At a table in a tea room in Hogsmeade, two old friends sat across from one another, relaxedly in the throes of conversation about life, the old years, and what had taken up much time since they had not seen each other in a few months.

Sipping tea and delicately eating a few tea biscuits, the women laughed and reminisced. It seemed, nowadays, Poppy had traded her smock for casual yard clothes. She was always known to keep her hands pristine, however, Minerva could imagine that a few hours prior, dirt and mud would have been found beneath her nails by the tales she told of her gardening exploits. It had been a long time since Minerva had seen the woman so at peace. Her blue eyes looked almost younger, as enthusiasm of the topic lit them up like candles in the darkness.

After a while, though… A lull fell over their table and the Headmistress gazed down at the tea cup her hand held the handle of. A vague look upon her face, as the witch across the table gazed at her with a mild curiousness.

"So, you've placated me enough with questions about life after Hogwarts," Poppy leaned back in her chair and relaxed against its back, tilting her head minutely at the green eyed woman across from her. "Now are you going to tell me what is troubling you?"

Minerva's brows raised slightly as she looked back toward her friend.

"I do not placate anyone… It's the longest we've not had tea for the better part of a few decades…" Argued the Headmistress softly, watching the other witch give a relenting nod and a smile.

"True… That is true… But from the second you parked yourself down there, you've looked troubled, and I can only assume why."

Giving her head a short shake, Minerva released a sigh and leaned to the side to grab her file from her bag. Afterward, she handed it over to the silver haired witch and returned to sitting back in her chair, drawing her tea up to her lips. Her eyes briefly wandered over the tea room, gazing absently at a few other patrons while, in her peripheral, Poppy opened up the manila folder and began to inspect that which was handed to her.

It had been about a week and two days since she'd managed to take possession of her most private information. In that time, Hermione had managed to avoid her at every turn. Not even friendly conversation had passed their lips. She had to wonder why? Of course, the better part of her knew exactly why. The young doctor was giving her space and time, she knew that even if they had managed to sit and have friendly conversation that the question of whether Minerva was going to explode at the drop of a hat loomed. The things she had said… The way she painted her young friend as a heartless, thoughtless, scalpel-wielding brute - it must have hurt.

Humming quietly, Minerva turned her eyes back upon Poppy who, at that point, had found one of the films and was holding it up toward the window beside them and squinting through it, aided by the sunlight shining through, to inspect the image. After a moment, the woman clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth and replaced it inside the file, shaking her head.

"Did Miss. Granger take the time to explain this all to you?" Poppy stated while closing the file and lifting it to hand back to its owner, meeting Minerva's eye. The Headmistress's lips formed a grim line.

"She did," Minerva told her while replacing the file back in her bag. "However, I'm skeptical… I did want another pair of eyes."

Poppy laughed and leaned forward in her chair, folding her arms in front of her half cup of tea. When Minerva looked at her, she was gazing down into her tea cup and then met her eye again, looking at her with an expression that was half amused, half clearly concerned.

"What did she tell you needed to happen in order to get you back on the right track?"

"She told me that I needed to have an operation." Minerva answered. A pleasant young man strolled up to their table and asked if they would like more hot water for their tea, the women shook their heads and smiled up at him, telling them they wouldn't be too much longer. With a short bow, he wandered off to one of the other tables and left them alone once more. The women returned to looking at one another for a few moments before Poppy's lips pursed.

"I assume that you fought what Miss. Granger prescribed," Poppy mused, watching the Headmistress glance out the window, seemingly somewhat embarrassed over the circumstances. That was answer enough for the retired Medi-Witch. "Did you tell her why? Why you have such an aversion to the hospital?"

"Of course, not," Minerva sighed, lifting her arms to fold over her chest casually. "It's not anyone's business…"

"And that, my dear friend, is where you are sorely mistaken," Poppy interjected softly, drawing her friend's gaze back toward her. There was a tender look on Poppy's face that made Minerva feel… So many things. Because Poppy knew. She was one of very few who did know. "Madame Granger is now your physician, and if she is any good, which we both know she is, her next steps would be to locate your St. Mungo's file where she would be able to determine that, not only, did you have a child in that hospital but you were also admitted to that hospital not three months later for the better part of a year and half… I can only assume that she hasn't asked for your hospital files yet, which she wouldn't have to do if you refuse the operation. Am I correct?"

