Chapter 46: The one with Dr Grunt…I mean Grint.

Disclaimer: I am just a mere visitor in the sublime world constructed by J.K Rowling. Anything that rings a bell is hers.

Chapter 45

"I think you're forgetting something."

I froze, caught in the act, I passed a quick side long glance…trying to figure out how to talk my way out of this one. I lowered the metal object and smiled nervously, trying to inconspicuously wipe my mouth.

"Chocolate sprinkles."

I watched as the wrinkled hands opened up to reveal a handful of cocoa heaven. I gave Nonno a toothy grin and held out the Sundae for him and he sprinkled the top. He conjured up a little toothpick umbrella which made my smile wider.

I quickly duplicated the spoon and handed one to him.

"I shouldn't…oh if you insist."

He plunged it in and put a great big glob of ice-cream into his mouth, perching himself on the side of my bed. I laughed as the long handle of the spoon hung from his mouth as his hands fluttered to the potions at my bed.

"I see you're almost done with this batch."

I sighed heavily, "Just to expect another batch tomorrow."

That's what the past weeks had been like. Everyday Madam Pomfrey would show up with an assortment of elixirs all of which I had to take with varying frequency.

He poured a bit of the thick orange gooey substance onto a spoon and held it to me. I scrunched my face up but leaned forward and sipped it quickly.

"Ugh I swear Sev puts that broccoli extract just to get at me."

"Well, it's your last one so find some bliss in that."

"Last for today."

"No, last last Kyrianna. You're free to go."

I looked at him shocked. I was so sure they would make me stay a week or two more at least, because Linus and Len were crazy paranoid. They claimed it was for my health, but I knew the real reason was because they didn't find the bastard. I concentrated on Nonno's beard, looking at the strands of silver and grey.

"You're not as happy as I thought you would have been. Or has the diet of vegetable and stew grown on you?"

I raised my eyebrows at him, "That's impossible. I'm as arid as a desert, there is no way any vegetable will grow on me." I played with the sundae, mixing the chocolate sauce in hypnotising swirls.

"Are you afraid Kyrianna?"

"No!" I snapped my head up and met his bright blue orbs, my chin set in defiance. "Not at all."

"I am."

My face fell slightly, and I continued fidgeting, "Don't you want to know what I am afraid of?"

"That the manufacturers of Sherbet Lemon will go broke leaving this world without its sweet pleasure."

He smiled, "That does scare me. Remind me to speak to your brother about a tip I have on an investment that he must get his hands on."

I smiled; trust Nonno to find a way to protect his favourite sweet. My smile fell quickly, and I looked at him sincerely,

"I'm sorry."

"For what Kyrianna?"

Nonno had to make this into a life lesson. "For breaking school rules and…the law."

In light of everything that happened, the fact that I did break into a shop didn't get the attention it would usually herald.

"It is good that you feel apologetic about that. And don't worry, your guilty conscience will be appeased by detentions and twenty hours of volunteer work at Dogweed and Deathcap. But that is not what I want an apology for. I have been a headmaster for too long to expect things like this not to occur. Kyrianna."

I knew that tone. That tone meant stop averting your eyes to the x-ray and look at me. I did and I was surprised to find an old man looking back at me. I would describe him as many things - eccentric, charming, talented at making hot chocolate, but never old. I must have been frowning because he placed his fingers on my forehead. And then lifted my chin,

"Never. Never feel like you cannot tell me anything. The problem may be small enough to warrant a detention or great enough to warrant a hearing, but as long as you are involved, it is my business. All the more if you are hurt in anyway…not all wounds herald a speedy recovery, but you will find that when enough attention is paid and bravery mustered to face them, there isn't a scar that cannot be healed."

"Even cursed scars?"

Nonno sighed, "The most cursed of scars are not the ones we wear on our skin, but the ones we hide in our hearts. Remember that, Kyrianna. Skin can be ripped and torn to shreds, burnt, and charred but we survive, but a single well-placed nick to the heart can have us bowing to death. Ahh, I do believe my presence is needed at Dinner." He kissed my forehead and tucked the hair behind my ear, "Anything."

I handed in my exam paper and walked out. I wasn't expecting Mi anytime soon, seeing as there was still forty minutes left and she will wait till the very end. I walked up to the common room. It was a long few days. After I explained to Mi, I broke it to Li, Len and Nonno. I'd never seen the boys angrier.

I described everything I could about the attacker to Minnie, who relayed it to Li and Len who were hunting for blood. I had to do this because things were getting blown up whenever I brought it up with the boys; it was easier hearing it from Minnie.

