XVI
Albus couldn't recall how much time it took to ascend the six flights of stairs to reach the top of the tower where the owlery was located. When he was nearly at the top, he spotted several figures on the stairs. He recognised Karl Campbell and Zachary Nott. The latter was unconscious, and the former was being attended to by a girl Albus vaguely remembered seeing around. Karl had a bloody head and a severely broken arm, and the girl tried to use a healing spell with trembling hands, occasionally wiping her teary face with the sleeve of her robe.
The smoke from the raging fire above could be seen and smelled, but the stone staircase appeared to be a safe refuge. Albus looked around for a moment, then knelt beside the girl.
"What happened?" he asked through a tight throat, "Where's Scorpius?"
The girl needed a moment to understand who he was and why he had appeared there. Then she shook her head timidly.
"I don't know," she muttered, lowering her gaze. "He carried Zachary out of the owlery and ran off somewhere."
"What were you all doing here?"
Suddenly, the girl burst into tears, covering her face with bloodied hands.
"It was White," Karl croaked unexpectedly, defying Albus's earlier assumption that he was unconscious. "Peggy White, a Ravenclaw from our year. We thought that she was the one who cast the curse on Scorpius. We just wanted to talk to her and ask for details, but she attacked us. I don't know what happened next because she pushed me down the stairs, and I lost consciousness. When I woke up, the owlery was already on fire, and Zack was lying next to me."
"White is dead," Albus replied, and in an instant, the girl's sobbing intensified. "I saw her body at the base of the tower."
Karl winced and cursed under his breath.
"By Merlin, Malfoy, what have you done?"
Then, he suddenly grabbed Albus's wrist with his good hand.
"We didn't intend to hurt her. We just wanted to talk; it wasn't supposed to end like this. You need to find him. I'm afraid he might do something terribly foolish."
Albus felt a shiver run down his spine when Karl's words echoed his fears. He nodded quickly, determined, and got up from the ground.
"Calm down," he said gently to the girl. "Can you take care of them?"
Hufflepuff wiped her face once more, although it did little to remove either the tears or the bloody traces, and then nodded hesitantly.
"Go, find him."
"I will, I promise."
Without wasting any more time, Albus sprinted downstairs and continued through half of the school, all the way to the Gryffindor Tower. After giving the Fat Lady the password ("Lemon Pudding"), he burst into the common room. Several surprised faces turned to him, but unfortunately, none of them belonged to James. Albus felt that he didn't have time to search for his brother. Ignoring everyone else, he rushed up the stairs to his dormitory.
He pulled the Marauder's Map from the bottom of his trunk and laid it out on his bed.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," he uttered the incantation hastily and quickly began scanning the map's recreated corridors.
"Where are you? Where did you go?" he muttered to himself, looking for the marker with the name of a specific Slytherin.
In less than two minutes, he was almost certain that Scorpius wasn't anywhere on the school grounds.
"For Merlin's sake, do you always have to choose such solutions?" he snapped with irritation, which was merely a cover for the growing anxiety.
He folded the map, stashed it in his robe's pocket, and rushed out of the room.
As Albus sprinted through the distance to Hogsmeade and emerged from the basement of Honeydukes, he could barely catch his breath. Panting heavily and with shaking legs, he approached a slender man meticulously arranging chocolates behind the counter. There was no one else in the store.
"Excuse me, has a fair-haired boy come here recently?" Albus asked.
The shopkeeper jumped when he saw him and then eyed Gryffindor with a curious look, clearly wondering what a Hogwarts student was doing here at the moment.
"Aren't you supposed to be in school?"
Albus shook his head.
"I'm looking for a friend."
The man scratched his beard.
"Someday, I'll find out how you manage to sneak in here so unnoticed," he mumbled while also wagging his finger at him. "Your so-called friend ran through my shop about half an hour ago, didn't say a word, and flew outside. I think he caused some commotion out there."
Albus swallowed hard and turned his gaze towards the window, which the shopkeeper pointed to. Outside, some fifty meters away, a crowd had gathered.
"I'm sorry..." he mumbled and hurried out of the store.
With each step, he became more and more anxious about what he might find. Fortunately, as he approached, all he saw was a slightly dazed man sitting on the doorstep of a house, accompanied by a woman who gestured and explained something to the people.
"...to attack a man like that. Alois is only just coming to his senses. When I found my wand, because I don't take it with me when skinning a rabbit, I unpetrified him."
The woman's raised voice indicated her irritation. "But to behave this way at his age?! Who'd have thought?"
"Where is he?" Albus interjected, hoping that in the flood of words, the woman wouldn't pay much attention to the person asking the question.
