North London Psychiatric Centre, October 11, 2017, 10:00 AM
A week after the presentation, Solus visited his mother again.
This time, Mark didn't come with him. He was at home, fixing things that had been neglected for weeks.
Solus traveled (travelled) alone. Floo Network from Hogsmeade to a wizarding café in London, then Muggle transport to the hospital.
'I feel older doing this.'
'Traveling alone. Visiting hospitals. Dealing with adult realities.'
'But I'm still an eleven-year-old boy.'
'How strange my life is.'
The receptionist recognized him.
"Mr. Gray. Your mother is in the garden today. It's a good day for her."
"The garden?"
"Yes. Patients who are improving can spend time outside. It's part of the therapy."
'A good day. That's progress.'
"Thank you."
The hospital garden was small but well-maintained.
Autumn flowers. Wooden benches. A stone path winding between trees.
And there, sitting on a bench under an oak tree, was Helen.
She was wearing regular clothes now. Not hospital clothes. Jeans. A yellow sweater (jumper). Her hair was combed and tied back in a ponytail.
'She looks better.'
'Much better.'
"Mom?"
Helen looked up.
And smiled.
A real smile. Not forced. Not empty.
Real.
"Solus. You came."
She stood up and hugged him.
Solus clung to her.
'She's here. She's alive.'
'She's better.'
"How are you?" he asked when they pulled apart.
"Better." Helen sat back on the bench. Solus sat next to her. "The doctors say I've made a lot of progress in the last two weeks."
"And how do you feel?"
Helen thought about it.
"I feel... clearer. As if the fog in my head is starting to lift." She touched his hand. "I still have hard days. Days where everything feels heavy. But they are less frequent."
"I'm glad."
"Your father told me about your presentation. About the ball." Helen's eyes shone with pride. "He said you were amazing."
"I just talked about history."
"No. You talked about legacy. About what matters." Helen squeezed his hand. "I'm so proud of you, Solus."
They walked through the garden.
Helen asked about Hogwarts. About his classes. His friends. His life.
And for the first time, Solus told her the truth.
Not the whole truth.
But more than he had told her before.
He told her about Stella. How she was brilliant and impulsive and made him laugh.
He told her about Albus. How he struggled with the weight of his surname but was the most loyal friend anyone could have.
He told her about Professor Annan. How he was his reluctant mentor. How he had taught him that pain could create something beautiful.
But he told her enough for her to see that he had a life.
A good life.
"You sound happy," Helen said after a long while.
"I am. Most of the time."
"But?"
Solus looked at her.
'Do I tell her?'
'Do I tell her that sometimes I feel overwhelmed?'
No.
He couldn't say that.
"But sometimes I miss you," he said instead. "And I worry about you."
Helen stopped.
She turned to him.
"Solus, listen to me. I don't want you to worry about me. I don't want you to put your life on pause because I'm here."
"But..."
"No." Her voice was firm. "What happened... what I did... was my responsibility. Not yours. And I need you to understand that."
Solus felt something tighten in his throat.
"But if I had been there..."
"It wouldn't have changed anything." Helen touched his cheek. "I was sick, honey. My brain was sick. And I needed help that only doctors could give."
She paused.
"You couldn't fix me. Nor could your father. Only I could decide to accept help. And now I'm doing it."
"Really?"
"Really." Helen smiled. "The doctors say I'll be able to leave in a few weeks. Not to stay home yet. But to go to a day program. Where I receive therapy but can live normally."
"That's great, Mom."
"Yes. It's progress." Helen hugged him again. "And it's thanks to you and your father. For not giving up on me."
They sat on another bench.
Helen asked about the presentation.
"Your father said you talked about someone named Corvus Slytherin. Who was he?"
Solus told her the story.
Corvus. The forgotten brother. The teacher who taught students from all over the world. The man who died defending Hogwarts.
Helen listened attentively.
"Sounds like someone you admired," she said when he finished.
"I do admire him."
"Why?"
Solus thought about it.
'Why do I admire Corvus?'
'Because he was me?'
'No.'
'I admire what he represented.'
"Because he didn't let the world define him. Salazar wanted to build walls. Corvus wanted to build bridges." Solus looked at the sky. "And he chose that even when it cost him his relationship with his brother. Even when it cost him his life."
Helen nodded slowly.
"That is admirable. Choosing what is right even when it hurts."
"Yes."
"And you, Solus?" Helen looked at him. "Are you choosing what is right? Even when it hurts?"
Solus went still.
'Am I choosing what is right?'
"I'm trying," he said finally.
