Aria Black and the Battle for Hogwarts

Our Friend the Healer

The next morning we hear news reports about the Weasleys. There are Wanted signs with their names on it all over town. Death Eaters come and inspect Andromeda's home to make sure she's not housing them. They mess the entire house up, so Andromeda, two pregnant ladies, and me all have to clean an entire house.

Tonks is doing well at remaining somewhat calm for Angelina's sake, but Angelina is grumpy and hostile. Then again, I can't blame her. She's pregnant without her boyfriend with her and her entire family was just murdered.

To cheer Angelina up, I take her to St Mungos to see Alicia.

The welcome witch on duty is the one who Alicia always calls "Miss Horny". The witch's name is in fact, Miss Honey, but she's not very sweet. At all.

"Excuse me," I say, "can we-"

Miss Honey puts up her index finger to stop me. She's writing something down. It doesn't look important.

Angelina hands me her purse quite calmly. She slams both her fists on the desk. "Listen, lady, we want to see our friend Alicia Spinnet. If you don't take us to her right now-"

Miss Honey rolls her eyes. "Floor five, on her lunch break."

Angelina gently takes her bag from me, a look of success on her face. "Thank you." She says in a falsely sweet voice.

The crowd Angelina had assembled with her yelling forms a walkway for us, and it goes all he way to the stairs.

"What was that?" I ask her in awe when we reach the stairs.

She shrugs. "I don't know, but it felt good."

We go slow up the stairs, because Angelina tires quickly, and her back really hurts from carrying a child.

When we finally reach the top floor, it is bustling with activity. Is it everyone's lunch break? One witch cries excessively in the corner. A man sits next to her, patting her back and trying to soothe her.

In her green and gold training Healer robes, Alicia stands by the tea area, preparing herself some tea.

"Alicia!" Angelina calls.

Alicia's dark head shoots up. She whirls around to face us. "Angelina! Aria!"

Alicia runs to hug us. She hugs Angelina first, and pats her stomach. "I could help you deliver."

Ange smiles. "Since George isn't here, that would be lovely."

I hug Alicia, and she leads us to the corner private ward.

"Alright." She hisses. "What's been going on? Miss Horny convinced our boss to not let any news flow in. She thinks it distracts us from work."

Angelina rolls her eyes.

"Well," I say. "The new 'professors' at Hogwarts are the epitome of evil. You'd hate them, Alicia."

She groans. "Ugh, I wish I could help. Ange told me Dumbledore's Army is back. How are they?"

I sigh. "Awful. They get brought into the hospital every other day. Sometimes all of them. And Snape doesn't even blink an eye."

Alicia gasps. "Oh, Aria. That's horrible." She turns to Ange. "How're you holding up? I'm sorry I could go to the funeral."

Angelina shakes her head. "It's fine. That service was dumb anyway. The only good part was that George showed up."

"George? Isn't he-" Alicia lowers her voice. "doing Potterwatch?"

Angelina nods. "Aria brought him there."

"Did anyone see him?" Alicia asks.

I smirk. "Oh, loads of people did. I got him Polyjuice Potion to turn into an old man."

Alicia raises her eyebrows in interest. She looks at Angelina in disbelief. "How'd you kiss him if he was an old man?"

Ange smiles for the first time since seeing George. "I didn't." She says, as if a mysterious happy feeling is washing over her. "I waited until the potion wore off."

Alicia smiles. "Only you lot."

"How're things around here?" I ask. "Has St. Mungos been overtaken by Death Eaters too?"

Alicia shakes her head. "No, but I think it's coming. The hospital would be a huge asset to them. They could choose who we treat and who we don't."

That would be horrible. What if they find out Mary is here? Do they know she's a Seer?

"Alicia," I say. "Do you know of a Mary Taylor on the fourth floor? She thinks she's a Seer, and lives here permanently."

Alicia furrows her brow in thought. "Hmm," she says decisively. "I think I've seen Mary before. Tan skin?"

I nod. "Well, she is my aunt." Alicia gasps. "And she is really a Seer. But you can't let her leave here, because the Death Eaters will get her. They want to know about my prophecies."

"Why would Mary know?" Alicia asks.

"She made them." I whisper. "And she's in danger. Please, just keep an eye on her for me."

Alicia nods. "Yes, of course."

She looks at her watch. "It's been great talking to you two, but I've really got to get back to work." She looks at Angelina. "Tell me when you are close to having that baby. I'll come help deliver it. Goodbye guys. Good luck!"

Alicia hurries off.

I turn to Angelina. "We should go."

She nods.

"Alicia seems good." Angelina remarks as we head down the stairs. "In her own little world over here."

"Yeah." I muse. "I hope she doesn't get in trouble for talking to us."

"Then you'd have to, resign." Angelina says.