"The brat vanished into Diagon Alley through my chimney. I was just cooking a delicious goulash. No respect for the elders, coming in and wrecking everything..."
Albus stopped listening to the woman's rambling, who started to lament about her culinary losses. Instead, he seized the opportunity amidst the commotion under the house. Taking advantage of the man sitting in the doorway, still somewhat disoriented, he sneaked into the building and, before anyone could notice, grabbed a handful of Floo Powder from a basket on a shelf and disappeared in a greenish cloud of smoke.
Unlike the quiet and somewhat sleepy Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley was, as usual, bustling with activity. However, at the moment, that was not a benefit. Amidst the many patrons in the pubs and people strolling down the street, finding Scorpius seemed almost impossible. He had a half-hour lead, which meant he could have already left the magical district. Nevertheless, that was his last known location, so it was where Albus had to search for clues.
Scorpius didn't usually act impulsively. If he feared being apprehended and held responsible for Peggy White's death, he wouldn't have simply run into town without a plan. Such an action would only deplete his strength and time, which would make his capture easier.
Therefore, after wasting precious minutes looking around the area, Albus began questioning people about the fair-haired Hogwarts student. A few provided vague and non-specific information, stating they had seen him walking down the street but couldn't tell where he came from or where he was heading. A few others began taking an unsettling interest in what he did so far from school, so Albus had to craft appropriate lies quickly.
When he started losing hope of finding anything specific, he entered a nearby bookstore.
"Yes, he was here," answered the stout witch running the shop. "I noticed him because he looked terrible, as if he had seen a ghost or something equally terrifying. His eyes seemed so strange; he appeared scared, almost shocked on one side, yet determined on the other. It was disturbing because children your age shouldn't look like that. I was convinced he'd cast a curse on me if I tried to stop him in any way."
"Did he buy anything?" Albus asked.
The woman shook her head.
"He only looked at some books on advanced practical magic from the shelf. Oh, and he paused at the table with leaflets for a while, then left without a word."
"Leaflets?"
"Yes, I keep them for people who come to buy a travel guide or look for vacation ideas."
Albus walked over to the table and suddenly felt like he was running out of air.
"Do you know where St. Pancras International is?"
"Of course, dear. It's the station right next to King's Cross. Literally in the building next door..."
Albus didn't hear the end of the sentence as he rushed out of the bookstore. He still held a pamphlet advertising the super-fast train – Eurostar, which covers the journey from London to Paris in a little over two hours. The trains departed from St. Pancras International station.
The station was large, blending historic walls with an industrial interior in its architecture. A crowd of people flowed in all directions, making orientation difficult. Albus spent a long time trying to find the right direction, uncertain about where to begin. He had no idea where to look, but he was sure the vast hall was not the right place. Scorpius wouldn't waste his time there, most likely.
Guided by this thought, Gryffindor sprinted toward the platforms.
"Where are you going?!" Suddenly, a guard stopped him.
"I need to get to the platform."
"Beyond those gates is the departure area, and you can only enter further with a valid ticket. Where are your parents?"
Albus felt growing panic, and at that time, he allowed it to surface fully on his face. He sensed that there was no time for futile discussions. If he was to catch Scorpius, he had to act decisively.
"I'm telling you, they are on the platform," he said nervously. "I was looking for the restroom and honestly don't know how I ended up here."
Tense, ready to draw his wand and remove the obstacle with a charm if necessary, he kept his tone sincere. Apparently, his expression was very convincing. The guard shot him a bewildered look, then checked his watch and opened the gate.
"The train is already departing. You'd better quickly find your parents, or you won't go anywhere today."
"Thank you!" Albus shouted and passed the man. He was about to rush onto the platform when he paused and glanced at the schedule board from the corner of his eye. Right in front of him was the Eurostar train departing to Paris in fifteen minutes, the same one featured in the pamphlet Albus still held. However, something else caught his attention. On the adjacent platform, there was a train owned by the same company, bound for Brussels. Gryffindor hesitated for a moment, then clenched his fists. After all, he looked for a cunning Slytherin who never opted for straightforward solutions. If he was going to catch him, he needed to be at least as clever.
With a trembling heart, Albus chose the corridor to the right and rushed onto the platform where the London-Brussels train was stationed. He jumped into the first carriage and quickly made his way down the rows of seats. Time was running out, as per the departure board, there was less than five minutes until the train's departure, and it was a long one.
Then he spotted him. Scorpius sat only three rows away, staring at the seat in front of him. Albus could only see a part of his face, but even that revealed how ill Scorpius looked. He resembled someone afflicted by a severe illness, with a pale, greyish complexion, sunken eyes, and an odd grimace etched on his lips. He looked like a shadow of himself.
