XXVII
Scorpius gently dribbled a drop of the Potion of Temporary Forgetfulness onto the pixie. The creature, who had been fluttering around its cage at great speed, suddenly froze and began looking around with a bewildered expression.
Albus, who was with Scorpius in the Room of Requirement, watched the scene with a very uncertain look.
"Don't worry, I'm not hurting him. The potion's effects will wear off on their own in a few hours," Scorpius explained. "In the meantime, you can start working with him. You need to help him regain his memories."
"What if I do something to harm him?" Albus asked.
Scorpius rolled his eyes.
"I remind you that most wizards treat pixies like pests and poison them without a second thought. But if you have reservations, I promise that if you harm him, I'll return him to Professor Scamander."
Albus crossed his arms.
"I assume she doesn't know you borrowed it."
Scorpius smiled slightly.
"Smilthon gave me the potion himself," he said with a hint of amusement.
"Yeah, and I'm sure he knew exactly what you were going to use it for."
"Oh, let's not get into the details," Scorpius waved his hand dismissively.
Albus looked at him with doubt.
"I remind you that the last time you did something like that, I ended up flying through the air."
Scorpius rolled his eyes.
"Quit whining and get to work. If you think that will get you out of it, you're wrong."
"I'm not trying to get out of it," Albus said.
Scorpius gave him a sceptical look and then became more serious.
"You know I can only rely on you. I need to recover those memories, and I can't do it alone."
Asking for something had always been difficult for Scorpius. He disliked being dependent on someone else's goodwill, but currently, he had no other choice. He felt that Albus understood that, but seeing the Gryffindor's uncertain expression made him lose hope.
"Maybe..." Potter mumbled, "Maybe we could ask Rose. She's much better..."
"No way," Scorpius snapped. After the recent conversation with her father, he preferred to keep as much distance as possible from Weasleys. He would never agree to let her in on the whole matter. "I'd sooner ask Nash to mess with my head," he added angrily.
Albus looked at him strangely, apparently not understanding the reason for such a strong reaction.
Scorpius ran his hand through his hair and started pacing around the room.
"Yesterday, her father was at the school, interrogating me as an auror about Elizabeth. It was not a pleasant conversation. I trust you, but the Weasleys, not so much. So, if you're planning on confiding in Rose about that, we might as well forget the whole thing now. I'll find another way."
Albus sighed heavily. He still didn't seem convinced, but eventually, he took out his wand and looked at the cage with the pixie.
"So, what do I do?" he asked.
Scorpius watched Albus for a moment and then returned to his seat, reaching for the book where he had found the appropriate incantation.
In the following days, his afternoons followed the same routine: first, two hours in Professor Scamander's basement, where he still had a few days of detention to serve. Then, the evening in the Room of Requirement with Albus. Simultaneously, due to the ongoing situation, McGonagall cancelled their joint classes for the next week, which, all things considered, was quite convenient for Scorpius. He felt physically and mentally exhausted even without those lessons. He slept very little, ate not enough, and had to discover new depths of patience, especially when Albus was involved. The Gryffindor tried to meet the expectations, but Scorpius knew it would take a long time before Potter would dare to use a similar charm on him.
Karl and Zack, who were informed about the situation with the Nash siblings, quickly realised that that wasn't a topic to discuss publicly. The matter was delicate, and its resolution was still uncertain. As far as Scorpius knew, Timothy had been suspended and sent home. Meanwhile, Elizabeth remained at the school, although Scorpius didn't see her in Runes class, nor did he spot her at meal times. Not that he particularly missed her presence, but somewhere in the back of his mind, he wondered how she took all the commotion surrounding her. For some reason, he was convinced that no matter how it all ended, she wouldn't be inclined to thank him for it.
The next Sunday arrived, along with the announcement of the House Representatives. All students gathered in the Great Hall, and almost the entire teaching staff assembled there as well, led by Professor Hooch, holding a scroll in her hand. She gestured for silence, and once it was achieved, she spoke with determination.
"Most of you probably already have an idea of who's going to be elected today, but to fulfil the formality, I will now read out the names of all the representatives. When your name is called, please come forward. From the first year of Gryffindor, we have..."
