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

Part 3/Chapter 15

Pat's pregnancy was advancing, and at the end of October, she consulted Healer Esme Rutherford for the first time. Bellamy knew Esme to be the grand-daughter of Healer Catherine Rutherford, whom he'd been very fond of. He thoroughly approved of Esme, now aged in her mid forties, and as stern-looking as her grandmother, but, he suspected, with the same compassion when needed.

Pat reported to her husband afterward. "She said sometime between Christmas and New Year probably, and she'll start calling in every week from the beginning of December, or earlier if I want. She says everything's fine, and I can go with you for your next few trips if I want to."

"Spain, Greece and France next," said Bellamy, smiling. "And you know I love to have you along."

She touched his face. "How about you ask for a couple of months holiday after that. You can help look after the baby when it comes."

Bellamy hugged her, delighted, and called in to see Don the next morning before work. Don thought it fair enough, he'd been working non-stop for several months now, but suggested every Thursday at the Ministry building, for the local cases, and for any overseas ones not wanting to wait.

"Sure," said Bellamy, "But give me a free week between. If Pat says different, I'll get back to you."

Don looked amused, and Bellamy was happy for him to be amused. He was never so content as when he had a wife to love. And it pleased him to be bossed around. He was a man who could probably destroy cities with a glance if he chose, and it was rather nice that someone loved him enough that she would boss him around anyway.

Pat knew the Ministry corridors now, and walked freely, not yet encumbered by the child, carrying it easily on her tall frame. She was still fascinated by the painting of her husband, looking so lonely on what must have been a wet day. Clare had told her - it was the day that Julie said she was leaving. Pat thought that if she'd been his wife then, she would never have done that to him. Twenty-five years he'd been away, and most of those, she knew, he'd been wandering in confusion. He'd told her so little of those years. She wanted to know what he'd been like, and she wanted to know how he'd finally managed to throw it off. But she didn't ask. One day, he might tell her. She wanted him to tell her. Right now, she knew, he was still embarrassed about it.

Therese and Katrina were with Pat in Spain, and in Greece. They were nice places to stay, and Pat amused herself buying baby clothes, and toys, disregarding the fact that there were baby clothes, children's clothes, and numerous toys already in the house. There'd been Adam, Margaret, Victoria, James, Beth and Adrian all grow up in that home, not counting the various children of the employees. And each night, she'd cuddle close to her husband, and he'd cuddle close to her, feeling with delight when the hard tummy of her, moved of itself. It was an active child. It was a joy and a delight.

The last week, they were in France. Katrina and Therese were no longer with them. Their resignation had come into effect, and they were having a couple of weeks holiday before starting work at Harry's place. The idea was that one or other of them would be close to Pat as much as possible, protecting her and protecting the child. At nights, there would be Archie, Ursula, and Kitty and her new husband, Sidney, who had their living quarters in the staff area of the house. Alison still came in for the day only, and Sidney went to his job in London every day.

On the Wednesday, Pat woke with a dragging feeling of fatigue. She supposed it was no wonder, as she was nearly eight months pregnant. She thought she shouldn't be worried, but while Bellamy whistled tunelessly, still in the shower, she slipped off to Graham's room. Graham had a couple of monitors that he didn't normally carry, and had even had a word with Esme. He was able to reassure her that there was no problem, and mentioned that a lot of women felt tired when pregnant. He congratulated her on being so well. Pat smiled with relief, and was back in the room before Bellamy noticed she was gone.

She decided to just stay around the hotel for a while, reading and resting, and only join the team later in the day. She still liked to watch sometimes, relieved that it had never again been as exciting as on the first occasion she'd watched, when her husband had been nearly killed. Dieter just nodded when she told him, and said that Homer would stay with her. Ryde and Stan were there, too, but they were covering nights, and would be resting. Cindy, of the lightning reactions, was pregnant herself, and no longer worked as an auror. Alexander and Scott would be with Bellamy, as well as Dieter.

She'd once asked Dieter if so many were really needed, but he said that the auror department was grossly overstaffed these days, and he could have as many as he wanted. A larger team was a bit unwieldy, though, and the French were always helpful, providing a large number of additional aurors to keep away the crowds and photographers.

Pat felt a lot better as the day wore on, and tossed on her cape with anticipation. Homer was an impressive looking man of thirty, with a mane of thick black hair, and a considerable beard. Pat felt very safe, walking with his escort through Paris. They turned into a grubby lane, and Homer tapped his wand against a piece of crumbling wall. An archway appeared, and Homer and Pat entered the wizarding area. There were not the staring crowds there had been in America, and no souvenir stalls. But there were some people waiting and watching, and there were a dozen French aurors scattered around the square. It seemed they too, liked to be seen, and their capes were bright green with a royal blue border.

