17. Madam Patil & Monk Patil

"So... where are our reinforcements?" Neville asked as they arrived in the dark alley Cho had written them to go. The woman accompanying him, scanning the area, shrugged.

"Someone is magically hiding behind that wall," Lavender's voice wheezed as they beheld a dull brick wall. Most unexpectedly, they were leeched by it.

"Hello, Neville. Hannah, what a surprise...!" a female voice sarcastically greeted them. "Seriously, sis?" she giggled. "Is that the best you can do?"

"How did you know it was me!?" taken aback, Parvati, that was transformed into Hannah by means of Polyjuice Potion, asked.

"How could I not?" Padma said, pointing at the various amulets she wore. "Hannah would never wear any of these. Except for the butterbeer cork... anyway, what is it that you're wearing?" Padma giggled again. "Hogwarts uniform without the robes? You could have picked any piece of clothing from my wardrobe and you decided to go for your old school uniform!?"

"How... how did you figure that out so fast!?" a disappointed Neville asked. "We even changed the colour of the tie to purple...! Purple is Hannah's favourite colour! I thought it was a great idea..."

"Well..." Padma touched the tie with her wand, mouthing "Reparifarge." Instantly, the tie became blue. "Blue tie? This isn't even your own old school uniform!" she laughed. "Is it mine? Oh, you're wearing trousers! Is it Ishaan's?"

"Ishaan?" Neville asked, puzzled. "Who's that?"

"My son."

"Oh, Panju...?"

"She loathes that name," Parvati explained. "It was originally the nickname we had given a stray dog we used to feed when we were little. It's also the name the planets have given him." Padma scowled at her twin. "His fortune is to be a wanderer."

"Oh... right... so no," Neville corrected her. "Lysander's. Luna's boy. We didn't have any change of clothes. It was the only thing we could use. He was wearing it. We've bewitched it with Engorgio and Colovaria. It seemed a good idea..."

"You could have at least changed the colour of the shirt to purple as well... but it's fine... I'm just teasing you, sis." Padma emotionally tugged Hannah's body into a warm hug. "Now I'm here and I'll sort it all out, OK?"

Parvati hugged her twin back, though not as excitedly as she normally would. "Why are you here?"

"It's obvious, no? I'm your backup."

"No," Parvati said, resolutely but calmly. "You can't afford to risk yourself like this. You have Panju to take care of."

"So do you!" she retorted. "Whenever I complain that I've given birth to my sister's child, I mean it! You're his hero! He needs you as much as he needs me!"

"I've cut ties with this world, Padma," Parvati solemnly told her. "That includes you and Panju. I'm sorry."

"Right, sissy... as long as it doesn't include Firewhisky..." she mocked, not taking her sister seriously. "Obscuro!" she cast at Neville's eyes, causing him to be blindfolded.

"C'mon! Why are you both like this!?" Neville complained. "This is the second time! Stop doing that!"

"Don't take it off, Neville," Padma asked him. "Sis, come on, start stripping..." Padma began unbuttoning her own shirt.

"What!?" Neville screeched, in shock.

"Neville, this is the final test," Parvati teasingly spoke as she loosened her tie, but Neville knew it came from Lavender. "If you're really a chivalrous man, don't go on snooping on her powerful curves... well, Hannah's I assume you must already know..."

"I don't want to see anything, Lavender!" Neville spat at her.

"Has Lavender shown herself to you as well?" Padma asked casually. "Sissy, I need some monk robes."

"So... can I open my eyes now?" Neville's blindfold had already been taken off, but he still clutched his eyes forcefully.

"Sure," it was Lavender who spoke, this time with her own voice.

Hannah's body was now smartly dressed in a grey pantsuit, whereas Padma wore Parvati's orange robes and amulets.

"Something's still missing..." Lavender's voice pointed out.

"Coloravia," Padma pointed at her sister, and the suit instantly became purple. "And it shouldn't be that neatly pressed..." she waved her wand, causing the suit to become somewhat crumpled.

"This is perfect!" Neville exclaimed. "It is Hannah entirely!"

"Now, shawl me, sis," Padma asked.

"Wow, it's a good thing I didn't let you actually dispose of your personal belongings, isn't it?" Lavender, this time in Parvati's body, sarcastically remarked as she delivered the handbag to Padma.

"Where's that shawl embroidered with golden threads...? I've always wanted to wear it..."

"You can have it," Parvati told her. "It's yours now."

"Come off it, sissy. It's yours. It matches your style perfectly," she finally found it and wore it around her neck. "I sense that your heart is pure." She spoke in a tone that aimed at emulating her sister's. "I foresee pain and suffering in your future, but you will eventually overcome it."

Neville clapped enthusiastically. "I could never tell the difference!"

"Huh? This is nothing like me..." Parvati objected, seeming somewhat heartfelt.

"What's your opinion, Lavender?" Padma asked, staring randomly at the air.

"Close enough. You could bring up the planets as well..." Lavender suggested. "It always works..."

"The planets have shown me the omen of your death..." Padma tried again. "Beware!"

"I don't talk like this...!" Parvati protested. "This is an outrage!"

"Er... it seems like you do to me..." Neville scratched his head. "But... just wondering, why do you need to impersonate her anyway?"

"Because she's already impersonating Hannah. And I need to come along. I'm the only one here who's ever performed a Disillusionment Charm so perfect that made Flitwick fall from the chair he had been standing on." Padma elaborated. "Lastly, a peace-loving monk raises much fewer suspicions than an infamous Unspeakable..."

"Huh... it makes sense," Neville nodded. "Are we set, then?"

"We still need to wait," Padma informed, checking a pocket watch. "There is more backup on the way."

"We have more people coming?" Neville cheered. "That's amazing! Who's it?"

"Your grandmother."

"What!? Grandma!?"

"Mrs Longbottom is coming? Wow! She'll totally help, Neville!" Lavender celebrated as well. "She used to be pretty fierce."

"How did you reach out to her?" suspiciously, Neville asked Padma.

"Well... Hermione was going to try her fireplace and tell her to meet us here."

"She's in Australia!" Neville brought his hand to his forehead. "She couldn't be here even if she wanted...!"

"Oh... this is really unfortunate," concerned, Padma frowned. "Huh... I guess... this is a serious setback for us..."

"So... she's not coming...?" Parvati asked. "Was there anyone else?"

"Erm... no..." Padma mumbled.

"Then it's only us," Neville declared, decidedly. 'School teacher, Seer, Unspeakable, spirit,' Neville recited mentally as he surveyed closely the final lineup who'd be taking part in Luna's rescue. "Let's go."

"Neville, wait..." Padma grabbed his forearm, gazing at him fearfully. "Are you... sure you want to do this?"

However, Neville didn't answer. It was Parvati who spoke. "We're sure. This is our duty. You're the one who's not meant to be here, sis."

"And that's precisely why I am," her sister replied.

Neville and the twins had just walked into St Mungo's, having passed through the main entrance of Purge and Dowse department store. 'I hope they don't find it any strange that Hannah's coming in by this entrance,' Neville thought.

"Hannah," the Welcome Witch promptly exclaimed as she laid eyes on her. "You, here? I didn't know you were back from Germany!"

