Bab 4: Are you sure?
"What's the matter?" Rose asked after they had Disapparated away from the clearing. Scorpius startled, though he shouldn't have been surprised that she had noticed something was bothering him.
"I wasn't sure if I should say something or not, but I suppose you need to know."
"Know what?"
"I have actually seen that man, Sam, before, though he has probably not met me."
"What do you mean?"
"I've seen him in the same pub that Lehrer frequents. In Knockturn Alley. He is a regular there."
"What?" Rose seemed completely taken aback by this.
"Obviously, I didn't know his name. Few of us ever use names there, and most of them are probably false, like mine. He was among the group that harassed James last night, though he wasn't actively hurting him that I saw."
Rose just shook her head. "Are you sure?"
"Fairly sure. I mean, I try my best to memorise faces when I am there, but it is not a perfect science. I'm sorry"
"No, it is good that you told me this. If so, do you think everything he said was a lie? He seemed to recover from discovering who I really was awfully quickly. And was very vague on what he had done."
"And why wouldn't he want you to be inside his house? I get that his family may be Muggles, but they wouldn't be that clueless. Would they?"
"That varies. I know my mother tries to tell her parents as much as possible, but some things they just can't seem to understand, others they don't want to know. But I know others from Muggle families that hardly tell their parents or family anything at all. But if Sam is staying with them, wouldn't they know a little at least?"
"Well, I am more concerned about him hanging out in Knockturn Alley. And he recognised me. I hope he didn't recognise me as Lehrer."
"No, he knew you were Scorpius Malfoy. You have been there as yourself occasionally too, haven't you?"
"Yes, but I can't remember seeing him there then."
Rose was glum. "But what do we do now? I promised I would help him if needed, and I have considered him a friend, though we only knew each other for a few weeks."
"He did seem genuinely surprised to discover who you were, so chances are, he had nothing to do with the escape. It is what other things he has been up to that worries me. He's had 4 years to do something, and no one knows where he has been. I can go back to that pub another day and ask about him if you want. Though not tomorrow, since I was there today, and extracted James."
"Why are they letting you do that, to just take James away from there without question. I've been meaning to ask that, but I couldn't do that when Aunt Ginny was there."
"I have first claim on him."
"Why?"
"Do you really want to know that?"
"Well, yes, now I do."
Scorpius sighed. Well, it was bound to come up sooner or later. He started untying his sleeve. The Dark Mark glistened on his left arm. Rose automatically took a step back from it.
"Death Eaters have every reason to hate Potters. I claim that I have the right to do what I want with him before anyone else, and no one wants to push that too far. I always come after they have already had their fun anyway."
Rose shuddered. Scorpius quickly hid the Mark again.
"I'm sorry!" she said. "I know you have that, and that it won't go away. I just don't like seeing it." Rose moved in for a hug. Scorpius accepted it gladly.
"I know. I don't like seeing it either. But I use what I have and being seen as one of the recruit Death Eaters that got away is very useful at times."
"Did you come up with this yourself, or was it Uncle Harry's idea?"
"Actually, it was mostly my father's idea. He has occasionally used a similar tactic himself, though he has not made up an entirely new person. It is amazing what that symbol still means, even if it is nearly a whole generation later."
"Well, it is not that long ago. Our generation grew up with the stories, even those whose families were not as directly involved as ours was."
"I'm sorry I haven't explained this before, but I honestly didn't want to burden you with the stuff I see. Now though, it seems you may be involved yet again."
"I will take my Auror test on Monday, so I will probably start to be more involved in many things then."
"On Monday? Why haven't you said anything?"
"I only found out today. We aren't supposed to know more than one week ahead when it is coming. I don't know when Al will have his test, but I suspect it will be soon. We started at the same time after all."
Scorpius gave her yet another hug. And a kiss. He never grew tired of kissing his wife.
"Do you want me to come with you? For support?"
"I would love to have you there, but it is not allowed."
"Well, maybe I will manage to follow you there anyway."
Rose smiled. He really was a very thoughtful husband. It wouldn't surprise her if he did manage to sneak in and watch at least part of it. He was quite good at that, after all.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone