"Lucius!" Lady Narcissa rose from her chair at once, startled by the sound of the broken crystal in her husband's hand, close as he was, standing immediately behind her during Hermione's recital. The Lady immediately took out her kerchief to staunch his bleeding hand, but was at a loss as to how to proceed henceforth.
Neville approached in a few strides. "Lord Malfoy, are you alright?"
"I...yes." Lord Malfoy looked at his wife in confusion for he appeared disorientated, struggling to compose himself. "Yes, I'm…" He continued, more to himself than to his host. "I'm quite alright."
Hermione had closed the distance to Lord Malfoy, she could see his blood soaking his wife's delicate kerchief. "My Lord, may I take a look? I believe I can help you." She spoke to the injured, but looked at his wife seeking permission.
Lady Narcissa was alarmed, but her poise didn't waver, she was quick to seek her hostess' eyes. "Lady Augusta, could you please send for your physician at once?"
"You can trust Miss McGonagall, Lady Narcissa." Lady Augusta pleaded with the Lady. "I can personally vouch for the girl. She is a talented healer and has nursed many back to health in the county. It would take too long for my physician to be with us tonight."
Hermione was internally thankful for the distance separating the patient from the nearest physician, for she knew that in matters concerning flesh wounds such as this, her methods yielded far better outcomes for the recovery of the injury than that of others, especially those who disregarded the simple act of washing one's hands before dispensing their care.
She stepped closer still to Lord Malfoy, offering her small hands, palms up in front of her, as she would greet a frightened foal, looking at the man directly in the eyes. "May I?"
Lord Malfoy hissed in pain all the while staring back at Hermione, attempting to form an opinion of this girl he had so far barely acknowledged. He took an inordinate amount of time to make up his mind, although Hermione couldn't begrudge him the courtesy since he was the one in pain after all, and his consent was essential if she were to deliver proper care.
She was surprised though as Draco approached his father. "Father, I trust Miss Hermione as being most capable to assist you until we can call for Doctor Snyde." He said in earnest, albeit stiffly, looking up to stare at Hermione as he spoke. "Please let her take a look at your hand."
"Fine." Lord Malfoy finally conceded in a raspy voice.
Hermione lost no time, she sprung to action, turning to the butler to give out her instructions in a clear voice. "I need the copper samovar heated as quickly as you can along with its tea set. I also need the medicinal pack I presented Lady Augusta for her last birthday. Add to that two washing basins with soap, clean linen, silk thread, quilting needles, scissors and a clean pair of tweezers. And finally, the freshest honey from your hives, make haste." As the man left to fulfil his orders, Hermione turned to a footman. "You, bring that card table over there and set it next to Lord Malfoy. Bring extra light as well."
Draco dutifully offered a chair to his father, frowning as he saw Lord Neville doing the same for Hermione, so that she was now seated at the table, facing Lord Malfoy. "Sir, please, may I take a look at your hand now?"
Her nimble fingers unbuttoned Lord Malfoy's cuff to free his hand completely, the gesture reminiscent of the care she had provided Draco in the woods. She proceeded to delicately remove the bloodied fabric from around Lord Malfoy's hand by pinching its cleanest corner and slowly pulling it away.
"I can see several shards that I will need to extract. It appears that none have severed any functions of the fingers, which is a relief. But the biggest one may require that I close the wound with a stitch or two. It will help your hand heal so long as we can keep the miasma away from it."
Hermione nodded to the footman who had brought the washing basin and was setting it on another table next to her. She then washed her hands first, before asking the servant to replace the water. She addressed Lord Malfoy as she prepared herself. "Sir, I will not lie, it may hurt. Would you like some privacy? Also I think a glass of brandy would help alleviate some of the pain until the poppy tea is ready."
Hermione opened the medicinal pack she had put together for Lady Augusta. It contained all matter of plants foraged, preserved, portioned and labeled by Hermione herself. She first took out the yarrow leaves to infuse in one of the washing basins. She then carefully measured a small amount of poppy seeds to brew in the teapot on the side.
