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Chapter Text

As Harry opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the bright light on the ceiling. To which he instantly closed his eyes again, since it was way too bright after having his eyes closed for- who knows how long. After that he slowly regained his consciousness and turned sideways to avoid the bright light above him.

Now, finally being able to open his eyes, he sees the sides of his bed, no it wasn't his bed, where was he? Looking around, Harry almost immediately recognizes the familiar white walls, he was in St. Mungos-Hospital. Sighing, he tries to sit up but abruptly stops when there was a sharp pain in his chest, not too far away from his heart.

What the fuck happened? Is all he can think about, while he tries to remember what brought him to the wizarding hospital. It makes him even more curios when the pain shot through his chest again, as he only tried to lift his left arm.

Harry was now getting a slight headache, or did he have it before and just didn't notice? Everything was so bloody confusing, why was nobody coming to finally explain it all? Was there a chance, that it was all just a stupid dream? He truly hoped so.

But then again, the pain felt way too real, and the light really made his eyes hurt. Maybe, he was getting more than a headache, perhaps a migraine? God, he really wants to fall asleep again and wake up in his own bed, in his small apartment, where no one would wait for him. Yes, even after five damn years after graduation, he was still single.

But only because Ginny decided to break up with him in the middle of his last school year, which he retook after the war. He was never destined to have a normal fucking year in Hogwarts. Even in his Auror training, the craziest shit happened to him, like a Bubotuber that exploded on his Auror robes and left a nasty smell that couldn't get removed, even with magic. But since they thought it was his fault, they didn't give him new robes until after a week.

Okay past stories besides, he still didn't know what the fuck happened to him this time. It was usual for him to end up in the Hospital, of course since he was an Auror now, but he also usually remembered what happened before he ended up in here.

After a while of laying around and thinking, he remembered something else. Ah, how long it took for him to figure it out, that he could just call a Healer to his room. Embarrassed of himself, he reaches out his right hand, since the other left him throbbing with pain, and rings the bell that could only be heard by the Healer that's assigned to him.

Not long, after he already put his hand back, and the door opened. Harry was laying on his back again and tried to lift his head up, to see who entered the hospital room. What he didn't expect to see was a familiar face. Not a face that he always saw during his hospital visits, no it was more complex than that. Of course it was, because he was Harry fucking Potter and nothing was normal for him, even after he already saved the world.

It was a face he was oh so familiar with, even if he didn't want to admit it. That face belonged to no other than Draco bloody Malfoy, the guy he was enemies with for seven straight years, yes only seven because after the war, they kind of tried to turn things the better way. Though it was almost just ignoring each other, but still better than throwing hexes at each other, they thought.

Harry didn't notice that his jaw kindly separated itself and was hanging wide open, eyes still fixated on the person now only a meter away from him. As Draco let out a small cough, he regained his senses and set his face back to normal, though with a noticeable frown. What the hell was he doing here? He called for his Healer and not the guy he never really wanted to meet again.

“You’re probably wondering, what you’re doing here. Am I right?” Draco asked calmly with a more mature voice, than Harry remembered. His breath caught in his throat, was Draco his Healer? Now that he's truly thinking about it, he did remember the rumors that Draco was not interested in becoming an Auror like most people. But that he was becoming a Healer instead, was not what Harry had expected. He merely thought that he was becoming a Potions Master instead or a Quidditch player, since he was in the Slytherin team in Hogwarts and that already in his second year.

Draco was giving him a sharp look, arching one eyebrow as he waits for an answer from Harry. That he seemed to notice, so he swallowed his thoughts down and tried to concentrate on the more important things, and that was the answer to Draco's question. “Yeah, what happened?” Harry spit out with a faint raspy voice as he did not speak in probably a long time now.

The Healer let out a long breath, thinking about how to give him the shortest answer possible, because he for sure did not want to be here. Not because Harry Potter was his patient, but because Harry Potter was already giving him weird looks, and he did not want to put up with him, not after such a long time. And not after everything they went through, but it was still his job to take care of his patients, no matter who they were and what they did.

