Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognise. This is for fun only, please don't sue.


Chapter 9: House Business

It was lunchtime when Madam Pomfrey bustled back into the secure ward to check on her patients. "Looking Good Severus but please remember not to wear your voice out too much as you have to heal. The potions only do so much and rest does the rest."

"Miss Granger is still the same, Mr Potter. There are some Slytherin students who want to visit her and the Headmaster so I will let them in and then organise lunch for you all" the Mediwitch advised Harry so that he was not shocked by the next group of visitors and start hexing them when they entered the ward. On hearing that there were Slytherin students visiting Harry had instantly drawn his wand. The last 9 months on the run had made him a little trigger happy as in hex first and ask questions afterwards.

In walked Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson. Harry was shocked observed Severus although the Gryffindor still retained a tight grip on his wand yet he did not hex straight away he seemed to be waiting for a indication of what they were up to first.

"Hello Potter" the two chorused as they observed their peer sitting on a cot and madly writing notes at the bed desk with his wand clasped holding the parchment down.

"Hello Parkinson and Malfoy. I am surprised to see you here"; he bluntly stated in typical Gryffindor fashion nothing about subtlety there at all.

"Hello Sir", "Hello Godfather" they chirped in a different tone to their former Head of House.

"What can I do for you today?" inquired Severus Snape. Slytherin students don't normally do things just because it was nice. Someone wanted something and what it was he would have to wait and see.

"I need to have a word with you Godfather and Pansy wanted to see Granger," Draco advised Severus.

Pansy sat and talked to Hermione for about 30 minutes while Draco discussed the legal cases of his parents and himself. As Pansy sat and talked to Hermione, Tinky had come in and handed the Slytherin witch a brush and preceded with another brush to brush the comatose witch's hair out. It was about 30 minutes after their arrival when Madam Pomfrey came in with another elf that set up a table with seven place settings. While the elf was organizing the meal Poppy turned to talk to Tinky and Pansy, "Have you seen any response to your visit?"

"Her eyes fluttered a bit but that's about it," advised Pansy.

"She is more relaxed Pomfrey, her muscles are not so tight in her face and round her shoulders," informed Tinky.

There was an interesting discussion over the lunch table and old enemies called a truce. Severus explained that he was seeking opinions from students about what they felt they needed as part of their education and what they had missed during the last couple of years. Harry informed Draco that he was willing to speak at his and his mother's trial as a defence witness. After lunch the group had an interesting discussion about the evening classes idea for about an hour while the table was cleared and removed. They were all sitting round Hermione's bed while Tinky was sitting at the bottom of the bed and massaging her feet to encourage circulation.

Harry had handed his report to Slinky so she could file it for the Headmaster and review the ideas. Now it was time to spend time with Mia. Harry kept stroking her hand and playing with her fingers as he talked in the group discussion. Eventually the visitors had to say their adieus and head off to their next appointment. Poppy bustled in as they left and commanded Severus back to his bed for a rest and clicked her tongue at the sight of the elf desk and Slinky sitting in residence.

For the rest of the week during the day Hermione heard Hogwarts business while in the evening's friends and members of the Order visited. Pansy and Draco came back more than once and started to get to know these friends of the Gryffindor Princess. A salon atmosphere had developed providing much stimulation of ideas but unfortunately Hermione was still in her coma. The intelligent witch would have enjoyed the academic discussion and the sharing of ideas if she had been conscious.

At the end of the week Poppy Pomfrey finally allowed Severus Snape to leave the confines of the teachers' ward and head back into the real world. Unfortunately Hermione continued her comatose state for the rest of May. The teams of visitors continued to provide simulation for her mind on a 24-hour rotation.

It was in June that Kingsley Shacklebolt suggested that Hermione be moved into the repaired and cleaned 12 Grimmauld Place so that the Order could watch her for a month with the aid of Tinky to enable Poppy Pomfrey to go on a long overdue vacation.

It was Remus Lupin who hit upon the idea of music for part of the treatment of Hermione when he started to play classical records that he knew she liked.

The St Mungo's specialist reported that she was more responsive and everyone could see that she was becoming more alert but it was just a case of getting Hermione Granger to wake up. Finally in early July Tinky came screaming down to the kitchen and dining area in Grimmauld Place flapping her large ears excitedly during breakfast time advising all and sundry that, "Miss Mia was awake. Get the healer now!"

It was at this point that part of Poppy's initial potential diagnosis was confirmed. A Spinal cord injury at the L5 while the witch had initially no control of legs right now there was a chance in the future that young witch would regain more motor control.

The other implication of Miss Granger's injuries was that there was some nerve damage and how much nerve damage could have a significant impact on the witch's self-identity. Poppy Pomfrey knew from experience that now was not the time to talk to the young woman about the potential issues she had to deal with the issue of here and now while working towards dealing with the long term health concerns.