Saturday November 27th 2021:
Albus kept an everlasting watchful eye on Roger seated inches away from him on the opposite side of the Slytherin table, his breakfast untouched on his plate and his hand violently clutching his fork. Scorpius was acting the opposite way, keeping his eyes on the table so he would not cause any more trouble. Scorpius' swollen bruised face attracted a lot of unwanted stares, some students whispering to one another and others coming up to him, asking what happened.
"Who did this to you?" Erika asked, resting a hand on Scorpius' shoulder.
"I don't know," Scorpius answered for what felt like the hundredth time.
"I wish I would have been there checking that exact corridor," Dominic regretfully said – who just became a prefect.
"It must have been a powerful student. Either he used some sort of spell to blind himself from your view or perhaps erased your memory after punching you, and that's why you don't remember," Erika suggested.
"Then why would he remember the actual punching?" Dominic butted in.
Erika didn't respond.
"That bastard is so guilty," Albus said under his breath.
"Who?" Dominic asked.
"Roger, from the looks of it," Erika said grimly.
"Roger... of course," Dominic growled. "He is the most likely subject. He is shown to be quite skilled in using spells and, well — it's Roger."
"And ever since he had the professors on his back he has shown to be quite pissed, but today of all days he seems fine. Suspicious?" Albus said, his eyes still fixed on Roger.
"Shame we have no proof," Dominic grumbled.
"Mr. Malfoy, what do you think you are doing wasting your time in here when I quite clearly told you to go see Madam Pomfrey?" A voice suddenly came in between Scorpius and Albus.
"I wanted to eat first, professor," Scorpius said.
"Unless you are going to starve to death, you have no excuse to choose food over your own health. Now, come along," McGonagall ordered, seizing Scorpius' arm with his uneaten chicken leg still in hand.
When that moment passed, Slytherins looked at James marching over to their table, standing behind Roger with his fists clenched.
"You. Come with me. Now," James growled.
That growl petrified Albus — who was alert to the tone from where he was seated. Not even McGonagall's preceding demand was as harsh, which felt unreal coming from James of all people.
"What the hell do you want with him, Potter?" Dylan demanded next to Roger.
"Why don't you mind your own business?" James snapped, snatching Roger's arm mirroring what McGonagall did with Scorpius, but again, much harsher. Albus bolted from his seat to follow.
James pinned the Slytherin to the cold stoned wall of the Entrance Hall with a hand fisting at his robes. "First you torment my brother, then you torture his pet, and now you beat up Scorpius. Well, guess what? Now you have to deal with me."
Witnessing, Albus could have sworn that somebody stealing the Cloak would be the primary source of James' fury, but with the subject not being touched upon once, Al couldn't respect him any more than he presently did.
"I saw you with my Cloak the other day. You aren't as slick as you think," James said.
Roger sniggered malevolently from the threat that he considered to be an empty one, which triggered both of the Potter brothers to the point of heat surging over their faces.
With his free hand, James punched the sniggering Slytherin, breaking his nose and then kicked him in the shins for good measure.
"JAMES SIRIUS POTTER! STOP THIS AT ONCE!"
The seventeen-year-old stood into place, his chest heaving up and down at an alarming rate from his hostility hammering within him. James prided in himself being tough, but he never picked a fight, even more performing physical assault. Seeing the wrongdoer squirming on the ground in anguish with ceaseless blood trickling down his nose was satisfying initially, but when his violent tendencies deteriorated, guilt swept through him.
"Come with me this instant!" McGonagall commanded, storming to James' side. He hesitantly followed her.
"Is everything alright out here, Minerva?"
Joining the scene was a concerned Professor Longbottom.
"There was an act of violence. Please escort Mr. Parkinson-Jones over here to the hospital wing," McGonagall said, tilting her head to where Roger was on the floor groaning.
That order horrified Albus from the loathsome human being in the same room as Scorpius, but he had to assure himself that Madam Pomfrey would never allow that sort of thing to happen.
When Neville assisted Roger, Albus sprinted ahead to catch up with James and McGonagall.
"James, you've got to explain everything to her," Albus whispered.
"Obviously," James grumbled.
"Including the Cloak," Albus stressed.
