Chapter 29
The air crackled with urgency as Petunia, Rabastan Lestrange, and the house-elf Pip hurried towards the back door of Lestrange Manor. From within, the sounds of Bellatrix's manic laughter and Rodolphus's booming voice clashed with the terrified whimpers of the Longbottoms, providing a chaotic smokescreen for their escape.
Petunia, sharp and decisive, addressed the figures waiting outside. "Druella, Cygnus, hurry, get in the car! We need to get to the hospital now."
Druella and Cygnus Black, their usually proud faces etched with anxiety, moved with a slowness amplified by the arsenic coursing through their veins. Druella, frail and weakened, shuffled to the car, assisted by Cygnus. Once they were settled, Petunia turned to Pip. "Pip, take us to a Muggle hospital, quickly!"
"As you wish, Second Mistress," Pip squeaked, his large eyes wide with concern. He started the car, a marvel of magic disguised as mundane transport. Thanks to an invisibility charm, they were hidden from prying eyes, magical and Muggle alike.
As they sped away, Pip spoke up, "Madam, we reach the hospital."
"Okay, stay in the car. Keep it invisible," Petunia instructed. "Cygnus, Rabastan, let’s get Druella inside."
They piled out. Cygnus, supporting his ailing wife, and Rabastan, clutching a shrunken bag bulging with Muggle money, escorted Druella towards the hospital's brightly lit entrance. Petunia took the lead, heading straight for the emergency department.
"Excuse me, please help me! My friend needs chelation therapy, IV," she said urgently to the first nurse she saw.
The nurse, taking one look at Druella's pallid complexion and labored breathing, recognized the severity of the situation. "Right this way," she said, ushering them into a private room. She quickly returned with the necessary equipment.
Druella trembled as the nurse approached with a needle and IV bag. Petunia placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Madam Black, I understand it's overwhelming, but please, I need you to be cooperative."
The nurse, efficient and professional, examined Druella's veins and skillfully inserted the needle. Druella flinched, but trusted Petunia, the unusual Muggle woman who had unexpectedly entered their magical world.
The nurse then turned to Cygnus. "Sir, you also seem a bit pale, just like the Madame. I suggest you also receive an IV."
Cygnus, radiating the aristocratic air of a Pureblood, nodded with a hint of disdain. "Very well," he replied, revealing his arm. The nurse swiftly administered the IV.
“You’re lucky,” the nurse said after checking Druella’s vitals. “If you had waited another day, the poison would have likely claimed her life.”
Petunia exhaled deeply, relieved. “Thank you,” she replied. Then, her expression turned serious. “I assume you’ll need to make a report and notify the authorities?”
The nurse nodded. “Yes. We’re required to investigate the source of the poisoning.”
Petunia offered a sharp nod, but—out of the corner of her eye—she noticed Rabastan shift uncomfortably. Once the nurse left, he leaned closer to her, whispering urgently.
“Darling, have you forgotten about the Statute of Secrecy? We can’t let Muggles investigate us.”
Petunia sighed in exasperation. “Rabastan, calm down. We’ll handle it. Worst case, you use your little memory-wiping spell—Obliviate, isn’t it?” She waved a hand dismissively, as if the immense breach of Wizarding law were a trivial matter.
Druella, now more alert, chuckled hoarsely from the bed. “Truly, Rabastan, your wife has more sense than you ever have. Maybe her Muggle ways will knock some sense into that head of yours.”
Cygnus chuckled. "It’s a good thing you married her. She's enforced some common sense into your brain. Who knows what would happen to you if she wasn't around?"
Rabastan's cheeks flushed crimson. "Uncle Cygnus!"
Petunia rolled her eyes, hiding a smile. She took Rabastan's hand, and a wave of heat washed over him. He knew he was falling for his wife, and even a simple gesture like holding hands felt like a significant step. Petunia, however, remained oblivious to his burgeoning feelings.
"We need to get more IV drips for the rest of the Dark families in your circle. Come on, let's go buy some," she declared, pulling him towards the exit.