Dieter, she saw, was talking to one of the French aurors, probably the one in charge. Scott was in the waiting room, and smiled at her. "Just a couple to go before afternoon tea. I expect that Bellamy'll want an ice-cream again, so you might as well wait there." He pointed to an ice-cream place, where white, lacy chairs were set around tables in the sunshine. It may have been sunny, but it was November, and cold. Pat knew it wouldn't stop her husband wanting an ice-cream, when the place was so close at hand.

Homer indicated a particular table setting, next to a wall. "I think Bellamy learned to sit with his back to the wall before he even entered his teens!" he said. There were a few people at other tables, and a green caped wizard was standing next to the shop owner, who was stout, rosy faced, and wore a broad smile.

Homer said, "He had two ice-creams here Monday, two yesterday, and I expect he'll want one now, and another after work again today."

Pat laughed. "I've heard he persuades his big, tough aurors to sit beside him and have ice-creams, too."

The big, tough auror beside her grinned, "I'm planning to. He hasn't been able to persuade Dieter yet, though."

There was a stir around them, and Pat looked to where Bellamy worked. A witch had just emerged, Scott talking to her. Pat knew what he'd be saying. 'Just send him a letter if you want to thank him. He always answers if you just send him a letter.'

They always told them that, and thank you letters were always politely answered - with a form letter sent by Alison.

Bellamy and Alexander emerged then, big Alexander making Bellamy look frankly small. They were laughing together, feeling well protected with so many of the French aurors so conspicuous around. Bellamy cast a sweeping glance around all the same, before discovering his wife waiting at the ice-cream shop.

"Graham's still fiddling with his notes," he said. "But you'll have an ice-cream won't you, love?" he asked her.

But Pat's stomach turned over at the thought, and she said that she wouldn't be having one - she felt a bit queasy.

Bellamy didn't argue, just bought himself, Scott, Homer and Alexander ice-creams, as Alexander stood at his back, watching behind in the automatic action of a bodyguard.

Bellamy was perfectly obviously relishing the double ice-cream he was eating. Pat shook her head. How he never got tired of the treat, she didn't know. Alexander was eating his own, but watching Bellamy with almost the same indulgent smile that Pat wore. There was a French auror close. The shop owner wore a bright smile and wiped the counter with an automatic action.

Homer moaned, and looked up suddenly, pale and sweating. "Christ," he breathed, and pulled himself to his feet, before clutching his stomach, and falling, followed by Alexander, crashing to the ground, and taking two chairs with him. Scott just slumped forward over the table, and Bellamy clutched his own middle, the colour draining from his face.

But Bellamy looked up, and as green Death Curses shot toward them, there was suddenly a shield all around the five of them. The French auror who stood next to Dieter found irresistible instructions in his brain, triggered by the disturbance, and he stunned his colleague. Dieter was out of the action. Pat was on her feet and had her gun aimed at a wizard who was very close, and sending Death Curse after Death Curse at Bellamy.

Alexander and Homer writhed in agony on the ground, vomiting. Redheaded Scott hadn't moved.

"Can I shoot through the shield?" Pat was asking Bellamy, urgently.

Bellamy concentrated further, and the shield was modified.

"Can I shoot through the shield?" Pat repeated.

Bellamy said faintly, "Yes."

Carefully, Pat took aim, and killed the wizard who shot spells at them.

"Don't kill them," muttered Bellamy. "Just stop them," and Bellamy was being sick now, too, falling onto the ground. The semi-transparent shield observably faltered. They were surrounded by green caped wizards, all of them hurling spells. White-faced, flat on the ground, Bellamy kept his eyes open and held the shield.

Pat was being effective. A wizard was hit in the shoulder, and staggered away, then another and another. They were hurt, but not enough, and some were again trying to break through the barrier. One had blood streaming from his arm, and yet picked up a chair and beat it repeatedly against the barrier. Frighteningly, it seemed to be yielding at his blows. Pat used her last two bullets carefully, aiming at the stomach, surely enough to stop the attackers, but not killing. She had no spare ammunition. And there were no bodyguards left able to help.

Pat knelt by her husband. "You have to be strong," she urged. "Hold the shield."

She squeezed his hand, and Bellamy tried very hard to be strong. But again the shield faltered as he vomited. He lay down his head on the paving, but he still had his eyes open, and the shield resisted the spells, and then the physical attacks, as wizards beat against it with their fists.

