LOVE IS THE CURE
CHAPTER 1
ST. MUNGO'S. 8:30 PM.
"Hermione, the twin devils are here!"
"Not again." Groaning, Hermione Granger, former Head Girl of Hogwarts two years ago, and now one of the most popular healers currently working at St. Mungo's, proceeded to the sixth floor lobby only to find her best friends chatting with her fellow healer, Violet Waters.
"Hey Hermione!" the infamous Harry Potter greeted.
Hermione scowled and folded her arms on her chest. "Alright. So, what do you two want? This better be important because I'm in a middle of an operation," she said sternly.
Ron Weasley gulped in a way that said "Uh-oh". "Well, it was Harry's idea..." he muttered.
Harry glared at his red-headed friend. "Excuse me? You were the one who said 'Hey, let's go visit Mione!'" he told him.
"And why would you bother?" Hermione said, eyeing them like a hawk.
Ron turned red before saying in a low, squeaky voice, "Nothing?"
"Ron Weasley! Harry Potter! I can't believe you!" Hermione yelled, livid. No one, not even Violet, bothered to touch her in this state.
"I guess I'll leave you here...got a patient to check..." Violet muttered, sensing she isn't needed and sped off towards the elevator.
"The other day you came here to ask me to baby sit Percy's son, Edwin, who did nothing but throw up, wail and puke! Then you convinced me to skip work so we could 'hang out' together but only to get me drunk. Let's not forget the time you scared my patients to death by disguising yourself as Voldemort and the time you told my boss he looked like an old prune who smelled like rotten eggs!" Hermione ranted on.
"You forgot to mention that phone call we made, pretending to be Death Eaters who escaped in Azkaban and threatening everyone that we're out to get you all. That was my personal favorite," Harry said, grinning at the memory of their successful prank.
"I agree," Ron said heartily.
"I couldn't really fathom how you guys suddenly became the replica of Fred and George. Instead of growing up and maturing through the ages, your brains seemed to go backwards!" Hermione told them.
"Gee, I'm flattered," Ron said.
Hermione glared at them. "Honestly, you guys! Don't you have other things to do other than bother me? St. Mungo's had never been so peaceful since I worked here. I'm surprised I haven't even been fired!" she said.
Harry shrugged. "Maybe next time," he said.
"Or maybe," Ron said, eyes shining, "our pranks aren't good enough for our professional Hermione to be fired? Suppose we try the scaring-the- guards trick again, eh, Harry?"
"Maybe we should," Harry agreed, smiling at Hermione's reaction.
"Don't you dare!" Hermione exclaimed. "What is it with you anyway that wants me to lose my job?"
"Simple. We want you to become an Auror like us. Then, the Golden Trio will be inseparable as ever," Ron said.
"We're inseparable this way," Hermione told them.
"No we aren't," Harry said, dropping his smile.
"Harry, Ron, we already discussed this...Whatever my job is, wherever we are, we'll still be together. Look at us, we're still the same trio we are when we hadn't left Hogwarts yet, goofing around, laughing, carefree..." Hermione said.
"Hermione, we need you. Each passing day, older Aurors need to be replaced and less want to enter such a complicated job like this. But with a talented girl like you, we will be much happier that way and together we'll capture every single rule breaker single handed," Harry told her.
"Harry, Ron, please..." Hermione said, looking away. "Is this why you really came for?"
"Actually, no," Ron said, grinning.
Harry blinked. "No?"
"Remember the tickets?" Ron said, looking expectantly at Harry.
Harry looked confused. "Tickets? What-OH!" He slapped his forehead. "Oh, yeah...the tickets..."
Hermione looked suspiciously at her best friends. "Ok...what tickets?" she asked.
Ron grinned. "Front row tickets to the best Quidditch World Cup Tournament! We got some extra ones from Harry's fan club's president. You know? Colin. Says it's a 19th birthday present for Harry. Can you believe it?" he said.
Hermione laughed to see Harry blush furiously. "Yeah, so did you say thank you, Harry?" she wanted to know.
"Of course he did! It would be rude not to. And I bet those fans kept his letter sealed and highly protected inside a big, charmed chest and is hidden inside a big golden shrine. You know," Ron said, answering for Harry who was unable to speak at the moment.
