A/N;This is a slow burn and I hope you enjoy my Antonin. Big thanks to my Alpha/ Beta Lioness_Snake she does a really great job at making this readable.

Chapter Three

Blackbird

The Beatles
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life

Chapter Three
Antonin picked up the prescriptions, listened to the Potion Master with his list of instructions before knocking back the one for anxiety. The heavy blanket slipped off, he felt he could breathe again. Next, he downed the potion to curb his urge to drink. He should have been put on these potions when they released him. It made apparating so much easier. Antonin chose to walk the last few blocks to his flat. He pulled off his cloak folding it over his arm. Not wanting to attract any unwanted attention from the muggles.

As he walked along the boardwalk of Blyth Harbor, he hummed the tune he heard from Alice that afternoon. It sounded so familiar. He couldn't get it out of his head. He couldn't get Alice out of his head. As a matter of fact he hadn't thought of that night in years until today.

Sitting in the hospital holding hands with Alice stirred up old memories. Unpleasant memories, but this path was about redemption, making a better life for himself. Not wasting away, he managed to do that with his youth. As prepared as he felt for the uphill battle, he still had doubts.

Antonin came to a small café. His stomach growled, the smell of fish frying quickly drew him in. The beans and toast he had for lunch didn't stick with him. He chose a small table by the window overlooking the bay. Few muggles visited this time of year while the harbor held just a few fishing boats. The gulls swooped, diving for fish, or begging the muggles for a handout. The soft breeze off the water kept it from being too hot. While a bank of fog hung on the horizon. He hoped it would soon roll in, covering the little town in water-color hues of blue that soothed him.

The waitress came over to take his order, then left Antonin to sit peacefully, waiting for his meal. A blackbird landed on the railing outside. Antonin would swear it was the same one from the hospital. The song tickled his brain when it occurred to him where he heard it before. He chuckled to himself, singing the first few lines, "Blackbird singing in the dead of night….. Take these broken wings and learn to fly…."

"That's the song, little bird, the one that's been driving me barking mad all bloody day." The bird stared back with inquisitive eyes. Flying off as Antonin's food arrived. Crispy planks of thick cod that he doused in malted vinegar with a heavy dose of salt, fat wedges of fried potatoes with creamy mashed peas. Topping it off with a dark ale. Muggle beer, but he didn't care. He was hungry.

With a full belly, he made his way home. Popping into a stationary shop nearby before going upstairs. Back to the little flat, where Antonin pulled the uniforms from a pocket of his robes before hanging them up. Using his wand to tidy the wrinkles. A hot shower felt in order. It was nice to wash the day away. A thing so mundane that brought such pleasure. He promised himself to never take the little things for granted.

He opened the window overlooking the bay, brewed himself a cup of tea, picking a book from the shelf. One of his father's books to be exact, one he hadn't read in a very long time. He pulled two more as he settled in to study for the evening. Conjuring up a small desk, he gathered the rest of his materials. Quills and notebooks he purchased earlier. He wanted to take notes, being prepared had always been something he prided himself in doing.

Antonin studied abroad as a healer and came close, just six months shy of completing his Master in Healing. What should have happened, what actually came to be would always be a regret. Leaving nothing left now but to go forward. He cracked the first book open, taking notes as he went. It felt good to exercise his mind. The spells returned faster than he expected. Simple healing charms came flooding back.

Deep in Magical Auras and Anatomy, he heard a tweet. His little friend was back, "Now I know you're following me," Antonin smiled, offering the little bird crumbs from a biscuit, "There you go, You liked my singing did you?" Antonin flicked his wand turning on the old radio in the corner. The Beatles Blackbird played softly while Antonin hummed along, feeding the bird, as he reviewed his texts.

Fog rolled in like it always did, and his bird friend flew off, leaving Antonin alone for the evening. He shut the window before he lay back in his bed, he wanted to get a good night's rest. The potions on the nightstand promised that he would, they hadn't disappointed this far. It did make him anxious to take the sleeping potion, he didn't want to be completely knocked out. But then again, how many nights had he been blacked out drunk? He decided to just take the one for sleep and wait on the others.

Three o'clock chimed, Antonin's eyes popped open, he slept solidly for seven hours, that was a first for him. He tried to fall back to sleep, but the mind is a wondrous thing. Antonin thought about the witches and wizards soon to be his patients when, in fact, they were initially his victims. How many lived at Saint Mungos? Who would he start with? How could he make it all right? Too many questions to fall asleep again, his mind refused to relax and shut down. Now the clock chimed four. It was too late to fall asleep again. He did not want to be late for his first day. Instead, he took a small sip of the potion for anxiety before he hopped into the shower. There would never be enough hot water.

