Italics will not be French this chapter. It'll be the conversations between Harry and himself during the memory portion. It'll make sense when you read it, trust me.
Also, this isn't necessarily true Flurry, but I still think it is still worth reading.
The girl left the infirmary, tears in her eyes, leaving a bewildered Harry sitting on a bed. Harry looked at the medi-witch.
"Who was that Madam Pomfrey?"
"She's Fleur Delacour. She was, is..." Pomfrey shook her head. "Mr. Potter, you took a nasty bump to the head that affected you memory. I'm going to ask you some questions and I want you to answer as truthfully as you can, alright?"
"Yeah, okay." Harry nodded slowly.
"What is the date?"
"November First, 1994." Harry's eyes widened in panic. "My name was picked by the Goblet last night! I have to compete in the tournament!"
"No no no, Mr. Potter, it's alright." Pomfrey laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It the end of your fourth year, it seems the bump wiped out most of this year."
"Merlin..." Harry whispered under his breath.
"It's going to be okay, Mr. Potter, I just need to ask a few more questions before I figure out how to fix this." Harry nodded in response.
After a few minutes of questioning, Pomfrey came to a conclusion. Harry simply had amnesia. How long it would last, she didn't know. She would have liked to have him recover the majority of his memories over the course of a few months with a potion regimen, but Dumbledore said that she needed to get him back to one hundred percent as soon as possible. But there was one glaring issue, Harry had completely forgotten about Fleur Delacour. It seemed that every interaction, ranging from the most minor to the prominent, came up blank.
She went into her office, calling a House Elf and sending it to St. Mungo's with a note for the head healer, she had to call in an old favor.
Pomfrey went back out to the infirmary and sat down in a chair next to Harry. The boy was sitting up, his mind off in a distant place.
"Mr. Potter?" Harry snapped out of his daydream. "I've just sent for a memory recovering potion from St. Mungo's."
"St. Mungo's? Don't you already have some memory potions here?"
"I do, but they are not very potent, they allow to drinker to remember the last day or two at most." The House Elf popped back with a vial. It handed the potion to Madam Pomfrey and bowed before popping back to the kitchen.
"Is that it?"
"Yes." Pompfrey raised the vial of black liquid to eye level. "It's called Rekall." She handed it to Harry.
"I just drink it?" He examined the liquid.
"Yes, the effects should be immediate."
"What's going to happen?" He looked up from the vial and into her eyes.
"Essentially, you'll go to sleep and in a few hours you have your memories back."
"That's it? Nothing else?"
"Well..." Harry raised an eyebrow. Madam Pomfrey sighed. "The effects have never been consistent. Some just have a dreamless sleep and wake with their memories. Others claim to have visions. Others say that they actually relived whatever was lost. All I can say is, good luck Mr. Potter."
Harry glanced down at the vial and looked back up as Madam Pomfrey one last time. He nodded at her before tilting his head back and pouring the liquid down his throat.
"Wake uuuup." A voice beckoned. "Wake uuuuup." Harry's eyelids gradually rose. "Good! You're up!"
"Wha-What's going on?"
"You're in your memories!" The voice was excessively cheery.
"What?"
"You heard me! We're hanging out in your memories!"
Harry took a moment to look around him. He sat on his bed in the Gryffindor Dorms. Light filtering in through the window made it seem to be somewhere between morning and midday.
"What, no, I'm in my dorm." Harry called out to the voice. "Where are you anyways?" No one was in the room other than himself.
Suddenly, a bright flame materialized out of thin air, causing Harry to jump in surprise. It was a tennis ball sized flame just hovering in the air.
"No, I'm pretty sure we're in your memories, or else I wouldn't be here!" The ball or fire spun excitedly. "We're in your head. This is just a manifestation in your mind, something familiar to help you recover some lost memories."
"Right." Harry stood up from his bed walked to the flame. "That's what I came here to do, now how do I do it?"
"Follow me!" The ball of flame hovered towards the door, which opened on its own.
"What are you anyways?" Harry followed.