"Woe! Woe!" Parvati staged a lazy hurtful wince. "Merlin, I feel horribly sick! Ouch!"

"She was called back by the Ministry to reinforce St Mungo's due to the emergency, but she has drank too much on the plane!" Neville made a scene as well. "She was in a horrendous state when we picked her up at the plane station! The muggles even dragged her to their medical area, but she had been drinking magical beverages, she needs magical treatment! We had to confound them before we brought her here...! Can anyone help!?"

With his peripheral vision, Neville noticed the hospital was crowded, not only with patients but also with wizards and witches prowling the corridors. From afar, he spotted none other than Michael Corner walking down the corridor with an older woman, both with wands in their hands. For a brief second, their eyes met, and Neville could swear he blinked at him.

"Of course, of course! Third floor!" the Welcome Witch answered. "Can she walk? Do you need a stretcher?"

"No, thanks," Neville politely cracked a smile at a witch. "I can help her. Come, Hannah."

"Merlin's beard! Abbott!?" Bell screeched as she passed by them. "Shouldn't you be in Germany!? Are you here as a patient!? And... Neville!?" As she rested her eyes on him, he could almost physically sense her reproach. "Why on earth are you here!?"

"Hannah's sick, Mediwitch Bell," he curtly said. "Excuse me, we really need..."

"What are you feeling, Abbott?" she interrupted him.

"I... argh... drinking too much..." Parvati falteringly answered. "Horrible pain... stomach ache..."

"Hannah!" Paige squeaked as she spotted them from the end of the corridor. "Oh, my! I was eager to see you when you called to tell me you'd be coming back to England, but I didn't expect it to be this way!" She blinked discreetly at Neville. "I told you that drinking that much would destroy you! Come with me, I'll treat you, dear... Mediwitch Bell, don't worry, I've got this..."

"Hannah!" a man moaned as he spotted her. "Oh, not even when we're facing a serious emergency could you stop drinking a little bit? You were called because we are in dire need of more healers, not more patients..." it was none other than Ernie Macmillian, their other old friend, putting on a pompous and somewhat over-the-top act. "Get well soon, Hannah. Despite all, you're my dear friend." He turned at Neville and Padma, blinking discreetly. "Neville, Parvati, it's so fortunate that you brought her here!" An older man approached him, wand in hand. "Hey, dad, it was Hannah. Inebriated again, poor thing... it saddens me so much..."

As Paige dashed through the corridors with fake Hannah reeling on her, Neville and Padma made as if following her, but Bell stopped him. "I have to talk to you, Neville."

"I'm sorry, Mediwitch Bell, it'll have to wait. I can't leave Hannah alone..."

"Oh, you can..." she said, crossing her arms, staring daggers at him. "You've left her alone for quite a long time in Germany, no? One or two minutes won't kill you... besides, your friend," she looked at Padma (disguised as Parvati), surveying her from head to toe, "may keep her company just fine for the meantime. So... come with me?"

"Er... OK..." Neville couldn't say no, so he followed her. However, it was a major setback. Being separated wasn't in their plans.

"Well," Bell said, as they walked into an empty room. "Why exactly are you here with Hannah?"

"Why am I here, Mediwitch Bell? Well, it's obvious, no? I want Hannah to get better..."

"Why is she back from Germany? Why are you here with her?"

"Huh," Neville stuttered. "Hannah was called urgently by the Ministry to reinforce the hospital. That's why she came back to England."

"Seriously?" she looked suspicious. "Why haven't I heard anything about it?"

"Well, Mediwitch Bell," Neville improvised. "I guess that because it was an urgent call... by the Minister herself... y'know, she's our personal friend... and you must be so busy with that many patients, isn't it true?"

"Why are you here with her, Neville!?" she emphasised. "You are no longer Hannah's husband." Bell lowered her voice tone. "Don't go on assuming that we don't know what you've done." She closed in on him. "With... Mrs Scamander."

"Oh..." Neville was taken aback. She seemed to suspect his presence there to be linked with Luna somehow. "Er... I am... I couldn't be more ashamed of what I did with Luna, Mediwitch Bell. I didn't know she carried a curse, nor had I ever intended for her to suffer what she did. It makes me feel horrible."

"Is it true, Neville?" she still seemed suspicious. "Didn't you sleep with her again after that incident?"

"What!? No! Never, Mediwitch Bell," he straightened himself, feeling like now he had a strategy. "I have to admit I'll always have a soft spot for Luna in my heart, after all, she has been my first love. However, I'm fully aware of her health situation. I can't deny I had hoped we could try again, but... as you must know more than I do, it's impossible. The best I can do for her is to leave her alone. At least she is living peacefully with her kids now..."

"Huh..." she grumbled. Neville wondered if he had successfully convinced her that he had no clue about the most recent events. "Didn't you hear from her lately?"

"Er, I've talked to her through the muggle communication device one time. We decided to stay good friends, but it's not good for her to be talking to me that much."

"And Abbott?" she didn't seem convinced. "What about her?"

"Hannah and I are best friends, Mediwitch Bell. Even if we're not married anymore, she's always going to be family to me." He cleared his throat. "She doesn't have a place of her own to stay, because her parents are annoyed by her constant drinking. She'll stay in the pub for the meantime."

She remained quiet, merely staring at him for some moments. Hence, Neville decided that it was best to break the silence himself. "I understand your worries now. You fear I might be playing with Hannah's feelings, right?"

"Yes, that's it..." she went along with it. "There's only one part I don't understand. The monk." She spat. "What would a couple of alcoholics such as you be doing with a monk?"

"The monk... oh, she's our old friend from school," he elaborated. "She's even fought You-Know-Who with us. You may check the books on History of Magic, her name is there. Parvati Patil." Neville couldn't tell if the woman bought it or not. "She's... she was in Hogwarts these days, y'know, helping Professor Trelawney. She's a Seer. So, when I told her I was going to pick Hannah up, she decided to come along... honestly, she has reason to be worried about her, doesn't she?" Neville nervously chuckled. "We all are... with all that drinking... we all want Hannah to quit alcohol for good."

"Very well, Neville," Bell turned herself to the door. "It makes sense. Sorry for taking your time."

When he walked out of the room, he almost stumbled across Padma, who had been waiting for him. "Do you know where Hannah is?" he rustled. Padma, for her part, shook her head.

"Excuse me...?" once more, Bell called them. 'Damn! Not over yet!?' Neville thought. "Erm, Miss Patil... sorry, it would be Madam... huh... well... could I ask you to... maybe... please..." she blushed violently, "tell my future...?"

Upon hearing that, Neville's heart stopped. 'Now we will surely be busted,' he thought. 'Padma's never made a prediction in all her life!'

However, unexpectedly, with real aplomb, she nodded solemnly and neared the woman. "May I touch you, ma'am?"

"Sure," she answered, timidly. "Thanks in advance."

