Shadow & Love

8* Visiting St. Mungo's & Hogwarts

Richard's office was untidier than Leonor remembered it. St. Mungo's patient files blocked every free space on the desk. The houseplants had not been watered for a while and the calendar sheets were not current. Leonor waited for the once paternal friend. She was standing in the middle of the room and taking in the scene of increased pressure in the hospital. She had been lucky that Olivia — the nurse of the intensive care ward — had a good memory and let her in without an official appointment. The security measures had been increased since Lord Voldemort stepped into the open. About an hour passed before Richard hurried into the room and the door banged shut behind him.

"What's the matter? The daily work meeting isn't enough for you?" snarled Richard without a greeting nor seeing the person dusting the plants.

"Hello Richard!" said Leonor quietly. "I'm sorry to burst into your office today, unannounced."

"My goodness! Leonor! You've been the last expected in here. Olivia just mentioned a colleague was waiting before dealing with the next emergency." Richard gawked at Leonor like a muggle seeing a ghost.

Leonor replied quickly, "I'm back and this time I will stay. My surgery is ready again, just in case it's needed." When Richard still stared at her, she continued to speak with a low voice, "Is Maria's family alright? The last message I received was about the birth of their grandson; but that was a while ago."

The reminder of the family in the Italian exile brought Richard out of his stupor, and he answered, "Of course! Maria and Matteo struggle with the muggles, but that's a minor problem. Francesco is thrilled about the magical offspring. It is good to know they are safe. I saw recently a Death Eater lurking outside the restaurant." Richard strode around the desk and embraced Leonor with the familiar tap on the back. "Let me look at you! You are tanned! You look great!"

"Thank you!" said Leonor with a smile, "It's good to see you too."

"You shouldn't be here, not voluntarily! Many want to leave the county, but we don't get them out anymore. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named found most of our contacts. It is too late."

"I'm needed more here than over there."

"Sure? It isn't very clear what we can really do. The situation became worse in the last months. Rufus Scrimgeour tries hard, but Cornelius Fudge allowed too much time to the evil to recharge the batteries."

"I noticed."

"I assume you haven't had contact to Brian. I fear that the mail between us is monitored when he didn't return to England. I'm not sending letters anymore, or he might be found by a fanatic. The arms of the darkest wizard of all times are everywhere meanwhile."

"He expected something like that. I paid him a visit before take-off in Brazil. He's very well, married and expectant father." Leonor fished a folder from the messenger bag over her shoulder. "For you, from Brian. He wants you to have all results of the scholarship started in England. He said that it is not the right time to publish most of it, but he hopes it will help the hospital. The descriptions of the antidotes for the fake Liquid Luck and the Horntail's Venom were published meanwhile in the South American Potions Periodical."

Richard took the package and nodded. "So, he did not forget England then?"

"No, he didn't. He spoke a lot about showing England to his family once everything is better."

"And what about you two? Do you speak to each other again?"

"We managed to be decent," smiled Leonor, "It was the best I broke up with Brian. Now he is happier and me too."

"If you say so! He didn't see it that way when you ended the engagement, but who understands women and their moods! What the hell came over you?" sighed Richard hopelessly.