Hermione groaned, stretching out on the softest thing she'd slept on in over a year. It was like a cloud, a very warm cloud. Beside her, Draco stirred. "Morning, Princess," he whispered, his eyes still clouded with sleep. "I don't think I ever want to leave this bed. I'd forgotten how good a real one feels."

Hermione hummed, cuddling back into him. The night before had been a long one as everyone asked questions, attempting to keep things light after their previous revelations and she was still exhausted. "Go back to sleep," she murmured, not able to convince herself to move.

"Shouldn't we check the time?"

"No," she groaned. "I don't care what time it is."

Huffing out a laugh, Draco gathered her close and closed his eyes again. Another hour wouldn't hurt.

They both jumped, wands in hand, when they were woken an indeterminate amount of time later.

"Oh my," someone whispered, taking in their immediate defensiveness.

"Madam Pomfrey?" Hermione questioned, still blinking sleep from her eyes.

"That would be me," the matron responded briskly, keeping her mask up. Minerva had intimated it was bad but this? Merlin, these were children! Nothing could have prepared her for this. "Care to lower your wands?"

Hermione and Draco hesitated. "Not yet. The first time you saw Severus Snape, what did you say to him?"

Madam Pomfrey stilled, wondering what on Earth Severus had to do with any of this and how they could possibly know she was telling the truth. "I…I didn't say anything initially. I shoved a nutrition potion at him and once he'd drunk it I told him if he was half as brilliant as his mother was he'd figure out a way to make it taste less vile before he left school." Nodding, they both lowered their wands. Poppy exhaled in relief, entirely unsure of what would have happened if they hadn't. Abused and reluctant teenagers she'd dealt with before, but this…not this. Even the most abused of her charges…Severus and Sirius Black her mind supplied, hadn't had hair-trigger wand reflexes and, she imagined, the knowledge to back them up. "Right then. Dorea asked me to give you a quick examination. I understand things have been….difficult for a while."

Draco snorted at her hesitation. "Something like that," he conceded. "What is it you intend to check?"

"Levels of malnutrition and injury status. I'll need both to determine a healing regimen."

Nodding, Draco indicated to Hermione first. "You'll have to let her go Mr…."

"Malfoy," he supplied, noting her surprise. They hadn't told her much then.

"Ah. Mr Malfoy. If you don't let her go, your presence may skew the readings."

Reluctantly, Draco moved away from Hermione, letting go of her hand.

"Right then Miss…"

"Granger."

"Miss Granger, perhaps lying down would be best?"

She shook her head sharply, not able to convince herself to feel that vulnerable in a room with people she didn't trust completely. Sighing, Madam Pomfrey nodded. "Very well." She raised her wand, ignoring Hermione's instinctive flinch and the tensing of her shoulders as she fought the urge to reach for her own, and began casting, forcing herself to keep going even as the results made her want to vomit. Severe malnutrition, cruciatus damage, dark magic residue, cursed scars, weakened immune system, damaged nervous system, damaged reproductive system, weakened heart, magical depletion.

"Right Miss Granger," she began weakly, swallowing hard. "You'll need several potions and rest."

Hermione arched a brow. "That good then?"

"Do you truly want to know?"

"Yes."

Poppy sighed. "Very well. Let me scan Mr Malfoy and then we'll talk."

Hermione nodded, scooting down the bed slightly as Poppy raised her wand again and began Draco's scan. Malnutrition, cruciatus damage, dark magic residue, cursed scars, weakened immune system, damaged nervous system, damaged reproductive system, weakened heart, magical depletion. What on earth had happened to these children?

"Right then," she exhaled loudly. "As you will need several potions and procedures perhaps an additional person in the room so that between you you'll be able to keep track?" she suggested, not at all sure how they were going to react to this news. The potions were simple enough, and if she had to guess, the looks on their faces indicated they knew she was giving them a means of emotional support without suggesting they needed it.

Hermione barely refrained from rolling her eyes but nodded. "I….Charlus I think," she voiced, looking at Draco briefly.

"Charlus? Not Dorea?" Poppy pushed, unable to hide her surprise.

"She keeps looking at us like she wants to cry. We both know what's coming next is not going to be pleasant. I think he's less likely to outwardly pity us."

Poppy nodded slowly, taking in the defiant tilt of the girl's chin that was betrayed by the almost bone breaking hold she had on the boy's hand. The crushing reminder that they were still children hit her hard. They were good, she'd give them that, their outward abrasiveness hiding a multitude of issues, but they were both scared and whatever had happened, neither was yet able to trust anyone but each other. She knew Dorea would not be happy. She'd seen her face before she'd gone in to wake the new teenagers she seemed to have acquired. Dorea was well on her way to loving them and she wouldn't take kindly to being told she couldn't mother them right now. "Very well."

