Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
This is not Cursed Child compliant.
"The Brotherhood is coming to Hogwarts. The Order and D.A. will be there shortly. You need to inform the professors and make sure the students are safe." As soon as the sliver, opalescent stag dissipated, the sound of an explosion broke through the still of the morning.
Nothing happened, and then all at once, everything was happening. After the momentary shock wore off, Scorpius found himself on his feet, wand at the ready. His blood was pumping through his veins, the adrenaline heightening all of his senses.
Scorpius was vaguely aware that everyone else in the room was as alert as he was, but his senses seemed to hone in on Rose, who was growling menacingly from beside him.
"Astoria, we need to go," Ginny said, nodding towards his mother, her lips pressed into a thin line. Ginny's eyes were wary, but there was a fire in them. It was at that moment that Scorpius truly understood how his parents' generation were all war veterans. It was the quiet acceptance, with the rage and experience to back it up that was taking over.
"ALBUS SEVERUS POTTER, DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT LEAVING THIS ROOM!' Ginny yelled, immobilizing Albus, who had tried to run out the door.
"Mum! You heard dad! We need to warn the others! Mei, Lily, Hugo, Lysander, Lorcan… This is what we've been preparing for! Merlin's Revenge is ready to fight!" Albus protested, straining against the invisible hold of the spell that locked him in place.
"Your father said that we, the adults, need to protect the students. That includes you, Albus! Astoria, I, and the professors don't need to be worrying about you on top of everything else," Ginny huffed.
"You didn't stay where your mum told you to stay during the last Battle for Hogwarts!" Albus said hotly.
"And need I remind you how many people we lost in that battle?" Ginny demanded, her eyes flashing. "You three are staying here, and that is non-negotiable!"
Scorpius turned his eyes towards his mother, who had been silent during the heated exchange between Ginny and Albus. Scorpius saw his mother shake her head almost imperceptibly. Scorpius knew what that meant. There wouldn't be time to talk about it, but she trusted his judgment.
"We should be going," Astoria said, as another boom sounded. The Brotherhood were working hard to dismantle the wards, and it would be only a short matter of time before the Order, the Aurors, and the D.A. arrived, signaling that the battle was about to start.
"Fine," Ginny said, sweeping out of the door, Astoria right behind her.
As the two women left, Scorpius turned to survey what was left of the scene in front of him. One friend was still immobilized and swearing up a storm, and his other friend was trapped in her Animagus form, unable to change back or perform protective or offensive magic. The situation was less than ideal for Scorpius, considering both of his friends had inherited the Potter-Weasley-Granger tempers and stubbornness.
"Albus-" Scorpius started, only to be cut off by a furious glare.
"Thanks for nothing! You should have had my back! You know that this is what we've been preparing for all these months! The older students can help fight! With them fighting, there is a chance we might outnumber The Brotherhood!" Albus shouted.
"Albus-" Scorpius tried, only to be cut off, again.
"And another thing! Why haven't you released me yet?!" Albus demanded as he struggled mightily against his mother's spell.
Scorpius let out a sigh as Albus crashed onto the floor, swearing all the way down. Although Scorpius wholeheartedly agreed with Albus, he also realized that going to fight while angry and letting one's emotions cloud one's judgement was a potential suicide risk.
"ALBUS!" Scorpius yelled sharply, hoping to avoid being interrupted. "I will release you once you calm down, and once we think of a plan! We can't go fight when you're angry. Besides, what will we do about Rose?" Scorpius asked, gesturing to the still growling wolf.
Albus glanced over at Rose from his position on the floor. "We could just let her loose on them. It's not like anyone really knows she's an Animagus. It could work to our advantage, and she's already proved that her senses are sharper and more reliable than a human's."
"Albus," Scorpius said, an exasperated sigh escaping him. "As much as I hate to say it, Rose is a liability right now. She's unpredictable in her current form. Whatever we decide to do, it would be safer for everyone for Rose to wait here for Headmistress McGonagall."
Scorpius stared at Albus, watching as his intelligence finally caught up with his temper. Scorpius was also studiously ignoring the warning growls and huffs coming from his right. He could just feel that Rose was livid with him. Once she changed back he was sure to receive an earful from her.
Rose Weasley was fuming! She was alone, stuck in Headmistress McGonagall's office, with no wand, and in her animagus form. Her enhanced hearing and sense of smell allowed her to hear and smell what was happening in the battle, but far be it for her to actually participate!
No, Scorpius and Albus had magically barricaded her inside the office, deciding for themselves that she, she! She wasn't a liability! She was one of the most powerful and intelligent witches of her generation, thank you very much!
Rose huffed, annoyed that she couldn't do more in her current state. There was nothing Rose could do except listen to the sounds of the battle, and smell the smoke, sulfur, sweat, and blood.
Rose let out a small, kenning whine as a particularly loud BOOM echoed through the castle. The boom was followed closely by yelling, screaming, and the sound of various spells being cast.
Rose stopped her pacing, trying hard to listen. It sounded as if the battle had reached the inside of Hogwarts. Whatever wards Headmistress McGonagall had around Hogwarts had been broken. The Brotherhood had entered the castle!
Rose began pacing again, much more agitated than she had been before. She was Head Girl! She had a duty to protect Hogwarts and its students in the absence of its Headmistress, who was still on a mission for The Order. Rose didn't even know if McGonagall knew about what was happening!
Rose growled and scratched at the door. Maybe if she used enough force, she could physically force her way through the wards. Even as the thought passed through Rose's mind, she knew that it was wishful thinking - Scorpius and Albus were too skilled at wandwork to cast shoddy spells. All the same, it was killing Rose to not be able to do anything. It was pure torture knowing that Scorpius and Albus were out there fighting.
Rose's ears lowered, as she mentally admitted defeat. There wouldn't be anything she could do in her current form, and without a wand. Rose laid herself down next to the door, determined to rush into action the moment the door opened.
Rose couldn't remember falling asleep. Was she asleep? Rose couldn't tell. Her surroundings were both nothing and too much. Bright colors, intense smells, frightening sounds. Rose couldn't tell if she was awake, or in the midst of a nightmare.
Suddenly, Rose's surroundings began to bleed into focus. She was in Hogwarts, floating around. She could see, hear, and smell, but it appeared that no one could sense her presence.
Rose floated along, curious to watch the events unfold in front of her. As her surroundings became more tangible, Rose realized with sudden horror, that she was witnessing the battle as it was unfolding.
