APOV

"Are you finally awake Albus?" a voice called faintly as I began to stir.

"Aunt Mini?" Where was I? How did we… we…

"Scor!?" I screamed, jolting awake. Everything spiraled and spun as the blood rushed from my head. A swirling mass of memories. Jaws snapping angrily. A sickening smell. A smell like death and rotting flesh. Eyes as black as the nothingness in the void. I looked up to see Aunt mini. She smiled and pointed to a figure at my side.

"Young Master Malfoy is fine, you will note." We were both placed in the same bed. Why were we in the same bed?

The pounding did not relent and my confusion only greatened the longer I was awake. We were in the hospital wing! Fear finally overtook me when the numbness swelled outward.

"My legs… I CAN'T FEEL MY LEGS!"

"Sh shh shh! Albus you are fine. You are both perfectly fine. There was a moment when we thought we might lose you… well we very well would have lost you if it weren't for him." Minerva finished somberly as she stroked the beautiful Phoenix perched beside her. "Fawkes saved you both. Although I'm afraid Poppy said it would take a few hours for feeling to return to you below the waist."

I shifted back towards Scorpius. He looked so still, so pale. It was hard to believe he was alright. The tears weren't stoping. "You swear he's alright? Promise me. I'm not myself… I can't tell what's real right now, please… Aunt Mini…"

Before I could finish, Fawkes hopped from the table onto the bed, walking carefully along the covers up towards my lap. Since I was a child the fiery birds of legend had always seemed to understand me. They were remarkably intelligent creatures. More than that though, they had always somehow felt… a part of me. As had the serpents.

While this wasn't the white Fawkes that I'd met in the forests beneath the Lavender Bowl, he still seemed familiar. The bird tilted his head to the right so that an enormous black and gold eye could fix itself unblinkingly on me. As he stared, I knew, knew that Scorpius was going to be alright, that he would be perfect again. I surprised myself when the tears began to flow faster. Why was I crying if we were fine? It was a wonder I hadn't woken Scor with my leaking.

"You know Fawkes here has not returned to Hogwarts in quite a long time. It is good to see him again."

I continued to cry as I watched Scorpius, unable to shake the coldness in my heart. I had all but ignored Minerva. I knew my spine had been snapped. I remembered hearing the sickening noise. While I trusted Minerva enough to know I'd be fine, I still couldn't help but remember the horror of being unable to move. My memories flashed hot again and the pain began to echo through me. A searing pain… like the fire of a molten brand. I remembered clawing my way towards Scor, my fingernails broken, my skin shredding… I could feel the shattered bones scraping against the mossy cobblestones as I inched my way forward. My heart pounded faster and faster, racing like lightning across the sky. Just as I had been about to tip into chaos, Fawkes squawked at me, pulling me back from the painted madness of my mind and memories. With that my tears finally slowed. There was something oddly rhythmic about the golden glow of his feathers. Phoenix fire. It was as though there were a flame coursing inside of him. The sheer warmth of his presence was enough to save me from the terrors of the dark. I looked down at my hands, my fingers were still ragged and bloody, the nails having not yet grown back. I guess Fawkes hadn't considered them a priority...

"Poppy said Scorpius was worse off than you. Something was wrong with his internal organs. Some kind of spell was causing them to regenerate at an accelerated rate, which caused them to heal improperly when he was injured. It should take him until morning or noon to recover. Sleep awhile longer Albus. We will both be here when you wake." I was going to argue when she waved her wand at me. I couldn't fight her incantation so I gave in to the magic, letting it carry me away. I fell backwards onto the pillow and sleep overtook me again.

I couldn't have been out for more than an hour because when my eyes reopened, Aunt mini was sitting in the exact same position she had been before. Some of my strength had returned but there was no end to the show of lights dancing inside my head.

"You really can never do as you're told, can you Albus?" Minerva asked from over the pages of her book. 'Ancient Archons'. It had been an instant classic, staying as #1 on the Prophets bestseller list for three months after its publication. When feeling came back to my extremities I realized that my hand was firmly clutching Scors. I withdrew our joint limbs from beneath the silky sea of sheets and used the last of my strength to pull the twit to rest against me. I brushed the hair from his face, noticing the few remaining scrapes and bruises that still marred his flesh.

