บท 5: 5. A Visit to St Mungo's
Disclaimer: The colored pencils are mine! The paper is mine! The plushies are mine! (unless I give you one XD) The Mountain Dew is mine! All mine! But Harry Potter? That isn't mine.
Parenting Class
A Visit to St. Mungo's
"But...but..." Hermione stuttered, looking down at the sleeping boy. "We need him to wake up! He can't sleep for our project." Turning to Snape she asked meekly, "How long do you think he'll be asleep, Professor?"
"I'd say about a week," The Potions teacher answered, a glare directed at the innocent cauldron half-full of Dreamless Sleep Potion.
"Oh no! Oh nonononononono," Hermione muttered, yanking on her hair, distraught expression on her face. "This can't be happening! It can't!"
"What's so bad about him sleeping, Mione?" Harry asked, quite puzzled. The way he saw it was Draco could simply be left in their rooms fast asleep for the next several days. And they could enjoy a quiet few days.
"We're supposed to interact with him! See what he does! It's our job as a parent, Harry! And if he's asleep we can't do that! And what's worse...this is considered an accident...and we weren't able to do something about it meaning we're irresponsible!"
"That's correct," Snape said icily. "I will be forwarding a note to Professor Tobin unless you manage to do something to fix this problem." Hermione and Harry's faces fell, as the realization they might fail Parenting Class came down. "However, I will let you leave class early to visit Madam Pomfrey. She might know what to do."
The fallen faces turned to disbelief and shock, Hermione's bordering on instant happiness. "You are so lucky you got Snape's godson," Ron muttered softly to Harry, who nodded and started to pack up his books.
Hermione joined her two friends a moment later, Draco securely in her arms. Harry, as the gentleman he should be, took Hermione's bag and draped it over his shoulder, tilting to the side and falling over immediately.
"God Hermione! What do you have in here? Bricks?"
"I do have one," she admitted, standing next to the cauldron while Harry picked himself off the ground, dropping his own bag on his left side, hoping to even the weight out. "I needed it for Ancient Runes," she defended, seeing the class's open stares. "We were going to try and carve our own."
Ron burst into laughter, and shortly the whole class, save Snape and Hermione, were in hysterics, clutching their sides as laughs rolled from their mouths, stomachs aching from the force.
In exasperation, Hermione shifted Draco so he was sitting on her hip, grabbed Harry's ear and dragged him, still chuckling, from the dark classroom. "It isn't that funny," she grumbled as they walked up the stone steps, Harry still snickering softly.
"It doesn't look like the class thought that."
"..." After a few more seconds Hermione said, her tone more serious, "Harry? What are we going to do about Draco? What happens if Madam Pomfrey can't wake him up?"
"Then I guess we'll just get a T in the class." Hermione's lower lip trembled and Harry sighed. "She'll fix him, okay? That woman can do almost anything!"
"But what happens if Draco isn't in the almost? If his case is in the not able? Then what?"
"You need to relax, Mione," Harry murmured. "Do you want me to take Draco?" The girl's response was to hug the child tighter, her tears dropping into the blond hair. "He'll be fine, you'll see."
The duo reached the Hospital Wing a few minutes later, Draco still sleeping though Hermione had hoped beyond hope he would have awakened. Pushing open the doors, the two could only stare in shock at the scene before them.
Out of the twelve beds, eight occupied small children, most attempting to get out and play with the bottled medicines across the room. The medi witch was frantically trying to put the children back in their beds, while 'parents' assisted in any way they could.
"WHAT'S GOING ON?" Harry shouted over the noise the kids were making.
"ACCIDENT IN HERBOLOGY!" a Ravenclaw yelled back. "SOME FLOWER BUD EXPLODED AND ALL THE KIDS STARTED TO PASS OUT! THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOME KIND OF CHEMICAL IN THE PLANT!"
"My poor flower," sobbed a brown haired girl, curls framing her face. "It just went poof...just like that," she demonstrated, clapping her hands together. "Poof."
"WHO WAS TEACHING HERBOLOGY?" cried the nurse over the din. "PROFESSOR SPROUT IS SUPPOSED TO BE OUT!"
