XXXI
Scorpius spent his days anxiously as the cool May nights suddenly turned into humid June evenings. There was only a week left until the end of the school year. The older students had completed their N.E. and O. , and the younger students eagerly anticipated the start of their summer vacation and returning home.
However, with each passing day, Scorpius felt a growing sense of unease. He knew what he had to do before the end of the school year, but he didn't feel prepared for it at all. That day, as he saw Albus during dinner, digging into his chicken casserole with a sour expression, all hope deserted him. The Gryffindor wasn't ready, and Scorpius sincerely doubted that he would muster the courage to cast the spell. But what other choice did he have?
Scorpius was hesitant as he knocked on the door of Professor McGonagall's office. He knew from their previous conversation that that would be their last meeting of the school year, and he was just here to collect the tasks he needed to complete during the summer. Yet, it was hard for him to gather the courage to enter. Some part of his nature, the part that trusted the Headmaster and admired her, urged him to tell her the truth, to reveal what he had discovered about the gap in his memory. He knew that she wouldn't condemn him for it, and she would do everything in her power to help. Most likely, she could easily restore his lost memories. But that would mean admitting that, for over two months, instead of teaching Albus magic, he had been making him practice the counter-charm to Obliviate. Once again, he would have schemed behind her back, concealed important things, and failed to show enough trust in her to tell the truth. He was a coward, unable to muster the courage to do it.
"Good afternoon, Professor," he greeted as he entered her office. The Headmaster gave him a brief look and gestured to a seat in front of her. If she noticed a change in his demeanour, she didn't let on.
He sat down and glanced at the books on McGonagall's desk. That's when she slid an envelope toward him.
"That is your authorization for the summer, similar to the one you had last year. The rules are quite similar, though not as strict. You may use magic for educational purposes, but new charms only in the presence of one of your parents. I hope I don't need to remind you how important it is to follow that rule."
Scorpius forced a slight smile.
"I see you have little faith in my ability to maintain such discipline after my last slip-up."
McGonagall shook her head slightly but returned the smile.
"Over the past few months, you've broken the prohibition more than ten times. Do you wonder about my doubts?"
With a touch of embarrassment, Scorpius scratched his temple. He couldn't deny the Headmaster's point.
"I'll do my best, I truly will."
She nodded, then shifted her gaze to the books on the desk.
"Take these. The first one contains a list of topics that you should familiarize yourself with during your free time. It's not much, but it should keep you from getting bored during the holidays. I'm also keen on making sure you get some rest."
The last sentence surprised Scorpius, and he looked at McGonagall with genuine astonishment.
"Professor Smilthon was here recently. He complained that you've been sleeping through half of his classes. He was concerned that it was due to your lack of interest in Potions, but we both know that the problem lies elsewhere."
Scorpius lost himself in thought for a moment. It was true that he hadn't been getting full nights of sleep lately, especially since he often stayed up late in the Room of Requirement. He didn't think anyone had noticed, but it was a point of concern for him.
"You don't want me treating you like a child. However, you should take better care of yourself, or else your health will worsen," McGonagall added.
That time, Scorpius felt his face heating up. Conversations with McGonagall rarely extended beyond school and academics. However, at the moment, she seemed genuinely concerned about his health. It was both nice and at the same time, stirred a stronger sense of guilt within him.
"I'll try," he muttered, looking at the floor to hide his embarrassment.
"Good. I won't keep you any longer. All that's left for me is to wish you a pleasant and peaceful vacation."
"Thank you," Scorpius replied, before rising from his chair. He quickly tucked the authorization letter into his pocket and gathered the books under his arm. He had felt like he was doing everything too quickly, which might have aroused unnecessary interest, but the longer that conversation lasted, the more it drifted into personal matters.
As he approached the door, McGonagall called out to him, nearly stopping him in his tracks.
"Scorpius... Is there something that's bothering you?"
Scorpius clenched his teeth to suppress the first words that immediately came to his lips, words that would be dangerously honest and true.
He took a quick breath to clear his mind and hesitantly shrugged.
"The same as always when I go home. It's better now, but it's always... strange when I don't see my father for a while. It's a little... complicated."
It was the perfect lie, as it touched the truth but veiled the real issue.
"I understand. Just remember that it's not easy for him either," McGonagall said.
Scorpius nodded.
"I know, and I try not to forget that."
"I'm sure you'll find common ground."
"Me too," Scorpius muttered and left the office hastily. He felt awful about lying to McGonagall, yet his determination to find out the truth grew stronger. Once he knew what he couldn't remember, and if it was as bad as he feared, McGonagall would be the first to know.
That evening, as Scorpius entered the Room of Requirement, he knew he wouldn't leave until he achieved his goal. Even Potter's uncertain look didn't sway his determination.
"Ready or not, we're running out of time," he said as the door closed behind them.
Albus looked at him with an unhidden sense of fear. "But I... I haven't always..."
"The last six times, you've done it without major issues. You can do that; you just lack faith in your abilities."
The Gryffindor looked seriously flustered.
"That is crazy," he muttered, turning away. "I'll turn you into a vegetable."
"Oh, come on!" Scorpius snapped. "It's my head, not yours, so why do you even care?"
He saw Potter clenching his fists, which trembled noticeably.
"What do you mean, 'why do I care'? If something goes wrong, I'll have to live with the knowledge that I hurt you."
