Several hours later, I had barely made a dent. My workspace was complete and robust. I knew there was a difference between public and private practice, but now that I am here it seems I truly didn't understand the divide. Not that there was anything wrong with St. Mungos. The patients coming through all received adequate care. It's just that here I had access to some of the best quality supplies and potions out there with anything else I felt necessary available at my request.

Just as I was starting to get my bearings, there was a knock at the door. "I've got a patient for you Healer Granger."

It was one of the beaters, Alex Alvarez, holding up Oliver Wood. Oliver was doing his part to try and shake off Alex, but his balance was off so he wasn't very successful.

"Couldn't give me a day to get settled, could you Wood?"

Alex helped him to a bed where he could lay down. "I'm afraid it's partially my fault. The other beater, Pheonix, and I were messing around a bit. We weren't paying close enough attention to the rest of the game as we were launching the bludger back and forth. We got a bit too close to the goals and I might have hit Wood's head instead of the bludger when he went to block a goal."

The stocky man before me looked fairly sheepish. He obviously wasn't proud of what he'd done.

"Thank you for the information, Alvarez. I'll take it from here." The other man slunk out, leaving the door open. I could hear Garrett's shouts from here so I can only imagine how loud it was out there.

I turned to Wood and noticed the situation was far worse than I had initially thought as the pillow beneath his head was slowly turning red.

"Alright Wood. It looks like you have a head injury. I'm going to need you to roll over so I can properly diagnose it. Ok?"

He groaned, but did as I asked. I didn't need my wand to tell me he had sustained some fracturing. Time was on our side. When I can see a patient immediately with a head wound like this, I can mend it quickly before the brain has a chance to become inflamed or damaged.

Grabbing my wand, I set to work casting various spells to diagnose and treat as I went. It took a solid hour, but when I was done, Oliver was good to go.

"Ok, you should be feeling much better, but you need to take this potion to help prevent any swelling. Also, if you have any headaches at all, you need to come see me immediately."

He drank down the potion, wincing at the taste. "Thank you, Healer Granger. I'm feeling much better."

I winced too. "We've known each other so long that it's really weird to hear you call me that."

"How about just Granger then?"

I shrugged. "It's better at least. Is practice over? If not, I will talk to Garrett. You're done playing for the day. You can't risk another head injury for the next twelve hours."

"I think we were just finishing up anyways. Monday nights are family potluck night. Which reminds me, the coach told me to invite you but that you don't have to bring anything this week since you just moved in."

I eyed him skeptically. "What is family potluck night?"

He gave me a wide smile. "I didn't think coach had mentioned it. Monday nights we host a potluck in the party room downstairs. Gives us a chance to bond with each other off the field and for the spouses and kids to get some social time too."

While I found Garrett's team bonding initiatives to be a bit unorthodox and maybe even slightly extreme, I could see the value. He was essentially creating a community for the team. I can only imagine the bonds that have formed off the field that strengthen the team as a whole. It would also make the players more loyal to the team. I mean, if they were to leave, there is now a whole community you're leaving instead of just the players and also uprooting your home.

I made a mental note to keep an eye on Garrett. Not that I think he would ever try anything malicious, just that he is a very smart man and I don't like to be manipulated.

"I guess I'll need to leave my Monday nights open then."

"I suppose someone like you has quite the busy social calendar. Say, are you still with that Weasley bloke that always hung around Potter?" He looked at me curiously.

I had to laugh a bit. "Oh no. That ship sailed years ago. I am content being single. Gives me more time to focus on my work."

That wasn't completely true. Sure, being single gave me more free time and I truly was at peace with my life for the moment. But, if the right person came along, I wouldn't dismiss a relationship.

He nodded in understanding. "I get it completely. Traveling and keeping weird hours for Quidditch hasn't left much of an opportunity for romance, but I'm content."

I found myself a bit eager to get off the topic of relationships. "How are you liking the new team so far?"

