Grim-faced Aurors escorted him to an interview room with an openly displayed two way mirror. Scorpius saw Edgar sitting with his back to the door. The view of concrete block was uninspired but better than giving observers facial clues to analyze.

"Five minutes," growled the Auror with a moustache.

"Fifteen," Scorpius said. "We have a lot to talk about." He looked at the younger, clean-shaven Auror. "Ask Harry Potter for permission again if you like."

"No, uh—"

"He has better things to do." Moustachioed Auror thrust open the door.

Scorpius went inside and picked up the chair facing Edgar. Once he sat next to his friend, he said, "I thought you'd be out of here by now."

Edgar shrugged. "Legally they can hold me twenty-four hours without pressing charges. If they didn't interrupt naps to go over my statement it wouldn't be half bad." After a few moments of silence, he said, "So are you going to tell me, or are you going to make me ask?"

Scorpius could toss back the same questions. "Teryn's with the Weasleys for now. I packed her things, including a diary with very familiar handwriting." A sideways glance caught Edgar's flush. "Your pen friend wasn't Marianne Willoughby."

"Never said she was."

"Never said she wasn't, either."

Edgar smirked.

Scorpius got the point. He wasn't the only one who let people assume what they pleased. "What do you plan to do about her?"

"Marianne? Nothing. She'll break the betrothal."

Scorpius arched an eyebrow.

Edgar said, "Teryn's father has money. He'll support her."

"Will he?" Scorpius told Edgar what he'd read in Teryn's diary. "What if her father's been spending her inheritance? He may decide to ensure she never finds out."

"I'd kill him first."

It was a rash statement to make in a room where conversations were amplified if not recorded. "That won't be necessary. A trust solicitor and Magical Law Enforcement can deal with Higgs," Scorpius said. "The Knights are the ones to worry about. Teryn wasn't a name off the registry like the others. They targeted her."

Edgar glanced away. "Father's in jail. She won't be in danger."

"Not from him."

"Not from anyone." Edgar's fists clenched. "I won't see Teryn again."

Scorpius believed his friend would try to keep his vow—and fail. "You've said that before."

Edgar scowled. "You read what she wrote about me?"

"I skimmed for information." Why anyone thought he'd be interested in melodrama and gushing romance for its own sake he had no idea. "Teryn cried herself to sleep every time you said you couldn't risk being caught anymore and drew hearts and flowers when you owled and changed your mind."

Edgar averted his gaze. "I felt sorry for her. She doesn't have other friends."

"And on the island? What did you feel when you saw Teryn's face? Were you sorry for her?" Scorpius didn't allow time to answer. "Did you know what was going to happen? Would you have saved a victim who wasn't pretty and in love with you?"

"Of course I would!" Edgar surged to his feet and stood over Scorpius, eyes blazing. "I'm not my father!" He backed away. "I can't believe you asked."

Scorpius jerked his head toward the mirror. "They needed to hear it. Why do you think Aurors keep going over your statement? You stonewalled them. Don't tell me you didn't. You told them so little they couldn't decide whether to make a deal or charge you as an accessory."

Edgar shook his head. "I won't testify."

"You shouldn't have to." Scorpius heard the door open and called out, "It hasn't been fifteen minutes."

"That's even more impressive. Have you considered Auror training?"

The voice held no trace of mockery.

Fighter against evil and a career counsellor too. Scorpius stood to face Harry Potter. "The world doesn't need another Super Wizard."

Potter said, "A brave man once told me fighting the Dark Arts is like fighting a many-headed monster, something unfixed and mutating. There will always be a need for heroes—whether or not they become inspiration for wizard comics."

It was Scorpius' turn to be impressed. He tried not to show it. "Is that your recruitment speech?"

"No."

"You should use it. It'd be effective with Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs."

"They don't need recruiting. I'm looking for more diversity."

Don't look at me. "I'm here for Edgar. You don't need his testimony to get a conviction. Let him go."

"That can be arranged." Potter turned his serious gaze on Edgar. "Once you answer a few final questions."

Edgar nodded curtly.

"With his solicitor present," Scorpius said.

"Of course. You can stay until Pritchard arrives."

"Thank you." Scorpius waited for Potter to leave to remove the letter from the inside pocket of his swim trunks. "This is from Teryn."

"Tell her you couldn't give it to me."

Scorpius unfolded the parchment. "Very well, I'll read it to you. Dearest—"

Edgar snatched the letter out of Scorpius' hands. His expression was stony but the way his eyes travelled down and flickered up gave away that he read and then reread the message. "Tell her not to worry about me, to take care of herself. I'll be okay."

"You tell her."

Edgar crumpled the letter into a ball and tossed it back. "I'm not like you, able to do whatever I like. I have obligations."

