Chapter 37- The Babbling Hex
"What can my excuse be?" Vic asked, a piece of toast in one hand and a quill in the other.
"Painting?" Ruby suggested, sipping tea.
"No, that was last week.
"Not feeling well?" Scorpius said, looking up from the Sunday Prophet. Ruby and Vic laughed. "What?" He asked, indignantly.
"If Vic says she's not feeling well then the entire family will be suspicious, Vic's got the best immune system out of all of us, Veela genes."
"Oh, how about lunch with a client?"
"I wouldn't arrange a lunch on a Sunday."
"Hamish always used to go to Muggle football matches on Sunday's, do you have a Muggleborn friend? I'm sure your Grandma won't check your alibi."
"Hmm, I could do that, in fact Melanie wanted to catch up soon, I'll send her an owl, see if she wants to go shopping in Muggle London, thanks Scorpius." Vic dashed off and Ruby took a sip of her tea.
"What time are you off to Hogwarts?" Scorpius asked, putting down his paper and smiling at Ruby.
"About an hour, I'm just popping in though. It's more to check on Dad, I'm going to grab his favourite sandwich from Hogsmeade. Are you coming to the Burrow?"
"I said I would, I'm getting some flowers for your Grandma, do you know if she has a favourite flower or colour?"
"That's nice of you. Her favourite colour is purple, not sure about flower though. I'm going to take Pox for a run, I won't…"
"I'll come."
"You will not come, you need to know your limits." Ruby smiled, knowing she was quoting Scorpius back to him.
"Very funny, Penny said I'm fine! I want to…"
"Compromise, I'll go for a run with Pox, when I get back you can help me out of my tiny shorts and into the shower."
"You're evil."
"I know, don't think I've forgotten the Quidditch match bet by the way, as soon as things are back to normal I will be collecting." Ruby sucked her bottom lip in and Scorpius leaned over and kissed her firmly.
"Hey Dad." Ruby said, kissing him as he stood up to greet her.
"Hello Poppet, how are you?"
"Fine thanks, I bought you a sandwich." She pulled the wrapped bacon, egg and waffle sandwich from her bag and presented it to him, his eyes widened in pleasure.
"Thanks, I had breakfast but…" He opened the sandwich and took a big bite, sinking back into his chair.
Ruby sat down next to her mother and squeezed her hand.
"Hey Mom."
"Are you going to the Burrow later?" Her father asked.
"Yeah, how's Uncle Harry doing? Have you seen him?"
"Ginny said he's…" Fred looked at his wife and then back at Ruby "…in a dark place, he's not been in." Ruby nodded, sighing.
"Poppy thinks she'll be awake soon, her signs are all going up." Ruby nodded again.
"How's it going with Vic?"
"Good actually, we stayed up late last night and watched films. Scorpius was studying so we could watch Chick flicks in peace." Fred laughed.
"Poor boy, living with you two. Is he going to the Burrow?"
"Yeah, I think he's scared, he's buying Grandma flowers."
"Smooth move." Her father laughed. Ruby nodded and then looked at her mother's face.
"Do you think she'll be mad at us?"
"Most definitely."
"You scared she'll yell at you?" Ruby said, looking at her father.
"Ruby, one thing I am most definitely not scared about is your mother yelling at me." Ruby nodded, knowing what he meant.
"Silent treatment." She said quietly.
"Indeed, hopefully she'll come around soon. I expect you to be on my side, maybe cry a little, that might help." Ruby laughed.
"She can probably hear you." She replied.
"I'm hoping she can smell me, I put extra after-shave on. I wanted to squirt some on the bed but when I suggested it to Poppy she looked like she was having a stroke."
The hospital wing doors opened and Ruby's sisters arrived. Annabel was carrying a bunch of tulips.
"They're nice, where did you get them from?" Her father asked, standing up and hugging the girls.
"I conjured them, Professor Longbottom told me the spell." Annabel replied, hugging Ruby and then putting the flowers in a vase on the bedside table.
"Are you coming back tonight, Rubes?" Immy asked.
"Yeah, I think so, why?"
"Can you bring me some of Grandma's cookies?"