This morning with a clear mind, Antonin could make his coffee with a wordless charm. There was still a small shake to his hand as he ran a brush through his hair, but it settled when he went to trim his beard. Small steps forward, he heard his father's words whenever he became anxious as a boy, 'How do you climb a mountain Antonin? … One step at a time.' It's how he made it out half sane from Azkaban. One step at a time, one day at a time. He tended to get ahead of himself, fretting about how tall the mountain would be and forgetting to take the first step.

The new potions helped. Alcohol still leeched from his pores, but he no longer craved it. A muggle beer at lunch the day before but nothing after counted as a considerable improvement. As did seven hours of uninterrupted sleep. He was able to admire his reflection in the mirror this morning. The new lime green robes and shiny badge declaring a Healer in Training were a far cry from the prison garb he sported just a few weeks prior. Anxiety still tickled the back of his neck. They expected him to treat people he had wronged. Would they allow him to attempt to heal them? Again, his mind spun with too many questions. He sipped from the vial and tucked his wand in the holster at his sleeve. Only the day would tell, "One day at a time, one step at a time," He told himself. Antonin straightened his robes and apparated to the employee entrance of Saint Mungos.

Conquering the second step involved taking the lift to his department. Padma Patel waited for him near the lift bouncing with excitement. Hooking her arm through his, she tugged him into the box, "Come on, Mr. Dolohov, I can't wait to introduce you to our first patient." He still felt apprehensive about the young Ms. Patel

"Already?" His shocked look caused Padma to giggle.

"I assumed you went home and studied. Once a Ravenclaw always a Ravenclaw." She quirked one eyebrow.

The lift doors closed, and Antonin flinched, sucking in a breath. If Parvati felt it, she chose to ignore it. Instead, she continued to engage him in conversation, "Ahh, you are correct Ms. Patel I did go home and study," He gave her hand a squeeze.

"Always the Ravenclaw. Are you as well?" He asked, smiling as she nodded, "Hmm, I knew there was a reason I liked you from the start."

"Mr. Moreland informed me you have six months left of your apprenticeship to complete. Of course, there have new discoveries in the last twenty years, but I'm certain you'll catch up quickly. I thought we would start small with you assisting me on rounds. Then review charts. If I'm going too fast, Mr. Dolohov, please tell me. I don't want to lose you, nor do I wish to treat you as a first-year Healer." Padma kept her eye contact with him, a gentle hand on his arm.
The lift opened Padma continued the contact on his arm, "Thank you, Ms. Patel. I do appreciate the slower pace for now." Her calm energy was comforting, Antonin relaxed as they stepped into the hall, making their way to Padma's office. She wasn't out to get him or set him up for failure, "Please call me Antonin, Mr. Dolohov sounds too much like my father."

"Then you must call me Padma, don't worry, Antonin, we're going to have a wonderful day… I can feel it."

ooOoo

Antonin's first patient turned out to be a victim of an old friend, the curse spread rapidly up the man's legs where it was stopped. Healers managed to hold it in containment. This was Yaxley's signature curse. Not easy to fix for the average Healer. However, Antonin helped to create this little monster, so he was well aware of the counter-curse to remedy the affliction.

"Do you recognize this, Antonin?" Padma was looking at him, questioning."

He thought about how much he wanted to divulge, deciding to keep most of his knowledge in check. It wasn't wise to show all your cards, he could blame that on too many Slytherin friends.

"It does look familiar. May I try something?" Antonin thought he would start slow, reverse parts of the deterioration. Removing the pain, re-growing nerve endings. He found the tip of the gold thread swirling in the rotting flesh. A purple strand from his own wand grabbed hold, tugging. A gold ribbon began to unfurl from the man's legs, curling on the ground like a dying worm.

"Antonin, what in Merlin's name is that?" Padma stood behind him, peering over his shoulder.

"Get a container, don't touch it with your hands." Antonin continued to weave his healing spells on the man's legs, "Have one of the nurses wrap his legs."
"You get to write the orders Antonin," She smiled at him and handed over a chart, "No Quick Quotes Quills for dictation either," Padma smirked as she handed him a quill.

"Fine," Antonin jotted down the instructions, "Mr. Morgan, you should be feeling much better in the next few hours."

