Chapter 21- Potion confessions
"…shouldn't have been in there on her own, Eliza!"
"Fred, calm down, I know you're angry and so am I but…"
"I'm more than angry Eliza, she could have bloody died!" Ruby could hear the anger in her father's voice and the shake in her mother's and she opened her eyes slowly.
They were both sitting by the bed, holding hands and looking pale and worried. It was night time now and Ruby could hear the rain on the window.
"Ruby?" Her mother asked, standing up and stroking her daughter's hair.
"Mom?"
"Yes Rubes it's me, how are you feeling?" Her mother asked and Ruby tried to think of a way to answer that wouldn't worry her parents but would ensure she got adequate pain relief because it hurt like hell.
"Hurts." She replied, trying to keep her eyes open.
"I'll get someone." Her father said, leaving the room quickly, her mother kept stroking her hair.
"Oh Ruby, we've been so worried." She said, tears dripping onto Ruby's face, she had never seen her mother look so pale. She was trying to think of an adequate reply when Penny walked into the room. Ruby was confused as to why Penny was treating her, she was a Paediatric Healer.
"Penny? Where's…Kyle?" She asked, wincing.
"He's been suspended while they investigate. I'm going to give you some pain relief it might make you a bit… well… odd."
"It wasn't… his fault…"
"He shouldn't have left you on your own, Ruby!" Her father said sternly from behind Penny.
"Didn't… think he was… dangerous, Dad." Ruby replied as Penny prepared the potion. Her father looked like he was about to reply but her mother shook her head and he remained silent. Penny moved back over to the bed and lifted Ruby's hand to inject the potion into an existing cannula.
"Where's… Scorpius?" She asked, she looked at her mother and Eliza smiled reassuringly.
"I think he's still here." She replied. Ruby daren't look at her father face.
"He's not… in trouble… Penny?" She asked as she felt the potion surge up her arm.
"No, he was following orders. He missed his exam though, we had to give him a calming draught, mainly to keep him quiet. I think he's in the office having a lie down, shall I fetch him for you?" She asked, smiling at Ruby as the potion made her close her eyes with relief. Ruby intended to nod but it hurt and she cried out.
"Try not to move much, Ruby. We had to operate and it will take a few days before all the tendons and muscles repair."
"It will be a full recovery though won't it, Penny?" Her father asked.
"It should be, we'll know more when the blood replenishment has finished tomorrow, you lost a lot of blood Ruby, and you ruptured your spleen. Try to rest as much as possible and don't get worked up. Have you told your family she's awake, Fred?" She asked, looking up at him.
"No, I'll…"
"Don't worry I'll tell them. I'll bring Immy and Annabel in so they can get back to Hogwarts. Harry will have to wait till tomorrow to interview, he can work off the descriptions that Scorpius and Robert gave." Penny left and her parents moved back to sit by the bed.
"Everyone's in the relative's room. We… we thought…" Her mother stopped talking and put her hand to her mouth. Her father put his arm around her and she turned into him.
"We thought we were going to lose you, Rubes." He said, clearly trying to supress the shake in his own voice.
"Sorry… so quick…"
"Don't think about it tonight, just rest." Her father said still squeezing Eliza tightly.
The door opened and the twins walked in with Teddy.
"Merlin, Rubes! Gave us a right good scare there!" Annabel said loudly. Ruby gave a small smile.
"Technically you're only allowed four visitors so don't be too loud. Only a few minutes as well, Ruby needs to rest." Penny left the room and her mother conjured some chairs.
"You alright, Ruby?" Teddy asked quietly.
"Been… better…" She replied. Ruby looked at Immy and was surprised that she had not yet said anything; it wasn't like Immy to be shy.
"Alright…Immy?" She asked, Immy looked up at her and there were tears in her eyes.
"Just worried." She replied, looking back down at the floor. Ruby glanced over at her mother and saw that she was also concerned by Immy's reaction.
"Are you in pain, Rubes?" Teddy asked, looking at all the machines and wires surrounding her.
