Chapter 34. Where the storm of a century hits
Scorpius arrived first at their Quidditch locker room. It was tidier than normal in preparation for their game today. Jerseys had all been freshly laundered and were hanging on the hooks above everyone's spot. Brooms were polished and groomed perfectly. Gear was mud-free and in good condition.
Scorpius ran his fingers along everyone's jersey as he took a turn of the room. This was it. For once Hufflepuff was not in the finals. The wind was very strong outside and it looked like huge dark storm clouds were gathering in the distance. Overall maybe not ideal … but they would work with it like they worked with everything that had come along all year.
Slowly the team drifted in in alternating states of pensiveness and excitement. It was game time for the last time this year with this team. Next year there would be no Nadir or Jazz. Next year there would be two new players sitting in this room with them.
It wasn't a great thought. Every year the team got to the point of being family. He didn't want it to change.
They geared up, adding an extra layer for the chilly wind and rain. Astrid's red goggles were charmed to repel water if it started raining.
Nadir gave his last speech as Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain and clapped them all on the shoulder.
They could hear Tiff announcing the Ravenclaw team and they flew out one by one for a turn around the pitch before lining up. Gryffindor was called after them.
Ravenclaw stands were very sparse compared to the other Houses. If anything, there were more Ravenclaw students in their previous game than in the actual finals. It was a let-down as always; their House was consistent in their disdain of watching sports.
Hugo won the jump ball and the game started with Gryffindor possession. Scorpius's hair whipped around his face by a sudden gust. The wind was strong.
The skies held out for the first half hour of the game. The score was even at 60-60, tie game. All the players on the pitch were having a stellar game – Scorpius had already been hit by two Bludgers, but they were giving it as much as they were taking it. The rain started out slowly at first. A pitter-patter of raindrops like bullets to his exposed skin because of the whipping winds.
Ravenclaw scored two more goals and were up. Then the rain fell harder. The increased rain with the winds kept visibility down and they struggled to even fly straight. He was sure Astrid and the small Keeper Ronan on the other team felt this more keenly than all the others, judging by how far they were blown off course on occasion.
They flew on through the gusts and torrential downpour. It was getting to the point of survival. They were soaking wet and trying to keep control of everything: brooms, players, and balls.
Hugo called the first timeout and Ravenclaw all flew back to their locker room to warm up. Jazz peeled her gloves off and wrung them out on the ground. "Oh I'm so envious of all the Ravenclaws tucked away safe and sound in the castle right now."
"Not even, they should be outside suffering with us in solidarity," said Scorpius.
She ignored him. "Astrid, think you'll get blown to Finland at this point?"
"No. Close a few times though." Her red goggles were the only dry part of her.
"It's an even game through and through," said Nadir. "Rose, how goes things?"
"No Snitch in sight."
"Keep doing your best, that's all anyone can do out there. Everyone warm up a bit, drink some water, eat a snack, and let's get back on the pitch, there's only a few minutes left for timeout."
The break didn't last long enough.
"It's going to be a storm soon," Scorpius heard Bitz tell Junior as they were about to get on the pitch again.
"Already one."
"No. Lightning and thunder storm."
They hit the air. It was dark – hard to believe it was only afternoon, especially since the days were so much longer this time of the year.
If it started lighting up, the game was going to get cancelled and rescheduled.
It took a little bit to warm up again after the break. The winds were gusting the hell out of Scorpius and the rain was almost impossible to see through. Gryffindor slowly crept in points and the score was 80-120.
Nadir called a timeout. The rain kept falling. It was cold. Students were leaving the game, heading back to the school.
Ravenclaw crept up in points after the timeout. 160-130. The Seekers dived twice. No Snitch. The whole damn world was flooding and blowing away and they were still playing.
Junior crashed into the Slytherin stands when the score was 180-140. There was barely anyone watching any more, most students had gone for the school long ago. The sole exception was the Gryffindor stands. Scorpius swore they were another breed of human and slightly crazy.
Maybe slightly was putting it mildly. Those still remaining were all very crazy. Players included.
Gryffindor caught up. 180-180.
This game needed to end. The conditions were making it miserable. He was sure if a Bludger hit him he would slide right off his broom.
Rose flew next to him for a spell. "Can't see anything. How's it going for you?"
"Lovely. Wonderful weather we're having."
Rose gave her right sided smile. "At least you're chipper. Junior is getting angry and Bitz is certain he's going to die soon by lightning."
