XXXV
As soon as the green flame subsided, she knew she was far beyond the borders of England. Even the scent of the air was oddly different, and the room was shrouded in complete darkness. In England, it was a sunny morning, but here, it was the middle of the night. Suddenly, she felt a strong tug on her blouse sleeve, reminding her that she wasn't alone. Scorpius' father lay in the extinguished fireplace and was undoubtedly close to losing consciousness. She had to act, despite the mounting panic building somewhere in the back of her mind.
He wasn't her father. She wouldn't offer her father a glass of water on his deathbed. He was Mr Draco, who, despite his cool demeanour, had shown her a lot of kindness. His whole family, led by his son, had done more for her than anyone else. For that alone, she couldn't mess that up. She owed them.
"I'll get help," she whispered towards the man. Then, she left the fireplace and looked around the dark living room.
"Homenum Revelio," she cast a spell, which revealed three indicators to her. Two marked the presence of people sleeping in the next room, while the third was on the upper floor.
Using her wand to light the way, she located the stairs and proceeded upstairs, making every effort not to create unnecessary noise. She hoped the house didn't have any magical traps for potential thieves, given that she had entered it easily through the Floo Network. It seemed the owners didn't fear intruders.
After a short while, she stood before white doors, which creaked slightly when she pressed the handle. She had undoubtedly found the right room because it appeared to belong to a teenager, and a boy slept in the bed. In the darkness, she couldn't recognize his face, and, at that moment, she wasn't able to figure out which of Scorpius' friends he talked about. She remembered that, besides Potter, two other Slytherins often hung around with him, but she couldn't recall more details.
Then she remembered the purpose of her visit and scolded herself for her sluggishness. Without further ado, she approached the boy and shook him by the shoulder. He grumbled something incomprehensible and opened his eyes, sitting up in bed. She must have startled him by sneaking in the dark with her wand in hand.
"Who...?"
"Shh," she cut him off, raising her hands in a gesture of surrender. At the same time, she dimmed the end of her wand and lit the lamp standing next to the bed. The dim light filled the room, revealing a frightened Slytherin.
"Merlin... Nash? What are you doing here?"
"I need your help. You're Karl, right? Scorpius' friend?"
The boy furrowed his brows, and concern was written across his face. In an instant, the previous fear was replaced with focus.
"What's that idiot done this time?"
That question, more than anything else, made Elizabeth realize how well the Slytherin sitting before her knew Scorpius. He must have been privy to most of his troubles.
"That time it's not him. Come with me."
She didn't need to say it twice; the boy jumped out of bed and followed her.
"I'll explain everything later, but right now, we need a healer," Lizzy said as they descended the stairs. "Scorpius' father is injured. He was attacked with some nasty curse."
Karl only nodded, and when they entered the living room, he didn't hesitate to light up the room and approach the fireplace.
Mr Draco didn't notice them approaching because he gazed blankly at the ceiling, and his breathing was unpleasantly raspy and laboured. It was evident that he drifted away with each passing moment.
"Ordinary healing charm won't help; we need a professional here," Elizabeth said, moving closer as well.
Karl nodded in agreement and then, without saying another word, went to the next room and woke up the people sleeping there. A moment later, an older couple appeared in the living room. The man, with a substantial silver beard, approached and extended his wand to examine Mr Draco's injuries.
Meanwhile, Karl stood beside Elizabeth.
"My grandfather is a retired healer," he replied to an unspoken question, then glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "I don't know if I'm more curious about what happened to Scorpius' father or why you're the one who brought him here. But first and foremost, I'd like to know where Malfoy himself is."
Unfortunately, Elizabeth didn't have an answer to that last question.
She thought she heard Scorpius' voice, which was absurd because the Slytherin was on the other side of Great Britain. In her foggy state of mind, she couldn't recall where she was or what had happened. The surrounding darkness seemed to swallow all thoughts and memories, leaving her with nothing to grasp onto.
Then, there was a sudden awakening, accompanied by an unpleasant sensation of falling. Lily jerked abruptly and opened her eyes. She let out a startled scream when she saw a massive, blood-stained beak right in front of her face.
