Chapter 7: Teddy Bear
Whack! Albus's teeth clattered together as a sudden jolt traversed down his spine, awaking him. Will had slammed his notebook shut with another bang before haphazardly shoving everything into his rucksack. Albus watched, feeling concern bubble in his stomach, as Will rubbed his eyes quickly.
"Is class over already?" Albus did his best to stifle the yawn threatening to emerge.
His notes were pitiful, again. Only one sentence graced his notebook for History of Magic, completely illegible. He really should've tried to sleep last night. He wondered if Uncle George might have a device to records voices. If he could record Professor Binn's lectures, he could use that soothing voice to fall asleep in no time.
Will remained silent, shoulders bunched up and grinding his teeth as his friend tried to jam the last book into his rucksack.
"What happened?" Albus asked, taking the book from Will and slipping it into the worn rucksack gently.
Will took a few deep breaths, pinching his nose.
H ad one of the Ravenclaw's said something? What had Professor Binn's lecture even been about?
No one else in the room seemed upset. Guilt washed over him as he looked around. Half of the classroom was still dozing, and he'd been one of the lot. He'd have to do better next time.
"History of Magic is…" Will's voice shook. Albus instinctively grasped his friend's shoulder, hoping the gesture felt supportive. Will's shoulder's slumped, his arms hugged his rucksack tightly against his chest. "I didn't know anything about magic growing up."
Albus waiting, hoping to catch a glimpse of the earth-brown eyes that seemed intent on winning a stare-down with the floor.
Albus couldn't imagine life as a muggle, a life without magic. Both his dad and his Aunt Hermione had grown up as muggles, and sometimes the way they did things showed that they were brought up in a different culture. His family had always laughed, finding their oddities endearing. But life devoid of magic, completely, sent shivers down his spine.
"I'm angry, Albus." Will's voice was barely a whisper, more of a whimper. The way one's voice shakes when scared of Nargles in the dark.
Will's eyes were rimmed in red when he met Albus' eyes, bringing out green and gold flecks.
"Let's walk to lunch, you can tell me more if you want," Albus ventured, hoping his friend would confide in him.
They walked in silence out of the classroom, almost shoulder to shoulder, and passed into the empty courtyard. A light drizzle of rain darkened the bark of the trees and stone benches, providing a stark contrast against the vibrant greenery. A beacon amidst the misty gray of the courtyard. Will seemed to relax out in the open air, tilting his head up so the drizzle stuck to his skin like dew.
"I guess I have a lot of questions," Will began slowly. "I don't understand how the Ministry of Magic can protect muggles against all the dangers of the Magical World.
Will stopped walking, standing quietly for several heartbeats. "I know that they don't always protect muggles. Your Ministry of Magic."
Albus took a seat on the damp bench, pulling his hood up to fend off the rain. Will stood in front of him, eyes closed, slowly letting out a stream of air through pursed lips.
"My childhood friend…" Will's voice cracked. "He was attacked. Right in front of me. At the time, I... I had thought I had seen a man... a wolf. A wolf rip out Gordon's guts... like he was made of bloody newspaper."
Albus felt his head grow light. He couldn't look at anything but the flecks of green in his friend's eyes as his lungs decided to stop breathing.
"I was told I was wrong." The words came out of Will threw quick, lips pressed into a firm, straight line. " Told it had been a rabid dog. Told my mind... young and impressionable... unable to handle the violence... my mind had 'turned against me.' Played tricks on my memory. My reality."
Albus listened, letting his mind go blank to absorb the words of his friend. The trust.
"I realized during class..." Will swallowed, arms crossed tightly across his chest. "What I saw... it was probably a werewolf."
Albus let the shock seep through him, like a tea diffusing into hot water. His heartbeat felt heavy. His dad's work as an Auror had always been so secretive. However, he did know that they went to great lengths to erase or alter the memories of muggles who had witnessed magical events. But what happened to those who slipped through their fingers? How often did that happen? And how often were Aurors not able to save or reach victims of magical events, both magical or non-magical? How often had wizards been prioritized over other magical beings or muggles? Did that make the care of muggles last on the Ministry's list of priorities?
"Is your friend alright?" Albus felt whispered, dreading the response.
"He died barely an hour after the attack at the hospital," Will choked. "He had been in a lot of pain. The pain... Morphine... Nothing had seemed to work against it. The doctors couldn't stop the bleeding. They'd seen nothing like it. We were only six years old."
Albus watched as Will's tears mixed in with the droplets of rain steadily accumulating on his face. Will had been all joy and courage since he'd met him yesterday on the train. Albus felt his heart shiver, again. He hated how self-absorbed he'd been in his own worries.
What had Will been feeling yesterday?
He must be one of less than a handful of muggle-borns in their class. Muggle-borns had become increasingly rarer by each year. Yesterday had probably been completely overwhelming. Will was in a completely different culture, a different world. A world that had been hidden from him for all of his life.
