The panic in Draco's voice was evident as he asked, "Who are you people? Where am I?"
Draco started to sit up and he was glancing at the door like he wanted to bolt. The Golden Trio were just in too much shock to even think, but Gabriel was calm as he reached out and put his hand on Draco's shoulder, Draco immediately turned to look at him and Gabriel said, "You are Draco Malfoy, I am Gabriel, we share a bond, can you feel it?"
Draco calmed down and gave a slight nod. Gabriel gave him a small smile and without taking his hand off of Draco's shoulder he pointed to Harry and said, "This is Harry Potter, you share a bond with him too. Can you feel it?"
Draco stared at Harry really hard and he looked like he was either going to cry or freak out. Gabriel gripped Draco's shoulder a little tighter and glanced into Harry eyes then looked at his hand then looked at Draco's hands before looking back up, Harry nodded and very carefully reached out and took Draco hand. Slowly Draco calmed down, and Gabriel asked again, "Can you feel the bond?"
Draco glanced to Gabriel with wide fearful eyes, but he slowly looked down at Harry's hand then back at Gabriel and nodded very slowly, like he wasn't a hundred percent sure. Gabriel smiled and said, "This is Hermione Granger, you share a bond with her too."
Gabriel looked to Hermione and Draco followed his gaze. Hermione looked startled to see Draco Malfoy look at her with scare eyes that showed no sign of recognition at her name, but when Gabriel pointedly looked at the points of physical contact, Hermione quickly reached out and grabbed Draco's elbow. Draco looked a bit startled by the sudden movement, but Gabriel softly asked, "Can you feel the bond?"
This time, when Draco nodded, it was a bit more confident if a little hesitant. Gabriel smiled and gave him a comforting squeeze before saying, "And this is Ron Weasley, he too shares a bond with you."
Everyone turned to look at Ron who was staring at Draco in shocked disbelief, like he expected him to disappear or perhaps disappear behind those soft wings once more. Gabriel smile turned a bit brittle as several long moments passed where Ron didn't budge or even blink, he wasn't sure Draco could handle it if one of them rejected him and the fragile bonds they shared at the moment. He could barely feel the bonds at the moment, and they were all that Draco could recognize without his memories, It was all he would know. When the panic began to slowly well up in Draco's eyes once more, Hermione gave a gentle squeeze and slammed her foot down on Ron's. Ron winced at the Pain but that seemed to be what was needed to jump start his reaction, he jerkily reached forward and hesitantly grabbed Draco's free hand, blushing brightly and ducking his head.
And then, something truly strange and shocking happened, Draco smiled. It was faint and just the slightest upturn of the corners of his mouth, but there was true emotion behind it unlike any other expression they had seen on the boy's face before. The Golden Trio just stared in shock, and the smile began to fade but Gabriel stepped in and said, "Draco, we're here for you, you're not alone. Can you tell me what you remember, anything you remember? It's okay if it's not much even something little could be helpful."
Draco chewed on his lower lip and glanced around the room, finally he said hesitantly, "I remember a forest, I was running…"
Gabriel frowned and asked, "Were you running from something or where you running by yourself?"
Draco's brows drew together and he fidgeted a bit, before finally said uncertainly, "Both."
Ron frowned and snapped, "How could it be both?"
Draco flinched like Ron had hit him instead of just raised his voice a bit, Hermione glared at Ron and gave Draco's arm a comforting squeeze said, "You were running from yourself."
Draco gave a slight nod and asked Gabriel, "Does that help you?"
Gabriel nodded his head and said, "Yes Draco that is very helpful. Is there anything else you can remember, a smell, or a sound?"
Draco looked down at his hands and nibbled at his lip, it was obvious he was trying very hard to remember. It was a few minutes before he said, "I was afraid… of feeling, the emotions were too much, too strong."
Gabriel gave Draco gently pulled Draco closer to his chest and said, "It's okay Draco, your safe now, you're not alone anymore."
Draco frowned and said, "There were flowers."
Gabriel could feel Draco shaking under his hand, it was hurting him to remember, but whatever he remember could really be important. He tried to comfort him and pull him closer so he could feel the small bond they shared simply by sharing the same magic, he might not be a blood relation but he was still family and as such they shared a faint traceable bond. Draco nodded in gratitude for the small comfort the bond gave him. Hermione, who had quickly caught on how important what little Draco remembered could be, asked, "Did you see the flowers, or smell them?"
