Hufflepuff
Seventh Year
Drabble
Word Count: 445 (Word)
Prompt: [Theme] Family
Additional Requirement: A sad moment, occasion, emotion
Bonus Challenges: Second Verse (Mouth of Babes; Bechdel Test; Wabi Sabi)
AU
~o0o~
Hermione walked down the hall of the children's ward of a hospital carrying a box filled with an assortment of games and books in her arms. She knew the way well enough now that she could have walked it with her eyes closed. Sick children in costumes went trick-or-treating by the nurses' stations and rooms where parents set up candy. Hermione herself was dressed up like a witch. She would be attending Hogwarts next year, having received her letter in September, and she absolutely could not wait.
She entered room 706 and found it decorated with cut outs of black cats and smiling bats. A little girl nearly identical to herself was sitting in a hospital bed, but instead of bushy hair she was completely bald and her freckled, brown skin was pale. Even so, her eyes were bright as she waved around a plastic wand, conjuring multi-colored bubbles. Technically, they weren't allowed to use magic, but they hadn't gotten in trouble for it yet.
"Hello, Paulina," said Hermione, sitting down on the bed. "I brought games and a few more books on magical medicine. I was going to ask Mum and Dad if we could go to Diagon Alley and find a potion or a Healer to cure you."
Paulina's smile saddened.
"I want to go so bad," she said. "But I don't feel like researching today. Can we play a game instead?"
"Sure," said Hermione, sitting across from her twin. "What game do you want to play?"
"Scrabble."
Hermione smiled and got out the game. They played for an hour until the nurse came in with dinner for the girls. Mum and Dad joined in the next round and things felt more normal than they had in a long time, despite the fact of their location.
"Yes!" Paulina cheered as she played 'Quartzy' on a triple word score. "I win! I win! I—"
She gagged and inhaled sharply.
"Paulina!" Mum cried.
"We need a doctor in here!" Dad shouted into the hallway.
Hermione was pulled out of the room as a doctor and nurses flooded in. Mum stayed behind, but she and Dad sat down on the bench outside the room.
"We can't just sit here, Daddy!" Hermione cried after a few moments.
"Hermione, calm down," said Dad vacantly. "The doctors will do their best."
"We have to go to Diagon Alley," she demanded, jumping to her feet. "They might have a cure! A potion! A spell! Something to—"
Hermione gasped as something in her heart wilted and fell away.
"No…" she whispered.
"Hermione?!"
"NO!" Hermione burst her way into the hospital room, desperately calling her sister back to her. "PAULINA!"