XXX
Scorpius lay with his hands behind his head, staring at the dark ceiling. It was the middle of the night, and the whirlwind of thoughts wouldn't let him fall asleep. The previous day's clash with Rose and the subsequent conversation with Albus had given him a lot to ponder.
He had never planned to barge into their lives or interfere in their relationship; he always considered himself an outsider. Yet, that day had shown him how easily he could complicate everything with just a few words. Not only for himself. He had long grown accustomed to the fact that many people regarded him with suspicion. He learned to ignore it, not allowing those words to affect him, or at least, he tried not to show it. He knew that revealing such emotions would be a sign of weakness, something his enemies would exploit without hesitation.
Gryffindors, however, were different. Unaccustomed to insults, they took them very personally. Since they didn't hide their emotions, they were easy to manipulate. That's exactly what he did with Rose. He knew that she suffered from a mother complex, seeing her as an unattainable role model. It was so easy to exploit that. It was simple and fast. Just one sentence was enough to make Weasley lose control. Only a few words to stir up a storm.
But such words didn't come without consequences. Albus ended up caught in the crossfire, even though he wasn't to blame for anything. Scorpius didn't want that. Friends shouldn't behave like that, right? But he hadn't been thinking about that at the time. He had acted instinctively, letting his sharp tongue cause trouble.
Perhaps he still hadn't fully adjusted to the whole complexity of friendship. Life was simpler without it. He didn't need to hesitate or ponder. It was just him against everyone else. He didn't care about their feelings; he wasn't concerned about hurting anyone. But that had changed. He had to weigh his words because they carried consequences. The extent of his conflict with Rose was far greater than just between the two of them. However, back on the Quidditch pitch, he hadn't thought about that at all.
He glanced at Albus from the corner of his eye, who was sleeping on the other side of the bed. Karl and Zack had funny expressions when he brought Gryffindor to the room. Fortunately, both of them didn't have any objections; they had known Potter long enough to understand he was harmless. Besides, even they, pure-blood Slytherins, couldn't remain indifferent to Albus' pained expression. They quickly accepted the explanations and treated it as a matter of course. Even Tori reacted enthusiastically to the guest, climbing onto his lap and demanding attention, which significantly improved Gryffindor's mood. He always had a soft spot for animals.
In retrospect, it was interesting. His two roommates had never given Scorpius a hard time about his friendship with Potter. Sure, Zack might have made some snide remarks now and then, but overall, none of them ever had any issues with it. They effortlessly accepted all of Scorpius' oddities, even though he didn't deserve it. Especially since, once again, he hid a few nasty things from them. Only Albus knew about the wiped memories, only he was aware of what they might concern. However, Scorpius preferred to believe that that secret also protected the Slytherins. If he learned something awful, it was better for them not to get involved. Their families had enough problems.
Scorpius sighed and rolled onto his side, though he didn't expect to manage to fall asleep. He knew that scenario all too well. His mind worked at an accelerated pace, forming plans for the next steps. Obliviate, the tournament, Rose... there was far too much on his plate for him to sleep peacefully.
In the end, he got up in frustration, grabbed his wand and a textbook of charms, and left for the common room. Staring at the dark walls wasn't going to do him any good.
He was awakened by a nudge to his arm. He felt like he had only fallen asleep a few minutes ago, but he saw Karl standing over him.
"What's going on?" he asked, stretching his aching muscles. Sleeping in the armchair had been a terrible idea.
"We should move Potter before someone sees him here," the Slytherin stated. "Nothing good will come from that mess."
Scorpius rubbed his face and noticed that Albus and Zack were fully dressed behind Karl.
"Right, you're absolutely right," he muttered, though he was still not fully in touch with reality. "Give me a minute, and I'll be ready."
With that, he picked up the book he had dropped while asleep and headed upstairs to put on his robe. When he came back down, he immediately noticed Albus' distinctly worried expression.
"If I knew you'd kick like that, I'd have tossed you back into Gryffindor," he said with a mocking smile, masking his fatigue.
"I... I'm sorry," Albus mumbled, turning his gaze away.
But then Zack rested his hand on Albus' shoulder and leaned in.
"Don't let him fool you; that idiot stays up every other night," Zack commented.
Potter looked surprised, and it seemed that he only then realized that Scorpius was pulling his leg. It seemed he hadn't interacted with Slytherins enough often.
"That's why you usually look like a zombie in the morning."
Scorpius rolled his eyes.
"I'm not a morning person."
"But you're a workaholic. Let's go now because I can hear others heading out," Zack summed up, and the four of them went outside.
They didn't expect to encounter anyone in the Great Hall at such an early hour. However, Scorpius immediately spotted Rose and James at the Gryffindor table, and Nash, who observed them from the Ravenclaw table, also caught his eye. Nash appeared extremely pale, with sunken cheeks and dark circles under her eyes. She seemed to have a sleepless night as well.
But upon closer inspection, Rose didn't look good either. Her face was still strangely swollen, and she gave Scorpius a murderous look.
"If you want to resolve that conflict here and now, come sit with us," Scorpius muttered to Albus.
"Wouldn't that make everything worse?" Albus replied, looking nervously at his cousin and brother.
"I have a plan."
"That's what I'm afraid of."
Despite his anxieties, Albus turned and followed them to the Slytherin table. Scorpius observed Rose from the corner of his eye, noting her disbelief.
When Albus sat next to Karl, Scorpius stopped, turned around, and headed toward the Gryffindor table, catching the attention of the few students who were present at breakfast.
"I have a proposal for you," he bluntly said to Rose, completely ignoring James.
He saw how Rose's face tightened, her anger barely contained. She looked like she wanted to stand up and hit him again.
"I'm not talking with you, snake," she growled.
Scorpius took a deep breath to hold back all the words pressing on his tongue. He needed to keep his cool, even though the exhaustion from the previous night didn't make it easy.
"And what will that accomplish? If we start quarrelling now, it won't just affect our performance in the tournament, but, more importantly, it'll hurt Albus."
Rose jumped up from her chair, her anger evident in her face.
"I don't know how you managed to manipulate him onto your side, but..."
"Actually, I know very well how," he interjected. "First of all, I didn't make him choose. Unlike you, I don't consider Albus my property."
"I didn't..."
"Actually, you did, and it was very Slytherin of you. You tried to use Albus as a bargaining chip, but you miscalculated because he ultimately chose my side."
"Albus doesn't know what he's doing," Rose muttered, but she lowered her tone. Despite everything, she was intelligent enough not to deny the truth of his words. She had taken Potter for granted, whereas he had acted entirely differently. He had chosen the slippery snake over his cousin, which was undoubtedly a blow she couldn't swallow. She couldn't deny it, as Albus' presence at the Slytherin table spoke volumes.
Scorpius briefly glanced at James, who silently observed the unfolding situation. He expected the older of the Potter siblings to intervene, but he seemed more irritated by the whole situation than willing to mediate.