Scorpius considered a biting comment but held back, looking at Gryffindor with a serious gaze. He genuinely worried about him, and that couldn't be dismissed lightly.
Eventually, he approached Albus and sat down next to him on the sofa.
"Nothing bad will happen," he said gently. "I've seen how you do it, and I know you can cast that spell correctly. Over the past few weeks, you've done it many times, and our pixie seems to be doing fine. Well, maybe it's a little high."
The last remark finally had the desired effect, as Gryffindor smiled slightly.
"I believe you can do it, and I know you'll do it perfectly," Scorpius finished.
Albus took a deep breath after briefly closing his eyes.
"Alright, I'll do it. But let's not waste any more time, or I might lose my nerve."
Scorpius smiled cheekily and patted Gryffindor on the shoulder.
Sitting on the floor amidst the scattered pillows, Scorpius refused to entertain any negative thoughts that something could go wrong. He had seen Albus succeed with the memory charm many times, not just once. Besides, he wasn't going to reveal any inkling of doubt, knowing how fragile Gryffindor's determination could be. Albus stood in front of him, holding his wand, and taking a few nervous breaths.
"Think of me as a pixie," Scorpius said with a smile.
"That's not helping," Potter grumbled. He took a final deep breath and began reciting the incantation he had repeated endlessly in the past few weeks.
Scorpius closed his eyes, trying not to distract Albus with his gaze and followed the guidance he had read about. He aimed to empty his mind and let his thoughts and memories drift freely, leaping between images without a specific pattern. He wasn't sure if it had been a minute or a bit longer when he suddenly felt a dull ache in his temple, and for the first time, he was grateful he was seated because he feared he might lose his balance and fall. The pain wasn't intense; it was more of an annoyance, so he decided to ignore it and focus on what he carried within.
Do you realize the consequences?
I won't allow you to go through with that madness...
You'll turn him into an orphan, one way or another...
Come along and become the dragon, as it was destined for you since your name was given...
Then, he saw an image of his father entering the room, casting the Obliviate, erasing that specific memory from his mind.
Scorpius groaned and clutched his head. He felt disoriented, but above all, he was about to feel nauseous. He wanted to scream, but on the other hand, he had a hard time catching his breath, as if an iron hoop had tightened around his neck.
"Scorpius! What's wrong? Are you feeling bad?" He heard Albus' panicked voice, and then he felt Albus' hands on his shoulders. He struggled to shake his head, as he couldn't respond coherently.
"Should I take you to the hospital wing? Merlin, something went wrong! I messed up..."
"Don't shout," Scorpius hissed and finally managed to take a deeper breath. "I'm okay... the spell worked."
"Do you remember?"
"Yes, I do."
Suddenly, Scorpius began to tremble when he realized more clearly what he had witnessed and its significance. His father... Horntails...
"Bloody hell!" he exclaimed, striking the floor with his fist, causing Potter to jump back.
"What happened? What do you remember?"
"My father joined the Horntails," he blurted out before thinking if he should tell Albus about it. But he was too disoriented to think rationally.
"I found out during Easter. I overheard a conversation between him and your father. They were arguing. Then I found a letter in my father's office."
The memory of that last part sent an icy shiver down Scorpius' spine. He rubbed his face and nervously ran his fingers through his hair. He started to regret bringing it up, but he also understood the gravity of the situation and what he needed to do.
"I need to go to McGonagall," he muttered, trying to get up from the floor, even though his head still throbbed.
"Wait," Albus said, holding him in place. "First, get yourself together, and then we'll think everything through calmly. You've waited for months; you can wait a few more minutes."
Scorpius raised his gaze and looked at Potter, who sat in front of him. Gryffindor appeared worried, but he seemed to be much more rational than Scorpius at the moment.
"You shouldn't get involved further. That is a very ugly matter."
"I understand, but let's take one step at a time," Albus replied. "First, try to calmly tell me what you remember, so we don't miss anything."
Scorpius was grateful for Albus' composed approach and decided to go with it.
"Do you remember when we were in the garden? At one point, I went to get butterbeer, and that's when I overheard the conversation between our fathers. It was a heated argument; they were raising their voices. Without the context of the conversation, it was hard to deduce anything. But it looked like my father was doing something that would put him in conflict with the Ministry. Unfortunately, he cast a Muffliato spell to silence them..."
For the next few minutes, Scorpius recounted every word he remembered, every sentence spoken by Draco and Mr Potter, as well as the contents of the letter he found in his father's office. Slowly, the initial panic induced by these memories gave way to cold logic.
"That happened three months ago, and it's hard to predict what my father might have done in that time," Scorpius concluded.
Albus, deeply in thought, nodded slightly.
"From what you're saying, there's only one way to explain it, in my opinion," he began after a moment. "Your father didn't join the Horntails."
Scorpius looked at his friend, genuinely astonished. However, Albus seemed convinced of the correctness of his words.
"At least not for real," he continued. "Everything fits. My dad has been pursuing members of that gang for a long time because it's rumoured to consist of former Voldemort allies. After the Ministry's increased efforts following the attack on Diagon Alley, it makes sense that they're after them."
Suddenly, Albus got up from the floor and began pacing around the room.
