Minerva's POV

Visiting hours ended before Tansy woke up and, despite Minerva's objections, Healer Knits refused to let her stay any longer and she was forced to leave her daughter behind in the mind ward without speaking to her. Minerva walked shakily down to the hospital atrium to the designated apparition point and then turned on the spot and disapperated into the void, appearing almost instantly opposite the castle gates.

She held it together just long enough to get back to her office and, as soon as the door shut behind her, she collapsed into a chair and burst into tears. It took her some time to pull herself together enough to remember that Mrs Weasley had been expecting them to return to the Burrow where she had been looking after Hope for the afternoon. She stood up shakily, telling herself firmly to pull herself together and promising herself that there would be no more tears. Shakily, she helped herself to a glass of water from a jug on the corner of her desk and then she crossed over to the fireplace. She had just pulled the lid off the pot of Floo powder when there was a knock on the door.

'Come in.' Her voice sounded harsh and croaky and she swallowed a few times in an effort to clear it.

'Minerva?' Severus Snape stood on the threshold. He took one look at her and then stepped through into the office, closing the door carefully behind him. 'Is everything alight?' He seemed to realise that the answer to this question was 'no' because he followed it up immediately with another. 'What has happened?'

In spite of the fact that she had promised herself no more tears, Minerva felt her eyes tearing up again and blinked rapidly to disperse them before the other wizard could see.

'It's been a trying afternoon, Severus. I'm… I'm very sorry but I forgot we had a meeting. Can we reschedule…?'

'Minerva,' Severus interrupted, 'what has happened?' He looked so concerned that Minerva felt herself sagging a little. She made a sudden choice.

'Tansy has been admitted to St Mungo's.' She turned away, her eyes brimming. 'Severus, I'm sorry. I don't wish to be unprofessional.' There was a long silence before she turned back to him. He was watching her carefully.

'Minerva, I think our relationship is beyond a professional one now after everything that has happened, wouldn't you say?' His black eyes flashed. 'What happened? Is Miss Laverstock alright?' Minerva realised that she needed to talk about it, if only to make sense of it in her own mind.

'Tansy visited Fred Weasley this afternoon. I tried to persuade her that it could wait until she felt better because she was already struggling before we left. Her head wasn't clear and she was exhausted. She didn't sleep last night after you walked her back up here.' Severus winced perceptively as if he was reliving the events of the previous night.

'I tried to persuade her not to go but she insisted. It was supposed to be a supervised visit as Fred is still on twenty-four-hour supervision.' She saw that Severus was watching her carefully, not interrupting and letting her get to the end of the story so he could have all the facts before he spoke. 'Apparently it went well until the point that Fred tried to kiss her.' Minerva felt her earlier fury rising up inside her again and her voice rose slightly. 'The Healer didn't realise what he was about to do until it was too late. Tansy… well, we've all seen her projected magic in action. She blew him right across the room, Severus. The Healer didn't stop her in time.'

'Miss Laverstock's projected magic is stronger than any I have ever witnessed or heard of,' Severus said in a low voice. 'My theory is that it's a side effect of her selective mutism. Her magic has always been different to that of other people's - more emotional. I noticed it right from her first term in my potions laboratory.' He paused for a few seconds. 'Is Weasley okay?'

'He was still unconscious when I left the ward but I believe so.' Minerva was surprised that she felt no anger at all towards the young wizard – it was the Healers who were to blame. 'I'm furious they allowed this to happen on their watch. I know that mistakes happen but…' She trailed off.

'Of course,' Severus replied, his lip curling slightly into the ghost of a sneer. 'I believe that the mind ward is one of the most underfunded and understaffed areas of the hospital. Do you remember when they allowed that imposter in when Miss Laverstock was there before?' Minerva felt a jolt of surprise as she thought back three years' ago and recalled the event. 'Not that it excuses their oversight, of course.' Severus went on. 'I suppose they've sectioned Miss Laverstock under the emergency mental health act?'

