Chapter 72
It wasn't long after breakfast that a deal was struck with Oliver's parents that they would clean the horse's stalls and do their daily morning grooming, even if they had to ask Cherry to help while Oliver and Hermione went to Diagon Alley to get the medicine for Ash.
"Are you ready?" Oliver asked, preparing to leave.
"Um," Hermione said, getting an idea. "Give me just a minute, I'll be right back."
Oliver was about to protest, but he turned around and she was gone.
Hermione hurried down to her room and threw open her trunk. She dug through it for a few moments before she found the small box that held what she was looking for; the earrings that Oliver had given her, and tucked them into her pocket. She also made sure to grab the pouch with her money that she had brought from her piggy bank at home. She quickly put everything back and closed her trunk again before running back upstairs.
"Ready!" she called.
"Oh, good," Oliver said. "Mum, dad, we'll be back as soon as we can." Smiling, and at their nod of acknowledgement, Oliver held out his hand to Hermione.
Puzzled, Hermione reached out and took his hand. The next thing she knew, Oliver had his arms around her waist as she stagger in the alley outside the back door of the Leaky Cauldron, gasping and trying her best not to vomit.
"What - was - that?" Hermione asked as she fought to regain control of her stomach. "Did I just...apparate?"
"Yeah," Oliver said with a laugh. "Sorry, I should have warned you."
"I don't - think it would - make much difference," Hermione replied, her breathing gradually returning to normal, and as her legs quit shaking and were able to support her, Oliver let her go.
"Are you all right?" Oliver asked, looking at her in concern.
"Yeah," Hermione said taking a breath as her stomach finally settled.
"All right, let's head to the apothecary and get back home," Oliver said.
Hermione took a breath and stayed where she was. "I'm sorry, Oliver," she said, drawing his attention. "I know you're mum means well, but..."
"You want to get your own dress robes," Oliver said with a knowing expression.
Hermione nodded.
"I brought some money with me, I'll need to exchange it, but I'll be so glad when I'm of age and can have my own vault," Hermione said. "We asked about it my first year when we came to get my supplies, but we were told that I couldn't have one until I was -"
"Seventeen," Oliver said at the same time she did, and Hermione laughed and nodded. "All right, Gringotts it is."
"No," the goblin at the front desk said a short time later.
"No?" Hermione asked in disbelief.
"Are you deaf?" the goblin asked. "Clean out your ears; NO."
"But..." Hermione began and then shook her head. "Why?"
"No underage witches or wizards can be party to banking transactions without a parent or guardian," the goblin said.
"Ms. Granger has been spending this last week before school with my parents and I, and I'm of age," Oliver explained.
"Not good enough," the goblin said. "I see you here, but not either of your families to confirm your claim."
"Ugh," Hermione said, looking skyward before looking to Oliver. "Now what are we supposed to do?"
"I don't know," Oliver replied with a frustrated sigh and shrugged.
"Take your frustrations elsewhere," the goblin said.
"So rude," Hermione said giving the goblin a dirty look before she and Oliver headed back outside.
"Well..." Oliver said as they walked down the steps. "Shall we head to the apothecary?" He held up his hands when she looked at him sharply. "Just till we figure out what we're going to do here."
"Yeah, sure," Hermione said, though Oliver could tell that she was disappointed.
It was busier than they thought for an early morning as they headed down to the apothecary, and the cobblestone street of Diagon Alley was quite crowded.
"Excuse me, pardon me," one woman said, brushing by in a rush. "David, Michael, Susie," she called. "Come back here."
Hermione smiled and looked over her shoulder to see three rambunctious children looking rather disappointed as they were called back by the woman who had brushed by her and Oliver.
"Oh!" she cried out in alarm when the next thing she knew, she was falling.
Oliver reached out to grab her, an arm going around her waist, but even with his help, she winced and cried out in alarm when she stumbled, not able to get her feet under her.
"Are you okay?" Oliver asked, looking at her in concern as he lowered her to the ground, ignoring the witches and wizards that Hermione heard grumble in annoyance as they were forced to go around them.
"Ow, ow, ow," Hermione murmured fighting back tears and hissing as pain exploded in her ankle.
"Hermione," Oliver said a little louder, drawing her attention. "Are you all right?"
"No," Hermione said and reached out to touch her ankle, trying to rotate it, only to wince again. "I - I think I twisted my ankle."
"You know," Oliver said flatly. "I really wish you'd watch where you were going."
Hermione sighed and shook her head. "I'm sorry, Oliver."