"Not too much… potion's good… just ache…"
"Did you recognise the guy who…?"
"Not now, Annabel." Her father said sternly and Annabel mumbled an apology.
"Alice has popped back to the flat to get some clothes for you, she's going to give them to Penny." Teddy said.
"'kay… thanks… waffles."
"I don't think you can eat yet Ruby." Her mother said.
"Not… hungry…" Ruby replied.
"Why did you say waffles then?" Teddy asked,
"Dreams… waffles… Quidditch…" Ruby mumbled, feeling quite at peace with the world.
"Merlin, the potion must be strong if you're thinking of Quidditch, Rubes." Her father said, smiling.
"Scorpius…plays Quidditch…"
"Come on you three, out you go, Ruby needs to sleep." Her mother said, standing up and moving to her children.
"See you tomorrow Rubes, have fun with the potions." Teddy said, as he and the twins left. Her mother moved back to sit by her and Ruby looked at her.
"Mom… Scorpius… please?" Ruby asked, trying to keep her eyes open.
"I'll go and find him." She said, standing up and kissing her husband on the forehead before leaving the room, Ruby looked at her father.
"Dad… sorry…" She mumbled.
"Not your fault, Rubes." He replied.
"I didn't… mean… about getting… stabbed…"
"I know you didn't, still not your fault. You can't help who you fall in love with."
Her mother returned within a few minutes and Scorpius was walking behind her looking scared, he stood at the end of Ruby's bed and seemed relieved to see her awake.
"Come on Fred, let's get a drink." Ruby was surprised that her mother was talking with Scorpius in the room but her husband, who also looked shocked, stood up and left Scorpius and Ruby alone.
Scorpius moved to sit next to her and stroked her face.
"I'm so sorry Ruby, I shouldn't have left you."
"Not your… fault… didn't seem dangerous… Scorpius…" She replied, trying to fight against the fog of the potion.
"I know, I love you so much Ruby, Shacklebolt and Kyle know now. I'm sorry but I kind of freaked out after they took you into theatre, I can't really remember what I said but they gave me a potion that knocked me out."
"You… play Quidditch… marshmallows…"
"What?"
"Love you… Scorpius…"
"What potion are you on?" Scorpius picked up Ruby's chart from the end of the bed and read it. "Merlin, F9. It's amazing you're still conscious."
"Pox… cat…" The door opened and her parents walked back in carrying paper cups of tea. Her mother passed one to Scorpius.
"Thanks Mrs Weasley." He said, standing up and moving to the end of the bed so her mother could sit down again.
"Mom… clever… clogs…"
"She's on a strong pain potions, I can't believe she's still awake." Scorpius said, smiling.
"Tuney… bought dress… spots…"
"Alright Rubes, get some sleep now, as amusing as it is to see you drugged I don't want you mumbling something you'll regret." Her father said, laughing.
"James… love with… muggle…"
"Just like that, go to sleep Ruby, I've bought the blanket." Her mother spread the Moonstone blanket over her and Ruby saw Scorpius look at it, amazed.
"Wow! Is that a Moonstone blanket?"
"Yes, I'll have to show it to you properly when you come around for dinner." Her mother said. Ruby could feel the magic of the blanket combining with the potion and she felt her eyes close.
"I'd like that." Scorpius said, and then Ruby was carried off to sleep.
When Ruby next opened her eyes it was early morning at her mother was asleep on her father's shoulder. He had his eyes open but look exhausted.
"Dad, you could have… gone home." Ruby said croakily.
"Oh, you're awake. How you feeling?"
"Better, pain's back though." She said, the entire left side of her body felt like it was on fire but she felt stronger in herself. Her father leaned forward and pressed the call button on Ruby's bed so that he wouldn't wake his wife up.
"What time is…?"
"Just after eight. Harry's coming in later to get your statement."
"He's… allowed to investigate…?"
