Chapter 65: Auctor sanitatis
A ten-year-old Zoey laid quietly on the hospital bed in St. Mungo's. She woke up not to long ago but she found herself unable to speak or comprehend what the healers were saying from outside her door. The Emeraude was tired and her head pounded but she couldn't call out for help, no, she couldn't find the voice to say anything so she remained silent, trying to understand what the healers were talking about. They have been talking about Zoey's current state for a while now and Zoey had listened to each and every word that came out of their mouth but even if she tried to understand, she couldn't. The only words she did know were.
"Probably permanent"
"Could last years before a cure could help"
"Giver her some time. She's a strong girl"
and
"She'll have to continue taking these if she wants to interact normally with the outside world"
Zoey didn't know what 'these' meant. She vaguely though it was a type of potion that the healers would give her. She wished it didn't taste bad. Zoey closed her eyes and tried to remember what had happened to her. She recalled being in the same room as her aunt and her aunt being very angry. She remembered feeling a familiar pain in her head and blacking out. Zoey opened her eyes to stare at the blank ceiling. Though she didn't know all the details, it all made sense to her.
The door opened and revealed a kind looking woman. She wore the healers clothing and had a plump body. Her dirty blonde hair was held up in a bun and her eyes read kindness. Zoey tried to sit up but winced as black spots appeared before her eyes causing her to fall back down to her pillow. The plump healer was quickly at her side.
"Are you alright, Miss Emeraude?" the healer asked, helping Zoey sit up and placing a pillow at her back. Zoey slowly nodded, the black spots still invading her vision.
"You gave us quite a scare, you know," the healer spoke after a long pause, "We almost thought you wouldn't make it"
Zoey's eyes widened at what she said. She almost died?
"Yes, quite a shock. I know," the lady continued, able to read Zoey's expressions, "But you're a strong little girl, yeah? You held on and look at you now! In tip top shape!"
Zoey raised a brow at the woman.
"Ignoring that you're bed ridden at the moment," the healer laughed and waved her wand. Different types of potions appeared on Zoey's bedside table. The healer picked up a bunch of different bottles and jars and looked at their label. Several times she would shake her head and make a disapproving sound before she finally came across what she was looking for. At the sight of the potion she gave a small grimace
"At such a young age… to be taking a potion like this," the healer said to herself with a sigh, "But I guess it would have to do"
The healer then faced Zoey and held the potion in her hand. She opened it and showed it to Zoey. Zoey's eyes widened. It was not a potion at all. It was pills.
"You know what this is?" the healer asked the ten-year-old. Zoey shook her head. "This is called 'Auctor sanitatis'," the healer said, taking out one pill, "If you take this everyday and visit us every month or so, you'll get better"
She gave the pill to Zoey.
"You want to get better right?" the healer asked, "So you'll be a strong witch and would defend the good"
Zoey looked at the pill curiously and back at the healer, but the healer was too busy fixing the rest of the potions that she didn't catch Zoey's gaze. Instead, she continued to talk.
"If you be a good girl and follow these instructions you'll be fine in no time. The kind of sickness you have is something that could affect your way of viewing things and interacting. We don't want that now do we? You may not see anything wrong with you now but in time, it will start to show," the healer told her, "So if you start taking those pills now, you don't have to worry about your future. You can have friends, a normal job, and children. Ah! Especially children. That kind of sickness could affect your child birth you know"
The healer gave a laugh.
"Oh, look at me. You're only ten-years-old and I'm talking about you giving birth to little Zoey Emeraudes!" she gave another laugh and looked at Zoey, "but we all love children don't we? So, take that pill today, rest and tomorrow you'll take another one, alright?"
Zoey looked at the pill in her hand and at the woman. She gave a gulp and placed the pill in her mouth, swallowing it. She made a face and felt a buzzing in her head, that she didn't know was there till that very moment, disappear. She took the container from the healer and looked inside. There was a small gap in the container showing that one pill was already used. In a month's time, Zoey would need a new supply.
"Now, that's a good girl," the healer said before waving her wand and making the other potions disappear, "I'll leave you know to rest. Good bye"
Zoey silently watched as the healer left and looked back into the pills. A month's time. A normal future. Children and the like. All that would happen if she would take the pills. One a day, that's all it takes. It wasn't a hassle and the pill didn't even taste bad. Zoey could do this. She needed to do this.
