "That'll be the trick."
"Perhaps if you're granted passage through the protection barriers, then your father can leave with you – the same way the prison cells inside the Ministry are charmed."
"That is entirely possible. I suppose we could always try and find out."
Rose shrugged. "What will you do once you've taken him away from the safe house?"
"To the Bathursts."
"The Bathursts?" repeated Rose.
"My mother was found near their property. My father did business with Herbert Bathurst and his wife, Francesca, often called upon my mother. Her body was found near their house. I know your father brought them in for questioning, but the search of their house turned up nothing, according to him."
"What makes you think you would find anything my father didn't?"
"Because my father knows about Dark magic. Your father still believes in the good of people. My father gave up that belief a long time ago."
Rose sighed again. "This scares me, Scorpius, it really does. Will you go with him? Your father, I mean."
"Yes, I can't abandon him. I can't stand by and watch my father stay imprisoned and I can't allow the men who killed my mother to just walk free."
"But my father—"
"Has done so much already, yes, I know. He just hasn't found the people responsible yet and my father doesn't want to wait any longer. I want to help him."
"You'll come back, won't you?"
"I'll do my best."
"That's not really good enough. I won't help you if you aren't going to come back."
Scorpius drew Rose to him, hugging her to his chest. "Of course I want to come back. Don't believe anything less. I love you."
Rose hugged his middle and breathed in his warm scent. "I am so scared," she said, "really scared."
"Enough talk of this tonight." Scorpius kissed the top of her head before pulling away slightly. He reached for her chin and tilted her head up, kissing her mouth. Rose took a step back and let herself rest against the tree. Her fingers undid the button of Scorpius' trousers and when she slipped her hand inside, all thoughts of prisons and safe houses were lost.
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Rose woke up two days later and looked at her alarm clock. It was only half past five. Her eyes drifted over to her window; it was still as dark as night outside. Today was supposed to be the day they went back to Hogwarts, but nothing had been spoken about it. Rose was still not sure if she would ever go back to school. She knew Hugo would have a heart attack if he couldn't go back, but her parents knew that already. Grabbing her wand, Rose slipped out of bed, walked to the door, and opened it very slowly, careful to keep it from squeaking.
She crept down the hallway, hoping not to wake anyone, and went to the stairs. Halfway down, she heard voices, so she stopped and listened. It was her parents, probably in the kitchen. They were up far too early; it made Rose suspicious.
"Accio Extendable Ears!" she whispered harshly. She held out her free hand and the eavesdropping device flew into it. She put one end in her ear and used her wand to move the other end down the hallway and to the kitchen. She sat on the stairs as she immediately began to pick up her parents' conversation.
"So it's decided," said her mother.
"Yeah, I s'pose so." Her father sighed heavily. Rose could picture him, sitting at the table, his head in his hands. Lately he had looked so sad, so tired, so unlike his usual self. "D'you really think it'll be safe for Hugo to return to Hogwarts?"
"The Headmistress is aware of everything that is going on," said Hermione. "She'll keep him safe. He won't be happy that he'll have to miss Hogsmeade visits, but I don't think he'll sneak out like Harry did when we were third-years. He's a rule follower. I hope Rose isn't too upset about not going back. Are you sure she's in danger?"
"No," said Ron, "I'm not. But we both know she and Scorpius are" – Ron coughed – "a couple. She kept it a secret from us, but since she's gone at school for such long periods of time, there's no way to know for how long they've been together. We should really talk to them. Well, no, forget it. You should talk to her. About . . . you know . . . stuff."
"Stuff, Ron? But whatever do you mean by 'stuff'? Are you referring to sex? Because I've always felt that if you're not mature enough to say the word, you're not mature enough to do the deed."
"Oh, don't be ridiculous, Hermione."
