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Scorpius walks down the hallway, bouncing up and down on his heels. After the morning with Raven, he decided to try and talk with his father. They still had air to clear between them and there was a lot Scorpius decided he was going to share. Draco might know something about Amycus Carrow being out, or Aries. The only way to know was to ask.

He knocked on the door to Draco's home office, and heard the latch unlock. He took that as a queue to come in. Draco was sitting at his desk, wand out to the right side of him. Paperwork in front of him. He looked tired, like he'd rather be asleep in his room than here. Sifting through files. Scorpius has no idea what he could possibly be busy with; he had this week off work due to a death in the family. "Ah Scorpius. What is it?" He asked. Scorpius sat on the other side of his desk in the chair.

"I wanted to let you know about Amycus Carrow." Scorpius began. "And everything else... I guess." He explains. Draco set his papers down, folding his hands together and nodded for him to continue. So he did. Scorpius told him nearly everything that he told Raven. He didn't mention the speculation about Amycus killing Lucius. It didn't seem like he needed too because Draco's thoughtful expression gave the impression he was considering it anyways.

"Well, Amycus wouldn't hurt the Malfoy's. He knows who you are, and about the arrangement. In fact, many deatheaters do. Just most of them are imprisoned so I'd have thought they wouldn't be a threat." Draco finally speaks. "He was rather idealistic back in the days, but now I'd imagine he would be more down to earth. More than Selwyn, at least. Selwyn still believes in the idea of making magic bloodlines pure, and sees Daniel as an opportunity to accomplish that."

"If Selwyn believes that, why doesn't he just try to do it himself?" Scorpius crosses his arms over his chest. Draco shrugged.

"He would, probably. Though he knows no one would follow him. The heir of Slytherin though? They'd follow the heir of slytherin. Anyone would. Not just purebloods with a deep sense of distaste towards muggleborns. Throw a rock in Diagon Alley and it will hit a witch or wizard who despises the fact Hermione Granger- a muggleborn- is the minister of magic." He explains. "Even those who aren't prejudiced at all believe someone like her shouldn't have that kind of authority. She came from a muggle world. There are things she'll never understand about ours." Draco didn't sound like he hated Hermione, or agreed with those witches and wizards who thought those things. Rather, he seemed crestfallen that the Wizarding community would feel this way about her. Like he spoke the truth, even if he hated that it was the truth. Scorpius nodded, finding his candor refreshing compared to Draco's normal emotional rants.

"So Selwyn- and possibly Amycus Carrow- are looking to use Daniel and I for their own prejudiced agenda?" Scorpius frowned. "Daniel has no idea."

"Daniel has made his choice. And I don't see Amycus agreeing with Selwyn. But if his daughter does..." Draco trails off. "I suppose it's a possibility. Aries sounds like a loose cannon."

"That's what Albus says."

"He's smart. He's coming over today right?"

"Yes. It's Friday so he's probably going to bring homework or whatever." Scorpius bites his bottom lip, thinking about Selwyn and the Carrows. "Do you think that something big will happen?" He asks, and Draco looked confused. "Like Daniel actually becoming bad. What would they do? Take over the ministry? What can they do?"

"I don't know if Daniel is strong enough to lead something like that. Right now, it just feels like Selwyn is dreaming about it to happen. You know Daniel better than I do."

"I hardly know him at all." Scorpius trailed off. "Honestly a few months ago I wouldn't have thought Daniel could lead ducklings, let alone a rebellion." Draco nods at his words.

"And now?"

"Now he's a completely different person. It's like Selwyn somehow stripped away the goofy, dumb part. It left a mature, secure, confident person behind." Scorpius explains.

"Selwyn has enough connections to form some following. Especially since he was released from Azkaban in good faith with the Ministry. And if Amycus has really bought into this delusion, he'd even bring more supporters. If they were together on this, planning something, they're taking their time. The Dark Lord didn't succeed, but he might've. If Harry Potter was dead, and had no chance to destroy the horcruxes." Draco scratched his chin.

"Are you saying they might come after him?" Scorpius asked, slightly concerned.

"Not yet. They are trying to get you. Selwyn won't settle for just Daniel, he will try and get you too. Your bloodline is supposed to be full of untapped power. In fact, since Cypress is with him, if we are to believe Aries Carrow, he's attempting to gather everyone from the Slytherin bloodline that's still alive." Draco lets out a long breath.

