XXXVI

McGonagall tapped nervously on her desk. It was a bad and uncivil habit, but the current situation didn't allow her to maintain her composure. She couldn't help but wonder how many bad things could happen by mere chance. If she hadn't decided to go to London that day, she would usually be at the school by the end of August, since many issues need to be resolved before the start of the school year. Things could have turned out completely differently. She didn't disapprove of Luna's actions; after all, she had done everything she could within her powers. However, the Headmaster didn't doubt that she would have acted differently herself. Above all, she would never have allowed Scorpius to engage in such a reckless escapade.

With that thought in mind, she looked at Harry, who was sitting on the sofa against the wall. While she didn't approve of the impulsive actions taken, she couldn't deny that Scorpius had saved young Potter's life. Even if his methods were far from rational. Taking that into consideration, she began to understand why the Sorting Hat had placed him in Slytherin. It wasn't just about his father; it was also about his talent for cunning and deceit. She typically condemned these qualities, but in that particular situation, they proved to be invaluable.

That didn't, of course, make the situation any better. Despite her attempts to stay calm, she was terrified at the thought that that reckless young man was, who knows where, surrounded by people without a shred of conscience. She wanted to ask Harry where the Aurors were during that time, why at least one of them hadn't been sent to oversee the magical camp. However, she didn't want to press him further. She knew that the Auror Department had limited resources, with fewer and fewer young wizards willing to join the fight against dark magic each year, while the older ones either retired or were no longer fit for fieldwork.

Considering how diverse the previous targets of the Horntails had been, it would have been impossible to guard all potential locations. She also saw the frustration on Harry's face. The situation had directly affected his children, and she could see the pain on his face. It was an unusual expression for him, making his face look strange and grey.

In truth, he still looked good compared to Draco, sitting on the other side of the Headmaster's office. Draco, a true Slytherin, tried not to show anything, but McGonagall had spent too much time with his son not to notice his telltale signs – clenched hands, and his gaze that barely concealed the terror he tried to hide. In that moment, Draco bore a striking resemblance to Scorpius.

That thought led to the final, perhaps most troubling one. Just how terrified must Scorpius be at the moment? She knew he was brave and didn't easily succumb to fear, but even he had his limits. She had seen it twice before. Could he handle that? The answer to that question would determine whether he lived or died. The three of them sitting in her office were well aware of that, even though no one had stated it out loud.

"Do we know when the attack will occur?" she asked, finally breaking the silence. "I can't risk the children."

"We don't know when, but we need to be prepared," replied Harry. "That whole operation must remain highly confidential because, as Draco pointed out, someone is leaking information to the Horntails from the Ministry. If they find out about our preparations, not only will Scorpius be condemned, but the school won't be safe from future attacks. Now we have the advantage of preparing ourselves and ensuring the safety of the children. Otherwise, we might be caught completely off guard, which could have tragic consequences."

"Do you have any idea who the traitor in the Ministry might be?" she inquired.

Harry shook his head.

"They never even mentioned his name. But Yaxley and Torchfool knew too many details for us to assume they read it in the Daily Prophet," Draco added.

"In that case, we'll have to be very selective with our allies," she stated, looking at the portrait of Dumbledore's Army, hanging on the wall. She saw Harry's gaze move in the same direction.

"It appears that after all these years, we'll need the Order and the D.A.'s assistance again. I had hoped it wouldn't be necessary during my lifetime."

"Like anyone who remembers those times, Professor," Harry concurred.

After discussing the plan for the coming days, Harry left the office. Draco, while getting up from his chair, paused by the door and looked toward McGonagall.

"Headmaster," he began, seemingly hesitating. "Regardless of how that ends, I wanted to thank you for what you've done for Scorpius."

McGonagall also rose from her seat and gazed at the man.

"He's a brave boy. I'm sure he'll return to us whole and unharmed."

Malfoy nodded in agreement and offered a weak smile. The terrible exhaustion was evident on his face, and he must not have slept much in the past few days.

"You can be proud of him; he's grown into a remarkable wizard," she added after a moment.

"I know. He's much better than I was at his age."

"Then you must have faith that just as your story ended well, so will his."

Draco clenched his fist and the forced smile he had earlier vanished from his face.

"I only have him," he whispered, looking off to the side. "If I had known it would turn out like that, I would have never..."

"You did it to protect him from what you experienced in your childhood. No one could have predicted that. You shouldn't blame yourself. On the contrary, it's thanks to your actions and those of your son that we now have the best chance to deal with these degenerates once and for all, to put an end to their schemes, so no one else will die at their hands."