Rose heard her mother laugh. There was a long pause then her mother resumed talking. "It's true, of course. We don't know how long they've been together. And yes, they kept it a secret from us, but I can understand why they did such a thing, not knowing how we might react. We were once enemies of Draco Malfoy, so we could still be enemies today for all they knew. We should sit down with her though. I cannot believe I haven't done so already. I suppose I've been preoccupied and busy with my own work and your case and trying to keep everyone's mind off of Malfoy."
"It's all right. We all understand. And to answer your earlier question, Rose will be fine. I'm sure she'll be overjoyed not to have to go to school."
"It's funny, isn't it? How we didn't go our seventh year and now Rose will miss hers."
"Funny is not the word I'd use, love," said Ron.
"When are you moving Malfoy?"
"The safe house is ready now. You put your spells up yesterday and one of my newbie Aurors moved a bunch of furniture in after you left. I don't think anything matches, but it's better than a prison cell at the Ministry. I'll go to the Ministry and help move Draco after I drop Hugo off at the train station."
"What of the Bathurst house?" asked Hermione. "You said you lot were going to investigate it again?"
"We did a preliminary search, but we came up dry. The new laws really prevent us from being able to just tear a house apart. They are modeled after some Muggle laws, actually-"
"Ron," interrupted Hermione, in a knowing tone that Rose knew very well, "I wrote many of those laws. They're for the protection of the innocent. Keeps Aurors from just going into houses and ruining possessions and ripping open sofas. You have to know exactly what you're looking for before you can simply knock down a door."
"You realize how much harder you've made my job? Besides, we've got magic to fix things."
"Not quite the point, Won-won."
"Amusing."
"So tell me what's happening with the Bathurst house. I don't trust your plan."
Just as Ron was about to answer, someone whispered, "Boo!" in Rose's ear. She almost fell off the stair. Her brother sat next to her, holding his hand over his mouth to silent his laughter.
"I could kill you, you little tit."
"Shh, don't be so loud," said Hugo.
"Why're you awake?"
"I heard your door squeak. It woke me up."
"It didn't squeak! I was very careful."
"Who are you listening to?" asked Hugo.
"Mum and Dad. Now shut up, I'm trying to listen."
"What're they saying?"
"Hold your hippogriffs for just a moment!" Rose took out the earpiece and held it in her fingers. "Lean here." She leaned her head to the right and listened.
"-and then Harry and I will go into the house with the other Aurors. We hope to find the cells where they keep the prisoners. They take them and allow payment in exchange for the privilege of murdering them. It's completely sick."
"And you're going to allow your team of Aurors, two of whom-"
"Two of whom volunteered. It was their idea to go in the first place. Harry and I sat down and reasoned it out, but it's a solid plan. It makes perfect sense. Whoever is in charge of this murder-ring would certainly want to capture me and Harry. We helped stop You-Know-Who and Harry has always been famous. Any wizard with pureblood mania would pay millions of Galleons to kill me and Harry."
"Oh, Ron, stop talking like that!"
"It's true. So if whoever is in charge has their focus on fighting and capturing Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, and his sidekick, Ronald Weasley, then other Aurors will have a chance to infiltrate the rest of the house. Only, of course it won't be-"
"What are you two doing?" interrupted Scorpius from the bottom of the stair.
Rose looked crossly at him. "Shh! We're eavesdropping on my parents. Come here." When Scorpius had climbed the stairs and sat down behind them, Rose asked, "Why are you awake?"
"I haven't really been asleep. I was going to come upstairs and . . ." Scorpius' voice trailed off. "Well, never mind that now."
"You were going to sneak upstairs and snog my sister, weren't you?" asked Hugo, making a face. "It's all right, I know you snog her. You don't have to keep it a secret."
"Shut it, Hugo. I'm trying to listen." Rose leaned back towards the Extendable Ear. She heard nothing at first, but then her parents' voices came through again.
"You don't know that will happen, Hermione! For Merlin's sake, I will feel so guilty if anything happens to anyone on my team. I don't need you to make me feel guiltier than I already will."
"I'm only concerned for you. I love you so much and I don't want . . ." Her mother sounded as though she was trying not to cry. "I don't want anything to happen to you. I love you so much."
