Dicslaimer I own everything you don't recognize from J.'s fantastic creation. The plot is all mine.

A/N sorry about the wait. I want to thank twilightnharrypotterfreak for sticking with me, and also CarolynneRuth for their comforting reviews.

Chapter five.

Mrs. Granger sat impatiently in her sitting room as her fire crackled in the dim light. Mr. Granger was late home from the shops and she hated being alone. A cup of tea was clasped between her small hands on her lap when all of a sudden the room turned green.

Two girls with ashen faces stepped out of her fire and collapsed into coughing fits on their knees before the old woman. She rose from her seat and hurried over to them helping them up. Not having seen her eldest granddaughter for a while, she pulled her into a tight hug. She gave the other girl a smile.

"Mum said we have to stay here, it that's okay," Rose mumbled into her graying grandmother's hair which contrasted nicely with Rose's Red. "Do you remember Diagon alley?"

How could Mary forget? It was the first time she saw magic – real magic – many, many years ago. She could recall feeling so out of place but being welcomed by nice families such as the Weasleys. The shops were so nice and had a nice homey feeling to them; she instantly fell in love with Flourish and Blotts, alike her daughter.

Taking her grandmother's distant smile as a yes, she continued to explain in detail about the message and traveling by Floo and why they were alone. Mary Granger's smile slowly left her face and Rose couldn't help but feel the sadness that lurked beside the fire. What if Mr. or Mrs. Weasley got hurt? Or some other family?

It became obvious right then neither witch would know what to do if they were attacked. That time had past. Rose collapsed into a chair, a tear sliding down her cheek. Ruby excused herself from the room, mumbling something outside and Mrs. Granger remained standing, her posture straight and parallel, facing the flickering light.

Ruby was sitting on a white wooden bench in the lusciously green garden when a shabby owl hooted and flew onto her lap. In its beak was a letter with her name addressed on it. Absent mindedly she stroked the owl with her left hand and unfolded the letter with her right.

Ruby, it's Mrs. Lovegood,

I work with Mrs. Weasley as you may know and I have a daughter your age named Alice, but that's beside the point. I didn't want to send a letter to Rose telling her this so I thought I should tell you so you can edge it onto her slowly.

Eleanor Malfoy was attacked in Diagon Alley. She was tortured by the cruciatus curse for minutes before the Aurors arrived. She is still unconscious and Scorpius and Kane are still to be told.

You may be questioning why Rose might need to know but that is because Draco wanted her to know so that she could offer some sort of comfort towards Scorpius.

Stay safe,
Luna Lovegood.
P.S you may use Egnarm to owl some of your friends since your owl is at Hogwarts.

Ruby sat on the chair dumbfounded, the letter now grasped in both her hands. The sun had set and she didn't move until Egnarm started to shift around. Rising from her seat she contemplated the best was to tell Rose.

*

The moonlight was streaming through the square glass window of the common room, where Albus and Scorpius sat restlessly on the Mahogany carpet playing exploding snaps.

"Do you think Rose and Ruby are having fun?" questioned Scorpius, who had just snapped the pile that exploded at his touch.

"I hope so. Rose definitely needed to breathe a different kind of air. OWLs definitely have her stressed… not to mention those female hormones that have all our year worked up – what did she call it? – om – ot – oestrogen?" Albus said, his index finger was raised to his chin and he stared out the window. Scorpius was also looking out the window, but he wasn't thinking about female hormones.

In an instant an owl appeared at the window carrying a brown piece of parchment tied to his leg. Rising to retrieve the letter, Scorpius stumbled and laughed as If he were drunk and unlatched the window. The parchment had his name written on it in his father's clear, fancy print. He skimmed the letter at the window and when he was done, let the letter fall from his grasp.

Albus was up in an instant and he took two long strides and faced the pale blond in front of him.

"Scorpius?" he whispered, reaching out and putting his hand on his shoulder.

Instantly the boy's face flooded with tears and he collapsed into a ball on the ground, his head between his knees. His body began to shudder and he took multiple long deep breaths.

The moonlight was shining on the parchment and all it had on it were seven words in fancy looped print that was smudged in place from water or tears that made the ink run.

Albus sat down on the ground and hushed the wizard while running a soothing hand up and down his back. For several hours they remained like that.

Scorpius' tears began to run dry and when the sun rose he sat up slowly and gave a shaky smile to Albus and he drank the water gratefully from the goblet Albus had conjured. A pile of ashes lay on the carpet, the remainders of the letter that held such bad news.

Albus stood and helped Scorpius to his feet and they silently walked to the fat lady and pushed it open.

The two knew where they were going without even discussing it; the dark hallway of the dungeons seemed even more eerie in the early morning gloom.

The paced to the office of Professor Slughorn who, unlike he wanted, had to have an office in the dungeons as to be close to his house. From behind the door they heard the simmer of a potion and the chopping of ingredients.

Scorpius' knuckles found the door and at his knock the door opened.

"Aah, Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy, how may I help you at such an early hour? I was just brewing some veritaserum for our class today," the pudgy, bald man said still making his potion, his eyes not leaving the clear liquid.

