The Malfoy Problem continues...
He grinned, sticking his hands in his pockets. His eyebrow had started to grow back. "No problem. What are you doing up this late anyway?"
I waved the (now-crumpled) piece of paper in my hands. "Urgent letter for Dad."
"I can mail it for you. Now, go to bed before you get in even more trouble. And keep the cloak for tonight, you can't risk getting caught now that both Filch and Magellan are after you."
He laughed at my shocked expression.
"Oh, yeah. I heard about what happened in the hallway today. I would have done the same, of course. Magellan's a hypocritical arse. Don't worry, I won't tell Mum and Dad. It'll be our little secret."
"Yeah, until Professor Longbottom tells them."
James sighed. "There is that. Now run along to bed before you get into even more trouble."
Chapter 13: The Malfoy Problem, Part 2
"What're you doing here?" I asked Albus as he sat down next to me with a huff.
"Scorpius and Imogen are boo'd up and I don't fancy being the bloody third wheel." He picked up a piece of toast and began to slather an obscene amount of butter on it, glaring at any curious Gryffindors that looked his way. I wisely said nothing. Rose gave him a pointed look.
I snorted. "Yeah, must be bad if you'd risk Persephone and Edith."
I glanced over at the Slytherin table, where Imogen had her head resting on Malfoy's shoulder and they were holding hands.
"Gross."
Rose rolled her eyes. "Seriously, Lil? What are you, five?"
"Nah, Rosie, it's the jealousy talking."
I kicked Hugo under the table and he kicked me back.
"What? It's true!"
"Wait, what's true?" asked Aurelie.
Hugo snorted. "She's got the hots for your broth- Ow, Lil, that hurts!"
"I certainly have not!"
Albus took a sip of his pumpkin juice and shuddered. "She's not wrong, Rosie, they are gross. I'm sick of watching them licking the insides of each other's mouths 24/7, it's seriously unsanitary."
I nearly choked. "Al, can you not! I'm trying to eat!"
"When aren't you?"
Carla propped her head up on her elbow as Albus leafed through the Daily Prophet.
"I honestly don't know why you even bother reading that trash."
"Me neither," Albus admitted.
I nudged him. "Here comes Quadruple Trouble."
I caught Lysander's eye and beckoned him over, mouthing "Scare them off, please!"
He grinned as he walked over to Persephone, Edith, Bella, and Isobel, and shepherded them away, while talking his head off about Nargles.
He winked at me, and I dramatically put my hand over my heart, mouthing "My knight in shining armor."
Ly rolled his eyes.
I snuck another glance at the Slytherin table, and instantly regretted it.
"Rose, do you mind moving down a bit? Thanks." Rhys sat down opposite me and Albus. The Daily Prophet crept up even further.
"Hi Rhys," was the muffled greeting. I scooted back to peek at Al's face behind the newspaper. The tips of his ears were bright red.
"We've got practice Saturday morning," Rhys reminded me.
"Yep." I looked pointedly at Al.
He lowered the newspaper slightly. I patted him on the head and teasingly whispered, "Good boy, Al!" and he tugged my braid in response.
Arsehole.
As promised, I went to Professor Longbottom's office after classes finished for the punishment for the fight to be discussed.
I steeled myself and knocked on the door.
"Come in!"
I shut the door and nearly knocked over a bonsai Wiggentree with my elbow. Professor Longbottom's office was spacious and light. Potted plants were placed on every available surface. Maddie and Carla were already sitting at the conference table, along with the Slytherins minus Malfoy and Imogen, and Professor Magellan. Albus looked up as I came in, but said nothing.
"Good, we are just waiting for three more people now. We'll start in about ten minutes."
I sat down between Carla and Maddie and folded my hands in my lap. A potted Flutterby bush quivered on the windowsill. I really was not looking forward to this.
"I didn't think the Slytherins would be here," I whispered to Maddie just as Hugo burst in. Professor Longbottom looked up.
"Just two more people now and then we can begin."
Malfoy and Imogen were the last to enter.
I wonder what they were doing. I don't care.
"Right," Professor Longbottom sat at the end of the conference table opposite Professor Magellan; Gryffindors on one side and Slytherins on the other. "We're all here now, so we can discuss-" he leafed through his stack of parchment, "-the incident in the hallway on Friday." He looked at Magellan. "Is that correct?"
"Quite."
"I would also propose that we guide the students towards conflict resolution to avoid a repeat of the incident."