There was another pause and then her father's voice stood out against the silence. His tone was strong but caring. "Don't cry, don't cry, you'll wake everyone. It's okay. I love you, I love you. You're my life. I'll be careful. When this is all over, I'm going to be coming home to you. I won't be going anywhere else. I'll be alive and healthy and home."
"Okay," choked Hermione.
There were the sounds of shuffling and something wet, but Rose couldn't quite make out the noises. She glanced at Hugo, who exchanged her look and shrugged, clearly not knowing what was happening either.
"Are we going to do this right here?" asked Hermione. "We could go upstairs."
"It's not like we haven't made love on this table a hundred times already."
"I know, but the children-"
"Are all asleep," assured Ron. "I want to be inside you," he whispered.
"OH MY GOD!" shrieked Rose, dropping the Extendable Ear and jumping up.
"MERLIN'S BALLS!" yelled Hugo. He pulled on his ears.
"That is disgusting. Horrible. I'll never be the same again."
"You might want to grab your Ear," said Scorpius.
Rose looked at the bottom of the stairs. "Crap!" She jumped down the stairs two at a time and snatched up the Extendable Ear.
"Lumos!" Hermione came into the hallway and looked at the three of them, standing on the stairs. "Er, children? What are you doing?"
Rose stuck her hands behind her back. "Nothing. We all just thought we'd wake up bright and early for our first day back at Hogwarts." She cleared her throat. "So, er, breakfast then?"
Hermione frowned, but Rose just smiled and went to her, kissing her cheek. "I'll miss you, Mum, when I get back to school."
"Well," said Hermione, "about Hogwarts . . ."
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Rose stood in the doorway of her front door, watching her father drive their car down the road and away from the house. It took some pleading, but her parents, against their better judgments, allowed Rose and Scorpius to stay behind at the house while they took Hugo to King's Cross.
"You are not allowed to leave the house," said Hermione, setting down the ground rules, "and I know there are protection spells and barriers over the gardens, but I don't want you outside. Also, you are not allowed in any of the bedrooms, especially yours, Rose. Please stay in the kitchen or watch the telly. We'll be back in less than two hours."
Rose kept her mouth shut, but she knew that being in a kitchen clearly didn't stop her parents from making love. Her mother looked so worried as she walked out the door, as though it might actually be the last time she would see her daughter. Rose felt perfectly safe in her own house. Her mother's spells were stronger than anyone else's and she had helped create many spells used by the Ministry. She was powerful, but her mother always had a small doubt that she was never quite good enough. Rose knew this and she knew this was one reason why her mother worried so much. For what if there was a weakness somewhere in her protection spells and someone found that weakness and broke into the house? But Rose was confident in her mother's abilities to keep her safe.
"Aren't you cold?" asked Scorpius, standing behind Rose. "Come inside."
Rose closed the front door. She smiled at Scorpius. "Can we have a few minutes before you leave?"
"Yes," said Scorpius.
"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" asked Rose. "It's going to be so dangerous."
"I'm sure. I'm overly sure. I need to do this, for my mother and my father. For both of them."
Rose nodded. "I understand. Actually, no, I don't, but I'm trying. It's hard because I don't want you to go, but I know that you feel you have to."
"What did you say to your father that convinced him to contact the Ministry and let me accompany my father to the safe house?"
Rose shrugged. "I know how to manipulate my dad." She felt guilty saying it.
"I'm so sorry. I never should have put you in that position."
"Shut up," said Rose, rolling her eyes. "You don't make me do anything I don't want to do. Now kiss me."
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Scorpius arrived at the Ministry via the Floo Network. An Auror waited for him at the fireplace. He had a wand in his hand and Scorpius could see two more in his pockets.
"In case one gets broken," the Auror answered. "Ask me the question."