Oliver shook his head, holding up his hands to surrender. "I'm joking, I'm joking," he said with a grin before looking at her seriously once more. "Do you think you can make it a couple more doors down to the apothecary?" he asked. "Then we can get you fixed up."
"I - I don't know," Hermione said, biting her lip and reluctant to try walking in such a crowd.
"Want to try?" Oliver asked.
Hermione took a breath and nodded, and with Oliver's help, was nearly standing before pain shot through her ankle again and she cried out.
"Guess not," Oliver said, and lowered her back down before crouching next to her. "Come on," he said.
"Oliver, I can't," Hermione replied. "It hurts too much."
"No, silly," he replied. "Put your arm around my neck, I'm not about to leave you out here in the street. You don't have to stand or anything, just put your arm around my neck and I'll take care of the rest."
"You're going to carry me?" Hermione asked, looking at him uncertainly. "In this crowd?"
"Well, I can't very well leave you here, you'd get stepped on, and be hurt even more," Oliver answered. "Come on."
Hermione sighed and wrapped an arm around Oliver's neck and he lifted her easily, and carried her the rest of the way to the apothecary.
"Oliver! Wait up, mate! Didn't expect to see you here."
Oliver turned around to see Lee coming through the crowd.
"Hey, Lee," Oliver said.
"Hi, Lee," Hermione added quietly, turning pink with embarrassment.
"What happened?" Lee asked, seeing Hermione in Oliver's arms when he got closer.
"Twisted ankle," Oliver said. "Would you mind getting us the door?" he asked, nodding toward the apothecary.
"Sure, no problem," Lee said and hurried over. The door opened with the jingling of a bell and Oliver swept in behind Lee as the boy held the door open, heading for the bench nearby and set Hermione down gently.
"I'll be right back, yeah?" Oliver asked her, studying her face as she nodded. Turning to Lee, he asked, "Wait with her?"
"Yeah, sure," Lee said and blinked as Oliver disappeared further into the darkened store. "What's up with him?" Lee asked, turning to Hermione.
Hermione sighed. "We've been on a mission today, and my accident set us back," she said, shaking her head. "Stupid, stupid, stupid. I'm sorry, Lee, not you, me."
"I didn't know that you two were here together," Lee said. "What happened exactly?"
"Oh, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going, and I fell near *Flourish and Blotts on our way back to the Apothecary from Gringotts," Hermione said.
As Hermione was talking, she berated herself internally, and distracted herself by scanning the nearby isles in the shop.
"Well, I better go," Lee said. "My folks are waiting. Ever since the Quidditch Cup attack, they've been unnaturally clingy."
"Oh, Okay," Hermione said. "See you at school?"
"Yeah, see ya," Lee said. "And let Ollie know I'll talk to him later."
"Okay, I will," Hermione said waved goodbye. She was just turning back to scan the isles again when she saw a familiar figure emerge. "Madam Pomfrey?"
The woman in question was dressed in her usual uniform, but Hermione had never imagined that she'd see the mediwitch outside of Hogwarts.
"Oh, hello, dear," Madam Pomfrey greeted her, when she saw Hermione sitting on the bench nearby. "Come to get your potions supplies? Are you waiting for someone?"
"Well, um," Hermione began, not sure how to explain. "Yes, and no, I suppose, or yes, and yes? I'm not really sure exactly. I - I twisted my ankle," she explained, motioning toward her injured foot that was stretched out in front of her, turned slightly inward.
"Oh!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed, putting her basket down and the bottle she'd had in her hand back on the shelf before hurrying over. "You poor thing! Let me have a look at you."
The mediwitch pulled out her wand and ran a scan over Hermione's ankle. "Tut, tut, tut," Madam Pomfrey said, shaking her head. "You've done more than twist your ankle, dear. Not to worry though, its nothing I can't fix." Madam Pomfrey pointed her wand at Hermione's ankle and with a small, flourish of her wand, said, "Episkey."
Hermione cried out in sudden pain as her ankle corrected itself, but as the pain eased, she rotated and flexed her foot with no additional pain.
"Careful, dear," Madam Pomfrey said. "You don't want to injure it further by putting too much stress on the surrounding tissues."
"Hermione!" Oliver called out, running over to her, his expression one of worry as he slid to a halt, kneeling next to her and brushing a hand over her hair in comfort. "I heard your shout, are you all right?"
"She's fine, Mr. Wood," Madam Pomfrey said.
