XXVI
Scorpius lay on his bed, unable to sleep despite the late hour. Too many troubling thoughts swirled in his head. First and foremost, he needed to find out what his father had been hiding from him. Although he had sincere doubts about whether he could influence him in any way, the mere cluelessness frustrated him even more. He just couldn't stop thinking about it, especially when he was aware something happened. He simply couldn't.
That, of course, led to further problems. He had to find a way to reverse the effects of Obliviate. He had stumbled upon a description of the procedure in a book once, but at the time, he hadn't paid much attention to it because the memory charm itself was beyond his abilities. Magic affecting the mind, even a simple Confundus charm cast inexpertly, could cause significant damage. Therefore, Scorpius had to make sure Albus would be well-prepared for the task, as he didn't want his friend to mess with his mind either.
Of course, he couldn't just practice that kind of magic with Potter in the Room of Requirement. McGonagall would immediately notice that they were doing something they shouldn't. Although he probably didn't have to worry about Nash's tracking spell anymore since Potter had broken her wand, his ban on using magic was still in effect. He couldn't wait until June when the restriction would be lifted.
That's why he needed to find another way. For a brief moment, he thought with frustration that everything was repeating itself. He had to come up with a plan and avoid looking into the director's eyes, knowing that, once again, he hid something from her, working behind her back. But as he told Albus, if he was right, if his father did something illegal, McGonagall couldn't find out about it. She might like him, but that certainly wouldn't stop her from reporting a crime. After all, she was a true Gryffindor through and through, deeply devoted to justice.
Scorpius had no intention of dwelling on what he would do once he learned the truth. He would consider all the options when he actually received some information. At that moment, those pieces of the puzzle were buried deep in his mind, and he needed to extract them.
The second half of his problem was the stubborn Nash. Scorpius was convinced that it was only a matter of time before she obtained another wand. She probably sent word to her family immediately for a replacement. It was difficult to predict her next move. Would she report the incident to the teachers? Unlikely, as it would be her word against theirs, and Albus hadn't broken her wand with any charm, making it much harder to prove. Besides, if she had intended to do so, Scorpius would likely be sitting in McGonagall's office already.
Undoubtedly, she would want to take revenge on them. She was stubborn and relentless in her pursuit to make Scorpius' life difficult, though he still didn't know what fueled that vendetta. He hadn't seen her behave in a similar way towards other Slytherins, so it had to be a personal matter. The only thing that came to mind was some close connection she might have with Peggy White or maybe Willick. The thought genuinely made Scorpius feel worse. Of course, many girls admired that scoundrel, but whatever anyone might say against Elizabeth, she didn't seem like the kind to be involved with older guys.
None of it made sense, and the conclusion remained the same: Scorpius needed to keep an eye out again. To make matters worse, he had dragged Albus into that, and the Gryffindor might suffer the consequences as well.
Scorpius sat on his bed and glanced at the remnants of Nash's wand that lay on the nightstand. He was adamant that Potter shouldn't keep them. If things went south, Scorpius was willing to take the blame. Ultimately, one more blemish on his record wouldn't change much, but Albus didn't need these kinds of problems. Although, of course, he would never agree to that. For peace of mind, Scorpius preferred not to ask.
He fell asleep long after three in the morning when his mind finally ceased to analyse all the possible scenarios. Nevertheless, as he drifted off to sleep, he already had a partially formulated plan for his next moves. It helped him to get some rest finally.
The events of the previous day and the sleepless night left Scorpius feeling completely out of sorts throughout most of the morning. He meandered with Karl and Zack, hoping that for at least a few more hours, he wouldn't have to strain his aching head. Of course, they immediately noticed a change in his behaviour, and even at breakfast, they began questioning him about the details.
"Why are you so absent today?" Zachary asked as he sipped his cup of grain coffee. "I saw you weren't sleeping much last night either. What's going on?"
Scorpius rubbed his face with his hand, attempting to shake off the fatigue. Not too long ago, he had vowed not to lie to them anymore, but he wasn't sure how much he could tell them. It wasn't just a matter of trust; he didn't want to drag them into another trouble.
"Nash is driving me crazy," he grumbled reluctantly. "She cornered me in the library last night and started her rant again."
Zachary let out a quiet snort.
"Crazy witch. What has she got against you?"
Scorpius shrugged.
"If only I knew. But I'm getting migraines just from hearing her voice."
Seeing Scorpius's pained expression, Karl and Zack couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Maybe she's just in love with you," Karl suggested, to which Scorpius nearly choked on his pumpkin juice.
"Are you serious?"
"We're talking about the cold, analytical Ravenclaw. Maybe she has trouble with expressing emotions."
Scorpius rolled his eyes.
"If that's how she shows interest, I don't want to know what she does to her enemies."
Despite that, Karl's words had their desired effect. Scorpius began to feel better. Sometimes, you just had to laugh at your problems to make them less overwhelming.
"Stop talking nonsense," he added with a smile. "I already have one girl after me, and that's more than enough."
Upon hearing that, Zack looked at him mischievously.
"I assume you're talking about our sweet Lily."
