Chapter 29

Answers and More Questions

"How many place settings do we need, Mum?" Ginny asked, carefully magicking a tall stack of dinner plates to the dining room table.

"Isabel's brother will be joining us, as will Sarah..." Molly said aloud, doing the math in her head. "Set up fifteen at the table, dear. We'll have Victoire, Dominique, and James at the breakfast nook."

"The children will just end up in our laps anyway." Fleur added in her thick French accent with a good natured laugh, helping Molly with the cooking. She was six months pregnant with her and Bill's third child, but was insistent on helping however she could. The Weasleys- spouses, children, significant others, and all- were coming to dinner at the Burrow that evening, with the addition of Nigel, and the exclusion of Isabel. It had been over two weeks since Isabel had been taken to St. Mungo's and they hardly knew anymore about what was ailing her than the day she got there. Not once in those two weeks had George been allowed to see her, and Molly could see that it was weighing heavily on her son. She had sent word to all her children, explaining the situation and that they were having a Weasley family dinner that Sunday, no exceptions. George needed their support now more than ever. Much to her approval, each one of them had sent their own owls back, telling her that they would be there and including words of encouragement for George. So they were expecting quite the crowd.

Dinner was nearly done and there were several Weasleys yet to arrive, but Bill, Ron, and Harry were in the living room with Arthur, and the children, talking over the lastest news at the Ministry, recent quidditch matches, and other such things. Percy and Audrey were the next to arrive. Percy shirked off his coat, and then took the coat off of his pregnant wife's shoulders as well, she was three months and only just beginning to show, but that didn't stop him from doting on her. They removed their winter coats and hats as well and then warmed themselves by the fire as they too joined in on the conversation, though it wasn't long before Audrey decided to lend a hand in the kitchen. Soon after that, Charlie blew in, wind whipping at the door as he forced it closed.

"Getting bad out there, it is. Reckon we'll see snow by morning." He commented as he added his coat to the rack. There was a chorus of greetings followed by hugs as well. Charlie didn't come around as often as the others; his job in Romania working with dragons kept him quite busy. The living room grew silent for the first time though when the four missing attendees arrived all together. Fred, Sarah, George, and Nigel all entered through the front door, brushing a few scattered snowflakes off their coats before throwing them onto the over-burdened rack. All those in the living room stood and went over, murmuring phrases of greeting and the introduction of Nigel to the few Weasleys he had yet to meet.

The Weasleys and their friends talked together awhile, but it wasn't long before Molly hollered from the kitchen, "Dinner's ready!" Everyone gathered at the new, large dining table, and Mrs. Weasley received a number of compliments about her lovely new, and well accommodating dining room. She smiled and told Nigel, with pride, that her wonderful children had bought it for her and had it installed while she and Mr. Weasley had been on vacation. Beyond that, though, the conversation was a bit more subdued that night. Of course the small children kept it lively. They started out sitting together in a cute little breakfast nook, but before long, the young ones joined the 'adult table' and the older ones, feeling left out, came over as well. George was bothered and bothered until he finally consented to have little James sit in his lap, but Dominique just plowed right into Fred's lap. It was actually quite a common occurrence.

By and by, the meal finally came to a close and as Molly got everyone to help with the clean-up, George explained the plans for the night. He and Nigel, along with both Fred and Sarah, were heading out to St. Mungo's that evening. He had been in contact with Leopold Latchworthy at the hospital, and it seemed that there might have been some slight improvement in Isabel's condition. George was glad for even something small at that point. Ron volunteered to go with them as well, even if it was just for a short time, and Hermione was more than willing to go along with him. Charlie, who had found many commonalities between himself and Nigel, and who was also hoping to at least delay the girlfriend speech from his mum, as he was currently the only unattached Weasley, decided to tag along as well. So the seven of them said their goodbyes, and thank yous for the wonderful dinner, before heading back out into the cold.

They apparated as close as they could safely get to St. Mungo's and then walked a few cold blocks before finally pushing into the hospital's waiting area. Just as he had every day, multiple times a day, for the last two weeks, Nigel approached the information desk so they would let Leopold know he was there. As he did so, the rest of them took seats in an empty section of the waiting room. Fred had an arm around Sarah and Ron was sitting beside Hermione, holding her hand, as Charlie talked with George about whatever, just to keep his brother's mind on other things. Though to everyone's surprise, Leopold had come out to speak with them nearly as fast as Nigel had joined them again and sat down. But something about his face made George think that this wasn't good news.

