Not Alone

In Family Ties, Dean Thomas learned the truth about his father. Gary Heaton had been a trainee Healer when Voldemort first came into the open, and he left the healing college to become an Auror. He took part in an investigation which caught serial killer Jack Webster - but not before he came after Gary who had to leave his wife and his six week old son to avoid Webster finding them.

Dean's mother, Allison, did not tell Dean that her current husband was not his birth father. She had been left very hurt when Gary had left her telling her that there was someone else. Dean confronted her and she admitted the truth, and was horrified when she learned the real truth about Gary's life and why he had left them.

When Dean learned that Gary had died to protect them, and that Webster had been convicted, he viewed a memory of the trial with Dumbledore's help. In this memory, he saw Webster convicted with the help of a Ministry Legillimens expert, and saw a woman with a small child who was obviously Gary's relative. This woman married after his father died... and her married name was Gina Jordan. Dean had found new family - in Lee Jordan and his mother.

Jack Webster is now dead, he escaped Azkaban with the other Death Eaters who broke out during Order of the Phoenix, Voldemort killed him as he's a liability to them when they needed to work in secret. Whose memory Dumbledore showed him to prove this to Dean remained a mystery.

Dear Mr Thomas

I regret to inform you that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will not be reopening this year or for the foreseeable future. As a student with O.W.L.s already, you may be able to apply for various jobs or internships; many places need new recruits during these dark times. You may contact me for any references you need.

I wish you all the best for the future, and hope that we may see you again at Hogwarts someday.

Sincerely

Professor M McGonagall

Dear Mr Thomas

It might be possible to get you into a new programme being introduced at St Mungo's Healing College. As you can imagine, there is an urgent call for Healing staff thanks to the victims of Dark Arts being practiced. They are going to accept students educated below N.E.W.T. level, though they are specifying the O.W.L.s required, at Exceeds Expectations. It will help that you have a year of N.E.W.T. level study of the appropriate subjects under your belt already. Fortunately, I am on good terms with Cayenne Willows who heads up the college, and I will send her an owl of reference for you; she taught your father when he was there. He was well known and liked and this will also count in your favour.

Best Wishes

Professor H Slughorn

Dear Mr Thomas

I am pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into the early admissions training at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. You have been assigned a room in the training level of the hospital.

Term begins on the first of August. You may arrive by Floo powder, Apparition or through the visitor's entrance through Purge and Dowse Ltd. Proceed to the seventh floor where there will be someone to show you to your room.

Please find enclosed a list of equipment and books required.

We hope you will be an asset to the hospital in these dark times.

Sincerely

Madam C Willows

Chief Healer.

On the morning of July twenty-ninth, Dean Thomas woke up to the familiar sound of flapping wings, followed by the thump of something landing on his stomach. He felt a nip on his finger and heard a low hoot that Dean knew by now meant: "Get up, or next time it will be harder."

Dean blinked blearily in the sunlight shining in through his skylight and reached out to stroke his owl, Helios. He gave him a vole flavoured owl treat from the bag he kept on his bedside table for him; Helios always liked to have a treat after he'd brought the newspaper. The owl blinked his large eyes at him and gave a muffled hoot of thanks before taking off for his perch.

Dean unrolled his copy of the Daily Prophet with some trepidation. Ever since Lord Voldemort had had Albus Dumbledore killed, there had been no incidents of attacks on anyone or any Death Eater activity.

Today was no different. The headline was about the Minister for Magic having donated two thousand galleons to a fund who helped witches and wizards who had been affected by the war. War... no one has heard anything about him since Dumbledore died... He rose and dressed quickly; he had a lot to get through today, and knew he'd have to fight with his mother first.

* ~ *

"I have to go, Mum! I have to get everything I need to start the course."

His mother looked at him, her large brown eyes misted with tears. "Isn't there anyone who could go with you?"

"None of my friends are entering this programme. Besides, I'll be on my own a lot when I start the course."

"At least then you'll be in a busy hospital." She sighed deeply. "All right, just do me a favour and try to be back by four, will you?"

She kissed him on the cheek. "I'll try, Mum. I'll see you later."

He turned to the huge new fireplace his mum had had installed last summer. He took a small packet from his pocket, emptied its contents into his hand, and then threw it into the flames. He watched the flames turn green and leap up; looking frightening if you didn't know that was what was supposed to happen. He ducked down slightly to step in and yelled, "Diagon Alley!"

Dean had always loved this method of travel; it was warm and he loved the swooping feeling he got in his stomach and the adrenaline rush. He stepped out of the fireplace into the Leaky Cauldron, which was empty but for Tom the barman and a woman sitting at the bar. She had her back to him and all he could see was long, brown hair with dark gold and copper highlights that fell all the way to her waist in loose curls. With a nod of acknowledgement to Tom, Dean headed out the back door to the concealed entrance to Diagon Alley.

The street was very quiet, almost deserted. The few people who were there were moving quickly in packs, talking little and looking frightened. He was the only one who was alone, and people looked at him suspiciously.

