Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling.
Chapter 17: Reunions
After spending the entire day fielding questions about the military camp from nearly the entire wizarding community, from frightened parents to reporters at the Daily Prophet, Harry finally escaped to the relative silence of Cho's office at St Mungo's. She greeted him with a smile and a cup of fortifying tea.
"How are the children?"
Cho set down her own tea to sift through a file as she spoke. "Not bad, considering. We have fifteen children in our care and have made contact with the parents of twelve of them. All of the children have undergone basic physical and psychological testing with varying degrees of resistance. In summary, four of the eight boys and six of the seven girls show evidence of sexual activity, all children have experienced the cruciatus curse and other painful curses, all children exhibit scarring, bruising, and at least one bone fracture, and all children have been brainwashed to believe their families abandoned them and none respond to their given names, if known, except Scorpius."
"That's not bad? It sounds horrific."
"Harry, all of the children will heal physically. Aside from minimal scarring, none were permanantly disabled. That is very good. The emotional and psychological trauma will take much longer to heal, if it ever does, and that is the main concern of my staff."
"You said only Scorpius responds to his name. Why him?"
"I don't know for certain, but I have two guesses. First, he is the last child kidnapped, just three months ago. Second, he had the coin, which linked him to Albus, and every time he used that coin, Albus used his given name. He does not respond to it as his name, but acknowledges that Albus also calls him by it. You should also know that he is the only one with any strong memories of his time before the camp."
"Can the others' memories be retrieved? Can they relearn their names?"
"Yes, but it will take time, therapy, and full support from their families. I have only spoken to about half of the families so far with mixed responses."
"Is there anything else of which I should be aware now?"
"Yes. Scorpius is among the children who exhibit the most rage and is the best at concealing it. He could be very dangerous, his triggers are unknown, and if I had not read his very normal behavior reports from Hogwarts, I would suspect some kind of pathological disorder. Of the rest, several have anger and anxiety issues, but most we expect to only lash out if provoked. Several of the girls may be afraid of men for some time yet and one girl is so frightened that she rejected her own father this morning. I know you want to reintegrate them as soon as possible, but I want to keep them here for at least two weeks, probably twice that, then at home under close observation until Christmas. At that point, I will be able to tell you more."
Harry rubbed his forehead, brow furrowed, and asked, "Will Scorpius be dangerous to Albus? He's eager to visit."
"I don't know, Harry. Right now, we are only allowing immediate family to visit and Scorpius struck out violently at his father this morning. He has been asking constantly for Albus, though, and seems to want to protect him. I think perceived threats to Albus' safety may be one of his strongest triggers."
"I see," Harry said, but he was not sure he did. "May I visit him?"
Cho stood and led him to Scorpius' room. Harry stepped inside to find Draco sitting by his son's bed, his hand idly stroking his son's as he read the book in his lap. Scorpius appeared to be asleep.
"Draco?" Harry called softly. Draco looked up. "How is he?"
"Sedated." Draco turned his head to study his son for several seconds before looking back at Harry. "He's alive and safe, but extremely violent."
"What did he do to you?"
"Grabbed my wand and sent me flying into the wall. I narrowly dodged the cruciatus. The healers said if he continues like this, they may never be able to release him. I don't understand, Potter. How could my perfect little boy become this ... this ... I don't even have words for it. How on earth can this child successfully use an unforgiveable?"
Harry conjured a chair and put his hand on Draco's arm. "I wish I could answer your questions, Draco. I suspect Scorpius was able to use the cruciatus because his captors specifically trained him for it. That and your aunt once told me that to be able to cast that same curse, I had to mean it and Scorpius feels intense rage right now. That's all I know. He ... in the past, has he ever done something that made you think strongly of your father?"
Draco shrugged. "Little things. Something he'd say, the way he walked, that sort of thing. Why?"
"When I saw Scorpius at the camp, he had the same cold, calculating look I remember from your father. I was surprised because I don't ever recall you looking that ... merciless. Anyway, Albus said he owled you yesterday."
"He did. Tell him I brought Scorpius the journal, but he's been sedated since I arrived." Draco shifted in his seat and pressed his son's hand against his face. "I want my child back."
"It takes time, Draco. Albus and I will do whatever we can to help."
Draco looked back at Harry. "Thank you, Potter. Pansy and Theo are grateful, too."
Harry smiled. "I may never have found them without your and Scorpius' help, Draco. Your friends should thank you as well." Draco smiled weakly in response and Harry took his leave.
~O~
22 September 2018
Scorpius,
Dad visited you today. He said you were sleeping and your dad was with you. The healers won't let me visit you yet, but at least you have your journal now, so when you wake up, we can write to each other. I miss you and lo
Albus? I feel so confused and scared. A man came in who looks like me and said you asked him to give me my journal. He scares me.
That's your dad. He loves you, Scorpius. He wants to help you. He missed you just as much as I did, too.
Everyone here calls me Scorpius. It's strange.
Your name is Scorpius. I tried to call you Scor once and you threatened to strangle me if I ever call you anything besides Scorpius. Since you're bigger and stronger than me, I never did that again. How is St Mungo's?
It's boring. They run tests on me all day and try to talk to me about my thoughts and feelings, but I don't want to talk to them. Then I get really annoyed when they keep pestering me and start throwing things to make them shut up and leave me alone. I don't like them.
They just want to help. If you won't talk to them, will you talk to me? I won't tell anyone what you write unless you want me to. Dad said you're really angry right now and they are all worried about you. He said they won't let you see me because they're afraid you will hurt me.
I won't, Albus. I would never hurt you. I love you.
I know, but they don't and they're in control. I know it's scary, but if you can stop throwing things and attacking people, maybe they will let me visit. Dad keeps telling me to be patient, that you can't stop lashing out overnight, and I promise I will wait as long as I have to and I will continue to write everyday.
I don't know how to stop. I don't understand what I'm feeling. When you told me the other day not to kill, that confused me. That man, Arnold, had hurt me and threatened you. I wanted to protect us both and he deserved to die.
I know, but we're both safe now and he's in prison. You don't have to kill him anymore. You don't have to kill anyone and I don't want you to. Please, Scorpius.
I want to make you happy, but what you're asking me is so hard.
I can wait as long as it takes, Scorpius. I promise.
Thank you.
Dad says it's time for bed. I love you.
I love you, too, Albus. Good night.
Author's Note: Please review. The journal format I copied from Per Solum Lacuna by Wintermoon2. It's in my favorites and worth reading if you're a Harry/Draco fan.