"Leo? Is something wrong?" George was on his feet, Nigel right beside him, waiting for whatever news the healer was about to give them.

"Well... I have a bit of good news... and some bad news too..." Leopold told him gently, wanting to prepare them for what he was about to say. "We should go somewhere more private." Nigel just shook his head.

"Just tell us." He didn't want to wait and he didn't care if George's family heard.

"Her hallucinations have improved somewhat... and she's been conscious most of the day."

"Merlin! That's great news!" George blurted out, but then backtracked slightly, because Leopold's face didn't say 'great news'. "I mean... isn't it?"

"Well, yes... however... she is still having some hallucinations. And there's more..." It was clear by the healer's tone, this was the bad news. The two men were waiting in anxious anticipation for the healer to continue. "Isabel has developed another symptom; a very strange rash, the likes of which I have never seen. We have pooled all of our resources; I assure you we are working on this night and day. But her illness grows more mysterious by the day." George fell back in his seat, his heart sinking like a rock in his chest. Just when he thought things might be looking up, they had really only gotten much worse. He felt a firm hand on his shoulder, it was Charlie who was still sitting beside him.

"Forgive me, but can I ask... what do you mean by 'a very strange rash'?" Charlie asked the healer. He already knew of Isabel's high fever and hallucinations from George. George had also just been telling him how it was that Isabel became ill, and wheels had begun to turn in his mind. Leopold looked to Nigel for permission, and the Irishman nodded his consent, so the healer answered Charlie.

"It's... abnormally colorful and rather widespread on her shoulder and abdomen, calloused in a way that's almost... scaley." Leopold answered, though a bit hesitant, unsure how they were going to react.

"Merlin's beard!" Nigel exclaimed, eyes going wide in alarm from the oddity of the description, and he fell back into his own seat.

"I think I know what this is." Charlie said, and everyone's eyes snapped to him.

"How? Who are you?" Leopold questioned immediately. He had been searching for answers for so long, and he was willing to hear the man out, but he had to know from whom the information was coming.

"Name's Charlie Weasley, Sir. And I'm no healer, but I'll tell you what I do know. I've worked with and trained dragons all my life, live in Romania, in the heart of dragon country. What you just described is Dragon Fever. I've never actually seen it myself, but we're all told to know the symptoms. It's a rare thing it is, almost unheard of, especially outside of dragon country."

"My word..." Leopold uttered, his mind recalling a vague textbook definition of the disease in question. There hadn't been a documented case since the 1500s if he recalled correctly.

"Well now- now we know what it is... that's good... isn't it?" George asked, desperate for some hope, but Charlie's and Leopold's faces looked all too grim.

"The cure was lost long ago... very little information of it still exists... even we only know of it through word of mouth." Charlie answered softly, giving his brother's shoulder a squeeze. George lept to his feet.

"There has to be something." He said determinedly. "There has to be."

"Your brother is right, George. With next to zero documented cases in centuries, there has never been the need to rediscover it."

"Until now." George snapped.

"How long does she have?" Nigel asked this time, looking from Charlie to Leopold and back again. "How long does my sister have to live?!" His voice increased in volume when he didn't receive an answer.

"Once Dragon Fever is at your door

You have a few months

But no more."

Charlie murmured the mnemonic rhyme, in answer to his question, and all was silent for a long moment. Hermione's one hand was over her mouth, clearly alarmed by the news, as Ron held tightly to her other hand.

"And... we still can't see her?" Sarah finally spoke up, her voice quavering. Iz had been her best friend, ever since Hogwarts. They were practically sisters.

"I am sorry... but the risk, it's simply too great at this time. A Dragon Fever epidemic is something we cannot have on our hands." Leopold's eyes were sincere and heavy with regret for her loved ones. Sarah wasn't mad at him, she wasn't outraged or even demanding. But her best friend in the world was dying and she couldn't even see her. Sarah couldn't hold back anymore. For weeks she'd been hoping, praying, but it seemed as if Isabel had just been given a death sentence, and Sarah could do nothing. Pulling her hand out of Fred's she apparated straight out just as the first tears fell from her eyes. Fred was on his feet in an instant, grabbing at the thin air which Sarah had just disappeared into. He was now faced with the hardest decision of his life. Stay for his brother or go after his girl. A desperate and guilt-ridden look filled his features, but all it took was one glance at George.

"Go." George couldn't keep him from going after Sarah, not now of all times. Fred hesitated. "Go." And then Fred was gone in the same manner as Sarah had just moments before.

