Chapter Seven: Scorpius's Suspicions
James sent the letter off to Uncle George, feeling a slight twinge of satisfaction. Pranking always helped him relax, and relaxation was key to thinking things through clearly. And with all that was on James's mind, he needed to think clearly. He could quite easily summarize everything that had happened to him so far into a version of the Webster's Dictionary. However, his goal at the moment was to sum up all he knew about the case for Fred and Martha.
James's Case
1: Ruis is planning something.
2: She has enlisted Phoebe Goyle and Albus Potter, and is trying to enlist Scorpius Malfoy.
3: Malfoy knows more than he says.
4: "Watch yourself Potter." Threat or warning?
5: The dream rhyme. Is it important?
6: What on Earth is a 'snake king' and why do I have to face it?
James sighed, sat down on the ground, and buried his head in his hands. So many questions and not an answer in sight. He probably would have stayed there for hours (and missed Transfiguration) if someone hadn't come around the corner and promptly tripped over him.
Scorpius Malfoy tried to regain his balance, books spilling from his hands, and overcompensated. He toppled backwards, fell down the owlery stairs, and hit the banister below with amazing force.
As his head hit the rail his eyes snapped open, and for the first time there was emotion in them. Fear. His eyes had focused on something behind James, and widened fractionally, before they slid shut from the blow.
The crowd of students and teachers who had come around the corner behind James spotted Malfoy sinking to the floor, and immediately drew conclusions.
"James! What did you do?" his cousin Rose yelled.
"James!" Albus shouted, who had been holding a letter with the intent to mail, "Why did you take Thorin? Caesar is already out so how am I supposed to. . . Hey, why is Malfoy unconscious?"
"You knocked Malfoy unconscious?" Rose howled, misunderstanding.
"No, no!" James said, trying to defend himself.
Just when he thought that it couldn't get worse, it did. Peeves showed up, grinning maliciously. His grin grew wider when he took in the scene. A crowd of students, an unconscious boy, and James Potter? That was too good to miss.
Peeves soared down the hallway, howling "Murder! Murder! He's taken down one, and he's ready for more!" drawing many more witnesses.
The witnesses sadly included the Divination professor, Trelawney, who took one look at the proceedings, yelled something about death and despair, and fainted. The entire corridor was in a state of chaos as students debated on how to wake up the injured teacher and student while Peeves flew around singing a modified version of the classic 'Oh, Potter, You Rotter.', and the students who had not gotten the message that James was innocent screamed and hid whenever he approached.
Together it was a merry sort of mess, a mess that was only compounded when Rose, with a quick Rennervate, woke Malfoy and Trelawney up.
Trelawney stood up first, looked down at Malfoy, screamed, and nearly fainted, again. Malfoy got to his feet slowly and dazedly, muttering something about eggs.
"Don't you see it dear boy?" Trelawney said frantically, gesturing to the floor beneath Malfoy's feet.
"See what?" Malfoy asked, looking worriedly at Trelawney.
"Why the clear signs on the stone! My dear boy, that is a deeply disturbing omen. Look, don't you see the red lines marking the stone? Blood will be shed, soon enough Mr. Malfoy. Soon enough."
"Excuse me?" Malfoy asked Trelawney who ignored him and continued her monologue obliviously,
"And by landing on it at that angle. . ."
"After hitting the banister." James added (un)helpfully.
"And after suffering an injury none the less! You are in great danger Sir, great danger."
"Are you okay? Did you hit your head on something?" Malfoy asked Trelawney, now clearly thinking she was insane.
Taking pity on Malfoy, who was still just a little dazed, James stepped forward, and helped him up, supporting him when it became clear that he couldn't stand on his own. James dragged Malfoy to the hospital wing to the tune of Trelawny's screams of "He'll be next, I tell you! Death and misfortune stalk his path!" and the pleas of the students who asked her if she wanted to go lie down in her tower for a while.
James half-carried Malfoy to the hospital wing, thanking the fact that he was only a first-year, and not a heavy one at that. Madam Patil, who had been seeing to students involved in an apparent mass accident in Charms class, turned and almost groaned when she saw Malfoy, who had lapsed back into unconsciousness about halfway there.
"There's an empty bed over there," she said kindly while she spread an ointment on someone's greenish spell-burn.
James sighed, dragged Malfoy over, and unceremoniously plopped him on the bed. He was about to leave when he heard Malfoy's voice.
"Wha-what happened?"
"I knocked you out," James admitted, "On accident, of course."
"First time my mind has really been clear."
Figuring that Malfoy was talking about the blow, which was enough to make anyone's head spin, James apologized again.
Malfoy slumped a bit, his eyes becoming slightly glazed. James, thinking he was going to pass out again, reached out a hand, only to have Malfoy, like in the dream,
ignore it.
"Ruis is planning something," Malfoy said sleepily, laying back on the bed, "It will happen at the end of the year. Beware the serpent-king."
James's jaw dropped.
"What was that?" he asked, reaching out a hand to shake Malfoy back into consciousness.
Malfoy made a few indecipherable noises as he was shaken awake. Finally, he gained some level of awareness, blinking blearily at James.
". . . wha?"
"Malfoy," James whispered urgently, "What was that you said?"
"What was what?"
"You know. What's going to happen at the end of the year?"
Malfoy looked suddenly understanding and panicked.
"Ruis is planning. . . something. I-I can't tell, I don't know what!"
James nodded. "Are you sure that's all you can tell me?"
Scorpius paused and looked briefly thoughtful. He suddenly turned to James and opened his mouth, an ugly expression twisting his face and clouding his eyes.
"Why are you prying like this? What do you know about Ruis? Why are you asking me?"
James backpedaled quickly from the topic of conversation.
"I didn't mean to offend you. I was just curious."
Scorpius sighed softly as he sank back into his pillow.
"Why are you watching me and your brother?" he asked.
"What do you mean? I haven't, I didn't mean, I wasn't, I-I don't know. I just thought that there was something up, and I watched for signs. I didn't mean to offend, I was just trying to find out what was going on!"
It took a long time before James realized that Malfoy had fallen asleep, and he was justifying himself to an empty room.
Hello, readers!
I am so sorry for the delay. I did intend to have the chapter up by the weekend, but things happened. Specifically, a huge snowstorm blew in. I mean huge to the point that I couldn't see seven feet in front of me this morning. AFTER the storm had passed. Yeah.
The next chapter should be a while in coming, since I have basically no plan. It will probably be the Halloween prank, from Albus's perspective. Wish me luck, I'm no good with pranks.
Remember, read and review.
Foorocks10