Disclaimer – I do not own Harry Potter.
Note – I am so sorry this took so long! With semester starting up, I'm adjusting to getting back into a school routine, plus I'm working a lot more. I hope this is worth the wait, and sorry for any errors in here. As always, read, enjoy, and let me know what you think.
Rebel Malfoy
Chapter Thirteen: To Lead, To Fight
"The score is ten to ten, and Slytherin is in possession!" Meredith Macmillan commented as the Slytherin and Gryffindor match continued. The game had just started, but with all the tension that had been building between the Houses, especially between Lily and her brother, Scorpius knew that it was going to be intense.
Scorpius caught the Quaffle, and quickly made his attempt up the middle. But then Rose Weasley came up out of nowhere and popped it out of his hands. Before Scorpius could flip around to try and steal it back, a Bludger slammed into Weasley's shoulder. The Quaffle flew from her hands, and Adrian was quick to fly by and take it into his arms.
Scorpius and Aaron were both quick to follow after Adrian and guard his sides. Scorpius braced himself as Potter flew near them, and just as Potter neared, he threw his shoulder at him. He winced as his body shook, but he quickly evened himself out as he moved to catch up with Adrian and Aaron. But he didn't have to worry as Adrian made the goal. Scorpius gave him a clap on the shoulder as he passed by.
But then movement by Lily caught his eye, as well as the others. Lily and Albus Potter were neck and neck, chasing after what looked like glare of light. But before either could reach it, James Potter flew in front of them, forcing them to slam into him.
"Cheater!" Adrian called out.
"Where's the call?" Raven demanded.
"You're paying for that, Potter!" Scorpius yelled. He gripped his broom tighter and his jaw clenched. Potter. What a filthy cheater! And they say Slytherins play dirty? Well if that was how he wanted it, then Scorpius wouldn't argue. And the others were on the same page.
So on Aaron's command, Scorpius and Adrian not only increased their pace, but also their aggression. And Raven and Lars began targeting individual Gryffindors, breaking them down and wearing them out hit by hit. But it still didn't stop the idiot kittens from getting a small lead on them.
"Goyle scores another ten points for Slytherin. That makes the score one hundred and forty to one hundred and ten, with Gryffindor in the lead," Macmillan announced. Aaron was scowling as he looped around to guard Wood.
"And it seems as if Lily Potter has seen the Snitch!" Macmillan screamed. "Come on, Albus!" All eyes were immediately on the two Seekers, who were diving toward the ground.
"Scorpius! Adrian!" Aaron yelled as he intercepted the Quaffle. "Back to the game!" He threw a shot, making the goal. Gryffindors were a bit shaken, except for Corbin Wood. But he wasn't enough, and this time, Scorpius was easily able to intercept the Quaffle their Keeper threw. He tossed it to Adrian, who easily made the goal. And the three of them were able to get another goal, although it was difficult to get past Wood at the point, before the Gryffindor team was shaken back into action.
Now Scorpius and the others were chasing after Wood, who was midway down the field. But at the sound of the gasps from the crowd, Scorpius couldn't help but look to see if the Snitch had been caught. But what he saw surprised him. Albus Potter was lying on the grass, seemingly out cold, while Lily was rising through the air again.
Scorpius laughed with the others as they continued the game, and he smirked at Lily as she flew by. "Good job," he complimented.
The game continued as Albus Potter was taken off the field, and most likely to the Hospital Wing. The game's pace was fast and still aggressive. It was obvious that Potter was furious about his little brother being taken out, and about the fact that they no longer a Seeker. Slytherin's victory was inevitable. And that fact had taken its toll on some of the players, who had slowed a little, and seemed more worried than in the game.
"Guys, take over for a moment!" Aaron called as he passed the Quaffle to Scorpius. Then he flew off, toward where Lily had been lazily flying around for a while. Scorpius dodged Potter before making a pass to Adrian. But it was intercepted out of the air by Wood, who made his own quick pass to Weasley. But then Meredith Macmillan announced something that made all of them stop as loud cheers erupted from the Slytherin crowd.
