Chapter 19

Awaken

Lyra stood there for several minutes, her mind racing through various scenarios. She tried to piece together the puzzle, but too many vital components were missing. The only person with the answers stood before her, trembling, with her wand trained on Lyra.

"Get into my office immediately!" Lyra ordered sharply, snapping Sarah out of her daze. The girl began to hyperventilate, and with a shaky hand, she pocketed her wand, then obediently followed her aunt.

Lyra waved her wand, erasing any trace of their presence by the bed. She then let Sarah into her office and secured the room with protective spells. Sarah watched her aunt's preparations with a mix of fear and curiosity, her breath still ragged.

"Breathe!" Lyra barked, her tone laced with anger.

Sarah, still trembling, forced herself to take deep breaths, tears streaming down her face. Lyra's anger softened as she watched her niece struggle to regain her composure, but she didn't say a word. Instead, she walked over to the fireplace, fiddled with her ring, and, with a simple gesture, conjured a roaring curtain of flames.

"Lyra?" Tessra's voice emerged from the other side of the fire, her eyes assessing the situation, particularly Sarah's guilty appearance.

"Tess, we'll have to reschedule our meeting. I have an official matter to attend to." Lyra whispered into the flames.

Tessra nodded in acknowledgment, and the fiery curtain vanished with another wave of Lyra's hand.

Lyra turned to Sarah, who had managed to regain some semblance of defiance.

"So, the ring gives you a fancy fireplace, huh?" Sarah remarked with feigned nonchalance.

Sarah's cheeky comment didn't faze Lyra, and she was determined not to be distracted.

Lyra opened a window and sat down across from Sarah. She snapped her fingers, igniting a small flame on her index finger, and lit the cigarette dangling from her lips.

"You know, that stuff is toxic for you! Plus, you can't smoke in a hospital!" Sarah chided dramatically, making a feeble attempt to divert the tension.

"Shut up!" Lyra retorted tersely. She took several drags, blowing the smoke in Sarah's direction, in an attempt to unnerve her further.

"What were you doing?" Lyra asked bluntly.

Sarah remained silent.

"I'll ask you again, Sarah. What the hell were you doing to that man?"

Sarah gritted her teeth as Lyra took another long drag, exhaling the smoke deliberately. She wanted to push her niece to the point of revealing the truth.

"If you don't speak now, Sarah, this will mark the end of your healing career. I will personally ensure you're on the next flooport to America. And you and I both know that's not what you want. So, SPEAK!"

Sarah scoffed at what she perceived as an empty threat.

"Oh! You think I won't do it? That would be a mistake!" Lyra warned, dipping a quill into an inkwell and swiftly composing a letter. She was almost done with it, signing it at the bottom. Sarah contemplated her options, but there didn't seem to be a way out. Lyra was on the verge of blacklisting her from the International Society of Healing. She watched as her aunt prepared to send the damning letter, and she decided it was time to reveal part of the truth. However, not before voicing her frustration.

"I don't know what you and my father are trying to accomplish with this, but it won't work. I'm not going back to America! This is my life, and only I will make the decisions. It's my choice!" Sarah snapped, her magic flaring as the room's candles flickered with anger.

"Control your emotions!" Lyra snapped back, her disdain evident. Sarah flinched but fell silent.

"You're of age, and you still can't control your magic! Do you honestly believe you're capable of making life-altering decisions?" Lyra scolded, glaring at her defiant niece.

"You think I'm here for you? Well, get that thought out of your head! I have been trying to reach you, ever since I got here, Sarah. To explain, to tell you exactly this! The Book of Destiny is not something to be tampered with! I wasn't given much of a choice but to be here. If I am to have any direction in my life, then I have to go along with whatever life is currently flinging at me!"

"So, no, Sarah, your father did not send me here to spy on you. He did not send me here to convince you to return to America. I am not here on orders from my brother! In fact, you should be thanking me for persuading him to let you be, to let you make your own decisions, to let you breathe, and be an adult on your own merit! Clearly, I was wrong…seeing you're still a fucking child! Who thinks only about herself! Do you even know what's going on in this country? How dangerous it is for you to be here? Of course, you don't, because I caught you red-handed, making yourself an open target to elements you have no idea how to deal with!"

"You think last term was dangerous? Well, open your fucking eyes to the real world, Sarah! People are disappearing, people are dying, people are being murdered, while the ministry here turns a blind eye to everything!" Ranted Lyra as she stubbed her cigarette.