Padma laid her hands on the woman's head much like Panju had done to Hermione, clutching her eyes forcefully. "I see..." she wheezed, seeking to emulate the ethereal Trelawney-like tone. "You possess much pure magic within yourself, ma'am. But you also carry a heavy weight on your heart." She paused, trying to make something up the fastest she could. "I have seen many people who have overcome omens of death, but you, you overcome death every day, ma'am. Each day is a struggle, every other day you have to witness a patient passing, even when you've done everything in your power to prevent that." To Neville's complete shock, Bell seemed to be on the verge of tears. "The force with which your spirit strives to save lives is unmatched, but, whenever you face death, you let yourself be affected by the feeling that you've failed." Bell had begun shedding tears mindlessly. "However, you haven't, ma'am. You've fulfilled your duty, even to those who might have passed. For death isn't but a new beginning. You've been essential to lessen the suffering of the moribund." Padma took a deep breath, finally opening her eyes. "This constant weight in your heart doesn't belong to you, ma'am. The planets are telling me that you'll finally achieve the peace you've always searched for."

As Padma took her hands out of the woman's head, she burst into sobbing. Padma hugged her fraternally. Neville couldn't actually believe his eyes.

When she finally left, Neville whispered, "What was that...? How did you...? Never mind... where's Parvati?"

"No idea," Padma muttered. "We've lost her. One more thing," she added, with an expression of terror. "This floor treats poisoning. Depending on the antidote they may have my sister drink, the effects of the Polyjuice Potion may be countered."

"We need to split up and find her pronto," anxiously, Neville told her. "I'll search in that direction..."

"Padma...! Neville...!" a voice interrupted them. "Come with me. I know where Parvati is."

"Lavender!" Padma trembled from head to toe as the voice reached her ears. "You know it startles me whenever you speak when I'm not expecting!"

"Where are you, Lavender?" Neville asked, fruitlessly scanning the area for the invisible ghost.

"Come, Neville," Padma said, calmly. "It's me, Lavender. I'm in her body. Come fast, I can't stay in other people's bodies as long as I stay in Parvati's..."

"Lavender, you're a lifesaver...!" Neville excitedly muttered. "Let's go..."

"Finally!" Parvati silently huffed when Neville and Padma joined the infirmary in which she was supposedly being treated. "Where have you been!?"

Abruptly, Padma quivered. "What was that...?" puzzled and scared, she scanned the room. "I was there, now I'm here...?"

"Lavender's possessed you," Parvati told her, nonchalantly.

She readied herself to retort, although she still seemed frightened. "Lavender! I've dearly asked many times for you not to do that with me!"

"We don't have time for that," Parvati cut her off, turning to Neville. "What's next?"

"Where's Paige?" Neville rustled.

At that exact moment, the healer came into the infirmary carrying a vial. "Take it, Hannah, dear," she delivered it to Parvati. "Hey, Mr Stewart," she addressed an elder man who was being treated on the opposite side of the room. "Come with me, you'll be transferred to a room." Discreetly, the healer smirked at them as she left. "I'll come back for you in a few, Hannah."

"This is our chance," Parvati muttered. "Padma, do your thing..."

Dexterously tapping at the top of each one's head with her wand, she performed three perfect Disillusionment Charms, causing them to disappear completely.

"Hey," Paige whispered as she re-entered the infirmary, dragging a large stretcher with her. She gestured at it. "Mrs Potter is already out of the room. I'll take you there now."

"Thanks, Paige," Neville whispered back, sitting on the stretcher. The twins, for their part, did the same. "We owe you one."

"Put your legs up and be careful not to touch anyone," Paige warned them. "If you don't make much noise, it'll work just fine." Nicely, she smiled at a random point, for she was not sure where they were. "Hannah's wild schemes have never let me down before."

Paige had pulled the apparently empty stretcher for some minutes, trying to look the most nonchalant possible. 'We'd never pull it out on our own,' Neville thought. 'The corridors are insanely crowded." At some point, she came to a halt.

"Is it here?" Neville, staring anxiously at the slightly ajar door closest to them, nervously asked the invisible person right next to him, who could be any of the twins, he wasn't sure which one.

Paige began chatting excitedly with another witch who passed by the corridor, distancing herself from the stretcher.

"It's here," a translucent hand magically crossing the door beckoned them. "I'll create a wind that'll open the door, fine? You must take that chance to come in..."

A mildly strong wind blew in the door's direction, opening it more widely. Neville, Padma and Parvati took that chance to squeeze themselves into the room.

"Wow, it's windy in there..." the witch with whom Paige had been talking snooped into the room. Having seen nothing, she merely closed the door. When Neville heard the sound of the door closing, he let out the deep breath he had been holding for quite a while.

"Colloportus, Muffiatto," Padma muttered right before she broke their Disillusionment Charms.

"Fire... whisky..." Luna, lying on her bed with her eyes half-shut, stammered as she rested them on Parvati, or better, on Hannah's body.

"Hey, Luna," Parvati approached her, smiling nicely. "You have to rest. You can't have Firewhisky until you're better."

"Luna...? You're awake..." as a tear insisted on coming down his cheek, Neville neared her. "Can you understand us?"

For a couple of moments, she seemed to be in some kind of mental struggle. She scowled at the nothing as if she were furious with herself. "Sword..." she mumbled, not looking at Neville, but with her eyes clutched. Thus, she wearily swung her neck to gaze at Padma, who was disguised as Parvati. "Lavender..."

"Lavender!?" Lavender exclaimed through the real Parvati (in Hannah's body). "She remembers me!"

"This is not a good sign, Lavender," Neville fought back tears. "She's not seeing you. She should've said 'Parvati', not 'Lavender'..."

"No, no," Padma came to her beside as well. "It makes sense. I reckon she can understand us." Closing her eyes, she began thinking hard. "To see Parvati and say 'Lavender' makes total sense to me, don't you think?"

"Huh... I... guess..." Neville gazed at her quizzically.

"Obviously!" once more in Parvati's body, which was actually Hannah's, Lavender squeaked. "We're best friends, we share the same body, the same mind, we're never apart... it totally makes sense!"

Hearing that, Luna frowned, seeming confused, struggling more than before and panting harshly. "Luna... are you fine!?" Neville panicked.

"Oh, Luna, this is not Hannah, it's Parvati. And, of course, Lavender is with her," Padma told her, putting her hand on her sister's shoulder. "Polyjuice Potion. Hannah's still in Germany. And I'm Padma. I'm disguised as my sister. Long story."

Instantly, she settled down. "Pansy... Parkinson..."

"No..." Neville wept silently, distancing himself from them with his face buried in his hands. "For Merlin's sake, please... this can't be true..."

"Neville, calm down. She understands us," Padma assured them. "She recognises us. She's recalling that day I called Pansy Parkinson out for picking on you and her. Don't you remember it?"

"How come? No, I surely don't remember that, Padma!"

"Well, Luna apparently does," Padma said. "Her mind may be sharper than yours." Neville, for his part, kept gazing at Padma utterly confused. "When I told you not to hammer on tables... that day you came out as a couple...!"

"Merlin's honest truth, Padma! How can you remember that?"

With humungous effort, Luna slowly began reaching out for Padma, her trembling hand unsteady in the air, as if her muscles had lost most of their capacity to obey her commands. Taking notice of it, Padma seized her hand, patting it kindly.

"Do you see that, Neville? Luna understands. However, for some unknown reason, she can't speak properly." Padma squeezed her hand. "Luna's not insane. Actually, it's surprising that the healers and alienists couldn't figure that out. Maybe they couldn't understand her because they didn't know her, but at least Ginny should have suspected..." her mind raced as she spoke. "When she sees Hannah, she says Firewhisky; when she sees Parvati, she says Lavender; when she sees you, she says sword... can't you recognise the pattern? She's actually trying to communicate with us..."

