Summary: Lucius was on a mission to erase Harry Potter's mind so it would be easier for the Dark Lord to get to him. But the mission goes awry and the wrong person's memory gets erased…D/G
Disclaimer: Me do not own anything in this story except for any new characters that might appear and the plot. The rest belongs to J.K. Rowling!
Author's Note: I know Behind the Open Door is still not finished but this short story came to mind and I just wanted to finish it up. So here it is! Behind the Open Door will still be updated regularly. This is a short ficlet! I repeat: SHORT FICLET! I'm estimating 2-4 long chapters! Enjoy!
Slipping Away Slowly
! Chapter 1: Erasing; The Beginning !
Draco rounded the corner, whistling happily. It wasn't like Draco to whistle but this wasn't a regular day. He smirked as Harry and his posse brushed past him.
"Better watch your back today, Potter," Draco said snidely.
"What's that supposed to mean Malfoy?" asked Harry.
"Watch your back, Potter," Draco repeated as he strode past Harry happily.
"What's up with Malfoy?" asked Ron. Hermione and Harry shrugged.
"If he didn't threaten me everyday then I'd think he was sick or something," Harry joked.
"Guess you're right," Ron agreed.
"Harry Potter," drawled a very familiar voice. Harry, Hermione, and Ron spun around to meet Lucius's pale face and long dazzling blond hair.
"What are you doing here?" asked Harry who found his voice the quickest out of the three. Draco stood behind the trio, watching it all happily with a huge grin on his face.
"That's none of your business. Now if the mudblood and weasel were to leave we could discuss something," Lucius growled.
"Don't you dare call Hermione a mudblood!" roared Ron as he whipped out his wand and pointed it at Lucius.
"Ron, no. Hermione please leave with Ron," Harry ordered holding an outraged Ron away from Lucius.
"But, Harry, we can't leave you alone with him!" Hermione cried.
"Hermione, please! I've got to deal with him on my own!" Harry pleaded. Hermione looked at Harry with worry, but she had an idea.
"Come on, Ron, let's go," she said as she grabbed Ron's hand and dragged him away with trouble for Ron was dying for a go at Lucius.
"But we can't leave Harry alone!" cried Ron.
"Shhhhh," Hermione said as the walked up the moving stairway away from Lucius and Harry. 'I've got a plan' she whispered into Ron's ear and he instantly shut up.
"So, what do you want?" Harry asked.
"It's simple. Since the Dark Lord cannot destroy you with all those charms and spells in your head, we'll need to remove them," Lucius said as he took out his wand slowly and ran his finger on it.
"What are you hinting at? Are you here to erase my memory?" asked Harry, stepping back slowly with his wand out in front of him.
"Yes, that's exactly why I'm here. And I'm not leaving until I've succeeded," Lucius snarled.
"Dumbledore will hear of this from my friends! He'll come after you!" Harry cried.
"But until he comes, I can have my fun! Crucio!" Lucius cried. Harry dropped to the floor, writhing in pain. Why was he so stupid as to send his friends away? But somehow he knew that they had a plan. Harry blocked off the spell after a few seconds and jumped to his feet.
"Stupefy!" Harry cried. Lucius dodged the spell and it missed him. 'I hope they come back with some help soon!' Harry thought as he struggled to avoid Lucius's spells.
The whole time Draco stood behind them, watching the duel, smirking. Hermione and Ron were trying to get the gargoyles to let them in, but were having some trouble.
Harry was getting tired and he knew Lucius was just getting warmed up. Lucius saw him weakening.
"I've finally got you. In a few minutes, you will remember nothing and the Dark Lord will finally be able to defeat you!" cackled Lucius evilly.
"Who says you'll win?" asked Harry as he dodged a Stunning Spell.
"Obliviate!" cried Lucius.
It happened, slowly.
Harry quickly ducked, tripped, and fell flat on his face. The spell went whizzing behind him and it hit the boy that had been standing behind Harry, causing him to collapse.
Lucius froze. The mission had gone wrong. He wasn't supposed to hit his own son! Out of nowhere, Dumbledore, Hermione, and Ron came into the scene.
"Lucius, what a surprise!" Dumbledore said as he gazed around the hallway.
"He didn't it was a pleasant surprise," Ron whispered into Hermione's ear as she giggled faintly.
"Albus," Lucius stated in shock.
Then Dumbledore's eyes fell on Draco on the floor, fainted.
"And what happened here?" Dumbledore asked, pointing to Draco.
"Lucius tried to erase my memory but hit Malfoy's instead!" answered Harry.
"Oh dear," Dumbledore said. "Lucius, if you will follow me please. The three of you, will you please see to it that Mr. Malfoy is delivered to the Hospital Wing immediately. Thank you."
