Raindrops on Roses

Chapter 42: The Shadow

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"Me? What are you -" Scorpius dragged his arm out of Jian's grasp, keeping his wand cautiously raised. A stunning spell, that's all it would take. No reason anyone should get hurt. A stunning spell, maybe a memory charm, though he wasn't great at those... then go find Teddy.

"I followed you. I knew you'd be out here getting in trouble. I knew you weren't just..." Jian took a short breath, cutting himself short suddenly. "You're looking for a way out," he said, eyes wide and dark in the dull torchlight.

"No," Scorpius said, with some truthfulness. Do it now! His brain demanded, but his wand arm stayed steady and unmoving. His heart felt like it was trying to leap out of his chest. "I... "

"You aren't here for a job," Jian hissed, accusing. "You'd never leave your lot back in England to come here. Something's up. You're working for the Ministry or something."

Scorpius' grip tightened, his knuckles going white-pale on the wand hilt. "You helped me get in," he pointed out, keeping his voice low, but a growl crept into his tone nonetheless. "Why do that if you reckon I'm a spy?"

"I don't think you're a spy," Jian scoffed. "I know you're a spy." He took a step forward, towards Scorpius' wand so that it was poking him in the chest. "And I helped you get in because now you owe me one. And I want you to get me out."

Scorpius blinked. "What?"

"You're escaping, right? Take me with you."

The wand wavered, dipping a little as Scorpius hesitated. "You're a prisoner? But you said your Uncle sent you here. Why would - "

"It's none of your business," Jian snapped, and looked away. There was a long silence, in which Scorpius wondered if he dared press the issue, but he didn't understand, and didn't know why he should trust the former Slytherin in the least. Now was his chance. Stunning spell. Memory charm. Get Teddy. But his wand hand still refused to move, and for some reason he couldn't bring himself to say the words.

Then, just as he was about to give up, Jian said, very low, "they killed my father."

Scorpius heart dropped. "What?"

"You heard me. He couldn't pay his debt and they killed him. The debt passed to my uncle, he promised them me instead. Why do you think any of us are here?"

Scorpius felt a growing horror at the very thought. His wand arm faltered and dropped to his side. "I... I don't... well, money?" he guessed desperately. "Dreher made it sound like..."

"Oh some of them are being paid, I'm sure," Jian said, rolling his eyes. "But most of us are here to repay what our parents couldn't. We're the lucky ones - the ones who are good at magic, especially Transfiguration or Ancient Runes. Or Charms, perhaps."

"Transfiguration," Scorpius repeated, realisation dawning like a lead weight in his stomach. "Your uncle made you do the NEWT, that's why you needed tutoring."

"I'm touched you remember," Jian muttered.

"But that's... it's... that's like slavery," Scorpius breathed. "That's way worse than just smuggling!"

Jian shrugged, a quick, angry movement. "Depends on your point of view, I guess. Murder is another crime, if you like." Scorpius could hear his teeth grinding together. "If I ever find out who did it," he hissed. "They're just as dead."

"You wouldn't."

"Wouldn't I?" Jian gave him a look. "I loved my father, Malfoy. Just because he was mixed up in all this doesn't change that. Not all of us have such great options otherwise that we can afford to look past our own family."