"You should've given him at least a signed photo for a sign of appreciation," Hermione joked.
"Hermione!" Harry wailed.
"Ok, ok, fine. I'll stop," Hermione said, laughing.
"So, can you go with us at the World Cup? Please?" Ron begged.
Hermione sighed. "Anything to make my pathetic friends silent," she said. "Besides, if I refuse, you two won't give up on nagging me into going anyway."
Harry grinned. "Too right we will," he said.
Just then, Violet came inside again. "Hermione, big trouble," she said, sounding as if she had run all the way there.
Hermione turned her attention to her. "What is it, Violet?" she asked. "My patient...Mr. Welling did he made it?"
"Yes. But it's not that..." Violet said. "It's...well...Mr. McWell wants to see you in his office now."
"What?" Hermione said, her heart dropping.
"You mean that old boss of yours who don't know how to smile?" Harry said.
"Yeah," Hermione said, but she looked panicked.
"Well, what's wrong with seeing him?" Ron asked, frowning.
Hermione sighed. "You don't understand, Ron...He's, well..." her voice trailed off. She knew perfectly well what was wrong. McNeill was very strict, scary and feared by all people in St. Mungo's. Being called in his office meant one thing: trouble.
"Violet, you didn't happen to tell him I left Mr. Swelling's room to talk to my best friends, do you?" she asked.
Violet looked affronted. "Of course not!" she said.
"But then..." Hermione said.
"What? You wouldn't think he'd fire you, would he? Oh, finally! Our hard work finally paid off!" Ron said happily.
Hermione glared at them. "Oh, shut up," she growled. "I have to go now. See you." With that, Hermione left the room.
"Have I mentioned to you she looks absolutely scary?" Ron told Harry.
MCWELL'S OFFICE. 8:45 PM
"Ah, Granger. You're just in time, as always. Sit down," Mr. McNeill told Hermione as she arrived at the white super clean office of her boss.
Hermione nervously sat on a hard oak wood chair.
"I have been browsing through your recent records and files, Granger," Mr. McNeill told her, staring at her.
Hermione nervously prayed with her gold ring, twisting and turning it around her middle finger.
"And..."
"And...?" Hermione said as she squeezed her eyes shut and told herself, "This is it! I'm gonna be fired!"
"I have decided..."
Hermione's hands shook.
"...that it would be better..."
Hermione held her breath.
"...if you stop working here for a while," Mr. McNeill finished.
Hermione's heart froze. A few seconds of silence passed, until she was unable to control herself. She stood up and shouted, "I know! I know I've been such a bad Healer! But please, sir, give me another chance...please...I'll do anything...just-just don't fire me...I love this job..."
Mr. McNeill frowned. "What are you talking about, Granger? I'm not firing you. I'm giving you a different assignment this time, since you're easily the best person qualified for the job," he told her.
"O-oh," Hermione said. She felt like hiding inside one of those large, antique jars lying around Mr. McNeill's office or just vanish into thin air just so she could get rid of the embarrassment. "How stupid could I get?" she thought angrily. She blushed. "I'm so sorry, sir. I was just shocked..." she said lamely.
Mr. McNeill nodded. "Quite alright, Granger," he said. "So, anyway, your assignment is to spend a few weeks and take care of some sick person. But not just any sick person, Granger. Lots of professional people like you have been hired to tend to him, but none of them, and I say none, have found out a cure for him. Of course, you can always quit anytime if you want, but if you succeed, I'll give you the highest position in this hospital."
Hermione was stunned. "You mean...I'll replace you?" she said in disbelief.
"Precisely. Anyway, I'm going to retire next month," Mr. McNeill said. "So, what do you say, Granger?"
Hermione smiled. This is too much an opportunity to lose. "I can hardly wait," she told him.
"Good, good. The patient's cousin will fetch you tomorrow at your condominium by eight o'clock sharp in the morning. Good luck, Granger."
A/N: So how was it? Please don't question me about electricity in the wizarding world...Let's just say, they became modern now. Don't forget to review!!! I don't care if it's flames or what! Draco will be up in the next chapter so better stay tuned! : )
pInknEOn
CHAPTER 1
ST. MUNGO'S. 8:30 PM.
