The regular disclaimer applies. :P
Chapter Fifteen
Beginning
As Harry and Rose were making their way down the brightly lit corridors of St. Mungo's, Neville Longbottom came walking slowly around the corner, face expressionless.
"Hello, Neville," said Harry with surprise. "What are you doing here this late?"
"Hannah . . . . It—she's . . . uh . . ."
"Spit it out, man!" said Harry, suddenly worried about his stuttering friend.
"She's gone into labor," he said in a monotone, eyes distant. What he said suddenly registered in his brain and he grabbed Harry firmly around the elbows. "MY WIFE'S IN LABOR! MERLIN'S FLUFFY SLIPPERS! I GOTTA GET TO THE MATERNITY WARD!"
Both worried for his mental health, Rose and Harry accompanied him, Rose dragging Avanell's of Unthinkable Cures for Unthinkable Curses behind her.
Neville "walked quickly" down the length of the corridor, eyes wide and on the verge of a mental breakdown. Apparently the idea of babies was touchy for him at the moment.
"What room is she in, Neville?" Harry asked once they were very nearly galloping through the corridors of St. Mungo's Maternity Ward.
Neville stopped cold, a look of deep concentration on his face.
"I don't know," he said at last, his panic returning. "I DON'T WHERE MY WIFE IS GIVING BIRTH!"
Rose raised her hand and slapped him smartly across the face, the blow echoing in the sudden silence.
"Pull it together, Professor!"
"Rosie!" said Harry, half surprised and half impressed. Neville, too, was shocked.
"I'm s-s-sorry, Rose. I'm just scared. I need to be with her."
"I understand," she said, her voice calm, though her ears were steadily growing red thanks to her Weasley genes. "Let's just all calm down, m'kay?"
Neville took several deep breaths, trying to regain his sanity and correct state of mind.
"Now," said Rose, "let's find a Maternity Healer and ask them where to find Hannah."
"Nurturer," Harry corrected.
"What?"
"Maternity Healers are called Nurturers. Or Midwives. Sometimes Wardens."
"Eww-kay," said Rose, not really caring what they were called—she, too, was worried about Hannah.
"Excuse me," she said to a passing Healer (and/or Nurturer), "Where can we find Hannah Longbottom?"
"Oh, she was moved to one of the Birthing Rooms, correct? Down the hall to the left, third room on the right—"
Before she was even finished speaking, Neville had taken off at a run down the hall.
"Thank you!" Rose called over her shoulder as she and Harry chased after Neville.
When they go to the third room on the right, Neville was seated next to Hannah, who looked completely at ease in the hospital bed.
"I'm so sorry I'm late, Hannah! I'm so, so, so, so, so, sorry!"
"Neville, calm down. I'm perfectly fine. It's not even time—"
"Whew! What a relief!" Neville cried, sitting back and relaxing in his chair.
"Someone should floo Molly," said Hannah. "We all know how she'll be if she misses the birth."
"I'll do it," said Harry. "Excellent invention, these floo bins."
For lack of something to do, Rose followed Harry over to the floo bin, a large basin, not unlike a pensieve, but with small flames kindled inside.
Harry took a pinch of floo powder from a small compartment attached to the floo bin and tossed it into the flames, calmly saying, "The Burrow."
On the opposite end they could hear Molly Weasley's voice screaming, "Fred Weasley the Second, if you don't put your cousin down this instant, I swear I will—Oh, hello, Harry, dear! How nice to see you! Still up this late?"
"Hey, Gran!" said Rose.
"Rosie! It's well past your bed time, young lady—!"
"We're at St. Mungo's, Molly," Harry explained. "It's Hannah, she's—"
Molly suddenly disappeared from view. It was so sudden that Harry and Rose were left staring at the flickering green flames. Just as Harry was inquiring where she had gone, there was a pop and Molly appeared in her night clothes looking so happy and excited it made Rose giggle behind her hand.
"Hannah!" she said, throwing her arms around the woman. "How are you feeling? Steady heartbeat? Oh, how I hate this new Maternity Ward! We use to give birth right in our own homes! Why, I had all of my kids in my living room—"("Ugh! I'll never be able to go in there again!" said Rose,)"—now we pay too much money to come and have professionals deliver the baby! Ha! I am a professional! And I do it for free! Why, it was just Andromeda and I that delivered Tonks's baby all those years ago, and Teddy turned out just fine!"
"Granny, calm down. You're scaring Neville."
"Neville!" Molly cried, hugging him tightly. "How are you feeling? Steady heartbeat?"
"I'm not sure," he said, a dazed look on his face.
Molly was about to reply when she was cut off by Hannah screaming, "MERLIN'S CHECKERED BOXERS! I THINK THE BABY'S COMING!"
"HOLY NARGLES! Wait—Merlin's checkered boxers? HOLY NARGLES! THE BABY'S COMING!" Neville shouted.
Rose groaned, saying, "Do I need to slap him again?"
Right on cue, Maternity Healers (and/or Nurturers) hurried into the room, bustling with self importance.
"Would you like to watch, Rosie?" Molly asked as the Nurturers (and/or Healers) scurried around the room doing important things and preparing for the new arrival.
