Chapter Fifty-Two
Stella had managed to survive the rest of the journey to the Hospital Wing unscathed - barring an encounter with one of the trip stairs that tried to eat her foot and a slight stumble when the stairs decided to take them to the west hallway instead of the joining north stairway they were originally destined for. When they eventually reached the Hospital Wing it looked like an old Nightingale ward with a line of beds on each opposing wall and a wide aisle for the nurse to walk down. The nurse, or rather Matron, herself - Madame Pomfrey - looked exactly as Stella imagined Florence Nightingale would have looked, wearing a white cap and veil that flowed down to her shoulders and a white long pinafore over a maroon dress that looked as if it came from Victorian times itself.
As soon as the Matron noticed them they were herded to one of the beds as the stern woman proceeded to scold Mia for neglecting her health and not having been to see her sooner for a check-up, particularly given the fact that she'd been drugged recently. Stella had remembered hearing that from Don a few days ago, along with an allegation of attempted rape, and at the time had thought that some kind of date-rape drug had been used but listening to the Matron talk now the drug sounded far more dangerous and she'd made a note to ask about it later. At the moment though the Matron was currently clucking over Mia like a mother hen, waving a wand over the young woman's head and muttering to herself as the Headmistress looked on from her place beside Stella.
Hermione was sitting on the bed facing the two women and Stella was certain she seen a couple of small eye-rolls from her friend as the medical check continued, when suddenly Mia gave a slight jump and pulled something out of her pocket that looked like a gold doubloon. Mia looked at the coin for a moment and then looked up at Stella with a frown.
"What is it?" Stella asked as she stepped closer, receiving a glare from the Matron for disturbing her 'patient'.
"I think it's Don. He's asking where I am." Hermione explained as Stella took a seat beside her - ignoring the huff from the mediwitch behind them - and took a look at the coin herself. Don had told her about the coins and his badge when he'd explained why he and Harry had disappeared so quickly on Thanksgiving.
{WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?} was written across the middle of the badge. Stella simply couldn't see Harry ever talking like that to Hermione and agreed that the message was probably from Don.
"I think he's yelling." Mia said quietly as she bit her lip. "The words aren't usually in bold, or capitals."
Suddenly the message disappeared to be replaced with another, this one sounding less ferocious and looking a little more like a message should.
{Danny and Mac are worried.}
Again the words faded before new words emerged.
{We've been trying to call you, but you don't have your phone with you. And you're not at the apartment, so where are you?}
Stella didn't think that last message sounded like Don at all, and a look at Mia's face showed her uncertainty at answering, so the detective took the coin from Mia's hand.
"Just tap it and talk?" She asked the younger woman who gave her a nod so Stella tapped the coin with one finger and spoke. "Don't you yell at us Don Flack." Stella started.
As she spoke, the words appeared one letter at a time as a visual representation of her voice, one letter disappearing as the next letter appeared as the message was sent. Stella thought quickly about how to explain where they were only to be hit by sudden inspiration as Madame Pomfrey moved round the bed and began bustling around Hermione once more.
"Mia is just having a medical check-up. She's fine and we'll be back soon." Again, the letters made an appearance on the coin as the message was sent, and the women waited for the reply.
Professor McGonagall was intrigued by what was going on with the coin, and the fact that Hermione was happy to allow the Muggle (who apparently knew about the magic being used while the Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry didn't even recognise it) to answer for her. Minerva had watched as Poppy performed her diagnostic spells over their former student, and knew for a fact that the Matron had in fact finished all the necessary spell work and was simply spying on the young witch and the newcomer - just as Minerva was. Despite trying to maintain an image of impartiality, she would freely admit that Hermione Granger had been one of her favourite students during her entire time teaching at Hogwarts, her mind's ability to absorb any and all knowledge had made her presence in the classroom a delight. And it was because of this that Minerva thought she would be forever haunted by the vision of watching such a promising young witch literally being torn apart in front of her.
But Minerva wasn't only worried about the girls physical health, she was concerned for her emotional health as well. In addition to having to cope with the repercussions of her torture the newly reinstated Headmistress had heard somewhere that Hermione had gone looking for her parents after the war only to find their graves instead, all while dealing with the betrayals of one Ronald Weasley. Now the poor girl was apparently under a Blood Contract - though she was determined to have Poppy verify that - and was being forced to live in America away from everyone she knew. Professor McGonagall was just resolving to talk to Hermione without the presence of the American woman when a reply was apparently received on the coin.
