Chapter 36 – Scare

Lily's POV

Lysander took me to the Three Broomsticks for lunch. We sat and talked and ate. He was very nice and generous about everything. He even bought me a butterbeer. Nobody has ever done that for me.

He had complimented me on how I looked even if I wore a over-size coat and gloves. We talked about Quidditch and that always gets me going for awhile. We talked about his band that he was starting up and I was glad he knew what he wanted to do after Hogwarts. He said he was looking for some kind of singer. He asked me if I wanted to take any part, but I told him I couldn't sing.

"Oh, sure you can. Remember that time our families got together and you and Rose sang for all of us."

"Ly, that was before I started Hogwarts. I'm flattered thatyou think I have a good voice, but what makes you think I have a good one now?"

"Sing and I'll tell you."

"You'll only be nice and tell me I don't suck when I really do."

"Actually I'm a very honest person. I told Lucy once that her hair was horrendous and that she should fix it."

"Ouch."

"So, come on, please?"

"Oh, alright, but don't be ashamed to tell me if I suck, ok?"

"Just sing already, will you?" I smiled and cleared my throat and sang a note of one of my favorite songs. It was a soft and beautiful note that I loved, but I knew I couldn't touch the notes as clearly as my favorite singer can. I finished and looked at Ly.

"It was good. It was really good. You had one glitch, but really you could become a star." I laughed. "Not that you're already not one." I blushed. I figured this would be the moment I would tell him the truth of how I felt about him. I really liked our date, but I really couldn't see us going any farther.

So, I told him that I really didn't think of us as a girl-boy friend kind of thing.

I was so nervous he would take it the wrong way, but he actually didn't. He was pretty sweet about it.

"Lily, it's alright. I just thought we could try it, you know? It has been fun, hasn't it?"

"Yes, it was very lovely. I'm sorry though, I feel bad."

"Why? I get to hang out with a girl like you when no other guy has gotten the opportunity. Well besides your brothers and cousins."

"Wow, you make me sound like I have no guy friends at all." We laughed.

"Well, I'm not saying you don't, but do you actually hang out with any of us?" I thought back.

"Well, I don't technically hang out with guys as much. But I hang out with guys like Derek, but he's Hugo's friend and there is Scorpius, but he's Albus' friend. I guess I just hang with the guys who are my relatives' friends. That's pretty bad, huh?"

"Not so bad." He said. "So will you be our singer? Once we're out in the open we should pay well." I laughed.

"No offense, Ly, but I'm only a fourth year. I love to sing, but not in front of people and I don't need money."

"Yet." He added with a smile. I laughed. "Well, there is always a spot open for you if you want it."

"Thanks."

"No problem." He leaned back in his chair. "Say, why don't we head back? I'll buy you another butterbeer for the road."

"No, you don't have to do that, really, we can just head back."

"You sure? It gets pretty nippy out there." I smiled.

"I'm good. Promise, but thanks for the offer."

"Alright, then let's hit the road." We both stood up and exited. He held out his arm for me to take and I did.

I saw Derek and Hugo ahead of us. I felt an urge to hide, but as long as Hugo is with him I'm sure I'll be fine. They didn't look back so that made me feel better.

We got back and I turned to Ly and told him thanks again. I leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. He looked surprised and I laughed and waved good-bye. He finally waved and we went opposite ways.

I heard a noise and looked behind to see Derek looking over his shoulder at me. I quickly looked away and kept my head down. I felt bad. Truly I did, but he should learn to control his feelings for me.

And of course I didn't sleep well that night. I kept waking up at the slightest noise thinking he was out to get me: To tear me limb from limb.

Scorpius' POV

It was the last week of December and the snow still hasn't come. The temperature was odd as well. It was around the 60s and it was December.

I walked to my favorite spot. It's a secret secured place that nobody knows about. It's easy to get to, but hard to find. Well, at least I thought.

The weather was nice and I thought I could use this time to kick back and enjoy it.

I walked there and stood right in the heart of it and breathed in the fresh air. I looked across the grounds and watched as the mountains in the distance gleamed a pearly blue color. It must be cold up there compared to here.

"Lovely, isn't it?" I heard a voice behind me and I whipped around. Lily was smiling up at me. I didn't even realize she was there because the trees near the entrance blocked the view of where she sat.

"What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question."

"Well, I asked you first." She rolled her eyes.

"Enjoying the nice weather, of course." It was a pretty warm week, but not warm enough to get rid of my coat.

"Winter will be here soon, so don't get too used to it."

