In Sickness and In Health

Chapter 3 – Dilemma

"She must be moved immediately Remus! There is no question about it – this place is full of incompetents, and Hermione deserves the best care and attention that our world can provide. I absolutely cannot tolerate the negligent attitude of the staff here, I absolutely cannot!" Severus was in full blown rant now, and he was beginning to feel that strange heat surrounding him as the hallway began to list to the left again.

"You must calm down, my friend. As soon as she is stabilized we can move her to the facility of your choice. Have you entertained the concept that," Remus paused for a moment, attempting to phrase the next part of his sentence in a manner which wouldn't further infuriate his volatile companion. "There is potential that she might be, rather, that her illness might be better treated at a muggle facility?"

Remus placed a hand on Severus' shoulder, preventing the other man from rising to soon after taking his medication, and trying to stall and give Hermione's caregivers more time to work on her. Remus had the suspicion that Severus was not as well as he had appeared moments ago, and had no inclination to lose both his dear friends in the span of one day. The war had taken a heavy toll on all members of their alliance, and the Order had been hit particularly hard. Severus had never forgiven himself for the loss of Dumbledore, although Sirius had witnessed everything and had professed to Severus' innocence in the matter, no one could convince Severus that it hadn't been his fault.

"A muggle facility? Why hadn't I thought of this idea? Strokes are common in Muggles, and virtually unheard of in the wizarding community. Remus, you are genius. We need to arrange to have her moved immediately – I am certain that there is only a narrow gap of time to heal the damage before it becomes permanent. I need to speak with the medics immediately!" With that, he shook Remus' hand from his shoulder and rose abruptly, turning on his heel towards the administration desk at the end of the hall. Three strides later, Remus had caught up with him and was grasping his elbow, as Severus' knees began to buckle for the second time that day.

Settling him onto a marble bench jutting out from the wall, Remus subtly flicked his wand and summoned a mediwitch to assist them. Speaking in hushed tones under his breath, he knelt down and stared Severus deep into his ebony eyes. "You MUST calm yourself; I have never seen you act so irrationally. What would become of Hermione if something were to happen to you: what if she does require long term care and you are not there for her? Are you willing to leave your wife's personal needs to the hands of strangers, or worse, to have her institutionalized because her husband couldn't control her temper? You remember how she reacted when Lestrange hit you with that slicing hex, and then Voldemort himself tried and very nearly succeeded in taking you down with the Adhaerescere Cor Coris curse in the final battle? She was despondent the entire week you were unconscious; she didn't eat, bathe, sleep or do anything but stay at your bedside. We had to slip her a dreamless sleep so that she wouldn't push herself to a state of nervous exhaustion. Are you willing to risk abandoning her when she is at her most vulnerable? Come on man, step up!" He waited to see what impact, if any, his words would have on the Potion's Master. Chronologically, the two men were the same age, but physically and mentally, Remus knew Severus was much, much older than him. War was hard, but it had been hardest on the man who had played the most pivotal role in the light winning the war.

Running a shaking hand through his now dry hair, Severus shook his head, giving Remus a wry smile and an ironic laugh. "Always the voice of reason, eh Remus? No wonder you tolerated Sirius for so long. I always wondered what you saw in him. I would like her transferred to Royal London Hospital immediately. Tell them to have the transfer team ready and the transfer vehicle waiting at the back of the building. I strongly feel that she needs to move now. The muggles will better handle her care, even if they are no better than country butchers."

With that, Severus found his second vial of potion in his other recessed pocket, and downed it quickly, nodding to Remus who had stood to give the orders to the mediwizards attending Hermione. They would prepare her for transfer, and then Severus could go with his wife to the muggle hospital. He leant back into the wall, willing the nausea and spinning in his head to go away. The thought that Hermione might survive this, but be physically or mentally handicapped had not crossed his mind until Remus had brought it up. Now that he had, it just added to the growing concerns he had about her well being, and her recovery. No matter what the outcome, he would be there to support her, care for her and protect her. It didn't matter how badly affected, or for how long. He loved his wife, she loved him, and somehow their life would be whole again.