Yo, just something I wanted to tell ya'll I am not a medical professional, I am 17 still in school :P.

Anyway please… please… please review!

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Raise Me Up

Hermione walked down Diagon Ally in the warm sunshine, basking in its heat and feeling pleasantly light, right now the weight of her woes was masked behind a screen of happy fog. It was like with one touch Draco had taken all her worries and tossed them into the wind.

The bustling shoppers; the little witches haggling with the shopkeepers, the somber looking wizards sitting and sipping their drinks in the spring sunshine, the shrieking children who wove between the adults legs… laughing and enjoying themselves, their parents running after them; all caused Hermione's heart strings to tug in a strange sort of melancholy. It had been so long since she ventured out of her safe little world that she had forgotten how…. alive everything was. She took it all in, the sights, the sounds, the scents breathing in air tinted with the sweet perfume of freedom and absence of fear.

Oh... she was not deluded, she knew that her happiness would not last long, Ron was on the warpath and his lawyer was very-very good according to Blaise who was representing her. Pushing the heavy rather foreboding thoughts of the oncoming trial and her meeting with Ron away she continued down the old cobblestoned lane to the small inn at the end of the Ally.

The Leaky Cauldron both she and Astoria had decided was too dangerous to risk. Hermione's friends and former co-workers frequented it during their lunch hour. Also Astoria was a wanted fugitive, when Hermione learned that she had sold her wand, Hermione had cast a few charms that would keep her inconspicuous for a few hours but not more than that.

So she needed to get her to the detox center as fast as possible, later she was planning to talk to Ginny about what she would do or how she would go about telling Draco, explaining to him why she had done what she had.

Narcissa was dropping of Scorpius later in the afternoon and Hermione's stomach was already fluttering at the prospect of finally meeting her. She and Draco had never really defined their relationship; so Hermione wasn't sure exactly how she fit into his life, she just knew that they were together… what had stated out as a tentative friendship had developed into something more… they could never be friends anyway thought Hermione amused, they were always much too intense in their emotions directed towards each other to be just …. Friends…

Hermione entered the inn and smiled at the elf sitting behind the desk, her large blue-green eyes widening further when she saw Hermione. She was the prettiest house-elf Hermione had ever seen, her nose was slim and long set above a warm, smiling mouth. She was dressed in an orange and pink slip, with dainty ballerina slippers and a matching hat, with her large ears tucked under.

"Miss. Granger." She squeaked out, nearly topping of her stool in her excitement.

"Hello." Smiled Hermione wondering how she knew her name.

"Oh Miss! Berry is wanting to meet the great Hermione Granger for so long now and you is walking into my masters inn!" she jumped up exited, running around the desk to hug Hermione around the legs with her thin arms.

"I is the niece of my uncle Dobby, he was telling me so much about the 'Great Miss Hermione Granger' Berry was very fond of her uncle; because of him Berry is now working for wages. My master is giving Berry 2 galleons a week and free lodging! Berry was very sad when her uncle died." Said the little elf, her eyes lowering sadly, "But she is also proud that he died to save Miss. Granger!"

Hermione looked down astounded by the pretty little elf… she was Dobby's niece! And then Hermione did something she had not done in years, she lifted her right hand and ran her fingers of the deep 'Mudblood' scar on her forearm. She could always have it removed, but Hermione had chosen to keep it as a tribute to the memory of the brave elf that saved her and her friends life.

And now even from his grave Dobby was making a difference, she thought with tears.

"Berry you are a free elf…"

"I is, Miss. Just like my uncle was!" said Berry proudly, her cheeks flushing with happiness. "Come Miss, I is wanting to ask you so many-many questions!" she said throwing up her hands dramatically and pulling Hermione to one of the leather chairs set in the reception.

Hermione looked at her watch; she still had fifteen minutes so she sat down, curious to know this little elf.

"Berry is hearing so much about you miss from her uncle, so Berry says to her uncle 'I will go and see the miss and I will help her with the S.P.E.W!' and Berry's uncle said first Berry should study, so Berry learnt English and now she can read the Daily Prophet every day!" she explained proudly, "Berry doesn't have any parents, so Berry traveled all around the country with her uncle and learned to cook all sorts of delicious things. Does the miss want a strawberry tart?" before Hermione could respond the talkative elf continued her story, waving her small hands excitedly.

"Berry is not liking Quidditch much, she is liking Football more but Berry is being employed by a Quidditch team anyway because they is loving her cooking." She said blushing shyly, "And all the team members are giving Berry pretty clothes when Berry is leaving. Berry likes dresses and skirts very much, she doesn't like pants." She said making a face and twirling in front of Hermione, "How is miss liking this dress, Berry's uncle gave it to her and it is Berry's… favorite!" she said twirling again, her mouth unfurling into a bright smile. "Oh! Berry is being such a bad host! Berry is bringing you something to munch right away miss!" she said happily.

Hermione started to laugh at the antics of the elf and said to her, "Berry there is somewhere I have to go now but I want you to tell me when your next holiday is. I will take you to see your uncle's best friend."

Berry's ears drooped sadly and the she brightened again and said to Hermione, "Miss is you taking me to see…" she took a deep breath and her eyes widened and her hands clutched her dress excitedly. "Is you taking me to see… Harry Potter!?" she said in awe.

Hermione nodded and was met with an attack of arms, Berry hugged her tightly around the legs, saying thank you over and over again.

Soon Hermione took her leave of Berry; still grinning after her surprise meeting with the animated little creature and climbed up the stairs to the room Astoria was occupying.

Pushing the door open she saw Astoria about to take something, a white powdery substance that she was going to snort. Her hands were shaking and tears were falling down her cheeks as she kept chanting and shaking.

Hermione rushed into the room and tried to hold on to the rocking Astoria, "I can't do it, I'm sorry, I'm sorry… I'm sorry." She slurred.

Hermione knew that Astoria's body was going into withdrawal and she hurriedly caught her hand and in a leap of luck she managed to apparate out of the room, she landed in a field.

The Bakersfield Clinic was in the country and Hermione was lucky no one saw her, she struggled to put her arm around the sweating and delirious Astoria and began to walk to the Clinic, and she could not use magic because it was a muggle facility. With the wizerding world's population as small as it was; certain facilities like a detox clinic were not available. So they had to go the muggle route.

As soon as the large ranch style rambling house came into view Hermione breathed a sigh of relief, all the way there Astoria had been feverish and had been vomiting. Hermione knew without the proper medications Astoria's body depleted as it was would not be able to handle the strain.

When one of the staff spotted them they hurried out and took Astoria's limp body, which was leaning on her almost fully. Hermione went into the reception and filled out all the paperwork and then was taken to the clinic where Astoria was now resting; dosed and out of danger… for the moment.

"I'll stay till she wakes up." She told the attendant and sat down near the bed to wait.

Four hours later Astoria woke up, her body ached and her head was pounding. She felt heavy, leaden and lethargic.

Hermione got up and called out to the nurse who came in followed by a doctor who checked her vitals and medication and then gave her thorough physical examination.

Hermione stayed… she stayed when the councilor came to talk to Astoria… she stayed until they dosed her again and she fell asleep.

Hermione kept her promise… she was not letting her go thought it alone.

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