Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Zingaro	By : ccino49 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 3610 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 51
- 52
- 53
I own nothing from the Harry Potter universe. It all belongs to JK Rowling.

Zingaro

Chapter 52

Paula rested her head against that of Alice Longbottom�s, still their eyes stayed connected as Paula�s fingers dug lightly into Alice�s scalp, her thumbs against the woman�s temples.
Tears trickled slowly down Paula�s cheeks, soon to be joined by the tears of the other.
Kingsley, who�d listened but not watched, now turned to see his long incarcerated friend, the woman who had been locked inside her own mind for so long now it was difficult to remember just how fun loving she used to be, how vibrant and full of life. He saw the tears that fell from the young Gypsy woman, and then blinked away his own when he noticed they were merging with those of Alice�s.

Then Alice�s tears where accompanied by a coarse, hacking sob.
�Yes.� Paula whispered to her. �Yes. Kathal. Hai shala? Go forward. Do you understand?�
Alice slowly nodded and lifted her hands and rested them against Paula�s, who in turn lowered her own and clasped the frail ones.
Kinsley could not tear his eyes away from the two women as he sidled almost clumsily towards Remus, who was still watching the corridor.

Remus started when a large hand settled on his shoulder and shook him.

He turned to ask what was wrong and Kingsley pointed at the two women.
Remus saw Alice now holding her hands aloft, turning them and studying them as though they were new to her. She lifted her face and stared around the room until her gaze settled on her husband. �Frank.� She said hoarsely. �My Frank.�

She turned back to Paula. �Who� are� you?�
�No one. Be happy sister.�
Paula stood and wavered unsteadily on her feet until Kingsley shot forward and grabbed her, sitting her on a bed before she fell.
�Miss Vance, are you alright?�

�Yes yes. I just need a little time to rest. See to your friend, she needs you.�

�Remus? Remus Lupin?� Alice asked slowly, her voice unused for so long she had some difficulty formulating her words.
�Yes Alice it�s me.� Remus answered, his own voice choked with emotion.
�Whe� where are we? Oh Gods, Bellatrix, she�s here somewhere. Frank, where�s Frank? And Neville, where�s my baby Remus?�
The matron chose that moment to poke her head through the door. Healer Murphy was doing his rounds and she wanted to ensure that all was in order before he appeared.
�What are you doing? Why is that woman on the bed?� She asked outraged when she noticed Paula lying down on Alice Longbottom�s bed. �How dare you? Remove yourself this minute.�

�The young lady fainted Matron, I thought it best to have her lie down rather than have her collapse on your floor and risk injury. I am sure you understand.� Kingsley said in a deep, purring voice.
Matron eyed him suspiciously but was unable to stay angry when he gave her his most charming smile. Instead, she batted her eyelids at him and gave a discrete cough.

�Well I suppose under the circumstances. Does the young lady perhaps need a glass of water or something?�
�That would be much appreciated matron, thank you. And perhaps you might also have someone see to Mrs Longbottom, she is somewhat confused as to her surroundings and the reason she is here.�

Matron turned her gaze to the normally docile Alice and was startled to see the new intelligence that shone from her eyes, the curious animation on her face and the fact she seemed to be conversing and interacting with the somewhat shabbily dressed man that had accompanied the visitors.

�Oh my. I�ll get Healer Murphy immediately.� She told them, flying out the door.
Kingsley heard her bark an order at someone in the corridor and a minute later a young woman in trainee�s uniform appeared with a jug of iced water and a glass.
�I was informed that someone fainted.� She said, looking at the group.
�Yes, the young lady on the bed there.� Kingsley motioned with his hand towards Paula.
The trainee placed the jug and glass on the bedside cabinet and poured water for Paula. �Here you are Madam.� She said, gently placing an arm behind Paula�s shoulders and helping her sit.
�Paula thanked her and sipped at the water, spilling some as she shivered.
�You�re cold.� The trainee commented, taking a blanket from another bed and placing it over her. �I had better call someone.�
�I�ll be fine in a while, I just need to rest.�
Before the trainee could argue, the door opened and an excited Matron entered along with a portly man in pale blue robes, who in turn was followed by a small troupe of healers and medi-witches.
They immediately clustered around the newly �awakened� Alice Longbottom.
Remus and Kingsley found themselves pushed to the far side of the room as Alice was examined, questioned, poked and prodded.
After an hour, Paula felt well enough to remove herself from the bed, completely unnoticed by the crowd gathered around Alice.

She made her way towards Remus and Kingsley at the far side of the room.
Both men pulled her into an embrace, neither one able to formulate a proper sentence.

Remus just kept saying, �Thank you.� Over and over, while Kingsley kept asking, �How?�
�I cannot deal with the other one right now, I need to eat, build up my strength first.�
The two wizards knew they would not be able to get close to Frank for a while yet and instead they escorted Paula along the corridor and bought lunch.
Remus noticed that Paula seemed on edge. �Is something wrong?� He asked her.
�Outside. I need to go outside for a while.�
Remus and Kingsley were not aware of Paula�s biological need for open space, her claustrophobic propensity when behind closed doors for any length of time, but they grabbed what was left of their sandwiches and escorted her from the building.
Once outside Paula did not feel much better, the crowds of people on the busy street serving to give her a feeling of being hemmed in even more. �I will return in an hour, hopefully by that time I will have the opportunity to evaluate the other Longbottom.�

Remus was about to protest but Paula simply disappeared before he even opened his mouth.

�Where did she go?�
Kingsley shrugged his shoulders. �Who knows, but I trust her, you saw what she did up there.�
�I saw the result; I was too busy staring down the corridor. What did she do?�

�I wasn�t watching either, I only listened. She spoke a lot of words I couldn�t make head nor tail of so I just blanked it out until I heard Alice speak and saw them both crying.�
�Do you think she�ll be able to do the same for Frank?�

�I hope so, for Alice�s sake if nothing else. I didn�t realise how much I missed them both until today. Gods Remus when Alice recognised you I thought� well I don�t know what I thought. I wonder why the Gypsy collapsed like that.�

�I have no idea, must be something to do with what she does. Should we let Augusta know, or shall we wait and see what happens with Frank?�

�I would imagine the hospital have already contacted Mrs Longbottom. Most likely she is on her way or has floo�d in and is already up there.�
Excited now, the wizards made their way back up to the Janus Thickey ward and sure enough, there was Augusta Longbottom holding tight to her daughter-in-law, both of them crying as they sat next to Frank and held his hands.
�Mrs Longbottom, Alice.� Kingsley greeted.

He was quickly followed by Remus and once the greeting were over Mrs Longbottom the elder wanted to know exactly what happened and where the young lady was that had performed this miracle.
�She was somewhat exhausted and needed some time out. She has promised to return in a little while and take a look at your son next. �Remus told her.
�I must thank her, she has given me back my Alice, and Neville has his mother back now. Oh, I have no way of contacting him, I have tried and tried but my owls are constantly returned. Do either of you know what is going on up at that school?�
�Only that a large proportion of the students are in hiding and no one knows where. Apparently your grandson has built quite an army and they are just waiting for the right moment to reveal themselves.� Said Kingsley.
�That sounds like Neville; I always knew he was a special boy. He is much braver than others give him credit for.�

Remus said nothing and smiled inwardly. He knew how much Mrs Longbottom had always berated and nagged at her grandson to do better.�

TBC
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Zingaro