"Albus is doing what he believes is right, and we should take his lead. The entire situation was caused by my sharp tongue and your stubbornness. Let's face it, you can't admit when you're wrong, and I can't control my words. So, here's my proposal: let's switch roles. I'll admit I was wrong, and you'll take back what you said to Albus yesterday."
Rose looked at him, clearly surprised by the suggestion.
"And what's in it for you?" she asked.
"One less grumpy Gryffindor in my room," Scorpius replied, half-ironically, before realizing that making jokes at that moment might not be the best idea. So he cleared his throat and added, "Conflicting with you and Albus wasn't my goal, and it wouldn't get me anywhere. I also shouldn't have spoken about your family. What do you say, Weasley?"
First, Rose looked at Albus, then James from the corner of her eye, and finally, her gaze settled on the Slytherin. He waited patiently for her decision, hoping that the fear of losing Albus' favour would be a convincing argument.
"You shouldn't be worse than a Slytherin," James muttered, sounding reluctant. It seemed that he, too, didn't appreciate the situation.
Rose hesitated and then crossed her arms, turning her gaze away.
"If Albus wants to be friends with you, that's his business. I won't interfere," she stated, raising her chin defiantly. "But if you ever say one word about my family again, I will never forgive you."
Scorpius rolled his eyes but ultimately nodded.
"Agreed. Now, stop sulking, or you'll get wrinkles. Haven't you heard that anger doesn't suit beauty?"
In an instant, Rose's face turned red again.
"I'm not sulking."
Scorpius shrugged and nodded toward James before returning to his table.
"It's settled," he said to Albus.
"What did you say to her?"
"Only what was necessary to calm the situation. I admitted that I shouldn't have mentioned her mother."
Suddenly, Zachary started choking on the cheesecake he was eating.
"Did I hear you right? You admitted you were wrong? Scorpius Malfoy, who thinks he knows everything, said he was wrong. The end of the world."
"Are you done now?" Scorpius snapped.
"No, I think I'll have some more fun," the blond laughed and then patted his friend on the back. "You should find a girlfriend; maybe then you'll learn how not to annoy all the girls who cross your path."
Scorpius sighed heavily but didn't have the desire to comment on that statement. Yet, upon further consideration, the jerk might have been right. First, White, then Nash, and lately Weasley. Maybe he had no knack with girls.
"That's not true, Lily likes me."
Zack waved him off with his hand.
"She's still a child; she hasn't had a chance to get to know you yet."
"The experienced ladies' man said. Out of the three, only Karl could speak with authority on that subject."
"Don't drag me into that," Karl immediately responded.
"Katie doesn't count either; she's a Hufflepuff, they like everyone," Zack quipped.
Suddenly, they heard the loud laughter coming from Potter, sitting beside them, which put an end to that ridiculous discussion.
Fortunately, Scorpius wasn't bothered by any crazy girls for the rest of the day. The Slytherins also seemed to understand that the recent events had caused him trouble, so they kept their distance. Thanks to that, he could prepare for the next competition without further complications.
He met Rose only the next day, in front of the Quidditch stadium. She gave him a cold stare but didn't say anything. Perhaps it was for the best. The less they talked, the smaller the chance they'd clash with each other. Alex and Simon seemed to sense the tense atmosphere as well, keeping their distance and not saying much.
Luckily, the next competition was about the history of magic, mainly a test of knowledge. They moved across a large game board, with correct answers allowing them to progress. Here, Scorpius couldn't deny that Weasley proved quite useful. She had vast historical knowledge and almost flawlessly led them to victory.
Of all the teams, only the sixth year led by James outpaced them by a few seconds. As a result, they collected nineteen out of twenty possible points, jumping to the third position in the ranking. That considerably improved Rose's mood. She stopped walking around in a perpetual bad mood and even exchanged a few civil words with Scorpius at the end. That boded well for their future performances. Scorpius just had to remember to keep his tongue in check and avoid reigniting the conflict.
Especially since another competition awaited them soon, in which they'd have to rely on Rose's skills too – Potions. Scorpius assumed that he'd be the most useless link there, as he'd always had trouble with the subject and hadn't even tried to catch up on it.
When they found themselves in the stadium again two days later, Scorpius felt the weight of his deficiencies. He was greatly surprised when Professor Smilthon handed each of them a vial of a transparent potion just before entering. The teacher instructed them to drink it, smiling in his jovial manner.
Scorpius complied without hesitation and, to his surprise, felt no difference.
"When you go outside, you'll find a table with eight vials," the professor began to explain. "You must identify their contents. The potions you received have blocked specific senses, so Rose will only see the vials, Alex will smell them, Scorpius will taste them, and Simon will identify their texture by touch. Don't worry; the potion you've taken will protect you from the effects of the substances. You need to consult and decide together what potions have been hidden in the vials. Good luck."
The students glanced at each other and, without wasting any more time, entered the stadium. There was nothing there except a long table on which they saw eight transparent vials.
"The first one from the left is murky and milky white," Rose said, approaching the table first. "A light mist rises from it."
"But that mist doesn't have any scent," Alex added.
"Your turn, Malfoy," Rose said, and Scorpius was almost certain he saw a trace of malicious satisfaction imprinted on her face.
"Bon appétit," he mumbled reluctantly, grabbing the vial that seemed empty to him. He couldn't even feel its contents' weight.
However, when he brought it to his lips and took a sip, he choked and spit it out onto the grass.
"Skele-gro," he quickly pronounced, wiping his lips.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I've had that rubbish before."
Suddenly, he remembered how much of that nasty potion Pomfrey had given him when he cut his hand with Protean Charm. Those weren't pleasant memories.
Unfortunately, it didn't get any better further. The following seven potions were either cloyingly sweet or unpleasantly tart. Only one turned out to be nearly tasteless. Worse, unlike the first one, in most cases, he had no idea what he drank. Luckily, Rose, Alex, and even Simon managed just fine. They only took four minutes to guess all of them correctly. When they looked up into the sky, they were greeted with twenty green points, much to their satisfaction.
"Now, we can only hope that James messes up," Scorpius muttered as they descended to the locker room, cheered by loud applause.
The sixth-year had been leading so far and had two earlier competitions completed at maximum points.
"Don't count on that. He's excellent with potions," Rose replied.
"So, is there any way to make up for the lost points?"
"I'd aim for Astronomy; it was never his strong suit."
Scorpius glanced at the tournament chart posted on the wall as he passed by.
"The next competition is Defense Against the Dark Arts, and then Transfiguration."
"I hope you're good at both," Alex said, looking somewhat embarrassed. He did well in History of Magic and Potions, but practice wasn't his forte.
Scorpius looked at Weasley, who smiled quite slyly for a Gryffindor.
"I'll make sure James regrets standing in our way."
