Disclaimer: HP is not mine.

Author's Note: Thanks a lot for the reviews. And any errors are mine as I do not have a beta so I edited it as much as I can. You see a mistake, just say it to me and I will edit it. :D Also I did a bit of editing on Chapter 2. I was so stupid, leaving that detail there. Sorry about it, if you noticed that bit of discontinuity in my story. You know I left this for 2 years and I'm still familiarizing myself with the flow of the story. So, on to the story! Read and review, please!

You'll Be Safe Here

xianora

Chapter Eight – Fragments of a Forgotten Future


Previously:

"Oh, and Professor, he needs to learn Occlumency. As in, really learn it this time. We tampered with his mind enough. Having Voldemort manipulate it as well…I don't think that would work too well."

Snape just inclined his head then went back to his seat to continue his grading. "If he is willing to learn, then I suppose I can allot some of my time to teaching him." He raised his hand, already staving off what he knew to be a warning and a reminder. "I will be…less cruel in my methods this time. I already know my mistakes and I know the risks. Do not take me for a fool, Ms. Granger."

Hermione nodded even though Snape could not see. "Thanks for your time, Professor," said the Head Girl as she walked towards the door of Snape's office.

Just when he was about to write a big and bloody 'D' on a third year's paper, he heard Hermione mutter, "Thank you for everything." He looked up, but she was gone, the door giving a soft click as it closed and magically locked itself.

"Brats."


"If you would just give him time, Lucius. I suggest you do something about the Dark Lord and just leave Draco be for the holidays," said Narcissa before taking a sip from her tea. She has been watching her husband pace a hole on her carpet as he waited for their son's owl, which she doubted will come with a pleasant reply.

"But the Dark Lord wanted him to be marked as soon as possible! I will not disappoint and disobey him, Narcissa," replied Lucius.

"Exactly. He said 'as soon as possible.' It is not yet possible as of now, my dear Lord Malfoy. There are many eyes in Hogwarts and I would not put it past Dumbledore to have wards against these things," Narcissa reasoned. She stood up from where she was sitting comfortably to touch Lucius' arm. "And I do not want my son endangered this early into the second war. Just give him more time. This is the last thing you can give him—this small freedom."

Lucius glared at his wife and took his arm away from her gentle hold. "Fine. I shall inform my Master when he called." He walked towards the tall windows of the sitting room and expelled a large breath. "This will be the last time. And then, Draco will do my bidding and the Dark Lord's or I shall be forced to do something I might or might not regret."

Narcissa placed her hands behind her and gave in to her worry by gripping her hands hard until they drew blood.

X

Blaise, Pansy and Draco never talked about Lucius' letter again after that night they Obliviated Nott but it was still there, hanging over their heads, avoided and ignored as much as possible. Draco and Hermione were both tense and stressed out by the end of the week, thinking of what will happen once Harry got some of his memories back.

"He will remember hating me," Draco sulked while Hermione sat reading a large tome about memory tampering and accidents and Pansy leaned against the edge of the table.

"Don't be so melodramatic, Draco. He will remember how much of a brat you are yes, but Granger and you will be there to clear things up," said Pansy confidently.

"But-," Draco started, his hands pulling at his hair.

"It's no use, Parkinson. I have said every comforting thing in the universe and he is still sulking, especially after that drama with Harry a few days ago when his scar hurt," said Hermione to Pansy with an exasperated expression. She then trained her eyes at Draco at her own reminder of the recent pressing events. "You never did tell me what got you so worked up. Harry was scared that he upset you."

"He did not upset me. I was the one who wanted to talk to him. I wanted him to ask about things that I can say about the times he could not remember," explained Draco, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I overestimated my ability to keep calm…I just got overwhelmed and it's not Harry's fault."

The Head Girl closed the book she was reading and faced Draco fully. "Well, you did not take the time to explain those to him."

"What will we do to the two of you? You have so much drama that I want to puke," said Pansy with an amused smirk on her lips.

Draco pursed his lips in irritation at his housemate and stood up to leave.

"Wait, where are you going?" Hermione asked, reaching out to grip Draco's wrist. "You promised we'll be there together when Harry takes the first series of his potions."

The blond scowled and tried to shake of Granger. "I can't deal with that right now."

"Oh, don't be such a sulking drama queen, Draco," snapped the Slytherin girl as she started fixing their things and cleaning up their table of their parchment and quills. "We're going to clean this up and then go and fetch Potter so we can accompany him to the Hospital Wing."

Draco opened his mouth to respond but Hermione beat him to it. "And you are not going anywhere except with us so we can all explain to Harry his first year here." Hermione's hold gentled and her expression softened. "You agreed to help, Draco. You agreed to do this for Harry."