"You said earlier that Fawkes brought us here? He must have carried us all the way from the forest." I shot through the haze.

"So thats where you two were. Fawkes cried a river for you, I think it was the only thing that could have healed your spine. What were you two doing in the forbidden forest?" Just as I had opened my mouth to answer, the door burst open, jolting the beautiful Phoenix right from my lap in a storm of feathers and movement.

"WHAT ON EARTH?" cried Mr. Malfoy who had chosen that moment to explode into the room.

"Draco—Your son is still resting!"

"Why are they in the hospital wing? What happened? Who did this? How…" he asked in a hale of frantic questions. I had never seen Mr. Malfoy this incoherent. He was worried, annoyed, angry and confused, stopping himself only when his shock paralyzed him. "Why are they in the same bed?" He could hardly comprehend anything that was happening. I was having trouble thinking too.

"We were not able to separate your son and Albus. Their hands were magically bound and each time we made to part them… they… Well suffice it to say that we were unsuccessful."

"And their injuries?"

"They will heal in time. As for how they came to harm. We are still attempting to determine what happened."

"Is that… Fawkes?" Draco asked still entirely flustered. I was so surprised to see Draco acting this way.

"It is indeed. It seems that he was responsible for saving the boys from whatever fate they would otherwise have suffered. Fawkes has only been seen three times since Albus Dumbledore's death. The first was the day of our Albus's birth, where he flew right through the window of the Potter residence and perched himself by the crib. It is a great honor to meet with him again and an even greater sign of good fortune that he came to their rescue. You owe him your son's life." Aunt mini turned to me then.

"Albus you should rest. You've been through quite the ordeal judging by the state you were in when you arrived. Draco we can speak privatel—"

"—And Poppy is sure they will recover?" Mini had obviously wanted to speak with Draco on his own, so as not to disturb us. When Draco refused to move, my honorary aunt reluctantly answered.

"Physically, they are both sound. I should inform you however that when the two were found, your son… had these…clutched in his hands" Minerva added pulling the second and third Hallows from the chair at her side. She handed them to me then, watching as my panicked mind tried to come up with an explanation. The book, the wand and the candle were still shrunken in my robe pocket. Mr. Malfoy and Aunt Mini would no doubt notice if I had one of the seven tomes of the goddess in my possession. It would have been worse than this.

"Are those…" Mr. Malfoy started, turning to look at me as well.

"I… I threw the cloak over Scor… to protect him… " I shot trying to avoid further explanation of what had happened. "And … the stone… is Scor's… I… gave it to him for his birthday." Mr. Malfoy's eyes kept returning to his son, as if they could not trust that he was alright. "He must have thought it could save us from…" My hesitation was my undoing. He might not have thought to ask had I kept my mouth shut.

"What happened?" Draco asked for the second time. He was staring at me as though the truth I possessed could satisfy his instincts to protect Scorpius. It would not.

"The Forest… we were exploring… and…"

I tried exhaustedly to continue, but all I could manage was to swallow repeatedly. I looked down at Scor's sleeping form. He merely lay there, quietly braced against me. He would have known what to say.

"Yes? And?"

"Please, we…" I was terrified that if they found out he truth of that night they would try and separate us again. It was my fault. All of it was my fault.

"Why did Scorpius have those? We need to know what happened."

"Actually—" I started wearily before i was interrupted. This was not good. What was she doing here?

"—Pursuant to DoM regulations, being the rightful bearer of a Deathly Hallow, grants Albus authority to forbid any of you from studying, examining, or even mentioning his possession of those artifacts" Shot Vivian, entering the room in her black and white Unspeakable robes.

"Why are you here Vivian? Do you know something about all this?" Draco asked intently, turning towards the deputy minister.

"A branch of our department picked up unusual activity following a DMLE report of… terrorist activities. I was assigned to look into it. In effect… we were actually searching for you when we were notified of what happened." An image of black skinned creatures raced through my mind as she spoke. I looked at Vivian in a completely new light. She was a compilation of magical creatures but she so resembled Silvarion's kind that I shuddered at the sight of her eyes. She was staring at me so intensely, as though she could sense my encounter with them.

