Heya Everyone this chapter ended up slightly different to what I had originally planned. However the writing goes where it wants. Thank you so much to everyone who left Kudos and reviews they really inspire me to keep writing and I love hearing what you think!
The infirmary was quiet but busy when Hermione began to rouse from her deep slumber. She was taken aback at first by how good she felt at this moment, not used to having a body that was so free of pain and hunger.
She had managed to sleep deeply for the longest amount of time since the manor, the warmth and quiet keeping her comfortable and calm. Now her attempts at regaining consciousness fought with her body's wishes for more sleep, her eyes refusing to fully open as sleep still called to her senses.
Now as she was waking up fully the quiet shuffling of Madam Pomfrey as she walked around checking on everyone could be heard among the whispered chatting of the patients. The mediwitch stopped at the bed next to Hermione, tutting at the patient's progress before casting another spell and then moving on.
Soon enough she felt the presence of Madam Pomfrey standing next to her bed the gentle embrace of her healing magic wrapping around Hermione as the progress of her healing was scanned. She heard the mediwitch let out a satisfied sigh and place something on the bedside table before moving on.
Harry was still deeply asleep next to her, his shallow breaths moving the bed gently with each inhale. The small movements continued against her arms and helped to stir her senses further allowing her to fully regain consciousness and finally open her eyes.
The world was bright compared to the total black she had seen just moments before. With eyes crinkled from the strain of opening them to the light in the infirmary she began to slowly look around.
Her and Harry were not the only ones who had slept in late. It seemed to be around noon in the day she guessed going on the light that was streaming into the window. She gently pulled herself up into a sitting position being careful of the still present gashes across her back and arm as they pulled at the bandages uncomfortably.
She let out an unintentional groan as she felt the aches in the rest of her body as well. Now that the majority of the major injuries had been healed she was able to feel the smaller ones that had previously been drowned out by the pain of the large life threatening ones.
At the sound of Hermione's groan Madam Pomfrey's head snapped up to meet her eyes. She had been at the door talking to a very distraught Molly Weasley and both witches seemed deep in thought and their expressions were dark with anger. The mediwitches face brightened upon seeing Hermione awake and she hurried over to her immediately.
"Good morning Miss Granger, how are you feeling?" she checked beginning her scanning anew.
"I am alright thank you Ma'am, but I am a bit sore all over and my back stings" the young witch weakly muttered.
"That's perfectly normal dear, your body has been through a lot and your core is very depleted so your magic can't help as much as it usually would, from what I hear you cast quite the spell yesterday and that would take its toll on any of us." she stopped for a moment and looked at Hermione thoughtfully "In fact a spell that powerful probably would have killed most of us, you are one remarkable witch. Thank you for saving us Hermione" she croaked the last part out with tears of gratitude welling in her eyes.
"I only did what anyone would have" she muttered awkwardly, averting her gaze from the emotional mediwitch.
"Of course, dear whatever you say, nevertheless I am grateful. And I would be even more grateful if you would take these potions for me now." dismissed the elderly witch while uncorking the three bottles and handing her the first while holding the rest ready to be taken next in her hand.
From the grey oozing mixture of the potion and its rancid scent she knew it had to be a nutrient potion. Pulling her nose up she tipped it into her mouth quickly in a futile effort to swallow the foul mixture down without letting it touch her taste buds. Hermione violently gagged as the taste hit her but not wanting to suffer for too much longer she promptly took the next to vials from Madam Pomfrey and downed those as well.
She coughed and sputtered as a bit went down the wrong pipe before feeling the liquid settle in her stomach. Harry shot up from where he was sleeping next to her looking around quickly for what was hurting her. When his eyes landed on the potions bottles he gave her a sympathetic look and let out a small chuckle before sitting up in a more comfortable manner.
As the coughing finally eased and she was able to settle she could feel a warmth radiating through her stomach as the the familiar feeling of a pain relief potion spread through her body easing all her worst pain.
"Morning Mione, you okay ?" Harry questioned in concern as he appraised her condition carefully.
"I'm alright Harry, those potions helped a lot, how are you doing?" she said earnestly while moving the blankets that must have been moved to cover her on the off of her to swing her legs round the side of the bed.
"I'm perfect, there's nothing to worry about at all, Madam Pomfrey fixed me up as good as new." He assured me while moving to get up and out of the bed.
Hermione could see Molly Weasley awkwardly standing at the side of the room watching them. She seemed hesitant to approach them but looked like she desperately had something to say.
"Mrs Weasley? Are you alright ?" Hermione called out hesitantly which caused Molly to jump as if she had been struck by lightning before she hurried over to the side of Hermione's bed.
"Hermione dear I am so so sorry. When I heard what Ron had done and how he had been acting I was appalled, I will not be letting him get away with this of which you can be certain but I would not blame you or Harry if you hated me and my family after this." She assured with a look of steely determination resting on her face.
Before Hermione could begin her response Molly turned her full attention on Harry who had been watching the whole conversation unfold.
"And Harry I can't even begin to apologise for what Ginny has done to you. I am absolutely disgusted and I will support you in any decision you make in punishing her even if that's legally. And no matter what punishment you decide on just like Ron I will be making sure they regret their selfish and abysmal decisions." With all that she had to say finally out in the open Mrs Weasley took a few deep breaths before sitting delicately on the chair next to the bed that Madam Pomfrey had pulled up for her during her speech.
"Thank you Mrs Weasley, I won't pretend what Ron did was okay or that I can ever forgive him but your support means the world to me and I could never hate you" Hermione assured the elderly witch.
