Chapter 236: Direction Of Treatment
The ink smell from the printer hadn’t dissipated yet, the roasted aroma of French coffee filled the room, a large desk sat in the center of the office, topped with an old-fashioned computer with a square head, and a white square box for placing the telephone.
Cold wind blew from the pipe opening, the mechanical wind ornament on the desk spun with the breeze, the cleverly spliced balance arm like a perpetual motion machine, turning endlessly.
The former assistant miss, now a corporate executive, suddenly pushed off all activities on her schedule, just to clear the office for a meeting with that unappointed visitor.
There was also a coffee machine in the office, two cups of freshly brewed coffee for guests, Claire was already accustomed to the taste of coffee here, tasting the bitter, slightly burnt drink without changing expression, and even discerning a faint special fragrance from it.
Melvin still couldn’t adapt to the taste of French coffee, this cup of stuff was only a bit better than hot Americano.
An assistant called in through the internal line telephone, Claire picked up and casually responded with some meaningless interjections, she had received the news when opening this morning, hearing Melvin asking for VIP tickets for students, she agreed without asking any reasons, having park staff personally pick them up, almost the highest level of treatment.
At this moment the two sat in the office chatting for a long time, the Granger family was enjoying the park, Claire still didn’t know why Melvin cared about them, but hearing the assistant report on that six-year-old girl’s situation, the whole family indulging the girl… she guessed this play trip might be a dying wish for some terminally ill patient.
“It’s a workday today, fewer tourists than on weekends, the theater manager said they just played at Sleeping Beauty Castle, had a great time, now riding the trolley car.” Claire said, “There’s a fireworks show performance in the evening, they can watch from the best spot.”
“No need to pay attention anymore, they probably won’t ask for too much, that girl is physically weak, can’t play too many projects.” Melvin said softly.
Claire’s eyes flickered slightly, indeed a patient.
She took a sip of coffee: “That night you were taken away by the wizard police, is the matter resolved?”
“Mr. Graves is my friend, he just had something to ask my help with, conveniently using this as an excuse, delayed a few days, but fortunately the matter is fully resolved.” Melvin put down the coffee and said, “Today I’m here to talk about the magic park.”
“I wanted to bring this up too, that night you only gave one idea, piqued my interest and then hurriedly disappeared, really too much.” Claire complained, “But I’m a dutiful assistant, already conceived some interesting projects, with real magic, many inconceivable ideas can become reality, no matter how unique wizards’ preferences are, I’m confident I can make them fall for the magic park.”
“I have confidence in you too.”
Melvin affirmed, “But I lack some confidence in myself, after careful thought, before formally building the magic park, perhaps we can try some experiments first, see the market reaction.”
“You’re eyeing Disney?”
“Claire is already a senior executive.” Melvin paused slightly, “You’re now Disney’s Creative Director, many new projects under your charge, so I’m thinking, could we bring real magic into Disneyland.”
Claire’s eyes gradually brightened, her words teasing: “You don’t want to pay me salary, so making me a partner?”
“Yes, my not-so-loyal subordinate miss.”
“Is it legal?” Claire took a sip of coffee, excited yet restrained, “Is this kind of project legal? I mean the wizard government’s law, you mentioned some Secrecy Law to me last time, sounds very strict.”
“If it was a week ago, the timing wasn’t ripe enough.”
Melvin shrugged, “Now there’s no such worry, recently I helped the French Ministry of Magic a great deal, they owe me a big favor, so under the premise of superficially respecting the Secrecy Law, we can do some slightly out-of-line things.”
“Sounds just like when you were at the Gershwin Theatre.”
“All the stage design I did at the Gershwin Theatre was legal and compliant.”
Melvin corrected this baseless slander, picked up the coffee again, gently shook it, the liquid inside turned into Butterbeer, “Continue talking about the magic park, the Ministry of Magic here won’t pop up to make trouble, I also befriended a wealthy wizarding family, their business spans various fields, they know to hire professional wizards to realize those ideas.”
“Can we hide it from other park staff?”
“Yes, the Wizarding World has a set of professional procedures.”
