Bright platinum hair whipped in the air, an exhilarating expression was etched into the boy's face. The cold air made his cheeks faint pink and his lips red. The two students were flying over the river Thames. It was overcast, no sun out. Boats were out on the water, probably providing tours and such to tourists. Scorpius held onto the broom with his feet, and held his hands out to the sides. Aries was in front of him, riding her own broomstick several feet away. Their speeds were matched. Same expression of freedom. "Verdimillious!" Her spell sent firework-like green sparks up into the air, exploding above them.

She looked back at Scorpius with a wide grin, and he laughed. Below them, muggles looked up at the sparks in surprise, some figuring they were a part of a tour. Technically it was illegal to use magic underage outside of Hogwarts. But it's not like they cared. Scorpius leaned back down, grabbing his broom to speed up beside her. "Bridge!" He yells over the wind, gesturing to the bridge they were coming up on. He made a gesture to the top of it, and Aries nodded. They both climbed in elevation, going up to the top where the support beams held up the bridge. Scorpius slowed to hover, and then dismounted. He sat on the edge, swinging his legs over the side, dangling over the deepest river in London. Beside him, Aries follows his lead.

She sits a couple feet away, laying her broom down beside his. "Whooo!" She screams into the air, half of her volume immediately being taken. The wind bit at their face with what felt like tiny shards of ice. The cold months not relenting. Scorpius relished in it. "We should lay under the train tracks in Oxford. It's a rush."

"Under them?" Scorpius replies. She nods, a mischievous look on her face.

"Yeah, we wouldn't be in danger. Still, having a machine that could crush you instantly roar above your head? It's amazing." Her response had Scorpius laughing. This girl was literally crazy; he was growing fond of it. "What? Scared?" She lifted one of her legs up on the platform, putting most of her weight on a more sturdy surface.

"As if." Scorpius answered, raising his voice slightly so she could hear him over the breeze up there. Aries smirked. "So why did you bring me? To do this?" He wondered, gesturing to the river below them. The Carrow girl shrugs, combing her black hair with her hands to fix it from the wind. Scorpius didn't think it had even messed up but he said nothing.

"I wanted to see if you were fun. Danny has a stick up his ass lodged so high that he probably cleans it with his toothbrush." Her response had him laughing again. Something about flying- the air all around you, hair whipping across your face. If one wasn't afraid of heights- which he obviously wasn't- it was a natural stimulant. It was exciting, releasing endorphins. "Turns out, you're not just fun, you're my kind of fun." She sounded pleasantly pleased. Scorpius just smiled. "So I asked around about you."

"Don't believe everything you hear." Scorpius replies.

"Is it true you are best friends with Harry Potter's son?" Her question didn't get a reply, just a curious look. "I assume so, considering that's the only person I saw you hanging out with. Albus Severus Potter."

"Is there a point why you're bringing this up, or are you just that fascinated with me?" Scorpius wondered, making the girl smirk. He didn't know where the conversation was going but he was ready to get it over with. Not only was it rather boring; but he didn't feel the need to explain the depth of his friendship with Albus to someone he barely met. Aries got the hint.

"It might be useful. Down the road, you know?" Aries clearly wasn't going to give it all away in one go. "Does Albus get on with his father well?"

"You should ask him yourself." Scorpius suggests with a smile in her direction. He was positive she wouldn't; and even more so that Albus wouldn't tell her if she did. "So since I'm here, how did you know my name? The name my father gave me, anyways."

"He told me, obviously." She answered, and he nodded simply. Not giving anything away with his expression. He waited for her to continue. She didn't.

"So he's... joined you guys?" Scorpius asked, not knowing what to say Cypress was joining considering all they made it sound like was a harmless tutoring group. He knew better. There was something bigger they were getting at. And for some reason they wanted Scorpius for it. He wondered if it was only because of his blood, and had nothing to do with him personally.

"He will." Aries was short with her answer, sounding cryptic. "Do you care if I sit with you at lunch? Other than Daniel the other students don't seem to like me." Scorpius didn't give her permission.

"They don't know who you are. It's weird for someone to come into Hogwarts in their fifth year. But you said you asked around about me?" Scorpius asked, poking.

