Ebb and Flow

St. Mungo's Hospital, September 1980

***

"MUGGLES AREN'T LIKE WIZARDS!" the Healer in Chief yelled at the trainee. "HOLD THE BLOODY SHEET CLOSED! DON'T MOVE!"

Althea gulped as she passed the man whose legs were splayed out like an open book. A Muggle hospital would know how to deal with such a fracture, she thought as she past another Muggle who held a blood-soaked rag to his head. Althea sighed as she looked about at the Ward for Broom Injuries--usually a calm place frequented by elite Quidditch players. Healers, Trainees, and Caretakers rushed about at least thirty cots--all filled with injured Muggles.

"Morrigan, thank God."

Althea turned to face a tall man with graying hair in lime green robes. "Who hasn't been seen?" she asked as the Caretaker placed a sheet over the body on the cot three over from them.

"Follow me," Healer Bugg said and nodded for Althea to follow.

Healer Bugg walked quickly and it was difficult for Althea to keep up as she dodged cots and Caretakers. Good Lord, what happened, she thought as they past a groaning woman with a broken ankle that jutted out at almost ninety degrees.

"An attack on a Muggle Market," he said loudly as they exited the ward and entered the Ward for Cauldron Explosion. More Healers and Caretakers tended to victims with large fluffy gauze wrapped around their faces and hands. "Fiendfyre...the sick fucks."

"Indeed," Althea breathed, shaking her head.

Althea followed Healer Bugg into the Ward for Backfired Spells. Her heart sank as she saw a lone family of four huddled together upon one cot. Cuddled in his mother's arms was boy with messy brown hair no more than five-years-old. Damn it, she thought as the girl--no more than eight--clung to her father. Althea removed her lime green robe to reveal her Muggle clothes underneath.

"Parents are worse off than the children," he muttered and Althea nodded. "Won't let go of them."

Althea looked to the parents. "I wouldn't, either."

Healer Bugg clapped Althea on the back and left her alone with the family. Who would do this to children, she thought, biting the inside of her cheek. Althea stepped forward, quietly carrying a chair with her. She would hope to learn details about the incident so she could pass that very important information on to certain members of the Order. Not a member herself, Althea did find that her time at St. Mungo's was helpful for she could piece together certain aspects of the attacks. I'm just as good as, she thought, sitting across from the family.

"Hello," she said, leaning forward and smiling pleasantly, "I'm Althea."

The little boy buried his face in toward his mother's chest.

Althea frowned thoughtfully as she looked to the mother.

"You look awfully young," she said, eyeing Althea warily.

Althea smiled. "I would like to help you."

"We'd like to go home," she replied, stroking her son's back.

"Very much so," Althea replied, turning her head to the side as she looked at the young boy. "I just want to see that they're all right and that you're all right," she said, forcing herself to have the most pleasant expression possible as the woman eyed her with dubious contempt.

"What are you?"

"A doctor--"

"No, you're not," the woman said, narrowing her eyes.

"Just let her do her job," the father said and sighed. "I twisted my bloody ankle and it's throbbing!"

"Could I?" Althea asked, gesturing toward the man's leg.

The man nodded. "Anything."

Althea crouched before the man and gingerly slipped off his shoe and sock. "What happened?" she asked as she carefully examined the man's ankle.

"I twisted it--"

"How?"

"You bloody well know how!" the man said through gritted teeth. "Those freaks that blew everything up!"

Althea nodded and carefully disguised her wand with her hand as she continued to examine his ankle. "Talus Brostrom," she muttered and the swelling and bruising to the man's ankle disappeared.

The man sighed and wiggled his ankle. "What? How?" he wondered, looking at his healed ankle.

"A little trick I learned at university," she lied and winked.

Without any more question, the man had Althea examine his daughter. The girl had nothing more than a few bumps and bruises her legs and arms, which Althea healed quickly. What they'll really need is an Obliviator, she thought as she mended the gash upon the girl's knee. Althea knew that Memory Charms were powerful and the wizards in the Ministry were quite skilled, but she wondered that despite the modification of memory, if some small part of the true memory remained. She wondered if the Muggles felt as if "something was not quite right." How could a person go through all this unscathed, she thought as she looked toward the mother. Are Memory Charms adequate? The mother relented and allowed Althea to examine her son. The boy squirmed and cried until Althea allowed him to hold her wand.

"Come on," Althea encouraged as the boy pointed her wand at her. "Curse me again!"

"Boom!"

