Working Through the Rest

Lonely Revelations

After a moment, Hermione walks towards Elise, disarming her and starting to force her to her feet. Elise just keeps cackling, staring at me with a grin that seems to reach right through me, tearing chunks out of my soul. She continues to laugh once on her feet, but she doesn't step forward when prompted. Hermione tries to make her move and her response is beyond chilling.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
"Why not?"

There is silence as we wait for an answer that doesn't come. Not until she starts to grimace in pain, before yelling out and falling to her knees again. She screams out again as her hair starts to retreat back into her scalp, turning to a blonde colour. Her eyes start to morph from murky green to a light blue colour and her face seems to thin out a little.

Throughout all of it, she continues to giggle madly, throwing looks at me. I back away, crouching beside Draco and Scorpius. I'd go to mum, but she's stood next to dad and I'm not ready for that. Not yet.

When the transformation is complete, I look at Elise, my stomach lurching in shock at who is kneeling a few feet away.
"You!" I gasp. "You – what are you..."
"Albus?" Hermione looks at me.
"She was there!" I splutter. "Before they – found – us. She was there."
"What?"
"Hello, Albus," Antlia grins. "I hope you enjoyed our little conversation."
"Why did you–"
"Well you do so hate having your photo taken," Antlia sneers. "We had to make sure we kidnapped the correct emo Slytherin."
"Who are you?" dad demands.
"Antlia Yaxley," Antlia smiles sweetly. "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Potter."
"Why did you do this?" Hermione starts slowly.
"Because I was promised freedom," Antlia snarls, suddenly no longer laughing. "I was promised that I would grow up in honour and victory. Instead I was second place in a plan involving a pathetic woman who couldn't ever fight back against anyone. And then she failed! I am taking what I was promised."
"What about Elise Shaw?" Hermione asks. "Where is she?"

Antlia throws her head back, laughing maniacally. I try not to let my stomach lurch too much. It's almost sickening to watch her pleasure at our discomfort.
"Elise Shaw?" Antlia grins. "Elise Shaw never existed."
"What?"
"I'm not lazy," Antlia scowls. "I don't just steal someone's job to get my work done. I created Elise. I worked my way up. And then I ensured I was positioned in exactly the right place to reach our dear Delphi."
"Delphi never finds out about this," Draco says sharply.
"Would it hurt her feelings?" Antlia sneers.
"Harry," Draco ignores her. "Did you hear me?"
"Yes," dad nods, keeping his gaze fixed on Antlia.
"Why not?" I look between both of them.
"Because darling Delphi relied on Elise a little more than was wise," Antlia smirks. "She probably wouldn't take the news brilliantly well."

I bite my lip, and then something else crosses my mind.

"Hang on," I force myself to look at dad. "How did you arrest her if she was – here? Where was Delphi?"
"Basic summary," Antlia rolls her eyes. "Elise broken Delphi out and told her to come back to a certain spot in the forest in a week. Then Elise went back to Azkaban, blackmailed her way and, and then waited. And then waited a little longer when Delphi didn't turn up. She arrived eventually."

I am about to say something else when, beside me, Scorpius groans in pain and I immediately turn my full attention to him. Draco lays a gentle hand across his forehead, frowning in concern.
"We need to go," he says quickly.
"St. Mungo's?"
"Hogwarts," he shakes his head. "Delphi is at St. Mungo's. He doesn't need that in his mind."

I nod, stepping his beside Scorpius to help him stand up. We start to limp, very slowly, towards the door, an there are two objections. One from dad. One from Antlia.
"You're going home," dad says sharply. "Albus."
"I'm staying with Scorpius," I say firmly.
"Albus–"
"No," I snap. "No, I'm not going home. Whatever you're about to spew is bullshit. I'll be fine as long as I know Scorpius is okay." Antlia laughs as I finish. "What?"
"Good luck," she says. "Genuinely. Good luck."

I pretend I don't know what she's talking about.