CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Exactly a week after their first meeting Harry, Hermione and Ron found themselves sitting in the same seats in the bright waiting room, the door to April's office staying closed.

Louise and Sarah were talking quietly to one another about something, no one was really paying attention. Hermione had picked her once perfect cuticles to shreds leaving painful little cuts that she kept catching on her clothes. Ron stamped his heel on the ground, his meeting at the ministry had been put off for a week meaning seven long more days without being allowed out even to the garden. Harry stared off into space, he'd been all week with reasonably good sleep and no incidents, the best he had had in years, it was just making him more stressed though, surely it couldn't last.

The doctors door swung open and the familiar voice called them through. They filed into the dark room and sat down. April was sitting behind her desk again this time wearing a long sleeved red and black lace top. She smiled at them all as they settled themselves down.

"Now boys and girl, have you done your homework?" She asked in a sing song voice. Harry and Hermione shifted uncomfortably. Ron handed over his diary and she read quickly through it. She smiled slightly at him and put it to one side looking at Harry and Hermione.

"I'm sorry I couldn't do it. I..." Hermione started but didn't know what to say.

"You too?" April asked Harry, he nodded, "Well good. I wasn't expecting you to be able to be able to do it so soon. If you know how you're actually feeling you're doing a lot better than I am." She gave a small laugh before shifting her weight slightly and wincing.

"Are you OK?" asked Hermione

April nodded, "Yeah I'm fine." she said quickly "Now today I would like you to fill me in a little bit on your families. I find that it helps to understand what back ground you have and how much support you have at home. So who would like to go first?" April looked at them each in turn as they held their arms firmly to their sides.

"How about I give it ago?" She asked, "I was born in Preston, which is a pretty boring place. I am a muggle born, the only magical person in my family as far as I know, sort of, the only one to get a Hogwarts letter anyway. You met my sister, she's technically a muggle but I'd pity the fool, magical or not, who tried to cross her as she is very 'in tune' with certain types of magic. I cast a spell on her that makes her able to see things that would normally only be seen by a witch or wizard which is technically illegal so we wont talk about that….I have a cat named Olivia who has a very fluffy tail. I am a certified Van Attacking Ninja which is how I fucked up my knee… and that's about it. Who's next?"

Harry and Hermione shot each other a look and tried not to laugh. April looked at them expectantly, Harry shuffled forward in his chair not wanting to disappoint her big grey eyes.

"I grew up with my aunt and uncle and their son, they hated me so it wasn't really a great situation. Hogwarts was my... my home and then it wasn't. I left school after… the rose garden and went to train as an Auror, that's where I met Louise." Harry took a deep breath and tried to stop his hands from shaking.

"You love her, yeah? What is it you love about her?" April asked her head resting on her hands while she listened intently.

"I think it was her purity to start with, her parents had sent her off to Germany so she really didn't feel much of the war, she didn't care who I was. I then fell in love with all of her, her craziness and love of life. I proposed to her very quickly and we had the wedding all planned. I still really want to marry her, I hate it that I let her down so often." Harry was fighting back the tears now.

"That sounds amazing but it doesn't really tell me how you got to where you are now. What changed?"

Harry sighed, it sounded so stupid, "Someone recognised me. We were out on a date and a few over enthusiastic fans turned into a riot. Louise got knocked down and broke her arm, it was hard getting out of there at all. After that I was afraid to go out the house and then… everything… just..."

April nodded in reassurance, "I understand, thank you for being so honest." She smiled at Harry who leaned back in the chair, crossed his arms and tried to relax. She gave him a mint humbug before she looked over to Ron who just glared back at her. She sighed and made a note that she might need Lilly's help with this one. April turned to Hermione who cleared her throat.

"I was happy growing up, my parents were dentists. I was so happy when I got my Hogwarts letter. I was best in nearly all my classes, took extras." Hermione smiled she knew that wasn't enough for April but she was struggling to get the words out.

"What about now?" Asked April making a few notes

"I live in an amazing house in the Scottish boarders. I have a hundred rooms. I did have a few staff but it's just Sarah now and really I think she's more of a friend now."

"And your parents?"

"I don't know. I had to do a memory charm on them they don't know who I am. They, last I know which was over ten years ago, live in Australia." Hermione wiped some tears discreetly away from her eyes.

"That must be very hard for you. I don't talk to my grand parents any more and I do find myself wondering what they're up to and if they're OK." April said quietly, "Well it's just you left Ron."

Ron sat and glared at her. April sat up straight and glared right back.

Ron huffed and wriggled back in his seat, "Everyone knows about me. Mum, Dad, brothers, sister. A bunch of chickens. Old crappy falling-down house. What more is there to know?"

"How are your mother and father?" She asked making a few notes.

"Fine I guess, same as normal. Dad still works at the ministry, mum still works at annoying everyone."

"And your siblings?" April asked rubbing her sore knee, she'd been sitting still for too long.

"Bill and Fleur are off living the high life with three kids. Charlie is still off playing with dragons in god knows where. Percy went back to work with the ministry because he's a git. Fred died and I'm stuck here." Ron snapped

"OK, and what about George and Ginny?" asked April taking a few deep breaths.

"Why are you asking all this if you know everyone in my family already? Can't you just snoop out everything else as well?" Ron clenched his fists.

April looked intently at him and took down a few notes, "Well thank you, I guess. I think for next week it would be worth meeting separately. Hermione I've put you down for Thursday is that OK?"

Hermione nodded.

"And Harry I have you down for Tuesday?"

Harry nodded as well and took the appointment card that April handed him.

"Ron how's Wednesday for you?" April smiled at him holding out a card.

"Can't. I have another meeting, at the ministry." Ron crossed his arms and glared smuggly at the card, glad he'd managed to get one over on her; sort of.

"OK well when are you free? Actually I'm pretty busy next week, give me a moment." April flipped through a note book and frowned, "I'm all booked up next week. Can you stay on for a little bit today?" April chewed the edge of her cheek.

Ron huffed and nodded.

"Excellent." April took a deep breath, "I just have to let Lilly know, she's coming to pick me up." she smiled.

"What the hell did you do to yourself?" Asked Ron.

"I was on my way to go swimming with my friends when I didn't look properly when crossing the road and then..." April smashed her hands into each other and shrugged.

"Couldn't they fix you? I mean from what Louise has said I was hurt pretty badly and I'm OK now." Said Harry slowly

"Because my family don't have access to the wizarding world, they couldn't get me here so I would be treated. I had to go to a muggle hospital they did the best they could but… it's on going." April picked at her finger nails and gave the bravest smile she could. Harry and Hermione felt their heart brake slightly. They knew what it was like to live a life without magic but they'd always had it when they needed it.

"Right get out of here you lot, not you Ron. Could one of you tell Lilly that I'll be a while longer, maybe and half an hour or so?"

Hermione nodded as they headed out leaving April and Ron sitting alone.