A/N: I do not own any of the characters except for: all the first years bar Rose, Albus and Scorpius; Edward Wood, Holly Willow, Darren Sloper, Connor Jordan and any characters that you do not recognise. If you are not sure, then message me or leave me a review :)

Chapter 12

Sheets? Why could he feel sheets? He was in the air, hurtling towards the ground. Oh, man. He must have crashed. What an idiot you are Albus Severus Potter, he thought as he tried to familiarise himself with his surroundings. The sheets were too soft to be in the dormitory. Albus' heart sank. He must be in the hospital wing. Or in St Mungo's. What did the air smell like? Albus started to try and sniff but it hurt so much that he stopped himself. Okay the only thing to do was to look. Slowly and tentatively, Albus opened his eyes to see three anxious pairs looking back at him. Suddenly he was engulfed in a huge bear hug.

"You idiot! What did you think you were doing, attempting a Wronski Feint straight after Louis?" James let go of Albus and looked at him, smiling. "You're a right mess you know."

"Good to see you conscious mate!" Scorpius grinned.

"How long was I out?" Albus asked anxiously.

"Well, it's nearly 3pm and we found you at 1.30 so around an hour and a half." Rose's voice came from Albus' left.

Albus looked from sympathetic face to sympathetic face. "How bad is it?"

Scorpius grinned. "Couple of broken limbs, well leg and nose. And it looks like you've been hit with a Slashing Jinx." Albus looked horrified. "But only a little bit."

There was an awkward silence. Albus could tell that they were keeping something from him. "What are you not saying? What happened?" he started to panic. "Don't scare me."

Rose took his left hand. "This is going to be hard on you Al. you leg is broken in several places. It isn't going to be fully healed for another three to four weeks, even with Madam Pomfrey's extensive magical medical knowledge. The bones have been set back in the right place but they need to heal. No amount of magic can do that." She paused and Albus looked confused.

"So? So what does that mean?"

Rose closed her eyes, imagining his reaction. "We're talking special equipment that will help you get up and down stairs easily. That's optional, if you want it. The one thing that Madam Pomfrey was adamant on was," Rose couldn't bear to look at Albus but she made herself, "this means no Quidditch Al. no flying lessons and definitely no team practise."

Albus sat up. "What? Is she serious?"

James grimaced. "Its gonna be hard on all of us. She is deadly serious. Scorpius and I had a go at her too. We can't have a full-blown one-sided game of Quidditch without you. We've got to tell Wood. Lottie can fill in for you for the time but it won't be the same."

"But I can't do that. We've got six weeks until the match. I have to practise. I can't just stop attending practise for three weeks."

"But if you do practise, your leg will get worse and you'll miss the Quidditch game all together." Scorpius chimed in. "don't miss your first match because you insisted on practising for it. That is just pointless. Do it and pass the time somehow."

"When is Madam Pomfrey going to release me?"

"Before dinner tonight." James stomach rumbled loudly. "Speaking of food, its lunch time. We'll be back with stuff to entertain you with after lunch and some food. We promise to try and come back in one piece. At least after Wood has finished with us."

That cracked Albus who hadn't smiled since the previous evening. "I'll cross my fingers."

They got up and left the hospital wing. Hurrying down the stairs, the castle seemed eerily quiet. Even as they approached the Great Hall, the normal bubble of chatter was yet to resume to its normal volume. The doors were open and the trio slipped in and took their places with their year. There was more talk than at breakfast and, as Scorpius sat down, a lot of it seemed to be about the fireworks. There were a heated debate going on between Elizabeth and Harry. Clearly, Elizabeth had not enjoyed the fireworks but Harry was fighting strong against her constant tirade.

"It was a great idea Elizabeth. It cheered everyone up!" Harry was arguing.

"The timing was stupid. Professor Scamander was talking about something really serious. Bet you anything that James Potter had something to do with it."

"You can't prove it. If he has, then I want to congratulate him. He did a very good job. It was a spectacular show."

"It was stupid. I can bet four Galleons that if James had anything to do with it, then Albus could have had a hand. I'd slap them both if they were involved."

Scorpius, at this point, decided to step in. "well, if you want to add a broken jaw and feelings to his broken nose and leg, then go ahead Finnegan."

