A/N: Here's the Healer fic that I spoke about a bit back. Hopefully, you will enjoy it. It is complete on my computer and will be updated weekly.

Chapter 1

The summer before seventh-year

Hermione Granger stood in the library of Grimmauld Place, loading her beaded bag with books. The Undetectable Extension Charm she'd placed on the bag also made it lighter, so she didn't worry about the added weight as she placed book after book into her bag. She was pretty sure they'd be on the run soon, and she wanted to be prepared. Of course, not really knowing what they'd come upon, she wasn't sure what she needed to prepare for. Because of that, she was being very careful as to not pass up something that may be helpful.

Protection Spells went in the bag. So did Magical Tokens and Transfiguration for Comfort. She pulled a thin purple book off the shelf, noting the unusual color of the cover. It had the title written in silver lettering on it: Empathic magic: Healing through Feeling. She shrugged and put it in her bag. Placing several items on Arithmancy and Transfiguration in, she quickly perused the rest of the titles. Choosing one last book, this one on Advanced Spells and Charms, she placed it in the bag and zipped it up. Placing the bag's strap across her shoulders she got ready to go. They'd be infiltrating the Ministry today, trying to get Slytherin's locket from Umbridge.

Hermione rolled her eyes. Of course, the mad cow had the locket. She wouldn't put it past her to have the other Horcruxes as well, she was so evil. But this was a good thing. At least they knew where the Horcrux was, and they could get it and hopefully, destroy it. She wasn't being overly reckless; she knew this was really a dangerous mission they were on. She hoped it went along as planned, but really... when did anything they did ever go as planned?

She sighed and patted her round bag hanging off her shoulder. At least if something happened, they were ready. She turned and left the room, going upstairs to meet Ron and Harry so they could head out.

oooOOOooo

Hermione furiously rifled through her bag looking for the book on healing she'd placed into it. Ron had been Splinched as she had Apparated them twice, trying to throw off Yaxley's pursuit of them from the Ministry. With tears in her eyes, she'd dripped Dittany on the huge chunk that had been taken out of his arm, but it hadn't done much. Leaving him with Harry, she'd quickly set wards and sat down to find the book on healing.

She pulled several books out of her bag, throwing them back in it in frustration as she continued her search. Finally, using an Accio, the thin purple book flew into her hand.

Why hadn't she thought to do that earlier? She was so upset that she couldn't even think straight!

She saw Harry levitate Ron and move him to the tent–another thing she should have thought of doing. Shaking her head, she opened the book and looked for a table of contents. There was a chapter on magical accidents. Hermione turned to it quickly and saw several topics within the chapter. Flipping the pages quickly, she saw an entry on Splinching. She heaved a sigh of relief as she began to read the section.

You must concentrate your empathy and center it on the one who is to be healed.

Hermione's eyebrows furrowed and she turned to the cover again.

"Empathic magic… hmm."

Feel within yourself the pain your patient is feeling. Center your mind on that pain and see within your mind the wound closing itself. When you feel ready, say the spell: Vulnus Salandum. Wave your wand over the wound in an infinity pattern. You should begin to see the wound close up. Continue with the chant until the wound is completely healed and you see no traces of it, not even a line. End the spell and push your empathy into the patient to complete the healing.

She thought about that. "How do I push my empathy into Ron?"

Turning to the beginning of the book, she read quickly.

Empathic healing is a type of magic that many cannot do. It requires a witch or wizard who can show empathy for those around her.

"Well, I can do that…"

When using Empathic magic, be careful. This type of magic is very draining as it not only uses your natural magic, but part of your psyche to heal. The extra component of empathy can help to heal quickly, and many illnesses and injuries usually thought to be incurable can be healed.

Hermione felt hope fill her with those words and quickly read more.

The basis of Empathic magic is to reach within yourself and use your empathy to help heal. By gathering your feelings for the patient, or for their circumstance, you can channel that power within your magic to heal those that are ill. When you have completed the healing, you must give your empathy to the patient so the healing can be complete and permanent. You do this by concentrating on the person and your feelings for them and their predicament. Look into their eyes and envision their inner psyche. Slowly transfer your feelings to the patient and close their eyes. If done correctly, this should transfer the empathic energy to the patient, completing their healing.

Things to be aware of:

Keep your concentration on the patient. Don't let anything disturb you or else your empathic magic may be lost.

There are two ways to see your patient's inner psyche. One is through Legilimency, the other is by Transferency. If you choose to use Legilimency, say the spell 'Transferi' once you've established the connection.

"Well, I don't have time to figure out what this Transferency is," she muttered to herself. "I'll need to use Legilimency. Thankfully, I've been working on it and Occlumency with Harry."