"THE LITTLE GIRL RIGHT THERE," shouted a black haired boy, pointing at the little brown haired girl. "SHE WAS IN THE CLASS AND SAID SHE WAS TEACHING IT!"
"THAT'S PROFESSOR SPROUT!" screamed Madam Pomfrey, making her way over to the girl. Just as she was about to pick her up, the child turned into the jolly Herbology professor, a puzzled expression on her face. Then, she seemed to remember and rushed about administering a bright yellow potion to each child.
In mere seconds, the room was quiet, all of the noise vanishing as the kids fell asleep. "Poison Poppy," the professor said cheerfully, tucking the vial back in her robes. "Effects are only noticeable on children. They tend to lose part of their hearing and in turn will shout louder to hear themselves heard. They'll be back to themselves in to time. Class, if you'll take your charges and follow me we'll finish cleaning up the green house."
Silently everyone followed, the medi witch leaning weakly against one of the empty beds. "What just happened," she wondered to herself, shaking her head. "No matter. What do you two need?"
Hermione blinked, realizing they were the only ones there. "Draco fell in a cauldron of Dreamless Sleep Potion," she hesitantly said. "We were wondering if you knew how to wake him up."
"Set him on the bed," the nurse ordered, picking up a pillow from the floor and tossing it onto a mattress. Obediently, Hermione placed Draco down on one of the still made beds, settling herself down next to him.
"You said he swallowed Dreamless Sleep Potion...was the potion finished?"
"Yes," Hermione answered. "The last ingredient needed was a seagull feather...that was the item Draco put in. And since it only needed to touch the potion we all know Draco would only have gotten the effects of the desired potion."
"About how much do you think he drank?"
The two teens looked at each other. "Umm...no clue," Harry muttered, cheeks tingeing pink with embarrassment. "Snape said he'd be asleep for about a week if that's any help," he added.
"A week? Then I'm afraid I can't help," the nurse said, shaking her head. "I can get rid of effects up to two days long in case of the user taking too much, but a week is out of my control."
"But what about Draco? Our grade?" exclaimed Hermione. "Isn't there anything you can do?"
"If you get Professor Dumbledore's permission he may allow you to visit St. Mungo's. They might be able to help you there. If they can't, then Mr. Malfoy will simply be sleeping for several days."
"Thank you, Madam Pomfrey," Harry said quickly, rising to his feet and slinging the book bags back onto his shoulders. "We'll do that." Soundlessly, Hermione picked Draco up and allowed Harry to lead her from the room.
"What happens if St. Mungo's cant fix him?" she queried, eyes bright with tears.
"They're a famous Wizarding hospital...they'll wake him up," Harry assured her, although he had his doubts as well. "By any chance do you know Dumbledore's newest password?"
The two were standing in front of the unmoving gargoyles, the hidden passage to the headmaster's office. "Not a clue."
"Peanut butter?"
"You airhead!" giggled Hermione, "that isn't even a candy! It's a flavor!"
"Then why are they moving?" Sure enough, the two stone statues had sprung apart to show a revolving upwards staircase that led up to Dumbledore's office."
Hermione thought a minute, biting her lip. "Is airhead a candy?" she asked after a pause. "Because 'you' certainly isn't and neither is peanut butter."
A delighted grin lit up Harry's face. "Airheads are one of Dudley's favorites," he said, stepping onto the staircase. "They're really chewy and have fruity tastes. How could you not have heard of them, Mione? They're one of the best!"
"Well let's see...my parents are dentists, Harry. Chewy candy is not on their list of foods to buy," she remarked sarcastically. "Come to think of it...I never really had any candy until I came to Hogwarts."
"But what about Halloween?"
"We gave out apples and I got to give all of my candy to my neighbors," Hermione grumbled. "I hated that holiday! Until I came here that is...at Hogwarts I can eat anything I want; I just make sure to brush really well."
Before the conversation could be carried further, they arrived at the doors to Dumbledore's office. Harry opened the door and the Gryffindors entered, Dumbledore smiling at them from his desk.