"Luna," Parvati told her. "We're here to rescue you. Werewolves are likely to attack anytime. Your husband is their associate."

"You need to come with us, Luna," Neville drew closer to her once more. "How do you feel? Can you stand?"

Luna made an effort to move her hand to the bedside table, falteringly touching a vial and shortly after letting go of it, sensing that her constant shakes could lead her to break it.

"Are you trying to tell us that you're under the influence?" Parvati asked.

"I think so. She is squeezing my hand," Padma informed.

"Then I'll carry you, Luna. Is it fine by you?" Neville gently asked, but she purely gazed back at him. It was a piercing gaze, but Neville couldn't understand what she meant by it. "It's illegal to remove an ill person from the hospital, but we've brought some Polyjuice Potion." He grabbed it from his bag. "If you drink it, you'll become Hannah. We can leave unnoticed."

"Mine..." she whispered, weakly.

"Yours... what, Luna?" quizzically, Parvati asked.

"Two..."

"Two?" Padma closed her eyes, giving her best effort to solve the puzzle.

"Mine... two..."

"Yours... two... what, Luna?" Neville, for his part, had to force himself to remain calm, for he was the opposite of keen on puzzles.

"You..." she turned her eyes to Padma. "You..." this time, to Parvati.

"Us...? What about us?" Parvati asked.

"Fred... George..."

Neville was on the verge of exploding when the answer at least dawned on Padma. "Twins," she declared. "She wants her children."

"Is that it, Luna?" Neville asked.

"Mine..." she repeated it, but in a sort of assuring tone, appearing to have settled down.

"We've taken Lysander, Luna," Neville said. "We'll lead you to him. He is in a safe place."

"Mine!" this time, she sounded uneasy.

"And Cho is in charge of taking the other child from the school. He'll rejoin you in no time," Padma quickly added up in a soothing tone. "And Mr Lovegood is safe as well, erm, as much as staying with the Malfoys can be considered safe. We're all on your side, Luna." She smiled friendly at the other. "Each one of your friends is doing its part to help you."

Deeply touched, Luna shed a single tear upon hearing that. Thus, she outstretched her hand in Neville's direction. "She will come with us. Give it to me, Neville," Parvati seized the Polyjuice Potion. "Here, Luna, drink it up." As Padma assisted Luna to sit on her bed, Parvati helped her drink the potion. A minute later, she had fully transformed into Hannah.

"I'm sorry," Neville took Luna in his arms the most carefully he could. "I hope this doesn't hurt you."

"We should cover her," Parvati seized the blanket on the bed and placed it on top of Luna. "So they won't notice she's wearing different clothes. Besides... huh, hospital gowns show too much."

"Good call," Neville nodded.

"Come, sis," Padma pulled her wand out and, a second time, tapped it on Parvati's head, who instantly became as invisible as a demiguise. "Now, everyone, let's not forget to keep in formation, ok? Sis, don't forget to stay between Neville and me all the time. If you accidentally touch anyone, it will raise suspicion."

At first, Parvati nodded, but, seconds later, recalling that she was invisible, she decided to confirm it out loud. "Lavender, where are you?" she called.

"I'm here," Lavender spoke, outside Parvati's body. "I've been exploring the hospital a bit. I figure I've found an escape route for us, but... huh... the corridors are much crowdier than I expected. There has been absolutely no gap of tranquillity for us to walk out of this room with Luna. Even if all of you were invisible, you'd end up bumping into someone..."

"Please, keep watching, Lavander," Parvati asked. "Can you warn us when the coast is clear?"

"On it," Lavander said.

"Everyone," some minutes later, Lavender's voice rose again. "I don't think this will work. The corridor will never be quiet enough for us to come out... it's packed with people!"

"Lavender, could you have Paige come back for us?" Parvati suggested.

However, no one responded. "Lavender...?" Neville called her. "Can you...?"

Another time, silence reigned. "Huh..." Padma mumbled. "I think she's gone already. She might have forgotten we can't see her."

"That's surely it," Parvati said. "I can no longer sense her presence in the room."

They stood noiselessly waiting for Lavender's return until Neville carefully placed Luna back in the bed to rest his arm muscles. Thus, he broke the silence. "Why didn't you... tell...?"

"Didn't tell... what?" Padma asked.

"That Lavender was really here..."

"I didn't tell!? I didn't tell!?" Parvati burst into flames. "I've been doing nothing but tell people that for two decades! Besides Luna, all of you treated me as a nutcase!"

"Sorry... sorry... you're right... you did tell..." Neville neared Parvati humbly, facing the floor. "Why... didn't she show herself to us?"

"She didn't want to! Her body's completely brutalised! She's shown herself to her mother and the woman never fully recovered from that! She ended up dying of sorrow!" Acute resentment and grief could be heard in her tone. "Not even to Professor Trelawney she's shown herself!"

"Oh..." Neville felt horrible about that. "Maybe... if you had explained it better... y'know... if you had explained her reasons not to appear... if she had talked with her own voice..."

"She hates being a ghost! It's a sensitive matter! She doesn't talk about it! She prefers to think of herself as a spirit who inhabits my body!" raged, Parvati took a deep breath, readying herself to yell all the things she had on her chest. "You know what hurts me most!?" Parvati whipped her neck in her sister's direction, her voice cracking. "That you continued to treat me as a crazy person even knowing that I was telling the truth about Lavender." She angrily crossed her arms, fighting back tears.

"Sis..." Padma glanced apologetically at her sister. "I'm so sorry... I never meant to hurt you..."

"Well, you did!" Parvati shouted.

Neville noticed Luna was uneasy on the bed. "Ginny..." she whispered.

"Ginny...?" Neville neared her. "You want us to fetch her, Luna?"

"I don't think so," Padma pondered. "She seems distressed by our discussion. She's might be trying to remember us that we're sisters." Confused, Neville gazed at Padma, then back at Luna, who, once more, had settled down. "Ginny's contacted Harry in the Ministry and he updated us on Luna's situation. According to him, she was really convinced that Luna had lost her mind. She was particularly distressed when she told Luna that she had many brothers, but she was her only sister, and she couldn't understand a thing. Well, now we know she can."

"Oh..." Neville found it outrageous that someone could link these two things so fast. "How can you be so good at figuring that out?"

"I reckon it's because I had to answer the eagle's questions every day... but I'm not the only one," Padma gazed at Luna as well. "When Hermione was told that Luna had answered 'Ministry' and 'Kingsley' to Ginny, she promptly retorted, 'Well, Luna was obviously asking Ginny if I'm not her sister as well.' It makes sense, no? Hermione is the Minister... and she's married to Ginny's brother." Padma's had an expression that suggested she thought nothing in the world could be more obvious than that. "From that moment on, I highly suspected Luna couldn't be really insane."

"Ministry," Luna said in an assertive tone, as though she were confirming this theory.

"Er..." Neville babbled, almost dizzy, although his heart raced as he nourished hopes that Luna could actually get better. "Your and Hermione's logic is too advanced for me to follow, I guess..."

