Heh heh...mischievousness...

Chapter Six
"I refuse to leave you."

All was quiet. Most everyone had retired for the night, except a Slytherin couple and Rose and Scorpius, who were laughing quietly, Scorpius holding her close.

"It's true, Rosie," he whispered, nodding at the couple who sat on the other side of the fire. "She's cheating on him and he's cheating on her. They're bored with their relationship and just won't end it. I don't know why."

"That's pathetic," she said grinning.

Just as he was opening his mouth to speak to her again, a howl ripped through the night, startling them. Rose and Scorpius stared at the edge of the clearing, where the bushes were ruffling, as if something were behind it. Suddenly a wolf bounded into the clearing, snarling ferociously. The Slytherin couple screamed and ran into their tent. Rose and Scorpius both drew their wands, and side-by-side prepared to attack and defend their classmates.

The wolf merely glanced at them before he lowered his snout to the ground and sniffed it tenderly. It padded around the fire as if it were looking for something. Rose and Scorpius shared a curious glance, keeping their wands pointed at the great beast before them.

Rose subconsciously moved close to Scorpius's side, using her hand that wasn't holding her wand to take his free one. Her wand hand was shaking as she fought the fear flooding through her.

The wolf ignored them as it continued to sniff at the ground, whimpering like a lost puppy.

Rose cocked her head to the side, studying it with wide eyes. She slipped her hand out of Scorpius's, narrowing her eyes as she slowly walked forward.

"Rose!" Scorpius warned. The wolf jerked its head towards them, growling ferociously. Rose jumped back, frightened again and cursing herself for approaching it. The wolf bounded forward and Rose cried out, forgetting her wand as the wolf came towards her -

Scorpius suddenly shoved her roughly out of harms way, placing himself between Rose and the wolf.

He raised his wand, no sign of fear on his face, but he wasn't quick enough as the wolf knocked him to the ground.

"SCORPIUS!"

Rose's scream had Albus and Jessica and several others hurrying out of the tents to see what was wrong.

Jessica screamed in horror as Albus charged forward, whipping his wand out and pointing it at the wolf that had sunk his teeth into Scorpius's shoulder. Rose had fallen to the ground, sobbing heart-wrenching sobs as she watched Scorpius being attacked.

"STUPEFY!" roared Albus, the force of his spell sending the wolf flying off of Scorpius who had passed out from the loss of blood from the wound on his shoulder.

Rose scrambled to her feet, only to fall next to Scorpius again and throw her arms around him, shoulders shaking with soul rending sobs.

"Is he dead?" Jessica whispered, eyes wide. Albus didn't answer as he charged over to the wolf, eyes blazing. The wolf growled as it slowly slunk away into the trees.

"Albus!" Rose cried. He turned and then ran over to where she sat with Scorpius's head in her lap. "We need to get him to the Castle!"

Albus pointed his wand down the path they had taken earlier that day. "Expecto Patronum!" A silver white phoenix shot out of his wand and soared down the path, disappearing as it receded into the dark forest.

"We need to stop the bleeding," Albus said, face pale as he knelt next to Scorpius. He raised his wand, gently placing the tip of it to Scorpius's wound. He muttered something under his breath and Rose watched with wide, tear filled eyes as the bleeding suddenly stopped.

Albus and Jessica gave out orders for everyone to get ready to leave for the castle immediately. Everyone readily agreed, having no wish to stay in the forest now that Scorpius had been attacked. While everyone bustled around in the near darkness, Rose stayed at Scorpius's side. He was moaning in pain, tears steadily dripping down Rose's face.

"I'm so scared, Albus!" Jessica said, shivering as she stood next to him by where the tent had been moments before. He didn't answer as he hauled the bag with the tent equipment onto his back. "I hope the professors get here soon. . . ."

Right on cue, Professor Johnson and the Headmistress broke through the trees and entered the clearing, faces stricken. Johnson conjured up a stretcher and levitated Scorpius on to it.

"How did this happen, Mr. Potter? Your patronus didn't exactly explain!" Professor McGonagall snapped, eyes flashing.

"It's my fault, Professor!" Rose cried, burying her face into her hands. "S-Scorpius pushed me out of the w-way and was attacked in-instead!"

"It is notyour fault, Ms. Weasley!" Professor McGonagall said firmly, putting an arm around her shaking shoulders. "Mr. Potter, lead the way. Mr. Caldwell, put out that fire."

Professor McGonagall steered the distraught Rose down the path after Professor Johnson, lighting her wand.

"Rose!" called Garrett, jogging up to them. "You dropped your wand!"

