Thursday, January 23rd, 2003
I just finished my evaluation. The process was admittedly, well thought out. I was ushered into a waiting room; I was also given a long piece of parchment. It was mostly blank; save for the top portion, which I was told to fill out. It asked for the expected stuff like name, age, address, occupation, Hogwarts house, etc.
Then when my name was called, I was taken to a back room and was greeted with a very familiar sight: the Sorting Hat. It was genius really; the Sorting Hat was trusted to sort students into their Hogwarts houses based on their personality so it would be the ideal choice to match up couples based on the same qualities.
When I entered the room, a witch in her late 50s seated me on a stool. She tiredly took the piece of parchment and laid it out on a table to the side and set a quick-quotes quill on the ready. Then came over and placed the Hat on my head.
"Ahh Ms. Granger! How have you been?" The Hat said when it touched my head, "Oh, well that's not really all that pleasant, I didn't think he had it in him…Well, lets get to the task at hand… You are a strong one aren't you? … Passionate, intelligent, loyal, cunning… but not in the top shape at the moment, are we? ... You need someone like you, but not… to reignite that spark… Hmm, not Gryffindor… Ravenclaw, perhaps? ... Oh, A Slytherin would also do nicely… alas; your history with them is not ideal… Could you forget that? … Hmm, okay… Well, dear, I think we've got what we need from you. Do take care. Bye now."
And with that, the hat was off my head. I wasn't sure what to make of what the Hat had said but I figured it would be best to wait and not over-think on it right now. The witch went over to the table and the parchment. She glimpsed at the writing and raised a cinereous eyebrow at me but said nothing but "Please go back out to the waiting room Ms. Granger, a healer will call you for your physical tests soon."
The only problem I had with this whole process was all the waiting that I had to do. Around me in the waiting room were so many people just sitting and twiddling their thumbs. I was grateful that I never left home without a book with me for other wise, I would have completely wasted more than an hour and half, just waiting.
"Hermione Granger, please make your way to room 34," said the disembodied voice that had been calling people up, at last.
I quickly made my way to the stated room. There was no one in the room so I just sat down in the stool by the wall. Thankfully, I didn't have to wait long because in came a bubbly young witch who looked to be in her early 20s.
"Oh Merlin!" she exclaimed when she realized who I was, "You're Hermione Granger, heroine of the Second Wizarding War! But of course you knew that already. I'm sorry, you're kind of a hero of mine…um sorry"
I couldn't keep the amusement off my face as I listened to her gush. She quickly regained her professional attitude and continued with the test.
"So, anyway, my name is Healer Combs. Today, I'm going to take a blood sample and then we are going to do a standard fertility test. The results for both these tests will be available to you, should you want it. You will be notified if there is anything to worry about that we found. Should you be found infertile, the Ministry will subsidize your fertility treatment. So you needn't worry too much about that. Any questions?" It was obvious from the flow of her words that she had repeated them multiple times to the point where she seemed to be on autopilot.
When I shook my head at her question, she said "Lets get started shall we, please come over here and take a seat," She instructed, as she led me to a cushioned chair with a table in front of it.
"Place your arm on the table." I placed my right arm up on the table so that I wouldn't have to explain the "Mudblood" scar on my left fore arm. She didn't question it and drew the blood she needed.
"Okay then, could you lie down on the cot in the corner, we're going to do a couple of quick fertility tests. You'll feel some coolness but pay it no mind, it's perfectly normal."
As she performed the spells, I noticed the healer's face get increasingly more concerned.
"What is it? Is something wrong?" I ask worriedly.
"I know it's none of my business but have you been tortured by the Cruciatus Curse?"
"Um… yeah...during the war…"
"Well, that makes sense, I'm really sorry to have to say this but you will have to go through at least two rounds of the fertility treatment because at the moment your reproductive system is in quite the state. You should probably talk to your gynecological healer about it. I'm really sorry," and she really did look sorry.
"So what does this mean for me and my… betrothed?" I ask, taking the language straight from the Ministry's letter.
"You'll still have to go through with the Law but it'll probably take you at least 6 months after you start your treatment to be able to get pregnant. The regular round of the treatment is 10 weeks with a month between treatments. I'm just a general healer so I can't really advise you on the treatment but this is definitely a problem that you need to look into."
"Well, thank you for letting me know." I said awkwardly. What else do you say to someone who's just told you that you've been infertile for the last five years and will continue to be so for at least the next couple of months?
Sensing my discomfort, she says, "Well that's all for today. The results of your personality test and your blood test should be evaluated and returned to you in the first week of February. You can request the results of your blood test in three days, should you want it. If you have no further questions, you are free to leave."
"Thank you," I say as I pick my bag up off the floor and turn to the door.
"Have a good evening, Ms. Granger!" Healer Combs says behind me.
I smile a watery smile and leave, as everything that happened today, finally registered.
Practically running, I head out the waiting room, across the main atrium of the Ministry to the apparition spot.
Once home, I broke down. The memories came flooding back of the night at the manor, of Ron and his terrible lies, of Harry and Ginny not believing me, of them and the Weasleys, who'd all told me that I was family, abandoning me. I remembered all of the things that had been taken away from me: my best friends, my parents' memory of me, my parents even after they had no recollection of me and were half way across the world from me, my surrogate family and now, I find out my ability to get pregnant was also taken from me? I don't know why but I felt the need to mourn my loss and so I did. Knowing full well that I could and would get better.
I cried myself to sleep that night, right there on the floor of my flat by the warmth of the fireplace.
A/N: Woah! I'm on a roll! This is just flowing out.
A/N2: I seriously want to deliver some top quality writing to you guys so if you have anything to say/add/point out, please do.
