Chapter Eight: An interesting thing to explain

Third Person PoV:

Bethany, Scorpius, and William each shuffled into the Headmistresses office. It took a while to guess the answer to get past the gargoyles, but they managed it.

Headmistress Mcgonagall jumped at the sight of the three children. "What is going on here Mr. Stone?"

She turned to the Head Boy, only made sense, he could give her a sensible, reasonable answer.

"This is my sister, Bethany, that we just rescued from Malfoy Manor where Bellatrix Lestrange was...holding her captive so she would work for her to finish Tom Riddle's work."

Minerva blinked in shocked. Not quite the sensible, reasonable answer she had been hoping for. Then her eyes fell onto the girl who practically dead on her feet. All thoughts of reasoning and sensibility fled her mind.

She grabbed hold of her arm and led her to on of the chairs, which Bethany gladly sank into. She looked to William and Scorpius, "Please, start the story from the beginning Mr. Stone."

He shrugged and said simply, "I'd ask Scorpius, he knows more then I do about this."

She turned her attention the small boy who was silent for a moment then he began explaining. He started from the train, how he could kind of hear her, but William couldn't and continued, telling the whole story.

"And then we came back here and came to see you," Scorpius finished.

Minerva chewed her cheeks, an annoying habit she had picked up. She wordlessly went to her desk and scrawled out a quick letter. She handed the parchment to William, "Please go send this to ministry, and go tell Professor Longbottom to come see me. Scorpius, please bring Bethany to Madame Pomfrey."

"Yes Ma'am," they responded.

Bethany, having stayed silent during this all, was watching the sorting hat our of boredom. As she stood shakily to her feet, she could have sworn it winked at her. She shook her head, telling ehrself she was just overtired.

Scorpius reached out and put his arm around her shoulder, leading her out of the room. Once out of the room they had a silent walk to Madame Pomfrey.

When they reached the doorway Scorpius stopped her. Looking straight in her up and down. Then he shook his head, "Bethany, I cannot believe you are standing right in front of me."

She smiled weakly, "Neither can I, Scorp."

He was so relieved to see that smile again, he let out a deep breath that he had been holding since he first saw his great aunt. He returned her smile and said, "Did you know that it's possible to not breath for several, several, days?"

She laughed, really laughed. "Thank you Scorpius, for everything..."

Before Scorpius could respond the door opened and there stood Madame Pomfrey, she looked down, saw Bethany, and dropped her water glass.

Without bothering to repair the glass, she hustled Bethany in and closed the door on Scorpius. He was left with nothing else to do other then go to bed.

***

Bethany woke up to chatter right outside the open door to the Hospital Wing. "Yes, I'm so glad you two could make it! And congratulations Mrs. Stone," came Minerva Mcgonagall's voice.

Congratulations on what? Bethany thought to herself.

The teary voice of Mr. Stone floated in, "Yes..We are so happy to bring both our daughters home."

Both? Bethany wondered. As far as she knew they only had one daughter and one son...unless William knew something she didn't.

"Well, you know we'll be happy to accept Bethany to Hogwarts as soon as you feel comfortable letting her come," Minerva responded, the voices were coming closer to the room.

"Yes, of course. Thank you Minerva..." came the tired voice of Mrs. Stone.

She heard Madame Pomfrey shuffle by, "Come now, you can see her, it's about time she woke up anyway."

She quickly closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep.

***

Bethany's PoV

I'll spare you the details of the family reunion. I will tell you this, it involved a lot of crying, hugging, kissing, and laughing. It had been all a blur. But I do remember this part.

My mother told me some big news that day, though it was quite apparent in her appearance. She was pregnant with my new little sister, VERY pregnant, the baby was do in under a month.

They were going to name the child Bethany (after me of course, and I couldn't decide how I felt about that...) but because I had reappeared, they decided on Beth Scorpia Stone.

I was made to stay in the hospital wing at the school for several days, and I didn't mind, because it meant I could stay at the school for a bit more.

But something I will write about, the first time Scorpius and I got to be alone together for more then one minute.

Scorpius entered the room slowly and scanned the room until he found me.

His whole body shone with relief when he saw that I was sitting up. He came up and tapped my arm (because I was indulged in my book, and not paying attention to my surroundings) I jumped and, seeing it was just Scorpius, smiled. "Sorry, I'm still not used to having people touch me...

He just laughed and hugged me. I am proud to say that I did not flinch, jump, or wince in pain (despite the fact the was squeezing harder than he had to) he pulled back and we both blushed.

He cleared his throat and said, "Hi," rather lamely.

I responded with an equally lame, "Hey."

I smirked and said, "So, seen any invisible kids recently?"

He laughed and shook his head, "Just you, but you aren't invisible anymore, shame actually...no more pulling off cool pranks."

Even though I knew he was trying to get me to laugh I couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "You know," I said, keeping a smile planted on my face, "I never really could pull off any pranks."

He frowned slightly, "True, but now you can't sneak into my common room and sleep on the awkward couch."

THAT I laughed at. "That sounds so weird Scorpius. I think I'd rather be sleeping on an actual bed."

"Now why would you do that? Isn't the lumpy couch enough?" Scorpius asked.

"Why would it be?" I raised my eyebrow at him.

He smirked his Malfoy smirk and replied, "Because, your closer to me that way."

I responded by smacking his arm, but I was laughing, so he knew I didn't mean it.

***

The day I was to be released and go home with Mom and Dad, I was told that I could stay and finish the school year, it was only two months left, and my parents said they would allow me to stay, as long as I stuck around William (and he gave me permision to stick with Scorpius instead...) often.

I would gladly comply with these conditions, and was to start classes Monday.