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atients were making very peculiar noises： a sweaty…faced witch in the centre of the front row； who was fanning herself vigorously with a copy of the Daily Prophet； kept letting off a high…pitched whistle as steam came pouring out of her mouth； a grubby…looking warlock in the corner clanged like a bell every time he moved and； with each clang； his head vibrated horribly so that he had to seize himself by the ears to hold it steady。
Witches and wizards in lime…green robes were walking up and down the rows； asking questions and making notes on clipboards like Umbridge's。 Harry noticed the emblem embroidered on their chests： a wand and bone； crossed。
'Are they doctors？' he asked Ron quietly。
'Doctors？' said Ron； looking startled。 Those Muggle nutters that cut people up？ Nah； they're Healers。'
'Over here！' called Mrs Weasley above the renewed clanging of the warlock in the corner； and they followed her to the queue in front of a plump blonde witch seated at a desk marked Enquiries。 The wall behind her was covered in notices and posters saying things like： A CLEAN CAULDRON KEEPS POTIONS FROM BEING POISONS and ANTIDOTES ARE ANTI…DON'TS UNLESS APPROVED BY A QUALIFIED HEALER。 There was also a large portrait of a witch with long silver ringlets which was labelled：
Dilys Derwent
St Mungo's Healer I722…
Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry I74I…
Dilys was eyeing the Weasley party closely as though counting them； when Harry caught her eye she gave a tiny wink； walked sideways out of her portrait and vanished。
Meanwhile； at the front of the queue； a young wizard was performing an odd on…the…spot jig and trying； in between yelps of pain； to explain his predicament to the witch behind the desk。
'It's these … ouch … shoes my brother gave me … ow … they're eating my … OUCH … feet … look at them； there must be some kind of … AARGH … jinx on them and I can't … AAAAARGH … get them off。' He hopped from one foot to the other as though dancing on hot coals。
The shoes don't prevent you reading； do they？' said the blonde witch； irritably pointing at a large sign to the left of her desk。 'You want Spell Damage； fourth floor。 Just like it says on the floor guide。 Next！'
As the wizard hobbled and pranced sideways out of the way； the Weasley party moved forward a few steps and Harry read the floor guide：
ARTEFACT ACCIDENTS： Ground floor
Cauldron explosion； wand backfiring； broom crashes； etc。
CREATURE…INDUCED INJURIES： First floor
Bites； stings； burns； embedded spines； etc。
MAGICAL BUGS： Second floor
Contagious maladies； e。g。 dragon pox； vanishing sickness； scrojungulus； etc。
POTION AND PLANT POISONING： Third floor
Rashes； regurgitation； uncontrollable 2； etc。
SPELL DAMAGE： Fourth floor
Unliftable jinxes； hexes； incorrectly applied charms； etc。
VISITORS' TEAROOM / HOSPITAL SHOP： Fifth floor
IF YOU ARE UNSURE WHERE TO GO； INCAPABLE OF NORMAL SPEECH OR UNABLE TO REMEMBER WHY YOU ARE HERE； OUR WELEWITCH WILL BE PLEASED TO HELP。
A very old； stooped wizard with a hearing trumpet had shuffled to the front of the queue now。 'I'm here to see Broderick Bode！' he wheezed。
'Ward forty…nine； but I'm afraid you're wasting your time；' said the witch dismissively。 'He's pletely addled； you know … still thinks he's a teapot。 Next！'
A harassed…looking wizard was holding his small daughter tightly by the ankle while she flapped around his head using the immensely large； feathery wings that had sprouted right out through the back of her romper suit。
'Fourth floor；' said the witch； in a bored voice； without asking； and the man disappeared through the double doors beside the desk； holding his daughter like an oddly shaped balloon。 'Next！'
Mrs Weasley moved forward to the desk。
'Hello；' she said； 'my husband； Arthur Weasley； was supposed to be moved to a different ward this morning； could you tell us …？'
'Arthur Weasley？' said the witch； running her finger down a long list in front of her。 'Yes； first floor； second door on the right； Dai Llewellyn Ward。'
Thank you；' said Mrs Weasley。 'e on； you lot。'
They followed her through the double doors and along the narrow corridor beyond； which was lined with more portraits of famous Healers and lit by crystal bubbles full of candles that floated up on the ceiling； looking like giant soapsuds。 More witches and wizards in lime…green robes walked in and out of the doors they passed； a foul…smelling yellow gas wafted into the passageway as they passed one door； and every now and then they heard distant wailing。 They climbed a flight of stairs and entered the Creature…Induced Injuries corridor； where the second door on the right bore the words： 'Dangerous' Dai Llewellyn Ward： Serious Bites。 Underneath this was a card in a brass holder on which had been handwritten： Healer…in…Charge： Hippocrates Smethwyck。 Trainee Healer： Augustus Pye。
'We'll wait outside； Molly；' Tonks said。 'Arthur won't want too many visitors at once： it ought to be just the family first。'
Mad…Eye growled his approval of this idea and set himself with his back against the corridor wall； his magical eye spinning in all directions。 Harry drew back； too； but Mrs Weasley reached out a hand and pushed him through the door； saying； 'Don't be silly； Harry； Arthur wants to thank you。'
The ward was small and rather dingy； as the only window was narrow and set high in the wall facing the door。 Most of the light came from more shining crystal bubbles clustered in the middle of the ceiling。 The walls were of panelled oak and there was a portrait of a rather vicious…looking wizard on the wall； captioned： Urquhart Rackharrow； I6I2…I697； Inventor of the Entrail…expelling Curse。
There were only three patients。 Mr Weasley was occupying the bed at the far end of the ward beside the tiny window。 Harry was pleased and relieved to see that he was propped up on several pillows and reading the Daily Prophet by the solitary ray of sunlight falling on to his bed。 He looked up as they walked towards him and； seeing who it was； beamed。
'Hello！' he called； throwing the Prophet aside。 'Bill just left； Molly； had to get back to work； but he says he'll drop in on you later。'
'How are you； Arthur？' asked Mrs Weasley； bending down to kiss his cheek and looking anxiously into his face。 'You're still looking a bit peaky。'
'I feel absolutely fine；' said Mr Weasley brightly； holding out his good arm to give Ginny a hug。 'If they could only take the bandages off； I'd be fit to go home。'
'Why can't they take them off； Dad？' asked Fred。
'Well； I start bleeding like mad every time they try；' said Mr Weasley cheerfully； reaching across for his wand； which lay on his bedside cabinet； and waving it so that six extra chairs appeared at his bedside to seat them all。 'It seems there was some rather unusual kind of poison in that snake's fangs that keeps wounds open。 They're sure they'll find an antidote； though； they say they've had much worse cases than mine； and in the meantime I just have to keep taking a Blood…Replenishing Potio