The Hospital
‘George, quit it, we’re going to faaaaaaas-’ Percy was unable to finish that sentence, as he almost fell out of his wheelchair from the sudden stop. He looked at George in frustration and a hint of amusement. The other Weasley grinned, devilishly yet sheepishly at the same time, ‘I could’ve fallen out y’know,’ he remarked, it coming out as a low growl. The smile disappeared from the Weasley’s face, as stared into the other’s eyes, now completely embarrassed.
‘I'm sorry?’ came out more as a question than an actual statement. Percy shook his head, sighing.
‘Whatever, we’re here anyway. If anything had happened, help would’ve been close,’ he said, raising his eyebrows while doing so.
A huge castle like building is what St. Mungo’s appeared to be. It looked closer to a mansion or a school, rather than a hospital. Doctors, nurses and patients were outside, enjoying the nice weather. George didn’t miss the small glint in his brother’s eyes when he noticed other people, who were also in a wheelchair, having fun and chilling, seemingly unfazed by anything around them.
‘Well, let’s go in then,’ George grabbed Percy’s chair and helped him inside. There, it being a hospital was actually visible. White walls, waiting chairs, more patients, medication, nurses and doctors and a huge crowd. Between the many dresses and gowns, a reception caught George’s attention. He began to get through the wave of people, constantly apologizing under his breath, but not missing a beat in rolling the wheelchair’s wheel over some people’s leg. The hisses and curses are what satisfied the man.
‘Uhm, excuse me?’ Percy called out, when they got there. He barely saw the woman sitting behind the counter. The lady seemed to have the same problem, as she began to look around, searching for the source of voice. After she spotted Percy, she smiled kindly.
‘Good morning sir,’ she greeted, ‘What can I help you with today?’
‘Uhm, I’m looking for Audrey… Audrey Smifhs,’ he said, staring back at the woman, completely emotionless. He learned to put that face up. The face that didn’t show weakness or pain. He tried to dismiss the eyes that stared at him, the silent pities of people who didn’t know who he was. What a monster he was…
‘Alright, yes, she knew you’d come,’ Percy blinked, then slightly snickered. Of course she did… ‘Please, follow me,’ she stood up, then went around and came to the Weasley’s side, ready to help him with his wheelchair. However, George was faster to grab the wheel away. His face darkened, piercing through the lady with a piercing look. The nurse blinked, ‘Is he…?’
‘Yes, he’s with me!’ Percy grinned awkwardly, then sent George a threatening look, however, he didn’t seem fazed. He kept staring at the lady, as if he’d be waiting for her to make a wrong move. To have a reason to hurt her for trying to take his brother away. Percy already regret bringing his brother, and they haven’t even met Audrey yet.
They went through countless halls, saw a lot of sick patients, grieving families… The war really had an effect on everyone. The thought still haunted Percy, ever since they stepped into the hospital. He tried to shoo it away, but it didn’t work. It never did.
In the distance, the two spotted a tall, blonde woman, in a long white cape, talking to a couple. Neither of them seemed too happy about whatever Audrey told them. After some seconds, the two went to sit down, the woman’s face already in her hands. That’s when Audrey spotted the three. Percy expected her face to lit up, but it didn’t. She still tried to smile, but the Weasley knew a fake smile, when he saw one.
‘Welcome Percy, welcome George! Long time no see, aye?’ she greeted them, with a small grin. George was still occupied with the nurse, who took the staring quietly, seemingly not fazed at all.
‘Hey Audrey,’ Percy said. After a quiet moment, the boy hit George in the shoulder, which made him snap out of his not-so-friendly thoughts. He yelped, while getting a hand on his shoulder.
‘Hey!’ he growled. While he turned his face towards his brother, the nurse slipped away, smiling to herself.
‘Someone greeted you,’ he said, his tone dark and kind of threatening. George looked up and his eyes widened.
