One minute you're laughing at something the person next to you says, the next an aneurysm in your brain has ruptured and you're dying.
As Leila and Draco continued to bicker, Hermione's eyes sought an approaching group of figures trotting down Hogsmeade and towards the hospital.
"Guys…" she said squinting to see better. She leaned forward trying to distinguish the faces as they neared the hospital. "Guys…"
One minute you're cursing the slow pedestrian crossing the street, the next a car comes barreling out of nowhere in flips into the middle of the intersection. Right where you would've been.
Her words were drowned out by their continuous argument but Hermione felt recognition ignite somewhere in the back of her mind. She leaned forward to get a better look and nearly screamed when she recognized the group approaching.
"Guys! It's Hagrid! He's being levitated by…Flitwick, McGonagall and Slughorn. I think he's hurt!" Hermione said hysteria rising from the pit in her stomach.
One minute you're in the heat of surgery, the energy is up, the surgeons are wiping their brows, the pressure is stable and you think you're in the clear, the next the patient flatlines.
Hermione tried to scramble up, but she didn't realize how far she was leaning over. Her foot met no ground and the next thing she knew she had fallen off the edge of the roof.
One minute, is all it takes for your world to change in an instant.
"First in the class at Healers University in France." the lanky, dark haired boy said shaking hands eagerly with her. "Pleasure to meet you, I'm Aaron. Aaron Mathews. Dr. Aaron Mathews I suppose...Aaron is fine too, you can call me Aaron."
Hermione laughed lightly and shook his hand. "Hermione Granger, Manchester Med."
"Wow you're the fourth intern I've met from Man. Med." Aaron said laughing nervously. "Guess this is like your home game. But I've got to say you're the nicest of the three from Man. Med."
"There's three others? I didn't know anyone else applied here since this is a newly built hospital and it doesn't have that much publicity yet. The ribbon cutting ceremony hasn't even happened yet." Hermione said scanning the Intern Mixer party guests curiously, hoping to recognize one of the other students.
Over by the bar Brittany Kravic plopped down and motioned for a firewhiskey as she felt the pressure settle in. These were her final competitors for the next 7 years and she felt completely overwhelmed by their presence. Taking a big swig from her bottle, a handsome young man slid into the seat next to her and ordered the same.
"Alec Stanforth, London State." the man said with a charming half lift of a smile. "You do not look like you have any interest in being here."
Brittany slowly turned her head to face him, trying to determine whether she was annoyed with him or mildly interested. He was a competitor not a friend.
"If I didn't want to be here, do you think I would have made it through 8 years of university and reached the final 7 years of internship and residency? I think the question you should be asking yourself is if you have any business being here." she said watching the surprise spread across his face as she took a final swig of her beer before slipping off the bench and marching in the opposite direction.
"Attention! Can we all direct our attention to the front please? Attention! Somebody kill the music!" Elizabeth Putton, the head of Cardio screamed at the poor DJ who waved his wand bashfully. With great annoyance, Elizabeth motioned for Kendra Kapoor to take her spot at the podium to address the group.
"I want to start by welcoming you all to the first ever Intern Mixer at Hogsmeade General."
She paused for the applause to cease.
"You should find pride in knowing that you are the first ever class of interns to walk the halls at Hogsmeade General. However that privilege comes associated with a high expectation to set for yourselves and the future generations. The very meaning and purpose of this new hospital is to rebuild the wizarding world after the horrific events and battles of the second Wizarding war. Keep this in mind as you walk through the scrub room, the change rooms, the patient rooms and the operating rooms. You were handpicked from your respective schools for your talent and passion. As challenging and draining as the next few years are sure to be, do not forget why you started the journey of healing. On a happier note, we look forward to working with you and can't wait to see where you are in 7 years time."
Elizabeth Putton switched places with the Chief as she hastily raised the mic. "Please report to your resident for the tour of the hospital. We'll be riding brooms to observe several parts of the hospital that are still under construction. Those of you in my group, please grab them first as that's the first stop on our guide."
Hermione felt excitement bubble in her chest so voluminously, it diminished any nerves she felt for riding a broom. Along with Aaron, they quickly fetched broomsticks and mounted it as Elizabeth strode over and led the group off. Pushing off the ground with her fellow interns felt distinctly like the moment in a race, where the referee calls 'ready, set, go'. And then together they were off into the evening sky as they soared towards the half built towers.
"I played professional quidditch for my university." the dark haired boy said from the front of the pack, just slightly behind Elizabeth. "These brooms are sub par. I wonder who the donors were for the hospital. Bound to be bloody rich and stupid to fund such a desperate public relations act."
The snooty voice irritated Hermione immensely as she did her best to see the little cow's face. As they reached an open roofed room, the group came to a halt to observe the construction.