She read out a few names, and the students walked to the centre of the room one by one. Scorpius could see a nervous-looking Lily and, a bit later, Rose standing further ahead. When he heard his name, he felt a pat on his shoulder from Karl and proceeded to the front of the hall. While all the selections were met with applause, Scorpius couldn't help but feel that, in his case, the clapping was a bit more subdued. Maybe his choice didn't come as a surprise, but many people didn't hold any particular fondness for him. Fortunately, he didn't plan to let it bother him. He stood next to Rose, who nodded in greeting and patiently waited for the ceremony to conclude. On the other side were Alex Walters, a short and stocky Hufflepuff, and Simon, a Ravenclaw Scorpius vaguely recalled. Neither of them stood out significantly in their year, so Scorpius and Rose were most likely to carry the burden of the upcoming competitions.
Once the last seventh-year student joined their group, Professor Hooch rolled up the scroll and stood amidst the selected representatives.
"Next Sunday, the inaugural competition will take place. The theme will be herbology. Each group will receive a task adjusted to their age and skill level. The jury will assess the knowledge, its application, and, above all, teamwork and creativity. Each year will be scored on a scale from zero to twenty points. I'd like to emphasise that individual students will not be judged; it's the entire team.
Over the next two weeks, every other day after lunch, they would hold competitions, each dedicated to a different field of study. The team that accumulated the most points would be crowned the Olympic champions. I wish the participants good luck and the rest of the students many exciting moments."
The final sentence spoken by Professor Hooch was met with enthusiastic applause from all four house tables. At least in that one aspect, everyone seemed to agree, and the prospect of the upcoming event generated widespread enthusiasm.
Whether they wanted it or not, the atmosphere also affected the participants, as some began waving to the other students, whistling, and clapping. Scorpius wasn't particularly inclined to join in. In fact, he didn't feel too comfortable being the centre of attention. Usually, that didn't end well for him, so he hoped that time would be different.
"How is your herbology?" Scorpius mumbled to Rose.
"Great," she replied confidently, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.
So, reading between the lines, she was just as average at it as Scorpius was. A week seemed a bit too short to make up for all the gaps. Well, they'd have to improvise.
Scorpius pondered if he knew anyone who was genuinely skilled in herbology, but no one came to mind as he scanned the entire hall.
Then he spotted her. Elizabeth Nash sat at the far end of the Ravenclaw table, and unlike the other students, her gaze was fixed on the space in front of her. She looked as if she had gone through a serious illness, with dark circles under her eyes and sunken cheeks. Her long hair, although still braided as usual, seemed to be in disarray. There was no doubt that the recent days had left a profound mark on her.
In an instant, Scorpius's good mood vanished. He stood amidst the applause and joyful shouts, but he felt as though a deafening silence surrounded him. Once again, he was gripped by the feeling that he had done something wrong, that he had hurt someone again. Would Nash want to seek revenge on him? Would she try to curse him as White did? Or perhaps she would find an even worse way to get back at him. Could he have done something to prevent that?
The ceremony came to an end, and the Great Hall was abuzz with activity. Some students began to approach and talk to the representatives; some still sat and chatted at their tables, while others started making their way back to their respective dormitories.
Scorpius saw a few people who were evidently headed in his direction, but he ignored them and quickly strode along the tables. He wasn't surprised when he didn't find Elizabeth at the end of the table. However, when he reached the corridor, he spotted her in the distance. She walked quickly toward Ravenclaw Tower. He ran after her before she reached the part of the castle where he couldn't enter.
"Nash!" he called out when he was a few steps behind her. The girl stopped abruptly and turned, clearly taken aback. For a moment, she stared at Scorpius in confusion, and then her surprise turned to anger.
"What do you want?" she snapped.
That was a valid question. Scorpius wasn't entirely sure what he had intended to do. Apologise? For what, he had done the right thing. Ask about her well-being. He didn't need to ask, as he could see she didn't do well.
"By tormenting yourself, you will ensure his victory," he said.
Elizabeth clenched her fists, and her hands began to shake.
"I don't need such advice. It's none of your business what I do."
"Ah, so when you intrude into someone's life, it's okay, but when the situation is reversed, you don't like it," he retorted before he could stop his sharp tongue.
"Do you even realise what you've done?" she yelled, walking closer to him and reaching for her wand, previously hidden in her pocket.
Scorpius, however, had no intention of backing down. He sincerely doubted she could cast a single effective charm in her current state.