‘O-oh, hey Audrey. Long time no see?’ he seemed awfully embarrassed. The girl giggled.
‘Well, you came for the job?’ she asked teasingly, already knowing the answer. Percy tilted his head, sticking his tongue out.
‘No, I came for your soul,’ he replied, jokingly. Behind him, George raised his eyebrows, but the two ignored him.
‘Sorry, don’t have one, better luck next time,’ the two shared a laugh, leaving a confused and shocked George. Did his older brother just crack a joke?
‘But seriously, yes, I did,’ he said. Audrey nodded, but then looked back at the two relatives she talked to earlier and picked up an unsure look.
‘Well… I can get you that job, but it must wait a little bit, I’m before a really long night,’ she said, sighing. Percy raised his eyebrows.
‘What’s wrong?’ Audrey shook her head.
‘Can’t tell you. Privacy reasons’ the Weasley groaned.
‘Of course you can’t… Out with it,’ this time, it was ordering, and also kind of demanding. Audrey shook her head.
‘No, you don’t understand. I can get sued for telling you,’
‘And who’s gonna know you told me?’ the girl bit her lip, thinking about it for a moment.
‘Fine. Come with me,’ she gestured for them to follow. Again, they seemed to go around the whole building before entering an office. Audrey went over to a bookshelf and grabbed some books. She placed them on her desk. The table was huge, way bigger than a normal one.
‘Aneurysm’ she said simply, ‘There’s a curse we can’t break, so we can’t get to his brain to fix the damage. I’m afraid if we don’t do something quickly, we’ll lose him’ she explained, sighing once again. Percy nodded sympathetically.
‘Do you guys know what type of curse it is?’
‘No,’ she said, burying her face in her hands, clearly frustrated, ‘And if we don’t find out soon, he’s going to die,’ she groaned.
‘May I see it?’ Percy asked, ‘I’ve met with loads of curses while I worked in the ministry. Maybe I met with it before,’ he suggested, kind of sheepishly.
‘We’ll have to ask the relatives. You can’t see him otherwise,’ Percy nodded.
‘Well, let’s go-’
‘Are you sure you want to get involved in this?’ George interrupted, trying to keep up with everything. Percy looked at him.
‘Yes,’ he stated. The younger Weasley sighed.
‘Look, I’m not saying you’re not capable of actually succeeding, but if something happens and he dies anyway… I just don’t want you to blame yourself,’ he explained softly. Percy’s features also seemed to soften. He looked at his brother, smiling assuringly.
‘I won’t, I promise,’ he answered, seeming so sure, George had to accept.
‘Fine. Just don’t get too involved. I’m not ready to make life-changing relationships yet,’ he joked, and seeing his brother smiling because of him even for a moment warmed George’s heart.
‘Okay, and there’s also a chance they won’t let you see him,’ Audrey pointed out.
‘Oh don’t worry, I’m great at convincing people,’ Percy said. The girl frowned.
‘Percy,’ she growled, warningly. Percy rolled his eyes.
‘Don’t worry, I won’t do anything’ George looked between the two, questioningly, but dismissed. He was already too confused to make sense out of anything.
***
The couple sat in front of their relative's room, holding each other, muttering. The three approached, forcing them to look up. The woman stared at them with a glint of hope.
‘Yes doctor?’ she spoke, softly.
‘Uhm, well, this is my friend, Percy Weasley,’ she introduced. The mentioned person waved, making a perfect motion. The pair looked at him, confused. ‘He previously worked in the ministry and was introduced to many curses and other spells, and he thinks he might be able to help,’ she explained. The lady’s eyes lit up, but the man seemed unsure. Percy noticed that, and smiled.
‘I might look a little clumsy,’ he gestured towards his wheelchair, ‘But I saved many people, and brought a lot back to life. Your son might have been hit with one of the more common spells and in that case, I could be capable of lifting it,’ the man frowned.