"I am... terribly sorry." Leopold remarked, before either man could say anything. "Perhaps, if she continues to improve... if her hallucinations stop being so violent... then perhaps we will talk again about visitors. As of this moment, however, Isabel is officially under quarantine. I'm sorry, Nigel, but not even you will be allowed back." With a sorrowful look, Leopold turned and stepped towards the doors on the other side of the room.

"Now wait just a blinking-!" Nigel went to follow Leopold, but was stopped by Charlie's hand on his shoulder.

"Won't do any good, mate."

"Nothing will anymore." George muttered. There was a deep despair inside him that he had never felt before. With a pop, he too, was gone from the hospital's waiting room.

oOoOoOoOo

Fred looked everywhere. He searched Sarah's cottage in Hogsmeade, he looked in his shop, he swung by the Burrow to see if she was there, he even walked through downtown Hogsmeade to see if she was wondering about. He checked with Fallyn and Frank, but neither of them had seen her, though they helped him look. He looked, and then looked some more, all the while searching his brain for places that she might have gone. It was getting late and cold as snowflakes fluttered down from the black sky, catching on wisps of wind causing them to swirl to and fro. Fred checked the cottage once again, to see if she had gone home, but still there was no sign. That was when he recalled a conversation that he had had with Sarah not too long ago. He apparated immediately, reappearing on the porch of a cozy little house, nestled in a perfectly private piece of countryside. He banged loudly on the door and shattered the dead silence.

"Harry! Gin! Open the door!" He banged again. Lights flickered on and steps were heard, and then finally the door swung open and there stood a rather unhappy looking Ginny.

"Fred? What in-?" Her words were cut off as he pushed inside, stepping around her.

"Where is he? Harry!" Fred yelled.

"Fred Weasley, if you wake my child, so help me I will-" Ginny began to threaten crossly, and Fred was all but ignoring her.

"Harry!" He yelled once more as Harry appeared at the top of the stairs.

"Bloody hell, Fred. What's going on?" Harry muttered, cinching his robe as he descended the stairs. Fred decided to be ignorant of his brother-in-law's skewed glasses and the fresh red markings on his neck.

"Marauder's Map. Where is it?"

"That's what you want? Some silly piece of-" Ginny began, only to be cut off yet again by Fred.

"Yes, let me borrow it and I'll be outta your hair."

"Fred, if this is some sort of joke, can't it wait til morning?" Harry grumbled, feeling more than a little peeved at his brother-in-law's interruption of what had been a quite enjoyable night.

"It's not a joke. Just tell me where it is and you can go back to... playing wizard chess." He muttered. Ginny gaped slightly, but then didn't seem to have anything to say so she went back up to her room without saying goodnight to Fred.

"Alright..." Harry sighed. Clearly Fred was not going to leave until he got the map. "I'll grab it." He walked up the stairs to his office and closed the door behind him. Hands shifting some papers around in a lower drawer, he pulled up the false bottom and took out the Marauder's Map. He couldn't help smiling slightly, despite everything. There were a lot of memories in that parchment. Taking it downstairs, Harry handed it over, but now his curiosity had gotten the better of him. "What do you even need it for, mate? It's the middle of the night."

"Lost something..." Fred answered, feeling the whole story would take too long. "Thanks for this. I owe you one."

"Yes, you do!" Harry called after him, just as Fred disapparated. He looked on curiously for a moment, but then turned and went back upstairs, joining his wife once again.

Fred apparated as close as he could, then hoofing it the remainder of the way through the flurry, recalling the conversation that led him to believe she might be somewhere near Hogwarts.

"I wish I could see her... Iz and I have been friends since first year, you know?" Sarah told him, her head resting on his shoulder. "we even had our own special place at Hogwarts."

"Oh, where was it?" Fred asked curiously in return, gently rubbing her back.

"I can't tell you that!" She stuck her tongue out at him. "But it was lovely, especially in the spring. And no one ever found us there. We used to weave little crowns out of flowers when we were younger, and giggle over boys when we were older." Sarah giggled fondly at the memories.