"From my point of view, I got rid of a psychopath from the school."
She looked as if she wanted to hit him. Her hands quivered even more, and her eyes blazed with unbridled hatred. Suddenly, however, she turned her gaze away and shook her head.
"I have six months left. Six damn months until I turn seventeen and can free myself from them. And now..." she grimaced. "And now it doesn't matter because you had to run to McGonagall. Are you satisfied? You got your revenge on me without even breaking a school rule. You must be incredibly proud of yourself."
Scorpius stared at the girl in disbelief.
"I didn't do it out of revenge," he opposed, although he didn't think she would believe him.
Indeed, Nash just snorted, attempting a poor imitation of laughter.
"Sure, I'll believe that the noble Gryffindor virtue guided you. Maybe you caught it from Potter? After all, he behaves like a true Slytherin. You're a perfect match."
"Believe what you want. I went to McGonagall because I'd already tried to deal with the problem on my own once, and it didn't end well. You can be angry, but if you think they would just let you go, you're naive. I saw how you looked at Timothy, and I don't believe you'd find the courage to stand up to him. Even if you did, you'd end up with another wound."
He watched as the girl clenched her teeth. She might be furious, but she couldn't deny the truth in his words. She portrayed herself as strong in front of the world, but deep down, she was a helpless victim. And the prospect of him being aware of her vulnerability probably didn't sit well with her. Nobody would willingly reveal such a weakness to anyone, especially not to a Slytherin.
"What do you want in exchange for your silence?" she asked more calmly, with a touch of resignation.
Scorpius simply shook his head. He could imagine the dark scenarios her mind created, and perhaps some time ago, he might have used them to his advantage without hesitation. But at the moment, he had outgrown such tactics.
"I've already told you I just want you to leave me alone. I don't need anything more from you."
The Ravenclaw girl looked at him strangely.
"I've already said that I'll leave you alone. You didn't have to..."
"I had to," he interrupted. Stepping a little closer so they stood face to face, almost within arm's reach. From that distance, he could see all the little specks in her irises. "Because no one else would have done it. Tell me, how long did that go on? A year? Two? Did really none of your friends notice, or were they just afraid of your brother?"
Her face darkened even further. She gazed at him as if every word stripped her of the last shreds of illusion.
"And you aren't scared?"
Scorpius shrugged.
"If I had always run away, I wouldn't be here today." He ran a hand through his hair. "I don't need an enemy in you. I have enough problems of my own. You can choose to believe it or not, but I went to McGonagall because I thought it was the right thing to do. Not out of revenge or self-interest but simply because it had to be done."
Elizabeth shook her head slightly.
"Had to..." she muttered before turning on her heel and heading towards her dormitory. Scorpius didn't stop her. He had said what he needed to say, and she had to process it herself.
He watched her leave and then turned around and made his way back to the Slytherin common room. As expected, other students from his year waited for him. When he entered the room, several curious glances landed on him.
"The Slytherin star returns," Zachary quipped from where he sat by the fireplace with the Sunday edition of the Prophet in his hand. "Are the obsessive fans not letting you breathe, and you have to hide in the shadows?"
Scorpius rolled his eyes, not wanting to engage in a debate with the blond. He still felt quite irritated from his recent confrontation with Nash. That girl had a remarkable ability to get under his skin, and what's worse, seeing her expression, he couldn't shake off the thought that he might have been in the wrong. Maybe she was right; perhaps meddling in the situation only added fuel to the fire. Though he desperately wanted to believe otherwise, he couldn't push away that nagging thought.
With a heavy head, he sank into one of the vacant armchairs and closed his eyes.
"Alex Walters and Simon Tarsky," Karl said, drawing Scorpius's attention. "I asked around a bit about those two while we were still in the Great Hall."
Scorpius opened his eyes and glanced at his friend. He wasn't focused enough on the upcoming competitions, given his current state of mind.
"Alex is good at Herbology and also History of Magic," Karl continued. "So, he should help cover your weaknesses and be useful in the upcoming contest. Simon was probably chosen mostly because he's a Seeker in the Ravenclaw Quidditch team and generally stands out, especially among the girls."
Zachary couldn't help but snort loudly.
"Do you really think the Ravenclaws are that petty?"