"How do you know all this?" Scorpius frowns.

"It's how I would do it." Draco explains. "And then I'd try to turn someone from the ministry. In fact, they may had already done that considering how easily Daniel's bullshit story was accepted as truth. As someone who wants to protect you, I'd want you to stay as far away from Daniel and Aries as possible."

"But?"

"If something really is going on, Scorpius, there's no one who has a chance of knowing about it if not you." Draco looked concerned. "You might be the only one able to stop this. To stop him."

"Him?" Scorpius was growing increasingly wary.

"Daniel." Draco clarifies. It was a rather cruel awakening. To hear and understand that Scorpius may have to step out of his comfort zone and reach into the darkness. Why? What did he owe the world? Scorpius's bloodline was pure, from what he understood. Why should he care about those who weren't?

Not only that, but couldn't Harry Potter and the ministry step in before he'd have too? Harry Potter defeated good-ol-Voldy at age seventeen. Why couldn't he defeat Daniel if it came to that? Scorpius didn't ask any of these though. Clearly Draco knew something he wasn't saying. Maybe he was accounting for Harry Potter's death. Or something else disastrous. Scorpius sat there for awhile in silence, just trying to process everything.

—-
"So they know everything?" Albus concludes when he comes over later that day after classes. Scorpius nods, laying beside him on the bed. They stared at the ceiling. "Guess that's good. If the Malfoy's are behind you, it makes you more of a threat."

"I'm not amassing an army. I'm just... reconnecting with my family. Death does that, apparently." Scorpius sounded deflated, emotionally drained from everything that he'd been through in the last week. Albus even sounded tired. For different reasons, definitely.

"My family is furthest from reconnecting as it's ever been." He sounded emotional. "My dad told me and James over the phone that 'if being with Hermione and being happy means losing us, then he wouldn't bother calling again.'" Tears rolled down the sides of his cheeks. "James is acting like he doesn't care. But I know he does. I don't know what to do." Albus's voice cracked. Scorpius turned to him, readjusting to lay on his side. Potter turned his head to look at him. "I'm sorry."

"For what? For crying? Don't be ridiculous." Scorpius responded, gesturing for him to come closer. Albus rubbed his eyes and then moves over. The blonde reaches forward and pulls their bodies against one another in a hug. "You're my best friend. You don't have to ever be sorry." Scorpius reassures him, feeling the other boy's warm breath against his collar bone.

"It's not very manly to cry over something like this." Albus sniffled, sounding choked up.

"Well it's not like anyone is going to know about it." Scorpius whispered, holding him close against him.

"You will."

"I don't count." He answers. "What are you worried about? With James?"

"It's not just my brother. We aren't very close to begin with but now I think he's just pulling away from everyone. And Lily is upset but she's younger and I don't think she really understands what this means. Or how it will change everything." Albus explains, talking his heart out. "Mum hasn't even sent us letters since we've been back. And every week she does. I keep trying to tell myself that it's Friday and maybe it will still arrive today. Or maybe the owl got distracted- but I just think she's too sad." He sniffles, tears still dripping a bit down his face. The moisture was soaking into Scorpius's long sleeve shirt. Making the grey material darker in some places.

"What about your cousins?" Scorpius wondered, resting his hands against Albus's back. The brunette was in a sweater, the knitting thick under his fingers. It's weird how this was starting to feel like home. Not the manor- but hugging Albus. Talking to him about meaningless things, and also deep things. He wanted this more often than he got it.

"Rose is upset. She screamed at her Mum about it over the phone. That's what James told me. Hugo is being sheltered from a lot of the fighting." He answers softly. "Rose is close to her mom, so this was pretty devastating for her. She looked up to Hermione only to find out she was having an affair. It's not pretty."

"Betrayal never is." Scorpius agrees solemnly. "I wish I could erase all this for you."

"It's okay. It's not like my family was perfect before. We had all kinds of dysfunctional issues." He paused. "Maybe not like yours though." There's a soft laugh. "I can't wait for you to come back to school."

"Me too. I'm just wallowing here." Scorpius closes his eyes, Albus's hair tickling his chin. They both begin to drift off into sleep when suddenly Scorpius's phone rings in his back pocket. "Ugh, let it go to voicemail."

