Coral

--The Long Wait--





The interrogation was to be divided into two sessions. During the first, Polly would be merely asked questions, and given the chance to answer them correctly and honestly. In the second session, a truth serum would be added, and she would be again asked the same questions.





During this time her wand was to be tested, to evaluate the history of spells that had been used. Edward had performed this duty a thousand times over the years, being fully qualified, and licensed to weigh and test wands. However, in this instance he was not allowed, and the Ministry had brought in another wandmaker.





This man was Polish. A very handsome, regal man, with strong, skilled hands.

He had not been told anything about the wand or it's owner, to prevent any possibility of personal opinion influencing the test. There was no need to worry about that, he was by nature an honest man, of not a humble man. His name was Tadeusz, and after a thorough test, he announced that he last charm had been a sort of numbing spell.





A children's jinx used mostly for fun. If it struck the ankles or knees it numbed the area completely, and pulled forward, causing the victim to trip as though their bootlaces had been tied together. To the side, he noted that in Poland this particular little charm had been outlawed, due to the risk of a numb leg or ankle being broken in the fall.





He then proceeded to name the previous curses she had used to attack Amanda, and the variety of spells she had used prior to the attack, most of which were simply mundane household spells. The Crucio had been the first spell fired, the second had been a very nasty and rare spell. Intralios, designed to cause the entrails to explode. Hearing this, Edward clenched a fist, in angry relief. If Amanda had not deflected that one, she would have died instantaneously.





Everyone began talking at once, until Giles silenced them. He was about to thank and excuse the wand-tester, when a mediwitch who had been patiently waiting outside the door, coughed politely and let them know that Polly had recovered, and could now be questioned.





***





" Well, what did they learn?" Eloise demanded, and soon as she saw Winter again.

She had been thoroughly irritated that Winter had been invited by Giles, when she herself had been the one who had been there. However, Winter brought her a message saying that her presence was required at the second interrogation, which would occur that evening.





" Nothing..." Winter said sadly. " All she said was that she did not recall anything that had happened since she left her for her mother's."





" Oh! What a blatant lie!" Eloise shouted. " She can't recall anything indeed! They don't believe that do they? That's what anyone would say. I don't remember! " she stormed up and down the corridor, her voice rising to an uncomfortable screech as she mimicked Polly's voice.





Stella sniffed,and Winter sighed.





" I don't understand." she lamented for perhaps the fortieth time. " Why would she do such a thing? Why would Polly do something like that? Why?"





" We don't know, Winter." Eloise sighed, and glanced down at her silver wristwatch. " But she can't hold onto her secrets for much longer...they should be administering the truth serum in a half hour."





" And what the devil is taking them so long in here? Is it too much to ask they simply give us a word or two?" Eloise thumped her fist on the door in irritation. It was true, not a single person had emerged from Amanda's room in the six hours since the door had been closed, warded, and silenced.





" I despise this hallway." Stella stated.





They all leapt to their feet as the wards on the door were suddenly lowered. After a pause, the door swung open to allow Healer Penny to pass into the corridor. She gave them a grim but satisfied nod. Marvel and Thoroughgood also emerged.





The fourth healer, a Muggle born with the unfortunate name of Gribble, came out last. Gribble and Marvel left immediately, without a word to the waiting women. They were met at the corridor's end by Withersmith, who turned on his heel and marched the opposite way. Thoroughgood shot Withersmith's back a look of acid disapproval, before addressing Stella.





" She is going to be just fine."





" Is she awake?" Stella asked hopefully.





" Not yet." Penny shook her head. " The bump to the head was fairly serious, but we repaired it without any trouble. And you can inform her husband that we didn't cut a single strand of her hair. "





" What about the...baby?" Eloise asked, hoping that perhaps, for some miracle.

Both Healers shook their heads solemnly.





" I know it won't seem much comfort to her when she wakes, nor to any of you at the moment, " Penny said softly,"but we've done our very best to heal her completely. She should be perfectly capable of having many children in the future if she wishes."





" So long as she exercises caution, of course. I myself have the feeling she may be slightly weaker due to the effects of first the poison, and then the physical trauma. It may take quite some time. However, she is still very young, very healthy, and in my opinion, relatively happy. " Thoroughgood said.





Penny nodded in agreement.





" But then, her mental health will need monitoring. I can't be too sure of how much she will remember of the actual fall, but once she learns of all that occurred, she is most likely going to be very upset."





" Of course she will be! I am upset too." Eloise said, with more patience than she had granted anyone else." As are her mother and grandmother, and no doubt her husband. This is not going to be simple for any of us."





" No..." Penny agreed. " It won't. Now, she is still under a heavy sedation spell. You may all visit her, but please be quiet and refrain from touching her. When she wakes up, she is going to be in quite a bit of pain. She may no longer be broken, but her body will remember for some time. Just contact someone if I haven't returned by that time."