"Oh, and me." Said Ruby's father and Annabel at the same time.
"Sure, I better go soon, Scorpius is probably quaking in fear. Bye Mom." Ruby leant down and kissed her mother on the cheek.
Within an hour Scorpius and Ruby were walking up to the Burrow hand-in-hand. Scorpius' other hand was carrying the biggest bouquet of flowers Ruby had ever seen.
She pushed open the door and Scorpius walked in behind her.
"Hey Grandma." She greeted, stepping into the kitchen. Her Grandma put a pie she was holding on the table and walked over to her.
"Hello dear, oh hello Scorpius, it's nice to see you up and about." Ruby felt her ribcage protest at the tightness of the hug but she smiled anyway.
"These are for you, Mrs Weasley, sorry I caused such…"
"You caused nothing but happiness, Scorpius! They're beautiful, I'll have to enlarge the vase. Go on through we're just about to start. Where's Vic?"
"She's gone to a football match with Melanie Spears, she said sorry but it's the final or something important and she promised Melanie she'd go."
"I haven't seen her for weeks, well go on through." Ruby took Scorpius' hand and led him through to the outdoor dining area, everyone seemed to already be here, except Uncle Harry. They all greeted Ruby and Scorpius enthusiastically and Scorpius exchanged nervous greetings.
Ruby sat down in between Scorpius and Aunt Ginny with Uncle Charlie sitting on the other side of Scorpius.
"Where's Uncle Harry?" She asked as her Grandma announced that everyone could start eating.
"Sulking in purgatory. Bloody stubborn hero-complex." Ginny muttered, reaching for the mountain of potatoes.
"Isn't it better now she's at Hogwarts?"
"I think it is a bit but he's still had to see things that…well, he's tearing himself up. I tried to get him to come but he's in one of his moods and it's only Eliza that will get him to snap out of it."
"She should be awake soon, Madam Pomfrey said everything's improving, although she wouldn't let Dad spray his aftershave on the bed." Ginny burst into laughter before leaning over to Scorpius and asking him how he was feeling.
"As good as new, thanks Mrs Potter." He said, passing Ginny a plate of beef.
"Call me Ginny, dear." Scorpius looked unsure but nodded.
"How's work been, Rubes?" Charlie asked.
"Alright thanks, quite busy, the new intern is quite good. Delilah Finnigan, she's a bit ditzy but when there's an emergency it's like a different person. Really weird."
"I didn't know Seamus' daughter was at Healer school, did you Ron?" Aunt Hermione asked.
"M'said…"
"Swallow Ronald." Hermione said sternly, Ron obeyed although it looked uncomfortable.
"Sorry, yeah I think Dean mentioned something once. She's his god-daughter."
"What does Dean Thomas do now?" Asked Percy, looking interested.
"He's in publishing. He draws diagrams for textbooks, most of the Hogwarts texts use him pictures now, he's really good." Said Hermione.
Just before the puddings arrived a Patronus arrived telling Ruby that she was needed at St Mungo's for an urgent case.
"For Merlin's sake! I've not had pudding!" Ruby grumbled, standing up.
"I'll send some home with Scorpius, and some for Vic." Said her Grandma, standing up to see her out.
"Thanks…oh and could you send some cookies to Hogwarts for Dad and the twins?"
"I'm surprised any of you have teeth left! Of course I will." Ruby smiled and leant down to give Scorpius a brief kiss.
"Will you be alright?" She asked, wondering if leaving him alone with her family was a good idea.
"He'll be fine, we've got loads to talk about!" Said Uncle Charlie, Ruby glared at him.
"When you say 'loads'?"
"Loads of stories about you, now off you go and save lives while we terrify Scorpius." Said Ron, laughing.
When Ruby arrived in the office Kyle was waiting for her, reading a large patient file.
"Oh, afternoon Ruby, sorry about calling you in but I can't use Finnigan for this, its top secret."
"No problem, what is it sir?"
"Transfer from Azkaban, last stages of Fortuna virus, shouldn't last long but the other departments are too full so it's been shifted to us."
"Fortuna virus? In emergency healing?" Ruby said, with a furrowed brow.
