Ch. 1 - Oh Dear Merlin No!
A/N: I can't be JK Rowling. I don't fancy Malteasers. - DG
Hermione put down her satchel under her desk and saw the pile of arrest reports she had to review this morning. This was the tedium of the job, reading the parchment from the Auror department. Tuesdays mornings were arrest reports while the rest of the day was going over depositions for the Wizengamot as well as drafting other potential legislation for the Mugwump. Some were boring as can be, like setting off caterwauling charms in the middle of Muggle Birmingham, to the nefarious, like the attacks up in Northumberland, to the wacky, a wizard was running up and down the village lane in Cornwall waving his wand setting off fireworks – starkers.
Each one had to be reviewed by two in the department before any decision was made on what to do about the case. She didn't mind much. The department respected her for her keen legal acumen and astute analysis. It only took a few years for her to earn the respect of her peers in the department. Their initial biases were laid once she became a certified Solicitor and after her first successful conviction in the Wizengamot.
"Mrs. Weasley?"
Hermione looked up and saw the Director of MLE – Edward Smythe – standing at her desk. "My apologies but there is a meeting that was called on short notice. Care to join us for it? Director York asked for your presence today at the meeting."
"Of course, sir, right away. Let me get some writing materials." Hermione put down the rest of the parchment on her desk and grabbed fresh sheets of parchment along with quills and an inkwell. "Coming, sir."
Dr. Jean Granger was sweating. She knew that was odd. Sure, it was the early part of September in Oxfordshire and occasionally warm, but not enough to be sweating like she ran around town. She had been sick the last day or so, feeling nausea and occasional chills, but chalked it up to having the flu, even if it was early in the season. Thankfully her first patient wasn't until 10am so she had time to take some aspirin and drink plenty of hot tea to feel better.
Her husband walked in and saw her. "Why don't you go home dear? You look dreadful."
"But I have patients to see today?"
"Rubbish. I'll reschedule the ones this afternoon so I can handle your load too. Go home and I'll handle it today."
"Robert, I - "
Dr. Jean Granger fainted straightaway.
"Eunice, will you call the fire brigade? Jean fainted."
He turned her over and saw she wasn't breathing. "Oh dear G_d no!" He checked her neck and felt a weak and irregular pulse. "Stay with me Jean!" he yelled while moving her head into position.
"Eunice! Tell them to hurry. She's not breathing!"
Dr. Robert Granger started performing CPR on his wife of 40 years.
Hermione continued to take pristine notes in her meeting with the Directors of MLS. Her special cell phone – the one charmed by Arthur Weasley to work inside the Ministry of Magic – was buzzing feverishly for her every five minutes. She didn't know that her father was trying to call her every five minutes since her phone was in her purse inside the locked drawer of her desk – and not on her person.
Ron Weasley sat in his comfortable chair leafing through pages he was due to lecture on shortly. His office at the Auror Academy was quiet – and he liked it that way. He had three classes to teach on Tuesday. The first class was the one he taught for years – Seminar on Strategy and Tactics – which finished an hour ago. His next class – Integration of Muggle Tactics in Wizard Combat – was on his lunch hour – but was also his most rewarding. His last class of the day – at 3pm – was the most fun: Introduction to Combat spell casting. That class was reserved for first term cadets and he loved breaking in the students to Auror life. Students fought to get in there every term.
His cellyphone buzzed in his pocket. His dad was brilliant, charming a Muggle cellyphone to work with him. He laughed because it looked like a small brick but as much as Dad tried, he couldn't make the new ones work as well. He didn't mind. The only ones who knew the number was Hermione, Harry and Ginny, and his in-laws.
He pulled the brick out and looked at the number on the display, not recognizing it. He pushed the green button and answered, "Ron Weasley."
"Ron, It's Robert." His father-in-law sounded out of breath and agitated.
"What's wrong?" he asked stoically.
"It's Jean. We're on the way to the hospital. She fainted and was having a heart attack. I can't reach Hermione. Can you get her?"
"Heart attack? Jean? She's in better shape than Hermione?"
"I thought so too but she was looking right dreadful this morning and I asked if she wanted to go home and rest and she fainted straightaway. When I turned her over she wasn't breathing."
"Which Hospital? So I can tell Hermione?"
"Oxford University Hospital. We're going to the West Wing. They have a great Cardiac unit."