"This is going to be Operating Room 1 and will likely be used for most traumas. I implore you to take in the very roots of this hospital." Elizabeth said motioning at the half built hospital. "These roots may look like nothing now, but by the time you're all attendings, the hospital will have branches and leaves and you will be at the centre of the whole tree."
She encouraged the group to fly around and observe the different rooms for the next 15 minutes, the group breaking apart and eagerly flying in different directions.
Hermione flew to an empty room that appeared to be the beginnings of a courtyard or a park and she dipped down to get a closer look. She felt her broom handle drop sharply as she began nose diving towards the ground. All her diminished nerves came torpedoing out as she felt her lack of talent for riding a broom take over. She couldn't even bring herself to scream as she felt her hands come off the handle. Her hand scrambled to rummage her robe for her wand but the ground was approaching too quickly.
Out of nowhere, a hand shot down from the sky above and gripped her forearm tightly in theirs. She felt the broom tumble down beneath her and splinter with a chilling crunch. She squeezed her eyes and breathed heavily before looking up and meeting the steely gray eyes of Draco Malfoy.
Wind roaring powerfully in her ears, Hermione lost all feeling in her body as gravity took complete control of her fate. Then suddenly, she wasn't falling anymore. A hand had clamped onto her arm as she slammed against the cool brick wall. She looked up to meet a pair of steely gray eyes glaring angrily back at her.
"Goddamn woman! I'm beginning to think you have a thing for dramatic falls." Draco breathed heavily as his torso hung half off the roof, his arm extending down to reach hers. "Hang on tight."
"How kind of you to join us Bellsan." Dr. Scott Mallucci, the head of plastics said cheerfully as Leila scuttled into the patient's room rather sheepishly. "Would you care to present the case?"
Leila flipped the chart open and began to recite. "Mona Aman, 29 year old female was born with a cleft palate. Today we'll be performing a cleft palate repair, routine surgery, to reposition the tissues of the hard and soft palate."
"I've been waiting for this day my whole life." Mona said leaning her head against the pillow and squeezing her eyes shut. "I can't believe it's finally here."
The tall, sandy brown haired boy beside her pressed the back of her hand to his lips and beamed down at her. "Are you a hundred percent sure about this? You know you don't have to get this surgery right?"
"Damien, we've been over this." Mona said sounding wary. "My whole life, I've been stared at. Looked at differently, treated differently, felt different. And this may be hard to believe, but I don't care about how I look. I want this surgery because I want to feel like more than just 'the girl with the weird face'. The girl that people stop to stare at on the street, the girl that people avoid making eye contact with when they're talking. I want people to see me for me, not my cleft palate."
Still looking at her with disbelief, Damien turned his attention back to Leila and Scott. "I'm sorry can you go over the procedure again?"
As Mona rolled her eyes, Scott motioned for Leila to explain.
"We'll start by making incisions on either sides of the cleft in order to create flaps of skin, muscle and tissue. We'll take that material and use it to recreate the average lip and nose structure. We'll be using several flap techniques to reposition the palate muscles."
"Dr. Bellsan will be handling your pre-op and I'll see you in a bit." Scott said heading towards the door.
"Dr. Mallucci, if you don't mind I have some more questions for you." Damien said hurrying after Dr. Mallucci, closing the door behind him.
"Sorry, he can be incredibly annoying sometimes. He likes to hover and be irritatingly thorough." Mona said playing with the end of her blanket.
"Thorough is a good thing. Especially when it comes to having surgery." Leila assured jotting some notes down on the clipboard.
"It's not when your standing in the grocery at the banana section for 30 minutes, waiting for him to pick the best batch." Mona said dryly.
Leila laughed and reached for her latest set of labs. "Explains why your potassium levels are good."
"You must think I'm crazy to want to have this surgery even though I say I don't care about how I look." Mona said tracing her cleft palate with a single finger. "I grew up in a big family and we couldn't afford to get my face reconstructed. I didn't mind the whispers and the stares. It's the assumptions people make about you before they even meet you. That's the part I could never stand."
"I can understand that." Leila said smiling lightly. "Damien doesn't seem to mind."
Mona laughed emotionlessly. "He and I had many arguments and breakups over this surgery. He never wanted me to get it. Said I was taking a dumb risk for no reason. He was the only person I've ever met my whole life that hasn't made assumptions about me before meeting me. He's the only one that's always seen just Mona."
"Rubeus Hagrid." Hermione said crossly, eyeing her old teacher and close friend with accusation. "Your star pupil is a healer surgeon at Hogsmeade General, just down the street from Hogwarts and you didn't think to come pop in and check up?"
"Gee 'Ermione," Hagrid said coughing roughly, loud enough to shake the table next to his bed. "This old man is a hard rock, there ain't no disease er nothin' that can bring him down."
