The Lost Time
Author: Freyja
Warnings: Slash, Spoilers for HBP
Category: Angst, romance. Maybe a bit dark
Pairings: Harry/ Draco
Disclaimer: Not mine, not mine, I'm just a poor college student.
Author's notes: Hullo, this is my first attempt to write HD slash, so please be kind to me.
Beta: Oliver1234
Prologue
"Have you found something?" Kingsley shouted loudly. His voice echoed through the manor.
"Not yet, sir," Ian McKnight, one of the senior members on Kingsley's investigation team answered.
Harry, as a part of the team, quietly examined each room of Malfoy Manor. It was not an easy job, considering the Manor's width was greater then that of Hogwarts. It had been already three days and they hadn't found anything yet.
"Sir, are you sure we'll find something here? Those Malfoys may be fucked up, but they're not stupid. How is it possible that they are hiding such important things like Horcruxes in the first place their enemies would be likely to look?" Ian protested while rummaging through a huge cupboard in the eighth bedroom they had inspected today.
"Are you sure you will be able to search EVERY hidden room in this damned manor if you keep slacking off!" Kingsley retorted, "This manor was built almost 400 years ago. Only God knows how many hidden rooms and passages this building has. But thanks to Miss Granger and her invention, a detector pendant which detects any wards and charms, our job is marginally easier. I certainly you haven't neglected the pendant Ian. It will be a key component to our investigation!"
"Yes sir….," came Ian's weak reply.
When Kingsley was out of earshot, Ian turned to Harry, "Easy for him to say! He just bosses us around! Look at this cupboard, full with dusts and spider webs! How annoying!"
Harry snickered. He knew Ian was a pretty good auror, but this whiny characteristic made him unbearable sometimes. "Patient, mate. When we find something useful, I'm sure he'll let us back," he soothed him.
Ian snorted and lifted his wand to repel a spell. Suddenly the pendant shone brightly and pulled Ian into the cupboard.
"UAAHHHHHH!" Ian shrieked, shortly accompanied with a dull sound as if something heavy had hit the floor.
"IAN! Are you all right!" Harry rushed inside the cupboard and stared in amazement at the big hole in it's side.
"LUMOS!" he flicked his wrist and a narrow stairway was revealed.
"Ian! Are you all right in there? Wait, I'm coming!" Carefully Harry stepped onto the narrow stairs.
"Gah! I'm all right, but my arse is killing me! Ouch! Fucking cupboard!" Ian swore colorfully.
Harry sighed in relief when he heard Ian's loud complaints. Descending the bottom of the staircase, Harry found Ian standing in the center of what looked to be a small clearing, carefully dusting off his pants. "You should be thankful. If these stairs went down further, your skull would likely be smashed right now".
"I'll be thankful after I kick those Malfoy ancestors who built this stupid building," Ian grumbled then swung his wand, "Lumos!"
Harry looked around and saw another staircase just in front of them. "Look, there's a way to go further down. Let's go," Harry walked toward the stairs.
"Wait, Harry, don't you think we should inform Kingsley first? He'll be pissed off if we don't tell him immediately," Ian frowned.
"Let's go first, after all if we find nothing there, he'll be more pissed off at us for leading him on a wild goose chase," Harry replied stubbornly. Ian reluctantly nodded and followed at his heels.
The steps were narrow and rough, while the walls on their side were made from un-plastered brick. The only lights afforded to them were from their wands, making it quite difficult to step down. The air was humid and cold, and the atmosphere was suffocating.
Harry shivered as the first trace of magic hit him, growing ever stronger as they ascended further into the darkness. "Can you feel that?" He turned to faced Ian, "I'm sure there is powerful magic here".
Harry had worked as an auror for five years now, and his senses had greatly improved from when he was a student at Hogwarts. He was tuned into feeling all different types of magic but he had never felt magic quite as strong as the current one.
Ian replied, "Yes, I can feel it but what kind of spell is this? It doesn't seem to contain the components of a harmful spell, but i don't think it's quite a protection spell either."
"I don't know, but it must be extraordinary magic to be able make your pendant react like it did." Harry grabbed his pendant and gasped as he felt it vibrating.
"Hey, the stairs end here. Let's go further in," Harry stepped down the last steps and rushed forward, but a strong ward flung him backwards, causing a collision between himself and Ian.
"OUCH! Be careful, man! I told you my arse hurts!" Ian swore.
Harry smiled sheepishly and helped Ian to stand up, "Sorry, I'm a bit impatient."
"Finite Incantatem." With a flick of his wand, Harry tore through the ward. "Here we go…"
They walked carefully through a dusty and cold corridor. After a while they found a heavy metal door.
"Strange, This one is unlocked and un-warded," Ian commented.
They entered the room and suddenly the candles and torches sprung to life. Grateful for the light they surveyed the room's interior. Harry shuddered. He didn't like the vibrations he was picking up. It felt as if time was slower here.
"This is dark magic….and strong," Harry commented.
He examined the room slowly. This room looked like it had been used as a library, with bookshelves placed on one side of the room. On the other side were a few lounging chairs, a wooden table, and a stone fireplace. In the far wall, there was another door.
Ian examined the books on the shelves and whistled. "Whoa, I've never seen so many books filled on dark magic! This collection puts the Library we have in the Ministry to shame," Ian spoke in awe.
Paying the books no attention, Harry walked up to the door. "Alohomora!" he flicked his wand at the large brass lock. The lock jolted but did not break. "Finite incantatum!" he felt a ward broken. Slowly he pushed the door.
"Ian, come look at this," Harry called behind him.
Cold air flowed through the door. Harry can fell the magical pull stronger here. "Be careful. Somethings not right here. Maybe you'd better go and inform Kingsley about this ," Harry raised his wand apprehensively and stepped inside another corridor.
Ian snorted, "And leave you alone here? No, it'll be too dangerous. I'll follow you and we can tell Kingsley later." Harry shrugged.
They walked for a little while longer, when suddenly something cause Harry to gasp.
In front of them, a skeleton lay on the floor. Long silvery hair sprawled across the stone, the gown she used still covering her still form, her wand placed not far from her right hand. Harry gaped at her before gently stepping over her body and up to the great oak door in front of him.
"Alohamora" he whispered and the lock clattered to the ground. The magical pull was almost unbearable now. Harry cautiously pushed the door open and stared in perplexed horror at the sight in front of him.
A gigantic ice like crystal stood up proudly, magical threads clearly flowing out from it's center, making it uncommonly cold. Inside the crystal, a young boy stood motionlessly, safely warded from the world around him. The boy's features brought Harry's memories back to the night when Dumbledore was murdered.
"This can't….he is…," Harry sputtered.
Ian gaped, "Impossible. As far I know, there's no magic able to do something like this."
The boy's eyes were closed, his expression one of blessed peace. His pale skin glowed against the silvery color of the crystal like structures. His platinum blonde hair turned the purest silver; his facial structure and build reminiscent of when Harry had last seen him... that fateful night 7 years ago.
Inside the crystal barrier, Draco Malfoy slept peacefully, innocently tucked away from the horrors of the outside world.
To be continued….