"Oh, you know, you." The flame happily bobbed along. "Well, a projection of part of your personality in your mind."
"What?"
"I'm you." It said plainly. It quickly changed the subject. "You know, you say 'what' a lot." The flame stopped in the air. If it had eyes, Harry bet they would be examining him. "You should probably get that checked out." They continued into the common room where the flame bobbed next to the cold fireplace. "Alright, here we are!"
"The common room, and?"
"Oh right!" The flame shot in the fireplace, instantly igniting the flames. "Okay, stick your head in!"
"No! I'll get burned!"
"We're in your head, remember? Nothing's gonna hurt, unless you have a seizure or something... but that's a conversation for another time." Harry could feel the flame grinning at him. "Besides, I'm you! Would you ever lie to yourself?"
"No, I guess not." Harry shrugged. "Just stick my head in?"
"Yup."
"And I'll get my memories back?"
"Pretty much."
"Here goes nothing. " Harry took a deep breath and dove into the flames. The ball of fire was right, it didn't hurt.
"Alright, and in we go!" The flame's voice echoed in Harry's mind. It popped into existence next to him. They floated in a black space, countless white stars glittering around them like stars.
A memory was coming to life before Harry. Harry floated above the scene as the memory came together. It looked like thousands of the white squares coming together and gaining color, becoming part of the environment.
"What's happening?" Harry sent a sideways glance at the flame before looking back down at the forming scene.
"You lost your memories remember? This is your memories reforming." The fire bobbed up and down. "Pretty cool ain't it?"
The memory completed itself. It was a rocky arena that Harry didn't recognize. He looked at the empty stands and pointed a thumb at them.
"Where's everyone?"
"Not important." Harry raised an eyebrow. "They didn't have any direct involvement with your memory. Their role in your memory didn't matter, so there's no need to remember them." The flame suddenly grew brighter in excitement. "Oh! It's starting!"
Harry looked down and a massive spiked dragon formed out of the white squares, gaining different shades of brown and red. He, or really, his memory of himself, formed at the entrance to the arena. His mouth was agape as the scene unfolded.
He couldn't believe it. He beat a dragon. And the flame next to him was cheering and whooping the entire time.
Harry sat on the edge of a cot in the Medical Tent. Madam Pomfrey insisted that he rest for a few moments before facing the press.
"I 'ave underestimated you, Mr. Potter." A feminine voice said behind him. "You 'ad an impressive performance."
"You were pretty good too, Fleur." Harry turned to face his fellow champion. "You alright? That fire looked pretty bad."
"It was nozzing. Veela are naturally resistant to fire." Fleur waved off his concern. "May I?" She gestured at the cot.
"Yeah, sure." Harry scooted over to make a little more room for her. "So what brings you here? You didn't come here just to say I did alright, did you?"
"No, I didn't. I just-" Fleur looked all around them, searching for something. "-wanted to apologize." She whispered as if wanting no ears to hear other than Harry's.
"For?" Harry cocked an eyebrow.
"Calling you a leetle boy." Fleur looked down at her lap shamefully. "I'm sorry, 'arry."
"S'alright." Harry said in an understanding tone. "We all make mistakes when we aren't thinking. Besides, I actually forgot about that until now." Harry shrugged.
"Still, I insulted you when you are clearly more than capable in zis tournament." Harry put a hand on her shoulder than was furthest from him.
"Relax Fleur, don't worry about it."
SNAP
"Oh oh oh Harry," Rita Skeeter appeared out of nowhere with her cameraman. "Two girls in one day? Naughty boy."
The memory paused before breaking apart into the white squares.
"That girl...she the one from the infirmary!"
"Yup." The flame bobbed sagely.
"Who is she?"
"I dunno, I know as much as you."
"And what did Rita mean by 'two girls in one day'?"
"Beats me, you'll know once you get all your memories back."
"Is that it?" Harry looked to his side at the flame. "What about the rest of the memory?"
"Huh, I'm not really sure." The flame floated near his face.
Suddenly Harry felt a rush of pain surge from his lightning scar. The pain was so unbearable he curled up in a ball. Images and sounds rushed into his mind. His memories! He was getting them back! The pain subsided after a few moments.
