Meeting the Minister

As Scorpius and Albus walked back up to their rooms, Scorpius was still in shock by the latest task Voldemort had given him.

"Please don't say anything about this to Rose. She will just collapse again," Scorpius said.

"We need to tell her. She will find out, better that it comes from us. But we don't need to tell her exactly what part you are playing."

Albus saw that this newest development had really shaken his friend. He had never seen him so out of sorts.

"We need to stop it, that is what we need to do," Scorpius said, taking care to whisper.

"Yes, but how can we do that? There are only two of us, and many of them."

"We know where it is going to happen. We need to let the Ministry know. We must risk sending an owl."

"But how do we relay the information without exposing ourselves if the owl is intercepted?"

"Wait, we have the Trackers. They would be able to find us. All we need to let them know is that they really need to be there when we travel away from here."

"We could try a poem or something," Albus suggested. "Rose could help us with it."

"Malfoy! Severus!"

They turned around as Crabbe walked up the stairs towards them.

"What are you two whispering about?" Crabbe asked.

"Important details for tonight's festivities. We discussed what we should tell her daughter beforehand, to make her dread what is to come. What do you want, Crabbe?" Scorpius asked impatiently.

"Why do you get to do the fun part? It was I who captured the Mudblood, I should be the one to do it," Crabbe said.

"I suggest you ask the Dark Lord about that. He chose me specifically. He must believe I will do a better job than you," Scorpius said in an almost mocking tone. He knew Crabbe would never dare complain about anything to Voldemort.

"Anyway," Crabbe said hastily. "Though I won't get to do the deed myself, I do get to introduce you."

"Introduce me?" Scorpius asked, puzzled.

"Sure. It is common practice before an execution for the convicted and the executioner to meet. Now come. This will be fun," Crabbe said.

Scorpius started down the stairs again, following Crabbe with trembling hands. He still held the sword.

Albus did not envy him the position he was in, but he had to stay in character. "Don't worry," he yelled after him. "I'll prepare our other victim for tonight."

He then ran up the stairs, into Scorpius' room, and collapsed on the floor.

"Albus!" Rose said, startled. "Albus, what's wrong? What has happened?"

She tried to get over to him, but her chains didn't allow her to reach all the way to the door where he had collapsed.

"Tell me, please. What is it?"

"It's Aunt Hermione," Albus cried. "They are going to kill her."

Rose started crying too. "Oh no. When?"

"Tonight. But not here. And you won't need to watch it."

"Watch it? I don't care about watching it! We need to stop it! We can't let them kill my mother!"

"I know. We have a plan. But I need your help."

"Anything"

"I need to send an owl to the Ministry. But it can't be obvious who it is from, or what it means for anyone other than our family."

"Right. Let's do that right away. Do you know where it will happen?"

"Yes. But that is not as important, since we have the Trackers."

"It won't hurt to include it, since we can't know for sure they work. And it would give them time to prepare." Rose felt a lot calmer and more collected now, with a specific task to handle. Something to focus on, something she could do to help. "It's better if it is in my handwriting," she decided "That way, if it is stopped on the way, you won't be implicated."

"But that would also mean that you would be punished, if it's discovered!" Albus protested.

"That's better than you, and Scorpius with you, being branded traitors. What do you think will happen to me if you are killed?"

"You're probably right. I just hate that you are the one taking all the risk," Albus said with a sigh. Rose gave him a short hug, before she started working on the parchment Albus had found in a cupboard.

"You are taking more risks than me," she said. "You are pretending to be someone you are not. That is a lot more dangerous than writing a note."

***

Down in the dungeons, Scorpius and Crabbe quickly found the cell that held Hermione.

Scorpius wished he could visit the Minister alone, but with Crabbe there, he had no way of relaying what he wanted to say. Hopefully he could get down here later to tell her the plan.

"Well, hello there, Minister. I trust your accommodations are satisfying?" Crabbe smirked at Hermione. She was in a forced upright position, chained by the neck, hands, and feet. Yet she glared murder at Crabbe.

"I just came to tell you the good news. You won't need to stay here much longer. Your trial process is over, and the execution is set for tonight."

For the first time, a flicker of fear went over Hermione's face. But it was quickly replaced with anger again.

"You wouldn't dare," she said, still glaring at Crabbe.

"Oh, I would. But that is beside the point. I am not the one to do the deed. The Dark Lord chose another for that honour. Though I would still like to repay you for what you did to my son. Here is the chosen executioner."

Scorpius reluctantly took a step forward. In the flickering light from the torches, his face looked intimidating. The sword completed the picture.

"You!" Hermione screamed. "Where is my daughter?"

"Your daughter is safe. Don't worry, you will see her again before the end. Call it a last gift from the Dark Lord," Scorpius said. He hated every moment of this.

Hermione hissed at him angrily.

"Nothing will happen to her," Scorpius repeated. "Not as long as you cooperate."

"Where is she? What have you done to her?" Hermione screamed while fighting her chains.

"She is safe, as I said. You will get to see that for yourself, before long."

"She will never be safe. Not as long as you are around messing with her. What is she to you? Your plaything? Does it make you feel powerful, taking advantage of helpless people? You made her trust you, didn't you? That's why she came with you out of Hogwarts!"

Scorpius was taken aback at this reaction. He tried to not let it show how much it hurt. He really should have expected this, but it didn't make it any less painful to hear.

