APOV
We were deposited gently on Hogwarts ground, both of us landing lithely on the tips of our toes. It was strange to feel the soft grassy earth beneath my feet. Stranger still to consider resuming my life. There was so much to do. I wanted to visit the merfolk at the bottom of the black lake and collect rare herbs in the forbidden forest. I wanted to discuss potions theory with professor Snape and joke with my friends around a warm fireplace. I wanted to sneak into the chamber of secrets to see for myself where dad saved my mums life. There was so much to do so much to catch up on.
"I can't believe it Scor!" I squealed excitedly. I grabbed his hand, dragging him in the direction of the castle. "We're really here! I can't wait to see everybody." How familiarly alien a sensation it was to embrace what I had originally been so violently afraid of. Anything was bearable if Scor was there to help me through.
"Hey Al." He began softly, stopping us in our tracks. A cool breeze blew mournfully across the hills, lifting and tossing our hair wildly about. I could smell the thick wet air, hear the cool crisp sounds of the wind. Most of all I could feel the hum of the stones. The magic and memory of the castle itself seemed to call out to me, even though we could not yet see it. Through the fog it all felt so gloomy, but this was home nonetheless. What will we do when we get too old for this place I wonder? What will become of us when this part of our lives ends? I shuddered thinking about it. We will most likely never get a chance to prove ourselves to the world like our parents. War and pain are horrible things, but heroes are forged during times of strife. Perhaps it was best that we had a chance at peace. It was a miracle that nobody had killed us for our friendship already.
When I turned back to examine my friend, I realized suddenly how beautiful his pink eyes looked in the piercing moonlight. They shone like liquid diamonds the color of cherry blossoms in spring. A purposeful intensity poured out from them, steeping the air with a longing lust for life. There was magic in his eyes. I really wonder if he even knows it himself.
"Before we go in, I want to tell you something. My mum, the thestrals, all of it. If we're being honest, I should have told you all of this already."
"You don't have to tell me anything. Again, I can't apologize enough for what I said and did back at my house. I would never presume to force you into anything."
"Well all the same, you are without a doubt my best friend and I want you to know me as well as is possible. My marks… i'm not the only Malfoy who has them… Well who had them."
"What do you mean?" I asked releasing his hand. "I'm confused. What other Malfoy?" There were no other Malfoys left. The only true Malfoys alive at any point in the last half century were Lucius, Draco and Scorpius.
"Al… I had a twin sister. She…" Scor stopped suddenly, staring off into the distance. Another cool gust blew through us, filling our tiny forms with its hollow howling. This wave of chilly air was crueler and icier than the last. It seemed almost to screech and tear at us, harrowing our spirits like the shrieking harps of the furies. The grassy hills were endless out here, and the wind seemed unnaturally conscious. I had however, never known it to be cruel.
"When I was seven, Limstella… my Ella… We were playing by a cliffside with Aurora along the coastline of one of our French estates. It wasn't a particularly nice day, but nothing about it led me to expect such horror. Aurora and Ella wanted a picture with me against the blue ocean and sky. The three of us walked to the edge and just as the flash went off, the ground gave way beneath us." I listened in shock as he spoke, unable to move, unable to breathe.
"Our caretaker Victor… we were hanging on, and he… I begged him to save Ella first, but he didn't. I was the male heir, so he retrieved me in defiance of my pleas and orders. He threw me down onto the cold hard rock and ran back towards the cliff where Emily was still fighting to pull Aurora back up. I can still hear the sound of the earth splitting to this day. I can hear it in my mind as clearly as I see you before me. After that an entire section twice as large as the first gave way. Emily had managed to push Aurora up to safety just before she herself tumbled away with Victor and my sister. It was all we could do to watch them fall into the frigid waters below. Emily was dashed against the rocks and well… we never found the other two. They were claimed by the sea."
"Oh my god Scor… I'm so sorry. I never knew." I offered painfully. I shouldn't have pushed him for answers. I felt horrid and sullied. "I had always assumed you were the only child."
"Mom blamed me, I had had a premonition and she thought… Honestly I still don't know what she thought. I was so young and Ella. I miss her everyday. I was too young to remember much of her, but I know enough to remember how much she meant to me."
"Oh Scor." I offered catching him in a tight hug. He hung there limply, barely moving. He didn't need to cry for me to know how sad he was. Finally his arms came up around me to complete the embrace. We stood there in the fog for what felt like hours. My Soulprint began to tingle and it was almost as though I could feel Scor's mind brush against mine.
"If you ever leave me Al… I'll find you… and kill you" He whispered into my ear. I could feel his hand slip beneath my robes to brush against the mark on my chest. My thoughts shimmered at the contact.
"I'm not going anywhere Scor. You know that. Only death could tear me from you."
" And if you ever presumed to up and die on me… I'd find you on the other side and kick your ass until the end of time."