"Terrorists? In lower Scotland? What nonsense." Shot Draco unconvinced. Vivian had spoken to Draco but had not broken eye contact with me. "And why were you searching for me in the middle of the night?"

"You've been summoned to the ministry, you are being extended an invitation to serve the new minister for magic."

"What? Shacklebolt finally resigned?" Draco asked in utter shock. His shock turned to horror as he spoke the words. "Why did you come in the middle of the night if he resigned? Vivian's face was stone, she revealed no hint of emotion, no whisper of her true thoughts. I had spent years as her student and yet I felt like I knew almost nothing about her.

"The previous Minister for Magic was murdered tonight in an attack on the Shaklebolt estate. His entire detail of aurors was completely incapacitated without even having had time to draw their wands. They are all still being treated at St. Mungo's. You, are being summoned by the interim Minister for Magic, Harry Potter. Ronald Weasley has stepped up and will assume the position of Head Auror while Harry Potter acts as MM; in the meantime you are to reprise your position as Supreme Founder of the Council."

"What?" I hacked dryly as though she had spoken in another language. My mind raced through a thousand different scenarios. Could the hooded man and his master have been involved? Had Marvolo somehow been part of it? It was too big of a coincidence for both events to occur at the same time. Tonight must have meant something important… but what on earth—

"—So Harry suspects my involvement?" Draco's eyes narrowed dangerously as he stared at Vivian. How could the MM be dead?!

"Of course not Mr. Malfoy, my dad would never assume that!" I couldn't believe that after all we had gone through, something even more horrible could be waiting for us when we woke up.

"Someone wants me close by to make sure I don't cause trouble, I'd say the summons was a way to achieve that Al."

"Harry Potter respects your tactical prowess and holds a deep appreciation for the friendship you share, he could use your counsel during this time of crisis."

"Are those his words or hers?"

"His… More or less. Minister Granger was distraught when the new MM sent the request through her department. The DoM is bloated beyond belief. It has been doubling as the BAT (Bureau of Anti-Terrorism) for six months ever since authority over the CIB (Central Intelligence Bureau) was transferred to the newly created minister for defense. The original order was actually to have you assume control of it starting tonight. Hermione nearly blew a fuse at the idea of you running the anti terrorist division of her department. Harry and his advisors are debating it now, along with a host of other issues. Things are… chaotic right now."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It was all so strange and alien. I was not new to the intricacies of political drama, but such nuances were still hard to follow. Nothing as big as this had ever happened during my life… My head was still ringing from the thought of the Keepers snapping jaws. The MM was dead. The Minister for Magic had been murdered. Kind old Kingsley… was gone.

"After everything thats happened, Harry wants me to run the BAT? Is he mad? The wizarding world will think he's gone soft in the head. I was a traitor, I will bear the mark of my treachery until the day I die. No one in the wizarding community will accept me as department head. The Purebloods will be just as likely to retaliate as the Reformation Party."

"Nevertheless, this order comes from the two most powerful offices in Great Britain… You are to come with us. Now."

"I will come as soon as I have dealt with my son. You can understand how his health might take precedence."

Two black and white robed attendants appeared from the door behind Vivian, and two more filed through the side hall of the hospital wing.

"I'm so sorry Draco, this is an official order. Minister Granger insisted… you were to be brought immediately. Harry doesn't even know that they were hurt. I only just found out from your elf when we stopped by the manor. I'm sure the MM never would have summoned you had he known."

At that one of the other unspeakables stepped forward.

"We have an excellent medical wing in the DoM, the care is much better there. You could bring Scorpius with you." Chuckled a voice from behind the black hood. I knew I recognized it, it was the voice of the Unspeakable named Burke! The one that had participated in the assault on Malfoy manor. The hairs on my neck and arms bristled wildly like a feral cat as I realized what he had meant by medical wing. Vivian rounded on Burke and gave him a look that would have turned a Basilisk to stone. It wasn't enough to satisfy me. How dare he say such a foul thing in the midst of such atrocities?