Instinctively, she began searching for her wand, but it was out of her reach. In panic, she backed away, trying to escape the creature that observed her with curiosity. And then, oblivious to her efforts, the creature moved closer and nudged her arm with its large beak. It was only then that Gryffindor realized that the bird didn't intend to harm her.
Hesitating to make sudden movements, she looked around.
"Where am I?" she asked, not recognizing her surroundings.
The creature squawked and flapped its wings, but it didn't provide any answer.
Lily gazed at the bird and tentatively reached out to pet its head. Without any resistance, it allowed her to stroke the colourful feathers on its neck.
Ignoring her trembling legs, the girl got up from the ground and surveyed the area again. All she could see were rocks, grass, and an endless space.
"Did you bring me here?" she asked.
That time, the creature's squawk was unmistakably a confirmation.
"But why?"
As if that question unlocked something in her mind, a memory flashed before her eyes. She had been in her cottage, changing clothes, when she heard cries. When she stepped outside, she saw the burning buildings. Beyond that, however, there was only emptiness and darkness, preventing her from recalling anything more.
Had she been attacked? What happened to the others? Where was Albus?
"I have to go back!" she shouted in a sudden realization. "Please, take me back to the camp! My brother is there!"
The creature flapped its wings and shook its head from side to side, expressing clear reluctance.
Lily, without a trace of fear, clung to the bird and wrapped her arms around its muscular neck.
"Please... I have to save him," she whispered through her tightening throat.
The creature seemed to hesitate, but eventually, its wings bent, and it lowered itself to the ground, allowing Lily to climb onto its back.
"Thank you," she said as the bird took off into the air.
If Albus had ever wondered what it felt like to be under the influence of the Cruciatus curse, his wildest imaginings would have been far from the dreadful reality. He couldn't even find a fitting comparison for that pain. It was unlike anything he had experienced before. Undoubtedly, he understood why people could go mad under its influence. He felt close to losing his sanity, even though that curse didn't last longer than a few, maybe a dozen seconds, although it seemed like an eternity to him. Nonetheless, he must have gone mad because when he regained control of his mind, he heard Scorpius' voice.
And yet it wasn't possible. It had to be some hallucination. After all, Scorpius was hundreds of miles away at his home. He couldn't be here; it was impossible!
However, that voice sounded just like Malfoy. Although it was more in the tone of the rebellious Slytherin Albus met over a year ago than his best friend, with whom he had spent so many evenings in the Room of Requirement.
Words filled with hatred, anger, and resentment for everything: his own family, friends, and the entire surrounding world flowed from Scorpius. Albus knew that tone well. He had heard it from Scorpius a few times in the past when his worst impulses emerged. He knew that deep down, Scorpius truly resented the world for how it treated him, but a lot had changed in the last year. Scorpius had changed, as well as his priorities. So, why did he speak as if he were that bitter, hateful Slytherin again?
Fighting through the haze, Albus managed to open his eyes, and that's when he saw not only Scorpius but also the menacing face of the Horntails leader.
The sight of his torturer triggered a desperate urge to escape, but his body refused to cooperate, seized by spasms of agony. A few seconds later, his vision sharpened, and he gazed at the figures before him once more.
"Scor...pius," he whispered, but couldn't muster the strength for more.
His gaze fixated on the tip of Scorpius' wand, which was pointed in his direction. Then, he shifted his focus to Scorpius' face, and in that one moment, he realized he looked at a facade. Malfoy did what he did the best. He was always superb with charms, but words were his most potent weapon. Albus had no idea how he had ended up there, but he undoubtedly played the role of a villain to save them both. It was a crazy plan but so typically Scorpius. He never opted for the straightforward and obvious solutions.
"Avada Kedavra!" He heard the killing curse, and then darkness enveloped him.
He bolted into a sitting position so suddenly that he almost tumbled off the bed where he lay. Then he felt hands holding onto his arms.
"Calm down, you're safe now." He heard his father's gentle voice.
