Disclaimer: No matter how much I pleaded, begged, and threw a fit, J.K. Rowling refused to even share Harry Potter with me. *sigh* So I still don't own it, and I don't think I will anytime soon.
Harry: Yay! Wait, people actually read those? Haha. And yes, Hufflepuffs are particularly good finders. Which is why I will find Aislin Jayden Weasley! Hahahaha! You will find out both of those things in time, young Gryffindor. Maybe they just need a smaller closet… Haha. Anyway, tell me what you think of this chapter, s'il vous plait.
I decided to post this one a little earlier than I normally would've in celebration of the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One. So, fellow Harry Potter fans, this is my gift to you! Happy Movie Release Day!
The next night, James spent as much time as he could with his aunt and uncle, waiting until it was dark before climbing out his bedroom window and onto his broom. Nobody knew he was going to Malfoy Manor; not even Scorpius. He checked his pocket one more time to make sure the knife and the envelope were still there and took off, flying through the chilly night air under the light of a half moon. When he got to the huge house, he flew around to Scorpius' window and tapped on it.
Scorpius looked up from his homework in surprise and grinned, standing up to open the window. "What are you doing here?" Scorpius asked as James crawled in, propping his broom against the corner.
"I couldn't just miss my boyfriend?" James asked with a smile, wrapping his arms around Scorpius tightly and kissing him.
"I think you just got sick of being at your aunt and uncle's house," Scorpius teased after returning the kiss for a few minutes.
James shrugged, amusement shining in his eyes, even though he was too terrified to feel much of anything. "That might've been part of it…"
"I don't think my dad would want you here," Scorpius said softly, looking down.
"Who says he has to know? Besides, it's just for the night," James said pleadingly.
"Okay," Scorpius agreed, smiling and hugging James again.
James hesitated before saying "Would it be alright if we shared the bed? I just want to hold you."
Scorpius' face softened and he nodded, going to sit on the bed. James lay down and cradled Scorpius against his chest, humming softly. "I love you," James whispered.
"I love you too," Scorpius yawned.
James kept holding Scorpius for a little while after Scorpius had already fallen asleep, stroking his hair, kissing his face, and just remembering everything about him. Finally James whispered that he loved Scorpius again, carefully disentangled his arms from around Scorpius, and slipped the envelope under Scorpius' pillow. He walked silently to the basement, heart heavier with every step as he thought about what awaited him.
"What are you doing here?" Greyback growled.
It was so different from Scorpius' amused voice from earlier that James wanted to cry. "To make sure you never hurt Scorpius or anyone else ever again," James snarled instead, focusing his terror and sadness into anger and strength to do what he needed to.
"What a brave little boy," Greyback mocked.
James pulled the knife out of his pocket with slightly trembling hands.
"Go ahead, try it," Greyback yawned, already bored with this game.
James stepped forward, holding the knife aloft, ready to plunge it into the werewolf's heart.
Almost lazily, Greyback threw James across the room, watching with satisfaction as James hit the wall and slumped to the floor.
"You are nothing but a minor inconvenience," Greyback said, standing and walking over to James. He placed one hand on the top of James' head and the other on his shoulder, which was bleeding heavily from coming into contact with the wall. "I could snap your neck quite easily, right now, if I really wanted to," Greyback continued, tightening his grip.
James trembled from the pain, but he was no longer afraid. He kept the image of Scorpius in his mind as he struck out quickly with the knife and stabbed Greyback in the heart at the same time that Greyback saw what he was doing and broke James' neck.
Scorpius moaned in his sleep and rolled over, his hand accidentally brushing against the envelope hidden under his pillow. He felt a sharp pain from the paper cut he received and sat up, abruptly awake. He blinked blearily at his hand in the early morning light, wondering why he had a paper cut. He decided to investigate and cautiously, he slipped his hand under the pillow again and pulled out an envelope with his name on it, written in a familiar handwriting.
Suddenly, the events from that night came back and he opened the envelope, curious.
Three pieces of parchment fell out, one for him, one for his father, and one for James' father, as well as a Gryffindor tie.
Scorpius looked at them in sleepy puzzlement for a moment before picking up the parchment addressed to him and began reading.