"I did. Just other Slytherin students. Karl Jenkins. The Nott boys. Some of them told me to piss off. I kindly prompted them to make me. They didn't." Aries looked smug. "McGonagall only let me in because I said I was a French exchange student. My name is Aries Camus." She flipped her black hair in the wind.

"She bought that?" Scorpius frowned. Aries looked mischievous, like she had done something rather obscene to get into Hogwarts.

"You don't have to be clever to be the headmaster or mistress of Hogwarts. After all, look at the late Albus Dumbledore. My father was there you know, when he kicked the bucket." Aries didn't answer his question. Scorpius felt a bit of concern wiggle it's way into his thoughts. Maybe he shouldn't have come. "He told me all the stories."

"How? Isn't Amycus Carrow in Azkaban?" Scorpius retorts.

"Come on Salazar. You're more clever than that." She clicks her tongue against the roof of her mouth. Scorpius didn't know what she was implying- that her father- a deatheater- wasn't in Azkaban anymore or he never was. Or perhaps he just left. It didn't make sense. Most of the deatheaters there would have a bone to pick once they got out. Especially with the Malfoy family. Lucius was granted immunity since their crimes were lesser than the others. With the condition of him snitching on everyone else. So regardless of how Amycus Carrow was out of prison; he'd be gunning for his family. The Malfoy's. Scorpius's heart begun to pound against his chest.

And this girl just shamelessly gave away the information. Was she testing him? Testing to see how loyal he was to the family that raised him as their own? He couldn't react badly here, because that might blow everything.

"How was it, to be raised by your father then? He must've had a lot of stories growing up?" Scorpius kept the conversation going, despite immediately wanting to leave. Aries didn't seem suspicious of him.

"I rarely got to see him in childhood. But he's in the clear now, so I can see him whenever I'd like." She didn't go into who raised her, or where she had been for her childhood. Scorpius was itching with curiosity. "Well, best to get back to Hogwarts. We'll do the trains another day. I have a letter to send off." She grabbed her broomstick, and Scorpius followed her actions.

Back at Hogwarts, the groundskeeper Hagrid caught them on their way back. Scorpius smoothly assured him that he was just showing the new girl around the campus. The grey haired and bearded man looked suspicious, but let them on their way. The light sky was beginning to dim, the sun hiding behind the overcast clouds was sinking. Before they went their separate ways, Aries put her number into Scorpius's phone in case 'he needed anything' and took both brooms to return where she got them. Scorpius made his way into the Slytherin dungeons, looking for Albus.

He didn't know if he should tell Raven or Draco about Amycus Carrow. Wouldn't it raise questions about how he knew? The deatheater was supposedly in Azkaban. But that's not what Aries said. Would the Malfoys actually be in danger or were they safe because they had watched over Scorpius- the dark lord's descendent? Scorpius was growing stressed over the entire thing. Wondering if hanging out with Aries was really a smart move on his part or a dumb one. Did it give her the impression that he wanted to be friends? Did he want to be friends?

She was beautiful and clearly was fun. Even though she had a creepy dark streak. Wasn't that the same with him? Scorpius knew prolonged exposure to her would land him in trouble. Eventually the school would find out shes Aries Carrow, not some French student. Would she be put into Azkaban? Would she tell everyone who he was? Other than Albus and the Malfoy's, Aries was the only one who knew about everything- and had no reason whatsoever to keep it a secret.

Perhaps he should become her friend; if only to keep her in line.

"I've been looking everywhere for you." Albus grabbed his arm, shaking him out of his thoughts. Scorpius realized he was still in the common room, lost in contemplation. "McGonagall was looking for you. Something happened." Albus didn't sound happy, or even concerned where Scorpius had been. He was rattled to his core; almost scared. He sounded like he did right after they were attacked at the House of Black, or right before he met Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy. Scorpius frowned.

"What happened?" He asked, momentarily distracted as he saw Aries and Daniel come into the Slytherin dungeons. Scorpius's eyes locked with his brother's, and then he looked back at his best friend. "What happened?" He repeats, and Albus looked terrified to even tell him.

