Seventh-Year: The Next Generation

Chapter 24: The Truth

"Oh, Merlin, no. Please tell me they're just pulling our legs."

"Yeah, this pretty much epically sucks," sighed Lily.

"You're telling me," replied Scorpius, surveying Albus who was struggling to his feet after having just been shoved through into the room. Baddock's limp form lay on the ground beside him.

"You're both alright," said Albus brightly.

Scorpius stared at the other boy as if he had lost his mind. "You seriously come here, get captured, and then have the nerve to try and be optimistic?"

"Well, I was trying to look on the bright side."

"In this situation, there is no bright side," pointed out Scorpius.

"Hey, at least we're all together," said Albus in annoyance. Scorpius rolled his eyes, turning away from his friend.

"What is she doing here?" asked Lily, pointing an accusatory finger at the still form of Baddock.

"Long story," said Albus.

"You know," said Scorpius, turning back toward Albus, "I'm supposed to be the rash stupid one who rushes off at a whim, not you."

Albus looked quite offended at this remark. "I'm allowed to be stupid sometimes too you know."

"Not when all our lives are on the line," yelled Scorpius, bright red spots of anger appearing high up on his cheek bones. The contrast to the paleness of his skin was startling.

"I'm sorry; I wasn't thinking," muttered Albus sheepishly.

"You got that right," snapped Scorpius. "You blew pretty much our only chance."

Albus shifted uncomfortably, but didn't seem to have anything to say to that. Finally, after a couple moments of stressed silence, "Is there no way to get out of this room?"

"No," said Lily. "The windows appear to be spell proof. At least against anything we can do to them. And the door only opens from the outside."

"Drat," said Albus.

"Yeah, and just think, it's all your fault," said Scorpius from across the room where he sulked in one of the corners.

"Sorry," mumbled Albus again, not looking at his friend.

Suddenly, the door to the room swung open, revealing Driscoll Jr., Babcock Jr., and Zabini Jr. To Lily, Scorpius, and Albus's surprise, Rose was with them as well.

"Well, hello there," said Driscoll, an evil smile spreading slowly across his mouth. He eased into the room, Rose coming with him as he had an arm laced around her waist.

Albus cast a nervous glance at Scorpius, who had gone as stiff and still as a board. Lily was staring in open-mouthed amazement Rose, not believing her eyes.

"What, is something the matter?" asked Driscoll in mock surprise. "Oh, silly me, you couldn't possibly be surprised to see Rose here with me, could you? Surely you must have realized that her feelings for me were great enough that I trusted her with our plan. Naturally she has cooperated fully with them."

"Of course, darling," said Rose, laughing her light, bubbly laugh.

Albus shot Scorpius another glance. The blonde boy looked as if a piece of something had died inside of him.

"Rose, what are you playing at?" snapped Albus. "Stop this ridiculousness, now."

"What are you talking about, cousin? Everyone here is concerned with England's best interests. If you were smart you'd come along with us, join us."

"Don't talk nonsense, Rose," gasped Lily. "You can't possibly think that."

"What?" said Rose in such genuine surprise that Albus knew she really must believe to her very bones what she was saying. "Of course I do. Driscoll's told me all about it. It's magnificent."

"Rose...whatever he's told you, it's not true. It's all lies," said Albus desperately. He looked to Scorpius for support, but the other boy seemed to have turned in on himself and clearly was not about to come out anytime soon.

"Albus, don't talk such nonsense," admonished Rose, in a tone that was completely hers and no one else's. "I really thought you would be smarter than this. When Driscoll told me you were here, I asked him to allow me to try and talk some sense into you. But if you are determined to be so stubborn, there's nothing I can do for you."

Albus gritted his teeth in anger. "Rose--"

"I have nothing more to say to you. If you won't see the light, I won't fight with you about it," snapped Rose. "What about you, Scorpius? Are you going to be more reasonable than Albus?" asked Rose, looking past Albus and toward Scorpius.

Scorpius didn't say anything, didn't appear to even have heard her in the slightest.

Albus could see Driscoll's eyes glittering with pure malice from behind Rose, but he knew Scorpius didn't notice it, being turned away from everyone as he was.

"Fine, if none of you will use your brain and be reasonable, then we're done here."

"That's right, honey. You tried, I can give you no more than that," said Driscoll. He barely got the words out of his mouth before pulling Rose to him and kissing her.

