Working Through the Rest

Pick Up the Pieces

I tumble out of the fireplace onto Professor McGonagall's carpet, spitting the ash out of my mouth as I stand up. Professor McGonagall is sat at her desk, watching me patiently. I finish getting up quickly, looking at the floor awkwardly. Last time I was in here, I thought the anger was the worst thing we'd have to deal with.

And now someone is dead.
"Mr Potter?" Professor McGonagall stands up as mum tumbles out of the fireplace, spilling more soot on the rug. "I wasn't expecting to see you for a few days at least."
"Is Scorpius here?" I ask quickly. "Did he come back this morning?"
"He did. He is in the Hospital Wing."

I freeze, my mind racing with the possible the reasons that Scorpius might be there, and then I half-run towards the door. No one stops me as I run down the down steps, along corridor after corridor.

A lesson bell rings as I reach the fourth floor and I suddenly find myself fighting to keep moving through the crowds of chattering students. I pull my hood up, not interested in being preyed upon.

Of course, I am, because I am the only person in the corridor who is not wearing school robes. I ignore the mutterings and whisperings that follow me, and continue to sprint towards the Hospital Wing, never stopping for breath. Scorpius is more important.

It's almost silent when I arrive and I scan the beds as quickly as I can. Scorpius is lying, apparently asleep, in one of the far beds. I run down the length of the room, skidding to a halt beside him. He looks peaceful at a glance, but the more I watch him, the more I see his pain.

His hands are curled into fists, his knuckles almost white from the pressure. His breathing is slow and uneven, and his chest continually shakes as it rises and falls. All I seem to be able to do is stand, watching him silently as three pairs of footsteps echo behind me. Dad puts his hand on my shoulder awkwardly and I shift slightly, nervous.
"Is he going to be okay?" I mumble. "What happened?"
"He's just asleep," Professor McGonagall says. "Draco said he insisted on coming back, but Draco has insisted that he remain out of lessons for the time being."
"He's all right?" I murmur, glancing back.

Professor McGonagall nods and I sit down next to the bed nervously, looking back at Scorpius.

*

The room is silent for a long time before Scorpius starts to wake up. I don't say anything as his eyes open and he sits up slowly, looking around. I smile gently at him, looking at his hands, almost white from clenching the sheet.
"Albus..."
"Are you okay?" I ask gently.
"Bad dream," Scorpius smiles weakly.
"It's over now," I murmur. "It's all over now."

Scorpius nods, picking up the glass of water on his bedside table. He sips it shakily and I take it from him as he moves to put it back; it was about to spill.
"I still had her wand," Scorpius says quietly.
"What?"
"Dad gave me her wand," Scorpius murmurs, "in the Church. I still had it when I got home."
"Oh."

His hand starts to shake and I stop myself moving towards him. I don't know if he wants a hug, or anything. I don't know what he wants.
"When are going back into lessons?" he asks. "When do things go back to – normal?"
"We haven't got wands," I remind him. "We left our stolen wands behind."

I don't mention that it's really the least of our issues. I don't need to say what we're both thinking – that there is no way to go back to normal. Too many things have happened. We need to learn to live again.

Scorpius nods, looking away. I bite my lip, trying to work out what I could say to distract either of us. I can't find anything.
"Thank you for coming," Scorpius says quietly.
"I was worried about you," I admit. "I'm...I'm sorry, Scorpius. About all of this."
"Can we not talk about that right now?" Scorpius mumbles. "Or – or ever."

I nod, reminding myself to breathe. It gets harder as dad comes to stand beside me, his hand on my shoulder.
"I'll be okay on my own," I mutter.
"You nearly died last night," dad says firmly. "If you're going to insist on staying at school, we're going to stay with you."

I resist the urge to turn around and snap something at him as the colour drains from Scorpius' face. He doesn't need another reminder of last night. He said that much half a minute ago.
"You don't have to stay here," Scorpius says. "You can go home if you want."
"I'm staying," I say firmly, looking at him. "I barely slept last night worrying about you and I don't think anything good is going to come out of going home again."

Scorpius smiles weakly and I smile back. It's going to be okay. We are going to be okay.
"When are we allowed to go back to class?" Scorpius asks Professor McGonagall.
"When you have had eight hours of sleep overnight," she smiles softly, "and when you have new wands."

Scorpius nods, smiling weakly at me again.
"That can wait until tomorrow," mum says.
"Are you all right with that?" I ask Scorpius.

He nods.