Chapter 4

Criston could feel the smell of blood impregnating his clothes.

They arrived in a hurry to Red Keep where Aemond guided the magician named Ron to the vault where the ladies of the court stay.

At one point, the brown-haired witch appeared with her eyes wide in panic.

"They closed the portal and everyone returned," said the magician with Emma in his arms. His leg was no longer dripping much blood but the bone still protrudes - They warned Madame Pomfrey.

Criston looked up and saw Queen Alicent, she quickly ordered him to go look for a Master. The same queen opened the door of one of the rooms of what she baptised as The Vault of the Maidens, intended for daughters of noble houses whose stay in the court was to seek marriage alliances.

Criston's hands were shaking, his daughter was here, but bleeding to death.

"In bed, in bed," the witch screamed. The magician left Emma on the bed.

Sirius Black entered the room followed by the other two witches. Mrs. McGonagall took him by the arm, pulling him out.

"She's my daughter, I must be here," Criston said to the dark-eyed witch.

"Get out, you don't help at all," Black growled.

Before Criston could curse him, Master Orlwey entered with his assistant.

"Only one will stay," said the Master. "I don't want many uncomfortable.

"I'm staying," Criston and Black said at the same time.

"I'm his father," Criston insisted to the Master.

"She doesn't know you, you're a stranger," Black replied very defensively. "On the other hand, I'm her godfather, her tutor." He took out his wand. "Get out or I'll curse you."

"Sirius Black!" shouted the blonde-haired woman.

"I'll stay with Emma," said Miss Granger. "I'm your best friend." And I've already been with her when she had to be in the infirmary.

The witch snapped the fingers of the red-haired magician, he nodded and took Black by the arm, who reluctantly came out, like everyone else.

Criston leaned against the wall looking at the door. Black looked like a caged lion, walking from one side to the other.

"The Master will know what to do," said the queen. Prince Aemond went out with the redhead waiting for the magicians' healer.

"Oh my puppy, my little puppy," Black lamented. Mrs. McGonagall rubbed her back. - James will drag me to hell if something happens to his girl.

Criston pressed his lips, he hated that Black referred to that James Potter as Emma's only father. He was robbed of the opportunity to be a father, the opportunity to raise her was taken away from him.

"He's totally demented!" the witch inside screamed loudly enough. Desperate Black ran and kicked the door open.

Criston follows him. The witch had her wand raised to the Master.

"The wound is too serious and there is exposed bone," Orlwey said. "If we don't get infected soon, he will get infected and die."

"Are you demented?" Criston took the Master by his heavy chains

"The girl will die, Ser," Orlwey said. "It is necessary to amputate the leg now.

"You won't do any of that," replied a female voice. Criston turned his head to find two women, a woman with a long beige robe and hair up, in her hand she carried a wand.

The other woman was almost seventy years old, with lively eyes and a strange kind of bag.

"Madame Pomfrey!" the witch sighed with relief. The gray-haired woman, with some blonde locks, approached the bed.

"Who are you?" the Master's assistant asked with a frown.

"The Hogwarts healer, of course," he replied, looking at him. She approached the wound - The bone is splintered - she moved her wand over the wound and stopped blood flowing - Mrs. Carrol.

"It's an exposed fracture," said the other old woman. "I guess they'll introduce the bone and you'll put a sling."

"I was thinking of disappearing the bone," replied the healer.

"You are women," Orlwey said to the two women, older than him. "Let this to the Masters."

"She has been healing young people for more than four decades," said the healing witch with her forehead raised, "and healed this girl since she was eleven years old. I know what I do.

"I was healing soldiers while you couldn't even read," said Mrs. Carroll, also offended, "Soldiers in a world war." I have a degree.

"Master, let them work," said the queen.

The healers asked everyone to leave, except Granger, Criston was out of the room again. The Masters were not with the best faces, they frowned and murmured annoyed.

After some time, the healer Pomfrey went out with Mrs. Carrol. With the door open, Criston saw how the witch Granger was sitting next to Emma, holding her hand.

The injured leg was with a sling and bandaged, with a pillow under it.

- Emma is already better - said the healer Pomfrey to Black and the other magicians - We had to disappear the bone and closed the wound. We have given him a little Bone-Grower, so that he grows back. Mr. Weasley told us that she used her animaga form for who knows how long, so she is also magically exhausted.

Sirius Black sighed in relief.

"Will he be okay?" Criston asked the witch.

"Miss Potter has been under my care many times and she will look like new," replied the healer. "She will only sleep until tomorrow, maybe she is uncomfortable, but that's the effect of the Bone Growth, and she knows it.

"Thanks to the Magic Mother," said Mrs. Malfoy.

Criston wanted to enter the room and take care of his daughter, but the queen held him by the arm and shook her head. Black and the other magicians entered, stay outside with the prince and queen.

"Wait for Miss Potter to wake up, Ser Criston," the queen told him. "She must be exhausted as the healer said.

"It's better to wait," Prince Aemond added.

Criston Cole leaned against the wall with his eyes towards the door still open, Sirius Black looked at him and closed the door with a wand movement.

────∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ────

Daemon had analysed the situation. Rhaenyra had locked herself in her room worrying Jacaerys, who was the only one who came with both of them to the capital.

"Is something wrong with my mother?" he asked worriedly.

"They're adult things, Jacaerys," Daemon replied to his stepson.

"My mother is nervous, scared," Jacaerys said. "My duty as her firstborn is to know how I can help her.

Daemon closed his eyes thinking about everything that happened.

A daughter, Rhaenyra had had a daughter with the stupid dog of Alicent Hightower's harpy.

Rhaenyra must have let the baby die, otherwise, she wouldn't be causing so many problems right now.

Night had fallen and Daemon told Jacaerys to stay with Rhaenyra. In the hallway I hear the whispers of the witch's maids who was in the Vault of the Maidens.

Daemon walked and ran into Cole outside, who was sitting on the floor with his gaze fixed on the door. Cole looked up and frowned.

"That she stays away and doesn't send her dog," Cole said. Daemon was about to unsheathe Dark Sister but the presence of the brown-haired witch interrupted the fight.

"Prince," she tilted her head towards him. His hands were clinging to the tape of certain of his bag.

"Are you coming to see Emma?" Cole asked, standing up and looking at the witch.

"I'm here to relieve Sirius," she replied. "I brought a nightgown and a coat for Emma." Mr. Black needs to return to the camp. So I'll stay all night with Emma.

"I can take care of her," Cole said. Daemon saw how the Hightower dog looked desperate to enter.

It's better for Emma to see a familiar face when she wakes up - replied the witch - But she's in my hands, it's not that she's skilled in healing, but she's my best friend. And it wouldn't be the first time.

"When he arrived, you mentioned the same thing," Cole asked. "What do you mean by that?"

"I'll just say that Emma was in the infirmary many times, she even had her own bed," she joked. Daemon looked when the door was opened, the magician came out with a tired face.

He approached the witch and patted Granger on the shoulder. Daemon looked towards the room as Rhaenyra's bastard was lying down, all her black hair scattered on the pillows and a small cloth deer on her hand.

"He complains of pain," Black said, ignoring him. "But I already gave him a little potion and something to sleep without dreams."

"To the camp, Sirius," the witch told Black, almost ordered him, "Your cousins are waiting for you and Molly saved you food.

Granger entered the room, taking a book out of his bag, with his wand he closed the door.

Black patted her on the shoulder and looked at Crispín saying: - Away from my puppy.

Without speaking to Daemon, the magician turned on his heels and walked towards the exit.