"He's pulled some strings, Kingsley suggested he delegate it to someone else but he wouldn't hear of it." Ruby smiled imagining her Uncle yelling at the Minister for Magic. Penny came into the room and smiled at Eliza before moving to Ruby.
"How you feeling, Ruby?" She asked, waving her wand over Ruby.
"Stronger… hurts again though."
"I'll give you a smaller dose than yesterday but if it still hurts let me know. You're spleen is still swollen we might have to remove it if it becomes a problem."
"Won't she need her spleen though?" Her father asked quietly.
"It's not vital, she'll have to take potions though to fight off any infections but we'll cross that bridge if we come to it. In the meantime, this should help with the pain." Penny injected the potion into the cannula again.
"Thanks, what's… happening with Kyle?"
"The internal investigations witch will interview you today and then they'll be an inquiry." Ruby nodded, feeling terrible.
"I'm sure it will be sorted out Ruby; Robert's been a Healer here for a long time and he's very experienced and well-respected, I doubt he'll be sacked, perhaps suspended or fined but it depends on the enquiry."
"I don't want him… fined or anything… wasn't his fault." Penny smiled and left the room. Ruby looked over at her father. "It wasn't…Dad."
"Ruby you might be grown up but you'll always be my little girl and…" He stopped talking as his wife woke up and looked over at Ruby.
"Oh, you're awake, how are you feeling?"
"Better thanks, you should go… home and sleep."
"We'll go later, after Harry's come. Ron and your Grandma are going to come and sit with you for a bit." The door opened and Amber walked in carrying a breakfast tray.
"Hey Ruby, Hl Shaklebolt said you were awake and to bring you some breakfast. Try and eat the toast but if you feel sick just call us."
"Thanks Amber." She said as the American placed the tray on Ruby's tray table.
"How are you feeling?" She asked.
"Better thanks… how are the kids?"
"Bloody nightmare is what they are. I'm never having them Ruby, never, I'd rather die alone, or with twenty cats!" Her father laughed loudly and Amber turned to him. "Honestly Mr Weasley, it's not even nine yet and I've already been pinched twice and had a potion thrown at my head!"
"Didn't you ask for the placement though?" He asked.
Amber's face darkened.
"I wanted obstetrics! Babies! Babies and pregnant women! Not toddlers and spoilt pre-teens!"
"Can't you transfer?"
"No, I'm taking extra shifts though and Hl Shacklebolt is being really good about it." Amber talked to her parents for a few more minutes and then left the room.
Her mother poured out some tea and conjured a straw for Ruby to drink it through. She still couldn't move her neck. She was able to eat one piece of toast with her right hand but felt exhausted by the effort. She then had a small sleep and was woken up by Uncle Harry who looked like he felt bad for having to wake her.
"…sleeping, Harry!" Her mother was whispering.
"Can't wait anymore Eliza, I need to know if she needs protection."
"Uncle Harry?" Ruby asked blearily.
"Yeah, sorry Rubes but I need to talk to you about what happened." Harry sat down opposite his sister who was glaring at him and Ruby felt sure she was currently yelling at him through the twin bond.
"Alright, Eliza!" He put his hands up in the air and his sister shot him one last angry look before turning to Ruby and smiling.
"Are you in pain?"
"Not too bad… just get this over and done… with…" In fact it was hurting, a lot, but she wanted to talk with her Uncle before she asked for more potion.
"Okay, I need to ask you what happened, okay."
"Yeah… can you two… go to the café or… something?" Ruby asked, looking at her parents.
"We can stay with you, Rubes, it's okay." Her father said. Ruby didn't want to talk about what happened in front of her parents.
"I'd rather… you weren't here… please?" Her father looked like he was going to disagree but her mother nodded in understanding and stood up.
"Come on Fred, do you need a witness, Harry?"
"Yeah, send Teddy in. Is that alright, Ruby? Or James?" Teddy would be just as bad as her parents.
"James, please." Her mother nodded and they left the room. James walked in looking very grown-up in his Auror robes.