Rose began to flail, hoping to draw attention to herself.
No one paid her any mind.
Rose truly must have been non-existent to those trapped in the midst of battle, otherwise her large wolf form would have been quite the distraction or cause for concern. Irritated and confused that she, once again, could not help, Rose contented herself to observing the battle. As Rose shifted in and out of different locations, she began to see the people she knew and loved.
Astoria Malfoy was helping Madame Pomfrey up in the Hospital Wing, treating wounded Order, Auror, and D.A. members and warding the wing against further intruders. Rose was relieved to see that none of her family members or Scorpius were among the wounded.
Rose saw inside the different house common rooms. Mei had the Ravenclaws in a defensive position, manning the front lines with the other older students. Lily, Lysander, and Hugo were doing something similar in Gryffindor Tower, with the addition of many Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes at their disposal. Rose was pretty sure she spotted multiple dung bombs.
The Hufflepuff prefects had barricaded all of the students inside their dormitories, and were casting numerous defensive charms across the entrance to their house. The Slytherin prefects seemed to be trying to make a deal with the merpeople through the window of their common room. Upon closer inspection, Rose could make out Parkinson and Nott explaining how to cast a bubble-head charm, in case they all needed to evacuate through the lake.
Satisfied that the prefects were doing their utmost to protect the students, Rose shifted once again to another scene. Rose's breath caught in her throat as a dark spell narrowly missed clipping Scorpius' shoulder. Luckily, Albus had been able to pull him out of harm's way before the spell could hit.
Rose followed her boys for a while. They seemed to be trying to take down any stragglers who happened to make it past the Auror, Order, and D.A. members. Thankfully it seemed that the adults on their side were fighting well. Aside from a few stragglers and that one near hit, Scorpius and Albus seemed to be faring quite well. In fact, they didn't seem to be getting much action at all. If Rose hadn't been aware that a battle was occurring within the walls of Hogwarts, she could have easily believed the two were on a routine hallway patrol.
With that comforting thought in mind, Rose allowed herself to shift to yet another scene. The one she entered was much less comforting. Rose was suddenly thrust into the middle of a duel, spells whizzing above and through her. Rose could hear her Aunt Ginny and Uncle Harry yelling to each other through the chaos.
Ginny was commanding D.A. members and helping direct their attacks. Rose could make out Mei's mother and father, Cho and Michael, as well as family friends Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan amongst those fighting. Every so often, Ginny would yell out to Harry or vice versa, checking in to make sure the other was still safe.
Rose's eyes were then drawn to her right, where a large group of combined Auror and Order members were fighting under the direction of Rose's Uncle Harry, and her father.
Despite the harsh reality of the battle, Rose couldn't help but stare in awe at the impressive spellwork her Uncle and father demonstrated. The two were a well-oiled machine, working in tandem and perfect harmony. There wasn't a single spell that had managed to break through.
The Order and Auror members under their command were also putting up a good fight. The Brotherhood members seemed to be losing ground, and in somewhat of a disarray. To Rose, it seemed as if The Brotherhood had been ill-prepared for the battle, which did not make sense given everything Rose knew about The Brotherhood. Despite her absolute abhorrence for everything The Brotherhood stood for, Rose could begrudgingly respect the level of planning and preparation that must be going on behind-the-scenes, at the leadership level.
Rose suddenly realized she had dismissed The Brotherhood too soon. Yes, they weren't fighting with as much confidence as she had come to expect from them, and yes, they were sloppy compared to their normal standards, but they were far from incompetent. Even though they seemed ill-prepared, The Brotherhood fighters were quickly adapting to the situation.
Rose could only watch in silent horror as her father and Uncle were slowly separated during the fighting. Harry and part of their group were being forced towards where Ginny's group was fighting, while her father's smaller group was being pressed upon from all sides. Her father's group was being rounded up and isolated in a now seemingly coordinated attack!
Rose watched as her father's group was being whittled down. One Auror fell victim to a killing curse, which flew under his outstretched arm. Another was hit with a dark curse, which caused her to fall upon the ground, unconscious, but flailing while vomiting up green liquid.
Another of Ron's group was physically dragged away towards the forest, while another, less experienced member raced off into the darkness after some retreating Brotherhood members, even as her father yelled at him to stop. Suddenly, Ron was left alone, facing down the four remaining Brotherhood members.
Rose paced around, feeling especially helpless, and very sick to her stomach. Her father was alone and fighting against well-trained fighters. The scariest part to Rose was that these people looked like they could have worked for her father, or in another department at the Ministry. They were normal people. The fact that they were so normal looking made them even more terrifying to look at and to try to understand than someone so deformed, like Voldemort. It was The Brotherhood's unassuming nature that made them so dangerous.
Rose tensed as the battle raged around her. The Brotherhood members were bombarding her father with both verbal and nonverbal spells. They were circling him, causing Ron to be on the defensive the entire time.
Rose knew her father was a fantastic fighter. As Deputy Head of the Auror Office, her father was responsible for selecting and training the new recruits, in addition to still being active for missions. Ron would often train with Harry, and sometimes her mother, to make sure his dueling skills and nonverbal spell usage were up to par.
Despite Ron's talent as a duelist and strategist, four against one was a tough battle. Ron was beginning to tire, and his opponents could sense it. Rose watched helplessly as a spell made it past her father's defenses to slice into his torso. Blood started to seep out from the cut.
The man who had cast the spell didn't even have time to gloat, as her father's return spell immediately knocked him unconscious. However, the first man landing a successful attack seemed to embolden the remaining three attackers. Rose watched as her father bled, pain etched into his face, while the three attackers increased the speed of their attacks.
Ron was managing to dodge the attacks, but exhaustion combined with his open wound severely hindered his movement. Ron managed to immobilize a second attacker when he was hit in the shoulder by another spell. Ron howled in pain as his left shoulder burned, his pale skin suddenly covered in severe scorch marks.
Ron, once again, managed to injure his attacker, but before going down, the woman managed to cast a final spell at her father, the likes of which caused his face to swell dangerously. Ron, now essentially blind, and still bleeding, was having a hard time staying on his feet.
Ron's final attacker seemed to realize this, taking the time to properly taunt the injured man. Ron, for his part, was still attempting to fight, firing spells towards where he heard the man's voice.
Rose let out a silent cry as the man sent a spell at her father, this time slicing open his leg and lower abdomen. Her father was now on his knees, his body no longer able to support his weight.