"Watch Hannah give birth and scar myself for life? No thanks, Granny. I'll wait outside and try to block out the labor screams," said Rose bluntly, heading for the door. "No offense, Auntie Hannah."
"None . . . taken . . . Rosie . . ." was the breathless reply.
"Ah . . . Hold the door, Rosie," said Harry, looking pale. "I think I'll step outside, too, if that's all right."
Neville and Molly waved them out impatiently, eyes fixed on Hannah.
"Deep breaths, Hannah, dear—" was cut off as Harry closed the maternity door with a snap.
"Watching Ginny give birth—three times— was scarring enough," Harry said with a shaky laugh.
/./././././
Rose and Harry had just begun their 12th time pacing the length of the corridor when the rest of the family showed up in the Maternity Ward:
Arthur, Bill, Fleur, Victoire, Dominique, Louis, Charlie, Percy, Audrey, Molly, Lucy, George, Angelina, Fred II, Roxi, Ron, Hermione, Hugo, Ginny, James, Albus, Lily, Andromeda, Teddy, and Granny Longbottom, who pushed and shoved her way out of the sea of red-headed Weasleys, trying to get to Neville, Hannah, and Molly who were in the room.
"Is my baby here yet?" she asked Harry. Without waiting for an answer she threw open the door to the room and disappeared inside. The door slammed shut with an ominous bang.
"Rose!" Hermione cried, pushing herself through in her wheelchair and crushing toes on her way through. "How was your meeting with the Healer Harry insisted on you meeting?"
"It was good—"
"It's a boy!" Neville cried, appearing in the open doorway.
Cheers erupted around the room, congratulations ringing in Rose's ears. Immediately the women of the family swarmed around Neville, shrieking excitedly.
And then the craziest thing happened. Granny Longbottom kicked open the door and appeared with a huge smile on her face. "AND A GIRL!" she roared.
And Neville, staring past the head of one of the Weasley cousins, met his grandmother's eyes and she nodded, a pleased smile on her face.
"Frank and Alice," Neville said quietly. Then with more zest. "FRANK AND ALICE!"
The cheering increased and Fred II and Roxi scrounged up bottles of butterbeer from seemingly nowhere, passing them around, right there in the middle of the Maternity Ward.
Rose felt her cheeks aching from the huge smile that was on her face, laughing and hugging all of her relatives, completely caught up in the excitement of the two new births. And for a moment she could forget everything—the impending danger, the attacks, Scorpius …
/./././././
"I'm putting together a team," Octavius explained as he and Scorpius walked side by side down the streets of Godric's Hollow. It was well past midnight now, the glow of the streetlamps the only source of light besides the luminescence of the moon. "Handpicked witches and wizards with exceptional skill and intelligence."
"And what will their purpose be?" Scorpius inquired.
"Their purpose," said Octavius, "is to gather intelligence on Xavier. And, given the chance, to take him down without getting innocent people too much involved."
"And who are these handpicked witches and wizards?"
"You're one of them, of course," said Octavius. "The others have yet to be contacted. That's your first assignment, Scorpius. Find these allies. The thing we need more than anything is allies."
Scorpius slowly nodded as they came close to the Apparition point. "Will you be in contact?"
"Yes," said Octavius. "And if it is at all possible, don't tell your girlfriend. The last thing we need is for Ronald Weasley to start worrying that his little princess is getting involved with a refuge."
"Refuge?"
"Yes, Scorpius. Once the ministry hears that you have joined us, they will try everything within their power to stop you. They may even attempt taking Draco into custody, to lure you out. Draco can take care of himself, but not if he is taken by surprise. I advise you to inform him of your plans."
"I will."
Octavius allowed himself a small smile. "Good. We may win this war yet, Scorpius!"
"Wait!" Scorpius called to him. "You never told me who the Fallen Brother was!"
But Octavius Greyback was already long gone.
/./././././
"So let me get this straight," said Draco, pacing up and down in front of his son, who was seated comfortably on the living room couch. "You're joining the radical group that got your mother thrown in Azkaban?"
"No," said Scorpius patiently. "I'm joining a band of handpicked wizards chosen to destroy the force of all evil."
"I see," said Draco. "And your mother was part of this group?"
"No. She was part of the Avengers. A group of witches and wizards against Octavius Greyback's elite team of do-gooders."
Draco rubbed his face tiredly. "Just tell me. Who's the good guy and who's the bad guy? Because I'm so confused it's not even funny."
"Octavius, Mum, the Fallen Brother, myself. We're all good guys. Scipio Xavier is the bad guy. Major bad guy. King of everything evil. Spawn of Satan. Whatever you want to call him. Our goal is to take him down as quickly and as easily as possible."
"I see…for real this time," said Draco, upon seeing Scorpius's skeptical expression. "And you're telling me this because?"
"We need your help, Dad. You know people. You can tell everyone what's going on. If they knew the danger they were in—what the Ministry was keeping shushed up—they would want to fight back. No one wants a repeat of Lord Voldemort. Not even Grandpa Malfoy."
