Chapter 27

Morgana pauses outside the ward where the Police officer is waiting to re-enter, "Tell me honestly, what's likely to happen to her now?"

The officer shakes her head, "I'm not allowed to talk about cases."

"I'm going to be taking guardianship for her daughter. I'd like a little forewarning."

The officer grimaces before turning off her radio, "She needs help, real help, and she's not going to get that in prison. If she has the duty lawyer as a defender, I don't see her getting away from a prison sentence, there just aren't that many barristers or solicitors that are women."

"And if she had paid representation?"

"She may get a mandatory stay at a funny farm."

Morgana nods, "Thank you for being candid. I wish she was a bad person, but if half of what I've heard over the last 12 hours is true…"

The officer nods, "I know, I've heard stories from people that were around when someone made the mistake of asking what was done to her. From what I heard, it wasn't the nature of what was done that had everyone signed off, it was the detached and clinical way she spoke about it. They have it all on tape, but I don't envy the detectives or cps on this case."

"I'll make sure she gets paid representation, I owe her daughter that much."

"Are you loaded?"

"I'm a Dr of Archaeology that's not directly affiliated with any universities or museums."

"A regular Indiana Jones then."

Morgana laughs, "Nope, just far more legwork and luck than you ever want to deal with. Trust me, finding the best places to do a dig require lots of reading and listening to old stories about an area. Even then, most digs come up empty. Anyway, I need to go and meet my solicitor and bring her back here."

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Marianne wakes late the next day, her wounds have been tended to and her head feels much better. As she moves her hand to sit up onto her knees, something tugs on it. Glancing down she scrunches her eyes in confusion at the tube leading from it to a bag over head. As she gingerly moves herself into a seating position, she's forced to wince as the square wounds from the chair make themselves known. As she's just getting settled, a nurse walks over.

"Hello sweetie, did you sleep well?"

Marianne nods, "I did, I don't remember going to sleep."

"That's perfectly fine, you went through a massive ordeal yesterday. Would you like anything to eat honey?"276492

Marianne nods vigorously, "Yes please, I'm starving. Erm, before you go, what's this in my arm?"

"You were pretty unresponsive, and a bit dehydrated so they put a canula in your hand and then attached a drip to it so that you would stay healthy. It's also got some antibiotics in it just in case your wounds were in any danger of infection. You're a fast little healer aren't you."

"Uh…"

"Oh, I'm just talking about the fact that your injuries are already healing nicely. It's something we see occasionally amongst children. It doesn't last though. What would you like? We have cereal or I can bring you a sandwich."

"Do you have coco pops?"

"I think we can do that."

It was a little later that Morgana comes in with a strange woman dressed in a suit. When she sees Marianne she stops and looks at her critically before pulling out a king sized snickers, "Here, you need this."

Marianne stares at the bar that she couldn't hold completely in both hands, "You want me to eat this?"

Morgana nods, "As much as you can. And no practice until I say that you're healed."

Hearing the stress on the word practice, Marianne tears open the chocolate bar and starts to eat it.

The woman looks at Morgana, "Are you sure about that? You've only just signed the papers."

Morgana nods, "I'm sure, she lives a very active life, and practices with a sword every day, her metabolism is much higher than you'd expect of a child her age."

"I hope you don't mind that I check that with a doctor."

Morgana smiles, "Not at all, tell them that it's similar to a Gymnasts training routine."

Between mouthfuls, Marianne looks at the retreating woman's back and says, "Who's that?"

"That is Ms Blanco, the solicitor I employed to check the documents and witness their signatures. I'm sorry it's taken so long to come to see you, but your mother wanted to speak to me first."

"'s'ok you c'me."

"Don't talk with your mouth full, and pause for a moment when you finish that one." Once Marianne swallows Morgana continues, "Kate wanted to talk to me about your guardianship. Ms Blanco was able to fill out a Child Arrangement Order that says you'll be living with me until such time as Kate has been deemed of sound body and mind, or released from prison if she is found guilty. I'm not too sure of the specifics, however the Duty solicitor and Ms Blanco both agreed to it based on your mothers stated wishes."

Marianne pulls Morgana into a chocolaty hug, "You're my mother for real now. How is mum?"

Morgana sighs, "Physically, she's going to be here for a few weeks to have her burns seen to and also undergo psychiatric evaluation."

"What's that?"

"It means they're going to be looking at her mental health, and see if she can be held responsible for her own actions."

"Would it help if I told them how mum tried to help me?"

"It might do, and the police will want you to talk to them if you're up to it. However, I think that it should wait until you're allowed to go home. I brought some of your clothes and books. I've also got you a new raven given that your father destroyed the old one."

"When can we go home?"

"Once the doctor says you can."

Ms Blanco and a doctor both walk over to their bed, "Mrs Danann, I understand that Marianne lives an active lifestyle?"

Morgana nods, "It's Dr Danann. She does. Marianne, how much sword practice do you do when I'm not around?"

Marianne smiles and sticks her chest out proudly, "I do an hour every morning, just like Harry does."

"Harry's my son, and they've been thick as thieves since they met at playschool. On top of that, she does a couple of hours Saturday and Sunday when I instruct her, though that has been lacking for the last couple of months. She also likes to play with me after school, though again over the last couple of months I have been trying to just give her space to relax. Activity wise, sword work is probably best compared to gymnastics for the amount of physical fitness you need as a practice sword is slightly heavier than a baton."

