Undesirable - COMPLETE
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Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
31
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301
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Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
31
Views:
43,523
Reviews:
301
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Caught
Chapter Number/Total: 26/31
Chapter Title: Caught
Words: 3926 Words
Draco woke in his favourite position, curled around Harry with his face pressed against the other man's hair. Today they were naked and the feel of Harry's skin against his own had him aroused already. He thought he heard something and, turning his head, looked back over his shoulder toward the door. There, hand over her mouth and eyes wide in shock, was Healer Rodgers.
Draco's heart sped up and he had the urge to roll out of bed, only to realise that would expose him even more than being found like this.
When her eyes met his, Rodgers seemed to recover and her brows dropped, scowling. She brought her hand down. "Mr Malfoy," she snapped indignantly.
Harry blinked open his eyes when he heard a woman's voice, but he closed them as soon as the light hit them. He groaned and turned over so that he was facing Draco, pressing his face against the man's chest. He thought someone else was in there, but he didn't want to look up and see.
The sinking feeling in Draco's stomach made him feel as if he had been dropped down a hole. He felt the rise of panic. He swallowed hard. "Healer Rodgers," he began, and then took another deep breath. "Please wait for me downstairs. I will be right there."
"Immediately," she barked, then turned and left.
"Harry," Draco said softly. "I need to go downstairs."
Harry leaned back to look at Draco when he heard the woman's voice again, blinking up at him. "Why is she here?" he asked quietly, frowning. He hoped she wasn't here to take him back to the hospital.
"I forgot that they had planned to check your living conditions. I ... I just didn't think she would show up unannounced like this," Draco tried to explain, heart pounding. He kissed Harry's forehead and then moved to get out of bed.
Harry moved to get up as well, the sheet falling away from his chest. "Do I come with you?" he asked, rubbing his eyes wearily.
Draco pulled clothes out of the wardrobe. They had fallen asleep, not only in each other's arms, but naked as well. There was no doubt now about Rodgers knowing what that meant. "You get dressed and I will come up for you after I have talked with her," he assured Harry.
Harry didn't like the sound of that, but he nodded, moving to get out of the bed. He stopped when he reached the edge, though. "My head hurts a little," he said to Draco as he sat there, watching him.
Draco smiled. "Too much wine," he said. He pulled out his potions bag and selected a vial, handing it to Harry. "This should help."
Harry took the potion. Despite knowing that Draco would never give him something that would hurt him, he still hesitated for a long moment before he drank it.
"Very good," Draco encouraged as he finished buttoning his shirt. He gave Harry a quick kiss before heading for the door. He tried not to show how worried he was as he smiled back at him. "I had better go talk with her now."
Harry nodded, looking worried again. "It's not so bad, right? You're not my Healer anymore ... so." He bit his lip and stood up to get dressed.
Draco didn't want to lie to Harry but he was worried about upsetting him. "I think it will be okay," he said. "You get dressed and I will be back up soon."
"Alright," Harry said, finding a pair of jeans and carefully pulling them on. He didn't think he could just stay in this room while they talked, so he was thinking of sneaking out despite what Draco told him.
Draco made his way down the stairs and found Rodgers waiting in the sitting room. She was standing and looking out the window but turned when he entered. Her face was pinched and angry. "Mr Malfoy," she said again. "Do you have a good reason as to why I shouldn't immediately call the Ministry and have you arrested?"
Draco winced. "I know this looks bad," he said.
"Were you or were you not naked in bed with your patient?" she hissed.
He knew it was no use to argue that Harry was no longer his patient. The rules didn't just apply to their current relationship. "I am in love with him," he admitted. "I didn't intend ...." He stopped. This wasn't helping his case and he didn't know what would.
"You have taken advantage of a mentally and emotionally vulnerable patient," she insisted, voice raising now. "I don't know how you can even think to justify that!"
Harry dressed and made his way down the stairs. He held back in the hall, listening. He didn't think Draco had taken advantage of him; he did anything but that.
Draco was shaking. "I know the rules. Yet, I did explain, before you insisted I take this case, that I was too personally involved. And I removed myself from the case as his Healer when I realised I couldn't keep my distance," he explained.
"You should have not only taken yourself off the case, but out of this house!" she declared.
Harry couldn't take it anymore and stepped into the room. "Please stop it," he said to the woman.
Draco turned, heart clenching as he saw his lover. "Harry, you were supposed to wait upstairs."
"I'm sorry," Harry murmured to Draco, not looking away from the Healer who had interrupted their time together. "But you have to stop. Draco's done ... he's done so much for me."
Rodgers frowned. "Mr Potter, I am not angry with you. You haven't done anything wrong and I know you may feel you owe Mr Malfoy."
"I don't feel that I need to owe him anything," Harry said, trying to be firm. "Draco made it clear that I didn't have to do that. I'm not doing that."