Albus scolded himself for these thoughts; they needed to wait for later. There was no time for subtlety. He took a deep breath and entered Scorpius's field of vision.
"Scorpius," he began but stopped abruptly when the boy jumped up and pointed his wand at him. It was only a second later that Scorpius seemed to realise who stood in front of him.
"Albus? What are you doing here?" he said through clenched teeth.
"Put your wand away; Muggles are watching us," Gryffindor urged, making sure his voice sounded confident and didn't betray his inner anxiety.
"it doesn't matter now?" Scorpius muttered but eventually put away his wand.
In his search for the friend, Albus hadn't given much thought to what he'd say when he finally found him. At the moment, he regretted his negligence, fearing that he might not have the right words to change the course of events.
"Let's talk," he began, lowering his voice to a whisper, aware that several passengers had already noticed them. "You can't escape now."
Scorpius only shook his head; his face looked strangely different without his usual defiant grin.
"Go back to school, Albus."
"Not without you. I won't let you do something reckless again."
The Slytherin nervously ran his hand through his hair, appearing remarkably shaken as if he held his composure by a thin thread. Albus was truly worried about what Scorpius might be capable of if his nerves got the best of him. Gryffindor knew he didn't have a chance in an open confrontation.
"If you persist, I'll petrify you and throw you off at the next station," Scorpius declared. He didn't utter those words in anger but with a sense of resignation. He had already made his decision, and Albus wondered how he could change it. Persuasion never wasn't his strong suit.
Suddenly, a platform announcement reminded passengers of the departure of that particular train. Albus's time was rapidly running out. Feeling the desperation mounting, he reached out and grabbed Scorpius by the shoulder.
"Across the platform in fifteen minutes, a train to Paris departs. Give me those fifteen minutes to talk some sense into you. Just a few minutes. Please."
For a brief moment, Scorpius's face betrayed hesitation. Albus had no intention of letting the opportunity slip by. Seeing that Scorpius was clearly wavering, he pulled him toward the exit of the carriage.
Just a few seconds after they reached the platform, the train doors closed with a quiet squeal, and the train set off on its journey to the continent. Albus sighed in relief while Scorpius wrenched his arm free. Then, as if his strength had suddenly left him, he sighed and took a seat on a metal bench, staring down at the floor.
"Do you think I want this?" he spoke up before Albus even had a chance to open his mouth.
Gryffindor approached but remained standing, feeling that he had more leverage on his feet.
"If you run now, everyone will consider you guilty," Albus stated.
Slytherin visibly winced, and then he looked up at Albus. There was a mix of desperation and fear in his gaze.
"And they'd be right. I did it, Albus. I killed her."
For one incredibly long minute, there was a heavy silence between them as if that admission had cut short all other discussions.
"Why? Because of a curse? She cast it?" Albus asked.
Scorpius sighed heavily and once again turned his gaze to the floor, shaking his head.
"I have no idea; I'm not sure of anything anymore. Everything happened so quickly. I had to save Zack, and then..." He paused for a moment to steady his alarmingly shaky voice. "In the end, my charm led to her death, even if it wasn't my intention."
Albus stared at his friend, his throat squeezed and dry. He didn't even dare to imagine what Scorpius felt at that moment. The Slytherin had always been the stronger and braver of the two, the one who faced every challenge head-on. However, at the moment, he appeared mentally defeated and overwhelmed by recent events.
"Karl said she attacked you. In that case, you had the right to defend yourselves," Albus insisted.
Scorpius snorted in a pitiful imitation of laughter. "You're naive if you think they'll consider it that way. As a Slytherin, even worse, as the son of a Death Eater, they won't believe I had the right to defend myself. If she attacked us, it must mean she had a reason. Nobody will listen to us, Albus, and I won't end up in Azkaban."
"McGonagall won't let that happen," Gryffindor said emphatically.
"Her authority doesn't extend beyond the school."
With visible effort, Scorpius rose from the bench, making it clear that he didn't want to continue the conversation. Albus felt his hands begin to tremble. He struggled to find convincing arguments.
"So what do you plan to do? Run away for the rest of your life?" he asked with a growing note of desperation in his voice.
Scorpius merely shrugged and looked at the opposite platform. The last passengers were hastily boarding the train.
"That's better than rotting in a cold cell," he concluded and headed toward the stairs leading to the other side.
Albus knew that something very wrong had happened, but he had no idea how to stop it. Scorpius was determined and convinced of the righteousness of his actions, believing it was the only solution.
"Let me take the blame!" Gryffindor yelled at the departing Slytherin.
Scorpius halted mid-step and spun around abruptly. "What?!"
"I'll take the blame," Albus repeated with conviction. "No one noticed you there, but they sure saw me. Dozens of people watched me looking at the dead White and then running off. I think they won't need much more to connect the dots."