"Well, I didn't manage to find out any other reason for his selection in such a hurry, but let's not forget that it is Ravenclaw we're talking about," Karl added.
"Besides, you still have the all-knowing Gryffindor," Tobias unexpectedly added, approaching the group. The short Slytherin, who, Scorpius suspected, had initiated the whole idea of him being chosen for the competition, scrutinised the three of them closely.
"Weasley is just bigheaded," Scorpius remarked. "She has a bit of a complex about her mother, who was a true genius, and she also wants to be seen as intelligent, but often, it's just empty talk."
"And how do you know so much about her?" Alice asked, approaching the fireplace alongside Natalie.
"You forgot that he hangs out with the Gryffindors," the second Slytherin explained, a sly smile imprinted on her face.
"It's none of your business who I hang out with," Scorpius snapped, feeling strangely cornered all of a sudden. He always preferred to stay aside, and that sudden interest from the Slytherins became a bit overwhelming.
"Relax, Malfoy," Natalie raised her hands in a conciliatory gesture. "I just stated a fact. Everyone knows you're friends with Potter, and this Weasley girl is his cousin or something.
"Or something," Scorpius muttered. He wasn't very eager to talk about his friendship with Potter, even though Zack and Karl were well aware of it.
"So, you're suggesting that Weasley isn't as good as she pretends to be?" Alice inquired.
Scorpius shook his head.
"She's good, sometimes even better than me, but she's far from being an all-knowing prodigy. I don't deny that she might be helpful during the competition," he explained with a hint of sarcasm. "That is unless we end up killing each other, which isn't as unlikely as you might think because she's an annoying girl."
Upon hearing that, Natalie couldn't help but snicker.
"I thought you guys were friends," Alice pointed out.
"Merlin, forbid," Scorpius cringed. "We go to Runes class together, and that's all I need."
"So, to sum up," Zack chimed in, "you have a Herbology expert, a Seeker with a pretty face, and a girl with a mother complex in your team. I don't foretell great successes for you in the future."
Suddenly, Scorpius turned to his friend, throwing the look only a true Slytherin could muster.
"You forgot one thing," he retorted, getting up from the armchair and heading towards the common room's exit. "There's one vicious snake in the team who happens to know a few good charms."
It had been an extremely challenging week for Scorpius. Although he no longer had to go to Professor Scamander, he found it hard to find a spare moment. Most of the time he spent in the library, trying to catch up on four years' worth of neglecting Herbology, a task that was as tedious as it was impossible. Additionally, he spent his evenings in the Room of Requirement, patiently observing Albus' struggles with Pixie's memory. With each passing day and each subsequent failure, the usually chatty Gryffindor became quieter and more frustrated, but Scorpius was preoccupied with other concerns and didn't have the patience to improve Potter's mood.
The only positive development was that Nash had indeed left him in peace. She didn't even acknowledge his presence when he walked into the Runes class, and she didn't attempt to argue with him after the lessons. Though Scorpius felt that that was just the silence before the storm, he had no intention of rushing events. Besides, he noticed that she hadn't fully recovered her usual self-confidence. She remained strangely silent and distant, evidently needing more time to mend her wounds. Scorpius hoped it would take her long enough.
In the meantime, the day of the Olympics drew near, and conversations in the Great Hall were increasingly focused on the competition. Scorpius couldn't help but notice the excitement building around him. Given the scale of the event, he was surprised one evening when Filch approached him and escorted him to Professor McGonagall's office.
When he entered the office, Professor McGonagall was buried under a pile of parchment, yet she acknowledged him with a nod and gestured for him to take a seat. She then reached for one of the scrolls and unravelled it.
"What am I going to do with you, Scorpius?" she asked rhetorically, looking at him over her glasses. "You've barely finished serving one detention, and technically, I should impose another two weeks, considering that entire incident with Miss Nash's wand."
Scorpius cringed internally. Somewhere deep down, he had hoped that the Headmaster would forget about that incident, as futile as that hope was in her case.
"Explain to me how you plan to compete and serve a detention at the same time," she continued.
Scorpius shrugged.
"I'll manage somehow, like always," he muttered reluctantly.
"I don't doubt that, but it's not a good example for other students when the year's representative is perpetually serving detention. You were told not to use magic, yet you continually and deliberately break that rule."
