June 25, 2009
Days turned into weeks and before she knew it, the KAPPA's and the SKREWT's were upon them. The hospital wing of Ilvermorny found the beds occupied by many overworked and sleep deprived students. Several sleeping draughts and pep-up potions have been administered and Harriette was just about to lock up before another student was being rushed in, unable to stand. Her girlfriends were struggling to hold her upright. She ushered them to the last available cot where they not-so-gently lay her.
"She collapsed in the Library!" The fifth year freckle faced girl shrieked, obviously worried about her friend.
"I told her she shouldn't have stayed up for five days in a row." The other fifth year rolled her eyes. Harriette gathered this one didn't really care and was bothered to be here.
"Alright you two, here is a note," she scribbled on a piece of parchment and handed it to the students. "Get back to bed, that note will excuse you if you are stopped by any staff or Delegators."
"Thank you, Ms. Dahl." She yawned as the girls scurried out of the infirmary. 'I just may need some pep-up potion myself' Harriette chuckled to herself. 'Let's give this poor girl a bit of a calming draught so she actually gets some rest while she sleeps.' She reached for the bottle next to the cot and poured a couple drops into the sleeping girls mouth. Harriette smiled. It didn't seem like that long ago she was studying herself into an early grave for her OWL's and NEWT's. At Ilvermorny the equivalents were KAPPAs and SKREWT's which stood for "Knowledge Aptitude Progress Placement Assessments" and "Significant Knowledge Ranking Establishment Wizarding Tests." To be honest, her knowledge driven self was in admiration for the amount of students studying this hard for their tests. Hogwarts didn't have nearly as many when it came to their tests. The clock chimed, signaling the end of her shift. The cheerful melody reminded her of the clock at the burrow. Sighing to herself, she headed to her cottage. She couldn't wait to flop into her bed.
A beaten and bloody man, half-starved and stripped of his robes sat against the cold, damp, stone walls. His wrists were bound above his head in iron cuffs and his head slumped forward in near defeat. A single torch barely lit the small room casting soft light that danced with shadows around him. Footsteps in the distance grew louder and the sound of an iron door clanging against the stone caused him to flinch. "Kingsley!" A woman sang in an eerie pitch. The man looked up with grace and courage, despite his broken state. Cuts and bruises adorned his swollen face. This caused the woman to cackle with glee. "Kingsley, this will stop if you would just tell me where the boy is." She continued in her sing-song voice. "Did you not think the Dark Lord would teach me a little Legilimens? That I wouldn't find out about my newest kin? Tsk, tsk." The pale woman stepped closer. Kingsley glared defiantly at her before he spoke. "It is too bad that I am a skilled Occlumens." He winced as he shifted his weight. "It was dumb luck that you were able to catch that small bit of information, Bellatrix." The woman's smile faltered. "Heavy on the dumb part of that luck, I imagine." He threw his head back and roared with laughter. "Avada Kedavra!"
Harriette slowly blinked her eyes open. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes in hopes she would forget her daunting dream, she sat up in her very simple four-poster bed. Even the duvet was simple. Too simple. Boring even. There were no interesting patterns, and the cream color was significantly bland. Normally, such frivolities didn't bother her. She lived an almost minimalist lifestyle, save for her extensive book collection and almost everything that belonged to Naos since he came into her life. Sometimes she wished she was a little more exciting. At least when it came to decor. She had enough drama with the war, Ron Weasley, and such.
The lack of intricate designs on her duvet reminds her of how Kingsley always wore impressive robes. The designs on his attire were always stunning and quite colorful. She missed him greatly. Eight years ago was the first time she had the dream that she just woke up from, only the details were less clear and it was more surreal. It had caused her to panic, so she transfigured her hair to be stick-straight and black in color. She also changed her eyes to match Naos'. She figured the more she resembles him, the fewer people would question her story, and the less chance she would be recognized. To this day she doesn't doubt the events of her dream being true. She doesn't believe in divination but something about this dream spoke to her.
With a flick of her wrist, she transfigured her duvet from cream to a deep velvet red with gold, swirling, florals. She smiled at her accomplishment. The small feat washed away any troublesome thoughts she had. Swinging her legs over the bedside, she places her bare toes into the plush area rug below. She frowned. The small rug was also bland. Looking around the room she shared with Naos, she notices there wasn't any style, no personality. The stone walls are bare, the furniture is old and rickety, and everything is just stodgy.
"Naos?" She called over to her son's bed. "Wake up, dear. We are going to start the weekend off by redecorating." A muffled groan coming from under Naos' blankets let her know he was greatly enthusiastic. Chuckling, she remembered the summer she spent cleaning with Harry and the Weasley's at Grimmauld Place. This is going to be fun.
As the day went on, the little cottage just off of the Ilvermorny castle had completely changed. The windows are donned with new curtains, the old and rickety furniture is now shiny and new, Harriette's favorite armchair, once a deep red and tattered, is now restored. Finally, Harriette charmed the small room she shared with Naos to appear bigger than it was. Her son was growing and was starting to be interested in his own privacy so she transfigured a scrap of parchment into a large room divider.
