Chapter 129: St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries

St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries was founded in the early 17th century by the renowned healer Mungo Bonham. Its emblem, a cross formed by a bone and a wand, symbolized its mission.

This hospital not only treated wizarding patients but also occasionally admitted Muggles who had been affected by spells or magical injuries. 

Unlike Muggle hospitals, St. Mungo's had specialized departments: the Artifact Accidents Ward, the Creature-Induced Injuries Ward, the Magical Bugs Ward, the Potions and Plant Poisoning Ward, and the Spell Damage Ward.

Eda was currently in the Spell Damage Ward on the 4th floor, while the 5th floor above housed the tea room and the hospital shop. 

Aside from its founder, Mungo Bonham, Eda was also aware of another famous figure associated with the hospital—Dilys Derwent. This witch, known for her long, silver curls, had served as a healer at St. Mungo's from 1722 to 1741 before becoming Headmistress of Hogwarts in 1741, a position she held until her passing in 1768.

Because of this, Dilys Derwent's portrait hung not only in St. Mungo's but also in the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts. 

Eda had only been sitting in the office for a short while when the door opened, and three healers filed in. They immediately began examining her.

One muttered incantations under his breath, another checked her physical condition, while the third circled her nonstop. Their methods were nothing like the doctors Eda was familiar with, and the whole scene felt bizarre. 

After a little while, Professor McGonagall returned and asked the three healers, "How is she? Any other injuries?" 

"Just a muscle tear in her left arm and some minor scrapes," one of the healers replied. "Other than that, there are no additional injuries. If you're still concerned, she could stay at St. Mungo's for a few days for observation, in case any hidden injuries or latent curses have yet to manifest."

Eda waved her hands repeatedly upon hearing this—she had no desire to stay in the hospital. She had already spent enough time in such places in her previous life. She said, "Professor, I'm perfectly fine. I can return to school anytime. They weren't able to hurt me." 

This was the truth. Neither Joan nor Peter Loren had managed to land a hit on her, and even the bulky Turner Bryant had only come close. As for the muscle tear in her left arm, Eda suspected it was caused by her wandless magic. 

At the time, the vines had already completely restrained Peter Loren, leaving him unable to escape. She could have easily finished him off with a small stone or a simple spell, but instead, she chose to conjure a massive ball of rubble. This significantly increased the difficulty of the spell, which was likely what caused the strain in her left arm. 

Eda had specifically chosen this method because of the loud crashing sound it would create—giving her an opportunity to take advantage of the noise and catch Turner Bryant off guard with a sneak attack. 

However, the ever-"authoritative" Professor McGonagall agreed with the healer's suggestion. She didn't care about what Eda thought—only about what she believed was best.

In McGonagall's opinion, after experiencing such an intense battle, Eda should remain in the hospital for further observation, just in case. 

The healers gradually left to arrange a hospital bed for Eda. Though McGonagall tended to indulge her, she had no intention of raising her to be spoiled. Therefore, instead of a private ward, she was assigned a shared room with fewer occupants. 

Even though the corridors of St. Mungo's lacked the unpleasant smell of disinfectant, Eda still disliked being here. She disliked anything associated with hospitals. They were never good places and always brought back unpleasant memories for her.

There were only three other patients in the shared ward besides Eda.

The bed next to hers was occupied by a young woman who lay unconscious, completely unresponsive, as if under the effects of an unknown curse.

Another patient was hidden behind a curtain—Eda couldn't even tell if they were male or female, let alone what kind of illness they had.

The last patient appeared relatively normal, except for one issue—they couldn't open their mouth without immediately hiccupping and blowing bubbles.

The entire ward was filled with colorful, floating bubbles that never seemed to stop.

After changing into hospital robes, a weary and unenthusiastic Eda followed Professor McGonagall out of the ward.

As they walked through the narrow corridors, Eda spotted the ever-annoying Hart. He was speaking in hushed tones with a few other people, but the moment they noticed Eda and McGonagall approaching, their expressions stiffened with tension, as if terrified that the two women might suddenly push past them and storm into the room behind them.

It was easy to guess that the woman named Joan was inside that ward. The only question was how serious her condition was.

The Aurors standing guard were likely there to prevent her from escaping or being rescued—but also, perhaps, to stop Eda or someone else from finishing her off.

McGonagall and Eda completely ignored them and walked straight past, heading to the shop on the 5th floor.

Eda needed to gather a few things for her hospital stay, and since her last meal had been breakfast, combined with a morning full of intense combat, her stomach was completely empty.

Inside the tearoom, McGonagall and Eda sat across from each other, with some daily necessities placed beside them. Eda's left arm had already been treated, now wrapped in thick magical bandages, and the tearing sensation had significantly eased.

In front of Eda was a deliciously fragrant cake and a large jug of apple juice. Meanwhile, McGonagall sipped on a cup of English tea, with a few rather plain-looking tea biscuits resting on a saucer beside her.

"I've already told Dumbledore everything. The rest is up to him to handle. You just stay here at the hospital—don't go anywhere, don't do anything. If you need any books, I'll bring them to you tomorrow," Professor McGonagall said. In the short time she had been away from Eda earlier, she had already informed Dumbledore of everything that had happened. 

"Can't I really go back to school?" Eda asked. "Madam Pomfrey is an excellent healer too—she could treat my torn muscles just as well." 

She didn't want to stay at St. Mungo's for even a second longer. She wanted to go back to school, to her soft, canopied bed. She missed the afternoon sunlight in Twilight Cottage, and she missed Fred and George too. 

What would Fred and George say if they found out about today?

They'd probably joke that four against two, yet getting completely wiped out—were they just bad at fighting?

They would definitely scold her for leaving them behind again, for facing danger alone. 

After finishing her meal, Eda was dragged back to the ward by Professor McGonagall and firmly pressed into bed to rest.

The bubble-blowing man had finally shut his mouth, and the bubbles filling the room had been cleaned up by the hospital staff. The unconscious woman was still asleep. Everything was just as it had been when Eda first arrived. 

After all the battles and tension, Eda was indeed exhausted. She hadn't been lying down for long before she drifted into a deep sleep. She knew she could sleep soundly and without worry—because Professor McGonagall was right there beside her. McGonagall would protect her. 

Eda had no idea how long she slept, but when she woke up, the sky outside had already darkened. Professor McGonagall was no longer by her bedside.

Slipping on her slippers, Eda walked to the door of the ward. 

At night, St. Mungo's was much quieter. The narrow corridors now seemed more spacious without the usual crowds. Just outside, Dumbledore was speaking softly with Professor McGonagall.

"The Minister personally intervened in this matter. The Aurors have already learned from Joan what led to the incident—it was they who attacked the innocent Eda first. The conclusion is clear: under those circumstances, it was already remarkable that she survived. Killing someone by accident is not an issue," Dumbledore said. 

After receiving McGonagall's message, Dumbledore had immediately gone to the Ministry of Magic.

Cornelius Fudge, showing considerable respect for him, personally took part in the investigation. Now, the results were in—every charge Hart had tried to pin on Eda was completely unfounded. Not only was she innocent, but she was actually being commended for taking down three lawless wizards. 

"What about that Joan?" Professor McGonagall asked. "The Aurors have been guarding her all this time. I wanted to take a look, but I couldn't get close." 

"She likely won't survive. Even if she's lucky enough to keep her life, she'll be bedridden for the rest of it," Dumbledore replied. Then, turning toward the door of the hospital ward, he continued, "It seems our Miss Twist is already awake."

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