disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, just Arabella and her story. I'm a little torn with this chapter as I feel as though some of it's rushed. I rewrote it a couple times, so let me know what you think of this chapter, if you guys like it or not. Thank you!

St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries

Arabella, Ron and Harry followed McGonagall out of the dormitory, down the spiral stairs into the common room and through the portrait hole past the Fat Lady. Arabella felt something acid rise up her throat. Was Mr. Weasley really attacked? Would they be able to find him? Is he alive? He cannot die. He was Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Weasley would be absolutely devastated. She glanced at Harry and Ron quickly. Harry was very pale, deep in thought, while Ron looked as though he was still trying to process what was going on. Arabella reached out and grabbed his shoulder. He jumped a little and turned his head towards her. She gave him a strained smile that he returned. She didn't know what to say and didn't think anything would help. She thought this would be enough for now.

In a few minutes, they reached the stone gargoyle guarding the entrance to Dumbledore's office. Once McGonagall said the password, the gargoyle sprang to life and leapt aside. The wall behind it split into two, revealing a stone staircase that was moving upward. The four of them stepped onto the stairs and began moving upward until they reached the oak door with a brass knocker. Arabella checked her watch. It was well past midnight and yet, there were voices coming from inside Dumbledore's office. It sounded as though he was entertaining a dozen people. He must be talking to the portraits of the past headmasters.

McGonagall rapped on the door three times. The voices ceased for a moment and the door opened. McGonagall led them inside. The room was dark with portraits of the old headmasters snoozing in their frames. Arabella wondered if it was true or if they were pretending. Fawkes was dozing on its perch with its head under its wing. Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, leaning against the papers spread on his desk. Candlelight illuminated the dressing gown he was wearing and his blue eyes fixed upon McGonagall.

"Oh, it's you, Professor McGonagall… and… ah."

"Professor Dumbledore, Potter has had a… well, a nightmare. He says…"

"It wasn't a nightmare," Harry said quickly.

McGonagall frowned slightly at Harry and said, "Very well, then, Potter, you tell the headmaster about it."

"I… well, I was asleep," began Harry, taking in some deep breaths. He seemed irritated at the fact that Dumbledore was looking at his intertwined fingers rather than at Harry. "But it wasn't an ordinary dream… it was real… I saw it happen… Ron's dad – Mr. Weasley – has been attacked by a giant snake."

There was a small pause. Dumbledore leaned back and stared at the ceiling. Ron looked at Dumbledore and Harry, white-faced and shocked. He grabbed Arabella's hand, breathing heavily, and Arabella squeezed his hand. Mr. Weasley will be fine. He has to be.

"How did you see this?" Dumbledore asked quietly.

"Well… I don't know," said Harry shortly. "Inside my head, I suppose –"

"You misunderstand me. I mean… can you remember – er – where you were positioned as you watched this attack happen? Were you perhaps standing beside the victim, or else looking down on the scene from above?"

"I was the snake," said Harry, blinking at the headmaster. "I saw it all from the snake's point of view…"

Nobody else spoke for a moment. Dumbledore sat up straighter, looked at Ron, and said, "Is Arthur seriously injured?"

"Yes."

Dumbledore, still not looking at Harry, stood up, and began addressing the portrait hanging near the ceiling. "Everard? And you too, Dilys!"

A wizard with short bangs and an elderly witch opened their eyes immediately. Arabella wanted to laugh. They were eavesdropping.

"You were listening?"

The wizard nodded as the witch said, "Naturally."

"The man has red hair and glasses. Everard, you will need to raise the alarm, make sure he is found by the right people –"

Both of them nodded and moved out of their frames. The other previous headmasters of Hogwarts began awaking, pretending as though they had awakened from a long slumber instead of pretending.

"Everard and Dilys were two of Hogwarts's most celebrated Heads. Their renown is such that both have portraits hanging in other important Wizarding institutions. As they are free to move between their own portraits they can tell us what may be happening else where…."

"But Mr. Weasley could be anywhere!" said Harry.

"Please sit down, all four of you," Dumbledore said calmly. "Everard and Dilys may not be back for several minutes… Professor McGonagall, if you could draw up extra chairs…"

McGonagall pulled her wand from her dressing gown pocket and waved it. four chairs appeared out of thin air. Arabella sat down beside Ron, watching Dumbledore stroke Fawkes's head with one finger. The phoenix was now awake, observing the room with its dark eyes.

