"Thank goodness you're both okay!" Besel said. There was something in her voice that made Harry sit up straighter and pay closer attention. She sounded really relieved and worried. As she neared them in her levitating chair, Harry turned toward her wondering if her chair was like his staff in that it looked like a muggle electric wheelchair to the barman.
"We couldn't get back into the Center—we were… " Harry trailed off as he started to tell her the story, then realized that it probably wasn't wise to say what happened while they were still in the pub.
"We rang… did you get our message… mum?" Harry added, trying to keep up the story he'd told the barman.
"Er… How about we head back and you tell me all about it," Besel said, catching on.
"Good idea," Harry said standing up and shaking out his staff. He grabbed his glass to gulp down the last swallows and heard Gemma grab hers. She offered Harry her arm and guided him to the bar where they left their glasses.
"Thanks so much for letting us stay here while we waited and for the ginger beers," Harry said.
"Cheers!" replied the barman from a way down the bar. He was muttering something that sounded suspiciously like "... and ye poor lame mum…" that Harry didn't want to hear the end of.
Once they were outside, they didn't talk right away. There were a lot of people out and about in the Old Ellerby, even at that late hour.
Probably flooding back in after being randomly sent away with the Muggle Repelling charms… Harry guessed with a twinge of guilt.
Harry and Gemma followed behind Besel as she crossed the street to the pavement that led to the park. Harry knew that Gemma was probably wondering what was going on even more than he was. He didn't hear the Scribunt loqui papers fluttering by Besel's mouth and guessed that she'd also noticed the number of muggles out and about in the village and ended the charm.
Harry could tell from the sounds that Besel's chair was a lot easier to maneuver over the curbs and uneven stones in the pavement than Mei's had been. He wondered how high up she could go in her chair.
Did it use similar magic to brooms? Why do wixen insist on flying around on brooms when there are much more comfortable forms of transportation?
He'd ask Hermione when he wrote her next.
He noticed that Besel seemed to be muttering things as they walked back to the gym—he wondered what spells she was casting and why.
Gemma's pace was faster than normal and Harry stumbled a few times trying to keep up and finding uneven stones with his toes.
This was easier when we were running! Has Besel communicated something visually that I missed?
After walking along the hedgerow and not encountering anyone on the pavement, they turned into the park, on the path that led to the gym. Harry noticed that the cars had stopped passing, too. It was becoming the deserted village with which he was more familiar.
A bright light exploded in Harry's eyes and he yelled and grabbed his head.
"Oh, sorry, Harry—that was my Patronus. I should have remembered to warn you. I sent Healer Jordan a message," Besel explained. "The muggle repelling charms are working again." The papers were fluttering by her mouth as well.
"No one can see us here, but the Egress is closed. We have to go through St. Mungo's. I'm sorry, Gemma. Not until we're safe. We just need to get back to the Center. I've notified Healer Jordan."
"So I can cast the Scribunt loqui charm again?" Harry asked and did as soon as she said: "Yes, do it." Gemma made the happy sign on his back when the papers started fluttering again.
"Have you apparated before?" Besel asked.
"Apparating… isn't that how Tony lost his arms?" Harry gulped.
"Um, yes," Besel confirmed. "What happened to him was very rare, but we don't have time to talk about it. This is the fastest way and safest way. We're in an emergency situation—and I need you to trust that I'm going to keep you safe and unharmed, okay?"
Harry nodded slowly and could feel a shiver travel through Gemma.
"Thank you. We'll hold hands in a circle and twist to the left. Harry, you should collapse your staff during apparition and store it," Besel advised.
Gemma gripped Harry's hand hard and he held Besel's hand with his other—and they were twisting and being painfully pushed on all sides and Harry had a sickening memory of watching sausage meat being encased in skins at the local butcher's. Harry staggered against Besel and her chair when his feet slammed into the ground and collided heads with Gemma. He grabbed his head and then turned away quickly, dropping to his knees on a gravely pavement as quickly as he could as he spewed his ginger ale and remnants of dinner. He could hear Gemma doing the same and felt it splatter on his hands.
