The next morning Hermione was having second thoughts about telling Robbie about Ron's visit. She reasoned that if Ron felt he was about to get hurt he would not hesitate to reach for his wand. That could lead to all sorts of complications. It had been in the back of her mind that at some time she needed to find a way of telling Robbie about the reality of witchcraft and its place in the world. How she would do that she didn't have the first idea but with Ron's antics it was urgent that she worked it out.

Harry sympathised with Hermione and promised that Ron would feel the full disciplinary weight of the Auror office. Unless Hermione wanted to press formal charges in which case Ron could be looking at jail time. Hermione declined the offer. She just wanted to warn him off not land him with a criminal record.

She was in her office working when Ron came in and without preamble proceeded to yell at the top of his voice, "You bitch, you just had to tell Harry didn't you, couldn't keep it just between us could you."

"You brought it on yourself Ron, I warned you. I guess Harry was not pleased eh."

"He called it 'professional misconduct' so I'm on weekend call for the next six months and my next performance appraisal is gonna be a bummer. And it's all thanks to you."

"No Ron, it's all thanks to you. I told you to stay away and you ignored me, much like the rest of our marriage." From her briefcase she produced the divorce papers, "now sign these and let's get on with it, please." Ron grabbed the papers and scrawled his signature where required. He left them on her desk and walked in silence from her office.

Relieved she signed the papers and returned them to Terry Boot by owl. She hoped the process would move quickly now and Ron would finally be out of her life. She had lunch with Ginny who spent most of the time ranting about her stupid, brain-dead brother. Her stomach was showing a definite baby bump now. Hermione felt a twinge of jealousy which eased when she thought of Robbie and the progress he was making. Maybe there is hope for me yet, she thought, I'm so glad I didn't have babies with Ron.

When she arrived at the hospital that evening she had a sort of a plan to deal with the problem of Robbie and witchcraft. Éowyn was at the nurses station and they exchanged greetings. Éowyn had something to discuss with Hermione and so they went to an unoccupied office and sat down.

"Now Hermione, the doctors are still at a loss to explain Robbie's improvement. As am I. It's just too much and too sudden to be the result of the Granger Treatment. Our problem is Robbie. He wants to know why too. Can you help by explaining that sometimes these things just happen?"

"Is that what you think Éowyn; that it just happened? You don't think it could be something extraordinary like, oh I don't know; prayer perhaps? I've certainly been praying for improvement."

"I don't mean to belittle your prayers Hermione, but you might just as well say it's witchcraft."

"Suppose it was witchcraft, Éowyn, would that make it wrong or should we just be grateful to whoever cast the spell?"

"And who could that be Hermione, one of the doctors? I don't think so. I know it wasn't me so that leaves you and your friend Peter."

"Don't forget Charlie the porter Éowyn, he's been around as well."

"So one of you three is a witch, is that what we're saying here?

"I suppose so, Éowyn."

"Okaaaay, so is it you Hermione, are you a witch?" Taking a deep breath Hermione replied, her voice with a serious tone, her face deadpan as she looked straight into Éowyn's eyes,

"Yes, I am."

Éowyn laughed quietly, "Nice one Hermione, very convincing. If I didn't know better, I'd believe you."

"And Peter is a wizard; in fact he is a consultant neuro-surgeon at a place called St Mungo's which is a hospital for witches and wizards. He cleared up Robbie's scar tissue."

"That's some imagination you have there Hermione, you should try writing a novel or something."

"What if I could prove it's true, would you be open minded enough to accept it? And promise on everything that you hold dear never to reveal it to anyone? Make that promise and I'll prove it, better yet make a magical vow never to reveal it at the risk of your life."

"Go on then Hermione; prove it and I'll make your magic promise."

"I'm serious that it's at the risk of your life, Éowyn, so be sure." Hermione opened her handbag and took out her wand, "What do you think this is?"

"I don't know, Hermione, a… a nicely polished piece of wood?"

"It is that Éowyn, but in fact it's my wand and I can do magic with it."

"Sure you can." Was the sceptical, almost sneering reply. "Go ahead, show me, do something to me."

"OK then, put your chair in the middle of the room and sit down." Éowyn complied and watched as, without moving from her position, Hermione pointed her 'piece of polished wood' at her and intoned softly,

"Wingardium Leviosa." Eowyn gave a little screech as she rose off her chair and floated toward the ceiling. "Hermione, what the…"

When her head bumped gently against the ceiling Hermione said, "It's just a very basic spell, Éowyn, nothing to worry about. Now for the interesting bit, getting you down again."

"Yes please do that or I'm going to demonstrate projectile vomiting."

'A little scare won't hurt' thought Hermione before saying "Finite incantatum" followed immediately by "Arresto momentum." Éowyn yelped as she began to fall before the cushioning charm caught her and she was lowered gently back onto her chair.

"Damn Hermione, how did you do that?"

"It was magic, Éowyn. Now do you believe me?"

"Not yet, show me something else. What else can you do?"

"Most spells are fairly mundane, for instance I can do my housework without lifting a brush or I can cook a meal from the comfort of my armchair. I can make you do anything I want with a little mind control, although such spells are frowned on. Actually they are more than frowned on they are illegal."