With that Dumbledore, followed by Lucius, made their way up to Dumbledore's office as the trio stayed behind with an unconscious Draco.
"So, who's going to take him to the hospital wing?" asked Ron.
"I don't think anyone's going to volunteer so why don't I just float him up there?" offered Hermione.
"Fine with me," Harry said.
"Me, too," Ron agreed. Hermione took out her wand and with a few words Draco was floating in midair. They all clambered up to the Hospital Wing without passing any students to question them luckily.
When they got to the hospital wing, Madame Pomfrey created a huge fuss.
"What's the matter with him? How did this happen?" she asked as she placed Draco on a white bed.
"Um, he was wiped out with a Memory Charm," Hermione said.
"Oh dear! We can't fix that. He must be sent to St. Mungo's straight away!" Madame Pomfrey cried as she paced around the room nervously.
"Prof. Dumbledore told us to bring him up here," Ron said.
"But if Poppy says we must send him to St. Mungo's, then off to St. Mungo's he goes!" said Dumbledore as he walked into the room. "Severus will be taking him momentarily, would any of you like to join him?"
Hermione, Ron and, Harry all glanced at each other.
"Um, no thanks."
"Sorry, but I've got a lot of work to do."
"Malfoy doesn't need us."
"Okay, that's fine. Good afternoon," Dumbledore said and with that he was off.
The trio took one last glance at Draco and walked out of the Hospital Wing discussing what they thought was going to happen to Draco.
A few minutes later Draco and Snape had arrived at St. Mungo's. Draco was still unconscious. He was placed in a ward and Snape spent the day with him. Unfortunately for the trio who would've loved to have had a substitute for Potions, it was a Saturday and there was no class.
The trio had arrived at their dormitories earlier that day after the incident and were busy talking when Ginny walked in with Colin.
"Hey Ginny! Guess what happened today?" asked Ron as he leaped out of his seat, eager to tell the story.
Ginny looked at Colin, dumbstruck. "What?"
"Lucius tried to wipe out Harry's memory but it backfired and hit his own son instead! Malfoy junior is now in St. Mungo's probably still faint!" cried Ron happily.
"Is he alright?" asked Ginny. Draco had never made fun of her particularly so she had never hated him though she didn't find it amusing when he teased Ron. But one thing she could never deny was that he was handsome.
There was an eerie silence.
"Gin, did you hear me? Draco Malfoy's at St. Mungo's!" Ron exclaimed happily.
"Ginny, Malfoy's at St. Mungo's with a memory loss and you're asking if he's alright?" Harry said aghast.
"He's still a human-being. We still have to care about him!" Ginny argued.
"But it's Malfoy we're talking about! He doesn't care for us! Why should we care for him?" asked Ron.
"You're hopeless!" Ginny said as she stormed out of the dormitory.
"I don't understand her!" Ron cried.
"Ron, I think Ginny just feels sorry for him. I mean, he never did bother her, only us," Hermione explained. Ron groaned and went back to studying with Harry.
Dumbledore's Office:
"Prof. Dumbledore! Professor!" cried Ginny as she knocked on Dumbledore's door.
The door creaked open.
"Ah, Miss Weasley, what a surprise. How may I help you?" asked Dumbledore as he waved for her to come in and sat down.
She preferred to stay standing. "Prof. may I go visit Malfoy at St. Mungo's?" She hoped he wouldn't ask too many questions.
"Somehow, I knew you would ask me that. Of course, but I need a teacher to go with you. I shall ask Severus to accompany you, is that fine?"
Ginny wanted to say no. "Yes, that's fine." But she couldn't. She just wanted to make sure Draco was alright, that's all, right?
St. Mungo's Ward for Memory Loss:
Snape and Ginny walked in. Colin decided to stay at school with Luna so Ginny went alone. Draco was all the way at the end of the room near the window. He was looking outside. Ginny walked over to him slowly.
"H-hi M-malfoy," Ginny stuttered, unsure of whether he remembered who he was.
"And you are?" Draco asked as he turned around.
"G-Ginny Weas-ley," Ginny replied hesitantly.
"Ginny, lovely name," Draco said. Ginny gulped, he didn't remember his hatred for Weasleys! Snape stood behind Ginny, uncertain of Draco's behavior.
"Thanks," Ginny mumbled. "I-I just w-wanted to make sure you were al-alright."
"Alright? Why, what happened to me?" asked Draco.
"You were hit with a m-memory loss charm," Ginny replied.
"Really? By who?" asked Draco."No reason to bother you with that answer now, Draco. Miss Weasley you may stay longer. I shall leave you two alone as I busy myself outside with some other work," Snape said as he exited the room.
