Chapter 11: St. John's-wort

Hermione's footsteps echoed off the empty halls of the Intensive Care section of the Fourth Floor. She had just been upstairs trying to find a card for Percy that expressed her feelings about him and his current state…

She ended up buying him flowers.

To be honest Hermione felt horrible about everything that had happened. In her eyes she was as much to blame as Harry. Being the cleverest of the three of them, it was her job to keep Harry and Ron from making stupid, irrational decisions. Didn't she mention something about Voldemort's understanding of Harry's tendency for saving people? She did… maybe if she had been more assertive with that notion none of this would have happened.

The door was slightly opened. Hermione could see Percy staring off at nothing with a dazed look on his face. He looked just awful with paled skin and dark shadows under his eyes. If she didn't know better she would have thought he was already-. Hermione caught herself staring, but luckily Percy hadn't seemed to notice she was there. She knocked on the door. He didn't move.

"Percy?"

He blinked awakening from his daze, "Hermione?" he sounded surprised. "What are you doing here?"

She smiled. "I came to visit you," she said, "if that's alright?"

"Of course."

Hermione placed the flowers on his bed table next to the ones his mother had brought him.

"They're beautiful," he said, "thank you."

"They're called-"

"St. John's-wort," Percy finished with a small smile, "I too received an O in Herbology."

Hermione smiled back, "I thought they'd cheer you up."

"That was very thoughtful of you."

Hermione gestured to a chair next to his bed. "May I?"

"Please."

"These were the plants you were studying during my first month at Hogwarts." Hermione remembered fondly. Percy raised a brow, "You showed me around the library, and let me look through your textbook. That page had a bookmark in it so I read it." Hermione explained. "Do you remember?"

"Of course," he said. "I was impressed to see a first-year with such a passion for learning."

"Back then, before the troll was let loose in the dungeon, … you were the only friend I had at Hogwarts," she looked at him, trying her best not to cry. "I never thanked you for that."

"You didn't have to," he told her. "I looked forward to our daily study sessions in the library."

Hermione shook her head, "Then after Harry, Ron, and I became friends I just stopped going," she said choking back a sob. "I should have-"

"Hermione, it's alright." She looked up at him. His eyes were soft. "Though I did enjoy the time we shared, I didn't expect us to be best friends."

"I forgot about you," she confessed unable to look him in the eye. "Now I can't help but picture you waiting for me by the history section- only I never showed up!"

She was crying now. Percy put his hand on hers. It was cold. "Come now, I was mature enough to understand the appeal of being accepted by your peers. And I could handle being by myself. I had grown quite used to it, actually."

"You shouldn't have had to," she said sincerely, "You deserve to have a friend- more so than most people."

"It's a little late for that," he sighed with his eyes cast down.

"No, it's not." Hermione squeezed his hand. They looked at each other meaningfully, as both of them treasured the moment, hoping it could last.

But of course it couldn't. A Healer waltzed right in and ruined their moment. Hermione caught Percy glaring at…him? Her? The Healer had one of those faces that made it very difficult to determine what gender they were, or what age they were for that matter.

The Healer sauntered over to the foot of his bed, tossed the chart in the air, caught it, and started flipping through the pages. Hermione had a feeling he or she wasn't actually reading it.

Thinking it'd be best to speak first, before Percy had the chance to yell, Hermione said, "Excuse me-"

"You're excused," the Healer said abruptly, in a genderless American voice.

Hermione furrowed her brow, "I'm sorry-"

"And you're forgive," the Healer said curtly, "You're also excused." The Healer waved 'goodbye' to her.

Hermione gaped. How unbelievably rude! She looked back at Percy. His ears were red and looked like he would like nothing more than to curse this arse of a Healer. Hermione was almost certain he was considering doing just that.

In an attempt to keep him calm, Hermione assured him, "I'll be right back," she said giving his hand another squeeze. "I promise."

Percy watched her leave. Hermione mouthed 'Bye' to him before closing the door. Immediately Percy went to round on the prat. But before he could say anything, the Healer 'ah-huhed' and tossed his cart onto the bed.

"I can fix you."

