Chapter 24
In the dimly lit corridors of the Ministry of Magic, Scorpius and Delphi exchanged anxious glances.
"And you’re sure it’s in there?" Scorpius whispered, casting a wary eye on a passing guard.
Delphi nodded, her voice laced with urgency. "Yes, Minister, I definitely think this is a matter for the Ministry to ponder at length."
The guard acknowledged them with a nod before continuing down the corridor, leaving them to exhale a collective sigh of relief.
"It was my uncle’s idea to use the Veritaserum," Delphi confessed in hushed tones, leaning closer to Scorpius. "We slipped it into a visiting Ministry official’s drink. He divulged that the Time-Turner had been kept and even revealed its location—the office of the Minister for Magic herself."
Her finger pointed towards a nearby door, but their clandestine conversation was interrupted by a familiar voice echoing from afar.
"Harry... we should talk about it," Hermione's voice drifted towards them.
"There’s nothing to talk about," Harry's reply followed shortly after.
"Oh no", Delphi exclaimed in panic woice.
"Hermione. And Dad." Albus exclaimed in scared voice
The panic became instant and infectious.
"Okay. Hiding places. No hiding places. Anyone know any Invisibility Charms?" Scorpius muttered under his breath.
Delphi's eyes widened with realization. "Do we go... in her office?"
Albus, joining the conversation, shook his head. "She’ll be coming to her office."
With nowhere else to turn, Delphi attempted to open the door, but it remained stubbornly locked.
"If you don’t talk to me or Ginny about it..." Hermione's voice grew louder.
"Stand back. Alohomora!" Scorpius commanded, aiming his wand at the door. With a flick of his wrist, the door swung open, revealing a glimpse of hope.
"Albus. Block her. It has to be you," Scorpius instructed urgently.
"Why me?" Albus questioned, his nerves palpable.
Delphi reasoned, "Well, it can’t be either of us, can it? We are them."
Hermione's voice resonated from offstage, her words dripping with certainty and reason, "What you said was obviously wrong — but — there are more factors at play here than —"
Albus, visibly distressed, interjected, "But I can’t . . . I can’t . . ."
Amidst a small commotion, Albus found himself standing outside the door, while Hermione and Harry entered from offstage.
Harry addressed Hermione with gratitude, "Hermione, I’m grateful for your concern but there’s no need —"
Interrupting, Hermione's attention diverted, "Ron?"
With a mischievous grin, Albus exclaimed, "Surprise!!!"
Hermione, taken aback, questioned, "What are you doing here?"
With a playful tone, Albus retorted, "Does a man need an excuse to see his wife?" before pulling her into a firm embrace.
Sensing the tension, Harry suggested his departure, "I should go . . ."
Hermione, refocusing the conversation, expressed, "Harry. My point is . . . whatever Draco says — the things you said to Albus . . . I don’t think it’ll do any of us any good for you to dwell on it."
Albus, eager to address the issue, chimed in, "Oh, you’re talking about how Harry said sometimes he wished I —" he corrected himself, "Albus weren’t his son."
Hermione scolded, "Ron!"
Undeterred, Albus continued, "Better out than in, that’s what I say . . ."
Attempting to diffuse the tension, Hermione reassured, "He’ll know . . . We all say stuff we don’t mean. He knows that."
Albus persisted with his concerns, "But what if sometimes we say stuff we do mean . . . What then?"
Hermione, trying to change the subject, exclaimed, "Ron, now’s not the time, honestly."
Albus, determined, suggested, "Of course it isn’t. Bye-bye, darling," as he watched her depart, hoping she'd veer away from her office, though knowing she wouldn't.
With a playful dance, Albus blocked Hermione's path, feigning innocence as she tried to enter her office.
Hermione, frustrated, demanded, "Why are you blocking the entrance to my office?"
Albus countered with a whimsical proposal, "Let’s have another baby."
Confused, Hermione asked, "What?"
Undeterred, Albus continued, "Or if not another baby, a holiday. I want a baby or a holiday and I’m going to insist on it. Shall we talk about it later, honey?"
Their playful struggle continued until Hermione relented, "If there is another stink pellet in there then Merlin won’t help you. Fine. We’re due to update the Muggles anyway," as she exited with Harry.
Albus, left alone, mused to himself, "A baby — OR — a holiday? Some days you are off the scale, you know that?"
Albus, with a smirk, replied, "It’s why you married me, isn’t it? My puckish sense of fun," before Hermione reentered the scene.
Chastising him, Hermione warned, "I can taste fish. I told you to stay away from those fishfinger sandwiches."
Albus sheepishly acknowledged, "Right you are," as Hermione exited once more, leaving him with a flood of relief as he finally opened the door.