Chapter 15: Scorpius Attempts A Rescue

Professor Quigley had been informed of Rebecca’s suspicions, and she did agree that it sounded like Andromeda knew something about the thestral attacks. Andromeda was taken to the Headmistress’s office for questioning, but she insisted that she didn’t even know what a thestral was until Daisy and Amethyst had mentioned it, and although she admitted that she wanted to help the “thestral trainer,” she did not know who was controlling it or how it got into Hogwarts in the first place.

It was in the middle of February that the next thestral attack occurred, on the day after Valentine’s Day. Because it was a Friday, the 2nd year Gryffindors and Ravenclaws had Transfiguration together as their last class of the day. During that class, Rosie and Scorpius were partners, and afterwards they decided to go to the library together to get started on the essay that Professor Patil had assigned. It happened when they were heading for the library and there were only a few other students around. Rigel Green, a Yorkshire muggleborn who had been in the same class with Rosie and Scorpius, suddenly was knocked to the floor in front of them.

“It’s that evil thestral again!” Scorpius exclaimed, and he ran in front of Rigel, determined to protect him despite not being able to see the attacker. Rosie ran off, calling for help; unfortunately, Scorpius and Rigel were now alone with their invisible attacker. Rigel attempted to run away too, but the thestral trampled over Scorpius and kicked Rigel again, knocking him into the wall. Scorpius saw a large bite mark appear on Rigel’s arm. He reached up and grabbed what felt like a bony horse’s leg. The thestral kicked backwards, sending Scorpius tumbling across the hallway.

Several minutes later, Andromeda was on the way to the library too when she saw Rigel and Scorpius laying on the floor. She looked up at the words written on the wall and then she realized something was familiar about them.

“That looks like my sister’s handwriting,” she whispered to herself. Was Libra behind the thestral attacks somehow? Andromeda wanted to ask Libra about it, but if it WAS her sister, then she wanted it to stay a secret. If Libra was found out, then she would be expelled, and Andromeda did not want that to happen. Not only for her sister’s sake, but because she didn’t want the attacks to be stopped. She wanted that thestral to chase all the muggleborns out of Hogwarts and frighten them away from the school forever. Andromeda smirked as she read the words and looked at Scorpius, who was lying on top of Rigel, as if he had tried to protect his classmate.

“Aha! Caught in the act!” shouted a triumphant voice. Andromeda turned around to see Amber McAngus pointing an accusatory finger at her. Amanda, Rosie, Bridget, Neville, Hagrid and a few other curious students had arrived.

“Amber, Rose here said the attacker was invisible as usual. Did you see Andromeda around when Scorpius and Rigel were attacked, Rose?” Bridget asked.

“No, it was just like the other attacks,” Rose said, though it did look suspicious to see Andromeda standing right by the scene of the crime.

“She could’ve used an Invisibility Cloak! She hates people like me enough to do it!” Amber accused.

“Wanting to do something and even being capable of doing it are two different things. Also, it’s innocent until proven guilty, Amber. There have been enough problems with people being falsely accused. Or did you forget what happened to Sirius Black in the 1980s? Or even our own Rubeus Hagrid here, he was accused of setting the original monster of Slytherin on the students the other two times attacks like this occurred,” Bridget lectured her.

“Well it’s obviously a Slytherin. I used to think it might be Malfoy’s work, but he wouldn’t beat up himself, unless the thestral got out of control and attacked him too,” Amber speculated.

“It’s not necessarily a Slytherin, the last time it was the work of a Gryffindor student who was possessed by a diary,” Bridget corrected her.

“And who was behind that diary plot? Lucius Malfoy! It’s in his blood! I bet Scorpius is behind these attacks, and this time that thestral got out of his control!” Amber ranted.

“Please, Professor McAngus, Scorpius was just as surprised by the attack as Rigel was, and he wasn’t directing it at all. He was trying to protect Rigel,” Rosie spoke up nervously, “I didn’t see ANYONE directing the thestral.”

“But what if he...” Amber spluttered, “He could’ve been using a spell to trick you!”

“That’s enough, Amber. Stop making such baseless accusations. It’s obvious to everyone but you that Mr. Malfoy has nothing to do with the thestral attacks,” Amanda scolded, “And speaking of him and Mr. Green, we need to get both of them to Madame Pomfrey.” She then proceeded to conjure two stretchers and she levitated the two unconscious boys onto them. Amber stomped off, muttering “Malfoys are always evil,” and the others bring Rigel and Scorpius to the hospital wing.

