Chapter 19

Spring 2002

Groaning, Hermione woke up to the horrid knowledge that Theo had vomited everywhere at some point during the night. She summoned her wand and scourgified the bed and him. She could feel the stickiness of his sick in her hair, but rather than scourgify herself, she got up and went to use the bathroom. She could use a good shower. Nothing was quite as great as the rainwater shower head for getting off real grime.

As she soaped and cleaned her hair, she decided that she was going to have to call in a doctor.

Another day has passed, but the boys are still barely reacting. Hermione is starting to get really freaked out, but trying to hide it. She is filing paperwork with Gringotts to get Draco and Theo muggle ids. She instructed the goblins to bill the Malfoy and Nott vaults for the service, She used the seal of the DMLE on black wax to indicate her authority to make such a request. It would be much easier if they had muggle IDs. She wished she would have thought to have them obtain some during the war. But they had had other pressing concerns on their minds back

then.

After a few phone calls, she found the muggle country doctor that served the area where her little cottage was. His secretary kindly set up a home appointment for Hermione.

Dr. Howland was probably in his late seventies when he arrived on her front step. Hermione had taken down the muggle repellent charms to allow him entry. He seemed kindly enough when she greeted him, letting him know that the visit wasn't for her, but rather was for her two houseguests.

She had dressed the boys in clean loose fitting pyjamas again and had sat them both on the couch. They were both non-responsive as the doctor entered with Hermione. And her chest ached.

"Theo and Draco were in a political prison camp and are in the UK as refugees," she shared, "I'm supervising them, but they are clearly much more ill than the office led me to believe."

He smiled kindly at her, clearly not believing that they were in the country legally.

The doctor conducted his examinations of them. Hermione could tell from his face when he listened to their lungs that he was not pleased with what he heard. He took some measurements of their wrists and shook his head.

"Miss Granger, your guests are severely malnourished. They are demonstrating some symptoms of long term dehydration as well. Draco here certainly has bronchitis while Theo has pneumonia. I will prescribe antibiotics and inhalers for the two of them. Paracetamol would probably be helpful. You said that Theo vomited yesterday? "

"Last night, early this morning."

"And what have you been feeding him?"

Hermione went through the list of everything that she had given him.

"You need to decrease his portions, no seconds, but you can give him more meals throughout the day. More clear fluids. Tea is fine, but water is better. Both of their stomachs have shrunk in size significantly so you need to make sure that it doesn't perforate or cause other major health difficulties that would make him need to go into the city for surgery. My small office certainly couldn't handle such a thing. I assume you know that they ought to be in the hospital."

"I don't want to attract the attention of the refugee resettlement office, I think they would place them with a different supervisor or deport them rather than give them the care they need."

"Given my own experience with the government, I can't say that I think you are wrong, Miss Granger. I am going to write out a list for several weight gain protein supplements and vitamins. Some of them are available as liquids or powders. You might be better off with that, as tablets and capsules might be more than their stomachs can handle at this point. I would also recommend a smoothie maker or a blender, if you don't have one. The softer the food the better until their stomachs heal. So oatmeals, cream soups, mashes, those sorts of things. You want to limit spices and try to keep things as bland as possible so they can keep them down."

The doctor wrote quickly on his notepad and handed her the list he had written down. She thanked him.

"Do you have any additional questions, Miss Granger?"

"Well they are not really speaking or responding and that's concerning me quite a bit."

"How long were they in the prison camp?"

"Three years," Hermione replied.

Dr. Howland let out a low whistle. "Well, I only have a little knowledge of this from when I was a boy and my father treated some men with shellshock after the War. They have likely disassociated due to the extreme trauma where they were being held and you just need to be patient. I suggest lots of extra meals - do remember to keep them small—exercise, fresh air, and rest. You have a lovely back garden, they will likely have difficulties with crowds for a while even once they start reacting more. If it goes on too long though they may need round the clock care for the rest of their lives. Are you up for such a challenge, Miss Granger?"

"I'll do whatever is needed, Dr. Howland. Thank you for coming out."

The doctor turned and began to put all his tools back in his bag. Hermione went to the antique radio on her front table, tapped it once, a drawer popped open and she pulled out the dark wand that she kept concealed there. She smiled grimly. The curved walnut wand had long since accepted her as its master.

While the doctor's back was turned, Hermione cast the necessary spell, "Obliviate."

Hermione looked over and saw that Draco was watching her do it and his eyes widened at the sight of his aunt's old wand. Hermione finished the memory charm, erasing all memory of the men from his mind, and leaving him only with awareness of her and her case of pneumonia.

She ushered the old man out the door. Looking back at Draco she saw he was still staring at her, seemingly aware. She stopped for a second, realizing this small milestone, then she realized she owed him an explanation.

"I stole it off your aunt's corpse after the Battle. No one knows I have it. That isn't a problem, is it Draco?" Hermione asked, as she put the walnut wand back in its warded compartment. The wood sealed, disguising the place where it was hidden.

His eyes narrowed, but he didn't say a word.

She frowned at his lack of response, but sat next to him and ran her hand over his cheek, "I know you are in there, I'm not going to give up, do you hear me?"

Draco scowled and turned his face away.

Choking back a sob, Hermione fled the room so he wouldn't see her tears.