Author's Note: [07-06-2012]- Edited for grammar and continuity issues. Happy Reading!


Chapter 12
"Very Strange Creatures"


January 14, 2032

Just how long Scorpius had been standing outside of Albus's door, he had no idea. It felt like hours, though in actuality could not have been more than a few minutes. Silently, he stood before the wooden door, contemplating just what to say to Albus when he finally gathered the courage to knock.

He would have to be brief. It was already dark and he had three Portkeys wrapped in handkerchiefs in his coat pocket. If he hoped to get any rest at all before classes the following morning, he could not stay long in any one place.

Scorpius had spent much of the last week globetrotting for the sake of "the cause" and while he did not regret it, he knew his body was beginning to show signs of strain. He was easily aggravated by the smallest thing. Just that morning, he had screamed at a first year who had dared to cut her pine needles into halves instead of thirds.

The distant screeching of owls returning from a night's hunt brought Scorpius back to reality. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on Albus's door and waited. There was a period of silence before he could hear the faint sounds of movement from the other side of the door.

As soon as the door opened, Scorpius spoke, barely giving Albus time to blearily see who was waking him up so late at night. "I need to speak with you."

"Scorpius, have you any idea what time it is?" Albus asked, voice barely above a whisper. There was no anger in Albus's voice or on his face, only worry. Stepping aside, he motioned for Scorpius to enter. Locking the door, Albus turned to look at his friend, concern evident on his face. It was not like Scorpius to make a social call so late at night. "What is so important that it could not wait until morning, Scorpius?" Albus asked, stifling a yawn as he wrapped his bedroom robes around him tightly, a slight shiver running through him.

Scorpius, however, barely seemed to be paying any attention to his words. He had Albus's suitcase out and was quickly shoving clothes into it. "You need to leave. Tonight. I already have a Portkey prepared for you."

Albus cocked an eyebrow. Normally, Scorpius's insistence would have been enough to get Albus to fall into line obediently, but there was something about his words that annoyed Albus. He was not sure if he appreciated that Scorpius left Albus no choice in the matter. Crossing his arms over his chest, Albus watched him. "I don't think so. I don't know what has gotten into you, but I am not going anywhere."

"And why not?" Scorpius demanded, temporarily stopping, two of Albus's shirts clutched in either hand. "I am telling you that your life is in danger!"

"I'm a teacher, Scorpius. My students are here. If there is a danger coming, I have to stay. I have to protect them."

Scorpius had had enough. In a flash, he had his wand out, pointed at Albus, "Petrificus Totalis" on his lips. Albus, however, was faster and Scorpius's wand was sent flying across the room. Albus was now eying Scorpius suspiciously, his wand pointed directly at him. Scorpius could just hear the thoughts crossing Albus's mind at that moment. 'Is this really Scorpius? Why would he turn his wand on me, if it is Scorpius?'

Bringing his hands up in a sign of surrender, Scorpius decided it would be better to properly explain himself. "This is about Belrose. I am sorry I almost petrified you, but you really do have to leave here, Albus." Scorpius expression softened as he continued, "Please. Go."

Though his wand remained pointed at Scorpius's chest, Albus was looking into Scorpius's gray eyes. Albus was never much of Legilimens, but around Scorpius he did not have to be. He lowered his wand. "If Belrose is causing you trouble, I most certainly am not going to go." Scorpius began to say something in protest, but Albus continued, "I was foolish once and left you to fight her on your own. I will not be making that mistake again." Albus gave Scorpius a reassuring smile. "Whatever she is blackmailing you with, I don't much care."

Scorpius began to laugh and Albus's smile faltered. "Blackmail? Albus, do you honestly think all of this is about blackmail?" Slowly, a dark smirk crossed Scorpius's face. "Blackmail, I can handle. This... is real danger."

Albus huffed. "So what if it's dangerous? Do you have any idea who, no, what I am?" Albus demanded, genuinely offended. "We are both the same age, so don't patronize me, Scorpius. I teach Defense against the Dark Arts, for God's sake," he said, walking towards Scorpius. "I don't appreciate how everyone treats me as if I am still some sort of child. I don't need you to protect me from everything."

