Disclaimer: All characters belong to JK Rowling. Duh.
A/N: This story takes place several years after DH, but AU because Snape is alive.
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I've decided that Dr. Zakar is an incompetent twit. I mean, I've been coming to him again and again with the same complaint, and every time he gives me a different diagnosis. If you can call it that. To me, it sounds like a brush-off.
Me: "Why are my powers gone?"
Him: "Well, dearie, you did just have a baby. This happens sometimes to muggleborns. You'll regain your powers, don't worry."
Childbirth. Ha. I read every word of A Muggleborn's Guide to Magical Pregnancy, and I happen to know that although some witches experience stronger powers and others weaker powers during pregnancy, in all normal cases, your powers are back to where they should be by the third month postpartum. But Inanna is six months old already!
Then he tried to tell me my loss of powers was due to underuse. That makes absolutely no sense--how in the world am I supposed to use powers that aren't there?
This last time he didn't even try to diagnose me. He just gave me a prescription for a potion I could mix up at home. Sort of the wizard equivalent of "Take two aspirin and call me in the morning."
When I get back to our flat, Severus is already there, and so is Draco Malfoy. After the War, Severus was acquitted of charges of murdering Headmaster Dumbledore. He and I live on the fringes of the wizarding world. That's how we like it. But his reputation as a skilled potions master has remained, and it's not uncommon for witches and wizards to consult with him. In fact, that's how he makes most of our money. That and the occasional odd job.
Severus and Draco are standing over a bubbling cauldron. Severus is trying to explain one of the finer points of potions to him, but I don't think Draco is any smarter than Dr. Zakar. He pretends like he understands, and nods knowingly, but he doesn't fool me. He doesn't fool my husband, either. I can feel his irritation from here.
Draco nods curtly to me, and I nod back. We never liked each other in the past, and we don't now. But he is a guest in my flat, and he has to treat me with respect. I'm civil to him out of common courtesy.
"What did Zakar say?" Severus asks me.
I just grunt and hand him the prescription. He looks over the parchment and pockets it. "I'll prepare it for you as soon as I'm done with Malfoy."
I nod and wander into the bedroom where Inanna is still napping. She's so pretty and perfect, little nose, little fingernails, fuzzy little head. I want to pick her up, but of course I won't interrupt her nap. I can play with her later. Besides, I'm tired. I lay down on the bed and shut my eyes. I have an hour before I have to make dinner. The muggle way. Severus has offered to help me with the chores ever since my powers faded, but I don't like him to. For one, watching him do magic makes me feel inadequate. It reminds me of the things I can no longer do. The other thing is, as old-fashioned as this might sound, I like taking care of my man and my baby. Even if have to do things without witchcraft. Besides, I grew up muggle. I know how to cook and clean and do laundry. Also, I have my mom to help. She knows about my faded powers, and she's sympathetic, but she doesn't know just how much I've lost. Somehow, I don't mind her help, though.
Inanna starts whimpering before the hour is up and I bring her into the bed with me to feed her. By the time I've finished and am burping her, Severus comes into the room carrying a cup.
"Is Draco gone?" I ask.
He nods, sets the cup down on the bedside table, sits on the edge of the bed and takes Inanna from me, bouncing her gently on his knee.
I smile at the sight of them. I never expected him to take so easily to fatherhood. In fact, when I first met him, I was convinced he hated all children. He's a lot older than me--he used to be one of my teachers at Hogwarts--and we never liked each other that whole time. And actually, he was only my third boyfriend.
My first boyfriend was a Bulgarian quidditch player named Victor Krum. He was hot, all the girls said so, but for some reason he chose to date me. He was good to me, I admit it and I did like him. But yet...he was dumber than a stack of cauldrons. I need an intellectual equal. I wasn't too sorry when he wound up going back to Bulgaria.
My second boyfriend was Ron Weasley. He was more than a boyfriend. He was a fiancé, and I thought he was my soul mate. And perhaps if the War hadn't intervened, he would have been. But when the wizarding world split into political factions after the War, we found ourselves in opposing ideologies. Our fights became more bitter, our differences deeper. We broke up three months before our wedding date...
"I made you the potion Zakar prescribed," Severus interrupts my musing.
I reach over to pick the cup up.
"Did you read over the potion?" He asks. "You should recognize it from Hogwarts."
I smile as I bring the cup to my lips. There are times I think he still thinks he's the professor and I'm the lowly student. "I did not. Isn't that why I have you?"
He raises his eyebrow at me. "Forget the cute stuff. He prescribed you a mild sedative--the sort usually given to hysterical females."
I slam the cup on the table, not caring that I slosh it. "Hysterical...! How dare he..." I'm fuming now.
"Zakar's a quack," he replies calmly. "And you, Hermione, are going to get a second opinion."
Severus doesn't really have any family to speak of, besides Inanna and me. I only have my mother and father. And they had some serious reservations about my marrying a man old enough to be my father, and controversial in the wizarding world, into the bargain (yes, my parents read the wizarding papers). But they respected my decision and have been very supportive of us.
Sometimes I wonder what will happen to Inanna when she grows up. What career will she choose? Who will she marry? She has wizard and muggle blood running in her veins, but it's too early to tell if she has powers. Witch or muggle? Severus is right. I really should get a second opinion about my condition. But I'm also scared. I hope I'm around to see Inanna grow up.
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