2019 – Third Year – Winter
Albus watched the carriage go down the snowy street of Hogsmeade. The couple sitting in the back was exchanging long, languid kisses.
"That's indecent," Scorpius said with a look of disapproval.
"It would be romantic if it wasn't the fifth carriage we've seen pass by," Albus replied. "But at this point, it's just a parade of gooey romance."
"They should find a private spot," Scorpius insisted. "Everyone can see them swapping spit."
"Do you want to try?"
Scorpius jumped and looked at his friend, heart pounding. "What?" he asked, panicked, his throat dry, cheeks flushed.
"The candy," Albus said, showing him the bag full of treats they'd bought at Honeydukes. "Do you want to try them?"
Scorpius blushed even more and leaned back against the bench.
"Yes, thanks," he finally said, taking the lollipop Albus was holding out.
Albus frowned as he looked at him. "What's up?"
"Nothing," Scorpius said, clearing his throat. "Are these really blood-flavored lollipops?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Then why are they called Blood Lollipops?" Scorpius insisted.
Albus shrugged and unwrapped his candy. "It's just a gimmick to attract people. And it works; look—we bought them."
Scorpius nodded, and they both popped the lollipop in their mouths. Immediately, they looked at each other, shocked, and Malfoy grimaced in disgust.
"Ugh! Albus, this is blood!"
"No way!" Potter said, like he was scolding a child. "It's just like Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. You really think they're made with actual boogers and vomit?"
Scorpius spat red-tinged saliva into the snow. "No, it really is blood!" he insisted. "And the texture is terrible; I'm going to throw up."
Albus grimaced, looking at the lollipop, but kept it in his mouth, a bit doubtful. "They wouldn't sell blood-flavored lollipops without putting a warning label on them," he reasoned, and Scorpius gave him an exasperated look before laughing and shaking his head.
"You're so naïve! They don't care who buys their products as long as they sell. Ugh! I'm sure if we checked, it'd say 'hemoglobin' in the ingredients."
Albus took the wrapper and tried to read the tiny writing. His face paled, and he slowly pulled the lollipop from his mouth.
"So…?" Scorpius asked, worried.
"You don't want to know."
Scorpius groaned, clamping his hand over his mouth to hold back the nausea.
"Maybe they're vampire lollipops," Albus suggested, rewrapping the lollipop. "Which would explain why the vendor gave us a weird look when we bought them."
Scorpius looked at him, licking his lips and murmured, "People always give us weird looks, Albus…"
Potter didn't meet his gaze, breathing a bit more deeply as if to calm something stirring inside him.
"Come on," he finally said. "It's our first weekend at Hogsmeade; let's go get some Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks to wash this out of our mouths!"
The two boys made their way down the path to the pub. The place was legendary among students and alumni, and now that they were third-years, they wanted to experience it for themselves.
They entered and found a bustling, cheerful room filled with the scents of mead and ale. The warmth felt wonderful, and they looked around for an open table.
They hadn't taken more than a few steps when Craig McLaggan blocked their path, flanked by two fifth-year Gryffindors, their cheeks flushed from alcohol.
"Hey, snakes, who gave you permission to come in here?"
"Do Slytherins need your approval to go to the pub now?" Albus retorted in the same tone.
Craig sneered. "No, Slytherins can do what they want as long as they don't annoy us. But I don't think the manager wants a Malfoy in his bar." He turned to Scorpius and spoke slowly, as if talking to someone slow-witted. "You know what your daddy did to his mother, don't you?"
Albus felt a surge of rage. He had no idea what Draco Malfoy had supposedly done to the bar owner's mother, and he was sure Scorpius didn't know either. But he could already see his friend starting to crumble, wondering yet again what hidden history lay within these walls.
"Scorpius Malfoy was accepted at Hogwarts," Albus declared. "He has the same rights as you. If the bar owner doesn't want us here, I'm sure he'll come tell us himself."
"Oh, Albus, Albus…" the Gryffindor sighed indulgently. "Always coming to the defense of the little scum."
"From my point of view, McLaggan, you're the real scum."
McLaggan looked momentarily surprised, then laughed, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. The two boys behind him wore the same amused expression.
Craig turned toward the bar. "Hey, James!" he called, sounding cheerful.
They spotted Potter, leaning against the bar, laughing with his friends, a drink in hand. At the mention of his name, he turned to McLaggan, put down his beer, and walked over. His eyes narrowed when he saw Scorpius and Albus.
