A/N: I confess, I am FRIGHTENED. I don't want this story to end! It's a bit like breaking up with a boyfriend, to be honest. I know it's coming and I know it's partially my fault but it's still gonna be a massive suck-fest all around when it does happen. Not to mention, how will I live without the constant support and the lovely reviews, and even better all the friends I've made out here? Sniff. But this isn't the end just yet, so I suppose we'll just soldier on and get over that bridge when we come to it. -clasps fist to chest and stares off into distance with misty eyes-
First off, thanks to those who reviewed the last chapter and made me ultra-happy with their exclamations of surprise and OMGs!: SaruDM, frostykitten, euphoenix, wow, arrrgghimapiratenow, ClimbingMonkey13, Lovewithoutexpectation, amy, tikinclocks, Roseweasley85, Internet is too slow to log in, Sundance1989, (nameless), lilbuddie715, Cass, TheInnerMusingsOfMe, XXXmeggie-loves-to-readXXX, ainat92, Silvermist76 and iwillalwaysloveyoux21.
And as the drill goes, to those who faved/alerted: clanmei, iwillalwaysloveyoux21, calaguala, jer5667 and Asuka-sama.
Unsigned Review Replies:
wow- Leave a username so I can respond properly to your review, please! Thanks :) Oh and there is a shortage of aurors because I killed most of them in chapters 9 and 10. :P
Internet...in- Your review definitely made my day awesome xD Please leave a username so I can reply to you privately! But otherwise, Thank you so much you really made me grin like a dope! I'm sorry for the slightly late update, some stuff came up!
Cass- Hahaa, I can't start another fic just yet! I really should study. :P BUT! Because I don't want to deprive you of good stuff, I suggest you check out Delicate by Padfoot4ever on hpff. Just type it into your search engine! I guarantee you'll love it- just don't forget about me when you're with the big 'uns ;)
Chapter 21:
Scorpius let out a growl of frustration as he stood in the empty apartment.
She wasn't there. And she hadn't left a note or even a single hint as to where she could have gone. His blood pounded with anger as he thought of her traipsing off, leaving her relatively safe apartment to roam the streets of Merlin only knew where.
Twisting on his heel, with anger clouding his vision, he apparated to her parents' residence in Clapham.
Someone had to know where she was.
XXXXXX
"You're mental."
Rose shook her head, leaning away.
"You're mental." She said again.
Edgar Bones smiled indulgently at her, like an uncle humouring his delusional niece.
Rose pinched the bridge of her nose, suddenly convinced that this was all an elaborate prank and her cousins James and Fred would suddenly pop up from behind the bar and run over to toss her over their shoulders and dump her somewhere cold and nasty like a public swimming pool, laughing as she clambered out dripping with water and disdain…
"Why," she said with measured patience. "Do you want me to kill Draco Malfoy?"
"I can see I've surprised you." He said, looking inordinately pleased at this.
Rose let out a hoarse laugh, sure she was going mad as well. "I wouldn't call it 'surprised' exactly. What makes you think I'm going to do what you want me to?"
"Well," he said pleasantly. "Maybe the fact that you don't really have a choice. If you refuse to cooperate, I will kill not only you and Mr. Malfoy, but also your cousin Albus and your little boyfriend- Scorpius, is it? Aah, Scorpius Malfoy." He chuckled. "How fitting that he should be a Malfoy as well.
"However," he continued. "If you do as you are told and perform your task to my satisfaction, I shall spare you along with the rest of the would-be victims."
All of this- It made no sense to Rose. She couldn't, just couldn't see his reasoning behind this. Why Draco Malfoy? Why her? And why let the others go if she killed him? What was so important about the two of them?
She sank her head into her hands, wondering if he would enlighten her, provided she cared to ask.
"Why?" she rasped out.
Edgar Bones sighed loudly, letting out a long breath that seemed to go on forever. Rose was seized with the wild, frightening impulse to grab him by the neck and press until he could never take a breath again.
"You really haven't figured it out?" he asked, sounding genuinely regretful. "And I thought you were supposed to be smart. What do you think it's going to look like when the aurors find Mr. Malfoy's butchered body and you, the guilty culprit, standing over it?"
Rose snorted. "That's ridiculous. I've seen you now, I can just tell them that-that-"
Her heart sank as she realized what he was trying to say.
"-That you were forced to do so by a man who died fifty years ago?" He finished her sentence for her, letting it hang cruelly in the air.
