Hello,
I am so happy to be posting again with some regularity. We only have nineteen chapters left in the book. I will do my best to not get lost again for as long as I have. I am also very grateful that so many readers are still giving this wonderful book a chance. The fault is with me, not with the author!
So, I got some questions regarding the dates at the end of several chapters. Yes, it is the author who dated some of the chapters, and I simply faithfully copied them into the translation.
Chapter 2. Scorpius Malfoy.
You will not prevail. I am the stronger one.
Too bad that mere words rarely turned into a magic formula. Because right now, he really wanted to put a spell on himself with these two phrases: "I am the stronger one. It is you who is weak, for you sought to exact your revenge through an innocent girl."
And you will pay for it. You are already paying, and this is only just the beginning.
Scorpius was stood by the Atrium fireplace, looking at Helene who stood still next to him. She did not look frightened, rather bewildered. Her eyes – oh, those eyes that he couldn't help but recognize – were looking on him with defiance.
She seemed ready to defend: herself or the other. And whom? This bastard, whose life isn't worth a knut at this point. Regardless of what he is – the Minister of Magic himself, or the President of the World Union of Hippogriffs – nothing and no one can save him now.
Scorpius smirked: no, he didn't hurt Helene, but not everybody would be so lucky.
He headed toward the desk of the security guard, who had been eyeing them closely.
Why didn't he touch Helene? Why not resort to the easier way of obtaining the information? Easier and quicker?
Potter must have thought that Scorpius was a changed man. It was a good thing he didn't choke on his own drool in delight… No dice. Malfoys and those like them are never reformed. It is not in their nature to be so.
He glanced again at Helene, who walked docilely at his side. She could have run or cried for help – or done a million other things to complicate the situation. But she is no fool – her actions make that plain.
What would he have done in her place? First, he wouldn't be in her place. But… just for argument's sake? He would have done the same thing: defended his loved one with all he had in him. But first, he would have gotten to the bottom of everything…
"Do you know what this revenge on me is about?" Scorpius stopped half-way to the guard desk and took Helene's elbow.
"It is not him," the girl said firmly. "He couldn't have."
"Right, and I once thought that hedgehogs could not fly," Malfoy remarked sarcastically and started moving again, pulling Helene along.
"Hedgehogs?"
"I'll tell you when it is all over," Scorpius snorted. He purposefully forced himself to recall all this – the silly jokes and situations from his past. It gave him strength – the strength to believe. The strength to control himself and not start smashing everything in sight. There was so little of it left; and every time the cherished name – "Lily" – echoed in his heart, like a tap on a crystal flute – the strength seemed about to run out. Then he would stop, clutching his fists, and wait for the desire to cause pain to wane.
If someone hurts you, make them pay; by any means available.
Scorpius's eyes rested on Helene – she flinched. Yes, that's right, you should be afraid. Yet, he would save up all his pain for this Marcus Devereaux…
"We are here to see Mr. Devereaux, an advisor to the Minister," Malfoy stated laconically, without looking at the guard. He was staring at Helene, amazed that fate would bring them face to face again. Although, what fate? What does fate have to do with this?! It's Helene's darling husband, may he…
No, let him be safe and sound, right up to the moment when Scorpius catches up to him!
"He departed half an hour ago," the wizard's glance darted suspiciously at the silent Helene, whose eyes were firmly downcast.
It suddenly dawned on Malfoy – she was afraid. Afraid of what she was so carefully trying to ignore: the fact that her husband was scum and already a walking dead.
"Where?" Scorpius was not too concerned about that, because he was going to take Helene to the Aurors: they would make her speak in no time flat, once they learned that she was a potential accessory to the kidnapping of the daughter of the universally beloved Harry Potter.
"Home, for lunch, I believe. Did you have an appointment?"
That was when Scorpius spotted an Auror, walking out of the lift; Malfoy even knew his face, but had forgotten the name in the four years since he'd seen him last.
"I need to speak with you," Malfoy planted himself in the wizard's path, pulling Helene with him, lest she should slip away.
