Working Through the Rest

Into The Change of Others

Euphemia stops me as we reach Rodolphus, but I don't really notice. I can't stop staring at Delphi. Broken, insane Delphi. Stood with my family. She isn't threatening them. She's staring right back at me. And she looks beyond terrified.
"So," Rodolphus smirks, "I assume you know what the trade is going to be."
"Where's Scorpius?" I demand, the question bursting out as I try to tear away from Euphemia. "If you hurt him–"
"He's not here," Rodolphus interrupts, "as that would not be a fair exchange."
"Exchange," I look back at Delphi.
"Where is my son?" Draco snarls.
"All in good time," Rodolphus smirks. "This first, and then we'll discuss your son's safety."
"No," Delphi is barely audible. "No. No. I won't..."
"Well," Rodolphus seizes my hair and forces me to my knees, "you don't have very much choice."

Delphi's eyes seem to harden and she raises her wand, backing away from all of us. Shit. Shit. They gave her a wand. What the fuck has happened during this search?
"I'm not going," she says. "I'm not theirs. I'm not going back."

There is a silence and I don't dare breathe. Whatever has happened before now, it's not what I expected. I can't assume anything about her. Except that she's scared. She's scared of them.
"Delphi," Draco starts to walk towards her. "Give me your wand."
"No!" she half-shrieks.
"Give me your wand."
"Get away from me!" she ducks past him, then stops, staring around herself.

She locks eyes with me and I feel my breathing quickening. If she's scared, what does that mean for me? What does that mean for Scorpius?
"Delphi," Draco keeps walking towards her. "Give me your wand."

He looks at dad, nodding, and dad begins to walk towards Delphi, who dodges past and makes a break for the staircase.
"I'm not going with them," she starts to cry. "I'm not..."
"Expelliarmus."

Delphi stops as her wand flies to Draco's hand. He pockets it calmly, and then he steps forward to take Delphi's wrist, pulling her towards us.
"Get off me!" she screeches, fighting like some sort of wildcat. "Get off me!"

Draco keeps walking, towards me, towards Rodolphus and Euphemia. I'm starting to shake in fear, trying not to panic. Panicking will make this all worse. They stop in front of us and she stumbles, tears streaming down her cheeks. It's difficult not to pity her.

Rodolphus pulls me to my feet sharply and I wince in pain. He's still using my hair as a method of controlling me.
"Can I have my wand?" Delphi sobs. "Please..."

Draco murmurs something in her ear and Rodolphus lets go of my hair. I don't move. I'm not stupid. Not anymore. Delphi looks at us.
"Let him go first."
"How do I trust that you'll come?"
"I'm unarmed. In a room full of people expecting me to obey you."

Half a moment later, Rodolphus shoves me towards them. I stumble, almost crashing into mum's arms. She holds onto me tightly as tears start to streak down my cheeks.
"Mum," I whisper. "Mum..."
"I've got you," mum murmurs, keeping her arms wrapped around me tightly.

After about a minute or so, I look back at the others. Delphi is now stood beside Rodolphus, his hand on her shoulder.

I watch her as she stares back at us, her gaze flitting from person to person. And then she looks up to the chandelier above us, covered in a stupid number of diamonds and unnecessary ornaments.

And then she starts to scream.