Albus turned away in disgust, as did Lily. Scorpius didn't move or make the slightest inclination that he realized his ex and Driscoll were snogging. Albus would have thought he really didn't notice, if it hadn't been for the even tighter tense of Scorpius's shoulders, and all the noise that was coming from Driscoll and Rose. The only humor Albus found in the act was that Babcock and Zabini looked equally repulsed as the rest of them.

At last Driscoll and Rose pulled away from each other. "Well, then I guess we're leaving," said Rose, looking at them sadly.

Albus felt the urge to grab her and shake her to her senses, but resisted.

Rose and her companions turned and swept from the room, Babcock going last after shooting them all a mournful look.

A silence stretched out after the others had left. At last it was broken by Lily. "I can't believe it!"

Albus didn't reply to her, just turned toward Scorpius. "Scorpius, are you--"

"Leave me alone," was the blank and dull answer, void of all emotion.

Albus didn't know what to do, so he knelt by Baddock. "Ennervate," he whispered. Baddock's eyelids pulled back slowly, and her doe eyes almost took Albus's breath away. Almost.

"What happened?" she asked, slowly pulling herself into a sitting position.

"Captured," was the simple reply from Albus.

"I see," said Baddock, blinking up at Lily who was watching her with an expression mixed between loathing and disgust.

Baddock's eyes roved the room before they caught sight of Scorpius in the corner. Her eyes widened as she lunged to her feet and rushed over to him. "Scorpius, what's the matter? Are you--"

"Get away from me," Scorpius bellowed, turning and giving her such a look of hatred and anger that Baddock stumbled back as if she had been struck in the face.

"What--" began Baddock, but she stopped as Scorpius slowly sunk to the floor and buried his face in his arms.

Baddock looked to Albus, who merely shook his head.

"Ugh," was all Lily said, sinking down onto the bed.

Suddenly, a loud explosion sounded from somewhere outside.

"What the--" exclaimed Lily, leaping from the bed, and rushing to the window. Albus was close on her heels.

There, coming soaring on brooms around the large hill that the castle was built into, came the most Aurors either of them had ever seen in one place. But it wasn't just Aurors, Hugo was also there, as well as Lasair and Meallan. Even Hermione had come along. Albus also caught sight of Scorpius's dad, Draco.

Albus let out a cheer. "Hugo! I knew he'd do it. Scorpius, check this out! Even your dad is here!"

Baddock had already joined them at the window, but Scorpius didn't move or show any sign that he had heard.

The fleet of saviors on brooms flew widely around the castle a few times, but not seeing any entrance, dove toward the forest floor. Albus wished he could contact them to tell them how to really get in, but obviously he had no way of doing so.

Sounds of battle drifted up to them. Screams both human and inhuman, as well as more explosions and such. Lily just hoped that no one she knew or cared for would get hurt.

The next half hour or so passed agonizingly slowly, but there was nothing they could do about it. Baddock and Albus had sat down on the bed after realizing they couldn't see anything of the battle from the window anyway. Lily, however, had not given up hope and was still standing there, peering down to the forest below. Scorpius hadn't moved from his spot in the corner.

That's when the door burst open, revealing Zabini Sr. and Driscoll Sr.. Driscoll's Sr.'s eyes were almost popping out of his skull in livid fury, and all the teenagers shrunk away from him, except for Scorpius, who appeared, as he had for the last good length of time, not to notice.

"Come with us," snarled Driscoll, waving his wand at them and indicating for them to come. "If you struggle or try anything stupid, I'll just kill you on the spot. Don't push me, this is no joke."

Lily, Baddock, and Albus didn't protest. They meekly got to their feet and went out into the hall.

"You too," snarled Driscoll at Scorpius.

"Hah," said Scorpius in a flat, emotionless tone. "Just kill me then. I'll thank you for it."

Driscoll narrowed his eyes as if he was trying to figure out if Scorpius was messing with him. Finally, he jerked his chin in Scorpius's direction. "Zabini, get him."

Zabini Sr. didn't protest, but swept across the room. He grabbed Scorpius by the arm, and then quickly released the teenager and looked at him in alarm.

"The Culling Blade is taking this one," said Zabini, looking over at Driscoll.

"What?" gasped Lily and Baddock and Albus, all in unison.

