Disclaimer: Not mine
Chapter Nine
23rd December 1997
St Mungo's Hospital, London
A plump middle-aged witch with a kind, motherly face pushed her greying hair out of her eyes and bustled along the well lit corridor. Over her standard black skirt and salmon pink blouse she wore her white Healer's robes with the hospital's logo of a crossed wand and bone displayed on her chest. Her companion, a tall young man, wore the same robes with a badge that pronounced him as a trainee. Augustus Pye was very interested in muggle forms of healing but had be warned by his superior that the injuries they would be treating were magical and therefore would not respond to muggle treatment.
The shorter of the two sighed to herself as she pushed open the large double doors that led to the Janus Thickey Ward. At least in this ward there was no sign of the uniform hospital bedding that was used in the other wards. Instead patients were allowed personal touches as this was their permanent home. All of the patients had brightly coloured quilts or blankets that family members brought from home. There were photographs on every bedside table mostly showing glimpses of the lives the residents had lead before whatever tragedy landed them in this ward.
Today Healer Miriam Strout was here for the purpose of checking up on Frank and Alice Longbottom. She had brought Augustus with her as it was war time and they needed all the help they could get in every ward. The white robed medi-witch smiled somewhat sadly as she approached her long-term patients. Alice was no longer the round-faced young woman she had once been. Her short hair had turned white, whether it was from the Cruciatus Curse that had driven her and husband to insanity or old age no one knew. Frank was in much the same condition looking just as emaciated as his wife. At least they too had photographs of Neville and their grandchildren to keep them company. Alice's top draw was full of the Droobles Best Blowing Gum that Neville had been bringing her since he was five years old.
"It's probably a blessing they don't know what's going on," the warm-hearted Healer thought to herself, "they would be so worried about Neville and his children."
The medi-witch let nothing of her feelings show as she fussed over her patients and chattered away merrily about anything and everything. None of them knew that their world was literally about to come crashing down around them.
...
Outside on the street stood a group of people clothed in darkness. Behind their bone-white masks their eyes shone with malicious intent. In a synchronised movement ten wands were raised into the air and pointed at the hospital.
"BOMBADA MAXIMA!"
...
Inside the building staff and patients alike froze in terror as an almighty BOOM rent the air. A tall brunette healer ran down the corridor. Her already fair skin paled as she heard the maniacal laugh of her elder sister. She paused in her pursuit to send her Patronus to alert the Order and prayed that they would arrive on time.
...
Grimmauld Place
A roaring fire and lanterns that hung on the walls cast flickering lights over the room's occupants. The door opened and in walked an elderly woman with hunched over shoulders and a rather pointed nose.
"Looks good on you cousin," Sirius Black teased from his position on the couch.
The old hag scowled and a moment later a young woman with mousy brown hair and dark eyes was standing there. She opened her mouth but her retort was cut off by the appearance of a silvery fox. The slender witch frowned as she recognised her mother's Patronus.
"Guys get down here!" she bellowed yanking open the sitting room door.
In mere moments the sound of many feet could be heard coming from all around to the house. The rest of the resident members of the Order of the Phoenix burst into the room. The fox opened its mouth and Andromeda Tonks' voice spoke:
"Death Eaters...attacking hospital...must...hurry!"
The fox disappeared. In the echoing silence that followed you could have heard a pin drop. It didn't last long Kingsley Shacklebolt was the first to regain use of his senses and began barking out orders. Several people went to rally the rest of the Order while the others went with Kingsley to the hospital. Sirius got to his feet but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. He glanced down into the pleading amber eyes of his partner.
"Please stay here," Remus Lupin begged.
"But Moony..." the Animagus started to protest.
His partner silenced him with a hand over his mouth and a whispered entreaty.
"You're eight weeks pregnant. You may not be showing but I don't want to risk anything happening to you or the baby."
Grey eyes soften as the tousle-haired man conceded to his lover's wish. He wrapped his arms around the werewolf and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.
"Come back to me," he whispered against the soft mouth.
Remus only nodded and the hurried off into the night. Sirius sighed and sank back down on the couch, resigned to wait.
...
St Mungo's
Cackling madly the eldest Black sister flung open the doors of the Janus Thickey Ward. Her heeled boots tapped ominously against the marble flooring as she stalked down the rows of beds. The heavy lidded eyes narrowed as they zoned in on the owners targets. A cruel smirk twisted her once beautiful face into an ugly mask. Raising her wand she walked towards the cause of her imprisonment. She was determined to kill those who were responsible for taking away all those years she should have been at her Master's side. Instead she'd been rotting away in dank, cold cell.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
A green light shot out of her wand towards Alice Longbottom but it never hit its intended target. Instead the woman's long-term carer threw herself in front of her charge the curse hitting her straight in the heart. Enraged the dark haired woman turned her wand on the other Healer and he too fell to the floor never to rise again. She was about to finish what she had came for when a voice she recognised called out to her.
"Bellatrix!"
The aforementioned witch whirled around dark eyes glittering with hatred and she spotted her younger sister.
"Sister dear," she cooed, "how delightful to see you again."
AN: Thanks to my good friend otkcp for all her help with this chapter. Hope you all enjoyed it as always please leave a review. They make me happy