"We will need," whispered Dumbledore, "a warning."

There was a flash of fire and Fawkes was gone. Dumbledore now grabbed one of his silver instruments from his cabinet, carried it over to his desk, and tapped it lightly with his wand. The instrument tinkled into life and began making clinking noises. Tiny puffs of pale green smoke issued from the silver tube at the top. After a few seconds, puffs thickened and coiled in the air. A serpent's head grew out of it, opened its mouth and the fangs stood out.

"Naturally, naturally," murmured Dumbledore, not sounding surprised at all as he spoke to himself. "But in essence divided?"

Arabella did not understand the question at all. The smoke serpent split itself into two snake, both coiling and heaving into thin air. There was a grim look of satisfaction on Dumbledore's face as he gave the instrument another tap with his wand. The noise slowed down and the serpents vanished. Dumbledore placed the instrument back in the cabinet as there was a shout from the top of the wall to the right. Everard had returned, panting slightly for a portrait.

"Dumbledore!"

"What news?"

"I yelled until someone came running, said I'd heard something moving downstairs – they weren't sure whether to believe me but went down to check – you know there are no portraits down there to watch from. Anyway, they carried him up a few minutes later. He doesn't look good, he's covered in blood, I ran along to Elfrida Cragg's portrait to get a good view as they left –"

Arabella squeezed Ron's hand as a strange sound erupted from his throat. It was as though he was choking and seizing at the same time.

"Good," said Dumbledore, "I take it Dilys will have seen him arrive, then –"

The witch, Dilys, just appeared in her portrait. She sank into her chair, coughing and wheezing, and said, "Yes, they've taken him to St. Mungo's, Dumbledore… They carried him past under my portrait… He looks bad…"

Arabella was a little confused. If Dilys's portrait was in St. Mungo's, then Everard's must be in… the Ministry? It was the only one that made sense. Dumbledore said that their portraits hung in other important Wizarding institutions. Dilys's was in St. Mungo's, as she just told them, so Everard's must be in the Ministry. But what was Mr. Weasley doing in the Ministry at this hour? Arabella wanted to smack herself. Of course, he was there because of the Order of the Phoenix, why else would be there this late at night? He was there under Dumbledore's instructions and if the Ministry found out, they would be furious and who knows what would happen to the Weasleys.

"Thank you," said Dumbledore. He looked around to McGonagall and said, "Minerva, I need you to go and wake the other Weasley children."

"Of course…"

McGonagall got up and moved swiftly out the door.

Arabella glanced at Ron and said, "Professor… what about Mrs. Weasley?"

"That will be a job for Fawkes, Miss Black, when he has finished keeping a lookout for anybody approaching. But she may already know… that excellent clock of hers…"

Arabella knew what clock he was talking about, of course, the one that never told time, but the whereabouts and conditions of the Weasley family members. Mr. Weasley's hand must now be pointing at mortal peril. Did Mrs. Weasley already know? Was she asleep or staying up waiting for her husband? Oh, god, Arabella thought at the realization that Mrs. Weasley was probably waiting up for her husband and instead of heading home, he was now at St. Mungo's. Arabella's thought was immediately cut off by Dumbledore placing an old blackened kettle in front of them on his desk. He raised his wand, murmured, "Portus," and the kettle glowed a light blue for a moment. Arabella stared at the Portkey for a moment, wondering if they were heading to the Burrow or St. Mungo's to check on Mr. Weasley. Her question was answered swiftly.

"Phineas. Phineas."

Dumbledore marched over to Phineas Nigellus Black, Arabella's great-great-great grandfather. He was pretending to be in a deep sleep, unable to hear Dumbledore's voice rousing him. Arabella rolled her eyes. He was truly an insufferable man. The other portraits began shouting his name as well, not pleased that he was ignoring the current headmaster of Hogwarts.

"Phineas! Phineas! PHINEAS!"

He could not pretend any more, not when all the other portraits were screaming his name as well. He gave an elaborate shoulder jerk, opened his eyes wide and said, "Did someone call?"

"I need you to visit your other portrait again, Phineas," said Dumbledore. "I've got another message."

"Visit my other portrait? Oh no, Dumbledore, I am too tired tonight…"

"How can a portrait be tired?" Arabella called out.

"I don't need to be alive to be tired, you silly girl," snapped Phineas.

