The Magical Healing of my Heart
Summary: Hermione works as a healer at St. Mungo's and usually follows the rules and procedures to a 'T'. But what happens when she breaks her own rule and ends up in the arms of a veela?
Disclaimer: All recognizable names and places belong to J.K. Rowling. Only the plot is mine.
Author's Note: This is still the same story, I just made a couple changes here and there in each chapter as I pick it back up after a year and continue to write. If you are new, welcome and thank you for reading. If not, welcome back! New chapters are on their way!
I rushed down the hallway of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries after receiving an urgent call about an incoming patient into the magical creatures department of the hospital. I specialize in the care of partial human species, those of the werewolf, veela, and vampire variety. I pulled on my lime green healer's robes as quickly as I could before apparating into the correct wing of the hospital.
When I arrived on the scene I noticed a veela, in the midst of a full transformation, covered from head to toe in blood sporting large fangs and claws on both of its hands and feet. Upon further inspection, I noticed it was a male, but was curious to note that he looked like he was barely 20 years old. Having studied veelas extensively during my healer training, I knew that most adult male veelas do not fully transform until the age of 25, many much later than that.
Immediately I began to warn my staff, "Nobody touch him! We are dealing with an adult male veela here, and I have no idea what caused him to transform, and at such a young age too, but we have to be extremely careful. I don't want any of you to get hurt!"
While he was still not completely human this veela would lash out at anyone or anything that was not his mate. He could severely injure someone without even being aware that he is doing it. This initial warning out of the way, I instantly got to work sending my assistants to secure the area and donning my heavily enchanted healer's robes in order to begin work on my new patient. I cast a spell to ensure that the veela would remain unconscious and not get up from the hospital bed while we began treatment.
"Healer Bradley, what can you tell me about this man?"
"Adult male. Age 22. Name Draco Malfoy. Partial veela with an unexpected early transformation. He has multiple cuts and abrasions, many of which look like he caused himself, most likely because of the pain of the transformation. The most concerning thing though is how to get him to return to his human form because we aren't sure why he changed in the first place."
"Yes, that is rather puzzling isn't it? Why don't you and the rest of my team set about healing his abrasions? Remember, wands only! Do not touch him, I don't want any of you becoming my next patient."
I watched my team scramble around, healing all of the patient's minor wounds until there was no longer a trace of any injury at all. I myself had to sit down in order to absorb all of the information I was just given. This was Malfoy? He had longer hair, still silvery blond, hard aristocratic facial features, and he was taller, but still obviously Malfoy. Draco Malfoy was a veela? I guess he did express all of the signs of an immature veela in our school days, but why would he so unexpectedly transform into a veela before his genes had fully manifested? And how did he so haphazardly end up in my care? Would I really be able to handle this situation?
I will be the first to admit that I am as stubborn as they come, and now right in front of me is my childhood enemy injured in a way you couldn't imagine. It sure is tempting to just walk away now, but my conscience and high moral standard would never let me leave anyone, even my worst enemy, in pain when I have the ability to heal them. I guess it is time you finally put all of this behind you, at least for now. We are adults now and you are a professional healer with a responsibility to take care of any partial human species that comes through the door. And now I'm talking to myself! Oh goodness…
Well today was certainly turning into something I never expected.
Snapping out of my stupor and into professional healer mode, I knew I had to get to work as quickly as possible. The history I have with Malfoy needed to be put aside because all that mattered right now was healing him to the best of my ability. I had to be strictly professional.
"Okay team, what is the status of the patient's wounds?"
"We were able to stop the bleeding and he is now in stable condition Healer Granger" Healer Bradley reported. "The only issue now is that he has not yet transformed back into his human form."
"Good work everyone! I will need all of you to clear the area now. It is still not clear as to why this occurred in the first place, so I have to run some diagnostic tests and it will be best if there is the smallest number of people present as possible. You never know how the patient will react. Thanks for your hard work everyone!"
I waited as the majority of my team cleared out, leaving just Healer Bradley and myself.
"Alright, lets get started. What is your plan Healer Granger?"
"Well since he has been unconscious thus far, I'm going to take a risk here and assume that the spells performed on him to clean up his superficial injuries will prolong his comatose state. I really want to examine the structure of his DNA and hopefully find the reason behind his premature transformation.
"Then after that, I want you to give him the calming draught that has side effects of dampening the veela instincts. Maybe then we can get him to morph back into his human form and we will be able to talk to Mr. Malfoy and get his side of the story."
I removed a strand of his silvery blond hair and cast the necessary spells to see if there were any mutations in his genes. The results were instantaneous, and as I scanned his genetic makeup, I didn't see anything out of the ordinary.
"Well it is easy to tell that he is 1/8th veela, but other than that he seems to be in perfect health. Healer Bradley? Can you take this report and add it to Mr. Malfoy's file? I'll handle the administration of the calming draught on my own."
"Sure thing Healer Granger! I'm around if you need any more assistance."
"Thanks. You have been a huge help today."
I moved back towards Malfoy's bed and pulled out my wand so I could spell open his mouth and deliver the potion.
Before giving him the potion though, I couldn't help but notice how peaceful he looked in his sleep. It's nice to know that everyone, even Draco Malfoy himself, show a child-like innocence when they are off in their own dreamland. I never really knew how handsome he was without that smirk on his face. Amazing.
Hermione Jean Granger, what are you thinking?! Not only is this Malfoy, but he is your patient. These thoughts are completely inappropriate in a work environment.
After remembering to be a professional, the calming draught was administered, and his whole body looked as if he was under the Cruciatus curse. Every single muscle tensed up and would twitch here and there. His face looked as if he was thinking about a really difficult Arithmancy question that he couldn't quite grasp.