James made a noise that was somehow a sigh blended with a groan. "I will, but she's going to take it away for sure. Dad's gonna kill me, and Mum will do worse when she finds out."
"I'm certain she knows about the Cloak already," Albus said.
"She will only focus on how dangerous of an advantage it is after Roger using it," James argued.
"Look, just do it, okay? I've gotta check on Scorpius," Albus said, turning away, but he quickly returned to whisper, "Wicked punch by the way."
"Thanks." James couldn't help but chuckle.
XXX
The large gargoyle guarding the headmistress' office slouched aside with the mention of her password as the wall behind it separated in two.
After mounting up the continual steps of the spiral staircase and accessing through the glimmering oak door, McGonagall gestured to the chair across from hers, and so he sat down.
The office was as large and magnificent as it was when it formerly belonged to Headmaster Dumbledore, and portraits of snoozing ancient headmasters and headmistresses still remained. The only alterations being the additions of countless antiques and the atmosphere feeling more somber to the guests rather than humorous.
"Mr. Potter," McGonagall started, her hands tied together, eyes behind her squared spectacles focusing on the teen. "I am honestly speechless from your previous actions. You have always been one to cause mischief here and there, but never have you done such a thing like this—"
"Professor," James interrupted. "I couldn't just not do anything about Roger! He is cruel and dangerous! Have you seen Scorpius Malfoy's face? He did that to him!"
"What proof do you have of this, Mr. Potter? A teacher has been watching Roger Parkinson-Jones daily," McGonagall informed.
"I can't explain that, professor, but all I know is that someone knocked me out with a body-binding spell so I couldn't see his face. Next thing I knew..." James took an intake of breath "my Invisibility Cloak was gone."
That seemed to strike McGonagall's attention. "Is that so?"
"Yes, and he must have used it to beat up Scorpius! If you or any other of the professors need proof, dig into Roger's pockets and find the Cloak."
There was silence.
"I appreciate you telling me this. It was a very bold action. However, my hands are tied. It was very wrong of you to fight fire with fire, and to use your father's cloak when not in crucial circumstances. I will be retracting your house fifty points, and you will be serving a night's worth of detention."
James reacted as if someone punched him in the stomach. House points have always been important to him, and Gryffndor had been first place for the last few years.
"However, because of your boldness and loyalty, you also earn ten points."
"Thank you, professor."
From the oak door unanticipatedly came a knock.
"Who is it?" McGonagall asked.
"It's Cora Figel, professor."
James hoisted his droopy head, feeling his spirits rise. Cora was frequently kind and understanding towards him.
Cora walked inside.
Back in James' second, third, and fourth year a radiant scarlet glow formed at Cora's smooth dark brown cheeks from eying over at him, but ever since she had a boyfriend that no longer was the case; James didn't know how to feel about that.
"Sorry for barging in, mam, but this had to do with James' current situation," Cora said, "and if you ask me, Roger deserved what he got."
"Thank you!" James praised, fighting off the craving to get up and hug her. Seeing McGonagall's cold piercing reaction, he recognised his mistake and stayed silent.
"Ms. Figel, you know very well that violence in this school is not permitted, no matter how "worthy" of the victim it is—"
"—yet it's alright for Roger and other students to do the exact same thing? Before the watch was put on Roger, mind you. I've seen him, Dylan Brageth, and Anastasia Cynder of Hufflepuff abuse students whether it is verbal or physical, and nobody seems to care or notice! Well, I am willing to change all of that..."
XXX
By the time Scorpius and Albus returned to the Great Hall, there was a commotion of troubled voices, particularly at the Ravenclaw table. They didn't have time to see the cause of this with Cora storming off from her table past Albus and Scorpius.
"Cora? What's going on?" Albus asked before she was completely out of sight or earshot.
"Ask them," Cora said. "I'm sure they'll be happy to tell you."
Unsure, both of the boys decided to go to the table that was making the most noise. They asked the Ravenclaws the same thing they asked Cora, and Louis responded with, "Vell, first it vos the Gryffindor table freaking out for a reason I'm not sure of, and then Cora Figel told McGonagall that zis school was too dangerous. Now everybody is pissed off at her. I don't really mind zoh."
"Poor Cora," Albus mumbled, believing what she was doing was entirely justified.
