Execution

It had been seven days since Ginny had broken it off with Harry. During the past week Harry sent Ginny several owls with cards and letters, they were all returned to Harry, unopened. Harry truly didn't understand what he had done wrong. But he knew that he was 'in trouble' because he had, yet again, forgotten about their anniversary.

Harry and Ginny had gotten back together in 1999 officially at Ron's birthday party and were now together for six years. Ginny had started her training at St. Mungo's that year and Harry and Hermione had begun their entrepreneurship planning. According to Harry, everything was going smoothly. Business had finally gotten great and they were expanding their bookshop in several different boroughs all over the UK.

Harry was still lost at why Ginny broke it off with him, it wasn't like this was the first time he had forgotten about their anniversary. Sure, it was easy to remember, it was on Ron's birthday but usually Ron made such a big deal about his birthday that nobody would remember anything else.

On the 11th of March, Harry sat on his sofa and was reading the Prophet. He saw an article on the fourth page with a picture. Draco and Ginny had just left a restaurant and the caption read, 'Love in the workplace. Healer Ginny Weasley breaks it off with world-famous boyfriend Harry Potter and is courted by current co-worker and former Death Eater, Draco Malfoy.' Draco had his arm around Ginny and was fending off the photographers. Ginny wore a sleeveless aqua green satin dress that Harry had bought for her when he'd gone shopping with Hermione once as an apology gift for forgetting the anniversary of the first day they'd ever met, in 1991.

Harry had found it exhausting that Ginny had anniversary dates for all the things they had done together and Harry had failed every time and constantly neglected in recognising them.

Now he was overwhelmed by the emotion of betrayal. He rushed to his kitchen and broke off a small piece of Oleander he had been growing in a pot and started chewing it. He felt dizzy and it was as though his insides were burning up. He rushed to the Floo and called on Ron. When Ron answered, Harry could barely speak, he managed to utter the words, "It's time Ron."

Ron came through to the Floo to Harry's flat and Apparated them to the outside of St. Mungo's. He carried Harry through the window of a red-bricked clothing shop and screamed as soon as he entered, "I need a Healer immediately. He's swallowed a poisonous plant; take him to a Healer now!"

Two staff members came rushing to Harry's aid and immediately had him lie down on a floating stretcher and zoomed through the floors to the third floor. Harry was going in and out of consciousness; he didn't know how he ended up on the third floor or where Ron had disappeared too. A few moments later he heard Ron's voice, he was shouting at someone but Harry couldn't tell who. Harry lost consciousness again. When he awoke his vision was blurry. He felt someone's hands on his chest. Harry realised he was no longer clothed. His bottom half was covered with a cotton sheet, and he was not wearing his glasses.

The hands Harry felt were firm yet silky. He involuntarily giggled when these specified hands brushed his side, tickling him.

"What's going on?" Harry whispered looking around trying to recognise his surroundings and seeking Ron.

"You were brought in because you ate a poisonous plant, although you didn't swallow the whole leaf so the damage is minimal. However, the harm it has done requires us to keep you here for at least two days for further observation." Harry's vision was still quite blurry but he knew that voice. He was being treated by Malfoy, and his plan was working.

"Where's Ron?"

"He's stepped outside to contact Grang – your friends. He should be returning shortly."

"How long was I unconscious for? Why is everything so blurry?"

"You were unconscious for about two hours. One of the side effects of the plant is loss of vision. Here you can wear your glasses but your vision is going to be quite flawed for another few hours."

"Two hours? Blimey," Harry responded.

"If I may ask, how did you come out digesting a perilous plant and do you know what plant it was?" Draco asked.

"It was a gift, Oleander, I believe," Harry attempted to sound flustered, "Someone at the shop had stopped by and gifted it to us. So, I took it home. I thought it smelled brilliant, so I was curious to see what it tasted like." Harry had rehearsed this bit quite well. "I didn't know it was poisonous." He acted embarrassed.

"Harry, you're awake!" Ron exclaimed as he smashed through the doors.

"Yeah, I am alright. Have you gotten in touch with Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, she said that she's going to close up shop and come here shortly. I told Ginny as well, but she is looking after a patient at the moment." Ron spoke and Harry noticed his head turning to look at Draco. Harry couldn't tell Draco's reaction since his vision was still fuzzy.

"Hermione doesn't need to do that. I am going to be here for a few days apparently," Harry spoke quoting Draco about his condition.

