When the Roses Bloom Again by TheBlack'sResurgence

Chapter 14

Sunward They Climb

With Abraxus not having returned to the dungeons the previous day, Arcturus had assumed that the injuries he had sustained had warranted him spending the night in the hospital wing, but seeing the pale boy emerge from his room as he usually did, though certainly not so smugly, put pause to those thoughts.

He did not look happy. If anything, his pale skin and rather subdued demeanour only raised questions.

Arcturus knew that Lord Malfoy had been in the castle yesterday, but what had happened for Abraxus to not return to gloat to his housemates at having Evans punished? Why hadn't he come to sing the praises of his father's superiority.

"Abraxus!" Parkinson greeted him, wincing as he stood from his seat next to the fire.

Arcturus fought the urge to smirk at the boys' discomfort and pretended to read his potions textbook.

"So, what happened? Has he been expelled?" Stebbins asked.

Abraxus shook his head and those that had stupidly been following his lead groaned like the spoiled children they were.

"Then we get him back ourselves!" Bulstrode declared loudly.

"No," Abraxus said sharply, cutting off the cheers of his housemates. "Evans is off limits."

Arcturus was listening intently now.

"Why is he off limits?" Parkinson demanded.

"Because Evans uncle is Nicholas Flamel," Abraxus huffed.

Arcturus frowned as the rest of Malfoy's lackeys stared dumbly at the blonde.

"Flamel?" Parkinson questioned. "Are you sure about that?"

Abraxus nodded.

"He and his wife arrived in Dippet's office when I was there with my father. He made it clear that Evans is his nephew and that he will not tolerate any more attempts against him."

"And you're going to listen to that old sod?" Bulstrode snorted.

Abraxus snarled as he seized the larger boy by the front of the robes and pulled him close enough that their noses were almost touching.

"If Flamel can cow my father with the knowledge he has, what do you think he would do to yours?" he spat. "Evans is off limits. I will not risk my family legacy for him. Gold is powerful, Bulstrode, but knowledge is the true power. Even the wealthiest cannot hide their secrets from someone like Flamel. He created a bloody stone that will keep him alive forever, and he knows things that no other living person does. Do you want to risk going up against that?"

Parkinson laughed as Malfoy shoved Bulstrode away.

"If your family did not keep so many secrets, you wouldn't be in this position," he pointed out. "I'm not going to let Evans get away with what he did to me."

"Me either," Bulstrode grumbled, and Arcturus could only shake his head at the amount of stupidity his housemates were riddled with.