Tears of panic pricked at her eyes and she forced them back with a monumental effort. "They won't believe I did it," She said quietly. "I have no motive."
"Yes," he said slowly, as if considering her argument. "There is that. But then there is also the fact that you were present the night Ivan karkaroff was first attacked. You were found in the same room as eight dead and two severely injured aurors. Karkaroff died the same day you found out he was alive and there is an entire hospital staff to corroborate this fact."
Rose paled as she realized that he was right. In each of those instances, she'd been the first one at the crime scene- the first and only one. And prior to each of them, she had been alone, unsupervised by even Scorpius. Even he wouldn't be able to testify for her.
"So when you add together all of these little incidences- and I can guarantee you, the wizengamot will add them up- I think you look pretty darn guilty, Ms. Weasley."
"And of course nobody will even think to look further when they're sure they've already found their killer. Nothing will happen to you." She completed his explanation for him, reality setting in quickly and painfully.
He smiled at her proudly, a teacher who had explained a difficult theorem to his favourite pupil. "Precisely! Of course, to maintain this charade, I will have to leave my work unfinished. It's terrible, but it can't be helped. I rather think I should quit while I'm ahead, don't you? On the bright side, I won't have to kill you either."
He nudged her glass of Vodka with one hand. "Your glass is half full, Ms. Weasley. Drink up."
XXXXXXXX
There had been no one at the brownstone in Clapham and the house in Godric's hollow had been empty as well. In a last ditch effort, he had apparated to The Burrow, hoping fervently to find Rose there.
She wasn't of course. But her grandparents were, along with a few other redheaded members of her family and the occasional blonde.
And they'd all been rather adamant on finding out why he was searching for Rose as if her life depended on it.
"I could contact Hermione. Maybe she'd know…" Molly Weasley said, frantically wringing her hands as Scorpius perched delicately on the flowery couch, eyeing Fred Weasley and his drawn wand warily.
The retired Arthur adjusted his spectacles, placing a calming hand on his wife's shoulder. "I'm sure she's alright, Molly. Rose is a very capable witch, she can manage for a few hours."
"Oh, do be quiet, Arthur!" she snapped at the hapless man. "When were you ever a young girl? The city isn't safe for young ladies these days- I knew she should have stayed at the burrow! Godric knows, we have plenty of room for her. But no! She had to stay in one of those modern apparatements!"
"Apartments, dear." Arthur corrected gently and perhaps rather unwisely.
Scorpius winced as Molly turned and vent her frustration on her husband. Rose's cousin- he couldn't remember which Weasley's son he was- Fred was eyeing him menacingly, making a great show of rolling his wand conspicuously between his fingers.
There was a house-elf dressed in a flowery tea cozy and ten bobble hats lurking in the corner. An amulet with an S carved on the front bounced on his chest as he hummed, dusting a tall lamp.
With a hasty glance at his watch, he clambered to his feet. "I've been here too long, I'll look elsewhere and please tell Mr. Potter to contact me if you manage to get in touch with him."
Mrs. Weasley turned to look at him inspecting his watch, her mouth forming a surprised O.
She clapped a calloused hand to her head, realization dawning on her face. "Of course! Wait right here, dear! I'll be right back!"
She bustled off towards the kitchen, returning a moment later with a heavy clock floating in front of her. She set it down gently on the table and the small group crowded around it.
Scorpius watched, entranced and horrified, as one of the clock's hands, marked Rose Weasley oscillated rapidly between 'Hospital' and 'Mortal Peril'.
"I have to go," he said, already heading for the door.
"Wait." A hand grasped his arm, holding him back.
"I'm coming too." Fred said grimly.
"Me too!" A blond teenager in the corner piped up.
"No way, Louis." Fred said. "You're underage. You're staying here- And so are you Roxie."
The dark haired girl who'd been rising to her feet fell back on to the couch with a massive scowl on her face.
Scorpius considered the pros and cons of letting a civilian come with him- Fred Weasley, with his stocky build, determined expression, and ready wand.
"Fine," he said. "St. Mungo's, right now."
XXXXXXXXX
Rose walked unsteadily down the hallway, back erect with tension. Her shoes were silent against the gleaming marble tiles. The WelcomeWitch nodded at her with a smile, waving her through to the lifts without stopping her.
She'd assumed Rose was going to visit her father again.
"Are you all right, dear? You're looking a bit peaky. Patient's lift is separate."
