AN/
Hi guys, I am so sorry it's been so long. I could make excuses about how busy I've been, It's true that I've had alot of stress lately; I've been trying to change uni courses and that's fallen through so it seems like I've gotta take a year out and get a job which is slightly scarey... but to be honest that's only been occuring in the last couple of months or so.
The truth was that I couldn't get this chapter right to do the story justice like I wanted, so I had a break, but now I'm back with rednewed vigour, and I'm determined to update regularly again as I really love this story, and I want to tell it well.
Don't worry even if I take another loooong break again, I wont be giving this up, Ive come to far :) lol but also Scorpius and Rose deserve a finnish to their story (even if it is a long way off yet!
Okay I have lots of thanks to say:
Shardered-glass
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msknowitall
Rosepraul
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Paperback28
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Christy86
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And the wonderful Hakuna-Mattata readers, whose lovely message inspired me to keep writing and reminded me that there are people out there who love this story
And to all of you that read this and haven't reviewed, those who've added it to favourites and alerts...
Love to you all for your support, patience and faithfulness :)
I owe you all!!
Okay and on with the story
Disclaimer: I really wish I was J K Rowling but alas....I'm not :(
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Previously
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His breath was already tickling her skin, and she felt herself close her eyes.
"Rose I..."
Suddenly a loud cry was heard, and the doors to the Great Hall banged open.
Rose jumped and Scorpius steadied her, the moment had passed.
The figure of Avatus Boarg, School Caretaker, in a tuxedo that looked as though it had seen better days, rushed into the room. His face was pale and his eyes looked as though they were popping out of their sockets. He slammed the doors closed behind him, back to them.
"Pro-pro-professor Mcgonagall!"
The Headteacher stood from her seat, her forehead furrowed. "What is it Boarg?" Scorpius' grip on Rose tightened.
"It-it-it's in the castle...a-a-a Graphorn!"
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The wind was coarse and unyielding, the chill it brought bitter and determined, as a balding middle-aged man leant against the railing of his balcony.
His disgruntled sigh, sent out wisps of curling steam, and his eyes darted familiarly to his watch. It shouldn't be long now.
As he came to this conclusion, the muffled sounds of talking and laughter invaded his ears. He really should return to playing the happy host...but perhaps later, as of now he was enjoying the time to focus his thoughts.
You see, as with many wizarding families on All Hallows Eve, the Notts were holding a 'small gathering' in honour of the date. His wife's idea of course, but then again it would be a good excuse for his little group to meet freely...
It was getting on for half past ten, and the arch of a pale, silver moon was casting long shadows upon the family's Kent mansion. The red brick facade stood as an impressive back drop to the surrounding countryside, and in the light of the torches which lined the path leading to the front door, its many mullioned windows twinkled.
Theodore had always liked the imperious presence that this manor and its grounds exuded. It was fitting for an ancient, pure-blood family such as his own. Furthermore, it was the ideal place to shut out prying eyes, and to conceal one's business.
He laughed drily, sending further clouds of steam into the frosty evening air, as he considered that this was just as well. After the number of raids the ministry had carried out, he was now more than ever grateful for the various secret chambers and enchanted hiding places. It made his life just that bit easier.
As often happened with Theodore; his humours changed suddenly and an easy transition was made to anger.
He admitted that nowadays, his temper was ever on a short fuse, exploding to the surface at the slightest annoyance. But he assured himself that this was after all, a good thing. It would help him carry out the tasks he had set. One's anger was, in the end, not something to be kept under control, but to be embraced and unleashed, like an all consuming creature. It was only then that you could achieve true power.
With this idea convincing and appeasing his proud nature, Theodore set his mind to wrathful reflection. All those concealments; those hidey-holes, secrets passed down from father to son, hadn't even been required when it came to his own father's arrest.
His bitter thoughts twisted around each other, like many slippery serpents all clamouring for supremacy, and with their slithering movement, his brain buzzed from over activity. He could use a pensieve, but then had he not just accepted that his bitterness fed his overall ambition?
