Change of plans, I have time to write one more chapter before we go camping today. So, yay! And, here it is!
Disclaimer-I own Harry Potter, and some major changes will be coming soon! Ow! Holy crap, who knew J K Rowling (the real owner...) could hit so hard?
*****
I saw Allyson stiffen out of the corner of my eye when we reached St. Mungo's and I grabbed her hand.
"It'll be alright," I whispered to her. She nodded and swallowed hard, but she didn't move, so I pulled her hand lightly and led her to the entrance.
"Hello," said a kind looking woman at the front desk. "Can I help you?"
"Yes, we're here to visit Irene and Zeke Albright."
The woman looked surprised, but nodded. "And you are?"
"Allyson Albright, and this is George Weasely."
The woman looked annoyed. "Allyson Albright died a year ago. Would you care to tell me the truth?"
"It's true!" she argued. "I am Allyson!"
"I don't have time for this," the woman said before turning away from us and toward some filing cabinets.
She looked at me, pain evident in her eyes. She threw her arms around me. "What now?" she asked quietly.
I was about to answer when someone a man with thick black hair and bright blue eyes walked up and touched Allyson's face. Something glimmered in her eyes, almost as if she recognized him.
Apparently the woman noticed too. "Who are you?" she asked again.
"I told you," Allyson said firmly. "I'm Allyson Albright. I lost my memory in the battle, and I went to the ministry of magic. They told me my only family was here, my brother and sister."
The woman nodded, then she walked over to another woman and whispered something to her. She looked like she'd just been told she had a second head she'd never noticed. "Alright," she said, walking over to Allyson.
"Wow," she said. "It's so strange to see you again," she said.
"Again?" Allyson asked, confused.
"Well, I wouldn't have believed it, but you do look exactly the same, so I suppose you must be her," she said.
"I am," Allyson insisted. "But who are you?"
"Right, memory loss," the woman said sadly. "I was a friend of your mother's. you used to call me Aunt Lucy."
Allyson looked like someone's just slapped her in the face. "I-I'm sorry," she said.
"Oh, it's not your fault dear," she said. "You can't help not having your memory. Let's go into your sister's room, we'll take Zeke over here with us, and I'll tell you about their condition."
She nodded, grabbing my hand and squeezing it tightly. Apparently the black haired boy was Zeke, because the witch led him down the hall with us.
"Allyson," she said, "This is your sister, Irene."
Irene looked a lot like Allyson, but I could tell she was older, and she had black hair. Other than that, they were almost identical.
I tried not to let the word identical bothered me. I needed to be here for Allyson right now.
"Allyson," Lucy said. "Irene and Zeke, as I'm sure you've been told, were victims of the Crutiatus Curse."
Allyson nodded.
"Well, as you know, the curse sometimes does things to people, messes up their minds. Zeke is almost totally unresponsive to anything. He eats, he sleeps, and he'll walk where we lead him, but he's almost a complete empty shell. That's why it was such a shock that he came up to you."
Allyson started at her brother, whose eyes were almost totally glazed over.
"Irene's not as bad," she continued. "She speaks some, and she'll react to the world around her, but she's prone to-"
She was cut off by Irene bursting into a bout of hysterical laughter. Allyson looked a little scared and I squeezed her hand to remind her I was here.
"That," she said. "And it's often followed by-"
Now Irene burst into sobs. It was a little strange to watch.
"That," Lucy finished.
"Thank you," Allyson whispered. Then s tear rolled down her cheek. I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her, and shockingly, Zeke came over and did the same.
Lucy looked like he'd just grown a second head and a tail.
"Oh my god," she said. "W-would you like a moment alone with them?" she asked.
Allyson nodded, and I started to follow Lucy out, but Allyson grabbed my arm and held me back. "I need you," she said.
"Is she out?" an unfamiliar voice whispered. Allyson's head jerked around so fast I was sure she'd given herself whiplash.
She looked at Zeke, but his eyes were still glazed over and unresponsive. Suddenly, he said again, "Is she gone?"
"Y-yes," Allyson said, looking more terrified by the minute.
"Good," he said, focusing his eyes on her. Then he went and sat down by Irene.
"Aly," he said. "It's been so long since we've seen you. Renie, look, it's Aly."
Irene turned her head towards Aly, but her eyes were still unresponsive. Then she started shaking uncontrollably.
"W-why can you talk?" Allyson asked slowly.
"Anyone can talk," Zeke said. "But I'm sure you mean, why am I not unresponsive like they seem to think I am?"
Allyson nodded, and he sighed. "I can't leave Renie here," he said. "You never came, and now I know why, but if I was alright, they'd restrict me to only seeing her during visiting hours, and I'm sure she's only better when I'm talking to her."
Allyson nodded, looking relieved that he was at least making sense.
"So I stayed 'crazy'" he said. "For Renie. But now that you're here, I don't know if I need to do that anymore."
"Why?" Allyson asked.
"Talk to her," he encourage. "See if you can help her. You guys were always close. Almost like twins."
Allyson turned to face me at the word twin, as if to make sure I was okay. I smiled at her.
"Irene?" Allyson said, sitting down next to her sister. "Renie, it's me, Aly."
Irene's head turned toward her again, but her eyes were still unfocused, and she continued shaking.
"Renie, are you cold?" she asked. "Is that why you're shivering?"
Irene shook her head and Zeke's eyes nearly popped out. "That's progress!" he said triumphantly.
Suddenly, Lucy knocked on the door, and Zeke's eyes galzed over. Allyson looked at me pleadingly, and I nodded, assuring her that I wasn't stupid enough to say anything.
"Well, I'm supposed to tell you that visiting hours are over for today," she said cheerfully. "But I think you should come back. It's definitely good for them and maybe good for your memory too."
Allyson nodded, smiling. "We'll be sure to do that," she said, looking at me. "You'll come with me, right?" she asked, her eyes begging me.
"Of course," I said.
"Where are my manners!?" Lucy cried, walking over to me and shaking my hand. "My name is Lucy, it's nice to meet you mister Weasely."
"Nice to meet you too," I said, smiling. It was rather funny how shocked she looked that she'd forgotten to introduce herself.
"Ready to go Aly?" I asked her. She smiled. "Yeah, I am," she said. "But we're coming back."