"What's your favorite flavor of jam?" Rose's father had been over this before. He was able to contact the Ministry and set up the Floo connection between his house and the Ministry for Scorpius to travel through. It would be a one-way passage, to open at noon on the dot. It would only remain open for thirty seconds before sealing, so Scorpius had to leave right on time. Ron had told him an Auror would be waiting for him on the other side, but they had to ask each other safe questions, to ensure they were who they said they were.
"Blackberry. Yours?"
"Apricot."
The Auror nodded. "Good. Let's go. My name's Silver Skinner."
"I'm Scorpius Malfoy."
"I know who you are."
Silver led Scorpius through the Ministry. He skipped past the line of visitors waiting for their wands to be examined and went straight to the lifts. Scorpius followed and kept his mouth shut. He entered the lift and allowed it to take them to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement in silence. He exited the lift behind Silver and immediately felt several pairs of eyes on him. Many of the workers stopped what they were doing to watch.
"In here," said Silver, opening a door to the conference room. He stepped aside, allowing Scorpius to enter.
He looked around the room. He had been here just a few days ago. Scorpius turned around, ready to ask Silver when he got to see his father, but the Auror was gone and the door shut. Scorpius went to the door and tried the handle, but it was locked.
"Great," muttered Scorpius. He sat down at the long table, not even bothering to try his wand on the door. He tapped his fingers against the tabletop and wondered how long he'd be in this room before he got to see his father. Five minutes passed, then ten, then twenty. It was almost a half hour before the door opened again. Silver reentered with Scorpius' father.
Draco's hands looked to be bound, but he looked relieved to see his son.
"Father," said Scorpius, standing up. A small tilt of Draco's head told Scorpius not to say or do anymore.
"We're going to do the Floo transfer from here," said Silver.
"There isn't a fireplace," said Scorpius.
Silver looked at him with a straight face. "Are you a Muggle?"
Scorpius' face grew warm. "No, of course not. Please, magic us a fireplace."
Silver turned to the longest wall and raised his wand. He flicked it and swished it and flicked it again. The picture frames grew longer and thicker, becoming a mantle and from the wall a large, brick fireplace began to form. At first it was the same dull white color as the wall, the bricks just colorless rectangles, smooth as paint. Distinct ridges formed and the white darkened to beige, then orange, then red. The carpet against the wall bunched and formed into wooden logs. On top of the mantle were all the jars and vases from the pictures on the wall. One jar was marked FLOO POWDER.
Scorpius glanced at his father. Draco looked bored and unimpressed.
"Speak very clearly," said Silver. He handed Draco a piece of paper. "That has the address written on it. I haven't read it. It's charmed so that only you can read it. Even Scorpius can't read it."
Scorpius glanced at the paper. It looked blank to him.
"I have another paper for you, Scorpius." Silver handed him a piece of paper. "Again, no one else can read it except for you. There is one Auror at the safe house, a guard. Only she, Harry Potter, and Ron Weasley know the location of the safe house. I will leave the room and then you can say the address aloud. Once you've both used the Floo Network, I will come back in the room and seal the fireplace from this end. Draco, you need to go first. Your safe passage is more important. Then Scorpius, it shall be your turn."
Silver left the room and shut the door behind him. Scorpius nodded at his father.
"Your turn," he said.
Draco nodded. He took a handful of Floo Powder and stepped into the fireplace.
"Wait," said Scorpius. He took his wand out of his pocket and handed it to his father. "I don't know what will happen, but just in case, take my wand. I'll only be a few seconds behind you, but maybe that'll be all it takes to Stun the Auror before I get there. I don't want to waste any time."
Draco nodded again. "Thank you. I love you, son. This is for your mother."
"Right," said Scorpius, stepping away from his father. "Okay, then, let's get on with it."
Draco's mouth spoke words, but Scorpius only heard a strange swoosh, as though a silent wind had swept his father's words away. Green flames rose from the bottom of the fireplace and enveloped Draco. As suddenly as the flames came, they disappeared, leaving the fireplace empty.
Scorpius glanced at his own piece of paper. He thought it was odd he couldn't understand the words his father spoke, but perhaps that was part of the Fidelius Charm that he didn't fully understand. Scorpius grabbed a handful of Floo Powder and stepped into the fireplace.
