dedicated to Murpheye for the cover :D It kinda reminds me of Doctor Who ;)

Ch. 21: Dentists & Mungo's

Song For Chapter: Red - Tyler Ward (For Fred & Elle, but mainly Fred)

    "No, Hermione you can't make me go back!" I whined in a back seat of a rail car. Hermione had tricked me into getting on the 'Tube' and traveling to London is search for new books for the upcoming year. I was a little confused as to what she meant by the tube, but as we got to the gate, I realized it was the subway.

    "Elle, you are already on the train, besides you have to go in for a check up," Hermione chuckled a bit, ducking her head to hide her smile. "Honestly, if I had known you were going to be this melodramatic, I would have put a charm on you."

    "You can't do that," I sniffed, sticking my nose in the air, feeling bitter towards my sister. "That's illegal outside of Hogwarts."

    "You used to do it," She challenged, but I knew by the look in her eyes that she would never go against the Ministry's commands. Except for that one time last year, when she'd used magic to lift the dresser up the stairs. It was almost as if it didn't even matter that she'd done it, a total character shift.

    "That's different, I used to be part of the Republic of Magic, however," I murmured curses under my breath, "Umbridge changed that..." I shook my head, pouting. "Hermione - I don't need to go, I'm perfectly fine, look," I grinned, pulling my lips apart to flash her my teeth and she rolled her eyes. "See?"

    "We are already here," Hermione rolled her eyes at my childish behavior, standing up from her seat and grabbing my hand as if I was a two year old about to make a break for it. Maybe I was, maybe I wasn't.

    The tube was busy, people flocking every orifice, trying to get on and off. I snickered to myself, tube. I was probably biased, but subway sounded more reasonable than tube. 

    Hermione ignored my feint whining as she tugged me along, climbing up the stairs that took us outside into the open air. It felt nice out today, there was a light sky with only a few, sparse clouds in the sky.

    I was almost relaxed by the sight until the building came into view, 'Granger's Gums'. I latched onto Hermione's arm and stopped her, "Hermione, wait - I really can't do this."

    "Elle, your parents are dentists, they are going to be checking your teeth every once in a while, it's not a big deal." Hermione pinched the bridge of her nose, losing the humor in the situation.

    I pleaded with her, "No, give me a week - you don't understand!" I frowned, eyes flickering back towards the dentist office where Dan and Jane were beaming at the two of us from inside, waiting patiently. 

    "What?" Hermione sighed, humoring me.

    "I haven't flossed in over a year." 

    Hermione stared at me for a moment, eyes blank, before her mask finally cracked, and she doubled over from the laughter, clutching at her sides. "It's not funny, 'Mione!" 

    She tried to take a breath of air to steady herself, but couldn't manage it, giggles still tumbling out her lips. "J-Just get in there, you bimbo."

    I jut out my tongue at her and sighed. My parents had already seen the two of us, so I couldn't just turn around and leave. Carrying my head up high, I took in a deep breath and faced my fears. I hate the dentist. I guess it was just irony that my biological parents were both employed in that subject. 

    "Hey, Elle," Jane smiled softly at me, checking me off on her list as the other waiting customers eyed me warily, nothing better to do in the stale office. "Are you ready for your check up, dear?" 

    No. But, I bit my tongue and flashed her a smile, "Of course, Mom." Kill me now, please Merlin, finish me.

    "Good," She chuckled, reading my face like an open book. Hermione and I must look too much alike. "Mr. Ports will take you to your room and get everything ready for your father, okay?" She pointed her finger towards a shy looking boy around the age of eighteen or so with jet black hair and gleaming blue eyes. 

    "Hello," he smiled softly, "You must be Hermione's twin, I'm Henry." His hands twitched a little and he motioned for me to follow him into the back where each separate room held a cushioned chair and a table laid out with torture devices.

    "You know Hermione?" I rose a brow, keeping my gaze on the boy's back, not wanting to peer into any of the occupied rooms. I trailed my tongue across my bottom gums, testing to see if they were puffy or not. 

    Henry laughed for a small bit, a nice, white smile gleaming as he did. Yeah, he was most definitely a dentist. "Yeah, your family and mine are pretty close. Hermione and I practically grew up in this office."

    "And you decided to become a dentist?" I asked dryly, following him into a vacant room with only a chair in the middle. 

    "Well, I guess, yeah." He shrugged, blue eyes locking with mine, "I didn't know what else I could want to do, plus this is a good job. I'm only an assistant right now though."

    His smile was almost contagious, and for a moment I felt myself forget the pain my chest was still in after the sudden break up with Fred. "Well, then you chose the right job." I nodded, not wanting to offend him.

