Scorpius watched Kingsley move over to Dumbledore’s desk and pick something up. The headmaster sat silently, surveying the proceedings with a serious expression. Harry kept his back turned, not feeling comfortable to watch.
Kingsley Shacklebolt turned back to Scorpius and held up a small black book, “Mr Malfoy, have you ever seen your father with this book before?”
Scorpius shook his head, “no, why?”
Kingsley frowned, “This is an illegal book.”
Scorpius stared at him before saying bluntly, “are you telling me that you arrested my father for having a black book?”
“Yes, but it is not just any old book,” Kingsley explained, frowning at the impertinence of Scorpius’s response, “it is very dangerous, and the punishment for possessing one, earns you a one way ticket to Azkaban,”
“But why?” Scorpius asked, still as baffled as when he had been when walked in, “I mean what is in it that could make it dangerous? Does it eat people? And what do you mean a one way ticket?” he said his voice volume rising, “My dad is coming back form Azkaban, isn’t he?”
Kingsley slowly shook his head, fingering the book thoughtfully, “Not unless, by some stroke of luck he is proven innocent.”
Damita sniffed miserably burying her face in Scorpius’s sleeve.
“But that’s not my father’s book!” Scorpius said defensively, absentmindedly rubbing his sister’s back, “I told you I’ve never seen it before; my dad doesn’t own any dark artifacts.”
“I’m not so sure that that is true Mr Malfoy,” Said Kingsley calmly, “To answer your other questions- it is a book on necromancy which could be particularly dangerous depending on who was brought back to life, not to mention that if one were to make a mistake in the spell you would die and your soul be lost forever. It is likely that your father wouldn’t have let you know about this book in case you tried to use it. Come to that, have you noticed your father acting any different lately?”
“No!” said Scorpius in irritation, “My father has not been acting different. And that’s nonsense; my father shows me everything – besides I probably wouldn’t even be able to cast a necromancy spell so why would he hide it from me?”
Kingsley set the necromancy book back on the desk, “Ah but there in is your mistake Mr Malfoy. These spells are simple enough that a bright third year student would be able to attempt them, which is part of the reason that there are such strict laws on these books.”
“I am telling you, it is impossible that my father owns a book on necromancy!” Scorpius insisted, “Why on earth would he have one?”
Why couldn’t they see, his father just wasn’t the sort of person to keep that kind of thing. He wouldn’t, it was illogical.
“We found that book in his rooms Mr Malfoy,” Kingsley snapped, pointing an accusing finger at the book that lay on Dumbledore’s desk, “and given your father’s records-”
“Number one,” Scorpius interrupted, “My father was cleared of all charges after the war,” he said through gritted teeth. How dare this man assume that his father was guilty based on his actions in the past; actions that had turned out to be for the good of many in the end.
“Number two,” Scorpius continued, “He must have been framed! My father doesn’t even keep any books in his room! He has always said that they clutter up the room, he keeps them all in his office!”
“Unless you have any suggestions as to who on earth would have wanted to frame him, your father will be remaining in Azkaban prison.” Kingsley said stiffly, clearly he detested being interrupted by Scorpius.
Scorpius scowled angrily at him, “You seem awfully pleased to be putting my father away!”
“I am to tell you the truth, I’ve never much liked your father and I certainly don’t think it will be any loss to society to have him safely behind bars where he belongs,” Kingsley snarled nastily, and Harry spun round to face him.
“HOW DARE YOU!” Damita shrieked, bursting into a fresh set of angry tears and launched herself towards Kingsley as if she intended to attack him.
Scorpius caught her round the waist before she could get to him to tear him apart, and the big Auror took a step back, clearly stunned by the ferocity of the little first year girl.
“How dare you talk about our father like that, how dare you,” she sobbed struggling against Scorpius.
Harry stepped up to Kingsley and gritted out, “Apologize immediately Kingsley, that is totally out of line!”
Kingsley pressed his lips tightly together but said nothing.
“Shh, Damita,” Scorpius soothed stroking his sister’s head, “Don’t listen to him, everyone is entitled to their own ridiculous opinion.”
“I think,” said Harry, so quietly that Scorpius only just heard, “That you had better leave, before I make you Kingsley.”
Harry and Kingsley stared at each other for a moment before the bigger Auror backed down; he moved past Harry and strode out of the door, shutting it behind him with a snap.
Scorpius watched him go, a cold dislike for the man settling itself into his stomach. He turned his head back to Harry once Kingsley had left, looking a little desperate, “Professor please, you’ve got to believe me, my father would never own a book on necromancy, he had to have been framed.”
Harry nodded slowly, a frown creasing his brow, “I agree with you Scorpius – but I am afraid that we would need more than just your word to prove it.”
Scorpius sighed heavily, looking down at his feet, realizing belatedly that he didn’t even have shoes.
“I apologize for what he said,” Harry added, “It was uncalled for.”
Scorpius nodded uncomfortably, and stood slowly, pulling Damita to her feet along with him. “I think – I…we need to get back to the dorms, we have classes tomorrow.”
Harry nodded, and Scorpius turned and padded over to the door, dragging Damita along with him.
“I’m sorry Scorpius,” Scorpius heard Harry say as he opened the door, but he didn’t reply to his professor. Instead he tugged on Damita’s hand and they stepped on to the moving staircase that carried them down and out of the headmaster’s office.
The two of them walked close together and in silence all the way back to the Slytherin dorms, each of them lost in their own thoughts.
They entered the common room quietly and Scorpius walked his sister over to the stairs that led down to the girl’s dorm.
“You going to be alright Damita?” he asked softly as he watched her pause before going down.
She looked back at him, sadly, “I’ll manage.”
Scorpius sighed as he watched her leave, looking almost as unhappy as the time when their mother had refused to let her go shopping in Paris.
Despite all the differences they may have, he still cared about his sister, she was just a little thing.
He waited until he could no longer hear the sounds of his sister’s footsteps before turning and going to sit in front of the fireplace, knowing that it was futile to go to bed, he wasn’t going to sleep tonight.
Authors note:Thanks for reading, let me know it you enjoyed it! A big thank you to all my wonderful reviewers so far, you guys rock!
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