"Oh!" Althea yelped and fell backward onto the cold floor. She looked up at the ceiling and laughed. "An excellent curse!"

Althea sat up, smiling at the boy. She gently eased her wand from him. "I reckon you'll really like this," she said and flicked her wand anti-clockwise. "Avis."

A flock of four finches appeared and Althea grinned as she guided them through the air. The boy and his family cheered happily. Althea waved her wand and the finches vanished.

"Right," she breathed, smiling at the boy. "Could I mend that cut above your eye?" she asked, pouting slightly.

"I didn't hurt, James," Katherine said, taking her brother's hand.

James sniffed and nodded.

Althea raised her wand and gently held her wand to the cut above his eye. She whispered the charm and slowly dragged her wand across the cut. The boy blinked when she finished.

"There, perfect," she whispered, admiring her work. "You were fiercely brave."

The boy smiled weakly.

"And now, you, mum?" Althea asked, smiling at the mother.

The mother nodded and held out her bruised arm.

Althea mended the injuries to the mother and the father as the children ran and twirled about the empty ward. After she was finished, she led the family to the Muggle surgery (she marveled at its accuracy--three month old magazines, ghastly wallpaper, and posters encouraging a brisk walk) where the Obliviators waited. She sat the boy upon the examination table and waited for the Obliviators to synchronize their charms. How I loathe how often we must do this, she thought, slinging the stethoscope around her neck.

"Right, then?" she breathed brightly.

The head Obliviator nodded.

"Obliviate!"

The family blinked and shook their heads for a few moments--enough time for the Obliviators to leave. Althea smiled pleasantly at the family as they came to their senses.

"Right," she sighed, pretending to examine the boy's head. "Nothing more than a bump on the head."

"A bump on the head?"

"A bump on the head," she replied as the boy massaged his temple. "He'll be just fine," she added and held up a red lolly. "Lolly?"

The boy grabbed at the lolly and Althea winked at him.

"Thank you," the mother said, massaging her wrist. "You've put our minds at ease."

***

The lime green robe was rolled up underneath Althea's arm as she exited St. Mungo's. She stopped before she entered the street and rubbed her forehead. Her eyes downcast, she stared at the street and at the reflection of the streetlamp in the puddle. I don't know how much more I can take, she thought, finding her tired mind mesmerized by the yellow glow of the streetlamp's reflection. She felt the robe slipping from her arm and she readjusted it. She felt uneasy in the darkness--she knew she was not alone.

"Althea?"

Althea looked up and slowly smiled. Sirius, smiling, stood against his motorbike--his eyes wary of what was around him. Althea quickly walked toward him--God, how he looked gorgeous against that motorbike--still in the clothes he wore for their date. I'll make it up to him after some sleep, she thought, smoothing his collar.

"Hello, lovely," he murmured, sliding his arms around her waist.

Althea rested her face against his shoulder. "God, it was awful," she whispered, feeling Sirius hold her tighter. "Fiendfyre."

She felt Sirius throw his head back.

"Right," he sighed and kissed her cheek. "Home, straight away."

Althea smiled tiredly, pulling away from him. "You don't have to--"

Sirius winked. "I don't mind--"

Suddenly, the ground shook from an explosion, knocking the couple to the puddle-filled street. Sirius tightly held onto Althea, instinctively positioning himself between her and the blast. She felt the rush of hot air against them as Sirius buried their faces. Althea panicked as she gasped for breath for what seemed like ages for the unbearable heat to dissipate.

"Are you all right?" Sirius asked, roughly stroking Althea's cheek.

Althea nodded. "What happened?"

Sirius was grim-faced as he stared at St. Mungo's. Althea turned her head and gasped--smoke and fire billowed out of the second floor.

Sirius quickly turned Althea's face toward him. "Take my bike and go," he said, his face illuminated by the fire.

Althea shook her head. "My patients--"

Sirius did not wait for her response but charged forward with his wand drawn. Althea quickly followed and ducked as Sirius's blasted the doors to St. Mungo's open. Overturned chairs and tables with curtains on fire greeted the couple as they entered the waiting room. Sirius forcefully tossed Althea out of the way as a jet of blue light soared past. Sirius growled and ran forward with his wand slashing the air. Althea entered the first ward--her adrenalin overcoming her horror at disfigured and dismembered Muggles--she shouted at the remaining Caretakers and Healers to help her gather what Muggles they could and get them out. Some did as they were told, but others ran by Althea toward their own safety.