Driscoll looked at the blonde boy coldly. "A fitting ending, I'd say. Still, bring him."

Zabini grabbed Scorpius once more by the arm, but this time didn't let go. He started to drag him across the room, and Scorpius didn't protest.

Albus just stared at Scorpius in horror, but Scorpius didn't look back.

The group was lead through passage way after passage way until they were back in the library were Albus and Baddock had been captured. Albus couldn't help but wonder absentmindedly how the battle was going below, but his thoughts were more on Scorpius.

"About time," said Lestraud Sr. after seeing Driscoll Sr. with his little entourage.

The rest of the group was there as well, Aubrielle, Babcock, Bulstrode, all of the parents and their kids. Rose too.

"Hmph," said Driscoll. "I still say we kill them all and run for it."

"What? So that whoever the traitor is just turns us over again? No, better to wait out the fight below. If the battle sways badly, we just use these little kiddies as hostages," said Lestraud.

"I say the traitor is Bulstrode," snapped Driscoll. "Let's kill him and be done with it."

"What did you say?" growled Bulstrode Sr.. Albus chanced a glance at Babcock, who was doing an admirable job of concealing emotion, although a bit of fear was just barely evident in his eyes.

"You heard me," said Driscoll coolly in response. "It's not like we'd lose anything by killing you even if we're wrong. You're too stupid to help out."

"Why you--" roared Bulstrode, leaping forward at Driscoll.

"Avada kedavra!" yelled Driscoll. A flash of green light and Bulstrode was lying dead on the floor.

"Did you have to do that?" asked Lestraud with disdain, peering with disinterest at the limp form of Bulstrode.

"Too stupid even to realize he can't beat someone with a wand with his bare hands," said Driscoll in disgust.

Albus just stared in horror at the dead body on the floor.

Suddenly there was a strangled cry from Bulstrode Jr., who, up to this point, seemed to have been having some sort of internal struggle at the new turn of events.

"Drat, I forgot about him," said Driscoll casually. "Good thing I haven't put away my wand yet."

"Like hell I'll let you do that," said Babcock Sr. in a stern tone, stepping in front of Bulstrode. "I was no fan of Bulstrode, but killing his son? Driscoll, he's just a boy."

"So?" snapped Driscoll. "We can't leave liabilities about."

"Driscoll, no," said Babcock quietly but firmly. The rest of the teenagers, excluding Driscoll Jr., seemed as equally appalled as Albus at what had happened. To Rose's credit, she was horrified too. Although Driscoll Jr. pacified her quickly.

"Oh, why not?" snarled Driscoll. "You going soft, Babcock? This is about our survival. Who cares if he's a kid, he's still got to go. Next you'll be saying I can't kill these other brats if it comes down to it." He indicated Albus and his friends.

Babcock Sr. looked over as if seeing them for the first time. He was silent for a few moments. "Kids are kids," he said softly.

Driscoll rolled his eyes. "Lestraud, tell him to steel up, or he'll be next."

Lestraud merely looked amused, she then turned these amused eyes onto Scorpius. "Aubrielle, does this lovely young gentleman know how you convinced young Mr. Potter into helping release all of us?"

Albus stared at Lestraud in horror. Scorpius also looked up, startled out of his somber world. "What does this have to do with me?" he asked.

Aubrielle stepped forward into the center of the room, an evil smile spreading across her features. "No I haven't, mother. I'm so glad you reminded me."

"Remember what I vowed, Lestraud," said Albus quietly.

That laugh Albus hated so much trilled forth. "What position are you in to do anything about it?" she asked.

"Don't you dare," said Albus, his teeth gritted in anger.

"Hah," was all Aubrielle had to say to that. "Well, Malfoy, you ready for this?"

"Like there's anything more any of you could do to me," growled Scorpius.

"I very highly doubt that," said Aubrielle in amusement.

Albus roared in anger and rushed at Aubrielle. However, the girl's mother waved her wand in a casual manner, and Albus was lifted into the air and hung suspended and helpless.

"Don't," he bellowed at Aubrielle with all his might.

Scorpius just looked at Albus in surprise. "What difference could it make?" he asked. Albus just shook his head helplessly.

"Don't listen to her, Scorpius. Don't listen," Albus begged.

Scorpius eyes were emotionless and flat as he looked at Albus, but said to Aubrielle, "Tell me."