He turned to the nurse," Contact me immediately if anything changes." The nurse nodded in agreement, "Wet to dry, and I want them changed twice a day, use the Draconishydrogel salve on the holes." Antonin took a deep breath, it felt good. His fears were slipping away, it was like riding a horse. He was back in the saddle.

Padma levitated the writhing mass of gold ribbon into a container and sealed the lid, "Looks like a worm of some sort," She scrunched up her nose, "It smells awful." Appearing sightless, it explored the inside of the jar, working its nose along the edges.

"It is awful, do we have a laboratory to secure it? Maybe study it a bit more."

Padma looked surprised, "I thought you were familiar with this thing?"

"I am, but to be honest, I've never seen one this large," Antonin poked at the jar. The worm inside struck, hitting the glass, coiling around itself. Curious as to how it knew where his finger was.

"Antonin, what is this thing?"

"A curse… sort of… and sort of a parasite. It's complicated."

"Yuck, follow me. I'll show you to the lab." She scrunched her nose.

Antonin carried the creature down the hall to the department laboratory. Setting his specimen down on a shelf, "No one will touch it, will they?"

"Gods no, you're working with intelligent people Antonin," Padma labeled the container with the patient's name and Antonin's as the Healer in charge.

His first day did turn out just as Padma predicted, Antonin felt exhausted and exhilarated at the same time. Once again, he had a purpose.

ooOoo

The first three weeks went by in a blur. Antonin found he needed his potions less and less. Work was a blessing, as well as a challenge. His mind, when unoccupied, had always been an enemy. The three twelve-hour shifts a week were required. Yet he found himself coming in on his days off to complete his clinical time. Focusing hard on catching up with the latest in medical developments. Some of the patients could be helped, some he just needed to come to terms with the fact no one could help. Antonin kept his mind occupied, giving little thought to Alice Longbottom or the little blackbird.

Grabbing a late lunch on a warm spring day. Antonin chose a table outside when a blackbird landed on the opposite chair, "Well, hello, friend."

The little bird with yellow rimmed eyes chirped, Antonin, tossed him a chip, "Haven't seen you in a while," He wasn't sure how he knew it was the same bird, instinct maybe, or perhaps he just hung out with Walden MacNair too much as a child. Walden had a way with all creatures of the wild, it rubbed off on those around him.

Antonin found himself humming again as he watched the bird eat. Bringing his thoughts back to Alice, "Little bird, I'll see you later, I have someone to see," He tossed the bird a few more chips before heading to the fourth floor.

First, he needed her chart. Seeing what the other Healers tried in the past, her condition upon arrival and if there was any indication of deterioration of the mind. Antonin knew how he left her, that memory was crystal clear. Entering the records department, he quickly found her chart and duplicated it. Tucking it away inside his cloak.

"There you are," Padma looked in the direction of Alice's chart, "Who's that?"

He was growing very fond of Padma. Quick-witted and inquisitive, both traits he admired, "Alice Longbottom."

"Hmmm, all the best Healers have tried, Antonin."

"I haven't," He sounded awfully smug.

Padma snorted and raised an eyebrow.

"I don't mean it like that… It's just …"

"I know, I understand the connection, Antonin," Padma looped her arm through his, leaning her head against his shoulder, "Give it go then."

Antonin didn't realize just how much he missed human contact. Alone for years in a cold dark prison surrounded by Dementors. In the beginning he flinched, bracing with every contact. Something Padma could feel and took it upon herself to touch him whenever she could. She reminded him that Healers needed to touch, and after several weeks of the ever-optimistic puppy, that was Padma. He stopped flinching, sinking into the warmth of her friendship—the first real friend he would say since Hogwarts.

Trusting anyone for Antonin proved to be a big step, or that's what his therapist told him, "Help me then?" He asked Padma as they left records.

"Of course, I will. This might just get published, you know."

"Let's get started." Antonin steered her down the hallway to the recreation room. He wanted to see Alice again. He wanted to observe her behavior from a distance. Their first interaction threw him off-kilter.

Alice sat near a window, humming to herself. Fiddling with a gum wrapper. Antonin and Padma pulled up chairs near the door, observing her. It wasn't long before they were approached by the attendant, "Healer Dolohov, Healer Patel, what brings you to visit us?"

Antonin looked up, "I'm sorry, we should have asked first. Is it alright if we observe?"

The attendant looked flustered, "Oh no, no, please stay. You are both welcome, it's just that these patients are the one's no one seems to be concerned with… forgotten, incurable, terminal."

Antonin pulled out a chair for the nurse, "May I ask a few questions?"

