Hermione sat in an over stuffed armchair across from the headmaster. Albus smiled at the young woman in front of him. Poppy sat next to Hermione also with a bright smile.
"My dear the reason why I asked you to come here is because our dear Poppy has decided to retire after the first of the year. I will be in need of a nurse or in this case a doctor to fill her place."
Hermione scratched her left ring finger. It had started itching early this morning and it had became more irritating as the day progressed. "Sir I'm still a student. I haven't even graduated."
"Professor Dumbledore and I were discussing that." said Minerva who sat bedside Albus. "You can take your exams over the Christmas holidays. This will give you plenty of time to study with your professors."
Poppy turned to Hermione and said, "Dear you know my mother is ill, and it's been hard going back and forth. I know you are more then able to do this. The license in the office says you are a Doctor. You are far more qualified then myself. You will do wonderfully."
"Can I think about it?" asked Hermione looking at the three people that meant so much to her.
"Of course you can." said Albus. "Let me know soon as possible."
Hermione rose from the chair. "Thank you. I'll let you know soon," and she left the office.
"She'll make a fine doctor. Just give her a few days to think it over." said Poppy and she too left the office.
00
"Do you think I should take Albus up on his offer Professor?" Hermione asked as she stood in Professor Snape's office waiting for him to remove his white shirt.
"You are more then ready." said Severus as set his shirt on the back of his chair.
Hermione turned to her black bag that sat on the desk and pulled out a pair of scissors. She carefully cut the bandage and removed it from his waist. "I just don't know." She gently ran her hands down and around his ribs. "Any soreness or stiffness?"
"No. everything's fine." said Severus gently.
She nodded and threw the used bandage in the can. She scratched her left ring finger. She growled, "This is so irritating."
"What?" he asked already knowing why her finger was itching.
"My finger has been itching since this morning. I've put cream on it. There's no bite nothing. It just itches."
Severus put back on his white shirt and buttoned it back up, and he sat down behind his desk. "Sit down Hermione. I have something important to tell you."
She raised a brow at her Potions Master and sat down across from him after straightening her white coat. she crossed her legs and waited for him to continue.
"Now, your parents already know about this. Albus and myself went there a few weeks ago." said Severus. He raised his hand when she opened her mouth. She closed it to let him finish. "This has nothing to do with Dumbledore's offer for you to work here. He's giving you that because he thinks you're able to do the job."
Hermione couldn't help but smile at the man before her. She had never heard him ramble and she found it quite cute. "Professor you're rambling. Take a breath and tell me straight forward what is on your mind."
Severus nodded and took a deep breath, "Hermione every since you were born and I was born a magical connection had been made through old magic. It is rare now a days for this to happen, but in some cases it happens. The reason why I was always there to protect you during your adventures here was because were and are soul bound."
"What? Soul bound. As in soul mates? As in for life? As in no one but you can be with me?" said Hermione trying grasp what he was saying.
"Yes. I started seeking out even one touch from you after meetings that was the reasons behind me staying in the library. I need that small touch. But I am now seeking out more."
"To the point of me healing you." said Hermione.
"Yes."
"The soul bond is the reason why I can't sleep while you're gone." said Hermione slowly starting to understand her worrying and wanted to help. And the reason behind her always defending him when her friends would talk wrongly about him. "And the kiss the other night sealed our bond didn't?"
"Yes." said Severus as he scratched his left ring finger. "I want you to understand I will not be physically with you until you are ready. You and your friendship mean too much to me to ruin anything Hermione. I truly do care about you. I always have. We will take things slow." he growled at the itching on his left hand ring finger. "The reason behind our fingers itching is because within time wedding bands will appear."
Hermione took a deep breath letting everything sink in. she rose from her chair and walked around until she stood next to him. "Thank you for explaining everything to me." She said and kissed him gently on cheek. She smiled, "You mean a lot to me too Severus." She grabbed her bag and walked to the door. "You are a good man. Good night," and she left the office with a slight smile on her face.
Severus sat back with a sigh. It went easier then he thought. He though there would be yelling or a good slap at the news. But he was glad she had taken it so well.
00
Hermione entered the Gryffindor Tower with her white coat on and black bag in hand. She had forgotten to drop them off at the hospital wing. She sat her bag down on the coffee table and flopped down on the couch with a heavy sigh. It had been a long day.
"I'm so exhausted." she said resting her head on the back of the couch. "I'm not in the mood to talk Harry."
"Special treatment from Dumbledore, Pomphery and Snape. No wonder you get such good grades Granger."
Hermione sat up when she heard Ron's voice. She looked around and saw the entire Gryffindor common room looking at them. "What in the hell are you talking about Ron?"
Ron's face turned red as his hair. He stood over her. "I followed you to Snape's office."
