A midnight trip to St Mungos
The grandfather clock in the hallway chimed three, a mournful sound that echoed through the quiet house, Hermione, was rocking Rose gently back and forth, pacing the floors after she had wakened with a loud squeal an hour ago. Rose, usually an easy sleeper, was restless, her small body radiating heat. Hermione had checked her temperature twice already; it was alarmingly high.
While she had mastered many potions in her time, she didn’t trust herself to give her daughter anything without a medical professional confirming it was okay. Panic clawed at Hermione’s throat, it was in moments like this when she was frightened that the lack of a partner made her sad, no shared burden in the long, lonely nights or someone to reassure her there was no need to panic. Just her, and Rose, and the gnawing fear that something was really wrong with her daughter, she used her wand to perform a diagnostic spell, checking Rose’s temperature once again and noted it had raised another 2 degrees in the last fifteen minutes.
“It’s alright, Rosie,” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. “Mummy’s going to fix this.” But her words felt hollow, even to her own ears. She knew she needed help, and quickly.
Throwing a few things in a bag, and shoving her trainers on her feet, Hermione carefully wrapped Rose in a blanket and Apparated directly to the entrance of St.Mungo’s, the familiar sterile scent hitting her as she rushed through the doors. The reception was a flurry of hushed activity, witches and wizards in pale green robes hurried past her. Hermione, her heart pounding, approached the nearest mediwitch.
“I need some help please, my daughter, she’s burning up with a high fever of almost 40 degrees.” The mediwitch, a plump woman with a kindly face and a name badge that read Mildred took one look at them both and stood “straight through those doors Mrs Weasley, and I’ll have a doctor meet you there immediately.” Hermione moved quickly through the doors and was guided to a cubicle.
An hour later, the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor filled the small, sterile room, a sound that echoed Hermione’s own frantic heartbeat. Rose lay pale and still in the cot, her small chest rising and falling shallowly. Hermione sat beside her, stroking her feverish brow, her eyes red and swollen from lack of sleep and worry.
“She’s a strong little one, Hermione,” Hannah Abbott, who had thankfully been the doctor on call tonight assured her, but the worry lines etched around Hannah’s eyes betrayed her words. Rose’s temperature had spiked dangerously high, and even Hannah, with her years of training had been concerned.
Hannah left the room to review the latest test results with a smile aimed at them both “I’ll be back soon”. Hermione was left alone with Rose, the silence broken only by the beeping of monitors. She felt so helpless, she had left word with Ron but he was likely still asleep and until she got answers, she hadn’t wanted to reach out to anyone else.
Hermione stood up, pacing the small space, her anxiety growing with each minute. She couldn’t shake the image of Rose’s flushed face, her breathing so distressed. She needed to know what was wrong. Leaving the room, Hermione walked towards the doctor’s station, hoping to catch Hannah. She needed answers. As she rounded the corner, she collided with a solid figure, causing her to lose her balance.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” she murmured, righting herself as she looked up the grey eyes of Draco Malfoy. He steadied her with a hand on her arm “Granger, we must stop meeting like this” his lips turning up into a soft smile. “Are you alright? What are you doing here” his eyes appraising her as if searching for broken bones or sickness.
Hermione gulped, trying to hold in the tears that were threatening to make their way down her cheeks “It’s Rose,” she said, her voice trembling. “She’s been really sick.” Malfoy’s expression softened, “what happened”. Hermione explained about Rose’s high fever, the tests and the waiting but as she spoke her voice finally broke and she started to cry. Malfoy didn’t say anything at first, listening to her intensely, concern etched across his face. When she finished, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a clean handkerchief, handing it to her. “Thank you,” she whispered. Draco shook his head, he hesitated for a moment before asking her “is there anything I can do, I can go chase up the doctors, grab you a coffee, whatever you need Granger.”
Before Hermione could answer, Hannah appeared, giving Malfoy a puzzled look “Hermione, we have the results back, if you want to come back to the room and we can discuss?” Hermione’s heart plummeted, she glanced at Malfoy, a silent apology in her eyes “thanks Malfoy” she placed her hand on his arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I’m alright for now, but I appreciate the offer.” Malfoy nodded “of course, I’ll be here if you need anything.” He stepped back, giving them space.