"No, for Merlin's sake, about your great-grandmother," Scorpius mocked as he got up from the table. His words didn't diminish the amusement of the blond-haired boy, who stretched out in his chair and folded his arms.
"Great-grandmother, you say? Well, I'd prefer Lily, but I understand you have a thing for older women."
Scorpius glared at his friend menacingly.
"Just one more word, Zack, and I promise the jug of juice will land on your head."
"Ah, I must've hit a nerve. Now I understand why you always fly so willingly to—"
"Enough, I won't separate you two," Karl interjected, stepping between them. "Zack, stop the foolish talk and let's go. Potions don't brew themselves."
Scorpius threatened Zack with a clenched fist but ultimately relented, knowing he shouldn't let the blonde's stupid jokes get to him.
As they entered the dungeons, other students were busy setting up cauldrons, and Professor Smilthon was distributing instructions and ingredients for the day's potion.
Scorpius took his usual seat and rested his head on his elbow, hoping to steal a quick nap. However, he soon felt someone standing over him. When he looked up, he saw Albus.
"Are you feeling alright? You look like a mountain troll chewed you up," the Gryffindor asked.
"I'm fine, just didn't get much sleep," Scorpius replied and then glanced at Karl and Zack sitting beside him. "You know, I had a lot of extra work to do."
Albus quickly understood the hint and nodded.
"You shouldn't overwork yourself. Someday, it'll catch up to you."
Scorpius shrugged.
"We keep telling him that," Zack chimed in. "And he still rots in the library. When was the last time you went to bed at a normal hour?"
"I'll sleep after I'm dead. Right now, I don't have time," Scorpius grumbled, sensing that he was in a losing position in that discussion. Fortunately, the start of the class spared him from further talk about his unhealthy lifestyle.
"Go on without me," he said to his friends as they left the dungeon. Both of them looked at him inquisitively.
"I need to talk to Smilthon."
"You? With Smilthon?" Zack scoffed.
"McGonagall wants me to catch up on potions, so I have to arrange that," he said without hesitation, his third lie of the day, and it wasn't even noon yet. He clearly got back into his old form.
"Do you not see what that woman is doing to you?" Zack teased. "You're turning into a bookworm."
Scorpius smiled slightly. "I'm already one. Now, get going. I'll join you shortly."
When all the other students had left the classroom, Scorpius grew more serious and slowly approached the professor's desk. Seeing him, the Potions Master adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat.
"Malfoy, do you need something?" he asked, placing the last of the prepared potion into a wooden compartmented box.
"Do you remember our conversation after the accident in the owlery, professor?" Scorpius asked in a quiet and somewhat awkward voice. He didn't look at the man but rather at the stacks of papers cluttering the desk. "You said I could come to you if I ever had a problem."
Hearing those words, Smilthon appeared flustered at first, but then he sat up straighter and cleared his throat again as if his mouth had gone dry.
"Yes, of course... how can I help you?"
Scorpius waited for a moment, prolonging the silence that followed the professor's question. He didn't want to sound too certain, although he doubted the distracted man could notice anything suspicious.
"I have trouble sleeping," he finally spoke, even softer than before. "I'm haunted by nightmares. I used to take Sleeping Draught that was prescribed to me at St. Mungo's for a while, but I know it shouldn't be taken for too long because it's addictive."
"Indeed, it's a good remedy, but it does come with many unwanted side effects. There's also the Elixir for Dreamless Sleep, but I wouldn't recommend that for long-term use either."
Scorpius nodded sadly and managed an even more distressed expression. Then, he finally turned his gaze to the teacher, who looked genuinely concerned by now.
"It's not just the nightmares. I've become accustomed to them. But after such a night when they visit me, throughout the day, they come back like a bad memory. Sometimes, I can't think about anything else because I keep seeing those scenes. You know, I'm not good with potions, but my friend told me there's a potion that can erase the latest memory. I thought maybe something like that would help, that if I could forget what I dreamt about, it would give me some peace during the day."
At that very moment, Scorpius realised that he had slightly missed his calling. He should have become an actor because, at the end of those last words, his voice quivered so artistically as if that whole situation was giving him a hard time.
Smilthon looked at him for a moment, clearly shaken by that confession. Then he stepped out from behind his desk and patted Scorpius on the shoulder in a paternal manner.
"You've been through a lot at such a young age; it's no wonder your mind struggles with the problems. It's good that you came to me with that instead of trying to find a solution on your own. There is indeed such a potion, Temporary Obliviation. It can erase memories of the past hour, as the name suggests, but its effects are temporary. It usually wears off in less than a day. In your case, it could really help. If you were to drink a sip of it in the morning after you wake up, it would erase any memory of your nightmares, and the effects would subside by the next night when it no longer matters. Besides, it's not a potent remedy, and you could use it on an ad hoc basis. Wait a moment; I believe I have one vial somewhere in the storeroom."
Saying that Smilthon patted Scorpius on the shoulder once more and disappeared into the back. Scorpius sighed heavily and perched on one of the classroom benches. He kept his gaze locked on the floor, nervously clenching his fingers. He made sure he didn't break character for even a second. After a while, the professor returned to the room and handed him a small vial filled with a brown liquid.