Silence fell between the two men as Albus's words replayed in Scorpius's mind. In reality, the difference in their ages was a matter of months. Had five years apart really put such a distance between them in Scorpius's mind? He felt so much older than he was. His shoulders slumped at the realization.

Albus took a few steps closer and slipped his arms around Scorpius. "I just mean that you don't have to go out of your way to keep me safe. I might not be as gifted as you are in many respects, but I am far from weak, don't you think?"

Resting his cheek against Albus's shoulder, he pulled Albus firmly against him. "If you get hurt because of me..."

Albus just laughed as he reached up, gently rubbing Scorpius's back. "Well, then we will simply have to cross that bridge when we get there, if we get there. I am skilled at my job and I can hold my own in a fight. Sometimes, I don't even fight fair," he added with a sly grin.

Scorpius chuckled as he ran his fingers through Albus's perpetually messy black hair, ruffling the already unruly locks. "Acting like a Slytherin suits you."

Albus pulled back, their foreheads nearly caressing. Albus could practically feel Scorpius's cool skin against him. "You too," Albus muttered, voice hardly above a whisper, as green eyes met gray. When Albus stepped forward, his lips met Scorpius's. He tasted the mild bitterness of black coffee. Scorpius turned his head, a conflicted look on his face. Albus kissed his cheek. Scorpius slowly turned his head back to look at Albus, gray eyes searching green ones. Albus leaned up to press his lips against Scorpius's once more. He could feel the fingers beginning to move through his hair, drawing him closer. This time, Scorpius returned the kiss tentatively, but did not turn away from him.

Distantly, Albus could hear his brother's words from years ago ringing in his ear. 'When you finally do kiss someone you like, it's bloody fantastic! Butterflies and fireworks, all of it!' Albus felt neither butterflies nor fireworks. There was no nervousness or apprehension. There was only the rush of relief, as if Albus had been secretly holding his breath. The kisses were chaste and sweet. It was almost as if it were a natural result of dancing around one another for years. Inevitable.

Albus was the one to break the kiss. When Scorpius followed after him, Albus brought his hands up, fingers pressing against Scorpius's lips, stopping him. "Does this mean you give up trying to get rid of me?"

Scorpius smiled against Albus's fingers. Softly, he kissed them. "I never really wanted you to go. Please stay."

The feel of Scorpius's warm lips against his finger tips sent a shiver through Albus's body. The first kiss had been familiar. These subsequent kisses were unfamiliar and strange. And exciting. "Will you- will you tell me what is going on?" Albus tried to keep his voice steady. Another kiss was placed against the palm of one of his hand. "Ever since we returned, you have had this troubled look on your face. I hate it."

Another kiss, this one brushing against his wrist.

"I am troubled," Scorpius murmured, resting his cheek against Albus's hand, sighing. He suddenly seemed so defeated. "Belrose is an impossible enemy." Albus's heart ached. "I am out-numbered, out-classed, and out-matched. I have nothing she doesn't."

Albus moved his hands away from Scorpius's lips, cupping both of his cheeks. Gently he stroked against Scorpius's cheek with his thumbs. "You have me, now, don't you?"

Scorpius looked away as he laughed ruefully. "You don't understand."

Albus shook his head as he leaned close, kissing Scorpius's forehead to smooth the worry lines that were forming. "I think, for once, you are the one who does not understand. Whatever your burden, you don't have to bear it on your own. I will always be there to help you."

"Why?" Scorpius asked, his voice full of doubt. Scorpius could feel his chest tighten. He was finding it nearly impossible to control himself. He was afraid to hear the answer. He had always been afraid, that is why he had never asked.

"Because you are a right prat sometimes," Albus declared, pinching Scorpius's cheeks. Scorpius hissed, but Albus just laughed good-naturedly. "You annoy me, when you think about things too much and push me away when you really need me the most." Albus stepped back from Scorpius now, pulling his wand out, pointing it at Scorpius. "You were the best duelist in Slytherin back when we were at school, but since I have disarmed you, that makes me better than you." Albus lowered his wand, giving Scorpius a gentle, hopeful smile. "May I be your equal now?"