"I know. But you don't understand how much this hurts; to pretend like this," whispered Draco. "I thought I could do this—even confident that I could. Look, why don't you let me off the hook until Harry remembers at least until his fifth year memories."

"And let those bratty and bitchy memories of you stew in his mind so he can learn to dislike you? I don't think so. This is the best way. You just have to suck it up, Malfoy," said Hermione with a challenging look.

The blond clenched his jaws and looked away. A few more months…just a few more months of this torture for the godforsaken stupid Gryffindor that managed to ensnare him without his express knowledge. Well, he knows how it happened, but…oh, well.

"You'll just have to wait a few more months Draco," pleaded Hermione, unaware that she voiced some of Draco's thoughts. "After this, then we can deal with other problems, as well. Just—don't give up on Harry and you. This will all be worth it, I promise." Hermione gave him a kind smile and he sighed, nodding his head in acceptance.

"Well," said Draco. "Let us go and fetch the princess from the tower."

Pansy giggled. "I'm not sure if Potter will find that sweet."

X

"Will it hurt?"

Madam Pomfrey expelled an exasperated sigh. "For Merlin's sake, Mr. Potter, how many times must I tell you? It will not hurt. At least not to my knowledge, you always had a knack for weird things happening to you as your situation always does not follow the norm," clucked the nurse.

"You make it sound like I'm a basketcase," grumbled Harry as he tried to find a comfortable position on the hospital bed where he was to sleep for the night after he ingested his potions.

The nurse gave a chuckle. "Well, sometimes, you are."

Harry pouted while his friends laughed. "Yes, go, laugh at poor basketcase Harry."

Just then, Professor Snape entered the Hospital wing, carrying a pouch which contains Harry's potions. "Seeing as you are all having such great fun, I have brought drinks for the occasion," said Snape, handing the pouch to an amused school nurse. "I shall be supervising this to see if there are any complications on your mind after the procedure, Potter. After that, you shall meet with me privately on Monday, after dinner, so I can see your emotional state by asking a few questions." He then fished out a vial with clear liquid inside of it.

Veritaserum.

"Professor, is it really necessary to use Veritaserum for simple questioning?" Draco asked his Head of House, his brow furrowed in worry as the weight of the situation pressed upon them again.

"Yes, it is necessary," said Snape, his eyes never leaving Harry's face. "As I found out that Mr. Potter tends to keep secret of things that other people should know so his dainty behind can be kept safe." Severus gave a curt nod towards the nurse, indicating her to start administering the potions.

Harry kept silent all through Snape's tirade, too nervous to think of a retort to his Professor's insults. Madam Pomfrey handed him the first potion. "It's for the pain, dear, if there are any."

After drinking all four of his potions, Harry was given a Sleeping Draught so he can weather through the memories in a calmer way. He squirmed for a bit before giving off a sigh, the draught finally taking effect.

"No negative effects so far—that's a good sign."

Madam Pomfrey spoke too soon.

Harry shrieked as if in pain, clutching the bed sheets tightly, almost tearing them. "NO! Please, don't do this! NO, PLEASE! Why are you just standing there?"

Draco and Severus rushed forwards to hold Harry down so he won't injure himself.

"What's happening?" yelled Hermione. "He was supposed to be pain-free. What's happening?"

The school nurse was waving her wand, trying to read and interpret Harry's stats while blocking off his pained screams. Severus is muttering to himself, "I made everything the way it must be done. What the fuck is wrong with you, Potter, that a perfect potion must do this?"

"Please, please don't leave," cried out Harry.

"No! You cannot point this on Harry again! What did you do?" shrieked Hermione.

"I did nothing wrong! It was supposed to be a painless and boring wait! Not like this. It must be his mind or something interfering. Mind and soul magic is beyond anyone's understanding, even the Headmaster's," said Professor Snape as he cast spells to bind Harry to the bed.

Draco kept on kissing Harry's forehead and shushing him. "It must be his wild magic. We should have researched more before trying to mess with his mind…Shh, Harry, I'm here. We're not leaving. No…shh…"

X

Harry's mind

"Let me go, Harry. All of Slytherin is already taking leave of Hogwarts. I need to go."

"Fuck, Draco. You're not going to be a death eater. You're not going to leave. You promised me!" Harry said, still keeping a strong hold of Draco's arm.

"And you thought that was true? You thought I could keep such promises?"

xxx

"Harry... You don't understand. What we had—what we had was just a dream. And those two persons who acted it out are the ones we wish we could be. They were never us, Harry...never us." Draco said in a voice beyond whisper.

