ᵖʳᵒᵘᵈ ᵖᵃʳᵉⁿᵗˢ ; ʰᵃʳᵐⁱᵒⁿᵉ

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter 13 - Surrounded by Skullduggery

Emma was slowly emerging from a deep dark place, a place she'd last visited nearly fifteen years ago - only that one wasn't induced by a magical potion to save her from suffering indescribable pain. A gentle lullaby was being hummed as someone fussed with her hair, a kiss on her forehead and then her hand being held helped Emma piece together who this someone was without having to open her eyes. Emma's eyes were still closed, and her voice was certainly a little scratchy after all her tortured screaming, but she did her best to speak.

"I came out of my coma to that same tune, your Nana was singing it to my baby - holding you in her arms. I loved and hated that woman at the same time. I loved that she was there for you when I couldn't be, and hated the irrational feeling that she stole my baby away from me. She effortlessly bonded with you in a way that I was never able to do. After the surgery I needed, this was my one and only chance to be a mother - something I was desperately looking forward to - and that I failed miserably at."

Still holding her mother's hand, Hermione managed to attract Poppy's attention. "Mum, stay still and stop talking until Poppy can check you over. Once she gets some pain potion into you, you'll be able to sit up and have some tea..."

"I'd kill for a cappuccino! Where's your father? How is he? Where are we?"

Shaking her head at the obstinate woman who was her mother, Hermione knew from experience she wasn't going to win this one. "Ok, let's just forget about not talking. Dad has gone for a little look around with Harry, they've been here with you all night. I've told Harry you're awake and both he and dad are heading here now. Here is actually our new house in Italy, so that cappuccino shouldn't be a problem - once Poppy says it's ok for you to have one."

After completing her scans, Poppy asked Hermione to help with sitting her mother up. Emma was still in a lot of pain from every part of her body, and she couldn't have managed that simple manoeuvre without help. Poppy then poured a pain relief potion into her mouth, and the faces Emma made actually put the beginnings of a smile on Hermione's. They would get through this, as a family.

"Oh my goodness, that is without doubt the most disgusting thing I've ever tasted. Please tell me I can have that cappuccino now?"

"If this cappuccino can make that taste better, I might want one too."

"It's a type of coffee, Poppy..." Hermione was saved from further explanation as a tray with three wide coffee cups containing the frothy drink, along with a plate of amaretti biscuits, appeared on the bedside cabinet.

While Hermione held the cup for her mother to drink, smiling at the sprinkled chocolate in the shape of π on top, Poppy sampled her own - pronouncing it to be wonderful.

Her dad and Harry didn't exactly run into the makeshift infirmary but it was close. Watching as his daughter helped her mother drink brought a lump to Dan's throat, this was the closest he'd seen them in years.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like I laid down in front of a fleet of double-decker busses, and they all ran over me at the same time. Poppy, your medicine certainly tastes disgusting but I can already feel it working. Daniel, how are you - and what happened? That man did something with his wand and all I remember after that is pain, until I woke up here."

"Hermione and Harry came to rescue us. That bastard was busy boasting what he was going to do to us when these two just appeared behind him. They'll never threaten anyone ever again."

Emma got the message her husband was sending, they would never threaten anyone again because they were now dead. She felt her daughter's hand slipping back into hers and Emma gave it a squeeze to indicate she understood and accepted what happened. "I need to apologise for putting you both in that position, I simply didn't believe people like that existed anymore."