"It suggests she can't control what she says," Padma concluded. "There's no way she could've known I had been informed of that episode. It appears that she can't freely choose her own words."

"We'll break whatever this is when we're out of here, Luna..." Neville told her in an assuring voice as she kept staring keenly at him. "I promise."

Cautiously, Padma approached Parvati, who still had fire coming out of her nostrils. "Sis... listen... I'm truly sorry I hurt you... I never meant to... it was easier for me to disregard your powers completely... I was too frightened that Ishaan could be a real Seer. It's too big of a burden... he's just a boy..."

"First of all, call him by the name the planets have given him! Panju!" Parvati spat. However, she recalled her argument with Lavender earlier today, and she absolutely didn't want to be a sloppy monk anymore. Thus, she merely exhaled and closed her eyes, seeking to free herself of these emotions. "Just forget about it, OK?"

"Paige is coming," Lavender's voice could be heard again. "She's on her way."

"What would we do without you, Lavender?" Parvati glanced at her sister whilst saying it, still somewhat hurt.

"Parvati, just forgive me already... I'm begging you!"

"Lavender," Neville interrupted them. "Please, show yourself to us. In our current situation, we must know where you are."

"No...! I... I'm horrendous...!" Lavender whimpered. "I can never be seen! Besides, it'll scare Luna..."

"Luna is brave," Neville picked Luna in his arms again, readying for the moment they'd finally leave that room. "Besides, she's always believed you were there. I bet she'd want to see you."

"Fine," reluctantly, Lavender became visible, hovering a couple of yards above them. As Padma's eyes avoided her figure and Neville fought hard to keep his glued to her without expressing any revulsion, Luna's gently surveyed the translucent body she had always sensed to be there. "This is me, Luna. I'm a hideous ghost..." Lavender waved at her unenthusiastically, overwhelmed by self-consciousness. "May I disappear now?"

However, before anyone could answer, a siren began blaring at full blast. "What's that!?" Parvati asked.

"It's the hospital's defensive charms!" Neville hollered. "They know we're here! We're busted!" He turned his eyes to Luna in his arms. "Luna's not Hannah anymore!" He pointed out. "And you're visible again, Parvati! We're doomed!"

"This is... this can't..." shaking from head to toe, Padma stuttered, "it's not possible..." she seized her sister's hands and squeezed them forcefully. "Hermione has secretly added all of us to the magical list of employees. Even Lavender! There's no way we could be regarded as intruders!"

"Someone must have corrected it, then," Neville snapped. "Does it matter anyway?"

"I believe... something else must have triggered the hospital defences..." Padma's face became purple. "Such as... a werewolf attack..."

"Be right back," Lavender said. For some seconds that seemed like years, they waited for her return, the deafening siren blasting in their ears, their hearts beating as if they were bludgers. "They're here!" a visible Lavender shrieked as she came back. "They're transforming in this exact moment! RUN! NOW!"

"Follow me!" Lavender bellowed as she flew down the corridor, Neville, Luna and the twins on her trail. "We need to reach the fireplaces!"

At first, the number of concurrent noises had been beyond belief: desperate screaming, spells being cast, stretchers hitting the walls, vials breaking, doors slamming... however, they slowly faded, for most of the patients and staff had taken refuge inside the rooms, leaving the corridors all to the guards. And possibly the werewolves as well, even though they hadn't seen any yet.

"There are them!" Lavender exclaimed as she spotted the fireplaces from afar. Several people were dashing there as well. "We're almost there!"

Just when they were actually yards from reaching the fireplaces, a werewolf plunged into the corridor, breaking walls and furniture in the process. With a mighty swoop of his enormous paw, he destroyed all the fireplaces at once.

"Encarcerous," whereas most people still screamed, Padma flicked her wand at the saltatory wolf's feet, making him stumble in the process.

"This way!" Lavender took a turn to another corridor, and they rushed on her trail.

They sprinted a few minutes until they encountered a couple of werewolves much invested in fighting against three guards: Harry, Ginny and James.

"Incendio!" James bellowed, setting fire to the fur of one of the wolves, causing it to howl in pain. However, following that, it charged against him, setting fire to James' robes in the process.

"James, are you insane!?" Ginny called him out as she cast 'Aguamenti' on the robes her son had rapidly tossed into the floor.

"Sorry, mom!"

"Incarcerous," Padma aimed at the incandescent werewolf's feet, causing it to stumble, much like she had done moments before. "Glacius!" she conjured ice all over the wolf, raising steam as it extinguished the fire from its fur.

"Just in time!" Harry cheered. "Help me with this one!" He said as he dodged a fierce tackle. "The six of us can stun it!"

"I can't drop Luna to fight, Harry!" Neville shouted, holding on to Luna the tightest he could. He could sense her trembling arms wrapped themselves forcefully around his neck too.

"I can't leave this one!" with sweat dripping from her face, Padma kept trapping the other wolf in ice whilst he struggled to free himself.

"I'll help!" Parvati targeted the wolf the best that she could and cast 'Encarcerous,' trying to make it stumble as her sister had done. However, it evaded the spell.

"Expulso!" Harry targeted the floor, this time successfully making the werewolf trip.

Watching everything powerlessly, Neville plunged his hand into his bag. "Parvati, take the sword!" he chucked the Sword of Gryffindor in her direction. "Use it!"

She summoned it non-verbally, taking a firm grip on its handle. Hence, she slashed the air in the direction of the wolf Harry had brought down and pronounced the incantation with a resounding voice, "Stupefy!" knocking him out for good.

"What!?" James exclaimed, not believing what his eyes had just witnessed. "Did you stun a werewolf all by yourself!?"

"Stupefy," she made the opposite movement in the air with the sword, aiming at the wolf her sister had been stalling, stunning him in one stroke as well.

"What!?" Padma jumped, an ounce more astounded than James.

"Let's keep going!" Lavender called them. "This way!"

They continued following Lavender's lead for some minutes. "Are we close, Lavender?" Neville panted as he ran, the muscles of his arms shaking from having to carry Luna for that long. 'I should have exercised when I had the chance,' he thought.

"The main exit is not far from here," Lavender informed. "I fear there must be werewolves, though. I'll take a look, I'll be back in a few..."

"Lavender, either way, if the werewolves are there, we'll have to fight them!" Neville argued. "It's no use. We need to keep going."

However, Lavender didn't respond. She merely wailed, avoiding direct eye contact with anyone, although glancing at Parvati at moments.

"Lavender," determined, Parvati stared at her best friend. "It's time."

"Fine..." resembling the Moaning Myrtle, Lavender whined ruefully as she dived into Parvati's body, wondering if it could be the last time she'd ever do that.

The second they at last set foot back on the entrance hall, the yellow eyes of a large and aged wolf with only one arm met those of Neville's. "He is here," he howled to his group. Albeit not very spacious, the place was filled with wolves. Scorpius, Draco, Michael, his partner and even Kingsley fought them bravely.

"Do as you please with him, but don't forget that she is my wife!" another wolf replied to him.

Neville's veins bulged with wrath as Rolf's werewolf form met his retinas, but he sought to keep himself together. He had to remind himself that he had Luna in his arms and that saving her was his sole goal. He sensed her heartbeat and her twitching increasing as she became aware of Rolf's presence as well.