Scorpius rolled his eyes. Rose's self-confidence was slightly irritating, but on the other hand, he preferred her in that mood. Achieving the maximum points made her almost completely forget their previous disputes, and she talked to him quite normally. She was indeed a peculiar girl.
When he left the stadium, he met Karl and Zack on the grounds.
"Congratulations, mate, not a bad result. Just a little more, and you'll move up to second place," the blond called out enthusiastically.
Scorpius nodded and looked at the scoreboard hanging over the stadium again. The sixth-year was still in the lead, as expected, earning another twenty points, according to Rose. Second-year students were second, but they only had an advantage of one point.
"Are we going to dinner?" Karl asked.
"I'll pass. After all those potions, I've lost my appetite," Scorpius replied, waving to his friends and heading towards the library.
He hoped not to find anyone there, considering that most of the students were on the grounds. However, when he entered the library, he noticed one person hunched over a textbook. Long, chestnut hair, that time loosely flowing, partially concealed her face, but he still easily recognized Nash.
For a brief moment, he wondered whether he should approach her and say something, perhaps ask her a question. However, he quickly concluded that she wouldn't want to talk to him. He saw her watching him out of the corner of her eye. So he grabbed the necessary book and moved to another corner of the library, hiding among the shelves.
He opened the textbook in front of him but somehow couldn't fully focus on the text he read. His head felt heavy, and he still tasted the bitterness of the potion he had drunk. The words blended, losing all meaning. Before he knew it, his head had slumped onto the desk, and he fell asleep.
She shivered as she heard the sound of the door opening. No one should be coming here since the competition took place. She had been hoping for a moment of peace, a time when she wouldn't have to think about all the events.
She should have been calmer when Timothy had been expelled from school, but it didn't matter. She knew that he had only received auror supervision, and he was most likely sitting at home. Her home was the place she would have to return to in just over a month. Something ominously clenched her insides when she thought about returning. She couldn't even imagine what awaited her there. She even wondered if she should run away, but where could she hide? No one from her family would believe the accusations. Her father and Tim were always seen as respectable people, never showing the darkness that lay within. She was entirely on her own. She couldn't even count on her mother, who, out of fear, pretended not to see what happened.
That constant anxiety made it difficult for her to focus on anything. She didn't have the strength to talk about it with anyone, although her roommates tried to ask for details. She couldn't stand their curious looks, though. She preferred to keep them in the dark rather than have them see her as a victim. For them, it was just a sensational story. Hypocrites, they probably knew perfectly well what had happened, but they, too, pretended not to know. It was easier and more comfortable that way.
Elizabeth didn't know if she was more disgusted by their behaviour or her own fear that she couldn't control. She felt physically ill at just the thought of future events and what she would have to face. Sometimes she wondered if she should even return home, but she knew that was impossible. Maybe if she went to the Headmaster? Maybe she would find a solution for her. However, the thought of having to confess her fears to that stern woman filled her with dread. She still remembered the humiliation she felt when the whole thing came to light. Even though McGonagall acted professionally, the conversation with her and later with the Aurors was one of the worst memories Elizabeth had. She had to admit her weakness and helplessness. She had to talk about being a victim. Victim... how much she hated that word and the vulnerability that it implied. A victim was someone who needed help, someone over whom you had to feel sorry. And she didn't want any pity from the Headmaster or the people from the Ministry, and certainly not from...
She felt her fingers tighten around the quill when she noticed that Malfoy had entered the library. With his perpetual smugness glued to his face, he triggered the worst emotions in her. She had to work hard to keep her promise to stay away from him, even though in reality, she would want to curse him for what he had done. He could justify his actions as much as he wanted, but she didn't believe in his righteousness. Noble actions were not part of the nature of slimy reptiles like him.
For a brief moment, it seemed like Malfoy would approach her, and then she doubted she would have the strength to stay calm. She was too exhausted from sleepless nights and too irritable due to her recent thoughts. Thankfully, he changed his mind and disappeared among the bookshelves.
So many things would have been better if Malfoy had kept quiet, but he was a Slytherin, so he did precisely what was in his best interest. Not only did he make himself a hero of the oppressed, but he also brutally got back at her for her previous actions. Oh, she would pay a high price for that.
She clenched her teeth to hold back a sudden wave of nausea. She took a few deep breaths to control her panic. That fear had become almost her constant companion. The closer the end of the school year came, the more it terrified her. She felt like a trapped animal, with no way out but one leading straight into the mouth of a predator.
She tried to think that it was only a little over two months. It wasn't her first summer vacation spent at home. She knew, however, that her father and Tim wouldn't forgive her betrayal. She should have denied everything when she had the chance, but under the pressure from the Headmaster, something broke inside her, and she couldn't maintain her composure.
People from the Ministry could repeat that they would watch her family and ensure no harm came to her, but she didn't believe it. For so many years, her father had managed to deceive society so effectively that he would find a way. He was a master of appearances. An exemplary father, an exemplary brother, nearly an elite in the wizarding world. Wealthy, actively involved in charity, supporting those in need. People like them couldn't be sadists, right? No one would believe it.
Except once, someone did believe... because he saw it with his own eyes. If only she knew how it would end.
She tried to focus again on her homework, but her hand trembled terribly. The awareness that that wretched Slytherin sat nearby drove her crazy. After a few minutes, she couldn't take it anymore. She folded the parchments and got up from the desk. She made a great effort not to look in his direction but still glanced and stopped halfway. While she fought her anxiety, that snake was sound asleep on the desk.
Against her own will, she approached and watched the sleeping Slytherin for a moment. She had the urge to curse him with something nasty; perhaps that would make her feel better. She snorted quietly, disgusted with her recent thoughts. It was absolutely not her style. She would never attack someone defenceless. She had no intention of stooping to Timothy's level. Even if she had a deep grudge against Malfoy.
Believe it or not, I went to McGonagall because I thought it was the right thing to do. Not out of revenge, not to gain something for myself, but because it just had to be done.
Suddenly, she remembered the last words she heard from Malfoy. She didn't believe in the sincerity of his intentions. After all, he was a Slytherin and a murderer. She had no idea how he managed to avoid punishment for Peggy White's death, and she still couldn't believe he informed the Headmaster out of concern for her fate.
And yet, since their last conversation, he never once attempted to play with her again. Unlike her, he was surrounded by people who seemed to respect and trust him. Furthermore, they didn't just belong to Slytherin. Every time she saw that, she began to wonder what he was up to. How did he manage to sway so many people? What if he genuinely came that day just to return her repaired wand? What if he notified the Headmaster only because he realized something bad happened? Perhaps people wanted to be around him willingly because he treated them like friends. Could Slytherin have friends?
She shook her head decisively. She shouldn't be interested in any of it. Whatever he did, she had given her word that she would leave him alone. Whatever scheme he might be hatching, she didn't intend to get involved. After all, she had promised.
