Heal Thyself

by Astolat

Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling
Relationship: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter
Words: 46906

"Are you going for the course?" Lovegood asked. "You have the NEWTs.”

“What course?” Draco said, then, “No, don’t be ridiculous,” when he realized she meant the notice pinned up on the board he’d been staring at: Applicants To The Introductory Mediwizard Course For The Coming Term Shall Present Themselves In The Chief Mediwizard’s Office By August 24th.

“Oh, I thought you might,” she said. “Well, goodbye.” And off she wandered again in her addled way.

Genres: Fan Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Harry Potter

148 pages, ebook

First published April 7, 2022

About the author

I've written fanfic and made vids in a really ridiculous number of fandoms. Over the years, I've also used the pseudonyms shalott and the lady of shalott. All my work is available on the AO3 and you can also find me online in various other places.

http://ao3.org/users/astolat
http://astolat.dreamwidth.org/
http://astolat.livejournal.com/
http://astolat.tumblr.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/astolatvids
http://intimations.org/fanfic/ (outdated)

You are welcome to add and review any of my stories here if you like, and I also love comments at AO3 or any of my other online haunts. I also have a blanket permission policy for noncommercial transformative work of my work (eg, podfic, remix, fanart, etc) -- I love to be linked to anything you do, but you don't need to ask permission.

Reviews

[wasteland baby · Rating 4 out of 5]

a classic astolat fic vibe tbh - she does love her a Main Character(tm)!! not my favorite flavor of drarry but obviously incredibly solid. also @kathleen your enquiries for fic recs threw me deep into this rabbit hole, i hope you're pleased with yourself!!

[Chen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Been wandering around the depths of astolat's ao3 account too long to not count at least 1 of her works towards my reading goal. Thought this was funny bc of her intense woobification and plot armouring of Draco yet at the same time highlighting his trademark patheticness. Also tbh if drarry were to ever work out this would be the realistic interpretation--as in it would take both of them 13 odd years of fucking around and the crippling realisation of their own loneliness to get together

[William_Furneaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally don't post fanfic on goodreads, but this work has legitimately some of the best character development I have ever read. You begin by not really liking the protagonist very much at all, and then it Hits. It makes me feel emotions about life that I don't think any other written work has. Like, very rarely do I feel mournful and inspired and more at peace with being alive after reading something, but here we are. It would have six stars, except it lost one because I don't really enjoy romance very much, and so the last eighth was a bit less interesting for me. That being said, Astolat's uninteresting writing is still extremely brilliant by any normal standard. If you were ever in the Harry Potter fandom, you should read this.

[Paola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short fanfic about the redemption of Draco Malfoy, definitely a good read if you like Draco.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Draco’s shining light
(and labor) defeat death, darkness;
win fame, friends, and love.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

“If it had been up to him, back at the time, he’d gladly have sentenced Draco to 10-to–15 years of his life doing penance. He’d never have imagined that Draco would *choose* to do it on his own, though.”

Draco goes to wizard med school. Initially it’s for petulant reasons, but eventually he finds a calling for it. He’s still an arrogant git, though. Think House MD for spell damage.

This story is proof that fanfic can be as good as pro-fic. In fact it was written by a Nebula Award winner, and it is just so good! I reread it last night on a whim and realized I’d never recommended here yet.

[Abhi]

so sweet so precious

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best fanfic focusing on Draco's developement.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first foray into reading Drarry that didn’t start as a joke among friends and man, I loved it. Definitely could have easily gone done the Dramione route too imo. The characterization of Draco and his self development felt really well thought out and thorough. I just love Healer Draco and the opening with Luna was a strong start for getting me hooked. Also, I really just love fics with the older characters where you get a bit more of the wizarding world and how they’ve learned to move through it. Also, characterization of the Golden Trio was Spot on. I cackled to myself over them. I also loved having things primarily from Draco’s point of view.

[Beth Dettman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing story. The insight into these characters was just so good. I have to admit that I only read it because of the author, but I'm so glad I did. I did not see these characters together in any way before reading it, but the author did such a good job taking the time to delve into these guys that it was quite believable by the end! I would recommend anything by this author.