Rose watched as the man disarmed her father, breaking his wand in half before tossing it carelessly to the side. Rose looked on as the man raised his wand, a curse on the tip of his tongue.
Instinctually, Rose knew what was about to happen. As the curse prepared to leave the man's lips, Rose saw red.
Rose was regaining consciousness slowly. Through the thick haze in her mind, Rose could vaguely hear her mother's concerned voice.
"Rose? ROSE! Ron! Oh Ronald, look! I think she's waking up!" Hermione exclaimed.
Rose could also vaguely hear her father's weaker voice.
"Rose? Sweetie, can you hear us?" Ron asked, an audible rasp in his throat.
Rose wanted to answer, but the fog was pulling her back down.
When Rose woke for the second time, it was loudly, with a blood-curdling scream.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Rose yelled, sitting up in bed. At once, the blood seemed to rush to her head, making Rose feel extremely light-headed and nauseous.
Pushing through the nausea, Rose attempted to get up. Her father needed her!
A pair of gentle hands, and then a firmer pair of hands, pushed her back onto the bed.
As Rose's vision cleared, the concerned face of her mother swam before her eyes. Her Uncle Harry was there beside her mother, staring at Rose with an unreadable expression.
"Rose, sweetie," Hermione cried, as she enveloped Rose in a bone-crushing hug.
"Mom! Dad… He's hurt-"Rose started to say, before she was cut off by Ron.
"Rosie, I'm alright. Banged up, but alright," Ron said weakly, from a hospital bed to her left.
Rose turned her head abruptly towards the sound of her father's voice, wincing at the extreme level of soreness she felt in her body as she did so. "Dad?" Rose asked, confused.
Ron Weasley was very much alive, but heavily bandaged from his shoulder down to his kneecaps. There was a large patch over his right eye, and pink skin could be seen peeking out from the bandage over his left shoulder, evidence of a healing burn mark.
"I'm alright. We're both safe now, Rosie," Ron said, his gaze on his daughter alternating between love and an unreadable expression.
Rose turned back to her mother and Uncle Harry, confused. Her mother was worrying her bottom lip, a habit she did when she was nervous and unsure about something, and her Uncle Harry was still looking at her with that unreadable, contemplating expression.
"What- what happened?" Rose asked, her brows scrunching up in confusion. "Why am I in the Hospital Wing? Where is everyone else? Are Albus and Scorpius alright?"
"Albus and Scorpius are fine, Rose," Hermione said, placatingly.
"Right now we're more concerned about you, Rose. What is the last thing you remember?" Harry asked.
"Remember?" Rose asked, more to herself than anything. The last thing she remembered was the nightmare she was having regarding the battle, if that could even be considered a nightmare.
"Yes, Rose," Harry started. "You see, there was something unusual that happened tonight during the battle -"
"Harry, do we need to do this now?" Hermione asked, her voice pleading.
"Hermione, I'm sorry, but this really can't wait," Harry explained, his unreadable expression turning to one of empathy and pain.
"Please, Harry. With Ron's injury, I don't know if we can handle this right now," Hermione said.
"Mione, it needs to be done," Ron said from his bed, although his tone and expression hinted that he very much agreed with his wife's sentiments. "We're Aurors. If we don't investigate this properly, we could be accused of a cover-up. Besides, I'd rather it be Harry doing this."
"Cover-up? What's going on?" Rose asked, her voice anxious.
Rose watched as Harry exchanged glances with her parents, and then as her parents exchanged glances with each other. Rose was beginning to have a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. "Can someone please tell me what's happening?" Rose begged.
Harry ran his hands through his hair, a habit that signified his discomfort. "I'm not sure how to say this, so I'm going to come right out and say it. You killed someone tonight, Rose."
Rose was lucky she was already in bed, because as soon as those damning words left Harry's mouth, she promptly fainted from the shock.
Harry Potter stared at the unconscious and pale form of his niece. The poor girl had been through so much in under a 24 hour period of time, that it seemed her mind and body could not hold out any longer.
"Oh, Rose," Hermione whimpered, her voice sounding pained and broken.
"Harry, did you have to say it like that?" Ron asked weakly, staring at his daughter.
Harry sighed. "Ron, you know as well as I do that we can't sugarcoat things in interrogations. I'm already bending the rules conducting Rose's interrogation in the Hogwarts Hospital Wing instead of back at the Ministry," Harry said, reluctantly.
"I know I said I'd rather you do it than someone else, but she's my daughter," Ron pleaded.
"I know, Ron," Harry said. "If there was a way to make this all go away, I would."
"Harry," Hermione sniffed. "We know you're doing everything you can, but this is all just so painful. I almost lost Ron, and knowing the only reason my husband is alive is because my daughter ripped someone's head off while in her animagus form is a bit much."
"I know, Hermione," Harry comforted. "But the quicker we get the questioning over with, the quicker you can get on with the recovery. For all of you."
"We can't do anything now until Rose wakes up again," Hermione stated. "And before we question her again, I want to make sure she's fit to answer questions. I'm going to go see Madam Promphrey."
Harry watched as Hermione left, with a sigh. Hermione was one of his oldest friends, his sister, and to see such a strong and capable woman barely holding it together was painful. Not even during the height of war had Harry seen Hermione in this state.
"Harry," Ron started, hesitatingly.
"Yes, Ron?" Harry asked, turning his eyes back to his badly injured friend.
"Rose is my daughter, and you know I love her more than anything in the world…" Ron started.
Harry was about to interrupt with affirmations about how he knew how much Ron loved his children, but Ron held up a hand to let him know he was thinking over his next words.
"Harry, I love Rose with all of my heart. I pride myself on being a father who knows his children, but what happened tonight, that wasn't Rose," Ron finally managed, fear seeping into his voice. "I didn't want to go into the details with Hermione here, but it's something you need to know."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked quickly. When Ron had told him and Hermione what had transpired, Harry had been sure that Ron was withholding information. Being friends and partners for years had given Harry the insight to pick up on hints that other people might not have noticed. Harry was sure that Hermione would have noticed too, if she hadn't been so distraught over Ron's state and the fact that Rose had been brought in nude and unconscious.
"Harry, Rose literally appeared out of thin air. When I tell you it was just me and those four Brotherhood members, I meant it. I was going to die! As much as I hate to say it, I should have died then. I don't know how it's possible, but Rose appeared and tore the man's head off!"