"Remember when you and your dad came to us on New Year's Eve? Back then, our fathers had quite a long conversation in the study, longer than it should have taken for simple thank-yous. I didn't connect the dots at the time, but the next day, my dad was talking to Uncle Ron when he and his family came over for dinner. They had a heated discussion, and I remember Uncle Ron saying they shouldn't trust someone because it's not a reliable source of information. They were probably talking about your dad. Most likely, my dad asked him to share any information about the Horntails if he came across it. It's logical because..." Potter hesitated for a moment. "...because he used to be a Death Eater."
Scorpius winced at the sound of that word. But he quickly discarded any unpleasant associations and focused on the current issue. "Are you suggesting that my father joined them to gather information?"
Albus nodded.
"It fits with the conversation you overheard in your home. If my dad had learned that your father was doing something illegal, he would have simply arrested him. But that didn't happen. So probably your father told him he was joining or planning to join the Horntails for that purpose. Hence, my dad tried to stop him, as it was undoubtedly dangerous. The question is whether he managed to convince him not to do it."
Scorpius fell into thought. Something strange was tightening in the pit of his stomach. On one hand, he didn't want his father involved in anything dangerous. On the other hand, Albus' perspective was far more positive than his conclusions. Still, it was hard to believe.
"Let's assume you're right. Why would he risk it?" Scorpius asked.
Albus shrugged.
"There could be various reasons: pride, money, the desire to prove himself. Or maybe he just thinks it's the right thing to do. Ultimately, from what I know, he was Severus Snape's favourite."
Scorpius looked at him in surprise.
"What does he have to do with that?"
"He played both sides as well. I know because my father told me his story. For years, he spied for Dumbledore while appearing to be Voldemort's most faithful servant. He was a powerful wizard, master in Occlumency, and ultimately contributed to my father's victory in the war. He was a hero."
"A dead hero," Scorpius muttered. But Albus ignored him and continued.
"If your father genuinely knew him well, is it really surprising that he wants to follow in his footsteps? Maybe he's trying to make amends for past mistakes, to rehabilitate himself."
Scorpius shook his head.
"He's not like that. He was never the hero type. Always..." The Slytherin cursed bitterly and also got up from the floor, ignoring the remnants of dizziness. "That is utter nonsense. What sense is there in taking such risks? He could die! For what? Honour? Heroism? It's idiotic."
"Now you sound like a true Slytherin," Albus remarked.
"He was one too!" Scorpius snapped. "So why?"
For a longer while, Albus stared at him with a peculiar expression, then he sighed heavily and approached closer.
"I think he's doing it because of you."
"Are you suggesting it's my fault?"
Albus shook his head.
"No, that's not what I mean. Two years ago, I thought that every Slytherin was a two-faced scoundrel, someone you couldn't trust, someone who was just waiting to exploit any weakness of mine. You showed me how wrong I was. You proved that reality isn't so simple and obvious. You can be a Slytherin in the robes you wear and sometimes act like a complete jerk, but you've long since shown that you're something much more. I understood that, Lily and James understood that, the students from your House understood that, McGonagall understood that, and I think your father had to realize it too. I believe he decided to do that because he believed that if you can go beyond being a slippery Slytherin, so can he."
For a long moment, Scorpius stared at Albus and struggled to find the right words. The Gryffindor had surprised him greatly. He had always known that beneath Albus' quiet exterior was an intelligent boy, but he was barely recognizable at the moment.
"So, if something happens, it will still be my fault. Great," he finally said, turning his gaze away. "What should I do about all of that?"
Albus took a few steps and leaned against the wooden table there. Crossing his arms over his chest, he looked earnestly at the Slytherin.
"You shouldn't get involved. Without knowing the whole situation, you might cause unforeseen harm."
"So, I should just pretend I don't know anything? That..."
"Contrary to your nature, I know. But think for a moment. When did acting on your own ever lead to something good? Your father is an adult, an experienced wizard. He knows the risks. Acting impulsively might thwart his plans. I suppose that's why he wiped your memory."
"What?"
"Sorry to say that, but if you weren't who you are, he might have just told you everything. Instead, he chose to hide the truth to protect you because he knew you wouldn't sit still. Now you have a chance to prove him wrong."
Scorpius sighed heavily. He couldn't deny that Albus had a point. The Gryffindor had gotten to know him too well. Indeed, he needed action. Watching and observing the situation wasn't his style. However, acting blindly was undoubtedly foolish. He would never forgive himself if his recklessness got his father hurt or worse.
"Fine, I won't do anything," he reluctantly declared.
"Of course, you could try talking to him," Albus suggested.
"Forget it, I get goosebumps just thinking about it. 'Hey, Dad. I heard you joined the Horntails for a good cause. And I don't blame you for using Obliviate on me. I understand that you meant well.' I can already see his expression, and it's not a pleasant sight."
At that statement, Albus couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Well, when you put it that way, it doesn't sound very reasonable," he said after he had composed himself.
Scorpius also lightened up a bit. He still had a lot to ponder, but despite everything, he felt better. Ultimately, the scenario presented by Albus wasn't the worst of all possibilities.
That evening, as Scorpius lay in bed, staring into the darkness of the night, various thoughts raced through his mind. His Slytherin nature kept telling him that all of that was highly improbable. He should assume the darkest version of events because it was the only logical and correct one. People weren't noble and heroic; they typically acted out of base motives that were unworthy of praise. Was it hard to imagine that his father had had enough of pretending to be a Muggle and being pushed around by the wizarding world? Had old ambitions and the desire to demonstrate his power awakened within him? Money, power, and influence were all aphrodisiacs that could easily captivate one's heart and will, especially among Slytherins who desired them above all else. After all, the last war had its roots in the belief of a group of wizards who thought they were superior and wanted to demonstrate their dominance. Scorpius' father had been part of that group. Could he return to it? Scorpius had no evidence to suggest otherwise.
