Chapter Thirty-Seven

“Just leave me alone.” Peregrine sighs, picking up her notebook one more time and continuing. Gladys grips her elbow and throws her back, ripping her bag from her shoulder.

“No, you little slut. I warned you not to be with him.” Gladys sneers, pushing the smaller girl to the floor. Peregrine shakes her head and attempts to get up.

“Stay on the floor where you belong filth. What can you offer him? Poor, talentless, ugly.”

“Love” Peregrine answers strongly, her eyes sparking. She snatches Gladys’ foot and twists it, making the older girl stumble and get out of reach.

“You whore!” Gladys screeches, taking out her wand. Peregrine closes her eyes to avoid seeing the curse, but it never comes.

“I suggest that you leave her alone before you come to harm.” A silky voice drawls, thick with danger. Peregrine opens her blue eyes to see Scorpius holding Gladys’ wand and the girl on the floor with disheveled hair blown about her head. Scorpius’ face was calm and impassive, but his brown eyes were like tawny flames, barely controlling the urge to cast a painful hex at the bitch who wanted to hurt his friend.

“She’s just a little no one.” Gladys whimpers. Scorpius takes a single step towards her and Gladys jumps to her feet, snatching her wand and running away.

“Scorpius?” He turns to her slowly, his hair messed up and his shirt unbuttoned, dark love bites littering his chest. Peregrine even saw the top button of his pants undone before averting her eyes back to his face. A bit a ways down the corridor, a broom closet door was open, a faint figure with her skirt hiked up and her hair as messy as Scor’s standing next to it.

“Are you okay?” Scorpius asks. Peregrine stands up, picking up her bag and her books. She slowly stops trembling and holds back the scowl that wants to plant itself on her face.

“I’m fine. Gladys is just jealous that I’m dating Albus.” She explains. Scorpius nods and continues to stare at her.

“I guess the others haven’t told you, but Merlin is returning in about twenty minutes at the North courtyard.” He says hesitantly. Peregrine widens her eyes, unmistakably glancing at his appearance and then at the girl by the closet.

“Thanks. Don’t mention this to anyone.” She requests as she walks away without another word, trying to get as far away before she hexed Scorpius on the spot. How could he do this?

Peregrine rushed up to the common room and dropped her stuff off before flying down to the courtyard and giving hugs and a special kiss to Albus while they waited anxiously for Savannah’s return.

~~~~

The wait was not for long. Ten minutes had passed since Peregrine’s arrival and Professor Potter had joined them, muttering some lame excuse for Hermione’s absence.

“I told James and the others, but they decided to welcome her later. She might not want large groups of people.” Harry explains.

“Smart idea. My brother has a brain.” Albus jokes before turning his eyes to the skies with the others as a griffin’s cry echoes throughout the grounds. Sounds of great wings flapping incessantly and a sudden breeze were other alerts for the newcomers’ arrival.

The golden one touched down seconds after the ebony, standing close like brothers as their riders dismounted, one tall and lean and supporting the other as she stumbled.

“I’m fine Morgan.” Her brittle voice could be heard.

“Don’t be stupid.” His voice was just as sharp and the others see her arm slung around Morgan’s shoulders and watch with worry as she limps forward. Her head is hanging low, her hair acting as a curtain and many layers of clothes hiding her skinny frame.

“Savannah?” Peregrine asks. The girl lifts her head and grins widely. Albus grips Peregrine’s hand tightly in his. She was completely okay. Rose relaxes against Lionel in weak relief. Harry strides forward and pulls Savannah into a hug.

“Welcome back Savannah.” He welcomes as he pulls away. Morgan loses his tense expression and lets his hand slide around her waist as extra support. “And Morgan, how did you fare?” Harry asks politely. Morgan, easily sensing the distrust his presence brought, nodded.

“I did well enough once I was cured. Savannah is still weak, may we sit?” Savannah scowls but allows herself to be lowered to the bench behind them, by the fountain.

“Are you still sick?” Albus questions.

“No, I’m physically, mentally, emotionally, and magically exhausted. The sickness barely touched me, it only weakened me.” Savannah assures them. Rose and Peregrine sit on either side of her, hugging her tightly between them. Lionel and Albus lean in for tight hugs as well.

“Are the tribes safe?”

“As safe as they can be. Once we reached the central village and established a new form of government, strengthened their immune systems, and helped them to stock up on supplies, I passed into a coma. Braulio took me to the Brazilian Ministry workers and I was sent for restoration in the Peru Hospital.” She tells them.

“You did a miracle, Savannah.” Harry praises.

“You too, Morgan.” Peregrine adds hesitantly. Morgan, who had been standing off to the side with a guarded expression, smiles lightly and nods.

“Only with potions and carrying the big guys.” He acquiesces. Savannah nods and leans her head against Rose’s shoulder, her pale eyelids fluttering with the desire to sleep but stay awake.

“Bed. You have a meeting with McGonagall in the morning.” Harry says sternly, reaching his hand out to help her up.

“I’ve got her.” Morgan intercedes and, despite her fervent protests, pulls Savannah into his arms, cradling her head against his shoulder.

“We’ll take her when we reach the girl’s dorms.” Rose asserts. He silently agrees and they progress into the castle. It’s just reaching curfew and so only a few students are out.

Including one blonde, brown eyed Slytherin.

He was alone now, and less mussed. He had been heading for his common room when he chanced upon the group. They froze, looking at each other with trepidation. Albus and Lionel could see Scorpius’ eyes start to soften, but they hardened almost immediately as they take in Morgan holding Savannah.

After an awkward moment of silence, he began to move past them. Savannah’s hand shot out as he passed by.

“Scor?” She murmurs, attempting to raise her head, her eyes fluttering open. The flickering torches cast a bright light over the group, but a shadow passes over Scorpius’ face, tightening in anger.

“Let me go, Merlin.” He says emotionlessly. Her grip tightens for the merest second before letting go.

“Sorry” He nods and stalks off. Savannah lets herself peer over Morgan’s shoulders, catching his regretful glance back at them, their eyes meeting in the briefest second before he turns the corner.

Savannah bites her lip and forces the hurt away; ignoring her wolf-magic’s lonely howling, a faint howl barely being heard on the other side of the impenetrable barrier.

“Please take me home.” She whispers against Morgan’s robes. He nods and cradles her closer to his body, taking comfort in the natural completeness that he always felt when their skin touched.

“Almost there Savannah.” He promises. She falls asleep as they reach the portrait, climbing through and stopping at the bottom of the girl’s staircase.

“Might I sit with you all tomorrow at breakfast?” Morgan asks as he passes Savannah to Rose and Peregrine, who sling her between them, her arms over their shoulders. She stirs slightly.

“Er…” Albus nods quietly, Lionel taut with tension.

“Are you going to harass her again?” Rose demands.

“No, we talked out our differences in the jungle. We’ve reached an understanding.” His eyes flash green for the merest second, a cruel but worried expression taking over his face as he looked over the sleeping girl’s face.

“In the morning, then.” He leaves without another word. Harry watches him go, his instincts screaming distrust.

“Be very careful, guys.” He warns.

“Oh, we plan to.” Albus promises, hugging his dad good night and tugging Lionel out of the common room.

“Let’s go.” Rose and Peregrine haul their friend up the stairs and to their dorm room, tucking her neatly into bed with the help of their wands and nifty charms, before falling into their own happily.

“She’s home, Rose.” Peregrine mumbles. Rose nods, glancing between her two sisters.

“Yeah, she really is.”