"Piss off, old man," growled Arabella, standing up. "You're the pathetic one who can't even deliver a message for Merlin's sake!"

She did not want to yell in front of Professor Dumbledore, but there were more important things at risk.

"Exactly!" roared a red-nosed wizard, raising his fists. "Insubordination! Dereliction of duty!"

"We are honour-bound to give service to the present headmaster of Hogwarts!" said a frail old wizard. "Shame on you, Phineas!"

"Shall I persuade him, Dumbledore?" called a sharp-eye witch with a thick wand.

"Oh, very well," said Phineas, "though he may well have destroyed my picture by now, he's done most of the family –"

"Oh, he would never do that," jeered Arabella with a wicked smile. "He knows just how much I love everything in the house. Could never part with your portrait, Phineas."

Phineas threw her a murderous glare as Dumbledore said, "You are to give Sirius the message that Arthur Weasley has been gravely injured and that his wife, children, Harry Potter, and Arabella Black will be arriving at his house shortly. Do you understand?"

"Arthur Weasley, injured, wife and children and Harry Potter and Arabella Black coming to stay," recited Phineas in a bored tone. "Yes, yes… very well…"

He sloped away into the frame of the portrait and disappeared from view at the very moment that the study door opened again. Fred, George, and Ginny were ushered inside by Professor McGonagall. All three of them looking disheveled and shocked, still in their night things.

"Harry – what's going one?" asked Ginny, frightening. "Professor McGonagall says you saw dad hurt –"

"Your father has been injured in the course of his work for the Order of the Phoenix," said Dumbledore. "He has been taken to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. I am sending you back to Sirius's house, which is much more convenient for the hospital than the Burrow. You will meet your mother there."

"How're we going?" asked Fred, shaking. "Floo powder?"

"No. Floo powder is not safe at the moment, the Network is being watched. You will be taking a Portkey. We are just waiting for Phineas Nigellus Black to report back… I wish to be sure that the coast is clear before sending you –"

There was a flash of flame in the middle of the office. A single golden feather gentle fell onto the floor.

"It is Fawkes's warning," said Dumbledore. "She must know you're out of your beds… Minerva, go and head her off – tell her any story –"

McGonagall was gone within a second. Phineas reappeared in his portrait and said, bored, "He says he'll be delighted. My great-great grandson has always had odd taste in houseguests…"

Arabella rolled her eyes as Dumbledore told them, "Come here and quickly before anyone else joins us…"

Arabella, Harry and the Weasleys gathered around Dumbledore's desk.

"You have all used a Portkey before? Good. On the count of three then… one… two… three…"

Arabella placed her hand on the kettle and felt a jerk behind her navel. The ground vanished from beneath her feet, her hands glued to the Portkey. She was banging into the others as they all sped forward, a rush of colours flying past them like wind, until they were suddenly pulled downward, falling onto the floor with a thud. The kettle clattered to the ground and Ginny fell on top of Arabella's weak legs.

"Back again, the bloodtraitor brats, is it true their father's dying…?"

"OUT!"

Ginny moved over and Arabella slowly got to her feet. She blinked a couple times and rubbed her eyes. They were in the basement kitchen of Grimmauld Place. The only source of light in the room was the fireplace and one candle at the end of the kitchen table. Kreacher disappeared through the door to the hall. He gave them a look of contempt before hitching his loincloth. Sirius hurried forward, looking anxious. He did not look very good, as though he wasn't completely taking care of himself. His face was unshaven, there were heavy bags underneath his eyes, and he was still in his day clothes. As he made sure Arabella was steady on her feet, she caught a great whiff of firewhiskey as well.

"What's going on?" he asked. "Phineas said Arthur's been badly injured –"

"Ask Harry," said Fred.

"Yeah, I want to hear this for myself," said George.

Fred, George and Ginny stared at Harry as Kreacher's footsteps stopped on the stairs outside.

"It was –" began Harry. "I had a – a kind of – vision…"

He told them all he had seen but made it out as though he was watching from the sidelines rather than as the snake attacking their father. Arabella gave him a brief look and said nothing. It was bound to be harder to tell Fred, George and Ginny as compared to Dumbledore and McGonagall. Mr. Weasley was their father and they were beyond worried. If he had told them that in his vision he imagined attacking their father, Arabella didn't think he nor the Weasleys could handle it. Once he was done, the three of them continued to stare at Harry for a moment before Fred turned to Sirius.