Yet, despite his reservations, he wanted to believe in Albus' words. The Gryffindor nature urged him to assume that everyone wanted to do good and act righteously. His way of seeing the world left no room for wicked or deceitful deeds. He saw the inherent goodness in people, partly because that's how he'd been raised. He also saw it in Draco. And with all his heart, Scorpius wanted to see it, despite the evidence and the whispers of his inner Slytherin. He had discovered many times that the Slytherin inside him wasn't always right. He rubbed his face with his hand, truly wanting to know what he should do. Everything in him boiled with the idea of inaction, but, on the other hand, no course of action guaranteed success. If he went to McGonagall, and she misunderstood the situation and informed the Ministry, his father might end up in Azkaban. If he spoke to Draco, and Draco turned out to be a true Horntail, he didn't even want to think about what he might do, both to Scorpius and, worse yet, to Albus. Mr Potter seemed to be aware of the situation, at least in part, but would he be pleased that his son had gotten involved and cast charm he absolutely shouldn't be? Another shudder passed through Scorpius at the thought of speaking to an Auror. Neither of these options sounded too good, or at least not good enough to outweigh the others. However, the alternative was passive waiting. Albus suggested that it was the best course of action, but Scorpius still couldn't accept it. Yet, so far, it had been Potter's judgment that had usually proven correct. He had never steered him wrong before. Even James usually listened to his advice, even though he was older. Experience had taught him, and Scorpius should learn from it as well.
"Scorpius…" He suddenly heard a quiet call. He reached into his drawer and took out a mirror displaying Albus' face.
He looked at the clock, which showed a quarter past two in the morning.
"What happened?" he asked anxiously.
"Go to sleep," the Gryffindor said in a tone that tolerated no objections.
Scorpius looked at him in surprise.
"I know you're sitting there, thinking instead of letting go," Potter continued. "Nothing good will come of it."
Scorpius sighed heavily.
"I know, but it's not that simple."
Albus rolled his eyes.
"Just go to sleep. Tomorrow, you'll be acting like a jittery house elf all over again."
"You've summed me up."
"Goodnight, Malfoy."
"Choke on it, Potter."
Neither the next day nor the following brought any solution to the problem, and before Scorpius knew it, he was packing his bags for his trip back home for the summer break. The commotion on that morning could only be compared to the chaos at the start of the school year. Students ran between the dormitories and the common room, trying to find all their things. Some said goodbye to their friends while others made plans for trips. In all that noise, Scorpius struggled to find all his textbooks, and then he headed to breakfast in the company of Karl and Zack.
"Two months without History of Magic, dreams do come true," said the blond as they walked down the corridor.
"Are you planning to lie flat on your bed all summer?" Scorpius asked, unable to share his friend's upbeat mood. Once again, he had a sense that going back home wouldn't be pleasant.
"Oh, you'd know," Zachary said with a smile. "I'll be lying flat on the beach in Croatia."
Scorpius looked at him inquiringly.
"My uncle, whose sons usually don't let me live at family gatherings, got some job there and moved with his kids for at least two years. He suggested I can join them for the holidays. As you can imagine, he didn't have to push me too hard."
Scorpius snorted, then looked at Karl, who walked on the other side.
"I'm going to my grandparents in the States," he said, feeling obliged to respond. "What about you?"
Scorpius shrugged. Although he had previously promised not to hide anything from them, he felt that his father's situation was too serious to involve his friends in it. One Albus was enough.
"You know me, I'll be studying. McGonagall gave me the go-ahead and a list of subjects to cover. It's enough to keep me busy for four months."
Zack shook his head and theatrically rolled his eyes.
"You're not normal. But to each according to his needs. If that's okay with you, I won't try to convert you."
"And you wouldn't succeed anyway," Scorpius replied.
The three of them crossed the threshold of the unusually noisy Great Hall. They sat in their usual places and watched other students for a while, indulging in various sweets that appeared on the table during that farewell breakfast.
With each passing moment, Scorpius felt an increasing weight on his chest. Although he had promised himself at the beginning of the school year that that year would be different, the events that had taken place were far from what he had imagined. The curse, Esther's departure, the whole issue with White and Willick, Nash, the Olympics, and his father and the Horntails. There was a lot for one year and one Scorpius. On top of it all, he had a feeling that the summer break wouldn't bring resolutions to the most challenging issues. He didn't know how long it would take for that situation to reach its conclusion. That thought was far from comforting. At school, at least he had classes that kept his mind occupied, but when he got home, it would hit him twice as hard. He needed to prepare for the upcoming meeting with his father. If he wanted to avoid revealing his knowledge, not a single muscle of his face could quiver during the conversation. It was hard to imagine that, but that time was fast approaching. There were only about ten hours left before he would face his father.
Suddenly, however, Lily's face appeared before his eyes, and he was so startled that he jumped backwards.
The Gryffindor girl chuckled.
"Daydreaming, are you? You had such an absent look on your face."
