The Devil as a Father, Chapter 34
Lucifer Morningstar was very angry. The IRS auditors had told him that Mr. Houston, the children's nemesis of a teacher, had reported him to the IRS. He knew it was revenge to make trouble for him. The man was an idiot. He clearly wanted to continue hurting the children and Lucifer himself in any way he could.
He returned to the penthouse and mentally called Chloe.
"Darling?" he asked.
"What's wrong?" was the immediate reply. Chloe always knew when he was upset.
"Mr. Houston from the school told the IRS that I was cheating on taxes. That is why we have the lovely auditors here today."
"That RAT," said Chloe.
"That's a lovely idea. I'll turn him into a rat," said Lucifer
"Where are you?" asked Chloe.
"I'm in the penthouse. Where are you, my darling queen?"
"I'm in the garden with the children. We're studying plants with Fred now. Come and see us."
Lucifer popped to the garden, an entire floor dedicated to plants and flowers. The hydroponics was doing well, and the fish seemed healthy and happy. Lucifer was pleased to see that the lemon, orange and grapefruit trees were coming along. He noticed that the older children were working in the magical plant section with Mr. Fred, who tutored them in herbs, but Chloe the little ones were in the herbal section.
The children were learning the different herbs used in cooking and their smells. They were giggling and laughing.
Lucifer felt better just seeing them, and went to his wife and queen and kissed her on the back of the neck.
"Are you sure I can't turn him into a rat?" he whispered.
"No," said Chloe, "He's already an idiot and unbalanced, that would drive him insane. Let me handle this as a case of harassment. It's tantamount to stalking. Who knows what he is doing to other children he doesn't like at the school. We can both investigate and see if he does this to other children."
Now she put a bandana over Rose's eyes and said, "What does this smell like?"
Rose crinkled her nose and then said, "Bay leaf!"
Octy was next, "Sage!" he announced.
An elf popped in. "Mrs. Morningstar, I has been watching you and I would like to be a junior investigator elf and also help teaching the children. I used to train my old master's children, but they grew up and died without children. So I had no family."
"What is your name?" asked Chloe, kneeling down in front of the little elf girl.
"I am Verbena," said the Elf. "I likes you. Can I be your temporary elf and see if we likes doing things together?"
"Yes," said Chloe, and she hugged the elf who smiled at her.
"Now tell me how you would investigate the school?"
"I can use magic, and scan the school for all the children who is afraid of the bad teacher and magic will tell me if he hurt them. I would make a list of their names, addresses and phone numbers, and you can ask the parents. You can form a class action suit against the teacher, or bring it against the school board."
"Wow, good thinking," said Chloe.
Then a large grey cat popped up and began to purr and rub against all the children. "Professor McGonagall, good morning," said Chloe. Lucifer knelt and rubbed the professor's ears and made the purr deepen in intensity.
They heard the mental voice of the Professor. "I would like to go with Verbena and investigate. I want to find out more about no-mag schools and what constitutes bullying. Would you mind if I go with you?" she asked.
"Make sure you are invisible," said Chloe, "especially around the Professor. Mr. Houston doesn't seem to like pets, and he might do something awful to you."
"I have a wand again," said the Professor, "but I do agree with you that being careful is important."
After giving more instructions, the elf and wizard both popped away, Minerva held gently in the elf's arms.
"She seems to be reluctant to turn back into her human form," mused Lucifer.
"I think she enjoys playing with the children," said Chloe, "She seems to be trying to learn from us too."
"Perhaps she needs to talk to Linda. She was greatly manipulated and might have trouble reaching out."
"Well," said Chloe reflectively, while she put a bandana over Daffodil's eyes, "Linda has one of the rings for her protection, so she can talk with her in cat form."
"That's true. I'll call Linda and you discuss it with Professor McGonagall. I enjoy her as a cat, but want to do my best for her."