"What if it's important?" Albus shuffles to reach around Scorpius's torso to find the phone in his pocket. He finds it and reads the caller ID. "It's Oliver."

"Let it go to voicemail." Scorpius murmurs, huffing Albus tighter. The boy still looks at the phone, one cheek pressed against Scorpius's neck.

"He'll just keep calling, he probably knows I'm here." Albus replies.

"He does, I told him on the phone yesterday before you arrived." Scorpius was honest. "Don't answer it."

"I'm going to."

"No." Scorpius reached up and his hand clumsily hit Albus's. The phone knocks out of his fingers and falls between their bodies. Albus groans, reaching under them to fish for it. The ringer ends. Scorpius smirked. "Go to bed. It's nap time."

"It's always nap time for an insomniac." Albus huffed, finding the phone. When he does, Scorpius readjusts to get comfortable again. A moment later the ringer goes off again. "I told you."

"Don't answer it I swear-" Scorpius begins.

"Hello, Scorpius Malfoy's phone. Can I take a message?" Albus picks up. Scorpius whined, closing his eyes. The phone was close enough that he could overhear Oliver on the other end.

"Albus? Why are you answering his phone?"

"Because I can. Why are you calling?" Albus retorts sassily, sitting up and escaping Scorpius's arms. The blonde frowned and rolled onto his stomach on the bed, annoyed and tired. The distance made Oliver's voice muffled and unrecognizable. Scorpius heard Albus's reply. "He's here. But I think he's sleeping." Then another one. "You'd know that better than I would." There's a laugh.

"Put him on speaker." Scorpius whispered, and Albus rolled his eyes, following the request.

"... calling because I thought he should know my Mum has been intubated." Oliver's voice comes over the speaker. He probably sounded normal to Albus, but Scorpius about leapt off the bed, grabbing his hanging jacket. It was collared, and black. Oliver needed him.

"What-?" Albus watches him surprised. "What does that mean?"

"What hospital?" Scorpius demands, putting his arms into the sleeves. He grabbed his scarf next and looks for his shoes. Albus watches with concerned and wide eyes.

"Oh I thought Albus-" Oliver begins, hearing Scorpius this time.

"He put you on speaker. What hospital, Olly? I'll be there in five." Scorpius repeated himself. There's silence on the other end of the line. Scorpius turns a frustrated look to Albus. The other boy was rather confused, having never really had to experience the muggle doctor experience. There were magical cures for most problems. Cancer wasn't one of those problems. Cancer had no cure, magic or otherwise. Similar to the blood curse that Scorpius's mother died of. There was nothing that could be done. "Is it Salisbury?" He prompts.

"Yes. She's been moved to the inpatient unit. Southwing, level three." Oliver's voice was softer. Scorpius ends the call with a tap, shoving the phone into his jacket pocket. Albus was quiet as Scorpius pulled his combat boots on.

"What's going on?"

"Oliver's mother is dying." Scorpius was impartial, his tone seeming flat. There's a stunned silence. "You're welcome to stay as long as you like. Otherwise, I'll see you in school on Monday." Scorpius quickly whisked out of his room and down the hallway, knocking on his sister's door. She opens it. "Karen is dying." He deadpans. Raven's face falls. "If you want to come-"

"Yes. Yes of course I do. It's Olly. I'll get my jumper." Raven nods, closing the door to grab her things. A minute later she opens the door again and steps out. She didn't look her best. No makeup, only in joggers and a hoodie. Bright hair pulled into a bun. She had a small bag on, probably carrying her wand and identification. Anything else she grabbed quickly. The two of them didn't even seem to notice Albus standing in the hallway, watching as they left down the stairs.

Draco was in the entry as they started out the front door. "Where are you two going?" He asked curiously.

"Don't expect us back until tomorrow." Scorpius responded.

"The funeral is on Sunday, so-" The front door closes before Draco can finish his words.

Scorpius apparated them to the hospital, and nervously looks around. Hopefully no muggles saw them appearing from thin air. Otherwise they'd have started a whole other problem. Raven takes the lead walking into the Southgate, right up to the receptionist desk. She gives her the room number. "You good?" Raven grabs Scorpius's arm softly. He nods.

"Are you?" He asked.

