Disclaimer: Harry Potter and his world belong to J. K. Rowling

Part 3/Chapter 2

In the morning, Bellamy was still depressed, and even before breakfast, he turned his passport and work documents over and over in his hands. Suddenly the birthdate changed on the documents. Again, he was nineteen.

Dieter had done some rearranging. The next twenty or so pumpkin-heads were postponed, and Bellamy had only ordinary patients that day. When he looked happier as the day progressed, Dieter commended himself. These patients were being saved as well, even if not usually from such a vile spell. Brian was kept out of sight. Word had spread, and crowds were beginning to gather, hoping for a glimpse of the world famous wizard. They were not permitted near.

That day, Beth visited Archie and Ursula at his home, in the company of Adrian, who had apparated with her, as Beth could no longer apparate by herself. Bellamy had never been told that Beth had been so badly hurt. They hoped he'd never know that it was because she was trying to cure pumpkin-heads that he would normally have done. Her father would probably have felt himself responsible, though he'd never really been responsible for curing all the ills of Wizardkind.

The result of the visit was that Archie and Ursula, together with their children, waited with the crowd that watched, as Bellamy finished his day's work the following day. Dieter had refused permission for them to see him, but Beth had explained how to overcome that potential problem. Three year old Margaret whined that she was tired and cold, but Ursula only conjured her a chair and a thicker cape, and assured her that they'd be seeing Grandfather Harry soon.

It was as Beth had expected. Bellamy heard Archie when he called with his mind, and upset the aurors by going straight to them where they stood in the middle of the crowd, hugging them both, shaking Peter's hand, and greeting little Margaret. The little girl scowled at him, until he reached behind his back and produced a doll, with red hair and a scowl. She laughed then, and the doll started to smile. He glanced around the crowd, and two wizards fainted. There were enemies as well as admirers watching that day.

The day's work was done, and the group started to walk back to the hotel, many of the waiting witches and wizards following, relishing the treat of the close look. Some had even seen that casual conjure, done without the use of wand or incantation. It wasn't long before the Swedish aurors managed to exert their authority, making them stay back, and pointing out that crowds of mostly caped witches and wizardry would cause too much comment once out of the wizarding area.

The aurors questioned the two wizards who'd fainted, suspecting Bellamy's hand, but magic was not allowed to be used on a suspect without real evidence of actual or intended wrongdoing, and they had to let them go. The moment those wizards revived from their faint, they'd given up the idea in any case. How could they defeat a wizard who could single them out and stun them, and scarcely even bother looking?

Archie and his family were introduced to Boedil, who was happy to arrange a room for them, and they were introduced, also with some ceremony, to Brand. Bellamy ignored the watching aurors, and himself carried their bags to their room.

Archie was not willing to put off his errand any longer. He took out his wand, and spoke the incantation for a silencing shield.

Bellamy waited, and Archie began. "Beth sent me. She said to bring you a lot of money which you're to put in your moneybelt. And I have another moneybelt if you've lost the one that she gave you."

Bellamy stood, staring into the distance as if he saw something there. So Beth didn't expect him to stay around. And his daughter always seemed to know him better than he knew himself.

He jumped. Archie's silencing shield had just been overcome, presumably by the aurors wanting to listen in. No-one else felt it. His own silencing shield replaced it, although he made no indication he was doing magic. Margaret played with her doll in the corner. Eleven year old Peter stood by his father. Ursula wore an anxious look, watching her daughter, and hoping the doll wouldn't suddenly vanish, as conjures did. Margaret could put on a very impressive tantrum.

At last Bellamy spoke. "I still have the moneybelt."

Archie went to his suitcase, and started taking out money in several currencies, lots of money.

"I won't need all that," Bellamy said, "I've scarcely touched the last lot." His moneybelt sat neatly under his trousers, and he removed it and refilled the one pocket that had nearly been emptied, paying for the hotel.

He glanced at Ursula, still looking at the doll, now yawning. "The doll will last until she's grown up, or loses it. Unless I've lost my touch, it's not likely to vanish quickly. And it won't show any changes of expression when Medjkind are close."

