Chapter 17
"They're on to something" Elle said when she finally took her seat on the faded upholstery of the compartment in the train. The six pairs of curious eyes that surrounded her gave her their full attention. "I've just been around all the places I used to know. Before she disappeared. They know everything about her old life. My old life. Our life" Elle corrected for the last time, fearing how clumsily the sentence felt in her lips. "I think they're getting close to finding her, but they won't let me help. They don't tell me anything, only expect to ask me questions and have me answer them. I don't get anything in return, and I don't get to know if they even think she's alive."
Rose gasped at this last remark, gripping the edge of her seat. "I don't think she's dead" Elle assured hurriedly. "But they wouldn't tell me either way" she said bitterly, her arms crossing over each other. Elle then called Harry Potter a very rude word, which caused Rose to gasp again. "Sorry Albus" Elle shot over her shoulder, but the smaller boy just shrugged. "He can be one" he agreed. Elle still blushed. She had let her emotions get the better of her. "I think they're going to search my luggage before I get it back" Elle added. "Something about the way Albus's Dad loaded my trunk onto the train for me. He was trying to inspect it without looking suspicious." Elle paused to make sure everyone was still following her. "We have to get to my luggage first" she continued. "If there's a letter, real or fake, they won't tell me if they find it before us." "I'm game" Sam said, bouncing on his knees. "Your holidays sounded way more interesting than mine. I just had to listen to my grandad talk about cricket."
"I'm sorry" Scorpius burst out amongst the group nodding their ascent. "Can we talk about what happened on the platform?" Elle sighed. "You tell it, Scorpius. I didn't mention it because I don't know what he was even saying." Scorpius nodded.
Scorpius was standing on the platform, desperately counting down the minutes until he could board the train without looking like he was trying to get away from his family as quickly as possible. (That was exactly what he was doing, a snide voice chimed in the back of his head). His mother was fussing with his owl's cage, trying to block out all of the light, but Scorpius knew that she had other motivations as well. She was avoiding talking to her father-in-law just as much as Scorpius was.
Scorpius was not completely sure why his grandfather had announced that morning that he would be accompanying him to the Hogwarts Express, but he knew by both of his parent's startled expressions that it had been just as much of a surprise to them. Lucius Malfoy had only seldom left his stately Manor since his return from Azkaban, and when he did it was not to places where he would be subject to the public eye. Scorpius did not think that it was fear of judgement that held the old man back, but rather pride. Azkaban had, if the pictures and portraits in the manor were anywhere near accurate, aged Lucius significantly. He walked with a stoop usually found in men twice his age, now relying heavily on the cane he carried. His hair, always fair, had turned pure white, and fine lines traced a latticework across his face.
Scorpius was very afraid that his grandfather had been snooping in his things and had somehow found the hidden letters. Scorpius had kept every single letter he had ever received from Albus, and he coveted them. The fear that Lucius Malfoy had found a stack of dozens of pieces of parchment all signed with the last name Potter resting under his bed, and that he somehow meant to confront the Potters at the platform, was enough to make Scorpius count the very seconds until he could board the train. (This detail however, he did not share in his recount of the next events to pass.)
Scorpius watched as his mother finally stood up from where she had been leaning over the owl cage, smoothing the pleats on her dress. "Well" she started, meaning to send Scorpius off. Before Scorpius could breathe out his sigh of relief however, Harry Potter was weaving through the crowd, his hand on Elle's shoulder. He was clearly wrapped up in thought, or else Scorpius was sure he'd have avoided the patch of extreme blonde hair in the crowd on platform nine and three quarters.
"Potter" sneered Lucius, and Scorpius felt his insides turn to ice. Harry Potter stopped abruptly, clearly recognizing the voice. "Hey Scorpius" Elle said. She also looked like she had a lot on her mind, and she clearly hadn't registered the tense air above her shoulders. Scorpius smiled weakly at Elle. Draco stepped in hurriedly, giving Harry Potter a way to sneak away in the crowd. It wasn't necessary however, because as soon as she had spoken, Lucius Malfoy had lost interest in Harry Potter. He could not take his eyes off of Elle.