Draco was surprised at how calm Harry actually was. He couldn't help but be proud of him in some small way. It seemed standing up to McLaggen had had an even bigger impact than he knew.
"Mr Potter, your health and welfare are my responsibility. Mr Malfoy has broken very important rules that are there to protect you," she explained.
"My health and my welfare? You take him away from me, and I'll be devastated. Don't you care about my happiness, too? I don't have anyone of my own. Do you know how that feels? To not have parents, or any kind of family like that. I never had this chance before, and you have to believe me. Please ..." Harry swallowed and looked down, feeling his eyes burn with tears.
Rodgers looked uncomfortable and glared at Draco. Draco reached a hand out to touch Harry's arm. "Healer Rodgers," he said, "I know you are angry and that I have broken the rules. Can I suggest that I come into your office at another time to discuss the matter instead of now?"
Harry was still afraid that Draco would be ordered to leave. "Please don't take him away, please!" he cried out, turning to grip Draco's shirt.
Rodgers looked concerned now and seemed at a loss regarding what to do. "I suppose I can see the rest of the house another time," she said grudgingly. "Mr Malfoy, I will expect you in my office tomorrow when Mr Potter comes in for his session with Healer Dodson."
Draco nodded to her, but focused his attention on Harry. He hesitated briefly, but figured at this point there was no use hiding, so he wrapped an arm around Harry's shoulders. "Shhh, it will be okay, Harry," he soothed.
"You promise?" Harry asked and looked up at him, his eyes wet with tears.
Draco led him over to the sofa, ignoring the other Healer now. "We will find a way," he assured him, but felt relieved when Rodgers turned and left the room, heading to the Floo.
Harry nodded, curling up against Draco when they sat down. "I don't like her," he whispered finally, sighing.
Draco nodded. "I suppose not," he agreed, smiling a little as he petted Harry's hair.
"I need you here with me," Harry continued to softly say. "Why can't she see that?"
Draco took a deep breath. "The rules are there to protect patients," he tried to explain. "I broke the law." Draco also worried that he had made Harry dependent upon him. Yet, wasn’t that better than where Harry had been before? Or was Draco being selfish?
"Yeah, well. I don't know what I'd do without you now," Harry mumbled, huffing. "But what will happen to you?"
"I need to contact my solicitor and see what my legal status is, but I seriously doubt that the staff at St Mungo's would want this made public," Draco explained.
"So, that means what?" Harry asked, leaning back to look up at the other man. "They'll fix it quietly?"
Draco carded his fingers gently through Harry's messy hair. "Well, I am probably never going to work at St Mungo's again. But if they arrested me, the publicity would be bad for the hospital too. After all, they did push me to take the case of someone I already had feelings for."
"I'm sorry," Harry sighed. In some way he felt that it was his fault for putting Draco in this situation. He moved and laid down again, his head resting on Draco's lap this time. He was still a little tired, but his head wasn't hurting anymore. "I hope they don't make things change," he murmured. It frightened him to think about going back to living without Draco.
Draco worried, too. He didn't know how the staff at St Mungo's would handle his living arrangements with Harry now. Harry was still a ward of the court, which meant he didn't have the right to choose. It was something else Draco decided to see if his lawyer could help with. "I am right here beside you, love," Draco assured him.
***
Draco Floo-called his solicitor, Mr Benson, a little later and talked about his options. The man's legal advice was that Draco immediately tender his resignation from St Mungo's. Meanwhile, the lawyer would represent Draco if there were any disciplinary action attempted. In addition, the solicitor would be willing to file papers on Harry's behalf to get the man declared competent again.
Draco ended the call and turned back to Harry. "So what do you think?" he asked him.
"I like what he's going to do," Harry said, looking at him from where he sat. He hadn't realised until recently what his legal status was and he found that he didn't like it. "I'm not a child anymore, I don't want to be treated like one."
Draco pulled up a chair and sat down beside Harry. "Well, when you were unable to respond to people, someone had to make decisions for you. You didn't have any remaining wizarding family, so they made you a ward of the Ministry. But now, you can request they give you back control of your life. If you want that."
Harry thought that over again, biting his lip gently. He wanted that control, he guessed, but it still made him a bit nervous. "I ... I want to try," he said, nodding.
Draco reached to cup Harry's cheek. "You have made such amazing progress in the last few months," he assured him.
"Do you think I'm ready to have control of my life again?" Harry asked, trusting that Draco would be honest.
Draco wanted to immediately reassure Harry, but paused, making sure to think before he answered. "I think control is something you can take step by step rather than all or nothing. I think you are well enough to take legal control, to participate and make decisions about your own therapy," Draco explained. "You will probably still need therapy for a while but that doesn't mean you can't make choices about how you want to live your life."