Albus felt tears welling up in his eyes at the sound, but he quickly suppressed the emotion and looked around. He was in a small room, and there were several vials of potions on a table nearby. Sitting beside him was his father, and a little further away, at the foot of the bed, was Lily. She appeared visibly worried, but when she noticed his gaze, she smiled gently.
"Where am I?" he asked, looking at father's concerned face.
"You're at St. Mungo's. You were hit by a curse."
"A curse?"
Harry nodded.
"Witnesses said you were hit by the Killing Curse... " Harry's voice trembled for a moment, and then he embraced his son. "When I found you, you were lifeless. For a moment, I thought I had lost you. I was convinced those scoundrels had killed you. Meanwhile, Ron noticed that you were only petrified. The curse was very strong, and the healers poured a dozen vials of Mandrake Potion into you over the past few hours before you started responding normally."
At Harry's last statement, Albus laughed nervously. He completely understood as he had also thought he was going to die, but that was before...
"Where's Scorpius?" he asked, still held tightly to his father's jacket. Harry's face took on a strange look at that question.
"Why are you asking about him?"
An unpleasant shiver ran through Albus.
"He was there, Dad. He was talking to the Horntails, and he cast the spell on me. He was there, trying to save me!"
He saw on his father's face growing astonishment.
"When we arrived at the scene, there was no sign of the Horntails. I didn't see Scorpius anywhere. We only found Luna, who had notified us about the attack earlier. Unfortunately, she's severely injured, and the healers have put her in a coma."
Albus covered his face with his hand and took a deep breath to gather his thoughts. Could he have foreseen that? Could the Cruciatus have induced such hallucinations in him? It seemed absurd for Scorpius to appear in that place. What could he possibly be doing there, and how did he end up there? Maybe the tormented mind of the Gryffindor conjured up such an image. Such an explanation seemed much more...
"He was there," Lily suddenly spoke. Her voice was quiet and oddly uncertain. She clenched her hands on the bed and didn't look at her brother or her father. "I thought I was dreaming, but when I was stupefied, it seemed like I heard his voice. He was calling me, but I couldn't respond. I tried, but darkness overwhelmed me, and my body was paralyzed."
Lily's voice quivered too, but she composed herself and continued a bit more confidently.
"But it's impossible for both of us to have had such hallucinations."
Harry first looked at his daughter and then at Albus.
"Tell me everything from the beginning. Everything you remember."
Gryffindor nodded, and he began to recount the events, starting from the moment he first spotted the hostile wizards.
His father listened attentively and only occasionally asked for details. And when Albus finally got to the point where he lost consciousness, Harry sighed heavily and shook his head.
"If that is true, that boy took a tremendous risk to save you. Even worse, he could be anywhere now, surrounded by people who would kill him without hesitation if his trickery was exposed. The question of how he ended up in the camp remains open."
Albus was also bothered by that question and could only find one logical explanation.
"Maybe his father..." he trailed off mid-sentence, realizing too late that he had said something he shouldn't have. Seeing his father's piercing gaze, he shivered once more. But the words were already spoken, so he swallowed hard and continued. "We know what he was doing. Scorpius found out before the holidays. He was spying for you, right, Dad?"
Harry only slightly nodded and smiled wryly.
"Those were highly classified pieces of information, and two fourth-year students discovered it. It doesn't reflect well on our procedures."
Albus shrugged.
"I don't think that's the most important thing now. If his father found out about the attack, he could have informed Scorpius. That would explain how he ended up in the camp."
"In that case, we must also find Draco. If that was indeed the course of events, he might be in trouble."
"Mr Malfoy is in Colorado, at my grandparents' house." A new voice suddenly spoke at the door.
When Albus looked in that direction, he saw the last pair he would have expected there. Standing at the entrance was Karl Campbell, accompanied by Elizabeth Nash.
"I presume you are also involved in that matter," Harry said.
Both of them nodded, and then the Ravenclaw girl added:
"And we know how to find Scorpius. I checked his belongings before he left the manor, and he took a two-way mirror with him."