"Hermione, the twin devils are here!"
"Not again." Groaning, Hermione Granger, former Head Girl of Hogwarts two years ago, and now one of the most popular healers currently working at St. Mungo's, proceeded to the sixth floor lobby only to find her best friends chatting with her fellow healer, Violet Waters.
"Hey Hermione!" the infamous Harry Potter greeted.
Hermione scowled and folded her arms on her chest. "Alright. So, what do you two want? This better be important because I'm in a middle of an operation," she said sternly.
Ron Weasley gulped in a way that said "Uh-oh". "Well, it was Harry's idea..." he muttered.
Harry glared at his red-headed friend. "Excuse me? You were the one who said 'Hey, let's go visit Mione!'" he told him.
"And why would you bother?" Hermione said, eyeing them like a hawk.
Ron turned red before saying in a low, squeaky voice, "Nothing?"
"Ron Weasley! Harry Potter! I can't believe you!" Hermione yelled, livid. No one, not even Violet, bothered to touch her in this state.
"I guess I'll leave you here...got a patient to check..." Violet muttered, sensing she isn't needed and sped off towards the elevator.
"The other day you came here to ask me to baby sit Percy's son, Edwin, who did nothing but throw up, wail and puke! Then you convinced me to skip work so we could 'hang out' together but only to get me drunk. Let's not forget the time you scared my patients to death by disguising yourself as Voldemort and the time you told my boss he looked like an old prune who smelled like rotten eggs!" Hermione ranted on.
"You forgot to mention that phone call we made, pretending to be Death Eaters who escaped in Azkaban and threatening everyone that we're out to get you all. That was my personal favorite," Harry said, grinning at the memory of their successful prank.
"I agree," Ron said heartily.
"I couldn't really fathom how you guys suddenly became the replica of Fred and George. Instead of growing up and maturing through the ages, your brains seemed to go backwards!" Hermione told them.
"Gee, I'm flattered," Ron said.
Hermione glared at them. "Honestly, you guys! Don't you have other things to do other than bother me? St. Mungo's had never been so peaceful since I worked here. I'm surprised I haven't even been fired!" she said.
Harry shrugged. "Maybe next time," he said.
"Or maybe," Ron said, eyes shining, "our pranks aren't good enough for our professional Hermione to be fired? Suppose we try the scaring-the- guards trick again, eh, Harry?"
"Maybe we should," Harry agreed, smiling at Hermione's reaction.
"Don't you dare!" Hermione exclaimed. "What is it with you anyway that wants me to lose my job?"
"Simple. We want you to become an Auror like us. Then, the Golden Trio will be inseparable as ever," Ron said.
"We're inseparable this way," Hermione told them.
"No we aren't," Harry said, dropping his smile.
"Harry, Ron, we already discussed this...Whatever my job is, wherever we are, we'll still be together. Look at us, we're still the same trio we are when we hadn't left Hogwarts yet, goofing around, laughing, carefree..." Hermione said.
"Hermione, we need you. Each passing day, older Aurors need to be replaced and less want to enter such a complicated job like this. But with a talented girl like you, we will be much happier that way and together we'll capture every single rule breaker single handed," Harry told her.
"Harry, Ron, please..." Hermione said, looking away. "Is this why you really came for?"
"Actually, no," Ron said, grinning.
Harry blinked. "No?"
"Remember the tickets?" Ron said, looking expectantly at Harry.
Harry looked confused. "Tickets? What-OH!" He slapped his forehead. "Oh, yeah...the tickets..."
Hermione looked suspiciously at her best friends. "Ok...what tickets?" she asked.
Ron grinned. "Front row tickets to the best Quidditch World Cup Tournament! We got some extra ones from Harry's fan club's president. You know? Colin. Says it's a 19th birthday present for Harry. Can you believe it?" he said.
Hermione laughed to see Harry blush furiously. "Yeah, so did you say thank you, Harry?" she wanted to know.
"Of course he did! It would be rude not to. And I bet those fans kept his letter sealed and highly protected inside a big, charmed chest and is hidden inside a big golden shrine. You know," Ron said, answering for Harry who was unable to speak at the moment.