"Only use it when necessary," he added seriously. "Two drops per glass of water."
Scorpius nodded, staring at the potion.
"Thank you," he said, his throat tight. "I hope I won't need these too often."
The man simply sighed heavily and nodded slightly.
"Everything will come with time; you must be patient."
If Smilthon knew Scorpius better, he would know that patience was never one of his strong suits. However, Scorpius had no intention of correcting him. Instead, he thanked him once more and quickly left the dungeon.
As he tucked the vial into his pocket, he had to stifle a satisfied smile. Perhaps he should have felt guilty; perhaps he should have been concerned about McGonagall's reaction if she ever found out, but he felt nothing but a pleasant thrill. Maybe he had been acting against his Slytherin nature for far too long. Honesty and openness had their virtues, but sometimes, it was just good to deceive someone. Whatever they said, Scorpius hadn't felt that pleased with a little twist in a while.
The last classes of the day happened to be the unfortunate Runes, for which, for obvious reasons, Scorpius couldn't prepare himself the day before. Nevertheless, he had no intention of skipping that class, even though it was a very tempting option. Exposing himself to mock in front of the whole group of Ravenclaws was a mediocre pastime. However, he knew that it would be an act of cowardice, and that was absolutely unacceptable for him. So he walked into the classroom with determined steps and took his usual seat in the last row. It was only then that he noticed Nash standing by Mirreck's desk, explaining something to him fervently. From that distance, Scorpius couldn't hear their words, but after a while, the professor nodded and gestured for Nash to return to her seat. And then the class began.
Scorpius quickly realised what the girl's problem was. She was using a spare wand, most likely from the school's reserves, and it clearly didn't want to cooperate with her. The frustration on Nash's face when she couldn't even draw the simplest rune was priceless, but Scorpius refrained from commenting on it. He did everything to pretend he hadn't noticed.
However, when the class came to an end, Nash passed by his seat, giving him such a look that if a gaze could kill, Scorpius would be dead already. Fortunately, such a gaze only worked in the case of basilisks, so Scorpius returned her glare with an equally vicious one. He hoped that Nash would direct her anger at him rather than at Albus, who certainly didn't deserve such treatment.
"I can see that things are getting better between you," Rose commented when she came to Scorpius.
"Yeah, I think we're at the point where Nash would love to spread my guts around the schoolyard," he said, also getting ready to leave.
For the sake of it, Scorpius chose to remain silent about Albus' involvement in the whole affair. He wasn't sure if Albus would want to share that knowledge with his cousin. If he did, Potter would have to do it personally.
"Malfoy," Rose called after him, "did something happen yesterday?"
Scorpius inwardly cursed. Weasley's curiosity could be truly irritating.
"Why are you asking me?"
Rose crossed her arms and gave him a critical look. "Because Albus is acting weird today, and if I know him, he's hiding something. Probably, as usual, covering you, so maybe you'll stop pretending and tell me what you've been up to."
Scorpius sighed heavily, then nodded with a tilt of his head, signalling for the Gryffindor girl to follow him. He didn't feel like confessing to her, but it seemed that she would eventually discover the truth on her own.
"Yesterday, Nash attacked me, not with a charm, but it was close. Albus saw it and managed to take her wand. Then he got so angry that he smashed it against a statue."
Rose looked at him incredulously.
"Albus destroyed her wand?"
Scorpius nodded.
"I've never seen him so furious before."
Rose paused for a moment.
"That explains a lot. Especially Albus' bad mood today and the fact that Elizabeth had a substitute wand. I also heard that there was some commotion in Ravenclaw Tower last night. I don't know the details, but my mom's friend's daughter is in her second year, and that morning, she said she couldn't sleep well because someone locked themselves in the girl's bathroom and didn't come out until morning."
"Is Nash so upset about losing her wand? She has a real problem, and not just with me."
"It's worse now that Albus is involved. Sorry for saying that, but as much as I dislike your battle with that Ravenclaw girl, I'd rather not see it harm Albus."
"Well, we're on the same page," Scorpius remarked, and then added after some thought, "I have an idea for at least partially fixing that situation. At least enough to keep Albus out of the whole mess."
Rose looked at him again with a probing expression, so he quickly added:
"I'm not Potter. You won't squeeze details out of me with a menacing look".
"What are you suggesting?"
"Maybe you'll just trust me?"
Rose snorted.
"Trolls will fly before that happens. But I know that you care about Albus, at least as much as I do, so for once, I'll try to believe that you know what you're doing. Do you realise how much trust I'm putting in you?"
"I'm not sure I can handle that responsibility," Scorpius concluded.
Fortunately, for the rest of the week, Nash seemed to be avoiding Scorpius, which he took with great relief. Subconsciously, he even began to hope that the girl might back off, scared of the consequences of her determination. He didn't really want to give in to that hope, but it was nice to shake off the feeling that someone was breathing down his neck. Perhaps her awareness of not having her wand had something to do with it? In a way, she had done him a favour. If it weren't for her determination, Scorpius would still be blissfully unaware of what had happened over the holidays.
That day was Saturday, however, and it was hard to think about anything other than the upcoming wizarding Olympics. All the students had gathered in the Great Hall, where the details of the event were to be announced. The entire teaching staff was present as well.