"Even if I did tell everyone, they wouldn't believe me!" said Draco with frustration. "Your beloved grandfather made sure to tarnish the Malfoy name with the stupid mistake all those years ago!"
"You can do it. You are not your father."
Draco noted the hard look in his son's eyes. He put a hand on his shoulder. "When did you grow up, Son?"
"I had to sooner or later, Dad."
The suddenly tense silence was shattered as the floo bell rang, announcing a floo call from someone.
Draco and Scorpius both crouched down in front of the flickering green flames emitting from the fire place.
Ron Weasley's face appeared, looking torn between frustration and sadness.
"Ronald Weasley," said Draco, his lip curling slightly. "What a … pleasant surprise."
"Wipe the smirk off your face, Malfoy. You're not going to like this one bit," Ron snapped. Draco's face turned pale.
"What's happened to her?" he said quietly.
"She's gone. We found his name, Mal—Draco. His name, carved on the floor of her cell."
"What? Whose name?" asked Scorpius.
Ron's face turned to stare hard at him. "Scipio Xavier's."
!/!/!/!/!/!/!
"Mum! I'm home!" Rose called, closing the front door behind her and flicking her wand to bring the lights to life. She frowned at the silence of the house. Sure it was three in the morning, but her family usually stayed up much later (earlier) than this. "Hugo? Dad?"
She spotted a note taped to the mirror hanging in the hall and tore it down to read it:
Rose—
Astoria has been abducted from Azkaban. Your father and I have gone to investigate. Hugo is at the Burrow. Lock all the doors and don't answer if anyone comes knocking.
We'll be home as soon as we can,
Mum
Rose took out her wand and swished it at the doors, one by one until she heard them all lock with a click. Breathing deeply she moved out of sight of the windows, feeling more than a little paranoid. She was sitting down on the sofa in the sitting room when she heard a loud knock on the front door.
She felt her breath catch and fear begin to rise in her. Holding her wand close to her chest, she tried to block out the noise, wondering if she was imagining it.
Surely not, for who could imagine such an insistent knock?
The knocking quickly became an impatient pounding, the sound echoing around the empty house. Rose leapt to her feet and ran into the kitchen, where she sat in a corner and tried to block out sound of the intruder seemingly trying to break in. Tears of fear threatened to overtake her and, just when things couldn't of possibly gotten worst, lightning crackled outside, illuminating the house with an eerie white light, followed by an astounding crash of thunder that momentarily drowned out the pounding on the doors.
Rose covered her head with her arms, pressing her forehead against her knees and prayed to Merlin to keep her safe from the danger she wasn't sure existed.
"ROSE! LET ME IN! I'M FREEZING!"
Rose lifted her head slowly, staring at the dark doorway leading to the front hall.
"Scorpius?"
"ROSE!"
"SCORPIUS!"
She scrambled to her feet and, heart pounding in her chest, hurried towards the door and without a moment's hesitation threw open the front door, blinded temporarily by another flash of lightning. Blinking and shielding her eyes against the light, she took a step away from the door, mouth gaping as a monster of a man stepped through and into her house.
" 'ROSE! LET ME IN! I'M FREEZING!' " he mocked in the perfect imitation of Scorpius's deep tones. "'Ello, Red. Fancy taking a walk through the rain, with me? No? Well, such a shame."
A terrible scream was ripped from her throat as Rose bolted down the hall away from the stranger, who calmly followed her at a steady walk, laughing darkly and shaking his head and saying, "Rose, Rose. Sweet, Rose. Must we play games?"
Rose whipped out her wand from her pocket, shooting curses over her shoulder at the man, who simply deflected them with his arm, which looked to be covered in a thick metal brace.
"Rose!" he called in Scorpius's voice from the depths of the house as she wrenched open a door and ducked inside. "Why are you hiding from me, love?"
She crouched down in the small forgotten room, barely daring to breathe. She could hear the intruder calling her, torturing her with the sound of Scorpius's voice.
"Where are you, love?" the voice called, sounding right outside her door. He knocked, the sound reverberating through her entire body. "Are you in there, Rosie?"
Rose stood up, pointing her wand at the door, swallowing the large lump of fear lodged in her throat.
"MAXIMUM BOMBARDE!"
With an explosion that shook the house, the door flew off its hinges, smacking into the man and causing the wooden door to splinter and rain debris down on them. Rose coughed, brushing the shrapnel of wood off of her clothes. She looked up in time to see the man standing right in front of her, completely unfazed by the door that had just broken into pieces against his chest.
"Now, Rosie, why'd you have to go and do a thing like that? Now I'm angry."
His large hand shot out and grabbed her around the throat, lifting her effortlessly off the ground. Rose's wand fell from her hands as they flew up to grasp the man's large hand choking the air out of her lungs. She struggled for breath as she tried to kick at her captor.
"Stop struggling, you bitch, and I won't hurt you … much," he added nastily.
Darkness swirled her vision as she began to lose consciousness, and the last thing she saw before she went was Scorpius's distraught face.
!/!/!/!/!/!/!
Woot woot! Suspensefulness!
Is that a word?
I doubt it.
Ah well.
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