"Is Mum here?"

"She probably doesn't even know what's happened yet," said Sirius. "The important thing was to get you away before Umbridge could interfere. I expect Dumbledore's letting Molly know now."

"We've got to go to St. Mungo's," Ginny said urgently. "Sirius, can you lend us cloaks or something –?"

"Hang on, you can't go tearing off to St. Mungo's!"

"'Course we can go to St. Mungo's if we want," Fred said stubbornly. "He's our dad!"

"And how are you going to explain how you knew Arthur was attacked before the hospital even let his wife know?"

"What does that matter?" George said heatedly.

"It matters because we don't want to draw attention to the fact that Harry is having visions of things that are happening hundreds of miles away!" said Sirius angrily. "Have you any idea what the Ministry would make of that information?"

"Somebody else could have told us," said Ginny. "We could have heard it somewhere other than Harry…"

"Like who?" Sirius said impatiently. "Listen, your dad's been hurt while on duty for the Order and the circumstances are fishy enough without his children knowing about it seconds after it happened, you could seriously damage the Order's –"

"We don't care about the dumb Order!" shouted Fred.

"It's our dad dying we're talking about!" yelled George.

"Your father knew what he was getting into, and he won't thank you for messing things up for the Order!" said Sirius angrily in his turn. "This is how it is – this is why you're not in the Order – you don't understand – there are things worth dying for!"

"Easy for you to say, stuck here!" bellowed Fred. "I don't see you risking your neck!"

"That's enough!" Arabella said roughly.

Sirius's face was drained of colour and he looked as though he would quite like to hit Fred.

When Arabella spoke again, it was in a very calm and determined voice. "I understand that it's hard to be stuck here, all right? But we have to act as though we don't know anything yet. There's a good chance Mr. Weasley was hurt in the Ministry and when they get a whiff that a bunch of kids figured it out before them, they are going to investigate your father and your mother and Dumbledore and they're going to figure everything out. They'll shut down the Order and possibly throw your father in Azkaban – remember what happened to Sturgis?"

Ginny looked at her brothers for a brief moment and then said, "He's the one in Azkaban."

"Yeah, he is," continued Arabella. "For attempting to steal from the Ministry, or so they say. Who knows at this point, but we cannot draw attention to ourselves and your father. We have to stay in this house until we hear something from Dumbledore or your mum. All right? We can't have Mr. Weasley chucked into Azkaban for this."

Fred and George looked defiant, but Ginny seemed to understand. She gave a solemn nod, stepped over to the nearest chair, and sunk into it. Ron and Harry sat down as well next to each other, the former still looking very pale. Fred and George glared at Arabella and Sirius for a moment before taking seats on either side of Ginny.

"All right, then," said Arabella. "Um… I'll make some food for us. You lot must be hungry. Er – bacon and toast and some eggs and tea…"

Arabella hurried over to the stove and began taking food out of the small fridge. For many years she made food for Remus the day after a full moon and days when he was being stubborn. She was used to taking care of him and she was used to forcing him to eat his food. She imagined that the Weasleys would be stubborn as well and hoped that they would at least try some of it. They were going to worry themselves sick if they just stayed up all night without eating or drinking anything.

A couple minutes later, Arabella cracked some eggs into a bowl and began mixing it when Harry came to her side.

"Need some help?" he asked.

"Um, no, I should be fine," said Arabella, glancing at him. She paused for a moment at him and said, "Are you okay, Harry?"

"Can I talk to you?" he asked, moving closer to her. "Like – right now."

Arabella was slightly alarmed and followed him into a dark pantry.

"I think I'm going mad," he said immediately in a whisper. "Back in Dumbledore's office, just before we took the Portkey, for a second I felt as though I was snake – my scar began burning when I looked at Dumbledore and I really… I really wanted to attack him –"

"What?" breathed Arabella.

"It was like – it was like there was this snake that rose up inside of me and all I wanted to do was attack Dumbledore – he barely even looked at me – and when he did, I wanted to – I wanted to –"

"Oh, Harry," mumbled Arabella, grabbing a hold of his arm. "It's – it's – I don't know, honestly – it must be some sort of side affect of your vision, but… maybe you should talk to Sirius or Remus or Dumbledore –"

"He could barely look at me," said Harry, shaking his head.

