A/N - Hi guys, I hope you are all ok. Sorry for not putting this chapter on as quickly as I would like to but I got distracted slightly. But not to worry I still haven't neglected this story. I'm just getting sorting out this whole juggling more than one story malarkey. I think it's going to work. I now have three stories that I am very passionate about. Sorry for the ramble! RSD xoxoxo.
As we waited for someone to answer the ward buzzer we stood in silence. We both didn't know what to expect when we got into the ward. The buzzer finally stopped and the door clicked so I pulled the door open and held it open for my mother. I then followed her in after she had walked through the doorway.
We sat in the same chairs that we always do as we waited to be taken into the ward with the other visitors. I kept my glance to the floor trying to keep the crushing pain in my chest away as I didn't know what to expect.
"You can come in now" I heard Sarah, one of the nurses on my dad's ward, say.
Me and my mam rose out of our seats and followed the other visitors into the ward. As we were half way down the corridor we were stopped by someone calling my mother's name. We both turned around to see Anna, one of the other nurses, walking towards us.
"I know you want to see Mr Granger but can we have a word in the family room first?" she asked. This caused me and my mother to look at each other before returning our gaze back to Anna.
"No need to look so worried, we just need to discuss somethings that's all" she said with a smile. She signalled with her arm towards the family room we walked into the room in silence. The room was quite a small room with white walls and a few health posters on the walls. There were only six chairs and a little coffee table in the room and me and my mother sat in the nearest two; however Anna didn't.
"I'll just go and see if the doctor is free" she said and with this she quickly left the room.
"I wonder what is going on" I thought out loud.
"I have no idea" my mother responded.
We waited for ten minutes and then I stood up.
"I'll go and check where they are" I said as the feeling of apprehension was building in my chest. I turned to walk to the door and then the door opened slowly.
"Oh sorry, I didn't catch you with the door did I?" Dr Gladstone said quickly.
"Oh no, you didn't" I said sitting back down next to my mother.
"Right I can tell by both of your faces that you are extremely worried and try not to be" he said as he sat down in front of us. Silence filled the room as both me and my mother didn't know what to say.
"Right..." Dr Gladstone started when we wouldn't speak.
"As you know we have scanned your husbands head Mrs Granger and we now have the results" he advised. I reached over and put my hand in my mothers and gently squeezed it and she squeezed it back in response.
"I am happy to say that there is not going to be any long term damage" he said with a grin. This caused me and my mother to sigh a sigh of relief.
"So at the moment we only have a few cuts and bruises and a broken arm and leg. The rest of the injuries are muscular. If you don't mind me saying Mrs Granger you and your husbands have both been very lucky" Dr Gladstone explained.
"Thank you" my mother replied.
"The only problem is after telling your husband this he is very willing to come home. The reason I wanted to speak to you is due to his discharge coming home" Dr Gladstone said with his expression blank.
"Ok, when can he come home?" my mother asked starting to look hopeful.
"Well I would like your husband to stay another week, but your husband wants to leave earlier than that" he advised.
"Ok, why a week?" my mother asked.
"We want to make sure that he is stable before going home and that the right support network is there for him going home" he advised. I glanced at my mother and then her arm before returning my glance back to Dr Gladstone. When I looked at him I saw that he had been watching me looking at my mother's arm.
"He will have all the support he needs" my mother stated.
"Are you sure?" he asked sympathetically. I think this shocked my mother has she released her grip on my hand slightly. I squeezed her hand again and it seems to break my mother's train of thought so she turned to quickly look at me before turning back to look at Dr Gladstone.
"Yes I am sure we have a loving and close family who can support both of us" she said back. I saw Dr Gladstone quickly glance at me before looking back to my mother.
"Hermione has come back from school but is due to return on 7th December, she can help until then" my mother stated. Her face was still blank and passive as she was speaking.
"I just needed to know that both of you were going to be fully supported when he returns home. I didn't want to send him home if there was no additional support as I didn't want any strain on your recovery either" Dr Gladstone explained sympathetically.
"Also I need to make you aware that he won't be able to walk upstairs for some time" he added.
"That is fine we have a downstairs bathroom so that shouldn't be a problem and I suppose we have to make our downstairs study into a makeshift bedroom for him" my mother suggested looking at me. I nodded at this as I didn't want to intrude in their conversation; this was something that my mother had to decide as after I went back to Hogwarts she had to have things so she could manage them.
"Ok well that seems to be sorted but I would like to suggest a couple of things" Dr Gladstone advised. My mother nodded in response to this to prompt him to continue.
"I would like occupational health to attend your home to evaluate it - nothing to worry about it just to see what additional aids are needed like grab rails and such like" he explained as he moved his hands around in front of him as he was speaking.
