Chapter 09

Alice and Frank left their son in the care of the boy's grandmother, while they went to check on the condition of their friends, the Potters.

- "I hope they can repair the damage, the medics didn't give us a good prognosis. But I don't lose faith," - Eleanor said as she watched the nurse perform the routine check.

- "How is the boy?" - Alice asked, wrapped in the arms of her husband, who was comforting her.

- "He's asking for his parents, he thinks they're traveling. I don't know how long we can keep up that lie."

- "At least He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is no more, at last, we can rest assured. All that remains is to capture his followers and punish them for their crimes," - Said Frank Longbottom, an auror like James and Sirius.

- "That's not quite true. I'm going to tell you a secret, he's still alive, he escaped from my sister's house, probably badly damaged. No one knows where he went to take refuge, personally, I think it will be a long time before he comes back, let's just say it's an intuition. I know my sister, and I know how much research she did to get even the slightest advantage in confronting him. Sadly, that's the way it turned out for them."

The nurse dropped her medical folder, looked frightened, apologized, and left the room, closing the curtain that separated the Potters from the rest of the patients in the room.

- "How do you know that? Who told you? Headmaster Dumbledore told us something different." - Alice said nervously.

- "How I can't say because it's secret, but think about it, do you know of a method of removing a body without leaving any trace?" - Eleanor asked quietly, assuming that neither would think of unexpected effects with ancient magic.

They both shook their heads and looked at each other, questioning the possibility.

- "What you suggest makes sense... I hadn't wanted to tell you, my dear, but... Headmaster Dumbledore also believes that You-Know-Who is alive."

Alice covered her mouth in horror.

The visiting hour was over, Eleanor was grateful for the Longbottoms interest, and they arranged to meet later for the children.

As the days passed, Eleanor learned that the Longbottoms House had been attacked, fortunately, they had gone to stay with Frank's aunt and uncle for a while. The attackers destroyed the property in anger, were hunted down, and captured the Lestrange brothers. According to the original plan known to the Lestranges and their companions, the dark lord would kill Harry Potter and then, once the Fidelio charm was lifted, go after Neville Longbottom to eliminate him.

On the other hand, Severus was busy looking for some 'magical' medicine that would save Lily, and also James because he was with her. Lily and James woke up, but there didn't seem to be anyone inside those bodies. The healers said it was due to the attack, one said they had lost their minds and were just living bodies without souls, another said they were in shock and would react at any moment, another said they were suffering from catatonia, the medical board had so many 'distinctions' that their egos wouldn't let them agree.

Sirius and Remus visited their friends while Severus and Eleanor were present.

The woman would talk to the couple about their son during the visits, as well as about everyday issues, play music, read them a story, etc. While doing this, Eleanor held one or both of the couple's hands.

Severus and Eleanor were about to depart, leaving the other two with James and Lily.

- "When will they be discharged?" - Remus asked after waving to his friends without answer.

Eleanor was standing outside the room next to her husband. - "The last healer wants to admit them permanently to Janus Thickey's ward. I want a second opinion, that's why Severus got an inter-consultation with another specialist in Spell damage."

Remus's expression darkened, and he looked sadly at his sick friends. Sirius came over to ask the same questions as Remus and to hear the latest reports.

Severus explained the differences of opinion. - "If I could, I would use the mental art myself to help them, but I have no such ability. The expert I got works at the Central Magical Hospital in France, he's had success treating victims of dark magic, he even has a treatment to treat catatonia, 60% of patients make an amazing recovery."

- "Cata what?" - Sirius asked.

- "Catatonia is a neuropsychological syndrome characterized by motor abnormalities, alterations in consciousness, affect, and thought," - Eleanor explained.

Severus looked proud at the lost look on Sirius's face, as he did not expect such a response from Petunia.

Eleanor blushed.

- "I've been doing some research on the subject... Catatonia is accompanied by a series of alterations in cognition, perception, and consciousness. It is characterized by the impossibility of performing any kind of movement, as a result of a profound muscular rigidity, that is to say, it affects motor capacity and stops muscle contraction. At the same time, it prevents the joints from flexing, as it creates passive resistance. It should be noted that this causes the patient to become 'petrified' in the way he/she was at the time of the attack. There is also mutism, which is the absolute silence of the person who is in a catatonic state. Psychologically speaking, when a person is diagnosed or suffers from catatonia, it tends to be characterized by an intense emotional picture, which can often be uncontrollable."