"Number Twenty-Two Hampton Road!" he said, very loudly and clearly. He threw the powder at his feet and allowed the flames to take him. It was only moments later that he came stumbling out of the fireplace. He looked around the kitchen. There were dishes washing themselves in the sink and a needle and thread mending a pair of trousers by the kitchen table. An owl hooted in the open window, carrying a newspaper in its claws. On the other side of the kitchen table sat a witch, her red hair streaked with a few stands of gray. She had a book open in front of her and a mug full of coffee in her hands. She looked up from her book.
"Oh hello, Scorpius," she said. She stood from the table and went to the owl. She took the newspaper and gave him an owl treat. The owl hooted and flew out the window. She closed it and went back to the table. She closed her book and opened the newspaper. "That owl cannot manage to get here in the morning to save his life. He always comes at about one o'clock every afternoon. Isn't that mad? Barmy little thing, that owl. Don't just stand there, have a seat."
"Where's my father?"
"He's at the safe house."
Scorpius felt the heat rise in his face. "Then where am I?"
"Oh, you're at my house, dear."
Scorpius shut his eyes. He reached into his pocket, but of course! He'd given his wand to his father. Shit. He was enraged. He tried to run to the table, to throw the books and newspapers off it, to demand to be taken to the safe house, but he only got about five feet before something pushed him back and he fell onto the stone floor.
"Sorry about that. I thought you might be really angry, so I put a protection spell around the fireplace. I'll take it down when I'm quite sure you won't destroy my kitchen. I have some scones I made this morning or I can make you a sandwich if you're hungry. Just whenever I'm sure the homicidal rage has passed. You do understand."
"GINNY POTTER!" yelled Scorpius, standing and pounding his fists against the invisible wall. "You don't understand what you've done! LET ME OUT!"
Ginny took a sip of her coffee and looked over the top of her cup at Scorpius. "I understand exactly what I've done. Stop yelling. My neighbors will hear. They're Muggles, you know. They can't understand how my tulips stay bloomed in the middle of a frost, bless them." She turned the page of her newspaper. "Harry was thinking of retiring after that. Perhaps do some part time work as a Quidditch coach, train new Seekers. He's still brilliant at Quidditch. Hasn't quite got the stamina he used to for the sport, but he'll spot the Snitch before even the best players in the league. Amazing, that."
"I'm sure," mumbled Scorpius.
"Have a seat," said Ginny. She flicked her wand and a chair from next to the fireplace came sliding across the floor and hit the back of Scorpius' knees, causing him to lose his balance and forcing him to sit. "Now, I know you want to be with your father, but my brother had this sneaking suspicion that you wanted to do something insane like take him away from the safe house."
Scorpius crossed his arms. This was ridiculous. He was so unprepared for this that he couldn't even think of ways out of it. He didn't have his wand and from what he knew of Ginny Potter, there would be no way he could take her unarmed. She was brilliant at Defensive spells and would probably have him gagged and bound before he could take three steps.
"Don't be upset. I have some roast turkey. I could slice it up for a sandwich? Have you calmed down yet?"
Scorpius simply stared at Ginny.
"I see not. That's fine. I'm going to read my newspaper, if that's all right with you. We've had a very busy holiday and I've scarcely had time to relax." Ginny's eyes scanned over the newspaper. The silence hurt Scorpius' ears.
"Whose idea was this?"
"My brother's, if you can believe it. Hermione has really rubbed off on him, hasn't she?"
"I don't know either of them that well, so if you say so."
"I do say so." Ginny looked at him. "You know, Scorpius, I think you're incredibly selfish. My brother and sister-in-law took you in. They gave you a place to stay for Christmas so you wouldn't be alone. My brother offered to let you stay at their house indefinitely if you needed a place to stay. They were very welcoming to you. And you have done what in return? Plotted against all their efforts to keep you and your father safe. It's selfish. You're seventeen. My husband has been tracking Dark wizards practically all his life, but you somehow think you know better."