Albus held Will's gaze, stood up, and wrapped his arms around Will's shoulders in a quick, tight hug. "I'm sorry," he whispered, knowing words would fail.
Will heaved into his shoulder and took a step back.
"History of Magic brought up a lot of memories. And a lot of questions," Will groaned, half laughing, half grimacing as he wiped his drenched, sandy blond curls out of his eyes. "Come on, let's get some lunch. Maybe Rose will be there too."
Albus felt reluctant to leave the conversation where it was. Although, maybe he could answer some of Will's questions about the Wizarding World during lunch.
Albus tried to push away the memories from the sorting ceremony yesterday as he stepped through the doors and into the Great Hall, the night sky shining brightly down at him.
"Albus! Thank goodness you're here! I've been looking all over for you." He turned to see a man in a long gray cloak, stained with splotches of green. A tall, pointy wizard's hat adorned his family friend, a sprig of fir and holly pinned to the brim like a feather.
"Mr. Longbottom!" Albus exclaimed, running over to the tall, slightly plump man and giving him a tight hug.
"Will, this is Mister… er... Professor Longbottom." Will smiled. "My parents are good friends. They were in Gryffindor together! Professor Longbottom teaches Herbology and travels all around the world!"
"Nice to meet you, Will," Professor Longbottom smiled, shaking Will's hand. "I'm looking forward to having any new friends of Albus' in my class."
"Now Albus, listen to me," Longbottom rested his hand on his shoulder and knelt down. "I'm afraid I bear bad news. Rose was the student who was found down in the halls early this morning. She's been transferred to St. Mungo's for treatment."
Albus felt his heart drop. Was the room spinning around him?
"Will she be okay?" he gasped.
Albus felt Will grip his arm and guide him down onto a bench.
"Madame Pomfrey has done everything she can and thinks she will recover eventually. She was found just in time. However, her condition is critical and she's been transferred to St. Mungo's for surgery."
Albus felt a sob escape from his lips. He didn't care if every student or professor at Hogwarts saw him crying. Rose was his cousin, his best friend.
"James and Teddy are already waiting in my office. Your parents and the Weasleys are already at St. Mungo's with Hugo and Lily. I'm to take you over now so you all can be together this afternoon. We'll travel by floo."
"I reckon she has the finest doctors at St. Mungo's," he heard Will say as he patted his shoulder. "She's going to be in good hands, especially with all of your family there to look out for her."
Albus let Mr. Longbottom lead him out of the Great Hall and into a large ivy-covered shed connected to a row of greenhouses.
"James, Teddy!" Albus flung his arms around the two boys, faces solemn and pale.
The room was humid and bedecked floor to ceiling in a variety of unusual plants, a desk and bookshelf barely fit in the corner.
"Hey little brother, she's going to be okay," James whispered, squeezing him so tight he could barely breathe.
Teddy nodded, tears streaming down his cheeks. Teddy's hair had morphed from its usual electric blue to a solemn navy.
He watched as Professor Longbottom tossed the floo powder into the tiny fireplace and instruct them to clearly enunciate St. Mungo's Hospital. James went first, followed by Teddy. He felt the jolt of a quick burn spread through his body as he stepped into a sterile, white lobby. A cheery witch with large, sparkly glasses and short, curly hair walked up to their group. A feathered quill floated after her.
"My goodness! The Potter brothers, and Harry's godson! You don't have any idea how long I've been dying to talk with you." The witch smiled, too-bright white teeth flashing.
Albus felt his skin crawl as the witch tightly gripped the sensitive muscle between his neck and shoulder, as if to lead him away.
"Back off, Skeeter," he heard Mr. Longbottom growl vehemently.
He clearly did not like this woman. Albus had never heard Mr. Longbottom speak roughly to a soul before.
"You have absolutely no right to talk to these boys, nor do you have any right to be here."
Albus shrugged her hand off his shoulder. The witch backed away, quill scribbling on a floating notepad.
"How lovely it is to see you again, Neville!" The witch grinned more, wobbling on her high heels and straightening her glasses. "It's been far too long. I haven't seen you since I penned that eloquent article on your minimally successful career. What had you done again? Oh yes! You'd been on a long and treacherous exploration on the Faroe Islands for a new species of magical willow. But wait, didn't you realize there aren't any trees on that island? And you'd wasted so much time, money, and resources on that expedition too? Such a shame. And now you just teach at Hogwarts, yes?"
"My apologies, perhaps you didn't hear me the first time," Longbottom rolled his eyes and maneuvered James, Teddy, and him away from the witch and towards a circular information desk. "Please, just back off. You are never to approach these boys. Ever again."
He felt his stomach roll. This woman gave him the creeps. How would she know who they were?
"Oh, meeting the Potter brothers is just a complete fortuitous coincidence. I'm here to write an article on the hospital's initiative to further its blood drive program. Did you know not many wizards or witches are willing to donate their blood? There's quite a shortage. And for magical creatures treated here, well, they're lucky if they even have a bag. But that's just a footnote."