Ron penned a note for Hermione. He'd follow up shortly after getting to the hospital to check on Robert. "You want me up there now?"
"Would you mind? I'm scared."
"Let me send her a note and I'll be up there. She should be over shortly."
Ron hung up his phone while he finished his note and tore off his robes. He stopped by the Academy Director's office to tell him then run over and see Harry before he could depart for the hospital. He stepped into the Floo in his office and appeared in the Auror department Fireplace. Memos flew left and right above his head but he didn't notice.
His long strides had him at Director Potter's door immediately. He barged in without knocking, which was customary for them at the office. "Harry!"
Harry looked up from his desk and the piles of parchment. "What's wrong?"
"Robert, Hermione's dad, called. Hermione's mum had a heart attack this morning. I'm going to the hospital now. Can you cover for me today? I've got two classes I won't make today."
"Sure – go. I know where your notes are at."
"I'll let someone know as soon as I know something."
"Go on. I've got it here."
Ron raced out of the department to make his way for the exit and apparating to Oxfordshire.
Ron strode into the main foyer of the hospital. This place looked so different from St. Mungo's. The Wizarding hospital looked old and decrepit in comparison. This place was impressive, with new tile and brick walls and an abundance of glass. He immediately saw the welcome witch and asked where he needed to go. She politely informed him and sent him on his way.
Signs pointed him in the direction of the ER – down corridors and through emergency doors and around blind corners. He walked a myriad of halls that were bustling with people. He rode an elevator down one floor to the level where the emergency room was. A few minutes walking and getting lost twice, he came to the doors of the ER unit.
He looked around for a second in evaluation. Anxious family paced – some slept in fake leather recliners – some watched television mindlessly. It was nothing like St. Mungo's. Immediately he saw Dr. Robert Granger sitting by himself in the crowded room. No one else was near him which was what Ron expected. He walked over and sat down next to his father in law. No words were said but a strong hand on his shoulder made his announcement.
"I knew she had been sick the day before but she said it was the flu. How could I have missed it?" Robert said through his anguish. "I know better. I could kick myself for not insisting she go to the doctor yesterday."
"Hermione's the same way. She won't tell me anything unless she's got a bone sticking through or lost half her hand or screaming her head off. So it's no wonder that Jean didn't say anything."
"But she's my wife. I should know these things."
"They just don't want us to worry about them."
"Rubbish."
"I know."
Minutes passed while Ron watched the waiting room. There was a hum in the room that Ron couldn't put his finger on. One family stayed in the corner talking. He looked to the other side and heard a woman hysterically asking about her Dad. Another couple of people were asleep in recliners, blankets pulled over their heads while waiting for some news.
"I'm scared. Jean's been by my side since my days in the Navy. I'm lost without her."
Ron put a hand back on the older man's shoulder. "I've been there. We'll get through it somehow."
Robert turned and looked at his son in law. "Like what happened to Hermione while we were gone?"
"Yeah. We weren't even together at that point but she was still my best friend, along with Harry. I'd have done something stupid and drastic if anything had happened to her then, or even now for that matter."
"You remember that day, when she was going to tell us what happened, and then it all went sideways. You remember that day, don't you? She never told us anything after that day. But you know, don't you?"
Ron nodded in memory. That was one right scary day too for him – and the following ones too. Too many of his worst days involved the love of his life.
"I never told you how much it meant for you to be there for us when she fixed things. She might have been rowing with her mum something fierce but you were there. I knew you'd explain. I just didn't expect it to be that loud or that graphic."
"Yeah, 'bout that, sorry. I didn't mean to act a git then."
"It worked, though, didn't it?
"Yeah. Too bad Jean was still sore at me for a while."
"Eh. What can I say, she holds grudges like Hermione. That's where she got it from."
"But Hermione's like you that she fights for what she believes and won't take shit off of anyone, not even me. She calls me out when I'm acting a git."
Robert acted like he wanted to smile before turning to a grimace. "Speaking of, when is Hermione getting here?"
Ron looked at his watch. "I dunno. I expected her here some time ago. Let me go call her. You ok for the moment though?"
"I'm ok for now. Go call her and then come back here. I can't do this by myself."
"You won't be."
Ron stepped away from the seat and found a quiet corner out in the hallway. He looked and saw that he got no signal. Blimey! So much for magic working down here.
