Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I own nothing of hers!
Chapter 3
Hours passed. Rose was still lying unconscious in the bed. Hermione was either caressing Rose's face or holding her hand the whole time. Hermione answered numerous questions about Rose's health, Hermione's pregnancy, their day to day activities; anything that could explain Rose's condition. Hermione thought back to when Nurse Bell asked about Rose's father.
Hermione took in a sharp breath.
"He's not in Rose's life." Hermione said mustering all the courage she could. Nurse Bell looked surprised.
"Oh, I just assumed..." Nurse Bell responded realizing what she had called her earlier.
"I'm terribly sorry. What would you like to be referred to by, ma'am?"
"Hermione is fine." Nurse Bell gave a tight lipped smile and continued with Rose's health history. Hermione figured something like that would happen. After all, she was one part of the 'Golden Trio.' Most assumed Ron and Hermione were still seeing each other. She had done a good job of fooling them all. Leaving and not looking back seemed to be the right decision. The nurses assured her of her privacy and the only ones who were told that someone so famous was at St. Mungo's were on the case with them. That still didn't stop Hermione from worrying that her secret may finally be revealed.
A light knock was heard at the door. Hermione jumped at the sudden intrusion of her thoughts. She'd wondered how many times she'd have to be shaken out of her own brain tonight. She glanced at the clock; it was almost a quarter past six. They'd already been there for twelve hours. A small woman came into the room. She was short and thin with straight caramel hair pulled back into a low bun. She wore the uniform like the other nurses, but wore a muggle white lab coat over them. She shut the door behind her as Hermione straightened herself in her chair. The woman approached the bed where Rose laid. She looked at the small girl and Hermione looked at the woman. After a moment, the woman returned her gaze to Hermione.
"Hello, I am Healer Clarke, specialist in magical and muggle healing." She smiled at Hermione. Her voice was quiet and sweet. "I have been overseeing the diagnosis enchantments that the nurses have been compiling and I am now the head of Rose's case."
"Did you discover anything?" Hermione asked, he eyes wide, fearful of the answer.
Healer Clarke drew her lips into a tight line. She glanced at Rose again, and then back to Hermione.
"I am sorry to say that we haven't discovered what exactly is causing Rose to be in this state." Hermione's eyes pooled with fresh tears.
"We have however," Healer Clarke continued, "done a series of tests telling us what it is not. We've eliminated many possibilities, and now we have a better idea of what it could be." Hermione's blood started to boil. She nodded, not trusting her voice or her temper for a response.
"We're moving on to a more complex set of diagnosis spells. These spells, they are..." Healer Clarke seemed to be searching for the right words. "...more serious. They reveal things far more dangerous than we'd like to find in sweet little Rose."
Hermione's tears started to fall. She released a sob, and placed her head in her hands. She already knew it was serious. But, hearing the words from someone at St. Mungo's made it all too real for her. Healer Clarke walked closer and hesitated before kneeling down in front of Hermione.
"I promise you that I am doing everything in my power to determine what is happening to Rose. And when we do, I will do everything I can to heal her." Hermione sobbed harder.
Healer Clarke continued. "I've made her my only patient- my only priority is your little girl."
Hermione tried to gain some composure. She looked at Healer Clarke. Hermione thought she could only be a few years older than her. Making her what, 26? 28? Hermione thought for a moment how experienced she could really be if she was so young. The thought troubled her.
"Thank you" she managed. Healer Clarke smiled and nodded. She looked at Hermione's blouse.
"Would you like to go and change clothes?" Healer Clarke asked. Hermione looked down at her blouse, once a lightweight cream colored beauty. It was now marked with crusty blood stains. Her eyes moved to Rose in her semi-peaceful sleep. She shook her head and swallowed. She felt like a complete and utter mess.
"I can't leave her." She whispered, taking Rose's hand in two of hers. Healer Clarke looked at the small child and her mother and started the next round of diagnosing spells.
A/N: Thank you all for the reviews and support! This is so much more than I ever thought it could be. I'm hoping to post chapter four as well tonight! Stay tuned and please let me know what you think!