Scorpius could have said something. He could have told Albus half a dozen excuses as to why his reasoning was hardly sound. He could have, but he didn't. There was something in the determined expression on Albus's face that stopped him. Scorpius wanted Albus to be right. For the first time in a long time, Scorpius wanted nothing more in the world than to be wrong.

Reaching out, Scorpius lightly pinched Albus's cheek. Albus laughed as he swatted at Scorpius's hand. "You cheated and you know it. But I think that proves that you are my equal more than anything else."

Albus smiled, reaching out, taking a hold of Scorpius's hand. "So, you will fill me in on this whole... Belrose business, then? The truth?"

Scorpius nodded his head. "The truth. All of it. But... try not to be disappointed."

"Disappointed?" Albus repeated before he laughed. "Why would I be disappointed to learn the truth? It isn't as if I was hoping she was blackmailing you."

"Disappointed in me, I mean. I can't promise that you will like the person I have become. I can't promise you that I will live up to your expectations," Scorpius muttered, taking a step back from Albus, looking away, out of the window. Albus followed him, putting a hand on his arm. Scorpius covered it with his own. "You really won't leave, then? Nothing I say can change your mind?"

"No." Albus did not hesitate for an instant.

"Even if I told you that..." Scorpius trailed off, searching for the right words, "People will try to hurt you? That you may have to hurt others?"

"Not even then."

"If you understood the real dangers of all of this, Albus, you would not be so foolishly brave," Scorpius murmured. He had given up trying to get Albus to leave, but that didn't mean he couldn't hope that Albus would see reason for himself.

Albus shook his head slowly, resting his cheek against Scorpius's shoulder. "The truth of the matter is I am scared. You are purposefully vague about the dangers. Anyone with common sense would probably not believe you."

"Then why do you?"

Albus chuckled, slipping his hand into Scorpius's as he looked out of the window. "It's simple, really. A long time ago I decided to put my faith in you. See? Simple."

Scorpius smiled softly as he squeezed Albus's hand. Clarence would be annoyed with him, that was for certain but for a few precious minutes, none of that mattered. The war, ever on the horizon, didn't matter. Belrose didn't matter. None of the monsters mattered. The only things that mattered were a mess of black hair and the trusting green eyes that considered him now. "Scorpius, what-?"

Lips met and Albus's questioning ceased for the time being.


January 19, 2032

Clarence could not say he was surprised when Scorpius brought Albus to their Headquarters and informed him, calmly, that Albus could not be leaving after all. He was angry, annoyed, and agitated, sure, but not surprised. Despite Scorpius's desire to keep Albus safe, Clarence had seen something else in his expression. He knew from the moment he told Scorpius to leave Albus Potter alone that the man could not do it. For someone who had done so many horrible things, Scorpius Malfoy seemed to be a man who still clung to his sentiments, whatever he said.

Albus had taken everything quite well, Clarence thought to himself. He knew that a lot of what was said that night could not have been easy to digest. They told him just enough to satiate his curiosity, keeping many of the details vague, but Scorpius interrupted Clarence when he had begun to tell Albus that Scorpius was as plagued as the rest of them. Even if he cared for Albus, Scorpius was not comfortable revealing everything.

Clarence supposed he understood. He was just thankful that Albus seemed to believe them, so he let the matter slide. If Clarence had not directly witnessed the horror Belrose was capable of, he knew he would be skeptical as well; however, it seemed that Albus's loyalty to both Scorpius and his students was absolute. "I will fight beside you," Albus said when Clarence had finished explaining the situation to him. Albus Potter was just a single man, a normal man, but having him on their side lifted Clarence's spirits.

In fact, in the days following Albus's entry into the group, support for their endeavor was already growing. The name Potter seemed to add credence to the cause. People had not forgotten that not too long ago, Harry Potter had tried to warn them of danger and they had ignored him until it was nearly too late. Clarence was thankful that people had become more cautious.

