The Infirmary
The room was silent as a group of powerful witches and wizards looked upon the battered student – a child – that collectively they failed to protect. The child who would now rather be dead. They had failed her.
Albus turned to Mad-eye. "Alastor, inform the aurors of the situation, keep all students in their dorms, and cast a ward against house-elf apparition."
Hermione was unconscious, but still alive. Tonks looked up at Albus and said in a panicked voice, "There's so much blood, we need to send for Poppy straight away."
"No. There's no time." Lupin said quickly as he conjured his patronus and said: "Inform Madame Pomfrey that we are bringing her a critically injured student." He carefully scooped Hermione up in his arms and began to run. Albus, Tonks and Minerva followed close behind. Hermione's arms laid limp and bounced around as Remus ran. Her neck and head were thrown back over his right arm. "Hang on Hermione. I know you are strong." He said as they ran through corridor after corridor, up staircases and through secret passageways – taking the fastest route to the hospital wing.
Minerva mustered as much strength as she could to try and keep up, but found herself falling back. Albus and Tonks stopped to wait – Tonks held onto her arm. "Go!" Minerva cried, pushing Tonks away, "Go!" Tonks nodded and sprinted back up the stairs, catching up to Remus. Albus wasn't far behind the two when he saw a tabby cat streak past him. He smiled and watched as she streaked past Remus and Tonks too, almost in a blur.
The tabby ran through the doors of the infirmary and skidded to a halt. Poppy looked on as Minerva transfigured out of her animagus form. In a panicked voice, she asked "Minerva, what's happened?"
The moment the words left her lips, Remus came crashing in. He fell to his knees in front of Poppy, sweat streaming down his face – panting hard. The battered body of Hermione Weasley still in his arms.
"Oh, Merlin!" cried Poppy, "What's happened?" she asked again – more forcefully this time, as she levitated Hermione out of Remus' arms and onto one of the beds.
"Death Eaters." Tonks managed to breathe out. "Bellatrix Lestrange and Lucious Malfoy."
"They got to her. How? What about all the extra protection that has been in and around the castle?" Poppy inquired in disbelief.
"They used a house-elf." Dumbledore replied. "We forgot about house-elf apparition, it never even crossed our minds."
Poppy had a pained expression as she began tending to Hermione. She ran her wand over the young girl and pages of diagnostics came flying out. "Ohh." Poppy let out quietly as Hermione's breath became sharp and fast, with a sound not unlike that of a foghorn. Every cough sent a spray of blood as Poppy rolled her onto her side.
Poppy walked solemnly over to Albus, who was locking the infirmary doors and applying a silencing charm. "Albus." Poppy said gravely.
"What is it?" He asked, voice full of fear.
"Her injuries are too many and too severe for me to handle on my own. I recommend that we floo her to St. Mungo's." Poppy replied.
"No. We can't. It isn't safe. Anyone – even Death Eaters can enter St. Mungo's." Minerva said firmly.
"How is it any less safe than here, Minerva?" Poppy cried in disbelief. "We had every protection we could think of – guarding her, and yet here she is - lying on my infirmary bed…dying."
The room went silent, no one wanting to believe the words that Poppy just said.
"We cannot argue amongst ourselves. That won't help Hermione right now. Minerva is right, Poppy. We put up the final protection, and have over 15 aurors roaming the halls right now. Not to mention all of us." Albus said.
"That didn't help us in the dungeons, though, Albus." Remus replied calmly and cautiously.
"We did not envision that as a possibility. We should have – but we didn't. The protections are up now, and someone will remain with Miss. Weasley at all times now – with auror's posted at the locked infirmary doors." Albus replied.
"You aren't listening to me, Albus. I cannot possibly do this alone – I'm not even sure it can be done. Plus, what about the other students who may need to see me – are we supposed to shut them out as well?" Poppy asked.
Albus thought for a moment before responding. Thoughtfully, he replied "Magic may not be the only thing Hermione needs right now." Glances were exchanged at Albus's queer statement.
"What are you thinking, Albus?" Minerva asked as she looked up from Hermione, whose breathing was labored, but steady.
"Poppy, I seem to recall you mentioning that your sister works at St. Mungo's on the muggle medicine floor. She is working with another healer there – combining muggle and magical remedies – am I correct?" Albus asked.
"She is," Poppy said slowly, seeing what Albus was getting at, "They are having incredible success with combing medicine from the two worlds. Some would go so far as to say it is far better than magical healing alone…for the more severe cases, that is."