Scorpius stared at him for a long moment as if he were seeing him for the first time in his life, and then anger clearly marked his face.
"Have you gone completely mad?" he shouted, approaching Gryffindor. "You must be out of your mind if you think I'll allow that!"
"If you leave, you won't be able to stop me," Albus tried to stand as tall as possible, though it was clear that he was significantly shorter than Scorpius.
The Slytherin looked as though he wanted to hit him. But ultimately, he merely turned around abruptly and gripped his head with his hands.
"For Merlin's saggy arse! Why are you so stubbornly clinging to me? I have enough problems without your involvement."
"You don't understand that this is the best way?" Although Albus tried to keep his composure, his words came out in a shout. "Let my name be of use for once. No one in their right mind will blindly accuse the son of Harry Potter. This will force them to investigate this matter thoroughly."
Scorpius burst into almost hysterical laughter and shook his head vehemently.
"No, absolutely not! I'd rather end up in Azkaban than let you take the blame. I still have shreds of pride."
"Somehow, you didn't seem to have the same scruples in the South Tower," Gryffindor retorted.
Scorpius groaned, hearing that argument. If the situation hadn't been so serious, bringing up that incident might have been funny. Yet Scorpius clearly didn't find it entertaining, and the expression on his face was closer to despair than amusement. When he finally regained some composure, he turned away and lowered his head.
"I'm scared, Albus. I'm terribly scared," he said with a quiet voice.
Albus couldn't see his face, but he could easily imagine it without needing to. Without a word, he stepped closer and placed a hand on Scorpius's shoulder.
"You're not alone in this."
Scorpius, looking discouraged, merely shook his head, but he didn't say anything more. Neither of them noticed that a while earlier, the train to Paris had departed. They no longer needed it.
For a while, they sat in silence on a bench at the station, not saying much to each other. Scorpius needed some time to calm down and think more rationally about the situation while Albus organised his thoughts for their next course of action. The first goal had been achieved: he had prevented Scorpius from making a grave mistake. He understood Scorpius' motives to some extent and could even accept them, but he didn't believe it was the only or the best way out. He didn't want to dwell on what might have happened if Scorpius had actually left that day. He'd rather not think about it at all.
In the meantime, more immediate concerns occupied his mind. Their primary task was to get back to Hogwarts, which was not a straightforward step.
"We should go to King's Cross and catch a train to Hogsmeade," he finally spoke.
Scorpius said nothing but nodded. His mind seemed to be somewhere far away. Albus stood up patted him on the shoulder, and once Scorpius rose as well, they left St. Pancras Station together.
The silent Scorpius was indeed a rare sight for Albus. He usually wanted to have the last word, but at the moment, he allowed himself to be led as if he were a child. Gryffindor bought the tickets, and shortly after, they both sat on the train to Scotland. Another transfer awaited them in three hours, but if all went well, they'd be back at school by evening.
Albus watched Scorpius, who was seated in the corner of the compartment, staring out the window with unfocused eyes. Gryffindor considered whether he should engage in conversation, but a few minutes later, he saw that Scorpius had fallen asleep. It wasn't particularly surprising given what had happened, and the Slytherin had to be mentally and physically exhausted, especially since he'd just left the hospital. Sometimes, Albus really wondered where Scorpius found the strength for all of that. Gryffindor had an unshakable feeling that, in similar circumstances, he would have given up a long time ago and stopped trying. He often thought he was too soft and not assertive enough. He couldn't fight back or take action when needed. He had come to terms with that reality and didn't try to change it. However, as that day has shown, he could occasionally act in time and even achieve success, even if it wasn't too spectacular.
Albus often felt that Scorpius' influence helped him recognise his shortcomings. Since Malfoy, who seemed to be at a disadvantage from birth, could achieve so much, what could Potter do? It was frustrating to realise that fate had placed him in such a favourable position, yet all he saw were the expectations he couldn't meet. Perhaps he hadn't tried hard enough? Was he devoting his free time to improving his skills? Was he attempting to learn new things and uncover hidden abilities on his own? No, he was just sliding through with the minimum required of him to avoid drawing too much attention.
Scorpius might have been irritated when he was called McGonagall's pupil, but he had worked hard over the past year to earn that title, more than anyone else among their peers. Meanwhile, Albus watched that from the sidelines, embarrassed by the growing gap between their knowledge and abilities. Not only did Rose have ambitions that extended far beyond Hogwarts, but so did Scorpius. However, Gryffindor had no idea what Malfoy's ultimate goals were.
They were already halfway through their schooling. Did Albus really want to waste the rest of his time there? Maybe it was time to face reality. If he didn't get to work, nobody else would do it for him. He couldn't wait until Lily started outshining him, leaving him as the forgotten Potter sibling.
