Chapter 1

                                        

                                              
Published: 11/1/2020
                              
Draco Malfoy had spent the last five years in France learning how to be a healer at the French national magical hospital in Paris, the Consano. There he had graduated first in his class and become a senior healer by his third year. But his mother, long-divorced from his father, had married, again and they wanted to live back in England. She convinced him to come back to their country.
                              
He had not wanted to. Five years was scarcely enough time to let wounds heal, though both he and his mother publicly split with Lucius long before the life sentence was delivered. He hated being stared at. He hated the whispers and hate mail. But his mother was right, he needed to hold his head up and face the music. He would not be cowed for the things his father did... and the things that Voldemort made him do. The rest of the world may blame him, but he knew he didn't have a choice.
                              
Mungo's was glad to have him, despite his criminal past and faded mark on his arm. His reputation as a healer was not over-stated, and there were slim pickings as far as talent goes for their recruits over the years. Many had been killed in the war. Being a healer didn't spare them from the Death Eaters or the Light side. Head Healer Amara Swelyn was almost begging him to take the position. She really needed a healer in the Spell Damage Ward. The last two had refused to work there anymore and had quit to smaller clinics.
                              
And Draco slightly pressed for an answer, but the administrator took the neutral stance of they didn't like their post. Draco didn't much care for the smaller clinics, nor of starting his own. He liked the big hospitals and liked fixing problems. Spell Damage was a bit like curse breaking, and he enjoyed figuring out the puzzle.
                              
Swelyn introduced him to the distressed floor healer Strout, who looked exhausted and said, "Finally... I've been alone here with just the floor wardens. Congrats! You're in charge, and I'm leaving for a month of personal leave. It's all yours."
                              
She left and Healer Swelyn looked at him. "I'm sorry! We can't seem to keep anyone here long. She's been run-rugged. I really must beg you to stay."
                              
Draco nodded. Out of the calm sea of tranquility of France and into the fire, it seemed. "I will stay. You do need a healer. Am I the department head, too?"
                              
"Of course! Hell, I will pay you double to stay!"
                              
Draco gave a smile, but still was so very off-put by why no one wanted to stay. She showed him his large office and introduced him to his floor wardens, his old housemate Harper and Laura Madley, who was a few years younger than him.
                              
"It's nice to see you, Draco, but I got a few rooms to clear out. Will catch up later, 'kay?" Harper said. "Laura will show ya the ropes."
                              
"That'd be great, Harper," he said and turned to his guide. "I'd appreciate it very much."
                              
"Of course, healer," she said formerly. She eyed him darkly. She knew exactly who he was and what he did and probably resented him for it. He couldn't blame her for it.
                              
"If there is anything you need... just ask, Healer Malfoy," Healer Swelyn said and left him there.
                              
Well, might as well get the awkwardness out of the way. "Look Laura... I know I can't change what I've done, but I'm a great healer, all modesty aside. I want to help people... make up for all the terrible things that I was a part of. I didn't support it or want to... but I didn't want to die, either."
                              
Laura's face went from cold to shocked to embarrassed in seconds flat. "I... didn't...."
                              
"We both know I was a Death Eater and what my father did. Don't lie."
                              
She lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry."
                              
"I am, too. This is my penance. I don't want to walk on dragon eggs around you. Can we at least be cordial with one another?"