It takes two weeks for Scorpius is discharged from the Hospital Wing. The past two weeks, Harry's visited Scorpius once or twice, but he knows for a fact that Albus visits him every single day.

They are investigating the attack on Scorpius and the others. Harry's got a list of suspects, but McGonagall's told him – and he has to agree with her – that he can't interrogate any student unless he has any sort of evidence. Malfoy's also promised to let him know if any of his old Death Eater pals get in touch with him or let something slip, but so far, nothing. He's also got Teddy following up on any leads on the Dementor attacks, because he can't shake the feeling that it's all connected, that he can't see the bigger picture, and that he's somehow involved in all of it. All of the investigating isn't turning up any promising results, though: they still don't know who it was who it was that attacked them, but Harry's spoken to McGonagall about security measures, and he hopes that once Scorpius is discharged, he'll be able to prevent anything like that happening again.

"I would have liked him to stay here for longer," Hannah tells Harry and Ginny at breakfast, the morning that Scorpius is finally discharged from the Hospital Wing, "but he's absolutely promised me he's going to rest as much as possible and come back to me if he feels sick."

"Is he better now, then?" Harry asks.

"Well, he's all healed. There doesn't seem to be any issues with internal bleeding anymore. And the cuts haven't opened back up," Hannah says.

"Was that a possibility?" Ginny asks, sounding aghast.

"I thought it might be," Hannah says. "Luckily, it didn't happen. So, he's healed, but… he's still a bit weak. I don't think his resistance to curses will be that great for a while. He'll be extra vulnerable, if something like this happens again."

"Well," Harry says, "then we'll have to make sure it doesn't happen again."

It doesn't feel like such a simple task. He has Defence Against the Dark Arts with the third year Gryffindors and Ravenclaws after the break today, and he opens the door to the classroom five minutes early.

The Gryffindors come in first, chattering among themselves. "Hi, Professor," a few of them call out cheerfully, and Harry nods at them, but doesn't say anything. He's waiting, breath held in anticipation.

Finally, the Ravenclaws start to file in, and bringing up the rear, Harry spots Scorpius, flanked protectively by Albus and Rosie, and another girl Harry recognises as Mary Corner, the daughter of Cho and Michael Corner. She looks almost exactly like her mother, so it's easy to recognise her. Scorpius looks pale, but when he sees Harry, he gives him a smile. They sit near the front, the three of them, which Harry is very grateful for.

"Alright," he says, and clears his throat. It's very gratifying when the entire class falls silent. "I know we've already talked about Disarming, but it's very important. There have been… attacks, in the castle," he says, and he doesn't have to look directly at Scorpius to see that he's blushing, "and Disarming is a simple way to prevent anything like that happening again. It can also be your best friend in an unexpected duel. So. We're practising Expelliarmus today. Along with Stupefy and Protego, it's maybe the most useful spell. Pair up and get to work. Any questions?"

Most students don't say anything, but one student, a boy from Gryffindor whose name Harry thinks is either David or Daniiel, says, "Professor, will Expelliarmus help us if something happens like what happened to Scorpius?"

Harry should have seen this coming, he thinks. He hesitates for a moment, and then says, "Every Defensive spell won't work against every sort of attack, but Disarming your opponent is a good start."

"Did you try that?" the boy asks Scorpius.

"There's no need to bring him into it!" Albus says immediately.

"I was just wondering—"

"Maybe you should wonder about your own life instead," Mary suggests with a sweet smile.

"Professor, I think you should teach us stronger hexes, so I can use one against David," Rosie says.

"Very good idea," Albus agrees.

"That's enough," Harry says. "To answer your question, David, Disarming is very useful in a wizard's duel. A traditional duel, where you can see your attacker."

"I'm not sure how useful it would be if someone decides to attack your back in the dark," Albus says, flushed with anger.

"They attacked you to your back?" David asks Scorpius.

"That's cowardly!" says the girl sitting next to him.

Scorpius nods in agreement and shifts a bit closer to Albus.

"I'm glad you're okay, mate," David says, and looks back at Harry. "Professor, what do we do if that happens again?"

Harry sighs. "I hope it won't. If it happens again, you find a teacher, as fast as you can."

"And if we can't find anyone?" asks the girl next to David.

"If you can't find anyone, then you can try to Disarm or Stun your opponent," Harry says. "Alright? Pair up now, no more questions."

The rest of the class is mostly uneventful, thankfully, and a few minutes before the end, Harry calls out, "Okay, that's enough for today. For homework, practice. I think all of you will be able to perfect it by the end of the week, and then we can move on from there. Scorpius, will you stay back after class, please?"

Albus stays back with Scorpius, once everyone else leaves for lunch, and they approach Harry's desk, Albus looking defiant, Scorpius looking nervous.

"How are you feeling?" Harry asks Scorpius gently.

Scorpius considers. "I'm okay, Mr. Potter. Just… really tired. I keep having to sit down all the time. And Healer Abbott said I can't play Quidditch just yet."

"The tiredness will get better, right, Dad?" Albus asks Harry hopefully.

