Chapter 51

The second time I went to St. Mungo's, I refused Severus and Lily's company. I needed to handle things alone; life had been too smooth for the past decade, and I still saw myself as a grown-up kid who didn't know how to manage crises.

In the ward, I saw Dearborn again. He was in the corner, reading the *Daily Prophet*, probably ensuring our safety. When he noticed me, he gave a warm smile of gratitude.

Hughes was awake.

"Dad…" I saw Hughes lift his head, looking anxiously at the still-sleeping Isaya. Tears welled up in my eyes.

"Sawyer is here? Quickly, come over..." He reached out to me.

"Dad, how are you feeling?" I asked, sitting by Hughes' bedside and holding his hand, my heart heavy with guilt. This disaster was my fault, and the feeling was overwhelming.

"The doctor in green asked me that just now. I'm feeling much better, no need to worry!" Hughes pinched my nose playfully. "Why do wizard doctors wear green? I'm more used to white coats."

I stifled a laugh, replying with a thick nasal tone, "They're called Healers, not doctors. As for the green robes, it's probably just their uniform. Maybe the founder liked dark green."

Hughes chuckled, as if there had never been any kidnapping. I couldn't tell if he was genuinely okay or just pretending for my sake.

"Are you really okay, Dad? The Healer said you'd need a long time to fully recover, and there might be some mental discomfort." I stubbornly repeated the Healer's words, seriously asking Hughes, "How do you really feel?"

Hughes sighed, "I'm really fine. Just a bit sore all over, which the doctor said is normal." Then, his eyes widened, "And besides, I'm the head of this family. I have to be able to handle these little setbacks, right?"

Without a word, I leaned into Hughes' embrace, and he gently patted my back.

"I heard what those maniacs said while they were torturing us with spells. Why didn't you tell us you had found your blood relatives?" Hughes casually mentioned the torment of the Cruciatus Curse.

"I didn't want to get involved with them. Most of my close relatives are dead, except for three cousins," I said glumly. "The madwoman from yesterday was one of them. Other than my birth mother, the rest wanted to eliminate Muggles—ordinary people like you."

"So, your birth father was a Muggle? Yesterday, they used some pretty nasty words to describe your bloodline."

Must've been filthy, half-blood, or something similar. I pursed my lips, feeling numb.

"He was a Muggle and didn't even know I existed before he was killed by members of my bloodline. I've been avoiding that family ever since." I sat up, speaking earnestly, "You and Isaya are my real family."

Hughes' eyes were warm as he hugged me tightly and kissed the top of my head. "Sawyer, our good daughter."

I noticed a stir beside me; Isaya was waking up. Hughes and I watched her closely. I leaned over and held her hand, sensing her unease.

Isaya slowly opened her eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling, tears spilling from the corners.

"Mom! What's wrong? Are you in pain?" Seeing Isaya's tears, I panicked. Hughes struggled out of bed, and I hurried to support him.

Hughes sat on Isaya's bed, caressing her face and hair, murmuring, "Darling, it's okay now, the pain is gone..."

Isaya's eyes remained unfocused, her mouth forming broken words, "Hughes...the baby—"

This wasn't right. I quickly went to find the Healer. When I returned, Isaya's tears were still flowing, with occasional sobs. Hughes' comfort didn't seem to help much.

Healer Capello waved his wand for a check-up. From the few diagnostic spells I recognized, her physical functions seemed normal. I was somewhat relieved.

"Physically, she's fine. This reaction is likely due to mental trauma," Capello said with a frown, turning to Hughes. "Did Mrs. Hill have any painful experiences that might have triggered such a reaction?"

Hughes' expression was pained, but he quickly composed himself, holding Isaya's hand tightly. He spoke in a flat tone, "Yes, seventeen years ago, Isaya was taken hostage during a bank robbery. She was thrown from a speeding car by the robbers. Although she protected her head and survived, she lost our baby, who was three months along, and she can never conceive again."

I covered my mouth in disbelief. Isaya had gone through such a harrowing ordeal. No wonder they had adopted me instead of having their own children. No wonder Isaya, despite being capable, stayed home as a housewife, hiding her scarred elbow even in summer, always saying it was an old injury from a fall.

I leaned over Isaya's bed, gripping her other hand tightly, my heart aching.

"Due to the trauma from being kidnapped again and the torture of the Cruciatus Curse, her mental state is very fragile, causing her to relive those painful memories," Capello mused. "Mrs. Hill's current state isn't conducive to her recovery. We can't rely solely on calming potions and Dreamless Sleep Potion. You'll need to help her wake up from her fear and sadness."

