Chapter Two * Emotionally Involved *

Hermione shut the door firmly behind her and stepped into the dim room. Finding her way over to the filing cabinet, she opened the metal drawer and took a deep breath. She was going to find out the life of her favorite little girl no matter how depressing.

Thumbing through each until she found the one she was looking for, she pulled out the manila folder and shut the drawer. She exited the filing room and headed over to her office, smiling at patients who waved at her.

Once in her office, she shut the door, and sat down behind her desk. Taking a deep breath she opened the folder and leaned back into her chair, waiting for the worse.

She wasn't prepared for what she was about to read.



A young man appeared in front of the Shrieking Shack in Hogsmead and disappeared inside the old house. Making his way through the many hallways he stopped in front of the room he was looking for.

"Master?" he called into the dark room, his voice confident yet hesitant.

"What have you found?" growled the 'Master' from somewhere inside the depths of the room.

Since he was not summoned forward, the young man remained in the doorway. "Many things, Master."

"Well, tell me, you incompetent prat!" bellowed the Master, causing the other man to flinch.

"They live in a small village outside of London, all four of them. The mudblood is now a doctor at St. Mungos, her friend works with her, the redhead is the captain of the Chudley Cannons -"

"Potter! What about Potter!" the Master interrupted impatiently.

"I - I do not know, Master," he stammered, suddenly very frightened.

"You what? I send you out to find out about Potter and you tell me the life stories of his friends! Fool!"

"B-but Master, I-I found something else also. You will be pleased ..."

"Don't tell me if I will be pleased or not! What is it? I don't have all day to listen to the likes of you!"

"The girl. The mudblood has found the girl," now the man was shaking slightly, glad he couldn't see the face of his Master.

He heard the Master shift slightly in his chair but he did not turn around. "The girl? This has happened sooner than I expected ... but this is good ..." he murmured to himself. "Parzatti!" he cried suddenly.

Anthony jumped. "Y-yes, Master?"

"You will watch their every move and report back to me. Take care that no one suspects or you will be the one to pay! Now go, you have tired me."

"Y-yes, M-Master," with that, he walked out of the room and away from the wizard that everyone feared.

"If I can't get you first, Potter, I'll go for those you love like so many times in the past. But this time you or your pathetic friends will not get away."



"Dr. Granger? Miss Johnson is here .... Hermione? What's wrong?" Lavender dropped the professional tone in her voice and rushed over to her friend, making sure to shut the door behind her.

Hermione shook her head and wiped the tears that had been falling down her cheeks since she had began reading Clara's file. "I'm okay, Lav. Really."

"Humph. I don't buy that for a second. Why are you crying?" Lavender bent down in front of her so they were eye level, and took Hermione's hands in her own.

"I was reading Clara's file and you won't believe what she's been through. She's only six and she's been through more than a full adult goes through in a lifetime!" Hermione cried, jumping out of her seat and causing Lavender to fall backwards. "Sorry, Lav," she apologized, helping Lavender up.

"It was that bad, huh?" she asked, picking up the file.

"Yes, even worse. She's been through at least seven foster homes because they say she's 'unruly and mental.' Mental! Can you believe it? Who, in their right minds, would call a six year old mental?" Hermione asked, her tears forgotten.

"Well -"

"Also, what parents can abuse their child, let alone, abandon them? Hmm? Her mother had her at a very young age and married her father who seems nothing but a lazy, immature, ill-bred, and duncical human being! He would get stark drunk and then beat both his wife and Clara. She was taken away from her mother when she was four and hasn't seen her since!" she was now breathing hard, her face red.

"Calm down, Herm. It won't do you any good by yelling at someone you can't see. Besides, you know you're not supposed to get emotionally involved with your patients. Everyone knows that's the number one rule!" Lavender told her.

"I know ..." Hermione said, sounding defeated. She sighed and plopped back down on her chair. "But I can't help it, Lav. You've met her, I can't possibly not get emotionally involved. She's never known love or caring. I guess, in a way, she reminds me of Harry. I mean, he never knew love or caring either until he came to Hogwarts. I can't just stand by and watch her go from one family to another, while I move on with my life. It's too late, Lav. My heart is already involved and I can't do anything about it."

Lavender brushed a few tears from her cheeks and sniffed. "I know, hon, and I'm sorry. I'll do everything I can to help and I'm sure Harry and Ron will too. Now, dry your tears because the source to all this is waiting outside."

"What? Clara's here? Why didn't you tell me!" Hermione cried, jumping up again and brushing away stray tears.

Lavender laughed. "Well, you wouldn't exactly listen. I'll go get her."

Hermione checked herself in the small mirror on the opposite wall and tried to fix herself up a bit. It wouldn't do for Clara to see her crying. What kind of doctor was she, anyway?

"Hermione?" came a small voice from the doorway.

"Hey, Clara!" Hermione said with a bright smile. "What brings you here?" she asked the little girl.

"Well, I, um, wanted to see you," Clara mumbled, looking down at her feet. "I'm sorry .."

"Why are you sorry?" Hermione asked her, crouching down in font of her and wrapping her arms around the little girl's shoulders. "I'm glad you came to see me. I missed you!"

Clara looked up with tear filled eyes and Hermione's heart clutched painfully. "Really?"

"Really. Come sit down," she took her hand and led her over to the small couch near the window. "Are you excited about tomorrow?" Hermione asked, referring to the Saturday that Clara was supposed to come over to the house.

She nodded her head, enthusiastically. "Yes! I can't wait to meet Harry and Ron!" Clara exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement. Her voice then went soft and she whispered, "Will they like me?"

Hermione smiled kindly at her. "Of course they will. I like you and so will they. Harry is just as excited to see you as you are to see him."

"Really!" she cried, happiness flooding her normally sad blue eyes.

"Really," Hermione laughed. "Want a lollipop?"

"Yes, please," Clara answered politely, making Hermione smile. Unruly and mental, they say ... Humph, Hermione thought, shaking her head. She picked a red lollipop from the bowl and a pink sticker with a bear on it, then headed back inside her office. "Here you go."

"Thanks! I really have to go. Cathy is waiting for me," Clara announced, jumping up and hugging Hermione tightly before running out of the room.

Hermione knew Cathy was the woman who was Clara's guardian until she found a home. She also knew that Cathy was very standoffish and cold towards the little girl, which made Hermione mad. "See you tomorrow!" she yelled after Clara, who waved back.

Shaking her head and sighing once more, Hermione shut the door and fell back against the couch, shutting her eyes tightly.

She knew she shouldn't have become so close to the girl but she couldn't help it. She knew that she would do anything in her power to help Clara get the life every child should have, whether she herself had to adopt her. "You can't do that, Hermione!" she told herself. She wasn't ready to have children, biological or otherwise and neither was Harry, though she knew he would do anything to help.

"You've really gotten yourself into a mess this time," she whispered.