A/N: This is a really short chapter. More like an intermezzo before the next two chapters that will start to blur the lines between Harry and Hermione's civil relationship to well, a returning romance. So to all the romantics out there, just a little more patience, and you'll be very happy soon...
Anyway, your reviews, faves, and follows are always appreciated.
My Cheating Heart
By: tweety-src-clt9
Chapter Seventeen: Hermione's Respite
Hermione found herself all alone in a beautiful empty hall filled with what seemed to be millions of books. She knew what this place was! The Trinity College Library, her most favorite place in the entire world as a little girl. The place reeked with so much history, art, and is a treasure trove of knowledge. It was every bookworm's haven.
As her eyes roamed the empty library, she was confused. It looked to be a bright sunny day. But where was everyone?
How did I even get here? She was confused. Her last memory was lounging in the Jacuzzi, the delightful smells of her bath products, classical music, and the succulent strawberries. And then it hit her! Oh shit!
"Did I just fucking kill myself?", she muttered.
"Mummy! Language!", a beautiful girlish voice admonished, followed by a giggle. She turned around and gasped. Viola Lily Potter was standing in front of her, dressed in a cute periwinkle blue dress. Her daughter's bushy raven hair is sort of tamed because of her pigtails. With a shaking hand, she gently grasped her daughter's shoulder. When she could touch her little girl's body, happy tears fell. She immediately knelt and hugged her daughter with all her might.
"I'm so happy you're here to fetch me, baby! Come on, lead the way. Death with you is bloody brilliant", she said against her daughter's hair.
"Mum – can't – breathe", Viola gasped. Hermione pulled away.
"I'm sorry darling", she said sheepishly. The little girl kissed her cheek and giggled.
"It's alright mummy. I'm quite upset though that you are not taking care of yourself", Viola huffed.
"But – "
"Really mum! You and daddy are so similar! You should take better care of yourselves", her little girl admonished.
"It was an accident baby", she defended herself.
"Hmmppff! You wouldn't have hit your head on the tub if you got decent sleep and ate regularly. Also, stop overworking yourself, mummy!", Viola cried.
"I'm sorry darling, but I had to help – "
"I know mummy. Granny Lily said that your healer's oath comes first and you had to heal that witch with a b", Viola grumbled.
"Witch with a b! Viola Lily Potter! I would not tolerate any child of mine using such language!", Hermione scolded.
"Well, it was Granny Lily's words mummy. Not mine", the child was sheepish.
"Oh, alright! But, darling, what am I doing here?", she took her daughter's hand as they walked around the library.
"Well, you're like in a coma but not really. Your magic is drained so your soul is wandering. I don't understand but at least, Mister Death describes it that way", Viola shrugged.
"Okay… so, how much time do we have?", she wanted to spend more time with her daughter so she needed to ask.
"Well, I can stay for a while, provided you are not yet awake mum", Viola Lily grinned.
"Great!", she said happily.
"Mum, before I forget, Mister Death has a message for you", her little girl stopped walking so she halted too.
"Yes, darling?"
"This is his message. I had to memorize it since he asked me to", she huffed.
"Okay, love", she hid her grin since her little girl is so adorable.
"The mistress of death need only offer hers and the master's allegiance to the service of the afterlife in their passing. Pledge allegiance in a ritual. Only then can your heart's desire come true", her daughter said solemnly. Her brow furrowed.
"Darling, can you repeat it one more time", she asked. Her daughter's words surprised her. She needed to be sure!
Viola Lily rolled her eyes, "The mistress of death need only offer hers and the master's allegiance to the service of the afterlife in their passing. Pledge allegiance in a ritual. Only then can your heart's desire come true."
"Okay. So, the Master of Death is Harry. The mistress would have to be me. Allegiance… Hmm… Ritual… I need to look this up…", she paced as she muttered.
"Uh, mum?"
"Yes, darling?"
"Are you alright?"
"Yes. Yes. I'm just thinking about what you said. Did Mister Death say anything else, love?"
"Well no. He just carried on with his usual crazy chatter. That's the only important thing", her daughter mused.
"Oh, okay. Well, thank you, love. That clue from Mister Death is already very helpful. Tell him thank you for me, okay?", she smiled at her little girl.
"Of course, mum!", Viola Lily grinned.
"So… I get to spend some time with you before I wake up right?", she said with excitement.
"Yep!", her daughter winked cheekily.
"What do you want to do then, Miss Potter?"
"Tag! You're it!", Viola tapped her arm before running away giggling.
Hermione shook her head in amusement and ran after her daughter.
Harry wanted to spend the rest of the day by Hermione's bedside but he got summoned by the Head of the DMLE because of a lead they received regarding the syndicate. With a sigh, he hurriedly informed her healer to immediately contact him if ever there were any developments on her condition. When the healer agreed, he thanked her profusely before apparating back to his penthouse.