"You see, you're my half-brother," said Aubrielle brightly.

Baddock and Lily's jaws dropped in surprise. Albus looked utterly miserable. Scorpius merely blinked at Aubrielle in misapprehension.

"I'm what?" he asked.

"My half-brother," said Aubrielle wickedly. "You see, your father had something of an attraction for my mom. One thing lead to another...you know how it works."

Scorpius just stared at Aubrielle, and then looked to Albus, and then to Aubrielle's mother. "What?" he said.

Aubrielle's mother was smiling almost as gleefully as her daughter. "That's right, young Malfoy. Did you really think that the young Potter could do anything terrible enough to be blackmailed for? The Potters are perfect, unlike the Malfoys. That's how it's always been. Malfoys continually screw up. It's in your blood. You can't keep your women, and it's no wonder, considering that you take a new one at a moment's notice."

Scorpius's face went even blanker than it had been, if that was possible.

Albus struggled once more against his invisible bonds, but it was hopeless. Giving up, he cried, "Scorpius! Don't listen to them. You know that's not true. Don't believe a word."

"If that's the case, dear Albus, then why did you not tell me before?" asked Scorpius blankly. Baddock and Lily stood where they were, as if frozen in place, not knowing what to do.

Albus didn't seem to have any come back to that, so instead he said, "Malfoys are not failures. You know that. You're dad is a good man. He came back from serving Lord Voldemort himself. He's now one of the very best Aurors the Ministry has."

"And me? What have I ever done?" said Scorpius dully, sinking to the floor, and looking at his hand as if it repulsed him.

"You?" said Albus quietly. "You've done more than I ever have. You've been the best friend that I could ever ask for. You've been there through thick and thin. You've supported me, helped me, never left me. I wouldn't be the half the man I am without you."

Scorpius shook his head, as if he didn't believe it, or as if he was telling Albus he was wrong.

"As touching as this is, I think it's gone on long enough--" began Driscoll Sr.. However, he never finished what he was going to say, for he was cut off.

"I think you've got one hell of a friend there, Scorpius, and you should listen to him," said a quiet but firm voice. Coming around the corner and stepping into the room, was none other than Draco Malfoy, his wand held tightly in his hand.

Everyone looked up in surprise, none more so than Driscoll Sr.. "You," he snarled, raising his wand.

"Wait," said Lestraud, holding up a hand. "I would like to hear what Draco has to say for himself," she said. "I would like to hear what defense he has for the accusations we put to him."

"We don't have time for this," snapped Zabini Sr.. "If he's here, others won't be far behind."

"We have time," said Lestraud in a chilling voice that froze any objections.

Draco had eyes only for his son, and Scorpius looked back with pain and mistrust the only expression on his face.

"Is it true, dad? Is it?" asked Scorpius in a hopeless voice.

Pain mirroring his son's was written all over Draco's unguarded face. "I can't deny it, son."

"Why? Why did you do it? I've always admired you like no other. How could you betray my trust like that?"

"I have no excuses, son. I must pay for my decisions. You were not even born at the time. I would like to say I was young and foolish, and I was. But that doesn't make anything better. I know I've betrayed you, son, but I would still ask your forgiveness."

"What about mom?" asked Scorpius.

"She knows," said Draco quietly. At this Lestraud herself looked genuinely surprised.

"She does?" exclaimed Lestraud.

"Oh yes," said Draco. "I was not stupid enough to try and hide my mistakes. She was the first one I told, and right away. It was painful, and it hurt our relationship, at first. But now we love each other more than ever, and nothing can come between us. I ask that you forgive me as she did, son."

"Why didn't you tell me?" asked Scorpius, his voice shaking.

Draco looked away at this point. "I don't know. I suppose I was waiting for you to be old enough."

"If I'm not now, dad, when will I ever be?"

"You're right. I was wrong not to trust you," he looked back at Scorpius. "I ask that you forgive me, and I know I won't have your trust back, right away, but I can only hope with time that I can replace it."

Scorpius opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off.

"As touching as this is, I've had enough," yelled Driscoll. "Time for you to pay for putting me in Azkaban, Malfoy. Prepare to die!" Driscoll leapt forward, his mouth starting to form the words of the killing curse.

Just then, one of the windows shattered inwards.

Author's Note:

Well, that was the second to last chapter, so I hope you enjoyed it. =D Review and tell me what you think.