She turned on her heel, and then an unpleasant shiver passed through her, perhaps from nerves or maybe from the cold; she couldn't say for sure. She glanced at Malfoy once more out of the corner of her eye. Without thinking too much, she grabbed her wand and transfigured one of the blank parchments into a blanket, which draped over the boy's shoulders. Without hesitating further, she quickly left the library.
He was awakened by a nudge on his arm. He raised his sleepy gaze and saw the concerned faces of Albus and Lily.
"How long have you been sleeping here? It's been a while since dinner," the little girl remarked, leaning her hands on the desk.
"By Merlin's beard," Scorpius groaned, stretching his aching back. "That's all your fault," he added, giving them a sly smile. "Your Gryffindor antics kept me from getting any sleep."
Albus looked at him gently.
"Did either of us tell you to sleep in the library?"
"All of you," Scorpius replied, gathering his things. Then he noticed the blanket that had fallen to the floor. He hadn't expected such kindness from Madam Pince. Without hesitation, he folded it and placed it on the counter. The librarian was nowhere to be seen, apparently not keen on lingering in the library into the late evening.
"We brought some cookies for you," Lily said, handing him a bundle filled with cherry-filled cupcakes.
"Thanks," he replied, reaching for one of the cookies, and then he passed some to the Gryffindors. Only then did he realize how hungry he was. He had skipped dinner to prepare for the competition and hadn't eaten anything since breakfast.
While enjoying the cookies, they walked out into the corridor.
"I saw that you're doing well," Scorpius said to Lily, who appeared to grow a few centimetres at his words.
"I hope you didn't think that just because I'm younger, I'd give up. Although I admit it will be challenging to beat James. After three competitions, they're flawless," she replied.
"We will do that," Scorpius declared confidently. "We have a plan."
"Am I right in assuming that you've reached an agreement with Rose?" Albus asked.
"You could say that. A common goal is improving our relationship. Now, catching up to James is our aim. I'm sorry, but we'll have to overtake you on the way," Scorpius quipped at the Gryffindor girl.
"Give me your best shot," she said, tilting her head. "Good luck. You'll need it." She added with a mischievous smile.
Defence Against the Dark Arts turned out to be a piece of cake for them, and for the first time, Scorpius felt that he had contributed to their victory. Furthermore, they managed to get within three points of the sixth year. Contrary to Lily's ominous warnings, they also passed the second year, allowing them to move into second place. Although the differences were still slight, Rose vowed not to relinquish the victory to their cousins. Listening to her words, Scorpius began to understand Albus' frustration. All of his family members displayed tremendous magical abilities. Meanwhile, Potter seemed to remain in the shadows. Was he truly such an average wizard, or had years of comparison to his brother left a mark on him? Scorpius sincerely hoped it was the latter because soon the Gryffindor would have to test his skills against Slytherin's mind.
Two days later, they stood in the middle of the stadium, looking in amazement at the space around them. Silence also pervaded the stands, although the spectators likely knew more than they did about what was going to happen.
"Any ideas?" Alex asked, looking around.
"I don't think it has started yet," Rose replied, glancing up at the sky where information was displayed.
"Something is approaching," Simon said, pointing to a small figure coming towards them.
Scorpius immediately recognized that particular cat, which could not be mistaken with anything else. In less than a minute, Professor McGonagall herself stood before them.
"Welcome to the next competition, that time dedicated to transfiguration. The rules are simple. With your skills, you must replicate the transfiguration I will demonstrate."
Saying that the Headmaster drew her wand and incanted a Latin phrase. Suddenly, four branches rose from the ground, forming a rapidly growing tree. Their branches connected above them to create a sturdy roof. A moment later, small leaves began to fall, but before they reached the ground, they transformed into snowflakes that bloomed into glass flowers upon touching the floor. In less than a minute, they stood amidst a crystalline garden.
Scorpius watched in awe. It was not only powerful magic but also a spectacular and beautiful display. Certainly worthy of Professor McGonagall.
"Good luck," the Headmaster added, and Scorpius couldn't help but feel that she challenged him.
"What on earth was that?" Alex asked, still staring at the structure.
"Transfiguration at its highest level," Simon replied.
"But how are we supposed to repeat that?"
"Step by step," Rose commanded. "I'm sure Professor McGonagall didn't use any charm we haven't studied; she just used them in an unconventional way. To start, we could transfigure the earth into the trees, although..."
"Grass is a better idea," Scorpius interjected. "The connections will be similar; we just need to transform the structure."
"Right, let's get started."
Rose was already drawing her wand when Simon held her back. He had never been so involved in the competition as he was at the moment. Perhaps transfiguration was truly his passion.
"We need to present the entire reconstruction, not just parts. I noticed three phases: creating the trees, transforming the leaves into snow, and finally, the glass flowers. We should distribute the tasks among ourselves. Two people will work on the trees, one on the snow, and one on the flowers. The one who feels least confident in transfiguration should take on the snow, which I believe is you, Alex. Rose and Malfoy, I'll leave the trees to you, and I'll handle the flowers because it requires the most precision."
The others all looked at Simon as if he had suddenly gone mad, but seeing his determined expression, none of them dared to voice any objections.
Scorpius took a few steps back and positioned himself in front of Rose. With a nod from the Gryffindor, both of them extended their wands toward the ground. Simultaneously, they began to incant a charm, causing four trees to emerge from the grass. While perhaps not as tall as those created by the Headmaster, they were skillfully formed, and within seconds, they created an arched roof. Alex was already waiting beneath it, transforming the remaining leaves into snowflakes. They managed to produce a considerable number of them, and in no time, thanks to Simon's help, they were transformed into lush, equally beautiful flowers. The Ravenclaw undoubtedly had a talent for that type of magic.
When the last of the flowers spread its petals, Simon straightened up, and the stadium erupted in applause. In just four minutes, they had reconstructed Professor McGonagall's complex magic. They had every reason to be proud. The twenty green-glowing points they received only confirmed their success.
Less than an hour later, they learned that they had twice the luck. Not only had they earned the maximum number of points, but Lily's team had secured second place, and James' team only third. That brought them closer by another few points, trailing by only six.
"We still have Astronomy and Charms to make up for the deficit," Rose remarked as they walked back through the meadows toward the school. "But really, Astronomy is where we need to catch up as much as we can; we won't gain much ground in Charms. James excels in that subject."
Scorpius pondered for a moment. "Fortunately, we're quite good in both of those subjects as well. For now, though, let's focus on Astronomy."
"Out of all the competitions, that one will be the only one held in the evening," Alex added, glancing at a parchment with the schedule of the competitions. "It might be interesting."
Alex's words turned out to be prophetic. All the students were gathered in the stadium a little before midnight. However, when Scorpius and the rest of the team walked onto the field, it turned out they wouldn't have to look far up into the sky. The entire stadium space above them was filled with glowing dots, forming a semicircular sphere like a magical planetarium. On a small pedestal in the centre stood a tiny piece of parchment with a single question written on it: "In which country are you standing?"
