Astoria's eyes fluttered open. She'd had another night full of strange dreams she couldn't explain. Memories that weren't memories. Every day brought more confusion and emptiness, and she lived in constant fear that she'd slip up again and forget the importance of keeping her secret. That boy, the one who's name she could never seem to remember, seemed trustworthy enough. Then again, she couldn't even recall the sound of his voice, or the color of his hair.
Astoria sat up and rubbed her eyes. It was a Saturday, and she was the first one awake. Quietly, she slid out of bed, found some jeans and a tee, and tiptoed out the door. She'd forgotten to slip on shoes, and cringed as her bare feet met the cold tile floors. The hallway seemed so long as she headed toward the girls' showers. As she entered, she felt a slight prickle in her abdomen, causing her to falter.
Blurry memories of a fireplace swam through her mind as she slowly pushed open the door. She put together pieces of a puzzle, remembering that that was where she'd had her first episode. As she slipped into the warm, inviting water of the shower, she placed her hand softly on her abdomen, trying to remember who had been there that day.
She let out a breath of frustration as she continued to remember only blurry images. Astoria knew that for whatever reason, she was missing key memories of her life, and she was determined to find out how to get them back.
After drying off and slipping into her outfit, Astoria slipped out of the shower room and headed toward the library. She had to start somewhere.
The ordeal with Potter in Myrtle's bathroom had left Draco with an even greater resolve to serve Lord Voldemort. Everyone had heard about what had happened, and yet many people still viewed Potter as a hero. The curse of the Malfoy name, he supposed. No one would ever pity him, even as he faced a close brush with death. There was no reason left to wait. Draco had fixed the Vanishing cabinet successfully, and the following night would be the moment where he would finally fulfill his task.
Draco mounted the steps toward the second floor. His load of late homework weighed him down, and was relieved to finally arrive in the library. He all but threw his heavy books and papers onto a small corner table, and slumped into his seat. Truly, the only reason he had even picked up all these assignments was to get his mind off of the following day's events. He cleared his throat, pushing aside his anxiety as he opened his textbook.
"If you're looking for light reading, I certainly don't recommend that book," teased a passing figure. He turned and saw Astoria, but his momentary elation faded when he saw that the comment was directed toward a young student who was browsing through the Arithmetic section. Slightly embarrassed, Draco looked back down at his work. The words on the pages blurred together, and Draco struggled to gather his thoughts. He glanced back up at where Astoria had been standing, hoping to see her still standing there, but she had disappeared.
"There's no way I'm getting this done," thought Draco as he closed his book hurriedly. He leapt up, and briskly paced through the seemingly endless shelves of books, until finally stumbling across Astoria. She was seated at a small table near the entrance to the restricted section, and her eyes were pouring hungrily over a small novel.
Draco cleared his throat. Astoria didn't even blink.
"Um…" declared Draco, surely. He mentally face palmed at his brilliant choice of words.
Astoria tilted her head up at him, annoyed. "What?" She snapped.
Draco again cleared his throat. "What...reading?"
Astoria lifted an eyebrow. "Your vocabulary is astonishing. I suppose you mean to ask what I'm reading?"
Draco could only nod.
"It's from the muggle studies section of the library. I'm sure you don't care."
Draco again nodded, then abruptly shook his head. "No, no I meant… I was just curious." he said, defeated.
Astoria looked back at her book, then spoke.
"I initially came here to look up memory wiping techniques and their cures."
Draco's heart skipped a beat.
"I know, you probably think I'm crazy. But I feel like I'm missing lots of moments in my life. I was in the muggle studies section to read up on amnesia, but then I saw this!"
She closed the book and showed Draco the cover.
"The Phantom of the Opera, by Gaston Leroux? I've never heard of it." said Draco, simply.
Astoria's eyes grew big and her mouth gaped. "What? You have no idea what you're missing. It's one of my favorite stories!"
She gestured for Draco to take the book. He was slightly amused at her excitement. "What makes it so great?" he asked as he lazily flipped through the pages.
Astoria was quick to respond. "Oh, it's so good! It's about a musical genius who haunts an opera house in Paris. He gives a soprano named Christine music lessons, but eventually he falls in love with her."
Draco handed back the book. "A ghost falls in love with a singer, and they live happily ever after. It sounds very cliche."
Astoria shook her head sharply. "I never said they live happily ever after. The Phantom grew up knowing only darkness because of his facial deformity. He's afraid Christine won't accept him as he is. He resorts to wickedness to get what he wants, he completely manipulates Christine, and in the end he loses her to another man. I think the saddest part of the whole thing is that Christine could have loved him if he didn't mess with her head so much."
Draco swallowed, desperately trying to rid himself of the lump that had formed in his throat.
"Why do you like that story? Just out of curiosity. I mean, it's rather dark, don't you think?"
Astoria smiled and shrugged. "I'm not sure. Maybe because it makes me think about what real love is. Was it love or fear that drove the Phantom to force Christine into a life with him? I'm not sure I'll ever know. Although, the more times I immerse myself in the story, the more I think that he was afraid of so much. Rejection, the world he lived in, even himself. That's what drove him mad, I think."
She paused. Draco's mind was racing. "I don't suppose this… Phantom reminds you of anyone, does he?"
Astoria laughed, then quickly quieted at the urgent shush of Madam Pince. "Thankfully, no. I'm not sure I'd want to! He's insane." She giggled and stood, gathering her piles of books. "It's been a nice chat…erm...What's your name again?" she asked sheepishly.
"Draco," he murmured in response. "I'm sure you'll get it one of these days."
"One of these days? Oh dear. Have we spoken recently? I can't seem to recall the last time we chatted. Oh, well, maybe it'll come to me. Good-bye, erm, Dean." she said, rushing off.
Draco sighed, defeated. Astoria never remembered anything he ever said to her, and it killed him. As he was turning to leave, a small paper caught his eye. It must've fallen out of her books. He picked it up and saw scribbled notes:
-Amnesia: Disease of the mind, partial or total loss of memory
-Confundus charm: Causes confusion, can be dangerous
-Obliviate: Charm to erase memories
Draco folded up the paper and put it in his pocket. Astoria was clever. He felt a sense of happiness and dread. He didn't want her to torture herself any more over what had happened to her, and yet, he was afraid. The following night, he would have her meet him in the common room before he left. He was going to return her memories and get her as far from the castle as possible before hell broke loose.