The Letter

Part Ten

Summary: Hermione receives a letter that can change everything.

Warnings: mentions of suicide and off-screen gay relationship (Snarry), Ginny and Molly bashing. The story is mostly canon compliant, but disregards epilogue (obviously).

Disclaimer: the Harry Potter universe has been created by J. K. Rowling and does not belong to me. No money is being made from writing and publishing this story. No copyright infringement was intended.

A/N: Please, note that English is not my native language and I have no beta. If you find any mistakes, feel free to tell me about them. I have nothing against constructive criticism, but no flames, please!

"What is the meaning of this, Miss Granger? Who gave you the right to attack the healers?"Professor Snape (who had just left the ward) said in a tone that made Hermione feel as if she were a schoolgirl once again and the man would take points from Gryffindor.

"Not the healers. Just this one, Professor. And I am not entirely sure that this woman is a healer." They were not at school anymore; otherwise the witch would have never been that cheeky.

"You are not entirely sure, that's why you stun the people. How Gryffindor of you..."

"OK. I might have overreacted..." Hermione was a bit ashamed of her actions now. "But it would not hurt if the Aurors checked her." She added and called Auror Johns.

Johns appeared there immediately. The young man had not expected to see a stunned healer on the floor in the corridor and wanted to ennervate her right away. But Hermione and Healer Penny persuaded him to cast Priore Incantatem on the woman's wand. The result was overwhelming. The amount of mind-affecting spells and memory charms the woman had cast could make the professional Obliviator proud. The healer who worked with transfiguration accidents did not need those spells in her work. Add to this the fact that healer Falcon was on maternity leave (Johns had checked it) and you'd become suspicious too. That's why the young Auror went to floo-call his superior.

"I believe this woman was the reason why everything in your department went so bad." Said Snape as the Aurors levitated the stunned witch away. "Otherwise it would be hard to explain the lack of professionalism you, Miss Gabrovitzke, and your colleagues had shown."

The three of them entered the ward. Lily Potter was finally awake! Hermione's heart sang joyously.

"Aunt Mione, I'm so sorry!" The girl cried. "I... I... should..." The red-haired girl sobbed loudly.

Hermione was at her side in a second.

"Hush, Lily, don't cry! Everything will be fine now." She hugged her goddaughter and pressed her close. "I'm so happy that you are alive. You scared us so much... Oh, Lily..."

"I... just wanted... to save Father." The girl was still sobbing.

"Save your father, Miss Potter? By committing suicide? Explain, please!" Snape's harsh tone made the teenager sob harder and both, Hermione and Healer Penny glared at the heartless man. Needless to say that he ignored them.

"Molly said that the compulsion charms that made Father stay with 'my mother' (Lily wrinkled her nose) were keyed to me. I wanted to make him free, to make him happy."

"It might have worked, but would your father be happy without you?"

"Yes." The girl answered immediately.

"Have you asked him?"

"No." There was a tiny bit of hesitation in Lily's answer, but the professor acted as if he had not noticed it.

"How can you be so sure then?" This question made the girl think several seconds before she answered.

"I don't know."

"You'll have to ask him after those charms are removed." The girl nodded. Somehow she was not crying anymore. "And one hundred and fifty points from Gryffindor for scaring your Professor to half-death."

"What do you mean?" The change of topic was confusing.

"Do you think it was a pleasant sight you presented: pale, covered in blood and dirt?" Everyone in the room shuddered. "Professor Longbottom almost got heart-attack after seeing you." No one objected to this.

"Aunt Mione, Professor Snape, could you remove those charms, please?" Lily asked a bit later.

"I'll have to discuss this with Healer Gabrovitzke first." Snape answered. His tone was not harsh anymore and there was even hint of smile in the corner of his mouth. "I can't promise that we'll find the solution right away, but I'll do my best to help you and your father." Hermione just smiled and nodded.

Half an hour later a special Memory Charm Reversal Squad arrived in St. Mungo's and went straight to the Muggle Treatment Department. Their leader wanted to talk to Hermione. That's why they started their work here.

Sometime later when all charms had been reversed and everyone present regained full access to their memories the squad leader explained them who that 'pseudo-healer Falcon' was.

"Her real name is Anna Mathilda Clark. She had been an Obliviator in the Ministry. There was an accident. Anna and her partner Beatrice were injured. The healers had not managed to save Beatrice. Three month later Anna left her job. Nobody noticed anything unusual around her at that time. But something in her mind snapped. She tried to obliviate herself several times. It did not work and she still could not forget what happened. Somehow she came to conclusion that healers were the reason of her problems and started to come in the hospital and cast different memory charms on them and on unsuspecting visitors. You know the rest of the story."

"Poor Anna. I can't believe it!" Hermione exclaimed. "Can we help her?"

"Miss Granger, this woman is the reason the healers of your goddaughter kept forgetting what they were supposed to do." Snape reminded her.

"I know, but her story is so sad..."

"It will be difficult to help her if she dislikes healers so much." The squad leader said. "Now we have to go and check other departments. There might be other people that need our help."

"What about those who have already left the hospital?" Hermione asked. "Healers, patients, visitors?"

"We are making the list of those people and will contact them as soon as possible. Thank you for your help, Mrs. Weasley."

The special squad left.

Short after this Lily fell asleep and Hermione decided that she was hungry enough to visit the cafeteria. Professor Snape accompanied her.

"Why have you been so harsh with Lily, Professor? She's been through so much." The bushy-haired witch could not help asking.

"And whose fault is it? Mine? Professor Longbottom's? Madam Pomfrey's?" The Headmaster of Hogwarts answered her. "The girl should learn that not everything is about her. There are other people in the world and they also have feelings, wishes, and dreams. They should be respected."

"OK. I can understand it. But was it really necessary to take away those points?"

"Yes, it was. And not because Miss Potter is a Gryffindor, but because of what she had done. It would not be good, if students committed suicide every time their lives became complicated. They should find other ways to deal with their problems."

Hermione decided that there was something rational in this kind of approach and let the subject drop.

"Miss Granger, what do you know about compulsion charms?" Snape asked when they finished their meals.

Hermione told him everything she knew. The forgetfulness charms had been removed and now the woman could think more clearly.

"Healer Penny told me that compulsion charms could destroy magic and personality of the human they are keyed to. Is it true? There is not much information on this topic in the books I've read."

"This is possible. But it is likely to happen if the truly dark variation of this charm is used or if there are too many charms keyed to one person."

"Like it happened to Voldemort?" The young woman guessed. The older man flinched.

"Exactly. Please, don't say his name."

"Sorry. I did not know that hearing it still affects you."

"Sometimes. Do you know what kind of charm had been used on your friend?"

"No. But I've found a charm that would specify it; I just haven't had a chance to apply it yet."

"We could apply it today. Then we'll decide what we do next." Snape suggested.

Hermione agreed with him and they left the cafeteria.

A/N 2: Review, please! Your reviews give me inspiration!