Hmmmmm... Intriguing
Disclaimer: HP isn't mine
Chapter III - St Mungo's
Albus awoke in his bedroom to the screams of a woman in his office. He got up out of his four poster bed and hurried to the door, throwing it open to see Edlyn screeching at the top her voice, "ALBUS"! "What is it Edlyn"? Albus said, irritated and rubbing his right eye. "The first years are outside the classroom, Albus", Edlyn said, panicked. "Oh Merlin's Beard", Albus exclaimed. He whipped around and went back into his bedroom. "Merlin's Beard, I'm still in my pajamas", Albus ranted as he opened his wardrobe doors and selected deep yellow robes. He ranted and ranted as he dressed, annoyed at his incompetence. It was unlike him to oversleep. "Thank you, Edlyn", he said as he hobbled out of his office through his classroom and to the big wooden doors. He opened the door, almost falling on the floor, and said breathlessly, "come in come in". The children followed his orders and entered the classroom.
"Right", Albus said as he stepped in front of the desk in his classroom, clasping his hands together, "what is it today; Slytherins and Hufflepuffs"? Most of the children nodded. Albus' eyes fell upon Tom who looked at him with an invisible scowl. Albus returned the look and smiled politely. "Good morning, Tom", he said kindly to the small, pale, greasy haired eleven-year-old Slytherin. "Ok", Albus continued, "I am Professor Dumbledore. This is transfiguration. Can someone tell me what exactly transfiguration is". Dozens of hands flew up, including Tom Riddle's. "Yes you, what's your name"? "Jeremy Cooper, sir", said a surprisingly tall blonde haired boy. "Right, so what is transfiguration". "Transfiguration is ...er... the magic which changes one object into another". "Very good Jeremy, five points to Hufflepuff". Jeremy smiled, as did other Hufflepuffs, one putting his arm around Jeremy. "This will be just a quick introduction to the Magic of Transfiguration, now"-.Ida Harris burst in through the doors leading into the classroom and quickly walked up to Albus. "Albus, I have terrible news", Ida whispered, reassuringly. "Well what is it, what's the matter"? Albus replied, whispering also. "Albus it's Aberforth, he's been attacked". Mumbling, Albus said, "I apologize, students. I urgently have to leave". Albus and Ida walked out of the classroom together, dozens of little eyes following them. "What about the children"? "Don't worry, Albus, arrangements have been made with Professor Dippet. He'll take over your classes for as long as necessary". They walked through the open doorway, budging past Dippet as he walked up a flight of steps past them. "Where's he being held"? Albus said. "St Mungo's, naturally. I assure you he's receiving the best care possible". Albus and Ida continued walking speedily, through the gates leading into Hogwarts and they instantly apparated to the famous wizarding hospital.
The pair arrived in the busy reception of St Mungo's Hospital. They joined the queue behind a witch with dragon pox and a wizard who had ingested a doxy egg. "Where is Aberforth Dumbledore being kept"? Albus asked the mousey young witch behind the counter. "Dumbledore, Dumbledore", she recited as she flicked through a filing cabinet to her right. "Ah here we are, Aberforth Dumbledore. He's being kept in the Randolph Parrot ward, fourth floor". Her eyes widened as her eyes fell upon the diagnosis and she looked up at Albus. "Oh dear; I'm very sorry". Albus stared at her angrily and confused for a moment when Ida grabbed his arm and said, "Come on, this way".
Ida led Albus into an empty stairwell, his mind vacant, fixed only on his brother. Ida spoke some words of encouragement as they climbed the stone steps but he did not hear her. He was totally focused on seeing his brother. He burst through the exit on the fourth floor, knocking over a healer. "Where's the Randolph Parrot ward"? he asked the healer, carelessly. In fear, the healer pointed a shaky hand to her left and he walked down the chrome corridor. "Sorry", Ida said to the healer, "it's his brother. Albus"! Albus did not recognize Ida's calls as she chased after him, he just kept on walking down the corridor. He turned a corner and saw the sign, 'Randolph Parrot ward', looming over double doors. He walked, more determined than ever, and shoved the doors open. He grabbed a healer and said, "Aberforth Dumbledore, where is he"? Like the last one, this healer lifted a quivering hand, pointing out a bright green curtain. He let the healer go and turned to the curtain. He yanked it open and saw his brother lying on a bed completely still, his arms flat by his sides, like he lay in a coffin.
"Albus". Albus turned around and saw a friendly face. "Roberta", he said, instantly hugging the pretty witch in front of him. He turned back to face his brother, sobbing into his big brown beard. "What's wrong with him"? "He's been hit by a very strong confundus charm", Roberta replied, "unusually strong. We've also found a strange parasitic growth on his back. I'm sorry Albus", he wept more and more into his hand. "We can't remove the growth; we don't what it is or where it came from. He's going to suffer from the pain that growth gives him and intense confusion for the rest of his life". Albus embraced Roberta in a suffocating bear hug and wept into her shoulder as she patted his back. Ida was watching from the doorway into the ward. Then Albus shot up and stopped his crying. "The dark arts are becoming more powerful", he said gritting his teeth, "and they have made this a personal battle. Ida"! Ida answered his call saying, "yes, Albus"? "Tell Horacio I'll be taking a more active position in the investigation". Albus slowly walked over to stand beside his brother and took his hand. "Don't worry brother", he said, "I will stop the monster that did this to you. Don't worry about that, brother, don't worry about that".
Good? Tell me.