All characters still belong to JK.
A/N: Thanks to my lovely reviewers—notwritten, pandemonium ensues, GinnyL, Looks Far Woman, Hermione09Weasley, and Healer Pomfrey
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I'm sitting on an examination table in an office in the Healing Arts Annex of St. Mungo's hospital. Dr. Donna Bella is examining me as Severus watches from the corner, holding Inanna.
A wooden box full of exami-wands lies open on the table next to me, and one by one Dr. Bella takes them out and waves them over my whole body. Whenever she does this, the wand tip glows. Each wand glows a different color, and she mutters the color of the glowing light to her quill pen that floats in the air by her left shoulder. Every time she talks to the pen, it scratches a few notes onto a parchment that is also floating in air.
I like Dr. Bella, even though she looks too young to be a healer. She's friendly and vivacious, and even wearing the lime-green robes of a healer, with her blond hair pulled back into a low ponytail, she's pretty enough to be a model, but I can't help feeling some envy as I watch her effortlessly perform magic. Then I wonder if disabled people, confined to wheelchairs and things, ever feel envy when their doctors and nurses do the things they can't do. If so, I totally understand it now.
I laugh nervously. "Can you believe this is the first time I've ever had a complete witch's physical? I mean, I've been treated for magical maladies, but never came in just for a check-up."
She picks up another wand and smiles reassuringly as she passes it a couple inches away from my head. "I don't know why it is, but nobody seems to want to go to the healer until something's wrong."
I look over to the corner where Severus is. He's glowering.
"Well, after this, I'll be sure to get regular check-ups, Doctor," I'm babbling nervously now. I wish she would just get this examination over with.
Finally she packs all her wands into the box, and puts the box on the shelf where it belongs. She moves to her desk and motions for us to take the chairs across from her.
After we're settled in, she folds her hands and frowns a little bit, but she looks at me with eyes full of compassion. I dread what's coming next.
"Mrs. Snape," she begins, "According to your questionnaire, both your parents are muggles."
"That's right."
"To your knowledge, have any member of your family ever been magical?"
"No, they're all muggles. You can't imagine my parents' shock when I was summoned to Hogwarts."
She smiles sadly. "I'm afraid you're right. My mum is pureblood, but my dad is half..." Then she sighs. "Some of your test were inconclusive, but there were a couple findings that gave me cause for concern. Therefore, I want to admit you overnight for more testing, and possibly treatment."
"But I--I can't stay overnight. I have a baby to take care of, and dinner to get, and..."
Dr. Bella looks at Severus, as if to ask him for his support.
"What do you think it is, Doctor?" He asks.
"I can't be sure--that's why I want the specialist to see her. But some of the tests point to Muggleborn Continuum Disorder. Also known as MCD."
Severus and I look at each other briefly. Neither of us has ever heard of MCD. Dr. Bella plucks a little parchment from her desk, writes on it, then folds it and sends it flying through the door.
"I'm calling up to the second floor--Magical bugs and diseases--to alert them to prepare a bed for you."
"Just like that?" I say. I know I sound petulant, like a whiny child, but I don't care. "Shouldn't I get a second opinion or something?"
"Hermione," Severus says heavily, "This was your second opinion."
"But what about Inanna? Babies don't just take care of themselves."
"I'll call your mother to come take her."
"My mother! And my Dad...Dr. Bella, you can't admit me--how will my parents come see me? I could really use their support right now."
"Oh, Mrs. Snape, don't worry about that," Dr. Bella says. "They'll be allowed to visit you. We're not in the habit of separating families."
I want to point out that she's separating me from Inanna, but I keep my mouth shut. I know when I've been outnumbered.
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