"And Lily Potter catches the Snitch. The game ends with Gryffindor with one hundred and forty, and Slytherin with three hundred and forty. Slytherin wins."
It was slow to happen, but an honest grin came across Scorpius's face. And quickly, he and the others on the team hurried to land. They had won! They had actually won! It was obvious that Lily would catch the Snitch as the only Seeker in the sky, but . . . they won! For the first time in a long time, Slytherin beat Gryffindor!
Once the team had hit the ground, Scorpius and Lars quickly lifted Lily into the air and onto their shoulders. The girl was light, and adrenaline was running through them all, making it easy.
"Hey, Potter!" Lily yelled toward the Gryffindor team, which was now on the ground as well. James Potter's eyes were burning as he relented, and looked at Lily. "Thanks for congratulating me about making the team. I couldn't have done it without your confidence!" she mocked.
Scorpius couldn't help but laugh, as did the others. They were still grinning, laughing, and smirking as they carried Lily toward the locker room, before putting her back on her feet. For the first time since joining the team, the locker room was full of laughter and jokes after the game against Gryffindor. They laughed about Potter's crash as they washed the sweat away. And they talked about how great it was to finally have a good Seeker on their team.
But when Scorpius was dressed, he waited outside the locker room for Lily. She had taken a bit of time showering, but he still wanted to talk to her before getting to the common room and being sucked into what would probably be an overwhelming party.
Thankfully he didn't have to wait long before she came through the door. He gave her a smirk. "That was a brilliant play," Scorpius complimented.
Lily laughed as they started toward the exit of the pitch. "Yes, I thought so too. But I wasn't sure if Potter would be stupid enough to follow after me," she joked.
Scorpius couldn't stop a little laugh coming past his lips. What a funny girl. "I'm not sure if I've ever seen anything so satisfying as him crashing to the ground." He paused, feeling a little bad. That was her brother. "Are you going to go visit him?" He thought that a topic change would be best.
But she scoffed at his words. "If the wounded kitty wants me to visit, he'll ask for me," she muttered.
Scorpius laughed as they were joined by a few of the others and headed for the victory party. This girl, she was really something else. She hardly seemed like the girl who earlier this year had been brooding over the fight with her brothers. No longer was she the girl that was working to fit in and trying to find her place in Slytherin. She was, without a doubt, one of them.
The party was huge, probably due to the game not just ending in a victory, but in a victory over Gryffindor. Every Slytherin was excited and in a great mood.
"Scorpius, Lars, come here," Aaron pulled Scorpius and Lars away from their friends, and took them to another group of boys, which consisted of Bret and Cody Reeser, Ted West, Raven, Adrian, and Dante.
"What's up, Aaron?" Lars asked curiously as he shoved his hands into his pockets.
"I hate to damper celebrations, especially this one, but we have to talk about something important for moment," Aaron told him.
"What about?" Scorpius questioned.
"Yeah, what is this about?" Cody demanded.
"It's about Lily," Raven stated. "Gryffindors aren't too happy about her taking out Potter and winning the game for us."
"And I get the feeling that Gryffindors will be poor losers," Adrian muttered.
"So what do you want us to do?" Bret asked curiously.
"I want at least one of us to stick with her for a while," Aaron told them. "Keep her from getting jumped and attacked, verbally or physically, I don't care. They are not messing with my new Seeker. So I want someone with her whenever she's not in here, class, or eating."
Scorpius had honestly expected one of them, most likely Ted West, to complain about having to give up part of their day for something like "guard duty." But none of them did, in fact they all seemed in agreement with it.
"Sounds good to me," Bret said with a grin. "I need a reason to be late to class anyways."
"Lars or I could walk her to the Great Hall in the morning for breakfast," Scorpius offered.
"Good. The point is, if you see her alone in the halls, stick with her, and keep those pouting cats away from her," Aaron said firmly.
"Not that I don't appreciate the company, but you do know how unnecessary this is, right?" Lily mocked as Lars and Scorpius followed her and her friends to one of their classes.