I tried a few numbing spells and even one that would knock him out again, but to no avail. He was still in terrible pain.
I came up closer to his bed, racking my brain for any solution to help ease his suffering. I just felt so bad for him. This could not be easy. His beautiful face was marred by the look of pure agony.
"Mr. Malfoy. Mr. Malfoy. Ugh, Malfoy! Are you awake? You are at St. Mungo's!" No matter how many times I called his name, it didn't seem like Malfoy was going to come out of this seizure.
I decided to try one last time. "Draco!" I reached up to touch his cheek, and he immediately relaxed. The tenseness was gone; how did that happen?
His body stopped shaking and his eyes began to come into focus. At last, he was beginning to regain consciousness.
"Granger? What are you doing here? Why are you in my bedroom?"
"Malfoy, I'm your healer. You are in St. Mungo's. Do you remember what happened to you?"
Shock flashed across his face for a brief second before he quickly looked down at his arm and then back at me before schooling his features into a look of indifference. I knew immediately that it was going to be a challenge getting information out of him.
"Malfoy, do you have any idea how you ended up here? What is the last thing you remember?"
"I don't know what you are talking about Granger. You're the healer, you figure it out."
"Well I need you to tell me what you were doing that caused you to end up in here!"
He remained silent.
"I know you know something. Just tell me damn it!"
"Gods, what's got your knickers in a twist? I already told you I don't know anything and even if I did, I wouldn't be able to tell you."
"Fine. Whatever, have it your way Malfoy. I can't help you if you are going to continue to be a right prat."
As I turned to go, Malfoy stopped me, "Wait, Granger!"
"Yes?"
"I…..I'm sorry. I have changed, you know. I'm not the same person I used to be. I guess I just wanted to say thank you for helping me. I honestly do not remember anything since arriving here. I know I'm not your favorite person in the world and I'm sorry, but I really can't tell you what happened before I came here. I will do whatever else you need me to do, but not that."
He looked a little surprised at what was coming out of his mouth, but I could tell that he still believed every word that he was saying.
"Don't sweat it Mal…Draco. It's my job." I just couldn't call him Malfoy after that apology he gave me. His eyes were so expressive, and I had not doubt that what he had said to me was completely sincere.
Even though every nerve in my brain was signaling me to just walk away now and let somebody else deal with him, I just had to stay and help him. Something deep within my gut told me I couldn't leave him alone in this situation and somehow I knew he needed me.
"Well I guess I can start by explaining what happened when you arrived at the hospital."
I proceeded to recount the day's events from the seeing a veela and discovering it was him, to the healing of his wounds and the genetic tests we performed.
"Whoa! Hold on! I'm a veela?!"
"Yes, you are. According to your test results you are 1/8th veela. The most I've ever personally seen in a male. Are you telling me that you didn't know?"
"No, of course I didn't know! This is the first I'm hearing of this!"
Draco looked bewildered and unsure of how to react to this new revelation. As he sat and processed it, I could see recognition and understanding flash behind his eyes as if everything fit into place all of a sudden.
Despite his thoughtful, knowledgeable look, Draco still asked me to explain what being a veela meant for him. I began to explain all of the basic information about his condition that he needed to know.
"Veelas usually will see their first full transformation around age 25, when the genes first activate themselves and push them to find, mark, and protect their mates. Because you have changed uncharacteristically early, it can only be assumed that these instincts will come early as well. Do you have any inkling as to who your mate might be?"
"How would I know that Granger? I didn't even know I was a veela until five minutes ago."
"Well I guess I can tell you some of the typical signs and maybe you can figure it out from there. All of your senses will be heightened. You will first notice how she smells. Sort of like the amortentia potion, this scent will be unique to both you and her. You will also feel emotional extremes around her. Very calm, protective, jealous of other males, and the constant need to be around her because she has not been marked yet.
"Your transformations will also become more frequent until your mate has been found. If you don't find her and mark her relatively quickly after your first full transformation, you could change into your veela form and remain that way until you have her. Now because your case is so unusual, I can't give you any time frame regarding these events. My best guess would be that each step is going to be expedited because your first full change occurred much earlier than normal."
Draco looked like he didn't really know what to do with himself at finding out about his heritage and all these things that will happen to him in the near future. He looked so lost and small sitting in the hospital bed at that moment; I would almost do anything for him. Almost.
"I know this is a lot to take in. Just absorb all of the information, and I will see if I can find a book about veelas for you. In the meantime, your body has experienced a lot of stress today, so you should get some rest. I will be back to check on you in the morning."
He looked grateful at the chance to rest and process everything that I threw at him today.
"Thanks Granger, er…Hermione. I appreciate this more than you know."
I bid him farewell and left the room. On the way to my office I was feeling exhausted from the day's events, when the head healer stopped me and urged me to take a break because of the extreme case that had just been dealt to me. Normally I would object because I had not completed my full shift, but I was feeling pretty drained. I certainly have a lot to think about. Draco's case was sure going to be a challenging one. Hopefully I will be able to convince him to talk to me tomorrow and get some sort of idea how he got himself into this mess.
Ecstatic to finally have the opportunity to go home and get some rest, I gathered the rest of my belongings and went to grab my paperwork to do some work at home, before I stopped myself. Maybe I should take advantage of getting off early today. I know! I will surprise Ron with a romantic dinner. We haven't had the time for one another that we need, especially with our little arguments we always have, and this is the perfect chance for us to get close once again.
I set about leaving the hospital for the night, but this time with a bit of a skip in my step. Tonight would be a good night.
Author's Note: Thank you very much for reading the first chapter of my story! I hope you enjoyed it and are intrigued as to what is coming next. I would love any and all reviews that could help me encourage me or improve my writing! Thanks again -kodisgirl