Magellan responded with a disapproving "Hmph." Clearly, he wanted more incidents that led to Gryffindor being docked points.
"As you believe the crux of the conflict is between Lily and Imogen, why don't we let them speak first?"
"As you wish, Professor Longbottom. Miss Potter, what do you have to say?"
I tugged on the ends of my sleeves. "I would have just walked past, we all would have if Imogen hadn't opened her mouth. She called Carla a- a-"
"Mudblood," Carla said quietly. Professor Longbottom's brow furrowed in concern.
"Imogen, is this true?"
She shook her head. "Of course not, Professor. They just attacked me out of nowhere-"
"Liar!" said Hugo, leaping to his feet. "You know what you said, so just own up to it, Zabini!"
Professor Magellan sneered, "Sit down, Mr. Weasley, and hold your tongue!"
"See!" said Imogen, as if Hugo's outburst proved something, "They're all so aggressive towards me! If Scor-" she gave Malfoy a sickeningly sweet smile, "-hadn't been there, who knows what they would have tried!"
"With all due respect, Professor," said Albus, crossing his arms, "She is lying. She insulted all four of them, and she called Carla a Mud-"
"Albus, I can't believe you would say such horrid things about me!" Imogen put a hand to her heart as if she were hurt. "I thought we were friends!"
Albus picked some dirt out of his nails. "No sorry, you're just my best mate's girlfriend of the month."
Lucas Zabini looked absolutely furious, and he was just about to speak when Imogen turned towards Professor Longbottom with a wicked expression. "Professor, I didn't want to bring this up because it's embarrassing for Lily, but they're all being so horrible to me that I think I have to."
"What is it, Miss Zabini?" asked Professor Magellan. He sounded happy.
"You see," Imogen began, "Lily fancies Scorpius-" Malfoy's eyes widened and his jaw dropped slightly.
"I do not!"
"Sit down, Miss Potter and allow Miss Zabini to finish speaking!"
Maddie tugged on my sleeve and I sat down with a huff.
"Anyway. Lily fancies Scorpius-"
I gritted my teeth and glared at nothing in particular. I settled on the clock; at least it wasn't Malfoy's face.
"-And you know how girls can get incredibly jealous and cruel over these little things. The stress of it all has just been getting to me, so maybe I called Lewis a cruel name, but Professor, I swear I didn't mean to. I just felt so threatened-"
"Oh, spare me, Zabini," Hugo interrupted. Professor Magellan shot him an icy glare.
"Scorpius, are you aware of this... situation?" Professor Longbottom asked tenatively.
I stared at the clock as Malfoy lifted his gaze off of the table.
"No, Professor, I'm not. She-Potter, sorry, Lily's just my best mate's sister."
That comment stung me. Why did it? I don't care what he thinks about me. I am just Albus's sister.
"We talk sometimes and perhaps Imogen or Lily misinterpreted the situation."
Professor Longbottom sighed. "This seems to be a harmless spat between two schoolgirls, whatever the cause. It's not important. The other students should not have gotten involved, Imogen should not have insulted the other fourth-years."
Magellan looked grim. "What do you suggest?"
"Imogen should apologize to Carla, and both Imogen and Lily should receive detention. Furthermore, ten points each will be docked from each student."
Professor Magellan appeared to be weighing his options. "As you wish. However, as Miss Potter started this incident-"
"Don't argue!" Carla hissed in my ear.
"-she should be the only one to receive detention-"
"-But it's unfair!"
"Miss Potter, we will meet weekly on Thursday evenings for the rest of the semester and the first month of the spring semester."
Professor Longbottom decided further arguing would not do any good. "Fine. Everyone is dismissed."
I took extra care not to meet Malfoy's gaze as I collected my things and followed Maddie out of Professor Longbottom's office.
"It's so unfair!" Maddie snapped as we entered the hallway.
"Magellan drives a hard bargain."
"Al, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you go with Malfoy?"
He shrugged.
"I've been replaced by Italian Barbie," Albus said in a dramatic tone. "Can I hang out with you lot in Gryffindor Tower tonight?"
"Yeah, just don't hex anyone if you can manage it," said Carla.
"No promises."
People stared at Albus as he followed us into the common room.
"What's a snake doing in here?" Jamie McLaggen asked. Albus's wand was drawn instantly.
"Al, don't," I muttered, grabbing his arm, "I'm already in trouble and you will be too if you fight him."
Luckily, Rose came down the stairs before the situation could escalate further.
"Al, what are you doing here?"
