Trigger warning for a therapy like situation and hospital mention.
xx
Harry gave Draco a brief hug goodbye and left the room of requirement. He sighed and pulled his hands through his hair. It'd helped him feel better to focus on Draco instead of himself but he was struggling. He slowly walked down to the apparation point, letting the strong, cool wind calm him down. He pushed his worries about Draco to the back of his mind. He'd made a promise to his mind healer that the hour session they had together was his time. No worrying or thinking about anyone else's problems. Harry apparated to the private waiting room at St Mungo's. He sat down quickly, letting the nausea that came from magical transport fade away. He cast a cooling charm around him. Hospitals were always stiflingly hot. He tapped his foot, pre-appointment nerves setting in. He was glad he was enough of a celebrity to get to use private waiting rooms instead of the crowded, noisy public ones. It was the only good that came out of it.
"Mister Potter?" Harry stood up at the familiar voice of his mind healer. "Good to see you today." Harry followed them to the appointment room and settled into the comfortable chair. He kicked off his shoes and sat cross legged.
"What's been happening lately, then?" they asked. Harry told them all about his classes and how he'd been feeling about being close to the end of school, and finally about Draco.
"Do you think it's a good idea to be that close to mister Malfoy?" they asked him. Harry sighed inwardly. He hated it when they asked questions like that and wished they'd just tell him that it wasn't a good idea.
"Because he was a death eater?" Harry asked, knowing full well it had nothing to do with that.
"No, Harry. From what I've heard from you over the past six months, you tend to get attached to people very quickly. What makes Mister Malfoy different from Miss Weasley, for example?" Harry shrugged.
"I don't know. We aren't obliged to be friends."
"Didn't your friendship start when you were forced to work together?"
"Yes. But we like each other outside of that." They wrote something down in their notebook.
"And tell me about your mental connection with him." Harry told them about how he felt Draco leave.
"I highly recommend you try to dissolve that contact, Harry." Harry's eyes widened and his stomach sank. "Harry, you need to learn to live on your own two feet. You can't always have someone holding your hand and making decisions for you. I know it's hard. We've discussed the possibility that you have dependent personality disorder before. I think you're looking for someone to replace Miss Weasley." Harry sighed.
"I hope I like him for more reasons than that."
"I hope so too. For now, though, I think you need to take a step back. If you lose contact with him it could undo all our good work. Think about how you felt when he left for a few days. Draco is very quickly becoming your Favourite Person so you need to be careful. Having a physical, tangible contact is much more risky than just a mental connection. Also, the stress of Draco leaving could be a trigger for other negative feelings." Harry's shoulders slumped but he knew his mind healer was right. He hadn't realised how important Draco's approval and company was to him.
"Can I still talk to him?" His mind healer smiled softly at him.
"Of course, Harry. Make sure you have time for your other friends too, though."
"I will."
"have you got any ideas of what you'd like to do after Hogwarts?" Harry was glad to change the subject but frustrated with that particular question. Almost every teacher had been asking the students that for the past few weeks.
"As you know, everyone wants me to become an auror." He'd been focused on becoming an auror for years but after the war the thought of running around after dangerous wizards had lost all appeal.
"How do you see yourself in the future?" Harry's stomach twisted. His future plans had been ruined by his break up with Ginny.
"I don't know. I used to see myself with Ginny and children but I don't see that anymore."
"You're allowed to not know, Harry." Harry sighed.
"Why does everyone keep asking me?"
"They just want to help you get where you want to be." Harry made a face.
"I wish everyone would leave me alone."
"People care about you, Harry." Harry hummed. If they cared they'd have listened to him when he said he wasn't sure about auror training. "Shall we leave it here today?" Harry nodded.
"I don't think there's anything else."
"So, what are you going to think about over the next few weeks?"
"Keep practicing my coping techniques and try not to rely on Draco too much." The mind healer nodded.
"Good. Make an appointment if you begin to feel down again and I hope school goes okay." Harry thanked the healer and left the hospital. He felt calmer after his appointment and comforted that his healer thought he was capable of getting through the next few weeks.
xx
Apologies for shorter chapters but a short chapter is better than nothing for my motivation! Hope you enjoyed.
