The English Patient.

It would be a good three months until Ginny Weasley saw Draco Malfoy again. Their first meeting was pure fate; at least that's what most divinators said about it. With Draco's family completely locked up, or dead in his mother's case, he had plenty of coverage done on being the heir to the Malfoy riches. People knew how lucky he was to have been spared from any other fatal injuries that last battle. He probably wouldn't have walked ever again if those medi-wizards hadn't found the two and healed him.

It was quite known that Ginny Weasley "risked her life!" To save a Malfoy of all people, and for it, she got nothing. Nobody knew of what she really did in the forest depths, except a small group who had found them. For good reason it was covered up that she healed Draco her self. This was for her own good, apparently, and one of those rare moments in a witch's life that would most likely never occur again.

That was how Professor Snape had put it, and Dumbledore did nothing but nod in explaining it.

"You and many other witches' have experienced a rare moment, usually caused by extreme adrenaline and magic rushes. We are very thankful, and Miss Weasley, We have decided you should try for Medical School. You have very high O.W.L.S, and with a scholarship Hogwarts would be...Proud to send you to St. Mungo's for special training in the healing arts."

Ginny's brows shot up, and her hand that had been fidgeting with the hem of her sleeves stiffened.

"But, Professor, I thought you said.. It was rare.. and... once in a blue moon type of healing I did." Ginny frowned a bit confused by what they were offering.

Dumbledore nodded again but then finished up the conversation.

"Yes, it is, but the type of experience you had would lead us to believe you would do very well in the Healing Arts. It does happen rarely, but it happens with different effects. I dare say it works with emotions and can show someone their true calling with the proper channeling of that raw magic. You did want to be a medi-witch, am I Correct? "

Ginny merely nodded, and turned the frown upside down into a small smile.

"T-thankyou very much, then! What about my Seventh Year?" She questioned while getting to her feet.

"We have all agreed this would be best, and if you think you are ready then you may start now. Many patients from the...aftermath of the war, are still within Mungos. They'll need an extra hand if they can get it. Anyways, I believe you know it will be a while before Hogwarts is back up and running...?"

"Yes... Yes I suppose so. Thank you again Professors!"

With that she had made her way from the office Dumbledore had resided in, located in the ministry, while Hogwarts was being rebuilt. A scholarship! She couldn't wait to tell her father, he was only a floor up in his office.

Before she could have started in Mungo's, Ginny was given three months training at a small school like hospital in Ireland, for medi witches and wizards.

Soon after, she had been given her first assignment directly in St. Mungo's. Her first step within the building was met by a rather large, plump nurse. She wore dull gray robes, and had her hair pinned up tightly like most nurses about the hospital. She had greeted Ginny with a rather large smile, cheeks going rosy as she grabbed the smaller girl's hand tightly.

"Oh ho ho ho! You MUST be Virginia Weasley! I'm Hilda Gawstrot; I'll be showing you to your station! Oh it's so lovely to have another Nurse here, we've been packed for months now, thankfully it'll slow down now that the AWFUL War is over!"

Ginny was afraid the circulation to her hand was cut off, and tried to give a polite smile none the less. Soon her hand was let go and before she could even utter a word Hilda Continued on, walking towards the lift briskly.

"We'll give you your robes in your station, Oh and I'm afraid you must pin up your hair, it's quite a hassle to have it in your eyes while you work! Or you could just cut it; we do see a lot of shorthaired witch's around here! My My My! But your hair is a magnificent shade of red, is that natural? Oh of course it is! What am I thinking, you are a Weasley!"

Ginny didn't know if she was to be put off or glad on that comment. She brushed it off and followed Hilda into the lift, standing beside her as it began to rise.

"I'm afraid I don't have any hairpins with me..."

"Oh! Not to worry, We'll just spell it up you know. It's the easiest way!" Hilda whipped out her wand and tapped Ginny's head thrice, with a joyful chuckle. Ginny's bright red waves lifted on there own, swirling and weaving about like snakes atop her head. By the time the lift's doors opened her hair had been spelled atop her head into a tight bun. Briefly touching the bun she offered yet another smile and followed after Hilda to a Nurse's station outside the lift.

"Thank you Hilda."

"Oh Not a problem! Now, your head Nurse will explain the room you'll look after and your duties, and Remember, I'm only a few floors away! Oh ho ho ho!" Her chuckle faded off as did her form back into the lift, taking her back to the first floor of the hospital. Ginny took the chance to look around her new work area. There was a long counter with a small swing door; three other nurses situated behind it all looking up at her expectantly. One had stood up, an older nurse with an old maid sort of look. Her gray hair was pinned up tightly like the others, and upon her gray robes she wore a silver pin that stated:

Head Nurse

Josephine Johinkins

"Welcome to the fourth floor, Miss Weasley. I'm Josephine Johinkins, all head nurses are to be called Madam, so do, and call me Madam Johinkins. You'll be working with.. Miss Brocklehurst.."

She pointed out one of the other nurses, who had stood up. She had dark brown hair pulled up in twin bobbles atop her head, and she seemed quite young, maybe a few years older than Ginny who was only just 17.

