Chapter 35

"Rosa!" Lily cried, running over to her friend. "I was so worried when no one could find you ."

"I was captured by Alek, but Axel helped me get out. Axel knew he couldn't get both of us out, so he-he stayed behind." Rosa started to cry. "You don't think they'll kill Axel for helping me do you?"

"Axel was always friends with Alek. I doubt he'd kill him," Lily said, hugging Rosa. "I know it's scary to think about Axel, but you're safe now. Everything is going to be okay now."

"Thanks. It was awful. They kept me in a cell underground. They didn't give me much to eat or drink. I don't know why they even wanted me. As far as I know I wasn't even ransomable. Oh! Alek told me he killed my parents,"Rosa said. "Did he actually kill them?"

"I-yes. We got word that your parents were killed," Lily said. "Tyler is taking it hard. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you."

"Yeah, can I see my brother?" Rosa asked.

"Right," Lily pulled away from Rosa.

Lily lead Rose into the room Tyler, among other young students, and showed him Rosa. Tyler got up and ran over to Rosa, hugging her and crying. "I-I thought you were dead! A-and mom and dad are dead too! I thought I was all alone."

Rosa held onto Tyler. "It's okay. I'm here now. There's no reason to cry."

"But- but I thought you were dead! It must have been hard, being trapped there,"Tyler said.

"Rose, I'd like to have a talk with you when you get a chance," Harry said.

"Of course. If it's okay with Tyler then we can talk now," Rosa said.

"I-I guess it's okay. Just don't leave the area. I don't want anything to happen to you," Tyler said.

"I won't be going anywhere," Rosa said with a smile.

Rose went with Harry into a private room. "What can you tell me about your time there?"

"They kept me locked in a cell. Axel would come and bring me food and water. I think I was locked in the basement. I was so afraid, but Axel kept people away from me. I would hear screams at night. It was horrible. I think because I was Axel's girlfriend they didn't do anything to me. They offered me a job to work with them, but I refused. I'm not evil. I don't want to fight my friends. Axel helped me get out, but he couldn't get out himself.''

"That sounds awful, but you didn't see or hear anything about what they're planning or anything that can help?" Harry asked.

"I'm sorry. I wish I could help you, but I can't remember seeing or saying anything. I wish I had so I could be more help, but I don't know anything," Rosa said. "I couldn't even tell you where I was."

"It's okay. You can just calm down here and be safe," Harry said. "You can go back to you see the others. Don't worry about anything. You're safe now."

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Scorpius! Rosa's back!" Lily said brightly, hugging her boyfriend. "I was so worried she was dead! But she's not! She's alive!"

"That's great. I have to admit that I thought she turned to the dark side because of Axel," Scorpius said.

"Rosa would never be evil! Not even for Axel," Lily said. "Didn't you here what she went through?"

"Yeah but she's well kept. And what did they plan on doing with her? We didn't get a ransom or anything like that. They had no reason to keep her there. I just can't help but think there's more going on than people think."

"How can you say that?" Lily asked. "Rosa is on our side. Why would you think otherwise?"

"I'm just saying, it's odd. And why now? When we're actually making headway in the war?"

"I don't understand how you can think stuff like that," Lily said.

Scorpius sighed. "You're probably right. I just don't like it.''

"I think you're just paranoid," Lily said.

"Maybe. I probably would think the same thing of anyone who says they got away from Alek," Scorpius said. "I didn't say anything about it before because I didn't want to worry you, but they think Rosa killed her parents."

"What? Why would she do that? It doesn't make any sense. If she was captured by Alek, how could she get to her parents to kill them? Why would she even kill her parents?" Lily asked.

"I know it's hard to believe, but I really don't think we can trust her," Scorpius said.

"But, she's our friend," Lily said, looking down.

"She's working for Alek. I'm sure of it," Scorpius said.

"But," Lily looked down.

"Your dad believes the same thing,"Scorpius said.

"He does?"

"Yes. Most people here don't believe her. I mean, things don't add up. I'm sorry Lily, but she's not on our side."

"That's not true! Rosa would never do something bad or evil or anything wrong," Lily started to cry.

Scorpius hugged her. "I know it's hard to believe." He felt like he was saying the same thing over and over again. He'd say them until Lily understood everyone else already saw. "But she's not a good person."

"I just, I've always been friends with Rosa," Lily said, looking down. "It's hard to believe she's evil, or at least, working with evil."

"I know, but it's the truth. You have to understand that," Scorpius said.

Lily looked down. "I'll believe you. I don't want to, but I will. I guess. If she really killed her parents then that does mean she's evil."

"She's working for Alek," Scorpius said.

"Then how do I act around her?" Lily asked.

"Act like nothing wrong. We'll give her wrong information to send back to Alek. She'll run back to Alek sooner or later."

"It's just a lot to believe," Lily said. "I don't know if I can act the same way around her."

"It will help everyone if you act like nothing's wrong," Scorpius told her.

"I'll do my best," Lily said. "But it'll be hard, Can't Dominique and Roxanne take care of spending time with her?"