Hermione rose to her full height and crossed her arms over her chest. Harry quickly stood beside Hermione with his wand in hand. "What I do with my own time is no concern of yours Ronald Weasely. And for your information I am sleeping with no one. After seven years you don't know me at all. The only thing you've done is copy my work. You would still be in first year if it wasn't for me." The entire room gasped at the news. "You make a crummy friend. Friends don't call each other names behind their backs. Nor do they leave them when they need you most!" Ron stepped forward but Harry pushed him back from her. "If my Rose had a friend like you. I'd tell her, "Baby girl if he uses you to pass school or leaves you in your time of need or only fights with you. Then he's no friend." For once I'm going to listen to reason. We are through being friends. You've caused me far too much pain. You need to grow up." Hermione said. She grabbed her black bag and went up stairs hearing the room applaud for her speech.
00
Hermione slammed her door behind her and sat down on the couch. She burred her face in hands and let the tears follow. She knew she had done the right thing but it still hurt her. It only took her seven years to realize he was using her. Because she didn't want to see the truth. She heard the door open and close. She felt the couch shift. She knew it was Harry.
"You did good Hermione." said Harry and pulled her into his arms. "I know it hurts but it will slowly die away. Just give it some time." She nodded into his chest.
"I'm tired. It's been a long day. I'll see you in the morning ok?" said Hermione after she pulled back from Harry's embrace.
"Ok." He rose from the couch kissed her forehead. He walked to the door and turned around, "Nice coat Doc."
"How did you know?" asked Hermione.
Harry smiled, "I saw the framed scroll on Pomphery's wall. Congrats." He winked and walked out the door.
Hermione shook her head with a smile. She walked to her bedroom to turn in for the night. It had been a rough one. From finding out Dumbledore wanted her on staff, to the soul mate with Severus Snape and now ending her friendship with Ron. It had been weird and hard day.
00
"Granger are you all right?" asked Malfoy as he sat up his lab table for potions.
Draco Malfoy had short platinum blonde hair, fare skin, blue eyes, slightly thin lips and muscular frame. He was in Slytherin house. He had bullied Hermione and her friends since their first year. But unknown to everyone but Dumbledore, Snape and Madame Pomphery he was a spy for Dumbledore just like his father, Luicus Malfoy.
"I'm fine Malfoy. Just a rough night." whispered Hermione just as the door opened and Professor Snape swept into the classroom with his robes blowing behind him. "Why does he do that every class?"
Draco chuckled, "It's to get the classes attention Granger."
"Oh. Well it works." she said with her own chuckle.
Professor Snape turned and faced the class and crossed his arms over his chest. He looked out among his seventh year class. He mentally shook his head at those that didn't need to be in there. He knew that Granger, Malfoy and surprising Potter had did well enough to be in the class. But that was truly the only students that should be in the class. But if the Dark Lord hadn't returned he would only have those three in the advanced class. And the others would be in a intermediate potions class not the advance. He had to down grade the potion making so those slower learning could at lest pass to graduate.
"Today were brewing once again Wolfsbane Potion because you idiots can't do it." hissed Professor Snape. "I want your essays. Now! Hurry. Hurry."
The class hurried and turned in their essays to their potions professor, and they returned to their stations and got to work. Professor Snape walked over to his desk and stacked up the homework and sat down at his desk. He began to grade papers as the class began their assignments.
Hermione was surprised at how well she was working with Malfoy. She couldn't understand it. But she had a feeling it was genuine kindness. She knew she would have to speak to Severus on the matter.
Meanwhile Ron narrowed his eyes at Hermione. He turned back to his potion that was clumpy and green looking. He stepped back when it started to bubble and spread on the table and floor.
"Everyone off the floor and onto your desks!" yelled Hermione. "Now!"
This caused Professor Snape to look up just as the class climbed onto their tables. He saw the mess that Weasely had made. He sighed in relief when Draco helped Hermione onto the table with him. Professor Snape took out his wand and with a waved the mess was cleaned up leaving a nasty rusting looking floor.
"Who did this?" roared Professor Snape. The entire class pointed to Ron. "100 points from Gryffindor and detention with me for two weeks Mr. Weasely."
Hermione jumped down off the desk. She knelt down grabbed her black bag from her book bag. "Everyone sit down on your desks. I'm going to check everyone over."
Professor Snape growled, "Do as you're told by Doctor Granger." No one moved. "Now!"
The class sat down on top of their desks and waited quietly knowing not to speak. Hermione waved her wand over her uniform to sanitize herself. She removed her tie and her outer robes. She opened her bag pulled out her stethoscope wrapped it around her neck and slipped on her white coat. she waved her wand again and charts appeared on the table for each student.
"Malfoy you first." She said. She grabbed his hands and turned them over looking for any form of burns. She ran her wand over checking for an under his robes. "You need a potion for exposure but you'll be fine." She pulled out a small bottle. "Here. Go on take it down."
