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It's time for Mrs. Malfoy's next appointment, so I write her an owl.
Dear Mrs. Worthington Smythe,
I hope you are feeling much better since out last meeting. It is about time for our next appointment, would you please arrange for transportation?
Thank you,
E. MacMillan
I receive an owl back.
Healer MacMillan,
Since I am nearly23 weeks along, I would say I am overdue for that exam. I will be awaiting you the morning of the 13th. The seal works in the usual way.
Sincerely,
Victoria
On the 13th, I am prepared and break the seal and I feel the pull of the portkey behind my navel. I am standing before the gates of Malfoy Manor.
"Who is your class mate who runs a school and what does she teach?" Narcissa's voice asks from behind the yew trees.
"Susan Bones- Hufflepuff of my year. She is an accomplished pianist and teaches her instrument," I say.
"Indeed she is." Narcissa opens the gate, grinning. "Welcome MacMillan." The first thing I notice is that she is not hiding her bump . . . indeed, I doubt she can anymore. The second thing I notice are the dark circles under her eyes, then I notice the chipped and cracked fingernails and ink smudges on her writing fingers. She takes my arm to walk back to the Manor with me, and I note she is not holding it lightly.
I'm greatly concerned about Mrs. Malfoy. Even if you take the pregnancy out of the situation, she isn't taking care of herself. Chipped nails and the ink stains on her fingers aren't normal for Mrs. Malfoy.
"Are we going to the library, Ma'am?" I ask.
"We can go to my personal rooms if you like. It might not be easy to check on how the scratch is healing in the library," she offers.
"Lead the way." I say. We walk up the steps to her private rooms.
"Please sit down at your dressing table, ma'am. Would you please tell me how your book is coming along?" I ask.
"It is almost done. I have one chapter left before I go back through and edit and proofread it all." She smiles wearily.
I observe her as she mentions her book. I can see her eyes seem to cloud over. It looks like she hasn't had any rest at all in days.
I begin to murmur my diagnostic spells on her, when I ask, "Will Morgana consider it done before it is proofread and edited?"
"I doubt it," she half grins.
I note down in her chart, high lactic acid: usually denoting little to no sleep. Low blood sugar: she doesn't seem to have eaten much lately. Let's see how active her mind is--I pull out the copper symbol of Brigantia that I received a few days ago.
"Mrs. Malfoy, what do you know about her?" I say as I hand her the symbol.
"Brigantia, the Celtic Goddess of Birth and Midwifery," she says with authority.
Her mind is active and lucid, I note. "A few days ago, I awoke with that in my hand. I feel that you may need it more than I do. Ma'am, would you please move to the chaise? I can examine Venus and your hip easier there."
"All right." She moves to the chaise and lies down, her right hip up.
I vanish the material covering the right hip. In using just visual examination of the scratches, scar tissue is beginning to form and that tissue is smooth instead of the jagged weal that the training materials mentioned.
"Mrs. Malfoy, do you have any pain from your wounds? They seem to be healing at a accelerated speed," I say.
Dear Mrs. Worthington Smythe,
I hope you are feeling much better since out last meeting. It is about time for our next appointment, would you please arrange for transportation?
Thank you,
E. MacMillan
I receive an owl back.
Healer MacMillan,
Since I am nearly23 weeks along, I would say I am overdue for that exam. I will be awaiting you the morning of the 13th. The seal works in the usual way.
Sincerely,
Victoria
On the 13th, I am prepared and break the seal and I feel the pull of the portkey behind my navel. I am standing before the gates of Malfoy Manor.
"Who is your class mate who runs a school and what does she teach?" Narcissa's voice asks from behind the yew trees.
"Susan Bones- Hufflepuff of my year. She is an accomplished pianist and teaches her instrument," I say.
"Indeed she is." Narcissa opens the gate, grinning. "Welcome MacMillan." The first thing I notice is that she is not hiding her bump . . . indeed, I doubt she can anymore. The second thing I notice are the dark circles under her eyes, then I notice the chipped and cracked fingernails and ink smudges on her writing fingers. She takes my arm to walk back to the Manor with me, and I note she is not holding it lightly.
I'm greatly concerned about Mrs. Malfoy. Even if you take the pregnancy out of the situation, she isn't taking care of herself. Chipped nails and the ink stains on her fingers aren't normal for Mrs. Malfoy.