Lovely that she was checking up on everyone. She looked up at the other Seeker Azur and abruptly turned around, flying into the wind to head back to the Ravenclaw end, which was barely visible.
Scorpius caught the Quaffle from Nadir and took a half-hearted shot when he got to the poles. Blocked.
Hugo was the next chatty one when Scorpius took off after him to try and steal the Quaffle. He managed to get a hand on it under Hugo's meaty arm. "Scorpius! Surprised me there. How goes it?" Hugo yanked the Quaffle further away and Scorpius pulled his arm back.
"Tad wet I'd say. Yourself?"
"More drowned than anything. It's going well."
Hugo jetted straight downwards.
If it was possible, the rain picked up even more and the clouds billowed in their darkness. Visibility was worsening and at the Ravenclaw end, Scorpius could barely see the stands. At least he could hear the loudspeaker with Tiff talking and cursing the Seekers for taking their sweet time to find the Snitch.
They wouldn't even know if someone caught the Snitch. He had to rely on Tiff for the announcement, though even then it was getting hard to hear.
Nadir scored twice in a row, carrying the Quaffle halfway up the pitch himself. Astrid struggled to even stay with the play, she was blown into the side of the Hufflepuff stands.
Gryffindor scored and Jazz threw the Quaffle to Scorpius. He made it halfway down the court before a Bludger hit it right out of his hands.
"We're going to die, we're going to die," he heard Bitz chant as he went after the wayward Bludger.
Park picked up the Quaffle near the ground and Astrid tried to grab it from him, or was blown into his side – it was hard to tell.
She fell off her broom landed in a huge mudpuddle.
Nadir flew by Scorpius. "Help her and see if she's okay, I'll try and slow down the play." He sped up and was gone after the Gryffindors.
"You okay?" Scorpius asked Astrid when he brought her renegade broom back to her. It for sure had been en route to Finland.
"Fine. I can feel grit in my mouth. It tastes nasty."
Potter landed next to them and got off his broom. "Are you okay Astrid?"
"Wait, why are you landing?" Scorpius asked. "The game's still going on!"
"No, Rose caught the Snitch. Congratulations by the way."
"Oh." It was almost unbelievable the way he said it so nonchalantly. Scorpius blinked at Potter a few times. "Are you serious?"
"No, I'm Potter … Sorry, family joke. That'll mean nothing to you." He chuckled to himself. "I know you can't see anything, but she caught the Snitch near the Gryffindor end. Astrid?"
Astrid gave the biggest smile and whoop. "Holy shit! Yes, I'm fine! We should –"
BOOM!
A huge crack of thunder broke the drowning rain and the whole pitch lit up with a lighting strike near the Forbidden Forest.
"That's the cue – get to the locker room and back to safety you both. I'm going to check on all players and make sure stands are clearing."
Potter jumped back on his broom and left them on the ground.
"We won little one," Scorpius said with a grin. "Holy hell we won." They both looked at each other and he threw his arms around her, giving her a bear hug and picking her up off her feet.
She was laughing and squeezed him back tight. Mud was getting over Scorpius from the hug, but who really cared at this moment. The rain was washing him clean as he stood there.
BOOM! The pitch lit again.
"We're going to get fried by lightning soon. Let's head to the locker rooms, I'm sure the team is already there. I don't even know what the final score is."
They flew back and were greeting by a cheering and exuberant team that all looked like they had jumped into the Great Lake. They had a giant group hug with Junior and Astrid jumping around like crazy and there was lots of laughter and smiles around.
Also exhaustion. "I vote we shower, change into dry, warm clothes, spell a protective cover over us all for the walk to the castle, and then go drink hot chocolate in the kitchens," Nadir said. "Everyone game?"
They all nodded agreement and got ready. Dry clothes and the warmth of a hot shower were so nice and Scorpius was beginning to feel his fingers again.
Luckily he had brought his warmest and comfiest clothes.
The walk to the castle was treacherous. Bitz continued his chanting about dying through some large booms. They stayed dry under their protective covering, which was the best part, and all huddled together with smiles all around.
Jazz tickled the pear and they were enveloped by the extra warmth of the kitchens. Much to their surprise, the Gryffindor team was already in the kitchens. They had some comfy looking chairs and couches around the fireplace.
Both teams were frozen looking at one another. Hugo grinned and was the first to jump up. He waved at everyone and conjured some extra chairs. "Excellent game mates. Too bad the terrible weather ruined some of the celebrations. Come join and warm up."
