A/N: I got a really good question in a review and I can't figure out how to answer it other than a PM. Soooooo I'm going to answer it here. The reason I chose to have everyone hate the Malfoys (and other notable former Death Eater families) is because of a section that really stood out to me in DH. There is a part where Hermione comes across the fountain in the Ministry of Magic and discovers that the muggles are on the bottom "in their rightful place". My concept behind the MA in this story is that some wizards were so outraged by how muggles and muggle borns were treated during the war that they are beginning to group together and take action against the names they knew were active in Voldemort's campaign during the war, especially the pureblood Death Eater families. Slytherins join in the anti- campaign to protect themselves and their families.

Chapter 3: Hospital Wing

Rose was lost. She was following Albus to the Gryffindor common room along with all the other first years when Nearly Headless Nick had stopped her. He warned her of all the trouble her parents and uncles and aunts had gotten into and advised her to follow all the rules, for her own safety. When she had finally convinced him of her rule-abiding intentions, she looked around to find an empty hallway. Hurrying through the castle, she admitted defeat when she turned yet another promising looking corner and met a dead end. She was now attempting to retrace her steps when she ended up at what she assumed was Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. She could hear her whining from the hallway and decided to ask her for directions. Surely Myrtle would do a favor for Harry Potter's niece! She opened the door to the bathroom to find an oddly dark room. The few lights that were on flickered eerily, casting shadows and making the hair on Rose's arms and neck stand on end.

"Hello? Miss Myrtle?" she called quietly. She heard a soft shuffle of movement off to her left in one of the stalls. Walking slowly towards the noise, she asked, "I was wondering if I could ask you for a favor. I'm lost and I'm trying to make it to Gryffin-".

She broke off as her foot splashed in a puddle on the floor. She looked down and gasped as she realized the liquid was a mortal red. Following the direction of the blood, her eyes fell onto a small, black, huddled mass that was shivering on the floor. Rose quickly knelt on the floor and pulled the black cloth off the body. She held her breath as she realized that beneath all the blood, dirt, and sweat was a familiar pale face. Rose drew back as she recognized the bottle green eyes from the platform that were now staring at her. His gaze was unfocused but determined, and he blinked as his body continued to shudder through the visible waves of pain. She snapped back to her senses and rolled him from his side onto his back, lifting his head gently and cradling it in her hands.

"Come on, come on!" Rose pleaded to Scorpius. She could tell he was fading fast. Who had done this? Where were the professors? And the prefects? She focused on keeping him awake as she began to devise a plan to get the boy some help. As if her thoughts were heard, Moaning Myrtle appeared in the middle of the restroom.

"Didn't think he was going to make it," Myrtle whined. "I was preparing for him to join me."

"What happened? Did you see? Never mind you have to go get Professor McGonagall or Madame Lacy!" Rose commanded.

"I don't have to do anything," Myrtle pouted. "You could ask nicely. After all, I'm not comfortable leaving bathrooms and pipes. The other ghosts talk about me."

"Fine. You're right, I apologize, Myrtle. Please go get help. He needs the Hospital Wing." Rose said calmly. She wanted to scream at the ghost that the boy in her arms was dying and he didn't have time for a polite rescue, but she bit her tongue. She remembered what her mother had told her about the ghost's temperamental tendencies. As Myrtle sniffed in gratitude and zoomed off, Rose returned her attention back to the dying blond.

"Who did this to you?" she asked. His eyes were fluttering shut, so there was no respond. She began to cautiously examine his wounds, tenderly moving his shirt aside from his chest to assess the damage. There were deep wounds that reached from just under his collarbones to the tops of his hipbones. Twisting him slightly, she could see that some of them extended around to his back. Where there was not torn flesh, large red bruises covered his skin. His right arm was visibly broken, and Rose suspected his left leg was as well given its sharp unnatural angle. She began to cry.

"Why would someone do this?" she wondered aloud. She knew the Malfoys were not the most popular family. She had even overheard her Uncle Harry discussing them being targeted by the radical group called the Muggle Alliance (MA for short). The MA targeted all the former Death Eater families, but the Malfoys were especially targeted given their financial support to the rebuilding of the Ministry following the war. People didn't want dirty money involved in the new government. Her family only allowed her and her cousins to attend Hogwarts because the headmistress assured them that they would not become mascots for the radical movement of anti-pureblood fanatics. Rose could not believe that these same radicals would go so far as to have their children target an 11-year-old at school. Bullying maybe, but such violence! Rose wiped her tears and stroked Scorpius' face, willing him to stay alive until help came. She was becoming more and more desperate as the puddle around them was slowly becoming a pool. Her head snapped towards the door as she heard rapid footsteps and the headmistress arguing with the moaning ghost.

"Speak sensibly, Myrtle! What happened to Rose Weasley? Oh, there you are dear! Tell me wha-" She broke off as her eyes registered the blood smeared across Rose's face from where she had wiped her tears away. The old witch's eyes quickly looked down and took in Scorpius' mangled body and the still growing pool of blood around them. She marched over and pulled the cloak over Scorpius' body and face. Using a levitation spell, she lifted his small, wet form out of Rose's arms and pulled Rose to her feet. She wordlessly led them out of the bathroom and quickly through the halls until she reached the Hospital Wing. She released Rose's arm and shoved the doors open, calling for Madame Lacy.

"Lacy, take him. I don't know what happened, but I've never seen so much blood from one person. He may need Saint Mungo's." McGonagall's voice shook. "Come here Miss Weasley and explain what happened." Rose recounted her failed attempts to find her common room and how she came upon the scene after the action.