"Scorpius, you haven't introduced to me your friend" his grandfather said silkily. "Err…" "Don't stutter, boy" Lucius immediately chastised, and Scorpius could feel his ears grow red. "Elle" Elle cut in, narrowing her eyes at the prematurely aged man. Lucius made a gesture with his hand to tell her to go on, meaning her to speak her full name. "Elle Williams" Elle said, and Scorpius noticed Harry's grip on her shoulder tighten almost imperceptibly. Lucius' mouth twisted into a wicked little smile. "I don't know the name. Strange. You have such a familiar face…" Harry Potter seemed to lose all pretense of politeness and bodily led Elle away without so much as an attempt at a farewell.
"What does that mean?" Albus asked from Scorpius' side when he had finished his retelling. "Isn't it obvious?" Rose said. "How many times have you said that in response to something that clearly isn't obvious!" Sam asked, exasperated. Rose tutted but continued on "he was trying to intimidate. Trying to imply that he knows Elle's real identity." "What if he really does know?" Scorpius asked back. The rest of the carriage then started chiming in on if they thought his grandfather had actually known Elle or not, until Elle cut in.
"My real identity is Elle Williams" Elle called out, and the anger in her voice caused an immediate hush. "It's the name my mother gave me, and it's the name my mother raised me under. I am Elle Williams. Even if I belong to an ancient, dark family, that doesn't change my name. Got it?" Everyone nodded soberly. "Whatever Scorpius's grandfather was trying to accomplish on the platform, it doesn't matter. For now, at least. We only have a few hours to figure out how to get to the luggage before it makes it way back to Hogwarts. So, who's in?" There was a resounding chorus of "me". Elle smiled, though she took little pleasure in it. Today had been a hard day, and she would not be satisfied until she had the trunk in her hands.
Albus pressed his hands firmly onto Scorpius's back as he tried to avoid the mass of bodies that streamed onto the Hogsmeade train platform. He could feel the pulse of the air between them, electrified with nerves, as the two boys huddled underneath the cloak. James had given it over readily enough, to Albus' surprise. He had seemed a little preoccupied, to be honest. The ridiculous stuffed bear was noticeably absent from his possession.
"Ow! That's my foot" hissed Albus as Scorpius flattened himself again the train to avoid a stray first year. "Sorry" Scorpius whispered hurriedly. "Do you use floral shampoo?" Albus asked amusedly, momentarily distracted. Scorpius only elbowed him the soft part of his stomach, but even in the dim torchlight he could see that his ears were flaming red.
Slowly, the two boys inched their way across the platform, making their way to the back where the luggage was loaded. The crowd thinned quickly, and soon the boys were standing alone, save for Goyle's hulking body and the scurrying figures of the house elves. Albus watched for a few moments, transfixed by the magical efficiency of the elves. A long chain of them levitated the luggage from one end of the platform to the other, with Goyle at the very end, running his wand lazily over the trunks before tossing them onto the waiting cart. It was a perfectly oiled machine.
"Wait for it" Albus breathed, grabbing the edge of Scorpius's jumper when he made a start after recognizing Elle's trunk making its way down the platform. The two boys waited impatiently, watching the shabby old trunk pass them by. It was almost at Goyle when the loud bang was heard, followed quickly by frightened shrieks. Immediately, the luggage conveyer halted, the levitating trunks falling to the ground with a loud, unified thump. Goyle narrowed his eyes and grunted to the elf next to him. "Stay here" before setting off towards the growing sounds of the commotion.
Albus met Scorpius' terrified gaze. They hadn't anticipated the elves staying to keep watch over the trunks. The elves didn't look like they had expected it either – the air was thick with fear. "Do something!" mouthed Scorpius desperately. "ME?" Albus replied, somehow managing to look like he was yelling despite being equally as silent. The two looked at each other uncertainly. A moment later, the stacked trunks in the carriage started tumbling to the ground with a loud crash, making the house elves scatter. In the commotion, Albus and Scorpius managed to throw the bottom of the cloak over Elle's trunk, lifting it up between them with some effort. "Merlin's beard, did she get an elephant for Christmas?" Scorpius huffed. "No but my nan stuffed her bag with about a half ton of fudge. She thinks Elle isn't getting enough to eat."
