"Hermione thank you so much for agreeing to do this."Augusta Longbottom said as she met Hermione in the head healer's office at St.Mugos.She had been given instruction from Severus to watch out for Hermione and not let the hospital staff try to interfere with Hermione's work.Augusta felt honored that Hermione was left in her care and would do anything to make sure the girl wasn't bothered. She had already submitted the legal documents to allow Hermione to take over the treatment of her son and daughter in law.Helga had not disguised her disproval upon learning that Hermione wasn't going to team up with hospital on the project and Augusta predicted that there was going to be some push back from the her in the future.
"Hello Augusta,Helga.It's no problem.I've always found the brain an interesting subject and have taken numerous classes in the muggle world about the inner workings of it."Hermione told her.
This surprised Augusta.Andromeda had mentioned that Hermione was a talented healer but she hadn't realized that Hermione was trained by muggles as well."You have studied in the muggle world?"
"I have a medical degree from Oxford."Hermione had been accepted into medical school when she was 13 and graduated in two years after her mentor helped her fast track the courses.
"That is very impressive."Augusta had never heard of a witch or wizard that had a muggle medical degree.
"It has helped greatly in my research."Hermione told her.
"That being said you have been cleared to take over my son and daughter in laws care."Augusta said.
"Yes you have now let's get started.What is it you need to do?"Helga asked.
"I want to examine each of them individually.Would you please set us up in a private exam room and bring in one of them.It doesn't matter who."Hermione told her.
Helga led them out of the room where they were met by two other healers."This is Mindy and Amber.I've assigned them to help you on this project."
"I was promised that you wouldn't interfere."Hermione said.
Helga scowled."Regardless of who you are this is still my hospital and I will not allow you to treat any of these patients without a hospital representative."
"That's not what we agreed to."Hermione told Augusta.
"It is not."Augusta turned her attention to Helga."As I told you I worked out with the hospital's legal team that St.Mugos is no longer in charge of my son and daughter in law's care.They are allowed to live here and be taken care of by your people under the recommendations of Hermione's treatment plan because of the large sum of money I agreed to pay every month in return.That means you will not interfere."
"I don't care what you worked out this my hospital."Helga began only to be cut off by Augusta.
"Would you be so kind to have one of your guards go fetch someone from the legal department?"Augusta asked Hermione.
"Would one of you please do as Augusta asked?"Hermione didn't think losing one of her guards was a big deal because she had a dozen with her.Ever since finding out why her name was put in the cup Aart had insisted on increased security.
"Of course Hermione."The lead guard motioned for one of her people to go.
"Here are the files you requested."Augusta figured if they were going to have to wait at least Hermione could begin to look over the files.
"Thanks."Hermione opened the file from the ministry report of the actual incident.It wasn't that detailed as they had to rely on the perpetrators who did it to tell them what happened.She hadn't really expected that much.Before she got to the medical files her guard returned with a man dressed in formal robes.
"Good Gerald you are here."Augusta was happy it was one the lawyer that she made the deal with.
"I heard there was some confusion on what was allowed and what wasn't."Gerald said.
"Helga is insisting on being allowed to have healers help Hermione with her treatment of my family."Augusta told him.
"I see, well that is not going to happen."Gerald said.
"Yes it is.Hermione is only going to be allowed to treat my patients if she is accompanied by members of the staff."Helga smirked."The only way I will allow her complete freedom is if she agrees to officially and exclusively work for the hospital."
"I'm sorry Helga but the board of directors have agreed to give permission to Me.Granger to take over as the exclusive healer for the Longbottoms.The terms were set that the hospital will continue the day to day care following the treatment plan Ms.Granger puts in place.Ms.Granger is to be given full access and to be left alone with no interference from St.Mugos or any of their healers."Gerald explained.
"Then she has to be a member of the staff."Helga demanded.
Gerald shook his head."Ms.Granger is working independently and will not be required to be an employee of the hospital.If you in any way interfere then you will receive punishment for insubordination."
Helga's faced turned into rage."I'm the head healer you would dare go against me!"
"I don't care if you were the minister.The contracts are legally binding.So either you comply or you will be face the consequences."Gerald warned.
"I will be taking this up with the board."Helga narrowing her eyes at Augusta before she spoke."I don't care if you are the head of one the sacred 28 you don't run my hospital.So don't get to comfortable because this arrangement won't be permanent."
"Helga in your office now!"Gerald demanded.Watching her go he apologized to Augusta."I'm sorry.I will be speaking to the board about Helga's behavior.If you have any other problems please don't hesitate to let me know."
"Thank you for your help Gerald."Augusta shook the man's hand.After he was gone she chuckled."Well I knew this was going to be eventful but I didn't expect that to happen."
"I'm not that surprised.Helga has been trying to get me to work exclusively with the hospital since she took over as head healer."Hermione told her.
"It would make sense because it would guarantee any new thing you cured would be linked to the hospital making it easier to get more grants and donations."Augusta was told by Andromeda that most of the hospitals funding came from Hermione's achievements.As a witch of legal age Hermione didn't need to associate with them anymore.If anything Helga should be more willing to cater to Hermione as it would make her want to work with the hospital in the future.