"Alright, Rubes? I hear you spilled my secret while you were away with the fairies on the potion."
"Did I? Sorry… James…" She winced and James sat down next to his father.
"I'll forgive you, if you come with me when I tell Poppy about the magical world?" His father smiled and Ruby did too.
"Deal… you're paying… takeaway or cooking though."
"Understood."
"Right, let's get on with this then. Ruby, can you tell us what happened yesterday, from when you went into the room with the man."
"Mr Lincoln… I think…"
"No, it must have been an alias."
"Oh… well… I introduced myself…"
"How?"
"I said I was trainee Healer Weasley."
"Did you introduce Kyle or Malfoy as well?"
"No, I assumed… Kyle had already… introduced himself…"
"And Scorpius?" Her Uncle asked.
"Usually I do… but he was in a mood… I was annoyed at him… so I didn't…"
"The man, or Scorpius?"
"Scorpius… I don't know what was wrong with him."
"Okay, so then what happened?"
"I asked the man… what had happened… he said… he got stabbed…"
"Did he say how?"
"No… he wanted… his wife…"
"Did he seem dangerous or angry?"
"No he was calm… really calm considering… knife in his thigh…"
"Okay then what happened?"
"I told Kyle… the treatment… Scorpius moved to potions… cupboard…"
"Kyle was still there at that point?"
"Yeah… the man asked for… wife again… then Scorpius said… no pain potion left… so Kyle sent him to potions… and left to get man's wife…"
"Then what happened?" James asked, watching his Dad's notes write themselves.
"I went to cupboard… started measuring…"
"Measuring what?"
"One of the potions… T10…"
"Did the man say anything?"
"Yeah… asked if I was Potter's… daughter…"
"Did you say yes?"
"Yeah."
"Did he react?"
"I don't know… had my back to him… I was distracted by… potion and thinking… you know what I'm like…"
"We do, then what happened?"
"He was… behind me, holding me… really strong… got my wand…"
"You didn't hear him get down from the bed?"
"No."
"Did he say anything? When he grabbed you?" James asked.
"Yeah…" Ruby paused and took a deep breath, trying to keep her emotions under control, Uncle Harry squeezed her hand.
"Do you want a break?"
"No… I want to finish…"
"What did he say, Ruby?" Ruby bit her lip before she answered, trying to stop herself crying.
"He… he said to tell mom… he said hi… and that she… she killed his son… so it was fair… that he should kill me… please don't tell Mom, Uncle Harry." Tears fell and her Uncle looked angry but wiped them away gently.
"I won't. Did he say anything else?"
"No… he stabbed me and… just dropped me…"
"Was he left or right handed? Can you remember?" James asked.
"Left I think… he just pulled the… knife out of his leg… then stabbed me…"
"Can you remember anything else about him?"
"He was… strong… really muscly…" Ruby coughed suddenly and it hurt like hell. She gasped in pain and it suddenly became much harder to breathe.
"Ruby? Ruby are you okay? James, get Penny now, only Penny!" Uncle Harry stood up and tried to reassure his niece. "It's alright Ruby, you'll be fine." The door opened and Penny ran in.
"Ruby? What happened?"
"She coughed and then she couldn't breathe." Uncle Harry said as Penny waved her wand over Ruby's chest and then conjured an oxygen mask.
"Her lung has collapsed, she needs to go back to theatre. Ruby try and stay calm." Ruby tried to but it felt like every time she breathed it got shallower and shallower.
"I'm coming with her."
"Harry, you can't." Penny said, injecting something into Ruby's right thigh.
"I have to, she needs protection Penny, it was personal, he meant to kill her, he knew she was Eliza's daughter. I'm not leaving her and you need to stay in theatre too, you're the only healer I trust completely."
"Okay, come on." They moved the bed and Ruby felt herself relax as the potion fogged her brain.
"It's alright Ruby, it's a relaxant, don't fight it, just let it work." Ruby felt her eyelids droop and vaguely saw her mother running to her and shouting at her Uncle.
