Disclaimer: my thanks to Conan Doyle, Hiromu Arakawa, LogicalRaven and of course J.K for the central ideas and influences in this story.
Notes: gone through the edit with this one too.
So…err let's see not too much happened this week (Armoured Core 4 came out, much c00ln3ss) I'll be back at Uni. Next week, this could lead to slower updates but I've got a good idea on where I want this story to lead.
As to this chapter it will be delivered in two parts the first explains Harry's 'ability', how he beat riddle and the marks on his hand, the second what happened to Cho… for any wondering as to there getting together, Christ! She's just lost a husband this wont happen over night. (If ever) but I feel the idea that they had both lost the ones they love is an interesting angle to work from, how will they cope? Can't help but see this 'notes' gone on longer than usual and that I ramble so enjoy…
"Well then, that should help the Regs a little." Tonks said a little impressed with O'Riley's rather flashy exit, "we best get going."
With this the three held out the wands and made a Turing motion, Harry had grown to like the tugging sensation, and the simple factor of landing on ones feet when they apparated was a big improvement over Fooing. A moment latter and they were in a crowded entrance hall of St Mungo's.
They looked around at the odd crowd around them, a few were rather uninteresting witches and wizards dressed in lime-green robes holding clip boards and had a wand and bone emblazoned on there chests the healers.
Then the was the far more interesting patients, one man next to Amy, looked to have his wand pointing right through his hand. Another lady had strange and very vivid blue dots on her face and a man next to Harry seemed to have his head on, the Wong way round. The crowd seemed to file into a patient queue where the same bored faced witch was directing the casualties of one accident or another to the necessary floors. Slowly Harry and Amy edged further down the line, Tonks had long since got impatient and gone to sit on one of the rickety wooden chars which stood against the far wall, ordering the other two to save her place.
At last the was just one man clutching his smouldering back in font of the pair, reminding Harry of the consequences to back pocketing a wand, who was directed to Artefact accidents, down the corridor. Then the bored looking healer stated, monotone, not even looking up "next"
Harry, was just about to respond, when in her charismatic way Tonks rushed towards them, lost her footing and careered into an unfortunate group of waiting people and landed on the floor.
Amy looked Harry Square in the eye and her light easygoing voice asked "is she always this clumsy? Come on you're her student."
Harry returned the gaze before he shrugged "this is the norm, hell I herd her crashing into things before I even met her." Amy broke out in to a broad grin at this. As they watched there teacher got up and limped over to the desk using it to steady herself, the bored witch behind it still hadn't looked up at the commotion but instead continued to read the Witch Weekly magazine. Tonks straitened up and with a air of authority, that Harry had to admit he wouldn't of shared after such a fall, inquired "were here to see two casualties brought in last night, they work for the ministry, we believe they are Cho Debber and a Mr John Rance..."
"Spell Damage Fourth Floor, nasty case that, in Ward 42 second door on the left as you reach the top of the stairs" the witch interrupted. Tonks murmured thanks, apologised to the still angry crowd behind her and they moved towards the stairs, perfectly normal, but Harry noted Tonks in her attempts to right herself had left a small marble like orb on the desk next to a box of leaflets, out of notice.
They ascended the large flights of stairs with the iron handrails passing patients in white hospital gowns, and a healer who strode by. A clipboard hovering in the air beside him a 'quotes' quill taking down the loud lecture he was giving to a half dozen medical students behind him, about the danger of bewitching muggle hovers.
"I can't begin to count the number, that believe that they're faster in the air than a broom, and bam." He made a violent motion, pounding his fist into his hand "if I had a Knut for the prats, id be a rich man…"
Harry strained to here more but the healers continued down, Tonks and Amy had not slowed down and had got ahead. Harry took the stairs two at a time darting past a healer who was talking to an aged man, bout which way to hold a toothbrush the item in question sticking out of his nose. At the top of the next flight an aggravated lady was wearing a duck for a hat, vandalising a notice board where once had been a rule of no animals.