"Ok, we that should be ok" my mother agreed slowly. I knew she was putting on a brave face but I knew really deep down she didn't want anyone visiting the home in case they wouldn't let my father come home.
"Was there anything else?" my mother asked after a couple of moments of silence.
"What are your thoughts on a carer?" Dr Gladstone asked slowly.
"I don't think that will be necessary" my mother immediately said.
"Are you sure?" Dr Gladstone asked again.
"Positive, like I said we have all of the family support that we need" my mother explained.
"For both of us" she quickly added.
"Ok well I just wanted to check this before we started to talk about your husband's discharge. He is quite adamant that he would like to return home soon" he said with a smile.
"How soon before he can come home?" my mother asked.
"Well it will take a couple of days to make a referral for occupational health to come to see you at home, But after it should be ok as long as you make any arrangements that are needed to help with his recovery" he explained.
"Thank you" my mother said with a smile. I knew that now she knew what to expect I think this would give her the stability that she needed.
"Your very welcome" he said with a smile as he stood up. Me and my mother mimicked him and he reached his right hand out. He shook both mine and my mother's hand before going to leave the room. He opened the door and held the door open for both of us and followed us out of the room. We started to walk down the corridor and as we were about to walk into my father's ward before we were stopped by Dr Gladstone saying my mother's name.
"Mrs Granger if you need anything you know where I am" he said happily.
"Thank you I will bare that in mind Dr Gladstone" she said with a smile. After this was said Dr Gladstone left us and walked down the corridor.
"Well let's go and see your father" my mam said turning to me.
"Yeah, he'll probably be wondering where we are" I said as I followed my mother into my father's ward.
"Where have you two been?" I heard my father say as he noticed that we were finally in his ward.
"The doctor wanted to see us hun" my mother advised as she sat down in the chair next to his bed. I went to go and get another chair. As I settled the chair on the floor and sat down I could see that my mother and father were sitting in silence.
"What's wrong dad?" I asked.
"I don't know why we have to have people prying around our home so I can go home" he said grumpily.
"It's only to help dad and the sooner they do it the sooner you can go home" I explained.
"I know, but I would much prefer to go home today with you two" he said sighing.
"I know dad, but it won't be much longer. you just have to be more patient that's all" I said sympathetically trying to reassure him.
"It's still too long" he sighed.
"I want to be home before you go back to school" he added after a few moments.
"And you will, I'm not going back to school until 7th December" I advised.
"Well that gives me a week to get out of here" he said sounding shocked.
"And we will manage it" I said smiling.
"Hermione is right dear" my mother interjected.
"It won't be long before you are home" my mother said with a smile as she put her hand in my father's.
"I'm sorry if it seems as if I am in a funny mood. It's just I am used to being so active and this thing" he said kicking his leg before adding" just makes things difficult".
"It's ok dad we understand" I answered back.
"I just want to be back home with you two, I miss you both so much" my father replied sadly.
We both know how you feel dad, we both miss you too" I replied. I saw out of the corner of my eye that my mother was now wiping tears out of her eyes,
"Eh, don't you cry now" my father said gripping my mother's hand tighter.
"I just find it so frustrating that I could be back home at with you and Hermione when in fact I'm in here like this. Please don't cry" he said trying to reassure my mother.
"It's ok, I think I just find it hard seeing you struggle" my mother answered back.
"We will get through this together pumpkin" my father said smiling at my mother. I stayed quiet in this exchange as I didn't want to interrupt this precious moment between my parents.
We sat like this for a short period of time while we took in the current situation, after a while we when the conversation started again there were times where we were able to brush the sadness and tears away. We were now able to see the end of the tunnel and start to get back to normal. All we needed to do first of all was to get my father home first.
"I know that my father is taking it hard but when he is home he will feel a lot better" I told my mother as I opened the front door.
"I know but it hurts to see him like that" my mother said sadly as she walked through the doorway.
"Well it shouldn't be for much longer" I said trying to reassure her as I closed the door after her and locked it.
"Yes well by the sounds of it we have a lot of work to do" my mother said happily as she took her coat off. I took her coat from her and went to hang it up; I moved my bag from shoulders and took my coat off. I hung my coat up next to her coat. As I put my bag on my shoulder I saw my mother leave the living room and open the door to the study. I followed her into the room and leant against the doorframe. She was looking around and I could see that she was rearranging everything in her mind and thinking about where to put things.
"How about we start after tea, however only a start?" I suggested slowly as I knew that regardless of what I said to her she was going to do it anyway; at least this way I could try and monitor how much she was actually doing.
"Yeah sounds good" she said absentmindedly.