Hannah closed the door gently, the click echoing in the small space. She turned to Hermione “The tests have come back all clear, it’s likely she’s just picked up a viral infection but we’ve given her some medication that will help.” Hermione’s breath hitched “she’s going to be okay?” she asked, her voice trembling. Hannah took her hand, squeezing it reassuringly. “She is, I’d like to see her again in a few days just to check her over but I’m confident with some rest and love from you, she’s going to be okay.”
The witches smiled at each other, “Ready to go home, you two?” Hannah asked, her voice cheerful. Hermione’s heart swelled with relief. “Yes,” she breathed, her voice thick with emotion. “Thank you, Hannah. Thank you for everything. ”Hannah squeezed Hermione’s shoulder. “You’re welcome, She’s a little fighter, just like her mum.”
As Hermione redressed Rose, her movements careful and gentle, she felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her, but it was a good exhaustion, the kind that comes after a long, harrowing ordeal. She’d spent the entire night at Rose’s bedside, her fear a constant companion, but now, as she held her daughter in her arms, wrapped in a soft blanket, she felt a sense of peace.
With Rose nestled securely in her arms, and potions for her to administer over the next few days, Hermione stepped out of the ward, ready to get home and sleep. As she left the room, closing the door behind her, she was surprised to find Malfoy sitting in the chairs waiting. He straightened as he saw her, a flicker of something – relief?- crossing his features. “Granger,” he said, his voice low. “I waited here incase you need anything, is she okay?”
Hermione managed a tired smile, “thankfully yes, she’s okay, Hannah has let us head home.” Malfoy nodded, as he glanced down at Rose who was now awake “hello little one” he murmured, reaching his finger out for her to grab. “Thank you for checking in Malfoy”, “don’t mention it,” he said “I was worried.” His words, so simple and understated touched Hermione. She knew that he was a good man, but he was so gentle, he had been from the start with Rose. “I should get going,” Hermione said, shifting Rose slightly in her arms. “She’ll be happier in her own bed.”
“Of course,” Malfoy replied. He paused, then said, “Granger…if you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to ask. Even if it’s just someone to watch her for an hour so you can get some sleep.” Hermione’s heart warmed at his offer. “Thank you, Draco,” she said, her voice sincere. “That means a lot.”
He nodded. “Just…take care of yourselves,” he said, his gaze lingering on Rose. Then, with a brief nod, he turned and walked away. Hermione watched him go, finding herself wanting to call him back and before she could stop herself, she heard her voice ringing out “Malfoy, wait” and caught up with him “Why don’t you pop round in the afternoon, I’m sure Rose would love to see you and it’ll give me a chance to have a shower and sort some stuff out, knowing someone is keeping an eye on her.” He smiled at her “of course Granger, I’ll be there at four?” she nodded “perfect” and raised her wand Apparating her and Rose back to the warmth of their cottage.
She arrived home to Ron pacing her living room, “Hermione I just got your owl, but I wasn’t sure if you were still there or home, is she okay” he rushed them both and Hermione handed him Rose, who was reaching her chubby little hands out to him “she’s fine Ron, her temperature was sky high so I took her to St Mungo’s to be on the safe side, Hannah said she has a viral infection but she’ll be okay.”
Hermione flopped down on the sofa, utterly exhausted “let me take Rose for a few hours, go get some rest Mione.” Ron’s voice was low, laced with worry as he stared at Rose’s face and Hermione realised he just wanted a moment alone with his daughter, to be reassured she was okay. “Are you sure? You have work tomorrow and she’ll be tired, I can just get her to sleep.” Ron shushed her, “she’s my daughter too Mione, I want to just hold her for a little bit and you need to rest, or you’re no good to no one.” They both glanced at the clock, it was almost 11am. “I have a meeting at 3pm I can’t miss, but I’ll stay until then” and he shooed her towards the door.
Hermione’s last thought before she fell asleep was why was Malfoy at the hospital in the early hours of the morning?