- "But can they get out of that state?" - Remus asked thoughtfully.

- "Some patients may suddenly emerge from this immobility, returning to their normal state with intense and overwhelming emotions, leading to self-harm or harm to others." - Eleanor replied.

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Custody of Harry was given to Petunia Snape and her husband, she took this precaution on the strength of the plot, lest part of the original story be imposed and the Potters end up dead, and Sirius end up in prison for some reason.

The guardianship of the Potter estate was also left in the hands of Petunia Snape, James, and Lily were declared incapacitated, and their guardianship was also left to Eleanor. She was not opposed to the idea of Sirius raising Harry, she talked to Sirius, and they agreed that for the time being the boy would stay with her because the wizard was working as an auror and was focused on ensuring the safety of his godson.

Later, when Harry was a more independent child and if his parents were not up to it, perhaps Harry would move in with Sirius, but for now, he could visit as much as he wanted and so could Remus. Severus warned them that they should have given notice before they went for the sake of politeness.

The prognosis for James and Lily was not hopeful in the short term, according to the last expert what they had was a dark curse that had trapped their minds inside a "prison", it could be repeating a traumatic event over and over again or simply being in limbo without knowing how to "return to the outside". It would take months or even years to achieve a result towards "normality", because first they would have to discover the exact countercause, then the patients would have to overcome the trauma with psychophysical therapy. But at least they were alive.

Severus spared no effort to get hope for Lily, he was not willing to resign himself to her being as good as dead in life.

Eleanor requested that they be moved to a small house, connected by fluid to her home. She argued that they would be under the permanent care of an elf and the healer and his nurse's assistant, respecting the prescribed treatment. The house she was thinking of was a single-story, quiet place with a garden on the outskirts of the city, protected by magic, and provided with all the necessary comforts. She thought it would be better than ward 49 at St. Mungo's Hospital. Visitors could stay with them if they wanted, there were rooms available.

The reason for not taking them to Eleanor and her family's home was because of the impact it would have on the children.

However, she had to accept the healers' recommendation and leave them in Janus Thickey's ward, with its rules and visiting hours, the place was adorned by the belongings of each of the ward's patients and patterned curtains covered their beds.

A slender witch, wearing a lime green uniform, advanced, covering her face with a medical folder when someone passed close by. She wore her shiny black hair tied up carelessly, with curls falling messily to the middle of her back. Her dark, piercing eyes searched for room 49, she smiled as she found the place and arrogantly entered the unguarded room. She drew her wand and attacked the nurse on duty, ignoring the rest of the patients because she aimed to get back at the Potter couple. 

- "Tell me the truth! What happened to the Dark Lord?! What did you do with him?! Tell me the truth, or I swear I'll stick the knife in your face! Where is he? ANSWER ME!" - Shouted the witch to an absent Lily.

Eleanor, who had gone outside visiting hours to bring clean clothes to James and Lily, was startled by the scene.

- "Help! Security! Room 49 is under attack!" - Eleanor shouted at the top of her lungs, evading the aggressive spell that broke the corner of the glass door.

Eleanor pulled out her wand and counterattacked, trying to pin her down, but the witch had very quick reflexes and good aim with her dagger.

Eleanor fell to the ground due to the stab wound in her leg. The witch laughed and returned to her main target. Frightened, and angry, Eleanor stretched out her hand and the woman sank to her ankles on the floor.

- "Bloody mudblood! CRUCIO!"

In panic, Eleanor screamed, putting her hands out in front of her as if to stop the attack. The attacker in disbelief missed as she was deflected.

Security guards arrived along with medical personnel, the witch risked a moderate explosive spell to have time to free her feet. The other wizards could not fight freely for the safety of the patients, who were indifferent or in the fetal position, shouting.

- "Bellatrix Lestrange! You are surrounded! Surrender!" - Shouted the Auror guard. A brief struggle of mutual protection ensued, and she blocked the other's attack.

- "Never! I will avenge my lord!"

The mad witch acted all-or-nothing ready to kill Lily, when a heeled shoe slammed into her shoulder, piercing her conjured defenses. Bellatrix cried out in pain, incredulous at what was stuck in her. 

- "Bloody scum!" - She cursed angrily, looking crazed.

She erected a wall and wasted no time in trying to get out, she was outnumbered and though useless compared to her level, the real Aurors must be coming, and she didn't have the energy to fight. A strategic retreat was best, they had set up an anti-disappearance charm, limiting her options.