Quickly reviewing what she needed to do, she closed the book, holding the place with her finger. Rising from the ground, she made her way into the tent and to the camp bed where Harry had lain Ron. He was writhing in pain, and she just wanted to reach out to hug him.

"Harry, I think I've found something that will help. Can you step back for a minute?"

Harry jumped up from the camp bed and moved out of her way. Hermione turned to him.

"The spell I found needs a lot of concentration directed at Ron. I need you to be completely silent while I do this, okay? I'll explain everything once I'm done."

"Yeah, just fix him up. He can barely stay conscious he's in so much pain."

Hermione gave Harry a quick nod and sat on the camp bed next to Ron. She let her emotions fill her. Her feelings for Ron; her sadness and worry about his injury; her determination to fix his injury. She stared at him for a minute or so, letting those feelings build within her. Lifting her wand, she said the spell.

"Vulnus Salendum."

She waved her wand at Ron's injury, but nothing was happening so she stopped and consulted the book again as to how to cast it. Correcting her technique, she cast the spell again.

"Vulnus Salendum… Vulnus Salendum."

She waved her wand in an infinity pattern as she repeated the chant over and over. Slowly she began to see the wound start to close in on itself. By this time, Ron had passed out from the pain of the wound and of its healing. The edges of the wound started to move together, and she thought she saw new flesh growing from the sides of the gaping hole in Ron's arm. The flesh on either side was moving toward the other to completely close the large chunk that was missing from his arm. She continued to chant, and the wound slowly filled itself in.

After five minutes of chanting, the flesh was sealed together, but it still had left a jagged tear. She continued, concentrating on her feelings for Ron. She watched the jagged cut turn to a thin line before it finally faded from sight. Putting her wand down, she smiled to herself before moving her eyes up to Ron's. Reaching out, she held his eyes open and quietly whispered Legilimens. She gathered all the feelings she had used while healing him and pushed them toward Ron. Transferi, she whispered. He struggled as her mind invaded his, but he stilled as he felt her within his mind.

Hermione finished transferring her emotions to Ron and withdrew from his mind. She sighed with relief as the tension went out of Ron's body, and he regained consciousness. He stared up at her.

"Hermione… what happened?"

"I was able to heal your wound where you were Splinched, Ron. Does it still hurt?"

Ron sat up and looked over at his arm. "It looks just like it always does," he said as he flexed his arm and moved it in a circle. "It doesn't hurt anymore. Hermione, you're brilliant!"

Hermione grinned like a loon. "Thanks, Ron!"

All of a sudden, Hermione was hit with a wall of fatigue. "I… I'd better go lie down. That wore me out."

She stood up but stumbled. Harry caught her and led her to her camp bed. He helped her settle into it, and she fell asleep within seconds of lying down.

oooOOOooo

Hermione slept for hours before her eyes tentatively opened. She looked around as her brain slowly cleared and their predicament came back to her. She sighed. At least she had been able to heal Ron. She pondered the strength of the magic she'd felt coursing through her as she'd healed him. It had been a heady experience. She needed to read that whole book. The type of healing magic it taught was something she'd not heard of before, but it had proven itself, and with them on the run, they'd need all the help they could get.

She rose and headed out of the tent. It was almost dusk, and Harry and Ron had started a campfire and were grilling some chicken.

"Where'd you get that?" Hermione asked.

"I Apparated to a store and bought it. It was in a Muggle neighborhood. I know we're not going to be able to do that often, but we left in such a hurry, I didn't know what else to do."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I have food in my bag."

"Oh," Harry said as he looked down at the fire.

"But I don't have any meat. I'm starving. Good job Harry."

Harry looked back up and grinned at her. She sat next to him. "We'll have to be careful with the fire. Even though there are wards, it may be a clue to someone nearby that we're hiding here." She pulled out her wand and vanished the smoke. With another flick, the smell of the fire disappeared.

"That's a good spell, Hermione," Ron said.

"I learned them from your mum, Ron. She's so good at household spells. It's a variation of one she uses to clean out your room when it smells."

Ron scowled.

"How are you feeling?" Hermione asked, ignoring his pout.

"I don't know what you did, but I don't even feel like I was Splinched at all. Thanks!"

"I'm so glad. I was so worried about you."

He smiled at her then. Hermione felt her stomach drop. She shook away the feeling and tried not to blush. Ron had been treating her better since they'd left on their hunt. She hoped that he would finally want to start a relationship. She definitely wanted that for herself. His actions said that he did too, but he hadn't moved on them. Maybe he would soon.

They spent the rest of the evening planning what to do next. They'd tackle the Horcrux in the morning. As Hermione had slept all afternoon, she placed the locket around her neck and took the first watch.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Obviously, this type of healing magic will come in handy for our three while on the run, but Hermione will learn to use it in unique ways that will help her understand a lot more about the makeup of the war and a certain dark-haired professor.