"Oh yeah? Then—" Draco faced Harry only to see him fumbling for something in his finger. "—why don't you get this fucking ring of yours? It's just a dream anyway. It's not real… I'm so stupid to believe everything you said!"

xxx

"And Malfoy?...Ihateyou."

xxx

"Fuck, Harry. Just go!"

And Harry left, running for all he was worth.Please...please keep Draco safe...

xxx

"I'll always be here, Harry. Always. I promise..."

xxx

"Draco? Where are you? Answer me please."

"Harry...you can't go looking for Draco. He's not here. He's gone. He's not coming back."

"Draco's dead...and he's not coming back."

X

Hermione was about to berate her Professor more and Pomfrey was about to shout to quiet them all when Harry spoke again, still trapped inside his own head, leaving them surprised.

"No, Draco. Please, please don't leave," Harry said. "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU STANDING THERE FOR?" Harry jerked against his bindings, whimpering. "...No, he's here. He would never leave me, Hermione. He promised me. No, no, no… You promised me, Draco. Please…"

All eyes zeroed in on Draco who was kneeling beside Harry's bed, stunned and unable to move.

"What is he saying, Draco?"

"What promise?"

Draco didn't know what to say, he just stared at Harry as he continued to mutter the things he is seeing in his mind until the thrashing came to a stop, leaving the Gryffindor lying still but still whispering feverishly. "The stone. It has to be saved… Nicolas Flamel…Not Slytherin, not Slytherin. Please, anything but Slytherin(1) …Give it here, Malfoy (2)…"

Everyone present in the Hospital wing looked on silently at Draco, who in turn looked on silently at Harry with his mouth agape, eyes moving searchingly on Harry's face. Finally, Harry's mutterings died down and he was now breathing calmly as though nothing happened and everything was normal.

Snape and Pomfrey each waved their wands to see for themselves what Harry's status is and both readings came with favorable results. There was nothing amiss.

"That was not supposed to happen," muttered the Potions Master. He turned his gaze back to the blond and asked him, "What was Mr. Potter saying a while ago? What promise?"

"I—I have no idea," answered Draco. "I honestly have no idea." He swallowed the lump that has formed in his throat as he continued to process what Harry was crying out just a few minutes before. "What the fuck are you talking about now Potter? What have you gotten yourself into?"

X

A loud groan had them all jerking out of their restless sleep. Hermione stood up from the armchair she transfigured to go check on Harry while the rest of their ragtag party was left staring.

"Harry, you okay? Is there any pain?" she asked, caressing her friend's forehead to check for any temperature changes.

The raven-haired Gryffindor moaned in discomfort before replying, "No, just a bit uncomfortable on this hospital bed." He felt Hermione kiss his forehead, remaining silent instead of questioning him further, leaving him to feel grateful as he was still a bit disoriented from his sleep littered with dregs of memories and snippets of conversation that he just remembered now.

Madam Pomfrey was waving her wand, casting diagnostic spells and muttering to herself as she saw the results. "Everything is as it should be. You can leave the Hospital Wing whenever you are ready, Mr. Potter. I shall leave you to compose yourself. Good day."

"Where's Ron?" he breathed a few minutes into the silence left in Madam Pomfrey's wake, his eyes still closed.

The Gryffindor girl closed her eyes in remembered pain. This is it—the thing they were most scared of. What if Harry's condition regressed now that he remembers Ron? What will happen once he remembers what happened last June? She was about to give a whispered reply when Harry spoke again.

"He's not here," said Harry, making Hermione gasp. Harry's eyes finally opened, blinking a bit to get used to the dim light of the Hospital Wing. "There are things I saw, Hermione. What were those? It's…"

"Harry, do you remember what you saw?"

But Harry was not listening to her. Instead, he was looking at his hand in a confused fashion. "Where is…?"

"Harry?" a voice from Harry's right questioned, making the Gryffindor snap his head to look at the person who spoke. Green eyes met green, "Draco." And then Harry's scar was in pain.

X

"I will give you your wish, Lucius, as I am most giving. But after this, no more. I have given you more chances than you deserve and it is time you return those favors to me," hissed Voldemort to his kneeling subject. "Crucio!"

X

"Harry!"

Opening his eyes for the second time that day, he was greeted by the mouth of a vial containing a muddy pink potion. "Drink up, Mr. Potter. It's a pain potion. I do not know how it is possible but you show symptoms of a Cruciatus attack. Here, drink. There you are. And this other potion. No, drink up. Keep it down." Snape forcibly closed his jaw and mouth to prevent him from bring the potion back up.