"I know, I wasn't happy but we're the only department with a free side room that can have prison guards posted in it. Are you read up on the virus?"
"I studied it last year, it's a virus that develops from sustained use of Dark magic combined with the Fortuna moss which grows in Azkaban. I thought they'd got rid of it all?"
"Apparently not, anyway she should be here soon. Judging on these vitals I don't expect her to last longer than a week but one of us will have to be in until she dies, no one else can know she's here, we couldn't cope with the press interest."
"Okay." Ruby nodded, wondering who it was but not wanting to ask. "Who knows who's coming?"
"Only the boss and the Azkaban guards and they're under vows so if anyone finds out they'll know it's us and losing our jobs will be least of our worries."
"Who is it?" Ruby asked, she hoped she wouldn't recognise the name.
"Dolores Jane Umbridge." Ruby felt herself pale and she could tell that Kyle noticed. "I know your family has a history with her but I hope you can treat her with the same dignity and respect you treat all our patients with."
"I'll try sir." Said Ruby quietly, she was suddenly quite glad she couldn't tell anyone about it, she wouldn't want her family to get into trouble.
"Fortuna virus is not a nice way to go, take solace in that if you must." Ruby nodded.
"How long do you need me in today? Madam Pomfrey thinks Mom will wake up soon."
"You can go when the transfer papers and spells are up, come back in at six tomorrow and we'll take shifts and sleep in the office until she's gone." Ruby nodded.
Kyle left to meet the guards and fifteen minutes later he popped his head in the office.
"Come on, she's here." Ruby picked up her wand and followed her supervisor.
Ruby entered the room just as the guards attached the bed to the wall. One of them turned to the healers.
"We put a silencing spell on her." He said.
"Why?" Kyle asked.
"You'll see." He replied before looking at Ruby.
"Ain't you a Weasley?" He asked.
"Yes, and she is the trainee healer assigned to this case, if you have any…"
"I ain't got a problem with it Healer, just wanted to warn her, don't let her inside yer head." He warned. Ruby nodded, feeling uneasy.
Kyle waved his wand over the patient and the other guard went to wait outside.
"Good afternoon, Madam Umbridge. You are in…"
"I know where I am. I still have a brain." The woman said, it looked like each breath caused her great pain.
"Excellent, well we will be looking after you. I am Healer Kyle and this is trainee Healer Weasley." Ruby saw Umbridge's eyes flicker over to her. Her eyes no longer had any trace of colour in them, the virus had bleached them of all character.
"Which one?" She croaked.
"I am Healer Kyle…" Kyle started but Umbridge interrupted him.
"Which Weasley?"
"That is no concern of yours. Here is a call bell, if you need anything then please use it. We won't change your Potion regime but if your symptoms worsen then let us know, any questions?"
"None related to my impending death."
"Excellent, well, I'll be back in…"
"Potter's daughter right? Eliza Potter's daughter, you look like her." Kyle shot Ruby a look warning her not to respond.
"Try and rest Madam Umbridge." Ruby said, as calmly as possible.
When they left the room Ruby felt herself sink with relief.
"You did well, Ruby. Go on to Hogwarts, I'll see you in the morning."
"Thanks sir, I hope she doesn't give you a bad night."
"I very much doubt that. Good look with your mother, I'll be thinking of her." Ruby smiled at left the hospital.
"You're a bit subdued Rubes, you okay?" Asked her father, Ruby had been sat in the hospital wing with her father and sisters for two hours but her head had been at the hospital.
"I'm fine, just thinking about work."
"I think it's ridiculous that you get called in when you're off, what if you'd been drunk?" Immy asked, biting into a cookie.
"Sobering charm, I guess." Ruby replied quietly.
"That's no fun." Immy retorted but Ruby didn't reply.
Ruby was staring at her mother's face when suddenly the hazel eyes flew open, Ruby jumped and her mother started screaming, tortured screaming.
"Eliza!" Her father yelled, standing up quickly.
"Annabel, get…" Ruby started but Pomfrey arrived and shooed the twins out.
"Eliza, look at me! It's okay!" Her father said, standing over his wife.
"Harry! Harry, you have to get him out! HARRY!"