The arrived in the theatre and the surgeon tried to get Penny and Uncle Harry to leave but they wouldn't so Harry was moved to sit next to his niece's head while Penny spoke to the surgeon.
"It's alright Ruby, you'll be fine. Your mother is going to kill me, try and wake up quickly so she stops yelling at me, okay?" Ruby tried to smile but it was too hard to move her mouth.
She felt someone else lift her hand and inject the anaesthetic and she was aware of the potion until it reached her elbow and then she was aware of nothing.
It felt like she only blinked but when she opened her eyes she was back in the side room and it was dark outside. Her parents were sitting on one side and Teddy and Uncle Harry were sat on the other. Teddy noticed her first.
"Hey Rubes, welcome back." He said, smiling broadly.
"Ruby, how are you feeling?" Her mother asked, leaning forwards and stroking Ruby's face.
"Okay… hurts 'gain…" Her father left to get Penny and her mother smiled and pulled her chair closer.
"It's okay now Ruby, everything's going to be fine." The almost forced nature of her mother's voice made Ruby look at her Uncle for confirmation. Her mother telling her everything would be fine made Ruby sure that it wouldn't be.
"I've got everyone looking for him, we got memories from Kyle and Scorpius for the description." He said seriously. Penny came back in and Teddy moved aside so she could get to the potions cupboard.
"I'll give you the stronger dose again Ruby, we had to take your spleen out, Hector didn't think it was worth the risk of leaving it and then having to put you under again." Ruby had wondered why her side hurt more than it did before.
"'kay… don't mind… just potion regime…" She said, thinking back to her healing notes.
"Yep, here you go, try and get some rest." Ruby felt the potion fog her mind again and she turned to her parents not wanting them to spend another night in the hospital.
"Go home… I'll be fine…"
"No, we'll…" Her mother started but her husband interrupted her.
"Come on Eliza, you need a proper night with the blanket. She'll be fine with these two." He indicated to Uncle Harry and Teddy and her mother looked at her brother particularly hard.
"If I find out you've questioned her again…" She warned.
"I won't I promise, still got a bloody migraine and she scared the life out of me!" Uncle Harry said pointing to his niece.
"Don't worry Auntie Eliza, I'll hex him if I have to."
"See, Teddy will keep him quiet." Her parents kissed her goodbye and left the room, her father then stuck his head back in and looked at Harry. "I swear to Merlin Harry if you question her I will prank you for the rest of your life."
"Got it, get her home, Fred!" He said, laughing slightly at the threat. Her father left the room and Uncle Harry turned back to her.
"So, I'm afraid to speak, how about you?" Teddy laughed and Ruby smiled.
"Think that's… question, Uncle Harry" She said, he laughed and nodded.
"Point taken, I'll just stay quiet."
A knock at the door disturbed them and Harry stood up to answer it, he opened it and Aunt Minnie smiled at him.
"Do you want a security question, Potter?" She asked, Ruby smiled.
"Umm… How many times did Ruby throw up on you when she drank that bottle of Remmington's because she was annoyed that Teddy went to stay at Shell Cottage for the weekend?"
"Seven, and I still can't look at a bottle of it without remembering the smell." Ruby and Teddy laughed and Harry moved aside to let her in.
"When was… that?" Ruby asked.
"I think you were five, it was just after the twins were born and you thought Teddy was abandoning you." Uncle Harry said, sitting back down. Her Aunt Minnie sat down in the seat that her mother had left.
"How are you feeling?"
"Better than… when my lung collapsed but… worse than last night."
"Well, I've bought you some magazines for when you're feeling up to it."
"Thanks." Her godmother placed the pile of magazines on the bedside table and then looked up at Harry.
"Any progress with the attacker?"
"No, got all my Aurors looking for him, it won't be long till we find him. He's injured so we're checking all the muggle hospitals."
"Do you think it was random or…" Aunt Minnie stopped when she noticed the look at passed between her god-daughter and Harry. "…it wasn't random then?"