She knew that Draco viewed that matter quite differently, but she attempted to kindle a spark of hope within him. He needed it more than ever.

"The worst part is, I understand them," he spoke after a moment of contemplation. "And I believe Scorpius does too. The words they speak resonate easily with people like us. They appeal to those who feel wronged since the downfall of the Dark Lord. Twenty years have passed, and it feels like nothing has changed."

The bitterness in his voice was palpable, causing McGonagall's throat to tighten. There was a lot of truth in his words.

"Really? If nothing had changed, would you be here now, and would Scorpius be risking his life to save young Potter?"

"But it's not enough. I was brought up with these divisions, and I couldn't think any differently. And although I tried not to pass them on to Scorpius, he is still permeated by them. That world has brutally taught him these biases, and it shouldn't be like that. Even if we catch the Horntails now, they will be replaced by others. That will continue as long as the divisions persist. Pure-bloods, Muggle-borns, Gryffindors, Slytherins, Death Eaters, or Dumbledore's supporters - whether in the Ministry or here, what matters is where you were born, who your family was in the last war, and where the Sorting Hat put you. The four founders of Hogwarts created these divisions centuries ago, and they persist to that day, leading to all the conflicts. It's wrong. I'm a grown, logically thinking person, and when I look at Potter, I see a Gryffindor in him primarily. We collaborate, we're on the same side now, but I can't think any differently. It's so deeply rooted. I also know how hard it was for Scorpius to overcome that way of thinking. Not everyone is as strong as he is. Not everyone has such a strong and stubborn character. And the weaker ones will yield to the Horntails or whoever comes for them because it's easier. When you're filled with hatred, it's easy to join those who think and speak the same way."

McGonagall gazed at Draco's face, filled not only with bitterness but also with a lot of anger. Some of that anger was directed at her as well, because she, too, had not done enough to change the situation over the past years.

Whether she liked it or not, she looked at the top shelf where the Sorting Hat resided. In two days, a new school year would begin, and new Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, and Slytherins would arrive. Another generation would be taught that wizards were not the same, that they were not equal. Why hadn't she been able to do anything about it? Why hadn't she been able to change anything?

Only when she articulated these questions did she realize that she, too, was not free from these divisions. On the contrary. She was proud of her affiliation with Gryffindor and wanted that house to be filled with great wizards. She wanted subsequent generations to take pride in its glory. As a Headmaster, she should not favour anyone, but undoubtedly, she had done it many times. Did she not celebrate more when Gryffindor won the House Cup? Did she not cheer them on in Quidditch matches?

She should not be so partial, and she certainly did not do it intentionally. But when she first saw Scorpius in her office, her initial thought was that he must have done something despicable, given he was a Slytherin and Draco's son. Looking at the older Malfoy, risking his own life, she could only feel ashamed of those past thoughts.

Was Hogwarts and the rules established centuries ago responsible for everything, then? After all, even Albus, one of the greatest among the headmasters, never negated those rules. Could he have been wrong too? And he was mistaken in so many things; she was well aware of that.

"You're right," she spoke up at last. "These divisions run deep within all of us, probably deeper than we would wish for. That's why we need change, radical change so that future generations of wizards won't have to repeat our mistakes. However, I think that is a conversation for another occasion, once we've dealt with the Horntails, and Scorpius has returned home."

Draco nodded in agreement and then bid her farewell, leaving her office. The Headmaster watched him go, and then she sat down at her desk and looked at the picture of her great predecessor.

"A lot of work awaits me, Albus," she concluded.

The new school year began like many of the previous ones. The frightened first-years were sorted into their respective houses, the Sorting Hat sang its song, and it all culminated in an evening feast. Nothing unusual happened, although McGonagall could see the tension on the faces of many teachers. The only one missing from their midst was Luna, who still recovered in St. Mungo's, though the healers claimed she would return to her duties soon.

The following day, classes commenced, and there were no signs of impending trouble. Yet the Headmaster remained vigilant, as did the rest of the teachers, whom she had informed about the looming threat during a staff meeting.

A week passed with nervous anticipation, until finally, McGonagall received a notification from Harry Potter, instructing her to come to Grimmauld Place number 12 that evening.

The last time she had been in that gloomy house was shortly after the end of the war when members of the Order of the Phoenix gathered there. She couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu when she saw so many familiar faces. Many of her former students, including a large part of the Weasley family, several Aurors, and those Ministry workers whom Harry had no doubts about regarding their credibility. She also noticed Draco, who sat in the corner, and next to him stood Ted Lupin, someone she hadn't seen since his school days. In total, there were about thirty people gathered in the room, making it quite a crowd even for the spacious living room.