"Hurry!" she scolded as the Caretakers levitated the Muggles toward the entrance. "PROTEGO!"

Althea ran forward as a large silver dog formed from the tip of Sirius's wand. Suddenly, James, Remus, and others that she believed to be Order members surrounded Althea.

"What happened?" James yelled.

"Attack on Muggles!" Sirius yelled, looking around him. "Death Eaters are finishing what they started!"

"Potter, Lupin," Moody barked, "upstairs with me! Shacklebolt, you take the farthest corridor with Longbottom! Black!"

"Yes?" Sirius shouted and thrashed the air with his wand.

"Keep your trousers up long enough to fight!"

Sirius grinned.

A woman with blood splattered lime green robes ran forward. "THEY'RE KILLING THEM OUTSIDE!"

Panic coursed through Althea's veins. "Fuck!" she breathed, running her fingers through her soot-covered hair. "I--I don't know what to do?"

"Do what you can!" Remus said, placing his hand upon Althea's shoulder. An explosion from above caused bits of plaster to fall. "We'll handle the Death Eaters!"

Althea nodded and the group rushed forward. Althea went about the wards putting out the fires and tending to the Muggles that were still alive. Few of the Healers and Caretakers remained--and one Caretaker in particular threatened any Healer or Caretaker that thought of leaving his post with an Unforgivable. Althea entered the smoke-filled corridor and narrowly missed a burst of red light that streaked through the corridor. She heard it make contact with an agonizing scream a ward away.

"AVADA--"

Althea gasped and threw herself against the wall as the jet of green light exploded upon floor where she had stood. The Death Eater screamed and Althea thrust and slashed the air with her wand. The Death Eater countered and Althea had little time to block his curse.

"No!" she growled, narrowing her eyes to see through the smoke. "INFLIGO!"

The ball of bright blue light erupted at the Death Eater's abdomen, briefly illuminating his form before he was thrust back into the burning corridor. Without hesitation, Althea turned and, with head bent, rushed forward to the remaining wards. A purple-colored curse flew above her head and Althea ducked. She turned her head to see another Death Eater in pursuit of her. She pointed her wand over her shoulder and cast a Shield Charm as she ran. The Death Eater continued after her and, as Althea turned to cast a curse, she stumbled over something large and solid, her legs giving out underneath her. Althea's back hit the floor first--its impact taking her breath away. She moaned as she lifted her head and glanced at what she tripped over. Althea felt the wand slip from her hand as she gazed at the reluctant mother she had tended to--now dead.

"God," she breathed, horrified.

Althea felt something flicking her cheek. She slowly turned her head to see a wand pointed between her eyes. Her eyes traveled up the wand, up the arm, up the shoulder to look at the hooded figure before her. She breathed in a shallow breath. I don't have time to scream, she thought as the Death Eater retracted his wand. The Death Eater began to teeter, and soon, he violently swayed and fell to the ground.

"Are you okay?" Sirius asked, offering his hand.

Althea nodded and took Sirius's hand. "There are children--"

"Children?" he questioned, lifting her up.

"The family I treated," she explained quickly and pointed to the lifeless body at her feet. "That's the mum. They never made it--"

Sirius looked at the woman's body at their feet. His face twitched with rage.

"We'll look for them," Sirius said, placing his hands upon her shoulders. "Where were they last?"

Althea furrowed her eyebrows. "The Muggle surgery," she said, her stomach becoming painfully tight. "How--how did she?"

"No time!" he said, shaking her slightly. "Take me there!"

Althea hurriedly led Sirius toward the Muggle surgery, the two dodging and casting curses as they ran. How many Death Eaters are there, she thought as the two sent Stunning Spells at the hooded figure.

"Take off your hood, you coward!" Sirius yelled as he threw the stunned, hoodless Death Eater against the far wall. "Althea," he said and grunted as he cast another curse, "if we don't find them, get yourself out!"

Althea shook her head as she leapt over a fallen chair. "No!"

Sirius growled with frustration.

"Here!" she said, pulling on his jacket. "Surgery's this way!"

The two burst into the corridor--the sound of their footsteps echoed against the spring green walls. Sirius raised her arm to stop her. He held his forefinger to his lips and nodded for her to lead him. The two crept along the corridor, peering into darkened rooms, as they neared the surgery. Althea pointed to the closed door.

"How many?" Sirius whispered.

"Two--James and Katherine, I think," she said as Sirius placed his hand upon the door.

"Right," he whispered and kissed her lips, "after me."