Harry smiled a little, reaching to take Draco's hands in his. "Then I really want to try. Even if it takes a long time," he said, squeezing his hands.
***
The next day they dressed and headed to St Mungo's. Harry had been having weekly sessions with Healer Dodson. Draco smiled encouragingly at Harry as the man made his way into the Healer's counseling room before turning to go to his own meeting with Healer Rodgers.
Harry stepped into the therapy room and made his way to the sofa that he always sat on, waving a little at the Healer.
"Hello, Harry," Dodson said, smiling reassuringly at him. "How are you doing?”
"I'm okay," Harry replied, settling down in one corner of the sofa and looking over at her.
"You want to tell me what happened yesterday?" she asked.
Harry shook his head, looking a little uncomfortable about that. "Do I have to?"
"I think it is important to do so," Dodson said. "How am I to evaluate and help you with how your life is going if you aren't willing to talk about it?"
Harry sighed, looking down at his lap. "The other Healer came to see Draco and me," Harry said quietly.
"Yes, and ...." she prompted.
"She saw us sleeping together," Harry continued.
"Sleeping or having intimate contact?" Dodson asked.
"We were sleeping when she came in," Harry insisted, his cheeks colouring. "But, before that, I guess, it was more ... intimate."
"So your relationship with him is sexual? How do you feel about that?" It was clear she was struggling to remain neutral in tone.
"I liked it and I wanted him to, if that's what you're asking me," Harry answered.
"Were you aware that it was against the rules for him to allow that?"
Harry wasn’t sure if he had known or really understood that at first, despite the fact that Draco did tell him. "Yes, I'm sorry," he said softly.
"The mistake isn't yours, Harry," she assured him. "Malfoy is supposed to be a professional and put your needs first. I am worried that you will suffer because of what he did."
Harry frowned and looked up at the woman, scowling a little at her words. "I'm not suffering because of anything he did. In fact, I'm doing a lot better because of him and only him."
"You are doing so much better. I am concerned as to what would happen if he leaves, though," she explained.
Harry shook his head and looked down again, not sure what to say about that. He thought that if he reacted badly, they would take Draco away from him for sure. "I won't like that," he said after a few minutes.
"Who initiated the physical contact?" she asked.
"I did," Harry answered, remembering that part clearly.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because I wanted to know how it felt, without there being ... pain," Harry admitted.
Her eyes widened a bit. "That makes sense," she said. "How did it go?"
"Good," Harry said, blushing again. "Very good."
"Given your history, it is amazing that you can allow that kind of touch," she said.
"I was really scared, but ... I wanted to know," Harry said, looking up at her again. "Draco was kind enough to show me. Now he's giving me the affection that I've been craving, and ... I'm ... okay."
"That is encouraging," she said. "Have you seen any of your friends?"
"Yeah," Harry said with a small nod. "They visited us a few times."
"What was that like?"
"In the beginning, I was nervous, but ... I missed them," Harry said, smiling a little. "I think I got better at talking to them the more times they came. Draco says we can go see Ron and Ginny play Quidditch."
They talked for a little while longer about his friends and his plans to go out more. He even mentioned going out to dinner at a Muggle restaurant, though he didn't mention getting drunk. She seemed to find his trips out even more encouraging.
***
Draco took a deep breath before knocking on Healer Rodger’s door. She called out “enter” and he did. She was there but so was Healer Braddock, one of the other wizards on the supervisory staff. Draco tensed. Braddock was also the head of the disciplinary committee.
“Mr Malfoy, you know Healer Braddock,” Rodgers said, gesturing toward the chair across from them for Draco to sit.
She had said “Mr” not “Healer” and Draco knew that was a very bad sign. Nor did Braddock offer his hand to Draco. Draco nodded but didn’t sit down. Instead, he pulled out a scroll from his pocket, handing it to Rodgers.
“What’s this?” she asked, eyeing it warily before taking it.
“My letter of resignation from St Mungo’s,” Draco answered, and both the Healers’ frowns deepened.
Rodgers unrolled the scroll and briefly read it, then passed it to Braddock, who glanced over it. “You do know this doesn’t settle the matter?”
“And how do you propose to settle it?” Draco said in what he hoped was a calm voice as he took his seat.
The other two exchanged looks before sitting down as well. “Criminal charges could be brought against you for the abuse of a patient under the Ministry’s care,” Braddock said, clearly watching for Draco’s reaction.
Draco simply arched an eyebrow. “While possible, I do believe that would be quite messy for the hospital,” he responded.
“Regardless of your history, you took the case,” Rodgers insisted. “If you didn’t think you could follow your Healer’s oaths, you should have refused.”
Draco snorted. “I did refuse. And as a beginning Healer here, I wasn’t really given the option. You said, and I quote you on this Healer Rodgers, that ‘the patient's needs are more important than protocol.’”