The Headmistress said nothing, she indicated nothing - not a nod, not a quiver -, but the look in the depths of her eyes was pained beyond measure. Poppy released a low hum and gave her own head a nod, understanding the circumstances better than most.

"You are avoiding surgery to avoid having someone else know your deepest secrets, and having to explain that you lost your child to the incompetence of a Medi-Wizard who should have never laid a finger on your son… But not all medical professionals are the same, Minerva…"

"Tell my heart that… The very idea of stepping foot into an operating room after seeing what they had done to him," Despite the fact that so much time had passed between then and now, decades in fact, the memory was still as fresh in her mind as the day it had happened. "I can't."

"But you don't have any other options," Poppy told her plainly, seriously, even as she saw the tears beginning to form in her friend's eyes. "You've run out of options, Minerva… If you care about your life at all, and about living, tending to your duties, you will listen to your physician."

There she had it; not one, but two of her closest friends telling her the same thing. She had run out of choices, out of avenues, and this was the only way. It was terrifying. Despite how she presented around the idea, Minerva was afraid to leave behind a life unfinished. She did, in fact, value her own life… But the rest, the fear, the memories… They were blockades constructed by, not only her own mind, but real, tangible, pain.

Taking a shaky breath, giving herself a moment to gather herself so that those tears didn't end up rolling down her cheeks, especially in public, Minerva reached and lifted her tea to her lips to coat her throat. Poppy watched her, but said nothing more, waiting.

"I wouldn't even know where to begin." And it was true, she had not the slightest on how to field that conversation.

"It will not be easy, that's to be sure… However, Madame Granger is a good woman, and something tells me that she will be able to help you navigate that conversation better than you think."

With the hour reaching ten in the evening, hours had passed since her tea date with Poppy. Minerve paced in her quarters, restless, and waiting. Upon returning to Hogwarts, she had waited for any sign of the young doctor to make an appearance, however, Hermione had not once appeared back on the grounds. At least, not a single elf was able to report that she had.

As much as she had tried bargaining with Poppy those hours before about waiting and time, Poppy thwarted every excuse to prolong having the discussion. Her sentiments mirrored Hermione's from days ago - the sooner it's over, the sooner you can heal. Hermione, however, didn't make it any easier by choosing to be entirely absent, and showed no signs of reappearing anytime soon.

There were a number of places she could be, but something in Minerva's gut told her that there was really only one place she would hide away. Frustrated by the stagnance, Minerva extinguished the flames in her fireplace with a flick of her wand and grabbed her light coat from the coat rack as she left her quarters. She walked briskly through the castle until she met the grounds, and through the darkness she walked down to the lake, standing there at its edge and peering across the glassy surface of the water before disappearing with a pop.

Vision blurred and Minerva could only close her eyes. When her body stopped feeling like it was being sucked through a tight straw, and firmness of ground was present beneath her feet, she opened her eyes to find herself standing in the park across the street from St Mungo's. She stared up at the tall building and its many rows of windows, floor after floor reaching toward the sky. She took a steadying breath and tucked her hands into the pockets of her coat. She stood there for many minutes before walking across the empty avenue and up to its doors.

Passing by people leaving as she walked inside, she looked around the wide reception area and glanced at the cafe in the corner where family members, and staff, sat and ate, drinking their coffees… Not much had changed in the years, it looked almost exactly the same: busy.

Walking up toward the large counter, nurses and others mulling around behind it, she caught the attention of a young man in scrubs who wandered over with a clipboard.

"Evening, are you a patient or a family member?" He asked then gazed at her expectantly.

"Neither." She answered quickly, watching as he raised a brow at her.

"Then what can we do for you?" He asked casually. The look on his face and the exhaustion in his eyes told her that she'd managed to get the one who'd probably been there on a long shift, his air was business only.

"I'm looking Hermione Granger, it's my understanding that she might be here."