‘How do you know he’s our son?’ Audrey and George also became confused. The girl never mentioned what relationship they had.
‘Jackson Swills?’ the pair blinked, then their eyes widened at the same time.
‘Oh my lord, Ignatius!’ the man grinned, embracing the boy. The woman followed soon enough and the three were laughing the next minute.
‘Uhm, Percy?’ Audrey asked, interrupting the moment. The Weasley looked at his confused brother and friend.
‘Remember Sluggy?’ the girl recalled their housemate and nodded, ‘These are her boyfriend’s parents,’ an understanding look appeared on her face.
‘And how do you know them?’ George questioned, still hella confused.
‘Jack worked in the ministry. He was my assistant’s assistant,’ George also nodded.
‘Well, can you help him?’ the woman asked, hopefully.
‘I can try,’ Percy said.
‘Then what are you waiting for?’
‘Your permission,’ the parents blinked again. They looked at each other, then back at Percy. After a minute of silence, the father spoke.
‘Go. Go and save my son Weasley,’ he said, and Percy nodded. The three went in together, George not missing the judging stares the pair gave. They knew something he didn’t.
‘You knew all along it was them, didn’t you?’ Audrey sighed. Percy grinned.
‘I couldn’t just tell you to let me talk to them just because I know them,’ he reasoned. Audrey sighed. George helped Percy get to the patient’s bed.
‘Is there anything you found? Something as a lead?’ he turned around to see the girl already rushing towards a drawer nearby. She pulled out a bag, then gave it to Percy. There was a wand in it.
‘It belongs to whoever cast the curse,’ Audrey explained, ‘But none could crack it, something is preventing us from doing it, and the curse-breakers were too busy with other things to do it for us,’ Percy hummed. He took his own wand out, then muttered some spells under his breath, while waving his wand around. He tried Prior Incantato, but it didn’t seem to work. After some time however, his eyes widened.
‘Stand back!’ he ordered, as he pointed his wand towards one of the walls. The stick erupted in green light. It hit a vase full of flowers (presumably from visitors) and it shattered into million, black pieces. George and Audrey looked at Percy like at a madman.
‘What the fuck was that?!’ George shouted. Percy froze for a second, putting the pieces together.
‘This spell is a very rare spell and it’s difficult to cast it. This wand doesn’t belong to a Death-Eater, rather a puppet. Uhm, I’d say it was a Ravenclaw-’
‘Details later, do you know what spell it was?’ George interrupted. Percy looked at him for a moment, irritated, but the expression quickly disappeared and was replaced by a professional one.
‘It’s definitely a curse barrier of some sort. But the spell itself… I think it was a Reducto spell. It must’ve been interrupted, that’s why he didn’t blow up into pieces, or the barrier was casted wrong, and it blocked the other curse. ’ Percy picked his wand up and pointed it towards another vase which was empty. ‘Reducto!’ he said, and his wand erupted in the same green flames as the evidence did. George looked mildly impressed.
‘Wow…’ he muttered, however the nurse wasn’t satisfied yet.
‘Do you know how to break it?’ Percy looked at the woman.
‘You’re asking this from me? Really?’ Audrey rolled her eyes.
‘Well then, get on with it!’ she ordered, suddenly snappy. Percy raised his eyebrows, kind of offended by the attitude, but obeyed anyway, knowing there was no point to argue. He began his work slowly, making a note of every possible outcome, things to watch out for. The way how Percy treated the boy is what amazed Audrey, and that’s when she became a hundred percent sure: Percy belonged there.
A long time passed. George sat down and grabbed a magazine to read, while Audrey looked through her tablet. Finally, after an hour, Percy sighed in relief and suddenly, Jackson gasped, his eyes snapping open. The other two jumped up, Audrey immediately shouting for other doctors and nurses. The boy seemed completely unharmed. Not even a scratch. The girl turned towards the Weasley.
‘What did you do…?’ she asked, completely shocked, a hint of fear in her voice. Percy shook his head.