Her face turned red. “And that justified taking advantage of him sexually?” she asked, voice shrill.
“I will not justify my behaviour .…”
“Good,” she snapped.
“… but I will say that I did not initiate the physical aspects. The important thing here is that Potter is doing better now than at any time since before his capture,” Draco finished.
Braddock raised both eyebrows. “You think the end justifies the means?”
“I believe that was the instruction given to me by this department,” Draco retorted. “Yet, it wasn’t my entire motivation here. I have known Potter half my life and I have … strong feelings for him. I wanted him to be happy. I am in love with him.”
“We could have you removed from Potter’s home or have the patient returned to St Mungo’s for supervised care,” Rodgers said, face still pinched in anger.
“Solicitor Benson is prepared to file an injunction on Harry’s behalf if you attempt that,” Draco said.
Both their eyes widened and Rodgers was gripping the arms of her chair, anger clear in her features. “You are no longer his Healer. How dare you presume to dictate his care,” she hissed.
Draco allowed himself a small smile. “I am not,” he replied. “Your patient is getting better and wants more control of his life. He wants to remain in his home and to continue to improve.”
“I am sure the recommendation of the staff here would be would take precedence over yours, in any legal argument,” Braddock countered.
“Yes, because they did so well with Potter before,” Draco drawled. “I have provided a copy of Potter’s complete file to Solicitor Benson, including my report that charges this hospital with negligence and mismanagement of his care long before I arrived back in England.”
“How dare you!” Rodgers hissed and Braddock held up a hand to quiet her.
The older Healer considered Draco for a minute. “How, in your opinion, was the case mishandled?” Braddock asked.
Draco nodded. “First, the initial report of Potter’s injuries made it clear that he had suffered prolonged and multiple forms of torture. Yet, St Mungo’s staff treated his physical wounds and released him within a month of being admitted. Only a cursory attempt was made to get him to discuss what happened. He was discharged without any plan to follow up on his care.”
“The hospital was full of patients in severe distress, victims of the war and You Know Who’s regime,” Rodgers responded.
Draco nodded. “Regardless, the one who had saved everyone from Voldemort and his followers was not given the treatment he needed, let alone deserved.”
“He had insisted on being discharged,” Rodgers said.
“Yes, he did,” Draco said. “A teenager who had been through more trauma than any one person could be expected to endure insisted he wanted to go home, despite the fact that he didn’t have a family to go home to, and this institution let him do so without even a single follow-up visit. In fact, it wasn’t until he withdrew from everyone, even his closest friends, that he got any help. And it was those friends, not anyone in the Ministry, who found him and brought him here for treatment. Only then, did this department begin his treatment. If he had received treatment early when he could still respond, it may have saved him years of torment.”
Both of the other Healers looked stunned by his argument. Draco could tell they knew he was right. Rodgers wanted to argue against it, but Braddock was nodding. “I see your point, Mr Malfoy,” he acknowledged. “But aren’t you asking that the hospital send him home again without supervision?”
“No,” Draco responded. “I am pointing out that now that Potter is able to participate in his own treatment, that he continue to be given that chance. Let him continue coming here for therapy as long as he is willing. But if he is going to make a life for himself, he needs the chance to make decisions for himself again. And he won’t be alone this time.”
“You will be there?” Rodgers insisted. “What if you abandon him?”
Draco almost laughed at the way she was angry with him for staying one minute and now accusing him of the opposite the next. “I won’t. Yet, that isn’t the issue. The issue is that Potter is doing better in his own home. If my presence is actually helping him, it would be a mistake to interfere with that. Such an emotional loss at this point could cause a relapse.”
“And if the hospital disagrees with you?” Braddock asked, though Draco was sure by then that the man did, in fact, agree.
“Then Potter does have the right not only to challenge that decision but to seek legal redress for the mismanagement of his case in the past,” Draco replied.
“Threatening to sue us if you don’t get your way?” Rodgers demanded indignantly.
Braddock frowned at her and Draco shook his head. “I think you underestimate both Potter’s will in this and the legal situation,” he replied smoothly.
Rodgers opened her mouth to reply but Braddock caught her eyes, shaking his head. The older wizard stood. “We will take all of this into consideration, Mr Malfoy,” he said, holding out his hand to Draco.
Draco stood and shook Braddock’s hand, ignoring Rodgers who sat there looking gobsmacked. “Thank you,” he replied.
He made his way out of the office and couldn't help but grin once he was in the hall. Harry came out a few minutes later and they made their way to their home.
Draco knew this meant he would never work again as a Healer at St Mungo's, or possibly anywhere else for that matter. He realised that his reasons for becoming one had always been personal, driven by his feelings of guilt and failure. Draco thought it ironic, and somehow fitting, if the only person he ever managed to help as a Healer was Potter, the Saviour of the wizarding world, one of the people most damaged by the war and the man Draco loved. If losing his career as a Healer was the price for that, he was satisfied that it was worth it.