My fury erupted through my skin like molten magma oozing through the earth. I was so angry that the blood in my veins had already begun to boil. The more I called on his blood, the more difficult it was to keep my anger in check. I reached my hand out and squeezed the air with all my might, lifting the man right off the ground. He struggled at his neck in a vain attempt for release. He couldn't breathe.

With that the three other Unspeakables drew their wands at me. I barked dangerously at them, pulling Silvarion's jeweled prize out of my robes with my left hand. I had already pointed it towards Vivian.

"I am the Minister for Magic's son, the son of Harry Potter the Hero of Both Wizarding Wars. Son of our Savior, the boy who lived, the boy who defeated the Dark Lord. Who is going to stop me and explain to my father why a bed ridden child was attacked by three of his own unspeakables?"

The hooded figures looked cautiously at one another, as though attempting to determine whether or not it was wise to shoot me.

"I warn you! This is Excalibur! It is even more powerful than the elder wand of legend. Wielded by a true Peverell I could kill you all in seconds. In my immediate possession are the three deathly Hallows. Who wants to test me?" I screamed to the room. I couldn't fight four potentially warlock class wizards at once, but they weren't quite ready to attack their bosses son. I don't think anyone was afraid of me… despite my wandless death-grip on Burke or the artifacts in my hand.

"Albus stop! What are you doing?" Cried Draco angrily.

"Albus Potter you cease this madness at once!" Cried Minerva. They didn't understand why I had acted so harshly.

"Tell him Burke" I shot throwing the man into the stone wall behind him. "Tell Mr. Malfoy what you meant by medical wing." I was furious. My skin was burning with rage. The fool assumed neither Draco nor I had ever been inside of the DoM. He had been dead wrong.

"I… It was a joke. I meant no harm by it. I… Albus you know…"

"You think this is the time for Jokes!? The minister for Magic has been murdered, you come, for the second time in the middle of the night to attack Scor's dad and you think it wise to crack jokes? Tell him! or by the goddess so help me, I will snap your arms like twigs." I grabbed Burke wandlessly and wordlessly again. I couldn't tell where this immense power was coming from. I could not under nornal circumstances perform this level of magic without a wand or the words to shape the energy. What was happening to me? I felt malice pouring from deep within. The ring on my finger was pulsing… something from inside my pocket was pulsing. Fear started to darken my magic and I could feel my control over the spell wavering.

"I… the medical wing is where we conduct our experiments on magical creatures and oddities. Its where we…"

He stopped at that, watching Mr. Malfoy's face contort into abject horror as he realized what Burke had meant.

"Yes? Where you what!?" I asked again, twisting his arms even farther behind him. Already burning. Hate… I was burning…

"Where we dissect our live subjects—" he finished with a cry. At that I released him, allowing my thoughts to settle. My mind felt thin, like clear tracing paper. I know I would have passed out had I not released the magic at that very moment. If Vivian had asked me to stop I would have, but throughout the episode she had merely stood impassively by, as though she accepted my right to discipline her subordinates. She always treated me like royalty…

"Enough. All of you will sheathe your wands. Albus is right. We are in a state of emergency. We may very well have been attacked by a foreign wizarding country, we don't have time for this nonsense. Albus that wand is very dangerous, my own personnel are forbidden to repeat the secrets they encounter if I wish it, so no one but us need know of it. We may have Draco and Minerva swear a similar oath but I suggest you not tell anyone else its origin or true name. Caledfwlch is even more legendary a weapon than was the elder wand, than was Gae bolg, or Gram, or Arondight… Keep it secret. Burke… you and I will be speaking with Hermione upon our return… Draco, you see the level of devotion this boy has shown you and your family? Scorpius will be safe with him, but you must come with us immediately." Vivian with all her mastery of her own emotions was surprised by my display. Just because she had showed no sign of it didn't mean she did not feel it.

Draco looked towards me with a mixture of emotions I couldn't understand, then towards his sleeping son.

"That is quite enough. They both need rest." Shot Madame Pomfrey coming through the the doors from her office. "They are still injured!"


Another super long chapter. Things are going to get interesting over the summer.

Review and the next chapter will be up sooner