Elizabeth and Harry turned sharply. "What?" Harry asked. "What happened to Al?"

"Only woke up from his concussion ten minutes ago. Crashed while attempting a Wronski Feint on his Nimbus. He was trying to take his mind off his dead cousin."

Harry put his hands up. "Whoa, slow down Scor, which dead cousin? When, where, how? Albus crashing? He never crashes in a Wronski."

Scorpius shook his head. "The hangings are going to be changed tonight. Louis, Victoire and Dom's little brother was almost at the heart of one of the explosions at Beauxbatons yesterday." Scorpius turned to Elizabeth. "And Finnegan, you are one of the few people who didn't enjoy the display. Yes, James and Albus were involved. In fact, so was Rose." Elizabeth and Harry stared at him dumbfounded. "It was their idea. So, if you feel like causing more emotional and physical pain, be my guest."

Scorpius raised an eyebrow in a challenging way. Elizabeth, trying to cover up what she had just said, hastily went back to her food. Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy, you were such a MALFOY just then, he thought to himself with disgust. Ever since he had joined Gryffindor house, he had tried so hard not to be the person everyone expected him to be with a name as blasphemous as Voldemort. To avoid more conversation, Scorpius too returned to his food. Today it was chilli con carne, his favourite. One bite and he was transported to another land, full of spice and different flavours that he couldn't describe. Oh, how he wished he could stay there all the time. But he couldn't and that was a fact.

Once he had finished his meal Scorpius got up. "Where are you going?" Harry asked.

"To see Al, come too. He'd be heartened to hear someone enjoyed the fireworks." Scorpius paused. "Where's Theo?"

Harry grimaced. "I think he's got a crush on Eleanor Davies."

Scorpius rolled his eyes. "Maybe we should just leave him then."

Harry leaned over to near Theodore. "Hey Theo!" he half yelled it but there was no response. Theodore was staring at Eleanor, love struck. Harry shrugged and turned back to Scorpius. "Mental, let's go."

Scorpius went and tapped Rose on the shoulder. "Hey Rose, Harry and I are going up. Do you want to come now?"

Rose shook her head. "I'll be another five minutes. Take Al a plate of the chilli."

Scorpius nodded and took a plate, which he promptly piled up with food. They made their way down to where James had been but he had already left. Carefully balancing a plate of food n one hand and a glass of pumpkin juice in the other, Scorpius followed Harry and made his way up to the hospital wing. As they reached the doors, they could hear groaning and Harry flung the doors open. Albus was in bed and James was writing on his cast. Seeing the boys' anxious faces, Albus grinned and the sighed. He had been playing them. His eyes widened at the food and drink in Scorpius' hands and grinned further.

"Food, finally!"

James opened his mouth in mock annoyance. "I brought up some food for you."

"An orange and a piece of lettuce. Not exactly the most filling of meals. Thanks guys." Albus added as Scorpius set the plate and glass down on his lap.

"How are you feeling mate?" Harry asked as he drew yet another chair.

"Alright. My left arm might be broken thought. Madam Pomfrey said it was in a pretty bad shape. Good think it's not my writing hand."

The boys laughed. "So how much longer have you got to stay in here?" Scorpius asked as Albus started to eat.

He shrugged and quickly swallowed his mouthful of food. "Another couple of hours or so. Madam Pomfrey is getting me special crutches and a wheelchair so I can go up and down stairs easily without doing too much damage to my arm." The boys laughed once more.

Three and a half hours later and Scorpius and Harry re-entered the hospital wing, having left an hour ago to wake Theodore from his love-crazed dream. They were yet to be successful. With his right leg in a cast, Albus pulled the covers back and twisted his legs around to the side of the bed. He put his shoe on his left foot and, with Scorpius' help, got himself into the specially-designed wheelchair. It had transpired that Albus' arm wasn't broken but it was in a cast for protection anyway. To minimise further damage, Madam Pomfrey had decided on a wheelchair would be easier to manage. So Scorpius and Harry had charge over wheeling him around and levitating his chair to go up and down stairs. Albus fitted his broken leg into the slot and put his hands on the wheels. Tentative at the start, he started to try and manoever himself around the wing. He found it surprisingly easy and, although his arms did tire and begin to hurt after ten minutes, he was very pleased with himself. Madam Pomfrey also seemed satisfied and, after one final check, let him go with the three boys and Rose. As they came to the main set of staircases, Harry, who was pushing Albus, stopped the wheelchair. The staircase they had come to was one of the longest at Hogwarts and seemed to go on for a long time.