"Do you remember anything?" Ginny asked.
Draco scrunched up his face in thought.
"Um, I remember I…I'm a wizard! And I…go to Hogwarts!" Draco exclaimed, proud of himself for remembering.
"Hey, you do remember some things!" Ginny said.
"Where am I?" asked Draco as he looked around.
"You're at a hospital for wizards and witches," Ginny explained.
"You have nice hair. It's really red," Draco noted. Ginny giggled. "Your eyes remind me of little caramel candies. Speaking of which, I'd love to have some now." Ginny blushed.
"Thanks," she mumbled.
"Why are you so shy?" he asked Ginny. She looked at him, startled by the question.
"Shy?"
"Yeah, you barely say anything except thank you," Draco said. Ginny giggled.
"I don't know,' Ginny replied.
"So, tell me about you or how I acted towards you when I still had my memory," Draco asked, wanting to be entertained instead of staring at the limpid white walls.
"Um, well, you, um," Ginny wondered whether she should tell him that he used to hate the Weasleys.
"Yeah?"
"You…um…hate the Weasleys," Ginny blurted out.
"I do? Why? You seem nice," Draco said. Ginny blushed again.
"Because we're um…poor," Ginny explained.
"Because you're poor? That's a lame reason. Was I some sort of snobby rich kid?"
"I suppose."
"So you're saying I was snobby?" Ginny giggled.
"Yes, you were, but you aren't now," Ginny replied.
"I'm glad I lost my memory. I can't believe I used to be snobby and stuck-up," Draco said.
"I'm glad you lost your memory, too," Ginny agreed.
"So, how long am I stuck here?"
"I don't know. I just came to visit."
"Well, that's nice of you. Remind me to take you out on a date as soon as I get out of this place," Draco said.
Ginny blushed the deepest shade of red.
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing."
"Do I already have a girlfriend?" asked Draco."Um, I don't think so," Ginny replied.
"Then there's no problem!" Draco said.
"Except for my brothers.""Brothers? How many? And why?"
"Six brothers. Because they think you're stuck up, snobby, and a stupid ferret," Ginny explained.
"Ferret?"
"Let me tell you the story…"
Ginny and Draco spent the rest of the day recalling stories. Ginny did most of the recalling, Draco ended up either laughing at himself or critiquing his former self.
Then it was dinner time! Yum…
Draco was brought a huge platter of steaming Fettuccini with Alfredo Sauce and Sea Scallops. For a drink, he had orange juice.
"I thought you're food would be fancier than that!" Ginny exclaimed as she snuck a peek at his dinner.
"And why is that?" asked Draco as he picked up his fork and sat upright in his bed.
"Well, because you're rich and you're used to fancier things," Ginny explained.
"Well, I might be rich, but I still love pasta!" Draco said. "Do you want some?"
"No, it's okay, enjoy your dinner."
"But I insist!" Draco said as he swirled some Fettuccini on his fork and placed it in Ginny's mouth. She was startled at first but then enjoyed the moment. I mean how many times was Hogwarts Bad Boy going to feed her?
"Mmm," Ginny commented.
"No one can resist the taste of pasta," Draco said.
"And how are you so sure?" Ginny asked. Draco just smirked and continued to enjoy his dinner.
"I'll have to get going soon," Ginny said after Draco's nurse had taken his dinner away.
"Where?" asked Draco.
"To Hogwarts of course! I still have school," Ginny explained.
"Oh."
"Do you want more stories?" asked Ginny.
Draco paused before answering.
"No, I don't want any more stories. I want to know more about you," Draco said.
Ginny blushed. "Well, um…my favorite color is baby blue and um…I like to read?"
"And…?"
"I don't know."
"Okay then. Must you go?" Draco asked.
Ginny sighed. Today was Saturday so that meant she had no school tomorrow either. She could stay…
"I'll have to ask Professor Snape," Ginny said as she got up and walked to the door.
"Who?" Ginny turned back around.
"He was the man with me when I came here. He teaches Potions at Hogwarts. Professor Severus Snape," Ginny reminded him.
"Oh yes! Severus. Now I remember."
Ginny smiled and went out to ask him.
A few minutes later she re-entered the room. Draco looked up at her.
"Well? Are you allowed to spend the night here?" he asked.
Ginny nodded happily. "Yup. I'll be in the bed right next to yours! But after Sunday I have to go back to school because I have classes."
"Then let's enjoy the rest of the time we have together. It's going to be so much fun," Draco said optimistically.
He wasn't exactly right.
A/N-Well this is only the first chapter. The next chapter I think will be the last one. Please review and tell me if I should continue! Thanks!