"If she can get the hospital board to agree. Unfortunately, she's got a bit of rough
patch ahead fighting off the likes of Abraxas Malfoy and her nephew, Cygnus."
"Is that why you're headed over? Going in for backup?"
Charlus simply laughed at the suggestion that Dorea would need him to help her in
such a task. "As though your mother would ever need the assistance of a man. No, I'm
going because your brother and Sirius were in a bit of an accident."
Mia paled and gripped Remus's hand hard in worried anticipation.
"Mum says the boys are fine," Charlus assured her, apparently seeing the distress in
her eyes. "James has a bit of a bump to the head, nothing worse than he's had playing
Quidditch."
"They were on Sirius's death trap, weren't they?" Mia hissed. "That stupid
motorbike. Can we come with you?"
"Maybe St Mungo's isn't the best place to scold them," Remus kindly suggested.
"Are you mad? It's the best place," she insisted, recalling the way Dorea burst
through the open doors of the magical hospital and sent each and every Healer to tears as
she demanded to be let into Sirius's room after his attack. Mia had learnt then that hospital
walls echoed wonderfully, and if she was going to yell at Sirius and James, she would prefer
her voice to have a little extra boost.
The three entered St Mungo's through the Floo, stepping onto the Ground Floor
through the green flames. Mia stood back with Remus as Charlus approached the Welcome
Witch's desk and spoke softly so as not to draw attention. A few moments later, he was
leading them down a long hallway to a door guarded by two Aurors, one of them the very
familiar face of Kingsley Shacklebolt, the other a scowling, older Auror who wore different
coloured robes than Kingsley. Mia could understand what looked to be a bitter and
permanent frown on his face. She had read more of Harry and Ron's Auror books than
either of them had, and she recognised the variety of Auror robes and their significance.
Kingsley's dark blue signified that, despite his young age, he was ranked above the man to
his left.