Dean consulted his list and headed towards Flourish and Blotts to get his books: A Beginners Guide to Healing Charms, Advanced Antidotes, Advanced Reverse Transfiguration, Defensive Magic Against Bodily Harm and Magical Healing Plants and Their Properties. He paid for his purchases with the last of his Wizarding money and arranged to pick the books up later in the afternoon as they were very heavy. He headed for Gringotts, keeping his head down and not making eye contact with any passing groups.

A painful hour later, Dean re-emerged from Gringotts, clutching a large bag of gold he'd exchanged from Muggle money. I see they haven't lessened security... Wincing as he walked, he headed for Madam Malkin's for the green robes he was required to wear.

Madam Malkin seemed very glad for the custom, even if she was not her usual cheerful self. He bought four sets of the green robes and paid to have her attach the St Mungo's emblem to the chest of each one. Next, he replenished his basic potions kit in the apothecary, adding several ingredients he'd never used before to his stock on the advice of the assistant when he told him that he was joining St Mungo's. These new materials included phoenix blood and tears, Murtlap growths, Ramora eggs, and powdered unicorn horn.

After buying himself a stack of new parchment, six new quills and a dozen bottles of ink, he stopped by Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes in the hope that Lee might be around. His cousin, Lee, often spent his days with the Weasley twins, whom he'd been close friends with at Hogwarts. Of all the quiet shops on the street, the Weasleys' was the busiest. People needed a reason to laugh these days and the Weasleys' had also developed a range of defensive objects, such as Shield Hats and Shield Cloaks.

Lee was talking to who Dean thought was Fred behind the counter. George was demonstrating a daydream charm to two teenage girls. As Dean approached the counter, Lee looked up and smiled.

"Hey mate, whatcha up to?"

"Getting everything ready to start St Mungo's."

Lee nodded. "Mum told me you got in; good for you. She said Uncle Gary always wanted to be a Healer."

Dean smiled sadly. "I know. This isn't how I imagined getting in, though."

"How many extra years is this new course?"

"It depends on how much you know already. One of Slughorn's letters said something about a test to gauge your knowledge. They must set out individual courses of study or something."

"Hey Dean, what can we do you for?"

Dean turned to see George standing behind him. While the twins were still reasonably friendly toward Dean, they hadn't been quite the same since Dean had split with their little sister Ginny just a few months ago.

"Just called in to see if you guys had any Shield Cloaks left?"

"Let me check in the back, there might be one or two."

George headed for the back room, and Fred followed him. Lee sat down on the stool Fred had vacated behind the counter. Dean leaned against the counter, a bit more relaxed now the twins had left.

"So, how is Aunt Gina anyway?" Dean asked.

"Tense, like everyone. She hates me going out alone, but Fred and George have had the fireplace in the back room connected to the Floo Network, so she's a bit happier that I come straight here, then back again. Looking forward to starting at St Mungo's?"

"I suppose so; it's going to be hard, that much I know."

Lee nodded. "Mum still has some of Uncle Gary's old tests and notes and stuff, it looked complicated enough when you had your N.E.W.T.s. Maybe I'll ask her if you can have them."

"That would be great, thanks." Dean glanced at his watch. "I'd better head back; I've got to pick up my books at Flourish and Blotts."

"All right. FRED!" Lee called.

Fred stuck his head through the curtain that led to the back room.

"What?"

"Is it all right if Dean uses your fireplace to get home?"

Fred regarded Dean coolly. "I suppose so."

Dean felt a brief flash of anger. "You know, she dumped me! It's not like I broke her heart or something!"

Fred narrowed his eyes and withdrew his head. Lee looked a little startled; Dean rarely got angry enough to raise his voice.

"Sorry, Lee. I'll be back as soon as I've got the books."

Flourish and Blotts was still deserted when he got there. He picked up his books and was reaching awkwardly for the door handle when it was pushed open. Adjusting the large package of books, Dean was able to make out Ernie MacMillan, a Hufflepuff who'd been a member of the DA in fifth year with Dean.

"Hey Ernie, didn't expect to see you here."

"You too! What are you doing here?" Ernie regarded the hastily wrapped books Dean was balancing in his arms. "Advanced Antidotes?" Ernie looked at a piece of parchment in his hand. "Are you doing the early admissions course at St Mungo's?"

Dean was stunned. "Yeah, are you?"

"Yeah! I got Outstandings in all my O.W.L.s but Transfiguration, and a reference from Professor McGonagall settled the rest. How did you get in? I didn't know you did so well on your O.W.L.s?"

"Slughorn got me in."

Ernie raised his eyebrows. "I didn't know you were a Slughorn favourite."

"I wasn't, but my father was. I think that helped a bit."

Ernie nodded. "Well, it's good that I'll know someone else there. I'll see you on Friday then."

Ernie held the door open for him and Dean said his thanks as he passed, barely holding on to the books now. The chat with Ernie meant he'd been holding the heavy books longer than his arms liked.

When he got back to the Weasleys' joke shop, George had a Shield Cloak ready for him. "Thanks, George. Oh, I nearly forgot! It's Neville's birthday tomorrow. Got any cards or good birthday gifts?"