"You'll eat your words soon. Just wait. As I said, we have time for a family reunion before the end," Scorpius said, trying to show that he meant the words to be reassuring, though he supposed it wasn't very comforting.

"I think that is enough. She has something to think about for now. Time to go," Crabbe said. It was clear from his voice that he had a lot of fun.

With one last regretful look at Hermione, Scorpius followed Crabbe out of the dungeon.

Back upstairs, he quickly slipped away from Crabbe in the hallways and doubled back. A little hesitant, he walked down into the dungeon again. He made sure to cover the sword with his robes. He should leave it behind, but someone might see it and wonder what he was doing.

"What is it this time? More pathetic attempts at an insult? Has Voldemort decided to simply kill me now? Or do you wish to tell me all the details about the safety of my daughter?" Hermione asked him angrily when she saw him come back.

Scorpius' facial expression and manner had almost completely changed, but it didn't seem like Hermione had noticed that. She glared at him just as much as she had glared at Crabbe earlier.

"We are attempting to get a message to the Ministry now. If not, we have Trackers on, so they know where we are. This way, I hope the Aurors can get there in time."

"You hope?" Hermione didn't seem to believe him. He had to try and explain this better. From the way the Minister looked at him, he doubted she would believe him, but it was worth a try. He really didn't want this woman to be angry with him.

"Listen, both me and Al are trying to get you both out of here safely, but it's not that easy. We have gained some level of trust among the Death Eaters, but we can't just let you out the front door. That would just get us killed instead, including Rose. We were able to get James and the others out of the dungeon they were kept in. That was what we were doing when you were captured. Albus alerted Potter, and he missed you by about two seconds."

"And just how did you gain their trust? I know what Albus had to do. What did you do?" Hermione asked, still looking hostile.

"That sort of confirmed the both of us," Scorpius said evasively. He really didn't want to make the Minister even more angry, and he didn't think that she would believe that he had saved Rose's life by revealing who she was.

"I don't believe you. And there is a lot you are not saying. Why didn't Rose get to escape with James?"

"She was moved to another location the night we were to execute the plan. We couldn't get her out in time to join the others."

"This "other location" wouldn't happen to be your room, would it?" Hermione asked with icy coldness.

Scorpius jumped in shock. "What? Why would you say that?" He had hoped she wouldn't have worked that out yet, but he should have known better. It was impossible to hide much from Hermione Granger.

"I saw you. On the night I was captured…"

"Last night."

"Only one day? Time moves slowly in a dungeon. Anyway, I saw you. You held my daughter captive. With chains on her hands and feet. She lay there screaming. You held her down. It was clear that she was your responsibility. Well know this, Malfoy. I hold you accountable for everything that happens to my daughter. I will demand justice for every tear, every scrape, and every scream. Am I clear?"

Scorpius reeled back in shock at the hate that came from her mouth.

"I am sorry! I'm trying my best here! As I said, the Ministry will most likely be alerted, so I won't have to pretend to kill you. As for Rose, I was planning to get her out! It was a misunderstanding. I promise, I will try to keep her safe!"

"Why should I believe you? If this is your best, I would hate to see what your worst is."

"I really hope neither of us has to find that out." With his head bowed, Scorpius left the dungeon for the second time. This had not gone as well as he had hoped. He just hoped that the plan would work and that the Minister would not hate him forever.

***

Back upstairs, Albus and Rose were finishing their message. They both sat on the floor, where Rose could be the most comfortable.

"There. That should make it clearer. I just hope they realise who it's from, and what it means," Rose said, reading through their letter one last time.

"It's the best we can do," Albus said, getting to his feet.

"But whose owl can we use?"

"Mine. He arrived a few hours ago. He seems to have some sixth sense for when I need him. Here." Albus walked to the window, where a fairly small owl waited on the windowsill. He tied the letter to his leg, whispered something to him, and sent him on his way. Just as he saw the owl fly over the manor wall, Scorpius returned. He sat down on the floor, looking dejected. The sword was nowhere to be seen.

"Well, that was thoroughly upsetting. I am certain that your mother hates me, Rose. I can't say I really blame her," Scorpius said with his head in his hands.

"Why? What did you say?" Rose asked. She managed to get down next to him and lay a comforting hand on his shoulders.

"I had to go with Crabbe and tell her what was to happen tonight. She was more focused on you. Even when I went back afterwards to try to explain, she was not responsive. She has figured out that you are staying in my room, and she is not happy about it." Scorpius took Rose's hand and held it tightly.

"Well, we managed to send an owl to my father, so hopefully this whole thing will be over tonight. I suspect most of the Death Eaters will be in Lancashire tonight," Albus reminded them. "But before that… I am sorry Rose, I hate to bring more bad news, but you need to be prepared."

"Prepared for what?"

"For more torture tonight. They are going to start off with that, then leave you behind here."

"Leave me behind here? Why?"

"He didn't say," Scorpius answered. "Something about you having value still. Hopefully either me or Al will be assigned to the torture again. That way, you only have to pretend."

"But why? Why do that to me again?" Rose slid further down on the floor as she realised the implications. "Oh no. Mum's going to be there, isn't she?" Scorpius nodded, also with tears in his eyes.

"So, she will have to watch. Watch me being tortured without being able to do anything about it."

"Yes," Scorpius said. "I'm sorry."

Rose started crying again. Scorpius tried to comfort her, but what could he say?