Harry was eyeing him again, as if he also didn't take his time for a reply, that was much easier than his. He steadied himself and took a quick look on Harry patient file, as if he was just reading what happened aloud, as if what he was about to say weren't his own words. It wasn't even that big of a deal, why was it so hard to speak with him, it's not like anyone died or that there was permanent damage. Just those eyes of him, those bright green eyes that he really didn't expect to see so soon, after all this time. And they were still full of judgmental, as if he was still the kid that had to kill Dumbledore, not like he had another choice.

It's nothing new, that people were still looking at him like he was a Death Eater, a follower of the Dark Lord and enjoying torturing children. It was never like that; people knew that, but they couldn't really see past the dark mark that still lingers on his forearm.

Taking a deep breath, Draco put the words together that he was about to say out loud. “While you were on a mission, a Death Eater hit you with a strong curse, not an unforgivable but it was for sure dark magic. It sucked some of your magic out of your body”, Harry gasped, and his eyes were full of terror, “do not worry, it will come back. Unfortunately, it will take some time, we are thinking about six weeks”, at that he gasped again, “that you will also have to spend in here. It is way too dangerous to let you roam around while most of your magic is gone, so it is permitted that you stay in here, till your magic has fully returned.”

At his words, Harry hit the memories like a brick in the face. He remembered now that Ron and he were following some Death Eaters around, to get the right moment to attack and arrest them. Though they were not careful enough and they soon got caught and were instantly pulled into a duel. What they didn't expect was, for there to be more Death Eaters than they were informed with. But since Harry was so focused on the Death Eater, he was dueling, he didn't notice the one behind him that threw the curse onto him.

It was all rather unfortunate, but now Harry was wondering if Ron was all right. “How's Ron?”, he asks rather fast, the words spitting out of his mouth in urgency. He had really hoped that Ron did not get caught with a curse like this, or with a curse even worse. But his worries were quickly disrupted as Draco began to speak once more. “He’s fine, Mr. Weasley will get dismissed as of today, as he was only hit with mild hexes.” At that Harry let out a deep breath, one he didn't notice he was holding.

Okay Ron was fine, but what happened with the Death Eaters? Were they arrested or could they flee before more Aurors were arriving. There was also a chance that Ron caught them himself, though it was rather not likely.

“Did they get arrested? The Death Eaters, I mean.” Harry asked, noticing the sigh Draco let out. “No, at least not all of them. The Aurors are trying to find the remaining that could flee as you passed out. Auror Weasley could only capture two with Incarcerous, before he also passed out.” Shit, Harry must get out of here as soon as possible, there was no way he's going to spend six fucking weeks in here.

“I know what you’re thinking, stop it. You will not leave St. Mungos till your magic fully regained itself. Let the other Aurors deal with them, you must rest, and I’ll make sure you do exactly that.” the former Slytherin said with a harsh tone, as to make the point clear. Harry gulped but then shot his eyebrows together. It was Malfoy giving him commands, who was he to just let that slide?

“Malfoy, I do whatever the fuck I want to, and if that is leaving the Hospital sooner than you’d like, then I’ll do exactly that.” there was no sympathy behind these words, just pure hatred, as always.

What the fuck was Draco thinking, hoping that after all these years they could maybe just get at least a little along. No of course not, because Harry bloody Potter was as stubborn as always, thinking he can do whatever he wants to. But Draco was his Healer, so for this time, Harry had no other choice than to listen to him.

“You really think you can just leave?” Draco asked with a smirk. Harry's frown hardened, of course he can, it's his free will. That’s what he thought at least. “Well, yeah you really don't think you can stop me, right?” he asked back with a slight chuckle. Malfoy was just his damn Healer, but that was the problem, he was his Healer.

“I don't think, but I know I can. Because I'm the one responsible for you, at least till I can assure your magic is back and you're looking healthy. Maybe you didn't notice, but you have more problems than just the curse.” he answered with a serious look on his face, that bastard could not be for real at this point. Harry was here so often already, and he still thought it was a better idea to listen to his stupid self instead of the Healers.