To his parents and the Knights of Walpurgis—it was a toss up who was worse. "Leave the Knights. They'll want to distance themselves from your father. It's the perfect opportunity. You can—"

"—be disinherited. The Knights stand for everything my family believes in. I'll have nothing."

"You'll have friends. Work for Malfoy Enterprises."

"No."

"Then work with me. We'll start our own business." The more Scorpius thought about the idea, the more he liked it. "I don't give a damn about being a Potions Master. I was only going to Wales to avoid conflict." He almost laughed at the irony.

Edgar smiled a little. After they resumed their seats, he asked, "What kind of business?"

Until Pritchard and several Aurors came into the room they talked over possible ventures from real estate to a Quidditch Agency.

"I'll owl," Edgar said.

Scorpius left through the employees exit to avoid reporters and Apparated to his parents' London flat. The doorman's eyes widened over his attire, but the man greeted him with deferential politeness. His mother and father greeted him like he'd returned from war: Mother crying and both of them hugging him as if they needed to feel that he was safe and unharmed.

"Sorry I didn't owl," Scorpius said.

"Your grandfather told us what happened." His mother gave him another squeezing hug. "We're so proud of you." She wiped her eyes and glanced toward his father, who said, "Beyond proud. Words can't express."

Emotion brought a lump to Scorpius' throat.

His mother put a hand on his arm and patted it. "Are you hungry? Mr. and Mrs. Stevens are at the market, but I can make a snack to tide you over until dinner."

"I'd rather have a shower."

"Of course. We brought clothes, just in case."

"Stop by the guest room on the way," his father said. "Your grandmother's resting, but she wants to see you, and I'm sure it would stabilise her blood pressure better than any potion."

"Yes, sir." He walked through the lounge awash with filtered light from the terrace and down the corridor to a room fit for a snow queen. His grandmother lounged against a satiny mound of pillows, reading a magazine.

She saw him and held out her arms. "Darling! You're almost tan!"

"Grandfather sent me to the Caribbean." Scorpius sat on the edge of the bed and leaned down to kiss her cheek and have his kissed in return. Her hand against his cheek felt cold. "I hope you haven't worried about me."

Her blue eyes snapped. "Draco told you about my blood pressure, the naughty boy." She waved away the topic. "The instant I learned you were safe my stress level, or whatever Muggle-sounding nonsense they call it, magically improved. I'm resting to humour everyone." She pointed to the gilt bedside cabinet. "Have some of my Belgian chocolate. The aroma alone is enough to counter Dark magic."

He thanked her and ate although he didn't need the medicinal properties. Later, after he'd showered and dressed, Scorpius sent an owl to Rose, confident its message would bring a smile to her face. He'd stay in London and they wouldn't have to wait for weekends to see each other. They could be together every night.

Mrs. Stevens served a four course French dinner out on the terrace—the most casual meal Scorpius had ever eaten with his grandparents. No one spoke of what happened on the island. The atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant. Almost dreamlike. He found himself listening for the rustle of wings.

"You look tired. Why don't you go in and rest?" his mother asked.

Scorpius went to his room and lay down. It seemed he'd just closed his eyes when a touch on his shoulder jolted him awake. He stared up into his grandfather's face, barely visible in the shadows, and realised the long summer evening had become twilight. "Was there an owl for me?" he asked, sitting up.

Grandfather engaged the bedside illumination orb and handed him a folded sheet of parchment. "Pritchard delivered the letter."

Scorpius read it and cursed. Edgar's mother was ill from the strain of all that had happened. He couldn't betray her like his father. He had to stay, and he hoped his friend would understand.

"Did you know about this?" Scorpius demanded.

Grandfather took the letter and scanned it. "I had suspicions." He tapped a finger against the ending sentences. "This part about a business. What does it mean?"

"Nothing."

"I disagree. If it means you realise you'd be wasting your time mouldering in Wales, it means everything," Grandfather said. "It means you can work for me."

.

A/N: This chapter is shorter than planned because I was going to have both Scorpius and Rose's points of view, but life happened, and I didn't, so Rose has to wait. I have an excuse, I'll be having surgery today, and all prayers and positive thoughts sent my way will be appreciated (especially around 10-12 Eastern ^_~). I'd really hate to leave a story incomplete and ruin my perfect record (not that I'm having major surgery or expecting more than an overnight stay in the hospital, it's just more fun to be dramatic, and my last surgery had complications, so I'm a bit neurotic :D).

Special thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. I haven't replied to them all yet, but I have read them, and value their encouragement. I usually put everyone's name at the end, but I'm going to be a slacker and post without the individual shout outs. You know I heart you.

Wish me luck!