"Oh, it's been great actually. Coach is a bit different when it comes to team building, but I already feel like I joined a family. I feel bad for the last keeper. He was just getting to retirement age and then getting injured in the last match really hurt the team and caused them to lose their advance as they headed towards finals. He was a great player in his prime, but it was definitely time for him to hang up his robes. Though I feel for him in how it happened, I'm glad the spot opened up. I enjoyed my time with Puddlemere, but my contract was up. Puddlemere has a lot more disconnect within the team and the coach has a very different approach than Garrett. He expects more individual training and less team training so the players just didn't bond as well. He signed us up for a lot of friendlies with minor league teams during the regular season, which meant a lot of travel and much less down time. In the end, it really wasn't productive either." Wood rubbed the back of his head as if checking over my work. "It's weird, but this already feels like home. Even though there is still some travel for games and whatnot, it's more stable than I've been in years and it feels really good. I know my teammates better than ever, too, and it's a great group of people. Thank goodness, because I signed a three-year contract with potential to extend to five at the two-year mark."

"Wow! They must have really wanted you!"

He shrugged. "I guess I'm an alright player. We will see what happens when we are actually playing games again." checking his watch he continued. "We should really get going. I'm sure anything else you have can wait until tomorrow. The potluck starts in half an hour."

Hesitation set in and I began to ring my hands. Social situations were never my forte. Oliver must have noticed.

"No need to be nervous. I've been to a few of these things so far and everyone is very welcoming. If you'd like, I'll stick close by. Then, you can just tap my arm or something if you're feeling overwhelmed and I can step in."

The offer was hard to resist. "That's awfully kind of you. You don't have to be nice to me just because I'm new though. I'm an adult and can get through this."

He places his hand on my arm in a friendly way. "Us lions stick together. I'd be happy to be there for you tonight. I mean it. Just let me know and I can start spewing plays or something. That will distract the others easily enough."

His kindness touched my heart. The move, while welcomed, had been a bit more overwhelming than I had expected and having someone be nice when they didn't have to really made me feel good.

I took a deep breath. "You know what? You're right. Maybe sticking together isn't such a bad thing. I'm just going to run up and change quick."

Oliver looked down at his bloodied Quidditch robes. "That doesn't sound like a bad idea now that you mention it. Want to apparate together?"

The building itself has anti apparition charms around it to prevent any crazy fans from getting in. Instead, there is an apparition point set up in the back of the building. Going together would be easiest to avoid apparating on top of each other so I agreed.

He held out his arm and I took it. Within seconds we were being pinched and squeezed before steadying ourselves back on solid ground.

We were mostly silent as we entered the building. There wasn't much to say as we climbed the stairs, both exiting on the second floor.

"I should have known there was a 50/50 chance of us being on the same floor." I say with a laugh.

Oliver laughs too, but there is a tenseness as we continue walking. Each floor has five flats, two on each side of the hall and one larger unit at the end. We walk past the first set of doors and he didn't move to enter them. We approach the second set and I go to enter my own flat on the right.

"This is me." I say nervously. It is a bit awkward with him essentially walking me to my door.

He runs a hand nervously down the back of his neck. "I'm right here, too." He says as he gestures to the door at the end of the hall.

"You're captain?"

He nods. "Alvarez was captain for the last two years, and coach just wasn't happy with how he was leading the team. I was captain of my last team and part of the deal with me signing was they wanted me in that role here. It's been a little awkward with Alvarez, but I think he's coming around."

I was a bit taken aback. Oliver must be a really good player if they brought him on as a new player and made him captain straight away. Then a thought struck me.

"That's not why Alvarez hit you today. Is it?"

"No!" He hesitated. "At least I'm pretty sure it wasn't. We're all good."

I relaxed a little. "Ok. Let me throw on a t-shirt and jeans and I will be out in a minute."

"Sure, I'll meet you back here in a few."