Scorpius felt shamed. He hadn't looked at it that way. But then, he was a true Slytherin. He saw his own needs and goals and no one else mattered. He wanted something so he schemed to find a way to get it. He wanted to help his father escape. He wanted to join his father against the wizards who had killed his mother. He had been completely blind to who he may hurt in the process. Except for Rose. He was always very well aware that he may hurt Rose, but he tried to keep her out of it as much as possible . . . hadn't he?
"Don't be angry with Rose. She had no idea this would happen. My niece is very precious to me."
"I'm sorry. You don't know what it's like to lose a parent. I just want revenge."
The kitchen door opened and Harry Potter walked inside. Scorpius met his gaze briefly before looking at the needle and thread fixing the pocket of the unfortunate trousers.
"Hello. I would say 'Nice to see you,' but I expect it's not really nice at all. Ginny, can I see you for a moment upstairs?"
"Sure, love."
Scorpius was left alone in the room. He reached his hand out, but the invisible barrier was still there. He wished he had that newspaper to read. Ginny was gone for almost an hour – or at least, that's what it felt like to Scorpius.
"You changed your clothes," he said, as she reentered the room. Her hair was different, too, pulled back in a ponytail instead of hanging around her face.
"Well, the others had flour on them from when I cooked breakfast. Are you ready to get out of time out?"
Scorpius wasn't amused.
Ginny raised her wand and the barriers melted away. "Do you want to go back to my brother's house?"
"Not really," said Scorpius. He was surprised at what he said, but it was true. He just didn't want to have to talk to Rose or her father right now. He wanted to just be left alone. "I want to see my father."
"Well, I don't know about that. Not today. There is entirely too much happening. Come sit here." Ginny sat down at the table and pulled out the chair next to her. "Come on."
Scorpius stood and went towards Ginny. He sat down and looked at her. "Yes?"
"When I was sixteen, Harry went traipsing off with Hermione and Ron, and I was left back at home by myself. Then I went to Hogwarts, which was much more like I would imagine hell. It was truly horrible. Kids were beaten and the professors taught us nothing useful and I was completely in the dark. My entire family was being hunted by the Death Eaters. I wanted to run after Harry and help him. He was searching for something, but I didn't know what and I didn't know how to help him. So I stayed at school and did what I could to protect my friends and myself. When the Final Battle came to Hogwarts, I was prepared to fight. I had practiced my spells and I knew how to defend myself. But what I thought I was ready for, I wasn't. There was so much death and those who didn't die were wounded. If not physically, then mentally. None of us will ever be the same."
Scorpius just looked at Ginny, not really sure how he was supposed to respond.
"My point is that you're only a year older than I was back then. I wasn't ready to deal with the hardships of a fight. I watched my favorite professor and his wife die, and I watched their son become an orphan. Some of my friends stayed behind to fight and were killed. My brother Fred died. We don't talk about him very much around George, so I don't know if you've heard much about him."
"Rose has mentioned him a few times, so I know who he was."
Ginny nodded and Scorpius thought her eyes were growing wet; they shined like glass. "Fred was lively. He was funny and clever and beautiful – truly. I loved all my brothers, of course, but I wasn't as close to Bill or Charlie or Percy. They were too much older than me. So I was closest to Ron and the twins. I'd thought about my family dying, everyday actually. I thought about Harry dying, too. Then, when it actually happened, I wasn't prepared for it. I thought I was, but I was fooling myself. I was sixteen! I didn't know what that kind of loss would feel like. It was devastating."
"I've lost my mum," said Scorpius quietly. "It's been rather devastating."
"Of course," said Ginny sympathetically, "but imagine what you'd feel like if you went with your father to that house and suddenly you're in a fight and you watched your father die. And what if you're there, at that same house and you have to kill someone in order to save your own life. I killed a Death Eater during the Final Battle. I don't ever really talk about it."
"The Killing Curse?"