"I don't know what to say, Harry." Arabella felt hopeless and desperate. "I barely understood what happened and this vision – whether or not it's an actual vision – or some sort of dream and I certainly don't know how Voldemort is related. I – I –"

"It's fine, don't worry about it," Harry said quickly.

He was just about to leave the panty when Arabella grabbed his arm again.

"Maybe – maybe it's –" Arabella rethought her words and settled on, "You should either talk to Sirius or Remus. They might be able to figure this out."

Harry walked back over to Ron as Arabella went back to the stove. She truly did not know what to tell Harry. She knew that Harry and Voldemort were connected to each other, but this was different than being able to feel whenever Voldemort was angry or whatnot. He now able to somehow witness Mr. Weasley… and it still made no sense to her. She would have known if Harry was somehow transported to the Ministry and she would certainly know if he was somehow able to turn into a snake, but… Voldemort was close with his pet-snake, Nagini, and if Voldemort can somehow see what Nagini sees, then could Harry? Is that how Harry was able to see Mr. Weasley's attack, but, more importantly, feel the snake attack Mr. Weasley? Arabella slapped her wooden spoon on the counter. She had no idea what was going on and the more she thought about it, the more furious she got. She wanted to shake Dumbledore or someone to figure out what was happening.

They had a connection, that was for sure. If Voldemort knew how deep his connection with Harry was, could he just be tormenting him, using him? Here you go, witness the torture of your loved ones, witness what I do to them when it should be you in their place. It sounded sick and disgusting, but Arabella would not put it past Voldemort. The man was sadistic and vile. He would do anything just to torture Harry.

Then a burst of fire in midair illuminated behind Arabella. She turned around to see a scroll of parchment fall onto the table with a single golden phoenix tail feather.

"Fawkes!" Sirius said at once. He snatched the parchment and said, "That's not Dumbledore's writing – it must be a message from your mother – here – "

George ripped the scroll open and read out loud, "Dad is still alive. I am setting out for St. Mungo's now. Stay where you are. I will send news as soon as I can. Mum." He looked around the table, horrified. "Still alive… But that makes it sound…"

He did not need to finish the sentence. Arabella knew how that letter sounded as though Mr. Weasley was on the brink of death.

"Food," Arabella said quickly, clapping her hands together.

With the help of Harry and Sirius, she placed plates of scrabbled eggs, toast and crispy bacon on the table. Sirius poured some tea for everyone as Arabella made sure that their plates were full, even if none of them were interested in eating. Ron picked at the eggs while Ginny nursed the tea cup in her hands. Within an hour, nearly all of the food was untouched and cold. Sirius had suggested that they go up to bed, but the Weasleys' were disgusted by the mere suggestion. The rest of the time was spent checking the time, watching the candle wax sink lower and lower, and reassuring each other that if something bad happened, they would know straight away.

As five o'clock came closer, the night began to wear them out. Fred's head sagged sideways onto his shoulder. Ginny was curled up on her chair, her eyes opened but glossy. Ron was sitting with his head in his hands. Arabella was unsure if he was awake or asleep. Arabella placed her hand on Harry's leg, looking at him every so often, waiting and intruding upon family grief.

Finally, at ten past five, the kitchen door swung open. Mrs. Weasley entered the kitchen. She was extremely pale, but when they all looked at her, she gave them a tired smile. When she spoke, she sounded weak with tiredness.

"He's going to be all right. He's sleeping. We an all go and see him later. Bill's sitting with him now, he's going to take the morning off work."

Ron gave a very shaky laugh as George and Ginny engulfed their mother in a hug.

"More food!" called Arabella, jumping to her feet.

She hurried to the stove to make a fresh batch of bacon and toast, Harry at her heels to help her. She had barely taken the eggs from the fridge when Mrs. Weasley pulled Harry into a hug.

"I don't know what would have happened if it hadn't been for you, Harry," she said in a muffled voice. "They might not have found Arthur for hours, and then it would have been too late, but thanks to you he's alive and Dumbledore's been able to think up a good cover story for Arthur being where he was, you've no idea what trouble he would have been in other wise, look at poor Sturgis…"

She released him and turned to Sirius thanking him for looking after his children through the night. Sirius said that he was very pleased to have been able to help and hoped they would all stay with him as long as Mr. Weasley was in the hospital.