"Of course, go right ahead." The nurse relaxed into the seat next to him. Her hands folded neatly on the table. Antonin still found it odd that his co-workers would be so comfortable with him. Healers were certainly an odd bunch.

"Do you mind if we take notes?" Padma smiled, her quill in hand.

Antonin learned fast, he reached over and placed his hand on the nurses. It made a connection. The nurse sighed, her shoulders relaxed, as she smiled at Antonin., "I've heard you and Healer Patel have made great progress, I'm happy you've taken an interest in the Longbottom's."

Antonin supposed he could look at Frank, he hadn't really thought about her husband. Alice was his responsibility.

"I'm intrigued by Alice Longbottom. I'd like to familiarize myself with her case. Healer Patel and I may be able to help her. I'm not sure about her husband." He didn't have a clue as to where to start with Frank. Antonin wasn't sure if he could fix what Bella did to the man.

The nurse squeezed his hand, "Thank you, Alice is special to me. I've cared for her and her husband for a very long time."

"Does Alice ever speak?" Antonin was never charged for her torture, suspected but never charged. His time in prison had to do with the Prewett's. Another loose end he wanted to tie up.

"No, she never speaks, just hums the same song over and over."

"And Frank?"

"No, well, he did in the beginning. Now he's low functioning. Bedbound, unable to speak, or even feed himself. We're afraid he doesn't have long to live." The nurse's eyes teared up.

"Would you like it if we took a look at Frank first?"

"Please, I'll take you to him." She dabbed her cheeks, pulling herself together, "Follow me, please."

Antonin and Padma trailed behind, down past the offices to the ward where no one left. Antonin noticed the smell first, not of rot or decay but despair, akin to death row at Azkaban.

Frank Longbottom lay prone on a bed in the last room at the back of the ward. Pallid under the florescent lights, breath shallow, eyes staring into nothingness. Antonin took the chart from the second nurse. While Padma used her wand to run a set of diagnostics.

Sighing heavily, she moved to Antonin's side, "Vital signs are weak. He's tachypneic, hypotensive, and tachycardic. I'm not sure if there's anything left we can do."

Antonin set a hand on Frank's forehead, slipping easily into his mind. It was dangerous to perform, and Antonin knew the risks. Frank's mind appeared to him as a decrepit room, dark, full of dust, think cobwebs, broken floorboards, and boarded windows. Frank no longer occupied his mind from the looks of it, it had been vacant for an extremely long time. Antonin called out for Frank, hoping that he may just be hiding, but each room appeared the same, abandoned.

It was Antonin's turn to sigh, "There's nothing left, I'm afraid Frank no longer occupies his mind, I can't find him. In the notes, it states the last time Legilimency was performed on Mr. Longbottom was roughly five years ago."

"Shall we head back to the office?" Padma turned to leave.

"Who is his Healer?" Antonin asked the nurse.

"Healer Munro, shall I contact him?"

"No, I'll talk with him. I don't want to step on any toes," The last thing he needed was to make enemies. So far, his co-workers were polite and professional, just as he wished to keep things.

Undecided as to if he should share his secrets with Padma. Antonin kept quiet as they returned to their shared office. It was what she would think of him after he divulged the truth about the Longbottom's that he was worried about.

"You're awfully quiet… Do you want to tell me?"

His favorite thing about Padma was how perceptive she could be, "Maybe… Do you want to hear the truth, or would you rather keep me on my pedestal?" Antonin smirked.

"Quit being an arse, I promise I won't think less of you… I've read your file, Antonin I'm well aware of your past," Padma rolled her eyes at him.

"I know, but this is different Padma, this wasn't done in the heat of battle. This happened because two Aurors were in the wrong place at just the wrong time." Antonin took a deep breath, "It was less than two days from when the Dark Lord fell. Barty and Rabastan asked if I want to join them for a drink in Hogsmeade. We were all drinking… heavily I might add. At some point in the night, Rodolphus and that crazy bint of a wife showed up. Bella was mad with grief, ranting, wailing, looking for blood," He locked eyes with Padma.

"As we left the pub, the Longbottom's rounded the corner. There wasn't time for them to react before we were on them… Alice walked right into my arms, even apologized for bumping into me."

Antonin sat at his desk across from Padma, "When the realization of who I was hit her, Padma, Alice pissed herself." He took the mug of tea Padma offered, "She wasn't the first person or even the last that I've done that too."

Shadows darkened his eyes, "She didn't scream, Alice whispered, soft as the breeze in my hair, She begged me, like a lover, pleaded with me to spare her," Antonin's voice cracked, but he kept talking.