"I don't care if you just happen to be here at just the right time." He watched as Mr. Longbottom's hand twitched towards his wand. " As I said, you are to never speak to these boys."
Professor Longbottom turned towards them, arm outstretched and guiding them away. "Come, let's check you in. I must return to class after this. One of your parents will bring you all back to Hogwarts this evening."
"Wait," Albus felt himself turning towards the vile woman. "Why would a shortage of blood for magical creatures be just a footnote?"
The woman's grin grew wider, a single eyebrow raised. "You know, you sound an awful lot like your dear old Aunt Hermione. Asking just the right questions. Certain your mother is Ginevra?"
Albus felt blood rush to his ears at the suggestion. The lights in the room flickered.
The journalist cackled, a quick, high-pitched giggle.
Mr. Longbottom's wand jabbed into the back of the witch's neck. "Last chance. Leave. Now."
"Come along quill," Skeeter sang and winked at Albus as she sauntered out of the room, floating quill trailing her.
Albus felt James throw an arm around his shoulder as Mr. Longbottom checked them in, guiding them past rows and rows of bland corridors. Beeps filled the air and Healers walking about briskly with lime green robes billowing.
Mr. Longbottom opened the door to a room packed with red-heads and a harried-looking Medi-witch fiddling with a line. Albus felt himself running straight to his mum, dressed in forest green and gold quidditch garb. She wrapped her arms around him and he held onto her tightly, letting himself cry. He stole a glance at the bed. Rose lay still, supine. A series of images flickered above her bed, monitoring her vitals. She had a tube going into her throat. She was pale. He felt relieved as her chest rose up and down gently. Regularly.
"She's going to be alright, pumpkin." He felt his mum smooth his hair and plant kisses on his head.
Albus let go of her embrace and threaded his fingers through Rose's.
"What happened?" He whispered, looking at the faces of his family.
Hugo, face pale and eyes bloodshot, sat on Uncle Ron's lap. Uncle Ron's brows were in knots, his knees shaking, just like Rose's did when she got nervous. Aunt Hermione stood by Rose's head, smoothing her hands across her daughter's hair. His Grandparents held each other's hands and appeared to have been mid-argument with the Medi-witch. His dad looked grim, shoulders slumped, and each arm wrapped around James and Teddy. Teddy hiccuped between sobs. Lily lay sound asleep, face puffy with tears, on Uncle George's lap. Hermione's parents stood in a corner, aghast and overwhelmed, holding a colorful bouquet of sunflowers, poppies, and irises with a stuffed animal of a bear.
The Medi-witch answered him. "Rose had a stroke. The Healers removed an embolism in her Middle Cerebral Artery that was blocking the flow of blood bringing oxygen to that part of her brain. They're still working on finalizing the cause of her stroke. They've detected a malformed curse on her that likely formed the blood clot; her magic must have fought against the curse. They're unsure what the curse was meant to be at this time as it was ill-formed. But her vitals are stable and we expect to take her off the the spell transferring air to her lungs through this tube and allowing her to breath at the right pressure soon."
A bag of clear fluid was clasped in the Medi-witch's hands. "Your school's matron is skilled and was able to act fast. She dissolved a majority of the embolism prior to her transfer. The Healers performed a textbook thrombectomy without complication. They should be in here any moment now to extubate her. Usually we don't need to use these muggle contraptions, but in emergency situations with half-bloods or muggle-borns, we don't risk relying only on magic. I'm just about to take her off of this sedating medication. Ah! Here are your Healers now."
He was kindly ushered out of the room along with the rest of his family. Aunt Hermione was allowed to stay.
Rose's grandparents stood apart from everyone else, eyes wide as they took in the Medi-witch and Medi-wizard station from the waiting room. Albus had never been so aware of how much magic was used on the smallest of tasks.
Were they wondering if medicine in the Wizarding World is more advanced? Perhaps magical medicine could have saved countless muggles who passed away in hospitals every day. Was this what Will thought?
He approached Rose's grandparents. They'd always been kind to him during family gatherings and had even taken him and Rose to a muggle zoo once! Mr. Granger had spouted a wealth of knowledge about the animals and Mrs. Granger had explained their importance to the cultures and lands from which they originated. The day was solidified as one of his happiest memories.
"Mr. and Mrs. Granger," Albus smiled shyly. "Rose will love the flowers. Those are her favorites. And the stuffed animal looks just like that black bear we saw that day at the zoo! The one that made it all the way up to that beehive and had honey all over its face. We had to run away because all the bees got out!"
"We thought of that black bear climbing all the way up that tree too when we saw this little fellow," Mr. Granger smiled, wiggling the bear in his hands. "Would you like to give it to Rose from all of us? In our 'muggle land,' we call it a teddy bear."
Albus hugged the bear close to his chest. It was funny how a muggle object could hold such power, a corporeal vessel for happy memories. It was almost more magical than magic itself.
"Rose is off sedation and she's independently breathing. Vitals are normal," the Healer announced, hands clasped. "You may see her now. She should be awakening any moment."