"Harry's fine!"
"No… No he's at the Manor!"
"You've been asleep for a week Mom, he's fine, use the bond!" Ruby said, firmly.
"But…"
"Use the bond, Eliza, call him! I promise, he's fine!" Her mother's breathing was still wild but Ruby saw her concentrate for a moment and then sigh in relief.
"He's…he's coming." She whispered, closing her eyes briefly.
"It's okay, you're at Hogwarts, everything's fine, right Rubes?"
"Absolutely." Ruby replied, with as much optimism as she could muster.
Not even five seconds later Harry ran into the room and stopped so suddenly at his sister's bed that he fell over.
"Harry?" Eliza asked, unable to see him from her completely horizontal picture.
"Yeah, I'm here." Ruby helped her Uncle up and he dashed into her mother's field of vision.
"You look like complete crap." Fred snorted at his wife's words.
"Yeah…well, you're not exactly photo-ready yourself, Eliza."
"Lies, you look beautiful." Her father said, smiling.
"What happened to you?" Her mother asked, still looking at Harry.
"Nothing."
"You're a terrible liar, can I sit up? Actually my back hurts a lot…why are you looking at me like that?"
"I'll get you a Potion." Said Madam Pomfrey, practically diving into her office. Ruby's father shot Ruby a look that clearly told her to stay put.
"Ruby?" Her mother asked.
"Yeah, Mom." Ruby replied, stepping forward so her mother could see her.
"What's going on?"
"Umm…I don't want to tell her." Ruby replied, chickening out at the last moment. Her father sighed.
"Good news, Eliza!" He said, with a large-fake smile.
"What have you done?" She asked, her voice no more than a whisper.
"It's great news, actually Eliza!" Uncle Harry said, clearly trying to smile, he looked so tired that the smile actually made him look deranged.
"Oh for fuck's sake, what the hell have you two done?"
"Language Eliza, Ruby's here."
"Ruby learnt her vocabulary from Ron, I doubt she hasn't heard that before. What. Have. You. Done?"
"Personally, very little." Said Fred.
"We just signed a form, that's all." Harry continued, it was like they were suddenly twins.
"Ruby, if you tell me I swear you won't be in trouble." Ruby leapt at that opportunity.
"They signed a form so that you could have your back surgery while you were building up your magical reserves again. I didn't sign the form though, I just sat with you to make sure you didn't die."
"Traitor." Her father muttered.
"Who else was involved?" Her mother asked, in a voice of forced calm. Ruby had a sudden urge to keep talking.
"Umm…Penny and Aunt Minnie…"
"Ruby!" Uncle Harry hissed.
"Sorry, I can't help it, she said I'm exempt from trouble!"
"The thing to focus on here, Eliza, is that it's over! We don't have to spend the next few…"
"When was the last time you slept, Harry?"
"Recently."
"You can't be too mad at Uncle Harry, he's been trapped in your nightmares all week…I'm sorry, I can't seem to shut up!" Ruby stepped back with her hand over her mouth, her Uncle looked very annoyed.
"I'm fine."
"Harry, why didn't you take a Potion?" Her mother asked, softly.
"He said if you have to relive it then so would he…Oh my God, I'm going to tell the twins you're awake!"
"Stay there." Her mother said firmly, Ruby obeyed.
"Let me get you that Potion, Eliza." Said Harry, stepping away.
"Anything else to tell me?" Her mother asked, looking at Fred.
"No, I think Ruby covered it…"
"Uncle Harry didn't tell Teddy that you were having the operation because he didn't want him to worry and screw up the mission. Scorpius and I… I think someone slipped me a Truth Potion!" Ruby squeaked, genuinely going back and thinking about when someone could have poisoned her.
"I put a Babbling Hex on you, sorry." Her mother said.
"Mom! You're not supposed to be using magic, you nearly bought down the Burrow, we had to stun you!"
"Hold still, Rubes." Her father removed the hex and Ruby sank into a chair, feeling horrified. "You're lucky she's so honest Eliza, if you'd put that on Immy who knows what she'd come out with."
"I'm mad at you." Her mother said, frowning.
"That's fine. Be mad, I still love you anyway."
