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Chapter 7
After apparating back to her flat, Hermione floo called Severus to let him know what was going on and she would need longer than her initial week away. Severus then offered his help so that they may help more people at one time. Hermione gladly accepted and was greatly relieved it wouldn't be solely her.
As it was, Severus managed to get Poppy to come help as well. Hermione explained the procedure to them then introduced them to Chief Wuornos, who was happy for the extra help. Even though Poppy would leave the last week of August so she could prepare the Medi-wing for the coming school year, she managed to help quite a few Troubled people.
After the known Troubled people had been healed, Hermione and Severus tested everyone else. Fortunately, if no Aether was present then the banishing spell caused no pain in the person. Hermione had no clue how the Chief managed to get the remaining populace to come see her but she was glad he was able to. She learned he also sent word to any who had moved away. So they could come be treated. Duke had been surprised he had some Aether in him but unlike the others, his was the largest ball of darkness. Hermione had had Severus treat Duke; she didn't think she could keep a level head seeing him in not much more than his skivvies.
As exhausting as it was to treat so many and test so many more, it went quicker than expected and the treatments for dormant Troubles was a lot easier than they thought it would be. The last person was Audrey. She initially wasn't going to be tested but everyone close to her said she should be and that was when it was discovered that she had the most Aether than anyone else. When Hermione tested her she realized her entire body became covered in dark spots, almost covering every inch of skin. Severus surmised that that could be why she was so successful more times than not when dealing with active Troubled people. However, it was a bit confusing of why she never had any Troubles of her own. It would take both Hermione and Severus to treat Audrey. Also Hermione wanted Poppy to be present, just in case. No one knew what pulling that much corrupted Aether from her would do.
Hermione was never so thankful to have silencing charms up as she was for Audrey's treatment. Each troubled person felt anywhere from mild discomfort to a great deal of pain from the banishing spell. It seemed to be proportional to how destructive their Trouble was; the more destructive the Trouble, the greater the pain. Audrey, however, was in excruciating pain for some time. With so much in her, it took Hermione and Severus and Poppy all casting each step for all the Aether to be pulled from the poor woman. As soon as Hermione and Severus had the multitude of dark balls contained and started the healing portion, they learned why so much was in her; her body was failing and failing quickly.
It would seem someone had used the Aether to heal her. They weren't sure if her world didn't have magic or if they just had no clue how to heal so much damage. It also didn't answer why the Trouble Whisperer would go into the Barn. Did this Barn need the Aether in her to "energize" it? Was it a form of prison where she would be allowed out for a very short time before going back in? Not that it mattered, they were just curious.
Poppy immediately switched to medi-witch mode when her diagnostics showed how bad of a shape Audrey was in. She cast her own healing spells in between continually casting diagnostics. It took Hermione and Poppy casting various healing spells while Severus poured needed potions down Audrey's throat and massaging it to make sure they went down. There were a few potions that Poppy magically placed in her stomach for faster action. After six hours of constant casting, and almost loosing Audrey several times, Poppy announced that no more could be done. However, the medi-witch felt her patient would pull through.
As all three collapsed into the waiting chairs, Hermione managed to take the locking ward down. The door flew open as Nathan rushed to Audrey's side as Duke made a beeline to Hermione and knelt down in front of her chair. Chief Wuornos strolled in and took in the scene.
"Everyone alright?" he asked, eyeing the three magicals.
"We'll be fine, just tired form exertion." Severus answered.
"You're okay?" Duke asked Hermione.
"I will be, yeah. She had so much in her that it took a lot out of us to pull it all and then heal her." Hermione explained in a weary voice.
"That young woman had so much in her as a way to save her life." Poppy further explained.
"Will she survive now that you have removed it?" Nathan asked worriedly as he studied Audrey's sleeping face.
"Pssht, young man, I take my oath very seriously. Ms. Parker will make a full recovery." Poppy gently chastised Nathan.
Seeing Hermione so worn out, Duke picked her up so he could commandeer her chair as he placed her in his lap, wrapping his arms around her. Hermione laid her head on his shoulder and gave out a small sigh of contentment. Severus observed the exchange with a small smile and hoped the young man holding his appreciation was a patient man. Hermione still had a year to go to finish her apprenticeship with him.
Promising to return the next day or if anything set off her alarms, Poppy portkeyed back to Hogwarts after checking on her patient once more while Severus transfigured beds for those staying to watch over Audrey. Nathan, of course, stayed along with Severus. Duke laid Hermione in a bed then promptly curled around her for both to fall asleep quickly. Chief Wuornos turned the lights off and locked up the building as he headed home, feeling good about the day's events.