Summer after Battle of Hogwarts
The war was over, at least the major battles but people were still suffering. The Golden Trio remained friends, but when Hermione decided not to join Harry and Ron to become aurors that summer after The Battle of Hogwarts, they had drifted apart. She always knew she would go back to Hogwarts it was really the only home she felt she had left. The Burrow would always welcome her but it was too hard on her mentally seeing the despair Molly had about Fred, George barely sleeping or eating, and seeing Ron in general with Lavender.
It shouldn't of came as a surprise to the boys knowing how much she valued her education and with the amount of suffering her body was going thru. Between the curse from Dolohov and torture from Bellatrix she was in rough shape physically and after finding out she wouldn't be able to restore her parents memories she was not mentally well. She had seen many healers who suggested the only way to help would be pain management and therapy for her woes.
That left Hermione with a whole summer before she had to go back to school. After the war was over Hermione knew she had to get away for a little bit. Her initial plans were to go to Australia, restore her parents memories and spend the summer making up for lost time with them. When her plans fell thru she decided she needed a break from the wizard world and traveled. She went to Japan, Thailand, and India while embracing the care free lifestyle she very much deserved.
The only thing that was holding her back was her pain. The degenerative disc and joint disease she had courtesy of Bellatrix and Dolohov wouldn't even let her out of bed on the worst days. Healers gave her pain potions but to be honest they were not even helping anymore she simply built up a immunity. That's when while in Bangkok she decided to see if any eastern medicine would help. She didn't go see a healer they would only give her more potions…. So she saw a holistic doctor named Irgau.
"Well Miss Granger from what I can see your body has been thru a lot. I really think a more natural course of treatment will better for you. You will be able to alleviate your pain and help restore some peace in your mind. All without having to worry about becoming addicted to something." stated Irgau
"Really? I can be healed? Please don't joke with me." replied Hermione
"I'm not saying that I can cure your problems but I help you manage them. The first advice i'm going to give you is exercise. I know, I know its generic but it will help. Also just make sure its nothing intense something more along the lines of yoga or pilates." Irgau said while filling out some paperwork
"I been doing some working out but on the days that I can't fall asleep, or get out of bed, or even focus on reading due to pain what should I do?" Hermione worried that this was all a sham. Seriously work out?
"That brings me to my second piece of advise. I just want you to remain open minded because I know this can be looked down upon on by many people. I want to start you on medicinal marijuana. The front desk can get you started with some supplies and a list of different places you can go locally here to get more when you run out." Irgau informed her calmly.
"I'll try anything at this point. Thank you so much." Hermione sighed. She wasn't too sure what to think she had to research before she made any type of commitment. She gathered her things and checked out of the office with some pamphlets, weed, rolling papers and something that was glass.
She walked back to her hotel and turned on her laptop to do some research. She was really going to miss her laptop when she goes back to Hogwarts it seemed barbaric to use quills, ink, rolls of parchment and huge tomes to do work when literally everything could be on a laptop. First thing she looked up was some yoga classes nearby. She made her list and stuck it in her pocket. Secondly, she looked up marijuana and she was surprised to find out that there was so much to learn. She grew up think weed was weed but there was indicas, sativas and hybrids as far as the type. Also she thought that all weed would give you munchies and sleepy but that was also a lie, her world was turned upside down. After a few more hours of research she decided to look up a video on how to roll a joint.
After wasting a few sheets of paper she finally got it right and took her first drag. Yuck…. This is gross! She thought then the coughing, it was like she couldn't stop. She decided to put it out after three drags and lay down. As soon as she laid down she felt her face tingling and the tingle working its way down her body. Was she high? She wasn't sure but for once her shoulders didn't ache and back back didn't feel like it was going to just give out on her. She just sighed and closed her eyes and enjoyed the peace and quiet. She woke up a few hours later feeling refreshed.
She woke up stretched and looked at the time she had to get going if she was going to try out that yoga class she looked up. She couldn't believe how much more she could move around and the focus she had. Her mind wasn't foggy with the what ifs regarding her parents or if she made the right decision to not join her friends in auror training. Soon she found herself walking into yoga studio with a smile on her face. It felt like it has been months since she could remember the last time that she smiled.
The yoga class was short only a half hour but she walked out sweating and was looking forward to a food cart she saw coming in. She got some fruit and noodles and scarfed it down. It has only been a mere six hours since her appointment with Dr Irgau but he really was onto something….