Wearing a bemused smile on his face but out of breath, Harry court up with his companions as they reached the Forth floor, looking down the long whitewall passage that ran both ways adjacent from the stairs. They spotted a sign number 42 on one of the wards to there left. As they made towards it Harry tapped Tonks on the shoulder and asked "why id you leave a orb eye on the desk?" Tonks glanced round as though to make sure they were alone then with a sober grin took out a rounded eye sized orb from her black robe, "well the witnesses were taken by Regs so we would need an a official pass to see them"
The grin just got bigger.
"Which we don't have, so this is to see if and when they arrive. Coarse Harry you'll need to be quick."
Harry looked way, his light mood evaporating with the knowledge of what was needed, this was his job, and he'd sworn to see it through, but swallowed hard, it was ways a drain.
They were outside the tall grey double doors they straitened their backs, made sure they had the required imposing appearance, Tonks hair turning a burning red. And opening one of the doors strode in.
Harry, Tonks and Amy were confronted with some very well aimed Staffs.
The ward was well-lit, large windows on one side streaming in light. Like the rest of the hospital it was clean and sterile with white walls. But despite the being eight beds only two appeared to be in use, crowded round these the were some worried looking healers that stood behind the four green dressed ministry hit wizards in line, there long two handed staffs levelled at the intruders.
Harry recognised the one on the far right as Dean Tomas he had grown his dreds and was quite a good deal taller since the last time they had met. The two were still good friends; after all they had shared a dorm for the best part of seven years, but a guilty grin and shrug to Harry's questioning glare meant his hands were tied.
"Well now, this should off been expected." Said the one on the far left a tough-looking wizard with very short wiry hair by the name of Andrew Dawlish. And in a very posh accent "morning Tonks, how's your husband?"
"Oh, he's well, its just that time of month at the moment" one of the Hit wizards sniggered at this but stopped when he found every one glaring at him, even the healers. Andrew turned back to Tonks, sighing "Sorry old girl, but I cant let you in with out a pass of authority."
She nodded still looking at the staffs "kind of going to extremes though ant we"
"Oh, sorry" Andrew gave a charming grin and apologised "but we can never be to careful can we." He waved and the staffs were lowered, held at ease.
"Indeed" said Tonks raising her eyebrows, her hair now a mute brown.
"But you need this to stay I'm afraid…" Andrew said taking out a small but very official looking bit of parchment. "Uh huh" murmured an unfazed Tonks.
Still wearing a roguish smile he expounded "and this is why I miss working with you." Andrew then strode over to them "still you better inspect it…for old times" and he handed it to Amy.
Tonks hair seemed to brighten,
Amy blinked then beamed, "Oh I think its all in order, but thank you" she handed it back, "besides we have one, much like it" she drew another sheepishly similar piece of parchment from one of her pockets.
"Really" said Andrew unrolling it, and examining in minute detail the signatures inscribed rather lavishly on the bottom.
"Well it checks out" and he turned back to Tonks, "this is a fine team you have, indeed so fine you can keep watch for the next ten minutes. Well be up stairs having a much deserved early lunch."
Tonks simply nodded her expression on of contorted mirth. As the Hit team filed out, Dean giving Harry a mock solemn glare as he passed.
"Why did he do that," said Harry to his teacher.
"In this line of work, achieving an early lunch is the first hurdle of the day, some make it, some…." Tonks trawled off wistfully.
"Ok kids, let's get down to the matter at hand." She said as she walked up to the beds. Only to be bard by a very stern Old Healer.
"Don't even think about touching those patients, we only just patched them up, we don't need you undoing that."
Tonks cast a look of friendliness at the healers and answered, "we just need to talk, ask some questions."
The older healer, obviously the nurse in charge, huffed turning her head in disgust. "I wouldn't let you talk to them, but that wont matter, you see there unconscious." At this the healers parted from the bedsides. The Auror's saw the man first he was getting on, in his late 40's pale shallow faced, which looked calm and still, Harry recognised the look, it was one cut off from the world, that wanted no part of it. With fairly long wispy black hair he looked tired, unkempt.
