Location: The Infirmary Wing, Hogwarts, A School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Date: The Day After Christmas, 2000

Jerked awake by the loud shouts outside her door, Hermione Potter cringed, not knowing whether it was because of the pain she was in or because she had just heard her father call her husband an 'adulterous asshole'.

In reply, she heard Harry yell, "Yeah, well after so many years it looks like we may finally have something in common, Dad!"

"You son of a bitch!"

Hermione closed her eyes again at what she could vision, her father pummelling her husband to the floor only to see Harry giving it right back.

"They've been arguing like that since we arrived," a soft voice announced.

"Mom?" Hermione sounded only to hear nothing. She frowned in confusion as she made several attempts, yet failed.

"Shh, don't stress yourself. The healers calculated that you won't be able to speak for awhile not until your voice box has enough time to heal." Hermione shot her mother, Diana Granger, a petite woman in her early forties with short greying hair and brown eyes, a frustrated glare, thinking 'how long is awhile?'

"How are you feeling darlin'?" Her mother asked as she began to fuss around her bedside, arranging and then re-arranging the vase of flowers that she had brought for the purpose of brightening the stony wall decor.

'Well that's a loaded, at the same time pointless question don't you think?' Hermione bitterly thought. 'In any case, I've only discovered that my husband who is also my very best friend in the world cheated on me, then two nights ago Harry's psycho mistress tried to kill me, my throat has been hacked to pieces and I may never be able to speak again. How in Hades am I suppose to perform magic if I can't bloody well say the spells? But back to your question, if you ignore my gripes, everything is bloody peachy with me. How 'bout you?'

Diana sat herself on the bed, giving her daughter a small smile. "Your Aunt Helena sends her love and hopes you have a very speedy recovery. Your cousin Denise sends her best wishes and wants you to go visit her in the States as soon as you heal. Cousin Thomas sent tickets for the Opera to your father and I, I'm sure if I asked he could send a third one for you, oh...and one for Harry."

'Why mother are you giving the impression that I have any close bond with any of them? Aunt Helena considers me 'too outspoken', Denise says to all that knows her that her cousin Hermione Granger is a 'freakish geek' and Cousin Thomas has tried to 'make the moves' on me on more than one occasion, not that he isn't attractive, but Merlins' sake we're cousins! Anyway, how the Hell do they know I'm in hospital?'

"Of course, I had to embellish the truth a bit as to why you are in hospital. So I said that you were in a car crash." Seeing her daughter's expression. "Oh for Heaven's sakes Hermione I had to say something believable when news reached us about you being hurt during a Christmas function, where your father and I were surrounded by family, close friends and clients. People talk you know, so I was not about to indulge them all in some home truths. Can you imagine if they knew? Gossipers the whole lot of them. Oh, you will never guess what I've heard about Julia and Peter Stone's older son Jeremy…I always knew something wasn't right with that boy…." Hermione closed her eyes hoping that her mother would think she fell asleep and leave. Why was it so much easier for her mother to talk about other people's affairs than trying to have a decent conversation with her own daughter? "Lots of planning to do Hermione…lunches…New Years parties…will be a huge success since I'll be in charge…."

Don't I feel loved? Husband beds another woman who then thinks has the right to kill me, father and son-in-law are outside in the corridor punching it up rather than showing any type of compassion or concern about my wellbeing. And mummy-dear, always the social butterfly still has time to gossip and plan get-togethers even when her only child's hospitalised. Voldemort showed more thoughtfulness towards me when he captured me, near the end of sixth year. An evil and a sadistic bastard he was but at least I was the centre of attention. Merlin how I want to scream.'

"Hermione Jane Granger, do not screw your face in that way, it does not complement your looks. Now, that's better, you have such fine bone structure. But darlin', your hair...."

'ARRRGGHHHH!!!'

"Hermione!" The door to her room flew open, practically coming off its hinges. "Are you okay? What happened?" Hermione curiously watched as her husband rushed to her side, followed by her father. "I-I heard you screaming."

'Why am I relieved to see you Harry, even though you hurt me so?'

"Harry," her mother chided. "Hermione did no such thing, have you forgotten how Madam Pomfrey said she wouldn't have good use of her vocal cords for some time, besides it's a very unladylike way to behave."

'Mother, I nearly died and you're talking about etiquette?'

Harry gently clasped her hand, searching for signs of pain. "Are you sure that there's nothing I can do for you? I could get Madam Pomfrey in here to ease any pain you maybe experiencing."

"I'm sure if my daughter is in any pain Potter it's because you insist on remaining here."

'Good one daddy. Mum, why don't you remind him what good manners are?'

"I told you Charlie-boy that I'm not going anywhere."

'Charlie-boy? Merlin Harry, you know he hates you calling him that.'

"And get your mitts off my daughter before I do it myself, and don't blame me if I break a few fingers in the process."

"I'd like to see you try."

"I was a champion wrestler during my university days, Potter."

"Yeah? Well I took on a Dark Lord."

'I'd like a potion now...me wanna go bye-bye...into dreamland where there are no cheating husbands wanting to deck the Hell out of his reformed adulterous father-in-law. Mum say something.'

But Hermione knew her mother wouldn't do anything to stop them. It wasn't a lady's place to question the actions of her man. No matter how idiotic they were behaving. She often wondered if that old school principle, was what helped her mother cope with her father's wandering eye?