Rose turned to the elderly woman regarding her concernedly.
"N-" The hand clamped around her shoulder pressed hard. Rose forced a smile. "Yes, everything's fine. I just need to get to the-" The grip on her shoulder tightened with bruising force. "I just need to go." Rose finished weakly.
The woman looked at her dubiously but shrugged it off, exiting the lift on the third floor.
Rose closed her eyes weakly as the two of them were alone in the lift again.
"Nice try," the man said dryly, easing his hold on her. Rose shot a contemptuous look in his general direction. She couldn't see him of course, as he was disillusioned.
"You're mad if you think you're going to get away with this." She said scathingly. "There are going to be aurors all over the fourth floor."
There was no response as the lift doors tinged open, a cool female voice announcing her destination.
"Fourth floor- Spell damage."
Rose was propelled forward by the invisible man behind her and she stumbled a little as her feet touched the floor.
She had been right- there were at least five wizards in dark green auror robes milling around the Janus Thickey ward to her left.
Edgar nudged her gently to the right and she began walking, casting desperate glances behind her, hoping to catch one of the auror's eyes. But none of them looked up from their task and before she could attempt anything, they'd turned a corner and were out of sight.
Scorpius.
Her mind zeroed in on the last hope- that Scorpius would be with his father in his ward. Surely with three of them present, they could overpower Bones? Even if one of them- Draco- was injured.
But then this was the man who'd killed eight aurors in a go. Eight.
Her stomach plummeted at the thought. How strong was he?
She jerked to a halt involuntarily as Bones' grip on her tightened once again, pulling her to a stop.
"Ms. Weasley!"
Rose looked up, half horrified and half relieved at seeing Gilderoy Lockhart approaching her with a stack of glossy sheets in his hands.
"Would you like another autograph? I've learned this new way of writing…It's really very elegant. Here, let me show you…"
The blond man flashed her a charming smile and began scribbling industriously away on the top sheet, tongue poking out of his mouth.
"Get rid of him."
Rose flinched at Bones' voice, tapping Lockhart on the arm.
"Uhh, Mr. Lockhart, I'm afraid I can't stop right now. Can we talk later?"
He looked up, pouting slightly. "Nobody wants to talk to me anymore! They even threw me out of the Thickey ward- they said there were nargles lose there but I have no idea what those are. Do you know what nargles are?"
"I don't, sorry." Rose widened her eyes at him, hoping he would pick up on the vibe that something was wrong. But Lockhart just nodded sadly and tucked his pictures away. "Oh, alright, alright. I can tell when I'm not wanted you know…I'll just go."
He wandered off, zigzagging a bit as he swerved to avoid random spots. "Is that a nargle?...said they were invisible…haah! Got one!..."
Rose stifled a groan and continued walking, unsure where she was headed.
A few seconds later, Edgar stopped her again, this time in front of a door.
"Take this." He said, his coat rustling as he moved. "I assume you'll know what to do."
Rose's heart shot into her throat as she stared at the knife that seemed to have materialized in thin air hovering in front of her, held securely in an invisible grasp.
XXXXXXXX
Scorpius pivoted slowly, looking at the massive interior of Mungo's with a vague sense of horror. How were they supposed to find Rose here?
"I'll go check if she's with Uncle Ron." Fred said, heading towards the lifts. "I'll send you a patronus if she is."
Scorpius nodded in assent and strode over to the WelcomeWitch.
"Excuse me-" He cut to the front of the line, causing a bit of an uproar. "Did Rose Weasley check in today?"
The witch behind the desk flashed a smile at him, smoothing down her hair and tugging at the neckline of her shirt. "Oh, yes. I saw her ten minutes ago. You've just missed her."
"Right," Scorpius said, ignoring the wizard with the pot jammed over his head who was ramming into him repeatedly, evidently confused at finding something in his way. "And did she ask you for a floor or a ward number? Anything at all?"
The witch grimaced apologetically at him. "She didn't, sorry. I just waved her through like I always do. I mean, she's Rose Weasley. She's hardly a suspicious character who needs to be searched thoroughly every time she walks into a building." She laughed lightly to emphasize how ridiculous she thought the notion.
"Of course," Scorpius said rigidly, mentally cursing the witch. "Well, thanks anyway."
He cut back out of the line, almost running to the lifts. He'd start by notifying the aurors on the fourth floor- they could send out a search party to manually comb the hospital from top to bottom.