"Sir, could you please let us see Kane? It's very important – a family issue..." queered Scorpius politely, while Albus tried flattening his hair.

"Of course, M'boy, of course. Could you watch my potion while I fetch him? That's a good lad. I hope everything is okay," he said, leaving the room that was aligned with shelves filled with ingredients and potion books.

Albus and Scorpius paced over to the desk and took the two seats on the opposite side of the table to where Professor Slughorn was standing. For several minutes they sat in silence and watched the potion froth and bubble.

They heard a chuckle and a grunt and two people emerged from the other side of the door. Kane Malfoy stood a foot above his Professor and was the obvious owner to the grunt. He was rubbing sleep out of his eye when Scorpius said

"Eleanor was tortured."

Everyone froze and Slughorn's smile fell from his face.

"W-what?" asked Kane, he could have been his younger brother's reflection.

"Dad owled around midnight. His exact words were 'Eleanor was tortured. Tell Kane. Love you.' I don't know any other details but-"

His sentence was cut short as Kane turned and left the room. Slughorn took in a deep sharp breath and faced the two in the wooden seats.

"Oh Scorpius, I really, truly am sorry. Would you like some Fire whisky?" he offered but Scorpius got up shook his head and left. Albus left a little after, he told Slughorn not to worry and Slughorn told Albus he was a good friend and then Albus trudged up to the great hall for breakfast.

*

The only person occupying any of the five tables was Alice Thomas; her hair covered her face as she read Hogwarts: A history alone in the huge stone room, beneath a cloudy ceiling.

Albus took the seat opposite her and she barley looked up to acknowledge her company. Sighing Albus leaned back and his foot nudged Alice's accidently.

"Argh! What the hell! When in Merlin's name did you get there?" Alice cried out, her hand clutched her chest as it rose and fell rapidly.

"Didn't you hear me sit down? Weird, well anyway, are you always awake at this hour?" he said, sitting up straight again. He had jumped when she yelled.

Alice blushed and marked her page before she answered. "I like how it is always so quiet, not a soul in sight, though sometimes the Grey Lady joins me. It's peaceful. I get time to think.

"Anyway, why are you up?"

"I was with Scorpius but he went looking for Kane after he hadn't taken well to some news.

"You know, you're right. It is peaceful, nice really."

The two looked into the others eyes for a while. Albus had never really taken notice of Rose's friend even though their mothers are very close. But now, sitting alone with her, she seems so admirably beautiful. Her big blue eyes lined with thick black eye lashes…

"I'm always right," she whispered. And they leaned forward, their lips meeting. They moved easily along one another's lips, so soft and gentle.

Albus' hand moved to her face and his thumb traced her cheekbone. They broke apart and he chuckled. He removed his hand but grabbed hers and they chatted freely for an hour.

Professor McGonagall entered the hall and walked past the two absent mindedly.

"'Morning Alice; Enjoying your book?" she questioned as she past, glancing at Alice and doubling around when she saw who accompanied her.

"Why yes I am professor," she replied breathlessly, smiling big, her teeth were so white and so straight it made her even more beautiful.

"Good morning Professor. Good sleep I hope?" Albus said more freely; he still held Alice's hand.

"As good as one can hope in such circumstances that I'm sure you are aware of Albus. I must say you are up early," she said, clasping he bony hands behind her back.

"Yes, I went with Scorpius to professor Slughorn's office so he could talk with Kane, about these circumstances," he said, giving her an all knowing look. Of course Minerva had been told about Eleanor.

"What circumstances? asked Alice, not missing a beat. Her eyes flickered between McGonagall and Albus and back again. "Albus? Professor? I have a right to know!"

Sighing Albus turned and faced her and said "Diagon Alley was attacked. Your dad along with my dad, mum and Rose's dad went to control it. Your mum and Rose's mum had to go to Mungos to treat people who were hurt in the attack. Scorpius' sister was among the victims," he concluded.

Alice's jaw dropped.

"Oh my gosh! Merlin! This is unbelievable. Who is responsible? She exclaimed, sitting up and piercing his eyes with hers.

"I don't know any details. Rose and Ruby I guess are stuck at Mary and Luke's until they can get back to school," he didn't blink his emerald eyes as he said this.

"Excuse me I have to go find Mr. and Mr. Malfoy."

"Albus, I bet she didn't even know how to defend herself! I don't really even know how. Mum said that uncle harry and Uncle Ron and aunt Hermione started this group at school to teach everyone how to fight and defend themselves against you-know-who. The school should be teaching us!"

I agree, we should learn. How about together? With Scorpius, Ruby and Rose? Rose is so smart she could teach us," he began, his mind buzzing.

"Let's think about it later.

"I want to know what we-" she pointed to both of them "- are supposed ot be. Do we act like we never kissed? Because it did and well I loved it."

Albus smiled and tightened his grip on her hand. "I did too. But let's not rush. Keep it secret. Every morning we can get up and do this, what we are now. We can ease it on my family gradually."

"Mm-k. Sounds like a plan," she said. "Now c'mere so I can kiss you again Mr. Potter."

And they did just that.

A/N review it please?