Harry was shocked, as Draco set the obvious statement, he just didn't want to believe that Draco was right. That he really was responsible for him, and that he was the only one that could free him out of here. Unfortunately, that would really have to wait now, as Draco did not look like he would let Harry leave any time soon.

“Yeah, I – I am sorry. I didn't want to disrespect you or anything. It's just these Death Eaters, if they were stronger than me and Ron, you know what they could do to harm anyone else.” Harry said, now with a more worried look. His green eyes fixated on Draco's grey ones, trying to really pass on the message. He could not lay down here and rest for six whole weeks.

Sadly, those grey eyes showed him, that there was no other way, that he must stay here. And Harry knew it, and he should get rid of the guilt that comes with that, as soon as possible. He really had to let the other Aurors deal with them, it's not like Harrys the only one, that's able to catch them. There were Death Eaters before he was even born.

“It’ll be okay, there are other Aurors that dealt with even worse than some Death Eaters.” Draco tried to reassure him, as if it was no deal. Because if it wasn’t, Harry would definitely not lie here.

There was another thing, that Harry had to ask him: “How long am I here already?”. He saw Draco taking a deep breath, there's no way that he’s already here for that long, right? “It’s been almost four days, since it's still rather early.” the Healer answered and shot a quick look out the window. Which Harry copied him, the sun was almost too high for him to see it. So, it should be almost lunch time. At that he finally noticed how fucking hungry he was.

As if his stomach was trying to prove a point, it started to growl rather loudly. “Lunch will be served in only half an hour from now” Draco said while taking a glance at his watch. Fuck, that was embarrassing, Harry really had to get it together. But he was sleeping for almost four days as it seems, surely, they didn't stuff any food in his mouth. The potions should have been doing their job at giving him enough nutrition for the time, but he should not be not eating for any longer.

“Alright, thanks, I guess.” Harry shrugged, what was he even thanking him for? It was literally his job to be taking care of him; he probably doesn't even want to be treating Harry.

The Healer just shot him a quick nod, “Is there anything else you want to ask? Or need?”, he asked. Anything other than food, no, but for that he had to wait. But wait, he actually had another question. “Will I be able to receive visitors?” the patient asked. Draco was looking at him as if he was asking Harry if he was serious. “Of course, I’ll inform your friends, that you woke up. They’ll be very happy to hear that.” he added with a nonchalant tone.

Harry just rolled his eyes and let his muscles rest; he was way too tense the whole conversation. “That’ll be all?” Draco asked again, and Harry just gave him a nod. Finally, the blonde was on his way to leave the room again. He was going to be alone again; he hoped that his friends would soon come to visit.

“Don't do any mischief, while you're alone. It’ll do you no good, if you want to get released sooner.” the Healer said while smirking, oh these next weeks were not going to be fun. Or maybe they were, he didn’t have anyone to tease for such a long time. Making him feel all alone and bored. But was Draco Malfoy really the one to finally add that fun spark in his life again?

The Gryffindor smirked back, which led to a confusing look on the Slytherins face. “We’ll see about that.” Harry said before Draco finally closed the door at once. Can he make these next six weeks worth the time? Or will he just bore himself to death, before he can even escape this damn hospital.

He hoped to at least get informed, if the Death Eaters got caught. They will for sure not leave his mind any time soon. Maybe they will also get arrested in no time and he can just relax till his magic is kind enough to regain itself. And maybe use the next six weeks as a vacation.

Harry also wondered what was going to happen between him and Draco, since he was going to be his occupant for most of the time. Well for sure there was not too much that could happen, but it was at least nice to have someone glued to him, that he already knew. Even if they were enemies for most of their life's. But they were adults now and not silly students that were involved in a dangerous war, and on different sides of the war. Now, they were just basic adults that had to work for most of their life's before they could finally be free and die.

