29

Evie

Madam Pomfrey occasionally offered apprenticeships during the school year for students that were interested in magical medicine. Even without an interest, Madam Pomfrey would accept you simply because no one ever volunteered. Not that the infirmary was in dire need of help. Barely anyone got seriously hurt, unless you counted Harry Potter.

I usually ended up in the infirmary after classes when I couldn't resist the temptation anymore. Organizing medical supplies for Madam Pomfrey had become a great way to avoid doing homework and to avoid people. No one ever came into the infirmary and if they did I had a fool proof escape plan. I knew how to do basic healing, Pomfrey had taught me that, but I never accepted when she asked. Healing fellow students was like ruining the whole point of hiding in the infirmary.

On a cloudy Monday evening I was finally back, organizing gauze and other medicinal stuff into little boxes then putting them into the back room. Madam Pomfrey was overjoyed to have me back and was quick to pile a bunch of chores onto me before disappearing into her office. I didn't really mind.

Reliable Evie. Resourceful Evie. Boring Evie. That's what I was, sitting on an empty hospital bed, sorting band aids instead of socializing. I had definitely improved myself lately but I couldn't give up everything. Not to mention, working in the infirmary was something I actually enjoyed believe it or not. It was sort of calming and gave me the feeling that I might actually have a wizarding career.

When the door opened suddenly, I almost didn't hear it. The record player in the corner was playing Madam Pomfrey's 40's music and I was completely immersed in my sorting so when I glanced up to see a pale figure standing before me, I nearly jumped to the ceiling.

"Holy shit." I said, clutching my chest and dropping the band aids I had in my hands. Draco Malfoy always seemed to appear out of nowhere like a ghost. Although, when I really looked at him he seemed like Casper because he had a soft smile on his face that I had never seen before. He looked at peace and I wondered what had gotten into him.

"Oh sorry, I thought you heard me." He apologized, looking genuinely worried. His tie was unknotted and his shirt was unbuttoned at the top and it seemed that he was totally different person. It reminded me of Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, his whole personality turned around. I just couldn't think of what had made him change.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, giving him a relieved smile that made him brighten up again. "I mean, not that I don't want to see you, I was just wondering. People don't come here often."

"Madam Pomfrey's been giving me potions for bad dreams and...things like that. I wanted to let her know that one of them is finally working."

"She's in her office." I gestured to the closed office door. "She hasn't come out since I arrived and that was hours ago." Draco frowned slightly but shrugged and sat on the bed next to mine.

"So, what are you doing here?" He asked.

"I volunteer. It's a good procrastination method."

"Do you want to heal people, though?"

"I don't know. I think so. It's a solid plan, don't you think?"

Draco raised his pale eyebrow and I suddenly felt guilty. Sure, I was interested in medicine but I never really let myself show it. I pushed my interest into a dark corner and overshadowed it with the fact that I actually knew what I wanted to do with my life. It was something not many students had achieved yet.

"I'd be a good healer." I argued as if he had said differently. "Right now I can see that you're getting over an illness. The last time I saw you, the bags under your eyes were darker than ink and you were paler than death. But now? It's like you've got a spring in your step."

Draco looked slightly uncomfortable but didn't change the subject. "Not really an illness." He mumbled.

"Mental illnesses are just as real as physical ones." It was something I had had to tell myself from time to time.

"How do you know I have a mental illness?" His gray eyes were filled with worry and confusion.

"The thing about pureblood wizards, is that they don't know much about things like depression or anxiety. If a wizard can't see it or fix it with a wand, it's not real. That's why so many of us are left untreated, facing our diseases without protection or help." I shrugged. "I have them too, but I'm getting over it. It takes time, maybe more time than it should, but eventually you'll find something to finally pull you over that bridge."

"What helped you?" He asked quietly.

"Myself. I was sick of moping around so one day I told myself that I was going to be different. I was going to move on."

"It's that easy?"

"God, no. It's a battle everyday and sometimes the only way to get through it is to find all the things that make you happy. I like to make lists sometimes, when it's really bad. Just think of what makes you happy and do it or go to it. Being happy is the the most important part of moving on. And sometimes when you aren't happy, pretending works just fine."

"You're going to be a good healer, Evie."

"I told you so."

We both sat in silence for a while, me sorting my band aids and Draco fidgeting with his hands and looking at the office door. I mentioned that he could go knock but he said he just needed some time to think. I had to admit that the infirmary was a good place for thinking. It was warm and music played softly and everything about it just felt calming. The giant doors were a good barrier against the hustle and bustle of Hogwarts.

Eventually, Draco got up and knocked on the door. Madam Pomfrey opened it looking bedraggled but when she saw Draco she seems to lighten up a little bit. She looked surprised at first but that turned into a pleasant look of satisfaction.

"You look better, Mr. Malfoy." She noted, putting her hands on her hips. "Did the last potion I gave you work better?"

"Much better." He smiled. "Thank you for going through all the trouble."

"Don't worry about it, I like a challenge. I'm glad you're feeling better." Somehow we both knew she meant he wasn't being a prat as usual but I figured he was used to it by now.

"How about that other potion?" She asked, her voice lower this time so I had to strain to hear. "The one for this 'depression'?"

"I don't think I'll be needing that, Madam Pomfrey. I've figured something out on my own." Draco didn't turn to look at me but it felt like he had.

"Well alright, but if you need anything else I'm always free." Madam Pomfrey said. "Or my assistant for that matter. She's quite good even if she won't admit it."

They both looked at me and I grinned back because it felt like the right thing to do. And it was a real grin too. There was something about avoiding socializing that made a person so much happier.