Of course, Professor McGonagall was the first to speak. She repeated what everyone already knew: the competition would take place at the beginning of May and would last for two weeks. Its purpose was not only to provide entertainment but, more importantly, to encourage students to cooperate and have fun together.
Then, she passed the floor to Professor Hooch, the flying instructor and the organiser of all school sports events.
"Listen," the teacher began, "the upcoming Olympics will not be individual competitions but team-based ones. However, unlike Quidditch, the teams will not be composed of members from individual Houses. Instead, each year will select four representatives, one from each House. Over the next week, there will be voting. Every student will be able to nominate one candidate from their year and House. In that way, next Sunday, the list of seven four-member teams will be announced. Each of them will participate in a series of competitions that will be adapted to their age and abilities. The entire event will be judged by a jury consisting of Headmaster McGonagall and the Heads of Houses: Professor Longbottom, Professor Flitwick, Professor Sinistra, and Professor Smilthon.
The final form of the competitions will remain a secret until the day of the event, but they will cover various subjects such as Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Potions, Charms and Curses, Astronomy, and History of Magic.
The winning team will receive fabulous prizes and, of course, everlasting glory that will be recorded in the school's history books."
The teacher's final statement amused the students, causing a brief commotion in the hall. However, when Professor Hooch raised her hand, silence returned.
"Starting tomorrow morning, there will be voting urns in the common rooms. Everyone can cast only one vote for another student. The voting will end next Saturday, and on Sunday, we will announce the official teams. Choose based on abilities, not just your preferences, as the chosen person will represent you."
A wave of whispers passed through the hall again. Everyone seemed to be very curious about the upcoming event, especially the opportunity to choose participants. Almost immediately, the students started bargaining and debating whom to vote for. When Professor McGonagall thanked everyone for their attention, the commotion erupted.
"It's chaos," commented Zack, swaying in his chair. "I can see some people are really eager to participate."
Sighing, Scorpius rolled his eyes but didn't respond. Instead, he got up from the table and left the hall. Although they hadn't planned it, as soon as the teachers left the Great Hall, he followed Professor Scamander. She noticed him in the corridor, and they walked together toward the hut on the grounds.
That day, Scorpius was assigned to portioning and distributing food to all the herbivorous creatures. It was an enjoyable task, as most of these creatures reacted very enthusiastically to him.
It was also advantageous for him in another way. As he passed between the enclosures, he quickly found a large cage filled with a flock of young German Pixies, small, green creatures with mischievous characters, although not as aggressive as their Cornish cousins.
Scorpius very effectively pretended to ignore them completely. However, when he noticed that none of the house elves was in the vicinity, he quickly slid the latch holding the door closed.
The results did not take long to appear. A swarm of Pixies flew outside and began to target anything within their small, grasping paws. Three house elves appeared almost immediately in the centre of the commotion, trying to catch the escapees with terrified expressions.
"I'll help!" Scorpius shouted, covering three of the closest Pixies with a bucket. The house elves were too busy with the other creatures to notice that only two of them had returned to the cage, while the third, along with a juicy slice of orange, had found safe refuge in Scorpius' pocket.
"Immobulus," he suddenly heard a calm voice, and almost all the Pixies froze in place. "Please, clean up that mess," the teacher said, looking at the house elves and Scorpius.
With her help, herding the rest of the creatures back into the cage proved to be child's play.
Leaving the hut, Scorpius gently stroked the scaly body of the creature sleeping in his pocket. He was certain that considering the number of these creatures in the cellar, no one would notice the absence of that one.
Without hesitation, he made his way to the Room of Requirement, where a large, golden cage filled with a variety of fruits awaited him. Scorpius placed the Pixie inside and then sat down on a nearby couch.
Suddenly, an unpleasant shiver ran down his spine. Everything was ready. As soon as he returned from the mysterious hunt with Professor Scamander tomorrow, he could start teaching Albus the formulas to undo the effects of Obliviate, bringing him closer to remembering the truth. Deep down, however, he wasn't entirely convinced if he really wanted to remember it. Over the past few months, he had managed to maintain the semblance of normalcy. He had not schemed, barely lied, and focused primarily on his studies. Yet, it took just one unfortunate incident for him to revert to his old ways easily. He was once again involved in schemes, misleading others and barely thinking about the consequences. Should he? Had he really thought everything through? Was he sure he wanted to go down that path?
Unfortunately, he didn't have the answers to these questions, but one thing was clear to him. He couldn't live with the knowledge that some terrible truth had been hidden from him. There was no negotiation about that. And if he wasn't willing to compromise here, could he afford to do things half-heartedly? Given that perspective, the answer was quite obvious.
Annoyed with his thoughts, Scorpius stood up abruptly and quickly left the Room of Requirement. He didn't want to dwell on that issue further; he just wanted to go to the dungeons and get some sleep. He had no desire for another sleepless night due to an overwhelming flood of thoughts. He needed rest, especially since the day ahead was unlikely to be easy.