"Oh, Sirius, I'm so grateful… They think he'll be there a little while and it would be wonderful to be nearer… Of course, that might mean we're here for Christmas…"

"The more the merrier!" said Sirius as Mrs. Weasley beamed at him.

"Sirius," muttered Harry. "Can I have a quick word?"

As they walked into the dark pantry together, Mrs. Weasley began to throw on an apron.

"Absolutely not," Arabella said quickly. "I'll handle breakfast, Mrs. Weasley. I've got it under control."

"Nonsense," said Mrs. Weasley, waving it off.

"I'll be fine, Mrs. Weasley. Just – just go be with them," she added, nodding at the Weasley children. "They've been worried the whole night."

Ron, Fred, George and Ginny were huddled close together, taking comfort in each other in silence. When Mrs. Weasley saw them, her face softened before turning back towards Arabella.

"Well, I guess it wouldn't be too bad not to cook today," she said meekly, smiling a bit. It was a few more seconds until she took of her apron and sat with her children. They smiled at her before moving closer together, silent but content for the moment.

Once they had finished breakfast, they went upstairs to finally sleep. Arabella was still in her school robes and were dying to finally get out of them. She threw them in the corner and crawled into her bed, wrapping her blanket around her body. She closed her eyes and her body began relaxing when there was a faint knock on the door. Arabella lifted her head slightly as the door opened.

"Can I sleep here?" Ginny asked softly, her head peeking through.

"Er – sure, yeah, yeah," said Arabella moving her.

Ginny got into bed quietly and pulled the covers over her shoulders. She mumbled something under her breath before dozing off.

In a couple hours, when Arabella woke up, Ginny was gone. She headed downstairs for a rather quiet lunch as their trunks arrived from Hogwarts. Arabella felt her whole-body ache as she changed into jeans and sweatshirt so that they can take a trip to St. Mungo's as Muggles. She greeted Nymph and Mad-Eye, both of whom turned up to escort them, while laughing at the bowler hat that was supposed to conceal Mad-Eye's magical eye. But it was Nymph's short, bright pink hair that attracted more attention than the hat as they entered the rattling train that took them toward the heart of London.

"Where's Remus?" Arabella asked Mad-Eye.

"He's busy," grunted Mad-Eye. "Should be back soon."

"Define soon –"

She was unfortunately cut off by the next stop. Mad-Eye quickly grabbed her shoulder and began following Nymph, who was leading the way. They began following her up the escalator and into the wintry air. The street was packed with Christmas shoppers, running past them. Mad-Eye shoved her forward as she began slacking behind. A moment later, they arrived outside a large, old-fashioned, red brick department store. There was a large sign that read CLOSED FOR REFURBISHMENT with displays of chipped dummies standing randomly.

"Right," said Nymph, beckoning them forward. "Everybody ready?"

Everyone nodded and Nymph leaned into the glass. She looked up at the dummy and said, "Wotcher… We're here to see Arthur Weasley."

The dummy gave a short nod and gestured them with a single finger. Nymph seized Ginny and Mrs. Weasley by the elbows, stepped right through the glass and vanished. Fred, George, and Ron stepped after them. Arabella stepped forward through the glass, her whole body feeling as though cold water, and emerged into the warm reception area of St. Mungo's.

Arabella remembered St. Mungo's almost clearly. She didn't remember being in Remus's arms when he brought her here, but she remembered which room she was in, the colour of the Healer's eyes – brown with dark specks – and Remus's attempt in comforting her while they both cried at the demise of Kassandra Anastas. She remembered the other patients around her and when the transferred her to the fourth floor and how she screamed and cried and begged and pleaded. It seemed like it was a long time ago and yet, it seemed like it was just yesterday.

Arabella stood in the middle of the crowded reception area, watching everyone around her. Rows of witches and wizards were sitting on wooden chairs either looking perfectly normal or gruesomely disfigured. She felt her breath hitch at the sight of a man with a severely bloody nose that did not seem to stop and a woman that occasionally coughed up some blood on a handkerchief. Witches and wizards in green robes were making their way around, asking questions and making notes on clipboards. One of the wizards who was tending to a woman with a purple face, sensed that someone was staring at him. He paused for a moment, turned around, and she immediately recognized those eyes.

