Ok, so I got a few reviews on the last part, asking "How the hell can I leave it there?" Well, the answer is that I was going to leave it to your own imagination, but I couldn't. I knew how I wanted this to end, and I couldn't keep it on my own so I wrote a part two.
Sorry it seems rushed but I start university in a few days and I wanted to get this done before I'll have no free time at all. This was always the way this would end, especially Charlie's last line.
Please, enjoy and review
Part 2
They landed heavily in a department, deep in the bowels of St Mungo's hospital. Looking around, Hermione didn't know where she was. She was hanging onto Harry's arm like a lifeline; following his rushed pace to see a Mediwitch. Charlie was stronger than Hermione right now. He followed the pace, walking with purpose behind his lover and his friend.
"I need to see Sykes. Right now" Harry stated plainly. He was head of the Auror division, he could see who he God damned wanted at a moment's notice and he would. A strong, stern looking man strode around the corner and grasped Harry's hand in welcome.
"Aaah Harry, what can we do you for?" he asked. They turned and were led into a private side room where they couldn't be overheard. Harry cast a silencing charm nonetheless.
"HIV tests on Hermione and Charlie. As fast as you can" he stated. Hermione was led to the bed by Charlie where she sat, hands wringing and breath shaking. The shock had hit her hard and she couldn't hold bad any longer. She felt sick, hot and cold at the same time. Charlie was trying to stay strong for both their sakes, not wanting to give Ron the satisfaction of knowing that he hurt.
"Mr Weasley? If you'd sit with her for a moment, I need to speak to Harry". Taken aback, Harry followed Sykes out of the room. In a hushed voice he explained.
"You know I can't do anymore than a Muggle physician can with this illness?" His voice was grave, expecting the worst. "The virus is extremely volatile with magical blood, shouldn't be mixed at all. How did they contract it?"
"Hermione's husband slept with more prostitutes than he can name. One of them, I think" Harry was sad for Ron, he couldn't help it. He was his best friend too; even though he treated Hermione with all the respect you show a waste bin.
"We will need to see him too. Will you be there to help all three of them through this, no matter what the outcome of the tests are?"
"They put their lives in danger for me once. I'm giving up my life to them, irrespective of the results." Harry said, feeling his Gyrffindor pride burst through for the first time in years.
"Very well" Sykes ended the conversation and opened the door. They found Hermione and Charlie embracing where they sat on the bed, tears flowing freely from Hermione. "Excuse me, Hermione? I'd like to examine you first, so Mr Weasley if you'd be so kind to wait outside-"
"I'm staying." Charlie was finite in his words. Sykes took the hint and told Hermione to hold her arm out. "Whatever you say you can say in front of Harry and I"
"Ok" his tone softened, which was a miracle as he was such a tough and driven man. "I have to ask, Hermione. How many men have you had intercourse with?"
"Three" she whispered through the tears.
"And how long since you last had intercourse?"
"Last night. With Charlie" she was shy, barely breathing the words.
"And how long since you and your husband had intercourse?" his questions were clinical, unemotional and cold.
"Six months" she said. "Around six months"
"Ok, so you've passed the window period for this virus, so any HIV virus that may be present will be detectable. Was last night the first time you have had intercourse with Charles Weasley?".She nodded, swallowing another bout of tears. "Now I will take a blood test, and two further Muggle tests. One is called an ELISA test, the other a Western Blot test. The blood test will give us an overall indication as to the state of your blood and other two are specific for HIV. Due to the HIV virus being so violent when mixed with magical blood, the only way to make these tests work is to carry them out using Muggle methods. I will take two examples of your blood and one of your saliva; it will tell us everything you need to know." He concluded. The men hung from his every word while Hermione nodded her head, empty of emotion.
Sykes summoned the relevant equipment, syringes and phials and set to work, tying off Hermione's arm and flicking for a vein. The process was quick to go through, a scratch being the only thing she felt. Her free hand grasped by Charlie's for the entire time while harry stood back, watching silently. It came for Charlie to have his blood drawn; only now nervous.
"I fucking hate needles" he muttered with a wry, ironic laugh as Sykes took his blood.
"Mr Weasley I must warn you that you are not yet over the window period for this virus, but it would be foolish not to test you now, given the uncertain and very chaotic ways it plays with our blood. If nothing shows up on this test, we will retest you again after fifteen and thirty days." Sykes warned.
"Now what?" Harry asked from the door as he saw Sykes finish the samples from Charlie.
"I'll take these samples and develop them. I suggest you all go home and I will Floo to your residence with the results in two hours. The name of the Fireplace?"
"The Burrow" Charlie said, clutching a ball of cotton to the inside of his elbow.
"No, people will be there. Use number twelve Grimmaud Place. The password is Woflstar" Harry said, slightly louder than Charlie. Once Sykes had written down the Floo address and password, he bid them farewell and Harry Apperated them all back to his living room.
Not knowing what to do, Harry and Charlie both stood
"I'll make some tea-"
"I'll get tea-"
"No, Charlie. I'll do it" Harry soothed, allowing him to have some private time with Hermione. They would be restless and skittish until they knew. Harry knew it was the lack of information that would be driving Hermione crazy with anticipation. Last time she hadn't known something was when Harry beat her in their OWL's on their Defence Against The Dark Arts examination.
The two hours passed, slowly dragging. It was nearly three hours until the elaborate fireplace roared with green flames and the three waiting in the kitchen heard the hissy breath of someone muttering the password. Harry bounded to the living room, followed closely by Charlie and Hermione. They dropped to their knees as if begging for good news. Sykes' torso was visible in the flames, grasping a small slip of paper in his fist.
"Hermione and Charlie, are you comfortable with me discussing the results in front of Harry?" he asked, forever the professional.
"Just say it" Hermione stated, sure of bad news.
"Hermione, I must tell you that we found something abnormal with your blood tests." He started as Hermione allowed new tears roll down her cheeks. "It seems like you do have a disease within your system, but I am happy to say that it isn't HIV. The ELISA and Western Blot tests were both negative"
Hermione knelt, shocked. Words failed her as she was embraced by Charlie and Harry, relief flooding their system.
"What did you find?" Hermione asked, her voice balancing on a tightrope; threatening to crumble at any moment.
"We found you have hepatitis in your system. It is slightly problematic as you are born of Muggle heritage, but still treatable. With the correct administration of potions, you will make a full recovery. I must add to you Charlie, that although the chance of having HIV from Hermione is slim, we would still like you to come back in a few weeks for more test." Sykes concluded. Harry thanked him or his work as Hermione was led to the sofa by Charlie.
"I must tell you, Hermione. Your husband was brought to us just after you left. I'm sorry to tell you there is nothing we can do to help him. We can only give him pain relief" Sykes added, his voice sombre and low. Hermione nodded slightly, acknowledging; understanding.
"Let the bastard rot in hell" Charlie hissed through his teeth, not forgetting their final meeting. He would protect Hermione now. No man would speak to her like that again.
Fin. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and watched this story. Please review this part and I will get back to you.