"Clearly, this old man was wrong about that." Hermione said snatching the labs from Draco as he returned. Her face paled as she shared a look with Draco. His eyes held sympathy but most of all regret.
"It's bad ain't it?" Hagrid asked breathing heavily.
"Let's not get worried until we have to." Draco said pulling a pen out from his healer jacket pocket. "Have you experienced any loss of appetite or extreme fatigue?"
"I never thought I'd live to see a day where slimy little Draco Malfoy would be me doctor." Hagrid said eyeing Draco with suspicion. "Yeh did earn a real license right? Yeh didn't just buy one or threaten them fer one?"
"Hagrid!" Hermione exclaimed shooting him a warning look, which he returned immaturely. "Draco is a friend now. He's saved me in more ways than one."
"Yeh right." Hagrid scoffed stubbornly jutting his chin out.
"Can you please find it in yourself to answer his questions? Or would you rather return to Hogwarts and cough up blood at breakfast in front of the school again?" Hermione said with exasperation.
Hagrid heaved a great sigh before redirecting his attention and critical gaze to Draco. "I suppose I have been feelin' less hungry now a days. And I'm always tired, but as a gamekeeper you can't expect nothin' less."
"Any other unusual symptoms? Blood in your urine? Pain at your side?" Draco asked scratching down some notes.
"YEH DON'T GET TER ASK ME ABOUT ME URINE!" Hagrid bellowed slamming his fists down onto the bed at either side of him. Hermione yelped and placed two of her small hands atop of his.
"Hagrid please," she said vainly trying to calm him down. "He's just doing his job. And I assure you, if I were ill I would have not only ben wise enough to get myself checked out earlier, but I would willingly let Draco heal me. He's one of the best here." she said watching as Hagrid pursed his lips skeptically.
"Perhaps it's been a wee red." Hagrid said begrudgingly.
"Dr. Malfoy what is your next course of diagnosis?" Elizabeth Putton asked leaning against the doorframe, staring at the trio questioningly. It wasn't a huge surprise to see her staring disapprovingly at them all as Hagrid's holler likely woke the whole floor.
"I'd order a urine test and a CT scan and maybe some blood work to be on the safe side." Draco said doing his best not to break into a scowl.
"Get on that. Can I see you and Dr. Granger outside please?" she asked before closing the door firmly behind them. "The pair of you always seem to be at the source of the drama."
"Putton I don't think I should be on this case. The patient and I don't have the best history." Draco said allowing himself to scowl lightly.
"What possible history could you have that prohibits you from treating that man?" Elizabeth asked already growing impatient.
"Well when I was 13 I tried to get his pet hippogriff executed, when I was 15 I tried to get him fired and I've called him a number of insulting names since we first met." Draco said clasping his hands behind his back and rocking back and forth on his heels lightly.
Elizabeth looked up at the ceiling and muttered a little prayer before returning her attention to the pair of them. "You will stay on the case Dr. Malfoy, we do not accommodate personal dramatics. Dr. Granger you will be running labs and working in the clinic for the day. That will be all." she said. The last phrase usually indicated she was utterly finished talking to them.
"Of course you get the better case. With Harry and Hagrid in the hospital, Putton thinks I can't do anything rational. Be nice," Hermione warned Draco. "Page me if it's what I think it is."
"Be nice." he mocked childishly behind her back as she turned and dragged her feet all the way to the clinic.
"Matthews, Kravic you're with Sharman and I today." Kimberly Wellington said leading them into a conference room where a large family was assembled around the table.
"Don't you have a Russian ex-husband to be cheating on with Thomas?" Aaron said airily.
"I just did." Kravic said her face an unreadable mask. "20 minutes ago." Before Aaron could spit out a long stream of rude retorts, they were surrounded by a large family of wizards and witches all flouncing around the room.
"And how is the Lovait family doing today?" Thomas Sharman asked clapping his hands together as they all entered the room. An uproar of responses came back in response to his question and all Aaron seemed to be able to do, was search for an empty spot far away from both Kravic and Thomas.
"How are you feeling today Nicolas?" Wellington asked smiling down at the hunched old man at the centre of the hubbub.
"Fit as a fiddle and ready to be chopped up." he chuckled waving his hand for them to go on.
"Nicolas Lovait, 69 years old is here today for a spinal fusion. The goal of the surgery is to rejoin several vertebrae in order to stop constant movement. Treating the spinal stenosis and stopping the bones from moving will help to avoid back pain." Wellington explained to the large family that was staring, some intently, others curiously and some even seemed suspicious.
"I'm planning on going for the approach from your back. I'll move the muscles and structures aside in order to have a clear viewing field of the spine. I'll use screws once the joints between the painful discs are removed." Sharman explained flicking his wand in order to switch the screens to show a 3D model of the body.