"What do you want for tea?" I asked her. I know we had something in the hospital cafeteria in between visiting times but that was at half three - it was now just after nine o'clock.
'I don't want much - just something light" my mother said smiling at me.
"Do you want a sandwich?" I asked her to which she nodded at.
"I'll go and make it, cup of tea?" I asked to which earned another nod.
I quickly made two ham and tomato sandwiches and two cups of tea; as I did this my mind was on Cedric. What had happened between him and Cho? How bad was it? Was I overthinking about it as if it was that bad, he would have told me in a letter wouldn't he? I pushed these thoughts from my head as I picked both cups of teas up and walked back into the study; to where I had found my mother removing books from a bookshelf.
"Mam, I told you to wait" I said as I put the two cups down on my dad's desk.
"I know but it is only a couple of books. I was thinking if we move the desk and bookshelf we have enough room to put a bed in here" my mother advised.
"Yes but leave the heavy lifting to me" I advised taking three books from her.
"Ok, sorry" she replied.
"I have just rang your grandparents and they are going to help tomorrow" she advised.
"Grandad can't carry a bed downstairs mam" I stated.
"I wasn't asking him to. I've asked him can he take it apart and then bring it downstairs to reassemble" she explained.
"Oh" was my only response. I knew my mother wanted dad home but wasn't she doing things a little bit too quick?
"I know what you are thinking Hermione. I just want things to be sorted before occupational health comes. So at least they can see what support your dad has in place" she explained with a small smile.
"I know that mam, just don't rush too much. You might hurt yourself" I advised.
"Actually mam, why don't we leave it for now. If grandad is dismantling the bed in the guest room tomorrow, he can do the desk and bookcase as well. It's seems pointless to take stuff off them for them to be lying on the floor all night" I suggested.
"Yeah, I suppose your right as she placed a book back in the bookshelf.
"Let's go and watch some crap tv" she said laughing as she picked her tea up and then slowly left the room
I followed her and put my tea on the coffee table and then left to go and get our sandwiches. After returning back into the living room I placed the sandwiches next to our teas.
"Thank you" my mother said as she was flicking through the channels.
"You're welcome" I replied with a smile.
We had a lazy night; we watched a film and a couple of tv shows - none of which I remember the names of. As I went to bed I was happy that maybe things could get sorted before I went back to Hogwarts; and by sorted I meant my father coming home. That's all I wanted for both me and my mother. I knew that two things would happen when my father came home; first of all my mother would settle and secondly my worries would turn onto something new.
The next day my gran and grandad came over in the morning and they helped up to move things around the house so dad could move into the study when he came down. First of all me and my grandad took the bedframe to bits in the guest room so it was easier to bring down stairs whilst my mother and gran moved books and DVDs from their stands.
After this me and my grandad took apart some bookcases and the compute desk apart whilst my mother and gran took the books, DVD, computer and anything else that needed to be removed from the study. However they were only allowed to carry what me and my grandad said was ok for them to carry; to my mother's dismay.
Thankfully the only hard task was getting the mattress from the bed in the guest room down the stairs but we managed it. My mother rang the hospital for them to tell father that we weren't going for the first hospital visiting times but we would be in later; they said they would pass the message on.
It was around half two before we could finally take a sigh of relief; most of the work was done.
"Glad that's most of it is done" I sighed as I threw the bedding on the bed.
"Yeah, it has been a long day" my grandad replied.
"Are you ok? You have done a lot today" I asked as I looked at him.
"Yes I am pumpkin, thank you for asking" he said before pulling me into a hug.
"We make a good team you and me" he said into my hair.
"Yes we do grandad" I answered back.
After we all had had something to eat and a little bit of rest my grandparents took us to the hospital to visit my father. My mother couldn't wait to tell him how much we had done and seeing the smile on his face when she told him started to make me feel like things might start to get back to normal.
The next morning during breakfast we heard the usual bang on the window to signify that an owl had arrived. I smiled at my mother, who has still not got used to owls arriving, and she smiled back.
"More fan mail?" she joked.
"It's would appear so" I joked as I got up from my chair and opened the window and let the two owls that were perched on the window ledge in. I knew who they were from as soon as saw the owls.
"Professor McGonagall has written back" I stated as I untied the letter.
"That's good" my mother answered happily.
"Who is the other one from?" she asked shortly after.
"Erm... Victor" I answered back calculating the answer.
"I see" I said and as I turned around she had a large grin on her face.
"It's nice of him to write to you" she said as she stood up to put her things away.
"Mam" I said sternly as I watched her get closer to me.
"I know. I know. You are only friends" she said dismissively.
"Yes" I answered as I sat back down.
"Well I will leave you to it, you are not going to want me around as your writing back" she said cheerily.