Before reaching their transfer point, Albus had plenty of time to reflect. First, he needed to address the current situation and help Scorpius get out of the mess he had gotten himself into, even if it meant turning to his father for help. Then, he would do everything in his power not to lag behind anymore. He had hidden in James's shadow long enough, and he wouldn't let himself be downplayed to the role of the quiet kid who revolved around Scorpius Malfoy. After the recent events, Albus didn't doubt that Scorpius would leave a mark in the school's history, one way or another. He just needed Albus to ensure that the chronicle would be a positive one.
As the train began to slow down, Albus nudged Scorpius, who woke up abruptly. For a moment, there was visible confusion in Scorpius' eyes, but he soon recognised his surroundings, and the tension eased.
At the station, Albus made him eat a hot dog, suspecting that he hadn't eaten anything since morning. Half an hour later, they were on another train, and that one was nearly deserted, granting them an entire carriage to themselves.
Sitting across from each other, they both gazed at the landscape passing by outside the window. The farther north they went, the more apparent it was that autumn was approaching. Even though their summer trip hadn't been long ago, it felt like ages. So much has happened since then.
"Thanks," Scorpius spoke unexpectedly, still looking out the window. "For stopping me."
Albus glanced at him and shrugged.
"I could've stopped at least one stupid action. It's a shame, only that one."
Scorpius winced slightly. "Yeah, a shame. Should've just smacked my stupid Slytherin head instead of being subtle."
Despite it all, Albus couldn't suppress a faint smile. These words indicated that Scorpius already felt a bit better.
"If you want, I can fix it now."
"I'd rather not. My head feels like it's about to split in half. I feel like I've overdone it with the butterbeer."
There was something odd in Scorpius's expression. On the one hand, he seemed to be regaining some of his typical sense of humour, but on the other, it was still just a cover for the heavy thoughts on his mind. However, Albus had no intention of delving into those matters. They would have to revisit the events of that day more than once, but it didn't have to be at the moment.
"I never thought you had anything in common with house elves," Albus remarked. "I thought only they could get drunk with butterbeer."
"Sure, keep mocking me. If I'm a house-elf, you're a Cornish Pixie."
"Why's that?"
"Because you're small, annoying, and turn blue when you're angry."
Albus couldn't help but burst into laughter. Above all, there was one fundamental positive aspect to all of that: Scorpius smiled, too.
When they arrived in Hogsmeade, it was already quite dark. Since they didn't want to appear in a public place, they both agreed that using the passage through the Honeydukes cellar was not an option. Therefore, Albus led them towards the Shrieking Shack, explaining that according to the Marauder's Map, there was also a way to Hogwarts from there. After a few minutes, they found the entrance to the tunnel and, a little later, emerged on the school grounds.
Inside the school, there was no sign of the tragedy that had occurred that morning. Due to the late hour, the corridors were deserted, and they only encountered a few students making their way back to their dormitories. Nobody stopped them, and no one even paid them any attention. This could suggest that, for the time being, the circumstances of Peggy White's death had not been made public.
Eventually, they stood in front of the door to the Headmaster's office, both staring at it in silence for a while.
"My offer is still on the table," Albus said.
"And I still keep saying that you'll do it over my dead body," Scorpius replied, smiling ever so slightly. Gryffindor, however, immediately recognised it as Scorpius' standard mask, under which he attempted to conceal all his emotions. He tried to play tough again, but his trembling hands were too obvious, especially to Albus.
"Should I come in with you?" Albus finally asked, but Scorpius shook his head.
"I have to drink the beer I brewed myself."
Respecting that decision, Gryffindor patted his shoulder and took a step back. Scorpius swallowed heavily, then knocked on the door.
When he woke up on the train, for a brief moment, Scorpius hoped that it had all been a terrible nightmare. Unfortunately, Albus' concerned face quickly brought him back to reality. A grim reality that he had to face. He had no idea how or when he would repay Potter, but he was very grateful that, at least for those few hours of the journey, he didn't have to confront it alone.
For the past few years, he had lived with the belief that he was always on his own, but that stubborn Gryffindor had already shown him more than once how wrong he was. He was not alone, and despite everything, he had support from many people; sometimes, he just didn't see it. At the moment, however, he couldn't feel anything but gratitude because, let's face it, the situation had totally overwhelmed him. In a panicked state, he had chosen the most cowardly solution and ran. He had always looked down on his father for his cowardice, but in a moment of crisis, he hadn't done any better.
Scorpius didn't plan to run away anymore, and certainly, he wouldn't let Albus take the blame. He would face the consequences of his actions. He wouldn't let fear blind him any further.