"Well, isn't that the question of the hour," Albus muttered.
"He's fallen out with Malfoy," Hugo offered. Albus glared at him. I put a placating hand on Albus's shoulder, which he brushed off.
"I have not fallen out with Scorpius," he growled, launching himself into the nearest armchair.
"He's pissed because Malfoy has a girlfriend again and he's still painfully single-" Hugo began.
Albus pointed his wand at Hugo. "I dare you, midget."
"I'm not a midget!"
"You're five foot two."
"You're two years older than me and five foot five, what's your point?"
"Ugh, enough you two!" snapped Rose. She turned to the gaggle of curious Gryffindors that had gathered to witness the argument. "Go back to what you were doing, nothing to see here."
Albus sulked for a while, but he and Rose ended up doing homework together and he left Gryffindor Tower as late as possible. I noticed Rhys lurking around the fireplace while Albus was there, but he said nothing.
"Do you think him and Malfoy really fell out?" I asked Rose after he left. It certainly was unnatural for Albus and Malfoy spend so much time apart, regardless of Malfoy's relationship status.
She shrugged. "I can never tell what Al's feeling. He's so secretive."
I glanced over to the other side of the room, where Aurelie was talking quietly with Carla. Aurelie Malfoy, the Dark Chosen One.
"You've been secretive too, recently. Is something wrong, Lil?"
"No," I said tightly.
"You're sure?"
"Yeah, Rose, I'm fine. Just tired. I think I'm going to go to bed."
I picked up my bookbag and headed up the stairs. Detention with Magellan, Aurelie being wrapped up in some dark plot, Imogen lying about me - my head felt like it was going to burst.
"What should I do, Nisha?"
She meowed softly.
"Yeah, sleep sounds good. I think I'll do that."
I could barely think straight in class on Thursday. I was too busy thinking about detention, Aurelie, and worse yet, Scorpius Malfoy.
Professor Clearwater snapped at me for not paying attention in Transfiguration, and I spilled an entire inkpot in History of Magic. Not that Professor Binns ever noticed anything that wasn't strictly related to sixteenth century goblin history. I would have to ask Carla for her notes, because I ruined mine, and the pages that weren't ruined were filled with doodles and scribbles about Aurelie. Magellan was even shorter with me than usual in Potions.
After class, I headed back towards the dungeons for detention with Magellan. Carla had offered to go with me for moral support, but I needed to face him myself.
I was halfway to the last flight of stairs when a flash of scarlet caused me to turn around.
Two men dressed in Auror robes were coming towards me quickly. I jogged towards them, flinging my arms around Dad.
"Dad? Teddy? What are you doing here?" My heart felt full and light, and suddenly all the things I was so worried about didn't feel so important anymore. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed them.
They were both dressed in their Auror uniforms, so they must have been here for work. I hope nobody told them about the fight. Or the detention. Mum'll kill me when she finds out.
Dad shook his head, mouthing "Not so loud."
I lowered my voice. "Is it about the... Malfoy Problem?"
Teddy looked at Dad, and Dad looked at Teddy. Dad glanced down the hallway, frowning slightly.
"Well, unofficially, yes. And we're all grateful for your help, Lil, but you've done enough. No more investigating. I'm serious."
"No, James is Sirius," Teddy muttered. Dad and I glared at him.
I folded my arms. "Dad, please tell me what's going on."
"No, Lily. I'm sorry. Don't worry about it, just focus on school please."
"How can I focus on school when - when this is going on! Your son is best friends with Scorpius Malfoy and Aurelie is my housemate! Don't you think we should know if they're, you know, potentially dangerous?"
Dad put a hand on my shoulder to calm me.
"Lil, I don't blame you for wanting to know. But you can't afford to get into any more trouble."
"You know?" I was aghast. Mum's going to kill me. I'm dead.
Dad smiled a bit. "Yes, Lil. Neville told us everything."
Teddy attempted to hide his laughter.
I spun around to face him. "It's not funny, Ted! I've got detention with Magellan! Every bloody Thursday!"
"Truly an awful fate."
I sighed and stormed off.
"Don't quit your day job to become a comedian, Teddy, you're the most unfunny person I know!"
"Right. See you in a couple weeks, then."
"You'd better go before you get swarmed by first-years."
"One last thing, Lily."
I turned around. "Yes, Dad?"
"Tell Albus to invite Scorpius Malfoy to stay with us. We should keep an eye on him."
"Do you want me to tell him why?"