"How can I be of service…?" the Auror seemed to be trying to place the man before him.
"My wife, Lily Malfoy, Harry Potter's daughter, has been kidnapped."
"She's been found," the wizard said, slightly surprised. "Mr. Potter recently left for St. Mungo's, where she'd been taken…"
The Auror might be saying something else, but Scorpius did not hear him. He slowly shut his eyes and exhaled. Then he leaned against the wall and slid down, his face in his hands.
"Are you unwell, Mr. Malfoy?" the wizard touched his shoulder. "Maybe…?"
"How is she?" he could barely say the words; his legs gave out. He hadn't realized how long he'd been at the limit of his strength, barely holding on.
"Beg your pardon?"
"Why is she in the hospital?" Scorpius asked distinctly, getting to his feet, but still keeping to the wall.
Fifty-six hours. They took a lot out of him, but now it was over – for her.
Lily.
"I don't know," the Auror shrugged his shoulders. "You…"
"Let's go," Malfoy peeled away from the wall and nodded at Helene.
Good old times: first make sure she is alright, and then – revenge. As was his way; as was his habit.
"Should I pick up smoking?" he muttered, heading for the fireplaces. "They say it soothes the nerves…"
Helene just shrugged – her huge eyes still held the fear. Good girl.
"Damn!" he jumped when Dong materialized between him and the fireplace – as usual, with a loud popping sound. "What are you doing here?"
The house elf's eyes bulged painfully, and he seemed to be trying to pull his ears down to his knees.
"Devereaux?" Scorpius realized instantly. It was all suddenly crystal clear to him – as though the thought that Lily was alive, that she was with her father, pulled back the curtain of feelings, allowing logic to take center stage.
Devereaux went home. He found Dong missing; or Helene. He questioned the elves. Or just summoned Dong. And made him tell him everything.
Scorpius slapped himself on the forehead – the dumb Potter's gesture – and whirled around towards Helene.
"It looks like we will finally meet your husband. Your wand, Madame Devereaux," Malfoy requested coldly, knowing that an outright war was about to break out.
"Dong…" Helene spoke, scared, looking at the elf.
"Stop, you dummy!" Scorpius grumbled, grabbing the house elf by the scruff of his neck, to prevent him beating his head against the stone floor. "I forbid you to listen to anyone's orders but mine. Got it?"
Unbelievable though it seemed, but this worked, for Dong ceased to thrash, his huge eyes filled with tears, and he tried to hug Malfoy.
"Thank you! Oh, thank you, Master," the house elf chanted. "You can't imagine how…"
"Why the hell would you obey Merlin knows whom?!" Malfoy raged, debating inwardly what his next step should be.
"Ms. Lily ordered me to, and you had ordered me to obey Ms. Lily," Dong whined, rubbing his eyes with his tiny fist. Then he jumped, and burst into lamenting: "He went to Mr. Gregory; this evil man went to look for Mr. James. He is there, he…"
"Don't you dare thrashing again," Malfoy ordered angrily. "He is no master over you anymore! You've done enough! You were the one who took him to Gregory's in the first place, were you not?"
Don nodded guiltily, hanging his head.
"Is it my husband, Dong?" Helene asked quietly and timidly. Yes, it is tough to face the truth, Malfoy thought, smirking.
Time was running out, and although a part of him longed to go to the hospital, to Lily, these were mere sentiments.
She would be fine; her father was there. And half of the clan was on their way, too, he was sure. Meanwhile, Potter's skin needed saving. Plus, why put off meeting Marcus Devereaux? It was high time they resolved their differences.
He changed his mind about using the fireplace, instead pulling all their strange, conspicuous group outside. Not the most pleasant thing to do, but it can't be helped…
"Apparate us straight into the Gregory's parlour," Scorpius ordered Dong, checking around them in the empty alley, and then took Helene's wand. "Don't do anything stupid…"
"Scorpius, I am begging you, please…"
He cut her off by placing a spell on her, and then motioned for the elf to proceed. His only thought was that he was about to meet the man who, for a moment, made him feel vulnerable… He couldn't wait.