‘There was nothing wrong with his brain, the spell messed things up. He’s completely healthy,’ Percy explained, casually, ‘Yea… Messed up spells can have unexpected and weird side effects. We learned that in Hogwarts, Audrey,’ he joked. Audrey couldn’t hold back the overwhelming happiness. The patient was alive! They ran a couple of tests, and just as Percy said: He was fine.
Outside, Jackson’s parents were as grateful as a parent could possibly be. They offered him loads of things, but Percy refused everything for the sake of George and his anti-social behaviour. In the end, they managed to get his phone number, and thank Merlin they let him alone. The next moment, Audrey was pushing him somewhere and George had trouble keeping up.
The chief’s office. Oh dear… Percy deeply wondered who it might be. Some strict man with no taste, a cruel leader, an ass-
‘Oh,’ he breathed out.
‘Oh? Is that how you greet me after so much time?’ the man raised his eyebrows, pretending to be offended.
‘Oh!’ Percy’s tone began to fill with excitement.
‘Oh?!’ that one came from George, who just caught up and seemed to pale by the sight of the man.
‘Oh...’ the chief didn’t look too happy to see him either.
‘Marcus!’ Percy finally managed to say his name, laughing.
‘Percy!’ Flint greeted, opening his arms and running up to embrace his friend. George shook his head.
‘Oh for fuck’s sake, how many times will I be confused?!’ he roared, ‘Percy, you’re friends with Flint?!’
‘Very nice to see you too Weasel,’ Marcus growled, looking up to stare into his enemy’s eyes.
‘Stop bickering you two, or at least not in front of us!’ Audrey groaned.
‘Hey… Guys? Uhm, Audrey, what are we doing here?’ the girl looked at Percy, then back at his flatmate. She smiled.
‘Well, Percy, this is your new boss!’ Flint blinked.
‘Wait! You’re the one who wanted to apply!?’ he gasped, surprised. Audrey nodded, grinning from ear to ear, ‘You were right, it was a damn great surprise!’ the three friends laughed.
‘I’m so glad the boss is not a jerk…’ Percy muttered, a wave of relief rushing over him.
‘How do you know I’m not?’ Marcus raised his eyebrows.
‘Stop being cocky you git,’ the Weasley frowned, and this time, all four were giggling. Marcus went over to his table then grabbed some papers.
‘The form is here. You probably won’t have problem filling it out, it’s a lot easier than the ministry forms…’ recalling the memory, Percy shook a little.
‘Those papers were the most terrifying papers I’ve ever met with…’ he remarked.
‘Anyway, come in! Let’s talk a little! Our little reunion needs to be celebrated!’ Marcus invited the two in. Percy frowned.
‘Oliver’s still missing, Marc… Or did you forget about him already?’ Flint froze. He looked at Audrey, who suddenly paled.
‘You… You didn’t tell him?’ Marcus breathed out, his face twisting. Audrey bowed her head, apologetically.
‘I-I…’ she sputtered.
‘Tell me what?’ Percy asked, having a horrible feeling. He turned his head between the two, while George was also confused, judging by how he asked the same question after him.
‘Percy, I…’ Marcus began, but stopped, shaking his head. A moment of silence passed, and Percy began to feel awfully frustrated.
‘Marcus. Flint. Tell me what?’ he growled, giving his friend a stern stare, people would melt beneath first. But the Slytherin shook his head, then looked as if he was thinking and gave out a long sigh.
‘Percy… Remember when the Ministry building was set to flames?’ the boy nodded, slightly flinching. Marcus barely had the heart to continue ‘Oliver was in there when it happened,’
And that was it. Time stopped. The Weasley froze. No… Surely not. No. no no no no no no no no no no. He muttered to himself, shaking his head continuously. He heard Marcus apologizing, Audrey, sniffling, George shouting then… Darkness. It’s truly been a long time.