Everybody chided me for not confiding in them, but considering I had a head wound, profound bleeding in my abdomen, a slash across my wrist as well as thigh, not to mention other minor injuries, relief at my recovery far outweighed chastisement. Apparently that last curse he hit me with was a dark fire curse and caused severe internal damage, if I didn't stop it when I did, I would have died…I still can't believe I was that near the end.

Luckily, I gave Madam Pomfrey the Revive Potion when I did; Mi said that if they hadn't given it to me upon my arrival, I might never have snapped out of it. They had taken me to St Mungo's immediately, and even whilst there I had daily visitors. It had been difficult keeping this from Harry and Ron, but it was Nonno's orders. He said it wasn't about trust…he trusted them both, he just felt that this was my story to tell, if I chose to, sensing that the full story may involve details that would be at my discretion to disclose.

She did say that Sev visited daily, trying to disguise his visits as restocking potions, and everybody let him hide behind the lie. You wouldn't have known now though; I was sure he was avoiding me.

I was well aware that all wasn't safe, but I was preoccupied with catching up with the months of work I missed so I could sit the exams. I was also forced to speak to a specialist healer from St Mungo's about the whole thing.

"I am Dr. Grint, Miss Thornton. You may call me Georgina if you like. May I call you Kyrianna?"

"No."

She blinked in a very purposeful way and scribbled something onto her parchment. She looked back up at me, "How's your leg?"

I looked at her blankly. Really? That's what she wants to know. Considering I walked in here perfectly fine and unaided she questions if my leg is healed?

"What does that look mean, Miss Thornton?"

I stared at her, "What look?"

She looked at me, smiling as if she had to deal with this a million times and I was not a special case. Well what answer did she expect, it's not like I can see what look I was apparently giving her.

"The look that passed your face when I asked about your leg. You seemed annoyed."

Well of course I was annoyed, I don't like people asking stupid questions. She blinked purposefully again and scribbled into the parchment.

"Do you not like people asking about your injuries? Do you not like people asking about your health?"

No, I didn't like people asking fruitless questions. If she had asked me how my head is then I would tell her that I have suffered a few migraines, but why ask about my leg when I didn't even limp in. For a healer specialised in psychology she was very unobservant.

She tilted her head to the side, her brown eye's trying to see things in me that it was not equipped to see. I felt a slight nudge against my mind. Nobody had tried using what I now know as occlumency on me for some time. Not even Sev managed to break through my defences all those months ago, how did this lady think she could even try.

"A fourteen-year-old student should not find it necessary to defend their mind."

"A forty-year-old psychologist should know better than to try and force entry into a patient's mind."

She bristled at the mention of her age. I knew she was only thirty-five, making the calculations from her Hogwarts Graduation Certificate on the left wall. She scribbled some more onto her parchment. She looked back up at me after scribbling for ten minutes. She sighed,

"Would you like some tea?"

"No."

She smiled stiffly; I knew she must think I was just trying to be difficult.

"Would you like to tell me what happened the night of February the 23rd?"

"Ok. I made some potions and then went to my dorm."

"Why are you lying Miss Thornton?"

"I'm not." That was what happened in the night. She leaned back but didn't break eye contact.

"What happened after that?"

"I went to the library."

"Why?"

"Why does anyone go to the library?"

She smiled at me stiffly again, "I highly doubt you needed to borrow a book at two o clock in the morning?"

I shrugged at her, "You obviously don't know my friend Mi. It's never too late or too early for a good book."

She ignored the comment, "What did you do after you left the library?"

"I walked up a flight of stairs."

She smiled stiffly at me again and then blinked, "Why are you so guarded Miss Thornton? No need to be defensive."

"That's cheating."

"Sorry?"

"Asking why I am guarded. Isn't it your job to work it out?"

She sighed, "How can I do my job if you don't speak. I am not a mind reader."

"Evidently." I said smarmily, referring to her dismal previous attempt.

She took a deep breath and smiled mechanically at me, "There is no need to protect yourself with sarcasm Miss Thornton. Tell me what happened after you left Dogweed and Deathcap? "

"Have you not read the files Dr Grunt."

"It's Grint and of course I have."

"Oh, is it that you just do not remember the facts?" I smiled to myself as she gritted her teeth. I guess I called it right, once a Claw always a Claw and there's nothing a Claw hates more than people thinking they're stupid.

"Of course, I remember the facts Miss Thornton, it's just important that I hear your take on it."

"It's OK to forget things."

"I didn't forget anything."

"It's not your fault, it happens with age."

She grabbed the glass next to her and took a large sip of water. She breathed and forced out a smile, "So you have been attacked more than once. It's normal to feel defensive. It's normal to even feel a little guilty."

I laughed at that. She raised an eyebrow at me, "You don't feel guilty?"

"Not in the slightest."

She scribbled some more.