Scorpius and Albus ran down the hallways to Headmistress's office. They walked inside and Scorpius saw both his sister Raven and Draco there. Draco looked like death; and Raven had tears and mascara running down her face. Whatever anger she had for Scorpius disappeared in that moment because she immediately ran and hugged him as soon as she saw him. Scorpius wrapped his arms over her protectively, his face turning to stone. What was so upsetting? Albus felt out of place, like maybe he shouldn't have come.

McGonagall looked from the hugging twins to Draco, setting a hand on his shoulder. "What happened?" Scorpius finally asked, feeling Raven's soft crying against his chest. She probably hadn't cried like this since their mother died.

"It's your grandparents, Mr. Malfoy. Lucius was found dead an hour ago and your grandmother is missing." McGonagall spoke softly, clearly worried about his reaction. Draco looked at his adopted son from across the room, as though confirming with his eyes that this wasn't just some accident. Scorpius felt like he was about to have a panic attack, feeling his heart beat increase and his palms begin to sweat. Oh no. Scorpius felt that it was Amycus Carrow. It couldn't be a coincidence that now he's out of Azkaban and suddenly Lucius is dead.

What a way to start off the next semester. Did Daniel do this? Maybe it wasn't Amycus. Maybe Daniel did this to show him who his real family was. Maybe this was a manipulation tactic- Scorpius was shaking. This was his fault. This was his fault. If he wasn't taken in by the Malfoys none of this would've happened. "I'm pulling you both out for a week. To arrange the funeral." Draco quietly says.

"Where's Narcissa- Grandmother- where's?" Scorpius looked like he was in a state of shock. McGonagall tried to reassure him.

"The Ministry has sent all of their Aurors out. Since Daniel reappeared and gave his statement, Narcissa Malfoy is the top priority."

"Statement? Wait what-" Scorpius looked at his father.

"I'll explain everything." Draco tells him. Scorpius looked over Raven at Albus. Draco follows his gaze. "Thank you for bringing him here, Mr. Potter." He tells Albus.

"Please return to your dormitories, Albus. The Malfoy's will be leaving soon." McGonagall tells him. Albus nodded curtly, sending a small concerned smile at his best friend before he left. "I'll send Filch to collect your belongings." McGonagall tells the twins. Scorpius tried to swallow the panic building in his chest. But he couldn't. It helped that Raven was still hugging him tightly though, keeping him from completing coming unglued.

"Thank you, Headmistress." Draco tells her, and she gives him a sincere nod.

—-
Scorpius arrived with his family back at the manor, looking up at the building emptily. "Scorpius?" Raven grabbed his arm, and he silently followed her inside their home. Draco immediately went into his office. Scorpius really needed to talk to him; about Daniel and Narcissa and everything- but it was obvious now was not the time. He helped Raven and her bags upstairs to her room, setting them all down. "Why does everyone in this family die?" Raven asked, sitting on the edge of her bed. Scorpius sat beside her, his chest feeling crushed. "You're not even my brother. It's like you died."

Her words were the equivalent of being knocked onto his back, air driving out of his lungs. "I'll always be your brother. Blood isn't going to change that." He replies, and can hear her sniffling. He looks over at her, makeup smeared on her face. Her pale skin red from being upset. Scorpius pulls her back into a hug, and she cries harder. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I thought you'd hate me."

"I'm sorry I ignored you." Raven replied, her voice cracking in emotion. He wished he could feel sadness with Lucius's death. He did. But everything else seemed to overpower it. Fear mostly. Fear that whatever was going on in the world was going to break him. Today had been a whirlwind of emotions. From Daniel being back, to having fun with Aries. To anxiety and now terror over what was going to happen next. Another person died. This wasn't from an illness or a curse. This was murder. And the worst part was it might have something to do with him.

"Just try to sleep. You'll feel better." Scorpius pulled away and gestures to laying down. Raven does, curling up in what she was wearing to school, clearly not caring enough to change. Scorpius laid next to his sister, holding her hand to try and comfort her.

"Can you promise me?" She asked softly, and Scorpius already knew what she wanted to hear.

"I promise I'm not going to die." He whispered. She rubs her face with her free hand and closes her eyes, wishing for sleep. Scorpius closes his eyes too, exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster from the day.