Craig threw an arm around James' shoulders. "Hey, Jamie, mind if we rough up your brother a bit? Nothing too serious, don't worry."
James looked at them without expression, then finally said, "I don't have a brother."
Albus' face went pale, and he felt like he was going to be sick. Beside him, Scorpius let out a furious growl.
"You bastard! Not enough backbone to defend your own brother in front of your posse? You've got the name of a hero but none of the guts. The truth is, you're just a coward!"
In a flash, James was on him, grabbing Scorpius by the collar, his face red with anger. He was a head taller than Scorpius, but the boy didn't back down.
"Don't push me, Malfoy, or you'll regret it."
"Oh, and what are you going to do, scumbag?"
"The same thing they do to Death Eaters to shut them up!"
"Take out all your hate on me, Potter; that doesn't give you the right to treat your brother like that!" Scorpius growled through clenched teeth.
"Shut up, Malfoy, shut up!" James shouted, yanking on the boy's collar, his face so close that he could've rested his forehead against Scorpius's, spitting as he spoke, towering over him. Malfoy didn't flinch; he looked ready to rip him apart.
"That's enough!" Albus shouted, stepping between them and forcing his brother to release his friend. "Back off, James!" He grabbed Malfoy's arm. "Scorpius, let's go! There are other pubs. And this one smells like a wild animal."
They headed outside, ignoring the jeers and whistles behind them. Albus kept hold of Malfoy's arm, afraid he might decide to turn back.
This wasn't the first time Scorpius and James had fought, but it was getting more violent. Albus was worried. Scorpius had plenty of enemies, and in his anger, he sometimes forgot the basics—that he was alone against everyone. In a magical fight, he'd quickly be overwhelmed by numbers; in a physical fight, he was too lean to stand up to James.
In his passion, Scorpius forgot he couldn't win—and he was mad enough to try, just for the thrill of the fight. Rightly or wrongly, Malfoys had a reputation for cowardice… It seemed they'd saved up all their courage for their heir.
"Bloody idiot…" Scorpius muttered bitterly.
Albus nodded with a smile, relieved that Scorpius didn't say more. Scorpius never spoke ill of James to his brother, though he could have said plenty. Instead, he preferred to stay silent rather than face the sadness in Albus's eyes. They didn't look for another pub; without a word, they made their way back up toward Hogwarts, craving the solitude of their dorm or the Slytherin common room. They'd had enough excitement for one day.
As they walked the snowy path to the castle, Albus started to laugh quietly.
"What?" Scorpius asked, already smiling at seeing his friend in better spirits.
"I just burped, and there's this old taste of blood in my mouth."
"Oh, you're horrible!" Scorpius cried in disgust, playfully smacking his shoulder as Albus burst into laughter, his laughter quickly contagious. They laughed all the way back to the castle.
1997 – Malfoy Manor
Sitting on the couch, lovely in her burgundy silk dress, Narcissa twisted her hands nervously. She seemed unsure of what to do or say since they'd left the table and retreated to the sitting room. She stood and poured herself a glass of brandy from a small side table.
"Would you like some?" she asked, and Scorpius nodded softly.
"Draco didn't want to come home for the holidays," she said, bringing him the glass and sitting beside him on the velvet sofa. Her voice trembled. "I wish he were here. You could've met him. But he's busy at Hogwarts… He has… an urgent mission." She looked at Scorpius and asked, "But perhaps you already know about it?"
Scorpius gave a bitter smile, pushing away thoughts of his father, and brought the glass to his lips. He recognized this brandy, loved its taste and the burn in his throat. A Malfoy brandy, of course, from their family apothecary. He was relieved that none of their family's wines or spirits had been served at the table. At least one part of his heritage remained unsullied.
"If you're here, Draco will survive, won't he?" she asked suddenly, and Scorpius felt his heart ache at her hopeful expression.
"I don't know," he said regretfully. "I can't make any promises. If things go as they did, he'll live… and so will I."
"Then nothing is certain," she said sadly, and they lapsed into silence.
Suddenly, in a tender gesture, she touched his face, brushing his hair aside as if searching for something. Then she smiled and took his hand in hers.
"You're a handsome young man," she said, pride ringing in her voice.
Scorpius let out a small laugh, squeezing her fingers.
The door opened suddenly, and instinctively they pulled apart. Bellatrix entered with her graceless stride and went straight to the bar.
"Those idiots wore me out," she announced wearily. She uncorked the crystal bottle, tossing the stopper at the glasses and making them clink. Narcissa pursed her lips, watching as she poured herself a large glass of brandy.