Chapter Title: Caught
Words: 3926 Words
Draco woke in his favourite position, curled around Harry with his face pressed against the other man's hair. Today they were naked and the feel of Harry's skin against his own had him aroused already. He thought he heard something and, turning his head, looked back over his shoulder toward the door. There, hand over her mouth and eyes wide in shock, was Healer Rodgers.
Draco's heart sped up and he had the urge to roll out of bed, only to realise that would expose him even more than being found like this.
When her eyes met his, Rodgers seemed to recover and her brows dropped, scowling. She brought her hand down. "Mr Malfoy," she snapped indignantly.
Harry blinked open his eyes when he heard a woman's voice, but he closed them as soon as the light hit them. He groaned and turned over so that he was facing Draco, pressing his face against the man's chest. He thought someone else was in there, but he didn't want to look up and see.
The sinking feeling in Draco's stomach made him feel as if he had been dropped down a hole. He felt the rise of panic. He swallowed hard. "Healer Rodgers," he began, and then took another deep breath. "Please wait for me downstairs. I will be right there."
"Immediately," she barked, then turned and left.
"Harry," Draco said softly. "I need to go downstairs."
Harry leaned back to look at Draco when he heard the woman's voice again, blinking up at him. "Why is she here?" he asked quietly, frowning. He hoped she wasn't here to take him back to the hospital.
"I forgot that they had planned to check your living conditions. I ... I just didn't think she would show up unannounced like this," Draco tried to explain, heart pounding. He kissed Harry's forehead and then moved to get out of bed.
Harry moved to get up as well, the sheet falling away from his chest. "Do I come with you?" he asked, rubbing his eyes wearily.
Draco pulled clothes out of the wardrobe. They had fallen asleep, not only in each other's arms, but naked as well. There was no doubt now about Rodgers knowing what that meant. "You get dressed and I will come up for you after I have talked with her," he assured Harry.
Harry didn't like the sound of that, but he nodded, moving to get out of the bed. He stopped when he reached the edge, though. "My head hurts a little," he said to Draco as he sat there, watching him.
Draco smiled. "Too much wine," he said. He pulled out his potions bag and selected a vial, handing it to Harry. "This should help."
Harry took the potion. Despite knowing that Draco would never give him something that would hurt him, he still hesitated for a long moment before he drank it.
"Very good," Draco encouraged as he finished buttoning his shirt. He gave Harry a quick kiss before heading for the door. He tried not to show how worried he was as he smiled back at him. "I had better go talk with her now."
Harry nodded, looking worried again. "It's not so bad, right? You're not my Healer anymore ... so." He bit his lip and stood up to get dressed.
Draco didn't want to lie to Harry but he was worried about upsetting him. "I think it will be okay," he said. "You get dressed and I will be back up soon."
"Alright," Harry said, finding a pair of jeans and carefully pulling them on. He didn't think he could just stay in this room while they talked, so he was thinking of sneaking out despite what Draco told him.
Draco made his way down the stairs and found Rodgers waiting in the sitting room. She was standing and looking out the window but turned when he entered. Her face was pinched and angry. "Mr Malfoy," she said again. "Do you have a good reason as to why I shouldn't immediately call the Ministry and have you arrested?"
Draco winced. "I know this looks bad," he said.
"Were you or were you not naked in bed with your patient?" she hissed.
He knew it was no use to argue that Harry was no longer his patient. The rules didn't just apply to their current relationship. "I am in love with him," he admitted. "I didn't intend ...." He stopped. This wasn't helping his case and he didn't know what would.
"You have taken advantage of a mentally and emotionally vulnerable patient," she insisted, voice raising now. "I don't know how you can even think to justify that!"
Harry dressed and made his way down the stairs. He held back in the hall, listening. He didn't think Draco had taken advantage of him; he did anything but that.
Draco was shaking. "I know the rules. Yet, I did explain, before you insisted I take this case, that I was too personally involved. And I removed myself from the case as his Healer when I realised I couldn't keep my distance," he explained.
"You should have not only taken yourself off the case, but out of this house!" she declared.
Harry couldn't take it anymore and stepped into the room. "Please stop it," he said to the woman.
Draco turned, heart clenching as he saw his lover. "Harry, you were supposed to wait upstairs."
"I'm sorry," Harry murmured to Draco, not looking away from the Healer who had interrupted their time together. "But you have to stop. Draco's done ... he's done so much for me."
Rodgers frowned. "Mr Potter, I am not angry with you. You haven't done anything wrong and I know you may feel you owe Mr Malfoy."
"I don't feel that I need to owe him anything," Harry said, trying to be firm. "Draco made it clear that I didn't have to do that. I'm not doing that."
