Put Your Curse In Reverse [Part 2]

Chapter 10 - Dawn

"Scorpius. Scorpius, wake up."

Scorpius sat straight up with a ragged gasp. Around him, classmates were whispering, rising drowsily to their feet, and shuffling towards the Great Hall doors. Scorpius looked up into his dad's eyes, his heart stuttering.

"Did they come back? The dementors? Are we being evacuated? Where's Albus?" Scorpius looked around himself without waiting for his dad to answer, concern swelling inside of his chest, but he spotted Albus a moment later, standing tiredly beside Harry a few feet away.

"No, they've all been chased deep into the Forest. Everybody's going back to their dorms," his dad explained. He reached down and grabbed Scorpius's arm. He tugged upwards. "Come along."

"Come along? You're coming to the dorm, too? Dad, I'm sorry, but my bed is too small, and I don't think it will be comfortable—"

His exhausted, confused rambling was interrupted by his dad.

"No, I'm not staying in the Slytherin Dungeon, Scorpius. I'm escorting you and Albus to make sure you arrive safely."

"Oh," Scorpius said dumbly. He yawned deeply a moment later. He heard his dad give a light chuckle. He pulled on Scorpius's arm again.

"Up we go, Scorpius."

Scorpius stumbled half-blind wherever his dad pulled, his eyelids still heavy with exhaustion. Ginny might've hugged him—or it could've been Lily, Scorpius was too tired to focus correctly. Whoever it was had soft, floral-smelling hair. Albus leaned tiredly into Scorpius for support as they followed Draco down the crowded, sleep-soaked hallways.

"Do we have classes tomorrow?" Albus yawned.

"I'm not sure," Draco said. "I'm sure the Prefects will let you know come morning."

"But where are you going to sleep, Dad?" Scorpius wondered. He vaguely recalled his dad telling him he was going to stay at Hogwarts for a while, but in his drowsy state, he wasn't entirely convinced he hadn't made it up. "Are you going home?"

"Quickly, to grab my things, feed the peacocks, pay the house elves. The caretaker here is setting up living quarters for me."

As long as it's not in the Slytherin Dungeon, Scorpius thought. He yawned again afterwards and struggled not to stagger from Albus's leaning weight. He was so tired he felt as if his feet were gliding over the stone floors. He couldn't wait to get into bed.

He half-carried Albus down the Dungeon Corridor and down the next staircase, and it didn't occur to him that Albus's cane was missing until his dad was giving the password to the passage wall.

"Where's your cane?" he asked.

Albus gave a small start; he'd begun slipping off to sleep, his head against Scorpius's shoulder, as they waited for the passage to the Common Room to open.

"What?" he asked.

"Your cane."

"Oh...dunno...it was...I think...Slug Club..."Albus trailed off. His eyelids fluttered shut again.

"'Merlin'," Draco repeated, frustrated. He rapped hard on the stone wall. "Hello? That's the password. Why aren't you opening? Insolent piece of castle...Scorpius, you try, perhaps it's because I'm an adult..."

"'Merlin'," Scorpius tried hopefully.

Still nothing. Scorpius sagged underneath Albus's weight. He was considering sleeping in the corridor when the sound of approaching footsteps drew his attention. He saw his dad withdraw his wand on instinct. His dad straightened and stepped halfway in front of Scorpius and Albus.