    I sat down in the cushioned seat while Henry laid out the metal instruments and the floss. "So, you're American," He prodded, trying to keep a conversation going between the both of us while he set up for Dan. 

    I chuckled lightly, "What gave it away?" 

    Henry smirked a bit, blue eyes lighting up with his emotions. It was an interesting thing to see. "Well, the fact that you have a slight accent, perhaps."

    Raising a brow, I turned my head up to the ceiling, glaring at the tile that read 'Be sure to floss!'. God, it was everywhere. "Only a sight one, huh?" 

    "Only slight, it's pretty marred by now." He gave me a lop-sided grin and set the last tool down just as my father, Dan, walked into the room. "Mr. Granger, your patient is ready for you."

    Dan clapped Henry Ports on the back with a grin, "Good job, Henry. If you could go talk to Jane, I think she may have another thing for you to do, alright?" 

    Henry nodded, and gave me one last smile, heading out the door in search of my mother. I watched him leave with a small smile on my face, and as soon as he left, I felt sadness creep back in. I missed Fred. I had neither seen him, nor talked to him since April first. It was now the beginning of June.

    "He's a nice boy, isn't he?" Dan grinned at me, causing me to jolt slightly and focus on the current situation at hand. My mouth.

    "I told you there was nothing to worry about," Hermione giggled at me as I made my way out of the room and into the main office. My mouth hurt from all the aggressive scrubbing, but luckily, my gums withstood the torture and remained in tact. I'd promised myself to floss more often, but we, my brain and I, both knew I was lying to myself. 

    "I never want to come back here." I crossed my arms over my chest, but Hermione walked to the counter where Henry was sitting, writing down dates in an open book - possibly the log for the next appointments for customers. 

    "Oh," Henry grinned up at the two of us as Hermione caught his attention, "You're still alive, are you?" He jested and flipped through the book, writing down my name and a date. "You ready to schedule your next appointment?"

    "No," I began, but Hermione cut me off with a cheerful, "Yes!"

    Henry's blue eyes flickered between us with a smirk and he shrugged, jotting down the next date in his agenda. "We will see you in six months, is December okay?" Hermione replied for me, and I realized I had no choice in the matter. My parents would do it at home if they had to.

    "Okay, we're all set then," He nodded and walked towards the back of the room, telling me to stay put. I waited for a little while, not sure what I was waiting for, but eventually he came back carrying a single, orange chrysanthemum.

    I swallowed the lump that rose in my throat at the sight, why was he haunting me now? Not a word of Fred had been talked about around me. People had been careful to avoid anything about the Weasley twins around me, but here this Muggle was, reminding me of how much I missed him.

    Hermione's eyes widened at the flower and took it for me, realizing why I didn't take it right away. Clearing my throat, I shoved a watery smile onto my face. "Thank you, for the flower." 

    "Oh, don't thank me," He brushed it off, trying to cheer me up as he realized he must have done something to upset me, "It's something we give each patient, it has your date on it, see?" He smiled lightly, pulling on a white card that was attached the the flower's petal with my name and a date on it for my next appointment.

    I nodded and blushed, slightly embarrassed. "Well, thank yo-," I face-palmed myself, realizing that he'd just told me not to thank him, "I mean," My voice faltered and I couldn't grasp any other word to say, so I just let the subject drop while Hermione rolled her eyes beside me.

    Henry merely chuckled and waved goodbye to Hermione and I as we made our way out. "Elle," Hermione turned to me, handing me the flower and giving me a small, unsure smile. "Are you alright?"

    "I'm fine," I faked a chuckle. It wasn't true. I wasn't over him, and I was starting to think I never would be. Some deep want inside me craved to reach out to Fred, to write him, or even show up at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, but I knew that was out of the question.

        We both needed our space. We both needed time to forget.

FRED'S POV: 

    My hands were fast at work with the newest invention of taffies, but my mind was no where near being where it should be. I was picturing Elle again. Her face, her eyes when we'd broken off. 

    I probably should have felt pissed, angry even, that we'd done that on my birthday, but it didn't matter to me. All I could think about was how much I wished I could go to her and apologize. Try to make her see reason, tell her that we could make it work despite the distance. 

    I shouldn't have agreed with her statement that day. I should have said something. I should have told her how I really felt. But, now it was too late. 

    "Fred," George called to me, yanking my melancholy thoughts away for the moment. "Fred, you've over done it, mate." He furrowed his brow, glancing down at the bubbling concoction I had created. It was a vile green color, not the pink taffy I was looking for. "Is this about," George trailed off, not wanting to say Elle's name incase it was still a sensitive spot for me. I had still been pretty broken up about the whole situation for a long time.