"I was thinking. Have you heard about something like that?" he retorted, looking at her with a smile.
"Believe it or not, I've heard of it," she said. "But I didn't think it was something you ever did."
To that, Zachary burst into laughter.
"You're getting rusty, mate, if a Gryffindor kid took you by surprise like that."
"Unlike you, she succeeds sometimes," Scorpius retorted, and then, in a more serious tone, he turned to Lily. "Is there something specific that brings you here, or do you miss our company?"
The Gryffindor girl also became more serious, and when Scorpius looked behind her, he saw Albus watching them closely. It was hard to say how much he had shared with his sister, but her appearance was certainly not coincidental.
"Do you have any plans for August?" she blurted out, suddenly looking a bit flustered. Her confidence wasn't helped by Zachary's continuous chuckling.
"Nothing specific."
"That's great. Albus and I are going to a magical camp, and we thought maybe you could join us."
"I would have to talk to my parents, but I don't think they'll have any objections. They seem to be used to that by now."
"Awesome, then we'll reserve a spot for you," Lily exclaimed, clapping her hands in enthusiasm. "I'll send you an owl with all the details."
"I'll be looking forward to it with bated breath," he replied with a hint of sarcasm, but that didn't discourage the Gryffindor girl. She just wagged her finger at him and then returned to her table.
"Well, well, I wonder if she'll save you a place in her tent," Zack teased.
"Oh, shut up, you moron."
At noon, the official end of the school year took place. The Headmaster summarized all the events, announced the House Cup winners, which that time turned out to be Gryffindor and wished everyone a pleasant holiday. The ceremony was brief, as everyone was impatient to leave.
As the crowd poured out of the Great Hall, students collected their belongings and then headed to the carriages waiting to take them to the station, where the Hogwarts Express was ready.
Sitting in a compartment with other Slytherins, Scorpius paid little attention to the conversations around him. His thoughts were already at home, where he would face more challenges.
Suddenly, he heard a knock on the window. Albus was standing in the corridor. Gryffindor gave him a nod, indicating that he should exit the compartment. When they were outside, Scorpius looked at Potter questioningly. Albus glanced around to ensure no one could overhear them and then spoke.
"About what we discussed in the Room of Requirement. What are you ultimately going to do?"
Scorpius shrugged.
"I'll listen to your advice."
Potter visibly relaxed upon hearing that.
"That's good. The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that our assumptions are correct. But if you still have doubts, I could try to find out more from my dad..."
"No!" Scorpius cut him off. "Don't get more involved in that. If I'm not supposed to meddle, then you shouldn't either."
"Alright, it's a fair deal," Gryffindor agreed.
For a moment, Scorpius studied his friend closely, checking to see if he had truly taken his words to heart.
"If any new facts come to light, I'll let you know," he added after some thought.
Albus nodded.
"Then we'll stay in touch," the Gryffindor replied.
Potter unexpectedly extended his hand toward Scorpius.
"Take care."
Scorpius returned the gesture and smiled slightly.
"You too."
King's Cross was, as usual on that day, crowded with people waiting for the train to arrive. Many students leaned out of the windows and waved in greeting, and as soon as the Express came to a halt, everyone hurried to retrieve their luggage.
Scorpius waited a moment until the compartment slightly emptied, then he grabbed his trunk, whistled at Tori, who slept on the seat, and left the train with her. Before he could spot someone from his family, Karl stood next to him. The Slytherin had an odd expression, like he was trying to smile but it looked somewhat forced.
"See you in September," Karl said, patting Scorpius on the shoulder.
"Yeah, don't get lost in those States."
Karl nodded and silently looked at his friend for a moment.
"You won't get into any trouble during these two months, will you?"
Scorpius clenched his teeth. Karl, although quiet and usually not one to stand out, was an excellent observer, and it was really hard to hide anything from him. He didn't know the details, but he had gotten to know Scorpius well enough to suspect something.
"I hope not," Scorpius replied with a sigh.
Karl looked at him inquisitively.
"If you need..."
"No, really, I'll manage. See you," Scorpius cut him off and, without turning, walked into the crowd.
"Malfoy!" He heard Karl's call. Reluctantly, he turned to see his friend's focused face. "Everett Street number seven, Denver, Colorado. I'll be there if you need anything."
Scorpius felt something tight in his throat. He had already encountered two people that day who offered him help. He felt undeserving of such friends.
"Thanks. I'll remember," he shouted, forcing a smile. He waved to Karl in farewell, then merged into the crowd.
It didn't take long before he spotted Astoria waiting for him. Without hesitation, he approached her and greeted her warmly. His mother hugged him and asked a few standard questions in such a situation, then they walked together towards the station exit.
"Is father at work?" Scorpius asked at one point, making an effort to sound indifferent.
Astoria nodded.
"Yes. He won't be back until Saturday evening."
"Another business trip?"
"That's right. Lately, he's been having more of those," she replied in a voice as normal as if she were talking about the weather. Sometimes, even from a mother, a Slytherin could come out. Scorpius didn't doubt that Astoria knew, if not about everything, at least about part of his father's activities. But he had no intention of nagging her with questions about those matters. That situation was undoubtedly difficult for her as well.
"And how are the new house elves doing?" Scorpius changed the subject, and the conversation continued naturally.