"No it's not. We go to our class this way regardless," Scorpius pointed out.
"Besides, Aaron would kill us if something happened to you," Lars replied.
"I can handle Gryffindors by myself," Lily insisted. "I have been for some time now."
"But this is different," Scorpius argued. "This isn't just you and your cousin throwing little spells at each other and arguing. Officially, you are just like us. A Slytherin and an enemy to them. So it won't just be your brothers and cousin attacking you, but others in their House too."
Lily scowled a little now, as if confused and annoyed at the same time. "What do you mean by that?"
"He means that before the game, other older Gryffindors were a bit afraid to actually do anything to you, because Potter had been bragging about you for months last year. But now that it's obvious that you're one of us, and it's not just some silly fight between siblings, they aren't afraid to act," Lars explained.
Scorpius felt like elbowing Lars for mentioning how Potter used to talk fondly of Lily, afraid that she would go back to brooding and feeling conflicted. But thankfully, she didn't seem bothered by it.
"Well if you guys insist on doing this, at least send someone with Ted West, if you insist on sending him," Lily mentioned. "Nothing against him, but he can be a bit annoying."
"He makes the stupidest jokes," Jace agreed.
"Something you two have in common," Lola mocked.
"What is a Boggart?" Professor Creevey asked the Gryffindors and Slytherins in Defense against the Dark Arts.
Rose Weasley's hand shot into the air. "Surprise," Lana mumbled.
"Yes, Miss Weasley," Professor Creevey pointed to her.
"A Boggart is a non-being that changes into the worst fear of the person in front of it," Rose Weasley stated.
"Correct. Five points to Gryffindor," Professor Creevey said with pride. Rex pretended to gag. "Now, can someone else tell me how you defeat a Boggart?"
Tyler Creevey raised his hand, and Professor Creevey pointed to him. "Laughter."
"Excellent. Another five points to Gryffindor," Professor Creevey said.
"That's not fair. He's looking in his book," Justin whispered.
But Professor Creevey rambled on. "Now, the spell to use against a Boggart is Riddikulus. Now, let's say it together."
"Riddikulus," the class said together.
"But you can't just say the spell," Professor Creevey told them. "The trick is to push away your fear, and think of something that will make the Boggart look funny, prompting laughter. You have to think hard and concentrate."
"This is so boring!" Rex complained softly.
"Now, is anyone brave enough to face one?" Professor Creevey asked.
This caught the class's attention quickly. Even Scorpius was curious.
Professor Creevey smiled as he tapped a big wardrobe behind him. It had caught most of the students' attention when they first came to class, but it had slowly faded from their minds as the lesson had begun.
"In here, I have a Boggart," Professor Creevey stated happily. "Headmaster Brown found it yesterday, and I thought it would make for an excellent lesson. So, anyone brave enough?"
Hands flew up immediately, and many students were excited. But Scorpius didn't raise his hand. He wasn't really sure what his biggest fear even was.
"Ok, everyone stand up and make a line," Professor Creevey instructed. One they had all stood, with a wave of his wand, Professor Creevey had moved their tables and chairs to the sides of the room, allowing more room as the class made a line in front of the wardrobe. It was a tense line, with each of them feeling as if they were standing too close to their enemy, but they remained silent. Scorpius stood near the middle of the line, his wand ready and his heart pounding just a little harshly.
"Ok, Miss Montana, you're first," Professor Creevey said as he pointed his wand at the wardrobe.
Nikki Montana didn't look like she'd wanted to be at the front of the line, and her wand shook a little as she held it in front of her.
The doors to the wardrobe swung open, and at first there was nothing. But then a low growl came from the darkness in the wardrobe, and a big paw appeared, followed by the body of the largest dog Scorpius had ever seen. Its jaw was covered in foam as it snapped its large teeth, the yellow eyes deadly.
Nikki froze, and looked ready to panic as tears appeared in her eyes. "Now, Miss Montana!" Professor Creevey urged.
Nikki shut her eyes tight. "Riddikulus!" she screamed.