Ginny shook her head. "No, I don't think that curse would've worked for me if I'd tried. I dropped a chandelier in one of the ballrooms on a Death Eater who was fighting my friend Dean. I didn't mean for it to kill him, but it did. It was such a shock when Dean told me the Death Eater wasn't breathing. I didn't have time to think about it, so we both ran to fight someone else. I thought about it later. Even now it's an odd feeling."
"Do you feel guilty?"
Ginny shook her head again, this time more slowly. "No . . . not necessarily. It's a very odd feeling, one that I don't think anyone else can explain unless they've been in the exact same situation. I'm just trying to say that I think you're remarkable, but you're just too young to understand what could happen in a fight against Dark wizards. You think you're ready and you want to help your father avenge your mother, but you're too young to understand all the complications that will come with that."
Scorpius considered that Ginny knew what she was talking about, but he didn't like the way it made him feel. Perhaps she was right and perhaps he would have gone to the house and gotten into a fight, just to kill a Dark wizard, and perhaps it would alter him forever. But all the 'perhaps' in the world could not change how it would feel to never have tried.
"Right," said Scorpius. "Right. . . ."
"Do you want something to eat?" asked Ginny, standing up. "I'm starving."
Scorpius glanced at Ginny's wand, which sat on top of the kitchen table. He sat up straight. "Yes, a sandwich would be great, thanks."
Ginny smiled and turned to the kitchen counter. She opened up a box and took out some bread. Scorpius quickly reached for the unattended wand.
BAM!
"Ooph!" Scorpius fell off the chair. "You hit me!"
Ginny grabbed her wand and pointed it at Scorpius. "Try to steal my wand again and I will Stun you."
"You're not my mother," spat Scorpius. "You can't keep me here."
"I may not be your mother, but I am a mother, and I know that your mother would want me to keep you safe. You won't understand until you have children, Scorpius, you just won't. Children are precious. My children are precious and if another mother kept my children safe, just as I am keeping you safe, I would be indebted to her forever."
Scorpius scrambled to his feet. "Those people killed my mother! They deserve to die!"
"You don't know the people at the Bathurst house killed your mum. You don't!" cried Ginny. "Don't go making a stupid mistake just because you're angry. That's the worst kind of decision you can make."
Scorpius shook his head. "This is ridiculous."
"You can cry if you want," said Ginny softly. "I understand. Your mum's only been gone for a little more than a week. Everything you're feeling is natural."
"You don't have to be so nice to me."
Ginny nodded. "Yes, I do. My sister-in-law tries. She's a great mum, but she's not always in touch with her emotional side. I suspect no one's really tried to talk to you, have they? I expected when you showed up here that you'd be furious, which is why I set up the protection spell around the fireplace. I also thought you might have a breakdown, from what Hermione has told me. She says Rose has tried to talk to you, but you're very quiet and she's only heard you cry once or twice. She said you're just very quiet and that you don't really seem sad."
"It's not my house," said Scorpius. "It's not my family."
"That doesn't matter," said Ginny. "As long as you're with Rose, you're a part of us. If you split up, then we want to remember you fondly and know that we helped you. If you stay together forever, then we want you to remember us fondly and know that we helped you."
Scorpius rubbed his eyes. "I don't know. Rose has tried to help, she really has. But she's so worried about things that she shouldn't worry about. She's worried that we'll break up over this or that I'll hate her father, and I don't have time to think about those things. I just want to think about my mum and my dad and get through what's happening now and not worry about what will happen in the future."
"Sit down. Let me make you a sandwich and you can talk to me."
"But Rose—"
"If Rose loves you, she won't be upset." Ginny smiled again. "I can tell her I forced you to stay."
Scorpius nodded. "Okay," he said. He was still angry, but for a moment, it felt as though his mother was with hm.
XXXXXXX
Rose had watched Scorpius take the Floo Network to the Ministry. Most Ministry workers were not allowed connection to the Floo Network. It was only the Heads of departments and the Minister himself. Even then, Rose wasn't so sure that most witches and wizards were even aware that anyone could Floo to the Ministry.
