Chapter 10

Back at it Again

January 3, 1999

Hogwarts

Hermione had very much enjoyed her holiday at The Burrow. She loved spending time with her friends and the only "family" she had left. She loved being able to spend time with Teddy. He already reminding her so much of Lupin. She had loved her lunch with Draco. She had owled him the next day to thank him again for the wonderful lunch and lovely afternoon. He replied with kind words that made Hermione's face flush and an odd feeling come to her stomach. She was able to spend time studying for her N.E.W.T.s and reading for her upcoming lessons. She had relaxed and it was much needed.

She was now back at Hogwarts. She came back a day early to talk over schedules with McGonagall and try to work out rounds schedule with Luke before the madness began for the final time. Hermione really did love this place. It was beautiful. She felt comfortable here, but she was beginning to feel that she was out growing being a student here. As much as she hated to say it she was ready for graduation. May 23rd couldn't come soon enough. She had N.E.W.T.s in late April but they wouldn't get results until a week before graduation.

Luke and Hermione sat in her common room drinking hot chocolate and mulling over the new schedules for all of the prefects and trying to figure out rounds. Astoria and Marco had worked out well and they were going to try put them on duty together as often as possible. They seemed to have it all figured out. That was a relief.

"How was your holiday, Hermione?" Luke asked once they were finished with the schedules.

"It was lovely. It was very relaxing. It was just what I needed. I even used the bath salts you gave me once or twice. They smell amazing. Again, thank you so much. How was your holiday? Nothing exciting go on here, I hope."

"Everything was very peaceful. It was also relaxing. There was no problems at all. I finished the first book you gave me. They are amazing. I should have counted on you to pick out the best set of wizarding law books out there. I talked to an old friend on Christmas. Do you remember Michael Corner, he was in our year, a Ravenclaw, and in DA with us 5th year?"

"Yes, I remember him. He dated Ginny briefly. Why?"

"Well, I want to talk to you about him. He didn't come back this year but not because he didn't want to take the N.E.W.T.s but because he couldn't handle being in England any more. He couldn't handle what had happened here and all of the memories. He started out the year in a wizarding school in Canada but he didn't even last 2 months. He basically mentally snapped after the war. He said he is seeing things, people he knows to be dead. Voldemort, Lestrange, Bellatrix. He goes into these fits and freaks out. He said he keeps waking up in strange places and has no idea where he is or how he got there. When I talked to him on Christmas he started out fine but at the end of our conversation he was melting down. He won't go to a hospital. He said he is afraid he has already hurt himself or someone else. I don't know what to do. Do you have any suggestions or ideas?"

"This sound serious. There is no way you can get him to check into a hospital? There are loads of good hospitals in Canada and America."

"I've tried. He won't have it."

"Have you spoken to him since Christmas?"

"No, I thought I would talk to you first. See what you had to say then try and floo him."

"That's fine. I think I might have an idea. I've read about it in muggles who fight in wars. I need to research it and see if it happens in wizards. I'll be in the library. Come find me before dinner and I'll let you know what I found."

"Thanks a lot Hermione. I really appreciate it. I'm sure Michael does as well."

With that Luke left Hermione's room. Hermione copied the patrol schedule and took it took McGonagall's office before heading to the library.

Hermione was still pouring over books and writing as quickly has her hand would allow when Luke showed up in the library a few hours later.

"Any luck?" Luke said once he sat down at the other end of the table from Hermione.

"Yeah, from what you've said and my research it's what I thought it was. Have you ever heard of PTSD or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?"

"No. What is it?"

"It's a type of anxiety disorder that generally happens after someone has been through a traumatic event that involves serious injury, mass destruction or death. Michael definitely saw a lot of death, injury, and mass destruction. I'm surprised that he's the only one with severe PTSD. We all should have it."

"That sounds about right. We all should have it, you're right. Maybe we do just not as severe as he does."

"Yeah, you're probably right, Luke. PTSD can take different forms and it looks like Michael is reliving the events that happened. For him it probably just isn't one event but the many events that have been happening since 2nd year when Ginny accidentally opened the Chamber of Secrets. He also is avoiding England and Hogwarts which is another way that PTSD takes form. Those who suffer from PTSD try to avoid places and situations that were close to or where the events took place. He's also blacking out from what you said, which is another way it manifests itself. Do you know if he is having nightmares, trouble sleeping, or just gets angry for no reason? Is he really irritable or anything like that?"