"It's fine, Luna," he muttered to her as she hid her face in his chest. "C'mon!" he addressed the twins. "We need to get out of here!"

"Neville, sister, you may go," magnificently, Parvati wielded Gryffindor's Sword up high, aiming it at a werewolf who had been crouched over the Welcoming Witch's body. "Stupefy," she rustled the incantation, causing the wolf to fall unconscious in one go. Thus, she glanced at Neville. "The task of saving Luna is yours. Lavender and I have to stay and face our fates." Thus, she gazed apologetically at her sister, in a tone that resembled a farewell. "I'm sorry. May Lord Krishna bring solace to you and Panju."

"Never!" Padma screeched with heavy tears in her eyes. "I came here to take you home with me, Parvati! I'll never leave your side!" She grabbed her sister's hand, pulling her close as another werewolf advanced in their direction. "Encarcerous!" she cast at its legs, succeeding at the stumbling entrapment for the third time.

"Thank you very much! The three of you! I'll never forget it!" Neville dashed towards the exit, Luna still in his arms.

Abruptly, Rolf launched himself in Neville's direction, blocking his way. "This is my wife, Professor Longbottom," Rolf roared. "You won't be taking her."

"Watch me," Neville retorted, conjuring a shield to protect with 'Protego' whilst trying to bypass the massive beast. As Neville sprinted, Rolf grazed his back with his sharp claws, tearing his robes off and drawing blood out of him. Nonetheless, he ignored the pain and persisted in his path in the direction of the exit of the hospital.

"Hey, Professor Scamander," Lavender, in her ghost form, called him. Falling for her decoy, he swayed his neck her. "I'd like to congratulate you on your newest achievement. Seriously, creating a potion capable of triggering werewolves' transformation... you must be a genius!" She squeaked, in a fake cheerful tone. "Since you're an enthusiast of lycanthropy, tell me, have you ever seen another victim's body that ended up as brutalised as mine? Or am I the worst?"

As he distanced from them, Neville's heart almost exploded with gratitude to Lavender. From afar, he could hear Parvati shouting "Diffindo!" and, seconds later, Rolf screaming in pain.

"I guess Parvati has sliced off some part of the body of the beast who did this to you, Luna," Lavender appeared by their side, gliding next to them as he strode out of Purge and Dowse. "About the same as you did for me back then," she cracked a shy smile at Neville. "Having to know you was a blast. I hope we meet again somewhere else. I'm cheering for you."

"Lavender!" from afar, running in the hospital's direction, Anthony's eyes popped out as he caught a glimpse of the bright ghost, seconds before she vanished. "Tell me where Padma is! Please!"

"Anthony, what are you doing here!?" Neville forced himself to produce sound, even though he felt utterly breathless.

"Same as you, mate! Saving my ex!" Anthony didn't stop as he spotted him, but he delivered him something, or better, he placed it atop Luna as he passed by them. "And you as well, it seems!" Neville glanced at it briefly, it was a tiny golden Buddha. "It's a portkey! It'll take you to the temple! Make sure it comes back when you're done using it!"

"Thanks!" was all Neville could muster enough air to say. Almost immediately, the Buddha began rattling. Hence, Neville had to kneel down on the floor with Luna for both of them to take full grasp of it.

"We need him!" Greyback hollered as Rolf fell to his knees soaked in blood. "Take him back to our lair and make sure he doesn't die!" He ordered the other wolves. "If he does, we'll lose our secret weapon!"

"Splendid!" Malfoy swung his wand in Rolf's direction, conjuring tight chains around his neck. "If we kill this one, the whole situation will be solved!" He controlled the ropes with all his might, binding them around his neck the most forcefully he could. "I'll just finish what Weasley almost did!"

"Don't let that happen!" Greyback roared, and all the werewolves charged in Malfoy's direction at once.

"Impedimenta!" Parvati rapidly bashed the air, managing to slow down almost all the wolves that sought to attack Malfoy. The only one who had escaped her jinx was successfully trapped by Kingsley.

"Patil, kill this one!" Malfoy yelled, covered in sweat. "Strike him with the Killing Curse!"

"Dad, this is illegal!" Scorpius protested. "You can't kill him! We need to capture him!"

"I'm not Potter, Scorpius! If you lot are too spineless to kill him, I'll do it!" However, as Rolf struggled mindlessly, he managed to sever Draco's chains and rushed in the direction of the exit, leaving a trail of blood behind.

"Stupefy," Parvati calmly pointed the sword in his direction as he stumbled his way out, but another wolf rocketed in front of the curse, instantly caving in on the floor unconscious as Rolf successfully escaped.

"Padma! Padma!" Anthony ushered into the hospital, his throat stinging from screaming his ex-wife's name. Even though Padma wore Parvati's robes, he recognised her instantly, rushing to her side as she battled a particularly tall werewolf, skillfully controlling a stone gargoyle she had conjured. "Thank Merlin you're fine!"

"What on earth do you think you're doing here, Anthony!?" the werewolf smashed the gargoyle's head. "I told you to take care of our son!"

"That's what I'm doing! How could I ever let his mother face an army of werewolves and not do anything!?" as the wolf leapt in her direction, he pulled her into an embrace with one arm and, with the other, raised his wand. "Protego!" the wolf, thus, collided violently against his Shield Charm.

"Retreat!" Greyback yelled as loud as if he had enchanted his voice with the Sonorus charm. Thus, he began howling continuously, and the other werewolves began running in the direction of the exit.

"Take her home, Anthony," Parvati walked in Greyback's direction. "Both of you shouldn't be risking yourselves like this."

Lavender, hiding most of herself inside a wall, discreetly indicated a point to Parvati with her hand. For her part, Parvati nodded at her, having understood her plan without needing to exchange a single word with the other. At this point, their symbiosis was so strong they could share thoughts even from afar.

"Greyback, look at me!" determined, Parvati sought to catch his attention. When he swayed his neck to her, she aimed the sword carefully at the point Lavender had shown her and cast a spell that, by hitting the plumbing system, caused water to flow all over the room. Readily, Lavender merged herself with the water, swilling herself all upon Greyback as though a tsunami.

Hence, he collapsed from the force of the water, choking with loads of it, mostly because Lavender sought to make sure that the water ran down his throat. Upon seeing that, the other wolves, including the ones coming from the interior of the hospital, gave up escaping and charged at Parvati all at once.

"It's not going to work," she swung her sword all around her. "You can't stop the ghost. Petrificus Totalus!"

"How can she do that!?" Anthony exclaimed as he dizzily beheld Parvati petrifying 6 werewolves at the same time.

"Please, capture them," Parvati addressed Kingsley and the others, who nodded in response, and once more she began advancing in Greyback's direction.

"Locomotor Mortis," she cast at a soaked Greyback, causing him to collapse on the floor with his legs bound together. She continued advancing in his direction, clutching the sword firmly as she pointed it at him. "Encarcerous," gazing at him sternly, she conjured heavy chains that wrapped him firmly. Lavender, for her part, stopped assaulting him with water and glided to Parvati's side. "I need to talk to you, Greyback." The tip of the sword hovered inches from his face. "Your soul is corrupted, damaged and torn for all the suffering you've caused. I urge you to repent all your monstrous deeds. For instance, you've done this to a young girl who had a brilliant future ahead of her." She gestured at Lavender, showcasing her violated body. "If you show true regret, Yama will have mercy and you'll be given a new chance to come to this world to redeem yourself."