"The same goes for me Mrs Weasley, I don't know what I am going to do about Ginny yet but I appreciate you being here and I would never let the actions of two demented individuals affect the way I feel about your family." Harry said as Hermione nodded her agreement along.
"Thank you so much you too I am so relieved to hear that and here-" Mrs Weasley stopped to reach into her handbag pulling out two chocolate frogs and a large bag of strawberry ropes and a bundle of what looked to be clothing.
"Harry I know you like chocolate frogs and the twins told me these muggle sweets were your favourite Hermione so I got someone to apparate into London before I came, I also brought your Christmas sweaters early in case you needed something to wear." As she was speaking she divided the sweets and sweaters up between the two who were overwhelmed by the kindness this witch was showing them.
"Thank you so much Mrs Weasley for being so thoughtful." Hermione said as her eyes welled up with a few tears.
"Yeah thank you Mrs Weasley" Harry agreed enthusiastically while digging into his chocolate frog's eagerly. Munching down on the Frog's head happily as he examined the card from the pack closely.
"HERMIONE ITS YOU!" He yelped out in surprise, staring down slack jawed at the card.
"Don't be silly Harry of course it's not me!" she cried indignantly grabbing at the card to see for herself.
"Yes it is!" Harry excitedly shoved it into her grabbing hands for her inspection.
Looking down at the card in her hands she felt a wave of disbelief as her photo smiled and waved back at her. Flipping it over she began to scan the text on the back.
Hermione Granger
"Known to many as the brightest witch of her age and a member of the dauntless duo with Harry Potter the boy who lived. Hermione is best known for single handily vanquishing Voldemort (previously known as he who must not be named)"
She found it odd that the card had chosen to call her and Harry the dauntless duo rather than by the golden trio moniker she had grown so used to over the years, She was also surprised to see them using Voldemort's actual name.
"How.. How is this possible?" She was absolutely gobsmacked at the existence of the card in her hand.
"I'm surprised you don't know Hermione, the chocolate frog company uses a spell that automatically updates the unopened existing cards with the most powerful and liked witches. The spell also seeks out the most accurate summary of events in order to give a good summary. My guess is when the newspapers went out this morning you became popular enough to tip the spell off " He said quite satisfied finally being able to tell Hermione something he knew that she didn't.
"Open yours Hermione and let's see who you got !" Molly happily encouraged and excited by the attention her gifts were getting.
Hermione eagerly opened her chocolate frog, biting the head off and turning her card over to the picture side to see who she would get.
There she was again.
This was such a surreal experience seeing her face all over an object reserved for the most well known and influential wizards of their time.
"And?" Harry encouraged "Who did you get?" he leant over as if to peek at the card but could not see it from the angle at which she was holding it.
"Myself" she said, her voice filled with complete disbelief as she turned it over in her hands to reread the text expecting it to change at any moment. She had never put much value into collectables like the chocolate frog cards preferring the more extensive knowledge books gave her over the small summaries. But this felt different it felt like a big deal.
"Congratulations Hermione you've reached a stage of fame even, I haven't managed to claim. Your own chocolate from the card." Harry said with a jokingly envious voice.
"I wouldn't speak too soon Harry '' Molly chuckled, pulling a card out of her bag. " Me and Arthur had a few ourselves this morning and recognised a few faces'' She walked over and placed the card in his hand.
Hermione peeked over his shoulder to see it before letting out a laugh. There on the card was a smiling waving Harry Potter chocolate frog card. The back of his card being very similar to hers minus the recent vanquishing of Voldemort but including his earlier defeat more heavily.
As Hermione continued to ponder how bizarre the situation was, a quiet knock at the door alerted her to Professor McGonagall's presence.
The elderly witch looked bright and energetic this morning although her face held an expression of concern a small smile betrayed her underlying happiness. Hermione had to imagine the environment outside must be one of celebration similar to when Voldemort was killed the first time.
"Good afternoon Mrs Granger and Mr Potter, how are you both?" She asked with true concern, filling her eyes. Hermione had always liked the older witch and had wanted to be just like her in spirit, talent and heart. She was one of the few people in the world besides her own family at home that she trusted explicitly.
"I'm alright Professor still sore but getting better" the young witch assured, upon hearing this McGonagall's smile became more earnestly pronounced, happy to hear her star pupil was getting better already.
"I'm fine Madam Pomfrey healed me up perfectly barely a scratch anymore." Harry replied next while standing up as if to show off his well being.
"I am so glad to hear it and soon I would like to sit down and hear the full story of all that has happened, but I am not here just to check on you. I am sorry to be coming to disturb you like this but the minister would like your presence outside. If you are able to come now?" McGonagall implored, looking aggravated at having been sent for such a task.
The request took both Harry and her greatly off guard. She wondered what the minister could possibly want at this time with them, she hoped he was not going to accuse them of lying or try and arrest them like they had done to Harry after the cemetery.
"Alright Professor we will follow you please lead the way" She agreed kindly motioning for Harry to get up while McGonagall offered her a hand up as well to steady her.
They both followed McGonagall to the infirmary door passing the beds containing all the other patients who were looking at them with glee in their eyes. Hermione noticed another look there as well one that she had only seen a handful of times. Like when Harry had defeated the basilisk
She couldn't help but notice that Ron's bed was decidedly empty , someone must have come and collected him earlier that morning or perhaps he had left of his own accord. Nevertheless she was happy that she didn't have to see him.
They finally left the infirmary and began the lengthy walk and the front entrance of the castle not knowing what they were going to face next.
I hope you enjoyed it! Please don't forget to review and let me know what you think, the reviews inspire me and remind me to write after work so the more reviews there are the quicker chapters will be posted!