Her lovely little laugh echoed in Fred's mind, just as two little shoe-print inkblots, and his name, appeared on the edge of the map, indicating he had just stepped inside the perimeter. It must be somewhere outside, he thought. Somewhere that there were a lot of flowers in the spring. That didn't help him much now though, as everything was frozen and covered in a dusting of snow. His first thought was the Black Forest, but no, nothing so pretty as what Sarah had described would be found in there. Perhaps near the lake? He didn't see her name anywhere near there. Fred lifted another fold, finding the quidditch pitch on the map, still she wasn't there. He had begun to think that maybe he had been wrong about her being here, when something caught his attention. There, nestled behind the herbology greenhouses, was Sarah's inkblot.

Fred ran pell-mell in her direction, keeping his eyes on her dot in case she moved, but she never budged. He rounded a sharp corner, sliding a bit in the slippery, frozen grass, and there he finally found her. Right where the trusty old map said she would be. Fred stuffed the parchment into his back pocket and went straight to her, dropping to his knees in front of her shivering and huddled form, tugging her tightly into his chest. Sarah made a half surprised, half still sobbing sound, but then just pressed herself into his chest.

"Sarah... Oh Merlin, love..." He frowned deeply and lifted her into his arms. "We gotta get you warmed up." Holding her tightly to him, he tromped back through Hogwarts' grounds through the blustering wind, going as fast as his legs would carry them, her body shaking in his arms. Finally though, he reached where he could apparate, and he transported the both of them into his flat. Fred set her down on the couch, first getting a roaring fire going in the hearth before taking off her coat and shoes and then his own. Once again he pulled her shivering body into his, covered the both of them in a blanket, and settled down with her in front of the fire.

"S- s- s- sorry... Fre- Fred... I..." Sarah made an attempt to speak, chilled to the bone and still upset, but Fred shushed her gently.

"Just let me hold you, Sarah. Just focus on getting warm. It's okay. I've got you, love." Fred murmured softly and nuzzled her hair as he soothingly rubbed her back. "Just let me hold you."

oOoOoOoOo

George tromped up the stairs to the flat that he shared with his brother, and for the last few weeks, Isabel's brother as well. Snow clung to the tips of his fiery red hair, which was half frozen and half thawed, beading melted slush at his temples which dribbled down into his coat.

After disapparating from the hospital, he had found himself at that magical little pond in the woods, watching couples and small children skating around in circles, smiling and laughing like there was nothing wrong in the world. After a while though, the old man who rented out the ice skates approached him. The man remembered George, nothing so alarming had happened in his little frozen wonderland, not in forty years, and it wasn't likely that he would ever forget that young couple. He wanted to know how Isabel was doing. George could only shake his head and excuse himself, walking back out onto the streets of London with his hands shoved in his pockets and the wind blowing whips of snow and ice at any exposed skin. It didn't stick to the ground, so there was only brown slush, no glistening white snow, and the wind was bitter and angry. He thought it suiting.

After a few blocks, or perhaps it was a few miles, of aimless wandering, he found that he was at least heading in the general direction of Diagon Alley. He could apparate, but then he didn't see much of a point, so on he walked, not paying much attention to anything but his own two feet as they strode through the ugly slush. That was until a voice that was clearly addressing him, made him look up. A hopeful, cheery looking couple stood there holding a muggle camera out to him. They wanted him to take their photograph. Though the gentleman took his silence as a yes and simple placed the contraption George's hands as the two hurried to pose by the half-wall, stone ledge. Muggle cameras really weren't all that different from wizarding ones, except that they only took boring still pictures. As he looked through the little spyhole to take the picture, George realize where he was standing for the first time. They were on the North bank of the Thames, and directly across the water, the London Eye was lit up in spectacular blue lights. He clicked the button, and without checking to see how it turned out, he gave the camera back to the man and hurried on his way. Though instead of continuing on foot, he rounded the corner of a building and apparated right into the shop.

Wet and frozen at the same time, but hardly caring enough to shake the snow from his hair, George pushed into the living room of his flat. Fred was there and the fire was going, and he held Sarah, who seemed to be asleep, in his arms. He didn't stop to greet his brother though, nor did he stop when Fred called after him, instead he just went right into his room and fell onto his bed. His door shutting and locking with a click behind him. Neither awake nor asleep for a long time, George laid there deep in his own thoughts, until an uneasy sleep came over him. The very last thing on his mind was the first kiss he shared with Isabel, stopped at the very top of the London Eye.

oOoOoOoOo

"Bell..." George rolled over in bed, dreams of her lovely face already slipping from his memory as he rubbed his heavy eyes. A glance out his window and he could see it was just before dawn, and something had changed in the night. Instead of grimy slush, a fresh dusting of pure white snow lay upon the earth.