"Why, don't, you," he spoke as he still coughed up the water Lavender had choked him with, "just kill, me, already?" He analysed Lavender for a moment, turning to Parvati thereafter. "Don't, have, guts, to?"

"I am not Yama, nor part of the Wizengamot to sentence you, Greyback," she declared, wielding the sword before him, mustering all her might to perform the most powerful Stunning Spell she ever cast. "You'll be captured and judged by your crimes."

Parvati had barely begun slicing the air with the sword when Greyback, most unexpectedly, with all the weight of his body, tossed himself against it, causing his shoulder to be roughly trespassed by it. Caught by surprise, Parvati sought to pull the sword back, but Greyback was quicker than her, launching his face against it and biting it with all his force, brutally wounding his own mouth in the process. Hence, he vigorously pulled the sword with his clenched teeth, dragging Parvati down with him.

"NO!" Padma mindlessly began shedding tears, dashing in her sister's direction with her wand held up high, but a wolf blocked her way.

"Cantis!" Anthony hollered, targeting it, causing it to begin howling uncontrollably.

"Expulso!" Padma fired at the blazing werewolf, scaring him away as he howled in pain.

Whilst they fought this wolf, Greyback had managed to crunch his massive fangs into the Parvati's forearm, causing her to shriek in pain as he tore a chunk of her flesh apart, chewing and swallowing it. The sound of her struggling in pain was muffled, though, by the desperate scream of pure terror that Lavender let out as her worst fear became true right before her eyes. As Parvati lost grasp of the sword, Greyback yet again made his best effort to toss himself in her direction with all the weight of his body, this time managing to sink his teeth at the level of her ribs.

"STOP IT!" Lavender screeched, frantically diving inside Parvati's body as Greyback chewed on her. Once there, she retrieved the grasp of the sword, pulled it out of Greyback's shoulder and jammed it right inside his mouth, trespassing his entire head. "She's given you a chance! Now you'll have to deal with Yama yourself!" Lavender could clearly notice vitality gradually fading from his eyes as she stared into them piercingly. She pulled the sword out of his head, spilling blood all over her, and dropped it on the floor. "Honestly, I hope you rot in hell." Having said that, Lavender left Parvati's body, which fell to the floor instantly.

"Parvati, talk to me..." Lavender, in her ghost form, crouched by her side. "Parvati, please..."

"I'm fine, Lavender," Parvati cracked a smile to the ghost. "The pain is temporary. I'm looking forward to passing to the other side with you..."

"Right," Lavender nodded, sobbing but forcing a smile. "I'll stay with you until the end..." Lavender embraced the woman, placing the monk's head carefully in her lap. Strangely, Lavender's spiritual body had begun working as if she were solid, for she had gained the ability to freely touch Parvati's mortal one.

"Sissy!" Padma had finally reached her sister, crying his eyes out upon her body. "Sis... please...!" she drew her wand. "Vulnera sanentur, vulnera sanentur, vulnera sanentur..."

Even though the light that emerged from Padma's wand was so bright it could even outshine Lavender, her sister's wounds refused to knit. "No!" Padma trembled from head to toe as she continued trying to heal her sister. "Please, sissy... stay with me... I can't do without you..."

Anthony joined them as well, touching his ex-wife's shoulder soothingly. "Padma, don't panic. It doesn't seem lethal. A real healer can fix it. I'll fetch one." Whilst all of them clustered around Parvati, yet another wolf attacked them, but Anthony grabbed the sword and jammed him with a Stunning Spell.

"Give it to me, Goldstein!" Malfoy shouted. "I'll put it to good use and shut these bastards' mouths for good!"

From the opposite direction, however, Harry, Ginny and James came sprinting. "Better give it back to the Gryffindors," Anthony chucked it at Harry.

"Thanks, mate," he handed it to Ginny. "Go nuts, Gin." Ginny nodded, storming on the remaining werewolves' trail. Harry, for his part, stopped and knelt beside Parvati. "We need a mixture of essence of dittany and powdered silver." He explained, taking a vial out of his pocket. "It's the right way to treat werewolves' bites."

"It's not going to work, Harry," Lavender calmly told him, caressing Parvati's hair. "She's had grave internal damage. I can see the interior of her body. He's harmed her lungs, she's having a hard time breathing. It requires a powerful charm to heal it."

"I am a specialist in Theory of Charms! I've invented dozens of charms myself!" Padma freaked out. "How in the world can't my charm be powerful enough!?"

"It is more than enough, Padma," Lavender softly explained to her. "With your monumental love for her, I bet you could cure her about ten times or more. The problem is that Parvati is rejecting your powers. She has decided that her time has come. She is slowly passing to the other side. That's why I can hold her... I'm actually holding her soul, not her body."

"How come!?" Padma squeaked, her tears raining all over her sister. "Sissy! Talk to me! Please, you can't do this to me! Or to Ishaan! I mean, Panju! We need you, sis! Let me cure you, sissy..." she sobbed. "Please... I beg you..."

Harry stood up, waving his hand above his head a few times. "I've protected this area." He told Anthony. "You don't need to worry about any werewolves attacking you from behind."

"Thanks, Harry," Anthony rapidly shook his hand.

"Lavender," Harry gazed at the ghost, not disgusted, nor scared, but deferentially. "It's nice to see you again. I feel horrible that you had to die for me. I'm dearly sorry."

"I didn't die for you, Harry," Lavender smiled at him. "I died for the idea that all lives are equally valuable, no matter wizard or muggle. Actually, I died with you." For some moments, Harry seemed not to understand her point. "You died as well... but you came back..."

"Oh..." Harry's eyes travelled to Parvati as realisation dawned upon him. "Of course... I chose to come back..." he surveyed the wounded woman on the floor carefully. "It's her choice as well, isn't it?" He asked the ghost. "She can choose to stay if she wants to..." Lavender confirmed with her head. Hence, he looked at Padma. "If you want her to stay, you'll have to convince her."

"What!?" Padma exclaimed, a bewildered expression on her face.

"Make her change her mind. It's the only way," he elaborated. "Gotta run. Need to fight," Harry pulled his wand out. "I hope it works out." He handed Anthony the vial that contained the antidote to werewolves' bites and glanced at Lavender one last time before taking leave. "Thanks for everything, Lavender." For her part, she waved at him as he left.

"Please..." with her face all sore from crying, Padma seized her sister's hand. "Listen to me... are you still mad at me, sis? Please, I implore you, forgive me!" That much desperate crying caused her to have a hard time speaking, but she continued. "Even though I might have disbelieved you, not even for a second have I loved you any less! The only reason why I could make it this far is 'cause you're here with me..." she paused to dry up her tears, smearing the makeup she hadn't had time to fully remove all over her already grimy face. "I'd have had a meltdown long ago if it weren't for you... you're my safe haven, sis... please..." she sniffed. "Say anything..."

