If I Fall for You [Harry Potter: Next Generation]

17. Wounds Reopened

And so Rose recounted - once the Minister for Magic had returned with his Aurors - in painstaking detail, all that she had observed and experienced since the start of the term. Scorpius' unexplained disappearance, bumping into Albus in odd corners of the school, Vanessa Ryan's aura of malice, the Room of Requirement's false lead. Lily pitched in too, albeit tearfully, disclosing her observation of Albus the night of Scorpius' disappearance. And then Rose told of the events in the Chamber of Secrets - and Uncle Harry was right, she did feel as though something poisonous was being extracted from her with every word - but it left a horrible aftertaste.

"But it wasn't Albus' fault," Rose concluded, quietly. "He did all those things because he loved me - as more than a cousin. I'm sorry."

The silence stretched on for an eternity as her words quivered in the air. Her father squeezed her shoulders. Finally the Minister sighed heavily, running his hands down his face.

"Thank you, Rose," he said. "Thank you for us telling us all that."

"That's not the full story." Rose said dully. "You'll have to get it out of with Ryan with a Truth serum, or something." Merlin, was it even possible to feel so empty? Spilling everything hadn't exactly helped.

A murmur of agreement rippled through the teachers, but it seemed like they were too busy watching Rose with a sort of awe to actually say anything. The stares made her uncomfortable. She fidgeted.

"That may be so," Mrs. Weasley piped up. "But Rose, you really must sleep now."

"Wait," McGonagall said. "Let her stay with us for a while. She, more than anyone else, deserves to hear what Miss Ryan has to say."

Rose's family agreed reluctantly, and presently they were all making their way up to the hospital wing, shock hanging over them like a dark cloud. Uncle Harry was still carrying Albus' body. Rose flinched; she couldn't help it. It was her fault he was gone. He'd sacrificed himself for her.

They heard the shrieking as the hospital wing came into view. The source turned out to be Madam Pomfrey - the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor was cowering under her fury - because, as was soon discovered, he'd been too late.

Vanessa Ryan was gone.

Madam Pomfrey had been unable to stop Vanessa, he explained wearily, while Pomfrey collapsed into sobs; Vanessa had simply taken her wand by force and gotten away easy. Panic ensued, and Rose felt an icy chill creep over her. Anything - anything could happen with that girl running wild in the grounds. And none of it would be good.

Cynthia was Rose's first thought, accompanied by a jolt of anxiety. It made sense that Scorpius Malfoy's sister would be Ryan's next target. Rose slipped unnoticed through the tumult, and hastened down to the Slytherin common room - for the stands had been evacuated and the task paused - heart pounding away the emptiness.

"Salazar," Rose gasped upon reaching the hidden door. Slamming it open, she was met with a sudden silence as every head swivelled her way. She stared right back, searching the crowd desperately for Cynthia Malfoy - and as the Slytherins poured forwards, seething with questions, a glint of blonde hair was briefly visible by the fire. Rose fought her way upstream, dodging questions and comments and concerns, and caught her by the shoulders, spinning her around; "Cynthia, thank Merlin - "

But it wasn't Cynthia. Rose let the girl go and stumbled back, the relief vanishing as quickly as it had come. She leapt onto the nearest armchair and yelled, "Quiet!!"