"Stay with me," Bellamy said faintly. "I can be strong if only you stay with me." So Pat knelt beside him and held his hand. He was so white.

Alexander close by, vomited yet again, shuddered, and was still, eyes open but glazing. Five green caped wizards surrounded them, all of them with oddly blank eyes, all of them trying with magic and with physical force, to break through the shield and get to the great wizard, who lay flat on the ground with his pregnant wife giving strength.

The shield shrank, closer to them, but still surrounding the group. A wizard, teeth bared, was only two feet from Bellamy. The spell was hurled, straight at his face. The Death Curse vanished as it hit the shield. Another was aiming at Pat. If they could kill the wife, they could kill Bellamy. Pat aimed her empty pistol in threat, but the attackers were entranced and took no notice.

In the workroom, Graham lay stunned on the floor. Three who had been observing were also stunned. But no-one had thought of stunning waiting patients, and many of those waiting patients were fighters who had paid the cost of losing a duel. The green-caped wizards were concentrating on attacking the group, now flinging themselves at the shield, again and again, striving to break through. Their brains were ringing with the instruction. The great wizard had to die.

The great wizard drew his strength from his wife, and endured. He was no longer seeing well. But Pat sat beside him and told him to hold the shield. Bellamy held the shield. Scott stirred and moaned. He was getting better. Homer had his eyes shut, and lay still, but he too, was beginning to get better. Alexander would never get better.

From behind, the green caped aurors were being brought down. The witch whom Scott had told to send a thank you letter, now accounted for three of the attackers. Two young wizards, quite obviously ones not yet seen by Bellamy, accounted for the last two. One lay dead, shot by Pat early on. Some were badly injured, and yet, even now, battling to get at the great wizard. Three wizards watched from a distance. There was still a chance.

Four more green caped aurors appeared, and approached with an air of purpose and efficiency. One went methodically to those wounded, but conscious, pointed her wand, and said the counter-curse. The Imperius Curse was lifted. The wounded ones no longer fought to kill.

A green caped wizard was close to Pat, talking to her. He was telling her to get Bellamy to drop the shield, but he spoke in French. Bellamy had his teeth bared in concentration. He could no longer see, and didn't hear the words being shouted at him.

"Hold the shield," Pat said calmly, and Bellamy held the shield.

It was not until Graham was revived, and Stan and Ryde arrived from the hotel, that Pat squeezed the hand of Bellamy, and told him they were safe now, and he could drop the shield. Even then, she had to repeat it three times. The shield was dropped and Bellamy fainted.

An antidote was given to Scott and to Homer, who were beginning to throw off the effects of the poison in any case. But Graham had a lot more trouble getting it into Bellamy, who was now deeply unconscious. Again it was Pat's calm voice, insisting that he must wake up and drink the potion, that brought results.

He woke hours later, in his bed in the hotel room. Graham had said it was exhaustion as well as the after-effects of the poison. Pat was beside him, but Graham was with Homer, who was still quite ill, though recovering. In answer to the question from his wife, Bellamy said that he was all right now. He was quiet, counting off his friends who tried to protect him.

"Alexander," he said. "Did Alexander die?"

"I'm afraid so," said Pat.

"Dieter?"

"Missing."

Bellamy pulled himself slowly to his feet and staggered to the bathroom, a cane suddenly in his left hand. He always had problems walking a straight line when ill or over-tired. Pat went to the door, where Ryde and Stan both guarded. "He's recovering. You can tell Graham."

Bellamy was showering, and when Graham came back, he was sitting in a conjured chair, one of his own high-backed easy chairs in a design which he'd perfected at the age of seventeen. It was best for concentration. He was impatient with Graham. He said he didn't have time now, he had to find Dieter.

Pat said calmly that a few minutes delay wouldn't hurt, and Bellamy thrust out his hand for Graham to use the sensor. "You're in no state to go searching," Graham said definitely. "Even the LV measure is way down."

Bellamy said that he was undoubtedly quite correct. He wouldn't leave the room. Graham was suspicious at the quick capitulation, but left anyway. He had to see to his two other patients.

Pat was looking suspiciously at Bellamy, too. "He's almost certainly in deep trouble," said Bellamy. "I shouldn't apparate, but I can search in my mind. I just need to concentrate."

Pat took his hand, he squeezed it, and told her, "You realise you probably saved all our lives back there. I couldn't have done anything without you - not that I did much!"

Pat kissed him. "Go ahead, then. I won't interrupt."

Bellamy leaned his head back against the high back of his chair, and closed his eyes. Pat watched her husband. He was still so pale, and yet he was attempting a feat so terribly few in the world could do.