Meanwhile, at Malfoy Manor, Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy were desperately trying to uncover the source of the arsenic poisoning. Their investigation had led them to the wallpaper, and subsequently, to the companies that manufactured it.
"Five companies, all owned by newly emerged Pureblood families that aren't part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight," Lucius muttered, anger simmering beneath his pale skin. "The Rayl, Vice, Chastain…"
He paused, a flicker of shock crossing his face. "I'm going to kill each and every last one of them and end their bloodline. Hector Chastain… He was my friend in my Hogwarts days!"
Narcissa, her elegant features clouded with confusion, questioned, "But why? Why would they do this? What would they gain? They won't even receive a seat on the Council. Why did they do it?"
Just then, Abraxas Malfoy and Reinhard Lestrange entered the room, their faces grim. "We'll get our answer when we force them to speak," Abraxas stated.
Reinhard added, "The timing is right, just like Petunia said. The Arsenic was distributed in wallpapers about 80 years ago. No one knew these wallpapers in the muggle world before, but they knew about them here."
“Let's not waste time and gather all the Dark families. Everyone, don’t leave anyone behind, especially Wilberga Black,” Reinhard commanded.
Back at the Muggle hospital, Petunia and Rabastan were confronting the hospital owner, Mr. Deion.
Mr. Deion, bewildered, asked, "I'm sorry, could you repeat what you were saying again?"
Petunia took a deep breath and reiterated her request. "We would like to buy all of the chelation IVs you have right now."
Mr. Deion, skeptical, responded, "Madame, this is a very difficult request. If you have people who are exposed to poison or anything, bring them to the hospital, and we will treat them."
Petunia shook her head. "Listen, Mr. Deion, we are in a complicated situation, and so are you. If you want to save your hospital from bankruptcy, I suggest you take our offer."
Mr. Deion sighed, considering his dwindling finances. "Very well. One bag of IV will cost you £200. If you don’t have that kind of money, then don’t bother."
Rabastan seethed. He read his mind and it only cost 20£. He gripped his wand beneath his cloak, tempted to silence the insolent Muggle with a curse. But Petunia squeezed his arm, a silent warning.
She nodded calmly. "We already have the money. Just prepare us the IV bags."
Mr. Deion, still doubtful, picked up the phone. "Jack, how many chelation IVs do we have in storage?" He listened for a moment, then looked back at Petunia. "You're in luck. We have about 244 IVs, which means you need to pay £48,800."
The director remained skeptical, unable to believe someone would buy the entire stock. However, Rabastan yanked open the Muggle bag, revealing its overflowing contents. He tossed it onto the counter with a sneer. "Bring us the IVs now!"
He opened the bag and he found a lot more money than what he asked for. Petunia added, "One for the payments and the other for your silence."
Mr. Deion’s eyes widened; avarice replacing his suspicion, and in that moment, he knew that he will not be saying one word about his dealings with these strangers. He quickly recovered, his demeanor shifting. "I will tell them to prepare it right away, madame."
Back in the room with the Blacks, Petunia asked, “How are you feeling now?”
Rabastan could see the subtle return of color to Druella's face. She smiled. “I feel like I’m twenty years younger now. My joints don’t hurt me anymore.”
Rabastan announced impulsively, "I need to inform Bella and Rudi. They will be thrilled with their improvement."
Petunia smiled. "Yes, I’m sure they will. I need to check on pip as well."
Rabastan exited the room, headed towards a quiet garden spot, He sent a silent Patronas message to to Bella and Rodolphus. He turned back towards the hospital, eager to return to his wife when he collided with someone. When he steaded himself, he realised it was Ted Tonks.
Ted's eyes widened, his hand instinctively reaching for his wand. "Lestrange? What are you doing here?"
The air crackled with tension, the threat of violence hanging heavy between the two men. The uneasy truce between the magical and Muggle worlds seemed about to shatter in this quiet hospital garden.