Just then an owl swooped in and landed on the perch reserved for Naos' owl, King who was currently in his master's lap. The visiting owl hooted in Harriette's direction and stuck his foot out. She crossed the room, untied the secured note from his foot and offered him a cracker. He cooed appreciatively and flew off.
Dear Harriette J. Dahl,
Assistant Mediwitch of Ilvermorny Infirmary,
Following recent events it is with the utmost importance that I urge you to come to the Headmaster's office promptly.
Respectfully,
Madame S. Picquery
Deputy Headmistress of Ilvermorny
The color drained from her face as she read the letter. Following recent events? What recent events? Clueless as to what the headmistress meant, Harriette sent Naos to Marta and after putting on her cloak she set off to the castle. She couldn't help but notice the other staff and even the students looked at her curiously or averted their gazes. The bizarre demeanor of the Ilvermorny dwellers made Harriette feel like she had forgotten her trousers or something else just as equally embarrassing. She ducked her head and continued to the Headmaster's office.
She stood before a great metal door with intricate engravings on it. Unlike Hogwarts, there wasn't a statue of a gryphon awaiting you to speak a password that would reveal a spiral staircase to the Headmaster's office. Just a beautiful carved door with the Thunderbird, Wampus, Pukwudgie, and Horned serpent adorned on its brass knocker. Harriette sucked in a breath and as she gathered the courage to knock, the towering door swung open, permitting her entrance.
Behind the beautiful red oak desk sat Algibert Fontaine, Headmaster of Ilvermorny. He wasn't a Grand Sorcerer, decorated with the Order of Merlin, first class. He wasn't the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards. And he wasn't the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. No, his title wasn't as colorful as the Great Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, but his eyes usually held that same twinkle. Today, they did not, and Harriette felt really small under his sad gaze.
"Ah, Ms. Dahl. Thank you for coming. He glanced nervously to the headmistress. Harriette shifted her eyes to the elder lady. Madame Picquery had a stiff manner about her with her arms crossed tightly in front of her and a tight expression on her face. Harriette gulped.
"Professor, may I inquire as to what this is about?" She looked to the headmaster. He sat back in his seat, sighing in defeat.
"I'm afraid your actions are irreparable, Ms. Dahl. Well, let me rephrase. The physical damage was reversed but short of a memory spell, I'm afraid the mental and emotional damage will leave lasting scars." He tilted his head in a sincere manner.
"But sir, I am afraid I do not know if this damage you speak of. What exactly is it I did?"
"You know exactly what you did!" Madame Picquery jabbed her finger at Harriette.
"Now, Seraphina, let's not get ahead of ourselves." Fontaine said calmly. The older woman straightened her frock with a huff and settled back against the wall in silence. "Can you share with us the details of your last patient and what happened after, Ms. Dahl?"
"Well, just before my shift was over two girls came in struggling to carry their friend. She apparently collapsed in the library from exhaustion. I guess she had been up for five days straight without sleep. Poor thing."
"Don't you 'poor thing' her, you-"
"Madame Picquery! If you can not hold your tongue I will have to ask you to leave until this meeting is over." The headmaster dared the deputy headmistress. Her lips clamped shut once again and Harriette continued.
"As I was saying, after I sent the two girls away I attended to the poor girl and spooned some calming draught into her mouth so she would sleep peacefully. When someone passes out from exhaustion they don't tend to get any real rest and instead wake up with grogginess, headaches, and other sorts, as you know. And then I locked up the potions and went home to sleep." Harriette recapped. The older witch and wizard shared glances for what seemed like ages before Algibert Fontaine spoke again.
"While I believe that you believe you gave Miss Picquery a calming draught, you actually in fact, gave the girl a couple drops of Skelegro." Realization dawned on Harriette as she remembered that earlier in the day a quidditch player who broke their leg had been in on that same cot and she had left the Skelegro on the nightstand next to the cot. She clapped her hand to her mouth in horror and shock.
"Oh no….."
"Oh, yes. I am afraid it is true. When a person takes Skelegro and there aren't any broken bones to mend, the results are usually really complicated and odd. In this case, Missouri Picquery grew an actual tail from her tailbone."
"A tail!"
"A tail. It was most unfortunate, as I said. Now, you have been a wonderful mediwitch in all the years you have been here but it is with great sadness that I must relieve you from your duties." Tears threatened Harriette's eyes and she sucked in a ragged breath. "You will go with two months wages and a recommendation. You may also stay at the cottage until you find a new place but it must be before the start of next term." Madame Picquery wore a devilish grin and Harriette left the Headmaster's office without her pride and without her job which she had come to love. What will she do now?
AN: I know I must sound like a broken record now, but I do apologize for the seriously late update. I hope you enjoy this chapter and look forward to the next!
Thank you to the two guests who reviewed my work, and thank you to sjrodgers23, L.Padfoot, and cares 1970. Your reviews mean the world. Again I hope you enjoy this chapter and I can't wait to write more for you!