Even though Clarence and Huerta eventually relented and allowed Albus to remain in the group, there was a silent promise between them and Scorpius. Albus would be allowed to support the group, but he was not to be put into direct danger. They kept Albus in the headquarters, writing letters or training the others. Really, what he was doing for the group was similar to teaching his dueling club, though he was training students from all of the schools. When it came to how information was gathered, it was decided that, for the time being, Albus should be kept in the dark. If he knew the dangers his students were facing, he would insist on accompanying them. As far as Albus needed to be concerned, what he was doing was no different from Dumbledore's Army of decades past. In a way, it was fitting.

Several days ago, news had arrived that Belrose had returned to the area and had taken up residence in a large manor just outside of the city limits. Huerta suggested that Scorpius be the one to go gather intelligence on just what Belrose was planning.

Scorpius, however, refused. Belrose had a way of knowing where her top officers were at all times, and even though he had been "relieved" of his duties, he did not know if she would be able to sense him if he got too close. He was not willing to take such a risk, not with so much on the line.

Clarence agreed with him, even if Huerta was muttering under his breath. It was not that Huerta valued blind courage. He had just wanted to see Scorpius in the heat of battle, but up to that point, they had seen very little actual combat. Scorpius reprimanded him, but Huerta just laughed it off, promising one day that he'd properly cut Scorpius open and see what made him tick. Clarence was beginning to think that adults were very strange creatures. Huerta's motivations were questionable, but he was good at what he did and was a crucial asset to the group.

That night, Clarence contacted Sonya and Sydney Johnson, the Zenbazi Quidditch Beaters, and the three of them made their way to Belrose's Manor. It was a lavishly decorated building, surrounded by several barrier spells, though the group had been expecting as much.

Each took out a half dozen paper charms, all cut into the silhouettes of people. The three children placed them on their bodies, the papers charmed so as to stick to them. Once all of the paper charms were affixed, they made their way towards the Manor. With every barrier they passed, one of the paper charms flared up and turned to ash. Without the paper charms as stand-ins, it would have been the children who would have been burned by the protection spells. Whatever Belrose was guarding, she was willing to kill any intruder to protect it. That meant that was exactly where they had to go.

Once inside, they moved though the dimly lit halls quickly, several dozen charms on their bodies and clothing, making them faster, quieter. They all had their wands out, ready to attack anyone who crossed their paths, but it had been unnecessary. There did not seem to be a single person in the entire building. They quickly found one of Belrose's offices and began to search through her papers. Clarence could not shake the feeling that something was wrong with their current situation.

"Hey, Clare, get over here," Sonya hissed, motioning for Clarence to take a look at the folder of papers she had found. His eyes widened as he read through the documents. Belrose was not planning to take over Dragons Camp; she was planning to turn it into a giant training ground. It was then that the sound of distant screaming filtered into the room from the air ducts.

"Sonya, you get these papers copied," Clarence whispered, "then put everything back exactly how it was. Syd, you're coming with me. If Syd and I aren't back in ten minutes, Sonya, get out of here." The two sisters nodded their heads as they both set to work. If either sister was worried or afraid, they did not let it show on their faces.

Quietly, Clarence and Sonya slipped out of the office and made their way through the manor, following the sound as it seeped from the air ducts above them. They made their way through the lower levels of the manor. As they entered the lower basement, the sound of screaming was no longer coming just from the ducts. Instead, Clarence could hear it coming from down the hall.

Sonya and Clarence pressed close to the cold stone walls as they approached the doors from where the screaming was escaping. The door was ajar, bright light cutting through the darkness of the hall. Approaching the door, Clarence peeked into the door. His face paled in horror at what he saw.

A boy. He had seen him before, Clarence was sure. He was a boy from Zenbazi. He was held fast against a steel table. It was tilted up so that the young boy was practically hanging from the restraints around his arms and legs, his neck and across his chest, only the leather and metal straps keeping him upright. Belrose and a group of men and women, some with wands in their hands, others with clipboards, stood nearby, watching as the body screamed out in agony while silvery, iridescent liquid was pumped into him through needles in his arms, legs, and neck.