"So you didn't see anything or anyone?" McGonagall pinched her nose. " Well, we had better get you checked out regardless. Better safe than sorry as the Muggles say." She turned on her heel. "I must notify his parents. Stay here until I come back." Rose nodded dumbly and stumbled into the bed across from Scorpius. She stared blankly as the Healer rushed around him, muttering spells and tilting his head back while she poured potions down his throat.

She must have drifted off at some point because she woke with a start when she heard the click-clack of several pairs of shoes. The door swung open and McGonagall strode in, leading a solemn looking Draco and a tear streaked Astoria. Astoria rushed forward and pulled the curtain back, a new flood of tears rolling down her face as she got a first look at the state of her only child.

"What happened?" she whispered.

"It is not entirely clear. The curses and spells used on him are not spells that we teach here. There is evidence that the torture curse was used, " the headmistress explained. " We can launch a search to locate who exactly did this if that is your wish. I hesitated to start without your input, as it would direct more attention to your family."

"Let's focus on Scorpius for now, " Draco decided. "Does he need Saint Mungo's?"

"No, but he will take several days to recover and it will be a while until he can engage in any physical exercise." Madame Lacy walked out of her office to administer the next dose of medicine.

"I must go reply to the Minister about this incident. I had hoped that the MA would leave Hogwarts out of this, but now we know there are supporters here measures must be taken." McGonagall said angrily. "I'll be back later." She left.

"When will he wake up?" Astoria asked.

"I gave him a sleeping potion to help with recovery, it should wear off soon. These other potions are to restore blood and close these wounds. Try not to move him or get him excited when he wakes. I'll let you process, and I'll be in my office if you need me." Madame Lacy collected the potion vials and moved to Rose's bed. "I'd like to keep you here overnight, and I'll be back later to give you a sleeping potion to help you sleep. Food should arrive shortly. For now, rest." She patted Rose's head and went to her office.

Astoria and Draco pulled up chairs and sat next to their son. They sat in silence until Scorpius shifted slightly in his sleep. Astoria jumped up.

"Scorp? I'm right here, love! Draco, what are we going to do?" she asked. "You know he'll block us out when we ask."

"I'm not going to force him to show us. And it's not as if he can tell us," Draco said bitterly. "We're just going to have to be patient."

"Did that tribe leader in Africa ever get back to you? Can they bring his voice back?" Astoria asked.

"No, they can't. Their best guess is that it's something he has to do himself. But he's clearly not strong enough, it'll have to wait until he's older." Draco concluded. "In the meantime, we'll just have to keep using Legilimens if he wants to show us something. It's lucky that he's gifted in that area."


Scorpius could hear his mother's voice. He was grateful for her soft musical tone, it distracted from the pain he was feeling. He lay there allowing his body to wake up, embracing the pain and listening to his parents' converse. He was grateful that his father was not going to attempt to invade his mind. Not that he ever had before, but given the circumstances, Scorpius wouldn't have blamed his father if he tried. Draco would probably be successful too, because of how weak Scorpius was feeling. Scorpius decided to open his eyes. He was looking at the bed across from him and saw the bright red hair of Rose Weasley. He was shocked to remember that she was the one who made sure he was alive, recovering with his parents. He turned his head and watched his parents' faces go through a series of emotions, ending with joy.

"You're awake," Astoria beamed. "How are you feeling?" Scorpius shrugged. He didn't feel that bad considering what he had been through. The potions must be working. Astoria nodded, thrilled that the response wasn't worse.

"Do you remember anything?" Draco asked vaguely. Scorpius turned his head away, mentally collecting the memories of the incident and locking some of them away in his mind. He turned back to his father and nodded. "You'll let me look?" Draco asked, shocked. Scorpius nodded once. "Legilimens!" Draco said without hesitation. Scorpius pushed the memory of Rose carefully holding him and asking Myrtle for help, up until Professor McGonagall appeared. He wanted his parents to know that they owed his life to Rose.

Draco left his son's mind and turned to stare at Rose, his mouth open in surprise. "McGonagall told us you helped him to safety, but I had no idea you stayed with him like that. Why?" He wondered in disbelief.

"I know my family didn't exactly get along with yours in school, but they have always taught me to give help to those who need it. My dad aside, the rest of my family would have done the same as I did. We do not agree with the MA or anything they do. I personally don't have any reason to dislike or harm Scorpius, so I'm going to treat him with kindness, as I would anyone else." Rose explained. Scorpius raised his eyebrows in surprise, his eyes wide. He just wanted his parents to recognize Rose's importance in how he had survived, he didn't expect to be given a clean slate from the daughter and niece of the Golden Trio. He was so used to being condemned immediately for his name. His family's involvement in the war had made social encounters uncomfortable since he was born. In recent years, the MA, starting with his voice being taken when he was 8, had outright targeted his family.

"Thank you," Astoria stood and walked towards Rose. She placed her hands on the edge of Rose's bed. "You have no idea what that means to us." She smiled sweetly.

"N-no problem," Rose said awkwardly. She picked at the hem of the blanket on her bed. It was common sense for her to treat everyone the same, regardless of their past. She didn't realize that it would be such a big deal. Astoria gave the bed a pat before returning to her husband and son. Scorpius watched as Rose picked at the food that arrived for her. As his parents began to talk to each other in soft, hushed tones, he turned his attention to them. He let his mother fuss over his hair and blankets, and listened to his father talk about his work.