And then they spent the next two hours by the fireplace, drinking hot chocolate and recapping the crazy game. Singh left at one point and came back with a few blankets and games. They ate snacks courtesy of Astrid and the House Elves and talked about training for next year and over the summer. They did a hot chocolate toast to the seventh-years (Gryffindor was also losing two players), and enjoyed the fire and cozy blankets. They started playing some snapdragon when a seventh-year Ravenclaw came to the kitchens. It was one of Nadir's friends.
"There you lot are! You know there's a huge crowd of us waiting for you in the common rooms. You did just win the Quidditch Cup."
"But it's so warm here," Jazz said with a pout.
They all looked at one another. After the freezing rain and wind craziness, this fire was where everyone wanted to be. It was peaceful, and calm.
It was Nadir, as always, who was the mediator. "Let's go celebrate with our House, there are many students who have supported us throughout the year."
Probably as many students who didn't, but Scorpius kept his mouth shut.
Nadir slowly got up and they all followed suite, somewhat reluctantly. "Good talking to you all. Great game today," Nadir said to the Gryffindors. It looked like they were there for the long haul and waved bye.
Scorpius brought hot chocolate with him, feeling like he would have preferred to stay there and have a chill evening with the Gryffindors talking Quidditch.
But it was nice to get more hugs from his friends, to see all the happy and cheering faces, and to celebrate a great achievement on their end.
Rose sat down at the breakfast table with the tiniest huff. Of course only Scorpius picked up on it. He set down the Daily Prophet that had arrived two minutes before her, and hid the box his cousins sent him containing hair gel.
"What's ruffled your feathers?"
Nott looked up from his boiled egg with a curious look, but West kept his head down whilst shoving food in.
"Melody," she muttered as she poured some tea.
"Why?" West said through a mouthful of food.
"She doesn't leave me alone."
Nott gave a wry smile. "Not hard to figure out why."
Rose nodded, her mug under her face, cradling the warmth in her hands.
Scorpius frowned. "Why?"
"Because she's obsessed with animals," Nott said.
"And I'm part animal," Rose finished. "Hence more exciting than before."
"That's rude."
"I'm not offended. It's annoying right now. She wants to start a coalition for werewolf rights … I don't want to be the head of a movement. Don't need more attention."
She piled five pancakes and ten sausages on her plate, pouring maple syrup over it all.
"Where's your veggies?" Scorpius said.
"You sound like Aubrey," Nott said. "I'm going to tell her you said that."
"Ugggh. Don't …. I was channeling my mother. That's all. Forget I said anything. Anyway a werewolf rights movement doesn't sound like a terrible thing."
Rose took a huge bite of her breakfast as she shook her head. "Not interested. I don't want to be a figurehead."
"Inadvertently I think you already are." Scorpius picked up the newspaper again. "Page two. 'High ranking Ministry official comes out as werewolf.' This is the third 'outing' since Rennings sold you out. Solidarity in public identification?"
Rose scowled over her food. "I don't want any part in it. They're only interested in my last name. Apparently Melody also has a werewolf connections in Hogsmeade that wants to meet me for a werewolf movement club thing. Not interested."
Scorpius shrugged. He wasn't about to argue with her over it. "Something to think about. You don't need to make any decisions right now. Anyway, you interrupted my reading of the paper when you huffed your way in here. Let me continue …" he cleared his throat. Nott focused on his food again.
"Oh. You missed nothing interesting by the way Rose. First few pages are all boring political stuff, besides the werewolf confession. Let's see … page five has two stories about muggles and wizards levitating spontaneously in the street because they were stung unsuspectingly by a billywig in some country town in Wales … a dragonkeeper was eaten by a Chinese Fireball in Norway … boring politics on page eight and nine … oh wow. Previous Deatheater Augustus Rookwood, who's still in Azkaban mind you, found to have carved a homemade shiv out of one of his teeth and attempted to escape. That's crazy … Moving on … A Patronus of a phoenix keeps appearing in small Irish villages ... And, that's all that's worth mentioning today." He shut the paper. "Can't believe there's nothing about our win in the papers."
Nott laughed and then seemed shocked by how loud it was. "Not hard to believe. Half the Ravenclaw House still doesn't care. Only Su saw the Snitch catch, visibility was so poor. The driving rain and wind forced most of the crowds in because it was miserable sitting out there."