He hoped that, in the general commotion of the upcoming Olympic event, no one would pay much attention to him. However, as soon as he entered the Slytherin common room, he saw all his fellow Slytherins from his year sitting together at one table, engaged in an intense discussion. Karl and Zack were there too. The former shook his head, and the whole situation clearly amused the latter.
Feeling that he couldn't avoid it, Scorpius approached them.
"Did I miss something?" he asked, looking at his roommates. Zachary's expression suggested that he might not like the answer.
Fourteen pairs of eyes turned towards him, and then Tobias Mountgomery, a small boy with dark hair and a rat-like face, cleared his throat and spoke on behalf of everyone.
"We want you to represent us in the Olympics."
"I told them we're suspended, but it's not getting through to them," Karl muttered in a resigned voice.
Scorpius smiled lightly, seeing his friend's troubled expression, and then shifted his gaze to the others.
"All right."
His affirmative response seemed to surprise everyone more than if he had refused. The Slytherins, including Zack, looked at him as if they saw him for the first time in their lives.
"Does that mean you agree?" Natalie Braun, a tall girl with a piercing gaze and Ester's closest friend and former roommate from last year asked.
Scorpius shrugged.
"Is that really so strange?"
"Considering your devious nature, we expected more of a long and difficult battle," Alice, a brunette sitting next to Natalie, added.
"I'll spare you that dubious pleasure."
Karl looked at him questioningly.
"Have you talked to McGonagall?"
"I can compete," Scorpius stated, confirming Karl's suspicions, and then he smiled in the most malicious and sinister way. "And I'll show everyone else that it's a big mistake to underestimate us."
He didn't know why he suddenly felt compelled to make such statements, but his words had an unexpected effect. The previously worried Slytherins seemed more confident and clearly excited about the prospect.
Perhaps he would regret it in the future, but that day, for the first time in a long while, he felt like a member of that group rather than an outcast who always went against the flow. For the first time, he felt like someone wanted to support him, and it was a genuinely pleasant experience.
Sunday morning was sunny but quite cold, so Karl and Scorpius walked across the fields, tightly wrapped in their cloaks. Earlier, Karl had tried to pry for more details about that unusual escapade, but Scorpius himself didn't know much. Nevertheless, both of them were undoubtedly curious about what Mrs Scamander had in store for them.
They weren't particularly surprised to find the teacher waiting for them outside the hut. She didn't wear the standard robe but had a more Muggle-like outfit consisting of a denim jacket, dark jeans, and Wellington boots. She had a backpack slung over her shoulder. That alone suggested that some fieldwork awaited them.
"Ready?" Mrs Scamander asked, smiling in her characteristic, somewhat melancholic way.
Both Slytherins nodded, so she reached out her hand, on which lay a reasonably sized silver pocket watch.
"Touch it."
Scorpius looked first at Ms. Scamander, then at Karl, before finally placing his hand on the indicated object. When the second boy did the same, the world suddenly swirled around them, and a moment later, they found themselves in an entirely different place.
Karl jumped back, visibly startled, and looked around while Scorpius glanced at the teacher with a questioning look.
"The portkey?" he asked.
"That's right. Rolf sent me that one when he was looking for the swishwisks' habitat."
Both Slytherins looked at her strangely: Scorpius because he had never heard of such creatures, and Karl apparently with excitement.
"I've heard they're on the brink of extinction," he remarked.
The woman nodded. "They require very pure water, and that's becoming increasingly scarce due to human pollution."
Scorpius scanned the surroundings. They stood on the shore of a small lake somewhere among the mountains. There were no signs of civilisation within sight, so indeed, if someone searched for water uncontaminated by human activity, the place seemed perfect.
Meanwhile, Mrs Scamander knelt and began rummaging in her backpack.
"Could you help, boys? It's a bit heavy," she asked after a while, wrestling with the contents.
On command, both of them approached, and moments later, they managed to extract a large water-filled aquarium. Professor Scamander's backpack must have been magically enlarged to hold something so big. Inside, Scorpius noticed the familiar little creatures. They had grown quite large, and some of them were starting to become translucent.
"They are ready to be set free," the woman added, smiling in Scorpius's direction.
"May I?" he asked, lifting the lid of the glass container. Seeing the professor nod, he reached his hand inside, and almost immediately, he felt several tentacles wrap around his fingers. With the help of his other hand, he pulled the creatures out and gently released them into the lake. The pressure on his fingers eased, and there was no trace of the creatures.
He repeated that process several times until the aquarium was empty. At that point, Professor Scamander purified the remaining water in the tank with a charm, and then she approached the boys.
"I recommend leaving your clothes on the shore," she advised as she removed her overcoat and the sweater underneath.
Karl exchanged a glance with Scorpius, not quite sure where to look, when the professor stood before them in a thin undershirt and short shorts. Eventually, they followed her lead, and a moment later, they shivered in the cold mountain wind only in boxers. That was when Professor Scamander cast a charm on them that instantly removed the sensation of cold and surrounded their heads with bubbles of air.
"Swishwisks like to hide among the rocks. They look a bit like small elves, but their bodies are covered in scales, and their distinguishing feature is the yellow spots behind their ears and on their feet. They use these spots to attract small crustaceans and invertebrates, which are their food."
