The Walnut Tree

Chapter 6: The Light Grows Dim

"The Lone Wolf has risen," a nearby boy says to his friends, causing the group to go into hysterics as I walked down the hall.

I rolled my eyes and continued, ignoring the many comments shot my way as I made my way to the common room. I had just left the hospital wing, and I hadn't been looking forward to the fact that word had most likely gotten around school about my episode. And I wasn't proven wrong; the students were as cruel as ever, and it made me wonder why I even bothered stepping outside. It took so much to stay strong and level when you have so many people laughing and tossing insults directly at you. But I just told myself that they were nothing to me and continued with no problems.

Well, only for a moment. I was passing by a rather large group of Slytherins when I felt something pop in front of me. Soon there were tons of loud pops and sparks around me, and a second too late I realised that they were wizard crackers. They all exploded at once and I sped off to keep from getting injured, hearing a roar of laughter behind me as I went.

"Poor Malfoy, he's just like his father; running away from his problems. Just a sorry old fool," I heard Simon say.

I stopped in my tracks, the blood boiling inside me. I threw my bag on the ground, turned and strode towards them. I closed my hand on my wand, my knuckles whitening. With my jaw clenched and my eyes blazing, I pointed it towards them. Everyone backed off except for Simon, who took out his wand and smirked at me.

He raised his eyebrows, as if daring me to keep moving forward. "What do you think you're doing, Malfoy? You don't honestly think you're going to duel me, do you?"

"So what if I am?" I countered, stopping a few feet in front of him.

"You'd be making a mistake," he snarled.

"No, I don't think I would," I answered. "You insulted my father, and now you have to deal with me."

"Oh, I'm so scared," he said mockingly. "You can't do anything to me, Malfoy. Like I said, you're father was an incompetent coward, and so are you."

This was the last straw. "Expell--"

"Scorpius! No!" a girl's voice shouted at me.

I turned around to see Rose running towards me. "Rose, stay out of this," I snapped.

"Simon, put your wand down and get out of here," she said to him, "or I'll get you kicked off the Quidditch team."

His face fell. "You're safe for now, Malfoy, because of your stupid girlfriend, but I'll get you yet." He ran off with the rest of the group, glaring back at me as he did so.

I hurriedly put my wand back into my pocket and moved towards where my bag lay. I slung it over my shoulder and continued to the common room without a word to Rose. Soon enough, I could hear hurrying footsteps and then she was by my side.

"Scorpius, what were you thinking?" she demanded. "You just got out of the hospital wing, and now you're off getting in another fight?"

I stopped in my tracks and glared at her. "Well, I wouldn't have been in the hospital wing if it wasn't for you!"

She looked down at her shoes like a helpless little puppy. I frowned slightly and put my hand on her shoulder. "Look, I appreciate all you've done, but I don't need your help any more. So you can go back to whatever group of friends you belong to and leave me to be the Lone Wolf again."

"I didn't do anything for you," she replied. "It's you who helped me."

"What are you talking about?" I asked her, and all of a sudden, Halloween night flashed through my mind.

She smiled up at me. "Yesterday morning, when you thanked me, well I never had the chance to tell you. It wasn't you who should have been thanking me; I should have been thanking you." She took my hand in hers and stared me straight in the eyes.

"When I saw you fall to the ground, I was afraid they had killed you with wandless magic or something. I was afraid...well, anyway. I went to the hospital wing this morning to thank you, but you'd gone already. When I found you yet again fighting, I had to repay you for what you did," she explained, looking away.

When she turned back, sadness enveloped her deep brown eyes, and she couldn't hide her feelings inside anymore.

I stayed silent, listening to what she was saying. When I didn't comment, she continued. "Something has been bothering me, Scorpius. Why did you do it?"

"Do what?" I asked her, slightly confused.

"Defend me. When you saw it was me, you could have left," she answered.

"They were giving you trouble. I'd have helped anyone in that situation."

She didn't seem convinced but she said no more about it. We started walking again now and we were completely silent all the way to the dungeons. I was starting to wonder why she was still there with me, and I was about to ask her before she realized this herself. After a quick smile, she hurried off passed a few unhappy looking Slytherins and out of sight.

Had this all really happened? It just seemed so unreal, so different. I wasn't used to this and I wasn't sure I wanted to get used to it. It seemed, lately, we were actually--dare I say it--friends? I shook off this thought immediately, knowing that could never be true.

***

Soon enough, December had come, and the warmer weather was slowly turning cold and icy. The golden red leaves had now fallen, leaving lifeless branches swaying with the cold wind. Snow had already left its frosty blanket over the castle, the winter sun causing it to shimmer. November had proved to be a stressful month, Simon and the others bothering me every chance they got. I learned that staying outside was best, and that's what I did.

I hadn't spoken with Rose since that November morning, and I suppose it was just as well. I presumed she had realised I was right and went back to her friends, and I was just fine with it. Well, that's what I wanted to believe. Truth be told, I was a little lonely. Our encounters had grown on me, and it was nice having someone to talk to besides myself. But now that they had stopped, it was hard to get used to. I wasn't going to say that I missed her, but it wasn't far from it.

