"G-go home?" Mrs. Longbottom looked confused. She hadn't quite caught up.
For one thing, she didn't know what they would do once they got home. She couldn't treat her son and daughter-in-law herself. They were in poor condition and sometimes suffered episodes of madness.
St. Mungo's Healers had kept them there so they could treat them immediately whenever an episode struck.
For another, every time she came to the hospital, all she heard was "continue observation" and "no sign of improvement." Long ago, she had prepared herself for the possibility that they would spend the rest of their lives at St. Mungo's.
"Yes, home." Will nodded. "St. Mungo's isn't the right place for them anymore. It can't cure them, and going home is undoubtedly the better choice.
"It will also make it easier for me to treat them. I don't want too many people knowing about this."
Mrs. Longbottom's shoulders shook violently. "Mr. Behrens... does that mean they... they still have a chance of recovering?"
Will looked at the elderly woman who had devoted half her life to her son and daughter-in-law. Meeting her hopeful gaze, he said, word by word, "I promise you, if you work with me, I'm more than ninety percent certain I can cure them."
"Ninety percent?" Mrs. Longbottom's first instinct was to think it impossible. No one had dared say anything like that in all these years. But this time, she chose to believe Will. What else could she do?
Would refusing to believe him make her son and daughter-in-law well again?
Even if Will failed, she would only have to send them back to the hospital and face disappointment once more. After so many years, she was used to disappointment.
After a long silence, Mrs. Longbottom nodded. "I'll find a Healer now and have