"OK make me do something I wouldn't normally do. Something silly." Hermione thought for a moment, obviously Imperio was out of the question so she would try a little Confundus. She sealed the door with the Colloportus spell and again addressing Éowyn she said,

"Confundus. Now Éowyn take off your bra and place it on the desk." Éowyn took off the top of her scrubs unhooked her pale pink bra, placed it on the desk and then got dressed again. "Finite incantatum." Éowyn blinked and stared at Hermione.

"Well go on then, do something." Hermione smiled,

"I've already done it, look on the desk."

An amazed nurse stared in disbelief and as her hands grasped her breasts she stuttered, "Is… is that my bra? How…"

"You took it off yourself." Hermione explained.

"You made me take it off?"

"Yes. Well you did say something silly, didn't you? So have I convinced you? Lovely tits by the way."

"I find it hard to believe but I suppose you have. But how did Peter do the surgery? There are no new incisions or any signs of surgery."

"He doesn't use scalpels, Éowyn, just a wand like mine. I'll get him to come again and you can talk to him yourself."

"Make sure he has time for two or three million questions, Hermione. Now you said something about a magical vow?"

"Yes it's called the Unbreakable Vow, because if you break it, you die. So be sure you understand that the consequences of breaking the vow can be deadly. Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes Hermione, I have so many questions. So yes I'm sure." Hermione held her hand and touched the tip of her wand to Éowyn's wrist and spoke the words for Éowyn to repeat,

"I, Éowyn Pritchard vow never to reveal the existence of the magical world, on pain of death." She held her breath as a golden stream of light emanated from the wand and encircled her and Hermione's wrists. The light seemed to flow for a minute before seemingly being absorbed into the skin of her wrist.

"That's it Éowyn all done. We'll go and see Robbie when he gets back from his physio session shall we?"

Éowyn was replacing her bra.

"Whoa Hermione, I need a little time to get my head around this, it's not going to help me explain to the doctors is it?"

In Robbie's room they waited for their patient to return. "Éowyn, I'll take the lead in telling him, if you don't mind,"

"Hell no, Hermione, I wouldn't know where to start. Just don't make me strip or anything like that. The last thing I need is my patient ogling all my bits."

They pottered around tidying the room until they heard Charlie's whistle coming down the corridor. Hermione's heart rate increased palpably. The next half hour could make or break her life.

Charlie pushed the trolley through the doorway and into position in the room. "Here he is ladies, he's had a good session, apart from bitching that they won't let him try to walk yet."

"Quite right too. He's got to build his leg muscles from almost nothing."

"Will you stop talking… about me as though I'm not… here. It's damned annoy…ing." The three of them moved Robbie from the trolley to his bed. Without thinking Hermione straightened his sheets and tucked them in.

"Dammit wom…and I told you not to do that."

"Ohh somebody is grumpy today Hermione. Best be careful."

"I'm not… grumpy. I just hate… being fussed over when it's… not… necessary. Even if the… fussers are two… women… I love. Just clear… off and… let me… sleep please." Hermione bent and kissed his forehead.

"No sleep just yet Robbie, We need to talk to you darling."

"Oh God… just what I need… another lecture."

Charlie said his farewells and wheeled his trolley away. Éowyn closed the door and Hermione murmured "Colloportus" and the door was sealed. Éowyn sat in a chair by the door and Hermione pulled a chair next to the bed and took Robbie's hand.

"Now then Robbie, you know I love you right? You know I wouldn't lie to you, right?"

"Yes to both… questions Hermione."

"Okay, I have something to tell you. You'll find it unbelievable at first but bear with me. Now you have been asking about your rapid recovery I believe?"

"Yes, I don't know what they've done but I wish they had done it months ago."

"Your doctors didn't do anything Robbie apart from their normal procedures."

"Then how…"

"You remember my friend Peter?"

"Yeah, seems like… a nice guy."

"He is. Well he's not just a friend…" Robbie frowned,

"Lover…?"

"No Robbie, he's not my lover, he is a doctor, a very special doctor. He is responsible for your improvement."

"How…?"

"He is a neurosurgeon. He normally works at a hospital called St. Mungo's, which is a special hospital for…" here we go Hermione thought, fighting to control her racing heart. "…witches and wizards."

"You're shitting me… Hermione, why… why would you… do that?"

"Because it's true, Robbie…"

"How… do you know… him then?"

"Because Robbie," she took a deep breath, "I'm a witch, I can do magic." There. It was out. God help her now.

"You're a what!? You're a… witch? Pardon me if I'm sceptical, Hermione but you must have flipped your lid. I think your cheese has slipped off your cracker."

Éowyn spoke up,

"It's incredible but it's true Robbie, I've seen her do it. Ask her for a demonstration."

"I'll show you Robbie." On a table near Éowyn was a book. A History of the Royal Marines. She pointed her wand. "Accio book" the book flew to her hand and she passed it to Robbie, "Yours I believe, darling."

"Bloody hell… Hermione, how… how did… you do… that?"

"Magic Robbie."

"Fuck me… it is real. I never would have believed it. OK then, think you could magic me a cup of tea?" His cup was on the same table.

"Accio cup." She placed it on the small table by his bed, another wave of her wand and the cup filled with hot tea. She fed him a drink and his face contorted into a grimace.

"Too hot?" she asked.

"No," he spluttered, "No bloody sugar!"