Westlock finally looked up from his food and looked around the table. "Hey Ralph," he yelled. "Who won the Quidditch Cup this year?"
A stocky looking seventh-year looked up, stretching his arms above his head with a large yawn. "Hufflepuff again innit?"
Westlock looked back at Scorpius. "See. That's a choir friend. Most of our House has other priorities."
"What was your point with that?" he said, annoyed. "Nott already said it all. I don't need to hear proof of how nobody in Ravenclaw cares about Quidditch. Rose are you done eating?"
She froze, fork halfway back to the sausage plate. "Why are you asking?"
"Could I get your copy of the Wolfsbane Potion? Need something to read in my spare time."
Her fork darted forward to spear two more sausages. "Sure let's go."
"See you lot in class," he said to Nott and West. He and Rose stood up. "Are you taking the fork with you?"
"I'll return the fork later. I'm a regular in the kitchens. Grab two of those biscuits for me." Scorpius did as told.
They took a roundabout way back to the Ravenclaw Towers. He followed her into a few hidden passages and up to her dorm. He started interrogating her about the last challenge 'to get to know her.' She had told Nadir that she'd do it ages ago and now she was pushing it back again. Apparently that was acceptable in Nadir's books but Scorpius had zero patience towards the delay.
"Why can't you tell me sooner? Why wait until the train?"
"Because I can."
"Nadir can still get me kicked off the Quidditch Team."
"No he can't." They reached the staircase to the sixth-year girls' dorms and Scorpius followed her up.
"If I don't make Captain next year that's basically the same thing – oh …" There was Cass and Rennings, each on their respective beds, looking at him and Rose. Rose ignored them and went to her trunk. Scorpius was frozen in the doorway.
Rennings scowled. She was brushing her long hair, still in pyjamas. She stopped mid-stroke. "Moving through the sixth-year girls fairly fast, aren't you Scorpius?"
Scorpius was sure his face was beet red. Rose lifted herself up and closed the trunk with a bang. She handed the scroll to Scorpius. "I'll meet you in class. Have some unfinished business here."
Scorpius scurried back down the stairs. Cass wasn't far behind him.
"She kicked me out as well. Should we be worried?" She glanced back towards the dorm. There was no yelling, shouting or explosions. Who knew how it would be in five minutes.
"I don't know. To be honest. She said meet her in class, so best we respect her wishes. She knows what she's doing."
Cass looked skeptical. "Dakota has been super unfiltered lately. Almost … volatile."
"Yeah, well she was publically humiliated a few times by trying to sneak into Quidditch games. Also the whole making fun of the werewolf gambit got old really quick and she's been told off for that. Not that it excuses her. It's maybe why she's been so … Rennings."
"You may have a point. Say, congrats on the win this weekend. Julie told me about the game – she was there watching for a bit before deciding to head back early."
Only true fans suffered for the sport. Scorpius kept his mouth shut, again. "Thanks. Definitely not the easiest game as a spectator or player."
"True. Also, this may be none of my business …"
"Okay …"
"… was there any truth to what Rennings said? Are you dating Rose?"
"Gross. No way. We're friends and only friends." He hoped a rumour like that never went around Hogwarts.
They arrived at Charms and went separate ways to their spots. Westlock and Nott were already there. He plunked down beside him and then opened the Wolfsbane scroll. It was three separate long parchments with writing so small he could barely read. Scorpius skimmed through the papers, laying them out on the desk in front of him.
"Merlin … what? Hunter berries – jesus. And stinkbeetle weed? This is next to impossible. Stir clockwise and counterclockwise at a beat of 50 bpm for three hours straight while humming the incantation that's a paragraph long?"
"You can stop narrarating, we're not that interested in the potion," Nott said. "And class is starting right now."
"Okay … fine." First thing first, he created a copy of the three parchments and rolled the original back up to keep protected in his bag. Then he got to writing out the potion in a larger font. It helped him understand the potion more to copy everything by hand.
Rennings walked into class thirty minutes late. Rose didn't show up. He kept up his copying, thinking about every step and ingredient in the potion.
What a masterpiece it was. What ingenuity!
He was on his eighth parchment of writing and noted somewhere in the back of his head that class had ended. Nott and Westlock got up and left. He was so close to being finished though. He kept his head down and worked.
More students filtered in the class and Scorpius realized as he finally finished his copying that there was a shadow standing in front of him. He looked up and it was Sprocket with his neck bent at a weird angle to read the nearest parchment.