The wind blew against the landscape. It was a particularly cold day for a funeral. Gloomy clouds hung overhead. Two bright haired students stood a few feet away from their father, eyes downcast and red from crying. The boy in a black coat and slacks, the girl in similar dark attire. The color of mourning. The gravestone was new on the ground before them. Fresh dirt was overturned from the body that was freshly buried there. The father looked cold, like everything that had made him smile was suddenly dead. And perhaps it was.

The girl's hair was braided simply. A black ribbon tied to the end. She turned to look at her brother, who was about her same height. "Promise me you won't die too." She told him, eyes big and wide. Raven didn't understand what death meant, but after watching her mother's life slip out of her body, she was beginning to. She didn't know if she could handle something like this again. And knew if her best friend- her brother- was suddenly taken away, she'd have nothing left.

"I promise I'm not going to die." Scorpius answered, not expecting that he will repeat this phrase several times for the rest of his life, a reassurance to his twin. A promise that he had no control of keeping. Accidents happened all the time. They both knew that. For thirteen they weren't blindsided. Their mother told them this would happen from a young age, trying to prepare them for this. For the time they had to grow up. To take care of themselves. It was like she already knew Draco couldn't be able too. And she was right.

Draco left them there, standing at their mother's grave without so much as a 'I'll be inside'. They were alone, completely alone now. No one would be there day in and day out like she was. Like their mother. "Avis." Scorpius's summoning charm brought small birds from thin air, flying around and chirping in beautiful song. Raven smiles for the first time in a week, her sparkling eyes watching the birds. A silent tear falls down her face.

The memory slipped out of his mind, and he was immediately brought into a new one. He sat on the curb outside of Oliver's house. His best friend sat with him. "There's nothing to say." Scorpius was telling him, dressed in his black from earlier. Oliver was in pajama pants and a tee shirt. He was quiet, clearly not knowing how to help his best friend. "We won't be back for awhile. Raven and I are going to spend time with our grandparents. Grandmother says that father needs time alone." Scorpius explains.

"When will we hang out again?" Olly asks, hazel eyes wide and sad. Scorpius lifts his shoulders in a response, saying he didn't know. "I want to hang out more."

"We don't belong in the same world." Scorpius told him harshly. Oliver flinched. "I can't deal with your problems and mine, Oliver. You need to grow up." He told the dark haired boy. Oliver looked like he was going to cry. "It's not right that we hang out. You aren't a wizard."

"I didn't think that mattered?"

"Of course it matters." Scorpius snapped, standing up off the curb and looking down at his best friend. Oliver gets up to his feet too, slightly taller than Scorpius. He hugs him, and Scorpius hugs him back.

"Goodbye." Oliver tells him, pulling away and wiping his tears. Scorpius looked down at his feet.

"Bye." The blonde boy turns and walks down the road, towards home.

Scorpius jolted awake, not even remembering falling asleep. He turns to see his twin beside him, still and with steady breathing. The boy gets off the bed and leaves her room, walking down the stairs while shaking the memories out of his head. Scorpius looked in his fathers study, trying to locate Draco to get answers from him about Daniel and everything else. It took him a few minutes to search the house, finding Draco in the study where books lined the walls. The man looked up as Scorpius entered and sat down across from him. "Where's Raven?" He asked, watching as Scorpius fingered his hair to fix it from the nap.

"Sleeping." He said. "What did Daniel tell the ministry?" Draco set down the book he was reading, realizing that this wasn't going to be a sentimental discussion about his dead parents. Draco was relieved, in a way. He wasn't handling it well; his mother missing and his father dead. Talking about something else would help keep his mind off of it.

"He said that he was with a family friend and wasn't in any danger. That when he went home his foster parents were dead so he went to his godfather's home to stay with him. He told the ministry that The Godfather didn't know about Hogwarts and magic, so Daniel didn't know what to do. He just went along with it until finally he said he wanted to go back to Hogwarts." Draco explains. Scorpius frowned. "Yeah, I know. It's all bullshit. Did you talk to him? Why did he return to Hogwarts?"

"For me. He told me that Argulus Selwyn has been teaching him magic. Magic that ordinary wizards couldn't do. He said that he wants me to join him and Selwyn. Leave the Malfoy's and Hogwarts." Scorpius explained, not going to sugarcoat anything. Draco has looked after him for fifteen