"Oh, I know. So what brings you here to my spot?"

"Your spot?" I asked.

"That's right."

"I don't see your name on it."

"It doesn't have to have it." I gave her a lop-sided smile.

"Well, it just so happens I found this spot first." I said.

"No, you didn't. How would you know?"

"I don't have to prove it." I said to her.

"Funny."

"I know I am."

"Fine, you can have it. I'll just have to find a new one." She said standing up and turned to leave.

"Lily." She turned back around. "You don't have to leave, you know. I'm more than happy to share."

"Are my ears deceiving me or did you just say 'more than happy to share?' Funny I didn't know you knew what that word meant." I laughed.

"Watch it. I might forget I even mentioned the offer." She smiled.

"Thanks."

"Whatever." I sat down opposite her and sat sideways on the wall in between two of the pillars.

"So, when did you find this place?" She asked me.

"My first year. Some seventh year Gryffindor tried to duel me and I just ran and that's where I found this place." She nodded.

"What about you? I have never seen you here until now?"

"Well, I just found it when I was hiding from Derek."

"Derek?"

"Yeah, well, he found out about Lysander and me and well you remember that he fancies me or so."

"I see." I said. "Well, do you like him?"

"Lysander? No, we're only friends."

"No, I meant Derek."

"Yeah, why wouldn't I like Derek? He's a sweet guy." I nodded.

"Then you shouldn't hide from him. Maybe you should talk to him." She stared at me and I stared back at her. She turned away. She probably realized I was right.

"What if I don't want to?"

"Then he could get the wrong idea and attack someone close to you, like Carrie." She looked up.

"You really think it was him?"

"Yeah, I do, but I can't prove it can, I?" Lily bit her lips while looking at the ground. "Lily." I called to her. I twisted in my seat so that my elbows pressed down on my thighs as I looked over at her. "Lily." I called again. She finally looked up.

"He couldn't have attacked her, Scorpius." She whispered worriedly. I didn't no what to say. Then a brush of breeze swept by that gave me goose-bumps.

"That was chilly." I said rubbing my hands together.

"Yeah, I was thinking of heading back." She said.

"Hang on, I'll come with you." I grabbed my bag and walk to her side. We walked in silence to the Slytherin Common Rooms before Lily went up the stairs to the Girls' Dormitory she turned to me.

"What would you do if you knew someone who liked this other person and that someone didn't want the person they liked to know?" I surprised by her question. Was she talking about Derek? It just had to be him, who else would she be talking about?

"Just talk to him, Lils." I turned around and walked up.

The weather was still nice the next week. I couldn't have been happier. I hated winter. I hate being cold, so I was glad that the weather kept winter from coming. Well, for now.

Even if the weather was odd and winter hasn't started, our team took advantage of it. Landrae had us do the normal routine. I hated the normal routine. It hardly helped us improve our game. We had held try-outs in the beginning of the year for a new Chaser and Lorraine Lordingale was the best amongst the other pathetic Slytherins. Much to Lily's displeasure.

We just got done with practice and saw the Hufflepuff team loosening up on the side.

We held practice at least once every week, which isn't good for us. We should be practicing at least three times a week. When I mentioned this to Lily it was one of the many things Lily loved to complain about.

"You're always saying that. Maybe when you're captain you can do whatever you want." I knew I talked about Quidditch and captaincy to her a lot and I knew it annoyed her too. I love annoying her. It's funny. Sometimes I would go farther and talk about Lorraine.

"Ugh, how can you talk about such a cow?" She would begin. "Sorry, I know you two have some sort of relationship, but that girl needs to grow up."

"You shouldn't be talking." I said to get her going.

"What are you talking about? I'm not fake, like her. I don't go around saying 'Oh my God,' at the start of every sentence. I don't walk like a penquin down the halls." She would sometimes imitate her that always made me laugh.

"But don't think it's true. I mean who walks like that?" Then I would start to say I heard enough about it, but that's when she'd say: "Ok, I'm done. I swear I won't talk about her anymore. Just don't mention her again." Then for some reason I would push it even farther.

"Why do you hate her so much?" Are one of the things I would ask her.

"For the last time, I don't hate her. She just annoys me. She thinks she can get anything she wants because of her looks."

"Jealous much."

"Jealous? Of her? Keep dreaming. I just wish that for once in her life she doesn't get what she wants. Are you going out with her?" She asked randomly.

"No, why?"

"Good, because I saw her making out with Landrae before Christmas break. I think that's how she got on the team, you know."