The manor had indeed undergone significant changes. As soon as Scorpius passed through the gate, he noticed that the house elves had not been idle. The garden was well-kept, the path to the house was covered with bright white gravel, and the columns adorned with sculptures of mythological creatures glistened brightly. However, the most substantial change had occurred to the house itself. The entire facade had been renovated and, in the rays of the summer evening sun, took on a beautiful, slightly orange hue. The windowpanes sparkled with cleanliness, and on the window sills and balconies, there were pots filled with white flowers. The entire place looked truly impressive. Scorpius could hardly recognize his own home in that mansion. He whistled approvingly when he stopped in front of the entrance.
"I thought you'd like it," Astoria said with a smile. "It's a pleasure to see a house regain its former glory. There's still a lot of work left, but these two house elves have an inexhaustible supply of enthusiasm."
Scorpius nodded. He wasn't particularly fond of house elves himself, but when he saw how happy his mother was, he couldn't deny their usefulness. Before, he hadn't fully realized that Astoria wasn't capable of handling all the household chores on her own. Of course, his mother did what she could, but she wasn't a person cut out for hard physical work. All the better that she no longer had to take care of that.
As they entered the hall, the aforementioned house elves welcomed them. One of them was quite tall and slender, with incredibly long arms and an equally long nose. The other, much stockier one, stood out with his prominent ears. Both were dressed in custom-tailored black livery with red trim.
"Where did they get these clothes?" Scorpius asked because he could swear that when he was here last, they were wearing some ragged scraps of fabric.
"I gave it to them," Astoria replied, clearly pleased with herself.
"But doesn't that mean they're excused from service?"
"Indeed. They were a bit frightened at first, but we came to an understanding. Throughout my whole childhood, I watched ragged house elves working in my family home, and I decided that I didn't want to see similar scenes anymore. I agreed with them that these uniforms aren't their property but rather part of their service equipment. They readily agreed to it, and I think they liked the idea because they never part with these clothes."
Scorpius looked at the house elves again, who were embarrassed by Astoria's words.
"Mrs Malfoy is very kind to us, we have never received anything as beautiful from anyone," the taller house elf said.
"In return, we make sure she never stops smiling, Master," added the other.
Scorpius mentally cringed at being called "Master," but he didn't comment on it, only nodded.
"Very well, I'm counting on you in that matter," he replied, which sparked even more enthusiasm in the house elves.
Feeling duty-bound, they took Scorpius and Astoria's outerwear and carried their luggage upstairs. A little later, they invited them into the living room, where dinner was already prepared.
Sitting at the table, Scorpius recounted to his mother the events of the past few weeks, primarily focusing on the wizarding competition and the adventures with Rose Weasley. However, he didn't mention Nash. His mother was in too good a mood to be brought down by such stories. He would have to bring it up later. He went to bed around midnight and, although he thought he wouldn't be able to sleep again, the lengthy conversation with his mother had a calming effect, and before he knew it, he was surrounded by blissful darkness.
When Scorpius came down for breakfast on Saturday morning, he stood frozen in the kitchen doorway. Draco was by the buffet, pouring himself a cup of coffee. Dressed in a formal suit, he looked like he had just returned from a long journey. He probably hadn't noticed his son at first, as he was busy pouring water into his cup with one hand and holding a newspaper in the other. His gaze was fixed on the article he read.
Before Scorpius spoke, he watched his father for a moment. At first glance, Draco appeared just as usual. Dressed in a black suit with a matching tie, his hair neatly trimmed, with no hint of facial hair he wouldn't allow. But his face appeared somewhat greyer, and his eyes, while still following the text, looked more sunken and shadowed. He simply appeared exhausted, although, as was his custom, he didn't show any sign of it.
"You came back earlier," Scorpius said when he finally gathered himself and was confident his voice wouldn't waver.
Draco set the newspaper aside and straightened up.
"My meeting for today got cancelled," he replied without a stutter.
Wherever his father had been, he probably had some accommodation there, but he chose to return home that night despite the fatigue. Scorpius had never thought in such terms before, but he started wondering if Draco was hurrying back because of him. Suddenly, Albus' words about Scorpius' influence on his father came to his mind. At that moment, Scorpius felt oddly uneasy with that thought. He always believed there was little that connected him to Draco. His father was reserved, keeping a distance, even from his son. Scorpius usually preferred spending time with his mother, whose display of emotions came naturally. It was only lately that he became more aware of the subtle elements that showed the attachment Draco felt.
And when he looked at his father's worn face and pictured him spending the past few days with some unsavoury characters and then travelling all night just to return to his family as soon as possible, something broke inside him. He battled the growing urge to stop Draco. For just a moment, he wanted to approach his father and tell him to forget it all, that it wasn't worth it, that life and family should come first. Then he realized that he would only make matters worse. His father had made a decision, and once Draco made a decision, he didn't intend to back down. No pleas or threats would make him change his mind. He had that determination etched into his steely, grey eyes.
If Scorpius were to help him in any way, it would be exactly as Albus said: first, he shouldn't be in the way. So, despite everything, he gathered himself and offered a smile.
"I'm glad you're home," Scorpius said.
Scorpius observed a strange change in his father's expression. It seemed that Draco hadn't expected to hear such words. His surprise was written on his features. Exploiting the momentary confusion, Scorpius stepped closer and set the newspaper on the kitchen table.
"Sit down, you look tired. I'll make breakfast," he said, reaching for some eggs.
