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Chapter Nine
Unexpected Visitors

Rose spent most of the train ride staring blankly out the window, barely registering what was being said and going on around her. She was in the Heads' big compartment with James, Hugo, Albus, Lily, and Scorpius, who she needed more than anyone.

She sighed and laid her head in his lap, keeping her gaze steadily fixed on the window. She was surprised she hadn't cried yet, but that was probably because she didn't know how badly hurt her mother was, or because she hadn't seen the state she was in.

"You sure you're okay, Rosie?" Lily asked gently, reaching across the space between their seats and taking her hand.

"I'm . . . okay," Rose said slowly. Scorpius gently stroked her hair and she sighed sadly. "Way to start the summer."

James snorted. "Lovely way to graduate."

"I'm sorry, James!" said Rose, looking at him with sad eyes.

Hugo groaned. "Let's not talk about this!"

"Agreed," said Albus, tossing aside his Quidditch Magazine and standing up. "I'm going to . . . uh . . . go speak with Jessica."

James rolled his eyes as his brother left the compartment. "Gone to snog her, no doubt. Speaking of which, I need to apologize to Victoria for not sitting with her."

"You leaving as well?" Hugo asked glumly as Lily stood up. She whacked him on the arm.

"I'm not off to snog anyone, you dolt! I need to go to the bathroom."

"Don't leave me here alone with Romeo and Juliet! They might get frisky!"

"We are sitting right here, Hugo," Rose pointed out wearily. "Besides, I'm not in the mood to get 'frisky' as you so boldly put it."

Hugo blushed and Lily rolled her eyes and stepped outside. Hugo took one look at Scorpius and Rose and then hurried after her.

"Are you leaving as well?" Rose asked halfheartedly, turning to look up into his face.

"Of course not. Someone needs to stay with you, and well, as much as I'd rather not -"

"Oh, shut up," said Rose with a small smile.

They fell into companionable silence, each in their own thoughts.

Rose was thinking grimly about what could have possibly happened to her mother. She took out the letter from Aunt Ginny that James had given her and read it for the millionth time that morning:

James,

Something horrible has happened.

Aunt Hermione has been attacked by the same group that murdered Helena Finnagan. Uncle Ron has yet to be informed, as he is on an Auror Mission with your father. Kingsley has been contacted and he is going to meet them immediately, Don't worry. Hermione's fine as of now. I'm writing this while she's resting.

Please inform Rose and Hugo. Granddad and Granny Weasley will bring you all straight to St. Mungo's from King's Cross.

I send all my love,

Mum

The tears finally came.

"Don't cry, Rosie," Scorpius said soothingly. "Everything will work out. She'll get better. She's strong."

"I'm scared, Scorpius. Everyone's being attacked! It's like the war all over again!"

Scorpius fell silent. "Don't say that," he muttered.

Rose sighed. "I'm sorry, Scorpius. I'm just . . . scared."

"We all are, Rose."

. . .

"I'm stepping out for a minute, Hermione," Ginny whispered in her ear.

Hermione looked up wearily from the book she was reading. "All right, Ginny," she said, her strong voice betraying the state she was in. Ginny smiled sadly and then closed the door to the small hospital room Hermione was in.

Hermione returned to the book levitating in front of her, the only way she could read it. The book turned the page for her as the door opened and the Healer Assistant's head poked around it.

"Er . . . Mrs. Weasley? Someone's here to see you."

Hermione struggled to sit up straighter, but gave up after her fruitless attempts. "Who is it, Aurora?" she sighed.

"Um . . . he didn't say."

Hermione sighed again. "Not the press, is it? I'd rather not the whole Wizarding World know of this just yet."

"No, ma'am. Private citizen."

"Very well. Send him in."

Aurora's head disappeared back around the door. It was pushed further open and Hermione's eyes widened in surprise as Draco Malfoy stepped into the room, eyes boring into hers.

"Draco, to what do I owe the unexpected pleasure?" said Hermione coolly, raising her eyebrows.

Draco seemed to struggle to resist sneering. "You must think that I am behind your attack. I'm here to tell you that -"

"You are not," Hermione finished for him. He narrowed his eyes in surprise.

"You knew -?"

"You were distraught when your wife was sent to Azkaban. I know. I was at her trial."

"Your point?" Draco demanded, pacing across the room.

"I doubt you'd have any part in her arrest."

Mr. Malfoy didn't say anything as he glared at the marble floor he was pacing. He looked up.