"And how long will the recovery time be?" a very snobby, skinny lady asked at the head of the table. "He's a very active man and can't bear to sit around all day."
"The hardest bout of the pain should be over after the first 4 weeks, but I'm afraid to say your father won't be twisting, bending or lifting things for a while. The recovery period is crucial to be taken carefully, otherwise all the efforts in the surgery are wasted." Sharman said chirpily to the woman, sending flames of hatred down Aaron's chest. Fucking bastard.
"Does that mean he can't fly to Fiji in a month's time?"
"Will you be performing the surgery or will Dr. Wellington?"
"Is the one with glasses qualified to be performing the surgery?"
"Dr. Matthews and Dr. Kravic are very able residents who will handle Mr. Lovait's pre-op and answer any additional questions you may have." Wellington said before excusing themselves.
Thomas stopped next to the pair of them rather warily and crossed his arms. "Take care to answer questions as simply and basically as you can. If one of them gets spooked, they all get spooked. And if that happens you can sit out of the surgery and console and assure each and every one of them." Thomas said in a low voice more to Aaron than Kravic.
"How'd you even consider letting go of that authoritative voice?" Kravic whispered before inserting herself into the Lovait family conversation.
Patience wilting and anger boiling, Aaron took a deep breath before joining the conversation himself.
"We're eating lunch in the courtyard if you want to join us." Leila said without looking at Brittany in the cafeteria line. As the cafeteria lady lazily swished her wand and plopped a bowl of chili onto her plate, Brittany gave Leila a questioning side gaze.
"I can't I need to meet Thomas before his spine fusion surgery. And the patient's family ate me alive with questions, my brain actually hurts." Brittany replied. And without another word she thrust some coins into the cafeteria lady's hand left.
Leila stared after her, contemplating chasing after her but thought better of it. She took her lunch and joined her fellow residents under the lazy end of summer sun.
Hermione and Draco were sitting side by side, their backs leaning against the end of the fountain as they bickered and studied a piece of paper. Aaron was ranting very passionately to Alec who was laying on his back atop of a spare patient blanket. His lean, tan arm was draped casually over his eyes to shield the sun as Leila moved to sit next to him.
" - and then that cheating little blond pixie has the nerve to tell me, oHO this is where it gets good, the Blond Pixie has the nerve to tell me she's STILL sleeping with my ex. That cheating little cheater!" Aaron said slamming his fist down on the courtyard floor.
"Mate if you ended it with him, he's free to shag any man or woman he likes. They're not doing anything incriminating, besides dancing on your beaten, broken little heart." Draco said matter of factly before shoveling his bread roll into his chili and chomping down on it.
Hermione glanced disdainfully at Draco before turning her sympathizing eyes on Aaron. "That's awful of her, I'm really sorry Aaron."
"She's not just sleeping with Sharman to piss you off Aaron," Leila said surprised at her own defensiveness while Aaron gawked at her in disgust.
"They both just had rough encounters with their exes, they're healing together, in their own twisted way." Leila said shrugging as she stirred her chili. "They're just two sad people who happened to find each other."
"In his bed. While we were still together." Aaron argued aggressively taking a swig of his bottled water. "That cheating cheater. Alec gets it. Right Alec? Alec?" he nudged Alec who had effectively dozed off in the summer heat.
"Your talking has officially put one of us to sleep." Draco smirked. "Bound to happen eventually." Aaron glared angrily at Draco before standing and huffing off.
"Do you have to be such a prat? Can't you see he's heartbroken?" Hermione asked shrugging off the lazy arm Draco had draped around her shoulder. "Besides you should be focusing your efforts on diagnosing Hagrid."
"'Mione. For the tenth time. I want to get some blood work done to be on the safe side." Draco said leaning his head back on the edge of the fountain.
"We already know he has stage III kidney cancer! You can run all the tests you want after we begin his treatment plan. He's at high risk for - "
"Hermione I know you think I'm biased towards Hagrid, but you know me and I've changed from the unwise smartass I was as a child. I am his physician and I am telling you he needs the blood work now. We can catch signs of metastasis and better plan his treatment." Draco said crossing his arms in annoyance.
"Yes but we need to start treatment immediately. I'm saying you can check for metastasis after you start chemo and a surgical plan." Hermione argued.
Just as Leila was about to take her first bite of the steaming hot chili, her pager went off like a bomb, effectively startling her into dropping the steaming bowl onto Alec's chest.
"Mother fucker!" he hollered jerking into a sitting position as he stared at her in anger. "What the fuck Leila - "
"Oh crap, it's Mona." she said before leaping up and sprinting out of the courtyard and up the stairs, taking them three at a time. She raced down the corridor and turned sharply, crashing into a million people along the way.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?" she asked the healer nurse standing just outside the door. She nodded into the room and Leila peaked in feeling her heart rate slow ever so slightly. So Mona wasn't coding. Poor Alec.
