Unwanted

"I don't think I"m ready, Dr. Welson." Hermione sat in the white on white office of her new psychologist. Connor Welson had been born in London, but moved to the United States when he was seven, after his parents' divorce. After almost five years of being considered hopeless, he had been the one to get through to Hermione and help her out of her anger and fugue state. Of course, none of the other doctors at the hospital had believed that she was really a witch.


"Hermione, we discussed how you're the only one who can determine if you're ready or not, but now you're just prevaricating. You're scared of confronting your past, and that is understandable, but not realistic. Is it?" Connor sat back in his chair and watched his patient chew on her bottom lip. Obviously, it was a stress reaction from childhood, something from which she had never overcome. But everyone had their foibles. He was just lucky he'd come on staff at Duke when he did. They had been ready to transfer her to a state facility to make room for another more deserving patient. Lucky for him he was a squib, as well as his mother who had raised him with the full knowledge of his ancestry.


"He's never going to forgive me. Why should he? I left him and my baby in the hospital, knocked my bestfriend out and stunned two people. Not to mention the countless muggles I apparated in front of, against Ministry orders. I could be sent to Azkaban for that, as well as what I did to Harry."

"I'm sure that considering the situation, you won't get into trouble. But you'll never know unless you return home and face your demons."

"Oh, Connor..."

"Dr. Welson, Hermione. We had this discussion before. I like to keep a professional relationship with my patients at all times." Connor admonished her gently. He was preparing to return her to Hogwarts where her husband and daughter resided. He couldn't afford to become emotionally attached to a married woman.

"Dr. Welson, I'm sorry. I'm afraid."

"Fear is good, it's natural. I'd be worried if you weren't afraid. I've been able to procur a wand for your day trip next weekend. Do you think you've had sufficient practice apparating lately to not splinch either of us?"

"I'm alright with it, Doctor. As long as you trust me enough to do it." She grinned. Now she looked like the pictures of her that Dumbledore had sent him a few weeks ago. She'd been five years younger, without the emotional baggage weighing her down like it was now, but still a beautiful woman. Severus Snape was a lucky man, even if his wartime actions had been what caused her emotional breakdown to begin with.

"I hope you're ready to say good-bye to North Carolina."

"As ready as I'm ever going to be, Dr. Welson. I need to talk to everyone, apologize for my actions." She nodded her head. She thanks the gods for whatever had caused Dr. Welson to join the staff of the hospital where she was. For four years, no one believed her, no one listened to her tell them about Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, and Voldemort. Only a young intern listening in on one of her sessions had caught words from his childhood, made him wonder who she was and contact his wizarding family in Great Britian to get some information. Using that knowledge, he requested to work with the supposedly hopeless case. Within three months he'd made so much progress that she was allowed out of the ward for the first time since her admission. A few weeks later, she had permission for overnight passes. Unfortunately, she didn't have any place local to be. "I want to meet my baby. I don't even remember if I had a son or daughter." She finished sadly.

"You'll find out soon enough, Hermione. You should head down to the cafeteria. It's getting close to your lunch time." Connor smiled at her and escorted her out of his office. He stopped at the door after closing it behind her and sighed. It was going to be tense when he escorted her to Hogwarts, but that was where she felt the most comfortable, so that was where they were going to meet Professor Snape and their daughter. "Albus, I hope you know what you're doing." He whispered in the empty room.




A/N~~ yay! Hermione's back...Told ya ;-)...will keep updating, but trying to get the kinks out of 'hermione's little secret' too. enjoy! keep reviewing please, i'm an attention whore :-P hehe

marti