"You're right. But I think I know who's behind this. They framed Astoria."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure! I wouldn't waste my time talking to you if I didn't know you could help me!"

"Don't snap at me, Draco," Hermione scolded. "I'm the one who can't move any of my limbs."

"Is that what's wrong with you? I couldn't tell," said Draco smirking, lifting her hand and watching it fall limply back to the bed-sheets.

"I'd strangle you if I could," said Hermione with a small smile. "Now tell me who you think is behind this."

"Greyback," said Draco simply.

Hermione frowned. "I thought he died in the war."

"He did," said Draco. "He has a son."

"Ah," said Hermione. "That makes perfect sense. Greyback's son, twisted with revenge and killing off the wives of aurors. Brilliant."

"Your sarcasm isn't helping. My wife has been falsely accused. I will not stand by and let her rot in Azkaban when that miserable whelp is out there killing left and right. You got lucky, Mrs. Weasley. Helena Finnagan was a victim of the same curse, yours just happened to be cast incorrectly."

"Lucky me. I can't move. I'm paralyzed."

"It could be worse."

"How so?"

"You could be rotting ten feet below the surface."

Hermione fell silent, glaring at him through narrowed eyes.

"Will you help me or not?" he asked wearily, running a hand through his white blonde hair.

"How do you propose I do that?" Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow. "The only part of my body I can move is my face. I can just barely wiggle my toes and flex my fingers. Other than that I'm immobile."

"Your influences with the Ministry," said Draco, rolling his eyes as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Tell them what I've told you."

"Your theory is groundless, Draco! Do you have proof it was Greyback's son?"

"Better than that," said Draco with an evil grin. "I have a spy."

"Who?" asked Hermione with surprise.

"You know him very well," Draco continued. "I believe he's Potter's godson?"

"Teddy?" said Hermione in shock. "How does he fit in with everything?"

"He went to school with Greyback's son. I believe they were 'chums.'"

Hermione scoffed at him. "We've never heard him mention Greyback."

"He wouldn't," said Draco casually. "No one expected Octavius to be a Gryffindor."

"Greyback's son was a Gryffindor?"

"Yes," said Draco. "Surprising, isn't it? You expected him to be a Slytherin. I'm surprised, Hermione. That's prejudice."

Hermione gawked at him. She snapped her mouth shut when he smirked. "That still doesn't explain why Teddy wouldn't mention him!"

"I'm getting to that," said Draco looking annoyed. "I believe Mr. Lupin realized Greyback's true intentions close to the end of their seventh year. One year. It took him one year to realize Greyback's true intentions and to end their friendship."

"What do you mean?"

"You never found out how that Auror's daughter died eight years ago? When the boys in question were in their final year at Hogwarts?"

Hermione paled. "Greyback . . . Greyback was the one who . . . killed her? And Teddy knew?"

"I don't think he knew, but I'm pretty sure he had his suspicions."

"He would've told Harry!" Hermione said firmly, desperately trying to convince herself.

Draco rolled his eyes. "See truth, Granger!" he saw her face harden and corrected himself. "Weasley, sorry. Whatever. Point is, everything I've said is true! Greyback's the one the Ministry wants. Lupin can get us the information we need."

"I can't force Teddy into doing this."

"He'll do it if you ask. Or if Potter does. All of you are the same. You like to play the hero."

Before Hermione could say another word he swept from the room, face stone cold. Hermione sighed, mind churning.

Before long, Ginny returned to the room.

"Miss me?" she said brightly, sitting down in the chair next to the bed.

Hermione frowned at the bedsheets. "Ginny . . . six years ago, an auror's daughter was murdered at Hogwarts. Did they ever find out who did it?"

Ginny looked startled by the question. "Why do you ask?"

Hermione shrugged, looking off into space. "Just wondering if they ever caught him."

. . .

Scorpius helped Rose jump down onto the platform, and then grabbed the end of her trunk and set it down beside her.

"Come on, Rosie!" Lily called, waving her over to where they stood with their grandparents.

"I'll write to you," she said to Scorpius, leaning on tiptoe to kiss him on the cheek.

"I'll shoot you a patronus tonight," he said, smiling slightly at her. "I'm of age, so I'll let my patronus be the messenger."

"Okay," said Rose, smiling sadly.

"Go on, Rosie. Your mum's waiting for you."

"So's your pleasant looking grandfather," Rose said peering past his shoulder. Scorpius sighed. "He's staring at us."

"Let him," said Scorpius, surprising her as he took her face in his hands and kissed her firmly. "I won't be able to do that for two months! Let them all stare!"