{Stella? Why does she need a medical check? Is there something wrong? Where are you?}
The tone of the message was more frantic this time and Hermione instantly knew that it was Danny talking instead of Mac or Don like before and she tapped the coin in Stella's hand with a finger to answer him.
"I'm fine Danny, Mac. Nothing is wrong, but you know the damage that was done and I haven't had a check up in over two months so it was overdue." Hermione tried to make her words reassuring while ignoring the sound of disapproval that came from Madame Pomfrey as she said this.
"See, she's fine! We'll be back soon." Stella added having quickly tapped the coin herself after Mia had finished talking, hoping the words would stop any more questions. She really should have known better.
{Overdue? How often were you seeing someone before? Why haven't you seen a doctor recently? You should have let us take you to the hospital after the attack!}
"He knows perfectly well that the mediwizard saw to me after dealing with Don." Hermione fumed after reading the last message. "And I haven't seen anyone because frankly there isn't any point!"
The young woman looked defiantly at the hovering mediwitch as she said this and was rewarded with a look of pitying remorse from the older woman confirming what she'd just stated. Stella didn't miss the look either and her heart went out to her friend. Having seen the wounds she carried and then been told by Harry just how long she'd had them for, Stella could understand not wanting to continue with the futility of being told nothing had changed or that nothing could be done - especially when such news was coupled with that look. A quick look at Professor McGonagall found the same expression on her face as well, and Stella had a new appreciation for why Mia was so reluctant to allow Danny or Mac to see her properly. Doing so would be the epitome of taking a leap of faith in the hope that their feelings would be strong enough to overcome whatever visceral reaction either man might have. Was it really possible for love to be that blind?
{You still haven't said where you two are!}
The reminder appeared only seconds after the previous message, and both Hermione and Stella thought that the questions had come from Mac while Danny wanted to know where they were. A sudden image of the three men fighting over Flack's badge as each tried to talk to Mia flashed within Stella's mind and she couldn't stop the quiet chuckle it caused even though it earned her odd looks from the two elder witches. A second chuckle from the other person sitting on the bed was heard a moment later as a similar image apparently went through Hermione's mind.
"Boys, stop fighting over Don's shield - people will think you're weird." Hermione said to the coin, grateful to the men for the moment of levity even if they weren't aware of it. "I promise you, Stella and I are both fine, and we're someplace safe. We can talk when you finish work because this really isn't the best way to do so."
Both Hermione and Stella looked up in shock as Madame Pomfrey suddenly bent down and tapped the coin herself.
"If you are quite done, you will please stop disturbing my patient now." The Matron demanded. "I was a fast learner too, now put that away Miss Granger." She said to the two astonished women, giving a nod of satisfaction as Hermione did as she was told.
"Well Poppy, what is the news?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"There is no news, nothing's changed." Hermione answered for the Matron, after all the answer never did change.
The pity in the Matron's eyes briefly changed to sorrow as she confirmed this.
"As she says, Miss Granger's injuries are the same as the last time I saw her Minerva. The darker spells are still unknown, unless Miss Granger has been able to discover them?"
"No, I don't know what she used."
"Never mind child, your research skills are quite exceptional. I have no doubt you will discover the answer soon." Madame Pomfrey assured the younger witch.
"Who else is looking?" Stella abruptly interrupted, with a small suspicion of the answer.
The two older women looked quite taken aback by the question and Minerva McGonagall was stunned to realise she didn't know who else was investigating the mysterious injuries inflicted upon one of Hogwarts brightest students. Whereas Poppy Pomfrey appeared slightly ashamed of the fact that she had stopped her own analysis as soon as Miss Granger had left Shell Cottage with Mr Potter and Mr Weasley. Stella didn't need to be a mind-reader to interpret the women's expressions and felt herself getting angry with the witches (and the wizarding world in general) at the fact that they expected the victim to cure herself - she didn't care how smart Mia was, no-one should be expected to cure themselves without help from someone else.
"We're done here." Stella informed them as she stood and pulled Mia to her feet as well. Her friend had the same look on her face as she had at the lab when the imposing Minister had appeared - it was one of tolerant acceptance of the behaviour of others under the belief that they weren't being intentionally hurtful.
xxxx
Stella managed to drag Hermione past the protesting witches and through the doors of the hospital wing into the empty corridor outside before she exploded.