Draco shook his head and said, "I heard them."
Hermione frowned, completely puzzled, how could someone hear a flower, but when Draco started to get upset, she smiled and said, "Alright Draco, thank you, that was very helpful, can you remember anything else?"
Draco shook his head and said, "No, I'm sorry, that's all I remember."
Gabriel gently patted Draco's shoulder and said, "that's okay, Draco. Are you hungry or thirsty? Is there anything you would like to eat something?"
Draco gave a tiny nod, but his eyes were drooping, like he was exhausted and only keeping his eyes open out of pure will alone. Gabriel called for Madam Pomfrey, who walked in with a small tray with a single piece of plain toast and two glasses, one filled with clear water and another filled with a red-orange liquid. Gabriel nodded to her and thanked her quietly as she sat the tray on Draco's lap. She gave Draco an expectant look and Draco glanced to Gabriel, who nodded encouragingly before he hesitantly picked up the piece of toast and brought it to his mouth. He took a tiny bight of one of the corners and swallowed. Madam Pomfrey positively beamed and Gabriel was smiling fondly as he asked, "Would you like some water, or juice?"
Draco looked like this was the hardest decision he had ever had to make, but finally he said hesitantly, like it was a question, "juice?"
Gabriel smiled like that was the decision he had been hoping Draco would make, and helped Draco hold the glass in his own slightly shaking hands, and bring the glass to his lips. Draco took a few small sips before pushing the glass away. Gabriel smiled and said, "That's good Draco, you can rest now, I'll stay here, but they have to leave."
Draco's eyes went wide and his voice was fearful as he asked, "you're leaving?"
Gabriel tighten his hold on Draco's shoulder and said, "It's alright Draco, they will come back, they just have classes to attend and they have to eat too, they'll come back later this evening. You won't ever be completely alone, okay?"
Draco nodded slowly relieved and a bit sad that they had to leave at all, but they would be back so it was okay. Gabriel nodded his head and gently released Draco's shoulder, the Golden Trio quickly did the same, releasing their grip on Draco. Draco laid back, his eyes already drifting close as his wings wrapped around him, once more glowing softly if a bit faintly.
When the glow finally faded, Draco's wings where almost in the exact same place they had been before, almost as if nothing had changed. Gabriel let out a small sigh of relief and said, "We've made excellent progress, we even got him to eat and drink."
Ron frowned and said, "He barely took a bight of toast, how can that be good?"
Hermione glared at Ron and Harry said, "If he had eat much more it probably would have made him ill."
Everyone looked to Harry in surprise and Madam Pomfrey said, "You're right, he hasn't eaten in weeks and there is literally nothing in his stomach. It's a miracle that he even managed to keep down that much juice."
Ron said, "Oh… um, can he really not remember anything?"
Gabriel said, "he was not trying to deceive us, if that is what you are asking."
Harry frowned and asked, "Is that normal?"
Hermione shook her head and said, "I don't think it is, what I want to know is why it happened. The Centaur said he fell, perhaps he hit his head."
Gabriel said, "I believe it is a coping mechanism and not the result of any physical damage."
Hermione asked, "Are you certain? What if he has a concussion?"
Gabriel shook his head and said, "No, the transition Magic would have healed any physical damage, I've seen many Waylon children recover from physical trauma and wounds that would have killed any other creature because they started Transition early. Any damage, scars, cuts, bruises, everything would have been healed."
Hermione's eyes lit up and she said, "You think this is the result of mental damage, don't you. If sever physical trauma triggered a transition in a child, then suffice to say a mental trauma would also trigger the transition."
Gabriel nodded and said, "Waylon magic can heal almost anything, but I think the magic recognized that the only chance Draco had of surviving whatever traumas was to give him some time without the weight of the trauma. He might start to remember gradually or he might not remember anything at all before his transition until we can discover what the only remaining memory is?"
Harry frowned and asked, "Isn't the memory of right before he transitioned, his friends say he ran into the Forbidden Forest, and that's where we found him."