"I can love you and be mad at you at the same time." Her mother said.
"Glad to hear it."
Ruby wanted to ignore the buzz but she knew she couldn't. She rolled out of the camp bed and pulled the Healing robes over her pyjamas. Why couldn't this woman just die?
Umbridge had been in St Mungo's for over three weeks now and Kyle and Ruby were both exhausted. They had alternate twelve hour shifts and it didn't look like Umbridge was getting any worse.
When she entered the corridor it was empty, and the prison guard was sitting in a chair looking bored.
"She call you again?"
"Yep." Ruby replied.
"Bloody bitch, she's just doing it to spite you." Ruby nodded and opened the door.
"Yes, Madam Umbridge."
"I need to go to the bathroom."
"You've got a catheter." Ruby replied.
"It is not for that."
"Then I'll cast a spell. You can't get out of bed."
"I bet you're loving this, dear."
"Helping you to crap, not really." Ruby replied, too tired to be polite.
"Watching me die."
"I'll let you know when we get there."
"I bet you're telling your horrible family all about…"
"No one knows you're here."
"Not even your mother."
"Nope."
"She was good at keeping secrets, I could never get information out of her, not even when I tortured her, did she tell you?"
"Shockingly enough you've never been mentioned in our household, it's a happy place."
"I should have killed her when I had the chance. And that bitch Minerva McGonagall, is she still alive?" Ruby felt herself grow cold but the spell hadn't finished yet.
"Yes."
"You should have seen your mother's face when I said she was dead, it is one of my favourite memories."
"The spell has finished, try to rest."
Before Umbridge could reply Ruby left the room and slammed the door.
When she returned to Grimmauld Place in the morning it was as much as she could do to drag herself up the stairs. When she entered the bedroom Scorpius was just getting up.
"Hey, good shift?" He asked.
"No." Ruby replied shortly.
"That patient still alive?" He asked, although no one knew who it was, it was common knowledge that Ruby and Kyle were looking after an Azkaban inmate. Ruby was glad no one knew who it was.
"I can't talk about it. I just want to sleep." Ruby said, climbing into bed with her clothes and shoes still on. She felt Scorpius pull off her shoes.
"Your Dad popped in last night, he said your Mom's home, he's leaving for South America next week and he wanted to know if you could still move home."
"UGH!" Ruby groaned, completely exhausted.
"He's worried about you, we all are. Talk to me Rubes. I felt like I haven't seen you for weeks." Ruby opened her eyes and looked at him.
"I'm sorry. What time do you have to leave?"
"Half an hour."
"Can you cuddle me?" She asked, he smiled and climbed in next to her. "Just cuddle, I'm too tired."
"I know, you still need to collect the bet you know?"
"Yeah, when it's over."
"Over?"
"When they're dead. Kyle said he'd give me a week off."
"Oh, well then I hope they die soon, in the nicest way possible."
"I hope they die sooner, in the most painful way possible." Ruby fell asleep quickly, happy to be held by Scorpius even if it was only for a little bit.
When she woke she realised she had slept for over ten hours. She sat up quickly and then felt a wave of sickness hit her and she only just made it to the bathroom in time.
"Rubes, you alright?" Scorpius asked, coming into the bathroom and holding up her hair.
"Yeah…just tired, over-tired. I can't believe I slept so long."
"You clearly needed it. Do you want a Potion?"
"No, I'm fine, just need some breakfast, or dinner."
"I ordered a pizza."
"Merlin, I love you." Scorpius laughed and pulled Ruby to her feet.
When they arrived in the kitchen a few minutes later Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur were there, sharing a pizza with Vic, her pregnancy was still unknown, except to her parents who were delighted.
"It just arrived, yours is there." Vic said, not minding that a piece of pepper was stuck to her chin.
"Thanks, hello guys. How are you?" Ruby asked, sitting next to Bill. Scorpius opened the box and Ruby nearly drooled at the smell.
"Fine thanks, we're popping to see your Mom later. She'll be glad we've seen you, although I don't think I can tell her you look well." Uncle Bill replied, passing Ruby a butterbeer.
"These shifts are killing me, tell her I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Can't they get someone else in?" Fleur asked, looking concerned.