"Oh, dear. Apparition sometimes has that effect," Besel commiserated. "Especially if it is your first time."
"I've gotta start traveling with a bucket," Harry moaned.
Besel quickly muttered, "Evanesco vomitus" and the peppermint aroma helped overtake the sick. Harry sat back on his heels, flicked out his wand from his wrist holster and used the Aguamenti charm to rinse out his mouth and clean his face. Gemma pulled on his arm and he guessed that she wanted some, too. He cast a small stream of water, thinking of the drinking fountain at Primary—she held his arm while she drank and then splashed water on her face.
"Okay, we've still got to get back into the Center," Besel hurried them along.
"Where are we?" Harry asked.
"We've apparated to a spot outside of St. Mungo's and we'll be able to travel through a warded Egress in St. Mungo's to the Center. I'll let Healer Jordan know that we're here and she'll be able to let us through the wards and the Egress," Besel said. "Harry, close your eyes."
And then Besel muttered, "Expecto patronum" and bright light burst against Harry's eyelids.
He was thankful for the warning. She started talking, "I've got them, they are safe, and we're going to enter St. Mungo's and head to the Egress. Will you be able to let us in?"
Gemma tapped Harry's hand for sighted guide and they started following the sound of Besel's chair across the pavement.
Harry had his staff out and was listening to the way the tip sounded on this deserted London street and he was fairly sure that they were walking along a building that had a stone or brick wall that then changed to glass—just from the sound of it. Besel stopped and turned and Gemma edged up close to Besel so that Harry's staff touched the back of her chair.
"We're here to go to the Perenelle Flamel Adaptation Center," Besel said, her voice sounding a bit echoey. "Come along."
Harry felt her moving forward and even though Gemma was moving forward he was certain they were going to walk into a glass wall. He hung back a bit and felt around with the tip of his staff, but didn't find anything, so moved forward and felt the tug of an Egress and understood. There had been a glass wall there—it had just opened for them.
The sounds and smells of St. Mungo's closed around him and he felt a bit weak-kneed as the memories of his last visit there washed over him. Gemma patted his hand. He wondered if she had spent time here, too, and if she had a similar feeling.
There were wixen about them—but it wasn't as busy as when he had come with Madam Pomfrey.
Harry heard someone gasp from across the room and then bumbling footsteps approached and a quiet voice addressed him, "Harry?"
Harry stopped making Gemma stop because he didn't let go of her. He could hear Besel continuing a way in front of them, but then she paused and turned around. She made an impatient sound.
"Yes?" Harry cocked his head to the side trying to hear better. The voice was familiar.
"I heard you were hurt. I didn't think it was so bad, though," he said.
"Neville?" Harry said.
"Yeah, it's me, Neville. Merlin's beard, Harry. You can't see me, can you?" Neville said as he moved a few steps closer.
"Er, no," Harry said. "What are you doing here? Are you okay?"
"What—you mean like never? Like you're bli-? Are you here for a cure? Oh, drat. I'm dithering doxie. Gran is always saying that I need to hold my tongue. Sorry," Neville said and Harry could tell from the sound of his voice that he was hanging his head.
"Nah, it's okay, Neville. I mean, yeah, no cure," Harry shrugged trying to shed the uncomfortable feeling. "Are you hurt? Is that why you're here?"
"Oh, yeah. No, I'm fine. Just visiting… " Neville stumbled. "What are those papers?"
"Oh, right. This is my friend, Gemma Boot." He turned to Gemma and said, "Gemma, this is Neville Longbottom—he's in Gryffindor, too. My year. And this is Healer Geller." Harry made a motion toward Besel's levitating chair sounds.
"It's nice to meet you both," Neville said. "Harry, I'm really sorry that you got hurt. But Ginny's okay, right? Was there really a giant serpent down there?"
"Yeah, Ginny's okay," Harry said, drawing out the words.
"Harry, we really need to go," Besel said, coming closer. "And this isn't a discussion to be having in such a public place."
"Oh, sorry, I've got to go, too, my Gram's waiting. Are you staying here, Harry? Can I come back and visit you?"
