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Chapter 9: The Verdict
Harry landed with a thump in the sparkling white halls of St. Mungos hospital. The nurses in the area didn't even jump, as a teenage boy and girl suddenly appeared in their ward, they were to use to it. Harry checked that Hermione was ok before he strode to the nearest nurse before there was another crack behind him. Both of them jumped and Harry spun toward the noise, but relaxed immediately as Dumbledore came striding toward them. This seemed to get the nurses attention for all their heads came up and they started to talk excitedly as they finally made the connection between Harry and Dumbledore, because for once in Harry's life he hadn't been immediately recognized.
Dumbledore spoke to the nurse who Harry had been trying to get the attention of, "Excuse me Nurse Jones but could Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger please get a room for Ms. Granger to be seen immediately?" He intensified that last word slightly and the nurse nodded and sprang into action.
"I am sorry Mr. Potter; I didn't recognize you or Ms. Granger but please follow me this way." She led them down the hallway, snapping orders to the other nurses who were standing there gawking at Harry and Hermione.
Nurse Jones stopped and peered into a room. "Here, room 12 is free Mr. Potter. If you could please lay Ms. Granger on the bed, and I will have a doctor come see her." Dumbledore nodded to her and she cast one last look at Harry before she disappeared out the door, which Dumbledore closed behind her with a wave of his wand.
Dumbledore turned back to Harry and Hermione to see Harry gently laying her down on to the bed. As Harry began to draw away from her, Hermione made a soft noise that sounded like 'don't'. Harry smiled and set down on the edge of the bed with her and gently stroked her hand.
The sound of the door sliding open caused all of them to jump and they turned towards the door to see the doctor standing framed in the doorway. Dumbledore smiled and said, "Ah, Henry I was hoping that it would be you." He walked over to the man and shook his hand. Leading him over to the two, Harry couldn't help but notice that he looked remarkably like his guardian Remus.
"Harry this is Henry Lupin." Harry raised his eyebrows at that and looked quickly at Henry. Henry chuckled slightly and smiled at Harry, "Yes, Harry that does mean that I am Remus's father. I am thrilled to finally meet the two of you but not under these conditions certainly, but oh well, so what has happened to here to Hermione?" he asked as he pulled on some white latex examining gloves and approached the bed.
Dumbledore spoke seeing how uncomfortable Harry looked repeating that story again. "Ah well, Henry it is really quite a long story but the part that you need is that Hermione has been tortured but Lord Voldemort." Henry raised his eyes at that and looked quickly over at Hermione. "Can she…?" he started to ask but Hermione raised herself up slightly and looked at him.
"Yes I can speak, and as far as I can tell I have normal brain function." She snapped, not at all thrilled to be in the hospital right now.
Henry laughed at Hermione and she deflated a bit, surprised to see him acting that way. "I am sorry Hermione but the way you said that made me think of all the letters that Remus has sent me. You sound exactly like I imagined you."
"Oh." said Hermione stiffly.
Harry laughed and turned to Henry, grinning, "Please excuse the grouch over here, but if you want to know exactly what happened," here Harry's face lost all traces of amusement, in fact he looked ready to kill, "then here you go. To make a long story short she was captured by Lord Voldemort and was tortured using the Cruciatus Curse. He cast it on her ten times." he finished quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. He felt Hermione's hand tighten its grip on his own and he squeezed hers back.
Henry raised his eyes at that and gave a low whistle, "And you aren't dead or at least lost your mind? Hermione, you have survived what most wizards couldn't even hope to," Harry cleared his throat slightly as Dumbledore raised his eyebrows, "except of course Harry or Dumbledore."
Dumbledore spoke, "What do you need to do Henry?"
Henry frowned slightly, "Really I think nothing. I mean if she has lasted this long with out signs of brain damage, no slurring of speech, no forgetting what she was saying, and no problems walking…"
"Wait! Hermione did have some trouble walking, remember? We went to leave and she collapsed, I had to carry her out." Harry said looking alarmed.
Dumbledore turned to Hermione who was watching all this in silence, "Hermione would you please show Henry your motor skills to put his and your boyfriend's mind at ease?" Harry glared at Dumbledore as Henry glanced quickly at Harry with a slight smile on his face.
Hermione blushed furiously but got out of bed stood and walked toward Harry. Her steps started out sure but after five she slowed down and was a lot more hesitant in her stride. By the time she reached Harry she was shaking. Harry gripped her into a hug to keep her standing because she all but fell into his arms. Harry looked over at Henry, worry lining his face. Suddenly Hermione started to sob; startled Harry looked down at her.
"Moine, what is wrong?"
"I hate this; I can't do anything for my self anymore. I hate needing help!" Henry visibly relaxed at this and spoke softly to her as she buried her head into Harry's chest.
"Hermione this is just the aftermath of what you have gone through. Your body didn't have time to deal with it properly when it first happened and so you went into shock. This is just your body's way of dealing with it."
Hermione looked up, tears still streaming down her cheeks, "Really? There isn't anything wrong with me?"
Harry smiled down at her and wiped away her tears with his thumb, "Nothing, other than you worrying about things that you don't need to be worrying about." Hermione went form sadness to anger faster than Harry has ever seen her.
"Oh, Harry James Potter I will so get you back for that, I don't have the energy right now but I will get you back for that." What ever else she had planned on saying was drowned out by Harry kissing her gently on the lips.
The broke apart, Harry smiling down at her, "Better?" he asked. Hermione nodded and turned to Henry, who was watching them with that slight smile on his face again.
"Oh I almost forgot, can we go see Ron Weasley? Is he feeling better?"
Henry nodded, "Yes you can, and your friend has a very tough head. He is four rooms down from yours on the right." Harry grinned and turned to Hermione, "Do you feel like walking or am I going to have to carry you every where for the next day or so?" Hermione made a face at Harry but before she could reply Henry interrupted her, "It would be best Hermione for Harry to carry you or if you want we could get you a wheelchair, so that you can give your body time to recover."
Hermione sniffed at that, and pouted slightly then looked at Harry, "Fine, carry me." Harry laughed and went to scoop her up like before, but Hermione stopped him.
"Not like that, I want a piggy back ride." Harry looked at her disbelief and saw that she was dead serious too.
"Really Hermione? I mean you seriously want me to give you a piggy back ride?" Hermione nodded smiling evilly and yet innocently up at him. Harry sighed, "Fine one piggy back ride coming up."
Harry knelt on the floor and Hermione went and stood behind him wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Ready?" he asked, "One, two, three…up!" Harry stood up and at the same instant Hermione wrapped her legs around his waist; Harry grabbed them and steadied himself. "Happy?" he asked as she shifted herself slightly so that way she could see over his shoulder.
"Yep!" she crowed happily and gave him a quick peck on the check. "Onward, my noble steed to Ronald Weasley's room!" Henry doubled over laughing at the look on Harry's face.
"Do you want a ride or not?" he asked keeping his voice steady, "Because I could dump you right now and refuse to do anything about it." Hermione shut up, startled at that fact. "That's better, now we go onward to Ron's room." With a quick grin at Dumbledore and Henry, Harry obediently trotted off towards Ron's room.