Ursula smiled at him. "Thank you, Harry. I didn't want to ask."

"Oh, and Boss!" said Archie, "Beth says to pass on that you are allowed to use that money to pay for food. She was going crook because she said you went far too hungry one time, and she couldn't find you."

"She couldn't find me?"

"You were hiding, she said."

Bellamy frowned. He couldn't remember anything like that. The years of wandering seemed to be hidden in a deeper mist than his years of being a wizard, and his memories of that were patchy. At last, he shook his head, readjusted the moneybelt, which he still always wore, and suggested that his friends might like to join him for a swim and a spa before dinner.

He'd been putting it off, but in the spa, afterward, once Ursula had taken Margaret off to get ready for dinner, he asked Archie about those at home. Using a matter-of-fact tone, Archie said that his father had died, six months before.

Bellamy's expression changed as he said quietly, "Simon was like my own son, and Beau, too."

Archie grinned at him. "Beau's married."

Bellamy was stunned. "What?"

"Him and Sybil. Totally cosy together."

Bellamy was smiling all over his face. "Well, well, well."

Archie added, "Dobes is well, too, and you've got descendants of your Sheba winning showjumping prizes all over the country."

Archie was thinking he was doing well. Bellamy was wearing a very pleased smile.

"Did I ever tell you how I first found Sheba?"

Archie said hurriedly that he had, and quickly distracted him by mentioning that Bridon and Dianne were well, also Caradoc and Clare, and that Paul had married a young woman, not a witch, called Helena. "Bridon was furious. He puts great stock in being Pureblood, but Paul stuck up for himself and told him that other things were a lot more important!"

Peter sat quietly in the spa, feeling very privileged as he watched his father talk to the boss, who was so important. Uncle Beau had told him that if Peter helped look after him too, he would be the fourth generation of Barnes to do so. He'd been told a few family stories, though not that his great grandmother had been a prostitute and addicted to drugs. He did know about his great grandfather, Chris, and Chris's brother Peter, finding him as he wandered the streets of London in a daze, after burying his second wife.

At dinner, Ursula said that they'd be leaving in the morning. Bellamy glanced suspiciously at Dieter, who sat at the next table. But Ursula said, "No, they didn't say anything. It was Beth said that we should only stay a day, and then leave you."

Bellamy fiddled with his serviette, and said nothing. But that night he muttered and fretted in his sleep, as the sulky face of little Margaret came to him, and he remembered that he was a Monster and a Freak, and he'd probably see her grow old and die, as everyone else did.

He woke after a while, staring at the ceiling and trying to think. There was a pain inside him. The pain of seeing those he loved, die, always, one after another. The pain of being unique in his world. The pain of being a Monster and a Freak. Even the pain of being indispensable, so that his life was not his own. If he was to become himself again, he had to feel the pain, allow it to become a part of him, rather than only pushing it back, and shielding himself with the mists of confusion. He didn't know if he was strong enough, and when he woke in the morning, he forgot to put on his glasses.

Dieter took a glance at him in the morning, and consulted with Graham. He seemed perfectly normal again as he spoke to his friends at breakfast, but a planned day off was quietly cancelled. They may not have him long.

Pumpkin-heads that day, but not too many, and this time, Dieter had tried to arrange that it was not only the older cases that Bellamy saw. He became too depressed when they were all dead. There were two out of the first contingent of six rescued, without incident, except that he was unable to keep one calm. That one was taken off strapped to an ambulance trolley, under a spell of Deep Calm. Brian was there, and again Bellamy had permitted him to watch and learn. But Bellamy was very quiet.

Assorted cases in the afternoon, and for the first time, there was a case that would need the strong magic. Brian was still close, but no longer in the workroom. There were a few observers, behind the usual glass panel, including Helmer and his head auror as well as some others, two of them Departmental Heads with good prospects of being Minister after himself. Helmer wanted them seeing how valuable the man was. He'd overheard a comment that it was too dangerous to allow him to live, and he didn't want that sort of talk to spread.