"Uh huh, keep telling yourself that, Lils. She isn't bad, you know." Lily rolled her eyes. I smiled. "So, did you talk to Derek, yet?" She didn't respond at first.

"Yeah."

"Well, that's good. But I was doing some thing and I think we should turn him in." I suggested.

"Why?"

"I saw him last night in the forest. You should be more careful. He could…"

"That's not fair. He has to be locked in that cage. He should be allowed some kind of freedom."

"Yeah, well, one can never be too careful. I mean in the past he nearly killed students if given the chance." I said. "I should know. Your brothers and I nearly died once."

"Well, I'm sure if he has been good for four years, it shouldn't be a problem for the next three." I shook my head at her.

"Why are you always standing up to him when he could have killed you for being with Lysander Scamander?"

"It's what I would want if I were him: to have friends who care about me."

"Yeah, well, just keep your eyes open." I said to her.

"Yeah because I'm going to walk around blind-folded." She said sarcastically.

"Lily." I said warned her.

"Ok, ok, I will, but really, Scorpius, I'm sure I'll be fine."

"You can keep saying that, but one of these days you'll eat your own words." She snorted.

"We'll see."

"That's right." We heard a splash near the lake. We both spun around to the sound. Lily ran over to the lake and I followed behind.

Rose was starting to sink to the bottom.

"Rose!" Lily yelled and grabbed her arm trying to keep her from going down. Then Lily fell in and drifted farther away.

"Scorpius! Help! I can't swim." She yelled. I couldn't either. I didn't know what to do. It wouldn't be of much help if I went in to try and save them. And it was all happening so fast.

"Pump your arms!" I yelled to her. It was the only thing I knew about swimming. Lily did what she was told and she still held onto Rose and she was pumpingto stay up; bearly.

"I can't go on much farther. Get someone, hurry!" I was going crazy. There was nobody around. I saw a shadow and I looked up. It was Jack Longbottom. He just caught the Quaffle that flew far away from the pitch. Some one must have missed really bad.

"Jack!" I called up to him. He looked to see who called his name and looked down. I pointed at the lake and he saw Rose and Lily. His face looked terrified and he dove. Lily had gone down by then.

Jack plunged into the water with tremendous speed. Within a matter of seconds he was back up with Lily who was coughing up water. I grabbed Lily by the shoulders so he can go in the water again.

"Are you alright?" I asked Lily as I laid her on the ground. She sat up slowly.

"Yeah." She coughed out water and skidded toward the edge of the lake looking for Jack and Rose. They finally emerged out of the water.

Jack flew to the ground with Rose in his arms and sat her down. She was all blue in the face.

"She's not breathing!" Jack said feeling her pulse. He put her back on his broom and flew off toward Hogwarts to bring her to the Hospital Wing window.

"Come on. Let's go see if she is ok." I said to her. Lily looked shocked or on the urge of crying I couldn't tell.

"Lily, come on." I pulled her by the arms to help her up. She was shivering and I muttered a dry charm to dry her clothes.

"Thanks."

"Come on!" We ran all the way up to the Hospital Wing. We ran and opened into the doors loudly.

Madam Pomfrey looked in our direction.

"Out!"

"No, let them be." Jack said to her. His face was stark white. Madam Promfrey gave us a nod and we hurried over. I looked at Rose and she still looked blue.

"Will she be alright?" Lily asked feared that she might be a goner. I forgot to breathe as I waited for the answer to Lily's question. Jack nodded slowly without saying a word. Phew, thank Merlin. "Oh, Rose." Lily let out and buried her face in her shoulder. Jack patted her on the back.

"Do you know what happened?" Jack asked lowly. I shook my head.

"Did you see anybody near the lake?" I shook my head again.

There was a bang of the door behind us and we all jumped to see Thor Praisley.

"Rose!"

"Ssssh, she's over here. Be quiet." I said to him. He hurried to her side and sat down beside her.

"Can I be with her alone?" He said rudely. I gave him a dark look and nodded. Lily glared at him.

"She's my cousin." Lily said.

"I'm her boyfriend."

"You're not married! Family comes first." Thor looked at her angrily.

"Lily…" I muttered. She looked up at me then at Thor again.

"Fine! But you better get someone to find me when she wakes up, you hear me?" She threatened him.

"Whatever." Thor then rounded on Jack.

"If you don't mind I will just sit here. I'm just as concerned."

"Yeah, but you're not her…"

"He's the one who saved her." Lily shouted at him. Thor gave her annoyed look.

