Chapter Three
Hermione sat opposite Harry in his office, she couldn't recall how she had got here, all she could remember was the blood on Draco's hand.
Harry was speaking to her but it was as if she where on the opposite side of the world to him and his words were gibberish.
Harry looked at his friend, not knowing how to support her, but he made a promise that he wouldn't abandon her. He had sent his Patronus to Ginny, who he was expecting to arrive any second and then he had sent Seamus to inform Headmistress McGonagall of the situation, he expected her to arrive shortly after Ginny. What he hadn't expected was Ron to walk into the office first,
"Ron…what are you doing here?" Harry asked, he looked at Hermione who hadn't moved, Harry got to his feet and beckoned Ron to follow him to the meeting room,
"I heard there was a disturbance" he said, "besides, the lead we had was a dud" Ron shrugged, "What's 'Ermione doing here"
"She witnessed a fellow Professor…" Harry sighed, "We had met up, she was waiting for Malfoy…"
"MALFOY?" Ron roared,
"Ronald, shut up…he's her colleague they had travelled down from Hogwarts together, she came to see me, he needed supplies. He was attacked and is in to St Mungo's, Hermione has been catatonic ever since" Harry said,
"I see she's still milking her so called PTSD" Ron quipped,
"Ronald!" both Harry and Ron turned to the door where Molly and Ginny where standing, "I can't believe you could be so heartless" Molly snapped,
"Go home Ron" Harry said, "We'll talk about your case on Monday" Harry said,
"Harry" Ginny looked at him as Ron stomped off,
"I don't know what to do, she won't speak, she didn't even react when Ron walked in" Harry sighed,
"And Malfoy?" Ginny asked,
"I need to go back to St Mungo's, but I don't want to leave Hermione alone, I mean I literally, not but three hours ago say to her I would never abandon her again" he closed his eyes and ran his hand through his hair,
"Mr Potter?"
"Harry?"
"'Arry"
Harry looked past his wife to see Seamus, being followed closely by, Professor McGonagall, Neville, Luna and Hagrid,
"My office is too small for everyone" He groaned, "Seamus" he called, "Take everyone to the Open Room, I will be there in just a minute, Professor McGonagall if you could come with me, Ginny, you and mum go with the others" he said softly "please I want to see if Professor McGonagall can get through to Hermione we'll be along in a minute" Ginny nodded and Harry lent forward and placed a kiss on her forehead before leading Professor McGonagall to his office,
"Oh Hermione Dear" Minerva gasped seeing the young woman sat, white as a ghost and staring ahead.
"She put pressure on Draco's wound, until we got him to St Mungo's and the healers took over, but since then she's been…"
"Catatonic" Minerva nodded, "Draco informed me that she still had some triggers but she was doing so well, what do you think caused this,"
"The blood" harry said, "I need to speak with the others before I go back to St Mungo's to get a report on Draco's condition, but I can't just leave her" he ran his hands through his hair,
"Would your wife be able to stay with her?" Minerva asked, "I will come and take her home, but as Draco has no next of kin, I have to check on his condition before I leave London" she explained, Harry nodded,
"Hermione" He whispered, taking her hand, only then realising that they were still covered in blood, "Shit, how could I have been so stupid" he groaned grabbing his wand "Accio" he called and a small bowl flew out of one of the cupboards, "Aguamenti" the bowl filled with water and Harry and Minerva gently washed Hermione's hands clean
"Hermione, its time to get up now" Minerva said guiding the younger woman.
Minerva sat Hermione in an armchair, holding her hand up when everyone rushed forward,
"Give her Space" she said simply and indicated that Harry was ready to speak with them all.
Harry made his way towards the intensive care ward, Minerva close on his heals,
"Mr Potter, where you able to get in contact with Mr Malfoy's next of kin" the healer asked when he spotted them,
"Unfortunately, he doesn't have any official next of kin, his father is dead and his mother isn't available, so Headmistress McGonagall is the closet he has." Harry indicated the older woman, "How is Mr Malfoy?"
"We believe we know what was on the knife, the only thing is we have no clue how it got into the UK" the Healer explained,
"That would be my job to find out then" Harry said, "So what is it?"