Minerva nodded; hearing the words spoken out loud by him had made her feel like a failure.

'How long until her case is reviewed? Severus asked.

'A fortnight. She won't cope in there Severus; she's barely stable here around people she knows. I can't see them finding in her favour next week and letting her out, can you?' Despair filled her as she realised the truth in her words. Severus was shaking his head.

'I'm concerned that Miss Laverstock won't receive the help she needs in there, Minerva. They just don't have the facilities and her case is so complex. It's actually more likely to send her back several steps in her recovery. She will just become another long term patient. Just when I thought we'd seen some positive steps forward too.' He shook his head soberly, apparently thinking hard. 'We need to bring the case to the medical review board first thing on Monday morning. We need to persuade them that Miss Laverstock's unique needs are better met here in our care.'

Minerva looked at the man, twenty-five years her junior, and suddenly felt less alone.

Tansy's POV

The darkness that surrounded her was thick and impenetrable. It seemed to press on her limbs, turning them into heavy, unmoving dead-weights. Her body was glued to the cold, hard surface that she lay on. Using everything she had, Tansy fought to free herself, staining against the invisible bonds that held her, and then realised that it was impossible – it was like fighting the full body bind curse.

She wasn't alone in the darkness. There was something there with her. Something that breathed with heavy laboured pants as it approached. As it came closer, Tansy felt her heart starting to gallop in her chest and tried desperately to quiet her own gasping breaths. She felt something warm and rough pressing against the bare sole of her foot and whimpered as the thing started sniffing up the inside her leg. She felt sharp claws tearing at her thighs and the thing's hot breath between her legs.

'Someone wake her up! She needs to wake up! Miss Laverstock, can you hear me? Wake up!' A voice pierced through the darkness, bringing with it a streak of bright silver light.

Tansy suddenly found that she could move again. Blinding white light assaulted her eyes and she threw up her arms in front of her face to protect herself. There was the sound of a crash and several screams. Tansy could still feel the thing's hot breath as it nuzzled her and nausea stirred in the pit of her stomach. With one movement, she pushed herself into a sitting position, throwing off the cardboard stiff blankets that covered her, and wrapped her arms tightly around her knees, flattening herself against the wall behind her.

'It's okay, Miss Laverstock. Try to calm down. It was just a dream.'

The bright light was pulsating around her. Tansy realised she was in a small windowless hospital room, containing only a narrow bed, a cabinet and a chair. Through the pulsating shield of light, she could see that she was surrounded by unfamiliar people, all wearing green robes. She looked around wildly for the thing that had been snuffling around her legs. The shuddering light shield around the bed pulsed once and then seemed to amplify.

'It was just a dream, Miss Laverstock. I need you to stop projecting.' The voice sounded familiar but the nausea was becoming overwhelming and Tansy couldn't focus on what she'd just been told. She pulled her legs tighter into her body.

'Should I administer a magic numbing potion, Aspen?'

'No Duncan, her reserves are already at dangerous levels. I don't want to risk it if I can avoid it.'

'Unless we can get through to her another way, we may have no choice; she's already injured two of the HITs.' The voices wove in and out of each other, crackling and distorting like a badly tuned radio. There didn't seem to be enough oxygen in the room. Vomit rose in her throat as Tansy fought to keep it under control. She had no idea where she was or what was happening. Through the shuddering light shield, she saw one of the people approaching.

'Miss Laverstock, you are in St Mungo's. I know this might seem very confusing. It's Healer Knits. We spoke earlier today. Please try to calm down or I'm going to have to stun you.' Some semblance of reality trickled back, cutting through Tansy's confusion. She drew in a deep breath and then suddenly leaned sideways and vomited all over the side of the bed. The projected light shield around her shuddered once and then vanished.

'There we go.' Someone approached the bed. 'Miss Laverstock, I'm going to touch your arm to check on your potion drip, okay?' Tansy felt a hand touching her wrist and flinched away instinctively and felt the hand withdrew. The Healer withdrew her wand and flicked it over Tansy.