The team members looked at each other in bewilderment, contemplating the challenge before them for a moment.
"I assume we need to determine the location of that place based on the surrounding stars," Rose was the first to speak up, and Scorpius simply nodded because he had come to a similar conclusion.
They began to look around.
"Look for distinctive points, like the North Star. We can determine our location based on it," Weasley continued.
The task was not easy, as the multitude of stars made it challenging to pinpoint a specific one.
"Maybe it's that one," Alex called out, pointing to one of the brighter stars.
"Impossible, there should be the tail of the Big Dipper below it, and I don't see anything like that," Simon remarked.
Weasley appeared visibly frustrated, as indicated by her increasingly furrowed brows.
"Something doesn't add up here; that doesn't look like..."
"The wrong hemisphere," Scorpius mumbled suddenly. "We're searching for our constellations, but that is the southern sky."
"So, what Alex pointed out isn't the North Star; it's Omega Centauri!" Rose exclaimed, jumping up with excitement. "I mean, it's so obvious. A little to the right, we have the Southern Cross on the Milky Way, and further down, the Small and Large Magellanic Clouds. But that's still the whole hemisphere. If we want to determine the country, we have to consider the season."
At these words, the Gryffindor drew her wand and conjured a reasonably sized globe in front of her, which she placed on the pedestal. She began manoeuvring it while murmuring something under her breath.
"Australia!" she suddenly exclaimed. "That sky is visible in Australia at that time of the year."
As soon as her words faded, all the stars flickered for a moment and then went out, revealing their score: eighteen points.
"They must have deducted points for my blunder with the North Star," Alex commented with a sour expression. "I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it; it's still a pretty good score. I can't imagine James getting more," Rose said cheerfully, which completely bewildered the others.
"Who are you, and what have you done with the real Weasley?" Scorpius quipped.
The Gryffindor just smiled cunningly.
"I just feel like we're catching up to them."
It was a few minutes past one in the morning when the competition concluded. The second-year team led by Lily emerged victorious with a perfect score of twenty points. Meanwhile, James's team secured only the fourth position with a score of fourteen. It became clear that the second, fourth, and sixth-year students were the only contenders for victory, having a total of one hundred two, one hundred six, and one hundred eight points, respectively. Other teams were far behind. All that remained were Charms, in which Scorpius knew both he and Rose excelled. According to Rose, they shouldn't underestimate James, but Scorpius couldn't imagine them performing poorly in that competition. The question was whether they could overcome the two-point difference.
Exhausted after the late-night event and contemplating the upcoming, decisive competition, Scorpius walked slowly across the school courtyard. Even though it was mid-May, the air had turned unpleasantly cold, so he pulled his cloak tighter around him.
Suddenly, a movement caught his attention. He looked up to the high, covered passage connecting one of the towers with the rest of the school and saw a figure struggling in the gusty wind. Most students and teachers were returning from the stadium, so there shouldn't have been anyone else wandering around the school at that hour.
Although it wasn't his business, Scorpius could have simply ignored the person and gone to the Slytherin common room. But curiosity won over, and he started up the stairs to the tower. It took him no more than two or three minutes to reach the doorway leading to the passage. From that distance, he easily recognized Nash's features, which were lit only by the faint moonlight and looked ghostly pale.
For a moment, he wondered if the stubborn Ravenclaw girl tried to catch pneumonia, but then an entirely different thought sent a shiver down his spine. It was because of that he had given up on turning around and going back to the Slytherin common room. Instead, he walked toward the girl.
"If you wanted to stargaze, you should have gone to the stadium. There were plenty of stars there tonight," he said indifferently, although something squeezed his throat.
The girl jerked nervously but quickly regained her composure and glared at him with anger.
"What do you want?" she snapped.
"From you, nothing," he replied without hesitation and then stopped a step away from her. He leaned his forearms on the railing, looking down at the nighttime landscape below. "It happens to be my favourite place for contemplation."
The lie came out of his mouth without a stammer, but Nash didn't appear convinced.
"I didn't see you here before," she noted.
"It has been too cold lately."
The girl just snorted softly but didn't intend to press the matter. Instead, she looked at the hills surrounding the school.
For a long while, silence hung between them, and Scorpius wondered what he should do. He felt the need to say something, but, on the other hand, he knew his words were often interpreted as an attack. Perhaps silence was the better option.
However, he suddenly saw the girl tighten her grip on the railing.
"I'm scared," she whispered so softly that her words were almost drowned out by the wind. Nevertheless, Scorpius did not doubt what he heard. He looked at her from the corner of his eye but said nothing. He could see her struggling with herself.
"I'm afraid to go back home," she added after another long moment of silence.
In truth, he didn't know what to say to that. He guessed that returning home to her tormentors must fill her with dread. He wasn't sure what he could do to help.
"They won't touch you. Not now, with the Ministry watching them," he finally said, though he wasn't entirely convinced of the correctness of his words.
The girl let out a small sigh, and then a bitter smile appeared on her ashen, chapped lips.
"You should know better than anyone that you don't have to physically touch someone to hurt them."
Oh, he knew it all too well. How many times he had inflicted similar wounds without a trace of mercy, on enemies and those he considered friends? And to family… Thus, he was able to imagine all too easily what awaited Nash when she returned to her family home. At least he always had the support of his mother. Nash, however, could hardly count on that much. Whatever was going on in her family, it was impossible for her mother not to know about it. Perhaps she preferred to pretend not to see it, or maybe she was just as afraid. It didn't matter.
"Saying that to me is a bit pointless. You should go to McGonagall with that. She can truly help," Scorpius stated.
Elizabeth glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, that time without anger. Her expression seemed more resigned.
"I know, but she expects details. She surely suspects a lot, but without my testimony, she's helpless. And I...," She stopped abruptly and then laughed nervously. "By Merlin, why am I even talking to you about that?"
She straightened up and turned, ready to leave.
"Because you don't have to hide the ugly reality from me," Scorpius called after her, straightening up as well. "I've seen it with my own eyes."
The girl stopped and lowered her head. Her long hair, tied into a haphazard braid, fluttered in the gusty wind. Her arms began to tremble, and for a moment, Scorpius thought Nash cried. But a moment later, he heard a chilling laugh.
"You've seen nothing," she said, turning back toward him. Her face bore a strange grimace, something like a mix of amusement and disgust. "You think you've understood everything, that you've learned my entire story from just one, short excerpt. A simple argument, incomparable with...," She stopped again to catch her breath, and then her voice suddenly broke. "You know nothing."
Scorpius looked at the girl, and for the first time, he was truly at a loss for words. If she regarded those past events as a mere argument, then what happened during a real fight? No! He didn't want to know. He hadn't even tried to imagine it. Even without that, he had trouble sleeping at night.