"It's not like that," Scorpius protested. "I am genuinely trying. It's just... well... it just happens, somehow."
"Is that supposed to be an excuse?"
Scorpius looked at the stern face of the Headmaster and shook his head.
"No, it isn't," he mumbled.
"You're too reckless, Scorpius. You act first and then think. I get the impression that you still don't consider the consequences often enough."
Scorpius once again nodded reluctantly. Various words that he could use to justify himself came to his lips, but he knew that they were just empty excuses. As always, McGonagall was right.
"I'll try harder," he finally said.
"Focus on the competition for now. I want you to shine in it. And I'm not just talking about the charms; I know that won't be a problem with your skills. Your challenge lies elsewhere," McGonagall told him.
Scorpius was well aware of what the Headmaster meant, and as usual, he felt that she had high expectations for him. The upcoming Olympics wasn't just a test of magical ability; it was about teamwork, and that was never Scorpius's strong side.
"I'm lifting the restrictions for all of you," the Headmaster continued, referring to Scorpius and his friends. Then she added with a faint smile, "I've had quite enough of sending you notes about further detentions."
Despite himself, Scorpius managed a smile.
"Maybe I just like visiting Professor Scamander," he said somewhat cheekily.
McGonagall merely shook her head.
"You may go now, Scorpius, and good luck in the competition."
Scorpius thanked her and headed towards the door. But before he left, he turned back and asked:
"Is there any news about Nash?"
A shadow crossed the Headmaster's face.
"The matter is ongoing. It appears that if there will be any accusations, they will be directed only at Timothy. Elizabeth hasn't testified against her father, and there are no other witnesses. I'm afraid she's too intimidated to stand up against her own family."
Scorpius sighed heavily, understanding the difficulty of such situations.
"Do you think there's anything more I can do in that matter?"
McGonagall shook her head.
"I'm afraid all we can do now is watch the situation develop."
Scorpius sighed again and left the office.
Sunday morning was one of the loudest in recent months. All the students were eagerly anticipating noon when, as posters around the school corridors announced, the Quidditch pitch would be the stage for the competition. Scorpius, despite trying not to show it, felt a peculiar excitement as he woke up. He was genuinely curious about what had been prepared for them. He had no doubt it would be something extraordinary.
"Ready for battle?" Albus asked as he approached Scorpius, who was seated at the Slytherin table during breakfast.
"It's Herbology, so not exactly, but I'm afraid I don't have any more time to catch up," Scorpius replied.
A knowing smile appeared on Albus's face.
"Take solace in the fact that you're not alone. Lily and Rose have practically been living in the greenhouse over the past few days. I didn't spend so much time there during my works for Longbottom."
Suddenly, Scorpius thought back to the days when he and Albus prepared flowerbeds or planted new crops. Those events seemed so distant. At that time, it was unthinkable that a Gryffindor would join the Slytherin table and be friends with a Slytherin. However, recently, it had become so casual that no one paid attention anymore.
Scorpius quickly cast aside these sentimental reflections and focused on today.
"I hope Rose really knows as much as she claims," he said with a hint of sarcasm.
Albus shrugged.
"Knowing her, she's more likely to lie than admit to not knowing."
Scorpius sighed heavily.
"And that's what I'm afraid of. Her stubbornness might be our biggest enemy."
"You're exaggerating a bit. Yes, she can be stubborn, but you can reach her with logical arguments."
"I'll keep that in mind and give it a try. Let's see how well you know your cousin."
Albus offered a slight grin, indicating that he wasn't entirely confident in Rose's reasonableness. As the two friends finished their breakfast, the tension in the Great Hall was palpable, and the excitement for the competition continued to build. Scorpius couldn't help but feel that the upcoming Olympics was going to be something extraordinary.
The Slytherin hurriedly finished his breakfast and then made his way to the dormitory. Initially, he wanted to grab his Herbology textbook but quickly realised it was entirely pointless. Instead, he lay down on his bed and began considering all the possible scenarios.