"Fine, stay, but you better watch your back, Longbottom." He raised his eyebrows, but sat silently.

"I'm not going to steal her if that is what you mean. I just want to make sure she'll be ok." He said calmly, but had a very stern look on his face.

"Let's go!" I said to Lily and she followed.

We walked down the staircase and past the Great Hall.

"Where are we going?"

"To find some kind of clue."

"But, we have no idea where to look."

"I do." I said. Lily grabbed my arm.

"Well, you better start explaining." I threw her grasp off me.

"Really, Lily, you have no idea who could have done this? Rose didn't just happen to feel like she was going to go for a swim."

"You think Derek did this?"

"That's right." I started walking again and I heard her trying to catch up.

"He couldn't have."

"He did. He has that possession on girls, remember?"

"What does he have against Rose?"

"She was one of the people on 'the list' wasn't she?"

"So?"

"We've gone through this before. We have to turn him in. We have to. He's dangerous!" I said to her.

"No, he's not! You can't do that to him! All his life he's been hoping for an opportunity to be normal. You can't just shove it back at him after one mistake from the past! He's innocent, I swear he is. If you won't fight for his side then I will. I will hurt you, to do whatever it takes." She took out her wand.

"Really? You and I both know you will do no such thing. It's unreasonable."

"You've been researching him every chance you got. It's people like you that makes him scared. He does this because you can't leave him alone. The stress on him is building up and telling him he has to do something about it. You have to…"

"I have got to do nothing. Don't you see? He's getting to you. You don't remember things because he uses you! You've got to see that!"

"I've talked to him about it!"

"He's controlling you like some puppet."

"He wouldn't! I've talked to him. He listens to me."

"But what about his other half?"

"Look, He didn't do it! You should know what it's like to be an outsider! Give him the benefit of the doubt. Give him another chance. Please, Scorpius, if not for him, but for me!" Lily started pleading. I can't let her get to me like this. I want to believe her. I really do, but Derek has gone far enough. But how can I say 'no'. What if he wasn't really behind this after all? But if he was then he might take a person's life next time. A person who will make me regret for not turning him in sooner. But I haven't seen Derek around and I might not find the proof that I might be looking for.

We were already deep in the forest because I was going to bring Lily to Lara's ghost to find things out. I stopped and sighed.

"Fine. Let's go back."

"Given in so easily?" Came a cold harsh voice in the shade of the tree. Lily and I both spun around. It wasn't Derek's voice.

"Why isn't it my only grandson? How nice to see you again."

"Lucius…" I said through my gritted teeth. He barked with laughter.

"Oh the shame. You have no respect for your elders at all. Now, you're calling me by my first name. You should have kept to calling me Grandfather." He slowly made his way from under the shade of the tree. He still had the same pale cold eyes like my father and the same pale pointed face as us. His hair was a grayish-white and was held back in a pony-tail. He looked worse than usual. There were bags under his eyes and his face was so pointy I swore I saw a bone sticking out. There hardly seemed like there was any skin left.

"Ah, you have the resemblance of a Malfoy in you. However, you look much talle than last time. And the state of your hair looks unhealthy. You do well to slick it back like your father once did. But, your father was always a disgrace to the family. After that blood-traitor loving Potter saved his life from his own friends he did nothing to stop him from ruining our future."

"More like yours. Ours, however, has been much peaceful without you around. You belong in Azkaban it suits you."

"Scorpius, I thought you put a stop to this!" Lily said.

"Quiet, Lily."

"Lily, is it?" He finally looked at her for the first time while we've been standing there.

"What is a red-headed little Slytherin girl like you doing here after hours alone in the woods with my grandson, Scorpius, here?" She didn't answer. "You didn't answer my question. I like my questions answered or I'll make you answer."

"I'm not afraid of you! My father…"I shoved my hand over her mouth before she went on.

"Your…father, you say?" He seemed to analyze her again. "He wouldn't be a Weasley would he?" I wasn't going to let Lily answer his questions if it meant it would kill her in the process.

"Boy, remove your hand from her. Let her speak."

"No. We're done here. Leave us."

"That is no way to talk to your grandfather."

"I can and I'm leaving. I'm sending father a note that you visited. He'll capture you. He's not on your side."

"I wouldn't leave if I were you. You see nobody knows you're out here do they?" I didn't answer. "And what is this I hear that you're making friends with the mudblood's daughter?" How did he know about Rose? He looked at Lily.

"She's not her daughter." I said. But Lily threw off my hand that was keeping her mouth from talking.