"Peruvian Vipertooth venom" the healer said, "It's rare and as the name states, its from Peru. We don't have the exact antivenom and we have had to remove his left kidney and we have managed to find several potions that have stopped the spread of the venom going any further. and now it's just a waiting game on how much damage has been done," the healer nodded before leading Professor McGonagall to the room and explaining that there where several documents to sign in behalf of the patient since he was unable to consent himself.
Harry fell against the wall and waited for his former Professor to return,
"Who the hell did you piss off" Harry sighed.
Ginny guided Hermione into an armchair, she and Molly had taken her to Ginny and Harry's home,
"There we go" Ginny smiled, "Harry will be back soon, I'm sure that he will have good news for you"
"I'll go make up your guest room" Molly said,
"Oh, mum you don't have to do that" Ginny said walking after her mother
Hermione stood from the chair and made her way to the fireplace picking up the green powder she stepped into the flames
Both Molly and Ginny ran into the room just in time to see the flash of green and Hermione disappearing from the fireplace,
"Harry is going to kill me" Ginny groaned.
"Hermione?" Harry ran to catch her after seeing her walking past, "Hermione" he placed a hand on her shoulder, "What are you doing here, I sent you home with Ginny" he asked,
"I need to be here" she mumbled, "My therapist, he told me to come back if I needed to talk"
"Ok, let me accompany you to him, I want to be able to support you" he smiled at her, Hermione nodded before continuing along the corridor.
They entered the, much to Harry's surprise, packed Psychiatry department, Hermione made her way to the front desk,
"Hermione" the receptionist greeted, Harry didn't see the face but he knew the voice,
"Katie?" Harry said as Hermione moved aside revealing their fellow Gryffindor and his Quidditch team mate.
"Hello Harry, I don't believer you have been to see us before," she smiled,
"I came to support Hermione…she's had a rough day" Harry nodded,
"Very well" Katie smiled, "Doctor Finch-Fletchley, is on a study day but he would be more than happy to see Hermione, take a seat" Katie smiled,
"Doctor?" Harry asked as they took two seats in the corner, "I thought that the wizarding world called them Healers?"
"They do, they never really had Psychiatry as a legitimate department, so, Justin spoke with Kingsley, who was able to get him a government grant to study the subject. The fact that both his parents were also Psychiatrist he was well versed, so manage to fast track, hence the reason he is Doctor and not Healer, he could go as Professor since he now trains healers to do it, but he still sees a few of us when we need him" Hermione said, her voice was monotone, but it was the most she had said to him since the attack,
"He really helps you a lot?" harry asked, "Just being here has helped?"
"Yes, I think my brain can rationalise that help is here…I asked Ron to come once but…" she began but stopped, "I don't want to talk about it now" she said,
"Of course," Harry nodded, "Shit I need to send Ginny a message she's probably worried where you are" He sighed getting to his feet, "I'll be right back" he said moving to a quiet room and sending the bright Stag to calm his wife's worries.
Draco's head was spinning, he couldn't open his eyes everything seemed so bright, he tried to remember where he was, what happened…he was in Diagon Alley, he was looking for someone…Hermione!
He sat up suddenly, regretting it imminently
"Shit" he groaned,
"Draco" he heard the Scottish accent of Minerva. Was he back at Hogwarts? "You need to lay down" the elderly witch said placing a hand on his shoulder, "The healer should be back soon" she reassured,
"What? Where…is Hermione?" Draco asked, his eyes finally adjusting to the brightness of what turned out to be a hospital room
"Hermione, is back at Hogwarts, you need to rest" the older woman said,
"What happened?" Draco asked, as he allowed the Minerva to lay him back down.
"You were stabbed, Miss Granger and Mr Potter rushed you here,"
"And Hermione, is she ok?"
"She's…" Minerva didn't want to lie to him, she had seen how close the two had come, they were good for one another "she's a little shaken up, but I'm sure she will be fine, she returned to the castle last night."
"She's not catatonic?" Draco said,
"She was, but Mr Potter informed me that she is doing better, she paid a visit to Dr Finch-Fletchley" Minerva said, "She is still a little…Shaken, but she is ok"
"she told me he was good, I'm glad she can still go speak with him. How long have I been here?" Draco asked finally relaxing
"It's been a month, there were some complications, but I'm not a healer so I'm sure that they can explain it better" the woman smiled, "I shall let them know you are awake"