Daffodil yelled, "Thyme, thyme, I have no time, my snuggles to impart, oh Daddy my dear Lucifer, please snuggle up my heart!"
"Well," said Chloe, "Sounds like we need a snuggle break."
Thereupon Lucifer picked up Daffodil and hugged her royally.
"I had no idea you liked poetry. We'll have to start looking up poems to memorize and recite," said Lucifer
Lucifer Harry Lucifer Harry Lucifer Harry
Professor McGonagall and the elf talked mentally, while hiding in the school playground. "I can tell that many of the children are unhappy," said Minerva, "I heard one complain about missing Trixie Morningstar."
"Yes," said Verbena, who was invisible, but who had insisted on transfiguring and wearing a deerstalker hat ala Sherlock Holmes. "I see many of them have pinches that have meanness and hatred behind them. The pinches are tiny so the parents will think they are usual bruising that small children get, but they are all on the back right shoulder blade just next to the underarm."
Recess was just over and the two invisible spies were sitting in a bush that would have hid them if they were not invisible.
However, they forgot something. The sense of smell.
Minerva felt her hackles rise and suddenly a huge, "woof woof," sounded in her ear.
She was grabbed by the scuff of her neck by a large dog, and brought before a nasty man who she identified as Mr. Houston before she fainted.
"Good boy, Demon," he said happily and took Minerva from the dog. "We can't let nasty animals like this on campus, now can we?" he said carrying Minerva's limp form to a large trash receptacle. He opened the top and threw her in violently, making her pass out from pain, and several broken bones.
Verbena popped back to Chloe and shrieked in alarm, while Daffodil ran into the room yelling about the kitty lady being hurt in a dumpster.
Harry was nearby and heard this and yelled, "DAD" at the top of his lungs, and Lucifer popped in silently, grabbed Verbena and Chloe, and told Harry to comfort Daffodil, who was crying her eyes out.
He popped to campus with his wife and the elf in tow and opened the dumpster which unfortunately had been empty so Minerva had hit the metal container with no padding. It reminded Lucifer of when he first found Harry, and he felt sick for a moment. He looked at Chloe and could see she felt the same.
He gently picked up the small looking cat in his arms, while still remembering the day they had rescued Harry. Now he could do more. Now he remembered magic. He touched Minerva's head and sent healing into her very carefully and then they all popped home.
Next he called Saint Mungo's hospital by floo and told the lady he had an animagus that had been injured and didn't know what was best to do. Two healers came through the floo and started working on Minerva.
She was laying on a transfigured hospital examination table that Lucifer popped into being.
"What happened?" asked one healer.
"Big nasty dog grabbed her by the scruff of the neck, and then nasty man threw her into a steel dumpster very hard." Verbena walked back and forth in obvious upset and worry.
"She has several broken bones and a concussion. She is partially healed, which probably saved her life. I can see that several internal organs ruptured, but your healing impacted that damage instead of her bones, which would have been bad because we would have to re-break them to set them properly. You did very well."
Verbena collapsed on the floor. Chloe picked her up and lay her on the couch.
The second healer went over to Verbena and did diagnostics. "She's just emotionally exhausted. She had a bad scare."
She smiled down at Verbena. "She's a very healthy house elf, and that helped."
Now a dicta-quill and parchment appeared and she asked questions, while helping the other healer.
"Name of Patient?"
Lucifer answered, "Minerva McGonagall,"
Both women looked shocked. "She used to teach at Hogwarts,"
Then they looked at Lucifer closely for the first time and again were shocked.
"Lord Morningstar, I had understood you turned her into a cat permanently for helping kidnap your son. Why is she here?" The woman asked this bravely and trembled just a bit.
Lucifer smiled at her with regret. "I didn't realize she was under the effects of loyalty potions and charms. When I realized what had happened, I turned her back and brought her home with me. She wanted to make sure Harry was no longer afraid of her. I'm concerned about her because she seems more content in cat form, playing with the children and napping."