It was a moment before Oliver realized who was sitting next to Hermione, not because he didn't recognize her, but because he, too, had never seen the mediwitch outside of Hogwarts.
"Oh, Madam Pomfrey," Oliver said. "Thank you for helping Hermione."
"Yes, thank you," Hermione said and dug into her pocket for some money. "Here, let me give you something."
"Put that away, dear," Madam Pomfrey said with a shake of her head. "That's not necessary."
"But..." Hermione said. "It's not even start of term; I need to give you something for your help."
"Dear," Madam Pomfrey said. "I live very comfortably on my salary. I don't need it. Besides, I would have to go all the way back to Gringotts just to exchange it."
Oliver blinked and looked to Hermione.
"Would you?" they asked in unison causing the mediwitch to blink at them in surprise.
"Have you two been hanging around a certain pair of red heads lately?" she asked tiredly.
"Not lately, no," Oliver said.
"I did for a day or so," Hermione answered. "I went to the Quidditch Cup with the Weasleys."
"I see," Madam Pomfrey said.
"So, would you?" Oliver asked.
"Would I what?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
"I - I was here with Oliver to get some school supplies, I'm staying with him and his family for the last week of vacation," Hermione said. "I brought some money to exchange, but I wasn't allowed to make the transaction without my parents here. I - well,wewere wondering if you might be willing to do it if I gave you the money for helping me."
"What about Mr. Wood here," Madam Pomfrey said. "He's of age, he could make the transaction without having his parents with him."
"I don't think they'd allow it," Oliver said. "I was there with her when she asked about it."
"Ah, that is quite the conundrum you have there," Madam Pomfrey said.
"Yes, it is," Hermione said. "Would you - would you help us?"
Madam Pomfrey sighed. "Well, I was going to do some shopping, but I suppose I could help you out," she said. "Seeing as how you were planning on shopping for your school things." She stood and headed toward the back of the shop. "Well, are you coming?" she asked, turning to look at them when they didn't follow.
"Oh," Oliver said, and helped Hermione to her feet. "Yes, of course."
"Hello again, Madam Pomfrey," the man behind the counter said with a smile. "Did you find everything you were looking for? Shall I ring you up?"
"No," Madam Pomfrey said with a slight tinge of disappointment in her voice. "I will have to come back shortly, I've been called away for assistance."
"Oh?" the man asked.
Madam Pomfrey motioned to Oliver and Hermione and they came up to the counter. "This is Oliver Wood, and Ms. Hermione Granger," Madam Pomfrey said, "and they have asked my assistance elsewhere. Ms. Granger, Mr. Wood, this is Tabernae Pigmentum, proprietor of the apothecary."
"Ah, I remember these two," Mr. Pigmentum said with a sparkle in his blue eyes behind his coke-bottle glasses. "Mr. Wood here always talking about Quidditch, and Ms. Granger in with her parents, Muggles, weren't they?"
"Yes, sir," Hermione said with a blush of unease.
"Ah, no, no," Mr. Pigmentum said. "Don't get me wrong, I hold no prejudice. I find Muggles fascinating. I just remember them because you could tell they felt rather out of place in my shop. It is quite easy to tell the difference from those who come from magical families, and those who come from Muggle families, you see. Someone who comes from a Magical family won't give my wares a second look, they will just buy what they need and leave. Those from Muggle families on the other hand, will look with wide, wondering eyes, filled with amazement, and will take time to got explore all the isles."
"Yes, well," Madam Pomfrey said, taking control of the conversation again and placed her basket on the counter. "If you'd be so kind as to hold this for me, I will return when our task is completed."
"Oh, yes, of course," Mr. Pigmentum said and tucked her basket behind the counter. "It will be here for you when you return."
"Thank you," Madam Pomfrey said, then turned her attention to Hermione and Oliver. "Come along then."
Oliver and Hermione told Mr. Pigmentum goodbye and followed the mediwitch outside. The street was still crowded, and they stood off to the side of the shop.
"All right," Madam Pomfrey said with a sigh. "Let me have it."
Hermione reached into her pocket and withdrew her pouch, handing it to the woman.
Madam Pomfrey sighed and pulled her own pouch which was colored a deep red like her uniform stitched with white leather and had white drawstrings and the healer emblem emblazoned on one side. She opened it and tipped the contents of Hermione's plain pouch into her own before handing it back as the girl looked at her in confusion.
"Wait for me at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor," Madam Pomfrey instructed and without waiting for their response, turned and disappeared into the crowd ahead of them.