Healing Draco Malfoy

Chapter 10

Published: 10/20/2020

"I checked on Mr. Malfoy, for you, sir," Joel said, in his office, after MCAPS had finished questioning them, Zach and Mrs. Humphrey.

"Oh... thank you," he said, considering there was a lot of shouting in the hallway. "You did a great job, today."

"I just felt it was off. I didn't want to do anything until you got there, but you would have figured it anyway."

"Well, the Skele-gro was a big clue and the half-healed hip fracture. But Joel, you did the most crucial thing... you got her to talk. If you can't connect to your patients, if you can't understand them, then you're never going to be a good healer. But you can, Joel. You could be a great healer."

Joel went red. "Thank you, sir."

"It's Harry. You don't know how much you've helped me in the last few weeks, and I'm sorry I was abrupt at first."

"Well, I didn't exactly introduce myself," he said, looking at the floor, embarrassed.

"That probably would have helped, but Natalie said that you don't really need prep work... or me... talk to people. I was just trying to make myself... busy... noticeable."

"I did."

"You only yelled at me every time you saw me," Joel said.

"And you corrected your behavior every time. Entering a patient room without knocking is extremely rude. And reading the chart before you try to treat someone is important."

Joel nodded.

"But you knocked every time after that. You took care not to use your wand around D-Malfoy. You calmed that abused old lady down. That is more important than any spell or skill that I could teach you."

"I... listened to what... you said, about making them as comfortable as possible."

"I'm glad you listened."

"You're a great teacher, sir."

Harry nodded. "Joel... you're only going to be working under me for another week. You can drop the 'sir'."

"The training coordinator said...."

"Pratt probably gets hard to the sound of trainees calling him sir."

Joel raised his eyebrows and smirked. "Probably... but I respect you, sir. And not just because you're a healer or the... other stuff. You taught me a lot about right and wrong, how to take care of patients and how to see things. You also don't teach me like scum, either."

"Other healers do?"

"Well, they call me trainee... order me around and call me an idiot when I screw up. You always ask me to do things and explain what I did wrong."

"I'm sure I've called you trainee."

"Yes... that I'm your trainee, not that I'm Trainee Joel."

Harry stared at him and nodded. "I'm sorry that others weren't as considerate. I've been belittled enough in my life that I wouldn't do it to anyone else."

Joel looked at him, and Harry grimaced at revealing more information.

Harry breathed and tried to keep calm. "I understand that. In front of others... I think it's fine to call me that, but... I don't like too many people... I don't talk to very many people. I'd prefer to think of us as friends."

"I'd really like that... Harry, but I still think of you as a mentor."

"That's fine, Joel. I... was going to invite Natalie and her husband out to dinner, as she has been helping me out a lot, too. I was wondering if you'd want to come."

"You want me to come?"

"Yes, Joel. You impressed even Hermione with your dedication to me, and I owe you a few sandwiches."

"I... don't have many galleons," he said, lowering his eyes.

"I was going to pay for everyone's dinners, as a thank you. I do make quite a bit, Joel."

"Okay... if you want," he said. "I better go check on the appointments. I sent out Patronuses, about the emergency situation."

"Thank you, Joel," Harry said and then went down to see if Natalie would consent to come. She all but jumped at the chance. She asked where he wanted to go. Harry faltered. He had no idea where to go.

"I... umm... do you know a place?" he asked, and she stared. "I... don't go out... ever."

She smiled understandingly. "Of course, I can pick. What kind of place were you thinking of? Are we going for drinks? Or a fancy place?"

"Umm... a restaurant, not a pub. Not a muggle one. Not too fancy so that we can go after work. But... expensive is fine. I got enough galleons."

"I know a place in Diagon Alley. Tomorrow night, okay?"

"Should be."

"I'll make a reservation."

"Reservation?" he asked.

"Wow... you really don't get out much. Well, thank you, Harry. It'll be expensive, though."

"Good. Joel barely has anything, but he's been buying me sandwiches."

She nodded and started writing out the request. "Don't worry. I'll take care of it."

Harry turned to head back to Draco's room, but Joel came up to him.

"I rescheduled all but your last one. She said that she knows you," Joel said, handing him the file.

"Ginny Weasley? No... not at all," Harry said, and had Joel follow him in.

"What's it this time? Fall off your broom or a bludger cobbled you?"

"Haha, Harry," she said, but didn't deny it. "Please... you're the best." She pulled off her robes without prompt and faced the wall. She had a massive bruise on her shoulder blade and her arm was hanging.

"Don't try to butter me up. How's Angelica?" he asked, as he started feeling out the injury.

"SHE crashed into me!" Ginny huffed.

"In bed or on the field?" Harry chuckled.