"Doctor Granger is up on the seventh floor, Miss. McGonagall." A gruff voice told her, however, the lips on the man's face she was peering at hadn't moved. Her head turned and down at the end of the counter, also holding a clipboard, was an older, austere looking fellow with piercing blue eyes. She would have recognized him a lot more quickly had it not been for the grey, walrus-like moustache he appeared to have adopted in old age.

"Doctor Carver…"

"Chief Carver," He corrected, although not maliciously as he tread forward and extended a hand for hers to shake. "Of course, I do still practice on occasion… If you're looking for your Matron, I can take you to her."

Shaking his hand and giving a brief nod, the tall, round bellied man motioned for her to follow him when their hands parted.

Allowing him to lead her on, Minerva silently followed while she was led toward the elevators. He pressed the button to beckon the elevator and glanced over at her.

"So, how is ol' Hogwarts these days…" He asked conversationally. Little did he know, the Headmistress was fighting off a wave of persistent nausea from the very atmosphere around them. She straightened up a bit and tried to fix a courteous smile, despite the flipping of her stomach.

"Hogwarts is always alive and well, Carver… And how have you enjoyed your new role, managing a hospital must be quite the experience…" She didn't actually care. She didn't even particularly want to know. But, if she kept him talking, then she wouldn't have to and only offer nods and hums.

It worked. The elevator came and throughout their short journey to the seventh floor, he chattered away about the business of it all and the responsibility. Meanwhile, Minerva was able to gather herself and ease into a more objective headspace, hardly listening. Once they arrived on the right floor, he let her off and pointed a finger up the hallway to the nurses station.

"If you go straight down there, chat to the nurses and they will beckon Dr. Granger for you… Farewell now."

Minerva nodded her head, thanked him, and walked off the elevator into a bright, marble hall. She slipped her hands back into her pockets to hide the fact that her hands were flexing and balling into fists, and strolled past patient rooms toward the nurses station he'd instructed her over to.

Walking up to the counter where the nurses, and a few doctor's, were congregated, Minerva waited until one of them made eye contact.

"Evening, miss… How can I help you?" One of them greeted. A pleasant looking young woman with rich brown eyes, darker skin, and a toothy smile. Minerva managed to smile in return, however, nowhere near as brilliantly.

"Forgive me, I'm looking for Dr. Granger… She's the Matron of Hogwarts, one of my staff…" Minerva explained and watched the younger ahh while giving her head a nod.

"She's just down in the Emergency Ward, helping our Medi-Transports bring up a patient that's been brought in… She should be coming out of the transport elevator any sec…"

"MOVE!" A voice yelled from down the hallway, further down from where Minerva had stepped out from. Nurses and doctors suddenly stepped much closer to the side of the counter Minerva was standing at and glanced down the hall, as the sound of fast footsteps and squeaking gurney wheels drew a patient toward them at high speed.

When Minerva lifted her eyes to take a glance, she had to double take. Yes, there was a patient. And yes, Hermione Granger was with them quite obviously, her voice had been the one that alerted them all after all. However, the scene stunned the green eyed woman, for what she saw was the young doctor on top of the stretcher, kneeling above the patient, and pushing down upon their chest with surprising force.

"Get Dr. Miller! We need a Cardio Resident… NOW PLEASE!" Hermione shouted as they rolled past the nurses station, not looking up from her hands doing compressions. Nurses scrambled, save for the one now standing beside Minerva, the same one she had spoken to from before, shaking her head with an amused smirk.

"Such a show off…" Minerva vaguely heard the woman whisper before she aimed a glance at the young woman now standing beside her.

"Excuse me?" The Headmistress asked, making the young nurse all too aware she had been heard. Expecting a quick recant of statement, Minerva was surprised to find she garnered an amused glance from the nurse.

"Oh! Sorry… Dr. Granger is a show off," The young woman stated, louder, and more pointedly while looking up at the taller, green eyed woman at her side. Minerva had expected a swift apology, not for the point to be driven home so matter of factly. "Which is fine, because she has the credentials to back it up… I would know."

Minerva stood, again, stunned. The young woman looked up at her with a rather well-meaning expression, but the Headmistress was completely thrown out of her comfort zone, and everything just seemed… Strange. She watched the nurse look past her.