He felt his father's gaze on him, but he tried to ignore it as if nothing unusual had happened.
"We have house elves for that," Draco said finally, his voice somewhat uncertain.
"I saw them while coming down here; they were cleaning the pond behind the house. I can handle it myself," Scorpius replied truthfully. He might not be a skilled cook, but he could make scrambled eggs and toast. Surely it wasn't harder than brewing potions.
Draco finally sat down at the table, but he kept his eyes on Scorpius. They sat in silence for a moment, broken only by the clinking of utensils.
"It's not like you," Draco said eventually, breaking the silence.
Scorpius shrugged slightly.
"You know, I've spent a lot of time with the Gryffindors lately. They're all so kind, polite, and helpful. It rubbed off on me."
He could almost imagine his father rolling his eyes.
"Do you think I'm that naive?" Draco asked.
Scorpius put his spoon down on the counter and turned around. He couldn't muster a smile when Draco still watched him closely.
It crossed his mind that maybe his father checked whether Scorpius had remembered something. Therefore, his next words had to sound very convincing.
"And isn't it better that way? Usually, after my absence, we have a hard time talking for the first few days. I thought it would be a good idea to break that pattern. But, indeed, I'm not completely selfless. I wanted to wait a bit, but now that we're talking, I'll tell you straight out what it's about. Lily and Albus invited me to a camp in August."
He saw a specific sense of relief appear on his father's face. Undoubtedly, he had suspected something entirely different. He sighed lightly and nodded.
"If that's what you want, I won't stop you. When is it supposed to happen?"
"I'm not sure yet. They'll send me the details."
"I understand," Draco acknowledged, and then he shifted his gaze to the stovetop. "Something is burning."
"Oh, damn!" Scorpius exclaimed and rushed to rescue the scrambled eggs.
A moment later, what was still salvageable made it to the table, and both of them ate their breakfast in silence.
"Are you also authorized for that holiday by Professor McGonagall?" Draco asked at one point.
Scorpius nodded.
"As you've noticed, I'm working a lot these days, but I'll try to help you as much as possible," his father replied.
"I understand. I had figured that out. I'll try to cover as much material as I can on my own."
Draco took a sip of his coffee.
"That isn't permanent. I hope things will return to normal in a while. I don't want you to think that I prioritize work over your needs. I know how important that is for you. It's just that I can't handle it differently right now."
Scorpius lowered his gaze. He recalled how he practised magic under Draco's supervision during the last summer. He hadn't thought about it earlier, but he realized he would miss that. He had taken it for granted. However, despite his father's absence, he didn't want to complicate the situation. It would have been so easy to say words that would cut deeply. The words practically tumbled out of his mouth before, but with Draco in such a state, he didn't want to add any more burden to it. That's why he raised his eyes and nodded.
"I understand. I'll manage it. I'm not a child anymore who needs to be led by the hand."
Draco nodded.
"I'll be leaving again on Tuesday morning," he said, setting down his empty cup and rising from his chair. "I'll rest a bit, and then we'll go somewhere together with your mother."
"Sure," Scorpius replied, smiling effortlessly for the first time.
Scorpius couldn't remember the last time he had gone for a simple walk around the neighbourhood with his parents. It must have been years. Astoria walked arm in arm with Draco, and Scorpius on her other side, answering various questions about recent events. The weather was pleasant; it wasn't too hot or humid, and fluffy clouds lazily drifted across the sky. That idyllic scene was marred only by the underlying sense that it was all temporary. The future, especially Draco's future, remained uncertain. All of them, including Astoria, were aware of that, but they probably preferred not to dwell on it. It wouldn't change anything, and worrying about it wouldn't help either.
"You shouldn't have given in to that Weasley, especially since she knew she was inferior," Draco commented while Scorpius told him about the Olympics final.
It was already clear to Scorpius that his father didn't speak favourably about the Weasleys. There seemed to be mutual antipathy between the two families. While Draco held a particular kind of respect for Mr Potter, he had no love lost for the Weasleys.
Scorpius ran his hand through his hair, wondering how to put his decision into words.
"Maybe so, but that wasn't the most important thing. I've already achieved my goals, especially since Rose was willing to admit that I'm better. But she had something to prove to herself. When she was chosen to compete in the final, she had an incredible determination to win, even greater than if it had been me. She's very passionate."
"I can see you've gotten to know her well. Do you like her?" Astoria asked, giving him a meaningful look.
Scorpius almost cringed when he realized what his mother suggested.
"Never in my life!" he replied quickly. "I can't stand that girl; she's annoying and gets on my nerves whenever she speaks."
His strong denial amused Astoria.
"She's not indifferent to you."
Scorpius rolled his eyes.
"If you insist on matchmaking me, then please, let it be Lily. At least she's charming, which can't be said of Rose."
That comment only lifted his mother's spirits further, but it reminded Scorpius of another girl who had been making his life difficult recently. He still needed to explain that less pleasant part of his life to his parents.
"I generally have no luck with girls. The only sensible one around me was Esther, but unfortunately, she left the school in the previous semester."
"She transferred somewhere else?" Astoria asked.
Scorpius shook his head.
"No, she quit magic altogether. She went back to her family and enrolled in a Muggle school. It was shortly after I ended up in Mungo's due to the curse. She lost her parents and lived only with her grandmother, who wasn't a witch and was very afraid that Esther would be harmed at Hogwarts. I know it wasn't easy for her, but in the end, she decided that family was more important to her than magic. I don't think I could do that, but as she said, not everyone is as determined as I am," he finished with a smile.