"Would you be so kind as to floo the diagnostics over to her, asking her to come – bring whatever she may need. As far as the other students are concerned, please send for a temporary healer as well. We will set up a temporary infirmary in the family waiting room next door. As far as this room goes, no one outside of this room – and the Weasley family, of course – is permitted through those doors without my permission. Auror's are to stand guard 24/7, and at least one person is to remain with Hermione at all times. We will take shifts." Albus instructed.
Poppy nodded, but hesitated for a moment. She looked from the diagnostics – to Albus – to the papers again. "Something else, Poppy?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Nothing" Poppy stammered, "It can wait." She rushed over to the floo and sent the diagnostics to her sister, along with the request from Albus Dumbledore. She walked back over to Hermione and looked at her helplessly. She was at a loss as to where to begin. She waved her wand once more, getting a fresh diagnostic, and decided to start from the top. It listed the most serious injurious down to the least. While the most severe injuries were quite concerning, it was the last diagnostic on the listed that plagued her mind. That would have to wait. Hermione had to be saved before the last entry could even be worried about.
Minerva read the expression on Poppy's face. "Well?" she prodded.
Poppy shook her head, "Time to get to work. I just knew where to begin. Normally I would work my way down the list, but I'm concerned that I may cause further damage. Merlin, where is my sister?"
All heads turned to the floo as a witch resembling Poppy Pomfrey emerged from it, pulling a large cart full of various supplies – some recognizable, others not. She was followed by a handsome healer, dragging another cart, and a strange looking machine. It was tall, full of buttons, tubes and hoses.
"Speak of the devil." Poppy said. "Thank you both for coming."
"Of course, dear." She said to Poppy.
"Everyone, this is my older sister Rhea, and her colleague Apollo." Poppy began, "And this is Minerva McGonnagall, Nymphadora Tonks (just Tonks, mind you), Remus Lupin, and of course – Albus Dumbledore." She said, pointing to each individual. Greetings were exchanged quickly.
Rhea and Apollo walked over to Hermione's bed, where her breathing became slower and more labored – still producing shrill wheezes. "And Hermione." Rhea said, looking upon the girl with sympathy.
"I didn't know where to start, Rhea – with her lungs the way they are, I didn't want to make things worse." Poppy said.
"Quite right." Replied Rhea. She looked up to the group and pointed to the curtain, "I am going to need everyone else to go to the other side of the curtain. We need to work here."
Everyone, but Minerva, nodded and retreated to the opposite side of the room. "Uh-uh. No way. I am staying with her. I told her I would not abandon her." Minerva said.
Rhea exchanged a glance with Poppy who shook her head as if to say, "Let it be."
Without another word, the three healers got to work. Apollo looked at the diagnostic sheet. "We need to repair her collapsed lung first." He said as Rhea rolled Hermione onto her back, applying round circles with wires to various parts of her chest. "What is that?" asked Poppy.
"Electrodes." Rhea replied as she switched on one of the machines. "These wires go into this machine. It sends impulses from her body and we can monitor the condition of her heart and oxygen on this screen."
"Amazing." Poppy said, in awe
"Right now it shows that she has an irregular heartbeat, and her oxygen level is very low. We need to get air into her immediately." Rhea said.
Poppy stepped back and watched as her sister and her colleague worked swiftly and confidently. Poppy retreated to where Minerva was standing, watching wide-eyed.
"Should we shock?" inquired Rhea.
"No, airway first – it's most important and may stabilize the heart. You start the chest tube, I will intubate." Apollo replied.
Rhea nodded and turned to her cart. She pulled out a large, thin, square, see-through apparatus. It had a long tube running from it. "I'm going to re-inflate her lung using this chest tube, Poppy." She explained, "And Apollo is going to put a tube down her throat to provide oxygen via this machine."
They might as well have been speaking Greek. Poppy had no idea what she was seeing. The machines and equipment were large and intimidating.
Moving her wand carefully and with precision, Rhea waved it an inch above Hermione, causing an incision in her side. She then picked up the tube and inserted into Hermione's side. She threaded it through until she was sure it was where it needed to go. Blood drained from the tube and entered the square apparatus, filling one and a half chambers before coming to a stop. Minerva turned away, into Poppy's shoulder, heart pounding. She never in her life had ever witnessed something like this. With another flick of her wand, the chest tube was sewn into place.
Meanwhile, Apollo was at the head of Hermione's bed. He tilted her head back and with what looked like a muggle flashlight – with a metal blade on the end, inserted it into her throat. With his free hand he took another type of tube and threaded it down Hermione's throat. He pulled a long metal wire out of it and attached a long hose – which led to the largest machine, the one full of buttons and tubes. He wiped his forehead and pressed a button on the machine. Suddenly it came to life with a noise that made Poppy and Minerva jump. They looked at the machine, then at Hermione. The machine made a hissing noise, and Hermione's chest rose visibly. When the noise stopped, Hermione's chest deflated.
