Chapter 32
Harry sat with Integra in the examination room, awaiting the verdict from her physician. Once again she'd had to authorize his presence, which irritated her more than him. She had complained about the cold, so he was sitting next to her on the exam table and she had his coat draped over her.
"Thanks again for coming with me Harry. I really don't like doctors." Integra said. Harry chuckled.
"You know I'd never seen one until the mandatory physical I had when I joined Hellsing? All of my medical issues were handled by Poppy." Harry said.
"You're kidding. What about immunizations?" She asked. Harry frowned.
"Nope. It's a miracle I didn't get really sick as a kid. I took care of them since though, so I'm not too likely to give you rubella." Harry said with a grin.
"Do you think Poppy would mind taking on a muggle patient?" Integra asked. Harry laughed.
"Poppy will help anyone whether they like it or not. Seras was drinking a vial of my blood when I went there to drop off a crate of dreamless sleep I'd brewed out of boredom, and I said something stupid and she choked. Five minutes later Seras was up on her table with a tongue depressor in her mouth and Poppy's wand aimed between her eyes." Harry said.
"Is she the only member of the medical staff?" Integra asked.
"For now. She's in her sixties, but for a witch that's barely middle aged, and she adores children, however because of the wars... well a lot of kids died before even making it to Hogwarts." Harry said, his expression falling.
"That's awful." Integra said.
"Buuuuut I'm doing my part to ensure her job security! In the meantime I've worked out a deal with St. Mungos to send some of their junior mediwizards and mediwitches to intern under her. It would take some of the load off her, and provide invaluable experience and mentorship for the students." Harry said. The door opened, and Integra's physician walked into the room.
"Good morning Ms. Hellsing. Oh, I didn't know... Emperor Potter?" The physician said, flabbergasted.
"Please just call me Harry, that emperor nonsense was supposed to be a joke." Harry said, grinning and holding out a hand. She shook it nervously.
"It's an honor..." She said but he interrupted her.
"No it isn't, I'm really a lot more trouble than it's worth." Harry said, giggling.
"So are you, Ms. Hellsing's boyfriend?" The Physician asked.
"Nope! I'm her sperm donor and good friend." Harry said.
"Best friend." Integra corrected him. He smiled fondly at her.
"Oh and I see you're on the privacy agreement too." The physician said.
"Thank you for actually reading it before trying to have me manhandled out of here." Harry said, half-joking. "May I ask your name?" Harry continued.
"Imogene Diggory." She said. Harry's eyes widened.
"Were you related to Cedric?" Harry asked. She nodded sadly.
"He was my cousin." Imogene said.
"I'm so sorry." Harry said.
"Don't be, I know the story Harry. I hate that we lost Cedric, but you avenged him." Imogene said.
"So, to the point at hand. Your suspicion was correct, you have gestational diabetes. Most of the time it clears up after the baby is born, but for now we will be putting you on a special diet, and we're going to give you a glucose meter. I'll show you how to use it." Imogene said, handing her a booklet that detailed foods to avoid.
"Don't worry, Ascott and I can definitely work with this." Harry said, looking down at it over her shoulder.
"He cooks too?" Imogene said, longingly. Integra grinned
"That's why I said!" Integra said.
"I cook for you all the time, don't even give me that." Harry said with a smile.
"I put in the order for the glucose meter, I'm just waiting for it to arrive. Do you have any questions in the meantime?" Imogene asked.
"Not really, the booklet really answers most of it." Integra said, thumbing through it.
"I have one. How do you like working here?" Harry asked.
"It's fine. When I was a little girl I wanted to be a mediwitch, but when my Hogwarts letter never came, I decided to pursue muggle medicine." Imogene said.
"Why didn't you get a letter?" Integra asked. Imogene sighed.
"Dr. Diggory is what we call a 'squib' which is a term I'm not hugely fond of. It means she was born without magic, but into a magical family. Most used to tend to integrate into the muggle world. Argus Filch over at Hogwarts is one notable exception." Harry said.
"Used to?" Imogene said. Harry nodded.
"Well a bit of wishful thinking on my part. I've been weeding out a lot of the pureblood influence in government. I've actually devoted an entire department in the new government to reaching out to squibs that had fled oppression in the magical world and offering to welcome them back. Molly Weasley gave me the idea when she stared looking for her second cousin." Harry said.
"There are places for Squibs in magical Britain now?" Imogene asked, looking surprised. Harry nodded enthusiastically.
"Oh God yes, we're trying to modernize society and Squibs are essential to that. Also, so many people died, our population is close to being unsustainable. Furthermore, it's just stupid that so many families get broken up because one or two of their members can't tie their shoes by waving a stick at them." Harry said, laughing at the last.
"I should write my family." Imogene said. They were interrupted by a nurse bringing in Integra's glucose monitor and showing them how to use it. Imogene also told Harry to check with Poppy to see if there were any blood sugar testing spells that he could whip out during an emergency. Before the cure was developed, diabetes was a common disease amongst the sugar-addicted, low-activity wizarding population.