"I'm sure they wouldn't mind," Scorpius said.

"That's good," Lily said. "I still have trouble believing that Rosa is evil."

They stopped when they heard screaming. The two got up and ran to where the screaming. Rose was screaming at Rosa. "You! We all know you're working for Alek! You're part of the group that killed my dad! I-I'm going to kill you!"

"I- I don't know what you're talking about," Rosa said, taking a few steps back. "I had nothing to do with your father's murder!"

"Lair! Rose screamed.

Hermione came up and held Rose back. "Shh, it's okay. Rosa didn't kill your dad. She was with you when he was killed right? There was nothing to say she's working with Alek either. We don't know anything right now. You need to just calm down."

Rose started to sob. "But-but," She sank to he floor, her mother's arms still around her.

"It's okay Rose. Let's go back to your room so you can clam down," Hermione said, leading Rose away.

"But I'm not evil," Rosa said.

"Yo were dating Axel and no one is debating that he's evil," Scorpius said.

"Axel is., well, so what? That doesn't make me evil," Rosa said.

"We have proof that you killed your parents," Scorpius said.

"Butt that's, you don't understand! Alek is going to make a world were everyone will be happy! I do follow Alek, and I love Axel." She took out a portykey. "I wish I could stay longer, but it's time to go." With a flash of light she was gone.

"Damn it. We could have used her,"Harry said, having run over when he heard the screams.

"But at least we're sure Rosa is evil, or at last on Alek's side," Harry said.

"I-I-"Lily looked down. "I didn't want to believe it, but I can't deny what just happened. I-why would she do this?"

Scorpius hugged Lily. "I told you this was the case. But it'll be okay." Scorpius just held Lily for a little while. "It was probably Axel. He got her into this. I don't think she would have gotten involved in all of this."

"So, we might be able to save her?" Lily asked

"Lily, she killed her parents. When we catch her she's going to Askaban," Scorpius said.

Lily looked down, "Why would she kill her parents?"

"I have an answer for that. He's giving all magic users a way to become honorary haftbloods. They kill their muggle parents and they're seen as halfbloods and not as muggle borns," Harry explained.

"So she killed he parents so she could live in Alek's new world?"Lily asked. "That's so horrible: telling kids they can only live as humans is if they kill their ties to the muggle world. It's just horrible."

"I know. This is an evil wizard we're working with. He wants control over everything. If he can get people to kill their family, then they would be his. They'd have nothing to go back to if they want to leave Alek, if they even can leave Alek without being killed," Harry said. He shook his head. "I know it's bad, but that's why we're fighting. We don't want Alek's world. We want to keep order and not live under a dictatorship. "

"That sounds horrible," Lily said. "Why is he doing this?"

"Some people just want the world to be theirs. Most the dark wizards ties to take over, but most of them fail horribly. Alek must have been planning this for a while. He's smart," Harry said.

"There's rumors that Alek is a part of Voldemort, that they're connected somehow." Roxanne said.

"But even if that's true, it doesn't help the case against him. He's still evil and will still end up in Askaban when we capture him, if we get hi alive at least," Harry said. "And there's no proof that he's connected to Voldemort. It doesn't matter, even if he is connected to Voldemort. He's still done plenty of evil stuff, and he's different enough that I doubt he has anything do with Voldemort."

"What about Albus?" Lily asked. "He's not evil too is he?"

"I don't think so. I think Alek has made Albus dependent on him. I don't think Alek would do anything to put into danger. He probably is just there. When I was captured,I saw Albus. It was clear he didn't understand what was going on."Harry explained. "I think Alek might want Albus because he thinks he loves him. Voldemort wasn't able to love. So he's better than Voldemort, it only for that one reason. It's not enough to save him though."

"That makes us giving him back to Alek so horrible. Alek is clearly emotionally abusing him. How is he going to react when we finally save him, again? You saw how he was when we had him here. Think about how much worse it will be this time," James said. "Mom died protecting Albus, and you just sent him back. Her death is meaningless."

Harry looked away. "We had to save those people. I wish there was another way, but we had to save the many and not the few. Don't you know I have to live with the fact that my wife, the love of my life, died saving my son and then we gave him back? It eats me alive. I want Alus to be safe, but there's nothing I can do."

"Damn it," James said. "I know there's nothing more I can do, but, he's my little brother. I'm supposed protect him. I've failed him as a brother. I couldn't protect him."

"Don't blame yourself with that happened. There was nothing you could do. There was nothing anyone could. Should have just let all of the hostage die?" Harry asked.

"No. I understand why it happened, but it doesn't mean I have to like it," James said. "At least you and Lily are okay. I don't think I could handle if anything happened to either of you two."

"Lily will be safe. She's staying here with Scorpius. They're not really doing anything dangerous," Harry said. "I can't promise my own safety. I can promise to try and stay alive. I don't plan on dying. It's getting late. You should head to bed."

"But I-"

"You won't help anyone if you're sleepy. " Harry said.

"Alright fine. Wake me up if something happens."James said, leaving to go back to his room.