"Wow, that was pretty cool!" The flame chirped. "Hmmm, looking at your memories, looks like you recovered a good portion of them."
"Really?" Harry rubbed his head.
"Yup. I'm guessing that watching that memory triggered something in your mind, letting loose some of your memories."
Harry peered into his memories. It seemed like Hermione and He had hugged and Rita took it out of context and blew it out of proportion for an article, as always.
"Looks like the next memory is starting! Grab some popcorn!" A bowl of popcorn popped into existence in front of the pair. Popcorn floated from the bowl and into the flame, burning into blackened crisps. "Mmmm, ash flavor."
The white squares came together to form a new scene. This time it was at the covered bridge in the night. Candles burned periodically, illuminating the bridge. Some white squares hardly changed color, making Harry assume it was snow.
Two figures materialized, each facing the other and leaning against the wood railing.
"I-I love you."
Fleur answered by pressing her lips against his. Once they came up for air, Fleur whispered, "Je t'aime trop."
"Wow." Harry said breathlessly.
"What?" Fleur grinned as her arms snaked around his neck.
"That was my first kiss." Harry rested his forehead against hers.
"I wonder if your second kiss will be as great..." Deviousness glinted in Fleur's eye.
"I don't know, do you really want to do this? Especially about Rita's article about us?" Harry stopped her from kissing him again.
"You do know 'ow to ruin a moment, Mr. Potter." Harry smiled sheepishly. "Worry about zat later, all zat matters is us, right now, right 'ere. Absolutely nozzing else."
Harry slowly nodded in agreement. "Now, about that second kiss?"
The memory abruptly ended.
"So that girl, Fleur, she and I?" Harry looked at his bright companion.
"Seems so, me."
"So when she ran out of the infirmary..."
"Yup."
The pain from earlier suddenly returned and Harry felt his memories rushing back. They filled in all the blanks.
Over a short period, their friendship budded. Despite this, they ended up going to the Yule Ball with different dates. However, they did share a dance. By New Year's, Harry realized he had fallen for her. This memory took place the night before the start of the term.
Another one of his memories began to form. It was night again. White squares formed dark gravestones. The scene look to be focused on a clearing of grass.
A handful of cloaked figures stood on one end of the clearing while a pair crouched opposite behind a pair of gravestones.
"Harry, Harry, Harry." Voldemort chuckled. "We aren't playing hide and seek. Why don't you and your Veela whore step out?"
"She is not a whore!" Harry barked.
"Fine, fine." Voldemort hushed. "Why don't you and your female companion step out so we can have a civil discussion?"
Harry looked to Fleur who furious shook her head.
"We can't!" She whispered.
"What other option do we have?" He raised both his hand, palms facing up. "One on hand, we stand up and talk. On the other, he comes over here with his Death Eaters and kills us." After deliberating with herself for a moment, Fleur reached out her hand.
"Fine." Harry took it and they both stood, revealing themselves to Lord Voldemort and the assembled Death Eaters.
"Good boy, Harry. I was hoping you would see reason." Voldemort's mouth curled into a ghoulish grin. "Now, have you ever had a proper duel?"
"What? You said we'd be having a discussion!"
"No? Curious, I assumed the old man would train you." Voldemort ignored Harry's outburst. "Pity, I hoped for a challenge for my first duel after returning to the land of the living. Can't always get what you wish for, I suppose." The bald man shrugged casually.
"I'm not dueling you!" Harry stepped forward, gripping Fleur's hand tighter. All the Death Eaters raised their wands at the couple.
"As you can see, you don't have a choice, Harry." He pointed at the couple's conjoined hands. "Now if you may, duels are typically one on one."
Harry hesitantly looked back at Fleur, slowly nodding his head and began releasing her hand. Tears began to pool in her eyes.
"Je t'aime." The Veela croaked out.
"I love you too." Their fingertips slid past each other and their hands fell. Harry faced his adversary and withdrew his wand.
