Part Two
Dr Bird broke into a run to catch up with the nurse, who was standing on the fire escape looking out across the maze of streets below the hospital. "We could do with one of those maps that show where people are, couldn't we?" he said laughing. Then noticing Nurse Garstang wasn't in the mood for jokes, he changed his tone. "Take it easy, Periwinkle. He can't have gone far."
Nurse Garstang turned to him. Her eyes were shining with anxiety. "Can't he? We've had the entire hospital searched. The house elves have looked everywhere. No joy. And no one on reception saw Lockhart leave."
Dr Bird shrugged. "Maybe he went some other way?"
"That's ridiculous," snapped Nurse Garstang, "You have to pass reception on your way out. Unless..." she stopped and they stared at one another as both realised at the same time that the alternative was right under their feet. "He must have gone out by the fire escape. Come on!"
+++
The blonde nurse was blinking at Gilderoy in astonishment through her unattractive specs. Evidently she hadn't been properly briefed about his condition. "So you don't remember anything?" she said, looking as though she wasn't quite prepared to believe him.
Gilderoy tapped his head, smiling vaguely. "Memory charm," he explained.
Sympathy was always nice, thought Gilderoy, especially when it was accompanied by a nice present or a couple of fingers of Ogden's Old Firewhiskey, but he was a little surprised by the strength of the nurse's reaction.
"This is terrible news!" she exclaimed. "How am I going to write -- I mean, how are you going to regain your memory?"
"How indeed," said Gilderoy agreeably. "Memory charm, you know," he added by way of explanation, wondering whether he'd already mentioned this to her.
The nurse checked her watch. "Goodness! Is that the time? No wonder I'm feeling so th-- er, hungry. Come on, Gilderoy, let's get you something to eat and I'll fill you in on your past -- hopefully that'll jog your memory."
And grabbing him by his pyjama sleeve, the blonde nurse led him off Diagon Alley, down a narrow side street and into a pub called the Green Basilisk.
________________
Disclaimer: JK Rowling's characters and the world of Harry Potter are hers, not mine. Me, I'm just passing the time till "The Order of the Phoenix" hits the bookshelves.
Dr Bird broke into a run to catch up with the nurse, who was standing on the fire escape looking out across the maze of streets below the hospital. "We could do with one of those maps that show where people are, couldn't we?" he said laughing. Then noticing Nurse Garstang wasn't in the mood for jokes, he changed his tone. "Take it easy, Periwinkle. He can't have gone far."
Nurse Garstang turned to him. Her eyes were shining with anxiety. "Can't he? We've had the entire hospital searched. The house elves have looked everywhere. No joy. And no one on reception saw Lockhart leave."
Dr Bird shrugged. "Maybe he went some other way?"
"That's ridiculous," snapped Nurse Garstang, "You have to pass reception on your way out. Unless..." she stopped and they stared at one another as both realised at the same time that the alternative was right under their feet. "He must have gone out by the fire escape. Come on!"
+++
The blonde nurse was blinking at Gilderoy in astonishment through her unattractive specs. Evidently she hadn't been properly briefed about his condition. "So you don't remember anything?" she said, looking as though she wasn't quite prepared to believe him.
Gilderoy tapped his head, smiling vaguely. "Memory charm," he explained.
Sympathy was always nice, thought Gilderoy, especially when it was accompanied by a nice present or a couple of fingers of Ogden's Old Firewhiskey, but he was a little surprised by the strength of the nurse's reaction.
"This is terrible news!" she exclaimed. "How am I going to write -- I mean, how are you going to regain your memory?"
"How indeed," said Gilderoy agreeably. "Memory charm, you know," he added by way of explanation, wondering whether he'd already mentioned this to her.
The nurse checked her watch. "Goodness! Is that the time? No wonder I'm feeling so th-- er, hungry. Come on, Gilderoy, let's get you something to eat and I'll fill you in on your past -- hopefully that'll jog your memory."
And grabbing him by his pyjama sleeve, the blonde nurse led him off Diagon Alley, down a narrow side street and into a pub called the Green Basilisk.
________________
Disclaimer: JK Rowling's characters and the world of Harry Potter are hers, not mine. Me, I'm just passing the time till "The Order of the Phoenix" hits the bookshelves.