Part One – How to make a first impression

So this is where life has brought me. I'm standing in front of the only shopping window I've ever longed for.
Standing in front of the rest of my life and I'm scared. Terrified.

"Do you remember the first day of Healer-school?"
"Come on, Claire," Earl said and grabbed her arm. He was short, almost shorter than her, his eyes were bright blue and he had curly dark hair.
"Cause I remember. I tripped in the middle of the cafeteria, from that moment on everybody remembered me as the girl who tripped…"
"At least they remember you. I'll forever be that guy who hanged out in the back of the class and never spoke to anyone." There was a trace of resentment in Earl's voice.
"You talked to me," said Claire. "With the girl who tripped!"
"What ever, we don't want to be late!" But Earl smiled as he tightened his grip around her arm.
Claire hesitated, but did not struggle when Earl made her step through the window glass and then they were gone.
Nobody seemed to have noticed this strange event, even though the street was filled with people rushing to get to work. Perhaps they were to busy to notice.

On the other side of the glass, Claire found herself facing a crowded waiting room. She made sure to stay close to Earl as they made their way through the lines of benches, past a man that sneezed flowers through his nostrils, an old woman whose right hand appeared to have been transformed into a pumpkin.
"That should teach you not to eat my food, nana," muttered a grumpy looking woman who was sitting next to her.
Earl opened a door to a corridor and waited for Claire to enter first. Their fellow heeler-interns was already standing in the hallway, speaking polite with each other while they waited.
 Look at these people, they seems to be so secure. Like they've all done this before… I sure haven't. Can't wait 'till I screw this up.
"One minute left!" said Earl and squeezed her shoulder.
 Earl's brilliant. He'll survive. Plus he's got that good hair, why can't I have as good hair as he's got?
Clair pulled in her ponytail, thinking she might have to cut it off. Then a drum whirl started somewhere. Everybody fell silent as the door on the other end opened and in entered a tiny man – and probably the oldest man alive.
"Man, is he old or what?" a blond-haired and pale looking young man whispered. "Who do you think he is?"
"I am Healer Koxey," the very old man answered. There was some nervous laughter and the blond man looked a little embarrassed. "I will be in charge of you lot, during your years of internship here at Saint Mungos. Remember, I do not care about where you come from, about your feelings or who your girlfriend is, so feel free to never share anything personal with me at any time!"
Some of the interns exchanged confused looks."Leave you sorrows at home, because you will come to learn that here at Saint Mungos we want nothing but your fullest attention and devotion. You can forget the things you have seen on muggle-tv. It is all fake and not real, do you follow me? No, I really mean follow me." He walked to a door on his right and opened it. "Plus, muggles are known to glorify the misery and hard work that is the everyday-life for a healer!" He glanced over his shoulders on the group of guilty looking interns.
"From now on, you will think of this building and what we do here as your only truth, as your only true home…"
"Yada yada, Saint Mungos rules, we get it," sighed a red-haired woman behind Claire. "What a waste of time!"
"No, this speech is not a waste of time," whispered Claire. "He's in charge…"
"Oh, you're one of them, are you, authority loving… I bet you bought your teacher a present at Christmas too." She looked at Claire and frowned.

"Can you believe her?" Claire asked Earl when they sat down in the semi-lighted cafeteria. "Who does she think she is?"
"Meredith-something," said Earl and took a sip of juice. "But you shouldn't let her get to you; I bet she's just looking for someone to mess with."
"Oh, I could take her. She'll never see it coming"
Earl grinned. "Yeah, like you're going to-"
"SMASH!" Claire slammed her fist in the wooden table and made the porcelain clink. "I would not even need my wand!"
"Oh, that's really cool…"
"I know" Claire yawned nonchalant.
"Hi… Can I have a seat?" The blond intern who had called Healer Koxey old was standing next to their table. Claire nodded as Earl pulled out the chair next to him. "You're Claire Black, right? I'm Draco Malfoy. I believe your father knows mine?"
"Does he? Well, I'm not that close to my father actually… We haven't spoken for years, not since I went to Hogwarts." She felt uncomfortable talking about her father, so she took a bite of her meatloaf so she would not have to say anything more.
"Where did you go to healer-school? You weren't in our class," said Earl to change the subject.
Draco watched Claire for a second but then said, "No, I went abroad. I studied at this school in Germany…" They talked about different schools for a while until Earl wanted to go out to get some fresh air.
"No wonder people are sick in this place. It wouldn't hurt to get an air conditioner in here, like the muggles have. And Claire, just avoid Meredith, if you don't want to make a fool of yourself the first day."
"Yeah, I will."

After lunch, they continued the tour around the hospital, and got information about the various floors ("Potions and herbals gone wrong, third floor. Phyllis Bradley is in charge").
Claire tried to stay away from Meredith the redhead, but that proved to be easier said than done. Meredith seemed to have made it her goal to make the day as miserable as possible for Claire.
"Who did you sleep with? To get the grades you needed for this, I mean," she asked as they walked by the nurses station on the fourth floor.
"Ha ha, good one! Did you bribe your way here? Cause I take it they wouldn't sleep with you…"
"Watch your mouth, you rat!"
"Excuse-," Claire suddenly collided in the person walking in front of her, Healer Koxey seemed to have stopped.
"You there, with the chestnut hair, ponytail or whatever; Why do you find my speech so boring that you feel that you have to interrupt it?" He pointed a crooked finger at Claire who started to feel uncomfortable. "Why did you interrupt me?"
"Er- I'm so sorry, sir"
"I bet you are! There is always someone like you; someone who thinks she is better than the rest. Above all common standards," he said, still pointing his finger at her. "Just remember, I'll be watching you. Yes, I'm on to you..."
Claire did not know what to say, so she just stood there, looking startled.
"Wow, I did not se that one coming!" Meredith grinned at Claire as she passed by.

So I'm not the girl who tripped anymore. From this day forward I'll always be the girl who knocked someone over and interrupted Koxey's speech. I'll be the girl he's keeping an eye on…