(People have a way of making you cry; especially those you love dearly.)
Chapter 26
"Dad's where?" Hermione gaped at her mother, her hands flying up to her mouth in shock.
"It's nothing horrible. Well... It is, but he's okay," Mrs. Granger assured her daughter, "He fell out of a tree and broke his neck. The doctors are assuring us he'll be just fine."
"Mum, why didn't you tell me?" Hermione yelled, jumping up from the couch in a rage, "We have healers! Dad could already be back to normal!"
"I was going to, Hermione, but the paramedics had already gotten to him and knew he had a broken neck! If they saw that it mysteriously healed they would be suspicious!" Mrs. Granger stood as well. Remus frowned up at his wife.
"Hermione, she's right. If they suspected anything strange was going on and investigated it there would be trouble," he raised his hand to rub her back comfortingly. Hermione shrugged him off, starting to pace in front of the coffee table now.
"Grampa will be okay," Aariya spoke suddenly. Hermione had honestly forgotten the children were there.
"Yes, he will, dear," Hermione forced a smile at her daughter.
"Mum..." Liam started but quickly shut his mouth when Remus shook his head, sending him a silent warning that now was not the time for questions. Liam nodded in understanding and sat back on the couch, absently kicking his legs.
"What the bloody hell was he doing in a tree to start with?" Hermione's gaze flickered to her mother.
"He thought he could get Angel out of the tree by himself," Mrs. Granger spoke of their beloved cat.
"That was smart," Hermione rolled her eyes.
"He feels old. He wants to do things himself," Mrs. Granger spat at her sarcastic daughter.
"What hospital is he in?" The brunette needed to see her father. It seemed like the world was caving in on Hermione yet again, with the werewolf attack on Severus and now her father with a broken neck.
"Lady Mary General," Mrs. Granger replied, "I'll be glad to watch the children while you and Remus go to see him."
Hermione gave a curt nod and kissed each one of her children before she and Remus made a bee line for the door.
Traffic was more than enough to deal with, on top of blaring horns and the occasional cyclist cutting in front of the minivan. Hermione repeatedly slammed on the horn, her brow furrowing with agitation. Remus had attempted to take the wheel but Hermione insisted she was a better driver and would reach the hospital faster.
"Die!" She screeched, blowing the horn at a man flipping her the bird in the next car.
"Hermione, calm down," Remus stared at his wife wide eyed. He knew she was a spitfire but had never seen her like this before.
"I will not! He cut me off!" She slammed her hand on top of the steering wheel and swerved into the next lane, rewarding herself with screeching tires and angry horns all around.
Remus was about to have a panic attack, clutching onto the door with white knuckled fingers, when finally Hermione turned into the hospital parking lot unscathed.
She parked, slung open the car door, and slammed it shut. Remus followed her, eyes flying up to the heavens to thank the gods for their safe arrival. He circled the car and headed behind his wife into the hospital, glad now that his car sickness had passed.
"I'm Mr. Granger's daughter," Hermione informed the woman sitting at the nurse's desk, forcing a polite smile.
Remus placed his hand on Hermione's lower back and followed her up the corridor and into room number 114. Mr. Granger was stretched out in his hospital bed, eyes closed, and black and blue.
Hermione managed to keep herself from sobbing openly at the sight of her broken father, but she could help but allow hot tears to escape down her cheeks. She sat beside her father as Remus closed the door and the witch drew her wand, murmuring over her father's body.
Some of the bruising vanished, leaving just enough so that no one suspected anything. She took a slow-working healing potion out of her purse and poured it down her father's throat, glad when he swallowed the sweet liquid reflexively.
"This will work over the next week to help heal him faster. The doctors will find they don't need to perform any surgeries. They may be puzzled but at least he will heal correctly," Hermione rolled her eyes at the primitive Muggle way of handling injuries and illnesses.
"Good job, love," Remus wrapped his arms around her neck loosely, kissing the top of her head.
Hermione sniffled and reached out for her father's hand, squeezing it gently. He was hooked up to all sorts of machines and bags of fluid. Hermione didn't exactly know what each one of them was, but she hoped the Muggles were taking good care of him. It wouldn't do for her to have to snatch him out of the hospital and Obliviate all of the doctors and nurses.
Hermione breathed, eyes narrowing before she stood and headed for the door, Remus following close behind.
BBBB
"Well the doctors had no explanation for my sudden recovery, but they did know that whatever happened saved my life. If I had gone for another day, I would have bled to death. Apparently I was bleeding internally. And that's why you don't climb trees, kids," Mr. Granger forked his potato, shoving it in his mouth.
Hermione beamed at her father, knowing she was the reason he was fine.
"Grampa," Aariya flipped her hair over her shoulder in a prissy manner, "Will you see me off to the train this August? It is my first year, after all, and you're the most important to me," she batted her eyelashes, still having that child's charm over her grandparents even though she was ten years old.
Liam rolled his eyes, "Grampa doesn't want to see you off."
"Yeah he does!" Mr. Granger cut in, smirking at the kids, "I want to see this magic train."
"Well then he'll take you to the train station, Aariya. Dad and I will more than likely already be on the train," Hermione said matter-of-factly.
"Grampa has to see me off, too then!" Liam protested, his hair flashing a bright red with anger.
"You have two years to wait, Liam," Remus ruffled his son's hair, "You're just eight now."
"Fine," Liam crossed his arms and sunk back into his chair, sulking.
Isabelle let out a bit of a cough, "I want to see the train, Daddy."
"Then you'll see the train. Grampa can take you and Liam along with him," Remus answered his blond daughter with a warm smile.
The next month, all of the Lupins and Grangers were departing for the train. Another year at Hogwarts was about to commence.
Everyone piled in, except for Aariya. She stood, clinging to her grandfather for at least fifteen minutes before she finally pulled herself away, gave a little wave, and headed into the train.
Mr. Granger had be awed by how easily he and the children melted into the brick, running out to the other side to find a giant, beautiful train awaiting them. He loved magic, although he was just a Muggle.
(To be continued! Thanks for the good wishes. I'm feeling somewhat better. Please review!)