'Who was responsible for setting up this potion drip?' The Healer asked in clipped tones, turning to the surrounding figures. 'Healer in Training Saddleworth? You attached the dreamless sleep potion bag but you didn't open the intravenous line.' She turned back to Tansy.

'It's okay, Miss Laverstock. We'll get you sorted in no time. You were having a nightmare. Try to breathe deeply for me now. Can someone bring me potion AA208 immediately?' Turning back to the girl on the bed she placed a hand on Tansy's shoulder and left it there until the potion arrived.

'Here you go, dear. This will help.' Tansy looked at her and then at the bottle in the Healer's hand and then drew her knees more tightly into her chest. Her stomach lurched again. She suddenly realised that her clothes and the sheets she sat on were soaked through with urine. She could smell it. She was sure they could too. Tansy buried her face in her knees; she wanted them all to go away; there were two Healers and three HIT's all standing by, all of them able to see and witness her shame. There was a long pause and then some mumbled voices and then the door clicked shut.

'It's just you and me now, Miss Laverstock. Can you drink this potion for me?' Tansy felt Healer Knits taking her shoulder again. The potion bottle was pressed into her shaking hand. 'It's just an anti-anxiety draft. It will also help with the nausea.' Tansy hesitated another few seconds and then raised her head just enough to down the potion. The taste of burnt marshmallow and strawberries chased away the lingering taste of vomit in her mouth.

It worked instantly. Tansy felt her heart rate slowing down and her breathing suddenly came easier. The air seemed to contain oxygen again.

'Do you feel calmer?' The Healer waved her wand again and then put it away, seemingly happy with the results. She looked down at Tansy, her eyes gentle and sincere. 'I'm really sorry, Miss Laverstock. The dreamless sleep potion wasn't administered correctly. This should never have happened. Not on my watch.'

Tansy pressed her forehead into her knees again and drew in a deep breath. She wanted to ask Healer Knits what had happened and why she was in St Mungo's. Instead, when she looked up, she whispered something else.

'I… I wet the bed.' Shame filled her and she felt herself reddening.

'I know.' Healer Knits said bluntly. 'It doesn't matter.'

'What happened? Why am I here?' Tansy asked, tightening her grip on her knees. She felt herself starting to tremble.

'No, I'm sure you don't remember what happened this afternoon, Miss Laverstock, I didn't expect you to.' Healer Knits sat down on the chair by the head of Tansy's bed. 'When Mr Weasley tried to kiss you, your magic reacted instinctively to protect you, a bit like it did just now.' There was no judgement in the Healer's voice. 'I've never seen a projection of that magnitude; you blasted him right across the room.' Tansy felt suddenly sick again.

'Is Fred okay? I…' She felt her earlier panic rising but the anti-anxiety draft prevented it from overpowering her mind and she was able to focus on Healer Knits's answer.

'He's fine, Miss Laverstock.' But Tansy's thought processes had already moved on and she barely heard the other woman's answer.

'Where's Hope? Is Hope okay? Where's my baby?' This was a deeper, wilder sort of panic and it fought for control of her mind.

'Miss Laverstock, your baby is safe with your mother.' Tansy forced herself to focus on the fact that Minerva would look after Hope better than Tansy herself could. There was a long silence while Tansy tried to process this.

'How are you feeling now?' The Healer asked, looking carefully at Tansy. Tansy shrugged and looked back at her knees before she spoke.

'I'm… I'm feeling better. I'm sorry I… I didn't mean…' Tansy stuttered to a halt, not quite sure what she wanted to say – that she was sorry that she had attacked Fred and then the Healers too? There was a long silence before she spoke again. 'I… do I have to stay here?' Tansy dreaded to hear the answer she knew was coming.

'I'm afraid so, Miss Laverstock. You need to learn how to control your unconscious magic or it could cause a lot of damage.' Tansy felt a tear escaping out of the corner of her eye; even if she'd had the words, there was nothing she could say in her defence.