Lady Augusta was very familiar with the look of concentration on the young woman's brow. Wishing to shield the Malfoys' dignity from curious eyes, she raised her voice and said. "My friends, I suggest we leave the family to the excellent care of Miss Hermione. Let us all retire to the reception room for the remainder of the evening."
As the rest of the party exited the room, the footman came back with a silver tray ladened with a decanter and a single glass. Draco took hold of it quickly. "You there, leave the bottle, and fetch me another glass." He poured a hefty measure for his father, placing it directly in his uninjured hand, before turning to Lady Narcissa. "Mother?" The Lady nodded her assent. "Make that two more."
Judging the yarrow decoction to be ready, Hermione used it to carefully flush Lord Malfoy's palm clean of the accumulated blood over the spare basin. She picked up the tweezers, inspecting them carefully before deciding to dip them in the brew for good measure, along with the needle and silk thread too. She plucked several small shards from her patient's flesh, dropping them in the basin as she worked, flushing some more with the medicinal water. She was pleased that the bleeding seemed to be contained for now, although she had yet to extract the largest piece.
Lady Narcissa observed the young Lady with rapt attention, a look of small wonder on her face at the dexterity with which Hermione ruled over the instruments around her. "How does a young Lady such as yourself know so much about healing?"
Hermione finally looked up distractingly, for she had forgotten about the other Malfoys still in the room, providing her with a silent audience. Lady Narcissa's question brought a wry smile to her face as she leaned back down to finally remove the last shard.
"You see your Ladyship, while our sex is not allowed to attend medical school, the ways of healing have been well known and passed down generations of women in our villages." The fragment came out obediently, the tinkle of it falling to the basin below ringing in the room.
"It so happens that our housekeeper, Mrs Sprout, learnt the art both from her mother who was a midwife and from her father who was the local surgeon. I, in turn, have learnt from her." Hermione continued as she washed the wound once again, before threading the needle she had picked up from the bottom of the yarrow infusion.
"Lady Augusta has also always been very encouraging in my pursuit of knowledge and has sourced many books for me. As a result, I have been able to supplement my study of medicine with Botany research." Lord Malfoy gasped in his glass of brandy, but Hermione had already expertly knotted her first stitch, partly closing the largest gash. In the same movement, she made her final stitch, trimming the excess thread nimbly, washing away her handiwork one last time, as the wound had finally ceased to bleed once and for all, in time for Lord Malfoy to down the last of his liquor.
"After hearing you sing earlier I wouldn't think you'd ever need any other accomplishments. Tell me Miss Hermione, is there anything you can't do?" Lady Narcissa asked her with a fond smile, although Hermione saw a twinkle in her eye she couldn't place as the Lady brought her drink to her lips.
"You flatter me, your Ladyship. I make no such claim, and do many things terribly ill, I assure you." Hermione bashfully replied, uncertain of the sincerity behind Lady Malfoy's words, so alike her son's over dinner earlier.
Hermione finally picked up the jar of honey, dipping her ring finger into it, dabbing it gently over the cuts so as to cover them completely in the golden ointment. She finished with a clean strip of linen, loosely wrapped around the palm. "I recommend fresh honey on the wound until you are certain it is healing properly."
Checking on the colour of the poppy tea, Hermione judged it strong enough, straining the seeds away before offering a cup to Lord Malfoy. "Tea of the poppy will provide you with pain relief, but it may make you unsteady on your feet, your Lordship. I would suggest one of your men to help you in your carriage. I will also ask for a flask for you to take and drink in the morrow. But no more, for too much of it can be detrimental to one's disposition."
Going through the medicinal pack, she took out a velvet pouch and handed it to Lady Narcissa. "This is white willow bark, it is safer to take than poppy and can easily be made into an infusion to drink and relieve mild pain. I would advise Lord Malfoy to drink three to four cups a day until the discomfort ebbs away."
