Chapter 3:- Coming to Terms with Grief

Dr. William Kemp was sitting in his office, going over some paperwork he had left over from yesterday. He looked at his watch and frowned. It was already 11:35 a.m. and his stomach was growling.

'Well, that's what I get for skipping breakfast.'

He got up and stretched his legs, lower back and neck. Sitting at a desk did have its disadvantages. The phone rang and he picked it up.

"Hello, Dr. Kemp speaking," he said in his usual monotone.

"Hi, this is Nurse Cathy up on floor three. Dr. Jason Hudson has just asked me to get you to come on up and see a patient in room 12 that was brought in last night."

"Sure, that's what I'm here for," Dr. Kemp replied with a glint of humour in his voice.

He put down the phone and grabbed his jacket. The papers would have to wait until he got back. He took the elevator to the third floor and made his way to the nurses' station.

Nurse Cathy looked up. Although she was fairly new to the job, she recognised Dr. Kemp at a glance. Everything about him screamed "Authority," from the way he walked to the way he held his head up high.

"Hi, Nurse Cathy, I believe." He smiled, looking down at her name tag. "You called, and well - here I am."

"Yes. You put the phone down before I could tell you that Dr. Hudson wants to speak to you before you go into room 12 to see the patient," Nurse Cathy said, a little flustered, as he was leaning over the desk of the nurses' station. Her pulse sped up a little.

"Well, could you please page him and get him here," Dr. Kemp said with a slight smile. He could tell she was uncomfortable in his presence, and he couldn't help but smile inwardly at this - when he turned on his charm it never failed him.

Nurse Cathy picked up the phone, smiling at Dr. Kemp, and paged Dr. Hudson.

"He'll only be a second, if you care to take a seat," she told Dr. Kemp, pointing to the row of seats along the wall adjacent to the nurses' station.

Dr. Kemp merely nodded his head and sat down.

Dr. Hudson got the page and walked back to the nurses' station. He hoped that it was the psychiatrist. When he finally arrived he was greeted by Dr. Kemp, who stood up and held out his hand.

"Dr. Hudson, I'm Dr. William Kemp." Dr. Hudson took Dr. Kemp's hand, shaking it firmly.

"Call me Jason," said Dr. Hudson. "I believe you have a patient who you wanted me to take a look at for you."

"Yes. She's restrained at the moment and resting, but I think that you can go in there and wake her up. See if she requires your field of expertise." Dr. Hudson then relayed everything that Hermione had told him. Nurse Cathy listened on while trying, but failing miserably, to look busy.

The doctors then made their way to the door which read Room 12. They could hear someone sobbing softly inside. They entered and saw that Hermione was facing the window and didn't even look in their direction.

Dr. Hudson made his way to her chart as Dr. Kemp just looked at her, trying to read her. Dr. Hudson handed the chart to Dr. Kemp. He skimmed over it, reading about the so-called "war" that she had spoken about.

"So tell me about this war that you were in, Miss?" Dr. Kemp asked, looking up at her.

She turned her head to look at him. He could see her reddened eyes and the tear tracks down her cheeks. He could also see tear marks all down the front of her gown. He made a mental note of this; obviously she was badly traumatised.

"I'm not supposed to talk about that. Besides, you're both Muggles and I've said too much already," Hermione spat at him icily.

"Muggles? What is a Muggle?" Dr. Kemp asked.

"It's a term that we, the witches and wizards of the world, use for you, the non-magical people," Hermione explained, as if she was talking to a five-year-old.

"Hmm, I see." Dr. Kemp made some notes on her chart. "You never told us your name, and we've both introduced ourselves to you."

"Yes I remember, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum," Hermione said with a laugh, which she regretted as soon as it came out as it caused her more pain than it was worth.

Dr. Kemp was too busy writing more notes to notice her wince at the pain.

"You can call me anything you like, as I shouldn't be here with you having this conversation at all. I should have died on the Hogwarts grounds with my friends. I should never have made it out alive, and nothing you can say or do to me can convince me otherwise." Hermione had a look of determination on her face.

"I see," Dr. Kemp muttered, making more notes.

"If you'll be so kind as to undo these restraints, I will be on my way and I will leave you both to tend to the REAL sick people here," Hermione said, raising her voice.

"Well you see, I don't think that will be possible," Dr. Kemp said.

"Why? Are you afraid I will do something to myself?" Hermione asked flatly.

"Is that what you want to do?" Dr. Kemp asked.