Albus didn't need to hear more.
"Lily, where are my things?"
As the dizziness caused by the Apparition spell subsided, Scorpius looked around in his new surroundings. He didn't know what to expect, but he certainly didn't anticipate landing in a spacious and somewhat old-fashioned living room. He found himself on a soft carpet, surrounded by a sofa, an intricately carved table, and several armchairs. Although the room was quite spacious, it became crowded when a dozen people appeared in it.
"Did someone not return?" asked the group's leader, known as Torchfool, as he scanned the gathered individuals.
"King and the two who were with him. I saw them fighting with a woman. She managed to defeat them before I caught up to her," one of the Horntails replied.
A shiver ran down Scorpius' spine. He didn't doubt that the woman in question was Mrs Scamander.
"Clewence and Drake are also missing," added another man.
Torchfool clenched his fists angrily and then sighed heavily, clearly suppressing his irritation.
"You had women and children as your opponents. How can such a bunch of bunglers stand against Aurors?"
Although there were a few dissenting voices, the leader immediately silenced them with a hand gesture.
"Get back to your posts; I'll summon you," he ordered.
No one intended to argue with him, as the next individuals began to enter the fireplace and disappeared in emerald flames. After less than a minute, the only people left in the living room were Scorpius and the leader of the Horntails. It was only then that Scorpius noticed a woman sitting in one of the armchairs. She wore a black dress and had features and gestures that suggested aristocratic origins. Her face was covered in heavy makeup, which couldn't conceal all her wrinkles. Her dark eyes pierced Scorpius through.
"Who is that child, Romuald?" she inquired.
"He's Draco's son, Scorpius," Torchfool replied.
"Why did you bring him here? Is he meant to be bait? Do you want to lure Draco back?"
"Quite the opposite. Malfoy proved untrustworthy. He betrayed us when it was time to take action. And, dear aunt, that is his better version. Unlike his father, Scorpius appears to be much more determined."
The woman's gaze shifted briefly to the man before quickly returning to Scorpius.
"That's truly intriguing, but can we trust him?"
Torchfool's gaze also settled on Scorpius, and a faint smile appeared on his face.
"After what I've seen, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt."
Scorpius realized that he had remained silent for far too long, which certainly didn't look convincing. He had to remind himself that he was a Slytherin who had just cold-bloodedly killed a man. He needed to maintain that persona.
He locked eyes with the woman and then crossed his arms over his chest.
"My father has disappointed me too many times. Now, I want to take matters into my own hands."
The woman also smiled with a cold, humourless grin.
"If Romuald is ready to vouch for you, all that's left for me is to welcome you. I am Lidia Slithorn, and that is my residence."
For a moment, Scorpius hoped that her surname might provide a clue, but unfortunately, it meant nothing to him.
"I won't let you down. I just hope your group won't disappoint me either."
At that statement, the woman laughed more openly and rose from her chair.
"I like that boy; he has the right attitude. I can assure you that if you despise the current wizarding world and those who rule it, that house is the place for you. Worm! Prepare one of the guest rooms."
At her last words, a house elf materialized right next to her and bowed deeply.
"Of course, my lady," he replied in a hushed voice.
"Our new dragon is probably tired and would like to rest. Meanwhile, I would like to hear all the details of today's operation from you, Romuald."
Scorpius understood that he wasn't welcome for the upcoming conversation, so without a word, he followed the house elf, who led him through the dark corridors of the residence.
The room he was assigned was reminiscent of the guest rooms in the Malfoy manor. It had a bed, a writing desk, a wardrobe, and a dresser. No personal belongings, much like an old-fashioned hotel room.
Scorpius approached the window and pushed aside the heavy curtain to look outside. Right in front, there was a small open space with a neglected garden, and beyond the fence, a forest began. There was nothing in sight to suggest the location of the estate.
Scorpius suppressed his panic at the thought that he might be trapped there. Undoubtedly, that place had powerful protective enchantments, so he couldn't just walk out. Of course, there was the fireplace, but it was likely connected only to the homes of other Horntails. Using it would be sheer madness.
