A Harry Potter FanFiction story by The Little Green Voice:

Erased

Dumbledore's Last Resort

Everyone in Hogwarts knew that there was no way Draco Malfoy could keep his hands off of Harry Potter and vice versa. There wasn't a student in the school who hadn't witnessed a fight between the Quiddich captains of Slytherin and Gryffindor. Actually, there were only two house elves that hadn't seen them fight, and considering that all the house elves were working in the kitchen all day it told that the two students had probably set a record of some sort.

They got detention, of course and the Headmaster and teachers tried to speak to them. All sorts of punishments were tried on them, but they never learned. When ever they met in the hallways or class, they fought, at least verbally, but preferring the violent physical fights, very often with no magic and all muggle style. An increasing amount of rather serious injuries by hits, hexes and curses on the two boys or some unfortunate by-passers was starting to make the situation alarmingly serious.

Dumbledore and we all know that if stuffed into a relatively small room or cupboard for a few hours forced to work together on something that requires a temporary truce, they'll deal with the tension between them somehow. Either they would finally talk it over or try to settle it in the rough way as usual. As a human-friendly person that wasn't what Dumbledore wanted to do. Sure it might stop the fighting, but somebody would also most certainly get hurt. Finally Dumbledore, for the sake of the studying peace of the whole school, made up his mind to use the ultimate solution. But was that any better than stuffing them into a cupboard together to settle it?

Well, at first it seemed like the perfect settlement and the Headmaster wondered why he hadn't figured it out sooner. After a few days of serious consideration and a teacher's meeting, he sent a message to both boys to come to his office after classes.

Of course they were fighting behind the door when the Headmaster opened it to let them in his office.

"Now listen carefully both of you", the Headmaster said after the boys had calmed down and stood in front of his desk, both still looking angry. "What I am going to tell now is going to affect you two very much for the next few years you have left in this school. You both know that your behaviour is not tolerable in a school and it's disturbing the studying of other students. You've received detention more often than the Weasley twins and Marauders together, but still no change is to be seen. You fight for the smallest reasons I've ever thought it to be possible to even politely disagree: before, during the War I understood your disagreements were about that, but now with you both on the same side and War in the past, I can't find one single reason why you couldn't be civil to each other. I have been thinking over and over about this problem of yours and I still believe it to be best if you two settle it together by the means of verbal communication, more commonly known as talking. And I mean talking like the smart, polite and nice young men you both are when not in the presence of the other. Anyhow, as I have given you that chance many times with nothing more than another fight as a result, I've decided to use the last option I have to settle this."

Dumbledore fell quiet and for a moment just stared at the two boys in front of him. Now and then during his talk they had stolen glances at each other and when their eyes met, Dumbledore felt that if he'd just reach out between them there would be solid hate there. A sudden thought of capturing that solid hate for further research crossed over his rather angry and disappointed mind like a pink super-ball jumping through a busy main street of a big, grey city. Then he shook the pink ball away from his thoughts.

"So", the Headmaster continued. "The solution for this matter is simple yet quite difficult to accomplish. If you can't forgive and forget, I'll have to do it for you. Well, unfortunately I can't make you forgive, of course, but forgetting, that I can do." Both of the boys looked puzzled and they even forgot to glare at each other for a moment and stared at the Headmaster.

"What I mean is that I will erase all the memories you have of each other and especially of your fights. As you are classmates and therefore have many strong and important memories including both of you, I can't just plainly wipe out everything, but I'm going to do the best I can to alter those memories or fade them in the way that time does. After the process you won't remember each other and I would have to introduce you to each other. Though, given the reason why this must be done I believe it is better if we just let you stay as total strangers. This is a quite large school and you can't always remember everyone's name, especially as you two are in different houses. This is a very radical solution and I have only once before during my career as a headmaster had to use it. It brings many changes with it but I see no other option for you. I believe that in this case it's the best I can do for you and for your classmates and for everyone else in this school." He reached to lift a dusty old book from the small table behind him and placed it in front of him and looked back to the boys. "After graduating I will ask you both to come to my office, explain why you don't remember each other and give you the memories back if you still want them. So, what do you think?" he asked firmly.

"I won't do it and you're not allowed to make me", said the Slytherin quickly, glaring now at the Headmaster. There was fear along with anger on his face now. "You're not touching my head."

"I don't like the idea much either, Sir", said the famous Gryffindor.

"So you both disagree with me when I say that this is the only option we have left?" the Headmaster asked and when both boys nodded, he continued to tiredly ask: "Then what am I to do? Your fighting is disturbing everyone's work and no amount of punishments seems to help. If either of you has another solution I'd be more than happy to hear it. And as for your information, Mr Malfoy, as a Headmaster of Hogwarts I do have the authority to use the means of memory alteration as a last resort for cases like you."

"Sir," the Slytherin started in a more polite manner after a moment of silence, "Maybe if you'd just give us one more chance and we promise to stop the fighting?"

"You have had plenty of chances and you've always disappointed me." Dumbledore said with a cold voice and stern face. "Why would it be any different this time?"

"Because now we now if we fight you'll use the memory-wiping-thing", the Slytherin answered, "And I'd really prefer to keep my memories to myself and in tact and I'll promise to stop fighting if you give me a chance to show it."

"Is that so? One more chance and it'll be all that you need?" The Headmaster asked with a disbelieving face. "Do you agree, Harry?" The Gryffindor merely nodded, looking grim. Even agreeing with the Slytherin's ides seemed to be hard for him to voice out, even if it was a good idea. He looked at the two boys and felt that he had been too gentle with them from the start.

"Well", Dumbledore said after a long pause, "I believe one more chance won't hurt anyone. But if I hear the slightest whisper that you two have so much as snorted impolitely at each other, I'll have no choice but to use the memory charm. I hope you both understand that I have means of watching over you two and you won't be able to fight anywhere or anytime without me knowing about it. And you'll both receive an hour of detention for that last fight. I'll ask Professor Binns to arrange it and he'll inform you the details later", he said, "And I don't want to hear what it was about or who started", he added when both boys opened their mouths to explain. "Now go."

When the students disappeared from his office, Headmaster Dumbledore sighed deeply and seemed to shrink visibly in the chair. Those two had really made his work twice as hard as it already was. He proceeded to summon a house elf and send this for a large pint of Butterbeer. When he got his drink he gave the elf orders to arrange a house elf to follow and spy over both Harry and Draco, day and night.

TBC...

Author'sNote: So what do you think? For this one there actually is a PLAN on how and what shall I write, I even have all the chapter names ready! So there is a plot and everything, 11 or 12 chapters of fun! Though many things may change, of course... for an example, I still haven't decide exactly HOW will this end – will there be fluffy slash, happily-ever-after-friendship, or a violent fight... :D I'd like to get a lot of reviews so I'll know if I should to change my plans or am I going to the right way, so... press the button and drop a line or two! Thank you for reading!

Next chapter: Fighting Against Fighting will be here in a few days, it just needs a little finishing! Will the boys be able to keep their promise?