The ticking of the clock made Hermione restless. Her father had fallen asleep on the couch. She glanced at the clock hanging from the wall in front of her. 8:55 p.m. They had been waiting in the hall for more than two hours.
And for the last two hours, Hermione had tried to be optimistic. She had told herself countless of times that Hedwig would come out of the I.C.U. fine, in hope that these hopeful words would deafen her irritating inner voice screaming that the goddamn animal had no chance to live. 'Besides,' her inner voice had said, 'Harry could afford another owl.'
Even if Hermione had agreed with her inner voice, she could not afford to lose her friendship with Harry. They had gone through so much together and it would do her reputation endless good being best friends with the-boy-who-lived. It had gone well last year when the Daily Prophet sparked the rumour about her being Harry's gilfriend. The howlers had only increased the amount of publicity she received. Who knew what was in store for her this year?
Mr. Granger's snores shook Hermione out of her reverie. Hermione Granger frowned. Muggle technology could never save Hedwig. She had to do something. She had to get Hedwig to Madam Pomfrey whom she knew could cure almost anything. Hedwig's injuries were physical, and not caused by dark magic. Madam Pomfrey could heal Hedwig in a jiffy.
Dr. Cale burst out of the Intensive Care Unit and slammed the door behind him. An old nurse who was passing by the hall hissed at him, "Where are you manners, boy?!" He ignored her and stalked to where Hermione was standing.
"Good news and bad news," he said, wiping sweat from his forehead with a hankerchief, "Your owl is still alive but only barely. Her chances of surviving tomorrow or the day after that is very slim."
Hermione nodded, worried.
Dr. Cale looked behind his shoulder to check if the hall was empty before leaning closer to Hermione. "Look," he began with a low voice, "Why don't we just put her to sleep?"
Hermione stared at him with a horrified look on her face.
The vet doctor sighed with exasperation, "I mean, even if she survives, with this kind of injuries, she'll have to suffer throughout her life. Besides, I'll have to continue looking after the owl for the whole night before someone takes over my shift and my favourite TV programme starts in 45 minutes."
"No," Hermione said firmly.
Doctor Cale gave her a desperate look.
"No," Hermione repeated, "I don't care if she suffers, I just want her alive. And you could always record the TV programme and watch it later."
"But it's not the same!" The doctor whined.
They continued arguing for about 15 more minutes.
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The room was pitch-black. Ron's snores played only a minor role in keeping him awake. Harry rolled to his side and grimaced in pain.
His scar was throbbing.
No, not the scar on his forehead, but the one on his hand where a disgruntled Hedwig had pecked him hard. His owl's brutal retaliation to his ingratitude for her had left an ugly mark on his right hand. The excruciating burning sensation coarsing through the veins in his hand had rendered him wide-awake. And seriously worried.
Did something happen to Hedwig? Was she alright? Could she have gotten lost? Did she abandon me for a male owl?
Unanswered questions flooded Harry's mind. Confusion enveloped him and threw him into a pool of anxiety. A tear rolled down his cheek. Suddenly, a realisation struck him. He bolted out of his bed and out of Ron's room. He needed to empty his bowels.
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"I know someone who can cure my owl," Hermione said, "But I have to take her from this hospital to somewhere else, therefore I need to bring all those tubes, bags filled with liquid and whatever you use on my owl."
"Fine, but it's too risky," Dr. Cale replied, a tad annoyed that there was someone out there who could do a better job than him, "There's no one to monitor her condition and anything could happen to her along the way."
"I'll take the risk, Doctor, " Hermione snapped, using McGonagall's stern tone, "I'll pick her up tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m., is that understood?"
"Yeah, yeah. Just make sure your father pays the hospital bills."
Mr. Granger who had woken up during the argument [which Hermione had won] laughed. "Come on, Herm, let's go home. We have a long day tomorrow."
Hermione smiled and followed her father out of the automatic doors. She'd be back at Hogwarts tomorrow. And Hedwig'd be back to normal.
Doctor Cale watched as the two figures retreated to the exit and disappeared. He sighed and re-entered the I.C.U. It seemed as if he had no choice but to sacrifice watching Will and Grace for the fifth time.