"Wonder what was going on at the Gryffindor table," Scorpius said.
Albus looked, and that's when he realised that he didn't see his brother anywhere. "Where's James? He should have been back by now."
They walked over to the Gryffindor table, but before they could question anyone, Lucy Weasley (without looking at them) asked, "Wondering what all the commotion is about?"
"Yeah," Albus replied.
"James cost our house fifty points," Lucy said, playing a game of Exploding Snap with her sister, Fred, and Lily.
"Do you know where he went," Albus asked.
"Nope."
Lily suddenly signaled for Albus to go over to where she was. "He went to the Trophy Room," she whispered.
"He told you that?" Albus said, sceptic.
"Don't you know? I never let anyone leave without telling me where they're going," Lily said proudly.
Albus smirked and latched onto Scorpius' arm so they could make their exit.
In the Trophy Room stood James, staring longingly at the glass-overlaying case of Quidditch Cups and Awards, with his hands buried into his pockets. Albus and Scorpius opened the already ajar door.
"What are you two doing here?" James asked gloomily.
"We wanted to know where you were," Albus said.
"How did you know I would be here?" James questioned.
"Lily," Albus said simply.
"Of course," James said, rolling his eyes and looking back at the special services of the school.
"What are you even doing here?" Scorpius asked, taking a step forward.
"I wanted to be alone, but obviously it didn't work," James said. "And I just wanted to look at the trophies."
"You seem to be staring at just one," Albus pointed out, standing next to James. "Are you looking at the trophy of our Dad or something?"
"Err, yeah."
"You can't fool me. You're looking at the photo with Cora catching the Snitch back in 2019," Albus said.
James looked like he was going to deny that accusation, but instead he said, "What? How did you--"
"James, I have been having detention for a year. I know exactly where everything is behind that glass," Albus said.
"So, what happened with McGonagall?" Scorpius said.
"I told her... everything. I told her to check for the Cloak in Roger's robes or in his dormitory. And she removed a lot of points from our house. Now my housemates practically hate me, since, y'know, we were doing so well for the past couple of years. Since people barely come here, I felt it was a good spot. By the way, how is Cora doing? When I left, the focus was no longer on me but on her. Apparently she yelled at McGonagall for the danger in this school and wanted a more watchful eye from the professors."
"We saw her," Scorpius said. "Running out of the Great Hall."
James looked concerned. "I may think she went a little too far, but she doesn't deserve all that hate."
"Well, we're going to Hogsmeade since we can now -- want to come with us? Maybe take your mind off it?" Albus requested.
"I don't really feel like it, but thanks," James said.
"Wow, he must really be out of it. He never says no to Hogsmeade," Albus whispered to Scorpius as they left.
"Albus! Scorpius!" a voice addressed, running up to them when they were about to head outside. It was Dominic. "Did you hear? Roger just got expelled! Even most of his "friends" seem indifferent about it."
The two teens beamed.
"It's about time!" Albus said, delighted.
Speak of the devil, the recognizable raven-haired teen rounded on them.
"Nasty beat-up you got last night," Roger drawled darkly.
The three opposing boys stood in utter fear. They have never heard Roger speak before, and already they were missing when he didn't.
"You should be grateful, I actually let it easy on you." Roger's sneer intensified. "Oh, and if you can, give your father the same treatment. Tell him it's from me. Ditto for James Potter."
"You son of a bitch!" Albus bellowed as his fellow Slytherins attempted to hold him back. "Someone as evil as you deserves much more than just expulsions!"
"Yeah, I know many will relish seeing you in the Daily Prophet a couple of years from now, locked in Azkaban," Dominic said.
Roger scowled as McGonagall led him away. A few feet away the boys heard Peeves chanting:
Nasty Roger,
always a bother.
Throwing punches and
scowls in your wake,
now do you see what is at stake?
When Peeves was to continue or restart his opening line, McGonagall ordered, "That is enough, Peeves!"
For once in their lives, the three boys laughed along with the wicked poltergeist, but that moment was short-lived when a horn was blaring through their ears.
"Slytherin beasties," the poltergeist said, now a few inches above them. "Very impolite it is to eavesdrop and chuckle at others misfortunes."
The Slytherins barely heard a word he said from the intense ringing in their ears. They covered their ears and walked away.