Mad-Eye shoved her forward towards the others as Mrs. Weasley spoke to the receptionist. Arabella glanced back at Mad-Eye. She remembered him visiting her the next day with the Tonks, but she barely spoke to any of them. She remembered being three and resenting him for being slow and old and unable to save Kassandra. But hating him was so pointless, especially when he expressed to her how terrible sorry he was, being unable to save her mother. The look on his face back then was in sorrow and she could remember every line and wrinkle on his face – the ones on his forehead, under his eyes and around his mouth. She looked behind her once more. There were more lines on his face now. It was almost startling to remember how old he had gotten and how old her scars were.

"Fourth floor – just like it says on the floor guide. Next!"

Arabella jumped a little and shook her head. She was immediately brought back to reality as the Weasley party moved forward a few steps. Arabella finally took account of her actual surrounding. A plump blonde witch was sitting at the reception desk with the wall behind her covered in notices and posters with a large portrait of Dilys Derwent above them all. The floor guide was towards the left of the reception desk.

ARTIFACT ACCIDENT….. Ground floor
(Cauldron explosion, wand backfiring, broom crashes, etc.)

CREATURE-INDUCED INJURIES….. First Floor
(Bites, stings, burns, embedded spines, etc.)

MAGICAL BUGS….. Second Floor
(Contagious maladies, e.g., dragon pox, vanishing sickness, scrofugulus)

POTION AND PLANT POISONING…. Third Floor
(Rashes, regurgitation, uncontrollable giggling, etc.)

SPELL DAMAGE….. Fourth Floor
(Unliftable jinxes, hexes, and incorrectly applied charms, etc.)

VISITORS' TEAROOM AND HOSPITAL SHOP….. Fifth Floor

If you are unsure where to go, incapable of normal speech, or unable to remember why you are here, our Welcome Witch will be pleased to help.

"First floor, second door on the right, Dai Llewellyn ward."

"Thank you," Mrs. Weasley told the Welcome Witch. "Come on, you lot."

They followed her through the double doors and along a narrow corridor beyond that was lined with portraits of famous Healers. The corridor was lit by crystal bubbles full of candles that looked like giant soapsuds. As they passed one door, a foul smell wafted into the corridor and there was a distant sound of wailing. More Healers walked in and out of the doors, looking either troubled or frantic. They climbed a flight of stairs and entered the "Creature-Induced Injuries" corridor. The second door on the right bore the words "Dangerous" Dai Llewellyn: Serous Bites. Underneath this was a handwritten card: Healer in Charge: Hippocrates Smethwyck, Trainee Healer: Augustus Pye.

"We'll wait outside, Molly," said Nymph. "Arthur won't want too many visitors at once… It ought to be just the family first."

Mad-Eye approved of this idea as he set himself with his back against the corridor wall. Arabella and Harry drew back as well, but Mrs. Weasley reached out, grabbed both of their hands and pushed them through the door.

The ward was small and rather dingy looking with a small window facing the door. Most of the light came from the crystal bubbles in the middle of the ceiling, with the walls a paneled oak. There were only three patients in the whole ward. Mr. Weasley was in the bed in the far end of the ward beside the window. Arabella smiled widely when she saw him propped up and reading the Daily Prophet. He looked around as they walked toward him and when he saw who it was, he beamed.

"Hello! Bill just left, Molly, had to get back to work, but he says he'll drop in on you later…"

"How are you, Arthur?" asked Mrs. Weasley, kissing his cheek. "You're looking a bit peaky…"

Mr. Weasley held out his good arm to give Ginny a hug. He looked healthy and bright as he said, "I feel absolutely fine. If they could only take the bandages off, I'd be fit to go home."

"Why can't they take them off, Dad?" asked Fred as they pushed chairs closer to Mr. Weasley.

"Well, I start bleeding like mad every time they try. It seems there was some rather unusual kind of poison in that snake's fangs that keeps wounds open… they're sure they'll find an antidote, though, they say they've had much worse cases than mine, and in the meantime, I just have to keep taking a Blood-Replenishing Potion every hour. But that fellow over there. Bitten by a werewolf, poor chap. No cure at all."

Arabella looked over at the bed opposite. The man was looking rather green and sickly as he stared at the wall.

"A werewolf?" whispered Mrs. Weasley, looking alarmed. "Is he safe in a public ward? Shouldn't he be in a private room?"