Harry swallowed back the urge to puke and took a deep breath. "It's Lucius and Voldemort. They're planning something."

"Shh, Harry. It's okay now. You really have to practice Occlumency, this cannot keep happening," said Hermione.

"They are talking about the Marking," remarked Draco, his gaze shifting to his Head of House. Snape gave a barely perceptive nod before standing up to leave.

"I have to go and keep my appointment with the headmaster to inform him of your condition, Mr. Potter. Mentally, I think your mind is coping well enough. Just avoid stressing over things. Remember, Monday evening, I shall check your emotional state and we shall talk about you getting Occlumency lessons with me so the mind you have left will not be destroyed with possible insanity." And with that, Professor Snape left the Hospital Wing.

"He's so pleasant, isn't he?" remarked Harry before closing his eyes and taking a calming breath. "I feel so confused and my head still hurts. Is this supposed to feel this way?" Harry complained to no one in particular. "This sucks."

Draco and Hermione exchanged looks, sending silent messages to each other. The Head Girl pursed her lips and decided to plow on with her questioning. "Harry."

Harry raised his head to look at her. "When you fell asleep and got trapped in a dream…You were talking about a promise and someone 'just standing there.' You cried about Draco making a promise. And you said someone would never leave. Who are you talking about? Is it Draco?"

Brows furrowing, Harry said, "What are you talking about? I don't remember anything like that. All I remember are some snippets of when I was…eleven years old? Diagon Alley and my sorting and Ron. There are also some things about classes and the Sorcerer's Stone but they are all still so confusing. I don't think I will be able to remember everything."

"You won't Harry. It's because a year's worth of memory was fed to your mind. You cannot remember all of them, so it's okay," explained Hermione.

Draco decided to interject his question. "You were also looking at your hand and asked 'Where is…' What were you talking about?" Draco asked.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," said Harry, confused. "What happened?"

Seeing Harry's genuinely confused face, Hermione shut her mouth and got to thinking. There was something not right about this situation—something they are missing. But what is it?

X

"Hey, mind if I join you?" asked Harry as he pulled to a stop beside Draco in the air.

Draco was solemnly gazing at the Forbidden Forest when Harry disturbed his peace. "I—sure."

They smiled at each other before flying in tandem doing loops and dives and just plain flying around the pitch. It was like when they were beginning their fragile friendship; everything was done tentatively, carefully, in fear of destroying something that they felt was going to be beautiful.

"You seem to be okay," said Draco as they hovered over the Slytherin stands.

"That time, a few days ago. You were supposed to say you were rude to Weasley," remarked Harry. Draco nodded, remembering their talk in the library when he attempted to tell Harry some of his lost memories. "Hermione told me he died—that Death Eaters killed him. I feel like-."

"It was not your fault, Harry. Don't fall back into this again. We saved you from your mind not to have you losing to your memories yet again. It was not your fault. I am going to keep repeating that until it gets through that thick skull of yours," Draco said forcefully.

"I'm okay. Kind of," said Harry, answering Draco's stated observation a while ago. "I miss Ron, though. I know you don't like him and Hermione explained things to me so you don't have to be scared about me hating you. Don't look at me like that and glaring at Hermione from up here will do you no good either."

They stayed silent for a while and then Harry continued. "She told me not to judge you based on your actions in the past. That I should see you now—who you are now." He paused for a moment, thinking. "I'm sorry and I'll try hard to not fall into this—depression or whatever-again. I was given a second chance to live and I'm not going to waste it. I'm not going to hurt the people I love again."

The green-eyed boy smiled at Draco, causing his heart rate to speed up. "I think she's right, you know. Hermione, that is. You are a good person, if a bit sarcastic and snappy and a royal pain in the arse."

"Do you want me to hex you, Potter?" said Draco, his left eye ticking in annoyance.

Harry gave a delighted laugh. "You told me that you got over your head eventually and we became friends, anyway. So you really have nothing to be scared about. Still friends?"

Draco gave a melancholic smile, looking into Harry's heartbreakingly beautiful orbs. "Yes, still friends." He broke eye contact after a few minutes then seemed to pull himself together before saying, "Come on. It's getting cold. We should get in."


(1) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Movie during the sorting

(2) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone – Chapter Nine: the Midnight Duel


Author's Note: There you have it! Please review. Please? Reviews are food for the muse and it might make me update faster! ^^ But I'm not really sure when I will be able to update after this as I still have to return to the University and I have 3 more months to endure before I finally graduate. Tell you what. Give me at least a dozen reviews and I will update before January ends. ;)

So, please review and tell me what you think! No flames! Constructive criticisms are accepted. :)