Draco was surprised at how calm Harry actually was. He couldn't help but be proud of him in some small way. It seemed standing up to McLaggen had had an even bigger impact than he knew.
"Mr Potter, your health and welfare are my responsibility. Mr Malfoy has broken very important rules that are there to protect you," she explained.
"My health and my welfare? You take him away from me, and I'll be devastated. Don't you care about my happiness, too? I don't have anyone of my own. Do you know how that feels? To not have parents, or any kind of family like that. I never had this chance before, and you have to believe me. Please ..." Harry swallowed and looked down, feeling his eyes burn with tears.
Rodgers looked uncomfortable and glared at Draco. Draco reached a hand out to touch Harry's arm. "Healer Rodgers," he said, "I know you are angry and that I have broken the rules. Can I suggest that I come into your office at another time to discuss the matter instead of now?"
Harry was still afraid that Draco would be ordered to leave. "Please don't take him away, please!" he cried out, turning to grip Draco's shirt.
Rodgers looked concerned now and seemed at a loss regarding what to do. "I suppose I can see the rest of the house another time," she said grudgingly. "Mr Malfoy, I will expect you in my office tomorrow when Mr Potter comes in for his session with Healer Dodson."
Draco nodded to her, but focused his attention on Harry. He hesitated briefly, but figured at this point there was no use hiding, so he wrapped an arm around Harry's shoulders. "Shhh, it will be okay, Harry," he soothed.
"You promise?" Harry asked and looked up at him, his eyes wet with tears.
Draco led him over to the sofa, ignoring the other Healer now. "We will find a way," he assured him, but felt relieved when Rodgers turned and left the room, heading to the Floo.
Harry nodded, curling up against Draco when they sat down. "I don't like her," he whispered finally, sighing.
Draco nodded. "I suppose not," he agreed, smiling a little as he petted Harry's hair.
"I need you here with me," Harry continued to softly say. "Why can't she see that?"
Draco took a deep breath. "The rules are there to protect patients," he tried to explain. "I broke the law." Draco also worried that he had made Harry dependent upon him. Yet, wasn’t that better than where Harry had been before? Or was Draco being selfish?
"Yeah, well. I don't know what I'd do without you now," Harry mumbled, huffing. "But what will happen to you?"
"I need to contact my solicitor and see what my legal status is, but I seriously doubt that the staff at St Mungo's would want this made public," Draco explained.
"So, that means what?" Harry asked, leaning back to look up at the other man. "They'll fix it quietly?"
Draco carded his fingers gently through Harry's messy hair. "Well, I am probably never going to work at St Mungo's again. But if they arrested me, the publicity would be bad for the hospital too. After all, they did push me to take the case of someone I already had feelings for."
"I'm sorry," Harry sighed. In some way he felt that it was his fault for putting Draco in this situation. He moved and laid down again, his head resting on Draco's lap this time. He was still a little tired, but his head wasn't hurting anymore. "I hope they don't make things change," he murmured. It frightened him to think about going back to living without Draco.
Draco worried, too. He didn't know how the staff at St Mungo's would handle his living arrangements with Harry now. Harry was still a ward of the court, which meant he didn't have the right to choose. It was something else Draco decided to see if his lawyer could help with. "I am right here beside you, love," Draco assured him.
***
Draco Floo-called his solicitor, Mr Benson, a little later and talked about his options. The man's legal advice was that Draco immediately tender his resignation from St Mungo's. Meanwhile, the lawyer would represent Draco if there were any disciplinary action attempted. In addition, the solicitor would be willing to file papers on Harry's behalf to get the man declared competent again.
Draco ended the call and turned back to Harry. "So what do you think?" he asked him.
"I like what he's going to do," Harry said, looking at him from where he sat. He hadn't realised until recently what his legal status was and he found that he didn't like it. "I'm not a child anymore, I don't want to be treated like one."
Draco pulled up a chair and sat down beside Harry. "Well, when you were unable to respond to people, someone had to make decisions for you. You didn't have any remaining wizarding family, so they made you a ward of the Ministry. But now, you can request they give you back control of your life. If you want that."
Harry thought that over again, biting his lip gently. He wanted that control, he guessed, but it still made him a bit nervous. "I ... I want to try," he said, nodding.
Draco reached to cup Harry's cheek. "You have made such amazing progress in the last few months," he assured him.
"Do you think I'm ready to have control of my life again?" Harry asked, trusting that Draco would be honest.
Draco wanted to immediately reassure Harry, but paused, making sure to think before he answered. "I think control is something you can take step by step rather than all or nothing. I think you are well enough to take legal control, to participate and make decisions about your own therapy," Draco explained. "You will probably still need therapy for a while but that doesn't mean you can't make choices about how you want to live your life."
Harry smiled a little, reaching to take Draco's hands in his. "Then I really want to try. Even if it takes a long time," he said, squeezing his hands.