"Well?" Dorea pounced on her the moment she left the room.

"We haven't discussed the results yet. I suggested another person be with them to ensure they remember everything."

"Well, what are we waiting for then?"

"They asked for Charlus," Poppy replied gently.

"Dorea went still. "Pardon?"

"Dorea…." Poppy sighed. "The damage is extensive. Whatever they lived through….I wouldn't wish it on You-know-who himself. They need…space. To relearn how to trust people. And you…for all you wear that Slytherin mask well, it slips sometimes and they see it. They need someone able to be more….outwardly clinical. I don't think they're able to cope with anyone else's feelings while they're fighting so hard to keep hold of their own." She softened her voice at the devastated look on the other woman's face. "They'll need you. That girl especially. Once she's ready or perhaps just once the cracks begin to appear. And they will. No person can deal with what they went through and not need to speak to someone eventually. She'll need you then. But they'll only let you be there if you listen now."

Dorea swallowed hard. "Did Minerva explain who they were?" Poppy shook her head looking at the other woman with concern. "Hermione was adopted by my grandson. Sibling adoption, I think, although she never explicitly said it. Draco is Lucius Malfoy's son."

Poppy frowned, "She said her name was Granger."

"Perhaps it was," Dorea conceded, with a wince. "She gave her name as Hermione Potter under veritaserum. Perhaps they did the ritual not long before she came here. Perhaps no one knew. Perhaps there weren't enough people left to use it."

"I'm still not sure I follow. You don't have a grandson."

"Not yet, no. Hermione will be born in 1979. Draco in 1980. I…I am struggling. Because not only should no child ever look like, behave like that, she is ours. I can feel it. Magic knows. And I want…I need her to be safe and I have a feeling that she's not going to let me keep her out of what they're planning and that terrifies me. I have no idea how to help them. At least with Sirius, there was already a level of affection when I was putting him back together. With those two…they don't know me. They don't know James or Lily and the implications of that terrify me too."

"Who do they know?" Poppy asked, silently attempting to comprehend what Dorea was saying.

"You apparently. Minerva. Hermione especially seems to trust her. Sirius, Remus. And they mentioned Severus Snape? It's not a name I'm familiar with."

Poppy blinked. "I am. They know him well?"

"Yes. They quite clearly adore the man…Sirius and James seem…not to. Can we trust him?"

Poppy sighed. "I want to say yes, but honestly I should say no. However, if everything you've just said is true, then I imagine they know more than I do."

"That's essentially what Hermione told Lily. She knew him?"

"They were childhood friends. I don't know exactly what happened but I gather it didn't end well."

"No," Dorea snorted remembering Hermione's rant. "No, Hermione said as much while shaming my son and Sirius. I'll…I'll go and get Charlus. Poppy? Is there anything I can do?"

"Don't push, just be there," the matron replied gently, ignoring the many questions she really wanted to ask in an effort to force any of this to make sense.

If Charlus had been surprised to be asked, it didn't show by the time he arrived at Poppy's side. "Come along then," she demanded briskly once she spotted him.

Draco and Hermione's wands shot up as the door opened. Poppy winced at her own stupidity at not announcing them. Deciding that ignoring their reaction was best, she transfigured the bedside lamp into a chair as Charlus conjured one.

"Right then. Your readings are almost identical. Both of you are malnourished, Miss …Granger more so." Charlus startled slightly at her name but didn't comment. "I'm starting you both on nutrition potions three times a day. I want you to eat little and often. And I'll be checking in weekly and monitoring your weight. Understood?"

They both nodded. "Good. Now. You are both magically depleted. You need rest and to limit your wand use where possible." Ignoring their grimace, she continued, "The damage to your bodies is extensive, both of you, mostly from the cruciatus curse. Mr Malfoy's is slightly worse. Do you want the specifics?"

"Yes."

She nodded, "Very well. Your immune system is weakened. Rest and nutrition are the only cure for that I'm afraid. It'll take some time. I cannot cure your cursed scars, but the dark magic residue should fade eventually. I can give you some salve for the non-cursed ones that should reduce the scarring. Your nervous system is damaged. I would recommend a cocktail of nerve healing potions, three most likely. Mr Malfoy might need the fourth. I can prescribe them for St. Mungo's to fulfil. It won't be questioned. I imagine you'll need to take them for at least a month, Mr Malfoy potentially longer. Again, I'll be checking it weekly. I'm not going to lie. It is likely to hurt, so I suggest taking them before bed so that you're asleep before the worst of the pain starts. I can prescribe dreamless sleep for the first week. It will likely be the most painful, but it should grow more manageable as your nerves start to heal. Both of your reproductive systems are damaged…that is not news?" she frowned, noting the suddenly blank expressions on their faces.