"I knew she pissed herself because it was cold that night, and I felt it running warm against my leg and into my boot." He left out the part that it made his cock hard.

Antonin opened the file, fidgeting with the pages, "I don't remember what happened that night, not everything anyway. Just bits and pieces, nothing of what was done to Frank, just Alice. I don't remember the spells. The things I remember are more visceral."

Padma sat quietly listening. Never interrupting as he told his tale.

"I remember the taste of her tears, how she felt trembling in my arms, her voice against my cheek, every whimper, every tear…" His eyes shifted back to the folder until he felt Padma's hand on his, "I tore her mind apart, I thought I killed her and instead, condemned her to a living hell…"

"But now you're going to fix that. Aren't you?" Padma squeezed his hand, "You did this, so you should be able to reverse the spells. From experience, I can tell you that you should have better luck repairing your own spell damage than anyone else."

"You have evidence-based research on this, or is it a theory?" Antonin cocked an eyebrow.

"Alright, it's a theory. I'll research it a bit more. I'm going home. You should, too," Padma gathered her belongings standing to leave, "Come on, Antonin, leave the demons here. We'll tackle them in the morning."

"I was never charged with her torture, Barty and Rabastan took the hit for that one. To be honest, Padma. It would have been kinder to kill her." His mood turned even darker.

"You know that's not true," She admonished, "On that sober note, walk me out." She was used to the moods, knowing how fragile Antonin was, frequently pulling him from the depths of a melancholy pool.

Antonin walked Padma to the floo network, "See you bright and early, have a wonderful evening." He leaned down and chastely kissed her hand, he was a gentleman, a murdering bastard as well but still a gentleman.

"Rest Antonin, you can work tomorrow," Padma said as she stepped into the floo calling out her address.

Antonin smiled at her disappearing form, waiting until she was gone before choosing to floo to the Leakey Cauldron, then a little walk down Knockturn Alley. He kept his head down, moving quickly. Away from the bustle of evening crowds looking for a pint after work. Antonin hoped after all the Ministry raids that his stash still existed. Down three blocks, to the alley, his footsteps the only sound in this part of Knockturn Alley. Half deserted after the war with its vacant buildings. Nefarious magic still clung to the shadows, watching him from the boarded-up windows.

He found the back entrance to the abandoned building, his hand tingling at the wards. They were his. Still, they held strong, dismantling them came easy, and he ducked inside. Climbing up the wooden staircase, each step creaked, Antonin kept his wand drawn prepared for any other creatures that might lurk in the darkness. He brushed aside the thick webs, careful of the holes in the floor. At the top of the building in the furthest room, behind blood wards that only he could open, Antonin found what he had hidden away so long ago.

He shrunk everything down, stuffing it in a pocket, then made his way back to the street. From there, he went to the bookstore, purchasing several healer texts. Rushing back to the Leaky. Making a point to greet a co-worker before ordering a big bowl of stew. He wanted to make sure he was seen having dinner. In case he was questioned as to why he was in Diagon Alley.

Apparating back to his flat, Antonin pulled the package from his cloak, setting it down on the table. Anxiety crept back up his throat, threatening to strangle him. Antonin steadied his breathing as he sat in the chair. If he were going to fix Alice, he would need to relive that night. The little wooden box taunted him, daring him to take the plunge, he re-enlarged the stone basin before opening the box to reveal the silver vials. He found the one he needed, pouring the contents in, he felt sick watching as it swirled, dancing in dark purple spirals.

Antonin pulled his darkest deeds from memory and hid them in that derelict building long ago. He had done it after killing the Prewetts, knowing the Auror's were hot on his tail. There were too many witnesses, and he couldn't just get rid of that memory, but he could get rid of some of the others. If the Ministry had known about his little box of horrors. It would have been the Dementors Kiss instead of the twenty years on a rock in the North Sea. Paroled with a cushy job at Saint Mungos.

"Fuck, down the rabbit hole," He said to no one, and plunged his face into the icy basin. The need to help Alice over-rode the anxiety clawing at his gut. Just breathe, he told himself over and over. He opened his eyes to that cold, snowy night in Hogsmeade.

Padma was right. His spells caused the damage. He would need all of the details to undo what he had done.

ooOoo

Oblivate, a spell so subtle everyone had missed it. He erased her, all of her. All the way back to her childhood, scaring her so badly that Alice would not come out. Antonin would need to research her life up to that night as best he could, filling in the blanks. He enlisted Padma to interview the few surviving members of the Order, including Madame Longbottom. As she would be more inclined to curse him rather than speak to him.