"This machine will breathe for her until she has healed enough that she can breathe on her own." Rhea explained. "We have modified both of these machines so that they can work without electricity." She looked at the monitor and smiled. "See these numbers, Poppy?" she said, pointing to the monitor. Poppy stepped forward to see what Rhea was pointing at.
"This number is her oxygen level." Rhea explained – pointing to the number that was rising. 82, 84, 88, 90, 94, 100. "100% is perfect oxygenation. It is ideal for her to not go below 92, but I have set the alarm for 85. It will alert you that her oxygen level has dropped. She may need suctioned or repositioned – it should return the level to normal, but if it doesn't, I am going to stay here with you to keep an eye on things. If it drops too low, we run the risk of brain damage or…worse. Come. Let me show you this equipment and how to suction." Poppy looked at her with terror in her eyes.
"I know it looks scary Poppy, but she needs you. And you will be a better healer for learning these things." Poppy nodded as she listened and watched her big sister do what she did best.
Minerva held her arms, as though she were cold, and walked to the other side of the curtain to give the others an update. Tonks, Remus, and Dumbledore looked up, expectantly. It looked as though Minerva had aged 30 years.
"How is she?" Tonks asked, wondering whether she really wanted to know or not.
Minerva took a deep sigh. The beeping of the machines could be heard from across the room. "I've never seen anything like it. I don't know what to make of it." She began.
The others were quiet, allowing Minerva to tell them in her own time. She sighed once more and rubbed her face. "They say her oxygen was very low. Her lung was collapsed. Oh Albus…" she cried.
He walked over and put his arms around Minerva's shoulders. "There are all of these tubes and wires coming out of her. It looks so scary. They say that the one machine is breathing for her. It's keeping her alive, Albus. There is so much blood…so much blood." Minerva broke down in Albus's arms. "No. No." she said, wiping her face and pulling away. "We need to stay strong – for her – we need to give her our strength."
The group was silent for a moment, before Remus said quietly. "We need to send for the Weasleys." More silence ensued. "She needs her parents. Tonks, will you go? Tell them to pack their bags, they are not safe at home and need to stay here at the castle…which their child." Tonks nodded and walked over the floo, disappearing in a flash of green light.
Minerva shrugged away from Albus and returned to the other side of the curtain. There was a new tube coming from Hermione. It was inserted into her arm, and led up to a bag on a pole, filled with liquid in a swirl of colors.
"It's called an IV." Poppy said quietly. "Rhea and Apollo have been experimenting at St. Mungo's with patients who are unable to ingest potions. They have discovered a way for a patient to receive them through their veins. Apparently is has been far more effective than absorbing them through the stomach. Right now we have a healing potion, a pain potion, a sedation potion, a clotting potion, and a blood-replacement potion running through." Poppy sighed and looked at Minerva. "I was able to mend most of her broken bones with my wand, but was unable to reach many of her internal injuries. These potions should hopefully do the trick…but."
"But?" inquired the tired-looking Minerva.
"This may be beyond all of us, Minerva. Right now it is wait-and-see. A lot of damage has been done. It may be beyond muggle and magical medicine now." Poppy said.
Minerva still holding herself, sniffed and looked at her cub – connected to machines that were living for her. She was beyond grief upon hearing this – she felt sad, but also numb.
Poppy continued on, cautiously, "There is a chance this may not work…there may come a time when we have to decide what is best for Hermione…"
Minerva shot Poppy a look. "What are you saying, Poppy?" she said fiercely. Minerva knew exactly what Poppy meant, but she wanted to hear it out loud.
"Minerva…"
"Are you telling me, Poppy, that there may come a time when we have to decide whether she lives or dies?" Minerva exclaimed.
"Not you, Minerva." Poppy looked down. "But her parents."
Minerva threw her hands up in the air in exasperation, and turned around, holding her forehead as though she had a headache.
"I know this is hard for you to hear, Minerva…" Poppy continued.
Minerva turned on her heel, holding her hand up to Poppy in warning, "Then don't, Poppy, alright? Not now."
"Minerva."
"We don't even know if this will work!" Minerva exclaimed.
"Exactly!" cried Poppy, "For Merlin's sake, Minerva, just look at her!"
Minerva did so - then looked away – unable to bear seeing her cub teetering on the brink.