Following that brief introduction, the two Slytherins, led by Professor Scamander, immersed themselves in the icy lake water. Fortunately, the charm provided excellent protection against the cold, and the air bubbles ensured they could breathe. They illuminated their surroundings with their wands and slowly began to comb the lake's bottom, peering under rocks and into crevices. It was a much more challenging task than one might expect, and almost an hour passed before Karl signalled success.
Scorpius and Professor Scamander approached the spot Karl indicated, and there they indeed saw their target. A small creature with scaly skin and large, round eyes peered out from among the rocks. Yellow spots were visible behind its long ears, but its feet remained hidden in the thick mud.
Professor Scamander extended her hand slowly towards the creature, and out of nowhere, a few caramel candies appeared.
The swishwisk observed that with great interest, and finally, it emerged further and swam to the professor, sitting on her hand and enjoying the treat.
"Caramel candies?" Scorpius whispered.
"Not many people know that swishwisks have a sweet tooth," she replied, offering the creature, along with the candies, to Karl.
"That one is your find. Take it to the aquarium," she instructed the Slytherin.
The next few hours they spent searching the lake's bottom, resulting in the capture of seven swishwisks who happily pampered the caramel candies residing in the aquarium.
"What will you do with them?" Karl asked.
"I will try to breed them and increase their population in both that lake and other nearby ones. Rolf and I do our best to support the conservation of species like that one. They wouldn't stand a chance without our help."
Karl watched the small creatures for a little while longer and then turned his attention to the professor. "Is there any way I can help with that?"
"I'd be very grateful for your assistance," she replied, pulling her sweater and jacket back on.
The warming charm had ceased, and the boys hastily dressed because the wind had turned even colder. It was late in the afternoon, and the sun was quickly setting behind the mountain peaks.
When Scorpius put on his pants, he felt Nash's broken wand in his pocket. That was the perfect opportunity to use the situation, although he knew he had to handle it carefully. He doubted Professor Scamander would notice the trick, but he didn't want to risk it. That woman remained unpredictable.
He approached the lake's shore to wash his hands of mud and sand. Then, without warning, he stumbled and fell on the slippery rocks, cursing loudly and clutching his sore backside.
"Are you okay?" the concerned woman asked. "Did you hurt yourself?"
"I don't think so," Scorpius replied, getting to his feet. "I probably didn't break anything..." He suddenly cut himself off and, with a shaky hand, pulled Nash's broken wand from the back pocket of his pants. "For troll stinky legs!"
Professor Scamander moved closer and examined the damage.
"Not good. In that condition, you won't be able to use it."
Scorpius shook his head and sighed heavily, pretending to be annoyed.
"My mother always warned me not to keep a wand in my back pocket."
"Should have listened to her," the woman agreed, then smiled in that familiar, somewhat peculiar way. "Good thing we finished with the swishwisks before nightfall. We'll drop them off at school and then visit Diagon Alley for you to get it fixed."
Scorpius feigned embarrassment, even though he didn't expect anything else.
"I don't want to be a bother."
The woman shook her head slightly.
"You'll need it." Her tone was firm and not open to further discussion.
Hearing that, Scorpius nodded and began to put on the rest of his clothes. Moments later, he noticed Karl's curious gaze. Karl must have noticed that the broken wand didn't belong to Scorpius, but surprisingly, he didn't say a word. He apparently suspected that there was a longer story behind it. Scorpius merely nodded, and then both of them started packing the aquarium back into Professor Skamander's backpack.
Everything went much smoother than Scorpius had expected. Not even half an hour later, he stood in Olivander's workshop. The old man frowned as he examined the broken wand, muttering something incomprehensible to himself, clearly concerned about what he saw.
"What happened?" he asked eventually. Fortunately, Professor Scamander had gone to the Magical Menagerie, so he didn't have to worry about the events not matching.
"No spell hit it. It was physically broken," Scorpius explained.
"That's good. Magical damage is much harder to repair," the man replied before disappearing behind the scenes.
For a long fifteen minutes, Scorpius stood in the empty shop, gazing at the displayed items. He had become completely bored with watching when Olivander reappeared, placing the wand, whole again, on the counter.
"Oak is a sturdy wood. It shouldn't be subjected to too much strain," he said and handed the wand back to Scorpius. "Tell Miss Nash not to throw it around so carelessly."
Scorpius looked at the man in genuine astonishment. "How did you..."
"I remember every wand I've sold, boy. Yours is made of cedar with a core of dragon heartstring; that one is definitely not it. I won't inquire how Miss Nash's wand was broken; I'm just glad you're trying to make amends."
Scorpius let out a faint sigh.
"Actually, I'm not the one who broke it."
"Nevertheless, I assume you're not here without reason."
That time, Scorpius couldn't help but smile faintly. The old man was very wise.
"That's right."
Olivander nodded.
"It's good as new."
Scorpius stashed the wand away, thanked the man, and left the shop to find the professor with whom he was to return to school.
Karl and Scorpius arrived at school just in time for the end of dinner, though they were already sitting alone at the Slytherin table.
"What's the deal with that wand?" Karl asked, making sure no one could overhear their conversation.
"Let's just say I'm fixing one of Albus' mistakes."