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The majority of these thoughts, were recollections from all those years ago. Events that had shaped his twisted life, with a certain and determined malice. And of all these memories, those consisting of the week following Voldemort's defeat, would not only forever be imprinted upon his mind, but would also create the Theodore Nott of today.
And as he focused on this, he recalled that though there had been absolutely no necessity, the ministry had searched the Kent Manor anyway.
Damn excuses for prying into his business! How could they even justify it, when they had already unmasked his father as a Death Eater at the Battle of Hogwarts? In addition to numerous eye witnesses, there was a sure case against Horatio Nott. But then they didn't need any justification for harassing those of pure blood.
Theodore shook violently, from the cold fury which had by now descended upon him, engulfing him in the tide of gloom, which always accompanied this topic.
It seared through his veins like a chilling fire, if there even was such a thing, and caused his skin to turn clammy. He narrowed his eyes into what were barely slits, and curled his fists into tight balls.
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This overflow of emotion, likely stemmed from the fact that Theodore had been very close to his father. After his mother died when he was only nine...well that didn't bear thinking about...but they had been left alone and thrown together. Even though his parent's marriage had been one of convenience; tying two ancient families together, he could tell that Horatio Nott missed his wife deeply.
Somewhere underneath the anger, the middle-aged man felt the sharp pang of grief, as the former rage receded. But Nott wouldn't allow this to overcome him, and instead, he compartmentalised his thoughts. As he gripped onto the balcony railing so tight that his knuckles turned white, he pushed the feeling away.
Theodore had always admitted that it was his father, who had shaped his life a great deal.
Horatio was aging man of forty-five, when his son and heir had been born, and of course this made him a doting parent; anything the boy wanted, he received.
Since Theodore could remember, his father had installed in him a sense of pride of his ancestry and magical ability. He was a pure-blood and therefore better than others. It was this mantra that he had always carried with him, held high like a blazing torch.
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Breathing in deep gulps of the icy night air, Theodore realised that even through the mental shutters he had installed, it was painful for him to remember his youth now that his father lay rotting in Azkaban. The man supposed that, contrary to his beliefs, he should be grateful that the dementors had been banished...after all there were many who considered that his father deserved the kiss.
He didn't shudder as most people would have, when strolling upon this particular reflection. Theodore considered that this was due to who he was; and who he had been brought up to be.
Horatio had taught him to segregate his thoughts, to never show weakness. Rage of course was acceptable, anguish and sorrow were not. That was the training of a Death Eater, though not all had mastered it.
Not for the first time Theodore thought of the Malfoys. But he thrust this deliberation to the back of his mind. That wasn't important at the moment. They weren't important; hadn't they proved to the world, what insufficient specks of nothingness they really were?
Turning traitor at the last minute....that was the worst possible type of deception, and perhaps they would pay.
By now his eyes had grown accustomed to the night's blackness, and in the distance he heard an owl hooting. Neither of these penetrated his senses though, as he sank deeper into the murky waters of reverie.
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He remembered when he had grown older, and discovered that his father had been in Voldemort's inner circle. It hadn't surprised him at all, and neither had he been ashamed by it. Instead he was fascinated.
You see, during his youth Theodore Nott had been intelligent, bookish, spoilt and cruel. He didn't make friends easily, and preferred his own company and that of the dusty tomes he poured through in the family library.
He would spend hours conversing with his father about the dark arts, curses and disguises, histories and theories. He was enthralled by it and wanted to know everything. Horatio had been only too happy to comply.
Ignoring the cold evening chill, which by this point seemed to be numbing his extremities, Theodore thought wryly about how his life had panned out. He considered that it was merely luck that he too wasn't in Azkaban.
His father, though being entirely devoted to Voldemort's cause, had decided that until his son left school, he couldn't join the organization.
To this day, Theodore pondered on Horatio's motives for doing that. It surely wasn't because he wanted his son to learn more; Theodore always achieved top marks, and read around every subject.
Whatever the reason, he had been extremely fortunate, and he knew it. Had he been a fully fledged Death Eater, he would probably be in a cell, because he knew more than anyone that he wouldn't have been one to deflect.