Claire’s heart stirred, this project sounded very feasible, with bright prospects, building a real magic park under her push, with magic it would surely attract more tourists, these projects would turn into golden resume entries, imprinted under her personal resume.
These were all secondary, the relationship between wizards and Muggles would usher in a new era, in a sense, this was a cross-era cross-race feat, placed in mythology stories historical legends, in the future there would be places named after her, with a saint prefix.
The cooperation details of the magic park were discussed until nightfall.
Outside the window came the sound of fireworks launching from the castle, the two looked up towards the window, the office window was a huge floor-to-ceiling window, with a very open view, able to see far into half the park.
The two simultaneously stopped their work conversation, quietly appreciating the fireworks blooming above the castle.
Melvin hadn’t appreciated this kind of thing before, magic could do many inconceivable things, but technology-made fireworks had a unique scenery.
While Claire thought of that seriously ill little girl, though Disneyland had such things every year, as a young executive, learning such a young life was about to fade, this might be the last fireworks show that girl sees, inevitably feeling a bit sentimental.
Brilliant light spots rose from below into the night sky, like reverse meteors, exploding above the fairy tale princess’s castle, blooming into hundreds of light streams falling, almost illuminating the entire park.
Melvin saw in the grand fireworks show, a jarring orange light mixed in, not the flame color reaction from gunpowder igniting metal, more like the glow of a magic mark.
He had seen this glow before, a year ago when patrolling the Forbidden Forest, the light given to students for warning, probably a spell cast by Hermione, using orange instead of red, to add a touch of color to the brilliant fireworks show.
Melvin turned his head: “Want to meet two little witches?”
……
The park fireworks explosion sounds were somewhat muffled.
This place was in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, not far from the central park, with a very open view, when the Granger family arrived at the platform, the nearby fireworks were already connected into a piece, clearly entering their eyes.
The night sky was lit up, clouds dyed colorful, muffled explosion sounds rolling in, this grand fireworks show made hearts surge with excitement.
The four looked up quietly.
Hermione turned her head, Bastien’s pale face had faint colorful lights flowing, her deep blue eyes sparkling, as if reluctant to blink, until the fireworks gradually weakened, a flash of regret and reluctance crossed her face.
A sudden impulse arose in her heart, she pulled out her wand and waved it, pointing forcefully at the sky.
“Whoosh… Boom!”
A wisp of magic fireworks exploded in the night sky, orange, not brilliant enough, but this was a firework blooming only for Bastien.
Bastien’s eyes lit up, showing a brilliant smile: “So beautiful!”
Two air crackles came from the quiet night sky, the sound of Apparition, Hermione was startled, subconsciously thinking her action was discovered, French Aurors coming to arrest, but looking clearly at the arrivals’ faces, she called out in surprise:
“Professor Levent!”
“Let me introduce someone, this is Claire, Disney’s Vice President, you being able to enjoy the park today is thanks to her abusing her position for personal favors.” Melvin said with a light laugh, “Claire, this is the Granger family I just mentioned…”
Claire was only in her early twenties this year, muddled into executive position, with no business temperament, instead young and beautiful, blonde with green eyes, making the few couldn’t help looking at her curiously.
She quickly accepted her just-Apparated experience, letting her slightly dizzy head recover, first greeted Mr. and Mrs. Granger, then lowered her head to carefully examine the two girls:
“Hermione, Bastien, nice to meet you…”
“Nice to meet you too, Miss Claire.”
“Hello.”
The two little witches responded respectively, Hermione though a bit bookish, wasn’t shy in this environment, Bastien seemed a bit awkward, half a step behind, shrinking behind Hermione.
“Bastien, thank Miss Claire, it’s her that let us see such a wonderful fireworks show.”
“Thank you very much, Miss Claire.” Bastien looked up, speaking slowly yet solemnly, “Also thank you, Professor Levent.”
Hermione couldn’t help but lift the corners of her mouth.
Bastien’s condition had improved a lot now, no longer weak to the point of unable to go out, she felt Bastien could fulfill the promise, smoothly pass her tenth birthday, seventeenth birthday, and live healthily forever.