Harry blinked slowly, processing this newest bit of information. He had seen the body, seen how badly it had been mauled, as if some wild animal had gotten to it.
"And then Harry, she just kept going. Even after the man was dead, Rose kept biting into his body and tearing him from limb to limb. I tried to call out to her, tried to stop her, but just like at Grimmauld Place, Rose growled at me and wouldn't let me near. If Scorpius and Albus hadn't appeared when they did, would Rose have turned on me? I hate thinking that of my own child, but I couldn't see Rose in that wolf's eyes," Ron said, his eyes pleading for Harry to understand.
"Ron, what you experienced tonight was traumatic. Even the most seasoned Aurors might not have made it out, but you did. We can deal with everything else as it comes, so let's be thankful that you're alive and that Rose is alright," Harry said.
"But, the investigation," Ron said, glancing over at Rose's form.
"There are other ways to get the information, but they'd require parental consent and are more invasive. That's the only reason I didn't suggest this method in the first place. If you and Hermione are alright with this option, I could request to work with mind healers and legilimens to gather Rose's memories without her recounting them to me, or even being conscious. It might save her some pain," Harry said.
"Yes, anything to save her pain," Ron said, relieved. "You have my permission."
"Permission to do what?" Hermione asked as she reentered the Hospital Wing, Madam Promphrey right behind her.
After a quick, shared glance with Ron, Harry began telling Hermione everything he knew, including the new information Ron had told him. Afterall, it would be foolish to keep information from Hermione, because she always ended up finding out anyway.
Scorpius Malfoy was miserable. He was currently sitting alone in the Head's Common Room attempting to do his homework. It had been four weeks since The Second Battle for Hogwarts. Scorpius hadn't seen, or heard from Rose in four weeks, not since he and Albus had rushed Rose and her father to the Hospital Wing. Even then, Rose had been unconscious. If not for the subtle rising and falling of her bare chest before Scorpius had wrapped her nude form in his cloak, Scorpius would have believed Rose was dead.
Life without Rose wasn't something Scorpius had ever anticipated experiencing. Ever since Scorpius was 11, Rose had been a constant, welcoming presence in his life. Now that Rose was noticeably gone, those bitter feelings of loneliness Scorpius had been experienced as a child had come creeping back in. Sure Scorpius still had Albus, Mei, the rest of the Potter/Weasley/Scamder brood that still resided within the walls of Hogwarts, but it wasn't the same as having Rose with him. Rose's radiant smile and tinkling laugh weren't around to cheer him up, and even her signature smell was starting to fade from their shared quarters.
Albus had been trying to cheer him up, dragging him to activities that Scorpius otherwise wouldn't have been inclined to attend. It was enough trying to continue on with his regular responsibilities of classes, Head Duties, and quidditch. Mei had stepped up to fill in for Rose, and objectively, Scorpius could admit she was doing a wonderful job.. The problem though was that Mei wasn't Rose. There was no one else like Rose, and boy did Scorpius know it.
Scorpius let out a long suffering sigh, before he placed his quill back in his inkstopper. It was evident he wouldn't be able to concentrate, with thoughts of Rose swirling in his head. Scorpius laid his head in his arms, resting both against the top of the sitting room table. If thoughts of Rose were going to plague his head, Scorpius might as well let them.
Scorpius didn't know how he knew, but he did; something was wrong.
"Albus, we need to go now!" Scorpius panicked, as his feet automatically pulled him towards the front of the castle.
"What? Hey! Wait!" Albus yelled, already three quarters of a passageway behind Scorpius.
Scorpius didn't know what was about to happen, but he could feel it in his gut, no his soul, that something really, really bad was about to happen. Scorpius sensed it had to do with Rose.
Scorpius flew through the castle, his mind on one thing only: Rose. He had to get to her. Scorpius could hear Albus' alarmed yelling behind him, asking him to "Wait a goddamn minute and explain why he was acting like a right lunatic," but Scorpius ignored him.
All too soon, Scorpius found himself at the entrance to the castle. Without thinking, Scorpius rushed out, his quidditch reflexes allowing him to automatically dodge the myriad of curses flowing around him as the adults engaged in battle.
Scorpius heard Albus yell in alarm, as he entered the fray, but Scorpius pressed on. Scorpius didn't know where he was going, but he knew he needed to get to Rose. For some reason, his internal senses seemed to be guiding him to where she would be, which most certainly was not in the Headmistress' Office where he and Albus had left her.
Scorpius skidded a bit before continuing around the side of the castle. WIthout thinking, Scorpius uttered a nonverbal spell that downed the man rushing towards him from the corner of his eyes. Scorpius had no idea if that man had been friend or foe, just that he needed to go as he was going to try to impede his search for Rose.
As Scorpius continued to run, he eventually heard the sounds of the battle receding a bit, before it once again started up. He could vaguely hear the angry voice of Ron Weasley, amidst others still a ways ahead. As a pained yell filled the air, Scorpius felt himself pick up speed.
Scorpius' forward momentum was halted when something crashed into him from behind. The force of the impact caused Scorpius and the person who had crashed into him to fall to the ground. Scorpius found himself bouncing and rolling in the opposite direction as his wand, as his long limbs became tangled in his cloak. Panicking, Scorpius struggled to his feet, ready to fight with his fists if he needed to.
"STOP!" a panting Albus yelled, as he blocked Scorpius' fist. "What in Merlin's asscrack is wrong with you?"
Scorpius lowered his hand tentatively. "Me? What's wrong with you?! I told you something is wrong, and you decide to tackle me?" Scorpius yelled, his eyes darting around frantically.
"YES! You ran into the middle of a fucking battle. I saw you barely miss an Avada! You yelled at me earlier for being impulsive, but you're out here trying to get yourself bloody killed!" Albus exclaimed, accioing Scorpius' wand.
Scorpius lunged for his wand, but Albus put up a shield. "Give me my fucking wand," Scorpius growled.
"Not until you explain what the fuck is wrong with you," Albus said. "You're acting manic."
"Ugh, fucking- I don't know how to explain it, but there is something wrong, and Rose is involved. Before you tackled me I was rushing to where I heard your Uncle Ron battling. He's in pain, Albus," Scorpius yelled, as he watched Albus' eyes grow wide.
Scorpius caught the wand Albus tossed to him with ease. This time, Scorpius found himself trailing Albus, who had taken off at a sprint towards the sound of the commotion.
Scorpius, being taller than Albus, found himself able to catch up to him quickly. If he survived this night, he'd be sure to thank his parents for both having long legs.