"No, it was personal."
"You didn't… tell mom did… you?" Ruby asked, her uncle shook his head.
"No but to be honest, Rubes, I don't know how long I'll be able to keep it from her, she's yelling at me right now. And I wouldn't put it past her to use legilmency."
"Just… wait till… he's caught… please?"
"I'll try." Uncle Harry said before looking at Minerva and answering her unasked question. "It was personal, he wanted to kill Eliza's daughter, I'll tell you more later." Ruby felt the potion starting to fog her brain again and it must have shown on her face because Teddy smiled.
"Alright there, Rubes? Fancy spilling anyone's secrets?" He asked, grinning.
"James mad… at me?"
"Not really, he was going to tell us soon anyway." Harry answered before explaining to Minerva what Ruby had confessed.
"How about your own secrets, Rubes?" Teddy asked.
"Hardly ethical, Teddy!" Aunt Minnie said, looking over at him.
"She'd do the same if it was me, wouldn't you Ruby?"
"Yeah… would…"
"Still, you keep your secrets to yourself, Ruby." Aunt Minnie said fondly.
"Only got… one secret…" She murmured.
"Oh?" Harry asked with a slight grin. Teddy grimaced slightly behind him.
"Love… Scorpius… Malfoy… Quidditch…"
"I don't know which I should be more shocked at, that you love Malfoy or Quidditch?" Harry laughed.
"No… don't like… Quidditch… Scorpius plays… muscles…"
"Alright Rubes, go to sleep. I really don't want to know about Malfoy's muscles." Uncle Harry said with laughter in his eyes. A knock at the door had him standing up again.
He opened the door and Ruby was delighted to see Scorpius there.
"Hello, Mr Malfoy. I'm afraid I don't know you well enough to ask you a security question so if you give me your wand you can come in." Scorpius looked surprised but passed over his wand anyway and Harry let him in.
"Hi Ruby, just wanted to see how you were feeling. I heard about your lung and spleen."
"Took my… spleen…"
"I know they did."
"I hear you play Quidditch, Mr Malfoy?" Aunt Minnie asked. Teddy looked like he was struggling not to laugh.
"Umm, yes I do Professor McGonagall. Just Sunday league, Albus Potter plays too."
"Up in Worcestershire?" Harry asked.
"That's right."
"Gives… muscles…"
"Yeah, oh Merlin are you on F9 again?" Scorpius asked, blushing.
"Yeah… nice… love you Scorpius…" Ruby could feel the tiredness creeping over. Scorpius looked mortified and the others were watching him closely.
"Umm… good… I love you too, Ruby. I'm going to leave before you say something else that makes me want to die of embarrassment. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Waffles… marshmallows…"
"Yeah, I'll bring you some waffles and marshmallows if you want. Night, nice to meet you all."
"A pleasure to meet you, Mr Malfoy." Aunt Minnie said brightly. Scorpius took his wand back from Harry and left the room. Teddy burst into laughter as soon as the door was closed.
"That was brilliant, imagine if Uncle Ron was here!" Harry snorted.
"Funny… sound… sleepy…"
"Get some sleep, Rubes, we'll be here when you wake up." Teddy squeezed her hand and Ruby closed her eyes and fell asleep.
A/N So Ruby lives, of course! Any thoughts on the reaction of her family?
Next chapter; Ruby demands the truth from Harry, and takes a trip to Hogwarts to talk some sense into Immy.
Thanks to mozie for beta-ing!
witchprincess33- Lol!
xXMizz Alec VolturiXx- Thanks!
girlwholived- Haley Potter- I love watching people progress through the stories, thanks for the reviews! The family finding out will be fairly gradual and then very quick, that's how news travels in my family- slowly between the younger generation and then as soon as my nan finds out its broadcasted widely within a few phonecalls!
scorubes4life- Are you less concerned now?
LUG-14- Good guess with the attacker, bonus points for that! I am an angst writer but this is a fluffy story so don't despair, all will be well.