The doctor nods, "I'll make a note on her records and ensure that she gets extra snacks as well as an adult meal."

Marianne shakes her head, "When can I go home with my second mum?"

Ms Blanco shakes her head, "Mrs Kincaid wasn't kidding."

The doctor just smiles and crouches down next to Marianne, "We need to keep you here for a while to make sure that none of your wounds have become infected. The earliest we could let you go is this evening, but you might have to stay another night."

Morgana nods, "I have plenty of business in Edinburgh if I need any. Ms Blanco do you know any good female defence solicitors, as I would like to retain one for Kate."

The solicitor shakes her head, "I would have to consult a few colleagues, as you know I deal in family law."

"You have my phone number, would you be able to leave… actually the police have the tape for my answer machine. Could I call you later?"

"Certainly. I'm satisfied that Marianne does know you, so I'm going to file these with the court. You'll get your copy in the next few days."

A moment later the two of them were alone again.

"What's wrong Morgana?"

A tendril of mist flows out from Morgana, "Your magical reserves are dangerously low. As soon as the mortal authorities let you go, I'm taking you back to my realm."

Marianne looks confused, "Why?"

"The level of magic is much higher there than it is here. If Harry wasn't at school, I'd have you living in his domain, as Brigid was a healing goddess."

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An hour later, Morgana curses as she's bent over a counter in the DoE filling in form after form. One of the school owls caught her in an empty side street. Harry's classmates have decided that they want to partake in a muggle education at the same time as Harry. A minor touch of magic solved the problem of a lack of birth certificates, mainly because she is so close to a relevant government building. However, setting them up for home-schooling proved impossible. So now she's filling in all of the paperwork needed to set up her own personal free school. Ironically, it looks like it is easier to set it up if she doesn't want them to sit their exams. However, as she wants them to be able to go to college or university without any problems, she's filling out the forms stating that she doesn't need any state funding, which exam boards she wants to use, and that she is willing to attend basic examinations to ensure that she has the required knowledge to teach English, math and science to a sufficient level.

As she's filling in forms, Amelia Bones walks in and over to her, "Good afternoon. May I ask what prompted knocking out the magic detectors around Scotland? Magic detectors that we've just spent all night getting back up."

Morgana slides the students letter over to her, and carries on with the paperwork. Once she's finished reading, Amelia asks, "Why did this necessitate the magic?"

"Birth Certificates. While you're here, read and sign this for Susan."

"What?"

"It's parental consent for Susan to attend my free school, she'll need to spend the Christmas, easter, and a couple of weeks of each summer with me to do the practical parts of the lessons."

"I meant why the birth certificates?"

"So that the children don't fall foul of any immigration laws when it comes to taking their exams."

"Why not just go through the ministry of magic?"

"Are they equipped to fill in all the electronic paper trail that's needed now?"

"Um, no? They just charm one of the workers to do it."

"I just don't have the time to teach you everything that you don't know about the mundane world. Suffice to say that if it was still that easy, I'd have done it myself. When I use my magic for these things I don't actually know what will be changed, only what has changed. This created 8 birth certificates and updated entries in 5 computer systems, one of which was in a hospital. It also created the correct originals, I've got Susan's in an envelope here for you."

"Why are you even doing this?"

"Harry is my son. Why wouldn't I do it for him?"

"Ok, how do you have enough magic to knock out our magic detectors?"

"I actually use my magic rather than treating it like a reservoir."

"What sort of answer is that?"

"The only one you'll get unless you with to become a student of mine. Now if you don't mind, I've got a lot of paperwork to finish filling out. I also need to get it finished this afternoon, as I'm picking up Marianne from the hospital later."

"Very well, I'll leave you to your paperwork."

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It is an exhausted Morgana who arrives at the hospital in the evening. Marianne herself seems to be struggling to stay awake so that she can leave today.

"Good evening Dr Danann, Marianne should be good to leave today. We need you to bring her back in two weeks time. We're also sending a letter to her doctors to have some blood tests done in 6 weeks time."

Morgana nods, "Is there anything I need to do for her wounds?"

The Doctor nods, "Wash them in saline if they become dirty or the scabs bleed. Encourage her to lie on her front while she's healing, and make sure she takes these antibiotics once a day for the next week."

"Does she have any stitches I need to worry about?"

The doctor looks to the sky, "Thank god no. I've done far too much reading about that chair, and I think we're lucky that she's only 11 and so small the spikes barely penetrated the skin. If she's lucky, she'll have no scars from the ordeal, however it's more likely that she'll carry a reminder of last night forever."

"Thank you Doctor, how long do you think it will be before we can leave?"

"One of the nurses should be over soon to remove the canula, as soon as that's out you can go."

"Thank you."

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Susan watches nervously as her aunt's owl flies down to her at the evening meal. A glance at the letter shows that it's not glowing. As she opens the letter and reads it, she starts to wish that it was a howler. Instead, her aunt takes 24 inches to inform her that she should have at least let her know about her decision to undergo a muggle education. Along with spelling out the obligations she has signed up for, namely not having Christmas or easter holidays.