If I be waspish, best beware of my sting

She was moving down one of the aisles, eyes scanning the titles as she moved. One caught her eye and she reached for it, hitting the hand of another. It was only then she realized someone else was there with her.  “You take it,” she said with a small smile. She already had three books and she was sure there was another in the shop for her. Even if not, she already had a good number. “I already have plenty.” 

—Open Starter In which Ted reacts to the news of Madison Dehoff’s death. They were good friends and while it had yet to progress into something more serious, they had recently gone out on a couple dates… 

The words got blurry, but they didn’t change. Ted blinked, and they came back into painful focus. Madison was dead. It was only last week they had apparated up to Edinburgh for a picnic on Loch Ness and she had been so vibrant and alive, her hair the color of spun gold in the weak Scottish sun, her eyes bright, her smile wide. And now she was gone… 

It struck him that he had always prepared for his own death, but he now felt entirely unequipped to deal with the death of a loved one. It brought into stark focus the realities of the war at their doorstep, and while Ted was desperate to stay out of it, it appeared he may not have a choice. 

“I dunno what I’m going to tell my parents,” Ted said. He hadn’t wanted to worry them with news about you-know-who’s uprising, but how else would he explain Madison’s death. “They loved her like a daughter.” 

Lily didn’t know Madison well. She had met her once, maybe twice. But any death at the hands of another was awful. And knowing a friend knew her well broke her heart. “I’m so sorry, Ted.” She wasn’t sure what else to say. There wasn’t anything, really. She knew it could have easily been someone else. It could have easily been her. It’s why she had joined the Order. She was not going to let things like this stand. Not while she was able. 

It was different for muggleborns. She knew that. Her parents knew nothing of what was really going on. It was for their own safety. She had a feeling Ted had done the same. Or at least a much more glossed over version of events. “I know there’s probably nothing but if I can help in any way, I’m just an owl away.” She offered him a small smile. “I wish there was something I could do to make it better for you.”

He had been hit and he so wanted to ignore it, but it had reopened a previous wound, a nasty injury from one of the dragons on the reservation. Avery had hoped to slip through the hospital unnoticed to find the Healer who usually saw to him, one who was fantastically discrete. As he turned the corner however, there was a Healer, offering up her help. “Ah, I don’t think you can, thanks. I was just on my way to creature-induced injuries. I know the way.” It was bugging him, though, the little niggle in his head that he recognised her. Hogwarts, no doubt, but she wasn’t one of the children of friends of his dad who he mostly hung out with there, nor did he think she had been on the Quidditch pitch. So why, why why… ah! “You’re Snape’s girl.” He stated it like it was fact. He recognised her because he had to remember she was off-limits, back when he was a seventh year tired of being at that bloody school and Snape was a fifth year he had taken under a wing of protection so that’s all he had ever thought of her as.

Well....that was one she hadn’t heard in a while. The name was enough to make her pause. It had been a while since she had seen Sev. Even longer since she talked to him. Somehow she managed to keep the smile on her face, though she could feel it already close to dropping. Deep breath in, slowly out. “I believe some know me as such, yes.” She finally looked up as she spoke. She recognized him. Slytherin. He was on the quidditch team though she couldn’t remember as what. “Unfortunately, we’ve drifted apart.” He called her a mudblood and got into his group that all seemed to hate her. It was pretty easy to distance herself considering. “It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other. Just keeping busy. Are you sure I can’t help you with something? If you’d rather I can page some of the healers from Creatures to come down here for you.” 

“Evens correct?” Violet asked. She finally got the all clear to leave the alley, but just not how she wanted. She was hoping to go home, light a fire, and relax with a bottle or two of something old and expensive. But no. He idiot boss tasked her with making the rounds at the hospital asking about any odd patients or injuries. She had just finished questioning a very rude healer, which was fair, seeing how they would rather help those injured then answer Violets dumb questions. 

“Have you noticed any questionable patients since the attack? Anyone wearing all black (if she had they deserve to be caught), or suffering from any injuries that you know to be caused by an auror? I dont mean to pester, but I have to ask.”

