The healers walked just behind the head healer and the green-robed witch, trying to pretend they weren't listening, but making sure to take in every word. "I cannot condone this action, Professor McGonagal. He is simply not capable of being in a public place. Our private tutorage here at St. Mungos has been more than sufficient, and will continue to be. Hogwarts is not capable of-"
"It is not your decision what my school is or is not capable of, Healer Alduth." McGonagal's mouth was a thin line. The 5 floors to get to this student with this "healer" had been more than taxing on her patience.
"But you don't understand! He is far too aggressive for school."
"Sir, I've told you, if you would only give him a chance to-"
"Silence, Healer Jezebel!" Alduth shot her a look of fire that made the entire group of healers catch their strides and fall back another step. "Now, as I was saying Professor, surely you simply don't appreciate the gravity of your decision. I am simply trying to suggest-"
"You are suggesting nothing different than you have since you intercepted me in the lobby, Alduth. I have answered you succinctly, and you refuse to listen." She raised one hand, imperiously silencing Alduth before he could retort. "Professor Dumbledore heard all this before when he let a werewolf onto the campus- twice. He heard it all again when he put faith in a convicted murderer and when he steadfastly stood behind Harry Potter on the return of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. I would not be his worthy successor if I did not live by the example he set. Now, which room is the boy's?"
Alduth stared angrily at McGonagal, his shock paralyzing him. Suddenly, Healer Jezebel ducked past them both, and tapped the door lightly with her wand before tucking it back away. Several loud, metal glangs sounded within, and the door swung open. Its heavy metal plating shimmered in the corridor lights as over a foot of vault-like entrance swung open. Almost instantly, Jezebel, Alduth, and McGonagal were alone by the door. The other healers had moved into a semi-circle around it, their wands out and trained on the darkened entrance.
McGonagal stared, the realization of the boy's room overwriting her frustration. "You keep him locked up in there?!"
Healer Alduth ignored her, instead shoving past Jezebel as he drew his own wand. "I'll deal with you later." He muttered at her. "Destyne, come here." He called imperiously into the darkness.
An unholy, deeply rhasping voice bit at Alduth out of the darkness. "Fuck off, old man."
Jezebel shot a nervous glance at McGonagal, then noved alongside Alduth. "We'd like to talk to you, Destyne, not anyone else. There's a nice lady here who wants to meet you." There was a long silence, during which Jezebel finally reached down to rest the tips of her fingers on the handle of her wand. She didn't draw it, though, instead calling out again. "Destyne?"
"Promise she's just here to talk this time?" The voice had lost the hellish touch, being that of a normal small, nervous boy.
"Just do as you're told and get out here now, insulent child!" Alduth snapped, looking slightly mad. "You are being ungrateful for the time we are all taking out of our very busy day to deal with you."
"Please come out and talk to the nice lady, Destyne."
There was another pause, and a young, thin boy stepped out of the darkness in the vault. "Sorry, Healer Jezebel." He said quietly, and she ruffled his hair affectionately.
"It's all right, Dest-"
"AND?!"
The boy blinked at Alduth.
"Where's my apology for wasting my time?"
Destyne's eyes flashed red for a moment, his hands clenching in a claw-like position. He breathed deeply, the color receding and letting his hands relax. "I give apology where it is due." Ignoring Alduth's angry spluttering, he stepped forwards, looking up at McGonagal. "Are you the nice lady?
McGonagal watched the child, her mouth an even thinner line than before. "My name is Professor McGonagal, Headmistress. I am not simply here to talk, Destyne. You have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I will tell you know that further outbursts of any nature will not be accepted at school. Am I clear?" She held out the sealed letter to Destyne, but didn't let go of it at first.
"Yes Ma'am." Destyne said, staring at the letter with a look of awe. McGonagal started to open her mouth to tell him to call her professor, but stopped, and simply let him have the letter. It was different to be called "ma'am". Destyne stared at the letter, reading it quickly, his eyes moving too fast to possibly be taking in everything it said. Suddenly, he looked up at her, seeming confused. "But Healer Alduth said you'ld never let me in."