"If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to talk to my friend in private." Harry heard Ron speak with a stern tone, and Draco removed his hand from Harry's knee.

Until it wasn't there anymore, Harry hadn't noticed that Draco had his hand on Harry the entire time they had been speaking and Ron had entered the room. Now his knee felt lighter as though it was missing something. Harry's thoughts were interrupted by Ron.

"Harry, this is brilliant. I can't believe it actually worked," Ron spoke.

Harry smiled. "Yeah, but I had no idea I was going to lose my vision. I can barely differentiate any faces. I didn't even know that was Malfoy until I heard his voice."

A few minutes later Ginny came to see Harry and Hermione shortly after. Harry was sad that he didn't get to spend any alone time with Ginny, thus her visit was cordial and trivial. As his friends were leaving Ginny prompted to leave with them but Harry asked her to stay. It didn't help Harry much because Draco entered the room.

Harry's vision was unflawed now with his glasses on, but he pretended that it was still blurry. He spilled a glass of water on Draco and stated that he thought that the side table was there. Harry noticed the look in Ginny's eyes when Draco had walked into the room. He had to pretend he didn't see it.

"Ginny, I wanted to talk to you... in private," Harry spoke softly.

"Whatever it is, you can say it in front of Draco." Ginny shot Harry a look of disdain then looked at Draco with admiration. Harry turned to see Draco's reaction. He had forgotten for a second that he was pretending to still suffer from vision loss.

Draco's eyes indicated surprise and distress. "I can leave the room." He answered, "I'll give the two of you some privacy."

Harry began to speak, "Thank..." but he was immediately interrupted by Ginny. "That is not necessary. You're already inconveniencing us, why are you wasting more of Healer Malfoy's time. We have other patients."

"Ginny, I was poisoned!" Harry shouted.

"By your own stupidity!" Ginny retaliated.

"Healer Weasley! I will not have you speak to my patient in such disrespecting manner. If you cannot control your anger, please leave." Draco spoke firmly to Ginny with irritation shot all over his silvery grey eyes making him frown.

Harry was taken aback with Draco's reaction and noticed that Ginny was too. Ginny looked at Harry with her sad eyes, the look Harry was quite familiar with. This reaction was usually given by Ginny when she knew that she had done something wrong but was being cute so Harry could forgive her.

"I am really tired, Ginny, maybe you should leave." Harry wasn't about to give in to her cunning ways. "I hope you come back to see me tomorrow."

Ginny seemed disappointed but Harry didn't react, as far as anyone knew, his vision was still dim. She gave Draco the same look but he seemed unmoved by it. She frowned and left the room.

"I apologise Potter, this is not how we practice medicine here at St. Mungo's. I assure you that the quality of service we provide is far better than that." Draco smiled at Harry and his eyes spoke of a gentleness Harry was not used to. He patted Harry's knee again. Harry didn't show his reaction on his face.

"I was wondering," Harry said as Draco was turning around and ready to walk away from Harry's bed, "could I have my clothes?"

Draco raised an eyebrow, and gave a smirk; there was the look Harry was fairly used to. "Of course, we had to remove your clothing to see if you had any reactions, on any other part of your body. You had a rash on your hand and your chest," Draco attempted to explain slightly blushing.

"You removed my clothes?" Harry asked.

"Yes."

"Did anyone else see?"

"No. To respect your privacy, I had everyone else clear the room."

"Oh. I thought that was a dream," Harry said after a few moments of awkward silence.

"What was?"

"Being naked and hands all over my body. Firm, yet silky."

Draco blushed again.

"You have very smooth hands, quite flawless," Harry said. "Sorry, that's probably unprofessional."

"It would be if you worked at the hospital, and you spoke that way to a patient. Given that you are a patient yourself, it isn't really a matter of professionalism at the moment," Draco answered. "It would be unprofessional if I had said that you have flawless skin." He smiled and paused for a brief moment. "It would be, if I was saying that."

Harry was amazed at Draco's comment. Was Draco flirting with him? Was he flirting with Draco? He felt an odd sensation in his body at this idea and his mind travelled back to the moment of Draco's hands all over his body. He felt a jolt of thrill travel down to his cock. He and Ginny hadn't had sex in months; he was starting to wonder if he was so desperate that a few flirty words would arouse him so. He attempted to quickly change the topic.

"Ginny's got quite the flawless skin, wouldn't you agree?"

"I... wouldn't know. I mean, from what I've seen she's got an unblemished face and her arms are quite spotless."