Scorpius' momentum was once again halted by Albus, who came to a dead stop. Scorpius was about to yell at him, when he realized the reason for Albus' sudden stop.
There in front of them was a seriously injured Ron Weasley, as well as a giant reddish-brown wolf, with a mauled human head trapped between its jaws. Ron was pleading weakly, trying to reach Rose and coax her into dropping the dead man's head, but Rose was only growling threateningly at him. Looking into the eyes of the wolf, Scorpius couldn't locate Rose.
"Bloody hell," Albus whispered, trying not to draw attention to himself.
Scorpius instinctively stepped forward. The wolf maintained eye contact, letting out a warning growl. Scorpius instinctively growled back. The wolf continued to stare at him, unblinkingly. Scorpius stared back, just as firm.
Suddenly, the wolf dropped the dead man's head, and promptly fainted. As soon as the wolf fell unconscious, it's form began to change. The fur receded, the base shape shifted, and the limbs elongated. All that was left in the wolf's place was a nude, unconscious young woman.
"Rose!" Ron sputtered, as he coughed up a mouthful of blood. Ron attempted to move towards his daughter, but his injuries prevented any movement other than slumping over.
Scorpius found himself striding towards Rose. Scorpius could hear Albus rushing to Ron, and attempting to perform basic healing spells to at least stop the profuse bleeding.
When Scorpius got to Rose, he felt his breath catch. She was covered in blood, and her normal caramel colored skin was as pale as death. Scorpius feared the worst until he noticed the subtle rise and fall of her chest. If she was breathing, she was still alive.
Warm relief flowed through Scorpius, as he struggled to get his cloak off fast enough to cover Rose's nude form. Scorpius was no healer, but he could tell that the rate at which Rose's chest was rising and falling was too slow. Even if the external blood on her body was from the dead man, it didn't mean there wasn't something happening internally.
Scorpius carefully wrapped Rose in his cloak, attempting to shield her modesty as best he could. Since Scorpius was unsure of any internal injuries, he was careful not to adjust Rose's head, neck, and back more than was strictly necessary.
"Shit, we need to get them to the Hospital Wing!" Albus exclaimed. "Uncle Ron has passed out. I've managed to stop most of the bleeding, but the curse that got his torso and leg wouldn't stop bleeding!"
"Levitate Rose into my arms, and then you can levitate Ron," Scorpius explained.
Albus did as Scorpius asked. As soon as Rose's form was nestled within his arms, Scorpius made a beeline for the castle. He heard Albus' footsteps close behind him.
The duo hadn't made it to the front door when they ran into Harry and Ginny Potter. Both looked a bit worse for wear after the battle, but there didn't appear to be any major injuries.
It looked like Ginny was about to admonish them for being out of the castle and not listening, but her ire quickly turned into concern and horror at the scene in front of her.
"Merlin!" Ginny exclaimed, her eyes traveling between the bleeding Ron and the unconscious Rose.
Harry didn't even need prompting, he just started commanding people to move out their way, which Scorpius found himself eternally grateful for. As the now foursome traveled to the Hospital Wing, Scorpius could hear Ginny attempting more complex healing spells on Ron as she ran beside Albus.
In a matter of minutes, which felt like hours, they finally reached the Hospital Wing. As Harry Potter burst through the door, with Scorpius close behind him, and Albus and Ginny behind him, all eyes turned to the front of the room.
Astoria naturally caught Scorpius' eye, and her own widened in shock at the sight of the unconscious young woman in his arms.
"This way, this way!" Madam Promphrey stated, clearing two beds.
Scorpius gently laid Rose on the bed, making sure the cloak was still covering her modesty.
"That's a lot of blood," Harry remarked from beside him, causing Scorpius to jump in surprise.
"I don't think it's hers," Scorpius replied shakily.
Harry Potter sucked in a quick breath, before asking a dreaded question. "Is it Ron's?"
Scorpius shook his head. It wasn't Ron, but the dead man's mutilated body Rose had been standing over when Scorpius and Albus had arrived.
"Good. Eventually I'll need your statement, but for now, we need to work on getting them healed," Harry said.
Scorpius nodded dumbly, allowing himself to be pressed back as numerous healers, who had been called in from St. Mungo's, swarmed around Rose and Ron's beds.
Scorpius hadn't been aware of how much he was shaking, until he felt himself being pressed into a chair. Suddenly a cup of hot tea was placed into his hands.
"Drink this," Astoria commanded gently, as she placed a cool wet cloth to Scorpius' forehead.
"Mum," Scorpius rasped, his voice heavy with unshed tears.
"I know, I know," Astoria cooed, wrapping Scorpius in her arms like she did when he had been a little boy.
The last thing Scorpius saw before the tears began to fall, and he buried his head in his mother's embrace, was Ginny Potter doing something similar to a shell shocked Albus Potter.
The rest of the night passed in flashes for Scorpius. There were so many people in and out. Those that were deemed fit to move were either released or sent to St. Mungos. Rose and Ron's injuries had been so severe, that the healers were loath to move them.
At some point, Hermione Weasley and Scorpius' father had arrived, barging into the Hospital Wing. A very faint-looking Hermione Weasley was being supported by Draco, before Ginny Potter had taken over, leading Hermione to her husband and daughter and placing a chair beneath her right as Hermione's legs gave out and her sobs filled the air.
After making sure Hermione was being taken care of, Draco had made his way over to Astoria and Scorpius, a grave expression on his face. Wordlessly, Draco placed a comforting hand on Scorpius' shoulder, and an arm around Astoria's waist. A, "You did well, son," had Scorpius breaking out into another round of silent tears.
Harry Potter, as well as numerous other Weasley family members, had been in and out of The Hospital Wing all night. Albus had eventually passed out on one of the empty hospital beds, his exhausted brain and body giving in to a dreamless sleep, but Scorpius found he couldn't do the same, despite his mother and father trying to get him to rest.
Scorpius decided to stay in his chair, continuing to sip his now cold cup of tea that he refused to allow his mother to replace. Eventually giving up, Astoria and Draco had conjured up chairs of their own, and took up their position beside their aggrieved son, exchanging worried glances and communicating silently behind his back.
At some point during the night, a now more sturdy looking Hermione Weasley had come over to Scorpius and enveloped him in a tight hug, thanking him for helping bring her husband and daughter back to her. The heartfelt thanks was enough to make both of them tear up.