"Are we going to the library, Ma'am?" I ask.
"We can go to my personal rooms if you like. It might not be easy to check on how the scratch is healing in the library," she offers.
"Lead the way." I say. We walk up the steps to her private rooms.
"Please sit down at your dressing table, ma'am. Would you please tell me how your book is coming along?" I ask.
"It is almost done. I have one chapter left before I go back through and edit and proofread it all." She smiles wearily.
I observe her as she mentions her book. I can see her eyes seem to cloud over. It looks like she hasn't had any rest at all in days.
I begin to murmur my diagnostic spells on her, when I ask, "Will Morgana consider it done before it is proofread and edited?"
"I doubt it," she half grins.
I note down in her chart, high lactic acid: usually denoting little to no sleep. Low blood sugar: she doesn't seem to have eaten much lately. Let's see how active her mind is--I pull out the copper symbol of Brigantia that I received a few days ago.
"Mrs. Malfoy, what do you know about her?" I say as I hand her the symbol.
"Brigantia, the Celtic Goddess of Birth and Midwifery," she says with authority.
Her mind is active and lucid, I note. "A few days ago, I awoke with that in my hand. I feel that you may need it more than I do. Ma'am, would you please move to the chaise? I can examine Venus and your hip easier there."
"All right." She moves to the chaise and lies down, her right hip up.
I vanish the material covering the right hip. In using just visual examination of the scratches, scar tissue is beginning to form and that tissue is smooth instead of the jagged weal that the training materials mentioned.
"Mrs. Malfoy, do you have any pain from your wounds? They seem to be healing at a accelerated speed," I say.
He repairs the opening in my robes and asks me to lay on my back. He begins the diagnostic spells. "Tell me your story lass," he murmurs.
"It looks like she's been much more active lately. She's beat the other three houses to the snitch while smiling. Mrs. Malfoy, would you please call a house-elf?"
"Why?" I ask nervously. The last time I had to call a house elf when I was in a similar situation, Severus put me to sleep.
"Well to tell you the truth, I'd like an elf to bring you a small meal, a small pillow, and a soft blanket and myself a cup of tea. While you eat and rest on your chaise with your feet propped up, we can talk over whatever you'd like and then I'll check your vitals one more time," he says.
I sigh. "Fine, MacMillan. Faustus?" My elf appears quickly. "Will you bring me a light meal?" The elf Disapparates, returning moments later. MacMillan tells him to bring me a pillow and a blanket as well, and he complies before leaving.
He props up my feet on the small pillow and places the blanket on my lap. I take a sip of the cocoa, then a bite of the croissant with cashew butter that he brought me. "There. Better?" I ask him.
"No it's not. Please finish your cocoa and croissant. Tell me more about your book," he says.
"Why?" I reply crossly. "I told you it was nearly done. You know who it is about. Yes, I have been spending much more time on it this last week than I intended. Is that what you want to know? A good friend of mine and I had a conflict. It made my mind work overtime. I have hardly done more than doze occasionally for days. So rather than lie on the bed and try to convince myself to sleep, I worked on my book. Are you happy?" I snap.
Morgana, I look at his face. I did not mean to speak to him in this way. I feel my face flush, and I do my best to regain my poise. "I am sorry. I did not mean to speak so harshly to you, MacMillan." I can feel my pulse still racing as the irrational anger threatens to take control again. This is all Severus's fault.
"Madam, your blood pressure is high, while your blood sugar is extremely low. That tells me you haven't been eating regularly. Sleep would help control the blood pressure and eating would take care of the blood sugar. Since I knew I'd never get you to sleep, I thought rest and a small snack would suffice. Your book is a compelling subject to you; I thought it might keep you lying still longer. I know how it is to get little to no sleep for days, " he says.
"You would, as a healer. And I thought you agreed not to call me Madam?" I look at him seriously. "I am meeting with my friend by floo this evening. Hopefully we can work everything out, and I can sleep again. I know it is not good for Ve-nus." My voice cracks on the word Venus. I feel a knot building up in my throat. Not now. Please. I cannot cry again. I do not cry by myself, let alone in front of others. I shut my eyes tightly for a moment and breathe slowly. The moment passes, but I still do not trust the hard lump in my throat.