"He's the one who broke it? How?"
"The wand belongs to Nash, that crazy Ravenclaw. Albus lost his patience and smashed it against a statue."
Hearing that, Karl nearly choked on his soup.
"Potter? Are we talking about the same quiet and calm Gryffindor?"
"The same one. I was shocked, too. Nevertheless, now I have to smooth things over. Nash has something against me; Albus doesn't need her wrath on him."
"Have you figured out why she's been after you so much?"
Scorpius grimaced.
"Unfortunately, no. She doesn't seem inclined to confess, and wild guesses won't get me far. It could be anything. Still, I can't deny that she's extremely annoying. Even worse, she knows about my prohibition for charms and exploits it with premeditation. She knows I can't fight back."
"What a hag."
"You don't even know the half of it."
Karl snorted and returned to his meal.
"Thanks for not ratting me out in front of Scamander," Scorpius added after a moment.
"No problem. Thankfully, you were with me and not with Zack."
Scorpius couldn't disagree with that argument.
"Right, that chatterbox can't keep his mouth shut."
They parted ways right after dinner because Scorpius wanted to finish dealing with that unfortunate wand. He looked around the corridor, and when he was sure there was no one nearby, he pulled out his two-way mirror and summoned Albus.
"Can you check something for me?" he asked when he saw Gryffindor's face in the reflection.
"What's that?"
"I need you to look at your map and tell me where Nash is right now."
"What are you up to?" Potter asked, his voice tinged with concern.
Scorpius waved Nash's wand in front of the mirror.
"I fixed it, and I want to return it."
That time, amazement was clearly written on Gryffindor's face.
"How did you do that?"
Scorpius smiled slyly.
"That will remain my secret. So, will you tell me where she is?"
Albus rolled his eyes, but then he disappeared from view.
"Currently, she's in Ravenclaw Tower. You won't be able to get there easily."
Scorpius sighed heavily. Of course, it couldn't be too easy.
"Alright," he said after a moment of thought. "I'll go to the library, and you keep an eye on the map. If she leaves the tower, let me know."
Albus simply nodded in agreement, and then the image in the mirror blurred.
Scorpius rarely ventured into that part of the castle, especially considering that it was where he could most likely run into Ravenclaws, who, by all accounts, didn't hold him in high regard.
Fortunately, Sunday evening was a time when most people sat in the common room, playing games or simply gossiping. Thanks to that, Scorpius managed to slip by without attracting much attention. It was a few minutes past ten when Albus informed him that Nash had left the tower and was currently in the girls' bathroom on the sixth floor.
For a moment, Scorpius stood near the door, hoping that Nash would eventually come out and he could catch her in the corridor. He wasn't entirely sure if he wanted to do that, as it could lead to an even bigger confrontation, but he hoped that, in a public place, Nash wouldn't resort to any violent actions. After all, he had her wand so he could dictate the terms. From what he had seen, her backup wand didn't seem to be very cooperative. If he played his cards right, he might not only find out why Nash was fixated on him but even solve the whole problem. For the first time, he felt like he had the upper hand.
Time passed, and the girl didn't come out. Meanwhile, Scorpius heard a quiet voice coming from his pocket.
"I thought you should know," Albus spoke when Scorpius took out the mirror again. "Earlier, one name covered the other, but now I see that Timothy Nash is there, too, so be careful."
Scorpius cursed inwardly, recalling that nasty guy who, along with a friend, had beaten him up in Hogsmeade last year.
"Thanks for the warning," he replied.
He put the mirror away and walked towards the door. He seriously considered postponing the whole thing for another occasion, but curiosity won out. If those devious siblings plotted something, he really wanted to know about that. Every piece of information he could use against Elisabeth was to his advantage.
He glanced around the corridor, and when he saw no one within sight, he pushed open the bathroom door. At that moment, muffled, angry words reached his ears. He didn't understand their meaning, but they certainly didn't sound pleasant. Silently, he slipped inside and moved closer to the entrance to the next room, where the sinks were. He didn't want to be seen, but in truth, he didn't have to show himself. In the mirror on the wall, he saw the unfolding scene.
"...I'm sorry," the girl whispered, leaning against one of the sinks. Her voice was quiet, clearly unsure, very unlike her usual tone.
In the reflection, Scorpius could see that Elizabeth's brother was literally looming over her, his fists clenched and his face contorted in an angry grimace. He dominated not only in height but in posture as well.
"I don't care about your apologies," he growled. "You're clumsy, and Dad will be furious when he finds out you've lost your wand."
Elizabeth averted her gaze, staring at the floor.
"Look at me when I'm talking to you, you idiot!" Timothy yelled and grabbed her by the hair, forcing her to raise her head. "If you think I'll defend you, you're mistaken. Quite the opposite, I'll be glad to watch."
"That hurts, Tim," the girl hissed, although she didn't try to break free.
"Of course, and it's going to hurt even more. You'll see, hopeless muff. Losing your wand, that's something!" The boy pushed her so violently that she hit her head against the mirror behind her, leaving it with a cracked mesh.
"You see, it's your fault for breaking the mirror, too. You'll explain that as well. Understand?!"