Instantly the large dog's body shrunk to the size of the normal dog, while the head stayed oversized, and dropped to the floor from the heavy weight. Some began to laugh as Nikki slowly opened her eyes, and then smiled herself.
"Fantastic! Next!" Professor Creevey said.
As Nikki moved to the back of the line, one of the Gryffindor girls stood next. Immediately, the Boggart began to change shapes, and then became a large spider, making quite a few other girls shriek in disgust as well.
This girl was a little braver as she held out her wand. "Riddikulus!"
The spider tripped over its own feet, and began to flail uselessly, unable to get up. "Excellent! Mr. Avery, you're next!"
Mitch held out his wand in preparation as the Boggart changed. But what it became made everyone, especially Scorpius and the twins, laugh, while Mitch stared at it in horror. It was obviously himself, only his hair was neat and combed to the side. His uniform was neat, the right size, and perfect. And his face held a polite look. It was what Mitch never wanted to be.
"Riddikulus! Riddikulus!" Mitch said quickly, obviously wanting the image to go away. The hair on the Boggart quickly began to grow, and it was soon down to his feet, and he kept slipping over it and trying to move it away to see.
"You're next, Rose," Professor Creevey urged.
Weasley held out her wand, ready as the Boggart began to change shape. But then she, and all other students in the room, froze. A man in a long black cloak appeared with a hood over his head. His face was hidden behind a silver mask that had a horrific design. A wand was raised by a pale hand.
It was a death eater.
Most kids immediately moved away, and some gave shrieks of fear. Weasley dropped her wand, frozen. Scorpius felt like he would vomit, and that his heart would explode. But just as the death eater seemed ready to raise his wand, Professor Creevey flew in front of Weasley, and the Boggart began to change again.
Scorpius closed his eyes and let his hands grab at his hair. A cold sweat had practically broken out on his skin. His throat was tight and his stomach was rolling. There were sounds of doors shutting, probably from the professor locking the Boggart back up.
"Professor, Melanie fainted!" a girl exclaimed.
Scorpius opened his eyes to see Professor Creevey picking the unconscious girl up. "I want all of you to retake your seats and study over the last chapter in your books, while I take Miss Claverdon to the Hospital Wing. You are not to leave until the class time is over."
There was a tense silence as Professor Creevey left the room, and it seemed to grow tenfold as Slytherins were now left alone with Gryffindors.
"Leave it to a Weasley to cause trouble!" Lars spat, obviously furious.
"She caused trouble?" Andy Coote exclaimed. "It's people like your parents that instilled that fear in her, death eaters!"
"Do not call me that!" Mitch yelled, his eyes glaring. "And if that's really her fear than it seems little Weasley has no faith in her daddy. After all, wasn't he have supposed to gotten rid of them all? Him and baby Potter's daddy?"
"Your parents are still walking free," Roddy Bella sneered.
"My father was no death eater!" Lars argued.
"He might as well have been!" Robert Anderson retorted. "And what about Malfoy and Avery here? You really gunna tell me that their fathers weren't involved?"
"My grandmother saved your savior's life!" Scorpius hissed, his anger now rising too. "If it hadn't been for a Malfoy, none of you would be here!"
"If it wasn't for my father, you wouldn't be here!" Potter finally spoke.
Scorpius glared at him as he clenched his wand. "Well, well, just when I thought the little baby would never learn to speak." The Slytherins around him snickered. "And, you should really think out your witty responses first, because sadly, that one was wrong. You wouldn't be here if it wasn't for your father. I would be."
"What a surprise. Baby Potter said something stupid," Rex mocked.
"At least my family isn't full of cowards!" Potter suddenly yelled. "My father never ran away from a fight! And my grandfather died for his family! Your father ran from the war, and your grandfather tried to kill my mother for his own gain!"
Silently, the Slytherins looked over at Scorpius. But Scorpius's anger was now frozen and his skin felt cold. Without a word he dropped his wand, and rushed forward and grabbed Potter by the collar, and brought him off his feet. "Don't you ever compare me to that despicable man! Because next time you do, you'll come away from it without any teeth!"