"More," Belrose spoke and one of the others would turn up several dials. This time, a bright red liquid poured through the tubes connected to the young boy's body. As soon as the liquid was injected into him, the screams became almost inhuman. The boy arched away from the restraints with such force, Clarence could see the bones in his arm strain from the effort. Clarence could sense Sonya take a step back. She was a student from Zenbazi, Clarence realized, she probably knew the boy personally. She couldn't want to watch a classmate of hers subjected to such torture all while she was powerless to stop it.

"More."

More dials were turned and even more of the liquid was administered. The boy was now smashing his head back against the street table, the only think he could do to attempt and end the pain. Blood almost as red as the liquid soon dripped down his neck as bone collided with metal.

Belrose never moved. The whole group seemed equally unimpressed. None seemed at all concerned by what they were doing to another human being, a child no less. The boy's gargling screams suddenly stopped as his whole body slumped. Machines began to issue alarms. Only then did the people in the lab coats begin to take interest, adjusting machines or taking notes.

"Damn it!" Belrose suddenly cried out as she walked towards the boy. Grabbing a scalpel from one of the medical trays, she slits the boy's throat suddenly, before stabbing it into his still body several times, screaming out in frustration with each thrust. The boy, however, did not move, did not scream. When she finished, she delivered one final blow to the boy's face, leaving the metal instrument embedded in the boy's left eye. "Weak," she finally spat out, panting lightly. She shook with anger. "Every single one of these is far too weak. Rutherford." Clarence's heart sank. "Rutherford!"

"Yes, Madam?" Franklin Rutherford said as he stepped in from one of the back rooms, a large pile of papers in his hands. "Is something the matter?" Setting down the papers, he approached the fuming woman.

She lashed out at him, hitting the old man as hard as she could. Even when he fell to the ground, she continued, delivering several swift kicks to his stomach. No one tried to stop her. No one even gave the scene a second thought, as if it were a common enough occurrence. Only when he was gasping for air, coughing up flecks of blood did she finally stop.

Almost as if nothing happened, she regained her composure. "The students you have been sending me as of late are proving to be far too weak for my needs, Franklin, my dear. They keep dying before the process is complete. It is beginning to annoy me."

"Perhaps you are pushing them too hard too early?" the man gasped, struggling to his feet.

"Perhaps you are simply not giving me the right ones. Do you want me to succeed, Franklin?" Belrose asked, her voice almost a purr as she slipped an arm around Rutherford. Reaching out one slender hand, she stroked the blood from his cheek white a pure white handkerchief.

"I do."

Belrose smirked, leaning in close to place a gentle kiss on his forehead. "Then give me the tools I need."

"I will,"Rutherford said as he bowed his head.

Clarence had seen enough. If he stayed there in that doorway any longer, he would not be able to stop himself from running into the room and killing Rutherford. As it was, his whole body was trembling from anger. He said nothing as he and Sonya made their way up the stairs. Sonya was the one to break the silence. "Wasn't that-?" She trailed off. She knew Clarence had understood her.

Clarence was silent. No confirmation was needed. Franklin Rutherford, Principal of Peppertongue, beloved mentor of hundreds, was in Belrose's employ. Rather than protecting children from harm, he was handing them over to the wolves. Clarence had to remain silent. If he opened his mouth, he would begin to scream and Clarence did not know when he would stop if he started.


"Fucking traitor," Huerta spat out, the first to break the silence that had fallen over the group after Clarence gave his report. A stack of copied papers lay on the table before them, forgotten.

"And you are absolutely sure about this?" Albus inquired softly. He looked distraught. Clarence had sympathy for him. Albus Potter was new to the group and was not yet used to the feeling of betrayal. Looking around at the people gathered around the table, Clarence knew the rest of the group had more than enough experience. Clarence could see that Albus was trying to detach himself from the situation. He absolutely had to, otherwise it would be impossible for him to face Rutherford the next day and pretend as if nothing had changed.

