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Four thirty in the morning comes very early. I wanted to brief Healer Hollingsworth on Hermione Weasley, and her condition before she got there. Since Hollingsworth begins his day at five, here I am waking up for one of three reasons and two of them have to do with children.
I take a quick shower and shave. I walk down to the Schloss' apparition point and disapparate to St. Mungo's.
Since Hollingsworth is a veritable font of information and skill, I've learned many things from him, among these things is that 1. He doesn't suffer fools easily. 2. Until seven a.m. unless it is a emergency, don't ask anything of him without a cup of strong Earl Grey in your hand to hand to him while you explain the problem. I usually take mine with a bit of sugar."
I walk into his office with a cup in each hand. "Good Morning Healer," I say as I place a cup in front of him on the desk.
"I've been helping a friend of mine, her name is Hermione Weasley. After last night, I think she may have Gestational Diabetes, but I'm not sure. Will you take a look at her?" I ask.
"Yes, I know of Hermione Granger-Weasley. Tends to over think a problem. She maybe the cleverest witch of her age, but no one can know everything on every topic no matter how well read. Her supervisor has mentioned her a time or two. Gestational Diabetes, is that all? Do you think she will be insulin dependent?" he asks.
"I don't know sir. I've never seen a case outside of the text books. She just doesn't seem to meet all of the criteria, but it meets most of them. If you would consult with me on her case, I'd appreciate it. She'll be here at seven," I say as I hand him her chart to review her case.
I'm waiting at the entrance of the "Creature-Induced Injury Floor" from six forty-five to six fifty-nine when I see Hermione and Ron come around the corner.
I take a quick shower and shave. I walk down to the Schloss' apparition point and disapparate to St. Mungo's.
Since Hollingsworth is a veritable font of information and skill, I've learned many things from him, among these things is that 1. He doesn't suffer fools easily. 2. Until seven a.m. unless it is a emergency, don't ask anything of him without a cup of strong Earl Grey in your hand to hand to him while you explain the problem. I usually take mine with a bit of sugar."
I walk into his office with a cup in each hand. "Good Morning Healer," I say as I place a cup in front of him on the desk.
"I've been helping a friend of mine, her name is Hermione Weasley. After last night, I think she may have Gestational Diabetes, but I'm not sure. Will you take a look at her?" I ask.
"Yes, I know of Hermione Granger-Weasley. Tends to over think a problem. She maybe the cleverest witch of her age, but no one can know everything on every topic no matter how well read. Her supervisor has mentioned her a time or two. Gestational Diabetes, is that all? Do you think she will be insulin dependent?" he asks.
"I don't know sir. I've never seen a case outside of the text books. She just doesn't seem to meet all of the criteria, but it meets most of them. If you would consult with me on her case, I'd appreciate it. She'll be here at seven," I say as I hand him her chart to review her case.
I'm waiting at the entrance of the "Creature-Induced Injury Floor" from six forty-five to six fifty-nine when I see Hermione and Ron come around the corner.
"Erm, yeah. 'Morning."
"Right this way and I'll take you to an exam room. I'm glad I'm not you Hermione, I read the methods to testing for Gestational Diabetes. While it is easy as caling 'up' for your broom, it doesn't sound pleasant to me," he says impishly.
I roll my eyes at him, trying not to show how nervous I am. "Well, considering I've been Petrified, nearly killed by Dolohov, and pummeled in the head by a stunner during the last battle with Voldemort, this should be easy." I turn to Ron. "Why don't you get some coffee and the nurse can bring you back?" I can tell how tired he is and he's not going to be any help to me half asleep.
Ron kind of nods and mumbles okay, then goes off in search of coffee.
He sticks his tongue out at me. "This is worse than them all. You're going to have to drink a gravy thick, sugary sweet quarter liter beverage. Terrible, what a terrible taste indeed." He says mock seriously.
"Oh yes, that's worse than almost dying. Much worse. Of course, my mum, being a dentist, would think so," I say, managing a small smile.
"Healer Hollingsworth should be with you momentarily for the test," Ernie says.
"OK." I sit down on the examining table and try not to look as nervous as I feel. "I didn't eat anything after midnight, although we did have some dinner after you left last night. A chocolate bar and a cup of cocoa doesn't do much to fill you up."
"It wasn't meant to, it was just to raise your blood sugar, so I could test it," he says.
A few minutes later, in walks Healer Hollingsworth with his long beard swinging near his beltline and he says, "Good Morning Mrs. Weasley. Would you please tell me what symptoms you have been having?"
I think about it for a moment. "Well, that's the thing. A lot of the symptoms I simply attributed to the fact that I am six months pregnant. I've been urinating more, I feel more tired, I'm hungry. But Ron was worried last night, so he was the one that called Erni - Healer MacMillan. I have also been under stress a bit at work."