Maybe he was too pessimistic, but in the past five years nothing changed, so what would change now? Every day was the same, all the people were the same, and he met no one new. Maybe he didn’t even want to meet someone new, they all liked him either way just because he was Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived and defeated Voldemort.

Harry was more than that, he was also just a human with his own flaws and goods. Only his friends could see past the whole The Chosen One thing. Everyone else was dead by now, even his co-workers couldn't see past the name. Harry was fucking tired and nobody knew. Tired and still only caring for other people and not himself. Who would be the one to end the suffering from the Saviour himself.

He would soon find out.

Chapter Text

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Ron asked, concerned. “Yes, can’t you see I’m fine?” Harry replied, rolling his eyes. Why was everyone so over-worried? It’s not like he almost died or something, just got hit by an annoying curse.   

Ron was visiting Harry for the first time, since he woke up. It’s been only a day, but it felt like he was laying here for more than a week already. All by himself, except when a mediwitch brought him his food. Or when Malfoy would come over for a quick check up, which happens every four hours. Harry thought that was unnecessary in such short time intervals, but there was nothing he could do other than cooperate with the Healer.  

Well, at least he had some company during the checkups, he was pretty bored the whole time. Yeah, Ron was visiting him now, but he would probably leave soon, since Hermione would soon be able to get off work. Oh, how much Harry also wanted to have someone waiting at home. As much as he didn't like being overly cared for and people worrying too much. It would still be amazing to have someone to love, someone to cook for. Most of the days he doesn't even bother to cook and just goes to a quick muggle fast food restaurant.   

“Any updates on the Death Eaters?” it was now already five days ago since it happened, maybe they got caught already. Ron just shrugged “No, they are still on the loose. Bloody Death Eaters, once I’m cleared to work, I’ll spend every minute of my day, searching for them.” Harry gave a small smile; he was glad his friend could at least do something about them and wanted to as much as he did.   

“I’ll try to get out of here as soon as possible, I really want to be the one to kick their asses, after they put me in here.” the dark-haired boy said. But Ron gives him a disagreeing look “You have to rest, mate. There’s no getting ou’ of here sooner, let us handle them.” he protested. God, not him too, Harry thought.  

“Right” he agreed, he was not in the mood to argue about that again. And definitely not with his best friend.   

After that, Ron waved his wand for a quick second, he probably wanted to know the time. Of course, Harry thought correctly as Ron stood up and said: “Okay, mate. I’ll have to get going or ‘Mione's gonna be worried.” Harry was going to be alone again until the next checkup, in approximately two hours. He wouldn’t say he couldn’t wait, but he wasn’t entirely opposed to having some company either.  

“Alright, send her my regards and tell her not to worry ‘bout me.” Harry said as Ron was ready to leave the room.   

“Will do, goodbye Harry”   

“Bye, Ron” and then he left.   

After staring at the doors for a few moments, Harry thought about what to do, now that he was alone. Since yesterday the only thing he did was lay in bed and think about too many things all at once. Things, he really didn’t want to think about after all this time, like his dead parents or all the people that died in the war. Yes, he occasionally thought about them, but now that he was laying inside a hospital with several injuries, it was harder to think about them.   

He should also probably not think about them, for his own good. Harry knew that they didn't want him to grieve over them, it was not his fault that they died. So, he tried to think about something else, like what the hell he should be doing for the next six weeks. It would always be leading towards bad thoughts; he needed a distraction. Where would he get one though?  

There were for sure some books in here, laying around and wanting to get read. But for them he had to ask Malfoy, right? He could ask a mediwitch, but they were always so quick when coming in to spell the food to his room. They had probably other patients to bring their food. But would Malfoy be kind enough to bring him one? Harry wasn't even sure if there were any books in here!   

Why was he getting so worked up at asking his Healer for a book? He thought and tried to remind himself again and again, that Malfoy was in fact just his Healer. Pushing all past grudges aside and taking good care of him. Harry should be more grateful for the work he's doing, healing all his scratches and trying to remove the curse.   

