Ten in the morning

The message by owl had gone unanswered, which was not surprising. Andromeda had tasked Cepheus with reaching Healer Misslethorpe first with their suspicions that their big brother was not actually Orion all along.

It had been a difficult note to write, to explain that one’s brother might be an imposter, but not having firm evidence, just to… watch out. Misslethorpe was possibly considering if he needed to invite Andromeda and Cepheus in for a little well-meaning assessment. Andromeda had said it wouldn’t harm if they were ‘shooting hexes off target’ but Cepheus lacked her metaphorical balls.

All around this he still had his usual workload, though he was deeply distracted, and Kayla was intolerable. Two people had sent her anonymous valentines and neither set of handwriting looked familiar to Cepheus when she sought his assistance with sourcing the mysterious romantic wizards. He had managed to stop himself short of suggesting it was someone pulling her leg.



Twenty past ten

“Alright gorgeous.” Cormy extended a bunch of flowers to the Division Head’s confusion. “You like flowers don’t you?” 

The Being Division’s near-giant made a monthly pilgrimage to update Cepheus in person, never being a man who liked to write a report when he could give it verbally and catch up with the office-dwellers in London. The flowers were meant entirely platonically and just for a laugh, as far as Cepheus could tell, at least he bloody well hoped so.

The day was shaping up to be rather unusual, but at least speaking to real person rather than studying papers meant that Cepheus could at last focus. He was still keeping an eye on the time. He’d promised to go to St Mungo’s directly if he didn’t hear from Andromeda. The jittering anxiety bubbling in Ceph’s stomach made him wonder if his towering colleague might oblige him company for the jaunt, just in case things went south.



Half past ten

“OHMAGEUD-,” Kayla burst through his office door, interrupting them by flapping. Most importantly, she was brandishing a note. “I swear this just arrived, like.” She’d definitely not taken the opportunity to stray from her desk and go searching for her mystery men. Ceph’s visitor issued her one of his trademark long stares, “What - I was - I…”

So much for impressing that any owl or memo from Andromeda had been urgent! Cepheus stood and seized it, unable to hide his peeved expression, and quickly scanned his sister’s message. Further evidence that things were not right, but she’d had to go down to Portsmouth. Cepheus kicked himself at not remembering that was where the travel company’s real headquarters were.

“Right,” Cepheus heard himself say. “I’m so sorry to cut this short,” he raised both hands in a placating manner to his only recently arrived colleague, “but there’s something urgent I need to follow up, and it’s rather time-sensitive.”

The giant specialist and his secretary stared at him in unusual, pregnant silence, “Kayla, would you mind rescheduling Mr Cormoran and find a vase for these?”
“No need,” the exceedingly tall wizard transfigured Ceph’s mug into a vase of the same design, “You go on boy!” Cepheus cringed at the wink he received.



Ten to eleven

Everything seemed rather hushed on the fourth floor of the hospital. He’d made it up there at last, but quite a lot slower than he’d wanted, and definitely with more delay than his sister appeared to want.

“He’s going to think we’ve lost it,” Cepheus muttered to Andromeda, aware people were staring at them, mostly because of their hushed but anxious exchanges. “Someone’s going to find him,” he assured his sister, still unsure quite how to broach the conversation of ‘hi Healer Misslethorpe, turns out our brother’s a pretend brother…’ “What if this does turn out to be some elaborate coincidence?”

That was the reason Andromeda had not asked for help. Not told the others where she was all morning. If it was bullshit then she would give an excuse. Informant turned up time waster. Surveillance just to see if she caught a fish in a net. Good excuses for her absence.

"If we have then we came to the right man." Said Andromeda. She was impatient. Like a hungry big cat she watched the movements of every passer by. "Fuck this." She set off. She knew the way to Healer Misslethorpe's office. Worst she would do is walk in on a intimiate exam. In for a sickle. In for a galleon.

