Author Notes: Once again thank you for reviewing, and the favourites and follows...love it! It lets me know how many are reading it and are taking the time to show it!
risi: Thank you, you will notice there are many different Povs in the story so far...I just hope it doesn't confuse or bore the reader.
Guest Reviewer: I am sorry I don't know what you mean by plot bunny, so I can't really say...though I hope as the story progresses the story will be more believable.
The Nosy Medi-witch
Sirius was impatiently drumming his fingers on the granite reception desk in St Mungos. They had been waiting for hours to get their prisoner admitted and yet had not been assigned a room. To top it off, their prisoner hadn't shown any signs of movement so far, causing Sirius to get a little worried as the effect of his "Stupefy" should had ended by now. Behind the desk stood a frazzled wizard, who looked like he might fall asleep any minute.
"How long now? You do realize who I am, don't you?" demanded Sirius infuriated at the sight of the medical staff casually walking in and out of rooms in snail's pace while the injured lay helpless in the emergency ward.
"Yes I know, Lord Black, but I can't assign a room unless one is free or an extra is added. Look around you they all have been waiting long before you. I am giving your case priority but you must understand unless I can see an available room or Healer even, my hands are tied." replied the receptionist, maintaining his monotonous voice till the end.
"We could wait a little longer." suggested Remus
"We have been waiting for a very long time." snarled Sirius, glaring at his old friend
"A little longer." repeated Remus who unlike Sirius was experienced in such matters. He always had to pay St Mungos a visit after every full moon and knew how tiring it was to get a room and be seen by a Healer. Sirius didn't realize he was getting specialty treatment by being able to jump the queue, but Remus did.
"Remus, have you noticed he hasn't stirred a bit since I stupefied him? We really did a number on him." said Sirius, letting his worry show in his voice. Had Sirius hurt the boy really badly, was it life-threatening? He had done some basic healing spells they taught at the Auror Training force but those spells had been utter failures with the child.
"I don't remember hurling any dangerous hexes." said Remus bringing Sirius back from his musings.
Remus was trying to think of all the spells he had used. They had mostly been elementary spells which had been used with a lot of creativity. Sirius tilted his head, his eyes narrowing, " Does the fact that you hurled my mother's favourite Troll table on his head count as dangerous?"
"That was a mistake, my spell was aiming for his legs but he moved and the table got pulled...hmmm I may have-" trailed off Remus feeling slightly guilty.
"Nah Remus, the point is you and I were defending ourselves, and are not to blame, well not by much at least. My concern is that a Healer won't take a look at him soon enough. I want to place him in an interrogation room not a coffin."
"We'll wait for a few more minutes, ten at the most." said Remus. After having taken a look at their prisoner, he too felt the Healer would soon be examining a corpse if the delay in medical attention lasted.
Sirius idly looked around the room to keep his mind occupied. The area was crowded with wizarding flock sprouting various nasty ailments. The emergency room situated right near the entrance forced normal wizards to rub shoulders with the injured ones, a reason, which had been the main cause that had spurred the pureblood rich families to erect their own private Hospital that charged exorbitant fees for treatment, ensuring only the "cream of the society" were able to afford it. The creation of a new special Hospital, named Aeternum Vita made St Mungos lose their annual (and sometimes monthly) financial aids and other donations that came from Pureblood families. The Hospital now ran only on Government funds which wasn't much when one took in the sheer size of the regular visitors and patients. It had not undergone a single renovation or addition to its facilities for the past two decades. On the other hand the population of those coming for treatment had only increased and the Hospital was thus always in a sorry state of affairs.
"Lord Black, Mr Black?" The receptionist's voice could put people to sleep. The wizard was at the moment looking at something under his desk as he spoke.
"Got a room?" asked Sirius
"Yes, we have, Room 13a is available in the seventh floor, once you tell us the problem we will assign a suitable Healer."
Sirius blinked, "Ahh," he craned his neck to see the damage done to the boy, "Spell injury mostly, hexes, a hit to the head-"
"Spell Damage," interrupted the frazzled wizard, his eyes glued to whatever was under the table, "Healer Klepment will be up in your room shortly. Have a good day."
"One of the reasons I hate this place." muttered Sirius walking towards the emergency ward.
...x...x...x...x...x...
The Healer, a thin man with gaunt cheeks walked in looking extremely harried. He had his wand by his side, his fingers having a shaky grip on it that made Sirius more than a little concerned for any and every patient treated by the man.
"Lord Black, can you tell me exactly where you have suffered the injuries?" asked the man, whose name tag read " Trainee Healer Klepment"
"Er-" Remus started to correct but Sirius beat him to it
"Honestly, does it look like I have any injuries? The child over there is the patient, now why don't you get to work Healer Klepment?"
The Healer slowly turned his eyes towards the said injured child, " I need a full report of his parentage and the Ministry sanctioned id to get started." he said at last after careful scrutinization.
"What are you saying, man? Since when does the Ministry issue ids and are you really telling me you won't treat him unless he has an id?" Sirius questioned disconcerted
" Not just any id, Ministry issued one."