Whatever task had been prepared for them, it was clear that it couldn't be completed alone. They would not only have to demonstrate their skills and knowledge but, more importantly, find common ground. In their group, that wouldn't be easy, and surprisingly, Rose wasn't the most significant concern. Of course, her tough character could lead to problems and disagreements, but Scorpius had managed to get along with her so far, and their shared Runes experience had helped him get to know her better. Hufflepuff Alex shouldn't pose any problems; after all, he was a Hufflepuff. The mystery remained Simon. Since Scorpius had had negative experiences with Ravenclaw Quidditch players in the past, he assumed the worst. That guy might want to either get back at Scorpius or at least embarrass him in front of everyone. Neither of these options looked particularly promising. Of course, there was always hope that he was just a muscle-headed pretty boy who wouldn't contribute anything constructive to their team.
Suddenly, Scorpius sat up on his bed, struck by a sudden thought. McGonagall wanted to use that competition to blur the lines between the Houses. Hence, the unusual division into age groups rather than House affiliations. They were supposed to be a team despite their differences. Maybe he should change his way of thinking. Perhaps he should be the first to stop looking at the others through the lens of their Houses. After all, he was not immune to all these stereotypes either.
Scorpius, clutching his wand in his robe pocket, entered the room that served as the Quidditch team's changing area. He quickly scanned the room and spotted Rose's red hair in the gathering. The two other members of their team, the not-very-tall but clearly tense Alex and Simon, who appeared strangely absent-minded, stood beside her. The latter dwarfed the others by almost a head, giving him a clear view of the entire room.
"You weren't in a hurry," Rose greeted him. "The first and second-year students have already left."
"Do we know anything?" Scorpius asked.
The girl shrugged.
"A charm conceals the entire pitch, so we won't know the details until we get there."
"Do you think it's something dangerous?" Alex inquired, glancing between Rose and Scorpius.
"I sincerely doubt it," Rose replied. "The teachers wouldn't risk putting us in harm's way. After all, it's supposed to be a fun event."
"Looking at the tense atmosphere here, I don't exactly sense the fun," Scorpius muttered.
"Entertainment is for those up top. For us, it's a task, and you better not screw it up," Rose retorted.
Scorpius cast a critical gaze at her.
"That remark applies to all of us, right Simon?" he asked casually, looking over at the Ravenclaw on his left. He could've ignored him, but he wanted to probe the ground beforehand.
Simon glanced at him and shrugged.
"I couldn't care less about that competition. I never wanted to participate in it. I simply had bad luck and drew the wrong straw."
"You drew straw? Why?" Rose asked.
"Because of him," Simon pointed in Scorpius' direction. "No one wanted to get near him."
Gryffindor let out a snort at that statement.
"I didn't know Ravenclaws were such blatant cowards."
Simon shot her an icy look.
"It's not cowardice but common sense. Clearly, you lack it if you don't see the problem with being friends with a murderer."
Scorpius exerted significant effort to keep even a single muscle from twitching upon hearing that description. Rose had no such qualms.
"That is absurd!" she protested. "Everyone knows that White..."
"Cut it out, Rose," Scorpius growled, directing their attention to both. "If I need a lawyer, I'll come to you."
"Is that how you thank me, Malfoy, when I'm trying to defend you."
"I don't need it. As for you," he spoke toward Simon, "if you don't want to breathe the same air as me, just stay out of the way and at least don't be a hindrance, okay?"
Simon cast an unwilling glance at Scorpius but eventually nodded. Scorpius knew he wouldn't win over any Ravenclaw so that makeshift truce was the best they could hope for at the moment.
Rose looked ready to continue the senseless argument, but they were soon summoned and led outside by Madam Hooch.
"Like all the other teams before you, you have the same task," the teacher explained along the way. "You must find the hidden treasure by using your knowledge, skills, and the clues left for you. Good luck."
With that, she opened the door in front of them and released them outside. They were met with the cheers of an enthusiastic crowd in the stands and the hot, humid air that filled the stadium.
For a moment, the four of them stood there in slight disbelief as they faced a tropical jungle. Tall palm trees and fern-like foliage loomed over the pitch, thick vines hung everywhere, and the undergrowth swirled with thickets of plants. The sounds of buzzing insects, birdsong, and distant monkey calls filled the air while the scent of tropical flowers hung all around them.
"Now, that is what I call a Herbology lesson," Alex said with admiration.
"And how are we supposed to find anything in that forest? Where are the clues?" Rose asked the air.
"I think that is the first clue," Scorpius remarked, pointing to an unnaturally looking gate woven from branches. Just above it, on a small plank, a message was carved: "Follow the mandrake's song."