"It's all top secret, we can't change staff. We didn't realise it would take this long for… the patient to die." It was hard to leave the gender out all the time.
"Uncle Harry heard from Teddy today, he's made really good progress, he thinks he could be back by my birthday!" Vic said, smiling.
"That's great!"
"When is that?" Asked Scorpius.
"Start of May."
Ruby had an enjoyable dinner and when she arrived at the hospital she was foolishly hopeful that Umbridge would have deteriorated.
"Hello sir." She said, putting down her bag and switching on the kettle. Kyle was sat on the camp bed reading some parchment.
"Oh, there you are Ruby."
"Is she dead?"
"Fat bloody chance, I'm repeating the bloods, she can't be at final stage if she's taking this long! We can't keep this schedule up, my wife is going ballistic and I've had half your family in here and a Howler from Molly Weasley!"
"I'm so sorry sir!" Ruby said, mortified.
"Don't worry, I don't blame them, especially with your mother still recovering. When the bloods come back we'll see if she can go back to Azkaban." Ruby nodded, yawning.
"When should they come in?"
"A couple of days, oh and Penny's on tonight so she said you could work on the project if you get a chance." Ruby nodded, hoping she had time to escape upstairs.
"Fingers crossed." Ruby muttered.
"Scorpius popped in earlier."
"Did he?"
"He's worried about you. Don't forget to go out when you've had a bad shift."
"It's all I can do to get up the stairs to bed at the moment sir, I'll bear it in mind though, thanks." Kyle nodded and left.
Ruby had barely finished her drink before Umbridge called her. She couldn't reach her water. Ten minutes later the light was too bright. Twenty minutes later it was too dark.
She left the horrible woman's room and walked straight up to Paeds to find Penny.
"Hello Ruby, you look annoyed."
"I doubt I'll have long but…"
"We'll start with Frank and see how we get on, you look very tired. Robert looked exhausted as well, it's not like him to hope a patient dies quickly."
"The patient tends to have that effect." Said Ruby as they left the office.
They had only started the first experiment when Ruby's wand vibrated, signalling that Umbridge needed her.
"I'll be as quick as I can." She said, she ran out of the room and all the way down to the room, when she arrived she was out of breath and felt sick.
"Yes, Madam Umbridge?" She asked, stepping into the room.
"I have a headache."
"What kind of headache?"
"A pressure in my temple." Ruby resisted the urge to say 'good' and moved away to prepare a Potion.
"One of the guards told me that you are dating Draco Malfoy's son." Ruby didn't trust herself to reply.
"I always knew that Narcissa softened that boy, she didn't instill the right values. They must be distraught, the shame of it! A Malfoy and a Weasley!"
"Drink this." Umbridge sipped the Potion, not taking the full dose.
"Your family can't be happy either, Arthur Weasley and Lucius Malfoy go way back…"
"Drink the rest." Umbridge sipped again, as if it was a cocktail.
"Lucius always spoke most highly of your mother, he said she always fought so hard, the thrill of it…"
"Drink the potion!" Ruby snarled, Umbridge's eyes dilated in pleasure.
"But you must know how many men have…" Ruby walked out of the room and snapped at the guard.
"Make sure she drinks that Potion."
"Yes Mam." He said, going into the room, he looked back at Ruby. "Told you she gets in your head."
Ruby walked back to her office and sank into the bed with her head in her hands and angry tears rolling down her face.
Twenty minutes later, Penny found her.
"Ruby, are you okay?"
"Oh…sorry Penny, I forgot, I'll come now."
"Don't worry, he was too tired, I've put him back to bed. What happened?"
"I can't talk about it." Ruby sniffed. Penny sat down next to her.
"I know some patients make it hard to help them, I even get that with kids! Just follow the Healers Oath and let it guide you." Ruby nodded and Penny left.
Ruby climbed into the bed and was just drifting off to sleep when the foghorn alarm sounded. Umbridge had stopped breathing, and now Ruby had to try and save her.
A/N So, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, let me know!
xXMizz Alec VolturiXx- Thanks!
witchprincess33- I will update The Protector next week, I promise!