Chapter 1230: St. Mungo's Hospital
Chapter 1230: St. Mungo's Hospital
As April approached, the temperature outside began to warm up, and the lilacs in the yard also regained their vitality with the arrival of spring.
Albert sat on the sofa in the sunroom, enjoying the rare morning sunshine while reading the latest newspaper.
He looked up at the McDougall sisters strolling in the courtyard, waved to Isabelle, and turned his attention back to the latest headlines.
"Expecting a group of lunatics to behave is indeed unrealistic."
By the time he learned of the latest news from the newspaper, several days had already passed. He put down the newspaper, picked up his wand, and summoned his notebook. He jotted down the useful information from the newspaper:
Angelina was attacked, Claire disappeared, and Damocles was tortured with the Cruciatus Curse.
"If Angelina's attack and Claire's disappearance are related to me, then why was Damocles targeted by Death Eaters and subjected to the Cruciatus Curse?" Albert felt a strong sense of dissonance between these three incidents.
"Could it be to find me?"
Albert truly couldn't understand. Although there was indeed deep enmity between them, after Voldemort controlled Dolores and Mary, they shouldn't be trying to find him.
But this unreasonable event had happened.
Was it to confuse the truth, or...
Who else was trying to find him?
Albert picked up his wand from the table and summoned the crystal ball from his study. He placed his hand lightly on the crystal ball and stared at the figure appearing in the swirling smoke, his expression becoming very strange.
"Bellatrix Lestrange," Albert murmured, voicing the name of the culprit.
"What does that madwoman want? To find me, or..."
If there was any action from Voldemort's side, he would surely receive some news about it.
So, this seemed more like Bellatrix taking matters into her own hands?
Well, it wasn't surprising that she hated him.
Moreover, madness defied all reason.
"Indeed, I should take care of her as soon as possible," Albert muttered to himself, feeling that a certain plan should be put into action soon.
However, Damocles was also quite unlucky. He had clearly suggested that he take refuge in another country first.
Unfortunately, this Master Potioneer not only failed to leave the UK but also declined the Ministry of Magic's offer of protection. Instead, he tried to maintain neutrality in this Wizarding War based on his blood status (pure-blood) and reputation. However, when Damocles caught the attention of the Death Eaters, he did not have the same luck as Hectork Dagworth.
"Who are you spying on now?"
Katrina helped Isabelle sit on the sofa and glanced at the crystal ball, the newspaper, and finally, a strange promotional flyer for a Muggle hospital.
"You make it sound like I'm a peeping Tom," Albert replied without concern. He turned to look at his wife, Isabelle, whose breathing had become slightly rapid, but her other vital signs remained stable.
"St. Mungo's Hospital?" Katrina picked up the promotional flyer and examined its contents carefully before turning to Albert with a question. "You've reserved a Muggle hospital for Isabelle?"
Albert reached out and took the flyer from Katrina, saying meaningfully, "This isn't just for Isabelle."
"You've been acting so mysterious lately."
Katrina pouted and picked up the Daily Prophet to browse the front-page news.
Then, she looked up at Albert in surprise. "Those Death Eaters still haven't given up on finding you?"
"Obviously."
"They must really hate you!" Katrina blurted out. "If it weren't for you..."
"They hate me?" Albert feigned ignorance and asked rhetorically, "Why would they hate me?"
"Because you've dragged them into this," Katrina reminded him.
"They should hate the Death Eaters," Albert stated.
"You know they dare not," Katrina said with a hint of self-mockery and scorn. She was well aware of the fear that ordinary people felt towards Death Eaters, and she knew even better that they would hate Albert, believing that all of this was his fault.
There were many such people.
"If they don't even have the courage to hate the Death Eaters, then they are a bunch of spineless cowards who don't deserve sympathy," Albert replied calmly. Perhaps he would sympathize with these unfortunate souls, but if they weren't seeking revenge and instead shifted their hatred to him out of fear, then their misfortune was their just desert, and they didn't deserve his sympathy at all.
As for their misfortune and hatred, what did it have to do with him?
It couldn't be that anyone persecuted by Death Eaters was suffering because they were affected by him, Albert.
"You remain as cold-blooded as ever when it comes to those who are unrelated to you." Katrina felt that Albert was treating those unfortunate souls like garbage to be discarded.
"People are like that," Albert said, pressing his ear lightly against Isabelle's belly. "They're too busy enjoying the spectacle to truly care about the lives of strangers."
