In the Previous Rather Short Chapter…

"Excuse me, Professor, we had an issue. It's a matter of urgency" Rose frowned, shaking slightly.

"What is the problem, Miss Weasley?" McGonagall asked, concerned when she saw how pale the head girl was, who was shaking so violently that Scorpius had to hold her upright.

"McLaggen is here, Professor" Scorpius said quietly.

McGonagall gasped. "How?"

"His parents are here, Professor, so I assume they bought him a ticket too" Rose said weakly. "Please Professor, get rid of him" she pleaded, tears forming in her eyes.

"Shhh, don't cry" Scorpius started to panic. "You've put so much effort into this night, Rosie. We won't let him ruin it" he soothed, enveloping her in a hug.

"Don't worry, Miss Weasley. I will inform your parents, and Mr Malfoy's and together we will remove him from the hall. Scorpius, please can you take Rose to her friends and stay with her. Keep to large numbers, but don't let Rose out of your sight" McGonagall said, running off towards the dance floor, where she could see a bright blonde head waltzing around.

"Draco, I am sorry to interrupt your evening, but we have a problem that we require your assistance with" she said, tapping her hand on the blonde man's shoulder. Draco turned, surprised, but saw the grave look on his old teacher's face and followed her off of the floor over to the side.

"Rose and Scorpius have just discovered that Mr McLaggen is here" she said. "Rose has gone into paralytic shock, I think, so would you kindly go and check that she is alright? Scorpius is with her, and they are going to stay with their friends until Mr McLaggen is removed, but I would still like a healer to look her over" she said, nodding towards Rose and Scorpius.

Rose was indeed in paralytic shock. Scorpius had managed to get her to sit down and was holding her hand and rubbing her back, furiously talking to the other people at their table. As Draco watched his son finish speaking, he watched as the jaws of the people around him hit the floor; he had obviously just told them that the bastard was here. Draco took this as his cue to go and check Rose.

"Son, Rose, McGonagall has just explained the situation. She's sent me to try and help Rose recover" he said gently, kneeling at Rose's side. "Rose, I need you to listen to me. I know that you are probably very scared that McLaggen is going to hurt you again, but let me make this very clear. You are surrounded by enough wizards and witches to form an army, all of which can protect you at ease. You are completely safe. Your friends, family, Scorpius and I will stay around you and protect you until he has been removed. Please nod if you understand this completely" he said, looking up at Rose.

She hesitated, but eventually Rose shakily nodded. Draco saw this as progress.

"Now Rose, can you talk to me?"

"Just about" she whispered shakily, staring straight ahead, not moving.

"That's good. Can you tell me exactly why you are worried?"

"Isn't it obvious, dad?" Scorpius asked.

"Shhh, Scorp. I need Rose to tell me herself" Draco silenced his son.

"I'm worried because I thought he couldn't get me before, but he still got past us and hurt me again" Rose whispered.

"Right. And why does that make you worried?" Draco asked.

"Because if he got past us once, surely he can get past us again?" Rose whispered quietly, tears starting to dribble down her cheeks.

"Now Rose, tell me how many people are here tonight."

"Just under 3,000"

"And how many of them are carrying wands?"

"Just under 3,000"

"Exactly. Everyone here is carrying a wand, and after the fabulous night you have given them, do you think that they would all protect you if someone were to attack you?"

"I guess."

"Right. I need you to repeat this after me; I am completely safe. There are people here to protect me. I am completely safe."

"I am completely safe. There are people her to protect me. I am completely safe" she muttered in a monotone.

"Say it again."

"Dad, this is pointless" Scorpius said exasperatedly.

"No, it's not. Say it again, Rose" Draco scowled at his son, who promptly shut up.

"I am completely safe. There are people her to protect me. I am completely safe"

"Right Rose. Now I want you to look into my eyes and say that again as if you believe every word of it" Draco said. Rose locked her eyes on Draco's and repeated the phrase half-heartedly. "Rose, you need to say it with absolute conviction" Draco said slightly sternly. "Do it for Scorpius" he added, hoping that it would work.

"I am completely safe. There are people her to protect me. I am completely safe" Rose said, stronger this time. Draco smiled, it was working.

"Right, Rose. I need you to look into my wife's eyes and do the same thing" he said, indicating to Astoria, who was stood watching. She quickly came over and knelt beside Draco, who stood up and pulled his son aside.

"I know this seems a bit pointless, but it is working" Draco said quietly. Rose was repeating the phrase over and over again to Astoria, sounding more convinced every time. "Rose needs to fully convince herself that she is completely safe" he explained to his son. "The more she says it herself, the more she will believe it is true"

"So really you are just hypnotising her into not being scared"

"Bascially, yes. But it isn't the Imperius-type hypnotism, it is a psychiatrist-healing-type hypnotism. Rose will find inner strength for tonight and then she will return to normal later" Draco said, seeing that his son was worried that he was basically imperious-ing his girlfriend.

"McGonagall will get rid of him" Draco said encouragingly, "And if not, I'm sure Weasel and Potter will find him" he grinned.

"If Mr Weasley finds McLaggen, all that'll be left will be a puddle on the floor" Scorpius smirked grimly. A sudden crash came from the other side of the hall. Draco and Scorpius, who were both quite tall, stood on their tip toes and could see Ron, Harry, George, Percy, Bill, Charlie and Arthur stood up behind their table staring at McGonagall. The women at the table were a bit more gracious and were sat staring blankly with wide eyes and open mouths at the headmistress. The crashing sound had come from Ron dropping a plate onto the floor. Draco chuckled.

"Now the all Weasleys know, there's gonna be big shit when they find that boy" he laughed.