"Scorpius,
"I want to start by telling you that I love you. I always have and I always will. Yesterday, I went to the Ministry. I was already planning on doing this, but after hearing the prophecy, I knew I had to. This is the prophecy; hopefully it will clarify things for you: 'Two boys, joined by disaster, are brought together in love and torn apart in love. One, a werewolf, the other, his eternal love, but their fathers can never understand the bond they have. In the end, the mate must die to save the one he loves, and take the enemy down with him.' I'm sorry, so sorry, Scorpius, but I had to. Please make sure to get the other letters that were in the envelope with this one to your father and my father. And take care of yourself. I also gave you my Gryffindor tie. I don't know what you want to do with it, but it's yours to keep. I really do love you my little Slytherin, don't forget that.
"James"
Scorpius was shaking before he was halfway done with the letter. He slipped the tie over his neck, vowing to wear it every day, and ran to the basement clutching all three letters to his chest, knowing that Greyback had been hiding in the basement. When he saw James, his legs wouldn't support him, so he sank to his knees, leaving the letters by the door. He crawled to James, crying. Scorpius curled up beside James' body and lay there, completely losing track of time as he cried.
A few hours later, Draco stretched and sat up, smiling at his dream. He left his room to go check on Scorpius like he did every morning when Scorpius was home, but was confused to see that he wasn't in his room. He glanced around the room one more time, noticing the broom in the corner and the abandoned envelope on the bed. He picked up the envelope suspiciously, but didn't find anything inside it, so he decided to walk through the house, checking every room. When he still couldn't find Scorpius, he went down into the basement, stumbling from shock because of what awaited him.
"Scorpius? What happened?" Draco asked in a shaky voice.
Scorpius wordlessly gestured to the letter addressed to Draco and went back to staring at James, tears still falling down his face.
Draco turned his attention to the letter.
"Mr. Malfoy,
"I am very sorry for lying to you. I want you to know that I never hurt Scorpius—I don't think I ever could. Fenrir Greyback was the one who was hitting him. I spent so much time with Scorpius because we were dating, which is also why I wasn't happy about you and my father being together. Please don't be mad at my father anymore. He really loves you, and he needs you.
"James"
Draco read the letter several times, not believing what he was reading. Slowly he walked over to Scorpius.
"Is it true?" Draco whispered. "You were dating James? Greyback was the one who hurt you?"
Scorpius nodded miserably. "I wanted to tell you, but you would've done something stupid. Like him," Scorpius added softly, gently stroking James' hair. "He helped me hide it from you, to protect you." So quietly that Draco couldn't hear it, Scorpius whispered "My brave Gryffindor."
"Even though he hated me?" Draco asked incredulously.
Scorpius nodded again. "He cared enough about me to want to protect you. I don't think he ever actually hated you though. There's a letter over there for Mr. Potter; James asked me to make sure he gets it," he said, choking on his tears.
"I will give it to him," Draco promised softly, standing up.
"I'm going to stay here with him a little longer," Scorpius whispered.
"I'll be back with Harry," Draco said. He picked up the letter addressed to Harry and disapparated.
"Dad,
"I want you to know that I forgive you, that I forgave you long ago, and that you should be with Mr. Malfoy. The only reason I didn't want you two together was because I was in love with Scorpius, and we were dating. That isn't the reason I lied about hurting him though. It's a long story; ask Scorpius about it when he's ready to talk. He knows everything.
"Love, James"
"Why can't James tell me himself?" Harry demanded.
"Because he's dead," Draco said gently.
"Where is he? Let me see him!" Harry said frantically, hands shaking.
Draco nodded and Apparated them back to the basement where Scorpius was now sitting against the wall with his face buried in his knees, a red and gold band around his arm.
Harry quickly put together what had happened with the help of Draco's and Scorpius' letters. "My brave son," he murmured, placing a hand on James' cheek. "I'm so proud of you for everything you've done, even though I'm sad that you're gone. I love you, James."
Scorpius didn't look up as Albus and Lily were brought in, not wanting to see the looks on their faces. "It's my fault," he mumbled, struggling not to hyperventilate as he thought about it. "If I hadn't needed protecting, he would still be here. I should've done what he said; I should've told an adult. I never dreamed that he would do something like this." The tears fell faster and harder as he looked up. "He's gone forever, and it's my fault."
"Scorpius, please don't talk like that," Draco murmured, walking over to his son. "It isn't your fault. Nobody here blames you."
Albus, Lily, and Harry glaring at Scorpius behind Draco's back only convinced Scorpius that Draco was wrong. Scorpius looked away, hating himself for causing James' death. I love you, my brave lion. I only wish it would've been me instead of you.