After a final affectionate pat on Scorpius' cheek, Hermione had gone back over to sit beside her unconscious daughter and husband, placing an arm around a green looking Hugo.
After a little while, Harry Potter had reentered The Hospital Wing, and instead of going over to be with the Potter and Weasley families, he made his way over to Scorpius.
"Scorpius," Harry began slowly, only to be cut off by Draco.
"Potter, can't this wait," Draco demanded, as he stood up to stand protectively behind Scorpius.
Harry let out a pained sigh. "As much as I wish it could, it can't. Based on what little information Scorpius was able to give me earlier, and the body we found, we need to investigate. We have to investigate all the deaths from this battle, but given the unique circumstances surrounding this particular death, we need to be thorough."
Draco was about to interrupt again, but Scorpius stopped him. "Dad, it's alright. I want to help," Scorpius explained, glancing towards Rose's still unconscious form.
Draco's hand tightened on Scorpius' shoulder, but he eventually relented. "Fine. But if you get overwhelmed we stop this immediately, understood?" Both Scorpius and Harry nodded.
As Harry conjured up a chair, a pad of paper, and a quill and ink bottle, Scorpius began to relay the events leading up to the present.
Scorpius was dragged out of his memories by the sound of the door to the Head's Dorm opening. Scorpius quickly swiped his eyes as Albus came rushing through.
"We can see Rose!" Albus huffed out, a jubilant expression on his face. "Aunt Hermione says that Rose is up for seeing visitors now, come on!"
Scorpius was on his feet in an instance, blindly following Albus out into the hallway. For the first time in a month, Scorpius could see a bit of light shining through the darkness.
Rose was sitting in the living room, finishing up her school assignments. When she got back, it wouldn't do to be too far behind.
"Albus and Scorpius should be here soon," Hermione said cheerfully from the kitchen, where she was baking Rose's favorite cookies. Rose grunted to let her mom know she'd heard.
It had been a month since Rose had murdered a man, and throughout the trauma and the healing, Rose just wanted things to go back to normal, or as normal as they could.
The first week back, Rose had been absolutely despondent, drifting in and out of consciousness, and being seriously depressed. At times, Rose would gain consciousness only to vomit, as uneasy and violent memories ripped through her head.
Rose's mother and father had been there the entire first week, waiting on her every need. Numerous healers and mind healers had been in and out of their home. Rose's parents had explained how they would be accessing her memories, but Rose couldn't find it in herself to care at the time. She had just wanted to make the memories go away, as if making them go away would take back the fact that she apparently ripped a man's head off his body.
Rose shuddered again at the memory. They had been coming back clearer than ever in the last three weeks. Rose remembered everything up to actually killing the man, which in retrospect, might have been a blessing given what she had demanded to know about the investigation from her Uncle Harry.
Although Rose had physically recovered by the second week, she hadn't left her room. Rose hadn't wanted to face her mother and father, or anyone else in the family for that matter, knowing what she had done. It didn't matter that Rose's mother, father, brother, and everyone else told her nothing had changed; she had changed. Rose was capable of killing.
By the end of the second week, Headmistress McGonagall had stopped by Rose's house with the missing work Rose had been demanding. Along with the work, Headmistress McGonagall had offered Rose both an apology, and given her a lecture.
Headmistress McGonagall had apologized for not being there for Rose's first transformation, as those were always the most difficult. During the first few transformations, the human mind had to adjust to sharing space with that of an animal's. Without proper guidance, the animal mind and instincts could take over for periods of time given the high stress of a first transformation. Pair that stress with the stress of a battle, and a situation like Rose's wasn't uncommon. In fact, Headmistress McGonagall had listed a bunch of similar instances to Rose where someone had gotten seriously injured or had ended up dead, which was part of the reason all Animagi now needed to be registered with the Ministry.
After the apology and the lesson, Headmistress McGonagall had moved on to the lecture. Yes Rose had taken a life, but by all accounts the death was justified since the person who ended up dying had been trying to commit murder. Rose's killing was in the self defense of one Ronald Bilius Weasley, and therefore Rose would not be charged. While it was perfectly fine for Rose to have conflicted emotions during this trying time, being rude and shutting her family out was not helping anything. In fact, Rose was continuing to hurt herself with her actions.
Rose had emerged from that lecture and her room feeling quite contrite, and made more of an effort to be outside of her room to make time for her immediate family. By week four, Rose was ready to see all the Potter and Weasley's who were already out of Hogwarts. Rose would spend a few hours a day with various relatives, trying to feel back to normal.
Now, on her last weekend before heading back to Hogwarts and the inevitable rumor mill, Rose was ready to see Albus and Scorpius. This was both a reunion Rose was looking forward to and dreading. Rose missed Albus, and especially Scorpius, but she was also a bit worried about their reactions. Rose knew from Uncle Harry that it had been those two who had seen the aftermath of what she had done to the man, and Scorpius had carried her nude and bloodied body all the way to the hospital wing. Although necessary, and the fact that she had been unconscious for the entire ordeal, Rose felt herself blushing at the idea of being naked in Scorpius' arms. It definitely wasn't an appropriate reaction to finding out about the situation she had been in, but the thought had been invading Rose's mind the past week.
Rose put down her quill and sighed. She had managed to make up for all the work she had missed, although both her mother and Headmistress McGonagall had assured her that wasn't necessary.
"Cookies are ready!" Hermione sang, as she put a small plate in front of Rose.
"Thanks, mum," Rose said, as she absentmindedly munched on a butterscotch oatmeal cookie.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Hermione asked, as she sat down in the chair across from Rose.
"I just can't wrap my head around how I managed to go from being in Headmistress McGonagall's office, to being in the midst of the battle. How did I go there without my wand? Without aparating?" Rose asked, her brows furrowed.
It had been a question that had plagued Rose for the past few weeks. How did Rose manage to get there in time to help her dad?
"I don't know, honey," Hermione said, sounding a bit helpless. It was the same answer Hermione had every time Rose had brought it up. Hermione had seen Rose's memories, as had Harry and Ron. It was a question the three of them, as well as the relevant parties to the investigation, had all been asking. How did Rose do this bit of magic? It was unheard of.
Hermione had even posed that question to Minerva when she had last visited. Minerva had been equally stumped, as there had been no historical circumstances in which an Animagi was reported to have the power that Rose had exhibited during the battle.