"Let him go, Malfoy!" Anderson demanded.
Scorpius dropped Potter, letting him fall on his back. But he still glared. "That's a warning you only get once, Potter. A warning that goes for all of you." Scorpius turned back to where Mitch held out his wand to him.
"You think you're better just because you're bigger than me, snake?" Potter muttered as he got up.
Scorpius looked at him coolly. "Tell me, Potter, how's your sister? Oh, wait, that's right! You abandoned her for being something that she can't help. Tell me, guys, wasn't that what his precious daddy fought to stop?"
"She's the one that turned her backs on us!" Potter argued vehemently.
"How are ya healing after that match, baby Potter?" Justin retorted. "Still some bruises?"
Scorpius smirked. "See, Potter, my being bigger than you isn't my only reason for being better. I'm also smarter, much more charming, not a coward who runs to daddy and big brother, and I've also got the smartest Potter on my side."
"Like you even really know anything about her," Rose Weasley finally spoke, although she was obviously a little shaken.
But Scorpius still stared at Potter. "You know, I must admit, Lily Luna really did prove me wrong. After dealing with the likes of you and your idiot brother, I was beginning to think that all Potters were ignorant, clumsy, and pathetic. But then Lily comes along, and I find her to be smart, strong, and very charming. I sometimes question how the poor girl could be related to an idiot like you."
"You have no idea what you're talking about!" Potter seethed.
"You know, boys, he is so touchy about his sister, but yet it's different from when his brother is," Scorpius commented.
"Aw, is someone jealous of his wittle sister?" Rex joked.
"Does someone's daddy not love him enough?" Mitch added.
Scorpius's smirk grew. "And really, can you blame the Chosen One? If he were my son, I'd be disappointed too."
Potter's face twisted into a look of fury and he began to rush toward the Slytherins. But Scorpius was quickly to hold up his wand, as were the others. It brought Potter to a halt.
Scorpius narrowed his eyes as he stepped a little closer. "Here's the big difference between you and I, Potter. When I deal with a fight, I make sure I have a strategy going against that person, even when they piss me off. I don't run in like a bumbling idiot, like you. And that," Scorpius gave him a hard shove, "is why you always lose."
"Come on, guys, I'm bored. Let's just ditch the abandoned kittens," Miley sighed as she grabbed her things and headed for the door.
The others followed suit, but of course they couldn't do so without being bothered. "Professor Creevey told us to stay until the end of the class time!" Rose Weasley protested. "You have to stay for the last five minutes."
Scorpius rolled his eyes as he continued to the door. "By the way girls, you should do something to priss Weasley for starting all of this today. I would, but my mother taught me to be a gentleman."
"Oh, as if I would let her get away with the crap she pulled today," Layla Reeser scoffed.
Gryffindors were extremely bitter about losing their match against Slytherin, but Scorpius felt the tension between them more now than ever. Fights were happening daily, physical and magical. And thanks to Aaron's demands, Lily was never left to be attacked alone. An older Slytherin was always with her. Scorpius mainly kept his eye on her brothers, waiting for them to try something.
"So, now that your hair as reached a reasonable length again, are you going to keep it that way?" Scorpius asked Mitch as the two of them walked around the castle. With December having arrived, it was much too cold to take a walk outside, so they kept themselves in and out of the snow.
Mitch ran a hand through his hair, which was a normal length now instead of incredibly long or seriously short. "I don't know. Maybe. I guess it is easier to manage when it's not too long."
"There's no need to lecture me!"
Scorpius and Mitch looked ahead to see a weird little scene. Raven was leaning against the wall, his hands in his pockets as he watched Stacy apparently lecturing Ted, her little brother.
"What's going on?" Scorpius asked.
Raven grinned. "Ted dropped that book on his foot and screamed out a word his sister was not happy hear."
The three of them laughed. "What an idiot," Mitch said between the three of them.
"There's no need to talk like that, Ted," Stacy insisted.
"Whatever," Ted muttered as he began to walk away, book in hand. But Stacy followed him, so the three boys did as well.