Gabriel shook his head and said, "I'm almost certain that it's a different memory, if anything the memory of right before his transition he should have felt overwhelming sadness and loneliness, not fear. The chances of that actually being the memory are so slight it's not even calculable."
Hermione nodded and said, "I think you're right, so our only chance of figuring out Draco's memory, is figuring out about the flowers he said he… heard."
Gabriel nodded and said, "Yes, perhaps we should ask my Neville, he knows more about plants than anyone I've ever met, my wife finds it fun to look for rare books on plants just to see if she can find one Neville hasn't read, but first, I believe you three have classes to attend."
Hermione gasped and looked at her watch, before exclaiming, "Oh no, we're going to be late to Potions!" before running for the exit, she paused outside the door and asked, "Will he be okay?"
Gabriel nodded and said, "I'll be here with him for every second, I doubt he will even be aware of anything for quite some time, he is actually truly asleep at this moment."
Hermione nodded in relief before racing off, and Ron and Harry groaned before rushing to catch up to their friend.
After dinner, the Golden Trio grabbed Neville and dragged him with them up to the infirmary. Gabriel was lying back in his chair with his feet on the end of the bed and a small book in his lap. He smiled when they came in and his smile brightened when he saw Neville. Neville smiled and asked, "Uncle Gabriel, any luck?"
Gabriel nodded and said, "We managed to get him to come out for a bit and got some food and juice in him, but…"
Hermione said, "He's got a sort of amnesia, all he can remember before waking up, was running in a forest and hearing flowers."
Neville nodded and asked, "Did he say what they sounded like? There are thousands of plants that make distinctive sounds but only a hundred maybe two hundred that have actual flowers."
Ron blushed realizing that Draco had been telling the truth when he said he heard the flowers. Gabriel smiled and said, "He didn't say, but I think he's starting to wake up."
They all glance to the feathery wings that didn't appear to have moved or change since they had left this morning, Gabriel just smiled brighter and said, "His magic started shifting the moment you three walked into the room."
Gabriel sat forward, dropping his feet to the floor as he placed his hand on his wings which almost immediately began to glow. Neville gasped in shock, and slowly the wings began to rustle before once again slowly moving down to reveal Draco's face as he blinked groggily. Gabriel smiled as he gently took Draco's hand and asked, "Draco, do you remember this morning?"
With the hand Gabriel wasn't holding Draco rubbed at his eyes as he nodded his head. Gabriel smiled and asked, "Do you remember what the flower's sounded like, perhaps what type of flower they were or even what impression you got from them?"
Draco frowned as he thought back and tried to remember clearly, the memory felt like it was from so long ago. He closed his eyes to try and remember better, before finally saying, "It was loud and it sounded sad."
Hermione sat down in her usual chair and placed her hand on Draco's leg as she asked, "How did you know it was a flower?"
Draco pressed his hand to his temple and his face scrunched up like he was in pain, finally he said, "I'd heard them before, I'd seen them many times before, but I can't remember when or where."
Neville stepped forward and asked, "Was it a wail, or crying, or something else?"
Draco frowned and asked, "Who are you?"
Gabriel smiled and said, "This is my great-nephew Neville, he's going to help us."
Draco nodded and said, "It sounded a bit like they were crying but not like a person would."
Neville nodded and asked, "If I brought you some pictures of flowers, would you recognize them?"
Draco nodded, and Neville asked, "Could you tell me anything else you remember about them, any impressions they gave you?"
Draco frowned and said, "For some reason they reminded me of me, but I don't know why they were all so bright, reds and blues and greens and purples."
Neville smiled and said, "That's very helpful, thank you Draco."
Draco frowned and asked, "Do you know me?"
Neville went a bit wide eye, obviously not expecting that question or perceiving a way to answer without upsetting the boy. Gabriel squeezed Draco's hand and said, "Neville is your classmate, as are Ron, Hermione, and Harry."
Draco nodded and Gabriel asked, "Are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?"
Draco nibbled his bottom lip and said, "I didn't like that."
Gabriel frowned and asked, "The toast? I can get you something else, perhaps some soup? I personally love soup; my wife makes it for me whenever I'm not feeling well."