"No, I'm in training, at the Perenelle Flamel Adaptation Center—we're going there now," Harry said. "But, I guess they are connected."
"Oh, maybe I could visit you? Is there anything you need? I mean, I dunno what I can do, but maybe I can help out somehow… " Neville said.
"Um, you don't have to do anything, but it'd be nice to hang out, play some exploding snap or something. Just send me an owl. At the Center," Harry said.
"Okay, I will. Maybe this weekend?" Neville said.
"Sure, yeah," Harry said. "Good to see you, Neville."
"Er, right. Yeah. See you, Harry," Neville said and rushed off. Harry could hear him talking to a stern-voiced witch on the other side of the waiting room.
"Harry, Gemma, we've really got to go. Now," Besel said in a tight voice that surprised Harry. Gemma jumped and her pace was hurried again as she followed Besel.
They turned down a corridor as a group of healers in animated conversation about how to best concoct a dreamless sleep potion passed them. Other footsteps echoed in the corridor. Harry thought that they might be at the Egress. As the noisy conversation of the healers faded, he heard clipped footsteps and heavy swishing robes. Someone was following them, Harry was certain. Someone with overpowering perfume that filled the corridor- sickeningly sweet like the greenhouse when the Devil's Snare was blooming. Harry gagged. Gemma squeezed his hand and drew a question mark.
"That perfume," he muttered in response. "Too much."
Gemma tapped "yes," on his hand.
"Excuse me, could I have a moment of your time?" a cheery voice called out. To them, Harry supposed. Gemma didn't turn and Besel was muttering something under her breath. Harry was curious, but also felt on edge. He didn't turn. Something wasn't quite right. Besel was trying to get the Egress to open before the person reached them. Harry kept his staff so that it was touching the back of her chair.
When Gemma touched his hand, he realized that he was gripping her arm rather tightly and he tried to relax his hold.
The witch called out again, "Oh, yoo hoo! Harry Potter!"
He stiffened. It wasn't any voice that he recognized and he felt a deep foreboding that made his gut feel heavy. This was not good.
"I just want a word," she was getting much closer.
Then Besel lurched forward and Gemma and Harry stumbled after her and the odors and sounds of St. Mungo's were replaced by the more calmingly familiar sounds and smells of the Center. Harry breathed. The Egress was closed—and it seemed the person who had pursued them was cut off.
"Medusa's toenails," Besel muttered. "How is it that she happened to be there?"
"What's going on?" Harry asked and he had a feeling that Gemma was signing the same thing rather emphatically.
"Not now. We're still not safe," Besel said.
"But we're in the Center," Harry protested.
"Yes, but the Center was threatened tonight—that's why you were locked out. The Egress was closed," Besel explained in a hurry as she moved across the reception area. "We'll go to Healer Jordan's office. I need to tell her… "
"What? Threatened? Who'd threaten the Center?" Harry questioned—he could feel Gemma signing as he hung onto her arm, no doubt asking the same questions.
"Besel, Harry, Gemma! Thank Morgana. Come in here," Healer Jordan said from the door behind the reception desk.
They passed through the doorway and Harry was welcomed by the familiar aromas of Healer Jordan's office—dominated by an oddly comforting mixture of pepper-up potion and Darjeeling.
"Healer Jordan, there was a reporter from the Daily Prophet in the entry at St. Mungo's—it was almost like she was waiting for us. She took a special interest in Harry," Besel said in a rush.
Harry felt his throat closing.
Why would a reporter take a special interest in me?
"Thank you, Besel. That is truly unfortunate. I'll contact the Daily Prophet immediately and remind them of the Protection and Privacy Statutes that apply to all of the residents as well as those at St. Mungo's," Healer Jordan said as soon as had she closed the door and muttered spells at the entrance. "They'll be facing hefty fines from the Ministry if they put even a fragment of a sentence in the paper about any of our residents."
She paced a bit and then turned back to ask them, "So, how are you both?"
