Adverse Reactions

“Why can’t we use it to go back and stop this whole thing from happening anyway?” Albus shouted, pouting his way around the orange room in a quick pacing fashion.

Scorpius sat on the desk grazing through the updated version of “Hogwarts: A History” that his grandfather had insisted he read. He realized there was a lot about Hogwarts and his parents he never realized. Like that Mr. Potter was the youngest seeker in a century. He also didn’t know his father graduated second in their year, only second to Mrs. Weasley. He also learned that only his father and her mother had gone back to school after the war.

Rose however, was peering over a set of seven books; all laid out cleverly on the bed, making it impossible for Albus to sit anywhere near her. Currently she had already thrown aside “An Anthology of Eighteenth Century Charms,” “Quintessence: A Quest,” and “A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration.” She had already thrown the boys a death glare when Scorpius brought up a point that the books of basic magic were probably no match for the older Wizards. She knew that already, but spells were not what she was looking for.

“What are we looking for anyway? I don’t think there is anything in that book that haven’t already learned!” Albus moped. Scorpius laughed. “What’s so funny?!”

“I haven’t seen you read a single book since you started school. What you know, you only know because your dad is the ‘Boy-who-wouldn’t-fucking-die!” Albus and Rose both looked up, slightly offended at his remark. Scorpius blushed, the cherry colour bold against his white skin. “Sorry. Something my mum used to say.”

“The time-turner only works in hours, and according to this it can’t go back days. I can’t seem to find much else though.” Rose was exhausted. She threw the book about magical artifacts to the other side of the bed and collapsed. Scorpius watched her nervously. Her red hair was wild and her normally well-kept appearance had deteriorated, as she still hadn’t changed out of her Gryffindor Goddess apparel she stole from her cousin.

“So what then. Just because it’s been two days since your mum was taken, we can’t go back and stop it?” Albus asked. The question must have been rhetorical, but even if it wasn’t Rose wasn’t about to answer him.

“Rose, your uncle and the order have been doing everything they can. They just don’t have any leads yet.” Scorpius said. Rose welled up with tears and huddled into a ball where she was. She had read every book in this house and found nothing of any help. Nothing whatsoever.

“I’m sorry mum.” Rose whispered, before she collapsed into sleep.

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

“After what you did to Astoria, you expect us to trust you?” Professor Elkridge asked the tall man cloaked in black. Elkridge was an intimidating, well-built man himself; after all, he was fascinated in the Dark Arts and was very glad to be a pureblooded wizard. The cloaked man smirked a very cynical look.

“Trust me. I would not have done anything had she not gotten herself caught. I didn’t get caught now did I?” He said, his voice curt and barely audible. Elkridge gazed at him distrustfully. This man after all had played both sides of the fence his entire life. Nevertheless, he was a damn good death eater and well, he had killed Dumbledore after all.

“Fine. Be at this address on Wednesday. We will see you test your loyalty to us for the last time. Then we can discuss where to place you in regards to the Mudblood.” The cloaked man took the card and placed it in his jacket. Elkridge watched his movements like a hawk, just waiting for him to give a sign of disloyalty.

“How is the dirty slut anyway?” He asked, not even flinching at the words. This surprised him. This man had been suspected of having quite a fondness for the Granger girl. Elkridge watched as the man shrugged it off and turned on his heels to leave. As he went toward the door, Elkridge answered him.

“She’s quite the slag now. She has been playing prostitute to us on a nightly basis. Greyback wants her to himself Friday night. Something about him and the taste of her flesh. Seems like she won’t be of much use to anyone after he finishes with her.” Elkridge waited. Surely, that would give him away. He waited for a rise, a glare, a duel, something. Something that would give him away for what Elkridge thought he was. A traitor. Instead, the man turned and looked at him, smirking with what sincerely looked like pleasure.

“Aw, sad. I had so wanted to have a go at her myself. Pity. She had a nice rack.” And with that, he sauntered out the door and toward the street. Elkridge stood there, stunned.

Maybe, just maybe, Malfoy was back on the dark side. What a treat that would be. He could not have asked for anything better on Christmas day.

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

Monday, the 25th came and went. There were no celebrations and no presents. The men were out canvassing every place they could think of and the women were worried, not only for their safety, but also for poor Hermione. Christmas had passed and there was no sign of her. The 26th passed as well, Rose was becoming more and more anxious that nothing was being done.