Sarah's eyes widened as the gravity of Lyra's words began to dawn on her. How could she have been so stupid? Lyra had never been one to chase after glory, money, or power. She was one of the 27, dedicated to a single mission: Magic For Good, regardless of location. When Lyra mentioned the Book of Destiny, Sarah finally understood that her aunt hadn't come here for her; she had come here for herself. The book had foretold its prediction, and Lyra had a role to play. Unlike Sarah, she didn't have the luxury to pack up and return to America. This was her destiny, and she had to see it through, even if it meant getting involved in England's future in ways she didn't yet comprehend.

Sarah broke down, tears streaming freely as she cried into her hands. Lyra sighed and gave her niece a few minutes to compose herself. Then, amidst Sarah's hiccups and sniffles, the truth began to pour out.

"I…I…was…I was just trying to revive him! He's Zeus's brother…Aries. He has just been lying there, Lyra, for years! Any senior healer could work on him for a few days and revive him, but they refuse to do it! No one goes near his bed. We're not even allowed to stand near the curtains! Every month…every month, some fraud comes from outside. He's the only one allowed behind those curtains. He's the only one performing elaborate petrification spells on that man and leaving him like that…to die…to die!"

"We're healers! We're supposed to help him. But no one will do anything! So, I take up every graveyard shift I can manage, hoping that I can revive him somehow, give him an actual chance to fight, to give Zeus a chance to have his brother back! You'd do it if it were Dad! You know what it's like to have a brother. Zeus deserves to have him by his side, not lying here as if he's nothing!" Sarah sobbed through her confession.

Lyra listened carefully, her expression softening. She then stood and pulled her niece into a tight hug, offering the comfort she needed. Sarah gradually calmed down, and Lyra wiped her face gently.

"Sarah…"

"Sarah, I will help you." Lyra said firmly. Sarah looked up, her tear-stained face filled with surprise. She couldn't believe her aunt had relented so easily.

"I will help you. If you tell me how. Tell me everything you know about Aries Shorthorn." Lyra continued earnestly.

Sarah nodded, now feeling a sense of relief as she shared every piece of information she had about the boy, from how he ended up there to his relationship with his girlfriend and the experiments she had been conducting for months.

"And Minerva McGonagall?" Lyra asked directly.

Sarah froze, her mind racing to figure out how Lyra could possibly know about Minerva's involvement. There was no way she could know unless she was aware of the Order. Did Moody go over Dumbledore's head and secretly contact Lyra? Was she more involved than Sarah believed? Could Lyra read minds? A torrent of questions raced through her mind as she feigned ignorance.

"Minerva?" Sarah stammered.

"I ran into her on the stairwell. Smart woman, using the stairs. She knew very well no one would be there at this hour. Is she helping you? Did you reach out to her?" Lyra inquired. Sarah grasped at the lifeline offered by Lyra's query.

"Yes, she was the one who told me about Aries last term. I reached out to her for help. I convinced her to help me get the potions. Zeus doesn't know anything about this, so I needed to get the potions from another source." Sarah explained, trying to appear sincere.

Lyra nodded, content with the information she had received. She knew there was more to what Sarah had just disclosed, but she didn't push further. She had successfully coaxed her niece to open up, and she wouldn't pry any deeper for now.

"We will begin reviving him tomorrow. I promise you, Zeus will get his brother back."

"But Lyra…we're not allowed…"

"Aries Shorthorn occupies a bed in my ward. He is my patient, and it is my duty to help him!" Lyra declared, raising her hand to silence her niece.

"Now, go home to Zeus, get some sleep, and leave your shift to me."

"There's something else…" Sarah said hesitantly before opening the door.

"What is it?" Lyra asked, her brow furrowing.

"The man…he's due next week." Sarah added with a tremor in her voice.

"Well then, we'd better get to work." Lyra stated with a smirk.

Sarah nodded, genuine relief and gratitude in her eyes. She then left Lyra alone in the office, closing the door behind her.

True to her word, Lyra had convened a closed-door meeting with Kranston and Torres to discuss the man hidden behind the curtained bed.

"Last night, I couldn't help but notice the elephant in our ward. No, I don't mean the man with the elephant trunk..." Lyra began, addressing the two senior healers.

"I'm talking about the man behind those curtains. Why has he not received any treatment? His case appears rather straightforward. Can none of you find a solution for a petrified individual?" She inquired, her tone demanding answers.

Kranston and Torres shifted uncomfortably but remained silent.

"Well, are you going to spit it out or keep me guessing?" Lyra pressed, her impatience showing.

"He's Aries Shorthorn, ma'am. He's a Touch-Me-Not." Kranston finally admitted.

