The Simple House of Duffrey

(45) St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies & Injuries

When the morning of exams finally came, I was more worried about Kendra and Sam than myself. Sam had turned into a nervous wreck and made friends with the house elves just so she could bake. We all ended up with large baskets of muffins, scones and cupcakes. Of course, each one was meant to enhance us the best they could, short of cheating with something like Felix-felicius. Both Kendra and Parker might have considered asking for it, since the final game would happen after the exams. If his new keeper Randall was in a bad mood, then it could tank his first and second to last win as Captain.

I had to admit that I felt a bit distracted this year or maybe classes just past by easier, because I finally only sat through ones I was good at. I hoped that Kendra would get to experience the same relief next year. If she got placed in the same newts she would even have a few classes with Sam before we graduated. Graduation, now that was a scary thought...I hadn't really decided what I would do after school even if I did have a career on my mind. I even had my own home in a way, which I doubted many others did. Those thoughts could at least wait until summer.

There was a strange sense of time slowing at the end of my last exam. I looked at the clock but I could have sworn it wasn't moving. That same dread I felt since the Baron's words was trying to well up again. It was almost as if it was trying to become a sort of magic itself, but the bell still rang. Instead my class exited out into the halls, giving each other congratulations. From the other way passed the owls students heading for the next class, in their weeklong examinations. Each of their faces a mix of exuberance, guilt, grief or maybe just even relief. There were taller figures down the hall moving my direction as well.

I caught sight this time of Muldoon Cragg walking with someone toward me. As I recognized him, I then took in his face and the hastily drawn cape around him that hid what could have been blood from the eyes of other students. As I made a connection with Mr. Tunnel and Prof. Cragg's eyes time began to correct itself by speeding forward fast, too fast. They didn't have to say anymore I just hurriedly walked with them in silence to Cragg's office.

The Floo we had taken was to the Leaky Cauldron. This was my second time leaving Hogwarts this year already and now both could mean Death. My instinct was to run the half-mile down to the entrance of St. Mungo's. However, Mr. Tunnel muttered something about time and pulled me into a sidelong apparition, apparently into the Hospital waiting area. Mary and Mom were already there, one was crying and the other had a face ready to crumble if she didn't learn what was happening soon. Mom grabbed for me as soon as I landed and then saw Mr. Tunnel's bloody clothes.

"He didn't call, Anna. He always calls, right?" Mom said whispering into my ear. Her hands were clumsy as she held the sides of my face. Mr. Tunnel wandered off to find someone with news meanwhile Mary's instincts were on high gear.

"It's this way Mom" she said reading the sign and taking in the obvious activity which might have been auror's. With that little push my Mother's tether began to break and she flew us headlong into the stairway, too impatient to wait for an elevator.

We rushed into the emergency ward of St. Mungo's. The Ministry officials were all focused on one room where they had drawn the sheet over a man's body. Mom having grown tremendously strong at the sight, tried to push in through the men cataloging the death, even a reporter. Mary and I were of no help with fighting our way in. I also wasn't quite sure what we had been told to come for. They said an attack but no one had mentioned anyone died.

"Is that him, is that my husband? let me see him!" My mother said half hysterical pulling at the men's arms to get them out of her way.

"That won't be necessary. This man is a perpetrator, a murderer. Your husband is alive" said the official who had been on call for the incident. He was probably someone else on the Wizengamot rather than a auror.