"Is there something I can do for the two of you?" he asked pleasantly, before also saying, "would you like a lemon drop?" Hermione shook her head but Harry eagerly took several.
"Yes Sir, we do need a favor," murmured Hermione. "Draco accidentally drank quite a bit of Dreamless Sleep Potion and we can't wake him up. Neither can Madam Pomfrey. She said that if you allowed it we could take him to St. Mungo's."
"May I see Mr. Malfoy for a minute?" Harry had to pry the child from Hermione's arms, the witch not wanting to let go, and placed Draco in Dumbledore's. "So small," Dumbledore said softly to himself, rocking the sleeping boy. "So innocent..."
The man sat in thought for several minutes, just rocking Draco. "Ummm, Sir? Are we allowed to go to St. Mungo's?" questioned Hermione, arms feeling empty without the child nestled in them.
"Hmmm. Oh, of course." Handing Draco to Harry, who quickly passed him to Hermione, Dumbledore dug through his desk drawer and came out with a small, deep purple card engraved with a golden cursive 'H'. "This will grant you leave from the school to St. Mungo's," the headmaster said. "Once Mr. Malfoy has been taken care of please do return to the school."
"Thank you very much," Hermione said gratefully, rising to her feet. "Should we just floo from the fireplace?"
"Please do," replied Dumbledore, gesturing the one across the room. "And you may leave your books here...I'll have someone bring them back to your dorm rooms later." Harry gave a relieved smile and followed Hermione over to the fireplace, card in hand.
Balancing Draco on her hip, Hermione took a pinch of the emerald powder and threw it on the heart. Green flames sprang up and she nimbly stepped inside. "St. Mungo's!" In a puff of smoke, Hermione disappeared, Harry soon after.
"Hello and welcome to St. Mungo's," greeted a friendly voice over the intercom. "You've arrived in the floo room. If St. Mungo's is your destination, please continue on through the doors to the right. Thank you and have a nice day."
Boldly, the two Gryffindors exited the wooden doors to enter a bustling lobby of wizards and witches. A child with elephant ears attached to his head was crying loudly while a girl was flying around with wings attached to her back.
"We're going to the third floor," Hermione said, reading a large sign hanging above the information desk. "Come on." The two set off for a large flight of stairs. Huffing and puffing, they found themselves on the third floor a few seconds later.
"Harry! Hermione! My goodness, what are you two doing here?" exclaimed a woman running over and pulling both teenagers into a hug.
"Hello Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said politely, returning the hug. "We're here because of-"
Hermione never got to finish her sentence because that was when Mrs. Weasley noticed Draco. "Merlin! You had a baby, Hermione?" Her gaze flicked over to Harry before she yelled out, "and Harry's the dad!"
"That is-"
"When did this happen! Do your parents know Hermione?" Mrs. Weasley cried, shaking the girl by her shoulders.
"But we-"
"And Harry! Not having protected sex! Shame on you!"
"THIS ISN'T OUR KID!" Hermione screamed at the top of her lungs, face bright cherry red as people looked on at the argument. "WE'RE HIS TEMPORARY PARENTS!"
"Oh..." Mrs. Weasley blushed to match her hair. "I'm sorry dear." Turning to the crowd the woman exclaimed, "What are you all looking at?" Shooting curious glances at the red faced duo, the crowed wandered back to their daily activities. "Who's child is that then?" asked the woman.
"We'll explain after we get him some medical treatment," sighed Hermione. "What are you doing here, Mrs. Weasley?"
"Didn't Ronald tell you? I'm working at the hospital part time...seeing as all of my angels are in school or at work I see no reason to stay home all day. What are you two doing here then?"
"We're his temporary guardians," Hermione murmured, "and he had an accident today in Potions. We were told to bring him here to see if we can get help."
The trio walked up to a small desk in the middle of a room. "Excuse me," Hermione said, "but could you possibly help us?" A young woman rose from behind the desk and walked around, short red hair tucked behind her ears.
"What's wrong with the little guy?" she asked, taking him out of Hermione's arms. Draco sighed in his sleep and gripped the nurse's shirt sleeve. "Is he yours?"
