Chapter Fifteen: Topsy-Turvy

Harry, Ginny, and Draco came hurrying after Ron. Ginny and Harry rushed Albus to the hospital wing, while Scorpius was escorted away by his haughty-looking father.

Madam Pomfrey bustled over and checked his arm. "What have you been doing with it? It looks like it was broken twenty years ago and set in the most contrary of conditions!" she exclaimed. Albus looked at Madam Pomfrey and made up his mind, "We decided we didn't want to come to school. We thought we could start again in the Muggle World. We discovered we were wrong. We just came back when you found us."

His father raised an eyebrow, "In Durmstrang robes?"

Albus hesitated, "The robes were… The whole thing - Scorpius and I - we didn't think."

"Did Scorpius encourage you to do it?" Harry asked suddenly.

"No," Albus said quite truthfully.

"I need you to stay away from Scorpius Malfoy," Harry said.

"What!" Albus exclaimed.

"I don't know how you became friends with him in the first place, but-" Harry began.

"My best friend? My only friend?"

"He's dangerous," Harry replied.

"Scorpius? Dangerous?" said Scorpius incredulously. "Honestly, Dad, have you met him? If you think he's the son of Voldemort…"

"I don't know what he is, I just know you need to stay away from him," Harry said firmly.

"And if I won't?" said Albus stubbornly.

Albus saw his dad hesitate for a moment, "There's a map. It used to be used for those wanting to get up to no good. Now, we're using it to keep an eye - a permanent eye - on you. Minerva will watch you. Any time you and Scorpius are seen together, she'll send an owl. Now go back to the Gryffindor common room."

"You can't make me go into Gryffindor, I'm in Slytherin!" Albus yelled.

"Don't play games, Albus, you know what House you are in," Harry said sharply. He turned and swept out of the Hospital Wing.

Albus lept out of bed and trailed after him.

"What if I run? I'll run."

"Albus, get back in bed."

"I'll run away again."

"No. You won't."

"I will - and this time, I'll make sure Uncle Ron can't find us."

"Do I hear my name?" said a voice behind them. Ron appeared from the next stairwell. Albus saw that his side-parting was super-aggressive, and his clothes were spectacularly staid.

Albus ran forward, "Uncle Ron! Thank Dumbledore. If ever we needed one of your jokes it was now…"

Ron frowned, obviously confused, "jokes? I don't know any jokes."

"Of course you do. You run a joke shop.

Ron, no supremely confused said, "A joke shop? Well now. Anyway, I'm pleased I caught you. I was going to bring some sweets - for a, uh, sort of, a, get well soon, but, uh… Actually Padma - she thinks about things a lot more - deeply - than I do - and she thought it'd be nicer for you to get something useful for school. So we got you a - set of quills. Yes. Yes. Yes. Look at these bad boys. Top of the range."

"Who's…Padma?"

Harry frowned at Albus. "Your aunt."

"I have an Aunt Padma?

Ron turned to Harry, "Taken a Confundus Charm to the head, has he?"

He turned to Albus, "My wife, Padma. You remember. Talks slightly too close to your face, smells a bit minty." He leaned in, "Padma, mother of Panju!" He turned to Harry, "That's why I'm here of course. Panju. He's in trouble again. I wanted to send a Hwoler but Padma insisted I come in person. I don't know why. He just laughs at me."

"But… you're married to Hermione," said Albus slowly.

There was a pause. "Hermione. No. Nooooo. Merlin's beard." said Ron, looking horrified.

"Albus has also forgotten that he was sorted into Gryffindor. Conveniently," said Harry.

"Yes, well, sorry old chap, but you're a persuaded the Sorting Hat, don't you remember? Panju bet you that you couldn't get into Gryffindor if your life depended on it, so you chose Gryffindor to spite him."

He added drily, "We'd all like to wipe the smile off his face sometimes, wouldn't we?" Then, in a terrified voice, "Please don't tell Padma I said that. Anyway, better go, before I'm sent a Howler myself."

He stumbled on, not even an inch of the man he was.

Just then, Scorpius popped up, "Albus? You're okay. That's fantastic!"

"He's completely cured." said Harry coldly, "And we've got to go."

Scorpius looked at Albus.

"I can't, okay? We'll be better off without each other," said Albus, his heart breaking. He walked on with his father, leaving Scorpius behind them.

Sorry for the super belated update. I made it extra long to make up!