Zoey silently sat in the library looking at the pills container she held in her hand. It had been six years since the day she first got it and since then she only took one pill. The day she got it. When she was released from the hospital the next day, she kept the pills in a safe place but never took them out again. The day she packed her things for Hogwarts was the first time she took the pills out of the safe place. Today, was the first time she remembered she even had them. Zoey looked inside the container and took one pill out. She studied it before placing it back inside and closing the container.
"Auctor sanitatis," Zoey said, turning the container in her hand, "Sanity giver"
The pills were made to stabilize her. To have a normal future, she needed to be sane. To be able to have children she needed to be able o handle the thought of conceiving them. Zoey did not take the pills and she felt normal. She was able to have friends, even a crush, and was able to live normally. Then again, the healer did say that the effects weren't noticeable to begin with. In time, Zoey knew, she would regret not taking the pills. Zoey gave a sigh and kept the pills. She knew what the effects were and she knew what it did to her.
She was unstable. Her personality was unstable. Whatever she tried to do she would always revert back to her shy self. Prim and proper at all times. She couldn't be wild or out going. She couldn't be too angry or too sad either. If she did, the next day she would revert back to herself. Sure, she could be friendly but that was just about it. She couldn't approach people unless it was part of a task like if she needed to heal them. No, Zoey would always be shy, friendly, and nice and she would always keep her word. She could not give a convincing lie but she could avoid certain truths.
It was like she was programmed that way.
Made that way
And she couldn't do anything about it.
Zoey bit her lip in thought. "Is it too late?"
"Too late for what?" came a voice. Zoey felt herself jump and turned around to see Ginny standing behind her with a smile. She pulled out a chair and sat beside Zoey. "Come off it. Did you do something bad? Are you wondering if it's too late to fix it?"
"Where's all this coming from?" Zoey gave a laugh, holding her hands up in defense; she pushed the thought about the pills away from her mind.
"Hmm, that's right. You're Zoey. You couldn't possibly do anything bad," Ginny gave a grin and Zoey rolled her eyes. "You know it's true," said Ginny.
"And what's wrong with not being able to do anything bad?" Zoey raised a brow, "I'm quite happy staying out of trouble"
"And I find that really amazing seeing as two your best mates are my brothers," she paused, "Fred and George no less! How could you not get in trouble when they're your friends? Tell me, what's you secret?" Ginny pretended to hold a quill and a piece of parchment in her hand acting as if she were a reporter.
Zoey gave a laugh. "Enough of that. What brings you here?"
"Huh? Oh! I almost forgot!"
"Looks like you completely forgot"
"Shut it," Ginny laughed, "Madam Pomfrey wants you at the Hospital wing, ASAP"
Zoey stood up from her chair with great speed. "Why? What's happened?"
"Don't get your knickers in a twist," Ginny said.
"But she said 'ASAP'. Surely, it must be –"
"I asked her what was the problem," Ginny held her hand up, "She said she wanted you to look after two patients while she busies herself with an antidote"
"What happened to the patients?" Zoey asked.
"Fever and puking," Ginny wrinkled her nose.
Zoey bit her lip. "I see," she mumbled, "Well, I got to go check up on these puking and fevering patients"
"Good luck!" Ginny laughed as Zoey ran out of the library in a rush.
When Zoey finally reached the doors of the Hospital Wing, she was out of breath. She placed a hand over her heart and the other on the door. She took several deep breaths and winced when she felt her side hurt. She was not athletic in the least. A real shame seeing as she found herself running all over the place as of late. The Emeraude then decided she wasted enough time as it is and pushed open the door. She was greeted by the sound of someone hurling into a bucket. Zoey wrinkled her nose.
"Ah! Miss Emeraude," Madam Pomfrey greeted her, her wand in her hand, "I was beginning to wonder. But never mind that, Miss Beaumont is with the patients right now," she jerked her head towards one of the curtain – covered beds at the end of the room, "You better check up on them"
"Echo?" Zoey raised a brow, stepping closer to the healer, "Madam Pomfrey, who are the patients?"
