Chapter 14

                                        

                                              
Chapter 14

                              
Published: 11/20/2020
                              
***TRIGGER WARNING*** lengthy discussion of past sexual assault and torture
                              
Harry had been pleased with Joel's answers, and the kid said that he would continue learning how to read scans. Joel even convinced him to go eat lunch in the cafeteria, and Natalie came along, too. The Calming Draught was still in Harry's system that he didn't mind it, too much, until the head mind healer came over.
                              
"Healer Potter... how nice that you grace us with your presence."
                              
He took a deep breath while Joel and Natalie froze. They couldn't defend him. He was a healer. "Hello, Terence, wonderful afternoon!" he said with fake enthusiasm.
                              
The boar's eyes narrowed. "I would prefer if you called me Healer Higgs."
                              
"And I would prefer if you didn't interrupt my lunch. What do you want?"
                              
"Oh... just wanted to know when your patient was being transferred down to my ward."
                              
Harry's eyes narrowed. "I'll let you know, Higgs."
                              
The older man gnashed his teeth and spat, "You don't deserve to be a healer, Potter!"
                              
Both Joel and Natalie lifted their heads, but Harry stood up, thankful for the Calming Draught. "Funny. I would say the same about you, Terence."
                              
"You don't even show respect to your position! Eating with wardens and a trainee! You have no regard for the traditions of the hospital!"
                              
Joel and Natalie were red, embarrassed, as a large number of people had turned to watch. 
                              
"I don't give two flying fucks about tradition and your elitist bullshit! These are my colleagues, and I will always choose to eat with them rather than you and the rest of your pompous, arrogant-ass healers any day of the week," he hissed. "Everyone does not have to bow down to shitheads like you just because you're a "healer"."
                              
Higgs pulled out his wand, and Joel and Natalie stood up. 
                              
"Don't do anything. He's not stupid enough to try me," Harry said.
                              
Higgs growled under his breath and spat, "This isn't over, Potter!"
                              
"Please leave. We wish to eat in peace."
                              
Higgs stormed away, and Harry couldn't help but notice the wardens, magical maintenance workers and trainees around him beam at him. He gave a curt nod and went to staring at his food.
                              
"You okay?" Joel asked.
                              
"And... this is why I don't eat in the lunchroom," Harry mumbled. "I think so. It was easier with you both here. He's going to catch me unawares one time."
                              
"I can ward him off the floor," Natalie offered.
                              
"Why did he ask about..." Joel started, but Harry shook his head. Being overheard in the cafeteria was the other thing he hated.
                              
They finished lunch and went up to their ward and, non-surprisingly, Head Healer Convaba was waiting when they returned. Harry waved his friends off and went into his office.
                              
"Again, Harry?" she said.
                              
"He came up to me! He insulted my eating companions to the point of calling them peons and declared, in front of the whole cafeteria, that I shouldn't be a healer!" he growled.
                              
She sighed. "I see."
                              
"Do you yell at him for his shenanigans?"
                              
"I'm not yelling. I just wanted your side of the 온라인카지노게임."