The two healers looked reassured. "Oh that is so good of you," said one and gave a shy smile.
"Have you thought of sending her to a mind healer?" asked the younger woman.
"Yes, I want to send her to my personal mind healer."
"Oh that would be lovely," said the oldest one, "I'm Cassiopeia Greenglass, and this is Constance Merry Weather," both ladies dipped a curtsy to Lucifer and Chloe.
"She should stay in cat form now and we'll leave medicines that you can add to milk or food. Give her two days, and then we will return and give her a sleeping potion and repair the bones while she sleeps. Otherwise it would be very painful."
"Thank you for caring for these two. Please bill my account at Gringotts for your fees," said Lucifer kindly
Lucifer Lucifer Harry Harry
Minerva woke up suddenly. She was warm and comfortable and the horrible dog was gone. She raised her head and sniffed delicately. Apparently she was on a bed in the little children's room. It was late in the night and the children were sleeping peacefully.
Suddenly Verbena, the house elf, popped next to her and smiled. "Professor Kitty!" she whispered, "You are awake. Would you like food?" she asked.
Minerva mind spoke to the elf gently, "I would love something to eat. Did you rescue me?"
"No," said Verbena sadly, "Lord Pretty Wings rescued you and healed you and then brought in Saint Mungos to finish the healings. You have been asleep for 3 days. We was worried."
Minerva purred to the little elf. "I feel as though it will hurt if I stand, can you carry me to the kitchen quietly?"
Verbena silently took her to the kitchen, sat her gently on the dining table and made her a meal of salmon with a fluffy omelet and then gave her medicine in crème.
She lapped it down. The she said, mentally of course, "That was a waste of excellent crème! My whiskers are curling from the taste."
The little elf's ears drooped, "I is sorry, but you need the medicine," she said.
Minerva purred at her reassuringly, "Of course my dear. I just dislike the flavor. The food you made me was excellent. Thank you."
The Chloe and Lucifer walked into the kitchen. "Minerva," said Chloe in delight, "You're awake! How do you feel?"
"Like a quaffle broke my back," said Minerva. "Thank you so much for taking care of me. I thought I was going on the next great adventure for sure."
Lucifer gently picked her up and began to tenderly pet her, "I am so sorry you were harmed by that awful man, my dear lady," he said softly
"Do no mags often kill innocent cats like that?"
"No," said Chloe, "It's a crime".
Lucifer smiled and said, "We flooded all the media sites with a film of him setting the dog on you and throwing you to die in the waste can." Lucifer grinned, "He's been fired and we didn't have to do anything else. Parents started asking their children about him and found out he was abusing children."
"How did you get the film?" asked Minerva.
"Pensieved memory from Verbena and then made it into a film from my phone."
"Well done," purred Minerva. "That feels lovely, I think I may fall asleep again."
Lucifer carefully put her back on the bed in the children's room and walked out.
His wife kissed him, and said "I'm so glad she woke up. I would really like to know her as a human."
Lucifer kissed her back, "I would like that as well, Darling. She is a very nice person and I'm glad to have her in our life."
The next day she woke up and ate again, and talked a little. The children constantly were there for her, gently turning her into a champion tea kettle of purrs, and learning a lot about cats and animaguses as well.
Lucifer Harry Lucifer Harry Lucifer Harry
Harry went to his Dad. "Dad?" he asked, and immediately was given a huge hug, "My Darling boy, what do you need?" his father asked. It was evening after another lovely day with family. Lucifer's wards had gone off earlier because Mr. Houston had tried to come to the Lux. He had the man arrested for stalking. Lucifer felt like of meanly glad about it. The thought of someone hurting his children made him furious.
"Dad, I'm worried about Professor McGonagall. I think she's ashamed of being taken advantage of. She feels like she became a bad teacher and she just wants to stay a cat now."
"I've noticed," said Lucifer, "I'm going to ask Dr. Linda to talk to her."