Amidst that assembly of adults, Albus Potter stood out, as he had been unable to return to Hogwarts along with the other students due to the false news of his death. He stood by his father with a visibly pale face and tightly clenched fists.

When the greetings and conversations subsided, Harry stood in the centre of the room and asked for everyone's attention.

"Thank you for coming in such numbers. The matter at hand is delicate, which is why I'm asking for complete confidentiality. What you hear in that room today cannot be shared with anyone else."

Several people nodded in agreement, so Harry continued:

"As some of you already know, due to a series of events, one of the students at Hogwarts has fallen in with a group called the Horntails. However, thanks to the two-way mirror that my son has, we're still in contact with him." Harry paused for a moment, and his gaze momentarily settled on Draco in the corner. "Despite the dangerous situation, Scorpius, the student in question, hasn't lost his initiative. He even managed to persuade one of the gang's leaders to his ideas. Thanks to that, we know that the group is planning to attack the school. According to the information we've received today, the attack is scheduled to occur on Sunday evening after dark when most of the students are gathered in the Great Hall for dinner."

A disconcerting murmur passed through the room.

"That's something! Even Voldemort failed to breach the walls of Hogwarts," exclaimed Seamus Finnigan, who was now a licensed curse breaker.

"And that's why they took the bait," added Ron, who was standing next to Harry. "They want to prove they are better than him, that they can do what he couldn't. They just don't know that they're walking right into a trap."

"But what about the children?" Cho Chang asked. She and her husband ran a florist shop. "Surely, you don't intend to expose them to an attack?"

That question brought back unpleasant memories as most of them had to face danger in their childhoods.

"We'll make sure they take shelter in a place where the Horntails won't have access. They'll spend the entire ordeal in the Room of Requirement," McGonagall assured.

"And that is where you come in," Harry continued. "The students will be evacuated, but to avoid raising suspicions, we will take their place. A group of teachers, along with some of the school's house elves, will stand in for them. With the help of the Marauder's Map, we'll be able to monitor their movements. Once they're inside the school, we'll block the entrance and deactivate any Portkeys they might have. Then, they will be trapped. We will separate the group and eliminate them one by one."

"What about Scorpius? Won't we be putting him in danger? If the Horntails discover it's a trap, they might try to harm him," Neville Longbottom, who was among the group of teachers, voiced his concern.

"When everything begins, Scorpius will already be far away. I'll ensure that personally," Draco replied from his spot in the corner.

Scorpius lay on his bed in the room designated for him. On the table next to him were the remnants of the dinner brought by Worm, and he stared at the ceiling with his hands folded behind his head. He didn't want to let thoughts of the next day cross his mind, but he couldn't help but think that if everything went according to plan, he would be spending the next night in his room. And if things didn't go well, then that could very well have been his last supper.

A strange shiver passed through him at that thought, but he quickly suppressed it. Over the past three weeks, he had gained an incredible ability to suppress unwanted emotions. The mask he wore seemed to fit so well that he was sometimes afraid to look in the mirror. It was truly frightening how easily he had adapted to the prevailing atmosphere there. It was far too easy to identify with the Horntails, especially when they were more than just an empty name but a tired face of Torchfool.

Although Scorpius didn't want to, by staying there longer, he understood Horntails' actions perfectly. They didn't seem inherently evil. Instead, it appeared that the current wizarding world and its governing laws had left them no choice. Some of them were just foolish kids not much older than Scorpius, unable to find their way after finishing school. Driven by curiosity, they tested their luck among the Horntails, only to realize there was no turning back. For many, the spectre of Azkaban was worse than remaining in their current situation.

Scorpius better understood that with each passing day, and though he tried not to think that way, he couldn't ignore the injustice of it. He didn't want to feel sympathy for them, given that they were thieves and murderers, but when he listened to their words, it was sometimes difficult not to agree. How could he not understand Torchfool, whose mother had died in Azkaban, or Mrs Lidia, who was her sister? Moreover, their entire wealth was confiscated by the Ministry. The only thing left to them was that mansion, which she had inherited from her grandparents. Mrs Lidia, whose husband was one of Voldemort's henchmen, hadn't escaped accusations, even though nothing was proven against her. She preferred to hide and scheme in the shadows. She, along with another person they referred to simply as "Minister," seemed to lead the Horntails. Just as Torchfool did, although Scorpius had observed him closely and seen how much he remained under the influence of his aunt. Without a doubt, she was behind many of his decisions and actions.