The elves were starting to calm down, one of the older ones calling out "order! Order on the platform!", so Scorpius didn't have the chance to reply. Just as they were passing the back end of the cart, a small figure dashed out, heading for the nearby bush. "Isidre?" Albus called out, forgetting he should be silent. The small boy looked around, trying to locate the sound of his voice. "I thought you were staying by the thestrals with Ruth?" Scorpius asked, significantly more quietly. "Got nervous you'd have trouble" Isidre said. "Aren't you glad I did? The elves would have noticed you take the trunk if I hadn't caused that distraction." Albus grunted his agreement, too preoccupied with the weight of the trunk to speak.
The three boys made their way up the hill to the designated meeting point, where they found Elle waiting impatiently. "Hurry" she hissed, "we haven't much time." "Did you make sure McGonagall saw you?" Scorpius asked quickly. "Yes" Elle said distractedly "there are witnesses to say I was at the castle when Sam blew up the wheel of the carriage. Caused quite the pileup, too. No one was hurt though. Rose is making a right scene about her sore arm though, but we still haven't much time." The boys watched tensely as Elle quickly rifled through the trunk. You could see her go over it a second time, her shoulders sagging. Albus hadn't realized until that moment how desperately she had been hoping to find a letter.
Scorpius grabbed Elle's arm when she started her third attempt at a search. "Elle" he said softly "we're out of time." Elle nodded quietly, turning away without meeting their gaze. It was quicker work for Albus and Scorpius to carry the trunk back down the hill, and in a few minutes, it was loaded safely onto the luggage cart. The two boys sprinted to the second meeting spot, finding Elle waiting, her arm floating awkwardly as she grasped thin air. "Ruth and Isidre went ahead" she said, "they're getting everyone organized quicker that we thought." Elle helped Albus onto the threstral first, Scorpius following soon after. It was an odd sensation, sitting on something solid and invisible. Especially when you could feel it breathing underneath your legs. The thestrals moved quicker than he had expected, and he felt Scorpius grip his waist tightly in surprise as they sped up.
They met up and dismounted clumsily at the line of backed-up carriages. "Sorry" Scorpius breathed as he stumbled, grabbing onto Albus for support. "Don't worry about it mate" Albus said distractedly, focusing on ensuring the cloak still covered them completely. "Don't join at the end of the queue" Albus heard Elle whisper somewhere to his left, referring to the line of students now making their way to the Hogwarts gates on foot. "It's too suspicious." "Got it" Albus replied in the same hushed tones. "Catch you at the feast."
It was easier than Albus had anticipated to get into the queue without drawing attention. Conveniently enough, Imogen Davies was waving around a very large stuffed bear, and the crowd of girls following her were so distracted by it they didn't even notice when Albus and Scorpius slipped into line in front of them.
"I still think it was worth it" Sam said to Elle before they parted in front of the Hufflepuff corridor. "I agree" Rose said, to Elle's shock. Albus was looking at her with similar surprise and Rose shrugged in response. "We didn't get caught, so no detention. And wouldn't it drive you crazy, not knowing if there had been a letter or not?" Elle gave a curt nod but did not reply. She did not have the energy for further discussion on the matter.
Ruth seemed to read her body language better than Rose and yawned quietly. "I'm dead tired" she said. "Same" Elle replied gratefully, the two heading off to Ravenclaw tower with a wave. Elle was vaguely aware that Ruth knew her private grief the best. She still wasn't perfect at muffling charms, and Ruth's bed was closest to hers. In times like these, she was glad that it was.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Ruth asked softly when they reached their dorm and found it still empty. Elle shook her head. Ruth nodded, and Elle reclined on her bed, watching as Ruth started to unpack. There was a pile of clothes on the edge of her bed, but her own trunk was surreptitiously absent.
"How was skiing in France?" Elle asked. Ruth shrugged. "You know I'm not athletic. The food was good, I guess. And I got this new book for Christmas" she said, holding up a thick book embossed with an unfamiliar constellation. The two girls froze as they watched a piece of parchment float down from the cover, as if in slow motion. In a flash, Elle was off her bed and bending over to pick it up.
Elle was written on the outside in painfully familiar handwriting. Elle opened the parchment with shaking hands.