"That seems a bit much. If you die on me… i'll simply bring you back."
"I'm serious Al, I mean it" He finished clutching harder. I had meant it too.
"Come on you, lets get inside. They're expecting us after all."
You watch Scor. I'll become so powerful that not even death will be able to catch us.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~)◊(~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"You're back!" Cried Louis and Rory simultaneously from the great hall. Everyone seated at the four tables shifted to look at the entrance where the two of us stood hand in hand. Louis, Rosy, Rory, Matheus, Lorcan and Lysander, as well as Maximilian Macmillan rose from their seats and all vaulted themselves in our direction.
"Oh my god. I can't believe they finally let you come back." cried Rory with what looked to be painfully ill concealed excitement.
"Scorpius you're alright." Squeaked Matheus happily.
"How's everything Albus? You've been sorely missed mate. Are you ready to challenge me for dueling president?" Asked Max clapping me on the back. "Its been an awful time filling in for you."
"We knew you'd be back. Didn't we keep reminding everyone?" both twins echoed in complete unison. "Neither of us gave up on you, did we?"
"Snake. You'll have to work harder than ever if you want to beat me this time." Rose shot at Scorpius. She was smiling.
"My Scorpius is back! I knew you couldn't stay away from me." Aurora squeaked, hurling herself wide armed at Scor to catch him in an enormous hug.
The rest of the hall was silent. Only a few clapped, and the myriad who didn't looked at each other skeptically, whispering their suspicions and dissatisfaction.
"Come. Don't pay any attention to them. We've organized a little surprise for you two." Aurora said winking at us. "Well it was Max's idea really, and he did convince the Headmistress, so if anyone's to be thanked its him."
Max turned to give a quick nod towards the faculty table. I saw Mini stand then, raising a glass in our direction. She cast a powerful sonorous on herself before speaking aloud to the entire hall. It was good to see my honorary aunt again.
"Students. Students. My friends and faculty. I would like to announce the return of my favorite pupils. Scorpius Malfoy and Albus Potter will be resuming their studies here at Hogwarts and may I be the first to wish them well and a quick recovery. In honor of their return I have arranged a surprise in the Hero's Beacon so Mr. Macmillan, if you and your friends would be so kind as to escort them there." She boomed into the hall, beaming from ear to ear. "Its business as usual for the rest of you. Practice O.W.L.S. and practice N.E. are right around the corner so no slacking!" She finished eyeing the majority of the shocked hall. Ever the fierce headmistress.
"Louis you ready?" Max asked my cousin skeptically when Minerva had reseated herself.
"Don't give me that look Max. I can manage." Lou shot back. What was going on?
"Manage what guys?"
"We can both handle Scorpius. Don't worry." It was eerie how the twins always spoke in unison. I missed that about them though. Wait, managing Scorpius? What did they... woah! Max and Louis had just hoisted me up onto their shoulders without so much as a second's warning. I turned sideways to see the twins do the same for Scor. Matheus, Rose, Rory and my old rival from the Gryffindor quidditch team, Melody Abbot all started chanting our names and singing our praises as our bearers marched us off in the direction of the Hero's tower. They really cared... they'd missed us enough to organize this...
Thats when I heard Teddy start clapping and hooting from his seat, followed by my immediate family. Then Hagrid, professor Patil and the Headmistress broke in. Professor Snape had begun a soft applause from his portrait. My quidditch captain to my surprise, and some of Aurora's friends followed. Connor Finnegan was shouting our names as was Frank Longbottom. Soon a quarter of the Gryffindor table and a handful of Slytherins were clapping. More people than I would or could ever hope for. Scor looked happy too but his expression said he was more content for me than himself. I knew he thought they were only honoring us because of me. In truth I don't know how they might have reacted had he come back alone.
I had to laugh wonderfully as I rose and fell in the air. As I was carried off I managed to catch a glimpse of James, who sat as still as stone and as silent as the grave. He looked contemplatively at me, before smiling warmly. I would need to give the idiot a big hug later for that.
That sentiment faded when he shifted to look suspiciously at Scorpius. I was rolling my eyes when I spied Marvolo then and my heart sank. He was whispering something to Nott and another fourth year boy. They were up to something. I would have to remember to follow them later.
I'm sorry it's taken me so long to update, i've been dealing with a lot lately. For a while I wondered how or if I should even continue this story at all. In the end I knew I couldn't leave my characters in a half empty world.
I will be posting three chapters over the next few days and there should be a total of six or seven chapters up by the holidays.
I wish you all well.
I am dedicating this story to a beautiful friend of mine who recently took his own life under tragic circumstances. This is for you F. I will never forget how exceptional you were. The world has lost one of its treasures.
Je suis tellement désolé. Tu me manqueras jusqu'à mon dernier jour.
R.I.P.