He looks over his spectacles at me. "There really isn't anyway to have a stress free day, never the less a stress free pregnancy, you do know that, Mrs. Weasley?"
I nod, but say nothing.
He begins to wave his wand in peculiar patterns as he quietly chants his diagnostic spells. He writes a few notes in the chart and then asks, "May I take a blood sample, Mrs. Weasley?"
I nod. "Healer MacMillan let me know that you would need a fasting blood sample this morning."
He prepares a slide. With one smooth motion of his wand, he sterilizes the pad of my finger, creating a wound where a drop of blood appears. After the blood fell on the slide, my finger was healed and clean again.
He cast a few spells at the slide and placed it under the microscope's lens.
"It looks like Trainee-Healer MacMillan was correct, the signs indicate you may have Gestational Diabetes. To see how severe everything will be, let us perform the first test."
He hands me a small cup I look into it, Ernie was wrong it isn't gravy thick, its thickness reminds me of Hollindaise.
"Please drink all of the potion and then come back in an hour and we will do a second blood test." Hollingsworth says.
"OK, I'm going to go sit with Ron while I drink it."
I fight it because of course I'm worried about what's up with Hermione, but I'd be just as happy to find out at ten o'clock on a Saturday morning than at seven. The fight doesn't last long, and after almost dumping the leftover half cup of coffee into my lap, I put it down on the table next to me before I get any sleepier. Then I cross my arms and find my eyes drooping.
At least that's what I remember of it all.
I don't know how long I was out but I am aware of movement in the chair next to me because something bumps my leg, and hear a voice say, "I'm sorry Ron - I didn't mean to bump you."
I open my eyes to see Hermione sitting next to me, a cup in her hand. She's looking into the cup with a look of distaste on her face.
"Your coffee that bad?" I ask, trying to wake myself up fast and sliding around so I'm sitting right in the seat. "Oh yeah, can't have caffeine, huh?" Wake up, Weasley, before she wakes you up herself some way you'll hate. "Then what is that stuff you're drinking?"
"Something that makes me want to brush my teeth for about an hour. It's a very sweet potion that I have to drink so that they can decide once and for all whether or not I have gestational diabetes. But Healer Hollingsworth says it's likely. The results of the test after I drink this will tell him the severity." She takes a large swallow of the concoction and makes a face.
I blink at her and rub my eye, fully aware it can't even be a shade past eight yet. "So they still think that's what it is? I mean, the Healer MacMillan wanted you to see here thought so too?"
"Yes, that is what he said was likely. He looked at my blood and did some tests on it. That's why I couldn't eat anything after midnight last night, because they needed to do these tests. And if we hadn't come so early I would have had to go longer without eating, which wouldn't have been good if it is diabetes."
Yeah...early... But I'm still trying to ignore that. "How - so - what happens next? Or do we know? How long do you have to wait for that stuff to work? Did they say?" I realize I've just loaded her up with a lot of questions. Good thing this is Hermione we're talking about. She loves questions - and these might even take her a few minutes to answer.
She drinks some more of potion and then looks at me. "They are going to test me again in an hour. They are seeing how this potion affects my blood sugar levels, and that will determine the severity of the diabetes." She puts her hand on her stomach and yawns.
"An hour?" I ask, slipping my arm around the back of her chair and her shoulders. "Right then. Maybe we have time for a nap. Reckon they have an empty gurney around here anywhere? Maybe even a bed in a forgotten room somewhere?" I grin at her, waiting for the look.
She doesn't disappoint me, flashing me the look before finishing what is left in her cup. "Here you go, can you put it with yours?" she asks,handing it to me. "Actually a nap doesn't sound half bad, I'm sure they will come out and get us when the time is up."
I take the cup and look in it before I put it down. Sniffing it, I realize it doesn't smell bad. So I figure what the hell...I lift it to my mouth on the way by and let the few drops that are left slide out onto my tongue. But yeah, it's not too great. "Ergh, that much sugar in something, you gotta add the chocolate too." I move the cup on and put it down next to my two.
"I agree, chocolate would really improve it." She leans her head on my shoulder and closes her eyes. "A little nap won't hurt."
I reply, "I have no idea. Normally Hermione is on time for everything. I'll send the house-elves out to see if they are still in the building."
Ten minutes later an elf comes back and reports that they are on the 5th floor in the Tea Shoppe, napping.
"Go get them MacMillan, they are your patients," he says.
I take my wand out and do a diagnostic spell on Hermione. She's fine, just sleeping. I don't see how she could sleep with the extra sugar from the supplement. I use the toe of my shoe and nudge Ron's foot. "Ron, it's time to wake up,' I say.