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With the anger he wouldn't restrain, continuing to bubble deep down inside him, Theodore thought of the pure-bloods that had been happy to see the Dark Lord go. He couldn't or wouldn't understand their reasoning. Everything he stood for had been manifested in Him and his organization.
He had tried to continue with life after the war, but he found that he had nothing to follow, nothing to believe in. He had no cause or purpose.
Of course this alone wasn't enough to push him into taking action. Theodore might have been a fanaticist, but he also had brains. He wasn't like a reckless Gryffindor, going into something with their wand blazing, and only thinking of the consequences when it was too late. No, everything he ever entered into was meticulously planned and completely figured out. He would leave nothing to chance, because in spite of his so far lucky escape, nothing was definite.
No. His obsession with the dark arts and blood purity was not enough to make him take stand.
Another wry laugh escaped his thin, pale lips. It was really down to those blood traitors, half-breeds and mudbloods, that something was being done.
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After the war, prejudice had shifted. Instead of mudbloods having to watch their backs, it was the pureblood Slytherins. The cursing, raids, unemployment, press attention, laws, attitudes...they had turned the wizarding world on its head. It was not only punishment, but worse than that because it also affected the innocent, and went beyond what had been done in the past.
The only difference between the ministry's behaviour and that of Voldemort's, was the lack of killing and torture. How was that any better?
And as he shook with his fury, this sentiment also mingled with triumph. If it wasn't for this, nothing he was now pursuing would have been possible.
Theodore clung to the idea of supremacy. As they were pureblood, and therefore at the top of the magical hierarchy, none of this persecution could be justified! Not only did they deserve better, they deserved privileges, and now with the support and power they had gathered, they had a chance to once more be in charge, as was destined!
To his last breath, he would make sure that they ruled over the hordes of scum who had temporarily seized their rightful power. And there was no doubt that this conclusion would ultimately be reached, because Liberatus Ophiuchi had to succeed!
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The sudden sound of a door's hinges creaking, snapped Theodore out of his thoughts, and he whirled around.
Breathing a sigh of relief as his gaze fell of the figure enthroned in the frame, he beckoned her to step out onto the balcony.
He realised that through their work and efforts, she had become as familiar to him, as life itself, or more precisely his own shadow, she had been with him through it all...and yet still he couldn't read her, as she did him.
She was a lady of tall stature, who wore a crimson cloak over her robes, which was now billowing in the breeze. Her glossy brown curls hung either side of her pale, heart shaped face and her dark eyes were narrowed in amusement.
"You've been out here by yourself for a while now Theo."
Staring past her into the darkness, the man gave a nod. "I've been gathering my thoughts Araminta."
A mirthless laugh escaped from her. "I hope you're not getting cold feet..."
When Theodore finally answered, his tone was hard and icy, betraying his over-eager temper.
"You forget yourself Ara, and this once I won't take it the wrong way...have you not recalled that it was I who planned this? I who came up with the idea? I who brought this group together? "
A scarlet blush pooled across her cheeks, not from embarrassment, but from annoyance. How dare he, when she was just as important, an equal! However, Araminta Meliflua knew how to play this game, and when it was necessary to hold her tongue. She would pursue this gentl, her voice a haughty drawl.
"I didn't mean to offend, I was merely speculating as to the reason for you sullenness."
"Well, don't. That's not your position." Came the snappy response.
Araminta raised an eyebrow ever so slightly, but continued with her bored, matter of fact tone, somehow increasing their sense of importance, rather than playing it down as one would suppose.
"My position is whatever I want it to be. Don't play games Theo. You know you can't manage this without me. You may be my senior, and you may be the founder, but in other regards I match you point for point."
He knew she had him there. Though she was only thirty, Araminta was highly intelligent, cunning and determined. She came from an ancient pureblood family, as highly regarded as his own. She was related to the Noble House of Black, and her family had a history of aptitude for the Dark Arts. Even her namesake, her Great Grandmother, had tried to legalise muggle hunting. He took a deep breath.
"I was wondering how our plan was proceeding. It should be occurring about now. I trust Alexander is doing his job, to allow the recruit to do his."