***
The next day they dressed and headed to St Mungo's. Harry had been having weekly sessions with Healer Dodson. Draco smiled encouragingly at Harry as the man made his way into the Healer's counseling room before turning to go to his own meeting with Healer Rodgers.
Harry stepped into the therapy room and made his way to the sofa that he always sat on, waving a little at the Healer.
"Hello, Harry," Dodson said, smiling reassuringly at him. "How are you doing?”
"I'm okay," Harry replied, settling down in one corner of the sofa and looking over at her.
"You want to tell me what happened yesterday?" she asked.
Harry shook his head, looking a little uncomfortable about that. "Do I have to?"
"I think it is important to do so," Dodson said. "How am I to evaluate and help you with how your life is going if you aren't willing to talk about it?"
Harry sighed, looking down at his lap. "The other Healer came to see Draco and me," Harry said quietly.
"Yes, and ...." she prompted.
"She saw us sleeping together," Harry continued.
"Sleeping or having intimate contact?" Dodson asked.
"We were sleeping when she came in," Harry insisted, his cheeks colouring. "But, before that, I guess, it was more ... intimate."
"So your relationship with him is sexual? How do you feel about that?" It was clear she was struggling to remain neutral in tone.
"I liked it and I wanted him to, if that's what you're asking me," Harry answered.
"Were you aware that it was against the rules for him to allow that?"
Harry wasn’t sure if he had known or really understood that at first, despite the fact that Draco did tell him. "Yes, I'm sorry," he said softly.
"The mistake isn't yours, Harry," she assured him. "Malfoy is supposed to be a professional and put your needs first. I am worried that you will suffer because of what he did."
Harry frowned and looked up at the woman, scowling a little at her words. "I'm not suffering because of anything he did. In fact, I'm doing a lot better because of him and only him."
"You are doing so much better. I am concerned as to what would happen if he leaves, though," she explained.
Harry shook his head and looked down again, not sure what to say about that. He thought that if he reacted badly, they would take Draco away from him for sure. "I won't like that," he said after a few minutes.
"Who initiated the physical contact?" she asked.
"I did," Harry answered, remembering that part clearly.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because I wanted to know how it felt, without there being ... pain," Harry admitted.
Her eyes widened a bit. "That makes sense," she said. "How did it go?"
"Good," Harry said, blushing again. "Very good."
"Given your history, it is amazing that you can allow that kind of touch," she said.
"I was really scared, but ... I wanted to know," Harry said, looking up at her again. "Draco was kind enough to show me. Now he's giving me the affection that I've been craving, and ... I'm ... okay."
"That is encouraging," she said. "Have you seen any of your friends?"
"Yeah," Harry said with a small nod. "They visited us a few times."
"What was that like?"
"In the beginning, I was nervous, but ... I missed them," Harry said, smiling a little. "I think I got better at talking to them the more times they came. Draco says we can go see Ron and Ginny play Quidditch."
They talked for a little while longer about his friends and his plans to go out more. He even mentioned going out to dinner at a Muggle restaurant, though he didn't mention getting drunk. She seemed to find his trips out even more encouraging.
***
Draco took a deep breath before knocking on Healer Rodger’s door. She called out “enter” and he did. She was there but so was Healer Braddock, one of the other wizards on the supervisory staff. Draco tensed. Braddock was also the head of the disciplinary committee.
“Mr Malfoy, you know Healer Braddock,” Rodgers said, gesturing toward the chair across from them for Draco to sit.
She had said “Mr” not “Healer” and Draco knew that was a very bad sign. Nor did Braddock offer his hand to Draco. Draco nodded but didn’t sit down. Instead, he pulled out a scroll from his pocket, handing it to Rodgers.
“What’s this?” she asked, eyeing it warily before taking it.
“My letter of resignation from St Mungo’s,” Draco answered, and both the Healers’ frowns deepened.
Rodgers unrolled the scroll and briefly read it, then passed it to Braddock, who glanced over it. “You do know this doesn’t settle the matter?”
“And how do you propose to settle it?” Draco said in what he hoped was a calm voice as he took his seat.
The other two exchanged looks before sitting down as well. “Criminal charges could be brought against you for the abuse of a patient under the Ministry’s care,” Braddock said, clearly watching for Draco’s reaction.
Draco simply arched an eyebrow. “While possible, I do believe that would be quite messy for the hospital,” he responded.
“Regardless of your history, you took the case,” Rodgers insisted. “If you didn’t think you could follow your Healer’s oaths, you should have refused.”
Draco snorted. “I did refuse. And as a beginning Healer here, I wasn’t really given the option. You said, and I quote you on this Healer Rodgers, that ‘the patient's needs are more important than protocol.’”
Her face turned red. “And that justified taking advantage of him sexually?” she asked, voice shrill.