He instructed the apothecary to prepare a Dreamless Sleep Potion. If it didn't work, they would have to keep her sedated for her own safety.

After much comforting from Hughes and me, Isaya finally stopped crying but remained silent. Her eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, occasionally glancing at Hughes and me, as if all her emotions were drained, leaving only emptiness.

Hughes, despite his condition, insisted on squeezing into Isaya's bed, holding her tightly. He said it would make her feel secure.

Watching the two of them cuddle, I had an idea and left the ward with an excuse. I found Capello and shared my proposal.

"A Memory Charm?" Capello stroked his smooth chin. "In theory, it's possible, but rarely suggested due to potential memory loss and some uncontrollable factors. It could erase more than intended and slightly impact memory. However, given Mrs. Hill's current condition, this might be the best option." He concluded, "But we need your father's consent."

Naturally, I returned to the ward and told Hughes. Surprisingly, he was pleased at the thought of erasing Isaya's painful memories.

"Darling, you'll soon be free from those nightmares," Hughes whispered in her ear. She stared blankly at Hughes but eventually nodded.

The new treatment plan was quickly set in motion. St. Mungo's had specialists in Memory Charms, and they cast a spell that afternoon to erase parts of Isaya's memory, including the recent trauma and the incident seventeen years ago. Given the time lapse, the memories were blurred rather than precisely erased, as if they had faded naturally.

After the spell, Isaya's dazed expression didn't change immediately. It took a few seconds before clarity returned to her eyes.

She looked around, seeing Hughes and me, and asked, "What happened, Hughes?" Her dry voice startled her.

"You've been ill and slept for almost two days. We're in a wizard hospital," Hughes explained gently.

"Why am I sick? Why are we in a wizard hospital? Oh, shouldn't Sawyer be at school?" She seemed confused and questioned me, probably wondering if I had skipped class. I couldn't help but smile.

"Everything seems normal," the Healer who cast the spell nodded and left. Capello performed another check, satisfied with the results, and left us to communicate.

"Wow, that person used magic on me just now? The purple light was warm," Isaya marveled, touching her face where she had been scanned.

Maybe it was my imagination, but she seemed livelier. Perhaps losing those heavy memories had lightened her heart. I felt relieved.

Watching Hughes coax Isaya, explaining everything in a mysterious way, I finally felt at ease. This was the comfortable and happy family I knew.

Back at school that night, I told Lily and Severus about the day's events. Lily was relieved that everything turned out fine, considering it a blessing in disguise for Isaya to forget her trauma.

I sighed. One *Obliviate* could protect Isaya's happiness. In reality, Hughes bore the burden of those painful memories alone, willing to shoulder them for the sake of simple happiness, claiming he was the head of our family.

That night, I climbed to the astronomy tower, leaning on the railing to watch the dark school grounds. The moon hid behind clouds, casting no light. I heard familiar footsteps behind me.

"It's almost curfew. Why aren't you back in the dorm with Lily?" Severus stood beside me, his voice cool but concerned.

"I'm contemplating life. Seriously," I emphasized. Even in the dark, I could imagine Severus raising an eyebrow.

"I'm too weak to protect my own family," I said, feeling dejected. "And now I've made enemies with Bellatrix and her husband. They won't let me go. Unless I move my parents to the other side of the world, we'll never be safe."

"Are you planning to leave?" Severus's voice was dangerous.

"I thought about it," I admitted quietly, "but I don't know what you think, and I can't leave Lily."

"You're not leaving alone!" Severus gripped my shoulders, his voice low and angry.

"I'm not leaving alone. I'll take my parents too..." And you, I thought. If I run, I'll take you with me.

"You know what I mean!" He turned me to face him, the moonlight casting shadows over his face, but his eyes blazed with anger.

I was stunned by his intense reaction.

"I'm not planning to leave, and I won't run away—that's cowardly," I said, meeting his gaze. "But I need Dumbledore's protection for my parents. What about you?" A Slytherin joining the Order of the Phoenix? His position would be even more difficult.

"I thought I made my stance clear." Severus let go of me, speaking dryly, "Though working with a bunch of Gryffindors will be a nightmare and trust will be hard to earn, I thought we were in this together."

Damn, how could he be so moving?

I sniffled, taking a step forward to hug his waist, whispering into his shoulder.

"Yes, we're in this together."