    "I'm fine," I sighed, rubbing a hand over my eyes, "Just tired, I guess."

    George only shook his head at me, knowing that I was telling a false truth. "Why don't you go upstairs while I finish everything up, your not really useful to me like this," he snickered lightly, only jesting and I stuck my tongue out at him, realizing it was something Elle would do in frustration.

    "Fine," I sighed once more, jumping up from my seat and climbing up the wooden steps. We were already open for business, and it was booming despite the fact that many businesses in Diagon Ally were shutting down do to attacks from Death Eaters and the likes. It was a tough time, but George and I managed alright.

    I reached the room where George and I lived and I pulled out a sheet of paper. It was a letter addressed to Elizabeth Rose Granger; I had been working on it forever, but I never managed to write more than a few lines a day. I started labeling it like a journal once I realized I would never actually have the balls to send it to her. 

    Glancing out the window, I watched the clear sky begin to darken and thunder clouds roar overhead. Another attack was coming. Sighing, I skimmed my finger down the list of dates, realizing I would need to start a fresh page.

            June 1st, 

    Hey, Letter, I think I may actually send this one this time. You probably won't understand what that means, but if I do happen to send it, it could be a topic starter. The Death Eaters are getting worse, they are targeting Muggles and people born like you and Hermione. George and I worry about you guys sometimes. I hope you both are alright, though with Hermione watching over you, I doubt that is very hard. I am not sure who they would target this time, but so far George and I had been lucky not receive any trouble. 

    Bill says it is most likely because Percy and Dad are involved with the Ministry that we haven't been targeted. That and the fact that we are pure-blood wizards. Promise me that if you are having any trouble, you will go to the Burrow. You know Mum loves you and Hermione as her own, and Dad would protect you both in a heart-beat.

    We need to talk. In person. I miss you.

            Fred.

    I clutched my quill tightly in my hand, wanting to scratch that last bit out, but forcing myself to leave it alone. It was true. I did miss her, and even though it sounded desperate to my own mind, I kept it. It wasn't as if I'd send her this anyway.

ELLE'S POV:

    Jane and Dan sighed as they walked through the front door before work. It had been a week since my check-up, but it seemed they were seeing more unruly patients than I, which seemed impossible. But, I guess Father had been bit by a little boy and had to get stitches. Something Hermione and I snickered at when they were gone.

    "We're off to work," Jane grinned as they stepped out.

    Dan paused and turned towards the two of us as we sat at the dining table, eating our cereal in silence. I would continually try to hold a staring contest with Hermione, but she didn't know what I was doing, so it initially creeped her out to no end. "Eh, girls," he called, pulling my attention off of Hermione and onto him, "We are going to have a guest home for dinner tonight, so be sure to be home by five, okay?"

    "Alright, dad." Hermione nodded, smiling at him and wishing them both a great day of work.

    I rose a brow at her as soon as they were gone. "We are going out today? I was hoping to stay home and play Life."

    "You need to get a Life," Hermione tried to put a pun on my words, to which I responded with a slow, 'Ha, ha, ha', "Anyway, you have a check up." She brushed off my sarcasm and elegantly spooned more cereal into her mouth, while I shoveled mine in.

    "What are you talking about?" I spat out, mouth full of flakes, so it most likely sounded like a gurgling mess. 

    Rolling her eyes, Hermione got up from her chair and washed her bowl in the sink, me following her closely, offering my bowl to her with an innocent grin. She eyed my dirty dish with annoyance, but shrugged, taking it and washing it too. "You have a check up at Saint Mungo's."

    "My neck is fine." I retorted quickly, pointing at the healed scar that trailed a tiny portion of my skin. It was hardly noticeable. 

    "Not for your neck, Elle." She replied, wiping her hands on a rag and walking to our shared room, pulling out her outfit of the day while I did the same, merely tossing out a hoodie and jeans. The weather had been cold lately. The news blamed a freak storm, but Hermione and I knew better. 

    We didn't say anything to Dan and Jane, however. We didn't want to worry them with anything that might not yet pertain to them. Hermione insisted that it was the right idea. So, I went along with it.

    We used Floo Powder to travel to St. Mungo's, and we were quickly admitted entrance into the building by Healers clad in green robes. I remembered the last time I was here, the early hours of April second, having my neck patched up and charms cast on it. The Healer had been fairly nice, but told me that Tonks had done a decent healing job and sent me home. 

    Hermione led me to the front desk and an older lady eyed us lightly, smile slipping onto her lips as we approached. "Hello, how may I help you?" 

    "We have an appointment on the fourth floor with Miss Dragon," Hermione told her as the lady nodded, slipping through her log book, "The name is Granger," Hermione added.