He went further down the hallway trying to find a signal for his brick. He had to walk the entire corridor, almost to the exit to find a signal. He dialed her number and waited patiently for her to pick up. He hung up and tried again. And again.
Sod it, I'm going back to get her.
Ron returned to the waiting room for his father in law. "Hermione's not answering her phone. I probably should go get her and bring her here. Can you wait a spell without me?"
"Yeah. I need Hermione here."
Ron squatted down to look at his father in law. Bloodshot eyes looked back at him. "Hold on until we get back. Got it? Can you do that for us?"
Robert nodded. "I will, for you."
Ron stalked out of the emergency ward to find his wife.
Hermione looked down at her lap at the volumes of parchment. The meeting lasted two hours with the Director going over his goals and plans for the coming year. A quick assessment showed twelve feet of parchment in her tight yet legible script. She knew that he wanted her presence for her skills in dictation and note taking more than her input. She was the youngest one present – she was trusted and respected – but not to the same degree that the rest of the directors were.
"Ron?" She walked out of the meeting room to find her husband standing at her desk. "Why are you down here? Did I miss a lunch date?"
"Where have you been the last two hours? We called, sent a note."
Hermione dropped the pound of parchment on her desk and found the note among the various letters. His sloppy handwriting stood out from the rest because of his script. "What's going on?"
"You don't know, do you?"
Panic was creeping up her spine. "Know what?"
"You might want to sit down then."
Hermione found her chair and sat back in it. "Tell me what's going on. It's not the kids, is it?"
"Not the kids. It's Mum."
"What's happened to Molly?"
"It's not Molly. It's Jean."
"What about Mum?" Hermione's voice grew louder.
"She's at Oxford University hospital. Your dad think's she had a heart attack this morning. I'm here to get you and take you there."
Hermione froze upon hearing the words Heart attack, getting lost in thought. Since the war ended so long ago, the relationship with her mum was brittle at best. There were few trips by the Grangers to their home in Cardiff. Hermione made more effort to keep her parents in her life. She would go visit and take the kids but the interactions with Mum were civil yet stilted and forced. They never talked about what happened to her – a gift given years ago never once cracked open or questions asked. Dad eventually understood but mum never forgave her. That was the price Hermione made to keep her alive: a lifetime of bitter recriminations. They might row like professionals in court but she was still Mum and she would protect her do her dying day.
She could handle the acrimony now in exchange for the years that she'd had since the war ended. Jean had grandchildren she loved and a life she was comfortable in. Her relationship with her daughter was another matter.
There was no choice to be made: Dad needed her and so did Mum. Hermione owed her nothing less than that.
Hermione ripped open her desk drawer where her personal effects were – purse, snacks, bottles of water. She snatched her purse out of the drawer and locked her files with an Auror grade locking spell. She yanked off her professional robes and threw it on the coatrack in the corner. She gave Ron a hard look while stalking towards him at the door.
"Now we can go."
Ron hustled to keep up with the tattoo of heel clicks on the floor of the Ministry. Ron easily kept up with her pace but he knew her. He saw her wand in her right hand shaking through the walk. This Hermione he knew best: focused with a purpose and determination. This Hermione changed the world and would walk through hell to do it.
They made the lift and rode quietly to the atrium. Her wand hand shook the entire time in the lift. Right now she couldn't show weakness but he knew she was going to fall apart before too long. He had seen it time and time again, whether in anger or frustration. It was only a question of when.
"Which hospital again?"
"Oxford University – John Radcliffe."
"I don't know the apparition point for that."
"I do. Grab on."
Hermione took her husband's hand in her left and he apparated them to the back alley behind the hospital.
On their walk Hermione never said a word.
They walked down the serpentine halls, riding an escalator that Ron missed the first time when he got lost on the walk to the emergency ward. After many turns and purposefully avoiding other visitors left and right they came to the ER waiting room. Hermione stopped at the doors and looked bereft. "What do I say?"
Ron pulled his wife into an alcove off the main hallway. He pushed her up against the wall and stepped close to her. "Go hug him. He needs you. We'll take it from there."
She threaded her thin arms around Ron, squeezing him tight once more. "I need you. I can't do this alone."
"You aren't alone and you won't be. But I have to leave and take care of things while you're here with him. I've got to make sure we still have jobs at the ministry and I have to make sure Mum can keep the kids tonight. I won't bring them up here since they're too small to understand and would be bored silly almost immediately."