He was out cold, and Harry turned to see a site that sent chills, hard, down his back, across form John Rance, in the other bed. Partly enveloped by the thin sheets lay Cho, unlike Amy's copy this one, the real one, was not covered in blood, and looked as if shed been sleeping for a hundred years. Her sleek black hair fell down the round face to show a cast bound round her neck, her right arm was also heavily bound. Apart form this she looked much like the last time Harry had seen her, just, well he couldn't pace his finger on what had changed, 'guess she's older' he thought, then he pushed this out of his head, it was irrelevant, he had a job to do.
He glanced at Tonks she nodded towards the form of Cho, "shell seen more see her first."
"Yes Mam." He walked up to her bed, ignoring the continued protests of the Healers,
He was standing over her, his shadow falling over the sleeping form, he raised his hand clearing his mind getting ready to dive, he put his tattooed hand to her forehead.
Suddenly looking at a man sitting across a candle lit diner for two…
Enoch looked happy, she's glad of this, they are always so over worked.
"Are you enjoying tonight dear?" it was a warm contented voice, she loves that sound, although it was a fairly pointless question.
She lowers her wine and looks into the warm brown eyes in a way she knows he likes.
"Off coarse, it's been a wile since we were able to get away form the ministry." He nods agreeing, and she thinks that this is the wrong time, privet time…
Strange why would she think that?
The rest off the meal seems to speed up, go by in a blur, there out side walking together her arms in his. Her head resting on his shoulder, she's happy relaxed and can feel his hart beat, its slow, controlled, the is a sudden burning sensation in there pockets.
Not now, this was meant to be there night. He sighs looking at her questionably, she dimly thinks 'don't take it.'
Why?
"We have to" Enoch says, takes out an orb from the pocket of his robe and holds it in the palm of his hand, where they can both see it, a face appears inside, David a good friend.
'He will need to be questioned' she thinks, but that isn't right,
David was the best man, she try's to remember the wedding, but she didn't even think that last time…
Last time?
Confusion
Then her mind adjusts, it's the wine, and her thoughts return to the man in the orb.
"We really don't know who to tern to, its probably nothing and as your so close, it would only take ten minuets, there in a warehouse over in the old dockside."
She feels impatient, things speed up
There outside the building in the yard its dark, spooked, the are no lights except for the street lamps in the road behind them. They make there way towards the building and take up positions on both sides of an old thin door "be careful" she says, he nods
"I will go first, you cover."
She nods and slowly he opens the door gives it a second, then walks in 'that was sloppy entry, no proper training' she thinks. Or dose she.
She walks in to be blinded by the darkness, a few feet ahead Enoch lights his wand with a whispered "Lumos" and directs this ahead, the is a another room in front of them they move towards it.
Stillness, to still. Then Enoch calls out, "Rance, Lucy, you there?"
Still nothing, She doesn't like this and is taking a step back when it darts out.
Her eyes are dawn to it and nothing else, it might be human or at least it was, now covered in blood, life stands still. It moves, or glides towards him, she wants to call out,
Warn him,
To Scream.
But her voice is gone, scared away.
It gets closer Enoch suddenly gains some control over him self and moves, points his wand, but it is already to close, its red dripping arm darts out it doesn't make a nose as it hits him, but the is a thud as he collapses backwards to the floor.
It sees her and she wants to run to raise her wand and fight but the larger part of her consensus the dominant part is num.
She sees it move gracefully towards her, it seems female with long soaked hair, she can see the black orbs of eyes a thin mouth, thin teeth. The thing looks at her, interested, then a flash of anger.
And a hand rips into her gut.
And she knows she's going to die.
The claw like hand is suddenly yanked away, and blood sprays out, her blood. Cho doesn't make a sound but her mind is crying out, she starts to fall but the hand lightly grabs her shoulder and slices down the arm, through to the bone, the force twists her round in a circle of crimson.
She got one more look at her nightmare before the next blow court her in the neck a snap and darkness…