She took the opportunity to turn on the television and flip around the stations for something good to watch. She didn't really like most of the programs that were on. Most of them were complete crap. She had recently tried to watch a show that was nearly twenty years old, but she kept imaging her parents instead of the actors and she'd start laughing and have to change the program.
It would only be a few more minutes before her parents would be home. And then it wouldn't be too long before they found out that Scorpius had escaped with Draco away from the safe house. A knock came from the front door. Rose found that odd since her mother's protection spells were so powerful, but perhaps it was one of her parents.
Rose put her wand in her hand and went to the door. She opened it, but there was no one there. She took a few steps outside but didn't see anyone, not even her Muggle neighbors, who could never quite seem to figure out why they couldn't walk onto their front lawn.
"I'm over here!" yelled a voice.
Rose turned. Towards the right side of the garden was a tree, but it did not lie on the Weasley property. Standing there was a man with blonde hair. He looked like Scorpius, only older. Rose crossed the garden, comfortable that her mother's spells would keep her safe if she needed it.
"Hi. . . ." said Rose slowly. "Why . . . are you here?"
"Is my son here?"
Rose blinked and looked at the house her. "Er, no." She turned back to Draco. "Why isn't he with you?"
"He never made it to the safe house."
"Why? I don't understand. Are you sure?"
Draco took in a deep breath, as though he was suppressing anger or annoyance. "Of course I'm sure. Do I look like an imbecile?"
"Excuse me?"
"I am frustrated. Where is my son?"
"How did you find my house?"
"I've been here before – long story, you wouldn't be interested."
"Well, no, Scorpius isn't here," said Rose. "But now I'm really concerned. He didn't come back here. Where d'you think he could be?"
"Anywhere. I don't know where he ended up, but he was going to help break me out of the safe house—"
"Yeah, and how did you get out without him?"
"He gave me his wand and I Stunned the Auror as soon as I came out of the fireplace."
"And the protection spells on the house? You couldn't have gotten through without . . ." Rose stopped talking and nodded. "You dragged the Auror across the wards, didn't you?"
"They don't call me a Dark wizard for nothing."
"Did you just make a joke? You're a lot like Scorpius, aren't you? This is a completely inappropriate time for a joke, isn't it?"
"It wasn't a joke. I'm very angry," said Draco. "If my son isn't here, then where is he? He doesn't have a wand. Is this all a big joke done by your father? Is there a reason why he didn't want Scorpius to visit me at the safe house?"
"I don't know," said Rose. "Oh god. This is all my fault. I told my father to make sure there was a guard at the safe house, to keep Scorpius safe. I only wanted to keep Scorpius safe, I promise. I'm sorry. My god, this is my fault."
"Where would your father would have sent him if he thought he was keeping him safe for you?"
Rose shook her head. "I have no idea. He's probably still at the Ministry."
"And if he wasn't?"
Rose kept shaking her head. "I don't know. But unless he's being held at the Ministry, then I imagine he's probably trying to escape and get . . . to you."
Draco and Rose held each other's gaze for several moments.
"Does he know where the Bathursts live?" asked Rose quickly.
"Yes."
"Then that's where we need to go."
"I'm not taking you. I will go by myself. My son is out there without a wand. I'm not losing both my wife and my son."
Rose stepped through the protection barriers. "I'm going with you."
Draco raised his wand and pressed it to Rose's throat. "If you try to follow me, I will kill you."
"No, you won't."
"I will Stun you."
"Let me go with you," said Rose, looking Draco straight in the eye.
"No." Draco removed his wand from Rose's throat.
She watched as he turned the wand towards himself to Disapparate. It was as though everything was in slow motion and Draco was slowly fading away. He was only partially visible when Rose grabbed hold of his sleeve. She felt herself behind pulled and pushed at the same time. And when she opened her eyes, she was no longer home.
XXXXXXX
To Be Continued . . .
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