Family Bonds on the Verge of Ruin

St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries

The entrance is located on a secluded street in London.

From the outside, it looks like an old-fashioned red-brick department store called Purge and Dowse Ltd..

The shop window contained only a few broken mannequins, each wearing a wig askew, in various poses, and dressed in 1950s work clothes.

A large sign reading "Closed for Renovation" hangs on the dusty door.

This brand has been shelved for so many years, so long that the handsome young men have all turned into gay men, and the young wives have all become... widows.

But the surrounding residents didn't pay any attention to these unusual occurrences.

If there's anything unusual... that dilapidated road on the street gets fenced off every now and then, more punctual than a period of time.

This month they said they were doing road repairs, so they paved the newly laid cement road with asphalt; next month they said they were going to unclog the sewers, and they did that for half a month; then they'll be installing natural gas pipelines...

A road can be repeatedly fenced off and repaired for years. Compared to such a bewildering road, a department store under repair doesn't seem like such a big deal.

Standard procedure!

Of course, Muggle wouldn't notice one thing: strangely dressed people frequently come and go from this department store.

Wizards can enter St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries by looking through the shop window at the particularly ugly female mannequin.

Fifth floor of the hospital

It's a notorious Spell Damage Department, and also the floor with the most resident patients.

Because all the wizards who have been severely cursed are gathered here.

Many wizards, especially those who have been afflicted by the Unforgivable Curses, require long periods of rest and recuperation, sometimes spending years in the hospital.

at this time,

Rows of male and female wizards sat on swaying wooden horses, rocking back and forth.

Just from this scene, you can tell that these people are not quite right in the head.

Not to mention, some wizards were even chanting:

"Pokémon, let's go!"

"Pokémon, climb!"

"I choose you, Pikachu! Get out of my sight!"

Clearly, those wizards who weren't quite right in the head were not only Muggle-born, but also Nintendo enthusiasts.

Besides those who are mentally unstable, there are also many patients who are obsessed with international affairs.

They wore thick reading glasses and were reading outdated issues of "The Witch Weekly" and "The Daily Prophet".

The most popular one is still "The Quibbler".

The Quibbler book lovers mostly gather here.

If Cedric lived here, he would surely find many kindred spirits.

Despite being William's best friend, William often feels out of place with Cedric because Cedric isn't silly enough.

(Qiu: Me too!)

Amidst the chaotic crowd, William was speaking with a therapist wearing a green robe.

The female healer had an embroidered badge on her chest: a cross made of a wand and bones.

"Mr. Stark, Miss Jorkins is suffering from the Cruciatus Curse, and her injuries are very serious," the witch said.

"So, I suggest using a calming and brain-nourishing potion," William said. "You should still have this kind of Potions, right?"

"It's always been the rarest Potions; I need to check the inventory," the witch said. "Don't get your hopes up too high."

William nodded.

The Cruciatus Curse is one of the Three Unforgivable Curses, and its harmful effects are no joke.

Voldemort used the Cruciatus Curse on Bertha, an injury that requires many precious Potions to heal.

The healer left quickly.

"What should we do?" Hermione frowned. "If this doesn't work, we'll have to try making it ourselves."

William nodded slightly. If he couldn't do it either, then they would have to turn to Professor Snape.

Although the professor has a penchant for eccentricities, he's quite skilled at brewing Potions.

"William, what are you doing here?"

A familiar voice suddenly came from afar.

William looked up and saw a red-haired wizard standing in the distance.

He paused for a moment before recognizing it as... Charlie Weasley.

"Hey Charlie, when did you get back?" William walked over excitedly.

"I've been back for a week." Charlie grinned, extending his large hand.

William shook his hand, his fingers touching many calluses and blisters.

Charlie has changed a lot since four years ago. His broad face is weathered and covered with dense freckles, making it look almost brownish-black.

He didn't look like he was in his twenties; he looked more like he was in his thirties.

His arms were muscular, and one arm had a large burn scar.

It was clearly caused by the fire dragon.

William and Charlie had a good relationship; it was a group of them who hid the three-day-old dog, Fluffy, in the Room of Requirement.

During the time loop, William also secretly learned a lot of Quidditch skills from Charlie, especially how to... elbow people!

It's fair to say that William's kaleidoscope of fouls was all learned from Charlie.

"Hermione, this is Charlie Weasley," William introduced to Hermione.

"He's Fred and George's older brother. After graduating, he went to Romania to raise dragons."

Hermione looked at Charlie with curiosity.

She had heard William talk about this free-spirited Gryffindor many times.

Charlie could have made it onto the national team, but he got tired of Quidditch and went to raise dragons after graduation.

"Charlie, she's Hermione," William said.

"I know her, the famous Miss Granger," Charlie said with a smile. "I've seen your picture together in the newspaper."

Haha, that's why I recognized you two at a glance.

"By the way, Charlie, what are you doing here?" William asked. "Bringing Ron his lunch?"

"Yes." Charlie lifted the lunchbox in his hand.

Ron has been hospitalized here ever since the Peter incident.

Peter turned Peter into a groundhog and kept him in a pocket for six months.

Although he didn't suffer many physical injuries, he was severely affected psychologically.

"Food delivered? Didn't Mrs. Weasley come?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Mom doesn't want to come," Charlie said helplessly.

Ron has a terrible temper, is quite irritable and easily angered, and is simply annoying.

Nobody wants to come.

Percy has been very busy with work lately, as have Fred and George.

Ginny came twice, then cried and said she would never come again.

"..."

Charlie sighed.

"Let's go," he said. "Let's go together. If you guys don't come with me, I'm afraid I might lose my temper and beat Ron up."

"..."

William and Hermione nodded and followed him toward the ward.

We came to St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries to take Bertha to the hospital.

But since we're here, we should definitely visit Ron and... Longbottoms.

Charlie opened the door, and William immediately heard shouts coming from inside.

"What's going on?" Ron yelled at Charlie. "I'm starving! And the food's only just arrived!"

From breakfast until now, all I've eaten is a bowl of oatmeal, three pieces of bread, four slices of ham, and a few packets of snacks!

"I was only ten minutes late," Charlie said.

"Ten minutes isn't enough? How much longer do you want to stay?!"

"Are you going to eat or not?" Charlie asked.

What's for dinner today?

Ron eagerly opened the lunchbox, glanced at it, and was somewhat disappointed.

"Black pudding, fried fish, potato pancakes, pumpkin porridge..."

Ron said angrily:

"I said I wanted a bacon sandwich and lamb stew with potatoes!"

Charlie ignored him. "Mom doesn't have time to make these things for you."

The doctor also said that you've gained too much weight recently and shouldn't eat such greasy food.

In short, take it or leave it.

"I'm a patient!" Ron yelled at Charlie, "I was turned into a groundhog by Pettigrew Peter and almost died!"

You may have forgotten this!

"You're not dead, are you?" Charlie said impatiently. "Everyone's busy. If you don't like the food, maybe you can cook for yourself."

I'm sitting here with a long face, grumbling—"

"I'm a patient, and this is how you treat me?!"

William and Hermione stood awkwardly in the doorway.

The two exchanged a glance, considering whether or not to go inside.

Clearly, the Weasley family's bond is about to be destroyed by the prolonged hospitalization.

This reminded William of the students who had been staying at home throughout the pandemic.

It's probably always this state of mutual dislike.

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Thanks to "Dawn of Death" for the generous donation.