"Before we leave, Dr. Diggory, I'll ask again, do you like it here? I mean at this particular clinic? I ask because an idea I've had on the back burner is integrating muggle medicine into St. Mungo's and Hogwarts' infirmary. Both worlds have holes that the other could fill." Harry said. Imogene pondered that.
"I'm interested, but I did flee the wizarding world for a reason. Squibs were not treated well back then." Imogene said.
"They still aren't... yet. I've been cracking down hard on bigotry in all forms. I'm not giving them the chance to ease into it either, I've already made some waves." Harry said grinning.
"Oh really? What did you put a werewolf in charge of foreign relations?" Imogene asked sarcastically.
"No, he's the minister of transportation." Harry said.
"Wait, what?" Imogene asked.
"Eric Schultz. Werewolf, helped me overthrow the ministry. Good man, knows his stuff. Bit of an ass when it comes to budget meetings." Harry said with a grin. Imogene stared at him
"I made my arch enemy in school, a former death eater, the minister of communications. At first I just made him answer my mail but he's proven adept at dealing with managing the post office and handling public relations with the wizarding press, and soon he's going to be introducing a system of magical cell phones to Britain." Harry said.
"You're filling the government with death eaters and werewolves?" Imogene asked.
"Well its more than that. Our commerce minister is a goblin named Grimrock. Our foreign relations minister is a Veela who spent the last ten years in Finland because the ministry kept pushing them out of the country. Her assistant is a human witch who is extremely gifted in public speaking, she handles face to face meetings because most of the European leaders are men with little self control. Arthur Weasley, world-famous muggle technology fanatic and proud bearer of the title 'blood traitor' is our muggle relations minister. My goal was to foster representation, and quite frankly squibs are not yet represented. I really could use a minister of health and wellness... hint hint." Harry said with a grin.
"What!?" Imogene asked incredulously.
"Pay's good. Benefits are top notch. And your boss would be the sexiest wizard ever, owner of Hogwarts and pretend God Emperor." Harry said. Integra punched his arm.
"Also please don't hit me. I have enough of that in my life." Harry said, glaring at Integra who laughed unrepentantly.
"I will strongly consider it. At the very least I would need to give this clinic time to find a replacement." Imogene said.
"Of course. I can be reached by post or phone at the Hellsing Organization. Integra, do you have any business cards on you?" Harry asked. Integra nodded and handed her one.
"You really should carry yours with you, especially if you're going to be recruiting at my health appointments." Integra said with a grin.
"I have business cards?! That's awesome!" Harry said. Integra shook her head.
"The man is a head of state, conqueror of the most dangerous wizard of all time, savior of London and he is excited about his business cards." Integra said. Imogene laughed.
"What is my title listed on them? God Emperor? Vampire Hunter? Green-eyed Adonis?" Harry asked, nimbly dodging out of the way of Integra's swinging hand.
A few details were handled with reception, and then Harry walked with Integra to his car. She was having more and more trouble getting in and out of the car thanks to the pregnancy, so he carefully helped her in.
"Are you tired?" Harry asked. Integra thought for a minute and shook her head.
"Not really, why?" Integra asked.
"Luna has several sugar-free ice cream options." Harry said. Integra smiled brightly.
"That sounds wonderful." Integra said. Harry nodded and drove the Jag to a parking garage and they made their way through to Diagon Alley. They made it most of the way to Florean Fortescue's before they bumped into Remus, Sirius and Tonks, who was holding Teddy.
"Hey Sirius! You know it's the damnedest thing. I'm out of galleons and the bank is right over there!" Harry said. Sirius paled and hid behind Remus, who laughed at him mercilessly.
"I'm just kidding Sirius stop being a pussy. What are you three up to?" Harry asked, before walking over to tonks and stealing his godson who giggled and hugged him.
"Potions ingredients and the nerd here wants to look at a new runes book that came out." Tonks said, pointing at Remus. Teddy caught Integra's eye and smiled brightly at her.
"I'm not ashamed of my intellectual pursuits." Remus said dramatically. Teddy reached her arms out towards Integra who was surprised by the gesture. She looked to Tonks.
"May I?" Integra asked.
"Of course!" Tonks said and Harry handed Teddy to her. He immediately started laughing and hugging her.
"Integra and I were about to go hit up Fortescue's. Also I might have found a minister of health and wellness." Harry said.
"Oh lord this should be good." Remus said.
"Cedric Diggory's cousin, Imogene. She's a squib and a very skilled muggle doctor. Wizards cure everything with fresh air, potions, magic, or just ignoring it until they're dead. I think Imogene could really do some good by bringing in advice and regulations based on her experience and her scientific knowledge." Harry said. Harry was confused because Tonks, Remus and Sirius were staring behind him.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked, turning around. Integra was smiling and making faces at Teddy, whose hair was now platinum blonde and his eyes were bright blue to match Integra's.
"Is something wrong?" Integra asked, looking concerned. Then it clicked for Harry.
"Oh, you guys didn't know Teddy is a metamorphmagus?" Harry asked calmly.
"You knew?!" Tonks demanded.