"What?" Percy said taken aback.

"Can't do it here though," the American continued, "need the right team, better equipment and such."

"Who are you?" Percy finally managed to ask.

The Healer checked his/her badge, "Sam Icewell."

Was that a joke? Percy wondered. 'Icewell' began searching the room. "What are you doing?"

"I am looking for your shoes."

Percy shook his head. "I don't think I have the strength to walk. I haven't been out of this bed in a week."

"Well that's going to change," Icewell said heading for the door.

"Wait! Where are you going?" Percy asked just as the Healer reached the door.

Icewell grinned, "If you and I are going to trample all over the Laws of Magic, you're going to need shoes." And with that the Healer left.

Percy stared at the door, trying to process what just happened. His thoughts were interrupted with Hermione's return.

"I brought you some tea" she stopped. "Is everything alright?" she said her voice full of concern.

Percy shook his head, "Err, yeah." She handed him his tea.

"Did the Healer have any good news?"

"I'm…not sure…"

Was what happened just now a joke? Was it some sort of sick prank that the twins were pulling to get him to stop feeling sorry for himself? But Percy had the feeling that not even the twins would do something so appalling.

"Percy," Hermione spoke slowly as if she were picking each word carefully. "I know I'm in no position to be asking this of you, but I know for a fact that they truly miss you…"

Percy's attention shifted to the door silently opening. Without making a sound, Icewell slipped inside and smiled at him. Percy had just enough time to take note of the duffle bag Icewell was holding before the Healer crept into the shadowed corner of the room. He could just make out Icewell shifting impatiently, constantly glancing at him checking and his/her watch.

"There isn't much time left to do that, so please, as a favor for a friend, consider it? ...Percy?"

"Hermione" Percy said not taking his eyes off of Icewell. He was almost afraid that if he did, the Healer would disappear and so would any hope for his survival. "Fetch my family, would you? Harry as well? And make sure they are all together before they come in. I have something important to say to them."

Finally glancing at Hermione he saw her grinning ear to ear. Percy wasn't sure why. Honestly, Percy hadn't heard a word she had said. "And I would need some peace before I talk to them, so no visitors before they're here or Healers for that matter. Can you do this for me? Please?"

"Of course!" Hermione said cheerfully, practically leaping to her feet. Just as Hermione reached for the knob the door opened, smacking her in the face. A frazzled Cris Crispen popped his head in.

"Mr. Weasley, have you seen anything odd wandering about?"

Percy paused for a moment and glanced at Icewell. The Healer looked back at him and held a finger to his/her lips.

"No," he lied. "Why?"

"A Muggle has… sort of escaped from the Muggle Memory Alteration Ward. So just keep your eyes opened. Oh! Hello there." He said finally noticing Hermione who was rubbing her nose.

Crispen stuck around just long enough to make the moment awkward, before finally leaving. Hermione gave him a smile and on last wave 'goodbye'.

"Oh and Hermione," Percy caught her just before she closed the door, "Take care of Ron for me?"

"Of course I will," she said smiling at him sadly. Percy returned it.

Deeming the coast clear, Icewell stepped out of the shadows laughing. "Dude, the security around here sucks."

The 'Healer' sighed and threw the duffle bag onto his bed.

"Alright, that's enough!" Percy proclaimed loudly in an attempt to sound authoritative, but all he managed to do was leave himself breathless. Merlin was he tired!

The American just shook his/her head.

"Who," he wheezed, "are you?"

"I am Sam," Icewell said point to him/herself.

"How old are you 'Sam'?" Percy asked.

"Now Mr. Weasley, didn't your mother ever teach you that it's rude to ask a lady their age?" she said with a grin.

So she's a woman. "My apologies," Percy said not feeling very apologetic at all.

"So I take it that since you didn't rat me out that you have decided to take my offer?" she opened the bag and pulled out Percy's shoes.

"It wasn't much a choice was it?" Percy grunted, struggling to put them on.

Icewell suddenly grabbed his arm and stabbed him with a needle. "Ow!"

"This should speed things up," she said.

Percy weakly pulled his arm away. "What the bloody hell was that?"