"I don't know about any sleeping issues, but he gets super worked up for no reason, that I can tell. He is fine then he all the suddens just starts to get really anxious or depressed. He may get angry easily, he said he feels like he's already hurt himself or others, but I don't know what all he meant by that. He wasn't in the frame of mind to expand on that statement."

"He's in serious trouble, Luke. In muggles it's a terrible thing, but in wizards this can be deadly, unless he gets treated he is most likely going to end up killing himself. The slight change in our biology makes things effect us differently than it does muggles. Severe PTSD like Luke seems to be experiencing can cause him to act completely normal to anyone who meets him, but he has no idea what he is doing. He sees someone or hears something or even smells something that reminds him of what triggered his PTSD and he can go into fits of rage. He can kill himself or someone else and he will have no recollection. You have to talk him into getting to a hospital. When he wakes up from his fit he has no idea its happened. He probably has no idea where he is or how he gets there. He just goes places and does whatever comes to him. He might be reliving the final battle or seeing Cedric's dead body, or seeing the people after they were attacked when the Chamber was opened. He has no idea. He needs to get to a hospital. He needs to get help. He's going to hurt someone. The only good thing about this, is he can only preform spells he's seen before and knows how to cast. He can't learn a new spell or hex and preform that one. He probably can only use ones he himself has used in the past, but there have been cases of wizards or witches that have used spells they've seen before. Do you think there is anything you can do, Luke?"

"I don't know. I'll try and floo him right away and if he doesn't answer I'll owl him. Is the treatment affective?"

"You go and try to floo him while I clean this up. Yes, the treatment is very affective. I'll meet you in the great hall shorty."

Luke quickly made his way to his common room and tried to floo Michael. He didn't answer. Shit. Maybe he was at work. I'll floo him later but I'll owl him now Luke said to himself. He grabbed a quill and a piece of parchment and write a note to Michael. He told him he needed to floo him as soon as he could, that it was important. He ran up the owlerly and found the fastest bird that was able to cross the ocean and attached the note. He hoped he could get ahold of Michael before the owl got there. He was even more worried about him than he was on Christmas. This stuff sounded serious.

Luke and Hermione met in the Great Hall. They sat and ate along with the few other students who were still at school. They talked about the whole Michael thing.

"How do you think you can get him to check into a hospital?" Hermione asked.

"I'm not sure. He really needs to though. He is really scaring me. Do you think I should talk to McGonagall about it?"

"Yeah, I think that is a good idea. Do you want me to come with you?"

"You wouldn't mind?"

"Of course not, Luke. We all went to school together. I don't want to see him suffer."

They finished their meal, did their rounds, and went to McGonagall's office. They said the password, and then knocked on the door to her office.

"Come in." McGonagall said. Luke and Hermione entered her office. "What do I owe this pleasure Heads?"

"Headmaster, we think that a friend of mine is in some serious trouble. I'm sure you remember Michael Corners." Luke said.

"Yes, I do. We got him into a school in Canada to finish out his schooling. I heard he had to drop out and that he was having a very difficult time. What do you think is wrong?"

Hermione spoke this time. "Headmaster, we believe that he is suffering from PTSD. Luke talked to me about it this afternoon after we finished the schedule and I went to the library to research. Everything Luke told me lines up perfectly with PTSD. The problem is that he won't go and get help. He won't check into a hospital."

"Why won't he do this, Mr. McLaughlin?" McGonagall asked.

"I'm not sure ma'am. Every time I mention it he gets very upset and anxious. I tried to floo him not too long ago but he didn't answer. I am hoping that he was just at work or in town. I sent him an owl and asked him to call me via floo as soon as possible. I'm going to floo him again shortly. We thought it was best to talk to you about this though. We aren't sure how we should try to get him to get the proper help."

"I see Mr. McLaughlin." The headmaster paused for a few moments. Luke and Hermione stood there waiting for her to speak again. "I think the best thing for you to do is to get in contact with him as soon as possible and then I think that you need to go see him. Mr. McLaughlin, I'm going to get you an international portkey and you're going to go and visit him. You're going to see how he really is doing, and then you are going to make the judgement call about getting him into a hospital."