"We're fine. Nothing happened to us except we felt a weird blast of magic that nearly knocked us off our brooms. But then we couldn't get into Gym to come back to the Center," Harry answered as Gemma had tapped on his chest to indicate that he should speak first. She tapped "yes," on his arm as she read his Scribunt loqui notes. "We went to the phone box and called the Center and left a message. Did you get it?"
"Yes, that's how Besel knew where to find you," Healer Jordan said. "You did well. Kept your wits about you and did everything exactly right. That would have been a situation to use the emergency feature of your staff as well, Harry. But I imagine it didn't seem like an emergency to you."
"No, I just thought we were locked out. I didn't know the Egress was closed," Harry admitted.
Gemma was signing.
"The Center was threatened by a wizard who wanted access to one of our residents—neither of you. Our defenses held and the wizard did not gain access to the Center nor the residents, but our wards were triggered and all Egresses were closed. You two were the only ones who were outside of the protections," Healer Jordan explained. "Fortunately, no harm was done and we can put this behind us. I imagine you're tired and want to get to bed. It is late. Your roommates were worried about you—they'll want to know that you're okay."
"Okay, thank you. Good night. Thank you for coming to get us, Healer Geller," Harry said. He could feel Gemma signing next to him.
He signed "thank you," again just because he could and they left the office.
Harry wanted to ask Gemma all about the reporter that followed them at St. Mungo's, but didn't want to hang out in the corridor using the notebook to communicate—so decided to hold his questions until they were back in their dorm.
He could tell by the rapid pulse thrumming through Gemma's thin arm that she was agitated still—she had been trembling slightly since they were hit by that blast of magic on their brooms. He had expected her to calm down once they were back in the Center and as they neared their room he wondered if he should have brought her disturbance to Healer Jordan's attention—maybe she needed a calming draft or something.
When they entered the room, Mei, Tony, Arig, and Aminah greeted them and gathered around them—except for Mei. She stayed in her tank and the group gradually migrated in her direction so that they were clustered around the tank exchanging stories of what had happened.
There was just a lot of talking over each other until Mei shouted, "For Morgana's distaff, one at a time! Gemma can't read all the papers when they are flying around like someone stepped on a nest of doxies!"
"So you were locked out of the Center when the Egresses closed and Healer Geller brought you back and nothing happened except you got to have some muggle drinks in a muggle pub," Mei confirmed. "While here we were subject to a Tsunami when the Egress to my tank was closed. Luckily I was here and not out at sea. But I did get pushed out of my tank and flung against the wall like a bear swotting a salmon. Thankfully, Healer Jordan is dream at healing charms."
"Yeah, but we were still completely flooded out. We just got everything dried out," Arig said.
"Okay, Aminah—why don't you tell them what happened here?" Mei invited.
"Oh, well. Yeah. My father tried to breach the wards to get to me, but they held," Aminah said softly.
Gemma grabbed Aminah in an embrace—Harry knew this because he was still holding on to Gemma's arm and he was pulled into it a bit awkwardly. He let go.
"I don't know how he found me. I think that's the scariest piece. My mum only let me come here because the protections and secrecy are supposed to be so rigid—magical protections and Ministry regulations that keep us safe and our privacy shielded," Aminah hiccuped and Harry could hear Gemma rubbing circles on her back.
"There was a reporter at St. Mungo's when we came through the Egress to return here. Healer Geller said that it was like she'd been tipped off about us," Harry said.
"Was it that horrid Skeeter woman?" Tony asked.
"I don't know who she was," Harry said. "She reeked of perfume, though."
"You know, she's that blonde curly-haired witch who wears really bright colors… " Tony explained. "That's right. It was her. Gah! I hate her. Wrote about me, didn't she? Vile, lying witch."
Harry guessed that Gemma had confirmed her identity.
"This is not good. What if she finds out about me and the Center's work with Wolfbane potion?" Arig moaned. "People will be showing up here with pitchforks and torches." He started pacing—his crutches making their rhythmic noise. He was breathing in gasps.
"Healer Jordan said that she was going to call the Prophet and remind them of some Act—that they can't talk about residents—for our safety," Harry said.
"Yeah, I bet she's dying to get her talons into you, Harry," Mei said. "Boy-Who-Lived and all that."