Author's note: Hmmm . . . I happen to be out sync with my personal side, so nothing too interesting here. Ooh, I changed the title because I couldn't stand it anymore . . .sorry for any confusion I may have caused you. But never fear because the review button is still where it should be (hint hint).
Disclaimer: I don't own any characters, only the contents of the plot. The characters (with the exception of Scipio who belongs to Cornelia Funke) belong to J.K.Rowling.
**************************************Scipio*********************************************
By far, Scipio had been the most miserable he'd ever been. He felt both angry and upset that Professor Lupin hadn't yet found who "the seer" was. And the constant attempts from Harry, Ron and Hermione to make him more cheerful and lively were beginning to make him more irate by the day.
He knew he shouldn't take his anger out on them, they hadn't done anything to deserve it and were kind enough to offer help, but he didn't know what else to do. When he was isolated, he wished for company and when he was in the presence of others, he very badly wanted for them to leave him alone.
Autumn was slowly dying, as was his spirit and with the upcoming Christmas festivities, Scipio wanted nothing more than to die. A week in hell would have seemed kind when compared to a single Christmas feast with Draco and his aunt Narcissa. But the days ticked away quicker than he could have hoped and he was soon seated with Draco, Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy on the Hogwarts Express.
"So Scipio, you're spending Christmas with Draco, aren't you?" Pansy piped, trying to spruce up conversation between the two cousins. Draco was fiddling with his wand and Scipio glared absentmindedly out the window.
"No Pansy, he's going back to Venice and he's going to starve his arse off because he has no money or a place to live." Draco said with a sharp tone and an icy glare in Pansy's direction.
"It'd be much better than staying with the son of a death eater." Scipio said in what was a tone louder than a whisper.
"What was that? At least I know where my father is!"
"I do too. And believe me, he'd still be a far better father dead than your father any day!"
"Take that back!"
"On my death bed!" Scipio screamed, shuffling hastily out of his seat.
"Don't come back!" Draco said, rising out of his seat.
"I won't! Not until I have to see your friggin' face when we get off this train, at least!"
With that, Scipio picked up his wand and luggage and walked to an empty compartment.
**************************************Harry*********************************************
"So Scipio's gone home with Draco for Christmas?" Ron asked, filling his mouth with porridge and bacon at the breakfast table.
"Yeah. He sounded really angry about having to go." Harry said, toying with his eggs. He really wasn't in the mood to eat, especially when thinking about Scipio.
"How would you know? He's always angry about something!" Ron said between bites.
"Ron! Scipio's going through a very rough time and now he has to go back to live with the Malfoy's." Hermione said, also playing with her food. She was worried about Scipio as well.
"Just for vacation! The guy needs to lighten up. If Harry can deal with it-"
"But that's just it, Ron. Scipio isn't Harry. He doesn't respond to problems the way that Harry does. But I know he'll get through this, it may not be as soon as we'd like it to happen, but he'll get over it soon enough."
"Hermione, that's why I love you so much," Ron said, leaning in to give Hermione a kiss. Hermione however, backed away.
"Don't kiss me, Ron. Your breath reeks. Did you brush your teeth this morning?"
"I'm going to visit Lupin," Harry replied dismally and flew out of the common room with a few mummers from Ron about Scipio trailing slowly behind him. . .
Harry was just about to push open the door of Professor Lupin's office when he heard hushed mutters from the other side of the door. Kneeling to a squatting position on the floor, he pulled out a pair of extendable ears, a gift from the Weasley twins, and slid them under the door and listened . .
"He should know, Dumbledore."
"He will know in due time, Remus, but let us give the boy an enjoyable holiday for once in his life."
"Procrastination will only worsen the present state of things. We both know that if Sirius is not delivered from behind the veil soon…"
"Let's not worry the boy, Remus. We should give him at least until the holidays are finished."
"Waiting will do none of us any good. Perhaps you don't see the urgency in what I'm trying to do. For Scipio's sake, for Harry's and for my own, He needs to be sent for by the next new moon. That's Christmas day!"
"I see the urgency in the matter, Remus. I have both boys' best intents at heart as do I have yours. But we should steer to the sides of caution. Should Lucious Malfoy get wind of any peculiar behavior form his son, even so much as a hint of what we might be up to, it will lead Voldemort to Harry through Scipio."
What are they talking about? Leading Voldemort to me?
"Yes, you're right. Perhaps we must use the utmost caution. But we mustn't forget the prophecy."
"I am aware, Remus. The only one who can deliver what has been lost behind the veil is his son whom he has never met before. In the rescuing of his father, however, his own life will be lost and the debt repaid to the guards behind the veil…"
Harry swallowed the stone perched deep within his throat and let a single trail of tears flow onto his cheek. He'd never let go of Scipio so easily. Not to Voldemort or the guards of the veil. But would he be able to let him go for the sake of Sirius's life?
A/N: Cliffie! Next week…The truth is broken to Scipio…what will happen??? R&R.