Draco took the bottle from Hermione opened it and smelled it. She laughed at his expression. She nodded. He took a deep breathe. He knew if his head of house called her doctor. Then she was a doctor. He knew that Snape was no fool. He also knew that Doctor was another work for healer. He had no choice but to trust the witch. He knew that he'd be really sick if he didn't take the potion. Draco downed the potion with a horrible expression.
Hermione went around the class looking her fellow class mates over for injuries. The bell rang just as Hermione was done with half the class. Professor Snape excused those that had been treated to leave the room.
Hermione stopped in front of Harry and Ron. She didn't find anything wrong with them. She pulled out two needles and gave them each a shot in the arm. She rolled her eyes at Ron yelling at the needle. Ron narrowed his eyes at his once time friend and left the room. Harry gave her a peck on the cheek and left the classroom.
"Professor your turn." said Hermione.
"I'm fine." he told her.
Hermione raised a brow at her Potions Professor. "Now Professor Snape. This isn't going to hurt. Much." She told him filling up the serine with clear liquid.
Severus growled and removed his outer robe and removed his cuff links. He rolled up his sleeve. She clean the area and slowly injected the liquid into his arm. She placed a cotton ball on his arm and held it in place with a band aid.
Hermione turned and pulled out another needled and injected herself and smiled. "There everyone is taken care of." She closed her black bag. She looked at her watch. "It's time for lunch. It appears that took over class period. I'm sorry it took so long."
Severus shook his head. "As long as all the students weren't injured, we can always make up for time lost."
Hermione nodded and she left the class room her white coat blowing behind her. Severus sat down behind his desk with a heavy sigh. It had been a very eventful morning. Something he wished didn't happen. Weasely could have made everyone extremely ill if Hermione had acted so quickly.
00
Hermione sat across from Dumbledore in his office. After talking with Harry about her joining the Hogwarts staff. He had told her to go for it. He thought she would make a great addition to the staff. He beamed at her when she told him that she's still help him study. Even that she would be working at Hogwarts. It wouldn't change their friendship. She just wouldn't be in classes. He could come and see her during his free period.
"Professor after talking with Professor Snape and Harry about me joining the staff. They think I'd do fine. I told Harry nothing would change. It would be I was only working here."
Albus smiled. "So your answer would be?"
"I'd love to join the staff." said Hermione with a smile.
Albus clapped his hands together. "Wonderful," and he pulled out the necessary paperwork. He handed it to Hermione.
She filled out the information and signed her name at the bottom. She handed it back to the headmaster.
"Welcome to the Hogwarts Doctor Granger. I shall make it known to the others soon. Before you go. Draco Malfoy is a spy for me. I'm informing you this just in case he shows up in the wing."
Hermione nodded. "I'm glad Severus has someone else helping him." She rose to her feet and shook Albus's hand.
"Oh and Severus told me that you acted very quick this morning. You did a wonderful job. I'll see you at dinner." Hermione nodded and left the office for the hospital wing.
00
Hermione sat in her office with stacks of books studying for her NEWTS. It was nearing October. So she only had really three months to study. She bit the top of her muggle pen. She used for drafts and notes than a quill. She only used quills on her final drafts.
"Hermione dear it's time for supper." said Poppy from the doorway.
She sat her pen down, grabbed her white coat and slipped it on. She shrank her black bag and stuck it inside her pants pocket. She followed Poppy out of the wing for the Great Hall.
"I know I'm leaving the students in very good hands." said Poppy as the walked down the corridor.
"I hope I want fail." said Hermione.
"Nonsense child. You'll do wonderfully." said Poppy as they stopped in front of the Great Hall doors.
"Here goes nothing." said Hermione and opened the doors.
Hermione and Poppy walked down the ale between the Gryffindor and Slytherin tables. The women noticed that the seventh years looked happy to see Hermione and some of the Slytherin were as well.
Hermione sat down next to Professor Snape. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. He knew she hated being the center of attention.
"May I have everyone's attention. As you all know Madame Pomphery is retiring after the first of the year. I am pleased to inform you that her place will be taken by one of our own. She has been qualified as a doctor. As many of you witnessed this morning. Hermione Granger is now Hogwarts new primary physician. Doctor Granger please stand." Hermione stood up and smiled and sat back down at the table. "Everyone tuck in and enjoy dinner." Albus told the students and sat down at the table.
"I hate being the center of attention." hissed Hermione in Severus ear. She scratched her left finger.
"I do as well. It will die down soon. Just let the students get use to idea." whispered Severus. Hermione nodded her head and fixed her plate.
Ron narrowed his eyes at Hermione. He would need a way to get back at his one time friend. She had left him to defend for himself and ever since Harry had also stop talking to him as well. Hermione Granger had ruined his life.
Hit the button and tell me what you think about chapter 3
