Chapter 1
“Healer Granger to the spell damage ward for a consult.”
The disembodied woman’s voice rang out from Hermione’s magical pager. The witch in question rolled out of the cot she’d ducked into for a quick nap. Technically she was supposed to have a few hours, but there was always something interrupting her.
Should she shut her pager off? Probably, but she hated the idea of missing an emergency - a habit from the war she was working on in therapy…with limited success. Rubbing sleep from her eyes she made her way to the ward where she was met by a mediwitch with a chart.
Collapsed unexpectedly; possible potions accident; likely memory issues…
No wonder they called her.
Female, early twenties, blonde.
Hermione squinted at the name. It was blurring and the letters wouldn’t settle. Maybe she was more exhausted than she thought. She shook herself before looking again. The letters still didn’t clear. Hermione was pleased to realize the issue wasn’t her fault. Curious that the aurors would be involved though.
Hermione could easily bypass the privacy charm, but as a favor to Harry, not that he’d know it, she held off.
Squaring her shoulders, she stepped into the room. As the chart promised, an unconscious blonde woman lay in the bed. She wore the shapeless smock of St. Mungo’s patients, but Hermione noticed the expensive looking robes draped carefully over a chair. Yes, if the robes and those bejeweled earrings were any indication, this was a well to do witch, probably from the Sacred 28.
Hermione gently lifted a pale wrist, noting the fine manicure, as she checked for a pulse. Her colleagues thought she was a bit odd for insisting on a mix of muggle and magical healing methods, but after four years of med school and healer training, Hermione was convinced some aspects of healing required more than wand waving.
She gave the hand a quick squeeze - unconscious or not, the woman should know she was not alone. The Gryffindor continued her examination, noting a light splash of freckles across the witch’s nose and cheeks before she checked the pupils for responsiveness. Satisfied, she moved on to her magical diagnostics.
She took a few drops of blood and began a set of complex incantations to identify the components of any potions in her patient’s system.
It took a few moments for the results to register so she continued on.
Hermione cast an age diagnostic. Twenty four years old - just two years her junior.
She cast a number of other diagnostics. The woman wasn’t pregnant but had given birth at least once. The healer turned to the potion analysis and frowned.
That can’t be right.
Hermione quickly transcribed the shocking number of ingredients. Then took another sample, quickly healing the cut, and ran the test again. She read through the ingredients on her list while she waited.
The results finalized - the ingredients sorting themselves into neat rows in front of her eyes. Hermione’s jaw dropped. She stared at the woman again. Harry would have to forgive her. She was about to counter the privacy charm when the door burst open.
Hermione whirled, wand out and just managed to stop herself from cursing the man who had barged in. He flinched comically but quickly recovered.
“Ah don’t shoot love. Just checking in on the bird here. Is she awake yet?” The burly man in auror robes questioned.
Hermione cocked an eyebrow at the auror with huge sideburns and a ruddy complexion.
“Excuse me, but you’ll need to wait outside until I’ve finished my examination.” She curtly responded.
He flashed her what he clearly thought was a winning grin, exposing yellowed teeth with a piece of something green stuck between his right canine and lateral incisor. He leaned forward.
“Meant no offense ma’am. It’s just that the bird is wanted for questioning. She took that potion and promised she’d answer anything we asked.”
Hermione’s eyebrows shot up. “You’re saying she voluntarily ingested the potion?”
Burly crossed his arms and puffed his chest. “She did indeed. Was the least she could do after all she’s done. Did it in the auror’s office. Course, she didn’t say anything about passing out. I been sent here to make sure she doesn’t do a runner.”
Hermione scoffed. “She’s unconscious.”
Burly leaned even closer, pointing a finger in her face. She could smell onions and garlic. “Listen here love. This woman is as slippery as they come. Might be faking it. She’s got vital information in that head of hers, and she’s not getting away without sharing it. That potion was damn hard to come by. We’re getting our answers one way or another.”
He pulled out his wand and shot a stinging hex at the woman. Hermione deftly deflected it before wordlessly disarming the auror. He spluttered at her, but she silenced him.
“Don’t you EVER even think about harming one of my patients. This is a hospital! What in Merlin’s name is wrong with you?” Hermione’s eyes burned.
Taking a breath, she summoned a patronus. Keeping her wand trained on the auror, she whispered her message. As the otter sped off, she waved her wand and conjured a chair behind the auror. Another wand wave and he found himself bound and gagged to the chair and pushed into a corner.