"Yes . . . I mean no, I'm just so confused and tired now. If I could only go to the Ministry of Magic, they will sort out all of this." Hermione's head was swimming and she could feel a bout of tiredness coming over her again.

'Why don't these stupid people just let me go?' she thought as she closed her eyes for a brief second.

"How do you expect to get there? You have some pretty bad injuries there, Missy. I don't think you'll be going anywhere soon," Dr. Kemp said, with an air of authority in his voice.

"JUST LET ME OUT OF HERE!" Hermione yelled, pissed now beyond belief.

'One, they won't listen to me, and two, now they think I'm crazy.' Hermione made a mental pause. 'Oh, who am I kidding? If I was in their position I would think I was crazy too.'

Dr. Kemp walked over to the call button and pressed it.

"Is there a problem in there, Doctors Kemp and Hudson?" Nurse Cathy's voice came over the intercom.

"Yes, can you bring me get 10 milligrams of Haloperidol," Dr. Kemp said with a hint of urgency in his voice.

"Sure thing, Doctor."

Hermione knew of Haloperidol from her love of books. She had done a research paper in Potions that described the similar effects that certain drugs in the Muggle world had to certain drugs in the wizarding world. She also knew that this was not the drug that she needed right now - she needed to be focused and sharp, not calm, sleepy and drooling everywhere.

"No! Please, I'll behave myself," she pleaded, her voice sounding more urgent.

"I'm just going to give you something so you can relax and rest. When you wake up you'll be refreshed, and then maybe you might be able to tell us what really happened," Dr. Kemp replied.

Nurse Cathy walked through the door, carrying a needle in her hand.

Hermione held her breath.

Dr. Hudson untied her left leg from the restraint, and as he did so she kicked out with all of her might, meeting his face with her foot. The doctor crumpled to the ground, hands to his face.

"She's broken my nose!" Dr. Hudson said, blood seeping out from behind his hands.

Hermione was pleased with herself, but this didn't ease the pain that she was feeling - it was running through her entire body, especially in her chest.

'That will teach them for messing with me,' she thought, groaning out loud.

"Can't you do anything right?" Dr. Kemp asked, annoyed. "What do they teach you in medical school nowadays?" It was more a statement than a question. "Do you think you can hold her leg down while I give her the shot, or not?" Dr. Kemp scowled at Dr. Hudson.

Nurse Cathy was in shock and was just standing there holding the needle, while Dr. Kemp spoke harshly to Dr. Hudson.

"Yeah, I can do it," Dr. Hudson replied through gritted teeth. He was in pain, but he didn't want the older, more experienced psychiatrist to see this.

Hermione was just lying there smiling; it was priceless to see all of the blood running down the young man's face, spoiling his nice, clean white coat. She wouldn't have the strength for another kick. Although the pain she was now feeling was hell, she thought it was well worth it.

"Nurse Cathy - stop standing there gawking and come over here and give me the needle. Hold the patient down," Dr. Kemp said with annoyance.

Nurse Cathy complied, handing the needle to Dr. Kemp and standing next to Dr. Hudson. They both jumped on Hermione and she cried out in pain as an elbow hit her in the ribs.

Dr. Kemp pulled up her hospital gown and jabbed her with the needle. Her breathing was laboured and she managed to get out the word "Pervert" before the first wave of sleep hit her.

"Well, I think you should go get that tended to," Dr. Kemp said, pointing at Dr. Hudson's nose. Dr. Hudson left the room with Nurse Cathy, to get his nose looked at by another resident.

Dr. Kemp restrained Hermione's leg once more and made some more notes on her chart.

"Displaying all of the classics symptoms of a Paranoid Schizophrenic, coupled with overlying Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. DO NOT under any circumstance remove restraints! Prone to violent outbursts," Dr. Kemp wrote on the front of her chart. "To be moved A.S.A.P to Calan Park Psychiatric Facility," he finished.

Dr. Kemp placed the chart at the end of her bed. He shook his head as he thought of all the paperwork this would create for him, coupled with the already mounting pile on his desk.

'I just wish I had called in sick today. Let it be someone else's problem,' he thought as he turned around and headed for the door. Closing it behind him, he made his way back to his office. He had a lot of paperwork to do and he also had to call Calan Park and make arrangements for Hermione's transfer in the morning. He sighed to himself.

'Yes, today would have been a good day to call in sick.'

A/N: Thanks you for the wonderful reviews so far. It can only get better so continue reading please.

Disclaimer: The usual!