He was headed for the bathroom for a quick shower when he remembered that he had to do something very important.
He held out a hand to summon his mobile phone. As soon as the device was in his hand, he immediately dialed the number of two people who needed to know of his news…
Emma Granger had a tiring day after a gruesome root canal operation. So, she was just relaxing on her comfy chair behind her desk. Her eyes closed. She just wanted to let the traffic pass before she and her husband, Dan, would return home. Maybe she could convince her husband to order some drive-through from their favorite bistro since she was too tired to cook. Ah! There's a good idea!
Her brief relaxation was interrupted when she heard one of her mobile phones ringing. Without opening her eyes, her hand groped on the desk and grabbed the first phone she caught.
"Dr. Granger – ", she placed the phone by her ear when no sound came.
"Oops! Wrong phone!", she opened her eyes and saw that it was her private line that was ringing. She immediately grabbed the phone and looked at the Caller ID. Harry Potter.
"Hello? Harry?", she greeted with excitement. She had grown rather fond of her daughter's wayward yet contrite husband. After all, the dedicated man wore her defenses down, along with her husband's, because of his sincerity and perseverance. He kept going back to Australia despite their efforts to throw him out.
"Hi, Emma! Yes, it's me. Something happened to Hermione", Harry was direct to the point. She could hear the anguish in his voice.
"Wait! Wait! Wait! You found Hermione?", she gasped in surprise. In the many years that Harry visited them, they never betrayed their daughter's location out of respect for her wishes. Harry understood of course. She and Dan just left it all to fate if the estranged couple would ever meet again.
"Yes. But it's a long story. It doesn't matter for now. I'll tell you some other time. Listen, Emma, this is important", she could hear the man's grief and worry from the tone of his voice.
"Of course", her only reply. She was now filled with dread. What could have happened to my baby?
"Hermione had an accident last night. She slipped from the tub and hit her head. I was able to get her to the hospital quickly. She is stable now but she's unconscious. She could be in that state for three days. Magical exhaustion. She was too tired from an operation earlier and well, it affected her reflexes, hence the slip", he explained.
"Oh my baby!", she cried.
"Listen, Emma, if you want to come visit Hermione – "
"We'll be taking the first 747 – "
"Magical transportation can get you here in Britain in three hours if you want. Well the travel is only fifteen minutes max, but, I have to make arrangements first", Harry offered.
"Of course! Of course! Thank you, Harry", she said with emotion.
"No problem, Emma. I'm sure Hermione would be happy to see you and Dan when she awakens. Anyway, just wait at your home and I'll send a representative from Gringotts to deliver a portkey for you. Is that okay?", he clarified.
"Yes, yes! Thank you, Harry! Dan! Dan! Get in here", she called to her husband.
"Emma, I got to go. See you here. Hope your first portkey travel will be okay. It could be, er, unpleasant", Harry said.
"Anything for Hermione. Goodbye, Harry."
"Bye, Emma. Tell Dan I said hi", and the line went off.
"Dan!", she yelled. She could immediately hear her husband's footsteps.
"Yes, dear?"
"I got a call from Harry. Hermione had an accident. He arranged magical transport for us so that we could be in London as soon as possible", she explained as she gathered her things so that they could leave immediately.
"Got it, darling!", that was the only thing her husband said before returning to his own office to gather his things.
As soon as his call to Emma ended, Harry immediately went for a quick shower, changed into his auror uniform, and apparated to Gringotts to meet his account manager. After making arrangements for the Grangers' travels, he then went to the ministry. He tried his best to focus on work but he was finding it hard to concentrate. His mind was on Hermione. He could only hope that she really will be okay…
The healers of St. Mungo's were all frazzled. The press had heard that Hermione Granger, Chief of the ICW's Medical Research Department, was brought in due to an unknown illness in the wee hours of the night. In between keeping the press away, calming down the worried parents of the epidemic-affected kids, and managing all their work – the healers are in for a long week.
The head healer of St. Mungo's sighed as he saw all the drama going on. When he heard that the press found out about Hermione Granger's accident, he winced. Lord Potter would seriously be pissed when he found out about this!
Sharptooth, the Potter Account Manager, was stunned when Lord Potter barged into his office with a panicked look on his face. Looking at the distraught look on the lord's face, he thought that the dark wanker, Voldemort, has cheated death once again. Instead, his client all but ordered him to send an Australian representative of Gringotts to visit Lady Potter's parents and deliver a portkey. The long-lost lady of the house recently had an accident which explains his client's worries. Every Potter man's weakness – his most beloved lady.
Of course, he immediately complied with his client's request. Lord Potter was a very decent employer after all. Not to mention all the galleons he earns under the employ of Britain's most powerful wizard. He only hoped that the Lady Potter fully recovers from her accident.
While the rest of the wizarding world waited with bated breath for Hermione Granger to wake up, her soul is busy wandering and laughing around a library with her daughter, Viola Lily Potter…