The door came open criminally easily. For the Deputy Head of the hospital Misslethorpe either lax or stupid. Andromeda looked up and around herself. Wand out. "Hello?" No answer. Andromeda walked in. Combed the scene with her gaze. She missed nothing. The pages of parchment on the desk were not neatly piled. Spread towards the edge. The chair was shoved close to the desk but the back was not worn. She spoke nothing. She ignored her brother. A head healer would not leave his door unlocked.

There was a large wardrobe. The carpet was scuffed. Something had dragged over this in the direction of the doors. Andromeda looked it up and down. The doors were closed. Twitched her wand. The doors swung open. Creaking. Robes. Lots of robes. Boxes. Body.

"Shit!" Andromeda gave a great leap forward. Swept the robes back forcefully.

“Andie!” Cepheus hissed, jogging after his sister. “Where are - where are you going?!” His sister was walking with purpose, clear of her direction. “You can’t just barge in there - Andie!”

Cepheus grasped his forehead and hair in exasperation, expecting the door to either be locked or a strong, awkward protest from within as they barged in on a private appointment. But there was no outcry and the door came open with an anti-climactic immediacy.

“We can’t just go rooting through someone’s office, we came here to warn him at the very least, not invade his privacy. The stuff in here is confidential.” Cepheus could have been talking to a brick wall for all he was getting through to his auror sister. It was clear Sandy Misslethorpe wasn’t hiding behind the curtain to the examination couch, nor under the desk. He wasn’t going to be hiding in his office in any sane outcome of this scene.

“Let’s just wait outside, ask again,” Cepheus felt like he was an uncomfortable burglar’s assistant. He headed for the door as he heard the creak of a heavy door behind him and glanced back. Andromeda had opened the wardrobe-like cupboard in the room and was bending forwards, swearing.

Cepheus darted back, eyes widening at the sight of a body in the bottom of the wardrobe. His sister held back the robes hanging above it.
“That’s Misslethorpe!” Cepheus exclaimed, recognising the unconscious body. “Is he de -?” He caught sight of quiet, steady movement of the chest under a thin white vest and leaned against the wardrobe door in relief. There were no bloody gashes or missing limbs. It just looked as if he’d been knocked out.

“Oh thank Gods.” Ceph wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, vomit having momentarily threatened the back of his throat. “What’s he doing in there, and why’s he dressed in his vest, pants and socks?” Cepheus took over holding the robes back and lit his wand for more light. “If he’s here - then who… who has that assistant gone to find…?” Cepheus asked shakily, looking to Andromeda with an ever-deepening pit in his stomach.

Despite the Head Healer’s disinterest in Valentine’s Day and the romance involved by couples clearly wishing to display their love and unable to do so on any other day of the year, St Mungo’s had been decorated for the occasion. It was supposed to set patients at ease, giving some semblance of normal life while in the hospital. Miranda, as was normal, wasn’t in a Valentine’s spirit. In fact, she was tracking down Sandy who had left his promised budget report on her desk that morning. It wasn’t up to par and he needed to be made aware.

Miranda Storm had said budget report in her grasp when she, Gold and Emerald healer robes over a smart black dress and eye wateringly high heels, made her way along to corridor to her Second’s office. She quickened her pace upon seeing the door open, confident she had caught him in the office. Definitely best for a face to face chat.

When she heard voices, the Head Healer frowned, rounding the corner into the doorway. He had company., She gazed in, frowning deeper. Two unfamiliar figures (one in auror robes) were crouched near the large cupboard. No Sandy in sight.

“Can I help you?” The stern witch asked sternly.

Then she saw beyond them to a pair of feet. Bare men’s feet. Her hand instinctively went to her robe pocket for her wand.

"Not him." Said Andie. Her heart was racing. They were right about it all. Andromeda was sure of who the imposter was. Not their brother. They had to be stopped.

"Yeah." Andie got up. Faced the Head Healer. Great timing! "Where is the other Healer Misslethorpe?" She pointed at the body in the closet. "There is someone pretending to be him in your hospital right now." Andie was direct. No emotion. "I have not got time to explain why. I am going to find them." She pushed past Miranda Storm. "Before they reunite with our father." She looked back before she left. It was too late to get backup. "You can either help me or him."

