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Chapter 12: Early Morning Intervention
As Tonks had suspected the removal of one fire whiskey bottle had not stopped the pity party continuing. As soon as she had left, one of the Twins had whipped out another bottle of Firewhiskey. After a round to calm the nerves down about Tonks' temper tantrum and then one round in sympathy for a man in the dog house the rounds had continued until they had not just finished off one bottle but several bottles as observed by Tonks when she came downstairs with Teddy in her arms very early the next morning.
Thinking to kick the boot in some more she retrieved a set of sharpies from the common kitchen cupboard and drew on all of them in their state of intoxication. Auror Tonks Lupin really loved the white marker for dear old Kingsley, her former Auror partner. So after doing her Salvador Dali impressions on all five reprobates the Metaphoric witch retrieved her camera to snap away to her heart's content. Perfect some blackmail material. Now lets move on to stage two of kicking the boot in, thought Tonks.
Dear old Minerva McGonagall, yeah lets get her in to kick some heads together and make them feel the pain. Minerva was always an early riser so a floo call and let her have a piece of the action to make a group of males suffer thought the annoyed Auror.
Minerva flooed through to have a cup of tea with Tonks and Teddy at about 6:30am where the two women discussed the situation of what to do about the young Miss Granger. With some discussion they worked out an initial plan and then decided to gain some further technical advice in the shape of Poppy Pomfrey. Another floo call and a second pot of tea was currently being consumed by the three scheming women.
Madam Pomfrey went up to Hermione's room to check on her and found that she was awake. After reviewing her health situation with her she assisted her in her ablutions and dressing for the day before levitating her downstairs to the library where the mini coven reconvened with Teddy sitting on Hermione's lap. Poppy was in one wingback chair while Tonks had taken up residence in another to watch a Head of House scare the willies out of some former students of hers. The joys of watching an expert at work this should be good!
With the library doors fully opened Minerva McGonagall rolled up her sleeves, pulled out her wand and gave a quick glance at her audience. With a nod she went into action. With her wand she arranged icy cold-water balloons over the men who were haphazardly snoring round the lounge area and then released them before reaching to nab the ear of Kingsley Shacklebolt as he jumped up from the couch he had been sprawled all over. Professor McGonagall had set a Sonorus charm to her throat and proceeded to berate all of them for unbecoming behaviour as Hogwarts students. There were several groans and the group of very hung over wizards found themselves frog marched to the hallway in front of the library.
There were bails of laughter when the ladies in the Library observed Tonks' artwork. It was only at that point did the suffering wizards realize that they had been in the receipt of some creative drawing. Minerva McGonagall had transfigured a low mirror that was propped against the coffee table so that the hung over males could see the creative effect for themselves.
Remus came into the library to kiss his wife and give her an apology to which she turned her cheek before snatching her son up from Hermione to pass him to his father. "You both stink so I would suggest bathing and changing before coming downstairs".
"Ok smelly, me and you are going to have first dibs on the hot water", Remus whispered into his baby son's ear. After casually walking past the rest of the reprobates the werewolf ran up the stairs to make sure he got into the bathroom first.
"Kingsley can I have a moment of your time please?" asked Minerva McGonagall formally. After closing the library doors on the other imbeciles who had too much to drink, Minerva turned back and seated herself in a wing chair near Hermione.
"Here have a wet wipe and scrub the marker pen off your face. It would not do if our Minister had his photo in the paper like this. Plus I can't take anything you say seriously with the white moe drawn on your face," Tonks advised her former Auror partner.
"Hermione dear, I understand about your parents and I am sorry for your loss. I know you have sacrificed a lot for the war so I want to ask what do you want to do now? Or better still what would you dream of doing if you could have any dream?" Minerva asked with a calm serene tone.
"I really don't know to tell you the truth as I always thought that it was highly unlikely that I would live through the war. I knew I had one of the biggest bulls eyes painted on me for just being Harry's friend. While Ron and Harry talked of wanting to be Aurors I never wanted to be one and personally I am sick of all the killing, all the fighting. I have always wanted to do research and further post graduate study but which subject area I have not a clue. I like more than one subject area. I have a passion for learning and I really don't want to be associated with the Ministry cause I am sorry Kingsley I don't have a lot of faith in the current system," advised the chocolate eyed witch.
"Well how about coming back to Hogwarts and doing some study. I know from Kingsley that you have automatically been awarded your NEWTs but you have always seem to me the type of person who wants to get them on your own merits. Harry is talking about doing his NEWTs as part of an evening class program. We could help you do them either way. I am sure that we can find a part time position in the school to keep your mind occupied when you are not in rehabilitation," suggested the Deputy Headmistress.
"I just don't want to be a burden," advised Hermione not knowing what to say. At this point she was desperately trying not to cry. The young witch's eyes felt scratchy and like they were on stalks sticking out of her eye sockets. She had to remain strong for herself cause if she showed any weakness then the bullies would be in to prey on her.
"You will never be a burden Hermione Granger. We the wizarding world are in your debt and we will be making it up to you for the rest of our lives," asserted the Scotswoman.
"Unfortunately I am too much of a realist to believe that Professor. Kingsley if I go back what can I do about security cause if I am in a wheelchair I am going to be an easy target for someone to have a pot shot at," asked the concerned witch. Hermione slowly licked her lips trying to hide the rise in her pulse rate as her anxiety was increasing.
If she was not careful any minute now she could perform accidental magic. Goodness sake would people ever stop looking at her and just let her be. The flight and fight feeling was definitely present. Hermione started to count in her mind backwards from 10 saying each number three times in an attempt to get the anxiety level down. Solutions Focus think of the Solution Think on the solution rather than about the problem was a secondary mantra running through her brain faster than the speed of light.
"Well we can get an Auror to shadow you initially," advised the Minister of Magic seeing a slight crackling of Hermione's power round her mane of hair. Need to be careful here as she could strike us accidently if she feels too threatened thought Kingsley.
"Yeah right protection detail wasted on me in a school when we have Death Eaters who still need to be mopped up," snapped Hermione. The young witch was frustrated by the thought that she would now be dependant on others to do routine daily activities so was loosing her hard fought for independence.
"Well we will have an Auror based in the school any way as they will be team teaching so they can shadow you initially while you are getting into the swing of things.
I have called in a few favours and we are transferring you to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham with the Selly Oaks Team. Madam Pomfrey is going with you well as she is your primary care physician. When we get their report you and Poppy can develop a treatment program based on what you want for your outcomes and what you feel is appropriate for your needs", advised Kingsley pulling his Ministerial Executive tone on her.
"Thank you Kingsley. Can I put my decision about Hogwarts on hold Professor McGonagall until we know the Selly Oaks recommendations? I don't want to muck anyone about and I don't just want to be a spare wheel. I need to be active I acknowledge that but I don't want be burden or a liability. It does not help that I don't know what I really want to do so I am just fuzzy with the goals at the moment," explained the young witch trying to convey her maturity. Sitting on the couch she looked younger than her almost 18 years.