    The woman waved her wand above the pages and they turned themselves, flipping to the page our name was on. "Oh, I see you now." She chuckled a little and waved her hand upwards. "She's at the desk on the Fourth Floor for Spell Damage. Just go to her office and she'll meet you there, dearies."

    Nodding, Hermione and I followed the woman's instructions and wandered up the stairs, passing wards of different causes of magical accidents. "Explain to me why I need to come back here again?" I whined at Hermione. I took a note that I'd been rather whiny lately; maybe I should act more cheerful.

    Hermione cast a motherly look of annoyance at me and sighed, "You suffered a massive trauma that knocked you into a coma for eight months and you are asking me why you need to go in for a check up? Come on, Elle - you're not daft."

    I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't think of a proper retort, so I just sighed and sunk down in a chair that was vacant in the office titled 'Tilula Dragon'. Hermione took the stool beside me and we were quite for a little while, waiting for Miss Dragon to arrive.

    Five minutes passed and I was leaned against the wall, twiddling my thumbs around for the fun of it, when Miss Dragon finally arrived. "Ah, I see you two have made it already," She nodded, pulling her bleach blonde hair up into a professional bun, glasses slightly sliding off the crook of her nose, "Sorry for making you wait, I had some trouble finding your charts."

    "It's no problem," I waved her off, forcing a polite smile onto my lips and sitting up straighter. "So, what am I here for?"

    "Well, to answer some follow up questions, Miss Granger." She chuckled at my antics, realizing that I most likely didn't like doctor's offices. She read my chart back to me and began the laundry list of symptoms and aches I may be experiencing. She asked if I had stomach problems, migraines, blindness, peripheral issues, and things of that sort.

    "No, everything has been pretty normal. I do get headaches from time to time," I shrugged, "But everyone does, right?" 

    Miss Dragon smirked at that comment and nodded, "Yes, I assume so," She marked that down on her chart, then scanned her last question, a frown peppering her ruby stained lips, "I have one last question, this one may be a little personal, so if you'd like to ask your sister to leave, I can wait."

    Raising a brow, I gave Hermione a calculating glance, but shook my head. "No, it's alright."

    "Okay then," She nodded and adjusted her pen so she could take more notes. "Are you sexually active?" 

    I felt a blush creep up the back of my neck, but I quickly shook my head, "No, no."

    She chuckled a little, "Sorry, it's routine. And, how is your menstrual cycle?"

    "What-" I frowned, it wasn't that I didn't understand her question, but the fact that I couldn't process why she was asking me this question.

    "The menstrual cycle is the cycle of natural changes that occurs in the uterus and ovary as an essential part of making sexual reprod-" I stopped her there, shaking my head. 

    "Sorry, I know what it is, but I just don't know why you are asking me about it," I trailed off, glancing down at my hands. I felt the familiar sinking feeling taking root deep in my chest. It happened every time I thought about children.

    "Well, when a female body is in a comatose state, it still goes through the normal bodily functions, usually with the help of the doctors, but we found that your... your cycle never took place. We need to make sure it is not a symptom." She reassured me, sending me a soft smile.

    Keeping my eyes locked on my hands, I shook my head, "I haven't remembered the last time I had one, to be honest. It's been a problem since before the attack, however." I admitted to her, "I always assumed that I would probably never have children because of it."

    "Oh, I wouldn't say that, dear," The woman chuckled a little, "While it is a serious problem with Muggles, we are working on experimental magic to fix what Muggles call Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. The curse that you were hit with could have triggered the disease in your body, or you could have had it before, but it can be manageable in the near future."

    Hermione stayed quiet beside me, but seemed interested in what the doctor had to say. "I won't need the experimental treatment, though, right?" I questioned, not wanting to be a lab rat. "I mean, I'm not trying to get pregnant any time soon, and, it hasn't had any negative effects yet," I trailed off, sighing a little.

    "We will give you an elixir for the cysts," she scribbled it down on her clipboard and gave me a sharp eye, peering over her glasses. "And, you won't need to take part of the experiment, don't worry. It was merely a suggestion. But, if any time in the near future you would like to become part of the testings, we would be more than willing to put you into a group."

    "Thanks," I chuckled, "But, I doubt that."

    "You never know," She shrugged her shoulders and walked to the cabinet on the other side of the room, pulling out a vile the size of my middle and forefinger combined, handing it to me. "Take this before bed. It will help with the cysts."

    "Will do."

~~~~~~~~~

ugh it's only 9pm and I'm tired >.< stupid day-light savings

I'm still waiting for the first person to send in their one-shot / story ;) You guys have 1 month and 5 days left xD