Sonya leaned against the table as she nodded, a sour expression on her face. "We saw him with our own two eyes. He was there with that bitch."

Scorpius cleared his throat. Knowing that Rutherford was on Belrose's side was an important tidbit of information, but it was not the reason the team had been sent into the devil's lair. As he sent a sidelong glance in Albus's direction, he had a feeling that changing the subject would not be a bad idea, in general. "Did you find out when she is planning this attack?"

"It's not an attack. It looks like it's more of a... demonstration," Clarence explained. Opening the folder of papers, he turned it so Scorpius could see the diagrams and charts on the page. "Whatever this demonstration entails, it will happen at the end of February. It doesn't give us a lot of time."

"Who was the student?" Albus suddenly asked. Scorpius sighed. He should have known that Albus would not have let the matter slide, especially when there was a child involved.

"Jeremy Collins," Sonya muttered, looking away from the group as tears sprang to her eyes.

Clenching his fists, Scorpius turned his gaze down to his feet. Albus saw the change and looked at Scorpius worriedly. Reaching out, he put a hand on his arm. "Did you know him well, Scorpius?"

A small nod. "I did." Scorpius looked at Albus. "You did too, in a way. He was the one that nearly punched your face in when we first ran into each other in Barrow's Books," he explained, a dark grin crossing his face. Jeremy Collins was a bit of a bully, but Scorpius always had pity for the boy. He had met his draconian parents. He had seen Collins come back to school from long weekends with the hint of bruises. He had seen the boy push people away. Scorpius pitied him. The boy may have been a bully, but no one deserved what Belrose was invariably doing to him.

Albus looked disturbed at the news, his hand trembling as he clenched it, steadying it against his legs. Albus truly was remarkable, Scorpius decided. Jeremy Collins was not even his student and the one occasion they had crossed paths, young Mr. Collins had attempted to forcibly separate Albus's head from his shoulders. Though young and inexperienced, it seemed Albus had turned out to be a better teacher than Rutherford.

"Clarence," Scorpius continued, "I want you to get some of the Zenbazi students to tail Collins. It's not as if she could just murder a student," he said, trying to reassure Albus. When it came to their particular war, Death was a variable thing. "He is probably back in the dorms now. I want them to see if he would be an asset." Clarence nodded his head, understanding his instructions. They often recruited from Belrose's castoffs.

"Scorpius..." Albus's voice was filled with disappointment, his eyes full of shock.

Scorpius just sighed. Albus really was a good teacher. Perhaps, too much so. "Leave us," he said, motioning for the rest of the group to leave the room. Scorpius was not the leader of the group as the group had no formal leader, but the rest of them understood the need for privacy in that moment and yielded to Scorpius's request.

Leaning against the table, Scorpius flipped through the report. He did not have to look at Albus to know his friend was looking at him expectantly. Scorpius, however, did not have a stirring speech in place. He was far too exhausted, physically and mentally, to be inspiring. He could only hope that honesty would not fail him in that moment. "I do not want to involve children, either, Albus, but look at us," he said tossing the folder onto the table, bringing a hand up to his forehead, rubbing at his temples. "We need everyone we can get. We are horribly outnumbered as it is."

Scorpius was not sure how he had been expecting Albus to react. Argue, perhaps. Certainly, he was expecting Albus to say something. What he was not expecting was the feel of Albus's hand on his shoulder. When he looked at him, Albus gave him an understanding smile in return. "I think I know of a man who might be willing to help. This way, we don't have to rely on the children as much."

He was thankful that Albus showed sympathy for their situation, but he doubted that Albus Potter of all people knew of anyone who could aid them in their time of need. After all, who could the Potters know that would be willing to commit what would probably be considered treason, among other things, when all was said and done? Scorpius doubted Albus's connection could help, but he had seen stranger things in his life. "This man wouldn't happen to an have arsenal at his disposal, would he?"

Albus laughed, shrugging one shoulder at the question. "I don't know about 'arsenal', but he has always had quite the affinity for explosions, in any case."

TBC