After a long gulp, she turned to them.
"Scorpius, right?" she said, pointing at him as if seeing him for the first time.
The boy raised an eyebrow, not responding.
"Well done with that little act earlier with the Master." She sat in an armchair, sizing Scorpius up from head to toe. "You seem to know how to talk to him."
Scorpius thought he detected a hint of jealousy in her voice, and he understood that she feared the same thing he did—that Voldemort might become infatuated with him. And Malfoy had no desire to test the Dark Lord's "affections."
"I try to be courteous, and he seems to appreciate my deference," he replied. "But I think it would be best for everyone if I found a way to go home."
"You don't enjoy our company?" Bellatrix said in mock offense.
"On the contrary, ma'am," Scorpius replied affably. "I've experienced the joy of warming myself by a goblin-fed fire."
Bellatrix snorted into her glass. "Soft-hearted," she mocked, swirling her drink. "If you're too faint-hearted for that, I wonder how you survived the war."
"I didn't live through the war."
"But you know who won it, don't you?" she growled suddenly, leaning forward, baring her teeth, her eyes wide. Narcissa and Scorpius flinched. "Who? Answer!"
"You know he can't answer, Bella!" Narcissa exclaimed.
"Severus will make him talk!" Bellatrix pointed at Scorpius. "And if not, the Dark Lord himself will."
Scorpius felt ice in his veins. He couldn't fully convince himself that he was going to die, that it was a real possibility. But he wanted to prepare himself. Because if he had to face Voldemort, there was no way he would betray anything. He'd rather die. Rather die than imagine a world without Albus.
He took a sip of brandy and let his mind drift.
"Oh, how careless of me!" Narcissa exclaimed, noticing a brandy stain on her dress.
She took out her wand and aimed it at the stain, which disappeared, and she sighed in relief.
"It's a gift from Lucius," she explained, while Bellatrix snorted, indifferent to her sister's emotions.
Scorpius's heart clenched. He didn't want to imagine his grandfather in the prison's dungeons, terrified for his wife and son. He'd kept such thoughts at bay, along with all the other images and fears that had haunted him since he'd arrived in this era.
"Did you visit him in Azkaban?" Scorpius asked timidly, not really wanting to hear the answer.
She smiled sadly, shaking her head.
"We write to each other every day. But he… he doesn't want me to see him like that."
"The Master was generous with Lucius," Bellatrix interjected in a steady voice. "We could have fallen much further. The attack on the Ministry of Magic was a disaster, and it was because of your husband."
"How dare you say that!" Narcissa said, rising, trembling. "You, who sleep and eat under his roof, and drink from his crystal!"
"Wake up, poor Narcissa. Your husband's finished. Let's just hope your son proves worthy!"
There was a knock at the door, and the two women froze. Severus Snape entered quietly, his black robe billowing around him.
"Sorry to interrupt this family sweetness," he drawled in his nasally, low voice, "but the Master wants to see you before he departs, Bellatrix. He's waiting."
She left the room immediately, her heels echoing across the floor.
Snape waited until her footsteps faded, his gaze analyzing the boy before him.
"Young Malfoy, I've been instructed to have a word with you to obtain some… answers. I'll let you say goodbye to Lady Malfoy, but make it quick—I'll be waiting in the hallway. The night will be a long one."
"Severus," Narcissa implored, "don't be too hard on him."
Snape exchanged a look with her and insisted, "I'll be waiting, Young Malfoy."
Scorpius downed his drink in one gulp and set the glass on the coffee table before turning to his grandmother.
"Good night, Madam," he said, bowing slightly.
Narcissa pulled him into an embrace, holding him close, then whispered in his ear,
"Watch your words. Trust no one."
She released him and placed a kiss on his forehead, holding his face in her hands.
"With a bit of luck, the Master will forgive Lucius," she said, her voice full of hope, "and we can reclaim our place at his side and our standing in the wizarding world!"
Scorpius felt his stomach turn. Frustration and anger tensed every muscle in his body. He swallowed, gently pulling himself from her embrace. Just as he was about to leave the sitting room, he turned back and knelt before Narcissa, who had seated herself on the sofa.
He took her hand.
"I can't say much, Milady, but I can swear this: we are great with him, but we were great without him… And no matter what, we will be again."
Without waiting, he kissed the back of her hand and left the room to join Severus Snape.
End of Chapter 6
Next chapter: Scorpius and Severus talk!
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