"Where is the other Healer Misslethorpe?" The auror asked, causing the Head Healer, wand in hand, to frown. The other Healer Misslethorpe? That meant the real one was lying in his cupboard in a state of undress?

The auror continued to briefly fill Miranda in and she quickly realised who this pair was. Gamps. Their father was Mortimer Gamp who was currently a long-term patient on this very floor. She’d seen them occasionally before, and while Miranda was often poor with names, she was very good with faces.

“Go.” She waved off the auror, and glanced to the other conscious wizard before stepping into the room and rushing over to Sandy. She shoved her her hand in the pocket of her robes and gave her healer’s badge a squeeze. They needed hospital security, if this auror was correct. And she certainly didn’t want a scene. “What does she mean reuinite with your father?” Miranda asked, dropping down to glance over Sandy. She reached forward, fingers gently lifting his eyelids. His pupils were blurry, glazed over. “He’s been stunned.”

At least stunning, if that’s all it was, had an easy fix. And then they could figure out what the hell was going on. No need to panic.
Her wand tip was pointed at Sandy’s chest and she muttered “Rennervate.” A red light shot from her wand towards her friend and colleague.

They were not alone for long, as Cepheus feared.

“Shit,” he uttered on recognition of Miranda Storm. The local equivalent of being found by the Minister of Magic if they were on home turf. “Er, we-.”

Andromeda acted far quicker, on her feet and facing the Head Healer before Cepheus could think of a sentence to string together.
“Yeah. Where is the other Healer Misslethorpe.” Cepheus was still crouched beside the unconscious healer, a hand to his shoulder, reassured at the warmth of skin and the rise of the chest continuing throughout the exchange.

The abrupt, direct manner in which his sister asked took the Head Healer aback from what Cepheus could see. She didn’t reply, but her expression seemed serious rather than sceptical.
“There is someone pretending to be him in your hospital right now. I have not got time to explain why. I am going to find them.” Cepheus tried to find his balance to get up, not keen for his sister to go alone, even if he was beginning to feel shaky about this whole situation. Andie gave Healer Storm an ultimatum and the woman waved her off with permission to go. Andie was too quick for Cepheus, who now felt obliged to stay put for a moment to explain to the Head Healer.

“What does she mean reunite with your father?”
“We… we have reason to believe it’s another family member …” Cepheus explained mildly, unhanding the unconscious healer to allow his superior to examine and revive him. “We think they’ve been impersonating our older brother, Orion.” The Head Healer brought Healer Misslethorpe round, and Cepheus got to his feet quickly to make space, remembering the wardrobe was full of robes when he did. He fished a set off the hanger, anticipating that waking up in your boxers and vest on the floor might make one feel exposed. He glanced to the door, hoping his sister wasn’t rushing into a trap.

Sandy gasped. Eyes wide open. The first thing he saw was Andy's face. He reached out. Grabbed her arm. Like a drowning man. His vision swam. He blinked it away. He took deep breaths. He knew what it felt like to regain consciousness. He looked around him. His office. He was lying before his wardobe? Why was he not wearing his healer robes? Cepheus Gamp? He stared. Shook his head. Snatched the robes.

Sandy bent his knees. Curling up. Let go of Andy with a jump. Touched his face. Everything was coming back to him. "Your brother. Your brother hexed me!" He accused Cepheus. "I said he could not see Mortimer Gamp and he - he hexed me!" Sandy gasped. He looked at Andy. "Mortimer! He cannot go in! It is not safe!" Sandy tried to get up but his head span. He fell back.

Another family member impersonating their brother? Where the hell did her Deputy Head Healer come into this? Miranda, somehow remaining calm in the face of this emerging problem, started to piece it together. Impersonating Sandy gave this family member an easy way in to Mortimer Gamp. Had they taken his wand as well?