"Why wasn't I asked then?" questioned Sirius aggressively
The Healer looked surprised, "You are a well-known figure Lord Black, there was no need for it."
"But surely you can heal him now, we will produce the id later." said Remus. He was as confused as Sirius having never been asked for an id before. This was a Ministry policy none of them had heard of, as of yet.
"It is mandatory, I could get thrown in Askaban-"
"Rubbish! When was such a policy issued? I certainly haven't heard of it in the Prophet or even the Celestial!" snapped Sirius
"It's been introduced only in St Mungos as a result of the illegal immigration, the Ministry doesn't like covering up the costs of such immigrants. Now I must go, unless you can give an id and then later fill up a Bio-data."
"Why weren't we told this earlier?" demanded Remus
"We thought the injured party was Lord Black."
"Of course a perfectly healthy man beside a battered child, shouldn't be difficult to discern." muttered Sirius sarcastically, "You know what Remus? We should just go to AV, come on. Wasted our time that's all we did here."
The Healer's face formed a scowl and he quickly left the room in a pompous fashion.
"I am beginning to realize why the old families created their own Hospital."
"Sirius, St Mungos can't afford much quality staff anymore, what with no more donations and aid." observed Remus wisely.
"Well its only AV now Remus, can't take him to Hogwarts, they don't have the expertise..."
...x...x...x...x...x...
In stark contrast to St Mungos, Aeternum Vita was richly decorated and had the homely ambiance that comforted sick inmates. There had been no need for any identification and a room had quickly been assigned, once the smiling receptionist had recognized Sirius Black.
"Medi-witch Smerthe will be looking after him along with Healer Selwyn. Once he regains consciousness, we can have a report filled. May I presume you don't have any opposition to the usage of Blood Healing Spells Lord Black?"
"I don't, Miss Vakre. Once he regains consciousness, do let us know."
"This is all very confidential isn't it?" asked Remus, a little thrown off that his friend was all for using Dark magic which was forbidden by the Ministry and lead to a stint in Askaban if caught.
"Always has been confidential." Sirius and the Miss Vakre, both answered in unison.
...x...x...x...x...x...
Medi-witch Smerthe was used to the sight of blood and gore, it was something she woke up to everyday, having got live-in quarters in the Hospital itself. So she wasn't much surprised when her newest patient arrived indistinguishable with dried blood all over him. He was in perfect hands and soon she had him all cleaned him and ready for Healer Selwyn. She took a minute to study the features of the boy lying on the warm bed. There was something familiar about him that she couldn't put her finger on. Smerthe decided to read up on his file later on. All she knew now was that Lord Black had brought him in. A lot of Dark magic had been performed on him as well so it was a good thing that they had permission to use their own bit of Dark magic to counter the effects.
A click sounded, informing Smerthe of Healer Selwyn's presence.
"Another case, hmm...let's see...do you see the chest? The blood is hot, when it should be cold...if it were normal it would be cold. Do you understand? What do you make of this?"
The man was an arrogant poof.
"The chest is under influence...?" replied Smerthe uncertainly
"Not quite right, the patient is suffering from the after-effects of influence. Dark magic leaves traces behind, which really is a useful thing as opposed to what we have been led to believe all these years. These traces help us figure out, no matter how subtle the curse used...
And on and on the man droned while simultaneously casting faint-light non-verbal spells on the child with ease.
...x...x...x...x...x...
"I say, the man's driving me up the wall! What does he take me for, Trainee Healer?" grumbled Smerthe to Amalda Vakre as her shift ended. She let out a covered yawn before asking, "Say. tell me about this child, Lord Black admitted. I feel like I have seen him before."
"You always say that." sighed Amalda Vakre, "You know the rules, can't give personal info...not that I have any to give. Besides I am in enough trouble, I still don't know how Mr Prewett's contagious illness became public news, I'm in enough fire already because of that!"
"Oh hippogriff dung! It will blow off soon. Now you have to admit, it is very curious. Amalda, you know, with his reputation and age, he could very well be the father!"
"Get your mind out of the fumes! When do you plan such scandals?"
"Hush you, it is highly plausible, he looks the type to father one or even two! Now I must hurry...you did say someone else was with him didn't you."
"Yes there was...I really shouldn't be telling you such...must you leave already! I have to be here till 2:00! I could use your company!"
"I'll check in soon...I just have a little business first, I'll be along shortly! Will bring in some roast chops and Firewhiskey tonight!"
And with that farewell Smerthe headed out into the cool night wind. She knew she was going to get her hand on some Galleons with the little information she had. Walburga Black would pay for it, certainly. The old hag was desperate for any news on her only son. Ever since Lord Black had cut all ties with her as well as ban the press from writing articles on him, she had gone mad with worry. Not for her son's health, but for the continuity of the noble Black line. The future of the Black line looked bleak though with Lord Black's apparent infatuation on his old best friend, there didn't seem to exist any place for a woman in his life.