Both Alexander and Graham had seen the strong magic before, and Bellamy expected no problems. He noticed that someone was warning the observers. It was an unpleasant spell that afflicted the young witch. Continually, she drooled, snorted, and trembled, totally ruining the sexual attraction she'd used to snare the boyfriend of another witch, more possessive than sensible. Tristina hadn't been able to seduce anyone for years.

The feeling in the air became more tangible. Bellamy worked hard to keep the silly girl calm, as he raised the intensity. Graham and Alexander watched unperturbed. One of those in the observation room moved restlessly.

The spell broke quite quickly, and the unpleasant and frightening feeling died from the air. Bellamy looked around. There was screaming outside, and his hasty strides took Alexander by surprise. But Jed and Ryde were both close, Jed now kneeling over Brian, who held his hands to his head, no longer screaming, but with tears leaking from his eyes in the aftermath of the acute pain he'd suffered.

Bellamy gently touched his head. "Silly boy! Have you never learned to shield yourself?"

Brian pulled himself to a sitting position. He was trembling, but could speak again. "How could I? There's no-one else like me."

Bellamy spoke gently. "There are many others with the same sort of telepathic talent you have, maybe most not as strong. You just have to find them."

Brian looked at the ground, starting to shake his head, but stopping when it hurt too much. "I've never found a single one."

Bellamy admitted, "It's rare, but there are others." And he smiled, "You'll probably even find someone to marry, and it's an exceptional marriage when you can have that sort of a communication." He added, but in his mind, And sex with a Telepath is pure dynamite! He didn't only convey the thought, but a feeling of all his own love of life and joy in sex came with it.

Brian smiled hopefully at him, "Really?"

Bellamy grinned. "Really!"

Bellamy waited as Graham checked Brian. It seemed he was quickly recovering, but when he asked Bellamy hopefully if he'd help him learn to shield himself, Bellamy suggested he go and see his daughter, Beth, that she could help him better than anyone else possibly could. And he added, "Get Simon to send you a copy of my book on spell-breaking, too. It might be useful."

Dieter was close, as always, and quietly noted that Bellamy seemed to have forgotten that Simon was dead.

The rest of the day was routine, except that Bellamy found he had a very long list. They were making the most of his availability. There was scarcely time to change for dinner. Brian seemed fine again, but Bellamy was again abstracted.

Later that evening, Brian joined him in the swimming pool, and the aurors, Keith, Dieter and Jason watched in surprise as the swim turned into horseplay, and the eighteen year old youth, and the man so much older, cavorted and splashed and laughed. At the other end of the pool were a half dozen female tourists, and Jason nudged Keith, and said, "He's looking!"

Bellamy may have been looking, but he was talking to Brian. He didn't argue when Brian mentioned that he was definitely not related, though he was sure that he was wrong. But there was no point in bringing up old scandals, and it was fairly obvious that if he was related, it was a little way back, and it was not a legitimate relationship. He'd never heard of Brian's mother.

They talked about Brian's telepathic talent, too, out of the hearing of the aurors, who watched, curious, but not interfering. Brian didn't make the mistake of trying to look at Bellamy's mind, but instead their conversation was about the ethics of telepathy. According to Bellamy, probing should only be done for a very good reason.

"So what's a good reason?" asked Brian.

"Hardly any, really," said Bellamy. "Maybe if you have a strong reason for thinking someone's about to throw a Death Curse. Even the telepathic cure only tells you about the person as a by-product, and not very much."

"Any other time?"

"Well, I sometimes need to impose calm when I'm working the strong magic, in order that a patient doesn't panic."

Brian admitted, shame-faced, "They said that I should try and see how sane you are."

Bellamy was watching him, a quizzical look on his face. He didn't ask, but Brian suddenly said, "You're about the sanest person I know!"

Bellamy laughed at him then, shaking his head. But his eyes found the tourists again. "Well, maybe I'm temporarily sane enough to enjoy the company of a woman."

