Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling.

Chapter 18: Meeting at Last

Albus trotted excitedly next to Harry as they made their way through London to the entrance to St Mungo's. Harry watched indulgently as Albus activated the secret door behind the display window. The boy darted inside only to be stopped short by a burly mediwitch. She put her hand on Albus' shoulder and smiled as Harry joined them.

"Here to see Ms Miller?" she asked kindly.

"Yes," Harry said, but before he could continue, Albus interrupted.

"I get to see Scorpius today!"

"Well, isn't that exciting? Go on, then." She smiled again and waved them toward the lift.

Albus ran ahead, only to bounce in place as he held the lift open until Harry caught up. As the lift rose, he chattered excitedly about Scorpius. "Are you sure you're ready to see him?" Harry asked as they reached the floor to the children's ward.

"Of course, Dad. I've been waiting a whole month, and writing just isn't the same. Will Mr Malfoy be here, too?"

"I think so." Harry paused at Cho's door and knocked. "Wait a moment, Al."

Albus reluctantly paused. "Hurry up, Dad."

Cho smiled when she saw them. "Excited, Albus?" she asked.

"Why'd I have to wait so long? Most of the kids have gone home already."

"Scorpius is special. We just-"

Albus spoke over her. "He told me you said he's too violent and angry and you wouldn't let him see me until he was calm again. He's tried really hard and he did everything you told him."

Cho crouched down to Albus' level. "You're right, Al. He has tried hard, and he's doing really well. Ready to go see him?"

Albus nodded. Cho took his hand and led him to Scorpius' room. Harry trailed behind them. The moment he reached the room, he launched himself onto Scorpius' bed. Scorpius squealed as he fell and soon the boys were rolling about on the bed, a tangle of limbs and incoherent cries. Only Draco's quick wand work kept them both from tumbling to the floor.

Harry looked over at Draco and was surprised to see a genuine smile. "How is he?" he asked quietly.

"Better. He still has fits of violence, but they are less common now and less severe. He should be able to return home within a few weeks."

"You look happy."

Draco colored slightly. "This is the first time I have seen Scorpius this happy since before he started school. He talks about Albus endlessly now. He was relieved when I told him I approve of their friendship."

Harry returned Draco's smile. "Have you thought about Scorpius' schooling?"

Draco turned toward the boys and Harry followed his gaze. They had stopped wrestling and Scorpius lay on the bed with Albus straddling him. Harry could not make out the words as they murmured to each other. Albus periodically stopped speaking to shower Scorpius with kisses and each time, Scorpius giggled in response.

Draco said, "He's been seeing a tutor and the therapist has assessed what he learned at that bloody horrid camp. I expect I will keep him home at least until winter holiday and arrange for a tutor, or teach him myself. I haven't thought much about it."

"Ginny's been tutoring Albus every evening. If you like, Scorpius is welcome to join him."

"I will consider it."

An abrupt "No!" cut off the men's conversation. Albus pulled away from Scorpius to sit cross-legged at the foot of the bed, his back turned to Scorpius and his expression angry.

Scorpius sat up slowly, watching Albus intently, and said carefully, "He deserves it, Albus."

"No one deserves that," Albus said tightly, "no matter how horrible they are."

Scorpius moved closer and placed a hand on Albus' shoulder. Albus flinched and he withdrew. "Please don't do this," he said. "I need you."

"No you don't. Whoever hurts you, just torture or kill them."

Scorpius' eyes grew bright with tears. "I listened to you," he said quietly. "I obeyed you."

Albus tensed further. "But you still want to kill him."

"He tort-tured me and ..." His voiced cracked. "I watched him r-rape and kill. You d-don't know what that's like."

"He's going to Azkaban. Isn't that enough?"

Scorpius reached out again and let the tears fall. "Albus, please look at me." When he touched Albus' shoulder, Albus did not pull away. "Please."

Finally, slowly, Albus responded. He put a hand over Scorpius' and turned slowly. "It's always wrong to kill. I know he hurt you and I know the pain might never go away, but killing him won't solve anything."

"He'll be dead."

"And you will be in Azkaban for murder. I don't ever want to be separated from you again, Scorpius. I missed you too much." Albus threw his arms around Scorpius and hugged him tightly. Soon he was crying against Scorpius' shoulder. "Never leave me again," he whispered, over and over.

Scorpius returned the hug and spoke over Albus. "I won't. I didn't want to. I missed you, too."

