Hi everyone! Thank you all so much for reading! This is the last chapter of this book, but the fourth book will be up on my profile in a couple days. It'll be called Rose Weasley and the Army's Return. Please let me know what you thought of this story! Thanks again! -Collin

CHAPTER 25

KING'S CROSS STATION

YOU-KNOW-WHO FOLLOWERS ATTACK HOGWARTS STUDENTS

This past Friday, June 5, wanted extremist wizard Theodore Nott and several escaped Azkaban inmates known to have had ties to You Know Who years ago succeeded in their attempt to breach the security of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at approximately nine o'clock at night. Nott and his followers fought a rather short-lived battle with the Aurors meant to be guarding the doors to the castle, killing Auror Gwendolyn Prince, and afterwards walked through the front doors of the school. The defense provided by the faculty of Hogwarts proved insufficient as well, since Nott and Antonin Dolohov reached the common room of Gryffindor house and began terrorizing the young students. Nott was finally apprehended with the joint efforts of students and part of Hogwarts faculty, though both men managed to escape before Ministry officials arrived on the scene. This is surely disturbing news, and speaks volume about the caliber of the security detail posted at Hogwarts. The entire search for Theodore Nott, including its several consequential events such as Auror security at the school, has been far from transparent to the press and to the general public. Could that mean that there is something going on within the ranks of the security, that seems so interested in keeping their movements secret. "Ms. Skeeter, there is a reason we cannot always be completely transparent," an irritable-looking Harry Potter, Head of the Auror office said in a statement given to us last night. "Dark wizards can also read your paper." This lack of concern regarding the security of Hogwarts students in Mr. Potter is alarming to say the least, considering all three of his children attend the school and two of them reside in the House attacked on Friday. In fact, inside sources claim that two students were harmed in the attack, one of them being 15-year-old James Potter, Mr. Potter's eldest son. Sources suggest that the young Mr. Potter was injured in a direct confrontation with Nott himself. When asked about this, Mr. Potter refused further comment and magically locked the door to the Auror office with impressive force. The other student reportedly injured was Scorpius Malfoy, the 14-year-old estranged son of public figure and rumored alchemist Draco Malfoy. The boy was, according to reports, attempting to protect Rose Weasley and Albus Potter, Mr. Potter's niece and younger son, when he was injured. Mr. Malfoy was unavailable for comment regarding his son. Suffice it to say that this reporter is concerned for the safety of the Hogwarts student body when they return for the next term in September—perhaps more so than the Auror office meant to be protecting them.

"Hey, look at this, Rosie, I'm famous," James said, shoving the Prophet article in Rose's face when she entered the train compartment with Al and Scorpius. "I mean, you lot are all in here too but I'm the heroic one."

"Get over yourself, Potter," Roxanne laughed.

"It literally says I was hurt trying to protect them, Potter," Scorpius scoffed.

"You got Stunned, it barely counts," James muttered.

"Really, though, all this is going to do is get people to support whatever crazy takeover they've got planned next year," Rose said.

"Well, sure," James said. "The Prophet's controlled by the Ministry, everyone knows that."

"Not everyone, though that'd be nice," Roxanne muttered.

Hugo walked in with Lily then and slumped down on the bench. "Mum sent me a Howler this morning, Rose. Apparently she got a call from Collin's dad. People from his school tried the Skiving Snackboxes and they made them really ill. More than normal."

"You mean Muggles?" Roxanne asked, looking very interested. "Really? Dad's never tested them on Muggles, how long were they sick?"

Rose gave Roxanne a look and said, "Well, Hugo, she did tell you to stop selling them to him."

"I didn't know this would happen!" he exclaimed. "And anyway, what's the point of a Howler? I'll be home for dinner!"

"Maybe she just couldn't handle letting you get away with it that long," Lily laughed.

"Shut up, Lily."

Lily shook her head. "At least Collin'll be here next year."

"Yeah. And Louis will be too!"

"And Lorcan and Lysander," Lily added, smiling a little.

"And Charlie Longbottom, I think."

James glanced over at Rose in horror. "So many first years," he mouthed and Rose couldn't help but laugh.

Soon, Molly appeared in the doorway, followed by a bored-looking Lucy. "James! You were supposed to go to the end of year prefect meeting!"

"Merlin, Molly, you've graduated. It's over. Stop telling me what to do," James groaned, and Molly stomped off, looking upset. Lucy rolled her eyes.

"She's not taking the graduating thing well. She likes being in school, somehow," she explained. "I'd better follow her. See you later."

As Lucy ran off, Scorpius asked, "So, er, I'm going back to your friend Luna's, right?"

"Oh," Rose said, frowning. "I'm not really sure."

"I'm sure they've got it sorted out," Al said. "Maybe you're staying with us!"

James looked alarmed and Scorpius rolled his eyes. "Relax, Potter, I doubt that's what's happening."

Several hours later, they pulled into King's Cross and Al's eyes widened as he watched the platform come into view from his window seat. "Er… Scorpius? You'd better come look at this."

"What?" Scorpius asked, getting up to see through the window, and Rose followed him. Her heart sank as she was sure Scorpius's did when she saw Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy standing on the platform, solemnly looking at the train.

"Er, let's go, guys," James said to Lily, and they quickly exited the car with Roxanne following quickly behind.

"Hugo, come on," she hissed at Hugo, who was adamantly refusing to leave.

"I can't go out there, my mum's furious."

"Grow up, you're a Gryffindor, aren't you?"

"That's not really what that means! And anyway, James is scared of his mum!" Hugo complained as she pulled him out of the compartment. Rose turned to Scorpius, who she could see was rooted firmly to the spot, staring out the window.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Not really," he said.

