A/N: Ok, so I know I shouldn't really be starting another story while I still have Forgive and Forget in the process of being written, but this idea came into my head suddenly and I really wanted to write it. So, I've posted this first chapter and I'm going to leave it up for people to see and review about what they think. Then, when I feel that I'm in a good solid place with Forgive and Forget I'll continue this one. Who knows, I might even write the second chapter sooner rather than later. Either way, please review and tell me what you think!
When he opened his eyes, the room he was in turned blurry and all of the colors started to blend together. His head hurt and was throbbing, distorting his vision even more. He decided to close his eyes and lay back down. That's when the wave of burning pain shot through him like lightning; he held on to the railing of the bed until his knuckles turned white.
It stopped just as quickly and unexpectedly as it had started. He felt different, as if something inside of him had changed. He then heard footsteps, the sound echoing unpleasantly in his head.
"Mr. Malfoy?" said a sweet voice, "Mr. Malfoy?" He wondered if it was his mother, but all he could manage was a moan. "Oh dear," the woman whispered.
Then the door slammed open and his head hurt again.
"Oh, Draco! My poor little boy!" That, he knew was his mother, so he tried his hardest to open his eyes again, even though the light burned him. "Sweetheart," she whispered, running a hand through his hair, "Darling, how are you?"
"My head hurts," he said, and then looking around, "Where am I, exactly?"
Narcissa put a hand to her chest, a pained expression in her eyes. "You're in Hogwarts, Draco. The hospital wing," she whispered, scared for her son.
"Hogwarts?" he asked, "Since when did I start going to Hogwarts?" Even as he asked, he knew it was possible. His whole body felt new, older, stronger. It was obvious he still wasn't eleven years old.
His mother let out a loud sob and moved away from the bed, turning her back to Draco, as if by not looking at him she wouldn't see the truth in his question, the confusion.
"What did I say?" he asked her helplessly.
The nurse, he realized that she was by her uniform, looked at him sympathetically. "Mr. Malfoy, you've been going to Hogwarts since you were eleven. You are now sixteen years of age and you had an acident where you hit your head. Based on the circumstances and the tests we've run, it may be that you have-
"DON'T SAY IT!" shrieked Narcissa, her eyes wide and bloodshot.
The nurse looked pained, but continued. "Amnesia, Mr. Malfoy."
Narcissa gasped and fainted on the couch nearest to her, while Draco suddenly felt numb and couldn't get a word out.
"I'm so sorry," the nurse told him sadly.
"Isn't there anything you can do about it?" he croaked, "My father surely can talk to people that will know how to fix this!"
"Well, not for the time being," the nurse informed him, "We cannot risk performing a spell directly to your mind and we just don't have the proper ingredients to make the specific potion."
"Why not? Why can't Hogwarts, the best wizarding school in England, get the proper ingredients? It's absurd!" yelled Draco, shaking.
The nurse pursed her lips. "Mr. Malfoy, we've never had to do something like this, normally it's just the confundus spell that makes people lose their memories. But this is a direct hit to the head, and we need a potion to help heal your brain."
"How long will it take to get them?" he asked, more softly.
"We don't know," she replied, "Weeks, maybe months. They're all so rare. If you'd like, I can leave you to your thoughts for a while, you may rest, you have a lot to deal with. Dumbledore will be in soon."
Draco nodded silently as she left him alone to his thoughts. The problem was, most of his thoughts were outdated and would not help him at all, he didn't even know what this Dumbledore person looked like. Luckily, he didn't have much time to dwell on this as a tall old man with a long silvery beard and half-moon spectacles entered the hospital wing moments after.
"Dumbledore?" asked Draco, slowly, cautiously.
The old man smiled and nodded. "Yes, Draco, I'm afraid you don't remember me."
Draco shook his head, he felt stupid. "They tell me I have amnesia. Me, out of all people!"
"Well," said Dumbledore with a little chuckle, "You were doing some questionable things."