"These people! No-one is helping you? They expect you to cope on your own and that's got to be impossible -"
"Stella it's alright." Hermione interrupted her friend's tirade. "And it's not really that surprising." She added calmly as Stella gaped at her in disbelief. "Stella it would be unreasonable to expect otherwise. The fact of the matter is that we just finished fighting a war. You may not have heard about the war but you probably heard of it's effects - specifically the destruction of the Brockdale Bridge and the deaths of the people on it at the time. And this castle? The last time I saw this school it was almost in ruins. Most of the west wall, including Ravenclaw Tower had been demolished, not to mention the various corridors destroyed by fire or other spell damage. Then there have been all the funerals to, friends and family to mourn. While I've only been concerned with my personal life everyone else has been busy rebuilding our world."
Stella listened with wonder and a growing understanding of why her young friend was so calm. She had heard about the destruction of the bridge as it had been reported as being the result of a suspected terrorist bombing and the NYPD, along with DC and LA, had been put on alert for similar attacks. Now it turned out it wasn't a bomb at all but a spell, though even with seeing the physical damage inflicted on her friend Stella still found it hard to believe a few spoken words could have the same destructive power as a brick of semtex. She couldn't fault Hermione's reasoning, but still…
"Haven't you been to see a psychiatrist or even a counsellor?" Stella asked.
"Why would I need one of those?" Hermione responded with genuine confusion, and Stella instantly softened.
"Mia you were tortured. Whether you want to face up to it or not, it was a traumatic event with not just physical but mental and emotional repercussions. Ones that you won't be able to ignore forever, and you're sensible enough to know that, even if you don't want to share what happened to you yet with anyone else." Stella didn't miss the brief look of alarm the quickly passed across Mia's face. "It doesn't have to be a professional. Sometimes just talking to another person about what happened can help. When I needed someone after Frankie I talked to Mac. You could talk to him too, or Danny, or me if you want." She offered softly.
The pair were interrupted as the doors behind them banged open and the turned to see the Headmistress looking even more forbidding than before, if that were possible. However, before she had the chance to say anything Professor Flitwick arrived at the top of the stairs.
"Miss Granger, good you're still here. May I have a word with you?" The tiny Charms professor asked before continuing without actually waiting for her to reply. "I have decided to retire next year and I've suggested you as my replacement to the Headmistress. You have such a gift for Charms, one I haven't seen in a student since I taught Lily Potter. I'd like to start training you straight away and you'd be acting as my teaching assistant for the rest of this year - the year's only just started and I'm sure you'll get into the swing of things easily." Flitwick beamed.
"You want me to be Charms professor?" Hermione asked in amazement looking from the diminutive man to the Headmistress who was now standing beside him and smiling gently.
Stella saw how Hermione's eyes lit up at the idea and a look of excitement covered her face as she looked between the two teachers. Her eyes flicked to Stella and her expression instantly dulled with realisation.
"I'm sorry, but I can't accept." Hermione stated in a flat voice.
"What?" Flitwick squeaked. "Why in Merlin's name not?"
"It's a very generous offer, but unfortunately I'm not staying in England so am unable to accept." Hermione explained in the same deadened voice that was in such contrast to her excitement of just a moment ago that the words cut through Stella like a knife.
"Maybe we should talk about this privately Hermione." McGonagall suggested giving a pointed look to the American woman while surprising her former student with the use of her first name.
Hermione was in fact shocked to hear her Transfiguration professor being so informal and took a moment to recover.
"There really is no point Headmistress. I've already told you of my situation." Hermione replied, maintaining formalities herself. She hadn't expected such opposition from anyone, after all it wasn't as if she had any choice and Harry and the others had accepted that. So why couldn't her professors?
Stella hadn't missed the look sent at her and correctly interpreted it as being blamed for Hermione's refusal of returning to the country of her birth. Not that it was her fault, or Danny's for that matter, but Stella was able to see the older woman's point of view as well. The offer of becoming a teacher was obviously something that appealed to Mia and Stella had the impression that if she had the freedom to choose her own future Mia would have accepted without hesitation. Stella wondered if there was a similar school in New York and made a mental note to ask Don when they got back, maybe they would be just as willing to offer Mia a job and that might help the young woman feel more at ease with everything that was going on. She was brought out of her musings as Hermione decided it was her turn to drag the other woman away and the two made their way back down the stairs heading for the main doors.
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