Repeating this resolution to himself like a mantra, he knocked on the door, and after a moment, he heard an invitation to enter. He couldn't help but notice that the Headmaster's voice sounded unusually nervous, even from the corridor.
Feeling the unpleasant lump in his throat, he forced his hand to grip the doorknob and entered the room.
"Scorpius?!" McGonagall exclaimed, jumping up from her chair. "Merlin, where have you been?"
Scorpius stopped just behind the door, which closed with a quiet creak, and he once again had to remind himself of why he had come there. He had never seen the Headmaster so flustered, and it certainly didn't help him gather his thoughts. McGonagall had always seemed unyielding and unwavering in her resolve. However, at the moment, she looked almost shaken and very tired. Yet, should it really come as a surprise to anyone? After all, a student from her school had died that morning.
McGonagall left her desk and crossed the space between them, and Scorpius felt that he couldn't maintain eye contact any longer. He lowered his head and turned his gaze towards the sofa where he had once slept.
"Albus caught me when I was already on the train to Belgium," he said through a tight throat as if that should be his entire answer.
And perhaps it was because the Headmaster remained unusually silent for a long time after those words. She was certainly capable of connecting the dots.
"What have you done, Malfoy?" she asked, shaking her head.
Scorpius clenched his fists, feeling like he lost the last shreds of composure he had just regained. However, he couldn't afford the luxury of panic. The Headmaster deserved an explanation.
"I killed her, Professor," he said.
"Good Merlin," McGonagall sighed, though her words did not betray surprise. She must have already suspected everything, and Scorpius's last sentence had only confirmed her worst fears.
"Sit down," she said after a moment, pointing to a chair by her desk. "I want to hear everything in detail."
Scorpius didn't hesitate and followed her instructions. Then he began to speak. He explained how he found out about Katie, Karl's girlfriend, who turned out to be Peggy White's cousin and who told them about Peggy's strange behaviour. He described how they had decided to set a trap for her early in the morning to question her about the curse they suspected she had cast on him. And finally, he recounted how the girl had attacked them and the course of their short battle. Throughout the entire story, he didn't look at the Headmaster, keeping his gaze fixed on her desk. He tried to speak as factually as possible, not letting his emotions surface, but despite his best efforts, he felt his hands trembling awfully.
The last thing he told her was about his escape and how Albus had convinced him to return.
"Potter did you a huge favour," the Headmaster summarised the entire account. "Escaping was the worst possible option."
Scorpius nodded slightly, though he had many more doubts himself.
"Your account matches what Karl Campbell said, as well as what the Aurors have discovered so far," she added.
Scorpius shuddered at the mention of the Aurors. Of course, he was fully aware that the Ministry would investigate the whole matter, but he had preferred not to think about it too much until then. However, he couldn't hide behind childish fears any longer. Therefore, he gathered his courage and raised his gaze to look at the Headmaster. Her face was tired but also very focused.
"What happens now?" he asked, his voice sounding pitiful. He wanted to say something important that would prove he understood the seriousness of the situation. Instead, he sounded like a whimpering child.
McGonagall scrutinised him with her piercing gaze for a while and then removed her glasses, rubbing her temples with two fingers.
"Tomorrow morning, you will have to present all of this to the Aurors," she stated.
Scorpius obediently nodded, and then he suddenly felt an excruciating dryness in his mouth. He licked his parched lips and weakly asked, "Will they arrest me?"
Only then did he notice a hint of compassion in the Headmaster's face, which almost always accompanied her.
"They have no grounds to do so since you're voluntarily placing yourself at their disposal," she assured him, her tone unwavering. "And if they attempt it, I won't allow it."
Scorpius felt as something unexpectedly tightened around his throat, and he quickly looked away. He had promised himself not to cry in front of the Headmaster, but it was becoming really difficult to keep his nerves in check.
"Look at me, Scorpius," the Headmaster said unexpectedly, tearing him away from the whirlpool of thoughts and emotions. He turned his gaze to Professor McGonagall, who was openly displaying genuine concern on her face.
"Your words clearly indicate that this was a tragic accident with dire consequences. Children are not sent to Azkaban for such incidents."
Scorpius tried to smile, but it came out as a strange grimace. He really wanted to believe that Professor McGonagall was right.
Without trusting his voice, he simply nodded and stared at the floor once more. He was fully aware that, this time, he had gotten himself into some very serious trouble. Despite his attempts to remain calm, he trembled like jelly on the inside. He wished he could listen to his father, McGonagall, or Albus. If he hadn't been so stubborn, he wouldn't be in such a mess, and Peggy White wouldn't be... dead.