"You're right. I trust you." Hermione stepped back and wiped the evidence of tears from her face. Ron watched in wonder how she put back on the façade, hiding her vulnerability, within seconds. He knew it wouldn't last though. Her hands betrayed her.
Hermione went back through the doors and to her father. She navigated the aisles of chairs, occupied and not, to find her father. She looked down upon his salt and pepper hair that he had in his hands. Robert looked up and there stood Hermione. She had grown into a beautiful woman, comfortable in her skin and comfortable in being an adult. "Hi sweetie."
"Daddy," she whispered.
He stood and she crumbled into his embrace. Robert looked at his son in law and nodded once. No further words were needed between the men. Ron stepped back and knew what he needed to do. He turned for the exit with the intentions of making arrangements for the rest of the day and the week.
An hour later Ron walked out of the Floo at the Ministry. He had already been to the Academy making arrangements for his classes the rest of the week. But he still had to do more at the Ministry, for their jobs with the Magical Law Enforcement. He also needed to run home and pack bags for the kids and get things for Hermione. Then it would be to see Mum and the kids and let them know what was going on and make sure mum was amenable to keeping them for the night.
He took the Auror lift down to the office and purposefully strode through the department to the director's office. The door was closed which was never a good sign but was also not surprising since they were actively hunting a rogue fugitive in the Northumbrian area. Instead he approached the director's personal assistant Matilda Blunt. She previous worked as a staff secretary before receiving her promotion. Ron liked her since she was fast, efficient and could keep up with the majority of the men in the department, whether in the realm of paperwork or training. She also took no shit off of the men in the department because of her choice of partner – a quiet witch in the Department of Mysteries. Ron joked a time or two but didn't press the issue further. He didn't understand it. Then again, many people said they couldn't understand why he was married to Hermione.
"Matilda, got a minute," Ron asked quietly.
"Yes Major Weasley?" she looked up from her scores of parchment on her desk.
"Is the director in?"
"He's in a meeting with the Minister. Anything wrong?"
"Well, yeah. I need to take emergency leave for the rest of the week, at the least."
"What's wrong?"
"Hermione's mum had a heart attack this morning and is in the hospital. I need to be there for her and also will have to do other stuff for them. Do you think you can help?"
Matilda turned in her chair to the enormous file cabinet on the opposite wall and pulled out a ledger that was probably ten kilos. She thumbed through pages faster than Hermione could have read and watched her work.
"Not a problem Major. No one's scheduled off this week and you've got plenty of time available. I'll make the arrangements."
"So I don't need to talk with the Director?"
"No Major. I've got you covered. Besides, you don't want to interrupt. The Minister has been in there for an hour and before it went silent I heard some arse reaming. He's fired up since the fiend in Northumberland hadn't been caught yet."
Ron shook his head. "I wonder if the Minister knows how hard it is to infiltrate a Werewolf colony to track a serial offender?"
Matilda leaned in closer. "I don't think he cares."
"Figures. They all want results the day before it happens," Ron grumbled in retort.
"Go on, I'll have it all sorted for you."
"Thank you," Ron said quietly before walking away from the scarred secretary. His next stop was MLS for Hermione's job. He hoped it wouldn't take long to finish at her desk.
Minutes later Ron walked into the MLS office looking for Director York. Spencer York worked in the department for ten years and was promoted to the Directorship shortly after Hermione transferred from Magical Creatures. He worked her hard but also respected her work and her efforts. His support for her work paid off in spades for her. She was the darling of the department and the first one they turned to for any questionable cases.
The director's office was open but he wasn't present. His assistant wasn't at her desk either.
Ron turned to look for some parchment. He needed to finish his errands before getting back to Hermione at the hospital.
"Major Weasley, what a surprise. How can we help you today?"
Ron turned and was greeted by Hermione's administrative assistant Emily Austen.
"I'm here for Hermione. She needs the rest of the week off along with the possibility of next week."
"What happened?"
"Her mum is in a hospital up in Oxfordshire from a heart attack. Her dad was there and they took her over. Hermione is already there but she's going to be in no shape to work today or for the rest of the week. Beyond that I have no idea what's going on."
"I'll handle the Director then. You get back to her. It's not like she doesn't have the time or any problems here."