"Do you know what's happening with her now?" Astoria asked.
"I heard she's managing fine."
Scorpius glanced at Draco from the corner of his eye, who was silently listening to the conversation. His father must have understood Esther's decision well. After all, he had done something very similar for the sake of the family.
"But, I didn't really want to talk about Estera," Scorpius continued. "Shortly after the whole incident with White, when things calmed down a bit, I got entangled in conflict with another Ravenclaw girl. For a long time, she was digging for something on me, clearly wanting to find something to get me expelled from school."
"Why?" Astoria inquired.
Scorpius shrugged.
"At first, I had no idea. I assumed she was just mean and had found herself such a sick form of entertainment. At that time, I had an absolute ban on using magic from McGonagall. I wasn't supposed to draw my wand at all outside of classes. So, that girl couldn't dig up anything, but that didn't mean she left me alone. One day, she cornered me in the library when I was feeling unwell. I was exhausted, and too many olives with the addition of hot chocolate probably didn't help. I must have looked bad because when Albus happened to see us, he thought that the Ravenclaw girl had done something to me. He got really angry and took her wand, breaking it."
Scorpio heard his mother sharply inhale.
"I knew that if this came out, there would be a quiet mess, and Albus would get into trouble. That's why I took the wand and, seizing the opportunity, had it repaired at Ollivanders."
"Did you go to Diagon Alley by yourself?" Draco asked.
"Not by myself. I was with Mrs Scamander, who teaches Care of Magical Creatures at our school. I was serving detention with her at the time."
"Detention?" his mother exclaimed.
Scorpius sighed heavily and rolled his eyes. He knew he deviated from the topic, but it was necessary.
"I had a ban on using magic, so for every spell I cast, even reflexively, I got two or three days of detention. It added up to... several weeks."
Both parents looked at him in astonishment.
"You didn't mention anything about that in your letters."
"It didn't matter. I just sometimes had to clean the unicorn paddock or feed some pixies because I accidentally took my textbooks or something else with magic. These weren't big deals. I tried to stick to the rules and avoid breaking them."
Except for that one time in his father's office, which Scorpius had to omit for obvious reasons.
"Alright, you fixed the girl's wand, and then what? Because I assume that isn't the end of the story," Draco asked, his tone, though cool, revealing his interest.
Scorpius swallowed hard and continued.
"Indeed, that wasn't the end. I wanted to return her wand, seizing the moment when she was alone. However, I witnessed an unpleasant scene at that moment. Her older brother was screaming at her and then hit her in the face so hard that she knocked over a mirror and cut her head. I boiled with anger at the sight. The scoundrel was ready to pounce on me as well, but because, well, I didn't have the best reputation after the recent events, he ultimately gave up and left. Theoretically, all of that shouldn't have concerned me. The girl was annoying, and her fights with her brother were her private business. But something about how she behaved unsettled me. So, I went to McGonagall with it. It turned out that I was right. The girl was being abused at home. Her brother was expelled from school and placed under Auror's supervision. It caused a bit of commotion as I had to talk to the Auror again, that time as a witness, but it all ended positively. Most importantly, the girl left me alone and didn't try to mess with me anymore."
"And you decided to keep all of that from us in your letters," Astoria scolded him.
Scorpius looked at his mother apologetically.
"I didn't want to unnecessarily worry you, especially since the whole matter didn't directly concern me. Moreover, as I said, everything ended well."
"It turned out that way because, instead of plotting, you did the only right thing and went to the Headmaster," Draco remarked.
Scorpius shrugged.
"Lately, I've been avoiding plotting. Nothing good has ever come from it," he said, then added with a smile, "But I had to get a pretty good kick in the butt for that to sink in."
"That's a well-known Malfoy trait," his father added, allowing himself a faint smile as well.
Following his words, his father left early on Tuesday and wasn't around until Saturday. During that time, Scorpius either spent time with Astoria or wandered around the neighbourhood when she was at work. He also spent a lot of time in the library, reading books or practising simple charms, nothing beyond his current level of skills.
Unfortunately, he only had the opportunity to learn something more advanced on weekends because that was when his father could dedicate some time to him. Draco was once again genuinely surprised by the complexity of the formulas Scorpius learnt, but he quickly noticed that that was the level his son currently presented.
However, there were far too few such days to meet Scorpius's needs, so he tried to manage the rest on his own. He also quickly realized that his mother would not be of much help in that regard. While excellent with runes, her domain was numerology and herbology. She claimed that transmutation always filled her with fear, and she only passed Defense Against the Dark Arts because they had poor teachers for most of the years.
It was one of those days when summer storms kept Scorpius at home. To stave off boredom, he studied manuscripts describing the transmutation of gaseous elements into solid elements when one of the house elves, the taller one named Strapy, materialized right next to him.
"Master, I wish to inform you that you have a guest," he said with a slight bow.
"A guest?" Scorpius asked, lifting his gaze from the text.
"The young lady is waiting in the living room."
The Slytherin couldn't hide his surprise. Lily was supposed to send an owl. Had she decided to inform him in person?
Intrigued, he got up from the table and walked to the indicated room. Right next to the fireplace stood Elizabeth Nash.