We both turned to our perspective doors and went to get changed.

When I came out in my t-shirt and jeans, Oliver was leaning casually against the wall by my door, holding a tray of fruit. "Ready?"

I nodded and we headed back down the stairs and into the party room. Since we had been detained with Oliver's injury, we were the last to arrive.

On the far side of the room, there was already a table set up full of food and people were mingling about. There were several spouses and Oliver was quick to introduce me.

"Hi Jessica. This is our new healer, Hermione Granger. Hermione, this is Jessica Danvers, David's wife."

I held out my hand. "Pleased to meet you, Jessica."

"Oh! I've heard such great things about you, Healer Granger." She smiled wide as she took my hand.

"Please, call me Hermione." Another perk of a private environment, I didn't need to be called Healer Granger. While I am proud of my accomplishments, I feel more relaxed without the formality.

Jessica bit her lip. "I know we just met, but can I ask a medical question?"

"Of course. What's going on?"

"It's not me actually. I took my children, Sam and Melissa," She pointed over in the corner at two of the five children chasing each other. "To see the previous healer before he left on Friday and I'm not confident he was right."

Left was putting it nicely. I found out earlier today that he was fired for poor performance.

Knowing that they were seen by a healer that was let go for such reasons, my concern rose. "What were they seen for?"

"Well, it was just my oldest, Sam, at the time. His arms were itchy. I was told it was likely the material of the new shirt he was wearing, but he hasn't worn it since. The itching is getting worse and now there are sores. Now today Melissa is starting to itch a bit too."

"Do you mind if I take a look?"

She shook her head and we walked to where the children were playing.

"Sam, Melissa, this is the new team healer, Hermione."

I smiled warmly at the two shy faces. "Hello. It's lovely to meet you. Do you mind if I take a look at your arms to see if I can help make you less itchy?"

Sam looked hesitantly from me to his mother. When she shook her head in encouragement, he presented me with his arm and rolled up his sleeve."

It didn't take a genius to recognize Dragon Pox. On the outside, I kept up my fun and low-key demeanor as I waved my wand a few times to check temperature and do a few tricks to make colors and sparkles come out of my wand which the kids oo-ed and ah-ed over.

Finally, I ruffled Sam's hair and sent him back to play. Jessica would need to take him home of course, but everyone was already exposed at this point so a few more minutes wasn't going to change the outcome.

I stood up and looked to Jessica. "The good news is, I know what it is. The bad news is, it's Dragon Pox. So, potions for everyone and Sam and Melissa will need to stay home for a bit while they recover."

Jessica stared at me, mouth hanging open, for a minute before she recovered. "How on Earth could he have missed that?"

"That's not for me to judge. I just know what I see and treat from that." I rubbed her shoulder comfortingly. "Don't worry though. It looks like we caught it at a good time. I have a potion that will help make them more comfortable and get through it faster."

I left her for my office and let out a large breath. Way to make a first impression. "Hi everyone! It's my first day but, here, take this potion because you have been exposed to a potentially fatal illness!" Yeah, just wonderful.

Thankfully the Dragon Pox potion is a common one that can be used for a few other ailments and there was plenty of stock. I consulted the records for everyone to get the correct dosages, then levitated a tray full of potion out to the potluck.

Oliver came up to me as I reappeared. "I guess you had something to bring to the potluck after all!"

I covered my face in embarrassment. "I don't think this is what your teammates had in mind."

Placing the tray on the table, I began to hand out the vials along with their instructions to the correct people. Jessica was last. "Just one for you, but the kids will need their first vial tonight, and a second one tomorrow evening. They are the only ones with symptoms, so they are going to be the ones we need to watch. This potion is very reliable as treatment, but if for some reason they aren't feeling better after the second dose, just let me know and there are other things I can do to help."

The thanks in her eyes was clear. "Oh goodness. This just isn't how I thought the night would go, but thank you so much! We'd better get going."