Keith and Jason grinned at each other, as both the young men swam toward the tourists at the other end of the pool. But Brian's youth was betrayed when he immediately started talking to the most attractive of the young women, and Bellamy's experience was shown when he smiled at the oldest of the group. It was Bellamy who had company in his bed for the next three nights until Rebecca regretfully told him she'd be leaving the next day.

In the morning, she ran fingers over his body, tracing old scars, and touching that new one on his side. "What happened here?" she asked.

Bellamy made an offhand remark about an accident, but after she went back to her own room to pack, he looked at himself again in the mirror. What had happened there? He started to tremble. The details hadn't come back to him, but there was a sudden frightened knowledge that crazy men were not supposed to go with women.

He was late for breakfast, and when Dieter checked on him, he sat unmoving, trembling, as he waited for the pain to start.

When Graham came, he was still quite obviously upset about something, and pointblank refused to allow him to make his checks. Graham organised a breakfast for him in his room, and stayed with him a while. Quite suddenly, Bellamy shook his head, poured himself a coffee, and seemed better. The healer was more than ever convinced that they wouldn't have him long.

There were other opportunities to meet women who might be bedmates, but Bellamy made no move to talk to any, and was unresponsive when a perfectly pleasant and attractive woman approached him. His next paypacket was casually put into a pocket, but that evening he hesitated and started to take the wrong corridor to his room before correcting himself.

The aurors were changed around, and now Keith stayed close, including duty in the workroom. Keith was big, had long black hair and beard, and startlingly bushy black eyebrows over penetrating dark eyes. He bore himself with a dignity that seldom went with the athleticism needed by aurors. Day after day, the crowd pointed out the great wizard to each other, and they nearly always pointed to Keith. The aurors were amused, but Bellamy was looking increasingly vague these days, and didn't appear to notice. He never took much notice of the crowds who waited for a glimpse of the famous wizard.

There was another auror assigned to him, Dieter thinking that Bruce could do with a little more exercise, like Jed. Bruce was heavy set, and not athletic, but he had a brilliant analytical mind, and Dieter was highly pleased when he lured Bellamy into a complex discussion about something most of them had never heard of. Anything to call him back to the world of wizardry.

But Bruce wasn't above begging Bellamy to slow down when he walked, and Bellamy, surprised, would slow down. Bruce, cunningly, would then point to a park bench, and launch into discussion about something he thought that Bellamy would have to know about. For a brief while, the teacher and researcher made an appearance.

They were keeping Brian out of Bellamy's way after Graham noticed that he looked away when he came close, and then, quite often, started to tremble. It was inevitable - Bellamy had become fond of the boy, and now when he looked at him, Brian's old age and death would pass before his eyes. His confusion was coming back. There never seemed to be the thinking time he needed to battle the pain, or rather, to accept the pain in order to be able to live with it. There was always work, every day, for long hours.

The third paypacket. He'd been working two and a half weeks non-stop. His wallet was stuffed full. Whenever dressed, he wore his moneybelt. One evening, he picked up his backpack, and not even thinking about what he was doing, he carefully packed it with two pairs of jeans, two shirts and a towel on top. Brand's old coat wouldn't fit. A comb and a shaver were in a side pocket, underwear in another, the same as he always packed. Tidying, he vanished all his conjured clothes, especially those clumsy, conjured shoes that gave him blisters. He had plenty of his own clothes now, and his shoes were comfortable. The following day, when he went to work, Jason checked his room, regarded the neat backpack, and attached a location device.

On Graham's insistence, he was given a half day off, and they took him to a place where he could ride horses, although only Cindy, beside himself, could ride. Gradually, he started to look more at rest, as they trotted along a quiet track through thick forest.

But he was becoming more and more vague, and now waited for guidance when he became confused. There was always someone close, someone looking after him, and there were location devices on him now, which he made no indication of noticing. He was told he was to go to Germany for a week's work. He said again that he didn't want to go home. It was the first definite thing he'd said in days. He didn't want to go home. But Dieter soothed him. Just moving on to Germany, where he was very much needed. Bellamy didn't even make his standard complaint about the Germans' liking for duelling. Just nodded.