"Hey Sprocket," Scorpius said. "What's going on?"
"Is that … Wolfsbane Potion?" He sounded quiet and nervous.
"Rose lent me her copy to look at. I … I rather like dissecting and learning about Potions, I guess you could say." Scorpius scratched the back of his head and stretched his neck from side to side.
"Oh. Is this to help her? You can do that?" He seemed very interested.
Scorpius shook his head before Sprocket finished. "No. Not at all. I would need years and years of studying to get to that level. Need higher education in potions … medicine … clinical studies …" Wow. He paused and thought about that. What a path that would be after Hogwarts. A life spent in study. It would be hard. Perhaps interesting though.
He could see Sprocket leaning over further to read what Scorpius had written. Scorpius angled the paper so his neck wasn't craned as much. Third year Gryffindors and Slytherins filtered into the class, intermingling and finding seats. Now that he thought of it, it seemed rather weird that Sprocket knew about Rose's troubles with Wolfsbane considering how close lipped she was about every aspect of her life. How close were they actually?
Sprocket reached out to push the top page off to look at the next page. His robes were too long and fell over his hands. He pushed his sleeves up and Scorpius could see thin long scars starting at his wrist and going up the arms, most of them hidden. The colouring of it looked similar. His nose tingled – it had the air of Dark Magic. He'd had this thought before.
He gave a small jolt in his seat. His heart started thumping faster and Scorpius did everything in his power to not make any sudden movements. Not make a scene. Keep cool and normal.
"Mr. Malfoy," Flitwick called out. "Your class ended ten minutes ago. Time to get a move on. Mr. Sprocket, please find your seat."
Sprocket looked up in disappointment and pushed the papers back towards him.
"I can show you later and go over it with you," Scorpius whispered. "Or make a copy. Whatever you prefer."
Sprocket nodded and Scorpius left the classroom.
Sprocket was a werewolf.
He was sure. No doubt in his mind this time. If Rose was a werewolf and Astrid had been mauled by a werewolf, it was no longer out of reason that there was another werewolf in the school.
It didn't really change much, this knowledge. He was still Sprocket: a small kid who excelled at Gobstones, wore red glasses, liked watching Quidditch, sang in the school choir, and made excellent costumes at Halloween.
He had a spare so he went to the library and found some plant books at the back. He had some research to do. There was so much he didn't know about the potion and the ingredients. He wanted the history of the potion as well. There had to be a book somewhere in the world detailing the potioneer's trials and successes as they were creating it. That would tell so much. For now, he could start with determining the properties and origin of the ingredients.
Jazz joined him at some point but he was too deep in research to talk much. They worked in silence. She had NEWTS to study for and was stressing more than normal with the amount of books she carried around to each class.
Scorpius didn't talk much for the rest of the day, deep in his thoughts.
He was eating with Astrid, Sprocket, Rose, and Westlock in the kitchens at suppertime, mind consumed by what he had read the past few hours and not talking much beyond 'yes' and 'no'. He was methodically inserting food in his mouth, but it all tasted the same. Rather bland.
"This is why you don't give him what he wants all at once," he heard Westlock say in some part of his mind. "He doesn't stop thinking obsessively about it. He'll be normal in a year or two, probably."
He heard the little ones laugh and sort of snapped out of his daze, blinking a few times. The room was light.
He took a bite of potatoes and realised he could taste them. They were delicious. Why did he recall a bland flavour before?
Astrid and Sprocket were talking about their year-end tests. Both seemed more tired than usual with all the studying they said they were doing. Westlock was calming them down. Rose dished an extra Yorkshire pudding on each of their plates. This was the third time she added more food to their plates, if Scorpius's foggy memory served him correctly.
"Hey. How was the conversation with Rennings earlier today?" Scorpius asked.
"It was good. We're good."
"That's it? No more drama and pettiness and shitty attitude and snide remarks?"
"Well, no promises. But she is going to tone it down a lot. She did promise to stop interfering with Quidditch. She apologized for throwing a metal chair at my face earlier this year and causing me to be late for a game. Also for stealing my Wolfsbane Potion."
"When did she throw a chair at you?" Westock asked. "What the hell?"
"Before one of my games. She tried preventing me from going."
Scorpius made a face at her. "… An apology is not enough."
She shrugged. "We reached … a mutual understanding for this year and next. It'll all be okay."
"Alright then … Good to hear."
She nodded. And that was that.
