Chapter 2- The Hospital (One year later)
"Alright healers, listen up." Healer Rodriguez put her hand on her hip and starred us down. She reminded me of a young McGonagall, "I know you are only resident's right now but we are swamped today so each of you are going to take your own patients. I am going to go from room to room to check on each of you. None of your patients are allowed to leave without me approving your diagnosis. Are we clear?"
We all nodded. I went for the first room on my left. I grabbed the file and had the door partially open before I had read the name of the patient.
"Malfoy?" The voice sounded shocked, "What on Earth are you doing here?"
My stomach dropped and I took a deep breath trying to steady myself. My eyes immediately went to her arm and all the feelings of guilt and shame I'd been working so hard to atone for rushed back. Focus on your job Draco, "Good morning Miss Granger, I believe that's what I'm supposed to be asking you."
"What?" She looked confused, and like hell. There were deep bags under her eyes, she seemed thinner, and her hair was even frizzier, if that was even possible.
I pulled at my lab coat, "I'm your healer today." I pointed at my name tag, "See? Healer Malfoy."
She looked at me like she'd just seen a pig fly, "Oh." She shifted uncomfortably.
"So how can I help you today?" She instantly looked even more uncomfortable and bit her lip. I sighed, I could tell she wasn't going tell me anything, she didn't trust me. I thought about getting Healer Rodriguez but didn't want to seem like a failure on my first patient. However I couldn't deny why she might not trust me, and she looked like she could really use the help. I sighed, "Look Hermione, I'm not the guy I was growing up. I genuinely want to help you. And if right now that means I get up and find you a different healer then I can do that for you." I prayed that it wouldn't come to that.
She starred at me incredulously, "You genuinely want to help me?"
"Don't be so self centered." I teased, "I didn't go through a healing apprenticeship just to help you. In 30 minutes I'm sure some pretty young witch will come in and I can swoop in and save her too." Granger scoffed and crossed her legs. She looked like a pretzel.
A few seconds passed before I spoke, "Granger are you going to let me help you or not?" I was beginning to be irritated, the hospital was full of people and I didn't want to waste time bantering. The silence was also giving me too much time to remember how she got that scar.
She looked at me for a moment, bit her lip and looked at the floor as she said, "I've been having bad dreams."
I nodded and opened her file. It wasn't very descriptive but it was a start, "Tell me about them."
She took a deep breath and picked a point on the wall to talk to, "I've always had them, since the war. They weren't all that frequent, but it happened often enough that Ron got used to it and started being able to sleep through it." I frowned, no one should have to be alone through night mares. I felt annoyed at the Weasel for making her suffer alone, hadn't she been through enough? "The doctor I saw then said it was post-traumatic stress and the dreams would go away. They did get less frequent for a time. Maybe once every 4-5 months? But lately… it's been every night. Every time I close my eyes I-"
I looked up at her from my notes to see her look away from me. I couldn't tell the look she had on her face. Shame? Embarrassment? "Every time you close your eyes you're… back in the dream?"
She looked up at me, her exhaustion clearly showing. I felt worried for her, my mind already going through the dreamless sleep potions I could give her. She nodded, looking at the wall again. "What's your dream about?"
She bit her lip and hung her head, "We were in a war Malfoy. What do you think it's about?" She bit back.
I frowned at her sudden harshness, "Hermione, if I'm going to help you I need you to tell me a little more about the dream."
She had tears in her eyes and her lip trembled. She sat up tall and looked me right in the eyes, and I couldn't help but admire her a little for it. "Fine," She said, "The dream is about your aunt… and the manor."
"Oh," I felt like someone had hit me in the stomach with a bat. Unconsciously I sat up straighter. She looked at the spot on the wall again and blinked rapidly. I opened my mouth and closed it. I was at a loss for what to do. Comfort her? Tell her I'm sorry? I felt disgusted with myself, nothing I could say would make this better.
Without realizing I had chosen to speak I heard myself saying, "I've had that one too."
Now she really looked surprised, "Seriously?"
Numbly I nodded. Then I shook my head, bringing myself back to the present, and I cleared my throat, "I'll recommend some potions to give you a dreamless night. I want you to use them every night until you feel well rested again. But these dreams clearly aren't going away. I think you should make an appointment upstairs with one of the mental health healers. They'll be able to help you face what's bothering you. The dreams will never go away if you don't deal with what happened to you." My eyes went back to her scar. I suddenly realized she didn't cover it up, she was clearly bright enough to learn a cover spell. She chose to display it. I didn't have time to decide if I thought that was brave or idiotic before Healer Rodriguez knocked and opened the door. After she read my notes and heard my recommendation she gave her stamp of approval and moved on to the next room.
Hermione waited until the door was closed again, "She reminds me of McGonagall."
I chuckled, "That's what I said." I wrote out the names of the potions for her to look for, "If you still can't sleep tonight after taking these, or if you aren't feeling rested in a week, please come back and ask for me. I want to make sure you get a good night sleep again." I handed her the paper and my fingers brushed hers. When she didn't jump away immediately from my touch my heart lightened, maybe I wasn't completely horrible.
Hermione smiled and looked away as she gathered her things, "Thank you."
I felt sad watching her walk out of the room. I wanted to make sure she got the help she clearly needed. I owed her at least that.
