The next day, Healer Anastasia Widespread fed young Crouch and locked him in one room before going to the hospital. She was always more researcher than actual healer, but she handled some cases, mostly injuries caused by magical creatures. Jinxes and curses just weren't her cup of tea.

That day, she had a man attacked by a hippogriff, a few bitten by snakes and one woman – by a werewolf. Nothing more than average. When she was just getting ready to go home, a fellow healer came up to her.

'Congratulations, Healer Widespread' the man smiled. 'You finally got a chance to do your dream research…'

'Thank you, Healer Coldblood' Anastasia sighed. Her workmate patted her shoulder.

'I have something to pass to you from The Above' he said. 'They say that they do understand the importance of your research and you are allowed to use any spell or potion that you will suspect useful. It's better if your victim… I mean subject… stays alive, but you won't be in any trouble if you unintentionally cause death to it. Of course you do understand that if you lose your subject, you won't get another any soon. Any success in this case may help every future victim of a dementor's kiss… and it can mean a lot of people soon.'

'Why?' Anastasia asked, puzzled. 'Aren't dementors guarding Azkaban?'

Healer Coldblood looked around before he whispered to her ear,

'He Who Must Not Be Named is back. Dumbledore said so, and I do believe him. So we may have dementors walking around quite soon…'

Anastasia paled.

'Are you sure?' she asked childishly. Healer Coldblood nodded sadly.

'I wish you good luck' he said and left. Anastasia smiled and went home.

When she opened the door to Barty's room, she found the man sitting on the bed and staring at the opposite wall. Not that she expected anything more yet. She examined him thoroughly. Crouch didn't resist anything, he only blinked his eyes as she was checking pupil reactions. Then she made him drink a few potions and left him alone to take notes.

'Healer Anastasia Widespread. Observation and experiment on a victim of a dementor's kiss. Second day of observation. Subject shows symptoms of shock. Potions normally used to cure shocks were provided to the subject. No reaction yet. End of note.'

Anastasia sighed. She remembered Barty from school quite well and she was shocked when she heard that he was a Death Eater. Next news about him that struck her was that he was dead. And then, just yesterday, she found out that he was alive – but soulless. She brought him home, but he was probably never going to appreciate it.

'As if being experimented on was something to appreciate' Anastasia murmured to herself. And a sudden flinch of hope came to her.

What if soul could be restored?

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