Chapter Twenty

Rose's eyes met with Scorpius', she detected a faint slight remorse, but she let it roll off of her. Some of the things that were said couldn't be erased with just a simple look or 'sorry'.

While the other's had been distracted by the shatter of china, Rose's eyes remained on Scorpius. Being observant and intelligent, she of course noticed something strange in the looks exchanged between Scorpius and Damon. Something that she couldn't quite figure out. Her eyes narrowed and eyebrow arched before rolling her eyes before turning to Al.

Al met Rose's eyes, he sent her a questioning look, wondering if he should tell them what exactly had been stolen. His father made them all swear to not tell a soul about the cloak, especially Professors. But of course, his father would be even more angry upset to find that it had been stolen and with the trouble he was already due to be in, he couldn't risk the cloak being lost forever.

Rose nodded to Al who gave a sigh and turned back to Neville and Slughorn.

"It was my father's invisibility cloak, sir...A most prized possession of my father's and those before him...I had uhm...borrowed it from my father recently. I used it to sneak up on them and when I was disarmed they took it from me. They of course won't fess up to it, but I swear that is what happened. As Rose said before, you could use truth potion and I could tell you that Scorpius and Damon took it and hid it. Where, I do not know...But I know for a fact they took it from me. And I know that if I were to take some of that potion that would be all the proof needed, no matter what plans you have up your sleeves. That stuff doesn't make just mere words flow from your mouth, but rather the truth. So if you need proof, Professor, hand over a vile because quite frankly I want some justice to be taken upon them for once and for them to own up to their actions." Al said, passionately.

He was tired of Scorpius and his gang worming their way out of trouble in every manner. Sure they were cunning, but the truth was stronger than any amount of tricks they had. Rose's gaze remained on Scorpius, her stare scrutinizing as she watched his every move. He had done something, she was sure of it. If there was one thing she knew about the slimy git, it was that he could pull a fast one over anyone.

* * * * *

If the professors decided to use Prior Incantato on Scorpius and Damon's wands, they'll just show the summoning and repairing charms -- not the memory charm. They really covered their tracks well.

"There are always two sides in every story," said Scorpius, getting boredly impatient. Frankly, he was getting tired of being accused of something he didn't do.

He's desperate, thought Scorpius. Desperate, indeed. I cannot bear to look at Albus Potter. Doesn't he have any pride left in him? Desperately trying to prove us wrong. Is he really even a Potter? This is why the one I consider an equal is James Potter. Even though we don't really get on each other's nerves -- except Quidditch of course -- and we may not be friendly toward each other, but we undeniably are civil.

If truth be told, Albus Potter didn't sound so desperate at all. He sounded passionate, actually. But to Scorpius, the choice of Potter's words sounds desperate enough even if they were delivered passionately.

Scorpius rubbed his temples.

"Just to settle this matter so we could go on in our own ways, I agree with Potter," he said, expressionless. The boys stared at him. Then, he continued, "Please take out the Veritaserum, Professor Slughorn. There's no point in debating if none believes our word."

There was a long moment of silence. Then, Slughorn nodded and said, "Very well, then."

He went to the Potions closet and went back shortly after. He flicked his wand and conjured four filled tea cups in the air. He opened the small potion and dropped a little amount on each cup. After that, he put the tiny bottle inside his robes. He handed each cup to Albus Potter, Rose Weasley, Damon Girard, and Scorpius Malfoy.

"So, who shall go first?" asked Slughorn, looking at the four.

* * * * *

Rose arched an eyebrow at Scorpius.

So he was just going to give up like that? After all the steps he has taken to cover his tracks he was just going to give in to truth potion? Something was amiss, there was no way Scorpius would take the truth potion unless something had been altered. Veritaserum could make even the darkest wizards spill their guts, so why would Scorpius agree to take it? For the time being Rose wouldn't say anything about her inklings, if something had been amiss, Prior Incatatum wouldn't show anything she was sure as Scorpius wasn't that stupid.

Then Rose smiled her own secret smile, an idea coming to her head. Should the Veritaserum fail Rose had a few ideas of how she could prove it.

"I will." Al said, grabbing a cup and downing its contents. His mind began to feel feather light, his walls and defenses coming down. There was no filter between his brain and his mouth.

* * * * *

Scorpius widened his eyes as he remembered something. How could he forget something like that? He wasn't born stupid. But how could be like that now? How could he agree to drink the potion that can reveal his mischiefs, and other secret doings? How could he have been such an idiot? He was so focused on proving that they didn't steal anything that he didn't think to consider earlier that the Veritaserum could also reveal what the other boys did to Lily Potter. He composed his facial reaction. He needs to come up with a plan. Now.

"Professor Slughorn, if I may interrupt for a moment," said Scorpius politely.