Ron mumbles something incoherent and finally opens his eyes, blinking them several times. He finally sees me and gently nudges Hermione. "'Mione, wake up."
Hermione doesn't take quite as long to wake up, but when she sees me she panics. "I'm sorry, Ernie. We only closed our eyes for a few minutes."
I look at my watch. "We've been keeping Healer Hollingsworth waiting for seventeen minutes. We best not tarry in getting back."
Five minutes after we are back into the exam room, Healer Hollingsworth comes in. He looks at Hermione. "Hopefully, young lady, we haven't waited too long to take the test. If we have, you must come back tomorrow. May I take the blood sample, please?" he asks.
"Of course," she says with a nod. "I'm sorry, I was just very tired."
I can see Hermione and Ron exchanging a worried look. "We'll be waiting for you here," Hermione says quietly.
Twelve minutes later, I walk into the room with an ashen expression.
"What is it, Ernie?" Hermione asks, her face paling as well. I notice Ron take her hand.
"I just was in consultation with Healer Hollingsworth for ten minutes on professional etiquette. The other two were on your case. Your diagnosis is very good."
Hermione looks as if she is somewhere between relieved and wanting to hex me to death. "What is the diagnosis?"
"You do have gestational diabetes, but it can be controlled by diet and exercise. I was going to prescribe an exercise regime so you may prepare your body for delivery." I hand her a piece of parchment with the dietary restrictions on it.
I hold a stack of small paper cups. I take a cup off the stack and hand one to her. "Hermione, would you go to the loo over there and put a small urine sample in this cup?"
She goes to the loo and returns in a few minutes with the cup. "You're going to teach me how to test my urine, aren't you?'"
"Take your wand and tap the side of the cup and incant 'vérifiez le sucre'," I say.
She does what I say, and incants, "Vérifiez le sucre." She looks into the cup. "It changed color."
I hand her the chart with the color codes on it. "Do this test four times a day for the next two weeks and record the color so I can get a baseline of your blood sugars. Follow the dietary and exercise restrictions I've given you and you and your bairn will be fine. I'll stop by and check every two weeks," I say.
Hermione looks at me. "Ernie, I hope we didn't get you in trouble with your boss."
I grin sheepishly. "I'm just glad that I'm in an advanced class. If I just started my rotations, I'd be cleaning bedpans without magic."
"Really? That bloke can be as bad as Snape?" Ron says, looking disgusted. "I was worried about that all of second year when Hermione was cooking up Polyjuice in the girls' loo. I reckoned since we were 'violating' the loo that if Snape ever caught us he'd be thrilled to give us loo cleanup the rest of our time at Hogwarts."
"Remember at school we felt Dumbledore knew everything going on in the school?" I ask. They nod.
"Hollingsworth is of Dumbledore's callibre and generation. He reminded me one fact about a week after you asked me to be your baby's healer. Since I'm not a fully qualified Healer, I better ask questions if I didn't know something. I called him to assist me this morning. Since you all took a nap and had to be found, he felt I was wasting his time. He had to come in on his wedding anniversary to help us." I say.
Hermione looks a bit guilty. "I feel really bad now. But you should know me, Ernie. I don't do things like that unless I really feel I need to. I went without sleep plenty of times at Hogwarts."
"Thanks you two, but I will just keep my nose down and my ears open. It will be all right. Let's check the baby and then I'll give my final instructions. But for right now, do you have any questions?" Ernie asks.
"Erm, what kind of exercise is she supposed to do? Or does it say on that parchment?" I ask. Reckon I know what I'm doing with exercise stuff sometimes after all the Quidditch and Auror training. Maybe I can help her out - or at least make sure she gets 'round to it.
"It does, but I'll tell you what I'd recommend. For the first week, I'd walk at least a half mile three times a week then do stretching exercises. Take it very slow at the first couple of weeks The second week, I'd increase it to 3/4 a mile. If it wasn't winter, I'd even recomend swimming and exercising in water, there would be less chance of risk of injury there. The key would be to exercise but don't injure yourself," he says.
"Well, considering I'm six months pregnant and winter is upon us with very good chance of ice and snow, I think swimming would be a better option. There are places that you can go to for swimming indoors. Maybe you might enjoy doing that with me, Ron." She looks over at me and gives me an endearing smile.
"Don't rely just on the swimming though. You need to build and strengthen the muscles of your lower stomach and legs too, " he says.
"Yeah, that only makes sense," I say. "I mean, she'll need the strength in her stomach muscles to carry the baby around in her stomach as he gets bigger, and to go through labor, right? And she'll need to strength in her legs to carry around her stomach when -" Uh oh. Direction change necessary now! "- Er, I mean, she'll need leg strength to, er, carry the baby around once he's born." I glance at Hermione to see if I got away with that - but it's hard to tell. Then I turn back to Ernie - fast. "Right?"