"You do know first step of dueling, correct?" Voldemort didn't wait for Harry to answer. "You bow." Harry didn't bow. "Bow, Harry." Voldemort's finger twitched, forcing Harry's body to move. "Excellent." The pale man raised his arms to his sides. "Now, to keep things interesting, I'll allow you to take the first shot."
As soon as the words left the snake man's mouth, Harry fired a Stupefy. It rebounded off an invisible shield, flying into the sky.
"Is that all? I thought Hogwarts claimed its curriculum was one of the best." Voldemort flicked his wand, sending a Stupefy at Harry. It sent him flying back and onto his back. "Now that was a stunner, Harry. Not full power, of course, wouldn't want to knock you out in our duel to the death, would we?"
"'arry!" Fleur rushed to his side. "'Arry are you alright!" She rested her palm against his cheek. He coughed and sputtered.
"How romantic." Voldemort chortled. "Two lovers, dying in each other's arms. Quite poetic." Voldemort flicked his wand again, this time sending a green light at the couple.
Harry's knuckles were white from how tightly he gripped his wand as he fired an Expelliarmus. The red and green beams met in the middle, coalescing into a golden ball of light. Harry managed to pull himself to his feet, pushing Fleur behind him.
The Death Eaters raised the wands and began to approach the couple.
"No! The boy is mine!" Voldermort barked as his Death Eaters. They immediately backed away.
Harry poured all of his energy into maintaining the beam, he couldn't let the killing curse get near them. The golden orb shifted back and forth, it would move a few feet in one direction, then a few feet in the other, only to return to the first direction.
Smoke began to burst from the golden orb. It began to consolidate into different forms above him. The first was an older man he vaguely recognized. Next was a woman he didn't recognize at all. Then there were two people he definitely recognized.
"Harry, you have to let go." His mother said.
"What? No!" Harry pushed even more, he was running out of energy.
"Harry! Don't argue with us!" His father's head kept switching between watching Voldemort and Harry. "We'll be able to distract him, but only for a second!" The two people he didn't recognize nodded.
"Please, Harry." His mother pleaded. Harry looked both his parents in the eye before answering.
"Fine!"
His mother looked at him then at Fleur. "Take care of my boy." Fleur only nodded.
"Now!" His father barked, and all four spirits rushed Voldemort and his crew. They exploded into thick smoke, shrouding the killers.
"Hold on!" Harry squeezed Fleur hand tightly as he summoned the cup. Just before the cup reached them, a green light flashed out of the smoke. It impacted on a gravestone next to them, sending rocks flying. A large one struck Harry's head as the cup reached his waiting hands.
"Looks like that's it." The flame said as the memory fell apart. "Looks like you're gonna get your memories back!" It cheered gleefully.
"Was that Voldemort... and my parents?" Harry's mind was still reeling from what he just watched.
"Seems so. Big old Voldermort is back..." The flame's excitement died instantly. "But on the plus side, memories! So, yay!" And then it was back up again. "Oooooh, looks like this one is gonna be a doozy."
"What? What do you mean?"
"Gonna be a pretty big chunk of memories, about half a school year. Gonna hurt, a lot!" The flame's glee when it said this was somewhat unsettling. "Probably gonna hurt so much, like a kick to the head! Just gotta ride it to consciousness!"
The pain started as soon as it finished.
"There we go! Bye now! Don't forget to send me a postcard!"
Harry opened his eyes and inhaled deeply and quickly. He instantly felt someone at his side.
"Mr. Potter!" Madam Pomfrey waved a wand over him, casting numerous diagnostic charms.
"I remember." He muttered.
"Excuse me?"
"I remember." Harry stared the medi-witch dead in the eye. "All of it."
So I watched Total Recall (2012) and I just felt inspired, at least by the part dealing with memories and such. Also, is it just me or did anyone else get pissed off that they pretty much changed the entire plot, especially the end? Then again, Kate Beckinsale was hot as hell (as always) despite her craziness, so I guess that sort of balances things out.
Also, I referenced some Inception because I can.
Feedback and criticism is greatly appreciated.