"I'm sure it will, with time," Harry says. "But I need you both to be careful, okay? Don't go anywhere alone. Whoever hurt you both and Rose… we haven't figured out just yet who it was. So be careful."

"We will," Scorpius says immediately. "My dad told me that, as well."

There used to be a time where Harry genuinely didn't believe he could have anything in common with Draco Malfoy, but stranger things have happened.

"Oh, there you both are," says a voice from the doorway, and Harry looks up to see Jamie, who's standing with Freddie in the doorway.

"Hi, Uncle Professor," Freddie says with a grin, walking into the classroom with Jamie.

"Hi, Freddie," Harry says, shaking his head. "What are you both doing here?"

"We thought that Al and Scorp might want to eat lunch with us at the Gryffindor table today," Freddie says, and slings his arm around Scorpius's shoulders.

"Oh, that sounds nice," Scorpius says delightedly.

"What brought this on?" Albus asks, suspicious.

Freddie rolls his eyes and says, "You're not the only one who wants to make sure nothing happens to young Scorp here, Al."

"We're not too keen on something happening to you either, baby brother," Jamie says, and ruffles Albus's hair. "Come on, don't be an idiot. Will you come or not?"

"Er… okay," Albus says.

"Don't forget to come to the Potter's Army meeting today evening, Dad. It's a special one," Jamie says, winking at Harry before he and Freddie shepherd Albus and Scorpius out of the classroom.

Amused, Harry sits back in his seat. It seems like he isn't the only one who wants to make sure the attacks don't happen again.

The Potter's Army meeting that evening turns out to be less of a meeting and more of a welcome back party for Scorpius, planned by Jamie, Freddie, Leah, and Danielle. Harry and Ginny get there early, as per Jamie's explicit instructions, and find the desks all pushed against the wall. There's a wireless radio playing Celestina Warbeck's greatest hits, and the desks are piled high with glasses of pumpkin juice and Butterbeer bottles. There's also plates with biscuits and cupcakes on them, and what seems to be an actual cake, too.

"How did McGonagall let you throw a party in the Defence classroom?" Ginny wonders.

"It's not a party," Freddie says.

"It's just a gathering. A Defence club gathering," Jamie says.

"And, you know. Leah and I happened to be passing by the kitchens on the way up here," Danielle says.

"And the house elves had some goodies to spare," Leah finishes. "So we asked if they minded if we took it."

"And they didn't," Danielle says.

"There's Butterbeer in the kitchens, is there?" Harry asks, amused.

Leah gives Harry an innocent look that would be almost convincing if Harry hadn't raised James Sirius Potter. "Sometimes there is, Professor," she says.

"Especially if you ask the house-elves to stock up," Danielle says.

"A few days in advance, of course," Freddie says. "So that there's plenty of time, hypothetically, to place an order for it."

"Well, there's never any harm in forethought," Leah agrees.

"That's a good Prefect," Jamie says. "Always thinking ahead."

Leah gives Jamie a bright smile. "Come on, then, Potter. Let's get a Butterbeer."

"Excellent idea, Wood," Jamie agrees, nudging her with his elbow as they walk to one of the desks.

Ginny nudges Harry. "Were we ever that obvious?" she whispers to him.

"Merlin, I hope not," Harry says, and wraps his arm around her.

"It is nice, though, isn't it?" Ginny says. "Having a party, I mean. You know what it reminds me of?"

"What's that?"

Ginny turns to look at him with a familiar blazing look in her eyes. "Reminds me of when we first kissed."

Harry grins. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," Ginny says, and then leans up to kiss him.

Harry loses track of time, the way he always seems to whenever Ginny kisses him, even after all these years. He doesn't think the blissful feeling that overcomes him whenever Ginny kisses him will ever fade. He loses himself in it, and only pulls back when he hears someone say, "Dad, Mum, stop it!"

He pulls back, turning to look at Albus and Scorpius, and Lily, who's the one who protested.

"You should be glad you have parents who love each other," Ginny tells Lily, unabashed.

"Do you have to love each other in front of everyone?" Albus grumbles.

"Well, no, we don't have to… we still want, though," Ginny grins.

Scorpius giggles at that. "Wanna go get some cake, Al?" he asks, linking his arm through Albus's when Albus nods.

Lily lingers back, biting her lip a little.

"Everything alright, Lils?" Harry asks her.

"Yeah," Lily says, and then, "Actually, no, it isn't. I don't know."

"What happened?" Ginny says.

Lily bites her lip and then says. "It's sort of a long story," she says.

Growing worried, Harry exchanges a look with Ginny. "Okay," he says, resting his hand on Lily's shoulder and leading her to a relatively quiet corner of the classroom. Ginny follows them, looking as concerned as he feels.

"I have to tell you something," Lily says. "Both of you. And you can't ask me how I know. Well, I suppose you can, but. You can't get angry with me about it."

Never a good sign, Harry thinks.

"Why don't you tell us first, and then we'll worry about the rest of it?" Ginny suggests.

Lily's fiddling with her hands, knotting her hands together nervously. "I… okay. Fine," she agrees.

"Go on, Lils. What is it?" Harry asks.

Lily takes a deep breath and says, "I think I know who attacked Scorpius."