"Ah, here she comes now." The nurse lifted a hand and pointed down at the double doors that were swinging closed behind the woman in question. Walking toward them, in dull grey scrubs and a cap, was Hermione who was staring at Minerva with a somewhat odd little expression of surprise… And exhaustion. She looked absolutely horrible. Paler.

"What on Earth are you doing here… Evelyn, would you mind grabbing me that water of yours…" Hermione asked Minerva before turning to the woman at Minerva's side.

"Of course, Doctor." She heard the nurse, Evelyn, say before the presence beside her left the space to return to the counter behind them. Hermione stopped at the edge of the counter beside the Headmistress and took the reusable water bottle from her friend. Minerva watched the pair of women share a small glance and a smile before Hermione drank from it and handed it back, her sights now resting on Minerva.

"I had a feeling I'd find you here." Minerva told her softly, turning toward her more and resting against the counter's edge. Hermione gazed into her eyes with her own, tired and bloodshot, and gave a short nod.

"Need to feel useful… While I can."

"Do you have a minute?" Minerva asked. Hermione seemed to pause. After a few seconds, she gave a brief nod.

"Yeah, I can have a minute… Want to go get some coffee? I could really use one…" To the offer, the Headmistress nodded and the woman straightened up to walk down toward the elevators, although Hermione slightly turned back as they were walking away.

"Rest break is at 3AM, Evie." Hermione called back over her shoulder.

"Don't worry… And don't be late!" The nurse called back, causing the brown eyed witch alongside her to smirk as they made their way to the elevators. The exchange had Minerva staring at the doctor at her side as they strolled off. She wondered after it, all the while thinking So… That's the woman.

Even Minerva couldn't deny the woman was… Attractive, enough, she guessed. Evidently of East Indian descent, pretty and slender features, and the way she spoke made it clear enough she had a bit of a sense of humor. Minerva wondered if that was Hermione's type… If the young woman had a type.

"So… You found me." Hermione pushed the button to the elevator and not two seconds later the door opened for them to walk through, which they did.

"It didn't seem as though you've been at Hogwarts at all this last week." Minerva told her, watching the younger witch press the button for the lobby once they were inside the elevator.

"I haven't been… With this excess of time, I find myself rather enjoying lending the hand."

"You look… Horrendous, Hermione."

"I've looked worse." She told the Headmistress through a widening smirk as she turned her sights back on the woman who looked deeply into her eyes.

"And that was Evelyn? Your Evelyn?" Minerva asked, while Hermione's gaze shifted to the doors ahead of them.

"Not mine, but, yes, that was Evelyn." She answered, glancing back at the Headmistress who seemed to be standing somewhat awkwardly. It was strange to see Minerva in her place of work, stranger still that the woman had made it a point to seek her out, especially when she had expected an owl or something less… Up front.

"Once we order from the canteen, can we find someplace less occupied?" Asked the green eyed woman through a sigh.

"Of course, if you need… Why?"

"I need to talk to you, that is why." Minerva told her, leaving no room for further questions until they were able to sit down, privately, for the conversation. Hermione knew better than to carry on with interrogation and simply nodded her head as the elevator came to a halt and the doors opened, granting them access to the lobby.

"I know a place we can go." She told the Headmistress with a slight curling of lips. Minerva nodded, a look of gratitude etching upon her features.

Coffee's in hand, Hermione took them down hallway, after hallway, until she led Minerva in through a seemingly random door. Behind it, was a plain looking little sitting room with lockers along a wall. The young doctor explained that it was a staff room that was rarely used because it was too far away from the action. With the understanding that they would not be interrupted, Hermione placing a silencing ward up around the door just to ensure it when she noticed the discomfort on her friend's features, the pair of women sat down at a table and looked at one another. Hermione wore a somewhat expectant expression as she sipped her coffee.

Minerva took a breath, got comfortable, and told the younger woman not to interrupt. Hermione's brows furrowed, however, she nodded. The Headmistress then began to explain herself, explain the circumstances which made it almost impossible to accept the help that Hermione wanted to give, and all the while the young woman sat, listened, without interruption, as ordered.