"I don't think my levitation charm is that strong." Scorpius said. "James are you any good?"

"There's only one way to find out really." James rolled up his sleeves and took out his wand. He pointed it at Albus' wheelchair, which Albus gripped tightly and calmly said, "Wingardium Leviosa."

Albus' chair, to all their surprise, rose in the air and James, recovering quickly from his delight, guided Albus down the stairs. Once safely at the next level, the three boys and Rose raced down the stairs to join him. The whole process of getting Albus down to the Entrance Hall took what felt like twenty minutes (but was probably ten minutes), double the normal time.

With renewed strength, Albus waved goodbye to James and Rose as they went to join their friends and wheeled himself outside and into the Entrance Courtyard where the memorial stood. Only the boys were there when Harry wheeled Albus over. They hadn't really seen it properly and they went around it, studying the names. The column Albus was parked by was the list of the dead. Grabbing the crutches that were by the side of the chair, Albus heaved himself out of the chair. Standing up gave him a much better view of all the names. He traced his finger down the list of names, the cold marble making him shiver, and recognising a few of the names: Katie Bell, Colin Creevey, Firenze the centaur, Remus and Nymphadora Lupin, Frederick Weasley. A lump rose in his throat as he whispered the names his parents often talked about. Uncle Fred he could easily picture, the spitting image of Uncle George. The others were a lot harder. Albus had met many centaurs in his eleven year but Firenze was the one he had always dreamed of meeting. Sitting down back in his wheelchair, Albus up the crutches away and drew his wand.

Pointing it at the base of the column, Albus murmured "Orchadia," and drew a circle with his wand. Sure enough, the circle of flowers he had pictured came out of his wand. Taking them in his hand, he put them at the base of the column. "I promise you Uncle Fred, Remus and Nymph, Colin and Katie that I will do everything I can to revenge those who killed you and stop the evil that is haunting the wizarding world this year."

He looked back up at the names in silence but this was broken very quickly. "Al, my parents' names aren't on here. Neither are my grandparents."

Albus wheeled himself to where Scorpius stood confused on one of the sides of the column. "Well your mum would have been too young to fight." He murmured, scanning the list. Scorpius was list. The Death Eaters who had survived and died were on the lists, but nowhere were the names of the three Malfoys. "We should speak to Professor Scamander. That should be changed and I'm surprised it isn't there." Albus called to Harry who had disappeared. "Harry? Where are you?"

"I'm here." Harry reappeared. "And I think I've found your relative Scorpius."

Scorpius wheeled Albus round to where Harry was, by the list of the dead. Harry pointed. He was right. Under the names of Remus and Nymphadora Lupin were three names: Draco Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy, and Narcissa Malfoy. Albus shook his head and placed a comforting hand on Scorpius, who was shaking with anger. It wasn't right that they should be classified as dead when they were most definitely alive. Well, at least Draco and Lucius were.

"We have to change that." Scorpius voice was also shaking.

"I couldn't agree more. It is an insult to your grandmother's memory not to." Albus nodded.

Determined to speak to Professor Scamander, the boys made their way to the Great Hall. People were beginning to enter also. Food wasn't until quarter to eight but Professor Scamander was going to speak to the school again. True to her word, the hangings that ran the length of the hall were now jet black with the Gryffindor lion and Ravenclaw eagle emblazoned on it. There were a few mutterings about it, but they were more curious than disapproving. Many people came up to Albus to ask why he was in his state. He was getting tired of it, it was just a bit boring until Edward Wood spotted him and came over, his face thunderous.

"Potter –"

"It's only for a couple of weeks. I'll be fine for the match."

"You need to train! You can't train in a wheelchair and a leg and arm in casts."

"I'll get three weeks training in anyway afterwards. Scorpius is keeping me updated with the schedule and news." Edward started to speak but Albus cut him off. "I know this is important Wood but even Professor McLaggen agrees that I should rest for a couple of weeks." That shut Edward up. "I'll be doing the practise in my head. Don't worry."

