"Draaacooo... Draaacooo..."

Young Malfoy stood straight, any concept of moving even a finger frightening him to the bone. A long hiss reiterating his name increased, seeming closer and closer with each syllable. Then, a solid body slid over his feet, encircling his ankles and climbing higher, to his knees, tight grasping his legs together, then to his upper-body. Through the material of his clothes he could feel the smooth, flawless surface of enormous snake's bulk.

It was everywhere.

World outside stopped existing for Draco, as vis-a-vis his eyes appeared the frontlet. Nagini, keeping him in deadly embrace, looked straight in his eyes. And he heard it again. Voldemort's voice echoed in his mind, tearing apart his thoughts, his skull, his entire being.

"Draco... You've disappointed me so many times. You've disappointed your family. Not worth it... The glory of Malfoy name, now shattered, broken in my eyes because of YOU. Why should I tolerate you any longer? Why should I award you with my mercy, letting you live?"

Draco shuddered violently, his insides twisting in an unpleasant manner. Snake opened it's giant jaws and launched itself forward.

"NO!" Draco screamed and shot up from his bed, grasping his wand from under the pillow. Breathing heavily he glanced over his surroundings and spotted two faces turned to him in the dark bedroom.

"Dude, are you okay?" asked no one other than Ron Weasley in his sleepy voice.

Potter kept on searching for something on his bedside and after a brief moment he was eyeing Malfoy cautiously from behind the spectacles. Draco just looked at them, still making shuddering ins and outs with his chest pulsing up and down.

"I-I... Air." he mumbled under his breath and got up. After few flies of stairs he quickly crossed the kitchen and stopped in the garden.

Draco casted a quick look over the shape of The Burrow, contrasting with slightly lightening night sky. All windows were dark, what meant that Potter and Weasley went back to sleep. "Good," he thought to himself, "I've got enough of Scarhead and Weasel fussing around". He sat on the nearby bank, setting his elbows on his knees and put his face in hand, with another one still tensely clutching his hawthorn wand. Delicate blow of the wind caused him to shiver, being aware now of his sweated, shirtless body with plain shorts on it. Though summer was relatively hot nights still were overrun by chilliness. After his breath being normal again he straightened himself on the bank. Shutting his eyes he tried to bring back the happiest of his memories, but they were immediately shadowed of the other ones.

Seeing Hogwarts for the first time and being sorted into Gryffindor.

Utter shock in his family, being beaten up by father, loss of friends.

First time he brewed a potion correctly.

Sitting alone in the classes, lack of acceptance from his peers.

Spending Christmas in school in his first year with Harry and Ron and becoming friends.

Not even getting a stupid wishes from his parents.

"Expecto patronum!" Draco whispered, but only a little fleck of light appeared on the tip of his wand. Another memories.

Mother giving him Nimbus 2001 for his "Outstanding" results after second year.

Not even being acknowledged by father.

Making a chaser in Gryffindor team in his third year.

Not even once his parents showing up at a game.

The day when twins launched fireworks during his own O.W.L.s.

"Expecto-"

Being disowned after he failed to kill Dumbledore.

Draco's voice froze, not being able to finish the incantation. He stood up and paced furiously in front of the house, creating a path in the grass. Harry told him to practice it, being one and a half year in Dumbledore's Army and still he couldn't perform the spell correctly. Doesn't he have any other memories? Nothing?

He stopped dead in his tracks and shook his hand, a little smile crawling on his lips.

First summer in The Burrow.

Being disowned-

Not letting this to overwhelm him, he kept his original way of thinking. Playing quidditch with the Weasley clan in the backyard. Sitting with Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen. Practicing four-hands on the piano with Hermione. Pulling jokes on Harry with the twins. Swimming in the pond with Ginny and Harry. Arthur showing him muggle things in the garage. Dinners, laughing with everyone and feeling like belonging somewhere, as being at home...

"Expecto patronum."

Flash of blue-silver light streamed out of his wand, and then it grow in the shape, creating as a final result...

"Aesculapian snake."

Draco turned on his heel and just there, in the kitchen door, was standing Hermione. As he unfocused, reptile disappeared into thin air.

"I have no clue how you know it, but yes, it's a bloody snake!" Malfoy snapped back at her, too tired to hide his irritation.

"I am aware how you feel about this, Draco, but you must acknowledge it, that this is not only a bad symbol. This particular snake is associated with doctors, cure, reborn, longevity, it even touches aspects like wisdom or secrets of life, and fertility, and Merlin pants I'm babbling again." Hermione ended her lecture, now standing mere few feet from Draco, who smirked at her friendly.

"Tell me when your not babbling, beaver."

"Oh, just shut up. Do I have to remind you, how Moody transfigurated you into a ferret after you almost hexed Krum for spilling rumors about Harry?"

Blond shot her a true death glare, but his attempts to become a basilisk didn't cut the mustard as they crashed against her beaming face, causing Malfoy to lighten up a bit.

"Come on," the girl continued. "We can dwell all about it until morning, but I prefer going back to bed."

Draco smirked his famous, mischievous smirk.

"Do you mind if I Slytherin?"

"MALFOY!"