"LOOK, Minerva." Poppy grabbed Minerva's head and turned it in the direction of Hermione. Her eyes welled with tears. "I can't stand to see her in this state anymore than you can, but we need to be realistic about this! We need to make ready now, that Hermione's poor body may not be able to survive this. There is only so much we can do – from the magical and muggle standpoint. Rather do this now than it come to us as a shock later on."
Minerva looked at her cub. There was a sheet hovering about an inch about Hermione, fully covering her, yet insuring that it would not cling to her wounds. The machine on her left side hissed every few seconds, the machine on her right – beeping in a steady rhythm.
Minerva stepped cautiously towards her mentee. She looked back at Poppy for confirmation. Poppy nodded her head and Minerva proceeded to sit in the chair next to Hermione's bed. She took Hermione's limp hand in her own. It felt cold and lifeless, yet she knew by the beeping that Hermione was hanging on.
On the other side of the curtain, the floo glowed green as Molly and Arthur Weasley came flying out of the floo in a panic. "Where is she?" cried Molly – rushing forward.
"Molly, wait." Said Remus – grabbing Molly by the arms. Molly fought against him – shoving him away, screaming "I want to see my daughter!" Remus stopped fighting as Molly and Arthur ran to the other side of the curtain.
All that could be heard from Remus's end was Molly's blood-curdling scream. On the other side of the curtain, Molly looked upon her child, bruised and blooding. She felt the room spinning as she collapsed. Arthur attempted to catch her, but failed. Molly Weasley fainted at the sight of her broken child – who was only alive because of machines. Arthur collapsed to the floor at the sight of her – but did not faint. He held his wife – but his eyes were fixed upon his daughter. Unable to form any words, he vomited until nothing was left and he was merely dry-heaving.
Poppy put her hand over her mouth, looking upon the two of them with pain and sorrow. Minerva left her seat beside Hermione and walked toward the two of them, kneeling beside them – she tapped Molly's face lightly, reviving her. Molly gasped as she looked up at Minerva.
"She needs you now." Minerva said calmly. "She needs your strength as parents. It sounds ridiculous, but you need to try and hold it together now – as parents. Break down later. Right now she needs her mum and dad." She was holding Molly's face in her hands as she said this, looking into each other's eyes. Molly's face changed into one of determination as she nodded. Arthur, recovering, helped Molly to her feet. They both stood frozen, looking at their helpless child. Minerva, Rhea, and Apollo looked on as the parents of Hermione approached their child slowly, looking at the equipment they saw before them.
"Do not fear, it is helping her live." Apollo stated.
Unafraid, Molly neglected to see the unknown machines before her – all she saw was her daughter – clinging to life by a thread. She sat in the chair by her bed, Arthur behind her – holding his wife's shoulders, gaze fixed upon his injured daughter. Molly grasped Hermione's right hand as her eyes examined her face – bruised beyond recognition. Her gaze drifted lower, wanting to see the full extent of the torture that her daughter had to suffer under the excuses of 'inevitable war'.
"Molly. No." Poppy said as Molly lifted the sheet.
This time it was Molly who vomited – forcefully onto the floor as her husband looked at his child in utter shock. Molly recovered quickly, knowing that it was a mother's duty to be strong for her child. She lifted the sheet once more and saw the word "mud-blood" carved into her sweet child's chest. She saw that there was not barely an ounce of her baby's flesh that was not marred by bruises or bleeding cuts. She clamped her eyes shut – Arthur, who saw everything that she did, rubbed his wife's shoulders – trying to stay strong for the both of them, but still tears flowed freely from his eyes.
Poppy began the introductions – which may have been lost upon the grief-stricken Weasleys. "This is my sister, Rhea – and her colleague Apollo. We have decided that in order for Hermione to survive, the only choice was to combine magical and muggle medicine. Molly, I could not possibly have done it without their help – if you want your child to survive, then this is it."
Molly was sobbing into the hands of her 8th child. Arthur looked up at Poppy and nodded. He himself was caught up in the marvels of the muggles, - if their medicine had a way to help her, then he accepted it.
Rhea, Apollo, and Poppy knew that Hermione was stable, and thus left the Weasley family to grieve. The retreated to the opposite of the curtain, joining Minerva, Albus, and Remus. Time was the only thing that they could cling onto. It was up to Hermione now.
For those who are not familiar with Greek mythology, I chose the name Rhea for the goddess who is considered the "great mother of Gods, and the sky.". And Apollo, who is considered a God of healing, medicine, plague, and more."
Only recently – a wonderful and dedicated reader taught me how to engage "anonymous" readers, so I hope to receive more reviews! Thank you SO much, dear heart!