Suddenly, he looked at his hands, feeling his stomach turned upside down. He had her blood on his hands. He had killed her... and even though he had admitted it before, it was as if the full realisation of the finality of the act only hit him then.
"Professor," he began, not lifting his gaze from his hands, "how am I supposed to live with this? With the fact that I took someone's life?"
He didn't know why he even asked that. After all, Professor McGonagall couldn't have the answer to such a question. Nobody had the answer, but at that moment, Scorpius desperately needed the reassurance, even if it was just a comforting lie.
He then felt her hand on his shoulder, and in that moment, it meant more to him than any words of comfort.
"I know you're tired, but you should contact your father," the Headmaster said as she sat back at her desk. "I sent him an owl a few hours after the whole incident when it became clear that you weren't on the school grounds. There weren't many details in it, but I expressed my concern that you might be involved in the situation."
Scorpius, somewhat calmer, nodded again. He definitely didn't want to talk to his father, but he knew, like everything else, it was inevitable. He also knew all too well what he would hear from his father, so delaying it was pointless.
Professor McGonagall gathered all the documents into one neat stack and then got up, walking towards the door leading to her private quarters.
"Use my fireplace," she added and left the office.
Scorpius watched her leave, letting out a heavy sigh. He knew that her departure was meant to give him some privacy, but honestly, he wished she had stayed. She might have acted as a buffer between him and his father's anger. However, he couldn't count on that, so without wasting time on futile thoughts, he walked over to the large fireplace in the corner of the room. He took a pinch of Floo powder from the nearby bowl and, after lighting a green fire, said, "Malfoy Manor."
The world swirled briefly, and then he saw the familiar living room. He immediately noticed both his parents sitting at the table, talking in hushed voices. It didn't escape him that his mother's eyes were noticeably red. She had been crying again. Crying because of him.
"Mother," he spoke up, capturing their attention.
Both of them jumped up from their seats and approached the fireplace.
"Scorpius? Where are you?" Draco asked, his voice filled with concern rather than anger.
"I'm at Hogwarts. In Professor McGonagall's office," Scorpius replied.
"If you're at school, what did that letter from Professor McGonagall mean?" Astoria asked, her eyes filled with worry.
Scorpius swallowed hard, feeling that with each moment, it was harder to say the next words. He knew he shouldn't delay that; they would find out sooner or later, and their anger would descend on him.
"There was an accident. A girl attacked me and two of my friends. We defended ourselves. I deflected her charm, and it… it hit her, and she fell out of the owlery window."
He watched as his mother's eyes widened in mute horror. She sat down on the sofa, covering her mouth with her hand.
"Is she dead?" Draco asked, his voice surprisingly calm.
Scorpius clenched his teeth and nodded. He saw a furrow forming on his father's forehead. Draco, surprisingly quickly, shifted to the specifics. Astonishingly, it seemed like he didn't intend to let anger take over and tried to assess the situation calmly.
"Do you know why she attacked you? Does it have something to do with the Wrath Curse?" Draco inquired.
"We suspected she might have been the one who cast it. But I have no evidence," Scorpius responded.
His father nodded and fell into deep thought for a moment while Astoria observed both of them in silence.
"I'll be there in a few hours," Draco eventually said.
Scorpius wasn't entirely sure if having Draco there would be a greater support or burden. He didn't want to verbalise these doubts, but he felt something else was more crucial.
"Is that a good idea?" he asked.
He didn't need to add more; Draco understood the implications of his question. Having a former Death Eater present could potentially arouse further suspicion from the Ministry.
"Professor McGonagall said that I have to speak to the Aurors tomorrow. She's convinced that under these circumstances, I'm not in any danger," Scorpius explained, surprised by how smoothly the words passed through his throat. It was as if he believed in them himself, even though he bent the truth really hard. But he didn't want to worry his parents even more, especially his mother. Watching his father, he had no doubt that Draco read between the lines quite well.
"I'll write to you as soon as I know more," he concluded.
He felt Draco's intense scrutiny, but ultimately, his father didn't object.
"Just don't keep us waiting for too long for news," Astoria whispered, her voice painfully squeezing his heart.
He promised that without hesitation and then withdrew from the flames, returning to Professor McGonagall's office. She had appeared a moment later and handed him a small vial with a purple potion.
"Take two sips before bed; it should help you sleep without nightmares," she explained.
For a moment, he stared at the vial and then nodded.
"Thank you. I think it might come in handy."
"Mr. Filch will escort you back to the dormitory."
Scorpius stopped himself from grimacing at the statement. It would have been childish and entirely inappropriate at that moment. He simply said, "I'd like to visit the Hospital Wing for a few minutes."
Scorpius didn't elaborate, but deep inside, he still held a fear that if he didn't do it, after speaking with the Aurors the next day, he might not get another chance.