"You have NEVER been supportive of me and this surgery. But guess what Damien it's my decision, NOT yours." Mona screamed her voice raising several octaves.
"Oh cut the bullcrap Mona!" Damien screamed right back. "I'm telling you that you don't need this surgery, you just want it. You go on and on about how you just don't want to be judged and you don't want assumptions made about you. But guess what? The people that matter in your life all love you for you! I love you for you! And I'm telling you that you don't need this surgery to feel beautiful. You don't need to have this surgery for others, in fear that they'll make assumptions about you!"
"Have you listened to ANYTHING I've said the past few years? I don't care how I look, I just want to stop being prejudged - "
"There you have it!" Damien shouted triumphantly. "You're having the surgery so OTHERS won't have to make assumptions about you."
Mona was full on sobbing now as she aimed sharp punches at his chest in fury. "Get out! Get away from me! If you can't be supportive of me and this surgery then I don't want you here."
Leila thought it was time to intervene and she hurried in to lead Damien out. She indicated for the healer nurse to help Mona get back into bed and escorted Damien outside the room.
"Take a walk." Leila said before Damien could say anything. "I know you love her and I understand that you feel she doesn't need this surgery - "
"Because she DOESN'T!" Damien yelled, making sure it was loud enough to be heard from inside the room.
"But it's her choice, Damien." Leila said meeting his burning green eyes. "If you really love her you will accept her decision and be there for her regardless. Until you realize that, I think it's high time you take a walk away from Mona and her surgery."
Damien angrily pulled himself from her grip and wheeled around in the other direction, without a single glance back.
"I'm just going to do one more blood draw and then I think Dr. Reynolds and I can make the final diagnosis." Draco said reaching for Hagrid's arm, as he used his wand to secure the tight blue band around it.
Hagrid seemed to be silently studying him with a mixture of suspicion and interest as he watched Draco mutter an incantation to withdraw blood from his arm and transfer it into a thin flask.
"Ermione seems to think you're alrigh' now." Hagrid said slowly.
"Seems she does." Draco said shortly tapping the flask lightly with his finger before reaching for another.
"Still cheeky aren' ya?" Hagrid asked chuckling a little now, shaking his big shaggy head lightly. "I suppose I should give yer a chance. 'Ermione is the smartest witch I know and if she trusts yeh with her life, I guess I have no choice but ter trust you too. 'Spose it's smart an' all with you bein' my healer and all."
"Her trust is not something I take lightly." Draco said stripping off his gloves and summoning Hagrid's chart. Hagrid seemed to be impressed by this response as he clasped his large hands together over his protruding stomach.
"That's...that's - er - wise of yeh to realize. But lemme warn yeh Malfoy, you hurt one little bone in her body and I'll chase after yeh in my life or afterlife. Guess that depends on how good of a healer yeh really are. But 'Mione is one special girl, yeh don't meet two like 'em in one lifetime."
"Believe me Hagrid, I know."
"Allllllright here we go." Thomas said doing a little dance into the operating room. He was instantly gowned and gloved before he took his place at the surgical table. "Scalpel."
"Did the family hammer you both down with questions?" Wellington asked from where she stood observing slightly behind Thomas.
"Almost reduced Mathews to tears." Kravic replied almost regrettably from where she stood opposite the table from Thomas. She glanced up to wink at Aaron before redirecting her attention to Nicolas Lovait.
Fuming, Aaron stepped closer to Thomas from their side of the table and leaned closely over his shoulder, pretending to get a better look. "Wow one incantation and suddenly you have a perfect view of the surgical field."
"Do you need thicker glasses Mathews? You're leaning awfully close." Thomas said with a hint of irritation as he cleared his throat and reached for his wand. "I need the room to be silent now, Kravic and I will be casting the complex charm that removes the discs from the spine. One wrong pronunciation, word or wand motion and we've effectively paralyzed this man. Are we ready Dr. Kravic?"
"Always," Brittany smiled back from under her mask as they began chanting together like some couple in a cult.
Aaron stood in his spot beside Thomas, absolutely seething as he watched the pair of them work in perfect unison to remove the disc from the patient's back. All he could think was - that should have been him.
"Her pre-op looks good I think we're good to go." Leila said handing the chart to Scott Mallucci. She glanced up at the sound of feet approaching and felt worry settle in.
"Damien…" Leila warned watching as he strode back into the room purposefully. She followed him in, unsuccessfully trying to lead him back out.
"What do you want?" Mona snapped, her hair already tucked into a surgical cap. She was just about to be wheeled off to surgery but her eyes were evidently red from crying. Her eyes shone with fury when he continued his advances until he was standing directly beside her. Mona shrunk away from his outstretched hand and he cringed, pulling back quickly.