Thoroughgood gave them a few more warnings, and left in the opposite direction that Withersmith had taken. Stella, Eloise, and Winter crept into the room with Amanda.





It was lit only with a small gas sconce, just enough to allow for visibility while retaining a restful atmosphere. It made Eloise feel sleepy as soon as she entered, but in it's light, Amanda looked slightly better. They had not bothered to heal the extraneous bruises and cuts, focusing instead on the repair of her bones and organs.



It amazed Eloise that something so harmless and inanimate as a stairwell could do so much damage. There were even carpet burns on Amanda's arms!





Winter, the only of the three who had not yet seen the girl, gave a shocked gasp, and covered her mouth in mortification.





" Oh! My goodness!" she exclaimed.



" Shhh" Eloise poked her.



Amanda lay perfectly still, her hands at her side. There was only a faint indication of her breathing, just visible by straining to watch the covers rise and fall. Someone, perhaps Healer Penny, had not only cleaned the blood from Amanda's hair, but had brushed it out and braided it in a thick queue that lay on her shoulder.





Two assistants, who were clearing things away, nodded politely at the older women as they passed them on their way out of the door.





A very soft song began playing from within the muffled confines of Eloise's robes. She hurriedly took out a small magical device, silver with a little key on top, which she twisted. The music was silenced.





" It is time for the second interrogation to begin." Eloise stated. " I must go. You stay here Winter, with her." she indicated Stella." I'll inform Edward of her condition."





Just as she reached for the door handle, it turned, and she came face to face with a very startled Agnes.



" Oh! Aunt Eloise. You really frightened me!" the woman exclaimed.



" You did me no good either. What brings you so far from Exeter?"



" I heard about the accident. Gods! Is that her? She looks horrible!" she made a face of revulsion.



Eloise pushed her into the hall, stepped out after her and closed the door.



" Kindly keep some opinions to yourself, Agnes. "



" My apologies, of course. Just a slight shock. How...er, is she?"



" As well as can be expected. Mostly broken bones and a concussion."



" Pity. Have you seen Demogene today? I have a robe that is too...frumpy for me, just the kind she would wear however. I thought I would give it to her."



" She was brewing some hair tonic in the kitchen when I left her."



" She must be hiding from me...she's still angry at me."



" For what?" Eloise asked without interest, trying to step around her niece.



" For marrying Adelfried so suddenly. I think she's jealous."



And I think you only wanted to stir up some trouble. Eloise thought to herself. She offered a wan smile.



Agnes seemed to be musing on something. She wore a tiny frown between her neatly groomed brows, but the corner of her mouth seemed to be turned upwards, just the slightest bit.



" What is the Ministry going to do with her?" she asked, in a voice laced with faux innocence.



" Who?"



" Amanda."



"Why, they aren't going to do anything with her, she didn't hex herself."



" She didn't meet the contract though." Agnes' eyes almost sparkled as she shook her head." The poor thing. Trouble just seems to follow her, doesn't it?"



Eloise narrowed her eyes, but Agnes ignored her.



" I'll have to ask Adelfried about it. He has inside connections, you know. His sister is an important member of the Ministry, and-"



" Dolores Umbridge is nothing by but a frilled up, glorified clerk." Eloise snapped.



" Well I don't know her personally," Agnes said, soothingly," but Adelfried speaks very highly of her . Don't let him hear you say anything like that."



" Have no fear. I won't let him her me say anything at all."



" Anyhow, she owled him just a week ago and mentioned how difficult it had been getting the Muggleborns to cooperate. They are banishing them in by the scores, hundreds."



" Don't over-dramatize, Agnes. There was never more than two scores to begin with. I saw the list."



" The point is that they are refusing to meet their obligations, if you know what I mean. Adelfried said that they are pushing for some new laws that will punish them more harshly if they fail." she gave an almost wistful glance toward the door." But that is a long time in the making."



" Well, it is nice to see that everyone is involved in their constructive little exploits. What about yourself? I don't see that you have been fulfilling anything either."



Agnes growing suddenly agitated and flushed, lowered her eyes.



" That isn't my fault." she stated glumly. For the briefest moment, Eloise saw the shadow of Agnes as a young girl, right after Wilemina was killed. She looked as though she desperately wanted to confide something to her aunt, but recovered her composure at the last.



" Well, I must be going." she said, with a little shake of her head." Adelfried will be furious if I'm not there to help make copies of the new pamphlets. By the way, here are a few newsletters for you and Aunt Winter. There are several, please be sure to hand them out to everyone. Here, do take one for Amanda too. She looks like she will have plenty of time to read. "





Eloise snatched the papers from Agnes' hand. She might have slapped her just then, if her time device had not once more begun singing, this time at a more urgent pace. Carefully knocking into Agnes, she hurried off down the hall.