When Scorpius woke up, Rosie and Galaxy were both sitting near his bed. He also could see Rigel in another bed nearby, and his visitors were Daisy and Amethyst.

“I failed,” Scorpius whimpered, “I wasn’t able to save him.”

“At least you tried. Even Daisy and Professor Sprite couldn’t beat the thestral, and they were able to see it. That was very brave of you, and very much like something Uncle Harry would’ve done,” Rosie said gently, remembering how her mother once described Harry as having a “saving people thing.” Scorpius actually managed a weak, incredulous smile upon hearing that.

“Really? Do you really think I did something worthy of the great Harry Potter?” he asked, “If I was as good as him, I would’ve been able to save Rigel.”

“Even Uncle Harry couldn’t save everyone. There were times when he failed too, like when Sirius died. But at least he always tried and never ran away. I think it was a very kind and noble thing you did for Rigel,” Rosie replied.

“Yeah, so quit thinking that you’re going to turn evil, because I don’t think there is ANYTHING evil about you at all,” Galaxy added cheerfully. Unfortunately, Pansy Parkinson entered the hospital wing at that point, requesting to talk to Scorpius. Galaxy glared at Pansy; she hated the way Pansy picked on the muggleborn students and treated them like they were stupid, especially since Astronomy was also a subject taught at muggle schools and thus wasn’t that different at Hogwarts.

“Scorpius, I know I’ve probably said this before, but you are a Malfoy. You look remarkably like your father, in fact, you could’ve been cloned from him. Being a Malfoy is a wonderful, noble status, you know,” Pansy began.

“It is NOT! I HATE being a Malfoy! There is NOTHING noble about anything anyone in my family ever did!” Scorpius shouted, sitting up quickly in his rage.

“Sad, isn’t it? How low such a noble, pureblood family has sunk. You need to remember your pureblood background and stop associating with filthy muggleborns and their friends. You should have rejoiced when that thestral attacked the mudblood boy, rather than foolishly risking your life for him,” Pansy scolded.

“NO!! I’m glad I saved him! I don’t WANT to be like my family! I hate them! I don’t WANT to remember my family background!” Scorpius raged. He attempted to get out of bed to confront Pansy directly, but he was still weak and Rosie caught him as he collapsed, falling into her arms. To make matters worse, Amber, who had been listening in at the doorway, stepped up to Pansy, smirking.

“Now now, you don’t have to worry. Malfoy here is just putting on an act for poor, gullible Miss Weasley. He was there when Rigel was attacked, he’s the one behind the thestral attacks,” Amber stated.

“I wish he was,” Pansy sighed, “He would be living up to his father’s noble name if he was.”

“His father was NEVER noble! The entire Malfoy family is evil! It’s in his blood to do evil things and trick people into thinking he rescued the very person he attacked!” Amber argued. Pansy smirked at her, about to utter a cutting remark, when Madame Pomfrey interrupted them.

“That is quite enough, you two. I don’t care if you’re professors, this is a place of healing! These people need to rest! Leave now before I report you to Professor Quigley!” she ordered. Pansy left without a complaint, but Amber stuck her tongue out childishly before she stomped out of the room. After Amber had accused him of causing the thestral attacks, Scorpius had begun sobbing incoherently in Rosie’s arms. Madame Pomfrey helped him back into bed, looking like she might throw Rosie and Galaxy out too.

“Professor McAngus is right,” Scorpius choked out, “I’m nothing but an evil Malfoy.”

“That’s not true at all!” Galaxy exclaimed, “Don’t listen to her! She’s just got a stupid grudge against your dad or something.”

“Would you like us to stay with you, Scorpius? Madame Pomfrey might want us to leave so you can sleep, though,” Rosie asked, unsure what to say to comfort him. She was very shocked at Amber’s behavior. She knew Amber was suspicious of Scorpius and highly disliked the Malfoys in general, but she never expected that anyone would even think to seriously accuse Scorpius of being behind the thestral attacks. He was the last person Rosie would ever think of as being a suspect.

“I don’t know if I deserve to be with you,” Scorpius whimpered.

“I think a long, dreamless sleep will do him good,” Madame Pomfrey said, holding a bottle of a purple potion. She poured it into a spoon and fed it to Scorpius, who took it meekly. He fell asleep quickly and Rosie and Galaxy left, though they planned to come back and visit him in the morning.