Antonin sat at the table closest to the door, Padma next to him. Quietly observing Alice as she hummed her song while dancing by herself near a window. After a week of preparing, Antonin felt he was ready for the first session. He would let Alice come to him. They wouldn't force her treatment, the last thing Antonin wanted was to scare her again.

Alice sat next to him, just as she had done on prior visits. Taking Antonin's hand, she averted her eyes, humming her song. Antonin made eye contact, whispered the spell, slipping softly into her mind. He wasn't sure how far he would get. She could panic, hurting herself or him in the process.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The portrait guarding the Gryffindor common room formed in front of him. The Fat Lady glared, "No Ravenclaws allowed without a Gryffindor escort."

It had been a long time since Antonin flirted with a woman, but he gave it his best, "Please, My Lady," He turned on what Rabastan called the Smolder, "I just need to speak with Alice. I'll stay in the common room, I promise…And technically, I will have a Gryffindor escort." He could tell it was working. The Fat Lady blushed, fanning herself, "You could chaperone us if you like? But you might make Alice jealous of your radiant beauty…"

"Flattery will get you," She started to admonish but changed her mind, "Oh, alright, go ahead dear. But behave yourself, young man," She giggled like a schoolgirl as Antonin blew her a kiss, "So handsome." She fluttered her fan while batting her eyes. She blew a kiss in return before opening the porthole.

Alice sat by the fire as her twelve-year-old self. A blackbird she had conjured perched on her finger, singing. Antonin crouched next to her, "That's a pretty impressive piece of magic," He smiled at the little girl, hoping he didn't terrify her, "Can I sit next to you?"

Alice nodded, still not speaking. Antonin sank to the ground, sitting cross-legged next to her, "I don't think I've ever seen the inside of Gryffindor House," He surveyed the room with curiosity. It made sense that she would choose this place to hide.

"I don't suppose a Slytherin would ever be invited," Alice's voice fell softly, unable to make eye contact. She conjured up two more blackbirds setting them flying around the room.

Antonin was taken aback by the sound of her voice, "No, of course not, but then again I'm a Ravenclaw. I had friends in all Houses. Don't you?"

"Not Slytherin, but the other Houses, yes. My best friend is a Ravenclaw."

As a fifth year, he paid little attention to second years and their friendships. He wondered who it was, "Alice, do you know who I am?"

"Yes," Her eyes darted between his and the floor, "You scared me," Alice whispered, chewing on a fingernail,
"I'm sorry about that, Alice. I want to fix that. I want to make it up to you."

"It's too late, no one can help me," Tears trickled down her cheeks.

"Please, Alice, will you let me try?" He held out his hand, "I can be another Ravenclaw friend…"

"No! No… you scared me… you were mean to me," Alice cried harder. She jumped to her feet, running down a long dark hall. The blackbirds trailing behind her.

Antonin followed, keeping his distance. Only one door stood ajar, he pushed it open gently. She reminded him of a skittish filly, he would need to move slow to progress.

"I know, I was mean I'm not mean anymore, I'm working really hard to not be a bad guy. Can you help me with that?" He needed her forgiveness to release her from the prison she created.

He entered the dorm room. The conjured birds sat on top of a bed, giving away her hiding spot.

"I'm scared," The conjured blackbirds began to sing, "I'm scared you'll hurt me again," She called from under the bed.

"No one will ever hurt you like that again, Alice. There are people outside of this room that love you, they miss you. They want to see you again," Antonin lowered himself to the floor, peering into the darkness.

"I have seen them. I just don't remember them. I don't know who they are." Her voice echoed as she slipped into a hole of despair.

"What if I helped you to remember. Would you let me do that for you?" Antonin held out his hand for her to take once more.

"Will it hurt?"

"It might if it does all you have to do is tell me, and I'll stop," Antonin sighed with relief as her small fingers emerged from the darkness placing her hand in his.

ooOoo

The beginning of Alice's journey back began, and slowly over the weeks, Antonin coaxed his skittish patient out of her shell. Saint Mungos respected Antonin's request for anonymity. He wanted no recognition for righting his wrongs. Not wanting to draw attention to himself.

After her treatment Alice was able to properly say goodbye to her husband. Antonin tried everything but Frank was too far gone. She left the Janus Thickey Ward that day to bury her husband and go home.

His first six months flew by. Tomorrow night Antonin would begin his rotation in the Emergency Department alone.