Previously on A Tale Of Two Wizards Full Circle: Chapter 17

Emilio made his first smile of the morning. Between the two folders, Wallace had all the ends tidied up. The three vendors had been notified of their new status, and deleted from Department of Acquisitions records. Wallace had also put together a list of vetted vendors willing to add more products to their inventory for Emilio's review.

"Good work Wallace. You've outdone yourself."

"Just doing my job Minister, and trying to fill the shoes of my predecessor."

"Ah yes, that. I believe James would be among the first to compliment you."

"If you say so Minister. Minister Wooley gave me quite the side eye the first time we interacted after my faux pas with your phone charger."

Wallace's last remarks drew an out of character guffaw from Emilio. "Of that I have no doubt. James is a stickler for protocol, as am I. However, if that is your only error going forward, you, James and I will be fine. If there are any issues with our three deleted vendors….."

"I'll handle it Minister."

"Of course. Thank you Wallace."

Emilio smiled a bit as he thought of the fastidious James Wooley giving Wallace the side eye. He was still smiling when a low, but familiar voice inquired about the smile.

"Are we still up from yesterday?"

Emilio glanced up at Matt. "No cousin. We're not. Today, we have come back down to earth. The smile is entirely down to Wallace. How can I help you?"

/

A Tale Of Two Wizards Full Circle: Chapter 18

"I don't need anything. I just wanted a break from my office. What do you mean you've come back down to earth? I thought things went very well. Scorpius is obviously very taken with you. That's a good first step."

Leaning back in his chair, Emilio let out a sigh. "I don't know which is worse, sitting here knowing there isn't much I can do to get close to Hermione, or knowing there are probably five men at her door hoping to get on a first name basis. It's just so ironic. She was married, out of my thoughts, somewhat. Now, she's single again. The thoughts I've been having are ridiculous." Bringing himself straight up in the chair, Emilio closed the discussion about Hermione. "Enough about that. No matter what you say, you look like a man with something on his mind. What's up cousin?"

Although he wouldn't say it out loud, Matt was glad Emilio had changed the subject. Presently, there was nothing to be done about his feelings for Hermione. Nothing at all. "You know me too well Emilio. I wasn't being quite truthful when I said I just wanted to get away from my office. My reason for stopping by was to get your opinion on this transition thing."

"Transition thing? Do you mean taking over as Head of Malfoy Holdings? You'll be fine. You might have to stretch yourself fairly thin, but, as I say. You'll be fine."

Matt shifted in his chair. "Thanks for that vote of confidence Emilio, but that isn't exactly what I meant."

"Then do tell cousin. Just what do you mean? Wait a minute! Wait just a bloody minute. Is my stoic cousin referring to the bit about some goblin popping up and dragging him into Malfoy hellfire?"

Matt grinned. "You've hit the nail on the head, although I wasn't thinking so much of a goblin. Perhaps more along the lines of some dark entity."

"Come on now Matt. You can't be serious."

Well I'm not one hundred per cent serious, but think about it. There hasn't ever been any other Malfoy who died before his time without a direct line heir. Whatever rules there are in effect have been in effect for centuries. I won't be surprised if some withered, little shit of a Malfoy elf snatches me up and Apparates me to the deepest recesses of Malfoy Manor."

"Hahaha," laughed Emilio, looking around uneasily. "You've gone round the bend. Knowing as much as I do about Draco and his family, I believe your transition will be done face to face with an ordinary wizard. However, I am inclined to believe it will be in the deepest, darkest dungeons of the manor. On top of that, I believe your memory will be wiped clean of all that transpires to keep the Malfoy secrets. "

"Thanks Emilio. I come to you for support, but all I get are bloody jokes. It will be what it will be," Matt remarked as he rose from the chair. "I'm taking off early. I'll see you in the morning… if I'm not snatched away tonight. See you later."

Emilio smiled at Matt's last remark. However, after a few minutes thought, the smile turned to a frown. He wouldn't put anything past the Malfoys, dead or alive.

/*/

Hermione and Carmela walked through the doors of St Mungo's flanking Seana. Luckily, there wasn't a queue. The receptionist window was empty, so they were taken immediately.

"My daughter-in-law needs to see an Obstetrics Healer."

The disinterested Receptionist Witch began speaking without looking up.

"Name."

"Seana Maida."

"Residence."