Wearily, as though she weren't entirely there, she strived to open her eyes. For a moment, both pairs of twin eyes met each other. "I've forgiven you, sis. How could I not?" She managed to crack a weak smile. "My most sincere wish is that you go on with your life and be as happy as you deserve. With Panju. And Anthony." His cheeks became pink as she said that. "Unfortunately, I can't be part of it. My time has come... I need to cut ties with this world..."

"How could I ever be happy without you!? We're twins! Twins are not meant to be apart!"

"I ask you to understand this, Padma. You need to let me go..."

"I believe in you now! Completely!" Padma shouted. "You have a power I understand nothing of! That I'm scared to death of! And my only son happens to have the same power...!" She shrieked, despairing. "He needs you, Parvati...!"

"Panju will understand... he is so considerate..."

"Parvati, listen to me..." Anthony neared her. "I could never understand why Padma named our son Panju even though she hated that name. Why couldn't she just give him whatever name she wanted?" Parvati listened to him attentively. "The reason is that, even though she wanted you to be wrong, she's always believed that you were right. She believed that Panju was his real name... given by the stars, the gods, the tea leaves... I don't know..."

"I did..." Padma confirmed with her head, her vision blurry from shedding so many tears. "I always did, sis..."

"And I believe as well," he continued. "His fortune is really that of a stray dog..." Padma winced as she heard that, "because, even though we love him, we can't understand the powers he possesses. We can't give him any guidance. You're the only one who can." Upon hearing that, a single tear fell from Parvati's closed eyes. "I understand now why he's an outcast. It's not because we've cast him out, it's because he's so different from everyone around him. If you're not here with him, he will really become a complete outcast..."

"I'm sorry, Anthony..." her voice cracked. "But I need to go..."

"No, Parvati," this time, it was Lavender who talked. "You don't."

"No..." Parvati sought to open her eyes, but she felt too feeble. Her voice had weakened even more. "I'm not leaving you..."

"Why not?" Lavender asked, albeit teary, smiling. "You used to say that, from the perspective of the spirit, a mortal's life passes in a blink of an eye, no?" The ghost held her friend closer. "You helped me find my way back to where I belong. I could never be more grateful. But it's not your duty to pass away along with me. I should have gone long ago..." Lavender tenderly wiped a tear that travelled down Parvati's face. "We'll be reunited one day. Are we not all part of the Brahman anyway?"

"What if... you're reborn..." she spoke with much difficulty, "before I die?"

"I promise I'll beg Yama not to assign me another life before you die," Lavender said, giggling playfully, but her eyes meant she was serious about it. "Since you're a sloppy monk and probably will have to come back to this world another time as well, I won't rest until I convince him to have us be sisters in our next life, what do you think...?" Padma glanced briefly at Lavender, unsuccessfully seeking to hide her jealousy. "I'll have him make us triplets, what about it?"

"That... would..." Parvati breathed as though she were on the verge of suffocating, "be perfect..."

"Then it's settled. My time has come..." Lavender held Parvati close for a second, kissing her forehead. Thus, she carefully sought to place her head resting on Padma's lap. However, when Parvati's head was inches from her sister's legs, it fell from Lavender's hold, passing directly through her translucent hands; the spirit had lost the ability to touch the mortal woman's body. "I know living with lycanthropy will be a challenge, but I also know that, if there's a person strong enough to do it, it's you." Lavender sought to hide the cracks in her voice. "Thank you all for letting me be part of your family. I'm rooting for you." She beamed at Padma and Anthony as she said that. "Please, apologize to Professor Trelawney and Panju for me. I feel horrible for not bidding them goodbye. Farewell..." hence, gradually, Lavender's shiny figure began fading, until she disappeared completely.

As she witnessed her best friend slowly passing away, Parvati quietly shed tears, but when Lavender was finally gone, she instantly brought her hands to her ribs, grunting from the unbearable pain that overwhelmed her body in one fell swoop. More than that, she began bleeding greatly, soaking whatever was left of Padma's torn pantsuit in blood.

"Parvati, focus on breathing..." giving his best effort to remain calm, Anthony cautiously poured the content of the vial Harry had given them on her wounds. "You'll be fine... the pain will go away soon..."

"Vulnera sanentur... vulnera sanentur... vulnera sanentur..." Padma began the wand movement, but, as had happened to Hermione earlier that day, she trembled so much she could barely maintain the grip of her wand. On top of it, the sound of her sister's moans and groans drove her on the verge of a panic attack.

"Don't be nervous," Anthony muttered to Padma's ear. "You can do it. You're a brilliant witch." Padma, upon hearing that, inhaled deeply, reminding herself of what Lavender had told her, that she could heal her sister ten times or more. "Don't give in to the pressure."

"Keep talking," Padma wheezed to him, still forcing herself to work on the wand movement, but losing concentration whenever her sister wailed. His soothing voice was an island of peace amid the deafening sound of her twin in that much pain.

"Things will be fine," Anthony reached out for her wand hand, entangling his fingers in between hers and taking a steady grasp of her wand with her. "You have a firm grip now." So, Padma began drawing her wand over her sister's wounds yet again, no longer trembling thanks to his assistance. "Remember that this is your thing... there hasn't been a charm you couldn't master. You could do it with your eyes closed." He continued talking as she recited the enchantment. Given that she forced herself to focus on his voice rather than on her sister, she hadn't noticed, but her whimpering had diminished considerably. "You're almost there. She's much better already. Keep going."

Following some minutes, a calmer, even though covered in sweat, Padma put her wand down, examining her twin's wounds. "Feeling any better?"

"I guess..." Parvati moaned. "Every movement hurts... bad... though at least I'm not out of breath anymore..."

"I'll lessen your pain," Padma put her wand to her chest, performing non-verbal magic. "Better?"

"D'you happen to have any Firewhisky? It'd help..."

"She's back," Anthony let out a relieved giggle. "Come, I'll carry you." He carefully held her in his arms and stood up. "Hey, Padma, d'you feel well enough to protect us from the werewolves?"

"I think so..." she brandished her wand. "But... I don't think that there's any..."

As they stepped out of the protected spot, they realised the corridors were full of people and that all the wolves were stunned, chained and caged.

"Our hero is alive!" Seamus cheered as they passed by the entrance hall, clapping excitedly. On this cue, everyone began applauding as well. "You'll never pay for drinks again whenever Dean and I are at the same table!"

"Don't you..." Parvati panted, "bring anything right now?"

"Of course...! Dean, where is our bag?"

"She can't have any!" Padma scolded, staring daggers at Seamus. "She's gravely injured!"

"Whoever Patil you may be, you're no hero!" a cranky Malfoy pointed his finger at them. "You should've killed Scamander when I told you to! He's escaped! He's on the run! He will produce more of this nasty serum or whatever that is... you lot lack the brains to do..."

"Silencio!" Ginny aimed the sword at him, instantly shutting his mouth and, as a bonus, knocking him away some good ten yards, causing him to fall on his butt. "Oh, sorry, Malfoy... I had no idea it would be so powerful." Her voice tone was convincingly apologetical, although she smirked cynically. Behind her, George Weasley and his wife Angelina Johnson cackled relentlessly, whilst James covered his face with his own ragged shirt to conceal his amused face. "Hey, can you return this to Neville?" she handed Padma the sword. "I have a feeling he might need it."