Jessica, along with David, rounded up Sam and Melissa and headed home for the night.

Garrett was the last one to pick up his vial. "Well, you're proving your worth already! Should I expect players to start owling in to practice in a few days?"

"Nope! Adults do tend to get more severe reactions to the virus. However, I've double checked with everyone and no one is showing symptoms. Taking the potion before symptoms basically attacks the virus before it can take hold and prevents illness. It lasts for two weeks so unless someone presents symptoms in that time, I'd say we are ahead of it."

Relief flooded his face. "We've got a busy training season ahead of us so that's really great news." He lifted his potion and downed it. "Doesn't taste very good, does it?"

"I'm afraid not, but it works and that's what matters."

He agreed and excused himself to go talk to one of the other players. This left me alone and I just wasn't feeling up to carrying on conversations with new people at the moment. Instead, I focused on updating everyone's charts then bringing them back to my office.

After I finished, I headed back to the party room and grabbed a small plate of food and brought it to an unoccupied table.

Sitting by myself, watching the others laugh and have a good time brought back a lot of insecurities. I've never been the popular girl and have learned to live with it. But sometimes the feeling of being an outsider bothered me more than others.

Tonight was one of those times. Maybe I was just a bit overwhelmed. There was a lot of work to still be done to get everything set up the way I prefer, learn everyone's history, and just overall get settled in.

As I thought of the to do list I had ahead of me, I could feel my anxiety start to rise. I wasn't regretting taking the position, change is just hard. There were still some things waiting to be unpacked upstairs and maybe the amount of change was finally hitting me. I had, after all, just left my job of the past five years along with my flat and my friends for this opportunity. Change is hard, even if it's good change.

I was staring off into space trying to mentally list everything I would need to get done in the coming days and weeks when someone joined me in the seat beside me.

"Knut for your thoughts?"

It was Oliver, making good on his promise to help make it a good night.

"Just thinking about my to do list is all."

"Team potlucks aren't for work. They are for building team rapport. Work will be there tomorrow."

I nodded shyly. "I know, I'm just anxious to get it all done. How late do people usually stick around? I have some unpacking to do yet."

He consulted his watch. "Another half hour or so." As his eyes leave his watch, he appraises me. "You know, we didn't talk much in school, let alone after. What have you been up to?"

This was safer ground at least. Catching up with an old schoolmate was certainly less intimidating than mingling with a well-established team. I filled him with a quick synopsis of the last few years.

"I have to be honest, I figured you would have ended up with Weasley. I didn't know you that well in school, but it always seemed like you had a thing for him."

Though it had been years, there was still a little bubble of anger when I thought of Ron. How can someone you trust betray you so completely?

"I did. Walking in on him with another girl pretty much killed that though." I tried to keep it casual. "I'm surprised you didn't hear. It was all over The Prophet for weeks."

He looked sheepish. "I'm afraid I was a bit obsessive there for a while. Quidditch was a massive escape for me after the war. I learned a lot and it helped my game, but I'm afraid I lost touch with most of what was going on around me. I'm sorry you went through that."

It wasn't a surprise knowing how he had been in school. "You worked really hard to train in school and achieve your dreams. I don't blame you for giving it your all. You've obviously done really well for yourself."

I didn't keep up with quidditch stats, but I knew enough from talking with Ginny that Oliver was sought after.

"I suppose. There's always times I feel like I can be better, but this chance at captain for the Arrows is really a dream come true. The team is really strong together and I'm thankful to be a part of it."

People were slowly starting to leave and I looked around. Oliver seemed to get the hint. "I'm sure it's been a long day for you. My healer told me to get some rest so I'm headed out if you want to walk up together."

I threw him a smile. "That would be great actually. I still have unpacking to do."

We left together, parting ways at our doors. A major head injury, Dragon Pox, and a group potluck... it certainly had been an eventful first day.