Albus and Annabeth Chapter 2

Chapter 2, Year 1

All the fully grown aurors left with the dark wizard, Professor McGonagall, and a little girl giving their orders. They walked out the door and were back in the dingy dark hallway. You could see the aurors having their wands ready but trying to be discreet.

Soon, past many twists and turns, the aurors, Annabeth, and Professor McGonagall were climbing up a dark grey rusty medal ladder. Once they got out of the ladder they found out they just came out from a magical sink hole in the ground that was just a piece of brown unkempt grass in a secluded field. To the eye you couldn't tell that the patch of grass led anywhere. The aurors couldn't even because seconds later the once brown lifeless grass turned into a bright green patch with little dandelions similar to the ones along the rest of the fields' plain.

"That everyone?" Annabeth asked once the grass turned green again, "Good," she smiled wholeheartedly. Which still shocked most of the aurors but Professor McGonagall smiled back. The Professor didn't know why she did but she feels that this little girl is happy. Especially if she looks past her disheveled clothing and bony arms she just feels like a source of happiness. "Now, We just have to walk through a path, but I don't know where it is. But with the sticks you are all holding just point it at any tree and say 'Aperitor' it should put a defined path leading to the back of a park. Or if you just would like to leave now you can do your popping thing and leave from this clearing. It's hidden by magic except to those who have," she put on a solemn face, "had been told by my mother and now I guess you all will be able to come and go as you please." She smiled again. All of the guards were shocked, once again, Professor McGonagall was especially shocked at her magical knowledge but tried to conceal it.

"Yes well, Why don't we go to somewhere where they can help you while the au—officers take care of some things," McGonagall said like she was talking to a 3 year old and truthfully Annabeth was 11.

Annabeth drawled out the a sound in, "Okaaay," then she grabbed the Professors arm and smiled one last time to the aurors watching as she disappeared with Professor McGonagall.

Annabeth and Professor McGonagall arrived at St. Mungos by Appariation. The Professor thought that Annabeth might have gotten sick by the aftershock but she was fine; almost as if she had been doing it her whole life.

Annabeth looked back at the Professor, smiled kindly then started walking towards the secret door to St. Mungos. McGonagall was baffled by her knowledge of the hidden hospital and a beckon of hope came, maybe this man had taken her to a hospital?

"Have you ever been here?" McGonagall asked her dense and hopefully.

"No, I can sense the magical signature on this window," she smiled up at the Professor, "When I was younger I used to get lost in the woods sometimes with Michael," she swallowed, " When Michael and I would get lost in the woods I would always be able find our way back; detect the signature. Seth liked me for that,"

"Oh," McGonagall sighed she knew all about Michael from how Mary, Annabeths' mother, had told her about their sad life. She didn't let the sadness overcome her before in front of Mary and she can't let it overcome her when she's in front of Annabeth.

As they were walking over to the front desk, Annabeth with a slight limp, a couple started starring at them. Well most were but at least they had the decency to try to look discreet, but this couple was blatantly watching her. Now she didn't mind people being curious but after she had smiled at them and then the look of disgust on their faces she knew they weren't just curious. Annabeth stopped walking with McGonagall and walked over towards them; they stood there paralyzed but for what reason Annabeth didn't know.

"Hello," she said when she reached them, "So why are you staring at me? Do I have something in my teeth? I hate when that happens!" Annabeth smiled smartly at them, it was the first time that she had smiled like that since Minerva had meet her. McGonagall preferred Annabeth happily, but now she knows she can be just as cunning.

"Oh no," The husband started to say dimly but the wife pulled him away without a second glance at Annabeth; whom just smiled sneakily again.

"Come on then," Professor McGonagall shooed Annabeth to get to the desk faster.

They finally got to the desk. When they were there they found a young healer but instead of working she sat doing a crossword puzzle under her ledgers; not so discreetly might I add. "Name," she asked in a raspy bored voice still not looking up, her pencil tapping away at the desk.

"Minerva McGonagall," McGonagall said gruffly. The receptionist shot her head up so quickly that Annabeth was surprised she didn't get whiplash. Professor McGonagall gave her a stern look then continued, "I am here for an emergent overall checkout of Annabeth Hawthorne."

The witch just realized that Annabeth was there, took a look at her and gasped. "Yes, Yes, Right away," she said hurriedly and moving just as fast; or as fast as her skinny unathletic legs could carry her.

She called a healer over and brought a wheel car. Though when Annabeth realized all this fuss was about her she just waved her hand casually and said, "I'm okay, I can walk," with a heartwarming smile.

"Um..," the young healer said confused to Professor McGonagall whom took one look at Annabeth and knew she would give her exactly what she wanted.

"I think that if it starts to bother her I'll get her a wheel chair." The Professor sighed giving in. She herself would rather Annabeth go on a stretcher versus a wheelchair.

"O..kay," the healer said backing away with the wheel chair slowly so that we could change our minds or she's just confused.

When she finally came back she was accompanied by a more advanced looking healer who took one look at Annabeth and ushered her into a room hurriedly.

After the extensive check-up the healer concluded that both of Annabeth' arms had been healed incorrectly making them broken, her left leg was broken, and her back was so severely scarred that if she wanted it to heal correctly she must not walk or bend down for a week while taking pain medication and even then it wouldn't be completely healed. In addition to that she had severe bruising everywhere, she had magic unhealable scars on her arms and legs, and her muscles showed signs of long term torturing with the cruciatus curse.

The healer had wanted to keep Annabeth overnight but she promptly refused. After a while, and a lot of persuading on the Professor's part, the healer allowed Annabeth to stay at the Hogwarts Hospital Wing with Madam Pomphrey. Professor McGonagall and the healer all agreed that Madam Pomphrey would be able to care for Annabeth just as well as St. Mungos would be able to; maybe even better.