"It all began near 11, November of this year. My great-grandfather, formally owled me and asked me to report to the courtyard of my home. I learned many things that day. Such minutiae between 1745 and 1757, the muggle government outlawed the pipes as a weapon of war because they are used so effectively to frighten the enemy and drive the fighters on to the battle very effectively. That's the muggle side, but it ties into the ancient promises that my family made. The branch of MacMillans I belong to have been warriors from the time before the Statute of Secrecy of 1692, we openly wielded wand and blade to defend the clan's interests. Today we play the pipes in secret to inspire the troops in battle."
"Every member of my immediate family has been a 'warrior' of one sort of or another at the start of thier professional carreers. My great-grandfather couldn't understand why he produced a scion that openly professes his first desire was to 'do no harm'. Great-grandfather came up with the idea to help him understand my enemy was death itself. To please the old man whom I love dearly I took an oath to fight death with every fibre of my being for the clan and those who ask for my help. Six days later, I met someone in my home I hope never to see again, I had an audience with Balor himself and he had an offer."
I take a sip of tea to judge her reaction to my story.
"I am visited by Morgana, you by Balor. We both seem exceptionally visited. So what does this have to do with anything you are here for today, MacMillan? How is Venus? What must I do? And what do you mean my blood pressure is very high? It was only slightly high before." She folds her arms and looks at me coldly.
"Well Mrs. Malfoy, I tried to tell you the truth. Death visited me twice, then I was embraced by a female presence, and I awoke with the symbol of Brigantia in my hand that you now hold. I was trying to show that we have both been touched by the spirits of magic.
"Venus still is doing well, but she her health will be adversely affected if her mum doesn't listen to her champion. Apeal to Morgana as a Mum. If you don't begin to take care of yourself soon both of your healths will begin to suffer.I refuse to let that happen. I say vehemently.
"Do you think I would deliberately endanger my child? I am dealing with things the best way I know how. I would sleep if I could," she snaps.
I do my best to keep my anger from showing and force my words to be calm. "You dare say I have not tried? Not attempted? I am not consumed by my task. It is worry about my friend. I have used my 'task' to focus my energy positively since I could not sleep. I will not take a mild sleeping potion while I am pregnant. You yourself said that Venus is fine. This is only affecting me. But if I do not get to sleep after trying to work things out with my friend this afternoon, then I will owl you and let you use a spell to put me to sleep for several hours. Fair enough?" I take a steadying breath. "I am still waiting to see this as a gift from, the 'light' " I add. If he only knew about the Light. Or maybe he does.
"Lilith, your mistress needs you," MacMillan calls out.
The elf Apparates into the room with a loud crack. "What be Lilith's nice mistress wanting? Lilith is being here."
"It isn't your nice Mistress that needs your service; it is your littlest Mistress, Venus. She can't speak for herself yet, so I'm speaking for her. My own house-elf Paul has served four generations of MacMillans. How many generations of your Nice Mistress' family have you served?" MacMillan asks.
"Lilith was a young elf when Miss Cissy was born. Lilith was moved from the kitchens and given to Nice Mistress. Faustus belonged to all the Black girls, and Master Black before that, but he stay with Nice Mistress when the others leave. But Lilith's family be Black elves for many centuries."
"In the nice mistress beats the heart of another Black. He waves a wand at my stomach and a soft staccato beat of 140+ beats a minute fills the air. Your Mistress's own heart is sad and doesn't listen often to the youngest mistress's heart. So we need to take care of the youngest mistress while your nice mistress' heart gladdens. Your nice mistress needs to eat and rest and try to sleep. If she doesn't try, please come and get me, and we will have help your nice mistress rest so your youngest mistress will be healthy and happy. Will you do this Lillith?"
"Mistress be trying to sleep. You is being mean to her." Lilith looks at me defensively, and I cannot help but smile.
"Lilith, you have permission to tell Healer-trainee MacMillan if I am ill. You already do a good job of making sure I have healthy food that stays down with my sensitive stomach. But Venus is not yet your tiny mistress. I will give one of the Malfoy elves personally to her when she is born." I hope she understands that I require her service both for me and for Lucius--at my instructions. The baby will take too much of her time from her other duties. I look up at MacMillan. "The wards will not allow her to 'get' you. You will need a member of the family to let you in."
"Then good day Mrs. Malfoy. Call me if I'm needed after your meeting with your friend: I'm at your service."
"Good day, MacMillan." I hand him his bag of Galleons and do my best to eat a bit.