Ginny straightened her back and gave Hermione a lopsided grin that made her nervous. "What's black, loud, smelly, and leaves a trail of broken hearts in its wake?"
Hermione raised an eyebrow at her smirking friend, "Ginerva…" she interrupted.
"Oh yes, 'Mione. He's back!"
The last time Hermione had stepped foot into St. Mungo's was a day she would never forget. It was right after the final battle, and amidst the celebrations, she couldn't get the injured faces out of her head. She felt out of place amongst those the mourned loved ones, and those that felt the need to celebrate the new freedom. Hermione's family was safe, and she didn't feel she had the right to mourn another family's loss, or celebrate when so many who she held dear would never grace her day again. So she left the festivities and headed to the magical hospital to check and see what was going on. Most of the survivors had minor injuries, most not even worth getting medical attention for. A simple potion, dreamless sleep draught, or wave of a wand would heal for the time being. Others made their way to the hospital for further inspection.
Hermione had roamed the halls, searching out familiar voices, listening in on the conversations that weren't concealed by silencing charms.
He will need to stay overnight for observations.
The test should be back momentarily.
I'm sorry Mr. and Mrs. Keirstead, but I'm afraid your daughter was hit with a rather nasty severing hex. We haven't stabilized her yet, but there is plenty hope she will recover with minimal superficial injuries at the very least.
I can't believe he walked off that field alive, let alone without an arm!
We will have the flesh-bond between Mr. Colier and Mr. Wormworth reversed within the hour.
Please, we don't have any more information at the present time; the healers are still with your brother.
We did all we could…
Moving from door to door, she listened, anxious to hear the name of a classmate or wizard from Hogsmead that would give her some solace. Her mind was swimming, or perhaps it was the room? Partial memories of the battlefield attacked her vision, preventing her from seeing the doors and halls in front of her.
She staggered, grasping to catch a wall or bench around her to prevent her from falling. Her eyes filled with stinging tears, and the anxiety that was kept at bay while hexes and unforgivable's whizzed past her head earlier began to move up her spine, stabbing at each vertebrae as if warning her that it was coming out. Her foot caught the leg of a bench and she tripped forward, slamming into the cold, lemon and death scented floor. Hermione shakily propped herself up on one arm, still being bombarded by flashes of color.
"Oh my goodness! Clara! Come quickly, this girl needs help!" came a voice from her left. Hermione lifted her other arm to start getting up, but was quickly grabbed on both sides by two young medi-witches.
"Thanks. I'm ok. Really. I'm fine, I just tripped. But thank you." Hermione choked out, trying to steady herself on her feet. Just as she managed to find some relative footing, the death count reeled in her mind.
Nymphadora Tonks.
Severus Snape.
Remus Lupin…
Hermione felt the anxiety stab at the back of her throat. Before the count could continue on, she clasped her hand over her throat and dry heaved. Dropping to her knees, she let the spasm painfully overcome her. Her head felt like lead. Fire and ice attacked her senses, and tears streamed down her face to her neck and she continued to spasm. Through her tears, she could see little silver stars moving in around her, coming to take her away. Her eyes drifted, and she thought for a moment that she had melted through the cold floor.
Hermione could smell lemons and strawberry jello. It was a strange scent. There was something else lingering, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. It smelled familiar, like her parents perhaps. Slowly opening her eyes, she realized that it indeed did smell like her parents. She was in a hospital room, lying on an uncomfortable hospital bed, with hospital blankets draped over her hospital gown.
Hospital gown? Who in bloody Merlin's name put me in this cursed thing?
"You're awake? Oh wonderful! Here," said the medi-witch she assumed was the aforementioned Clara, "take this potion, it tastes as bad as it smells, I'm afraid. But we have some jello for you to wash the taste away with." She gave Hermione an apologetic smile.
Bloody hell, she wasn't kidding; it tastes like hairspray and black licorice.
Hermione made a gagging sound, and smacked her lips a few times for good measure. The medi-witch laughed and patted her arm. "Here, eat up. It helps, I promise."
Just then, red hair popped through the door across from her. "Ginny!"
"Oh Merlin! Hermione! What are you doing here?"
"Well, I would ask the same of you, Ginny." Hermione retorted.
Ginny quickly made her way across the room and stood next to Hermione's bed. "May I?" Hermione nodded her approval, and Ginny climbed up to sit next to her. Ginny took her dear friends hand in her own and continued.
"Well when you disappeared, I figured you came to….well…" Ginny's eyes filled up with tears "see who survived." she swallowed hard and closed her eyes tightly to fight back the tears. "I've been frantic. Mum nearly lost it when she saw you were gone, thought maybe you were hurt too, but I told her you were fine. But then I come in here and see you laying in this bed and…oh Hermione! What happened?" Ginny squeezed her friends hand tightly, and Hermione felt as if it might break in two.
"No, Ginny. I'm fine. Really. I came here to see who was injured, but I tripped over a bench and surprised myself. That's all. Please don't worry about me. Go back to your family, I will return soon."
"Oh no you won't, Ms. Granger," quipped the medi-witch they had forgotten was present, "you are in no condition to be leaving here so soon. You need to keep your feet up, let the potion settle, and when the results are back, we will see when you are safe to leave."
"Results? RESULTS FOR WHAT? There is nothing wrong with me!" she cried. Hermione slapped her arms on the sides of the mattress and let out an exasperated sigh. She turned to Ginny, "Really Gin, I'm fine, go back to your family, I will be there in a few minutes, I just need to get dressed."
"Oh no 'Mione! She," Ginny said, pointing at the stern looking medi-witch, "said you need to wait for results and you are not leaving until you get them! I will not have you coming back only to drop dead at….." Ginny grasped at her mouth and tried to choke back her sob, to no avail.
"Oh Ginny." Hermione's heart went out to Ginny. She lost a brother today, her own blood. And here she was worrying about Hermione. She didn't mean to upset her. Hermione wrapped her arms around Ginny and pulled her close. Slowly stroking her hair she let Ginny cry through her stiff hospital gown. The small redhead shivered and shook in her arms and she couldn't help but think that whatever was wrong with her, it better be life threatening or she would have that medi-witch's head on a platter before she left this room.
Hermione felt a chill rush through her. Suddenly, she saw a blue glow from under her blanket, right above her stomach. "What the hell?!" she cried. Ginny squeaked and jumped from Hermione's arms, wiping her eyes and staring at the soft blue light.
"Oh great! The test is done!" exclaimed the medi-witch, who appeared to have lightened up in mere moments. Clara walked over and patted Hermione's hand. "You are free to leave whenever you choose, although I would suggest finishing that jello, and letting yourself rest here for a few minutes. You can take a potion to control the dry-heaves, or you can find a muggle remedy. I recommend mint tea. It's very relaxing, although most would say it's just a psychological thing." Clara giggled. "In any event, you're fine, just take it easy and stop by on your way out at the desk to make an appointment. I would say you should come back in about 3 weeks."
Hermione stared blankly at the medi-witch, and then shook the cobwebs from her mind. "Appointment? What for? You said I was fine. I am fine, right?" Hermione suddenly felt nervous. What could I possibly need to return here for if I am fine! I feel fine! Nothing is wrong with me!
As if reading her mind, Clara continued. "My dear, there is no need to worry. You and your child are both fine. Picture of health!" Clara beamed at Hermione and excused herself from the room to fetch her clothes.
Ginny and Hermione stayed in complete silence for what felt like an hour, although it was likely only 10 minutes.
Ginny turned to her fear stricken friend. "'Mione?"
"It's not Ronald's."
As if my life isn't complicated enough…