Madam Pomfrey gave an eye roll. "They're those Weasley boys. The twins," she told Zoey, returning to the bubbling cauldron in her office, "Came here with Miss Beaumont with one having a fever and the other spewing out his breakfast," Madam Pomfrey made a disapproving noise, "Honestly. Well, what are you waiting for? Go check up on them"
"Echo?" Zoey raised a brow, stepping closer to the healer, "Madam Pomfrey, who are the patients?"
Madam Pomfrey gave an eye roll. "They're those Weasley boys. The twins," she told Zoey, returning to the bubbling cauldron in her office, "Came here with Miss Beaumont with one having a fever and the other spewing out his breakfast," Madam Pomfrey made a disapproving noise, "Honestly. Well, what are you waiting for? Go check up on them"
"Right," Zoey nodded, took out her wand, and walked towards the beds where Fred and George were said to be. She drew the curtains and saw Fred lying in one bed tiredly laughing at George who was bent over a bucket, Echo rubbing his back. Zoey began to worry but couldn't help but wrinkle her nose once more.
"What happened?" she asked.
"They used themselves as guinea pigs for their products," Echo looked up.
"Hey, you didn't want to try it so we had to take them ourselves," Fred pointed out before groaning and resting his head back on his pillow. Zoey waved her wand and a basin and towel appeared at his bedside table. She dunked the towel before wringing it and wiping the sweat of Fred's brow.
"I promised myself that I'd make my own pastilles!" Echo cried out
"Speaking of pastilles," Fred grinned as George made another hurl, "How are you holding up Georgie?"
"Shut it," George said in a raspy voice though Zoey could hear a slight laugh in his tone.
"I don't follow," Zoey said, dunking the towel back into the basin, "What exactly did you guys take?"
"George took a Puking Pastille, while Fred ate a Fever Fudge," Echo said, sitting down on the space between the twins' beds.
Zoey's brows furrowed. "Puking Pastille… Fever Fudge? This isn't like that Ton-Tongue Toffee you gave Harry's cousin is it?"
"Yes and No," Fred replied
"But it sorta has the same idea," George said, laying back down on his pillow with a nauseating color of green to his face, "These, young Zoey, is part of our Skiving Snack box"
"Your what?"
"Skiving Snack Box," Fred repeated as George bent over again, "Sweets to make you ill and to get you out of class"
"Why in the world would you want to do that?" Zoey's brows shot up.
"Well, people want to avoid Snape's class, be out of that Divination Classroom faster than you can say 'Trelawney' and rather spend sleeping the whole day – among others," Echo sighed as she placed her chin on the palm of her hand.
"Exactly," the twins chimed.
"Uhuh," Zoey raised a brow, "You," she pointed at Echo, "Shouldn't be supporting them and you two," she gestured towards the twins, "Are now sick in bed and look miserable. How does this seem better than being stuck in class?"
"It still has some bugs in it," George told her
"In a matter of time. We would have perfected it and perfected the antidote as well," Fred grinned, "We already got Nosebleed Nougat done. Fever Fudge is close to perfection. We just need to be able to control it"
"Control it?" Zoey asked, placing a hand on Fred's forehead. Fred flushed, though no one could tell.
"Yep, the Fever wasn't meant to go this high. Only high enough to get you out of class," Fred said.
"Why shouldn't I be supporting them? They have reason, Zoey, and implore you to see it," Echo said, before clamping her hand on her mouth to stifle laughter.
Zoey squinted her eyes at her. "Just take care of your puking boyfriend," she told him.
"So what else is in this Skiving Snack box of yours? You have Nosebleed Nougat, Fever Fudge, what's making puking-mc-pukerson puke?" Zoey asked.
"Ah! Caught your interest now have we?" George laughed before hunching over once more.
"Yes…Quite," Zoey said blankly before looking over to Fred, wiping his sweat once more.
"Well, as Echo said, George had taken the Puking Pastille and is now, currently, suffering from it," Fred gave a laugh, "There's also Fainting Fancies and that's what we've got so far"
"Fainting – isn't that dangerous? What if you go into some sort of coma?" Zoey asked worriedly. She did not want to come back to the Hospital Wing to see the twins on their deathbeds.
"Hey, Fred, when did you think Zoey began being your mum?" Echo turned her head.
Fred and George let out a laugh before turning silent at Zoey's glare.