Scorpius took a deep breath. Everything will be decided the next day. For the last time, he would put on his mask as a Slytherin, and there would be no room for sentimentality. They certainly wouldn't have any. They had nearly killed Albus and Lily, wounded his father, and during the Gringotts heist, they had endangered his mother. Somewhere deep down, he might understand their motivations, but he would never, ever agree with them. These weren't the methods he intended to accept. Nothing could justify killing children or anyone else. That's why he would do everything in his power to stop them, to prevent more deaths. And, of course, he would try to save his skin in the process.

The sun was slowly descending towards the west as more figures began to appear on the streets of sleepy Hogsmeade. Among them was Scorpius, who, accompanied by Torchfool and his two companions, had used a Portkey to arrive near a small cemetery chapel. They didn't want to draw attention to themselves, but as they had suspected, there were practically no people on the streets. They had made sure that the somewhat gloomy weather was accompanied by a thick fog that enveloped the entire town. Only in the vicinity of the Three Broomsticks could a few die-hard patrons be seen, but the pub was not the Horntails' target. Instead, they headed for the Honeydukes.

"Imperio," Torchfool cast when they entered, and upon the effect of the spell, the bartender seemed to pay no attention at all to the successive hooded figures entering the back room.

Scorpius easily found the trapdoor and pointed to the tunnel leading from it. He had explained earlier that the route through that passage would take at least forty minutes if they maintained a good pace, but it would lead them directly into the school, specifically on the third floor. From there, according to the plan, they would split into three ten-person groups. One was to strike at the Great Hall, the second to set fire to the library, and the role of the third was to get to the grounds and cover their escape route through the passage beneath the Whomping Willow. The entire operation was not to last more than a few minutes. The goal was one: create as much chaos as possible and withdraw before the teachers could react effectively.

According to these arrangements, Scorpius was to be in the group that would strike at the Great Hall.

The road seemed to stretch endlessly, and the tunnel, illuminated by Lumos, appeared to have no end. Scorpius could hear the sporadic excited whispers from behind him, but these were quickly silenced by Torchfool. The leader was at the very front, literally two steps ahead of Scorpius, and he could see how Torchfool looked back at him several times as if making sure everything was in place. Scorpius didn't allow his mask to slip from his face for even a moment, even when he felt like no one watched.

Though his insides swirled, he exuded confidence on the surface, and his face expressed nothing but determination. He knew how much depended on how convincingly he played his part. If Torchfool detected even a hint of hesitation, a shadow of doubt, he could cancel the entire operation in an instant. At the same time, Scorpius knew that would be a death sentence for him.

So he didn't let his thoughts wander to the events that would take place. Instead, he allowed the Slytherin mask to take full control. So that no one who looked at him had any doubt that his greatest desire was to set Hogwarts on fire.

Finally, when the journey became a real nuisance, they reached the end of the tunnel. Scorpius stepped forward and whispered, "Dissendium..." The spell made the passage tremble, and then a school corridor appeared before them. He cast another spell, "Homenum Revelio," to check if anyone was nearby.

"Clear path," he reported.

Torchfool signalled to the first group, the one headed for the grounds, to exit and head left. A moment later, the second group also left the passage, and Scorpius's group, the last, followed.

As the Slytherin made his way towards the exit, Torchfool unexpectedly grabbed his arm.

"I hope you won't hesitate when you see familiar faces," he stated more than asked.

Scorpius looked at him out of the corner of his eye.

"I'm not too sentimental. I didn't hesitate on Skye, and I certainly won't now. You have no idea how many times I've dreamed of that day."

Torchfool smiled slightly.

"I know perfectly well," he replied and headed towards the exit.

Scorpius unconsciously tightened his grip on his wand. Regardless of the outcome of today's operation, he knew that the leader of the Horntails would haunt him.

The Slytherin didn't finish his thought when he heard the first terrified screams coming from a distance. He wouldn't allow himself to think that someone might get hurt, that something might go wrong.

"It's begun," Torchfool muttered, and then, along with Scorpius and the rest of their group, rushed toward the staircase. As Hogwarts students, each of them knew the layout of the school perfectly, so they no longer needed Scorpius to guide them. Consequently, he let a few Horntails pass him. He didn't know precisely what happened, and for safety's sake, he preferred not to know the details in case someone tried to read his thoughts. There was always the fear that if the Horntails knew the detailed plan of the Aurors, they could use it against them. So, he just kept running forward, pretending that everything was going according to the plan.