Icewell grabbed his shoes out of his hands and quickly put them on for him. Apparently she wasn't a very patient woman.

"We don't have a lot of time, yet," she said pulling him to his feet.

"What is that supposed to mean? Yet?"

She pulled out some Healer's robes. "Put this on. 'Yet' is of Old English origin, before 900 AD," she explained helping him get his weak arm though the sleeve. "Once pronounced as 'get' or 'gieta', it means 'till now', 'thus far', 'earlier', 'at last', and 'also'-"

"You're not funny," Percy snapped.

"Don't be ridiculous. I'm hilarious."

Percy yanked his arm out of her grasp with greater ease than he had anticipated and almost lost his balance. Was he getting stronger? His stood on one leg and then the other without falling. His strength was returning.

"How did you-? What did you give me?"

She grinned and handed him his wand and a mask, "Just a little pick-me-up. But it won't last forever, so we better get moving."

"Wait, there's one thing left I have to do," Percy insisted.

Icewell sighed, "Okay, but make it quick."

Percy followed Icewell through the halls of the hospital acting as nonchalantly as he could. He spoke to her in a quiet voice.

"So I take it you're the Muggle that escaped from the memory ward?"

"Something like that."

"May I ask why you are helping me? I don't believe I've ever met you before."

"You haven't. But I owe you a favor. It's complicate. I'd need a chalkboard to explain it. By the way how do we get out of here?"

Percy stopped. "I was following you!" he exclaimed quietly. "Great! This is just perfect. I'm helping a Muggle breakout of a magical hospital, completely disregarding the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, breaking at least 34 laws in the process, with no idea how to get out!"

"Shh-"

"And it's not as if we can just ask for directions when we're dressed as Healers!"

Icewell turned to him. "Well then, what we need to do is-" Her eyes widened. "Hide. Hide right now. Quickly!"

She pushed him into the nearest room. Percy listened to the voices coming down the hall.

"Are you sure you've checked this floor completely?"

"Every room. She must have made it to another level. If she escapes-"

"I wouldn't plan on that. We have something that can sniff out a Muggle. We'll catch her on her way out."

"But-"

"Trust me. The Aurors are on their way now."

The voices faded. Percy could feel his heart pounding in his sore chest. "What do we-? Icewell?" Percy looked around. Icewell was talking to an old woman and… Neville?! Hastily, Percy made sure his mask was covering as much of his face as possible. Hesitantly, he approached them as casually as he could.

"Healer Icewell, may I have a word with you?" Percy said in a low American accent.

To Percy's relief not a hint of recognition appeared on their faces. Icewell, however, appeared amused, "Certainly." She looked at the old woman, Neville, and the white-haired, round-faced female patient that they were apparently visiting. "Excuse me for a moment." Percy pulled her aside.

"What?" she hissed.

Quickly Percy told her what he had heard. "What do we do?"

Icewell thought for a moment, and then walked over to the Neville and the old woman. "I'm sorry, do to unforeseen circumstances visiting hours have been cut short for today. Feel free to visit them tomorrow."

Neville looked disheartened, "But I need to visit someone else too. I have to thank him for saving my life. Please let me see him? It'll only take a minute."

"I'm sorry, kid, but I can't allow that." She told him shaking her head.

Percy was about to escort them out the door when he saw how clearly upset Neville was. The boy took a small envelope out of his pocket and handed it to him. "His name is Percy Weasley. Can you give this to him? Please?"

"Consider it done." Icewell said and escorted the family members to the hall.

Percy took a moment to look at Neville's offering. Then he shook his head. There was no time to open it now. They had to get out of here. He turned to Icewell.

"So how do you plan on getting us out of here?"

"Give me a second to think," she said.

"You don't have a plan?" he asked incredulously.

"I always have a plan," she snapped. "I just haven't thought of it yet."

Almost half an hour went by and they still had no idea how to get out of here. Percy had no idea how long the effects of whatever the crazy Muggle had given him would last. Despair was creeping back inside him. "The only way I'm leaving the hospital is in a coffin." Percy groaned, running his hand over his face. He looked at Icewell. She was smiling wickedly at him.