[Livia Forsans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning fic ! A beautiful redemption journey that keeps you breathless until the end.
One of the best Dracos ever written.

[Mindy Schaper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a big fan fic reader. I read HP fan fic when I was a kid and then Webtoon fan fic a few years ago and that was it.

But the Internet led me to Astolat and I am in LOVE.

I devoured this in nearly one sitting.

I've been rereading the HPs recently and have been struck by just how awful Draco is.
To see his redemption here is quite compelling.

Story thoughts: I think he beat himself up too much, and I was surprised by two things: how rashly he signed up for that course, and how quickly Harry grew interested in him. I also don't understand how both could go about their lives so lonely for so long. I'd go mad.

Now, the writing. Oh my goodness gracious insert exclamatory remarks- the writing is so beautiful. I wish I could write like that.

I can't describe what it is but I know it is tender and sensitive and soulful and wends its way into my heart and makes me feel soft and sweet and thoughtful inside. Without being melodramatic or sentimental.

Just a pure delight.

It also put me back into being a young person and teenager reading the stories as they came out. Harry Potter is undoubtedly the series that shaped my life the most, and this fan fic evoled some of the same deep immersion that I had then.

The magic here is more poetic and nebulous than JK's, and this writing is more beautiful and poetic imo, rather than descriptive, but it has that rich world that put me back to 20 years ago.

And it focuses on the inner world, which is my favorite thing about books.

What a true true delight. I can't wait to read the other stories.

- Update: Having read a few of the other Drarry stories, this one is the best. It covers the longest span of time and gives the most time for Harry and Draco's relationship to develop. Draco undergoes a true transformation and we get to see his true regret and guilt. Harry gets to see this transformation, and we also see why Draco would particularly like to be with Harry as proof of his ultimate redemption. The other stories (so far) have them together either during their period of antagonism or right after. I can't see them getting together so quickly after that. This fic gave them the space and time they needed to grow close.

[VdMagallon · Rating 3 out of 5]

No es lo que estaba buscando, aunque es culpa mía. La historia tiene potencial y el cambio de Draco está bien desarrollado, pero yo iba buscando un romance y apenas tiene un par de páginas. Para mí, demasiadas descripciones sobre hechizos o maleficios que solo hacen que te pierdas en la lectura porque llega un momento que eres incapaz de seguir el hilo de la oración. Me hubiese gustado que se apareciese más la amistad entre hermione, ron o luna con Draco, que apenas coinciden. Un libro bastante pesado, aunque interesante

[Roxana Chirilă · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm usually not a fan of doctor!stories, but this one's lovely. Draco is in St. Mungo's where his father is treated for a magical malady when he signs up for healing classes out of a need to do something - even if there are endless sacrifices he needs to make for his new career.

I love how naturally the story flows. I love Draco's progress, the subtlety in handling his character, the way it stays true to the original, while adding an extra layer of interpretation.

[Nova · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved it. The process of Draco learning and finally seeing all his work paying off, but not yet understanding that he'd healed himself along the way is so beautifully done. The way that he refuses to let himself get attached for fear of hurting the other person is so HIM. This fic is one of very few that changed how I think about love.

[paulita · Rating 5 out of 5]

para la cantidad de veces que he leído heal thyself ya es hora de que lo agregue en mi lista de leídos. y es de naomi novik entonces técnicamente cuenta como un mini libro.
sí, 5 estrellas para una fanfic drarry en el 2025 Y QUÉEEEE!!!!!!!
you gotta give tens where tens are due

[jenn ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love healer draco

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evolução do Draco: perfeito
Não deve desenvolvimento do relacionamento, muito rápido.

[光彩 · Rating 5 out of 5]

just incredible

[Airi · Rating 4 out of 5]

2023: 4 stars

[fandomprincess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man do I wish this was like 200k words instead because it was so good. Not really a romance at all but I just loved this story.

[Brittingbloom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was was a slow, Draco-centric one shot. I liked the pacing, focus on healing, and the fact that Harry and Ron were both completely numb-skulls. Fresh and well-written.

[Tailtiu · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/382...