And for the last two hours, Hermione had tried to be optimistic. She had told herself countless of times that Hedwig would come out of the I.C.U. fine, in hope that these hopeful words would deafen her irritating inner voice screaming that the goddamn animal had no chance to live. 'Besides,' her inner voice had said, 'Harry could afford another owl.'
Even if Hermione had agreed with her inner voice, she could not afford to lose her friendship with Harry. They had gone through so much together and it would do her reputation endless good being best friends with the-boy-who-lived. It had gone well last year when the Daily Prophet sparked the rumour about her being Harry's gilfriend. The howlers had only increased the amount of publicity she received. Who knew what was in store for her this year?
Mr. Granger's snores shook Hermione out of her reverie. Hermione Granger frowned. Muggle technology could never save Hedwig. She had to do something. She had to get Hedwig to Madam Pomfrey whom she knew could cure almost anything. Hedwig's injuries were physical, and not caused by dark magic. Madam Pomfrey could heal Hedwig in a jiffy.
Dr. Cale burst out of the Intensive Care Unit and slammed the door behind him. An old nurse who was passing by the hall hissed at him, "Where are you manners, boy?!" He ignored her and stalked to where Hermione was standing.
"Good news and bad news," he said, wiping sweat from his forehead with a hankerchief, "Your owl is still alive but only barely. Her chances of surviving tomorrow or the day after that is very slim."
Hermione nodded, worried.
Dr. Cale looked behind his shoulder to check if the hall was empty before leaning closer to Hermione. "Look," he began with a low voice, "Why don't we just put her to sleep?"
Hermione stared at him with a horrified look on her face.
The vet doctor sighed with exasperation, "I mean, even if she survives, with this kind of injuries, she'll have to suffer throughout her life. Besides, I'll have to continue looking after the owl for the whole night before someone takes over my shift and my favourite TV programme starts in 45 minutes."
"No," Hermione said firmly.
Doctor Cale gave her a desperate look.
"No," Hermione repeated, "I don't care if she suffers, I just want her alive. And you could always record the TV programme and watch it later."
"But it's not the same!" The doctor whined.
They continued arguing for about 15 more minutes.
-----------------------------------------------------------
The room was pitch-black. Ron's snores played only a minor role in keeping him awake. Harry rolled to his side and grimaced in pain.
His scar was throbbing.
No, not the scar on his forehead, but the one on his hand where a disgruntled Hedwig had pecked him hard. His owl's brutal retaliation to his ingratitude for her had left an ugly mark on his right hand. The excruciating burning sensation coarsing through the veins in his hand had rendered him wide-awake. And seriously worried.
Did something happen to Hedwig? Was she alright? Could she have gotten lost? Did she abandon me for a male owl?
Unanswered questions flooded Harry's mind. Confusion enveloped him and threw him into a pool of anxiety. A tear rolled down his cheek. Suddenly, a realisation struck him. He bolted out of his bed and out of Ron's room. He needed to empty his bowels.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"I know someone who can cure my owl," Hermione said, "But I have to take her from this hospital to somewhere else, therefore I need to bring all those tubes, bags filled with liquid and whatever you use on my owl."
"Fine, but it's too risky," Dr. Cale replied, a tad annoyed that there was someone out there who could do a better job than him, "There's no one to monitor her condition and anything could happen to her along the way."
"I'll take the risk, Doctor, " Hermione snapped, using McGonagall's stern tone, "I'll pick her up tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m., is that understood?"
"Yeah, yeah. Just make sure your father pays the hospital bills."
Mr. Granger who had woken up during the argument [which Hermione had won] laughed. "Come on, Herm, let's go home. We have a long day tomorrow."
Hermione smiled and followed her father out of the automatic doors. She'd be back at Hogwarts tomorrow. And Hedwig'd be back to normal.
Doctor Cale watched as the two figures retreated to the exit and disappeared. He sighed and re-entered the I.C.U. It seemed as if he had no choice but to sacrifice watching Will and Grace for the fifth time.