That left him with only one solution: he had to play along for as long as necessary until an opportunity for escape presented itself. He clenched his fists and took a few deep breaths to calm his nerves. Then, he went to the writing desk where a few books lay. With little interest, he skimmed their contents and picked one that seemed the least harmful piece of fiction. He sat down on the bed and started to read.
Scorpius spent several hours alone in the room, but eventually, his waiting became boring, and he grew increasingly hungry. He buried his fears deep and, taking the pose of a ruthless Slytherin, he left the room.
When he descended to the living room, he saw that only Torchfool was seated by the lit fireplace. The women were nowhere to be seen. Pretending to be more confident than he felt, Scorpius took a seat in an empty armchair and reached for an apple from a basket on a low table.
"So, what's your story?" he asked between bites. "You already know about me and my disappointing father. What brought you here?"
"Revenge," the Horntail replied, still gazing into the fire.
Scorpius rolled his eyes dramatically.
"That's quite a cliché, and you seem like someone with more significant aspirations."
"Forgive me for disappointing you, but I desire nothing more than to kill all those who ruined my life."
Scorpius finished his first apple and reached for another.
"Very dramatic, but most of us don't have an easy life. They wanted to humiliate me at every step I take."
"They have my mother's blood on their hands."
Scorpius fell silent for a moment, then forced himself to take another bite of the apple.
"Okay, you win. I admit, I'd want to see their ugly heads on a silver platter if I were in your shoes."
For a while, there was silence between them, and Scorpius continued to observe the man. He knew he shouldn't, but against his will, a part of him started to feel sympathy. Was his family also connected to the Dark Lord? Did he carry that stigma? Did all point fingers at him, accusing him of the worst things?
Previously, he had thought that the Hotntails were just a bunch of misfits, but the harsh truth was different. The current wizarding world, with its division into Slytherins and everyone else, created people and organizations like them. There would always be those pushed to the margins who would try to fight back. While Scorpius didn't agree with their methods, he couldn't deny that not too long ago, his views on the world around him weren't any better. If he hadn't met people like Albus or McGonagall on his journey, perhaps in a few years, he might have ended up there himself, frustrated and embittered by injustice and his helplessness.
"What's next? Aurors have already caught a beating; who's next? Some officials?"
A shadow of a joyless smile passed across Torchfool's face.
"I see you're eager to act. But you need to be patient. After each of our attacks, the Ministry became more vigilant than usual for some time. Another move made too quickly would be met with a harsh response, and we're not yet strong enough to openly resist them. In two, maybe three weeks, when the press and the people forget about today's events, it'll be the right time for another strike."
Scorpius swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. He hadn't expected to spend that much time in that house. However, he hoped that not a single gesture had revealed his nervousness.
"And then what? Will you attack another pawn? With all due respect, your actions resemble the behaviour of a nervous terrier trying to bite the postman's ankles. It may be annoying, but it doesn't cause much harm."
Torchfool grimaced at that statement. Only then did Scorpius realise how exhausted the man seated next to him looked. The longer he observed him, the better he understood how frustrating his life must be. He had probably dedicated everything to his overarching goal, sacrificing his freedom, safety, and future. Then, some brat told him that it wasn't enough.
"Like I said, it's not the right time for grand acts yet. We're still too weak," Torchfool replied.
Scorpius snorted, then stood from his chair and threw the apple core into the fire.
"Considering what happened today, there will never be a perfect time. How many people have you lost? Five? Six? And it was a camp full of kids. I don't want to be a doomsayer, but that way, you won't get very far."
Torchfool reacted with a scornful laugh.
"And what better place do you think we should target next?"
Scorpius suddenly realized that he had an answer to that question, and a part of him genuinely feared the consequences. However, he couldn't hesitate, so he shrugged nonchalantly and replied without stuttering.
"Hogwarts, for instance."
At once, Torchfool burst into open laughter.
"That's pure suicide. There's no better-guarded place on the islands. Even the Dark Lord couldn't conquer the castle."