She looked up when she heard her last name. She wasn’t sure who the other woman was but she had the Ministry air about her. They had been running around the wards just as long as the injured had been coming in. It made sense, really. They both wanted the same thing, for those responsible to be caught. It didn’t take much for her to answer any questions. “Nothing questionable,” she said before putting the chart down. “Some injuries I wouldn’t expect but I think they were using curses that are new to us. At least things I’ve never seen.” 

She gave the other woman a small smile. She looked as tired as Lily felt. “I don’t think those involved would come here. Too many people coming and going. The last thing they would want to do is admit they got hurt.” 

Andromeda meant it to be kind and thoughtful. She wanted it to come out that way. While she felt that Lily had no business being here in a position where magic relies quite literally on life or death, they were both accepted into the program and they were both very young. There had to be something in this mudblood witch that made the upper heads at St. Mungo’s see potential.  As much as she did not like it, it meant that Lily was a colleague and colleagues work as a team despite their differences. “Miss Evans, you can help me by explaining why you are practically vibrating,” Andromeda crossed her arms. After a moment or two, it registered how cold she had just come off. A small bit of flush appeared on her cheeks as she added, “I encourage you to come to me if needed. We are in a similar situation and I assure you that I understand whatever anxieties might be plaguing you. I suppose a better way of answering your question is reversing it back to you.”

Andromeda was nothing like her cousin. At least that was how she had seen the other woman. She was much more a Black than her cousin and it had always rubbed Lily the wrong way. It wasn’t obvious, not to anyone who didn’t know her well. She managed to keep a straight face as she finished her note. “I believe all of us feel similarly right now.” Overwhelmed. Worried about their friends. Though she wouldn’t have been surprised if Andromedia knew some of the people under the masks. “I doubt I am the only one on this floor who is feeling that way.” She grabbed the next chart, skimming over what would need to be done next. “I would be more concerned by those who do not seem a bit on edge. They must know something the rest of us don’t and I would not trust that.” 

Sirius was honestly just too far gone to offer even so much as a smile to Lily’s attempt at a joke. Best he could offer to open one eye and half acknowledge her presence in the room.  Her voice rang in his ears, and Sirius became aware pretty quickly that his plan on just sleeping for several hours probably wasn’t going to happen whilst Lily was here, unless of course Marls came home.  

Sitting up slowly, he ran his hand through his messy hair, and raised one shoulder in a half shrug.  “Is anyone?”  He said lowly.  Sirius could pretty much bullshit anyone that he was fine when he absolutely wasn’t, but he didn’t even have the energy for that right now. The cherry on the shit cake was that his father had broken his four year silence by sending Sirius an owl informing him not to attend Reg’s funeral.  Though, he wasn’t ready to talk about that.   “Are you?”

“I was at work when everything happened,” she said quietly. “I just got off shift not too long ago. I thought it would be best if I checked in on everyone.” Lily’s friends had become her family at Hogwarts. It was only just Remus and the girls at first, but it morphed into all the boys. And now with her relationship with James it was even more solidified. She had stayed away from her family after graduation, mostly due to Petunia. With the war going on as it was, she didn’t want to put them in danger. Not that she wanted this family in danger either. But this was their war to fight. 

She moved to sit on the table in front of Sirius, a million questions on the tip of her tongue. This wasn’t the place or the time for that. “I don’t want to pry but...how are you doing? I know that’s stupid to ask but if you want to talk or not or just sit here or I can try and find James or just...” She didn’t know what to say. She gave him a small smile. “Can I do anything?” 

She looked up and feigned a smile at Lily. It was good to see her unscathed and she couldn’t help but go up and wrap her arms around the woman. If anyone could understand Mary, it was Lily. They had always been together since their Hogwarts days. She rarely showed her cards to anyone except for Lily and occasionally Alastor. 

