A very warm thank you to;
SaruDM
Olimpia
CinziaTwut
MaronTodai
gimarkley2013
echizenochi
ChelseyJ
witchnimbus23
For their feedback on the last chapter.
I experienced something while writing this chapter which I'm sure every writer has at some point or the other.
I was almost through writing this chapter when my phone battery died on me. I type on my phone and seeing the lights go off midst type, I found myself yelling NOOOOO in my own head!
Yepp! In the moment, I had not saved what I'd written and when I switched on my phone again, hoping against hope that it had automatically saved itself somehow. But no, I lost the chapter.
So here's another attempt at chapter 11. I was kinda frustrated at my stupidity so this chapter took longer than usual.
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CHAPTER 11.
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Hermione and Katherine saw the memory of the match once again to make sure what they had witnessed.
Sure enough, the verdict was the same.
Draco had palmed the snitched loosely and whilst doing that, he circled the fluttering wings of the golden snitch. But in the excitement, he hadn't grasped it properly and the snitch slipped through his fingers without him realising.
He was so busy by his win that he failed to notice it. Since there was no player as high as him, no one noticed it either.
"This has got to be a one of its kind game. I've never seen a game where the snitch has been assumed to be caught." Katherine admitted.
"Me neither." Hermione said.
"I never imagined coming across such a case." Katherine said.
"I've come across weird cases, well that's a given, considering I'm in the spell and charms damage ward, but you're right, this is by far the weirdest." Hermione agreed.
"So what are we going to do now? Mr. Malfoy is going to be up in about 2 hours. We will have to tell him about the game." Katherine said.
Hermione nodded. "Yeah, we have to tell him. But now that we've figured out that the game wasn't over, we still are yet to figure out a cure. I spent most of last night trying to search for a cure. But nothing is working on the blasted bludger."
"Maybe if we destroyed the bludger?" Katherine offered.
Hermione shook her head. "No. That will only destroy the material part of the bludger. The charm has been cast. Nothing can reverse it unless it is removed."
"Katherine? What do we know about charmed bludger as of now?" Hermione asked, thinking about the answer in her own head.
She thought that maybe discussing it with Katherine would help them both with ideas.
"Charmed with Animato Flourio to take 8 rounds of the pitch, random hits towards players. Oh maam, that's why Mr. Malfoy wakes up for only 8 hours in 2 and a half days. That's probably the equivalent of 8 rounds on the pitch before the bludger hit him and he lost consciousness." Katherine said.
"You're right. It's probably the real-time manifestation of the charm since the game isn't over." Hermione said.
Katherine and Hermione immediately looked at each other as the realisation dawned on them.
"The coach said that the bludger was charmed with a pattern until the game ended. That means until the snitch was caught." Katherine said.
"But the snitch wasn't caught and that means that the game hasn't ended, which means that the bludger is still under the influence of the charm." Hermione said.
"And the only way to remove the charm is..."
"To finish the game." Hermione finished off.
"You mean Mr. Malfoy has to continue playing the game once he wakes up?" Katherine asked.
Hermione nodded. "Not only that, they must finish the game while he's conscious. We can't have him slip again. And you know how long quidditch matches can last."
"But we have almost 8 hours. Let's hope they finish the match within the time frame." Katherine said.
"Draco has been fed via potions during his unconsciousness. So it will be as good as waking up after a long sleep." Hermione said.
"So is it okay for him to play after he's up?"
"Yeah. His vitals are all okay. After he wakes up he should probably drink something with glucose and start on the game." Hermione said.
Just then Delinda entered the room and told them that the coach had arrived.
Hermione had called him to inform him about the game and the solution.
He was shocked at the revelation but glad that she had been able to find a cure. Eagerly, he left to make arrangements for continuing the game.
He handed Hermione a parchment with the address of the quidditch pitch where she was supposed to bring Draco.
"We need to send an authorisation request to the health ministry. Since this is a most unusual condition with an even more unorthodox cure, we need permission from them to take a patient out of the hospital." Hermione exclaimed.
So they sat at the reception, filling up paperwork to be sent to the health ministry.
Hermione looked like she was uneasy and wanted to talk to Katherine about something. But every time she started saying something she thought against it.
Katherine sensed that Hermione wanted to tell her something but was hesitating about it. Maybe she would tell her later.
They completed the paperwork and Delinda sent it with an urgent stamp to the ministry. Now they had to wait for the approval.
"I'll send the memo receipt up to you as soon as it comes, Healer Weasley." Delinda said.
"Okay. If you don't get anything in 30 minutes, send someone personally. We are pressed for time." Hermione said.
Hermione and Katherine went up to her cabin to wait for the permission letter.
Hermione made some tea and sandwiches for them while they waited.
Katherine sensed that Hermione had brought her here to tell her what she had been hesitating about in the reception.
"Katherine?" Hermione finally asked." Can you please do me a favour?"
"Sure Healer Weasley." Katherine replied.
"Look, its okay if you want to refuse. I know I'm not following protocol by asking you to do this, but don't worry. You'll be under vicarious responsibility, so in case there is a problem, I'll handle it. You don't have to worry about it. You're officially not an intern yet but you will be in a few days so I can trust you." Hermione rambled.
Katherine stared at her mentor. In the past weeks if she had learned anything, it was that Hermione Weasley always followed protocol. She was a stickler for rules and she did everything the right way.
So this request that apparently defied protocol was strange. Katherine wondered what it was that Hermione wanted from her.
"What is it Healer Weasley? I'm sure since you are asking it from me; it can't be all that bad." Katherine said.
"Umm. It's not. It's just that you've been with me on this case since the beginning. So you're like second in command. You would be actually, if you were officially under me. But since you're not, this may be problematic." Hermione said.
"Thing is, I'd like you to be Draco's Healer when he wakes up. I want you to accompany him to the game and back. I'll give you exact instructions if anything goes wrong of course. I'll even be there, but I don't want anyone to know I'm there. I hope you understand Katherine?" Hermione pleaded.
Katherine had realised that Hermione had known Draco from the beginning. That was certain. But she clearly didn't want him to know that she was here. There must be a big reason, considering Hermione Weasley never backed out from her duties.
Katherine sensed urgency in the Healer's voice. "Sure maam. If you think I'm up to it, I would love to help you."
Hermione beamed at the younger witch. She had agreed to Hermione's request without asking for any explanation.
Hermione was extremely grateful to her.
she had found a confidante in her and maybe in time she would be able to share more with her.
"But Healer Weasley, you will have to meet him some time during his discharge." Katherine said.
"I know." Hermione sighed. "I can't run for long. But I need to stay away for now."
Katherine didn't press for more.
Hermione knew that she would have to reveal herself to Draco soon.
But now was not the time. Now he had a game to finish.
And he didn't need any distractions.
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I don't know if this version is better or my original one that got lost.
We'll never know! But I'm starting to save every para I write now ;-)
Hope you enjoyed it!
Thanks for reading!
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