Their own private aeroplane took them to Germany Monday afternoon, after a last morning's work in Sweden. He stared out the window, once leaning forward, watching the tapestry of field and towns seen far below. He wondered how many of those roads he'd followed. He sighed, and leaned back in his seat, but Graham, watching him, noticed that his eyes were wet. They were losing him. All Graham's measures were showing a deterioration. He was even thinner. And he was doing exactly what he was told again. Graham thought it the worst indication of all.

He used it, though, to tell him to join him for a spa soon after their arrival. It was another big, luxury hotel, with all the facilities the Swedish one had, with the addition of some very expensive shops on the ground floor. The aurors had been warned off, and stood at a distance, watching for danger, as always, and watching that Bellamy wouldn't too easily escape. Not that he was a prisoner, of course. But he did what he was told again, and that was almost as good as prison bars, better with a wizard as powerful as Bellamy.

When Bellamy leaned back his head, and closed his eyes, enjoying the hot water bubbling around him, Graham started talking. Graham was sixty-four, and thought he was old enough to have acquired some wisdom. He was a sensitive man, who'd developed into an excellent healer. Graham was saying that when there were difficult issues to face, it often helped if one did it piece by piece. That sometimes a job was too big and difficult to do all at once.

He thought at first, that Bellamy wasn't listening, but Bellamy opened his eyes, looked at Graham, and said, "It is too big and difficult, and I don't know how to make it easier."

Graham had a good idea of the reasons for Bellamy's distress, but how could he advise a man who was old before he'd been born? And Bellamy had such a depth of pain in his eyes.

Graham was hesitating. "Maybe," he began.

Bellamy waited. He needed help. He was losing himself again, and being in the wizarding world only seemed to make it worse. He thought his book had helped, but there had been no time to feel the benefit, to do the work of self-knowledge that would keep away the clouds of confusion that seemed to press closer each day.

Graham was suddenly definite. "I think you should work at re-learning to enjoy each day as it comes. Forget about the past, forget about the future. Live in the present, and only in the present."

Bellamy put back his head, closing his eyes. Graham did the same, he had no more to say, and doubted that he'd helped. It was nearly a quarter of an hour later that Bellamy spoke. "I'll try to do what you say. I think you're right."

It didn't seem to make any immediate difference. That night, the aurors heard the usual sad and confused murmurings in the night.

Pumpkin-heads again, but only four. He'd checked so many, and rescued just three. And of these four, he dismissed three as dead straightaway.

The last one was a woman, or had been a woman. He held her hand a long time, his eyes closed, concentrating. And then, quite suddenly, he was all business. "She's all but dead. She'll need immediate attention, and expert attention. Graham, send for what you need, but I'm not delaying. I'll do her straightaway," and he led the vegetable/woman into the workroom.

Keith asked, "Didn't I hear you always made a barrier?"

Bellamy scarcely glanced at him. "This one will be very difficult. I can't have a barrier."

Dieter hurried out the door, and whistled up Cindy, who was so fast. Keith was good, too, and he'd stay himself.

Graham was still hurriedly talking to the German Coodinator, and some swift action was being taken. 'All but dead!' he'd said.

When Graham returned, the monster was sitting, and so was Bellamy, who held her hand. Physical contact helped. It was obvious that he was expecting to make a prolonged effort.

Brian had thought the woman dead, unable to find any remaining spark of spirit. But Brian watched and listened. Bellamy had forgotten him, and Brian was surprised when he learned more about Bellamy than he would have wanted to betray. He stopped himself, then. He didn't want to be turned into a frog, and besides, Bellamy had convinced him of the need to respect privacy.

Bellamy concentrated. His head dropped, his eyes closed. After a while, it could be seen that he'd started to sweat. The woman was too far gone. After forty minutes, Bellamy opened his eyes and shook his head, dizzy. But the monster was unchanged.

Bellamy rose and leaned against the wall. A trembling attack started, and increased to violent shaking. He shook his head, trying to throw it off. Keith asked, "Take her out?"

