Devia Lupus

5-Mental Battle

The next day went horribly. Rose and Lily followed me around all day, attempting to ask me why I had been on the roof, why I was in such a bad mood, why my hair was so interesting, why this, why that. Eventually, I snuck away to a hidden passageway, but I was only able to find comfort in it for a few minutes before Potions.

I felt a sharp pang to my stomach as I entered the room that Severus had occupied for so many years...he had started teaching at Hogwarts three years after leaving it-when he was twenty. Several years later, he was captive of the Devil...yet he was still about thirty-five.

I remember my father coming home one night, smelling of Severus. He smelled of pine trees, rain water collected on the full moon, and a slight hint of cinnamon...Tears had been shed, I could tell by my father's vacant look and stained cheeks.

Two days later, they were both murdered and became prisoners of Lucius.

Sighing, I sat at my normal desk, in the far left corner. No-one else ever sat there, not in any classes. Ink stains and doodles crossed the desk, for when we weren't actually making a potion.

Potter entered the room. "Professor Arina has had a family crisis; as a result, I will be your Potions teacher for the next few days," he said. "Textbooks to page seventy-one, please."

Nobody asked who would be covering Defense-it was obvious. Potter's wife, Ginny, would be teaching it. Luckily, that meant that my Defense class couldn't go too badly. Boy was I wrong.

"Um...Scorpius Malfoy, go work with...Rose Weasley!" I blinked. Potter's wife was just as bad as Potter himself.

I stared at her, and propped my legs up on the desk. "No." I said.

Her eyebrows shot up. "No?"

"No."

"Hm," she said. "Well then. Rosie, dear, go work with Scorpius!"

I sighed. Devious Weasleys.

The lesson passed slowly, Rose's eyes welling up with tears every time I hit her with a curse-which was very often. She wasn't good at all in Defense, although she was second (to me) in everything else.

I was a good student-if you left me alone. I would do my work, not cause any trouble, but if you got in my bubble, I was an instant ball of...angst.

Rose finally burst into tears towards the end of class. Everyone had left, Ginny Potter had wanted to see Rose accomplish a Reflecting spell. For the time being, however, she was talking to someone about their behavior outside.

I stepped back as Rose started bawling. "I-I'll never get it!" she sobbed.

I blinked. What was I supposed to say?

"Erm..."

She looked up, with an affronted look upon her flushed face. "Well," she said. "I guess that's Scorpius Malfoy for you," she rubbed her face and grabbed her bag, tucking her wand into her pocket.

I grabbed the strap of her bag, spinning her around. "What's that supposed to mean?" I hissed.

She stared at me. "It means that you're an emotionless bastard with no heart and no trenchancy!"

I snarled at her, feeling the wolf inside of me stir, before I pushed it down. I shoved her away, Rose knocking into the corner of a table with a cry.

I stalked away from her, pausing to grab my bag, hurl a textbook across the room, and pushed past Ginny Weasley, who rushed to consol her niece.

That's right, I thought. Ignore the person who caused the pain. Devil knows, for he trained me.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Three o'clock found me sitting atop my bed, playing my bass. I ran my scales, tore up two songs, and managed to frighten Scott so much that he practically ran from the library.

McGonagall had finally managed to lift the electronic spells surrounding Hogwarts, something that Dumbledore had been planning to do. Phones, MP3 Players and PSPs were all over the place. For me, of course, it was my amp and bass.

After a while of transforming the bass back and forth between the bass, an electric guitar, and an acoustic, and playing songs such as "Put Your Lights On" and "Land of Confusion", I set the guitar aside, and decided to run down to my alcove.

The alcove was off of a secret corridor in an abandoned classroom, near the Gryffindor tower. I had discovered it first year, and due to the wards that I had put up, no one else had found it.

I settled myself in the small window seat, and watched the Gryffindor team practice out on the fields. I myself, preferred flying to actually playing Quidditch, but to each his own.

My thoughts drifted away as I watched Lily Potter score over her brother, James. The boy's face turned red as his teammates taunted him, and his sister looked over at him smugly.

I wonder what it's like, being a Potter. Or a Weasley, for that matter. You have all the family you could ever want, could ever need... I remembered my father's rivalry with Harry Potter. Then again, it couldn't always be too good...Stupid Potter. Asking me all these stupid questions that I have known the answer to since I was ten...And for the Devil's sake, what's up with his wife and him calling Rose Rosie?? It's sickening...

Sickening?

What the Hell?

How is it sickening? I mean, besides that fact that it shows...LOVE.
Yeah...right...now I'm going insane.

You're not going insane, Scorpius.

Am I not?

No.

Then why the Hell am I hearing voices??

Dark Magic.

...as if I don't already have enough of that affecting my so-called life.

Oh, be reasonable, Scorpius. Can you not guess who this is?

Yes.

Well?

Severus.

Exactly. You do have a brain after all-and a sane one at that.

Righttt...

...you don't believe that it's me?

I smirked. Why the hell would I do that?

Because you're not an idiot, and you know that such abilities exist.

Do they?

Scorpius!

What?

Do you hate me so much as to ignore me when I have gone to such extent and danger to talk with you?

Hate who?

ME, YOU IDIOT BOY!
Well, who are you? You can't be Severus, he's locked away...for six...long...years...

Oh, Scorpius. Locked away I may be, but I'm still here, am I not?

No?

...Fine then. I will take my leave.

No, don't do that!

Why not? You doubt my existence.

Because...

Well?

BECAUSE I'M ALONE!

I stood up, shaking with rage, and balled my hands into fists. If I didn't calm down soon, I might throw something valuable...like my wand.

Scorpius, sit down.

I sat, still shaking.

Scorpius, listen to me. You are not alone. You have me, and your father.

I perked up. My father?

Yes, your father. Draco Malfoy? Do you remember him?

OF COURSE I REMEMBER HIM!

Okay, I'm sorry, I meant no offense. Do calm down.

What about my father?

He misses you terribly, Scorpius.

You've seen him?

Once...

When? Where?

A few days ago. The Devil brought him by for a...visit.

Well, what's wrong? You won't talk about him. What's wrong??

Nothing, Scorpius, nothing.

There is so something wrong. If you are truly Severus, which I doubt you are, you will tell me what is wrong! I know Severus, he has always been truthful with me.

Indeed?

TELL ME!

...I cannot.

I let out a mental scream, that only HE could hear. I picked up the closest thing handy, an ancient textbook that had been given to me by Severus, and hurled it across the room. It hit the wall and the cover tore off.

I blinked, then slowly sat back down.

Scorpius?

Yes...

Scorpius, what did you do?

I threw it.

What? Threw what?

The book...

What b-ohh...The book that I gave to you when you were three, in hopes that you would find it useful later on in life?

Yes.

Scorpius, I know you. You must have read the book over and over; I'm sure no small amount of damage to it could affect it.

...

Scorpius.

...

Scorpius, you have read it, haven't you?

...no...

WHY NOT?

I cringed. Because! Because it...

Yes?

Never mind. I'll read it.

No, Scorpius. Do not read it until you have answered me.

...I haven't read it because it's a reminder.

A sigh. Oh, Scorpius. I must go soon...But promise me, Severus, that you will read the book? You will find it useful, and at times, entertaining.

...alright.

Thank you, Scorpius. I must go, but I will return soon enough.

Alright.

Goodbye...

"Goodbye..." I whispered.