Surprisingly, Professor McGonagall appeared to understand his motivations. She checked the clock and then nodded.
"But only for a few minutes. It's late."
He glanced briefly at the clock himself and then stashed the vial with the potion in his pocket before mustering a forced yet very grateful smile.
"I'll make sure not to get lost on my way."
He saw the tired lines on McGonagall's face soften slightly.
"Goodnight, Malfoy."
"Goodnight, Professor."
As Scorpius exited the office, he was surprised to find Albus still waiting for him. The Gryffindor sat on the floor, leaning against the wall. Contrary to his previous decision, Scorpius joined him without hesitation. When he felt the cold wall against his back, he closed his eyes for a moment and breathed a sigh of relief.
"You didn't have to wait here," Scorpius said.
"I didn't have to," Albus agreed.
In reality, there wasn't much more to add, and Scorpius didn't feel the need to say anything more. So they sat in silence for a few minutes, absorbing the quiet and steadying their nerves for the next round.
"I'm going to the Hospital Wing," Scorpius declared at last when he felt drowsiness creeping over him. He then got up from the floor.
Albus nodded and followed in his footsteps.
"Madam Pomfrey won't be thrilled with such late visits," Albus remarked.
Scorpius just shrugged. He didn't care too much about that. In the end, he couldn't be concerned about everyone's well-being around him.
It took them a while to reach the Hospital Wing. Scorpius stopped in front of the door and looked at Albus.
"I know you're afraid I might vanish again, but you can go to sleep now. I promise I'll still be in school tomorrow."
Albus looked at him with mild disbelief but eventually smiled slightly.
"I hope so. I don't plan on another trip to London anytime soon," he said, then again patted Scorpius on the shoulder and headed towards his dormitory.
Scorpius shook his head and then opened the door, entering the room. In the spacious chamber, only two beds were occupied. One held Karl with his bandaged hand, while the other had Zack sleeping in a fetal position. The first one immediately sat up upon seeing Scorpius in the doorway.
"Scorpius!" he said in a calm voice, putting his feet down on the floor. It seemed that despite the serious fall, he had not suffered any lasting injuries.
Scorpius approached him and asked, "How are you feeling?"
Karl gave him a classic Slytherin glare. "You vanish for an entire day, and now you show up as if nothing happened and ask about my health? Don't mess with me. Where have you been?"
Scorpius sighed softly. How many times would he have to answer that question?
"I panicked," he muttered, looking to the side. "Potter found me in London."
Karl shook his head in disbelief, then sat back on the bed.
"This is turning into a real mess. We're all going to get screwed."
"It's none of your business. I messed up," Scorpius replied with distaste, then added with resignation, "Not for the first time."
"You must be out of your mind!" Zachary spoke up unexpectedly. The blond boy also sat on the bed, and his face was a mix of anger and sadness. It was really uncommon for that naturally cheerful Slytherin. "We were all there, and, by the way, it was my half-baked idea."
Scorpius couldn't help but notice how shaken his friend was. Zack clenched his hands on the blanket, and his gaze darted around nervously.
"Let it go, Zack. You couldn't have foreseen that the girl would snap."
"But I should have!" Zack exclaimed, finally looking directly at Scorpius. "You're acting as if nothing happened, as if we could just go to class tomorrow, but we killed her! Doesn't that frighten you?!"
Zack stared at Scorpius with growing terror in his eyes. Scorpius didn't know how to respond to that. He had already gone through the panic phase. Currently, he was calmly analysing the events. However, he understood that Zack was tormented by guilt and fear for their shared fate.
"Tomorrow, I'll talk to the Aurors," Scorpius said at last. "I'll tell them exactly what happened there. I won't sugarcoat anything. After all, we didn't end up there by accident. But I won't divide the blame among the three of us for White's death. I take sole responsibility for that."
Scorpius had a feeling that if he would be within Zack's arm's reach, the blond would strangle him with his bare hands.
"Do you realise that they won't let you go? They'll nail you, not just because of you but also because of your father."
Scorpius shrugged, well aware that that could be the outcome. But he had decided not to run anymore so that he would face the consequences of his foolishness.
"We'll see tomorrow," he said firmly. "At least you two are okay. One less on my conscience."
Scorpius sat on the bed in the empty dormitory. From what he had learned, both of his roommates would remain in the Hospital Wing for at least three more days. He also didn't linger with them for too long, not wanting to test McGonagall's patience. Ultimately, he put all his hopes on the Headmaster to keep him from rotting in Azkaban.
Before going to sleep, he took two sips of the potion and tried not to dwell too much on the events of the past day. After a while, he drifted into the peaceful darkness.