Dad nodded. "He'll argue otherwise."
"Dad-" I bit my lip, and considered telling him everything. About the book, the basilisk, the Mirror of Erised, the riddle - maybe he could help us. Maybe it might help with the Malfoy Problem.
I looked at the touches of grey in his hair, the crow's-feet around his eyes, and the worry lines in his forehead. He looked as if he hadn't slept in a while.
Who was I kidding? Albus was right. The last thing Dad needed was more stress. Telling him just because I wanted to feel better would be selfish.
"Lil?"
"Don't worry about it, Dad, it's nothing. I'll tell Al."
He kissed the top of my head. "Love you, Lil. No more trouble, promise?"
"Promise," I said with a heavy heart. Can't I come back home with you? Where everything is less complicated?
I forced a smile as I hugged Teddy good-bye.
"Miss Potter. You are five minutes late," noted Professor Magellan as I entered the Potions classroom. I wish I'd brought a jumper. Or a winter cloak. I had foolishly decided not to return to Gryffindor Tower to find something warm to wear, as I feared that I wouldn't be able to bring myself to leave the cosy common room.
"Sorry, Professor. It won't happen again." I sat down at my usual desk, resigned to my fate.
Professor Magellan placed a stack of cauldrons and a scouring sponge on the desk. "Clean these," he ordered.
I worked in silence, with Magellan glaring at me intermittently while he wrote his lesson plan. The silence was fine by me; it gave me time to think. Maybe detention wouldn't be so bad. I'd definitely bring warmer clothes next time.
I tried to think about the riddle as I scrubbed at a particularly stubborn bit of burnt crocodile heart.
I have no eyes, yet my sight is clearer than most
I have no voice, yet my words decide your destiny
I have no mind, yet I know yours
Within me you will find the answer to your quest.
I thought about various inanimate objects; a cauldron, a broom, a house. I thought I'd stumbled across something particularly inspired when I guessed 'book.' A book could very well decide one's destiny, but I realized it didn't fit since it didn't exactly have sight or know the reader's mind.
Maybe it referred to a book of prophecies? I balked at the thought of asking Professor Trelawney for help.
I gave up on the riddle and turned to the next topic - Aurelie.
"Right. Astoria has kept Aurelie under lock-and-key since she was born. She wants her to be pure, thinks she'll be some kind of Dark Chosen One. A Dark Lord. Dark Lady, maybe."
"Voldemort, Grindelwald, all the Dark wizards of old... they were powerful from a young age. Unless Astoria thinks she can make Aurelie powerful- Look, I'm kind of in the dark, too, She-Potter."
I shuddered as I remembered the conversation with Malfoy outside the Great Hall. Was that even possible? Making someone more powerful through some Dark ritual? And why did she need to be pure for that?
The stack of clean cauldrons grew as my concentration waned, and I felt my thoughts floating back to Malfoy. I scrubbed the cauldron that I was holding vehemently, as if it would help me scrub Malfoy's smirking face out of my head.
Magellan glowered at me. "I believe that is quite enough, Miss Potter. You may go after you return the cauldrons to the proper place."
I placed the last cauldron on the stack and returned the cauldrons to their place in the back room.
"Is that all, Professor?" I asked as politely as possible.
"Yes. You may leave." He waved his hand, not looking up from what he was writing.
I sighed with relief as I hurried out of the classroom.
My mood the next morning was sour, especially since I was forced to get up early for Quidditch practice. I grimaced as I trudged out onto the pitch, which was covered in a thin layer of sludge.
Rhys cheerfully announced that we were practicing flying drills today. I took off, gripping my broom with already-cold fingers.
The air was painfully cold. Each breath I took in hacked at my lungs.
As if it couldn't get any worse, hail started falling from the sky.
I glared at nothing in particular as Rhys critically watched me do another barrel roll.
"I can't wait for Christmas break," I mumbled.
"Cheer up, Lily!" said Nate as he zoomed past me. I rotated so that I was hanging upside down and glared at him.
"Let's see some flying, Lily!" Rhys called from the ground. I grimaced, as getting back upright required inhaling even more cold air. I sniffled. I'd have to ask Madam Pomfrey for some Pepper-up Potion.
is that even how boo'd up is spelled? maybe it's boo-ed up. I'm not sure. I went with boo'd up because that's how it's spelled in a song I like.
Anyway, thank you for reading and Chapter 14 will be out at the usual time. The Malfoy Problem continues with Chapter 15.
~see ya soon, macaroon~