"No, we're just watching him at the moment," Harry said. "He swallowed a lot of Dreamless Sleep Potion this morning...we were wondering if you could do anything to help."
"Let's get him to a room," the woman said, her nametag reading 'Sarah'. She led them into a small room off to the side and set Draco down in one of the beds. "I'll be right back with Healer Tyson," she said with a smile.
Hermione sat down on one of the chairs next to the bed and took one of Draco's tiny hands in her own. "This is our charge for two weeks," the girl said softly to Mrs. Weasley. "Dumbledore put each sixth year into groups of three. One of them got transformed into a five year old child with memories only up until their current age. This is our partner. Any guesses?"
Mrs. Weasley's brown eyes narrowed in concentration as she looked over the tiny boy. "What's his personality like?" she asked, trying to depict who the teenage form of the child was.
"He's very polite," Hermione said with a smile, "and very sweet. Also he doesn't mean to, but he's always causing little accidents. He's quiet and tends to be shy. He's also one hell of an actor!"
"Language, Hermione," reprimanded Mrs. Weasley. "I honestly haven't a clue...did he come from a magical background?" Harry nodded. "He acts like Charlie when he was younger but of course this isn't him...and the only student your age at school with that hair color is Draco Malfoy."
"That's him," Hermione laughed, a horror stricken expression crossing the older woman's face. "He's so adorable as a kid, Mrs. Weasley. You can't help but love him!" And that's how Sarah and Healer Tyson found the group; Harry laughing, Hermione hugging Draco, and Mrs. Weasley staring at Hermione like she'd gone completely insane.
"Ah hem," Tyson coughed, effectively getting the group's attention. "I'm Healer Tyson," he said cheerfully, holding out his hand to Harry, who shook it. "Sarah was telling me your charge had a bit of an encounter with a Dreamless Sleep Potion. Would you mind answering some questions for me?"
"Of course not," Hermione said, holding Draco on her lap.
Tyson magicked a clipboard and set it on his lap. "All right then, what's his name, age, and birthday?"
"His name's Draco Malfoy," Hermione said, "he's five years old, but I haven't a clue what his birthday is."
Sarah and the healer looked at each other strangely. "Miss-"
"Granger," Hermione filled in.
"Miss Granger," Tyson continued, "our records clearly state that Draco Malfoy just turned sixteen; his birthday ison June fifth."
"Well, it's kinda difficult," Harry stated. "At Hogwarts, we're in a class and one of three group members was turned into a child...Draco really is sixteen, but at the minute and for about the next two weeks he's only going to be five."
"In that case we'll just write a new diagnostic sheet and clip it to his normal one," Sarah concluded.
Tyson nodded and continued his questioning. "And what might your names be?"
"Hermione Granger."
"Harry Potter."
"I'm not with them," Mrs. Weasley said, "I work here and just came along. But the name's Molly Weasley." It was all written down neatly on the clipboard.
"How much would you estimate he drank of the Dreamless Sleep Potion?"
Hermione sighed. "We honestly don't know...Professor Snape said he'd be out for about a week."
"I see. Well then, we'll just get some of his measurements. Why don't you two head up to the fifth floor and get some lunch? It's almost one! You must be famished!"
"It's that late already?" Hermione glanced at a clock and was surprised to see that Tyson was right. "We'll be back in a little bit, okay Draco?" Planting a soft kiss on his cheek, Hermione left the room followed by Harry and Mrs. Weasley.
"I'm so glad! I think they'll be able to help Draco!" Hermione squealed, twirling down the hallway. Unfortunately, the girl wasn't watching where she was going and was now on the very edge of a staircase. "In just a few hours he'll be good as new!"
"Hermione! Don't step-" the girl's foot slipped off of the top step and she fell with a scream. -"backwards," Harry finished with a sigh. Then realizing his best friend had just fallen down one of the staircases he started to scream for help, Mrs. Weasley running down to see Hermione.
Healers rushed from almost every room to gather around Hermione, the girl lying still. "She's alive," one of the younger healers said joyfully. "Just suffering a broken neck. Don't worry," she comforted, seeing Harry swaying on his feet, "nothing we can't fix."