He should also be more mature, and do the same as him, and let the whole school enemies shit behind. Maybe get more friendly with him, talk to him more and more as he is his occasional companion. The only one he’ll be seeing regularly during those next, hopefully not too awful, weeks.   

##  

After all, Harry did not have to wait for too long, because Draco was visiting him sooner than he thought. He assumes that it must have only been an hour since Ron has left.  Harry was getting nervous since he thought about treating Draco as an equal and now that he came sooner, he was not prepared.   

Draco walked up to Harry, already taking out his small light from his chest pocket. He always had to make sure that the curse in Potter didn’t cause any more trouble, so full checkups. It was obvious that Harry didn’t like doing these tests as he would always flinch at the light and frown when Draco just looked at his scars he gained from the attack.   

He was doing exactly that, as Harry finally spoke up: “I’m bored in here.”   

“Okay” the Healer replied.  

“And I would like something to distract myself”  

“Okay” he said again.  

“Is there anything in here that could do that?”  

Malfoy seemed to think for a while before responding once more: “Hmm, we do have a small library, from where I could bring you some books. But I can’t recall you being a reader so-”  

He was cut off by Harry “No, I’d like some books. Books are probably the best distraction I could get.”  

“Yes, I agree.” Draco said while putting his light away and instead took out his wand. He cast a quick diagnostic spell on Harry, which turned out just fine.    

“Why don’t you use the light from your wand to check my eyes?” the patient asked curiously.  

“I prefer not to use my wand when there are other utensils I could use. Its unnecessarily draining, when I have to check people's eyes all the time, you see.” Malfoy said with a serious tone, almost sounding like Snape for a moment. Harry’s breath caught in his throat at the resemblance.  

“Right” Harry replied, it was hard to think about Snape even after all this time. Maybe he should get rid of Malfoy now, that he was finished with his check-up. He always kind of reminded him of the Professor, of course since he was his godfather after all and they probably spent a lot of time together during Hogwarts. Harry wondered how much Snapes death affected Draco.  

“Are you alright?” Malfoy asked, now with a slight worried face. How long was he in thought? He snapped out of it and stared at Malfoy, really stared at him. He was having some eyebags, it was for sure not easy to work as a Healer, but his hair also got longer. It was silky long, almost like Lucius’, but Draco's was a tad bit shorter and tucked behind his ears.  

His grey eyes were staring right through Harry’s green eyes, like they were searching for something, maybe it was for the answer Harry had not given yet. He remembered doing the same to Draco, in sixth year, trying to solve what was going on with him. Sometimes, Harry finds himself thinking about that time, how much he regretted following his enemy into the bathroom and casting Sectumsempra on him.  Even if it was for enemies, it was for sure not the kind of enemies that he and Draco were.  

“Potter?” Malfoy was, if not before already, definitely worried now. “Can you hear me?” he asked.  

“Uh yeah. Sorry I was, eh, in thought. Sorry” Harry replied while looking down at his fidgeting hands.  

“Alright, don’t do that again.” Draco warned him, was he out for that long?  

“Yeah, I’ll try. Sorry for worrying you.”  

The Healer just nodded. Would he leave now? Does Harry even really want him to leave? Yes, he brought up bad memories but maybe he could also distract him, somehow. But then, Malfoy does probably have other patients to take care of. Harry then thought of something.  

“Why were you here so early?” he asked Malfoy. Which now looked down at him with an unreadable expression. “I was allowed to go home sooner, that’s why.”  

“That’s nice. So, I'm your last patient?”  

“I did not say that, but yes you are. Why?”  

“Oh no particular reason, just curious as always” Harry replied with a slight chuckle which seemed to be not confident at all. He must have gotten a concussion or something to be this awkward. At least, that's what he thought.  

“Yes, you are curious. That must be the only thing that has not changed with you.”  

Did he actually change? Harry thought he was pretty much the same as he was in Hogwarts then. His friends never seemed to notice that he changed, so why would Malfoy?  