Melvin suddenly lowered his head, meeting Bastien’s deep blue eyes.
The Horned Serpent’s gift took effect, collecting others’ emotions and magic power scattered because of him, Melvin on the wide platform suddenly felt a strange magic power drill into his body.
He and Bastien seemed to establish some connection, that magic power different from the Obscurus Pickaniny’s power, lighter in color, if the magic power from Pickaniny was gray fog from heavy industry chimneys, the magic power transmitted from Bastien was more like morning mist in the forest, nearly pure white.
Melvin was slightly surprised, before at Père Lachaise Cemetery, when Yurm bit off the collar to free her, Bastien had little emotional fluctuation, at the Louvre Museum, helping her completely escape New Salem and the Purifiers, Bastien also seemed calm.
Now just arranging a park play, a fireworks show, she instead gave sincere gratitude.
Bastien seemed to sense it too, dazedly looking at this professor’s pupils, black and deep like an abyss, yet unusually reassuring.
The girl’s complexion began to change, from pale to unnatural flush, like the result of blood accelerating after intense exercise, the thumping heartbeat gradually growing louder, even people chatting nearby could hear it.
“What’s wrong with you? Bastien, Bastien?” Hermione reacted first.
The girl’s pupils gradually dilated: “Bastien feels good, body feels lighter…”
Before the words finished, the whole person immediately fainted.
……
Night gradually deepened.
In the hotel suite’s bedroom, the young girl lay on the bed, breathing evenly, her always slightly furrowed brows now relaxed, sleeping especially sweetly.
Figures surrounded the bedside, closest were Melvin and Hermione, Mr. Granger and Mrs. Granger also nearby, but keeping distance, watching from not too far not too near, worried about disturbing sleeping Bastien.
Not long ago after Bastien fainted in the park, Claire directly wanted to send her to the hospital, upon hearing it was a magic disease she expressed deep regret, could only watch them Apparate away.
The group returned to the hotel to settle, the Granger family prepared to accept bad news, originally advised them to wait outside, but the Grangers couldn’t rest assured, insisting on watching with their own eyes.
However after a non-professional healer’s examination, Melvin found Bastien’s body damage hadn’t worsened, the alienated power inside also trending towards stability, not only no deterioration, but signs of improvement.
The powerful power filling her body seemed, because of the Horned Serpent gift, to have transferred a portion to Melvin.
With the burden lightened, of course the body improved.
Watching the professor ponder on the spot, Hermione only regretted not reading more books on healing magic, worried for Bastien yet powerless, could only watch from the side.
At this time Melvin put away his wand, said softly: “One good news, one bad news, which do you want to hear first?”
“Don’t joke at a time like this, Professor.” Hermione anxiously.
“Then the bad news first.” Melvin sighed, “Bastien’s physical condition is extremely complex, magic power twisted into Obscurus, then underwent unknown transformation, even if Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel consulted together, they couldn’t figure out the magic principle, existing healing magic has no effect on her at all.”
Mr. and Mrs. Granger paled.
“Then… then the good news?” Hermione’s voice trembled.
“The good news is she doesn’t need Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel to consult, her condition has improved, and I know the reason for the improvement.”
The family of three stared blankly at the young professor, Mr. and Mrs. Granger with complex eyes, this professor seemed different from their expectations, Hermione gazed wistfully at the professor, silent yet inwardly sighing in relief.
“Will her illness be cured?” Hermione couldn’t hold back and asked softly.
“Not clear for now.” Melvin gestured for them to go out and talk, the group tiptoed out of the bedroom, “Though I figured out the reason for Bastien’s improvement, I can’t determine if this process can stably recur, just like what happened tonight, needs multi-faceted cooperation, and some luck.”
The power in Bastien’s body would continue to grow, but she was an autistic girl, in the previous cemetery and museum incidents, no obvious magic power was transmitted, no one could guarantee such an unexpected transfer could stably recur.
“…”
Melvin suddenly thought of a group of Dementors.
They possessed the talent to stably absorb emotions and soul power.