"I'm working with my family to take care of that problem."Hermione said.
Although interested in what Hermione meant by that Augusta wanted to get started.Turning to the shell shocked healers still standing with them she asked."Would you please show us to an exam room and have my son escorted there for Hermione."
"Right this way."Amber said as she led them down the hall with Mindy going off in a different direction to get her son.Opening a door to a room that contained just a single bed and two chairs Amber waved them inside."Will this work for you?"
"It will be fine thank you."Hermione said.
"We will leave 4 guards in the room with you and the rest will be outside the door and securing the hall way."The lead Veela guard told Hermione.
"My son isn't violent."Augusta was highly offended that the guards didn't trust her.
"It isn't that ma'am.Wr have orders from our clan elder to never leave Hermione alone.We even have people who stay in her living quarters while she's there."The Veela explained.
"That is fine then."Augusta said.
"Here is Mr.Longbottom."Mindy said as she led a frail looking black haired man into the room.
Hermione immediately took the man's arm and led him to the bed for him to sit down."That will be all for now.We will let you know when we are done and want to see his wife."
"We'll wait outside the room."Mindy said closing the door behind her.
"Hello my name is Hermione and I'm here to see if I can make you better."Hermione told the man as she approached him.He didn't acknowledge her in any way but she expected that."Can you please hand me my bag?"
Augusta watched as one of the guards handed Hermione a leather bag.Looking in the bag she couldn't identify any of the items in it.When Hermione put something in her ears and put the round disk attached to it under her son's gown she asked."What are you doing?"
"I'm listening to his heart.I'm going to do a physical first to see how healthy he is.I can already tell that he is malnourished and his muscles are atrophied."Hermione knew that she was going to have to explain everything she was going to do but she didn't mind.Augusta was not used to muggle healing so most of the things Hermione was going to do would be confusing to her.
"Why has the hospital let that happen?"Augusta knew what malnourishment meant and knew that it wasn't good.
Hermione shrugged as she moved on to listening to the man's lungs."I suspect that they have a hard time getting him to eat and what he does eat isn't foods high in calories or essential vitamins and fats."
"Can you recommend something to help with that?"Augusta asked.
"One of the things I'm going to do is put together a detailed menu that will include feeding times."Hermione said.
"I don't trust the hospital to follow it so if you give it to me personally I will have my own elves prepare the food and bring it to the hospital."After Helga's outburst Augusta wasn't going to put her faith in any of Hermione's treatment to actually be followed through on."How are you going to fix the atrophied muscles?"
"That is actually going to be a little tricky.I have a potion that could help but both patients aren't in control of their bodies so if given to them it would do more bad than good.What I'm going to do is train the healers to manually work out their body's.The muggles call the technique physical therapy.It's very successful in helping patients build muscles and in some cases relearn how to use certain body functions.That is something that I predict will be needed even if I cure them."Hermione told her.
"That doesn't sound to bad."Augusta said.
"It isn't."Hermione pulled out her light pen and flashed it in Augusta's son's eyes. She was happy to see the pupils react normally."We have some good news.His eyes are still working properly.That means that his ocular nerve wasn't damaged."
"That is good."Augusta was relieved to hear something positive about her son's health.The healers in charge of him hadn't even checked to see if he could see.This just reaffirmed her belief that Hermione would be able to help them.
Pulling out her reflex hammer Hermione tapped on his knees.In response both kicked.She checked the rest of his body for any kind of pain or amoralities. Hermione was pleased with the results."Just as I suspected."
"What?"Augusta asked.
"His nervous system wasn't damaged.He responds properly to all stimulus and shows no sign of pain.That proves my theory that only a portion of the brain was affected."Hermione told her.
"Is that good?"Augusta hoped it was.
Hermione waved her hand back and forth."Yes and no.Yes it's good because if cured the body will recover quickly.No in that we don't know exactly which part of brain and how much damage was done to it."
"How do you found out?"Augusta was at loss on how to go forward with any of this.
"If you agree I would like to take both of them to a muggle hospital where I will have a machine scan their brains.That will allow me to see in detail what damage was done."Hermione said.
Augusta pushed back her discomfort at the idea of using a muggle machine and reminded herself that this is the reason she came to Hermione."I will gladly allow it."
"Good are you available on Saturday?"Hermione had plans with Fleur but would ask her to reschedule to Sunday as the Longbottom case was a lot more time sensitive than the blood malediction.
"I'm available but how would we get them to the hospital?"Augusta asked.
"I have townhouse that I use to travel by floo there to reach the hospital.I can meet you here and we can go together."Hermione offered.
"That would work."Augusta would just have to meet with her lawyer to make sure that no one would fight with them about releasing the couple for the day.
"Good then why don't we send him back and I can examine his wife then we will make set plans."Hermione said.
"I know I said it before but it's worth saying again.Thank you Hermione for helping me with this."Augusta knew that saying thank you would never be enough to repay Hermione for her help.She was trying to stamp down her hope but Hermione had already caught two problems the hospital neglected.The fact that Hermione had a way to see exactly where the damage was and how much was done was incredible.Augusta had been holding off telling her grandson about this but if they found out something on Saturday she was going to tell him everything and if everything went well all she would have was positive news.