She looked up and I smiled at her, "I do believe they call that projection."

She smiled a placating smile, "What am I projecting Miss Thornton?"

"Your guilt."

"And what do I have to feel guilty for?"

"Oh, you know."

"No, please do fill me in."

"Well of course this is just an insinuation on what normal behaviour would be when one is having an affair with a married man. It's normal to feel guilty Dr Grunt."

She bristled slightly and covered it with a laugh. "I have no idea what-"

"It's normal to feel defensive Dr Grunt."

She stopped laughing and leaned forward seriously, "That is a very serious baseless accusation to make Miss Thornton."

"I agree to its seriousness Dr Grunt but upon it's baselessness I must disagree. Let me save you the categorical list that you're running in your head now, it's the shirt Dr Grunt."

She looked down at the light blue formal shirt that was tucked in her skirt. She smirked up at me, "I do not like wearing form fitting clothes Miss Thornton. All my shirts are slightly bigger on me."

"Oh, is that why your skirt is so tight it's about to fuse with your arse."

Oooh here I go crossing the line. Oh well, might has well take it in strides. Her face scrunched in anger, but I beat her to it,

"While I might agree with the fact that you choose to wear baggy shirts, do you also insist on only wearing Healer Jefferson's shirts?"

She stood quickly; her face red "That is a very-"

"Serious accusation. I know. I know. There's no need to get defensive. It's not illegal to have an affair. Although I must admit I am disappointed. I expected so much more attention to detail from a Ravenclaw. Oh, stop fretting not everyone knows Dr Grunt. Just little old me."

"Were you spying-"

"Listen to how stupid you sound before you speak, please. Why in Helga's Heaving Bosom would I spy on you? You're quite unlucky Dr Grunt. You see Healer Jefferson visited me just yesterday to do some routine check-ups. He happened to be wearing that exact same shirt. And no, it can't be another I'm afraid, you see it's the cufflinks. Yes, those things on the cuffs. Very peculiar since they do not match. The left being a little badger, representing his eleven-year little Puff and the right, being a little eagle for his thirteen-year-old Claw. Your unluckiness continues because just a few months ago I procured a similar set of cuffs for a…'person' of mine and I know the insignia of the designer I ordered it from. And no, it can't be a coincidence Dr Grunt, you see the reason for the exorbitant price is that the House of Xara swears by its exclusivity, they only make one-of-a-kind pieces."

She sat back down heavily, all pretences gone, she was flabbergasted.

"I assume you didn't have much time since my brother arranged this meeting at the last minute in the hopes of catching me by surprise, so I won't be able to wheedle my way out of it. Grabbed your lover's shirt instead of your own as you ran out the door from your morning romp. I don't blame you for thinking it would go unnoticed, the odds do not seem in your favour Dr Grunt."

"What do you want?"

I smiled at her, "I knew you didn't get that PhD for nothing, smart cookie like you. You're to say I'm fine when my brothers ask. I find these meetings very cumbersome and quite frankly a waste of my time."

"Are you blackmailing me?"

I shook my head at her, "Of course not Dr Grunt. You can tell my brothers that I am not fine, and I still wouldn't tell the public what a whore you are seeing as it's none of my business. But I would like for you tell them that I am fine. I think we both know that it would be easier. Just like you said earlier on, how can you help me if I don't speak? And as you can tell with all your years of knowledge, I won't speak if I don't want to. And I don't want to."

She leaned forward her face pale, "You need help Miss Thornton."

"You can't help me." Linus was a fool for forcing me to sit through this. All I needed was time. To get over it. To forget.

She nodded solemnly; I stood and looked down at her. "I apologise for calling you a whore. I don't have any proof on that. But you should stop treating yourself like one. I don't care if he is a husband, but he is a father. That is what matters Dr Grunt."

And with that I walked out.

"Ky!"

I snapped out of my reverie by the familiar voice. I was allowed out of my rooms and deemed fit enough to exist independently by Madam Pomfrey three days ago and every day since then that annoying voice would pick at my brains. I ignored it, and ascended the stairs, like I usually did. The footsteps disappeared behind me, and I smirked, maybe the idiot finally got the picture. I turned and walked down the corridor, stopping dead when somebody emerged from the portrait to my left.

A/N: Sorry to any psychologists or psychiatrists in the making reading this, I have nothing against your profession at all, except deep respect as my own mother is a psychologist. I just thought being a little b**** is how Ky will react to the whole therapy thing, I kind of enjoyed writing that little scene, did anybody notice her Slytherin showing a bit? I guess it's true what they say, we all have a little Slytherin in us. Hope you enjoyed it, reviews please? Been a tough week at campus! Oh, and guess who it is that showed up in the end there!

Kalina