Carmela couldn't take it any more and addressed the witch herself. "My daughter-in-law and my grandbaby are in distress. Her information will not change in the next thirty minutes, so I suggest you give us a hall pass, a voucher, or whatever it is we need to see a healer right now."

Carmela's remarks caused the receptionist to finally raise her face. "There are rules and policies madam. I need…"

Carmela was now ready for a fight. Seana was in distress and this bumbling airhead was causing a delay. "You need…"

Hermione reached for Carmela's hand. "Mela." To the receptionist she said, "This is an emergency. My pregnant sister-in-law has an issue. She needs to be seen as soon as possible. Please give Mrs. Maida and Mrs. Maida authorization to see the Obstetrics Healer. I will give you all the information you need for the records."

Whether she saw the determination in Hermione's eyes or recognized the wife of the recently deceased mogul Draco Malfoy, within five seconds a Transit Wizard was hurrying down the hall guiding an automatic chair with his wand.

"Mela. Please take Seana to the healer. I'll be there shortly."

The silly girl behind the receptionist window started, what seemed to Hermione, a complaint.

Seana wasn't there any longer. Cross words couldn't upset her, so Hermione went all the way in on the silly bint. "Don't you dare say a word against a mother-in-law who is seeking services only to be met by a lazy employee who couldn't even be bothered to look her in the face. I understand the need for rules and regulations, so let's get on with it. I want to get back there with Seana."

/*/

After giving the information, Hermione hurried back to the emergency area to find that Seana was already being examined.

Carmela who was pacing back and forth grabbed Hermione by the hands. "I'm sorry for my behavior. That witch reminded me of Kim. All knowing, but knowing nothing. Seana's cramping became more intense. I just hope there hasn't been any harm done."

Hermione knew there was more to it than getting Seana signed into St Mungo's. "Please stop pacing mum. Let's sit down. What harm? What happened when you went to see Flora?"

"Before I begin, I think you should call Harry. I had to hex Flora. She's probably still out cold. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. When I realized what a fake she was and the danger she could be causing Seana and the baby, nothing she said could have stopped me from laying her out."

"Oh Merlin Carmela," replied a panicked Hermione. "Stay right there. I need to step out into the hall to summon Harry. If Flora has hurt Seana or the baby, it's good that you've laid her out because I wouldn't have been that kind. I'll be right back."

/*/

Hermione was dialing the mobile before she even stepped into the hall.

One ring….. No answer.

"Come on Harry. Pick up"

Two rings…. Still no answer.

In her state, Hermione thought she might have dialed the wrong number, and was just about to disconnect to dial again when Harry spoke into the phone.

"Hello love."

"Harry. Harry. Thank Merlin. We have trouble."

Harry immediately began speaking in his, loud Auror voice. "What trouble? Where's Scorp? Where are you? What's going on Hermione?"

Very quickly, Hermione explained that Scorp was alright, what was going on with Seana and what Carmela had done. In that order.

Before hanging up, Harry insisted that Carmela not repeat what she'd done to anyone. "In fact, don't discuss another word of it in St Mungo's. No discussions until we are back at Malfoy Estate. Clear? By the way, where is Gas in all this?"

"Yes. You've made yourself very clear. Gas will be told in due time. Just go and do your Potter magic. I'll speak to you soon."

After getting Flora's address, Harry told Hermione he would get back to her after he sorted things regarding the Medi-Witch.

The conversation ended there.

/*/

Even though she'd only been gone for less than ten minutes, Healer Emory had finished his examination of Seana, and was discussing what he had found. When Hermione took a seat, the healer gave a short recap to where he was before she came in.

"As I said, Seana has been ingesting a brew, concoction or potion that is having an adverse reaction on the baby."

Hermione threw her hands up to cover her mouth.

The healer continued. "And the distress of the baby is causing distress in the mother. I am concerned enough to have taken the drastic measure of performing a blood cleansing spell on Seana which will find its way into the baby's bloodstream to cleanse it as well."

"Oh Merlin," both Hermione and Carmela uttered in unison.

"I'm admitting Seana overnight for observation."

"I've got to call Gas. I've got to call him now," Carmela sobbed, rising from the chair. "I have to call my son."

Hermione rose from her chair too but only to calm Carmela down. Carmela nodded at Hermione, but headed straight for the door.

The healer had paused for the interruption, but continued his recitation once the door closed behind Carmela.