Bellamy knew Dieter, and found him easily. He was in his mind, but Dieter was no longer master of his own mind. An aged wizard sat before him, wand raised, and issued instructions. Dieter sat, held under the spell, as the instructions seeped into his brain. He was to return, pretend to have escaped, and then, while Bellamy lay asleep, he would remember his instructions, and kill.

Bellamy listened. It was very easy, as the old wizard who spoke to Dieter was close, and talking direct to his mind. Bellamy only stunned him, and just for good measure, gave him a lifetime of boils. He would probably have killed, but Dieter might know. The instructions were removed. It was basically hypnosis laced with magic. But Bellamy knew minds, and Bellamy, if he chose, could even modify minds. He did not modify Dieter's mind, only removed the dangerous hypnotic suggestion.

Dieter, sat, tied in his chair, trying to work out what had happened. Bellamy spoke to him, nearly, for some reason, calling him Franz again. It's Bellamy. Tell me what you see.

Dieter jumped, and started to speak. In your mind, Bellamy said, They shouldn't know I'm talking to you.

Dieter showed him the picture of two wizards bending over the old one, confused at his sudden collapse. There was another in the room, as well.

Bellamy was unsure what to do. He was quite unfit to apparate, and he yet had no contact with the minds of those others, to render them harmless. And if one fell, then they might easily kill Dieter. Already, a suspicious glance was coming Dieter's way.

He had to risk it. Talk to them, he instructed Dieter.

Dieter spoke to them, and one came across to him, and swiped him hard across the face. Dieter looked very hard at him, and Bellamy found he could now make the jump from the mind of his friend, to the mind of his enemy.

The man turned to the other two, and instructed, "Breton, see if you can get a healer. Biet, you'd best go with him."

The two men nodded, and left the room. The remaining man took out his wand, making Dieter tense, sure that he was about to die, but the man only vanished the ropes that tied him to the chair, and handed him his wand. Unbelieving, Dieter took the wand, and stunned the man in front of him.

"Bellamy?" he asked aloud.

I can't help you any more, thought Bellamy to him. You'd best just apparate out of there. And Dieter felt his acute exhaustion.

Dieter was a very competent auror, and now he had a wand. When he returned to the hotel, it was carrying an unconscious prisoner, and then three more were also taken.

But Bellamy just put himself to bed, curled up, and went to sleep. When Graham took his next measurements, he didn't stir. Graham was concerned. The readings were worse than before, when they should have been getting better.

Pat agreed when he said that he would put a sensor around his wrist so that he could keep a check through the night, and Graham watched as the low, low readings began to improve. Pat just curled up around her man, and slept with him. He could do incredible things, this man, her husband, and he needed her.

There was a lot of activity in the French Ministry building that evening. Several of the French aurors had to be treated for bullet injuries, and then questioned, and witnesses, and then the prisoners, were also questioned. Dieter said very little about what had happened, even when Julia, the head of the Auror Department arrived, together with an extra half dozen English aurors.

Dieter wanted to speak to Bellamy before he told anyone what he'd done. He now strongly suspected that Bellamy had unlawfully killed Mussari. But for the night, he was left to sleep, only Graham waking every couple of hours to check the monitor, and make sure he was recovering. Homer and Scott were feeling very drained, but they'd be fine. Pat appeared in the morning for breakfast, and was able to say that her husband seemed all right, just that he'd not yet woken. Graham, also at breakfast, just nodded, tiredly.

Dieter walked with Pat back to their room after breakfast, and Pat held the door open for him. She knew that Bellamy had done something last night, that had resulted in Dieter's return, but her husband hadn't said anything much at all, just stumbled into bed and sunk into a very deep sleep.

Dieter walked to the bed and regarded the great wizard as he slept. He lay curled on his side, his cheek was cradled in a hand, and he looked very young, innocent, even defenceless.

Pat watched Dieter. He looked so thoughtful, frowning at her husband until she became anxious. "Dieter?" she questioned.

Dieter looked at her, the tall woman, very pregnant. She had killed yesterday, in the defence of her husband. Dieter looked back at Bellamy. Executions were unlawful, and aurors were supposed to uphold the law. Dieter weighed the scales, and knew that he would never say anything about Mussari. He'd consult with Bellamy, but he suspected that Bellamy's intervention the previous evening might best be kept quiet, too, even if it did mean that he, Dieter, took more than his just share of the credit for the arrest of four wizards.