"Ok, what are you going to do?" I asked as she started to walk out of the kitchen.
"Go and watch tv - I've got loads to watch now I have this" she said as she pointed to her arm.
"Ok, I'll make you a cup of tea when I've finished" I promised.
"Thank you sweetie" she said and with this she left the kitchen. I turned back to my two letters and decided to read Professor McGonagall's first. So I put Victors down and opened the letter from Professor McGonagall.
"Miss Granger,
I am glad that both of your parents are recovering; I know muggle medicine must be frustrating for you but I know that will be supportive and patient as you normally are.
I'm happy that I was able to offer some assistance and make the situation that little bit easier for you. If you should need any more sleeping draught just let me know.
I guessed that you would attempt to do your school work; I probably should have known better. All your teachers are aware of your situation so they will be lenient on you. So please don't worry about your school work.
Yes I can arrange for you to return on Monday 7th December; I will come and escort you back to Hogwarts. I'll write to you closer to the time with more information on this.
That isn't a stupid question Hermione; female studies don't need to wear dress robes for the Yule Ball like male students.
You are most very welcome; should you need anything else you know to ask.
Professor M McGonagall".
I smiled down at the letter; I don't think that I have ever given Professor McGonagall enough credit for what she does for her students. I must remember to thank her; I thought to myself as I started to write her reply.
"Dear Professor McGonagall,
Thank you for your letter and all of the support you have given me and my parents; it is greatly appreciated.
Yes muggle medicine is very frustrating but I know that me being here for both my parents means a great deal as I am here to support them.
Yes you have made the situation better as I am not worrying about not having any sleeping draught. However if I am truthful with you I haven't been taking it that often but I think that has been due to that I have been that busy it has been making me sleep quite easily. However I don't know how this will fair when I return back to Hogwarts.
I know you tell me that I don't need to do my school work but I feel as if I need to do. If my parent's accident didn't happen I would have to do it anyway. Thank the other professor's for their patience also.
You advise what way is the best for me to return, I don't mind. You know best. I look forward to hearing from you.
Right, that now makes it easier for me and my mother; we can now go dress shopping before I return.
I know where you are if I need anything; thank you again.
Hermione Granger".
I tied the letter to the owl's leg and it abruptly flew out of the kitchen. I stared after it and watched as it became a black speck in the distance. When I couldn't see it anymore I turned to Victor's letter, opened it and started to read it.
"Hermione,
I'm glad that you and your parents are doing well; however it must be frustrating that muggle medicine isn't as good as ours but at least things are going in the right direction.
I am fine thank you for asking. I still haven't figured out my egg yet and it is starting to get frustrating. Karkaroff is getting more and more annoyed at me and keeps reminding me that the honour of our school is at risk and that I need to hurry up. I am fully aware of all this and I just wish he would leave me alone; I would probably get more done if he just left me to it.
I look forward to seeing you where you get back - whenever that may be.
Victor".
I noted the amount of time that it had taken for Victor to write back to me; I knew that he had no commitment to me. However it did make me think about how much of a hard time that Karkaroff must be giving him.
"Dear Victor
Thank you for your concern; I will pass it on to my parents as I know they will appreciate it.
Yes things are going in the right direction - painfully and slowly. But I can now see improvements in them both so that's good and it will give me comfort when I return back to Hogwarts.
I know it is easier said than done but try not to let Karkaroff get to you. Yes he is your headmaster and it will be important to both him and your school but don't let the stress from him get to you. You can only do your best and he will have to come to learn that; whether you win or not. You know I'm rooting for you like I am with Harry. You know where I am if you need me or need to talk.
Thank you again for being there for me the day that I had to leave Hogwarts.
I look forward to see you as well; some time after when I return on Monday 7th December.
Hermione".
I mimicked my actions like before and tied the letter to the owl's leg. After watching the sandy owl turn into a distant speck I reached over to the kettle and picked it up. I filled the kettle with water and turned it on. As I made two cups of tea for both me and my mother I let my mind drift over everything that had happened already this year. My body involuntarily shuddered when my mind made me relieve what happened with the dragon but I quickly pushed this away as I gripped the kitchen bench painfully. As I regulated my breathing I pushed my mind onto Cedric which made a smile spread across my face. So by the time I walked into the living room my mother had no idea about the panic attack that I had just suffered.
Additional A/N - Hi guys I just wanted to let you guys know something - I know a few chapters back I stated that I wanted to write longer chapter for you. However after evaluation of this I am going to go back to what I was doing before. I feel that if I am making longer chapters for you it is obviously taking me longer to write them. I just want to make sure that I give this story the justice it needs so I am now going to stop keeping chopping and changing things - or at least try. Sorry for any confusion, thanks and much love RSD xoxox.