I was in the Great Hall for breakfast when the owls flew through. The Daily Prophet and a small letter dropped in front of me and my owl flew off again. On the front page of the Daily Prophet were[Author ID1: at Thu Nov 1 17:00:00 2007 ] a smiling Harry Potter and a news story about how he captured an old Death Eater. I rolled my eyes and tossed it aside, reaching for the letter next. It had the official stamp of the Ministry and the return address read Boston, Massachusetts. My parents had apparently made it overseas all right. I quickly opened the letter, wondering what news they had for me.

Scorpius,

Your mother and I were informed by Madame Tulip that you were in the hospital wing last month. We do hope it didn't interfere any with your studies because it's very important that you keep up with them. Anyway, the reason we've written to you is to let you know whom you will be staying with during Christmas. We contacted many family members who just couldn't find the space for you to stay with them, so we've had to get in touch with old school mates. Many have moved to different areas and weren't able to keep you either. I had no other choice but to speak with Harry Potter and he's agreed that you will stay with them.

It was very generous for him to do so, so don't make him regret it, son. I know what your relationship with his boys are, and I will not tolerate any misconduct on your part. You will be respectful, and if I hear otherwise, I will not hesitate to take away all your silly Muggle gadgets. If I was even half of what my father was, I'd have taken them away long ago, so watch yourself. When the train arrives at King's Cross Station, look for Ginny, Harry's wife. She'll be there to take you to their home.

Sincerely,

Dad

P.S. Please give the additional piece of paper to Professor Zabini.

Another small piece of paper fell from the letter and I made note to go to the Owlry to get Fairy, my owl, to deliver it to the Professor. As soon as I finished eating, I decided I may as well go up to the Owlry now before I forgot. On the way, something was bothering me about this whole situation. I just couldn't understand that of all people, I would have to stay with the Potters. It certainly didn't help that Albus and James both hated me with an undying passion, but then again, the feeling was mutual. What I didn't understand even more was why I couldn't just stay at Hogwarts during Christmas vacation. It just didn't make any sense. But since when had my parents made any sense?

I was now in the Owlry, and I searched around for a sign of a sooty black owl, spotted her immediately. She flew over to me, eyeing my pockets in hope for food; I smiled and fed her an owl treat, which she gobbled down instantly. I quickly tied the note to her leg, promising to be here when she got back to give her another treat, and she flew off through a window. I was about to move up the stairs when I heard two voices, and decided against it. Instead, I slipped out of sight and listened.

"Look at it Rose," a voice I recognized as James said in an irritated voice. "Did you read what it says?"

"Yes," she snapped. "So what?"

"So what?! Bloody Scorpius is spending Christmas with us, Rose! He'll be in the same house with us and everything. You wouldn't be saying so what if you were in my situation," he told her.

"Yes, I would. Honestly, it's not a huge deal, James. I'm sure Albus would be a little nicer about it than you are," she said tiredly.

"I doubt that, Rose. What are we going to do about this? I will not stay in the same house with him. Why can't he stay somewhere where people will actually like him? Oh, wait, that couldn't be possible. No one does like him," James growled.

"Oh honestly. You speak of him as if he's Voldemort or something. He's just a person, same as us. I actually prefer him over you sometimes, cousin," she said.

There was silence for a moment, and I wondered if they were leaving, but I heard no footsteps. After a moment, they continued.

"What do you see in him anyway?" James questioned.

"What do you mean?" she asked him.

"I always see you talking to him about something or other, whether you're arguing or just talking in class. Why is that?" James asked in a slightly disturbed voice, as if it was against the law to speak to me or something.

"What's wrong with talking to someone?" Rose asked innocently.

"Nothing, if you're talking to a normal person. But you're talking to Scorpius Malfoy, Rose. Or have you forgotten all the stories your dad would tell about his father? He's off limits, especially to you, seeing as you've taken a liking to him lately. If Uncle Ron knew what you were doing--"

"What am I doing that's so bad? Dad would be happy I've made good friends for a change. He doesn't care about his rivalries with his father anymore! That's history. It's time to make a change, don't you think?" she said.

There was a silence again and James cleared his throat. "Whatever, Rosie. If he wasn't something to be ashamed of, why haven't you told your parents yet?"

I heard footsteps and quickly hid behind a pillar as James disappeared from the Owlry. Shortly after, Rose came into view; she too exited, looking as if someone slapped her across the face. I wasn't entirely sure what I was missing here, but I was sure it was something. I didn't really understand what James meant. Rose and I weren't friends, and he should have known that. Just because we talked didn't mean anything. And still my father's past yet again came back to haunt me. I didn't know why I couldn't be accepted anywhere just because of who my father was. It was strange to me, and I knew that I wouldn't be enjoying my time in the least, staying with the Potters.