"Do not be rude, Ted," Stacy insisted. "You were raised better than that!"
"As if!" Ted responded, throwing his hands out. But when he did, his book clipped a kid in the shoulder, making him stumble back. Ted looked ready to say something, but they all were quiet when they saw the boy's tie. Gryffindor. Eric Kirke, a boy in Ted's year.
Ted then scoffed and began to walk away, but Kirke quickly stepped in front of him. "Hey! Don't you have something to say to me?"
Ted glanced back his sister dryly before looking to Kirke. "Yeah. Get the hell out of my way."
"Ted!" Stacy chided.
Kirke glared at him. "Didn't your mother teach you any manners?"
An odd tension shot through the three older Slytherins; meanwhile Scorpius simply looked at Mitch, who shrugged in return.
Ted looked like he was trying to contain anger, but then he grinned at Kirke. Then without a word he took his book and slammed it into Kirke's face, making him stumble and then fall. Ted crouched down to look at him. "Didn't your mother ever teach you not to run into books?"
"Mr. West!" Professor Bell exclaimed as she hurried to the scene. "What do you think you're doing?"
Ted stood up straight. "I'm teaching Kirke how to dodge a book, and he's failing miserably."
Scorpius and Mitch held back small laughed, but Professor Bell wasn't laughing. Instead she grabbed Ted's wrist, and began to pull him along. "Come with me, young man."
The crowd began to disperse once Professor Bell and Ted were out of sight, but then Raven picked up Kirke and held him in a rough headlock, surprising everyone. But Raven looked furious.
"Apologize!" Raven hissed.
Kirke was trying to fight against Raven's hold, but it was useless, as Raven was much bigger and stronger. "To who? Get off me, Bole!"
"Apologize to Stacy for what you said to her brother! Now!" Raven demanded as he pulled Kirke back, and bringing his feet off the ground.
"Raven, let it go," Stacy said with a sigh, and a weird conflict of emotion in her eyes.
Raven was still scowling, but he dropped Kirke to the floor. Raven glared at him. "Don't let me ever hear of you mocking Ted or Stacy. Do you get me, kid?"
Stacy took Raven's arm and began to lead him away. "Come on, Raven."
Raven was in a bad mood for the rest of the day, and it still confused Scorpius and Mitch as to what he was so furious about. It seemed like something much bigger than just being about a Gryffindor picking a fight.
"Raven?" Scorpius approached his friend as the Quidditch team stepped out onto the pitch for practice.
Raven was adjusting the strap on one of his gloves. "Yeah?" His voice was gruff and low.
"Earlier this afternoon . . . what was that about?" Scorpius asked carefully, not wanting to have Raven snapping at him.
Raven sighed as he slipped on his googles to keep his sight clear as it snowed. But he looked at Scorpius. "I probably shouldn't have exploded like that. The kid didn't understand what he said, but I didn't like the comment."
Scorpius scowled. "But why?"
Raven picked up his broom. "Their mum ran out on the family years ago. So, they haven't had a mother to . . . well, be there for them. And Ted can be really touchy about it. He gets angry when it's brought up. And Stacy . . . I know it hurts her to think about it. It wasn't even easy for her to tell me about it."
"Oh," Scorpius mumbled as he mounted his broom. He thought about that for the beginning of practice. What would it be like, having your mother run out on you? How different would his own life be if he hadn't had his mother? It seemed . . . well impossible for his mother to not somehow be in his life. She always wanted to be part of his life.
But he now felt like he understood Ted and Stacy a little more than he had before. Ted, who only hung around boys, and made either overly crude or overly cruel comments about girls, and Stacy, who seemed to mother her little brother, but also the other younger students in Slytherin.
Scorpius glanced over at Raven during practice, and again felt admiration for his friend. He was such a brave and noble guy. He fought for others, and demanded apologies. He didn't hope and wait for things like that to happen. He demanded it. Scorpius wanted to be more like him and Trevor. He wanted to be someone that made things happen, and not wait in the background.
He wanted to be a leader.
