Chimaera Of Judgement

44: The Will of Bellatrix Lestrange

"Are you mad?"

Albus had been sure someone would say that, but hadn't been expecting it to come from Scorpius, specifically. "Pardon?" asked the Minister in tones far more polite than the Slytherin deserved.

"She's the daughter of Bellatrix Lestrange, the Death Eater?" Scorpius demanded of them. "You've got to be barking! Everybody knows she's a Mudblood!"

"Scorpius, mind your tongue," Draco ordered under his breath.

Mr Peele decided to field that question. "If you are referring to the Muggle parents she lives with, they are her adoptive guardians. Also, none of that is your business, and you'll do well to remember that you are already in more than enough trouble, young man."

"Sorry, sir," spat Scorpius.

Before Peele could answer, Rose asked, "Trouble? For what, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Ah," Longbottom began heavily. "It seems young Mr Malfoy here was behind your recent discomfort. We've found evidence linking him to the cursed object."

"You git!" Rose shouted, spittle flying from her mouth as she drew uncomfortably close to his face. "Urgh, this is- I've been watching Ryan waggle his backside in my face because of you?"

Ryan made a face. "You saw all that?"

"No way," said Albus tonelessly, thinking back to the box that had arrived in the mail. "It can't have been... he forged my aunt's handwriting and everything? I don't believe it!"

"We've got plenty of solid proof," his grandfather said. "Also, he has something to say to us."

"Oh, really?" Instantly, Rose was transported. "This ought to be rich."

Scorpius's cold eyes glared down at his four nemeses, pug nose twitching at the prospect of what he was supposed to be doing. He dawdled overlong, and his father poked him in the back of the head. Then, with a deep sigh, he folded his arms and grumbled, "Sorry I sent the monocle."

Albus had begun to snicker as Rose spoke again, her voice purposefully high and saccharine. "What was that? Sorry you did what to who?"

"Sorry I sent you the monocle," he said, hardly louder than the first time. "There."

"You're forgetting someone, Scorpius," his father hissed.

"Oh, right." He turned to face in Mr Weasley's general direction. "Sorry I stole it from your shed."

"What?" said Albus as his grandfather gave Scorpius a courteous nod. "So... so I did see you slip something into your pocket at the bonfire! You petty little thief!"

"Recognised it the moment I saw it down at the office," said Mr Weasley with a resigned smile. "We had first confiscated it from a disagreeable chap perhaps two months before Christmas, and it took well over a week to extract the poor Muggle who fell victim to that prank. I'd brought it home to see if perhaps I could find a way to remove the enchantment, but it's one of those little projects that fall by the wayside. It was only after we figured out Draco Junior had put a Permanent Sticking Charm on it on top of the old curse that we were able to readjust our thinking and get Mr Macmillan out."

"Your grandfather remembered I'd been near the shed and asked if I saw anything suspicious," Professor Longbottom told Albus with a wink. "Of course, you know the rest."

"Yeah, yeah, so it's all my fault, so what?" Scorpius snapped. "The label attached said 'Warning, Dangerous'. I figured it would probably burn you or something, a stupid joke! How was I supposed to know it sucks people inside where they can't get out? Argh!"