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Rose stood rooted to the spot as she heard those words reverberating inside her head, a dull ringing prominent in her ears and chills travelling down her spine. Numbly she felt Scorpius supporting her. A Graphorn... A Graphorn...A Graphorn...
Oh shit they were in trouble! From what she knew of the creatures, they were highly dangerous.
Instead of panicking, she froze and her brain went into over-drive. They'd used the horn in potions, and she dully remembered Professor Belby saying that they were large animals which dwelled in mountain ranges. Their hides were tougher than dragon's and they were extremely aggressive. The question was; what was one doing in Hogwarts?
She didn't have much time to dwell on this, because as soon as the music stopped, shrieks and screams filled the air, and a mad scrambling began. Her thoughts, which felt somehow disconnected from her person, wondered at how the crowd around her was jostling and seething. For what seemed like a long moment, she stood there completely drained, vaguely aware of Scorpius' grip tightening about her, feeling his heart pounding as her back pressed against his chest.
It was as if she couldn't function, as if she'd ceased being Rose Weasley the person, and instead had become Rose Weasley a collection of thoughts.
And then something penetrated this petrified state, with it bringing the fiery rush of adrenaline and the prickle of fear. What if someone was hurt? What if tonight, someone died?
It was like nearly drowning, and then having the light-headed feeling stripped away upon re-breaking the surface. Instead of feeling nauseous, she suddenly felt full of fervour and determination. They must do something...anything...
A buzzing pressed upon her eardrums, like a hoard of anxious wasps, as the students around her clamoured with desperation.
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Professor McGonagall, though extremely pale and shaking somewhat, knew she had to gain control of the situation.
Trying to steady her voice, she held her hands up and called out for silence. Immediately the drone stopped, and the numerous students swivelled their frightened faces towards the headmistress.
"That's better." She stood tall and proud, and surveyed the crowded room. "Now this is not a time to lose your heads! We must be vigilant, if we are to emerge out of this unscathed." There were mumblings of assent as the head teacher turned swiftly to the care taker.
"Mr Boarg, where is the beast?"
Avitus Boarg was leaning against the tall oaken doors of the great hall. His eyes seemed to be popping out of his face, and his breath was coming in short, rasping gasps.
"It-it-it's in th-the dungeon Professor."
Pursing her lips, McGonagall nodded. "It is too dangerous for anyone to leave the hall. Whilst we are here we are safe. However we cannot leave the beast to wreak havoc in the castle."
Scorpius furrowed his brow, his hold on Rose loosening as he felt her stir. His lips were close to her ear, and he didn't even recognise his own voice, when a moment later it came out as a hoarse whisper. "What does she think they're going to do? They can't fight it..."
But he was cut off as the head teacher seemed to reach a decision. She waved her wand through the air, and all the decorations disappeared. "Obviously the celebrations will come to an end."
She paused for a slight moment, and then with another flick, numerous rolled up, purple sleeping bags filled the Hall. "Students will sleep here tonight. I understand that this may prove difficult given the circumstances, but for the time being, this is the only safe place.
Rest assured that any information will be given to you. However, for the time being I want everyone in bed in fifteen minutes. Prefects will report with a register of their House Students, and then patrol the Great Hall. I need to determine that no pupil is in danger. After they have taken register, they will inform Professors Sinistra, Wood, Abercrombie and Guildford, taking direction from them if needed. Madame Pomfrey will also be on hand."
She snapped her head to the side. "Professors Longbottom, Hagrid, Belby, Flitwick and Vine will accompany me."
With a swish of cloaks, the terrified looking Professors strode determinedly out of the Hall, locking the door behind them. Almost immediately the panicked murmuring struck up again, The Doxies made their way to the remaining teachers to offer their help, and Rose turned to face Scorpius, eyes wide and scared.
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"We..."
He knew what she was thinking; they had to do something. But what could they do in this hopeless situation? His piercing gaze locked with hers, and with this he tried to inject into her some confidence. His deep voice cut through her own.