He watched Nash for a long time. Until recently, her presence had driven him mad, but currently, he felt partially responsible for her state. She was completely shattered, and she was too ashamed of her weaknesses to ask anyone for help. He understood that. He had always had a hard time asking for help himself. Albus was the one who taught him that there were people he could turn to for assistance. But Nash was evidently on her own. Moreover, she rejected any attempts at help, whether from the Headmaster, the Ministry, or other Ravenclaw students. She didn't want it, probably because she didn't want to relive the humiliation. She had hidden her suffering effectively for years, and such behaviour became deeply ingrained. Scorpius knew all about that too. In the past, he had hidden his emotions beyond the reach of anyone else's gaze. So, he understood how difficult it was to change such habits.
That's why he eventually reached for his wand and conjured a quill and a piece of parchment. Leaning against the railing, he quickly wrote down a few words and handed the note to the girl.
Nash eyed the note he offered with a strange expression, extending her hand towards it, and then picked up the note.
"What is that?" she asked.
"My home address," Scorpius replied, using a quick charm to make the writing materials disappear. "If they won't leave you alone, you'll have an emergency exit."
He saw her eyes widen with each word he spoke.
You don't expect..."
"It's a better option than jumping from this place," Scorpius interrupted.
Elizabeth suddenly took a step back.
"I don't..."
Scorpius clenched his fists and firmly stepped closer.
"I've already seen the Ravenclaw get killed because of me once. I won't allow it to happen again."
Nash stared at him with wide-open eyes, her astonishment drowning out everything else, even the fact that the Slytherin stood very close to her.
Taking advantage of the situation, Scorpius continued, "I don't want to see you here anymore. Maybe I don't know you very well, but I don't believe you're a coward. And that would only do them a favour. They'd get rid of the problem. Don't give them that satisfaction."
He fell silent and noticed Nash open her mouth several times, but she couldn't make up her mind about what to say. In the end, she only took another step back and looked at the note, which she still held in her hand.
"Thank you," she whispered. "I... I was wrong about you," she added after a moment of hesitation and then looked at him again, much calmer. "I thought Peggy died because she was afraid of you. I thought you were just like Tim. I couldn't have been further from the truth."
Scorpius chuckled softly, crossed his arms over his chest, and allowed himself a slight smile.
"You're not the first to misjudge me, and probably not the last."
Elizabeth just shook her head slightly and also smiled wryly. They stood facing each other for a moment longer, and then the girl nodded and headed towards Ravenclaw Tower. Scorpius watched her go and then headed to his dormitory.
Walking through the empty school corridors, his head was spinning, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he had done the right thing. He preferred not to think about how to explain to his father Nash's presence in the Malfoy manor. At the thought of Draco, an unpleasant shiver ran down his spine, and his good mood immediately dissipated. The end of the school year was only a month away. They had less and less time to break the Obliviate curse with Albus.
Scorpius gripped his wand tighter and, along with the rest of his team, entered the Quidditch stadium. That was their final performance and their last chance for victory. Charms and Spells. As they entered, he could feel Professor McGonagall's gaze on him. The Headmaster always had high expectations of him, and that competition would be no different. He couldn't afford to disappoint her, not that day, not in that competition.
As they passed through the doors, they saw dozens of large soap bubbles floating in the stadium. Each bubble contained a scroll inside.
"It's often said that charms and spells are the parents of all other subjects taught at Hogwarts," Professor Flitwick began, entering the stadium behind them. "Without them, there is no magic; they are the fundamental skill of every wizard. Your task is both very simple and quite complex. You will burst the bubble of your choice and then perform the spell written on the scroll. The more you manage to execute correctly, the more points you will earn. You have three minutes, starting now. Ready, set, go!"
Scorpius exchanged a glance with Rose and then raised his wand.
"Aquamenti," he called, causing a small stream of water to appear in front of him, which turned into ice crystals before hitting the ground. Scorpius flicked his wand, and the ice shards shot towards the bubbles, popping nearly all of them along the way.
"Accio!" Rose shouted, using a single spell to summon all the scrolls that had yet to fall to the ground. "Alex, Simon, unroll them and call out the spell names," she ordered.
The boys didn't need any further explanation. They sat on the ground and started unrolling the scrolls. Spells began to rain down, executed alternately by Rose and Scorpius. Before the spell names had fully resonated in the air, they were already cast, sometimes non-verbally, particularly when Rose performed them. Aqua Eructo, Bombarda, Incendio, Lumos, Defodio, Expulso, Nox, Wingardium Leviosa, and many others. Spells fired one after another with almost no pause.
Not even two minutes had passed when they noticed that they had run out of scrolls.
"Let's give them a cheer," Scorpius suggested.
Rose's eyes sparkled at the idea. She pointed her wand towards the pile of used scrolls and uttered a charm that transformed them into paper birds. These birds began flying towards the audience.
Scorpius nodded approvingly as the paper birds took flight. "Gemino!" he shouted, causing the number of birds to multiply from dozens to several hundred. The huge flock circled the entire stadium, flying between the stands and unused Quidditch hoops before rising higher and disappearing into the skies.
The silence that followed was broken after a moment by thunderous applause from the audience, and they saw that they had earned a beautiful green twenty points.
Scorpius noticed that Alex and Simon were also applauding, and appreciating their skills. Seeing that, he nodded to them, then allowed himself to be carried away by his emotions, grabbing Rose's hand and raising their entwined hands in a victorious gesture. Gryffindor looked surprised at first, but then she smiled with satisfaction. Regardless of whether they could beat James, in that competition, they were the winners, and that felt fantastic.
Excited and enthused, they returned to the locker room, passing James' team on the way. Since they were in first place, they were performing last. The sixth-years looked somewhat surprised at the exhilaration and confidence on their faces.
"You won't beat us," Rose called out to them.
"We'll see," James replied immediately, although Scorpius could see a hint of concern in his eyes. Potter must have realized that to win, his team needed to score at least nineteen points.
As they entered the locker room, Lily immediately pounced on them.
"Congratulations! I knew you would be great. I didn't doubt that you'd get the max," she began enthusiastically. "Well, I was kind of hoping we could surpass you, but we'll have to settle for third place. That's not bad for second-years. Besides, the first-years didn't do too badly either, as they're right behind us."
"Year doesn't matter; the competitions were designed and evaluated so that each year had a chance to win," Rose replied, sitting in one of the available seats against the wall. Unlike the room for waiting teams, the room where they were gathered had a magical screen on the wall where they could watch the last team's competition.
"We have to admit you put on quite a show," Alex added, approaching them. "I wish I had half your talent for wielding magic."
Rose gave him a scolding look. "Talent is only a small percentage of success. You also have to put in a lot of work."
Lily laughed at that statement and then looked at Hufflepuff boy. "If you like sleeping at night, their lifestyle won't suit you. They both prefer the library over their beds."