"And of course, Miss Adonis,"

The other witch was back to looking through files in her hand, picking out three before she stood up and handed them across the counter to Ginny. She was a short squat witch who reminded Ginny a lot of her own Mum.

"These are your patients; they'll need basic caring as these three have rather unfixable er, injuries. "

"Yeah, Like a wand permanently stuck up his-.."

"Miss Brocklehurst! Yes well, we'll see how you do with these three then, Your robes are over on your desk, feel free to ask any questions."

Ginny nodded, looking down at the three files in her hand. Peering briefly over the names. Terrance Boot, oh he was rather young wasn't he? Just a year or two older than she. A few left a blank in Ginny's mind, but one caused a rather lovely ruckus of thoughts to come tumbling forward.

"Draco..Malfoy..?"

"Told you, wand stuck up-"

Miss Brocklehurst was cut off, and Madam Johinkins smiled weakly at the mention of his name.

"Yes, He's blind. We've done all we can from potions to curse removals...Phoenix Tears even. Nothing will heal this boys eyes. Of course there are spells that will help him with everyday occurrences, so he doesn't go walking into things but. the problem is...well you see.."

Miss Brocklehurst spoke up again, handing Ginny one of her robes.

"Ya see, he just can't walk. Not yet, He's gotten so bitter nobody wants to deal with him anymore. Course they looked healed when he got here, but not fully inside...once we did that it was too late for him to be up and walking like nothing happened. It takes time for even those injuries to fully heal. Since we all know -you- saved him, you wouldn't mind helpin' us get him out a little quicker?"

Ginny was taken aback. That's why she had him? Because supposedly he'd show some kindness to her as she saved him somewhat? Those were emergency circumstances, and certainly then he didn't care that she was a Weasley. Now it was quite different, he was in his right mind for one thing, and obviously didn't like these nurses, why was she any better?

She sighed softly, slipping the gray robes on slowly as she thought it over. Then again, she did help heal him didn't she? No one but a few wizards and Draco knew that as well, maybe he would cast kindness on her after all. She decided to go find out, and upon giving thanks for the information she began to her walk off. Only before heading to the room did she get stopped by Miss Adonis, who patted her back reassuringly.

"Very sorry about this, but you are the new one, you'll get a better job sooner or later.."

"Er...right, it's all right.."

Ginny quickened her pace to avoid anymore confrontations. Glancing briefly down to the file she found all the patients shared a large room numbered 301. Pausing she looked up to a door with the corresponding number, and knocking once she had stepped in while looking down to her folder.

"Come on Boot just try it! You No go-"

"Ahem..."

Ginny looked up and one brow cocked as she saw a boy with dark curly hair to his brows shaking a fist to one with near shoulder length blonde locks. Each sitting in their own bed had obviously been throwing insults back and forth before Ginny walked in. Except from what she just read about Terrance, he couldn't as his voice was hexed away and so far there had been no cure for it returning. Draco on the other hand was looking at the door, slightly past Ginny. Well not -looking- she could even see his eyes, as they were hidden behind a bandage wrapped around his head.

"What, Who is it? Have you brought my lunch, I'm Hungry!"

Draco demanded with a huff of arrogance, and the other patient Ginny did not know of sat up suddenly from what was a slumber in a bed situated on the wall parallel to the door.

"Ah Our New Nurse.. Miss...hnn.."

And as soon as he had said it, the older patient flopped back into the bed fast asleep again. A case of incurable power naps? Preferring not to answer Draco's question yet, as she was feeling a bit odd being in the same room as him for some reason, she turned to Terrance and stepped over to his side.

"Mr..Boot? Hello, How are you.. Oh! I mean.. well..."

~ It's quite all right Miss. Weasley, I'm doing fine except for that prat over there is taking his hunger issues out on me. If you excuse me I'll be going to get my lunch! ~

Ginny's eyes widened, why hadn't she expected that? She was taught all the ways of temporary cures for losing the voice, which also meant a type of telepathy briefly. It seemed Mr. Boot relied on it for a few months now since his cure was not found yet. He had stood, nodded curtly, glared at Draco and made his exit. Ginny felt no need to stop him, as he seemed he was allowed to do so being quite mobile.

"R-right." This left her with Draco now, as the other man was fast asleep still. Slowly she turned on her heel and stepped over to his bed. Unable to start a conversation the right way she began with an uneasy sort of mumble.

"Mr. Malfoy. What..what would you.."

"I'm sorry, I can't HEAR you." He folded his arms across his chest and lifted his chin, directing his face away from her.

" What would you like for Lunch, Mr. Malfoy?"

"It's nice that you know my name, but what exactly is yours?" He was acting just as expected a royal prat.

"Virginia Weasley, you may call me Miss Weasley."

That shut him up. He slowly turned his head towards her again his lips forming a thin expressionless line.

"Now," Ginny stated firmly, like a mother taking care of a spoiled child. " What do you want for Lunch, or if you'd prefer I'll give you nothing at all."

A/n: Wah haha it ends there! I've never written chapters this long! Craaazy