"Yes, ma'am. What about school and head duties? How long would you allow me to be gone?"

"I'm sure you've already started to read for your upcoming classes. I will talk to your professors and they will extend you some grace and allow you to complete your assignments when you return. As for your head boy duties I will allow Mr. Longbottom to take over while you're gone. Does that work for you Ms. Granger?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"I'll allow you to be gone for 7 days. I think that will give you time to see where he is and if he needs to be admitted to a hospital. If you need more time floo me and we will see what we can do."

"When do I leave?" Luke asked.

"Go and try to floo him now, let him know you are coming. You won't be able to leave until tomorrow. I need to get you the proper portkey. I will see you in my office at 9. Thank you both, Mr. McLaughlin and Ms. Granger."

Luke went back to his room and floo'd Michael. This time he answered. He had been at work, good. He didn't seem near as anxious. Hopefully, this would be a good trip. Maybe he just needed to talk to someone and have a little more time. He seemed to be glad that Luke was coming to visit.

Washington State, United States

Michael was in a great mood when he returned to his house after work. He hadn't had a major freak out in 8 days. He had been writing down everything. He really thought it was working. He had gotten worked up a few times but he had started to write things down and was able to talk himself down. After he had eaten his floo went off. It was Luke. They talked for a while, and it appeared that Luke was coming to visit. Michael thought this was a good thing. He could use time with an old friend. He decided to clean up his house to prepare for his guest.

Hogwarts

Hermione went back to her room. It had been a stressful afternoon and evening. She decided to write to the boys and to Draco. She told all three of them about everything with Michael. She told Ron and Harry how much she missed them and about how Neville was going to fill in for Luke in his absence. She was sure they would like that and that he would be more than honored. In her letter to Draco she asked how he had been and asked about his New Years. She also asked if he wanted to grab dinner in Hogsmead sometime later that week. She went and sent her letters and then headed to the kitchen to see if the house elves would mind making her something chocolate. She needed chocolate and lots of it. Draco.

It was all she could think about. He was always on her mind. As soon as she finished researching the PTSD stuff she started thinking about him and about how she wanted to tell him about this even more so than Harry or Ron. She was a mess. Chocolate would help. Did she like Draco? She did think he was attractive. She did really enjoy spending time with him. He wasn't at all like he was while they were in school. He treated her so kindly and was nervous around her. It was cute. She decided to view this as a new friendship and that she would see where it would lead. She was trying to expand her friendships and make new friends. For now Draco would just be a friend. A friend. Only a friend. A really attractive friend.

Draco's Flat

Draco was in his flat trying to read but in all reality he was thinking about Hermione when an owl flew into the room. The letter was from Hermione. His heart soared. Why did she have this affect on him? This was crazy. He read her letter. He felt bad for the poor guy and all his trouble. He was glad that he was able to cope with everything better than that. He was also surprised that she had trusted him with information like that. That was rather sensitive information. He was also thrilled. When she asked about going to dinner he got very giddy and felt like a 4th or 5th year Hufflepuff girl. He didn't even care. She wanted to talk to him. She wanted to spend more time with him. He reread her letter then he wrote her back and decided that he had too much energy to lay around the house, changed clothes, and went for a jog.

While jogging he could only think of her. He liked her. Oh he liked her. That was probably a bad thing. He had no idea how she felt about him. He was screwed. Really screwed. He should probably try and treat her more like the Draco in school did and that way he could just go back to pretending that he hated her. He couldn't do that though. He liked her. He wanted to spend time with her and have real conversations with her. He really was screwed. Roddy had been right. Shit! Frickin' American. He also decided that he didn't want a girlfriend. He still had a lot of healing he needed to do. He decided that she was just a friend. Right now she could only be a friend to him. A friend. Only a friend. A friend that he was really attracted too.

I hope y'all enjoyed it. I'm working on chapter 19 right now. I have no idea how many chapters this is going to be. PLEASE CONTINUE TO READ AND REVIEW!

Thanks!

I own nothing. It's all JK Rowling's lovely work. Sad. :(