Hermione shook her head. "We figured. It's not news that the cruciatus curse damages internal organs."

The matron hummed, shoving down her discomfort at the matter of fact way the girl spoke "The damage is…well not brand new but it's also not old. There may be a way to help it slightly, although there are no guarantees. It will involve a Healer from the Department of Mysteries. I can ask if they're willing if you want?"

"I…I don't know."

"If it doesn't work we're no worse off, Princess," Draco voiced softly, turning to look at Hermione, his eyes scanning her face for something, although neither Charlus nor Poppy was sure what.

She nodded slowly, still looking conflicted. "Fine."

"I'll send the owl then. They take vows of secrecy, and I'll be having them sign a very specific contract; they won't be able to tell anyone anything even if they wanted to."

"You know them well?" Hermione voiced hesitantly.

"I trained under them. I still help out from time to time."

"In the Department of Mysteries?"

Poppy grinned, "There are only so many Quidditch injuries you can heal before you need slightly more of a challenge." Both of them laughed, although Hermione's sounded strained. "Finally, there is significant damage to both of your hearts. A combination of malnutrition-related weight loss and the curse damage. Time will help, but I want you to consider allowing some specific healing spells."

"What ones?"

"There are several. My Master will be better able to advise if you'll allow it, but involves being put in a magical sleep."

Both of them tensed. "You'll teach us the counter spell to the magical sleep and allow the other to be there when it's happening. No one other than people previously agreed upon may be in the room." Draco's tone left no room for argument.

"We can do that, yes."

"Ok."

"Good. Well, I'll send that owl and let you know when to expect us. I'll have an elf bring the nutrition potions for the next few days to Dorea. Don't get up. I'll see myself out. You're not to be out of that bed for at least the next three days. Whatever you were planning," she fixed Charlus with a stern glare, "Rearrange it."

He nodded, grinning, "Of course Poppy."

"Good." At that, she bustled out of the room.

"How are you both?" he asked, once the door was closed.

Draco shrugged, "None of it was exactly a surprise."

"No, I imagine it wasn't," Charlus replied with a sigh, privately acknowledging how bloody awful that statement was all in itself. No teenager shouldn't be surprised when faced with a list of medical issues like the one they'd just listened to. "I know you're not ready….I admit that I can't quite begin to imagine what you're going to tell us when we finally hear your story but…my door is always open if you need it."

"Thank you," Draco replied softly, before turning worried eyes back to Hermione who was huddled into his side. "You heard the woman, Princess. Back to bed for a while." It concerned him more than he wanted to admit when she didn't fight him. Seeing the fear on the boy's face, Charlus squeezed his shoulder before he left the room. "My study is two doors down, you can usually find me in there. Call for Trixie if you need anything."

Draco nodded, not taking his eyes off Hermione as she folded in on herself under the covers.

"Hey…" Draco whispered. "Talk to me."

Hermione's eyes closed. "I'm scared," she whispered finally, not wanting to admit to such a ridiculous weakness after everything else they'd gone through.

"Of?"

"I….Remember when we were still naive enough to talk about children?"

Draco swallowed hard, pulling her as close as he could. "Yes."

"I…I'm scared that if I allow myself to hope this Healer can fix things that it'll be the thing that breaks me when they can't."

"Oh, Princess. We…we don't have to?"

"But then I'll always wonder what if? And Draco….if I don't survive what's coming next I don't want you stuck with no options because I took that choice from you. Madam Pomfrey made it sound like time was of the essence and I can't take that away. I know how much you want children."

"No!" he growled, "Don't …don't ever. Either we both survive, and I'm not going to lie Princess that's my preference, or I'm going down with you. I can't…Merlin, Hermione I can't do this without you. I won't. So we make this decision together because the only children I'll ever have will be yours too."

She let out a long sigh. "Fine. We'll see the Healer."

"And if all else fails and you really want a baby….we'll adopt or…what was that thing you were talking about that muggles do?"

"Surrogacy?"

"Yeah, that. We can look at that." He pulled her impossibly close, not daring to linger on the idea of her not making it through the next conflict. It was unthinkable.

"I love you."

"I love you too. Now, go to sleep, Princess. All of this will still be there when we wake up." It took him a long, long time to finally fall asleep as he closed his eyes and just listened to her breathing, reassuring himself she was still there.