"A what?" Lyra snapped, her frustration evident.

"What Kranston means, ma'am, is that he's been here for the past three years. We were explicitly instructed by the previous head of the department to avoid his bed. Healer Myers had questioned this directive but was silenced by your predecessor. It was stated that the case was unsolvable, and the man's parents were paying a considerable sum to keep him here. So, we followed orders." Torres explained, trying to provide context.

Lyra regarded the two senior healers. Both Kranston and Torres appeared to be at least a decade older than Lyra. However, they came across as more spineless than her seventeen-year-old niece. Lyra couldn't entirely fault them; they seemed driven by ambition and a desire to maintain their positions. Their reluctance to question orders likely stemmed from the fear of jeopardizing their careers.

"Well, I have new orders. I'll be personally overseeing his case. I want him out of my ward by the end of this month. One of you will be monitoring him constantly—every movement, twitch, and reaction. I want continuous updates. This man needs to be brought back to life! And get one of the interns to assist you. Perhaps Lincolns?" Lyra instructed.

The senior healers nodded and immediately set to work on Aries Shorthorn's revival.

Three days later, Lyra received her first update. Kranston rushed into her office, announcing that Aries Shorthorn's body was finally showing signs of relaxation. Lyra hurried to the ward to witness the progress for herself. Aries appeared less like a statue and more like a man at rest. His eyes were closed, and his body responded to touch. He even shivered slightly when a feather was gently run down his spine.

The week passed swiftly, with Aries making substantial progress, though not a complete recovery.

As Sarah had predicted, the man who visited Aries every month arrived on schedule. He created a commotion outside Lyra's office, prompting her to leave her consultation to address the situation. She wasn't surprised by his livid state; anyone would be upset after their clandestine operation had been exposed. However, Lyra was determined to maintain order.

"Sir, please maintain some decorum. This is a hospital, not your personal bar!" She admonished the man firmly.

Lyra observed him closely. He possessed sharp features, though his discolored teeth were quite unsettling. His expensive robes and well-kept hair indicated a certain level of prestige. It was evident that he could turn violent, putting her colleagues and patients at risk. Lyra wouldn't allow that.

"You! Do you have any idea what you've done?!" The man raged at Lyra.

"I don't know what you're talking about, sir. And may I know why you're here in my ward? If you're not family or here to visit a patient, I kindly ask you to lower your wand and LEAVE!" Lyra retorted sternly.

"Who?! Who touched Aries Shorthorn? It's against his guardian's wishes! Only I, his family's healer, am allowed to work on his case. Tell me, who authorized this interference?" The man demanded, brandishing his wand in Sarah's direction, who was attending to Aries.

"St. Mungo's does not allow private healers, and this man is of age. He doesn't require legal guardianship to receive urgent medical attention. I don't know who gave you authority previously, but as the new head of this ward, I will not permit it." Lyra explained firmly.

The man's eyes shifted from Sarah to Lyra. Lyra's wand was firmly in her grasp, and she was unafraid to use it against the aggressive intruder.

"I authorized it! Mr. Shorthorn is under my care, and it's my duty to provide him with the necessary treatment. I suggest you leave quietly before I have you kicked out!" Lyra declared, stepping between Sarah and the irate man.

The man scrutinized Lyra, his anger growing with every passing second. Suddenly, he spat in her face.

"You wretched bitch! I invested years of work into that man in that bed. Now, you've ruined everything! I will be reporting your actions to his parents, and they'll see what you've done. Your cushy job will be history. You believe you're here to save the world, don't you? You'll pay the price. Both you and your little intern. Remember my words, this won't end well for either of you!"

Lyra clenched her wand tightly and wiped the man's spit from her face with a calm demeanor. She then cleaned her hand on the man's robes, causing him to recoil in disgust.

"Go ahead, inform whomever you wish. Mr. Shorthorn will be leaving my ward soon, and there's nothing you can do about it. It's in your best interest to leave now and preserve your reputation and your healing license before I have it revoked. Without that license, you won't be worth a Knut to your unsavory clients. I suggest you turn and walk away. Or else, I'll make sure there's a bed in this ward with your name on it!" Lyra warned, meeting his glare with an equally menacing one.

"LEAVE!" she commanded, pointing to the exit.

The man swiftly gathered his wand and the open briefcase filled with potions, then made a hasty dash for the door.

"You'll regret this!" He snarled as he retreated.

"Can't fucking wait!" Lyra retorted firmly.

With that, the man exited the ward, leaving behind a brief silence that lasted for a few seconds. Suddenly, a raspy and hoarse whisper emanated from behind.