"Well he was wrong. I am here to make sure you get the letter this time."
"This time?"
"Nevermind that. Get ready to go to Diagon Alley to buy your school things."
Destyne's eyes shone as if Christmas had arrived early. "Diagon Alley?!"
"He has no funds, McGonagal." Alduth interjected rudely.
She stared imperiously back at him in silence until he backed away again, before turning back to Destyne. "I had assumed as much." She pulled out a small pouch of money and handed it to Destyne. "You will have to shop second-hand, but the Hogwarts Fund for Orphans should be suff-"
"I'm not."
"What?"
"I'm not an orphan. I just didn't have parents."
McGonagal looked up to Alduth, who was glaring openly at the child, not realizing he was being watched. Not finding an answer she looked to Jezebel, who shook her head violently, eyes wide. With a curt nod, McGonagal looked back at Destyne. "As you wish. I was saying, this should be sufficient for your needs. Now, go prepare- the Aurors will be here soon to escort you."
Without another word, she turned and left the wing to get the aurors. Jezebel came around to Destyne's side. "You heard the headmistress little man. Go get ready." Nodding happily he hurried off into his room.
"How dare you!" Alduth's voice cracked over the healer's heads as soon as McGonagal had vanished, sending the white-coated wizards scattering. Healer jezebel stood alone in moments. "How dare you undermine my authority?"
"Undermine you? I stopped you looking like an even bigger fool."
"You showed McGonagal the holding cell."
"Yes? That's the child's room, as dictated by your orders."
"But an outsider can't understand the necessity of the vault! You have embarrassed this entire establishment."
"You mean you've embarrassed yourself. Now move- one of us needs to go with him and it should be me."
"You're not going anywhere, Jezebel Weaver. I will accompany the subject, you are fired."
Jezebel laughed harshly. "Fired? Hardly, Alduth. I'm the one who can calm the poor boy down after you're finished with him. I'm the only one who can safely speak with all of his forms. And besides, you wouldn't want the authorities to hear all about your indiscretions with the patients, or your hiring process would you?"
"You wouldn't dare."
"Try me, Alduth." She was talking strong, but she braced herself for what she knew was coming.
The head healer's wand was back out. "You insignificant little-"
"Am I interrupting something?" A quiet, sarcastic voice sadi from behind the two healers. They spun, suddenly face to face with a company of five aurors.
"No, not at all." Jezebel said brightly as Alduth forced a smile. "Are you ready for Destyne?"
The lead auror nodded seriously. "I assume you will be accompanying us to help monitor the child?"
"Of course!" she said, not giving Alduth a chance to respond. "Destyne, come on. It's time to go!" she called into the vault.
Destyne hurried out, clutching his money and letter like some kind of lucky charm. "Ok! I'm ready!" he stopped in front of the aurors, staring. "Do you really hunt dark wizards?"
The lead auror shrugged uncomfortably. "Only when we need to, son."
Destyne held out one hand cordially. "I'm Destyne. I promise not to hurt anyone this time, ok?"
The auror looked shocked for a second before taking the proffered hand. "Shutz. Shall we get going?"
Destyne's eyes flashed purple for a moment, his grip tightening on Shutz's, then he let go and started walking. "All right. And Shutz? Don't' worry. It doesn't make you weaker that you want to never have to kill someone. That's what will push you to be strong." Without waiting for a response, he left the hall, the other four aurors following.
Jezebel rested her hand on the stunned auror's shoulder. "Don't worry, you get used to it. He's only trying to help and make a good impression. Come on." She walked past, grinning. "Wait up, Destyne! Diagon Alley won't vanish just because we don't get there right away. Hey, no running in the halls! That goes for all of you!"
Hopefully you all enjoyed this chapter, and the next will be up soon! It's already written, Ken and I just need to edit it a bit, and it should be up within a week. Stay warm everybody!