"Listen Rose, it's going to be okay." She nodded mutely "I'll return to you after registering the students...I promise it'll be fine."
She tore her eyes away from the Slytherin. "But you don't know that!"
He reached forward and tilted her chin upwards, and not for the first time she saw the honesty, and sureness shining out of his silver orbs. "I do."
He gave her shoulder a slight squeeze, and then departed into jostling throng of students, whilst she quickly turned and headed in the other direction, towards the Gryffindors.
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Scorpius quickly caught sight of the other Slytherin prefects; Atalanta Harper had performed a sonorous charm, and was calling house members to her. A crowd of costumed peers had gathered into a tight semi-circle, and it was all the Malfoy could do, to squeeze through.
To Atalanta's side stood Ewan Davis, holding a large parchment list, and checking names off it. Scorpius joined the boy's side, who was now squinting at a first year dressed as Merlin. "And you are?"
"Roland Burke" squeeked the boy, and with a satisfied nod, Davis crossed him off the list.
Scorpius waited until the crowd had begun thinning out, before he lowered his voice. "Is anyone missing?" He knew from the fearful glance he received, that there something terribly wrong. Ewan wrinkled his forehead as he signed of two third year girls.
"Its Flint...he's not here..."
"What about Alexander Nott? Damon Rosier? Felix Rockwood?"
"They've all registered!"
The blonde thought for a moment. "Shouldn't we give him a couple of minutes? He must be somewhere..."
Ewan Davis shifted on the spot, looking exceedingly uncomfortable. The line in front of him had started to dwindle and there were only a few students left to be signed off. "Of course...but I've got a bad feeling about this Scorp. Remember I said earlier that I overheard them planning something for tonight."
Scorpius narrowed his eyes. "But it couldn't be this could it? I mean what the hell would they want to do it for? Sebastian wouldn't be that stupid!"
However Davis wasn't so sure. "Scorp I'm telling you that something's up with him! And now what are we going to do? If we tell the Professors and they catch him out, what's going to happen to him then? I'm sure that this was Nott's plan...Sebastian would never think something like this up..."
Scorpius shook his head, unable to clear his thoughts. "Ewan, if he is involved, even if it isn't his plan, he's done something so horrific....I-I can't even...begin to understand how...or why. But he-he can't still be the Sebastian we know....he's not our friend any more....how can we even contemplate protecting him for something so horrific?"
Davis furrowed his brow, his complexion deathly pale and his lips pursed. "Then we only have one option; we-we need t-to stop him Scorp, before this gets worse....maybe somebody can get to him before its really too late...be-before he's gone too far..."
The blonde interrupted his dorm-mate. "But even if we tell, the teachers won't know where he is and if he's still out there and they don't get there in time, he could die!"
"Exactly."
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Rose finished checking off the list of Gryffindors. Thank Merlin they were all present! Sighing with relief, she held her hand to her forehead, wincing slightly at the headache that had started to build up.
As her thoughts started to clear, one idea kept swimming about her mind; how were the teachers ever going to get out of this?
Unexpectedly feeling fingers grip her arm, she twisted around assuming it would be Scorpius. Instead she met the green gaze of her cousin, his skin blanched.
"Oh Al! I-"
"-No Rose, listen. I brought the Marauder's Map with me...Lilly wanted to use it for something, I' m not really sure why but anyway..." He reached into the pocket of his Godric Gryffindor costume, and pulled out the parchment map.
"Anyway that's not important...I'd forgotten to give it to her, but I remembered I had it after the teachers rushed out, and I checked it."
He looked imploringly at his cousin. "Rose, Sebastian Flint's not here. He's in McGonagall's office!"
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Sebastian kept his ears pricked in case of any trouble, his hands trembling slightly as they moved.
He had no idea where the Graphorn was now. All he knew was that Alexander, Damion and Felix had let it in through a formerly collapsed tunnel which led to the dungeons. But he was aware that it could be anywhere now, and he had no wish to meet it face to face; not many wizards could go through an event like that and live to tell the tale.
His body involuntarily shuddered, and turning his attention back to the task at hand, he decided that he would do this as quickly, and with as much stealth as possible.