"I shall write to you with instructions on how to remove the stitches, but rest assured they should stay in place for at least two weeks. Feel free to pass my letter to your physician, although your Ladyship, if I may, your steady hand will do quick work of it I assure you, should you be so inclined as to not trouble your man with it."
"Mr Malfoy, if you could call for the Butler?" Hermione's clear voice startled Draco out of the trance she had unwittingly put him under. "You ought to take your father home to recover, he will require assistance in and out of the carriage."
"Miss Hermione, I …"
"Draco darling, I urge you, let's take your father home." Lady Narcissa interrupted her son, without acrimony yet firmly all the same, before turning to Hermione, grabbing her hands for emphasis. "Miss Hermione, I thank you most sincerely for your capable assistance. I am loath to think what would have happened without you being present to tend to my husband. I am most grateful to you."
As the young Master aided his father out, Lady Narcissa led her family to the carriage being readied outside with the regal grace Hermione had become familiar with over their short acquaintance, leaving the young woman to wonder if the reigns of the family were indeed in the Lord's hands, or rather in the more deft ones of his wife.
Lady Narcissa was playing solitaire in the cards room in Malfoy Manor, her husband resting in his bedchambers, having taken the last of the poppy tea but an hour before as instructed.
Draco felt a restless energy course through him, unfortunately bottled in by the bleakest November weather one could witness in the British Isles, grey sombre skies spouting unending rain on the poor souls unlucky enough to be venturing outdoors.
He sought the company of his mother, only to become mute in her presence, staring out the window upon the grounds, mesmerised by the water droplets as they tracked down the panes, continuously shifting his weight from foot to foot.
"Draco darling, maybe the Library would offer a more suitable haven for your spirited disposition." Lady Narcissa addressed her son without looking up from her game.
Draco grinned at her display of perspicacity. "Are you trying to get rid of me, Mother?"
The quip made her pause in her movement and look straight at her son. "You know I always want you with me." But no sooner had she said these words that she returned to drawing cards out. "Speaking of which, I wish you were to join us in town sooner than January. There are a couple of charming young ladies I would like to introduce you to."
"Mother I beg of you, no talk of young ladies today, last night is still too fresh on my mind to be discussing marriage." Draco said, turning back to look out of the window.
"No Draco." Narcissa's sharp tone shocked him into spinning back around to face her.
"Pardon me?"
"Do not insult me by pretending to be confused, dear boy." Narcissa said sternly, but with a touch of fondness. "I had my suspicions well enough as I saw you come back from the Library, for I had never seen you with such a look of contempt as you did when you were looking Lord Neville's way." She smiled at the recollection, as if amused by her son's display of volatile temper. "At first I thought the boy had said something to offend you, but your obsession with her over dinner made it all clear to me."
"Mother, I assure you…"
"A handsome young woman she is most assuredly, her musical accomplishments are delightfully impressive and we owe her immensely for the care she provided your father." Narcissa left her game on the table, stood up to approach her son, staring at the same view he had just been admiring from the window. "But a Lady she is not, nor could she ever be worthy of your attention."
"Let me tell you what I know, Draco." Narcissa's hand found his sleeve, entreating him to look at her directly. "Miss Hermione was found abandoned as a baby in the village of Elston. She is the natural daughter of nobody-knows-who, raised in gentility I'll grant you that, but with no connections and no prospects. She is not fit to be the Lady of this House."
"Now it would be cruel of you to lead the poor girl on with hopes of marrying into our family." Her eyes bore no malice as she said these words, genuine as she was in her belief of doing the girl a kindness by saving her from future disappointment. "Promise me you will not seek her company again, for her own sake."
"I do, Mother."
Author's Note: A samovar, to boil water quickly. Yarrow, also called 'soldiers' wound-wort' or 'staunch grass' due to its ability to staunch bleeding. Honey was already known to ancient Egyptians for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and used extensively in wound care. The outer surface of poppy seeds contains morphine and other opiates, great for pain management, not so great for addictions. Finally white willow bark contains salicin, akin to aspirin. Imagine if our Hermione had had access to Google like I did back then...