"I believe the blood cleansing spell was performed in time, but I must tell you I'm angry as well as concerned that any pregnant witch would ingest these back door potions, especially without knowing the contents."

Seana didn't say a word. She wouldn't lay the blame on Gas. At least, not yet, because she could have refused to take the potion and hadn't. She was to blame as well.

Healer Emory hadn't stopped speaking. "I will be making a report on this so-called Medi-Witch to Head of St Mungo's. The woman is dangerous. Perhaps it wasn't her intention to injure Seana or the baby, but her negligence very nearly did just that. I've cautioned Seana against ingesting anything other than what is prescribed by me or my Assistant Healer from now until her delivery date. I'll be having a word with her husband. In my estimation, he is as culpable as the witch. What husband doesn't check what his pregnant wife is putting in her mouth?"

With all Gas has on his plate right now, this will completely fuck him up, thought Hermione as she listened to the healer go on. Although she was somewhat defending Gas at the moment, she knew there was no way he could come out of this unscathed.

"The maternity ward is setting up a room for Seana as we speak. I'm going to check how long it will be before we can get her into a bed. I'll be back shortly."

Before leaving the room, the healer spoke directly to Seana. "Please do not get out that automatic chair. I don't know how much more stress your child can take. Let's not have this visit take a disastrous turn. Please do not stand on your own."

A trembling Seana answered in a squeaky voice. "Yes Healer Emory."

/*/

Carmela returned as the healer was leaving. "I can't get hold to Gas. He's in some mandatory meeting which cannot be interrupted until it's over. Damn Non-Interruptus spells. I've left messages."

Seana tried to lift herself out of the chair to comfort Carmela, but Hermione stopped her with some sharp words. "Sit down Seana! Didn't the healer specifically ask you not to get out of that chair?"

Seana had remained stoic up to this point, but the stress of it all, and now Hermione's sharp tone had obviously overwhelmed her. Heart wrenching wails began emanating from her throat.

"Oh Merlin! I'm so sorry Seana." Hermione murmured, rushing to the sobbing witch and rubbing her back. "Calm down love. Please calm down. We're going to get through this. Right Mela?"

With tear filled eyes, Carmela nodded.

Hermione continued to rub Seana's back until the sobbing subsided. Then the three women joined hands to wait for Healer Emory.

/*/

"Auror coming through," shouted Harry as he pushed open the door to Flora's hovel like cottage noting the squalor of the place. "Why the bloody hell would Gas think anything originating from this place would be safe for a pregnant woman to eat or drink? Not just a pregnant woman, anybody." Up to that point. Harry had been mumbling surreptitiously. Then his Auror demeanor returned and he raised his voice. "Oi! This is Harry Potter, Head Auror, Ministry of Magic. Are you there Flora? Step out please."

Getting no answer, Harry stepped through to the next room where he found what looked to be a rosy cheeked, rotund, gray-haired witch lying prone.

"Bloody hell," he sputtered. "Mama Maida doesn't know her own power." Harry rushed over intent on checking vitals, but stopped midway through a kneel. He'd seen something, felt something. Quickly backing up, Harry simultaneously drew his wand and shouted a spell.

"Specialis Revelio," jumping back a few steps as the masking charm fell away from the body on the floor to reveal a crone. Harry immediately realized this was more than some glamour charm. The entire hovel smelled of gray magic. Not quite dark magic, but not quite light magic. Anyone who cast or brewed it was doing so with some scheme in mind.

Harry twisted his wand so it was pointing directly at the figure.

"Incarcerous," he shouted while casting an Anti-Apparition spell right behind it just in case, With his prisoner contained, Harry summoned two members of his team as well as two members of MLE to help him sort this out. This crone was definitely up to no good. What that had to do with Gas and Seana Maida. Harry did not know. He had just completed a full circle around the crone when he heard footsteps. The cavalry had arrived.

After softly commenting, gray magic to the men, Harry loudly explained how he'd followed a tip and found….. this, gesturing around the room with his wand. "You all know how this should be handled. I'm holding her on suspicion of using gray magic, selling dangerous and/or illegal potions and a fucking filthy house. ."

The four wizards laughed at Harry's last remark.