"Hear me out." he said regarding her wearily. She remained stony faced as she stared stoically ahead of her. "You think I'm unsupportive of you and this surgery. My hesitation and concern in all of this has everything to do with you and your motives for having this surgery. Wait - " he said cutting her off from interrupting.
"I know you don't want people to make assumptions about you based on your cleft but that shouldn't be a reason to have this surgery. You - Merlin - Mona, you are perfect. Merlin, you are perfectly perfect the way you are. And take it from someone who loves you when I say that you don't need this surgery. I love you, I've always loved you and I don't think you need this surgery." Damien said before dropping down onto one knee.
Mona shrieked and reeled back even further onto her bed. "Damien Gallforth you right yourself this moment," she said sobbing even harder. "Not now...not now...you can't...not now - "
"I'm not kneeling down here to beg you not to have the surgery. I need you to know I'm in it for the long haul. And whether you believe you need this surgery or not, I'll be here when you wake up."
"God Damien...your timing is wretched - "
"I love you, Mona." Damien said plowing on firmly. He flipped open a ring box and stared back up at her.
Leila felt tears sting the back of her eyes as she watched the spectacle silently from the door.
"I love you as you are, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Damien said wiping his cheek roughly with the back of his spare hand. "Marry me Mona Aman."
Mona looked like she was indecisive on whether to slap him or kiss him. She traced her cleft palate softly before throwing herself onto his kneeling form. Leila hurried in and was relieved to see Mona appeared to be kissing him. She pressed a hand to her smile, trying to hide it as she watched the newly engageds right themselves.
"I suppose congratulations are in order." she said beaming at the couple. "But Mona, we need to know whether you're still having this surgery or not."
Mona's hand drifted to her cleft again before she clenched her fist and forced it away. "I am." Damien appeared to be struggling to keep quiet as Mona gave her final consent. She turned to face him, wondering if he would choose to argue.
He finally said, albeit slightly reluctantly, - "I'm with you."
"Alright and that's the final disc." Thomas said rotating his neck in relief. The healers in the room burst into a round of applause for Thomas and Kravic as they removed their hands to stretch.
"Nicely done Dr. Kravic." Wellington remarked nodding as she surveyed their neat work on Mr. Nicolas Lovait.
"Alright, Dr. Kravic hand me the screws. We'll do this bit by hand." Thomas said holding his hand out.
"If you wouldn't mind, Dr. Sharman I'd love to give this part a shot." Aaron said switching his weight between his feet in suspense.
Kravic raised a perfectly plucked blond eyebrow in his direction.
"I think Dr. Kravic and I've got it from here." Thomas said without even glancing up from his work. Kravic smirked from under her mask, making Aaron feel as though an icy bucket of water had just been dumped down his shirt.
Before he could stop himself, the words began to come spewing out. "You know, I thought it was a widely understood rule that healers weren't allowed to favour their cheating bed buddies, especially in the OR - "
"Dr. Matthews." Thomas said his voice raising with anger. "You'll remove yourself from my OR before I lose my self restraint and hex you out."
"Dr. Wellington - " Aaron said trying to garner some understanding but Wellington shook her head and lead the way out. He angrily tore off his scrubs and burst out of the scrub room and into the deserted hallway.
"What the hell is your problem?" Wellington asked moving her mask down to speak, scold rather. Aaron crossed his arms defiantly, remaining silent. "You know, Matthews you were a favourite for the exclusive clinical trial Dr. Reynolds and I were scouting for. But I don't think we need vengeful, ruthless and impolite healers on our team. You truly disappointed my expectations, Mathews."
Without another word she re-entered the OR and left Aaron standing alone in the hall.
"Goddamnit!" he shouted swinging at a tray of medical supplies, knocking it onto the floor. A long string of colorful words came flying out of his mouth as he nursed his throbbing hand but nothing could nurse his throbbing heart.
"You ordered the blood test anyways?" Hermione exclaimed bursting into the CT scan room. She crossly sat on the chair next to Draco and watched as he leaned back regrettably into his seat. "What?" she demanded leaning forward to study the screen.
"Kidney cancer," Draco said solemnly. "Like we suspected."
Hermione was silent for a moment, blinking blankly at the results on the scan. She then wheeled on Draco angrily, "I told you it was kidney cancer! Yet you insisted on a blood test and - "
"It's spread 'Mione." Draco said rubbing a hand over his stubbled jaw. "It's spread to his stomach and it's almost reached his colon."
"Goddamn it Hagrid." Hermione gasped, unable to stop staring at his scans and blood test results.
"Stage III kidney cancer that's meta huh?" Hagrid said wrinkling his bushy black eyebrows in confusion once they had returned to his room.