"Rosie, come on!" cried Hugo impatiently.

Rose smiled sadly at him, kissing him once more quickly, then dragging her trunk over to her waiting family. She looked back and smiled at him, giving a little wave. He grinned, then groaned as he turned to face his fuming grandfather. It was going to be a long two months.

. . .

"Mum!" Hugo cried as soon as he opened the door to Hermione's private room in St. Mungo's.

Hermione looked up from the book levitating in front of her and smiled weakly at her family.

"Is Ron here yet?" Granny Weasley asked, taking the seat opposite of Aunt Ginny's and on the other side of the bed. The rest crowded around, looking anxious.

Mum shook her head, a frown on her face. "I don't know why he isn't."

"Bother, Auntie Hermione! Tell us what's wrong!" said James, rolling his eyes. "Why're we crammed in here to begin with?"

"James!" reprimanded Ginny. James shooed her away, eyes fixed on Hermione's face.

"It's called the Paralystic After-effect," Hermione said wearily. "When the Avada Kadavra curse goes wrong. It paralyses the victim from the neck down."

Rose put a shaking hand over her mouth and looked away, tears falling down her face.

"Is there a way to get better?" Hugo asked. "A countercurse, remedy, treatment, anything?"

"No, just like the Killing Curse it is unreversible."

"Who did this, Mum?" Rose asked quietly, back still turned. "Why'd they do this?"

"Because I'm Hermione Weasley," her mother said quietly. "Because of what I've done."

"The only thing you've done is save the Wizarding World!" Rose shouted, angry now. She didn't know why she was furious, or who she was furious with. "The only thing you've done is help wizards for the better! That's the only thing you could possibly have done!"

"Rosie, please calm down," said Hermione softly.

"Calm down? Calm down?" Rose laughed shrilly. "How the hell am I suppose to calm down? My mother has been paralyzed for life, and the wacko who did it is still frolicking around without a care in the world! Yes, Hugo, I used the word FROLICKING!"

Hugo fliched away from her words, the smirk evaporating instantly off his face.

"Rose, perhaps you should step outside," said Albus gently. "Come on -"

"Give me a name, Mum," said Rose dangerously. "Who. Did. This?"

Hermione's face was carved in stone. "I don't know, Rose."

"You have your suspicions," Rose accused. She yanked her hand out of Albus's grip and stormed from the room.

James whistled. "Rosie's finally had her mental breakdown. Mind you, I figured it would come a lot sooner than this, but whew! that was bad."

"Frolicking," Hugo muttered, eyebrows scrunched up. "Frolicking."

. . .

Rose huffed angrily, marching down the hallway and barely registering the fact that the people she passed ducked for cover.

"Paralystic . . . ." she muttered under her breath angrily. "Avada Kadavra. . . Hugo . . . frolicking!"

"Rose, wait up!"

Rose turned to see Lily hurrying down the hall, looking worried.

"What?" said Rose tiredly.

"Someone needs to keep an eye on you," said Lily, looping her arm through Rose's. "Make sure you don't go pyscho on us and murder everyone in sight."

"I won't kill everyone in sight -"

"And!" cut off Lily, face softening," you need a friend."

Rose fell silent. "This is true," she muttered to herself.

"Oh, Merlin, no, Rose!" cried Lily, tugging on her arm. "You're talking to yourself! First sign of insanity!"

Rose smirked. "Rose is not insane."

Lily looked horrified and Rose lapsed into reluctant giggles. "I'm joking, Lily! Merlin, don't be so serious."

"But -"

"Yes, my mum very nearly died, but she's somewhat fine now. Now, let's not talk about this."

"Fine," said Lily. Her face brightened. "Do you miss Scorpius yet?"

Rose sighed. "Every minute."

Lily giggled. "You're in love!"

"Yep," said Rose. "What about you and Cody Boggus?"

"Who?" said Lily absentmindedly.

"Cody?" said Rose uncertainly, staring at her. "Cody Boggus? The Quidditch player?"

"Oh! Him," said Lily. She shrugged. "Nothing. We never really had a thing. It was sort of just a 'hook up.'"

"I thought you liked him," said Rose, confused.

"I do," said Lily, shrugging again. "But I think I like him only as a friend."

"Look at us, Lily," said Rose, a frown on her face. "My mother is paralyzed for life and we are talking about Cody Boggus."

Lily giggled. "We are something, aren't we?"

Rose grinned. "We need to get our priorities straight."

"Yes we do."

. . .