Bellamy said No, he'd have another go in a minute. While Bellamy waited until the trembling stopped, Graham organised the woman onto an ambulance trolley. If she was all but dead, she'd need to be wheeled away in any case.

"Franz," Bellamy said. "I'm going to try the strong magic. And as I've never managed to cure a pumpkin-head with pure power, it might become very strong. You'll need to get rid of the observers, and Brian, you'll need to go a long way away and work at closing your mind so that it doesn't hurt. Maybe just apparate a few miles away for a little while. You others, if it gets too strong, just clear out. This one will be in no state to attack anyone."

Dieter nodded. He'd given up correcting Bellamy's use of the wrong name, and he'd made enquiries. Franz was someone who'd become a close friend of Bellamy's, and was reputedly an excellent auror as well. Dead now, of course. Maybe it wasn't so bad to be called Franz.

Bellamy frowned at Cindy, and suggested she go a long way away, too.

Keith asked, "What about me?"

Bellamy shrugged. "I don't know about you, but I just have the feeling that Cindy won't be able to cope."

Cindy put her chin up in the air, "Of course I can cope!"

Bellamy smiled. "Your father couldn't, and he's the best!"

Cindy looked considering. "Dieter?"

Dieter nodded. "Outside."

Bellamy had stopped trembling, and paced the floor a few times, before stopping in front of the woman. He forgot to raise his wand, just stood, concentrating. A power started to grow in the air. Graham continued to make notes. He liked to keep a thorough record of cures. Suddenly he frowned, shaking his head, and looked up. Keith had retreated to the wall, and looked pale. Dieter, he suspected, was trying very hard to remain unmoved. Graham shook his head again, and then slipped out the room, followed, with relief, by Keith.

Dieter lasted a little longer, and the power still grew. The waiting room had cleared, ambulance men and two mediwizards waited a hundred yards away, and even the German aurors, guarding from a long way back, were looking uneasy. One suddenly fainted, too reluctant to betray weakness by leaving his post. There had been a watching crowd, as there generally was. There were hardly any left.

Another ten minutes, the power thrummed in the air, ever-increasing. Bellamy still concentrated, but finally a woman lay ashen faced on the trolley. Concerned, Bellamy felt for a pulse, before going outside and looking around, surprised at the lack of movement, and then whistled loudly.

Graham emerged with one mediwizard. Another sat against a wall, his throbbing head cradled in his hands.

Bellamy watched a moment as they went rather slowly into action, to save the woman. He went back outside, and smiled. His cape was left draped over a chair, and he strolled unhindered out of the wizarding area as aurors tried to clear dizzy heads, not noticing their charge make his escape.

Many hours later, in the early hours of the morning, two men tried to steer Bellamy in the direction of the hotel. They were almost as drunk as Bellamy. Bellamy and Roth were having a deep discussion about two entirely separate topics. They were interrupted by a very poor joke, poorly told by Ancel. Roth and Bellamy thought it hilarious.

The three stopped, swaying, at the imposing entrance of the hotel. Alexander confronted them, unable to stop the grin appearing, as he attempted to talk firmly to Bellamy.

Roth observed solemnly, "It's a big black man. I wonder what he wants."

"I like big black men," said Bellamy. "I liked Kingsley, and I liked Jebedee, and I even liked Nathan who carries a knife. But I think this might be all of them. I can see at least three big black men."

Roth pointed a wavering finger, "I think it's that one that's real." And he spoke gravely to Bellamy. "You've had too much to drink, or you could tell, too."

Dieter, most uncharacteristically, was doing something that sounded awfully like a giggle. He could speak German, though Alexander couldn't. But choking down the undignified giggle, he went to the three, and using his own perfectly good German, he welcomed Bellamy back, and asked if he wanted to go to his room now.

Bellamy sadly said to his friends, "It's Franz. He's going to make me work now. Franz always makes me work."

Roth drew himself up, and stared imposingly at Dieter. "You shouldn't make Bellamy work so hard. He needs his rest."