The Ravenclaw girl said nothing in response, only nodded.
Scorpius stood there, paralysed, unable to believe what he saw. He had always known that Nash and Backsing were complete scoundrels, but he never suspected that either of them was capable of something like that.
"I can't believe there's someone in our family as hopeless as you," Timothy snarled, and his hand dangerously moved upward.
A thought crossed Scorpius' mind that, for his good, he should back off. He remembered all too well how much it had hurt when Nash kicked him while he was paralysed on the snow. However, he couldn't bring himself to do it. Running away was never in his nature. Instead, he adopted the most vile expression and entered Ravenclaw's field of view.
"And what are you doing here, snake?" Timothy growled, clearly taken aback by his presence.
"I can hear you all the way down the corridor," Scorpius replied, shrugging, and then added with a sinister smile, "And since I also can't stand that bitch, I've decided to watch."
"There's nothing to see here," Timothy replied, approaching Scorpius. "Get out of here; it's a family matter."
If possible, Scorpius' smile grew even wider.
"Family, you say? You have a really strange way of conversing with your family," he said, significantly looking towards the shattered mirror, then suddenly grew more serious. "You better leave, or everyone will know about your methods of conversation."
He watched as Ravenclaw clenched his fists.
"If you utter a single word, you're dead! Clear?!"
"Get out of here," Scorpius growled, drawing his wand, "Or I'll transfigure you into a meat pudding."
Timothy seemed about to rearrange Scorpius' face, but the sight of the drawn wand clearly tempered his enthusiasm. He cursed obscenely and brushed past Scorpius through the door, forcefully bumping into him.
In the bathroom, a heavy silence fell. Scorpius kept listening for a moment, making sure that guy had truly moved away, while Elizabeth still stood by the sink, her gaze genuinely frightened.
Scorpius should have been delighted to witness a scene like that. It gave him a unique opportunity to get rid of the problem. However, all he felt at the moment was mounting fury. He had never expected that of himself, but what he had witnessed had sent his blood boiling. He had done plenty of nasty things in his life, but there was no room in his vocabulary for such senseless and cruel aggression. He might despise Elizabeth, but he would never do something like that.
He looked at Ravenclaw girl, who still stood in a state of shock, and only then did he notice a trickle of blood flowing down her hair and the side of her face. She must have been too distracted even to feel it. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves and approached her. The girl recoiled as if burned, her gaze shifting to the wand in Scorpius' hand.
"You can't use magic!" she stammered through her narrowed throat.
Scorpius halted in mid-step, realising that Nash was simply scared of him. All her previous pride and assertiveness had disappeared, leaving only a frightened girl.
"You're bleeding," he said, pointing to her head.
Only then did she raise a hand to her head and, after a moment, noticed the blood on her fingers.
Taking advantage of her momentary disarray, Scorpius approached her and placed his hand on her shoulder. She visibly flinched but did nothing else. He watched as she observed his every move with wide-open eyes.
"Show me," he said, turning her slightly. The wound looked clean, so it seemed that no glass shards had penetrated it. However, he wanted to be certain before healing it. He picked up a nearby towel, wet it in the sink, and applied it to the wound. The girl hissed.
"Accio stool," he called, summoning a small stool from the far end of the room.
"But you can't use magic," she whispered, her voice trembling.
"No one said I can't; at worst, I'll get another detention. Sit down."
The girl still stared at him with unease but obeyed his command. For a few moments, Scorpius gently cleaned the cut on her head, making sure nothing was left inside, and then sealed the wound with a charm.
"I hope you can manage to clean your clothes yourself; even without that, I probably earned another week of serving detention with Scamander."
"I...," the girl hesitated, her eyes moving to the pocket of her robe where she probably kept a spare wand.
Meanwhile, Scorpius retrieved the wand he had fixed from his pocket.
"That might help you," he said, and when the girl didn't reach for it, he placed it on the sink.
It was the perfect moment to convince Nash to leave him alone for good, but the right words just wouldn't come to him. For a moment, he silently watched the girl; then he tossed the bloody towel into the trash can.
"Your brother is always so pleasant?" he asked before realising whether he really wanted the answer to that question. That could potentially reveal a darker truth than he was prepared for.
Nash still examined her wand carefully. Her face still had that strange, pained expression.
"I thought you'd join him. It would suit you better," she said quietly.
Scorpius sized her up, and then he crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame.
"Join him? Join your brother?"
He snorted when she nodded.
"I shouldn't be surprised; I've noticed you have a low opinion of me."
The girl clenched her lips and looked to the side. She seemed to be struggling with herself, and Scorpius quickly connected the dots.
"You don't have to force out any thanks. Just leave me alone, and we'll be even."
A look of astonishment crossed her face for a moment, and then she nodded.
"Fine," she muttered, still not looking at him.
Silence fell again, and after a while, Scorpius concluded that there was nothing more to be gained here. But before leaving, he paused in the doorway and looked back at Elizabeth, who was still seated on the stool.
"If you don't do something about that, he'll kill you someday."
The girl inhaled sharply and closed her eyes. But she didn't answer. Scorpius looked at her expectantly for a moment, then finally just shook his head and left the bathroom.