"You mean, you haven't..." Harry began to ask but paused reading Draco's expression. Draco turned his head down and Harry couldn't scan his reaction. "I thought the two of you were an item now."

"We've only gone on a few dinner dates. She's my co-worker, so I am taking it slow. Not really sure if anything's there," Draco answered. "I don't think we should talk about that. Let's discuss your well-being and then you can rest for the night and I will return in the morning tomorrow to check up on you."

Harry nodded.

"How is your vision now?" Draco asked.

"It's getting better I think," Harry lied; his vision had been perfect for a while now.

"Great." Draco held up a card and walked a few steps away from him. "Can you read what the sign states?"

Harry could. For the rest of the conversation, Draco discussed with Harry what the next few days were going to entail. His treatments and the things he would need to do when he was released from the hospital along with a list of potions he would have to purchase and consume for a week.

Shortly before departing from the room, Draco gave Harry a pair of hospital robes. "I will ask the laundry staff to clean your clothes so you have something to wear tomorrow. Additionally, it would be best if your friends bring you another change of clothes when they come to visit tomorrow. I can't have you parading around the hospital half dressed."

"Thanks Malfoy. See you tomorrow." Harry smiled and ran his hands through his hair. He had been nervous at the prospect of staying in the hospital bed naked. He was glad to have something to wear for the night. Draco smiled in return; his eyes indicated something that Harry couldn't quite recognise.

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The next morning when Draco arrived to Harry's room he had gone to the shower. The shower was attached next to his hospital room. Harry returned to his bed in only a towel. He had forgotten the second set of hospital robes on his bed. Draco was carrying a patient file and he looked up to see Harry approaching. Harry noticed Draco was staring at him and became self-conscious.

"What? Do I have a rash again?" Harry had held onto the towel with one hand whilst he was walking and let go of the towel to run both of his hands on his skin. The towel dropped on the floor and Draco immediately turned around.

"Erm... no. Sorry to scare you. If you will, please dress yourself."

Harry was now more embarrassed than he had been the night before.

"I am sorry. I didn't know what you were staring at and I was just doubtful that I was healing properly." Awkward silence filled the room again, "It's okay to turn around now," Harry indicated to Draco once he had put on the hospital robe provided to him and was lying in his bed again under the covers.

Draco's hesitant eyes scanned Harry's body slowly. Harry thought he looked as though he still didn't trust that Harry would no longer be exposed.

"I am sorry about that; I truly didn't think anyone would be coming in to check up on me so early in the morning." Harry said again, embarrassment displayed all over his face.

"It's quite alright. You are correct. Normally, we do not start our rounds until 9 am but I just stopped by for some paperwork so I thought I'd check in on you. I apologise for startling you." Draco's voice was unusually kind, Harry still expected him to retaliate any moment now.

Draco started questioning Harry with his routine medical questions. They had been talking only for a few short moments when their conversation was interrupted.

"Harry Potter. I heard you were here."

Harry saw a familiar face and he smiled. "Parvati. I didn't know you were at St. Mungo's!"

"Yes, I just got back from my 'Healers Without Borders' program. My sister is still travelling with them." Parvati Patil smiled at Harry and glanced at Draco. "Healer Malfoy I didn't know you were coming in today. I thought you don't work on Saturdays."

"I usually don't but since Potter had been admitted under my care, I wanted to do a quick check up before heading over to my parents' home," Draco answered.

"Great," Parvati said with one eyebrow raised. "I've brought you breakfast, Harry. It's usually not my job but I wanted to stop by and say hello. I'll check up on you in a few hours, alright?" She smiled and left the room.

"A quick tip Potter, avoid the squishy green stuff." Draco pointed at Harry's breakfast plate which consisted of scrambled eggs, fruit, pumpkin juice and what looked like a gelatin dessert. Harry immediately grabbed his spoon and dipped it in and tasted it. He made an awful face and Draco laughed. "I told you."

A few more medical questions and conversations later, Draco was getting ready to leave.

"Will you be visiting tomorrow?" Harry asked.

"I normally don't work on the weekends, but I will stop by." Draco smiled.

"Great. See you then Malfoy." Harry beamed.