Dieter said, "You're quite right. Bellamy should rest now, and I think I should just help him back to his room."

Ancel was suspicious. "I don't know about this. He might be trying to take advantage of your drunken state. I've heard about men like that!"

Bellamy was shaking with laughter, "I don't think Dieter would do that!" And Dieter noticed with surprise that he'd actually been given his correct name.

With much hugging, and a chorus of loud goodbyes, to the disapproval of a waiting porter, Ancel and Roth left their dear friend, met a few hours ago, and staggered off. Alexander went to Bellamy's side and supported him. Dieter was talking to Keith, to call off the search, and surprised a perfectly knowing and thoroughly mischievous look from Bellamy.

"Speak English, Bellamy," pleaded Alexander, as he steered him through the foyer.

And in English, Bellamy offered, "I can sing for you if you like. I sing very well when I'm drunk!"

Alexander rolled his eyes, but Dieter was amused. He wasn't sure how drunk Bellamy really was, although the stagger certainly seemed genuine. But for the first time, he was beginning to like the man, quite apart from his responsibilities.

Bellamy was bright eyed and showed an unusual merriment at breakfast, seeming entirely recovered from his drunken spree. He surprised his aurors by making a detour on the way to work, studying the wares in the shop windows on the ground floor. "I need to do some shopping," he announced. "Is there time today?"

Dieter had begun to think that they really were working him too hard, but there was another very long list.

"They stay open late," said Keith, "I was looking at them yesterday."

"That all right, Bellamy? After work?"

Bellamy nodded, "Fine."

Graham nabbed him before the first patient, checking the Niscos in spite of Bellamy's impatient frown. Graham distracted him by saying that the pumpkin-head was making a good recovery, although one of the German aurors still insisted that his head hurt.

Bellamy was surprised. "It's only magic; it can't really hurt."

Graham grinned. "And how many of your minders saw you go yesterday? Or did you use magic?"

Bellamy shook his head. "No magic, they just didn't look very hard."

That afternoon, Bellamy carefully chose some very expensive gifts for his friends at the Swedish hotel, gifts for Brand, Mai, Boedil, and the others, too. They were all in good taste, as those few exclusive shops didn't stock the sort of lurid colours that usually attracted Bellamy. He arranged for those gifts to be sent, but then it was like he'd done what he needed, and over the next days, Graham knew that he was again drifting into confusion.

They took him to France for the next week. He'd become a lot worse, but still did his cures, usually totally automatically, though he still seemed to manage to pull himself together sufficiently to do the more difficult cures when needed.

One afternoon, when he didn't seem to know anyone any more, Graham did his checks, as he was accustomed to, and then slipped a watch on each wrist. "You like to cover those scars, don't you?" he said. "Now they're covered and no-one will see them."

Bellamy gave a vague smile of agreement and started to wander off. But now he wore a sensor device, and Graham's corresponding monitor showed weight, LV and energy levels, the most useful measures of health. The sensor looked like an ordinary watch, though it kept very poor time. The other was just a watch, but was also a location device. The location device had a range of nearly a thousand miles, much more than usual. The sensor had a range of nearly three hundred miles, the best that could be managed.

Bellamy was in such a daze that Dieter agreed with Laurie that he could be taken home. They thought they might be able to keep him for years, maybe. Confused, but obedient and useful. They let him carry his backpack always, as he liked to do. They had begun to think it had the same significance as a security blanket, although Graham disagreed. They didn't tell him they were heading for England, but on the way to the aeroplane, he suddenly balked, threw Dieter a furious look, whirled around, cape swirling, and disapparated.

Bellamy was gone, and out of range of the devices that might otherwise have been used to track him.

The aurors looked to Dieter for orders, forgetting to keep a lookout, as the one they guarded, was gone. A small, dark-faced man close by, took the opportunity he'd been waiting for. Keith, who looked exactly the way a great wizard should look, took a Death Curse in the back. Cindy, with lightning reactions, stunned the attacker. It didn't change the fact of Keith's death. It was a risky business, being an auror.

***chapter end***