"I'll send an owl once we know more. When I left her there she was with her dad in the waiting room. Unlike St. Mungo's Muggle hospitals are considerably slower."
"Oh I know. My grandmother is a Muggle and they are pathetic in comparison."
"If you need us, send an owl to the house. I don't think the hospital would appreciate owl droppings in their emergency rooms."
"Fair point but I don't think it'll be a problem."
Ron turned and hustled out of the department with the next stop being home.
"Hi sweetie."
"Daddy," she whispered.
He stood and she crumbled into his embrace. She held together just long enough to get there, feeling the magnitude of what her husband said in her office. Strong arms held her while she sobbed. He held her close like he used to do when her rows with her mum were too much growing up.
Hermione pulled back and wiped her hands across her face. Mascara smeared but she didn't care.
"Tell me what happened," she choked out through sobs. She sat down in the chair next to the one he occupied.
"Mum was feeling sick last night but she thought it might have been the flu. You know she's as stubborn as you are when it comes to going to a doctor."
"Yeah, in my case, I'm only in there if I'm giving birth or thinking I'm dying. Other than that, I won't go either."
"Right. Anyway, we went to bed last night and then up this morning. She had a cup of tea and toast before we went into the office. My first appointment was at half 8 so I did that and her first one was at ten. So when I finished my exam I came out of the office to check on her and she looked ghostly pale."
"Ghosts aren't pale. Those are inferi."
"Whatever, it's a saying. Anyway, she was looking very pale and clammy so I said she should go home and rest the remainder of the day. Not five seconds later she fainted straightaway. When I turned her over she wasn't breathing. I got Eunice to call the Fire brigade and I started CPR on her. They were there right quick like and rushed her here. I've not heard anything since I got here."
"How long have you been here?"
Robert Granger looked at his watch. "I guess about ten or so. Ron was here for a little while but went to get you. Where is he anyway?"
Hermione turned around and scanned the room. "He's probably back at the Ministry telling our supervisors about this and how much time we'll need. The kids are with Molly today so he might run by the house and pack them an overnight bag too.
"But that's Ron. He might be gone but he always returns."
Seconds turned into minutes. Minutes turned into hours. People walked back and forth in the waiting room. Nurses occasionally called on the phone in the room. Names were called that weren't Granger. Robert pulled his cell phone from his pocket but it was dead. "Bloody hell, what happened? It was working fine this morning."
"That's probably my fault. Magic overwhelms electrical devices such as cell phones and television sets that aren't charmed or magically insulated. Arthur found something that works so I can have a working cell phone and things at the house. He's a whiz that way. He taught George and George made a fortune off of it."
"Is that why I couldn't get in touch with you earlier? Did your cell phone not work today?"
Hermione grimaced. "Sorry about that. I was called into a meeting with the Directors of Law Service for a two hour meeting and I didn't have my phone with me. So that was my fault. Even if I got Ron's note I wouldn't have gotten it immediately. The administrative assistants only hand over notes of high priority in the department. Then again, that might have to be changed whenever I go back."
Robert stood up from his chair. "I fancy a drink. You want anything?"
"How can you even think of that at a time like this?"
"I learned it in the Navy. You never miss an opportunity for a meal or a beverage or even a nap. Ron'll tell you the same thing if you asked him. I'm sure he had similar training to be an Auror."
"But you're a dentist?"
"It didn't matter at the time in the Royal Navy. Even dentists had to go through officer training before going into the Royal Dental Corps. So, for 13 weeks I did what the other officers did. It was eye opening. Anyway, I'm still getting you a cuppa. Ron'll agree with me that you need your strength too."
"Fine, whatever. I won't argue."
Robert laughed. "You still take it the same, right, a touch of milk and no sugar?"
"I still take it that way."
Robert walked off to the alcove where the electric kettles and coffee dispensers were.
There was a quiet hum about the room. Some corners were noisy, where kids were bored and trying to entertain themselves. Others were docile where family was trying to catch a nap. In another section a couple was eating from a takeaway sack, maybe from the hospital cafeteria.
Hermione felt nausea from the stress of the situation. I'm a wreck. I don't know how Dad can do it. I know I couldn't stomach anything right now. At least I had my oatmeal and fruit this morning.
Hermione got lost in her thoughts, thinking about Mum after the war ended.