"Metastasized to your stomach and part of your colon." Dr. Reynolds said kindly. "Thankfully, Dr. Malfoy took the time to get some extra tests and we were able to diagnose the cancer growths in new areas. Now we know precisely where to attack the tumours and it'll increase our chances of beating it."
Hagrid was silent before he turned his gaze to Draco. Tears were clouding Hermione's vision as she held on tightly to one of Hagrid's rough hands. He suddenly whipped his hand out from hers and yanked Draco towards him.
"Hagrid!" Hermione cried pulling her wand out. To her surprise, Hagrid was crushing Draco in a bone-snapping hug as big fat tears began cascading down his cheeks.
"Yer a good man Malfoy. A bastard of a boy, but yeh've become a good man. I can't...I can't...Merlin's beard...I can't thank yeh enough Malfoy - " he howled burying his shaggy head into Draco's shoulder. Draco could simply nod as he stood awkwardly crushed against the weeping giant.
In other circumstances, Hermione would have been elated to see two of her best friends finally getting along after years of animosity. Draco had already reconciled with Harry after the war and they had worked rather closely to rebuild the broken wizarding world. Ron took a little longer to reach civil speaking terms with. But now, seeing her two closest friends uniting in understanding together over such miserable circumstances, all Hermione could do was cry.
"We've got you." Leila said holding Mona's hand as she lay down on the operating table, tears flowing steadily again. "Damien made me promise I'd hold your hand for him while they put you to sleep. Pretend I'm your dashing fiance, who will be right here waiting when you wake back up."
Mona laughed tearily as she blinked away tears and squeezed Leila's hand back. "I'm ready," she said her voice more steady than her hand. Leila nodded for the healer to lower the mask and watched as consciousness slipped away from Mona, and her hand went slack within her own.
One minute is all it takes for you to spot the person you know you're meant to spend the rest of your complicated, twisted life with. One minute - 1/60th of an hour is all it takes to start your life down a completely different path.
"You're an idiot." Hermione said flicking her wand to restitch the cuts in Aaron's hand together. "You know they were both just trying to get a rise out of you. And wow you were in the running to be in their clinical trial? Merlin, Aaron."
"I know," Aaron complained wincing as his skin knitted together neatly. "Just seeing them together, seeing them work so well together without me...it just set me off. And now I've lost my boyfriend and my chances of being in that clinical trial."
"At least you have the comfort of knowing you were a top consideration." Hermione consoled pulling her gloves off. "I probably didn't even cross their minds as I'm so preoccupied worrying about Ginny, Harry and now Hagrid. They won't even give me a case to prove myself."
"Wait what's a 'Hag-rid' again?"
Taking a single minute to smile at someone, a single moment to say something, a single chance to hold the door for someone, alters the course of another life ever so slightly. But isn't it better to make a positive alteration, than none at all?
"The surgery went very well." Brittany said to the large group of Lovait's who all stood eagerly to greet her. Relieved looks flooded their faces as they whooped and hugged each other. "Dr. Sharman was able to replace the discs with screws and we successfully relieved most of the back pain Mr. Lovait was experiencing."
"Thank you dear! Merlin bless you!" a large, red cheeked, beaming lady said wrapping her in a tight embrace, Brittany immediately felt desire to be free of.
After she managed to extract herself from the overwhelming and overly friendly family, she dragged her tired feet up the stars and into the resident's lounge.
Leila was at her locker beside, Brittany's and had already changed into civilian clothes. She smiled lightly at her, making Brittany scowl in annoyance. There was something infuriating about redheads and their need to be chipper all the time.
She wordlessly yanked her locker open and shoved her stethoscope onto the hook.
"You up for a drink later - "
"I am here to become a surgeon." Brittany cut her off coldly. "I have no time or remote desire to be drinking away my problems with the likes of you."
Feeling completely nonplussed by Leila's hurt look, she stared straight ahead as she turned to take her change of clothes into the bathroom.
One minute is all it takes to change someone's life forever.
"Lucius Malfoy, I believe you have a restraining order from entering the hospital." Kendra Kapoor said gripping her wand from inside her healer's pocket. "If you don't leave this instance, I'll have to call security. How did you even get inside?"
"I have connections high up at the Transportation sector of the ministry." Lucius said icily as he strode into the office and perched himself into a chair facing Kendra. "I think we ought to have a chat, and you should put your wand away and hear me out."
"I have nothing to say to you." Kendra said warily watching as Lucius plucked a photo frame of her four children off her desk.
"Which one's the autistic one? Aha, I see right here. It's the confused little creature to the left isn't it?" he said sneering slightly at the frame in his hands.