With easily seen practice, Hermione was levitated onto a floating stretcher. "Could you two please come with us? We need to ask you some questions..."
Two hours later, Harry sat miserably next to a still sleeping Draco, head in his hands. Hermione was currently getting her bones pieced back together and wasn't to see anyone for several more hours.
He supposed he did have one thing to be thankful for. Hermione had been injured in a hospital so getting her care was easy. One of healers had said that if he or anyone else besides a healer had tried to move Hermione, they probably would have permanently paralyzed her.
Healer Tyson had informed Harry that they'd given Draco a potion and if they were right in the amount of Dreamless Sleep Potion he'd taken, the Slytherin would be awake by about five.
"Hermione will be just fine, dear, don't worry," Mrs. Weasley assured Harry, giving him a side hug. "She's in good care."
"I know...it's just that I want her awake and healthy when Draco gets up...he's more comfortable around her. Not seeing Mione might frighten him even more then he normally would be."
"The healers say Hermione should have her neck repaired in about two hours, right? She should hopefully be up before Dr-" Mrs. Weasley was cut off as a door slammed open, a frantic looking Lavender standing in the doorway.
Upon seeing Mrs. Weasley, she ran over and hugged the woman, tears pouring down her cheeks. "I am so sorry," she sobbed, "I didn't know he would do it!"
"Lav? What are you doing here?" Harry asked, confused by the appearance of his distraught classmate.
"It's Ron...Terry...potion...hand...it was terrible!"
"Is she making any sense to you?" Mrs. Weasley whispered to Harry. The boy shook his head.
At that moment, Sarah entered. "Looks like you already heard, huh?" she asked, a grin on her face. "Molly, your son is down in room one fifty-eight on this floor."
"Who? Ronald? What happened to him?"
"You mean you don't know?" She shook her head.
"Terry did it," Lavender said softly, rubbing her eyes. "He's the little kid Ron and I are watching...he got a hold of flesh repellent...we haven't a clue how since he must have taken it out of Professor Snape's private storerooms. Anyway, he dumped it on Ron's hand...he's in here for emergency skin regrowth."
"My poor baby!" cried Mrs. Weasley, dashing from the room and down the hall, Lavender and Harry following.
"Umm, Lav? Where is Terry?" asked Harry quietly.
"He's right...here. Oh no!"
"I'll help you find him," Harry volunteered, already imaging the disasters Terry was causing around the building. "How do you propose we search?"
"AHHHHHHHH!" A scream tore through the air and the two froze.
"Follow the screams," Lavender suggested wryly before pivoting and turning in the direction of the yells.
The two turned the corner and ran down a flight of stairs, coming face to face with a horde of pixies fluttering about. The electric blue imps were pulling portraits off walls, pulling people's hair, ripping papers up from inside the rooms. And in the middle of it all, Terry sat laughing while the pixies fluttered around.
"WHY THE HECK DO THEY HAVE PIXIES IN A HOSPITAL?" screamed Harry, Lavender shrugging in reply. "IMMOBILUS!" Harry shouted, the creatures instantly freezing.
"Terry! What were you thinking?" Lavender moaned, pulling the boy into her arms and shaking her head. "What am I going to do with you?" The boy smiled cheekily up at her and the girl let out a groan of frustration. "I wonder how your parents put up with you."
Hospital staff came out of hiding and began to stuff the pixies back into large metal cages. "I'm curious," said Harry, approaching one of the healers, "what are pixies doing here?"
"We've been studying them," the aid answered, closing the lid. "Several of our head healers believe they might have healing qualities to some plant poisonings so we've been examining them. Somehow, they got out..."
"Thanks," Harry quickly said before joining up with Lavender and leaving the site. The two trudged to Ron's room to find a weeping Mrs. Weasley squeezing Ron. The Gryffindor was patting his mother awkwardly with his good hand.
"Hey, Ron," Harry greeted, "how are you feeling?"
"Not to bad actually...it just kind of tingles...look." He held up his hand, the bone the only part on it besides a thick green paste. "This goop is supposed to be my skin...it'll start to form in a few hours...but I'm supposed to stay the night here."