Later that day Harry had plenty of visitors apart from Ron and Hermione, a few of his loyal customers also stopped by. The only person that hadn't stopped by until the end of the day was Ginny. Ginny gave Harry more grief for wasting Draco's time by requesting for him to stop by on his day off. Harry wished Draco was around because he seemed to be the only one who could fend Ginny off of him. Harry was becoming sad with the way Ginny was constantly badgering him about Draco. All the things that he once found endearing about Ginny, when she used to come to Harry's defence, were becoming bothersome to him now, now that she was constantly endorsing Draco.

The next morning Harry ensured that he had taken his clothes to the bathroom with him when he went in for a shower. He didn't want to repeat the events from the day before with Draco, or with any of the other hospital staff. When Harry returned, Draco was waiting for him.

Harry looked at Draco and smiled, who in turn had a look of delight in his eyes. "Didn't forget your clothes this time I see," Draco teased.

"Yeah, I am a fast learner," Harry joked back.

"Harry, I wanted to speak to you about your test results." Draco's voice was a bit stern now that worried Harry. "Don't worry, it's nothing too serious. The plant you told me about, Oleander, the way people react to it if accidentally digested is different for everyone. The way your body reacted, the rash break out, your loss of speech, your prolonged vision loss indicates that you've got a lot of stress in your life. I had a patient a few weeks ago who had accidentally ingested a leaf of the Oleander plant and he nearly died of a heart failure that was because he was quite overweight and with very poor diet. I have had a few conversations with your friends and some with your customers." Draco paused for a moment when he noticed the confused look on Harry's face.

"I stopped by your shop yesterday and I spoke with Granger and Weasley, and other customers who had approached me about your well-being, so I asked them a few questions." Harry nodded for Draco to continue. "It seems that the biggest stress factor in your life right now is Ginny. I've asked her to no longer stop by your room whilst you are still in the hospital and that she needs to be nicer to you while you are healing. Your heart rate increases rather rapidly when you are stressed and with the elements of the poison still in your bloodstream any sort of stress can be harmful and since Ginny causes so much stress for you, I've requested for her to sort of halt communication with you for the moment."

"What did my customers say?" Harry asked.

"A few of them stated that they had heard screaming from your private office in the back of the shop and sometimes you'd chase after her when she'd left the shop. They all indicated that the two of you fought constantly. And many thought that you in fact attempted to kill yourself by consuming the poisonous plant."

"Oh," Harry laughed. "They really think that?"

"Yes. And, though I do not believe that you attempted to take your own life, I am worried for your health, as your Healer," Draco answered.

"What about you and Ginny? I am sorry if my health is causing any sort of strain between the two of you," Harry commented.

"We are simply dinner companions at the moment and we will continue to be so. I care more about your, my patient's well-being than my dinner plans. She's very understanding." Draco smiled.

Harry was jealous. On one hand his plan was working, but at the same time Draco still showed an interest in Ginny and had now forbade her to speak to Harry. He needed to come up with something new to distract Draco.

Draco handed a piece of parchment to Harry. "This is a list of potions you would need, along with other instructions, such as dosage, and the time of the day. When you are discharged from the hospital tomorrow, I will take you to the pharmacy and ensure that you have at least one week's supply. Then you will need to return for a follow up." Draco smiled and began to take his leave from Harry's side.

"Malfoy!" Harry shouted as Draco was about to exit through the door. Draco turned startled by Harry's urgency. "We are looking to expand at Flourish and Blotts and we are thinking of developing a more thorough medical segment. I was wondering if you would have time sometime, after I leave the hospital that is, to perhaps discuss that with me. You know a sort of help in our business venture."

"Oh, why me?" Draco asked as he turned to return to Harry's bedside.

"Well, you said Ginny causes me stress. And everyone else I know in the field is sort of ancient. I thought perhaps a young face to represent medicine in the Wizarding community would be prosperous for both sides. You would have more young people looking to become healers and we would profit from all the sales. Hermione and Ron have mentioned that you're sort of famous for publishing many articles in health magazines and maybe we can launch your first book or something. Hermione handles the publishing side of our business."

"How did you know that I was thinking of writing a book?"

"I didn't," Harry answered. He truly didn't, he just took a stab in the dark with that idea.

"I'll think about it Potter."

Harry could see the twinkle in Draco's eyes and he knew that he had well executed the idea. His plan was working even more now. If Draco would take up on the concept of writing a Healer's Manual, then he would have less time to spend with Ginny. Soon, Ginny would be running back into Harry's arms.

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(A/N): Thanks everyone who has written a review so far. Chapter 3 will be updated soon!

As always, comments are love! Thanks for reading!