As the burly sixth year hurriedly riffled through documents littering the Headmistress' desk, he hadn't even consider the possibility of a teacher or student finding him, so preoccupied was he with evading the beast. However, now this notion briefly flitted into his anxious mind, but he promptly came to the conclusion that nobody would be anywhere near here. Surely the students would remain in the Great Hall, and the teachers...well unless the Graphorn was...no don't think about it.
Biting his bottom lip nervously, he pushed all thoughts to the back of his mind as he went through the stacks of parchment before him. Why had he not found it yet? What he needed; what he was told would be here.
Something, anything to do with a prophecy...
Sebastian took comfort in that he had entered the office easily with the password the others had retrieved. Even better was the fact that the numerous portraits of the previous heads, were thankfully asleep.
Though he reassured himself that it wasn't as though they would recognise him...a smirk settled on his face in satisfaction, after all, it had been a costume party. His volumous black cloak and face mask covered his identity well.
Nevertheless, no alarm had been raised, and he hadn't needed to take flight yet...
He stopped his movements suddenly, and strained his hearing. Had he just heard some...no he was being stupid, it was an old castle and there were bound to be strange noises. His mind drifting, he wondered where Peeves and the School Ghosts would be at a time like this...
There it was again! Or was it? No, he really was being paranoid now. His mind was just playing tricks on him. But he decided to be more careful, just in case...Not for the first time, he asked himself why he was doing this. But he knew it was for the greater good. It was for his family, for their people. To get back at those fucking Mudbloods and Half-Breeds!
As he came to this conclusion, his eyes caught sight of something. A singled word; Prophecy.
He gave a tug on the on the corner, and a sheet of parchment lifted out of the pile. This was it; the information he had been looking for! Okay so it didn't give away too much information, but he hadn't found anything else, and he wasn't sure that he a time to waste on a fruitless search. This would have to do.
He distantly wondered yet again, why the organisation had been so sure that McGonagall would have this information. And why they had entrusted him with this task...although he assumed that he would probably be less conspicuous than a fully fledged member, rifling through the Professor's desk drawers. And Alexander did say that Liberatus Ophiuchi had its spies.
Sebastian's heart beat, thudded in his ear, and he was fully aware that he should store the letter in his pocket, and leave. But he was curious. He shouldn't really be reading it, however he wanted to get an understanding as to why he had been assigned this task. Wasn't that his right?
Scanning the room and listening intently for any sign of danger, he completely unfurled the parchment and began to read.
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For the attention of Minerva McGonagall, Head Mistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,
It is difficult to express all I feel in this letter, we must be careful what we put down in words, and I agree that the upmost caution must be exercised.
It is my opinion that the minister is not going about this in an appropriate manner. Withholding information about the prophecy can only damage our chances.
Of course I am prohibited from saying anything to those outside the circle of knowledge, no matter how appropriate that they know. And my suggestions are not taken seriously, though the minister claims he appreciates our outlook.
I am naturally, fully aware of the danger, if the information comes into contact with what we dread. However how will the two concerned ever be ready if they are not aware about themselves and their destiny?
How will events move forwards without the truth?
I am grateful that you are doing all you can, and as for my part, I hope the majority of the ministry will come to its senses about our other threat.
There is only so much I can do, but I am open to your suggestion of reinstating the old order if things proceed in this manner, even though this will mean approaching those who the minister wants in the dark. And this time, I will be prepared to fight if, as I now fear, events worsen.
Forever your friend and ally.
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What the hell was that about? For the first time, Sebastian Flint truly realised how deep he was in. Could he go all the way knowing that-
-Wait! It was that noise again...
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Clasping his hand tightly, and weaving her way through the students who were now picking places to sleep, huddling in close knit groups and discussing recent events in panicked tones, Rose dragged her cousin over to Scorpius, her eyes wide with fear.
Where was he? He must know that Flint was missing...oh God what could they do? Could they tell someone? What was Flint even doing? What if he...
She froze.