"A man does what a man does Hermione," she recalled her mother telling her. "As women, it is not our place to cast judgement. After they get it all out of their system, they always return home to their family, to people he truly loves. Lust, that's all its about. It's always been like that. That is why my marriage to your father is still so strong after 20 years. Unlike the Marshall or Williams marriages, Bertha and Cynthia were too fragile."

'Or smart,' Hermione thought, remembering how the two divorces were thought scandalous amidst her mother's circle who later ousted both women and yet remained on good terms with the cheating husbands. Hermione didn't understand the logic. 'Why stay in a loveless marriage and be miserable for the rest of your life because that was what was expected by your inner circle?'

'But what about my inner circle with Ron, Ginny, Neville, Luna and the rest of the Weasley family? Will they just expect me to accept what happened and move on like it wasn't a big deal?'

She could only imagine...

"Hermione," Ron would say. "Harry's my bloody best friend. I was his friend first. Sure, he made a mistake but everyone does. Like that time in your sixth year potion class, you told me that when Snape set the task to produce a regenerating potion he gave you an 'F' because you had mistaken the tortoise shell for turtle. A simple mistake, everyone does make them once or twice in their lifetime. Have a heart. After all, Harry did bloody save the world."

Then Ginny would have a go. "Hermione. Harry was my first crush. He saved me in my first year at Hogwarts. I have a lot of things in common with him like our mutual love for Quidditch. Put this incident behind you and be thankful for being the most envied witch in the world."

"Boo-hoo. Harry cheated on you. It really pales in comparison to like how the population of 'The Crackle Shizbot' has alarmingly decreased this year. By the way, thank Harry for his large contribution towards my cause 'Saving the Pede-Pillars' - a generous man your husband." Hermione rolled her eyes at that image in her head. She had never been close to Luna anyhow so she could be on Harry's side for all she cared.

Hell, what would Mrs Weasley say? "Well, Hermione-dear it was nice knowing you and all. But if you and Harry are no longer together then there is no point for us to remain in contact. Harry-dear, tea is ready. I really must feed that boy he's far too skinny. You know where the door is, show yourself out, that's a good girl. Come along Harry-dear, eat up."

'Well stuff the lot of them!' Hermione thought bitterly. 'I still have Crookshanks. Although the way that blasted cat rubs herself against Harry and favours his lap more...that rotten fur ball!'

"I'm this far away from punching you in the nose!"

"I'm this far away from turning you into a frog! I'm a wizard and wizard's do that."

"I'm-."

"ENOUGH!" Both men turned to face the onslaught of one furious Madam Pomfrey. "I will not allow this squabbling to continue. Get out."

"Now see here, I will not leave my daughter alone with him."

"She's my bloody wife! If someone has the right to stay it's me!"

"Over my dead body!"

"That can be arranged!"

"I said ENOUGH! Let me make myself clear Mr Granger. When I said get out, I wasn't addressing it to you," seeing the pleased look on his face. "Alone. My words were directed to both you and Mr Potter."

"But-." Both men began.

"Mrs Potter does not need nor I imagine want to witness further hostilities being tossed back and forth between the two of you. Especially, when she herself is at a disadvantage of silencing you two with a helpful 'Stupefy'."

"What if we promise to behave?" Harry pleaded.

"No. She needs her rest," turning. "I'm afraid you will need to leave as well Mrs Granger."

"Quite all right Madam Pomfrey." Hermione couldn't help but notice her mother looked quite relieved as she waved goodbye. She never did like being around sick people.

"You get better soon poppet. Your mother and I will come visit you in the next week or two since we're tied up with that Golf Charity Tournament and other social functions."

"Nice to see you do truly care about your daughter Charlie-boy," Harry ribbed as Hermione's father took his leave.

"Mr Ronald Weasley is outside waiting to talk with you Mr Potter." Madam Pomfrey turned to address her patient. "He wanted to see you dear but I had to be firm about visiting hours being over. But he can come back later tonight if you feel up to it."

"Maybe I can join him?" Harry voiced hopefully, shuffling nervously back and forth. "Bring a few presents with me, maybe?"

'You look so lost Harry. So unsure...sad and so scared. That's how I'm feeling too. Where do we go from here? I so want to get out of this bed and go up to you and scratch out your cheating eyes 'til your blind. But then, I want you to come back here and bring me the biggest present there is underneath our Christmas tree.'

Harry bent over and pecked her softly on her forehead, whispering. "I promise Hermione, the biggest present."

'How? Are you reading my mind Harry?'

"Rest love. I'll see you later." Hermione watched as he left without another word. Although, she could swear that she heard him say something along the lines of, 'better get it over with – I'm in for the arse kicking of my life.'

"Well, dear your vital signs look good. You are indeed on the road to making a full recovery although being without speech I'm afraid you'll have to get use. But that will just be for a little while. Need time to heal your vocal chords do."

'Again. How long is a little while? A week...month...year?'

"Now that I've examined you physically and happy to report that you are alive. With the use of your fingers of your right hand, from 1 to 5, 1 being excellent and 5 being poor. How are you feeling, emotionally?"

'How would you rate me if I told you that emotionally, I don't know whether or not to be happy to still be alive?'

-- To be continued --

-- thanks to both Chio and waru waru for their reviews. --