Five minutes later, Harry Potter knocked and stuck his head gingerly into the room. Hermione had conjured a squishy armchair for herself as she reviewed the potions ingredients again. Harry ran a hand through his hair as he caught sight of the auror.
“Christ. Ferguson what in the hell? Mi what is going on?” He winced as he met her glare.
Hermione flipped the chart closed and stood. “Auror Potter. I’d like to know the same thing. Specifically, what is the auror department doing procuring dangerous, untested, and borderline illegal potions for civilians? Why would they be overseeing the administration of such potions in the auror’s office? And why in the hell does an auror think it was in anyway acceptable to come into a hospital and hex an unconscious patient?” While in her younger days, her voice would have gone up in octaves as her increased agitation bled through, now her years in the war and her medical training meant that the more agitated she was, the calmer and flatter her voice became.
Harry had paled slightly as she spoke, knowing the danger carefully controlled behind those flashing amber eyes. At the last statement, he turned to Ferguson, his own eyes thunderous.
“Well that explains why you’re trussed up like a Christmas goose.” He turned to his best friend, settling into his own professional mask. “Healer Granger, my sincere apologies for the uncouth and unacceptable behavior. Ferguson, explain yourself.”
He waved his wand at the gag. Ferguson opened his mouth but no sounds came out. Harry sighed and glanced to Hermione. With just the hint of a smirk, she released the silencing charm.
“Don’t see why it’s your business Potter, but I was doing what I needed to for our case. That witch is dangerous. Anyway I didn’t do nothing she didn’t deserve.”
Harry furrowed his brow, his voice firm. “It’s my business because I am deputy head auror and given that the witch in question is unconscious, I certainly disagree with your assessment. Now what’s this about a potion?”
Ferguson huffed, unimpressed by Harry’s emerald glare. “Robards himself signed off on it. She’s got valuable information for a classified investigation, and I’m supposed to question her.”
Hermione caught a hint of something flash across Harry’s face, but then it was gone. His poker face had really improved.
Before Ferguson could say anything more, the door banged opened again. This time the head auror himself, Gawain Robards strode into the room.
“Well has she talked yet?” He stopped as he took in the room. “What in blazes?”
Harry put up a hand to placate his boss. “Apologies sir. I was just getting to the bottom of what’s going on.”
Robards pushed past him to stand next to the bed. “What’s going on? This woman was supposed to give vital testimony, but instead she took that potion and collapsed in my office. Ferguson was supposed to get her here so the healers could wake her up.”
He whirled to face Hermione. “So what’s the hold up? Heal her so we can get back to it.” He demanded.
Hermione’s eyes flashed. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Harry gingerly step back to the wall. Hermione stared up into the head auror’s face, her voice now just above a whisper.
“Am I to understand that the Head Auror authorized the use of an untested, volatile potion, on a witness in the auror’s office? One that, based on the combination of ingredients, is not only possibly fatal, but even if the taker survives, poses serious risk of permanent effects?”
Robards glared back. “She did it voluntarily. Signed consent forms and all that.” He waved a hand dismissively.
“Course she had the proper motivation didn’t she boss?” Ferguson sneered.
“Get out.” Hermione spat.
“Excuse me?” Robards leaned forward. “Just who do you think you are? You’re impeding an official auror investigation. I’ve half a mind to arrest you. Assaulting an auror, failing to cooperate. Potter!”
Harry pointed at himself as if there was any other Potter in the world, let alone the hospital room. Robards opened his mouth to shout again, but found he couldn’t. His lips had been sealed shut. He whipped around to glare at Hermione.
The witch smirked. “I’d think the Head Auror would know better than to turn his back on an opponent. I know it’s been years now since you were begging me to join your department, but I’m still just as skilled as I was after the war.” She tilted her head to the side. “More so actually, so Auror Robards, you and your staff will kindly vacate this room, this ward, this bloody damn hospital so that I can do my job without interference.” And with that she summoned a mighty wind and blew the aurors, Harry included, out the door, before slamming it shut. She felt a bit bad about Harry, but he would land on his feet.
“You bitch! I’ll be back here with an order from the Minister himself Granger. Don’t know why you’re being so noble about this after what that monster and her kin did to you!” Robards called through the door before storming off.
Hermione cocked her head at that. She turned back to her patient who remained unmoved. The woman looked vaguely familiar, but she was younger than they were - what could she possibly have done to Hermione?