"Nothing funny here. She could have killed someone. Anthony, you or Michael revive her, get her back to the Ministry and throw her arse into our deepest, darkest holding cell until I get there. Thanks. Wayne, I'll need you and Ernie to survey the entire premises, collect anything dangerous and get it all back to the Ministry labs. All potions are to be carefully delivered to my office. Thank you gents. I'll see you back at the Ministry.

"Alright Boss."

"No problem Harry."

Wayne and Ernie agreed as well.

Before turning into Apparition, Harry heard Anthony call out in his loud Auror voice, "Rennervate."

Five minutes later, Harry landed softly at the doors of St Mungo's with a smile on his face. Even the current situation couldn't deter him from thinking that his Aurors were very loud wizards.

Harry didn't bother to stop at the Receptionist Witch. Hermione had told him where she, Carmela and Seana would be. That's where he was going.

/*/

When Harry finally found his way to Seana's room, four pairs of eyes turned to look at him. Gas had arrived. The anguish and anxiety Harry saw in Gaspare Maida's eyes was heart wrenching. Even during the war, Harry hadn't seen this extent of misery. Gas was inconsolable. Harry was looking at a broken man.

Gas struggled to get up from the side of the bed to greet Harry, but Harry told him to stay where he was, and Gas gently plopped back down beside Seana.

Hermione and Carmela greeted Harry with Hermione nodding her head towards the hall. Immediately picking up on Hermione's signal, Harry started for the door. "I'd like to speak with Hermione and Carmela privately. We aren't leaving. We'll be right back."

Carmela echoed the same thing as she followed Harry and Hermione into the hall.

In the hall, Carmela and Hermione tried to speak at the same time. Harry held up a hand. "Please, one of you explain it all to me, and lower your voice."

Hermione deferred to Carmela who gave a full explanation including the conversations she and Hermione had had with Seana earlier that day right up to where she hexed Flora.

"Okay. I understand everything. Believe it or not Mela, your actions were warranted. No charges will be filed. I wrote this up as an anonymous tip which ended in an arrest. With that said, I can reveal that I believe we've taken a dangerous witch off the street. She was living under a masking charm. At least she was when I found her still unconscious."

"Still unconscious?" Gasped Carmela. "That wasn't even my strongest spell."

Both Harry and Hermione smiled at their adopted mum.

"There was an odd smell in the air. Pink cheeked Flora smelled odd, and the throwaway answers she gave did not sit well with me. Plus, she lived like a pig. I couldn't believe Gas would ever trust her for anything."

Harry was pleased that a novice such as Carmela had everything well spotted. Had Hermione gone to see Flora, she would have recognized the smells as something out of the ordinary straightaway, but Carmela, that was a surprise.

"Although pink-cheeked Flora was really Flora the crone, you are right on the mark Mela," replied Harry. "Flora practiced what is known as gray magic. For your further information, gray magic is illegal because it is usually used with bad intentions."

Wringing her hands, Carmela let out another gasp, but didn't interrupt.

This time it was Hermione who interrupted. "Gray magic Harry? I thought that was some kind of myth. How could a practitioner of such magic get involved with Gas?"

"No myth Hermione. We don't shout about it because Kingsley doesn't want to panic the public into thinking we have another set of monsters on our hands. He has ordered any instances of gray magic be dealt with quietly and swiftly, which Flora's case will, after I get the answers I want. I have my thoughts on how Gas got tied up with her, but I'll have to speak to him to find out why Flora wanted to be Seana's Medi-witch in the first place. Rest assured, Flora the crone will not be acting the Medi-Witch for anyone anymore."

Carmela hugged Harry. "Thank you so much for coming to our rescue. Gas and Seana will be so relieved. Will you have to speak with him today, or can it wait until tomorrow?"

"Sorry mum. This cannot wait. When I get back to the holding cells to question Flora, I want to have all my ducks in a row. In fact, when you go back in to sit with Seana, I'll need you to send Gas out. I want to speak with him in private, so I'll be taking him to my office. No worries though. I'll have him back in no time. Tell Seana the truth, that I have to speak to Gas in private, but he'll return shortly, so she won't add to her worries. I probably won't return with him, but I will be in touch as soon as I can."

Hermione hugged Harry before going back into the room offering a candid reply. "Thank Merlin for your Potter magic. I'll see you soon."

Harry stood in a the hall waiting for Gas with a weary grin on his face. If what he believed was true, there might not be cause for many more grins during the next twenty four hours.