Scorpius followed his grandparents down the eerie halls of the Azkaban prison, tortured screams echoing around the stone structure. They passed numerous cells with the prisoners clutching the bars, screaming at them or muttering darkly as they watched them pass.

Scorpius suppressed a shudder. His mother had been living here for the past two months?

"Stay close, Scorpius," Lucius Malfoy said, staring at the prisoners in their cells lining the walls with disgust. Mr. Malfoy's peacock patronus trotted ahead of them. Even when there were no dementors guarding Azkaban any more, their cold despair hung around like a curtain of fog.

"Her cell is at the end, Lucius," Narcissa whispered, staring wide-eyed at all the hollow faces and haunted eyes. She took her husband's hand. Scorpius remembered a small hand in his own and he smiled, wishing Rose was here with him.

A shout brought him out of his pleasant thoughts. "Well, well, well. It if isn't Pureblood Pride!"

Scorpius followed the voice and found a ragged man clutching the bars of his cell, smiling toothlessly at them.

"Come back to see me, Lucius, old boy? Missed your old buddy, huh? Missed the roomy cell?"

Lucius sneered at the toothless prisoner. "I see Azkaban has finally taken it's toll on your twisted brain, Dolohov. A shame it's taken this long. Pity that Flitwick didn't manage to finish you once and for all."

"At least I'm not a traitor to my brothers," Dolohov hissed. His eyes landed on Scorpius. "Why, Draco! You haven't aged a day!"

"He's not Draco!" Lucius snapped with a roll of his eyes.

"He's my dear Scorpius!" Narcissa exclaimed, putting her arms protectively around him. Scorpius shrugged her off casually.

"Scorpius?" said Dolohov, looking confused. "Who the hell is Scorpius?"

"Come, Narcissa, Scorpius. This whelp isn't worth our time," said Lucius, turning on his heel and continuing down the corridor.

Scorpius and Narcissa hurried along in his wake.

When they reached Astoria's cell, Scorpius braced himself for the horrible image his mother would undoubtedly be, but was pleasantly surprised when a cheerful voice cried out, "Scorpius!"

Scorpius stared awestruck at his mother, who leapt to her feet from the cell floor, running to the bars but being yanked back by the shackle locked around her ankle.

She sighed, beaming at them, looking right at home, though he knew very well she wasn't. Even in this living hell she was beautiful and in a perfect state, mentally and physically. When she saw them staring at the shackle she shrugged. "Everytime they brought my food I attacked the guard. Just to keep them on their toes."

"How are you . . . ?" began Scorpius, looking uncertain.

"Not mental?" Astoria finished for him, a smile on her face. "I'm innocent, sweetie. I know I'm falsely accused. But it is awfully cold, isn't it? They've allowed me to keep my patronus with me, though I can't send messages or anything."

Lucius, Narcissa, and Scorpius simultaneously looked at the silver marten curled up at Astoria's feet, looking snug.

"How have you been, Scorpius? I've been worried. I heard about the werewolf attack -"

"It wasn't a werewolf, Mum. It was a Wolf Man, there's a difference you know -"

"Yes, yes, I'm sure it's an interesting story," said Lucius with an irritated wave of his hand and looking extremely bored. "But we've really come just to see how you've been. And since there appears to be no immediate threat to your health, we'll be off. Draco told me to inform you that he would drop by after he ran some errands."

"Oh, all right," said Astoria, looking put out. She looked at Scorpius and beckoned him closer to the cell door. "I have something for you, Scorpius." She turned her back to them and picked something up off of the rickety table that was set up beside her bed like a crude nightstand. She turned back and reached out as far as she could to hand him an envelope. "Don't read it here," she whispered, glancing at his grandparents who were whispering and looking over at Dolohov. "Don't let Lucius see it."

Scorpius nodded obediently and slipped it into his pocket.

"I wish I could hold you, sweetie," said Astoria sadly, gazing up at her son's towering face. "You've grown so much."

Scorpius blushed at his mother's fondness.

"You look so much like your father," said Astoria, smiling lovingly.

Lucius grabbed Scorpius by the arm. "Time to go, Scorpius."

"Bye, sweetie!" said Astoria cheerfully. "Next visit we'll talk about this Rose I've heard so much about!"

Scorpius blushed as his grandfather led him away.

"Yes, Scorpius. Let's talk about Rose," said Lucius coldly.

Scorpius sighed. A very long two months, indeed.

. . .

Ahhh, I love Lucy. Read a funny parody about him once. He was a nurse.