XXXXXXX
Rose's heart hammered in her chest as she grasped the metal knob with slick hands, turning it slowly. The door opened soundlessly but the occupant glanced up at once, eyebrows shooting up as he recognized his visitor.
Her heart sank as she realized that Draco was alone.
"Rose," he said, surprise evident in his tone. "What can I do for you?"
"Hi, Mr. Malfoy." Rose said lamely, wiping her hands on her jeans. "I-is Scorpius here?"
Draco's expression clouded as she said this. "No," he said slowly. "I thought he was with you."
"W-with me? No, of course not. He was supposed to be here." She tried desperately to ignore the sharp throbbing in her shoulder where Edgar still held on tenaciously. Her voice had acquired a slightly manic edge.
Draco drew his reading glasses off, folding and setting aside the newspaper he held. "Is something wrong?" he asked cautiously.
Edgar prodded her roughly in the back and she stepped closer quickly. "No, no. Nothing's wrong." Her hands drifted back to where she'd stashed the knife in the waistband of her pants, hidden beneath her shirt. She drew it out slowly even as Edgar released her and backed off.
Her hands shook wildly and to her intense mortification, the knife clattered from her grasp, landing on the floor in plain view.
Draco's eyes darted from her to the knife and then back again, wide with disbelief. He straightened up, reaching for his wand before realizing it was with the hospital staff. "Wha-?"
Rose picked up the detestable weapon again, hardly able to believe what she was doing.
"I-I don't want to do this." She said, voice unsteady.
"Do what?"
She gestured helplessly with the blade, shaking her head in despair.
She had no idea where Edgar was now. If he'd still been behind her, maybe she could turn around and just…she shuddered at the unfinished thought before realizing her current situation was worse.
"I've seen that look before." Draco said wryly, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"Really, where?" She was stalling for time, for both of their sakes.
"On me," He said flatly. "In my sixth year."
There was a pause of silence as Rose expected him to continue and he didn't.
"….Oh." She said finally.
"So, who's making you do it then?"
"E-" A hand wrapped itself around her throat, cutting off her wind supply. She clutched at it, gasping for air. Fury rising, Rose stamped her foot down hard, catching Bones on the instep. He released her with a hiss, leaving her to massage her throat.
"Who's there?" Draco swung a leg off the edge of his bed, trying and failing to stand. "Who else is in the room?"
"I'm sorry," Rose's voice rasped as she spoke, tears of pain stinging her eyes. "If I don't, he's going to kill us both and…and Scorpius too."
Draco sank back onto his pillows, disbelief and then resignation playing across his features. "Am I going to regret it if I choose to believe you?"
Rose bit her lip, unable to answer the question.
"Do it now." His voice hissed into her ear.
She flinched and took the last steps towards the bed and the unfortunate figure on it.
Her eyes met the older man's as she raised a trembling hand, dagger shaking dangerously. His familiar grey eyes held the question running through her mind: would she do it?
Fear seemed to be making her chest cave in- fear and disbelief. How could she possibly do it? How could she kill someone? This whole time she'd been banking on reinforcements, help from some unexpected quarter, a miracle even.
But this was it. She had to decide now. Was she going to be manipulated into killing an innocent man or was she going to stand up and for once in her life, fight her own bloody battle?
"I can't- I won't do it." She loosened her grip and the knife clattered harmlessly to the ground, the metallic ring echoing around the silent room.
"You have to."
Her head snapped up in shock as she stared at Draco. "I-what?"
"You have to do it," he said again, sounding unnaturally calm. "I'd rather die now than two minutes later along with my son. If this saves Scorpius….well, then I'm all for it. Go on." He arched a mocking eyebrow, challenging, encouraging her to pick up the knife again.
He seemed calm, completely in possession of his own faculties but his hands were shaking- something which didn't go unnoticed.
Rose shook her head wildly. "No-No, I can't-I-" She stumbled backward, yelping as her back came in contact with something hard.
A vice grip tightened around her upper arm and looking around, she could finally see the killer-he'd taken off the charm.
"This is getting boring," he drawled. "And you-" He turned to Rose. "I'm quite disappointed, but quite frankly, not surprised in the least. You are a bit of a coward aren't you?"
His smile was friendly as he grasped her harshly and slammed her into the wall, watching dispassionately as she slid downwards, hands covering the cut on her forehead. "I'll deal with you in a minute."
"Now," he said, summoning the knife wandlessly. "Mr. Malfoy," He grinned crookedly at Draco. "Any last words?"