"I do worry. Dad is coming to watch the match, it's the Internationals weekend and he wasn't picked for the England squad. I just want to show him I am pretty good. He told me he wouldn't come to see one of my games until I was made captain. I don't think he quite understands my ability."

Albus grinned. "Well we'll definitely prove to him that you've got Quidditch and leadership skills."

He also smiled. "I knew I could trust you. Get better soon, or else."

Albus laughed. "Sure."

Wood made his way back to the fourth year Gryffindors sand Harry wheeled Albus down o where Theodore and Scorpius were in a deep discussion with Rose and Lucy about the following day's Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson. They had been promised some interesting creatures and they were speculating which creates would be seen. As Albus wouldn't be able to sit on the bench, Harry parked him beside Theodore and sat down on the other side. Before the conversation could go much further, Professor Scamander coughed and hall, now full, fell silent.

"Wizards and witches. Students of Hogwarts. I am sure that you are thoroughly bored of my voice and so I will only talk for a moment. The change in colour of the hangings is to respect and mourn the loss of Louis Weasley, brother and cousin to all the Weasley and Potter's in this room. Many of you will have known him through them and I hope that you will respect this fact. It is a sad occasion when someone we know or perhaps someone we don't know so well passes away. I have asked Rose Weasley, a first year Gryffindor; just to say a few words. Rose, do you want to come up?"

Professor Scamander nodded to Rose who, with her family and friends staring at her in shock, got up and made her way down to where Luna was standing at the lectern. It automatically adjusted to Rose's height as she drew a piece of parchment from her robes and put it on the stand. Luna went and sat down as Rose cleared her throat and began to read.

"Some say, that on a day with no lessons, you don't learn anything, or at least very little. Today I learnt a lot more than very little. I learnt two important life lessons, which I will treasure deeply. The first one was never to attempt a Wronski Feint straight after hearing that your cousin has died. Thanks for that one Albus." Albus grinned, she was clearly trying to clear the tension in the air and she was succeeding. There were a few giggles. "But the second thing made me think: always treasure each day as if it was your last. No-one anticipated the attacks and that is why I believe we must live each day to the full. We cannot know what will happen but can only hope and wish. No one truly expected the murders of people like Eileen and Tobias Snape, Sirius Black, Remus and Nymphadora Lupin. If we can't know what will happen next, we can't be prepared. We have to keep the faith that we are going to make it through, but at the same time, realise we may not. We have to keep friends as close as we can and treasure their faith and companionship in you. We have to know and remember that that is worth far more than any number of Galleons in Gringotts. To end, I want to finish with a poem that I write, with I feel respects Louis William Weasley's life and what life is. It is called Light:

The light at the end of the tunnel is drawing nearer,

A golden ray that glows and sparkles.

If every day could go on forever, there would be

No darkness.

I can't feel anything, all material is untouchable,

Why can't I? What's wrong with me?

She can't hear my but I'm screaming.

My lungs might explode.

I look down and my legs have holes of light

In them. Where are they going? They've gone.

Am I dying? The world is blurry, my eyes

Start to close. Is this the end? Life can't

Be as short as mine. Or can it?

Blinding light, blinding pain and blank.

I don't remember my family, just that there

Are a lot of them. I hope they don't forget me.

If they do, I might die. Oh wait, I am.

That's awkward."

Rose had begun to cry softly. She collected her papers and stepped down and went back to her place. She wasn't the only one with wet eyes. Victoire and Dominique were amongst many Gryffindor and Ravenclaw girls, and a few boys, who were crying too. Professor Scamander started to clap and soon the whole school were on their feet. Rose knew that they weren't just applauding her but Louis also. Those who knew him personally were snapping Muggle military salutes. He had inherited his love of Muggles from his grandfather and had made it clear that he wanted to go into the Muggle army to experience the world from their perspective. When the applause had died down and everyone was seated once more, Professor Scamander started tot talk.

"Thank you Rose for those moving and wise words. Lessons begin tomorrow. Let the feast begin."

The platters were filled and Rose tucked in. she felt all the better for having made the speech and having chicken breast stuffed with mozzarella. Rose felt the best she had since Louis had died.

A/N: was that right? What do you think about the poem? I wrote it myself and is based on another poem I wrote. Please review!