"You should've given him at least a signed photo for a sign of appreciation," Hermione joked.
"Hermione!" Harry wailed.
"Ok, ok, fine. I'll stop," Hermione said, laughing.
"So, can you go with us at the World Cup? Please?" Ron begged.
Hermione sighed. "Anything to make my pathetic friends silent," she said. "Besides, if I refuse, you two won't give up on nagging me into going anyway."
Harry grinned. "Too right we will," he said.
Just then, Violet came inside again. "Hermione, big trouble," she said, sounding as if she had run all the way there.
Hermione turned her attention to her. "What is it, Violet?" she asked. "My patient...Mr. Welling did he made it?"
"Yes. But it's not that..." Violet said. "It's...well...Mr. McWell wants to see you in his office now."
"What?" Hermione said, her heart dropping.
"You mean that old boss of yours who don't know how to smile?" Harry said.
"Yeah," Hermione said, but she looked panicked.
"Well, what's wrong with seeing him?" Ron asked, frowning.
Hermione sighed. "You don't understand, Ron...He's, well..." her voice trailed off. She knew perfectly well what was wrong. McNeill was very strict, scary and feared by all people in St. Mungo's. Being called in his office meant one thing: trouble.
"Violet, you didn't happen to tell him I left Mr. Swelling's room to talk to my best friends, do you?" she asked.
Violet looked affronted. "Of course not!" she said.
"But then..." Hermione said.
"What? You wouldn't think he'd fire you, would he? Oh, finally! Our hard work finally paid off!" Ron said happily.
Hermione glared at them. "Oh, shut up," she growled. "I have to go now. See you." With that, Hermione left the room.
"Have I mentioned to you she looks absolutely scary?" Ron told Harry.
MCWELL'S OFFICE. 8:45 PM
"Ah, Granger. You're just in time, as always. Sit down," Mr. McNeill told Hermione as she arrived at the white super clean office of her boss.
Hermione nervously sat on a hard oak wood chair.
"I have been browsing through your recent records and files, Granger," Mr. McNeill told her, staring at her.
Hermione nervously prayed with her gold ring, twisting and turning it around her middle finger.
"And..."
"And...?" Hermione said as she squeezed her eyes shut and told herself, "This is it! I'm gonna be fired!"
"I have decided..."
Hermione's hands shook.
"...that it would be better..."
Hermione held her breath.
"...if you stop working here for a while," Mr. McNeill finished.
Hermione's heart froze. A few seconds of silence passed, until she was unable to control herself. She stood up and shouted, "I know! I know I've been such a bad Healer! But please, sir, give me another chance...please...I'll do anything...just-just don't fire me...I love this job..."
Mr. McNeill frowned. "What are you talking about, Granger? I'm not firing you. I'm giving you a different assignment this time, since you're easily the best person qualified for the job," he told her.
"O-oh," Hermione said. She felt like hiding inside one of those large, antique jars lying around Mr. McNeill's office or just vanish into thin air just so she could get rid of the embarrassment. "How stupid could I get?" she thought angrily. She blushed. "I'm so sorry, sir. I was just shocked..." she said lamely.
Mr. McNeill nodded. "Quite alright, Granger," he said. "So, anyway, your assignment is to spend a few weeks and take care of some sick person. But not just any sick person, Granger. Lots of professional people like you have been hired to tend to him, but none of them, and I say none, have found out a cure for him. Of course, you can always quit anytime if you want, but if you succeed, I'll give you the highest position in this hospital."
Hermione was stunned. "You mean...I'll replace you?" she said in disbelief.
"Precisely. Anyway, I'm going to retire next month," Mr. McNeill said. "So, what do you say, Granger?"
Hermione smiled. This is too much an opportunity to lose. "I can hardly wait," she told him.
"Good, good. The patient's cousin will fetch you tomorrow at your condominium by eight o'clock sharp in the morning. Good luck, Granger."
A/N: So how was it? Please don't question me about electricity in the wizarding world...Let's just say, they became modern now. Don't forget to review!!! I don't care if it's flames or what! Draco will be up in the next chapter so better stay tuned! : )
pInknEOn