"Right… we'll walk out with you if you want," she offered and he looked at her, panicked.

"I—I'm not talking to them, I need to get out of here," he said urgently and Rose sighed.

"You can't, they're your parents…"

"No they're not!" he said firmly. "Why does no one understand that? I thought you understood that at least," he added, looking hurt.

Rose shook her head quickly. "That's not what I meant. I meant that they're going to make you talk to them. But we'll stand right there with you, okay?"

He looked at the two of them. "Do you promise not to leave me with them?" he asked quietly, and Rose nodded.

"Not if you don't want us to, promise," Al said.

"Okay, let's go," he said, barely audibly, and Rose and Al walked with him slowly off of the train. Rose saw Scorpius's parents look at them when they stepped off, and his mother looked like she might start crying. Rose walked with him until they were about five feet away from them, and they stopped, all five staring at one another silently. Rose was sure that this was quite possibly the most awkward situation she had been in to date, and finally Mrs. Malfoy spoke.

"Er, hello…" she said quietly.

"Hi," Scorpius said shortly.

"Rose, isn't it?" Mr. Malfoy interjected awkwardly, glancing at them. "And Albus?" He held out his hand, and neither shook it initially, Rose glancing at Scorpius, asking him what to do.

Just shake his hand, whatever. It'll just be more awkward if you don't, Rose heard him say in her head, and she shook Mr. Malfoy's hand, as did Al after her.

"I'm glad you've made friends you… get along with. And you're in Gryffindor, that's… nice," he said, glancing at the scarf draped over Scorpius's trolley.

"What are you doing here?" Scorpius asked, seeming to be avoiding eye contact with him.

"We… we're here to take you home," Mrs. Malfoy said, and Scorpius scoffed.

"If you are, you might as well leave now."

"Scorpius, listen. I know I've made mistakes."

Scorpius raised an eyebrow. "You think? You left me with him! You didn't care about anything but your bloody stupid alchemy quest or whatever. And now you want to take me back to him?"

"No, he's not there, Scorpius, he's been arrested," Mr. Malfoy said quietly. Scorpius blinked, shocked. Rose was astounded that the Daily Prophet article hadn't mentioned it. Scorpius seemed to be thinking the same thing.

"I would've heard about that," he said.

"It's being kept quiet," Mr. Malfoy explained. "Your grandmother's in London with his attorney. He's going in front of the Wizengamot sometime in the next few months. Though they are trying to push the date back as much as possible, to make preparations in case… he's not acquitted."

"What's he been arrested for?"

"They've apparently found evidence that he was not under the influence of the Imperius Curse during the Wars."

"Took them long enough."

Mr. Malfoy looked uncomfortable. "Yes, well… we've come to tell you that we had no idea that the severity of his… policies hadn't decreased. He led us to believe he had changed. I was too distracted to really notice otherwise. I'm sorry for that."

"You did whatever he told you to. You looked away when he wanted you to," Scorpius muttered.

"I know. And I want to be better. I want to make it up to you. I don't really believe any of that anymore, you know that."

"You pretend to when it suits you."

"Scorpius…" he sighed. "Let me prove to you that things will be different. Just for the summer. After that I won't protest your decision. Please." Scorpius glanced at Rose and said, "The Raes don't come over anymore. Lucius was trying to arrange a marriage."

Mr. Malfoy seemed to wince at Scorpius saying 'Lucius', but nodded. "Fine."

"I can have friends over, too. Whatever friends I want," he added.

Mr. Malfoy nodded, and Mrs. Malfoy turned to Rose and Al and added, "You're welcome anytime. I'm so grateful for what you've done to help Scorpius."

Scorpius and Mr. Malfoy were still staring at each other evenly, and Rose sent him a thought.

You don't have to. Or if you want to, we'll come over, you can come over to the Burrow, wherever.

I know… is it terrible I want to?

No, you can choose whatever you want.

Do you think they're lying?

I don't think so, Rose thought, though she wasn't sure whether or not she believed that in Mr. Malfoy's case. At least your mother isn't.

I… I don't know, I just… they really didn't do much to me, it was my grandparents more than them.

It's your decision, Scorpius, Rose thought.

I think I'm going to try.

Okay. That's okay.

"Fine," Scorpius muttered. "The summer. Fine."

Mrs. Malfoy hugged him and he stayed stiff, turning to Rose and Al when she finally broke away.

"I'll see you guys, I guess," he said, his voice sounding shaky.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Al asked nervously.

"…No. I think I should, though. I don't know."

"You can write to us whenever you want," Rose said, and Scorpius nodded.

"Yeah, sure, Weasley. You don't have to come over, though. It's kind of… gloomy, nothing like your house."

"We will if you want us to," Rose said. Scorpius shrugged.

"Maybe. I'll talk to you soon, then," he said.

Rose nodded, and then hesitated before hugging him tightly. "You'll be okay," she said quietly, and he nodded.

"… Bye, Rose," he said, and Rose let go, realizing she might be letting on a bit too much if she didn't. He waved to Al and turned around to face his parents. Rose motioned for Al to come with her and they walked over to where they could see their own families standing. As they walked further and further from the Malfoys Rose thought about the flashes from Scorpius's mind in first year and felt sick to her stomach—maybe he'd made the wrong choice. But then, he was living with his grandparents then, and she didn't really even know his parents. She couldn't really be sure—but anyone who could leave him in that situation…

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Al asked her.

"No," Rose said, "but… it could be. I don't know. I'm not really sure about anything anymore." As they walked, Rose thought about everything that had happened in the past year and realized just how true that really was.