Not wanting to worry Lily further, Mary found a seat and followed instructions. “I’m fine, Lily. I was downstairs when everything happened,” she assured her friend as she fiddled with her wand. “You must have your hands full with people who are actually injured. I promise. I’ll be fine.”

“They sent the trainees here to make sure everyone who needed was at St. Mungos,” she said as she started some of her diagnostic spells. “Just because you were downstairs doesn’t mean you aren’t hurt.” She loved Mary. All the girls from that year meant the world to her. Always would if she had any say in it. So the idea that Mary might even be a little hurt was enough to put her into full healer mode. 

“Can you hear everything? Nothing sounds muffled? You didn’t hit your head or anything?” She did look okay but that meant nothing. Any number of things could be happening internally. She watched carefully as the magic moved around Mary, watching for any slight variation in color changing. “Does anything hurt or feel off?” 

She knew an event like this might happen when she went into healing. There was no reason to think it would all but just minor cuts and bruises. That would be silly of her. But something like this? The attacks? Masked people causing havoc for no reason? That she wasn’t sure about. It’s why she was doing what she was doing with the Order. The last thing she was going to do was sit by. It’s why she hadn’t left yet. She couldn’t just sit around and do nothing. Not until she couldn’t help anymore. She had just finished with a patient, going back to the healer’s station where the hallways met. She was making a few notes when she sensed someone in front of her. Putting down her quill, she looked up and put on the best smile she could. “How can I help you?” 

Everything was in shambles. Thankfully, she had been in the basement sorting through inventory when she heard the screams and crashes from above. Mary hadn’t chosen to go up to fight nor did she feel like running away. Not that she could apparate in her condition. She fully froze, not knowing what to do or how to remove herself from her stupor. It was terrifying not being able to will herself to move or to at least hide. What if someone came downstairs? Surely, they weren’t going to be searching all of the shops. Were they?

After a while, the sound of glass breaking and walls caving in stopped. The screaming continued and was soon replaced with cries and the sound of people rushing to each other’s aid. Mary finally willed herself to move up to the main store. The windows were broken and most of the front of the store was in disarray; however, given everything, the back half of the store seemed to be mostly preserved. She sighed as she stepped through the debris and started cleaning. “We’re closed… obviously,” she responded in an annoyed tone as she heard someone open the rather useless door.

It was terrible. All of Diagon looked like a bomb had gone off. Well...it kind of had, really. She had been on duty when everything happened. Truthfully, she wasn’t really sure what she should do. She had been sent to the Alley, to make sure all those who were injured were taken care of. She offered to go into the Apothecary, purely by chance. It wasn’t like she wanted to check in on Mary and make sure she was okay. Not at all. She was a healer and would not pick favorites. 

“I can see that,” she said as she looked around the shop. Her eyes landed on Mary and she moved closer. “Where you here when all this happened?” She pulled out her wand and started the diagnostic spells. “You need to sit down. I need to make sure you’re okay.” 

Sirius had only just passed out, still not fully comprehending the news about Regulus, and then the attack happened.  He’d put all his remaining energy into helping the walking wounded get to St Mungo’s and, he’d even managed to get a stun or two onto a couple death eaters.  Maybe if he had been feeling more like himself, he would have managed more than just that. What was happening to the world?  Was it just going to get worse now?  Sirius just didn’t know, the only thing that was keeping him going now was Marlene and the boys.   

He had finally crashed out on Marlene’s couch, where he pretty much lived himself, hoping to find her there, but she must have still been in training.  Just as his eyes began to close there was a knock at the door.  “Are you being serious?”  He muttered to himself.  “It’s open!”

To say Lily was exhausted was an understatement. But she’d be damned if she didn’t check in on her friends before fully letting herself rest. She made her rounds, stopping at Marlene’s to see her. She should have guessed Sirius would be there, too. “Well clearly if you’re thinking someone else is you then it’s a good thing I stopped by.” Was it a stupid play on his name? Yes. But she was not the best comedian on her best days. This exhausted, she was allowed one or two that didn’t really land. “You okay?”