“The poor dear is dead.” Fleur said, breaking the silence. She sipped her tea quietly and looked over the table at the horrified looks on the women’s faces.

“FLEUR! HOW COULD YOU SAY SUCH A TERRIBLE THING?” Ginny hissed. The other women nodded and agreed, tossing their own anger toward the vela.

“Well, it’s true. I cannot be the only one who is thinking it. Why else would no one have heard anything? If they were using her as bait to get to Harry, they would have let him know already wouldn’t they?” No matter what the others wanted to think, they all knew Fleur was right. Sadly, they could think of no other reason to keep Hermione alive.

“She’s alive.” A soft voice answered bitterly from the hall. The women turned to see Rose glaring angrily at them. She turned and left the room in a huff. No one went after her.

“She has every right to be upset. Two parents in one month can’t be easy for anyone.” Angelina said, showing she agreed with Fleur.

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

“THEY’RE GIVING UP!” Rose shouted as she threw open the bedroom door, making Albus sit bolt upright in the bed. It was nearly six o clock and he had already decided to take a nap.

“What’s wrong?” Albus mumbled, shaking sleep out of his eyes. Rose was disgusted.

“How can you be sleeping at a time like this?” She demanded.

“A time like what?” Scorpius asked, coming back from the bathroom. Rose turned and gave him a glare as well.

“You know damn well what. They have given up on her. They think she is dead! That is my mother. I would know if she were dead!” Rose nearly whispered she was so angry. She threw a book at the wall and plopped herself down at the end of the bed frustrated.

“Don’t worry Rose. Everything will be fine. They will find her, safe and sound.” Scorpius insisted placing his hand on Rose’s back.

“Why haven’t they? What happened to her?” Rose asked.

“They haven’t been looking in the right place.” A man’s voice said from the hall. The door opened and in strode Draco, proudly sporting a new black eye and several scratches across his face.

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

“Harry!” Ginny shouted, standing from her chair and throwing her arms around her husband. Harry hugged her tightly, wincing slightly as she touched the cut he had acquired in the brawl.

“What’s going on?” Molly demanded, looking at the men who had entered into the room. Malfoy shrugged and strode up the stairs, away from the gathering. Molly followed him with her eyes, but said nothing.

“I can’t believe we got away with that!” Bill murmured, collapsing into a chair. Fleur walked toward him and rubbed his shoulders lightly.

“Got away with what?” Angelina asked.

“Nothing, just putting Malfoy’s reputation to good use.” Harry snickered, earning a very vicious look from Ginny. It was true. Malfoy played the returning Death Eater role wonderfully. He just hoped it would last long enough for them to save Hermione before Greyback hurt her anymore.

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

Scorpius was concerned and it showed on his face.

“Dad. What happened?” Scorpius asked, hugging his father around the waist. Draco hugged his son back for what could quite possibly be the last time. He looked exhausted, wearing the same clothes he had been wearing the day before. Even his normally glowing blond hair was matted and messy, making him look much more like Harry Potter than a Malfoy.

“Don’t worry about it son. Just got myself in a bit of a scrape is all. Nothing you need to concern yourselves with.” Draco answered, peeling the young boy off him and turning toward the teens.

“What do you mean they are looking in the wrong places?” Rose asked, sitting up and glaring at Draco suspiciously. Draco smirked and threw Rose something that glistened lightly. It was a small gold necklace.

“I know where they are keeping her. And I know she’s alive.” Draco insisted, watching as Rose turned her mother’s necklace over in her hands. Rose welled up with tears, but not the reaction he expected.

“Where did you get this?” She demanded looking at him with a sadness he could not place.

“Godric Hollow. Your professor gave it to me. It’s not much, but they still have her alive, for a little while at least.” Draco said slowly, looking at the ground.

“So…what now?” Albus asked, looking at the older man.

“The Order is getting ready to head there now. I thought I should let you three know. I know Potter will not let you come. So I figured, let’s see if we can resurrect the old days.”

With that, Draco pulled his invisibility cloak out from under his cloak and threw it to his son. Scorpius looked down at the cloak and realized what his father meant for them to do. He nodded and the three of them prepared for the mission at hand.