Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling.

Chapter 13: Conversations with the Notts

Ron was whistling when he arrived in the office. Terry raised his eyebrows in question. "Rose is off to Hogwarts in a few days," Ron said, "and Hermione will have to give up her intellectual dinner discussions for a while. Of course, Luna will be visiting from Bolivia around Hallowe'en, and then she'll start up all over again.... But anyway, how was the Czech Republic?"

"Boring as Hell. My mother appreciated the postcard from Prague and my girlfriend liked the scarf I bought her from some random street vendor, but aside from that, it was really dull."

"How was the meeting with Nott?" Harry asked.

Terry shrugged and handed Harry a folder. "It's all in here. Nott confirmed what Malfoy had already said, but even under veritaserum, he didn't tell us anything more. You-Know-Who must have put some pretty powerful charms on him to keep him from talking."

"Did you learn anything useful?"

"Parvati tried some recognition type questions and she thinks the site of the military camp, or what's left of it, may be somewhere in central Wales. In my report, I suggested sending some aurors in Cardiff to check it out. They'll know the area a lot better than we do."

"Do you think that's where the children are?"

"I doubt it, but I think anything connected to death eaters should be investigated in its own right. Nott seemed to think it was never finished, but confirmed his son and the other death eater children would have gone there directly after finishing Hogwarts."

"That doesn't make sense," Ron said. "The Battle of Hogwarts was May, maybe a month before Newts. If it wasn't finished yet, it would have been close. Harry, I want to pay visits to Theodore Nott, Gregory Goyle, and Draco Malfoy."

"Go ahead. Terry, help him. I have an appointment in Azkaban this afternoon and want to read what Nott had to say before I speak with any other death eaters. In the meantime, Ron, has Hermione found anything more regarding that drug ring?"

"Yeah, a few of the kids were located, mostly from inner city London and Paris. There were two witches, but neither one is recorded with either our Ministry or the one in France. The girls are from the Balkans originally, Kosovo I think, immigrated to England about five years ago, and started drug trafficking to support their family."

"Were they related? And why did their family need money, what with this country having a pretty good welfare system?"

"Cousins. They don't know anything about magic. Most of the money they made, they sent back to their family in the Balkans. Anyway, there's no evidence of any other magical children involved. If you want to know more, Cho's been speaking with the girls and their family."

Harry nodded. He would ask his secretary to set up a meeting with Cho sometime later in the week. He dismissed Ron and Terry soon after and turned his attention to the report and the questions he would need to ask Lucius Malfoy.

At lunchtime, he met Ginny outside the Daily Prophet offices and walked with her to a small muggle restaurant she liked. After they had been seated and ordered their food, she said, "Albus got another message on his coin last night. He wanted to tell you personally, but you were gone when he woke up. I'm worried about him, Harry, and I don't want to send him to Hogwarts this year. I've spoken with St George's about sending him there with Lily just for the year."

"You don't think he'd be better off with his year mates?"

"Where every bloody thing reminds him of Scorpius Malfoy? Where everyone will expect him to know all the details of Scorpius' disappearance and James' friends will spread who knows what kind of rubbish about him? No, Harry, I don't think that's a good idea at all. Let him stay home this year. If you do find Scorpius, we'll decide what to do then. Please."

"I'll think about it. You said Albus got another message."

"Yes, he tried to ask what you wanted, but all he learned was that there are other children and mountains. Then names started appearing, then nothing."

"What names?"

"Albus wrote them all down. None looked like any you mentioned to me. He was so distraught when he told me. He needs help, Harry. I've contacted Cho and asked her to recommend someone to provide counseling for him. He's just a boy and he's in so much pain. I can't help him myself, and neither can you."

Harry took Ginny's hand and pressed it against his cheek. "I don't know what to do, Ginny. I don't know how to be a parent. I think ... do whatever you think is best. I hope with James off to school, maybe Albus will cheer up a bit." His grip on her hand tightened. "I've felt all summer like I constantly have to choose between the boys and it shouldn't be like that. And I've almost completely neglected poor Lily."

Ginny stroked her husband's cheek. "Lily understands, love. So does Albus, and someday James will figure it out, too. Let's just get through the summer and it will all work out in the end, you'll see."

"And if Scorpius is dead?"

"Cedric's friends kept going. Colin's and Fred's friends healed in time. Albus will too, and we'll be here to help him. It will be okay, Harry."

"And if it isn't, Potter, Draco won't be the first one to have your balls, though I'd wager he'd like to."

Harry jumped up and his hand flew to his wand. "Theodore?"

Theodore Nott pulled up a chair and said, "Hand off your wand, Potter. There are muggles about."

"What do you want, Nott?" Ginny growled.

"Potter's crony interrogated my father a couple days ago. I want to know whether the effort was worth it."

"Yes, we believe it was. Now what would you like, Theodore?"

"Father said he can't talk, but if you can get him into the country, with immunity of course, he can take you to the place. He won't come back just to be tossed in Azkaban, though. He's too smart for that."

"I've already spoken with Shacklebolt. He won't budge on this."

"Fine, then. I'm off to tell Weaslette's brother exactly what I just told you. Good day, Potter."

Harry watched warily as Nott left, then turned back to his meal. "I really do not want to go to Azkaban today."

"When is Narcissa's trial?"

"September the fifth. It can't come soon enough. I want to take our holiday the moment we figure out what happened to Scorpius."

"What about the children?"

"Teddy can stay with them. He'll appreciate the chance to escape his grandmother for a bit, and we live a lot closer to your brother Bill than Andromeda does, which makes seeing Victoire a lot easier."

"Don't let Andromeda hear that. Yeah, I'll arrange the time off whenever you can get away."

"Thanks, Ginny. I feel like I haven't had much time for you, either, this summer."

Ginny smiled and clasped his hand tightly. "It's okay, Harry. We've both been pretty worried about Albus and I know he's your favorite, even though you try so hard to hide it."

"I don't have a favorite." Ginny smiled, leaned over, and kissed his cheek.

~O~

28 August 2018

I had another nightmare last night, Scorpius. I was camping with Rose and Lily. We were sitting around the campfire, telling stories, when we heard a scream and I knew it was you. We got to a small pool and you were floating in it, face down. Rose jumped in to get you, but you sank to the bottom and pulled her down with you. Lily and I watched helplessly while she fought to get out, then when she did, you followed her like a zombie or something. Your eyes were empty and I kept crying and calling your name, but you did not hear me. You walked toward Rose, slowly and deliberately, a knife in your hand. I tried to pull you away, but you shoved me to the ground and kept going. I was so scared.

Please be okay, Scorpius. Please come home. Mum's convinced dad to let me stay home this year, so whenever they find you, I'll be right here, I promise.

Love, Albus

Author's Note: Thank you for the reviews. I'm glad you're still enjoying the story.