Scorpius crossed his arms and glared provocatively at the Horntail.
"He didn't know about a few secret passages that allow you to sneak onto the school grounds unnoticed."
Torchfool stopped laughing and stared at Scorpius intently.
"You're serious, aren't you?" He stated rather than asked.
"Maybe you just want revenge, but I have much bigger aspirations. I want all those Ministry jerks who think I'm trash to shake like jelly at the sound of my name."
Suddenly, Torchfool's eyes revealed a glint of understanding. Perhaps he harboured the same desire deep down. It was terrifying how easily Scorpius could identify with that man. They had too much in common.
The man finally got up from his chair and headed toward the exit.
"You certainly have the guts your father lacked. I hope you don't die too quickly, and maybe you'll manage to fulfil those plans," he stated before leaving the living room.
Scorpius stood by the fireplace for a while, contemplating what he had heard and said. With growing unease, he wondered about the possible consequences of his suggestions. However, he wouldn't be himself if he didn't consider all the scenarios that might arise. Feeling a headache coming on from all the thinking, he grabbed another apple and returned to his assigned room.
When the door closed behind him, and complete silence enveloped him, he heard a strange sound, almost like the rustling of paper, but so faint that it was barely audible. When he had been in the living room with the roaring fire, there was no chance he could have heard it.
He looked around to locate the source of the sound and, to his astonishment, found it coming from his pocket. He reached in and pulled out a two-way mirror. He had completely forgotten he had it with him. On the mirror's surface, he could see an image of a piece of paper moving across some wooden surface, with the words "Get in touch" written on it.
Scorpius audibly exhaled in relief, attempting to calm his nerves. He then brought the mirror closer to his face and whispered.
"Albus?"
The image in the mirror shifted, and after a moment, he saw a battered-looking Gryffindor face. He hadn't felt such relief in a long time. While he had been reasonably sure that his charm wasn't fatal, he had been haunted by the sight of Potter lying motionless on the ground. On the other hand, he couldn't help but appreciate Gryffindor's cunning. Knowing Scorpius could be among the enemies, he devised a way to get his attention, a method that would work only when Scorpius was entirely alone, allowing him to hear the rustling of the paper.
"Merlin, you're in one piece," Albus spoke with evident relief and added hurriedly, "Can we talk?"
"For now, yes."
"Where are you?"
"In some Horntails hideout, but I have no idea where exactly."
"Are you injured?"
"No, I'm not. What about my father?"
"He's safe."
Scorpius closed his eyes briefly, unable to allow himself to feel emotional at that moment. He would have time for that once he escaped that place.
"For now, I have to stay here. I'll contact you as soon as I know more."
He could tell from Albus' expression how much he disapproved of what he had just heard. As far as Scorpius knew his friend, he probably blamed himself for the entire situation.
"Don't worry, they see me as one of their own, and I'm safe for as long as it lasts. That's why I have one request: arrange an article in the Prophet about your death."
Suddenly, a very un-Gryffindor-like smile appeared on Albus' pale face.
"An extra edition about the attack was published an hour ago, and it features me as one of the main victims."
If Scorpius had ever underestimated Potter, he had to take it back. That boy truly saw more than others.
"Thank you; that will buy me some time."
Scorpius felt that he shouldn't prolong that conversation, even though the sight of his friend was genuinely comforting. However, he needed to focus on action.
"You must also contact McGonagall. If I manage to pull off what I've planned, they'll attack Hogwarts. There, the Aurors will have a chance to catch all of them."
Albus looked surprised.
"But how..."
"It seems to be my natural charm. I was born to be a villain. Keep the mirror with you at all times. I'll contact you as soon as I have more details."
The Gryffindor only nodded.
"Take care of yourself."
"You don't need to tell me that."
With that, Scorpius ended the connection. The complete silence enveloped him again, and he was alone in the Horntails' hideout. But he knew that Albus was safe, and his father was secure, and that gave him the strength to continue the fight. He wouldn't break, wouldn't give up, he would escape from here, and perhaps along the way, he would be able to capture a few dragons.