She glares at me and then turns back to Ernie. "I don't have any other questions right now, but I may think of some later."
He walks to the exam table and tips the back up to look like a seat. "Please have a seat, Hermione," he says.
"I didn't plan on it, but if you'd like we could."
"Only if it's not too much trouble," I say quietly. "I guess I know that the baby is okay, but seeing for myself is reassuring."
"Let me examine the wee bairn first." Ernie murmurs his diagnostic spells. "Tell me your story," Ernie mutters.
He looks up at me. "Your bairn, has more than doubled his size. Exercise well, Hermione, I wouldn't doubt if you have larger than a eight pound baby."
"Oh my. I knew that if I had gestational diabetes that it could mean a bigger baby....how much does the baby weigh now do you think?"
"Out of the three hundred and five births I've attended minus the premature or multiples, the average weight was seven pounds thirteen ounces. So a touch over eight pounds isn't that far out of the ordinary. As for the weight now, why do you want to know?" He asks.
I almost laugh at that. "Ernie, this is me you're talking to. I always ask questions."
"Answer mine and then I'll answer yours."
"I've read in one of my books that when you know how much a baby weighs it gives you a good idea of how much the baby will weigh at birth."
"I made a mistake the first part of my patient care rotation while I was deciding on what I wanted to specialize in. When I told her the approximate baby's weight, she altered her diet because she didn't want to get 'too' fat. Taking in the appropriate amount of calories is very important for the bairn's development."
"I do need to know one thing here and now to set my mind at ease Hermione. You can read and research all you'd like and I'll answer your questions as well as I can. Please just don't try to 'self-diagnose' your problem, you can get into all sorts of trouble that a few simple spells or a potion may not fix. I just don't want to see that happen," he says.
I give him a reassuring smile. "I promise, no self diagnosis. And no matter how much the baby weighs, I'm not going to put myself on a diet that you don't approve of because I want our baby to be healthy."
"Thank you, Hermione. This is a rough estimation right now. Your wee bairn is extremely healthy, happy and weighs approximately three and a half pounds. While I go and get what is needed to do an ultrasound, think of the richest most flavorful meal you enjoy. I'd start your diet in the morning." He says with a wink as he leaves the room.
She kind of laughs nervously. "Yes, kind of sounds like a last meal." She sees the look on my face and smiles. "I'm just kidding."
Ernie walks in carrying a camera and a small phial of mineral oil. "I'm not sure how well the picture will come out since I don't know how much fluid to baby ratio. So let's give it a Hogwarts try and we'll see what we can and find out just how far the bairn has grown." "You do want a picture of today, don't you?"
"Yes, please," Hermione says with a smile. "We have Christmas coming up and it would be nice to show everyone."
"Want me to take the picture again?" I ask. "Turned out okay the last time, I reckon."
Ernie hands me the camera and Hermione the phial of mineral oil.
I move around until it looks like the light would be behind me, shining on a place just above Hermione's middle as she lies on the table. Hermione puts the mineral oil on her stomach and we look forward to seeing our baby again.
Ernie incants, "Sonitus-adludo-maginor," and walks around the exam table looking at the baby. "A very healthy wee one," he says.
Even while intending to take the picture right away, I find myself moving toward the hologram floating above Hermione's belly. The smile on my face grows bigger as I get closer, I can feel it, and I have to take a good look all the way around before I can bring myself to stop and get behind the camera long enough to take a picture.
"He's getting so big," Hermione says with a smile. "Ron! Quick, take a picture," she says as she points at our baby, who is now sucking his thumb.
"There. Got it!" I say.
Ernie looks as if he were awestruck. "This is why I chose this field."
Hermione reaches up to the floating image as if to touch it. "We'll be seeing you soon, little one." I can see a tear at the corner of her eye as she smiles at me.
I move to the right about a meter and take one last picture just to make sure enough of them come out well. The I remove the camera and smile down at Hermione.
"I'd like a copy if I could, Ernie says. Go ahead and get cleaned up, Hermione, I'll make some notes in your chart then we can answer any other questions you have then you can go out and get some lunch."
Hermione gets down off of the table and goes into the loo, coming back a couple minutes later. "I don't think we have any questions, Ernie. Thank you so much for everything today."
"Yeah, thanks a lot. Like we said, if we can do anything to help your, er, situation with the boss, let us know. I know how much fun rubbish like that can be," I say, putting an arm around Hermione's waist.
"I'll be ok, You have a good day. I'll stop by in two weeks to check your sugar log," Ernie says.
"OK," Hermione says. I help her on with her cloak and we head out, both anxious to go get something to eat.