Late morning, Bellamy woke, confused at first, when bright sunlight streamed in the window. Pat sat in the chair he'd conjured the previous evening, deep involved in a book. She looked perfectly peaceful, her only movement an absent-minded rubbing of her rounded tummy as the little one caused her some discomfort.

"I nearly got you killed," said Bellamy, quietly. "I did get Alexander killed."

Pat rose, put down her book, and kissed him. "Have your shower, I'll organise a breakfast here, and then Dieter wants to talk to you."

Refreshed, dressed, and hungrily eating breakfast, Bellamy agreed with gratitude that his part in Dieter's return was best forgotten. And he heard the thought, too, that Mussari would be forgotten. Dieter was frowning at him again. His abilities were frightening. If he chose, this man could kill anyone, it seemed, anywhere, without leaving the room, though maybe he might have to have some link with them. Something came into his mind. "You let yourself be whipped once."

Pat's surprised stare switched from Dieter to Bellamy.

Bellamy sipped his coffee, and he was frowning, too He finally said, "I don't remember what led up to it. I just remember that I suddenly knew I'd done the wrong thing, so I gave the farmer back his whip."

"You gave the farmer back his whip?" asked Dieter in blank astonishment.

Bellamy shrugged and looked uncomfortable.

"What doyou know, Dieter?" asked Pat, curiously.

"I know it was an absolutely brutal flogging, he was found in a ditch, was in hospital for a bit, and was about to be sent to an institution where they routinely used shock treatment, when he vanished."

Pat was astounded. "Shock treatment went out in the last century!"

Dieter nodded grimly. "Is it any wonder we tried to find him?"

Pat looked back at her husband. He was no longer eating, staring out the window and looking uncomfortable. Pat rose, and Dieter took the hint and left the room. Pat started talking about the new aurors that had arrived. "A real variety," she said. "Heather looks the epitome of the dizzy blonde and Otis looks more like Frankenstein's monster."

He met some of them later, gathered in a large sitting room, with Julia and a middle-aged French woman. A bright green cape with a blue border was arranged neatly over the back of a couch, although Julia still wore her own uniform cape. Suspiciously, Bellamy felt the surface of the strange woman's mind, but Julia only introduced him to Isabella Pompidou, the head of the French aurors.

She told him, "It appears it was the Imperius spell, harder than usual to detect, as the instructions only came into effect once you and as many bodyguards as possible, were disabled by the poisoning."

"I've almost always known when my food's been poisoned before."

"It's probable you missed this time because the actual ice-cream was harmless. But when it came into contact with stomach acid, it started changing. That's why the delayed effect."

"Alexander's dead," said Bellamy, in a bleak voice.

Julia said, "The funeral's next Wednesday, if you want to come." It was in a perfectly matter-of-fact tone.

Madam Pompidou asked briskly, "Can you finish the work?"

Bellamy regarded her gravely. "How many aurors did you lose?"

"Only one, and several injured, but none that won't get better."

Bellamy got to the point, "Is it worth having me around? Maybe it would be better if I sink out of sight again."

Julia looked at Isabella. She'd been afraid of this. With rare exceptions, Bellamy always became friendly with his bodyguards. Isabella said, "Two of the wizards waiting for a cure went to your help. You can't fail them now. There are many others. You are very much wanted."

Bellamy nodded glumly. "This afternoon?"

Julia said, "Graham says tomorrow - you're to have the day off."

Bellamy still looked pale and tired, and when he saw Homer, he looked as bad.

He apologised to Scott and to Homer at lunch, saying that he should have known. The pair looked at each other, and Homer said, "You've got it wrong. We're supposed to look after you. You don't have to look after us."

Dieter said seriously, "You're not responsible for everything. And Alexander died doing his job. It is a matter for pride when an auror gives his life."

Bellamy's memory of the poisoning was flavoured with the acute pain he'd been suffering himself, but he had a vague memory of Alexander writhing on the ground, and vomiting. It had not been a dignified death. Would he have been proud to die that way?

Isabella herself walked with Bellamy the following day. Otis and Jed were close, and green and black caped figures stood around as well. The ice-cream shop was closed. "The owner's still in shock," said Isabella. "He was under the same Imperius command as the others, but the poor man's not accustomed to poisoning his customers."

Bellamy half-smiled, "Tell him I'll want a free ice-cream, as soon as he decides to come back."

That afternoon, an anxious, round man, whose face was accustomed to smile, gave him his free ice-cream. None of the aurors fancied ice-cream that day. Later, poor Benji looked at the painted sign he'd been preparing, 'Ice-creams as enjoyed by the great wizard.' He pointed his wand, muttered the word, and the sign vanished.

***chapter end***