Fred then shook his head. "You worry too much, Zoe," he said, "We wouldn't go that far"
"Anyway, it's a two way thing. You have to eat this candy, you see, one half makes you ill and the other half cures you," George said long enough before letting out a groan. It seemed like he already emptied the contents of his stomach, Echo continued to rub his back.
"Smart," Zoey smiled before furrowing her brows in thought, "But how do you expect to eat the other half if you're too busy emptying your guts and you know, unconscious?"
"Don't look at me, I'm not the mastermind," Echo said.
Zoey nodded before walking over to George and placing a hand on his forehead and waved her wand at him. She then looked away to check on Madam Pomfrey.
"Well, while you're trying to figure that one out, I think Madam Pomfrey has just about made something to cure you two," Zoey said.
"I hope it doesn't taste like that potion we took when we grew those beards," Fred made a face, "That tasted like platypus shi –"
"Okay!" Zoey said with a loud clap, "I don't want to hear that word," she said before leaving the trio to get the potions from Madam Pomfrey. Madam Pomfrey handed her two goblets and wiped her brow after. The woman was simply too tired after thinking up a potion to help the twins.
"I'll take care of them from now," Zoey told the witch with a kind smile, "You go on and rest first"
"I couldn't possibly –"
"No, really, Think of it as training me," Zoey said, "I mean, you aren't always going to be there to tell me what to do"
Madam Pomfrey gave a sigh. "Alright then," she paused, "But only for ten minutes"
"Twenty"
"Fifteen"
"Thirty"
"Twenty five"
"An hour," Zoey gave a laugh, "Please, Madam Pomfrey. You need your rest"
Madam Pomfrey was silent for a while before finally giving a sigh. "Oh, alright. But I'm not that old, you know," she told Zoey with a wave of her finger.
"Of course not," Zoey smiled before leaving the healer and walking back to the trio. She gave one goblet to Echo to help George and held the other in her hand as she helped Fred sit up.
"That smells worse than the other one!" George said, pushing the goblet away.
"Oh, belt up, George. It's pain before pleasure," Echo sat beside George.
"I'm already in pain," George moaned out.
Zoey rolled her eyes at him. "Just drink in George or you won't stop puking."
"But I can no longer puke"
"If you eat, then you'll puke"
"What if I don't eat?"
"Like that would happen," Zoey said with a scoff
"Point proven," George paused, "What if I like puking?"
Zoey bit her lip in thought but then smirked. "Then you can no longer kiss Echo," she told him, "Seeing as you'll be too busy puking and all."
"Oh, she got you there, Georgie," Fred laughed
George gulped and looked towards Echo, the goblet and back at Echo.
"Come on, George, it's really not that bad, is it?" Echo looked at the goblet.
"It's worse"
"Just drink it," Zoey told him.
George made a face and took the goblet from Echo. He swirled it around a bit before making a face. His skin tone looked greener than ever whether from being sick or the thought of drinking the potion, Zoey didn't know. All she knew was that it was a laugh to watch George's expression make multiple changes as he downed the potion one gulped. By the time he finished it all he looked like he wanted to hurl it all back out.
"Ah! No, you can't throw it all back out," Zoey told him, "Or you will have to drink another one"
"And I might leave you forever," Echo said with a fake hurt tone
George then mocked shock. "You wouldn't"
"Oh yes, I would," Echo crossed her arms over her chest.
"Not if I have anything to say about that!" George got up from his bed and threw Echo over his shoulder, laughing as he did so. Zoey rolled her eyes at the couple.
"Seeing as you're all better now," she began, "Do that outside! This is a Hospital Wing for goodness sake!"
Fred laughed causing Zoey took look back at him. She looked at his hand and saw that the potion was still there. She crossed her arms and tapped her foot. Fred looked at her with raised eyebrows. He then looked at the goblet in his hand and gave her a sheepish smile.
"Now it's your turn Freddie m'boy!" George laughed at his twin as he placed his girlfriend back on her feet.