Harry turned from the boys to Draco. "How often can Albus visit?"

"I don't know yet. Maybe once a week, maybe daily. I'll owl you."

"Do you know who they're talking about?"

Draco shook his head. "Normally, I'd say Arnold, but as far as I know, he only saw Roland rape someone, one of his roommates."

"Then it's a good thing they are both in Azkaban for life."

"Scorpius is a Slytherin," Draco said very quietly. "If he wants to hurt them, he will just arrange to visit Father when he is of age."

Harry looked back at the boys and tried to believe that Draco was joking. The boys were still tightly embraced and crying. He fervently hoped that five years would be long enough to temper Scorpius' desire for revenge and that in the meantime, Albus would provide a calming influence.

At Draco's insistence, Harry left the boys alone for an hour while he visited Cho. Draco had promised that the boys would not leave his sight and from the way they clung to each other, Harry doubted that they would even consider leaving the room.

When he knocked on her door, Cho waved him inside. "How was the reunion?" she asked.

Harry smiled. "They're hugging and crying now. I think it will take them a couple visits to get reacquainted before they start making trouble. Draco's with them, though, just in case."

Cho offered Harry some tea, which he accepted with a nod, before responding. "Scorpius has been doing really well. We aren't ready to let him return to Hogwarts yet and we're closely monitoring his wand usage, but he seems to be relearning proper behavior and control. Of course he is one of the slower children to readjust. Five have returned home now and two should be released within the next week."

"That's excellent. What about the unidentified children and the boy who was badly burned?"

"All children have been identified and reunited with their families except one girl we call Alicia. No one has come looking for her and she is resisting attempts to restore her memories. The Becketts, whom we believe to be the parents of the girl who fled, have offered to adopt her. We are in discussions now. The boy who had the terrible burns is Andrew Nott. He is physically healing well, but emotionally, he's little better than Scorpius. Do you know how he was burned?"

"I just know he was near the burning fence."

"Scorpius sent him to lead the other children to safety. He had planned to get them outside the fence, then double back to help Scorpius. He was burned by the spell that hit the fence as he was trying to break it down. In their panic, the other children fled and left him."

"Are he and Scorpius friends?"

"They seem to be. They work together during lessons and tend to keep to themselves."

"Have you seen the two boys who were taken into custody?"

"Matthew Goldstein and Kenneth Waterstone?" Harry nodded. "I've seen them, but not worked with them personally. Both are very dangerous and Kenneth has been diagnosed with a psychological disorder for which he has refused treatment. It's really sad. Did you know Matthew was a prefect before he was kidnapped?"

Harry shook his head. "These children have lost so much. Will he be able to return to Hogwarts?"

"It's unlikely. He's nineteen now anyway. All of the younger children should be able to return next September, though, including Andrew and Scorpius."

"If their families cant afford it-"

Cho cut him off. "It's already taken care of." Harry raised his eyebrows. "Narcissa Malfoy has offered scholarships to all of the affected children. It's very important to her, though I am not sure why. Two families have accepted so far."

"Has she seen Scorpius?"

"Yes. From what I heard, she fell in love immediately and he retreated behind his journal to write frantically for over an hour before he finally closed it and accepted her. Now they get on well enough. It seems they both like wizards' chess."

Harry laughed. "I'm glad. I should get back to Albus now."

"Enjoy your visit. I will keep you posted on everyone."

"Thank you." When Harry got back to Scorpius' room, he found the boys curled up together sleeping and Draco sitting nearby reading the Daily Prophet. He and Draco shared a smile.

~O~

22 October 2018

Scorpius,

I'm so glad I got to see you today! I wish I could have stayed the night too. You look happy and healthy and you're still bigger and stronger than me.

That's why I will be the Quidditch star and you will be my faithful companion.

Woof, woof. What if I don't want to?

We'll think of something. I was glad to see you, too. I wish we hadn't fought, though.

I don't. I don't like fighting, but Aunt Hermione said if people fight, then forgive each other, they will be better friends than if they never fought. She and my dad used to fight a lot and now they are almost inseparable. My dad likes you.

My father likes you, too. He says he owes your family a lot, especially your father. He's glad I gave you the journal.

Good. I don't have any more words right now, just that I can't wait to see you again.

Me too. My healer says maybe Friday afternoon you can come again. Want to play Exploding Snap?

Sure. I'll bring my cards. Good night, Scorpius. I love you.

I love you too, Albus. Sleep well.

Author's Note: Please review. One chapter left.