Draco nodded, his eyes lighting up with excitement at having something to share with one of his bonds, even if it was something as unimportant as food. Gabriel smiled approving of the spark of life he saw in the young boy's eyes as he called for Madam Pomfrey who came in with the same tray as before, but this time a small mug of a slightly steaming cup, a small spoon, and again two glasses, one with water and one with the same red-orange juice. Madam Pomfrey smiled as she placed the tray on Draco's lap and asked, "How are you feeling?"
Draco blinked surprised by the question, he glanced to Gabriel who smiled and gave him an encouraging nod, before he said "I'm good, a bit cold, but good."
Madam Pomfrey said, "Oh, you poor dear, I didn't even realize it was colder in here."
She immediately pulled out her wand and placed several warming spells about to room. Draco stared at her wand with wide eyed shock and horror, like she had pulled a knife and threatened him with it instead of a wand. Madam Pomfrey quickly noticed it and put her wand away, and Gabriel said, "It's all right Draco, your safe here. Here, have some soup."
He grabbed the spoon and carefully filled it up with a small bit of golden brown liquid, and held it to Draco's lips. Everyone watched in rapt silence as Draco leaned forward a bit and quietly slurped up the small spoonful. Gabriel smiled and he asked, "Do you like it?"
Draco smiled that same tiny smile from before, but this time there was a sort of joy and happiness in his eyes. Gabriel's voice was filled with his joy and excitement at coaxing out that small smile "It's good isn't it, I had a bit before and hoped you would enjoy it as much as I did. Think you can handle a bit more?"
Draco nodded again, and managed three more spoonfuls before he winced and clutched at his stomach. Gabriel said, "Sorry, that might have been a bit more than you could handle, would you like to sit up a bit, perhaps have a go at standing up?"
Hermione frowned and said, "Are you sure it isn't too soon, he just woke up this morning for the first time in weeks, perhaps we should wait till …?"
Draco smiled and said, "I'd like to try, I'm tired of lying down."
Gabriel beamed and quickly helped Draco sit up in the hospital bed before he pulled his legs so that Draco's feet were touching the ground. Gabriel then took Draco's hand's into his own and let the boy do the rest of the work. Draco gripped Gabriel's hands tightly as he slowly forced his body to obey and stood on slightly shaky legs.
Draco stood for a few short minutes before he turned quite pale and Gabriel had to quickly help him back into bed before he could collapse. Draco looked a bit upset that he couldn't stand longer but Gabriel smiled and said, "You did wonderful."
Draco smiled gently and Gabriel said, "Go ahead and sleep for now, I'll be here the whole time and I'm sure your class mates will be here when you wake up again."
Draco nodded and shifted to his side before his wings began to glow and wrap about him protectively. The glow brightened for a minute, blinding them all before fading and leaving them with that now familiar warm feeling.
Neville gasped out, "Is it always like that?"
Gabriel smiled and said, "Waylon magic is naturally healing but Draco's magic is far stronger than most younglings I've ever met."
Neville nodded with a slightly dazed expression and Ron asked, "Do you have any idea what kind of flower he's talking about?"
Neville shook himself like a dog shaking off water, then said, "Actually I'm pretty sure I do."
Hermione looked surprised and asked in a slightly disbelieving voice, "Really? He didn't really give you much to go by."
Neville smiled and said, "He actually gave us more information than he realized. I'm almost certain I know what flower he's talking about but I'm going to wait till I can get some pictures, so he can confirm I'm right, before I tell you."
They nodded, even though the suspense was killing them and Neville asked, "Can I meet you guys down here the same time tomorrow? I'll bring a few different books of pictures just to be sure I'm not influencing his decision, but from what he said I'm almost certain I'm right."
Hermione smiled and said, "Thank you Neville, You can go ahead and go if you want, I think I'd like to stay with him a bit longer."
Neville nodded and left with a small smile. Harry and Ron nervously took their usual seats. Hermione smiled at them before turning to Gabriel and asking, "Do you think Draco will be okay?"
Gabriel's smile was sad as he said, "I hope so, but I'm afraid I won't be certain till his memories return,"
Hermione nodded and they sat in silence for a long time before the golden trio had to head back to their common room because curfew was fast approaching.
Author's Note: So what do you think? I'll tell what type of flower it is in the next part, just wanted to put a bit of suspense in the story to keep my readers interested. Please Review, and I'll update soon.