Later, when the children were asleep, he found the professor sitting on the balcony looking at the moon.
"Professor?" he said gently in mind-speech.
"Yes, my Lord, can I be of assistance?" asked the cat.
"I notice you seem to stay in cat form most of the time. Is something wrong?"
The cat sighed, "I thought I was a good teacher, but the children, Dumbledore had us ignore bullying and then he made me into a bully. I hate it. I am so ashamed."
"My dear lady, did you want to become a bully? Did you hate the children and want to make them miserable?"
"Oh no. Not at all," said the professor, "But I still feel such shame about the whole thing."
"I understand that," said Lucifer in a soft voice, "I feel like a fool for wasting my life on earth in pursuit of pleasure, when I found that having a family is so much more. However, that is neither here nor there, I would like to send you to my therapist, whom you would call a mind healer. She knows about the magical world, and is a tremendously good friend. Also, she is part of the family and has the ring that allows her to mind speak with you. Would you do me the honor of seeing if it helps."
Minerva got up and began to purr and rub against his legs gently, "I was so terrified of you, and yet you have saved us all from grief, and you are a wonderful father, and a good friend. If you think this might help, I would be very pleased to meet another friend of House Morningstar."
Lucifer Harry Lucifer Harry Lucifer Harry
She sat quietly in Dr. Linda's office thinking of what she had achieved. She had learned about her husband's infidelity, and also realized that to him she was nothing but a maid. She looked down at her roughened hands. She worked full time and had enough money to make her way in the world, and she had found a reputable attorney and filed both for divorce and also put a restraining order on him. She was going to be free. Of course, part of freedom is accepting it, and that was what Dr. Linda had helped her with. Part of her was still afraid that the doctor would tell her it had been wrong to get the divorce. The other part of her felt that Doctor Linda just might say, "Thank God, finally," so she sat. She got out a pad of paper and made a list of things to do. She had already put all her money in another bank. She had cancelled her credit cards. She had even found a lovely apartment, that was small but very charming.
The door opened and HE walked in. She sat quietly watching. She wasn't sure who he was, but he was the most absolutely gorgeous, sexy man she had ever seen in her whole life. He came into Dr. Linda's frequently, and she often wondered why he needed a therapist. Today he had a magnificent cat in his arms and carried her into Dr. Linda's office. Well, that was new. She sat for a minute and wondered if the cat appreciated the man. He certainly held the cat gently. Maybe she would find a pet.
Then the door opened and he walked out, without the cat, closing the door gently.
Well, that was weird. She was becoming more observant now, after being told she was stupid for years, and that was just strange. Maybe the cat was a gift?
He left, and she waited. Maybe five or ten minutes later, she got up and opened Dr. Linda's door and peaked in. The cat was sitting on the couch, and Doctor Linda looked like she had been talking to the cat.
"Dolores," said Dr. Linda. "You still have 45 minutes until your session."
She nodded, looked at the cat, who looked back, and went and sat down, and began to think about Dr. Linda. This was just plain weird, but it was none of her business. Maybe the gorgeous man paid to have the cat in therapy too. He was obviously wealthly, and if he wanted the cat to see an expensive and kind person, Dr. Linda was it.
When the full hour was over, the man came back in, tapped on the door, stepped inside and came out with the cat in his arms.
Dolores wasn't very outgoing of a person, but the cat gave her courage.
"Your cat is absolutely lovely," she said.
"Oh, she's not a pet, she's my friend, and yes she is very lovely." He said calmly. The cat gave her a look that reminded her of a particularly strict teacher she'd had as a child.
Suddenly she didn't feel like she was such an odd person after all. If the most gorgeous man she'd ever seen was bringing in a cat for therapy, she could work this new life out and be happy. She got up and knocked on the door and entered Doctor Linda's office with a huge grin on her face. She wouldn't ask about it. It was none of her business.