Gideon Drake and the Fire Within (Harry Potter Sequel/Spinoff)

Chapter Thirteen: Breaking News

'You mean, she might die?' Gideon whispered as his body tensed up again.

'I'm afraid it's a possibility, Gideon,' Mr Grimsby replied. 'You see, your mother suffered some injuries as well.'

Nothing was making sense to Gideon. What little he knew about Dementors was not matching up with what he was being told, and why was Mr Grimsby the one here telling him this?

'I don't understand!' he snapped before turning to Chief Healer Dandridge, 'If we've been here a month, how can my mum be in such a bad condition? What's wrong with her?'

She told him frankly, 'To start with, she came in with some severe burns—'

'Burns?' Gideon exclaimed.

'—which for the most part, have healed reasonably well,' the Healer continued. 'The lingering problem is something far more difficult and dangerous to treat. Soul damage.'

'"Soul damage?"' Gideon repeated quietly. This at least sounded more Dementor-related, but it still didn't add up.

'Souls are extremely delicate, but they are invulnerable while affixed to a living vessel,' the Healer explained, 'Dementors have the power to draw a soul out of its container, exposing it to harm. According to a witness, your mother's soul had been exposed.'

Gideon recalled seeing the flickering light that had escaped his mother's mouth while they were both pinned down.

'Treating the soul is an area of magic that the wizarding world still knows very little about, Gideon. However, I want you to know that our best Healers have been working on your mother, and the hospital will continue to do everything we can for her. I must get back to my duties now, but Mr Grimsby has more to discuss with you. Healer Watts will be just outside.'

The woman gave Gideon a kind smile, but he detected a note of something resembling discomfort in her expression as she looked to Mr Grimsby before departing. The man rose out of his seat as they left. Gideon thought this was a polite gesture until Grimsby drew his wand and waved it through the air around them.

'To give us some privacy,' Grimsby explained, apparently referring to a barrier of sorts that he had just erected.

'I want to see my mum,' Gideon demanded, tired of dancing around the issue.

'I'm afraid that's not possible at this time, Gideon,' Grimsby replied.

'Why not?' Gideon asked, growing impatient, 'My eye, my mum's burns; just what happened to us exactly? Who or what gave us these injuries?'

'That's why I'm here, Gideon,' the man said, brushing his hair from his eyes as he leaned forward in his chair. 'It's one of the things I need to tell you­—'

'Tell me what?' Gideon said in exasperation.

Grimsby sighed, 'It was you, Gideon.'

The following gap in their conversation could have lasted minutes or just moments, Gideon wasn't sure. Grimsby's words had opened a dark chasm in the pit of Gideon's stomach, and he felt like he was falling ever deeper into it.

'W-what d'you mean?' Gideon stammered at last.

Mr Grimsby spoke softly, 'You see, Gideon, when the Dementors attacked you, your latent magical abilities were triggered, and you defended yourself—'

'Th-that's a lie!' said Gideon indignantly. 'I don't have any "Latent magical abilities," I'm a Squib!'

'Please, Gideon, I know this is hard to hear, but if you let me explain—'

'Why should I listen to you? I don't even know you!' Gideon cried, his voice growing louder and higher pitched, 'I want to see my mum! Now!'

'I'm sorry but you can't,' Grimsby answered.