Stumped and not one to back down from a challenge, Hermione had spent most of the last month off from work, alternating between caring for Ron and Rose, and researching possible answers to Rose's question. Hemrione had no definitive answer yet, to her dismay, but she felt it must have something to do with Rose being a Wandless. Hermione could perform Wandless magic herself, but not to the extent that Rose could. Hugo didn't show signs of possessing Wandless magic, nor did Ron. So what made Rose's magic different?
"I think I want to continue Animagi lessons with Headmistress McGonagall, as well as Wandless magic lessons," Rose suddenly said.
Hermione's eyes snapped up to her daughter's determined ones.
"I think being an Animagi and being a Wandless could be invaluable to the war," Rose explained, ignoring Hermone's squeak of protest at the word 'war.' "But this time I want to make sure I'm doing it properly. I don't want anything bad to happen again."
"Rose, I think you should rest and recover before applying yourself to those extra lessons. You can take a year off before starting your Curse Breaking apprenticeship. Bill has already offered as much," Hermione explained, concern for her daughter evident.
"Mum, I know you're worried, but I want things to go back to normal, or as normal as they can be," Rose pleaded. "I'll be careful, and I will research more about Wandless magic."
Hermone's reply was cut off by the sound of the roaring floo.
Ron Weasley walked through the halls of the Ministry, rehearsing what he was going to say in his head. He and Hermione had talked extensively, and both of them agreed this was the right decision for him and his family. However, that didn't make Ron's decision any easier.
As Ron entered the lift, he couldn't help but wish he was still snuggled up on the couch with his daughter, whose feet had been on his lap as she did her work. If this conversation went well, he would have more time to have domestic moments like that with his family more often.
Ron meandered down the halls towards the Auror Department. He wasn't purposefully dragging his feet, but since this would most likely be the last time he worked here, Ron wanted to commit all the memories this building had in his mind.
As Ron neared the entrance to the office, he made sure that his hands weren't visibly shaking. The last time Ron had been this nervous was when he was applying for an Auror position. Ron remembered pouring over his resume with Hermione and Harry, and rehearsing interview questions the week leading up to his interview. Now, Ron was about to have another interview, but this time his goal was leaving the Ministry and the Aurors, not joining them.
Ron walked into the Auror office for the first time in a month. As Ron made his way through the office, he made sure to keep a smile on his face as he greeted all those welcoming him back. Would their reactions to his presence be the same if they knew his decision?
As Ron bypassed his own office and made for Harry's, Ron was unsurprised to see Harry already waiting for him at the door, a knowing look on his face. Harry always knew.
"Ron," Harry said, holding out his hand for a shake. Ron offered an uneasy smile, before clasping Harry's hand with his own.
It wasn't as if Ron hadn't seen Harry in the month he had been off recovering from his injuries. In fact, Harry and Ginny, as well as various other family members had made it their job to check in on Ron, Rose, and the rest of the Granger-Weasley family multiple times a week.
When Harry and Ginny did visit, all talks of work and The Second Battle for Hogwarts were ignored. Instead, Harry and Ginny came over for dinner, movies, chess, and board games. It was for this reason that Ron suddenly felt nervous being in Harry's presence because now it was time to talk about work, and it was time to talk about The Second Battle for Hogwarts.
Ron didn't know if he was ready. Ron wasn't sure he'd ever be ready.
"Tea and biscuits?" Harry asked, gesturing to a nearly full tea spread next to his desk.
Before Ron could answer, he felt a firm pressure on his shoulders. Before he knew it, Ron was sitting in a plush chair, his stiff legs finally given some reprieve.
Wordlessly, Ron reached for a biscuit, and used his wand to pour himself some tea.
"Harry," Ron started, unsure. Ron could tell that Harry was holding back, waiting for him to say what he needed to say, even though waiting was most likely straining Harry's patience.
"Harry," Ron began again, a bit stronger this time. "Hermione and I have been talking…"
"How's the tea?" Harry asked suddenly, causing Ron to blink.
"Oh, erm, it's warm," Ron said, before taking an obligatory sip.
In truth, the tea was oversteeped, but he and Harry never could brew a proper pot of tea. Hermione had been the one who had been good at that, even while they were on the run.
"Ron," Harry suddenly breathed out, "I think I know what you want to say."
"Harry, please, let me say this," Ron said, clenching his tea cup between his hands.
"I know, I know, Ginny warned me about this, and I get it. I do. It's just, we've been together for so long. You're my partner. We've been together since we were eleven years old. We fought a war together. We started as Aurors together and moved up in the department together. We've done things for this department that have changed wizarding society. And now you're telling me you're about to leave. To leave me," Harry emphasized.
"Harry," Ron said, guilt making all of his insides clench. This is what Ron had been dreading.
Harry held up a hand. "But, you are my best friend. My family. Your health and happiness comes before anything else. I understand why you need to do what you need to do."
"Harry," Ron said, tears forming in his eyes.
"Ron, do you remember what you said at my wedding? You not only apologized for leaving when you were seventeen for the fifteenth time, but you also promised to always have my back, and to never leave me again when it counts. Ron, you've fulfilled that promise to me a thousand times over in the two decades since. I think it's time you rest." Harry finished.
For the first time since being injured, Ron let himself grieve. While at home with Hermione and Rose, he felt he had to be the strong one. Hermione's nightmares from the war were back, but this time, as she had confided in Ron, it was Rose being tortured in her dreams, not her. Rose also had nightmares, and her trauma caused her to withdraw into herself. For both of their sakes, Ron needed to be happy, to be cheerful, to be present as if nothing were wrong.
But things were wrong. Ron was jumping at the smallest of noises. Ron was sensing danger when there wasn't any. Sometimes, even the smallest of movements made it feel as if the spells cast at him were reopening all of his wounds, and that his skin was burning.
The final straw for Ron had been when he had gone shopping in Muggle London. The sound of a backfiring truck had caused Ron to whip out his wand in the middle of the shampoo aisle, just about ready to curse the next thing that moved in his line of sight. Luckily, he had been the only one in that aisle at the time, but had there been Muggles there, Ron could have either exposed magic to Muggles, or worse, he might have fired a curse at a Muggle in his panic.
After rushing back to his home without any groceries, Ron had sat Hermione down to tell her his concerns. Thankfully Rose was in her room at the time because Ron had not been able to hold it together. There had been a lot of tears shed between him and Hermione after that discussion, and it was then that Ron decided it was time to make a career change. Hermione had been supportive, and she even suggested that the three of them, maybe all four of them if Hugo started displaying acute signs of distress or stress, should see a Muggle counselor.