- "Confringo!"

Bellatrix blasted the wall that served as protection for her first, remains from the wall flew in all directions damaging it and giving her a few seconds to slide into a wall that led to another room, not caring if it was occupied or not, luckily it was empty and no one was hurt.

Bellatrix as smoke escaped through an internal window and returned to her human form, so she continued to flee, destroying doors or partitions, trying to get out without being caught.

In her racing thoughts, she concluded that she would get no information from the Potters, for those scum were cursed by their master, trapped in their body, and unable to get out. Then she would have to seek it out for herself by other means, she doubted that the mudblood wife of Snape's traitor knew anything, though she would have to pay him a visit to the Longbottoms, but this time they would make sure their quarry was at home. Snape was forbidden, she never quite trusted the half-blood wizard, but she could not override a wish of the Dark Lord, her master would decide if he was useful or if she could kill him, even if her sister would be angry.

Believing herself free, she was ambushed by the least expected: Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody, who went to the hospital for a medical check-up, a scheduled control of his general state of health due to recent injuries. Bellatrix did not know what happened until she awoke to face her trial and was taken to Azkaban, where her husband and brother-in-law were already there.

.

Severus never imagined himself entertaining children, Petunia arranged for him to play and read them stories, while on his way to the hospital for a while, one of the nurses asked them to bring clean clothes for Lily and her husband. 

They had planned, before they got the message, to go out for lunch with the children, a new family restaurant had opened nearby, and they thought it would be a good way to distract Harry. Petunia dressed for the occasion, she even wore heels to look more stylish, saying she had to look good for her date with 4 handsome boys, even though he knew she didn't like wearing heels, she did it for him because he complimented a woman who wore them, something he did simply to see her reaction, jealous Petunia could be very adorable.

Reading was something Eleanor did with her babies when they were restless and before bedtime, Harry seemed to like this habit too.

The twins loved to listen to their parents' voices, the mother would narrate stories or tell tales using different voices for the characters and exaggerating their tone, and the children would follow attentively everything she said. They loved the songs too, it relaxed them. Petunia pointed out the books he could read to them as if he didn't know which books had his children's favorite stories in them, he thought at the list of tips, he didn't understand why his wife made so many lists of things lately.

The "message signal" on the fireplace activated, and Severus left the children on the carpet with some construction pieces the size of their feet. He approached the fireplace and agreed to receive the communication.

An unfamiliar face made of embers reported that Petunia was the victim of an attack at St. Mungo's. He felt his body lose its gravity, he remembered the 3 children in seconds.

- "Alfred."

- "Alfred understands and will see to distracting the children. Master Severus went in search of Madam Petunia, that's what Alfred will tell the children if they ask."

- "I'll take care of it," - Severus said before he fluently connected with St. Mungo's and crossed to the reception.

His heart ached imagining worst-case scenarios, the nurse at the reception explained that Bellatrix Lestrange attacked mainly the fourth floor of the hospital, he didn't have to say much more to understand why the witch went to the Spell Damage ward.

A healer greeted him to explain the situation, his hope was rewarded with the news that Petunia was alive, until that moment he hadn't realized how tense and scared he was at the thought of losing her.

It wasn't long before Sirius and Remus peeked into the room Eleanor was in, they moved the curtain a little and found Severus sitting by the bed with a worried expression.

- "Hello Snape, how's Petunia?" - Remus Lupin asked.

Severus hid his previous expression for a neutral one, without showing it, he was surprised that it was them and not one of the medical staff.

Sirius waved slightly in greeting.

- "Good afternoon or evening, I don't know what time it is anymore" - He sighed tiredly without meaning to - "What are you doing here? I thought you were with Potter and Lily."

- "That's where we came from, we spoke to their healer, and he said there was no more damage than a few superficial cuts. They were lucky, apparently, the shock of the scene helped them start to react, James can communicate by opening and closing his eyes to deny or affirm something. Lily also started to follow whoever was nearby with her eyes," - Remus commented.

- "It was a result of the treatment, not Bellatrix's madwoman... What is her condition?" - Sirius said with interest.

- "Petunia is stable. It's long to explain, but she was in the wrong place at the wrong time, she received injuries that have healed. Now we just have to wait for her to wake up," - Said Severus, giving them just a glance.