For the next two hours the three Gryffindors talked, Mrs. Weasley going back to her hospital duty and Terry sitting in the corner, thankfully coloring quietly. "So where is Hermione?" Ron asked, looking around for his other best friend.
"She broke her neck...currently getting fixed," Harry smiled. "It's a good thing we were here when she broke it."
"How?"
"She fell down a staircase."
"And how's the kid doing?"
"Draco? He's...shit! He should be awake by now! I've gotta go! Hope ya feel better soon Ron!"
Sprinting out of the room, Harry slammed into a figure about to enter. "Is this the kind of greeting I get?" came Hermione's muffled voice from beneath Harry. "I swear, you might have just broken it again!"
"Sorry, Mione," Harry apologized, pulling his friend to her feet. "How are you doing?"
"I was fine until you knocked me over. But I'll be okay...just a bit sore. How's Draco?"
"I don't know! Ron was here and I went to talk to him and-"
"Ron's here? Is he okay?"
"He's fine. But Draco probably woke up...and neither of us are there!"
Like professional racers, the two tore down the hall to Draco's room, the door slightly ajar. Throwing open the obstruction, the two gasped simultaneously as they saw the empty bed.
"Oh no...now we've lost him." Dejectedly Harry sank onto the bed while Hermione stood in the doorway. "We have to go find him, Harry! Come on!" Grabbing her friend by the arm, she literally dragged him from the room.
For over an hour they scoured the building, looking in every room (and being chased out of several), down every hall, and even asking those they saw if they'd seen a small, blond boy. Each answer was negative.
"Now what? Snape is going to have our heads for losing his godson..."muttered Harry, leaning against one of the many vibrant white walls. "At least we know he's awake, right?"
"What good is that going to do us if we can't find him? He could have left the building for all we know...he grew up with a wizarding family, he can probably use floo powder."
"Then the best we can do is keep looking." The pair turned to go down a flight of steps when Harry suddenly stopped. "Did you hear that?"
Straining her ears, Hermione listened. "Isn't he the sweetest thing? Would you like another lollipop, sweetheart?"
"If I could," came a soft, very familiar voice. A thank you was heard a second later.
"Found him." The twosome ran down to the closed door they hadn't seen (it was beneath the stairwell from above) and threw it open. Inside, Draco sat on a plush couch with a lime lollipop in hand. Several nurses were clustered around, cooing over the child.
"Mione!" Draco exclaimed, jumping off of the couch and running towards the girl, wrapping his arms around her legs.
"Where on earth did you run off to, Draco?" Hermione asked, picking the child up. "We were so worried!"
"I'm sorry," he murmured, tears pooling in his eyes. "I couldn't find anyone when I woke up...and then April found me in the hall," he said, pointing to one of the nurses who waved and gave a dimpled smile, "and she brought me here."
"Thank you for watching him," Hermione said gratefully. "He got taken here because he swallowed too much Dreamless Sleep Potion...and when he woke up I guess no one was in the room with him."
"It was no problem," laughed April. Walking over, she plucked Draco out of Hermione's arms and gave him a hug and a kiss on top of his head. "Now you be good, okay?"
"Okay, April," he answered, offering her a charming smile. Waving goodbye, the trio left, Draco walking next to Hermione and holding her hand.
"I just thought of something," Hermione remarked as they were getting ready to floo several minutes later. "We're watching Pansy."
"Yay!" cheered Draco.
Harry groaned. "Just what we need."
Author's Notes:
In order to get this up on time, I'm not going to be doing Reviewer's Comments. I'm too tired and I have a neck cramp XD So sorry bout that, I'll make them nice and long next chappie.
I'm going to put this in bold. I update this story every Sunday. I won't update later or earlier unless I say I will. This is my fastest updated fic and I'm taking time away from others to write it. So please do be patient to Sunday. Arigatou!
Also, as ramblings of a rather curious authoress, I'm interested to see how old everyone is. XD If you don't answer, that's oki, but I'm naturally curious. Fyi, I'm fifteen, almost sixteen! My b-day is in December! n.n
Please do review! Your choice, but they do make me happy!
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