"I have Draco."
                              
Ron leveled with him. "Harry, Draco... is bed-ridden and your patient. Who is protecting you from reporters, well-wishers and uninvited guests? Hmm? So, you either take some time off, or I'm taking some time off and am becoming your personal security. I'm not letting you wander around alone when you are this... raw."
                              
Harry stared at him, surprised. "You can't do that."
                              
"I have plenty of vacation days... and I have an in with the boss," he said, nodding to his wife.
                              
Harry glared and Hermione said, "That's a very reasonable compromise, Harry."
                              
"You're not a healer. You can't just hang around me."
                              
"I can stand in the hallway. Guard duty isn't beneath me."
                              
"I'm... I don't need..." Harry said and started crying.
                              
Ron's eyes softened, and he took his hand. "It's okay to need support, Harry. You suffered long enough trying to overcome this shite on your own. We want you to be safe."
                              
"I don't... what about Joel and Nat? They watch out for me."
                              
"Really?"
                              
"I'll call Joel, here. You can discuss babysitting me with him, if you want."
                              
"It's not babysitting," Hermione said and Ron frowned. His eyes watched him sadly.
                              
"It's what it feels like," he spat and sent his Patronus with the floo address. He leaned back on the couch and crossed his arms, fuming.
                              
A minute later, Joel came through and walked toward them. "Harry? What happened?"
                              
"You mean there wasn't an evening press release?" he sneered.
                              
"He got off?" Joel said, aghast.
                              
"No, he didn't. Life in Azkaban. Harry did it, but...."
                              
"But what?" Joel asked, confused by Harry's obvious anger.
                              
"Higgs made his play and gave Runcorn everything."
                              
"On Draco?" Joel said, confused.
                              
"On me."
                              
"Shit. I'm sorry, Harry," Joel said.
                              
"Higgs gave that information?" Hermione pressed.
                              
"Anonymously... I'm sure. That scan he had was from five years ago. So, unless you all took me through emergency when I snapped, he's the one who scanned me."
                              
"If we can get proof... I'll do more than strip him of his license."
                              
"Proof... yeah... good luck with that," he said and washed his face with his hands.
                              
Joel stepped forward and offered a vial. "Sorry, I didn't bring tea, but it's another Calming Draught."
                              
Harry took it, but didn't drink it. He wanted to know things before he decided if they mattered or not. "How's Draco?"
                              
"Okay... worried. He tried to get it out of me where you were. He didn't believe me when I said that something had come up with your friends. I didn't tell him that you'd be in today, though, Harry."
                              
"I did. I don't want you to tell him what... happened."
                              
"Harry?"
                              
"That I went on the stand, that they pulled it out of me."
                              
"Harry... he's going to find out. If not from me then...."
                              
"Are you my healer or not?!" he snarled, meeting Joel's eyes.
                              
"I am. I won't tell him. Of course, I won't," Joel said, quietly.
                              
Great, now I yelled at Joel, Harry thought direly. He buried his face in his hands, again. "I'm sorry, Joel."
                              
Ron vacated his spot on the floor, and Joel knelt in front of him. "Harry, it's okay. You need to vent, and I don't mind if it's on me. You just went through a very stressful and triggering experience. You're on edge. I don't think that you should come back immediately. Draco will understand."
                              
"I need him," Harry admitted and didn't look at Ron and Hermione's reaction to that declaration.
                              
"I know... but your emotions are all over the place, Harry. One, he's going see and know, and two, you could snap on him."
                              
"I won't. I would never hurt him."
                              
"Harry... I mean... you would be... unresponsive."
                              
"I'll be fine."
                              
"You're not fine."
                              
"I didn't summon you here to lecture me," he spat.
                              
Joel held up his hands. "What am I here for? Just to give you more potions?"
                              
Harry flinched at the subtle jab to his unconscious fear of becoming an addict.
                              
Ron cleared his throat. "Harry... needs someone watching out for him at work, since he refuses to take time off. I am willing to do protection detail, but he assures me that you and Nat will be sufficient deterrents against ambushes when the news breaks."
                              
Joel sighed. "Yes. Nat is very capable of sessing out intruders to her floor, and the other wardens will watch out for interlopers, too. They are loyal to Harry, and we can put them on alert. It won't stop staff members from being dicks or his patients. I suppose if people use more insidious ways... we won't be as capable. I can stay on the floor as much as possible, too. I do think that personal security is necessary right now."
                              
"See?" Harry said.
                              
"Fine, but I'm coming with you and laying down wards and checking for spells."
                              
Harry frowned. "I was an Auror."
                              
"Yeah, five years ago. Warding spells change and tell me to my face that you check the wards every day with all the testing spells," Ron challenged.
                              
Harry blushed. "Fine."
                              
"I'll come every day. You need to feel safe, and I don't want anyone to jump you unexpectedly, alright?"
                              
Harry shrugged and downed the vial in one gulp. His chest opened up, and his breathing evened out. Everything didn't seem to be crushing him anymore. He looked up at his friends and nodded. Nothing changed. He still didn't want Draco to know and still wanted to see him. And apparently, they were the only things that mattered to him.