With a gasp and wide eyes, Sandy came to, grabbing her arm in shock. One of the seemingly many Gamps handed him a robe and, stutter free, her long-term colleague started to blabber about what had happened to him. He tried to get up and Miranda steadied him.
“Watch yourself. You were stunned.” He knew what after effects came with that.

Searching his gaze, Miranda remembered what Ignan had insisted upon so many times since their encounters with Lawrence Musgrave. Don’t just presume.
“Sandy, our first shared patient when we were set loose, what condition did she have?” An imposter wouldn’t know about a patient from 30 years ago.

Behind her, in the dooway, a couple wizards in smart blue robes appeared. “Head Healer?”

Miranda turned her head, frowning. “I’m informed we have an imposter posing as Healer Misslethorpe. Don’t raise the alarms yet, we don’t need to spook them.”

A nod and they were off. She looked back to Sandy, frowning.

"What? Andy?" Gasped Sandy. Why was that important? He rubbed his eyes. "Scrofungulus. Miriam P-Palewater. There w-was an outbreak in a shared house in Diagon. She had only lived there a week. We knew her from school." He felt sick. "What the hell is going on?" Embarrassed. A patient hexed him. He wasn't wearing his robes. "Why is someone pretending to be ... to be me?"

Fortunately, Healer Misslethorpe woke to confirm their suspicions. The robes left Ceph’s grip without thanks. The Division Head dragged a hand through his dark hair, really feeling he should have gone after Andromeda. Not because he felt hex-happy, but because he worried. There could be a full-on fight, or worse the imposter had got to their father and all hell was breaking loose.

Whoever was pretending to be Orion had hexed Healer Misslethorpe, then presumably taken the clothes despite a wardrobe full of robes. He stepped back again, feeling like a third wheel in this exchange.

“Why is someone pretending to be me?” Misslethorpe asked from the floor. He looked dazed, confused and flustered. Cepheus felt rather sorry that he’d only sent a note when they had suspicions. His own embarrassment at being wrong would have been far less than an assault. He should have done more. Come here in person.

“They want to get to our father.” Cepheus replied grimly, with a sorry expression. “We only figured something was very wrong this morning, but we couldn’t prove it. I tried to reach you, but you must not have seen my message.” He ran his tongue over his dry lips. “Look, I’m sorry, but I should go after my sister.” He thumbed to the door, backing towards it.

Cepheus Gamp explained. What message? There had not been a message! If Cepheus Gamp had tried harder then this situation could have been prevented. He waved at hand at Cepheus. He was no help at all.

Sandy looked at Andy urgently. "Mortimer Gamp's room. You must go. He could do worse than turn them to umbrellas." Yesterday's events were known to Andy. That things in the room became umbrellas. Big black ones. Big enough to fit a family under. Andy knew that Sandy's assistant was an umbrella for nearly an hour. Wandless spells to do it. They were right to keep Mortimer Gamp locked up for safe treatment. "Go. I am right behind you." He pushed her away.

It was with relief that Miranda listened to Sandy’s answer about their first patient with Scrofungulus. Knowing it was actually Sandy, however, made his situation of being in the cupboard in his underwear even more uncomfortable. Miranda had, as a healer, seen a lot of people in a state of undress in a professional sense. Never her longest standing friend and colleague.

"Why is someone pretending to be ... to be me?" Sandy asked the big question and the Gamp wizard responded about trying to get to their father. Mortimer Gamp. The long-term patient/prisoner wizard who’d been turning things into umbrellas in recent days. He’d been under Sandy’s care.

The young Gamp left shortly after the security wixes, and Sandy pleaded for Miranda to go. Keeping her wand in her grip, she rose back to a standing position.
“Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be back.” He needed checking over completely and she’d be the one to do it.

Sandy was not going to stay put. Someone was pretending to be him. This was his reputation! His whole career as a healer. He shooed Andy away. It was her hospital. He was not as important as that. And he wanted to put clothes back on.

Nobody was going to get away with impersonating him. Nobody was going to be turned into an umbrella. Not today.

Now where the hell was his wand?

END