Rose took one look at it and then burst into fresh tears, remembering how useless she had been. Professor McGonagall took it silently, nodding thanks to Garrett.

"He'll be fine," said Professor McGonagall in soothing tones as Rose continued to cry. "He's going to be all right."

The Headmistress desperately hoped she wasn't lying.

. . .

Rose refused to leave Scorpius's side for longer than five minutes. She even stayed when Draco Malfoy burst through the Hospital Wing doors, face furious as he walked directly towards Scorpius's bed. Not paying the slightest bit of attention to Rose, he gazed down silently at his son, his face relaxing slightly as he saw Scorpius's mouth twitch into a smile in his sleep.

Draco suddenly noticed her, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Rose Weasley, is it?" he snarled. Rose nodded, eyes fixed on Scorpius's face. "Why are you here?" he demanded, trying to keep his voice hard but sounding curious. Rose only turned away from him and looked out the window, tears spilling down her cheeks. She wiped her red eyes wearily. "Why have you been crying?"

"I can't shed tears for the man I love?" she said so quietly she barely heard herself.

"What? Speak up, girl! I can't hear you!"

"Never mind," she sniffed miserably.

The doors were thrown open again and Rose's mother and father hurried into the room.

"Rose!" Hermione exclaimed, rushing forward and engulfing her daughter into a hug. "We just finished talking to McGonagall! She said something about a wolf and that Scorpius saved you!"

"What?" Draco shouted. Scorpius jerked awake at the sound, looking up confusingly at all the people surrounding his bed.

The first thing he said was, "Rose! Where is she? Is she all right?"

Everyone watched flabbergasted as Rose burst into tears and ran from the room.

"Rose!" Hermione said, chasing after her.

Ron so far had remained silent, glaring at Draco and Scorpius.

"I don't know what game you think you're playing, Malfoy, but tell your son to stay away from my daughter," he snarled.

Draco sneered. "What's the matter, Weasley, don't like the idea of Malfoy blood in your family?"

"No, as a matter of fact, I don't!"

"My son saved her life! Isn't that reason enough to put the past behind us?"

"No!" Ron roared. "You can't honestly expect us to just forget all the horrible things you've done!"

Draco flinched involuntarily at the words. He opened his mouth to shout back when they were interrupted by a furious Madam Pomfrey.

"Really!" she shouted, shooing them away from Scorpius's bed. "We have patients trying to rest! Go quarrel like children elsewhere!"

Draco shot Ron an annoyed look and then turned to Madam Pomfrey with an anxious expression.

"What's the damage?" he asked worriedly.

Madam Pomfrey sighed. "The same damage that any normal werewolf inflicts."

Scorpius felt his throat go dry. "So . . . what? I'm a werewolf now?"

Madam Pomfrey nodded hesitantly, her face soft. "It depends if you were attacked by a werewolf or a wolf man."

"Is there a difference?" Draco asked, annoyed. "Is there a cure?" he added, knowing the answer and despising it.

"I'm afraid not."

"That's not good enough!" Draco exploded, slamming his fist down on the bedside table, making them all jump.

"Dad, calm down," Scorpius said quietly, his calm exterior unnerving. Draco fell silent, staring at his son. Before anyone could say anything else, the doors opened again and Hermione lead Rose back in.

Scorpius smiled at her, attempting to sit up. She gave him a watery smile, throwing cautions to the wind as she rushed forward, sitting in the chair next to his bed and taking his hand. Their parents stared at them dumbfounded, but the two of them paid them no mind, eyes only for each other.

"I thought you were going to die," she whispered, tears falling down her cheeks. He wiped them away with his hand.

"It'll take more than a werewolf to take me down, Rosie," he said, grinning at her. She only held his hand to her cheek, closing her eyes and crying silently. "You should get some rest."

She shook her head firmly. "I refuse to leave you."

Hermione smiled fondly at the two of them, Draco shrugged like he didn't really care what his son did, and Ron was beside himself with rage.

"Absolutely not!" he shouted at the two of them. They ignored him, gazing love struck at each other. "No, no, no! A million times no!"

Hermione rolled her eyes at her husband. "Honestly, Ronald. It's not a big deal! Be happy for Rose and Scorpius! You don't see Draco acting like a complete prat! Which is a first," she added, smirking. Draco ignored her, still upset about the news that his only son and heir was now a werewolf. That bothered him waymore than the little, unimportant fact that his son was in love with a Weasley.

. . .

Yes, Scorpius is now a "Wolf Man". Don't like it? I'm sorry, you'll just have to deal with it.

To be honest, didn't even plan on that happening. Ah well.

(Bet you didn't see THAT coming, huh?)