“I will not justify my behaviour .…”
“Good,” she snapped.
“… but I will say that I did not initiate the physical aspects. The important thing here is that Potter is doing better now than at any time since before his capture,” Draco finished.
Braddock raised both eyebrows. “You think the end justifies the means?”
“I believe that was the instruction given to me by this department,” Draco retorted. “Yet, it wasn’t my entire motivation here. I have known Potter half my life and I have … strong feelings for him. I wanted him to be happy. I am in love with him.”
“We could have you removed from Potter’s home or have the patient returned to St Mungo’s for supervised care,” Rodgers said, face still pinched in anger.
“Solicitor Benson is prepared to file an injunction on Harry’s behalf if you attempt that,” Draco said.
Both their eyes widened and Rodgers was gripping the arms of her chair, anger clear in her features. “You are no longer his Healer. How dare you presume to dictate his care,” she hissed.
Draco allowed himself a small smile. “I am not,” he replied. “Your patient is getting better and wants more control of his life. He wants to remain in his home and to continue to improve.”
“I am sure the recommendation of the staff here would be would take precedence over yours, in any legal argument,” Braddock countered.
“Yes, because they did so well with Potter before,” Draco drawled. “I have provided a copy of Potter’s complete file to Solicitor Benson, including my report that charges this hospital with negligence and mismanagement of his care long before I arrived back in England.”
“How dare you!” Rodgers hissed and Braddock held up a hand to quiet her.
The older Healer considered Draco for a minute. “How, in your opinion, was the case mishandled?” Braddock asked.
Draco nodded. “First, the initial report of Potter’s injuries made it clear that he had suffered prolonged and multiple forms of torture. Yet, St Mungo’s staff treated his physical wounds and released him within a month of being admitted. Only a cursory attempt was made to get him to discuss what happened. He was discharged without any plan to follow up on his care.”
“The hospital was full of patients in severe distress, victims of the war and You Know Who’s regime,” Rodgers responded.
Draco nodded. “Regardless, the one who had saved everyone from Voldemort and his followers was not given the treatment he needed, let alone deserved.”
“He had insisted on being discharged,” Rodgers said.
“Yes, he did,” Draco said. “A teenager who had been through more trauma than any one person could be expected to endure insisted he wanted to go home, despite the fact that he didn’t have a family to go home to, and this institution let him do so without even a single follow-up visit. In fact, it wasn’t until he withdrew from everyone, even his closest friends, that he got any help. And it was those friends, not anyone in the Ministry, who found him and brought him here for treatment. Only then, did this department begin his treatment. If he had received treatment early when he could still respond, it may have saved him years of torment.”
Both of the other Healers looked stunned by his argument. Draco could tell they knew he was right. Rodgers wanted to argue against it, but Braddock was nodding. “I see your point, Mr Malfoy,” he acknowledged. “But aren’t you asking that the hospital send him home again without supervision?”
“No,” Draco responded. “I am pointing out that now that Potter is able to participate in his own treatment, that he continue to be given that chance. Let him continue coming here for therapy as long as he is willing. But if he is going to make a life for himself, he needs the chance to make decisions for himself again. And he won’t be alone this time.”
“You will be there?” Rodgers insisted. “What if you abandon him?”
Draco almost laughed at the way she was angry with him for staying one minute and now accusing him of the opposite the next. “I won’t. Yet, that isn’t the issue. The issue is that Potter is doing better in his own home. If my presence is actually helping him, it would be a mistake to interfere with that. Such an emotional loss at this point could cause a relapse.”
“And if the hospital disagrees with you?” Braddock asked, though Draco was sure by then that the man did, in fact, agree.
“Then Potter does have the right not only to challenge that decision but to seek legal redress for the mismanagement of his case in the past,” Draco replied.
“Threatening to sue us if you don’t get your way?” Rodgers demanded indignantly.
Braddock frowned at her and Draco shook his head. “I think you underestimate both Potter’s will in this and the legal situation,” he replied smoothly.
Rodgers opened her mouth to reply but Braddock caught her eyes, shaking his head. The older wizard stood. “We will take all of this into consideration, Mr Malfoy,” he said, holding out his hand to Draco.
Draco stood and shook Braddock’s hand, ignoring Rodgers who sat there looking gobsmacked. “Thank you,” he replied.
He made his way out of the office and couldn't help but grin once he was in the hall. Harry came out a few minutes later and they made their way to their home.
Draco knew this meant he would never work again as a Healer at St Mungo's, or possibly anywhere else for that matter. He realised that his reasons for becoming one had always been personal, driven by his feelings of guilt and failure. Draco thought it ironic, and somehow fitting, if the only person he ever managed to help as a Healer was Potter, the Saviour of the wizarding world, one of the people most damaged by the war and the man Draco loved. If losing his career as a Healer was the price for that, he was satisfied that it was worth it.