Aymee Parker B2 - The Cursed Mark

Chapter 33 : Farewells

Hepzibah's POV

Hepzibah left her house, locking the door. The tall girl glanced around as she replaced the straps of her bag. As usual, she wondered why the street was called Magnolia Crescent since there were no magnolias around. In fact, there were hardly any trees: only small, evenly trimmed shrubs to separate the grounds between the houses. Everything was so bleak it was unlikely that people would actually come to settle in this neighborhood. And yet there were neighbors. Far too much, in Hepzibah's opinion.

What a rotten neighborhood's, Hepzibah thought as she walked down the driveway to his house.

The Hufflepuff pulled her wand out of her pocket to summon the Magicobus. It wasn't long before the purple double-decker bus appeared. The ticket guy still had as many pimple as usual and didn't bother to ask her what her stop was. It was always the same.

He handed her the ticket and Hepzibah went to find a place on the second floor since the first was full. The wizards moved aside on her path, even yielding their place to her. Nobody wanted to sit near her, at the risk of being associated together.

Hepzibah finally settled in the back of the bus, where she would finally have some peace and quiet. She pulled out the urgent letter she had received a few minutes earlier to read. The slip of paper had been written by Miriam Strout, the head healer. Hepzibah didn't need to know the contents of the letter, it was easy to guess: it was today.

To pass the time, Hepzibah still took the trouble to read the contents of the envelope.

Miss Smith,

I'm afraid your mother only has a few more hours to spend with us. Your father is already with her, but she asks for your presence at her bedside. Mortaga seems to have some last urgent things to tell you before she leaves. Please come as soon as possible.

My sympathies,

Miriam Strout.

"Does she thinks I give a fuck about her sympathies?" muttered Hepzibah between her teeth.

Nevertheless, the letter did arouse her curiosity and annoyance. What could her mother have to tell her so urgently? Why hadn't she simply put it in the letter? Or told her earlier? Now Hepzibah was stuck and had no choice but to go to the hospital. She was going to have to spend hours listening to her moans and complains to end up harassed by the healers' condolences.

It better be important, the giantess grumbled inwardly.

"Hey, Smith!" finally called Rocade. "This is your stop!"

Hepzibah grabbed her bag and walked down the stairs to exit, paying her fare as she went. She had hardly put both feet on the sidewalk when the Magicobus fled in a gust of wind. The muggles didn't even pay attention.

Hepzibah crossed the crowded street to end up in front of the old storefront of Purge & Pionce Ltd. This store had a shabby, seedy exterior that was more than enough to repel muggles. She knocked on the window before talking to the model in an ugly green nylon dress.

"I received Strout's emergency letter to visit my mother, Mortaga Smith."

Luckily, the magic was in action, so the dummy had no trouble hearing Hepzibah's low voice over the hubbub of the crowded street. It wasn't long before the model subtly gestured to let her know she could pass. The familiar feeling of the curtain of cool water contrasted with the dry, warm atmosphere of the hospital hall.

Hepzibah narrowly avoided patients screaming a symphony and walked around a girl who was swollen like a balloon to go through the double doors. Healers in green robes walked in all directions, not paying attention to their surroundings. Hepzibah crossed the corridor then headed through other double doors that opened onto the staircase. Hepzibah ignored the various diagnoses of the wizards in the frames as she climbed to the fourth floor.