"Excuse me, I do like to get enough sleep," Scorpius retorted, feigning offence, and then added with a smile, "It's not my fault that it rarely happens."
Alex rolled his eyes and, like the others, shifted his gaze to the screen where the sixth-year team was just beginning their competition.
"I can't believe it!" Rose exclaimed, jumping up from her seat. Their group looked at James' team in amazement. Eighteen points hovered over the stadium.
"So, it's a draw. I wonder what happens next," Simon remarked, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
A moment later, Professor Hooch entered the room.
"Fourth-year, come with me," she called in her usual harsh tone.
Back on the Quidditch field, they saw James' team and Professor McGonagall with them. The rest groups stood beside them, all waiting anxiously for the verdict.
"First, I'd like to congratulate both teams," McGonagall began. "Over the past few days, you have shown not only immense skill but also a fantastic fighting spirit and sportsmanship. However, there can only be one winner, so a tiebreaker will be necessary. Along with the other judges, we have determined that the tiebreaker will take place tomorrow afternoon. Each team must delegate one player to participate. Therefore, choose wisely because that person will determine the outcome. Once again, congratulations, and I wish you good luck."
After McGonagall's words, a wave of excited and surprised voices spread across the stadium. Meanwhile, Scorpius exchanged a look with Rose, and he knew that their choice wouldn't be an easy one. At the same time, the thought kept gnawing at him that McGonagall intentionally set that condition to see if they could find cooperation or if another argument would bury their chances of winning. It was a test not only of magic but, above all, of teamwork.
As they returned to the school in an odd silence, Scorpius could see Rose wrestling with her thoughts. He had gotten to know her well enough to understand what was on her mind. She knew that Scorpius wasn't worse than her when it came to magical skills, and perhaps he even surpassed her in some aspects. However, she was Hermione Granger's daughter and undoubtedly wanted to represent her team. Common sense battled with her pride and superiority.
"Tomorrow morning," Scorpius said when he saw her about to speak. "We'll meet after breakfast and hold a vote. Let's give ourselves some time to think it over."
He expected some resistance, but everyone else just nodded and went to their respective dormitories without a word.
When he saw Albus in the Room of Requirement that evening, Scorpius hoped that he could temporarily stop thinking about the competition. However, it quickly became clear that Albus was preoccupied with the same thoughts.
"McGonagall has given you quite a challenge," the Gryffindor remarked as he sat at a table, with a pixie sleeping in a cage beside him. "Rose can't stop talking about it. You know she'll do everything to edge you out of the role of the representative."
Scorpius rolled his eyes.
"I figured she'd be trash-talking me non-stop."
Albus laughed.
"You might be surprised, but she hasn't. She'd never admit it openly, but she's impressed by you. That's why she's so frustrated. She feels that she should let you play in the tiebreaker, but, well, you know... it doesn't sit well with her."
Scorpius looked at his friend sceptically.
"It's hard for me to believe that."
"If it were any different, she would have already decided for you. She has that talent for manoeuvring people into corners; I know that from experience. Supposedly, you proposed a vote, and she agreed to it so she'd have time to think it all over."
Scorpius sighed heavily and shook his head.
"She takes everything to heart. These are just school competitions."
"You're right, but it's more than that to her. She takes everything seriously because she believes that's what her mother did."
"Yeah, the constant mother complex."
Albus chuckled.
"I guess we all struggle with that, but Rose takes it a bit further."
There was some truth in Potter's words. Scorpius had always felt the weight of his father being a well-known wizard. He didn't like it when he was compared to him. In Rose's case, it was different, as she had imposed high standards on herself. Nevertheless, he understood her behaviour. How many times had she heard that her mother was the smartest witch of her time? How many times had she feared that she would never be good enough to emerge from that shadow?
When Scorpius entered the Great Hall for breakfast the next morning, he felt the weight of many curious glances. He didn't doubt that a significant part of the students viewed him as the representative of their year, and it probably didn't sit well with many of them. He was well aware that he wasn't the most popular person in the school. Furthermore, he'd managed to avoid other Slytherins the previous day, fully aware of what they would say to him. To them, he was the only one who could win them the victory. He also understood that he didn't want to let them down. Due to all of that, he had trouble sleeping last night.
Sitting down at the table, he poured himself some pumpkin juice and quickly ate a piece of toast. For some reason, nothing else seemed to go down easily. As he swallowed the last bite, he noticed the expectant looks of Alex, Simon, and Rose. He nodded, and all four of them rose together, leaving the Great Hall in silence.
They entered the first empty classroom they came across and leaned against the benches there.
"I'll give my vote for Rose," Simon spoke first. That wasn't difficult to predict, given that Ravenclaw could appreciate the skills of both Rose and Scorpius, but his animosity toward Scorpius was too great to allow for any other vote.
"I believe Scorpius should participate," added Alex. "I'm sorry, Rose, but he approaches everything more rationally, while you easily give in to emotions."
Scorpius saw the anger building in the Gryffindor's eyes. That argument hit really close to home, and she knew that. She was about to cast her vote when Scorpius cut her off.
"I also vote for Weasley," he said firmly.
"How's that?" Rose looked at him in astonishment. "You're supposed to be..."
"I'm just tired of these competitions," he lied without hesitation. "If you don't want to compete, we can send Simon."
"Of course, I want to," Rose snapped back, quickly regaining her composure. "Besides, there's no better candidate. In that case, with three votes to one, I'll participate in the tiebreaker."
Saying that, she left the room as if she was afraid further discussion would diminish her conviction. Simon followed her out, leaving Scorpius alone with a bewildered Alex.
"Why did you do that?" Alex asked. "You know you're better, and she knew that too."
Scorpius shrugged and gave a mischievous smile.
"If I lost, she wouldn't let me live it down until the end of the school. But that way, she can only blame herself if she loses."
Alex looked at him suspiciously.
"Why do I feel like there's more to that answer than meets the eye?"
Scorpius glanced at the Hufflepuff from the corner of his eye.
"It's a very Slytherin response."
"Undoubtedly," Alex laughed, and together, they headed toward their Transfiguration class, which they had together.
Observing the competition as a spectator was an interesting experience for Scorpius. He settled in the Slytherin section with Karl and Zack, closely watching the peculiar structures set up on the field. As he saw the setup, he had even less regret about conceding the field to Rose. He had no desire to put himself through that.
"Why did you choose a Gryffindor?" Tobias asked, leaning over them from the row above. "You're better than her."
"That's debatable," Scorpius muttered, aware that most of the Slytherins from their year listened to his answer. "Besides, I couldn't take her for the satisfaction of kicking her cousin's butt. She was burning with determination."
"Do you think she can handle Potter?"
"She's got a huge motivation to give it her all."