"I'm calling security." Kendra said reaching for her desk phone before Lucius' icy hand clamped down on the receiver. She glanced up to meet his cool stare and straightened to her full height. "Mr. Malfoy - "
"I have done my best to try and convince by naive son to reconsider his choice of staffing for chief of surgery. Outrageous to have a mother of an autistic child and a half blood running this place. He has stubbornly refused and placed a restraining order on me. My hand has been forced into much more drastic measures, that don't faze my conscience in the slightest." he said silkily, watching as Kendra lifted her chin questioningly.
"You cannot threaten me in my own hospital Lucius. I will not stand for it. I am chief of this hospital and I will not leave to please you and your prejudices."
"Ah but that is where you are mistaken." Lucius said picking at a spot on the arm of his chair. "Draco now holds power over Malfoy finances and I can not do anything to influence the board of the hospital. I can however influence you. I may not be able to force you to resign without arousing suspicion but I can make life difficult for you and my troublesome son."
Kendra was about to send a wordless patronus off to security when Lucius' next words stopped her short.
"You will do as I command and follow my instructions from here on out, otherwise I will have a little chat with the Daily Prophet, recounting my discovery of your past. Picture it now, 'Dr. Kapoor, Head of Surgery at Hogsmeade General - A Former Death Eater'. Now that has a nice little ring to it doesn't it?"
One minute does not seem like a lot of time, but it may surprise you how much you can do in the mere 60 seconds.
"I've been looking for you everywhere!" Leila exclaimed shifting her bag awkwardly on her shoulder as she approached Alec in the NICU.
"Sorry, I was just checking up on my patients. I was with Armstrong today. And my burnt chest is alright, thanks for asking. What's up?" he asked moving the stethoscope gently over a sleeping baby.
"Your dad," Leila said abruptly. Alec looked unimpressed as he wrapped the stethoscope around his neck and jotted something down on the chart. When he didn't say anything more, Leila used her nerve to continue. "I need you to know I'm with you. I love you for you, and I'm in it for the long haul. If it's your history with your dad your worried about, don't. Because I don't care - "
"Leila for Merlin's sake give it a rest." Alec said with exasperation.
" - if your dad was a drunk, or a death eater, or abusive or mental! I just want to know more about you. Every time I ask you a question about you and your past, you hide from me. The merest mention of your dad sets you off completely, and I need you to know nothing you say could scare me away - "
"I don't need assurances of the future or of our relationship. My dad is in my history for a reason and I'd like to keep it that way so please, for the sake of my sanity just shut up about it alright?" Alec said sharply, doing his best not to wake the sleeping infants. His coldness and finality stung more than Leila cared to admit and she took one last glance at him before turning and walking away.
Or how much you can destroy.
"Oh Hagrid…" McGonagall said pressing her hands to her chest. Her eyes became watery as she pursed her lips tightly together. "Why didn't he come to me?"
"You stubborn fool - " Flitwick said his voice hitching as tears came spouting out. Professor Sprout was too immersed in her handkerchief, she barely heard a word of the diagnosis and treatment Draco had just previously explained, while Hagrid dozed loudly unbeknownst to their presence. Slughorn remained silent in the corner as he regarded Hagrid almost with a sense of awe.
"Dr. Reynolds and I will begin the chemotherapy and radiation immediately. Unfortunately there is not a great deal of medicinal magic we can perform to alleviate majority of the pain." Draco said doing his best to remain placid as he delivered the terrible news to four of his old professors. Hermione was doing her best not to cry in front of them while she stood statue still in the doorframe.
It seemed life as she knew it was crumbling around her from all four sides and she was trapped right in the centre.
Is 60 seconds in a minute enough? Enough to say I love you? Enough to break a heart? Enough to save a life? Maybe we're constantly given 60 small seconds of chance to do something with our life.
"One firewhiskey please," Brittany said resting the side of her head against her palm.
"I'll have the same," a familiar redhead said sliding into the seat next to her.
Brittany rolled her eyes and turned to glare at Leila. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Trying to get drunk and wash away my problems. It's only 9:59, plenty of time to waste away the hours with alcohol." she said flatly as she danced her fingers on the countertop. "Cheers," she said downing a large gulp of her whiskey.
Brittany eyed her wearily as she too downed a large gulp, relishing in the feel of the alcohol burning down her throat.
"There's nothing in life to be cheerful about." she said mildly, tracing the rim of her whiskey bottle. Leila turned to consider this, tilting her innocent face to the side.
"Tonight, I wholeheartedly agree with you dear Brittany Kravic. Cheers to that." Leila said raising her bottle. Brittany surprised even herself when she raised her bottle and touched it lightly to Leila's as the clock struck 10:00 pm.
What did you do with the last
One minute
60 seconds
60000000000 nanoseconds
Of your life?
Author's Note
Thanks so much for reading! Leave me a review on your thoughts! Please check out the Granger's Anatomy Site for an updated 'Reader's Take' to give me more input on the story thus far! The link for the website can be found IN MY BIO. Happy reading!