Scorpius Malfoy
The rest of the summer holidays had flown by and I found myself back in my dormitory at Hogwarts for my final year. Mum had been progressing well and was fit enough so resume her daily chores around the house. However, despite being in St Mungos for a while, she hadn't lost her attitude to constantly tell us all what to do.
It was currently November and the air was beginning to get colder. Not much had been happening in the Wizarding World however the Aurors were still working tirelessly to try and find these Death Eaters. There wasn't such a high threat on the school anymore.
As for me and Rose, we were still broken up but we won't be for much longer. I had a plan to get her back soon.
As I made my way down to breakfast, I couldn't help but smile. This was noticed by Blake who took no time in teasing me about it.
"What you smirking at Malfoy." Blake laughed.
"Just everything."
"You're in such a good mood." Damien laughed.
"Well nothing disastrous has happened has it? That's got to be something." I shrugged.
"You've probably jinxed it now. But you're right. It's almost like the Wizarding world has calmed down." Jamie said.
As we sat down for breakfast, the family owl flew into the Great Hall and dropped the Daily Prophet. Others around me already had a copy and were staring at the headlines with a horrified expression. That couldn't be good.
MASSIVE EXPLOSION AT THE AUROR DEPARTMENT. MANY DEAD HUNDREDS INJURED.
"What the bloody hell has happened now?!" I cried.
"Look at the third paragraph!" Blake pointed.
I read the paragraph, not knowing what to think:
One person who is said to have suffered significant injuries is James Potter aged 19. Mr Potter was believed to have been near the source at the time it exploded. He has been taken to St Mungos where he is currently in a critical condition.
I immediately looked round at the Gryffindor Table where the Potters were comforting each other. They were lead out of the hall by their head of house, Professor Longbottom, everyone was whispering and watching them as they left.
"Why can't these Death Eaters just leave the Wizarding World alone?" Damien sighed.
"It must've been one of the ones that was still in hiding. The question is how did they sneak into the Ministry? Security is always tight." Blake said.
"Maybe they used Polyjuice Potion. That way they can get in without anyone noticing." I said.
"Scorpius look!" Jamie nudged me and I turned around. I saw Professor Longbottom whispering something to Rose and Hugo and they immediately looked upset and worried. They then hurried out of the Great Hall.
Everyone got told to head to lessons and everyone obeyed. We couldn't do anything at the moment. As I headed to Potions I collided with Rose in the hallway.
"Are you alright. I saw you looked upset in the Great Hall." I asked.
"No it's Mum. Straight after the attack at the Ministry, a Death Eater headed over to our house and attacked her. I don't know what's happened to her. I'm scared." Rose said tears swimming in her eyes. Her body was trembling.
"Oh god I'm so sorry. She'll be ok. From what I've heard she's strong." I replied. I wanted to hug her and hold her tight.
"I better be off. I'll write to you." She said and she hurried off down the hallway, Hugo slowly following her.
This was getting out of hand. Too much had happened to Rose's family. This was a step too far. I quickly headed to Potions and sat down in my seat. Professor Slughorn had a worried expression on his face. Rose had told me that her Mum was part of the Slug Club when he returned to Hogwarts back in 1996. This was when Lord Voldemort was at his height in power and control over the Wizarding World.
However 20 minutes into the lesson and he was unable to continue. Our lesson got cancelled and we all got told to head back to our Common Rooms.
"I wonder if he'll be alright. He's quite old Professor Slughorn. Maybe he shouldn't be teaching at Hogwarts anymore." Blake said as we walked into the Slytherin Common room.
"I don't even know how old he is. Rose told me that her Mum was a part of the Slug Club back in 1996." I replied sitting down on the sofa.
"Read this." Blake handed me a book.
I read a paragraph detailing the life of Hogwarts during the Second Wizarding War.
"Why did Professor Slughorn set up an organisation like this?" I asked.
"Dunno. Maybe he wanted to make a name for himself when he came back to Hogwarts." Blake shrugged.
"What else does that book say?" I asked.
"It's mainly on Death Eaters and how they rose to fame. But there's something here that I found the other day." Blake showed me the book:
During the Second Wizarding War, Death Eaters from all corners of the globe united in the attempt to bring down Mr Potter and his allies. Attempts and the unity such as this would not have been possible without the careful planning of Mr Rodney Douglas.
Mr Douglas was a precise planner in helping Lord Voldemort seek down Mr Potter and his two best friends Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. It was his job to track Mr Potter and it is believed that he was the messenger in allowing Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters to attack Hogwarts on 2nd May 1998.
It is believed that Mr Douglas was killed by an unknown Auror. His body was never located.
"You don't think..." I trailed off.
"Yes! He is the grandfather of Rachel!" Blake replied.