"Go ahead, m'boy," nodded Slughorn.

"I just noticed how it was inconsiderate of me to agree for us to drink the potion without Damon's permission," explained Scorpius sincerely. "Frankly, he doesn't need to drink the potion. Because we're always together. And I can tell you everything you need to know. Just please don't violate his privacy. He's a very closed person and it will be psychologically hard for him if we forced him to speak." He took his time speaking.

While he was talking -- or rather, blabbing -- his wand was pointed at the tiny Snitch mark located on his left wrist under the table so no one could see. Automatically, the same mark on Damon's left shoulder, Lestrange's left back neck, Zabini's left side of the belly, Nott's left ankle, Marcus' left chest, and Goyle's lower left collar bone felt warm as though the morning sun was shining directly on it. Only the seven of them have the mark. Them, and only them, knows about it. Whenever the mark warms, the Snitch moves on the spot like it was flying. This can mean two things: they need to meet up at the hide-out ASAP; or 'Emergency Diversion' which means that one of them is in danger and they need a distraction. In Scorpius' situation, it's the latter.

Damon, Lestrange, and Zabini didn't show any sign that they felt the mark warm. But they felt it, all right. They didn't dare exchange glances. They just looked intensely at Scorpius.

Not a minute later, there was a boisterous blast above the grounds that made Slughorn's office slightly rain in dust. Scorpius and Damon exchanged quick glances. Suddenly, there were faint screams.

"W-What in Merlin's name was that?" stuttered Slughorn nervously.

Next came an unmistakable roar of a dragon.

"Was that.... a dragon?" said Zabini, frowning.

And before anyone could say another word, someone came bursting into the office. It was Eric, the Head Boy.

"Professor," he said to Slughorn, but then seeing Longbottom, he added, "Professor Longbottom." He turned to Slughorn again. He looked out of breath. But calm all the same. "There's a dragon on the loose. Swedish Short-Snout, if I'm not mistaken. It came from the forest. The other teachers concluded that it's lost. They sent me to ask for your help. They're looking for you, too, sir," he added to Longbottom.

"Surely, they can handle the dragon on their own? Oh," Slughorn said, waving his hand. "Very well, I shall help. Come, Longbottom. You're useful in these situations," he added, gesturing to Longbottom. He started walking toward the door when he remembered that there were students in his office. He stopped. "Oh, right. Scorpius, m'boy. I shall talk to you and Damon myself this evening about this matter. Professor Longbottom will do the same with Albus and Ms. Weasley. Now, let us hurry Longbottom. I shiver just hearing the roar of the beast. Make sure you stun it perfectly. Ah. It's against the law but if ever you 'accidentally' kill it, I don't want to put the dragon's blood into waste. Oh, the dragon's heart. Hundreds of Galleons..."

Slughorn blabbed as they went, with Eric on their tail, leaving the four Slytherins with the two Gryffindors -- one still with the Veritaserum in his body.

* * * * *

"Just because he can't drink it doesn't mean you can't. What, do you have something to hide?" Rose asked as she took her tea cup and raised it as if in a way to say "cheers."

Just as she was about to take a sip, the roar of the dragon interrupted the gathering. She watched, her mouth agape, as the Professors took their leave. A dragon in the forest? There had been no known dragon sightings in England for centuries, the climate was not right for their needs.

Rose scowled and placed her tea cup down before getting up and grabbing an empty vial. Carefully, she poured her Veritaserum into the vile and stowed it away in the pocket of her robes. She looked over at Al who had a blank and dazed look on his face. She sighed and picked Al up by the arm, steering him to the door. She glared at Scorpius as she brushed quite roughly past him, her red curls bouncing furiously behind her. She glanced behind her, hurt mixed with anger was evident in her eyes.

"This isn't over...You may be so cunning to get yourself out of whatever situation that comes your way, but with this one, I'm one step ahead of you...Or maybe behind. Either way, for once you will finally get what you rightfully deserve."

With that, she left the room, still guiding Al carefully through the halls. With the potion still in his system it wasn't a particularly great idea to have him in public when he could blurt out something quite embarrassing.

Rose herself was in her own distant place. She had to go about her steps carefully if they were to get the cloak back and finally bring Scorpius and his minions down. How quickly things had changed in the matter of hours. Through the crazy "dance" they had gone through over the years he had stepped on her toes, but now when he had gone bring them into a graceful dip, he had dropped her flat on the floor. All the while not blaming himself for one ounce of it.

Rose was fed up with it, his humongous head had to be deflated, and Rose had the shiny, sharp pin to do so.

End of Chapter Twenty

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Phew. Scorpius got out of that problem again. Hahaha!

Note: I'm afraid to say that this story is VERY close to an end.. Sorry.. :(

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