XXXXX
"Okay, I'll organize it as soon as possible. Lightwood and Clare should be back any minute, they can start searching along with the others."
"I'll do this floor then. Start with the third." Scorpius nodded at Zabini, turning to leave.
"I'm sure she's fine, mate." Zabini gripped his shoulder lightly. "She's probably upstairs in the caf eating a sandwich or something. In fact, I think I'll go check there…"
He clapped Scorpius on the back and rushed off to do so, robes billowing behind him.
Scorpius was too taught with nerves to roll his eyes at the retreating figure. He hastened down the right corridor himself, banging open each door along the way.
None of them held the person he was looking for, though his heart leapt each time he caught a flash of red hair.
His frustration grew as each room went by. This was a hopelessly ineffective way of searching- each second could be crucial if she really was in danger. He couldn't imagine what sort of situation she could have landed herself in in a hospital though. Maybe he really was just overreacting.
"Hullo, Hullo, Hullo! Care for an autograph?"
He let out a breath of exasperation as his way was blocked by a fair-haired man clutching a stack of pictures of himself.
"Move," he commanded, side-stepping the nuisance.
"Oh dear! How terribly rude of you. Just like that girl…nobody has time for poor old me anymore…can't imagine why seeing as I'm so dashing."
Scorpius whipped around, finally paying attention to the blond. "What girl?"
"Oh! Er-forgotten her name…I knew it just now…drat. Hmm, red hair, so-so height, extremely rude?"
He gripped Lockhart's robes, pulling his closer. "Which way did she go?"
"I say! Hands off the merchandise! I'll tell you where she went as long as you tell your friends they can find me here for more autographs. I really do like giving them out."
XXXXXXX
He held the knife poised over Malfoy's heart, ready to drive it in.
"Any last words?"
"Yeah," the man spat at him, baring his teeth in contempt. "Fuck you."
Edgar frowned in displeasure, wiping his face distastefully. "How unrefined," he said dryly. "And I thought you had good breeding. Very well, goodbye then."
He drove the dagger down, anticipating the delicious feeling of a sharp blade tearing through skin and the metallic tang of blood that would follow.
In those few seconds, four things happened simultaneously.
A solid object tackled him, knocking the breath out of his lungs; The knife in his hand changed paths, dragging across the chest of the man underneath him; someone screamed in agony and the door to the ward burst open with a deafening slam.
Edgar Bones dropped the knife as Rose Weasley sprawled across him, hands wrapped around his throat.
-Special Feature for PTBA fans-
Preeeesenting, something which is NOT a circus act! :
PAL THE BAD ASS!
Wassup homies.
So, this might be the last Pal the Bad Ass note. Why, you ask? Because our beloved fanfic 'Bodyguard' is nearing its end. So the next time you hear from me will be after our grade 12 examinations when Annevader decides to write another story. Provided that Im physically present in the same country as her after school to hijack her computer and type whatever shit I want.
Now now. Dont worry. Im not going to go all sappy on y'all. Im not gonna actually mention how much I'll miss this fic even though i didnt write and its a bit wierd for me to miss it. Yup. So not mentioning that. Im also not going to mention how much fun it was to read all your reviews. (Thank you for mentioning me! )
My therapist is a bit wierd. First, she told me to express my feelings with people and not to hold everything in ( She thinks its my lack of communication of feelings *shudder* that causes me to go all apeshit on people in my sexy patented bad ass way. She doesnt know that I was just born with it. Just like Justin Timberlake was born sexy, I was born a Bad Ass.)
Speaking of a sexy bad ass, Have any of you ever seen this american sitcom called modern family? Its got this funniest, sexiest, most adorable,sexiest,funniest character on earth.
Phil Dunphy yo.
I know its wierd for me to crush on
a) A guy who is 20 years elder to me.
b) A guy who is fictional.
But, he well...just speaks to me, you know?
I mean, sure. He isnt the sharpest pencil in the pencil holder, Or the brightest bulb in that crazy house full of bulbs, But he is a real Bad Ass. Just like me. So check him out yo.
Peace.
P.S Annevader, DONOT INTRODUCE ME LIKE A CIRCUS ACT EVER AGAIN. Thank you :)
A/N: She's gone and made me emotional. Damn hoe. JUST KIDDING DON'T KILL ME! I love you?
And I love YOU all too! It's a love-fest. Ohh, yeaah.