The door slowly creaked open and Sirius thrust his wand into the room--illuminating the Muggle medical items as he entered. Sirius peered around the room--his eyebrows furrowed, but his eyes betrayed his confusion at the Muggle medical items.

"James! Katherine!" Sirius whispered, opening the cupboard underneath examination table.

"Katherine, it's Althea," she said, peering around the side of the examination table. Althea let out a small sob.

There, sprawled in the corner, lay motionless the children's father. His glassy eyes looked back at Althea--the look of terror preserved upon his face. Althea covered her mouth, closing her eyes. She felt Sirius's hand upon her back. What is the point, she thought, trembling with rage. What is the point of all of this? The sound of a thump and a muffled bang from the metal cupboard broke Althea from her thoughts. She quickly turned toward Sirius. He nodded for her to go forward.

"Katherine?" she whispered, reaching for the metal handle. Althea's hand grasped the cool metal handle and she slowly turned it--the lock disengaging and squeaking as she slowly opened the door. "Katherine...James?"

Althea gasped--her eyes welling with tears. Huddled before her-- with their tear-stained faces--were the children. She knelt before them and brought her hands to their trembling faces. She thought of Marie--who held her just as tightly as Katherine held James--to her mother's screams, to the green flash, and to the silence.

"Come," she whispered, reaching for James. "I'll keep you safe, I promise you."

James shook his head and buried his face against Katherine's chest. Katherine held James tighter to her. Althea, her eyes blurred with her tears, reached for James. James yelped and fiercely clung to Katherine. Althea grasped at the boy, but he kicked at her--hitting her in the shoulder. Althea fell back onto the tile floor and nodded with thanks as Sirius helped her up.

"My love, we have to go," Sirius whispered, stroking her cheek. "I'll stun them--"

"No," she whispered, placing her hands upon his chest. "No."

Althea furrowed her brow as she looked upon the young pair. She knelt before them and sniffed.

"Here," she said, holding her wand before James's face. "You hold this and curse anyone who tries to hurt us."

"Althea--"

"I've seen him do it, Sirius," she said as the little boy opened his eyes. "He's very good."

The little boy considered the wand and Althea nodded encouragingly. James sniffed and grasped the cedar wand in his small hand. Althea held out her arms for him and the boy wrapped his small arms around her neck. She held the boy's face to her shoulder, shielding him from the sight of his dead father.

"This is my friend, Sirius," she said and nodded toward him.

"Hello," he said, kneeling next to Althea. "I'll get you out of here, straight away," he said, taking Katherine's hand.

Katherine nodded and flung her arms around Sirius. Sirius grunted as he stood.

"Right, Althea?" he said, his eyes glancing toward the door.

"If we continue along this corridor, we can take the passage that connects it to the Muggle hospital," she said, lifting James higher. "Then we seal the passage."

Sirius nodded.

Althea--her arms aching--led Sirius down the winding corridor. Almost there, she thought as she heard the rumble of an explosion above them. Althea stroked James' soft hair and murmured to him about his bravery. She gently eased her wand from James's hand and muttered the three charms to open the door. The door swung open to reveal the hospital atrium. Althea sighed as the atrium was deserted. Sirius shut the door behind him and cast a series of spells to seal the door.

"What now?" Sirius asked softly as he held the little girl.

Althea frowned. She knew nothing about them--except the father was a banker. She could take the children to Northfield, but she knew the imposing house would scare them. Her cottage and Sirius's flat were options, but not very child friendly. Broomsticks, potions, those ghastly Wizard magazines, she thought and gently bit her bottom lip.

"Godric's Hollow."

***

Lily offered Althea a cup of tea. "Are you sure you don't want anything stronger than tea?" she asked, sitting upon the sofa.

Althea looked upon James and Katherine. Freshly bathed and in new clothes that Sirius bought them, the children sat before the television, watching a variety program. James was curled up against Snuffles and Katherine scratched the top of Snuffles's head.

Althea shook her head. "I'll have some of my family's rum later," she said and took a sip from her cup. "His Animagus form is just so bloody convenient, isn't it?"

Lily smiled. "It suits him."

"Indeed," she said, knowing that Snuffles had fallen asleep. "Thank you."

Lily placed her hand upon Althea's hand. "Without question," she said and tenderly pressed Althea's hand. "Dumbledore has found their family."

"Good," she sighed, looking to her cup. "Good."

"You weren't thinking--"

"No," she said quickly, looking at the little boy asleep in Quidditch pajamas. "No."