"I haven't made the lamb gravy yet, so that's your job. And the table still needs setting. There'll be eight for dinner, tonight. The aurors aren't joining us."
The elf gave a serious nod back and said, "Dobby be taking cares of it, Master Harry. Yous go an' greet your guests."
"Thank you, Dobby," he returned, stripping off Monica's flowery apron and making sure he was presentable.
He never noticed Dobby using elf magic to disappear a stain off his hip where he must've nudged something. It was probably when he 'hip bumped' the wall oven drop door to knock it closed. A bad habit he'd picked up.
He'd just left the kitchen when he heard the knocking on the front door. However, with the aurors in the house, none but them were permitted to open it if there was a magical known to be in the visiting party. So he had to wait back with the Grangers.
When the Tonkses and Sirius came into the parlour, Sirius made the introductions. Surprising Harry after seeing him in action in 'court', Ted was actually quite affable. Andi, however, appeared relaxed but it was evident to Harry at least that she was a great deal more focused.
After handshakes and where Wendell matched Sirius's first introduction to Monica and kissed the back of the knuckles of Andi, which pleased her, the woman wasted no time in focusing her attention on him - Harry.
"Lord Potter―" she said.
"Harry," he shot back.
"Not this time," she shot back herself. "Lord Potter, is there a room I can borrow so I may examine you?"
"Yes; but, before you do..." he spun to stare at Wendell and said, "Doctor Granger; because of it being discovered Madam Poppy Pomfrey was under loyalty potions and never even realised it, may I please have your permission to have Healer Tonks here quickly examine your daughter, Hermione, for traces of loyalty potions and the like?"
"Harry!" exclaimed the girl. "There's no need―"
Surprised at the question, Wendell's eyes widened for a moment as he heard Monica gasp. He immediately and firmly replied, "You do."
Harry spun back to Andi and said, "Hermione first, please."
"You suspect?―" she began.
"Yes," he firmly replied. "And for the same reason. Hermione's been by my side, almost since my first day in the school."
"Harry, I'm not under any sort―" Hermione tried again.
Andi had already spun towards her and, in quite the firm voice, said, "Miss Granger..." cutting Hermione off. "As there is a reasonable chance you may be under such a potion based on evidence already gathered, as a Master Healer I am legally within my right to ignore your permission and simply examine you. The examination will not be invasive and, as with all such examinations, will be covered by my Healer's Oath. Please, come with me."
"Sorry, Hermione," Harry said a little contritely. "But, it won't harm you and I wouldn't put it past Dumbledore to have tried."
"Better safe than sorry, sweetheart," said her mother. "Isn't that what you told me, yesterday?"
Hermione looked to her mother for the moment as if the woman had stabbed her in the back. Eventually she gave a huff and snapped, "Fine."
"My room," said Harry. "It's closest and has its own bathroom, if you need it."
Hermione gave him a glare and stomped off towards the stairs.
As Andi followed, Monica called, "Next floor up, first door on the left."
Once they'd gone upstairs, Wendell sighed and asked, "Harry, you don't really think―"
"Not one hundred percent, buuut..." he replied, then shrugged.
Everyone was a little tense for the next ten minutes until Andi came back down, alone. Monica, seeing her alone, immediately shot up the stairs.
Looking directly to Wendell she asked, "Doctor Granger, a moment of your time?" Her expression was quite closed but her eyes showed anger.
Wendell took one look at her face, glanced to the stairs and without a word indicated for her to follow him. He went out the door that exited into the rear hallway, with her following.
As they walked out, Sirius quietly asked Harry, "What made you suspect?"
"Pomfrey," he quietly replied.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Monica led Hermione down the stairs a minute later, as Wendell and Andi walked back in through the other door. Wendell appeared a little upset, but Harry was thankful it wasn't directed towards him.
Hermione was shaken but seemed otherwise okay. She immediately came over to Harry and hugged him. "Thank you, Harry," she quietly said.
"I take it there was something there, then?" he asked.
"Traces of a mild loyalty enhancement potion," she replied. "Very old."
"Do you want to tell us who?" he asked. "Or, would you prefer not to?"
She hesitated only a moment before she replied, "Healer Tonks said it was for two people; one with white hair and another with red hair."
"Dumbledore and, probably, Ron... or, Missus Weasley," said Harry.
"That was our thoughts, too," she said. "As the traces were only in my fatty tissue now, they no longer have any effect on me. It's just knowing―"
"Yeah, I get that," he said.
"Harry," called Wendell. When Harry glanced to him he said in a clearly grateful voice, "Thank you."
Before Harry could respond Andi got in first.
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