"Wa...ter..."

Lyra and Sarah spun around in unison, joined by the rest of the ward's staff, as they all focused their attention on Aries Shorthorn. He weakly extended his limp hand, reaching out for water.

"Pump him with strengthening draughts. I want him alert and capable of walking...stat!" Lyra commanded, directing her orders to her team, who promptly began carrying out her instructions.

That night, Lyra dropped Sarah off at her place. She was pleased with the location her niece had chosen to live in, far from the reach of dark elements cleverly hidden within muggle London. Lyra wanted to ensure Sarah's safety for the night, knowing that at least Zeus would be with her.

"Kid, stay safe, alright? If you need anything, this is my address. Come straight to me! In fact, I feel like you should just come stay with me for a few days... just to, you know, be safe, until this blows over." Lyra said, handing Sarah a note with her address on it.

"I'll be fine, Ly! I know a spell or two to get out of tough situations too!" Sarah chuckled. Lyra looked at her with a small, proud smile.

Sarah hugged her aunt and assured her not to worry. She stepped out of the car, waved goodbye to Lyra, and headed to her doorstep. Lyra waited until Sarah stood by her door and fiddled with her keys.

Once Lyra's car was out of view, Sarah moved to the road parallel to the one she was dropped off at. She then entered 12 Grimmauld Place, excited to report to Dumbledore that her mission had been a success without Lyra knowing much about it. She needed to know what the next steps would be. A small smile graced Sarah's face, the first time in months she felt like she had achieved something.

Sarah entered the kitchen, and her smile quickly faded. She saw Zeus, who appeared extremely angry, sitting at the table. Minerva, Snape, and Dumbledore were attempting to calm him down.

When Zeus noticed her, his anger flared.

"Do you have any idea what you've done?!" He snarled at Sarah.

"You...stupid...stupid...stupid girl! And you got the Order involved in this! You've put yourself on the Dark Lord's hitlist! Aries was supposed to just be there. He was safe there, far away from those fucking assholes. And now, you've gone and woken him up! You've gone and ruined my life! I have enough to worry about, and now I have to worry about you?! How could you have been so selfish?! How could you have not said anything to me?"

"You seem to think like you know everything, don't you, Sarah? You think you're clever, smart, and tactful? You think you can get things done with the help of your special aunt! Well, life is a lot harder for most of us! But not like you care! You can go running to your family whenever you fucking like! Fuck you, Sarah! Fuck you for being so selfish! I wish, I wish...I had never met you!" Zeus snarled angrily at her.

Sarah stood there, absorbing every harsh word without uttering a single word herself. She understood he was upset, but she couldn't get a word in edgeways. She just stood there, heartbroken, as he lashed out with cruel words. Tears streamed down her face. He was pushing her away because he considered her a burden.

She had never asked him to take care of her. She had never asked him to worry about her. All she wanted was for him to be happy. She thought he'd be happy that his brother was finally going to return, that Aries could have a normal life. Hadn't he told her so many times how he wished his brother could have a life?

Sarah couldn't take it. She felt humiliated in front of all those people. She dashed to the door and out of it. She could hear Minerva and Dumbledore calling out to her as they followed her hurriedly. But once she was out the door, she disapparated, and that was that.

"Where do you think she must have gone?" Albus asked Minerva, his concern evident.

"It's not safe for her out there, alone, not tonight. We must find her, Minerva." He added urgently.

"I don't think she's alone, Albus." Minerva handed him the note that had fallen from Sarah's hand before she apparated.

"I'll arrange for Remus, Tonks, and Kingsley to bring her back!"

"I'll join them. She might listen to me." Minerva motioned, and Albus nodded in agreement.

"I will speak to Zeus in the meantime, explain what has transpired." Albus said as the pair walked back into the house.

"I don't think that will be necessary, Albus. The moron is already feeling horrible about it. I've explained the situation to him." Snape said tersely.

The three of them looked at the defeated boy sitting at the table. He looked completely broken.

"Sir, I must go after her. I have to fix this!" Zeus begged Dumbledore, realizing his mistake after seeing the whole picture. He demanded they let him leave.

"We will get her back, Mr. Shorthorn. But you best have a very good apology ready," Minerva said sternly. She excused herself to go gather the rest; they needed to find Sarah, before anyone else did!

AN/- Took a short break. Too many things happening this week. Don't worry, though, will keep posting as soon as I have chapters ready. Promise, not to be gone for too many days though. Hope you keep enjoying the story and reviewing! Thanks :)