In moments he was on his feet and headed out his bedroom door. George had an idea. It may not have been the most thought through of ideas, but he wouldn't be shuffling about in despair anymore. He had given in to it last night, but that was as much as he would allow. George Fabian Weasley was a man of action, and he would find a way to help Isabel, come hell or high water. He stopped in his tracks though, catching a whiff of his jacket and wrinkling his nose at the scent of stagnant water. He would be a man of action after a quick shower. As he gathered some fresh clothing from his wardrobe, George began to come with a few more thoughts on how to carry out his idea. The more he thought about it, the more he came to realize that this wasn't the sort of thing that he could do on his own.

He snatched a couple pieces of parchment from the drawer of his desk along with a quill and a bottle of ink, though he didn't bother sitting down. George scribbled down two notes and stuffed them into envelopes before sending them off, using both his and Fred's owls, knowing his brother wouldn't mind. Right after sending both birds into flight, he grabbed his clothes and then hurried for the bathroom, more than ready to get the day going, though he would have to wait for both answers.

It was still fairly early when George was finished getting ready for the day, though he could hear Fred up and getting ready, as he made for the kitchen and prepared the two of them a quick breakfast that consisted of their mum's leftovers. Though when Sarah stumbled out of the hall, her hair all smashed to her head on one side and poofed out on the other, rubbing her puffy eyes, he altered that to a meal for three. He had nearly forgotten she was there last night when he came home, and she must have never left. George's eyes caught sight of the couch, which had been haphazardly been made into a bed with the blanket now half on the floor and the sheet very much disheveled. Fred must have given Sarah his bed and slept there. George had checked the guest bed before hopping in the shower, but Nigel must have gotten up early and went to the hospital.

Sarah thanked him softly and ate her meal gratefully, feeling rather hungry and very weary. The hearty meal was good for the soul. Then a thought occurred to George.

"Hey Sarah?"

"Hm?" She muffled a response just after taking a bite.

"Shouldn't you be at Hogwarts?" Sarah's eyes bulged and she dropped her fork.

"Oh my word!" She quickly ate the last few bites of her breakfast and conjured her patronus, sending the silvery panther with a message of her lateness and apologies to Hogwarts. "Thanks for breakfast, George..." She gave him a long, comforting hug, knowing it was every bit as hard on him with Iz in such a state.

"Sure thing. You oughta get a move on though. We'll keep you updated. Promise." George hugged her back. That's when Fred came out of the bathroom, in his work clothes and hair still wet and disheveled. Sarah went right into his arms, after pulling out of George's, for another extended hug.

"Gotta get back to Hogwarts..." She murmured, voice soft and sorrowful. Fred kissed her lovingly, thumbs brushing over her cheekbones as his eyes looked down into hers.

"I love you, Sarah." The way he whispered it with some inflection, the way her face lit up incandescently, George just knew it was the first time Fred had told her those three little words and he suddenly felt like he was encroaching on a private moment. George slipped silently out of the room, though he couldn't help overhearing her saying it back, and what sounded like a rather long kiss. Fred told her that she could come by every night after her classes if she wanted, and then, pressed for time, they shared another kiss before Sarah left for work. Once she was safely gone, George entered the kitchen once more and started on his breakfast again, trying his best to push everything else aside and just be happy for Fred for the moment. Fred, who had found his own breakfast, was also trying his best to contain his happiness for the sake of his brother. Conflicting emotions caused a silence to fall over the two as they ate, but the sound of claws rapping on the window interrupted just in time.

"I got it." George practically hopped up from the table and cracked the window in the living room, allowing Fred's owl in, who promptly dropped a letter in George's hands and perched on Fred's shoulder to beg for crumbs. George hadn't even gotten the response from Percy open when his own owl flew in just after and dropped Hermione's response in his hands as well. Curious, Fred stood, allowing the two birds to peck the remnants of food off his plate, and crossed the room to George.

"What're those, mate?" He asked, looking over his twin's shoulder as George opened one after the other and read them.

"I sent letters to Perce and Hermione... I want to dig up all that I can find on this Dragon Fever... anything that could possibly help the healers and Isabel... Don't know where to start so I went to the knowledge experts. They've both agreed to help today after work." Fred gently clapped him on the shoulder. There was no need to point out that the healers would probably have better luck. This would keep George busy, give him a way to potentially help. Fred knew it was something his brother desperately needed.

"Can I help too, mate?" George nodded, and the two of them went down together to open their shop.