There was a hush when Draco entered the room as everyone turned to see the newcomer.

Ron quickly stepped between Hermione and Draco. "What are you doing here, Malfoy?" he asked.

"What do you think, Weasley?" Draco sardonically lifted his container. "Granger, I need to do some tests now that you are awake."

Hermione leaned around Ron to watch Draco. "More tests? The healers were already here, Malfoy," she said, frowning.

Draco lined the vials up along the side table. He shot her a sharp look. "Did you take anything?"

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "No. Why-"

Harry interrupted in an irritated tone. "He thinks that the healers here are incompetent."

Draco snorted. "Not just think. I proved it. I need a sample to experiment on as well, Granger." He said that last bit as a statement, but raised an eyebrow in question.

Hermione paused for a beat before asking, "Like a tissue sample?"

He nodded.

She considered this as both Ron and Harry blustered. Finally, she interrupted. "You said it was because of Malfoy that I'm awake?"

After a beat, Harry agreed sullenly.

Hermione gave Ron and Harry a stern look. "Then that will be fine," she said. Then she looked around the room, taking in all of her friends. "I'm very glad to see you all, but I have hospital things to attend to. How about we continue this once I'm discharged?" she asked with a smile.

Taking their cue, people began to say goodbye. There was talk about continuing things at a family dinner. Fairly quickly, it was decided that once Hermione was released from St. Mungo's there would be an especially large Sunday dinner at the Grimmauld House. Finally, everyone trickled out of the room, leaving only Harry, Teddy, Draco, and Hermione.

After the click of the door behind Ron and Ginny, Hermione turned her attention to Draco again. "So you figured out that I was dying from a potion because I was a werewolf? How did you learn that? What potion theory are you using? Have you been working with the werewolves?"

"I haven't done much with the werewolves," Draco replied absently as he picked up one of his vials. "I mostly used my own research that I started because of Teddy here. I haven't seen the need to get involved as they have someone competent enough with potions." He smirked in Harry's direction. "I checked."

Teddy had forgotten that Draco had asked for a sample of the modified wolfsbane potion. He also hadn't realized his Uncle had been checking it for safety.

"Really?" Hermione asked, studying him and then flicking her gaze over to Teddy. "What can you tell me about your research?"

Draco nodded and explained the tests distractedly as he continued his work. Hermione cocked her head, listening intently. Occasionally she asked questions about what he was doing, which Draco answered readily. Harry was silent, watching hawkishly as Draco cast diagnostic spells and took a tissue sample.

Draco didn't react, ignoring Harry's stare, as he explained the results of the tests. Finally, he said with a grim smile, that it appeared nothing was wrong with her health except a new case of lycanthropy. "You'll have to do more follow-ups to keep an eye on side effects," he said, "and have all of your inoculations updated. Just choose someone that doesn't work at the hospital."

"You really don't trust them?" Hermione asked.

Harry snorted.

Draco actually glared at him. "I have reason to."

Hermione considered this and finally said, "What about following up with you? I'd like to learn more about your research and it seems like you might be my best independent option."

Draco looked momentarily pleased before busying himself with cleaning up the vials. "I suppose I could make some time in my schedule. I do want to write up a paper on my findings."

"I think that would be great," Hermione said with a smile. "At least all this can improve our understanding of werewolves and magic."

Draco snorted. "Only you could turn this into a quest for knowledge, Granger."

…

After Draco cleared her, it didn't take long for St. Mungo's to grudgingly clear her as well. The pack healer came by and listened with a sour expression as Hermione explained that she wasn't interested in taking any of her potions.

"I'd like to see him try to practice magical medicine," the pack healer grumbled under her breath after she caught onto the thinly veiled insults Draco had thrown her way. Then her eyes turned to Hermione and her face softened. "Not that I blame you, dear. It is a perfectly natural reaction to your experience here. Please understand that we did everything we could for you and are personally very concerned for your health."

Hermione smiled awkwardly. "I'm sure you did. How could you have suspected that I had changed into a werewolf when it was several days until the full moon?"

"Yes. Yes, of course, dear," the old woman said, looking relieved that Hermione didn't blame her.

Hermione got several similar admonishments from the St. Mungo's staff, as she started making noises about leaving. Teddy wondered if it was for show. Maybe the staff just wanted to make sure that it was known that they cared about a war hero's health. Although the sentiment was twenty years too late for it to make a difference.

Finally, Harry and Hermione finally convinced them to discharge her that same day. Then they headed to Harry's place. Apparently during all the ruckus of the reunions, Harry and Ginny had talked Hermione into staying with them for the time being. Harry also made it clear that Teddy should return to his Auror duties outside of Lilith's case.

Teddy didn't want to leave. He had been expecting a moment to talk to Hermione after she realized he was telling her the truth. Then he would have a chance to ask her about what she remembered of her attack or any leads she had been following leading up to it. However, it was also clear that Harry was intent on having his own debriefing time with Hermione and Teddy wasn't allowed to get in the way of that.

So Teddy apparated to the Ministry.

Hasan was working at their desks and looked up as Teddy approached. "How did it go?" Hasan asked.

Teddy flashed him a tired smile. "Well, she is alive." Then he leaned closer and lowered his voice. "And definitely a werewolf."

Hasan's eyebrows shot up and then nodded. "Not that that is a surprise, given everything."

Teddy shrugged. "I suppose I still hoped we were wrong somehow. That she didn't have to end up being a werewolf."

Hasan watched him contemplatively for a moment before asking, "You think it really will be that bad? She was well-loved before all this. Won't she be hailed as the returning war-hero and all that?"

Teddy grunted noncommittally. "They didn't do it with my dad. Sure, they talk about him with more respect than they do about other werewolves. But they act like sacrificing himself in the final battle was the best thing that he could have done with his life," he said bitterly.

Hasan winced. "Sorry, Ted." He drummed his fingers on the desk. "Do you think we can do anything to help Hermione? Make her transition easier or whatever."

Teddy collapsed into his desk chair. "I don't know. I wish that this killer wasn't likely a werewolf. It is giving werewolves more bad press just as everyone finds out that she is one."

Hasan leaned back in his chair and whistled. "Hard luck, that."

"It is so messed up," Teddy grumbled. "If the murderer was some old pure-blood no one would suddenly be shouting for regulations of them."

"You know I back you up on this. With Hermione, with the case, I always have." Hasan glanced over sternly. "Because there is nothing wrong with being a werewolf."

"Yeah, I know," Teddy mumbled, feeling guilty all over again.