"I hate you, George Weasley," Echo spoke as soon as her feet touched the floor
"I love you too," George said, swiftly pecking her on the cheek
"Well, you see, I think I'm glad that I have a fever," Fred said, ignoring the PDA, "and seeing as I'm not puking and have no one to kiss. I don't need to drink that potion"
Zoey furrowed her brows. "Then no one would want to go near you then," she said to Fred, "If you have a terminal fever then you would be bedridden for the rest of your life. You can't play Quidditch and you're not allowed to interact with other people. Also, you can't help George with the inventing now because he won't be allowed near you. You'll grow up to be a grumpy old man with a fever," Zoey paused, "And alone. A grumpy old alone man"
"Oh, she got you there, Freddie," George said, repeating what his twin had said to him.
Fred grumbled in thought and, too, swirled the potion around in his goblet. He glanced at it and then to Zoey, George and Echo and back at the potion. He pinched his nose and took a breath of air. "If I die, stay away from my grave," he told them lightheartedly before taking in every single drop of the potion on one gulp. When he finished he instantly dropped the goblet to the floor and covered his mouth. He stayed like that for a few seconds before lowering his hands and making a face.
"Never," Fred said in a loud voice, "Never again will I have to drink that rubbish!"
Zoey rolled her eyes at him and picked up the fallen goblet. "If you fix that Skiving Snack box of yours, you will never have to"
"Well then," Fred began with a grin
"Let's get back to work," George said with an identical grin before kissing Echo once more and dashing out of the Hospital Wing with his twin. Zoey shook her head at them and smiled.
"Now, I have to get back to DADA or else Moody'll give me detention," Echo sighed as she picked up her things and started her way out the door.
"Professor Moody," Zoey found herself correcting the girl. She laughed after; it had been so long since she corrected someone for simply calling their teacher by their last name.
"Still Moody nonetheless," Echo shrugged, "Wanna come with?"
"I don't have DADA next"
"I'll just drop you off, then"
Zoey shook her head. "I have to clean up," she told her, "You go on ahead"
Echo nodded and left Zoey alone in the Hospital Wing.
It was already about three o'clock in the afternoon when Zoey found herself walking near the outskirts of Hogsmeade Village alone. She placed her hands in her pockets and kicked a pebble in her way. The weather was milder than before and it was getting too warm for her to wear a robe so it now hung on her shoulders like a cape. She bit her lip and looked around. She didn't particularly know why she was here. She had been walking around a few hours ago until she caught sight of the Golden Trio shopping for the oddest of socks in one store before loosing them. The next time she saw them, they were heading to the outskirts of the village. When Zoey lost sight of them once more, she found herself patrolling.
"What am I getting so worried about?" she then asked herself after a few minutes passed, "They can take care of themselves. I shouldn't always be worrying about them"
She then looked away at the distance. "But… it's already getting late… and they are on the outskirts of Hogsmeade…," she paused, "But I'm not their mother. I shouldn't be acting this way"
Suddenly, there was a bark. Zoey jumped a couple inches before shakily looking behind her to see the Golden Trio and a big black dog. Zoey raised a brow at them and the dog approached her and licked her hand. She looked at the dog curiously but then her eyes widened with realization. She knelt to the ground and brought the dog, whom she found out was her father, into a hug.
"Dad, what are you doing here?" she asked him before giving him a good look, "You're so skinny!"
"He's been living of rats," Harry spoke
Zoey wrinkled her nose. "That's not a very good meal"
"We brought him food," Hermione said
"For him and Buckbeak," Ron chimed.
"Buckbeak," Zoey asked, "Wait, what are you and Buckbeak doing here? Where are you staying?"
Sirius barked. She looked at him questioningly but Harry answered for him. "We'll explain back at Hogwarts," he said to his godsister, "Come on, it's getting late"
He, Harry, grabbed hold of Zoey's arm and brought her back to her feet. Her brows furrowed. "Okay," she said slowly before petting her dad on his head. "Nice seeing you again, dad" she told him before heading back to Hogwarts with the Golden Trio.
And here's the second part of my update~
I hope this makes up for my absence.
Oh, and I must tell you know but I will be absent from May 2 – 6 so you guys won't be hearing from me for that long.
I would like to thank HayleyParadox for helping me out and also for all of you who reviewed!
Love you guys
I have nothing more to say, sadly and my head is pounding like crazy so I must end it here.
So with my final words:
I hope you enjoyed the chapter
Please tell me what you thought
Excuse my typos and the like; I'm not good with a chapter not having any… though I would want one
Don't forget to review and the like
Stay tuned for the next chapter
And
I only own what I own