Draco winced, "What exactly was I doing?"
"Well, if I've heard correctly, you and your friends, Mr. Crabbe and Mr. Goyle, were trying to jump off a moving staircase."
"Ugh, and I fell? How bloody embarassing," mumbled Draco, and then more audibly asked, "Crabbe and Goyle go here, too?"
"Yes," said Dumbledore, "They're in Slytherin."
"Am I in Slytherin?" asked Draco quickly, worriedly, hoping that he was, if not his father and many others would be extremely displeased.
"Of course," Dumbledore replied, a twinkle in his eye.
"Good," breathed Draco, letting out a sigh of relief. "How long do you think I won't be able to remember anything?"
"I believe Madame Pomfrey has informed you that we do not know of the consequences of your fall."
"Right," muttered Draco, "I just thought that you might."
Dumbledore nodded wisely, "We can't know everything, Mr. Malfoy. Although we do have a tutor set up for you so that you can stay ahead in all of your classes. She's the brightest in your year."
"Well, at least that's worked out," said Draco bitterly. The last thing he was worrying about were his grades.
"That is a good thing, you know, grades are quite important," said Dumbledore, "I've actually brought her here so that you can get a proper first introduction. Although this would be the second time for that."
"You mean, I know her?" he asked, wondering now more than ever who she could be.
"Yes, you've known her for six years, but I suppose you're going to have to introduce yourself all over again," said Dumbledore, and when Malfoy groaned, he added, "You know, Draco, sometimes a fresh start isn't always a bad thing."
Draco looked at him, puzzled, but he couldn't ask him what he meant because right that instant a girl walked into the hospital wing.
"Professor, did you need me?" she asked, but then stopped, embarassed, noticing that Dumbledore was in the middle of something.
"It's alright, Miss Granger, this is why I called. This here, is Mr. Draco Malfoy," said Dumbledore, pointing to the blonde boy with the headbandage on the hospital wing bed.
Hermione crinkled her nose in disgust almost and said, "We know each other, Professor."
Malfoy raised an eyebrow. What was her problem?
"Yes, I know that," said Dumbledore with an amused smile, "However, he does not. You see, he had an accident that has caused him amnesia."
Hermione put a hand to her mouth, "Oh," she said softly. "I didn't know."
"It's quite alright," said Dumbledore, and Draco shrugged.
"Sorry, I'm Hermione Granger," she said, more politely; however she still looked a little distant.
"Hi," said Draco, simply.
"Miss Granger, I wanted to ask you a favor," Dumbledore told her.
Hermione looked uncomfortable, "Sure thing, Professor." Yet to Draco, it didn't look like she was too sure about this. Why didn't she like him? Who didn't?
"Well, since you are the brightest witch your age," he said (Hermione blushed), "I was hoping that you could tutor Draco in his classes."
"Er, well- you see, I, uh." She was fidgeting with her hands and didn't know what to say, but then she looked into Dumbledore's eyes and couldn't help but reply, "Of course."
"Good," said Dumbledore with a smile, "That's settled, then. Tomorrow, when Draco gets out of the hospital wing, you'll begin the sessions." He got up and his emerald cloak flowed behind him. He turned to Draco, "Good luck, Mr. Malfoy. Remember what I told you." Then he winked and walked out the door.
"I think- maybe- I should leave," said Hermione, shuffling her feet, "You need rest, I suppose."
"Alright," said Draco, but for some reason he didn't want her to leave. "See you tommorrow then."
Hermione nodded and walked quickly out into the dark hallways. Draco sighed, looked at his mother, still passed out on the couch, and tied to go back to sleep. The only place that he didn't feel pressured to say the right things or act the right way. He'd have to start getting to know this older Draco, and he wasn't sure if he could deal with it all.
At least there'd be that girl who seemed to know him. Maybe she could answer some questions. What was her name again?
But Draco never was able to remember that night, because he drifted off to sleep.
A/N: So this is my new story idea, please review!