"Rose..." He was worried at the state of her, but just as he was about to give up, Al spotted the blonde Slytherin in a far corner, deep in conversation with Lee Zabini and Ewan Davis. With a gentle tug, he quickly navigated his way towards them.
After her previous determination had trickled away, Rose allowed herself to be pulled along by Al. It was as if her exhaustion had caught up with her, and invaded every inch of her body. All she knew, was that she had to see Scorpius.
She drank him in, the sight of him giving her strength. She noted how his forehead was furrowed with worry, and his silver eyes were narrowed, until raising his gaze, he finally caught sight of them.
"Rose!" He took a few steps forward to meet them, turning from one Gryffindor to the other. "I'm sorry I was going to come over - I just - It's Flint - he's gone, he's..."
"He's in McGonagall's office."
"What!?" Scorpius rested his gaze on tall form of Albus Potter. "How...how do you..."
"Never mind, the point is that he is."
Lee Zabini edged towards them "How can you be sure...what if..."
Al shook his head. "I know I'm not wrong."
Finally finding her voice, Rose tried to steady it. "The-the question is...what do we do?"
Scorpius paused for a moment, the buzzing of the other student's panic filling his ears. He felt suddenly horrified "We have to find him, and stop him!"
His eyes darted to Rose, who was staring at him open mouthed, and he placed his hands on her bare shoulders. "You-you have to stay here Rose...Albus can watch over you...Lee, Ewan and I will go and-"
"-Like hell you will Malfoy, I'm coming with you!" Everyone looked in surprise at Albus, the one who was usually so calm, but his jaw was set and Scorpius knew he wouldn't change his mind, so he nodded.
"Okay then Potter..."
"Its Al, and besides you'll need some Gryffindor bravery with you..."
The blonde turned his attention back to Rose. "In that case you'll have to stay here on your own, I'm sorry but-"
For the second time in such a short space, he was interrupted. Rose pulled herself out of his grasp and focused her determined gaze on his own, dark eyes flashing furiously.
"There are no buts Scorpius, I'm coming too and if you so much as think otherwise I'll curse you into the next centuary!"
Scorpius held her gaze, silently reaching an understanding with her before he looked away and dropped the volume of his voice.
"Sorry...of course you should come."
The red-head caught his hands and gave them a squeeze "Thank you"
She turned to the rest of the group, suddenly recognizing the icy lump of fear that had settled in her stomach. "Okay then, we'll need get out of here undetected" she gulped before continuing "Our best bet is to go out through the chamber the Doxies were waiting in...the door is concealed behind the stage. The Teachers shouldn't be watching it, and its a quicker route to McGonagall's office."
Al managed a small smile "Sounds like a great idea Rosie."
She inclined her head in thanks, so nervous she could hardly speak any more, mouth so dry she had to lick her lips. "Is everybody sure we're doing this?"
The others nodded and so she took in a deep breath to steady herself, eyes scrunched shut, before opening them and with renewed vigour declaring "Come on then". Turning on the spot she hurried around the perimeter of the hall, dress flowing behind her, closely followed by Al and Scorpius.
Lee and Ewan who were bringing up the rear, paused before joining the rest, the latter turning to his friend briefly.
"Was it just me or did the Scorpius Malfoy just get bested by a girl?"
Lee quirked an eyebrow at his fellow SLytherin "Not by just any girl."
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AN/ Hmm what do you think? Background on Theodore Nott...so now we know why he's doing what he's doing...but what exactly is that? Sebastian has been recruited by his son but I wonder if they really care about him....and we get to know a bit more about Araminta, who will become an important player in events...
What was Scorpius going to say to Rose? They seem to be feeling something for each other, but how strong is it and will it last?
Who was the letter Flint found from? And what hints were in it? What does it really mean?
Where is the Graphorn? Will the group find Flint, will they be in danger? What will happen?
Eeeek scary stuff!
Thanks for all of your support! I hope you are still enjoying the story :)
Please review and let me know what you think...I'm not sure how this chapter's turned out, I'm a bit rusty. Any comments, good or bad are welcome; it helps me improve :)
Much love until the next time (which will be soon)
Fiona
xx