"It's two weeks till full moon," Mr. Weasley said quietly. "They've been talking to him this morning, the Healer, you know, trying to persuade him he'll be able to lead an almost normal life. I said to him – didn't mention names, of course – but I said I knew a werewolf personally, very nice man, who finds the condition quite easy to manage…"

"What did he say?" Arabella asked, glancing over at the man.

"Said he'd give me another bite if I didn't shut up. And that woman over there won't tell the Healers what bit her, which makes us all think it must have been something she was handling illegally. Whatever it was took a real chuck out of her leg, very nasty smell when they take off the dressings."

Arabella quietly got up and made her way over to the man. He was still staring at the ceiling, even as she approached him.

"It's going to be all right, you know," Arabella said quietly, "being a werewolf and all, it's not that bad."

The man rolled his eyes and turned his back on her, staring at the window instead.

"Honestly, you're still the same person, except, well –"

"I turn into a savage beast once a month," snapped the man, his voice deep and husky. "Save it, kid, I've heard it all before."

"I know someone who's a werewolf and he's perfectly happy," Arabella said modestly. She then thought about the statement for a moment and added, "Well, as happy as you can be, actually…"

"Listen, kid, just piss off already and go back to your family. I don't need your stupid, worthless words, all right?"

Arabella flared her nose and took a deep breath. She reconsidered her words for a moment and then said, "You know any Animagus's?"

The man was certainly not expecting that. He turned his head towards her and said, "What?"

Arabella rolled her eyes and said, "Do you know anyone who's an Animagus?"

"Er – yeah, a school chum."

"Good," Arabella said quickly. "When you transform, make sure he's there. Makes the night more bearable." She was about to head back to the Weasleys when she remembered something very important. "When you head to the Beast Division in the Ministry, try to see if you ask for your own case worker, and if they agree, ask for anyone else but Theodore Guthrie. He's a prick and you will never get a good job with him."

She headed back to the Weasleys just as George said, quietly, "You were guarding it, weren't you? The weapon? The thing You-Know-Who's after?"

"George, be quiet!" snapped Mrs. Weasley.

"Anyway," said Mr. Weasley, "this time Willy's been caught selling biting doorknobs to Muggles, and I don't think he'll be able to worm his way out of it because according to this article, two Muggles have lost fingers and are now in St. Mungo's for emergency bone regrowth and memory modification. Just think of it, Muggles in St. Mungo's! I wonder which ward they're in?"

"Didn't you say You-Know-Who's got a snake, Harry?" asked Fred, looking at Mr. Weasley for any sort of reaction. "A massive one? You and Arabella saw it the night he returned, didn't you?"

"That's enough," Mrs. Weasley said crossly. "Mad-Eye and Tonks are outside, Arthur, they want to come and see you. And you lot can wait outside," she added to the kids. "You can come and say good-bye afterwards. Go on…"

They trooped back into the corridor. Mad-Eye and Nymph went in and closed the ward door behind them.

"Fine," Fred said coldly, rummaging in his pockets, "be like that. Don't tell us anything."

"Looking for these?" said George, holding up a tangle of Extendable Ears.

"You read my mind," said Fred, grinning.

The twins untangled the stringed and separated six Extendable Ears from each other. They handed them around and Arabella hesitated before pressed her own ear against the string. The flesh coloured strings wriggled and snaked under the door. None of them could hear anything for a while, until they heard Nymph whispering as though she was right beside them.

"… they searched the whole area but they couldn't find the snake anywhere, it just seems to have vanished after it attacked you, Arthur… But You-Know-Who can't have expected a snake to get in, can he?"

"I reckon he sent it as a lookout," growled Mad-Eye, "'cause he's not had any luck so far, has he? No, I reckon he's trying to get a clearer picture of what he's facing and if Arthur hadn't been there the beast would've had much more time to look around. So, Potter says he saw it all happen?"

"Yes," said Mrs. Weasley, sounding rather uneasy. "You know, Dumbledore seems almost to have been waiting for Harry to see something like this…"

"Yeah, well, there's something funny about the Potter kid, we all know that."

"Dumbledore seemed worried about Harry when I spoke to him this morning."

"'Course he's worried," said Mad-Eye. "The boy's seeing things from inside You-Know-Who's snake… Obviously, Potter doesn't realize what that means, but if You-Know-Who's possessing him –"

Thank you so much for reading! Let me know what you guys think of this chapter. The next chapter shall have the return of Harry's POV. Haven't done his POV in a while and wanted to change things up a bit.