"I've seen this before. It's Oliver who's not okay." She replies. Scorpius agreed, and followed her up to the floor. The entire way, muggles gave the two strange looks. Perhaps it was their hair color that grabbed attention. Maybe it was something else. Raven didn't even seem to notice, but Scorpius couldn't stop from seeing the glances. When they reached the floor Raven led the way down the halls to the waiting room. There were a few people there, but it wasn't packed like other parts of the hospital. Oliver was there. He was in his black Thrasher hoodie and blue jeans. His face was red from crying and his eyes bloodshot. Hair was messy and pulled away from his face with a headscarf. He sees Raven first and stands up to hug her. When it's Scorpius's turn, the boy breaks down in his arms. Raven gives Scorpius a gesture that she's going to go visit Karen, and leaves them in the waiting room.

Oliver just tucks himself into Scorpius's chest, face somewhat hidden from the jacket. "I know." Scorpius murmured, holding the taller boy to him. "You'll be okay." He tries too reassure him, but he knew that Oliver felt the opposite right now. He wouldn't be okay. His only family was in the other room, dying. Her lungs literally collapsing on itself, making her unable to breathe. "What happened? I thought she was doing better?" Scorpius was at a loss for words. Oliver wipes his face a bit and pulls away, trying to regain his composure a bit.

"She was. But then she had an allergic reaction to some medication. No one knew she was allergic to it. Not even her. And that plus everything else just made her go downhill. Really fast." His eyes were red and full of tears. "She's not going to wake back up, S. They have her sedated because waking her would cause too much strain or something and she'd just die."

"So then wait? We just wait?" Scorpius didn't understand muggle hospitals. His mother passed away at home, got all her care at home. This part was new to him. Oliver nodded, balling his sleeves up in his hands, and looking away. He hated when people saw him crying. "You had a bad night, didn't you?" Scorpius asked, and Oliver shook his head no. Liar. Scorpius grabbed his arm though the hoodie, and the boy winced. "Don't lie. Look at me." Oliver pulled his hazel eyes up to meet Scorpius's gaze. "What happened?"

"I just didn't feel like any of this was real. I needed a reminder of what was." Oliver's voice was soft and crestfallen, Scorpius literally felt like his soul was shattering for him.

"You're dumb for that, you should've called me." His voice was a bit harsh, and Oliver nodded shamefully. Other people in the waiting room were looking at them, and Scorpius looked in their direction. "The fuck do you want?" The muggles quickly minded their business after that, whispering to one another about the audacity of this boy. "This isn't private. Where's the bathroom?" Scorpius looked around. Oliver lead the way down the hall a short bit and then into the men's. No one was in there. "Show me the cuts."

"No-"

"They could get infected, just buck up." Scorpius ordered, and Oliver pulled his sleeves up. "See? Not even bandaged." The horizontal red slashes weren't bleeding, but they hadn't scabbed over yet either. Scorpius pulled his wand from his coat, aiming at the door. "Colloportus." There's a click as the deadbolt slides into place on the door. Scorpius then tapped the end of his wand in the palm of Oliver's left hand, just below the marks on his arm. "Ferula." Bandages are conjured from nothing, wrapping themselves around the limb, securing in place. "You should know better."

"So should you." He retorts. Scorpius shook his head.

"I don't-"

"Cigarette burns. Above your elbow." Oliver pulled his sleeve down. Scorpius recoiled like someone had slapped him.

"Don't change the subject." Scorpius responds, trying not to snap.

"I'm not. I'm redirecting." Oliver cleverly replies. "It doesn't matter what I say. It's not going to stop you."

"You're right. May as well shut up about it then." Scorpius suggests, looking away. "Where will you go?" When your mother dies?

"I have an uncle in London. So... there I guess." He answers. "I don't really know him, but Mum has the address somewhere. It's just until seventeen. Then I'll move out. Go somewhere."

"Will you come back to Wiltshire?"

"I don't know." Oliver sounded broken. His voice still never cracked, but it's tone had such sadness in it. The shorter boy felt awful, wishing there was something he could do to help. There's a pull on the locked door, and both the boys look over. "They'll get in. We should go."

"It's magic. They won't." Scorpius shook his head. "Let's stay just a little longer." He pulls Oliver back into a hug, and he returns it gratefully. "It feels like I'm saying goodbye all over again."

"We'll talk on the phone. Or write letters. Your owl can always find me." Oliver whispered, leaning on Scorpius's shoulder. "It just doesn't feel real. Like this is really