Hermione was barely listening as Harry spoke to Mr. Burns, she was about to confront one of the girls responsible for making her childhood a lonely one.
A tiny voice in the back of her mind, sounding uncannily like an eight-year-old buck-toothed bookworm she thought she'd grown out of, whispered that perhaps this was Carol's punishment for being so cruel to her.
Hermione's compassion immediately crushed this thought at the first sight of the sick girl; she rushed over, sat down beside Carol and began to gush.
"Oh Carol, I spoke to Tina at our wedding and she told me you were ill but it wasn't till we spoke to our doctor last night that we realised just how serious it was. He said we had to get in touch with you without delay so here we are. He also gave me this for you so here, drink it all." She said in a voice that brokered no argument.
Carol was so used to taking orders and medicine that she swallowed the potion before anyone else could offer any objections or ask questions.
Robert Burns exploded, "just what the hell do you think you're playing at…" he never got to say anymore as the upset father had made the mistake of reaching out to grab Hermione. Suddenly he found himself sitting in a chair, unable to move anything but his eyes.
"I apologise for my impetuses wife sir," said Harry calmly "I've noticed that since she became pregnant, Hermione has begun acting before thinking."
Hermione managed to blush with embarrassment and beam happily at the same time, noticing Carol's enquiring look she nodded her head. "We just found out, would you believe triplets?"
Harry had used the diversion to release Robert from his spell before providing the explanation, "we prefer to be called Harry and Hermione but under our titles of Lord and Lady Gryffindor we own a private clinic to help children that the health service can't. The medicine that Hermione gave Carol was provided by the head of our clinic with the instruction that there was no time to lose. We all need to be honest here and admit that Carol was almost beyond even our help."
Hermione took Carol's hand, "I'm sorry Carole but when I saw you I just wanted to get the medicine into you as soon as possible, I just didn't think."
Robert heard a sound he though had gone forever, his daughter actually chuckled with laughter.
"Hermione Granger not thinking? I never thought I'd here that. Tina told me you had changed but I had to see it for myself." She noticed the ring on Hermione's finger and gave her a questioning look.
Hermione actually laughed, "well, I'm Lady Hermione Jane Potter Gryffindor but the title I'm proudest of is 'mum'. We adopted a young girl who had a family catastrophe and needed someone to help. My wonderful husband has a saving people thing."
Harry was blushing as he answered, "which brings us back to why we're here, we have medicine for Carol to take over the next two days before heading for the Lily Potter clinic. Dr Abercrombie expects her to be in hospital between five and seven days, he also expects her to make a full recovery."
Robert had been released from the body bind but hadn't moved an inch, he had a million questions running through his head but it all came down to just one. So he asked, "can you really save my daughter?"
Harry gave a reassuring smile before answering, "yes, the doctor acquired her case notes and has assured us he can cure Carol. All we ask is that you keep any details of our clinic a secret. We will be helping as many children as possible while trying to get our treatments accepted into the mainstream market. Anything you see in a health shop with the Stag Industries logo, you have my word it will work."
Hermione continued, "we will market our products using terms like 'bring relief' or 'help with symptoms' when they will actually be providing cures. All our products are natural remedies that have existed for many years but had been lost or forgotten. Our scientists went to work, researching and refining until each product is as good as we can make it."
"Just how rich are you?" blurted out Carol.
Harry looked embarrassed, the Burns parents were mortified but Hermione just took it in her stride and answered as honestly as she could, "Well some people say the Queen is the richest person in the country and some say it's us. Personally, we've never counted it and tend to use the money helping as many people as we can."
Harry suddenly had a bag that no one had noticed earlier, he spoke to James first. "Santa asked me to say 'sorry' but he forgot to leave this under your tree earlier. He asked me to give you this."
James ripped of the wrapping and squealed as this week's 'dream present' was revealed, "Oh thank you sir, could you please thank Santa as well the next time you see him."
Harry then turned his attention to Josh, "and what can Santa get for you?" he joked.
He noticed the serious young boy was staring directly into his eyes before asking, "can you really help my sister?" Harry's nod, indicating yes had tears running down the boy's cheeks, "then please tell Santa thanks but that's the best present I could ever receive."
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