"Some things are better left unsaid," Isabelle said, lowering her head to kiss Albert's forehead.
"That's why most people are hypocrites, pretending not to be hypocrites. They're a bunch of double-standard dogs."
"You make it sound like you're not being hypocritical yourself." Katrina turned to look at the intimate couple and steered the conversation in a different direction. "When are we leaving the UK?"
"End of May," Albert replied without hesitation.
"You'll be coming with us, won't you!" Katrina asked on Isabelle's behalf.
"Well, I might have to be in two places at once then. There might be a major event happening in the UK in mid-June, and I'll need to stay here to control the situation."
"More important than the birth of your child?" Katrina arched an eyebrow, expressing her displeasure.
"I have a Time-Turner, so it'll definitely be fine." Albert reassured her.
"Oh, right, you have that. I almost forgot about it." Katrina didn't press the issue further, having spent enough time with Albert to know that changing his mind on something was difficult.
Perhaps Isabelle had a way, but since she didn't object, what could she do?
"Dear, I have an appointment in the afternoon, so I might not be back for lunch." Albert leaned down to kiss his wife's forehead, then picked up his wand from the table and slipped it into its wand holster. He also tucked the promotional flyer into his pocket.
"Be careful on the way," Isabelle reminded him.
"You're just going to let him get away with it?" Katrina said, looking back at Albert's departing figure.
"That's not good."
"You can't tie him down, everyone has their own business to attend to, and Albert definitely has something important to do." Isabelle continued flipping through the parenting book. "Besides, being too clingy can be annoying."
"More important than you and the baby?" Katrina pouted.
"So..." Isabelle shook her head. "You really don't understand him."
...
Essex County, Colchester Town.
Professor Manshite sat in a cafe, idly stirring his coffee and occasionally glancing at his wristwatch or out the window.
He was waiting for someone, a potential donor for the hospital.
Such donations happened a dozen times a year, and Professor Manshite had been fortunate enough to meet a few donors himself, which was why he had arrived early today.
The cafe's bell rang, and a middle-aged red-haired man in a suit walked in.
"Professor Manshite, I hope I'm not late."
The red-haired man walked to the corner of the cafe and extended his hand in a friendly manner.
"Not at all, Mr. Edes, I arrived early."
Professor Manshite quickly shook hands with the man before him and gestured for him to take a seat.
Once they were seated, they got straight to the point of their meeting: the donation.
Indeed, Edes, or rather, Albert, intended to make a donation to Professor Manshite's hospital, which would soon be responsible for treating a patient he sent over.
Of course, even if the person wasn't sick, they could still issue a diagnosis and even provide lifelong care.
This thoughtful service only required a small fee, slightly higher than that of a nursing home.
"We will ensure the patient receives the best care until she fully recovers."
"Can I visit the patient?"
"Of course, you are welcome to visit at any time. However, to avoid stimulating the patient, we generally advise against it."
"If needed, we can send you a monthly diagnosis so that the patient's family can stay updated on their condition."
Professor Manshite smiled as he introduced the thoughtful services of Severell Hospital, making it sound like a legitimate medical facility.
"Oh, that's perfect." Albert nodded, then added, "She's quite insane, her mind isn't right. She tends to babble incoherently and has a severe tendency towards violence."
"Not only does she like to hit people," he added, "but she also has severe delusions."
"Oh my, you really should have brought her in for treatment sooner. We have ample experience to help you solve this problem." Professor Manshite grew more enthusiastic, realizing that the patient was likely a psychiatric case, which was fantastic.
"Can she be cured?"
"Whether she can be cured can only be determined after a confirmed diagnosis. Generally, it takes ten to fifteen years, and we have hundreds of successful recovery cases."
After a friendly discussion, Albert made a donation of approximately £500,000.
This money, of course, wasn't Albert's but came from the estates of villagers who had suffered at the hands of Death Eaters and dark wizards. Albert had simply collected this money and was putting it to good use, also completing a task in the process. It was a way to help those innocent Muggles who had died tragically get their revenge.
He felt quite satisfied with himself for doing a good deed and completing a task.
As for turning Bellatrix into an amnesiac vagrant, he felt that sending her to a mental institution was a more appropriate choice.
After all, she was truly a madwoman, and a mental hospital was a better fit for her.
(End of Chapter)
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