"You did it! You tried to drown Rose! You're the one that sent the letter!" She spat out angrily. Damn it, Lily, why'd you say her name?

"I thought the Weasleys had only one daughter. Who are you then? You look so much like them." Lucius asked her searching her face.

"She's nobody. Let's go, Lily."

"Lily…Lily…Now I remember, you look just like your mother. How could I have missed it? You have the nerve of your father. Scorpius, making friends with Weasleys and Potters of all people. I should have known. I daresay a Slytherin Potter. That interesting, very interesting." I tried pushing Lily toward the way we came in. "And what's this I hear one of the Weasleys drowned. Why I should celebrate." Whatever Lily was getting at, he wasn't the person that she thought he was.

I watched as Lucius face started to widen his evil grin inch by inch. He was going to kill her. He was going to kill both of us.

"Let's go!" I growled under my breath to her.

"Oh, that won't be happening very soon. Men, take your position." It all happened so fast. Someone had pushed me down and taken Lily out of my grasp.

"Let go of her. Don't hurt her." My head connected with the ground. There was pain and I saw spots of light. I pushed myself up only a wand was thrust at my throat. Lucius and other Death Eaters stood on each side of Lily. I looked around and there were only five other people besides Lucius.

"Now, now boy. I have a proposition to take up with you. You can have her back if you do as I ask. And dare I say you must get rid of this filth when you do." Lily gave him a loathing look.

"Well?"

"Over my dead body." I said.

"Wrong choice. Crucio." The worse sound came out of Lily's mouth. It hurt me more than her to hear her scream.

"Stop! Ok, ok I'll do anything, anything you want. Just don't hurt her." Lucius gave a cold laugh.

"Now, we're getting somewhere. It just takes time to bend to the things you really want the most. And that's what we're here for: to get what we want."

"You'll die! Voldemort died! Get over it, he's not coming back. Harry Potter destroyed him twenty-four years ago. There's nothing left for you here, but to die for nobody cares for you anymore. Not me, not your son, and not even your own wife. We've gotten on fine without you."

"Dear boy, the things you say it breaks my heart."

"Like you ever had one!" He gave a cold laugh again.

"This is too much fun. Crucio." Lily screamed again. No, no, no. I felt the ground shake under my body. For some reason I thought it was Grawp, Hagrid's younger brother, but the next thing I knew I had thrown offthe Death Eaters that were on me and the ones holding Lily.

I felt my hands shaking and looked down at them. They were glowing a pearly white. I looked over at my Grandfather and he carried a face of surprise.

I felt my hands tingle and I waved it and an enormous source of power released and made a large clearing to my right.

I felt my anger start to fade and I was on the ground, gasping for breath. Whatever that energy was made me exhausted and weak.

"Don't, don't kill her." I said still gasping for breath. My Grandfather's face went from shocked to a wide evil grin.

"Excellent."

"What should you have me do?"

"Don't do it, Scorp." Came Lily's faint voice beside me. "Don't do it. Save yourself and get my father to stop him."

"No! I'm not leaving you behind. Now, tell me Lucius what do you want me to do?"

"Bring me the vampire!"

"Deal." I stood up shakily and picked up Lily in my arms and turned to leave.

"Oh and boy, before you leave, we'll be watching your every move. I have the eyes of a hawk and important people in position watching you. And if you warn or tell anybody of what happened here, I will hunt her down and kill her myself. You have been warned." Soon they all have vanished. Of course they couldn't have apparated, but whatever they did they were nowhere to be seen.

I carried her through every part of the forest and boy did she feel heavy either that I stil felt weak. I thought sooner or later I was going to give way. But then I heard her faint voice again.

"Scorpius." It came out in a slow whisper.

"Yeah?"

"Save him." With that she was out like a rock again. I carried her all the way to the Hospital Wing.

I sat her down in the bed next to her cousin. Thor was sleeping on his chair with his head thrown back. Jack was sleeping with his arms folded watching us.

"What happened?"

"A little accident." I responded. Jack gave me a curious look, but he didn't ask anymore questions.

I sat down next to her bed massaging my arms. Then my hand all of sudden burst with pain. I looked at it and there was an irritated backwards S engraved into my right hand. It was where that source of power came from. What the hell was that?

A/N: Ok, I just got done writing the last chapter of this year and I know some of you are anxious to know who Scorpius ends up with. Well, the decision is made and it should be about 3 or so more chapters until we've reached another splendid year. Then we'll move on to their final years and you'll soon see how everything plays out. Hope you liked this chapter.