“No, let me correct myself. You’re still as stubborn as back then. Always thinking you get to do what you want and just getting in trouble afterwards.”  

Draco was smiling now, while his eyes were watching the ceiling as if he was deep in old memories. Why was he smiling while thinking of Harry? They didn’t have that many memories together, maybe it was just the fame that made Draco know him so well. Not like Malfoy himself was sometimes involved in his mischief. But he was complaining about it then, why was he smiling about it now?  

He was definitely missing something, how much did Malfoy change? It can't only be himself that changed after all.  

“I guess but look where it brought us. We won a damn war.”  

Malfoy was looking at him again, back with that unreadable face, his lips twitched as if he didn't know whether to smile or to not smile. “Right but look where it brought you” he replied.  

“Wha- Wait, it’s not my fault I got hit!” Harry replied defensive. Malfoy finally chose to smile again, this time while looking right in his eyes. Harrys defensive face turned warm, and his wide eyes seemed to open even more. His chest tightened with something he couldn’t name, while a warm tingle spread through his body. His lips parted, before he started chewing on his bottom lip.  

“Well, you could have been more careful of your surroundings.” Draco said while still smiling at him. It made Harry speechless; the concussion must be really bad at this point. Because he otherwise cannot explain what was happening to him.  

“Or not become an Auror at all, I would have thought that you became a Professor at Hogwarts, considering your little army from fifth year.”  

That brought Harry back out of his little trance. He seemed to be thinking a lot about Harry, noticing that he had changed, thinking about his career choices. Things that Harry has not thought about too much. He was just doing what was expected from him after the war, and that was becoming an Auror and continue saving everyone.  

“Even if I enjoyed teaching our classmates, it was not the path I was designed to take.” he replied.  

Malfoy looked at him confused, but also understanding. He was so hard to read, not that that was easy before.  

“Why not? Haven't you done enough of that work already while winning a war and defeating the Dark Lord?”  

“It may seem like it, but there was so much work even after the war, and as you may have noticed there are still several Death Eaters causing trouble out there. The ministry was almost begging me to become an Auror and well catch Death Eaters as if that’s what I was born for.”  

“I’m sorry”, Malfoy said, “that you don't get to have peace. But I'm not sorry for your hero complex, because why didn't you just deny? If you really wanted to do something else, then your stubborn self would have denied, no?”  

He does have a point, Harry thought, but it was not that easy denying the ministry when you’re being asked for something.  

“No, I guess you can't understand.” Potter said, trying to hide his disappointment. He would have thought that Draco could understand, he didn’t know why it hurt so much. He never even thought about this, why was Malfoy bringing it up and then not understanding, hurting so much? He did not care before.  

“But it doesn't matter anyway. I’m an Auror now, there's nothing I can do about it.”  

“You could quit and become a professor; I’m sure McGonagall would make an exception for you.”  

“Maybe, weren’t you allowed to leave sooner? Now you were just wasting your time in here with me.”  

“I wouldn’t call it wasting my time, as I have nothing else to do at home, really.” he added at Harrys misbelieving look. “But I will go get a few books now and let you be, if that's what you want.”  

If that's what Harry wanted? Yeah, confusing as hell but he won’t be complaining anymore. He was getting tired already, too many emotions at once.  

“Yeah, alright. Please don’t bring me anything that has to do with death or is non-fiction. I want to distract myself and not study. Thanks.”  

“Alright, picky but I’ll see what I can find.” the Healer replied. Making notice of his wish.  

With these words, he finally left the Hospital room, Harry took a deep breath. He hoped the books would do their job, because today he for sure gained more stuff to think about, which he really wanted to avoid.  

It didn’t take long before Draco came into the room to bring him the books, as he noticed that Harry was fast asleep. Malfoy had noticed his tiredness before but didn't address it as he wanted to spend some more time with him. Leaving sooner, was not what something he could be happy for, not like others. Since he would be lonely at his big home, where no one waited for him.