"Shut up! I have dirt on you, too, Harry. So, watch it," she said.

"I think everyone knows about your relationship," he said, quietly.

"And what? You're a lone wolf? Who's this guy? He's cute."

Harry was starting to feel nervous. "He's my trainee... Joel. So, be nice."

"I'm always nice."

"Yeah, I'll tell that to Ron, after you hit him with your Bat-Bogey Hex."

"He's Head Auror! You think he'd learn to block it by now?" she scoffed.

"You haven't considered he lets you do it, because that's what you and he do to each other?" Harry adds slyly.

"I-what?" she said, but gasped when Harry popped her shoulder back in. "Fuck... that... oh... umm..." she groaned and slumped as Harry massaged the residue pain out. After a loud moaned, she added, "Harry, we'll pay you anything to be the team healer."

"You can come here anytime," Harry muttered, as he finished.

"Yeah, I guess... done? So... can I ask about Malfoy?"

"No. And who did you hear it from?"

"Well, they argued at mum's... so mum, dad, George, Percy and Ron. So, what's going on?"

"Percy's girlfriend decided to bring up my abrupt exit from the Aurors in front of my peers."

"That doesn't sound like anything to do with Malfoy," she said, and Harry lowered his head, his face red. Ginny brought his head up. "Listen, I'm not here to bust your balls. I just want to make sure that you're okay."

He met her eyes, and she could see the hurt in them. She hugged him, but he said, "I can't talk about it."

"I hope one day... you will. If Malfoy can help you, then spend as much time as you want on him."

Harry blushed. "It's not like that. I'm just his healer. He's severely injured. Most of my patients are like you. In and out in thirty."

"Quickies, eh?"

Harry went redder. He should have left Joel outside. Ginny had no filter. "That's just...."

"Oh... you are so innocent. Half the time, I wished I had taken your v-card back at school."

"Gin..." Harry said, now brick red. He sometimes wished that, too.

"Hey, it's not my fault you've been a hermit for five years. And your healer training ended years ago, so you can't use that as an excuse. You're twenty-five, Harry. Go get some. Hell, get a hooker."

"Gin!" he yelled and pointed to Joel, who was trying very hard not to smile.

"You brought him in here!" she said.

"Knock it off, or no more on-the-fly appointments," he growled.

"You wouldn't dare. Thanks, Harry. My beloved adopted brother," she said and kissed on the cheek as she went out the door.

Harry took a deep breath. "How much do I have to bribe you to never repeat anything she said?"

Joel laughed. "That's not necessary. Patient-healer privilege, remember?"

"I don't think that is covered under it," Harry sighed.

"I wouldn't dream of bringing it up otherwise, Harry," he said, for effect. Harry did feel better when he used his name. "I'll bring the potions to... Draco's room."

"Boy, you are loosening up," Harry said. "Natalie said tomorrow after work? We can just go in our work robes."

"Oh... good. That's good," Joel said, like he didn't have anything else.

Harry went into Draco's room, exhausted after all that social interaction. He nearly crashed in the chair and buried his face in his hands.

"Fucking hell... this has to be one of the most embarrassing days of my life," Harry said and looked at Draco, who raised an eyebrow, questioningly. Harry smirked and said, "Pottah, must you be so dramatic about everything?"

Draco chuckled and nodded.

"Please... Ginny showed up and, in front of Joel, decides to mention that I'm a fucking hermit and implied that I'm a... virgin and was dropping hints about... my... sexuality all over the place!"

Draco smirked, and then Harry said for him, "It's not that dire, Pottah."

"The hell it isn't! I also just casually invited him and Natalie out to dinner. So... Merlin and Morgana only know if he thinks I'm hinting on him. And I keep asking him to call me Harry... and fuck my life... this is why I don't fucking talk to people!" he said, halfway to a panic attack on his own.

Draco looked almost alarmed and held out his hand as far as it would go.

"It's worse. It's so fucking worse. I haven't been out... in over five years," Harry said, bringing his arms to his chest, trying to breathe.

Of course, Joel choose that minute to carry the potions in. Joel spotted him as he dropped his arms and straightened up. "Everything okay?"

Harry subtly cleared his throat. "Just been telling Draco all about Ginny's choice words."

Joel smirked. "My favorite is when she called your appointments quickies. Or maybe when she told you to get a hooker."

"Bloody hell.' Harry rubbed his forehead. "I'll give him the potions... thank you, and I'll see you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow, then. Goodnight Draco... Harry," Joel said, leaving.

Harry held up his hands. "What am I supposed to do? What if he thinks I'm... flirting with him?"

Draco smirked and made a circle with his thumb and finger on one hand and poked his finger on his other hand through it. Harry nearly choked on his own spit and went red. He stared in pure horror at Draco, whose evil fucking grin grew, and he made the finger movements, again.