"That is enough." Helen smiled. "No one is perfect, honey. We just do the best we can."
After an hour, a nurse came to get Helen.
"It's time for your therapy session, Mrs. Gray."
Helen nodded.
She stood up.
She looked at Solus.
"Will you come again?"
"Yes. Next week."
"Good. I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too, Mom."
They hugged one last time.
"Solus," Helen said against his hair. "Be happy. Please. Be happy."
"I'll try."
"That's all I ask."
. . . . . . .
Hogsmeade, 12:30 PM
Solus walked through Hogsmeade before returning to the castle.
He needed to process.
'Mom is better.'
'Really better.'
'Not cured. But improving.'
'It's more than I expected.'
He entered Honeydukes. The sweet shop was full of students from third year and up.
He bought some Chocolate Frogs.
Not because he was hungry.
But because he needed to do something normal.
Something an eleven-year-old boy would do.
When he left, he saw someone familiar.
Scorpius Malfoy.
Albus's best friend. The one who had been mentioned dozens of times but Solus had never formally met.
Scorpius was standing in front of Zonko's, looking at the window display with a thoughtful expression.
Solus approached.
"Malfoy?"
Scorpius turned.
He was thin. Platinum blonde hair. Sharp features. But his eyes were kind behind his glasses.
"Yes?"
"I'm Solus Gray. Albus's friend."
Scorpius's face lit up.
"Gray! Albus won't stop talking about you." He extended his hand. "We finally meet."
Solus shook his hand.
"Finally."
"Albus said you're brilliant. That you already know more than most upper-year students."
"Albus exaggerates."
"I don't think so." Scorpius smiled. "I also saw your presentation at the ball. It was incredible."
"Thanks."
"Want to grab a Butterbeer? My treat."
Solus thought about it.
'Why not?'
"Sure."
. . . . . . .
The Three Broomsticks, 1:00 PM
They sat at a back table.
Scorpius talked animatedly about Hogwarts. About how he and Albus had met on the train. How they had become inseparable.
"At first, people thought we were a weird pair," Scorpius admitted. "A Potter and a Malfoy. Our families literally fought on opposite sides of the war."
"But you aren't your families."
"Exactly. That's what Albus said." Scorpius smiled. "He says you think like that too. That blood doesn't matter."
"It doesn't."
"I wish more people thought like that." Scorpius took a sip of his Butterbeer. "My father still gets looks at the Ministry. People who don't forget he was a Death Eater."
"And you?"
"Me what?"
"Do you get looks?"
Scorpius laughed humorlessly.
"All the time. But Albus helps me. He says if he can be a Potter in Slytherin, I can be a Malfoy trying to do the right thing."
Solus smiled.
"Albus is wise."
"More than he thinks."
They talked for another hour.
About classes. About professors. About life in Slytherin.
"What is it like being in the Verus Ordo?" Scorpius asked eventually.
Solus tensed.
"How did you know...?"
"Albus told me. I hope that's okay."
"It's okay."
"So? What's it like?"
Solus chose his words carefully.
"It's... complicated. Rosier is charismatic. His projects are genuine. But there is also an agenda I don't fully understand."
"A dark agenda?"
"Not dark. Political."
Scorpius nodded.
"My father says politics is the most dangerous game. Because even when you think you're winning, you could be getting played."
"Your father is smart."
"He is. Though sometimes I wish he weren't." Scorpius looked at his glass. "He says I should stay away from groups like the Verus Ordo. That alliances made young can haunt you all your life."
"And what do you think?"
"I think he's right. But I also think sometimes you need to take risks if you want to change things."
Scorpius looked at Solus.
"What do you think?"
Solus thought about it.
'What do I think?'
"I think your father is right. But the risk is sometimes worth it."
Scorpius smiled.
"Then I guess we're both risking it."
. . . . . . .
Hogwarts, Slytherin Common Room, 4:00 PM
When Solus returned, he found Stella and Albus waiting for him.
"How was the visit?" Stella asked immediately.
"Good. Better than expected."
"Is your mother improving?"
"Yes. Much better."
Albus smiled.
"That's great, Solus."
"Thanks."
Solus sat down. "Oh, and I met Scorpius in Hogsmeade."
"Really?" Albus perked up. "What did you think?"
"He's smart. And loyal. I understand why you're friends."
"I told you. He's great."
"We also talked about the Verus Ordo."
Stella tensed.
"And?"
"And he thinks like us. That it's complicated. But potentially useful."
"Did you tell him about the Chamber?" Albus asked.
"No. That remains a secret. Just you two and me."
"Good."