And then he saw them. A group of girls dressed in Gryffindor robes appeared just twenty meters in front of them. Among them, he immediately noticed Lily and Rose, carrying books and discussing something with enthusiasm. However, they immediately fell silent when they spotted the approaching group of men.

For one terrifying moment, Scorpius feared that the girls would indeed be attacked. But right at that moment, total darkness engulfed the corridor.

Around him exploded chaos, casting spells filled the air and someone's shouts ranged in his ears. Suddenly, Scorpius felt a presence behind him, and then someone grabbed him and pulled him backwards. One of the hands landed on his mouth, effectively silencing him.

"Shhh..." He heard right next to his ear, and a shiver ran down his spine when he recognized the voice.

A second later, one of the Horntails cast Lumos Maxima, which finally managed to overcome the darkness.

Blinded, Scorpius briefly closed his eyes. When his vision cleared, he noticed that the Gryffindor girls had vanished, and in their place, lay three bodies, two of them belonging to the Horntails, and the third undoubtedly his own.

"What's going on here?" Torchfool asked when he saw the bodies.

"They're petrified," replied one of his companions who approached to examine the victims. "There's no use of them."

Torchfool cursed loudly.

"Too bad. Let's move on. Wands at the ready, and I don't want any more slip-ups. There's nothing for us here if some kids can catch us off guard like that. Get rid of them; we can't have the Aurors getting hold of them."

No one dared to object. Three spells struck the petrified bodies, and the group continued down the corridor before disappearing around a corner.

Scorpius stood there in silence, staring at his own petrified body for a while. He knew it was merely a magical imitation, but shivers ran down his spine. Mrs Scamander was right when she said that these people would show no mercy. Without the slightest hesitation, they had killed their comrades.

Slowly, Scorpius began to comprehend what had just happened. Only when the hands that had held him let go did he realize that he was hidden under an Invisibility Cloak, alongside the person behind him. When he turned around, he saw his father's focused expression. Although he knew it was his father who had grabbed him, his vision had blurred, and tears streamed down his cheeks.

"Dad," he could only whisper, and then Draco simply embraced him.

"It's all right now. You're safe," Draco reassured him.

Scorpius just nodded, his face buried in his father's shoulder. He couldn't muster more words. The iron grip of fear had tightened around his throat.

At that moment, the mask crumbled away, revealing a terrified boy who just wanted it all to end.

Draco led Scorpius to one of the classrooms, located just a few meters from where the entire action had unfolded. To his astonishment, Scorpius saw Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall there.

"Everything went according to plan," Draco spoke, instructing Scorpius to sit on one of the benches.

Almost immediately, Madam Pomfrey approached Scorpius and began to carefully examine his face, neck, and arms.

"He has only a few minor scrapes, nothing requiring treatment. He will certainly benefit from a calming potion and plenty of rest," she pronounced.

Scorpius suddenly felt his ears burning. His eyes and face were still red from crying, making him appear rather pitiable.

"I'm fine," he replied, though his voice trembled incessantly.

Madam Pomfrey completely disregarded his statement and instead handed him a nasty-looking potion to drink. He had no intention of objecting, especially since his hands shook so violently. He quickly swallowed the nasty liquid and glanced over at his father, who was currently conversing with the Headmaster. In truth, he only then noticed how exhausted both of them appeared.

"That was an impressive demonstration of Transfiguration, Professor," Scorpius said towards McGonagall, trying to divert their attention from his health. "I wouldn't have recognized which of us was the copy."

The Headmaster initially gazed at him with some concern, but then her familiar, gentle expression returned.

"I see your humour remains intact. I hope you understand how deeply worried we were about you."

Scorpius didn't let the smile leave his face, even when he saw the same concern reflected in his father's grey eyes. He knew he had caused them a great deal of trouble, but, on the other hand, the pangs of conscience didn't echo as strongly in his mind. He knew why he had done it, and he knew that if he had to do it again, he wouldn't hesitate for a moment.

Yet, those contemplations could wait for another time. At that moment, he was filled with a sense of relief that he was safe and a deep joy that he saw his father healthy. Consequently, he smiled even more defiantly.

"What can I say? I suppose you've managed to turn me into a typical Gryffindor: reckless, audacious, and easily falling in trouble," Scorpius replied.

"Forgive me, my dear boy, but that last part has always been your domain," McGonagall responded.

Scorpius couldn't argue with that point. He wiped away the last traces of tears from his face and laughed openly, allowing joy to drown out all other emotions. Albus was safe, and so was he. He didn't intend to worry about anything else.