"They're coming out," Karl noticed, and everyone's attention shifted to the field, where Rose and James, accompanied by Madam Hooch, walked out. The Gryffindors had a determined look on their faces. Subconsciously, Scorpius began to wonder who Lily and Albus cheered for. He scanned the stands to spot his friends. Both of them watched the participants of the tiebreaker with intense focus, but there was nothing more to read on their faces.
Meanwhile, Madam Hooch provided a brief introduction, explaining that each of the two participants would tackle a course separately, so the competitors couldn't interfere with each other. It wasn't just physical endurance that would matter, but also knowledge, skills, and creativity. The victor would be the one who crossed the finish line first, located at the far end of the stadium. However, any spell incorrectly cast on the course would result in five seconds added to the participant's time.
When everything was clear, Rose and James took out their wands, stood on the designated line, and when Madam Hooch gave the signal, they both set off at a sprint.
Scorpius couldn't take his eyes off Weasley, who didn't even stop before the first obstacle, which was made of glass panes. In her run, she transfigured the glass into sugar and shattered the brittle surface with her hand. Right after that, there was a sizable puddle with clear instructions not to get wet. With a swift wave of her wand, the water turned into solid ice. Rose slid across its surface and reached the third obstacle. That one resembled a wide bookshelf filled with volumes. The Gryffindor scanned the titles of the books and began to rearrange them. From the distance where Scorpius was seated, he couldn't tell what exactly she was doing, but he guessed it must be related to the history of magic, as she excelled in it, and she worked without any hesitation. Less than a minute later, the shelves moved apart, revealing the passage ahead. Scorpius noticed a characteristic shadow of satisfaction on Weasley's face, which was quickly replaced by concentration as she reached the next puzzle. That time, a tall brick wall separated her from the passage, and four vials containing various elixirs stood nearby. Rose examined them quickly, sniffed each one, and then drank the contents of one. Suddenly, her body shrank to the size of a one-year-old, allowing her to pass through a small opening at the base of the wall. As soon as she reached the other side, she quickly drank the antidote to the Shrinking Potion and continued running.
With a single spell, she immobilized several pixies that appeared in her path, and then she ran into a thicket of plants that remained nameless to Scorpius due to his limited knowledge of Herbology. Nevertheless, Rose managed to squeeze through the vines, even without the use of any charms, although she lost a few valuable seconds.
The final obstacle was related to Astronomy and consisted of three doors, each marked with one of the zodiac signs: Leo, Libra, and Taurus. From his vantage point in the stands, Scorpius saw that the first two doors led down long corridors to dead ends. Fortunately, Weasley was no slouch in Astronomy either, and she knew that on the fifteenth of May, the current date, the sun was in the sign of Taurus. Without hesitation, she chose the door with the Taurus symbol and pushed the handle. At that moment, she spotted the finish line about ten meters ahead. She sprinted toward it, but a few steps in front of her, James was already running and crossed the finish line a second earlier.
The stands erupted in applause, and meanwhile, Rose, breathing heavily, clenched her fists. First, she looked at her equally sweaty cousin and then up to where Scorpius was seated. However, Scorpius had no intention of taunting her. Instead, he raised his hands and applauded her. Perhaps she was a bit slower, but Scorpius was convinced he wouldn't have done that any better. She was a talented witch, and she deserved recognition.
Seeing his gesture, Weasley nodded, then turned to Professor Hooch, who, along with the Headmaster and the other two judges, had come out onto the field.
"Congratulations, Mr Potter, you reached the finish line first," Professor Hooch began. "However, when attempting to clear the obstacles from your path, you incorrectly used the Ascendio charm, and it was only after using the Alarte Ascendare as a correction that you achieved the desired effect. By the rules presented at the beginning, an additional five seconds will be added to your time. Therefore, Rose Weasley is the winner of that competition, and consequently, the fourth year wins the entire Olympics."
The initial confusion from the teacher's words gave way to an uproar in the stadium. Fourth-year Gryffindors began streaming from the stands and joined Weasley on the field. Moments later, students from other Houses, including Scorpius with the Slytherins, joined them. The field became quite chaotic, but the teachers didn't seem inclined to intervene, allowing the fourth-years to savour their victory.
With some surprise, Scorpius noticed that he, along with Alex and Simon, was at the centre of that commotion. Standing among students from different Houses, he realized that while that wouldn't solve all their problems, Professor McGonagall had at least taken a step towards bridging the gap that had divided the different Houses. That day, all the fourth-years were equally celebrating their victory.
Finally, when the commotion had died down a bit, the Headmaster announced that later that day, in the Great Hall right after dinner, there would be an official award ceremony for the top three teams.
As students began to leave the stadium, Scorpius approached Rose, who stood with Albus and Lily.
"Congratulations. Your mother would be proud," he said with a malicious smile fixed on his face.
Rose shot him a withering look and then smiled just as cunningly.
"You did the right thing by passing the tiebreaker to a specialist. You would probably still be scratching your head over the order in which to arrange the books."
Scorpius was about to respond when Lily began to chuckle. Younger Gryffindor wasn't bothered by the loss, either her own or her brother's.
"I think James will be kicking himself today for confusing the spells," she said. "His friends will never let him live it down. Everyone knows Ascendio only works on people, and he tried using it on those wooden logs. What an amateur."
That statement only increased the siblings' amusement.
"Of course, it's so obvious," Albus added, clearly unaware of such a use for the spell.
In good spirits, Scorpius leaned on his friend's shoulder. "You have to understand, it's secret knowledge, reserved only for nerds."
"Even you are a nerd," Rose retorted. "McGonagall's pupil."
Scorpius rolled his eyes, and Lily burst into laughter. In such excellent spirits, the four of them returned to the school building.
In the Great Hall, banners in the colours of all the houses hung, each marked with a Roman numeral four. Scorpius stood in the centre of the hall with Rose, Alex, and Simon. To their right stood James' team, and to their left was Lily, along with the second years who had placed third. The Headmaster handed each participant a diploma and placed a commemorative medal around their neck, while also shaking hands and exchanging polite words.
When she reached Scorpius, he noticed genuine satisfaction on her face, although it was veiled by a professional demeanour. Nevertheless, her eyes sparkled with joy.
"Congratulations. I know how significant that challenge was, especially for you," she said while presenting him with the diploma.
He perfectly understood what she meant. It wasn't spells and competitions that were his greatest challenge. The key to victory was the ability to communicate with the other members of the team. If they continued to behave as they did during the first competition, they wouldn't be standing on the podium at the end, but rather at the bottom of the table. Their characters and mutual antipathy were their greatest enemy, and it appeared that after these two weeks, they had managed to find enough common ground to win. Would it last? No one could say, but it was certainly a step in the right direction. Scorpius knew that that was what brought joy to McGonagall.
After all the participants had been awarded, applause filled the hall, congratulating the top teams. For the first time in many years, students from one house applauded those from another. That day, there were no Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, Slytherins, or Ravenclaws. Today, they were simply students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.