AN: Sorry for the wait, I'm back on the ball now.
Emily knocked Marc out of the way just in time, and the curse went harmlessly over their shoulders. She checked him over, running small hands over his body, then turned, green eyes spitting fire at Muerte and his followers.
Someone hammered on the door, and the Death Eaters and their leader disapparated with a 'crack'.
"Hello? Anyone home? I've been renting next door and I heard screaming." A skinny man with wild red curls and dark brown eyes stepped inside and looked around, frowning. The frown changed to shock and fear when he saw Emily huddled with Marc and Annie, and the dead bodies of the Facades. "Oh fuck." He muttered, striding over to the phone and dialling a number. "Hello?" He said. "I'd like to report a murder. There are kids here. They witnessed it." He rattled off the address then turned back to Emily. "Are you ok, honey?" He asked kindly. "Were these people your family?"
Emily shook her head and opened her mouth to speak. Not a sound emerged. She tried again, with the same result.
The man patted her on the head. "Don't worry, honey, it's just shock." He soothed. "My name's Tim. Can…can you write?"
Emily nodded eagerly.
"Alright." Tim pulled a piece of paper and a pen out of his pocket, laughing at Emily's questioning look. "Among other things I'm a bit of a writer. Write down your answer to my questions."
'MY NAME IS EMILY.' Emily wrote. 'AND THAT'S MY BROTHA AND SISTA MARC AND ANNIE. THE PEPLE WHO ARE DED ARE MY FREND'S FAMILY.'
The red-haired man sighed. "That's terrible, but at least they're not your own family." He turned to the door. "Sounds like the police and the ambulance service are here. You three want to come out?"
Emily's eyes widened in panic, and she shook her head frantically.
"Shh, it's ok, I won't let them hurt you." Tim soothed.
Emily gestured to Marc and Annie, worried. That curse had sounded pretty bad.
"They'll be fine, don't worry. Let's go, 'k?"
"Dr. Morissey to the Emergency Room, Dr. Morrisey to the Emergency Room."
Emily was wheeled in on a stretcher, strapped down because she refused to let Annie and Marc out of her sight. Tears of frustration, fear, and sorry leaked out of her eyes as she watched her little brother and sister be taken off to another part of the hospital.
"What happened?" A plump, good-natured looking nurse with big blue eyes and bubbly blonde curls asked Tim.
"I have no idea. I walked into my neighbour's house because I heard screaming, and she and her siblings were there. They'd witnessed a murder. Emily could probably tell you more, but she can't talk."
"That's her name, then? Emily?" The nurse was busy hooking Emily up to some kind of plastic bag thing.
It hurt going in, but almost immediately she began to feel better, sleepy too. Emily wondered what kind of a potion it was.
"Yes." Tim said. "I don't know what her last name is."
The lady hovered over Emily. "I'm Nurse Joy, Emily. Can you tell me what your last name is?"
"If you have a piece of paper she can." Tim offered.
"Ok, let's get her all settled in, then I'll get her to write down her name and a phone number I can reach her parents at."
Emily closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep.
"Emily, Emily, wake up." Nurse Joy said softly.
Slowly, Emily opened her eyes, blinking in confusion. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Nurse Joy handed her a piece of paper and a pen. 'WHER AM I?' She wrote.
"In hospital, honey. Can you tell me your last name?"
'POTTER. ARE MY BROTHA AND SISTA OK?' Emily asked anxiously.
"Marc and Annie? They'll be fine." Nurse Joy checked the plastic bag thing again, injecting something into the tube that ran from the bag to her wrist.
'WHAT'S THAT YOU'RE PUTING IN ME? AND WHAT'S THAT PLASTIK BAG THING?' The brunette asked."It's commonly called a drip, Emily. And I'm injecting a solution of glucose and sodium chloride, with a small bit of ibuprofen. You've had a terrible shock. Now, who do I call? Is there someone who would like to know you're in hospital?"
Emily nodded, and scribbled on the paper. 'MY AUNTIE 'MIONE GRANGER-WEASLEY. HER FONE NUMBER IS 045045735.'
Nurse Joy took the piece of paper. "Righto, I'll give her a ring. You just rest. Get some more sleep."
Nodding, Emily took refuge in unconsciousness.
Hermione answered the phone on the first ring, eager as she was to hear from Ginny and Harry. It was the right time for them to be calling. "Hello?"
"Is this Hermione Granger-Weasley?" A crisp voice asked.
"Yes…who is this?"
"My name is Joy Tate. I'm a nurse at Shadyview County Hospital. Do you know Emily, Marc and Anne Potter?"
"I do." Hermione felt vaguely sick. "I'm their aunt. What's wrong?"
"They seem to have witnessed a murder. Marc and Annie are fine, a bit dazed and out of sorts, but otherwise acting in a way not unusual for children their age. Emily, however, seems to have gone into a state of acute shock. She has also lost her voice."
"How?"
"Sometimes, if the shock and terror is serious enough, a victim may lose their voice for a short time. It's impossible to gauge how long Emily will me mute, however."
"Do…should I come and pick them up?" Hermione asked.
"I certainly encourage you to pick up Annie and Marc. Emily we would like to hold overnight for observation, but then she can go home with you, too. Are you their primary caregiver?"
"At the moment, yes. Their parents are out of town on business. Emily, Annie and Marc were staying with a friend for a few days because my husband and I were on our second honeymoon. We were due to arrive back tomorrow."
"You can make other plans, I presume?" Joy Tate enquired.
"Of course. I'll be there as soon as possible." Hermione reassured.
"Good. Have a nice day." The nurse hung up.
Hermione stood, and began to pack her bags. She had to get home.
Reviewer Response
GNatgirl: I am so sorry this took so long. I've updated now, though. It's just, I lost the entire story, and I had to retype it, and I was so busy with school that I couldn't. Plus, I lost my inspiration for quite a while.
Kemenran: Thanks. Here's more, finally.
Kate Potter: Thank you.
Searching4romeo: I'm sorry, love. I've fixed it now. Better?