- "Wrong place, wrong time? If it wasn't for her, James and Lily would be dead, what on earth are you saying Snivellus?" - Sirius burst out, being restrained by Remus.

- "Surely he didn't mean for it to sound like that, calm down, Sirius."

- "You'd rather see her dead, wouldn't you? She chose James over you, so you settled for her sister."

- "That's not true!" - Severus shouted.

- "Sirius, stop it!" - Exclaimed Remus - "I'm sorry Snape, we're leaving. We hope Petunia recovers soon."

Severus restrained himself from hexing him, he glared at Sirius, for that wizard was only looking to fight him.

Alone again with his wife, surrounded by the curtains that gave privacy to each patient in his bed. Severus ran his hand through his hair in frustration, he didn't want Lily's death, and neither did he want James Potter's, hypocritical though it seemed. But the moment he learned the truth of the attack he thought of his wife first before Lily, in fact, he had not gone to see them, he had information about them from their healer who came to give details of their condition.

The medics entered the room to check on the patients.

- "Why isn't she reacting?" - Severus asked, containing his mood.

- "As I already explained Mr. Snape, your wife was hit by remains and lost a lot of blood, the dagger had a non-lethal but paralyzing poison, that's why she couldn't move on her own and get away from danger. Rest assured that Mrs. Snape has received all the necessary treatment, and we are confident that she will soon be able to recover. The broken bones were removed and the growth of the new ones was optimal, her blood was in order, and there were no traces of toxins from the poison. You will soon be able to take your wife home in perfect health," - The healer explained. 

Severus looked at him in silence, making the healer nervous, who quickly withdrew, justifying that he had other urgent patients to attend to. Bellatrix's 'terrorist act' had caused many injuries, set back patients in their treatment, and caused panic attacks and a sense of insecurity for everyone.

James and Lily were momentarily taken to another floor like the rest of the patients until they renovated the ward, which would take time because the hospital administration had its priorities.

However, the change of environment seemed to provoke a minimal reaction in them.

.

Eleanor awoke after dreaming of her former life, a brief biopic that seemed to be alien, where were those feelings? She saw her family, she saw herself and wondered which life was a dream and which was reality.

Severus slept in a chair, she watched him for a while, thinking how it was possible to have fallen in love with a literary character. She was happy, so much so that she forgot that her life was a work of fantasy, for Eleanor her life became something real, tangible, she even had children, her adoration and she was worried about them at that moment.

The original story said that the Potters would die, Sirius would be imprisoned for over a decade, Remus would be driven away by sadness and disappointment, Severus would be a spy and a professor at Hogwarts with a reputation for being bitter and unfair to the students of Gryffindor House. Among many other details that were changed or disappeared by her interference in the course of their destinies, directly or indirectly Petunia's role change affected the rest of the characters, like the ripples from throwing a stone into water.

No one escapes death, we all have "an expiration date" as her mother would say, Eleanor knew that the death of James and Lily was defined from the beginning of their creation, the orphan boy who fights against adversity and becomes a triumphant hero in the face of his attackers. A fantastic story with adventure and enthralling when you are young, since the reader's encounter with the story changes due to the reader's life experiences, that is, as you grow up, or at least in her case, you reread the parts you liked the most and ignore the others.

The Longbottoms did not end up as residents of St. Mungo's, they did not lose their minds to the cruciatus, something made them not to be careless this time. There was a change, their place was taken by James and Lily, though clinically the marriage was not declared 'hopelessly insane' to put it simply, a little hope remained. Eleanor thought about it and concluded that perhaps others died for the Potters, unknown characters who should not have died, one life for another, even if that was not the case, all indications were that Harry would grow up without his parents present, a sad thing if you thought about it.

Severus shifted, adjusting his position in the chair, she wondered how tired he would be to have fallen asleep like that. She looked around, hesitating whether to wake him or not.

Eleanor's body felt numb, considering that perhaps she should have worried about learning to fight. Throwing a shoe wasn't her best idea, what could she do with a shoe as a weapon, she should have used magic, the wand in that case, instead of resting it in the holster so she wouldn't lose it. The nonsense of one who does not yet think like a proper witch of that world, her nature hindering her in cases like this one against Bellatrix. Who by the way is an amazing witch, she always admired her, and if it wasn't because she attacked her she would have been ecstatic to have seen her up close, she is like those majestic predators that you can only admire from afar because otherwise, they will tear you to pieces.

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