"No! I can't... oh fuck... I need..." he stammered, not knowing what he needed, but it turned out it was air.

It took five minutes of gasping breaths for him to get some control, but he was in no way calm. Tears were threatening to spill out. Then the cylinder hit his arm.

"Ow," Harry muttered and looked.

Draco held out his hand to take, and Harry grabbed it like a lifeline. Draco pulled at his arm, and Harry gave him more as Draco brought him across his body. Harry planted his other arm on the other side and put his head into Draco's shoulder, hugging him. Draco's other arm wrapped around him, and he held him as he cried and calmed down.

Draco made "shhh" noises on his ear, rubbed his back and then whispered, "I'm sorry."

Harry lifted his head to look at Draco. They were inches away, but Draco didn't back away. His grey eyes stared back at him. But Harry was the one who slowly backed away.

"Thanks. Merlin... I'm a sodding fuck up. Like I have any business losing my shit... in here with you. You've been through so much more... and I'm the one losing it."

Draco shook his head.

"Don't say no. I'm fucking terrified of going to places... with people. A few people... is alright... but when there are strangers and loud noises? Fuck... I feel the panic starting up. Of course, I don't talk to any other healer in the hospital, so I couldn't get a fucking Calming Potion."

Draco waved his hand at the collection of potions on the table.

"It's wrong. It would get you removed from my care, my license revoked and me committed. I have to be careful. They put me in their blasted cells on potions, again, and I won't come back out. You don't understand what a prick the head mind healer is. He and another mind healer tried to force their way in... when I got committed five years ago. Well, you know how that feels. I'm not as strong of an Occlumens, but I blasted them into the fucking wall, though. Then they were really curious. I had to beg Hermione to take me home. I'm... I'm technically...released to her care."

Draco tilted his head.

"Mental Health never released me, and they were convinced that I was a... "danger to the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy". So, Hermione can decide to send me back. I don't think she will. It's been over five years, and I might be able to fight it, but it's the threat of going back. If crowded places freak me out, being alone and trapped does more."

Draco rubbed his hand and nodded.

"Yeah... you can relate... and laugh at my weak mind."

Draco shook his head.

"What am I going to do? Think! I... alright... I'll just order a firewhiskey as soon as I get there, and hopefully not drink too fast to alarm them."

Draco gave him a look.

"What? You have a better idea? I mean, I could cancel... but that seems like a dick move."

Draco still stared at him.

"You know what? I'm just going to heal your intestines, and you can just keep giving me those infuriating looks."

Draco smirked as Harry turned to slip his hands under the blankets. He just closed his eyes and gave into his work. He checked for more signs of the potion or foreign objects. The most he found was some teeth pieces. But he found plenty of evidence of bruised muscles and starvation. He grimaced as he strengthened the walls and healed the damage. He sighed when he reached the end. But he noticed that Draco hadn't moved at all and felt that Draco wouldn't feel him heal his lower cavity either. It was harder from the top, but less obvious that he was doing it.

When he was done with that unpleasant adventure, he said, "Well, that's it for today. Everything feel alright?"

Draco shrugged, looking bored, but gave his arm a pump and pointed down. He had thrown his cylinder at him earlier.

"Well, don't throw it on the floor," he said and picked it up. He added two pounds and dropped it in Draco's hand. He nearly dropped it, too and glared at Harry. He smirked back and then handed him his potions to drink. When he was done, he located his hairbrush.

"I think it's past time for some hygiene," he said and cleaned Draco, his robes and the sheets and blanket. Then he brushed his teeth magically and started brushing his hair. "Remind me to do this in the mornings, okay?"

Draco grunted and relaxed as Harry brushed it out and pulled out the hair potions. Draco nodded to only the protective one, and he applied it.

"There! So pretty, now."

Draco rolled his eyes, and Harry sighed looking at the time. He still had a lot of paperwork from the incident today.

"Well, I have a few reports to fill out. I don't think I told you that I had to call MCAPS. Magical Adult and Child Protective Services? But I have to do paperwork... I could do it in my office..." Harry explained, but Draco shook his head and pointed to the floor. "You want me to do it here?" He nodded. "Okay, I'll be right back."

He grabbed his files from today, including Ginny's and Draco's, and then came back. Draco smiled and watched him like it was entertainment. Harry only sometimes talked, but he was absorbed in the report, determined to get all the details down, the cracked skill, the malnutrition, and improperly set hip. He had to write a letter to MMPB Magical Medical Practice Board and told Draco all about the hack doctor.

When Harry finally did leave, Draco made the finger gestures, again, out of spite and Harry almost ran from the room.