"Can we be sure?" I asked.
"Well it says here he was born in the 1940s. So he would probably be a grandfather today. So yes, I think we can be sure." Blake finished reading the article.
"What do we do?" I said.
"Let's talk to Damien and Jamie first. Then we can discuss what to do."
I nodded. This was a major breakthrough. I knew Rachel's family were poisonous, but I didn't realise that she had a family member that was so close to Voldemort. She must've been influenced by him.
This time we had facts and we were going to use them to help bring down these Dark Forces.
---------------
Once we had told Damien and Blake everything, we decided to go to go to Headmistress McGonagall and tell her what we know. Everyone was in their respective Common Rooms so it was very quiet outside. The weather was very ferocious as the wind whistled loudly.
We finally reached Headmistress McGonagall's office where we pushed the door open and headed inside. However she was not there.
"Where is she?" I said looking out of the window behind her desk to see if I could see her on the Hogwarts grounds.
"Why is she not in her office? That's not like McGonagall." Damien furrowed his eyebrows.
"Yeah, she normally stays in her office and only leaves for the feast." Jamie said. It was true. McGonagall was rarely ever seen around the school. She only appeared occasionally.
"Pssst." A small voice whispered.
We looked around the room trying to locate the source of the noise. I looked in cupboards and under tables and desks but there was no one there.
"Pssst." The voice said again. I drew my wand out just in case.
"I think it's coming from that portrait." Blake said pointing to a portrait on the other side of the room.
As we made our way over to the portrait, I recognised it instantly. It was a man with greasy black hair and a pointed nose. He was wearing a black cloak and had a concerned yet worried expression drawn on his face.
"Professor Severus Snape?!" I gasped at the portrait.
"Yes. What are you doing here in Minevra's office?" He asked narrowing his eyes.
"We have some important news for McGonagall but she's not here." Blake said.
"Why are you here?" Damien said.
"Dark times are coming boys. You must stay safe. Hogwarts isn't safe anymore. It hasn't been since the imprisonment of those three despicable human beings." Snape said.
"Why are you helping us?"
"I'm on your side. I always have been. But enough of that. You must protect yourselves."
"Can... can you see the future?" I asked.
"Such questions mustn't be asked Mr Malfoy! But yes I can. I can't reveal too much. Dumbledore will not approve back in heaven-"
"Dumbledore?! Dumbledore's helping us?!" Blake said.
"But how? Is that even possible?" Jamie raised an eyebrow.
The portrait of Snape was getting agitated. "Boys! Dumbledore is always here to help. There is one piece of information that I can tell you. Dumbledore approved of allowing me to tell you this. There will be another battle. But it won't be like last time. This time, it will be more fierce, more destructive."
"Like.... like on 2nd May 1998?" I hesitated.
"Possibly. But here's one trick. Allow yourselves to make enough Liquid Luck. Horace will be capable of that. You'll be safe." Snape replied.
Just then Headmistress McGonagall walked in looking shocked at the portrait of Snape.
"Severus? What are you doing here? And what are you boys doing in my office?" McGonagall asked.
"Minerva. There is going to be another battle. You must prepare the school. It will be sooner than later." Snape said staring at the woman he had worked with for so many years.
"Severus how soon?"
"I can't tell you. All you have to do is look after the school and prepare." Snape then walked away down a path where he disappeared into the light.
"Headmistress we need to tell you some important information. We read a paragraph in a book about the history of the Second Wizarding World War. It was about how Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters attacked Hogwarts on 2nd May 1998. It said that attacking the school wouldn't have been possible without the careful planning of Mr Rodney Douglas." Blake explained.
"I see. You are wondering if he is related to Rachel Douglas?" McGonagall asked.
"Yes, we think he is her grandfather as it says he was born in the 1940s."
"Very well. Clever thinking mr Richards. You are correct. The Ministry would've liked him to have still been alive so he can serve his punishment properly. I must alert Horace to make enough Liquid Luck." McGonagall sent a Patronus. We then headed back to our Common Room.
"How soon do you think this battle will come?" Jamie asked.
"Who knows? But you heard what Snape said. It will be more destructive. That doesn't mean just the Great Hall. That means the whole school could be destroyed." Damien sighed.
"I have a feeling it might come sometime next month or in January. We just have to wait for the Death Eaters to attack. I'm also concerned that Rachel, Marcus and Reece might get involved." I said.
"But they're in Azkaban? All they can do it wait for news?" Blake looked at me puzzled.
"They could break out. It's been done before." Damien shrugged.
As we reached the Common Room, everyone was whispering amongst themselves and it was very quiet. No one had been laughing or smiling for months now and it was sad to see. Whenever this battle was going to take place, had to take place soon.
Once again, it was a painful waiting game.
-----------