According to Hermione, Muggle mental health was much more advanced than anything the Wizarding World had to offer, and there was this thing called PTSD that Muggle war veterans sometimes went through after their service ended. Hermione was currently in the process of looking into counselors that specialize in PTSD and grief for them to talk to.
After quite a few moments, Ron managed to compose himself a bit. Wiping his eyes, Ron said, "Harry, I'm not alright. When I was seventeen I ran because I was scared. I'm almost forty-six now. I'm not going to run, but I can at least admit that I'm bloody scared. The First Wizarding War, it was horrible. But this one, it's worse because of our kids. Rose was there, Harry. She saw war. Everything we've worked to protect them from, it happened anyways. I can't do it anymore. I can't lose another family member, especially one of my children. I'm not running Harry. If you still need me to fight, I will. But…"
"You need to take care of yourself and your family," Harry finished, definitely. "Like I said Ron, I understand. I would never accuse you of running, or of abandoning me or your duties. People have left the Auror Department for much less noble reasons than you."
Ron put his forgotten and now cold tea back on the server. "Harry, I mean it, I will fight if you need me to."
"And if it comes to that point, I will ask you," Harry stated. "But, we have many Aurors, most of whom you've trained, and we keep getting new recruits every day, now that news of the new war is spreading. Take the time you need to heal. Hendrichs can take over. I've been meaning to offer him a promotion, and after you, he's our best strategist in the department."
Ron found himself nodding in agreement. Although not official, Ron had taken the younger Auror under his wing. Although he had about ten years on Hendrichs, Ron had been slowly mentoring Hendrichs for a position that used more strategy. It seemed only natural that it would be Hendrichs who would assume the Deputy Head position. Perhaps Ron would be able to tell Hendrichs himself.
"So, what are you planning on doing next?" Harry asked, stubbornly drinking the oversteeped tea.
"I'm going to continue to heal and stay with my family. Hermione's taken time off of the DMLE too. She was thinking of running for Minister of Magic, but any thoughts of that have been postponed. After I feel comfortable, I might work part time for George at the Hogsmeade branch of WWW. Between Hermione's job and our savings, we'll be comfortable," Ron said.
"You'll also of course have your pension from the Auror office," Harry stated.
"But I haven't served for thirty years?" Ron asked, confused.
"No, but you've served for twenty-seven years. Twenty-eight actually, when we count The First Wizarding War, which the Ministry did count as experience when they hired us. I'd say almost dying and not missing any days, excluding the births of your children, means that we can add two measly years to your service record," Harry said, a smile on his face.
Ron closed his mouth sharply. Receiving his pension wasn't something Ron or Hermione had anticipated, since both of them had been adamant they were not to receive special treatment due to their status as war heroes. In truth, Hermione's paid leave was running out, meaning she would soon be on unpaid leave. With Ron resigning from the Auror Department, money was going to be a bit tight for the rest of the year. As they had been planning, Ron and Hermione found themselves quite lucky they had bought their house.
"Harry," Ron began. It didn't sound like special treatment, but that didn't mean it wasn't.
"And," interrupted before Ron could protest. "You also have three years of sick and vacation leave that you never used, so you're actually retiring with honors and 31 years of service."
Ron's rebuttal died in his throat. A light flush began to dust his pale cheeks. He and Hermione had been so focused on their careers and family that both of them had neglected to take any real family vacations aside from the two mandatory weeks a year the Ministry enforced. Ron knew he had a lot of vacation time and sick days leftover, but three whole years worth?!
"How many years do you have, Harry?" Ron questioned.
Harry began shuffling papers on his desk, but Ron was sure he heard, "Four years."
"You know, you can also take a break too," Ron said, cautiously. From years of experience, Ron knew that Harry had a weird love-hate complex going with his chosen profession.
Harry sighed, finally deciding his papers no longer needed to be organized. "Ron, even if I wanted to leave, which I don't, I couldn't. This is what I was born to do. I resented this as a child, but as an adult, I realize how important it is for someone to fight against evil."
Ron swallowed a resigned huff. No matter how many times he, Hermione, Ginny, and anyone else important in Harry's life told him, Harry was unable to shake off his hero-complex. The only good thing, in Ron's opinion, is that Harry no longer thought he had to do it alone.
"Ron, I've processed all of your paperwork already, in case this was the direction you decided to go in. It just needs your signature at the bottom," Harry said, a flick of his wand sending a stack of recently organized papers Ron's way.
Ron did a customary read through of the paperwork. Ron trusted Harry, but he could hear Hermione's voice in the back of his head, cautioning against signing any unknown papers.
After making sure everything was in order, Ron signed his name. Ronald Bilius Weasley. Although he had signed many important documents in his life, this one seemed to stand out. The paperwork represented an ending, but also the beginning of a new adventure.
Albus Severus Potter was relieved when he and Scorpius had been given the green light to visit Rose. The past month without Rose had been absolutely miserable.
For one, Albus himself missed Rose, and was consumed with worry for her wellbeing. Albus was also concerned and hurt that Rose had seen every other family member except for him.
To add to the stress of not having Rose around, Scorpius almost stopped functioning. It took Albus and all of their friends to do what he needed to do to survive. Without Rose around, Scorpius looked miserable. He just flitted between classes and the rest of his duties.
When Albus had told Scorpius they could see Rose, it was like the light came back to his friends' eyes. To say that Albus was relieved would be a massive understatement.
So, here they were, stepping into the green flames. Scorpius was nearly bouncing.
After a few seconds of stomach wrenching spinning, Albus found himself stepping out into his Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione's living room.
Albus opened his mouth in greeting, but managed to inhale a mouthful of soot.
Luckily Scorpius was there to greet Rose in his place.
"Rose!" Scorpius nearly shouted.
Had Albus not been choking on soot, he would have laughed at how Scorpius bounded over to Rose, almost as if he were a puppy.
"H-hi," Rose said shly.
Albus watched as Scorpisu hugged Rose. After a few seconds of hesitation, Rose returned the hug, burying her face in his sweater. Albus looked away from the intimate scene in front of him, and accidentally made eye contact with his Aunt Hermione.
Aunt Hermione had a knowing look in her eyes, and Albus suddenly found himself in the kitchen, enjoying a glass of milk and some still-warm butterscotch oatmeal cookies. As Albus happily munched on his treat, he felt as if everything was finally going back to normal.