'Let's get you up.' Unresisting, Tansy let Healer Knits help her out of the bed. 'Shower or bath?' Tansy shrugged and the other woman led her into the adjacent bathroom.

After Tansy had showered and dressed in a clean pair of pajamas she felt more like herself again. Healer Knits had changed the bed whilst she'd been in the shower and she had also ordered food from the hospital kitchens which had arrived on trolley that had trundled itself in through the door and was now waiting patiently to be unloaded. On the end of the bed lay a small bag with some of Tansy's clothes and personal items in it. One quick look at the slightly disarranged contents told Tansy that the bag had been thoroughly searched.

'You slept through dinner but you need to eat Miss Laverstock.' Healer Knits said, looking Tansy up and down. Tansy blushed and knew what the other witch was thinking. She watched as the Healer flicked her wand at the wall and an invisible table folded down out of nowhere. The covered dishes immediately flew off the trolley and lined themselves up on the table and the trolley wheeled itself neatly out of the room and disappeared.

'Healer Knits…?' Tansy began as the Healer lifted one of the covers off a plate. The smell of stew and dumplings filled the small room.

'Yes?' The Healer looked up.

'Can I see Fred? I need to… I need to apologise.' The Healer sighed and put back the cover. Then she looked Tansy straight in the eyes.

'After what happened this afternoon, I'm afraid you aren't allowed to see anyone for forty-eight hours. It's for their own safety and for yours. Technically I should extend the time because of what just happened but as it was our fault, I won't.' Disappointment coupled with irritation flooded Tansy's mind as she realised that this would mean no visitors. She found herself blinking back tears of frustration.

'I'm prepared to bend the rules a little, Miss Laverstock.' Tansy looked up hopefully and the Healer smiled at her 'If Mr Weasley wishes to see you then he can come and stand in the doorway. There is a translucent barrier charm in place to prevent you from leaving and it will also prevent anyone without a Healer's credentials from entering the room but you will be able to see him and talk to him. I'll just check to see if he's still awake – it's quite late.'

Miserably, Tansy nodded and the Healer left the room briefly, returning mere moments later with Fred behind her. He looked wild eyed and frantic – his purple hair stood on end and the black eyeliner he had applied so liberally was now smudged all over his pale face. His searching brown eyes met hers and he started forwards only to be held back by both Healer Knits and another Healer that Tansy recognised from her previous stay here.

'Tansy, I'm so sorry.' Frantically he tried to step into the room again but the barrier charm sent him reeling backwards. On the other side of the translucent barrier, Tansy took a tentative step forward. She opened her mouth but then the anxiety prevented her from saying anything and instead she let out a strangled cough.

'Duncan, could you leave us for a moment?' Healer Knits asked. Tansy blushed but felt grateful for Healer Knits's perception. She waited until the other Healer had disappeared round a corner before she spoke.

'I'm so sorry Fred.'

'No, it was my fault, Tansy. I didn't think…' Tansy shook her head and drew in a deep, calming breath.

'I'm sorry.' She began again. She looked determinedly into his wild eyes. For the first time in a long while she realised that she could see past the resemblance to George. She could see Fred again. She could see the man she loved. 'I love you. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you…'

'I love you too Tan,' his voice broke and he stifled a sob. 'Can we try again? I know we're both messed up but maybe we could mend together?' He wiped at his eyes, smearing eyeliner all over his hands again.

'I'd like that,' Tansy whispered. She was surprised that her own eyes remained dry. Instead, she felt her heart speeding up in the anticipation of something good; something to look forward too. She smiled at him and extended a hand towards the barrier and on the other side he did the same. Healer Knits muttered something and the air between Tansy and Fred's extended hands pulsed slightly. For half a heartbeat, their palms met, before the springy shield fell back in place. When Tansy dragged her eyes away from Fred, she saw that the Healer was staring nonchalantly at the wall, as if she had done nothing.

So now you see why we had a spontaneous stay in St Mungo's. Tansy and Fred are back together at last! It's going to be a tough few days for Tansy until she gets out though.